The Commons Local Eating House

Pretty relaxed atmosphere. Food was great and service was friendly and inviting. Big thanks to the gentleman who gave us insight and advice on Pokemon Go - You left a lasting impression! We'll be back.

There is much about the Commons to like: a great atmosphere, hardy food, great location, reasonable wine selection priced well. But you always get different service - sometimes awesome and sometimes indifferent. Tonight so so - but other times really friendly. The Commons is an awesome place... you just feel that sometimes it could be better! It is what it is!!!!

Great drink options and food menu. Service isn’t warm but at least professional. We had the cheese board with a few bottles of wine and some cocktails. A great night out.

What a great find! In one of the oldest buildings in town, this was great food! We sat in the courtyard area which was nice and airy. There's live music in the basement. The food was incredible! Great atmosphere and attentive service. Menu is limited in options but everything we had was good.

A wonderful, casual modern Aussie eatery. The food is fresh and made with pride. The service was excellent. Good wine and cocktails too.

Food was nice even though the risotto was not cooked through and the lasagne was quite small for a main 4/5 Not special but great in taste. The mozzarella starter was amazing though. However between starter and main we had to wait 1 hour! As a piece of gratitude we got 1 -one- dessert for free. However the wine is priced way over market a bottle of 2016 Primo Estate Merlesco Merlot that retails at $19 we had to pay $60 I am used to pay twofold for licenced restaurant but a threefold on a mid priced wine is beyond acceptable. Overall this is a great place to spend the evening if you are okay with some compromise. Will go again and revise the 3/5

Cosy little place with pleasant alfresco area where we just had a tasty and generous breakfast - French toast with cream and berries jam, buttered toast with jam, cappuccino and coffee. Very good quality of food and friendly staff make The Commons a perfect choice for a lazy weekend indulgence.

Creative and fun eatery with live music on occasion. Very popular so make sure you book in advance.

Pretty relaxed atmosphere. Food was great and service was friendly and inviting. Big thanks to the gentleman who gave us insight and advice on Pokemon Go - You left a lasting impression! We'll be back.

There is much about the Commons to like: a great atmosphere, hardy food, great location, reasonable wine selection priced well. But you always get different service - sometimes awesome and sometimes indifferent. Tonight so so - but other times really friendly. The Commons is an awesome place... you just feel that sometimes it could be better! It is what it is!!!!

Great drink options and food menu. Service isn’t warm but at least professional. We had the cheese board with a few bottles of wine and some cocktails. A great night out.

What a great find! In one of the oldest buildings in town, this was great food! We sat in the courtyard area which was nice and airy. There's live music in the basement. The food was incredible! Great atmosphere and attentive service. Menu is limited in options but everything we had was good.

A wonderful, casual modern Aussie eatery. The food is fresh and made with pride. The service was excellent. Good wine and cocktails too.

Food was nice even though the risotto was not cooked through and the lasagne was quite small for a main 4/5 Not special but great in taste. The mozzarella starter was amazing though. However between starter and main we had to wait 1 hour! As a piece of gratitude we got 1 -one- dessert for free. However the wine is priced way over market a bottle of 2016 Primo Estate Merlesco Merlot that retails at $19 we had to pay $60 I am used to pay twofold for licenced restaurant but a threefold on a mid priced wine is beyond acceptable. Overall this is a great place to spend the evening if you are okay with some compromise. Will go again and revise the 3/5

Cosy little place with pleasant alfresco area where we just had a tasty and generous breakfast - French toast with cream and berries jam, buttered toast with jam, cappuccino and coffee. Very good quality of food and friendly staff make The Commons a perfect choice for a lazy weekend indulgence.

Creative and fun eatery with live music on occasion. Very popular so make sure you book in advance.

