The Mermaid

Absolutely outstanding seafood experience! From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, attentive, and professional. The seafood was incredibly fresh — perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. Every dish was flavorful, well-seasoned, and cooked to perfection.

Excellent food and service. Atmosphere is pretty fisherman wharf type and cute. I ordered the pan fried salmon which was delicious served with fresh market vegetables. Service was also quite polite and attentive. Its a small place with cosy wharf vibe and they certainly seem to do their fish well. Ill definitely be back!

Classic and authentic east coast seafood in a quaint welcoming environment. Came on a Thursday for the half priced oysters. Ordered a dozen PEI oysters to start - super fresh, great oysters! For our mains we both ordered lobster rolls, which were generously packed, the bread was fresh and crispy, and the lobster was very fresh. Overall a great experience and friendly service, and we will be back!

My husband and I had an amazing lunch at The Mermaid and it did not disappoint! Big bites, bigger portions 🦞✨ The Mermaid knows how to do lobster right! Massive chunks in the roll, a grilled cheese with a cheese pull for days, and portions so huge they’re made for sharing. Worth every bite!

Food is incredible!! The freshest seafood around! Brenda and the staff there are great! Try everything, really enjoyed the smoked salmon! Fish and chips was great, friend had a lobster and said it was cooked perfectly! Can’t wait to try more!!

Food is consistently great here, especially the fresh oysters, if you like oysters, you should try it

Was in the area and we were craving lobster rolls so we stopped in The Mermaid in Oakville on Kerr Steer. The restaurant is small and quaint. Def gives Maritimes vibes! We ordered mussels and lobster rolls and omg the mermaid didn’t disappoint! soooo good and such a generous amount as well. Riya was our server. She was super sweet and attentive. She was easy to talk to and she spoke to us with such an enthusiastic tone and smile. Loved her energy! Highly recommend The Mermaid! Hoping to come back in a couple of weeks!

I love this place but yesterday’s Uber order left me wanting. Quantity and order were correct but the flavour profiles for each entree was lacking seasoning and in particular salt and pepper. Fish from fish n chips and tacos, had no salt on them, even at the prep stage before cooking. The lobster pasta, same problem. The tartar sauce had no hint of being a tartar sauce (relish, tanginess). The Cajun calamari with the banana peppers had no bite, which surprised me. The salsa/dipping sauce was not a good complement. Typically, this dish is one of my faves and a unique take on fried calamari. I recall their in-house salad dressing to be spectacular with the right balance of tartness and saltiness. Not this time around. Has there been a change in chef/cooks? I was disappointed by yesterday’s experience from this seafood gem. I will go back since their seafood quality is excellent. And I believe in second chances.

One night I just really wanted to have fish tacos and always loved the idea of a good deal for Oysters... I think I found the place! Came to The Mermaid on Thurs for their half off Oysters! Environment was nice and cozy indoors and they had outdoor seating as well. Service was pretty quick, we were there an hour before closing Oysters were $1.75 each, we had to get a bunch. They were fresh and delicious As you can see, the fish tacos and fish and chips were huge!! 3 Tacos for $18 is a pretty good deal for the size you get . Everything was super crispy They have deals throughout the week for their tacos, and fish and chips! Definitely check them out.

This is our go to place for oysters. You MUST call ahead for reservations as the seating area is tiny. The service is wonderful and the oysters are reasonably priced. I really enjoy their crab cakes as well. It is hard to find a good crab cake in the GTA and The Mermaid has them. My fiancé always gets the catch of the day as the fish is so very fresh. Highly recommend.

I wanted to check this place out so I ordered their clam chowder as a sort of litmus test. The flavour was fine (definitely could use some fresh herbs and some acid), with a nice ratio of clams/fish to potato. The off-putting aspect was the texture. They're using some sort of thickening agent which leaves the chowder with a gummy/snotty texture. It was really, really tough to get past that. I'm desperate for a good seafood place though, so I'll return to try their F&C and tacos at some point. Hopefully those are better.

A small restaurant with the most amazing Clam chowder and lobster bisque! We usually get takeout, ask for it cold and heat and eat at home! A real Newfie experience and if you can visit during summer, the rustic patio is a fun place with lots of characters chatting and socializing. Whilst not ideal as a takeout, the seafood poutine is absolutely amazing - ask for fries, seafood and cheese to be served separately - crispy fries, awesome seafood and squeaky cheese all under your control!!

Order the Fish tacos again, and they were extremely disappointing. What we got was not what we have had here in the past. The tacos were out on much smaller tortillas and 4 tacos were not enough to share. Disappointing because they aren't cheap. I don't know if there are new employees or if they are just cutting back what you get to cover the loss in business, but the tacos were about half the size they were even late 2020.

