Thanks to Chateau for an awesome experience last night! Even accommodating my friend with the Gluten Free selections. Once again a 5 Star thanks !
(5)
Rich W.
Imagine frozen freezer-burned Italian food that was beyond it's expiration date & you'd be imagining something slightly better than what I just ate. When we first walked in I was concerned (just the vibe) . . . It reminds me of a place featured on Kitchen Nightmares.
(1)
Amanda L.
We stopped here on our way home from Maine. The food was sub-par and the service was ridiculously slow. We sat down and ordered, it was an hour before our food came out. But, the people seated beside us (2 tables, seated about 15 minutes after us) got their food and finished eating before we got our food. When the food finally came, the pasta was cold. I put pepper on it before I realized it was cold. The waitress took it back, and it came out again quickly. Then I realized it was still peppered so they just put the plate in the microwave. If i wanted to eat microwaved pasta, I would have had gas station food. The waitress was very sweet, but couldn't make up for the awful wait.
(1)
Anthony R.
I've been here three times during my two-week visit to the area. I am beginning to suspect that the locals give the place bad reviews to keep the rest of us away. Otherwise I am at a loss to explain the reviews. My first visit I had the spaghetti marinara. I've had this simple dish at dozens of Italian restaurants across the country. I will say that most places ruin this simple dish. I say simple because of the ingredients but not so simply to cook perfectly, but The Chateau certainly delivered. The noodles were cooked perfectly. Now if you believe the critics, noodles should be "al dente". Try that at home once, and when you are using a toothpick to get the pasta out of your teeth you will understand why critics are critics and not chefs. The pasta here are cooked exactly to perfection: just *past* al dente without becoming mushy. Tossed lightly in good olive oil before the gravy (marinara) is added. Plenty, but not too much, sauteed garlic. I was thoroughly enjoying this until I tasted the bread. Then I had to dip it. YES, despite American etiquette, I took that bread and sopped up gravy like a true Italian. I've never had better garlic toasts. Not anywhere. If you say you have, I don't believe you. You may THINK you have, but you haven't. The next visit I had the Haddock...perfectly broiled and flaky. Very light on the taste buds and on the belly. Still had the bread though. And it was JUST as good without the gravy. Third visit I had the spaghetti marinara again. I can't wait to see what I get next time. I am thinking Eggplant Parmesan! The service was friendly and the atmosphere is great. It feels like a true local gem because that is exactly what it is.
(5)
Keerthika V.
I prefer Less cheese( quite hard in Italian food!!!)We ordered chicken parm and lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo.. All the dishes met my expectation!!
(4)
Carolyn M.
This restaurant is one of our go-to places... But, My husband ordered the Wedge Salad tonight.... it looked beautiful... but the BACON bits were right out of a bag of bacon bits from Restaurant Depot and they were COLD... What happened to crisp bacon pieces.... very disappointing...
(4)
Jason A.
The name Chateau implies an elegant dining experience, doesn't it? Well, in reality, um, not so much. The atmosphere reminds me of an upscale McDonald's... seating was old and outdated, and my butt hurt after no time. The food... mediocre at best. I got better chicken parm at Friendly's. No joke. And somebody mentioned Bertucci's two miles west on Route 9... that would be a better option. Also the Olive Garden in Marlborough near the mall... better all around than this place. The service was decent - no issues there. The price for our meals? No way. Rip-off. Avoid this place like the plague...
(1)
Nick M.
This location has been very consistent as the others I have visited. I consider the Chateaus Family Style American Italian , food was fresh, good bread, good service Thank you!
(5)
Tracy B.
Have never been to this location but had often visited the location in Waltham.. Was out for a day of errands and shopping with the BFF and the boys and we wanted differnt than Friendlys.. We arrived around 5 on a Saturday which was great, NO WAIT... Then it began... Food was all the same so that was delish, BREAD.. OMG 5 stars alone! My pet peeve is when Im out with the kids & the waitresses - when they come over always nicely recommend something to start with or a drink as their opening line... Why do you offer me the strongest drink on th menu when Im with 2 toddlers? That bothers me, I dont know why but it just does, "Oh please, let sit here & get shitty with my kids" Ok the service was way too long, our kids were climbing all over the place & that didnt seem to speed our server up at all... I think we might stick with Friendlys.. She was very nice, food was delish. We might just have to rethink the Chateau after a long day out & restless kids... Thankfully ours werent crying like the ones in the booth over from us... It saved us from getting all the looks!
(3)
Nicole G.
Not good at all. Lies, long wait for food and far below average food. We were lied to by the waitress about one of our meals on three different occasions! The first time she said the food would be out shortly, the second time after bring three out of four of the meals out that the last one was just getting some finishing touches and the third time that when she was getting the plate from the kitchen she tripped and half of it ended up on the floor. At this point, her lies were obvious and badly told. The manager came over and said that the meal was prepared with tomato sauce instead of Alfredo and they had to remake it, that meal was free. Still not acceptable, by any means. I got a chicken broccoli with garlic butter sauce. The chicken was bad tasting and I could barely manage to eat any of it. The garlic butter sauce lacked flavor and didn't taste like butter. I forced down less than half of the plate and certainly didn't want to bring any home. It was probably the worst meal I've ever had at a restaurant. We got in there at around 1 pm and were out by 3 pm. Really 2 hours? A few good points (but not worthy of a extra star): A steak that was ordered at our table was actually good and heard no complaints about that. The mozzarella sticks were probably the best thing I had there! The garlic bread wasn't too bad either.
(1)
Melissa W.
ordered from here for an office lunch. I asked for the combo with chicken parm, toasted ravioli and penne pasta. When lunch was delivered I got lasagna, chicken parm, and a meatball... not sure how that happened. A little disappointed but still delicious overall.
(3)
Shari K.
The decor is bright and interesting, and the atmosphere is great- noisy, busy, and family friendly. Our party of 2 was seated quickly on a Friday evening, which is great considering how busy they were, but the food was hardly better than TV dinner fare. I tried the (overcooked) half roasted chicken which came with canned cranberry sauce, a baked potato, and limp zucchini in marinara. The sangria was just okay. Our server was friendly enough although often absent and obviously over-extended. We had an extremely long wait for our check. Being new to the area, I was excited when I saw how crowded the parking lot was and thought The Chateau would be a special dining experience, but it left me wondering what the big deal is.
(2)
Laurel C.
Doesn't taste like authentic Italian although the menu says the owners are from Italy. Meatball grossed me out. Tasted frozen. Good atmosphere for families. The waitress was very friendly. Good prices. Yummy sangria.
(4)
Scott J.
The Chateau is a tradition for my wife's family and we look forward to it every Christmas season. The Chicken Parm and Toasted Ravs are a favorite. We took out food last night and it was reassuringly consistent EXCEPT FOT THE BREAD. The Chateau has great bread, we ordered an additional loaf (for a charge) and they did not give us bread but these mediocre rolls. The Chateau needs to reinstitute the wonderful loaves of bread they serve or we will continue to be disappointed. Otherwise, it is a very enjoyable, tasty, and nostalgic dining experience
(4)
S.E. H.
I've been here only once. The food was pretty good, but I'm going to say it, the service was definitely sub-par. I got the chicken athena special, which was delicious! I am very happy with my choice, since everything else seemed pretty generic, not super home-made looking (Granted I didn't taste them). The chicken francais, chicken picatta, and toasted ravioli actually did look pretty good though. Although we were a large party, we barely got any attention. It took me three asks to get a glass of water, and there was too much lag time between when we ordered drinks to when we got bread, to when they actually asked us for our orders. The waitresses barely ever checked on us. This wasn't limited to the dining room since the waitresses were cold in the bar too. The place didn't have many people seated either which was strange. It was a pretty large restaurant and it was pretty dead on a Thursday night. Anyways, I don't necessarily think I'd come back here again. Nothing really caught my attention or made me want to return. I can get good italian food other places in worcester and with much better service and atmosphere.
(3)
Thomas D.
The BEST lasagna ever... My wife and I dine at The Chateau in Westborough on a regular basis and I have yet to get past the lasagna on the menu. The lasagna is made with fresh mozzarella cheese and is complemented with either a marinara sauce for a great vegetarian dish or bolognese if you prefer a meat sauce. Did I mention that the lasagna portion is large enough for two? I travel extensively on business both domestically and internationally and when I am back home in Massachusetts this is my favorite meal. Although I haven't tried the other menu items I suspect that they are good as well judging from the busy parking lot even on Monday and Tuesday nights.
(5)
EJ H.
I've been here quite a few times as my company's HQ is right around the corner- let me just say the service is always consistent: warm friendly and prompt. The food I would liken it to American Italian comfort food. It's definitely not authentic Italian. If u come here expecting that u need to crawl back under the rock from whence u came. All the menu items do have a description underneath so if something isn't what u expected, it's ur fault for not reading. I would say the food is definitely consistently average. I've never had anything terribly bad but nothing to write home abt either. Either way, I'd probably come back for a glass of wine and some pasta w a tasty Alfredo sauce. But just that, and nothing more. As an aside, the portions are on the larger size- typical of American fare- so if anyone complains abt that, they're just being pigs and have no self control.
(4)
Sara F.
My boyfriend and I have made this our Valentine's Day spot the past few years. SO GOOD! I love their fried ravioli as an appetizer and tend to get the chicken broccoli Alfredo or instead of Alfredo, get the garlic butter sauce. Always delicious! My boyfriend is a big fan of the "chateau sauce" on their wings. Surprisingly yummy! We've also gotten the Chateau to cater and was pleased with their service as well! Overall a yummy Italian place!
(5)
brian c.
Hey shut up Donna it's gonna be ok. Good for a chain great for a business meeting but nowhere near fabulous, you long winded stock holder.
(3)
Peter B.
Not a fan of this location for the chain at all. I have been to the one in Waltham and it is 10x better. The service was slow and the food was worse than in Waltham. Go to Waltham.
(1)
Jill P.
After a mix up with my take out order, I looked online to check their prices. After seeing the prices listed online, I noticed my original bill was way too high. Turns out my meal was that night's special and should have been $5.00 cheaper. Now, if it was $.50, I never would have complained, but $5.00 is a bigger deal. False advertising or maybe even bait and switch? Got the brush off when I called. She told me that they don't do those specials even though it's listed for all Chateau locations and they had changed their menu prices but they weren't updated online. Not cool, Chateau. If you're going to list prices and specials online, please make sure they are accurate. Customers don't want to feel cheated while eating your food. It leaves a bad taste in our mouths.
(2)
Beth L.
After moving to Westborough a couple of years ago, the chateau became a regular Friday night thing when we didn't want to cook and felt like having a pretty good pizza. We've had dinner in the restaurant a few times and always pretty good. Kind of random, but I went into labor after having the chicken Parmesan :) This past week, we had a rough experience. We showed up at 6pm on Monday night wanting a quick meal. We were with our 19 month old so we knew a hungry, tired toddler could be playing with fire. We figured we'd get a quick meal and be out of there in no time. Service took forever. Despite asking for my daughters meal ASAP, that didn't happen. 40 minutes passed without much sign of our waitress and still no entrees. We managed to get the waitress over and requested our food be packed up to go. After all that time with a toddler getting more tired and still hungry, we headed home. To top it off, the meal wasn't cheap and we got to eat it cold at home. Bonus was that the pizza was great for leftovers. My husband has put this place on a permanent ban, but I'm sure we will give it another shot eventually....hoping for better service!
(2)
M... X.
Very disappointing. Not sure what the big hype is about this place. Authentic Italian? Really??????? JOKE.... If you're looking for authentic Italian food, this is NOT the place to go. Make a trip into the North End for "authentic" italian dishes. In the meantime, stay away from this place and go to Bertucci's down the road instead. The food is way better... And for those saying this place is amazing, etc. good god people, makes me wonder what kind of food you're used to. Most likely chef boyardee in a can... Needless to say I thankfully won't be going back.....
(1)
Brian V.
