Blue Mermaid

Blue MermaidBlue Mermaid
Blue MermaidBlue Mermaid
Bar, Eatery

10 Shapleigh Rd
Kittery, Maine, 03904
United States

(207) 703-2754 | map
bluemermaid.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.93
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
16
pDev:
4.83%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by Truh:
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Reviewed by Truh from New Hampshire

3.7/5  rDev -5.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
This place always has some Moat Mountain stuff on, which is a nice surprise, as well as something from Dogfish, usually 60 minute, but occasionally 90. The food is a bit unusual - a mix of various Caribbean cuisines that all work together. They also have a Sunday brunch, a nice addition to what used to be a relative brunch wasteland in the city of Portsmouth. And the Mermaid always seems to have great live music during the weekends. If you see them advertised, make sure you catch the band Elroy.
Dec 23, 2004
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.61 by mklisz from New Hampshire

Mar 04, 2015
 
Rated: 4.03 by psweendogg from Connecticut

Feb 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by Pwbres from Maine

Oct 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Mar 31, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Mar 25, 2014
Photo of SevaTse
Reviewed by SevaTse from New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
More of an eating establishment in mind, than a beer destination, but nevertheless, they do have a solid selection of beers on tap at any given time, and at times, some very limited and exclusive stuff from Smuttynose! They also do some live music and open mics. I often forget about it as eventhough it's close to my usual Portsmouth favorites, it's a bit off the beaten path, but I should stop doing that!
Tried it for the first time during one of the restaurant weeks, and loved the fact that delicious food could be accompanied by quality beer, and it has never let me down since. Recomend it if you're in town and want to mix up your experience after visiting Portsmouth Brewery and the Coat of Arms.
Sep 18, 2011
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Reviewed by arktos from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5
01/29/11 - Wife and I finished our Saturday night here. Dining room upstairs with small dining area and bar downstairs. Never really made it upstairs to explore but the bar area was cozy atmosphere and live music was good. Bartender was nice and service was good. Small selection on tap but good ones nonetheless: Brooklyn Chocolate Stout, Smuttynose Robust Porter, Moat Mountain Stout, Shipyard Prelude and a few others. Definitely recommend stopping in, wish we had time to eat as the menu looked delicious.
Feb 02, 2011
Photo of Hibernator
Reviewed by Hibernator from Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
I went to the Blue Mermaid this past weekend and had a great visit. The atmosphere is very comfortable, welcoming and cozy.

It was super cold outside with the temperature dropping, but when we bellied up to the bar downstairs I immediately felt warmth.The atmosphere benefits from nice art work and dimly lit lighting.

The bar featured about eight well thought out taps that included Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Long Trail IPA, Moat Mountain Brown Ale & Stout, Berkshire Extra Steel Rail, Old Scratch Amber Lager and Shipyard Prelude.

Bottle offerings included Belgian staples like Gulden Draak Ale, Piraat Ale and Augustijn. Blue Mermaid also features awesome mixed drinks and sangria too.

The food here was excellent and highly recommended. Everything I tried was flavorful with some very innovative creations. There is a distinct Caribbean influence in most of their dishes. The sea scallops with jalapeno pesto were phenomenal and the roasted poblano mash potatoes were delicious.

Check this place out for great drinks and excellent food. Recommended.
Jan 18, 2011
Photo of ElGallo
Reviewed by ElGallo from New Hampshire

3.55/5  rDev -9.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
I would recommend this as a place to hit on a "craft beer" pub crawl of Portsmouth. They only have 8 taps, and the bottle list is weak, but you're likely to get a couple of good draft offerings if you're just having a round or two. They frequently have Moat Mountain on tap as well as the current Smuttynose Big Beer. Ipswich, Long Trail, Harpoon, and Brooklyn offerings are common. Great place for live music, though the quality of the acts varies night to night. Food is decent. The Blue Mermaid holds a special place in my heart because it's where I first met my wife - I was hammered... on Stella... forgive me... it was the olden days.
Jan 14, 2010
Photo of irishtjb11
Reviewed by irishtjb11 from Maine

3.93/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
went here the other night and it was pretty good. they have a unique menu, provided its all "island" style oriented food. i got some cod with coconut sauce and my girlfriend got some cakes filled with peppers, onions, and goat cheese in a spicy sauce. the food was all very well done and properly proportioned.

the beer selection was unique in regards to the drafts, wide array of draft beers in terms of style and all from the northeast. they had a long trail belguim wheat, harpoon ipa, ispwich ale, brooklyn lager, and smuttynose double dock or smuttyinator i think was called; as well as the expected bottled beers varying from imports and domestics. i ordered a red strip figuring the type of food and it went very well, my girlfriend got the double bock and it was excellent. probably a bit too much to go along with a full meal, so in that sense it was a bit out of place, but the beer itself was great.