Service was excellent, but the food was not fresh nor tasty. The haddock fish and chips was fishy and the lobster roll was obviously made with frozen and not fresh lobster. Wish the food lived up to service.

This is an amazing and adorable local seafood market and eatery on Kerr Street in Oakville. It is family owned and operated and is really one of the best places to get fresh and quality seafood in the area. There are a few items I personally love to get from here that I need to mention: - Oysters, shucked...because obviously - Fresh Ahi Tuna - pro tip: call in advance to order to ensure they will have it for you - Crispy wontons - made in house! Once we marinate the tuna we eat on these wontons and it is amazing! - Lobster Grilled Cheese - honestly, there is nothing really like this. 3 rich and creamy cheeses with fresh meaty lobster on beautiful bread? Please try this and thank me later - Lobster Bisque - also rich and full of flavour, the takeout quantity is huge which is awesome! I definitely recommend trying this place out if you are in the area, but it has certainly grown in popularity so I do think calling in advance to pre-order is a good idea! Enjoy!

I'm laughing at the "good" reviews because I frequent oyster bars around the GTA and this was the most disgusting experience I have ever had. I literally had to hold back my laughter when the waitress told my partner and I these were "fresh" oysters. There are better places to go.

What a quaint little spot in downtown Oakville! My friend and I ate to our little hearts desire and we were not disappointed. Mussels: the 1/2 bowl is more than enough for two as an appetizer. The red sauce was so yummy I wanted to drink the entire thing. All mussels were opened and there had to be at least 30 in the 1/2 bowl. Also came with the most amazing garlic bread. No complaints here! Oysters: big and fresh. 1/2 price on Thursdays. We didn't get to choose from a variety of kinds but the one served were great. Lobster rolls: drool worthy and served on this soft amazing garlic bun. My friend ordered this but I kept eyeing it and will be ordering it next time. There was a lot of lobster as it was spilling out the bun. Fish and chips: ugh up until this moment the Mermaid was doing so well for me!! The halibut was incredibly oily. I know this is the case with most dish and chips but I was practically drinking the oil. The batter inside was very soft and nice but I couldn't enjoy this dish. Still giving the Mermaid a 5/5 because I was thoroughly impressed. Just steer clear of the fish and chips.

Their patio was opened on a first come first serve bases. We came here on a Friday night for a date night. We loved their lobster roll as you can taste the lobster being fresh. Another favourite is their clam chowder which I highly recommend as it is loaded with clams. The staff were friendly and we really enjoyed our meal.

Hidden gem. This place is amazing. Fresh food. Good tasting. A pretty awesome vibe! The only drawback is that the hours are short. Otherwise it's really good food and you should try it. They also do brunch

Ordered lobster roll and crabby cake. The menu on yelp is outdated. The lobster roll is $25, crabby cake is $16.

Fish and ships Wednesday..tried it today...ultra mega thick batter covering the one-piece haddock fillet, of course underseasond like any other in Canada. $12 and a change. Eh...

This just happened today and I needed to rave about it (just a little) because you know, that's what you do when something amazing happens. Following an eventful morning working from the Kerr st Cafe, I went with my dining companion for a short walk to see what other eats we could dig up along the Kerr Village aside from Stoney's (still got mad love for Stoney's... but I needed something new). Ali (GTA's new Marketing Assistant) said she had heard that an old seafood store had recently begun to double as a lunch spot, offering a menu of made to order seafood faves in addition to their cooler filled with fish you could take home to prepare to your liking. It's a humble shop, nothing fancy, simple tables, simple chairs, and an eclectic array of seafaring knick knacks and decor to make the place feel warm. Don't go in expecting a Red Lobster, this is first and foremost a specialty fish shop which offers some places to sit while you enjoy some freshly cooked fare - so basically, don't be a jerk and take a star away because it's paper napkins and seafood and not white glove service - I'm just sayin'. To the food now... Egad, what a menu! Lobster. On. Everything! See the pictures, but from a Gooey Lobster grilled cheese, to a classic lobster roll to lobster bisque and lobster this and lobster that, I was in maritime heaven! Add to the line up of lobster faves, classics like clam chowder, and traditional fish and chips - I was as happy as a clam you might say! Much to our glee we discovered that today ALSO just so happened to be buck-a-shuck Oyster day. Seriously? So we shared a dozen (or so). We both went for the Lobster rolls because... lobster rolls you guys! The roll was magnificent, a little less mayo, exactly as I liked it (too many times places will charge you big $$ for less Lobster and more filler - celery, dill, mayo, etc). These buns were toasted and buttery and jam packed with tons of lobster - amazing! I decided to forego the salad on the side when I found out that they fresh cut and fresh cook their fries (thick cut too). They were amazing, had a little seasoning on them and kept their crunch even after I doused them in salt and malt vinegar! Yum - still drooling! The bill was a tad higher than I would normally spend on a lunch, but heck for lobster and oysters on the cheap, I would have gladly paid even more if asked. Everything was amazing and I was SO happy to discover this hidden aspect of this little local gem! Eatcrest Out!

