Beyond impressed! A flawless dining experience. If you haven't checked this steakhouse out yet, you are seriously missing out! We had an absolutely incredible experience from start to finish. The food was unmatched--the steak was divine and cooked to absolute perfection. Beyond the food, the ambiance is beautiful and romantic, with a minimal noise level that actually allows you to enjoy your conversation. What really sets this place apart, though, is the service. It was outstanding. Management was incredibly attentive and even stopped by a second time just to check on us and ensure everything was perfect. We were beyond impressed with the care and detail they put into their hospitality. We will absolutely be back! Highly, highly recommend. read more

Driftlight Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I recently dined at Driftlight Steakhouse with high expectations given the restaurant's reputation for premium steaks and elevated dining experiences. Unfortunately, my experience fell far short of those expectations. I ordered the 18-ounce Dry Aged Bone-In Ribeye, priced at approximately $100, expecting a high-quality cut worthy of the restaurant's reputation. Instead, the steak was overwhelmingly fatty, with what appeared to be roughly 75% of the cut consisting of fat, gristle, and inedible portions. After removing the unusable sections, there was very little actual meat left to enjoy. When I raised my concerns, the response was disappointing. The server simply stated that he would "let the chef know." The only accommodation offered was a complimentary salad valued at approximately $15. Considering the quality issue with a $100 entrée, this response felt inadequate and failed to demonstrate any meaningful commitment to guest satisfaction. By the end of the meal, our bill approached $300, yet I left still hungry and feeling that I had received very poor value for the money spent. When dining at a restaurant that markets itself as a destination for exceptional steaks, customers should reasonably expect both quality ingredients and responsive service when something goes wrong. Unfortunately, neither expectation was met during my visit. While the atmosphere and setting may be appealing, the overall experience did not justify the cost. I will not be returning, and I will be sharing my experience with friends, family, and others who ask for steakhouse recommendations. I sincerely hope management takes guest concerns more seriously in the future and ensures that premium-priced menu items consistently meet the standards they advertise. read more

Driftlight Steakhouse - The steak - Steakhouses Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I really need to stop falling for social media hype. Driftlight fell way short of expectations, especially for their price point. Let's start with the good. We arrived for our reservation and were seated promptly. Walking in, there were plenty of open tables. Maybe that should have been our first warning sign. Our server was friendly, but the tableside manner didn't match other comparable modern American steakhouses in the Tampa Bay/St. Pete area. My wife and I started with the French onion soup; our son had the Key Lime Caesar. The soup portion was smaller than usual, with a significant taper toward the bottom of the cup, but the flavor more than made up for it. A strong start! The Caesar was crisp and cold, and our son devoured it in minutes. Another win; however, this was short lived. Now for the bad. My wife and I both ordered the filet; I added the truffle butter enhancement. Unfortunately, my steak was ridiculously overcooked, and the truffle butter was the only thing that salvaged the flavor. Our son's 18oz Delmonico fared no better -- his verdict: "it's ok." For sides, we ordered baked potatoes and broccolini. Hard to screw up a baked potato, so no complaints there. The broccolini, however, was dry and flavorless. I should have sent it back and asked for a substitute. As a side note, we were also served creamed corn, which we hadn't officially ordered. We'd discussed it while placing our order but ultimately decided against it. We figured our server misheard and put it in anyway. Ironically, the dish we didn't order was the best one on the table, if a bit drowning in cheese. Shortly after, an order of mushrooms arrived, which we also hadn't ordered. That's when it clicked: the creamed corn was meant for another table, and we'd been served someone else's food. We debated skipping dessert but figured we might as well get the full experience. We ordered the gelato; my wife wanted it served as an affogato. When she asked, she was met with a blank look from our server. At this price point, the server should know what an affogato is. So we ordered an espresso separately and made the affogato ourselves. Honestly, I'm not convinced what we got was gelato and not just plain ice cream -- it was freezer-burnt. Final damage for the evening: over $500 with gratuity. Absolutely ridiculous for the quality of food and service we received. To close things out, our server seemed eager to rush us off, asking if we were done with the check and whisking it away almost immediately. At least let us sit and bask in the $500 worth of regret. Bottom line: if you want a genuine modern American steakhouse experience, there are significantly better options in Tampa/St. Pete...especially at a $500 price point. read more

