Oysters/Seafood
http://www.themermaidnyc.com/
96 Second Avenue – East Village

4/11/11 – See second review below which covers more menu items!

Ok, so maybe we were late to the party. The Mermaid Inn has been open for 7 years and has since opened two offshoots. We’ve never gone. It’s one of those classics that keeps falling to the bottom of our list. We decided it’s a damn shame that keeps happening! We are always fighting for a reservation at the latest hot spot and suddenly I think I am over it!

The Mermaid Inn has Happy Hour and a Half DAILY from 5:30-7pm and from 5-7 on Saturdays (because they open 1/2 an hour earlier). During Happy Hour there are drink specials, but more importantly there are oysters and cheap apps. The best app is the lobster slider. This is a real lobster roll. No mayo or fillers, just lobster on a buttered roll. They are mid-size sliders for $6, so get two. The East Coast oysters are our favorite and were deliciously fresh. Please note they change the menu daily so it is not necessarily Malpeques or Skookums as listed on the Happy Hour Menu. We also tried the fish tacos, which were a tad salty and are not recommended. The shrimp corn dogs are quite a brilliant idea and are worthy of a try. They use really large jumbo shrimp and serve them skewered.

HAPPY HOUR AND A HALF:
Raw Bar
East Coast Oyster- Malpeque pei from cold waters with a mild finish 1.00
West Coast Oyster- Skookum puget sound, washington sweet, smoky, mild finish 1.75

Snack Menu
Fried Oysters frisee, old bay remoulade 7.00
Lollipop Chicken Wings blue cheese crumble 6.00
Mermaid Fish Taco blackened tilapia, avocado, smoked jalapeño ea 3.00
Mermaid Lobster Sliders brioche bun, lobster salad ea 6.00
Shrimp Corndogs creole mustard, coleslaw ea 3.00
Shishito Peppers sea salt, lemon 6.00

Lobster Slider

Beverage
Tommy Collins bulldog gin, q tonic, cucumber, lime 7.00
Old Bay Bloody Mary ketel one, old bay spiced bloody mary mix 7.00
Papa Doble oronoco rum, grapefruit, brandied cherry 7.00
Aperol Spritz prosecco, aperol, orange twist 7.00
Chilly Margaret herradura tequila, cointreau, fresh lime, jalapeno sugar 7.00
Red, White, And Rose Wine Selection By The Glass 6.00
Full Sail Session Black Lager 5.00

From the regular menu we tried the Littlenecks & Crispy Pork Belly with roasted tomatoes, thyme, and pickled shallots for $11.00. We were a tad disappointed in this dish. The pork belly was over-crisped and the flavors did not blend well. Steve had an out of this world clam and pork belly dish in San Francisco at Michael Mina’s RN74 which we will never forget. So sorry, Mermaid Inn, you didn’t make the cut on that one!

Finally, they serve a complimentary chocolate pudding because there is no dessert menu. Guess what, they shouldn’t bother. The pudding had a hell of a skin on the top from sitting around all night. Nothing like ruining a good meal with a free piece of crap. The fun part is you get a ‘Fortune Teller Miracle Fish’ with your check. You take it out of the wrapper, place it flat on your palm, then check out the back of the wrapper for an explanation of your fortune. The fish curls up from the warmth of your palm. It’s a cute concept.

Complimentary Pudding and Fortune Fish

Other Specials of Note:
Mondays – Social Media Mondays – Get 20% off coupons on Social Media sites
Tuesdays – Lobster Sandwich, Fries & Beer $20 (AT THE OYSTER BAR ONLY – W. Village)
Sundays (except Superbowl) – Lobsterpaloosa – 1 1/4 lb. lobster, grilled corn on the cob, red bliss potatoes, and cole slaw $24

I worry about all the promos and hope they have not fallen onto hard times because they are no longer the ‘it’ spot. But I can tell you if the lobster sandwich is as good as the slider, Tuesday would be awesome. They prepare the lobster to perfection, so I am also betting Lobsterpaloosa is a great deal too. The specials are available at ALL LOCATIONS unless specified.

Other Locations:
79 Macdougal – West Village
568 Amsterdam – Upper West Side

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4/11/11 – We went back to the Happy Hour and a Half with friends.  For the most part our original assessment stands.  The east coast oysters were better as a matter of personal taste.  This time we tried the Lollipop Chicken Wings which were good, but really why at a seafood restaurant?  The lobster sliders were still killer.  A couple of the cocktails weren’t so great.  Both the Bloody and the Chilly Margaret were too spicy to enjoy.  From the regular menu I tried the salted shrimp, which was very enjoyable.  It is crusted with salt and deep fried.  It’s so good you want to eat the crispy shell.  We’re still shocked we haven’t made the Mermaid Inn a regular staple, but I get the sense this summer will be the perfect time to start! Looking forward to many more visits to the E. Village location and perhaps next time the W. Village Oyster Bar.