Decided to go to the chateau for dinner with my good friend. I have been there before, and it has always been good. The waitress was very good and prompt. I had the buffalo chicken salad as my entree. The chicken tasted good and the house dressing is very good. My friend had the grilled chicken Caesar salad. We also had for an ap two meatballs and the toasted ravioli, Which were amazing. Will definitely be back soon.
an outdated Olive Garden it's ok. For the money I would have expected much better food and the service was not at all professional or for that matter ....there. Would not recommend for any event!
(1)
Danielle L.
I have lived in Andover my entire life and can always depend on the Chateau for a good meal. The selection is wide and the drinks are good. The atmosphere is great for a date night or dinner with the family. They also have huge portioned take out that is very reasonably priced (which I often do if I don't feel like cooking). It is not the "best" Italian food, but it's pretty good. Also, the place is always always packed (so call ahead).
(4)
Julie O.
If this review was based strictly on costumer service, I would give no stars! My husband and I stopped In on our way back from Laconia today. After, sitting in traffic, we decided to pull over, since we were both hungry. We sat at the bar, assuming we would get faster service. False! After sitting there, for a good 10 minutes, while bartenders walked by us numerous times with no acknowledgement, we were finally were waited on. The food then came quickly and was good. My husband loves the fried raviolis and I'm a big fan of their minestrone soup. My advice, girls stop stocking glasses and acknowledge you customers! This is your money!
(3)
J.d. O.
Food was not that great. The roasted chicken tasted like it had been sitting under a warmer for hours, it was dry and had very little taste. The service was just ok. Not a place to bring a family when you want to talk. The music from the bar was loud, and even though we sat in a separate room I still found myself shouting and not being able to hear others at the table.
Was looking for a place to take my mom out for dinner. I've been here before and the food is pretty good but nothing to make the drive for. We happen to be at my Aunt's house in Andover and was looking for something close. Got seated right away but it took awhile to get the waiter to make his initial visit. Nice guy but quite on the ball. The menu is HUGE. Too much with way too many options. Made my head spin trying to decide. And of course my luck the first thing I chose after reading this "book" was not available. Can't remember what is was so I must not have been too impressed. I ended up ordering the baked haddock which was good but a little on the small side. Thankfully they had Heineken Lights to save this review. CONS The small tvs at the tables are great but kinda worthless if I can't watch the game you have playing at the bar. just sayin...
(3)
Julie H.
Attended a function here and was pleasantly surprised. The food was delicious. I had baked stuffed shrimp- not very filling as I didn't eat the stuffing stuff--just too much of it. Every part of the meal was yummy. I got a take out menu- pricing is a little high but would come here for a nite out with my love. Cool that they offer keno and lottery.
(4)
Claire P.
We came here because our hotel recommended it. The service was good and the waitress was friendly. The food was horrible. Indelible. I was supposed to have ravioli with tomato sauce and sausage. What I got was frozen chewy pasta with separated watery tomato sauce and two nasty sausages plopped on top. I ordered vegetables on the side and they were freezing cold. My mom had the fettuccine alfredo which was like glue in taste and appearance. My dad ordered the tripe (I still don't understand his logic) and said it was horrible. Overall, service was fine, but don't come here for the food.
(1)
Kate M.
This is not Italian food. I can't even believe that they are allowed to sell their sauce. The food is the quality of any large chain restaurant Its frozen and clearly reheated with a jar of sauce thrown over it to cover up the shoe leather they call veal or chicken...each equally disgusting. Pasta was chewy and not cooked. This was crunchy and hard, not al dente. The fish is watery and dry. I have been for dinner and in a private rom for functions. Bad across the board. Atmosphere is noisy and congested Avoid at all costs!!!
(1)
Christen G.
First time - not bad, I would eat here again. We had a very large party (between 15 and 20 people). The drink and dinner orders were correct, not one person had to send anything back. There was a bit of a wait after we ordered our meals however other large parties were sat at the same time so i'm sure the kitchen was playing catch up. I would definately eat here again for pasta dishes. I tried a small plate of the pasta then ordered steak tips for my dinner just to give that a try as well. I may not have a steak / beef dish again but the pasta sauce was tasty with out the heavy garlic flavor.
(2)
Robo T.
I like Shatoez food but this experience was wack. We waited 20 minutes for a table, got seated, ordered drinks and finally when we're ordering meals they tell us they are out of all fried seafood. What?! "We are out of pretty much everything in this section of the menu" is what the waitress said has she gesticulated to the menu with her pen. Haddock? No. Clams? No. Shrimp? No. Ok...so shrimp isn't breaded and fried necessarily so....I guess she meant all seafood? Yup. No baked shrimp or shrimp scampi either. So the person in our party who had to take a minute to figure out an alternate choice decides on ravioli. "We are out of those too. The pasta machine isn't working right so they arn't cooking any." ummm HUH? A total FAIL experience...
(2)
Gayle S.
My husband and I ordered veal parm with toasted ravioli and a side of meatballs and an order of lobster Mac and cheese. As my husband pulled into our driveway a young man from Chateau called to say he was pretty sure the Mac and cheese never made it into the bag. Sure enough it wasn't there. He said as it was paid for by gift card so he would send me a gift card for the $19.35, seriously you couldn't throw in the $0.65 to make it an even $20? The more I thought of it the more upset I got. I had nothing to eat. There were three items and one didn't make it in the bag. Last week we ordered out from Chateau. There was a problem with the computer and our order, as well as anyone else that ordered takeout never made it into the kitchen causing a huge back up. My husband had to wait over an hour for our order. To Chateaus credit they gave us the meal free. But you get what you pay for. In the rush to fix so many problems my haddock St. Germaine was pretty tasteless. I'm very disappointed that my meal didn't make it and that we were just refunded the money we paid. I'm hesitant to order takeout from Chateau again. Reimbursing the money spent for a meal we didn't get is expected, getting nothing for our inconvenience is very disappointing. :-(
(2)
Aaron K.
Our go to place for after work drinks and pizza. They really make a good greasy pizza and usually some very strong drinks. No complaints!
(3)
Just The Facts M.
Celiac and gluten intolerant diners should be so happy to have a restaurant like The Chateau. Tonight our server, Melissa, not only gave us top-notch service, but she also warmed up two gluten-free rolls to go with my dinner. Who knew? They were so crusty and good that I couldn't believe they were gluten-free. Great service, delicious food, and reasonable prices. The Chateau knows the secret to success.
(5)
Gayle S.
I'm not sure the food here could get any worse. The fried seafood platter I had was ice cold and tasteless. My friend had a fried eggplant sandwich, one of the only vegetarian options that she could find, and she ended up sending it back. The atmosphere is tacky and horrible. I clearly won't be going back.
(1)
Robert M.
Today is Easter Sunday 2014, and just arrived home from an Easter dinner with family. I went with the boneless leg of lamb meal, which arrived to the table cold, and rubbery (could not even cut it!). My replacement choice was chicken parmesan, which had no flavor. I don't see the appeal that people have with that place, because it can't be the food. I hope today is going to be my last visit.
(1)
Courtney N.
I really wanted to love The Chateau. My partner and I drive by all the time and always love watching the coverage from their parking lot during big storms on the news. I actually picked this as my birthday meal destination (to be honest, I wanted somewhere in Boston but the surprise snow made that too difficult). It was packed, despite the snowy conditions, but there was no wait and we were seated promptly. I wasn't a fan of where we landed - in a booth right behind the register and service station so we got to watch orders being wrapped up to go and listen to the servers chat with each other. The menu is huge and decently priced. I got the house sangria. It wasn't very good. My partner got an Italian beer and enjoyed it. I went with the Trio 2 which was chicken parmagiana, lasagna and fettucine alfredo. The chicken was decent the alfredo was good but the lasagna was awful. It really tasted re-heated without much care put into it. My partner got tripe (which oddly enough came with a side order of penne) and he loved it. Rare to see that on a menu so that was nice. We took the penne home and I ate it later in the day and it was pretty good. I guess I expected more from the Chateau. I don't think I'd return. It's fine for what it is which is just like an Olive Garden but it's not super special.
(3)
Bob M.
Bad Italian. What more can I say? They always seem busy, which amazes me - must be getting a lot of first-timers off the highway. Sauces are bland; the marinara might as well be a blend of Hunt's tomato sauce and paste straight from the cans. Pasta is usually overcooked and if it's made there I'd fire the pasta maker.
(1)
Dano M.
To start off they don't have coca cola products. The type of people that eat here are old and and near death. The food looks as though it is pre made and the cook sticks it in a microwave and heats it up. All and all a poor experience for a restaurant claiming to have original recipes.
(2)
Linda B.
Great family friendly clean restaurant with a large menu selection. Always jammed packed.... So expect a wait....overall...very satisfied and will be a repeat customer! ;-)
(4)
Lin M.
Second time here and still don't know what the fuss is about. We went when it first opened and thought it might just be new business jitters. Nope. The food is very American Italian. Think of Chinese American food and this is the equivalent for Italian food. I just don't understand the appeal. The portions aren't huge (usually a draw for some) and the price was not cheap. A side salad is NOT included and costs $3.00. Dinner for two: salad, entree and glass of wine was over $75.00. For food that tasted like it came out of a can. Just don't understand the fact that they have 8 locations and people coming in all the time. Could it be the KENO?
(2)
FearlessLdr I.
This place has become a victim of it's success. A once-really good restaurant has "chained" it's way (like Pizzeria Regina) to being, at best, mediocre. The Chateau started out in Waltham, Mass as a mom-and-pop restaurant serving some of the best and most reasonably priced Italian food in the Boston area. Eating there back in the 1980s, I remember the place being crowded, the food served hot and well above average (almost excellent). The waitstaff was attentive, the scali (Italian) bread was warm, unsliced and made on the premises. People showed up just for the bread. They sold a lot of it "to go." Fast forward to the second decade of the 21st century. The Chateau has multiple locations (each one of the children/grandchildren has their own property?). They have clearly lost their focus (Chicken Teriyaki in an Italian restaurant? Video keno in the bar?). The Andover location is packed with grandmothers dressed in a manner calculated to compete with their granddaughters and the quality of the food has dropped drastically. My dinner last Thursday was a party of four adults. Appetizers were soup, calamari Rhode Island-style (with spicy peppers) and cheesy garlic bread. Two of us ordered seafood, one ordered Fetuccini Alfredo with chicken and the fourth ordered spaghetti w meatsauce. Desserts had were cannoli and ice cream. Taking the lead of my friends, we all had water or soda. Dinner for four (with tip) was $145. Portion sizes were good. However, every item arrived lukewarm to cold; especially the side dishes of green beans and Florentine Rice. The only way the side dishes could have been colder would be to refrigerate them. The cannoli were room temperature. The only item served at the right temperature was the ice cream. Even their once-famous warm bread (now sliced) was cold. Our waitress was very busy but competent. If there were any "specials," she didn't tell us. However, with a menu the size of The Chateau's, I doubt there were any. My advice? Stop trying to be everything to everyone. The menu is at least three times too large. There is no way a menu as large as the one offered by The Chateau can be cooked to order. Go back to the things that made your family's original restaurant a success. I'm pretty sure that Nachos, Mac & Cheese and Chicken Teriyaki were NOT on Nana Nocera's menu. The Andover location, adjacent to I-93, has been many things over the years, including a comedy club. All these previous ventures ended in bankruptcy court. It's my fervent hope the owners are able to restore their restaurant to the quality of food their grandparents/great-grandparents served lest they wake up one day to an empty bar, the dining room a ghost town and find themselves as successful (or lack thereof) as the previous tenants of the space they now occupy.
(2)
Dina B.
Tania, our waitress, was great. Tania, I'm sorry for the rest of the review... Terrifically overpriced for the quantity and quality of the food. Their pasta sauce stinks, and the two people at our table who got a Combo plate (grilled chicken, steak tips, and sausage) said that their meat was significantly overcooked. Don't go if you can avoid it.
(2)
Jeffrey C.
A chain in MA with mediocre Italian-American food, with a French name. Big portions for the money, good service, and a lot to choose from! I think I would choose Olive Garden over this.
(2)
Linda M.
I am so disappointed. The parking lot was packed so you would think this place had the best Italian food around. Why, why,why. please someone tell me why this place is packed? Do people no longer have taste buds? For this location and Italian focus I was expecting a killer sauce and a Italian dressing that you'd want to buy a bottle of to take home. The sauce had no flavor and the dressing was worse than bottled and I am sure it is bottled. The toasted ravioli sounded good, crunchy outside filled with hot melted cheese... but they came lukewarm, and soggy. I couldn't tell apart the ravioli and the chicken parm which came in little lumps on the plate. Come on..they can do so much better. How about some homemade pastas, a limited menu of high quality food, a great homemade sauce and Italian dressing? This location has always had mediocre to bad restaurants. Why oh why can't they have a Hilltop or something worthwhile here? And, how can people eat this food? it is an insult to Italians! I would love for Chef Ramsay to do a show here.
(1)
Riccardo D.
It's been a long while since I've dined at The Chateau and during my absense, I had hoped things had improved. They have not. I went here again because my friend insisted that she had eaten a delicious chicken salad here previously. Understanding full-well that the Italian food here is dreadful, I decided to order a salad. To be more specific, I ordered a cobb salad. Where to begin...the eggs were overcooked having that ghastly green-line that indicates that they were boiled by a "cook" having no proper training. The chicken was bland, the avocado was there but barely, the bacon was clearly real but from a container and not freshly-prepared and crumbled, the dressing was some mess of a balsamic conoction which is not traditional or tasty. This restaurant simply cannot pull off a basic salad. The waitress was polite but had little personality and was just going through the motions. On a Wednesday for lunch, being located in a crowded business park the establishment was nearly empty. Is it any wonder why? The owners of this chain need to shut it down or totally revamp their business. This was my last visit.
(2)
Katie S.
This is my second time at this specific Chateau and it was a nice time. Although I was not to happy to be seated right next to a party of 15 people, they were very loud. If there are that many people for one seating they should have a room dedicated to that. I ordered the Scallops and Clam strips and it was pretty good. The scallops were perfect but the clam strips could of used some seasoning and been cooked a little longer. I had the toasted raviolis on the side, they were delicious. Our waitress was nice and friendly and did not annoy us or ignore us, she was a well trained employee. The ambience of this specific location was decent, it is split in two right when you walk in and the staff was prompt and friendly.
(4)
Kathleen V.
NOT impressed. This Chateau is nothing like the original in Waltham :( I went last night with my family and none of us were really "wowed" by the food here. I got the chicken parm/toasted ravioli plate. The chicken was good, but the sauce tasted like Chef Boyardee. Really terrible. Big chunks of fake-tasting meat in the sauce. Not what I would expect from the Chateau. Also the toasted raviolis weren't even CLOSE to "toasted".. they were hard and cold..lol. Our waitress also forgot to put in my aunt's meal.. so it came out at the end when we were done eating, and there was no offer of taking it off the bill/ a free dessert /nothing. Waitress was a little strange overall. Oh well, won't be returning.
