Driftwood Bistro
1175 N Beachview Dr, Jekyll Island, GA, 31527
Driftwood Bistro Menu
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Address :
1175 N Beachview Dr
Jekyll Island, GA, 31527 - Phone (912) 635-2521
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Toni G.
1st time here. And won't be the last. I cannot say enough great things about this place. Had the blackened shrimp, fried shrimp, stuffed flounder, squash casserole, sweet potato casserole mash taters, Mac and cheese...and the star of the night. cheesy grits. OMG CHEESY GRITS that would make you slap yo mama and commit a crime. every damn thing was so fresh and tasty...did I mention cheesy grits??? I love how there is an option for petite or regular size... Although I could have eaten a vat of those heavenly cheese grits. This is a must for anyone visiting the island. God bless America and God bless these cheesy grits.
(5)Sandra F.
My mom and I are staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel. I asked the front desk if there was any nearby restaurants in the Jekyll Island area. I didn't feel like driving so she mentioned Driftwood Bistro. It is located next to the Villas by the Sea Resort. Our shuttle took us there and the bonus was we were walking distance from Driftwood Beach. So we decided to try it. This restaurant is more family oriented and draws a more old crowd. They do sell wine and beer, but not a great selection. The decor is plain (decorated like someone's home (floral) and wooden fish hanging all over the walls). Our server was Lisa and she was VERY attentive and friendly (it was really busy). My mom had a couple of questions to ask. She was patient and my mom did not feel rushed to order. I could not believe the pricing was pretty cheap for seafood. I even ended up a bottle of Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon (glass is for $6.50) for only $10.00 and I can take it with me if I could finish the bottle! Here is what we ordered: My mom got the cup of crab soup which was a creamy bisque for $3.00 (you get oyster crackers with it). Dinner the fried shrimp- $11.50 (10 pieces-wild georgia shrimp) platter and you get to choose two sides. She got the mac and cheese and rice pilaf. I got the blackened shrimp platter (10 pieces of wild georgia shrimp) with cheesy broccoli and mashed potatoes. We got our meals pretty quick. I thought my meal pretty good. I do like the portion sizes, not too much! My mom also liked her meal. I would have given this place a 3 star rating because the food was okay and nothing to rave about. It was delicious, but lacked something. But I give it four stars for the great service and the cheap pricing.
(4)Bonnie S.
If you are looking for home cooking then come to this place. Nothing fancy. All food is exactly as described. Shrimp in both the entree and appetizer are very small. You would think for an appetizer that they would be bigger, they are not. Also, one very rude waiter there who does not smile at you, introduce herself, ask if you need refills, or ask if you want dessert before bringing the check. The only time she was friendly was when she brought the check and had the total, including 20% gratuity added to it, written at the bottom for you. Fried green tomatoes and cheese grits were AMAZING. I repeat AMAZING!
(3)Steven N.
This was great. The food was good, yet the place was casual enough that we didn't feel bad bringing our 2 year old (e.g, it is not "fine dining," but it is not a chain, which wins in my book!). In fact, there were a decent number of families there. Seemed to be a popular place; we were quoted 45 minute wait when we got there at about 5:45. Took a little less than that, so pleasantly surprised. I thought the staff was excellent; very attentive and kind. I liked the options on the menu; good choices without being overwhelming. The shrimp and grits; wonderful (apparently they are local shrimp, but I'm not sure I'm discerning enough in my shrimp tasting to know better). The creamed corn is worth it for sure and very decadent. Not quite 5 stars mainly because of ambiance and parking, but a solid place.
(4)Josh T.
My wife and I visited on the last night of our trip. Our service was excellent. Our server was helpful and attentive. We also had nice conversation with the manager. We ordered an appetizer of Fried Green Tomatoes with Chipotle Ranch sauce. They were piping hot and firm. My wife had the Shrimp and Grits with Squash Casserole and was very delicious. The sauce was creamy, smokey and delicious. I had the Grilled Shrimp with Collard Greens and Sweet Potato Soufflé. The shrimp with grilled nicely but the sides were the star for me. I love sweet potatoes and this side definitely ranks as one of my favorite uses of sweet potatoes. This restaurant is moderately priced and a great place for couples to fine. Quality food at a good price.
(4)J B.
Most of the food we ordered was good but some of the sides were less than hot. Service was slow and not very professional.
(2)Brooke N.
We ordered the sampler basket with fried okra, mushrooms and fried green tomatoes. It was ok. I had the mahi mahi blackened sandwich with fries. It was ok. My husband had the pork tenderloin and he liked it. He loved the bread pudding! We wouldn't go out of our way to come back. Our experience was not bad but not memorable. The parking situation was a pain and there always seem to be a wait.
