I enjoyed brunch at the Vinoy in a celebration of my grandmother's 94th birthday. There is a very impressive make your own bloody mary bar with shrimp, sauces, beef jerky, bacon, spices etc. There are also fruit mixes for bellinis and mimosas. The monkey bread and pecan sticky buns are served in huge portions that can be shared family style. The menu has some interesting and unusual dishes to choose from. I was most tempted by the kobe burger, pork belly and poutine. My fries were very good and the burger was tasty. The chocolate cake we shared for dessert was rich and delicious. We also had some key lime and mango truffles. It was a fun meal. Execution of some ofnthe dishes wasn't quite perfect (one piece of my bacon was burnt for example, the lobster in the omelette my aunt had was grilled to a very tough texture, and some of the flavor profiles could be a bit more worked out) but it's definitely a grand ballroom and I would like to see it busier. There were some very nice touches and it's great to see the area's majestic and historic hotels active. Walking through the hotel is fun aslo. I don't like the carpeting, but the sitting nooks along the entry way and the porch have some lovely sitting areas with great decorations and design features. I wonder if the bloody mary bar might do better out there and a more traditional brunch in the dining area? At any rate, I had fun and our the waitress was gracious. It was great to get back to the Vinoy after very much enjoying the Yelp event they hosted!!! I hope to return again soon.
(4)
Brian F.
Breakfast at Marchand's was superbe. One of the best eggs benedict's I've ever had and perfectly crisp and delicious bacon.
(5)
Lynette D.
I have been to many resort & diamond rest. brunches.... Marchands has to work to do if it will be an elite brunch location in my book. 1st the only hot items were the omelette made to order and the "from the kitchen" brunch selections my server didn't tell me about but a temp. food prep person asked me had I tried.... The server didn't introduce this option upon seating & I had to ask her 15 minutes into my meal which drink selections are included... The shrimp was too salty... The short rib from the kitchen was burned... The food in general wasn't memorable... There were only a few dessert selections that were bland... The bus people left trays of food against both sides of the wall where I was sitting facing the wall the 1st 30 minutes of my meal.... I asked the waitress/ server when would they be moved & she told the bus person, "she wants you to move those".... Yes, I'm not impressed.. The pictures will show appetizing items but they weren't that special.
(3)
Heather H.
We are staying at the Vinoy and tried this place out of convenience...the food was too heavy and rich and also priced higher than necessary for the mediocre quality. We ordered the beef tenderloin with asparagus and sweet potato- and didn't expect it to be 4 small medallions of candied sweet potato, 4 stalks of asparagus and the filet all covered in a heavy creamy buttery sauce. Also ordered the Grouper which was hard to find- much less taste- buried in so much polenta, cornmeal crust, and heavy marinara sauce. No wonder it was empty in there on a Saturday night. . No dessert options on the menu really tempted us so we called it a night... #checkplease
(2)
Staci C.
Brunch was AMAZING. The homemade donuts are NOT to be missed!
(5)
S R.
I'm a regular here. My comments, from good to bad: Absolutely great cocktail/bar experience... all the bartenders are terrific but Bob is the best. Bar menu is great as well- start with the 99 cent kettle chips and any of the sliders... on certain nights made to order sushi is available and very good. A celebrity sighting is possible... ballers and other notables usually stay here when in the bay area, and can end up in the bar late night. Seated meals are a mixed bag: lunch is usually spot on, dinner can be great but sometimes inconsistent service on really busy nights, weekend breakfast buffet is weak - I'd order something off the menu.
(4)
Donald G.
The best! Food quality is superb. Our favorite place. Bob the bartender is fantastic.
(5)
Krystal A.
Delicious and "feelin' fancy" brunch. I loved it here!
(4)
Rebecca E.
I came back to St Petersburg for a quick weekend visit and had learned about the sushi on Tues-Sat here at Marchands. So I needed to try it. I made a 7pm reservation on a Saturday night. Marchands validates parking in the garage at the Vinoy, so I parked there and walked in. My friends and I were promptly and pleasantly greeted. The sushi menu has a great assortment and is hands down the best sushi I've ever had. The rolls are anywhere from $8-$20, which is typical for sushi. I wasn't sure what to expect considering it's a hotel restaurant and Marchands. The sushi chef Donnie, is fantastic. You must try his sushi menu!!! We saved minimal room for desert but had to orderthe caramel pecan bacon cheesecake. It's big enough to be shared and was fabulous. I will absolutely return! The food, the service, the atmosphere was all perfect.
(5)
Andrea R.
I've had the pleasure of eating both lunch and dinner at Marchand's and both meals were excellent. However, I've never had the pleasure of eating there for Sunday brunch. I got lucky and my mother and I decided Easter Sunday would be the right time to try it out. The ambiance and decor of Marchand's takes you back to the hotels glory days with its lovely usage of dark hard wood, tasteful lighting and a baby grand playing in the background. I loved it. The food was out of this world with everything I could have ever wanted for brunch including things I never knew I wanted. I tried something from every station: Imported cheeses and charcuterie, fresh fruit and yogurt, smoked salmon and bagels with all the accompaniments, various cold salads with grilled veggies galore, carving stations offering Lamb and ham with hot side dishes, and the most amazing chilled seafood bar I've seen with crab legs and claws and large steamed shrimp. Delicious! The dessert station was perfect for me as everything was bite sized allowing me to try quite a few things without needing a wheelbarrow. Truly a lovely top notch brunch and as its only once a year the $70 per person price tag can be overlooked.
(5)
Alex P.
When I age a bit more and get my AARP card, I could come to enjoy this place. $ 18.00 for 2 draft beers is a bit unnecessary. Best thing about the place was the ILLY coffee bar down the hall.
(3)
Andrew D.
Marchand's is a nice place in the Vinoy Renaissance Resort to have few drinks or a high class dinner. It's in a hotel folks, so it won't be cheap and it won't be great but you may get charged a gratuity charge (18%) if you're with a large group so make sure to inspect your check carefully. I came to Marchand's to take some coworkers and clients out to dinner while staying at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort. I went one night just for drinks, and another night for dinner. The atmosphere is very nice here and it seems to attract a pretty high end clientele. When I came for drinks, I decided to buy a round for a large party of guests next to me and was surprised to find an extra 18% gratuity charge on my bill after leaving a generous 20% tip ($100). A quick call (or two) to the manager the next day and the extra charge was removed but I thought it was a little sneaky and I didn't appreciate it. Lesson learned, just read your bill closer before tipping and signing. On my second visit, we seated 8 guests at two tables for dinner. I started with the beer-cheese soup which was presented well but was a bit bland. I ordered and received the Grouper entree while my table mates ordered everything from short ribs to the Ribeye steak to the filet minion. Upon receiving our dishes, I found the grouper to smell quite fishy (never good - not fresh) and was served on a bed of white polenta mush that made me feel like I was dining at a home for senior citizens. I explained to the waiter that I was not enjoying my meal and we both quickly decided that a new Filet Minion would fix the problem. 10 min later, I had my steak, which looked excellent but it was covered (I mean saturated) in peppercorns which were quite strong. After scaling off the peppercorn coating, I quite enjoyed my steak as it was cooked correctly (medium) and was quite flavorful. I did enjoy the steak, but seemed like a lot of concessions made for food this expensive. If I recall food ranged from $33-$48 with the filet at the top of the range. Add in the soup and it was about $60 for me alone. Should be top notch for that price. The food service was good, not great but good and the bread basket was a nice surprise with cornbread muffins and clumpy cheese biscuits. Very good. We ordered cappuccinos to finish our meal and received those pretty quickly. Overall it wasn't really bad (except for the Grouper dish) and my guests seemed to enjoy themselves, but with 400 beach club a block away, I'd take the walk and enjoy the filet + grilled crab legs for something really special. Marchand's is a typical Marriott restaurant where they aspire to be 5 star (and charge 5 star prices) but struggle with execution and some of the food (e.g. Not so fresh Grouper and a filet over seasoned with peppercorns). Why then 3 stars instead if four? Well, even though they did reverse the extra service charge on the drink bill (the first night) the manager was there that night and even claimed to know it was a mistake even after he personally added it to the tab. It felt a little like they were trying to take advantage of me and I really don't like it when people venture to be dishonest and you have to correct them. In the end they did do the right thing, but it was a little icky and just felt wrong. Therefore I am deducting an extra star for service due to this intentional misrepresentation approved by the manager. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either (for the money). I would not recommend the grouper under any circumstances. If you are bringing a large party for drinks (like I did on the first night) make sure you inspect the bill closely. You may find it surprising. I tip well, and this tab was about $600 (with tip). Adding an extra gratuity charge to checks like this is just unfair and is no way to care for your valued guests. Overall I give Marchand's 3 stars and hope the bar manager reads this and never tries to pull that trick on another customer again. It's just wrong.
(3)
Gerry I.
This is the first really good seafood I've had in st Pete. Fresh well prepared and not outrageously priced. I had the hogfish which was done to perfection and saved over a nice polenta. Well worth the price. Service is great too
(5)
Alise K.
Had dinner here last night and breakfast this morning. Not a fan for these reasons, inattentive service and mediocre food. We asked about the" secret " multi-course chef's prix fix meal. The waiter said" its a secret and you won't know what they are serving til it comes to the table" we weren't willing to take the chance. Our waiter last night for dinner was just plain terrible. He stated he had been there since 7 am. You could tell he was ready to go home.... The food last night was on the cold side ( including my squash bisque that I sent back to be warmed up) my entree was grilled salmon over wild rice and Brussel sprouts. Served Room temperature. The salmon was pretty tasteless. The best part was the 2 Brussel sprouts on the plate. My husband had the beet and arugula salad and he enjoyed it. His entree was the scallops, and although they were tasty, there were 4 small scallops on the plate. Not worth the $34 charge. Breakfast today was eggs Benedict with home fries and ham and eggs with home fries. The home fries were hard and un-edible. The eggs were average breakfast fare. Our waitress was attentive and friendly this morning. Obviously on top of her game.
I enjoy eating at Marchand's on a fairly regular basis; the atmosphere is relaxed, the staff is very attentive and friendly, and the food is consistently good. While I miss their weekend brunch buffets (now only available during holidays), the replacement menu is still a favorite, consisting of a "three for $32" selection of generously sized small plates, $7 all you can drink mimosas and a Bloody Mary bar - in addition to other items such as charcuterie plates of several portion sizes. The last time I ate there I had a rustic dish of red wine braised short rib with potato mash and carrots, a salad with goat cheese and a chocolate waffle with bacon jam - all very simple and tasty (and with good portion sizes) for $32. It's been a while since I've eaten dinner here, but the evening fare has been equally as good, with a halfway decent wine list too. Two thumbs up
(4)
Lynn V.
