We had an absolutely perfect evening at DRIFT and it was the ideal way to end our vacation in Pensacola. From the moment we arrived, Melissa provided some of the best service we've experienced in a long time. She took incredible care of our entire party, including our 6-month-old daughter. As any parent knows, dining out with a baby can sometimes be challenging, but Melissa made us feel completely welcome and comfortable throughout the evening. We enjoyed wine, appetizers, and several entrées, and she was wonderful about accommodating customizations and special requests. What really stood out was how genuinely kind and engaging she was with our baby and she took time to play with her, made her smile and giggle, and truly helped make the night special for our whole family. The food was fantastic, the views are absolutely incredible, and the atmosphere is hard to beat. The outdoor patio and bar area are especially beautiful. After dinner, Melissa helped us relocate outside where we enjoyed more wine and dessert while taking in the view. And whatever you do, don't skip the crème brûlée, it was the perfect ending to an already amazing meal! The entire team was friendly, welcoming, and attentive, and the level of hospitality we experienced was exceptional. Between the delicious food, stunning waterfront setting, and outstanding service from Melissa, this was one of the highlights of our trip. We'll absolutely be back the next time we're in Pensacola. Thank you, Melissa and the DRIFT team, for such a memorable evening! read more

Easy to book a reservation online. Pleasant staff, interior is beautiful and goes with the modern driftwood ocean theme. Patio lighting is orange. Love the fish and steak options. The wait was longer for food but luckily our table was not starving. Our waiter, Elijah was kind and went above and beyond with patience for drinks and extras for things. Would come again! Would consider as a spot with friends and or dinner date - not like a family vibe with young kids. read more

My girlfriend and I had heard good things about drift and decided to try it the Friday after her birthday. I made a reservation on OpenTable. The Wednesday before, I called the restaurant and spoke with Louis who is the owner and chef. I explained to him that my girlfriend and I would be dining there on Friday and that I was planning on proposing to her. I asked him if he would help. He said absolutely, "just discreetly give the ring to someone and I'll take care of everything else." When we arrived at the restaurant, Louis greeted us. I had noted on the reservation that we were celebrating a birthday and he said I see we're celebrating a birthday. My girlfriend said "please. I don't want any cake or anything special" and he said that it would not be a problem. We were seated at a table for two near one of the large windows overlooking the gulf. The restaurant is a beautiful space and our service was spot on. Andrea and Kaitlyn took very good care of us. We split the sea scallop appetizer which was delicious and then shared the Chilean Seabass entrée. It was cooked perfectly, came out hot and was absolutely delicious. After we had eaten, we asked for our check and shortly thereafter, Louis came out with a large plate that had a giant slice of bread pudding on it and a small ring box. He had written will you marry me on the plate in icing.... My girlfriend, now my fiancé was stunned and I think we both cried a little bit (she said yes). It was an experience neither one of us will ever forget and the most special night we have spent together. Louis and the Drift team were absolutely wonderful. Our experience was top-notch and Drift will forever be our special place!! Well, done and heartfelt thanks! read more

Ok - the view in the back bar is pretty awesome -- Up three stories above the beach, I'd say this outside bar far surpasses many "happy hour" spots. Food was outstanding!! Delicious with a chef that really seems to care.... But, there are no happy-hour "specials" or deals.... this place is geared to the tourists and noone else. I ate by myself - one mixed drink. and one glass of wine, two appetizers and a fantastic sunset and my bill was $100 before the tip. Ouch. But yummy. read more

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Ten out of ten. The view, the service by Elijah, the food! Omg the food is absolutely amazing. Definitely our new favorite restaurant. read more

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Food and service was amazing! The peach and prosciutto salad with burrata on the appetizer menu was 10/10. So so good, would definitely get instead of the caesar salad if you're looking to try something different! read more

