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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: West VillageChristopher St (PATH)
Christopher St (1)
W 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
"OK, I have just accepted the fact that I eat in better than average places. This gem, was a recommended destination for a quick lunch with a…" read more »
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We used to live down the street in WV and this was such a great find! the ambiance is so special and the drinks are amazing.
The food is deeeeeeeeeeeeeeelish! I absolutely inhaled the yellowtail appetizer.
this past winter they had a Leg of Lamb that was insane good! they took it off the menu much to our surprise...BRING IT BACK!
the pasta dishes are very well done.
a great place for a dinner with couples...make sure to have drinks at the bar.
Finally got to Commerce. We ordered the scallops, porterhouse for two, and apple crisp for dessert.
I really wished it was better. I should clarify that the bread basket was amazing, and the scallops were great, but the main course was just okay, and for a place like Commerce, I just think okay is not good enough.
I can't quite describe it, but there was a mushiness to the steak. I don't know what that was from. I love a good steak and don't mind splurging for it, but really this was not worth it.
Commerce is located at the end of a beautiful block in the West Village. The exernal quaintness doesn't quite translate inside as we entered and found ourselves shouting just to hear each other.
It was also really crowded and twice I saw two different waiters trip (one broke a glass while the other just saved his plates). Really, does everything have to be so tight to the point where the waiters and patrons could possibly be harmed. By the end of our dinner we were fanning ourselves because for some reason it seems they turned off the air.
The apple crisp for dessert was substandard - it was barely warm in the center and the apples were still hard.
Hot and bothered I really just wanted to get out.
I've been trying to go to Commerce for a dinner or brunch and finally made a last minute dinner res to go with a friend. The hostess seemed a little flustered about my arrival; I was maybe 5-6 minutes late? Maybe that's why she gave us the worst two-top in the restaurant, alongside a wall that extended all the way up to the high high ceiling.
Our waitress was nice and very attentive and our hamachi and scallops came out so quickly. Kind of annoyingly quickly. We both ordered pastas, the paparadelle and fettucine, both are fresh and tasty. Last was the bananas foster, also a restaurant favorite.
All the reviews are correct, this place is loud. The decor doesn't feel like the W. Village, or maybe it does until you see the top half of the room. That part makes me think "casino." Our waitress was less attentive later but we did get to witness her spill a red bottle of wine on two other patrons.
4-stars for food but docked a point for service and bad luck with the table assignment.
Tucked away in one of the quietest streets of W. Village is quite a loud restaurant called Commerce.
The food is GREAT. I started with the fall veggie fricasee with truffle sauce that was so intensely good - buttery savory and well-seasoned. My friends got the crab cakes and ragu of odd things and both were delightfully delicious. My entree was the crispy braised lamb - totally two thumbs up for those who love tasty tasty lamb. My friends shared the pork for 2 and that was beautifully prepared as well. We finished off with banana fosters (HEAVEN! puts magnolia's banana pudding to shame) and a cheese plate with the best cheddar ever (didn't think i'd ever get to say such a phrase in my life).
The best part about this place is the food, the wine, the drinks and the service. Our server never lost his charm, smile and attentiveness despite the obnoxious crowd surrounding our table (our table was right at the borderline of the bar and restaurant area - ugh). He definitely made our experience better. And so did the sommelier who kept our wines nicely decanted and managed to serve them to us attentively.
The worst part was the crowd that night. Actually, it is the TYPE of crowd that really ruined the spot for me. Most of them were loud, obnoxious and unreasonably demanding as if they OWN the spot. And of course they had no mannerism or consideration for their fellow patrons enjoying a fabulous meal. I guess the restaurant can't do anything about these type of patrons visiting them. I was just surprised at the high concentration of rude super-loud, self-proclaimed "I'm so fabulous, get me a table" patrons visiting this place that night. *gags*
Let's try a different night.... :)
Commerce is the Old Grange Hall, comfortable, neighborhood friendly, cool and a place you want keep going back to if they got their act together. After living in NY for many years and returning for a weekend of eating and drinking I was excited to show my friends the place I ate many meals at (I lives around the corner). I had read the reviews for this newish place and it sounded like it hadn't lost it's charm, even with a new owner and chef. The food and drinks were amazing. The bartender couldn't have been cuter and the waitress, who served us after our hour and a half wait (with reservations) , was top notch.
The hostess, Emily needs to GO! She ruined the whole experience for us. She as clueless, kept us waiting, didn't apologize and said it was a misunderstanding and that it was our fault. I don't know about you but in a customer service industry .... the customer is ALWAYS right. The manager tried, and did a good job, of fixing things, but EMILY didn't think she did anything wrong. She asked if our party was all there, all 3 of us said yes, 2 different times. She told us it would be a minute, and hour and a half later we were not impressed. We were almost the last to leave, as we didn't get seated until 11:30pm.
So while the food is good and the bartender makes great drinks it's not worth the wait if since I hear Emily has done this before. I shared our experience with a friend and it was like she was there with us. They too had the same experience with the same hostess. I can only imagine how many others have had it as well.
