The Commerce Inn

"Fried Oysters "I went with my friend and we looked around the room and realized that we were, by about 40 years, older than anybody else in the place. But those fried oysters are perfect. They were briny little clouds—crisp on the outside and still really hot. And when we liked them so much, I said, 'Oh, we have to have more. Bring us some more!' They came out in two minutes. I do think it's one of the great bargains in New York. I mean, they charge $3 for oysters, whether they're on the half-shell or fried. I do it at home sometimes. It's a pain. It is not something you do: 'Oh, I think I'll fry up some oysters today.'" - brennan carley

"The Commerce Inn is the third restaurant by Sodi and Williams on this list: but while Via Carota and I Sodi focus on Italian food, The Commerce Inn offers a modern-day reinterpretation of American tavern cuisine with a dark wood interior to match." - Elise Taylor

"This might be the most unusual of West Village restaurant, with a layout left over from a Portuguese bar of the 1960s, but with overtones of colonial Americana added. It represents an experiment from Via Carota owners Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, who are exploring Shaker culture in an offhand sort of way. The cocktails are historic, and the food runs to roasted bone marrow, spoon pudding, melted cheese rarebit, beef tongue, and a marvelous roast chicken for two to share. Don’t miss the tomato pie." - Robert Sietsema

"Named for the street upon which it lives, this intimate "inn" has arrived on the scene, thanks to the venerated team of Rita Sodi and Jody Williams. The space has a vintage feel with antiques and warm wood accents. Upon entry, the room opens up—to the right is the superior tavern while the dining room is directly across. Here, linen-clad tables and wooden floors are a nod to minimal Shaker style and set the stage for the early American cuisine. Imagine oysters raw, fried or pickled; rarebit; and hearty chowders. Crave-worthy vegetarian dishes have guests clamoring for more.Close at hand, desserts are less cloying, more gratifying. A ginger cake dressed with sea salt and crème fraîche may be best enjoyed with milk punch (from their strong cocktail carte)." - Michelin Inspector

"The Oysters Manhatta at the reopened Manhatta, Oysters Kilpatrick at Lord’s, Oysters Rockefeller at Madame George, or, even the simple ones at the Commerce Inn were just a few of my favorites." - Eater Staff