Drift In — a seasonal open-air waterfront restaurant along Hudson River Park near Pier 45 from the folks that bring you Grand Banks — Executive Chef Kerry Heffernan builds his menus around sustainable, wild-caught seafood and seasonal produce.

After perusing their menu, which includes a variety of oysters, many seafood dishes, burgers, salads, cocktails, wines and beers, we decided to start with their Tropicalia cocktail ($16.5). Along with that mixture of vodka, watermelon and lime, we nibbled the housemade smoked line-caught bluefish dip with freshly deep-fried chips. ($17) while savoring the water view.

We both enjoyed the fresh lobster. The Maine lobster roll with herb-dulse emulsion and pickled cucumber is served on a griddled potato bun ($33). The lobster salad has the same blend but atop mixed greens with red wine vinaigrette, shaved fennel, and pickled red onion ($34). Both delicious.

With that, we ate their crispy seaweed-salted galley fries ($8.50). Sadly the ketchup they serve was oddly vinegary, not the iconic Heinz. Everything else — including the weather — was so perfect, we didn’t mind.

I highly recommend.

Drift In
Hudson River Park Trust
389 West Street
New York, NY 10014
(646) 860-0964
crewny.com/drift-in