Back in college my friends and I used to love to find a fun restaurant that was close enough to drive but far enough away that it would make for a whole evening event. I loved exploring new places. In Oklahoma, where I went to school, there were a few less choices but we found a few restaurants that were worth the drive. For these, we went on long distance dinners. We piled in cars and drove to our destination together. We became better friends through the evening. Plus, we got to try some new food.
I recently took a long distance lunch with a fellow foodie friend to Provo to check out Communal, a new restaurant in Utah County. I’ve heard a lot of hype about this new restaurant so we had to see for ourselves.
Communal offers fresh ingredients and a dining experience bound to bring people together. Guests sit at long wooden tables and the food is served more like a high-end Sunday afternoon meal. Although the portions may not be as large as one would hope for as ‘family style’, the flavor more than makes up for it.
Their menu changes seasonally, so we enjoyed the wintry ingredients such as butternut squash, apples and sausage. I hoped that the waiter would have been more knowledgeable about what he was serving. At this type of restaurant I want a waiter or waitress who will be able to tell me in some measure of detail about the food and the establishment. Lucky for him we sat next to the open-air kitchen, so the chef talked us through the menu.
Communal, along with Eva and Forage in Salt Lake, define what I love most about a dining experience. I treasure a shared meal with good friends. I see a few places that are going back to the roots of creating special evenings around special meals.
The owners of Communal also owns Pizzeria 712 in Orem and desires to open more restaurants in the area. They chose Utah because they felt the big cities around the country already have great fine dining restaurants. The believe Utah’s opportunity centers around its growing foodie population.
Communal Restaurant
102 North University Avenue
Provo, UT
(801) 373-8000
Dinner..Tuesday through Saturday..5:30 pm to 10 pm
Lunch..Tuesday through Friday..11:30 am to 2:30 pm
i love it when a waiter can tell every detail about what i'm putting in my mouth. one of the best dining experiences i've ever had was at Colterra in Niwot, CO (www.colterra.com). Our waiter was fairly snooty, but he knew his stuff! Their small plates are fantastic, and everything is seasonal and fresh. If you're ever in the boulder area, you should check it out!
Great pictures, looks like it was worth the trip.
I have heard so much about this place, it was nice to get a review on it. What were their prices like for lunch?
The dishes were pretty reasonable for lunch $6-$11 I think. I probably left paying $12-$15 because we wanted to try several dishes.
Sounds like a fun day out with a friend! I need to do more of that!
It was a fun time! Great photos and post! We will have to adventure out for lunch again sometime.
That sounds like such a fun afternoon. I rarely head that direction but might just have to make a special trip!
I just heard they also have a supper club that is to die for. It is a set 5 course menu. You can see more about it on their blog.
I will have to try it out sometime.
next time we’re in slc…this place looks ‘to die for’!