(3)Bill K.
Once again the staff at Driftwood Bistro rose to the occasion of our annual family reunion and went above and beyond expectations. The food is never hit or miss, it's ALWAYS a hit and the service left nothing to be desired. We ate in the restaurant Friday night and had take out from the restaurant for our room Saturday night. All we need is a sixth star for this establishment.
(5)Evangeline T.
We ordered the fried okra appetizer, stuffed grouper with sweet potato soufflé & fried green tomatoes, Cuban sandwich, kids hot dog, kids pizza. Everything had great flavor with some spice! We enjoyed it & will come again.
(4)Sierra H.
Very good food, my party of four all enjoyed their meal. I had the flounder and it was outstanding. The petite meals are slightly cheaper and is still enough food to fill you up. Service was okay considering the place was packed, we were seated within 15 minutes of being there which was nice. I will definitely be back.
(4)Stacey J.
I'm from the south and this food is by far the best home made southern food I have ever had at a restaurant.
(5)Julie H.
Delicious! Had the roast beef sandwich and my husband loved the fried okra. The rolls are amazing too!
(5)Jonathan M.
Horrible... Waited hour to be seated..40 minutes and counting for food... Just got food.. Over cooked and dry burger... French fries went straight into fryer.. In-law had shrimp and grits.. He liked them Wife had veggie pasta, said it would as ok
(1)Kevin D.
Great food, service is exceptional. I had the veggie pasta with shrimp. The service from the waitress to the servers, to the manager was outstanding. They really care about providing fast service, and amazing food. My #1 recommendation on the Island. Just wish I could have found it day 1 of my vacation.
(5)Hollie E.
We eat here from time to time and are locals. The last 3 times we have been it is not good by a long shot. First, the hostesses are RUDE, they act as if we are bothering them. There are other places to eat. We were there Saturday night and is probably our last time. We both ordered blackened shrimp and they were not even broiled and I don't think they were fresh. It took so long to get out food we didn't send it back. The manager needs to go back to how he started a few years ago before people stop going. I would not recommend wasting your time and money.
(1)Carrie M.
This place is great, the 1 hour wait was worth it. I got grilled shrimp and cheesy grits with side of mac and cheese and it was outstanding. We had the sampler platter for the appetizer which included fried okra, fried mushrooms and fried green tomatoes. I thought all of it was very yummy. My 14 year old daughter is now hooked on fried okra! Very affordable for seafood too. This restaurant is the definition of comfort food!
(5)Anthony P.
Great food, friendly service. I think this is the best value on the island . Good fresh seafood. Friendly wait staff .
(4)Andre S.
We eat here whenever in town. Just delicious and a fun place to be. The fried okra is delectable, really outstanding, light and flavorful. The sides I have tried: squash casserole, creamed corn, fried green tomatoes are just wonderful. We love the Southern entrees like Shrimp Creole but also more general home cooking like the Pot Roast was terrific! Drinks are good and premium wines seem decent. Delicious sweet tea! Very popular, hours are a little limited so make your plans accordingly.
(5)Mark R.
Currently sitting at a table but let me begin, There is no draft beer. I have been sitting for 30 minutes without being asked to order a single time. They would not allow a reservation for my party of 32. Haven't even seen food yet and submitting a bad review. As an industry professional, I do not appreciate the lack of service. I hence have asked a server to order, and she rolled her eyes. Do not recommend. Highly advise avoiding. Dairy Queen on the island has much better service.
(1)Al S.
We ate here tonight and it was delicious. The stuffed flounder was a bit fishy tasting But still good. The meatloaf with the tomato gravy was so good. Then we had the peach cobbler Wow it was good. This place gets high marks. I really enjoyed the staff they were very friendly and joked with us even the cook. It was a great experience. We will be back!
(5)Jerri P.
Last night in the island and best meal yet. My favs: grits and squash. The collards were a little stem-y for my liking but the favor was great. The fried okra, amazing. I had grilled shrimp which was okay. My son gobbled it up (along with his broccoli and cheese). Peach cobbler a la mode was divine.
(4)Ann M.
Yum! We loved the place! The food was excellent, along with service! Shrimp and grits were the best I've ever had! Prices were reasonable, too! We loved that you could order regular or petite servings! A must if you are in the area!
(5)Ricky C.
