The Ashwood Restaurant & Bourbon Bar

Dinner & drinks turned into a party! Staff was so friendly, from fun pickup on the Ashwoody bus (Amy) to a lively server (Esther). Of course food & drink were great too. We will be returning for some of the games & entertainment!

Would have felt better about the whole experience if our server had a little bit more life in her. My experience of eating out is helped lots by staff being friendly or at least have some respect for me as a fellow human being. Me and a friend had searched other places late last week for somewhere anywhere to eat. We were told to visit Ashwood and loved the décor. The food was quite good but with a room full of 8 others, getting a drink or anything like simple service was like pulling teeth.
Will go back for a second try.

First time at this place, as we were visiting Bayfield on a little vacation. We were a group seven and went for drinks and dinner.
It’s an odd little place that has an unassuming exterior, and is attached to a motel. Apparently the interior was just redone, which is quite nice and features some pretty nice solid wood tables and bar.
Service was slow and nothing to write home about, but still friendly. Likewise, the food was good but nothing magical. Probably amongst the best you’ll get in the area. We found the portioning of the entrees to be a bit strange, as the chicken was huge and enough to feed two, while the trout left many of us wanting a snack afterwards.
They also have a nice cocktail list with a decent draught selection.

This review is not based on their food, as we seemed to have stopped in after the kitchen was closed. I’m reviewing this as a nightlife spot as we stopped in for a drink at night, only to find a packed house and rocking funk band on stage which was a refreshing change of pace from what I’m used to expecting in this neck of the woods.
I’ve always felt indifferent about nightlife in this area of cottage country. My previous experiences include places like The Docks that always felt empty as the room is so big and usually had mediocre music acts, so the place always felt lacking in energy and I’d always just end up sitting on their patio. The Black Dog admittedly just never really locked in a nightlife type of vibe despite efforts of the past and getting higher quality musical bookings.
The Ashwood seems to have found the sweet spot though. The room is just big enough that it gets busy and there is an energy amongst those in attendance, and its management has a lot of experience with booking musical acts for the town in the past which will surely work in its favor.
Looking at the drink menu, you’ll find an arms length of various bourbon options which is true to being a bourbon bar. Myself being a beer guy, I settled in with a craft brewed pint of Spearhead Sam Roberts Band Session Ale which was on tap alongside a variety of other curated beer options including Steamwhistle, Blanche de Chambly, Boddingtons, PBR, and some other lesser memorable options. I’d give their beer list credit for trying — not falling victim to being the same boring main brands. I will admit that a proper IPA would round out the list better, but I’m just nitpicking at this point.
The only true downside I can actually think of is that getting to the bar can be tough since there is a small gap between the bar and then rows of chairs facing a small separating wall with drink ledge before the seats and tables fill the main space, and lots of people like to just get their drink and stay bunkered down at the bar not giving much room to work within.
But in the end, I think Bayfield may have found its best option for nightlife yet and for that, 5 stars it gets. Next time I’ll just have to get there before the kitchen closes.

Just went to lunch and had a fantastic way meal! Best tomato bisque I have ever had. Loved the quality of service and cool ambience. Will definitely be back. Also a venue for great bands with an amazing summer line up. Check out the cool Ash bar!