Seaside Heights is home to a new seafood restaurant and bar with a family-friendly atmosphere. Drifters of Seaside is co-owned by a collection of Jersey Shore natives who simply love the area. With a sandy outdoor patio and a large selection of liquor, it’s a great place to relax with friends.
Inside, the 1,200-square foot space offers “fun beach vibes” and seats 85 guests, says co-owner Kyle O’Brien. You’ll find “photography from Russ Roe and Kristian Kozlowski, and a sculpture by Phil Mortillaro titled ‘JAWS’,” he adds. Drifters plans to feature more art as well as additional seating as they continue to build out the space.
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Meanwhile, the 2,500-square foot outdoor seating area – with room to grow – is open seasonally. It offers a laid back space where guests can relax with their toes in the sand. “We all love this island,” Kyle says about his fellow co-owners. “Most of us have been born and raised here. Some have left, but only to return back.”
An Ocean of Options
The Drifters of Seaside menu offers small plates, seafood, and clean-eating options. You’ll find “fun, shareable items for dining for two or 14,” Kyle adds. So far, menu highlights include the lobster corndog with honey mustard and the ahi tuna tacos; the latter comes with guac, cabbage, pickled red onions, cotija cheese, and spicy mayo on corn tortillas. Kyle says his favorite dish is the grilled head-on jumbo prawns served in chili garlic butter; in addition to the watermelon poke, which comes in a shoyu marinade with wakame seaweed, butter lettuce, and sesame. Click here to see the full menu.
Likewise, the liquor menu features signature cocktails, beer (including bottles from New Jersey breweries), wine, and rose. At the moment, customer favorites include the Dead a Head, which is their take on a watermelon margarita; as well as the Devil’s Lover, with cucumber-jalapeno tequila, passion fruit, pineapple, and Ango soda. “We also have some great bottles of Natural and Orange wine,” Kyle says.
About the Owners
The owners behind Drifters have plenty of restaurant experience. For instance, Kyle owns The Garret, Hotel Chantelle, and Bandits, all in NYC, as well as Philomina’s in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Angie Lombardi and Patty Hershey owned Concetta’s and Coffee Talk in Seaside Heights. Rob Cilento owns a Playa Bowls as well as The Seafarer in Highlands along with Ryan Daly. Finally, Kris Sabey owns Ainslie in Brooklyn.
You can find Drifters of Seaside at 701 Boulevard in Seaside Heights. (Click here to see them on Google Maps.) To learn more, click here to visit their website or you can click here to give them a call.
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All Photos: © Drifters of Seaside / Instagram