Drift -  Bayfield,

We had noticed this restaurant on previous visits to Bayfield, but did not have a chance to try the food.Last week we went in and had a very effusive greeting from Katherine.The selection of drinks, which included a caipirinha., brought back memories of my visit to Brazil.The food was excellent, fresh and well presented..The tom yum soup was outstanding.The restaurant is an excellent addition to Bayfield and offers a completely different dining experience.Personally not too keen on the spotted cow sushi

We saw Drift was open toward the end of last summer (2016), but weren't in the mood for Japanese, so didn't go in. We came back to Bayfield for the May 2-4 weekend in 2017 and finally went to Drift. We were definitely NOT disappointed!We were checking out the menu that was posted outside, and Catherine (I believe she was the manager at Drift), came out to speak to us and tell us a bit about the place, the owner, and answered any questions we had about the menu. She seated us quickly and brought us water to start. She was super personable, friendly, and knowledgeable - exactly the type of person you'd want representing your business. We ordered drinks - just a generic vodka soda, as well as one of their specialty cocktails (a gin mare). They were great - definitely not stingy with the booze. I don't normally like gin, but the gin mare that my husband ordered was actually pretty good! I can't remember the exact ingredients, but I think it was gin (obviously), as well as lime, rosemary...and something else. Doesn't matter...it was tasty!For food, we ordered the pan-seared calamari (I'm only "meh" about calamari in general, so this didn't knock my socks off, but it was decent); the short beef rib tempura, which was kind of like a meatball wrapped in a tempura-type batter and deep fried, and served with a delicious sauce (this was pretty good!), and the sashimi platter (which was also quite good! The fish was fresh and tasty). Considering the quality of the food, as well as the friendliness of the staff, I'd say this is definitely worth trying out!They also apparently do boat tours (possibly while dining? I'm not 100% sure) - but it's something to consider when the weather is warmer!

Drift is a wonderful, new addition to Bayfields already extensive list of places to dine well. It is very different from the current offerings, and so it is worth a visit to the small town - especially if you go for the chefs menu!We were there for lunch, and had a wonderful chef's choice of assorted dishes....each was served with an description and explanation of what it was and each was differently delicious. I think we had 5 courses (and I may be missing one) along with a glass of wine and an extremely reasonable price tag.I do not have much experience with this sort of cuisine and I thought it was GREAT! So, if you are a newbie to Japanese based eating, don't be afraid to try it here. If you are experienced with fresh, small portions served impeccably, you will enjoy DRIFT,Go. You won't be sorry.PS - Make reservations. The place is small (even with the seasonal outdoor seating) and will fill up quickly. Reservations made on line are responded to quickly. Takeout is available if you're too late to reserve, but the service and ambiance make a reservation worthwhile.

We had a lovely chef's selection menu over lunch in the lovely little town of Bayfield. We were delighted with course after course of delicious small plates. It was exciting to not know what was coming out next - it really added to the fun of the meal. Peter, the owner was exceptionally hospitable and went out of his way to make us feel welcome. I absolutely recommend stopping into this little gem in the heart of Bayfield.

We had unexpected experience of exceptional food and service during a recent visit, to quote one of our grand children " I have had this dish before, but...". Six of us had a wonderful lunch, Peter and Katherine are excellent hosts!