This is by no means a stuffy restaurant but it is a serious restaurant. The kitchen of this casual bar and restaurant is putting out sophisticated food that blows away more "upscale" places nearby. Nothing came out very quickly, but everything was worth the wait. I would trust this chef with anything on the menu but we were particularly pleased with the salad, fish, sauces, and what came out of the deep fryer (crisp, light, not greasy). And the service is super helpful and friendly. Kudos to our waiter Kira whose enthusiasm (and knowledge) for the food shone through. Notable restaurant. Stay at The Tides. Eat here. read more

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All I'm gonna say is, Go! The slurpies are unlike anything I've had including in San Francisco. A PEI oyster with trout roe and a beet confit with a dopple of creamy horseradish in shell and raw. How many half dozens did I eat? Good service. Very quaint in a tiny little town but the chef knows what he's doing. read more

Now, officially my favorite restaurant on the Northern Neck! I made a reservation for Italian night before Valentine's day and it was off the rails the most romantic night in a long time. Part of it was that we finally arrived thru the blizzard with the joy that they were open! Only a few intrepid explorers had braved the elements and showed up. The waitress was perfect. Very personable, confident and knowledgeable. She was attentive when needed and left us alone which was great. The atmosphere was romantic and we had a great spot at a window watching the snow just bomb in. Only periodically did we see a snow plow go by or an idiot braving the elements. Wait, did I imply we were lunatics for showing up?? The meal was definitely worth the risk to life and limb. We started off with the calamari. It was so, so, so good. I'm usually indifferent to calamari, but hey - it was Italian night. So with a great bottle of house special wine (it rocked! take the chance) the calamari was buttery and perfectly cooked. On with my seafood kick, I had the seafood pasta dish. Clams, scallops, shrimp. All tasting fantastic with great seasoning and tomatoey acidic bite. The pasta was just perfect with it all. I'm still enjoying the meal writing this. Because we didn't know when our next meal would be. We were imagining being trapped in our truck over night. We went with the extreme calorie loading and ordered both the cannoli and a dark chocolate ice cream. They were great and we were DONE. I really can't wait to return to another Italian night at Adrift. read more

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We came into the area for work and this spot was on the list for dinner. It was amazing!! The facility is super clean and has a nice aesthetic. The lighting is perfect, not too bright but still enough light to see your food. The servers were fantastic all night long. We got a couple starters - the standard raw oysters (which honestly were some of the best I've ever had with their toppings!) and the baked oysters, and an order of their feta. Everything was great. For dinner, I got the risotto and my husband got the burger and neither one of us was disappointed, they were both top notch meals. The portions aren't huge, it was perfect for me, but if you're a heavy eater I definitely recommend more apps. All their ice cream is made in house which was awesome. Overall, top tier meal. Highly recommend. read more

Service was wonderful. Quaint ambiance. There were six of us. We had fried chicken sandwich, baked oysters, wedge salad, trout, and mussels. Sauce for oysters great, oysters ok. Wedge salad, great. Trout great, grits a bit bland. read more

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BEST burger I have ever had. And the tempura shrimp, pork, wedge salad, oysters are all incredible! And the drinks are killer! Proprietor Katy can make the best Manhattan, old fashion, and lemon twist martini ever! Unfortunately, I regularly get cravings for Adrift craft cocktails and food so we are "frequent fliers"!!!! Don't miss it read more

Adrift - Burger - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

White Stone VA. I'll wait while you get out a map. Who would have thought that this little town would have two excellent restaurants? (The other in a separate review.) Wife and I came to Adrift on the recommendation of a friend for our 42nd (gasp) wedding anny. Should I pause here while you recheck the map? This ain't Washington DC or Tidewater or even Richmond. But it is a very special place to eat a wonderful meal. We structured our plans for an anny trip around this specific restaurant, 80 minutes from home. Look at my pics. Everything pops with color. Everything pops with flavor, restrained and controlled and well balanced. Every dish has an a-ha or what-is-that or I-had-no-idea-this-ingredient-could-taste-like-that moment (in a very good way) that piques the interest and pleasantly surprises. I will not do my usual dish by dish because the menu changes. Just trust me, every dish is a delightful experience. A great anniversary meal. Worth a trip from anywhere. Service was just excellent. Many happy memories. read more

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This restaurant would compete with fine dining options in any major city. Food was absolutely delicious and server was great. Drinks are superb although can take while to arrive with single bartender. Highly recommend if you have time for a unhurried evening read more

I was so excited about trying this place after all the good reviews. The service was great, the atmosphere was very nice, the food was meh. I had the Jerk Chicken and honestly I make it a lot better. My husband had the tempura shrimp, he said it was ok but nothing special. After our meal we went to the River Market to get something tasty. Sorry, maybe we hit it on a bad night but we won't be rushing back. read more

