I once read that “Everything tastes better outdoors.” I tend to agree.

And evidently so did everyone else dining at The Mermaid Bar and Grill during my recent visit, because you could shoot a cannon through the interior, but people were lined up for dining al fresco.

Although Saugatuck is located on the Lakeshore, there are not a lot of waterfront dining options. So it is no wonder that The Mermaid is extremely popular. I called ahead to make a reservation, specifically next to the railing on the patio so that my dog could sit on the other side. (The Mermaid doesn’t allow dogs on the patio, but accommodates with a bowl of water on the other side of the railing).

We got there, our table was ready and we were seated at once.  We couldn’t resist the Big O’s Smoked Whitefish Dip ($9.75).  It was a plentiful scoop (a little less than a cup) served with veggies and pita chips and we loved it. It was creamy, smokey, had a little horseradish bite to it and we had to force ourselves to stop eating it so we had room for dinner.

Kevin ordered the Chicken Marsala ($17). Tender chicken with a Marsala Mushroom Demi-glaze, served with smashed redskin potatoes and vegetables. It was a large portion, but it was so good he finished almost every bite. He said it was tender, and seasoned just right and the sauce was perfect.

I chose the Shrimp and Goat Cheese Pasta ($19). This is one of my favorite combos, and in this case, it was a variety of pastas, mixed with the shrimp and the goat cheese along with peppers, onions and sun dried tomatoes. I loved it — creamy and just the right amount of tang from the pepper and onions.

We passed on dessert as we were just too full, and wanted to move on to catch the sunset over the Big Lake.

The menu is large, but not the typical grilled chicken/steak/seafood dishes. They put their own spin on all of the above and it makes for some really nice dining choices. On a return visit a week or so later I had lunch and ordered the Coconut Shrimp and Spinach Salad ($15). I ate every bite. Fresh spinach, strawberries, mango, mandarin oranges, Roma tomatoes, and toasted pecans, topped with large crisp coconut shrimp. The dressing was a delicious Amaretto-berry vinaigrette.

The Mermaid is somewhat hidden in a building with mostly retail shops, at 340 Water Street, right next to Wick’s Park. You have to go around the the waterfront side where there’s a separate entrance and greeting stand for the patio, or you can go in through the center of the building from either end to find the restaurant.

In the summer, be sure and call ahead if outdoors is your preference. Or you could sit inside and have the air conditioning and whole place to yourself, and although the adage “everything tastes better outdoors” is generally true, rest assured The Mermaid Bar and Grill’s delicious food would taste fabulous no matter where you eat it.