The food was incredible! The staff was awesome.I got the roast pork and my husband had the steak. He said it was the best steak he ever had. It was so good that we went back the following night and had the same thing and it was great again. We were just in town for a few days. We stayed at the Jackson House Inn (Amazing X2! )
Billy Connelly
Best filet I have ever had. Period! Cooked perfectly, the coffee and chili seasoning made the excellent cuts of beef super flavorful. Pork shank fell off the bone. We started with empanadas, garlic shrimp (amazing thick sauce!), and plantains & guacamole - great start. Finished with key lime pie and creamy flan. We had dined at Melaza 4 years ago, just before the pandemic. So glad we had the chance to return and look forward to the next time! Thank you, Chef!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Key Lime Pie, Flan De Queso, Empanadas De Carne, Pork Shank
ali emami
Don't bother unless there is nothing else to eat ....
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Steven Smitka
What an experience. First off, they chose to seat my party directly next to the ONLY other peole in the whole restaurant. Food was incredibly okay, but expensive. Drinks were well priced and potentially included alcohol. Service was sufficient. The menu was the talking piece of the evening. Not because of the offerings, but because no one read it before printing. Full of grammar, spelling, and cultural(?) Easter eggs. Small portions. Left thinking wow, have any of the previous reviewers, owner, or chef ever eaten tapas or carribean food before?
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
Kaitlyn D.
Woodstock has limited dinner options as it's a small town, so over the years, my family and I have dined at this restaurant a few times. The food isn't anything to write home about but will do when there aren't many options, and it's more reasonably priced than other restaurants in the area. Last year, someone in my party was given the wrong dinner order but rolled with it. Nevertheless, we were still charged for the item even though it wasn't what the person ordered, which seemed odd. That was irritating, but what happened over this past weekend was the icing on the cake that ensures we won't be back. We had email confirmation of a reservation for a large party. When we got there, the host said he didn't have a record of the reservation, wasn't able to accommodate us, and didn't seem that concerned when we shared the email confirmation with him. Since it was a larger party, it was challenging to find another spot that would accommodate us last minute, but thankfully, we were able to find something else within walking distance. Long story short, the food is fine, but the customer service is lacking. If you have a reservation, I recommend confirming multiple times so you don't get there, and they tell you they don't have a record even after you provide email confirmation.
Lynn Luczkowski
Parking: Street parking and some small lots near bank.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tres Leche Cake, Steak Special
Sue Jankowiak
Everything! Delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegetable Paella
Carly Bannish
What a delightful restaurant! We loved it so much, we dined there two nights in a row. The Caribbean menu was a treat to this gluten sensitive diner, as every entree is naturally gluten free! Each tapas, entree, or dessert we tried over two evenings was prepared with depth of flavor, fresh ingredients, and pleasing presentation. We found the atmosphere to be charming and the staff friendly and courteous. While the restaurant is struggling with the national dilemma of staff shortages, these hardworking people kept smiling, got our food to us piping hot, and even had time to recommend dishes when we couldn’t decide. Don’t miss an opportunity to enjoy this delicious restaurant!Dietary restrictions: Outstanding restaurant for those with gluten issues.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Yuca Fries, Pulled Chicken Sofrito, Flan De Queso, Steak Special, Empanadas De Carne, Pork Shank
Stacey Hammons
My husband and I ate here during our stay at Woodstock Inn. I had the Cuban sandwich and Yuka fries and it was great. My husband had the Jamaican Jerk chicken and it was also good. The service was excellent. I would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unanimous One
I'm expressing these thoughts with an understanding of why some of my concerns may not be widely shared. Firstly, the restaurant is neatly tucked in the heart of Woodstock, Vermont, drawing my family and me due to the promise of authentic Spanish cuisine.Initially, the atmosphere was less than ideal, with cramped seating hindering our ability to enjoy a quiet family dinner. We anticipated ambient chatter but found ourselves struggling to hear amidst everyone else's conversations, despite the place being somewhat empty. This highlights the compact size of the restaurant, likely influenced by the older buildings in downtown Woodstock and the premium rent associated with the area.Secondly, my order of a market-priced steak, my wife's Jerk chicken, and my son's chicken nuggets left us disappointed. The items were overpriced, and the food lacked seasoning. Authentic Spanish cuisine typically boasts seasoned and flavorful dishes, but we found ourselves questioning whether the food had been seasoned at all. Although my son enjoyed his $10+ chicken kids meal, receiving bland food at these prices felt unacceptable. We recognize the location's influence on pricing but believe that blandness shouldn't be the compromise, perhaps catering to a diverse community less accustomed to bold seasonings.Lastly, the customer service was satisfactory—courteous with occasional lapses in attention, never crossing into rudeness.Overall, not a terrible place, but for those seeking truly authentic Spanish food or more reasonably priced options with better quality control, I recommend exploring other establishments.