Awesome spot on the island. There was a long line of folks for dinner but the staff cleared people out quite fast. It's a busy venue, lots of available seating . I only got to see one side of it. I ordered the blackened shrimp w grits. Those were probably the best grits I've had. Probably should have taken a bowl home. To finish it off we had bread pudding which was phenomenal . Wasn't heavy and overly sweet. The service was great. Later the owner came out to chat with us and gave us some tips of how to make the grits "great" . - I'll be back again .. one day
(5)Bruce D.
$10 & $15 bottles of wine! Entrees served in regular and petite sizes. I understand the Creme brûlée/ Bread pudding is to die for. Food items are described as close to actual servings as possible! Okra is especially good. I go every trip in this area!
(4)Rich R.
We were very disappointed with the selection and quality of restaurants at Jekyll Island (go figure, all those hotel rooms and no decent affordable restaurants). A local recommended this place and we are sure glad he did. This place is hard to find on the north end of the island, in a resort complex. Parking can be a bear, but we got lucky as someone pulled out right in front of the place. The dining rooms are clean, lively, pleasant and the wait staff is awesome. We had the fried okra app which was tasty. The entrees come in two sizes, petite and regular (or huge). I chose blackened catfish which was done to perfection. There is a large selection of sides, I chose coleslaw and sweet potato souflee. Partner didnt like her grits side. Nice selection of beers and wine. We would come back if there was something to do on Jekyll Island.
(5)Stacy M.
According to my husband and son the meatloaf was awesome!! Great flavor!! I had mahi mahi! It was good. My daughter ha fried shrimp and wished she had chosen grilled shrimp. The service was good, not great. Once our waiter got a very large party, he kind of ignored us. It was my birthday and he old us they didn't do anything for birthdays. He was right, he didn't even then say "happy birthday" himself! There aren't many options on the island for eating. I think we chose wisely but it could have been better.
(3)Tripp C.
This is the best restaurant on the Island. They food is great and very reasonably priced. Their squash casserole is amazing. They offer a good mix of seafood and more traditional country fare.
(4)John S.
The shrimp (blackened) and grits were perfect. The squash casserole was perfect--it did not taste like squash, but who cares when it's so good you can't stop smiling. My sons loved the shrimp diablo. My wife loved the fried catfish. The service was excellent--contrary to what some have previously said. Either Driftwood improved, in general, or we got lucky with an excellent server. There was a 25 minute wait for a table and it took the food a long time to come out. I was prepared for that, having read other reviews. The food is worth it, though. Prices are about $12 for the petite portion of every dish and $15 for the regular portion, which I consider inexpensive, given the quality of the food.
(5)Natalie C.
The food is very good and very southern. We ate here twice on our trip this year. There is always a wait to be seated but it was tolerable. The service is not good. Both times our server never checked to see how our food was. But it was fine since our food was good. On our second visit we waited more than 45 mins for our food after ordering and it came out Luke warm. We overheard the servers complaining about being over seated by the hostess - while there were many open tables. Seemed like they could use more wait staff or some bussers or something. But the food is worth it. I had to go back for the fried green tomatoes and my husband enjoyed the catfish. Overall it's probably the best option on the island aside from jekyll club.
(3)Ken K.
Great place to take your famished family for a good, hearty meal after a long day on a beach or hiking on Jekyll. The seafood is fresch, and the sides are the best. Cole slaw, sweet potato casserole, corn pudding.......you just can't go wrong!!
(4)Zachary W.
Back again for the third year in a row. Best meals I've had on the island. Seafood/Southern favorites. Great value and a friendly staff. We'll be back next year.
(4)Craig G.
It's not bad, and since your options are limited on the Island it's a decent enough meal. But the servers don't go out of their way to make you feel welcomed. And the kitchen does an adequate job. I had the Shrimp & Grits which was stingy on the shrimp and they were quite small also, but at least the flavor was okay. The shrimp bisque, in contrast was very flavorful. It's not a place I'd seek out, but if I didn't want to make the trip to the mainland or St. Simon's it's a decent option.
(2)Jenny A.
A few years ago, our annual trip to Latitude 31 came to a screeching halt due to it being closed for repairs. We were rightly steered to the Driftwood Bistro and quickly fell in love with the stellar staff, relaxing atmosphere and wonderful food. In November, we are looking forward to year No. 3 at the Driftwood! We always visit multiple times during our stay on St. Simons Island. There are 6 women who all have different tastes in cuisine and this is a definite 6 thumbs-up every time!
(4)Sean O.
