First off, Woods Restaurant feels special because of its remote location on the island. The dining room is interesting and historic. We ordered the tasting menu with wine pairings to celebrate our anniversary. The service was excellent and the food was good, but it felt a bit like someone was trying to replicate "fine dining" without actually being fine dining. Don't get me wrong, the food was very good, but the presentation often felt like it was trying too hard for what it was. We were surprised that for having dress code there were a lot of people in jeans and shorts, making the experience feel less than actual fine dining. read more

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Dining in Style at The Woods - A Mackinac Island Gem Step into an elegant, elk-lodge-inspired setting and prepare for a truly memorable dining experience. From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable--Lawrence, our server, was wonderfully attentive and made us feel so welcomed. We started with the brioche pull-apart bread and jumbo shrimp cocktail--both fresh and flavorful. The beetroot salad was an absolute standout--beautifully balanced and bursting with flavor. For entrees, I had the local lake trout, which was perfectly cooked and delicately seasoned. My husband declared the baked cod the best he's ever had, and my son devoured his chicken fricassée. Just when we thought it couldn't get any better, dessert arrived. The warm apple strudel and the Grand Pecan Ball were both over the top--a sweet, satisfying end to an exceptional meal. Take your time, relax, and savor every bite. The Woods is without a doubt a must-have dinner spot when visiting Mackinac Island. read more

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Best restaurant in Mackinac. The food and service are both amazing. The staff has all been there for a long time and recognize us when we are there. The bar has great drinks and is also a good place for a pre dinner drink with some bowling, or a happy hour spot. The restaurant had a pianist playing music for dinner and is a great spot for a celebration dinner or nuts because dinner. The duck is one of the best dishes on the menu! read more

Woods Restaurant - New American Near Me - Mackinac Island, Michigan

Hands down the best restaurant on the island. The bartender and waiters are all amazing. The service is excellent! The bowling alley is free and is so much fun for all ages. I love the vintage vibes of the restaurant and the bar. The popcorn is a nice touch for the bar are. The cocktails are the best on the island. The duck at the restaurant (not pictured) is excellent and my favorite thing on the menu! We are planning our wedding reception and will likely choose the Woods for reception (very small wedding) when we get married in 2027. Highly recommend! read more

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Are we out of the woods? Are we in the clear yet? The swiftie in me can't help it! So, The Woods has been on my radar for a while. It's run by the Grand Hotel folks so you get the whole all-white server outfits and great service, but it's way less stuffy IMHO. You can also still get the Bell's Brewery x Grand Hotel exclusive Big Porch ale here. Win! It's just right next to Inn at Stonecliffe, so it's a bit out of the way if you're staying more towards the ferry and main street, but since we were staying at the Inn at Stonecliffe so it was literally a 2 minute walk over. We didn't have a reservation but they were able to have us in the adjacent room (not in the main dining room) which was fine by me because it was actually more quiet/easier to hear each other. We had the following - listed in "must order" to "meh" order: *Fois Gras: we got this as a side rather than as the appetizer and it was PERFECTLY seared, like wow. It was my parents' first time having foie and they enjoyed it! *Wild Mushroom Ravioli (Foraged Mushrooms, Shaved Black Truffle, Grilled Chard, Green Onion Soubise) - OK for a near $50 dish for 6 ravioli - it better be stellar right? And it was. So scrumptious, umami with depth of flavor. It was just the right portion too because it's fairly rich. *Woods Beef Goulash (Paprika-Braised Boneless Short Rib, Spätzle, Fall Vegetables) - this one was kind weird to me TBH. So definitely less soup-like and more like a bowl. But, the spätzle is probably one of the best I've ever had. The short rib was perfectly cooked and fork tender. *Organic Baby Greens Salad (Heirloom Carrots, Cucumber, Radish, Tomato, Sunflower Seeds, Sherry Vinaigrette) - we wanted the autumn kale salad but got this one served to us instead. It was a really good salad - super fresh ingredients and tasty but nothing super super special. Kind a like a salad I could make a home. *Wild Boar Meatballs (Pickled Onion, Lingonberry, Jarlsberg Fondue, Toasted Weck): it was giving Ikea but dry. The Jarlsberg fondue was delicious but even that couldn't save how dry it was! read more

