Drift on Pine — Restaurant in La Porte

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 Jeffrey’s proactive approach.

Edit for spelling and grammar Drift on Pine in Laporte – 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 didn’t want to make my wife uncomfortable, so I just said, "It’s not what I was expecting; it’s very smoky." I’ve 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 I’ve never encountered something that strong before.

I’ve 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 couldn’t 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. I’m writing this at midnight because I still haven’t been able to eat anything, and I can’t stop thinking about how pungent that steak was.

Why would an establishment force someone who has already expressed they don’t like the food and can’t eat it to sit and look at it without offering to take it away? And then, they charge me for the meal I didn’t eat – 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. Elmo’s, arguably the best steakhouse in Indiana. Ron Swanson wouldn’t even eat that steak; it was an abomination to meat.

I’m 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 didn’t eat. And if you choose to order another meal because you didn’t like the first, you’ll 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 celebrities—not 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, we’d take care of it. "Would you like me to remove that from your bill?" If they weren’t satisfied, we’d make sure they weren’t charged for the meal. Ran out of...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Drift on Pine is easily one of the best dining experiences you can have in the area. Set right on Pine Lake, it combines great food and drinks with an unbeatable view. The atmosphere is modern and stylish yet still casual and comfortable, making it a great spot whether you’re stopping in for a drink or sitting down for a full meal. Sitting on the patio with the lake right across the street creates a relaxed, vacation-like vibe that you just don’t find often around here. Watching boats cruise by while enjoying a cocktail in the sunshine is reason enough to visit.

The drinks alone would keep me coming back. We tried the Purple Rain, Drift on Pineapple, Kiss This, and Burning Desire. Each was unique and well-balanced — you can tell the bartenders put real care into their craft. The Purple Rain was fruity and refreshing, perfect for sipping outdoors. Drift on Pineapple brought a smooth, tropical flavor that felt like summer in a glass. Kiss This leaned a little sweet, fun and easy to drink, while Burning Desire had a bold, spicy kick that stood out. On top of that, every drink was served in the proper glassware and beautifully garnished, with branded “Buoy” napkins adding a nice touch of personality to the presentation.

For food, we started with the Crab Rangoon Dip, which I’d call a must-try appetizer. The dip was creamy and full of flavor, topped with sesame seeds and scallions, and the wonton chips it came with were perfectly crisp and golden. No soggy chips here — every scoop had the right crunch. It was the kind of appetizer that disappeared quickly at our table.

The Lox Schhmox was another standout. Served on a toasted bagel, it had a flavorful smoked salmon spread topped with cucumbers, capers, onions, and herbs. It felt like an upscale twist on a classic bagel and lox — light, fresh, and satisfying. If you’re a fan of brunch-style flavors, this is a great choice even outside of breakfast hours.

For my entrée, I went with the Grilled Chicken Sandwich on a pretzel bun with a side of sweet potato squares. The sandwich itself was hearty and well-prepared, but the real star of the plate was the sweet potato squares. They were roasted until crispy on the outside and soft inside, perfectly seasoned, and honestly addictive. Insider tip: if you get a sandwich or burger here, definitely upgrade to the sweet potato squares instead of fries — you won’t regret it.

Service was excellent throughout our visit. Our server struck the perfect balance of being attentive without hovering, and everything came out at a nice pace. They also had good recommendations for drinks, which made choosing a lot easier given how tempting the cocktail list is.

One thing I really appreciated was the menu design itself. It’s large enough to have variety without being overwhelming, and it’s organized in a way that makes it easy to find something no matter what you’re craving. The Appetizers range from classics like calamari and pretzels to more creative options like the Crab Rangoon Dip. The Handhelds and Entrées cover comfort food staples and more elevated dishes. I also noticed the Sunday Brunch menu — options like the Sunrise Bagel, Biscuits & Gravy, and Bourbon Trail Waffle make me want to plan a return visit specifically for brunch. Insider tip: come back on a weekend morning or early afternoon and grab a patio seat for brunch — it’s the best way to enjoy both the food and the lake view.

Overall, Drift on Pine is the full package. You get delicious food, thoughtfully made cocktails, friendly service, and one of the best lake views around. It’s versatile too — perfect for a casual lunch, a date night, or just a round of drinks with friends while watching the sunset. Between the Purple Rain, Drift on Pineapple, Kiss This, Burning Desire, Crab Rangoon Dip, Lox Schhmox, and Grilled Chicken Sandwich with sweet potato squares, I walked away more than impressed. This is the kind of place you’ll want to return to again and again, and I know I’ll be back soon to try even more of the menu....

Drift on Pine Sets A New Stage in LaPorte

If you're like me, a visitor approaching Pine Lake for the first time in awhile, you no doubt did a double take when first getting a glimpse of the spectacular edifice better known as "Drift on Pine". It commands attention and rightfully so.

It's stunning design and architecture begs one to enter the restaurant to gape at the rest of it. This is precisely what I did!

The interior of the restaurant was equally exciting to view. Lots of wood accents and angular archecitecture, but it was the industrial vibe that set the tone.

While there is dining on all three levels, I asked the host to see the upper two levels. When we entered the stairwell, I was not expecting to be greeted by a show stopping, virbantly colorful murel! It didn't end there. As we made our way upwards, there were a couple more wonderful works of art on the walls of the second and third floors.

Eventually, I settled in on the second floor for lunch. The doors facing Pine Lake were opened up to the beautiful view of Pine Lake with my front row seat!

My server was pleasant and attentive. As I perused the menu, my eyes fell on "The Beef" and the salivating began. My server definitely approved of my selection.

An Italian Beef Sandwich is an occasional treat I allow myself as a reward for all the healthier eating I normally do. Oh, did I mention fries, too?!

I settled in with an ice cold Bell's Oberon on tap, a sign that summer is definitely here, while the anticipation of my beef sandwich grew with each passing moment.

Aha, the moment arrived and none to soon! "The Beef" arrived along with au jus and steak fries. It was beautiful and was a very generous portion for this hungry guy.

The sandwich was good and so were the steak fries. I had no trouble eating a little over half of it before reaching fullness. Was it the best Italian Beef I've ever had? No, it wasn't, especially for the price of $20.00, but it was good and satisfying nonetheless. Try it and let me know what you think as it definitely deserves a try.

Of course, my day of splurging did not end there. I couldn't resist in the partaking of the Bourbon Raisin Bread Pudding. It was delicious and was a bit nostalgic for me, not to mention it was enough to feed 3 or more people!

It took me back to the days of the original, Miller Bakery Cafe in the Miller Beach section of Gary. Famed, former local Chef Gary Sanders made bread pudding like this out of brioche bread and assorted goodies. Thanks "Drift on Pine" for the memory.

"Drift on Pine" was truly an adventure that I enjoyed immensely. The sensory experience of the place and the vibe were excellent. I will definitely be be back for a more diverse experience where food is concerned and a few friends to assist in that regard. Until such time, give "Drift on Pine" a try for a unique and pleasant experience I think...