East Cobb restaurant update: Drift Fish House closing Dec. 30

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Drift Fish House and Oyster Bar

After nearly eight years in business, Drift Fish House and Oyster Bar is closing at Avenue East Cobb.

In a message to customers and on the restaurant’s social media channels, owner Doug Turbush and his wife Pranee said that Drift’s lease is up at the end of the year, and “we have made the difficult decision to not renew our lease.”

The final dinner service will be Dec. 30, the message said.

Opened in March 2016 as a neighborhood seafood establishment, Drift has focused its dishes around a wood-fired grill and included patio service and a New England-style lobster shack in warmer weather.

Turbush has dramatically influenced the East Cobb dining scene over the last decade or so since opening Seed Kitchen & Bar at Merchants Walk in 2011, and the adjacent Stem Wine Bar in 2013.

In an interview with East Cobb News published in February 2020, he said he decided to open Drift because “there was no dedicated high-quality seafood place here. I could have put a steakhouse there, but there’s a steakhouse on every corner in Atlanta.”

Some initial reviews weren’t good, and after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, Turbush’s three establishments in his Seed Hospitality Group had to pivot with curbside and pickup service.

The announcement of Drift’s closing is the latest change amid a major transition at Avenue East Cobb, and in particular locally-owned businesses. The Olea Oliva! gourmet and artisanal foods store closed in October.

The retail center also is welcoming more places to eat or get food.

The NY Butcher Shoppe opened earlier this year, and Peach State Pizza Co. and Press Waffle are set to open in the coming months, along with a second location of Round Trip Brewing.

The existing Tin Lizzy’s will be adding a family-friendly gaming bar and serving restaurant menu items.

In their message to customers, the Turbushes also thanked North American Properties, Avenue’s management company, “for their invaluable assistance in ensuring a smooth transition. We wish them every success in their exciting endeavor to reimagine Avenue East Cobb.”

They thanked their staff at Drift, which they said have “consistently delivered outstanding dining experiences for our guests since the day we opened our doors.

“Our team looks forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar over the next few weeks as we continue to provide the exceptional dining experience and service that you have come to expect from us. We are deeply thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of the East Cobb community and to have shared our passion for food and hospitality with you. Our sister restaurants, Seed Kitchen & Bar and Stem Wine Bar eagerly anticipate continuing to serve you, our friends and neighbors.”

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1 thought on “East Cobb restaurant update: Drift Fish House closing Dec. 30”

  1. The food was ok but overpriced, and it was a weird atmosphere. I remember the first time we ate there that there was another table of people right next to us separated by a thin wall with a big opening in it. Too close for comfort.

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