Overall good, although not as good as I had hoped for. We tried Communal on the recommendation of a friend. We like to try all ranges of restaurants all over the country and always count new experiences as a good thing. Following that principal, this place was worth going to, though we will not be returning. The hostess was pleasant, though she seated us at a table upon which one of the waiters was leaning. He was having a long discussion with a patron he obviously knew, all the while seated on the edge of our table. We sat there for a full five minutes before he ended his visit and finally moved his derriere off of our table. Not a very professional first impression, but we have had worse, and we were there for the food. A world of wrongs can be forgiven for great food. Our waitress was very nice, and we quickly ordered several dishes. Everything is labeled as Family Style, which is fine by us, but the portions were small enough that there isn't much to share when it arrives. Don't get me wrong, I am fine with small portions, just odd that they are presented for sharing. The Fennel Tart was actually very good. The flavors balanced and came alive in your mouth. We could have eaten that all night and been very pleased. The Artichoke was then a let down. It tasted (and looked) like it had been slapped on a grill, then covered in spaghetti sauce and some cheese. Not the caliber that I was expecting. The highlight of the night was the Celery Root Gratin. Delicate, flavorful, it was a joy to taste. It was muddled, however, by being undercooked. It came with a spoon to serve with, but it was still tough to the point of needing a very sharp knife to cut it. The Pork Confit was very tender, though fairly bland. It was served with a Tomatillo sauce that was good, but didn't work with the meat. Last, the Potatoes Burgonese (or something like that) were decent, although they had a strong enough flavor that they somewhat overpowered the pork, and definitely overpowered the Gratin. Most restaurants that strive for this level of Culinary Artistry do not make you mix and match your entries and sides, specifically because the Art demands that everything served together must go together. Everything on the plate comes together in the masterpiece to make the experience complete. Communal misses that entire idea, and for lack of that key element falls short. Add to that the multiple mistakes that I would not expect to see in a restaurant striving for this level, and I have to say that Communal is thoroughly mediocre in the class they wish to attain. read more

Went there once with a friend, ordered 3 different entrées and the staff was amazing! We got to talk with the chef and was genuinely kind.

Our favorite in Provo. You can tell they really take time to make sure your food is perfect before taking it to your table. We ordered Steak hanger and honey chicken with mashed taters and cauliflower. The flavors are amazing!!! Believe me, you won't regret it. We didn't mind paying suck high price for the quality of food we got. Worth every penny! Don't Olán going to other places in the area, this is it! read more

Top quality, delicious food. Professional service. They serve large portions that are meant to be shared. It makes for a cozy, home style-ish sort of meal. Best of all, you don't have to worry about having me a envy because you get to taste everything on the table. read more

Everything I have ordered has been just about perfect. The only other restaurant I like this much in Utah is probably Pizzeria 712, which is owned by the same people. They are just so good at delivering excellent food. The butterscotch pudding is unbelievable. I am a film producer and was shooing a movie in Provo. The actors found this place, several of them became obsessed. These are folks that live in LA and eat some of the best food in the USA and they couldn't stop talking about it. In fact they begged me to take them there one night. we were still shooting but I was pretty much done. I mistakenly had the memory cards to the quarter million$ camera package in my pocket. I get this call while I am eating that the production is held up because I have the cards (can't shoot without them)... I had to make a decision to go back or eat at communal. Hardest decision of my life. haha. read more

The wine list has improved. At $42 the Willemet Valley Pinot Noir threatens obsolescence to the phrase "Harder than finding a good bottle of wine in Provo." Great job guys. read more

I grew up with a mom, dad, grandma, three sisters, and now a brother-in-law that all claim they make the best biscuits. They're wrong. Communal makes the best biscuits. The communal breakfast or the biscuits and gravy will show you the truth. I had to dock them a star because they changed the hash just a little, and it was my favorite dish. Still my absolute go-to for brunch. read more

