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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We attended a Blue Angels watch event on Saturday, July 12. It was our first time at Drift. The buffet offered something for everyone- chicken, salmon, beef, and lamb. The staff was at the top of their game. Water glasses were never more than half empty at all times. A special shout out to Gerard at the outdoor bar. Order a spicy margarita from him...the best! We wished that a charcuterie board or crudités was offered for healthy snacks to nibble on while watching the air show. Based on our experience on Saturday, we plan to return soon for dinner. read more

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

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

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

Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere. Couldn't say enough good things about Drift. read more

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My experience here was absolutely perfect. I came at 5:30pm on Thursday night for dinner. I sat on the balcony overlooking the pier. The views are gorgeous! (Bring a sweater, it's a little breezy!) I tried a drink I cannot pronounce. (It starts with an R and has sweet vermouth, Campari, and sparkling wine in it). I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was very aperol spritz-like, so it was perfect for the occasion. I wasn't super hungry, so I ordered the peach burrata salad with focaccia. When it came out, it didn't look like much, but the FLAVOR!!! It was absolutely delicious. I believe there was truffle in there as well. Ir was sweet, creamy, peppery from the arugula, sweet from the peaches, and umami from the truffle. I absolutely LOVE this dish. The waitress (who was the absolute sweetest by the way) informed me there is a seasonal menu. I didn't want to miss trying the charred watermelon salad with tomatoes, feta, mint, and truffle honey vinaigrette, so I got that for dessert. I couldn't stop eating it. It looked gorgeous and tasted like a summer garden. Sweet, herbaceous, salty...a dream. I honestly liked the burrata better, but this was a very close second. Let's talk music. I was there alone, so I was actually listening to the music. They had a great mix! I'm talking Lord Huron, Danielle Ponder, New Order, Fleetwood Mac, Florence and the Machine... I'd give this particular experience 8/5. I hope next time can hold up to this experience. read more

The experience was wonderful. Just the views alone, set the move for dinner and looking out into the water and watching the sunset was breathtaking. The waiter was very attentive. The Seabass was my favorite thing I ate. Eating it with the sweet potatoes, gave it a sweeter taste and I loved it. I was not a fan of the greens. I'm from southern Louisiana and we cook our greens completely different. They had a taste to them. And don't let me forget the tuna was perfect. Definitely a 10 out of 10. read more

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My new Favorite place on Pensacola Beach! I've been twice now and the food is amazing... the Service is Excellent (Thanks Pip and Erin!) and the Ambiance is perfect... can't wait to visit again.. you MUST try the Baked Brie! The bread pudding almost sent me to Jesus it was so good! read more

DRIFT - Table with a view! - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

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

Great service and amazing food! The restaurant was beautiful! Everything was so tasty. I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu. Not pictured is the lobster bisque which was also really good! read more

DRIFT - Coconut citrus sea bass - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

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The food was excellent, with the order promptly taken then served by Codi with a smile and very personable demeanor . Sitting at a beach bar on a clear day with good food, people and no worries.........couldn't be better. read more

Amazing service (Thanks, Sara!! - phenomenal recommendations) everything was perfect. Great atmosphere and the dining room was beautiful! Will be back! read more

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Had dinner with my family to celebrate our official move to PCola. The view was amazing and service was right on par. We all had the surf and turf and we were not disappointed. The Godiva martini was delicious as well. Love that there is fine dining with a dressy casual flair in the area. We will be back! read more

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We dined here for my birthday. It was our first visit here despite being locals. Amazing sunset views! Service was attentive without being overbearing. Food was delicious. Cocktails were good. Overall, a wonderful experience, and we will likely be back. Only two things to note: Although my hubby mentioned it was my birthday when making the reservation, there was no acknowledgment of it by staff. At other places we've been for a special occasion, the staff has always acknowledged it with a complimentary dessert or other special gesture. Nothing of the sort was offered here... Additionally, we each ordered a glass of house wine with our entree and were (apparently) served a premium wine and (over)charged almost double for it ($13/glass vs. $7/glass). We did not realize it until the check came. We opted not to say anything because the wine was good and we enjoyed it, but it was still a little annoying because it wasn't what we ordered and expected to pay. At that price per glass, we may have just opted to splurge for a nice bottle of wine. read more

