I have written about several great restaurants in the Avondale area of Birmingham, Alabama. There is another new place I have added to the list – Avondale Common House. I had visited them before for cocktails but this was the first time I have eaten there.
The restaurant was booming. There were hardly any seats left. I lucked out and was able to get one of the last seats at the bar. I got a great view into the kitchen which was extremely busy. Those cooks were constantly creating different dishes. It all smelled so wonderful.
I started off with one of their specialty cocktails. I ordered the Raspberry Gin & Fizz. I am not a gin fan but the bartender said this was one of her favorite drinks so I decided to take a chance. The gin was mixed with raspberry syrup, fresh lime, and soda. This drink was surprisingly sweet, but not too sweet. I could not taste the gin at all. The raspberry is what stood out. The splash of soda they use added the right amount of bubbles to make the drink fun.
One of the menu items that stood out to me was the Loaded Totchos. These were loaded tater tots. They were covered with crispy pieces of bacon, green onions, queso, and sour cream. This was definitely something that needed to be eaten with a fork.
This dish had all the necessary ingredients for nachos and a loaded baked potato. It was the perfect blend of both dishes. The tater tots were crispy on the outside but then drenched in creamy queso. The bacon added even more salty taste and crunch. The sour cream added a slight tangy taste. It was a fun dish to start with.
My second cocktail was another one of their most popular – Spring Street Smash. It was a tongue-twister to order. It combined vodka with muddles basil, cucumber, lemonade, and topped with saison. The taste was slightly bitter, especially compared to my first drink. By the second sip I could taste the freshness of the cucumber.
The wonderful scents coming out of their kitchen continued to make me hungry. I glanced over their menu again and my eyes fell upon the Crispy Kung Pao Cauliflower.
They fried up bite size pieces of fresh cauliflower. It was tossed in a teriyaki sauce that was both sweet and salty. They also threw in red peppers and scallions. The peppers added the heat that gives the dish the “Kung Pao”. This dish also had chopped up cashews in it, so if you have a cashew allergy beware of this dish.
It had been a long time since I had fried cauliflower. It is also not something you see on many menus. I really enjoyed how the breading soaked up the sauce. It helped cut back some of the bitterness that cauliflower can sometimes have. The cashews added a hearty crunch. It was an interesting and creative take of Asian ingredients.
Avondale Common House was a fun place to visit. They were constantly busy while I was there. The bartenders are extremely friendly and make wonderful drink recommendations. I would highly suggest you check them out if you are ever in Birmingham. Visit their website at http://avondalecommonhouse.com/
Enjoy!
T