So while the food and drinks are top notch they need to get it together, there are a lot of great people out there looking for work who would love to give top not service as a hostess. I would say wait till Emily leaves or try it on a quiet night.
What's the space like?
Think Art Deco charm and glamour: Mirrors and hand-painted murals adorning the walls; a gorgeously restored 1941 Brunswick bar. Honestly, the spacious room reminded me of an old-fashioned elementary school cafeteria (only fancier and void of tray rests). Random visual: Its dim lighting, tall ceilings and support pillars prompted me to imagine how scared I'd be if I were stuck in the restaurant by myself with no lights on.
How was the service?
Friendly and knowledgeable, yet slow (our waitress vanished on numerous occasions).
Did you drink?
Not alcohol, honey. I was hungover from the night before, not to mention the fact that I was coming down with, what I now know is, the flu (I'm writing this from bed). I did, however, have a delicious glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
What did you order to eat, and how was it?
* Biscuits & sausage gravy: Two whole biscuits were sliced in half, liberally buttered, delicately toasted, and topped with: the perfect amount of a rich "sausage gravy" (which was more like a roux with chunks of sausage swimming about), a fried egg and a heavy dusting of freshly-ground black pepper. From the thin, buttered biscuits and non-traditional gravy to the fried egg atop, this dish certainly wasn't the authentic version that I grew up eating...it was better. The biscuits were moister, the gravy was heavier, the sausage was meatier and the addition of the fried egg was shear genius. Commerce's Yankee preparation of this Southern classic was just what the doctor ordered, literally. I left the restaurant sans hunger and hangover. Magic!
What's pricing like?
While all brunch entree items are under $19, most are served a la carte, sans your typical home-fry or breakfast meat accompaniment. Commerce does not provide diners with a bread basket during a.m. meal service, and beverages are shockingly overpriced. Here's a peak of what my bill looked like:
* Fresh squeezed orange juice: $5
* Biscuits & sausage gravy: $14
Will you return to Commerce?
Definitely. It's not the cheapest brunch in town, but I know that whenever I have a hankerin' for biscuits & gravy, I will look no further. I've also heard that Commerce has a lovely dinner service and a bread basket worthy of an award. Another tidbit worth mentioning? The music. Commerce plays everything from Waylon Jennings to Bob Marley.
This place has the best. bread. ever. Make sure not to eat all of it and ruin your appetite for the apps and the main course. Overall, I really enjoyed the food and the space. Would definitely go back
Last weekend, I went to Commerce for the first time. I'd been wanting to try it for some time...or at least I kind of wanted to try it. Something kept pushing it down on my list and each week, I picked other places to try in and around the Village. I think it may have been the prices that put me off initially. Mind you, I have and do go to plenty of places with prices in the same range -- in this case, appetizers averaging in the mid-teens and entrees in the upper 20s -- but for some reason, what I had heard about the food and atmosphere didn't match up with the prices. Or, maybe it was just me being a bit more frugal in these days of, well, frugality.
Anyway, I finally decided to give it a whirl and went with DH and 2 friends. Considering I wasn't dying to try the place, I was pleasantly surprised. Let's start with the space itself. Commerce has kept the sort of old neighborhood-watering-hole type of feel from its historical predecessors -- comfie, although a bit plain. The place was buzzing the entire night with a mixed crowd, old and young, downtown and bridge-and-tunnel. We had a good table to view the action without being overwhelmed by it.
Our waitress struck the right balance in her food recommendations. She was genuinely enthusiastic about the chef and certain dishes, without being overly pushy. She encouraged us to order one of the "Things to Share" which are the chef's specialties. Although I almost never order chicken when I eat out, I was drawn to the foie gras bread stuffing that accompanied the whole roasted chicken for two. As was DH, so that was a no brainer.
So, onto the food. Our meal started off extremely well. I'm a true believer that you can predict a lot about a meal by the quality of the bread basket. And based on the extremely tasty goodies in Commerce's basket, I was expecting a pretty awesome meal. There were at least 4 different types of bread, all delicious. My clear favorite: the soft, pillowy mini pretzel with just a bit of sea salt on top. This was going to be one great meal indeed, I thought as DH and I made our way through the basket.
To start, I had a marinated hamachi ceviche with herbs. Admittedly, it's the type of dish you see around a lot, but I'm a sucker for great raw fish as a light, but still tasty option while I over-indulge for every other course. It's hard to say what I didn't love about this ceviche. It was perfectly fine, but it just didn't have that super fresh, super clean taste that often does and should come with this type of fish.
And the chicken? The most memorable part of the dish was exactly the reason I ordered it: the foie gras stuffing, which was, as I'd hoped, outstanding. The chicken itself was only average and, as is often the case (inexcusably, IMHO), not moist enough -- not exactly overdone, but not juicy the way really great chicken should be.
For dessert, we had an outstanding chocolate espresso cake -- the chocolate itself was rich, but the cake was airy and mousse-like. Similar and ALMOST as good, and ALMOST as rich, as one of my favorite chocolate cakes ever -- the flourless chocolate cake at The Spotted Pig.
