(212) 674-5870

96 2nd Ave (5th Street and 6th Street)
New York, NY 10003 40.7271 -73.9886

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Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown

THEMERMAIDNYC.COM

Hours:

These hours should be

Monday: 5:30-10:00

Tuesday-Thursday 5:30-11:00

Friday-Saturday 5:30-11:30

Sunday: 5:00-10:00

Price:

$$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Travelers Check

Restaurant Special Features:

Local Favorite, Outdoor Dining, People Watching, Date Spot, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Seafood

What People Are Saying About Mermaid Inn

Featured Review

Allison Austin

Contributor

The Scene – Mismatched maritime photos and framed maps decorate white walls; wine-sippers and diners who'd rather stay put and dig in than wait for a table pack the bar nightly. Despite the casual, come-as-you-are air, there's an easy refinement to the place. In fact, it feels so much like a misplaced West Village restaurant that diners could easily mistake the place for Mary's or Pearl. – – The Food – Whatever you do, don't miss the fried oysters; barely cooked and paired with a simple tomato butter, they're perfection. Dip lovers won't be disappointed with the blue…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
Bottles (marked up from $22) are the best option. Whites stand out; most, like summery Tokay pinot gris, are from Alsace, a few are from the Northwest.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. The ambience charming and welcoming, the staff is above and beyond anything you could ever hope for, and the food is in a class by itself.
  2. Seated much quicker than expected, the place had the comfortable feel of a small, New England fishing town and fresh food to match.
  3. loved the decor.
  4. They create such a great ambiance and the food is not let down.
  5. The atmosphere was charming and cozy and we were happy UNTIL we tried the food.
  6. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, and although the bar is sometimes crowded, which seems to slow service to the front, (it happened to be on a busy saturday night) i've found the staff knowledgeable and eager to please.
  7. The prices and ambience are great as well.
  8. but food is great and it's fun.
  9. The food is to die for; the staff is warm, welcoming, and well informed, and the atmosphere is cozy and hip.
  10. The atmosphere was pleasant and quiet enough for conversation and noisy enough to ensure you weren't being listened to!
  11. The service is good and ambience is good for a date or group outing.
  12. Loved the suttle nuatical decor.
  13. We had a short wait at the bar which was fun because the bartenders were friendly.
  14. Overall, a good restaurant - nice atmosphere (a little more West Village than East Village), solid menu, prompt seating and fairly priced.
  15. Though the atmosphere is delightful, drawing an attractive over-40 crowd, the service at this East Village newcomer has a lot to be desired.
  16. If youre in the mood for a fun, fresh seafood place without any overdone nyc glitz, this place cant be beat.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. On the entre side, I very much like the pan roasted codfish with "New England chowder sauce" (basically cream, bacon and clams).
  2. My favorite was the chocolate pudding.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. Service was friendly, but the food was poorly paced; waited 45 for raw bar/apps, then entree came too soon.
  2. The drink menu is also great.
  3. white wine we ordered was great as well.
  4. Best wine prices in town!
  5. We order a bottle of wine and drink 1glass each.
  6. The wines were good, try the french rose.
  7. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, and although the bar is sometimes crowded, which seems to slow service to the front, (it happened to be on a busy saturday night) i've found the staff knowledgeable and eager to please.
  8. Had a nice bottle of wine (german/austrian) name we couldn't pronounce.
  9. This is decent bar food but I would not recommend it for dinner in NYC.
  10. Plus a nice wine list.
  11. Everyone was so friendly from the hostess to the bar to the table.
  12. strongly recommend the Lobster Sandwich Combo which includes an incredible Lobster Salad sandwhich on brioche with Old Bay french fries and a Blue Point Toasted Lager beer all for $20.
  13. started at the bar with Erin and loved her peppercini Martini.
  14. We had a short wait at the bar which was fun because the bartenders were friendly.
  15. Examples from the raw bar looked amazingly fresh.
  16. Fantastic raw bar, loved the calamari and probably had the best Lobster roll in my life.
  17. Food is delicious and the wine is reasonable - a great list, too.
  18. As if the 2 hour wait wasn't bad enough, the host/"manager" was so busy flirting with attractive female customers, he didn't seem to notice we had been sitting at the bar and we ended up missing his call.
