Seafood/Oysters
http://www.themermaidnyc.com/oyster/
79 Macdougal St. – West Village

We are huge fans of the Mermaid Inn and have been wanting to try the West Village oyster bar location for quite some time.  We had nothing whatsoever going on Memorial Day weekend, so after a journey over to Brooklyn Bridge Park we decided to stop in for some oysters.  We were very early, so the regular bartender wasn’t on shift yet.  The guy working was none too quick on the service.  Then Steve ordered a Sangria, but they had run out.  Somebody ran to the basement for more and 20 minutes later Steve had a [free] Sangria.  So that was a bit of redemption!

The decor is completely Northeast Coast whitewashed wainscoting throughout.  It definitely feels like a shore point.  The front windows were open wide and there was a lively buzz.  The bar was pretty busy for a holiday weekend.

We decided to start with the oysters.  They had a happy hour special on a Virginia variety.  At $1 each, cannot complain.  They were not the best or the worst we’ve had.  Next up Steve had the Shrimp Corndogs with Creole Mustard and Coleslaw.  We’ve had them at the other location and really enjoyed.  I went with the Crispy Maryland Soft Shell Crab with peas and roasted tomato.  I love a soft shell crab and this was no exception.  Although breaded, I thoroughly enjoyed the flavors and would order again.

Given the choice between this smaller location and the original East Village Mermaid Inn spot, we choose the East Village.  While the atmosphere here is lovely, it’s very narrow and tight.  Really, the best choice here is the bar if you don’t mind hoverers waiting for the next available seat.