I just wanted to tell bartender/server Carla that we had last night thank you for the great service and quick response to our sudden change of plans! We made it to our next destination and even had time to stop in another store š the fondue we had in the restaurant was delicious and the sandwiches we had boxed up to take with us was phenomenal even an hour later!
Mike Kipe
**UPDATE**
The General Manager of Drift on Pine, Jeffrey, reached out to apologize for a disappointing dining experience, expressing regret for the mishandling of the situation and offering to make the next time a more pleasant experience. Despite this, I respectfully declined the offer to return, citing both the quality of the steak and how the staff responded to the issue.
In response, Jeffrey appreciated the feedback, assured me that the team had been coached on the matter, and reiterated his willingness to provide a better experience if I ever chose to return. I acknowledged this thoughtful response, expressing deep respect for his actions as a general manager. I thanked him for taking the time to address the situation and said it spoke volumes about his leadership. I also stated that I would update you all to reflect Jeffreyās proactive approach.
**Edit for spelling and grammar** Drift on Pine in Laporte ā My wife and I visited for the first time today, and I will not be returning. I had the rustic ribeye, which was extremely smoky, almost as if it had been marinated in liquid smoke. The flavor was overwhelming, and the steak had the texture of something I can only describe as wet dog food. The potatoes were bland and soggy from the juices of the steak and mushrooms. I tried the potatoes first, then the steak. After one bite, I had a hard time swallowing and started to feel sick from the texture.
Our waitress brought a manager over and asked if everything was alright. I didnāt want to make my wife uncomfortable, so I just said, "Itās not what I was expecting; itās very smoky." Iāve had smoked food many times, both around the country and in Europe, where they even smoke desserts right at your table. My brother has smoked meats for 12 hours, and Iāve never encountered something that strong before.
Iāve only once ever sent a meal back, at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Knox, Indiana. The most upsetting part of this meal, however, was that they left the food on the table without offering to take it away. They asked twice if I wanted anything else, but at that point, I felt nauseous and like I might throw up.
We were still charged for the meal I barely touched. I was even asked if I wanted to take it home. I considered bringing it home to feed to the dogs but couldnāt stomach the smell. I absolutely hate wasting food; in fact, I once removed a huge black human hair from my breakfast sandwich at McDonald's and still finished it. But this was different. Iām writing this at midnight because I still havenāt been able to eat anything, and I canāt stop thinking about how pungent that steak was.
Why would an establishment force someone who has already expressed they donāt like the food and canāt eat it to sit and look at it without offering to take it away? And then, they charge me for the meal I didnāt eat ā I took one bite. The meal was $43, almost double the price of a well-known steakhouse in Valparaiso, and close to the cost of St. Elmoās, arguably the best steakhouse in Indiana. Ron Swanson wouldnāt even eat that steak; it was an abomination to meat.
Iām very disappointed, more so in how the situation was handled than in the meal itself. If you decide to go here and have a bad experience like I did, expect to pay for a meal you didnāt eat. And if you choose to order another meal because you didnāt like the first, youāll likely be expected to pay for that one too.
I worked as a waiter in college at a high-end restaurant that served foreign dignitaries, professional athletes, and celebritiesānot Hollywood A-listers, but Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs was there while I was working. Regardless, I never encountered a guest who made rude comments or got visibly upset. If someone ever had an issue with their meal, we followed a standard protocol:
"Can I please get you something else?" If they wanted something different, weād take care of it.
"Would you like me to remove that from your bill?" If they werenāt satisfied, weād make sure they werenāt charged for the meal.
"Iām sorry yo
Becky Clouse
My husband and I came here for the first time tonight. We started with the Crab Rangoon dip, which was soooo good, then my husband had the smoked brisket Mac and I had the steak and mushroom rigatoni. Everything was absolutely delicious including our drinks! We each got dessert to go! Will definitely be back, especially in the summer to enjoy the outdoor dining area and the rooftop.