the vibe, ambiance of the place is great. the building seems very old but yet respectfully redone. all nice art work varying from painting to pictures of southern american landscapes to children. great place, would recommend it to anyone whos looking to spend a little to try something different and enjoy a mellow meal with reggae over the speakers.
Aug 28, 2008
Photo of FrankLloydMike
Reviewed by FrankLloydMike from Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
I've been to the Blue Mermaid both for the bar as well as for dinner, but never at the same time, and in a way not in the same place. The bar is downstairs--a very cozy place with an old chimney in the middle, with a small bar area in the front (just a few stools), then on the other side of the chimney are maybe ten tables and an area where musicians often play--without cover usually, I think. They have nice artwork--all Dan Blakeslee (local musician/artist) posters, I think, which give them place a unique feel. Upstairs, and in a much larger space, is the main dining area. It is brighter, more open, and less cozy... I much prefer the downstairs, but the food is excellent, and the sweet potato fries are not to be missed. Back downstairs, the beer selection is small, but very good, and rotates I believe. They often--if not always--have a few Moat Mountain beers, which I've only ever seen here and at the actual Moat Mountain brewpub. I think any of the Moat Mountain beers are excellent and well worth trying, but they usually have some other good options on tap, as well. The location is kind of neat--perched on the Hill on the edge of downtown, now behind the Hilton, but in a very neat old building, and the bar is usually lively and cozy... a nice departure from the main area of bars down the street.
Dec 05, 2007
Photo of brewandbbq
Reviewed by brewandbbq from New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
Definate hit up if you're in Portsmouth.
Not many on tap, but all great stuff.
Have had Dogfishead, HSA, Castle Springs (RIP), Smuttys,Magic Hat, and Moat Mountain (hard to find in Southern NH).
Stumbled in one day and they had Old Foghorn, Olde Chucklehead, and Smutty Barleywine on tap. Now thats what I'm talkin' about!
Haven't ever dined there, but the fries at the bar are damn good.
The menu is a bit on the pricey side for a cheap ass like meself, (spend all my money on beer).
Service is fine at the bar, and it's small enough to give off a cozy vibe.
Watch out for the parking lot out front, as of late it's not there, and don't sweat the rumors that it's a gay hangout. -Send your buddies there and then tell them after.
May 24, 2005
Photo of rousee
Reviewed by rousee from Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
This Mermaid dubs itself as a (seafood mostly?) fusion restaurant and that's exactly what I was in the mood for when we decided to try this place for lunch and a couple beers recently. I thought it was asian fusion but it is more like a carribean type influence. No matter, the food here was about as good as anywhere I ate when I was in Portsmouth last weekend Mar19 and 20. We had seafood tacos, lobster mango salad, and salmon club sandwich--all were excellent.

The beers--small selection --about 6-8 taps--mostly local. I was having the Geary's HSA and it was as fresh as can be. They had Moat Mt stout which I tried a sample of and it was good but it doesn't pair as well with their food as a more mild tasting beer like the Geary's. They were out of a few beers when I was there which was a little disappointing but the Geary's was making a nice combo and I had to drive afterwards so I couldn't have more than a couple.

The service was a bit of an issue. I am giving it an okay score because the young lady who was bartending was very nice and working her ass off but she was the only person they had on staff for the entire restaurant besides the chef. He was even helping her by bringing food plates to her because she was having a hard time keeping up with the whole place. This was at 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon. If they just had enough people working, I have no doubt the service would have been good or better.

I would go back here in a heartbeat but would avoid the place if it were busy as the bar area is small and would suck if it was packed.
Mar 23, 2005
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Reviewed by UncleJimbo from Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
The Blue Mermaid is a restaurant on High Street at the intersection of Hanover, across Hanover from the public parking garage, and in a parking lot called "The Hill" for some reason.

First and foremost, this place is a restaurant, with dining downstairs and upstairs. Downstairs, just to the right when you enter, is the small bar area. The bar itself only seats 6 or 7 people, with a few more chairs and a small rail for drinks (probably 14 people could fit in there at one time). The bar area has a TV (20"), and windows look out towards Hanover St.

You can tell they care about beer here. Only 8 taps, but when I visited last, they had all local/regional micros on tap: Harpoon IPA, Moat Mountain Square Tail Stout, Tuckerman's Pale Ale, Shipyard Pumpkinhead and Old Thumper, Smuttynose Robust Porter, and Buzzard Bay Lager. They were also offering 14 bottled beers, which included some nice ones such as a Lindeman's lambic and one Unibroue. Mixed drinks and wine are also served.

The atmosphere was comfortable and cozy, and the staff was very friendly and paid attention to detail. Free chips and very tasty home made salsa were offered to go with my beer. It may have helped that I did not visit on an extremely busy night. The meals looked and smelled very good (from what I observed of my neighbor's order).

A comfortable place to have a pint especially if you don't feel like going to a more traditional bar or pub.
Oct 17, 2003
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Reviewed by bewareOFpenguin from Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +9.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
update: 4/12/04
stopped in for a Red Rogue on tap and stayed for a couple pints. It was indeed yummy. Getting crowded at the bar now that summer is upon us. But the food is still good and the selection is great.

Formally known as The Codfish, this establishment is located across from the main parking garage. The bar itself only sports maybe 8 stools while the restaurant itself is quite spacious. The beer selection on tap is predominately local, including the Big A from smuttynose. Lot of locals in here, the tourists have not yet discovered the bar. The food is "wood" grilled, sort of polynesian and quite good. Agreat place to throw a few back with a date, being quite a quiet place.
Sep 26, 2002
Blue Mermaid in Kittery, ME
Place rating: 3.93 out of 5 with 16 ratings