The Mermaid Inn

Critics' Pick

96 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003
nr. 5th St. See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-674-5870 Send to Phone
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Upscale

Almost Perfect

Exceptional

Generally Excellent

Very Good

Good

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Excellent

Delicious

Very Good

Noteworthy
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Expensive

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Critics' Rating:
**
Key to Prices and ratings
Upscale

Almost Perfect

Exceptional

Generally Excellent

Very Good

Good

Cheap Eats

Best in Category

Excellent

Delicious

Very Good

Noteworthy
Very Expensive

Expensive

Moderate

Cheap
Reader Rating:
7.1 out of 10
|
14 Reviews | Write a Review
Cuisine: Seafood

Photo by Ben Rosenzweig

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Official Website

themermaidnyc.com

Hours

Mon-Thu, 5:30pm-11pm; Fri-Sat, 5:30pm-11:30pm; Sun, 5pm-10pm

Nearby Subway Stops

6 at Astor Pl.; F, V at Lower East Side-Second Ave.

Prices

$18-$26

Payment Methods

American Express, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

Dine at the Bar
Outdoor Dining

Alcohol

Full Bar

Reservations

Recommended

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Profile

This "clam shack built by a beatnik," in previous co-owner Jimmy Bradley's words, has a lot more going for it than littlenecks, however delectable at $7 a half-dozen. A New Englandy front room, a cozier rear, and an adorable garden fill nightly with East Villagers stuck in the city but hungering for the shore. Most bottles of wine are priced a miraculous $15 over cost, and dessert (chef's choice) is on the house. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld

Recommended Dishes

Lobster sandwich, $26

Food:	3

Service:	3

Décor:	7

Value:	2

I did not hesitate to suggest The-Mermaid-Inn when a friend had a hankering for lobster, as I've been at least 5-6 times, and their food has been consistently good. What followed was a little horrific (excuse the melodrama but given the excellent track record, it was quite dismaying to witness this)... We waited 25mins (had a rez, arrived on time). We had drinks at the bar to quell our annoyance- no offer of comping drinks. The lobster sandwich was comprised of teensy teensy lobster...bits... there's really no other way to describe it. Bits that were mashed in with a lot of filler unlike anything IÂ’ve been served before. Service continued to be abysmal: empty water glasses, and an a/c unit that dripped water down my back. This was a celebratory dinner, and I regret recommending this place over Mary's-Fish-Camp, Pearl-Oyster-Bar, Ed's-Lobster-Bar, and BLT-Fish. I would throw in Urban Lobster Shack and Black Pearl, but I've not been to either, and the latter is now closed. A non-existent Black-Pearl lobster roll would have been better than the one I paid for.

GREAT service!

anonymousgirl from 90031 | Posted on 6/11/08

Overall Rating: 10 (Highly Recommended)


Food:	9
Service:	10

Décor:	10

Value:	9

I never write these kinds of reviews, but I was so shocked by the review below mine that talks about the poor service, that I felt like I had to set the record straight. The service here was amazing. I had a large group and though they were totally packed, they went out of their way to try to find us a table. We had a great time, loved the food, loved the decor, and couldn't have asked for better service. I may not be as *important* as the person who wrote the below review, but I will certainly recommend this place to my friends and hope that this review will help others to find this gem in the city.

Read All 14 Reviews >>

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