This was, without exaggeration, the best meal I've had in years. It's a delightful spot with very thoughtful decor and ambiance. Menu rotates, so hard to recommend a specific item, but everything we had was not only cooked perfectly but brimming with unique flavor and texture combinations. I'm gluten-free and they did a great job both labeling the menu and ensuring things were safe for me. A+, 10/10, no notes. Worth a drive from Richmond or Hampton Roads. read more

What an amazing place , chef and decoram. Jordan was a great waitress offering recommendations and was always on time with drinks and courses. The food selection changes regularly and their presentation is fantastic. The cocktails and wine are very reasonably priced. I'd highly recommend Adrift when you're in the area. read more

Adrift - Phenomenal desserts. Try the port wine with it. - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

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Great ambiance, food and service. I go here regularly and it never disappoints. The food is fresh ingredients and cooked to perfection. The service is always top notch and the ambiance is cozy. I wish much continued success to these owners and their staff. They do an incredible job. read more

I love Adrift and will, no doubt, visit this restaurant the next time I am down in the Northern Neck. But I have to caution that my experience this time was disappointing. The woman answering the phone was the hostess. Her customer service skills were poor. In other words, she did not care about me at all. She was dismissive of my questions. She paid no attention to me at all. It was very hot in the restaurant and the day was not particularly warm (plus it was 7:30 pm at night). The hostess explained that the dining room was hot because most of the food was cooked in ovens which are hot. Duh. Seriously??? I really could not understand that answer and I REALLY could not understand why the restaurant would be so hot on what was a very mild day. It was definitely unacceptably uncomfortable. The food at Adrift is, of course, always the reason to return. I have had a number of great meals here. They are inventive and very good. However, tonight, my food was below expectations. I ordered the pork pave. I was told that it would have Jamaican Jerk spice on it - however, there was so much spice that it was inedible. I could not eat it. I tried to scrape it off and mix it all around so it was not so concentrated - to no avail however. It was a shame because the pork itself was quite good WHEN/IF I could get some without the Jamaican Jerk spice on it. I was definitely disappointed. I believe this recipe is not up to standards of this good restaurant. Our waitress, Megan, was great! So bubbly and talkative. So helpful! She has only worked there for 3 weeks but is definitely a bright spot for Adrift. I hope she is there the next time I am there. Bottom line on Adrift - I have had many great meals here. I will NOT write off this very good restaurant because of this night's bad experience. But, if I have another bad experience here, I will have to reconsider my reviews. read more

Omg amazing. We ordered the baked oyster appetizer and loved every but of it. The bread was nice because we could get all the butter with it. I ordered the flounder for a meal and he ordered the soft shell crab. Both were amazing and perfectly cooked. We would definitely come back here. The wines were also nice too. Our server was a little slow but that's fine. We were enjoying our company together. read more

Adrift - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

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Went in on a Friday night and although there were 4 tables empty they said Reservations only. Really?? read more

We had a really nice meal here. The oysters were excellent! My soft shell crab was amazing. Very cute place!

I visited Adrift while staying at the nearby Tides Inn this summer. Adrift is one of the more upscale, nicer restaurants in the area that sports a changing weekly menu. They have a variety of seafood on the menu, including mussels, crawfish, oysters, sea bass, and tuna. We ordered the baked oysters to start which were dunked in a buttery sauce. For entrees, I ordered the Crawfish Orzo, which was so incredibly cheesy, warm and gooey and they have a generous portion of crawfish. The setting was quaint and cozy, and our service was on point. Would definitely recommend this spot for a nice dinner if you're in the area. read more

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Wow! I thought I would try Adrift for the first time and I was not let down. One of the greatest meals I have had in the Northern Neck. I had glazed pork shoulder, pork fried rice cake with bokchoy. Great service and very nice atmosphere. I am definitely coming back. Also the menu let me know what was gluten free. read more

Adrift - Glazed port shoulder - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

Absolutely outstanding! From the menu, meal and service Adrift is by far the best restaurant we have visited in the region and tops in the central Virginia region. The presentation is impeccable; notice where the owners/Chef mastered their craft before landing in Irvington. My tuna was outstanding both in quality and presentation. Highly recommend. read more

Adrift - Blackened Tuna - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

A really sweet, beautiful spot in a tiny town. Sat at the bar and got a few snacks and drinks. All the staff had a smile on their faces, the food came out in a timely fashion, and all so delicious. I can't wait to visit again. I hate that the only picture I got was of a porcelain bird. read more