This restaurant is pretty and the service is very good but the food was disappointing in its execution. My cornmeal crusted red snapper was over cooked and the sauce was too bland. The sushi had way too much rice and the pieces were too big to eat comfortably
(2)
M S.
Had dinner tonight at Marchands. Food was not good at all. Ordered Florida lobster no flavor. And to make it worse the waitress did not seem to notice that only one bite was eaten. Didn't even ask how meal was. After much anticipated hype this was a real disappointment. Will not go back.
(1)
Ali C.
Best Brunch in the area. It is pricey, but worth it!! They have unlimited mimosa's for an extra $7 or a bloody mary bar (full bar available). They can easily accommodate groups and have two private rooms - reserve in advance. It would be easier to tell you what foods they don't have on this amazing brunch because the menu is so varied and extensive. I loved the antipasto table with fresh grilled veggies, pizza, pasta, cheeses, olives, etc. They have a sushi chef on hand making fresh rolls and the raw bar has crab legs, shrimp and today included a sea bass - yum! The bread table offers a huge assortment and 3-4 kinds of smoked/fresh fish and toppings. There is a carving station which today had ham and strip loin along with brisket short ribs - my table said they were succulent and they'd never had better. I liked the root vegetable mash. If you want an omelet or eggs made to order no problem, all the standard breakfast options are there along with eggs benedict. Fresh fruit, berries, granola, yogurt, cheeses take up an entire 8 ft table. In addition the waitress (we had Allie and Chelsea and they were fantastic) said they fresh make pancakes, waffles and french toast all we have to do is let them know. They explained that each week there are also special features that are made out of the kitchen and gave us a menu. I got the scallop over seaweed salad and I love that it was not sitting for a long time in a chaffing dish, but made fresh and made to order!! You don't get that too often on a brunch buffet. There was a man playing the baby grand piano and the manager explained that they are going to be having a harpist, violinist and saxophonist in future weeks. The atmosphere at The Vinoy overall is historical elegance with modern touches. The lobby has a Dale Chihuly glass piece that is beautiful. You will NOT leave hungry. Pick a special event or make one up and splurge
(5)
Marie L.
Was not impressed with Marchand's. I stopped here once during a 7 day stay at the Vinoy. I ordered the spinach and feta egg white omelet. It was cold, and runny. The potatoes were soaked in so much oil that they were inedible. I had to send the entire meal back, and I still had to pay $23 for it!!
(2)
Amy G.
Wow, I just experienced my first 1900 dinner special that they do nightly with wine pairing. The food was amazing! The Gazpacho was over the top fabulous and the chef added his own unique touches that were delicious. The entrees were wonderful - yum and beautifully presented. I give 5 stars to the chef not the person who buys the wine. The wine recommended with our meal was a bit too pedestrian for us so we ordered our own bottle. They have a decent wine selection; however, it does not do the food justice. We will definitely be back and will bring more friends since the price was a lot lower than we expected!
After reading the reviews many of which are very good with a few that are not, I thought I would have a fabulous meal. We went to dinner at Marchands Sunday, the atmosphere was very nice and the service was good. Unfortunately, the food was not very good. We order the chicken boudin and the frog leg appetizer. I've had chicken boudin in NOLA which I loved but this version was ok, a little on the dry side but flavor was good. As for the frog legs, the presentation was very interesting. I've had them a few times before but not served with the part of the body, usually just the legs. Neither one of us could eat them, the flavor was off, they just didn't taste good. The also had a weird odor and we weren't able to eat them. Now on to the dinners, we ordered farro stuffed rabbit and squab. The rabbit was pretty good but the beets were so hard I couldn't even get my fork in them without a serious effort. As for the Squad, it was really good and so was the broth/liquids it was in. The dumplings were really bad, cold and doughy. I mean like they were never cooked doughy. On a positive note the bread was awesome, loved the cranberry walnut grain bread and the wine was really good. I will go back once more to see if maybe it was just an off night and if so I will update the review.
(2)
Ken K.
This is a review for the 1925 offering at Marchand's. Be seated before 6:30 pm, and you get a price fix menu that includes 3 courses. I have had over 60 of my sales reps in for a national meeting, and the service and food quality was just as good as the other night... It doesn't disappoint, and the price for the 1925 offering is........$19.25....why? Because the hotel was founded in the year 1925...
(4)
Jim B.
Don't walk, run, for the sushi Tue-Sat. Thank you Laura and James for the excellent service and welcome.
(5)
John L.
09232013 + valet male very courteous when asked about availability of x2 restaurants for lunch and self-parking. + concierge male happy to inform and direct/walk us to restaurant options. + female hostess pleasant. + beautiful dining room and privacy. - male table attendant flat affect; had to ask for wine list. presented bread. +/- female waitress adequate. + delicious scallops. + ravioli tasty. - presented bill without asking if we wanted coffee/dessert. - expresso luke warm. - desert served least 5 minutes after coffee was served. Overall OK though. good enough for my birthday.
(3)
Chris H.
Wonderful breakfast & brunch. Late night bar menu is great. Love the sliders. Service a class act.
(5)
Katie C.
I was lucky enough to be invited to an amazing dining experience at The Renaissance Vinoy in St. Petersburg. Marchand's Bar & Grill has debuted their new Farm to Fork menu concept, and we had the pleasure of sampling the offerings! The weekly Farm to Fork menu showcases seasonal dishes with fresh and naturally raised meats, fish, and produce sourced from local farms. You have to appreciate the local touch and seasonal ingredients. On that evening, we were treated to the Chef's Surprise Tasting - a six course meal paired with wines. When the first official course arrived, I wanted to clap and cheer. A butcher block topped with a Croque Madame and a shooter of Silk Onion Soup was placed in front of us, and I could NOT wait to dig in. The croque madame was made with Mangalista ham, Georgia Red cheese, and was topped with a fried quail egg and sprouts. It was pretty as a picture, and tasted even more amazing. The first course was paired with Acrobat Pinot Noir - a personal favorite in our house - how lucky! Course two featured Golden Tile Fish. It was presented with romanesco cauliflower, a sunchoke hush puppy, and a rock shrimp nage. If you aren't familiar with tile fish, it is a mild white fish that is firm but tender, and low in fat! I absolutely loved this dish: the sunchoke hush puppy was a highlight aside from the fish...I could have eaten an entire plate filled with them! The tile fish was paired with Hahn SLH Estate Chardonnay - a medium bodied chardonnay with just a touch of oak and caramel flavors. The third course had a nice little surprise! It was Pork Cheek with Murcott Tangerine BBQ sauce, smoked bacon collard greens...and...what was that golden piece of goodness below? That would be fried macaroni and cheese, my friends.What a wonderful combo of decadent flavors in a beautifully presented bite! It was my first time trying fried macaroni and cheese...and I have to say that I was a fan. But, how could you not be? Paired with the sweet and salty flavor of the pork and barbeque sauce, it was wonderful. This course was paired with Trivento Amado Sur Malbec blend: Malbecs are a relatively new favorite of mine, and this one was memorably smooth to drink. Course four was back to fish. On our plates was a Key West Yellowtail Snapper on top of a chorizo black bean cake and yellow tomato vinaigrette. What an amazing flavor combo this was! The snapper is another lean white fish, this one is sweeter in flavor to the tile fish, with a firmer texture. It paired beautifully with the black bean cake (yum), and the presentation itself was almost too pretty to destroy. Our wine for this course was the Trivento Amado Sur Torrontes, which was a delicious pour. The Torrontes was a blend of chardonnay and viogner, and had a combination of floral and citrus flavors. The acidity really paired well with the course: I could definitely see myself ordering a glass or two of this wine again in the future. One really awesome thing about tasting menus (and just being a foodie in general) is getting to try new things, and this night was no exception. When the fifth course arrived, it was my first time tasting rabbit. We were served Braised Rabbit with crispy speck, savoy cabbage, gold creamer potato puree, and a Pinot Noir reduction. It was paired with Four Vines Old Vine Cuvee Zinfandel: definitely more full bodied, with hints of berries and spice. Let's not forget about dessert though. Our sixth and last course was a trio of mini, bite sized desserts, paired with Santa Margherita Brut Rose (hello perfection!). On the plate was Tiramisu, the caramel oatmeal pie, and a s'mores hazelnut ganache torte. Oh goodness. What an amazing dining experience. If you are in the St. Petersburg area, please consider taking an evening at The Vinoy in Marchand's Bar & Grill. It would be a perfect location for a celebration, or just a foodie's night out. From the locally sourced ingredients to the creative and beautiful presentation to the amazing flavors, the folks at Marchand's really hit it out of the park with this new Farm to Fork dinner concept! More details + pictures on my blog!
(5)
Melisa F.
As an ardent fan of the Vinoy Hotel itself, I am only writing this because we were so sadly disappointed with our food and service this past weekend. Although the menu looks creative and beyond delicious, it's of no use if your food comes out cold or you actually have to go searching for your wait staff . We dined for breakfast and also outside on the front porch of the hotel on two separate occasions over the weekend. It was obvious on both occasions that the wait staff was doing their absolute best, but truly couldn't keep up with the amount of people they were expected to wait on. In the beautiful dining room, my cappuccino came out WITHOUT coffee; My husband finally had to track someone down to replace it. Over half of the breakfasts served to us were cold, but by the time we got them we were starving AND no one came back to ask us how our meals actually were. Our outside dining was abysmal, also. It took 15 minutes for our first round of drinks to arrive... another 15 more for a side salad to be delivered. My suggestion - stay at the Vinoy, the hotel and its staff are fantastic. EAT and DRINK ELSEWHERE. Try The Hollander Hotel down the street ( hollanderhotel.com ). Although not as inventive a menu as the Vinoy, your food comes out hot, delicious, and the staff couldn't do more for you. Sorry, Marriott, you've disappointed us on this one.
(1)
Jane E.
Ok, just because I like this place so much, I went again for dessert and tea. The dessert was out of this world amazing. So good that I will have to say that it is one of my top favorite places for desserts. I got the blondie something and almost died of sheer happiness. I am going to diligently go every day to savor each dessert. As before the ambiance is so cozy and intimate and the service is top-notch.
(5)
Jennifer B.
