Fantastic Fine Italian Dining and a Superb Atmosphere Makes Christinis Ristorante Italiano #1 in Orlando
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwriASld9c4
At Christini’s Ristorante Italiano, we are proud to say that we are one of the best Italian restaurants Orlando, Florida. This status is demonstrated by the thousands of people who visit us every year, with diners from all around the world coming back year after year to sample our fine Italian cuisine and our friendly, high-class dining experience.
It all started back in 1984 when our owner, Chris Christini created his privately-owned restaurant carrying the name now known the world over as a purveyor of the finest epicurean old-world delights available in the country. However, over the more than three decades that have passed since it’s opening, it’s our owner’s dedication to exceeding expectations that keeps our customers coming back for more.
Attention to Detail
Chris himself was named Restauranteur of the Year by the FRLA in 2015 (Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association) and this was thanks, in part, to his attention to detail, which has become legendary in the industry. As you can imagine, being in located in Florida, this accolade was won up against some pretty hot competition, but it was Chris’s commitment to creating an unforgettable dining experience that ultimately won out.
Another reason for the popularity of Christini’s is our fantastic menu, with every ingredient in every dish being carefully chosen by Chris to meet the very highest standards. Chris’s talent in the kitchen has earned him recognition from some of the biggest names in the culinary world, so when you come to visit us, you know you are in good hands.
“Christini’s is the best, hands down. The place, the atmosphere, the service, wow! You feel special from the beginning”
A Friendly Atmosphere
The first thing that strikes you as you walk through the doors of our restaurant is how welcoming it is. Not only is every single guest welcomed personally by Chris Christini himself – something he has been doing for 30 years – but the interior of the restaurant really is a sight to behold. The interior of our uniquely authentic and elegant dining room features fine Italian art on the walls and an array of beautiful antiques that serve to underline the high-class dining experience on offer.
After being greeted by the owner, diners are then welcomed to their tables by our highly trained, knowledgeable staff, who are dedicated to ensuring that your visit to Christini’s is the very best it can be. This is achieved by offering a flawless five-star service, which sets the standard for dining in Orlando.
The Christini’s Ristorante Italiano Menu
If you are looking for the very best in fine Italian dining, then you have most certainly come to the right place, as we offer a dazzling range of beautiful recipes, which are a classical interpretation of the finest cuisine from Northern Italy. Using only the freshest ingredients, our expert chefs wow you with the presentation and taste of the meals they create.
Since Christini’s opened, our dishes have won multiple awards and the service we offer now is as good it has ever been throughout our history. The cooking practices used in the preparation of our mouthwatering dishes is the same now as it was on day one, so you’ll be sure of getting an authentic taste of Italy, benefitting from an incredible attention to deal – a trademark of Christini’s fayre.
Appetisers
From a wonderfully mouthwatering choice of starters, you could perhaps choose Gamberoni Alla Veneziana – a gorgeous Jumbo shrimp sautéed in butter and deglazed in brandy and sherry or if seafood isn’t to your liking, you could go for Mozzarella Di Bufala – a luxurious combination of imported Italian cheese and Campari tomatoes, served with extra virgin olive oil and an aged balsamic vinegar on a bed of arugula.
Main Courses
For meat lovers everywhere, Christini’s signature 16 ounce (or 32 ounce if you’re feeling really hungry!) broiled veal chop, with Calvados apple reduction is a real delight. Then we have Vitello con Funghi Morel e Aragosta, which is an opulent veal scaloppine and Morel mushrooms served with Maine lobster medallions which have been deglazed in a brandy and dry sherry sauce. Yum!
Desserts
If you still have room left after a delicious starter and main, you have a choice of sublime desserts to choose from. You also have traditional, simple but extremely tasty cannolis, Torta al Cioccolato di Velluto (Velvet Chocolate) or what about a choice of delicious ice cream and fruit sorbets to leave you feeling fresh and revitalised?
“Great atmosphere, incredible service and the food was just spectacular. The wines they had were just great too. It was amazing. I’ll go again for sure next time I come to Orlando”
Redefining the term High-Quality Cuisine
Whatever you choose from our menu, you can be certain that you will leave feeling that you have had your perception of what quality Italian cuisine is, redefined. This is just a small selection from our menu, which is simply packed with the delightfully authentic flavours of Northern Italy and we haven’t even mentioned our selection of world-class Italian wines yet!
In addition to the dishes we have mentioned here, we have a wide selection of delicious pastas, meats and seafood, all created using authentically reproduced, age-old cooking practices. To give you an idea of what we mean by ‘attention to detail’, our olives and olive oil are literally flown in from Europe and it’s by going the extra mile to heighten the customer experience that makes Christini’s restaurant like no other.