Lynette Capusan
The restaurant is pretty, clean and inviting! Very nice atmosphere! I enjoyed some crab rangoon dip = SO FLAVORFUL!!! Then I had a grilled chicken sandwich and fries = AMAZING!!! The service was great! They greet you at the door with a smile and the manager was friendly too. He came over to check on our food , what a classy move! Very nice gentleman! We enjoyed our evening and will be returning often!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Rangoon Dip
Midwest Region
The location over looking the water brought us in however our family could not sit upstairs to see it as we had one 18 year old in our large froup of adults and "everyone must be 21 to sit outside" This was a grand disappointment. So our group of 8 crammed into two tables on main floor, not a view. Onto the food, the service was great! The chili sounded great but when it arrived, it had a 2" layer of orange grease we had to send it back. I ordered the lox w capers that was simple and tasty. But everyone else was not impressed with their meal, not the best food. No view. Thanks anyways.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 4
Liz Paz
Place is super nice, smells of wood burning fireplace. Someone with a handicap and can't walk too much I was rather disappointed I didn't see an elevator, but 4 windows up to the rooftop. 2 of my boys took me there for a drink..They're both 21+ so they sat us in the bar. They wanted dessert but with the 4 options they had nothing sounded appetizing to me so I stuck with just a drink. I ordered a popping bubbles they were out of popping boba which was fine the drink itself sounded good. Proseco, pineapple juice and something else. It was alright. The dessert my kids ordered looked good. A salted caramel brownie sundae. Not sure I'll be back, the menu didn't seem like my style of food. At least I can say I've been there now.
Kimberly Isenhour
The Slamminā Salmon was AMAZING!!! The sweet chili glazed salmon with spicy peanuts and pickled veggies over house rice was sooooo flavorful!!!! Wow!!!! The view of Pine Lake and the sunset only add to the awesome ambience of the 3 levels of decks overlooking Pine Lake! My fave when in LaPorte!!! Had the Steak and Mushroom Rigatoni my last visit also amazing!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tae DaGreat_
IT'S A SUPER SMOOTH AND INNOVATIVE PLACE TO VISIT ????
Emily Archambault
As the Assistant Director of Park and Rec (aka La Porte's Leslie Knope), itās my dutyāand privilegeāto inform you that Drift on Pine is basically the best thing to happen to Pine Lake since, well, the lake itself. This restaurant sits right on the water, giving you prime lake views while you indulge in food so good, it feels like the chefs are actively trying to win over my heart (itās working).
The rooftop bar? Iconic. Nothing says āI love La Porteā like sipping a cocktail with the wind in your hair and the lake sparkling beneath you. And the brunchāoh boy. Itās a feast worthy of a town hall celebration. I mean, waffles and lakeside views? Thatās peak municipal joy.
And letās not forget the live music. Imagine: you, a perfectly made mimosa, and soft acoustic tunes wafting through the air. Honestly, it feels like a taxpayer-funded dreamāexcept youāre the one paying, and itās worth every penny.
Whether youāre coming for dinner, brunch, or just a chance to feel fancy on the rooftop, Drift on Pine is the place to be. Plus, dining next to one of our lakes? Thatās basically supporting Park and Rec by default. Iām not saying Iāll name a bench after this restaurant, but... Iām not not saying it either.
So grab your friends, reserve a table, and prepare to fall in loveāwith both the food and the view. You can thank me later (preferably with waffles).
Jeff Ash
Everything good but I expected a tastier burger. Update 10/2024....They fixed their burger problem, it is now 5 stars! Just as good as I hoped it to be, great burger flavor, fries good also,
Very nice modern building/atmosphere and a very friendly bartender (Lilly) on the second floor with great view of Pine Lake are the main positives. Mediocre overpriced food and very slow service. We ordered the Bavarian pretzel. $16! Outrageous. We expected something special, but it was a basic large pretzel. I ordered the salmon salad; small piece of salmon on lettuce, cukes, tomatoes and avocado. Totally not worth $21. My brother ordered a Chicago dog since he has never had one. Basic foot long Chicago dog and fries for $16. Absolutely ridiculous for a hot dog. Will not be returning to eat; just drink on the second or rooftop.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Nadine Johnson
Great atmosphere, good service, food was delicious...just was a little smaller portion for the price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jeremiah Keene
We had a group of 4, we all enjoyed our meals. We shared the crab Rangoon dip, which was excellent.
The rooftop view was amazing and food was delicious. We took food home, servings were very generous. Drinks were served with presentation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kyle Norris
I recently went to the Drift for lunch and was not sure what to order off the menu. The bartender Chebi recommended a couple items but they were not in my comfort zone. I tried one anyway and the food was excellent! Great service, great atmosphere, great food, 10/10 and I will be a return customer.