(1)
Kevin B.
Our family booked a mercy meal here because they were the only that could do it on such short notice, and it shows why. 1. They told my wife that the item she ordered was gluten free..well...it wasn't and the poor woman ended up in the bathroom for twenty minutes. Celiac disease is a real thing and when people ask...it's for a reason and you should be certain before you answer. That's enough for us to never go back. 2. The food was terrible. the "Steak tips" were more like stewing steak that had been HORRIBLY over cooked. VERY difficult to chew, and that's not they way you cook steak. The green beans were over done and soaked in butter to the point of no-return, and I was told the chicken ziti Alfredo was like eating a bowl of cheesy butter. Just about the only good things were the mozzarella sticks. 3. Nothing was ready when the party arrived. we were told appetizers would be out at 3:30...and they weren't...Orders were taken at 4:30, almost an hour after they TOLD us appetizers would be ready...so pretty poor service there. and 4. there is ZERO family feel to this place. You walk in to the front desk in a room next to a bar, and the feel is what I imagine an old strip club feels like...with red neon lights lighting up the room, dim lighting, and bad wood paneling everywhere. It looked more like an Irish Pub restaurant than a family restaurant...hell...the Piccadilly Pub is more family friendly. Needless to say we won't be eating here again.
(1)
Armando L.
Frankly, I don't understand why this restaurant is so popular. A one star review is reserved for uneatable food and horrendous service, so I decided on a two star review. Reasons why I didn't like the restaurant: 1) The prices are a bit above average and their food is average at best. 2) My friend got food poisoning there. To be fair, she has a sensitive stomach. 3) I was not a fan of their bread. 4) The pasta dished look like my pasta dishes I made in college and tasted like them too.
(2)
Andy F.
When I heard that I would get to have lunch at a place called The Chateau, I got very excited. I pictured a French castle, set on a rolling meadow with vinicultural activity. There would be servers there in period costumes, like maybe 19th century provincial? And the menu would be a feast of roast duck, sausages, and friendly ladies with pitchers of ale and the finest wines. So I'm in the car, riding shotgun (duh), and daydreaming about how awesome this place is going to be. IN REALITY it is a big Italian place in the parking lot behind a La Quinta, somewhere in Massachusetts. Definitely not on a rolling meadow with friendly animals you can pet and then eat. The best part about the place was a really awesome server named Melissa who was very nice and professional.
(2)
Jay T.
I haven't been compelled (or had the time) to write a review on Yelp for quite some time, despite how heavily I rely on all you fellow yelpers as I travel the country quite extensively. With that said, here I sit, clattering away on my iPhone (ok ok, the clattering is imaginary) composing this review in the restaurant to assure you the freshest possible details of my experience (perhaps the freshest thing in this restaurant). Let me start by asking, you the captivated audience of this post, how long would you expect it takes to cook chicken parmigiana, toasted ravioli and fettuccine Alfredo?.. Now I'm no chef, however I (and assuming you as well) may have expected some estimate greater than 5 minutes. I was taken aback by the speed at which my entree arrived I could only assume that my dinner was assembled from heated trays akin to McDonalds methodology. I was surprised to find out that their chef was actually none other than a retired superhero!!.. Ahh, I lied. In (disappointing) fact, as I sampled my "trio" entree I came to realize that I've had better microwaveable TV dinners. I'm sure the restaurant founders (a charming Sicilian couple) would roll over in their graves, zombify, return to the land of the living, see their portrait on the menu, and with a disgusted undead groan, proceed to rip apart and devour every person working in the kitchen. Extreme? I know! How's this for extreme? There's a Chili's next door and I'm kicking myself for not eating there instead. At least they cook their food to order. I expect my dinner may have been plated by a blind person before a quick "nuke" in the "micro" then enjoying a rest under the heat lamp for 4 minutes, prior to being brought to my table. Ok, so the food isn't good. Clear? Any redeeming factors? Well, an attentive waitress and a couple glasses of wine... Sounds about accurate. Even the host staff was miserable (I should have taken the hint). When I walked in there were three hosts, two of which were having a personal conversation about someone (likely a coworker) that they mutually disliked, and didn't get so much as a "yo" from either of them. I've had better Italian food at Caraba's or Macaroni Grill. I know there aren't a lot of choices in this particular part of MA, but in retrospect I may have been more satisfied with chicken Mc nugglets... If you feel I might be a little harsh, biased or what-have-you I'll leave you with this concise final thought: the restaurant is called "The Chateau - Italian Family Dining", so WTF is Chicken Teriyaki doing on the menu?
(1)
John P.
This place has a wide variety of options on the menu. Very reasonable food prices and quality is good and consistant. Recent drink price increase puts this place on the high side such as $9 for a Kendal Jackson Chardonnay and close $5.50 for a common import beer. Atmosphere is great with lots of TVs on the bar side. Service depends in who you get as a server, but otherwise the operation runs like a clock. First choice would be the pizza and Italian food. Apps are great and you can do 1/2 orders on those. Rarely dissatisfied there.
(4)
Bill C.
I ate there tonight and found it to be very good for the prices and the service was excellent. I had eggplant parmagiana with spaghetti.
(3)
Tracy C.
I've been to the Chateau at least a dozen times and I've always had great service. The last 2 times I went, however, we had the same bartender who just couldn't be bothered. Last night we decided not to go back. I asked the bartender if he could recommend a dry white wine. At first he said he was busy (it didn't look it) and then he looked up and said he didn't know much about wines. I asked him if he could ask someone and he shrugged it off. Next, I asked if I could try one of their Rieslings. He said "In a minute - " and it did return a few minutes later with the Riesling. He then took our orders, I just wanted a side of meatballs and spinach. My friend ordered stuffed mushrooms and cheese manicotti with sausage. He asked for extra lemon and was told, "We have lemon here at the bar.". Fine. When the food came, I asked him (the bar had cleared out) if I could get some fresh parm (I hate the shaker stuff). Before I could get all the words out, he said, "No.". Then he continued, "We don't have any.". Wait. What? He should have just said "no". You can't tell me an Italian place doesn't have fresh parm cheese. But, I didn't want to spoil my night. I just made do. When I was getting the check, he apologized for the night. He said, "You know how one person can spoil the night?", and I replied, "Yeah, actually, I do.". And he said, "Well that's what happened to me.". And then I asked which copy was mine and he gruffly said, "Ugh, the one wrapped around your card.". I thanked him, tipped him and left.
(2)
Leo Z.
Wow, a lot of bad karma here! (reviews). Our waitress was occasionally missing but I got the feeling she was new...and I'm OK with dealing with someone new. The female bartender was a bit flirty (not a good thing when you're with a date) but I suppose that how she gets bigger tips (I know there a dirty joke in there somewhere!). Otherwise, the service from both was acceptable. The food was really top notch, wings for an app were very tasty!. It's kind of hard to screw up chix parm but it was really good. My date's eggplant was right on. The drinks were expensive but they are expensive everywhere. There's almost always a waiting line so that should tell you something.
(4)
Jennifer V.
I loved it, great food, portions were huge, service was friendly and quick, and prices seemed fair although I wasnt paying. Huge dinning rooms so plenty of room not cramped feeling, bar was very nice as well. hint toasted raviolis to die for!
(4)
Bobby B.
Used to go to the Waltham location when I lived in the area 15 years ago and I remember the food being much better than this. The combo appetizer was good and the marinara sauce was tasty. The beer was cold. The waitress was excellent. That is where the good ends. Wife and I each got the chicken parm, lasagna, meatball combo. The meatball was dry and tasteless, the chicken parm was dry and hard. The lasagna was bland, tasteless with no seasoning in the ricotta cheese what so ever. The sauce was bland and tasteless also. A real shame given how good it used to be.
(2)
Ali C V.
The Chateau has done really well for itself being as-average-as-it-gets so I wasn't expecting miracles. However, their Andover kitchen must be populated with slackers. There's just no other explanation. My experience there last night went something like this... Me: I'll have the filet Mignon medium rare with green beans and rice Florentine. Thanks. Waitress: Here you go. Enjoy. Thank you... Excuse me, this steak is well done. (She apologizes and takes it back). (5 minutes later) Waitress: Here you go. Can you please cut it and see if it's ok? Me: Sure. Thank you. (cut) Umh, this is rare. Waitress: Apologizes and takes it back. (2 minutes later) Waitress: Here you go. Try now. Me: (Cut cut) It's medium. :( The dish's presentation was uninspired bordering on depressing. My "rice Florentine" was a parslied rice (no spinach in sight) and my green beans were more greyish-green from being boiled to death. Can't they at least afford to serve fresh or frozen beans? Fast advice to The Chateau: -- Teach your cooks how to cook steaks to order. -- Take the Penne off the gluten-free menu. Wheat is wheat. -- While you're at it, take the haddock (or seafood) casserole with cracker crust off there, too. Ritz crackers are also made with wheat. I have two words for this place: NEVER AGAIN!
(1)
Ribblet N.
I've seen a lot of families go here as part of my work and a friend was excited to go. It was alright, can't really say anything that stood out.
(3)
Richard G.
Ordered veal parm, got veal patty. The pasta and sauce tasted akin to cafeteria food. Bread was good. Overpriced for what they serve. Would not recommend.
(1)
Rick K.
Literally the worst food I have ever had in my life. Chicken marsala was absolutely disgusting. Really dry lifeless chicken, terrible sauce, just an over all really bad meal. What happened to the awesome fresh bread? The bread we got was crusty and felt like day (or multiple day) old bread. This was a huge disappointment b/c I've had this bread many times and I love it. I'm hoping somebody has contacted Kitchen Nightmares b/c this place is the perfect candidate. NEVER again.
(1)
Allison P.
I don't understand all the negative reviews of this place. I have been here on numerous occasions. I prefer to sit in the lounge/bar area which is always packed, so get there early unless you don't mind waiting for a seat. You're not going to find authentic Italian food here. It's definitely more Italian American cuisine; however, I must say that I have never had a bad meal, the service is always great and the prices are fair. My favorites are the chicken parm, turkey tips w/ grilled veggies and the pizza (although, the margherita pizza is not as good as others I've had elsewhere). It's a mixed crowd of all ages which I enjoy. I can say that I have been to a couple of the other locations and they were definitely not as good as this one.
(4)
Bryan H.
OK, had salmon/haddock Nantucket. They said fish was something they were really known for but the fish wasn't anything to write home about.
(2)
Mike S.
Papa Jim has found a restaurant suitable to his liking! Mr. Jim is very particular in his food intake, so trying to get him to the perfect place has been a little of a challenge. The Chateau Italian Restaurant is now Jim's #1 food spot! I have to admit, I like their food and menu myself. I've had everything from steamers and stuffies, to New England clam chowder and minestrone soup. Yesterday I had shrimp cocktail followed by Tuscany Styled Grilled Shrimp with grilled vegetables over rice -- fantastic! However, I really like their Lobster, Shrimp, & Scallop Diavalo -- I've had this dish more than once! Papa Jim has only had fried scallops and hamburgers, but he swears by them! If Papa Jim says it's good, then you know it's good! If you're around Andover, or anywhere in Massachusetts for that matter, give The Chateau Italian Restaurant a try. You'll be glad you came!
(4)
Joseph R.
I have always enjoyed The Chateau Restaurant in Waltham, MA. Fresh food, expertly prepared, and always served by true professionals. That has now changed due to a rapid expansion. Instead of hiring and training professional chefs to work in their restaurants, they have dumbed down their entire operation, using heat and serve frozen food. Yes, the kind of stuff that an 18 year old can plate and serve. One of my favorite items was the Rhode Island Calamari. Fresh calamari, lightly dusted with flour, flash fried and served with hot peppers and marinara sauce. Now, they use frozen calamari. The breading falls off when you try to pick it up exposing a chewy rubber band. Absolutely horrible. The chicken parmesan was always a classic. A pounded fresh chicken breast that would cover the whole plate. Now.....a portion controlled piece of dry meat. Again, horrible. Before I put the kiss of death on this rapidly growing regional chain, I thought I would give it one last try. I went to the Andover location and ordered a simple Italian Specialty, tripe. Although not a common item, it is very had to screw up. They served me under cooked, large chunks of tripe that were inedible. The service in Waltham was always excellent, Andover is a different story. First we endured an argument over who should be our server, then the lucky candidate disappeared(in an almost empty restaurant). The only items that has been consistent has been their bread, which is very good, and the toasted ravioli. Very sad that they decided to expand the lazy, profitable(short term)way, I really enjoyed their food.
(2)
Julie P.
Had dinner here last week. I got the sirlion and shrimp special. The stuffed shrimp, the lightly sauteed spinach were both great. The sirloin was ordered medium well and came out like leather. My waitress was prompt to notice it was overcooked and offered another steak. The bread was very good. We also ordered spaghetti and meatballs that was neither delicious nor bad. All in all, we would go back again. The worst part of the dining experience was that they had the air conditioner on, over our table. We ate with our coats on. The server said they were turning it down, but it never did go down. The server Carlene (?) was very attentive and friendly. The bar area appeared to be jammed.
(3)
Christine T.
I really wanted to like this place. went here with friends a few nights ago since we've heard good things about it. when we first walked in the hostess seemed completely uninterested when we asked her if we could put our name in. she did not make a great impression on first time diners ... but i digress. our waitress was nice enough, although she seemed tired. I ordered a cup of clam chowder and their grilled chicken teriyaki which came with penne pasta. the clam chowder was really good, if you like a thick creamy broth and lots of clams, which I do. my dinner then came out on two separate plates, one bowl with the pasta and one plate with my chicken. It was really awkward on our small table but whatever. the pasta was good... although its difficult to mess that up. the teriyaki chicken was really overcooked and chewy. I barely ate any of it.. NOT worth nearly $15.00!! my friends got a mix of pizza's and eggplant dishes. They all seemed happy but not overly impressed, "mediocre" is definitely a good word to describe this place. The atmosphere could use a little sprucing up.. overall it was just kind of blah. if I ever go back I'll just stick with the chowder.
(2)
Wendi X.
I have grew up on this place. You see in Waltham, Ma is the original place. Then they grew/expanded. I can tell you the quality of the food has not changed one bit.
(4)
Tony R.
The eggplant here is good. I get it all the time.
(4)
Christine S.
met a friend here after work. Quickly sat, excellent service. I had the cobb salad which was just right size with very fresh ingredients. My friend had the soup on the recommendation of the waitress. It was loaded with meatballs and what looked like home made pasta. She said it was great. The bread is some of the best I've had at a restaurant this year.
(3)
Green G.
