Château 13 Offers French at its Finest

BRADENTON — Château 13 has been serving deliciously authentic French fare in downtown Bradenton since 2018. More than six years later, the experience is still among one of the very best on the Gulf Coast.

Tucked onto the decidedly more quiet portion of downtown Bradenton on 13th Street West, the Château 13 experience begins the moment you approach the gorgeously designed brick building and continues when you discover the warm and romantic ambiance the Lippens family has created in its interior.

You are warmly greeted at the door and escorted to tables that are lined with the finest linens and dressed with high-end stemware. You pass an inviting wine bar and notice that the entire place is full just after opening, buzzing with the energy of palpable gastro-excitement. The smell of French haute cuisine is carried through the air. Not a single moment fails to live up to the highest of expectations.

We began with warm and delicate housemade focaccia and Escargots à la Bourguignonne (herbed garlic butter and cognac with grilled French bread) that was sublime, despite having just returned from an escargot binge in Paris last month. We were on our way to Asolo for the opening of Lady Molly of Scotland Yard (review) and, unfortunately, had to spend a little less time at dinner than we would have otherwise, or else we would have further explored the excellent starter menu.

For entrees, I ordered the Maple Leaf Farms Duck Bourguignon, a Burgundy braised duck leg with natural jus, petrichor mushrooms, roasted heirloom carrot, and cippolini onions, with a side of buttery and perfectly moist fingerling potatoes. No one does duck like the French, in my experience, and this proved on par with the very best I’ve had.

Being a pescatarian, my better half decided on the Petrichor Lion's Mane Mushroom "Steak," which is balsamic marinated, then oven-roasted and topped with salmoriglio sauce and sweet potato hay with perfectly prepared chèvre polenta as well as sautéed greens and radicchio. Both of us marveled at how meaty they managed to make the faux steak.

Jenn Sayko has curated an impressive wine list, and the restaurant offers a surprisingly good selection of beer and cocktails as well. The corking fee is a somewhat egregious $35 if you bring your own bottle.

Our schedule also prevented us from sampling a mouthwatering dessert menu, which includes Flourless Chocolate Torte, Grand Marnier Crème Brûlée, Lemon Olive Oil Cake (a personal favorite that will definitely inspire a return trip!), and Mousse au Chocolat, along with a cheese plate.

Château 13 is inspired French fine dining that remains the crown jewel of downtown Bradenton restaurants. They are currently taking reservations for Valentine's Day.

Related: Epicurean Cuisine Amid Perfect Ambience at Calida Kitchen & Wine

Dennis "Mitch" Maley is a novelist, as well as an editor and opinion columnist for The Bradenton Times. In addition to his regular Sunday column, he hosts our weekly podcast and does travel features, as well as theater, restaurant, and wine reviews. He is a graduate of Shippensburg University and later served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. Click here for his bio. His books are available here.