The food at Driftaway Cafe isn't the only fantastic thing about the place. It's got a really great, almost "Cheers" like neighborhood atmosphere. It's always packed, and they really are always glad you came. The wait staff is friendly, and the food choices.. I mean, who thinks of these things? So creative and delicious! I've never had a bad experience here. Even my friends who aren't fans of seafood found tasty choices for lunch and dinner.
(5)
tessa j.
I think Emily D., below, has got her finger on the pulse of this place. Having frequented Driftaway for years and watched a steady decline (is there new management or what?), I think we're done giving this place second chances. It's always frustrating to have no quality control, such that you don't know from one time to the next what the place will be like. Went for lunch yesterday, thinking we'd try it one more time after a disastrous dinner a few months ago, and, well, no. The food was mediocre, served at varying temps, and the atmosphere is very tired and cold. Cold as in we kept our jackets on the whole time. Acoustics terrible - you have to strain to hear the person you're dining with - and FOX news on at every tv in every dining room. Yeah, it's true that the Skidaway area is not teeming with tons of fab eateries but, for my time and money, I'll be making the trek downtown next time.
(2)
Paul O.
Great lunch, Firecracker Shrimp were really tasty, fun, relaxed atmosphere, great times.
(4)
Jenn_Leigh L.
Went for drinks and sat on their inviting front porch. The 2 stray cats were friendly. Staff was excellent.
(5)
Sandee B.
One of my favorite places! Literally everything is amazing on the menu and the service is always great.
(5)
Millhouse R.
Pretty gross. Mangy meat makes a French Dip, raggedy cheese, bland crab and stale bread make for crab dip. The decor is pretty crappy as well. I'm guessing since most of the clientle at the time were elderly the management/owners figure they're too old to care about the quality of everything as long as the waitress' are friendly and they get a window seat over looking the mini waterfall.
Always disappointed by the portion size and the price. It's bar is always loud and raucous so we made sure we went at lunch the 2nd time. The food taste good but it's not worth the price.
(2)
Kiley T.
I don't know what has happened here....6 years ago this was my favorite place to eat. I loved the firecracker shrimp tacos, the calamari, the salmon salad. The best. Over the years, every time I come back, the food is worse and worse and the service is worse and worse. I go easy on southern service bc I know they don't move at my fast pace of a northerner...but when my Georgian husband is standing up holding up his credit card saying, "mame?! Check please?!" After he had been trying to flag her down for thirty minutes (and it was not overly busy at the time) you know you have a Problem. I had the fried fish sandwich last time. How could this have gone wrong? The fish was so huge it didn't fit the hoagie at all. The fish tasted miserable. It fell apart, was greasy (and I wanted a little grease- it's fried fish! But their is fried fish and greasy fried fish....) it smelled "fishy" as wellthe potato salad was as bland as bland can be. Potato salad! How easy is it to make potato salad?! How do you wrong with that?! The calamari is served with a pesto basil type of sauce rather than a traditional Asian type of spicy sauce. The basil/pesto combo was so overpowering- we were starving to so we ate it anyway, but the combo of squid and basil/pesto is just not right. The flavor make no sense together. My hubs got the firecracker shrimp tacos and fries and those were still good. I was so disappointed in Driftaway this time around. I know we will be back bc it's a great little place over all- just stick to to the firecracker shrimp tacos and fries.
(2)
Karen H.
We love Driftaway Cafe!! They have great firecracker shrimp, the chicken salad and fish tacos are fantastic!! It's a fun and comfortable atmosphere. Service is always first rate.
(5)
Ali D.
Robyn, You are correct. You did not come to our table and speak with us. We had already gotten up from our table because of the proximity of the roaches. You spoke with us by the bar (you have to pass to leave) on our way out. I don't know how you wouldn't recall speaking with two customers about roaches in your restaurant. My aunt and I were very kind and soft spoken to you. We were in shock about the roaches and even more so about your response; you were sarcastic about them and unprofessional. If I was a restaurant owner I would have been so embarrassed and humbled myself and apologized and given a gift card and asked the customers to please return for a better experience. Again, we never plan to return to Driftaway Cafe.
(1)
Frank A.
Great people, great food! Can't beat it. If your ever there for brunch try the steak and eggs Benedict with home potatoes.
(5)
Jme S.
We started off with the crab cakes that were delicious. Our salads were simple, but fresh and crisp. For entrees, we had the pistachio encrusted salmon and the Parmesan encrusted grouper that were both seasoned and cooked perfectly! The side vegetables weren't over cooked and complimented the entrees well. The portions of food were great. Service was excellent. We will definitely come back here if we are ever traveling through Savannah again!
(5)
Lisa W.
Excellent choice! Stopped for lunch for the first time yesterday & loved it. The atmosphere was light & "coastally". The service was great & we loved our shrimp quasadilla & grouper tacos. Just moved here from Virginia & this is sure to be one of our new faves.
(5)
Sara T.
