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    The Surly Mermaid

    3.9 (113 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Tapas Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    The Surly Mermaid Photos

    THE SURLY MERMAID ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - The Surly Mermaid

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    Cauliflower something
    Devesh S.

    As you enter, you realize that this is going to be a dinner to cherish. The ambience is great and we noticed that first as expected. We went a little late so it was not hard to find a table without reservation but I would recommend getting one. We started with a wine, a draft IPA and 2 orders of a gin cocktail which turned out to be a canned thing which is where they lost the 1 star, The menu did not make it clear that we were paying $9 CAD for a CAN that we could have picked up for $3 at 5 mins walk. After this though, it was all uphill. We got the charcuterie board, which was excellent, the cauliflower something which was delicious and the chicken wings were sour but good. Main course was beet salad and chicken sandwich and soup and all of those were delicious too. We were too full for the dessert though. If we are in Victoria again, they will be on our minds for sure.

    1 piece fish and chips (and raspberry gin sours)

    Stopped by while waiting for a friend to go to the Sidney night market. Was seated quickly, hostess was friendly. My waitress was really great, very nice and just the right amount of attentiveness. Had the 1 piece fish and chips (which were excellent) and a couple raspberry gin sours (which were extra excellent). Didn't have to wait long for anything. Such a nice location on the water. Will definitely be back!

    Peanut Butter Burger (comes with bacon and fried banana peppers) - amazing flavor!
    Jeremy W.

    Our favorite restaurant in Sidney, BC. Love the waterfront location, dark wood furniture and decor, and view of the harbor. The staff are professional and polite (two different people came to ask how we liked the food). It is often a full house, but the layout is done well and we rarely notice people at the other tables. The peanut butter + bacon burger is divine. They refer to it simply as a "6 oz local chuck patty", but it tastes amazing and the bacon portion is generous and crisp. The fries are restaurant-quality and the carrot + potato soup was a refreshing side. My spouse loves the muscles with the white wine sauce. Here again, the portion is generous. Ocean Wise certified! A great place for a date, special occasion, or just a nice meal.

    Flight 4x7oz
    Stefan D.

    Seems to be where the locals go. We went twice in one week and were treated very well both times. The bar is beautiful and so is dining inside or outside. Can recommend the fish, shredded beef gnocchi, and crispy chicken burger (with real thick bacon!)

    Poke nachos and sockeye salmon burger

    Food was great! Poke nachos and Sockeye salmon burger. Beautiful views. Friendly atmosphere.

    Manu 1 of 2 as of April 2023
    Jack W.

    === 1. VERDICT/VALUE Why would I go to a bar with my toddler? Parking can be hit or miss, the prices feel a little high for what you're getting, but the good food, good service, and the fact they didn't card my toddler made the trip worthwhile :) === 2. FOOD Pacific Cod and Pork Belly ($32) My splurge for the year (I can't afford to eat like this all of the time!) - but you get what you pay for. Tender pan-seared filet of fish on top of fall-apart-in-your-mouth juicy pork belly, sitting on a bed of smooth Yukon nugget potato mash, surrounds by four buttered baby carrots. and covered in jus - it's a treat in your mouth that, makes the price a little more palatable (pun intended :)) Pacific Seafood Chowder ($14) So it's not bottomless like the soup of the day, but it does share one thing with its daily soup brethren: they're both super salty! The bread slices were soft, the soup filled with various ingredients making it wholesome and chunky but your cardiologist should measure your arteries pre- and post- soup. I'd recommend either if it were possible to lower the salt level... Roasted Beet Salad ($16, plus $13 for Sockeye Salmon) Like the soup, the chef is going to give you your money's worth of condiments - I recommend asking for the citrus yogurt dressing and blue cheese on the side. IMO, they overpowered the spinach, mandarin oranges, quinoa, tomatoes, and uniquely-cut beets (chunks, rather than slices) Maybe the fish was overcooked, or cooked and then reheated - but for $13, it's a total pass on the salmon - it was really dry and not worth it. Fish and Chip ($12, kids menu) Perhaps not surprisingly, one of the best dishes this evening was my toddler's: the haddock was tender and the fries were great! Served with tartar sauce and ketchup; I wish we adults could order it too - just the right size also for anyone with a lighter appetite :) Warm Cookie and Gelato ($7, kids menu) No pictures available here because my toddler quickly consumed it :). But suffice to say it worked out well for a four year old lol. === 3. SERVICE Service was good - no complaints here, even on a busy evening, though we did call ahead to make a reservation first. Quick to be seated, served, and the two different servers were attentive. === 4. ENVIRONMENT Tucked away by the water, it's a relic of a building that 's been spruced up to host dining. The washrooms are a little small as is the space between tables - so those with baby strollers and wheelchairs would be hard-pressed to fit well in here. Parking in the free spots seemed hard to get all night; there is pay parking in the larger lot available if you're not one of the lucky ones.

