Monday, January 7, 2013

The Mermaid Inn | East Village

 
The Mermaid Inn in the East Village is charming and casual, where a crowded oyster bar and a richly wooded dining room pop with a dash of sophistication meets and understated nautical kitsch. A small but affordable wine list offers one Rosé by the glass, which happens to be a local Paumanock Cabernet Franc ($9) from North Fork, Long Island. Oysters are impeccable and they have a solid selection of east and west coast.
 

Their entrée menu comprised mostly of seafood is hit or miss, it seems. Seafood Fra Diavolo ($25) is overwhelmed by heat, the inherently spicy red sauce was lacking any balance of flavors and half of the shellfish is poorly cooked (unopened clams are a bummer.) The Mermaid Fish Tacos ($21) are much better, keeping it simple they impress and comfort with crispy battered fish dressed in a marinated red cabbage, jalapeno and pico de gallo. 
 
Dessert is an espresso sized cup of chocolate pudding on the house, accompanied by a fortune telling fish. (Though I am not so sure about him, he told me I was jealous - that's a red paper fish for you!)

10 comments:

  1. the fortune telling fish is a cute touch! bummer bout the fra diavlo.

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  2. fortune teller fish?! Being jealous is not a fortune ;) To bad about some of the dishes....

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  3. Glad the fish tacos were decent, at least! They look good. :)

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  4. Those fish tacos do look good. Interesting about that fish... :)

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  5. I love the name of this restaurant! Also love that you ordered LI wine. :)

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  6. This place looks so adorable. A fortune telling fish :). Love it.

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  7. I used to live right around the corner from this restaurant, but somehow never tried it. Sounds like a great place to stop in for a drink and some oysters, at least!

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  8. I am a big fan of complimentary dessert :) And the name is very cute!

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  9. i like the mermaid theme! very cute.

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  10. This place looks adorable! I love all the Mermaid accents and that dessert looks divine!

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