Adrift - Candle holder - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

Simply Outstanding... Eclectic, minimalist, regionally oriented decor and vibe. The focus is clearly on impeccable food and service. Would go into details, but would be wasted effort as the menu changes with season, availability, and culinary inspiration. Suffice to say that all elements: apps, salads, entrées, sides, and desserts are artfully curated and prepared. Wine and bar offerings are selected with the same attention to pairings and quality. Service was engaging and attentive without being intrusive. Price - not cheap, but you definitely get what you pay for. Place is quite small, increasing in popularity, so RSVP suggested. We'll definitely be back. CLASS ACT all around. read more

Adrift - Halibut with mushrooms - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

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Excellent food. The food and cocktails where on point. I had the fried oysters with collard greens. The oysters where light and NOT greasy. The collards had a pleasant citrus note to them. I am not a collard green fan but I loved these. My wife had the baked flounder on top of black rice. She thought it was delicious. The kids got the fish and chips. The fish was destroyed by them. We are going to miss this place when we head home. read more

Adrift - The front door. - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

Been here twice now and it's been flawless both times . Husband and wife owned and their passion for food and drinks and atmosphere really comes through . They take Local to the next level . You really feel like part of the crew even after just the first visit . So many favor layers and dimensions to each item on the menu! Staff is also very professional and friendly with read more

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I rated Adrift 5stars over two years ago when they first opened, and I want to give the Adrift team a Shout Out and Kudos for continuing to provide excellent meals during COVID - while the in dining experience was superb, take out is still awesome - thank you!! Takeout crab cakes, Ahi tuna, Shrimp and grits are a special treat... Check out the daily menu on Instagram... ------ original review ----- Devin (Chef) and his wi Kari have created an excellent restaurant White Stone, Va. The Northern Neck now has a world class destination the likes of the Inn at Little Washington and the French Laundry. read more

Adrift - 5 Course Menu - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

Thanks for getting us in and making our dining experience impeccable! Everything was perfect.

Birthday dinner at Adrift was fantastic. We got some great recommendations from the staff and loved our wine, appetizers, and entrees. The Thai mussels appetizer was delightful. The lemongrass broth was light yet rich and delicious. We enjoyed that it wasn't trying to be spicy like most Thai themed broths and soups. My spicy fried rabbit over a waffle was solid. Rabbit was rich and perfectly fried, but a real bear to cut up. Lots of connective tissues to tediously work around. I just feel fried chicken or duck would have a much flavor:effort ratio. The real star of the night was her steak. The meat was soooo tender and those maitake mushrooms were phenomenal. Best dish we've had in a while. The night was capped with a special birthday slice of apple cake ala mode, which was stellar. My one critique was the number of table checks by the staff. At the end of the night we were one of the last few tables and there were several staffers still working; all of which felt the need to check-in on us every 2-3 mins. It got annoying after a while and interfered with our conversation and dining experience. read more

Adrift - Strip steak with maitake mushrooms - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

Food is excellent--perfect in favor and appealing when served--As for service --always 100% on spot --very friendly --knows the menu and also the wines ---it is a small but cozy room --very relaxing and warm --a wonderful experience--having been several time --always a pleasant time --- read more

Great dining experience! If you're staying in the Irvington area, you have to try out this spot!

I want to leave a 3 just as much as I want to leave a 5... The staff was super friendly. They kept our drinks full and were very personable. We also didn't have a reservation on a busy Sunday night during Labor Day weekend and they accommodated us. The place is nicely decorated and has a great vibe. A few of my friends who are also in town spoke highly of the place so I definitely wanted to give it a try! The downside is that the service let me down a bit. When we were seated, we ordered the bread and butter appetizer. It took nearly 40 minutes for that to hit our table. (I was hungry so it actually felt like hours.) To me, the time to get bread to the table was unacceptable. Further, I noticed that TWO tables who arrived after us had bread on their tables. So that was quite frustrating. I will add that once the bread finally arrived, it was some of the best bread and butter that I've ever tasted. So that was nice. For entrée, I went with the chicken sandwich and my gf went with the arugula salad. Both were very tasty. The chicken sandwich has a light breading and comes with some thin, light chips that were also very good. There is only 1 restroom but it is super clean and smells very nice. They have a floor standing fan in there to circulate air and a candle. A very nice touch. Based on my experience tonight, if it weren't for how nice the staff was, I would be forced to give this place a 2 or 3. I say give it a try and hopefully your wait isn't as long as ours was. If its not, you'll love it. read more

Adrift - Chicken Sandwich with no Pimento or House Sauce. Comes with Chips. Very Tasty. - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

This dinner was absolutely fantastic! The raw oysters were next level, the burrata was exceptional, the soft shell crabs were superb, and the service was also excellent! Adrift is a must visit for dinner! read more