While staying on Mackinac, we made a dinner reservation at the Woods to celebrate our anniversary. Made the reservation months in advance and had no problem securing a table. On the evening of our reservation, we made the mistake of not arranging transportation (via horse taxi) in advance. Our reservation was at 8 pm - when we called a taxi shortly after 7 pm, we were told that they could not get us there in time. So....in our dress clothes and shoes...we made the 1.7 mile trek from town to the restaurant, literally through "the woods" (cue the "Into the Woods" soundtrack lol). Mud, horse poop, unpaved roads uphill...yep. We made it by 8:01. Our dinner was very good - I thoroughly enjoyed the shrimp bisque, trout dinner, and apple strudel dessert accompanied with a tasty, well-made old fashioned. Service was very friendly, and piano player played us "Happy Anniversary" on the piano. On this particular night, the place was extremely loud and rollicking with sailors that had just docked. Not an ideal atmosphere for an anniversary dinner, but we made the best of it. We enjoyed a cocktail at the bar after dinner, but then had to wait nearly an hour for a horse taxi to arrive (and to fill up - they won't leave with an unfilled taxi) and take us back to town. read more

The ambiance of this place just takes you back in time to a Bavarian mountain lodge. The service and food was excellent. The dark colors, large fireplaces and the surrounding woods mak this a very relaxing spot. Almost everyone was a first timer and equally in awe so you don't feel out of place. Even those who have been there are quick to talk to you about their experiences. Loved it. read more

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Cool experience that you have to book a carriage ride to get to the restaurant but I thought it fell short on the food. My husband and I split the pear salad and I swear we each got 3 leaves of lettuce and 1/4 of a pear and a nickel size of cheese. Not a lot of food for $18. I got the schnitzel and it was just okay, not a lot of flavor. We finished it off with the famous pecan ball which is just simply vanilla ice cream with pecans. Not sure what made it so famous. Next time I go I'll be ordering something different. read more

Stupendous. I have never experienced such well trained and professional service. All of the staff worked together to create a magical experience. The building decor is a bit on the Disney side and made it fun to be in a Bavarian hunting lodge atmosphere. The food was excellent. We had the pork and goulash, both of which were perfectly prepared. It was our most expensive dinner of the trip, but it was worth it. The ride to the Woods really adds to the thrill of the evening, with a winding road with close trees and the horses pulling the wagon. We loved it. read more

We had a wonderful dinner at The Woods! The ambiance is warm and welcoming. The staff was attentive. Conrad took excellent care of us. If you want something a little more formal this is the place. read more

This place is absolutely worth visiting if you visit Mackinac Island. I loved the elk, I'm not a big fan of duck, but we ordered that as well and it was unreal. Delicious, tender, and juicy. The only thing I wasn't crazy about where the potato side dishes. The wagyu beef tartar was good too but have to eat it right away. Not good cold. Other than that, the vegetables were very good, the meat was outstanding, the service was top-notch, and the manager was super nice and informative. Would definitely go back here again. read more

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What a fantastic place tucked up on the island in the woods! Absolutely stunning dinning room, such a warm and cozy feel, I can only imagine how inviting this would be in the cooler months. We actually ate outside on the new covered deck and it was perfect. We rented bikes for the day and decided to get off the Main Street and venture to some new places on the island, so so happy we did. It definitely paid off! The service was a little slow but honestly that was the atmosphere, I think sometimes we forget to slow down and just be present especially when it comes to eating a good meal. Our server couldn't have been more polite. It was a joy speaking with him. And the food was absolutely delicious, loved the presentation but the flavor of egg and asparagus was spot on. And even though it was a warm day, that goulash hit the spot! read more

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What an amazing time! The carriage ride was great! Play music! The horses like it. Neil welcomed us with greatness! Micheal our waiter was a charm! I loved the bread, butter, Foie gras, beet salad and the mushroom ravioli. The shrimp soup and Sole not so much. Kids brownie sundae and apple strudel did not disappoint. Definitely worth it. read more

