Marchand’s Bar and Grill

Had a great evening! Spent about 3hrs there, and the waiter was patient and excellent. Food was excellent. There is also a small bar in the hotel lobby area for you and your friends to relax in case the restaurant bar becomes full due to weddings and such. Also be sure to get your parking ticket validated if parked in the garage.

1925 Classic Menu is a bargain!
This three course menu, priced at $ 19.25, celebrates the 1925 opening of the Vinoy Park Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. The first course is baby green salad with rosemary pecans nicely dressed with an Asher Blue, maple-​squash vinaigrette. You could select from three entrees: crispy salmon, spiced chicken breast or braised pork. We both opted for the crispy salmon with walnut-​sorrel pesto, delicious roasted sun chokes and enoki mushrooms. We asked for the salmon to be cooked medium rare and it was cooked to perfection. Dessert was a red velvet cheesecake with fresh berries and raspberry sauce. Glasses of William Hill Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon could be purchased for $ 8 to accompany the meal. You had the option of purchasing by the glass or the bottle from the wine list also. Donald provided excellent and attentive service. The beautifully decorated dining room featured comfortable seating but could be a little noisy if there was a loud crowd at the bar. We would definitely return for the same menu in the future. They said they are featuring it all year.

So we are big fans of Marchand’s, headed by Chef Mark Heimann, with its incredible sushi and scrumptious dishes. This time we came in for a special event called Yelloween, their first Halloween party sponsored by Veuve Clicquot. What an amazing night!
The place was aptly decorated with a fun, yet mysterious, vibe. We were greeted by friendly staff wearing costumes. They had a welcome station with champagne at the entrance where we received a complimentary glass of champagne. All other drinks could be ordered at the bar or cocktail tables. There was no assigned seating, it was a cocktail party setting.
The food stations were strategically placed on opposite corners of the room to create space, which was a great idea as more people arrived. No matter in which part of the room you were you could enjoy a delightful dish served tapas style. They offered a variety of foods, ranging from seafood paella, pork, steak, and duck. Every station was well-​managed by nicely uniformed staff. Although every dish was scrumptious, my favorite was the duck meatloaf with its pleasant texture and blend of spices. At the end of the night, they brought out a dessert station filled with beautiful pastries. It was all delicious and very nicely presented. Top-​notch!
For entertainment, the live band did a good job of keeping the crowd dancing. Almost everyone was wearing a costume, so it was fun to see the creativity. They were giving prizes to the best costumes. We didn’t win but we enjoyed the show.
This restaurant always has high quality food, and even though this night they were operating «buffet style» the quality was not compromised. I will make sure to come again next year. Yelloween is a fun Halloween event in a classy atmosphere with great service, good entertainment, and outstanding food.
October 2015

Made reservations at 1. Sat at 1:15. Ordered at 1:30. It’s 3:04 and we are finally getting our food. Merry Christmas.
Looks ok but frankly I already lost my appetite.
Update: I wasn’t going to post but:
My salmon was undercooked. My wife’s medium was bone dry. My cousin’s lamb was «eh».
Overall first time experience was not good.

I have yet to have an enjoyable meal here.
Wine list is overpriced publix fare.
Atmosphere is beautiful.
View is dreamy!
So much room, with sexy little hiding places. They make what could be a stuffy old hotel very modern without ruining the history.
My past 2 visits:
1. Chicken — so over salted, I couldn’t finish one bite. Staff was VERY sweet and understanding.
2. Scallops w risotto: I tried to suck it up, but this shit is so salty it is almost inedible. Risotto too thick, as well.
3. They must have put my boyfried’s seasoning in my dish, because his short rib polenta had zero flavor. It was so tasteless, it was as offensive as my plate of cheesy salt.
4. My friend’s pork thing tastes like deli ham. Dry, no love, and I’ve had better as Xmas leftovers at my uncle’s house.
5. The Sushi is gross. Why do they attempt to serve it here? Smothered in creamy shit and stuffed with cream cheese. Gross.
Bar staff is lovely and accommodating, but I HATE sending food back. I should just stick up for myself and send it back, but I feel bad and I don’t know why. I just hate returning food. I was so upset I had to retreat to one of their cozy corners. I’m very glad for these! I was so hungry and so excited, only to be sorely disappointed. I wish that more chefs would take enough pride to come out and talk with me if I complain to the server that the food is bad. This would wash the bad taste out of my mouth.
I’d come here again for drinks and a view, and that’s it. Bring your own food.

