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    Common Ground

    3.9 (246 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

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    COMMON GROUND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Common Ground

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    strawberry banana smoothie, chocolate croissant
    Sarah S.

    This is a rustic coffee shop with ample seating for doing work or simply enjoying your food/drink. The people at the counter are very nice and they have a punchcard for returning visitors. I got a strawberry banana smoothie with oat milk that was really thick and quite filling, along with a chocolate croissant that they heated up for me. They had a sparse amount of pastries as we went closer to closing, so if you want the full selection be sure to get there early. I enjoyed my quick stop in and will surely be back.

    Hampden special on sourdough
    Anna S.

    I hadn't been to Common Ground since they became employee-owned and I'm happy to report that the menu has not changed significantly and the quality continues to be consistent. They still have a lovely selection of pastries including a couple gluten free muffins! The sandwiches are still yummy and creative along with some crowd pleaser classics. I chose to get the Hampden special which comes with two eggs, candied bacon, swiss cheese, and greens. It was pretty good! I opted for sourdough instead of the ciabatta. The cold and hot lunch sandwiches come with potato chips whereas the breakfast sammies come by itself. I will definitely be back to work on their deck and enjoy a gluten free pastry and coffee!

    Nova Sandwich
    Julie W.

    Ordered the NOVA bagel and matcha latter for $21.10, friend ordered masala chai and hickory sandwich for $20.66. Just very mid compared to other cafes. Matcha was mostly milk, chai had no milk only tasted like water and spices. Sandwiches were fine. Friend found vegetable sticker in her sandwich, not my favorite cafe in Baltimore.

    Frozen Mocha Smoothie
    Dan A.

    This has become one of the my favorite coffee spots. If I'm in Hampden, I find a way to get here. Smaller, cozy interior with a spacious outdoor seating area. The large Cappuccino is perfect as it has quad shots and the coffee/milk balance is perfect. I order mine with Oat milk. We've tried the frozen Mocha smoothie which was amazing. We always pick up one of their Vegan and/or Vegan/Gluten free Muffins or scones. They rotate the varieties-strawberry, orange cranberry, apple/cinnamon to name a few. Bonus-all of the baked goods are made in house. They also offer day old items. Service has always been friendly and engaged. One of many must stop spots in the area.

    That's My Jam!
    Valeria S.

    The service was great and quick! There was a lot of seating inside and it was comfortable. I loved listening to Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain" while devouring my breakfast sandwich. The Hampden special is a favorite of mine. The candied bacon is delicious as is the aioli. I tried the That's my Jam! sandwich for the first time and it was perfectly sweet and savory. The biscuit was huge! It was not dry nor crumbly and held everything in place.

    Powers (hummus, red onion, cucumber, tomato, avocado and spinach on toasted rye.
    Brady R.

    Common Ground is my favorite lunch spot for a great sandwich. My go to order is The Powers (hummus, red onion, cucumber, tomato, avocado and spinach on toasted rye). Located in the heart of Hamden, this worker owned business is a charmer. Laid back, hyper local and slow paced. Don't come in a hurry though, good food can't be rushed. Order the matcha too! Sourced locally from Wight Tea Co.

    Only option for a diet soda.

    I've always had good food here, and I like the vibe. I like seeing people from all walks of life sitting and eating lunch together. What I did not like is what I feel is the restaurant interjecting their political views into the peace I'm looking for on my lunch break. I always get a can of Diet Coke. When I went to get my Diet Coke out of the case, this was my only choice. I came back two weeks later and it was the same. If they want to sell the Palestina soda, fine. I can deal, but just bring back the Diet Coke too so we have a choice.

    Matcha Latte
    Cammi P.

    When you have a matcha craving, this is the best!! Fair prices with amazing pastries. Will definitely need to go back and try their sandwiches, however, my strawberry rhubarb scone did not disappoint. Very quick service and friendly staff. Cute space with tables for eating and leisure.

    Danish and coffee blended
    Sadie N.

    Lots of tables and nice patio space to enjoy your treats. Inside felt kinda cramped, but the availability of seats are endless. Well off coffee and good Danish.

    Menu
    Jacob F.

    Place is surprisingly expansive. I enjoy how the seating and ordering area is sectioned, so when you take a seat, it feels like you're in your own space, apart from a lot of shops where it just feels like a cafeteria. They packed the bagel with content, which I appreciated. Each bite was filling. The mango chutney that I added for $0.50 wasn't as prominent as I hoped. The bacon was cooked perfectly. It felt like there was seasoning on it, and it was the perfect balance of chewy and crispy. The cheese was actually melted on the egg, which I appreciated. The bagel had a great consistency. I didn't need to do much to break it apart.

    Lia F.

    Nice coffee and food. It gets pretty busy and hard to find seating though. Also they tend to be out of a lot of bagels. I also wish they stayed open a little later; 3 is early.

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    3 years ago

    Employee owned business. It's a great spot to grab some breakfast and coffee in Hampden.

