The perfect weekend lunch spot
Mediterranean restaurant’s food is Instagramworthy, and tastes as good
If I had to eat one type of cuisine for the rest of my life, my first choice would be French Mediterranean. I know that sounds oddly specific, but I am obsessed with their simple flavours and versatility in cooking. This fuelled my excitement to visit Drift and try their Provencal dishes.
Walking into Drift, your first thought will be, “wow this place is pretty and I can’t wait to start Instagramming” because that was what popped into my head before anything else, to be honest. The sunlight, the blue swimming pool and the contemporary island decor with lush greenery and marbled floors all added to the chic feel of the beach club.
With its rustic wooden tables, large white gazebos that let the natural sunlight flow through and giant fish nets hanging from the ceiling just screams South of France. Servers are wearing linen shirts, friendly smiles and have good knowledge of the offering. I loved the vibe.
I arrived at around 1pm on a Saturday and walked into the restaurant and bar. It was buzzing with people.
I started with some bread and mopped up the olive oil from my plate while I scanned the menu.
THE LOWDOWN
Drift promises an innovative take on classic Provencal cuisine. Their emphasis is on organic ingredients, freshness and simple dishes, yet kind of indulgent.
We started with a Provincial ravioli. A simple, yet flavourful dish made up of small cheese filled ravioli bites covered in fresh tomato sauce and basil leaves. We paired this with an artichoke salad and a portion of seared tuna.
Then came one of my favourite dishes, a clear truffle soup with little ravioli pieces in it and generous slices of Parmesan cheese.
The bread came in handy again, as I used it to absorb what was left on the bottom of my soup bowl. I wanted every last drop.
For our main, we shared a roasted duck with a side of grilled artichokes and truffle mashed potatoes. Duck is usually a “love or hate” for people. I am on the “love duck” team, so I quite liked the offering. It was slightly heavy, especially since all the fat was left under the crispy skin, but I feel like this adds that butteryness that you need with poultry. I especially liked the artichokes. They had a certain caramelization to them that made them irresistible.
It was difficult to finish the main, since the portion was pretty generous. It was actually designed for two, but I recommend three people share it instead.
At the end of the meal, I looked through the dessert selection and picked the one that appealed to me the most. A typically French Pain Perdu, served with vanilla ice cream and raspberry compote.
Through lunch, we enjoyed some live renditions of popular tracks, like Hotel California and a little something from Amy Winehouse, by a vocalist and cover artist named Bibi. After the meal, we took a walk around the venue and I forced my poor friend to take hundreds of pictures of me posing with the beach and the skyline behind me.
Drift was the ultimate weekend lunch spot. Easy and simple food: Check. A gorgeous setting: Check. Great service: Check.