If you are looking for a place to bring a large group the Chateau is perfect. The Chateau provides quality food at a reasonable price. We have had many family and club events in the private dining rooms. The service is exceptional and the food is hot and served on time for the larger groups of 50 - 75 people. This is no small task to pull off and the Chateau does it every time. They offer great package pricing and cater to your special needs without hesitation. My family purchases gift cards for each other for the Chateau because they have six locations and the food is great at all of them. My kids always ask me to bring home a loaf of their Italian bread and red sauce. The food is not high cuisine like you get at those fancy foodie hangouts, but if you like quality food prepared in a clean environment with friendly experienced service this is the perfect place for you or your community function.
(5)
Will F.
The Chateaus serves unauthentic, extremely basic, Italian SLOP, and their staff are just circus clowns in service uniform. Stay far away! STRIKE 1: When I went to the Chateau, on May 9th, I placed a lunch order for their "classic Italian" trio for $9.99 (they have now raised the price to $10.50). I got to the restaurant and the receptionist never put my lunch order in. Re-ordering cut into my entire lunch break, when I had other plans. And no, I did not call the wrong Chateau, I verified the right number in my recent calls list with the receptionist. BALL 1: While I waited for my order, I thought it was strange they had a lottery ticket machine in the restaurant, seems ghetto, but hey! I like to gamble. I put my money in and the machine was of course broken, because well... that's the Chateau. Not a strike against them though, just thought I'd mention it. STRIKE 2: They overcharged me. They charged me dinner prices, not lunch prices, because while waiting for my order, the menu prices changed from lunch to dinner. I called back the Chateau, spoke to the manager, and explained to her the situation- that I had in fact, placed my order at lunchtime but due to their mistake, the prices rolled into dinner. The manager apologized, assured me she would credit me back the money. BALL 2: The food I got was 2 stars. They use generic tomato sauce over pasta. Nothing special. STRIKE 3: The manager never credited me back my money. Yes, they kept it! So now, I have my first ever dispute of credit card charge and now have my card company reversing the payments as we speak. STRIKEOUT! They strike out for not placing orders, overcharging customers, and not refunding money as promised. Additional problems include slumlord ambiance, generic food, and wasting customers valuable time.
(1)
G K.
"The restaurant serves amazing Italian food. I highly recommend the toasted ravioli and fried clams. The famous bread served before you get your meal is delicious." -AManda
(5)
Jenn S.
We went to The Chateau for a friend's birthday with a group of about 15. I went to college in Waltham and had driven past that location many times, but had always heard fairly bad reviews. A good friend LOVES the restaurant - it's her favorite place - so I wasn't sure what to expect! After reading the reviews on here, I had a good idea what to expect: a kid-friendly restaurant with so-so, consistent food. That's pretty much much I got. It took us a while to sit down, but once we did, we ordered pretty fast, so the kids wouldn't have to wait too long. They were great about bringing the kids' food real quick and our apps came fairly fast too. The basket of bread was not great (chewy, cold), but the Garlic Bread Parmigiana? OMG. That same bread, dipped in oil and covered in cheese and garlic. DELISH. We also got 2 different orders of fried calamari (I did not sample, but both went fast), an order of Toasted Ravioli and an order of Mozzarella Sticks. Basically, all fried and/or cheesy apps! The ravioli were ok, but lukewarm and not too flavorful. The ones from Vinny T's (aka Vinny Testa's aka now closed) were much better. To counteract all of those apps, I went for a "lighter" entree and got the Cobb Salad: Iceberg & Romaine Lettuce, Grilled Chicken, Bacon, Avocado and Gorgonzola Cheese, Chopped Eggs & Tomato. Served with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing. Some of the other salads had mesclun greens, so I asked for those instead of the iceberg/romaine. The waitress paused and then said "it's more money..." I asked how much, thinking it would be $5 or so, and she said "$1.50." I happily asked her to make the swap. The salad was definitely not "healthy" compared to other salads, but was chock-ful of yumminess. I thoroughly enjoyed it and devoured the entire thing! My husband went for Chicken Parm, which I had to sample, of course. It was a pretty standard Chicken Parm. We've had better and we've definitely had worse. He ate the entire thing as well. Our friends have a son with some bad allergies, so they called ahead to ask about special orders. They were told that everything is prepared elsewhere and then frozen and sent to the location, so they could not really do anything special. They could do grilled chicken or pasta with no sauce, as the sauce has milk in it. In this day & age, with all the allergies and diets, etc., I am shocked that a restaurant cannot be more accommodating! Considering we were a big group ordering lots of food and "pitchers" of sangria, I would have expected the waitress to be happy. She was not and, in fact, was a bit mean!! I was afraid to ask for an extra glass so I could partake in the sangria. Eventually she got friendlier, but it was also closer to tipping time... The second waitress we had was VERY friendly. Price-wise, it's obviously higher for a big group, but it was still reasonable. For 2-4 people, it would not be bad at all. The entrees range from $12-$20, so you can definitely get a cheaper meal or splurge, if you prefer. Overall, I was not impressed. It was pretty much what I expected food-wise, but fell way below my expectations in terms of service. A few of the people with me agreed. However, this place was PACKED, so obviously lots of people disagree and love this place! In fact, when I told a friend I went there, he responded with "I LOVE that place!" To each his own, I suppose!
(2)
Kate R.
I've been going to the Chateau for over 4 years now and have noticed a change in the food and wait staff. I've had almost half of the items on the menu. Last night the day after valentines day was a little different. I had the lasagna and the meat sauce was on the side. It was layers of ricotta and noodles. Not what I expected at all. The sauce was the best part of the meal. I would not order lasagna again. I think it was inappropriate that there was a stand that was used for a dirty dish pile up across from our table. It was on one of those stands servers use to bring the food out. Our waitress Lily R was OK - I am not at all impressed by the service that we received. The restaurant does not have diet coke products either or ranch dressing. The bathroom had papers all over the floor and could use a paint job. Paint was missing on many of the doors.
(3)
Pam D.
Well, it was definitely better than I expected! We drove past this place on the way to a different restaurant. We were feeling spontaneous so we stopped and went inside. The full parking lot has to count for something! We were giving the option between the dining room and the lounge. If you are drinking beer or hell -if you're having any drink at all, opt for the lounge. We sat in the dining room for approximately 0.24 seconds before we all started fidgeting from stuffiness and an overall feeling of LAME. The lounge was a much better feel for my small table of 20somethings. I ordered fried ravioli as an app and it was fan-freaking-tastic. My expectation was some indistinguishable cheesy fried square. What I got was a large, lightly breaded ravioli fried just to a light crispiness but without cooking the inside to a crisp. It was all I dreamed of and more. Definitely order! I hesitantly ordered the salmon salad for my entree. Something about "family" restaurants makes me reconsider any protein. But - again I was pleasantly surprised. Fresh salmon, cooked perfectly, atop of fresh, crisp spring greens. Overall the atmosphere wasn't really my scene, but the food was good and price was even better. Service was excellent as well.
(3)
Megan C.
I have been a long time fan of this place and can easily say I won't be back. I went recently for a celebration dinner with my mom and almost landed in the hospital. Busy talking with her I took a few bites of my chicken parmesan without looking. Quickly I realized my chicken was cold. There was a reason. It wasn't cooked and had a deep pink center. Chicken! It was clear they threw a frozen chicken on the grill because the outside breading was cooked but literally nothing under the surface. It took over five minutes to find a waitress and eight from then for a manager to come. The manager was less then helpful and I left in tears.
(1)
Morgan C.
Waitress had no idea what she was doing, and brought out the wrong order...twice. Vegetables were luke warm....Ew. Overall, was very disappointing!
(1)
Derek O.
Decent food for a fair price. But they are consistently late with takeout. Every time. Add 10 minutes if you're picking something up.
(3)
Paul J.
Just got back from our second visit to The Chateau. Our first trip there was quite disappointing, but we thought we'd give it a second chance. By all outward appearances, this place seems like it SHOULD be great, but really it's just not. The service was painfully slow; not only did it take far too long to get our (by then, partially cold) food, but even the taking of our order and making change for our bill made for us being there about an hour longer than we'd planned. The food was pretty average, not at all on par with the ambiance of the restaurant. The menu is very long and extensive. Perhaps they ought to narrow it down and try to do a few things well. Out of the many, many selections, perhaps there are a few things they do well, but so far neither I nor any of my dinner companions have discovered them. It's a huge dining area, and the fact that it was packed out is baffling, because as far as Italian food goes, it's not hard at all to do better than this place.
(2)
Michelle D.
My husband and I had our small (40) wedding reception here. The food was incredible, the service was stellar and I was very very pleased. It made for a memorable evening! Everyone raved that it was the best wedding food they'd ever had!
(5)
Michael N.
We have been a customer of The Chateau in Waltham and in Westboro. We went to The Chateau today, 3/22/14, around 4:30 PM. First we were seated right next to a very large table where a birthday party for 99 year old woman. (She was a doll!!) The restaurant was not busy and they clearly could have given all of us a little more space. Then we waited 15 MINUTES for a waitress to show up. Little blonde petulant Hannah. She walked right by us even though we said, "Hi." She came back, introduced herself to us but did not apologize for the wait. She said, "You look like you're ready to order." She did not even bother to tell us the fricking specials!! So we ordered. I was going to order a margarita, but she took so long to even come over, I was not going to increase the total spent. We gave her our order and asked, "Did you want the bread?" Yes. So the little girl brings us bread that was hard around the crust!! We pulled some bread out of the middle and the left the "outer shell" as it were on the bread plates. Most waitstaff would have taken note of the hollowed out bread and asked if it was okay. Not Hannah. Oh, not Hannah who didn't give a shit about anything. She brings us our drinks. I asked for water, and there's a big slice of lemon in it. I HATE water befouled by lemon! I take the lemon wedge out and put it on the table. Again the little girl doesn't take a hint. The food finally arrived. My ravioli was warm not hot. We had asked to wrap up the remaining penne pasta. The little girl didn't bring it. When she was dropping off the check, she asked how everything was. We said that it was "just ok." She repeated, "just ok?" Hannah could not have cared less. The bill came to $47.35. We left $49.00. As we were walking out having left the bill and payment on our table, we passed her at the waitresses station where she was entering an order. Our eyes met. That little, snotty, petulant, rude Hannah just looked away. Up yours, Hannah!!! You are a pathetic excuse for a waitress. The prices at The Chateau have gone up and the portions have come down. Hannah, you should be working at a Subway or some other place that doesn't charge much and unprofessional staff could be excusable. To the manager of this Chateau location, you have lost customers permanently. We have recommended your place to many others. We will now rescind those recommendations and replace them with warnings.
(1)
Paul G.
You go to an Italian family dining restaurant with modest expectations. The food should be filling and tasty. The staff should be friendly and unpretentious. The ambiance should be casual and maybe a little tacky. And you should get out for less than $100 for a party of two. By all these criteria, Chateau is a winner. This location has hosted several prominent restaurants, including one that closed after its kitchen burned down. Chateau has stayed the longest and I hope it continues its run, because this is affordable Italian cooking that everyone can enjoy. Chateau's dining room is large and open, which gives it plenty of flexibility to accommodate large groups. The staff is friendly, if not always as attentive as we'd like. The menu is huge, which is true of most Italian family places. You pretty much can't go wrong with anything that's covered in tomato sauce or sauteed in wine. We haven't tried the seafood, though the most recent night we were there was "lobster mania," which conjured up images of crustaceans running the dining room while the patrons' hands were tied up with rubber bands. . On our most recent trip I had the chicken saltimbocca, which was quite good if a little pricey at $16. Dana had the gnocchi, which she pronounced delicious. That's a compliment coming from Dana because she is a connoisseur of gnocchi. The bruschetta appetizer was served on fresh bread with plenty of mozzarella. We got the house special fried ravioli for the girls and kept the leftovers for ourselves. It's really good. The house bread is outstanding, if you're into white bread. My martini was generous and Dana's frou-frou milkshake-like concoction looked great, if you're into that kind of thing. All in all, it's a place to which we'll keep returning because, let's face it, it's hard to go wrong with Italian family dining.
(4)
Catie C.
