First time trying Tidewater Taphouse in Seward and honestly, I'd go back. We were seated right away (always a win), and the service was quick, friendly, and just really easy from start to finish. We started with the crab dip and it came out bubbling hot, like actually hot, with plenty of bread for dipping, which I feel like is rare and deserves recognition. Super solid appetizer choice. For mains, we ordered the Bacon Blue Burger and the Alpine Berry Burger. The Alpine Berry was supposed to have a spicy berry jam, and I'll be honest... there wasn't really any spice to it. BUT it was still really good, so no complaints there, just don't go in expecting heat. The space itself is great too, two levels, a bar upstairs, and a back patio that would be such a good spot in the summer. Overall, really good experience for a first visit and definitely somewhere I'd recommend checking out if you're in Seward. read more

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I loved the view at 2nd floor. We had sample tasting of beer and chose rasberry infused and pineapple infused drinks. On side we had potato tots and salad. Service was good and so was ambience. Worth to visit after a day full of adventure and cruise in Kenai fjords read more

Tidewater Taphouse - Berrys Greenand totchos - New American Near Me - Seward, Alaska

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Bit of a slow start but once we put in our order, all went well. I am here during off season but there is a cruise ship in town. Not super crowded in town. This place was not packed. Lots of space upstairs and down, there is an outside area too. Bulgogi bowl was yummy. Tap list has variety. Flights are available (my fave) Grasshopper cheesecake was ok, I like crust so trustless was really different for me. Topped with whipped cream. read more

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I visited the Tidewater Taphouse this summer and was thoroughly surprised a the find. It definitely felt more local than some other restaurants I visited on this trip. Service was pretty slow, which is somewhat expected since they had a large tour group take up virtually half of the restaurant, it took at least an hour for us to get seated which it's tourist season in Alaska, so it is what it is. The staff were friendly at least! The beer menu looked decent, though I did not partake. We did enjoy the mussels however, the were flavorful and delicious. We also had the crab dip which was scrumptious and I could eat that entire thing again by myself. For my entree I had the seafood pasta, it was nothing special, very bland and honestly not something I would ever order again. Ambiance was typical for a taphouse, but it was still enjoyable. read more

We arrived Seward, AK, by train for the first time and was super hungry. Luckily, Tidewater Taphouse (Mermaid Grotto) was right by the railroad so we decided to give it a try. The menu wasn't huge but had everything we would like to try. We got us some IPA first and ordered the Deep Blue Sea Mussels, Alaskan Crab Dip, Seafood Chowder, and Blackberry Brie Grilled Cheese. Our favorite was the mussels. The mussels were plumped and juicy, but the real star was the coconut curry broth. We have never had a curry broth with mussels before and it was a great harmony. Our least favorite was the grilled cheese. Sriracha was a little weird and too much blackberry. We wished there was more cheese in our grilled cheese. Overall experience was great. Plenty of drinks on tap with tasty food, the staff was friendly and made great suggestions to us. The restaurant was fully decorated with mermaids with a gift shop for souvenirs. We would recommend this spot and definitely make a return visit if we are ever in Seward again. read more

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We were greeted immediately and walked upstairs. We ordered the smoked salmon smear, the mac and cheese (phenomenal), the caprese baguette, and the Philly cheesesteak. Everything was tasty. The table by us got the coolest cocktail. Highly recommend! read more

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The waiter was polite and attentive. I asked about the pineapple ale and it was described as tasting like pineapple juice. It was a very refreshing pineapple drink. We were having a late dinner and opted for the crab dip and the burrata and berries salad. Both servings were generous enough to split and the crispy crust baguette was wonderful with the dip and for mopping up the balsamic vinaigrette in the bottom of the salad bowl. Next time we're in Seward we will definitely be back. read more

We came here just to grab a drink. I wish that we had been hungry because the menu sounded delicious!

