Woodend by Curtis Stone — Restaurant in Quintana Roo

Unfortunately, I have to give only one star to this restaurant. The issues started even before the reservation. In early December, I went to the Woodend website to book a dinner for the evening of December 31st because my partner and I wanted to celebrate both our anniversary and New Year's Eve there, as they fall on the same night. However, when trying to make the reservation on the website, there was a notice saying that the table would only be available until 11 PM (I was trying to make the reservation at 9:30 PM). For this reason, I called the restaurant, and someone reassured me saying that there would be a special New Year's Eve event with a special menu and fireworks or some kind of celebration at midnight. The person told me they would send an email with all the details for the reservation as soon as possible. A few days later, not having received any email, I tried calling again, but the line was busy. I went ahead with the reservation anyway and wrote in the notes what had been told to me, meaning that we would stay to celebrate midnight.

The day before New Year's Eve, I received an email (attached) stating that there would be no special New Year's Eve dinner. Okay. Since I couldn't find anything else last minute, I confirmed the reservation. We arrived about ten minutes late (usually there's a 15-minute grace period, so it didn't seem unusual to us, given that the roads are very dark and dangerous), and the first thing they told us was that they only take orders until 10 PM, so we had to hurry to order. But if the website and the email stated that the last available slot was at 10 PM, should we have ordered before sitting at the table?! Anyway, we ordered, and they brought everything at once, causing the dishes to cool down. Everything was good, but of course, it would have been better if it had been hot (aside from the raw fish, of course). We finished dinner at 11 PM, and out of courtesy, I asked if, as initially promised, we could stay until midnight (I would have also ordered something to drink, considering the fairly high dinner bill of around $100 per person). The waiter told me he needed to check with his manager since there was still a lot of time until midnight (what does that even mean?!). After 10 minutes, the manager came over and said we couldn’t stay because the restaurant would be closed at midnight (there were about 9 other people split into different tables around us, what did they do, kick them out?). She said that if we wanted to celebrate at midnight, we would have to go to the restaurant next door (same hotel, literally 5 meters away, facing the same beach), paying another $100 PER PERSON just to watch the fireworks. Stunned, I asked for an explanation since we had just spent the same amount on dinner, and certainly, even if I had ordered a bottle of wine to drink by myself or to take away (since my partner had to drive and couldn't drink much), I wouldn't have reached that amount. Meanwhile, my partner had gone to the bathroom and asked another employee at the entrance the same question, and he was told there was no problem staying. As time passed, we found ourselves practically kicked out of this luxurious restaurant around 11:30 PM, and we still left a 15% tip, only to have our New Year's Eve ruined in such an utterly disgraceful manner. I absolutely do not...

I was so looking forward to doing there. Both the hotel and the restaurant are high-end and inviting. I also read great reviews regarding the service so I'll start with that. The service indeed attempts to be at highest level. Our server was not. Either her English wasn't good, or her hearing, but it became awkward at times. When we arrived, my husband joked that we heard about their wonderful bread so that will be all we will be eating. He then explained that I haven't eaten much that day so if she could bring the bread asap that would be appreciated, to which she said: "so you don't want any bread?"... We ordered sparkling water and it was annoying that we were never asked if we wanted more. She just opened 2 new bottles without asking. We had a bottle of wine and when asked for more butter she understood we wanted another bottle of wine. There were 4 of us and egen we said we would take a look at the dessert menu only 3 menus were brought. And now to the food: angollti appetizer was very tasty and unique. The burrata has a nice sweet date spread accompany it. The bread was the bomb. That's where the good stuff ended. The kampachi fish was bland. The New York steak (1700 pesos) was just ok. The one I bought at Costco and grilled myself was better. The potato pava was tasteless and on the very dry side. The chocolate brownie was very good. I always look for at least one dush worth coming back for and...

✨ A Dreamy Culinary Escape ✨

From the moment we arrived, the experience at Woodend was nothing short of magical. We were greeted with perfectly crafted cocktails from Mexicos world famous cocktail makers which set the tone. Refreshing , balanced, and served with a smile that made us feel instantly at home 🍸🤍.

The most unforgettable moments - Being invited into the kitchen to cook our steaks alongside the chef 🔥👨‍🍳. It wasn’t just dinner — it was an intimate, hands-on celebration of flavor and connection. The food, Honestly! Some of the best tastes I’ve ever had. Every bite was layered, thoughtful, and bursting with freshness. You could feel the love in the seasoning.

The staff were phenomenal — warm, attentive, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They made us feel like part of the family, not just guests.

And the setting… wow. Nestled in a beautiful corner of Mexico, the venue is a feast for the senses. Lush greenery, ambient lighting, and a vibe that’s both elegant and relaxed. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to linger a little longer, sip a little slower, and soak it all in 🌿🌅.

From start to finish, Woodend delivered an experience that was soulful, delicious, and deeply memorable. Can’t...