Honestly, I don't know what's good Italian and what's not. I certainly don't venture much in this cuisine since I'm not a big fan of most cheeses nor tomatoes. Hence, Chicken Marsala is my staple when I step into one. The Marsala sauce here is scrumptious. It's not too salty and the wine is not overwhelming. It's just the right combination of ingredients for my palette. The chicken was pretty good - not all dried out and not battered. Had a pitcher of sangria between the two of us. I thought it was a bit weak; but it's probably me since I usually drink vodka on the rocks. The waitress we had was pretty cool and attentive. I was able to joke around with her. I do think it's wierd to have keno and scratch tickets in a family restaurant. I guess they're just doing what they need to do to obtain revenue. Most of all, can't beat having a coupon in this economical downturn! If you can save a few bucks, why not!? The prices are already good for what it's worth, of course.
(4)
Christopher R.
This place was way bigger than I thought. Its HUGE inside, and the decor is really nice. Food was pretty good for Italian, and the portions were large for the prices. I was not a fan of their garlic bread though, which is strange because Im a carb addict and usually dont find fault with breads, but I was underwhelmed. Everything else was very good though. Service was friendly, prompt and attentive. Definitely would take family and friends here.
(4)
Katie H.
After hearing rave reviews about this place and its counterpart in Waltham, my husband and I went into The Chateau with high hopes. Those hopes were dashed within the first 20 minutes. That's how long it took for us to receive our 1/2 liter of sangria on what was a very slow Tuesday night. I ordered a very lackluster caesar salad. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't romaine lettuce supposed to be green and not white? Our entrees were fair. My husband order the special which consisted of manicotti, chicken parm, and a meatball. He described it as "eh". I ordered the eggplant parm. Let me just say that I've had better at Olive Garden -- and I loathe Olive Garden. Service was on the slow side. I wouldn't bother going back. Worcester and Leominster have much better options for Italian fare. On the plus side, their dessert menu looked appetizing. However, we wanted out of this place, so we skipped dessert.
We take the kids there on a fairly regular basis. The service is usually very friendly and has a little old school Italian restaurant feel (any one remember Marconi's in Ashland, ma?). The timing of App's and meals is almost always perfect. An occasional wait for the main course but nothing i would complain about. The atmosphere is nice, a little wide open. Not a "private dining" feel but that's OK with us. As far as food, we have never had a bad experience. Portions are large, quality is very good. I will say that we are a fan of the Chicken Parm and almost always order that. Never a complaint. The kids get Pizza, Spaghetti & Meatballs or Sausage and always love it. I've had fish & Chicken Caesar Salad off the menu and loved that. but all in all i have not sampled a wide range of the menu so it's not a very comprehensive viewpoint. Lots of parking but it actually does fill up and there can be a wait at prime times. Desert menu is small but they are all good. Usually go for dinner so not to up on the lunch service & quality.
(4)
Eric R.
This place is pretty easy to nail. If you've ever been to the North End, or Little Italy, and really loved what you ate there. Don't go here. If you're looking for typical italian-american fare in volume, then it's fine. Set the bar low, and you'll be good. It's not cuisine. It's dinner.
(3)
Katy F.
This place was PACKED on a Tuesday night. The bar was loud and crowded. The food though is pretty good. The drinks are a small pour, and generally a rip off. The waitress we had was nice, but had too many tables, therefore we didn't get the service we expected. I might go back if I'm in a rowdy mood and want some Italian -- and in the neighborhood. LOL
(3)
Sayan S.
Worst Italian dining experience ever. The wife ordered the Chicken Picatta and I the Chicken Palermo. Both were uneatable. The chicken was smelly and tough. The pasta was bland and disgusting. Service was OK but when the food is that bad nothing else matters. Even the bread was stone cold. We got our entrees swapped by soup bowls. Even those were bland and tasteless. Don't waste your time and money in this place. Go to Bertucci's across the road and you'll be much happier.
(1)
Christopher S.
The Chateau is a nice place to gather the family together for an afternoon lunch or evening dinner. The menu is huge with so many different selections to choose from. One of the more difficult things about the menu is deciding what to put in your stomach. So a while back my sister called me asking if I would like to meet her and the rest of the family for a Saturday afternoon lunch. Why not? So I drive out to Westborough to meet everyone for a big, hearty Italian lunch. When we walked into the entryway we were greeted by the hostess and brought into the very large and very nice dining room. The Chateau just opened for the day and I believe we were the first customers for the afternoon. As we got comfortable the waitress came over, passed out menus and took our drink order. Shortly after she left another waiter began placing baskets of bread on our table. What I love about the Chateau is how the bread here are large, thick slices of Italian bread where the top has sesame seed on it. As usual the table falls into silence as everyone studied the menu, talked to themselves about what they wanted before making a decision. It doesn't take too long for everybody to make a choice and we order our food. I honestly don't remember what everyone had but pretty much every order came with a house or caesar salad which was enjoyable. Let's face it, it's hard to mess up on salad. Empty salad bowls began to appear, more bread arrived and shortly our entrees emerged from the kitchen. Plates were delightfully presented and came in good sized portions. Nobody had a bad meal but honestly there really isn't anything about the meal that makes the food memorable, average at best. Overall the prices are good, food is good but don't expect high end Italian food.
(3)
Kirsten L.
Had a lovely first date. Good old fashioned Italian food. Wait was long for a table, but the food came fast. My gnocchi was a little cold on the inside, but tasty. I have a food allergy and they were able to tell me that the menu item contained the ingredient, which was a good thing.
(3)
Sreejit B.
Food was far from descent
(1)
Brad M.
Average at best. The fried ravioli appetizer was pretty good, but everything else was just average.
(2)
Hilary L.
I went there today for lunch with my boyfriend. We'd looked at the lunch menu online before going, and discovered when we got there that the prices were higher than they website had shown. The meal itself wasn't terrible but wasn't good either. The garden salad is very below average. The lettuce is almost all the white/yellow part of iceberg lettuce with barely any green leaves. No cheese or croutons either. I ordered the meatball sandwich as my meal and it was served on the same white soft/fluffy bread served with every meal. While the bread is tasty, it is way too soft and light to be used for a hearty sandwich like meatball. The sandwich bread disintegrated almost immediately and I got sauce all over my hands. Also, the fries are below average - what you'd expect from a place like Friendlys or something. Not seasoned at all - not memorable and not something I would want to get again. The positives of The Chateau include good service and a clean, comfortable atmosphere.
(2)
J T.
3 stars are generous, I should have given 2. But our waitress was really good. It's not her fault that most of the food was just average. I was hoping it was better
(3)
Jay G.
Yikes, This place. . tisk tisk tisk horrible! My fiance and I wanted to try the Chateau because of all the great things people say about it. I am from the south shore but decided to try this place out because we have one down where I live however we were in the area and decided to try it. Let me tell you that the service is horrible, even the onion rings didn't have taste! I might as well of ate water our of a bowl with a spoon. The bread I agree is good, but the rest of it is terrible. Seriously. . .I was so disappointed.
(1)
Kate S.
Great service. The restaurant has a lot of seating so it works for both small and large groups. The menu has a wide variety of food options and they're all tasty so you can't go wrong. They have combo meals which are great because you get to try a few different food items as smaller portions.
(3)
John H.
At the Chateau for lunch on veterans day, probably more crowded than usual for lunch but service was quick. I overheard a large party (13 people) nearby saying that they arrived with no reservation and only waited long enough for some tables to be put together. I had the trio 1, fettuccine alfredo, toasted ravioli and chicken parm. The fettuccine was a little dry but I love mixing in some red sauce so I have no real complaints. My wife had a 1/2 chicken which she said was very good. So two good sized entrees, one house salad, 2 soft drinks and 2 coffees all for about $32. I don't understand some of the really negative reviews, this is not La Campania and never claimed to be. It is a step above Olive Garden if for no other reason than they don't push cheap wine and breadsticks and don't pretend that every dish was conceived in the wood fired kitchen of a Tuscan villa. If you want a consistent decent meal in a clean place that is well staffed the Chateau (any location) is worthwhile but if you are a food critic that wants to analyze every last detail of the menu and authenticity of the cuisine go somewhere else. I should also note that the Chateau is kid friendly while not silly in any way and the mostly middle aged and mostly female waitstaff treat elderly folks (I'm not in that category) with respect and accommodates menu substitutions or special requests without an eye roll. I'd give this place a 4.5 if I could but reserve 5 stars for truly special experiences.
(4)
PMG M.
Great place for groups. Our server was more than accommodating with our group who seemed to be more interested in chatting & catching up then ordering. Plenty of big screen TV's in the lounge if you need to keep an eye on a game. Tower of appetizers, toasted raviolis, gnocchi & eggplant arrived hot & fresh. It seemed all 6 of us had different salads, spinach, chopped, house all fresh with plenty of added ingredients, beets, fresh mushrooms, etc,etc. Wine reasonably priced. Extensive Italian-American menu with plenty of choices for all.
(4)
Emz P.
The food is OK. Nothing excites me about this place. It is just there, if you have no other options.
(2)
Brenda F.
Eggplant parm under 600 calories, great suggestion from the waitress. Nice family atmosphere
(3)
Melissa S.
THE MOST DEPRESSING DINING EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD! First of all, the dining room was dirty and there was a "snot-like" substance on the wall adjacent to our table. The waiter screwed up our order twice, and we were his only table...honestly, one app and three entrees is not hard to keep straight. Our meals arrived in 5 minutes...pretty sure it takes longer than that to even boil water, and our meals tasted disgusting and microwaved. The pasta was completely overcooked; resembling mushy prison food, the raviolis were dry, the red sauce tasted like a generic Market Basket sauce, and the eggplant was greasy and rubbery. The kicker of the whole experience was when the waiter bussed the tables and spilled red sauce all over my seat while I was in the bathroom...didn't clean it up, or even give me a heads up. Thanks for the marinara stain on my jeans, SHATEAU!
(1)
Dan D.
This is THE BEST Italian restaurant in metrowest. After having gone to the one in Waltham for years, I wondered if the new one in Westborough could live up to it's sister restaurant. Boy, does it ever. The warm scali bread they serve prior to the meal is delicious. Soft, warm, incredible. The fried calamari and fried ravioli are perfectly cooked. They pay special attention to the temperature of the oil to ensure it is not greasy and cooks to perfection. The portion sizes are HUGE. The chicken parm is my all time favorite. Their homemade pastas are exemplary. My daughter always has the fried calamari, and it is the standard against which all other restaurant's calamari is judged. This place can get very packed, so call in a reservation before you arrive. In less than a year, this has become the most heavily trafficked restaurant in the region. And for good reason. Here's a secret tip: You can buy a quart of their sauce to take home. We always buy 2 quarts, and freeze one. They also sell loaves of their bread. If you buy a quart of sauce and a loaf of bread, they throw in a pound of pasta (for you to cook at home). While it's not homemade ziti, it's a nice touch.
(5)
GB C.
I love this place! Second time I've been here, don't mind driving a little farther for good food. Had lasagna tonight, just perfect. Love the house Italian dressing too.
(5)
Gerald C.
I like the Chateau. The toasted ravioli is very good. The one problem is the service. I've never seen a happy waitress there, they always seem a little angry or bothered or somthing. We go once or twice a year.
(3)
E. K.
Lovely decor, very cozy, old fashioned setting. Great for the whole family. The lasagne is delicious, the pizza is very good. Waitstaff is very nice. I really like this restaurant, nice size portions, not overly priced.
(4)
Champagne C.
This was pitiful. We stopped in because we needed a quick but not fast food dinner - we weren't expecting fine dining - We thought we'd enjoy it more than the other chain restaurants that were near the highway. Nice employees but if your palate has evolved beyond the level of a fast food lovin' college kid, then there's no way this place gets 3 (or more) stars. My husband and I had the chicken parm and gnocchi dish, my 17 year old son had "chicken supreme." In all 3 cases, the deep fried chicken breasts were over-cooked and dry. Ate about 3 bites of that. The red sauce on the chicken parm was VERY salty but had no complexity (a.k.a. no herbs). The gnocchi was thickly coated with a "cheese" sauce which was beyond salty and I''d bet my kid with the GOOD grades that it was made from a cheese-like powder like that which you'll find in box of Kraft macaroni and cheese. The chicken supreme was a dry deep-fried slab of chicken that came with cranberry sauce! All that salt and deep frying does appeal to a certain population, but certainly not to anyone who takes pride in cooking or has a SLIGHTLY discerning palate. Wish we went to Friendly's instead! Question - if this is supposed to be an italian eatery...WHY THE FRENCH NAME? Shouldn't it be Il Castello?