I would give them 5 stars but I didn't have enough of the menu to do so...yet!! I visited the Tidewater Taphouse on a Monday in the late afternoon. I had seen good reviews and had experienced the Stony Creek blueberry hefeweizen at another restaurant and wanted to try some other Stoney Creek beer! I took a seat at the bar upstairs and found the decor to be pleasing to the eye. The bartender was very attentive and provided me with a menu quickly. There were a lot of food options. There are hamburgers, hummus, and smoked salmon dip. They have a halibut sandwich that looked amazing. I chose the hummus as this was just a snack before I had a dinner appointment. The hummus came on a plate with three different kinds of hummus. It appeared to be black bean, lentil and a traditional, chickpea hummus. The plate had some chopped tomatoes, some grape tomatoes, some Kalamata olives, and some cucumber slices. The only thing that was missing was some feta. The pita was a whole pita sliced, toasted and warm. It was a lovely appetizer. but needed a little salt that feta usually provides. I watched other diners receive their food and saw a beautiful good sized hamburger. the Tidewater, which featured a crab and Gouda spread. Another guest had the brie and blackberry grilled cheese that was beautiful. I watched another guest take their first bite of the halibut sandwich. The sandwich was so fresh that steam burst out! That guest did ask for some tartar sauce and was told that they do not have tartar sauce. I tasted a lingonberry beer and it seemed a little bit flat. So I had the blueberry hefeweizen. I was able to taste a lingonberry soda as well as a rhubarb raspberry soda. That was excellent. They don't have a liquor license so don't expect any hard alcohol drinks. I was impressed with how clean the bar area was, although it was early in the day. I look forward to trying more of the menu and sampling the beer! read more

Tidewater Taphouse - Hummus plate! - New American Near Me - Seward, Alaska

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A brewhouse with a smaller but better-than-pub food menu! We also enjoyed the live music. I wish we had room for dessert because they looked great! Service was warm and friendly. read more

Tidewater Taphouse - Artic Berry burger without onions - New American Near Me - Seward, Alaska

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We ran into some friends while in Seward and this place was able to seat a party of eight without much trouble, which was a nice surprise. Birkan, our server, was great: friendly, patient, and gave solid recommendations. I'm vegetarian and had the tater tot nachos, and also tried my partner's mushroom flatbread, both were tasty. The big door in the back opened up to some great views, even from inside the dining area. read more

**pretty much a completely different menu from any listed on this age since they rebranded recently. Sorry I didn't take a picture! But new food choices from other reviews** their coffee bar is now stalked with beer taps too. This place was a nice surprise lunch as we got off the train from Anchorage on our Memorial Day weekend excursion. This place was right down the road from where the train lets you off. It was a little confusing because I had found Mermaid Grotto on yelp that has all the same pictures as this tidewater tap house page. We asked the waitress she said they recently rebranded from mermaid grotto to the tidewater tap house. The building right now is dark grey but I think they were testing blue/greens paint colors so who knows what color it will be next time! You can see all kinds of mermaid and ocean decor in the windows as they have a little gift shop in the front. When we walked in around 12 noon two people sitting downstairs welcomed us and directed us upstairs for food. We walked upstairs and there was a nice bar on one end and several tables in the loft area with a few people sitting at the bar and only a few tables occupied. While we were there more and more people came in, most came from the train like us but we were fast. Their menu is unique, you won't find food like this often especially in Seward. They had unique grilled cheese sandwiches, root beer pulled pork sandwiches, flatbreads, and other things. They no longer have the butter board that I saw on previous menus. I got the burrata sandwich which was fresh burrata cheese, mixed greens, tomato's, with a balsamic vinegar drizzle, pesto sauce on a baguette bread. It was pretty messy but was very good, fresh, and refreshing. Also got the Tator tots. Very nice and crispy. I almost got the grilled cheese with watermelon and goat cheese but the wheat bread threw me off. Next time!! They also have a beer menu and I'm not sure about hard drinks. The atmosphere is very nice, cute, and very trendy! Ironwork everywhere with the "mermaid" theme. This place is on the north end of Seward but I would definitely come back next time we are here! read more

Tidewater Taphouse - Bathroom upstairs - New American Near Me - Seward, Alaska

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This place was formerly called " mermaid, grotto, and boutique" Had 4.2 stars i think. New name seems like the same great place from other reviews on the other location. server was great very attentive. Seems like they were prepared for when the train let out. Place is cool and set up really neat. love the decor and octopuses all over the place. sound was great. It seems like they have a really nice upstairs downstairs and even an outside patio. The food was fantastic so many good choices. I was happy with what I got. It was the brie and blackberry sandwich was so good. I got the coleslaw with. It was delicious. ! read more

Tidewater Taphouse - The experimental (sour) 2 months not to sour but still good - New American Near Me - Seward, Alaska

Ok ambiance, service is lacked by probably being understaffed, what a waste of a great location. Overpriced for food, plain white rice with butter was $7, and that too it tasted like it was made a week ago. The halibut dish was $36, and the actual size of protein was smaller than 2 inches. They added 20% gratuity automatically even for a table of 4 with no warning. read more

