Beck's Bistro - Bradenton, FL

Although I don't live in Bradenton anymore, I periodically find myself in the neighborhood. I especially enjoy downtown Bradenton. Even though the downtown area is very small, it is a good place to kick back and enjoy the slow pace of life. A new addition to downtown is Beck's Bistro. This is a nice little bistro that is open for breakfast and lunch. It is a small, but charming space with a country flavor. If you like, you can grab a table at the covered area outside. The service is excellent here and the owners are delightful and it is very evident that they aim to keep their customers happy.

On a recent stop at Beck's, my family and I were there for lunch. We tried the egg and cheese croissant and the curry chicken salad sandwich. Both sandwiches were delicious, but my husband and I agreed that the chicken curry salad sandwich was the star and I opted to have mine made with a croissant, which I loved. For dessert, we tried the chocolate cake, which was one of the best I have had in a long time. Along with our meal, we enjoyed some excellent coffee. The only thing I wish was that we lived in the neighborhood to enjoy it more.

Beck's Bistro
417 Old Main Street (12th Street)
Bradenton, FL 34205
941-896-7873

Cappys Pizza - St Petersburg, FL

This is a groovy little pizza joint located in the Grand Central District. It is located in an old brick house that has been converted into a pizza place. This is a place that is fun for the whole family and has a great vibe and we loved the old movie posters on the wall. Finding a table is fun because you are not sitting in just one big room. Loop through the different rooms in the house and find a table. This does make for a rather more private dining experience with diners spread throughout different rooms.

It didn't take us long to make our order. My husband and I tried a glass of the house wine, which was okay, and my son enjoyed a bottle of root beer served in a frosted glass mug. Passing the time waiting for our pizza, we quizzed each other from the stack of trivia cards that are placed at each table. This is a great idea to keep boredom at bay from the kids. After a not too long wait, pizza was served. We ordered a small cheese Chicago deep dish pizza and a large New York style cheese pizza. Both were very yummy, but I think I liked the deep dish the best. We were very happy with our food here and the total experience was very fun and one that I would love to come back for again.

Cappys Pizza
2900 1st Avenue North
St Petersburg, FL 33713
727-321-3020

Marchand's Bar & Grill - St Petersburg, FL

It has been forever since I have been here for the Sunday Champagne Buffet Brunch, but I finally made it back again recently. This is a very beautiful restaurant located in the Vinoy Resort in downtown St Petersburg. When walking inside, you almost feel like you are in a different era with the elegant surroundings. When you dine during Sunday brunch, you can expect your server to give a run down of the offerings of the day and then he will take your drink order. The Sunday buffet comes with champagne or mimosas, or your usual breakfast beverages if you chose not to imbibe. After you order drinks, let the fun begin.

On the day my family and I were there, we headed straight for the seafood table. There we enjoyed a seafood hot pot, salmon, mahi mahi, crab legs, etc. We did rather bypass the egg benedict station because there were too many things to try. However, if you want an omelette, make sure to order one from you server. Omlettes are part of the buffet, but they are not at the egg station and the order goes back to the kitchen. Next, we made our way to the meat table where there was some lovely chicken and some short ribs that we all enjoyed. We nibbled our way around the buffet just to get a taste of anything that looked interesting. At long last, we made our way to the cheese and dessert station. There was a lot to choose from and my son's favorite was the red velvet cupcake. However, what stuck out for me was what I believe was a strawberry trifle. There were bits of cake, berries, and whip cream and it was a perfect end to brunch.

This is an excellent brunch offered in beautiful surroundings. I don't particularly like to do buffets because it rather defeats the point of dining out and it is a little bit too easy to overindulge. However, save it for an occasional treat and indulge at Marchand's.

Marchand's Bar and Grill
Renaissance Vinoy Resort
501 5th Ave Northeast
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727-894-1000