COMMONWEALTH (BURBANK, CA)

Commonwealth
222 S. Glenoaks Blvd
Burbank, CA 91502
http://restaurantcw.com/
Tel: 818.845.2225
$$$ ($30-$45)
Cuisine: American
Fri, 01/08/2016, 8:00pm reservation
    (4 Piglets)

Nestled deep in the city of Burbank sits a tapas restaurant serving dishes inspired by cuisine from around the world. The food is fresh and contemporary without being overly pretentious. It is probably one of the smallest restaurants I've been to in awhile. In lieu of being claustrophobic, the restaurant seems to be rather cozy and intimate.

Commonwealth only honors two seatings a night: 6:00pm or 6:30pm or 8:00pm or 8:30pm. The countertop is for walk-in patrons and they do not take reservations of parties exceeding 8.  

The interior

AMUSE BOUCHE

FRESH DAILY OYSTER...BY THE PIECE ($3.00): Tobasco, Ponzu Salsa, Cucumber Fennel Relish. Kusha oysters were served tonight and boy, were they extremely fresh and delicious. Perfectly briny and the perfect size, similar to Kumamoto oysters but slightly bigger. The Tobasco sauce had a good kick. The oysters were so good that we ordered another four more! One of the best dishes of the night!



MAINE LOBSTER AND TRUFFLE CROQUETTES ($15.00): Black Truffle, Lemon Beurre Blanc, Caviar. The croquettes were crisp with a delicate center. The lobster was succulent and the best part? The chefs were not flimsy when providing the amount of lobster to top each croquette. A good dish overall.

FRIED CHICKEN ($9.00): Salt and pepper fried, Cumin, Maple Dijon. The chicken reminded of the Taiwanese popcorn chicken you get at the cafes, except these were bigger. The chicken was moist and not at all greasy. They were extremely crispy and the sauce went perfectly well with the chicken: not too sweet with the right amount of acidity.

TRUFFLE MUSHROOM RISOTTO ($14.00): Mushroom Medley, Mascarpone, Truffle Butter. A really delicious dish that is well balanced and earthy from the mushrooms. I thought it was extremely satisfying and comfort food at its best. I enjoyed the creaminess and it was probably one of the better dishes of the night.

GRILLED OCTOPUS AND BRUSSELS ($14.00): Thai Vinaigrette, Fresh mint, Chile. The octopus was actually cooked superbly. It wasn't overly rubbery like how octopus can be when its overcooked. The Brussels were delicious and went well with the octopus. The sauce was amazing...acidic, sweet, tangy, and delicious.

NUESKE BACON AND BURRATA ($7.00): Onion compote, Grapefruit, Crispy leeks, Grilled Bread. This was probably my least favorite dish of the night. I'm a big fan of burrata and bacon, but for some reason, the dish with all the components were a tad bit much and didn't mesh well together.

The chefs having a good time ready to cook up a storm

MY FAVORITE DISH. BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING ($8.00): House made whip, caramel, crisp prosciutto. This was so freakin amazing. The pudding was rich and complemented the salty and crispy prosciutto nicely. It's not your typical budino you would find at other restaurants. It's definitely creamier than most budinos you would find. Everything went well together and this was a perfectly constructed dessert.

Overall, Commonwealth is a gem in the Valley. It's hard to find spots like these and this place is definitely a bonus in the city of Burbank. Parking can be found across the restaurant at an automotive shop. The menu is perfectly constructed, whether you just want small bites or something substantial. The restaurant satisfies all palates alike.




Notable dishes: Butterscotch Pudding and Daily Oyster by the Piece