First, the good - the atmosphere is clean, spacious and upscale. Many higher end restaurants in Tampa feel crowded and overbooked. Driftlight did not, which is definitely a positive. Next, the bad. At this price point, which is on par with well-known Tampa restaurants like Ponte, it simply doesn't deliver. Our bill for 3 was over $500 and we only had 1 glass of wine among all 3 of us. In addition, 2 of us ordered the least expensive steak on the menu - the filet. The steaks were underwhelming, the corn was way too embellished with melted cheese, the bread was introduced as an option that was not made clear would be at a price, and the desert...well, that requires its own sentence. We asked our waiter to make us an affogato since they had both gelato and espresso. He had no idea what that was. We told him we would make it ourselves. The "gelato" was far from its name. It was basic ice cream, no better than Breyer's from the grocery store. In summary, it's a hard pass for us. We will stick with our local favorites that consistently overdeliver - Ponte, Bern's, and Olivia. read more

Wow!!! Driftlight has been on my list of steakhouses to try for quite some time now and honestly I'm upset that it took me this long. The food, the service, the ambiance were all great, what you could expect for a fancy steakhouse. Every single thing we ordered was amazing. The French onion soup was top tier, even better than my favorite French onion soup from Bern's. The Brussel sprouts were also a standout side. The only thing callout I would have is about the Caesar salad, it was very tasty but didn't feel like a true Caesar because the dressing is different. Everything else I have absolutely no notes! The steak was cooked and seasoned well and the dessert was sweet and moist. Highly recommend Driftlight if you are looking for fabulous dining experience. read more

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Made a reservation on Open Table for a date night a couple months after we had our baby just to get there and find that the restaurant is under construction and currently closed. Why not turn off reservations on Open Table until it's complete to prevent this?? Went across the street to Lona to eat who accommodated us without a reservation. Will update my review if we ever decide to come back. read more

I attended a group dinner in their private dining room earlier this week. It is a beautiful and private space that seats about 20. We started off with a beautiful charcuterie board and shrimp cocktail. Our groups menu included soup, salad, choice of entree and dessert. I am not a beef eater so they swamped out the French onion soup for the crab bisque, which was so unctuous. The Keylime Caesar was also tasty. I got the airline chicken breast mostly because I wanted the sides that came with it to include the balsamic pearled onion, and the risotto which were both amazing. We ended the night with their light & airy carrot cake. Everyone who had the other entrées to include steak and halibut also really enjoyed their meals. The servers were fantastic. If you are looking for a special experience in downtown Tampa, this is worthy of a visit for an individual reservation or a group. read more

The great thing about this restaurant is that it's located in the JW Mariott, in walking distance of the Benchmark Arena. So it's a possible option for dinner and a show. The bad part is that the food is over priced and mediocre and service is slow. Our server recommended the bone in ribeye and it was so flavorless and chewy. Bread service should be complimentary for the amount of time you wait, but it's 16 bucks for 4 small rolls. The best thing we ate was the creamed spinach. Parking is validated for 3 hours at half the regular price, so 25 instead of 50. Dress code is business casual, but really, I didn't see anyone checking what people were wearing. I wasn't impressed with anything here. And for 300 bucks for 3 people, I won't return. read more

Driftlight Steakhouse - Dry, chewy, flavorless bone in ribeye - Steakhouses Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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We had a private room for an event at the back. Every time the door opened, the noises were quite loud outside. I liked the cozy room. The waiters were very polite and kept filling up our waters and asking us if we wanted more drinks. The food was very good. Fresh and tasty - I had the fish (only one they ordered it ;) - it was very healthy too with edamame and mushrooms. read more

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Stopped in here last night. Wife and I agreed that the best thing they had going for them was the service. Kristin was very attentive, personable and made good recommendations. The ambiance and upscale was a plus. The food was good. The Korean Fried Chicken was cooked perfectly with crisp, flavor and pizazz. The soy glazed brussel sprouts and collar-flower were amazing. The Shrimp/MacCheese was a little underwhelming. Would definitely go back. Sad we did not save room for desserts as they sounded decadent. read more

Driftlight Steakhouse - Korean Fried Chicken - Steakhouses Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Food was good and the service was excellent. Went for dinner and the breakfast buffet during my stay at the JW Marriott where it's located. The presentation and quality were all great. While I would recommend, I did feel it was overpriced for dinner and the steak was not up to expectations for the price. I'm a steak connoisseur and this fell short at the price point. If you really are going for steak try Berns nearby. read more