We came here for Thanksgiving dinner and were seated in a lovely area. Unfortunately, the chairs are a little short for the table. I felt like a kid sitting at the adult table; it was so uncomfortable. We were given menus but had to request a wine list which seemed odd since we were surrounded by bottles stored in glass cases. Service started out well but after about 30 minutes, our waitress went on dinner break and was replaced by a waiter. He was competent enough, but didn’t come around often to refill water glasses. The first course was a creamy mushroom soup with a bit of truffle on the top. I know what a black truffle is supposed to taste like and this was not a black truffle. The salad was «meh» with nice, soft lettuce but a virtually tasteless vinaigrette. For my main course I chose the pork short rib which was accompanied by mashed sweet potatoes and kale. I tasted the kale and it was quite spicy. The menu did not mention this dish would be spicy. The pork was slightly dry and had been prepared with a spicy rub; again, too spicy for me. The sweet potatoes were the only thing I ate on the plate. I should have returned the dish and requested something else, but my dining companions were tucking in to their meals and would finish way before I’d receive my dish. So, my husband ate the rest of my meal as I struggled with indigestion from the smoked pork I had tasted. That pork taste haunted me the rest of the night. For dessert I chose the pumpkin pie which was supposed to have a brulee-​type topping. It did not. The pie, though, was very good and the best part of the meal. The waiter was very accommodating when we *asked* for things, but not so great about keeping the table satisfied otherwise. In a restaurant like Marchand’s, where you are paying a premium for your meal and wine, service should be flawless.

I love going there for some drinks and a nibble at the bar. The place itself is beautiful! The historic Vinoy hotel is truly a gem in our city. Love seeing the chihuly art everywhere inside. You can see the bay through the large windows, too. The bartenders are always friendly and helpful. Kate is my favorite. She has a great sense of humor and can mix a great cocktail! I’ve been for dinner and it was good, but I mostly like just ordering some appetizers to go with my drink. The sliders are great and filling. One can never go wrong with the sushi rolls. They always taste fresh and yummy. If I’m not hungry and just feel like chewing, I order their $ 0.99 homemade chips. Sometimes there’s a live music playing. I like when I see some Rays players or the players of other teams who often stay at the hotel.

— Short Synopsis —
Marchand’s Bar and Grill is a nice, upscale restaurant that serves quality food.
— Detailed Summary —
For parking, Marchand’s validates parking in the garage and there is street parking across the Vinoy.
I decided to come here for their Sunday brunch after a recommendation and coming here for a Unilocal event. I am glad I did.
Marchand’s were serving German dishes most likely due to Oktoberfest. They had German potato salad, pretzel buns, a variety of German sausages, and schnitzels. Of course, they had other food, like meats, cheeses, fruit, pastries, and desserts. I liked their smoked fish and bacon salad and the omelet station. The carving station was not bad either with the prime rib and pork.
My favorite items were the crab claws and this German donut called Berliner. The Berliner reminded me of a soft beignet covered in sweet syrup. The crab claws tasted delicious and I liked the lemons and sauces provided to enhance the flavor.
The Vinoy, which Marchand’s Bar and Grill is located at, has a stunningly beautiful interior and the same is true with Marchand’s Bar and Grill. It has an upscale feel to it. I would recommend just taking a stroll around Marchand’s/Vinoy and look at the décor and architecture design to the building.
Of course, this has not been the best brunch buffet I have been to, but it is still one with good quality. Seeing that I have received good quality of service and food here, I recommend coming here for a special occasion, as it is a tad pricey venue to eat at.

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.

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

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.
1^st 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 1^st 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.

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 décor 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.

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.

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 entrée 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 entrée 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.

The best! Food quality is superb. Our favorite place. Bob the bartender is fantastic.

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.

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 entrée 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.