Woods Restaurant - New American Near Me - Mackinac Island, Michigan

After having come here for years, tonight was an utter disappointment on so many levels. Made the Fourth of July dinner reservation a month in advance for 6:30. Restaurant confirmed several times (even via text that day) and yet had trouble finding it when we got there but got seated. Waiter was impatient in getting our drink and appetizer ordered and we couldn't quite figure out WHY. He literally said, "what, you're not going to order your entrees now too?" Uh...we're here for a fine dining experience so we thought we'd get our drinks and discuss! Finally got the drinks - set in front of the wrong people -and didn't even serve the manhattan correctly. Then he looked at his watch and said, "are you ready NOW?" WTH. I then asked if there was a rush and he tells me the last carriage taxi leaves at 8pm and if we're not on it, we're walking back. Holy sh*t. At any point during my making the Rez (which you have to call in to make), checking on the time, checking in at the front, being sat or ordering our drinks were we told they were shutting off carriage service early. That could have been mentioned at ANY point during any of those interactions. Why not mention it when I made the Rez so we could have made it for 6 and had plenty of time? As for dinner...just okay. Fish was too salty, spatzle was like Mac and cheese. The experience was ruined for us by the service so we simply won't come back on subsequent visits when we stay on the island. We travel all over the world and anyone who this is either authentic Bavarian or one of the best restaurants out there just....hasn't. read more

Beautiful hidden gem! Such a quaint place! Food was interesting and delicious! Service was amazing, they were so attentive and even helped us in the bar area while we waited for our carriage to take us to our next adventure on the island. read more

We were ushered outside to a table with a little fireplace in the center. After waiting about 10 mins our waiter came by to take our drinks but interrupted us to run inside and have a conversation with the other waitstaff. Service was slow for the duration of the meal. We started off with an order of the duck wings which were phenomenal and the highlight of the meal. Most of our party got some burgers which were claimed to be "wagyu" beef. Burgers were small and didn't taste fresh. Each one came with a side of chips, with an optional fry upgrade for 3$ (the only two sides). The chips were cold and straight out of a bag. Just not what I was expecting from an upscale place like this. If you have only one side for the majority of your entrees then it needs to be something you actually make. Overall, the value is just not here. You're paying 25$ for a mediocre burger and some potato chips. Not to mention that even a soda was at least an extra 5$. I understand that Mackinac Island food comes with a price, but the quality of food still needs to match that price tag. read more

I've traveled all over the world and I still put the Woods Restaurant in my top 10 restaurants. Love the new look to the bar and restrooms. The staff are always so friendly and welcoming. We just love Neil and Leonard. Our dinner was impeccable. Always great food great service, and great ambience. If you are traveling to Mackinac Island, you have to try this restaurant. It's a 45 minute horse drawn, carriage, cab ride, and so worth it. They also have the Grand Cabernet, which is my favorite red wine there. read more

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Very difficult to get to on the island. Took 1 hour by taxi from our hotel. Food was average at best. Much better options on the island for fine dinning. read more

Our food was amazing, as well as the atmosphere. Our drinks were also very good. I got the mushroom ravioli and it was delicious. Service was fine. read more

If you want to eat here, you would do well to make a reservation. Of course there are always individual success stories but best not to leave it to to change, especially if you're celebrating a special occasion. Trying out the duck pin bowling is a must. Great activity for families with small children as you can send the little back and forth to set up the pins after each strike. The alley is pretty long and they'll burn up some energy, always a bonus. Be ready to leave when the shuttle arrives. They have a schedule to keep and aren't generally able to wait for stragglers. Don't worry, they'll come back again, probably. We sat at the bar for drinks and appetizers. Our bartender was amazing, excellent service and drinks. The spinach artichoke dip was WAY salty but we were able to swap it for another dish, crisis averted. Lovely Tudor structure with Bavarian styling influences. There is bicycle parking. The carriage ride out to the restaurant is one of my favorite things to do on Mackinac Island. I always try to come here when I visit. Definitely worth the effort. read more

