Common Ground Café- Where CULTure meets Coffee

For those of us who thought that sacred brotherhoods existed only in Hollywood concoctions like the  Divinci Code, we needed but to look a few blocks further to the quaint main streets of Dorchester, MA.

Here lies the lunch spot that Hungry? City described as “stepping into a Grimm’s fairytale”. I entered to the broad smile of a burley man named Johanna who said, “I am the owner and I am not the owner, I am one of the 12 Tribe Brotherhood.” Within minutes I was introduced to Tifarah, both a waitress and a member of the brotherhood. Seeming more like a hippie than a cultish brethren, Tifarah said the culture began in the 70’s with a group of friends who were exhausted by ancient religions and sought to find purpose together. She sad, “Like the beach wood that makes this café, separate we are ugly, together we are beautiful.”

Cultish, yes. Creepy, sure. But none would argue that the ambiance of the restaurant is truly a unique type of peaceful. Soft Israeli instrumental folk music made me feel like I was about to get a massage, while dim orange lighting was more than enough to see your wholesome organic dish. Wraps include the Prince Special, a “tofu delight” with red bell peppers, lettuce, red onions, avocado on a whole wheat tortilla with homemade salad dressing. They also have a variety of sandwiches, salads, and homemade pizza on an organic spelt crust.

You may not leave as converted Brethren but you will certainly leave happy, and maybe a little bit more hippie.