The Surly Mermaid

You might think The Surly Mermaid is all about the view and less about the food and service. You'd be wrong - this spot does upscale pub food very well. They have a nice selection of wines, beers and spirits and the service we had was great.

TLDR: a high quality pub-fare experience. Hits the spot, especially after a morning walk waterside.

Food: The menu is diverse and there is a nice mix of casual and more involved dishes.

Salmon burger and bacon/mushroom burger were ordered. One with regular fries and one with yam fries. Both burgers had a nice flavor, well seasoned.

The bun was delicious, toasted properly (soft top, toasted middle), although it did struggle a bit to support the ingredients inside. Speaking of which, the salmon burger had everything a sandwich needs to make it great: crunch (greens and pickled onion), savory (salmon), salty (salmon and dressing) and tangy (pickle).

As for the fries... So many of these pub-style places phone it here. Not in this case. They were perfectly fried, and very generously seasoned. No problem to eat every last one.

Service: our server was very friendly. He clearly knew the menu and especially the available beers. He was there when needed but not overbearing.

Atmosphere: This place has quite a nice view of the marina. Large windows open up the rear wall of the dining room, but the space retains a cozy atmosphere. We sat in front of the window, but there is also nice seating in front of a faux fireplace and of course at the bar. The decor is what you expect in a pub but with a high quality finish.

Value for money rating: very good. Yes it is a pub and yes the burgers are over $20. But the ingredients are high quality and experienced people are cooking and serving the food. I'll gladly spend my money here again for this quality of food, service and attention to what makes a good pub restaurant.