We just had a very long day after a 9 mile hike, so we were obviously pretty starving, since we only had 3 hunger bars left (did you catch the reference?). The food was delicious. When you're starving, anything tastes good. The Mac and cheese, crab dip, and ceviche were on another level though. The blueberry soda was also amazing. My only complaint is that for the ceviche, you pay $24 and only get a little bit, it isn't really worth the price. The service was also great. Our waiter, Stephanie, was very kind and responded quickly. read more

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Everything was so-so. I wouldn't go back for the ambiance, beer or food. The miso sablefish was decent, but the $52 linguini and crab/shrimp was bland and overpriced. read more

A friend and I came here for food which I guess isn't really what you should do. They had a great selection of beer, but I can't speak on that as I hate beer. Ambiance was very cozy and cute. They have a gift shop and nice views. The food is WILDLY overpriced. We both got the Blueberry Brie Grilled Cheese and it just wasn't very good. Certainly not for $16. The bartender was lovely. Vegetarian options available which is appreciated. read more

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Right away our host was super friendly and conversational which is rare in the world now. The server Kandis was beyond sweet and gave us perfect service which is missing nowadays. The beers were even better. I highly recommend the wolfpack pilsner and the Razz wheat beer. We also got the lettuce cups which were just as good as they ate in Hawaii. I was so impressed. From beginning to end it was a perfect start to our cruise. read more

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Friendly, fast bartop service on the first floor that expands out to the dog-friendly patio (one of the only ones we found in the area). The Stoney Creek beers on tap were great: I had an IPA and a blueberry Hefe. They also have a Double Shovel cider on tap. The Blackberry Brie Grilled Cheese sandwich was amazing! The Brie is so creamy and brings savory and richness; the blackberries bring sweetness and tartness; the bread is great and deliciously grilled with a good buttery crisp and it has sriracha which obviously brings spice to create a well-rounded sandwich. I was in tastebud heaven! The vibe is chill and nice to relax next to the Denali Express train depot. read more

Tidewater Taphouse - Menu - New American Near Me - Seward, Alaska

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I think about the Mermaid Grotto Cafe and Kraken Lounge's Halibut Cheek Fettuccine (Alaska halibut cheeks with assorted vegetable in an herb cream or chipotle cream sauce served with baguette toasts) to this day. That chipotle cream sauce was everything: just spicy enough to make the dish pop. My fellow diner greatly enjoyed his Halibut Fish Witch (Alaska halibut filet with bacon, spring greens, tomato, and house-made Green Grotto Aioli). The only slightly disappointing portions of our meal were the breads: both the baguette toast that came with the fettucine and the bread that came with the Enchanted Butter Board (premium house whipped butter served with herbs and spices), seemed to be toast you might find in the freezer section--house-made bread would've elevated both dishes! Service in the Kraken Lounge was terrific--we welcomed the hike recommendation, which we did the following afternoon (and then returned to the Mermaid Grotto Cafe for Spam Musubis for a quick lunch--they were perfect!). Overall, the Mermaid Grotto Cafe and Kraken Lounge feels spacious with the open cafe downstairs and lofted lounge upstairs. Would definitely return next time we're in Seward! read more

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food was great. Beer was very good. The service was very good too. Super friendly and nice! Enjoyed our dinner here.

Excellent food in a great location. Sat outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. Food was perfect and the service was excellent. Will stop here again next time I'm in Seward read more

The food was good, though service was quite slow and relatively inattentive. I wished they had more seafood on the menu.

The food was far better than we expected and the vibe of the restaurant was super cute. We wish we would've known about it our first night so we could go again. Service was great and food came out pretty quick read more

Tidewater Taphouse - Sabel fish - New American Near Me - Seward, Alaska

Great food! Hood beer list Service on point Ambiance is tap house good . Next time in Seward we will be back. read more

The mussels were so good!! The atmosphere was awesome. They don't have a printed kids menu but they do have kids offerings if the little ones don't like the menu items (burger, chicken, mac and cheese ... the usual). read more

Food was great. A lot of different options that were unique. Would definitely venture over if you are in town or porting for a cruise. This was one of the only restaurants that was open in October. read more

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It was the only open restaurant we could find on a Saturday morning in November. We entered through the boutique. All kinds of unique Alaskan local gifts and trinkets. The next space was a wide open seating area and cafe. We were invited to go upstairs for sit down service. The stairs leading up are beautiful. Their entire space is Seward unique and warm. You must dine upstairs. We sat in a cute little window where we watched many eagles come and go. The best vibes for such a wet, slushy day. Our waitress was the best. She definitely knew the menu and made great suggestions. It was our first time trying Italian Wedding Soup. It had meatballs and pasta and wow, it was everything we needed after a long night of champagne and hot tubing. We also ordered their rice bowl with added steak and their meat eater toast. We washed it all down with a few brews on tap. The best unexpected brunch, thank you Mermaid's Grotto! Can't wait to return to try their King Crab deviled eggs. Mermaid's Grotto is a must when in Seward! read more