I love the atmosphere here - so cosy and the fire place is so welcoming on a cold winter's night. You almost feel like you're out in the country somewhere not in Darlo. The service alone is 5 star. We must have had 4 different waiters look after our table, each of them noticing when we had finished our wine or entrees or coming over to explain the specials. I've known about The Commons for awhile but what drove me to try it was the promise of mulled wine. Mulled wine has to be right up there on the list of my favourite things, even higher up than wine itself, though possibly a notch below coffee. To be honest, the mulled wine was the only disappointment with our dinner; perhaps because my expectations were too high. The balance was too far on the sweet side than the spices side. The food was a pleasant surprise though. The duck parfait and zucchini flowers were perfect and my osso bucco main was tasty without being too rich or greasy. Looking at the other mains around the table - the pasta and barramundi, everything looked incredible. Prices aren't cheap but pretty standard for a delightful Saturday dinner. Looking forward to returning and trying their cocktails too!

Slept in on Saturday, I was craving breakfast still and the wife wanted lunch. Took a short walk up the hill and stumbled into The Common Ground. Breakfast all day and a great lunch special menu. We took a seat in the front patio with the potted plants and were quickly attended to. After trying decide between a delicious burger or create your own breakfast, we both decided on the pepper steak pie special. And it was a great decision! The crust was cooked perfectly, flaky, buttery and held its shape well. The filling was made with a great red wine sauce and came with a side of chips or mash. After enjoying the pies we both got some coffee and relaxed for a while longer on the great patio soaking in the wonderful afternoon sun. This place is great for couples or small groups, and it seems the menu is constantly changing. Can't wait to head back soon!

Made a booking here for a friend's birthday lunch. The outside tables were full but the interior, where we were seated, was pretty much dead. Probably a total of six seated tables or less for three staff. Arrived early with my partner and waited a while to order coffee, then waited even longer to have it delivered. The rest of the group arrives. We spend twenty minutes deciding what to order and are poised to do so, when the server tells us that the specials board we were looking at is for dinner only. He brings over the lunch specials board, we regroup and figure things out. Lunch is ordered. Fifteen or twenty minutes later, all of the ($22+) mains arrive except mine (there was no meat involved in my dish). Five minutes later, out comes mine, except that all of my very polite friends have been waiting for me so all of their hot dishes are now cold. The bill arrives. Aside from the menu and website both saying otherwise, the server informs us that all six meals can only be charged to one card. My partner gallantly steps in, while the rest of my friends scramble to transfer money or give him cash. Super awkward. This would still have been a three star review, except for the fact that no one in the group felt their dish was worth the price, and all of us agreed that the servers acted as though they could have cared less about us. Will NOT be going back.

I organised a surprise party for my boyfriend here yesterday and they were very accommodating. My only big draw back was that they told us to stagger our orders for the kitchen, which resulted with one side of the table eating and finishing before the other side of the table. I had a flat white, a Bloody Mary, and then I ordered two breakfasts (yes two). I couldn't pass up eggs, but I also couldn't forget their pancakes. So I settled on the healthy stack, which was two pieces of toast smothered in goat cheese, tipped with rocket, tomato, avocado, and a poached egg and the. I got the pancakes with ricotta, Caramelized bananas and hazelnuts. The flat White was good and so was the Bloody Mary. The bloody was oddly sweet with a kick to it, but I liked it nonetheless. I did not like is hefty price tag though, as it was 18 dollars for a pretty small drink. For the food everything was delicious. The healthy stack tasted exactly like it sounded and it was a huge portion with two huge pieces of toast. And the pancakes were equally delicious. The ricotta was awesome And the whole table was glad I ordered them. Overall I would be back and I wanna check out their bar. The place is so cute and homey so I would recommend. Just bear in mind they don't do split checks and only except two cards if you have a large group.

