Becoming a favourite of my mom and I place to be. Dam good Seafood Chowder, and I think best Fish and Chips in Sidney. Great Staff that are very friendly. Ambiance is amazing with the Amazing view of the sea.... Marko read more

Excellent service. Seafood chowder was good. Mussels are ok, but could be more fresh. And the seasoning was too heavy on white wine. The abundance of Garlic was nice. Chowder was creamy. The garlic bread might be the winner of this meal. Crispy and toasted on the outside but soft in the center read more

The Surly Mermaid - Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

See all

What a nice find. My friend and I just flew into Vancouver, gotten on the ferry and was driving by Sidney. The sun was just setting, so the view from outside the restaurant was just as nice as inside. Ample parking in the lot or on the street. The staff was friendly and made us feel welcome. I had the strawberry quinoa salad with polenta croutons, while my friend had a open face salmon sandwich. Both did not disappoint and enjoyed our night by the water. read more

See all

The views from our patio table were stunning, and the service was attentive and warm. However, the food was overpriced and mediocre. We each enjoyed a drink and started with appetizers: cauliflower (bbq) and chicken wings. The wine and beer were fine, but the food was blah. We couldn't finish the sad, overcooked, deep fried and breaded cauliflower. Ugh--nothing on the menu described that tortured dish. If one hated cauliflower, this would be the regretful result. The wings faired better but were over produced with sauce and layers of sticky flavor. Too much, darling, too much. Our intent was to order a salad and split a main dish but we changed our minds after the appetizers, which we couldn't finish. Still, sitting in the sun with that view, and the great service was fine. We finished our drinks and made dinner on our boat. We may or may not be back for drinks without food. It's a pretty restaurant with wonderful grounds and staff. The bald eagles soaring overhead were part of the scene, too. read more

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. read more

See all

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! read more

The Surly Mermaid - 1 piece fish and chips (and raspberry gin sours) - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

See all

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. read more

See all

Just arrived on vacation from Southern Ontario. Ordered the Chilli Garlic Prawns, Beer Battered Fish & Chips & a Surly Caesar. The food was all delicious and the servers were attentive. Would recommend if you are in the area. read more

Had a great meal here. Gabby was a fantastic waitress. Loved the squid & the ceasar salad wrap. Finished our lunch with a skillet cookie and that was delicious too. Great views, great food. 10/10 read more

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!) read more

See all

The Surly Mermaid was our unexpected pleasant surprise for this trip to the Victoria area. The restaurant features many creative takes on familiar sounding dishes, with a focus on sourcing local Vancouver Island ingredients. The patio seating was what drew us in, so that is where we requested to sit -- and it was quite the lovely setting. Our table offered a view of the marina, while other tables have views out to the east, toward the open water. The setting was quite lovely, and the outside air temperature was perfect. For a starter, we went with the house poutine. Now, I am not normally a fan of poutine, but maybe I've never had good poutine -- and this dish was amazing. To start with, the crispy, golden fries formed a perfect base, and the beefy, oniony gravy melted the cheese curds just enough; creating a savory delight. This was not the mushy mess I had experienced with other poutines -- simply outstanding. For main courses, we ordered and shared bits of our dishes. I went with the crispy chicken sandwich, which uses thigh meat instead of the usual breast, and IMO, the thigh is better tasting and stays moist and juicy. The chicken had a bit of smokiness to it, and it paired perfectly with the bacon and BBQ sauce on the sandwich. It was totally different than what you might expect from a "crispy chicken sandwich", but it was so much better, too. Since I had already had fries, I ordered a cup of the seafood chowder as my side; and it was excellent. The soup was full of salmon and vegetables, all served in a well-seasoned broth (although I had to add my own pepper to it, as I usually do with chowder). The broth was a bit thin, but it was so flavorful that I had to get all the last bits with my spoon. My wife gave me half of her salmon burger, which really was an expertly cooked salmon filet (not overcooked at all), and it paired perfectly with the caper & tarragon tartar sauce. We found the service to be good, but not the best we've ever experienced. The food was the star of the show here, though; so we would definitely come back. read more

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

The Surly Mermaid - Poke nachos and sockeye salmon burger - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

=== 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. read more

See all

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. read more

The Surly Mermaid - Argentinian prawn tacos - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

