Driftwood Beach Bar n Grill in Isle of Wight

Terrible. The menu promises good food, however what was delivered was awful. The ingredients were cheap and poorly cooked. Service was shockingly slow. Children’s fish and chips, with no option of peas, adult fish and chips barely any bigger than child’s portion. Children’s sausage, egg and jacket potato - cheap sausage, burnt egg, and a hard jacket potato. Staff highly put out when I asked for cheese on the jacket potato. I had the crab salad, which was awful value for money. Bagged salad, supermarket coleslaw, cheap bread roll, and crab meat which had more shell than meat. The service was shocking. Not one member of staff smiled. When I went to the bar to order, no one greeted me, they just seemed put out at having to actually do something other than stand around and chat. This restaurant is taking full advantage of being in a prime location, servicing up shocking, substandard food at ridiculous prices. Avoid avoid avoid.

We popped in here when passing as it was in a great location overlooking Sandown Bay. The staff all looked like they'd rather be anywhere else than there and the food was mediocre at best - such a shame as it has a lot of potential to be a great place to eat. The prices were on par with what you would spend in a nice country pub - they do offer a discount for paying cash (!) which softens the blow slightly but not enough to make us return.

Terrible service received, attended on a hot summers day to enjoy a drink & when I requested some hot water (they serve hot drinks) for my baby's formula they refused curtly to provide any. The person serving refused to elaborate on this any further so I left without making any purchases. Shockingly bad customer service! Avoid!

Great food with friendly helpful staff. Great location on the coast. Inviting looking building from outside

Awful place. Don't go there. The wiev is nice but that is the only good thing. We bought a bottle of wine and put on the floor because it was very hot. They did not give an ice bucket. The owner came and start shouted at that is illegal to bring our wine there. I show him my receipt and he didn't even say sorry. The stuff started to change into something that looks like uniform in the middle of the shift. They made so mistakes with other people's orders too. Absolutely awful place.

Avoid at all costs. This place gets away with being awful simply because of its location. The bar manager actually swore at my husband. Appalling! The food was adequate but the experience was completely ruined by this behaviour. I worked in hospitality for years and I've never seen or heard customers being treated like this anywhere. It's shocking. There are far better places to eat in Sandown that are run by lovely people who want to provide genuine good service and build their reputation. Look them up.

Absolutely disgusting greeting owner/proprietor was rude and grumpy, paid £9.60 for a pint of Moretti and a tea! Had to complain about the tea as it smelled fishy! How is that even possible? Bar maid was argumentative and rude

This was the most awful restaurant I have ever been to. The table was filthy (from days old dirt), which I had to clean myself. We ordered food and were told that we were to blame for it being late and cold. The staff were really rude when I politely requested to discuss as resolution. At this point the manager began shouting expletives from behind the bar at me as other customer's jaws dropped. We were then told to leave if we didn't like it, at which point my wife an I (both GPs), took our young children and did just that. The food looked vile and we didn't touch it. Avoid this place at all costs. I know people have bad days, but this was just insane.

Horrible owner swore at me. I asked for a cup orlf water for my child who was eating lunch. Spent 65 pounds on average piza, burger, kids burger and salad - he told me to go que at the bar for a cup of water while my family ate their lunch. He told me 'we don't do table service especially not for a water' then called me an F***... unfortunately they get alot of walk-by customers so they're pretty full due to the sea view. Food is bad to average, its expensive and the owner is rude and nasty. Don't eat here if you can avoid it.

Really disappointing. The location and potential of the place far outweighs the reality which is very poor service and hugely overpriced food and drink. The menu is probably too ambitious and therefore very poorly executed. For example, a crab sandwich consisted of a very small amount of crab meat put in-between two pieces of your everyday cheap brown bread placed on a bed of cooked frozen chips without any seasoning, some lettuce, one piece of cucumber and a an eighth of a slice of tomato. The chicken kebab skewers came on a very bland bed of rice. It really wasn't nice at all. The service was incredibly slow. It took over half an hour to be served two beers and at now point was there any attempt to acknowledge me waiting. This place probably does well because of the actual location and site. It's such a shame. The menu needs to be striped back and the people producing the food should actually taste it. The service needs attention too with more urgency and staff flexibility with the ability to step up the pace during busy times.

