The Woodlands Brought National Dining Recognition to Summerville

Before FIG and Husk rose to national fame, The Woodlands was tearing up the scene as the only property in South Carolina to garner the elusive Forbes Five Star and the AAA Five Diamond ratings. The Summerville resort opened in 1995 with chef Ken Vendriski (now of Trattoria Luca and Coda). Limehouse Produce has a copy of the first winning review, in which critic Jane Kronsberg urges readers to eat there immediately.

Vendriski worked at the fine dining restaurant for nine years and says he thinks their success was due to the fact they took risks. They weren't cooking Southern food, and the chef was allowed to do what he wanted in the kitchen.

Local businessman Tom Limehouse purchased The Woodlands in 2012 and reinvented the mansion as an event space.