I’ve heard such great things about Driftwood and finally the stars aligned to try it out. It’s great that they have a private parking area to avoid the otherwise dicey parking situation in the area. I love the simplicity of the interior. Clean, minimalist, and with a color palette that clearly evokes the feeling of the sea without being all Red Lobster about it. Can we talk about the absinthe menu real quick? 1. There’s quite a few varieties to choose from(who knew?!) and 2. You can sit at the bar Tues — Friday and eat $ 1 oysters while having absinthe apparently expertly poured(something about a sugar cube and dripping cold water — sounds fancy). Just be sure to have Über on speed dial. Of the food, the pickled beet salad appetizer is not to be missed. It’s honestly worth the trip if you just get a drink(absinthe?) and the beet salad. The skate was also excellent — perfectly pan roasted and with earthy accoutrement, I ate the entire thing. All that said, the place was pretty empty on a Saturday night, so I’m a bit confused.
Keisha D.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Plano, TX
This is a difficult review for me to write. There were part of our dining experience that were fantastic and then areas lacking. We got there for our 6 o’clock reservation. The place was pretty messy. Stuff all on the floor, bar was a mess with old glasses still on it. Just felt like all that should have been cleaned BEFORE doors opened. Now our table wasn’t ready… We got there at 5:45 and were the only ones there. So we sat at the bar. Wish I remembered the bar tenders name cause she was the best part of the evening. She made me an off the menu drink I had seen from an older menu of theirs online(they don’t update their menu often online so don’t plan your dinner according to that). It was FANTASIC! I’m not usually a cocktail fan but dear lord that was yummy! Could have easily drank 3 of them! For sure try a cocktail when your there. They are known for having some amazing ones and they really do. Our appetizers were beautifully presented and delicious. Wish we had just stuck to that. Because both of our main courses were over salted and not we had hoped for. Our waitress while nice was just kinda abrupt and distracting. Mid conversation would come over fill up your drink and spill some or drop something. I don’t know I’m not trying to be picky just when you pay that much for a meal I think everything really has to be on. I’d totally go here again though I’d just stick to drinks and a appetizers(small plate). Would of liked to give it 3 ½ stars, not 4 but it’s not a 3 star either so I rounded up cause I defiantly will try it again. Coulda just been an off night.
Steve C.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Dallas, TX
Our first trip to Driftwood, long ago, was highly anticipated, but mildly disappointed. So glad that we went back. Driftwood is now securely in our rotation. Have had several great meals there in recent months, since Martensen and Jafar took over. Chef McClelland is turning out great seafood. Truffled snow crab is at the top of my list, and one of the most perfect dishes I’ve ever had. A friend ordered the scallops the other night(may have been a special), and they were terrific. And the Dover sole is delicious and just right. Of course the bar is great, and I think they’ve accomplished their goal of making Driftwood a place where you could go, grab a drink and hang out at the bar. In fact, that’s our favorite way to dine, when it’s just the two of us. Go there.
Tania P.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Dallas, TX
Let’s start off with the unassuming front. It’s tucked away in the Bishop Arts/Oak Cliff area with a small sign out front — along with a piece of driftwood. Lols. The décor reminds me of the sea, which is what they were going for — I think. Neutral blues, beiges, grays, and browns — really calming for the senses. There are pieces of ‘rustic’ driftwood on the walls. Really, totes adorbs. I noticed that half of the bar opens to the outside patio. I can’t wait to try this out when the weather cools off! My favorite thing about Driftwood is the cocktail: The Hampton. It single-handedly switched my preference from tequila to whiskey. From then on, I started being adventurous and trying whiskey based drinks. I usually need something sweet to hide the strong whiskey-ness, but MYGOD that drink is perfect. I keep begging my husband to go back just for that drink. The food is just as memorable. We ordered six oysters: two of each kind. They change regularly so it’s not the same anymore. They are about $ 3 – 4 each but they are very, very fresh. Like, there is a time-travel-machine-in-the-kitchen fresh. The second appetizer we tried was the special of the day — so it’s not on the menu — Sea Urchin. There is a reason we didn’t have time to take a photo. It was inhaled within seconds. I had the Scallops & Bacon as my entrée. I wanted something light and this hit the spot. When they say ‘small plates’, they really mean small plates. It was pretty tiny. It came with roasted shishito peppers, cauliflower, and trumpet mushrooms. Because scallop takes the flavor of what you pair it with, this dish came out more savory than expected. The bacon was a bit too salty for me, but I’m very sensitive to salt. My husband ordered the Alaskan Hallibut. He wanted the Gloucester Cod, but it was already sold out! This is why they are always booked up, y’all. The halibut came with a lemon and celery root purée, muscat grapes, and green cabbage. He wins this round of «Who Chose The Better Entrée?» I hate him for it. It was SOGOOD. The fish flaked off into the purée and it was just retardedly(not PC) awesome. Our dessert — OH, OURDESSERT. I chose a light entrée to make room for dessert. We had this fantastic chocolate cake/brownie hybrid topped with a lime sorbet, and drizzled with caramel/chocolate sauce. I don’t know what it’s called. He described it and I said yes immediately. Chocolate on chocolate makes me barf, so I’m very grateful the lime helped break it up. The best way to describe Driftwood food is effortless. It’s well prepared and thought out, without seeming as trying too hard. They let the flavor speak for themselves. They add spices and side items to enhance, not overwhelm.