Go local. Now more than ever, it's so important to support our local farmers. It's a cause I can stand behind and implore people to do the same. Let's support our local farmers and local businesses. When I was asked to attend a dinner debuting the new Farm-to-Fork menu at Marchand's Bar & Grill, I knew it would be right up my alley. Marchand's Bar & Grill is located inside the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in downtown St. Petersburg. This Farm-to-Fork menu is inspired by the seasonal ingredients from local farms. For each dish, I'm going to point out the local farm where the ingredients are from. Here is a list of the local farms that Marchand's has formed a relationship with: Mitchell's Natural Produce Glory Road Farms Pure Florida Apiary Worden Farm Geraldson Farms Seeley's Ark Pasture Prime Family Farm Hunsader Farm 3 Boy Farm Jones Potato Farm Watercress Farm Eco Farms Marchand's, just as I expected, provided us with a quality six course dinner with wine pairings. To begin, we were treated to a Florida Orange Mojito, shown the ballroom of the hotel with it's magnificent chandelier, heard some history of the hotel, learned how the hotel supports local artists and then we were lead to the Marchand's dining area. The first course ended up being my favorite of the night: the Mangalitsa "Croque Madame". This toasted treat had the perfect combination of, well, everything. This dish was absolute perfection. Made with ham, Georgia Red cheese, a fried quail egg and served on toasted brioche with a Silk Onion Soup Shooter on the side, I was so pleased. I ended up spreading the yolk over the bread and getting a taste of all of the components with each bite. It was a very, very grown up grilled ham and cheese sandwich, essentially. Wonderful textures, contrasting flavors that all worked very well together- I would drive all the way to Marchand's just for this dish (and I live a good 45 minutes away). The next dish was Tile Fish, something new to me. This plate featured Golden Tile fish, Romanesco cauliflower, Sun choke hush puppies and Rock Shrimp Nage. This fish, cooked with the skin, was flaky and tender, yet had some crunch from the skin. This dish is also low in fat, but it fooled me- that's how rich and flavorful it was. This next one was my second favorite of the evening. What else is better than pork and fried mac 'n cheese together? Nothing, I tell ya! The macaroni and cheese was fried crispy with traditional mac 'n cheese inside and served over smoked bacon collard greens, but the main highlight of the dish was the pork cheek, served in a Murcott Tangerine BBQ sauce, which reminded me of upscale asian cuisine. Tender and full of flavor, I savored each bite, willing more pork cheek to just keep coming out. Next up!: a Key West Yellowfin Snapper with a chorizo black bean cake and warm yellow tomato vinaigrette and olive oil. It may seem a little strange, but the vinaigrette was my favorite item on this plate. It was light and refreshing, making for a great pair. Our last course before dessert was Braised Rabbit with Savoy cabbage and Gold Creamer potato puree in a Pinot Noir reduction. Well, it's true: I've never tried rabbit. The thing I love most about being a food blogger, besides all of the wonderful people I get to meet, is that I'm forced to try new food. That's a good thing. Without that experience, I never would have discovered sushi, duck, deer, etc and now, rabbit. I loved the flavors of this dish, with the creaminess from the potatoes being the highlight in my eyes. The braised cabbage added just the right amount of crunch. With the night nearing to a close, it was time for dessert. We were presented with a trio: Tiramisu, Caramel Oatmeal Pie, Smores Hazelnut Ganache Torte. First, the tiramisu was very yummy. Second, the Caramel Oatmeal Pie was my favorite. Like eating an oatmeal cookie that just makes your mouth water, this pie was that but juicier. Third, I'm not a chocolate fan, but this torte had a graham cracker crust, beautiful lightly torched whipped cream, fruit and pieces of strawberry meringue.
(5)
Sylvester M.
Located in the historic Vinoy Hotel. Merchands lives up to the expectations that would be demanded of a restaurant in the grand Vinoy. Its always good, not cheap, but worth it.
(5)
Adam B.
We came here after visiting the Dali Museum (there's a discount, so save your museum receipt!) for a late lunch and had such a wonderful, relaxing time that it made me want to come back for a full dinner. It's a large room that overlooks the pool area on one side and some gardens on the other. There's a large central bar that looks like a hangout for Vinoy guests in the afternoon. The room is wide with high ceilings that give it a very airy feeling. The service was incredibly smooth and the lunch menu was absolutely delicious. I had the short rib burger, which was fantastic, with crisp fries and richly flavorful meat. Others in the party had the build-your-own burger and the steamed mussels and loved them both. I tasted the mussels and they were fantastic--plump with a delicious tomato-based broth. Our waiter told us they have a prix-fixe early dinner menu that's under $20 and if I hadn't had a flight, I would have seriously considered coming back. Side note: The hotel will valet-park you for free if you have restaurant reservations. The only downside I saw was that the restrooms are inconvenient--outside the restaurant and downstairs.
(5)
Robert K.
Breakfast : the lobster hash with poached eggs and tomato hollandaise sauce was excellent. One of the best breakfast meals I've ever had. Highly recommend it. Our waitress Lori was very attentive and personable.
(4)
Stuart S.
The atmosphere at the Marchand's is open, elegant, but not uncomfortably formal. The window view from our table, over the Vinoy park and basin was particularly pleasant. I ordered the Lamb Pasties, rustic in appearance, these (three) mini-shepard's pies were delicious. Roberta had the scallops with a somewhat unusual almond braise. The presentations were superb. The dessert, offered by the chef to Roberta on her birthday, were quite special and the waiter not obtrusive (always a plus!). As in the past, one may anticipate an excellent dinner here.
(5)
Tim J.
Rarely am I able to make it to brunch, so celebrated a weekend off by trying Marchand's Sunday brunch. First off, seven dollar all you "can" drink mimosa's are a great way to start off a relaxing Sunday. Like a first date, I wanted to take my time and feel everything out before committing to anything. I love the fact that the buffet was spread out so much, spanning almost all of the gigantic center of the room, with a large bar in the middle to break things up a bit. Logically, things were split into stations- fruit, meat and cheese (not so far to say charcuterie, but think along those lines), antipasti, omelette(bacon, eggs Benedict), seafood(including sushi), and a carving station. Such an eclectic mix at each of the stations as well. The fruits were beautiful and fresh, the antipasti was perfect to compliment some of the other dishes, and there was a previously unmentioned table that had obligatory smoked salmon and bagels that were good. The only table I felt that was under executed was the meat and cheese. They had four cheeses (blue, Brie, cheddar and havarti dill) and three meats. Pretty basic compared to the rest of the buffet and my expectations for here. The seafood table had perfectly cut in half chilled king crab, that were so good I forgot everything else aside from the sushi almost. There was however snow crab claws, shrimp cocktail, a cod dish over yellow rice, and a great chowder. The carving table had filet and mojo pork tenderloin. Oddly the had a chicken curry dish which was one of my favorite things there. The sweet and regular mashed potatoes were great also, and another standout was the steak and caramelized onion pizza. They also have a chef menu which they prepare fresh and bring out which was spectacular, a trio that this week was a giant blackened scallop over grits, a smoked and BBQ tilefish over pineapple salsa, and a goat cheese caprese salad. AND, for more traditional fare- pancakes, French toast and the like, you ask your server, and those are brought out as well, and though I am sure they are great, I can't attest to it personally as I already overindulged on what was out. Oh yeah, dessert l, how could I forget? They had a chef making hands down the best beignets I've ever had. I've had cafe du monde several times, and there is absolutely no comparison. These are rich, eggy, fluffy, and coated in cinnamon sugar which gives a nice crunch to them. All the desserts were awesome, and beautifully presented, even with a station for little ones to decorate their own gingerbread men with red and green frosting and an assortment of sprinkles. Service was great, as they silently waited for you to replenish, and would quickly fill mimosa's and take plates. The only thing I noticed is there was a plate of half eaten food that sat on the antipasti table the whole time I was there. I imagine they just didn't notice it as the table had 30 plates or so of random food, but a bagel with strawberry cream cheese smeared on it and half gone stuck out like a sore thumb to me. When you drop this kinda coin on breakfast, you expect perfection, and I feel it was worth every penny. I may have to start taking off a Sunday every few weeks just so I can get back here.
(5)
Thomas A.
This review is for the mind-bogglingly amazing, life-changing, spiritually rebirthing Sunday buffet . I have never experienced such outright debauchery. At 52.95 per person, sure, it's not cheap...but Marchand's DELIVERS and delivers PLENTY and more. It is worth every penny of the cost. We started early and opted for the 7.00 upgrade for "unlimited Mimosas" which start at 11am (when you are dropping 53 bucks for a buffet, 7.00 for unlimited drinks is an easy choice). The atmosphere is sleek and upscale for sure, with a brass placard at the entry stating "proper attire required". The server told us they only frown on "swimsuits and wife beaters"...everything else is cool. (I saw a couple teen girls in swimsuits under light wraps, and they were not hassled) There are various "stations" - each of which specializes in certain things...ALL of the food, every single item, is of TOP QUALITY and you can taste it in every bite. Every detail is accounted for. Each sauce has delightful added flavors and character which make you gasp with pleasure (I am not exaggerating). The seafood station has fresh sushi being made right there by a sushi chef...it includes rolls of various types, sashimi, and other artistic creations served in silver spoons which seem like something that might be served at the White House. Also included are huge fresh snow crab legs, pre-split and ready to gorge on. Shrimp, of course, as well as gumbo and several other ocean-related items. Everything perfectly presented and of immaculate quality. You can also order any egg or omelet dish you desire from your server, and it will be whipped up fresh by the cooks in back. I had the benedict and it was stellar. There's a pancake and waffle station, also manned by a cook. Also a "meat area" with bacon, sausage, cold salmon, cream cheese, any bread you can imagine. Yet another chef stands in the corner cutting beef galore at his station. A massive area in the center has grapes, cheeses, crackers and most any type of mediterranean sundry one might want. The dessert area has to be seen to be believed. A baffling array of pastries, cakes, cookies and pies which surely must rival the best I have EVER seen in my entire life. ALL are hand-made by the amazing pastry chef and crew at Marchands...Every thing I tried was bursting with "extra"...the cheesecake looked normal but turned out to be GINGER Cheesecake with real bits of candied ginger! Where you expect something to be one thing, you'd bite into it and find incredible flavors and surprises like some kind of Wonka wonderland! If you can swing it, this is a MUST for that special someone or occasion where you want to experience all that life has to offer. The best of the best. We spent almost 3 hours luxuriating over food and drink and felt like Roman Gods. Unforgettable! P.S. Parking is Valet only, but the restaurant valdates!
(5)
Stefanie P.
My husband and I went out for date night, first time since having children, we had tickets for a concert at Mahaffey Theater and decided to have dinner before the concert. The food and service were excellent. I ordered the chicken, which came out perfect, but way to much to eat. My husband had the grouper. We will be back.
(5)
Leslie F.