Best value we've come across. This place is a no-brainer. Our group of 8 retired firefighters from Cleveland enjoyed a meal last night, came back tonight for more. Plenty of reasonable priced entrees, all prepared expertly. Stuffed flounder, shrimp and grits, Yankee pot roast, pork tenderloin and many side dishes WOW all awesome. The owner took care of us last night, tonight the manager was Keith both made us feel welcome. Then there's the staff in the lounge area Bretta, Lisa and Kevin, they too were awesome. Bretta was just great, worth mentioning. The whole experience was awesome, we highly recommend the Driftwood Bistros.
(5)Peggy H.
Nice dining spot on Jekyll Island. Server was friendly but the food was a bit delayed. Fried shrimp tasted cook, lightly breaded. Crab bisque was really good. Peach cobbler was exquisite but more than one can eat so share it! Enjoyed the driftwood sculptures around the restaurant. Overall one of the best dining experiences on the island this trip.
(4)Erin Y.
Food is consistently good, great shrimp and grits! Only complaint is with the staff the manager was very rude and unfriendly. Customer service provided by the manager and hostess was very disappointing. It will be a while before we return.......
(2)Hayley G.
I just ate here for the first time with some friends! The atmosphere was pretty casual, which is nice if you are just coming off the beach and don't feel like getting all fancy. The service is pretty average. All of the appetizers looked scrumptious! We ordered the Southern Fried Sampler Basket for an appetizer. The fried green tomatoes were delicious, which I am very picky about. Also, the fried okra is unusual in that they are the full stalks. Surprisingly, they were very good. The texture was perfect and they were seasoned well. I ordered the fried shrimp with squash casserole and creamed corn, and it came with bread. All of it was ah-mazing! Then came dessert, which is usually my favorite part of the meal. We got three different desserts, the bread pudding, lava cake, and key lime pie. The best of these was the key lime pie. They were good, but not the best part. Maybe because their fried foods are sooo good! haha. Overall, I would recommend going here...just be ready for some good southern fried fixins'!
(4)Brandi C.
Awesome service and excellent food. We had a 16 month old with us and they treated us very well. We will be going back for sure. We both had the roast beef and squash casserole and it was delicious.
(5)Nina W.
My fiance and I were visiting Jekyll Island for a wedding and stopped at Driftwood Bistro because the owner of our vacation rental (Aloft) said it was her favorite place to eat. She was not wrong! I had the shrimp and grits with collard greens. I ate every single bite. The blackened shrimp were phenomenal and the flavor of the grits was equally good. My fiance had the stuffed flounder with cheese grits and broccoli. He also cleared his plate. We finished our meal with peach cobbler a la mode. The staff was very attentive and friendly. I would highly recommend Driftwood Bistro!
(5)Chris T.
This place is the family's favorite place to eat in the island. this tear they opened for lunch as well as their delicious dinner menu. Now every place on the island has a shrimp and grits dish but the Bistro uses a red pepper creme sauce paired with blackened shrimp makes a spot on dish perfect. i typically just have the shrimp and grits here and just regular shrimp elsewhere. From last year to this year the Bistro hasn't slumped a bit. The meals were cooked perfectly and the addition of specialty lunch sandwiches and your choice burger/chicken combos makes an already stellar eatery even better. My only recommendation is the crab bisque needs a wee bit more quality control as I found bits of crab shell in the soup, now this may bother some but this is the price you pay for FRESH and AUTHENTIC ingredients in home made cooking. The over all flavor wasn't harmed and my experience wasn't killed as it was a delicious bisque! Look forward to next year already!
(5)Katie R.
Great food, quick service, good menu. Very reasonable prices and loved their petite portion option! The only thing I can say negative about the place is the decor is outdated. But hey the food was fab :)
(4)Pat W.
Wow! What a find! My husband and I have been to Jekyll for day trips several times, and either haven't found a place that looked good or were not able to eat due to time constraints. We arrived in time to do a little shopping at the bookstore, where I found a menu for the Driftwood Bistro. The menu looked great, and the prices were excellent, so we headed to the Villas-by-the-Sea complex. We arrived shortly after they opened for the evening, and were seated immediately. Our waiter, Kevin, was very friendly and knowledgeable. I ordered the petite plate of shrimp creole, which came with one of several excellent sides. I chose fried green tomatoes, which was a serving of two with a fabulous remoulade. The shrimp creole was some of the best I have ever had, even in New Orleans. Spicy without being overpowering, and full of Georgia shrimp. Hubby has the Georgia shrimp platter, full sized, which included two sides, one of which was collard greens, which he said were very good. He also had an excellent beer recommended by Kevin, Jekyll Cooter Brown...again, excellent. we finished the meal with a delicious serving of peach cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream, and coffee. The restaurant is roomy, and the staff are right on their game.