See all

Food, service and ambiance were great. Our hotel recommended which we appreciated. Arrived and were seated promptly by friendly staff. Started with a cup of seafood chowder which was tasty and ordered the delicious fish and chips. Glad ordered one piece fish because very filling. There are very few places that serve a good fish and chips, in my opinion, and this is one of the best. It was fresh fish with a crispy batter. Highly recommend. read more

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. read more

The Surly Mermaid - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

See all

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. read more

The Surly Mermaid - a welcome sign on the sidewalk - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

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

I ordered the Eggplant lasagna but was disappointed that mushrooms dominate the dish... I suggest the restaurant either rename the dish or change the recipe. The ambiance on the patio is quite nice... Service is good. The Amber ale I ordered a pint of was also very good. But the mushroom lasagna... not so much. read more

After a long plane ride from San Diego on a Saturday we arrived in Victoria very late and needed dinner somewhere quiet. We accidentally found this lovely spot down by the water in Sidney and received excellent service, and amazing food. I highly recommend the mussels in white wine sauce with a side of fries. And the martini didn't go amiss either. The ambiance is warm and earthy. There's a comfortable feeling of being welcomed into a neighborhood hangout with open arms. Thank you to the staff for making this a wonderful first night on our vacation!!! read more

The Surly Mermaid - Mussels in white wine sauce - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

See all

Last minute decision to stop in and have dinner turned into our favorite meal of the trip. Cocktails were amazing, the banana old fashion and espresso martinis were delicious and consistent with each refill. Waitresses and support staff were very attentive and on top of it. The Argentinian chili prawns are a MUST and is now a top 10 appetizer I've ever had. Fish and chips and Beef gnocchi were amazing as well and large portions that we ended up sharing everything. Plus a great view of the water on a beautifully clear evening. read more

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

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

Located by the ocean with an incredible view. This unpretentious restaurant is perfect for any occasion. The service was friendly and prompt. The choices vary from fresh seafood to handheld options like unique sandwiches. I ordered the Mediterranean linguini. It was delicious, but a bit heavy on the cheese and missing some noodles for the amount of sauce. The prices are great, the drinks are good and the service is good. Definitely recommend. read more

The Surly Mermaid - Mediterranean linguini - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

Good food, good service, good view. We had a good experience eating here. First time having Humboldt squid. read more

The Surly Mermaid - Beef lasagna - Seafood Near Me - Sidney, British Columbia

See all

The surly mermaid is possibly one of the very best restaurants ever. The food is absolutely delicious. It's pricey, but worth every penny. Every person in our party was so impressed and obsessed with our food. The servers are all so very kind and did everything in their power to make our meal enjoyable. When we showed up with a party of 12, they rearranged 3 tables to accommodate us. Our server was Jody. When our table was wobbly, she fixed it with a wooden puck. she allowed us to make lots of substitutions and special requests. Jody treated our children with kindness and patience. The chef even came out and asked us if we had enjoyed our meals. The decor is classy and pretty. This place is an absolute must if you're in Sidney by the Sea. read more

Found this place on Trip Advisor as it was in the area we were staying. We split a bowl of seafood chowder which had mussels. I liked it quite a bit. Not your typical clam chowder (as stated no clams but not as creamy or white either which I prefer). Had the Argentinian prawn tacos. Very good. My bf had the cod with pork belly - it looked like it came from one of those more upscale restaurants. Not every place can do pork belly right but this one was very good. Also had The Girl Next Door cocktail. The flavors grew on me as I was drinking. All in all very good! read more

Love the name and atmosphere - try to sit where you can see the marina! The food was great - my sweet potato fries were cold when they came out, but when we told them the fries were quickly replaced with hot ones! Overall a great experience and meal!! read more

Ordered nachos that were as hard as a rock. No melted cheese, over baked! Cesar salad was not up to most restaurant standards. Service was mediocre which was disappointing in area that was full of ambiance. read more

Fried food.. filthy washrooms.... Horrible service ... Excellent views bit that's where it all stops.. read more

Lovely service and great bites. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and drinks at the Surly Mermaid and our waitress was beyond nice. We will definitely be back when in Sidney! read more