The Farm to Table movement has become increasingly popular throughout the country but most notably in big cuisine culture cities like San Francisco and Asheville. Thankfully, Tampa Bay has heard, noted and responded to the movement. Farm to table eateries have gradually been sprouting up around town and I couldn't be happier and hungrier for it. Enter Marchand's Bar and Grill at the Renaissance Vinoy in St Pete. As if this breathtakingly beautiful hotel wasn't desirable enough, there is now a restaurant serving strictly locally sourced food. This means from the seafood and land meat to the numerous fruits and veggies- every ingredient comes from local farms and fishermen. Even if you aren't a legitimate foodie, you have to appreciate supporting local businesses. By the time my chair was pushed in behind me, I was anxious to begin feasting on what would likely be a memorable meal. Although I usually resist bread before dinner, Marchands' doughy, cheesy goodness was too delectable to miss. Cheddar sourdough spread with sun-dried tomato butter was the best bread course I've ever had. However, I immediately regretted my carb chomping. First course was served: Croque Madame. Served on brioche and filled with a semi-soft cheese and meat from a humanely raised Georgia hog, this fancy sandwich was quite the little number. Topped with a fried quail egg and paired with a shooter of silk onion soup, I was in culinary bliss. Sipping on our first wine of the night, Acrobat Pinot Noir, I felt that everything was just too good to be true. Next on our forks was a Golden Tile fish with Romanesco Cauliflower, Sun chock hush puppies and Rock shrimp. The mild, white Golden Tile fish was impeccably cooked, showing off a crispy skin covering its moist flakiness. Throwing in a crispy hush puppy as well as a rare extra flowery cauliflower and you've got one incredible dish. Oh, and rock shrimp...I mean baby lobsters, well, those little beauties rule my food loving world. This delightful round of seafood was paired with a wonderful white- Hahn SLH Estate Chardonnay. Perfection. ***For the full review, visit: leslie-floyd.com/2013/03…
(5)
Greg B.
Our dinners took forever to arrive but the flounder was quite good. This place is noted for their wines and my Pinot noir was superb.
(3)
Mark D.
Great meal. Really fine service. Not my first time here, but haven't been in awhile. Still excellent. Great business venue, plenty of table privacy. Big restaurant.
(4)
Brian S.
What a difference a generation makes!!! The building is nice. Yes it has ambiance, and it appears to be clean and fairly comfortable. We had either arrived on a dead night, or past diners were eating elsewhere; the place was almost empty. The word pretend "pretentious" now comes to mind, as there is no basis for it in fact. The servers for our party had a sense of class equal to a poorly run Red Lobster; you can dress a chimpanzee in a tuxedo, but passing him off as a waiter is a much harder task. The kitchen was overwhelmed by our party of 12, and food was considerably overpriced for the locale. The online menu should either be defined as an example or maintained daily, as it did not match the ones that were presented and several people (writer included) were disappointed by the cheap substitutions. Marchand's is a nice place for young couples to go on a date to say they've experienced "fine dining". In its earliest days, the room was run by one Mr. Sterling who would fire servers if they left as much as a fingerprint on the glassware! Today is by NO means anywhere close to the fine dining services of the late 1920s; the new management should research the grand past of this facility and be ashamed. Trivia - in the olden days the (now demolished) seasonal servant's quarters were just across the street to the north. I would recommend this place to anyone staying IN the Vinoy for a nice sit-down dinner ... before going safely back to the room ... during a pouring rainstorm.
(2)
EJ P.
Excellent breakfast or brunch. Just go here for weekend breakfast or brunch. Very good service, lovely surroundings, 3-star food. You might want to call ahead and make a res.
(4)
Olivia D.
I was really pleasantly surprised by the breakfasts in this hotel restaurant. I was expecting overpriced mediocrity. But after having it, I'd call it expensive top-quality! So... it's still pricey. But so's everywhere else. On the upside, they have some interesting offerings and do good on the details. One morning, I had "lemon souffle pancakes" thinking souffle was just a fancy way of saying fluffy. But no, they were actually BEYOND normal fluffy. They were souFLUFFY!! Drizzled with a raspberry reduction, fresh raspberries and pinenuts... it was like gold. (They also had "lobster hash" on the b-fast menu which I found interesting, but didn't try) Another morning, I had some normal sounding breakfast. Something like "eggs with toast and sausage with home fries." Except that the home fries were no ordinary home fries. They were beautiful purple potato, sweet potato and normal yellow potato chunks fried and salted beautifully. The toast was also super thick... not like you get at your local grocery store, and slathered with butter. Each table had a selection of cute sized jelly jars, too. The kids' menu was better than I expected too. Granted, we only tried the chocolate chip pancakes... but damn they were good! And each kids' menu item comes with a bowl of fresh strawberries. The place itself is nice and airy and service is great. So all in all, good choice.
(4)
Janice R.
My friend and I went to try out the 1925 menu. It is a 3 course menu during an early bird hour. Course one. I choose the portobello mushroom soup. It was very good. And the way it was presented was very clever. The sever brought a bowl with just croutons and a few herbs to the table and placed it in front of me, then pouring the soup from an itty bitty copper pot. My friend had a caprese salad. Decoratively placed on the plate were mini herbs/greens, sliced grape and green tomatoes and mozzarella. Pretty good, but more so on the petty side. Course two. I chose the braised short ribs. It was very rich and flavorful. The portion size was plenty (took some home). I enjoyed the cheesy Polenta with it as well. My friend choose the Rock shrimp dish. When it came out, it looked like something anyone could have made. Lemon, parmesan cheese, and some really tiny shrimp. I don't know much about shrimp, but I thought rock shrimp were supposed to be big? Course Three: This by far was the biggest let down of the evening! I choose the strawberry crostata. It was just like a dried out danish or pastry from a Sam's Club platter. Not good. It was a huge let down. My friend got the chocolate brownie. This too was a let down! The brownie was not even warmed up. It was served with a raspberry sauce on the side...that was the only redeeming quality on the plate. Perhaps a BOGO sale was on in the dessert aisle at Sam's Club.
(2)
Tracy G.
Located inside the gorgeous Renaissance Vinoy in downtown St. Petersburg, Marchand's Bar & Grill is a restaurant that has captivated my taste buds since my first visit almost two years ago. I have been longing to return, and had the opportunity this past week. I went with friends to taste their new Farm to Fork menu which showcases seasonal dishes made with the freshest produce, naturally raised meats and fish produced from local farms. We started off with a savory duo of Mangalitsa "Croque Madame" (with Georgia Red, Fried Quail Egg) and a Silk Onion Soup Shooter. Served on a butcher block, it was a delicious way to begin our six-course meal. Deriving from a "croque-monsieur" (grilled ham and cheese sandwich originating from French cafès) a "croque madame" is a croque-monsieur served with a poached or fried egg on top. "Mangalista" is a curly-hair hog descended directly from wild boar populations. Thus, our ham came from Pasture Prime Family Farm in Summerfield, Florida. This was my first time tasting Georgia Red Cheese which is a semi-soft cow's milk cheese with a creamy, earthy flavor. The Silk Onion Shooter (made with Florida sweet onions) was just divine. I simply could not get enough of the Croque Madame. The ham and cheese melted together in perfect harmony on the toasted brioche and as I bit into it, the yolk from the egg blended with the ham and cheese and yielded pure yumminess. This would make a fantastic brunch item. With this, we enjoyed a glass of Acrobat Pinot Noir. Our second course was Golden Tilefish with Romanesco Cauliflower, Sunchoke Hush Puppies and Rock Shrimp Nage. I discovered tilefish when I first moved to Tampa while working at Bonefish Grill. Love at first bite, this fish won me over with its delicate texture and flavor similar to lobster. Our dish tonight was elegantly prepared with some items that were new to me, such as romanesco cauliflower (Worden Farm) which is a visually striking Italian vegetable. Almost a cross between broccoli and cauliflower, it yields a nuttier taste. Sunchoke was the other item I was unfamiliar with and it is also known as Jerusalem artichoke. Similar to a potato, it has a slightly sweeter taste and I really enjoyed it in the form of a hush puppy. Nestled underneath the tilefish were a few rockfish which were caught off the coast of Florida. This course was paired with Hahn SLH Estate Chardonnay. Next up was Pork Cheek with Murcott Tangerine BBQ, Fried Mac & Cheese and Smoked Bacon Collard Greens. As of lately, I have been obsessed with Southern cooking and this was an excellent combination of some of my favorite flavors. The gorgeous pork cheek rested atop a glorious ball of fried mac & cheese and as I dug into the fried piece of heaven, the smoked bacon collar greens (Hunsader Farm) were snuggled underneath. The plate was drizzled with a tangy tangerine BBQ sauce and I enjoyed dipping a fork full of everything into the succulent sauce. This would end up being my favorite course of the night and it was paired with Trivento Amado Sur, a Malbec Blend. This wine was fantastic! I was thoroughly impressed with everything so far and ready for the next course, which was Key West Yellow Tail Snapper atop a Chorizo Black Bean Cake with Warm Yellow Tomato Vinaigrette. This was a nice contrast of flavors, as I found the yellow tail to be mild and the chorizo black bean cake a tad spicy. The tomato vinaigrette beautifully blended the two flavors. This was served with the Trivento Amado Sur, Torrontes, which is a unique blend of Chardonnay and Viognier and perfect pair with seafood. We had one course left before dessert which was Braised Rabbit (Seelys Ark), Savoy Cabbage and Gold Creamer Potato Puree with a Pinot Noir Reduction. While rabbit is often gamey, I found this to be mild and with a hint of sweetness. I LOVED the potato puree (Jones Potato Farm) and the savoy cabbage. Paired with Four Vines Old Vine Cuvee Zinfandel, this was a great way to end our tasting menu before dessert. For the grand finale, we enjoyed a dessert trio of S'mores Hazelnut Ganache torte, Caramel Oatmeal Pie and Tiramisu. Since it was my birthday eve, they brought my dessert out with candles. The trio was fantastic and it was paired with what would be my favorite wine of the night, Santa Margarita Brut Rose. Hands down, this was the best birthday dinner I have had in years. Service was impeccable and I had a fabulous time. I am anxious to go back and explore more of this gorgeous establishment.
(5)
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Address :Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club,501 5th Ave NE
St. Petersburg, FL, 33701
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Valet, Garage, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Nick S.
