Drift

Name: Drift
Address: 41 Fort Pickens Rd, Gulf Breeze, FL, United States, 32561-2078
Telephone: (850) 733-7331
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.5

4.5

575 Reviews

$31 to $50

American

Top Tags:

Join us for dinner or a Gulf side drink. Located directly on the Gulf of Mexico, perched high above on the second floor, DRIFT is a casual fine dining restaurant serving steaks & fresh seafood, offering guests THE best view on Pensacola Beach featuring an indoor bar & indoor seating as well as a patio bar & outdoor seating. Join us for our Sunday night Prime Rib Dinner, only $39.95 and check out our Sunset Happy Hour Wednesday / Half off House Cocktails - Sunday 4pm-7pm. As well as our Thursday Ladies Night, where the ladies drink select wine & house champagne by the glass for free 4pm-7pm.

Check out our Chef Specials and come see for yourself we we won Best in Pensacola 2022 for 1. Best Restaurant - Pensacola Beach 2. Best Steakhouse - Pensacola 3. Best Happy Hour - Pensacola and 4. Best Girls Night Out - Pensacola.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Aug 19, 2022

7:00 PM

Booked 30 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
American
Hours of operation
Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Wed 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Phone number
(850) 733-7331
Website
https://driftpcola.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
John Lipkowitz
Catering
Email: events@driftpcola.com for all your catering and event needs!
Private party facilities
Email: events@driftpcola.com for all your catering and event needs!

Location
41 Fort Pickens Rd, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561-2078
Neighborhood
Pensacola
Cross street
Located on the 2nd Floor of Casino Beach Bar & Grille
Parking details
The main entrance to Drift is located on the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier. Take the elevator located in the doorway across from Inner Light Surf Shop on the pier - to the 2nd floor above Casino Beach Bar & Grille.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Popular dishes

Creamy Five-Onion Soup$9.00
served in a colossal spanish onion, gruyere cheese, baguette crostini
Crab & Green Curry Soup$10.00
red chili, coconut milk, ginger, garlic, lemon grass
Caesar Salad$10.00
romaine, anchovies, shaved parmesan cheese, seasoned croutons
Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato Salad$12.00
mozzarella pearls, balsamic glaze, chive oil, basil
Italian Chopped Salad$11.00
romaine, italian dried salami, provolone cheese, red onion, diced tomatoes, kalamata olives, italian herb vinaigrette

Crudos

Raw

Ahi Tuna$19.00
mascarpone cheese, toasted almond crumbs, green apple parsley vinaigrette, tobiko, lemon zest
Sword Fish Carpaccio$17.00
EVOO, dijon mustard, capers, italian parsley, sea salt, black pepper, lemon zest
Grouper Tartare$19.00
EVOO, green apple, sicilian orange, kiwi, grapefruit, ginger, celery, cucumber, sea salt
Mango Scallops$16.00
EVOO, mangos, pomegranate arils, white onion, jalapeños, cilantro, sea salt, lime juice
Yellowtail$19.00
EVOO, avocado, creme fraiche, garlic, ginger, cilantro, kosho, radish, serrano chile
Salmon Gravlax$16.00
cream fraiche, red onion, dill, capers, hendrick's gin

Cottos

Cooked

Jumbo Shrimp Martini$19.00
spicy tomato granita, spanish onion, garlic, jalapeños, cilantro
Coconut Crab Cakes$21.00
jumbo lump crab meat, red peppers, green onion, red onion, remoulade, passion fruit coulis
Calamari Omelette$21.00
stuffed with mixed seafood, gruyere mornay sauce, wild mushrooms
Lobster Ravioli$18.00
lobster tarragon velouté, wild mushroom reduction, fried basil leaves
Spicy Grilled Shrimp & Quinoa$19.00
EVOO, feta cheese, blistered tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, basil, cilantro, mint, lemon

Seafood Tower

Seafood Tower | Shareable$95.00
lobster, king crab leg, shrimp, snow crab claws, mussels, oysters, scallops served with lemon, cocktail sauce, dijonnaise

Oysters

1/2 Dozen

Natural Raw$10.00
served with horseradish, cocktail sauce, mignonette, lemon, tabasco

Charbroiled

Parmesan$13.00
parmesan cheese, garlic butter, lemon, parsley
Cajun Parmesan$13.00
parmesan cheese, garlic butter, green onion, cajun seasoning
Rockefeller$14.00
EVOO, parmesan cheese, spinach, garlic, hollandaise
Casino$14.00
EVOO, smoked bacon, parmesan cheese, spanish onion, garlic, red peppers, green peppers, celery, lemon, bread crumbs

