Woods

Best dining experience on the island. Take a pleasant carriage ride into the woods where you will dine in a lodge like setting with no comparison! Bavarian in the most charming way possible. A not to miss spot while on the island.

After five years, our experience was as good as ever. The food was delightful and the service impeccable. The piano music enhances the elegant old-​world charm. We enjoyed the whitefish and lobster cappitavi together with a few cocktails. No doubt, we’ll be back, just don’t know when. It’s a long way from Philadelphia.

The Woods has been a family favorite of ours for years. It’s really an experience unlike any other. We usually stay at the Grand Hotel when on Mackinac Island, of which the restaurant is affiliated, but you do not have to stay there to experience The Woods restaurant. You take about a 30-​minute carriage ride up to the restaurant, which is literally tucked into the woods in the interior of the Island. The décor is like a Bavarian-​style hunting mansion and there is a special warmth you feel inside. Bobby’s Bar has a nice whiskey selection to choose from and on that side of the restaurant houses the oldest duck pin bowling alley in the country, so you have to try that at least once if you haven’t done so. The food is excellent. Most recently, I tried the 10 oz. filet mignon along with the Austrian Steak Soup. The filet was cooked perfect medium-​rare, topped with mushrooms, and served with mashed potatoes and sautéed onions and the soup was also very good. They alter their menu from time to time, and once even had venison steak which made me happy. Try the Pecan Ball and a glass of port for dessert! We have a favorite waiter that we request each time we go and it has become a beloved family tradition to eat at the Woods.

OMG! Best food ever! Horse taxi each way was about a short 25 min ride, cost was $ 7 per person, which wasn’t bad. Make sure to call ahead of time and was happy to know that you can request the table you want. Recommend the Grand Hotel Riesling, chicken breast meal, spätzle, and cobbler. Staff was top notch and so nice! Really warm and beautiful inside, make sure to take a lot of pictures!

First and foremost DO NOT try to walk here! Especially if you’re staying at Mission Pointe. At some point I actually asked the person I was with (who claimed it wasn’t that far) if we were still on Mackinac Island.
That being said the food and service is top notch. Dining here seems to make you forget about the hustle and bustle that sits downtown. Just a great dining experience. And the carriage ride back was very enjoyable.

Had a wonderful experience at Woods, it is a little hard to get to — being hidden up in the center of the island, you can go by horse carriage, the biking up hill is a little intense before a semi-​formal dinner. This is why I enjoyed my evening here, the environment is beyond stunning with Bavarian décor details & a stunning bar outside the main dining room, which has a live pianist, fire places, and wrap staircase with elite seating available. We had a royal table above the lowly-​lit room, walls blood red from floor to high-​rising ceiling. Dark wood embellishments and an overall fancy cabin feel. We didn’t wait long for our food which was beyond delicious, while one of the moderate-​to-​high priced on the island it is a uniquely special experience. The environment is worth making it a must-​see, at least for a pre-​dinner drink. I’ve included a photo of their stunning crab cakes that I wish I could indulge in daily.

Food and service was great. All the waiters and staff were so kind and the food was the best that I have had in a while. I ordered the lamb. The meat pretty much fell off the bone. It was so soft and moist. My boyfriend ordered the steak and it was cooked to perfection. Would definitely recommend. The atmosphere is styled like a hunting lodge and there is live piano to accompany your meal. Definitely one of the best restaurants on the island.

Great food and great service. When our server, Michael, found out at the end of or meal that we were on our honeymoon, he bemoaned our lack of telling him sooner! He insisted dessert was on him. He said he has been working that table section for 16 years. If you eat at The Woods, ask for Michael!

Went for our anniversary after a lack-​luster and disappointing dinner at The Carriage House. We were treated like royalty. Our server, Conrad was amazing. Food was delicious, service impeccable.

I’ve eaten here every time we’ve visited Mackinac Island. The food is fantastic. This last time– a few weeks ago — I had the roast pork and it was incredible. The staff is impeccable. My wife and I have never been served or treated at any restaurant as well as we have at The Woods. And the atmosphere is unique. I love the old hunting lodge feel. I have to say, it’s probably my favorite restaurant, period.

We dined out at various places every night during our week stay on the island. This was by far the best restaurant. The dress code was casual, but the feel was very professional. The pacific crusted salmon was great. The Manhattans were the best on the island as well. Like previously stated by other reviewers, the feel of the restaurant was the cherry on top. Arriving to this place after a ride through the forests of Mackinac was truly a treat.

It is a lovely restaurant, on the fancier side, and fabulous service, thanks to Whitney. Bread is wonderful and the wine is pricey but good, we had a house red and something else. Guess I’m not a wine snob, as I can’t fathom how good a $ 450 bottle of wine world have to be.
The food– I had the lamb and it was tender but a bit more overlooked than I would have liked for lamb– all brown, no pink. It was good but it wasn’t what I had expected for such a nice looking place. Perhaps just my European leanings, who knows.
No one in my party was wild about their meal, but all were good. it still made for a nice evening with a scenic carriage ride and great atmosphere.

