The Mermaid Inn

The Mermaid Inn Restaurant Review:

The Upper West Side outpost of the East Village seafood “shack,” The Mermaid Inn, in many ways, exceeds the original; only a few items carry over from the downtown menu, and the additions expand the purview of the restaurant from a New England fish shack to something more accessible for everyone. The décor and layout, however, is a near carbon copy, with piscatorial posters on the wall, a wood-floored room with a stainless steel bar in front and a smaller, carpeted room in the back. The kitchen creates such dishes as seared calamari with wild mushrooms, frisée and feta. The raw bar remains, but other sides like couscous and broccoli rabe with chili and grilled red onion ensure that the fish fearful have options. Indeed, they could also opt for the grilled hanger steak with whipped potatoes, shallots and roasted garlic butter. While those aren’t bad choices, entrées like the lobster sandwich on a griddled brioche bun with old bay fries or the grilled Atlantic salmon with French lentils, roasted garlic and shallots are more enjoyable and in the spirit of the place. There’s still no dessert available, just the complimentary chocolate pudding and fortune-telling fish, but with ample portions and attentive service, you’ll almost certainly leave satisfied.