Fred L.
Évaluation du lieu : 3 Irving, TX
I am in search of the best lobster roll in Dallas and Driftwood offers lobster rolls. I was disappointed at the mini sized presentation. The lobster was very salty and lacked the proper ingredients. Mostly made with mayo. I would not recommend ordering the lobster roll. There are better in Dallas. However the Brussels sprouts and beet salads were excellent despite the tiny portions. It was a slow Tuesday night and the service was a bit lacking. Nice menu but pricey for the neighborhood. Easy parking and no in your face valet parking required.
Lily M.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Dallas, TX
I had dinner at Driftwood a few months ago and had a wonderful experience! We started the night off with a lobster appetizer that the waiter recommended as being one of his favorites. Even though there wasn’t much for two people to share, the buttery lobster was still worth the tease. For my entrée, I ordered the Artic Char. I loved how well the fish was prepared and how easily the skin slid off. The dish had so many wonderful flavors of fresh herbs and spices. But, it wasn’t the char that made my night; it was the Candied Brussel Sprouts that knocked my socks off. There was such an amazing evenly dispersed sweet and sour savor to the sprouts that easily made these some of the best I’ve ever had in Dallas. I had some of the Octopus dish, and regardless of how I feel about octopus in general not being a very visionary friendly species to eat, I did enjoy it. I would definitely revisit Driftwood again!
Ryan L.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Dallas, TX
Went this past weekend with the wife for the first time. Despite the«new» chef, we both found the food excellent. For a landlocked city such as this one, it’s refreshing to find fresh, well prepared seafood dishes. The flavors were complementary and complex. The prices were as expected, though the signature Dover Sole was a bit on the pricey side(though rich and delicious). Our waiter’s wine recommendation trumped either of my choices to complement the food very well. The only knock was that because you must order everything at once(save for dessert), courses are well-timed, but rapid fire. We were done with our meal pretty quickly. This undoubtedly helps the small kitchen and small restaurant turn tables quicker. Would certainly consider going back to this cozy gem of a location. Recommended.
Pokai M.
Évaluation du lieu : 1 Doral, FL
Driftwood had recently changed its owners and executive chef. The beloved Chef Omar Flores is no longer there. When we first learned that I was sad not only because Driftwood is being left at such a young age, but it also means that Driftwood will never be the same again. And we were right. Gf and I kept telling her parents how great this place is, how it changed our lives and taste buds forever! And 2 days before they finally come to visit from Houston, Driftwood decides to change it’s owner and head chef? Unbelievable. Despite our concerns, we still took her parents there. Such a bad decision. You can tell that the new chef is trying to copy Flores’ style while putting his own touches on the menu. Whatever he is trying to do, he is not good at it. The menu changed entirely. The ingredients on the menu didn’t compliment each other and they dont taste good together. Many ingredients seem like an afterthought or are just simply there to be there. The small plates were not good but the main dishes were disgusting. The fish itself was cooked well but there were 3 potato looking thing on the side that were covered in COALDUST? It was sandy and bitter and gritty and it was everywhere on the dish. I will never return again. Gf and I are both sad for Driftwood. Now we know why the old owner couldn’t bear to be apart from Flores. We’re jumping onto that ship and following them to their next new restaurant.
Yaniv G.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Seattle, WA
Delicious food, very well presented, served by super friendly people in an off the beaten path neighborhood. Very recommended.
Brannon S.
Évaluation du lieu : 2 Mansfield, TX
I love the neighborhood and what they’re trying to accomplish here. It definitely has the«hipster» feel. The atmosphere at Driftwood was fantastic and the drinks were really good. However… They were trying way too hard on the food. The prices were outrageous and the server was aloof. The oysters were horrible(huge gulf oysters covered in some sort of foam), the salad was just ok, and the entrée(Shrimp and Grits) was borderline gross. I’m NOT one to complain unless it really warrants it. I don’t mind paying $ 300 for a night out with the wife but only if there’s a return on the investment. The kitchen at Driftwood really let me down.