I wish I could like this restaurant. I've had brunch here twice. The first time I ordered the shrimp and grits, which was phenomenal. The service was less than mediocre (with hardly any customers, how hard is it to ask for a coffee refill?). Overall, I was excited to eat here again the next time I came into town. The second, and final, time we ate here it was a disaster. It was busy, and as someone who has worked at a family restaurant known for its Sunday breakfast/brunch, I know how stressful it can get. First it took our waitress quite some time to acknowledge us, then she took a long time to take our order and bring us drinks - understood. What I don't understand is not telling your customers you're out of something until a half an hour after they've ordered. So, we had to reorder, and then wait a long time to get our food, and then the waitress dropped my husband's meal on the floor... then, in what I'm assuming was an effort to hurry because of how long we have had to wait, brings him back his meal with only about half of what he was supposed to get (we ordered the same thing, one of the eggs Benedict meals, which was honestly not even remotely tasty). Once again, our waitress asked if we wanted a coffee refill only when she handed us our check. The best part was that I could see her talking to other waitresses, just standing around and shooting the breeze, when clearly the restaurant was packed. It wasn't just us who had issues - another waitress stopped to chit chat with another waitress and dropped someone's credit card on the ground. We tried to get her attention - hey, that's someone's card - but she was too preoccupied and it took then a solid ten minutes to realize they had lost someone's card. TL;DR Great shrimp and grits, mediocre at best other food, atrocious service, will not eat here again
(1)
Holly G.
Great atmosphere, awesome service. All the dishes looked great as they passed by to get served. Had the grouper tacos, full hoise sandwich,, the hickory chicken sandwich and the burger. Food was awesome and fresh. Will definitely go again!
(5)
Gabby M.
Such a lovely hidden gem. I was skeptical from some of the mixed reviews but I'm glad I didn't let that sway me. This was a perfect stop on the way to Wormsloe Park! I got the home style breakfast while my friend got the crab cake Benedict. Both meals were fantastic but I was a little jealous of my friends food - the crab cakes were perfection! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of the service. They were all extremely nice but it wasn't particularly quick. We watched two tables order, eat, and leave before we even got our food. Even with the slow service I would totally go back! It looked like they had a good selection for dinner so I can't wait to try it out again!
(4)
Sania N.
I absolutely love this place. I have lived in Savannah my whole life, but finding new places that you weren't aware that had been there forever really makes the town even more exciting! Ever since the first time of going to Driftaway, I keep going back for more. It is heavenly on restaurant week and some of their food options are really great! Try the Tuna Tartare, tuna nibbles, shrimp and crab dip, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, firecracker shrimp, etc. The list could go on and on. There isn't a bad thing there!
(5)
Keri V.
Definitely find your way to the Driftaway! Just stopped in for a drink and a quick bite and didn't want to leave! Atmosphere is quirky and unique. When it's not hot Hades as Savannah is all summer. I would say sit outside, in front or back. Plenty to look at, a few tvs and definitely a place to shoot the shit with friends. Inside, not quite as fun, could use an update but the staff makes up for it. Service: Well we only sat at the bar, but the ladies were great. Some servers and management passed thru, talking as if we have all known each other for years. They are all good eggs and seem to work together to make the customer happy. Menu: Quite the variety, checked it out extensively. There was a TON I wanted to try. But, like I said, just coming by for a bit. I can't imagine anything would be bad. Seared tuna looked perfect. Firecracker Shrimp was absolutely AMAZING. I can't explain the flavor. Not too hot, not too sweet. The Crab dip was out of ythis world and we took some home and wasted not a drop. I'll ammend this when we go back for dinner and we WILL go back.
(4)
John E.
Enjoy going to Driftaway Cafe. For starters, the staff is very friendly. I have always had a great dinning experience and really enjoy the Tybee Tuna.
(4)
Lauren P.
Pros: -We were seated about 10 minutes before opening with no problem -Great outdoor patio -Good, prompt service -bacon and homemade hash browns were super yummy Cons: -coffee tasted instant -can't get entree items at brunch even tho given full menu at seating (we wanted the entree shrimp and grits instead of the brunch because of the ingredients) -Eggs Ellen Benedict super salty and poached eggs were over done -Brunch shrimp and grits were average: loved sundries tomatoes, didn't care for fried shrimp. Needed a kick or something -reminder: Georgia restaurants can't serve brunch mimosas until 12:30pm ;) Overall underwhelmed with brunch food, yet would definitely come back and give the dinner menu a try. Great location, ambiance and staff/service.
(3)
Amy K.
FIRECRACKER SHRIMP. That is all. Seriously, this place is great. One suggestion I'd make, though, is bring back the plain Mac and cheese. I have a daughter who is a vegetarian and she looked forward to it all year (we live in NJ and visit Savannah once a year), and it was a major disappointment to her when we found out there was now lobster in it. It is kind of a tough place for a vegetarian, so maybe more meatless/fishless entrees would be good. Tuna tacos are also excellent. It's off the beaten path in a remote part of Savannah, which is nice because it doesn't seem super touristy. And it's the only thing in Georgia that's open on Sunday.
(5)
Paul S.
