Alison C.
Yelp
Knowing that it had been high on my list, my boyfriend surprised me with a Valentine's Day dinner at Drift. Our Uber pulled up to the valet parking area, letting us out in style. We entered the stunning space and approached the host stand. Just beyond that was a small entrance way where an incredible jazz band was playing romantic tunes. There was also a dining room with tables and large booths, as well as an elevated, 360-degree rotating center platform with several other tables. It was a cool way to allow the four or five booths on the stage to change views throughout the evening - sometimes looking into their beautiful bar and others looking out on the New York skyline.
The hostess escorted us into the dining room, allowing us to choose between a smaller, two-person table and a larger, 4-person booth. We, naturally, opted for the cozy booth facing the Hudson River, a lovely touch for the romantic occasion. The hostess also gifted me a beautiful red rose. After a few moments, our waiter, Derby, came to get our drink orders. I had contemplated getting the Almost Normal, which contained many of my favorite ingredients (Del Maguey Vida mezcal, St. Germain elderflower, pomegranate, lime), but my boyfriend opted for that one. As an effort to get something different, I went with the Frequent Flyer, which was a blend of Haiken Lychee Vodka, Ketel One cucumber & mint, fresh lemon, coconut, and sour hibiscus. The drink tasted nothing like I had expected. It was creamy, chalky, coconutty, and sweet; it resembled what I would imagine a tutti frutti colada would be like, and I was not a fan. My sip of the Almost Normal was much more pleasing. When it came time to order a second drink, I asked for sips of the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc from Rustenberg Wines on the Western Cape of South Africa and the 2023 Sancerre from Renaissance in the Loire Valley of France. While I know these wines were utilizing the same grape, they were extremely similar in taste, so I proceeded with the Sauvignon Blanc, which was $15 a glass, versus the Sancerre at $19.
From a food perspective, there was no set menu for the holiday, but there was a $120 per person minimum, to be used across drinks and cuisine. Because of this fact and the intriguing description of the Autumn Soup, I decided to order the appetizer. The server had said that the vegan broth would be in a small cup, but it actually wound up being a larger portion than I had expected. The creamy, yet light, soup was a puree of various squashes, roasted apples, and miso paste. There was also a large acorn squash ring included as a garnish. Typically, I love that kind of soup, particularly with the addition of apple, but the miso added a tang that I had mixed feelings about. My boyfriend had not ordered an appetizer, but we took notice of the empty bread plates on the table. We asked Derby for some, and I looked forward to dipping the focaccia he mentioned into my hearty soup. However, the bread did not arrive. Instead, our main courses came out first. For my entree, I selected the Miso-Glazed Black Bass, which was perfectly cooked and served over baby bok choy that was sprinkled with sesame seeds. There was a thin citrus beurre blanc on the plate, as well, but both that and the miso could have been kicked up a notch. The dish was delicious, but the flavor was muted and a bit more miso could have went a long way. My companion enjoyed his Beef Filet, which had a nice crust on it. Though I did not take a bite of the steak, I did grab a scoop of his delicious Mashed Potatoes, which were creamy, studded with roasted garlic cloves, and topped with fresh rosemary sprigs. About halfway through our meal, we questioned Derby as to the whereabouts of our bread. He quickly got a plate delivered and was sure to tell us that the typical $2 fee would be removed from our bill, since I was unable to enjoy the bread with my starter. We appreciated the humble act, but thought the usual $2 cost for 4 slices of dry bread was unnecessary.
Given that it was Valentine's Day, we decided to treat ourselves to dessert. The warm and gooey Apple & Pear Bread Pudding was delightful! It was served with a drizzle of caramel sauce, with a saucer of extra on the side if we so desired. It also came with a scoop of what tasted like creme fraiche ice cream, which was way too cold and hard to eat right away. Our order of Sorbet included 3 scoops of our choice, though we could only select from pineapple and lime. We tried a bit of both, but, again, they were too frozen and could have had more flavor.
As I went to write this review, I noticed that the Valentine's Day section of the website mentioned a "complimentary champagne toast with dessert" and chocolate-covered strawberries, neither of which was offered to us that night.
Overall, we were happy with the experience at Drift, but there were clearly some service matters that could have been improved.