Steaks

Select a Sauce - $5: bordelaise | black truffle perigourdine | béarnaise

Petite Filet Mignon
- 7 oz$37.00
Filet Mignon
- 10 oz$48.00
Seared Wagyu Filet Medallions
- 7 oz$38.00
New York Strip
- 14 oz$38.00
Delmonico Bone-In Ribeye
- 16 oz$39.00

Chops

Bone-In Pork Chop
- 14 oz$35.00
Double-Cut Colorado Lamb Chops
- 14 oz$48.00
Veal Chop Milanese
- 14 oz$48.00

Seafood

Scallops$38.00
pan-seared, saffron rice, pear purée, chive oil
Ahi Tuna$34.00
pan-seared, soy glaze, seaweed salad, wasabi aioli
Grouper$38.00
pan-seared, parmesan crust, capers, parsley, lemon beurre blanc
Red Snapper$35.00
EVOO, capers, olives, jalapeños, tomatoes, spanish onion, lime juice, oregano

Pastas

Spaghetti Bolognese$35.00
seared filet mignon, beef / veal / pork tomato ragu, carrots, celery, garlic, spanish onion
Chicken Picatta$32.00
fettuccine, capers, lemon, butter, white wine
Shrimp Scampi$35.00
linguine, parmesan cheese, asparagus, lemon, butter, white wine
Fettuccine Primavera$32.00
sautéed seasonal vegetables, pomodoro, smoked mozzarella cheese

Sides

Lobster Mac & Cheese$14.00
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes$8.00
Shoestring Truffle Fries$11.00
Sautéed Asparagus$9.00
Sautéed Baby Spinach$8.00
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta & Shallots$10.00

What 575 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.7Service
4.8Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Northwest Florida
Best Ambiance
Northwest Florida
Outdoor Dining
Northwest Florida
Romantic
Northwest Florida
Scenic View
Northwest Florida
American
Pensacola
Best Overall
Pensacola
Best Service
Pensacola
Best Ambiance
Pensacola
Fit for Foodies
Pensacola
Healthy
Pensacola
Notable Wine List
Pensacola
Romantic
Pensacola
Special Occasion
Pensacola
Vibrant Bar Scene
Pensacola
Most Booked