In the end, I came out feeling not all that different from my what I expected going in. The food was good, sometimes great, never bad. But given the prices, it should have been better.
Do not go!! There are so many restaurants in NYC that are deserving of your patronage but this is not one of them. Yes, the food here is pretty good but the attitude of the place is enough to make you sick. Reservations are routinely ignored and intolerable waits of an hour and a half plus are par for the course. It has happened to me twice. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Never again. The place ruins the potential of a night out with friends. Unfortunately it's in a special location on a magical street and is a beautiful space with "olde west village" touches. But that doesn't make up for the frustration this place causes. Go for a drink only to enjoy the west village and see the space. And don't bring cash because Commerce doesn't accept it. That's right. The restaurant named Commerce with the height of snobbisness and obnoxiousness only takes credit cards. Eat elsewhere.
The Great:
Complimentary bread basket loaded with all sorts of goodies. The hot pretzel and bacon bread are my favorites. When I say bacon bread, I mean it's a hot dinner roll with a chunk of bacon in it. Brilliant!
Pork Pate. I think this was on the specials list. Soooooo good. It reminded me of the Deviled Ham sandwiches my mom used to make me. That's a total compliment.
Whole roast chicken for two with foie gras stuffing. 'Nuff said here!
Banana pudding. Definitely the best dessert on the menu.
The Very Good:
Hamachi ceviche. Nice and refreshing, but a tiny portion.
Etouffee. Again, I think this was on the specials menu. They make it on a bed of crispy noodles instead of rice. I would've preferred rice. Good heat. Big shrimp.
Braised short rib with bone marrow dumplings. On the specials menu. My first taste of anything bone marrow related. Sublime.
The Good:
Chocolate souffle. Winner of the dessert silver medal.
Blueberries. Winner of the bronze medal. Needs more ice cream!
Things that make you go Hmmmm:
Spaghetti carbonara. Skip it. Over use of black pepper. Otherwise sort of blah. Pasta underdone.
P.S. Commerce is a bad name for a restaurant. I realize that's the street name, but I wish they would call it something else. And, it gets REALLY LOUD when it's busy.
PROS: Cute street, amazing bread basket, good wine list, historic space, good desserts.
CONS: very loud space - sound bounces all over the place, food prep took a very long time - waited 45 mins from first to second course at 8:30PM, food taste was average at best - had the sweet potato tortollino and it was fair - the salad was like a bag salad with some manchego cheese on top - the pasta entree was seriously tasting like it was from a can, the wines are overpriced by at least $15-20 across the board. Its worth one visit - i guess, there are better options out there for sure.
pretty good! The interior in the bar area is beautiful. Gorgeous restored bar, subway tiles. Kind of a speak-easy jive. Lighting, although diffused, was a bit bright. ALL STRAIGHT, no gays save our table. Felt a little weird to be in the Village and not seeing more gays feeding their faces.
Pricey, but good quality and well prepared food. Service was prompt but efficient and a bit cold. Loud space. Customers were rather dull looking and wasnt much for either eye candy or people watching. Id return if you talked me into it.......
My short and honest rating...2.5 for environment...3.5 for food and presentation.
Nestled in the depths of the East Village, I would never guess what I was missing....sorta.
We took a cab and decided to walk our way from 7 Ave South, since Barrow came the opposite direction. As we got to the corner of Barrow and Bedford (I think it was) I looked at the fork in the road (yeah it was fork-like) and saw this cute little bar looking type restaurant. Pointing at it, I was thinking...that's cute.
Then we looked at the number and realized we found the place.
It was almost 7pm, and the place wasn't crowded at all. Which made me find interesting the choice of table they gave us. A table of for 6 right in the middle of...well, kind of the entrance. It was rather odd, seeming how not so busy they were.
But then I realized...after we finished our meal....there kind of was a reason why we were placed in an odd spot......this place gets PACKED. I mean, so packed that it was hard to hear one another...and quite frankly...most parties were 4 or less, so I guess setting a table for 6 was pretty strategic for them (despite our discomfort).
So back to the meal....
Surprisingly, we all ordered different appetizers from the 20 herb salad (mine), chilled BLT soup, scallops, pate, etc. My salad was nice, light, and very green. Just what I was looking for. And everyone else...well, let's just say that the presentation matched the taste...impressive.
Then came the entrees, to which there was a little bit of everything, pork (schnitzel), fish (red snapper and halibut), pasta, and steak.
So apparently the pork was delish, as the bday celebrant completely cleaned his plate. The fish and steak were equally as good as the appetizer. And for me...my pasta....mmm....I should have ordered the fish.
And not necessarily because of the taste: the lamb was perfectly cooked and the ragu was good. I just didn't expect that spiciness (and it wasn't incredibly spicy, I just wasn't expecting it). And the pasta was a little too thick for me. Thus, it made me really full really fast. So in hindsight, I'm thinking the fish would have been better.
Though chocolate souffle was ordered, and it was described as being divine...I did not partake in its goodness because I was just too damn full. The souffle presentation was pretty cool though, as similar to the red snapper and chilled soup presentation....they bring the major contents out on a dish. And when it's secured on the table, they then pour the base, broth, cream (whatever matched the dish) onto the plate. Sooo cool.
