Thirsty Mermaid

We had dinner at this really lovely spot with great seafood options. If you can make it for happy hour (4–6 PM daily), it’s a fantastic deal — half a dozen oysters for just $8, and they were very fresh. Everything we tried was delicious: the clam chowder, fried oysters, yellowtail snapper, and of course the key lime pie. No complaints at all. One small suggestion for the owners — it could be fun to experiment with oysters the way they do in New Orleans, charbroiled over an open flame with cheese. That would be an awesome addition to the menu. Overall, a great place. We’ll definitely be back.

Our second visit to Key West and our second time coming to this restaurant, five years apart and our experience was just as amazing now as it was the first time. Their happy hour is out of this world! Great oysters, delicious drinks, awesome food, and perfect service!

Stumbled upon this place looking for a dinner spot and so glad we did! Everything is delicious and service is great - super fresh seafood. We had the stone crab (a must), lobster empanadas, and the crab ravioli which was a special - don’t skimp get the bread service it’s the most delicious grilled bread you will ever have!

Really nice and helpful staff, croquettes with mac and cheese — such a great idea! So good. Desserts were also tasty. Thanks to JJ, we enjoyed our late breakfast; after two years, we were finally back!

Found this little restaurant while walking around Key West and decided to pop in for dinner, spoiler alert: best decision ever. The Peruvian scallops were delicious as well as the clam chowder as appetizers. They had the most delicious crab raviolis as special, they should put it as a permanent plate because they where out of this world and the key west pink shrimp with the gnocchi and edamame where delicious as well. If I could only ask for one thing is that they make their portions a bit bigger because the food is so good you always need more.

This place was great! For the moment we walked in warm and friendly. We had oysters, lobster and mussels with chorizo. Everything outstanding. Great spot for a dinner date while on vacation. Will be back 100%. Server was attentive and accomodating.

It seems like everyone has a Wagyu burger these days, but this is the one you want. That funky truffle goat cheese mates well with smashed but crispy patties and just the hint of Bella’s on a simple bun. Pair’s perfectly with their Iguana Bait Kolsch. Staff and atmosphere were a 10 out of 10 even during their happy hour rush. You can tell they know their shit. Order the hand-pulled espresso for a special treat.

The food is delicious, the drink selection is impressive, and the atmosphere is really enjoyable. The happy hour oysters are absolutely delicious and offer fantastic value for the price.

My girlfriend and I ordered takeout on Saturday and were pretty underwhelmed. We ordered the scallops as an appetizer and got 4 quarter-sized scallops on little seashells for $24. Regardless of how they tasted, the value was abysmal. The two salads that we got were better, she liked the yellowfin tuna salad that she got. We agreed that we wouldn't come back here.

Such a nice happy hour! I got oysters (8) on the half shell and fresh ceviche; both for only $8 each! The place has a welcoming vibe and is clean and open. You're not squished in like some restaurants.

If I could give zero stars, I absolutely would. Our experience at Thirsty Mermaid was one of the worst dining experiences we've had in years. The service was not just disappointing, it was completely unprofessional and left us wondering how this restaurant is even operating at this level. First, we ordered a clam chowder the moment we sat down. This is a basic appetizer, something any restaurant should be able to bring out. Shockingly, it didn't arrive until after we finished all of our entrées. I had to ask twice about it, and the explanation we received was, "We don't prepare the ingredients ahead of time, so it takes longer." I was honestly speechless. Clam chowder is a standard menu item, how does a kitchen not have basic prep done? By the time it finally arrived, it was no longer an appetizer but an afterthought. Second, before all of our dishes were even served, the staff came and removed every piece of tableware from our table.(included a little spoon we got for my kid, I have to ask them twice to get it back from their kitchen) We were literally left without utensils while still waiting for food, especially the clam chowder that was delayed. When we asked for utensils again, it took multiple reminders before someone finally brought us a few spoons. The lack of coordination and basic common sense was shocking. Third, we were a group of five adults and one child under 1.5 years old. At checkout, we were automatically charged a 20% gratuity fee, yet the restaurant provided zero service for the child. We asked for warm water to heat a baby bottle and were told, "We only have cold water here." That response alone was unbelievable. We even brought our own child seat. Worse, the server repeatedly carried plates over our child's head, and even after several reminders, continued doing so until the very last dish was served. The lack of awareness and safety consideration was truly concerning. To be specific, our server was a female staff member with an accent, and throughout the entire meal, it felt like she had zero intention of providing proper service. There was no attentiveness, no willingness to help, and absolutely no sense of responsibility that would justify a mandatory 20% service fee. Overall, this was an extremely disappointing and frustrating experience. Thirsty Mermaid displayed poor communication, lack of professionalism, and a complete disregard for basic hospitality standards. We will never return, and I strongly advise other families especially those with young children, to avoid this restaurant entirely.