On the road. I have to say, fellow yelpers, I was a little scared going here after your reviews. But, I was road weary and staying at the Courtyard right across the way. It was fine. Not a top of my list place but just right for a satisfying meal and a good beer. Service was fine, no rush and just enough attention. I had veal parmesan with penne. The bread served with the meal was good. Will return should I be staying up this way again.
(3)
Carl K.
I truly don't understand all the raves. The food is subpar at best. The chicken parm was bland and burned on the bottom. The spaghetti was over cooked & watery. I'm stunned the place is as successful as it is. Obviously Andover has no idea of what Italian food should taste like.
(1)
Bobby C.
I had a business lunch with a few people here. There are not too many choices to eat in this area. 4.5 stars for service. Our server was really attentive and always checking up on us. It seemed like service varied from server to server though. Nothing special about the place, 3 stars for ambiance. It was fairly clean and nicely decorated. The menu was pretty extensive. I ended up getting chicken parm with spinach ravioli lunch special. It was average. I didn't like or dislike the food.
(3)
Burger B.
The other reviewers weren't lying--everything at Chateau comes swimming in a red sauce. I went recently with a group of 7 after 2pm, when the restaurant was pretty empty. The server asked us if we had a reservation--we told her we didn't. "Wait here," she said, leaving us exchanging glances, wondering if they would seat us or not. She finally returned, grabbed some menus and sat us at one of several large tables. After taking the first person's order, our waitress abruptly dashed away, saying another table's food was up. We waited, again exchanging confused glances. She came back and continued taking our orders. The food came out quickly--which was surprising. I opted for the eggplant parm and subbed in a side of toasted ravioli. It was.. drowning in the red sauce. Our group left stuffed, though not satisfied. Ergh. I've had my fill of that evil red sauce for a while. I probably won't be back.
(2)
Fred G.
We've passed this place on the highway a thousand times and tonight we finally tried it. The word that comes to mind is mediocre. The atmosphere was crowded and noisy. The menu selection was basic Italian from the 1960s. The service was slow. The bread was basic store-bought Italian white from a bag. I had the chicken parmesan and a salad. The salad was small with iceberg lettuce predominating. There was one tomato wedge in it. I got a single overcooked chicken breast, probably already breaded while frozen and about 1.5 cups of overcooked ziti. The marinara sauce was undercooked and watery. We won't be back.
(2)
Stephen F.
The food is overdone and tasteless. The Salad was small. The service was slow. If you like eating with old people you'll love The Chateau. The food is mediocre at best. It is as if they are use to cooking for people without taste buds.
(2)
Lauren R.
It wasn't until AFTER I had my rehearsal dinner here a few years back for my wedding that I really came to appreciate this restaurant. The bread served before the meal is excellent. Always incredibly fresh, with crispy seseme seed crust. I could come and just eat bread and butter all night. But the best part about it which draws me here every time are the gnocchis in the creamy tomato sauce. I get it every time. I've also had their butternut squash raviolis on special - also delicious. I like this place for a good laid back evening. We opt to sit in the bar room every time because it's lively but surprisingly not overwhelmingly loud. There are TVs at each booth table in the bar that you can control which makes for a more interesting dinner out. I love watching TV from a TV tray at home, so this place is right up my alley. Come early if you're there to catch a seat with a TV during a sports game. Service has always been pretty good, with a few exceptions, but usually pretty fast seating and service.
(4)
Chas K.
This place serves up fine examples of red sauce Italian and classic neighborhood "Italian joint" food like chicken piccata, Francaise, etc. Nothing too fancy, but everything is well executed. Prices are ridiculously low. They have an extensive and creative menu of cocktails, including lots of Martinis and a Patron Margarita for $7! Unheard of. The kid's menu is a tremendous value. It's a great plce to go with the kiddos after a day at nearby Canobie Lake Park.
(4)
Busy L.
This place has gone downhill quickly...Was your typical red sauce restaurant that served a good chicken parm dinner. Went tonight and wife and son had the chicken and eggplant combo. It reminded me of hospital cafeteria steam table food. The food consisted of heated up pasta, a piece of pre-cooked fried chicken cutlet, slice of cheese, warm sauce put on top to melt the cheese. Chicken and eggplant tasted like it was fried about 3 days ago. I will not be returning to this restaurant.
(1)
Sullys C.
Tvs at every table, portions good, prices decent, good mixed drinks. No complaints. Well, getting to the parking lot was dicy, but not enough to hurt the overall score.
(5)
Geoff J.
Me and a few friends went here after skiing and to watch the game, they have TV's in each booth! The chicken and salmon dinner was very good as well.
(5)
Ryan W.
Food was so so, service alright, price-inexpensive.
(2)
Fred P.
We hadn't been to this restaurant in a long time and decided to give it a try on a sat night. Was told an1/2 hour wait but was seated in about 20 mins. We were seated on the bar side in a small 2 person booth, tabletop was cramped with all the menus, etc they display along with a small flat screen displaying endless keno games. The waitress was friendly, came for our drink orders, drinks arrived fairly quickly. It was the last time she asked if we needed drinks during our visit. We decided to order simple meals, my wife ordered manicotti with meatballs, I ordered penne with chicken and veal cutlets. The food came out fairly quickly which surprised us, we soon realized why. The manicotti was fair, the meatballs pretty bad (supposed to be a speciality). My meal was also just fair, penne was fine but not very hot, the chicken parm was fair, the veal was lousy. To try to salvage the meal we ordered the tiramisu, it tasted stale and we only ate 1/2 of it. During this time the waitress came to the table once. My wife has had good meals at the Waltham location, don't know what happened in Andover. Maybe we had a new waitress, maybe we ordered the wrong items, but whatever the case it is very doubtful we will ever go back there again.
(1)
Sebastian S.
I ordered toasted ravioli and meatballs. Both were under seasoned and bland. The atmosphere is nice however.
(2)
Peter L.
The Chateau is one of the best restaurants off of Exit 45, but then again, it has a near monopoly in the area, with only Chili's in sight. Despite the French name, the Chateau specializes in Italian American fare, of the red sauce variety. In a way, though, it is comforting, as this is the food that many of us grew up on. The special included a greatest hits of Italian American fare and for $12, you got manicotti, a meat ball and chicken parm. It was a lot of food at a low price but not great. Still, I will come here again as there isn't much around and the location is very convenient to the hotels in Andover.
(2)
Sarah S.
If you're a vegetarian, you should definitely avoid this place. And if you can't avoid it, you should make sure you check to make sure there is no meat in your food. I've been here a few times, and as far as I can remember, I've had problems with there being bits of meat (or more than bits) in my food. The only time I continued going there is because my parents really liked it for some reason, despite the rather mediocre food. Two experiences were particularly memorable (the first and the last). The first: I ordered the toasted ravioli and asked if it would be possible to get marinara sauce instead of meat sauce. I was told this would be fine. The meal comes out, and the raviolis are quite clearly covered in meat sauce. The waitress told me I ordered meat sauce, but, as my parents could attest to, I clearly did not. Why would I, a vegetarian, order meat sauce anyway? Exactly, I wouldn't. I think I wound up just getting the toasted ravioli without any sauce at all. The last: I had ordered some other things in between (none of them particularly memorable), and decided to try the toasted ravioli again - this time, hopefully, with sauce. I did the same as the first time, ordering the toasted ravioli with marinara sauce. When the raviolis came out, the sauce appeared to be marinara sauce, but I had learned not to trust this place, so I pushed the raviolis around a little just to check and, to no one's surprise, there were several chunks of meat in the sauce. I pointed this out to the waitress and explained that I was a vegetarian, and she was very apologetic, taking the raviolis away to get me a replacement. The replacement came with a visit from the manager, who apologized and said he watched the sauce being put on the raviolis and assured me that it was definitely marinara sauce. Well, as soon as the raviolis were placed in front of me, I saw a chunk of meat. Seriously? My dad was really angry at this point, and he gave the waitress a good rant. The waitress agreed that it was ridiculous that there was still meat in it. We speculated that perhaps the meat sauce was next to the marinara sauce and some sloppy person let some of the meat sauce fall into the marinara. The manager came back and apologized and said he would get us another toasted ravioli, but at that point, both my parents had finished eating and I had lost my appetite. So instead, he gave us a gift card and a free dessert, which is nice, but the gift card was pretty useless, as we're never going back. I think my mom just gave it to a friend. If not for the meat problems, I would be giving this place a three-star review. The food is okay, even pretty good sometimes - but it's just not worth the hassle or the risk for me.
(1)
Kathleen C.
I highly recommend having any special event here. I arranged everything from CA for a wedding rehearsal dinner and the catering manager Karen was helpful, made recommendations for floral arrangements and the evening was wonderful. A group of 30 (including 4 children under 8 yrs of age) were happy with the food selections, wine and private dining area. The serving staff was very accommodating and helpful - the mother of the groom could actually enjoy herself! Thank you for a great event!
(5)
Steve N.
blows worse than Olive Garden.
(1)
Matt S.
I have been to the Chateau in Waltham and Norwood, but this was my first visit to Andover. My wife and I went to celebrate our anniversary. We were seated in the Gold Room, which with 2 groups was a bit noisy. We were happy that both groups left by the time our dinner came. The room was tastefully decorated and very comfortable. We started off with the house red wine, which was quite good. I am not wine connoisseur, but we both enjoyed the flavor. They also brought us out some of their signature bread which we both enjoyed. I had the chicken parmigiana with fried raviolis and meat sauce. The sauce was a little lacking in the meat, but the food was quite delicious. There was more than enough food on my plate. My wife had the fillet, which she said was a little under done, but she enjoyed it. She did say that her green beans were overcooked. The service was good, but maybe our waitress was having a bad day. She was not very conversational and seemed in a rush to get us out of there. As she was cleaning up our dinner plates, she asked if we wanted desert. I said I had to think about it, so she handed me the dessert menu and then stood and waited. I would have preferred a few minutes to digest! One of the other waitresses working our room was very friendly and stopped to check on us, so maybe our waitress was having a bad day. I had the tiramisu for dessert which I enjoyed thoroughly. The cost was very reasonable. Just over $60 for 2 dinners, 3 glasses of wine, & a dessert.
(4)
Nico H.
This is one of those places that has too many selections on their menu. They have like everything. It seems like it's supposed to be an italian restaurant , however has lots of Asian items. This is a good comfort food place, with nice booths and cool old school ambiance. I was expecting a 4 star dining experience with the name Chateau, however this place is more comfort food home style. PS - I did go here on a date and it went well.
(3)
John C.
Good menu and prices. Nice atmosphere. Good food and great bread. The drinks are not watered down. Wait staff is very pleasant. Excellent desserts.
(4)
Hope M.
I've had worse...Not horrible but not all that people rave about either. Prices would be okay if the food had flavor. the Food was bland. If I didn't add a truck load of red pepper flakes there would have been no taste. I was hoping that it would be better then the Waltham location in the taste department but not happening.
(2)
Dawn E.
Toasted Ravioli. Wonderful with chicken parm. This is a good place to go with a bunch of friends or with family. The restaurant is big and the portions are bigger. A single meal is easily two or three. Regulars are treated well and known by name. The Chateau is a chain in Mass but it didn't let that compromise their quality or service. I would go back again most certainly.
(3)
SteelyDanFan M.
Love this place. Food is excellent here; you could ramdomly pick any item off menu, seafood, Italian, steak, whatever, and it's almost gauranteed to be delicious. The bar area is generally a spirited, fun area, and a great place to be if you want to watch sports while eating or having a few drinks. The clientele tends to be a bit older (generally 35 and above), which means you won't have to deal with annoying and obnoxious 20-somethings who are sitting there rudely texting the entire time. Patrons here are actually watching sports and having actual conversations with other people. Servers are friendly and very attentive, and the prices are quite reasonable. Their pizza is nothing short of outstanding, and their Italian dishes are made from scratch. The only drawback is that the portions (except for the pizzas) are not super-huge, but in this horrendous economy many restaurants are cutting back, so I can understand how restaurants need to adjust portion sizes. In general, the atmosphere is pleasant, welcoming, and unpretenscious; the same could not be said for a lot of Boston-area establishments, many of which try to come off as something they're not.
(5)
Dave A.
The Chateau in Andover, MA. Per my waitress' suggestion I ordered the "Tuscan Shrimp" $16.99 and 30 minutes later she unabashedly brought me a dish with four (4) small shrimp on it, surrounded by a few wilted lettuce leaves. When I asked if the greater portion of my meal had fallen off the plate on its way to my table, she shrugged and said, "I know, that's a lot of money for four shrimp, but you said you wanted something Italian seafood... ". Only because I was on a date and didn't want to cause a scene, I bit my lip and toyed with my four morsels so that I wouldn't out-pace my date by finishing my dinner in 60 seconds. When the waitress finally brought the check and I saw $16.99 on the bill, it reminded me of how ripped off I was feeling and I politely asked to see the manager, intending to complain and be refunded, or at least an adjustment made. Incredibly we sat there for 15 minutes and no manager appeared... we were then told the manager was "busy" and to come back tomorrow. I will never go back to this ridiculously-run place which is a complete waste of time and money in my opinion.
(1)
Jaime C.
As good as the Original. When I left the New England area I missed very little in the way of eateries, except for the Chateau in Waltham. Fast forward a few years to the opening of this newer location. My folks suggested we try it. I was amazed. Everything that I remebered of the original and more. The food was quick & delicious. The staff was friendly. The atmospher even nicer than the older place. Newer, better & a real classic.
(4)
Andrea C.
I can't believe the recent negative posts. My husband and I went here on a Saturday night, there was about an hour wait so we sat at the bar. Bartenders were friendly, large screen tv's on the wall and they had keno. We decided to eat at the bar, I had the toasted ravioli as an appetizer, it was so so good, bread and friend with a delicious marina sauce. For a dinner I had eggplant parm with gnocchi. Eggplant was excellent, not a huge fan of the gnocchi (my husband makes much better). Bread was delicious, soft center with a hard crust. The prices were very reasonable, under $20 a dish. I don't think it's the best I've had as far as italian food but I was more then pleased and will definitely return. We will return again and will check out the one near our house in Burlington. It also was a great night, my husband won $200 in keno!
(4)
Felicia M.
We ate here today for our company holiday lunch / Yankee swap. 11 of us were seated together at one long table which was nice. Drink order was taken quickly and served quickly. While taking our food order, her pager went off and she disappeared but came back in a minute or two. Our food came out right at the end of our swap, great timing. I had the chopped salad with turkey tips. Should have gotten dressing on the side, it was drowning in oily Italian dressing. The turkey tips were over marinated in terriyaki and tasted kind of old. Other peoples food was overloaded with red sauce as other reviewers commented. A quick survey of those seated closest to me said their meals were "fine", meaning they were perfectly edible, but nothing special. The baskets of scali (italian? not sure) bread were quite tasty - our waitress asked us at the end if someone would like to take home the extra bread (suggesting it makes great french toast), and assuring us that they do NOT recycle their bread and it will get tossed otherwise. I thought that was very nice, and funny of her. And so someone did get it all bagged up and took it. So, the food is mediocre at best, there are better places out there to dine at. However, our waitress Jackie, was fantastic and made the experience just a little more pleasant for us.