Ultimately, Commerce is really good at presentation and small dishes (appetizers)..at least IMHO. The atmosphere was pretty lively...and LOUD, and well, I guess there is something to say about a restaurant that gets pretty packed - it gets uncomfortable (the primary reason for the 3-star rating).
Because really, for such prices, I'm not in the mood to be cramped up in my seat, scared to move around for fear of hitting the person on the other table...and I know it's summer, but when the outside air is cooler and opening the door feels like the AC just kicked in....where is all that money for the expensive meal going to? Did I mention we ate there on a Wednesday night?
Note: We were a party of 6, so maybe it's just not the right place for large groups. Maybe.
My friends and I had a good meal here. However, the place was really hot and loud, and we were seated next to a pole. I guess that the manager/waiter realized that we may not have been the best situated, so as we paid our bill, he asked if we would enjoy a glass of dessert wine on the house because the staff were on their "D game" that night. Very nice touch.
I can't say anything about the service, since he acknowledged that it wasn't typical that night. Still, it wasn't bad. No one was rude or absolutely inattentive, it was just slow.
The food looked and smelled great, but my paparadelle was only ok. My friend had the carbonara with the egg on top, and again, it looked better than it tasted (it tasted good, but not great).
Still, I would recommend it. The location alone deserves a rec.
Had a very nice dinner there last Friday. Everyone's food was excellent -- great flavor, great texture, great presentation. Only knocks were (1) some of the bread was a little stale (but the other types of bread were fantastic), and (2) my friend's fettuccine was a little salty.
The Colorado lamb was outstanding. One of the best meals I've had in NY. The wine was excellent as well.
The service was really good...although we did have to wait for 30 minutes even though we had a reservation.
Overall, a solid choice for dinner if you're looking for a charming, classy place that's slightly more casual.
Commerce...how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
We arrived early to meet our friends and had a drink at the bar. The space is tight (more due to the layout than the size) and I bumped and grinded with a few servers, played human frogger when I tried to greet my friend Regan, and almost took someone's head off when coming out of the bathroom. But no biggie...the bread basket awaited, and I had heard the hype.
My first thing that impressed me was the menu. Pretty much every single item looked like something I wanted to order. However, I came with a mission (chicken for two with foie gras stuffing), and I did not want to veer from the path on my first trip. After we ordered, a life changing bread basket was placed on the table. WOW. It was the most fresh, delicious, soft, warm bread...served with some kind of salted whipped butter/cream. I almost agree with the other yelpers, who mentioned that you can eat the bread alone and be satisfied enough to call it a night...but that was before I tasted the rest of the meal.
We took the waiter's recommendation and ordered the mushroom & fontina ravioli (with truffles!!!) and it was out of this world. The chicken was as good as I had read. It's served atop a potato puree (lots of butter and salt) and foie gras stuffing. Despite the attractiveness of the menu, I plan on going back soon and having the same exact meal that I had last night. Why mess with perfection?
We sat at the bar for a taste of "things to come", since after this fun little visit, we plan to return for a more prolonged dining experience.
Stopping in for cocktails at the bar, hubby & I ended up sharing a delicious cheeseplate which came with a wonderful basket of homemade, assorted breads. We perused the menu & discussed it with the bartender, as we casually ate & drank.
The entire staff was very friendly, attentive, professional & "well coiffed" - a pleasure to deal with. Atmosphere was jovial, warm & enjoyable.
Can't wait to return for a full-on meal!
Beautiful rooms in a great location--part of the old W. Village. My favorites are the well-constructed cocktails. The 20 ingredient salad and the roast chicken with crispy, crackly skin.
A-OK is a pretty good description of Commerce. Fine in most respects but nothing you are going to jump up and down about or cause you to start dancing on the table.
Brunch was rather quiet despite the grief the reservationist gave us on the phone. Everything was served in a skillet which had been baked, and then brought to the table still in the skillet. Reminded me of the similar gimmick at Friend of a Farmer.
Corned beef hash and the shashukah were both fine but very ordinary.
I happen to like the look of this joint, which is basically the same as when it was Grange Hall in a former life.
Its a convenient spot in the West Village. Thats about it. The best thing going for it is that it is at an obscure location.
We came here for dinner on a Friday night (four people total). We had a reservation for 7:30 and were seated promptly at a table away from the bar (keep reading).
The weird thing about this place is that when we came in at 7:30, the (fairly small) bar area (think Pastis-size) was just starting to fill up but the restaurant (maybe 15-20 tables) was TOTALLY empty. We were seated and within maybe 20 mins, every table was occupied and the bar was so full that you couldn't walk through it. PLEASE NOTE: there are some tables that are very close to the bar and the hostess stand - these tables are awful. Commerce always has huge crowds waiting for a table and if you are seated at one of these tables towards the front, these crowds will literally be on top of you.
