Keys to the Door: Owner/developer Brian Twomey, partner Corey Pond, general manager Matthew Ellis.
Colloquial Cravings: When restaurateur Brian Twomey added The Common Table to his list of projects — he’s revamping the Village Theater and opening The Marquee Club in Highland Park Village, and he oversees Plano’s Loft 610 — the idea was to create a casual tavern where the menu was as edited as its beer and wine offerings. After sprucing up the former Lola digs on Fairmount Street, Twomey struck his perfect balance. Small plates such as cornmeal-crusted calamari and pulled-pork spring rolls are perfectly sharable and entrees range from the Camburger (a cheeseburger wherein cheddar is substituted with Camembert) to fresh, corn-fed chicken with roasted-corn succotash. By far, the most uncommon highlight is TCT’s impressive lineup of libations, which packs more than 50 hard-to-find bottled and on-tap beers. The scene here is irresistibly charming: The 1930s bungalow’s original hardwood floors and fireplace are still intact, but several modern touches add some edge, including the horseshoe-shaped bar and the orange leather banquettes. This is the first and only time we’ll relish being called Commoners.
2917 Fairmount St., 214.880.7414; thecommontable.com.
Image: Interior, The Common Table. Photo by Daniel Driensky.