(4)Erin B.
Definitely one of our favorites on Jekyll! Yes, it's a little pricey but its worth it. Yummy drinks. I like the margarita and the Sea Glass. Probably all the appetizers are great, but we always get the fried green tomatoes! For dinner I like the Georgia shrimp platter best, but I recently had the stuffed flounder and loved that too. It may sound strange, but one of my favorite things at Driftwood are the sides. On vacation, I never get enough veggies...except for at Driftwood! The collard greens and the sweet potato sides are my favorites. The restaurant has great service. They don't take reservations but we've never had to wait long for a table.
(5)Jane M.
Popular restaurant with a fun southern menu full of down home comfort food. Twice now I've had the stuffed collard greens, which are out of this world. Love the $10 bottles of wine that they'll cork and package for you so you can take it with you. The wait can be signficant on a holiday weekend so go extra early or extra late, however watch for the time they close. Not crazy about the fried okra. I'd rather have chunks, it was in tiny strips but the coating was extra yummy. Love their vegetables and desserts. The service this last time wasn't good. They were too overworked and our waitress just couldn't get to us though she was hustling. Long, long wait for the check. Our meals however came out fairly promptly, were hot, good serving sizes and everybody was happy! If you want to try excellent southern cooking on Jekyll Island, this is the place to go!
(4)George W.
Very pleasant surprise. I was expecting the usual over-priced beach restaurant with the typical fried seafood. But, this place has a nice varied menu, the food is quite good and the prices reasonable. I had a an outstanding vegetable plate and my wife had grilled fish which was also very good. Next time in Jekyll we will definitely go back.
(4)Jason M.
My wife and I shared the fried green tomatoes for an appetizer - they were delicious with the chipotle ranch sauce. I had fried shrimp with squash casserole and fried okra. Shrimp were cooked perfectly. Squash casserole was hands down the best I've ever had (don't tell my mom). My wife really enjoyed the veggie pasta with shrimp. Service was very good. Would definitely eat here again.
(5)Tom G.
Visited Jekyll Island for the weekend and this was the best meal we had. Great value and good food! I had the stuffed collard greens and my date had the shrimp and grits. We were both very happy with our meals. $10 for a bottle of wine that they will bag up for you when you're done.
(5)H. H.
Best Restaurant on Jekyll Island for dinner! get the okra!
(5)Brian G.
Great Experience. Called ahead for a party of 10 people and our table was ready when we showed up, even on a busy night. Service was quick, efficient, friendly and she did a wonderful job of keeping our sometimes-difficult group happy and in check. We were all thrilled at the $10-$15 bottle of wine specials and the food quality was on par with their prices. Very good shrimp and grits and I didn't hear any complaints from anybody else at the table. Loved it here.
(5)Edward W.
I received a recommendation from a neighbor staying at Jekyll Island Campground next to us to eat at the Bistro. Traveling with dogs we didn't have a place to leave them, so we ordered takeout. They have their menu online, it only took 20 minutes from the time we placed our order. Everyone was extremely friendly from the person who took our order to the pickup person. It looked packed inside, as it was Saturday evening at 5:45. The food was fabulous!!! I had the veggie wrap, my wife had the fish, and my daughter had the kids chicken strips.
(5)Shino O.
Dinner time, Saturday night, and the place was packed even though it was fairly big venue. After having read several good reviews on yelp, we had pretty good idea what we should order - Georgia Wild Shrimp. In summary, good thing #1 was attentive and professional service, #2 shrimp, #3 martini. I had grilled Georgia Wild Shrimp as appetizer and my husby had creole style shrimp as entree. Both came in generous portion and quality, small but plump and juicy. Wine list may be short but martini list was quite big. After I tried one of their many signature martinis, I ordered gimlet which was not on the menu. What was served was sort of syruppy and I asked our waitstaff to replace it with just gin and squeezed fresh lime juice. and it was good on the second time, and the waitstaff came check up on me. This was our first eatery we made a stop on the island and I was pretty happy that I chose here, thanks to the other yelpers :) Thanks
(3)Celia L.
The food was surprisingly good. We weren't expecting much, given it's location but the food was actually very good. Especially loved their shrimp platter -- very fresh and a generous portion. The service was so-so -- our server seemed a tad grumpy!
(4)Debbie H.
Are you kidding me? This food is not great. Mediocre at best. Both meatloaf and cabbage had a weird chemical flavor. The stuffed flounder Is pre made and frozen. Yikes. This was not a good meal!