October 5, 2014 Sunday - 12:15 PM lunch 1 adult and a kid Atmosphere - 4 stars Food - 4 stars Service - 4 stars Background - We went to Wormsloe for the morning and pasted this place on our way in. I thought we would give it a try when we finished up. Atmosphere - A little more formal than what the outside appears. Maybe it was the Sunday church crowd too. Food Drink - I had some beer the waitress could not pronounce. It was Ovila Belgian-Style Abbey Quad: Ale Brewed with Plums after looking at the tap as we were leaving I was able to determine the name. She told me it was a stout, close. It is seasonal so if you get a chance try it. My Meal - A $13 grinder, was good but was not worth that much. Service - She was polite but something was just a little off, besides telling me they have a full bar and could not tell me what was on tap. Future - Sure if I am in the area again.
(4)
Scott A.
The food was good. The backyard waterfall is a nice touch. The Wormsloe Wedge salad, shrimp taco and Korean beef taco were filling. Skip the crab cakes, they arrived burnt on the bottom and about the circumference of the bottom of a beer bottle. The rest of the plate was chock full of mango salad, dressing, giant tomatoes and cucumbers all which dwarfed the crab cakes. Also we showed up for a late lunch, watched a two-top that sat down after us and left a good half hour before us, fully served, etc. had to move from one booth to another because the bathroom disinfectant smell was too much. Cool interior. I'd give it another try, bc of the food but Sandfly BBQ is the best at that intersection in my opinion.
(2)
Erika W.
Sometimes, you gotta experience the food without the view. While battling the greatest bout of the flu this week, Driftaway Cafe, via Savannah2Go gave me much better options that canned soup! I ordered the Crab Stew, and they don't lie when they say it's good. Ver filling and tasty. In my opinion, beats Campbell's any day when you're under the weather. The meal was on the mid-pricey side, so definitely come by when you have a little extra change to spare. An order of soup and shrimp ran me around $19. However, I had to give them a rave review: even though I haven't experienced the total package. When I'm feeling better, Driftaway, headed your way! Keep it Tasty Savannah.
(3)
Shyam S.
Had a pretty unique dinner with some old friends at this strange little restaurant in Savannah, but about 20 minutes south/east of the touristy area, and seemingly in the country. This is a seafood restaurant that also has a lot of classic items like burgers and sandwiches. But my advice is to check out the list of specials because they are all good. As soon as I glanced at it, I was in love. Two words - Rattlesnake Chili. I have never eaten snake, but always wanted to, so this seemed as good a time as any. I was not disappointed. It was pretty delicious ... well, at least till I found a bone. I told my server about it, but not in a really serious way because it's just a bone, but she was pretty upset and actually comped my Caesar salad. Very nice of them! My friends enjoyed their entrees as well - one had salmon and the other a veggie fajita with the vegetables friend tempura style. All in all, this is a nice, family-friendly restaurant off the beaten path and clearly a popular place for locals. Will definitely return in the future.
(4)
Jeff D.
Outstanding service and excellent food. This is our favorite casual dining spot in Savannah for seafood which is always fresh and delicious.
(5)
Susan J.
I wish I could be more positive. The drift away is in a cute area in Sandfly off the main road and big picture windows look put to a heavily wooded area with a little waterfall. They emphasize their crab cakes but they were tiny & burned on the edges. The hash browns were last nights potatoes chopped up & very browned with burnt pieces mixed in. Our service was spotty. My husband ordered coffee but since I didn't she never asked me. We probably won't make the trek back from Bluffton.
Quite possibly the best grilled shrimp I've ever had in my life, on top of a ribeye prepared by a chef who totally understands and appreciates the concept of "rare". The service was excellent as well. A return trip is a certainty.
(5)
Eddie R.
So, what a great reception. We got to the door and had, at least, 5 people say hi to us. Robyn took the lead and made us feel right at home. Buffy took the 6 of us and served up drinks before we could get real comfortable. The entire staff was awesome. Now the food. We each ordered a different entree. Salmon, bass, Tuna, crab stew soup and even the mongo steak. So, we start with the steak. It was good. The crab stew was second best to another local place in town. Sorry. Still must have. The bang bang shrimp. Very good. The tuna, very good. The salmon, awesome. And my black bass, OMG, a MUST HAVE. Gloria recommended it and she was right on. So, in a word, this place is a homerun. The ENTIRE staff was very pleasant and attentive. The food is very good and the prices are reasonable. If your in the low country or in Savannah, you got to make the trip to this place. I highly recommend it. Thanks Michele.
(5)
Rodney W.
Eaten her many times, always good. BUT tonight the batter on the firecracker shrimp was way over salted, as was the same batter on the bone in pork chop. To be fair, I will compliment them positively on the salmon tartar and the watermelon. Will I be back? Sure, but it might be while.
(1)
Tracey R.
My original review ended with wanting to check Driftwood Cafe for other meals. I did this afternoon and would hard pressed to return again for something besides brunch.
(2)
James W.
