The Chateau Anna Maria — Restaurant in Holmes Beach

TLDR: do not waste your time or money here.

My family dined here yesterday, and I have never in my life had such a poor restaurant experience. We (a party of four) had a reservation for 7:45. We arrived on time and were told that the kitchen was behind and we could not be seated right away. The hostess was exasperated and mildly apologetic but didn’t offer any time estimate. We patiently waited. At 8:30, we were finally seated. In hindsight we should have taken the seating delay as a sign and taken our business elsewhere, but at that hour on a holiday, our options were limited. After waiting 45 minutes, we thought surely from there it would be a normal experience. We were mistaken. We ordered drinks and meals in an orderly fashion. The server was friendly. They knew we were celebrating my grandmother’s birthday and had a sign on the table for her. That was perhaps the only nice part of the evening. Our food did not arrive until 9:40, over an hour after being seated and nearly two hours after our original reservation. When they did arrive, the meals were mediocre at best. The presentation was poor and the seasoning was almost nonexistent. The chef’s cut (NY strip) was horrific and inedible. The fish meals were both overdone. The risotto and potatoes were sloppy, and the greens were bland. The server again was mildly apologetic about the severe delay. It’s almost like it was normal for them to be so far behind. The restaurant was not overly busy during this time, yet we saw this happening to the other tables near us, including a family with several small children who waited longer than we did. At no time during all of this was the manager walking around, offering apologies or asking if they could bring drinks, appetizers, desserts, or anything, to make up for the poor performance of the kitchen. We later found out the owners were there too. Again, no action on their part. I’ve worked in the service industry and dined at a wide variety of restaurants, and I have never seen anything like this. I’ve seen far more offered for far less inconvenience at far more casual establishments. We left very unsatisfied. We actually went back and told the manager how unhappy we were, to which they said we could come back for breakfast. HA! I would never give this place another chance. We left wishing we had ordered a pizza and could get those three hours of our lives back. I hope that no one else wastes their time and money on this place. It truly does not deserve to be...

My partner and I visited The Chateau on Anna Maria for Valentine’s Day, eager to enjoy their special three-course menu. We had high expectations, and while the evening started with a small hiccup, it ultimately turned into a fantastic dining experience.

Upon arrival, we were seated promptly, but unfortunately, we waited about 20 minutes before being acknowledged by our server. The way the situation was handled truly impressed us. The hostess personally came to our table, sincerely apologized, and ensured that we were taken care of from that moment on. Her professionalism and maturity in addressing the issue turned what could have been a negative experience into a moment of genuine hospitality.

The food was nothing short of spectacular. Each dish showcased unique and well-balanced flavors that felt thoughtfully curated for the occasion.

• Salad: The Caesar salad was fresh, crisp, and dressed to perfection—not overly drenched, but just enough to enhance the flavors without overwhelming the greens.

• Entrées: The fish I ordered was cooked flawlessly—moist, flaky, and seasoned beautifully. My partner opted for the lobster, and he couldn’t stop raving about it. He also claimed the mashed potatoes were the best he’s ever had, which is no small compliment!

• Dessert: While we didn’t mention dessert in detail earlier, if it matched the quality of the first two courses, we have no doubt it was exceptional.

The atmosphere of The Chateau was elegant yet inviting—perfect for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. The setting added to the overall experience, making it feel like a truly special evening. Despite the initial service delay, the way the staff handled it, combined with the outstanding food, made for a wonderful experience. We left feeling satisfied and appreciated as guests. We would absolutely return and recommend The Chateau on Anna Maria to anyone looking for a high-quality dining experience with impeccable flavors and...

I attended the chateau for my birthday with my partner with high expectations given the amazing reviews and menu. Unfortunately, my visit left me with much to be desired. I will give credit where it’s due for the wonderful atmosphere and the pleasant service however the meal I experienced was beyond lack luster.

To start, there was a small sign that said happy birthday on the table which I was super pleased with however there was nothing particularly special done outside of the small sign. While I wasn’t expecting a song or anything like that, it added in to the theme of bland for the night.

The complimentary bread was delicious and the butter was great but we were only given two breads (the small hand loafs), considering it was just myself and my partner we were a bit stunned considering most establishments provide several small loafs/slices. We rationalized this by assuming it was one loaf per person but it just seemed odd and left us wanting more.

Now for the main entree, I was stuck between the duck confit fettuccine and the snapper and asked the server for her recommendations. After hearing her raving about the duck confit, I decided to try something new.. big mistake. There was absolutely no flavor in the meat, the sauce, or the noodles. I can only describe the dish as tasteless mush. I asked for salt and pepper which somehow was absorbed by the dish to taste like more nothing. I mean no offense but I have to speak honestly on my experience. My partner ordered a standard burger and fries and that completely washed the duck confit out the park. One fry had more seasoning than the entire plate of pasta.

Overall for a birthday, I was left just underwhelmed and extremely hungry. I must highlight that the atmosphere was great, the drinks were good, and the service was alright but for the cost, at the very least I would not recommend the...