Common doesn’t have to mean boring. It can also mean approachable, familiar, or simple; which are not too bad of characteristics when describing the food and atmosphere of a restaurant. The Common Cure is a spot-on example. Having opened its doors a little over 2 months ago, The Common Cure draws in customers who are looking for an easy, relaxed meal with that eliminates all the hustle and bustle some other restaurants entail.
Calling themselves “a friendly neighborhood joint”, The Common Cure has already become quite the hit for families living in and around the Augusta Road area. What used to be Local Taco is now renovated into a low-key restaurant serving “over the counter remedies” consisting of appetizers, wraps, burgers, sammies, and salads. The outdoor patio area would be my go-to spot to enjoy one of their craft beers on draft and a no-fuss meal.
When you see three varieties of wings on a menu, you know the chef must be a wing connoisseur. I was most intrigued by the Hog Wings, which are smoked pork shanks tossed in their house made Dragon Sauce. These wings are BIG…and messy! The smoky flavor comes out beneath the sweet, sticky, and slightly spicy Dragon Sauce. Not feeling adventurous enough for a Hog Wing? Try the Hot Wings or Smoked Wings both served with blue cheese or ranch dressing.
HOG WINGS, HOT WINGS AND SMOKED WINGS
The story alone sold me on The DCD Burger. Standing for “dark corner dads”, The DCD Burger was created by a group of dads who live right around the corner and decided to check out The Common Cure on opening day. Basically, they dreamt up their ideal burger and Common Cure owners put it on the menu the next day. The DCD Burger starts with a brioche bun and a grilled patty, and then gets topped with a fried egg, jalapenos, cheese and that special Dragon Sauce also served on The Hog Wings. If you like spice, with a little bit of creamy and savory components, this is the burger for you. Another favorite is The Pharmacy Burger, which is an old-school smashed double-patty, with American cheese and pickles. Doesn’t get simpler than that.
And now, onto my favorite bite of the evening, the Chili Cheese Dog. I find hot dogs to be pretty fantastic. You can find a good burger lots of places, but there just aren’t that many restaurants putting time and effort into a good ol’ dog. The Common Cure is an exception. Their classic chili dog is straightforward: An all beef dog topped with house made chili and melted shredded cheese served on a New England bun. Already having eaten plenty of food, I still could have devoured this entire hot dog no problem. It’s just that good.
The Common Cure was smart in their decision to add some healthy components to their menu consisting of a wide variety of salads. We tried the sweet and savory Kale Salad, as well as The Grilled Romaine Salad. The Kale salad was a winner and comes topped with dried cranberries, raisins, quinoa, shaved parmesan, and slivered almonds. The addition of quinoa and slivered almonds creates a hearty, fulfilling meal.
The more I talk to people about what they are looking for when choosing a restaurant, the more I hear these words: location, consistency, and variety. Basically, people want to eat somewhere easy to access and where you can please even the pickiest of eaters’ needs. I can’t speak to the consistency of The Common Cure, having only dined there once, but I can attest to the prime location on the ever-growing Augusta Road and the variety of dishes found on their well thought out menu.
The Common Cure is located at 15 Conestee Avenue. They are open Tuesday – Thursday from 11am until 10pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am until 11pm, and Sundays from 11am to 8pm.
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