  19. The raw bar sampler appetizer was extremely fresh.
  20. There are a selection of nice german and fishermen beers.
  21. The wine selection is good with reasonable price.
  22. Also, the wine is relatively inexpensive and the list offers many good selections.
  23. restaurant with class, professionalism, killer wine list (and prices), and an awesome chef!
  24. We had got there and we had to wait for a table - went to the bar and had drinks which were pretty good.
  25. Affordable white wine list.
  26. We were shocked by how they have priced some great bottles of wine so low.
  27. The timing of the food and wine was excellent.
food quality
94.39999580383301% positive
  1. had the whole fish which was tasty and good, the oysters weren't as fresh as the waitress said it was.
  2. Amazing food, great value!
  3. The lobster sandwich was so yummy.
  4. But even if I had to wait, I would wait for the delicious BBQ shrimp cocktail and oysters, both fresh and fried.
  5. Definitely try the fried oysters; the tomato butter is heavenly.
  6. great, fresh food restaurant.
  7. An otherwise good meal had a bad ending.
  8. There are several options as far as seating goes (out front, inside, garden in back, etc.) The service was good and so was the food.
  9. Most of us had the spaghetti with salad on top entree which was one of the best meals I've had in ages.
  10. Service was outstanding, we were thanked 7 times as we left the place at the end of our meal.
  11. If youre in the mood for a fun, fresh seafood place without any overdone nyc glitz, this place cant be beat.
  12. Reasonably priced go here for some truly delicious seafood entrees.
  13. The lobster sandwich (basically a lobster roll on a hamburger bun) is certainly good, but I can think of a few places (Ed's Lobster Bar comes to mind) that are a little better.
  14. Although I did not care for my skate main dish, the appetizers were satisfying and the oysters are a solid choice.
  15. w/ scallops/shrimp which replaced my fav dish is subpar and extremely salty.
  16. I'd do it all over again because the food was delicious!
  17. enjoyed my meal here, it's not great but it is ok.
  18. had a delicious whole duraude on a bed of vinagared greens, and lobster mashed potatoes.
  19. Mermaid had some of the best food Ive had in a NYC restaurant.
  20. was easily able to snag a reservation for dinner on a Wed. night to taste one of the best fish plates I had in a while.
  21. The lobster sandwich is good and the spaghetti with Scallops and Shrimp is great.
  22. Looking for a great seafood place to end the perfect summer day?
  23. An excellent destination for those looking for high quality, creative seafood, without the pretension of some other local fish houses.
  24. the seafood was fresh and delicious, I would have to agree on the recommendation for the mussels and the lobster rolls!
  25. Good food but noisy room
  26. The food was good and creative but our entrees were extremely salty.
  27. The staff was great, and the food was even better.
  28. The food is really great and the service is fantastic.
  29. The shrimp cocktail appetizer was fresh, though there were only four shrimps.
  30. and the lobster sandwich though small in size had real big chunks of tasty lobster bits and came with a side of their specialty old bay fries!
  31. The food was great.
  32. The Mermaid Inn was a greatly needed breath of fresh air.
  33. room/garden. A great new place for seafood in the E. Village without attitude.
  34. But other than that, incredible food.
  35. Otherwise, the lobster sandwich was delicious.
  36. would suggest it to anyone who likes superb service and fantastic food.
  37. The poblano mashed potatos that accompany the otherwise excellent grilled mahi mahi can be a little heavy, but the dish remains a winner.
  38. fresh dinner
  39. The lobster roll was great as were the fries, but it came with a $22 price tag.
  40. My husband said he could've eaten several more, the portion was fine for me he even exclaimed that the french fries were the best he has had.
  41. We had the salmon and the skate sandwich, both of which were outrageously delicious.
  42. Mermaid Inn is an overall good restaurant with really good seafood.
  43. The skate was juicy and meaty and went perfect with the corn/red onion relish that its served with.
  44. Excellent, affordable seafood
  45. We had the scallops as an appetizer and they were delicious and the sauce was wonderful.
  46. strongly recommend the Lobster Sandwich Combo which includes an incredible Lobster Salad sandwhich on brioche with Old Bay french fries and a Blue Point Toasted Lager beer all for $20.
  47. To everyone's surprise, the iceberg lettuce w/ blue cheese appetizer was very tasty.
  48. The lobster roll and fries w/ vingear were outstanding and so was the shrimp,scallops in the spagetti.
