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    Drift

    4.5 (58 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Drift Photos

    DRIFT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Reviews With Photos

    Sharon B.

    We went here for lunch on a Saturday and there was a wait on the back patio. No wait for the indoor seating so we opted for that instead and I'm so glad we did because it was absolutely lovely by the window. No sun and we had a nice view as well. We ordered the UK style fish n chips and I love that it's served inside a brown bag! Their fish was really fresh and the fries were good too. I wanted the lobster roll but it was a bit pricey at $40. That's $10 more than other restaurants. The fish tacos had a pretty presentation and was good too. The addition of the jalapenos was nice. We didn't like the Old Bay macaroni side salad though so don't recommend ordering that.

    Fish & chips
    Marjorie P.

    Gorgeous day to have a late lunch in Essex. We decided to try Drift, located in the shipyard in Essex. I'm not sure how long they have been here, but I recall another restaurant in the same location years ago. The location is great, right by the water and the shipyard. We wanted to sit outside on the deck, however they said they were setting up for a large party, so only indoor was available unless we wanted to wait an hour. Actually a table by the window turned out to be a better option than outside in the hot sun. However, we noticed live music on the deck that we couldn't hear - just a limited amount of folks outside could enjoy. Too bad. Inside, it's not too big a place, but clean and tastefully decorated. Our server was a nice young man, but he might have been new & still needed time to learn. Food was delivered very quickly. I had the tuna nachos & my husband had the fish & chips. Tuna nachos were very good, crispy wontons, with little chunks of tuna, small pieces to pineapple, cucumber and avacado. Plenty of food to have as an entree. Fish & chips were really good, not greasy. Served with fries. My drink took a long time to come, fortunately it was very good. I had the tequila honey bee and would order it again. Overall - a nice meal, however, it would have been nice to hear the music too.

    Kids cheeseburger
    Alyssa B.

    Great service. Toasty space on a cold winter day. We liked the beers on tap and the amount of lobster on my salad wowed me. The smash burger was also delicious - chargrilled? Yum. My son was happy with the kid's menu options and ate a decent amount of his cheeseburger. He loved seeing all the giant sail boats in the boatyard too. Would definitely come by again if we were in the area

    Grey sail captains daughter on tap
    Michael W.

    We arrived w a large group and they quickly accommodated us on the patio (nice view btw). LOVE the menu - so many fun apps, plates, and drinks. Would come back just to revisit the options. This was more of a layover for us on the way to another restaurant but I'm glad we stopped. I had the lobster bisque and for $18 I expected a "fancier" presentation but it tasted good and had huge chunks of lobster in it (seriously I must have had two entire claws in there). I tried some of a friend's fish tacos and they were delicious. Servers and staff were super friendly and made us feel welcome. There was however a lot of confusion w the bill at the end due to how it was broken up but I feel like this is the norm w large parties unfortunately. Parking is...interesting. Sort of a free for all. Also not very low car friendly with multiple extreme speed bumps but we made it in and out unscathed.

    Peanut butter dessert
    Dawn O.

    Came here with a group of people wanted something not to far of a drive with a water view. Drift is located near a marina right near the water on a section of the CT river called the north cove. Great Atmosphere, Live Music, Exterior and Interior seating. Menu changes often. Awesome burgers, fish and chips. Don't miss on the smoked salmon dip. Everybody dug into that so quick. I couldn't even get a picture. The tuna nachos were loaded. The cold lobster roll and scallop roll were served on a brioche roll. I preferred the lobster roll over the scallop roll. Don't miss out on those burgers though it was absolutely delicious. Staff is great and if it's nice out sit out on that patio and watch the boats go by and soak up some rays.

    UK fish and chips and the Driftwreck burger with lobster

    We had a wonderful first visit to Drift for lunch. The inside looked beautiful and comfortable, but we chose to sit outside to really enjoy the view of the marina and river. We were able to stay cool and comfortable in the shade of the umbrella. Service was friendly and efficient, and they were attentive to allergy concerns, which is really important to me. Finally, the food was outstanding. I had the fish and chips which was piping hot, crispy, and delicious. The old bay tartar sauce was one of the best tartar sauces I've ever had. My dining companion ordered a special burger (I think it was called "the driftwreck") that came with two huge lobster claws on top and lobster bisque to pour over it. He was very happy with his choice and said it was delicious and unique. We will definitely return!

    Cold lobster roll
    Sandra C.

    Came for lunch a group of 4. We ordered the poke bowl, the cold lobster roll, salt and pepper calamari, seafood ceviche, salad with grilled chicken. The menu had nice selection of dishes. The lobster roll was my favorite, nice amount of lobster meat and very yummy. Overall the food was delicious, our server was awesome, and the view was great. We sat outside. Def worth checking it out. Kudos to the chef.

    View from outdoor seating
    Chrystal N.

    Great food, nice outdoor seating. Drinks were good too! Service was a little lacking but the food and drinks made up for it!