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    3 years ago

    Baked goods are top, especially muffins. The bagel sandwiches are huge and yummy. Excellent coffee & atmosphere. Always great service.

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    4 years ago

    Best black bottom brownies I've had that aren't made at home. Soooo good! Their Hampden sandwich is also sooo delicious

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    Page 2 of 7

    Ask the Community - Common Ground

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    I visited Blueprint Cafe on a Wednesday morning. There were already a few people lined up when we…read morearrived, and it continued to get busier as we sat down and waited for our food. I loved the selection of pastries they offered--the pandan pastry was definitely my favorite. My husband ordered the drip coffee over ice, and I got the Vietnamese iced coffee. Both coffees were excellent. The Vietnamese coffee was a bit too sweet for my taste, and it was served in a very small glass. I think it would have been even better with a little more coffee to balance the sweetness. For lunch, we ordered the kimbap and the egg bowl, and both dishes were outstanding. The only downside was that it took about 35 minutes for our food to arrive. However, the cafe was extremely busy and clearly backed up, so we didn't mind the wait too much--especially since the food was so delicious. The indoor space is quite small, but they do offer outdoor seating. I can't wait to come back and try more of their Asian-inspired pastries and dishes. What a fantastic addition to the neighborhood!

    Amazing food , great quality. Dont know about the short…read morebald lady though. It feels yucky to listen to her assume that every man that walks in is some bad guy. Then openly spread untrue words about a stranger. These are my Neighbors honey calm down.

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    29th Street Tavern

    29th Street Tavern

    4.4(59 reviews)
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    29th street tavern is a classic dive bar. i came here around 9 pm on a friday and it was completely…read morepacked. after about 10 mins, a table freed up that my friends and i snatched (group of 5). the drinks are exactly what you would expect from a dive bar (good thing) and i was satisfied with my angry orchard. the food here is quite good. reasonably prices and everything tastes fresh. great spot for classic american food that won't break the bank. i got a blt with fries, which definitely satisifed the craving. their fries were great if a little undersalted. on busy nights service is a difficult thing to gauge, but for what it is it is definitely satisfactory. highly recommend if you like dive bars with good food.

    Now that my beloved 'Cheers' (aka 'Brewers Art') is no more, it appears w/o even trying, that '29th…read moreStreet Tavern' has become my 'go to' spot. It's very much a 'local neighborhood bar'. There's no flash. There are no gimmicks. It's a local bar to go grab a drink and you're not in the mood for the trendy packed spots. It's very unassuming and great neutral space. Anyone can show up, any time. Everyone's welcomed. You can have a good convo w/o having to scream thru it. MASSIVE PLUS *smile*!!! From a musical perspective, all sorts of genres pump thru the system and the ability to make selections is much better than other bars, which is great. It's even better when your selections are getting other people to enjoy the music and their time there, as well. Always a crowd pleaser. Aside from a fully stocked bar, there's a great beer selection. I happen to LOVE ciders and there's always an excellent choice available. The bartenders are always welcoming and accommodating. People come to unwind and have a good time w/o any pretense. I really enjoy the Tavern for that reason.

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    TouchTunes and entranceway

    29th Street Tavern - Shrimp Po'boy with tavern tots and remoulade sauce, the delicious bun, spicy pickles and fresh tomato really tie this into a cohesive bite.

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    Chaps Pit Beef

    Chaps Pit Beef

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    4.8 miPulaski Industrial Area
    $$

    They are in business for so many years because they do meat right…read more Had to come here after many trips to Baltimore previously and never eating the holy grail, a PIT BEEF sandwich More than roast beef on a roll. Delicious. Smokey

    I travel to Baltimore often for work, and when two completely separate people tell me I need to eat…read moresomewhere, eventually I'm going to listen. In the case of Chaps Pit Beef, I've now listened twice. First, the setting deserves its own star. There's something wonderfully Baltimore about pulling into a place famous across the country for pit beef, sharing the immediate surroundings with a strip club, and knowing you can shop for used tires across the street when you're finished. Add the walls of awards, television appearances, photos and decades of accumulated lore inside and the whole thing feels less like stopping for lunch and more like making a small pilgrimage. And that's part of why I'm struggling with Chaps. I've tried several of the sandwiches across my two visits. I've piled on the raw onions, pickles and sauces. I've ordered too much--which feels both heroic and completely appropriate here--and walked away convinced that Chaps is very good. But I haven't found my five-star Chaps order yet. The pit beef itself is clearly the reason for the pilgrimage, and the condiment station is part of the experience. Beef, raw onion and that horseradish-heavy Tiger Sauce is a combination I could happily keep attacking. But then you look around at the menu and realize you've barely scratched the surface: beef, sausage, corned beef, turkey, enormous combinations of all of the above, gravy fries, homemade sides and sandwiches carrying names and reputations of their own. It's almost overwhelming. That's ultimately why I'm leaving Chaps at four stars--for now. There's a five-star experience hiding here. I can feel it. I'm just not convinced I've ordered it yet. Next visit I'm stripping this thing back before building it up again: pit beef medium-rare, raw onion and Tiger Sauce as the control. Then I'm going in the opposite direction with one of the ridiculous combinations--probably Guy's DDD--and finally giving the gravy fries their proper opportunity. If that unlocks what generations of Baltimoreans and seemingly every food television personality already know, I'll happily come back here and move this to five stars. If after three visits I'm still admiring the institution more than craving the food, maybe it moves the other direction. For now: Chaps is absolutely worth the stop. The food is good, the history is real, and the atmosphere couldn't be manufactured if someone tried. I just haven't cracked the code yet. Four stars, with one more trip pending.