What at first glance looks like a local and common eat n drink hole is in fact a delightful establishment of fine foods and drinks. Just off the main road in Oxford Square, The Commons is easily missed but a beacon of green plants out front promises an usual attraction and welcome. Matched by its wood interior and exceptional warm staff is a smile on anyone's face on a cold night. Unwittingly expecting something so different, this place hit all the right notes and needs. A Sunday night blackboard menu presented the whole main menu of the night as well as their specials. A Honey Risotto is the choice of the night for a warm filler with others selecting an equally choose dish of deliciousness. A quiet night meant the food is brought quick with all smiles warming our smiles as well as out stomachs with matching wine to each dish it's recommended too. The specials included the desserts where the trend of serving a Dark Lager Beeramisu in a clay pot is not all that uncommon. I happily named my dessert Groot. I'm reserving a star for a future date for testing out their drinks menu. I will be back. Mark My Words

I came here for a Sunday brunch with friends after the Blackmore's Running Festival and I have to say that this place is nifty. There was a guy grilling out front for some of the specials of the day which gives the Commons a casual cool "drop by my house for some drinks and food" vibe. The food was good...real good. I ordered some spatchcock (fresh off the grill mind you) with some potatoes. Friends ordered risotto, burgers, and a few other dishes. The menu changes often which is a nice touch. The service was good, the place was kind of empty so the staff popped by every now and then, and they didn't mind separate checks either which was a plus. What gets me about this place is the price...don't get me wrong, the food is good here, but it's pretty expensive even for Sydney standards. Look to spend $25+ if you come here for brunch, and if you get a Bloody Mary add on $18. Come here to see how you like it, but in my opinion for brunch there are several other options that get you more bang for your buck. The place would be sweet for dinner though, and I hear the small bar downstairs is bangin'...so YMMV.

I came here last week with some girl friends. I particularly loved that place for its nice atmosphere, super cosy and not crowded as many other places in Sydney where you cannot hear each others. It felt more European than Australian, and that's super nice! Also, I loved that the food and wines are local products. On top of that, the food menu was particularly appealing even if I thought that portions were a bit small. After having the Mussels and Fries, I had to took a desert to fill my stomach, which I rarely do. I chose the Beeramisu (Beer + Tiramisu) which was good but not as surprising as I would have expected.

This is a great little hidden treasure, located on a small side street off of Crown. My flatmate had recommended this place. There is a nice outdoor area, as well as some tables by the fire. There's also a cool little basement area for drinks and blues music. Came here with a date for dinner. Ordered a bottle of wine for about $37, which was the cheapest, but it was nice. We started with the prawns and I got the snapper with carrot mash, my date got the duck confit. The food was delicious, the service was great. Overall, the place has an awesome vibe, great for food, drinks and a fun night. It's not cheap but not too pricey.

The downtown bar has a very prohibition-era / speakeasy feel to it, a great place if you are into the small bar scene. Some delicious cocktails to be had. Also the farmhouse set menu for groups is also very reasonably priced (which is a 3 course meal).

The Commons had been on my list of places to eat at for a little while and unfortunately, for me, it fell into my expectation abyss. I wanted this to be the little sandstone cottage turned restaurant that could but it fell short for me. A friend and I popped in for lunch on a Friday and we were one of a handful in the restaurant. Tempted as I was by the day's specials, I finally committed to a roast beetroot salad ($12) with lamb (extra $3). And it was okay, but it was a lot of greenery and as I said to the friend I was with, I wish there was more lamb. I'd have paid more for more lamb in that salad. I'm just not a huge lover of overly leafy salads, okay? Commandeer a shared table and dine in a group or if you're on your Pat Malone, make use of the smaller tables in the front courtyard. The menu, although perfectly suitable for a meal to yourself, is just as easily adaptable to share plates among a larger group. I'd be interested to see how the experience differs when dining for dinner in a group. To be continued...

