Communal - At long last we come together!

     I have been waiting a while for the opportunity to experience communal. 100% of people that I have talked to who have visited communal have given it raving reviews. I would have to agree with all of the people, it was nothing short of fantastic. The only problem with eating at Communal is that your expectation for other restaurants are places way to high =)

     This little restaurant sits on the corner of 100 N and University Avenue. Upon entering you are immediately drawn to the sight of a long communal table. You might make the mistake of thinking that communal always caters to large groups. In fact any group can sit at the table, its ment to be a table where people can commun in a mixture of cultures, and flavors to enhance the dining experience. The other wonderful thing you experience when you enter Communal, are the smells. The main food prep area is right there in the same room as the dining room. You see the chefs prepping and plating the food, and the smell of it is heavenly.When we sat down, we were greeted quickly and given some helpful advice. One of my favorite aspects of Communal is the fact that they use only locally grown fruits and vegetables. That means the menu is changing constantly. I have been to Communal twice now, and each time I have been pleasantly surprised. Communal recruits its Chefs from the UVU culinary institute, or great Chefs from restaurants such as The Chefs Table. Now Communal has a different ordering style than most places. Dishes are designed to be shared, so you are encouraged to order an appetizer, an entree and a side. This provides a great opportunity for you to experience a wide range of what Communal has to offer.
 

   We started out the meal with what was called an Anson's Farrow Salad. It was so unique and fresh, it combined farrow and cranberries, with some caramelized greens. After the Farro salad we went into an array of wonderful entrees. We had the Pan Seared Salmon and Soubise, Brazen Pork Belly, Caramelized Fennel and Mushroom Tart, and a Sweet Potato Gratin Style. Which except for the salmon, was all new to me.  Every dish brought such new flavors and experiences. The Pork Belly was nothing short of a revelation! The Sweet Potato was layered with an aromatic blue cheese which blew me away (no pun intended.) One word to describe the Caramelized Fennel and Mushroom Tart was different. It was flakey and yet had a bitter edge to it. I loved how it contrasted so well the other flavors presented. The only complaint I had was about the Salmon. The sauce used with the Salmon was anticlimactic, and the Salmon was a bit dry. I do understand that it is very difficult get good salmon, especially in Utah. All in all the meal was great, I left content and already planning my return visit.
     I would give Communal a 9.8/10 for its wonderful food, great service, and unique experience.  Thank you Communal for blazing the trail for a wonderful new way of dining here in Utah. I hope to see more restaurants can follow suit, and I hope to visit you again really soon.