Blue Mermaid Island Grill

Blue Mermaid Island Grill, Kittery

Blue Mermaid Island Grill sits at 10 Shapleigh Rd in Kittery, Maine — a coastal town that punches well above its weight for casual seafood dining relative to its size. If you are driving the Maine coast and want a waterfront-adjacent grill experience without the formality or price pressure of destination restaurants, this is a venue worth putting on your shortlist. Booking is easy, which already sets it apart from most spots generating serious buzz along the New England coast.

The Case for Booking

Kittery's dining scene is compact but competitive, and the venues that earn return visits tend to do one thing well: deliver honest, well-executed food in a setting that feels right for the surroundings. An island grill format in coastal Maine signals a particular kind of promise — fresh seafood, an unpretentious room, and a price point that does not require planning a special occasion around the bill. For the food-curious traveler working their way through Maine's coastal towns, that is a useful combination. Compare it to [Robert's Maine Grill](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/roberts-maine-grill-kittery-restaurant), which is the other established reference point for seafood in Kittery: Robert's skews more traditional New England chowder-and-lobster territory. Blue Mermaid's island grill framing suggests a slightly looser, more casual register , better suited to groups who want variety on the table rather than a single-format meal.

The easy booking situation is worth flagging again: in a region where summer demand routinely overwhelms supply at any restaurant with a reputation, a venue you can walk in or book without a multi-week lead time has real practical value. That is not a consolation , it is a feature, particularly if you are planning a trip with flexible timing or a larger group.

Who Should Book

This venue makes most sense for: travelers moving through the Portsmouth/Kittery corridor who want a relaxed meal without committing to a tasting menu format; families or groups where not everyone wants the same thing; and anyone who finds the intensity of reservation-hunting at destination spots more trouble than it is worth. If you are specifically chasing a landmark seafood experience and are willing to plan ahead, [Le Bernardin in New York City](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/le-bernardin) or [Providence in Los Angeles](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/providence) represent what that ceiling looks like. Blue Mermaid is not that , and does not need to be. The question is whether you want a well-priced, easy-access coastal grill, and on that measure it competes credibly within its own tier.

For more context on where Blue Mermaid sits in the local dining picture, see [our full Kittery restaurants guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/kittery). If you are building a wider itinerary, [our full Kittery experiences guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/experiences/kittery), [bars guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/bars/kittery), and [hotels guide](https://www.joinpearl.co/hotels/kittery) cover the rest of the town's options. You can also check [Tulsi](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/tulsi-kittery-restaurant) if you want a non-seafood alternative nearby.

Practical Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I eat at the bar at Blue Mermaid Island Grill?

• Bar seating availability is not confirmed in current venue data. Given the casual grill format and easy booking status, walk-in bar dining is plausible, but call ahead if bar seating is a priority for your visit , especially during Maine's peak summer season when demand across Kittery rises sharply.

What should I wear to Blue Mermaid Island Grill?

• No dress code is listed. An island grill in coastal Maine at this price tier almost always runs casual , think clean shorts, summer layers, or smart-casual at most. You will be overdressed in a blazer and underdressed in nothing. Standard beach-town comfortable is the right call.

How far ahead should I book Blue Mermaid Island Grill?

• Booking difficulty is rated Easy, which means same-week or even same-day reservations are likely achievable outside peak summer weekends. In July and August, add a few days of lead time as a buffer , Kittery sees significant tourist traffic from the Portsmouth and southern Maine corridor during those months. If you are visiting over a holiday weekend, book at least a week out to be safe.