Longtime Portsmouth restaurant relocates to Kittery
Courtesy / Blue Mermaid Island Grill
Scott and Karen Logan, co-owners of Blue Mermaid Island Grill, with their next-door neighbor in Kittery, Tod Mott, owner of the Tributary Brewing Co., standing between them.
After 24 years in Portsmouth, N.H., the owners of Blue Mermaid Island Grill have moved their restaurant to a new location across the border in Kittery.
The move from Portsmouth’s North End to 10 Shapleigh Road in Kittery coincides with a new menu and new approach.
“We’re serving up delicious food, local music, craft beer and a fun atmosphere in our awesome new Kittery location,” Scott Logan, co-owner with his wife, Karen, said in a news release. “Blue Mermaid strives to be more than ‘just another restaurant’. We work hard to be a valuable part of the Seacoast community through food sourcing, supporting local arts and culture, and giving back to worthy causes in the area.”
Scott Logan said the restaurant’s menu will continue to give what he calls a “mermaid twist” to each dish on the menu — meaning a tropical spin that uses fruit salsas and zesty sauces to give “bold pops of flavor.”
The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner, happy hour on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday brunch, and will continue to offer off-site catering in both New Hampshire and Maine.
Changes at the new Blue Mermaid Island Grill include:
- More vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options: Although their old menu had a large vegetarian selection, the Logans say Blue Mermaid plans to “serve up healthy, environmentally friendly, sustainable meals, now with fewer animal-based proteins and more plant-based ingredients.”
- Scientific, data-driven menu creation: The Logans say they kept the best-sellers from their Portsmouth menu (including the guava-braised short ribs, saddle bags wontons and lobster quesadillas), and added some new options, such as a Golden Beet poke bowl, Scottish salmon, and Nam Jim, a grilled, fresh, local catch of the day in Vietnamese Nam Jim fish sauce served over herb-infused sweet rice.
- Beer pairings: The Blue Mermaid has partnered with next-door neighbor and brewer Tod Mott of Tributary Brewing Co., to offer legendary craft beers. They always have two of Tributary’s beers available, as well as Maine Beer Co.’s Lunch, and Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine.
- Food truck: Quarter-pound hot dogs (with special salsas and sauces), tacos, quesadillas and pork belly sandwiches are will be available from the new Blue Mermaid food truck. The Blue Mermaid food truck will also make appearances at upcoming festivals, events, and private parties.
- The blues: Blue Mermaid has introduced Sunday Blue Grass Brunch as well as Jazz and Blues nights on Thursdays.
- Plenty of parking: Free, ample, onsite parking makes it easy and convenient for guests to get to the Mermaid.
“We’ve loved being part of the thriving Portsmouth scene for decades, and now we’re delighted to bring our Mermaid vibe to Kittery,” Karen Logan said. “ We’ve received tremendous support from the local community, town offices and our neighborhood in general. Since we’ve opened in our new space, we’re seeing our ‘old regulars,’ plus we’re making new friends in our new home. It’s a really nice experience.
The Logans said they remain committed to doing business with other local independent vendors, such as Favorite Foods, Golden Harvest, Maine Shellfish and Beach Pea Baking Co. and the Kittery farmers’ market.
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