A World-Class Wine List
There is no better accompaniment to Italian food than wine, as a well-chosen glass can really complement all of the exquisite nuances and flavours of the pasta and meat dishes on our menu. As we want you to have the best dining experience possible, we have put together a world-class wine list for you to enjoy with your food with.
Chris and his team know more than a thing or two about wine and how it should be enjoyed, so you can always rely on them to recommend the ideal wine for the meal you are having. Diners at Christini’s get to choose between some of the most amazing red and white wines the world has to offer.
Christini’s is Not a Chain
Unlike many other top restaurants in Florida and the wider United States of America, Christini’s Ristorante Italiano is not part of a larger chain. This means that we have complete control of every aspect of the dining experience we provide. Because we have only one restaurant in just one location, we are able to focus completely on delighting our customers, rather than concentrating on the kind of cost savings that need to be made to allow a restaurant to grow into a chain of restaurants.
This means that our exacting standards and those of our owner are never compromised in favour of cutting corners to make more profits. Chris and his dedicated team have their concentration fixed solely on providing an intimate and friendly atmosphere in which to enjoy the very best in Italian dining.
A Romantic Destination
If you’re looking for a place to take that special person in your life for a romantic meal, then Christini’s is the perfect choice. Thousands flock to us every year to celebrate their anniversary or to simply spend an evening in the elegant surroundings of our dining room. If you prefer your romantic get-togethers in a more intimate setting, then we can accommodate you in one of our several semi-private areas.
To further enhance the romantic nature of the dining experience that we provide, diners are regularly serenaded by the musical talents of Dariusz Grabowski, a world-renowned accordionist. The elegance and charm that the interior of our beautiful restaurant provides to any special occasion, combined with the music and the delicious food on our menu, makes Christini’s the ultimate destination for creating romantic memories.
To top everything off, every lady dining at Christini’s Ristorante Italiano gets a rose at the end of their meal. Want to show your husband, wife, fiance or girlfriend just how much you love them? Then come and experience romance Christini’s style and we guarantee that they’ll get the message!
“Classy, exceptional service, delicious food and traditional dining are several of the words I can use to describe this gem”
Supreme Service for Tourists and Locals Alike
While we are very adept at making the thousands of tourists that come and see us feel both wowed and delighted in equal measure, we also have many customers who live in the Orlando area and who also consider us the best Italian restaurant in the county. We are eternally grateful to the huge amounts of people who visit us from the four corners of the world, but it would be remiss of us not to mention the journey they have been on with us since we opened in the mid-80s.
Perhaps it is a mark of the authenticity of the food we offer and the quality of the service we provide that keeps our fellow Orlandoans returning to us year after year. Whatever it is, we are most grateful for their custom and will continue to be so in the future.
A Prime Location
Florida is one of the premier tourist destinations in the world, which makes our location in Orlando ideal for those looking for fine Italian dining after visiting the area’s numerous world-class attractions. Getting around in Orlando is super easy too, so getting to us after a full day of visiting theme parks, shopping malls and landmarks is really simple.
You’ve got Disneyland, the Kennedy Space Centre, Universal Studios, Sea World, Volcano Bay and Gatorland all within easy reach of Orlando. Then there’s Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Discovery Cove, Typhoon Lagoon and the Orlando Science Center. It would certainly be true to say that when you visit Orlando, you’re never short of things to do and see.
The Convention Center
Christini’s is also just a short distance away from the Orange County Convention and Civic Center, which is the second largest convention center in the United States. It’s just one of the reasons why more than 72 million people visited Orange County last year and it’s a venue that plays host to many major sports events, exhibitions, business meetings and of course, conventions.
The fine Italian cuisine created by our world-class chefs is something that draws in thousands of convention centre visitors each and every year, as well as the fact that we are able to cater for the needs of large groups of people. Our private dining area (known as the Ivy Room) is able to seat 54, which means we can accommodate even the biggest of touring parties. Not only that, but we offer free transportation for groups of 10 guests or more who are travelling to and from the same place.
We are located on what’s known as Restaurant Row in Orlando, which is just a stone’s throw from the convention center, which is a venue frequented by thousands of business people and top entrepreneurs. Our local reputation for providing a world-class dining experience is reason enough for most to come and enjoy our hospitality, so we’d recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment as demand is high all year round.
Group Menus
When you’re part of a large visiting group, it can be really difficult to order for everyone ahead of time, which is why we offer three mouthwatering group menu options for your convenience. Each has been thoughtfully and skillfully created to provide an array of combinations that will delight every guest in your party.
We have a Sardinian based choice in the Serata Romana menu, which features Pollo Al Quattro Formaggi (chicken breast with a light tomato sauce and four fine Italian cheeses), Vitello Marsala (Veal Scalloppine with crimini mushrooms and sweet marsala wine sauce) or Fileto di Sogliola (Fresh filet of sole in a lemon butter sauce).