Absolutely perfect — unique atmosphere with two huge fireplaces, vaulted ceilings and attentive staff. The chilled pumpkin soup was incredible and my beef goulash entrée was uniquely presented and delicious. White fish and lobster mac and cheese also very taste.

We had excellent service and the dinner was delicious. I would highly recommend the Woods as it is located off the beaten path accessible by a lovely carriage ride and the food preparation and presentation was hard to match on the Island.

Was recommended to us by most locals as the best on the island. Was good overall, but not great.
Bread Basket — the PRETZELS with orange marmalade butter are amazing! They are served warm and soft in the middle. We ordered a second bread basket because they were that good.
Appetizer — Server recommended the pâté so we ordered that but was not out taste.
Salads — Tomato and Watermelon salad was very good. Caesar was good too, except I wish they would just chop the lettuce instead of giving you the romaine heart as is.
NY Strip with black truffle polenta — Steak was flavorful and the polenta was the perfect compliment. We ate it all but the only complaint was the sauce and polenta were way over salted for our taste.
Lamp Chops — Cooked perfect medium rare and tender. Again we ate it all but the complaint was a bit over salted for our taste.
Crème Brûlée — Yuck! Too much Grand Mariner and the layer of sugar on top is way too thick. The custard had no flavor. Sometimes classic desserts need to stay classic. Vanilla bean would have been just fine.
Service — Server wasn’t super personable. Didn’t guide us through the menu. He only consulted when we asked for suggestions. Also didn’t check on us when he delivered the entrees. He was merely there to take our order and that’s it.

My favorite spot on the island. Take a $ 6 (each way) cab from downtown (by the Arnold dock) for about a 30 minute ride along the bluffs.
The place is beautiful and woodsy. It was the playhouse for the next door estate. Good bar drinks (but beware, one single malt was $ 30 a glass).
We were seated by the firs. Service was great and so was the food. Onion tart was delightful. Goulash was great (no noodles). Whitefish was great too.
The ambiance is perfect.

Loved the restaurant!
Came here for an anniversary dinner and we had a great time… It is located farther than a lot of the other upscale restaurants but was worth the hike… I would recommend making a reservation because they were booked for an hour at least when I called ahead…
We got to the restaurant early and had drinks… They have popcorn to nom on beforehand in the bar section. One cool and not cool thing about the restaurant is that they have a bowling lane. I thought it looked super fun but unfortunately we weren’t able to use it because the kids of the restaurant hogged it the whole time. It would be cool to have a sign up or something… The kids were really loud and that did hinder the bar experience a little.
THE FOOD:
YUM! They offer bread to start with this delicious orange butter. The bread also has pretzel bread which was cool and also goes with the german inspired theme.
I ordered the maple salmon and it was cooked perfectly! I don’t even normally like salmon and I enjoyed it. The best part was that it was served with lobster mashed potatoes. My boyfriend ordered the whitefish and he enjoyed it.
It is definitely pricy, and the drinks were really pricy. I would recommend grabbing drinks in town beforehand.
THE SERVICE:
Great! Bartender and our server were very professional. No complaints.
THE PIANO! The best part! My boyfriend requested my favorite song and he played it immediately! That was a nice touch.
They also have a shuttle from the restaurant that comes back to the main street.
Check it out!

Like all the other reviews this restaurant is delightful to the eye. Big red and white checkered wing back chairs set the stage for hunters and gathered. Twinkling lights just in the right places. We ordered roasted butternut squash and lobster bisque. Jeff wasn’t impressed with the bisque, nothing like the soups at the Inn at Stonecliffe. atmosphere is better but so far the food is not. Squash soup is ok. Soups were disappointing. Entrees ordered Pork Schnitzel and Maple Salmon. Salmon is fairly boring, carrots are firm and crunchy. Jeff really like his pork. Little stingy on the wine pour. Service was pleasant. Not a restaurant I would recommend unless you are going for atmosphere and service.

This is a great place to have a high-​class meal and positive dining experience. The staff is AMAZING and extremely accommodating. It was fun for my niece (and myself) to be able to color on the paper tablecloth. They also have a bar as well.
I started with the butternut squash soup, and members of my party had the lobster bisque. Both were amazing! All of the menu items seem to be great choices. excellently prepared, and I have to reiterate that service is GREAT. These waiters are on top of things. Definitely save room for dessert too!
It’s a bit pricey, but wayyyy worth it. This food is AMAZING.

Great drinks and some delicious appetizers! Can’t beat relaxing on the patio with a beautiful view! Nice well stocked bar with fairly attentive service!
Stuffed jalapeños were delicious but if you don’t like spice… Be forewarned!
All in all relaxing and enjoyable time!