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Food - Driftlight Steakhouse, Tampa, FL

Driftlight Steakhouse

4.6 (427)
$50 and over
Steakhouse
510 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602

Make a reservation

A photo of Driftlight Steakhouse restaurant

Driftlight Steakhouse

4.6
$50 and over
Steakhouse
Tampa

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 32 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for fine wines
  • Great for creative cocktails
Inspired by the lighted bridges of Tampa, the restaurant offers a bold backdrop for long conversations and luxuriant dinners, connecting visitors to the region and to each other.
The menu features chef-selected land and sea dishes driven by regional ingredients, paired with a collection of wines and champagnes from around the world. Other handcrafted drinks offer new interpretations of classic cocktails, setting the scene for a fresh yet familiar destination.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Seafood, Steak
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–11:00 am Sat, Sun 6:30 am–12:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Private party facilities
    Contact our restaurant sales team at 813-314-6650 to inquire about booking your next private event.
  • Neighborhood
    Tampa
  • Cross street
    Water Street & Florida Avenue
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Sunrise Picnic Experience

    $85.00 per person

    Prepaid

    2 - 4 people

    Multiple dates available
    Enjoy our curated picnic experience beyond our dining outlets, whether along our award-winning waterfront, aboard a private sail, or in the comfort of your guestroom. Pick up your elegantly prepared picnic basket from Driftlight, complete with a seasonal selection of culinary offerings and silver plates and cups, then choose your perfect setting and dine at your leisure. When your experience is complete, simply return the basket and serviceware to Driftlight.
    Sunrise Picnic Experience Photo
  • Mid-day Moments Picnic Experience

    $85.00 per person

    Prepaid

    2 - 4 people

    Multiple dates available
    Enjoy our curated picnic experience beyond our dining outlets, whether along our award-winning waterfront, aboard a private sail, or in the comfort of your guestroom. Pick up your elegantly prepared picnic basket from Driftlight, complete with a seasonal selection of culinary offerings and silver plates and cups, then choose your perfect setting and dine at your leisure. When your experience is complete, simply return the basket and serviceware to Driftlight.
    Mid-day Moments Picnic Experience Photo
  • Sunset Sips Picnic Experience

    $85.00 per person

    Prepaid

    2 - 4 people

    Multiple dates available
    Enjoy our curated picnic experience beyond our dining outlets, whether along our award-winning waterfront, aboard a private sail, or in the comfort of your guestroom. Pick up your elegantly prepared picnic basket from Driftlight, complete with a seasonal selection of culinary offerings and silver plates and cups, then choose your perfect setting and dine at your leisure. When your experience is complete, simply return the basket and serviceware to Driftlight.
    Sunset Sips Picnic Experience Photo

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Driftlight Steakhouse.

4.6

4.6
(427)
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.0Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Tampa

    Great for fine wines

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Driftlight Steakhouse delivers an "exceptional dining experience" with attentive service and "delicious food." Guests rave about the "phenomenal" carrot cake and expertly prepared steaks. Ideal for special occasions, it offers a beautiful setting and thoughtful extras like complimentary valet parking. Despite some pricing concerns, its "amazing" service and "outstanding" hospitality stand out.
427 Reviews
  1. Richard Gold

    Greater Boston22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My wife and I really enjoyed our dinner at Driftlight Steakhouse. The service was excellent. Our waitress was very attentive without being overbearing, which we really appreciated. I started with the chopped salad, and my wife had the French onion soup. We both had the filet mignon with a side of French fries, and I finished with the key lime pie for dessert. Everything was excellent from start to finish. We had a great dining experience and would definitely return.

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  2. Sean Gold

    Tampa13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always excellent. We had a group of 7 and never thought about a thing all night. Smooth, friendly service, some of the best steaks in Tampa, and not your typical packed Tampa dining room.

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  3. Todd

    Tampa3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I thought the food was excellent. I eat out a lot and it is a nice resturuant but it still seemed over priced.

