Drift

Essex, CT · Restaurant

Rating
4.7/5
★★★★★ 4.7
Reviews
20
Rank in Essex
#4
of 16 restaurants
City Percentile
80%
rating percentile
Address
Drift, 37 Pratt St, Essex, CT 06426
Phone
(860) 662-4275
Website
eatdrinkdrift.com
Status
Closed · Opens 11:30 AM

Drift is a restaurant located in Essex, CT. It is one of 16 restaurants listed in Essex. Its 4.7-star rating is above the Essex city average of 4.3 stars. It ranks #4 among Essex restaurants by combined rating and review volume. There are 10 photos associated with this location.

About Drift

Drift is a seafood-forward, creative kitchen in Essex, CT, serving scratch-made American fare and craft cocktails with fresh, local ingredients and stunning Connecticut River views.

Hours

Saturday11 AM–9 PM

Customer Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0 M C · Dec 2025

UPDATE: 12/3/25 it was so good we went back the next day! This time we had the apple cider calamari again, crab smash and lobster roll. I’ve never tasted anything better! Even their butter was good!! Try the apple cider margarita! 12/2/25 Wonderful stop! Had great service from Grace and the food was amazing. You won’t regret the Apple cider vinegar calamari, smash burger or fish and chips. The espresso martini was delicious!

★★★★★ 5.0 Abra Owens · Nov 2025

If I could give more than 5 stars I would. Stewart is the most personable , professional host/bartender/owner…with a full bar he made us feel like we were the only guests he was serving. I was unsure what cocktail to order. I told Stewart my vibe and he made me a white Negroni. Perfect. Ordered the calamari app then lobster roll and ahi tuna salad. Amazing. 10 out of 10. Would recommend.

★★★★★ 5.0 brandon mcnulty · Mar 2026

As many know I review lobster rolls, I’ve wanted to come here for a while to review their roll on account they have been getting a lot of traction in the lobster roll game. First we will start out the Crescendo, the atmosphere was spot on with the fine establishment being right on the water, furthermore I was shocked and excited to see the out door eating area was completely enclosed with clear material for the winter weather. That’s a plus, a lot of places loose the eat by the water vibe during the winter season, but not this place it’s absolutely excels, adapts, and overcomes anything that gets thrown at it. Now onto the service, everyone was very nice. I didn’t know they opened at 11:30 and I called at 11, that however wasn’t a problem for them they took my order anyways and said it wou

★★★★☆ 4.0 Sharon B · Aug 2025

We went here for lunch on a Saturday and there was a wait on the back patio. No wait for the indoor seating so we opted for that instead and I'm so glad we did because it was absolutely lovely by the window. No sun and we had a nice view as well. We ordered the UK style fish n chips and I love that it's served inside a brown bag! Their fish was really fresh and the fries were good too. I wanted the lobster roll but it was a bit pricey at $40. That's $10 more than other restaurants. The fish tacos had a pretty presentation and was good too. The addition of the jalapenos was nice. We didn't like the Old Bay macaroni side salad though so don't recommend ordering that.

★★★★★ 5.0 Shirley · Mar 2026

My husband and I visited Drift for the first time this past Saturday even though we live in the area. Wow have we been missing out! The restaurant was inviting and clean, a nice bright and welcoming atmosphere. We were greeted promptly, our waitress was attentive and sweet. Service was perfect the entire visit. The food was amazing, I expected it to be good based on what I have heard but it exceeded our expectations. We ordered a clam chowder, lobster bisque, smashburger and a winterberry crisp salad with a crab cake. Everything tasted great, was fresh, cooked and assembled perfectly. My husband and I agree this restaurant will now be on our regular rotation and we can't wait for the warm weather to be able to enjoy their outdoor area. Thanks Drift for a really enjoyable winter af

Accessibility & Amenities

✓ Wheelchair Accessible Entrance ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Restroom ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Seating

Services

Restaurant

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This listing is informational. Contact the business directly to verify credentials, services, and availability.