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First and foremost, I'd like to thank the owner of Drift, Matt. Also, Chef Luis and server Kirsten. The service, ambiance and food was top tier. I ordered the filet mignon and my partner ordered the pork chops. There is nothing that I can say negative about our plates. It was just enough food for my liking. Both steak and pork chop was succulent. The mashed potatoes were creamy and seasoned highly well. Even the broccoli was amazing. I can say that if you are ever in the Pensacola area, don't hesitate to come to this hidden gem. You will not be disappointed by no means. I can't wait to return for another meal on my next trip. read more

DRIFT - Filet Mignon mashed potatoes and asparagus - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

I have been to Drift numerous times and the old adage is true when things go right you never hear about it when things go wrong it rains. Tonight was uninspiring I was disappointed. I will start with the drinks the martinis are watered down. When I order a martini, I expect to be able to taste the bite of the vodka not have it so watered down that is has ice floating in it and to be soft. The kitchen was underwhelming as well. The pork chop is typically delicious, and I highly recommend you order it , unfortunately tonight it seemed dry and under seasoned. I changed the traditional potatoes and carrots to risotto and instead of laying a bit of risotto on the plate and placing the chop on top they sent a cup of risotto. The risotto was delicious. The pork chop not as good as usual underseasoned and a bit too crispy on the outside, the brie cheese appetizers which usually hits was again underwhelming just seemed like the entire kitchen was lacking enthusiasm this evening. I will be back as it isn't it a wonderful place to have dinner and I will try a martini again probably for the last time unless they change how they make them. read more

The food was delicious and well prepared., the music in the background was very soothing but upbeat and the Service by our server was phenomenal, she was very friendly and attentive. Ambiance was amazing with the view of the ocean and the sunset, breathtaking. Highly recommended. read more

Upscale waterfront restaurants with delicious food The service was excellent. #iraeats #iraeats1 read more

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Food was fantastic! Service was not. We went for my boyfriend's bday and it took so long to get drinks out. Everything that we ate was phenomenal! But they didn't offer any dessert or anything for his bday - which isn't unusual - but weird to see that other reviews say they got a complementary bday dessert! The waiter took forever to get us a check and the card back and was not very warm. We are willing to go back and give it another try since the ambiance and food was great! read more

We made a reservation for our wedding anniversary and had a great dinner. Parking was easy and we were greeted as soon as we walked and congratulated on our anniversary. The restaurant was beautiful and well decorated in tasteful beach decor. The service was a 5/5 and everyone was so kind. We ordered a cocktail that was also very tasty. The Brie appetizer was amazing with great flavors. We both ordered the ribeye. I had mashed potatoes and Brussel and my husband hand mashed potatoes and carrots. They steak came out cooked to temp and were quite good. The rosemary? Taste was a little over the top and could have used more salt. The mashed potatoes and Brussels were also good. The carrots were lacking and quite hard. Expensive dinner- Overall we would come back for a special event. read more

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I was so disappointed. We were so excited to splurge for my birthday. I was served cold sea bass. And it was so salty, it left a terrible after taste. I'm not afraid of salt so it's not that I was being picky. Hubby's food was edible. Views are incredible and we had already discussed coming back soon for sunset outside. They offered a free desert but I just wanted to leave because the meal ruined the celebration. read more

It was a very nice atmosphere. Ambience was very beautiful and the view of the sunset and the ocean were stunning. An upscale place on the beach. Please don't come in your bathing suit and sandals. The server at the Bartender was fabulous and super friendly. My salad was scrumptious. read more

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Not a family friendly restaurant. Setting and view fantastic, food pretty good, some things great BUT read the fine print. While the server and service was top notch, we got a special charge for a large party. Six people. Our six me and room mate, grandson and his wife, and their two kids ages 2 and 3. It was like $90. I asked about it and was basically told its people in sits no exceptions. The kids just had water and split an order of expensive chicken tenders. Not sure how much effort two toddlers are but I doubt they creat as much two adults. It was a special occasion we wanted the kids there when normally wouldn't because they'd be bored. So...families with youngsters, watch out. read more