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Visited on a Wednesday for dinner and the place was busy. Very nicely remodeled garage with great ambiance. Service was so-so (but they were busy). Ordered the Miso Sablefish. The fish was excellent but the bed of rice was drenched in soy sauce and barely edible. Otherwise I would have rated 5 stars. read more

Tidewater Taphouse - Miso Sablefish - New American Near Me - Seward, Alaska

Great food here! I got the halibut sandwich and my brother got the Alpine Berry burger and both were super tasty. Staff was friendly and the mermaids everywhere were really fun. read more

Ambience was super relaxed. Service was great! Totchos app was AMAZINGLY delicious!! Burger and salad were under seasoned and chicken was super dry. Overall good and we would go back when in the area. Conveniently located next to the train station. Lovely gift shop. read more

Tidewater Taphouse - Totchos were AMAZINGLY delicious!! - New American Near Me - Seward, Alaska

Ok so first off, Gracie is very talented. She can balance 7 water glasses while keeping everyone happy. This quaint bistro is immediately next to the Seward train depot. Wifey was hangry after 25 hours of traveling. So, when we saw the first restaurant from the depot, we had to stop. That and the good ratings. Wifey had to get a mimosa cuz life without champagne is a dreary life. Since we're getting on the boat soon, wifey just got the Fish Witch...which happened to be very good read more

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We were a bit confused as we entered the restaurant as it did not look like one. The seating area is on the second floor. We had salmon sofritto (sure I spelled it wrong) and 2 versions of Halibut fettuccine and a Halibut sandwich. Salmon sofritto was the pick of the dishes with an interesting tomato heavy sauce. Sandwich was well prepared though the portion was a bit light for a hungry person. Not very cheap, but not expensive when compared to other restaurants in Steward. Good service. Overall a good experience. read more

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Interesting food items. Burgers and slaw are tasty m. Mac and cheese was ok. Service was great. Sat at the bar upstairs overlooking the Harbor. Loved the view. read more

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The food ingredients were good however the food lacks seasoning!! We had their strawberry and spinach salad(good), rice bowl with chicken (good taste however zero salt), blue burger (good patty, could use some seasoning and kick), seafood chowder in a bread bowl (tastes okay however was luke warm and the quality was tiny for $20) - just heating it up plus more quantity would do it! And lastly their fish tacos - no seasoning, there was barely any fish and no sauce! The server was friendly and the service was good. read more

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We stopped in for a couple of drinks and an appetizer. There's a cool upper area to view a bit of the harbor, and the lower area has an awesome garage door that opens to a patio on a nice day. Nice little place in Seward! read more

Tidewater Taphouse - Bar Area - New American Near Me - Seward, Alaska

Brie burger and halibut sammy were so good! Make sure to get a side of aioli it was phenomenal

Tldr: When in Seward, make it a point to stop at the Mermaid Grotto and enjoy the Kraken Lounge. After catching an early morning shuttle from Anchorage, we needed breakfast to fuel our day. We decided to check out the Mermaid Grotto and it turned out to be an amazing start to our Alaskan adventures. The full nautical theme upstairs had us sending photos to our Kraken loving friends back home. We loved the entire vibe. When our food arrived, our enthusiasm continued. My reindeer sausage and gravy was amazing (and huge, next time I'll order the half) l, lots of flavor in the gravy due to all the sausage chunks...no blah gravy here. I also had the Baluga, a white coffee, which fueled my entire day. All in all a great discovery, if it was near my home, I would be a regular. read more

Tidewater Taphouse - The details in the decor are amazing. - New American Near Me - Seward, Alaska

Cute and cozy. You walked passed their retail store (shells, necklaces, candles et ) and came to their bar area - beers and table food. You go up the stairs to their full service dining area. We had their halibut creamy pasta and blacken cod. The cod was soft and fresh, and the plating was beautiful. Servers were both friendly and smiling all the time. I would recommend this place! read more

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The waffle was very good had a sweet strawberry Jam. Adding with the ice cream which went perfectly with the waffle. Also the service was great. We had a big order and they served it right. The exterior and interior were decorated well. And the restaurant was clean. read more