We came early and decided to sit at the bar for our dinner instead of waiting the forty minutes as offered by the hostess. This turned out to be a good choice. We had decent service and a bit of entertainment from one of the server bartenders. They were quite busy. It was more like a 3 1/2-star yelp experience. Their menu has a number of options, and I particularly liked the section offering two sizes of their entrees (petite and regular). Plus their meals are pretty reasonably priced, as well. The petite sizes were just right for us. My husband had their beef pot roast with mashed potatoes. He chose fried green tomatoes for his side. He said the meat and the brown gravy were both quite tasty. I had their fried shrimp with fried green tomatoes and sweet potato casserole. I think his meal was better than mine. My shrimp were small; the tomatoes were good, but the sweet potato casserole was topped with way too much brown sugar. I'd still recommend you try this restaurant when on island. You'll be satisfied with the food and the service. Comparatively, it's one of the better choices. read more

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Small place but great service. I ordered the fried catfish sandwich and it was SO good. I came with a party of 6 on a Wednesday event around 5:30 and we were seated in about 15 min. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Unfortunately, we were told by our waitress that the Driftwood Bistro would be closing for good on September 21. Sad! Make sure you check this place out when you can read more

The vegetable pasta with shrimp was simply delicious. The veggies and shrimp were so fresh! The portion was large enough for two people, but a fraction of the price of what we would pay in Charleston. Our waiter, Greg, was extremely kind, helpful and funny. A scenic restaurant close to the water's edge. One of the best places to dine when visiting Jekyll Island. read more

Driftwood Bistro - Cafes Near Me - Island, Georgia

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They don't take reservations, (we only found one restaurant that does take reservations on island) so you have to plan your arrival accordingly. We knew that they opened at 5:00 pm so we arrived at 5:20 pm and the parking lot was already full, and we had to find space in the complex and walk back to the restaurant. The hostess told us it would be a 40-minute wait for a table. My wife spotted two seats open at the bar and the hostess escorted us to the bar with menus. Friendly twosome at the bar serving patrons and we placed our drink orders as we looked over the menu. They offer Petite and Regular sized entrees, so I went with the petite Pot Roast with a side of fried green tomatoes. The meals are reasonably priced as well. The petite size was just right for me as I was still full from our lunch. The pot roast meat and the brown gravy were both very tasty and I did like the two fried green tomato slices that were my side dish. read more

Driftwood Bistro - Bar - Cafes Near Me - Island, Georgia

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I don't know that I can say enough good things about this restaurant! I brought my family here while they were visiting for the weekend and we had a wonderful experience. They are only open for dinner and people line up inside ahead of opening, so I would recommend getting there early! We got there about 20 minutes before opening and we're probably 8th-10th in line. Once 5pm hits they get people seated as quickly as they can without overwhelming the kitchen and servers. The inside is super cute and cozy and the servers are very fast and attentive. I had the pot roast and it was absolutely delicious. For my side I wanted to try the fried green tomatoes as I've never had them before--and they were amazing! I had a hard time choosing just one meal as so many of the options looked amazing. Everyone in the party enjoyed their meal and we were in and out very quickly, especially considering how busy they were. I honestly am already looking forward to going back again soon! read more

Driftwood Bistro - Pot Roast (GF)* (regular size) - Cafes Near Me - Island, Georgia

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The picture below is me at the end of the meal. Safe to say the food is phenomenal. This was the best southern food I've ever had, and I've lived in the south my entire life. It seems overpriced, but as soon as you try it you'll realize they need to make it even more expensive. Try the squash casserole and the bread pudding. You won't regret it. read more

Driftwood Bistro - Cafes Near Me - Island, Georgia

We opted for first available which put us at the bar for dinner. Service was exceptional - everyone was polite, jovial, and having fun (bartender, servers, food runners, hosts/greeters). This was our first time visiting Jekyll Island and we had some help from coworkers on where to dine. Driftwood Bistro was repeatedly selected as a 'must eat.' We now know why. The food was delicious. We did not put a single mouthful in that we did not enjoy. We have already decided to return to the island later in the summer (this trip was rainy everyday) and Driftwood Bistro will be on our must eat list every time we return! read more

Driftwood Bistro - Fried Okra, Shrimp/Grits, Shrimp Creole, Blackeyed Peas, Sweet Potato Souffle, Lynn's Squash, Collard Greens, Harvard Beets, Mac&Cheese - Cafes Near Me - Island, Georgia

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I highly recommend this restaurant when visiting the island. The food was excellent and these are the best cheese grits I have ever had. The service was top notch, friendly, professional, quick and made me feel at home. The restaurant is not large, great for singles, couples or groups. Relaxed and cozy atmosphere. I will be back again. read more