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OT
OpenTable Diner
Orlando
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service with a amazing view
G
Gasdocjb
Austin
41 reviews
vip
4.0
41 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall4food4service5ambience4
Beach vacation
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was fantastic and the service was phenomenal!! It’s a beautiful environment.. outside was too hot but the staff moved us inside with ease. Everything in the menu was great but we miss the white bordelaise!
I
Ilovefood
St. Louis
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Despite the rainy weather, we requested to sit on the deck. Great ambiance. Food was delicious. Service was great. We had chargrilled oysters, sea bass, scallops, filet, lobster Mac n cheese, snapper, grouper and lots of wine. Definitely recommend.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Mississippi
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely fantastic, our new #1
MC
MarkClabaugh
Tallahassee
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Drift is the best dining experience on Pensacola Beach. They have an experienced chef that creates very tasty specials. I enjoy the Prime Rib on Sundays which I request blackend. It is spot on in technique and flavor. You cannot go wrong dining at Drift.
p
professionaldiners
Denver
30 reviews
vip
3.0
30 reviews
Dined on August 7, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience3
Do not go if you are gluten free, no options
J
Jeff
Palm Springs
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on August 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a great dinner. Sea Bass and Grouper were well prepared. The ribeye was also really good. I would definitely return to dine here.
BP
BrianP
Tallahassee
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on August 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food as usual and enjoyed the musician although I thought he was a little too loud
DN
DateNight
Orlando
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We recently celebrated our wedding anniversary for the third year in a row at Drift. We do eat there for other occasions, but it has become an anniversary tradition. The menu is great, with a lot of variety. As beach residents, we love seafood, but are always eager to find a location that has great "land" food as well, and Drift has it! The filet medallions were delicious!! Service was great, as always. We have never dined in the dining room, because the patio is beautiful. There is also a nice patio bar, where we need to go for drinks more often! Dress up or dress casual, you won't feel out of place with either.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tallahassee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 6, 2022
overall5food3service5ambience3
Our waiter was extremely respectful and helpful to us. The food came out fairly quickly as well considering the amount of orders.
T
Tiana
Central Coast
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on August 6, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience5
The View and the decore in the restaurant are stunning. This place would be a wonderful place for a cocktail. The food was good. I feel like there was a bit of disconnect between the price and the quality. The service was lackluster. Our server had minimal interest in making our night special. That being said, there were no extreme issues with our service, but for the price we were paying and the ambience, I would have expected a server that really went the extra mile for us. It seems the servers down stairs at Casino Beach Bar are a bit more polished in the customer service area. I will probably return for the view and a drink, but for a nice steak dinner I'll stay downtown.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Road trip new places to explore
OT
OpenTable Diner
Charleston
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 5, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Celebrated husband’s 50th birthday
OT
OpenTable Diner
Nashville
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Awesome new location on Pensacola Beach. Views are amazing. Staff friendly and knowledgeable. Food definitely good.
M
Mark
Tallahassee
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on August 4, 2022
overall2food1service4ambience4
Service and restaraunt was nice. A few glasses and center piece looked dirty Food was not good. Lacked taste. I had the wagyu and it tasted sour and smelled spoiled. Wife had the pasta truffle, there was very little taste, very bland. Truffle fries were just fries seasoned. Did not taste like truffle at all.
IO
InandOut
Mississippi
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on August 4, 2022
overall3food2service3ambience4
Subpar food for a good view.
m
michaelc
Louisville
2 reviews
vip
1.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 4, 2022
overall1food2service1ambience4
Absolute horrible service. No appreciation for someone with dietary restrictions. Two of four people couldn’t even eat their entree it was so poorly made and staff couldn’t be bothered to notice. Over priced food. Do not go here if you want good food or someone who will make you feel welcomed. Drift tried to pass itself off as fine dining and completely missed the mark. Bar is also terrible at making cocktails. Do yourself a favor, literally go anywhere that isn’t Drift when you visit Pensacola.
ST
STEVEJ
Tallahassee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Awesome restaurant my server was great. I highly recommend to anyone
M
Miles
Dallas
67 reviews
vip
5.0
67 reviews
Dined on July 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Waiter was outstanding. Food was amazing.
J
Jasonp
Atlanta
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 30, 2022
overall4food3service5ambience5
Atmosphere was great, views were nice. Service was good food was ok
MB
MaryB
Richmond
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Melissa was excellent! Customer service is fabulous!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tallahassee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 28, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
View was great, not too crowded, and food was very good.
JM
JoshM
Denver
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 28, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience5
Great spot to grab some good wine, steaks and views.
a
anniem
New York Area
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on July 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lovely experience ! Ambiance, hospitality , and dinner!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Nashville
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on July 25, 2022
overall4food3service5ambience4
Our server Carolina was wonderful! She was very attentive, and super sweet. If it wasn’t for her I’d probably go lower with the stars. We had oysters, shrimp cocktail, yellowtail, lobster linguine, and the snapper. The yellowtail crudo was my favorite out of everything we had. Our entrees were tasteless. I had to salt the pasta and the snapper was gooey and lacked flavor as well. Overall we had a great experience and would most likely go back if we’re ever back in Pensacola.
I
Isabel
New Orleans
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great job Chef! The food was delicious. Lauren, our waitress was awesome! Such a great experience.
SA
SteveA
New Orleans
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service. We sat outside but every seat had a great view.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
71 reviews
vip
2.0
71 reviews
Dined on July 23, 2022
overall2food1service1ambience4
Rude and arrogant waitress and host Refused to make accommodations for special dietary needs. Simple requests were rejected Skip this place.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Birmingham
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were on vacation in Navarre and had a date night here. First time and it was awesome! The ambiance and service was outstanding!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on July 23, 2022
overall2food1service2ambience3
I was there for my 30th birthday. There were two tables on the deck one with a great view and one in front of a pole and a big tree. I was told I could not get the table with the view because it wasn’t ready but the only thing was the glasses were not on it and yet they put glasses on it and sat someone else there. I wanted to change my order literally before it was fully keyed into the computer and was told I couldn’t (even though nothing had been prepared at all) then the food I got was horrible! I literally had to go to a fast food chain after leaving to order food! I will never go back to that establishment again!
DC
DavidC
Tallahassee
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 23, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience4
Great atmosphere and excellent service. Oysters were super delicious and the Delmonico steak was on point. The only drawback was that I felt I bit rushed. When one is going to spend a few hundred bucks on a meal, your looking for an epic time that is slowed down to fully appreciate the event. Slow it down a bit folks!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 18, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience5
Waitress was fantastic, very accommodating and efficient and by the end of the meal stood and chatted for a few minutes. We left extremely satisfied with her service above even the food enough to want to return just for the experience she provided (and maybe the Cajun charbroiled oysters)
S
Soobee
Tallahassee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely delicious ! The prime rib was cooked to perfection! Best vodka martini!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Mexico City
16 reviews
vip
4.0
16 reviews
Dined on July 17, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Great Place. The food, the view, the music….everything it’s great.
S
Stplbccb
Treasure Coast
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on July 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The patio overlooking the Gulf on a summer night might just be the best spot in Pensacola. The food, light breeze and service was perfect and we cant wait to go back. I'm so happy we live here.
HG
HawaiianGirl
Tallahassee
18 reviews
vip
4.0
18 reviews
Dined on July 15, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience3
Delicious food and great service. Recommend not to sit by the door to the patio area. Loud music from the patio drowned out the ambiance inside every time the door opened.
PV
PatienceVA
Greensboro
19 reviews
1.0
19 reviews
Dined on July 15, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience1
I do not recommend this dining experience. The food was pedestrian. The service was less than adequate (i.e. starting with having to wait 20 minutes past our reservation time because the restaurant was running behind). The noise level was loud and not conducive to conversation. I was terribly disappointed in the entire experience.
RH
RachelH
New Orleans
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The yellowfin crudo was fabulous! The raw oysters were delicious! Even though I was a table of one, the waitress went out of her way to make me feel important and to give me the same attention as her larger tables. Beautiful restaurant!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Melissa did a wonderful job taking care of us, always a step ahead. The raw oysters were great, so were the tacos.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Drift is rated 4.5 stars by 575 OpenTable diners.