We made a last minute reservation to celebrate our anniversary. Didn't know what to expect here but were pleasantly surprised. This is on the first floor of the JW Marriott Water Street. It was super quiet at 5pm but we were told it picks up around 7. I tried the crab bisque and was very happy with it. The bisque itself was creamy and flavorful. I feel like it was a decent amount of meat. But they put this chili oil in there that gave a nice slow burn. Not a huge kick but it added something and made it stand out. For our meal, we tried the prime rib eye. My husband loved it. I thought it was good, but not great. A tad under-seasoned, a tad dry. Not bad by any means - it was good, I just know it could be better. I really rate the meat by how it stands on its own. However, the sauces made it more enjoyable. We tried the peppercorn (which I thought I would prefer). I can't place why, but I just wouldn't order it again. It's really nothing wrong with it, but after trying their Driftlight sauce - that's the way to go. It has Gochujang in it, and added a pleasant subtle heat. The creamed corn was excellent. The charred broccolini was a little too charred for my taste, but overall everything was pretty good. For our 10 year anniversary, they just popped a handwritten card on the table. Nice it was recognized but a lot of other places go a bit more above and beyond. All that said - they did get us in and out for our dessert reservations elsewhere, so the timing was excellent! I was pleased considering it was a last minute reservation, but I don't think I'd go out of my way except for that crab bisque! I'd be willing to give it another shot though. read more

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this was a five out of five experience. My wife and I had breakfast here the day before our wedding two years ago and we decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary here for dinner. And dinner was just phenomenal! The server was always attended to us and very respectful of our time. They were a great recommendations made for dinner, but honestly anything that you order will knock your socks off! The steaks are so tender, the salad is so crisp, and the salmon was cooked too perfection. We ordered a side of mashed potatoes that was enough to share between the two of us, I definitely recommend adding the truffle butter to the mashed potatoes to give it a extra kick. They gave us dessert as a nice anniversary surprise. read more

This has become my anniversary dinner spot. I love how low-key it is. It is a underrated spot in Tampa and it really deserves five stars. The steak is absolutely phenomenal. I have the Delmonico prepared medium and it's seriously hits every single time. The Caesar salad salad was so fresh and crunchy and they make their own dressing which I really enjoyed. The service was nice and simple very lovely to have and quick. And the ambience just feels like I'm in a hotel. A nice one though I really enjoy it Here will be back. read more

Driftlight Steakhouse - Crabcake - Steakhouses Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Came for a big birthday party, and the server and service was great! The staff was patient, kind, accommodating, and knowledgeable. The food was definitely worth the buzz! We had a table full of different cuts of steak, premium sides (creamed spinach, creamed corn, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, etc). The champagne cocktail was my favorite drink! Bubbly, refreshing, and full of cognac! The ambiance was classy, intimate, polished, and welcoming. Definitely will come back! read more

Driftlight Steakhouse - Menu - Steakhouses Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I went solo to try this restaurant out and was greeted with a smile and positive energy from the beginning. I had the NY steak and it was delicious. The service was exceptional and the ambiance was my favorite part. Their cocktails are good as well! read more

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Amazing steak house. We tried cocktails too and those were amazing. Crab and lobster cake I would say that would be my favourite. Amazing vibe and nice service. They make sure you are doing good. Love steak and lambchops. I loved the lamb chops. Those gonna be my favourite too. Lots of variety in drinks too. It's in JW Marriott just across the street of Tampa Marriott street. Amazing vibe and must try if you are around in Tampa and love to eat great food. Nice place for foodies read more

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The service here was impeccable. The wait staff, the management, the sommelier, and the chef all came by the table. The atmosphere is casual fine dining, so it's elegant but not stuffy. As for the food, everything was flavorful and robust. I had the wedge salad, the filet medium rare, and the creamed corn with a spicy old-fashioned. Superb food with exquisite care. read more

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Don't overthink it -- just make the reservation. Driftlight Steakhouse, is a gem tucked inside the JW Marriott. Every course from the irresistibly fresh oysters to the warm and cozy French onion soup and perfectly cooked filet that reminded you why steakhouses became institutions in the first place. The filet had a perfect crunch sear on it and was cooked exactly to the right temperature. Try the bernaise sauce. Why not? And I must give a special mention to the creamed spinach... honestly unbelievable. I was scraping the dish like it was chocolate ice cream and not even pretending to share. Service sealed the deal. Our waiter, Anthony, was the perfect gentleman and his recommendations didn't miss once. Highly recommend will be returning. read more