Please get the fans working on the outside balcony. It's hot and they're terribly needed. Put the blades back in. Everyone is sweating. -a local read more

DRIFT - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

We are from New Orleans and we know good food. This place is probably one of our favorite places we have tried in the country. It's delicious. Everything we got was cooked perfectly. The seared tuna, Rockefeller oysters, and yellowfin fish was amazing. We got the chef special surf and turf, and the coconut sea bass was so good. The counter sea bass is one of my favorite dishes I have ever tried. We tried every Martini on the menu. All were great. The lavender lemonade was AMAZING. 10/10 for this place. The service, atmosphere, and food was amazing. We will always come back to this place. read more

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The food was delicious and our server was attentive and amazing , The restaurant view is not to be missed. Try the burrata

To start, the vibes, views, and service at Drift were good. However, the food was not on the same level. The food was not terrible, but it did not live up to the expectations. We started with the Seared Tuna and Mussels. Tuna was good and Mussels had a good flavor, but 3 of the Mussels were not opened when served. I've always been told that this means they were already dead when cooked, so that was disappointing. We had the Sea Bass and the Ribeye as entrees. Sea Bass was good, but not to die for. The ribeye was a disappointment. Very tough cut of meat and not cooked to the preferred temperature. Not really one to complain, but for $50 I'd expect a prime cut of meat cooked appropriately. Overall, good views, good service, but 6/10 on the overall food quality. read more

Amazing view, service, food, and brunch. We will be back! What a great way to spend the day before going to the beach. read more

DRIFT - Patio - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

Trinity was amazing! Very good at timing when she would come back, helping with recommendations and overall just enhancing the experience! Such a sweet girl. Food was fantastic, obviously the chef, Louis, cares deeply about what he presents, which shows through the food. Absolutely delicious. Ambiance was lovely, and outside patio had a great view and plenty of space! Lastly, the drink menu was outstanding. Spicy marg and espresso old fashioned anyday! The reef sauv blanc was lovely too!Would recommend anyone to go! read more

We went for the first time to celebrate our anniversary. My wife got broiled scallops which were excellent but the rice pilaf was not. And they didn't include the daily vegetable the menu said came with all seafood entrees. I had the veal chop with garlic potatoes and asparagus. It was excellent. We also ordered champagne and a side of Brussels, more on that below. The pluses: Very good food Great service Beautiful gulf views. There were some negatives: We ordered a side dish of roasted Brussels. The first batch were not cooked through. They apologized and said they would get us a second batch. They came after we had finished eating. They were better but still not very good, likely because they were too large. I have an issue with paying $10 for a side that comes after you are finished eating. They should have offered to just take it off the check. read more

Our first trip to P'cola in January and we're walking down the beach and popped in for drinks and apps. Very pleasantly surprised! Not a beach bar, but a lovely restaurant on the 2nd floor with a beautiful view. Leah was our bartender and made some awesome craft cocktails. "Thyme for passion" martini with a smoke bubble. Uh-mazing! Lobster enchilada apps were amazing, filling, shareable. Everything was great and can't wait to come back! read more

This restaurant was recommended by one of the locals, so we had to try. They seated us right away and were very nice. Limited menu. This completes my beer menu-Heineken today. Boston Lager yesterday, Stella Altois before. Bread was weak and cool. Not a problem with portions. Snaper is the best I've ever had. Crab soup is not up to Baltimore standards, and shallow, but good. Music was from my early days-early 1980s. Good flavor in the crab soup, but the crab taste didn't come out. read more

DRIFT - Snapper - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

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Food and happy hour sunsets are wonderful. Great service, delicious food. The best view in Florida! read more

Nice atmosphere, great service, amazing food! Definitely adding this as my go to place.

