Christinis Ristorante Italiano

Christinis is hands down our favorite Italian restaurant! We have gone twice so far (anniversary and a birthday) and it does not disappoint. They have a strict elegant dress code that matches the aesthetic of the restaurant (waiters are in full suits). The service really is top tier here - you are treated like a VIP. It's the perfect high end restaurant for a date night or celebration! The food is phenomenal. We always split the meatballs as an appetizer. They are so simple yet amazing meatballs! You also get free fresh bread and a delicious dipping sauce to start. For entrees, I highly recommend the Ravioli Aurora! Everything about this dish is wonderful. All of their pastas are made fresh so you can't really go wrong. Don't forget the homemade cannoli for dessert!!

This is one of the most difficult reviews for me, as I'm really torn about the rating. Some of the elements of experience were a lot more than 5 stars, but some were really let downs. Let's see:Ambiance - 5+Service - 8 out of 5Wine list prices - 2 (and I'm generous here)My entree - 6 out of 5Appetizer - 4Overall value - 3Outstanding ambiance and decor, inviting, great dining atmosphere. There are were only 2 or 3 red wines on the list priced at less than a $100, cheapest being $75. I'm not questioning prices of the wine on the list, I'm questioning the list itself. At an Italian restaurant not to offer wine for $50-&60 is ridiculous. Appetizer sampler was hit and miss. Fried calamari were not bad, but not amazing. Meatball was melt in your mouth spectacular. Pasta was subpar. My entree was Chilean sea bass with shrimp risotto - maybe the very best sea bass I ever had. However, at $58, the value is questionable. Absolutely the best service - wait staff is impeccably dressed, happy to offer recommendations and happy to speak with the dining guests. Perfect timing of service, and perfect attention. As I said, 8 out of 5. The restaurant is recommended, but you have to be ready to pay really a lot.

Amazing but be prepared to spend some money, however it is well worth it! Food and service were great.

Christini's gets busy the later it gets so I recommend to hop on OpenTable and lock in your reservation. The restaurant is dark with an old school Italian look. They have an accordion player who is VERY good and takes requests, so be sure to have him play your fav songs. Started with Caesar salads which were $20 each. The salads were not large and were basic, although good. The price was steep for what you get with this salad. Three Appetizer sampler normally comes with a pasta, calamari and a meatball. I was able to replace the calamari with another meatball. The meatballs were delicious. The pasta had a creamy sauce with cashews and cheese. This pasta was probably the best dish of the night, though I can't remember the name of it. Service is very good although we had to ask for bread refill a couple times before receiving it. For entrees we were told we could mix and match any sauce and pasta so I went with the bolognese with fettuccini. Pasta was supposedly homemade which was cooked a bit softer than I usually enjoy. Sauce was great though, very tasty. We also ordered the shrimp scampi. It was good but the shrimp was rubbery. The pasta was very greasy/buttery but it did taste good. Probably could have had less butter for the health conscious out there. All in all, very solid Italian restaurant in the middle of restaurant row off Sand Lake. They've been there 40 years so they must be doing something right. Stop by for an old school Italian meal.

Came here last night around 8 pm and had an absolutely delightful experience. The atmosphere was elegant and inviting, with live guitar music enhancing the ambiance beautifully.Our meal began with a sampler platter of calamari, meatballs, and pasta. Each item was perfectly cooked and seasoned, making for a fantastic start. The calamari was tender and crispy, the meatballs were rich and flavorful, and the pasta was cooked to al dente perfection.For the main course, we shared a 24oz dry-aged porterhouse and a seafood pasta dish. The porterhouse was exquisite--juicy, tender, and packed with deep, savory flavors that only dry-aging can bring out. The seafood pasta was equally impressive, with a generous portion of fresh, succulent seafood and a deliciously seasoned sauce that tied everything together.We paired our meal with a 2018 Brunello di Montalcino. The wine was a superb choice, with its robust and complex flavors complementing both the steak and the seafood beautifully.To finish, we indulged in a molten lava cake for dessert. It was the perfect ending to our meal--rich, decadent, and wonderfully gooey in the center.Overall, Christini's exceeded our expectations with impeccable service, outstanding food, and a charming atmosphere. It's a dining experience we won't soon forget. Highly recommended!

Outstanding service, food, and atmosphere! It was my first time here for my birthday dinner with my bestie and this place did not disappoint. Nick was a fun and attentive waiter, bathrooms were clean, and the tiramisu is a MUST TRY! It's pricey but great for a special occasion.

This was one of the most amazing experiences I've had in a long while. The attention to detail was second to none. The waiter noted that there were three people at his table with dietary restrictions and food allergies and they were taken very seriously. When someone had to go to the restroom they wouldn't just point the way, they had someone escort you and open the door. I felt like Royalty.We had 6 people at our table and we were able to have a great conversation without being over shadowed by load music or chatter. The only exception was when the musician came to our table and serenaded us with beautiful music. "Que Romantico" too bad I was not with my other half, business meeting.The food was served and it looked and smelled so amazing. Just as it was served I received a call and had to leave abruptly to tend to business matters. I asked my server if he could pack things up for me. Since I was the one with allergies he felt something was wrong, I assured him just had to go back to conference center. He packed everything ever so beautiful and presented me with a long stemmed rose. Awwww... so sweet.Fast forward when I got back to hotel room, I was finally able to sit down and eat. The food was AMAZING!!

Sooo yummy. The food here is so authentic!!! The pasta of course is the best. The ambiance is top notch!!! The service was amazing. Very attentive servers.

Best dining experience I've ever had. Service is incredible, food was amazing. Everything we got was delicious. Great ambiance and vibe

Not what I was expecting for a restaurant tucked into a shopping mall. Christinis was outstanding. The service was 10/10, solid wine list, huge portions and fun atmosphere.