  49. The raw bar sampler appetizer was extremely fresh.
  50. The bay fries are terrific--crisp and slim and slightly seasoned, and the pumpkin pudding we had at the end was just the right finish.
  51. The skate was tasty and went well with the salad it came with.
  52. The lobster roll is great and the mahi mahi with the cold vegetables is so tasty to be so light.
  53. and the food is equally as great.
  54. Wifey had the skate which was so good, non-fish eaters probably wouldn't realize it was fish.
  55. The lobster sandwich was OUTSTANDING!
  56. Overall I truly enjoyed this restaurant and do plan to go back whenever I crave some good but simple seafood.
  57. Yes, it can be difficult to get a table during peak dinner hours, but if you're willing to come a little early or later in the evening, you will be rewarded with simple, excellent seafood at a very fair price.
  58. but food is great and it's fun.
  59. We were expecting a hardy amount of made with large lumps of lobester and ended up with a meager serving spread thing of what was more like a lobster spread :( I would definately go back but just to order the fish.
  60. The oysters and clams were amazing and at the end the tab was cheap and it came with a fortune fish.
  61. Everything was fabulous, from the food to the service to the music.
  62. The food is to die for; the staff is warm, welcoming, and well informed, and the atmosphere is cozy and hip.
  63. On the entre side, I very much like the pan roasted codfish with "New England chowder sauce" (basically cream, bacon and clams).
  64. Yummy food, charming place
  65. The timing of the food and wine was excellent.
  66. had the grilled salmon with risotto and I literally licked my plate clean.
  67. Salmon and risotto was delicious as well as the roasted muscles appitizer!
  68. food was good, but i expected better judging from the many rave reviews on this site.
  69. The food tastes fantastic- very fresh, very nice combinations of flavors.
  70. Good food in an ok setting.
  71. The lobster sandwich is amazing!
  72. Everything on the menu beckons, so I will have to be making a return trip soon, if only to sample more of the delicious entrees and salads.
  73. You better like seafood to some degree before going.
  74. Service was friendly, but the food was poorly paced; waited 45 for raw bar/apps, then entree came too soon.
  75. Loved the scenery, decent food.
  76. The food was delicious.
  77. Food is delicious and the wine is reasonable - a great list, too.
  78. How can you go wrong with fresh cooked lobster and mayo on a brioche burger bun.
  79. awesome seafood, go early.
  80. The food was excellent.
  81. Every dish we had was unique and delicious.
  82. The food is delightful and melts on your mouth.
  83. food was great, but the hype?
  84. The calamari that we started off with was outstanding and the grilled salmon filet was delish.
  85. Definitely recommend the west coast oysters and the rock shrimp balls w/ spicy sauce were ok.
  86. The complimentary pudding at the conclusion of the meal is good, sans that gross pudding "skin" on the top.
  87. The atmosphere was charming and cozy and we were happy UNTIL we tried the food.
  88. the scenery was great, the atomosphere was cute and quiet i opted for the early dinner, the food was great!
  89. Portions are a good size and quite tastey seafood.
  90. I'm a more red meat eater than seefood, but this is definitely one of the best seafoods I've ever had so far, and the service was memorable.
  91. good seafood
  92. The ambience charming and welcoming, the staff is above and beyond anything you could ever hope for, and the food is in a class by itself.
  93. This is decent bar food but I would not recommend it for dinner in NYC.
  94. The oysters were delish and shrimp was average.
  95. But most importantly, the food was delicious.
  96. took my girlfriend here for her birthday as it is her favorite restaurant in all of Manhattan and after eating the food I could see why.
  97. The food was amazing too.
  98. The mussels were amazing and for dinner we had the Swordfish and the Lobster salad sandwich, both of which were out of this world.
  99. Lobster salad sandwich wasn't bad, but I would wait for the actual New England coast if your really in the mood for it.
  100. also like the salmon with spicy corn salad.
  101. ordered the Mahi Mahi and the fish was very tasteless and overcooked.
  102. Seated much quicker than expected, the place had the comfortable feel of a small, New England fishing town and fresh food to match.
  103. She loves seafood, while I'm it's not always my favorite but I really loved what I got.
  104. Our lobster rolls were delicious, as usual, as were the Old Bay fries (sigh).
  105. Examples from the raw bar looked amazingly fresh.
  106. seafood at reasonable price
  107. The food is well prepared seafood in a delightful setting, good service and typical prices.