Communal was a very nice surprise while I was in the Provo area. Our group started with the bbq chips with dip, and can I say WOW! I would eat these everyday if I could. They are thin, crispy, and full of flavor and come with an amazing dip. I had the smoked turkey sandwich with fries and it was absolutely delicious. It was so full of flavor while remaining to be a simple, healthy sandwich. Only complaint was that it could use a little more spread and the bacon was a little bit on the burnt side. Also - their drinks were delightful. Everyone tried something and enjoyed it. I had the fresh lime which is Mexican sprite, lime, and mint. It was a delicious drink that I will definitely try to make at home. It was soooo refreshing and the Mexican Sprite gave is such a unique and better flavor. What I loved about their drinks is that they used fresh ingredients and made their syrups and flavorings from scratch. And last but not least, dessert. We debated on getting it and one of the members in our group made an executive decision to order two. Wow, am I glad he did! We had the butterscotch pudding and it was soooo tasty with the perfect amount salty and sweet. If you don't have room, take one to go! I wish I was in the Prove area more so that I could enjoy this gem!! Whenever I go to a restaurant that says they are Farm to Table, I just hope they can compare to Communal! We had amazing service, the atmosphere was awesome, and the food was great. What more could you want? One last note, I almost forgot! Many people from our table had the house smoked sausage and they raved that it was the best they ever had. If/when I ever go back, it will be the first thing on my list to order. read more

Communal is great. I've never been disappointed with a meal from them, and I have been for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their desserts are delicious, too. Communal is the home cooking you wish you grew up with. They use super fresh local ingredients to create unique dishes. The service is great and the staff is very knowledgeable. I always leave full, satisfied, and eager to go again. read more

I will be traveling to Utah County from Boston frequently for work and I stayed in Provo for the first time and this is definitely one of the stand outs here and would be in any city. Communal is in a handsome brick building and features a beautifully appointed space with lots of windows, modern and warm decor. Loved the dark stain on the white pine/light wood floor. Love the local farm to table aspect and the menu was the right size with many tempting options. I found the staff to be friendly and Lee the server was attentive, helpful and very pleasant. I was alone so I sat at the bar and got to watch the chefs in action. They were quite friendly and willing to talk prep; we got to talking about Brussels sprouts (I had the side of sauteed sprouts and apples with toasted almonds in a cider reduction sauce - YUM), and he whipped up some deep fried Brussels sprout leaves that were a crispy, oily, but green and good for you snack! I went with the pork special of the evening (they butcher their own pigs and feature different cuts over time) which was wrapped in bacon, roasted and then sauteed with a teriyaki sauce. I followed that with affogato (espresso poured over ice cream). The meal, service and decor all rocked. The wines were so excellently priced. Given the restaurant's name, plates are meant to be shared and portions are family style. You need to order sides to accompany the sides as it is just protein. As such, my dinner doubled as my lunch the next day (I had the best lunch in the office). read more

Communal used to be such a delightful and exciting place to dine. The first two years they were open we relished every visit. In recent years, however, their quality of food has seriously gone downhill. The bread used to be fresh made in house - the last time we went they were using frozen rolls that they baked there that had a moldy smell to them. The sous vide chicken was nothing to write home about and everything else we had was just depressing. I want the old communal back! What happened to Chef Tim!?? It pains me to write this review - but I feel like they are mostly just riding on their reputation from previous years when they were truly superb. I have told so many people that communal was the be all end all restaurant in Utah county, no, Utah! - but now I've had to retract my previous claims because I felt so badly burned the last two or three times we went. I also value my reputation as a connoisseur of fine food. The fact that my love for Communal has been so badly bruised leaves me truly depressed. :( :( :( read more

We splurged on Communal for my wife's birthday dinner (and yes, it is a splurge - this is NOT cheap). We split the marinated beet salad. It was fresh, delicious, and beautifully presented. And of course, it used both red and golden beets (my favorites). We got two entree plates to share (family style is the whole idea here). Perfectly cooked venison tenderloin with about a tablespoon of chard to garnish (yes, the meat plate veggies should really by called garnishes as they are somewhat limited). Absolutely delicious though. My wife got the most perfect tasting pork chop - cut into four good portions (3 were the best pork we have EVER eaten, the one left on the bone was under and extremely fatty). And once again a couple of slices of squash and a few mushrooms - garnished the huge plate of meat. But those first few pieces of pork chop really were a divine experience. We supplemented the meat with 2 starches (we were anticipating more veggies so didn't order any). The jalapeno cornbread was very good cornbread that I doubt ever met a jalapeno. The potato/kale gratin was creamy, comforting, and absolutely delicious. For desert we split the flowerless chocolate torte with blackberries. A yummy end to a first rate meal. Great service too - very friendly waiter. This is one of (if not the) finest restaurant in Utah county. read more

