Great Escape: Special Three-Course Dinner at the Vinoy Is Also Quite a Deal

Lunch or dinner at Marchand's at the Vinoy is an escape from the noise and responsibilities of everyday life in the city.

The restaurant is rarely loud or crowded. There's often a jazz band playing. The service is quiet and professional. And the food is excellent. It can get pricey, though, which is why the "Salute to the Arts" menu is such a good deal.

For $19.25 per person at dinner, or $16.25 at lunch, you get a three-course dinner. The choices aren't skimpy, either. You can pick from short ribs, salmon or grilled chicken breast, with an appetizer of carrot-ginger bisque (made at the table!) or green bean salad. Dessert is a choice of caramel mousse or blood orange cheesecake.

The food can be paired with wines from Spain (Martin Codax Wines of Spain) and Washington state (Snoqualmie Vineyards), the homes of Salvador Dali and Dale Chihuly respectively.

This is a good deal, compared to the restaurant's regular pricing. The Vinoy will be offering this special menu through April. The three-course meal is a salute to the new Dalí and the Chihuly museums. The menu recalls the opening of the original Dalí in 1925. Here is the complete offering... Enjoy while it lasts!

STARTER

Carrot-Ginger Bisque, Roasted Heirloom Tomato, Basily Puree, with Avocado Sphere and Baby Green, Gazpacho Vinaigrette

ENTRÉE

Braised Short Rib, Tri Color Portobello Ravioli, Marsala Cream, or

Seared Scallops & Rock Shrimp, Butternut Squash & Parsnip Puree, Himalayan Red Rice, or

Grilled Chicken Breast, Crayfish Mac & Cheese, “Matignon” of Root Vegetables

DESSERT

Liquid Center Caramel Mocha Mousse Tower, Crème Anglaise, or

Blood Orange Cheesecake, Kumquat Compote, Pulled Sugar

Renaissance Vinoy, 501 Fifth Ave NE, St. Petersburg, 33701, 727-894-1000.