Commerce

West Village
50 Commerce Street, between Bedford and Barrow Streets
212-524-2301

Updated on 03/13/08: Wynn was in town and we wanted to get him to someplace that had a scene and a steak, so we went back to Commerce. We sat at the bar for a bit watching all the hubub, having a couple of Nor'easters, a house cocktail that was quite snappy. For dinner, we all began with 20 herb salads, but after the Nor'easters could not count enough to be sure. The halibut with pea puree that followed was good, but a porterhouse for two that was grandly presented before being cooked, then again before being sliced, should have had less fat and more flavor. Wynn liked the hostess, but where have we been where he didn't? OK -- Sammy's Roumanian.
OVERALL RATING: Where's the beef?

First reviewed on 03/01/08: Commerce is in the old Grange Hall space on Commerce Street. It opened three weeks ago on a cute corner in the West Village that's hard to find even for locals. It was hopping tonight. The entrance has changed to the middle of the restaurant, with a bar on the right with booths for eating, and the dining room on the left. The floors and walls are tiled, but the noise level is OK and there's always been a comfortable art deco feel throughout this space. The food was very good. We began with a 20 herb salad that was very fresh, earthy flavored and dressed just right. The fluke sashimi was nicely seasoned and ethereally light. Two pastas, one with broccoli rabe, tomatoes and sausage, the other carbonara style, were very good. A coconut bread pudding with mango sorbet finished us off with a nice sweetness. It was a pleasant experience.
OVERALL RATING: Good for business