Driftwood Bistro - Key lime pie - Cafes Near Me - Island, Georgia

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It's a good place to go for dinner. Sat at the bar Ashley and Greg are working the bar. Service was great food was excellent. The shrimp and cheese grits are the best I've ever had bar none!!!! The Peach cobbler is so good it will make ya chase cars . Ya have to have the peach cobbler!! read more

Driftwood Bistro - Hot peach cobbler - Cafes Near Me - Island, Georgia

Very rude staff. Terrible service. Location location location. I guess they don't have to provide good service since they're in a nice spot. Please don't tip well if you go here. They need some motivation to not be jerks. read more

After reading other reviews we arrived before 5pm (they're opening time) to secure a table because rumor was they get slammed fast. There is a small seating area to wait in and we were seated just after 5. We started with the southern sampling platter, which comprised of two fried green potatoes, 6-7 fried mushroom and a handful of full okra. It was okay. The batter just feel off the vegetables which was disappointing. I had the grilled chicken and sides and the chicken was super tender and delicious. The macaroni tasted like stouffers, not complaining and the green beans were steamed, so some pieces were cold. The other person in my party got the side platter and wasn't overly thrilled with any of their sides. Dessert was good, bread pudding and peach cobbler, but small servings for the price. Was it good? Yes, some bits were far better than the others. Will we go back? Probably not. Unfortunately, there isn't a ton of options on the island for dinner that are opened past 7, so we may wind up here again next year, but for now I'd say we won't be back. read more

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Great dinner spot! Restaurant was busy, but staff worked quickly & got our food out quickly! Clean nice restaurant! Fried okra was the best! read more

Driftwood Bistro - Fried Okra - Cafes Near Me - Island, Georgia

I'm staying on the island, for a conference I'm presenting at, and wanted a bite to eat at the restaurant in the same area as the villa I'm sleeping in. I arrived at 4:10 only to notice they didn't open until 5:00. I thought about leaving but waited, I kept seeing people go in so I called, I was assured they were not open yet. But what they failed to tell me was there is a waiting area inside and a crowd of people had already gotten their name on the list. It's okay, because since I was alone they sat me at the bar (when it was my turn). I ordered the veggie pasta in the garlic cream sauce with grilled shrimp, add some green olives, the briny flavor is so good. Besides having to add salt and pepper to taste it was really good!! The side salad was average, the tomatoes and cucumbers were sliced large and chunky, more for dipping than munching. The garlic bread had a nice crisp to it and was not too greasy. Finally, the clairvoyant barman convinced me to try the bread pudding and I'm not even mad about it! The perfect size (not too big, not too small) pudding, was custardy, a little smoky, and the perfect set. It sliced through like a custard should! I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner but do plan on a wait. I went on a Tuesday night and it was packed at 5:00. The food is worth it, fresh, original, and fabulous! read more

I was soo hoping to give this place a 5 star review. We stayed at the resort where the restaurant is located and ate there one night. The food was good but service was incredibly terrible! (Pam) A couple of nights later we wanted to order desserts to go to eat in our room, which was literally steps from the restaurant. The kid at the hostess stand told me I couldn't get desserts to go, so I asked if I could be seated, order my desserts and then get a box to go. He said I wasn't allowed to do that either. I'm not sure of the difference in the two scenarios since I am purchasing from the establishment in both... Oh well, now we know not to go back purely based on service alone.. read more

Excellent food and service! Mark, our waiter was quick and professional. I had blackened Georgia shrimp with collard greens and fried green tomatoes. They all were outstanding. My wife stuffed collard greens, squash casserole & sweet potato casserole. She wasn't crazy about the sweet potatoes but everything else was outstanding. read more

Driftwood Bistro - Cafes Near Me - Island, Georgia

We hadn't been here for a couple of years, first because of covid and then because it's so hard to get in, because it's always crowded and they don't take reservations. That puts a lot of stress on the diners. So we finally went back. Prices have increased, but honestly, they were way underpriced before. Food is pretty much the same as always. I'm removing a star because they won't provide butter for the bread. Just margarine. That's completely unacceptable for a quality restaurant. In fact, I won't be going back. But it's a small thing, so I still give them 4 stars. read more

This place has a waiting line before it opens. But worth the wait. I had stuffed flounder with fried oaks and cheesy grits it was very good. My husband had wild Georgia cheeses and grits and it was even better! We split the peach cobbler for dessert and I wished we would have ordered too. We were full but so glad we overindulged for the dessert. read more