(2)Wayne R.
Good appetizers; we had shrimp and the okra. My entree was stuffed flounder. It was fair. Ruined by heavy mayo-like sauce. Should have asked them to hold that. Good seafood doesnt need much added.
(3)Bill E.
Without a doubt the best Shrimp and Grits I have ever eaten. Dan and his crew are the best.
(5)Brandon B.
We were here at lunch time. Delicious burger and fries priced at the standard for restaurant burgers. Excellent sweet tea. I had the teriyaki burger w/ pineapple and my wife had the Chipotle.
(5)Dave T.
This review is easy: if you find yourself in Brunswick or on St. Simon's or Jekyll Island your first choice for dinner should be this place. After that, you can go to The Cloisters or The Jekyll Island Club, pay ten times as much and get fancier but not better food.
(5)T. M.
$2 brews at happy hour and $10 bottles wine, half off appetizers. I just caught the last couple minutes of this happy hour/booze fest so I had to saddle up, and down two beers a quick as possible. You stay classy Driftwood, Budweiser came to me cold in, the can, WOW. Nothings says fine dining like popping the top of a CAN of BUD. Oh well at least I had a glass to pour it in. Feels like I am at the house, minus the glass. Thai wings served up first and they were good. Crispy and big wings. Could have used a bit more spice for my taste. Burger was next with mushroom and provolone. Burger was good enough. Definitely come for happy hour, although you will be there with all of the rest of the baby boomers. It felt like a retirement community with all the Golden Girls around and Grumpy Old Men. But hey I like sexy grannies as much as the next guy.
(4)Paul C.
After a rocky start with a vapid hostess, our experience here just became more and more incredible. Our waitress Stephanie was very attentive and trustworthy. My wife had a thick cut sirloin medium rare that was cooked and seasoned perfectly. On the side was a shrimp cake topped with blackened shrimp that my wife describes as little morsels of yumminess. I had the yummy morsels in my shrimp and grits. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The fried okra side was prepared in a very unique fashion. May be the best fried okra I've ever had. We're going back tonight.
(5)Tina T.
We stayed on Jekyll Island and asked the hotel staff what place was the best food on the island, without contemplating, she immediately responded with Driftwood Bistro. (We asked if she was paid to say this, expecting her to say that "well, we are partners/they sponsor blah blah" but she said that she goes there to eat and it is the best.) Don't be fooled by the looks of this place. The hotel staff was right! It was not only delicious but it was also really inexpensive for the quality you are getting. I recommend the Sides: Squash Casserole and Sweet Potatoes Souffle. For main dish, I had the Blackened Catfish and it was also amazing also!
(5)Vikki D.
I was part of a conference in Georgia, and the Bistro was hosting our mixer night. My party decided to break away from the main group and have a sit-down meal instead of just the pickings provided. We made a smart decision. This food is the embodiment of what I was expecting in the South, while still being of a more "high class" restaurant style. I had the fried green tomato sandwich with cheese grits on the side. I couldn't shovel the food into my mouth or sop the drool off my chin fast enough. I also loved how the bistro was set up--the interior was like an old mansion's parlor with a nice sitting area outside, and art work from local artists for sale on the wall (if I could have crammed some in my carry on I would have purchased myself a cute hand-carved wooden fish). The service was fantastic--I would set my drink down and when I went to pick it up it would be full again--and our waitress was willing to chat about the area and the local gossip. Charm was available in heaps. I regret only having the time to eat once here, and would make the trip again just to enjoy it once more.
(4)Ashley G.
Best meal we ate on the island! I had the shrimp and grits with blackened shrimp and my boyfriend had the mahi mahi,which was the special that night. As sides we had the cabbage, black eyed peas, and squash casserole. Then for dessert we tried the bread pudding. All of it was amazing! The only disappointing part of the meal was the little roll they gave us with the meal, but everything else made up for it. I wanted to come back and eat here again before we left. I highly recommend this place! I also recommend the rum smash, delicious! They even have $10 bottles of wine and if you don't finish they cork it up for you to take home.
(5)Stuart O.
If you liked HoJo (Howard johnsons), the you will probably like this place. Decent fried shrimp and okra. My fried okra came with a bonus.... a french fry. Blackened shrimp served up with cocktail sauce... same as with the fried shrimp. Come on, can't be more creative than this? Highlight was getting a reasonable bottle of wine for $15 with purchase of an entre. Helped me forget the mediocre food and service.
(2)Kristen M.