Nice place, the sausage is good and made special for Communal. The sides are average. Prices are ok, a little on the high side for the amount you get but still in the ballpark for a sandwich. read more

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If you're in downtown Provo, this is definitely a place to try. It's on the fancier side, it's a little expensive, but I'm in love. I felt like I was having brunch in the West Village, and that is a happy feeling. Our waiter was wonderful. So pleasant, eager to offer suggestions, and plain ol' happy. We were in for lunch, and they have a limited menu which is something I greatly appreciate. It's simple foods with gourmet twists and for the most part they're also all locally sourced. I love it! I got the Rueben sandwich with parm fries. It was so tasty. The fries were garlicy and cheesy and perfect. The pastrami transported me to a Kosher deli. The sauerkraut was pickled in house and bomb. It may have all been simple, but that doesn't stop it from being delicious. THEN! We got the butterscotch pudding. I'm not a big dessert person, I'm not even a big butterscotch person but WOW. It was so good. Don't skip it when you go here. It's heavenly. We ordered one apiece, but we definitely could have shared one... but at least we had leftovers that they packed away for us. Check this place out. It's real good, and they've got some really fun food events like Farm to Table. So go! read more

Sitting at the counter at the already-packed (it was only 5:30, though on a Friday night), I expected a good meal based on the Yelp reviews. But, I was not ready for the fantastic meal I got to enjoy. I was immediately impressed by the quiet but confident demeanor of the man behind the stove. The quiet and purposeful Native American chef and his colleague was a good indication of a well-prepared kitchen. The food orders came fast and furious but unless you were paying attention (as I was, since I was dining alone this evening) you would be fooled into thinking the space was wide open. I opted for an asparagus and buffalo burrata dish as a starter. The asparagus was perfectly prepared, then chilled and served was a very good olive oil and salted with flaky salt. And for my entree, I chose the salmon dish. A perfectly cooked, large salmon steak with crispy skin was served with a delicious sauce on it. I asked for the mashed potatoes to go along with it. The menu items are meant to be shared. I had plenty of food left for two more meals. Typically, I would have stayed away from restaurants that work with this concept as they tend to be wasteful. But that's not the case with Communal. I just happened to be alone but the serving portion would have been perfect for my wife and I (I asked for half servings, which they are more than willing to accommodate). The wine selection is short but thoughtful and perfectly rounded off each of my dishes. There is also a short selection of beers as well. This is by far the best food I tasted in Provo. You'll miss out on a great meal and a fun dinner if you don't visit this restaurant while you happen to be in Provo UT. read more

Lovely idea, terrible food! Expensive and blasé! Service was great and it looked cozy but was cold inside.

$30 for 3 pieces of chicken?? I don't think so. Their charcuterie plate sucked!

I enjoy their food. There were a few times when they ran out of the salad that I wanted or the meat that I wanted. Overall pretty good. A little pricey but i don't mine paying when it's good. Service has always been good. read more

It was good but over priced. I appreciate what they are trying to do, but I didn't feel like our main course was worth the money. They did have great service and the food was still pretty good. I did enjoy our meal but the reason it gets 4 stars from me was the dessert. We had the lava and lemon cakes, both were outstanding and worth the trip alone. I have heard that their breakfasts are where they excel, so I'll have to go back and try... If not only to get some of that desert again. read more

Without any doubt this has continually been my favorite restaurant in Utah County since I moved here almost two years ago. Fresh ingredients, reasonable wine selection, friendly staff and a regular changing menu makes this place a gem in an area where quantity and price normally trumps quality. read more