Food was absolutely awful. Chicken wings were tasteless. We had to ask for our food to be brought out, it arrived cold. Two items we ordered were not received. Waitress had no personality. We wondered why there were so few customers, now we know.

We’ve been going to the driftwood for many years on our annual holiday. We normally love the cocktails they serve but this year has been a bit of a disappointment. We’ve ordered various cocktails & they’ve not tasted anything like they should. I don’t know if it’s a training issue but when you pay those sort of prices you expect something that tastes nice & resembles what you’ve asked for. The place needs a serious deep clean as everything seems grubby & sticky. Don’t think I’ve ever seen toilets in a eatery in such a state. It’s a bit of a joke to have to ask for a key (to stop the public using them) as no one in there right mind would unless they were desperate!

Good location, but not overly welcoming. Young staff, challenged as to whether we were customers before being allowed to use a pretty revolting loo. High prices for pretty average food although there was plenty of it and the presentation was ok

We stopped here after a trip to dinosaur isle with our young family, We wouldn’t recommend, despite the good setting. The food was poor. Oddly, despite offering a 10% discount to pay in cash (dodgy?!?) they refused sterling (Scottish) money. The drinking tap water smelled and tasted very dodgy which put us off.

3 of us ordered fish and chips in an open fronted setting to the beach. A huge piece of fish with chips and a salad very good.

Very nice restaurant. Able to sit inside or outside. Food was very nice and plenty of it. Nice for a casual meal at a decent price.

Can't believe I never knew this place existed before! We stopped by for drinks after a swim on the beach this week and were impressed. The location, view and layout is fantastic, with lots of beachfront seating. The staff were super friendly and welcoming. Everything...

Eat & drink on the deck overlooking the beach. You could easily be in the Mediterranean, and that includes the food. Will definitely be back.

After a game of crazy golf with our wives we thought we would all relax by the beach at the Driftwood Beach Bar N Grill on the sea front. We sat for a short while thinking that someone would come over and take our drinks...

it was a really good meal i carry on going there because i enjoyed the food and i love siting next to the beach a lovely place to have a bar also i love throws strawberry milk shake thank you for the excellent meals by...

We liked the look of the menu and decided to give it a go and we weren't disappointed. My mate had the mushroom and mozzarella pizza, and I had the seafood platter and it was yum. I loved everything on there, bar the peppers and...

Called in once and that was enough dirty bar and the staff are unfriendly also. I would walk into the centre and try the bars in the centre / on the front further on. Avoid.

Popped in here on the afternoon of the queens funeral, there were a few people seated, eating and drinking. I only wanted a takeaway tea and coffee for myself and my wife while we sat in the sun on the beach. There were a couple...

We have always visited here every time we are in sandown and every year the prices go up and the standards go down. There are lots of young staff stood around doing nothing, we were greeted by a young girl who whispered and a rope...

We stopped here for lunch with a toddler and baby. Service was good and the food was nice although a bit on the expensive side. It was nice to be able to sit near the beach and enjoy the sunshine.

Ate here today - family of 4 with a newborn and 2 year old. Asked for one of the raised wooden booth areas as we were outside and have two little ones - although all empty they said no as not five of us. Sat...

Walked all the way to this restaurant to find it closed. Very disappointing as they claim “open early 7am til 11pm. Please update your website to save customers a wasted journey.

Very grubby place with unfriendly and rude staff who seemed like they hated working there. Drinks were ridiculously overpriced and the glasses weren't even clean. Don't waste your time, there are much nicer places on the island.

Arrived, got table straight away. Ordered food at the bar, drinks served to take back to table. Asked for water for our dog and got served some from the bar, so that was good. Food came in reasonable time and I really enjoyed the fish...

I visited this place recently with family and was absolutely disgusted with the service and attitude of the management! I paid for our food (which at the time I thought was pricey) and was told we would have to wait 45 mins. After waiting over...

Over priced food, rude staff, average food! 1 star is for the great location! Manager is rude. Food is average. Staff don’t really want to be there and have zero charisma! Right on beautiful beach! So view is fab but that’s about it!

Ordered drinks... my coke was flat and tasted watery. My friend's smoothie was curdled; her husband took it back and got told"oh that's just how they come" but after his insistence did get a refund. Decided not to bother ordering food as its ridiculously priced......