(2)
Steve R.
Good news... The food is cheap. Bad news... It tastes cheap too. The Chateau is the italian restaurant that your Granfather took your Grandmother to on their first date. The food is from the same period. The only difference is that they heat it up in the microwave for you so that you don't have to hear the annoying microwave beeping when your dinner is ready.
(2)
S R.
I don't understand how people can give this place a good review. Either their taste buds are shot or they've never had good Italian food. The food was horrific. It was the farthest thing from homemade and was beyond tasteless. Safe yourself a buck and buy a jar of Paul Newman's Marinara sauce and some Bertolli pasta...the result will be far superior.
(1)
Benjamin F.
Great chicken parm! My kid sister loves to enter the drawing contests and I like the cup 'o mud.
(5)
Sean M.
The Naked FIsh is gone, it has been replaced by another local chain. The Chateau has locations in Waltham, Needham, Stoughton, Andover, Needham and Norton as well. The formula is medium priced highly Americanized Italian Cuisine in a family friendly setting. They tend to maximize seating capacity in their restaurants but in this location at least it's not cramped. The food is very mediocre, but there is a certain utility to places like this. Honestly though the food is better and more authentic at an Olive Garden. * Red Sauce American Italian. Have you ever tried Michael Angelo's (#) brand pre-made Italian dishes? This is not quite as good as those. * Calamari and fried ravioli are two of the best items on the menu. * Pasta is served mushy, al dente does not exist. * They make their money on volume, keep that in mind. * I prefer Vinny T's, in town Sabatinis and Ziti; all are better choices and more authentic. * Excellent choice for large parties if food quality is not critical. You see a lot of "Office Dinner Outings" here. * Low end wine list decent Martinis. * Desserts are better than average. # michaelangelos.com
(2)
B R.
A very good simple family italian place. extensive menu. good italian "combo" plate options. Servers can be a bit grumpy but overall a decent family italian place. Reasonably priced.
Nothing but mediocre. Greek salad made with ice berg lettuce. White bread that was cold. Served wtih freezing cold butter - couldn't they put down some nice olive oil? Veggies overcooked. Not rushing back.
(2)
Jed D.
good food, reasonable price that you should expect from a neighborhood family restaurant. The bread is as good as it was 40 years ago
(4)
Gary B.
Mediocre is the perfect word to describe this place. They are known for their fried raviolis which are pretty good, but the majority of the food is just OK. The Rhode Island style calamari appetizer was very tasty and not overcooked so I was happy with that. Stay away from the pasta dishes as they seem to always overcook their pasta. The service is not very good. The restaurant seats a lot of people and they do not seem to have enough servers for the amount of tables. We took out 3 year old daughter who wanted chicken with fries. All she really wanted were the fries, but of course we were not going to let her have just fries for dinner. When the waitress brought our food she gave my wife and I our dishes and then when to put out daughters food on the table. She has a plate with fries and a plate with grilled cheese. She realized her mistake before she put it on the table, but before we could say anything she ran back to the kitchen with the grilled cheese to exchange it for the chicken, but she brought the fries with her. So my wife and I have food, but daughter has nothing. We had to feed her off out plates instead. By the time the waitress returned we were done eating. She did not offer to take it off the bill either which would have been the right thing to do. On the weekends the wait can be very long. Don't bother waiting. If you can walk right in and are not expecting much then go for it, but if you have to wait then get back in your car and keep driving.
(2)
Stephen H.
Went here twice for lunch at work. Cant say it was unbelievable but not sure why everyone is hating. There was a decent crowd so it seemed like a popular spot. On the advice of my coworkers I got the baked ravioli which I thought was very good, nice and crispy but not overly greasy/fried. portions were fair and prices were reasonable. Pretty standard italian american restuarant. Now I'm no Italian and havent been to florence but I found the expirience more than adequate and would definetly go again. Great place to take a family or a large group as it is big and has adequate seating. Also the atmosphere is slightly upscale, not to say you need worry about a dress code or anythign, but it adds to the expirience.
(4)
Donna D.
This place is FABULOUS! Did you know their spring 2008 take out orders are 15% off? Why cook? See first part of review below, this is my update: 6/2/2008 - 75th Anniversary Celebration going on here all this week, June 1 through June 7. Awesome 75th anniversary specials for Lunch and Dinner! I couldn't believe they have the menu online, making it sooooo easy for me to not only take advantage of the 75th anniversay specials and special pricing, but .... here's the great part ..15% off STILL with takeout orders! They told me Saturday 5/31 that they have extended their 15% OFF of TAKEOUT ORDERS through August!!!!!! .... yeah, I keep coming back for more! Here's the menu link for this week only ... chateaurestaurant.com/_f… I had the veal parm special and highly recommend it! HERE's my official review before that 75th anniversary super special update ... I have had a great experience every time I / we / my entire family has gone to the Chateau which has been for many, many years. First, we loved the Waltham Chateau (still do) and now that I've moved out west, 25 miles away anyway, I am thrilled that the Chateau Westborough will save me gas money over visiting the Chateau Waltham. Fresh Bread - Yum! Chicken Parm with Ziti and EXTRA CHEESE (that's my special request, accomodated every time) IS MY FAVORITE!!!! I also love the Manicotti and the Shrimp Scampi with no kissing after those garlicy little treats! My son loves the Chicken Parm too but the steak is his favorite. Lets see if I have the family order down pat here ... - spagetti with meatballs for the uncle and aunt - Dad loves the Haddock St. Germaine - My Brother and Sister in law love the Chicken Penne and Broccoli and the Haddock St. Germaine (and the martinis) - My Godson loves the pizza with I think those dots icecream for dessert - My sister, when she visits from California enjoys the eggplant parm (I love that one too) - My son loves the filet mignon with chocolate mouse for dessert (and he also loves the chicken parm and manicotti lunch special and he loves the eggplant parm). He's starting to eat sauce more since eating here. - My other brother enjoys the turkey and mashed potatoes and my sister in law eats this "really big salad" (like Elaine on Seinfeld) - My mom enjoys the Chicken Parm - My sister the chicken fingery things - My other brother Chicken and Fried Zuccini Wait staff are always pleasant and accomodating. Love the TV's at the tables for the kids. I should have played Keno on my birthday because ALL of our birthday numbers came out ... oh well ... What can I say - the Chateau has it all and I am really going to enjoy the 15% off of takeout while it lasts! I love the fact that they have a takeout parking section too! Handicap parking is right in front of the restaurant - after you drop your loved ones off at the door you pull around and the handicap spots are right there, for handicapped folks! BTW - they deliver through a service called Takeout taxi ... call for details (reviewers voted no on delivery but that's because they may not have delivered before, but do now!)
(5)
Lily D.
I don't get it. Isn't "Chateau" a French word? Why would an Italian restaurant have a French name? I mean, the two countries do share a border, but still...I don't think this place is really going for fusion cooking. Maybe the confusion about what exactly *is* Italian extends to the food. Hence the not super positive reviews? I went there with my husband's family, including his three nieces. All-in-all there were 11 of us and I think we were well taken care of. Our waitress was very patient and did a good job accommodating both the young girls and the adults. I ate like a kid and had spaghetti and meatballs (with some wine, thank God) and was not dissapointed. I mean, I wouldn't go to this kind of place and expect them to have any sort of fine cuisine, nor would I want to order their attempts at fine cuisine. To be honest, I'd go back under the right circumstances because it was an easy place for a large group and/or kids and it's not the Olive Garden. It has a niche and fits into it well.
(3)
Laura S.
Probably the worst Italian meal I have ever had. Service was slow, the table was drafty, and when the eggplant parm arrived after a very long wait, it was three very thin (less than 1 cm) pieces of eggplant, mostly all breading. Another in our group had alfredo on angel hair and it had a strange smell. They forgot to bring her the meatball that came with it, and when it came dinner was half over. I was shocked to see how crowded it was. I would never go back.
(1)
Cynthia M.
LOVE IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT. We have never been disatisfied with the food or service. It's a great family restaurant and they can accommodate small and large parties. FYI - don't let the packed parking lot fool you into not stopping in. There are always tables available with minimal wait time. Good variety on the menu.
(5)
H T.
When I come here, I sit on the bar side usually to watch sports. I like the atmosphere and have certain favorites on the menu. A couple of my favorites on the menu are: fried ravioli, any of the pizzas and for some reason i LOVE their french fries! Fun atmosphere, great food, affordable prices. Can't really beat that
(4)
Angela B.
Our friends have raved about this place and.... I am just not sure why. The food was mediocre at best. The service, hmm... We sat at the bar and the people sitting next to us had to insist that we get drinks and service. Thank you fellow patrons. That was about the only good experience about this place, the other diners.
(1)
joe m.
I disagree with Rayndrop about the Chicken parm!
(1)
Frank S.
Last night, after Christmas shopping at BJs, we stopped into the Chateau at 9:30. We were seated in the bar area, which turned out to be a nice area to eat. Tom and his mom ordered the specials and the clam chowder. I had the "mixed grill." My food was delicious! The italian sausage was very tasty. The chicken was perfect. The beef, just a little meh. Tom and his mom reported that the clam chowder was great and they loved their food, too. So this isn't top quality, chef inspired Tuscan (or Sicilian) Italian. If you like fried raviolis and pasta with sauce, this place is for you. This is the second time that I had a great meal and would definitely go again.
(4)
Netta L.
Didn't want to like it, but we really did. Food was good. Service was fine. Menu was expansive and not overly expensive. Italian food is always a crowd pleaser. I found my pasta to be perfectly cook. We were with a large party and I tried some of everybody's everything. No complaints. My lament: I used to love the Naked Fish bar. It was soft and sophisticated. They removed all the Naked Fish decor and made the huge bar area/room an additional part of the restaurant with a total Fridays-vibe. Why would they DO that?
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes 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 : Free 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.
Galaxy T.
Thanks to Chateau for an awesome experience last night! Even accommodating my friend with the Gluten Free selections. Once again a 5 Star thanks !
(5)Rich W.
Imagine frozen freezer-burned Italian food that was beyond it's expiration date & you'd be imagining something slightly better than what I just ate. When we first walked in I was concerned (just the vibe) . . . It reminds me of a place featured on Kitchen Nightmares.
(1)Amanda L.
We stopped here on our way home from Maine. The food was sub-par and the service was ridiculously slow. We sat down and ordered, it was an hour before our food came out. But, the people seated beside us (2 tables, seated about 15 minutes after us) got their food and finished eating before we got our food. When the food finally came, the pasta was cold. I put pepper on it before I realized it was cold. The waitress took it back, and it came out again quickly. Then I realized it was still peppered so they just put the plate in the microwave. If i wanted to eat microwaved pasta, I would have had gas station food. The waitress was very sweet, but couldn't make up for the awful wait.
(1)Anthony R.
I've been here three times during my two-week visit to the area. I am beginning to suspect that the locals give the place bad reviews to keep the rest of us away. Otherwise I am at a loss to explain the reviews. My first visit I had the spaghetti marinara. I've had this simple dish at dozens of Italian restaurants across the country. I will say that most places ruin this simple dish. I say simple because of the ingredients but not so simply to cook perfectly, but The Chateau certainly delivered. The noodles were cooked perfectly. Now if you believe the critics, noodles should be "al dente". Try that at home once, and when you are using a toothpick to get the pasta out of your teeth you will understand why critics are critics and not chefs. The pasta here are cooked exactly to perfection: just *past* al dente without becoming mushy. Tossed lightly in good olive oil before the gravy (marinara) is added. Plenty, but not too much, sauteed garlic. I was thoroughly enjoying this until I tasted the bread. Then I had to dip it. YES, despite American etiquette, I took that bread and sopped up gravy like a true Italian. I've never had better garlic toasts. Not anywhere. If you say you have, I don't believe you. You may THINK you have, but you haven't. The next visit I had the Haddock...perfectly broiled and flaky. Very light on the taste buds and on the belly. Still had the bread though. And it was JUST as good without the gravy. Third visit I had the spaghetti marinara again. I can't wait to see what I get next time. I am thinking Eggplant Parmesan! The service was friendly and the atmosphere is great. It feels like a true local gem because that is exactly what it is.
