We had such a wonderful experience here, despite one unfortunate miss with one of our entrées. We arrived about an hour early for our reservation and were able to find seats at the bar while we waited. From the moment we walked in, the host and owner were incredibly welcoming and kind. We started with a Hefeweizen and a Cosmo. While the Cosmo wasn't anything particularly unusual, it was honestly perfection -- exactly how a good Cosmo should taste. Once we were seated, we were taken care of by two servers who were both so friendly, attentive, and conversational. We shared the buttermilk fried oysters to start, which were delicious -- and actually my first time trying a fried oyster! For dinner, we ordered the lobster spaghettini and the New Bedford scallops. Unfortunately, something about the lobster spaghettini was really off. I have NEVER sent a dish back at a restaurant, but neither of us could eat it. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but the flavor seemed to be coming from the breadcrumbs throughout the dish, which tasted extremely stale (not just toasted) or maybe just too much miso? That being said, the way it was handled could not have been better. The owner was incredibly gracious and accommodating and immediately offered to exchange my dish. I ordered the scallops instead, and they were absolutely delicious. Beautifully seared, and the accompaniments worked so well together. One bad dish could have easily soured the experience, but it genuinely didn't. Between the oysters, scallops, drinks, and especially the hospitality, there was far more to compliment than criticize. The staff made us feel so welcome, and I really appreciated how kindly the situation was handled. We would absolutely return and recommend this restaurant. Sometimes how a restaurant responds when something isn't perfect says just as much as what happens when everything is -- and they handled it wonderfully. read more

Place is definitely more on upscale side for a restaurant in a beach town They being said the food and the price reflect That Went with the steak and lobster Full disclosure not really s seafood person But now I can see why people order lobster Roasted potatoes might be one of the best I've ever had same goes for the peppercorn sauce and those things I actually know something about Looking for a change of pace drift is a nice pledge to stop and staff was above attentive read more

Stopped in for happy hour on a Saturday right after opening (HH is 5-6pm). We got a seat inside at the bar and tried the HH cocktail as well as another cocktail from the list. It was a great value for well crafted cocktails. I had the Papa lives mambo which was a bourbon forward cocktail, I enjoyed it though would like to try other offerings. The tomato and peach salad was flavorful with semi-crushed peppercorns and some fresh light cheese. Our bartender was friendly and efficient. The vibe is sort of fancy feeling but plenty of people walked in for reservations in nice jeans. Looking forward to coming back to try more of the menu another time. read more

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Loved it! We stopped in for my birthday dinner and had a lovely experience. We had the caviar & chips, scallop crudo, salmon, oysters, crab squid ink pasta & scallops w risotto. Nothing was bad and we really enjoyed every dish. The French onion dip with the caviar and chips was delicious and the broth surrounding the scallop crudo was wonderful as well. The veggies under the salmon were perfect and while the salmon was overcooked it still tasted good. The crab pasta was flavorful without being heavy and the scallop risotto was lovely as well. Service was great with a wonderful waiter whose name I did not get but service was prompt and attentive. Ambiance is very nice, coming from NYC I prefer a small compact restaurant so Drift made me feel right at home. Overall I will 100% be back on my next trip to Rehoboth. read more

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Y'all dont even KNOW what you're missing. HOLY MOLY probably the best restaurant I've eaten at all year. It's a tiny spot on Baltimore and you 100% need a reservation, OR you need to be waiting outside their door when they open at 5pm to get a bar seat. Let me start at the bar. The guy I've seen there twice is Lincoln- he is so fun and make some seriously amazing drinks. The one that my fiance had just won an award at a cocktail contest. All the drinks have fun names and ingredients. Great wines to compliment their menu. We have had the raw oysters with their peach hot sauce- OMG. Also their buttermilk friend oysters... even more OMG. Then we had the swordfish schnitzel to split and I can't even explain this dish. The owner Joe told us we MUST get it so here I am and it did not disappoint! It' s just a great concept with amazing food and fun drinks. Go for something celebratory- good food and drinks cost money ;-) read more