    Hot Lobster Roll
    Chris F.

    Overall very pleased with my experience. Had great service, the ambiance was great, right near the water. Food was yummy as well. I got the hot lobster roll, the brioche bun was a bit thick and overwhelmed the dish, but otherwise good.

    Fish and chips
    Will D.

    Excellent spot! We stopped in for lunch on a rainy day and had an awesome meal. The place was pretty empty since we were off season in the winter, and we were seated immediately by a very nice server. It's a nice, small spot on the water. We ordered the fish and chips, lobster roll and a kids burger. Each dish was better than the last. The fish and chips were phenomenal, not too oily, perfectly fried. Just excellent and huge portions. The lobster roll was similarly fantastic, and I snuck a bite of my kid's burger and it was very good. I'd come back just for the burger. Definitely recommended, I'd drive an hour back to Essex just for lunch here again.

    Veggie burger
    Sarah B.

    A great spot in downtown Essex for food, drinks, and the view. The service is fast and the owner even came to check on us to see if there's anything else they can do to make it a great experience. There are fun seasonal cocktails as well as a standard list. The food is great as well only wish they had more vegetarian options but the veggie burger was homemade and great. I'd absolutely return again and recommend anyone visiting to sit outside if possible.

    Fried fish sandwich

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

    Business owner information

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    Stuart S.

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

    The chowder was amazing! Also our server Bella was phenomenal and very attentive will return soon!

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Smash burger and sweet honey chicken are absolutely amazing. Specialty drinks were great. Josh was awesome.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Yummy lobster salad. Great lunch experience. Nice drink selection. Will be back for sure

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    2 years ago

    Great selection of fantastic tasting food. Fast and attentive service. Serene ambiance.

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    2 years ago

    Amazing staff, location and tasty menu options. I will be coming back everytime I'm in the Essex village area. You guys rock

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    4.1(68 reviews)
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    Our first time at the Essex location of Sayulita, we were not disappointed! Just as good as the…read moreoriginal, with basically the same menu. We did have a special buffalo chicken taco, which was fabulous!! It was our first time at Sayulita since giving up alcohol, and I was definitely missing their margaritas. I had a grapefruit Mexican soda, but next time I'll ask if they can make me a yummy mocktail. The restaurant is about double the size of the Glastonbury location, so check it out if you want the best tacos without the long wait!!

    We revisited Sayulita in Essex this week and once again left happy! We opted for an early dinner…read moreknowing how popular this place gets, especially with their no-reservations policy--which can mean a bit of a wait during peak hours. Fortunately, we were seated quickly. Service was excellent, and the vibrant, modern atmosphere felt trendy yet comfortable. Noise levels were pretty manageable, even as the dining room filled up. I had the buttermilk fried chicken taco, which had great texture and crunch--just a touch more seasoning would've really made it shine. The pork belly taco was melt-in-your-mouth tender with rich flavor, though the celery and apple slaw on top didn't quite hold up--it looked great but lacked the apple part and was dry. Next time, I think I'd try one of the other interesting tacos instead. For my main dish, I had the cilantro pesto chicken burrito with rice and beans--delicious, generously filled, and perfectly seasoned. My girlfriend had the mushroom enchiladas, which were hearty and earthy, though a bit more seasoning could have brought out the full potential of the dish, as it seemed like it was just unseasoned mushrooms in a tortilla. Overall, Sayulita remains a solid choice with consistently good food, friendly service, and a lively vibe. A reservation option would make it even better--but until then, arriving early is the way to go!

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    Brushmill by the Waterfall

    Brushmill by the Waterfall

    3.4(210 reviews)
    5.3 mi
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    Had a wonderful dining experience at Brushmill by the Waterfall! They offered an amazing selection…read moreof gluten-free options, making it easy to enjoy an incredible meal without compromise. The staff was absolutely amazing--friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming from start to finish. Great food, outstanding service, and a beautiful atmosphere. We can't wait to come back!

    Great ambiance as you walk in by the waterfall. Three rooms depending upon the vibe you're looking…read morefor; dressy dining area, casual bar, or cozy informal den. We chose the latter in a corner window right by the falls. The service was outstanding. From the moment we arrived, to helping us find our seat, to our server helping us with the menu, to the manager coming over and talking with us to make sure everything was ok. I liked how the server first checked to see if we had any time restraints along with food allergies, etc. Speaking of the food. We started with the clam chowder and scallops. The chowder was the best I've ever had. Plenty of meat and seasoned perfectly. The scallops were amazing. The manager later told us that the scallops were the only thing that had been on the menu since day one. They tried to rotate them off once and the people went nuts. We moved on to the duck and salmon. Both were delicious. Sides were perfect as well. I'd love to write about dessert, but unfortunately, we were stuffed. They looked good, but that will have to wait until next time.

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    Brushmill by the Waterfall - Upstairs in the restaurant

    Upstairs in the restaurant

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    Drift - seafood - Updated July 2026

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