(5)Keerthika V.
I prefer Less cheese( quite hard in Italian food!!!)We ordered chicken parm and lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo.. All the dishes met my expectation!!
(4)Carolyn M.
This restaurant is one of our go-to places... But, My husband ordered the Wedge Salad tonight.... it looked beautiful... but the BACON bits were right out of a bag of bacon bits from Restaurant Depot and they were COLD... What happened to crisp bacon pieces.... very disappointing...
(4)Jason A.
The name Chateau implies an elegant dining experience, doesn't it? Well, in reality, um, not so much. The atmosphere reminds me of an upscale McDonald's... seating was old and outdated, and my butt hurt after no time. The food... mediocre at best. I got better chicken parm at Friendly's. No joke. And somebody mentioned Bertucci's two miles west on Route 9... that would be a better option. Also the Olive Garden in Marlborough near the mall... better all around than this place. The service was decent - no issues there. The price for our meals? No way. Rip-off. Avoid this place like the plague...
(1)Nick M.
This location has been very consistent as the others I have visited. I consider the Chateaus Family Style American Italian , food was fresh, good bread, good service Thank you!
(5)Tracy B.
Have never been to this location but had often visited the location in Waltham.. Was out for a day of errands and shopping with the BFF and the boys and we wanted differnt than Friendlys.. We arrived around 5 on a Saturday which was great, NO WAIT... Then it began... Food was all the same so that was delish, BREAD.. OMG 5 stars alone! My pet peeve is when Im out with the kids & the waitresses - when they come over always nicely recommend something to start with or a drink as their opening line... Why do you offer me the strongest drink on th menu when Im with 2 toddlers? That bothers me, I dont know why but it just does, "Oh please, let sit here & get shitty with my kids" Ok the service was way too long, our kids were climbing all over the place & that didnt seem to speed our server up at all... I think we might stick with Friendlys.. She was very nice, food was delish. We might just have to rethink the Chateau after a long day out & restless kids... Thankfully ours werent crying like the ones in the booth over from us... It saved us from getting all the looks!
(3)Nicole G.
Not good at all. Lies, long wait for food and far below average food. We were lied to by the waitress about one of our meals on three different occasions! The first time she said the food would be out shortly, the second time after bring three out of four of the meals out that the last one was just getting some finishing touches and the third time that when she was getting the plate from the kitchen she tripped and half of it ended up on the floor. At this point, her lies were obvious and badly told. The manager came over and said that the meal was prepared with tomato sauce instead of Alfredo and they had to remake it, that meal was free. Still not acceptable, by any means. I got a chicken broccoli with garlic butter sauce. The chicken was bad tasting and I could barely manage to eat any of it. The garlic butter sauce lacked flavor and didn't taste like butter. I forced down less than half of the plate and certainly didn't want to bring any home. It was probably the worst meal I've ever had at a restaurant. We got in there at around 1 pm and were out by 3 pm. Really 2 hours? A few good points (but not worthy of a extra star): A steak that was ordered at our table was actually good and heard no complaints about that. The mozzarella sticks were probably the best thing I had there! The garlic bread wasn't too bad either.
(1)Melissa W.
ordered from here for an office lunch. I asked for the combo with chicken parm, toasted ravioli and penne pasta. When lunch was delivered I got lasagna, chicken parm, and a meatball... not sure how that happened. A little disappointed but still delicious overall.
(3)Shari K.
The decor is bright and interesting, and the atmosphere is great- noisy, busy, and family friendly. Our party of 2 was seated quickly on a Friday evening, which is great considering how busy they were, but the food was hardly better than TV dinner fare. I tried the (overcooked) half roasted chicken which came with canned cranberry sauce, a baked potato, and limp zucchini in marinara. The sangria was just okay. Our server was friendly enough although often absent and obviously over-extended. We had an extremely long wait for our check. Being new to the area, I was excited when I saw how crowded the parking lot was and thought The Chateau would be a special dining experience, but it left me wondering what the big deal is.
(2)Laurel C.
Doesn't taste like authentic Italian although the menu says the owners are from Italy. Meatball grossed me out. Tasted frozen. Good atmosphere for families. The waitress was very friendly. Good prices. Yummy sangria.
(4)Scott J.
The Chateau is a tradition for my wife's family and we look forward to it every Christmas season. The Chicken Parm and Toasted Ravs are a favorite. We took out food last night and it was reassuringly consistent EXCEPT FOT THE BREAD. The Chateau has great bread, we ordered an additional loaf (for a charge) and they did not give us bread but these mediocre rolls. The Chateau needs to reinstitute the wonderful loaves of bread they serve or we will continue to be disappointed. Otherwise, it is a very enjoyable, tasty, and nostalgic dining experience
(4)S.E. H.
I've been here only once. The food was pretty good, but I'm going to say it, the service was definitely sub-par. I got the chicken athena special, which was delicious! I am very happy with my choice, since everything else seemed pretty generic, not super home-made looking (Granted I didn't taste them). The chicken francais, chicken picatta, and toasted ravioli actually did look pretty good though. Although we were a large party, we barely got any attention. It took me three asks to get a glass of water, and there was too much lag time between when we ordered drinks to when we got bread, to when they actually asked us for our orders. The waitresses barely ever checked on us. This wasn't limited to the dining room since the waitresses were cold in the bar too. The place didn't have many people seated either which was strange. It was a pretty large restaurant and it was pretty dead on a Thursday night. Anyways, I don't necessarily think I'd come back here again. Nothing really caught my attention or made me want to return. I can get good italian food other places in worcester and with much better service and atmosphere.
(3)Thomas D.
The BEST lasagna ever... My wife and I dine at The Chateau in Westborough on a regular basis and I have yet to get past the lasagna on the menu. The lasagna is made with fresh mozzarella cheese and is complemented with either a marinara sauce for a great vegetarian dish or bolognese if you prefer a meat sauce. Did I mention that the lasagna portion is large enough for two? I travel extensively on business both domestically and internationally and when I am back home in Massachusetts this is my favorite meal. Although I haven't tried the other menu items I suspect that they are good as well judging from the busy parking lot even on Monday and Tuesday nights.
(5)EJ H.
I've been here quite a few times as my company's HQ is right around the corner- let me just say the service is always consistent: warm friendly and prompt. The food I would liken it to American Italian comfort food. It's definitely not authentic Italian. If u come here expecting that u need to crawl back under the rock from whence u came. All the menu items do have a description underneath so if something isn't what u expected, it's ur fault for not reading. I would say the food is definitely consistently average. I've never had anything terribly bad but nothing to write home abt either. Either way, I'd probably come back for a glass of wine and some pasta w a tasty Alfredo sauce. But just that, and nothing more. As an aside, the portions are on the larger size- typical of American fare- so if anyone complains abt that, they're just being pigs and have no self control.
(4)Sara F.
My boyfriend and I have made this our Valentine's Day spot the past few years. SO GOOD! I love their fried ravioli as an appetizer and tend to get the chicken broccoli Alfredo or instead of Alfredo, get the garlic butter sauce. Always delicious! My boyfriend is a big fan of the "chateau sauce" on their wings. Surprisingly yummy! We've also gotten the Chateau to cater and was pleased with their service as well! Overall a yummy Italian place!
(5)brian c.
Hey shut up Donna it's gonna be ok. Good for a chain great for a business meeting but nowhere near fabulous, you long winded stock holder.
(3)Peter B.
Not a fan of this location for the chain at all. I have been to the one in Waltham and it is 10x better. The service was slow and the food was worse than in Waltham. Go to Waltham.
(1)Jill P.
After a mix up with my take out order, I looked online to check their prices. After seeing the prices listed online, I noticed my original bill was way too high. Turns out my meal was that night's special and should have been $5.00 cheaper. Now, if it was $.50, I never would have complained, but $5.00 is a bigger deal. False advertising or maybe even bait and switch? Got the brush off when I called. She told me that they don't do those specials even though it's listed for all Chateau locations and they had changed their menu prices but they weren't updated online. Not cool, Chateau. If you're going to list prices and specials online, please make sure they are accurate. Customers don't want to feel cheated while eating your food. It leaves a bad taste in our mouths.
(2)Beth L.
After moving to Westborough a couple of years ago, the chateau became a regular Friday night thing when we didn't want to cook and felt like having a pretty good pizza. We've had dinner in the restaurant a few times and always pretty good. Kind of random, but I went into labor after having the chicken Parmesan :) This past week, we had a rough experience. We showed up at 6pm on Monday night wanting a quick meal. We were with our 19 month old so we knew a hungry, tired toddler could be playing with fire. We figured we'd get a quick meal and be out of there in no time. Service took forever. Despite asking for my daughters meal ASAP, that didn't happen. 40 minutes passed without much sign of our waitress and still no entrees. We managed to get the waitress over and requested our food be packed up to go. After all that time with a toddler getting more tired and still hungry, we headed home. To top it off, the meal wasn't cheap and we got to eat it cold at home. Bonus was that the pizza was great for leftovers. My husband has put this place on a permanent ban, but I'm sure we will give it another shot eventually....hoping for better service!
(2)M... X.
Very disappointing. Not sure what the big hype is about this place. Authentic Italian? Really??????? JOKE.... If you're looking for authentic Italian food, this is NOT the place to go. Make a trip into the North End for "authentic" italian dishes. In the meantime, stay away from this place and go to Bertucci's down the road instead. The food is way better... And for those saying this place is amazing, etc. good god people, makes me wonder what kind of food you're used to. Most likely chef boyardee in a can... Needless to say I thankfully won't be going back.....
(1)Brian V.
If you are looking for a place to bring a large group the Chateau is perfect. The Chateau provides quality food at a reasonable price. We have had many family and club events in the private dining rooms. The service is exceptional and the food is hot and served on time for the larger groups of 50 - 75 people. This is no small task to pull off and the Chateau does it every time. They offer great package pricing and cater to your special needs without hesitation. My family purchases gift cards for each other for the Chateau because they have six locations and the food is great at all of them. My kids always ask me to bring home a loaf of their Italian bread and red sauce. The food is not high cuisine like you get at those fancy foodie hangouts, but if you like quality food prepared in a clean environment with friendly experienced service this is the perfect place for you or your community function.
(5)Will F.
The Chateaus serves unauthentic, extremely basic, Italian SLOP, and their staff are just circus clowns in service uniform. Stay far away! STRIKE 1: When I went to the Chateau, on May 9th, I placed a lunch order for their "classic Italian" trio for $9.99 (they have now raised the price to $10.50). I got to the restaurant and the receptionist never put my lunch order in. Re-ordering cut into my entire lunch break, when I had other plans. And no, I did not call the wrong Chateau, I verified the right number in my recent calls list with the receptionist. BALL 1: While I waited for my order, I thought it was strange they had a lottery ticket machine in the restaurant, seems ghetto, but hey! I like to gamble. I put my money in and the machine was of course broken, because well... that's the Chateau. Not a strike against them though, just thought I'd mention it. STRIKE 2: They overcharged me. They charged me dinner prices, not lunch prices, because while waiting for my order, the menu prices changed from lunch to dinner. I called back the Chateau, spoke to the manager, and explained to her the situation- that I had in fact, placed my order at lunchtime but due to their mistake, the prices rolled into dinner. The manager apologized, assured me she would credit me back the money. BALL 2: The food I got was 2 stars. They use generic tomato sauce over pasta. Nothing special. STRIKE 3: The manager never credited me back my money. Yes, they kept it! So now, I have my first ever dispute of credit card charge and now have my card company reversing the payments as we speak. STRIKEOUT! They strike out for not placing orders, overcharging customers, and not refunding money as promised. Additional problems include slumlord ambiance, generic food, and wasting customers valuable time.