Great staff, quick and polite. nice interior too, but not overly impressed by last minute changes in menu. I requested the Pan Roasted Snapper which comes with warm lump crab cakes with sauteed spinach... sounds yummy, but that isnt anything like I received. I did get the sauteed spinach over mashed potatoes and tomatoes all over the flounder. If they had of asked if that was OK, I would be fine with it, but they did not. I am allergic to tomatoes so that is a fairly big issue and I paid for lump crab cakes which Iike and dont like potatoes. Inexcusable for the price!
(2)
Nancy M.
We work nearby and we are here at least once a week. Most of us eat the Firecracker shrimp tacos with the potato salad - sooooo yummy! The owners are great, the staff are great, and the food is fabulous! I now have friends who work in other area's of town and they always want to meet me closer to my work so they too can eat at Driftaway.
(5)
Bruce C.
Excellent wait staff, friendly atmosphere and always good food served at reasonable prices. My go-to restaurant.
(5)
Brad B.
Had lunch there Saturday. We thought we would never be served. When we finally got to order our appetizers they arrived Luke warm. Our lunch also not as warm as I would prefer. My wife's order was not cooked they way she ordered it. She requested well done and it came out rare. Send it back? We would have if we could get our servers attention. When we did flag her down everyone in our group (6) had finished there meal. We told our server we would not pay for my wife's lunch as she did not eat it. she informed us she would have to check with the owner. There are many fine restaurants in Savannah. I think we will try every one of them before we return to Driftaway.
(1)
Rachel M.
I wish I could eat here everyday! Went for my birthday bc I was craving a good seared Ahi steak and saw the photos here on yelp- wasn't disappointed! We got the calamari app (although it was hard to decide, tune bits, blue cheese chips, crabcakes) and it was awesome. I'm a bit of a calamari snob and hate when it's poorly done, but it was light, tender, served as rings and the very small whole baby ones, which is fabulous pesto aioli. Ahi was served with a sesame ginger and creamy wasabi sauce and I wanted to drink it. Grouper and crab were prefect, I normally don't do breaded but it was just barely breaded and pan fried with no grease on it or the plate!
(5)
Corby M.
I have come here for over 9 years and it's consistently good. Make sure and check out the specials and the beer list if your so inclined.
(5)
Paul K.
Staying at Skidaway Island State Park. Great food! Tuna bites are perfect. Calamari is tender and perfect. Great service and atmosphere. We sat in the sunroom Will definitely be back for dinner.
(5)
Breanna T.
I stumbled upon this cafe after visiting the nearby wormsloe historic sight. I thought it was cute and has beach scenes painted murals throughout and a fish tank. I sat at the bar but didn't get an alcoholic drink since I was driving to Tennessee that morning. I was lucky enough to hit up a Sunday brunch menu. I am a vegetarian and they were very accommodating and made me veggie eggs Benedict with grilled asparagus and tomatoes. I got their housemade hash browns for a side which were the most amazing thing I've ever had. It was wedged potatoes mixed with I think the bartender said cheese and housemade pico de gallo. I honestly wasn't expecting such a delicious meal from a road side cafe but they blew me away. The owner was also on sight and checked in with me to make sure everything was good.
(5)
Maureen S.
Drift Away is one of our go to places for consistently great food and atmosphere..Cheers like...where everyone knows your name..and the servers start writing my order before they get to the table...case in point...Full House Fish Sandwich Wednesday night at 8....Full House Grouper Sandwich at 2:30 on Thursday!!! By far, the best and largest fish sandwich in town!! Blackened, fried, grilled...choose your flavor...but choose the Full House...you will get hooked!!!
(5)
Lena R.
We had lunch and it was OK, nothing to rave about. Tuna in tacos were good; coleslaw tasted good, but made out of old cabbage. Steak quesadilla was made with very-very dry, probably leftover roast beef.
(3)
Meredith S.
I absolutely love this place. I live in Ohio but my parents live a few minutes from Driftaway. I literally dream of their Tuna Tacos. Their fire cracker sauce is insanely good. My parents buy bottles of it from them. All the other food looks great but I can't pass up the tacos. The Tuna is just very lightly seared on the edges, 90% raw, just perfect. I was in the area for 2 weeks this time and got the Tacos twice. It cheap and amazing food. If your in the area you have to stop in.
(5)
Gary M.
All I can say is microwaves should not be allowed in kitchens. If I wanted a microwave meal, I would have stayed home. The braised short ribs may have been good had I been able to taste the dish before I burned the roof of my mouth because of the extreme heat of the meat! I grill regularly and have never burned my mouth one at my grill. To add insult to injury so to speak, the manager insisted that the establishment doesn't use microwaves in the kitchen. I will not return.
(1)
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Address :7400 Skidaway Rd,Ste D
Savannah, GA, 31406
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Lisa A.
The food at Driftaway Cafe isn't the only fantastic thing about the place. It's got a really great, almost "Cheers" like neighborhood atmosphere. It's always packed, and they really are always glad you came. The wait staff is friendly, and the food choices.. I mean, who thinks of these things? So creative and delicious! I've never had a bad experience here. Even my friends who aren't fans of seafood found tasty choices for lunch and dinner.
(5)tessa j.