This is my first review on trip advisor and it is only to warn over holiday makers and islanders of this bar. I wish I had read the reviews before visiting. I feel extremely upset about the attitude of I'm guessing the manager. A young...

We went for lunch and my daughter had the “Fresh Seafood Platter” it was disgusting! Tinned crab small piece of smoked mackerel, frozen watery prawns, supposed to have crayfish but they had run out so she said she would have more prawns, absolutely tasteless! £18.95...

Wish I’d read the reviews before stopping for over priced drinks. Mocktails at £6 in Pepsi glasses. When I complained that weren’t as they looked in the menu I was told they’re just pictures & have to be served in Pepsi glasses due to servers...

We popped in for some breakfast/lunch, as the place looked good and was in a nice location. We sat down after making our way down some unsafe steps and perused the cluttered and expensive menu. We were very hot and thirsty, so i went up...

Over here for a weeks holiday. Been here every night so far. Extensive menu to please everyone. Everything cooked and prepped to order in a small kitchen, being a chef I appreciate how hot and under pressure they are. Fabulous location right on the beach....

I wish I’d read these reviews before we went in. It’s a great location, yes, but that’s no excuse to serve truly terrible food at extortionate prices and then try to pick a fight with the customers when they complain! My partner order a shrimp...

This place is amazing such great staff that are so helpful , amazing view , me and my friends has pizza and mussels and it was amazing couldn’t ask for a better place to go for a lovely meal , live music aswell

The place is not nice over priced food I had the crab salad which was not claw meet as menu stated but tinned crab meat when my partner asked for a glass of water he was told to get in the queue at which point...

We should of left when we got there as table and menus sticky. Well over priced for disgusting, rank food. Save your money go else where, even the dog didn’t like it!!!!!!

I am not one to usually moan but after paying £23 for literally 12 mussels that were still very gritty. If i could give this place a lower rating i would, made to feel very unwelcomed and the owner/ manager who ever he was was...

So Rude! So Unfriendly! So Dirty! We felt extremely unwelcome. Weren't allowed to sit in any of the six empty tables in the shade. When we moved our table so that it was shaded by its own umbrella we were rudely told off. This was...

Went here booked a table of 7 for 7. As soon as we arrived we got told off for coming in wrong door not even qelcomed. We were then offered 2 separate tables which we didn't mind because they were next to eachother so we...

This bar has always been one of our favourites but we were greeted by a very surly man who seemed very annoyed at our presence and when I asked for a table he said he didn’t have any, he didn’t enquire how many for or...

Rude owner. Service from him aweful his colleagues good in covering for him. He needs to get rid of his terrible attitude or stop tring tobe in charge.

Great location but very pricey. Waiting staff are pleasant. Unfortunately the manager/owner’s approach to customer service is terrible - having looked at other comments, we’re apparently not alone in this view. ‘Treats customers like [inconvenient] plebs’ is spot on. A shame.

Junior female who served me was pleasant enough bless her but the older male owner I think was rude and arrogant - won’t ever go there again. Terrible attitude treating customers like plebs - stay well clear

To finish this meal was exhausting not to mention the fact that we waited a lifetime to be served. Staff didn’t know their ass from their elbow. However view was spot despite the fact that we were seated next to a load of rusty chairs...

This has all the looks of a nice beach bar and eatery. It fails to live up to it's looks. The whole operation is chaotic and unhelpful. We were there before the season had rally set in - goodness knows what it is like when...

Been too the driftwood few years ago in 2019 Food was lovely. Revisted June 2022. The food was shocking. £17 for a burger, chips and salad. Burger was very basic and thin. No flavour very cheap quality meat. Had better from lidl. Chip were dry...

I called to this establishment today to ask whether they could fill my empty water container with tap water, as I was with a school party of 87 children in the nearby park. It was the hottest day of the year so far and we...

This could be and should be an amazing place. A beautiful location with fabulous views. However, the rope across the entrance is off putting to start with followed by appalling customer service. You are made to feel more of an inconvenience than a paying customer....

Lovely place, awful cocktails and the rudest manager. Shame as it has so much potential. Having a rope at the entrance is quite intimidating.

Had lunch with friends on Easter Saturday, ordered food and drinks and then was told about the 30 minute wait which was fine by us but maybe tell customers before they order so they have a choice. Food brought to the table exactly 30 minutes...

