Christo’s Ristorante
6327 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ, 85014
Christo’s Ristorante Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Phoenix for healthy meals suggestion.
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Visit below restaurant in Phoenix for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
6327 N 7th St
Phoenix, AZ, 85014 - Phone (602) 264-1784
- Website https://www.christos1.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Claire B.
This is the neighborhood classic. The food never disappoints and the service is excellent. They have amazing weekly specials and their happy hour is great. The only Italian place we go to!
(5)Jean L.
Went for dinner last night after hearing great things about it. It's was okay. Parking was horrid and food was just okay not wonderful. The soup was wonderful best part of the meal. I might return
(3)Joyce A.
Delicious food, reasonable priced,old world feeling, Great night all in all. This is our second time here within two months.
(5)Debbie C.
I've raved about this classic restaurant before but because I recently made the mistake of visiting a faux Italian chain in town and had such a horrible experience, I felt it time to compliment Christo's again. You can't get much better than this in Phoenix and I can't wait to go back. I'm never disappointed here.
(5)Mark C.
I feel somewhat uncomfortable giving a so-so rating to a restaurant where I know the family personally. That said, there's a few things that have been amiss at this place pretty much every time I come here. The food has been average at best and the atmosphere isn't quite my thing. Tonight exemplified this feeling for me during a dinner with family members. For starters, this restaurant has been around forever. Even many of the staff members have been here forever (our waiter had worked there for decades). Between the long time staff and the decor, the feeling of this place is old school all the way. It has some of the feel of an old school italian restaurant, though not so fancy that you have to be super dressy here. In fact much of the clientele here is quite casual. The customer crowd here has also typically been much older as I suspect many of their customers have been coming here for years. I rarely see anyone younger than their forties or fifties in there, so interpret that however you want. The food is old school classic italian from the pastas, the seafood dishes, the chicken and veal plates, and the steaks. Tonight I went with the chicken francese. Essentially a breaded chicken covered in a lemon butter sauce and topped with mushrooms. First off, I'm not a mushroom guy so thats my fault. But the chicken and breaded tasted pretty bland even with the sauce (which was way more butter than lemon by the way). It was edible, but not that great. I've had similar experiences with a couple of their pasta and veal dishes as well. Each dish gets soup and a salad to start. As usual both were okay, but again nothing special. The prices are actually pretty reasonable so even if the flavors don't impress you, you can count on leaving full. It may well be that I'm not the target audience of this restaurant. Its an old school restaurant with old school grub, so maybe they're just looking to appeal to the old school crowd. I'm not opposed to old world recipes as long as they're done well. From my multiple visits here I find their cuisine adequate, but not much better than that. There's plenty of italian joints in the Phoenix area. This one falls somewhere in the middle of pack, at best.
(3)Madison S.
Went to Chriso's for the first time this past weekend and it was a real 5 star experience! Our waiter was fantastic - on point with recommendations and always right there when we needed something. Everyone was so friendly and attentive. We started with the mussels with wine sauce - they were fresh, tasty, and perfectly cooked. I had the veal saltimbuca and my date had the chicken cordon bleu - both were incredible and the gnocchi that came with the cordon bleu were a meal on their own - so yummy! We at this point HAD to try the desserts - I am a huge tiramisu fan, and it did not disappoint. Our waiter suggested the limoncello cake and it was out of this world good. I would definitely recommend making a reservation - I didn't see one empty table the whole time we were there!
(5)Anthony C.
I went to Christos as my 2nd Restaurant Week stop. I sat at the bar and it was a bit crowded there, but with lots of good energy people. When I mentioned I would be skipping dessert, they were happy to sub a bruschetta for me! And I expected one, but they gave me four! And the goat cheese that came with it was fabulous. The meal also came with a glass of wine, but as a non-wine drinker I passed on that. After that, my real appetizer came out. Eggplant with a romesco sauce, shrimp scampi and a stuffed mushroom. A perfect portion and really delicious. I finished with a chicken marsala roulade. This was just ok. The marsala flavor was a little too light, and the filling in the roulade was a bit stringy and didn't really boost the flavor like I expected it to. I would definitely recommend it but I would try a different main course item.
(4)Spike S.
Great family owned restaurant! The service was outstanding and our waitress, Julie, was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and specials. I had a stuffed chicken dish with a side of gnocchi, which was one of the specials. It was excellent! I also had a Greek salad that was almost a meal itself. I was so stuffed I didn't have room for dessert. I'll be sure to save room next time.