I enjoyed brunch at the Vinoy in a celebration of my grandmother's 94th birthday. There is a very impressive make your own bloody mary bar with shrimp, sauces, beef jerky, bacon, spices etc. There are also fruit mixes for bellinis and mimosas. The monkey bread and pecan sticky buns are served in huge portions that can be shared family style. The menu has some interesting and unusual dishes to choose from. I was most tempted by the kobe burger, pork belly and poutine. My fries were very good and the burger was tasty. The chocolate cake we shared for dessert was rich and delicious. We also had some key lime and mango truffles. It was a fun meal. Execution of some ofnthe dishes wasn't quite perfect (one piece of my bacon was burnt for example, the lobster in the omelette my aunt had was grilled to a very tough texture, and some of the flavor profiles could be a bit more worked out) but it's definitely a grand ballroom and I would like to see it busier. There were some very nice touches and it's great to see the area's majestic and historic hotels active. Walking through the hotel is fun aslo. I don't like the carpeting, but the sitting nooks along the entry way and the porch have some lovely sitting areas with great decorations and design features. I wonder if the bloody mary bar might do better out there and a more traditional brunch in the dining area? At any rate, I had fun and our the waitress was gracious. It was great to get back to the Vinoy after very much enjoying the Yelp event they hosted!!! I hope to return again soon.
(4)Brian F.
Breakfast at Marchand's was superbe. One of the best eggs benedict's I've ever had and perfectly crisp and delicious bacon.
(5)Lynette D.
I have been to many resort & diamond rest. brunches.... Marchands has to work to do if it will be an elite brunch location in my book. 1st the only hot items were the omelette made to order and the "from the kitchen" brunch selections my server didn't tell me about but a temp. food prep person asked me had I tried.... The server didn't introduce this option upon seating & I had to ask her 15 minutes into my meal which drink selections are included... The shrimp was too salty... The short rib from the kitchen was burned... The food in general wasn't memorable... There were only a few dessert selections that were bland... The bus people left trays of food against both sides of the wall where I was sitting facing the wall the 1st 30 minutes of my meal.... I asked the waitress/ server when would they be moved & she told the bus person, "she wants you to move those".... Yes, I'm not impressed.. The pictures will show appetizing items but they weren't that special.
(3)Heather H.
We are staying at the Vinoy and tried this place out of convenience...the food was too heavy and rich and also priced higher than necessary for the mediocre quality. We ordered the beef tenderloin with asparagus and sweet potato- and didn't expect it to be 4 small medallions of candied sweet potato, 4 stalks of asparagus and the filet all covered in a heavy creamy buttery sauce. Also ordered the Grouper which was hard to find- much less taste- buried in so much polenta, cornmeal crust, and heavy marinara sauce. No wonder it was empty in there on a Saturday night. . No dessert options on the menu really tempted us so we called it a night... #checkplease
(2)Staci C.
Brunch was AMAZING. The homemade donuts are NOT to be missed!
(5)S R.
I'm a regular here. My comments, from good to bad: Absolutely great cocktail/bar experience... all the bartenders are terrific but Bob is the best. Bar menu is great as well- start with the 99 cent kettle chips and any of the sliders... on certain nights made to order sushi is available and very good. A celebrity sighting is possible... ballers and other notables usually stay here when in the bay area, and can end up in the bar late night. Seated meals are a mixed bag: lunch is usually spot on, dinner can be great but sometimes inconsistent service on really busy nights, weekend breakfast buffet is weak - I'd order something off the menu.
(4)Donald G.
The best! Food quality is superb. Our favorite place. Bob the bartender is fantastic.
(5)Krystal A.
Delicious and "feelin' fancy" brunch. I loved it here!
(4)Rebecca E.
I came back to St Petersburg for a quick weekend visit and had learned about the sushi on Tues-Sat here at Marchands. So I needed to try it. I made a 7pm reservation on a Saturday night. Marchands validates parking in the garage at the Vinoy, so I parked there and walked in. My friends and I were promptly and pleasantly greeted. The sushi menu has a great assortment and is hands down the best sushi I've ever had. The rolls are anywhere from $8-$20, which is typical for sushi. I wasn't sure what to expect considering it's a hotel restaurant and Marchands. The sushi chef Donnie, is fantastic. You must try his sushi menu!!! We saved minimal room for desert but had to orderthe caramel pecan bacon cheesecake. It's big enough to be shared and was fabulous. I will absolutely return! The food, the service, the atmosphere was all perfect.
(5)Andrea R.
I've had the pleasure of eating both lunch and dinner at Marchand's and both meals were excellent. However, I've never had the pleasure of eating there for Sunday brunch. I got lucky and my mother and I decided Easter Sunday would be the right time to try it out. The ambiance and decor of Marchand's takes you back to the hotels glory days with its lovely usage of dark hard wood, tasteful lighting and a baby grand playing in the background. I loved it. The food was out of this world with everything I could have ever wanted for brunch including things I never knew I wanted. I tried something from every station: Imported cheeses and charcuterie, fresh fruit and yogurt, smoked salmon and bagels with all the accompaniments, various cold salads with grilled veggies galore, carving stations offering Lamb and ham with hot side dishes, and the most amazing chilled seafood bar I've seen with crab legs and claws and large steamed shrimp. Delicious! The dessert station was perfect for me as everything was bite sized allowing me to try quite a few things without needing a wheelbarrow. Truly a lovely top notch brunch and as its only once a year the $70 per person price tag can be overlooked.
(5)Alex P.
When I age a bit more and get my AARP card, I could come to enjoy this place. $ 18.00 for 2 draft beers is a bit unnecessary. Best thing about the place was the ILLY coffee bar down the hall.
(3)Andrew D.
Marchand's is a nice place in the Vinoy Renaissance Resort to have few drinks or a high class dinner. It's in a hotel folks, so it won't be cheap and it won't be great but you may get charged a gratuity charge (18%) if you're with a large group so make sure to inspect your check carefully. I came to Marchand's to take some coworkers and clients out to dinner while staying at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort. I went one night just for drinks, and another night for dinner. The atmosphere is very nice here and it seems to attract a pretty high end clientele. When I came for drinks, I decided to buy a round for a large party of guests next to me and was surprised to find an extra 18% gratuity charge on my bill after leaving a generous 20% tip ($100). A quick call (or two) to the manager the next day and the extra charge was removed but I thought it was a little sneaky and I didn't appreciate it. Lesson learned, just read your bill closer before tipping and signing. On my second visit, we seated 8 guests at two tables for dinner. I started with the beer-cheese soup which was presented well but was a bit bland. I ordered and received the Grouper entree while my table mates ordered everything from short ribs to the Ribeye steak to the filet minion. Upon receiving our dishes, I found the grouper to smell quite fishy (never good - not fresh) and was served on a bed of white polenta mush that made me feel like I was dining at a home for senior citizens. I explained to the waiter that I was not enjoying my meal and we both quickly decided that a new Filet Minion would fix the problem. 10 min later, I had my steak, which looked excellent but it was covered (I mean saturated) in peppercorns which were quite strong. After scaling off the peppercorn coating, I quite enjoyed my steak as it was cooked correctly (medium) and was quite flavorful. I did enjoy the steak, but seemed like a lot of concessions made for food this expensive. If I recall food ranged from $33-$48 with the filet at the top of the range. Add in the soup and it was about $60 for me alone. Should be top notch for that price. The food service was good, not great but good and the bread basket was a nice surprise with cornbread muffins and clumpy cheese biscuits. Very good. We ordered cappuccinos to finish our meal and received those pretty quickly. Overall it wasn't really bad (except for the Grouper dish) and my guests seemed to enjoy themselves, but with 400 beach club a block away, I'd take the walk and enjoy the filet + grilled crab legs for something really special. Marchand's is a typical Marriott restaurant where they aspire to be 5 star (and charge 5 star prices) but struggle with execution and some of the food (e.g. Not so fresh Grouper and a filet over seasoned with peppercorns). Why then 3 stars instead if four? Well, even though they did reverse the extra service charge on the drink bill (the first night) the manager was there that night and even claimed to know it was a mistake even after he personally added it to the tab. It felt a little like they were trying to take advantage of me and I really don't like it when people venture to be dishonest and you have to correct them. In the end they did do the right thing, but it was a little icky and just felt wrong. Therefore I am deducting an extra star for service due to this intentional misrepresentation approved by the manager. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either (for the money). I would not recommend the grouper under any circumstances. If you are bringing a large party for drinks (like I did on the first night) make sure you inspect the bill closely. You may find it surprising. I tip well, and this tab was about $600 (with tip). Adding an extra gratuity charge to checks like this is just unfair and is no way to care for your valued guests. Overall I give Marchand's 3 stars and hope the bar manager reads this and never tries to pull that trick on another customer again. It's just wrong.
(3)Gerry I.
This is the first really good seafood I've had in st Pete. Fresh well prepared and not outrageously priced. I had the hogfish which was done to perfection and saved over a nice polenta. Well worth the price. Service is great too
(5)Alise K.
Had dinner here last night and breakfast this morning. Not a fan for these reasons, inattentive service and mediocre food. We asked about the" secret " multi-course chef's prix fix meal. The waiter said" its a secret and you won't know what they are serving til it comes to the table" we weren't willing to take the chance. Our waiter last night for dinner was just plain terrible. He stated he had been there since 7 am. You could tell he was ready to go home.... The food last night was on the cold side ( including my squash bisque that I sent back to be warmed up) my entree was grilled salmon over wild rice and Brussel sprouts. Served Room temperature. The salmon was pretty tasteless. The best part was the 2 Brussel sprouts on the plate. My husband had the beet and arugula salad and he enjoyed it. His entree was the scallops, and although they were tasty, there were 4 small scallops on the plate. Not worth the $34 charge. Breakfast today was eggs Benedict with home fries and ham and eggs with home fries. The home fries were hard and un-edible. The eggs were average breakfast fare. Our waitress was attentive and friendly this morning. Obviously on top of her game.
(2)Travis S.
Exquisite is the best word I can describe for this posh cuisine. Everything from lunch to dinner and all the way to Sunday morning brunch it is all out of this world. Lunch they have some nice selections from grouper sandwiches to lobster grilled cheese. Dinner they have more fancy meals with some amazing entrées. Brunch is my all time favorite type of meal and this brunch is the best on this side of Florida! Everything melts in your mouth and they have a very wide range of what they have on the buffet style brunch. From seafood to meat to pastries everything is awesome!! They normally have a special musical guest playing the piano so it's a very posh environment.
(5)Laura R.
I enjoy eating at Marchand's on a fairly regular basis; the atmosphere is relaxed, the staff is very attentive and friendly, and the food is consistently good. While I miss their weekend brunch buffets (now only available during holidays), the replacement menu is still a favorite, consisting of a "three for $32" selection of generously sized small plates, $7 all you can drink mimosas and a Bloody Mary bar - in addition to other items such as charcuterie plates of several portion sizes. The last time I ate there I had a rustic dish of red wine braised short rib with potato mash and carrots, a salad with goat cheese and a chocolate waffle with bacon jam - all very simple and tasty (and with good portion sizes) for $32. It's been a while since I've eaten dinner here, but the evening fare has been equally as good, with a halfway decent wine list too. Two thumbs up
(4)Lynn V.