Then we have a selection of dishes from the Tuscany area of Italy in our Serata Toscana menu, which includes dishes like Fileto Al Barolo (Filet mignon in a Barolo Sauce), Seafood Fra Diavolov (a medley of fresh seafood with linguini and spicy pescatore sauce) or Costata Di Vitello Alla Parmiagiana (Our signature 12 ounce bone-in veal chop).
Lastly, we have dishes with a Venice theme in our Serata Veneziana menu that includes high-quality Italian dining such as Branzino Cileno (Chilean sea bass with shrimp risotto and lobster tarragon sauce), Gamberoni Alla Scampi (Sauteed jumbo shrimp with linguini in garlic, white wine and lemon sauce) or Fileto al Barolo (Prime filet mignon in Barolo wine sauce with shitake mushrooms, pearl onions and polenta souffle).
However large your travelling party is, our group menus are an ideal, convenient option that offers the same, extremely high standards as every meal that is prepared at Christini’s.
Celebrities Visiting Christini’s
The worldwide reputation of Chris Christini and his world-class restaurant has been attracting the great and the good to sample its unsurpassed fayre and refined atmosphere for more than 30 years. Dignitaries and celebrities alike can often be seen inside our walls, each visiting to enjoy the VIP treatment and the best Italian food available in America.
Names like Mick Jagger, Shaquille O’Neal, Rudi Juliani and Stan Lee have sat at our tables, as well as Pele, Michael Douglas, Tiger Woods and Bob Hope. We don’t literally roll out the red carpet, but all of the celebrities get the full Christini experience and a traditional welcome from Chris himself.
However, it doesn’t mean that you have to be famous to be treated in this way, as everyone who comes to us to dine is given the same VIP treatment. Chris Christini and his team have a talent for making every visitor feel like a celebrity, but don’t be surprised if you see a famous face or two while you’re with us, as it happens quite a lot!
“This is the best Italian restaurant by far in the Orlando area. I usually have the Veal Part on the bone which is always excellent”
Christini’s – A Serial Award Winner
As we mentioned earlier, our owner was recently named as the Restauranteur of the Year, but it is by no means the only time that Christini’s has been the recipient of an award. You could say that we have something of a tradition for accolades as can be seen when you look through the procession of awards we have been given over the years for the food we serve and the experience that we provide.
For example, we were given the Millennium International Award of Excellence and included in the Top 100 20th Century US restaurants. Restaurants & Institutions Magazine also described us as “a restaurant of distinction” and over the years, Christini’s Ristorante Italiano has been blessed with an array of awards, such as:
- The Restaurateur Hall of Fame Award 2015 from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
- The AAA Four Diamond Award
- The Golden Spoon Award
- Zagat’s ‘a Treasure Amongst Restaurants’ Award
- The Epicurean Award for the Outstanding Cuisine and Service
- Best of the Best Five Star Diamond Award
- The Di Rona Distinguished Restaurant of North America Award
- The Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall Of Fame Award
- The International Award of Excellence
- The Best Award of Excellence for Wine from Spectator magazine
We’ve also had notable mentions in Gourmet Magazine, the Orlando Sentinel, Orlando Magazine, Southwest Magazine, the New York Times and on Channel 9 TV and Magic 107.7 radio station.
Open for All of Your Special Occasions
Christini’s Ristorante Italiano has its doors open for every special occasion you can think of, as we are open 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year. That includes Christmas and New Year, so whatever your celebration, we can accommodate! For example, this year, we offered an amazing Christmas dish of Sardinian style Rack of Lamb, whipped potatoes, roasted baby vegetables with mint and lamb au jus.
New Year’s diners were able to choose from a sumptuous selection of Risotto al Tartufo Nero, Ravioli di Aragosta and Insalata Mista Alla Romana, each as delicious and expertly cooked as the next. In addition to this, our full a la carte menu is available all year round, so you can always be assured of the complete Christini’s experience whenever it is that you’re with us.
We’d Love For You to Come and See Us!
If you are visiting the Orlando area as part of your vacation, to visit the Orange County Convention Center or as a local resident, we’d absolutely love for you to come and sample our menu and our penchant for delighting our customers. If you do intend visiting us, we’d recommend booking ahead, as demand for reservations is always high. We’d hate for you to make it to Restaurant Row to then miss out through lack of availability, so make sure you check first.
To check for table availability, view our menu or to find out more about us, you can find out everything you need to know by visiting our website www.christinis-zih5.wp1.site or by calling us on (407) 545-6867. Our friendly team are on hand to take your call and to do everything they can do to make your visit to Christini’s one you’ll remember forever.
Thanks for reading our blog and we hope to see you walk through our doors very soon.