(5)Steven V.
As a native, I've probably driven past this place over a million times. It doesn't really pop out on 7th street. My girlfriend and I decided to check it out on a whim of the steering wheel; best impulse decision ever. When we walked in and were seated, the incredibly friendly waitress placed our napkins on our laps and began reading the specials in a way that would put the Ritz to shame. My girlfriend looked up and our gazes met; this was going to be 4 star expensive. Alas we were wrong, the entire meal was around that you would pay at a low-end chain restaurant. Now the food, the reason for the establishment's existence: unforgettable. I ordered the Zingarela. No words describe but delicious. Word was spread quickly. I brought my dad to lunch for Father's Day. I've never heard him praise food like he did that day. I'm pretty sure he annoyed the waitress my constantly pulling her aside to tell her of his amazement. As a whole, don't let the restaurant's atmosphere dismay you. At times it's slow, other times busy. The demographic is older. These things, if they matter to you, will melt away when you take that first bite. It won't be your last.
(5)Wanda B.
I have enjoyed my dining experience in Arizona these last few days, and Christo's Ristorante has not disappointed. I had the calamari as an appetizer and the chicken limon as my entree. Both were very delicious. The meal also included soup and salad. I was so stuffed, I had to pass up on the appealing desserts. The service was also top notch. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for some good Italian food in the Phoenix area.
(4)Jason L.
Being from Italy I find that few "Italian" restaurants are really good. There are exceptions but few. First, there is no such thing as Italian cuisine since every region in Italy has its own cuisine much as in China where you have Hunan, Mandarin. Cantonese, etcetera. I'm from Tuscany so our cuisine is totally different from Southern Italy or even Rome. One "Italian" restaurant cannot cook well all the regional dishes, especially with a Mexican staffed kitchen and a Greek owner. Food is adequate but not authentic.
(2)Tonya M.
A large group (17) of us came in for NYE and it was fabulous as always. We started off with a bunch of appetizers for the table followed by soup then salad. The soup that evening was some sort of mushroom, artichoke, potato combination that was out of this world and if anyone has the recipe, please send it to me! The salad was the same as always, nothing spectacular but it serves the purpose. On to the entrees, they had a prix-fixe menu as they do for all major holidays. There were A LOT of seafood options, but no vegetarian (they were able to accommodate but it wasn't listed) and only one chicken option. I was hoping to see at least 2 chicken options for those of us who don't love breaded chicken. There were also a lot of beef and pork options. The chicken was similar to a Cordon Bleu without the ham, served with gnocchi and some sort of cheese sauce on top. I loved it but others in the party didn't care for it as much as some of the other options you can get when it's not a holiday. We then finished with desert. Service was wonderful, the food was great and we will definitely be back.
(4)Angela R.
We have dined here many times over the years and we take guests with us from Europe and they loved it too! They were busy last Sat. night, but since we were late, they found a table for us. The men serving are always so informed, concise, professional! I ordered my fave Halibut...DELICIOUS! I always request WITHOUT the Feta...I like the light natural flavor of halibut and do not need strong feta on top...the garlic-butter sauce is perfect! Partner loved the scallops, but said they were just a bit small and too soft. he is accustomed to firmer texture, but flavor of sauce was excellent and he loves it. We both appreciate the vegies, which are not too soft not too crunchy, but perfectly cooked. Caesar salad is always good and NOT vinegar loaded! Complimentary minestrone soup is good and a nice touch. Crusty bread with soft center is very good...how about some SOFT butter, instead of the very cold hard stuff? NOTE: You WON MY HEART! You have a delicious SWEET RED wine from Italy...I really like it and you said it was great seller for you. It is wonderful! Special touch, I appreciate...there was only about an ounce remaining in the wine bottle at the end of the night...the waiter, came to the table and offered it, poured it and said with our compliments! CLASSY and SMART! After all, the head-space left with only 1 oz in bottom, would oxidize over night and become harsh by next evening...therefore, why not "make space" in the wine refrigerator for a fresh bottle...AND MAKE A REGULAR CUSTOMER VERY HAPPY! Thank you for that. We HIGHLY recommend Christo's ... you will never be disappointed...best to make a reservation...many others love this place too!
(4)Chelsey Y.
I tried this place for take out today. I am a short walk away. I found on yelp some pretty good reviews and decided to try it. I had the mussels and a simple salad and was pleasantly surprised! The interior is very nice and welcoming. I could imagine wanting to come here for a romantic dinner. Friendly people too.
(5)Tom H.