  108. Service was alright and food was pretty good too.
  109. Dont miss the scallops, grilled salmon that was done to perfection, and the best tomato salad Ive ever had.
  110. The lobster sandwiches was also very good.
  111. The food was decent and the staff was nice but the gentleman and the door left such a bad taste in our mouths that we would never return.
  112. Great food, a little small, but still a great place to go to.
  113. Great place & seafood
  114. The crabcakes and little neck clams were absolutely delicious.
  115. They create such a great ambiance and the food is not let down.
  116. Even though its good seafood, the prices are too high.
  117. the codfish was decent and fresh (the reduction was especially interesting), but i found the white flesh slightly bland, though the skin was seasoned to perfection.
  118. Our friend had the grilled dorade and felt it was too boney (obviously not restaurant's fault - stupid fish).
  119. The tasty shrimp soup Veracruzano is a spicy tomato/seafood broth studded with plump shrimp and served with grilled bread.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. Everything on the menu beckons, so I will have to be making a return trip soon, if only to sample more of the delicious entrees and salads.
  2. There are a selection of nice german and fishermen beers.
  3. Small menu but everything we had was excellent.
  4. The drink menu is also great.
  5. but the menu is great.
  6. Overall, a good restaurant - nice atmosphere (a little more West Village than East Village), solid menu, prompt seating and fairly priced.
  7. Limited menu but they all sounded good and interesting.
  8. There are several options as far as seating goes (out front, inside, garden in back, etc.) The service was good and so was the food.
  9. The wine selection is good with reasonable price.
  10. Also, the wine is relatively inexpensive and the list offers many good selections.
  11. Pinot Grigio was our selection and the whole bottle was well enjoyed.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. Me and my boyfriend went there last Friday 'coz we read how great the restaurant was on citysearch.
  2. Anyway, an overall nice place and especially good if you want to take out your parents in the East Village.
  3. room/garden. A great new place for seafood in the E. Village without attitude.
  4. Visited The Mermaid this weekend with some friends and decided this is our new favorite east village restaurant.
  5. Mermaid had some of the best food Ive had in a NYC restaurant.
  6. took my girlfriend here for her birthday as it is her favorite restaurant in all of Manhattan and after eating the food I could see why.
  7. Looking for a great seafood place to end the perfect summer day?
  8. Very nice place, looked it up on CitySearch and went there after shopping with the wife one night.
  9. Great food, a little small, but still a great place to go to.
return potential
93.33000183105469% positive
  1. Overall I truly enjoyed this restaurant and do plan to go back whenever I crave some good but simple seafood.
  2. The food was decent and the staff was nice but the gentleman and the door left such a bad taste in our mouths that we would never return.
  3. We were expecting a hardy amount of made with large lumps of lobester and ended up with a meager serving spread thing of what was more like a lobster spread :( I would definately go back but just to order the fish.
  4. Everything on the menu beckons, so I will have to be making a return trip soon, if only to sample more of the delicious entrees and salads.
  5. All in all a wonderful experience, can't wait to come back.
service
91.84000015258789% positive
  1. The waitstaff was so friendly and accomodating.
  2. would suggest it to anyone who likes superb service and fantastic food.
  3. The food is really great and the service is fantastic.
  4. friendly waitstaff.
  5. There are several options as far as seating goes (out front, inside, garden in back, etc.) The service was good and so was the food.
  6. And the staff is very friendly and accomodating.
  7. We had a short wait at the bar which was fun because the bartenders were friendly.
  8. The service is good and ambience is good for a date or group outing.
  9. This place is great, atmoshere wonderful, staff is amazing.
  10. Everyone I talked to from the host to our waitress was helpful and friendly.
  11. Great new place that really cares about service.
  12. Our waiter Chad was adorable, I haven't had a staff nearly as friendly in a while.
  13. great service!
  14. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, and although the bar is sometimes crowded, which seems to slow service to the front, (it happened to be on a busy saturday night) i've found the staff knowledgeable and eager to please.
  15. The food is to die for; the staff is warm, welcoming, and well informed, and the atmosphere is cozy and hip.