A beautiful restaurant with the most amazing food and courteous staff. I normally push my food around rather than eating it,because I'm picky. I almost ate every bite of my meal. Just so very delicious!! Mary Grace was so cute and proficient as a server, we will definitely ask for her again. Yes we will return. Oh the chef came to our table to discuss the creme brulee. He was a doll! read more

Ok this place is so gorgeous and classy-an amazing spot to go if you're trying to avoid the swimsuit crowd but still be on the beach. Ambiance is upscale but not hoity toity, it's decorated stunningly, and service staff were all wonderful. The food and drinks were great too! We went for brunch so got bloody Mary's and mimosas to start-standard, good. Then we got the crab cake Benedict (holy yum, eggs cooked to perfection, beautiful creamy Hollandaise, crisped crab cake, and crispy cubed potato hash) and the monte cristo (eggy brioche with ham, gruyere, and jam... oh my, and also a big cup of fresh melon fruits tossed with basil-so yum). Absolutely recommend this place! Would definitely go back if/when we are in town again! read more

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The location is not well known yet but it will be soon. Get there just before sunset and enjoy the view from the bar. The whole facility was decorated tastefully for the season. The food is outstanding. My party of 6 all enjoyed their orders. And the service we received was great. Thanks for making a special night so much more enjoyable. read more

DRIFT - Dining area looking at the gulf. - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

Great place! We just found the gem. Upstairs is the best bar! Gerard makes the best drinks on the beach! read more

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The atmosphere at drift is peaceful and the view is phenomenal. We tried the baked Brie to start our meal and it was baked to perfection. The crusted fried snapper the best I've had in years. The crispy crunch followed by the refreshing sweetness of the snapper made cleaning my plate irresistible. Erin is constantly checking on all of the details of your meal to ensure a pleasant meal and a great experience. Meg's customer service was above par. She anticipated our every need. read more

Beautiful elegant dining! Took my partner here for his bday. The ambiance was nice, food and drink amazing and came out in timing fashion. Booking reservations saved us even more time at arrival. My only down side is we got there at happy hour but we were not giving the happy hour discount which I I didn't realize until we left. When you spend so much on food, if saving are an options it should be voiced especially for first time guest like us. read more

We've been to Drift several times and we return because it is always good. The atmosphere overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the service and the food are top notch . . . usually. This most recent visit: atmosphere -- check, service -- check, food -- eh. The burrata appetizer was spot on. I'll order it again. For my meal, I order the skirt steak. The waitress said I just want to make sure you know skirt is a tough cut of meat. I did know that but cooked properly and cut on the bias, it's flavorful and tender. My meal was plated with the steak not sliced and overcooked. It was flavorful but plated all wrong. The accompanying asparagus were nothing that couldn't have been done better at home. The sides for the table of glazed carrots and onion rings were disappointing. The carrots were not roasted so that they caramelized and had little taste or texture. I've determined if I desire onion rings I should stick to burger joints or pubs. These were overcooked and greasy. They probably need to change their fryer oil. Again, the food is good but you expect more than good from a place like Drift. From overall taste to plating it was uninspiring. The server was excellent. We'll chalk it up to an off night in the kitchen and we will try it again. read more

Thank you drift for the amazing service & food! Mellisa was great. The oysters were so fresh probably my favorite thing I ate! read more

DRIFT - Surf n turf - Seafood Near Me - Pensacola Beach, Florida

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Nice views and some of the food was high quality. However the french fries came out cold, the server brought another serving n not much difference in these frozen style cheap fast food fries and a place that costs way too much. The mimosas are in a glass with about 3 ounce pours which also isnt a fair portion. I told the server and manager about the fries but the manager refuted my feedback as if i was the only person saying something. I grew up in restaurant family owned businesses and we always wanted feedback from our customers! read more

Derek our server was outstanding! Very knowledgeable about the menu and had great recommendations. We ordered the Brie, it wasn't melted. But it was still good. My son and I had the prime rib and it was amazing!! The mashed potatoes were so good, wish they were a little hotter (temperature). They came out lukewarm. Ambiance was perfect. We sat outside on the deck! It got chilly and they turned the heaters on and put the shades down. Very receptive to their customers.. I would give them a 5 but had to ask 3 times if they were still doing Prime Rib night (Sundays) since it wasn't on their menu or it being advertised. Our waiter said that "they" haven't discussed it and would find out. Turns out they still do prime rib night on Sundays but you have to ask for it, I guess. I would go back.. read more