Truly enjoyed eating & drinking at DRIFT. My boyfriend and I sat at the bar outside. Service + food was great and the atmosphere was perfect. read more

DRIFT - Great sunset by the bar - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

When "Butter" Costs Five Dollars: A Lesson in Menu Transparency at Drift Restaurant During a recent visit to DRIFT Kitchen & Bar on Pensacola Beach, I encountered a small but telling example of how unclear menu practices can leave customers feeling misled and quite annoyed. The evening began pleasantly enough. The restaurant itself is attractive, the atmosphere relaxed, and our waitress (Heidi) was friendly and attentive. With my meal I ordered a side of mashed potatoes and made what I assumed was a very ordinary request: I asked if I could have some butter with them. When my potatoes came, it was with a small carafe of butter. It appeared to be about an ounce or so, a tiny amount, and nothing about it suggested anything unusual or premium, other than some brown specs in it, or some kind of flavoring. I assumed it was simply melted butter, which is commonly served with mashed potatoes in many restaurants. Only later, when the bill arrived, did I discover that this tiny serving of butter had been added to the check as a $5 charge for "bone marrow butter." My friends at the table could not believe when I told them what I was being charged for butter. This was the first moment I had heard that the butter being served was bone marrow butter. At no point had it been described that way, nor was I informed that there would be an additional charge. I had simply asked for butter. Naturally, I asked the waitress a straightforward question: How would a customer know that asking for butter on mashed potatoes would result in a specialty product costing five dollars? Rather than answering directly, she replied by asking whether I liked it. While that may have been an attempt to redirect the conversation, it did not address the underlying issue. The real question was not whether the butter tasted good, but how a customer could reasonably know they were ordering a specialty item with an added charge. When pressed two more times, (she refused to answer my question) the response shifted to offers to "make it right," including bringing the manager or offering dessert. While those gestures may have been well-intended, they did not change the core problem: a lack of transparency at the moment the order was taken. In teh end she finally did admit there was no way any customer would know about the $5 butter. The issue here is not five dollars. Most diners understand that restaurants offer premium ingredients and specialty additions. The issue is disclosure. It's just a few words. If something as simple as butter carries a surcharge, the customer should be told clearly before it is served. It's common with water. I thought was she trained to do this, doing to own ger own to boost tabs? Does management push wait staff to do this? Had the waitress simply said, "We have bone marrow butter, which is five dollars, would you like that?" the situation would have been entirely different. The customer could then decide whether it was worth it. Instead, the charge appeared only after the fact and a real surprise. Restaurants, particularly in resort communities like Pensacola Beach, depend heavily on reputation and repeat customers. Small moments of transparency can make the difference between a memorable dining experience and one that leaves a lingering question about fairness. I ran the numbers.... if a waitress is successful in getting this past patrons just 10 times a night (they have great mashed potatoes) multiply that by the number of wait staff times days, times weeks, it amounts to many tens of thousands of dollars in what is a item that must be at least 95% profit. Good restaurants build trust through clarity. When something as simple as butter becomes a surprise charge, that trust can erode quickly. I will never go back to Drift. They lost 3 good customers that night for sure. In the end, the lesson here is straightforward: if an item carries an additional cost, the customer deserves to know before it reaches the table. Five dollars for butter may not seem like much. But clarity about what is being ordered is priceless. It was most dishonest. read more

To say I was disappointed with the spending $350 for Valentine's Day dinner at drift is an understatement! The $20 salad tasted like a four day old Walmart salad, the Seabass was cold, only 2 scallops on the scallops plate, and the pork belly definitely left something to be desired! We've had good food there before, so we had high hopes, but definitely won't be going back. read more

One of our favorites, food always good and beautiful beach views food always delicious

Foods always pretty good! Recommend for the service and spot alone! Food and drinks are great

Absolutely fantastic Lobster Bisque! Wow....Lobster and the Tempura Shrimp were very good. Helpful waiter. Going back again before we leave! read more