Christos is a family-owned Italian restaurant that has been around for more than 30 years. Given that it is still crowded for lunch and dinner most days, that says a lot. Whether we visit for lunch or dinner, we are NEVER disappointed. They have a great Caesar salad, and a variety of moderately-priced pastas. It's a quiet, dignified place with a great wait staff, so conversation is possible. Our dining companions are always satisfied. It's a very traditional place, so if that suits you, there is much to enjoy here.
(4)Layne S.
I love Christos I recommend the pomodoro pasta. It is so light fresh and delicious. Christos is ny favorite.
(5)Lawrence T.
For a nondescript, strip mall of a location Christo's pours on the charm of old Italian flare. For our family thanksgiving, we all decided to celebrate my birthday, parents anniversary, sister's birthday and realtor's birthday all in one shot; nice treat was this place is around the corner from my sisters house. We ordered a bevy of dishes and i got the lamb shank. The chicken soup and salad that comes with the meal is a nice treat and the creme brulee dessert is especially good. The food is good but not outstanding. For next year family gathering, I hope we get to explore more of the cuisine of the local hood.
(3)Nicole J.
It is not too often I am overly impressed. However, Christo's did just that yesterday when I had lunch there. My boss decided to take me and 2 of my coworkers to lunch for my birthday. He (my boss) really had some making up to do since last year he got me a 50 cent crappy brownie and put a candle in it and sang me happy birthday. He was definitely in the dog house. So I knew this year he was going to bring his A-game...hopefully. His choice is restaurants leaves a bit to be desired. Of course I did some research and Christo's appeared to be OK. So I felt a little at ease this time. I get there early and wait for my party. The hostess is very nice and she knows many of the people that are coming in as they are regulars. I have not seen anything like this since leaving home (NYC). Old world charm restaurants where they know you and you know them. I can't believe it. I grew up around very good Italian food. I have been to a few places here that Italians have recommended and it was just not up to par. Now mind you none of these Italians were east coast Italians. It is something to be said of Italian food on the East Cost. My party finally comes and we are seated. The place is very nice with the traditional white table cloths. Our server comes over and he is happy and attentive. He gets our drinks and comes back to take our appetizer order. We get the calamari of course. OMG the best I have ever had. It was lightly breaded and the marinara sauce was great. It was all I could do not to eat the whole thing. Our server comes back to tell us about the specials which btw were all fish dishes. I went with the red snapper, mussels, linguine with marinara and capers. Nobody ordered the same thing which is great cause that means we can share. The salads come out first and they are pretty basic. But the dressing was great. Ohh the bread was amazing. Jeez it is so hard to stop eating bread and butter. I was trying to save room for the rest of the meal. Our food comes out at the perfect time. Our fantastic server sets our plates out but before he gets to my co-workers plate this guy comes out and grabs his plate then brings it back in a matter of seconds. I thought wow the cook does not want stuff coming out the kitchen unless it is perfect. Come to find out it was Christo himself that came out to fix my co-workers dish. Looking around at the other plates I am thinking wow everything looks so amazing. The other thing is the portions were right on. I hate going to places and the have so much food it is ridiculous. The linguine was cooked perfectly. The server came over with extra cheese and of course a must have for me fresh cracked pepper. It was one of those times I did not want to share anything with anyone at the table. I did not want to disturb my palate from the wonderful flavors of my dish. I was thinking everyone else was thinking the same thing because no one was sharing. Well shortly after, every plate on that table was completely cleaned. The server was on point with filling our drinks. I never had a glass that was less than half full. Also I have waited tables and it is a fine line between being a pest and being helpful and friendly. Lets just say the servers at Christo's have this down perfectly. Well the plates are cleaned up and out comes this cute little cup of vanilla and chocolate mousse with a candle in it. Compliments of the kitchen since it is my b-day. Well is was great. I am not really into mousse because it is a texture thing but the flavor was awesome. I still got to order dessert. I got the flan, others had key lime pie and NY cheesecake. Ohh decisions a toss between cheese cake and flan. Well flan won. I practically licked the caramel sauce off the bottom of the plate. It was the best I have had here. Ohh NYC Christo's has brought a little of you back to me. Sniff Sniff tears of joy. I am so happy. I found a fantastic Italian restaurant.
(5)Pepper T.