(2)
Don D.
Great value,always crowded,service amazingly always good. If you're with children you don't have to apologize. Bar very busy. They're very accommodating arrived there one night after the kitchen closed they went out of there way to get us something. Have been there four times always amazed at the fluidity of the operation. Enjoy the hectic lively atmosphere & try the Trio 1 really good.
(4)
M P.
I went to Chateau yesterday for Valentine's Day. There was an hour wait (which is to be expected) so we grabbed calamari and a couple of drinks at the bar before we got seated. Then we had the Trio meal for $13. Good portion. Food was decent but not outstanding. However, the atmosphere was excellent. There is a TV in each booth. Fun and casual. At first the "family style dining" in the logo threw me off because I was looking for a fun date-night out. Don't be deterred; it's a great time for families and couples alike. I will definitely go back.
(3)
Dave B.
This place is kinda like a chain (which I don't like), but I do like this place. Go here on the weekend & ask yourself if there is a problem with the economy. Huge bar two deep and a long wait for a table. But its worth it. Large menu and I've never had a bad meal. Friendly service, good prices, huge parking lot & easy to get too. The flat screens at the bar booths are a plus.
(4)
Jen J.
Got take-out both times...pretty good and quick service. The mussels marinara over linguine was excellent. Tons of garlic in the sauce though, so take a GasX first! The restaurant is huge and you can't miss the neon sign from the highway. Extensive menu, large bar, function rooms, and good atmosphere for large groups. They also offer take-out catering and family-style take-out (for 4-5 ppl).
(4)
Alicia B.
Despite the French name, the Chateau is Italian-American food. I've been here plenty of times, mainly because it's right by my office and it's convenient to meet up with coworkers here when we leave at night. I also used to live nearby and it was easy for a quick bite. The food is mediocre Americanized Italian food, most of which is covered in red sauce, as others have said. The food isn't terrible as far as food goes, but don't come here looking for authentic Italian. They have a large menu with anything from sandwiches to pasta and seafood - but I'd suggest passing on the seafood. I'd compare the type of food you get here as to something you'd get at a diner -including large portions. I think if the Chateau were not a convenient place to go to, I'd probably not make a point to go there. It's just that there aren't many other places to go in this immediate area. It's not terrible, but if you're willing/able to go further into Andover or elsewhere, you'll definitely find better. That said, I'll still end up going here when we meet up with work people either in the restaurant or the bar.
(3)
Ed M.
This place is all about expectations and what you need out of a restaraunt. If your looking for a couple of beers and some apps, go for it. If your looking for a place to take your small kids also a great choice. It can be a little loud, lots of hustle and bustle on the busy nights, T.V.s at the tables and lots of kid friendly food all make it good for familys. I probably wouldn't go here for a date night but thats just me. The food is good, and the service is friendly. All in all not a bad place depending on what your needs are.
(3)
Billy v.
nice place ,nice wait staff 2 good size bars not the best Italian food but is ok food for the price
(2)
Biff F.
I need to echo some of what a previous reviewer mentioned. My wife and I used to frequent the Chateau on Rte 1 in Norwood when we were dating. When we got married and moved up to the North Shore, we were very happy to hear that the Chateau would be coming to Andover. And initially, the results were good -- we had dined there several times and also purchased takeout when visiting relatives in the area. But somewhere and somehow, over the past few years, this place has taken a wrong turn. I actually got sick one night with the veal parmigiana, and I wrote it off to bad luck. However, the next time we ate there, I had issues from the toasted ravioli -- and I quickly figured out that their "gravy" was the issue. My wife still likes the Fra Diavolo, and if I go I'll get the Prime Rib, which is pretty good. However, it's a shame that when you go to an Italian joint, you stay away from the Italian offerings. And this comes from an Italian. I really do hope that the owners try to upgrade the quality -- the portions are fine, but bring in better personnel to prepare the menu offerings.
(2)
Sadie T.
I was recently back east and was recommended by a friend to try the Chateau, so we did. Upon entering the dining room which seemed like a pleasant atmosphere, nothing to fancy but nice we were seated by friendly hostess. We were a little shocked when we recieved what seemed more like a encyclopedia than a menu, over whelming to say the least. Looking at this crazy menu we didn't know where to begin, that's where our knowledgeable funny waitress Nicole comes in. Ahhh thank god for Nicole, who arrived with an amazing basket of bread. She really knew the menu and recommend we try bruschetta, calamari or toasted ravioli as a starter. We decided on the bruschetta as she said that was her favorite and yes the bruschetta was good. For our main course she suggest that we try their seafood and since she hit the nail on the head we take her advice and go fishing. My husband really enjoyed his lobster shrimp and scallop diavlo, which he said was pretty spicy. Me being the veggie that I am loved the Margareta pizza, it was crispy thin and delicious. So all in all a good meal, great service. I would defiantly say give this place a try and hope that you get Nicole as your server. Yes you will leave full thanks to what seemed to be her endless must tries, all of which she hit on the head from the wine to the deserts I give her an A+. We had a good time and enjoyed our self, this is what great service is. Hey maybe Carnival Restaurant in Sherman Oaks should fly Nicole out to teach their witches oops I mean waitresses how it's done. My 4 stars are based on the service other wise I would have said 3.
(4)
Tricia N.
Good place for large groups. We went with a group of 11 and sat down pretty quick on a Sunday night without reservations. The food is good homey italian comfort food.
(3)
DJ H.
It's just OK, The service is slow, the food is the best part of the place. Reasonably priced sandwiches with a good selection. The pasta is overcooked most times. You know when it has that soggy texture? They talk about the famous Toasted Ravioli, I've had better boxed processed Toasted Ravioli from the local grocery store that's cheaper. I have issues with places that serve pasta. It only takes a few minutes to make pasta from scratch. Stop using boxed stale old pasta.
(3)
Chris T.
The Chateau is really a run-of the mill, typical Italian American restaurant, specializing in Italian dishes made famous from TV shows (lots of red sauce, etc.). Not bad - just nothing special. You get a descent value for your dollar. The atmosphere is pretty good and the staff is friendly, which is why I've gone back a couple of times. Some of the special combo meals they have let you sample their fare at a reasonable price. Worth visiting at least once, and more often - if American-Italian food is your thing. Not bad at all for a chain.
(3)
Aimee G.
Love this place! Yummy food! Huge portions! Inexpensive, and we have always been able to get in at dinner time with a minimal wait. Go here! You won't be sorry!! Definitely at the top of my list of good italian restaurants.
(4)
Lorrie C.
Food was great!!! Best fettuccine alfredo I've ever had Chicken parm was excellent also Service was excellent! (They only lost one star as we went back the next day to get desserts - we were too stuffed from dinner and they looked so tempting! But the Desserts were just ok)
(4)
Margo M.
Nobody cleans the tables!! We finished eating hours ago and the fruit cups are still on the table along with all of the utensils and dessert plates!! Fruit cup limp and lifeless and that is why nobody ate them!!
(2)
Jay D.
A picture is worth a thousand words.. yelp.com/biz_photos/the-…
(3)
John C.
Always a pleasant experience. The food is very good, it's served quickly by a friendly staff and I enjoy the atmosphere.
(4)
Peg T.
We enjoyed our meal here. The fried ravioli was tasty. I loved the gnocchi with cream sauce. My husband had spaghetti and meatballs; he said the meatballs were very good. The service was quick and friendly. We would definitely come back if we were in the area.
Terrible food! You could tell everything was precooked and microwaved to order. Mushrooms were out of a can. I'll never go back.
(1)
Steve S.
The Chateau was close to my hotel and didn't want to drive in traffic so gave it a shot, despite mixed reviews on Yelp. Atmosphere is nice. Wound up sitting on the bar side. Service was fine, typical when sitting at a bar because you can catch their eye easily. Got a house merlot, nothing great but drinkable. Wide variety of choices, specials, so plenty to choose from. Ordered the toasted ravioli and chicken parm combo. Plenty of food. Ravioli was good, but not outstanding (have had better in North End and other true Italian food hotspots) Chicken parm was ok too, tasty and plentiful but almost felt it was pre-made and then reheated with sauce thrown over it. One major complaint, echoed over and over in reviews of this place, is food comes out lukewarm. Not cold, but barely hot enough to start and by time you are done it's getting cold. Overall, this is a 2.5-3.0 star eatery.
(2)
William F.
Dined her on Saturday 3/7/15 around 1:30 in the afternoon, party of 4 for late lunch. We were seated right away and the service was attentive. I ordered the chicken parmesan plate with penne pasta. The pasta and tomato sauce were luke warm, the chicken parm was hot but lacked flavor. other dishes ordered were french onion soup which I was told was quite good and also clam chowder which was luke warm and average. I probably will not eat here again, there are better italian restaurants near by.
(2)
Nicole S.
Dined here a couple weeks ago while we were in town for the drag racing in NH. Very much enjoyed the Trio with fettuccine, toasted ravioli, and chicken parm. The bread was delicious, chicken parm was tasty, and I loved the sauce on the ravioli. Dishes were cleared in a consistent manner and the staff took very good care of us even with all the graduate parties coming in.
(5)
dajian x.
Huge place divided into bar and booths and a dining area. Went there several times and tried various dishes. I am not sure why it is crowded. It is not the food which I found very average. The service is however decent.
(3)
Bob B.
I've been here a few times and it is always jammed pack. It's just ok. The Bruschetta is descent. Pasta and steak is just meh. Service is usually good and that is why I'll round up from 2.5 stars.
(3)
Alex B.
The Chateau keeps me coming back for the best toasted ravioli you will ever eat. On top of that the sauce is authentic old school Italian and always delicious despite its simplicity. Wouldn't get too excited about the meatballs as given their spongy consistency (not like home made at all) I'd bet you they now come out of a freezer bag but otherwise everything is top notch homestyle including the Chicken and Eggplant parms. Breading always perfect and they usually get some of the mozzarella brown and crispy... nothing better. Sesame topped scali bread is always fresh and and they always give me almost a half a loaf to go if I ask while packing up leftovers. Had excellent service last night - so good that I gave our waitress a 40% tip as I was impressed. I hope this place never changes!
(5)
Rich M.
Eaten here many times, Always pretty consistent, although today food wasn't piping hot. Good not great Italian food, Great bar and service is good. Usually have the chicken parm meatball and pasta. Great value
(3)
T R.
If you like deep fried lard and untasty dishes, this is your spot. Service was very slow and their famous toasted ravioli was deep friend and very fattening.
(2)
Elle B.
Used to be a fav spot, lost it's touch, food is no longer the same quality, presentation sucks, not appealing just messy. Menu needs updating, try making quality drinks with fresh herbs. Didn't like BROWN mint leaves in my nasty and flavorless mojito. So disappointed. Waitress was slow and instead of cleaning a spilled drink she dropped off some napkins. What a mess it's become! Literally! We've been going for years and sadly we've been disappointed too many times as of recent. Until there's change and improvement-we won't be back anytime soon.
(1)
Cathleen A.
There's no better place than The Chateau for chicken Parmesan pizza. The one we had Friday night was superb. It's no longer on the menu but the kitchen always makes it for us. Highly recommend it!!! And please put it back on the menu so more people will get to enjoy it!
(5)
Mrs. C.
Meh - pretty much sums it up. Stopped for lunch with my mom. We both got the lunch special - 1/2 sandwich and soup. The french onion soup crock was nicely covered in cheese. The soup was good, full of onions and bread but was only luke warm. Mom got the minestrone, which she said was also good, but full of meatballs, which she found odd (or maybe it's just mom thats odd...). We both got the 1/2 chicken parm sandwich which looked good, but we both agreed was totally tasteless. Place was busy, alot of groups of business people, but our waitress was fine, no complaints about the service from us. I doubt we'd stop again though, there are other,better, options nearby.
(2)
Dell M.
Food is nasty and so is the wait staff.
(1)
Kate P.
We stopped here for lunch on our way home from the airport and couldn't even find a parking spot! We were greeted by a friendly smile and a great waitress. I had the Stuffed Shells and my boyfriend had the Gnocchi - both were delicious. It's a good stop if you're on the road.
(5)
Philip M.
Service was OK. Ordered toasted ravioli. Tasted like something frozen that had been put in a microwave. No flavor. Really bad when you saw how many were in the parking lot. People have a real taste for shit. It's amazing.
(1)
Raymond I.
This restaurant is EXCELLENT!!! I come here fairly often. Great menu, delicious food, very good waitstaff, easy parking and the prices are quite reasonable.
(5)
Tom M.
First time in the area, so I walked a mile from my hotel. I don't understand why the reviews were just so so. I ordered the chicken parm and fried ravioli special. All I can say is that it tasted fantastic! The meat sauce was one of the best I have tasted. I travel a lot for my job and I would definitely return to The Chateau. By the way, I sat at the bar and Julie was an incredible waitress.
(5)
Ralph A.
Not a true Italiano place. Food not up to par. About the only item I had that was decent was the eggplant. Vino okay selection. I figure this place is known for people coming in to play Keno. The workers try hard but does not make up for the quality of the food.
(2)
Shawn S.
had a great time! Best waitress ever, thank you. Apps were good pizza she recommended was even better.
(5)
A G.
Bleh American Italian food, good service, ok prices.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Eric S.
Decided to go to the chateau for dinner with my good friend. I have been there before, and it has always been good. The waitress was very good and prompt. I had the buffalo chicken salad as my entree. The chicken tasted good and the house dressing is very good. My friend had the grilled chicken Caesar salad. We also had for an ap two meatballs and the toasted ravioli, Which were amazing. Will definitely be back soon.
(4)J E H.
We were at the Chateau for a function this past weekend and were favorably impressed, especially after seeing some mixed reviews. The restaurant offered three entrées - suitable for every palate. My lasagna was better than expected with enormous portions.
(4)Laura P.
I choose Chilis over this. Enough said.
(1)Dan D.
an outdated Olive Garden it's ok. For the money I would have expected much better food and the service was not at all professional or for that matter ....there. Would not recommend for any event!
(1)Danielle L.
I have lived in Andover my entire life and can always depend on the Chateau for a good meal. The selection is wide and the drinks are good. The atmosphere is great for a date night or dinner with the family. They also have huge portioned take out that is very reasonably priced (which I often do if I don't feel like cooking). It is not the "best" Italian food, but it's pretty good. Also, the place is always always packed (so call ahead).
(4)Julie O.