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  4. Russell Gold

    Tampa6 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on October 31, 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Worst tomahawk ribeye ever, quality was terrible and cooked rare when we asked for medium/medium well, sent back - returned still rare

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  5. Davida

    Orlando2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 30, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    From start to finish, our experience at Driftlight Steakhouse was nothing short of AMAZING! Upon arrival, we were greeted by the most wonderful hostess. Unfortunately, I didn’t get her name, but her kindness, professionalism, and warm personality did not go unnoticed. She went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, even graciously offering us our choice of seating. What a beautiful way to begin our evening! Our waitress, Ashley, was PHENOMENAL! Her attentiveness and exceptional service made our experience even more enjoyable. The food was absolutely delicious, beautifully prepared, and served in a timely manner. The drinks were exactly what we wanted and needed! Everything was simply on point! And just when we thought the evening couldn’t get any better, along came the CARROT CAKE! Let me tell you something… it was hands down THE MOST DELICIOUS CARROT CAKE I HAVE EVER TASTED IN MY LIFE! And I am NOT exaggerating! Every bite was pure perfection! Driftlight Steakhouse truly delivered an exceptional dining experience, from the warm welcome to the very last bite of dessert. Outstanding hospitality, phenomenal service, delicious food, and an unforgettable dessert! I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and will DEFINITELY BE RETURNING! Thank you, Driftlight Steakhouse, for such a wonderful evening!

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Fort Lauderdale1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 25, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great spot! This is our second visit and we will be back.

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  7. Vicki

    Tampa10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 21, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was wonderful!! Our waiter great & other staff nice as well! My only minor comment…we very much appreciated the birthday cake the waiter brought out to help celebrate our daughter’s birthday however, it would have been nice if he told us ahead of time it was coming so we didn’t have 3 desserts. I don’t want to sound unappreciative but a heads up would have been nice…Thank you!

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  8. Anthony

    Tampa2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 14, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was tasty although the dry aged ribeye was a bit tough in some bites. They carved it in the kitchen to share, so not sure what happened there. Oysters were tasty but the brine was dumped. Brine is part of the flavor and experience of an oyster. Hate when places dump brine. Mashed potatoes and corn fabulous as always. It was my fiancés birthday. They brought out a hand drawn card and champagne which was very much appreciated. However, I wrote on the reservation, called and left a voicemail, AND messaged thru the reservation app that I would like to buy flowers to be put on the table. Not one single person responded to any three of my efforts in order to buy flowers. I understand if this isn’t allowed, but a simple “sorry we don’t allow that” would’ve sufficed instead of radio silence.

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  9. James Gold

    Tampa52 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 10, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Driftlight is a solid staple of Channelside restaurants. Always great food and service. Neil was our server last night and continues to provide a solid 10 experience.

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  10. Sam

    Tampa2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 10, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful service and meal. Could use a little more orange butter with the purple brioche….otherwise outstanding!

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Seafood, Steak
  • Hours of operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–11:00 am Sat, Sun 6:30 am–12:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Private party facilities
    Contact our restaurant sales team at 813-314-6650 to inquire about booking your next private event.
  • Neighborhood
    Tampa
  • Cross street
    Water Street & Florida Avenue
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Driftlight tends to fill for big holiday and event nights, reviewers described busy New Year’s Eve services and large wedding parties, while some visits have been noticeably quiet, including one reviewer who said it wasn’t even half full on a Friday night.

Saturday mornings are a lovely pick for Driftlight’s breakfast, guests praise the restaurant’s Saturday breakfast/buffet and breakfast service.

Yes, Driftlight is frequently chosen for anniversaries and special evenings, with guests noting a warm, inviting ambiance and attentive service that suit a romantic night out.

Yes, families dine here, especially at breakfast; guests note children enjoying waffles and kids eating dishes like salmon with macaroni and cheese, and staff are described as attentive.

Dinner is the sweet spot, many guests praise Driftlight for anniversary and special‑occasion dinners; dinner service runs daily from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. If you prefer a more relaxed visit, the breakfast service (Mon–Fri 6:30–11:00 am, Sat–Sun 6:30–12:00 pm) also gets strong praise from guests.

Guests report that portions are generous without being overwhelming, leaving diners comfortably satisfied.

Business casual is the guide, aim for neat, polished attire; many guests treat Driftlight as a special-occasion spot for anniversaries and celebrations.

Driftlight Steakhouse offers an elegant, warm dining room with thoughtful lighting and a dedicated dessert room, guests describe the space as inviting and polished, often noting attentive service and soft music that sets a relaxed tone.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Tampa / Central Florida West
  4. Tampa
  5. Tampa

Make a reservation

A photo of Driftlight Steakhouse restaurant

Driftlight Steakhouse

4.6
$50 and over
Steakhouse
Tampa

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 32 times today
Experiences are available.
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