DRIFT - Lobster Bisque - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

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Response to owner: Plates were far from empty. We just didn't ask for boxes. The pictures attached were what was left after we quit eating. I am not inclined to make a scene in the restaurant. Sending back ALL of the food would have been that sort of scene. The waitress was not the issue. The FOOD was. In my experience, when food is this pathetic and overpriced, sending it back only exacerbates the issue. Here's a thought- get it right the FIRST time. Are you seriously telling me your kitchen staff is so undertrained they don't know sauces from unsauced, and cooked vegetables from raw? Or is it that they rely on the tourist trade so much they just don't care? I noticed that your common response to people who say the food was substandard is "well, why didn't you say something?" I should think that at this level of pricing, and for what you report to offer in the way of upscale food, people shouldn't have to make that comment. As a matter of fact, food should not make the table that looks like what ours did. So I'm not going to sit here and apologize for not speaking to a waitress or causing a scene, for a restaurant that should know better. What I will do, is exactly what I'm doing here warn people to not waste their time, money, or potential gastric distress, on a restaurant that should know better and should do better. Or on an owner that won't accept responsibility for the shortcomings of his kitchen staff and make the necessary changes. I fire people all the time, it's distasteful, but it's not the end of the world. read more

DRIFT - Crab and crawfish sauce? Must be hiding in the kitchen - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

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We just celebrated our anniversary at Drift. The food was truly outstanding! I had the fresh fish on a bed of risotto and my husband had lobster bisque and then a stuffed chicken breast. We split a bottle of wine and shared a crème brûlée for dessert. Every bite was memorable. The table service by Pip was on point, he was knowledgeable, friendly and timed everything just right. Chef Luis even stopped by our table a couple of times to see how we were enjoying our meal. The dining room is so pretty and we had the best western view for a winter sunset. We are locals and can't believe we'd never been here. I happened to hear a friend talking about it so we made a reservation and were thrilled with our experience. Drift is the "best of the beach" by far! (PS: there is a negative review about Drift here on Yelp from a guy named Shaun. I looked back and the majority of his reviews about other places are also super negative, so that's just his view of life apparently.) read more

DRIFT - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

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They try and cheat you on your bill for butter. See my long yelp review about bone marrow butter.

Went with friends for brunch the day after going to a wedding at the beach. Lovely space with a to die for view. Upscale and pricey which would be fine if the food was really outstanding. It was hit or miss unfortunately. Drinks were yummy as were the ahi tuna and yellowtail appetizers. They were plated and delicious according to the table. I don't do raw fish but they were extremely well done. They nicely halved certain entrees which was nice. I don't know why such a nice place serves frozen cubes potatoes with no seasoning or peppers or onions or something to jazz them up and give them some kind of flavor, but they did not. Fish entree was fine but nothing special and I wouldn't order it again. Same with the crab cake eggs Benedict. If I don't moan at least once during a meal, it's pretty meh. The omelet was good , very nicely presented. The biggest disappointment was the supposedly special Elvis donuts. They were so burnt they were inedible. What made this special was sharing a meal With family and friends. I would return for dinner maybe , but not brunch. I understand they have a nice happy hour and they do make nice beverages. read more

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We were a party of 18 for my mom's 90th birthday. Our server was RayRay and I cannot say enough good things about him. A party of 18 is certainly a challenge but he made it seem easy. All of our drink orders and food orders were perfect. RayRay was very pleasant and really made my mom's birthday special. The food was really good and the atmosphere was really nice. I would describe the restaurant atmosphere as upscale casual, if that makes sense. We'll definitely go back the next time we're in town visiting family. read more

Planned to go this evening until I saw an $8 split plate charge. Are you kidding me? $8?? In 75 years I have never seen an $8 split plate fee. Hard Pass. As seniors we are compelled by our small appetites to share entrees. read more

DRIFT - Menu from the current website. - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

