Food was ok. Restaurant had a nice location, but after eating in the restaurant, I was not permitted to bring a small beach bag so that my children (who had already been playing in the water, and after being told by our server we could play in the water) could dry off. They wanted to charge us a $40 fee for using the beach behind their restaurant after pay $170 for burgers and fish tacos. I have have been local my entire life, and was incredibly disappointed. Won’t be back. Order your food somewhere else and walk 25 yards down the beach. Save yourself $200.
Mary O'Herin
If you order the snapper, and know your fish, ask that it be cooked rare. They said it was fresh, but they dried it right out. Price was high for knowledge and skill of cook. Friendly and attentive staff. Nice beaach view.
Mike Miller
Absolutely Beautiful and Absolutely Horrible! The food was decent. Server dropped a whole tray of oysters on one of our guest (ruined brand new $130 shirt) they gave us half off the oysters. There were 10 of us and we spent well over $500 for dinner. While walking out to our vehicles we stopped in the parking lot to let the guy with the ruined oysters juice and cocktail sauce all over him go into the gift shop to get a new shirt. Some old man flipping us off from the restaurant telling us to leave the parking lot. We were in the parking lot less than 5mins. While leaving the old crazy parking lot attendant was videoing, taking photos of our vehicles and then proceeded to call the cops on us. Do yourself a favor and go to Burger King ..... for they have better seafood!
Steve Butler
Great food and atmosphere
L J
My first time visiting the restaurant was a great experience thanks to Cheyenne and Shannon. They were both incredibly friendly and personable, making me feel welcome right away. On top of that, they went out of their way to give me some great recommendations in the area, which I really appreciated. Their warm attitude and excellent service truly made a lasting impression! *AJ was really nice and made the experience even better. Great service behind the bar! Def. Will be returning! Thank you.
Charles Morley
Horrible service and even worse food.
Poly
I don’t know what hellhole this place crawled into, but it sure wasn’t the beachside café we remember. Gulf Drive Café used to be a laid-back gem. Now it’s a glorified tourist trap with plastic utensils, sky-high prices, and a staff that looks and acts like they gave up on life long ago.
Let me break it down.
We paid ridiculous money just to PARK, which should’ve been our first clue to run. But no — we tried to give it a chance. Then came the “dining experience,” which was more like being handed takeout at an understaffed gas station. Real utensils? Nope. They hand you plastic forks like it’s a hurricane relief center — except there was no storm, just laziness disguised as excuses.
I ordered chicken and waffles. Sounds simple, right? Somehow they managed to botch it to the point that we were physically ill later. That’s right — we got sick from this disaster of a meal. And no, we’re not “delicate.” This was straight-up unsafe.
The staff? They moved like zombies, barely acknowledged customers, and gave off “I hate this job and you” energy from the moment we sat down. Two different heated confrontations broke out near us — and management? Nowhere. Just a manager or owner slinking around doing absolutely nothing to de-escalate or apologize. One might’ve even been fueling the fire. Truly professional.
This place is supposed to be a prime beachside spot, but it’s lost every ounce of charm it used to have. It’s now a soulless, overpriced, mismanaged dump that weaponizes a pretty view to trap unsuspecting visitors. Do not fall for it.
If you want to pay too much for bad food, feel nauseous, and be ignored or even disrespected by staff and management — this is your place. Otherwise, save yourself the money, the stomachache, and the rage. I wouldn’t come back here if they were giving away free food and massages.
Shame on Gulf Drive Café. You’ve earned your place in the hall of hospitality failures.
TD Crouch
Friday paid 40 to park in their lot eat and go to the beach. Food was bar food but good. Had the fish dip and club. Fish dip not best or worst we’ve had. Game plan was to come back on Saturday and park, eat breakfast and spend morning at beach. Got to parking lot and “the manager” informed us it was 100.00 to park if we wanted to go to beach after we ate. Told him the lady yesterday told us it was 40 day before. He said don’t know who told you that it’s 100.00. Ok plan b. Eat here and leave for a cheaper spot to go to beach. Sat at table. No one came. Talked to neighbor table about cost of beach access. Apparently to it’s normally 50 on weekends but the Southern Living #1 beach breakfast spot was now trying to charge $100. Guess what? Beach was empty. Waited another 10 minutes as others were sat and waited on m. We left. Will NOT be back to this pretentious place on the beach that thinks they are priceless. Get it together. You’re not.
William Lanning
Ordered drinks and appetizer. Questioned the bill politely. Owner became a dick. The bill was wrong. Paid the correct $220 and tipped 20%. Then tried rushing us out of our seats. Handled wrong on their end, heard similar stories from others on our trip. Great views are not worth the bad attitudes.
Lynnette LaNet
100 % recommend! Delicious food! Beautiful place with the water front. Great staff.
Owner is a huge asswhole. If I wanted to be talked to the way he did and treated like that I’d look up my ex.
Joy Magnan
Have eaten here before. They are repairing because of the hurricane but I'm sure it will be just as great. This is the view the other night from the back of Gelf drive.
