Inside Elliott Aster, The Vinoy’s new signature restaurant opening mid-May
/The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, a landmark on downtown St. Petersburg’s waterfront, is set to unveil its new signature restaurant, Elliott Aster, in mid-May. This opening marks the completion of the first phase of an extensive renovation of the historic hotel.
Located at 501 5th Avenue Northeast, The Vinoy has been a defining feature of downtown St. Petersburg since its construction in 1925. Owned by Bryan and Shanna Glazer—who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—the hotel has undergone a comprehensive renovation aimed at modernizing its amenities while preserving its historic charm.
The Glazers purchased the property for $188.5 million in 2018 and embarked on a transformation that included updates to the hotel’s veranda, porte-cochère, lobby, guest rooms, spa, and restaurants. Additionally, The Vinoy was rebranded as part of the Marriott Autograph Collection.
The lounge and bar area inside Elliott Aster, a new restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Lee Wolen at The Vinoy Resort in downtown St. Pete | The Vinoy
Elliott Aster replaces Marchand's Bar & Grill, which closed in 2020, and introduces a sophisticated Italian steak and seafood concept developed in collaboration with the Chicago-based Boka Restaurant Group. Leading the culinary team is Michelin-award-winning Chef Lee Wolen, a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist.
The partnership was born over dinner at GG's Chicken Shop, a Boka restaurant in Chicago, where the Glazers proposed the idea to Wolen. Having spent part of his childhood in Florida and previously working at the Four Seasons Palm Beach in the early 2000s, Wolen was eager to bring his expertise to The Vinoy.
Elliott Aster is named after Elliott’s aster, a Florida-native wildflower with pink-purple daisy-like blooms that attract Monarch butterflies.
Michelin-award-winning Chef Lee Wolen, a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist, will spearhead Elliott Aster | The Vinoy
Chef Wolen has crafted a menu emphasizing fresh, high-quality ingredients prepared with precision. Highlights include Mediterranean-influenced starters such as roasted eggplant spread, marinated olives, grilled octopus, beef tartare, tuna crudo, meatballs, and fritto misto.
House-made pasta offerings feature dishes like orecchiette with Italian sausage, Tuscan kale, and pecorino cheese, as well as squid ink chitarra with Florida pink shrimp and Fra Diavolo sauce.
Entrées range from grilled Mediterranean sea bream and whole roasted blue prawns to a grilled rack of lamb, roasted eggplant, local red grouper, and veal Milanesa.
A standout dish, the Lacquered Brick Chicken, required installing a wood-fired stove—a challenge given The Vinoy’s historic status.
The steak selection includes a 22-ounce dry-aged bone-in strip, a 14-ounce Australian wagyu strip, a 48-ounce Bistecca Fiorentina, and a 28-ounce American wagyu bone-in ribeye.
A la carte sides feature Yukon gold potato purée, grilled broccolini, truffle parmesan fries, sautéed escarole, grilled hen-of-the-woods mushrooms, glazed asparagus, and crispy fingerling potatoes.
Additionally, a charcuterie and antipasti bar at the back of the restaurant will serve freshly sliced Italian meats, whipped ricotta, and marinated vegetables.
The Glazers envision Elliott Aster as both a destination for milestone celebrations and an approachable dining option for locals seeking a casual bowl of pasta on a weeknight.
When asked whether the restaurant aims to earn a Michelin star—now that the Michelin Guide has expanded to Pinellas County—the Glazers and Boka Restaurant Group say they would be incredibly honored but emphasize that their primary goal is delivering exceptional food with impeccable service.
Elliott Aster will feature an expansive outdoor terrance overlooking the downtown St. Pete waterfront | The Vinoy
Elliott Aster has two entrances: one through the hotel lobby and another via the outdoor terrace overlooking the porte-cochère, which Glazer describes as the hotel’s “front porch” to the city.
The interior design features a grand horseshoe-shaped bar beneath an elegant chandelier, with barstool seating and an adjacent lounge open to walk-ins. The main dining area includes tables, booths, a private dining room, and semi-private spaces with curtain partitions.
Historic photographs of St. Petersburg adorn the walls, alongside restored Pompeian frescos and ornate plaster castings that have been returned to their original grandeur.
The main dining room at Elliott Aster | The Vinoy
While Elliott Aster’s opening is a significant milestone, Glazer hinted at future renovations, including enhancements to Paul’s Landing, the hotel’s poolside restaurant, and improvements to the Vinoy Esplanade, an outdoor event space hosting weddings and other gatherings.
Reflecting on The Vinoy’s transformation, Glazer described it as a rare urban resort offering tennis, golf, a marina, and a spa—all within walking distance of downtown. He noted that few, if any, other urban resorts in the U.S. offer the same range of amenities.
With extensive staff training and menu finalization underway, Elliott Aster remains on track for a mid-May opening. An official opening date will be announced soon.
The Vinoy on DOWNTOWN sT. pETERSBURG’S WATERFRONT | tHE viNOY
