The Bottom Line
Pros
- Great food
- Generous portions
- Beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico
Cons
- Limited seating, always crowded
- Parking issues
Description
- Address: 900 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach
- Phone: 941-778-1919
- Signature breakfast dish: Ultimate Belgian Waffle
- Favorite appetizer: Roasted Feta, Olives and Red Peppers
- Favorite sandwich: The Café Affair
- Favorite dinner: Shrimp de Jonghe
Guide Review - Gulf Drive Café Review
It’s no secret that Gulf Drive Café has cultivated a faithful breakfast crowd over the years. Most seasonal visitors and residents alike will confess that it was the restaurant’s signature Belgian waffles that first lured them to the modest-looking beachside eatery.
Diners can order a plain Belgian waffle (but what’s the fun in that?), or they can order a Belgian waffle with fruit (strawberries or blueberries, topped with whipped cream). For the true connoisseur, however, Gulf Drive Café offers its Ultimate Belgian Waffle – the fluffy, oversized waffle arrives at the table covered in ice cream, strawberries or blueberries, and topped with whipped cream.
Legend has it the restaurant used to sell waffle wedges since many patrons couldn’t manage a full helping.
Reducing Gulf Drive Café to one offering, though, isn’t fair. The breakfast menu alone holds a number of mouthwatering temptations.
On a recent visit, I enjoyed a filling Feta Cheese and Tomato Omelette while my wife tried the Eggs Benedict. Both breakfasts were above expectations and were served with some of the best home fries I’ve had in years.
Gulf Drive Café offers a variety of omelettes including a house omelette (ham, bacon, sausage and cheese); asparagus and ham omelette topped with Hollandaise; and a Seafood Omelette with scallops, shrimp, green onions and provolone served with salsa.
Pancake fans can choose from blueberry, strawberry, pecan, chocolate chip and coconut macadamia. Also offered are crepes and cheese blintzes, a fruit parfait and a fresh fruit platter.
Gulf Drive Café is small, so be prepared to wait for a table.