Sand Lake Road in the Dr Phillips area of Orlando is something of a culinary center of excellence, as it boasts some of the finest restaurants and eateries in Florida. Affectionately known to locals and visitors alike as Restaurant Row, this area of the Sunshine State is a hugely popular area that draws in millions of people each and every year from all four corners of the globe.
A Major Tourist Hub
As well as being one best places to indulge in an array of gastric delights, Restaurant Row sits in a geographically ideal location for the countless tourist activities in the area. First you have the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), which itself attracts a vast number of business people and convention goers to the 200+ events it holds each year.
Then there’s the world-renowned tourist attractions of Disney World, the Epcot Center and Sea World Orlando. Suffice to say that visitors to the area have a dazzling array of things to do and see whilst in the area. So, what better way of rounding off a day of world class tourism than with a healthy dose of world class food, wine and atmosphere?
A Foodie’s Delight
If you’re into top quality food, as most of us would claim to be, then the aptly named Restaurant Row in Orlando is most certainly the place to be. Whatever your own particular favourite type of food, there is a high class provider in the area to not only cater for you, but to leave you with a dining experience that will stay with you for many years to come.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the restaurants on Sand Lake Road in closer detail.
Amura’s
If an authentic Japanese experience is your idea of top quality dining, then Amura’s is likely to be your preferred destination. According to Zagat, the restaurant rating body, Amura is one of the best places in the world to get sushi, which is amazing when you consider the competition they’re up against from restaurants in Japan alone!
From Fuji Rolls to Kanikama, sushi lovers are sure to get everything they want and more from Amura’s.
Ocean Prime
If you want to get a taste of American seafood, then Ocean Prime is an award-winning establishment on Sand Lake Road that you might find to your liking. Offering prime shellfish, steaks and cocktails, this great restaurant provides a genuine coastal dining experience with an added twist of decadence.
Ocean Prime is part of the Cameron Mitchell chain and one that also offers an extensive gluten free menu, surf & turf and a specialist menu for young adults. It’s one we’d recommend for tasty North American fare.
Rocco’s Tacos
If you like your food to have a kick!, then Rocco’s Tacos is certainly a place that will be able to satisfy your desire for all things spicy. Supplying authentic Mexican cuisine in a relaxed and fun environment, it’s the ideal place to go for some top class guacamole and tequila.
In fact, if you’re a tequila aficionado, then you’ll be in the right place, as they’re said to have as many as 425 varieties of the traditional mexican beverage.
Morton’s Steakhouse
For lovers of prime steak, Morton’s is a great place to find it. With prime porterhouse steaks, bone in rib-eye steaks and zingy prime cajun rib-eye steaks just some of those available, it’s perhaps not hard to see why fans of quality beef flock there to sample their wares in their pleasant and welcoming surroundings.
Morton’s is part of a larger nationwide chain that was originally started by Arnie Morton and Klaus Fritsch back in the late 70s and has grown to the household name they are today. Steak lovers on Restaurant Row should certainly take a look at what they have to offer.
Christini’s Ristorante Italiano
We have saved what we believe to be the cream of the crop of restaurants on Restaurant Row until last, as when it comes to fine dining Orlando, world-class hospitality and an all-round wonderful experience, there is no better venue than Christini’s Ristorante Italiano. This is no idle claim either, as we stand by the cuisine, service and supreme dining ambience that we provide.
Our Food
The 5 star Italian fine dining enjoyed by the thousands that visit us each year has it’s roots back in the old country that is Italy. When you cross our threshold and enter Christini’s, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve just be magically whisked half way around the world to an authentic restaurant in Milan, Bologna or Turin.
“A truly quintessential Italian journey, from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave”
With Chris’s help, our fantastic chefs have created a fabulous menu that features a blend of genuine old-world dishes with representations of some of the greatest Italian classics, all made with only the best and freshest ingredients. Whether choosing extremely popular dishes from our menu like Mozzarella Di Bufala, paghetti al Pomodoro or Pollo Alla Piccata, you should prepare to have your taste buds stimulated in the best way possible.
Those who visit us regularly tell us that they haven’t tasted food quite like ours since they were in Italy, which is quite a compliment! We have a saying at Christini’s that reflects this and it is “to enter Christini’s is to enter Italy” and it’s something we live by. To take a closer look at what we mean, click here to see our menu http://bit.ly/2XHUqoV.
Our Experience
The fine italian dining experience you get at Christini’s is a singularly unique one in the Florida area, as it is a truly quintessential Italian journey, from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. It’s no coincidence that our restaurant has received numerous awards and accolades over the years, such is our commitment to creating fine-dining memories for our clients.