Like most of the my reviews for Utah County, Communal gets 5 stars relative to the rest of the food options. In a major metropolitan area it would still hold a steady 4 stars. Communal is the new concept restaurant by the Pizzeria 712 guys. The menu shifts based on what local and organic produce is in season and it's whatever the chef feels like making. I was envisioning dishes just being brought out, but you actually order a la carte and then eat family style. The renovated space looks great, preserving a lot of the old wood. The kitchen is completely open and you can see everything being prepared. We ate in the private dining room which even had a large glass window to the kitchen where we could see everything being made. The starters were good but not great. The entrees were much better. We had wonderful polenta, delicious bacon in an apple reduction, perfectly seasoned and cooked steak, tender baked squash and perfectly done scallops. We didn't get to dessert because we were too full, but I'll definitely be back to try it and see what else is new on the menu. read more

Super sad I have to write this review. Communal is one of my favorite places to eat. I called a week in advance and tried to book their back room for 12 people, we were having a little work party. The man on the phone said that our reservation was down and that it was connected to my phone number and name. I thought I wouldn't have to worry about anything. Tonight, I decided to call to let them know we had a change in the number of seats we needed. They acted like they had never had our reservation. No one had my name down, they had booked the back room for another party, AND they didn't have another available reservation until 8pm. I had 8 people already there waiting for us to go in. They didn't offer to help in any way or move things around. They were so unkind. I wish they would have even changed their attitude to help accommodate us. Really, really bummed. read more

We went with some friends and really enjoyed our meal. The dinner was excellent, the atmosphere was nice, our dessert was seriously tasty and the service was great. The whole meal for four was only $107. Dinner is served family style so it is good to order a variety. The restaurant is small and really only consists of one large dining table so you are seated next to the couple who got there just before you. This makes for a little bit of a noisy environment and is more difficult for quiet conversation. That being said, it was still a positive experience. read more

Communal - New American Near Me - Provo, Utah

Maybe one of the best lunches I have ever had. Comfort food with just the right amount of artisanal. Fantastic service. Our girls had tomato soup and grilled cheese and loved it. The charcuterie board with apricot jam - wow. And then my husband and I shared the chicken sandwich and romaine salad. Both perfectly dressed and super tasty. And to finish a jar of butterscotch pudding arrived. A perfect ending shared by the four of us. As an aside, seating is comfortable. Lovely lighting with just the right amount of background music. Enjoy. read more

One of my favorite restaurants but super pricey. Things are theoretically "family-style", but it's possible that my dinner companions and I eat ridiculously large portions because we've always ended up getting at least one main protein and one side for each person when we've gone there. The food is new American and prepared amazingly. I also tend to get the impression I'm not cool (urban?) enough to be eating there, so it loses a few points for that. That said, the food is amazing enough that I don't care much about the service (which varies by server, frankly). The menu changes seasonally, so it's hard to identify favorite dishes, but almost everything is delicious. Also, this is one of the few restaurants where dessert is necessary. It's usually the best part of the meal, which is saying a lot. So, for me, more of a special occasion place, as for 2 -3 people, it hasn't been uncommon to spend somewhere between $40 - $70, with drinks and dessert. read more

I love this place. I came here with my dad while he was in town visiting. We had just spent 10 hours in the car driving so we were tired and hungry patrons. Thankfully, I had thought to make a reservation because the place was packed. Be sure and make reservations before you go! We started off with a salad that had a pistachio dressing. WOW. I'm not a pistachio fan but it was pretty great. We couldn't decide what we wanted for our entrees so we split the short ribs and salmon and had a side of polenta. Both were home runs! The short ribs were falling apart and soaked in these amazing juices and spices while the salmon was perfectly seasoned and cooked. Service was great to boot. We were well taken care of that night. Only downside was it was $$$ (but that's the territory) and dessert was just okay. I wasn't feeling dessert but my dad pushed me into it (he always steals bites from me even thought it's "my" dessert). I ordered a lemon cake and it wasn't very good. Dry and lackluster in flavor. But I didn't come for dessert, I came for the FOOD. Everything else was so good that I was able to overlook it. read more