(1)G K.
"The restaurant serves amazing Italian food. I highly recommend the toasted ravioli and fried clams. The famous bread served before you get your meal is delicious." -AManda
(5)Jenn S.
We went to The Chateau for a friend's birthday with a group of about 15. I went to college in Waltham and had driven past that location many times, but had always heard fairly bad reviews. A good friend LOVES the restaurant - it's her favorite place - so I wasn't sure what to expect! After reading the reviews on here, I had a good idea what to expect: a kid-friendly restaurant with so-so, consistent food. That's pretty much much I got. It took us a while to sit down, but once we did, we ordered pretty fast, so the kids wouldn't have to wait too long. They were great about bringing the kids' food real quick and our apps came fairly fast too. The basket of bread was not great (chewy, cold), but the Garlic Bread Parmigiana? OMG. That same bread, dipped in oil and covered in cheese and garlic. DELISH. We also got 2 different orders of fried calamari (I did not sample, but both went fast), an order of Toasted Ravioli and an order of Mozzarella Sticks. Basically, all fried and/or cheesy apps! The ravioli were ok, but lukewarm and not too flavorful. The ones from Vinny T's (aka Vinny Testa's aka now closed) were much better. To counteract all of those apps, I went for a "lighter" entree and got the Cobb Salad: Iceberg & Romaine Lettuce, Grilled Chicken, Bacon, Avocado and Gorgonzola Cheese, Chopped Eggs & Tomato. Served with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing. Some of the other salads had mesclun greens, so I asked for those instead of the iceberg/romaine. The waitress paused and then said "it's more money..." I asked how much, thinking it would be $5 or so, and she said "$1.50." I happily asked her to make the swap. The salad was definitely not "healthy" compared to other salads, but was chock-ful of yumminess. I thoroughly enjoyed it and devoured the entire thing! My husband went for Chicken Parm, which I had to sample, of course. It was a pretty standard Chicken Parm. We've had better and we've definitely had worse. He ate the entire thing as well. Our friends have a son with some bad allergies, so they called ahead to ask about special orders. They were told that everything is prepared elsewhere and then frozen and sent to the location, so they could not really do anything special. They could do grilled chicken or pasta with no sauce, as the sauce has milk in it. In this day & age, with all the allergies and diets, etc., I am shocked that a restaurant cannot be more accommodating! Considering we were a big group ordering lots of food and "pitchers" of sangria, I would have expected the waitress to be happy. She was not and, in fact, was a bit mean!! I was afraid to ask for an extra glass so I could partake in the sangria. Eventually she got friendlier, but it was also closer to tipping time... The second waitress we had was VERY friendly. Price-wise, it's obviously higher for a big group, but it was still reasonable. For 2-4 people, it would not be bad at all. The entrees range from $12-$20, so you can definitely get a cheaper meal or splurge, if you prefer. Overall, I was not impressed. It was pretty much what I expected food-wise, but fell way below my expectations in terms of service. A few of the people with me agreed. However, this place was PACKED, so obviously lots of people disagree and love this place! In fact, when I told a friend I went there, he responded with "I LOVE that place!" To each his own, I suppose!
(2)Kate R.
I've been going to the Chateau for over 4 years now and have noticed a change in the food and wait staff. I've had almost half of the items on the menu. Last night the day after valentines day was a little different. I had the lasagna and the meat sauce was on the side. It was layers of ricotta and noodles. Not what I expected at all. The sauce was the best part of the meal. I would not order lasagna again. I think it was inappropriate that there was a stand that was used for a dirty dish pile up across from our table. It was on one of those stands servers use to bring the food out. Our waitress Lily R was OK - I am not at all impressed by the service that we received. The restaurant does not have diet coke products either or ranch dressing. The bathroom had papers all over the floor and could use a paint job. Paint was missing on many of the doors.
(3)Pam D.
Well, it was definitely better than I expected! We drove past this place on the way to a different restaurant. We were feeling spontaneous so we stopped and went inside. The full parking lot has to count for something! We were giving the option between the dining room and the lounge. If you are drinking beer or hell -if you're having any drink at all, opt for the lounge. We sat in the dining room for approximately 0.24 seconds before we all started fidgeting from stuffiness and an overall feeling of LAME. The lounge was a much better feel for my small table of 20somethings. I ordered fried ravioli as an app and it was fan-freaking-tastic. My expectation was some indistinguishable cheesy fried square. What I got was a large, lightly breaded ravioli fried just to a light crispiness but without cooking the inside to a crisp. It was all I dreamed of and more. Definitely order! I hesitantly ordered the salmon salad for my entree. Something about "family" restaurants makes me reconsider any protein. But - again I was pleasantly surprised. Fresh salmon, cooked perfectly, atop of fresh, crisp spring greens. Overall the atmosphere wasn't really my scene, but the food was good and price was even better. Service was excellent as well.
(3)Megan C.
I have been a long time fan of this place and can easily say I won't be back. I went recently for a celebration dinner with my mom and almost landed in the hospital. Busy talking with her I took a few bites of my chicken parmesan without looking. Quickly I realized my chicken was cold. There was a reason. It wasn't cooked and had a deep pink center. Chicken! It was clear they threw a frozen chicken on the grill because the outside breading was cooked but literally nothing under the surface. It took over five minutes to find a waitress and eight from then for a manager to come. The manager was less then helpful and I left in tears.
(1)Morgan C.
Waitress had no idea what she was doing, and brought out the wrong order...twice. Vegetables were luke warm....Ew. Overall, was very disappointing!
(1)Derek O.
Decent food for a fair price. But they are consistently late with takeout. Every time. Add 10 minutes if you're picking something up.
(3)Paul J.
Just got back from our second visit to The Chateau. Our first trip there was quite disappointing, but we thought we'd give it a second chance. By all outward appearances, this place seems like it SHOULD be great, but really it's just not. The service was painfully slow; not only did it take far too long to get our (by then, partially cold) food, but even the taking of our order and making change for our bill made for us being there about an hour longer than we'd planned. The food was pretty average, not at all on par with the ambiance of the restaurant. The menu is very long and extensive. Perhaps they ought to narrow it down and try to do a few things well. Out of the many, many selections, perhaps there are a few things they do well, but so far neither I nor any of my dinner companions have discovered them. It's a huge dining area, and the fact that it was packed out is baffling, because as far as Italian food goes, it's not hard at all to do better than this place.
(2)Michelle D.
My husband and I had our small (40) wedding reception here. The food was incredible, the service was stellar and I was very very pleased. It made for a memorable evening! Everyone raved that it was the best wedding food they'd ever had!
(5)Michael N.
We have been a customer of The Chateau in Waltham and in Westboro. We went to The Chateau today, 3/22/14, around 4:30 PM. First we were seated right next to a very large table where a birthday party for 99 year old woman. (She was a doll!!) The restaurant was not busy and they clearly could have given all of us a little more space. Then we waited 15 MINUTES for a waitress to show up. Little blonde petulant Hannah. She walked right by us even though we said, "Hi." She came back, introduced herself to us but did not apologize for the wait. She said, "You look like you're ready to order." She did not even bother to tell us the fricking specials!! So we ordered. I was going to order a margarita, but she took so long to even come over, I was not going to increase the total spent. We gave her our order and asked, "Did you want the bread?" Yes. So the little girl brings us bread that was hard around the crust!! We pulled some bread out of the middle and the left the "outer shell" as it were on the bread plates. Most waitstaff would have taken note of the hollowed out bread and asked if it was okay. Not Hannah. Oh, not Hannah who didn't give a shit about anything. She brings us our drinks. I asked for water, and there's a big slice of lemon in it. I HATE water befouled by lemon! I take the lemon wedge out and put it on the table. Again the little girl doesn't take a hint. The food finally arrived. My ravioli was warm not hot. We had asked to wrap up the remaining penne pasta. The little girl didn't bring it. When she was dropping off the check, she asked how everything was. We said that it was "just ok." She repeated, "just ok?" Hannah could not have cared less. The bill came to $47.35. We left $49.00. As we were walking out having left the bill and payment on our table, we passed her at the waitresses station where she was entering an order. Our eyes met. That little, snotty, petulant, rude Hannah just looked away. Up yours, Hannah!!! You are a pathetic excuse for a waitress. The prices at The Chateau have gone up and the portions have come down. Hannah, you should be working at a Subway or some other place that doesn't charge much and unprofessional staff could be excusable. To the manager of this Chateau location, you have lost customers permanently. We have recommended your place to many others. We will now rescind those recommendations and replace them with warnings.
(1)Paul G.
You go to an Italian family dining restaurant with modest expectations. The food should be filling and tasty. The staff should be friendly and unpretentious. The ambiance should be casual and maybe a little tacky. And you should get out for less than $100 for a party of two. By all these criteria, Chateau is a winner. This location has hosted several prominent restaurants, including one that closed after its kitchen burned down. Chateau has stayed the longest and I hope it continues its run, because this is affordable Italian cooking that everyone can enjoy. Chateau's dining room is large and open, which gives it plenty of flexibility to accommodate large groups. The staff is friendly, if not always as attentive as we'd like. The menu is huge, which is true of most Italian family places. You pretty much can't go wrong with anything that's covered in tomato sauce or sauteed in wine. We haven't tried the seafood, though the most recent night we were there was "lobster mania," which conjured up images of crustaceans running the dining room while the patrons' hands were tied up with rubber bands. . On our most recent trip I had the chicken saltimbocca, which was quite good if a little pricey at $16. Dana had the gnocchi, which she pronounced delicious. That's a compliment coming from Dana because she is a connoisseur of gnocchi. The bruschetta appetizer was served on fresh bread with plenty of mozzarella. We got the house special fried ravioli for the girls and kept the leftovers for ourselves. It's really good. The house bread is outstanding, if you're into white bread. My martini was generous and Dana's frou-frou milkshake-like concoction looked great, if you're into that kind of thing. All in all, it's a place to which we'll keep returning because, let's face it, it's hard to go wrong with Italian family dining.
(4)Catie C.
Honestly, I don't know what's good Italian and what's not. I certainly don't venture much in this cuisine since I'm not a big fan of most cheeses nor tomatoes. Hence, Chicken Marsala is my staple when I step into one. The Marsala sauce here is scrumptious. It's not too salty and the wine is not overwhelming. It's just the right combination of ingredients for my palette. The chicken was pretty good - not all dried out and not battered. Had a pitcher of sangria between the two of us. I thought it was a bit weak; but it's probably me since I usually drink vodka on the rocks. The waitress we had was pretty cool and attentive. I was able to joke around with her. I do think it's wierd to have keno and scratch tickets in a family restaurant. I guess they're just doing what they need to do to obtain revenue. Most of all, can't beat having a coupon in this economical downturn! If you can save a few bucks, why not!? The prices are already good for what it's worth, of course.
(4)Christopher R.
This place was way bigger than I thought. Its HUGE inside, and the decor is really nice. Food was pretty good for Italian, and the portions were large for the prices. I was not a fan of their garlic bread though, which is strange because Im a carb addict and usually dont find fault with breads, but I was underwhelmed. Everything else was very good though. Service was friendly, prompt and attentive. Definitely would take family and friends here.
(4)Katie H.
After hearing rave reviews about this place and its counterpart in Waltham, my husband and I went into The Chateau with high hopes. Those hopes were dashed within the first 20 minutes. That's how long it took for us to receive our 1/2 liter of sangria on what was a very slow Tuesday night. I ordered a very lackluster caesar salad. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't romaine lettuce supposed to be green and not white? Our entrees were fair. My husband order the special which consisted of manicotti, chicken parm, and a meatball. He described it as "eh". I ordered the eggplant parm. Let me just say that I've had better at Olive Garden -- and I loathe Olive Garden. Service was on the slow side. I wouldn't bother going back. Worcester and Leominster have much better options for Italian fare. On the plus side, their dessert menu looked appetizing. However, we wanted out of this place, so we skipped dessert.
(2)Jeff Y.