Like other reveiewers mentioned, the food was good although I wouldn't say spectacular. We had ceviche (tiny, tiny but good), red snapper, braised short ribs (definitely the best thing there). We tried every dessert - do not get the weird lemon confit (and no, it's not lemon cooked in duck fat, and yes, we did ask) dessert - it's nasty and the texture is all wrong.
Overall, the place is decent. The location (on that weird windy road in the W. Village) is certainly cute but I'd consider the food well-excecuted but unoriginal.
TOPS: the food is solid, the cocktails are good, if you sit away from the bar, the acoustics are fine
WATCHOUT: for the horrible tables near the bar, the creepy lemon confit dessert
I've been meaning to come by Commerce... it always seems to be bustling during dinner hours on the weekdays and I'm always intrigued when I'm passing by this quiet, quaint little spot that it sits.
At 1am last night, we were making brunch plans for today and decided that we could do without 2-hour waits at the likes of Clinton St Bakery and Blue Ribbon Downing Street and opt for a guaranteed reservation instead. Now, it's hard enough getting brunch reservations when you make them as early as Friday or before, so you can imagine my surprise to see open tables at Commerce practically during prime brunch hours (A few weeks ago, I failed to get a reservation here but probably because we were a larger party too).
I like Commerce's menu.... a little different from the regular brunch offering of eggs benny and the likes. We had the shakshukah (eggs baked with tomatoes, melted peppers and onions) and the baked eggs with spinach and truffle oil. Both were delicious and very novel for brunch. And after debating forever, we decided that we had to try the home-made cinnamon rolls. Thank goodness we did for they were heavenly! Being the cinnamon roll lover that I am, I already have in mind to come by to get the rolls to go for a quick brekkie in future.
I was drawn to the space at first sight. (It really is just a nice looking pricey restaurant with a bar) Then later I found out why this place seemed to exude so much character; it had a past. It was originally a speakeasy named Blue Mill Tavern, which lasted for 5o years, then it was named Grange Hall, known as beloved neighborhood hangout. Now its just Commerce, but even though now it's all about selling pricey pasta to a trendy crowd, you actually can come and truly enjoy a drink at the bar. The service is amicable and the the crowd is surprisingly chill.
You know you're an old New Yorker when you've known a place in three incarnations. I moved to NYC a WHILE ago and when I did...this place was The Grange Hall. It was, as it is now, a beautiful and secluded place to talk and drink the hours away in the village. It was where this Kansas boy was introduced to "Product Representatives" for the first time. I'll never forget the gorgeous woman in the skimpy black dress who tapped me on the shoulder and asked, "Do you enjoy Cognac?" At the time I thought, "1. I can't believe this beautiful woman is hitting on me. and 2. What a strange opening line!" Until I realized she worked for Hennessy.
In any event, Grange Hall, with their wonderful brunches and organic Thanskgivings folded and died. Chumley's owner opened the (all due respect to Chumleys!) horribly inferior Blue Grill or whatever that horrible place was called that promptly folded. Now it's reopened.
I stopped in tonight with a friend who just moved into the neighborhood. We didn't have dinner. We just had a couple of beers in the bar. The vibe is as great as ever. Low lights, great spirits and beers, and a great place to catch up and talk. I look forward to sampling the menu.
Now...at $6 a beer....it's not the cheapest place in NYC to grab a drink...but it really is a situation where you are paying rent on a beautiful piece of real estate while you're there.
I'd say this would be a GREAT date place.
My hopes about Commerce were dashed before we were even seated - a feat rarely accomplished. I was part of a group of 5 with an 8:30 reservation for a Sat night in Sept. By 8:35 the whole group arrived and the hostess indicated we'd be seated soon.
Long story short -- finally at 9:15 after being told earlier "it shouldn't be too much longer" we'd had enough. My friend inquired as to the delay and the hostess explained the rain earlier in the night caused several parties to arrive late for their resv so they're running an hour behind.
We were fairly crabby at this point for the following reasons:
1. It had literally sprinkled at 6:30pm for about 5 minutes. How this could cause all patrons of Commerce to be significantly late for their reservation is beyond me, even accounting for time to catch a cab in Manhattan in the rain.
2. If you're running an hour behind, why not tell us that when we checked in 45 minutes earlier? We could've then had that information and possibly dined elsewhere.
3. The hostess was unapologetic for the delay, acting as though it's perfectly normal for you to be seated 45 min+ after your reservation.
We were finally seated at 9:30pm, service throughout dinner was standard, the food was yummy, and we did get a free desert because of our issues earlier in the night (a nice gesture however splitting a desert across 5 people wasn't quite enough to make up for the delays).
The yummy food was certainly overshadowed by memories of the delay to be seated, expensive drinks, and how loud it was (masonry + wood interior don't dampen the patron noise).
From beginning to end, this place was on point. While waiting for a table, my friend and I nestled up to the bar, and I got the Eastern Gin drink. It was delicious. We got a table quickly thereafter, and warm bread was dropped on the table in less than 10 minutes. I am a total sucker for warm bread. It's such a simple concept to execute, yet so many restaurants fall flat. I break open the bread, and let some of the butter melt in. Then, as I took a big bite, I realized - this butter tastes like bacon. I could have ended the meal there. Um, but I didn't. Then, I ate a pretzel. I know, it sounds funny. I guess you had to be there. If you get the bread basket, you'll see what I mean though. I don't regret it.