Excellent all around Service was top notch - everyone was kind and went above and beyond Burgers - the best burger I've had Highly recommend the peanut butter burger - savoury and a bit sweet Yam fries - amazing We'll definitely be back for a patio visit this summer Well done to the team at the Surly - you should be very proud of the service, quality of food and experience you're providing Excellent! read more

Excellent food. Fresh and delicious. We were initially disappointed that they were out of fish and chips but ended up loving everything we ordered. Highly recommend the duck sausage, the salmon sandwich and the kids meal was great too. Wish we lived closer. read more

Doesn't look like much when you're walking past, but this place is not to be missed for the fish and chips. There are not many places to eat in the area but you would not know that with how good the fish and chips are here. The service is amazing. We were able to sit outside and have a delicious beer with very generous portions of fish and chips. read more

Set disappointed with service and attitude of staff. We should have known better from the start, you enter and hotness ask How can I help you? This is a restaurant and you serve food right! This should have been our 1st clue. After this the experience went horrible, it was like eating at my sister in laws and being over cooked food back to life. read more

Best little restaurant in Sidney! Excellent food and service was outstanding! View from patio in the summer was so enjoyable with our friends visiting from Alberta. This winter the ambiance was warm and inviting with the fireplace going and the wonderful aromas coming throughout our dining experience! Well done! read more

Came for dinner on a Monday night and had to wait 25 minutes for a table. No problem, as the walk by the water was pleasant and the view was outstanding. A quick text message letting us know our table was ready and we were seated. It was well worth the wait. Hubby got the lamb burger, which he said was very good, and I got the chicken sandwich. That was the kicker! I will be dreaming about the next time we are in Sidney so I can run back to get that chicken sandwich!! Moist, flavorful, nothing like I expected. We both got the side salad to go with our meals, his with goat cheese, mine without. A perfect accompaniment...delicious. Had to try their desserts. Cheesecake and their twist on crème brûlée with Earl Grey. Really nice flavors going on there. Waitstaff was friendly and helpful, too. When we are Sidney, we will make sure to return to The Surly Mermaid! read more

Great lunch and nice ambience! My husband had turkey pot pie and a Pilsner. I enjoyed a hand-crafted cocktail, mussels and fries. The restaurant was busy but the staff was friendly and the service was efficient. It's not our first time there and we would come more often if we didn't live in the States! read more

See all

Solo traveler, host tried to seat me at bar despite numerous empty tables at 5:30 pm. Inquired further, host offered me a high top in bar area which I agreed to, only to have her walk me past 3 open high tops with marina views to a 4th high top facing a wall. Sigh. Had a quick bite of mussels and wine - good, and reasonably good service - and then left to complete my meal at their neighbor restaurant who gave me a table with view. The tables and high tops we passed were still empty, mostly with no reservations pending. read more

Stopped by for lunch when visiting Sidney by the sea. Fairly unassuming place, limited parking out front but managed to snag a spot. Seated fairly quickly, waitstaff was following good COVID and mask protocol, so we were pretty happy. We ordered the chorizo mussels with house bread, and fish tacos Chorizo Mussels - 5/5 Really quite spectacular mussels. Fresh, tasty, well-seasoned and piping hot. Plump tomatoes and generous helpings of chorizo sausage. We absolutely loved this dish - only one mussel was closed, which is a pretty good rate given how many mussels they gave us. Side of Bread - 3/5 Not really sure how to put it - not quite a garlic bread, but had some flavour to it. Bread was surprisingly oily, and incredibly difficult to cut. Seems like the chef did a bit of pre-slicing but definitely not all the way through. Tasty, but difficult to eat. Fish Tacos - 1.5/5 Yikes. The presentation of these 3 fully loaded tacos is fantastic - but that all evaporates as soon as you take a bite of the tacos. The fish is abhorrently dry and overcooked, so much that the fish actually crunches audibly when you bite into it. The fish was very clearly over done, lacking in butteryness and flavour, and just kind of bleh in the mouth. Toppings weren't bad, but the flour tortilla was weak and wimpy, tasting more stale than anything. Really really quite disappointed in this one, given that it's supposed to be a "house favorite". Overall - I think the ambience of the place is pretty good. Waitstaff was friendly, and for the most part attentive. I would definitely come back for the mussels, but the fish tacos were a definite pass. read more