Brittany Felice was amazing! She is so professional, and worked with me on the details of my event and was always attentive and responded quickly to my emails. Trish was an absolute doll, and always there to assist when needed. John the maitre'd and staff were very professional, and made my event more special because they anticipated needs and didn't have to be told. I have no negative things to say, it was an absolute pleasure working with the Vanderbilt team! read more

Hi to whom it May concern. 10/25/25 we celebrated The Halloween Party at the Vanderbilt it's was amazing. what a party I like to thank the whole staff and everyone that had to do with arranging this event it was well organized food drinks and hospitality was a 10 star thank you and look forward for more events planned read more

Vanderbilt at South Beach - Caterers Near Me - Staten Island, New York

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The staff were professional, engaging, and worked very well together to get the job done!

i recently attended a fundraising event at the Vanderbilt. The venue did an outstanding job from the food, that was delicious, to the organizers/planners, to the wait staff and other personnel -- all were terrific. Additionally, the ambience was truly lovely. It was a very pleasant experience and I definitely recommend the Vanderbilt to anyone planning an event. read more

Beautiful venue with amazing staff. From the time we arrived we were greeted nicely and very welcoming by the valet all the way to the servers. read more

Vanderbilt at South Beach - Mushroom tortellini - Caterers Near Me - Staten Island, New York

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NYEve 2024/2025 was hugely disappointing. The food was sub-par starting with the cocktail hour - - it was a lot of cheap food like pasta, chinese noodles, etc.... Dinner was served HOURS too late - - we weren't served dinner until something like 11 pm. Completely unacceptable, and the food just was not quality. Dessert was served of course also too late, there was only one dessert station per type; ie: one ice cream station and the line for that was easily a 20 minute wait. The desserts in general were very sub-par. The "champagne" was, well, ....just poor quality. For $215 per person, not money well spent. The music was really not good either. First, it was DEAFENINGLY loud - - DEAFENING - - I don't ever need it to be that loud to enjoy it and dance. It was so bad that I had to use ear plugs and I still had a headache after I left. The band played for the majority of the night which really sucked. Also, they were DEAFENINGLY LOUD. DEAFENING. I'd like my hearing for my lifetime. The DJ played for brief time frames. The bartenders don't know how to make good cocktails. BLEH. I won't go back. I have gone to past NYEve's at the Vanderbilt - they were ok in the past, not earthshaking - - but also not $215 per person. I thought perhaps with the higher price, they would have improved. not fallen, in quality. I don't recommend this venue for NYEve. read more

I eant to say everything from start to finish was amazong! Brittany knew exactly what i wanted as soon as i said it she really worked with me and executed perfectly! Cant wait to have my next event here! read more

I would say overall my experience at the Vanderbilt was really great! I went for their New Year's Eve party and the venue was really nice! They were giving out masks when you walked in the door. They had coat check. They checked you in and they also had security at the front door to ensure that nobody slipped into the party. They have a beautiful staircase right when you enter that that's great for taking pictures and it was decorated for the holidays. They also had a really nice cocktail hour where there was plenty of food being served from Asian inspired food to seafood to pasta, you were definitely able to taste a variety of dishes during the cocktail hour. I was also surprised that the open bar included a array of different drinks. Were you able to get martinis shots, espresso martinis drinks on the rocks, there was really no limitation to what you could get. They had a live band and a DJ that we're switching on and off the live band was excellent they had young singers. They had older singers singing very different genres of music and everything flowed very nicely. The music definitely catered to the young and older demographics. The weight staff was also very friendly and pleasant. They came around very often to bring drinks directly to your table, they were also able to accommodate any food, allergies or picky eaters. The set up of the ballroom was really nice and they had a very big dance floor, which accommodated a large amount of people. The seating was about 10 people per table, which was nice and the tables weren't too close together, I would say overall I really did like my experience. The areas of improvement could be the mean dinner was OK. The lobster did not taste fresh at all and this steak tasted like a very low quality steak so it was just expected wedding food for the event. Also, the drinks were not as strong which I'm sure there's a reason why cause it's open bar, but I had a few cocktails, especially martinis and didn't feel a buzz at all. I also felt like they could've decorated the inside ballroom a little bit more. Only a few tables had centerpieces and they were tree branches? It didn't really fit in with the theme and it looked like just over stock decorations, but overall, I would say my experience was really great. They give out champagne when it got close to midnight they gave out masks, hats, headbands for women. They had a nice countdown and they also had a dessert hour after midnight. The valet was quick speedy and efficient. I was a little nervous, leaving the venue that we would have to wait a long time for our cars, but they were on top of everything so overall I'd give it a four star reading the price was a little pricey at over $215 per person, but I felt that it was a great time. I would definitely go back and would recommend anybody who wants to get their family together for the holidays to do it at this venue. The administrators who were in charge were extremely nice so for next year if anybody has any questions, please feel free to call the venue directly and she'll be able to handle any request. read more