Thirsty Mermaid is a raw bar and seafood restaurant that specializes in all things sea. We had some time to kill and popped in for lunch on a hot summer day. The restaurant is well laid out, nicely decorated, and very quaint. We had been to their sister restaurant and bar, Little Pearl, years before so we had high expectations. A lot of things hit the table. I remember clam chowder, mac and cheese croquettes, and the visual star of the show, "The Mermaid." +The Mermaid ($45) // 6 oysters, 6 clams, ceviche. Great oysters, solid clams, okay ceviche. Oysters were briny and delicious. Clams were small. Ceviche of the day was tilefish, and to be honest I didn't love the fish selection. Was hoping for something with a bit more flavor. It all worked together for a hot day, but it wasn't memorable for a nice seafood restaurant. I remember having a beer with my meal, a Cigar City Jai Alai for old times sake. All in all, it satisfied the seafood craving, but I wouldn't rush back and preferred Little Pearl more than Thirsty Mermaid.

The oysters were perfect! The snapper dish was absolutely delicious! But the lobster was awful and tasted sour, which sucked because I love lobster!

Was not extremely thrilled with the items we ordered. The Lobster Empanadas ($24) had way too much corn vs any form of lobster meat inside. The Wagyu Potstickers ($20) were not up to the expectations either but my friend enjoyed them since she can't have much of the seafood items on the menu. The board outside had the Pear & Brie sandwich on display but once inside we were told it was no longer available - how? It's written in chalk on your board outside... but it has not been available for a few days. We were greeted & sat down promptly but the service felt a little standoffish - not rude just short. Overall they do have a decent HH menu which looks like the way to go when in town. Maybe on the next round we will come during that time vs mid-day on a Sunday.

Amazing !!! Light ,fresh , great! Out server Ionela so great and nice thanks again see you soon wow stone crab and lobster was fantastic

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this was, without question, one of the most disappointing restaurant experiences I've had in a very long time. We came as a group of eight, ordered a wide variety of dishes, and somehow every single plate managed to be a letdown. The bikini shrimp ($36) came with only four shrimp, and they were so badly charred that they tasted bitter. The fried oysters ($18) and chicken wings ($17) were both overpriced and underwhelming, with portions and flavor that did not come close to justifying the cost. The snapper entrée ($39) and black grouper entrée ($48) were especially frustrating given their prices. The basmati rice was cooked into a mushy slop, the Brussels sprouts were burnt and completely flavorless, and both the fish themselves was forgettable at best. The fettuccini was bland and underseasoned. The so-called wagyu truffle shuffle burger ($28) was clearly not real wagyu, and while it was at least a decent size since it came with fries, the patty arrived dry and well-done even though I specifically asked for medium. The wagyu potstickers (4 for $20) were honestly worse than frozen Trader Joe's potstickers. And to top it all off, when I asked for the Wi-Fi, I was told it was not available for guests. After tax and tip, the meal came out to around $60 per person, which is absurd for food of this quality. Those are Nobu level prices, but this meal was nowhere near high-end. I'm genuinely confused how this restaurant is so highly rated on Yelp We left so disappointed that instead of enjoying the rest of our evening, we just got back in the car and drove to Miami at 10 p.m., skipping the key lime pie we had all been looking forward to. What was supposed to be a fun day trip to Key West ended with this restaurant completely ruining it. Come at your own risk!!

Came for the happy hour. Unfortunately there was only one bar stool open at the bar but they gladly sat us at a table to enjoy the happy hour. Ordered oysters and a beer from the happy hour menu and the crab ravioli from the special of the day menu. The ravioli had a bit of a strong fishy taste to it that made it unpleasant. Ambiance could have been a bit livelier for happy hour vibes. Was giving more of low tone library vibe. But staff was friendly and welcoming. Which seems to be a consistent theme across the restaurants by these owners.