We were told this place was a "must do" on the island, and we were staying nearby so we went for a drink. Luckily we got a seat at the bar. It took a bit before the bartender acknowledged us and she wasn't super friendly at first. Once we started talking more, she was more friendly but my first impression wasn't that great. Drinks were good - I had the yellow bird and my friend had a vodka martini. We didn't have any food so I can't comment on that. It's definitely a fancier place so dressing up a bit is recommended. Jeans and a nice shirt is okay. Worth a stop! read more

Woods Restaurant - New American Near Me - Mackinac Island, Michigan

Located adjacent to the Inn, the Woods resturant was recommended to us for lunch. Adorned with Hunter greens and apple reds it was clean and rustic in its decor. We were seated promptly by a window with a view of the manicured grounds. The food & bar menu was limited but reflected the great lakes area trends. We ordered a 25$ old fashioned cocktail that was delightful. The organic baby greens salad did not disappoint. Unfortunately, the pork schnitzel topping option was amateur at best. Overall, a serene setting, 2 of 3 items lived up to the ratings. read more

SERVICE: 5 FOOD QUALITY:5 DRINK QUALITY: 5 ORDER TIME: 3 AESTHETICS: 5 NOISE LEVEL: 5 MENU SELECTION: 5 OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 4.71 Nothing but pure class and romance. A horse drawn carriage ride way deep into the Mackinac Island woods is just how every romance evening should begin. This mansion is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. If you have the time it's fun the look at the bowling alley and get an idea of the history of the house. Gives the dinner an added layer of historical mystery. Our only hiccup was that we had reservations at 7:30 and didn't get sat for dinner until 8:45. We arrived on time and some how they forgot about us after checking in while we were waiting at the bar. Our table somehow was given to another couple and we just sat in the bar forever. It was a little upsetting because we ordered a bottle of wine and was unable to finish it before they closed. Even with the hiccup the experience was the best. The aesthetics, ambiance, and service are what you would expect of a 5 star. The food was just absolutely astounding. The chef is creating true dishes of excellence. Their wine list is very extensive, and they have some pretty good options to choose from. Our visit to the island was very fun and the island makes you feel like a tourist/ child but this experience took you away from the sugar shops and cameras flashing. The prices are definitely that of a 5 star so don't go and give a bad review because you think the prices are high. Go for the romance, and pure quality they provide. Overall this place is 5 star and even though I only gave it a 4.71 I'm fairly certain that situations like mine rarely happen. A definite must if you truly love good food. read more

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Food was delicious as usual. The only drawback were tiny little gnats that kept flying into my wine. read more

Woods Restaurant - The decor is rustic but beautiful. - New American Near Me - Mackinac Island, Michigan

Simply incredible in every way. From the carriage ride entrance to a stunningly elegant hunt club vibe to the amazing service and food, I cannot say enough about this restaurant. An instant classic for our family. I will add that we were a party of five with 3 kids under 8 and it was well received by everyone and we didn't feel out of place with young kids. read more

Food was great but service terrible- staff was very unfriendly and service was very slow. Restaurant was not crowded, and they had plenty of staff hanging around, but still service was bad This was nothing like the quality experience we had 5 years ago read more

BY FAR best restaurant on the island! First, the service was wonderful! All of the staff was knowledgeable and extremely professional. We started with the Escargot, which was in a cream sauce inside of puff pastry. I've never seen it prepared like this, and loved it! We also had the jumbo prawns which were cooked perfectly. For an entree, I decided on the special of the night, the Bavarian Goulash. Supposedly it used to be on the menu, then was taken off and the locals wanted it to make a comeback, and I see why! It was a beef short ribs, thyme butter spaetzle, red cabbage and vegetables. It was prefect for the Bavarian atmosphere. We ended our meal with the signature Grand Hotel pecan ball, with chocolate sauce, pecans and vanilla ice cream, and affogato. We'll be back next time we're at the Grand Hotel! read more