    Argentinian prawn tacos
    Rashael H.

    Husband and I stopped here after exploring Sidney. The food was fantastic! Not pictured we had the chili garlic prawns, vegan chocolate mousse, gab & tan g&t and a berry good Thyme all were so good! Our main dishes were perfect. The staff was efficient and friendly. This will be a stop we make every time we are in town.

    Nathan G.

    Excellent food and service. Wife had a little bit of wrapper in her Brie but waitress and staff were alerted to it and resolved the issue. Mussles here are great! Wonderful view of the seaside as well.

    a welcome sign on the sidewalk
    Andrew S.

    We came here after getting off the ferry as we were hungry and wanted a nice view. SERVICE: The staff was efficient, our waitress was attentive and provided good recommendations for food. She was so positive, that you couldn't help but smile. LOCATION: It is right by the marina so you get a beautiful view of the water and the small islands off to the East. There is 2hr street parking in the area so you can park around the restaurant. FOOD: Ordered the braised chuck flat gnocchi and argentinian prawn tacos. The braised chuck flat gnocchi was very tender, rich with flavor however it was a little too overwhelming. I had to keep drinking water as my throat started to hurt. My wife stopped eating it after a few bites so she just ate the tacos. If this dish came with some bread or garlic bread to dip/soak up some of the sauce, it may help. The tacos were really good. The prawns were cooked perfectly, the pickled red onion and dried mexican chili aioli worked well together. It complimented the prawns really well.

    Mussels in white wine sauce

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    7 months ago

    The food is all delicious and the location is great. It's lovely sitting outside on their patio

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    11 months ago

    The food was delicious! Service was right on and felt very local! Will definitely be returning when I'm back on the island

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    1 year ago

    Amazing seafood chowder, would definitely go again , also enjoyed the fish and chips. Nice views , and pleasant service staff.

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    Page 1 of 3

    The Surly Mermaid Reviews in Other Languages

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    10 Acres at the Pier - Haddock fish & chips.

    10 Acres at the Pier

    2.9(30 reviews)
    0.1 km

    Rabin was not our waiter but he did get us dessert menues and the bill. The restaurant was not that…read morebusy after 2pm but our waitress did not come back to us. Rabin was very efficient and attentive a most delightful waiter, we were very pleased with him. I realize Ten Acres is separate from Pier Hotel but we were surprised that the girl serving in the Bar was very naked at the back also wearing jeans. A very bad advert for the Pier Hotel usually staff are dressed like that in lower class restaurants. The waiters were dressed very smart. We are from Toronto. E. Y.