I think Emily D., below, has got her finger on the pulse of this place. Having frequented Driftaway for years and watched a steady decline (is there new management or what?), I think we're done giving this place second chances. It's always frustrating to have no quality control, such that you don't know from one time to the next what the place will be like. Went for lunch yesterday, thinking we'd try it one more time after a disastrous dinner a few months ago, and, well, no. The food was mediocre, served at varying temps, and the atmosphere is very tired and cold. Cold as in we kept our jackets on the whole time. Acoustics terrible - you have to strain to hear the person you're dining with - and FOX news on at every tv in every dining room. Yeah, it's true that the Skidaway area is not teeming with tons of fab eateries but, for my time and money, I'll be making the trek downtown next time.
(2)Paul O.
Great lunch, Firecracker Shrimp were really tasty, fun, relaxed atmosphere, great times.
(4)Jenn_Leigh L.
Went for drinks and sat on their inviting front porch. The 2 stray cats were friendly. Staff was excellent.
(5)Sandee B.
One of my favorite places! Literally everything is amazing on the menu and the service is always great.
(5)Millhouse R.
Pretty gross. Mangy meat makes a French Dip, raggedy cheese, bland crab and stale bread make for crab dip. The decor is pretty crappy as well. I'm guessing since most of the clientle at the time were elderly the management/owners figure they're too old to care about the quality of everything as long as the waitress' are friendly and they get a window seat over looking the mini waterfall.
(1)Mark B.
Driftaway Café is a local gem in Savannah. The restaurant combines a rare pair of casual dining with sophisticated cuisine, and should be a stop for local foodies. We had the tuna tarter and crap meat appetizers, and both were fabulous. The restaurant provides a great variety of sandwiches, salads, starters and entrees for any taste. You should try it!
(5)Jennifer D.
Updating review to a higher rating for service, their staff was friendly and efficient, they deserve recognition.
(4)Mischa Z.
The place inside is very charming! The restaurant is kind of hidden by the other flower shop but it is a nice discovery! The food is not as great as expected! But It is still good! Got the famous tuna typee and the spécial coucous with copia fish. The waitress really nice and not overwhelming like most waitresses! The presentation is okay and average noise okay! Would go there again if I pass by this town again.
(4)Me A.
Always disappointed by the portion size and the price. It's bar is always loud and raucous so we made sure we went at lunch the 2nd time. The food taste good but it's not worth the price.
(2)Kiley T.
I don't know what has happened here....6 years ago this was my favorite place to eat. I loved the firecracker shrimp tacos, the calamari, the salmon salad. The best. Over the years, every time I come back, the food is worse and worse and the service is worse and worse. I go easy on southern service bc I know they don't move at my fast pace of a northerner...but when my Georgian husband is standing up holding up his credit card saying, "mame?! Check please?!" After he had been trying to flag her down for thirty minutes (and it was not overly busy at the time) you know you have a Problem. I had the fried fish sandwich last time. How could this have gone wrong? The fish was so huge it didn't fit the hoagie at all. The fish tasted miserable. It fell apart, was greasy (and I wanted a little grease- it's fried fish! But their is fried fish and greasy fried fish....) it smelled "fishy" as wellthe potato salad was as bland as bland can be. Potato salad! How easy is it to make potato salad?! How do you wrong with that?! The calamari is served with a pesto basil type of sauce rather than a traditional Asian type of spicy sauce. The basil/pesto combo was so overpowering- we were starving to so we ate it anyway, but the combo of squid and basil/pesto is just not right. The flavor make no sense together. My hubs got the firecracker shrimp tacos and fries and those were still good. I was so disappointed in Driftaway this time around. I know we will be back bc it's a great little place over all- just stick to to the firecracker shrimp tacos and fries.
(2)Karen H.
We love Driftaway Cafe!! They have great firecracker shrimp, the chicken salad and fish tacos are fantastic!! It's a fun and comfortable atmosphere. Service is always first rate.
(5)Ali D.
Robyn, You are correct. You did not come to our table and speak with us. We had already gotten up from our table because of the proximity of the roaches. You spoke with us by the bar (you have to pass to leave) on our way out. I don't know how you wouldn't recall speaking with two customers about roaches in your restaurant. My aunt and I were very kind and soft spoken to you. We were in shock about the roaches and even more so about your response; you were sarcastic about them and unprofessional. If I was a restaurant owner I would have been so embarrassed and humbled myself and apologized and given a gift card and asked the customers to please return for a better experience. Again, we never plan to return to Driftaway Cafe.
(1)Frank A.
Great people, great food! Can't beat it. If your ever there for brunch try the steak and eggs Benedict with home potatoes.
(5)Jme S.
We started off with the crab cakes that were delicious. Our salads were simple, but fresh and crisp. For entrees, we had the pistachio encrusted salmon and the Parmesan encrusted grouper that were both seasoned and cooked perfectly! The side vegetables weren't over cooked and complimented the entrees well. The portions of food were great. Service was excellent. We will definitely come back here if we are ever traveling through Savannah again!
(5)Lisa W.
Excellent choice! Stopped for lunch for the first time yesterday & loved it. The atmosphere was light & "coastally". The service was great & we loved our shrimp quasadilla & grouper tacos. Just moved here from Virginia & this is sure to be one of our new faves.
