The formal Dining Room, with five-star cuisine, at Woodlands Inn. (Photo: Woodlands Inn)
By Kathy. M. Newbern and J.S. Fletcher © 2009
So what’s it like dining at a five-star?
In a word, fantastic.
We had the good fortune to dine in both the restaurants at Woodlands Inn: The Pines, for casual food, and The Dining Room with a formal flare. (Jackets are required for men.)
Both are nicely decorated.
Booths and oversized, high-back chairs outfit the masculine feel of The Pines, whereas The Dining Room has a traditional “dining room” setting with chandeliers, white linen tablecloths, and classic Southern decor.
Of course, the food (and its five-star rating) is the reason patrons come, both hotel guests and residents around the area. A superior wine list and knowledgeable sommelier add to the experience.
Treat your The Dining Room evening as the fine entertainment experience it is. Enjoy the ambiance, the service, the mood, and linger over each tasty morsel.
On the weekends, there’s even a pianist tickling the keys of the grand piano that fits into the room like a big screen TV fits into a sports pub.
Our anniversary dinner startd with sour-dough bread and rosemary-cheese biscuits served with two types of butter, and two salts at the ready, one a smoked sea salt. Your menu choices will change from season to season in both restaurants, but the emphasis will always be on fresh, local produce, fish, and meat.
The Dining Room a la Carte Menu is presented in sections:
• Caviar Service
• Preludes like House-made Ricotta Tortelloni Primavera; Hudson Valley Foie Gras au Torchon; and Hay Smoked Carolina Quail
• The Fields & Vegetable Gardens featuring the Woodlands Signature Caesar Salad
• From Day Boats & Fishermen with Caramelized Sea Scallops
• All Natural Farms with Slow Roasted Keegan Farm Suckling Pig
• A cheese course with either four or six varieties (superb);
• Desserts ranging from a Warm Date Cake to House-Made Sorbets, to a Deconstructed Brownie Sundae that will satisfy any chocolate-junkie’s habit (see the photo in the slide show), and fois gras brulee (in the photo above, courtesy of Woodlands Inn).
• and A Prestige Tasting Menu available for five or seven courses which can be accompanied with a Sommelier’s Wine Pairing.
The Pines menu is simpler with 10 choices but offers some real diversity with dishes like a Trio of House-made Charcuterie (pictured at left), which are meats and sausages served with sauces; Handmade Crispy Spring Rolls served with Sweet Thai Chili Sauce; and De Cecco Pasta with Hickory Smoked Mushrooms, Pine Nuts and Sage Marsala.
Both of our evening meals were typical of what you can expect at Woodlands Inn: no hurry, no pressure. Just enjoyable time spent relaxing and savoring a place that encourages its guests to experience the moment. “Here at Woodlands,” as General Manager Bob Seible put it, “is the perfect place to come read, relax, have great food, and catch up on life.”
Read about staying at Woodlands Inn.
Read about massages at Woodlands Inn.
For more info: Set amidst 42 acres of parkland grounds, Woodlands Inn is a recently and impeccably restored 1906 classical revival mansion at 125 Parsons Rd. Summerville, SC 29483. Call (800) 774-9999 or visit www.woodlandsinn.com. The inn is a member of Preferred Hotels and Historic Hotels, holds the Mobil Five-Star Award for The Inn and Dining Room (2004 to present), the AAA Five Diamond Award for The Dining Room (1996-present) and for The Inn (1997-present), was rated Travel + Leisure – #1 in Continental United States & Canada and #3 in the World in “2008 World’s Best Service Awards” as well as Travel + Leisure – Voted #2 in North America and #27 in the World in “2007 World’s Best Hotel Awards.” Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report ranked it #16 in “2008 Top 20 U.S. Resort Hideaways,” and has earned Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence since 1998.
Luxury Travel Examiner Kathy M. Newbern and husband, J.S. Fletcher, report on luxury destinations, spas and cruising around the globe. They are award-winning members of the Society of American Travel Writers, and operate their personalized romance novel business based in Raleigh, where they let you star in your own romance.
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