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    BRD

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    4.0(251 reviews)
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    I have to be honest, I was skeptical-- how different could chicken tenders be? They can, in fact,…read morebe very different; something about the way they fry the chicken breasts produces a crunchiness I was genuinely marveling at with every bite. I know that sounds dramatic but it's true! I was shocked! The fries were a nice accompaniment that matched the chicken in quality + I love the addition of a pickle. I ordered the house BRD sauce and honey mustard and both were perfect in my eyes! The only downside was the wait, but I see it more as a testament to how good it is-- it was worth the wait for me, and it seems like many others would agree! In general I love that it's in R House, a great place to take friends and make sure that everyone has an option they will enjoy.

    I had a chicken sandwich here the other day- it was very good! I think the price point of all the…read moreplaces at r house is a little high but it was overall a good sandwich- vibe is great for people watching but again it is an upscale food court that you are paying restaurant prices - the fries are okay - despite the seasoning - my mouth felt it was a little bland - the sandwich was fried to perfection - I got honey mustard (no spicy) but was wishing I could have had a little more spicy. Service was fine/ acceptable although I never heard my name being called so it did sit for a bit and I did have to ask separately for ketchup

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    Menu

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    Hot Honey Old Bay BRD Sando

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    Menu on self- kiosk

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    5.0(2 reviews)
    0.5 miTuscany - Caterbury

    [Disclaimer: this is a comprehensive review so buckle in and let's go!]…read more I used to frequent Hopkins Market (HM) when it was a tiny cafe that had good food. Always friendly staff. Good space. I was sad to see that they left. The replacement, however, has truly impressed me. The new & improved current location has nearly 'quadrupled' in size with its redesign/ buildout. The location is well lit and has morphed from a small neighborhood cafe into a full service vendor. Aside from a menu offering an impressive myriad of options, HM is also a massive grocer/ wine & cafe. They offer wine tastings and a very clean space. I believe they openEd in 2025. On to the stats: STAFF: Everyone is friendly & helpful. SUNDRIES: An expansive selection of liquor, beer & wine; snacks; candy; soda; coffee; household goods; grocer goods; Knick knacks. LIQUOR PURCHASES: A GREAT perk is liquor can be purchased until close (11 or 12). CAFE FEEDBACK [This is an amalgamation of dishes based on numerous visits. Didn't want to come across like a serious 'BIG BACK' LOL - On To The Vittles: 1. Chicken salad sub (recommended). Freshly made. Simple recipe [Mayo, S&P, celery, a few spices] (which I really enjoy, when done well) and sizable portions. SCORE! 2. French fries (recommended). Toasty/ crispy of the outside, fluffy inside w/ very good flavor. SCORE! 3. Yellow cake w/ choc icing. A tasty sheet cake / good grocery store offering. Moist cake, thick flavorful icing. DELISH! SCORE! 4. Dolmas - Stuffed Grape Leaves. I absolutely love these. Unsure if they're made in house or brought in but they're tasty. Not always in stock but when they are - SCORE! 5. Guava nectar - Absolutely delicious! Give me more. 6. Pear Nectar - Absolutely delicious! Give me more. 7. Pastrami sandwich - DEEEELISHIOUS. Tastes like it came straight from a NY deli counter. I added Swiss & deli mustard (heated). Perfect recipe. Don't overdo it. TRIPLE WORD SCORE!! 8. Western Fries - Crunchy exterior and fluffy interior. Seasoned well. SCORE!! 9. Onion Rings - I wished they were beer battered instead of being super crunchy. They also lacked ANY flavor. Breading wasn't seasoned at all. A little salt in the batter or at the end would've made a world of difference. CRIME! 10. Marble Chocolate Cake: Delicious chocolate frosting. Cake was drier than I like. I enjoy a moist cake. That wasn't one. I do think, however, that the deserts are shipped in - so I can't hold it against them (TIP: Change your baker) 11. Egg & Cheese Sandwich: on toasted Rye w/ mayo, mustard, S&P. THIS is my 'GO TO'. When I don't want meat but I'm hungry, this always satiates me. I'm a big fan of this addition to the area.

    Nicely remodeled, friendly staff, excellent sandwiches and pizza. They even gave sushi.read more

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    Common Ground - coffee - Updated August 2026

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