Very nice venue, I came here a few times all though I will say the service is less than ideal at times downstairs in the basement. One time when my and I friends were ordering mescal, and they had the traditional serving cup, which I guess is cool (someone had to explain that to me). Anyways the waitress passed through collecting our cups, etc, and about half an hour later the bar tender came out accusing us of taking their special serving cup. Quite an uncomfortable experience, and ironic since I had no idea what the deal with the cup was before that. The poor waitress who probably got a scolding from her boss, also came out to us later to apologise on the behalf of the bar tender, which we didn't need to but appreciated. If it wasn't for these experiences I would have ranked this place higher. In my previous experiences the bar tender is often more pleasant. As an aside, I've also ran into some unpleasant Patrons here as well, which shouldn't reflect on the business, but one of them was a performer who got rather cranky (before his performance) it was after I asked him move for a bit as I was trying to leave the bar. Another weird experience was when I was entering the bar this dude asking me to comment on his wife's (or gf/date)'s appearance, I'm awkward as fuck and so i was just like "ahhhhhhhhhh", and continued in to the bar, but he got quite cranky that I didn't say she was attracted or whatever. Again this shouldn't really reflect on the bar but I thought it was more funny than anything else. At least you'll have an interesting night here lol. Another complaint is that it's actually quite difficult to reach the bar for such a chill venue, it doesn't help that the venue is tiny but I feel they could address this by not having seats at the bar that block access to the bar. Like I want to give you my money, don't make it so hard.

I came to The Commons after running a half marathon and I was starving! The interior has a rustic feel to it and the picnic style tables were a nice touch. Great for small groups since you can fit so many people at the table. It really felt like you were eating at someone's house rather than a restaurant. I had the burger and it was great. I came with some pretty amazing chips and a nice dipping sauce. The burger was cooked to order right outside on a small charcoal grill which gave it great flavor. The cocktails were great and you definitely should check out the bloody mary and the various beers they have. Overall I had a great meal and seemed like the rest of the group was quite content with their dishes as well.

We came here for a very late breakfast or early lunch and took a small table outside in the courtyard. The server was very helpful and friendly. This seemed like a neighborhood place where you could just relax for a bit but the food blew us away - it was so fresh tasting, with complex flavor combinations. One standout were the grilled tomatoes - so simple - but I just had to ask how they were made. The server asked the chef: grilled with chili oil. Perfect!

Down on Burton Street, away from the loud rampant partying of Oxford Street lies a small restaurant and pub called The Commons. But there is nothing common about this place. You enter through the courtyard. Tables scattered behind a wrought iron fence. The alfresco mood of this space makes me imagine a place like Naples, though I've never been nor do I know anything about it, but it feels inspired. There is table service for the restaurant element of the venue, but also for the drinks. Which I must say are a little pricey, though we may have ordered a fancy kind of beer as I'm sitting with two beer connoisseurs who like to try new boutique ales when they can. "$9 for a bottle? Okay." Don't want to look cheap. "Thank you." [Seaton pays begrudgingly.] Then downstairs is where the real fun starts. There's a small room filled with books and a piano and it has a Victorian feel to it. We shot a music video here once as we felt it gave off the vibe of a hunters lodge in Colonial times. Of course we added the necessary Deer heads and animal foetuses in jars, but the place looked a treat. It's a slightly pricey establishment, bordering on exclusive but not quite there and I'm sure many will find enjoyment and tranquility within it's confines. Though one thing is for certain, it is anything but Common.

We had appetizer (duck pate), stuffed zucchini blossoms, wine, and for the entrees, beet risotto, and octopus. Everything was fresh, presented beautifully, and very flavorful. The service was excellent. My only negative comment was that they added an unnecessary 1% up charge because we used our credit card to pay.

I went here for lunch on the recommendations of Yelp and was not dissapointed at all. I had a burger and a couple of beers. I am an American on holiday and this was the best burger I have had in a very long time (including the States). The french fries were delicious and from fresh potatos. I highly recommend this establishment for anyone who wants a great lunch. Prices are a little on the higher end, but this is Sydney and everything is relative to the area.

My first time in Sydney and this place popped up! this is a great choice whether for a romantic dinner, business meeting, friends gathering. the whole experience is great, all products are from the region and the menu varies from season to season. service is above expectations, our server (a really nice french guy) walked in with a blackboard and explained the complete menu in front of our table. I ended up ordering a Steak which was nothing but amazing! all of it! the cook point, the wine reduction, the garniture, all! and it's also in the heart of Surry Hills... full of additional nightlife options

Such a lovey, quaint, atmosphere with delicious food and flavorful drinks! My sister and I had a nice little dinner which consisted of the grilled salmon and octopus plates accompanied by the most delightful old fashion! We ended dinner with cups of tea and baked cheesecake topped with passion fruit. Such a treat!! Thanks for the spectacular dinner!