Drift Seafood & Raw Bar - Swordfish Schnitzel at Drift - Wine Bars Near Me - Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Finally came here for dinner due to yelp reviews and was so glad we did. Even old standbys like fried oysters had a fresh take garnished with blackberries, blueberries and radishes. Our favorite dish was the lobster French toast- decadent, rich with a generous portion of lobster, pricey too but worth it. There wasn't a disappointing dish, which is saying a lot. We sat on the outside porch, on a perfect summer night. Such great ambience with friendly service too! read more

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Incredible experience at Drift! It's so vibey and cozy inside with the cutest bar area. The outside patio is precious too! We got the focaccia, tuna tartare, and carrot soup to start. They were all to die for! For mains, we had the crab spaghetti, scallops, schnitzel, and halibut. Everyone was blown away by their dish, not a single complaint. Everything tastes so fresh and I highly recommend the crab spaghetti! Service was excellent, will be returning soon. read more

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Went here for dinner for a girls night out and absolutely enjoyed our experience. The entire staff was so kind. The drinks were also DELISH. i got the Mrs Magic which was one of the best drinks i've ever had. The dressed oysters, tuna tartar were also great choices. Entrees we got the flat iron steak and scallops and both were SOOO good and perfect portions. Last but not least was the DESSERT. The coconut cream pie was absolutely fucking phenomenal. Would literally just go back for that alone. All in all would definitely eat here again. read more

Drift Seafood & Raw Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Drift was amazing!! Food was fantastic, lobster French toast couldn't have been better, scallop crudo was great and the drink menu was perfect, great wines, cocktails and mocktails!! Service couldn't have been better, we had a party of 11 with 5 being kids. Thought we had made 2 reservations and one accidentally was made at a different "Drift" restaurant. Even though they were very busy, they accommodated us the best they could and we all ended up enjoying our meals! Highly recommend, one of our better is not best meals ever in Rehoboth. read more

Phenomenal experience! Thank goodness no more beef tallow cooking. Food was phenomenal. Everything from peaches and tomatoes to focaccia to tuna tartare and oysters, excellent! And our Albariño wine was perfection. Nia, our server (Hope I have the spelling right) was superb. Very attentive and oh so personable and I loved how one of the owners, Bob, pitched right in to do anything that needed doing. Such a great comeback from our previous experience 2 years ago!! read more

This is a restaurant that will always be part of any weekend stay at the beach. I was lucky enough to secure a reservation for Friday night booked several months prior for Valentine's Day weekend. Each of us got a different entrée and we're equally pleased and three of us had never been to the restaurant before. You now have four raving fans. read more

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Food is good. We came in on Memorial Day and the Lobster French Toast was really good. Service is decent and the ambiance is pretty nice being so close to the water. read more

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A#1 Top shelf/Great place Very welcoming, even during the crazy "in season" time. My wife had told the hostess, making the reservation , that it was my birthday dinner & when I walked in, a birthday card, signed by the whole staff, was on our table. The food (oysters, mushrooms, flank steak) were all top notch & the staff did a great job pairing glasses of wines with courses. To my mind, as good as it gets! read more

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Service was great, really good happy hour deals on Oysters, which they say are farmed from Rehoboth Bay. Loved the Habanero drops and pickled onion mignonette toppings. read more

Drift Seafood & Raw Bar - Happy Hour Oysters. - Wine Bars Near Me - Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Food was amazing. Services was great And then there was desert. Try the coconut cream pie!!! The sweet pea soup was fantastic! read more