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The Yellowbird cocktail is delicious and the atmosphere is really cool in the main dining room. Unfortunately we were sat in a very plain dining room around back. The atmosphere is what you are paying for here as the food is not worth the price tag. The breadbasket was dried out. There was barely any marrow in the marrowbone appetizer we had. The beef tartare was very salty and smothered in a ton of Parmesan and the quails egg was served in the shell on top of the raw beef. I prefer not to be served the shell. The Sole was rather salty and the potato pancake greasy. The pork schnitzel was very thin and dry. The apple spice flavored sauce served with it was overpowering and the red cabbage side was cold. Given the lack luster food we decided to skip dessert. Our table was not ready at the time of our reservation and the service was slow and rushed. The server was charming but had to manage too many tables. My advice is go for the drinks and atmosphere but don't go for dinner unless you are guaranteed a table in the main dining room. read more

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We were here two nights in a row due to our entertaining schedule. The iconic horse and carriage ride takes passengers by beautiful private homes and the amazing, expansive lake. The filet, both evenings, was melt-in-your-mouth spectacular. The sole was dry and flavorless, but the chicken, elk, dessert and wine were all delicious read more

I am a super fan of the Grand Hotel so it was on my bucket list to dine here. I love the ambiance and it definitely has that Grand feel to it which is so fun. Service was great. I loved what I got- I was not feeling great so I went with something super simple and asked for a plate of spatzel and it was Devine. My mom got the Turkey club and enjoyed it and my dad got the schnitzel sandwich and really didn't like it because it was sweet and he was expecting savory which left him disappointed so taking off a star for that reason. However personally I loved it and will be back. read more

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Great food. Lots of attentive service except for the actual waiter! Only came by to ask about ordering more things. Had to have the manager bring us water refills and had to ask for more bread which clearly put out the waiter. That brought it down to 4 stars. Then, I see while reviewing the bill that they went ahead and slid in a credit card usage charge. Ridiculous. This is not a small moment and pop shop that has lots of credit card fees. This is an already expensive resort restaurant that is making a quick cash grab. Truly shameful. read more

I am at the restaurant right now and had to leave a review to do everyone a favor. Please get the mushroom Bolognese and Michael J the waiter is awesome Oh and artichoke deep is great as well. But the bolognese omg Best thing I have eaten in Michigan And Michael J took care of us. We didn't know about the cash culture in Mackinac so came without cash and unfortunately our Debit card had expired. I even tried to get a cash advance with my card but that was also really hard to do. Michael J did something that even our hotel didn't do and he gave us a cash advance so we could easily get home (which we repaid in tip) can't wait to come back here and hang with Michael J again. read more

Service was ok. Thats the best part. An ok service. And the star is a pity star because i felt bad that our server has to work at a bad establishment. The food was very disappointing and took a while to come. First of all, it's advertised as a Bavarian, upscale establishment. But they only have a wine list and DOMESTIC beers. You know what's Bavarian? Beer. You're telling me I'm going to be spending almost 200$ after tax and tip for two people (app, entree, 2 drinks, no dessert) and you cant have any imports? They literally have schnitzel on the menu and you have to choose between domestic beers on draft while they have a bar section (which was very sad). I'm not eating a pork schnitzel with a fucking bud or Miller lite. We got the steak tartar. The quail egg came in with the shell. We had to pour in the egg white and yolk ourselves and had sticky fingers for the rest of the night. Also, I've egg white in any other beef tartar. Poor form. Please have the yolk in there already so we can just mix it. The bread was the best part of the steak tartar. You never want to feel that way. Wife had the filet minion. There was no crust on the steak. The green beans were borderline uncooked. We went to a museum that had better green beans than this place. To reiterate: food mass produced by a fucking museum that was up-charged was better. The cocktail had the cheap cherries as a garnish. Cant even bother to get luxardo cherries for your overpriced drinks (which btw are not part of the restaurant, they are part of the bar. You will have to go out of your way to get a cocktail menu since they are WINE ONLY. AT A BAVARIAN RESTAURANT) My pork schnitzel was very salty. At points I thought i was eating at McDonald's. My local pub had a better pork schnitzel for 1/4th the price. I had actually wanted the elk at first but after the impression with the drinks and appetizers, i wanted to spend the least amount as possible. At the end of the dinner i had mentioned to the server that i felt like i had high expectations that fell short, and we didn't have a manager talk to us at all. They don't care about your experience at all. Avoid everything with the brand Grand Hotel. You are only paying for the name. It's a good rule of thumb to follow to maximize your enjoyment and not spend as much. Everything that name touches dies. If you care about quality, don't go to the woods. If you want to pretend to have high class, embrace it and have a great time. They have a live pianist after all! read more