Christo's is OK if your into three courses in less than 45 minutes. I was expecting to dine here but it was much more similar to a diner experience were you get whammed bammed and thank you'd as we were in and out in a jiffy. My husband loves classic Italian Foods and according to reviews Christo's seemed like a top destination. Honestly in general the food was OK but not great and nothing I'd drive out of my way for. I almost never consider service as part of my review since it varies all the time everywhere but in this case it sort of even lessened the experience so MUCH that I have to consider it otherwise I would have given Christo's three stars. Our waiter quickly greats us and ask if we want the menu or the restaurant week special. Despite being around 70 years old he was very quick talking and very speedy and sort of made us nervous but what really bothered me the most was him and his helpers standing there not to far from us with his arms crossed just watching us like a hawk eating the whole time. Now the food. I started with a Christo's Caesar Salad. I could tell the dressing was house made as well as the croutons. The dressing wasn't properly emulsified nor was it balanced in flavors and was super heavy with lemon. The croutons were crisp and buttery. I pointed out the faults since I know them but it really was an OK salad. I do note I wasn't offered fresh ground pepper, nicer restaurants do offer fresh ground pepper for Caesar Salads. I was sort of excited to have the classic dish Sole Meuniere here. The Christo's Version is nontraditional as the fish seemed heavily coated (maybe battered not sure) with flour in a lemon white wine sauce in stead of a traditional lightly floured and prepared in browned butter. The fresh spinach on the side was just plain without anything on it. Desserts seemed house made and were OK. We both liked the lemon cake better over the mousse. A glass of house wine was included with our dinners and during the meal we finished it and my husband ordered another round. He noticed a price difference from the menu and questioned our server. The server confirmed it wasn't the same price as the menu and said that for restaurant week they up charge the wine. It was only a few dollars but I feel this is bad business and not good for customer relations. I was really torn between two and three stars but the surprise of the wine up charge, being really rushed though dinner and with the waiter and his help all standing across from us just watching us the whole time in a unprofessional way sort of spoiled the dining experience. 2.5 Stars
(2)Mica F.
I have been here 3 times and have only had the chicken parm with pink sauce and it's the best I have ever had. The atmosphere is very outdated - but their demographics are blue hairs, so maybe it's perfect for that crowd!
(4)Ricardo P.
Went for lunch last week, found the atmosphere to be very family and friendly. The meatballs were their lunch special and I must say they were on point. Very tender meat and the pasta was great. Comes with bread and salad and I paid under 10 + tip because the service was great.
(5)Lucky T.
Love this place! It's surely not hip, and I read another reviewer say it was for the blue hairs which might be true. There is no way I could know since nobody but us was there mid-day. But the first course was soup or salad, and I picked an Italian soup which had spinach and parmesan in it and was so thick and delicious. Then the veal I ordered was in a marsala sauce = excellent. And the fresh veggies were steamed...well, to perfection. Just a really great meal for only $10! Talk about worth it! This is a meal that IF you ordered it in one of the "hip" spots would cost $25+, so screw "hip." OK, granted the decor is the same old decor that was popular during the Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack era--but I didn't come for the decor. We came to chat and, at least, this place didn't have some blaring techno music, so we actually could hear each other. See? Very unhip. But we could hear each other talk! The service was super excellent...and darn! but I am having a really hard time finding many things not to like at Christo's. I like the place. I plan to go back....soon.
(4)Ana A.
Just had the most delightful dinner at Christo's! I found them to be so accommodating and friendly. They made me a special salad with blackened salmon to my specifications. Delicious! Thank you Stephanie!
(5)Janet M.
I got to thinking about Osso Bucco the other day. My new Dutch Ovens brought this on, I'm kind of obsessed with braised meat right now. What to braise, how to braise, which pot to use... must be because of the freezing cold temperatures. Anyway. A few years back my dad and the evil stepmonster (she's gone now, as in they got divorced, in their 70's, can I hear an AMEN sister?) could not stop talking about Christos. They would talk about it all the time. In Oregon. Like, in the middle of a nice dinner at Jake's. Weird. Also, rude. I just chalked it up to stepmonster's name dropping mental health condition. No seriously, she drops names all the time. ANNOYING. anyway, ahem. It was Osso Bucco this, Osso Bucco that, Christos this, Christos that. So, when I was down there on a visit, post stepmonster, I made my Dad take me. It's good stuff. I don't even eat veal. But the Osso Bucco rocks. Everything else did, too. I liked the service, the feel of the place, and I liked the calamari, and the wine. All good. if you're in Phoenix and you want a good meal, I'd say this is one of the places to go.
(4)Richard B.