My family visited this eatery for a Friday night out dinner. A few observations. * Service was very immature. Drinks were not refilled, server needed multiple requests to resolve requests. * Food portions were smaller than average. Ex: the Salmon dinner arrived to the table with a 2 square inch piece of fish that was lost on the serving plate. * Ordered a item not on menu (Calamari with spicy red sauce and penne). This arrived and was tasty, fresh and appropriately spiced and prepared (though @ $19 a plate was of minimal size for that cost and not really worth the expense. * (The deal breaker) This is an Italian restaurant (in name and intent) and we ordered Shrimp Scamp, a classic of Italian food. Definition: Large shrimp broiled or sautéed and served in a garlic and butter sauce. What we received was terrible. Battered shrimp (bland), limp and tasteless pasta (no hint of garlic nor butter flavor. This was in no way Shrimp Scampi. We spoke with the manager and she offered to make another meal but as it took many minutes for the first serving to arrive, and the rest of the table had completed their meals we decided to cut our losses and depart without more delay or risk further disappointment. I would suggest any of the many other Italian eatery options available in the area and forgo the The Chateau Italian Family Dining in Westborough, Mass. Definitely do not visit there and expect Italian food. What Shrimp Scampi Should look like: goo.gl/DKt4u What Chateau Italian Family Dining in Westborough calls Scampi: goo.gl/Cp9KJ
(2)Adam S.
We take the kids there on a fairly regular basis. The service is usually very friendly and has a little old school Italian restaurant feel (any one remember Marconi's in Ashland, ma?). The timing of App's and meals is almost always perfect. An occasional wait for the main course but nothing i would complain about. The atmosphere is nice, a little wide open. Not a "private dining" feel but that's OK with us. As far as food, we have never had a bad experience. Portions are large, quality is very good. I will say that we are a fan of the Chicken Parm and almost always order that. Never a complaint. The kids get Pizza, Spaghetti & Meatballs or Sausage and always love it. I've had fish & Chicken Caesar Salad off the menu and loved that. but all in all i have not sampled a wide range of the menu so it's not a very comprehensive viewpoint. Lots of parking but it actually does fill up and there can be a wait at prime times. Desert menu is small but they are all good. Usually go for dinner so not to up on the lunch service & quality.
(4)Eric R.
This place is pretty easy to nail. If you've ever been to the North End, or Little Italy, and really loved what you ate there. Don't go here. If you're looking for typical italian-american fare in volume, then it's fine. Set the bar low, and you'll be good. It's not cuisine. It's dinner.
(3)Katy F.
This place was PACKED on a Tuesday night. The bar was loud and crowded. The food though is pretty good. The drinks are a small pour, and generally a rip off. The waitress we had was nice, but had too many tables, therefore we didn't get the service we expected. I might go back if I'm in a rowdy mood and want some Italian -- and in the neighborhood. LOL
(3)Sayan S.
Worst Italian dining experience ever. The wife ordered the Chicken Picatta and I the Chicken Palermo. Both were uneatable. The chicken was smelly and tough. The pasta was bland and disgusting. Service was OK but when the food is that bad nothing else matters. Even the bread was stone cold. We got our entrees swapped by soup bowls. Even those were bland and tasteless. Don't waste your time and money in this place. Go to Bertucci's across the road and you'll be much happier.
(1)Christopher S.
The Chateau is a nice place to gather the family together for an afternoon lunch or evening dinner. The menu is huge with so many different selections to choose from. One of the more difficult things about the menu is deciding what to put in your stomach. So a while back my sister called me asking if I would like to meet her and the rest of the family for a Saturday afternoon lunch. Why not? So I drive out to Westborough to meet everyone for a big, hearty Italian lunch. When we walked into the entryway we were greeted by the hostess and brought into the very large and very nice dining room. The Chateau just opened for the day and I believe we were the first customers for the afternoon. As we got comfortable the waitress came over, passed out menus and took our drink order. Shortly after she left another waiter began placing baskets of bread on our table. What I love about the Chateau is how the bread here are large, thick slices of Italian bread where the top has sesame seed on it. As usual the table falls into silence as everyone studied the menu, talked to themselves about what they wanted before making a decision. It doesn't take too long for everybody to make a choice and we order our food. I honestly don't remember what everyone had but pretty much every order came with a house or caesar salad which was enjoyable. Let's face it, it's hard to mess up on salad. Empty salad bowls began to appear, more bread arrived and shortly our entrees emerged from the kitchen. Plates were delightfully presented and came in good sized portions. Nobody had a bad meal but honestly there really isn't anything about the meal that makes the food memorable, average at best. Overall the prices are good, food is good but don't expect high end Italian food.
(3)Kirsten L.
Had a lovely first date. Good old fashioned Italian food. Wait was long for a table, but the food came fast. My gnocchi was a little cold on the inside, but tasty. I have a food allergy and they were able to tell me that the menu item contained the ingredient, which was a good thing.
(3)Sreejit B.
Food was far from descent
(1)Brad M.
Average at best. The fried ravioli appetizer was pretty good, but everything else was just average.
(2)Hilary L.
I went there today for lunch with my boyfriend. We'd looked at the lunch menu online before going, and discovered when we got there that the prices were higher than they website had shown. The meal itself wasn't terrible but wasn't good either. The garden salad is very below average. The lettuce is almost all the white/yellow part of iceberg lettuce with barely any green leaves. No cheese or croutons either. I ordered the meatball sandwich as my meal and it was served on the same white soft/fluffy bread served with every meal. While the bread is tasty, it is way too soft and light to be used for a hearty sandwich like meatball. The sandwich bread disintegrated almost immediately and I got sauce all over my hands. Also, the fries are below average - what you'd expect from a place like Friendlys or something. Not seasoned at all - not memorable and not something I would want to get again. The positives of The Chateau include good service and a clean, comfortable atmosphere.
(2)J T.
3 stars are generous, I should have given 2. But our waitress was really good. It's not her fault that most of the food was just average. I was hoping it was better
(3)Jay G.
Yikes, This place. . tisk tisk tisk horrible! My fiance and I wanted to try the Chateau because of all the great things people say about it. I am from the south shore but decided to try this place out because we have one down where I live however we were in the area and decided to try it. Let me tell you that the service is horrible, even the onion rings didn't have taste! I might as well of ate water our of a bowl with a spoon. The bread I agree is good, but the rest of it is terrible. Seriously. . .I was so disappointed.
(1)Kate S.
Great service. The restaurant has a lot of seating so it works for both small and large groups. The menu has a wide variety of food options and they're all tasty so you can't go wrong. They have combo meals which are great because you get to try a few different food items as smaller portions.
(3)John H.
At the Chateau for lunch on veterans day, probably more crowded than usual for lunch but service was quick. I overheard a large party (13 people) nearby saying that they arrived with no reservation and only waited long enough for some tables to be put together. I had the trio 1, fettuccine alfredo, toasted ravioli and chicken parm. The fettuccine was a little dry but I love mixing in some red sauce so I have no real complaints. My wife had a 1/2 chicken which she said was very good. So two good sized entrees, one house salad, 2 soft drinks and 2 coffees all for about $32. I don't understand some of the really negative reviews, this is not La Campania and never claimed to be. It is a step above Olive Garden if for no other reason than they don't push cheap wine and breadsticks and don't pretend that every dish was conceived in the wood fired kitchen of a Tuscan villa. If you want a consistent decent meal in a clean place that is well staffed the Chateau (any location) is worthwhile but if you are a food critic that wants to analyze every last detail of the menu and authenticity of the cuisine go somewhere else. I should also note that the Chateau is kid friendly while not silly in any way and the mostly middle aged and mostly female waitstaff treat elderly folks (I'm not in that category) with respect and accommodates menu substitutions or special requests without an eye roll. I'd give this place a 4.5 if I could but reserve 5 stars for truly special experiences.
(4)PMG M.
Great place for groups. Our server was more than accommodating with our group who seemed to be more interested in chatting & catching up then ordering. Plenty of big screen TV's in the lounge if you need to keep an eye on a game. Tower of appetizers, toasted raviolis, gnocchi & eggplant arrived hot & fresh. It seemed all 6 of us had different salads, spinach, chopped, house all fresh with plenty of added ingredients, beets, fresh mushrooms, etc,etc. Wine reasonably priced. Extensive Italian-American menu with plenty of choices for all.
(4)Emz P.
The food is OK. Nothing excites me about this place. It is just there, if you have no other options.
(2)Brenda F.
Eggplant parm under 600 calories, great suggestion from the waitress. Nice family atmosphere
(3)Melissa S.
THE MOST DEPRESSING DINING EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD! First of all, the dining room was dirty and there was a "snot-like" substance on the wall adjacent to our table. The waiter screwed up our order twice, and we were his only table...honestly, one app and three entrees is not hard to keep straight. Our meals arrived in 5 minutes...pretty sure it takes longer than that to even boil water, and our meals tasted disgusting and microwaved. The pasta was completely overcooked; resembling mushy prison food, the raviolis were dry, the red sauce tasted like a generic Market Basket sauce, and the eggplant was greasy and rubbery. The kicker of the whole experience was when the waiter bussed the tables and spilled red sauce all over my seat while I was in the bathroom...didn't clean it up, or even give me a heads up. Thanks for the marinara stain on my jeans, SHATEAU!
(1)Dan D.
This is THE BEST Italian restaurant in metrowest. After having gone to the one in Waltham for years, I wondered if the new one in Westborough could live up to it's sister restaurant. Boy, does it ever. The warm scali bread they serve prior to the meal is delicious. Soft, warm, incredible. The fried calamari and fried ravioli are perfectly cooked. They pay special attention to the temperature of the oil to ensure it is not greasy and cooks to perfection. The portion sizes are HUGE. The chicken parm is my all time favorite. Their homemade pastas are exemplary. My daughter always has the fried calamari, and it is the standard against which all other restaurant's calamari is judged. This place can get very packed, so call in a reservation before you arrive. In less than a year, this has become the most heavily trafficked restaurant in the region. And for good reason. Here's a secret tip: You can buy a quart of their sauce to take home. We always buy 2 quarts, and freeze one. They also sell loaves of their bread. If you buy a quart of sauce and a loaf of bread, they throw in a pound of pasta (for you to cook at home). While it's not homemade ziti, it's a nice touch.
(5)GB C.
I love this place! Second time I've been here, don't mind driving a little farther for good food. Had lasagna tonight, just perfect. Love the house Italian dressing too.
(5)Gerald C.
I like the Chateau. The toasted ravioli is very good. The one problem is the service. I've never seen a happy waitress there, they always seem a little angry or bothered or somthing. We go once or twice a year.
(3)E. K.
Lovely decor, very cozy, old fashioned setting. Great for the whole family. The lasagne is delicious, the pizza is very good. Waitstaff is very nice. I really like this restaurant, nice size portions, not overly priced.
(4)Champagne C.
This was pitiful. We stopped in because we needed a quick but not fast food dinner - we weren't expecting fine dining - We thought we'd enjoy it more than the other chain restaurants that were near the highway. Nice employees but if your palate has evolved beyond the level of a fast food lovin' college kid, then there's no way this place gets 3 (or more) stars. My husband and I had the chicken parm and gnocchi dish, my 17 year old son had "chicken supreme." In all 3 cases, the deep fried chicken breasts were over-cooked and dry. Ate about 3 bites of that. The red sauce on the chicken parm was VERY salty but had no complexity (a.k.a. no herbs). The gnocchi was thickly coated with a "cheese" sauce which was beyond salty and I''d bet my kid with the GOOD grades that it was made from a cheese-like powder like that which you'll find in box of Kraft macaroni and cheese. The chicken supreme was a dry deep-fried slab of chicken that came with cranberry sauce! All that salt and deep frying does appeal to a certain population, but certainly not to anyone who takes pride in cooking or has a SLIGHTLY discerning palate. Wish we went to Friendly's instead! Question - if this is supposed to be an italian eatery...WHY THE FRENCH NAME? Shouldn't it be Il Castello?
(2)Steve R.
Good news... The food is cheap. Bad news... It tastes cheap too. The Chateau is the italian restaurant that your Granfather took your Grandmother to on their first date. The food is from the same period. The only difference is that they heat it up in the microwave for you so that you don't have to hear the annoying microwave beeping when your dinner is ready.