I just wanted to tell bartender/server Carla that we had last night thank you for the great service and quick response to our sudden change of plans! We made it to our next destination and even had time to stop in another store š the fondue we had in the restaurant was delicious and the sandwiches we had boxed up to take with us was phenomenal even an hour later!
**UPDATE** The General Manager of Drift on Pine, Jeffrey, reached out to apologize for a disappointing dining experience, expressing regret for the mishandling of the situation and offering to make the next time a more pleasant experience. Despite this, I respectfully declined the offer to return, citing both the quality of the steak and how the staff responded to the issue. In response, Jeffrey appreciated the feedback, assured me that the team had been coached on the matter, and reiterated his willingness to provide a better experience if I ever chose to return. I acknowledged this thoughtful response, expressing deep respect for his actions as a general manager. I thanked him for taking the time to address the situation and said it spoke volumes about his leadership. I also stated that I would update you all to reflect Jeffreyās proactive approach. **Edit for spelling and grammar** Drift on Pine in Laporte ā My wife and I visited for the first time today, and I will not be returning. I had the rustic ribeye, which was extremely smoky, almost as if it had been marinated in liquid smoke. The flavor was overwhelming, and the steak had the texture of something I can only describe as wet dog food. The potatoes were bland and soggy from the juices of the steak and mushrooms. I tried the potatoes first, then the steak. After one bite, I had a hard time swallowing and started to feel sick from the texture. Our waitress brought a manager over and asked if everything was alright. I didnāt want to make my wife uncomfortable, so I just said, "Itās not what I was expecting; itās very smoky." Iāve had smoked food many times, both around the country and in Europe, where they even smoke desserts right at your table. My brother has smoked meats for 12 hours, and Iāve never encountered something that strong before. Iāve only once ever sent a meal back, at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Knox, Indiana. The most upsetting part of this meal, however, was that they left the food on the table without offering to take it away. They asked twice if I wanted anything else, but at that point, I felt nauseous and like I might throw up. We were still charged for the meal I barely touched. I was even asked if I wanted to take it home. I considered bringing it home to feed to the dogs but couldnāt stomach the smell. I absolutely hate wasting food; in fact, I once removed a huge black human hair from my breakfast sandwich at McDonald's and still finished it. But this was different. Iām writing this at midnight because I still havenāt been able to eat anything, and I canāt stop thinking about how pungent that steak was. Why would an establishment force someone who has already expressed they donāt like the food and canāt eat it to sit and look at it without offering to take it away? And then, they charge me for the meal I didnāt eat ā I took one bite. The meal was $43, almost double the price of a well-known steakhouse in Valparaiso, and close to the cost of St. Elmoās, arguably the best steakhouse in Indiana. Ron Swanson wouldnāt even eat that steak; it was an abomination to meat. Iām very disappointed, more so in how the situation was handled than in the meal itself. If you decide to go here and have a bad experience like I did, expect to pay for a meal you didnāt eat. And if you choose to order another meal because you didnāt like the first, youāll likely be expected to pay for that one too. I worked as a waiter in college at a high-end restaurant that served foreign dignitaries, professional athletes, and celebritiesānot Hollywood A-listers, but Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs was there while I was working. Regardless, I never encountered a guest who made rude comments or got visibly upset. If someone ever had an issue with their meal, we followed a standard protocol: "Can I please get you something else?" If they wanted something different, weād take care of it. "Would you like me to remove that from your bill?" If they werenāt satisfied, weād make sure they werenāt charged for the meal. "Iām sorry yo
My husband and I came here for the first time tonight. We started with the Crab Rangoon dip, which was soooo good, then my husband had the smoked brisket Mac and I had the steak and mushroom rigatoni. Everything was absolutely delicious including our drinks! We each got dessert to go! Will definitely be back, especially in the summer to enjoy the outdoor dining area and the rooftop.
The restaurant is pretty, clean and inviting! Very nice atmosphere! I enjoyed some crab rangoon dip = SO FLAVORFUL!!! Then I had a grilled chicken sandwich and fries = AMAZING!!! The service was great! They greet you at the door with a smile and the manager was friendly too. He came over to check on our food , what a classy move! Very nice gentleman! We enjoyed our evening and will be returning often!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Rangoon Dip
The location over looking the water brought us in however our family could not sit upstairs to see it as we had one 18 year old in our large froup of adults and "everyone must be 21 to sit outside" This was a grand disappointment. So our group of 8 crammed into two tables on main floor, not a view.