I hate to leave bad reviews. I usually only leave a review if I can give 5 stars. If you are gluten free go elsewhere. My wife and I went to Communal to celebrate her birthday. We spent $77 and I left hungry. A few thoughts: 1) Server didn't know what gluten free meant. 2) Gluten laden soy sauce is in everything. They could use gluten free soy sauce, tamari, and make the menu available to more people. I tried to order the London Broil but it had gluten soy sauce. I tried to order the chicken but it had gluten soy sauce. 3) Sink didn't drain when I washed my hands. Hmmm. Seems fitting. Poor attention to detail in many areas. I hope it appeals to someone. I won't be back. I can get a filet mignon, salad, and baked potato for much less elsewhere, I'll feel like I actually ate dinner, and it will taste much, much better. I'm not hipster enough for this place. read more

I'm thinking utah thinks they know good food, and utah simply just does not know good food. Came here for brunch yesterday and with a reservation got seated right away. we ordered some tea which they have at all the sister locations which is always good. The brûléed grapefruit was great! Then came our Benedict's... the sauce was horrible and tasted like someone mixed up some salt water and lemon and poured it everywhere. The potato's could have been great but again.. WAY too much salt. The extra bacon I ordered. SALT. Super disappointing since I hear great things about this place.. I never seem to luck out. word of advice: COOL IT ON THE SALT also our waitress just wasn't attentive enough and brought the check before even checking if the food was okay. waiting on her got to be really uncomfortable because there was almost no one the in the restaurant and she was just standing there behind the counter. I would like to go back but for a $40 breakfast it needs to be awesome not too salty to eat. 3 stars for how esthetically pleasing it all was and for the grapefruit. read more

I like to take out-of-town guests here for dinner. Good atmosphere, great service, excellent food. Menu changes frequently because the owners/chefs want to continue to offer interesting food. Servers are attentive and knowledgable. I've never been disappointed. Very much part of the locally-source-ingredients movement, but if that's not your thing, don't be put off. read more

Food is generally good, rustic food, sometimes far too salty or disappointing, but most often it's pretty good. The service, however, is weird. It's a small place, so they rush you through in ways that are lousy and irritating. As soon as a plate (or side dish) is ready, they bring it to the table, rather than bringing everyone's food at once. Twice I've watched friends eat most of their meals before my food arrived. Most recently, when my food arrived, they whisked away my friend's plate, so we had to ask for a fork so she could try a bite of mine while watching me eat. When I was about a third of the way through, the server put the check and a box on our table, clearly trying to get us out the door. Then a little more than an hour after the time of our reservation (and note we arrived on time for our reservation and were promptly seated), the server came by and said she was giving us a 2-minute warning that we needed to leave because another reservation was booked for our table just 1 hour and 15 minutes after the start time for our reservation! So because of the lousy service and occasional bad food, I have a hard time recommending this place. I've too often had distinctly bad experiences here. read more

I came to Communal with a group of writers in town for a conference, and it was hands down the best food I've had in Provo (and I used to live here). It was a group of ten and we ordered pretty much one of everything, and it was all amazing! Even though we had a reservation, we waited a long time to be seated because their dining room is small, but it was worth the wait and in the meantime we joked around with the waitstaff, who were hilarious and helpful. Our server, Kirstie, was so charming and the sommelier, Devin, knew the wine right down to the backstory of the guy who made it. The food came quickly once we sat down, and I was impressed with the detail and freshness in every dish. I loved the "communal" feel where we could all share and have some of everything. They were great about splitting the checks and, even though individual plates seem expensive, once it was split up, I ended up paying less than I have for much less satisfying dinners. 5/5 for great service, great food, and great value! read more

When ever we have a special date to celebrate we go to communal. The service is good and the food is always delicious.

Communal is pricey but the food is definitely worth it also, everything is locally grown so the menu changes from week to week. If you want more bang for your buck you're better off bringing a bigger group as the food is served "family style" but the place is small so make sure you call a few days in advance for reservations. read more

One of the best restaurants in Utah County. Knowledgable staff. Very clean & cozy. The food is very well prepared. They take the "fresh, local, and in-season" very seriously and they indeed represent that philosophy. read more