We made reservations for a Friday night after a glowing recommendation from a friend who loves Rehoboth. We were seated outside in the cute patio area with some creative seatings as it was packed and Hurricane Beryl was periodically pouring down every half hour or so. Our service was great, from the manager to our server to the other servers who helped deliver food and clear our plates. Everyone was super friendly and attentive. We got a bottle of Albariño to share, which was so fresh and citrusy and paired perfectly with the dozen local oysters we started with. The crab hush puppies were delicious but honestly very rich, but that's being said as two people who shared four (my husband had some discipline). For dinner, I chose off the seasonal menu and had the Fazoletti with braised lamb and Parmesan, which was sooo delicious. We just got back from two weeks in Italy and the pasta was perfection. My husband opted for a classic dish, which we'd seen people raving about, and had the lobster French toast. While it was delicious and the lobster was great, it didn't seem to have a unifying theme. That didn't take away from the taste, but it was missing something to tie the entire dish together. Can't wait to come back and try some of their other dishes! read more

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This is one of my favorite restaurants. I would seriously come to Rehoboth Beach just to have the lobster French toast here.

One of my new favorites in RB. Went for happy hour and tried the four appetizers as well as a lemon drop martini (two actually). Everything was superb. My favorite app was the fried oysters, which were crisp and perfect. Tuna tartare was outstanding as were the blue crab hush puppies. The scallops crudo was very good and certainly worth a try. The lemon drop martinis were strong and delicious. Not a cheap place but if you're looking for a splurge, give em a try! read more

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Drift Please See my photos. Good lighting helps to really get a 'taste-see.' And it was good. Spoke to Joe the Manager, what a great place. Beautiful decor and vibe. Sat at the bar area, had the happy hour food and drink. Great service. 3 orders of Delicately fried Cornmeal Oysters in a wonderful spicy sriracha sauce with pickled yellow peppers beautifully prepared and hot. I must confess Fried oysters are my favorite food. My dad introduced me in 1960 in a bar. Since then I've had fried oysters in many cities. (100's in 10's). Over 60 years of them. Now... My opinion. THE place to have fried oysters is Baton Rouge, La., the Seat of State government. The crispy light fry, the freshness of the local oysters, the perfect cornmeal crumb...the Great Mississippi...ahh. You know when it's right. Steamy, crispy, light, creamy, briney, with a touch of corn and crunch. So, it is with excited appointment, I and my party, announce unanimously, that these were equal to: THE FINEST PREPARED, PLATED, AND SERVED FRIED OYSTERS IN THE UNITED STATES. By Tom Wiswell.... :::::::::::::::::Wow:::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::Impressive! :::::::::::: ::::::::::::::Touché Chef::::::::::: And Beautiful plating. We also had Two orders with 27 fresh oysters total on ice and they loved the sauces! How unique. It was pasta night...so, the Cacio a Pepe looked great. The fettuccine with blue crab, with breadcrumbs in a tomato base and was delicious and filling. I had lobster French toast. The lobster was absolutely poached to perfection in a sauce that was perfect and looked incredibly appealing. I was not so impressed with the French toast and it's heaviness, but that's me. And I don't think so much leeks. And I love leeks. The dish was delicious. And the focaccia with the kelp butter was some of the best I've had in the United States as well. Some people think they make focaccia. I guess there's many kinds. (Actually, my son makes the very best. Outside of Italy.) The focaccia at DRIFT could be a blindfold test in Italy. And with good olive oil, they would never believe it came from Rehoboth Beach Delaware. It's that effing good. :::::::::::::::::Wow:::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::Impressive! :::::::::::: ::::::::::::::Touché Chef::::::::: The Martini looked perfectly prepared. The Bathrooms; immaculate, and fantastic. The Place; Cute setting in a nice area. Very Romantic buzz, with a art collectors touch, ...and the music.....best in Rehobeth! And thanks for the art Mom! And I heard you created the Otter theme. How nice. Chef Tom you're amazing Date of meal May 14,2024 read more

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The only redeeming quality is the atmosphere and location. The food was mediocre, the staff was inattentive, and it took an hour to get our appetizers. I rarely post negatively - it was that bad. read more