  16. Good service, decent prices.
  17. Everyone was so friendly from the hostess to the bar to the table.
  18. Staff was friendly and followed up to make sure we enjoyed our experience.
  19. The staff was great, and the food was even better.
  20. Wait-staff is knowledgeable and attentive, and is not afraid to make a recommendation.
  21. Though a little slow (it was fairly busy), the waitstaff was friendly and got everything right.
  22. Outstanding service
  23. eat out all the time and never have I come across such a friendly and knowledgeable staff.
  24. I'm a more red meat eater than seefood, but this is definitely one of the best seafoods I've ever had so far, and the service was memorable.
  25. The food is well prepared seafood in a delightful setting, good service and typical prices.
  26. had the whole fish which was tasty and good, the oysters weren't as fresh as the waitress said it was.
  27. The service was superb I'll definately be coming back here.
  28. While the no reservations policy is hard, the wait wasn't too bad and the service was friendly.
  29. Service was friendly, helpful and never pushy.
  30. The service is excellent: friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient.
  31. our server was really great and attentive when she could be, but it was busy.
  32. Wonderful attentive wait staff and hostesses.
  33. The food was decent and the staff was nice but the gentleman and the door left such a bad taste in our mouths that we would never return.
  34. In a city largely lacking good service outside of high-end restaurants, this is noticeable in and of itself.
  35. I'd rather tip him than the server since he was the only person who took a good care of us.
  36. The ambience charming and welcoming, the staff is above and beyond anything you could ever hope for, and the food is in a class by itself.
  37. Our waitress was nice and it was almost a perfect evening for us.
  38. The staff was knowledgeable and full of personality.
  39. The service was impeccable!
  40. Service was friendly, but the food was poorly paced; waited 45 for raw bar/apps, then entree came too soon.
  41. Everything was fabulous, from the food to the service to the music.
  42. The music was also amazing, and even though it was a crowded Friday night, the servers were attentive and friendly.
  43. Though the atmosphere is delightful, drawing an attractive over-40 crowd, the service at this East Village newcomer has a lot to be desired.
  44. As if the 2 hour wait wasn't bad enough, the host/"manager" was so busy flirting with attractive female customers, he didn't seem to notice we had been sitting at the bar and we ended up missing his call.
  45. The waiter was very friendly and informative.
  46. Horrible service
  47. very pleasant hostess took my name and cell number and told me she'd call (wow, very rare in nyc) once they had a table ready.
value
94.73999977111816% positive
  1. And the cod was a huge hit too.
  2. seafood at reasonable price
  3. Wine list is small and overpriced but the bubbly by the glass was pretty good.
  4. The food is well prepared seafood in a delightful setting, good service and typical prices.
  5. Excellent, affordable seafood
  6. The lobster roll was great as were the fries, but it came with a $22 price tag.
  7. Best wine prices in town!
  8. Good service, decent prices.
  9. Yes, it can be difficult to get a table during peak dinner hours, but if you're willing to come a little early or later in the evening, you will be rewarded with simple, excellent seafood at a very fair price.
  10. The oysters and clams were amazing and at the end the tab was cheap and it came with a fortune fish.
  11. wasn't a huge fan of the sardine appetizer
  12. The reasonable prices are what you'd expect to pay at this type of place, but it's not outstanding by any means.
  13. The prices and ambience are great as well.
  14. Amazing food, great value!
  15. Overall great experience for the price (entrees hovered around ~$19).
  16. Even though its good seafood, the prices are too high.
  17. The wine selection is good with reasonable price.
  18. Also, the wine is relatively inexpensive and the list offers many good selections.
  19. restaurant with class, professionalism, killer wine list (and prices), and an awesome chef!
wait time
90.0% positive
  1. Though a little slow (it was fairly busy), the waitstaff was friendly and got everything right.
  2. best lobster roll we've had in a long time.
  3. Not more then five minutes came the catsup, cold plates and warm buns.
  4. The Mermaid Inn is one of the best restaurants I have been to in a long while.
  5. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, and although the bar is sometimes crowded, which seems to slow service to the front, (it happened to be on a busy saturday night) i've found the staff knowledgeable and eager to please.
3 Star Rating: Average