This restaurant is pretty and the service is very good but the food was disappointing in its execution. My cornmeal crusted red snapper was over cooked and the sauce was too bland. The sushi had way too much rice and the pieces were too big to eat comfortably
(2)M S.
Had dinner tonight at Marchands. Food was not good at all. Ordered Florida lobster no flavor. And to make it worse the waitress did not seem to notice that only one bite was eaten. Didn't even ask how meal was. After much anticipated hype this was a real disappointment. Will not go back.
(1)Ali C.
Best Brunch in the area. It is pricey, but worth it!! They have unlimited mimosa's for an extra $7 or a bloody mary bar (full bar available). They can easily accommodate groups and have two private rooms - reserve in advance. It would be easier to tell you what foods they don't have on this amazing brunch because the menu is so varied and extensive. I loved the antipasto table with fresh grilled veggies, pizza, pasta, cheeses, olives, etc. They have a sushi chef on hand making fresh rolls and the raw bar has crab legs, shrimp and today included a sea bass - yum! The bread table offers a huge assortment and 3-4 kinds of smoked/fresh fish and toppings. There is a carving station which today had ham and strip loin along with brisket short ribs - my table said they were succulent and they'd never had better. I liked the root vegetable mash. If you want an omelet or eggs made to order no problem, all the standard breakfast options are there along with eggs benedict. Fresh fruit, berries, granola, yogurt, cheeses take up an entire 8 ft table. In addition the waitress (we had Allie and Chelsea and they were fantastic) said they fresh make pancakes, waffles and french toast all we have to do is let them know. They explained that each week there are also special features that are made out of the kitchen and gave us a menu. I got the scallop over seaweed salad and I love that it was not sitting for a long time in a chaffing dish, but made fresh and made to order!! You don't get that too often on a brunch buffet. There was a man playing the baby grand piano and the manager explained that they are going to be having a harpist, violinist and saxophonist in future weeks. The atmosphere at The Vinoy overall is historical elegance with modern touches. The lobby has a Dale Chihuly glass piece that is beautiful. You will NOT leave hungry. Pick a special event or make one up and splurge
(5)Marie L.
Was not impressed with Marchand's. I stopped here once during a 7 day stay at the Vinoy. I ordered the spinach and feta egg white omelet. It was cold, and runny. The potatoes were soaked in so much oil that they were inedible. I had to send the entire meal back, and I still had to pay $23 for it!!
(2)Amy G.
Wow, I just experienced my first 1900 dinner special that they do nightly with wine pairing. The food was amazing! The Gazpacho was over the top fabulous and the chef added his own unique touches that were delicious. The entrees were wonderful - yum and beautifully presented. I give 5 stars to the chef not the person who buys the wine. The wine recommended with our meal was a bit too pedestrian for us so we ordered our own bottle. They have a decent wine selection; however, it does not do the food justice. We will definitely be back and will bring more friends since the price was a lot lower than we expected!
(5)Kelleigh M.
This evening we held a business meeting at Marchands. The environment is inviting and the staff is impeccably trained. We had our function in the private room to the right. There was live music this evening, which made it quite difficult to hear the presentation. Also the room we were on butted up to the hostess desk and oddly enough we could hear all of their conversations. The food was good but not phenomenal. My salmon was a little undercooked although I did enjoy the fresh leeks and potato purée. The salted caramel cheesecake was a nice finish. I'd like to try them again and see how their brunch is presented.
(3)Dorene M.
After reading the reviews many of which are very good with a few that are not, I thought I would have a fabulous meal. We went to dinner at Marchands Sunday, the atmosphere was very nice and the service was good. Unfortunately, the food was not very good. We order the chicken boudin and the frog leg appetizer. I've had chicken boudin in NOLA which I loved but this version was ok, a little on the dry side but flavor was good. As for the frog legs, the presentation was very interesting. I've had them a few times before but not served with the part of the body, usually just the legs. Neither one of us could eat them, the flavor was off, they just didn't taste good. The also had a weird odor and we weren't able to eat them. Now on to the dinners, we ordered farro stuffed rabbit and squab. The rabbit was pretty good but the beets were so hard I couldn't even get my fork in them without a serious effort. As for the Squad, it was really good and so was the broth/liquids it was in. The dumplings were really bad, cold and doughy. I mean like they were never cooked doughy. On a positive note the bread was awesome, loved the cranberry walnut grain bread and the wine was really good. I will go back once more to see if maybe it was just an off night and if so I will update the review.
(2)Ken K.
This is a review for the 1925 offering at Marchand's. Be seated before 6:30 pm, and you get a price fix menu that includes 3 courses. I have had over 60 of my sales reps in for a national meeting, and the service and food quality was just as good as the other night... It doesn't disappoint, and the price for the 1925 offering is........$19.25....why? Because the hotel was founded in the year 1925...
(4)Jim B.
Don't walk, run, for the sushi Tue-Sat. Thank you Laura and James for the excellent service and welcome.
(5)John L.
09232013 + valet male very courteous when asked about availability of x2 restaurants for lunch and self-parking. + concierge male happy to inform and direct/walk us to restaurant options. + female hostess pleasant. + beautiful dining room and privacy. - male table attendant flat affect; had to ask for wine list. presented bread. +/- female waitress adequate. + delicious scallops. + ravioli tasty. - presented bill without asking if we wanted coffee/dessert. - expresso luke warm. - desert served least 5 minutes after coffee was served. Overall OK though. good enough for my birthday.
(3)Chris H.
Wonderful breakfast & brunch. Late night bar menu is great. Love the sliders. Service a class act.
(5)Katie C.
I was lucky enough to be invited to an amazing dining experience at The Renaissance Vinoy in St. Petersburg. Marchand's Bar & Grill has debuted their new Farm to Fork menu concept, and we had the pleasure of sampling the offerings! The weekly Farm to Fork menu showcases seasonal dishes with fresh and naturally raised meats, fish, and produce sourced from local farms. You have to appreciate the local touch and seasonal ingredients. On that evening, we were treated to the Chef's Surprise Tasting - a six course meal paired with wines. When the first official course arrived, I wanted to clap and cheer. A butcher block topped with a Croque Madame and a shooter of Silk Onion Soup was placed in front of us, and I could NOT wait to dig in. The croque madame was made with Mangalista ham, Georgia Red cheese, and was topped with a fried quail egg and sprouts. It was pretty as a picture, and tasted even more amazing. The first course was paired with Acrobat Pinot Noir - a personal favorite in our house - how lucky! Course two featured Golden Tile Fish. It was presented with romanesco cauliflower, a sunchoke hush puppy, and a rock shrimp nage. If you aren't familiar with tile fish, it is a mild white fish that is firm but tender, and low in fat! I absolutely loved this dish: the sunchoke hush puppy was a highlight aside from the fish...I could have eaten an entire plate filled with them! The tile fish was paired with Hahn SLH Estate Chardonnay - a medium bodied chardonnay with just a touch of oak and caramel flavors. The third course had a nice little surprise! It was Pork Cheek with Murcott Tangerine BBQ sauce, smoked bacon collard greens...and...what was that golden piece of goodness below? That would be fried macaroni and cheese, my friends.What a wonderful combo of decadent flavors in a beautifully presented bite! It was my first time trying fried macaroni and cheese...and I have to say that I was a fan. But, how could you not be? Paired with the sweet and salty flavor of the pork and barbeque sauce, it was wonderful. This course was paired with Trivento Amado Sur Malbec blend: Malbecs are a relatively new favorite of mine, and this one was memorably smooth to drink. Course four was back to fish. On our plates was a Key West Yellowtail Snapper on top of a chorizo black bean cake and yellow tomato vinaigrette. What an amazing flavor combo this was! The snapper is another lean white fish, this one is sweeter in flavor to the tile fish, with a firmer texture. It paired beautifully with the black bean cake (yum), and the presentation itself was almost too pretty to destroy. Our wine for this course was the Trivento Amado Sur Torrontes, which was a delicious pour. The Torrontes was a blend of chardonnay and viogner, and had a combination of floral and citrus flavors. The acidity really paired well with the course: I could definitely see myself ordering a glass or two of this wine again in the future. One really awesome thing about tasting menus (and just being a foodie in general) is getting to try new things, and this night was no exception. When the fifth course arrived, it was my first time tasting rabbit. We were served Braised Rabbit with crispy speck, savoy cabbage, gold creamer potato puree, and a Pinot Noir reduction. It was paired with Four Vines Old Vine Cuvee Zinfandel: definitely more full bodied, with hints of berries and spice. Let's not forget about dessert though. Our sixth and last course was a trio of mini, bite sized desserts, paired with Santa Margherita Brut Rose (hello perfection!). On the plate was Tiramisu, the caramel oatmeal pie, and a s'mores hazelnut ganache torte. Oh goodness. What an amazing dining experience. If you are in the St. Petersburg area, please consider taking an evening at The Vinoy in Marchand's Bar & Grill. It would be a perfect location for a celebration, or just a foodie's night out. From the locally sourced ingredients to the creative and beautiful presentation to the amazing flavors, the folks at Marchand's really hit it out of the park with this new Farm to Fork dinner concept! More details + pictures on my blog!
(5)Melisa F.
As an ardent fan of the Vinoy Hotel itself, I am only writing this because we were so sadly disappointed with our food and service this past weekend. Although the menu looks creative and beyond delicious, it's of no use if your food comes out cold or you actually have to go searching for your wait staff . We dined for breakfast and also outside on the front porch of the hotel on two separate occasions over the weekend. It was obvious on both occasions that the wait staff was doing their absolute best, but truly couldn't keep up with the amount of people they were expected to wait on. In the beautiful dining room, my cappuccino came out WITHOUT coffee; My husband finally had to track someone down to replace it. Over half of the breakfasts served to us were cold, but by the time we got them we were starving AND no one came back to ask us how our meals actually were. Our outside dining was abysmal, also. It took 15 minutes for our first round of drinks to arrive... another 15 more for a side salad to be delivered. My suggestion - stay at the Vinoy, the hotel and its staff are fantastic. EAT and DRINK ELSEWHERE. Try The Hollander Hotel down the street ( hollanderhotel.com ). Although not as inventive a menu as the Vinoy, your food comes out hot, delicious, and the staff couldn't do more for you. Sorry, Marriott, you've disappointed us on this one.
(1)Jane E.