Visited here today to have a drink, whilst the staff in the bar were pleasant enough were clearly busy. I waited a good 5 minutes to be served which in itself is not the cause of my complaint. There was a guy at the entrance...

First impressions were not good as we were stood behind the closed rope waiting for staff to acknowledge us. We were ignored until other customers said I recommend you sit as they won’t sit you. On that note customer service is none existent here. Only...

Just had the smallest burger ever could hardly see the meat in the bun you could taste the old oil on the chips and for £17 you expect abit more. Girlfriend had seafood platter all frozen and poor quality again £17 which we had to...

We arrived early lunch and were seated promptly. Husband ordered drinks at bar which came reasonably quickly. However towards the end of our drinks they started up the music which was so loud we couldn’t speak over it being sat right in front of the...

One very dry, tasteless crab sandwich and one underwhelming prawn sandwich with dry cold chips. Coffee was cold so was the tea. Won't be going back. Unfortunately typical of Sandown.

We went to the driftwood today for lunch and some drinks. I must say after reading all the terrible reviews on here we were so tempted not to bother, however it was a scorching hot day and a beer by the sea was needed. The...

Nice views. Quick service. Food was awful. Not at all like the photos, or the menu described. Sangria was bang average at best The nice seating area which was apparently reserved, had no one sitting in it for the duration. We got put on a...

Had awesome early evening drinks here whilst on holiday in nearby Yaverland . We loved the view and drinks were great . Amazing staff even coming to unlock the toilet facility after 2 of us tried and failed .

Beautiful views/location, that’s all this bar has going for it. Customer service leaves a lot to be desired. Left waiting at the entrance/rope for a good five minutes without an acknowledgement and the waiting staff walked by us several times. A lady from the bar...

manager is most the rudest person in the hospitality sector I have ever met.i do not write reviews as sometimes it could just be a bad day for a member of staff,but this manager was sharp rude and damm ignorant.we sat to ready to order...

Just eaten here. The whole place is disgusting from the bar to the toilets to the menus. Turned up and had to wait at a rope for 10 minutes before a complete mumbling moron turned up and showed us to a dirty table and handed...

Have to say the worst over priced meal ever, don’t waste your time and hard earned money people! Meal was served on a what actually looked like a pice of ‘driftwood’, am I missing something here…… ? Knife and forks would you believe this.. pulled...

My family and I walked in off the street to be greeted by a waitress who mumbled a lot. Not a problem, I just had to ask her to repeat herself a few times. I mention this because it was the start of our issues....

Asked for a chicken club sandwich, they couldnt make one apparently. So i asked for a BLT with chicken, they agreed then i said can you toast the bread….they said no as this bar can’t toast bread apparently. Run by a bunch of kids

Only stopped in for a drink but this place is run by youngsters, you can get some service if they stop messing around Toilets are a store room and grubby Lovely location But most customers want a little more

The owner is a rude arrogant man. The customer service is awful, like I’ve never seen before. A group of 13 of us and he refused to let us have 2 tables, we were made to squeeze onto a table for 8, even though no...

Ordered from the bar a selection of drinks. Then all hell broke loose. A short old man (who was the manager) started to abuse and be aggressive towards his young workers Infront of paying customers. The place smells badly and I would not recommend this...

The food is hideous actually shocking bad. Avoid at all cost. When complaining to the staff they shrugged their shoulders said nothing and walked away. Don’t waste your time or money. The restaurant had rubbish floating about the staff would walk over it and not...

God awful. Do your self a favour and avoid this place! Terrible food and rip off prices. Praying on innocent holiday makers like this is shameful.

The bar is in an ideal location. We have visited in previous years, then we had better service and food. The food was very poor on our visit, this time. My wife and son had prawns in batter, We called the waitress over and she...

We wanted to have a drink and we were going with children. The person in charge of the door (he was an old guy), he was so rude and kept asking us why we entered from the side door which was open and the no...

A very popular place, right on the front, but the size of the meals were enormous, too much for some, but nonetheless very enjoyable.

I foolishly booked this nice ‘looking’ restaurant without checking reviews. It’s beyond awful and actually inedible. No point in complaining to the very young staff, they would have done nothing. Food terrible and covid measures non existent. Avoid avoid avoid.