I'm so happy that I chose The Vanderbilt at South Beach to have my daughter's college graduation party. The Event Planner Brittany and Trish were very helpful and gave me great ideas during the planning process. Everything turned out excellent! My DJ and photographer were fully accommodated. Our maître d' and bartenders were on point. The servers were attentive (maybe a bit much) according to a few guests who stated that they had a few bites from their meals, walked away for a moment, only to find the plate gone once they returned. Not an issue for me but thought I'd share. Brittany was very professional and pleasant from beginning to end. I recommend this venue 100%! read more

We attended a wedding at Vanderbilt on Father Cap in Staten Island. What a beautiful venue. The food was great and the service was top notch. Monica and Laura took care of table 3 and they were excellent. I would recommend this as a wedding venue for anyone. read more

We got married at the Vanderbilt at South Beach July 2023 and it exceeded everything and more of our dream wedding. The atmosphere with having the view of the beach, the food was delicious, and most importantly, the staff was on point and attended to all of our guests. A shout out to our event planner Brittany who went above and beyond with coordinating our dream wedding. She is very professional, friendly, and extremely helpful with all concerns. Thank you to the Vanderbilt at South Beach for our dream wedding! read more

I had a party for my 2 sons' graduation from medical and law school on May 26th. The venue is beautiful. The palm room was lovely, as it has access to the boardwark area on the waterside as well as an additional deck and seating area on the other side. Carmela was a pleasure to work with during the planning stages. John who was the Maitre D one day of the party was professional, accommodating and did an amazing job setting up items that I brought in for display. A wonderful time was had by all. Thank you VSB for a wonderful and memorable time. The Napoleon cake, that the Vanderbilt supplies from Renato's was delicious as well. read more

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We attended our friend's wedding at Vanderbilt at South Beach. It was a chilly Monday night, and for us girls to change into our heels was a bit difficult when getting off the car. Luckily the valet was so patience with us, he ensured us that we did not need to hurry, and to take our time. Venue: (4/5) The venue itself is absolutely stunning if you're looking to have an baho wedding. Tall ceilings & windows, white columns everywhere, with a nice view outside. There were these beautiful spiral stairs (once we entered) that every princess dreams off having in their wedding venue. Although we had missed the ceremony (due to work), we made it to the last 15 minutes of the cocktail hour. It's sad to say that there was not much left in their stations and they have not yet refilled anything the moment we got there. Luckily, for those we arrived before us, had saved us a plate of foods. Or else, we definitely would have starved that night. Food: (3/5) From my past experience, you can actually get full from the cocktail hour. But if you don't eat enough during the cocktail hour, your a la carte dinner might not be able to fill you up, especially some doesn't taste so great. (And that's what happened in Vanderbilt.) - I thought ordering the salmon would be the safest choice, but it tasted a bit fishy. Others got the steak, and it fought back. This is actually a disappointment because I've read that many had loved the food here. Desserts: (3/5) If I remember it correctly, there were 2/3 stations of dessert back where they had the cocktail hour. One for the wedding cake, one for chocolate fudge and ice cream, and one of something else. The wedding cake has already been cut, and it's all you can grab. There was one waitress serving at the chocolate fudge and ice cream station, who was kind of nice. Service: (5/5) I absolutely adored our server. Instead of needing to make my way to the open bar (which was far away from our table), I was able to order drinks with her, which is a plus for me! She was the greatesttttt! She really took care of our table. I really appreciate her work ethnic even though our dinner did not taste so good. Overall experience: The wedding was a success event according to the bride, and we enjoyed it as much as she did (despite of the food part). And we loved every bit of it. It was a great gathering, a nice venue, a great party, full of love, laughter and memories. read more

