The Woodshop has really great food and ambiance with service that needs great improvement, logistics that need better organization and management that needs additional training.
First, the pros. I am a huge fan of pretzel bread and they have really amazing pretzel sticks that are like breadsticks, thick/chewy/soft. They come with a spicy mustard and soft, hot melted cheese. The pretzels are covered in the strong salt that works magic with that pretzel flavor. They just mesh well perfectly. Also, the famous tater tots that they claim are spicy but aren't in any way, shape or form are really good. It's basically just a plate of tots with tarter sauce with a little Lawry's Seasoning Salt or their version thereof, but they tasted great. We got the black and tan brownie which comes with caramel and vanilla bean ice cream. Also, very tasty.
We asked to sit outside once we found the hostess stand which is in the middle of a sidewalk, in front of the indoor seating area with the pool tables. The outdoor seating is on the sidewalk as well as amongst some evergreens with the wood burning firepits. The three people standing at the host stand stared at the screen for five minutes before we were acknowledged then told it would be a 20 minute wait. We got a text on my phone when a table opened up. When we walked back to the host stand, they were helping a couple people ahead of us and not paying attention that we were there. We stood there for another few minutes, even with me saying "Hey" and waving my hands till a host finally saw me and seated us.
We were seated outside like we asked by a firepit, which was really cool. It's super dark out there at night so we had to use the light from our phones to see the menu but didn't care, we liked the ambiance of the fires and the low lights in the garden.
The waiter was a young guy who was either new to being a waiter and/or new to working in general. He took a very long time between taking our drink order, our food order, checking on us and refilling drinks. He was friendly and eager to please but feel short. We saw him do some extra flirting with some girls his age (I'm old enough to be his mother) at the table next to us, yet almost ignore a quiet couple on the other side of us.
Also, he pulled a move that I don't know was because of his ignorance or was trying to be sly. He asked us if we wanted ice cream with the brownie, and we said yes - it states that on the menu. When the server brought the food, there was the scoop of ice cream next to the brownie and then an additional scoop in a separate bowl. When I got the check, he charged us extra for the scoop. Not cool. Poor service. You either didn't know the menu or you were being an ass, and I really want to give you the benefit of the doubt. My husband inhaled that ice cream so I didn't complain.
In addition, when we asked for a separate dessert menu because the dinner menu didn't have any desserts listed, he argued with us then pointed at the menu to tell us where the desserts were.... and there weren't any there. Took him about 15 minutes to get the dessert menu.
When the server brought out our food, he was totally lost. He didn't know what table he was delivering the food to. He went to one table by us, then another and then finally saw me waving at him. Another time, a manager showed up at our table with two drinks. Told her nope, not for us. She just stared at me. My husband told her again, we didn't order the drinks. She walked over to the table next to us; nope. She argued with them, and the customers told her no, they had their drinks. She wandered over to another table by us and finally got the right table.
The parking lot is huge but it was crammed. We had to park out in the furthest corner on a Friday night. I'd recommend making reservations which you can do for another restaurant here and dropping off your party if you're driving then hoofing it in. Or there's always Uber. The parking is free though.
All in all, we would come back because the food and the ambiance was that good. We saw signs posted that they are hiring and it is a new business so they are working out the kinks and folks are learning new jobs.
Food: 5
Service: 2
Ambiance: 5
Parking: 3 read more