(5)Sara T.
I wish I could like this restaurant. I've had brunch here twice. The first time I ordered the shrimp and grits, which was phenomenal. The service was less than mediocre (with hardly any customers, how hard is it to ask for a coffee refill?). Overall, I was excited to eat here again the next time I came into town. The second, and final, time we ate here it was a disaster. It was busy, and as someone who has worked at a family restaurant known for its Sunday breakfast/brunch, I know how stressful it can get. First it took our waitress quite some time to acknowledge us, then she took a long time to take our order and bring us drinks - understood. What I don't understand is not telling your customers you're out of something until a half an hour after they've ordered. So, we had to reorder, and then wait a long time to get our food, and then the waitress dropped my husband's meal on the floor... then, in what I'm assuming was an effort to hurry because of how long we have had to wait, brings him back his meal with only about half of what he was supposed to get (we ordered the same thing, one of the eggs Benedict meals, which was honestly not even remotely tasty). Once again, our waitress asked if we wanted a coffee refill only when she handed us our check. The best part was that I could see her talking to other waitresses, just standing around and shooting the breeze, when clearly the restaurant was packed. It wasn't just us who had issues - another waitress stopped to chit chat with another waitress and dropped someone's credit card on the ground. We tried to get her attention - hey, that's someone's card - but she was too preoccupied and it took then a solid ten minutes to realize they had lost someone's card. TL;DR Great shrimp and grits, mediocre at best other food, atrocious service, will not eat here again
(1)Holly G.
Great atmosphere, awesome service. All the dishes looked great as they passed by to get served. Had the grouper tacos, full hoise sandwich,, the hickory chicken sandwich and the burger. Food was awesome and fresh. Will definitely go again!
(5)Gabby M.
Such a lovely hidden gem. I was skeptical from some of the mixed reviews but I'm glad I didn't let that sway me. This was a perfect stop on the way to Wormsloe Park! I got the home style breakfast while my friend got the crab cake Benedict. Both meals were fantastic but I was a little jealous of my friends food - the crab cakes were perfection! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of the service. They were all extremely nice but it wasn't particularly quick. We watched two tables order, eat, and leave before we even got our food. Even with the slow service I would totally go back! It looked like they had a good selection for dinner so I can't wait to try it out again!
(4)Sania N.
I absolutely love this place. I have lived in Savannah my whole life, but finding new places that you weren't aware that had been there forever really makes the town even more exciting! Ever since the first time of going to Driftaway, I keep going back for more. It is heavenly on restaurant week and some of their food options are really great! Try the Tuna Tartare, tuna nibbles, shrimp and crab dip, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, firecracker shrimp, etc. The list could go on and on. There isn't a bad thing there!
(5)Keri V.
Definitely find your way to the Driftaway! Just stopped in for a drink and a quick bite and didn't want to leave! Atmosphere is quirky and unique. When it's not hot Hades as Savannah is all summer. I would say sit outside, in front or back. Plenty to look at, a few tvs and definitely a place to shoot the shit with friends. Inside, not quite as fun, could use an update but the staff makes up for it. Service: Well we only sat at the bar, but the ladies were great. Some servers and management passed thru, talking as if we have all known each other for years. They are all good eggs and seem to work together to make the customer happy. Menu: Quite the variety, checked it out extensively. There was a TON I wanted to try. But, like I said, just coming by for a bit. I can't imagine anything would be bad. Seared tuna looked perfect. Firecracker Shrimp was absolutely AMAZING. I can't explain the flavor. Not too hot, not too sweet. The Crab dip was out of ythis world and we took some home and wasted not a drop. I'll ammend this when we go back for dinner and we WILL go back.
(4)John E.
Enjoy going to Driftaway Cafe. For starters, the staff is very friendly. I have always had a great dinning experience and really enjoy the Tybee Tuna.
(4)Lauren P.
Pros: -We were seated about 10 minutes before opening with no problem -Great outdoor patio -Good, prompt service -bacon and homemade hash browns were super yummy Cons: -coffee tasted instant -can't get entree items at brunch even tho given full menu at seating (we wanted the entree shrimp and grits instead of the brunch because of the ingredients) -Eggs Ellen Benedict super salty and poached eggs were over done -Brunch shrimp and grits were average: loved sundries tomatoes, didn't care for fried shrimp. Needed a kick or something -reminder: Georgia restaurants can't serve brunch mimosas until 12:30pm ;) Overall underwhelmed with brunch food, yet would definitely come back and give the dinner menu a try. Great location, ambiance and staff/service.
(3)Amy K.
FIRECRACKER SHRIMP. That is all. Seriously, this place is great. One suggestion I'd make, though, is bring back the plain Mac and cheese. I have a daughter who is a vegetarian and she looked forward to it all year (we live in NJ and visit Savannah once a year), and it was a major disappointment to her when we found out there was now lobster in it. It is kind of a tough place for a vegetarian, so maybe more meatless/fishless entrees would be good. Tuna tacos are also excellent. It's off the beaten path in a remote part of Savannah, which is nice because it doesn't seem super touristy. And it's the only thing in Georgia that's open on Sunday.