If this review was based strictly on costumer service, I would give no stars! My husband and I stopped In on our way back from Laconia today. After, sitting in traffic, we decided to pull over, since we were both hungry. We sat at the bar, assuming we would get faster service. False! After sitting there, for a good 10 minutes, while bartenders walked by us numerous times with no acknowledgement, we were finally were waited on. The food then came quickly and was good. My husband loves the fried raviolis and I'm a big fan of their minestrone soup. My advice, girls stop stocking glasses and acknowledge you customers! This is your money!
(3)J.d. O.
Food was not that great. The roasted chicken tasted like it had been sitting under a warmer for hours, it was dry and had very little taste. The service was just ok. Not a place to bring a family when you want to talk. The music from the bar was loud, and even though we sat in a separate room I still found myself shouting and not being able to hear others at the table.
(2)Renee C.
If you happen to find yourself in the La Quinta across the parking lot (best if you don't) this is a fine option for dinner. In an effort to help out my fellow paleo peeps, you can put together a decent meal here. They have a gluten free menu though I was able to easily suss out reasonable options from the regular menu - grilled shrimp, sirloin tips, sautéed garlic spinach (excellent), and steamed broccoli. I don't know that I'd go out of my way to eat here, but if you're in the area without a car, you won't starve.
(3)Michelle A.
Was looking for a place to take my mom out for dinner. I've been here before and the food is pretty good but nothing to make the drive for. We happen to be at my Aunt's house in Andover and was looking for something close. Got seated right away but it took awhile to get the waiter to make his initial visit. Nice guy but quite on the ball. The menu is HUGE. Too much with way too many options. Made my head spin trying to decide. And of course my luck the first thing I chose after reading this "book" was not available. Can't remember what is was so I must not have been too impressed. I ended up ordering the baked haddock which was good but a little on the small side. Thankfully they had Heineken Lights to save this review. CONS The small tvs at the tables are great but kinda worthless if I can't watch the game you have playing at the bar. just sayin...
(3)Julie H.
Attended a function here and was pleasantly surprised. The food was delicious. I had baked stuffed shrimp- not very filling as I didn't eat the stuffing stuff--just too much of it. Every part of the meal was yummy. I got a take out menu- pricing is a little high but would come here for a nite out with my love. Cool that they offer keno and lottery.
(4)Claire P.
We came here because our hotel recommended it. The service was good and the waitress was friendly. The food was horrible. Indelible. I was supposed to have ravioli with tomato sauce and sausage. What I got was frozen chewy pasta with separated watery tomato sauce and two nasty sausages plopped on top. I ordered vegetables on the side and they were freezing cold. My mom had the fettuccine alfredo which was like glue in taste and appearance. My dad ordered the tripe (I still don't understand his logic) and said it was horrible. Overall, service was fine, but don't come here for the food.
(1)Kate M.
This is not Italian food. I can't even believe that they are allowed to sell their sauce. The food is the quality of any large chain restaurant Its frozen and clearly reheated with a jar of sauce thrown over it to cover up the shoe leather they call veal or chicken...each equally disgusting. Pasta was chewy and not cooked. This was crunchy and hard, not al dente. The fish is watery and dry. I have been for dinner and in a private rom for functions. Bad across the board. Atmosphere is noisy and congested Avoid at all costs!!!
(1)Christen G.
First time - not bad, I would eat here again. We had a very large party (between 15 and 20 people). The drink and dinner orders were correct, not one person had to send anything back. There was a bit of a wait after we ordered our meals however other large parties were sat at the same time so i'm sure the kitchen was playing catch up. I would definately eat here again for pasta dishes. I tried a small plate of the pasta then ordered steak tips for my dinner just to give that a try as well. I may not have a steak / beef dish again but the pasta sauce was tasty with out the heavy garlic flavor.
(2)Robo T.
I like Shatoez food but this experience was wack. We waited 20 minutes for a table, got seated, ordered drinks and finally when we're ordering meals they tell us they are out of all fried seafood. What?! "We are out of pretty much everything in this section of the menu" is what the waitress said has she gesticulated to the menu with her pen. Haddock? No. Clams? No. Shrimp? No. Ok...so shrimp isn't breaded and fried necessarily so....I guess she meant all seafood? Yup. No baked shrimp or shrimp scampi either. So the person in our party who had to take a minute to figure out an alternate choice decides on ravioli. "We are out of those too. The pasta machine isn't working right so they arn't cooking any." ummm HUH? A total FAIL experience...
(2)Gayle S.
My husband and I ordered veal parm with toasted ravioli and a side of meatballs and an order of lobster Mac and cheese. As my husband pulled into our driveway a young man from Chateau called to say he was pretty sure the Mac and cheese never made it into the bag. Sure enough it wasn't there. He said as it was paid for by gift card so he would send me a gift card for the $19.35, seriously you couldn't throw in the $0.65 to make it an even $20? The more I thought of it the more upset I got. I had nothing to eat. There were three items and one didn't make it in the bag. Last week we ordered out from Chateau. There was a problem with the computer and our order, as well as anyone else that ordered takeout never made it into the kitchen causing a huge back up. My husband had to wait over an hour for our order. To Chateaus credit they gave us the meal free. But you get what you pay for. In the rush to fix so many problems my haddock St. Germaine was pretty tasteless. I'm very disappointed that my meal didn't make it and that we were just refunded the money we paid. I'm hesitant to order takeout from Chateau again. Reimbursing the money spent for a meal we didn't get is expected, getting nothing for our inconvenience is very disappointing. :-(
(2)Aaron K.
Our go to place for after work drinks and pizza. They really make a good greasy pizza and usually some very strong drinks. No complaints!
(3)Just The Facts M.
Celiac and gluten intolerant diners should be so happy to have a restaurant like The Chateau. Tonight our server, Melissa, not only gave us top-notch service, but she also warmed up two gluten-free rolls to go with my dinner. Who knew? They were so crusty and good that I couldn't believe they were gluten-free. Great service, delicious food, and reasonable prices. The Chateau knows the secret to success.
(5)Gayle S.
I'm not sure the food here could get any worse. The fried seafood platter I had was ice cold and tasteless. My friend had a fried eggplant sandwich, one of the only vegetarian options that she could find, and she ended up sending it back. The atmosphere is tacky and horrible. I clearly won't be going back.
(1)Robert M.
Today is Easter Sunday 2014, and just arrived home from an Easter dinner with family. I went with the boneless leg of lamb meal, which arrived to the table cold, and rubbery (could not even cut it!). My replacement choice was chicken parmesan, which had no flavor. I don't see the appeal that people have with that place, because it can't be the food. I hope today is going to be my last visit.
(1)Courtney N.
I really wanted to love The Chateau. My partner and I drive by all the time and always love watching the coverage from their parking lot during big storms on the news. I actually picked this as my birthday meal destination (to be honest, I wanted somewhere in Boston but the surprise snow made that too difficult). It was packed, despite the snowy conditions, but there was no wait and we were seated promptly. I wasn't a fan of where we landed - in a booth right behind the register and service station so we got to watch orders being wrapped up to go and listen to the servers chat with each other. The menu is huge and decently priced. I got the house sangria. It wasn't very good. My partner got an Italian beer and enjoyed it. I went with the Trio 2 which was chicken parmagiana, lasagna and fettucine alfredo. The chicken was decent the alfredo was good but the lasagna was awful. It really tasted re-heated without much care put into it. My partner got tripe (which oddly enough came with a side order of penne) and he loved it. Rare to see that on a menu so that was nice. We took the penne home and I ate it later in the day and it was pretty good. I guess I expected more from the Chateau. I don't think I'd return. It's fine for what it is which is just like an Olive Garden but it's not super special.
(3)Bob M.
Bad Italian. What more can I say? They always seem busy, which amazes me - must be getting a lot of first-timers off the highway. Sauces are bland; the marinara might as well be a blend of Hunt's tomato sauce and paste straight from the cans. Pasta is usually overcooked and if it's made there I'd fire the pasta maker.
(1)Dano M.
To start off they don't have coca cola products. The type of people that eat here are old and and near death. The food looks as though it is pre made and the cook sticks it in a microwave and heats it up. All and all a poor experience for a restaurant claiming to have original recipes.
(2)Linda B.
Great family friendly clean restaurant with a large menu selection. Always jammed packed.... So expect a wait....overall...very satisfied and will be a repeat customer! ;-)
(4)Lin M.
Second time here and still don't know what the fuss is about. We went when it first opened and thought it might just be new business jitters. Nope. The food is very American Italian. Think of Chinese American food and this is the equivalent for Italian food. I just don't understand the appeal. The portions aren't huge (usually a draw for some) and the price was not cheap. A side salad is NOT included and costs $3.00. Dinner for two: salad, entree and glass of wine was over $75.00. For food that tasted like it came out of a can. Just don't understand the fact that they have 8 locations and people coming in all the time. Could it be the KENO?
(2)FearlessLdr I.
This place has become a victim of it's success. A once-really good restaurant has "chained" it's way (like Pizzeria Regina) to being, at best, mediocre. The Chateau started out in Waltham, Mass as a mom-and-pop restaurant serving some of the best and most reasonably priced Italian food in the Boston area. Eating there back in the 1980s, I remember the place being crowded, the food served hot and well above average (almost excellent). The waitstaff was attentive, the scali (Italian) bread was warm, unsliced and made on the premises. People showed up just for the bread. They sold a lot of it "to go." Fast forward to the second decade of the 21st century. The Chateau has multiple locations (each one of the children/grandchildren has their own property?). They have clearly lost their focus (Chicken Teriyaki in an Italian restaurant? Video keno in the bar?). The Andover location is packed with grandmothers dressed in a manner calculated to compete with their granddaughters and the quality of the food has dropped drastically. My dinner last Thursday was a party of four adults. Appetizers were soup, calamari Rhode Island-style (with spicy peppers) and cheesy garlic bread. Two of us ordered seafood, one ordered Fetuccini Alfredo with chicken and the fourth ordered spaghetti w meatsauce. Desserts had were cannoli and ice cream. Taking the lead of my friends, we all had water or soda. Dinner for four (with tip) was $145. Portion sizes were good. However, every item arrived lukewarm to cold; especially the side dishes of green beans and Florentine Rice. The only way the side dishes could have been colder would be to refrigerate them. The cannoli were room temperature. The only item served at the right temperature was the ice cream. Even their once-famous warm bread (now sliced) was cold. Our waitress was very busy but competent. If there were any "specials," she didn't tell us. However, with a menu the size of The Chateau's, I doubt there were any. My advice? Stop trying to be everything to everyone. The menu is at least three times too large. There is no way a menu as large as the one offered by The Chateau can be cooked to order. Go back to the things that made your family's original restaurant a success. I'm pretty sure that Nachos, Mac & Cheese and Chicken Teriyaki were NOT on Nana Nocera's menu. The Andover location, adjacent to I-93, has been many things over the years, including a comedy club. All these previous ventures ended in bankruptcy court. It's my fervent hope the owners are able to restore their restaurant to the quality of food their grandparents/great-grandparents served lest they wake up one day to an empty bar, the dining room a ghost town and find themselves as successful (or lack thereof) as the previous tenants of the space they now occupy.
(2)Dina B.
Tania, our waitress, was great. Tania, I'm sorry for the rest of the review... Terrifically overpriced for the quantity and quality of the food. Their pasta sauce stinks, and the two people at our table who got a Combo plate (grilled chicken, steak tips, and sausage) said that their meat was significantly overcooked. Don't go if you can avoid it.
(2)Jeffrey C.
A chain in MA with mediocre Italian-American food, with a French name. Big portions for the money, good service, and a lot to choose from! I think I would choose Olive Garden over this.
(2)Linda M.
I am so disappointed. The parking lot was packed so you would think this place had the best Italian food around. Why, why,why. please someone tell me why this place is packed? Do people no longer have taste buds? For this location and Italian focus I was expecting a killer sauce and a Italian dressing that you'd want to buy a bottle of to take home. The sauce had no flavor and the dressing was worse than bottled and I am sure it is bottled. The toasted ravioli sounded good, crunchy outside filled with hot melted cheese... but they came lukewarm, and soggy. I couldn't tell apart the ravioli and the chicken parm which came in little lumps on the plate. Come on..they can do so much better. How about some homemade pastas, a limited menu of high quality food, a great homemade sauce and Italian dressing? This location has always had mediocre to bad restaurants. Why oh why can't they have a Hilltop or something worthwhile here? And, how can people eat this food? it is an insult to Italians! I would love for Chef Ramsay to do a show here.
(1)Riccardo D.
It's been a long while since I've dined at The Chateau and during my absense, I had hoped things had improved. They have not. I went here again because my friend insisted that she had eaten a delicious chicken salad here previously. Understanding full-well that the Italian food here is dreadful, I decided to order a salad. To be more specific, I ordered a cobb salad. Where to begin...the eggs were overcooked having that ghastly green-line that indicates that they were boiled by a "cook" having no proper training. The chicken was bland, the avocado was there but barely, the bacon was clearly real but from a container and not freshly-prepared and crumbled, the dressing was some mess of a balsamic conoction which is not traditional or tasty. This restaurant simply cannot pull off a basic salad. The waitress was polite but had little personality and was just going through the motions. On a Wednesday for lunch, being located in a crowded business park the establishment was nearly empty. Is it any wonder why? The owners of this chain need to shut it down or totally revamp their business. This was my last visit.
(2)Katie S.
This is my second time at this specific Chateau and it was a nice time. Although I was not to happy to be seated right next to a party of 15 people, they were very loud. If there are that many people for one seating they should have a room dedicated to that. I ordered the Scallops and Clam strips and it was pretty good. The scallops were perfect but the clam strips could of used some seasoning and been cooked a little longer. I had the toasted raviolis on the side, they were delicious. Our waitress was nice and friendly and did not annoy us or ignore us, she was a well trained employee. The ambience of this specific location was decent, it is split in two right when you walk in and the staff was prompt and friendly.
(4)Kathleen V.
NOT impressed. This Chateau is nothing like the original in Waltham :( I went last night with my family and none of us were really "wowed" by the food here. I got the chicken parm/toasted ravioli plate. The chicken was good, but the sauce tasted like Chef Boyardee. Really terrible. Big chunks of fake-tasting meat in the sauce. Not what I would expect from the Chateau. Also the toasted raviolis weren't even CLOSE to "toasted".. they were hard and cold..lol. Our waitress also forgot to put in my aunt's meal.. so it came out at the end when we were done eating, and there was no offer of taking it off the bill/ a free dessert /nothing. Waitress was a little strange overall. Oh well, won't be returning.
(1)Kevin B.