The cabbage wedge was mediocre at best, but the fried oysters were absolutely terrible. It was like eating a clump of fried bread crumbs. I could not even taste the tiny oysters inside. It was embarrassing to take out of toners there. read more

Cozy little gem - so perfect on a cold Saturday night! From the moment walking in the door, maitre'd was so welcoming - and Dan our server was stellar. Space is small, so don't bring a giant puffy coat! Fabulous menu -- creative twists with seasonal ingredients. Favorites at the table were the buttermilk fried oysters -- LOVED the chow chow with them -- great accent! There were two orders of the swordfish schnitzel at our table -- and both were raved about. The seared New Bedford scallops were absolutely heavenly. Focaccia was great (accompanying kelp butter was just okay). Rockfish was expertly prepared, though wish the filet was a tad larger. House speciality cocktails were super! We will be back!!! read more

Drift Seafood & Raw Bar - Tuna Tartare -- very fresh! Great texture mix! - Wine Bars Near Me - Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

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We arrived before the restaurant opened so no food only drinks but I'm sure the food is delicious. Service is excellent and attentive. Ambiance is chic and the music is a vibe. Definitely a favorite! read more

Drift Seafood & Raw Bar - HH dry Martini - Wine Bars Near Me - Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

The lobster French toast and caviar pancakes are delicious and great to share! The espresso martinis were also great!

My brother apparently read a Washington Post article a bit ago, about this place and knowing I was coming out for a guys golf weekend extravaganza, he booked a table for 4. Parking is tough Walked half a click to the car. Which was good because we ate so well we needed to walk it off! A shotgun aka long n narrow restaurant but intimate, lively and lots of oohs and aaahs as dishes were passing by. Our waiter was totally cool. Service was crisp and on point. Highlight dishes were actually the crab hush puppies eaten so fast had no time to snap a pic. Decadent...with a tomato jelly featuring spicy paprika, star anise, maybe some honey. That jelly, I sopped up with the best focaccia bread ever. My brother hogging the seaweed butter served with the bread didn't matter. I had 3 blue fin tuna shiso wraps! Tiny delectable bites they were, along with fresh salad of the day. The salad was light bouncy and refreshing. I finished with the buttermilk fried oysters and our waiter made a mistake providing us two plates, one of course complimentary. So the others got to sample. Unfortunately the spicy aioli overpowered the oysters, but it was decadent enough that had there been a 3rd offering of warm focaccia, I'd have used it to sop it all up. All washed down with a couple of ol' fashions. The halibut was presented so well I had to snap a pic. and apparently it was eyes rolling in the back of your head awesome. Worth the hype and I'm glad lil bro hooked it up so we could enjoy a fine dining experience, East coast style! read more

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The best meal I have had in Rehobeth. Beautiful decor, great service, and food a cut above. The appetizer had burrata, thinly sliced apple, other goodies in a mint dressing. Unusual combination that works together. The first entree had a lemon, pepper pasta, crab meat, pepper emulsion, blistered cherry tomatoes, and caviar. Wow. Finally, halibut over spaghetti squash, in a lemon, ginger, coconut broth. The halibut was so tender, it seemed that it had to be poached or steamed, but I'm probably wrong. Regardless, it was a perfect texture, and I have never had better. We finished with upside down cheesecake covered in raspberries with a lemon sauce for contrast. Every dish with a unique twist, and everything superb. Make your reservation well in advance. Word is out how good they are. read more

Drift Seafood & Raw Bar - Burrata salad - Wine Bars Near Me - Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

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Excellent happy hour on a Saturday. What a culinary delight. Great dirty tini's and the dressed oysters are fabulous! Loved the Blue Fin Tuna Wrap. It was an increased dining experience. Service was top notch. read more