To be honest, i was not all that impressed with communal after all they hype i heard about it. Food was ok, but I've had better at similar establishments. We did get their pasta primavera, and that was one of the best things I've gotten at any restaurant. However my skirt steak was so tough i couldn't cut through it and neither could my dining partner, we had to send it back to the chef to chop it up for us (kind of embarrassing on my part that I couldn't cut through a freaking piece of meat so thin!). I know skirt steak has a membrane that is tough, but this piece was extreme and very chewy. Other food was alright but nothing to rave about. Service was excellent. Our server was friendly and helpful. Overall, I probably won't rush over there again anytime soon, but you could try it and see for yourself. read more

This placed lived up to its expectations. Everything had so much flavor and was cooked perfectly. We got the salmon hush puppies to start, then shared a Christiansen Farm Pork, potato gratin, and the sugar snap peas with mushrooms in a soy glaze. Everything was perfect and delicious. Our service was perfection and our dinner was amazing. It was fun to have a nice night out! read more

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This review will be two-fold: brunch and dinner. I will say, both meet/exceed my preconceived notions and expectations for Communal. I've been for brunch a few times and every time, I've made sure to try something new. I guess, what I love most about Brunch at Communal is that is far less expensive than dinner, but they still offer unique and delicious dishes both savory and sweet. Easily my favorite thing on the brunch menu is the savory "pine state" biscuit and fried chicken. It makes me feel gluttonous and happy while providing more than grease, but an abundance of flavor. They have lighter options like the bruleed grapefruit, greek yogurt, and granola which makes for a absolutely delightful combo. Really, I just don't see why someone would choose a place like Denny's over Communal on a Saturday morning. Dinner at Communal is on a whole different level than Brunch. It is also a little pricier but I will say now, it is totally WORTH IT. As soon as you are seated, you are given some of the most delicious dinner rolls (so delicious they give my Grandma a run for her money). These rolls are little doughy balls of heaven to say the least. We came for the full experience on one special occasion: started with the salmon hush puppies served with a 'secret' green sauce that I couldn't identify exactly what all was in it. This dish will blow you away with new flavors, that for me at least, have never tasted before. As for the main dishes, my two favorite have to be the pork and the short rib. I'm no hippie, but I truly feel you can taste the difference in pork that was once raised free-range compared to another raised to kill. Communal takes their meat seriously, from start to finish, there is a lot of TLC that goes into each cut. You should ask about the process when you visit! The way they combine fruits and other unique ingredients with the preparation of the protein just really makes for some of the most flavorful meats I've tasted, I don't care what anybody else says, this place knows how to prepare a dish. As far as side dishes go, mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts all day! both are great additions to the main dishes. Finish off the experience with some dessert. The only thing you'll regret is not getting one of everything they have on the menu. I will say, the butterscotch pudding is one dessert that has been on the menu since the very beginning. Service is top notch. Not only are the servers great, the additional help from those keeping glasses full and the manager walking around making sure everything is good, all makes for a phenomenal dining experience. read more

Great place to eat family style with a group. Fried cauliflower is amazing. Their menu changes and is somewhat restricted, but I have loved almost everything. Fun place to try different foods. Not a ton of seating. It's now my favorite place to eat in Provo. read more

Ready for the cheese? Communal has landed a spot in our stomachs (I mean HEARTS)! We came across this little gem in Downtown Provo while hanging out with some close friends. Needless to say after eating a delectable trout and mashed potatoes. They also have a decent selection of beers (change by the seasons) that are amazing, my favourite so far "Oktoberfest". We've come back on a few occasions and the staff is very friendly. They treat you well and make sure that everything is to your satisfaction. I love that they endorse sustainable agriculture, local business, local artists, etc. I'm very impressed with Communal, I just wish they had something comparable out here in the Bay Area. read more

I've never had a bad experience here. It's not all they make it out to be but the food is good. There is a little "snobish" feel to it that comes down from the owner and the culture created there but it's pretty good. I had usually gone for dinner and it was good but nothing exceptional. However, I'm giving it 4-stars because of their brunch. Their brunch was really good! My favorite was the french toast. The eggs benedict were pretty good but not amazing. They were perfectly cooked though, which is important. The steak, salad, and Mexican huevos were alright. I LOVED their mint drink which is pretty much like a virgin mojito with Mexican sprite. YUM! I'll be back for brunch for sure. read more