Our family booked a mercy meal here because they were the only that could do it on such short notice, and it shows why. 1. They told my wife that the item she ordered was gluten free..well...it wasn't and the poor woman ended up in the bathroom for twenty minutes. Celiac disease is a real thing and when people ask...it's for a reason and you should be certain before you answer. That's enough for us to never go back. 2. The food was terrible. the "Steak tips" were more like stewing steak that had been HORRIBLY over cooked. VERY difficult to chew, and that's not they way you cook steak. The green beans were over done and soaked in butter to the point of no-return, and I was told the chicken ziti Alfredo was like eating a bowl of cheesy butter. Just about the only good things were the mozzarella sticks. 3. Nothing was ready when the party arrived. we were told appetizers would be out at 3:30...and they weren't...Orders were taken at 4:30, almost an hour after they TOLD us appetizers would be ready...so pretty poor service there. and 4. there is ZERO family feel to this place. You walk in to the front desk in a room next to a bar, and the feel is what I imagine an old strip club feels like...with red neon lights lighting up the room, dim lighting, and bad wood paneling everywhere. It looked more like an Irish Pub restaurant than a family restaurant...hell...the Piccadilly Pub is more family friendly. Needless to say we won't be eating here again.
(1)Armando L.
Frankly, I don't understand why this restaurant is so popular. A one star review is reserved for uneatable food and horrendous service, so I decided on a two star review. Reasons why I didn't like the restaurant: 1) The prices are a bit above average and their food is average at best. 2) My friend got food poisoning there. To be fair, she has a sensitive stomach. 3) I was not a fan of their bread. 4) The pasta dished look like my pasta dishes I made in college and tasted like them too.
(2)Andy F.
When I heard that I would get to have lunch at a place called The Chateau, I got very excited. I pictured a French castle, set on a rolling meadow with vinicultural activity. There would be servers there in period costumes, like maybe 19th century provincial? And the menu would be a feast of roast duck, sausages, and friendly ladies with pitchers of ale and the finest wines. So I'm in the car, riding shotgun (duh), and daydreaming about how awesome this place is going to be. IN REALITY it is a big Italian place in the parking lot behind a La Quinta, somewhere in Massachusetts. Definitely not on a rolling meadow with friendly animals you can pet and then eat. The best part about the place was a really awesome server named Melissa who was very nice and professional.
(2)Jay T.
I haven't been compelled (or had the time) to write a review on Yelp for quite some time, despite how heavily I rely on all you fellow yelpers as I travel the country quite extensively. With that said, here I sit, clattering away on my iPhone (ok ok, the clattering is imaginary) composing this review in the restaurant to assure you the freshest possible details of my experience (perhaps the freshest thing in this restaurant). Let me start by asking, you the captivated audience of this post, how long would you expect it takes to cook chicken parmigiana, toasted ravioli and fettuccine Alfredo?.. Now I'm no chef, however I (and assuming you as well) may have expected some estimate greater than 5 minutes. I was taken aback by the speed at which my entree arrived I could only assume that my dinner was assembled from heated trays akin to McDonalds methodology. I was surprised to find out that their chef was actually none other than a retired superhero!!.. Ahh, I lied. In (disappointing) fact, as I sampled my "trio" entree I came to realize that I've had better microwaveable TV dinners. I'm sure the restaurant founders (a charming Sicilian couple) would roll over in their graves, zombify, return to the land of the living, see their portrait on the menu, and with a disgusted undead groan, proceed to rip apart and devour every person working in the kitchen. Extreme? I know! How's this for extreme? There's a Chili's next door and I'm kicking myself for not eating there instead. At least they cook their food to order. I expect my dinner may have been plated by a blind person before a quick "nuke" in the "micro" then enjoying a rest under the heat lamp for 4 minutes, prior to being brought to my table. Ok, so the food isn't good. Clear? Any redeeming factors? Well, an attentive waitress and a couple glasses of wine... Sounds about accurate. Even the host staff was miserable (I should have taken the hint). When I walked in there were three hosts, two of which were having a personal conversation about someone (likely a coworker) that they mutually disliked, and didn't get so much as a "yo" from either of them. I've had better Italian food at Caraba's or Macaroni Grill. I know there aren't a lot of choices in this particular part of MA, but in retrospect I may have been more satisfied with chicken Mc nugglets... If you feel I might be a little harsh, biased or what-have-you I'll leave you with this concise final thought: the restaurant is called "The Chateau - Italian Family Dining", so WTF is Chicken Teriyaki doing on the menu?
(1)John P.
This place has a wide variety of options on the menu. Very reasonable food prices and quality is good and consistant. Recent drink price increase puts this place on the high side such as $9 for a Kendal Jackson Chardonnay and close $5.50 for a common import beer. Atmosphere is great with lots of TVs on the bar side. Service depends in who you get as a server, but otherwise the operation runs like a clock. First choice would be the pizza and Italian food. Apps are great and you can do 1/2 orders on those. Rarely dissatisfied there.
(4)Bill C.
I ate there tonight and found it to be very good for the prices and the service was excellent. I had eggplant parmagiana with spaghetti.
(3)Tracy C.
I've been to the Chateau at least a dozen times and I've always had great service. The last 2 times I went, however, we had the same bartender who just couldn't be bothered. Last night we decided not to go back. I asked the bartender if he could recommend a dry white wine. At first he said he was busy (it didn't look it) and then he looked up and said he didn't know much about wines. I asked him if he could ask someone and he shrugged it off. Next, I asked if I could try one of their Rieslings. He said "In a minute - " and it did return a few minutes later with the Riesling. He then took our orders, I just wanted a side of meatballs and spinach. My friend ordered stuffed mushrooms and cheese manicotti with sausage. He asked for extra lemon and was told, "We have lemon here at the bar.". Fine. When the food came, I asked him (the bar had cleared out) if I could get some fresh parm (I hate the shaker stuff). Before I could get all the words out, he said, "No.". Then he continued, "We don't have any.". Wait. What? He should have just said "no". You can't tell me an Italian place doesn't have fresh parm cheese. But, I didn't want to spoil my night. I just made do. When I was getting the check, he apologized for the night. He said, "You know how one person can spoil the night?", and I replied, "Yeah, actually, I do.". And he said, "Well that's what happened to me.". And then I asked which copy was mine and he gruffly said, "Ugh, the one wrapped around your card.". I thanked him, tipped him and left.
(2)Leo Z.
Wow, a lot of bad karma here! (reviews). Our waitress was occasionally missing but I got the feeling she was new...and I'm OK with dealing with someone new. The female bartender was a bit flirty (not a good thing when you're with a date) but I suppose that how she gets bigger tips (I know there a dirty joke in there somewhere!). Otherwise, the service from both was acceptable. The food was really top notch, wings for an app were very tasty!. It's kind of hard to screw up chix parm but it was really good. My date's eggplant was right on. The drinks were expensive but they are expensive everywhere. There's almost always a waiting line so that should tell you something.
(4)Jennifer V.
I loved it, great food, portions were huge, service was friendly and quick, and prices seemed fair although I wasnt paying. Huge dinning rooms so plenty of room not cramped feeling, bar was very nice as well. hint toasted raviolis to die for!
(4)Bobby B.
Used to go to the Waltham location when I lived in the area 15 years ago and I remember the food being much better than this. The combo appetizer was good and the marinara sauce was tasty. The beer was cold. The waitress was excellent. That is where the good ends. Wife and I each got the chicken parm, lasagna, meatball combo. The meatball was dry and tasteless, the chicken parm was dry and hard. The lasagna was bland, tasteless with no seasoning in the ricotta cheese what so ever. The sauce was bland and tasteless also. A real shame given how good it used to be.
(2)Ali C V.
The Chateau has done really well for itself being as-average-as-it-gets so I wasn't expecting miracles. However, their Andover kitchen must be populated with slackers. There's just no other explanation. My experience there last night went something like this... Me: I'll have the filet Mignon medium rare with green beans and rice Florentine. Thanks. Waitress: Here you go. Enjoy. Thank you... Excuse me, this steak is well done. (She apologizes and takes it back). (5 minutes later) Waitress: Here you go. Can you please cut it and see if it's ok? Me: Sure. Thank you. (cut) Umh, this is rare. Waitress: Apologizes and takes it back. (2 minutes later) Waitress: Here you go. Try now. Me: (Cut cut) It's medium. :( The dish's presentation was uninspired bordering on depressing. My "rice Florentine" was a parslied rice (no spinach in sight) and my green beans were more greyish-green from being boiled to death. Can't they at least afford to serve fresh or frozen beans? Fast advice to The Chateau: -- Teach your cooks how to cook steaks to order. -- Take the Penne off the gluten-free menu. Wheat is wheat. -- While you're at it, take the haddock (or seafood) casserole with cracker crust off there, too. Ritz crackers are also made with wheat. I have two words for this place: NEVER AGAIN!
(1)Ribblet N.
I've seen a lot of families go here as part of my work and a friend was excited to go. It was alright, can't really say anything that stood out.
(3)Richard G.
Ordered veal parm, got veal patty. The pasta and sauce tasted akin to cafeteria food. Bread was good. Overpriced for what they serve. Would not recommend.
(1)Rick K.
Literally the worst food I have ever had in my life. Chicken marsala was absolutely disgusting. Really dry lifeless chicken, terrible sauce, just an over all really bad meal. What happened to the awesome fresh bread? The bread we got was crusty and felt like day (or multiple day) old bread. This was a huge disappointment b/c I've had this bread many times and I love it. I'm hoping somebody has contacted Kitchen Nightmares b/c this place is the perfect candidate. NEVER again.
(1)Allison P.
I don't understand all the negative reviews of this place. I have been here on numerous occasions. I prefer to sit in the lounge/bar area which is always packed, so get there early unless you don't mind waiting for a seat. You're not going to find authentic Italian food here. It's definitely more Italian American cuisine; however, I must say that I have never had a bad meal, the service is always great and the prices are fair. My favorites are the chicken parm, turkey tips w/ grilled veggies and the pizza (although, the margherita pizza is not as good as others I've had elsewhere). It's a mixed crowd of all ages which I enjoy. I can say that I have been to a couple of the other locations and they were definitely not as good as this one.
(4)Bryan H.
OK, had salmon/haddock Nantucket. They said fish was something they were really known for but the fish wasn't anything to write home about.
(2)Mike S.
Papa Jim has found a restaurant suitable to his liking! Mr. Jim is very particular in his food intake, so trying to get him to the perfect place has been a little of a challenge. The Chateau Italian Restaurant is now Jim's #1 food spot! I have to admit, I like their food and menu myself. I've had everything from steamers and stuffies, to New England clam chowder and minestrone soup. Yesterday I had shrimp cocktail followed by Tuscany Styled Grilled Shrimp with grilled vegetables over rice -- fantastic! However, I really like their Lobster, Shrimp, & Scallop Diavalo -- I've had this dish more than once! Papa Jim has only had fried scallops and hamburgers, but he swears by them! If Papa Jim says it's good, then you know it's good! If you're around Andover, or anywhere in Massachusetts for that matter, give The Chateau Italian Restaurant a try. You'll be glad you came!
(4)Joseph R.
I have always enjoyed The Chateau Restaurant in Waltham, MA. Fresh food, expertly prepared, and always served by true professionals. That has now changed due to a rapid expansion. Instead of hiring and training professional chefs to work in their restaurants, they have dumbed down their entire operation, using heat and serve frozen food. Yes, the kind of stuff that an 18 year old can plate and serve. One of my favorite items was the Rhode Island Calamari. Fresh calamari, lightly dusted with flour, flash fried and served with hot peppers and marinara sauce. Now, they use frozen calamari. The breading falls off when you try to pick it up exposing a chewy rubber band. Absolutely horrible. The chicken parmesan was always a classic. A pounded fresh chicken breast that would cover the whole plate. Now.....a portion controlled piece of dry meat. Again, horrible. Before I put the kiss of death on this rapidly growing regional chain, I thought I would give it one last try. I went to the Andover location and ordered a simple Italian Specialty, tripe. Although not a common item, it is very had to screw up. They served me under cooked, large chunks of tripe that were inedible. The service in Waltham was always excellent, Andover is a different story. First we endured an argument over who should be our server, then the lucky candidate disappeared(in an almost empty restaurant). The only items that has been consistent has been their bread, which is very good, and the toasted ravioli. Very sad that they decided to expand the lazy, profitable(short term)way, I really enjoyed their food.
(2)Julie P.
Had dinner here last week. I got the sirlion and shrimp special. The stuffed shrimp, the lightly sauteed spinach were both great. The sirloin was ordered medium well and came out like leather. My waitress was prompt to notice it was overcooked and offered another steak. The bread was very good. We also ordered spaghetti and meatballs that was neither delicious nor bad. All in all, we would go back again. The worst part of the dining experience was that they had the air conditioner on, over our table. We ate with our coats on. The server said they were turning it down, but it never did go down. The server Carlene (?) was very attentive and friendly. The bar area appeared to be jammed.
(3)Christine T.
I really wanted to like this place. went here with friends a few nights ago since we've heard good things about it. when we first walked in the hostess seemed completely uninterested when we asked her if we could put our name in. she did not make a great impression on first time diners ... but i digress. our waitress was nice enough, although she seemed tired. I ordered a cup of clam chowder and their grilled chicken teriyaki which came with penne pasta. the clam chowder was really good, if you like a thick creamy broth and lots of clams, which I do. my dinner then came out on two separate plates, one bowl with the pasta and one plate with my chicken. It was really awkward on our small table but whatever. the pasta was good... although its difficult to mess that up. the teriyaki chicken was really overcooked and chewy. I barely ate any of it.. NOT worth nearly $15.00!! my friends got a mix of pizza's and eggplant dishes. They all seemed happy but not overly impressed, "mediocre" is definitely a good word to describe this place. The atmosphere could use a little sprucing up.. overall it was just kind of blah. if I ever go back I'll just stick with the chowder.
(2)Wendi X.
I have grew up on this place. You see in Waltham, Ma is the original place. Then they grew/expanded. I can tell you the quality of the food has not changed one bit.
(4)Tony R.
The eggplant here is good. I get it all the time.
(4)Christine S.
met a friend here after work. Quickly sat, excellent service. I had the cobb salad which was just right size with very fresh ingredients. My friend had the soup on the recommendation of the waitress. It was loaded with meatballs and what looked like home made pasta. She said it was great. The bread is some of the best I've had at a restaurant this year.
(3)Green G.
On the road. I have to say, fellow yelpers, I was a little scared going here after your reviews. But, I was road weary and staying at the Courtyard right across the way. It was fine. Not a top of my list place but just right for a satisfying meal and a good beer. Service was fine, no rush and just enough attention. I had veal parmesan with penne. The bread served with the meal was good. Will return should I be staying up this way again.
(3)Carl K.
I truly don't understand all the raves. The food is subpar at best. The chicken parm was bland and burned on the bottom. The spaghetti was over cooked & watery. I'm stunned the place is as successful as it is. Obviously Andover has no idea of what Italian food should taste like.
(1)Bobby C.