Ok, just because I like this place so much, I went again for dessert and tea. The dessert was out of this world amazing. So good that I will have to say that it is one of my top favorite places for desserts. I got the blondie something and almost died of sheer happiness. I am going to diligently go every day to savor each dessert. As before the ambiance is so cozy and intimate and the service is top-notch.
(5)Jennifer B.
Go local. Now more than ever, it's so important to support our local farmers. It's a cause I can stand behind and implore people to do the same. Let's support our local farmers and local businesses. When I was asked to attend a dinner debuting the new Farm-to-Fork menu at Marchand's Bar & Grill, I knew it would be right up my alley. Marchand's Bar & Grill is located inside the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in downtown St. Petersburg. This Farm-to-Fork menu is inspired by the seasonal ingredients from local farms. For each dish, I'm going to point out the local farm where the ingredients are from. Here is a list of the local farms that Marchand's has formed a relationship with: Mitchell's Natural Produce Glory Road Farms Pure Florida Apiary Worden Farm Geraldson Farms Seeley's Ark Pasture Prime Family Farm Hunsader Farm 3 Boy Farm Jones Potato Farm Watercress Farm Eco Farms Marchand's, just as I expected, provided us with a quality six course dinner with wine pairings. To begin, we were treated to a Florida Orange Mojito, shown the ballroom of the hotel with it's magnificent chandelier, heard some history of the hotel, learned how the hotel supports local artists and then we were lead to the Marchand's dining area. The first course ended up being my favorite of the night: the Mangalitsa "Croque Madame". This toasted treat had the perfect combination of, well, everything. This dish was absolute perfection. Made with ham, Georgia Red cheese, a fried quail egg and served on toasted brioche with a Silk Onion Soup Shooter on the side, I was so pleased. I ended up spreading the yolk over the bread and getting a taste of all of the components with each bite. It was a very, very grown up grilled ham and cheese sandwich, essentially. Wonderful textures, contrasting flavors that all worked very well together- I would drive all the way to Marchand's just for this dish (and I live a good 45 minutes away). The next dish was Tile Fish, something new to me. This plate featured Golden Tile fish, Romanesco cauliflower, Sun choke hush puppies and Rock Shrimp Nage. This fish, cooked with the skin, was flaky and tender, yet had some crunch from the skin. This dish is also low in fat, but it fooled me- that's how rich and flavorful it was. This next one was my second favorite of the evening. What else is better than pork and fried mac 'n cheese together? Nothing, I tell ya! The macaroni and cheese was fried crispy with traditional mac 'n cheese inside and served over smoked bacon collard greens, but the main highlight of the dish was the pork cheek, served in a Murcott Tangerine BBQ sauce, which reminded me of upscale asian cuisine. Tender and full of flavor, I savored each bite, willing more pork cheek to just keep coming out. Next up!: a Key West Yellowfin Snapper with a chorizo black bean cake and warm yellow tomato vinaigrette and olive oil. It may seem a little strange, but the vinaigrette was my favorite item on this plate. It was light and refreshing, making for a great pair. Our last course before dessert was Braised Rabbit with Savoy cabbage and Gold Creamer potato puree in a Pinot Noir reduction. Well, it's true: I've never tried rabbit. The thing I love most about being a food blogger, besides all of the wonderful people I get to meet, is that I'm forced to try new food. That's a good thing. Without that experience, I never would have discovered sushi, duck, deer, etc and now, rabbit. I loved the flavors of this dish, with the creaminess from the potatoes being the highlight in my eyes. The braised cabbage added just the right amount of crunch. With the night nearing to a close, it was time for dessert. We were presented with a trio: Tiramisu, Caramel Oatmeal Pie, Smores Hazelnut Ganache Torte. First, the tiramisu was very yummy. Second, the Caramel Oatmeal Pie was my favorite. Like eating an oatmeal cookie that just makes your mouth water, this pie was that but juicier. Third, I'm not a chocolate fan, but this torte had a graham cracker crust, beautiful lightly torched whipped cream, fruit and pieces of strawberry meringue.
(5)Sylvester M.
Located in the historic Vinoy Hotel. Merchands lives up to the expectations that would be demanded of a restaurant in the grand Vinoy. Its always good, not cheap, but worth it.
(5)Adam B.
We came here after visiting the Dali Museum (there's a discount, so save your museum receipt!) for a late lunch and had such a wonderful, relaxing time that it made me want to come back for a full dinner. It's a large room that overlooks the pool area on one side and some gardens on the other. There's a large central bar that looks like a hangout for Vinoy guests in the afternoon. The room is wide with high ceilings that give it a very airy feeling. The service was incredibly smooth and the lunch menu was absolutely delicious. I had the short rib burger, which was fantastic, with crisp fries and richly flavorful meat. Others in the party had the build-your-own burger and the steamed mussels and loved them both. I tasted the mussels and they were fantastic--plump with a delicious tomato-based broth. Our waiter told us they have a prix-fixe early dinner menu that's under $20 and if I hadn't had a flight, I would have seriously considered coming back. Side note: The hotel will valet-park you for free if you have restaurant reservations. The only downside I saw was that the restrooms are inconvenient--outside the restaurant and downstairs.
(5)Robert K.
Breakfast : the lobster hash with poached eggs and tomato hollandaise sauce was excellent. One of the best breakfast meals I've ever had. Highly recommend it. Our waitress Lori was very attentive and personable.
(4)Stuart S.
The atmosphere at the Marchand's is open, elegant, but not uncomfortably formal. The window view from our table, over the Vinoy park and basin was particularly pleasant. I ordered the Lamb Pasties, rustic in appearance, these (three) mini-shepard's pies were delicious. Roberta had the scallops with a somewhat unusual almond braise. The presentations were superb. The dessert, offered by the chef to Roberta on her birthday, were quite special and the waiter not obtrusive (always a plus!). As in the past, one may anticipate an excellent dinner here.
(5)Tim J.
Rarely am I able to make it to brunch, so celebrated a weekend off by trying Marchand's Sunday brunch. First off, seven dollar all you "can" drink mimosa's are a great way to start off a relaxing Sunday. Like a first date, I wanted to take my time and feel everything out before committing to anything. I love the fact that the buffet was spread out so much, spanning almost all of the gigantic center of the room, with a large bar in the middle to break things up a bit. Logically, things were split into stations- fruit, meat and cheese (not so far to say charcuterie, but think along those lines), antipasti, omelette(bacon, eggs Benedict), seafood(including sushi), and a carving station. Such an eclectic mix at each of the stations as well. The fruits were beautiful and fresh, the antipasti was perfect to compliment some of the other dishes, and there was a previously unmentioned table that had obligatory smoked salmon and bagels that were good. The only table I felt that was under executed was the meat and cheese. They had four cheeses (blue, Brie, cheddar and havarti dill) and three meats. Pretty basic compared to the rest of the buffet and my expectations for here. The seafood table had perfectly cut in half chilled king crab, that were so good I forgot everything else aside from the sushi almost. There was however snow crab claws, shrimp cocktail, a cod dish over yellow rice, and a great chowder. The carving table had filet and mojo pork tenderloin. Oddly the had a chicken curry dish which was one of my favorite things there. The sweet and regular mashed potatoes were great also, and another standout was the steak and caramelized onion pizza. They also have a chef menu which they prepare fresh and bring out which was spectacular, a trio that this week was a giant blackened scallop over grits, a smoked and BBQ tilefish over pineapple salsa, and a goat cheese caprese salad. AND, for more traditional fare- pancakes, French toast and the like, you ask your server, and those are brought out as well, and though I am sure they are great, I can't attest to it personally as I already overindulged on what was out. Oh yeah, dessert l, how could I forget? They had a chef making hands down the best beignets I've ever had. I've had cafe du monde several times, and there is absolutely no comparison. These are rich, eggy, fluffy, and coated in cinnamon sugar which gives a nice crunch to them. All the desserts were awesome, and beautifully presented, even with a station for little ones to decorate their own gingerbread men with red and green frosting and an assortment of sprinkles. Service was great, as they silently waited for you to replenish, and would quickly fill mimosa's and take plates. The only thing I noticed is there was a plate of half eaten food that sat on the antipasti table the whole time I was there. I imagine they just didn't notice it as the table had 30 plates or so of random food, but a bagel with strawberry cream cheese smeared on it and half gone stuck out like a sore thumb to me. When you drop this kinda coin on breakfast, you expect perfection, and I feel it was worth every penny. I may have to start taking off a Sunday every few weeks just so I can get back here.
(5)Thomas A.
This review is for the mind-bogglingly amazing, life-changing, spiritually rebirthing Sunday buffet . I have never experienced such outright debauchery. At 52.95 per person, sure, it's not cheap...but Marchand's DELIVERS and delivers PLENTY and more. It is worth every penny of the cost. We started early and opted for the 7.00 upgrade for "unlimited Mimosas" which start at 11am (when you are dropping 53 bucks for a buffet, 7.00 for unlimited drinks is an easy choice). The atmosphere is sleek and upscale for sure, with a brass placard at the entry stating "proper attire required". The server told us they only frown on "swimsuits and wife beaters"...everything else is cool. (I saw a couple teen girls in swimsuits under light wraps, and they were not hassled) There are various "stations" - each of which specializes in certain things...ALL of the food, every single item, is of TOP QUALITY and you can taste it in every bite. Every detail is accounted for. Each sauce has delightful added flavors and character which make you gasp with pleasure (I am not exaggerating). The seafood station has fresh sushi being made right there by a sushi chef...it includes rolls of various types, sashimi, and other artistic creations served in silver spoons which seem like something that might be served at the White House. Also included are huge fresh snow crab legs, pre-split and ready to gorge on. Shrimp, of course, as well as gumbo and several other ocean-related items. Everything perfectly presented and of immaculate quality. You can also order any egg or omelet dish you desire from your server, and it will be whipped up fresh by the cooks in back. I had the benedict and it was stellar. There's a pancake and waffle station, also manned by a cook. Also a "meat area" with bacon, sausage, cold salmon, cream cheese, any bread you can imagine. Yet another chef stands in the corner cutting beef galore at his station. A massive area in the center has grapes, cheeses, crackers and most any type of mediterranean sundry one might want. The dessert area has to be seen to be believed. A baffling array of pastries, cakes, cookies and pies which surely must rival the best I have EVER seen in my entire life. ALL are hand-made by the amazing pastry chef and crew at Marchands...Every thing I tried was bursting with "extra"...the cheesecake looked normal but turned out to be GINGER Cheesecake with real bits of candied ginger! Where you expect something to be one thing, you'd bite into it and find incredible flavors and surprises like some kind of Wonka wonderland! If you can swing it, this is a MUST for that special someone or occasion where you want to experience all that life has to offer. The best of the best. We spent almost 3 hours luxuriating over food and drink and felt like Roman Gods. Unforgettable! P.S. Parking is Valet only, but the restaurant valdates!