Jennifer T.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Grand Prairie, TX
1. Littleneck Clam was oddly interesting. 2. Lionfish Crudo — I must say it was surprisingly good. 3. Bronze die Extruded Casarecce — Gotta love carbs! 4. Chargrilled Octopus — Mmmm it was delicious. I was disappointed that they were out of rolls, have to come back for lobster rolls.
Lori P.
Évaluation du lieu : 1 Sachse, TX
Decided to try this place for a GNO. We were late in setting a reservation, especially for a larger group of 7, as we called on a Wednesday for a Saturday night. The only availability was for a 9pm seating. Ok, not to bad, we can grab drinks at the bar. Too bad the bartender had a sour attitude. No help with the menu, or recommendations. I saw a drink on the counter and asked what it was, and he didn’t even glance over to show us which one it was on the menu. Just stated the name. He was also pretty rude to another gf when she was ordering and told her to figure out what she wanted and tell him all at once. BC apparently he was too busy looking for the stick up his butt. Well, we didn’t get seated til 10:15 and that was after the manager heard us calling other restaurants around to see if the could seat us. He was apologetic and comped us a bowl of their littleneck clams, one clam for each person. Our server quickly informed us that due to a busy night, they were out of 3 items on the menu. Um, ok? There are 5 entrees total on the menu. I’ve never been to a restaurant where they run out food. And how busy could you have been when the manager just told me that their big top had been sitting there for 2.5 hours? Our dinner finally came out around 11. Mind you, we’ve been waiting almost 2.5 hours for our food, and we’re ravenous, so imagine our disappointment when we saw the portion sizes. I’m not looking for Cheesecake Factory sized portions, but my entrée should not be the size of half the screen of my phone!(which was $ 20!) Since we were celebrating 3 birthdays, we order dessert. Oh, they were out of candles too! LOL. Thoroughly unimpressed. The only thing about the restaurant that made our dinner enjoyable was our server Josh. I would NOT recommend this place. Just TERRIBLE.
Kim N.
Évaluation du lieu : 2 Venice, CA
We had reservation at 9, didn’t get seated until 10, we were about to go to a different place, then the manager said he would provide two appetizers for compensation. Bartender was rude, unprofessional, and only serving 3 tops. When it was our turn I gave him only 2 drink order then he came with 3, when I told him I didn’t order the 3rd drink he was rude about it and impatient. I took the drink anyway because I felt bad. Take it for granted that our group had people of 7 but only if he was paying attention 4 girls were ordering. 1st he said look over the menu then let me know what you want. Not once did he try to help us decide or ask can I help you decide on anything. He just didn’t try to serve us at the bar. TWICE. I get it that we couldn’t decide on a mixture drink, but I didn’t know that being in the service industry you have to be impatient at the BAR when you were not as busy. Our server Josh was BOMB. He was very considerate in so many ways. Actually I only encountered two people that worked there when I arrived. So luckily they hired a very professional funny fellow. Even though the place ran out a few things we ended up ordering lobster, clam roll, & squid. Little food that didn’t match the price and the flavor didn’t own up to it as well. However, the ice cream was good at this place. I won’t be going back but I think its an experience you should have for a first timer and make your own judgement. Ask for JOSH as your server. When the check came out I was waiting for josh as I notice he was closing out on another table and my friend asked the bartender to assist not knowing I was waiting for our own server. The bartender had this face of not wanting to help us and I told him not to worry that we were waiting on our server.
Michael R.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Garland, TX
1. The Lobster Roll 2. Oysters 3. Any fish you can order 4. Dessert Follow this and you can’t go wrong.
Elizabeth k.
Évaluation du lieu : 1 Dallas, TX
We went for the first time late-ish on a Saturday evening. When asked if we had reservations, the host seemed annoyed and was like«oh… let me see what I can do.» That should have been our first clue to leave. It was very loud inside, so I was glad when he offered a patio table. However, we were not seated on the patio, but rather on a small table outside of the patio just a few feet away from our car. Weird. Our server seemed… new. For a more expensive place, I expect better service. He acted overwhelmed even though he had only two tables. We ordered drinks. They were bad. As in cheap liquor bad. Dinner portions were skimpy. My overpriced and underwhelming Atlantic Sea Scallops apparently came with a side of food poisoning. Thanks for killing date night. Needless to say, I will not be back.