We moved on to the hamachi appetizer. This dish was somewhat standard, but really great quality fish, and toppings. It was devoured rather quickly. Um, bye. You were delicious, I think. Honestly, it was great, but sandwiched in between the bacon butter, and the chicken, it's hard to get glowing accolades.
Since I already spilled the secret on the next dish in the last paragraph, my next plate won't be a surprise, but after a slight wait, which the kitchen properly mentally prepared us for in advance as a 45 min wait, we got the chicken for two with foie gras bread stuffing. So, I'm reading about this dish on the menu, and it was right in my wheelhouse. That said, I've had so many delicious chicken dinners in my life, I didn't think this would be quite as special as it turned out to be. Honestly, from the moment the kitchen brought out the whole chicken pre-carving, I knew this was going to rock. The foie gras stuffing was crispy, and was really the perfect complement to the roasted chicken. As in, I wish Thanksgiving was this good. As you're reading this, I am positive you are thinking - it can't be that good. But, really, you don't know anything. I giggled while eating the chicken. Yes, it was that good.
Feeling rather full, we decided we would get the chocolate souffle. It was perfectly executed, all melty on the inside, and crispy on the outside. I would rave about this if it weren't for the butter and the chicken, which I want to think about in my mind forever. Note to self: go to Commerce.
Walking by the building you could easily overlook this beautiful spacious hidden gem. Yet it is not one of the locations in the city that I would suggest overlooking.
Came here with a regular, so the waitstaff may have been sweeter to us than normal but suffice to say from drinks to dessert I would come here again and again and never miss a beat. We started with the split pea soup which was light but flavorful. I ordered the chicken with brussel sprouts and celery root puree.
My friend had the sweetbreads which I had a bite of and I can say that they were incredible! Delicious selections for dessert but we opted to go for something a little lighter and tasted the sweet potato, vanilla bean, and the nutmeg. All three were unique and hit the spot.
Date Rating: 9
Pick up Scale: 4
Strong Suggestion: This is a beautiful place not to be missed and definitely worth coming to from another neighborhood. If you're traveling alone you will feel comfortable here dining at the bar. It's a great neighborhood spot.
The space is attractive, and everything we ordered was very good. But $17 for four ravioli or a grilled cheese sandwich is nutty even by Manhattan standards. Add lots of noise and a limited menu, and we certainly won't be rushing back.
Because I dawdled considerably in writing my review, I've forgotten some of the dishes we tried. Yummy oysters & some kind of sashimi or crudos, but the rest... well...
I do remember the food being excellent and interesting, and the cocktails before our meal being eminently sippable. It was a hot evening, and I remember us enjoying a nice prosecco or cava with our meal... or maybe it was champagne...
My overall sense of Commerce, months after having dined there, is that it provides the perfect environment for a lively, flirtation-intensive date.
The space was comfortable, upscale, but not trendy... my impression was one of vintage comfort, but not the sort that emits the dark, dusty, somber feeling one encounters sometimes in history-rich buildings that makes one feel as though one might be able to swallow with a minimum of wincing something amber-colored, served neat, despite one's emphatic preference for wine and vodka cocktails. Though the craftsmanship of the interior architecture was beautiful and solid-feeling, and the dining area and bar were very full, the space felt airy and the light flattered all.
Great little neighborhood, too. I'd love to live there. And if I did, I'm sure I'd have the menu memorized by now and be able to opine in great detail as to the culinary offerings!
I have been here for both dinner and brunch... I thought dinner was fantastic. We were seated quickly, the place seemed to be alive and animated. We had a great time. Brunch was good, but not as exceptional. The service was kind of spotty. We ordered drinks that came slowly, and hot coffee was just not hot. At one point we sent a coffee back for a new hot replacement and just got a microwaved repeat. The food was still tasty, but a little salty. I would try brunch again... but not for a little while.
I do agree with the reviews that it was a bit loud.
Is it fair when writing a review of a restaurant to take into account the fact that the guy sitting next to me had clearly brought a prostitute out to dinner with him? I wonder if bringing her to "Commerce" was some sort of clever pun.
Anyway, the food here was really good. The tortelloni appetizer was outstanding, and I had the braised beef for an entree, which was very good, too. I wasn't a huge fan of the bone marrow that accompanied the dish -- bone marrow jumped the shark a year-plus ago, and this just wasn't fixed very well. But the dessert (bananas foster) was quite good, and the service was top notch. The prices are fair, although perhaps slightly high for some dishes. I think the appetizer was $15, which seemed excessive for pasta, but at least it tasted really good.
I would definitely go back to Commerce, and hopefully next time will not have to sit in the presence of the flesh trade. But still, good stuff, Commerce!
I am still wavering on if this place should be a 4 star or a 3 star on my book. but in general, it's just in the above so so range. First, it's like impossible to find this place since west village in general is difficult to navigate if you don't live on the block. BUT if you are taking a girl on a date, you would look like the most sophisticaed and cool person to have navigated the streets and ended up in a bustling restuarant tucked away around the corner.
