Undercover Diner Visits Drift on Lake Wylie for Sunday Brunch

From lobster omelets and burgers to waterfront views and attentive service, Drift has become a favorite after-church destination.

BELMONT — One of our favorite Sunday routines after church is finding somewhere for brunch or lunch. Fortunately, Transformation Church's Lake Wylie campus puts us within easy reach of good restaurants.

One that keeps drawing us back is Drift on Lake Wylie. Although it has a Belmont, North Carolina, address, Drift sits just across the state line, making it an easy trip for York County residents.

Located along the Lake Wylie shoreline, Drift is an upscale restaurant that combines a really nice setting with a welcoming atmosphere. The lake views are impressive, the dining room is open and inviting, and the service has been consistently good.

We've visited several times, always for Sunday brunch. And while we've yet to experience dinner at Drift, that's definitely on our agenda.

Based on our brunch experiences, we're looking forward to trying Drift for dinner.

A table with a view

On our latest visit, we were seated beside one of the restaurant's windows overlooking Drift's outdoor seating adjacent to Lake Wylie.

It's a nice setting for a Sunday meal. Natural light fills the dining room, and the waterfront provides a relaxing backdrop.

Drift's interior features contemporary furnishings, warm wood accents and floor-to-ceiling windows that take advantage of the location. Another feature that always catches my eye is the glass-enclosed wine wall, with bottles displayed from floor to ceiling. It's an impressive part of the dining room, and Drift offers an extensive wine selection to go along with its food menu.

During this visit, two nearby tables were hosting what appeared to be a small celebration or get-together. It showed us that Drift's setting works just as well for special occasions as it does for a leisurely Sunday brunch.

There's an upscale feel without the stuffiness that sometimes accompanies fine dining. You can settle in, enjoy the scenery and take your time.

And that's exactly what we did.

Lobster for brunch? Absolutely.

One of the things I appreciate about Drift's Sunday brunch is the à la carte menu, which offers a variety of choices rather than a traditional buffet.

I ordered the lobster omelet, featuring butter-poached lobster, baby arugula, white cheddar and mascarpone cheese, accompanied by potato hash and fruit.

It's not your everyday omelet.

The combination of lobster and cheeses gives the dish a great flavor, while the arugula provides a nice contrast. Breakfast potatoes at other spots can often be pretty ho-hum, but these were served hot, had plenty of flavor and went well with the omelet.

One small oversight: The fruit listed on the menu never made it to the table. I noticed it at the time but was enjoying the omelet so much that I didn't bother mentioning it.

My wife went in a different direction, choosing the Drift Burger.

The burger features an 8-ounce house-made beef patty, Bibb lettuce, tomato, truffle cheese, candied bacon and Lusty Monk aioli, served on a brioche bun with French fries.

The burger was juicy and flavorful, with this Lusty Monk aioli providing the tasted of a slight hint of horseradish. It added a nice touch without overpowering the other ingredients. It included a glossy brioche bun, plenty of toppings and a generous serving of fries.

Both selections are among the reasons we keep coming back.

It's the little things

My wife ordered a Coke Zero, which may not sound particularly earth shattering, but it's often a pleasant surprise when a restaurant offers it. Some establishments still offer only Diet Coke as their sugar-free cola option.

I stuck with my usual brunch time unsweetened iced tea.

Throughout the meal, the service was attentive and well-paced. Our drinks were kept filled, and we never felt neglected or rushed.

But one of the things that stands out about Drift is the attention to detail.

On our visits, general manager Jennifer Tiller has made a point of stopping by the tables, asking how everything was and whether anyone needed anything else.

Some may see this as a small gesture, but it's one I appreciate, particularly when it's done consistently. Building customer loyalty is important in any business, and in the competitive restaurant market in York County and surrounding areas, personal touches like this can make the difference between a one-time visit and a return customer.

We also noticed Jennifer carefully inspecting wine glasses, crouching down to examine them in the light to make sure they were sparkling clean.

It was one of those behind-the-scenes moments that probably goes unnoticed by most diners. To me, it said something about the restaurant's standards.

A commitment to getting it right

Drift's ownership group includes Elliott Close, who also has ownership interests in The Pump House and other restaurant ventures.

I've known Elliott to be a class act, so the attention to service, quality and detail we've experienced at Drift is not surprising.

According to the restaurant's website, Drift is led by Executive Chef Rogger Torres and describes itself as a modern lakefront chophouse inspired by life on the water and Gaston County's farming heritage.

Its menu focuses on steak and seafood, combining traditional preparations with more inventive dishes and locally sourced ingredients.

The restaurant seems to have found a good balance between casual lakefront dining and a more upscale experience.

The Undercover Diner's takeaway

There are restaurants you visit because they're convenient, others because the food is good, and a few because the entire experience makes you want to return.

Drift falls into that last category.

The lakefront setting is an obvious attraction, but a beautiful view alone doesn't keep customers coming back.

For us, it's the combination of a diverse brunch menu, good food, attentive service and a team that seems genuinely interested in making sure guests enjoy their visit.

We've made Drift part of our after-church rotation, and I suspect that will continue.

Now we just need to break our Sunday brunch habit long enough to try dinner.

Based on what we've experienced so far, we're looking forward to it.