530541 Thu Jun 19 06:00:30 -0700 2008 4 12 Boston Area 0 3793605 I paid my third visit to Common Ground in Dorchester last night (and no, it is not related to Common Ground in Allston--not by a long shot). For those who haven't been, this could very well be the most.....UNUSUAL...restaurant in the Boston area, with organic, locally-grown food served by members of the Twelve Tribes, a religious group that follows Yahshua, the son of the living God and considers themselves the Commonwealth of Israel (again, this is nothing like the Common Ground in Allston!). Although a bit jarring initially, the Common Ground is a very appealing place, with atmosphere that feels like a mix of a ski lodge and a Rainforest Cafe, though there is an odd, almost ancient feel to it. Lots of dark wood, warm overhanging lights, tables that have seashells embedded in them, and rather romantic nooks and crannies that allow privacy for diners. Male servers have big beards and ponytails, while female servers wear long, flowing dresses and wear little makeup. Last night, we started with a garden salad and a Greek salad (both tasted fresh and wholesome, like some of the veggies were grown right around the corner, which indeed they might have been), then moved on to our entrees--a Greek pizza that was surprisingly good considering that spelt was used for making the crust (I'm generally not a fan of spelt) and a roast beef sandwich that was hearty and substantial, with warm roast beef, pepper jack and mozzarella cheeses, and veggies, all in a steamed roll). The only gripes from last night were that the rolls that came at the start of the meal were also made with spelt and were very dry, and the meals came out maybe 3 minutes after the salads, which is a big pet peeve of mine. We passed on dessert, opting for the nearby Ice Creamsmith instead. All in all, another offbeat experience at Common Ground. I'd say that if you have an open mind (and/or like to go to unusual dining spots), it's worth checking out. But if you're a burger and beer type of person, stay far, far away from this place! ;-b Thu Jun 19 06:00:31 -0700 2008 14771 hiddenboston 1 3793867 I like the homeopathic store that's connected to their restaurant. Their drinks and smoothies are darned tasty too. Thu Jun 19 07:17:48 -0700 2008 3793605 68819 chowciao 1 3796039 These folks are also at the Cambridge River Fest every year. Thu Jun 19 18:27:02 -0700 2008 3793605 16129 fredid 1 3796208 I don't get there often enough, but my son loves this place. He usually gets the "Pauper" turkey sandwich, with their delicious house iced tea. The interior design is great, and I am always impressed by the diversity of the folks who happily chow-down their sandwiches at lunch. My son uses their peppermint and their citrus liquid soaps. As it happens, they used to make many of the products in the Origins line before parting ways. It is a nice place on the local chowish scene. Thu Jun 19 19:40:40 -0700 2008 3793605 51746 chowfamily 2 3797912 My curiosity is peaked except when I got to that part in the first post that said "Male servers have big beards and ponytails"...something unappetizing about flowing long hair and beards around food. Ick. Fri Jun 20 11:02:19 -0700 2008 3796208 44642 bostongal