Drift Distillery & Smokehouse - San Clemente, California

SNAP A. P.

So refreshing to see a restaurant that has enlightened and new offerings. Everything here has been delicious. The environment is inviting and fun as well as allows you the ability to have privacy and enjoy an intimate meal. I am so tired of seeing the same eight items on every appetizer menu, this place definitely breaks the mold and I truly appreciate what they have created here. Every new ones of this place is fantastic and enjoyable and delectable. I don’t know who owns it but I hope I become their friends because I wanna be here all the time and eat here every night

Joey B.

Great experience. Service was on point, Hunter did a fantastic job with the drinks. Food was great, atmosphere was awesome. This is a great addition to downtown, can’t wait to get back and enjoy more food and cocktails.

Emilce S.

Best experience!

I came looking for some gifts and stayed for lunch after Jasmine welcome me with a smile, explaining everything with kindness about the difference of each bottle.

The food is delicious, and the customer service is amazing. Big shoutout to Jasmine — I ended up buying more gifts and staying for lunch because of her kindness. She even prepared a delicious mock drink for me. Best customer service ever! Thank you so much, Jasmine!

jim H.

New, very clean, open, we enjoyed our time at lunch. Quiet, staff attentive, food arrived quickly, hot, and well presented. I enjoyed the brisket sandwich, my wife the pulled pork. I liked the thin crispy fries. We welcome this, in town, bbq & distillery business that does provide live entertainment. You will need to check with Drift Distillery for their events schedule.

Matthew L.

Stopped by on a Thursday evening for dinner. Overall, I was really impressed. The hostess seated as quickly. The wait staff and the bussers did a great job of checking on us and keeping our waters filled. The menu is honestly outstanding. All the dishes came out of the kitchen looking great and were delicious. Highly recommend the octopus and the tri-tip. Prices are reasonable. The bartenders use great recipes for their drinks. Good limited selection of beer and wine. Super consistent quality of the cocktails. Everything came out of the kitchen and bar quickly. Highly recommend you check this place out. Parking is decent.

Christian S.

On the surface drift looks like an amazing place, but everything is just ok to partly cloudy. Once you get past the gimmick of a local distillery you realize the spirits are young in age and flavor. The good bartenders really try but the ingredients fail to support the dream of a great cocktail. Some appetizers like the tomahawk fingers reinvigorate your tainted excitement about the possibility of a great smokehouse and then the one and only bbq sauce pours on as sweet as maple syrup and About as much depth as the young whiskey. You ask for a different sauce but they don’t have one. So if you like candied meat, then this is your place. The loaded tator tots are a welcomed sight and hard to mess up, but it just further steers you away from a great experience. It points you more towards a dive bar or carnival food. Looking around you it seems they’ve taken great care to create a vibe, but then upon looking up you notice large dive bar rectangular speakers hung clumsily on the ceiling. It all seems to track as the night goes on.

I was again rallying my excitement to try their main courses even with all the disappointments. I ordered up the brisket sandwich and a side of vinegar Cole slaw. The brisket was fatty and tough. I had a hard time cutting it even. Such a disappointment. The vinegar coleslaw didn’t live up to its name either. It comes dry. Not a hint of vinegar flavor, mostly carrots and zero flavor. I was actually very disappointed at how tasteless it was. I was super excited to have a non creamy slaw, but most of us couldn’t even finish it. Here’s a twist: I tried getting just the sandwich with a side of coleslaw but the server made me choose between two mandatory sides, fries or a salad. Several
of us ordered slaw and unanimously decided we never recommend it. The Cuban had a lot of meat but unbalanced with ham and pickles. The bread was soft but not crispy on the edges. Something that you come to love from a good Cuban. It had the feel of a bland board and brew sandwich that had been wrapped for 20-30 minutes.

And finally, while some of the servers seemed attentive, we had to ask for water several times upon which they finally brought a small bottle of tap water for us. We had to ask them several times to take the extra plates, our food orders weren’t correct and got up to get our own silverware.

If it was just one so-so thing or a bad day I might have a better review. But each time we got revved for the next course and gave the restaurant grace they continued to disappoint and just not show up.

San Clemente loves to say San Clemente has great food and great service but as a tourist town they don’t really have to do either and Drift seems no different. Get a drink for the gimmick and maybe an app, then go to Pizza Port.

rudy V.

Space is beautiful.
Tables were uncomfortably close to each other.
Beer selection was good.
Craft cocktails were good. I had the Leave Early Shirley because I’m a sucker for cucumber and lime. It had a square ice cube but not one of those high end ice cubes that are clear with sharp edges. Like 8/10 on the ice cube scale. Drink was good.
Fries were good and well seasoned, but slightly greasy.
Tots were good but were upcharged.
Pulled pork sandwich was good but the meat was dry without the bbq sauce.
BBQ sauce was good. Maybe kc style?
Brisket sandwich was just ok. It was just sliced flat on a bun with bbq sauce on the side. The bun was good. The meat was dry and not too Smokey. The slices came off the flat and I’m a bigger fan of the point. I like more on a brisket sandwich than meat and bread. I doctored my sandwich up with sliced jalapeños and sliced onions which made it better.
I believe if you are gonna serve brisket on bread plain then it has to be some damn good brisket.
I rated this restaurant as for its bbq since it’s a bbq restaurant.
The brownie sundae was good. Brownie tasted good but was really on the tough side. The cherries were unnecessary.
Service was good.

Price was ok.
2 beers
1 craft cocktail
2 sandwiches
Tater tot upcharge
Dessert
$100

Kimberly B.

Love the new place as much as the old place. Same great food with expanded options. The octopus and chicken are delicious! Same great camaraderie as the old place. Ryan and Leslie know how to do it right! We will be back very soon!