Went for my work end term party last night. What a lovely place. Awesome bar and great staff. Very clean very pretty. Just saw food was very good . Salad , pasta and my steak entree were all fresh and tasted great . Would def recommend read more

Attended this establishment to as a guest to celebrate a young lady graduating high school. They offer valet parking as well as there is city parking if you are not a fan of valet as I am not. LocAted on the water , we didn't. Have much of a view. Food was ok nothing over the top. The room was far to cold guest were wearing coat's because they were cold. read more

Had the best experience having my daughter-in-law's bridal shower at the Vanderbilt at South Beach. Carmela, the event planner was fabulous from beginning to the end making sure all our needs were meet! The maître d' Gianna and her staff were incredible the day of the venue everything was set up and staff was attentive. We had a brunch. The food was delicious. The bacon was on point and the Omelette station was a big hit. And everyone loved the ice cream sundae bar. And let's not forget about the incredibly beautiful view of the boardwalk and the beach with that Verrazano in the background. Everyone had a blast! I will definitely be having another party at the Vanderbilt! read more

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Unforgettable celebration of my baby shower at this location, they beat the prices of everyone else. The staff, amazing and now they have been updating their rooms. read more

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I had my daughter's baby shower at the Vanderbilt last weekend. The room was gorgeous, the food delicious, and the service impeccable. I highly recommend celebrating any occasion at the beautiful Vanderbilt. The views are great too!!! read more

Words can not describe how grateful I am that we chose The Vanderbilt as the place where we got married !! I always dreamed of getting married at The Vanderbilt just because my husband and I walked on the boardwalk on our first date and they exceeded our expectations!! We originally were suppose to get married 8/15/20 but because of covid we had to postpone. We were so lucky to get a Saturday in June 2021! The switch was very easy! Brittany is so amazing, she is so enthusiastic, hardworking and a pleasure to work with!! She made sure we had our dream wedding!! we can't wait to work with her again!!! My husband and I are big foodies and it was so important to us that we had delicious food At our wedding. Our cocktail hour was awesome. We loved all our stations (ramen, fresh from sea, sushi, churrascaria, italian, and risotto). We also had delicious carvings, cheese station and 11 passed apps that nobody had A problem getting as there were so many servers going around! Our guests were raving about the cocktail hour and I have been told it was the best food they had at a wedding. Guests also loved the salad, pasta and entree options! Dessert was delicious with a chocolate fountain, gelato, pie station, pasticceria and barista bar). Monica, our bridal attendant was amazing and made sure my husband and I got to try all the food during cocktail hour as she brought it up to our bridal suite right after the ceremony. She also made sure my bridal party always had drinks and they were all raving about her! She saved the day more than once!! One thing that did go wrong is that it rained and we had to move our ceremony inside. Even though it was not our plan, the team made the space look beautiful and the Ceremony turned out gorgeous (so brides if it does rain, it will ultimately be okay). We were lucky and able to get beautiful boardwalk picture as the weather was okay during picture time. Again, I am so happy with how our wedding turned out and will 1,000% recommend!! read more

Thank you so much to Carmella for a great day for a bridal shower! The staff was fabulous and attentive. The room looked so beautiful! I was a little worried about planning a Bridal Shower in NY while living out of state, but Carmella made everything so easy! Everything was perfect! Thank you! read more

Wonderful Sweet 16 for our daughter, everything was lovely. Atmosphere was beautiful, good food and drinks, decorations were gorgeous, entertainment was fantastic, staff was helpful...overall very nice experience. read more

Very nice venue, pleasant staff, good drinks and food and very responsive admin. Would book this venue in the future for other events.

