AHN - Eat and Run
Revere, MA - New England oceanfront dining can mean a lot of things: from clam shacks and fried seafood to fresh lobster rolls, as well as pub food, burgers, hot dogs and fine dining overlooking the national seashore.
The breathtaking views and warm decor of Dryft - situated along America's oldest public beach in Revere, MA - are a strong set-up for a menu and dining experience that does not disappoint. Heavily inspired by creative seafood and classic Italian specialties, the menu is proper accompaniment for a day at Revere Beach in any season: be it the high-volume days of summer between Memorial Day and Labor day or a comfort-food afternoon in late fall.
Year-round, meanwhile, Dryft is a fine-dining option for any elegant dinner occasion with outdoor patio tables for when the weather is at its most inviting across Revere Beach Boulevard from the Atlantic Ocean.
All house-made pasta dishes are offered in small-plate or entree sizes, with the bolognese ($17/$25) representing a very traditional Italian kitchen meal, and the shrimp scampi pasta ($19/$27) offering an inspired presentation with cherry tomatoes, breadcrumbs and a proper blend of garlic and parsley.
The nine-selections of appetizers include grilled octopus ($19), mussels ($16), fried calamari ($16), buffalo cauliflower ($12), and street corn ($10). The featured raw bar item is a seafood platter feast of oysters, clams, shrimp and lobster ($65/$130) - but you can also just have a taste of New England decadence with the lobster tail ($17) or littleneck clams on the half shell ($2.50 each).
The bistro salad ($8) is the perfect vehicle for a diner's protein of choice: salmon, chicken, shrimp or lobster tail - priced accordingly. But for $15, adding the sliced sirloin to this salad may be the pro move at Dryft. The preparation is spot on and the complementary nature of the beef flavor and vinaigrette salad is perfect.
Sleeper selection: shrimp fried rice with sesame crusted tuna ($34).
The Dryft burger ($17) wraps carmelized onions beneath a blanket of Vermont cheddar and you can add bacon for just $1. Solid menu staples include a New York strip steak with truffle fries ($45), chicken parmesan ($25), pan-seared scallops ($35) and lobster risotto with fra diavolo sauce ($33).
And if you are simply not messing around, the full New England seafood experience of premium baked stuffed lobster is waiting for you: prepared with a lobster stuffing that blends scallops, shrimp, haddock, crab and a cracker crumble. Be prepared to pay market price at the time of your visit.
Dryft is located at 500 Ocean Avenue in Revere, MA.