Driftwood Kitchen — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

We ordered pickled shrimp, panseared salmon with penne dill cream sauce, and the crab cake dinner. When we received our order, the first thing I noticed was the broken boxes…VERY odd. I’ve never picked up an order where the boxes were broken (see the picture). It looks like someone’s a bit heavy-handed with closing boxes. Upon checking the order, there was no ketchup for the fries, so I asked for some and they provided it. Just a reminder to you to always check your order before you leave! On to the food - first, the appetizer; If you eat the shrimp WITH the liquid, etc., then it's too oily and lemony. If you eat JUST the shrimp, then it tastes OK, but to me, the shrimp didn't taste that 'pickled', and I've been eating pickles ever since I can remember (let’s just say more than 40 years and I’ve been eating ALL KINDS of pickles – different brands like Mt. Olive and Claussen, different varieties of sour, and more). If you eat the shrimp with the capers, then I think they taste more 'pickly'. But in my opinion, this 'pickling' recipe needs a bit more work...maybe the shrimp need to marinate longer in the concoction.

Next, the salmon and penne in cream sauce; the sauce had a kind of bland taste in my opinion – no flavor. I added some salt and pepper (they didn’t provide this; I had some of my own) and that did the trick. The salmon was good; not overcooked. The combination of the parmesan, penne pasta, and salmon was good.

My husband had crab cakes with fries and asparagus; said had he known how good the asparagus was going to be, he’d have ordered DOUBLE!! The crab cakes were good – not too much ‘filler’ as some places have, but too many shells; otherwise, definitely good. As for the fries, he’s not a fan of shoestring fries, so he wasn’t too happy with those, but hey, if you like shoestring fries, then they’re probably great for you! They weren’t hard – they were soft. Not pre-seasoned, so add your own seasoning if you want.

The restaurant is in a great location. It’s a clean place and atmosphere, parking is great with a small outdoor area; two blocks from the beach, so not really ‘seaside’ – my opinion of ‘seaside is directly NEXT to the beach, not 2 blocks from the beach.

Staff was pleasant and attentive – soon as I came in, a gentleman asked how he could help me and I told him I had a to-go order, and he pointed me to the bare area and the lady who could help me, who was also immediately attentive, asked my name, gave me my bill, and proceeded to the kitchen to obtain our food.

Overall, I’d say the food was a bit overpriced. We’ve had similar dinners elsewhere for a cheaper price and they were better (e.g., good crab cakes with less shells). 3.5 out of 5, but there's not a way to indicate 1/2 of a star for your overall rating, so I'm doing it here in the...

At Driftwood, a charming restaurant nestled in the heart of Virginia Beach, you'll experience culinary magic like never before. Let me tantalize your taste buds with a description of their exquisite dishes:

New York Strip Steak: Picture a perfectly seared, juicy New York Strip Steak, cooked to mouthwatering perfection. With each succulent bite, your palate is greeted by a symphony of flavors – the rich, smoky char on the outside giving way to a tender, buttery interior. The steak, seasoned to perfection, boasts a savory depth that's simply unparalleled, leaving you craving more with every indulgent slice.

Penne Pasta: Driftwood's penne pasta is a masterpiece of Italian cuisine. Imagine al dente penne, cooked to precision and swathed in a luscious, velvety sauce. Every twirl of your fork reveals a harmonious blend of flavors – the vibrant tomato sauce, aromatic herbs, and perhaps a hint of garlic, all kissed by the warmth of sun-ripened tomatoes. It's a pasta dish that embodies comfort and sophistication simultaneously.

Red Parmesan Garlic Potatoes: The red Parmesan garlic potatoes at Driftwood are an embodiment of indulgence. Imagine tender, roasted red potatoes, glistening with a savory garlic butter and generously dusted with grated Parmesan cheese. Each bite offers a delightful crunch followed by the creamy, melt-in-your-mouth interior, where the flavors of garlic and Parmesan dance in perfect harmony. These potatoes are an unforgettable side dish that elevates every meal to a higher level of culinary delight.

Indulge your senses at Driftwood, where these dishes are crafted with the utmost care and passion, promising a dining experience that transcends the ordinary and leaves you with memories of exceptional flavor and hospitality. All of this for 26.99$. I'm from Montreal, Canada. I know good food, this dish would have cost over 100$+ where I'm from. Get it before their...

I’d like to start with the food was good! This review is strictly about the waitress.

She made the experience awful that we don’t know if we want to return. We were so rushed by her. We were treated like we were tourist, which shouldn’t be a thing to begin with. In the middle of dinner she asked where we were from we explained we were from here and we’ve been wanting to try Driftwood kitchen. All she said was “okay” and walked away. When we got there she reviewed the menu and specials with us, then asked us what we would like to eat. We didn’t even have time to read them menu. She got our drinks, took all of 2 minutes and came back and asked again. We ordered oysters and an appetizer. When we were eating our appetizer my husband and I were mid conversation, we had some food left on the board, she came grabbed our silverware put it on the board to take away. She looked back at us and said “are you done?” Her hands already touched our silverware and they were placed on top of our food. Didn’t really leave us an option if we wanted to finish out food. We told her we’d like to split the chicken parm, she asked what kind of soup or salad we would like with the pasta. You’d think it would be apart of the meal? Surprise it doesn’t!! But we didn’t know that till we went to pay the bill and when I asked “the salad didn’t come with the pasta?” “No” We decided to get a dessert, in the middle of eating she came over and asked us to pay the bill. We honestly didn’t want to even give her a tip, but we still were going to to be nice. While I was paying she stood over my shoulder looking down at screen waiting for me to select a tip making it obvious she was watching me select the tip. Felt pressured to select more than she...