I attended a fund raiser here last night. I arrived during cocktail hour, which was crowded with woefully inadequate seating. The food at the cocktail hour was mediocre, at best. There was wait staff walking around with trays of finger foods that nobody wanted. I finally decided to try a crab cake, which I spit into my napkin because it was terrible. When I entered the main room where the event was to be held, there were very nice salads already at our table settings. I was hungry and looking forward to eating my arugula salad, which looked quite appetizing. When I returned to my seat from getting a drink at the bar, my salad was removed! No announcement from the DJ that the first course was coming, or any indication that my untouched plate was going to be cleared! I asked the server for another salad & after the horribly tasteless pasta course, I got a different salad which was also a let down. I had to ask for a refill on my water at least a half dozen times!!! For the main course, I chose the beef, which was over cooked, drowned in some nondescript sauce and totally bland. I ate about a quarter of it only because I was starving! There were others at my table who's fish & chicken courses remained untouched. Many complained that their food, particularly those who ordered the fish, was also horrible. The drinks at the bar were subpar & watered down. I had to get them myself because my server, who I had tipped at the start of the event, was either inattentive or just completely overwhelmed. When dessert came out, it was an unimpressive, but thankfully edible, apple tart. It didn't have much taste, but by this point I was starving, so I welcomed it. On a good note, the coffee was of a decent quality & came out fresh & hot. The women's bathroom, when I used it, was tidy & in proper order. All in all, I would not recommend this place to anyone preparing for a major event. Aside from the scenic location & the lovely view, the Vanderbilt has little if any redeeming value. At last nights event, some were wondering if we received inferior quality food, drinks & service because it was a fundraiser & perhaps the venue was either donated or offered at a deep discount, but after reading other reviews, I doubt that was the case. read more

Vanderbilt at South Beach - The very unimpressive & tasteless beef entree. - Caterers Near Me - Staten Island, New York

Just had my wedding here on Saturday and I could not have been happier with the service we received. Michelle was our wedding planner for the past year and worked with us day and night to get everything ready for our special day. She provided us a list of preferred vendors which helped tremendously and were within our budget. The staff were always present and friendly, and the food was absolutely delicious! Michelle also upgraded several of our stations after we fell below our guest count, including a complementary pastry station and additional cocktail hour options. Our guests keep telling us how beautiful the wedding was, and I know the staff at the Vanderbilt went above and beyond to make everything perfect. If you are planning to get married on Staten Island, I'd encourage you to make the Vanderbilt your top choice! read more

I had recently visited The Vanderbilt @ South Beach Staten Island NY for a wedding and what a great experience. Again this is a review about a wedding I attended here and not a dinner service. Those looking for their magical venue look no further. The ambience inside is as nice as the outside. When you first walk in the cocktail party is held in a rustic with a wide layout to accompany a large wedding invite. Many stations were placed out for the taste buds and as you would think its catering hall food somehow it always taste worse when not drunk but people honestly the food was amazing. The seafood was very fresh from oysters to shrimp. The pasta was cooked al Dente which is my favorite way. The pesto and al fredo sauces were season well. One gripe though the actual bar itself is a little short and was understaffed. 1 bartender for more then 100 guest. Walking into the main dinning area there are multiple chandeliers creating a nice elegant setting w/ a Fairly large tiled dance floor. Nice views of the beach, city land scape, and Verrazano bridge. The servers and waitresses were always in the money and ball. Whether needing a refill before the glass went empty or for any other crazy need or want. The dinner food was great. My steak was cooked to perfection. Even the veggies were amazing. The entire plate disappeared. Usually at catering halls it's hard to finish their food. Usually the foods very salty, buttery even inexorable but your drunk and eat it anyways. Not at the Vanderbilt. I was completely sober and can tell you the food was amazing. I would definitely look into booking this catering hall in future plans. Only negative I can say are the vale guys are very young and may scare the heck out of you when trying to park your car. A+ Venue. read more

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My wife wanted a vegan venue for her 70th birthday. The Vanderbilt fit the bill. It has a beautiful view of the ocean. The chef created a terrific vegan menu. The cauliflower steak was so good that our meat eater friends gobbled it up. The staff was very helpful. We highly recommend the Vanderbilt as a vegan or vegetarian venue for all you needs. read more

