Common Ground Bakery Cafe - Baltimore

This place was pretty good. Went by with a friend while visiting Baltimore and got a sausage, egg, and cheese bagel. It was super crowded inside the day we went, and we had to go outside in the tent to eat. It was cold and rainy, too, and there were only a couple tables under the tarp. I felt bad that there were some others who sat outside where there wasn't any overhead covering. On the other hand, the sandwich provided temporary warmth and satiation: the cheese was gooey and the bagel good. I felt it could've used a tad more salt, however, and the egg could have been just a little less dry from overcooking, but it was good nonetheless. We didn't stay long, as it was cold and wet as I mentioned, but from the food I had, I'd go back, probably for another chance to try some of their pastries. They had a lot of branded merch, and plenty of food items to pick from on the menu. It seems to be a hot spot for brunch and coffee, so keep that in mind in terms of crowding. 4/5 stars

My cappuccino was great. Shop is quaint. Workers are nice! Here is my issue. I bought six macarons for $22, got home to eat them, and not only were they old, they were multiple days old (definitely more than the four plus I’ve left my own out previously). If you have the audacity to charge $44 for a dozen macarons, at least make them semi fresh! They were so stale on the outside and the inside was hard and chewy it was tough to bite through. Please do better for your customers at those prices.

The new location is so much bigger, and even includes outside seating! (Only one toilet, just heads up. Prices are now listed on screens (except for pastries in the cases, from what I could see? , and everything is very sleek. For me, I did find myself missing the feel of the old location, and not even the one just before they moved, because even that was cleaned up. Years and years ago, it used to feel much more artsy and laid-back, with stickers and pictures taped up near the register, and a cozy feeling. That had already been changed before the move, and the new location is very clean feeling (bright lights with lots of straight lines, and raised letters for an indoor sign . It does get a lot of sunlight, which was really nice, candles for sale, and a community board absolutely covered in flyers and business cards. There were a lot of people working on their laptops on a Wednesday mid-morning. There 's art, hung gallery style, and the opportunity to have yours shown. It was good to stop by after so long, and i understand why they needed to move to a bigger building, but I miss the cozy, less clean feeling of the old spot.

For anyone looking for an intimate event space, I highly recommend Common Ground! We recently held our 40-person baby shower there and everything about it was perfect. Chef Alex and her team were so thoughtful all throughout the planning process, helping us create a custom menu to accommodate special diets (vegan, vegetarian). All the guests remarked on how great the food was and loved the open coffee bar concept—brilliant! What made the day really special was the attentive service—the team made sure all our guests were comfortable and well taken care of. Wonderful experience!

I dropped in for coffee. The prices seem competitive with national coffee snack chains, the staff are friendly and welcoming, the place itself is well-maintained and feels cozy without being dim or cramped. I appreciate the Pride flag flown out front, and of course, the coffee itself was quite good.