Great location and has so much potential. Unfortunately it’s horrendous. Management are rude and aggressive. Staff are clueless. Stay away from this place, especially if you’re planning to eat.

We’ve come to this place a few times a few years on family holidays and never had any negatives, this year the place was empty and we were told there was a 50 minute wait for food, we didn’t mind the wait until the food...

Very expensive drinks and food just can't be any reason why a bar charges £12 for two pints I've got money but still felt ripped off No excuse just cause your a little shack on sandown beach The young staff were stuck up We found...

Cracking little bar right on the beach. Friendly staff and atmosphere. Good selection of cold and a very decent range of wine. Some of the food was a little on the pricey side, but the standard is high and it was well presented. If you...

OMG!!!!!! Don’t ever go! It’s probably the worst place for customer service ever!! What a gem they have but Jesus they are not using it. Most people on the other tables were saying the same! We were booked in for food but thank god we...

Always seems busy so be prepared to wait a while. Argumentative staff. When ordering drinks the bar tender started pouring the soft drinks in glasses but was told to transfer them to plastic glasses for outside use. The original glasses were around a third larger...

We had an extremely poor meal at this place, whilst leaving I said how disappointed we were to the owner, especially considering the prices they charge! I have never experienced anything like what happened next, he decided that I was obviously in the wrong, started...

I saw staff members bringing food from the back of restaurant where the toilets are. I saw staff member preparing salad RIGHT NEXT TO THE TOILET!! The toilets were filthy, there’s a key lock system which no doubt was full of germs. I ordered a...

Shown to a table by a very friendly young waitress who advised how to order and that there was a waiting time for food of about 45 minutes. Queued for 20 minutes to order food to be told two of the meals we wanted were...

Visited August 2021 with my young daughters. Arrived at 5pm for dinner. First thing was that they were not sure if the kitchen could handle us ordering food. Fortunately they decided they could fit us in although we’re told the chef was already having a...

Myself, my partner and children popped into the driftwood restaurant and had drinks. A pint for myself, mock tails for the kids and a cocktail for my partner. We just sat and looked out over the beach to the sea on a wonderful sunny day...

This looks like a nice place but when you take a closer look it is filthy. My son pulled a long hair out of his food and the staff didnt apologise or looked surprised. The member of staff serving me had filthy hand and dirt...

I was reading all the bad reviews as I sat down to order and nearly walked out but glad I didn’t, there was nothing wrong with this place imo. Yes it’s a little overpriced for the food quality but you’re paying for the view. The...

Abysmal food. Poor management. Terrible staff. Don’t need to say more as other reviews speak volumes. Avoid. Money wasted.

An absolute disgrace.Bar staff giggling with each other,more interested in the pathetic in house arguing going on behind the bar,chef swearing at full volume at the bar staff and some sort of witch trying to rule over everyone...what a fxxxxxx waste of a bar. Do...

Driftwood’s tag line on their Instagram page is ‘A one of a kind beach bar on the Isle of Wight’ and they are absolutely right, in fact it’s one of a kind to any beach bar I’ve been to in the whole world. I’m not...

Think they can charge prices of 5 star food when it’s really a 1 star the hygiene of the kitchen is horrible and they give there underaged workers alcohol

We stopped here for the location and the live music but oh what a disappointment! Having spent nearly £60 on two meals and two drinks we were expecting a bit more. The nachos are literally just a plate of them with cheese and some jar...

Service was appalling, had our menus thrown on the table and our plates taken before properly finishing. Food and drinks were clearly rushed and were not as expected, one meal was missing a main part of food that was described on the menu. Good view...

Despite the recent negative reviews we found our experience at Driftwood highly pleasurable. The staff were professional, polite and were calm under pressure in an incredibly busy bar. The views are impressive and the atmosphere was vibrant. Only issue was the slug we had in...

Absolutely terrible we were give champagne that was off when questioned the manager argued got aggressive we walked out and left the champagne there un drunk, thought it was disgusting in these current times we would have stayed all afternoon drinking cocktails etc, the bar...

We got 5 sunbeds. They were all stacked up. A young lady told us they weren’t letting the public hire sunbeds today. The beach wasn’t open! We offered to pay £5 each for the bed’s & to put them away ourselves. But they said no....