Commerce
(212) 524-2301
50 Commerce St
New York,
NY
10014
40.7313
-74.0052
Neighborhoods: West Village, Downtown
What People Are Saying About Commerce
The Editor
Justin Hartung
Citysearch
The Scene
Tucked away on one of Manhattan's curviest streets, this American restaurant looks to recapture some of the magic of the landmarked space's past tenants (Blue Mill, Grange Hall). The art deco Brunswick bar is circa 1941, the English Chestnut booths have been lovingly restored, and despite the tony crowd and $15 cocktails, the tightly-packed, mirror-lined dining room still emanates classic tavern bonhomie. Sweet, spot-on service keeps the mood light and the plates moving.
The Food
Though everything in the house-made bread basket tempts early snacking, resist or you'll be too full to enjoy highlights on the New American menu. Plump tortelloni filled with creamy butternut squash and dotted with pomegranate and hazelnuts achieve a perfect sweet-salty-sour harmony, while tender braised beef outshines its plate-mate of sliced sirloin. Other dishes, like an overly sauced lobster Newburgh and wanly flavored lamb saddle come a little too close to average tavern fare--at significantly above-average prices.
Hits: The welcoming service and the menu's highlights do the address's legacy proud.
Misses: When full, the dining room produces a mighty din, so it's not the best spot for a quiet romantic dinner.
(Photo by Katherine Bryant)
User Reviews
speakyourmind
May 25, 2009
great food, friendly staff, fantastic atmosphere and reasonable. was sat next to a food critic at the next table and he was raving about it as well..
read full review
amm212
March 11, 2009
On a recent Saturday evening we joined a couple to try out the new Commerce restaurant as we heard great things about it. We had a 7:45 reservation for 4. We got to the overly crowded restaurant and were told our table was "almost ready," so we happily waited at the bar and ordered a few cocktails. An hour had passed and still we had not been seated. We were then told we were next in line and there were 3 tables opening up in a matter of minutes. Another 30 minutes passed and still no table. During the next 30 minutes we continued to question our table and what was happening. The hostess half aplogized and then stated, "I would have left by now" (not the comment you think you would hear in a recession). When we were finally seated almost 2 hours after our initial reservation we were told the highly recommended porterhouse for two and a certain appetizer were no longer available. I am sure if we were seated at our proper reservation time, this would have not been the case. What we ended up ordering was good, but by no means worth the hype (my husband and his friend did thoroughly enjoy the lamb). Our waiter was very good and aplogetic. However, the pathetic generosity of one round of drinks bought by the restaurant did not ease our dissatisfaction with this establishment. No manager even came over to apologize, which told us that 1. they did not care that they made a party of 4 wait two hours for a table and 2. that they do not care about our return business. I know that our party will never return to Commerce and you should take a serious wait time into account if you decide to dine here. Hope your experience is a lot better than ours.
read full review
jdorsi
November 14, 2008
Went to dinner here last night with a friend, and had such a great experience. The place is tucked away on a quiet street, calming and welcoming atmosphere. No pretension. Our waitress was fabulous! So sweet and made lots of great suggestions on the food and the wines. We chose to split a couple appetizers and an entree, and they went out of the way to separate each course on two plates for us. 20 herb salad=awesome. Roasted sweet potato tortelloni= Amazing! Filet was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth! And don't even get me started on the Beniets! We will definitely be back!
read full reviewThe Details on Commerce
What to Drink:
A $47 bottle of the full-bodied, fruity Hecht and Bannier Minervois pairs well with much of the meaty menu.
The Extras:
Desserts like a peanut butter marquise with celery ice cream aren't quite worth the cash. Head over to Batch (50B West 10th Street) if you're craving something sweet.
Where to Sit:
In a reversal of the normal setup, the booths in the bar area provide a quieter option for more intimate dinners.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Date Spot, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene, Historic Setting
