All it took was a childhood memory to spark an entire dinner menu at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s Inn Dining Room. Chef Erik Osol remembers being 9 or 10 years old when his parents took him to Bern’s Steak House, the storied Tampa restaurant. They ordered a Caesar salad, which was prepared tableside. “And to this day, I can still see the ingredients going in the bowl, see them making it, and still taste the flavors,” says Osol, now the Chef de Cuisine of the iconic Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. “It’s those scenes that get burned in your memory, the scene and smell. And that’s the sensation I wanted to give hotel guests and members at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.”

And that he has. By creating Inn Dining Room’s first-ever dinner menu, Osol gave new life to the former breakfast-only restaurant. Part of the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s extensive portfolio of dining outlets, Inn Dining Room has been reimagined with classic American fare, all wrapped in an atmosphere of Southern hospitality. The new dinner lineup showcases a sophisticated yet approachable fine dining experience, including steak Diane, tuna niçoise and, of course, a tableside Caesar salad.

Opened in 1928, the historic AAA Five Diamond Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has long set the standard in hospitality and culinary excellence in Northeast Florida. Along with its new slate of entrees and appetizers, the Inn Dining Room has a revamped vibe with custom hand-painted wall coverings—done in collaboration with wallpaper design group Gracie Studio—which includes depictions of beloved landmarks on the property to honor the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s nearly 100 years.

As part of a property-wide transformation leading up to the beloved resort’s centennial anniversary, the Inn Dining Room and The Tavern are the first of several exciting enhancements. In its transformation, The Tavern introduces a hint of nostalgia thanks to its deep teal hues and walls adorned with custom hand-blocked jute wallpaper by artist Stephen Floyd.

“The spaces evoke elements of our history with an elegant yet more contemporary feel, and this is just the beginning of an incredible journey for the resort, with a new state-of-the-art Surf Club and Sports Club to come,” says Michael Gordon, President of Gate Hospitality Group and General Manager of Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.

The sprawling oceanfront destination, which includes two championship golf courses, a 30,000-square-foot spa and tennis facilities, offers an array of elevated restaurants and eateries. The Golf Club Dining Room includes views of the famous par-three “Island” ninth hole. A fun standout is The Sandpiper food truck, a casual spot that serves a premium selection of to-go fare like poke bowls and quesadillas.

As the Inn Dining Room ushers in a new era of dining, Osol is hopeful that it becomes a place where families can build similar memories, like his own unforgettable night as a kid in awe of Bern’s.

“At Ponte Vedra Club, it is about family,” Osol says. “When we get kids in there, we want them to feel special. Sometimes we’ll even get them a chef’s hat, or we ask the kids to make the Steak Diane with us. They are a part of us, and we want everyone to feel welcome here.”

To book your table, visit pontevedra.com.

---

For more flavorful Florida getaways, click here.