I had a business lunch with a few people here. There are not too many choices to eat in this area. 4.5 stars for service. Our server was really attentive and always checking up on us. It seemed like service varied from server to server though. Nothing special about the place, 3 stars for ambiance. It was fairly clean and nicely decorated. The menu was pretty extensive. I ended up getting chicken parm with spinach ravioli lunch special. It was average. I didn't like or dislike the food.
(3)Burger B.
The other reviewers weren't lying--everything at Chateau comes swimming in a red sauce. I went recently with a group of 7 after 2pm, when the restaurant was pretty empty. The server asked us if we had a reservation--we told her we didn't. "Wait here," she said, leaving us exchanging glances, wondering if they would seat us or not. She finally returned, grabbed some menus and sat us at one of several large tables. After taking the first person's order, our waitress abruptly dashed away, saying another table's food was up. We waited, again exchanging confused glances. She came back and continued taking our orders. The food came out quickly--which was surprising. I opted for the eggplant parm and subbed in a side of toasted ravioli. It was.. drowning in the red sauce. Our group left stuffed, though not satisfied. Ergh. I've had my fill of that evil red sauce for a while. I probably won't be back.
(2)Fred G.
We've passed this place on the highway a thousand times and tonight we finally tried it. The word that comes to mind is mediocre. The atmosphere was crowded and noisy. The menu selection was basic Italian from the 1960s. The service was slow. The bread was basic store-bought Italian white from a bag. I had the chicken parmesan and a salad. The salad was small with iceberg lettuce predominating. There was one tomato wedge in it. I got a single overcooked chicken breast, probably already breaded while frozen and about 1.5 cups of overcooked ziti. The marinara sauce was undercooked and watery. We won't be back.
(2)Stephen F.
The food is overdone and tasteless. The Salad was small. The service was slow. If you like eating with old people you'll love The Chateau. The food is mediocre at best. It is as if they are use to cooking for people without taste buds.
(2)Lauren R.
It wasn't until AFTER I had my rehearsal dinner here a few years back for my wedding that I really came to appreciate this restaurant. The bread served before the meal is excellent. Always incredibly fresh, with crispy seseme seed crust. I could come and just eat bread and butter all night. But the best part about it which draws me here every time are the gnocchis in the creamy tomato sauce. I get it every time. I've also had their butternut squash raviolis on special - also delicious. I like this place for a good laid back evening. We opt to sit in the bar room every time because it's lively but surprisingly not overwhelmingly loud. There are TVs at each booth table in the bar that you can control which makes for a more interesting dinner out. I love watching TV from a TV tray at home, so this place is right up my alley. Come early if you're there to catch a seat with a TV during a sports game. Service has always been pretty good, with a few exceptions, but usually pretty fast seating and service.
(4)Chas K.
This place serves up fine examples of red sauce Italian and classic neighborhood "Italian joint" food like chicken piccata, Francaise, etc. Nothing too fancy, but everything is well executed. Prices are ridiculously low. They have an extensive and creative menu of cocktails, including lots of Martinis and a Patron Margarita for $7! Unheard of. The kid's menu is a tremendous value. It's a great plce to go with the kiddos after a day at nearby Canobie Lake Park.
(4)Busy L.
This place has gone downhill quickly...Was your typical red sauce restaurant that served a good chicken parm dinner. Went tonight and wife and son had the chicken and eggplant combo. It reminded me of hospital cafeteria steam table food. The food consisted of heated up pasta, a piece of pre-cooked fried chicken cutlet, slice of cheese, warm sauce put on top to melt the cheese. Chicken and eggplant tasted like it was fried about 3 days ago. I will not be returning to this restaurant.
(1)Sullys C.
Tvs at every table, portions good, prices decent, good mixed drinks. No complaints. Well, getting to the parking lot was dicy, but not enough to hurt the overall score.
(5)Geoff J.
Me and a few friends went here after skiing and to watch the game, they have TV's in each booth! The chicken and salmon dinner was very good as well.
(5)Ryan W.
Food was so so, service alright, price-inexpensive.
(2)Fred P.
We hadn't been to this restaurant in a long time and decided to give it a try on a sat night. Was told an1/2 hour wait but was seated in about 20 mins. We were seated on the bar side in a small 2 person booth, tabletop was cramped with all the menus, etc they display along with a small flat screen displaying endless keno games. The waitress was friendly, came for our drink orders, drinks arrived fairly quickly. It was the last time she asked if we needed drinks during our visit. We decided to order simple meals, my wife ordered manicotti with meatballs, I ordered penne with chicken and veal cutlets. The food came out fairly quickly which surprised us, we soon realized why. The manicotti was fair, the meatballs pretty bad (supposed to be a speciality). My meal was also just fair, penne was fine but not very hot, the chicken parm was fair, the veal was lousy. To try to salvage the meal we ordered the tiramisu, it tasted stale and we only ate 1/2 of it. During this time the waitress came to the table once. My wife has had good meals at the Waltham location, don't know what happened in Andover. Maybe we had a new waitress, maybe we ordered the wrong items, but whatever the case it is very doubtful we will ever go back there again.
(1)Sebastian S.
I ordered toasted ravioli and meatballs. Both were under seasoned and bland. The atmosphere is nice however.
(2)Peter L.
The Chateau is one of the best restaurants off of Exit 45, but then again, it has a near monopoly in the area, with only Chili's in sight. Despite the French name, the Chateau specializes in Italian American fare, of the red sauce variety. In a way, though, it is comforting, as this is the food that many of us grew up on. The special included a greatest hits of Italian American fare and for $12, you got manicotti, a meat ball and chicken parm. It was a lot of food at a low price but not great. Still, I will come here again as there isn't much around and the location is very convenient to the hotels in Andover.
(2)Sarah S.
If you're a vegetarian, you should definitely avoid this place. And if you can't avoid it, you should make sure you check to make sure there is no meat in your food. I've been here a few times, and as far as I can remember, I've had problems with there being bits of meat (or more than bits) in my food. The only time I continued going there is because my parents really liked it for some reason, despite the rather mediocre food. Two experiences were particularly memorable (the first and the last). The first: I ordered the toasted ravioli and asked if it would be possible to get marinara sauce instead of meat sauce. I was told this would be fine. The meal comes out, and the raviolis are quite clearly covered in meat sauce. The waitress told me I ordered meat sauce, but, as my parents could attest to, I clearly did not. Why would I, a vegetarian, order meat sauce anyway? Exactly, I wouldn't. I think I wound up just getting the toasted ravioli without any sauce at all. The last: I had ordered some other things in between (none of them particularly memorable), and decided to try the toasted ravioli again - this time, hopefully, with sauce. I did the same as the first time, ordering the toasted ravioli with marinara sauce. When the raviolis came out, the sauce appeared to be marinara sauce, but I had learned not to trust this place, so I pushed the raviolis around a little just to check and, to no one's surprise, there were several chunks of meat in the sauce. I pointed this out to the waitress and explained that I was a vegetarian, and she was very apologetic, taking the raviolis away to get me a replacement. The replacement came with a visit from the manager, who apologized and said he watched the sauce being put on the raviolis and assured me that it was definitely marinara sauce. Well, as soon as the raviolis were placed in front of me, I saw a chunk of meat. Seriously? My dad was really angry at this point, and he gave the waitress a good rant. The waitress agreed that it was ridiculous that there was still meat in it. We speculated that perhaps the meat sauce was next to the marinara sauce and some sloppy person let some of the meat sauce fall into the marinara. The manager came back and apologized and said he would get us another toasted ravioli, but at that point, both my parents had finished eating and I had lost my appetite. So instead, he gave us a gift card and a free dessert, which is nice, but the gift card was pretty useless, as we're never going back. I think my mom just gave it to a friend. If not for the meat problems, I would be giving this place a three-star review. The food is okay, even pretty good sometimes - but it's just not worth the hassle or the risk for me.
(1)Kathleen C.
I highly recommend having any special event here. I arranged everything from CA for a wedding rehearsal dinner and the catering manager Karen was helpful, made recommendations for floral arrangements and the evening was wonderful. A group of 30 (including 4 children under 8 yrs of age) were happy with the food selections, wine and private dining area. The serving staff was very accommodating and helpful - the mother of the groom could actually enjoy herself! Thank you for a great event!
(5)Steve N.
blows worse than Olive Garden.
(1)Matt S.
I have been to the Chateau in Waltham and Norwood, but this was my first visit to Andover. My wife and I went to celebrate our anniversary. We were seated in the Gold Room, which with 2 groups was a bit noisy. We were happy that both groups left by the time our dinner came. The room was tastefully decorated and very comfortable. We started off with the house red wine, which was quite good. I am not wine connoisseur, but we both enjoyed the flavor. They also brought us out some of their signature bread which we both enjoyed. I had the chicken parmigiana with fried raviolis and meat sauce. The sauce was a little lacking in the meat, but the food was quite delicious. There was more than enough food on my plate. My wife had the fillet, which she said was a little under done, but she enjoyed it. She did say that her green beans were overcooked. The service was good, but maybe our waitress was having a bad day. She was not very conversational and seemed in a rush to get us out of there. As she was cleaning up our dinner plates, she asked if we wanted desert. I said I had to think about it, so she handed me the dessert menu and then stood and waited. I would have preferred a few minutes to digest! One of the other waitresses working our room was very friendly and stopped to check on us, so maybe our waitress was having a bad day. I had the tiramisu for dessert which I enjoyed thoroughly. The cost was very reasonable. Just over $60 for 2 dinners, 3 glasses of wine, & a dessert.
(4)Nico H.
This is one of those places that has too many selections on their menu. They have like everything. It seems like it's supposed to be an italian restaurant , however has lots of Asian items. This is a good comfort food place, with nice booths and cool old school ambiance. I was expecting a 4 star dining experience with the name Chateau, however this place is more comfort food home style. PS - I did go here on a date and it went well.
(3)John C.
Good menu and prices. Nice atmosphere. Good food and great bread. The drinks are not watered down. Wait staff is very pleasant. Excellent desserts.
(4)Hope M.
I've had worse...Not horrible but not all that people rave about either. Prices would be okay if the food had flavor. the Food was bland. If I didn't add a truck load of red pepper flakes there would have been no taste. I was hoping that it would be better then the Waltham location in the taste department but not happening.
(2)Dawn E.
Toasted Ravioli. Wonderful with chicken parm. This is a good place to go with a bunch of friends or with family. The restaurant is big and the portions are bigger. A single meal is easily two or three. Regulars are treated well and known by name. The Chateau is a chain in Mass but it didn't let that compromise their quality or service. I would go back again most certainly.
(3)SteelyDanFan M.
Love this place. Food is excellent here; you could ramdomly pick any item off menu, seafood, Italian, steak, whatever, and it's almost gauranteed to be delicious. The bar area is generally a spirited, fun area, and a great place to be if you want to watch sports while eating or having a few drinks. The clientele tends to be a bit older (generally 35 and above), which means you won't have to deal with annoying and obnoxious 20-somethings who are sitting there rudely texting the entire time. Patrons here are actually watching sports and having actual conversations with other people. Servers are friendly and very attentive, and the prices are quite reasonable. Their pizza is nothing short of outstanding, and their Italian dishes are made from scratch. The only drawback is that the portions (except for the pizzas) are not super-huge, but in this horrendous economy many restaurants are cutting back, so I can understand how restaurants need to adjust portion sizes. In general, the atmosphere is pleasant, welcoming, and unpretenscious; the same could not be said for a lot of Boston-area establishments, many of which try to come off as something they're not.
(5)Dave A.
The Chateau in Andover, MA. Per my waitress' suggestion I ordered the "Tuscan Shrimp" $16.99 and 30 minutes later she unabashedly brought me a dish with four (4) small shrimp on it, surrounded by a few wilted lettuce leaves. When I asked if the greater portion of my meal had fallen off the plate on its way to my table, she shrugged and said, "I know, that's a lot of money for four shrimp, but you said you wanted something Italian seafood... ". Only because I was on a date and didn't want to cause a scene, I bit my lip and toyed with my four morsels so that I wouldn't out-pace my date by finishing my dinner in 60 seconds. When the waitress finally brought the check and I saw $16.99 on the bill, it reminded me of how ripped off I was feeling and I politely asked to see the manager, intending to complain and be refunded, or at least an adjustment made. Incredibly we sat there for 15 minutes and no manager appeared... we were then told the manager was "busy" and to come back tomorrow. I will never go back to this ridiculously-run place which is a complete waste of time and money in my opinion.
(1)Jaime C.
As good as the Original. When I left the New England area I missed very little in the way of eateries, except for the Chateau in Waltham. Fast forward a few years to the opening of this newer location. My folks suggested we try it. I was amazed. Everything that I remebered of the original and more. The food was quick & delicious. The staff was friendly. The atmospher even nicer than the older place. Newer, better & a real classic.
(4)Andrea C.
I can't believe the recent negative posts. My husband and I went here on a Saturday night, there was about an hour wait so we sat at the bar. Bartenders were friendly, large screen tv's on the wall and they had keno. We decided to eat at the bar, I had the toasted ravioli as an appetizer, it was so so good, bread and friend with a delicious marina sauce. For a dinner I had eggplant parm with gnocchi. Eggplant was excellent, not a huge fan of the gnocchi (my husband makes much better). Bread was delicious, soft center with a hard crust. The prices were very reasonable, under $20 a dish. I don't think it's the best I've had as far as italian food but I was more then pleased and will definitely return. We will return again and will check out the one near our house in Burlington. It also was a great night, my husband won $200 in keno!
(4)Felicia M.
We ate here today for our company holiday lunch / Yankee swap. 11 of us were seated together at one long table which was nice. Drink order was taken quickly and served quickly. While taking our food order, her pager went off and she disappeared but came back in a minute or two. Our food came out right at the end of our swap, great timing. I had the chopped salad with turkey tips. Should have gotten dressing on the side, it was drowning in oily Italian dressing. The turkey tips were over marinated in terriyaki and tasted kind of old. Other peoples food was overloaded with red sauce as other reviewers commented. A quick survey of those seated closest to me said their meals were "fine", meaning they were perfectly edible, but nothing special. The baskets of scali (italian? not sure) bread were quite tasty - our waitress asked us at the end if someone would like to take home the extra bread (suggesting it makes great french toast), and assuring us that they do NOT recycle their bread and it will get tossed otherwise. I thought that was very nice, and funny of her. And so someone did get it all bagged up and took it. So, the food is mediocre at best, there are better places out there to dine at. However, our waitress Jackie, was fantastic and made the experience just a little more pleasant for us.
(2)Don D.
Great value,always crowded,service amazingly always good. If you're with children you don't have to apologize. Bar very busy. They're very accommodating arrived there one night after the kitchen closed they went out of there way to get us something. Have been there four times always amazed at the fluidity of the operation. Enjoy the hectic lively atmosphere & try the Trio 1 really good.