The most dependable upscale restaurant I know in Phoenix. First-rate dishes, like melt in your mouth osso bucco and a huge and delicious veal chop, at reasonable prices. Reservations essential. Don't miss their calamari.
(5)Dave W.
Update: We returned three years later and found that this restaurant is unchanged...really good. Came for lunch and I had musels and linguini. There was a choice of sauces. I had butter and garlic sauce. Delicious. But wait!! There's more!! My wife and I had soup which comes with the lunch meal. The soup was a rice and lemon soup. It also had diced carrots and celery in it and it was superb. Wife had for her lunch, sausage with peppers and onions. She was very pleased with hers. Service was superb. Prices were very reasonable. We've already decided to come back again....the problem is who do we want to come with us that we can introduce them to this little jem.
(5)Gemini Girl P.
Wow!! My parents and I visited Christo's Ristorante on 1/23/15 for dinner before going to see the great Frankie Valli in concert!! We were surprising my mom for her Birthday! We started with Calamari, very good! All meals come with soup, salad. and warm Italian bread all were very good! I ordered the chicken rollitini! Which is a chicken breast stuffed with cheeses and Italian meats!! I have never had chicken so moist before! It had to be steamed, as it was PERFECT! My mom had the same, it came with a side of Gnocchi pasta! EXCELLENT! I can not remember for the life of me what my dad ordered but I know he liked it! Both of my parents are 100 percent Italian and are VERY picky on Italian food! They both were very pleased with Christo's! The setting is very old school Phoenix as well! The waiters all seemed to have a few regulars they were helping, they were hugging and chatting with customers! Very comfortable and very good service! For dessert we split the Tiramisu and I had a cappuccino both were very good! In fact I being the coffee snob I am, remarked how it was one of the best cappuccino's I ever have had!! ALL IN ALL IT WAS ONE GREAT NIGHT! :)
(5)Sally S.
Tonight I met 20 new Meetup friends at Christos for dinner. What a great experience. It's always challenging for a restaurant to handle large groups - but especially large groups with individual checks. Our Service Team was outstanding and it was seamless that they were handling such a large group. I had the cioppino with a variety of seafood that was clearly fresh and yummy. The complimentary soup and bread were memorable on their own. The only disappointment was the extremely strong fresh pepper on the salad. The lemon cake...to die for. Dinner was delizioso.
(5)Catherine A.
This is my favorite restaurant in Arizona. The food is always delicious and the price is reasonable. My favorite dish is the eggplant Parmesan.
(5)Arnie G.
Looking for a new spot down town try this place service was excellent food if possible even better I am a former catering chef and my wife is a personal chef so when we go out we are very picky and critical but we honestly have not one comp lainteverything from the time you enter the place until you leave is on point no wonder they've been around for 28 years our waiter was Scott and very pleasant and a real pro the wine list is great and with a happy hour daily you can't go wrong strongly recommend that you try this spot asap
(5)N. T.
Such a great find! It's nothing to look at from the outside, but when you go in, you're transported to an East Coast Italian place! Our waiter was exceptional, the wine was reasonably priced and delicious, and the meals! So good! I basically licked the marinara off the plate. The prices were out of this world and the food far surpassed my expectations. I will definitely coming back here!
(5)Dave B.
Great service ..... even better food ..... and surprisingly amazing very low prices! Home made food at a mom and pap's fashion restaurant. We now have a new Italian home made food place. :)
(4)Lauren C.
Truly impressed! We got fried calamari that was crispy and fresh, stuffed mushrooms were buttery and not too crabby. Between 4 of us, we all shared each other's food. I loved the tortellini the most. Veal was a delicious and a nice cut too. Calamari at dinner was just as yummy, not chewy, and fresh! Shrimp scampi was a hit too! Every meal is served with soup and salad. I believe the dressing and soup changes often. I liked them, didn't love them, but everything is homemade and tastes that way. We ended the night with a nutmegy strawberry cheesecake and the limoncello cake. I prefer the cake :) I left extremely happy and stuffed. This is where you go for good homemade Italian food with love, and waiters that are good at their jobs. It seems other reviewers didn't enjoy themselves, and I would blame their expectations. It IS mom and pop, and it's amazing!
(5)Mar C.
Awful canneloni served on a bath of poorly prepared heavy cream. Very 'unItalian', even the bread tastes stale and poorly prepared. The minestroni soup tasted like canned soup, just right for the strictly senior citizen clientele. My husband had a pasta with Italian sausage and chicken in a marinara sauce. The chunks of canned tomatoes were unappetizing. The one star is awarded for the only good item we ate, the Greek side salad. The waiter was totally goofy, rude and uninterested. He flopped the canneloni at the table with the statement, "Two enchiladas." Really??? First time but never again! Disgusting food, terrible service.
