Is Commerce Inn Worth the Wait? My Honest Take

You’ve probably seen Commerce Inn’s pancakes all over your feed. Yes, the fluffy ones topped with blueberry compote. And maybe you’ve also tried (and failed) to get a reservation. Same.

I don’t think I’ve ever woken up that early for brunch, but my friends were determined, so we showed up at 9am to line up. We added our names to the waitlist and spent about an hour walking around the West Village before getting the text that our table was ready.

One thing social media doesn’t really capture is the vibe inside Commerce Inn. You walk in and feel instantly transported to another time—like 1693. I kept thinking I was inside a scene from The Crucible by Arthur Miller, but the whole place feels frozen in time. Honestly, that atmosphere stood out to me more than the food.

I ordered an orange juice that looked… questionable at first (slightly red, a little foamy), but it ended up being delicious. We went for what I call a full all-American breakfast: pancakes, bacon, and eggs any style. It was good but not necessarily worth waiting hours in line.

The Commerce Inn - Inside

The Commerce Inn - Menu

The Commerce Inn's Pancake Breakfast

Pro tip: If you’re trying to go without a reservation, get there early. We went on Valentine’s Day (rookie mistake), got in line at 9am, and still waited about an hour. By the time we came back from our walk, the waitlist was already full.