Nice atmosphere. Juicy beef burger and I love the French toast here! Highly recommend. As well as the hot chocolate

The Commons is one of those great all-bases-covered establishments with multiple areas. Out front for airy courtyard, inside for food focused gatherings and down below for a bit of speakeasy fun or a cosy corner table. There was some cool live bluesy music on the Thursday night I visited, which married everything about the surrounds so perfectly. Old-fashioned cocktails are the focus, but the wine list stands pretty well on its own, too. Not a place to meet people, but a spot to gather with those you know.

Venue / ambiance - 5 stars (super cute & southern comfort decor with lots of plants, outdoor patio only good for tables less than 4) Food quality - 3 (good, but nothing blew my mind) Food portions - 3 (small) Service - 2 (know-it-all waiter who spoke for way too long & was a little rude/too impatient about us being a large group and needing more time to decide on dishes. Also a bit stuck up & judgmental about our food choices) Good place to enjoy a glass of wine & nibbles or small meals for big meal prices.

This eating house is everything rustic and vintage. It goes back to the basics of using fresh seasonal ingredients and having a meal without any pretensions. I think Jamie Oliver will love everything that The Common represents. The farmhouse setting and wooden tables and chairs add to the charming vibe of this place. I had the breakfast item of corned beef hash with poached egg. I want to call the poached egg magical because I had no idea it was even possible to make poached eggs this perfectly. The egg was solid oval on the outside but very very delicate and when I took a bite into it, the egg white and yolk were still in semi liquid form which literally melted in my mouth. The corned beef hash was fresh and well seasoned. My husband ordered the lunch item of BBQ pork ribs. I tried some of it and couldn't stop raving about it (I generally am not even a fan of ribs). The meat was soft, almost falling off the bone, and the glaze was just perfect. The roasted corn on the cob was a very nice rustic and delicious touch to it. Word has it that The Commons was born out of a group of friends who wanted a place where friends could gather for a simply good meal in a down-to-earth setting and I think this place is a gem. The sandstone wall in a farmhouse setting completes it all. Love love love this place.

Cute garden spot slightly away from Hyde park. Awesome coffee - cute brunch menu with GF options. Easy to find a spot on a cloudy Sunday morning. We had the bacon avo stack and the healthy avo stack with GF. Both were fresh, light and delicious. The goats cheese wasn't too heavy or over powering. We will be back.

I don't know about the restaurant and the food, but I will never forget their lil hidden jewel, the jazz bar ... Great atmosphere, nice staff, great jazz band that night, and the cocktails are the bomb. My favourite ever in South Pacific. "For people who grew up", said the barman :)

The small cocktail bar culture is really starting to grow wings here in Sydney. It seems like every week, a new special little place crops up somewhere. And usually it's the no-sign, secret password, spin-around-5-times-and-wiggle-your-ears-for-entry type of place. I went to the basement of Commons on a Wednesday for a nightcap. It was virtually empty down there, which my friends assured me was an absolutely fluke. The stone walls, low ceiling and shadowy lighting gave me that "I don't know if we should be down here" feeling. With glass vases, a minimalistic case of stacked books, and an old piano, it felt a little like your alcoholic granddad's secret basement speakeasy- the place he might escape for a cheeky little scotch before supper. The Common's atmosphere, coupled with its thoughtfully crafted cocktail menu, proved to me without question that this dirty little secret is definitely one worth sharing. But please, keep it at a whisper.

Wonderful atmosphere - crackling fireplace, stone walls, wood and candles, and a cozy bar downstairs. Service & food is top notch - tasty, fresh ingredients, with a creative flair. We enjoyed the: - cheese tasting plate w/ fig & jam - good - ricotta dumplings - solid - asparagus risotto - delicious - pumpkin crepes - excellent - pie of the day looked flaky & stellar Would definitely recommend for a nice meal.

I was there for dinner on a Thursday night. Service was a little slow & we had to catch the waiters attention, hence the three stars. The food was amazing though. Will definitely be returning. I can highly recommend the red wine risotto, so filling!