Drift does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Aug 19, 2022

7:00 PM

Booked 30 times today

41 Fort Pickens Rd, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561-2078

Additional information

Cross street
Located on the 2nd Floor of Casino Beach Bar & Grille
Neighborhood
Pensacola
Hours of operation
Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Happy Hour Wed 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
Cuisines
American
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
The main entrance to Drift is located on the Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier. Take the elevator located in the doorway across from Inner Light Surf Shop on the pier - to the 2nd floor above Casino Beach Bar & Grille.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
John Lipkowitz
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://driftpcola.com/
Phone number
(850) 733-7331
Catering
Email: events@driftpcola.com for all your catering and event needs!
Private party facilities
Email: events@driftpcola.com for all your catering and event needs!

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card

Drift

Make a reservation

Additional information

Gift card

Mango Scallops

Grouper

Caesar Salad

Soups & Salads

Creamy Five-Onion Soup$9.00

Crab & Green Curry Soup$10.00

Caesar Salad$10.00

Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato Salad$12.00

Italian Chopped Salad$11.00

Crudos

Ahi Tuna$19.00

Sword Fish Carpaccio$17.00

Grouper Tartare$19.00

Mango Scallops$16.00

Yellowtail$19.00

Salmon Gravlax$16.00

Cottos

Jumbo Shrimp Martini$19.00

Coconut Crab Cakes$21.00

Calamari Omelette$21.00

Lobster Ravioli$18.00

Spicy Grilled Shrimp & Quinoa$19.00

Seafood Tower

Seafood Tower | Shareable$95.00

Oysters

1/2 Dozen

Natural Raw$10.00

Charbroiled

Parmesan$13.00

Cajun Parmesan$13.00

Rockefeller$14.00

Casino$14.00

Steaks

Petite Filet Mignon

Filet Mignon

Seared Wagyu Filet Medallions

New York Strip

Delmonico Bone-In Ribeye

Chops

Bone-In Pork Chop

Double-Cut Colorado Lamb Chops

Veal Chop Milanese

Seafood

Scallops$38.00

Ahi Tuna$34.00

Grouper$38.00

Red Snapper$35.00

Pastas

Spaghetti Bolognese$35.00

Chicken Picatta$32.00

Shrimp Scampi$35.00

Fettuccine Primavera$32.00

Sides

Lobster Mac & Cheese$14.00

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes$8.00

Shoestring Truffle Fries$11.00

Sautéed Asparagus$9.00

Sautéed Baby Spinach$8.00

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta & Shallots$10.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

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Cleaning & sanitizing

Screening

FAQs

How is Drift restaurant rated?

Does Drift offer gift cards?

Is Drift currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Gift card