So, I’d been hearing some buzz about a spot over in Merrick, Anchor Down Seafood Bar and Grill. You know how it is, someone mentions fresh oysters, another talks about grilled fish, and eventually, you just gotta go see for yourself. Decided last Saturday was the day. The weather was decent enough for a drive out that way.
Finding the place wasn’t too hard, right there in Merrick. Parking took a minute, seemed like a popular spot already by the early evening. Walking in, it had that kind of modern nautical vibe, you know? Clean lines, some ropes and anchor motifs, but not over the top cheesy. It felt comfortable, casual but nice. Not stuffy.
Getting Settled and Ordering Up
We got seated pretty quickly, which was a plus. Place was humming, lots of chatter, folks seemed to be having a good time. That’s usually a good sign, right? Looked over the menu. Lots of seafood, obviously. Oysters, clams, lobster rolls, grilled fish… the usual suspects but everything sounded fresh.
We decided to start with:
- Some raw oysters – gotta test the waters, literally.
- Clam chowder – a classic test for any seafood joint.
For the main course, I went for the grilled snapper, sounded simple and good. My wife picked the lobster mac and cheese – she can never resist that stuff.
How Was the Grub?
Okay, let’s talk food. The oysters came out first. Chilled perfectly, tasted super fresh, clean like the ocean. Came with the usual fixings, lemon, cocktail sauce, mignonette. Real nice start. The clam chowder was thick, creamy, plenty of clams in there. Good flavor, not too salty. Hit the spot.
Then the mains arrived. My grilled snapper was cooked just right. Flaky, moist, with a nice little char from the grill. Came with some roasted veggies, simple preparation which let the fish shine. Really solid. The lobster mac and cheese was decadent. Cheesy, creamy, big chunks of lobster mixed in. It’s heavy, for sure, but pure comfort food done well. She was happy with it.
Service and Final Thoughts
The service was pretty good throughout. Our server was hustling cause it was busy, but she was friendly, checked on us enough, got everything right. No complaints there. We didn’t stick around for dessert, felt pretty satisfied after the mains.
Overall? Yeah, Anchor Down was a good experience. It’s a solid choice if you’re in the Merrick area and craving seafood. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but they do fresh seafood well in a relaxed atmosphere. Felt like a reliable neighborhood spot. I’d definitely go back if I was nearby and wanted some decent fish or oysters without a huge fuss. Just a good, straightforward seafood bar and grill.
