Foodie Chat (12): The Mermaid Inn

Hey, New Yorkers! Make sure you squeeze a dinner at the Mermaid Inn in your busy schedule before it gets too cold, if you haven't done so in the summer. This New England fish shack style restaurant frequents the list of NYC's best oyster bars year after year, and the price is unbeatable.

Don't get confused with the word "Inn" in its name. This is a sophisticated yet casual spot with a Cape Cod vibe known for its fresh unfussy seafood. If $10 for half dozen oysters is not a good enough deal for you, go for its happy hour (all night Monday and 5-7 pm otherwise) when you can have $1/each oysters. Those oysters are juicy and super fresh. The blackened catfish will melt in your mouth and the lobster sandwich is just perfect. At the end of the meal, you will get a complimentary mini chocolate pudding and a fish fortuneteller that literally tells everyone that he/she is in passion -- now you understand why it's one of the most popular dating places in NYC?

BTW, the service is incredibly fast and attentive.

Address: 96 Second Ave, NY, NY 10003
Telephone: 212 674 5870