The Mermaid Inn - Chelsea

Have been meaning to try this place out for ages and I finally did last night. I was looking for a table for 10 - not easy given size of table and also being last minute. I called the restaurant and spoke to Ethan who was so nice and confirmed availability. Got there just before happy hour ended - was able to order few things from happy hour as well as the regular menu. Nice surprise also - the restaurant has a kids menu at $12 each and they also provided an activity book and crayons to keep kids entertained. Food was great - the calamari rings were really memorable. Restaurant also gave out free complimentary chocolate mousse like dessert which was a nice way to end the meal.

Went here for a company meeting where I was probably the only vegetarian! But still, giving this a 4 star for their amazing Trumpet Mushroom Risotto ($19) - which was the only Vegetarian dish available and that too as an appetizer!Ambiance was typical of any NYC bar, nothing special, but the service was really good especially given our relatively large table of eight people!Food did arrive quickly - within 20 minutes or ordering, and my Risotto was cheesy but perfectly portioned!

Tonight was my first time at this location, and it was just as amazing as the other 2 locations I've been too!The vibes in here remind me of an elegant, but homey and nautical Cape Cod restaurant. The seafood here is fabulous and makes you feel like you're on the coast!We didn't have reservations and were seated right away. I love that you can order happy hour here at tables or at the bar. We got a smorgasbord of happy hour options; mini fish tacos, avocado/shrimp slider, salmon tartar, and oysters. I also had the hot and dirty cocktail, which was a spicy dirty martini. Everything was delish! If I had to pick a favorite, I think it would be the slider and the oysters, but I truly loved it all. Everything is so affordable on happy hour (Mon-Fri 4:30-6). You also get a complimentary chocolate pudding for dessert! This spot is a must visit, especially for happy hour!

Made a reservation to go to brunch with friends earlier in November. I arrived a little before the reservation time and was invited to come sit at the table right away, which was really nice. (My friends arrived shortly afterwards.) The coffee was very good, the blood orange Mimosa was good, and I think all of us really enjoyed our food. One of my friends had the eggs Benedict, another had the Farmer's Market, and I had the Challah French Toast. It had been quite a while since I'd had french toast at a restaurant, and this french toast definitely made the wait worthwhile. The description on their menu says "Salted caramel, bananas & corn flake streusel." I think it's the corn flakes that make it especially good. It was truly delicious.The vibe in there was nice: cozy and casual, and the service was very good too. Hope to get back there before too long and I'd love to try some of their other locations (like the UWS one) too.

Casual and fun seafood spot. The server was nice, and didn't rush us despite someone in our group arriving very late. The food is solid...my lobster roll was good...nothing exciting, but it was a well-done lobster roll. The only disappointment was the Parker House rolls. They were a little flat and not very fluffy.

The Mermaid Inn has the best bread ever. I think the ambience is amazing and the servers are great.

Finally came to this place. Right in time for happy hour oysters and clams. It was so fresh and delicious... we ate over 40 oysters! Came with a smaller stomach but the freshness and preparation made us want more!! Tried raw clams for the first time, delicious! My friend got the almost famous lobster roll, you have to get it. Even the fries were amazing.. so we ended up going the next day for brunch! Check their hours as they are not open entire day. There's plenty of seating indoors and outdoors (when it's warm out). Definitely coming back when I'm in town again!!

What a great neighborhood spot!All the dishes were pretty good. The best dish was the seared calamari salad, which was quite good - highly recommend. Everything else was pretty good - not the best of what I've had but all tasty enough and I liked the variety of the menu. The lobster knuckles were unique and tasty (my second favorite dish), and the lobster roll with fries and cod entrees were also pretty decent. It was a nice touch that they gave us free mini chocolate mousse desserts. Service was also friendly and prompt.We walked in on a Friday night around 7 as a party of two without a reservation and were able to get seated right away, which was great. Will definitely return!

Listen -- the line was already forming before the restaurant opened! Luckily, we were one of the firsts, and were able to immediately score a table.The Mermaid Inn is charming, and customer service was top tier during my visit. So, let's get into the food. While they have a litany of fresh oyster selections, my dining companion doesn't do raw oysters, so I opted out. However, I tried the Grilled Shrimp and Avocado Sliders from the HH menu, and just wow! The bread used is a Hawaiian Roll. ANYTHING on a Hawaiian Roll is money! Although the bun itself is small, the size of the shrimp on the bun worked. It was absolutely delicious. We also ordered calamari for an appetizer. It was good, lightly battered and crispy. No complaints. For entrees, we ordered the True North Salmon and the Chatham Cod. We requested an alternate side with the salmon dish came; so, the salmon sat atop zucchini and squash. The Chatham Cod was delicious! It was paired with a cauliflower purée, peas and bacon brown butter. Everything was executed well and was savory. 10/10Again, the service was impeccable. Our waiter brought over complimentary chocolate pudding for dessert -- it was not the best, but I won't complain considering...I'll definitely be visiting again!

Stopped at the bar before dinner for happy hour oysters. The oysters were excellent as was the service. The guy making drinks was fast and efficient. You can tell he had a level of professionalism you don't often see. Didn't try any other food and just stayed for a beer and glass of wine, but the atmosphere was nice and I thoroughly enjoyed the oysters.