A Memorable First Night in Key West at Thirsty Mermaid! After arriving in Key West late in the afternoon, we wandered Duval Street searching for the perfect dinner spot. Thirsty Mermaid caught our eye--great reviews, cozy ambiance, and just a block off the main drag. Despite its popularity (only one empty table when we arrived!), we were seated right away. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, helping us pick a crisp white wine that paired beautifully with our meal. We started with the Octopus Bruschetta--a first for us, but an absolute standout with its bold flavors and perfect texture. The nightly specials were irresistible: we tried the whole fried red snapper (crispy and flavorful) and the lobster ravioli in vodka sauce (rich and decadent). But the star was the Pan-Seared Yellowtail Snapper--tender fish in a silky chive butter sauce, served over fettuccine. Every bite was a delight. An exceptional first dinner in Key West--creative dishes, warm service, and a charming hideaway vibe. Highly recommend!

We were so excited to find a restaurant that had scallops. Like the ones we saw on the website. See pictures. We were very disappointed when we got what we got. Today I just realized that they do not even have large sea scallops on the menu. Website very misleading, was such a disappointment.

Back in Key West ! So back to one of my favorite spots. Once again the food service and ambiance is still spot on. The fish and steak were cooked perfectly. Very happy to say they have been consistent over the years.

I know it's a tourist area, but the price is very very steep. The happy hour menu is good, but the portion is super tiny. You get a tiny ball of croquet for $8. All of the dishes were very good though. If you don't mind the price tag, definitely check this place out. The service is quick. The place is cute inside and the location can't be more prime.

Enjoyed the apps drinks and main course. Special was a ravioli which was super. Great service, excellent happy hour pricing made it a pleasure to dine.

Lovely dining room with small bar at the rear, best for small groups. Call if you have a large group, no large table configurations noticed. Friendly and comfortable. Great food, modest portions, very fresh!

The Mediocre Mermaid needs a Bar Rescue, and a Chef. The service was excellent, so my three-star rating is grading on a curve because this place needs a chef urgently. The Rockefeller was not good. Piles of flavorless breadcrumbs. Ridiculous. The Caesar salad was a disappointment. The Caesar salad had shrimp and scallops, which is an awesome idea. Seafood was fresh! However, the Caesar dressing was bland/watered downlightly dressed, so the punishment for ordering it was minimal. The hamburger we ordered medium, but it was raw in the center. The lobster BLT was a robbery. Maybe a claw's worth of meat chopped up to splash across a piece of bread. Total scam. Skip the bread service. It was two small slices of bread for $6. We sent the burger back but paid for the rest of it. This is our third time to KW. We have eaten our way around. This place has potential, however it's 2 stars all day, but giving it 3 stars for the excellent service... they earned every bit of 2 stars. Bummer. Cute place. it's hard to find a bad meal in KW.

We came here for a late lunch and loved that it was off the beaten path a little bit. There was a lite crowd inside the small space and we got a table in the middle of the restaurant. Our server was with us immediately and we were presented with the lunch menu and main menu. There were a lot of sandwiches on the menu and luckily my wife saw the specials on the chalkboard behind me because we were never told about them. We got the tuna carpaccio appetizer off that menu and it was not a lot of food, but so good. The citrus made the dish. For my entree, I got the local snapper sandwich. I also had some of the soft shell crab sandwich, which was messy to eat and fell apart instantly. Both of the sandwiches were good, but not great, and had too much mayo. I also had a bite of the grilled cheese and that was amazing! Lots of cheese and so gooey!

Stopped in for happy hour and was pleasantly surprised with the options. Their happy hour is a nice way to try a variety of things at a discounted rate. Food was fresh and service was attentive. I recommend getting there as soon as they open. Dining room is intimate and fills up quickly.

Great spot for happy hour. We love the coastal decor and yummy small bites. A great spot to kick off your night. Last time we were there our server was great and so was the food. Felt like we got one of everything and I definitely recommend doing the same! Their oysters are delicious and my boyfriend likes their mermaid lager. The wings have a great sauce and you can't go wrong with the Mac and cheese bites. We really could have sat and enjoyed the a/c all night- but had to see the sunset. A must stop when visiting key west!

Honestly, I'm really just hoping we were there on an off night. The service was good and we loved the atmosphere, but the food was pretty mediocre across the board. The Mermaid Caesar was a huge pile of romaine with two plum tomato halves and a bare scattering of seafood. The "seared" scallops looked like they touched a hot pan for about ten seconds --they were definitely not seared and were certainly under seasoned. The "spicy" short rib gnocchi only qualified as spicy if you think ketchup is spicy. None of the food was downright awful, but when I'm dropping almost $300 for four people for mains and a couple of glasses of wine, I would at least expect the food served to bear a reasonable resemblance to the menu description. Given the other positive reviews, I sincerely hope that this was just an off night for the kitchen, but I also have to confess that given the plethora of other choices in the area, I'd be hard-pressed to consider giving them another chance.