Mitzy R.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Miami, FL
While visiting Dallas we met some friends at the place. The neighborhood seemed eclectic and transitional. Everything in this place was excellent! The food quality, taste, & the presentation impressed me. The sprouts were delicious and also the drinks. We went with 2 kids and they ate because they are not picky eaters, love salads and all kinds of food. But not the place to take children. Since it’s more of a high end food(cuisine) portions are smaller and prices are higher. But definitely worth the culinary experience.
Lizz N.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Dallas, TX
I absolutely love this place! I had the grilled octopus and scallops for my main, both were delicious and perfectly cooked. The portions were just right and presentation was on point. Service was excellent. Then why no five stars you ask? The cocktails were horrible. I’m used to handcrafted cocktails and at these prices that’s what I thought I was getting. Mine had what seemed like Sonic ice in it, I ordered the lemongrass mojito. It had no taste of lemongrass what so ever. Just a plain Jane mojito with crappy ice. Yuck. Food is top notch. Drink menu needs a re-vamp.
Julie S.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Oklahoma City, OK
We had an amazing meal at Driftwood, and I would go back in heartbeat if asked! I’ve never had a scallop that literally melted in my mouth until dining here. I’ve heard people talk about it, sure, but never experienced it myself until now. We also had the littleneck clams with pancetta — why didn’t I think of that? Oh right, because I’m no Omar Flores! We also had crispy brussels sprouts with pork belly(nom), and the Maine lobster roll, which was probably my favorite item of the evening. The halibut was also good but not particularly special. We had the Sancerre with our dinner, and our waiter was so kind, he brought two of us another glass after seeing we had finished the bottle before finishing our dinner. The atmosphere is laid-back upscale casual, I love the Bishop Arts district. The food scene here is really heating up thanks to places and chefs like this.
Lorenzo L.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Chicago, IL
Garden variety foodie here. You all know the drill. We appreciate great food & service whether it comes with a tablecloth or a paper place mat. I met the owner, John Boudoin, late one evening while siting at the bar at Lucia, a few blocks away. We struck up a conversation, he gave me his card, and told me to try his place ‘Driftwood”. Modestly, he said Driftwood was awesome, but didn’t come near Lucia. Wrong. Ive been back 3 times, and each is better than the next. Lucia is amazing, but what Lucia does for Italian food, Driftwood does for seafood. Am a biz traveler, and always eat at the bar, usually later evening, Bartender Chris always points me in the right direction. Had the most amazing shrimp & grits the other night(better than any place in NOLA). Bits of pork belly, a poached egg, and perfectly cooked shrimp atop creamy grits. Slap yo mama. Followed up with sauteed sea scallops… On past visits had the monk fish as well as the grilled octopus. If you like simply prepared seafood and great service, hit this place up.
Patrick K.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Dallas, TX
Driftwood Took wife to Driftwood for her(__th) birthday based on recommendation from a friend who lives in the Cliff. It was on our to try list, but his recommendation put it at the front of the line. Arrived about 45 minutes early to have a drink or two at the bar and take in the ambiance before being seated. The entire place is very quaint and small, but is appropriately staffed and has enough room to move around if you’re waiting on table. Additionally, outside seating available for mild evenings. We explored the drink menu, I got the classic Dark N’ Stormy(Glosling’s Black Seal Rum and Ginger beer), like the small ice ‘cubettes’, similar to the famed Sonic ice) and wife went for the Lemon Grass Gimlet, a sassy concoction of gin, lime and lemon grass infused syrup, and topped with a splash of champagne. Had to sample, solid cocktail. Chow time! Kicked off the soirée with the little neck clams; plump and amazing… they danced with some amazing fennel pork sausage. Oh my. Had heard rave things about the Octopus, and this guy was ready to take it on. Chargrilled octopus tentacles wrapped around a confit of potatoes, manzanilla oliver, watercress, pickled onions laced with a smoked tomato vinaigrette. Oh my was that good, 2.0. The Mrs. went for the grilled Salmon, and based on her reaction(she offered a bit, I declined since she was enjoying so much), it was all good in the hood. Rounded out the incredible meal with a flourless chocolate cake with a pistachio terrine; I think all we collectively said for the next 5 minutes was«mmmmm…oooohh…mmmmm»…you get the point. Service crisp and efficient; our waiter bore a remarkable resemblance to Cam on Modern Family, and that’s a compliment. We enjoyed his flair and touch of humor, just the right amount without being overbearing. We sat at a two top tucked near window; while in a tight spot, never felt cramped or put-out. A truly memorable evening and certainly dollars and cents(and sense) well spent. This will go in that very special rotation of restaurants!