THE COMMON GOOD
COMFORT FOOD WITH SOUL

Everybody loves a hidden gem. A delicious dining destination that delights while earning you some solid street cred. The Common Good is just such a place. Located at Food Lab (In the Alley), it’s a cool comfort food restaurant located in the alley behind the Yum Yum Donuts parking lot, yes, the same lot where Chef Ludo’s Petit Trois is.

At The Common Good, it all starts with classic soul food recipes from around the work with updated spice and flavor profiles; offering sustainable poultry and seafood options while following the current trend of a more plant-based vegetarian diet.

From Executive Chef Jeffrey Baker, The Common Good offers dine-in, take away and delivery options. Menu highlights include Korean fried chicken or cauliflower, artichoke “crabcakes” and artichoke po-boy, as well as cast-iron cornmeal crust pizzas.

During our recent visit for dinner, we started with the very tasty Korean fried cauliflower. Prepared with gochujang sauce, black sesame seed, and scallions, this starter item offers lots of fantastic flavor.

The Smokey Mac and Cheese with smoked gouda, gran Padano, aged cheddar, and Monterey Jack if another solid starter.

We enjoyed The Common Good cast-iron pizza with cornmeal crust. Topped with marinated artichokes, Castelvetrano olives, roasted red peppers, tomato sauce, and mozzarella, this is a good, sharable pie. Tasty too. Next time I may opt for the Taco cast-iron pizza topped with refried pinto beans, soyrizo, olives, cheddar and jack cheese, little gem, tortilla chips, crema, and hot sauce.

From the Mains section, we opted for the Korean Fried Chicken Sandwich served on a brioche bun with Asian slaw, house-made pickles and gochujang aioli. This Korean fried chicken sando holds its own among the slew of other friend chicken sandwiches around town. The OG Impossible Burger on a vegan brioche bun with spicy ketchup and mustard, little gem, tomato and red onion was a little too simple. There are tastier meatless and plant-based burgers. I would recommend trying something a little more adventurous like the Cajun Shrimp and Cheddar Grits prepped with garlic, herbs and lemon.

Dessert options include pie in jars such as Key Lime Pie Parfait, Banana Pudding with Vanilla Wafers, Mississippi Mud Pie, and Strawberry Rhubarb Pie.

There’s no booze at The Common Good so pickup for a feast at home or enjoy a very pleasurable dinner outdoors. Nevermind the alley views, the setting is simple and chill and the eats are comforting.

The Common Good is located at Food Lab at 732 N. Highland Avenue. Enter through the alley. Open Monday thru Saturday from 5pm to 10pm. Call 323-601-1063.

Story & Photography By: Jose Martinez

Some Photography Courtesy Of: The Common Good