Sometimes when you are making your 47th trip to Floor & Decor to shop for travertine tiles that match the existing floor in your house, but you are feeling uninspired--because, really, how many times can you go to Floor & Decor without completely losing it in the grout isle--well, you come across free brussels sprouts and suddenly you feel renewed and ready to make your 48th trip.  This sounds like I totally made it up, but it's a true story.  And it all happened at The Macintosh.

Ambience:  The interior of The Macintosh feels something like an industrial schoolhouse.  Heavy wood tables with wrought iron accents, funky light fixtures, and visible duct work over solid beams.  As is our usual MO, we chose to sit on the patio.  It is nicely shaded and sort of tucked back into a little restaurant courtyard, so it's quiet from road noise and provides some people watching as they come and go from various restaurants.  There also seems to be an exotic car group that either goes to the same bank or visits one of the nearby restaurants.  We saw six or seven fancy cars lined up in the parking lot like it was an impromptu car show.

Quality:  The menu carries some of the same menu items as the other Common Ground restaurants, as well as some unique items.  We were happy to order the Common Ground Burrata with that dreamy tomato jam.  We were also surprised by our server when she arrived at our table with the Common Ground Brussels Sprouts.  These little jewels are charred and served with roasted garlic, candied bacon, and a sweet balsamic reduction.  I don't usually like roasted brussels sprouts because I find most restaurants burn the sprouts which doesn't really add to the appeal for me, but The Macintosh roasts them to perfection and serves them spilling from a mason jar.  They sweeten up with the balsamic reduction and the candied bacon is just enough salt and sweet.  And it's bacon, so it makes everything that much better. We ordered lunch, had a beer each, and were pleased with our afternoon.

Service: Our server was very friendly.  She asked if we had been to The Macintosh before and we told her we had not, but we HAD been to most of the other related restaurants.  She welcomed us warmly, explained the menu, and took off with our drink orders. She returned just a few minutes with the Brussels Sprouts as a gift to us for visiting.  It occurs to us that all the restaurants in the Common Grounds group empower their servers to comp an appetizer for new guests.  This is a very nice touch and really creates a great rapport between the guests and servers.  It's a great way to feature a menu item, as well, because I don't think I would have ordered the brussels sprouts, but now they are one of my favorites.

Value:  With the unexpected appetizer, we left the restaurant stuffed and had leftovers.  All in all, we were happy with the consistency of service and execution of the menu.  Lunch was reasonably priced and felt to be a great value.

We left The Macintosh feeling a little more energized and a little less hangry.  We do love every Common Ground Culinary restaurant we visit and this was no exception.  We will visit again when we are on that side of town.  Hopefully, we will be on that side of town doing something much more fun than studying the subtle nuances of tan travertine.