This Riverhead restaurant is making dining with kids enjoyable and affordable
Jerry Dicecco, Chef and Owner of Jerry and The Mermaid. (Photo credit: Petite North Fork)
Dining out with kids can feel overwhelming, expensive, and downright impossible at times. From worrying about what they’ll actually eat, to how well they’ll behave, to how much it will cost, there’s a lot to weigh. The WHERE to eat can also be tricky. Fine dining? Terrifying. Too casual? Slim chance they’re actually going to eat anything and instead run amok with their newly assembled crew. Trendy new spot you’ve been eyeing? Not a chance! Instead, when we think of ideal restaurants to bring our petite crew with us, it's the genuinely family-centric places that are always the go-to spots, and this Riverhead mainstay, which just launched a generous family-friendly promo, is exactly that.
“We understand that spending time around a dinner table at home isn't always as simple as it was in generations past, and that a meal out as a family can be so important to a family dynamic,” shared Jerry Dicecco, Chef and owner of Jerry and The Mermaid. “We go above and beyond to try to make sure parents with kids feel comfortable here. My staff and I always interact with the families and do our best to make them feel at home. I do little things like give out complimentary lollipops that kids adore! Or have coloring books or a fun/food television show playing in the background as a distraction when needed.”
If Jerry sounds like he “gets it,” it’s because he does. The second-generation restaurant owner, who wears all the hats at Jerry and The Mermaid, from cooking to event planning to billing, is also a father of three. Jerry understands the challenges of dining as a family, but also knows how important it is to share that time together around the table. His new family-friendly promotion, “Kids Eat Free,” (one kids’ menu item per adult meal), which runs every Tuesday and Thursday from now until the spring, was designed to help families dine together affordably and enjoyably.
“I started 'kids eat free' on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I know how expensive things are in today's world,” Jerry told us. “I want families to still be able to go out and feel normal and not feel they have to skip a mortgage payment. Everywhere you go, things are so expensive. You stop at the supermarket and walk out with a few small bags, and they cost $100 plus. I would like to offer families a slightly better value than what they are used to in my restaurant.”
When it comes to the question of “What’s on the menu?” Jerry and The Mermaid features beloved American staples, creative dishes, and a plentiful “Kids’ Menu”, served in an unfussy and inviting space steps from the Long Island Aquarium.
“We primarily serve seafood, but offer an array of American fare to please most palates. We have great salads, burgers, steaks, chicken options, "Jerry's Famous Wings," a recipe my father developed 40+ years ago at his former restaurant,” Jerry shared.
In the “Kids Eat Free” promotion, which is for dine-in guests only, diners receive one complimentary "kids meal" off the regular menu for every adult meal purchased. The restaurant asks that each adult spend at least $20 on food. Take advantage of “Kids Eat Free” now through spring 2026.
Jerry and The Mermaid is located at 469 E. Main St., Riverhead, and is currently open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“This is something that I think is great for young families, and I hope it helps them,” said Jerry.