From Order To Table: Bad timing. Like a shot of tequila at 3am. Service-ometer: Cookie cutter. Stomachability: Like a home cooked meal. Literally just as good but 3x as expensive. Digest suggest: Don't go for a birthday brunch... Just from experience. Possibly, the worst service I have ever had. Booked a table on a Sunday, a quiet Sunday for my birthday brunch. We were ignored, coffee was weak and watered down. Received luke-warm breakfast and really mediocre service. Food was appalling and overpriced for small portions. Will not be returning and no recommendations.

Maybe it was the high score on Yelp, but I had higher expectations for this place. It was okay I guess. We visited during the day on a Friday for lunch and it was quiet and pleasant for a work meeting. The salad I had was... meh... a bit ordinary to tell you the truth. There was only a tiny bit of smoked trout (which, admittedly for $12 is probably fair) but the salad greenery bit itself was a little uninteresting, even with the gooey poached egg mixed through. Sadly the sugar snap peas hadn't been de-stemmed which meant they were chewy and inedible. I ended up picking them all out and finishing the job of the kitchen by removing each stem myself.

We came for the happy hour menu which was so great. Delicious food and great wine. By coming in early you can add a glass of wine for 5 dollars to your main course. I got the beef cheeks and my wife got the risotto with burrata cheese. We shared off of each other's plates and were completely satisfied at the end of the meal. Service was excellent and the atmosphere is quaint and inviting. Definitely feels like your stepping into a small farm house. If we didn't live 8,000 miles away, we'd be back for more as regulars.

Enjoyed the farmhouse ambience with the roaring fire. The food was full of flavour and cooked to perfection. Staff were friendly and knew the menu well. Smaller portions but we were full nevertheless.

Great place. Good service and lovely atmosphere. The only comment is that the coffee was warm and not hot even when I asked for a hot coffee. Will definitely be back.

Dining at The Commons is like heading over to your mate's place for delicious home cooked meals, but with a heritage dining room and friendly waiter service. Housed in a beautiful sandstone building, the humble façade welcomes guests through wrought iron gates and into a farmhouse-like space with low ceilings and long timber benches. Menus created by the kitchen are all about locally sourced, seasonal ingredients used to create classic dishes, so you'll find plenty of specials to accommodate for the best and most readily available ingredients. Visiting for the first time with a francophile friend, we opted to share the duck liver pate with cornichons, served simply on a wooden board with slices of toasted bread. I followed up with a rich lasagne layered with house made pasta sheets - according to our waiter, just like his nonna makes it. The meals on offer were quite simple, but everything tasted great and knowing that the chefs are using sustainable produce is a definite plus. I've not yet visited their lower level bar, Downtown, but hear it has quite the following in Friday nights.

The Commons is a cool little cafe by day which turns in to a cool little cafe at night. Whilst I've only enjoyed a coffee during the day (which was good mind you), I'm yet to sample the breakfast and lunch delicacies although if it's anything like the dinner bar menu then I'm sure it's a winner. Usually me and friends go for a drink and share breads and dips and all that sort of stuff but one night my companion and I decided to splash out and treat ourselves to the fish pie and steak and boy are we thankful we did! I like the stoned wall interior and wooden floor boards and the courtyard is quite.. pretty (ok that's a touch feminine but it is!). The atmosphere is always nice and relaxed and during the warmer months you can hire old vintage bicycles for the day and they'll even supply you with a hamper. It's a really good idea but I must admit, seems like too much hard work for me!

Awesome food. Amazing service. Great value. Exceptional ambiance. You have to go there.

Great little restaurant on Burton St. Fun, charming - has a nice little outdoor garden area. The food was pretty good - I had risotto and a salad. I would give it 4 stars. Above average, but nothing to write home about. The service however was terrible. I was here on a Tuesday night. Place was about 70% full with two waiters. The guys were running all over the place trying to keep up.