Sal, Felix, and the Chef worked with me to transform our fifth annual fundraising event into a true Havana Night on a cold winter day! Guests entered and were offered Cuba Libres and a center spread of appetizers presented on a gorgeous table adorned with palm trees and pineapples. A specialized Buffet menu with a Cuban flare was the talk of the evening as guests enjoyed their mini Cuban sandwiches, ceviche topped tostones, fried sweet plantains, pernil pork, marinated steak with chimichurri sauce, and so much more topped off with fresh churros and ice cream for dessert!! The Vanderbilt sets itself aside from other venues with spotless restrooms, their willingness to change up and refresh food options, customize your needs, and make a concerted effort to pay attention to yourdetail. read more

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I've been to the Vanderbilt for affairs which it's primarily used for. It's right on the boardwalk at south beach and you can catch a lot of wedding ceremonies right on the sand! If anybody is ever looking for the absolute best and least expensive Thanksgiving buffet this is the place. I stopped doing my own many years back. Too much work! There's soup to nuts here. Start off with a killer buffet that really covers everything. Turkey and many many sides are brought over to table family style. Any food not eaten is packed up to go. Basically you are given a whole turkey sliced up. Back to the buffet for desert. Cookies, pies, cakes, fruit and a chocolate dipping fountain. Coffee is served at table. This is the best affordable delicious fun easy way to spend Thanksgiving Oh yea, there's also a kids section! read more

My experience at The Vanderbilt was great! It's located not too far from the Verranzo Birdge making it very convenient from the western part of Brooklyn. The hall is ornate in its design and catches your eye. Valet parking is available upon arrival and a few large rooms are on the premises. My friend selected the Palm Room for her 30th birthday party. The decor went very well with her beach theme. The DJ was good and had music playing throughout the night. There was a table with appetizers and some were passed by the staff. Everything was delicious and there was great variety. The food was served buffet style and the cake was beautiful and delicious as well. Overall it was a good experience with attentive and friendly staff. My only complaint was the room was very chilly as its next to the water. The heat could have been raised a bit more. read more

Vanderbilt at South Beach - The food was very good - Caterers Near Me - Staten Island, New York

My husband and I had our wedding here August 11, 2018 and it could not have been better. I was blown away by the staff, food and service! The staff were so accommodating, kind, thoughtful, helpful and best of all genuine! no phoniness here at all. You can tell they really enjoy and love their job. My bridal coordinator was Sal - he was amazing. Brittany also helped me answer some questions and was also a wonderful person and great coordinator. Sal really went above and beyond to make sure myself, my husband and our families were happy. He was patient, great at explaining everything thoroughly (my parents are the worrying type) and showed genuine interest in making sure our wedding day went perfectly. There was great advice, feedback and suggestions too, from both Sal and our maitre-d Samantha. Samantha was also great at her job, making sure everything ran smoothly the day of, and that everyone was happy. Another person that I appreciated was Chris our bridal attendant. He was so accommodating to our needs and again I must say so genuine and sincere, a real sweetheart. The Vanderbilt South Beach stands out from other venues in my opinion. They care about their clients and are not trying to rip them off. Myself and my husband greatly appreciated the little things that were of no issue for the Vanderbilt staff such as packing up extra food to take home or storing our decor and extra favors for a day. They also work very, very well with vendors! The food of course was outstanding and our guests went absolutely nuts over it! I heard cocktail hour was insane(in a really good way!) and I was almost jealous that I couldn't be there, lol, I can only hope I get invited to a wedding there one day. Drinks and sit down dinner were also great. Hubby and I enjoyed sampling all three entrees. Penne ala vodka was definitely best top 3 I've ever had. Desserts and cake were delish - lemon sorbet shots that got passed around people went nuts over and are still talking about over a month later lol it was really the best wedding ever! Big thanks to all the staff at the Vanderbilt, you made our dream come true wedding a reality read more