(1)Carla G.
1st time and loved it ! Delicious and fresh food. Pasta fantasia was perfect and so was the soup and salad before. Dinner was great and so was dessert. Intimate and nice setting at a perfect price.
(5)Roscoe T.
I've been eating here at least once a month since they opened many years ago. In all that time I've only had one or two meals that weren't outstanding. The sea bass is wonderful and the daily soups never disappoint. Santino is one of the best waiters in Arizona and always takes great care of his customers. The remodel a few months ago really freshened the place up. Very reasonably priced for what you get.
(5)Dexter V.
Yes I have been here before... Now for a person who has been to Italy and has worked in restaurants for years I think I can give a pretty fair review: My Girlfriend and I went there very hungry on a Friday night; they were not busy nor slow, about average for October in Phoenix. We called to make a reservation and when we came in we were seated without menus. Now working in restaurants this is almost un-heard of but like I said we were hungry... The waiter came over and asked if we would like something to drink (A little rudely) but like I keep saying we were hungry. Since we didn't have any menus including a wine menu, we asked the waiter to see some menus. He proceeded to only bring a wine menu... After we made are choice we laid the menu down in clear vision of the waiter (A definite sign to come back to the table.) He then proceeded to take the other tables' orders. (Perfectly fine). Oh and they had both food and drink menus as this comes back later in the story. We waited for a solid 10 min before trying to flag down the waiter....NOTHING. We decided to try to flag him down and he was having none of it. We then got up from the table and left! Walking right passed the so called manager (Older lady with short brown hair) she told us to have a good night as if we just had a great dinner..... We were so hungry we needed to go somewhere else!! On the way to a much nicer and hospitable establishment. I called Cristo's and asked to speak to the manager. The lady who told us to have a good night answered and told us she was the head manager and then proceeded to tell us that not giving people who sit down at a restaurant menus unless they ask... I had never been so offended in my life. A straight up LIE!! I could not hear any more. Hopefully the owner reads this and make this right. I am not seeking anything free I just don't want this to happen to anyone else ... EVER AGAIN
(1)Diego R.
I went to this establishment while visiting my dad - he's been here before. Now, I'm not among the jaded whose nose sticks up in the air just because it's not NYC fare - and certainly NYC doesn't have any Mexican that can compete with the best of metro Phoenix - so I just want to point out I'm doing my best to be objective. We ordered mussels with marinara for an appetizer, Dad had veal chop for the main course, and I had a haddock special. All came with salad, which is a nice touch. Everything we ate was of nice quality and absolutely satisfying. If this was NYC, the prices would have been at least twice as much . . . and I would have given the same review anyway. Waiter was also attentive, even sitting down with us as he took our order (relax, people!). Dad usually has taken me to Barrio Cafe when I visit, but I'm certainly glad he took me here. Clientele tends to be older, so don't come looking here for atmosphere if you're Gen X or younger, but if you come here for the food and service, you won't regret it. A total surprise . . . a total gem.
(5)Matthew S.
I go to Christo's about 3 times a year. This place is great. The food and service are well above standard. They really take care of you.
(5)Amanda T.
food was great!!! service was wonderful! small little place with a old school feel but food was amazing along with some of the best service and timing on food was great.
(4)Kevin F.
Great service, terrible food. I was looking forward to eating at Christo's and the longer I was there, the more disappointed I became. Funky house salad with a creamy ranch (?) dressing and one slice of bad hot house tomato. The lemon rice soup was boiling hot, but not awful. White French baguette bread and butter was plentiful, thank god. The stuffed mushroom appetizer was bland and my veal entrée was drowned in sauce. The service was 5 star, I'll give them that. I suppose I came away with the thought that I'd rather have lousy service and good to great food than great service and lousy food. Maybe I should have tried one of the 3,000 specials our Italian waiter rattled off before we ordered. By the time he was finished, the only thing I remembered him saying was, "...topped with feta cheese."
(2)angelica r.
Food is good but the bartender Stephanie is rude and ignores customers but caters to the regulars, it seems like she hates her job and is miserable, poor management and not so friendly employees, I called and left a message to speak to Christo or wife Gloria but of course manager intercepted the message so I never received a call back from either, I hope that Christo would read these reviews him self so he knows what goes on when he"s not around. I will never return or refer anyone and will make sure to let everyone know how rude u employees are specially bartender Stephanie....
