Commonwealth Cantina - Calumet-Norvelt

This place was excellent. I really enjoyed the mango margarita and my group had a GREAT time. The food was exquisite, and it was a lovely place to dine with good friends. I recommend it for happy hour ! or dinner. Lovely use of the space, and I can't wait to come back and use the patio.

An overall great experience with great food. It seems like a place that would be lots of fun to go to with a group for dinner. There is a platform with a keyboard so perhaps there are performers. Otherwise, the service was fantastic as my server was friendly and helpful. Food also came out promptly but my smoky margarita took a while (but it was quite good). Unfortunately, they were out of their house-made spicy marg mix which I was looking forward to for Happy Hour. Regardless, the mushroom taco was an easy 4.5/5 while the cauliflower taco was a 4/5. The chili was great it was a solid 4.7/5. Definitely worth the visit and bring a group for Happy Hour/dinner for the best experience (I’d assume).

The wings were very tasty. Happy hour prices are very affordable. So are the regularly priced menu items. It can be a bit noisy when sitting outside but you’re also on Georgia Ave so it’s not surprising. The staff member King was very pleasant and helpful and attentive. I didn’t feel that from the rest of the staff. I kinda felt like a burden to the rest of the staff. Otherwise, the place was great. Oh! And clean bathroom!!! ??

Very slow. Badly understaffed. The ceviche is excellent. Some tacos are good. Some are pretty bland. Disappointed in the shrimp. Not much flavor, but plenty of shrimp. Rice and beans had no discernible seasoning. Waited 10 minutes to see the waiter the first time. Waited another 30 minutes to get drinks. Another 30 minutes to get food. Second order of drinks never arrived. Waiter literally passed out on the floor from dehydration and exhaustion. Staff seemed indifferent. Customers tended to the waiter for 10 minutes before staff a showed up. New management might be a good idea.

I love Qualia Cantina rebirth and new hybrid pop up coffee cantina small biz collab model featuring snax/balconies/rooftops/ happy hour, bad bunny on repeat—more dc biznesses should go this route not to mention new name Qualia Cantina reminds one of the dearly departed Cantina Marina formerly of SW, except I guess Qualia Cantina is neither floating on the water nor is it on a dock, nor is it pretending to be a barge but all this is to say it could be, so why not??