I'll start with the restaurant. The food here is never disappointing. I had so many great meals here, I can't even tell you what is my favorite thing. The staff is always great. Attentive and friendly. The real reason I spent so much time here was the small bar downstairs. In this great little place, I found music that made me so incredibly happy. I was fortunate to stumble upon Jesse and James playing the blues one night and their incredible talent kept me coming back time and time again. If you get the chance to go and see these guys play, do so. Do yourself a favor and go see them before they are discovered and become big stars. Then you can say, "I saw those guys back in the day." Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Trust me! Go see them. The bar staff downstairs are also really nice, and I enjoyed many a wonderful bottle of wine, and quite a few well made cocktails in my many visits. Tell 'em Don says hello. Enjoy!

My partner and I have been searching for another "grown up" location and The Commons delivers. They've created a warm atmosphere, great food and drinks and a cool vibe that is neither pretentious nor trendy. The front patio outside has a communal style adorned with church pews and school desks. In the dining room on the main level, they keep it cozy in the cool months by lighting one of their fireplaces that gives it a nice rustic feel. Downstairs holds the intimate bar and sounds of cool jazz can be heard over the lively conversations. I've only had dinner here and I can assure you that their food philosophy is right on. The menu is limited, but they focus on seasonal, local ingredients that you can truly taste in their dishes. The house-made pasta of the day is fantastic and when the chicken parmigiana is on the menu it is one of the best. It can get quite busy so book if you have a group over 4. The service was also friendly, helpful and attentive. I've always had a good experience here and plan to keep it on my Surry Hills shortlist.

Sydneysiders have been yearning for something with substance, sophistication and style for several years. Yes, you've got Zeta Bar and the numerous tourist haunts in Darling Harbour but nothing catering to locals who want a nice cocktail with a great chilled out atmosphere. Then came along The Commons, a place that oozes coolness yet doesn't ooze attitude (something quite rare for Sydney). The Lamborghini Gallardo parked outside when I was there tells a lot about the clientele (and prices) at this establishment but don't be deterred. I was really impressed with this bar. There is nothing quite like entering a venue that makes you feel genuinely welcome. The upstairs restaurant is very nice however the true jewels lie in the basement. As I walked down the stairs to the bar I could hear a roar of people and laughter with the familiar sound of jazz music. The bar is definitely 'cozy' (translation: 'small') but it has a great friendly beatnik atmosphere. I ordered a Caprioska ($18) from the Bartender while my friend was still reading through the copious number of cocktails on the menu. The Bartender was really attentive, he asked my friend 'what sort of cocktails do you like? I'll make you something special'. Needless to say, my friend said it was definitely the best cocktail he has ever had. The Caprioska was worth every cent, not just for the drink but also for the atmosphere that comes along with it.

Beautiful, cosy setting with fireplace and farmhouse vibe. Service is friendly and they play some great music. Great spot for a casual drink or coffee. I've had some really enjoyable dinners here, but the breakfast seems to have gone downhill a little over the last couple of years unfortunately.

Lunch sandwiches and burgers are quite good, although I wasn't as taken by the dinner menu. I would recommend the Commons for lunch, but have to reserve my opinion about their dinner menu for the moment.

As soon as I walked into this place I felt like I was entering a true neighborhood joint; warm, friendly, cozy (and not the cozy that means too small but cozy as in sweet and warm and accessible). The ingredients are treated with care and respect whether a cocktail or a main coarse. Simple preparations, great ingredients, wonderful feel.

A place for a drink. I really want to love this place but all I can do is like it. The decor and location are fantastic. I have been here on several occasions and the thing that always stops me giving it more than three stars in the service. The food is as good as you'd expect for the price point and the location (given some great dining options just down on Riley Street.) The stand out for me is their cocktail list.

Seriously good coffee! Love the staff - sit in the front courtyard during the day it's inner city cool without the "too cool for schoolers"

I love this place for the decor of the interior and the food. Really clever dishes that aren't following the crowd. Great place for brunch. Do it.

I had a really delicious, fresh salad for lunch and a flat white afterward. It was really cozy to sit by the fireplace! Service was fast and the menu was appealing.