Atmosphere was family friendly but the food rivaled any Schwank club in the area. Better than most. The review comparing this place to a hojo had to be written by a bed wetting douche. GREAT FOOD read more

Our food was great. Our server very good. Snd the ambience terrific. 35 minute wait on a Saturday night but well worth it. Adult meals great. Vegan meal great. Kids meals great no too For dessert. Go. read more

If this place were located on St Simon's or in Brunswick, I doubt it would succeed. But the lackluster food is a standout on Jekyll Island where options are very limited and low country food is hard to find. We heard we had to arrive at 430 to get in, so we did. It was a mad rush at 5 and we were admitted and the next group were put on an hour wait. If we'd waited an hour for that food, we would've been pissed. The shrimp and grits lacked flavor, the flounder was overcooked and the crab stuffing wasn't good. The pot roast was very bland as well. The squash casserole and mashed potatoes were decent, as were the cocktails. The desserts on the other hand- bread pudding and peach cobbler- were very good. Maybe focus on that and the booze? read more

We had high hopes based on the reviews, wow what a disappointment. We were promptly sat by the hostess and then waited about 15 minutes before greeted. Our serve walked up, said sorry about the wait - give me drinks and food orders. Her total demeanor was rude and abrupt. We tried to hang in there but every interaction was similar or worse. Then our food arrived, my food was room temperature and very salty. My husband's was hot but a lot of salt too. We ate what we could and called it a night. No one came by to ask about the food nor did we have any interactions with our server outside of processing the check and then left. One of the worst meals we have had out...I would go somewhere else and wish someone had told us the same too. TLDR: terrible service and food - go elsewhere. read more

Jekyll Island is small-ish and places that take reservations can be booked up or there are some awful options that can be packed. Driftwood Bistro doesn't take reservations, but it's worth waiting. This place reminds me very much of one of Atlanta's best and most well-known restaurants, Mary Mac's Tea Room, not the ambiance, but the menu. It's Southern comfort food at its best. Being vegetarians, we were impressed with the squash casserole, mac & cheese, creamed corn and steamed broccoli with cheese sauce, all as flawless as those at Mary Mac's. The sweet tea, like the sweet tea at Mary Mac's, was clearly homemade with no sickly aftertaste. This is likely the best eating spot on the island. read more

This food has to be some of the best on the island. When we came in, we were quickly greeted. They had a big crowd so we had to wait for 10 minutes. It gave me time to look over the menu, which isn't anything complex but rather straightforward seafood plus a few other staples. I like how it was clearly labeled if it was gluten free or vegetarian. They have a lot of side options! The soup is delicious. I got the cup. Rich and hearty. I would have licked the cup if I was alone. I would order a bowl on my next visit! I ordered the full plate of grilled shrimp with the sweet potato souffle and the broccoli and cheese. Everything was really good. My sweet potato cup was exactly what I wanted. Yum yum yum. We saved room for dessert and split the peach cobbler ala mode. Seriously fantastic. Served warm. The dessert that I would order over and over Service from everyone was consistent and friendly. read more

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Acceptable, not recommended. The Why. We thought we give this place a try based on Yelp ratings. Generally, extant ratings are either ones, threes, or fives with customer narratives asserting they either hated it, it was just ok, or they loved it, not surprisingly. This piqued our curiosity, and we thought we'd investigate. The What We ordered the Pot Roast with Cabbage as a side and the Stuffed Flounder with Sweet Potato Souffle and Cole Slaw as sides. Our order appeared within 5-minutes -- a dead giveaway that our meals were cooked earlier and reheated in a microwave. For example, the Cabbage bowl was hot to the touch. The cooks took a slab of butter, placed it in the bowl, and threw it in the microwave. The gravy over the Pot Roast was either poured from a can or dipped from a pot where it was blended earlier in the day. It was served with a varying level of heat -- again -- the microwave is the suspectThe Pot Roast was loaded with salt. The cream sauce for the Stuffed Flounder was of uneven heat and not of a thorough blend. The stuffed flounder dish presents as slices with a scoop of crab meat on top smothered in sauce. The crab meat didn't display a crust, and if there, it wasn't visible. The sauce had a lot of lemon in it and was quite different from sauces typically served with stuffed flounder. As soon as it was brought to the table, my wife said, "well, that's not what I expected." The Outcomes Our meals could be described as comfort food akin to the Mac N' Cheese experience. It could be called retirement home like-food except for the fact that a retirement home would not offer the range of entrees evident from the menu. We took a look around after our meal. * Most of the customers were seniors on the higher end of the age scale. One might infer they were retirees (like us); *The restaurant is embedded in a condo retirement community with other new housing nearby and has a captive customer base, we presume, because of proximity. In this context, it would make sense entrees would be cooked earlier in the day, reheated in a microwave, and served quickly. *Prices are mid-range and in line with other indicia I've described here.The food here is, well, perfectly acceptable. There's nothing wrong with it per se. Think of it as leftovers you might have at home, or a combination of foodstuffs you might heat up quickly should friends or relatives stop by your house at the last minute around dinnertime. Or, perhaps, think of a circumstance where you come in from a long day out fishing or at the beach, are famished and, this place just might hit the spot for you. However, if you're looking for a fresh-cooked inspirational meal out on the town, this place isn't the place to go. read more