    This visit was deeply disappointing and nowhere near the standard this restaurant once maintained…read more I dined here in November 2024 and had an excellent experience, which is why I confidently recommended it for a lunch outing. Based on this most recent visit, that confidence was misplaced. My meal was served on a visibly dirty plate. That is not a minor oversight -- it is a fundamental failure. Cleanliness is the bare minimum in food service, particularly at nearly $30 per entrée. There is no justification for serving food on a dirty dish. I later felt unwell, which only heightened my concern about overall hygiene practices. The food itself did not justify the pricing. The lamb burger was dry and lacked the juiciness one would reasonably expect, even with tzatziki. The fries were low-grade and out of place for a restaurant positioning itself at this price level. Premium pricing demands premium execution. That standard was not met. The revised dining layout also detracts from the experience. The high tables and chairs create an uncomfortable and less welcoming atmosphere. Notably, during our visit, no guests chose to sit at them -- everyone gravitated toward standard seating. That alone speaks volumes. Restoring the previous table configuration would significantly improve comfort and ambiance. The service was equally underwhelming. At this price point, guests should receive attentive, polished, and genuinely welcoming service. Instead, both the waitress and food runners appeared disengaged. When customers are spending this much, attitude and professionalism are not optional -- they are expected. After returning home, I reviewed feedback from the past year and was struck by the consistency of similar complaints. The pattern is clear: standards have declined. This establishment was once very good. It is capable of better. However, until cleanliness, food quality, atmosphere, and service standards are brought back to where they were, it cannot justify its pricing. At this level, "acceptable" is not enough. The standard needs to be significantly higher.

    Photos
    10 Acres at the Pier
    10 Acres at the Pier - Start and share??? Who shares soup or salad? One choice, calamari?

    Start and share??? Who shares soup or salad? One choice, calamari?

    10 Acres at the Pier - Just no.  What's wrong with a regular glass?

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    Just no. What's wrong with a regular glass?

    Hook & Line Pub - Seafood Gumbo (bowl)

    Hook & Line Pub

    4.1(191 reviews)
    59.1 km
    $$

    Fair is fair and the fare is delicious…read more Firstly, if you're a Belgium beer drinker like me, you probably already know the Trapistes Rochefort is one of the tastiest beers you can get your hands on. It's pricey here but eh, what isn't over in this area? Also, at 11.3 ABV, maybe don't have three. The clam chowder is the best I've had yet, and that tops even where I'm spending my summer. Sorry not sorry. Ordered the crab cake platter with wasabi aioli as well and it did not disappoint. Reminds me of grand-moms house. So good! Let's talk about service. Not one, but two servers taking care of lil ole me. Both so friendly. They allowed me to enjoy my beer and when I said I wanted to take my time, they honored that without rushing food or service. The ambiance is pretty casual, family friendly, and right on "the strip" so you can walk off those delicious calories you indulged in. I will be back and will be bringing a crew with me next time. Hook & Line Pub delivers fresh seafood deliciousness and a casual environment that is welcoming, friendly, and ultimately satisfying.

    Foods I ordered: * 2 Baja Halibut Fish Tacos…read more Seafood Basket (Shrimp, Cod, Halibut) Halibut Fish Tacos: 5/5 These were battered to perfection, with a thick, flaky, and tender cut of halibut pairing well with the coleslaw and cilantro. Whenever I travel to coastal cities, I'm always on the lookout for good fish tacos, and these were definitely delicious. Since they were about $25 for two tacos, it was definitely a "one and done" for me. Seafood Basket: 4/5 This is your typical fried seafood basket, including halibut, cod, and shrimp. All the seafood was fresh. I enjoyed the shrimp; they were bouncy, but not rubbery like frozen shrimp. The cod was flaky and plump. The halibut was the same cut as the fish tacos--denser and packed with flavor. I really liked this dish, but after a couple of bites, the heavy fried food definitely got to me. It'd be better if they served this with a side of coleslaw or vegetables to balance out the entire meal.

    Photos
    Hook & Line Pub - Bar, Hook & Line Pub

    Bar, Hook & Line Pub

    Hook & Line Pub - Crab cake platter

    Crab cake platter

    Hook & Line Pub - Inside the Seafood Gumbo - lots of sausage

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    Inside the Seafood Gumbo - lots of sausage

    The Surly Mermaid - seafood - Updated May 2026

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