The food is incredible! Empanadas stood out for being crispy and juicy. Excellent Cuban too.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 2
Leah B.
Cute little restaurant in Woodstock. We had a reservation and we arrived a few minutes early and they seated us immediately. The waitress had a lot of tables but she did a great job managing her tables. Once order was placed food came out in a timely manner. We ordered the coconut shrimp, very good- the beef empanadas just ok they needed to be crispier, and the vegetable paella that neither my husband or I liked. It was not flavored well. I would go back again and try different dishes the beef steak dish looked delish.
Ben
The service at this restaurant was impeccable. I didn't have a reservation at peak dinner time and they squeezed me in! My girlfriend got the pumpkin bisque, which she really liked. The chimichurri steak was also delicious, and so were their salmon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicolas H
This place was clearly popular because we came in on a night it was fully booked and could only get bar seating and the appetizer menu. That being said, what we had was delicious, just unfortunate that they were turning people away without a waitlist and there being no-shows. If you're in the area, highly recommend a reservation in advance (or maybe just any other day than Saturday night). Will go back again if ever in that part of new england.
It's such a cute restaurant located in Woodstock. Vt. We had no reservation, but they quickly seated us near the bar. I ordered the chicken and rice dish. It was good. The chicken was tender and fresh. I especially like the plantains, which have an excellent sweet, savory taste to the meal. The meal came with a salad and bread. The vinaigrette was so flavorful. I ordered a Pinot Noir. It made for a beautiful dinner for two.
The food was incredible! The staff was awesome.I got the roast pork and my husband had the steak. He said it was the best steak he ever had. It was so good that we went back the following night and had the same thing and it was great again. We were just in town for a few days. We stayed at the Jackson House Inn (Amazing X2! )
Best filet I have ever had. Period! Cooked perfectly, the coffee and chili seasoning made the excellent cuts of beef super flavorful. Pork shank fell off the bone. We started with empanadas, garlic shrimp (amazing thick sauce!), and plantains & guacamole - great start. Finished with key lime pie and creamy flan. We had dined at Melaza 4 years ago, just before the pandemic. So glad we had the chance to return and look forward to the next time! Thank you, Chef!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Key Lime Pie, Flan De Queso, Empanadas De Carne, Pork Shank
Don't bother unless there is nothing else to eat ....
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
What an experience. First off, they chose to seat my party directly next to the ONLY other peole in the whole restaurant. Food was incredibly okay, but expensive. Drinks were well priced and potentially included alcohol. Service was sufficient. The menu was the talking piece of the evening. Not because of the offerings, but because no one read it before printing. Full of grammar, spelling, and cultural(?) Easter eggs. Small portions. Left thinking wow, have any of the previous reviewers, owner, or chef ever eaten tapas or carribean food before?
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
Woodstock has limited dinner options as it's a small town, so over the years, my family and I have dined at this restaurant a few times. The food isn't anything to write home about but will do when there aren't many options, and it's more reasonably priced than other restaurants in the area. Last year, someone in my party was given the wrong dinner order but rolled with it. Nevertheless, we were still charged for the item even though it wasn't what the person ordered, which seemed odd. That was irritating, but what happened over this past weekend was the icing on the cake that ensures we won't be back. We had email confirmation of a reservation for a large party. When we got there, the host said he didn't have a record of the reservation, wasn't able to accommodate us, and didn't seem that concerned when we shared the email confirmation with him. Since it was a larger party, it was challenging to find another spot that would accommodate us last minute, but thankfully, we were able to find something else within walking distance. Long story short, the food is fine, but the customer service is lacking. If you have a reservation, I recommend confirming multiple times so you don't get there, and they tell you they don't have a record even after you provide email confirmation.