(1)Casperde F.
Sorry gang , aged heat and serve Sysco fueled frozen proteins and veggies. Obviously long term local mature crowd that wouldnt know freshreal if they paid twice as much for it somewhere else which they wouldnt because it beats the lean cuisine that they live on the rest of the time.
(2)Mike S.
My new place for Italian! Service was over the top and the food was excellent! Would recommend to anyone
(4)Christopher O.
Very good restaurant and staff. Low prices and moderate, sensible size portions. Veal chop was great.
(4)Ryan J.
If I had to imagine what the dining experience would have been like a couple of decades ago for the first and second generation Italian families living in middle America it would probably look something like Christos. The place has that ambiance and charm that say's "You're Family"....sorry Olive Garden. The food is good and while there are other Italian places in town that are arguably better in quality and taste, none of them really beat this place in terms of authentic Italiian-American atmosphere. The place is up there with Durant's, Monti's, and TeePee's as essential Phoenix dining landmarks.
(4)Stef S.
We went here based on Yelp reviews and were thanking fellow yelpers for the recommendation!! The Osso Bucco was tender, flavorful, and super tasty. The Chilean Sea Bass was perfectly prepared. We had the parisian scallops for an appetizer. DELISH!! And unique. Our service was impeccable. We enjoyed our meal from start to finish.
(5)Anita L.
This is one of the best kept secrets of Phoenix. The food here is fantastic and the service is always great. My inlaws love it here so we go a lot and everything i've tried has been delicious. They regularly change their specials so I recommend trying one of those. On my most recent visit we ordered the porkchops, clam pasta, clam stuffed lobster tail, and lobster ravioli. They were all delicious! The lobster pastas were VERY rich so a little goes a long way. The clam pasta was great and had lots of clam. I should mention the prices are very reasonable and you get a ton of food. On top of the meal, you also get soup and salad. We always order appetizers and instantly regret them after getter the soup. On our last few visits, the soup has been a lemon bisque. Honestly with a loaf of bread the soup could easily be served as it's own meal. Now this isn't a trendy Italian place. In fact if you're under 50 you'll probably feel like a youngster here but that's always what I love about it. You will feel like you walked into a different era and everyone seems like a familiar regular.
(5)Susan P.
We hadn't eaten at Christo's in years. For my birthday my husband decided to surprise me with a reservation. Things started poorly. The hostess walked us towards a table and then pointed. So we sat. A bus boy brought water but we still sat and waited. Finally a waiter came and asked us if we wanted drinks. Then he came back with menus. He rattled off a long list of specials. We both decided to try one of the specials. I really prefer it when the specials are printed out so you can see the details. I also think to make them " special" there should only be a few. Once our order was placed the rush seemed to be on. Soup appeared. Then salad. But before I had even finished my salad my Chilean sea bass was in front of me. I wished I had known the 2 small rectangles of fish were going to be swimming in tomatoes. I should have asked more questions. The flavor of the sea bass was lost in the tomatoes. My husband was delighted at what his chicken turned out to be. We shared a complimentary birthday dessert and left. There was no one at the door as we left to thank us or say good bye. Yes the prices are very reasonable but the food and ambiance are nothing special.
(2)Pamela G.
Overall, I would not return to this restaurant nor recommend it. Small tables and cramped. The waiter spoke so fast that we had to have him repeat the specials three times. He served us so fast that I got the feeling he really didn't want us there! We felt uncomfortable even asking him questions and pointing out our issues with one of the entrees. I had the veal piccata and it was perfect! The wine was excellent, but our other three guest where extremely dissapointed. The veal chop is much smaller than it used to be. One pasta dish was served very dry and at a cool tmperature. We sent it back. Bread was just ok. Not the amazing kind that you expect in an Italian place. The other dish was just so so. There are so many restaurants to choose from in this area that I won't go back.
(2)Catherine C.
Love real Italian food, and this was excellent. 4 courses: spinach soup, Caprese Salad, Chicken Saltimbuca, Tiramisu. White tablecloths, excellent service, sparkling clean restroom. If we lived in Phoenix, this would be a regular stop.
(5)Claudia B.