My husband and I are here two out of three nights in Jekyll. This is a popular spot on the island, granted there is not much to choose from, but even if there was we'd keep coming back. For one, they have great prices compared to the other restaurants on the island. Luckily, the food quality doesn't suffer. The crap bisque is wonderful, all of their country sides are deliciouus that we have tried (squash casserole, fried green tomatoes (best ever), fried okra (best ever), and sweet potatoe souffle (best after mom's). Shrimp and grits entree was very good, as was the flounder. The last night my husband and I both got the fried shrimp which were very tasty..perfect breading. We chose to sat at the bar because of the crowd. Service was good both nights. To top all of it off, you can get a bottle of wine (and they call it house, but it is reputable wines that would not be considered a house wine at other restaurants such as clos du bois) for only $10 with purchase of an entree. That is a steal! We loved the restaurant and will be back on our next trip.
(5)Dave H.
I have traveled all my life and have dined in all types of restaurants. For value,service adjust plain comforting food it cannot be beat. We are snowbirds and 2 years ago discovered this place, we ate there three times a week, they have smaller portions which we order and walk away stuffed.
(5)Kim M.
Peach daiquiri was soo good. Great bread. Great shrimp cake and fried green tomatoes. Very good customer service too.
(4)Peter M.
Only reason I gave two stars was the waitress. She was great. I wish I could say the same for the food. Absolutely terrible. I had stuffed flounder and the wife had shrimp crab cakes. My flounder had a cream sauce that like aunt penny's and the broccoli was covered in cheese wiz. This was the worst fish I had on a three week trip,eating sea food every night. Both, the shrimp and flounder,I swear,was stuffed with the same thing that resembled what I feed our cat. Folks,do yourself a favor and pass this place up. I have to go now and take heart burn medication,double dose.
(2)John B.
Awesome place for dinner on Jekyll Island! Great, personal service coupled with very good food. We came here the day after Christmas, and there were some very large (16+) groups. They made our 2-top feel welcome. How can you not appreciate a $10 bottle of wine. As long as you order an entree of course. Also happy that they promote the use of local Georgia wild shrimp.
(5)Jenn D.
Driftwood Bistro does look like it belongs at Villas by The Sea. It's a little standard, a little retro, but the food is the best on the island. And the prices are spot on, too. Now when I say the food is the best on the island, it's certainly not the best food I've ever had. It's traditional American fare, steaks and fish and sandwiches and shrimp cocktail (with Thai chili sauce!) and sides, but it's solid. The squash casserole was a favorite, but it lacked any discernable spice. Load it up with pepper and it's a hit. My steak was overdone, but I used to be a well done kind of person, so I just dealt with it. I know that given the excellent service they would have cooked another steak for me if we'd had the time to wait. I'd definitely recommend Driftwood Bistro over any other place I've eaten on Jekyll, for food, prices and attentive service. I couldn't find the hours posted any place online or in the hotel, but they are just open for dinner. See y'all next time!
(4)Tom S.
After looking up this place online and seeing the photos of the restaurant, I almost did not go. Not that it looked horrible or anything, it just looked like some ordinary place in some ordinary strip mall, not the adventurously local hangout I was looking for. Luckily I asked our hotel desk clerk here to go and he convinced me this was the place, and man oh man he was right! Everyone's food was amazing. We had steak, shrimp and grits, and flounder stuffed with crap meat, all great. Prices were $9.00 to $13.00 and when you order an entree you get to choose from one of there 7 or 8 bottles of wine for only $10.00. And the coolest thing ever, if you do not finish the bottle of wine they cork it up, seal it in a clear plastic bag and you get to take it with you. That last feature pushed me from 4 stars to 5.
(5)Kim S.
Dining options are limited on Jekyll Island, and this is probably one of the better places. It is tucked into a condo unit, so you need to watch for their sign. The place is rather small, and I imagine can get rather busy in peak seasons. The nice thing is that they have fixed price "platters" that come in small or regular. The platters come with a choice of meat or vegetarian, and different sides. I had the cheese grits and sweet potatoes, and they were delicious. I ordered the stuffed flounder, which was a little small and covered in too much cream sauce. It was not bad, just so-so. My husband had the Cuban sandwich (pork) with a side of fried okra. Overall, it was a nice dining experience although not a memorable one. The service was excellent.
(3)Richard T.
What a pleasure it was to have dinner at the Driftwood Bistro. The food was excellent, the staff couldn't have been nicer. We ate in the bar, to avoid a short wait, and felt like we were among friends. I had the pot roast and my wife had the shrimp on cheese grits. Comfort food at it's best. A fellow diner had a hamburg that she raved about. Finished off with a slice of excellent key lime pie and it was a dining experience we will remember very fondly. If you are on the island, don't miss this wonderful experience.
