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Common Ground

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commonwealth
Commonwealth

Commonwealth Cambridge
11 Broad Canal Way Kendall Square,
Cambridge MA 02142
(617) 945-7030
www.commonwealthcambridge.com

Rookies may refer to the current time of year as beach, BBQ, or even – ug – jorts season. They're only partially right. As a professional going-outer, you know there's really only one correct way to describe this lovely grace period of glorious weather: patio season.

Entering this hallowed territory is the patio at Commonwealth, a stunner of an outdoor dining space featuring craft cocktails, farm-to-table fare, lots of greenery and unobstructed views of the canal in Kendall Square.

More: Best Dining in Cambridge's Kendall Square

Like the indoor space (6,500 square-feet divided into a dining room, market, raw bar, bar and lounge, and 10-person chef's table), there's a distinct rustic feel that makes this spot stand out in the tech-heavy Cambridge neighborhood. In fact, chef/owner Nookie Postal scoured antique stores, markets and warehouses in order to fill the restaurant with details like reclaimed wood, vintage school chairs, tables made of recycled shipping pallets and giant sliding metal fire doors. It has "post-work drinking with a carefully selected group of coworkers" written all over it.

More: E.S.P. Eat. See. Play. Boston

When you've had too many Tommy Guns (rye, lime and CW ginger beer), Mr. Tarboxes (Gentleman Jack, yellow chartreuse, honey and lemon), or craft beers (like Whale's Tale Pale Ale, Lagunitas Little Sumpin' and Bar Harbor Cadillac Mtn. Stout) and you want some dinner before attempting to pick up Sharon from accounting (or if you just remembered you have a 9am conference call), line your stomach with a proper meal of simply prepared grub; just pick the meat (lamb shank, arctic char, skirt steak, etc...), the veggie (sugar snap peas, rainbow carrots, asparagus, etc...) and the starch (cheesy polenta, duck fat fries, sweet pea risotto cakes, etc...).

Oh, and did we mention there's an 18,000-square-foot roof terrace and sky deck for private events? 'Tis the season, after all.

By Arielle Sachar

Arielle Sachar writes and edits E.S.P. Eat. See. Play. lifestyle content for CBS Boston.
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