The Common Bond Experience

Houstonians have enjoyed the French-inspired bakery, brasserie, and bistro in the Montrose area for years. Known for their cakes, baked goods, and elevated dishes, the restaurant stays true to its mission of being a gathering place for residents of all ages, cultures, and beliefs.

Now our Woodland neighbors to the North can sample the upscale tastes for themselves at Common Bond’s newest location. Nestled in the new CityPlace commercial development of Springwoods Village, Common Bond sits at the center of an award-winning master-planned community surrounded by premier office, retail, restaurant, entertainment, multifamily and hotel components, along with miles of trails and activated, waterfront green space.

This new location carries on the tradition of amazing food. LCAHouston was invited to sample the latest dishes and take in the new sights. We decide to sample a wide range of what the restaurant is known for, and we were not disappointed.

With a fully stocked bar, we started off with a frozen Frosé and a Mango Mimosa to beat the Texas heat, and a few bar menu “socialables”, including Chipotle Deviled Eggs with Mapled Bacon, Parmesan Truffle Fries, and Gruyere Bites, which are perfectly toasted mini grilled cheese sandwiches. There are several flatbread offerings as well. The Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese with a touch of truffle oil was a big hit and the serving size was very generous. Although we didn’t have a chance to try it, the Nashville Crispy Shrimp caught our eye. Next time!

For the main course, there are several offerings of salads, soups, flatbreads, and sandwiches, but the specialties are the star attractions. We chose a French dish and a classic Southern American one to cover the spectrum. We started with something close to home with the Shrimp and Grits which featured blackened Gulf shrimp, cheese grits, creole sauce, cherry tomatoes, Applewood smoked bacon, topped with an herb salad. The flavors were spot on and every bit of what a comforting Southern shrimp and grits should be. But as good as that was, our French choice was simply spectacular. We chose the Beef Bourguignon, and after one taste, there was no doubt that this is truly a French restaurant at heart. Having spent months in Lyon, the gastronomical center of the world, we know a thing or two about what a proper French dish should taste like. And this was it. Slow cooked for 8 hours, the beef was succulent and tender. The red wine reduction was silky and full of bold flavors that complemented the meat perfectly. Mixed with carrots, potatoes, pearl onions, and topped off with a toasted baguette, this is the go-to meal on a cold Texas night.

We finished the evening with what the Common Bond is known for, a simple almond croissant pastry and some coffee. Though they have an amazing array of cakes and sweets, we were done for the night.

This new location is a fine addition to the expanding Woodlands food scene, and we heartily recommend Common Bond if you’ve never had the privilege of trying their other Houston offerings.