Highly recommend. Had the Burrata and tomato appetizer. Nothing short of heavenly. Entree was the halibut. Super flakey and super fresh. Next time im in Tampa I will be back. read more

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We have been to all of the top steakhouses and Driftlight is easily in the top 5. The service was top notch. Ashley and Ryan were personable, friendly, super helpful and accommodating. The food and drinks were delicious. They had one of the best French onion soups and crispy Brussels sprouts I've ever had. My steak was cooked perfectly, albeit a little smaller than the competition's and with a very similar price point. Nonetheless, it was enough to split between my husband and I. The decor is modern and a nice size. You also can't beat 3 hours of validated valet parking! I also liked that the bar lounge and Beacon rooftop are just steps away to enjoy after dinner. It feels more like a place to just have dinner rather than a full dining experience you would get from Eddie V's, Fleming's or Meat Market but still worth a visit. read more

Stopped in here for breakfast during my staycation at the JW Marriott. Waitress immediately served me coffee which I loved. I gave her some options because I couldn't decide what to order and she suggested the Brüléed Toast which was amazing. Combing French Toast with Crème Brûlée is genius and if you love sweets, I recommend trying this option. read more

Driftlight Steakhouse - Brüléed Toast - Steakhouses Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Ate here twice during our stay. Breakfast buffet was horrendous and overpriced. Salmon tasted old. $36+ for the buffet. Dinner was far better. Filet mignon was what you'd expect from a proper steak house. Decent crust, cooked to order. Lacked some flavor. Sides were OK. Seafood Tower was impressive. Best part of the meal. Good service. For the price, they could step up their game. And the breakfast needs to be complete reimagined. Thank You for Your Attention to this Matter read more

Driftlight Steakhouse - Filet - Steakhouses Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Food was very good, but price wise I'd rather go to Flemings, Ruth Chris, or Capital Grill. Great selection of wines as well. Service was also very good. read more

WOW WOW WOW! I Love this restaurant! Your review needs at least 85 characters. Add a few more thoughts to post review. Your review needs at least 85 characters. Add a few more thoughts to post review. read more

We had a large group come here for dinner with a lot of our coworkers. Our director had made a reservation before hand which I do recommend - although we came on a Thursday night of a big conference. We got seated in the big back table and it was very fancy. The place was a nice vibe - good lighting not too dim. For food - we decided to get a bunch of items to share for appetizers: -Calamari : so delicious - recommend this, so crispy and good -Crabcakes: This was meh to me and I would pass on ordering this again -Bread plate: SO DELICIOUS, it was sweet potato bread and it was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this -For the main meal - my coresident and I shared the Tomahawk rib eye with the garlic butter and wedge salad to start; absolutely delicious. The meat was cooked to perfection and the garlic butter made everything so much better. We also got a side of corn which was so good! -For dessert we got the espresso cheesecake which came with a side of chips ; the sweet and salty flavors were very unique but the cheesecake was a little on the heavier side for me. Overall - great food and great vibes; highly recommend checking this place out. read more

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I was doing a staycation at the JW for Thanksgiving and decided to make a reservation at Driftlight for Thanksgiving dinner. Sometimes on busier holidays you can expect a lack in service at restaurants, but Driftlight is NOT one of them. Our service was exemplary and our food was absolutely delicious. I have been living in Tampa since before the JW was built, but had not visited the restaurant and I was definitely missing out. Thank you to the staff and chefs for a wonderful non-traditional Thanksgiving Dinner! read more

The restaurant is located inside the JW Marriott on the first floor. We went here for breakfast on our last day. The restaurant is clean and modern. The ambience is pleasant. Our server was friendly and efficient. The reason for 3 stars is that the food left something to be desired. The wife and kid had French toast and both said it was dry. It needs to soak in egg longer. The wife said hers had zero cinnamon flavor although it is advertised as cinnamon French toast. My bagel with smoked salmon was not very good. One problem is that the bagel was not toasted long enough. I like it crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. This one wad doughy and not crispy at all. The citrus cream cheese did not work. The salmon was fine, but overall, the flavors did not come together well. I would not order it again. read more