(5)Paul S.
October 5, 2014 Sunday - 12:15 PM lunch 1 adult and a kid Atmosphere - 4 stars Food - 4 stars Service - 4 stars Background - We went to Wormsloe for the morning and pasted this place on our way in. I thought we would give it a try when we finished up. Atmosphere - A little more formal than what the outside appears. Maybe it was the Sunday church crowd too. Food Drink - I had some beer the waitress could not pronounce. It was Ovila Belgian-Style Abbey Quad: Ale Brewed with Plums after looking at the tap as we were leaving I was able to determine the name. She told me it was a stout, close. It is seasonal so if you get a chance try it. My Meal - A $13 grinder, was good but was not worth that much. Service - She was polite but something was just a little off, besides telling me they have a full bar and could not tell me what was on tap. Future - Sure if I am in the area again.
(4)Scott A.
The food was good. The backyard waterfall is a nice touch. The Wormsloe Wedge salad, shrimp taco and Korean beef taco were filling. Skip the crab cakes, they arrived burnt on the bottom and about the circumference of the bottom of a beer bottle. The rest of the plate was chock full of mango salad, dressing, giant tomatoes and cucumbers all which dwarfed the crab cakes. Also we showed up for a late lunch, watched a two-top that sat down after us and left a good half hour before us, fully served, etc. had to move from one booth to another because the bathroom disinfectant smell was too much. Cool interior. I'd give it another try, bc of the food but Sandfly BBQ is the best at that intersection in my opinion.
(2)Erika W.
Sometimes, you gotta experience the food without the view. While battling the greatest bout of the flu this week, Driftaway Cafe, via Savannah2Go gave me much better options that canned soup! I ordered the Crab Stew, and they don't lie when they say it's good. Ver filling and tasty. In my opinion, beats Campbell's any day when you're under the weather. The meal was on the mid-pricey side, so definitely come by when you have a little extra change to spare. An order of soup and shrimp ran me around $19. However, I had to give them a rave review: even though I haven't experienced the total package. When I'm feeling better, Driftaway, headed your way! Keep it Tasty Savannah.
(3)Shyam S.
Had a pretty unique dinner with some old friends at this strange little restaurant in Savannah, but about 20 minutes south/east of the touristy area, and seemingly in the country. This is a seafood restaurant that also has a lot of classic items like burgers and sandwiches. But my advice is to check out the list of specials because they are all good. As soon as I glanced at it, I was in love. Two words - Rattlesnake Chili. I have never eaten snake, but always wanted to, so this seemed as good a time as any. I was not disappointed. It was pretty delicious ... well, at least till I found a bone. I told my server about it, but not in a really serious way because it's just a bone, but she was pretty upset and actually comped my Caesar salad. Very nice of them! My friends enjoyed their entrees as well - one had salmon and the other a veggie fajita with the vegetables friend tempura style. All in all, this is a nice, family-friendly restaurant off the beaten path and clearly a popular place for locals. Will definitely return in the future.
(4)Jeff D.
Outstanding service and excellent food. This is our favorite casual dining spot in Savannah for seafood which is always fresh and delicious.
(5)Susan J.
I wish I could be more positive. The drift away is in a cute area in Sandfly off the main road and big picture windows look put to a heavily wooded area with a little waterfall. They emphasize their crab cakes but they were tiny & burned on the edges. The hash browns were last nights potatoes chopped up & very browned with burnt pieces mixed in. Our service was spotty. My husband ordered coffee but since I didn't she never asked me. We probably won't make the trek back from Bluffton.
(3)Justin J.
My wife used to live in Savannah so we visit here a lot to see family but I never knew about the Drift Away Café until just recently. It has now become my favorite spot to eat while in Savannah. They have some of the best fish dishes I've ever eaten. They are fresh, creative, and they have beautiful presentations. I had the Pan Roasted Snapper on Crab Cakes w/ Pesto and it was off the chain!
(5)Floyd D.
Quite possibly the best grilled shrimp I've ever had in my life, on top of a ribeye prepared by a chef who totally understands and appreciates the concept of "rare". The service was excellent as well. A return trip is a certainty.
(5)Eddie R.
So, what a great reception. We got to the door and had, at least, 5 people say hi to us. Robyn took the lead and made us feel right at home. Buffy took the 6 of us and served up drinks before we could get real comfortable. The entire staff was awesome. Now the food. We each ordered a different entree. Salmon, bass, Tuna, crab stew soup and even the mongo steak. So, we start with the steak. It was good. The crab stew was second best to another local place in town. Sorry. Still must have. The bang bang shrimp. Very good. The tuna, very good. The salmon, awesome. And my black bass, OMG, a MUST HAVE. Gloria recommended it and she was right on. So, in a word, this place is a homerun. The ENTIRE staff was very pleasant and attentive. The food is very good and the prices are reasonable. If your in the low country or in Savannah, you got to make the trip to this place. I highly recommend it. Thanks Michele.
(5)Rodney W.