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I was in town for the weekend with my daughter, and we decided to try this place for dinner on Friday night. We were seated in their outdoor back patio area. The vibe was good with soft music playing and fans blowing. Our waitress quickly came over and took our drink orders. The menu has several appetizers, raw seafood dishes and entrees. We opted for the Wasabi tuna wrap, fried oysters, coconut shrimp, heirloom tomato dish, and spaghetti. Everything was outstanding. Our favorite dish was the spaghetti. It had crab, corn, ricotta cheese, and breadcrumbs on it. Yum! read more

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Excellent food and service. Sat outside in the closed off patio area with great weather. Started with the TOMatillo Collin's and the Que Sera Sera cocktails. Excellent and complex especially que sera. Had to try a few local oysters. Clean and yummy. Then got tuna tartare which was great as well. Charred cabbage was flavorful. Lobster French toast was the winner. Semifredo for dessert. Need to come back for other dishes. Amazing menu. read more

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The Good: Food, service and decor are excellent. The Bad: Very small corridor space. Compact. Also... when it's crowded and most/all tables are full... you can't really have any meaningful conversation with your dinner date. You can't hear worth beans! Acoustics are bad for conversation. All voices are amplified to the point where you almost have to shout to have a conversation. read more

LOVE Drift! I can't say enough good things about the vibe, ambiance, amazing playlist, food... all in perfect harmony! Amber and Joe cover the bar with aplomb-- in fact we usually end up eating dinner at the bar. Cocktails, wine pairings, amazing food-- who could ask for more? read more

Drift Seafood & Raw Bar - Surf and turf - Wine Bars Near Me - Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

yes. yes and more yes ! we were aimlessly walking around unsure what to eat and nothing stuck out to us, until i saw the menu at drift. i was interested in the food options but drawn in by the otters on the menu. luckily i made a wise choice judging the place by its cover ! we did the prefixed menu which is $45 per person with a $15 wine paring if you'd like. i did not do the wine paring but it was 2 white wines and 1 red. all of the plates were so beautifully presented and tasted delicious ! the bartender was friendly and knowledgeable. the entire establishment is beautiful and everyone was very nice. i will be returning ! read more

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I wish I could award 6 stars because Drift is that worthy! The seafood is fresh and amazing. This is many steps above your typical beach resort restaurant fare. Prices are higher accordingly, but appropriate for a "splurge" experience. Space is limited... and there is really no room to stand and wait for tables. Reservations are definitely recommended. Drinks are excellent. We tried Waves and Currents and the Double Breasted Suit. Both cocktails were well made and exactly what we were expecting. For dinner, we started with the focaccia with kelp butter - very tasty. All of the oyster options were great and paired well. The bluefin tuna shiso wrap is very good and the bluefin tuna tartare is outstanding! We are not normally into hushpuppies, but we did order the blue crab hushpuppies on a recommendation. They are very good and not all bread like many other places. Crab flavors come through! The honeycrisp apple and burrata salad has great flavor and pairs well with all of the other seafood menu options. Our one large plate was the seared scallops and they were perfectly prepared. Service was very attentive and informative. Our waitress informed us of certain menu items that were going fast, so we could place our order quickly if we wanted them. Nice touch. I'm looking forward to our next visit! read more

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Service 5 Stars Ambience 4 Stars Food 3 Stars Service was great from start to finish. Although the restaurant was packed, we were able to find some seats at the bar and they served us right away. Shout out to our server Chase. We ordered the prix fixe meal with wine pairings. Our server nicely described each wine and its flavor profile to accompany each dish. We enjoyed the wine, but the food could have been better. There were 3 different courses and you had to choose one from each course. My sister and I got 1 of each. First course was comprised of rose oyster and beef tartare. Oysters were like ceviche, but I thought the spring onion was overpowering. The beef tartare was a little too creamy, flavors have to be balanced more. For our second course we had pasta. Again this wasn't to our taste. Our third course was comprised of cod or scallops. We both enjoyed our dishes. I really liked the scallops, but the risotto with the scallops was a little too al dente. Overall we highly enjoyed our dining experience and would return again. I'm confident the other dishes are very tasty and we would like to return again to try them all and see which dish is their best. read more