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This started as a one star review. We've been here several times over the years. There's some issue with getting a table every time but we still go back because my father in law likes the place. This year he insisted we go again so we canceled reservations elsewhere and he went an hour ahead of time to get a table because they don't take reservations. They told him it would be 7:15 before a table was available. He sat in the lobby waiting and the rest of us came along to arrive just before 7:15. They then informed us that they had given our table away because it had been ready at 7 but he hadn't come forward with his full party. He was sitting there the whole time and no one spoke with him. The host was just "too bad, that table is gone so we can just put your name at the back of the line." I get that working in service is tough and it sucks dealing with a busy dinner without reservations but the lack of sympathy or attempt to be accommodating definitely leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Had they been "So sorry, we just sat someone and will get you in as quickly as possible " it would have been completely hunky dory. But it was anything but that. They made their frustration felt and amplified ours. In the end, once they quit insisting we were their last priority it didn't take that much longer to seat us. As I said earlier, this started as a one star review because of that interaction but the service once we got to the table was exceptional. The server was so friendly and personable that it made dining a pleasure. The food was good and the rest of the night was lovely. Good southern comfort food and reasonable prices. read more

Fantastic service and some decent food. We came in last night for dinner and were pleased we did. We were promptly greeted and taken to the table in Clay's Corner. The restaurant was nicely decorated with driftwood art and coordinated but different table cloths. It had a very comfortable and welcoming feel. Our server, Kevin, came over and greeted us and took our order. I ordered the Fried Southern Sampler and the Chicken Tenderloin Platter, blackened, with squash casserole and steamed broccoli and cheese. The Fried Southern Sampler consisted of 2 fried green tomatoes, a heap of fried mushrooms and a heap of fried okra all served with delicious ranch and chipotle ranch dipping sauces. The fried green tomatoes were perfectly cooked but lacked any real seasoning. The fried mushrooms were delicious and the fried okra was great. The okra was fried whole but butterflies open so the inside was fried as well and you didn't have any slimy film. It was great. My Chicken Tenderloin Platter was good. The chicken was moist and had a nice Cajun season coating. The broccoli and cheese was fine. But the squash casserole....damn I wish I would have gotten some go. It was delicious. Cheesy, creamy...squashy? It was unbelievably good! I finished dinner off with the peach cobbler a la mode. It was ok. There was a bit too much liquid and it was very runny, but it tasted good. All in all a great dinner experience here at the Driftwood Bistro. Lastly, the service received from our server Kevin was great and timely. And the owner walked around to every table to greet his patrons and ensure that all was going well with their meal. read more

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The first time I ate here, I was blown away. The last two times I've eaten here if it's just been so so. Not sure what has changed but the food is def not as good. Service is always good. read more

Really good food! Jeff is a gem! He was our server and made our day! I would definitely go there, again!

Service was a little different this time not as attentive as it usually is, they messed up our order, but what we had was ok. Drink was fantastic! read more

Got the wild Georgia shrimp grilled with fried green tomatoes and collard greens which were all exceptional. Also got the stuffed flounder which was excellent-however the temperature was cool. Not lukewarm, cool. So disappointed but the taste was spot on. Also excellent was the squash casserole which was great, and the sweet potato soufflé which was a bit too sweet. The service was great despite being incredibly busy-the servers all work hard and appear to work as a team. The place has some nice seating by the window. Get there early, folks were already in line a half hour before they opened. I would go back. read more