“Fabulous food backed by world-class levels of customer service and hospitality”
Whether you’re visiting our main dining room or choosing one of a choice of private dining options, you can tailor your visit to be exactly what you want it to be. We even have a selection of semi-private dining areas, for those who want some peace and quiet or some romantic time alone with their husband, wife or partner.
Our ‘Not-So-Secret’ Weapon
One of the primary reasons why our standards of service and customer delight are so high is the vision of our not-so-secret weapon that is our owner and founder Chris Christini. With almost 50 years in the business behind him, Chris understands what true fine italian dining is and how to create it.
He understands that fabulous food needs to be backed by world-class levels of customer service and hospitality. Not only that, Chris understands that one of the cornerstones of a great meal is being able to enjoy it in luxurious, stunning surroundings, which Christini’s restaurant offers in abundance.
“People who come and visit us whilst in the Orlando area are invariably delighted they did”
Having a figurehead like Chris at the helm is key to everything wonderful about Christini’s, as he’s able to instil his passion and dedication to customer delight into every one who works there. Everyone who walks through our doors is guaranteed the same enjoyable fine Italian dining experience.
What Our Customers Say
The thousands of people who visit us each and every year are the best barometer with which to measure the levels of culinary excellence provided by our chefs and hospitality offered by our fantastic, welcoming front of house team. We can tell you without fear of contradiction that the overwhelming majority of people who come and visit us whilst in the Orlando area are delighted that they did.
Let’s just take a look at a few of the recent reviews we’ve received:
A visitor from Pennsylvania spoke about our menu – “The food was spot on and delicious, some of the most tender gnocchi I have ever eaten, even counting all of Italy”.
Another guest from Atlanta commented on our atmosphere – “The decor and atmosphere of Christini’s did not disappoint. It was like stepping into another time. Everything from the maître d’ to the waitstaff to the accordion player were spot on”
And of the service provided, a customer from Gainesville simply said – “The staff at Christini’s Ristorante Italiano made us feel like family”
This is minimum you can expect when you step through the doors of Christini’s, as Chris himself insists that if we haven’t made every single one of our guests feel like a VIP, then we’re not doing our jobs properly. Excellence comes as standard for each and every one of our visitors.
Christini’s is Not a Chain
Another key aspect of Christini’s Ristorante Italiano that sets us apart from other eateries on Restaurant Row and throughout Orlando is that we’re not part of a national chain. Our owner decided against creating a chain of Christin’s restaurants across the United States as others have and that’s because when you spread your expertise over a chain of restaurants, there is an inevitable and unavoidable drop in standards.
“Christini’s dining experience is every bit as vibrant and welcoming as Chris wants it to be, with attention paid to every little detail”.
Now, this drop in standards might not be immediately noticeable to those who visit a restaurant that’s part of a chain, but when you visit us, you get a better understanding of what we mean. Operating just one world-class restaurant in one prime location means that we have complete control over what’s on the menu, the levels of hospitality and everything else that goes into making Christini’s what it is.
What you don’t get from us is a homogenised dining experience that’s had the founder’s vision diluted because of the need to maintain a uniform standard across many, many outlets. Because of this, the Christini’s dining experience is every bit as vibrant and welcoming as Chris wants it to be, with attention paid to every little detail. Only by operating in this way can we maintain our own supremely high standards.
Able to Cater for Large Groups
Another unique selling point of Christini’s is that we are able to cater for large groups of people without compromising the quality of the food or the hospitality. Our Ivy Room can seat as many as 54 people at once and with a choice of mouthwatering set group menus available, those visiting the nearby OCCC have the perfect venue to accommodate everyone in their party.
Just make sure you make a reservation in good time, as we’re often very busy, such is our popularity with locals and tourists alike.
Visiting Restaurant Row? We’d Love You to Come and Visit Us
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting the Florida or Orlando area in the near future, then we would sincerely love for you to come and see exactly what we’re talking about for yourself. We can use a thousand words to paint a picture of the true, authentic and welcoming nature of Christini’s fine Italian dining, but it’s not until you see it and experience it in person that you fully understand why we believe ours to be the best dining available on Restaurant Row and in the wider Florida area.
If you’d like to find out more about us, you can visit us online at www.christinis.com, where you’ll also find details of our fine Italian cuisine, our opening hours and our online booking system. If however, you have any questions about anything discussed here or you want to make a phone reservation, you can call our friendly team on (407) 545-6867 who will be more than happy to help you in any way they are able to.
We thank you for reading and we hope to see you soon.