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Drift On our most recent trip to Rehoboth Beach, we tried Drift. It looked good on Yelp and had great reviews, but I was concerned with the limited number of selections on the menu. Fears unfounded; Drift was exceptional. My foodie son got a scallop crudo that was unlike anything I have ever tasted before. The scallops were whisked in buttermilk and a vinaigrette, and tossed with salmon roe and finger lime. I think this was my first blush with finger lime and the sensation was wholly unexpected. My wife and I split an apple and burrata salad; she likes to make cheese plates at home and burrata is a favorite when it's on sale. This was like what she might make at home, but the introduction of the tender-yet-firm apples, cooked enough to be jammy but crunchy, added a level of texture and sweetness that contrasted the rich creaminess of the cheese. Add in a salty slice of prosciutto, and you have a masterpiece. For dinner, our eldest son ordered gnocchi (he's the pickiest eater of our tribe). Our youngest, the foodie, ordered the swordfish schnitzel, which was a thin fillet of swordfish, breaded and fried like a nice Maillard of veal. I haven't ordered swordfish since getting tired of it back in my pescatarian days, but I was all set to try that dish until I heard about the scallops from the waiter. I can't say that they are as fresh as the crudo, as that dish featured a scallop served in its own shell, which was alive moments before they brought it to the table, but I'm thinking the dish boasts similarly fresh scallops. The wait staff ask you if medium is ok as a doneness; I wasn't anticipating the question, and don't know what medium is relative to a scallop, but as a person who eats sashimi scallop, there can't be a wrong answer save for "well done," which is a no-no as with steak. My plan was to share a bit with the missus, who was enticed by the filet. A word here about filet: it's the cut I'm least likely to buy, especially at a restaurant. But this dish? Superb. The rub was salty and sweet. It was a stunning entree, and *generous* to boot: you expect to overpay for steak at a restaurant, and like me might be loathe to order one because you make good ones at home. But this was worth it. The service was brisk and efficient, with enough guidance to help the diner make an informed decision. It's a small, dark space, perfectly cozy on a chilly fall night. Drift was in the top ten of our dining adventures for sure. read more

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My in-laws are the absolute most thoughtful humans I have met. They know I love oysters and seafood so they reserved a table for my birthday and oh wow. I hope this is consistent and stays forever. The service is above and beyond. The energy was moody and the decor is so eclectic. My MIL LOVED the women's bathroom. Cocktails Shared appetizers Lobster toast omg 1000 Oysters - raw, dressed, baked yassss all perfection. Not one single negative thing to say about Drift. Thank you for a great birthday dinner read more

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Positive - ambiance is pleasant and service is attentive Negative - hands down worst meal I have had from Rehoboth to Fenwick. Had the swordfish schnitzel last year and was disappointed but decided to give Drift another try. This time we had small plates. Heirloom tomato palenzella was overcooked tomatoes that did not appear to be heirloom. Three small scallops whose only flavor was salt was another small plate. Final disappointment was the crab cake, which had the consistency of a tuna casserole, only not as tasty. If this was your first crab cake you would never try another. read more

What an excellent meal we had, very enjoyable. Our server was super friendly and did not rush us. My chowder was the best I've had in a long time. The seared scallops were perfectly cooked, so delicious! Happy to find a new cozy delicious restaurant in Rehoboth. read more

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I reviewed this restaurant last year and gave it 4 stars. Unfortunately, it has declined. The swordfish schnitzel is still incredible. I would go back to just order this. HOWEVER, the service was incredibly slow. The wait staff were doing what they could, however it appears the kitchen was having problems. Many tables were experiencing over an hour wait time for mains. Some people left. In addition, we ordered the Spanish octopus as an appetizer which was the consistency of a volleyball. The lobster French toast was also very good. However overall, I think it will be off the list going forward. read more

Outstanding all around. Service was great, and the food was outstanding. Crab hush puppies, swordfish, and scallops were incredible.