Tipsy Mermaid: Food Reviews by Zac
“Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut” – Ernest Hemingway.
It’s hard to argue with that life advice, even if it’s written on a cocktail menu. Tipsy Mermaid is a casual sit down restaurant that specializes in Florida Key style seafood. They feature an extensive cocktail list and a well rounded menu. From what Morgan (my girlfriend) hears, this is a favorite spot for the healthcare workers in her hospital.
The Basics
Website: https://tipsymermaid.com/
Address: 135 S Main St, Zionsville, IN 46077
Cuisine: American / Seafood
Type: Sit Down
Note: 21+ Only
Free Parking: 340 S Main St, Zionsville, IN 46077
Review
Atmosphere
The outside of the restaurant is a pale yellow and the interior is painted white. The walls are lined with bright pieces of art. My personal favorite was the rooster painting because it immediately took me back to my visit to the Keys. The roosters outside my window were convinced that 3AM was the best time to crow.
Tipsy Mermaid did a good job capturing a tropical, beach vibe. However, it failed to recreate the authentic mood that one would find in Florida. The restaurant was steady, but the energy was rather hushed. It’s hard to recreate the mood of something 1,300 miles away. This may be the closest Indiana can get to recreating the toes in the sand with a daiquiri in hand energy.
I also found our corner high-top booth to be a little uncomfortable. Our table was close to the stairwell wall and it was just a bit too tightly packed in. If the weather wasn’t above 80 degrees in the evening, I likely would have taken a seat on their patio that parallels the main downtown Zionsville street. Even though the décor was thematically fitting, the uncomfortable seating and questionable service led to a diminished score here.
Score: 1.5 / 3
The Food
Papa’s Perfect Storm: This was essentially a Dark & Stormy that didn’t use Kraken rum. This drink has a really bright lime taste to start with a touch of bitterness at the end from the lingering alcohol notes. This rendition was a bit less friendly than my previous trials, and I think that’s why I enjoyed the cocktail. I will note that my experience with the classic dark rum cocktail is minimal. I can’t tell you how bitter one should be.
The Hurricane Hole: Authentic New Orleans Hurricane recipes can be hard to find. Instead, you’ll find numerous recipes that are all slightly different. To me, a hurricane is dark and light rum, grenadine, and some type of juice. Tipsy Mermaid used papaya as their juice which was a new one for me. I liked the drink, but it wasn’t my favorite hurricane ever. Personally, I think my own recipe is better. I was also rather annoyed that all of the grenadine was on the bottom – I had no easy way to stir the drink.
Mezcallina De Pena: This combo cocktail includes mezcal, pineapple juice, jalapeno, triple sec, and agave. To this day, I still have mixed emotions on this one. I’ve had cocktails that come out in glass immortal vases that were filled with smoke. Somehow, this drink’s smoky flavor surpassed everything else. Yet, for such an extreme flavor, it grew on me. It’s something you take your time with and appreciate the contrasting intensity of the smoke against the sweetness of the fruit juice. If I ever have a coinciding cigar & Bond villain phase – this is what I’d drink on the beach.
Conch & Shrimp Fritters: Our appetizer of choice was the conch and shrimp fritters. The two seafoods mixed together, breaded, and deep fried into crispy perfection. The smell of perfectly fried seafood is one you either love or hate. I was into this dish before I had even taken a bite. On their own, they had a delightful crunch and delivered the salt flavor one expects. To add a bit of depth, you can choose to dip them in either a habanero guava marmalade or key lime mustard. The Guava marmalade was approaching neon orange and delivered a tropical flavor explosion. Unfortunately, I never got any spice from it. The key lime mustard was also a delight. I’m not too familiar with key lime, so I can’t judge it on that. I can do my best to explain that it was akin to a honey mustard that had its sweetness turned down and replaced by a tang at the end. This was the sauce I saved for my entrée, but Morgan was all about the guava.
Mahi Mahi Reuben: After much internal debate, I chose a blackened fish “reuben” that came on sourdough with 1000 island slaw and swiss cheese plus my side of fries. I actually enjoyed the sandwich, but it’s best explained as an upscale take on tuna salad. It seemed like a perfect lunch sandwich. The main negative here is that the bread was absorbing all of the moisture rapidly. Potentially, the kitchen needs to let the bread rest after it finishes toasting. This would help prevent the soggy bread factor.
My french fries were fairly well done. They were cut and fried in a way that had the corners of them starting to resemble kettle chips. With the key lime mustard, I happily ate them.
Lobster Roll: Morgan opted for the lobster roll special that was being served on 3 connected Hawaiian Roll sliders with a side of salt and vinegar fries. It was a traditional mayo based roll. What separated it from my home attempts was the amount of lemon added into the mixture. The lemon juice added the perfect flavor to cut through the creamy fat of the mayo. The acid flavor continued to pay dividends as it greatly enhanced the salt and vinegar fries. It formed an addictive 1-2 punch. The next time I’m making lobster rolls at home, I’ll be taking inspiration from their rendition.
Score: 3.5 / 5
Zac’s Thoughts:
Tipsy Mermaid didn’t quite hit the mark for me. When I think of the Florida Keys, I think of my experience at the Key Largo Fisheries Backyard Cafe. Their menu heavily depends on the catch of the day. While they do offer fried foods, the focus was on fresh fish prepared well.
At Tipsy Mermaid, the menu leaned more towards fried foods. Ultimately, I believe they are trying to appeal to a wider audience by having a large cocktail menu and an approachable food menu for non-seafood lovers. Tipsy won’t become my go-to seafood restaurant. However, I think the restaurant would be great for a nicer lunch time stop or a happy hour visit with a group of friends.
Score: 1 /2