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Went in for the NYE party, I gotta admit all was great.. valet parking.. wonderful appetizers.. well placed with promotional crew & live music! We enjoyed all of that and the dining area too. A bit cozy & congested. The music was fair to all guest, although I found it a bit in the oldies.. nothing new. The diner was my worst experience! Their lobster tail didn't taste like lobster.. steak was NOT great or good in any case. The waitress couldn't have provided better service.. where we didn't even get the dinner salad or pasta. We didn't complain cause we wanted new year to start of great foot.. but with the rate we paid.. and the over all experience we know it would be better else where. Mind you I'm writing this review mid way in the JANUARY and I still remember the poor dinner meal. read more

Vanderbilt at South Beach - Caterers Near Me - Staten Island, New York

Let me start of by saying how amazing and accommodating Sal Sulsenti is, (he's the guy you'll be dealing with when booking your party). He made sure everything was top notch and we had a worry free party! We had my daughters sweet 16 at Vanderbilt and we absolutely loved it. Everything was as promised and more! The waiters wore white gloves which gives the clean and elegant look that is necessary to show the high quality service rendered to the customers. Also, when it comes to customer service in the food industry - the professionalism, overall appearance and services does matter! Felix the main waiter magically appeared by our side every time we needed him, bottom line WOW what a great service!! I strongly recommend this beautiful water front restaurant, trust me you will not regret it! read more

I've had the pleasure of being both a vendor and a guest at the Vanderbilt several times. Always a pleasure to entertain our clients and their beautiful families at this venue. Definitely one of the finer venues on Staten Island. Highly recommend speaking and working with Sal. Great people, great service, each and every time!!! read more

Attended my Grandsons christening on Saturday. The food was horrible and the service horrendous. No steak knives to cut the steak. The frozen calamari was horrible as was the disgusting cold sauce that went with it. The brazzino with lemon butter sauce which had no lemon butter sauce whatsoever , but instead had the lovely grease from the roasted potatoes and burnt roasted Brussels sprouts. I begged my son to NEVER return and give this establishment any business whatsoever. As far as service goes... you get far better table service at any McDonalds Cafe than the horrendous service at the Vanderbilt. Book your parties elsewhere, you'll be happy that you did. read more

If I could give no stars that would be my choice.... I'm writing this while attending their New Year's Eve party ... they have the nerve to charge the price they do for this .... the food was gross ... cocktail hour was beyond disappointing and inedible ... the pasta and sauce completely tasteless ... and only one choice for dinner everyone had to have the surf and turf the lobster tail smelled so bad I had to ask them to take my plate back ... dessert was set up to help urself In another room .. we got on line and by the time we got into the room no coffee or desserts left .. it was some packaged cookies and what they attempted to call pastries .. and even at that nothing left ... and all this over priced at 190$ per person ... thank god for the music and great friends we are with otherwise it would be a total wipeout ... seriously to the management I'm writing this while sitting here .. that's how bad ur food was Funny how the owner writes to send her my Information to further discuss this ... I send my information over 4 hours ago and nothing ... that is a ploy to fool people into thinking they care and are trying to reach out to fix the problem ... don't be fooled by her response to my post .. that's just an attempt to make people think they are trying to work it out ... Bottom line I paid 190$ .. actually $380 because i paid for my son as well .. to be able to stand the whole time at the cocktail hour because there was not enough seating for the number of people at the event ... not even half ... the food at the cocktail hour was horrible ... the salad had goat cheese and no one at my table liked that or ate that.. the salad was already on the table when we walked in which to me is highly unsanitary.. how do I know someone didn't touch it .. there was no wait staff near our table to even request a plain salad .. the pasta course lacked flavor tasted like jarred sauce ... and being someone who can't eat shellfish the dinner was a complete wash for me .. again there was no wait staff around our table to request a plate without a lobster tail.. when it was put in front of me it smelled rancid and had to tell them to remove it .. we were not even given a choice of how we wanted it cooked.. it was overdone and about the size of a quarter .. no potatoes instead their idea of I guess eclectic food celery and artichoke purée ... and no dessert because the first people on line were allowed to like their plates like it was the last dessert they'd ever see .. all that was left was choc ice cream .. I'm sorry but I can go to carvel for that at $4 .. it's several days later and I'm still burning up over this .. after leaving there my son and I ran to my friends deli to get sandwiches .. we were starving .. we didn't eat all day because we mistakenly thought we were going to be eating well for that price .. no imagine how much they made that night with over 100 people in attendance .. Even the wait staff looked clumsy overwhelmed and confused .. and we Its funny I thought of this today ... its 7 months later and I never heard from anyone from this venue except let us look into it.. be careful people read more

