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| Dining Incognito |
The Vernona
Constance Gustke
04/01/2004
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Sun-starved families have always flocked to Sarasota’s famed soft, white sand
beaches. Yet until 2001, this city lacked a world-class hotel and restaurant.
When the Ritz-Carlton opened that year, it was a welcomed, elegant addition.
Like every Ritz, each detail throughout the 266-room hotel is well thought out.
Those seeking a superlative meal enter through the arched white doors, walk
across a pink Carrera marble floor, and approach the hotel’s Vernona Restaurant.
Bathed in rose and lemon yellow, the Vernona is fitted with crystal chandeliers
spilling colored prisms, floral prints on wall and rug, and etched decorative
motifs, evoking a gracious, airy garden room.
 The private dining room, which
can be accessed either through the main Vernona dining room or from the outside
via the balustrade, continues the restaurant’s airy decor. A large mahogany
table that seats 16 anchors the room along with an accompanying mahogany
breakfront stocked with Versace china. The grande balustrade, which wraps around
the back of the hotel, can be viewed through the room’s arched windows. The cost
for renting the private dining room starts at $500, which includes a captain,
two servers, food and drink; diners can either choose from the Vernona’s
extensive menu, or the chef will visit the table to talk with diners and create
individual dishes.
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