Parking: Street parking and some small lots near bank.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tres Leche Cake, Steak Special
Everything! Delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegetable Paella
What a delightful restaurant! We loved it so much, we dined there two nights in a row. The Caribbean menu was a treat to this gluten sensitive diner, as every entree is naturally gluten free! Each tapas, entree, or dessert we tried over two evenings was prepared with depth of flavor, fresh ingredients, and pleasing presentation. We found the atmosphere to be charming and the staff friendly and courteous. While the restaurant is struggling with the national dilemma of staff shortages, these hardworking people kept smiling, got our food to us piping hot, and even had time to recommend dishes when we couldn’t decide. Don’t miss an opportunity to enjoy this delicious restaurant!Dietary restrictions: Outstanding restaurant for those with gluten issues.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Yuca Fries, Pulled Chicken Sofrito, Flan De Queso, Steak Special, Empanadas De Carne, Pork Shank
My husband and I ate here during our stay at Woodstock Inn. I had the Cuban sandwich and Yuka fries and it was great. My husband had the Jamaican Jerk chicken and it was also good. The service was excellent. I would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I'm expressing these thoughts with an understanding of why some of my concerns may not be widely shared. Firstly, the restaurant is neatly tucked in the heart of Woodstock, Vermont, drawing my family and me due to the promise of authentic Spanish cuisine.Initially, the atmosphere was less than ideal, with cramped seating hindering our ability to enjoy a quiet family dinner. We anticipated ambient chatter but found ourselves struggling to hear amidst everyone else's conversations, despite the place being somewhat empty. This highlights the compact size of the restaurant, likely influenced by the older buildings in downtown Woodstock and the premium rent associated with the area.Secondly, my order of a market-priced steak, my wife's Jerk chicken, and my son's chicken nuggets left us disappointed. The items were overpriced, and the food lacked seasoning. Authentic Spanish cuisine typically boasts seasoned and flavorful dishes, but we found ourselves questioning whether the food had been seasoned at all. Although my son enjoyed his $10+ chicken kids meal, receiving bland food at these prices felt unacceptable. We recognize the location's influence on pricing but believe that blandness shouldn't be the compromise, perhaps catering to a diverse community less accustomed to bold seasonings.Lastly, the customer service was satisfactory—courteous with occasional lapses in attention, never crossing into rudeness.Overall, not a terrible place, but for those seeking truly authentic Spanish food or more reasonably priced options with better quality control, I recommend exploring other establishments.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Steak Special
Restaurantji Recommends
The food is incredible! Empanadas stood out for being crispy and juicy. Excellent Cuban too.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 2
Cute little restaurant in Woodstock. We had a reservation and we arrived a few minutes early and they seated us immediately. The waitress had a lot of tables but she did a great job managing her tables. Once order was placed food came out in a timely manner. We ordered the coconut shrimp, very good- the beef empanadas just ok they needed to be crispier, and the vegetable paella that neither my husband or I liked. It was not flavored well. I would go back again and try different dishes the beef steak dish looked delish.
The service at this restaurant was impeccable. I didn't have a reservation at peak dinner time and they squeezed me in! My girlfriend got the pumpkin bisque, which she really liked. The chimichurri steak was also delicious, and so were their salmon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place was clearly popular because we came in on a night it was fully booked and could only get bar seating and the appetizer menu. That being said, what we had was delicious, just unfortunate that they were turning people away without a waitlist and there being no-shows. If you're in the area, highly recommend a reservation in advance (or maybe just any other day than Saturday night). Will go back again if ever in that part of new england.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Yuca Fries, Pulled Chicken Sofrito
It's such a cute restaurant located in Woodstock. Vt. We had no reservation, but they quickly seated us near the bar. I ordered the chicken and rice dish. It was good. The chicken was tender and fresh. I especially like the plantains, which have an excellent sweet, savory taste to the meal. The meal came with a salad and bread. The vinaigrette was so flavorful. I ordered a Pinot Noir. It made for a beautiful dinner for two.