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Service was great. Food was terrible. we ordered one round of drinks, a Caesar salad split, a tomahawk ribeye and mashed potatoes. The ceasar was drenched with dressing, way too heavy and tasted like straight mayo. The first steak came out (we ordered medium rare) and was medium well to well and had a grey tint to it like it had been microwaved. We mentioned the steak color and temp to the server and they attempted to correct it. Next steak they bring is basically rare and cold and not pittsburgh at all. it was okay for my boyfriend but I asked for a hot plate to bring the temp up a bit. Plate was brought and it was cool enough to put my hand on it so the goal was not accomplished. our drinks were comped for the steak issue but $120 steak with apparently a new chef was a disaster and not worth the money. To make matters worse it made me physically ill this morning. I would strongly avoid this place. It boasts itself as a steakhouse when they can't even cook a steak properly. read more

Great steaks and Hallibut fish dishes. I loved the beet salad and the purple potato bread service.

Went for our anniversary dinner and overall had a nice meal. Service was lacking enthusiasm and attentiveness. The food was consistent with previous visits, everything was hot and seemed fresh. My steak temperature was more towards medium instead of medium rare (as ordered). Nothing terrible and not worth sending back but definitely continued to rest/cook up to medium on the plate. Driftlight offered complementary carrot cake for dessert since we were celebrating which was a nice touch. After this latest visit, I do think Driftlight ranks fairly low Tampa Steakhouse scene being bested by the likes of Meat Market, Bern's, and even Ruth's Chris from a food quality and service standpoint. read more

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The service is as great, prompt and efficient. The nova bagel is a great option for a healthy breakfast that's on the bigger side, it's a meal all by itself, with fruit on the side. Everything on the bagel worked together beautifully, all the ingredients were very well paired together. My partner had the healthy start bowl, which he said was very bland. Parking is great in the morning (if there's no event happening at the convention center. Unfortunately today was a sneaker convention so it was a little tricky. Go enjoy breakfast at Driftlight Steakhouse. Excited to come back and try happy hour or dinner. read more

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Hidden gem & Tampa must visit steakhouse! Everything was incredible from the wine list, cocktails, bread, burrata, steak for the table and the best carrot cake you'll ever have (trust!) Everything was truly spectacular and the service is always 10/10. Highly recommend!!! read more

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This place is a hidden gem! It is in the JW Marriott downtown. It is very quiet. The food is outstanding. The service was excellent as well. We enjoyed the shrimp cocktail, bread service, french onion soup, key lime caesar, ribeye, beautiful carrots and fantastic chocolate cake. read more

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I'm so happy I went with Driftlight for my 30th birthday dinner. The ambiance is top-tier from the moment you pull into the valet. The restaurant is located inside the beautiful JW Marriott so parking is a breeze. The private room was beautiful! Not what I was expecting for lil old me :) Our server was very helpful and patient and the food came out promptly. Everyone loved their food and had plenty of leftovers which is always a win in my book. I'll definitely be back to check out breakfast! Check out these links for more videos and pictures from dinner! Instagram: @Lady.Tanisha Full Video/Reel - https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cr-wfadgREn/?igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg== More Pictures - https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr-ArN1MYjM/?igshid=MmJiY2I4NDBkZg== read more

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Driftlight Steakhouse in the JW Marriott in Tampa offers excellent food in a charming setting. Our filets were perfectly cooked, and the carpaccio was fresh and flavorful. The service was attentive, and the wine cellar in the center added a special touch to the experience--cute for pictures. read more

Neil provided great service. We ordered the Delmonico and it was delicious. My favorite believe it or not is was the bread it was divine! read more

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Woke up early and had breakfast here. Restaurant had a few folks walk in as I was leaving, otherwise it was pretty empty. Had filet and eggs, fresh fruit, sourdough toast and a pineapple antioxidant juice. All of it was great. Steak cooked perfectly as were the eggs. Service was friendly and courteous. read more

Driftlight Steakhouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Our dinner was delicious. We each got the filet w different sides. The corn and the baked potato. Both equally delicious. The farmers margarita, was to die for. Loved and had to order a second!!! The only thing that was a bust was our server. No personality. She was totally annoyed that we had kids at our table. But we were one of about 5 tables in the place. So till back Betty, lets us enjoy our $500 meal. 5 for the food. But the waitress was a bust! read more

We stayed at the Marriott and came down to the Driftlight for breakfast. We were greeted by Lily. She is an incredible asset to this place, but she is also very charming and sweet. We were served by Angelica and she is just as kind. The food was delicious and the atmosphere and ambiance were incredible. read more

Driftlight Steakhouse - Fruit plate - Steakhouses Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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