So, I just have to laugh about my last work lunch experience. Thursdays are the days that the office goes to lunch together (we're split in half, so we just go with our half). Since this is a weekly occurrence, we often try new places just to mix it up a little. Which is what we decided to do this last time.
One co-worker suggested this new pizza place that took over the old Goldsmith jewelers building across from the new Wells Fargo building. Everyone likes pizza, so everyone decided to walk over. However, when we got there, we discovered the new pizza restaurant was short lived and had already been replaced by a new place called Communal.
The name of the place gave little clue as to what type of food they served, but as we were already there we just decided to try it out.
When we walked in, we were greeted with a "Hello, do you have a reservation?"
........... uh.......... "No, sorry, we didn't know we needed one."
"That's ok, just have a seat where you like."
We all sat down and were handed our menus. There were 2 salads, about 5 mains, a couple of soups and desserts, and at the bottom was a message.... something like this "The water that is being poured into your glasses is Keagan water". ???? I didn't know either, in fact, I may not have the name correct because it really made no sense to me. I did use Jim Gaffigan's remark that it was much more watery than water, but in reality, it tasted the same to me..... maybe it was more like H2O2 than just H2O, what do I know?
Anyway, we all tentatively look at the menu. Nothing really jumps out, so I ask what the 'pasta of the day' is. The waiter responds that it is tortellini filled with beet greens.... $9.
............uh........... ok.
As he begins taking orders, a few people order the tortellini (including me and one other preggo girl who is due in May) and some order a salad (can't remember the special part, but it didn't sound NEARLY as appetizing as the beet greens), and then one lady asks about the bleu ribbon burger. The waiter animatedly describes how that is what they are famous for at lunch and how they butcher their own meat and so the bacon is actually ground in with the beef. My co-worker decides to try it despite the $12 price and those getting the salad all switch.
So, we have 1 person getting the curried cauliflower soup with a side of french fries, 3 people with the tortellini (I splurge and get a side of asparagus for another $5), and the rest with their famous bleu ribbon burger.
The order took quite awhile to come out. The burgers come out first, and I must admit, they looked and smelled WONDERFUL! They had all the condiments on the side so you just put it together the way you wanted it, and the fries had a little extra something on them and they tasted awesome! It looked so good my stomach was starting to grumble! By this time, I was STARVING!!!
Then the soup came and it also looked and smelled wonderful. Now, I'm salivating and drinking even more of that extra special water.
Then comes the pasta. The beet green tortellini. Remember that this was $9 ok? All I get are 7 small pieces of the stuffed pasta. I look at the other co-worker who is expecting and we exchange looks of "Are they joking? This was on the Main menu, not an appetizer".
I think the waiter must have seen the look on our faces because he said "Wait, that's not all." He then brings out a little kettle and pours some broth over our pasta, and tops it off with some sea salt. Gee, thanks, that really bulks up the meal..... Good think I got 8 stalks of asparagus to top this off.... hope I have room to put it all in..... ?????
I have to say, I was starving so I ate it. It was not good. The broth was the only flavor, but since they put it over after serving, it took fighting through 2 or 3 of the 7 pieces before I could taste, well, anything. The other girl hurried and finished hers and then got her check. She had brought left over spaghetti that she had been planning on eating in the break room for lunch before we all talked her into coming with us...... Lucky girl. I really wish I would have gotten the burger instead!
So, all in all, I spent $15 on 7 tortellini and 8 stalks of asparagus only to wet my appetite. I returned from lunch starving, scrounging in the car for some loose change so I could run to the vending machines. Luckily, Kirk brought me some snacks for the afternoon, otherwise....?
My advice? If you're planning on trying the place out, DON'T! Or, if you do, leave enough time to stop somewhere else also.....
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