Restaurants & Bars
JW Marriott's New Driftlight Restaurant A Shiny Star On Water Street
Tampa's JW Marriott's crowning achievement is ready for the spotlight.
TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay Food Tours was fortunate to attend a preview of JW Marriott Driftlight, now welcoming guests for dinner.
I recommend getting a reservation before you finish this post. This culinary team oversees 10 restaurants in the Marriott properties and, in my opinion, they saved the best for last.
Driftwood 's team and executive chef Mathew Brennan took the time to fully develop this newest restaurant and the attention to detail is evident.
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Located in the vibrant Water Street neighborhood and on the main floor of the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, the restaurant is steps away from Amalie Arena, Sparkman Wharf and the Tampa Riverwalk.
Enjoy this feast for the eyes.
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Here's the Chef's Selection, featuring East and West Coast oysters, Gulf shrimp, lobster tail and crab with passionfruit remoulade, cucumber mignonette and bloody Mary cocktail.
Heirloom tomato panzanella features picked green tomatoes, cucumber consomme, citrus goat cheese and cornbrad.
Florida crab cakes are prepared with benne seed crumble and served with passionfruit remoulade.
Here's Driftlight's version of Oyster Lobsterfeller with East Coast oysters, lobster, creamed spinach, Parmesan and local beer.
Bone marrow beef tartare features horseradish, pomme souffle, cured egg yolk, crispy capers and grilled sourdough.
The spring vegetable pasta features herb ricotta cavatelli, green onion pesto, fava beans, English peas and mushrooms.
Pommes puree is made with Yukon gold potatoes, roasted garlic, cultured butter, local shrimp, mac & cheese with campanelle pasta, truffle white cheese sauce, roasted mushrooms, cracker pepper, herbs.
Fried Brussels sprouts are made with heirloom cauliflower, Fresno pepper and tomato ponzu.
Blackened salmon is served with fava bean succotash, braised fennel and Florida citrus Buerre Blanc.
Diners can choose from an 8- or 12-ounce filet, 16-ounce New York strip, 16-ounce Delmonico, 20-ounce dry, aged bone-in New York strip and a 32-ounce dry-aged bone-in ribeye.
Yes, I saved room for a photo of executive chef Natalia Meshalkina's tasty desserts. For the record, the carrot cake was my favorite but no disrespect to the delicious chocolate creations.
Again, kudos to this team. Everything was perfectly prepared and executed, and the whole menu tasted amazing.
When planning your visit to Driftlight and the lovely adjoining Driftlight Lounge, you can valet park at the JW and the hostess can validate your parking ticket when you spend $25 or more. Stay the night at the JW or the adjacent Water Street Marriott and explore the Water Street area. It has risen and is changing the landscape of downtown Tampa before our eyes.
JW Marriott Driftlight is located in the growing Water Street community in downtown Tampa.
Visit soon and tell them www.TampaBayFoodTours.com sent you. Guided walking food tours in downtown Tampa, St. Petersburg and Dunedin can be booked here.
