The Common does two things very well: comfort food and low prices. Set within Willesden Junction’s upmarket ‘co-living’ building The Collective Old Oak – a bit like uni halls, but swisher and for young professionals – the food here is basically, well, very good uni hall food. Think grills and burgers and a chicken skewer side for £9.
If massive portions at ridiculously good prices are what you’re after, it’s great. Plus there are some semi-sophisticated white wooden booths where you can snuggle up and wait for the cheap eats to roll in.
The highlight was a bavette steak (for a very reasonable £14) that came just the right kind of bloody in the middle, with a side of thin, golden fries. There’s also a range of rather nice, crispy pizzas – try the Don Corleone, a classic mix of quality parma ham, mozzarella and rocket.
Avoid any fancier sounding starters though – my chicken tostados were actually just baked beans on toast with a bit of bird banged on top. How student food is that? But if you stick to the simple stuff, The Common is a perfectly decent place to eat away a fresher-level hangover. That steak will make you feel whole again.