The food
It's nothing really extremely innovative. The hamachi ceviche is average if you have had any hamachi ceviche before. The only extra ingrediant that they have added is the chili oil but it's use very sparingly so it doesn't add to the flavors too much. after that, i also had the snapper in thai green broth. this was pretty good. the snapper had a good texture and the broth was a good addition to it. but in general, the flavors are not bold. if you are like me and read the menu before going to the restaurant, i think you would be expecting an amazing meal since menu sounds SOOOO much more interesting than the actual items.
Scene
It's so loud with people talking in this restaurant that it kinda takes away from the soft setting of the place. It's unfortunate because the setting of the restaurants spoke of casual and relaxed... which is totally broken by the loud conversations coming from each table. sad. ALSO - i have dinner to get away from work.... but the only thing i can hear at dinner is the guy in a suit next to me who keeps talking about the bond market..... BAHHHHHHH!!!!
Price
It's averaged price by manhattan standards - the teens for appetizers, and in the 20s and low 30s for entrees. desserts are 10. it's pretty fair.
Overall
the place is a good if you have never been but it's certainly not an all time favorite of mine.
Scale of 1-10:
Food: 9
Service: 8
Atmosphere: 3
Dinner for 2 (including tax and tip): $150
Favorite dish: Whole roasted chicken for two
Pros:
-Food is good and menu is fairly unique for traditional American cuisine
-Restaurant is located on an interesting, quiet curving street in the West Village that you can't find on a map
-Waitresses are friendly and accommodating
-The number of female patrons greatly outnumbered the male patrons on the Saturday night we were there, which is great if you're a single straight man, except for the fact that....
Cons:
-Most of the women there seemed to be lesbians and/or on lesbian dates
-The restaurant got very crowded and very loud after about 7:30pm
-We had to wait about 45 minutes for our entree to come (they warned us beforehand since it took a while to prepare) but we were full from the appetizers anyways
-Not cheap
Such delicious upscale food - but be prepared to pay a hefty price!
Drinks ran between $12-15 a pop, lots of specialty drinks and fresh
ingredients. Good wines to choose from.
Our table shared some appetizers:
-ceviche (delicious fresh)
-mushroom and truffle ravioli (AMAZING!!)
-foie gras plate (rich and creamy tasting)
Everyone got different plates for dinner:
-roasted chicken (so JUICY and perfectly prepared)
-pasta with one hour tomato sauce - great stuff
-beef (cooked rare and lovely)
-snapper fillet with veggies and bacon (good but I think the bacon
flavor was too much for me)
LOVED it here - service was great, the staff was friendly and
knowledgeable. The scene is what you would expect when you're
going to spend the upwards of $80 a person
investment bankers, models, white people
I came here for a late brunch once. The food was good but kind of unmemorable/ordinary. The service was very friendly, and OMG the bread. I think I will remember that bread basket until the day I die. That was some good stuff.
As my colleagues and I navigated our way towards Commerce, we could not help but notice as the area became quieter and more secluded. We were able to find the restaurant tucked away on a quiet corner of Commerce Street, where only the sound of birds were audible in the early evening air. We walked into the restaurant and waved to our co-workers, who were already seated at the bar. Between the warm greeting from my friends and the gracious hostess offering to check my coats, I felt instantly at home in this cozy restaurant.
Though it seemed that everyone here was welcoming us with open arms, our waiter was slow, inattentive, and aloof. He could not answer simple menu inquiries, such as the type of "Fall Vegetable" special of the day. He also did not check in during the meal to see if we wanted additional cocktails or if we needed our water refilled.
The food was the real star at this bistro. While the decor gave off a brasserie feel, the menu incorporated continental influences from places like Asia, Europe, and America. I tasted several of the appetizers and found them all rather impressive. The Fall Vegetable Fricassee contained various crisp veggies, such as cauliflower, turnips, carrots, etc., all plated around a moist poached egg. A heavy truffle cream sauce provided a thin broth around the seasonal platter. I felt that the warm dressing could have used further truffle enhancement and that the egg could have benefited from some black pepper. The Calves Liver was roasted and sliced like a duck breast. It was topped with small chunks of onions, potatoes, and crisp bacon. The whole dish was seasoned with a delicious Balsamic Vinegar. The richness of the liver was perfectly balanced with the sweet tartness of the balsamic. The Steak Tartare was chopped and molded into a small cylinder. It was topped with a scoop of horseradish cream, chopped celery, and pickled walnuts. The horseradish was a bit overpowering, as the steak was already flavorful on its own. Lastly, the Salad of Romaine Hearts was served with sweet, vine-ripe tomatoes, red onion slivers, and triangles of delicate blue cheese. A creamy dressing oozed over the salad components, providing a textural contrast. The saucy topping had a light cheesy flavor, which I loved though tried to avoid due to the richness.