In search of something different on the Kerr strip, we found The Mermaid and The Oyster. This place will make you wonder why all seafood restaurants aren't still sporting mermaid wall murals and fishnet drapery, but it's the food that'll really knock you out. One bite of their lobster rolls and you'll be hooked! ATMOSPHERE: This is a specialty seafood store/seafood restaurant hybrid. Meaning after you sample their delish menu, you can also grab some fresh salmon for the road. The space is decked out in sea-themed kitsch which makes your dining experience more theatrical and fun than tacky. This in itself makes the spot a must-visit. For seating, they've got pretty basic outdoor furniture, and there's only so many seats so coming in with larger groups may be difficult. 2-4 people seems to be the magic number. SERVICE: As we walked into the shop and asked for a menu, we were greeted with smiles and Hello's! from the staff behind the counter. Our table service was perfectly adequate as well, with our waitress offering her menu favourites and remaining attentive throughout the meal. C-FOOD: No human being should have to relive Goldilocks' horror each time they bite into a seemingly normal lobster roll. Yet all too often we're confronted with lobster roll predicaments. We're either robbed of precious lobster meat, or the butter factor is supercharged or the filling is too mayo-y, too dill-y, too onion-y, etc. Not this lobster roll. While it may be on the smaller side, this sandwich is packed with lobster meat, and the seasoning and filling is incredibly fresh. In fact, I saw the chef whipping it up behind the counter to-order. The bun is buttery enough that you taste it, but not over-the-top, and the overall flavours are very balanced. In other words, this place has got their lobster rolls ON LOCK. Aside from that, we had "Buck-a-Shuck" oysters that we're deeeeeeeelicious, and my coleslaw side was just the right amount of creamy. OVERALL: If you're an Oakvillian, you should be grabbing your keys and running out the door this very instant. This is an awesome local spot in a town that lacks classic seafood restaurants with big taste. For anyone passing by Oakville, it's worth the stop off the highway! Don't let this place be the one that got away!

We came on our way back to Toronto from Niagara Falls. There are a lot of restaurants along Kerr Street, and there are parking meters on both sides of the street. We parked our car at the meters and later found out that there are free parking at the back of the restaurant. The restaurant is small with only 4 small tables. We had lobster roll and crab cake. The lobster roll is fabulous. There are big chunks of lobster meat. They fried the roll and it came out warm and crispy. It is $14 and it is so worth. The crab cake is $4 each and we ordered two. They came with sauce and it's both delicious to eat the cake by itself or with the sauce. We ordered a mermaid chowder and two more crab cakes to go. The chowder is kind of disappointed coz it is kind of watery. I personally like thick and creamy chowder. The crab cake tasted as delicious as eat-in after reheated back home.

Popped it to grab a lobster roll for take out- no price list posted anywhere in take out area- was a bit shocked when it rang up $33... oh well it wasn't bad... not east coast good or $33 good- but good. By the way... at a time when I thought everyone was wearing a mask the gentleman who served me was not wearing one nor was the cook in the back... I won't return again to pay $33 for a sandwich nor do I care to catch Covid.

I didn't grow up eating seafood, so getting into it now has been difficult. The Mermaid and the Oyster really makes it easy! Going in for the first time, you can't help but notice that this place smells like FISH FISH FISH. Like plug your nose, you're going to smell like fish for a week. My Husband didn't notice (because he has allergies and his nose is plugged all the time), but I was contemplating going home and grabbing a clothespin, or maybe sticking some potpourri up my nostrils. We sat down anyway, next to the dirty lobster tank (ew), and I wondered how many of the lobsters would live to see the next day. I named a few of them. I wonder how Randy and Cheryl are doing now? The service and the food make up for the seaworld-y smell. The waitress was friendly and kind, and the owner spoke to us for a bit and was very hospitable. After looking over the menu for a few minutes, we decided on a bowl of lobster bisque, a shrimp roll and a side of sweet potato fries, all to share. Getting the shrimp roll was a gamble for me, because I've never had anything like that before. Cold sea creature? That's why I avoid all the neighboring sushi restaurants. But this sandwich had me sold, and the lobster bisque sold me further. It was a large portion and so creamy and delicious, I wish I had gotten my own - my Husband wolfed it down as I glared daggers at him. He slept on the couch that night. The sweet potato fries were so delicious and I loved the mayo they were served with. I was really even more impressed with the bill - it was only about $30 for the entire meal, including 2 pops. That's really great for Oakville, and especially for seafood! Next time, I think I'll order to-go to avoid the smell, and I'll make sure to get my own portion, but there will definitely be a next time.