Eaten her many times, always good. BUT tonight the batter on the firecracker shrimp was way over salted, as was the same batter on the bone in pork chop. To be fair, I will compliment them positively on the salmon tartar and the watermelon. Will I be back? Sure, but it might be while.
(1)Tracey R.
My original review ended with wanting to check Driftwood Cafe for other meals. I did this afternoon and would hard pressed to return again for something besides brunch.
(2)James W.
Great staff, quick and polite. nice interior too, but not overly impressed by last minute changes in menu. I requested the Pan Roasted Snapper which comes with warm lump crab cakes with sauteed spinach... sounds yummy, but that isnt anything like I received. I did get the sauteed spinach over mashed potatoes and tomatoes all over the flounder. If they had of asked if that was OK, I would be fine with it, but they did not. I am allergic to tomatoes so that is a fairly big issue and I paid for lump crab cakes which Iike and dont like potatoes. Inexcusable for the price!
(2)Nancy M.
We work nearby and we are here at least once a week. Most of us eat the Firecracker shrimp tacos with the potato salad - sooooo yummy! The owners are great, the staff are great, and the food is fabulous! I now have friends who work in other area's of town and they always want to meet me closer to my work so they too can eat at Driftaway.
(5)Bruce C.
Excellent wait staff, friendly atmosphere and always good food served at reasonable prices. My go-to restaurant.
(5)Brad B.
Had lunch there Saturday. We thought we would never be served. When we finally got to order our appetizers they arrived Luke warm. Our lunch also not as warm as I would prefer. My wife's order was not cooked they way she ordered it. She requested well done and it came out rare. Send it back? We would have if we could get our servers attention. When we did flag her down everyone in our group (6) had finished there meal. We told our server we would not pay for my wife's lunch as she did not eat it. she informed us she would have to check with the owner. There are many fine restaurants in Savannah. I think we will try every one of them before we return to Driftaway.
(1)Rachel M.
I wish I could eat here everyday! Went for my birthday bc I was craving a good seared Ahi steak and saw the photos here on yelp- wasn't disappointed! We got the calamari app (although it was hard to decide, tune bits, blue cheese chips, crabcakes) and it was awesome. I'm a bit of a calamari snob and hate when it's poorly done, but it was light, tender, served as rings and the very small whole baby ones, which is fabulous pesto aioli. Ahi was served with a sesame ginger and creamy wasabi sauce and I wanted to drink it. Grouper and crab were prefect, I normally don't do breaded but it was just barely breaded and pan fried with no grease on it or the plate!
(5)Corby M.
I have come here for over 9 years and it's consistently good. Make sure and check out the specials and the beer list if your so inclined.
(5)Paul K.
Staying at Skidaway Island State Park. Great food! Tuna bites are perfect. Calamari is tender and perfect. Great service and atmosphere. We sat in the sunroom Will definitely be back for dinner.
(5)Breanna T.
I stumbled upon this cafe after visiting the nearby wormsloe historic sight. I thought it was cute and has beach scenes painted murals throughout and a fish tank. I sat at the bar but didn't get an alcoholic drink since I was driving to Tennessee that morning. I was lucky enough to hit up a Sunday brunch menu. I am a vegetarian and they were very accommodating and made me veggie eggs Benedict with grilled asparagus and tomatoes. I got their housemade hash browns for a side which were the most amazing thing I've ever had. It was wedged potatoes mixed with I think the bartender said cheese and housemade pico de gallo. I honestly wasn't expecting such a delicious meal from a road side cafe but they blew me away. The owner was also on sight and checked in with me to make sure everything was good.
(5)Maureen S.
Drift Away is one of our go to places for consistently great food and atmosphere..Cheers like...where everyone knows your name..and the servers start writing my order before they get to the table...case in point...Full House Fish Sandwich Wednesday night at 8....Full House Grouper Sandwich at 2:30 on Thursday!!! By far, the best and largest fish sandwich in town!! Blackened, fried, grilled...choose your flavor...but choose the Full House...you will get hooked!!!
(5)Lena R.
We had lunch and it was OK, nothing to rave about. Tuna in tacos were good; coleslaw tasted good, but made out of old cabbage. Steak quesadilla was made with very-very dry, probably leftover roast beef.
(3)Meredith S.
I absolutely love this place. I live in Ohio but my parents live a few minutes from Driftaway. I literally dream of their Tuna Tacos. Their fire cracker sauce is insanely good. My parents buy bottles of it from them. All the other food looks great but I can't pass up the tacos. The Tuna is just very lightly seared on the edges, 90% raw, just perfect. I was in the area for 2 weeks this time and got the Tacos twice. It cheap and amazing food. If your in the area you have to stop in.
(5)Gary M.
All I can say is microwaves should not be allowed in kitchens. If I wanted a microwave meal, I would have stayed home. The braised short ribs may have been good had I been able to taste the dish before I burned the roof of my mouth because of the extreme heat of the meat! I grill regularly and have never burned my mouth one at my grill. To add insult to injury so to speak, the manager insisted that the establishment doesn't use microwaves in the kitchen. I will not return.
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