Fabulous food & service. The atmosphere is also lovely. I think it's the best fine dining option on the Island. Michael was our server & he is the absolute Best! The maître d' is Neil & he is also fabulous. read more

Neil and his team make for a most pleasant setting. Been dining at the Woods for many years. Unfortunately, the menu, food and, wine list has nosedived with the influence of the private equity exec chef, despite Neil and team's best efforts, which are always welcoming and warm, as if everyone is family. My wife ordered the whitefish. Not available and replaced with trout. It was "rare", cool, and served with few if any veggies. My "sautéed" sole was breaded, oily and, pan fried. New world private equity version of sautéed I guess. Served with cold oily rice that included a few peas and mint flavoring. Returned a second night during our stay and the lamb was not cooked, not even warm to call rare. Wine list is a nightmare, never seen anything so poor, let alone associated with the Grand and its master sommelier Elizabeth. Did not order wine either evening. What is going on and is anyone paying attention at the Grand? Tremendously disappointing and insulting given the experience (and prices!). read more

In the middle of Mackinac Island...in the woods (perfect name). Ambiance was incredible. Seated at the top level felt majestic. Food was amazing. Took a horse carriage there and back. Like a scene from a story book. Highly recommend the restaurant read more

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The atmosphere is great. The building is cool. The ride out there is awesome. The food is horrible. The seating arrangement is terrible and it's no wonder why it's empty. They need a new chef. and mashed instant potatoes. The shrimp was embarrassingly small for $24+ The Filet was cooked correctly but a poor cut of choice meat. The green beans were raw. Dessert menu is lacking read more

Woods Restaurant - Main Dining Room I had the Grilled Filet Mignon - New American Near Me - Mackinac Island, Michigan

WOW! I had no idea this beautiful restaurant existed and I have been coming to the island my whole life. The Woods restaurant is literally located in the woods and you have to take a carriage ride to get there - but that is all a part of the experience. The carriage ride is a solid 20 minutes (if you are coming from town) but you get breath taking views of the island. When you finally get to the restaurant you feel like you are in a fairy tale in the woods. The inside of the Woods is gorgeous and has a lot of dark colors and rich woods. Tudor and Bavarian styles are throughout. Tons of hearts in the place as well especially when you look at the floor. No matter where you look there is something new to see - even the menus have a beautiful floral design on them. I would recommend your attire be snappy casual at least as the restaurant oozes luxury/upscale dining - I would not expect anything less from the Grand Hotel who is in charge of the restaurant. However, the Woods does not take itself too seriously with the table cloths being paper and crayons to draw. We made reservations and did not have to wait long to be taken to our table. The wait staff is first class - fine dining at its best I would say. The sound of a piano also plays in the corner and adds a nice ambiance. Bathrooms are adorable and dripping in pink. The pretzel appetizer was good but do not expect the pretzels to be very big and you only get two. Three different mustard dipping sauces are included, so those were great to try with the pretzels. Our entrees were excellent - the chicken schnitzel, lobster mac and cheese, and surf and turf. The presentation was divine and the taste was even better. Each bite was heavenly. Is it pricey? Of course it is but you're paying for a night out with excellent service and amazing food. My biggest piece of advice is to take your time! Take your time from the carriage ride there to your whole dining experience. This is not a place where you go to grab a quick bite and move on with your vacation. This is a dining experience and I suggest you enjoy every single moment while you are there! read more

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Everything was great!!! Food, service and ambiance as well! Will always go back when visiting the Island!

