Ooo la la! From the owners of Pizzeria 712 comes another fabulous restaurant: Communal.

Located in downtown Provo, Communal gives us one more reason to hope that downtown will once again be the hub of arts, shopping and fine food.

If you are not a completely social person or if you are looking for an intimate romantic dinner for two, this restaurant may not be your cup of tea, but I loved it! Seated at a long table for 12 guests, we enjoyed conversation with couples on both sides and loved discussing the creative food with everyone.

The food at Communal is based on the same concept of quality and local sustainable products as is Pizzeria 712 — love that! Their commitment to excellence is reflected in the taste, design and even their great china. All dishes are served family style so everyone can sample all — love that, too!

To start, we ordered the Frisee and Mixed Greens Salad with Allred Farm Apples and Braised Bacon. This was the only dish of the evening that did not meet my expectations. The bacon was too large of a slab so it coated the palate, and the dressing did not pack enough punch of flavor to overcome it. But the rest of the meal: DIVINE! Pan-seared Grouper in a delicate white wine butter sauce; Potatoes Gratin; Anson Mills Polenta with Caramelized Onions, and the heavenly Pan-roasted Wild Mushrooms.

The word “yummm” kept coming out of my mouth with each bite! I dined with a good friend who also knows fine food, and we both felt his pork chop was the best thing on the menu: Niman Ranch Bone-in Pork Chop with Maple Vinaigrette. It was perfectly cooked with a little pink inside and a slightly sweet glaze on the outside. Tender, moist and complete perfection.

We were really too full to order dessert, but that didn’t stop us from sharing a Butterscotch Pot de Creme with Coconut Butter Cookie. It felt like pure silk with not even a hint of texture and a rich depth of true butterscotch flavor. As my friend said, “Wow, that’s as smooth as a baby’s bum!”

Can you tell we truly enjoyed the evening?!

The new Communal Restaurant gets my highest review and is an incredible addition to the restaurant scene in Provo. I’ll be back for sure.

Until next time, remember to fill your life with scrumptious food and joy.

P.S. Be prepared to drop nearly $100 bill including tax and gratuity if you are dining for two.

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