The food was plentiful and delicious. Lovely decor, great atmosphere, EXCEPT and it is a big exception. The music was NOT good, it sounded like a radio station but I can not be sure. In my opinion, given the level of atmosphere of class that the restaurant displayed, soft instrumentals would be more effective and appropriate. BUT, the main problem is that we could barely make out what the waiter was saying along with my date and the other couple with us. IT WAS JUST TOO LOUD for any conversation. That was a big downer and may preclude our thoughts of another visit or a recommendation without the noise disclaimer. PLEASE turn down the sound system. read more

DRIFT - Drift restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

This is a beautiful spot for beachfront dining in Pensacola. My girlfriends and I wanted a nice dinner out for our first time in town and this restaurant was just down the street from our hotel. I decided to splurge on the filet and asked for double mashed potato instead of the creamed spinach. While I typically love potatoes, these potatoes were very bland and desperately needed some seasoning. The steak at least was cooked well though and tasted good. read more

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Fantastic food - ambience - Expresso martinis, and views. Server was a little negligent but the manager apparently noticed (we didn't say anything) and ended up coming and taking care of what we needed :) Chilean Sea Bass was to die for and raw oysters! read more

We were excited to finally visit Drift for dinner. Atop casino Beach Bar, it seemed a perfect location to take in the views. As expected, the venue was on point. The view was fantastic, the ambiance and decor were near perfection, and the service was provided with a smile. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. The menu boasts a wonderful selection of both surf and turf. I opted for turf and my wife went with surf. I couldn't have been more excited to get my ribeye. A classic cut, it should be difficult to mess up. Alas, the deliciously rich flavor you would expect was wholly absent. It was overcooked to more of a medium temperature and very tough. I would expect a cut of meat like this at a Texas Roadhouse, but not at this price point. My wife ordered the Grouper and was also disappointed. Her description was "dry and tough". With drinks, we were in for over $200. Fortunately, we had a great time with friends and laughed over drinks and good conversation. We might return, but definitely not for dinner. read more

We were looking for a restaurant to celebrate our bride-to-be after wedding dress shopping. We wanted something upscale with a fun atmosphere & decent menu options (not just seafood) - Drift far exceeded our expectations! Ambiance: The ambiance is perfect for overlooking the ocean but being able to still be in AC which is key in FL. There is an outside bar as well so we got to take pictures outside with a stunning beach sunset but enjoy AC for our meal but still had a view. They have cool blue under lighting, stunning wine walls & unique beachy interior pieces throughout. Service: Our server, Bailey, was exceptional! She was attentive, kind & helped us find other local spots. Her food recommendations were right on par. The drinks were fresh, nothing too sugary, plus fun garnishes & rims! Food: We all said we would dream about this meal afterwards. We had the lamb lollipops & burrata. The lamb was so unique, the rub or seasoning is unlike anything we'd try before. I had the snapper - the French cream sauce paired with it was delicious! A few people got the filet & salmon - all had fantastic experiences as well. Since it was a celebration, they brought us their bread pudding with "congratulations" written on the plate as a surprise. I've never had bread pudding before & I will only want it from there going forward. Someone at the table said it was the best they'd ever had. So this is just your reminder to never skip dessert! The chef came to our table & was a delight. We even tried to hire him for the rehearsal dinner. Luis is the best! We had such a fun night here from the drinks, service, meal & environment! It was just what we were looking for after our day of wedding dress shopping! Will definitely be back. 12/10 Drift!! read more

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Drift was such a pleasant surprise when I visited for the first time for happy hour!!! I moved to the area a year ago and it's been on my list to visit ever since. It did not disappoint. I had a friend visiting and I was able to put it on our agenda. The view is amazing, the menu is delicious and varied, the staff are wonderful and the drinks are absolutely on point!!! It was so good that I had to revisit and let me tell you, Drift was the same fantastic experience the second time around!!! Come for sunset, come for happy hour, come for a drink, come for whatever, I don't think you can go wrong with Drift. I've not yet been for dinner but I imagine it's phenomenal as well. read more

