Mermaid Inn 96 2nd Ave. (5th & 6th Sts.)
East Village
212.674.5870
Mermaid Inn:
Can’t escape to the Cape this summer? If you can live without the beach part, Mermaid Inn is a close second. You might need a reservation if you hope to score some lobster at this East Village eatery. Great seafood and a well-edited wine list make empty tables scarce at this perennially packed, upscale fish shack. Amidst the rough-hewn ceiling beams, polished tables, and antique nautical maps, diners have their choice of fresh seafood staples and a mouthwatering array of oysters, clams, and shrimp. Get the raw bar sampler and request a patio table to invoke the true spirit of seaside summer dining—without the sea-sickening boat ride or smell of dead fish.
