food & drink Home And Away
Beach bar offers great atmosphere, stunning views and a menu of global goodies
IMAGINE this - shimmering azure sea, pillow-soft sand, breath-taking views and fabulous seafood.
I’m betting the picture in your head will match some mega-bucks, far-flung, exotic destination. So it might come as a bit of a shock to discover we were chilling at a beach bar - in Sandown.
The sun was blazing so we decided to head for the coastal resort before it did a disappearing act. After a day spent building castles and splashing in the surf our three kids bellies were rumbling.
But with an assortment of bars, restaurants and hotels dotted along the promenade where best to go?
Driftwood, the only licensed beach bar on the Island, sits just feet from the lapping waves and looked perfect. Owner Sean Ware started off with a beach sunbed concession before expanding the business and building a smart wooden cafe.
Having travelled the world, he felt the Island was ready for a clash of tastes from different cultures.
Sean says: “The word for beach bar varies wherever you go. “In Spain they’re called chiringuitos, in Mexico it’s palapas, in Goa they love shacks, while over in Greece they are known as tavernas. “But they all have the same aim - to provide clientele with food and drink and be the beach’s social focus and mood-setter.”
Thanks to its prime location, fabulous menus and tropical cocktails, Driftwood has become a summer hotspot. It serves up relaxing breakfasts, leisurely lunches and sundowner dinners, backed by the soothing sound of sea.
We arrived in time to sample evening meals from the newly revamped ‘Endless Summer Menu’. It offers quality cuisine with influences from all four corners of the world.
Tasty starters include mixed olives, grilled sardines, tempura prawns and ‘volcano’ nachos. Or if you’re watching the waistline the Greek, crab and antipasto salads mean
Advertising: Call (01983) 861 007 you can still fit in that bikini.
The kids all plumped for home-made pasta favourite spaghetti bolognese from the under 12’s menu.
For me it was a tough choice between the 8oz Big Kahuna Chicken Burger with onion rings or the seafood paella packed with shrimps, mussels, squid, chicken and chorizo.
After much trawling, and drooling, both lost out to the Malibu Steak - a succulent slab of grilled rare Isle of Wight rump.
Mum plumped for the freshly caught mackerel fillet off the daily changing specials board. Despite holidaymakers and locals filling most of the outdoor patio tables, our made-to-order nosh arrived in good time.
The little ones plates came heaped with steaming, lean, minced beef cooked in a gorgeous tomato, garlic and herb sauce The kids dived into their Italian grub as we tackled our own mountainous servings.
My steak was as ordered - sealed perfectly on the outside, yet pink and juicy inside. Thick, chunky chips sat alongside a fresh green salad - all complimented by a side order of giant onion rings.
The grilled mackerel was simply done, Flaky, flavoursome, delicate and moist Our youngsters demolished their spag bol, before tucking into the free ice lolly which came with each meal.
Driftwood caters for every taste, serving honest, generously portioned, reasonably-priced dishes. Other faves include juicy pork ribs, tongue-tingling curries, hot and spicy chilli, giant gammon steaks and even locally-caught lobster when available.
The dessert menu is worth sampling before washing it all down with a range of Twinning’s speciality teas or fresh ground bean coffee.
Bottled beers from a myriad of countries, draught lager, Guinness and a range of refreshing ciders will slake thirsts.
Driftwood is also home to over 90 spirits and shakes-up some tasty cocktails, including the classic margarita, mojito and pina colada.
Great house wines from California, fabulous new world vino’s and a range of top champagne grace the drinks menu.
As summer finally arrives what could be better than great food, great location and great ambience.
Sean adds: “Driftwood is the classic building material, so that’s where I started. “Any beach bar worth the name should have sand underfoot and a general feeling of impermanence.”
The ‘Endless Summer Menu’ is served from 6pm till 9pm Sunday to Thursday a nd from 6pm till 9.30pm Friday and Saturday.
Driftwood, Culver Parade, Sandown Beach, Sandown. Tel. 01983 404004. For more info go to:
www.driftwoodbeachbar.com
July / August 2011 59
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92