Nice, quiet small ambiance compared the raging party on Duval street but still fun. Bartenders & wait staff very attentive & fun & laughed. Food was off the charts good. Had clam chowder, oyster fritters, & the lobster hamburger-- all amazing. Would have gotten more but we were full. Bar only sits 8, but would def be back!!

The snapper was excellent- pasta is homemade! The scallops were absolutely delicious. Recommendation going! Didn't love the sangria but others in our party had wine and beer that was good. Service was quick. Restaurant is small but quiet. Good for smaller parties but looked like they could accommodate larger

Excellent location and ambience. The food was TDF - had the lobster ravioli and added grilled scallops. Service was 110% on pointe. Be sure to support this local gem!

4 shrimp - $18. Come on, give me at least 8 shrimp for this price! They also include tips in the check. It's so rude.

Service and ambiance were nice and relaxing. Food was fresh. Got seafood tower, glass of wine & a beer. Light and refreshing

My husband and I were recommended this place by a local tour guide and it was absolutely incredible. We had Natia as our server and she was incredible, friendly and helpful on choices. We had stone crab , shrimp cocktail and shrimp and scallop Caesar salad and it was all incredible !!

Wow - the Clam Chowder was SO good! Also had a Shrimp Cocktail and the blackened grouper sandwich special. They also had a side of wonderful homemade potato salad and the fried are fresh cut frite style! Only bummer is if you are coming for brunch, they do not have liquor so if you're interested in a Bloody Mary, it won't be possible here. Otherwise highly recommend!

I went solo dolo with all couples and would never ever do that but after reading so many reviews I needed to try this chowder and OH boy it was worth that single bar experience

This is my favorite restaurant for Happy Hour. For so many years I've spent my Happy Hours at the wrong places and then a few years ago I discovered Thirsty Mermaid. They offer just a few items for a fixed price (8 dollars each item). Last time I visited, the happy hour menu included chicken wings, raw oysters, ceviche, croquette, and mussels; and a pint of Mermaid Lager. I ended up with a glass of white wine (not on the happy hour menu) and my hubby went for the Mermaid Lager (which he liked). The Chicken Wings had a chili, pineapple glaze and were rather delicious. Also shared an order of raw Apalachicola Oysters; very fresh and so good we ended up getting three orders in total. Absolutely love the Steamed PEI Mussels (with white wine, lime citrus and lemongrass broth). The Ceviche was tasty. Never tried their Mac N Cheese Croquettes; it's not my thing but everything I have had has been very good and the place is adorable and the staff are great.

Another recommendation from another person at Winslow's Bungalows! It's a small, intimate restaurant with great service. We ordered the truffle mac n cheese croquetas, mermaid Caesar salad, and their grouper special. Everything was delicious, but quite pricey. The seafood was, no doubt, fresh! It was a bit disappointing receiving our salad, which was described on the menu has having shrimp and scallops. We got three small shrimp and ONE scallop. It was a yummy scallop, but just one?! That said, a solid experience overall. I wouldn't hesitate recommending it to anyone wanting seafood for dinner. Maybe just skip the salad.

This place was our favorite. We went multiple times. The seafood is fresh and the service is amazing. Stop in for lunch or dinner!

Sea themed small restaurant/raw bar near the antique district of key west. We stopped in to hang out with dad while he was having lunch, but decided to get some think to try. Dad had his 1st ever snapper sandwich. He love it, and he really likes that it comes with a pickle. Richelle enjoyed some bead with here clam chowder. I had to try the Sautéed Bahamian Conch with marinated artichoke salad. This is my first conch ever, it's good. It taste and texture is in the calamari/octopus family. This salad is in a vinaigrette style, I like it a lot, but next time I'll ask for light onions.

I am in The Keys, why not have ceviche? In my search for "best ceviche" Thirsty Mermaid popped up. They serve a ceviche of the day. Today it was some sort of white fish that was served with thinly sliced cucumbers/red peppers. It was exactly what I was looking for. Very fresh and flavorful. It is a smallish restaurant with a nautical theme. Very Keys feeling without being over the top or touristy.

Happy hour bites were cool. $8 for 6 oysters and $8 for Mac n cheese croquette. Only had one happy hour drink special and that was a $3 draft. Service was good; it's small but cute.