11/09/11

Cool location but not worth the coin

by norma blue at Citysearch

Food was good, service was ok - I was hoping to love this place but it was just ok.

Overpriced - when I left I found myself wishing I had gone for a facial and massage instead of spending two hours and two bills at the Mermaid

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/05/11

Fantastic Lobster Sandwich!

by xoxo5 at Citysearch

Having lived in Boston and been a seafood buyer, I am usually hesitant to order a lobster roll (or sandwich) unless a trusted source has recommended me to the restaurant. A lobster roll is simple in concept, but can easily go horribly wrong. The flavors are very well balanced, with large pieces of lobster meat. The french fries that come along with it are also fantastic, and if you like a good dirty, you absolutely must try their Hot and Dirty Martini - you won't be disappointed!

4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/19/10

My favorite seafood restaurant!

by Diva D at Citysearch

Love the fact that they have $1 oysters at the bar until 7PM. A dz of them with a bloody Mary and I'm in heaven.

The lobster bisque is to DIE FOR! Rich and creamy and decadent.

Had the salmon which was pretty good. I want to try everything o the menu...really!

Service was good and the drinks too.

Try asking to sit outdoors when it's a nice day and people watch.

Definitely coming back but now that I've told you about the place, I might be fighting for a table now! LOL!

3 Star Rating: Average

05/23/10

Horrible service ...

by Ginger80 at Citysearch

Have been there all the time and never really have any problem with food or service at all. Been there tonight ... The server only came twice to take the order and drop the check. Spent over 80 for 2 people and realized that not only she have been ignoring us but every other table got the special " on the house dessert " but us. The busser was very nice by the way. I'd rather tip him than the server since he was the only person who took a good care of us. I work in a restaurant business so I still gave her 20% tip. But next time I'd rather go to Lure in Soho than going back to this place.

  • Pros: Food
  • Cons: Service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/01/10

Great Seafood and Very Reasonable Prices

by KeithKobler3 at Citysearch

I took my girlfriend here for her birthday as it is her favorite restaurant in all of Manhattan and after eating the food I could see why. The moment I stepped in the restaurant I felt as if I was transported aboard a ship on the Atlantic instead of the Lower East Side. We were sat at a very quaint table in the back room which embodies brick wall on the sides. They create such a great ambiance and the food is not let down.

The crabcakes and little neck clams were absolutely delicious. I strongly recommend the Lobster Sandwich Combo which includes an incredible Lobster Salad sandwhich on brioche with Old Bay french fries and a Blue Point Toasted Lager beer all for $20.

Be Careful of the Old Bay Fries however, intense kick on them! Can't wait to return though!

  • Pros: Seafood, Service, Ambiance
  • Cons: None

The Details on Mermaid Inn

Place Categories:

  • great decent food
  • good superb service
  • great new place
  • good seafood
  • knowledgeable staff
  • cozy atmosphere
  • great east village restaurant
  • reasonable typical prices
  • great lobster roll
  • great experience
  • friendly waitstaff
  • very good lobster sandwich
  • affordable white wine
  • beautifully crispy fried oysters
  • attentive server
  • overcooked whole fish
  • not so good skate
  • enjoyed meal
  • well enjoyed whole bottle
  • very good grilled mahi
  • like salmon
  • cold evening
  • recommend definitely
  • good chef
  • very good several appetizers

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