(4)M P.
I went to Chateau yesterday for Valentine's Day. There was an hour wait (which is to be expected) so we grabbed calamari and a couple of drinks at the bar before we got seated. Then we had the Trio meal for $13. Good portion. Food was decent but not outstanding. However, the atmosphere was excellent. There is a TV in each booth. Fun and casual. At first the "family style dining" in the logo threw me off because I was looking for a fun date-night out. Don't be deterred; it's a great time for families and couples alike. I will definitely go back.
(3)Dave B.
This place is kinda like a chain (which I don't like), but I do like this place. Go here on the weekend & ask yourself if there is a problem with the economy. Huge bar two deep and a long wait for a table. But its worth it. Large menu and I've never had a bad meal. Friendly service, good prices, huge parking lot & easy to get too. The flat screens at the bar booths are a plus.
(4)Jen J.
Got take-out both times...pretty good and quick service. The mussels marinara over linguine was excellent. Tons of garlic in the sauce though, so take a GasX first! The restaurant is huge and you can't miss the neon sign from the highway. Extensive menu, large bar, function rooms, and good atmosphere for large groups. They also offer take-out catering and family-style take-out (for 4-5 ppl).
(4)Alicia B.
Despite the French name, the Chateau is Italian-American food. I've been here plenty of times, mainly because it's right by my office and it's convenient to meet up with coworkers here when we leave at night. I also used to live nearby and it was easy for a quick bite. The food is mediocre Americanized Italian food, most of which is covered in red sauce, as others have said. The food isn't terrible as far as food goes, but don't come here looking for authentic Italian. They have a large menu with anything from sandwiches to pasta and seafood - but I'd suggest passing on the seafood. I'd compare the type of food you get here as to something you'd get at a diner -including large portions. I think if the Chateau were not a convenient place to go to, I'd probably not make a point to go there. It's just that there aren't many other places to go in this immediate area. It's not terrible, but if you're willing/able to go further into Andover or elsewhere, you'll definitely find better. That said, I'll still end up going here when we meet up with work people either in the restaurant or the bar.
(3)Ed M.
This place is all about expectations and what you need out of a restaraunt. If your looking for a couple of beers and some apps, go for it. If your looking for a place to take your small kids also a great choice. It can be a little loud, lots of hustle and bustle on the busy nights, T.V.s at the tables and lots of kid friendly food all make it good for familys. I probably wouldn't go here for a date night but thats just me. The food is good, and the service is friendly. All in all not a bad place depending on what your needs are.
(3)Billy v.
nice place ,nice wait staff 2 good size bars not the best Italian food but is ok food for the price
(2)Biff F.
I need to echo some of what a previous reviewer mentioned. My wife and I used to frequent the Chateau on Rte 1 in Norwood when we were dating. When we got married and moved up to the North Shore, we were very happy to hear that the Chateau would be coming to Andover. And initially, the results were good -- we had dined there several times and also purchased takeout when visiting relatives in the area. But somewhere and somehow, over the past few years, this place has taken a wrong turn. I actually got sick one night with the veal parmigiana, and I wrote it off to bad luck. However, the next time we ate there, I had issues from the toasted ravioli -- and I quickly figured out that their "gravy" was the issue. My wife still likes the Fra Diavolo, and if I go I'll get the Prime Rib, which is pretty good. However, it's a shame that when you go to an Italian joint, you stay away from the Italian offerings. And this comes from an Italian. I really do hope that the owners try to upgrade the quality -- the portions are fine, but bring in better personnel to prepare the menu offerings.
(2)Sadie T.
I was recently back east and was recommended by a friend to try the Chateau, so we did. Upon entering the dining room which seemed like a pleasant atmosphere, nothing to fancy but nice we were seated by friendly hostess. We were a little shocked when we recieved what seemed more like a encyclopedia than a menu, over whelming to say the least. Looking at this crazy menu we didn't know where to begin, that's where our knowledgeable funny waitress Nicole comes in. Ahhh thank god for Nicole, who arrived with an amazing basket of bread. She really knew the menu and recommend we try bruschetta, calamari or toasted ravioli as a starter. We decided on the bruschetta as she said that was her favorite and yes the bruschetta was good. For our main course she suggest that we try their seafood and since she hit the nail on the head we take her advice and go fishing. My husband really enjoyed his lobster shrimp and scallop diavlo, which he said was pretty spicy. Me being the veggie that I am loved the Margareta pizza, it was crispy thin and delicious. So all in all a good meal, great service. I would defiantly say give this place a try and hope that you get Nicole as your server. Yes you will leave full thanks to what seemed to be her endless must tries, all of which she hit on the head from the wine to the deserts I give her an A+. We had a good time and enjoyed our self, this is what great service is. Hey maybe Carnival Restaurant in Sherman Oaks should fly Nicole out to teach their witches oops I mean waitresses how it's done. My 4 stars are based on the service other wise I would have said 3.
(4)Tricia N.
Good place for large groups. We went with a group of 11 and sat down pretty quick on a Sunday night without reservations. The food is good homey italian comfort food.
(3)DJ H.
It's just OK, The service is slow, the food is the best part of the place. Reasonably priced sandwiches with a good selection. The pasta is overcooked most times. You know when it has that soggy texture? They talk about the famous Toasted Ravioli, I've had better boxed processed Toasted Ravioli from the local grocery store that's cheaper. I have issues with places that serve pasta. It only takes a few minutes to make pasta from scratch. Stop using boxed stale old pasta.
(3)Chris T.
The Chateau is really a run-of the mill, typical Italian American restaurant, specializing in Italian dishes made famous from TV shows (lots of red sauce, etc.). Not bad - just nothing special. You get a descent value for your dollar. The atmosphere is pretty good and the staff is friendly, which is why I've gone back a couple of times. Some of the special combo meals they have let you sample their fare at a reasonable price. Worth visiting at least once, and more often - if American-Italian food is your thing. Not bad at all for a chain.
(3)Aimee G.
Love this place! Yummy food! Huge portions! Inexpensive, and we have always been able to get in at dinner time with a minimal wait. Go here! You won't be sorry!! Definitely at the top of my list of good italian restaurants.
(4)Lorrie C.
Food was great!!! Best fettuccine alfredo I've ever had Chicken parm was excellent also Service was excellent! (They only lost one star as we went back the next day to get desserts - we were too stuffed from dinner and they looked so tempting! But the Desserts were just ok)
(4)Margo M.
Nobody cleans the tables!! We finished eating hours ago and the fruit cups are still on the table along with all of the utensils and dessert plates!! Fruit cup limp and lifeless and that is why nobody ate them!!
(2)Jay D.
A picture is worth a thousand words.. yelp.com/biz_photos/the-…
(3)John C.
Always a pleasant experience. The food is very good, it's served quickly by a friendly staff and I enjoy the atmosphere.
(4)Peg T.
We enjoyed our meal here. The fried ravioli was tasty. I loved the gnocchi with cream sauce. My husband had spaghetti and meatballs; he said the meatballs were very good. The service was quick and friendly. We would definitely come back if we were in the area.
(4)Frank M.
If you would like to have a major event ruined, then you need to come to the Chateau for the event. We recently stopped to celebrate the 65th wedding anniversary of my parents. Front desk did a good job of getting our part of 12 seated fairly quickly, unfortunately that was the highlight of the evening. We only had one waitress for such a large party and are requests for extra help was ignored by the waitress that was assigned. It took over 30 minutes just to get our drink orders placed and another 20 for the drinks to start showing up. When the drinks where being delivered the waitress had no clue who ordered what, was throwing napkins all over the place and just totally confused about the whole process. Appetizers and entrée orders where placed as we had already been at the table for over an hour. Of course, they both showed up at the same time, which is a major failure on the staff and kitchen. Have of the appetizers when untouched. The entrees came in stages as again we only had one person to cover the table of 12. For the most part the food was overcooked, bland and of such poor quality, it seemed like it would have been better served and sold in a can at a discount store. It is nothing better than mass produced imitation Italian cuisine being passed off as fine dining. The restaurant delivered a slice of cake to my parents with a candle to acknowledge their 65 years together, as a few others ordered deserts to go, since we had now been at the restaurant for close to three hours. When we completed the meal we waited and waited for the bill to arrive, once it came we reminded the waitress that we wanted the bill to be divided into separate families for payment. The bill came as one total price and we ended up arguing with the waitress for about 20 minutes to get it divided as we asked before the meal. At this point the waitress did not go about splitting the check, a very simple process in a computer system. Instead she started to write out what each person had ordered and then do the math herself. Needless to say this is so unprofessional and her total lack of interest was beyond understanding. She stayed and discussed why they don't breakout the checks, refused to get a manager after we repeated asked for one. On top off this almost three hour nightmare, I noticed that we got charged $4.50 for the cake that was delivered and truly never ordered. For a company to provide a celebration offering and then change it back to the ticket is just further proof that the company has lost its desire to serve customers. My advice for anyone is to avoid this restaurant and do everything possible to warn others of this poor excuse of a restaurant.
(1)Chris T.
Terrible food! You could tell everything was precooked and microwaved to order. Mushrooms were out of a can. I'll never go back.
(1)Steve S.
The Chateau was close to my hotel and didn't want to drive in traffic so gave it a shot, despite mixed reviews on Yelp. Atmosphere is nice. Wound up sitting on the bar side. Service was fine, typical when sitting at a bar because you can catch their eye easily. Got a house merlot, nothing great but drinkable. Wide variety of choices, specials, so plenty to choose from. Ordered the toasted ravioli and chicken parm combo. Plenty of food. Ravioli was good, but not outstanding (have had better in North End and other true Italian food hotspots) Chicken parm was ok too, tasty and plentiful but almost felt it was pre-made and then reheated with sauce thrown over it. One major complaint, echoed over and over in reviews of this place, is food comes out lukewarm. Not cold, but barely hot enough to start and by time you are done it's getting cold. Overall, this is a 2.5-3.0 star eatery.
(2)William F.
Dined her on Saturday 3/7/15 around 1:30 in the afternoon, party of 4 for late lunch. We were seated right away and the service was attentive. I ordered the chicken parmesan plate with penne pasta. The pasta and tomato sauce were luke warm, the chicken parm was hot but lacked flavor. other dishes ordered were french onion soup which I was told was quite good and also clam chowder which was luke warm and average. I probably will not eat here again, there are better italian restaurants near by.
(2)Nicole S.
Dined here a couple weeks ago while we were in town for the drag racing in NH. Very much enjoyed the Trio with fettuccine, toasted ravioli, and chicken parm. The bread was delicious, chicken parm was tasty, and I loved the sauce on the ravioli. Dishes were cleared in a consistent manner and the staff took very good care of us even with all the graduate parties coming in.
(5)dajian x.
Huge place divided into bar and booths and a dining area. Went there several times and tried various dishes. I am not sure why it is crowded. It is not the food which I found very average. The service is however decent.
(3)Bob B.
I've been here a few times and it is always jammed pack. It's just ok. The Bruschetta is descent. Pasta and steak is just meh. Service is usually good and that is why I'll round up from 2.5 stars.
(3)Alex B.
The Chateau keeps me coming back for the best toasted ravioli you will ever eat. On top of that the sauce is authentic old school Italian and always delicious despite its simplicity. Wouldn't get too excited about the meatballs as given their spongy consistency (not like home made at all) I'd bet you they now come out of a freezer bag but otherwise everything is top notch homestyle including the Chicken and Eggplant parms. Breading always perfect and they usually get some of the mozzarella brown and crispy... nothing better. Sesame topped scali bread is always fresh and and they always give me almost a half a loaf to go if I ask while packing up leftovers. Had excellent service last night - so good that I gave our waitress a 40% tip as I was impressed. I hope this place never changes!
(5)Rich M.
Eaten here many times, Always pretty consistent, although today food wasn't piping hot. Good not great Italian food, Great bar and service is good. Usually have the chicken parm meatball and pasta. Great value
(3)T R.
If you like deep fried lard and untasty dishes, this is your spot. Service was very slow and their famous toasted ravioli was deep friend and very fattening.
(2)Elle B.
Used to be a fav spot, lost it's touch, food is no longer the same quality, presentation sucks, not appealing just messy. Menu needs updating, try making quality drinks with fresh herbs. Didn't like BROWN mint leaves in my nasty and flavorless mojito. So disappointed. Waitress was slow and instead of cleaning a spilled drink she dropped off some napkins. What a mess it's become! Literally! We've been going for years and sadly we've been disappointed too many times as of recent. Until there's change and improvement-we won't be back anytime soon.
(1)Cathleen A.
There's no better place than The Chateau for chicken Parmesan pizza. The one we had Friday night was superb. It's no longer on the menu but the kitchen always makes it for us. Highly recommend it!!! And please put it back on the menu so more people will get to enjoy it!
(5)Mrs. C.
Meh - pretty much sums it up. Stopped for lunch with my mom. We both got the lunch special - 1/2 sandwich and soup. The french onion soup crock was nicely covered in cheese. The soup was good, full of onions and bread but was only luke warm. Mom got the minestrone, which she said was also good, but full of meatballs, which she found odd (or maybe it's just mom thats odd...). We both got the 1/2 chicken parm sandwich which looked good, but we both agreed was totally tasteless. Place was busy, alot of groups of business people, but our waitress was fine, no complaints about the service from us. I doubt we'd stop again though, there are other,better, options nearby.
(2)Dell M.
Food is nasty and so is the wait staff.
(1)Kate P.
We stopped here for lunch on our way home from the airport and couldn't even find a parking spot! We were greeted by a friendly smile and a great waitress. I had the Stuffed Shells and my boyfriend had the Gnocchi - both were delicious. It's a good stop if you're on the road.
(5)Philip M.
Service was OK. Ordered toasted ravioli. Tasted like something frozen that had been put in a microwave. No flavor. Really bad when you saw how many were in the parking lot. People have a real taste for shit. It's amazing.
(1)Raymond I.
This restaurant is EXCELLENT!!! I come here fairly often. Great menu, delicious food, very good waitstaff, easy parking and the prices are quite reasonable.
(5)Tom M.
First time in the area, so I walked a mile from my hotel. I don't understand why the reviews were just so so. I ordered the chicken parm and fried ravioli special. All I can say is that it tasted fantastic! The meat sauce was one of the best I have tasted. I travel a lot for my job and I would definitely return to The Chateau. By the way, I sat at the bar and Julie was an incredible waitress.
(5)Ralph A.
Not a true Italiano place. Food not up to par. About the only item I had that was decent was the eggplant. Vino okay selection. I figure this place is known for people coming in to play Keno. The workers try hard but does not make up for the quality of the food.
(2)Shawn S.
had a great time! Best waitress ever, thank you. Apps were good pizza she recommended was even better.
(5)A G.
Bleh American Italian food, good service, ok prices.
(3)