A Return to a Favorite

The first time we went to St. Petersburg, Florida, Chris’s mom told us to check out The Chattaway. We liked the food and atmosphere so much we made a point to go back when we passed through the area on our way south a few years later.

We recently planned a visit to the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Pete. I was excited to learn that the museum was only a few miles from The Chattaway. We are still not comfortable eating in restaurants, but we knew from our previous visits that there is plenty of outdoor seating. We decided to stop in for lunch before our museum visit.

We checked the website to confirm the restaurant opened at 11 am before we left. When we pulled into the parking lot, we noticed signs indicating they were closed for a private event. We were happy to realize that the event had been the day before. We could see that they were still working on the final clean-up from the event. We hesitated before going in but continued when we saw they had removed the chains blocking the entrance.

Feeling Unwelcome

We had been in the car for a bit, so we stopped at the restroom first. The bathrooms were clean and beautifully decorated in a fun, festive manner. I came out to hear a woman (presumably a manager) telling Chris that his phone must be fast. She had said to him that they don’t open until 11, and that was her response to him pointing out to her that it was 11:12.

We went to the bar and took a seat. While we waited, we heard three more employees comment on the time. It didn’t seem that anyone who worked there had any idea that it was well past opening time. Instead of anyone greeting us, they seemed rather displeased that we were there. We sat at the bar for a few minutes before an unmasked employee finally asked if we wanted something to drink, still no greeting.

I was happy to see that he put a mask on when he returned 10 minutes later to take our order. I ordered the Original Cheese Chattaburger with cheddar, adding bacon and mushrooms, while Chris changed it up a bit and ordered a Fresh Grouper sandwich, blackened. They served fries with both sandwiches.

Fun Atmosphere

While we waited for the food, I walked around the outdoor patio. The Chattaway has a fun atmosphere, with brightly colored tables and flowers everywhere. Pink bathtubs full of flowers line the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. The tubs sit throughout the dining area as well. Cute sculptures of woodland creatures adorn the nooks and crannies, some of which you could easily miss if you weren’t looking for them. There is also a pond, with a small waterfall, stocked with large fish. The gardening is spectacular, and bright, happy colors and murals adorn the walls.

Good Food

The food arrived quickly, even before I finished looking around. Our server dropped it off without a word. My burger was messy and delicious. I went through three paper towels and then had to wash my hands, but that’s a sign of a great burger. I enjoyed the bite of Chris’s grouper that he shared with me. While the sandwich was good, he wasn’t sure if it was worth the price.

Our server finally stopped by to see if we needed anything as we finished the sandwiches. I requested mayonnaise for the fries.
Luckily, the fries were piping hot and still good at the end of the meal. It was enough food that I was not able to finish all the fries. While I nibbled on my fries, another server took Chris’s basket away, again without a word.

After we finished eating, we waited for our server to return with the check. Eventually, the other server came by to take my basket away. I asked for the bill. She loudly relayed this to our server. He brought the check to us without a word, never even asking if we wanted dessert or anything else to drink.

The Chattaway only accepts cash. They do have an ATM available for those who don’t realize that. With the lack of service we received, I was happy that we didn’t need to wait for change.

Our first two experiences at The Chattaway were terrific. I don’t know if service has gone downhill or if they were having an off day. Either way, we felt uncomfortable enough that we will probably not return.

Cost for a beer, a burger, and a grouper sandwich $30.50.