First time in the keys and found this restaurant via yelpers. The ambiance and service was great. Our party of 5 was well accommodated, we sat quickly, and our food also came pretty quickly. There was only one other party before ours so we arrived at the "perfect" time. This 3 stars is for the service and vibe. The food was ...eh. We all had sandwiches. I had the grouper sandwich. The fish was not seasoned. My hubby had the same and added ketchup for taste. The fries were good, but a bit burnt. I think the sandwiches would have been good if fish was seasoned and the bread toasted. After a few bites, my bread was soaked and I honestly handed the rest to my hubby to finish. This was my first time, but probably won't be a repeater but that's all good.

Stumbled upon this place on our first night in Key West. Surprisingly we were seated immediately and the server was telling us about the specials. I got the grilled swordfish (special) and my boyfriend got the yellowfin tuna. We also ordered the clam chowder and it was one of the best chowders I've had. We ordered 1/2 dozen oysters (they had oysters from 3 different locations, we got 2 each). Super fresh, not too briny or fishy. Really fresh and delicious. Attentive staff, great ambiance, and amazing food. I'll definitely come back when I visit Key West!

Every time we come to key west we are going back to this place! Great happy hour, good food , amazing atmosphere and caring staff! See you soon!

So good! I wanted to start off with a thank you to our server. When we walked in she told us she was by herself and that service would take a while. This Wonder Woman was servicing the entire restaurant and bar! We knew going in that our dining would be slow and we appreciated that she let us know upfront. The food was amazing. Fresh oysters from Canada and Virginia. My grilled cheese was so yummy with three different cheeses plus bacon. The fries were perfectly cooked. My husband enjoyed his steak sandwich but said it could have used more seasoning. Highlight was the seafood chowder- wow!! And the salads were so fresh. Highly recommend! Just off of duval!

Receptionist with a Russian accent was very rude to our group! Wouldn't recommend this place.

Lovely cute restaurant, nice Oysters on the raw bar, steam mussels ceviche and the best bread pudding. Pleasant experience and enjoy happy hour!

The service was amazing. We have the gnocchi w short rib ragu and the swordfish. Best meal in the keys!! don't leave without getting the bread pudding!

My husband had the special crab ravioli. I had the curry pan skillet, red snapper. Both were delicious we shared off each other's plates. Thank you so much. The only thing is pretty small portions and we were very hungry because it took 5 1/2 hours to drive from Marco Island to Key West- 2 lane streets and highways! Next visit we will book a flight! The service was a bit slow. They were about half full of patrons. They had a very interesting wine list wines I've never tried, and we both tried new wines, and like them very much. The food was expensive, but truly delicious we recommend it !

Incredible happy hour deals - apps for $8 and pints for $3. The mac n cheese croquettes were SOOO good. The ceviche was ok imo but my boyfriend loved it. Oysters were good. Loved the ahi tuna app that wasnt on the happy hour menu. The HH mussels (not pictured) were my favorite. Very small unassuming little spot on a quieter corner of Key West. Kind chill servers.

Fresh, briny oysters paired with crispy, flavorful chicken wings created an unforgettable flavor contrast. A perfect balance of indulgent and refreshing--absolutely amazing! Good ambiance with quick service!! Photos don't do justice do try their food. Especially Oyster lovers

We visit Key West often and found this amazing seafood restaurant about 8 months ago when we were here last, so on this trip we knew we wanted to return and we went twice! Out first visit recently was to just stop at the bar for some bubbles prior to another dinner reservation elsewhere. We got our same server from the visit many months ago and she was just as great, but we also encountered Nicolas on this visit. So, we came back 2 nights later for dinner and were seated in an area handled by Nicolas and he immediately recognized us and welcomed us back... We enjoyed an amazing dinner with incredible service and great conversation with the staff!! The seafood here is incredible and fresh! The wine list is awesome and nicely priced! Portions are substantial and their menu is nicely diverse to accommodate anyone's needs. Highly recommend stopping in, as we will continue to return on upcoming trips!

The food was great and the oysters were the best on the island. We ate at the bar and the service was first class, just like we were at a private table. It was a quaint little place off the beaten path. Limited seating so make sure you get a reservation if you want a table.

The Gazpacho was flavorless with exception to the wonderful blackened shrimp garnish. My fish sandwich was average, had too many onions on it and the accompanying potato salad also lacked flavor. The fried oysters were the star of the show. I could have are two dozen of these perfectly fried and crusted crustaceans. Service was excellent for lunch.

Great service! Great food! Nice choice of Oysters! Ambiance was really nice. Will definitely return! Not a large place, so plan accordingly or call ahead.

Just one block off of the bustling main drag, this tranquil oasis offers local beer, fine wines, and unique menu offerings. I recommend for a casual lunch to a romantic dinner.