My entree of Icelandic Cod continued the progression of deliciousness. The small square piece of fresh fish lay atop a bed of shittake mushrooms, de-shelled mussels, and leeks. The seafood dish was taking a dip in a light red wine broth. Each component was fresh and provided its own dose of flavor to the meal.
For dessert, I highly recommend the light Chocolate Souffle that was filled table side with a fragrant creme anglaise. The treat pulled off being chocolaty, yet delicate, at the same time. The Bananas Foster was served parfait-style in a medium-sized glass with layers of light whipped cream, warm banana compote, crispy crust flakes, and vanilla ice cream.
I cannot forget to mention my delicious Nor'easter cocktail, which contained rum, mint, fresh lime juice, and ginger. The drink was potent, yet went down with the ease of juice. Could you ask for a better combination...I think not. The other cocktails also received cheers from my colleagues, and the wine list was lengthy.
As we left our corner table at this tucked away restaurant, itself in a quiet alcove of the city, I went to retrieve my jacket from the hostess. Oddly, she stepped out into the entry vestibule and returned with my chilly coat. I have no idea where it had been held captive. Of course I would have preferred to snuggle into a warm jacket instead.
Regardless of some service inconsistencies, Commerce served up a flavorful meal in a jovial atmosphere that was fit for any occasion. Consider it highly recommended!
Low-key restaurant with very friendly wait staff. Cocktails were great, particularly the East Sider. They had me at "bread basket." I love them carbs. The Red Snapper was also perfectly cooked and very tasty. Was very crowded, even on a Tuesday night. Would definitely return!
I had a chicken moment.
It takes a lot for me to have a chicken moment. I'm quite partial to Thomas Keller's brined Poulet Roti but I won't lie... I may have to cheat on Mon Poulet on occasion.
Commerce's chicken was divine. White breast meat, soaked in buttermilk over night and then super-slow roasted at less than 200 degrees for hours until it is done. Sounds like the Heston Blumenthal's recipe for chicken greatness... but who cares. I won't be going to Berkshire to go to the Fat Duck anytime soon.
I digress. The little chicken masterpiece came atop maitake mushrooms and was accessorized with a chicken skin "chip". A sort of perverted accoutrement in a way... but oh so good.
As for the rest of the meal... the fluke tataki was incredibly light and tasty, the escargot were completely forgettable. The other mains got pretty good reviews. And the bill... YIKES! (all mains were $20+ and apps were upwards of $15 in some cases while the wine list was light on $40 bottles and heavy on $80-100+ ones) is one of the reasons why I'm glad my friend challenged me not to go out to eat or drink for a month. But when I'm back on the circuit, Commerce's chicken will be on the short list.
My friends and I went for a late dinner. We shared some apps. Of Course I went straight for all the dishes with offal, which were all pretty good. We also ordered the scallop, which is normally my favorite for seafood but it wasn't well seared. In fact the scallop probably was frozen not fresh. Overall the service was good but it was too loud. We had to shout at each other the whole time. Not the best place for an intimate date.
We had high expectations for this place both from the reviews here, as well as a recommendation from a friend (who named it her favorite place to eat in NYC). Although the restaurant is beautiful and ambient, I give Commerce 2 stars due to the following:
- VERY loud, to the point of yelling our conversation to each other over a 3 foot across table.
- Bread, which I was expecting to be out of this world, was tasty, but not as fresh as it should have been.
- Porterhouse Steak, although very tender in spots, was strewn with grisle and too much fat.
- Artichoke risotto sounded wonderful on the menu, but nothing was stated about the smoky flavor that was added, which can be a definite turn-off for a vegetarian (!).
- Yes, they attempted to right the steak situation by adding a complimentary dessert, however they simply set down this extra dessert with the other 3 desserts that we had already ordered (for 3 people). I'm thinking simply taking one (or ALL!) of our desserts off the tab would have been more appropriate (seeing as the Porterhouse sets you back $94).
- Once our bill arrived, the complementary dessert had been added to our bill. Ok - server was asked to remove it. The he brought back our card with a receipt - no copy to sign. So we had to ask the owner to right the situation.
- only 6 inches of space between the tables - no way to exit after a meal!
There were positive points about Commerce - location in the Village, service was relatively good (wine & food service), desserts were tasty. However, sadly, due to this experience, I would not return to this restaurant, nor would I recommend it to anyone.
I loved Grange Hall (former tenant of this space), I liked Blue Mill just fine, but Commerce has officially breathed new life into this historic space. The service was perfect, the food was outstanding.
We shared the oysters (4 of us) and my friend and I had the Chicken (may give Gotham a run for their money) with hen of the woods mushrooms (yum!!). My husband had the sliced steak and my husband's friend (well, he's my friend as well!) had the snapper. We were all extremely happy. In fact, I have a "eat half of what's on my plate" rule that I broke tonight-and ate the whole damn thing.
Dessert brought to us coconut rice pudding and chocolate mousse.
All wonderful.
We can't wait to go back.
On top of everything, two cabs showed up magically on deserted Commerce street just as we were lamenting that we'd never find a ride home.
Ah oh, it's magic!!
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Flatiron
Category: French
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Category: American (New)
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