Very good, rich Southern food. If you want a big heavy meal after a day burning calories all over the island, this is an option open much later than Love Shack (who is just as tasty). BUT Driftwood Bistro was pretty horrible about takeout options for those of us who didn't want to risk COVID death by mingling in the dining room in Feb/March 2021! Considering the number of retired seniors who live on the island, this was a foolish move! Apparently, they just plain stopped offering takeout as an option in Feb 2021, so I got to try them (via takeout) only once, and then wasted a TON of my time being led on by the rude waitstaff who thought it was a joke to keep telling me to call back another day. First I was told takeout happens until 6pm, and I'd called past 6pm. Fair enough. Called back the next day and was told takeout runs until 7pm. Okay, fine with me. When I asked to order takeout, I was told I could not. I asked the waitress what time it was? "5:30pm..." and then silence. No explanation, no ownership of her nonsensical replies, no apology. Dead silent. Called at least 4 other times through 4 weeks on the island, called into late March, it was the same BS every time. Completely ignorant rude staff, sometimes hung up on, sometimes just "no we're not doing it today," with no answer as to how or when takeout would be happening but insisting it would. It never did. They just repeatedly lied. Driftwood Bistro's food is as good as, or not even as good as tons of options in Brunswick (Sistas is 10 stars!) or even on SSI. Driftwood Bistro has a horrible attitude and terrible customer service. All their food is monochrome tan color. read more

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Food was good . I had shrimp and grits, squash casserole. Wife had blackened shrimp and steamed cabbage. Service was great!! Not my first time and won't be my last. read more

Love Driftwood, will other restaurants gouge you on price, Driftwood lets a family eat and still order dessert! The southern veggies to die for read more

I have very mixed feelings about my dinner. My entree--stuffed flounder--is the worst I've ever had in my life. The flounder is flavorless, watery and almost a bit cold for some reason. Yet, my husband said his entree is pretty good--he had pork tenderloin. I like our appetizer and all the sides. Their fried okra is one of a kind--best I've ever had in the decade of living in the South. But seriously, I don't understand how the stuffed flounder could be that bad. Staff are very friendly and the overall atmosphere is great too. Maybe my flounder is just bad luck? read more

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Best restaurant on the island. A hidden gem. I was skeptic based on looks but so glad we gave it a shot. Our waiter, Kevin, was attentive and kind. My husband and I went for dinner. He had the daily special which was fried fish (assuming catfish), fries, and macaroni. He was a big fan of all three. I had the shrimp platter with a side of collard greens and grits and my oh my it was such a delicious meal. Best grits I have ever had. We both had a beer and we had the fired mushrooms as an appetizer. We walked away satisfied with the food and the total charge on our bill. Highly recommend this place. read more

Quite busy but we'll worth the wait. Food was phenomenal! And the manager and staff were super pleasant for being as busy as they were. Drinks we great too. read more

Driftwood Bistro - Fried shrimp and a island breeze Marti Georgia Wild Shrimp (GF)* - Cafes Near Me - Island, Georgia

The food was nothing special to be honest. The shrimp were good but the grits lacked flavor even with the melted pepper jack cheese on top. The gravy on the pork is just like a cheap brown gravy packet. No flavor to the mashed potatoes. Fried bread was a joke. It was hard as a rock and we had to pay $2 per basket even though they bring you more bread with your meal. The fried okra had a very greasy cornmeal batter with no seasonings or salt. I would suggest frying them whole instead of smashing them to a pulp. The drinks and squash casserole were the ONLY things that saved this meal. The drinks are a generous pour and the squash casserole was amazing!!! read more

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The food was great. A little crowded, but the wait was not long at all. Not a heavily touristy spot, either.

Loved our dinner tonight at the Driftwood Bistro. We both had shrimp and grits and we shared the bourbon peach cobbler. The shrimp and grits is the best we have ever had and the peach cobbler was amazing. Mark was an excellent server. read more

Driftwood Bistro - Bourbon Peach Cobbler - Cafes Near Me - Island, Georgia

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I visited Jekyll for my first time over this past week. I tried a number of the island staples and by far and away was impressed with Driftwood. It was closed Sunday, otherwise I would have likely tried it the first night there, and most definitely would have been back for a second go. I tried a bowl of their Crab Bisque and it was for sure one of the best I've ever had. This shouldn't be that much of a surprise since I think the dish is best known to be from the Savannah, Jekyll/St Simone, Charleston areas. But I must say it may be the best I have had. The owner Dan explained that they use heavy cream, and lots of blue crab meat to make it supreme. While here we had the Shrimp Cake and the Cuban Sandwich. Both were of gourmet quality at reasonable family restaurant pricing. I was not drinking on this day, but noted the very reasonable prices for wines by the bottle, draft craft beer, and mixed drinks. This is for a sure a place you could actually afford to take your extended family out to without breaking the bank while still enjoying quality fare and drink. The service by Mark was great. I had four refills of my Mr. Pibb and he came around timely as needed. The restaurant utilized a food runner to ensure food came out promptly once the order was complete for service. I enjoyed their promo toothpick pack on the way out, and will more certainly recommend this place to anyone in this area going forward. read more