So, should I talk about Food, Service, or Ambiance? Service, well our diverse party of eight fell head over heels for our waiter/sommelier Andy was the dude. Not only did he represent the Drift restaurant professionally, he had class and was knowledgeable about his menu. The food was wonderful, please never let this chef go, he knows his way around a mandolin. The pork chops were perfect, the collards were perfect, the Chilian Sea Bass was perfect. And, I could go on and on. Ambiance, well it was rainy, but who cares, the interior, the music expressed cool vibes. The Drift has great employees and food, a rarity in a tourist area. read more

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Wow! This restaurant is fabulous! Go in time to see the sunset. It is fabulous. The Drift Drop was a great martini! I had the pork chop and it was tender and juicy and huge!!!! If you are looking for a special place, Drift fits the bill! read more

What a wonderful place to watch a Pensacola Beach sunset and people watch on the beach. Maybe better on a day not so windy or relatively cold. To their credit, there are overhead heating lamps and wine barriers they brought down. The food was excellent, especially the bao buns. The duck fat fries were pretty good, although in a blind test I'd be hard pressed to distinguish them. The portion sizes are large so that's good. Downsides? Well, it's expensive owing to it's touristy location AND they charge an additional fee just to use a credit card. The kicker was just how LOOONG the food took; 10 minutes for drinks, 30 minutes for appetizers and 45 for entrees. Total dining time was nearly 2 hours! Don't come hangry! read more

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Really cute view of the beach side when sitting at the bar. They have a happy hour from 4-6 at the bar where you can get certain apps and drinks for half off. We got a few mock tails that were really good. We tried the lamb lollipops and shrimp for apps and omg!!! I don't really like lamb but now I have to say that I don't like lamb unless it's from DRIFT! Once it was time for our reservation we went to the front and got sat, the inside of the restaurant is so nice and elegant! It definitely has the fine dining vibe without being completely over the top. The waitress and bartender that helped us that day were both so kind! Hands down one of the best food and service we had in Florida! read more

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The food and atmosphere at this restaurant were genuinely excellent -- delicious dishes, great presentation, and a warm, inviting environment. Unfortunately, the service experience took away from what could have been a perfect meal. One of our group members ordered an appetizer intending to have it as her main course, RayRay the server then suggested she added a side with It since It was small which she didn't initially want but decided to take his suggestion. Then without mentioning it, the server rang up her appetizer as an entrée and also charged her separately and additionally for the side resulting in a much higher bill than expected. The lack of transparency felt sneaky and misleading. Additionally, the restaurant applied a service charge without clearly disclosing it beforehand. We've never encountered this at any other restaurant in this state, and it was disappointing to only discover it when the bill arrived. While the food and atmosphere were great, the questionable upselling and unclear billing practices left a bad impression. I hope the restaurant addresses these issues, because otherwise it has a lot of potential read more

My friend and I stopped by the DRIFT last evening for happy hour. We found out that the Chef was on vacation and Chef Zechariah was in charge! We had the Yellowtail Crudo and Lamb Lollipops! Beautiful display and colors! Amazing flavors down to every bite. Thank you for the service and amazing food! read more

DRIFT - Yellowtail Crudo (raw) - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

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We had originally planned to stop at CBB for dinner, but (fortunately!) they were closed for an event. So, we climbed upstairs and gave Drift a try. What an amazing experience! Wine prices are reasonable and we decided on a nice bottle of Pinot Noir. My wife chose the Chilean sea bass, which was delicious. The sweet potato's and delicate sauce were a wonderful complement to the flaky fish. I went for the pork chop, and oh boy! It is a double cut chop that is massive and perfectly cooked. The brussel sprouts and beet puree were a great addition, and the mashed potatoes topped it all off perfectly. When we talked to the chef about dessert, he recommended the bread pudding. My wife is not a bread pudding fan (she hates any form of soggy bread!), but he wagered that she would be a convert and he was 100% correct! Best bread pudding ever! And, to top it off, the service was top notch from start to finish! This place is definitely a great choice and we will be back soon! read more