(5)Stefanie P.
My husband and I went out for date night, first time since having children, we had tickets for a concert at Mahaffey Theater and decided to have dinner before the concert. The food and service were excellent. I ordered the chicken, which came out perfect, but way to much to eat. My husband had the grouper. We will be back.
(5)Leslie F.
The Farm to Table movement has become increasingly popular throughout the country but most notably in big cuisine culture cities like San Francisco and Asheville. Thankfully, Tampa Bay has heard, noted and responded to the movement. Farm to table eateries have gradually been sprouting up around town and I couldn't be happier and hungrier for it. Enter Marchand's Bar and Grill at the Renaissance Vinoy in St Pete. As if this breathtakingly beautiful hotel wasn't desirable enough, there is now a restaurant serving strictly locally sourced food. This means from the seafood and land meat to the numerous fruits and veggies- every ingredient comes from local farms and fishermen. Even if you aren't a legitimate foodie, you have to appreciate supporting local businesses. By the time my chair was pushed in behind me, I was anxious to begin feasting on what would likely be a memorable meal. Although I usually resist bread before dinner, Marchands' doughy, cheesy goodness was too delectable to miss. Cheddar sourdough spread with sun-dried tomato butter was the best bread course I've ever had. However, I immediately regretted my carb chomping. First course was served: Croque Madame. Served on brioche and filled with a semi-soft cheese and meat from a humanely raised Georgia hog, this fancy sandwich was quite the little number. Topped with a fried quail egg and paired with a shooter of silk onion soup, I was in culinary bliss. Sipping on our first wine of the night, Acrobat Pinot Noir, I felt that everything was just too good to be true. Next on our forks was a Golden Tile fish with Romanesco Cauliflower, Sun chock hush puppies and Rock shrimp. The mild, white Golden Tile fish was impeccably cooked, showing off a crispy skin covering its moist flakiness. Throwing in a crispy hush puppy as well as a rare extra flowery cauliflower and you've got one incredible dish. Oh, and rock shrimp...I mean baby lobsters, well, those little beauties rule my food loving world. This delightful round of seafood was paired with a wonderful white- Hahn SLH Estate Chardonnay. Perfection. ***For the full review, visit: leslie-floyd.com/2013/03…
(5)Greg B.
Our dinners took forever to arrive but the flounder was quite good. This place is noted for their wines and my Pinot noir was superb.
(3)Mark D.
Great meal. Really fine service. Not my first time here, but haven't been in awhile. Still excellent. Great business venue, plenty of table privacy. Big restaurant.
(4)Brian S.
What a difference a generation makes!!! The building is nice. Yes it has ambiance, and it appears to be clean and fairly comfortable. We had either arrived on a dead night, or past diners were eating elsewhere; the place was almost empty. The word pretend "pretentious" now comes to mind, as there is no basis for it in fact. The servers for our party had a sense of class equal to a poorly run Red Lobster; you can dress a chimpanzee in a tuxedo, but passing him off as a waiter is a much harder task. The kitchen was overwhelmed by our party of 12, and food was considerably overpriced for the locale. The online menu should either be defined as an example or maintained daily, as it did not match the ones that were presented and several people (writer included) were disappointed by the cheap substitutions. Marchand's is a nice place for young couples to go on a date to say they've experienced "fine dining". In its earliest days, the room was run by one Mr. Sterling who would fire servers if they left as much as a fingerprint on the glassware! Today is by NO means anywhere close to the fine dining services of the late 1920s; the new management should research the grand past of this facility and be ashamed. Trivia - in the olden days the (now demolished) seasonal servant's quarters were just across the street to the north. I would recommend this place to anyone staying IN the Vinoy for a nice sit-down dinner ... before going safely back to the room ... during a pouring rainstorm.
(2)EJ P.
Excellent breakfast or brunch. Just go here for weekend breakfast or brunch. Very good service, lovely surroundings, 3-star food. You might want to call ahead and make a res.
(4)Olivia D.
I was really pleasantly surprised by the breakfasts in this hotel restaurant. I was expecting overpriced mediocrity. But after having it, I'd call it expensive top-quality! So... it's still pricey. But so's everywhere else. On the upside, they have some interesting offerings and do good on the details. One morning, I had "lemon souffle pancakes" thinking souffle was just a fancy way of saying fluffy. But no, they were actually BEYOND normal fluffy. They were souFLUFFY!! Drizzled with a raspberry reduction, fresh raspberries and pinenuts... it was like gold. (They also had "lobster hash" on the b-fast menu which I found interesting, but didn't try) Another morning, I had some normal sounding breakfast. Something like "eggs with toast and sausage with home fries." Except that the home fries were no ordinary home fries. They were beautiful purple potato, sweet potato and normal yellow potato chunks fried and salted beautifully. The toast was also super thick... not like you get at your local grocery store, and slathered with butter. Each table had a selection of cute sized jelly jars, too. The kids' menu was better than I expected too. Granted, we only tried the chocolate chip pancakes... but damn they were good! And each kids' menu item comes with a bowl of fresh strawberries. The place itself is nice and airy and service is great. So all in all, good choice.
(4)Janice R.
My friend and I went to try out the 1925 menu. It is a 3 course menu during an early bird hour. Course one. I choose the portobello mushroom soup. It was very good. And the way it was presented was very clever. The sever brought a bowl with just croutons and a few herbs to the table and placed it in front of me, then pouring the soup from an itty bitty copper pot. My friend had a caprese salad. Decoratively placed on the plate were mini herbs/greens, sliced grape and green tomatoes and mozzarella. Pretty good, but more so on the petty side. Course two. I chose the braised short ribs. It was very rich and flavorful. The portion size was plenty (took some home). I enjoyed the cheesy Polenta with it as well. My friend choose the Rock shrimp dish. When it came out, it looked like something anyone could have made. Lemon, parmesan cheese, and some really tiny shrimp. I don't know much about shrimp, but I thought rock shrimp were supposed to be big? Course Three: This by far was the biggest let down of the evening! I choose the strawberry crostata. It was just like a dried out danish or pastry from a Sam's Club platter. Not good. It was a huge let down. My friend got the chocolate brownie. This too was a let down! The brownie was not even warmed up. It was served with a raspberry sauce on the side...that was the only redeeming quality on the plate. Perhaps a BOGO sale was on in the dessert aisle at Sam's Club.
(2)Tracy G.
Located inside the gorgeous Renaissance Vinoy in downtown St. Petersburg, Marchand's Bar & Grill is a restaurant that has captivated my taste buds since my first visit almost two years ago. I have been longing to return, and had the opportunity this past week. I went with friends to taste their new Farm to Fork menu which showcases seasonal dishes made with the freshest produce, naturally raised meats and fish produced from local farms. We started off with a savory duo of Mangalitsa "Croque Madame" (with Georgia Red, Fried Quail Egg) and a Silk Onion Soup Shooter. Served on a butcher block, it was a delicious way to begin our six-course meal. Deriving from a "croque-monsieur" (grilled ham and cheese sandwich originating from French cafès) a "croque madame" is a croque-monsieur served with a poached or fried egg on top. "Mangalista" is a curly-hair hog descended directly from wild boar populations. Thus, our ham came from Pasture Prime Family Farm in Summerfield, Florida. This was my first time tasting Georgia Red Cheese which is a semi-soft cow's milk cheese with a creamy, earthy flavor. The Silk Onion Shooter (made with Florida sweet onions) was just divine. I simply could not get enough of the Croque Madame. The ham and cheese melted together in perfect harmony on the toasted brioche and as I bit into it, the yolk from the egg blended with the ham and cheese and yielded pure yumminess. This would make a fantastic brunch item. With this, we enjoyed a glass of Acrobat Pinot Noir. Our second course was Golden Tilefish with Romanesco Cauliflower, Sunchoke Hush Puppies and Rock Shrimp Nage. I discovered tilefish when I first moved to Tampa while working at Bonefish Grill. Love at first bite, this fish won me over with its delicate texture and flavor similar to lobster. Our dish tonight was elegantly prepared with some items that were new to me, such as romanesco cauliflower (Worden Farm) which is a visually striking Italian vegetable. Almost a cross between broccoli and cauliflower, it yields a nuttier taste. Sunchoke was the other item I was unfamiliar with and it is also known as Jerusalem artichoke. Similar to a potato, it has a slightly sweeter taste and I really enjoyed it in the form of a hush puppy. Nestled underneath the tilefish were a few rockfish which were caught off the coast of Florida. This course was paired with Hahn SLH Estate Chardonnay. Next up was Pork Cheek with Murcott Tangerine BBQ, Fried Mac & Cheese and Smoked Bacon Collard Greens. As of lately, I have been obsessed with Southern cooking and this was an excellent combination of some of my favorite flavors. The gorgeous pork cheek rested atop a glorious ball of fried mac & cheese and as I dug into the fried piece of heaven, the smoked bacon collar greens (Hunsader Farm) were snuggled underneath. The plate was drizzled with a tangy tangerine BBQ sauce and I enjoyed dipping a fork full of everything into the succulent sauce. This would end up being my favorite course of the night and it was paired with Trivento Amado Sur, a Malbec Blend. This wine was fantastic! I was thoroughly impressed with everything so far and ready for the next course, which was Key West Yellow Tail Snapper atop a Chorizo Black Bean Cake with Warm Yellow Tomato Vinaigrette. This was a nice contrast of flavors, as I found the yellow tail to be mild and the chorizo black bean cake a tad spicy. The tomato vinaigrette beautifully blended the two flavors. This was served with the Trivento Amado Sur, Torrontes, which is a unique blend of Chardonnay and Viognier and perfect pair with seafood. We had one course left before dessert which was Braised Rabbit (Seelys Ark), Savoy Cabbage and Gold Creamer Potato Puree with a Pinot Noir Reduction. While rabbit is often gamey, I found this to be mild and with a hint of sweetness. I LOVED the potato puree (Jones Potato Farm) and the savoy cabbage. Paired with Four Vines Old Vine Cuvee Zinfandel, this was a great way to end our tasting menu before dessert. For the grand finale, we enjoyed a dessert trio of S'mores Hazelnut Ganache torte, Caramel Oatmeal Pie and Tiramisu. Since it was my birthday eve, they brought my dessert out with candles. The trio was fantastic and it was paired with what would be my favorite wine of the night, Santa Margarita Brut Rose. Hands down, this was the best birthday dinner I have had in years. Service was impeccable and I had a fabulous time. I am anxious to go back and explore more of this gorgeous establishment.
(5)