Drift on Lake Wylie, Belmont’s new lakefront restaurant, opens soon
The Pump House owners have set their sails on their next waterfront adventure: a chef-inspired chophouse with sweeping lakefront views in Belmont.
Drift on Lake Wylie, a contemporary, chef-inspired chophouse at McLean Marina in Belmont, will open on May 9. The restaurant will have upstairs and downstairs patios and will be accessible by boat. It is located near Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and Morningstar Marina in the McLean development.
THE RESTAURANT: Drift’s contemporary barn look will serve as a throwback to Gaston County’s farming roots while also bringing into focus its modern lake life.
ON THE MENU
Drift’s menu features fresh fish, seafood, steaks and pasta. A few items to look forward to:
Wagyu beef tartare: Waffle chips, crispy asparagus, spring radish, grape tomato confit, caperberries, salt & pepper cured egg yolk ($20)
Shrimp cocktail: Citrus & old bay boiled atlantic shrimp, fresh-grated horseradish cocktail sauce, Carolina white sauce, charred lemon ($18)
Bone-in cowboy ribeye: 22oz, chef’s favorite, garlic butter ($59)
Lobster tail fettuccine: House-made saffron pasta, spring peas, crispy pancetta, sambuca cream, herbed breadcrumbs ($48)
Dessert charcuterie board: Honeycomb, blueberry nougat, peanut butter bonbon, candied pistachios, chocolate bark, caramel truffles ($22)
- DRINKS: Craft beers, 1,000+ wine bottle selection.
The second floor will be available for parties and events. This will be Lake Wylie’s second waterfront restaurant, in addition to Papa Doc’s (formerly T-Bones) near Buster Boyd Bridge.
When it opens, drift will begin by serving dinner only, then later adding summer weekend lunches. For its first week, the restaurant will accept a limited number of reservations. Call 980-351-0111 or email sales@driftlkw.com to reserve a table..
THE OWNERSHIP: The ownership group is known for The Pump House, a riverfront restaurant in Rock Hill along the Catawba River, and Napa at Kingsley in Fort Mill. The group includes Elliott Close, Colby Mosier and George Henry. Charlotte Prime, owned by Jeff and Paula Conway, will operate the restaurant.
Al Powell, original owner of Lake Wylie’s River Rat, and David Jewell have been part of the buildout.
“I think everyone who lives or does business in the extended Lake Wylie area will be very glad not to have to drive to Charlotte to enjoy an exceptional meal and dining experience,” Close said in a statement. “It’s the perfect year for a celebratory lakeside restaurant like drift on Lake Wylie to open.”
MORE ABOUT MCCLEAN: McLean is a new neighborhood with homes and over 10 miles of trails connecting residents to the lake as well as historic properties. In addition to drift on Lake Wylie, it is home to McLean Marina, Ship Store and Event Lawn.
MORE ABOUT THE TEAM:
- Harry Schrader is the architect.
- Balfour Beatty is the project’s contractor.
- The Jewell Agency is the marketing and PR team.
Drift on Lake Wylie
Location: 315 Lanyard Ln m, Belmont, NC 28012 (opens May 9)
Neighborhood: Belmont, NC
Instagram: @driftlkw
This story was originally published February 23, 2022 at 8:34 AM.
