We grabbed a bite during The Mermaid Inn’s Times Square happy hour, as my theatre-going friends are oyster lovers. That and it was close to the theatre where we were heading to the Tony-winning play, John Proctor the Villain, which I would recommend. 

During happy hour, the restaurant offers the chef’s choice of oysters for $2 each, with a minimum of six.  In addition to the oysters, we tried the fried calamari ($11), which was almost entirely composed of fried coating.

I’d skip the lobster roll ($26), as it the crustacean wasn’t very fresh. What I’d recommend is the country-fried free-range chicken, served with jalapeño cheddar cornbread and braised collard greens, and accompanied by a chili maple glaze ($30), or the tuna crudo ($18).

I don’t plan to return, even for Mermaid Inn’s happy hour, as it’s a cavernous place with way too much noise to hear anything and plebeian offerings.

**Happy Hour details as of 06/11/2025

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 4 pm-5:30 pm

What’s happy? $12 specific cocktails, $9 draft beer, $12 wine & bubbly, plus 6 small plates ($4 for fish taco to $11 for fried calamari) and $2 oysters.

How happy? ** (two out of three stars)

The Mermaid Inn
Times Square
127 W 43rd St,
New York, NY 10036
(212) 675-9794
themermaidnyc.com/mermaid-oyster-bar-times-square/