(5)Karen M.
Great service from Bretta! The Po Boys were good- I had the Portabella sandwich- fabulous! Four of us stopped here for lunch & we all agreed we made a great choice.
(4)Paige S.
Food here is disgusting. I have no idea how there are good reviews for this place. Mine and my husbands food was awful and we waited an hour for take out after being told 20 min. Gross. Rude staff. Slow service.
(1)Kelly P.
We went here based on the recommendation of a local and found good seafood affordable priced along with good service. We will definitely be back on our next trip.
(5)Goofy D.
Our last night at Jekyll Island we decided to stop by the Driftwood Bistro for dinner. We got some chicken wings to start. Ordered a nice bottle of pinot, got the meatloaf with mashed potatos and gravy, and macaroni and cheese. Also got the shrimp and grits with collard greens, the reuben,and the chicken fried chicken, very good. We all split the chocolate lava cake with ice cream for dessert.
(4)Jonathan P.
Probably the best food on the island for the price.
(5)Dave W.
I can't remember what I had because I drank two "Bistro Rum Smash" and I got completely hammered. I remember agreeing that the food was excellent, especially after having days of really really bad food on the island. It was hard to find but we were staying on the opposite end of the island and there were lots of detours at the time.
(5)Valerie T.
We enjoyed Georgia Wild Shrimp, which was perfectly grilled and very fresh, and grouper in a fennel cream sauce which was light and delicious. The wine list is small but offers decent wines at only $10 a bottle. Service was friendly and prompt, the atmosphere quiet, and the owner attentive and personable. I would recommend Driftwood even were the prices not so very reasonable. Our favorite dining on Jekyll Island.
(5)Tom S.
Started with GA wild shrimp for and app, then on to the Flounder special stuffed with crab meat. Prices were very good for dinner $9.95 to $12.95 based on if you want small or regular size meal. If you like wine they have a $10 bottle with dinner, will recork and bag it if you don't finish it. The Shrimp were great, the Flounder was OK. Good prices compared to most of the places on the island and you can bring your kids. Parking is a problem, they have all most none for the Bistro, everything is for the timeshare, rentals, etc.
(5)Pat G.
This is a great place for the beach. The price is absolutely right. The wine special is great and very inexpensive for a decent glass of wine. The food is family comfort. Nothing exotic or special just plain old good food. We loved it. The price was very inexpensive to what we thought we'd pay. Definitely a place to eat at when on the Island.
(4)Chip L.
Of the 3 restaurants we went to on the island, this one was the best.
(4)Gail E.
On the recommendation of the hotel staff we ate at the Driftwood Bistro. I was not impressed, a small side salad counted as 2 side selections. I was expecting a huge salad for this as all the entrees came with 2 sides. I got a small plate of Bibb lettuce, 3 cucumber slices, 2 tomato wedges & 3 beet shavings. I ordered the shrimp blackened-the shrimp were just burnt not spicy (don't know if my definition of blackened or theirs is correct, but I know whose I had to eat). The shrimp were supposed to be wild Georgia shrimp, but the were so over cooked that they could have been frozen from Thailand-no flavor. I got about 8 of those shrimpy shrimp along with the salad. My son ordered the meatloaf, which the lady at the hotel raved about, and he devoured it. He got creamed corn which he said was good and black-eyed peas which had vinegar in them. I cook my peas with ham (like a true southern) so my 10 y/o found these revolting. Wait staff was adequate, not many people there at 7:00 pm (maybe that should have been my sign). So if you go to the beach hankering for meatloaf this may be your place-otherwise avoid.
(2)Scott B.
Get to this place early or late (certainly avoid the 6 pm slot), otherwise head for the bar and consider investing in a $10 bottle of wine. Our 30 minute wait turned out to be closer to an hour but down here everything is on Jekyll time. And to be honest the food was largely worth the wait. I will say I don't understand what all the excitement was over the Georgia shrimp but everything else was enjoyable - catfish, Mac & cheese, cheesy grits ... No cornbread though. Dinner came with some lame roll. Still it was the best meal we had on the island and I would go back again.
(4)Ann W.
We had a great dining experience here. People were very nice and service couldnt be better. Got the $10 bottle of wine and took home leftovers. We had no food leftovers though! Food was tasty, portions were just right and prices were reasonable. If we weren't just passing through I would definitely return. It was my first time eating grits and okra and I thought they were very good,although the delicious sauce on the grits might have made anything good!
(5)