I enjoyed the shrimp and grits as well as the craft beer selection. My wife could not find an entree that appealed to her so she went the salad and appetizer route. Service from Jordan was first class and the restaurant was cozy and welcoming. Very well run operation with a top notch staff in every role. My only concern is that the menu is quite avant garde with an absence of choices for a customer less willing to step outside their comfort zone. A basic pasta, chicken, salmon, or beef dish for the less adventurous would be helpful. The menu turns over frequently so we will try again in a couple of months since everything else is so nice. read more

We had been wanting to try this place for a while and finally booked it on a recent visit to the Tides Inn. It was delicious and super charming! This is a great asset to the area. Delicious cocktails and food, and great service. One of the best meals we've had in the Northern Neck and we've been visiting for over 15 years! read more

I really could eat here every week. The food is local plus (they recently featured tinned seafood from Portugal which changed my view of canned food generally). The menu changes enough to keep it interesting while featuring regular fan favorites (fried chicken sandwich). The chef is an excellent saucier, so what might seem like basic food gets seriously elevated. The bar is also top notch with creative cocktails that they change up regularly. Beyond all that it has a fun, relaxed atmosphere. read more

Adrift - Whole mackerel! - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

I made a reservation on May 17th for a dinner for 4 guests and received email confirmation of that reservation. I received a confirmation of the reservation today May 31 (14 days later). Then at 4:37 pm I received this message: Reservation cancelled     Your reservation has been cancelled. If you'd like to book a new time, please visit our reservations page.     Friday, June 2, 2023, 6:30 PM Party of 4 for James Russell Confirmation #: DJ795ZWR Reservation × 4 No explanation, no sorry, just cancelled! I called as soon as I read the email and spoke to a lady who told me there was a special event taking place and they were closing the restaurant and canceling my reservation. I protested and the manager Katie came on to tell me they "discovered my reservation to day" and I made my reservation just last week. She went on to say whoever took the reservation had a miscue and the event was already booked. I hung up checked my email and confirmed I made my reservation on the 17th of May and received a confirmation this morning the 31st of May at 10:19 am. So I called back to speak again with Katie. She came on the phone totally unapologetic and said she understood I wanted to fuss but they were closed Friday night for a special event. She then said what could she offer to help? Now what can you do to rectify this type of screw up ? I responded she could do nothing this had ruined a farewell dinner for two very good friends. To which she responded "Have a nice summer" Damn poor business Damn poor attitude I do not recommend this restaurant because you can't depend on the reservation and make plans around the reservation! read more

The food that Devin and staff serve up at Adrift is always something to look forward to, and is of a caliber that this foodie believes would put them in Washingtonian's Top 50 Restaurants if they came down this far. But this review is not about the scrumptious presentations from the kitchen that I could go on and on about, but rather the bar at Adrift that deserves its own separate aclaim. Katie, Devin's partner and mixologist extraordinaire (bartender doesn't quite do her creations justice), is mixing up concoctions nightly that frankly are simply mind-blowing. How else to explain her twist on a forgotten carribean drink that she is currently featuring (I always look forward to her menu drink rotations), where she introduces a coffee ice cube to provide a depth to the cocktail that the drink masters before her had missed, elevating this cocktail to a classic. This skill shines in countless other creations as well, that I have watched her craft where building, stirring when called for, balance, finish, and appearance all the way down to the correct stemware takes precedence over simply "banging them out." Speaking for this barfly who appreciates true craftmanship, I would argue that Katie and her little but mighty bar is an oasis for those traveling to or residing in the Northern Neck. Bravo! read more

I had the soft shell crab dish and my husband had the pork chop dish and both were amazing it was a wonderful experience we sat at the bar and the staff were great. read more

Adrift - Soft Shell Crab Dish - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

We were very disappointed. First, as we sat down the server handed my husband a menu. When I asked for a menu I was told they usually only give one menu per couple. Eventually, I was reluctantly handed my own menu. The menu and wine list is very limited. No Pinot Grigio. The shrimp bisque is not bisque (no cream) and contains no shrimp. It is a clear broth with zero shrimp, only a very faint taste of a shrimp. The fried chicken wings have way more panko bread crumbs than meat. I left hungry. We won't be returning. read more

This is a delightful place. He food is imaginative and excellent- I recently ordered the carrot soup and it was among the best soup/appetizer I've ever had. The cocktails are delicious, and lovely. The service is impeccable. Whether a special event, business meeting or casual dinner- this is becoming my favorite place in the Northern Neck. read more

Great experience at Adrift. I chose the Hoisin Chicken and enjoyed contrast of flavors and textures from the slightly spicy hoisin sauce with the creamy polenta and peanut crunch. read more

Adrift - Hoisin glazed chicken, creamy polenta, summer vegetables with watermelon radishes - Bars Near Me - White Stone, Virginia

The service was great as soon as we came into the restaurant and it never stopped. The food was awesome and we will absolutely go back. Loved the entrees and the wine & beer list was very full. Thank you to Holly. read more