Had an enjoyable lunch here. Staff was friendly and the food was good. The lobster roll no longer comes with a side of greens or chips but it didn't really take much away from the meal.

Don't even know where to start; the owner/chef is personable and knowledgeable, the staff is friendly, and the food is amazing. The lobster roll and chowder are outstanding; both packed with fresh seafood. The fish tacos have this crazy spicy slaw that make you want to stuff your face, but you can't because they give you three huge portions. And how can you call yourself a seafood place and not make killer fish & chips. I've never gone when it's been super busy so I don't know how they handle a crowd, but it's one of our fave places in Oakville.

I pre ordered from The Mermaid on Wednesday and it came as a surprise when I showed up on Friday at 7 at my specified time and my order was no where to be found. I was upset but the staff quickly took my order and also included a free appetizer which was incredibly nice. When the order was taking a little too long, they asked for my credit card. I asked why and to my surprise they comped the ENTIRE order. This was the best customer service after a mix up I've ever experienced. Thank you Mermaid staff!

Can't beat the "buck a shuck". I have finally found a closer oyster bar than Rodney's in Toronto. Split 60 oysters and a few beers between three of us on St. Patrick's Day. Can't beat $30 for 20 oysters and two beers.

Very helpful and bought sushi grade tuna...the whole family LOVED it. Would highly recommend it.

3.5 stars. Great service, cute place. The ladies at the counter are super friendly. Had the lobster roll. Very fresh and nicely seasoned with fresh herbs, but just a bit too much mayo for my liking.

Worst place ever. The staff is extremely rude and the food is over priced and quality is poor. I ordered oysters for buck a shuck and found a worm. When I called to complain the owner told me it happens and to suck it up. When I went in to get my refund I was yelled at and accused of mishandling my food. The staff members were so rude!!!

I finally popped into the Mermaid and the Oyster after living in Oakville for almost 4 years, and boy have I been missing out! I thought it was a seafood market, so I popped in to buy shrimp for a dinner. There isn't a huge selection but everything is very fresh. I then saw they had a small menu and were part of Taste of Oakville, so I tried a Lobster roll and clam chowder which were on special. Holy yumminess! There was a very generous portion of lobster and it was so fresh it reminded me of eating lobster caught same day in Maine. The chowder was absolutely delicious. I've been back recently and discovered 'buck a shuck' Thursday's... Oh happy day! They also offer take out, and we've had some great mussels and a lobster dinner special for Valentines Day. You can dine in, it's very casual with just a few tables. Note they don't have a liquor license though, so if you'd like a glass of wine with your lobster, you'll want to plan for take out :)

This was a horrible experience. We wanted to have fresh fish and chips and we thought that fish market would be the place to go. Well we were wrong. Almost Burned frozen dry fillet with almost Burned fries. Service was below average as the cashier is the waiter and the worker selling fish ( one person).

Oakville's best kept secret. Best chowder and lobster bisque the place reminds me of a find in PEI

We've been here two times. My favourite would be the tuna tacos for sure. The tuna is lightly seared on the outside (and you get a good amount of tuna per taco as well) along with crisp veggies, crunchy noodles and peanuts topped with a wasabi mayo (which I always ask for extra of). Both times we ordered the tuna tacos and it was consistent on both occasions. There are three generous tacos which we didn't realize the first time so we shared it the second time. We also had the oysters both times (Thursdays are oyster night - $1 although they are a little smaller in size that when we ordered the regular priced ones). Oysters did not come with the sauces or fresh horseradish as I normally prefer (only came with pre-made horseradish, cocktail sauce and lemon). Clam chowder and lobster grilled cheese were both good. Lobster bisque was ok, but I prefer the clam chowder personally. As everyone has mentioned they do not serve alcohol and the tables are more like patio tables than true dining tables but other than that, I highly recommend the restaurant. We don't live too far away so we'll definitely become regulars.

We had a lobster roll, lobster BLT and raw oysters. All were excellent! They have a couple tables inside and three small tables outside. Nice quaint spot. They sell fish, oysters and shell fish at their counter as well. I would note they don't have a liquor license.