Service 3 Food Quality 4.5 Drink Quality 5 Order Time 4 Aesthetics 3 Noise Level 3 Menu Selection 4 Restrooms 2.75 Overall experience: 3.65 We were staying at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and read stellar reviews of The Woods restaurant so we decided to call and make a reservation. Oftentimes the number would just return a busy signal, and we would call back all day and no one would answer the phone. We saw some 1 star reviews from people online about this who wound up giving up after not being able to get through. We decided to call the Grand Hotel and went through the automated system to make a reservation and someone finally picked up on day 4. We made a reservation for 2 people for 8:30pm the following night. Supposedly from what others have told us we got very lucky because the people sitting next to us made their reservation months in advance, and people we met at our hotel couldn't get a reservation. If you're ever visiting Mackinac Island and want to go here, keep this in mind, and make your reservations as early as possible. Keep in mind that there are no cars on the island and you have to take a horse and buggy to the restaurant so allow yourself at least 20 minutes from the Grand Hotel to get there. When you get inside the restaurant you will notice an "old school upscale feel" to the establishment. The sort of place that wealthy businessmen would sit around and smoke cigars while they waited for their food back in the day. Moose, goat, and deer heads and antlers line the walls as well as some interesting photos and artwork. The staff is mostly Jamaican and well dressed, and very polite and hardworking -- the place is busy and they don't stop moving. A lot of them have been working there for decades and come here seasonally and then return to Jamaica during the winter -- it's a very familial feel. You can tell they were a bit understaffed and overwhelmed. We arrived to the Woods 20 minutes early and didn't get seated until 8:50, 20 minutes after our reservation time. On top of it they had us listed as a party of 4, when we were only a party of 2, which contributed to our wait time as they had some two seaters available that we could have been seated at as soon as we arrived. The men's bathroom was pretty small had a semi private toilet stall and urinal. A lot of men were in line for the urinal so I did my business in the toilet stall which was a bit gross, with urine all around the floor by the toilet. It was obvious no one had come in to clean in a while. Furthermore after I finished and went to the sink, the soap dispenser was out of soap and there were no more towels to dry my hands. Unacceptable at a restaurant like this. I ordered the chicken bone broth soup and my girlfriend had the steak soup. I would opt for the steak soup 10 out of 10 times, as my thin chicken broth soup was edible, but just ok compared to the rich steak soup which was sort of like a nice hearty stew. We also split a spinach arugula salad which was tasty with candied pecans on it which added a great crunch and flavor. When we were at the Grand one of the guests told us if we go to the Woods to get a drink called a Yellowbird - which we did and it was delicious, like a caribbean rum punch. Definitely recommend it. For our entrees I ordered the Elk Chops cooked medium well (I would have ordered medium but the guest dining next to me ordered them medium and they came rare to medium rare so I decided to bump it up a step. It turned out to be a good decision because the chops came medium just as I wanted with a nice red center but not overly bloody). They were delicious -- just the right amount of gamey flavor but not overkill, and they were tender and juicy and not chewy at all. My girlfriend ordered the Goulash special and she liked it a lot. For our sides we ordered Chili Garlic broccolini and bacon roasted brussels sprouts, neither of which wound up arriving because our waiter forgot, and by the time he returned and we brought it up to him we were almost done with our entrees so we told him to cancel them, and he wound up not charging us for our drink to make up for it which was fine. I even told him that I really enjoyed the Jamaican restaurant on Mackinac Island, and he told me to go mention his name the following day and they would hook me up. He was extremely friendly and his service was great overall but the general atmosphere and busy-ness of the restaurant makes for a very rushed feel which isn't as relaxing as you usually get at an establishment of this calibre. The food was really good, but we probably wouldn't return here as the overall dining experience (from making the reservation to the staff disorganization) was a bit unpleasant and rushed. That being said, they might have been having an off night, and if you're visiting and want an upscale and delicious dining experience you will probably be quite happy with the food here. read more

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