Drift Kitchen & Bar - Lido Beach Resort — Restaurant in Sarasota

View is great. Decor is soft, pretty, comfortable. Food is not worthy of their prices. I ordered the Snapper over cauliflower risotto, topped with crab. $42! The fish, roughly 3 oz, was so OVERCOOKED that I truly could not cut through it with a knife! I'm not exaggerating. The risotto was undercooked, starchy & lacked much flavor. No sauce, overall dry. *(The reviews with a picture of their Snapper...below my review, looks great! Mine was NOTHING like this! The crab was a pile off to the side, three asparagus stalks scattered, a few mushrooms, a piece of DRY burnt fish, sitting on risotto, NO SAUCE at all) I'm so disappointed my Snapper wasn't anything like their pictures depict, especially since the waiter recommended it too. 🤔The waiter had the manager come to the table to have my dinner taken off our bill. I opted for a piece of grilled salmon and that was fine. She said dessert would be on them as well. It wasn't! I had their chocolate cake which was to have cherries, sauce, but it too was dry, had blueberries and a drizzle and was on our bill. We were never brought bread whilst every other table was. Why bother asking when you should not have to. The other dishes ordered were the Gemelli which was pretty basic. Gnocchi with shrimp & pesto, a bowl of Gnocchi it was. A Caesar salad with grilled salmon, very nice crisp lettuce, beautiful piece of salmon grilled nicely. A white sauce pizza with shrimp. It was pretty good. Calamari was okay. So the drinks are good, but $$$, which is on par with other establishments nowadays in Sarasota. I will say, our server was great! He really was attentive and friendly. It's certainly worthy of a visit, and then a beach stroll, but maybe dine elsewhere or don't order the snapper! Visited Saturday...

My wife and I chose Drift Kitchen & Bar to celebrate our 7-year anniversary, drawn in by the promise of oceanfront dining and an upscale setting—and in many ways, it delivered. Located on the 8th floor of the Lido Beach Resort, the restaurant offers sweeping views of Lido Key and the Gulf that are truly breathtaking, especially at sunset. The modern decor of both the resort and the restaurant creates a sleek, elegant vibe that feels perfect for a special occasion.

The service was another highlight of our evening. Our server was gracious, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcomed. Every staff member we encountered was professional and accommodating, helping set the tone for a memorable night.

Where the evening fell short, unfortunately, was with the food. Each plate was presented beautifully—there’s no doubt that the kitchen knows how to plate for visual impact—but the flavors didn’t match the aesthetics. The dishes we ordered were average at best, lacking the depth or seasoning you’d expect from a restaurant in such a stunning setting. Nothing was particularly bad, just underwhelming, especially for a place that seems to aspire to fine dining.

For our anniversary, we wanted a full sensory experience—great ambiance, great service, and great food. Drift nailed the first two, but the flavors just didn’t rise to the occasion. Still, if you're looking for a beautiful spot to enjoy a drink and watch the sun dip into the Gulf, it's hard to beat the view from Drift Kitchen & Bar. Just be prepared for the food to look better...

🏴‍☠️Ahoy, mateys! Gather ‘round and let me share the tale of a splendid day at The Drift Kitchen in Sarasota. As a pirate who’s sailed the seven seas and sampled many a feast, I can tell ye, this be a dining experience fit for a king!

From sunrise to sunset, the food at The Drift Kitchen was a bounty of flavors that pleased even the most discerning palate. Breakfast was a treasure trove of deliciousness, and dinner was a banquet worthy of the finest captains. But what truly set this place apart was the impeccable service we received from two of the finest crew members we’ve ever encountered.

For breakfast, we were attended by the marvelous Kubra, who steered us through our morning meal with the skill of a seasoned navigator. Her professionalism and warmth made our start to the day unforgettable. She ensured our plates were filled and our spirits high, setting the tone for a fantastic day.

Come dinner, the equally impressive Olivia took the helm. Her attentiveness and expertise made our evening a delight. Olivia’s service was top-notch, leaving us feeling like royalty as we savored every bite of our sumptuous dinner.

The Drift Kitchen maintains the highest standards, with a crew that treats each guest like treasure. If ye be seekin’ a place where the food is as grand as the open ocean and the service as exceptional as a well-manned ship, set sail for The Drift Kitchen in Sarasota. With Kubra and Olivia at the helm, yer dining experience will be nothing short of...