Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge — Restaurant in Cannon Beach

Exceptional Halibut Dining Experience at Driftwood in Cannon Beach

Nestled along the picturesque coastline of Cannon Beach, Driftwood offers a culinary journey that tantalizes the taste buds and delights the senses. My recent visit to this charming eatery left an indelible mark, particularly with their impeccable preparation of halibut, setting a new standard for seafood excellence on the West Coast.

From the moment I stepped into Driftwood, I was greeted with warm hospitality and an inviting ambiance. The restaurant's cozy yet elegant atmosphere immediately set the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. As I perused the menu, it was clear that a culinary adventure awaited, with a variety of enticing options showcasing the freshest local ingredients.

However, it was the halibut and chips dish that truly stole the show. Served with finesse and precision, each bite of the halibut and chips was a revelation of flavor and texture. What struck me most was the perfect balance of moisture, a testament to the chef's skill and expertise in culinary execution. Having studied at Cordon Bleu, I have a discerning palate, yet I had never encountered halibut prepared with such finesse and attention to detail.

One of the highlights of my dining experience was the opportunity to converse with the chef. Their passion for their craft was evident in every aspect of the meal, from the thoughtfully curated flavors to the meticulous presentation. It was a pleasure to exchange insights and discuss the nuances of culinary artistry, further enhancing my appreciation for the meal before me.

In addition to the exceptional halibut, Driftwood's chowder also left a lasting impression. Rich, creamy, and brimming with the essence of the sea, it was a comforting bowl of perfection that complemented the main course beautifully. Each spoonful was a symphony of flavors, transporting me to culinary bliss with every taste.

Overall, my experience at Driftwood was nothing short of extraordinary. From the unparalleled halibut to the engaging interaction with the chef, every aspect of the dining journey was meticulously crafted to delight the senses. For anyone seeking a culinary adventure in Cannon Beach, Driftwood is a must-visit destination where gastronomic...

I hope the food is good. We'll never know. The hostess area was too chaotic and walk-ups that arrived after us were seated before us.

As we walked up, a group of people were in the small entry way. A frantic gentleman eventually asked my family how many were in our party. I told him three. He kindly asked us to wait a few minutes. After a few minutes, a young couple walked up and politely waited beside us outside. The restaurant did not acknowledge them. A few minutes later, a rude Karen marched by both of us and presented herself to the hostess. I informed the Karen and the hostess that while I had checked in with the hostess, the young couple had not. The Karen snapped at me that they know how it worked and they didn't need my help. The hostess sat the Karen and her husband first anyway. The Karen has some karma coming her way, but the restaurant's disorganization led to the situation. Shortly thereafter, the restaurant spoke with young couple and took them to a table. A few minutes later, a family of five walked up and indicated that they received a message that their table was ready. I heard the hostess indicate that they gave the family's table away, but they could wait for the next one. After several more minutes, the hostess approached my family to ask if we were on the list. I told her that we spoke to a gentleman and told him how many were in our party, but he didn't take my name. The hostess stated that the guy was filling was in for her, that he didn't put us on the list, and we'd have to go to the back of the list if we wanted to eat. When I asked about the wait, she indicated it would be 30-45 minutes at that point.

This was our first experience in Cannon Beach. It was not a great impression. It is my wife's birthday. We were headed put for a low key birthday dinner. We thought about making a reservation, but the restaurant's website makes it appear that they save room for walk-ins and reservations are not necessary. If you really want to eat here, I'd suggest a reservation. For me, if a restaurant's door is this chaotic, I worry the whole restaurant is. I will...

OK place for a quick beachside light lunch of chowder and bread, but not for dinner. I have been coming here for lunch about six years and this was the first time for dinner. I brought guests in from outside the US and was slightly embarrassed at my choice. I ordered Oysters Rockefeller as a starter, and instead got ostensibly Oysters Casino. It came served on a plate of crushed up rock salt which I thought was ironic given the underwhelming experiemce of actually attempting to eat the dish. The Oysters were the smallest I have ever experienced. Cream and spinach were almost non existent, I was told by the waitress that it was underneath and overturning the tiny bit of food revealed green speckles. Oysters were completely covered with store packaged bacon bits, which were hard, totally dominated any oyster or cream / butter texture. They are called Rockefeller because they are supposed to be rich. This $25 dollar dish was almost insulting. If you are going to be conservative with ingredients, spinich , parsley and butter are not the things to skip on. The clam chowder is one of the best I have had. Steak is good not great as the wifi password suggests. For the prices here the butter should be Kerry Gold, not cold, hard sysco foil wrapped butter which is where I suspect the steaks were from cut from cryovac plastic. For amost $50 for a 10 oz ribeye, hey should be dry aged. Someone in my party ordered 5 piece fish and chips and got four pieces. When asked about it we were given excuses. The fish was good, actually hand battered in house. Service was friendly but inadequate as staff ignored routine requests from the beginning . Bringing simple condiments like tartar and malt for the fish and ketchup for fries came half way through the meal after repeated asks. It just feels this this place relies on dusty kitsch decor of bottles of liquor from different places and poorly sourced ingredients executed in a skimpy way. This place has so much potential but is clearly in the grip of an aging owner trying desperately to hang on to memories from his travels...