Breakfast at Marchand’s was superbe. One of the best eggs benedict’s I’ve ever had and perfectly crisp and delicious bacon.

I enjoyed brunch at the Vinoy in a celebration of my grandmother’s 94^th 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 Unilocal event they hosted!!! I hope to return again soon.

Amazing brunch!!!
This was my second trip to Marchand’s Bar & Grill and I left overly impressed and very full. Marchand’s recently took their award winning brunch buffet and turned it into an amazing menu, where you can order A Lá Carte or pick 3 items For $ 32 (two entrees and one dessert). Amazing food, live music and a perfect atmosphere, you cannot ask for more — Marchand’s is a must visit for brunch in the bay area.
Marchand’s offers a ‘Build your perfect’ Bloody Mary bar for $ 9, a bottomless mimosa bar for $ 7 or a bottomless bellini bar for $ 8. The bloody mary bar was unlike any I have ever seen, offering homemade spicy and regular mixers and a topping bar that would make any southern girl squeal: Pickled Green Beans, Pickled asparagus, Pickled Okra, Onion, Salami, Giardiniera, Green Tomato, Horseradish, Goat Cheese Stuffed Olives, Feta Stuffed Peppadew, House cured Beef Jerky, Shrimp, Peppered Smoked Bacon, Provolone, Mozzarella, Assorted Spices & Hot Sauce. WOW.
After we had our libations in hand, we were presented a tray of pastry’s. I am generally not a pastry lover but good lord, this was good stuff. A jumbo pecan sticky bun and Monkey Bread were both presented in a staub skillet (that presentation always makes me very happy). We also had coffee cake and warm cinnamon donuts. This non-​pastry person will go out on a limb and say I will order the Monkey Bread or Jumbo Sticky Bun on my next trip. You made a pastry believer out of me.
For the entrees, my favorite dish of the day was the EGGS IN A JAR — Anson Mills Lil Moo Cheese Grits, Poached Eggs Corn Meal Fried Rock Shrimp, Roasted Chili Hollandaise. Every bite of this dish was perfect. Since it was served in a jar, you were able to get the right amount of egg, yolk, shrimp, grits and cheese.
Up next was CRISPY MAPLE CURED PORK BELLY with Parmesan Fried Egg and Roasted Corn Grits. These grits had such a great texture combined with the corn. The maple cured pork belly is something I could eat everyday and that egg was so creative. I loved this dish.
After seeing Marchand’s new menu, one item stood out to me above all else. HOUSE BRINED CORNED BEEF HASH topped with Fried Duck Eggs & Heirloom Potatoes. Corned beef is my ultimate weakness when it comes to breakfast. I generally make up my own meal if it is on the menu. I create my own eggs benedict with a side of corned beef, topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise. Bring a duck egg into the mix and you have my attention! This corned beef was off the charts incredible and I am hoping Marchand’s has a St. Patricks Day dinner next Spring — if so, I will be front and center.
Speaking of eggs benedict, another dish that grabbed my attention from the start was RED WINE POACHED EGG, La Quercia Prosciutto, Sourdough, Béarnaise Sauce. There were so many great things going on with this dish, from the perfect poached purple egg to the prosciutto.
Another hit at the table was the QUICHE, made with Lump Crab, Roasted Pepper sauce, Charred Leek, Lil Moo Cheese. This quiche was full of flavor, the lump crab was the perfect amount. It was like a lump crab cake and a quiche had a baby.
And finally, as my fiancé would say, you cannot have brunch without French Toast. RHUBARB FRENCH TOAST, Oranges, Candied Almonds, Mascarpone, Bacon. This particular dish was a little too sweet for me but if Gabe was with me, I know he would devour it.
At this point, I was considering how one would expect me to stand up and leave the restaurant. I needed a wheelbarrow. And then the desserts came out. Up first was a Lemonade Cake with Candied Lemon and blueberries. This was my type of dessert — not too sweet and light, perfectly delicious. The Smore’s Cheesecake was one item I couldn’t leave without trying, a Milk Chocolate Cheesecake, Graham Cracker Crust and roasted marshmallows. We received another item served in a jar! Blackberry Cobbler with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.