Commodore II
Southern restaurant (US) · East Village ·
Southern eats, fried chicken, spicy fish sandwiches, tiki cocktails
Southern eats, fried chicken, spicy fish sandwiches, tiki cocktails
"A Lower East Side bar whose menu elevates classic bar food into standout dishes — think spicy chicken sandwiches, salsa-strewn nachos, and grilled pimento cheese — anchored by a green salad with cheddar and quick pickles that serves as a refreshing counterpart to the menu’s indulgence. The salad pairs tangy, earthy clothbound cheddar (which adds a touch of sweetness) with crunchy quick-pickled cucumbers that cut through a boatload of alliums and romaine; it can easily be modified with chicken or other additions, making it a versatile, simple recipe often described as a sleeper hit. Its bright, slightly tangy profile makes it a natural fit for birthday parties and celebratory nights, where the rest of the lineup tends toward hedonism." - Nat Belkov
"The Brooklyn original, open for about 15 years, is where the green salad with clothbound cheddar and quick-pickled cucumbers became a menu staple; diners remain devoted to the unchanged preparation. The straightforward combination of tangy, earthy cheddar, crunchy pickles, ample greens and alliums offers a balanced, approachable dish that can be customized with proteins like chicken, and it has long been considered a quietly beloved item alongside the bar’s more indulgent offerings." - Nat Belkov
"The Commodore II straddles the border of the East Village and the Lower East Side, and their crunchy fried chicken and fun frozen drinks make it a perfect jumping off point (or final destination) for a night out in either neighborhood. Don’t expect cocktails with 5,000 ingredients at this Florida-esque bar—the drinks are simple, sugary, and craveable, and their fried food—especially the chicken platter and shrimp po’boy—make a great foundation upon which to build your drunk castle. With a DJ booth and fake plastic fish, this sequel to The Commodore feels like a below-decks party on a Miami yacht, and their kitchen is open until 2am on weekends." - bryan kim, will hartman, willa moore, sonal shah, neha talreja, molly fitzpatrick
"If The Commodore in Williamsburg is best described as a Florida Keys dive, frequented by leathery-skinned fishermen in board shorts, their second spot in the East Village takes a slightly different “inspired-by-Florida” approach. Complete with a DJ booth, the Commodore II is more like a below-decks party on a Miami yacht, where you might find a guy in a turtleneck and a white suit with the sleeves rolled up. Both places have far better fried chicken than you’d expect at a bar, and we’d also recommend diving into the juicy shrimp po’boy, or a fresh green salad with parsley and dill pickles here. Come with a couple of friends—or with a date who appreciates campy touches, like portholes for windows and plastic fish on the wood-paneled walls. While you’re there, drink a Commodore, a frozen piña colada with an amaretto float, or their other frozen cocktails. The kitchen is open until 2am on weekends, and their fried chicken platter, served with biscuits, honey butter and two types of hot sauce, should help stave off a pounding head in the morning. photo credit: Will Hartman" - Will Hartman
"The East Village sibling of Williamsburg’s staple Commodore continues the bar’s reputation for tropical drinks, nachos, and fried chicken sandwiches — the original earned Bon Appétit’s high praise for its fried chicken sandwich — and positions itself as a neighborhood watering hole." - Emma Orlow