Our wedding was a dream come true. Ambiance...food...personal attention stupendous. Sal..thank you for everything!! A destination, beach wedding...Fabulous in every way. read more

First time there for New Year's Eve Party. The Food and Service was awful. There's no other way to describe it. Find another place next year. read more

I came here for a mutual friends wedding a few weeks ago. The wedding was beautiful- but the food and the interior decor of this place was a little much. Also I was seated the farthest from the d.j. and still left with a headache. The food --i've experienced better. Valet parking tooo (quivver.) However, when i was gathering the flowers form my tale to take home, one of the waitresses there got me saran wrap to make it easier. read more

First off, the venue here is amazingly beautiful, the beach and all. My daughters wedding on the beach was absolutely stunning. The new deck also opened in time for my daughters wedding and we were so excited to be able to make use of the outdoors. We had planned this wedding with a charming man from the Vanderbilt, in charge of the Kosher events. He is very accessable for months before the event. He was always accessible to answer questions and even provided us with his cell phone number, he was just a terrific people's person. However, we did encounter some problems with our contract which called for waiters to ask guests if they would like a drink, whether it be alcohol or a beverage. This did not happen. We were also suppose to have two bars during the cocktail hour, one outside and one inside. We were only provided with the one outside, which caused problems for people who wanted a drink and were inside. Though we brought in our own caterers (kosher), The maitre D appeared to blame everything that went wrong on the caterer and vice versa. What really seemed to be happening was that communication broke down between the caterer and the maitre'd. The regular everyday supervision of staff and the event had really broken due to communication problems and lack of enough staff for the event. I strongly recommend that when planning a wedding, you be clear about everything you expect even if it's already in the contract. Assign friends (not in the wedding party) specific jobs to keep an eye on things that you expect to happen or not happen. Make it very clear to the halls you won't give any tips until you've spoken to your friends to find out how the service was. Remember, tips are optional not mandatory. Though the Vanderbilt is a beautiful venue, it's still a business. And when one goes into contract with a business, it's important for the buyer to be an educated consumer. It's your responsibility to know the right questions to ask and to expect that the venue will assure your event goes smoothly. read more

Service was incredibly disappointing, given their reputation. We attended a charity event this past weekend. Our server took orders from the rest of our table mates, but walked away when he got to us. After we got his attention 10 minutes later, he told us he wasn't our server. The new server eventually arrived to take our orders. Dinner began and, after the rest of our table was served, we had to ask the servers to bring us our first course. We sat there waiting for another 10 minutes to flag someone down. Then, we again had to ask for our second course while the rest of the table was eating. Later, After coming back from our bathroom break, our FULL drinks were cleared from the table. Finally, dinner was served - our meat was slightly over cooked and COLD. We ignored these issues and had a great time despite the lack of service. But the final straw came when dessert was served. Tapas style desserts were being passed around the room. ONE server came to our table with a small cake, offered it to one gentleman and then walked away with the whole plate. Sometime later another one came by with strawberries. We kept watching plates of dessert flying by our heads as our table was completely ignored. As we left that night we scratched our heads in disbelief that there were PLATES of dessert sitting on other tables - but ours was ignored. Coffee was served as we were leaving, too. This was very disappointing. Service was inconsistent and lackluster. I understand that waiting tables is daunting, it's not an easy task. Each and every time we were missing our plates, we were very kind to staff - many times our table mates were asking before we did! I don't understand what the problem was that service was terrible, plates were missing, drinks were taken away, and our entrees were cold. Later on, we learned this was a problem across the whole room. Maybe the Maitre D encourages her staff not to care, but someone there should take some pride in their work and learn the basic models of service in the restaurant industry. read more