The Drift (579 Meeker Ave) is your neighborhood local bar if you happen to be in this far northeast corner of Greenpoint on the edge of Brooklyn. If you haven’t visited in its first year of business, now is the time. The new fall menu and ski lodge vibe of this place is perfect for hiding away from cold weather. Influences from the bar owners’ other establishments, The Commodore and El Cortez are present as well as their namesake cocktails.
The Drift is a little off the beaten path, about a ten-minute walk from the G or L trains, tucked away next to the BQE. Its location is quiet and away from higher traffic Greenpoint streets such as Manhattan Ave or Franklin St. After all, enjoying a tropical frozen drink at a ski lodge-themed bar should make you feel about as far away from Brooklyn as possible. “We get that there’s busier bars and better locations like we’re not that place, but we’re really, you know, I think we’re a solid neighborhood bar,” says owner Taylor Dow.
Come for the cocktails, stay for the Frito Pie.
The Drift’s new chef, Eduardo Sandoval, formerly of Tygershark in Prospect Heights, hails from El Paso, TX and that Tex-Mex influence is represented on the menu. Take the Frito Pie served with housemade chili & pimento cheese, pico de gallo, scallions, and Mexican crema served in the bag. “I like that we’re being ballsy enough to just do it in the bag. Like, if you’re going to do it there’s no shame in it,” says Dow.
The Texas-style Bowl of Chili ($9) served with tortilla chips. The corn and black bean salad, Tomatillo, roasted peppers, jicama, arugula and jalapeño ranch dressing is a lighter option as a side for $7. There is something for everyone all menu items can be substituted for a vegetarian diet including the Famous Sloppy Joe. “There’s that Texas, Mexican, almost like a campfire idea where it’s really comforting. Obviously, everything has a little bit of a twist, but you can see there’s a little bit of southwest in it,” says chef Sandoval.
Overall, The Drift is that kind of bar where you want to go to get great comfort food, solid drinks, like the Refresco (watermelon juice, chili flakes, agave and a spiced salt rim; $9 and El Cortez (ancho-chili liquor, grapefruit juice and mint; $9) and check out the weekend scene without going too far from home.
Despite the change in weather, the backyard is open year round. The kitchen is open weekdays from 4pm-12am, 4pm-1am on weekends. And we’ve got their current fall menus (food/drink)!
The Drift is located at 579 Meeker Avenue. They are open Monday – Friday, 4pm – 4am; Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 4am.
579 Meeker Ave. is nowhere near the “far northeast corner of Greenpoint.” The far northeast corner of Greenpoint is where the Pulaski Bridge is.