(2)S R.
I don't understand how people can give this place a good review. Either their taste buds are shot or they've never had good Italian food. The food was horrific. It was the farthest thing from homemade and was beyond tasteless. Safe yourself a buck and buy a jar of Paul Newman's Marinara sauce and some Bertolli pasta...the result will be far superior.
(1)Benjamin F.
Great chicken parm! My kid sister loves to enter the drawing contests and I like the cup 'o mud.
(5)Sean M.
The Naked FIsh is gone, it has been replaced by another local chain. The Chateau has locations in Waltham, Needham, Stoughton, Andover, Needham and Norton as well. The formula is medium priced highly Americanized Italian Cuisine in a family friendly setting. They tend to maximize seating capacity in their restaurants but in this location at least it's not cramped. The food is very mediocre, but there is a certain utility to places like this. Honestly though the food is better and more authentic at an Olive Garden. * Red Sauce American Italian. Have you ever tried Michael Angelo's (#) brand pre-made Italian dishes? This is not quite as good as those. * Calamari and fried ravioli are two of the best items on the menu. * Pasta is served mushy, al dente does not exist. * They make their money on volume, keep that in mind. * I prefer Vinny T's, in town Sabatinis and Ziti; all are better choices and more authentic. * Excellent choice for large parties if food quality is not critical. You see a lot of "Office Dinner Outings" here. * Low end wine list decent Martinis. * Desserts are better than average. # michaelangelos.com
(2)B R.
A very good simple family italian place. extensive menu. good italian "combo" plate options. Servers can be a bit grumpy but overall a decent family italian place. Reasonably priced.
(4)Paul M.
After a business meeting in the area I decided to take a coworker's suggestion of eating at Chateau, I have to say I wish I had not taken this suggestion up. Ambiance: The restaurant seems to be a newer building with an attempted ambiance of what manages to be faux elegance, there are beautiful chandeliers hanging above the booths but then if you continue to look up you see a black metal support system which is aiding the heavy AC and roof - taking away from any sense of style the chandeliers provided in the first place. The walls are covered with retro Italian tourist posters and Italian cinema posters as well as what appear to be old family photos. The restaurant certainly adapted "family" to basically translate to booths, paper napkins (as opposed to clothe) and tacky place-mats, all of which further detracted any substance and tone from the styling the chandeliers attempted to evoke. Service: My first impression of the service was quite unfortunate, I walked into the restaurant, holding the door for the couple behind me and the hostess immediately walked right by me and approached them - greeting them by first name very informally as if they knew each other outside of work, while I am all for familial greetings I found it rather rude that I was apparently not important enough to be seated first due to not personally knowing the hostess. The service from the wait staff was much better than the hostess would have let me to believe. My waitress, Kaetlyn, was very prompt in taking my order, unfortunately it seems she is not a sommelier and was clueless as to what wine to suggest with my order; she did make an effort to ask her coworkers, who unfortunately were also at a loss, one of them stating bluntly "we just get whatever wine people ask for". Food: This is actually where Chateau really lost any faith I had in it. I had ordered Chicken Francais as my entrée which came with a side of penne in tomato sauce. The tomato sauce was very watery without much substance making it taste as though the penne had been marinating in tomato-water towards the bottom of the bowl. The main entrée itself was unfortunately also lacking, it was described as "Egg battered chicken sauteed in lemon, wine, artichoke hearts & mushrooms. Served with a side of penne & tomato sauce". The chicken was terrible, there was no taste of anything but butter and fried bread-crumbs (which is what the so called egg looked and tasted like). The artichoke hearts and mushrooms were there but also tasted overpoweringly of butter, I do not know if the chefs/owners think people's taste buds are so deprived to mistake lemon and wine for butter but I was mortified. For the $15 this meal cost me (which if it were even as remotely close to described I would have been happy to pay) would have been better spent at a grocery store and behind my own stove. I ended up not even finishing my meal, paid my bill, tipped the waitress, and left. This is NOT an Italian restaurant, or cuisine - it is a cheap American knock-off. If you want real Italian food go to either Siena or Pane e Vino in Providence, RI - it is worth the trip and the additional money and your taste buds and sense will thank you for it every minute you're there.
(2)Abby M.
Nothing but mediocre. Greek salad made with ice berg lettuce. White bread that was cold. Served wtih freezing cold butter - couldn't they put down some nice olive oil? Veggies overcooked. Not rushing back.
(2)Jed D.
good food, reasonable price that you should expect from a neighborhood family restaurant. The bread is as good as it was 40 years ago
(4)Gary B.
Mediocre is the perfect word to describe this place. They are known for their fried raviolis which are pretty good, but the majority of the food is just OK. The Rhode Island style calamari appetizer was very tasty and not overcooked so I was happy with that. Stay away from the pasta dishes as they seem to always overcook their pasta. The service is not very good. The restaurant seats a lot of people and they do not seem to have enough servers for the amount of tables. We took out 3 year old daughter who wanted chicken with fries. All she really wanted were the fries, but of course we were not going to let her have just fries for dinner. When the waitress brought our food she gave my wife and I our dishes and then when to put out daughters food on the table. She has a plate with fries and a plate with grilled cheese. She realized her mistake before she put it on the table, but before we could say anything she ran back to the kitchen with the grilled cheese to exchange it for the chicken, but she brought the fries with her. So my wife and I have food, but daughter has nothing. We had to feed her off out plates instead. By the time the waitress returned we were done eating. She did not offer to take it off the bill either which would have been the right thing to do. On the weekends the wait can be very long. Don't bother waiting. If you can walk right in and are not expecting much then go for it, but if you have to wait then get back in your car and keep driving.
(2)Stephen H.
Went here twice for lunch at work. Cant say it was unbelievable but not sure why everyone is hating. There was a decent crowd so it seemed like a popular spot. On the advice of my coworkers I got the baked ravioli which I thought was very good, nice and crispy but not overly greasy/fried. portions were fair and prices were reasonable. Pretty standard italian american restuarant. Now I'm no Italian and havent been to florence but I found the expirience more than adequate and would definetly go again. Great place to take a family or a large group as it is big and has adequate seating. Also the atmosphere is slightly upscale, not to say you need worry about a dress code or anythign, but it adds to the expirience.
(4)Donna D.
This place is FABULOUS! Did you know their spring 2008 take out orders are 15% off? Why cook? See first part of review below, this is my update: 6/2/2008 - 75th Anniversary Celebration going on here all this week, June 1 through June 7. Awesome 75th anniversary specials for Lunch and Dinner! I couldn't believe they have the menu online, making it sooooo easy for me to not only take advantage of the 75th anniversay specials and special pricing, but .... here's the great part ..15% off STILL with takeout orders! They told me Saturday 5/31 that they have extended their 15% OFF of TAKEOUT ORDERS through August!!!!!! .... yeah, I keep coming back for more! Here's the menu link for this week only ... chateaurestaurant.com/_f… I had the veal parm special and highly recommend it! HERE's my official review before that 75th anniversary super special update ... I have had a great experience every time I / we / my entire family has gone to the Chateau which has been for many, many years. First, we loved the Waltham Chateau (still do) and now that I've moved out west, 25 miles away anyway, I am thrilled that the Chateau Westborough will save me gas money over visiting the Chateau Waltham. Fresh Bread - Yum! Chicken Parm with Ziti and EXTRA CHEESE (that's my special request, accomodated every time) IS MY FAVORITE!!!! I also love the Manicotti and the Shrimp Scampi with no kissing after those garlicy little treats! My son loves the Chicken Parm too but the steak is his favorite. Lets see if I have the family order down pat here ... - spagetti with meatballs for the uncle and aunt - Dad loves the Haddock St. Germaine - My Brother and Sister in law love the Chicken Penne and Broccoli and the Haddock St. Germaine (and the martinis) - My Godson loves the pizza with I think those dots icecream for dessert - My sister, when she visits from California enjoys the eggplant parm (I love that one too) - My son loves the filet mignon with chocolate mouse for dessert (and he also loves the chicken parm and manicotti lunch special and he loves the eggplant parm). He's starting to eat sauce more since eating here. - My other brother enjoys the turkey and mashed potatoes and my sister in law eats this "really big salad" (like Elaine on Seinfeld) - My mom enjoys the Chicken Parm - My sister the chicken fingery things - My other brother Chicken and Fried Zuccini Wait staff are always pleasant and accomodating. Love the TV's at the tables for the kids. I should have played Keno on my birthday because ALL of our birthday numbers came out ... oh well ... What can I say - the Chateau has it all and I am really going to enjoy the 15% off of takeout while it lasts! I love the fact that they have a takeout parking section too! Handicap parking is right in front of the restaurant - after you drop your loved ones off at the door you pull around and the handicap spots are right there, for handicapped folks! BTW - they deliver through a service called Takeout taxi ... call for details (reviewers voted no on delivery but that's because they may not have delivered before, but do now!)
(5)Lily D.
I don't get it. Isn't "Chateau" a French word? Why would an Italian restaurant have a French name? I mean, the two countries do share a border, but still...I don't think this place is really going for fusion cooking. Maybe the confusion about what exactly *is* Italian extends to the food. Hence the not super positive reviews? I went there with my husband's family, including his three nieces. All-in-all there were 11 of us and I think we were well taken care of. Our waitress was very patient and did a good job accommodating both the young girls and the adults. I ate like a kid and had spaghetti and meatballs (with some wine, thank God) and was not dissapointed. I mean, I wouldn't go to this kind of place and expect them to have any sort of fine cuisine, nor would I want to order their attempts at fine cuisine. To be honest, I'd go back under the right circumstances because it was an easy place for a large group and/or kids and it's not the Olive Garden. It has a niche and fits into it well.
(3)Laura S.
Probably the worst Italian meal I have ever had. Service was slow, the table was drafty, and when the eggplant parm arrived after a very long wait, it was three very thin (less than 1 cm) pieces of eggplant, mostly all breading. Another in our group had alfredo on angel hair and it had a strange smell. They forgot to bring her the meatball that came with it, and when it came dinner was half over. I was shocked to see how crowded it was. I would never go back.
(1)Cynthia M.
LOVE IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT. We have never been disatisfied with the food or service. It's a great family restaurant and they can accommodate small and large parties. FYI - don't let the packed parking lot fool you into not stopping in. There are always tables available with minimal wait time. Good variety on the menu.
(5)H T.
When I come here, I sit on the bar side usually to watch sports. I like the atmosphere and have certain favorites on the menu. A couple of my favorites on the menu are: fried ravioli, any of the pizzas and for some reason i LOVE their french fries! Fun atmosphere, great food, affordable prices. Can't really beat that
(4)Angela B.
Our friends have raved about this place and.... I am just not sure why. The food was mediocre at best. The service, hmm... We sat at the bar and the people sitting next to us had to insist that we get drinks and service. Thank you fellow patrons. That was about the only good experience about this place, the other diners.
(1)joe m.
I disagree with Rayndrop about the Chicken parm!
(1)Frank S.
Last night, after Christmas shopping at BJs, we stopped into the Chateau at 9:30. We were seated in the bar area, which turned out to be a nice area to eat. Tom and his mom ordered the specials and the clam chowder. I had the "mixed grill." My food was delicious! The italian sausage was very tasty. The chicken was perfect. The beef, just a little meh. Tom and his mom reported that the clam chowder was great and they loved their food, too. So this isn't top quality, chef inspired Tuscan (or Sicilian) Italian. If you like fried raviolis and pasta with sauce, this place is for you. This is the second time that I had a great meal and would definitely go again.
(4)Netta L.
Didn't want to like it, but we really did. Food was good. Service was fine. Menu was expansive and not overly expensive. Italian food is always a crowd pleaser. I found my pasta to be perfectly cook. We were with a large party and I tried some of everybody's everything. No complaints. My lament: I used to love the Naked Fish bar. It was soft and sophisticated. They removed all the Naked Fish decor and made the huge bar area/room an additional part of the restaurant with a total Fridays-vibe. Why would they DO that?
(4)