The Driftwood Grill named Chamber Business of the Month

The Hancock County Chamber of Commerce held its monthly breakfast Tuesday, May 12, at the Career Center, where The Driftwood Grill in Hawesville was named Chamber Business of the Month. The Hancock Clarion sponsored the meal, which Riverview Restaurant catered.

Owner Jim Mayoros accepted the award from Chamber President Jake Powers, who presented a beautiful wooden plaque.

Mayoros said he and his wife, Allison, made several trips to Hawesville before deciding to relocate. Last year, the couple purchased the Rosenblatt Building from Steve and Karen Robertson, owners of Galaxy Pizza, and began converting the historic structure into a restaurant.

Mayoros and his family offered a preview during the December 2025 Light Up the Square event, serving hot chocolate and treats. Residents have praised the renovated space as both impressive and inviting, and many have expressed enthusiasm about the new downtown dining option.

The couple also had an adjacent vacant building demolished to create additional parking. Its removal opened a scenic view of the Ohio River from Main Street and created an excellent vantage point for the fireworks display during the Light Up the Square Christmas celebration.

Disassembled bourbon barrels form the front panels of the ordering counter, while smaller barrels are incorporated into the overhead lighting. Mayoros designed the restaurant with a quick-service, customizable format and a Southwestern flair, where guests build fresh, made-to-order versions of Mexican favorites at the counter.

Customers select proteins and toppings for tacos, enchiladas, bowls or salads. The menu focuses on fast, fresh and simple preparations. Recent offerings include beef tallow-fried potato nachos and a chicken queso rice wrap with fresh pico de gallo. Protein options include grilled chicken, shredded chicken, grilled steak, shredded pork and grilled shrimp. Portions are generous, and children’s options are available. All meats are grilled or slow-cooked.

The seating layout creates natural aisles reminiscent of Baja-style restaurants, complemented by palm tree decor that reinforces the Southwestern theme. A spacious back room can accommodate private parties of up to 60 people and features a pull-down projector screen suitable for presentations or sporting events.

Dessert options include churros, churro fries and Dippin’ Dots, offering convenient treats for guests to enjoy while strolling downtown Hawesville, visiting local shops and enjoying views of the river.

The restaurant also occasionally features cookies from Clay Jar Cookies, a neighboring downtown Hawesville business that operates the Hello Pop storefront and food truck. The gourmet, oversized cookies come in classic flavors such as chocolate chip and specialty varieties like strawberry shortcake.

The Driftwood Grill is at 190 Main St. in Hawesville and is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The email is [email protected], and the website is thedriftwoodgrill.com. The restaurant shares daily specials, events and updates on Facebook, Instagram and X.