Onto the food, the service was great!
The chili sounded great but when it arrived, it had a 2" layer of orange grease we had to send it back. I ordered the lox w capers that was simple and tasty. But everyone else was not impressed with their meal, not the best food. No view. Thanks anyways.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 4
Place is super nice, smells of wood burning fireplace. Someone with a handicap and can't walk too much I was rather disappointed I didn't see an elevator, but 4 windows up to the rooftop. 2 of my boys took me there for a drink..They're both 21+ so they sat us in the bar. They wanted dessert but with the 4 options they had nothing sounded appetizing to me so I stuck with just a drink. I ordered a popping bubbles they were out of popping boba which was fine the drink itself sounded good. Proseco, pineapple juice and something else. It was alright. The dessert my kids ordered looked good. A salted caramel brownie sundae. Not sure I'll be back, the menu didn't seem like my style of food. At least I can say I've been there now.
The Slamminā Salmon was AMAZING!!! The sweet chili glazed salmon with spicy peanuts and pickled veggies over house rice was sooooo flavorful!!!! Wow!!!! The view of Pine Lake and the sunset only add to the awesome ambience of the 3 levels of decks overlooking Pine Lake! My fave when in LaPorte!!! Had the Steak and Mushroom Rigatoni my last visit also amazing!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
IT'S A SUPER SMOOTH AND INNOVATIVE PLACE TO VISIT ????
As the Assistant Director of Park and Rec (aka La Porte's Leslie Knope), itās my dutyāand privilegeāto inform you that Drift on Pine is basically the best thing to happen to Pine Lake since, well, the lake itself. This restaurant sits right on the water, giving you prime lake views while you indulge in food so good, it feels like the chefs are actively trying to win over my heart (itās working).
The rooftop bar? Iconic. Nothing says āI love La Porteā like sipping a cocktail with the wind in your hair and the lake sparkling beneath you. And the brunchāoh boy. Itās a feast worthy of a town hall celebration. I mean, waffles and lakeside views? Thatās peak municipal joy.
And letās not forget the live music. Imagine: you, a perfectly made mimosa, and soft acoustic tunes wafting through the air. Honestly, it feels like a taxpayer-funded dreamāexcept youāre the one paying, and itās worth every penny.
Whether youāre coming for dinner, brunch, or just a chance to feel fancy on the rooftop, Drift on Pine is the place to be. Plus, dining next to one of our lakes? Thatās basically supporting Park and Rec by default. Iām not saying Iāll name a bench after this restaurant, but... Iām not not saying it either.
So grab your friends, reserve a table, and prepare to fall in loveāwith both the food and the view. You can thank me later (preferably with waffles).
Everything good but I expected a tastier burger.
Update 10/2024....They fixed their burger problem, it is now 5 stars! Just as good as I hoped it to be, great burger flavor, fries good also,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Very nice modern building/atmosphere and a very friendly bartender (Lilly) on the second floor with great view of Pine Lake are the main positives. Mediocre overpriced food and very slow service. We ordered the Bavarian pretzel. $16! Outrageous. We expected something special, but it was a basic large pretzel. I ordered the salmon salad; small piece of salmon on lettuce, cukes, tomatoes and avocado. Totally not worth $21. My brother ordered a Chicago dog since he has never had one. Basic foot long Chicago dog and fries for $16. Absolutely ridiculous for a hot dog. Will not be returning to eat; just drink on the second or rooftop.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 4
Great atmosphere, good service, food was delicious...just was a little smaller portion for the price.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
We had a group of 4, we all enjoyed our meals. We shared the crab Rangoon dip, which was excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Smoked Salmon, Pork Belly Hoagie
The rooftop view was amazing and food was delicious. We took food home, servings were very generous. Drinks were served with presentation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I recently went to the Drift for lunch and was not sure what to order off the menu. The bartender Chebi recommended a couple items but they were not in my comfort zone. I tried one anyway and the food was excellent!
Great service, great atmosphere, great food, 10/10 and I will be a return customer.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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