Food was ok. Restaurant had a nice location, but after eating in the restaurant, I was not permitted to bring a small beach bag so that my children (who had already been playing in the water, and after being told by our server we could play in the water) could dry off. They wanted to charge us a $40 fee for using the beach behind their restaurant after pay $170 for burgers and fish tacos. I have have been local my entire life, and was incredibly disappointed. Won’t be back. Order your food somewhere else and walk 25 yards down the beach. Save yourself $200.
If you order the snapper, and know your fish, ask that it be cooked rare. They said it was fresh, but they dried it right out. Price was high for knowledge and skill of cook. Friendly and attentive staff. Nice beaach view.
Absolutely Beautiful and Absolutely Horrible! The food was decent. Server dropped a whole tray of oysters on one of our guest (ruined brand new $130 shirt) they gave us half off the oysters. There were 10 of us and we spent well over $500 for dinner. While walking out to our vehicles we stopped in the parking lot to let the guy with the ruined oysters juice and cocktail sauce all over him go into the gift shop to get a new shirt. Some old man flipping us off from the restaurant telling us to leave the parking lot. We were in the parking lot less than 5mins. While leaving the old crazy parking lot attendant was videoing, taking photos of our vehicles and then proceeded to call the cops on us. Do yourself a favor and go to Burger King ..... for they have better seafood!
Great food and atmosphere
My first time visiting the restaurant was a great experience thanks to Cheyenne and Shannon. They were both incredibly friendly and personable, making me feel welcome right away. On top of that, they went out of their way to give me some great recommendations in the area, which I really appreciated. Their warm attitude and excellent service truly made a lasting impression! *AJ was really nice and made the experience even better. Great service behind the bar! Def. Will be returning! Thank you.
Horrible service and even worse food.
I don’t know what hellhole this place crawled into, but it sure wasn’t the beachside café we remember. Gulf Drive Café used to be a laid-back gem. Now it’s a glorified tourist trap with plastic utensils, sky-high prices, and a staff that looks and acts like they gave up on life long ago.
Let me break it down.
We paid ridiculous money just to PARK, which should’ve been our first clue to run. But no — we tried to give it a chance. Then came the “dining experience,” which was more like being handed takeout at an understaffed gas station. Real utensils? Nope. They hand you plastic forks like it’s a hurricane relief center — except there was no storm, just laziness disguised as excuses.
I ordered chicken and waffles. Sounds simple, right? Somehow they managed to botch it to the point that we were physically ill later. That’s right — we got sick from this disaster of a meal. And no, we’re not “delicate.” This was straight-up unsafe.
The staff? They moved like zombies, barely acknowledged customers, and gave off “I hate this job and you” energy from the moment we sat down. Two different heated confrontations broke out near us — and management? Nowhere. Just a manager or owner slinking around doing absolutely nothing to de-escalate or apologize. One might’ve even been fueling the fire. Truly professional.
This place is supposed to be a prime beachside spot, but it’s lost every ounce of charm it used to have. It’s now a soulless, overpriced, mismanaged dump that weaponizes a pretty view to trap unsuspecting visitors. Do not fall for it.
If you want to pay too much for bad food, feel nauseous, and be ignored or even disrespected by staff and management — this is your place. Otherwise, save yourself the money, the stomachache, and the rage. I wouldn’t come back here if they were giving away free food and massages.
Shame on Gulf Drive Café. You’ve earned your place in the hall of hospitality failures.
Friday paid 40 to park in their lot eat and go to the beach. Food was bar food but good. Had the fish dip and club. Fish dip not best or worst we’ve had. Game plan was to come back on Saturday and park, eat breakfast and spend morning at beach. Got to parking lot and “the manager” informed us it was 100.00 to park if we wanted to go to beach after we ate. Told him the lady yesterday told us it was 40 day before. He said don’t know who told you that it’s 100.00. Ok plan b. Eat here and leave for a cheaper spot to go to beach. Sat at table. No one came. Talked to neighbor table about cost of beach access. Apparently to it’s normally 50 on weekends but the Southern Living #1 beach breakfast spot was now trying to charge $100. Guess what? Beach was empty. Waited another 10 minutes as others were sat and waited on m. We left. Will NOT be back to this pretentious place on the beach that thinks they are priceless. Get it together. You’re not.
Ordered drinks and appetizer. Questioned the bill politely. Owner became a dick. The bill was wrong. Paid the correct $220 and tipped 20%. Then tried rushing us out of our seats. Handled wrong on their end, heard similar stories from others on our trip. Great views are not worth the bad attitudes.
100 % recommend! Delicious food! Beautiful place with the water front. Great staff.
Restaurantji Recommends
Owner is a huge asswhole. If I wanted to be talked to the way he did and treated like that I’d look up my ex.
Have eaten here before. They are repairing because of the hurricane but I'm sure it will be just as great. This is the view the other night from the back of Gelf drive.
Still trying to open
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pricey bloody's.....but worth it!
Great people work there.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish Tacos, Grouper
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