Some friends turned me on to this restaurant years ago, and while I have since left AZ, they still live there, go to this restaurant, and still love the consistently GREAT food. This was one of my favorite restaurants when I lived there. They made perhaps the BEST cannelloni (melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness) and avgolemeno soup (only rival I've found is Taverna Tony in Malibu). In fact, we had them cater my daughter's bat mitzvah reception......they were that good. I'm just sad I haven't been able to enjoy their food since leaving AZ. In addition to ALWAYS getting their cannelloni and avgolemeno soup, I used to get their Lemon Dill Salmon, Chicken Limone, Chicken Genovese, or Shrimp Scampi. I know I'll be back to Phoenix one of these days, and when I do, this place will SURELY be on my list of "to-do's."
(5)Kelley M.
The shrimp risotto is delish. The staff is super friendly and very accommodating. Christos is a "must do" for first timers....you'll be hooked.
(5)Christina P.
Great food and excellent service. When you walk in the interior looks a bit dated but don't let that scare you. I am always impressed with the food and service. This is my spot when I want great Italian Food.
(5)Lauren E.
Good food for very good prices! The portions are generous, and you also get a soup and/or salad (depending on lunch or dinner). The service is good too. Will definitely return!
(4)Max A.
I was here with a very large group, so I'm trying to take that into account when judging the service... and actually the service wasn't bad. The restaurant itself had a bit of an odor to it near the front, but it was nice enough inside. Our table was next to a baby grand where someone was layin out some decent lounge. It provided an interesting atmosphere. The food... they had a lot of specials and it was really too much to keep track of - I come to find out they are 8 - 15 bucks more than a regular menu item anyway, so I abandoned that idea. I ended up with Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken. The bread they gave us was good. For our first course, they brought out some potato soup for every one - including me, even though I said I wouldn't eat it... kinda wasteful when some of their dishes "go to feed the homeless" (whatever that means). They brought out a salad as well - I ordered a Caesar which carried an up-charge from the standard house salad of 3.50. The Caesar was drowning in dressing and all the salads just seemed plopped on the plate after being slathered in heavy dressing. At these prices with courses and such, I kinda expect a little more attention to be paid to presentation. As I said though, we were a large group and they were very good about getting our food out in a timely fashion. Our entrees were also drowning in sauce. My Alfredo was tasty and the chicken was really good, but the noodles were a little chopped up and difficult to fork up and it was a little too rich and heavy for me. I still feel kinda greasy. I think this place would earn 4 stars if the prices were more reasonable. We paid 85 bucks between two of us and that included a bottle of wine for 24 bucks (their cheapest red - which I had before elsewhere and was actually very good). I think this is a good place, but I think it sees itself as being better than it is. In some ways, it lives up to these self-imposed expectations and in other ways it doesn't. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
(3)lauren H.
O.k. let me get it right out there. This fabulous local spot in the same strip center as my own business. But after years of eating here I am not sure why they fly so far under the radar with the "foodie" crowd. The service is top notch (and ya know I'm a picky girl about this). Some of the servers have been there since the place opened. It is family owned and operated and they insist on high quality ingredients. The prices are fair and the portions are large. I am a huge fish fan and these guys deliver up some amazingly well prepared Mediterranean style fish dishes. They serve soup and salad with their entrees and the bread is worth the splurge. I enjoy their wine selection and this summer there is a great wine special Mondays through Thursdays. I invite all my foodie friends to give it a try!
(5)Andrea K.
I will be the first one to admit that this place would have gotten 5 stars when I first went there 7 years ago. I went there with a bunch of other Yelpers Thursday...so there were about 20 of us...so this is going to be more about the food then anything else. I am not going to rate the service, though our waiter, Guy, did a good job considering the large group. Really couldn't complain about that. I wasn't a big fan of the wine...but that definitely could have been my fault. (I have been told in the past that my taste in wine can be better) Sarah G and I shared the Calamari...which I thought was very full of flavor and cook just right. The Potato soup was ok...a little too watery for my taste. I loved the salad especially the house dressing. I think that was the best part of the meal. Of course by the time I got my main course, I was full. But I did eat all of my veggies and half of my chicken (which said it came with lemon butter sauce...but that sauce was not lemony and it had mushrooms on it...which this chicken dish was not supposed to have...oh well.) I did try Gabi's Sea Bass...now that was yummy! 5 stars though for the awesome company!!!!
(4)john k.
My wife and I came for restaurant week and were very impressed. THe lobster and shrimp ravioli was amazing. THe house "red" was an OK chianti and the flan was top notch! The bruschetta with goat cheese might have been my favorite, although I had a great hot anti pasti plate as well. The only complaint is that the shrimp was a touch over-cooked, but hey, it's hard to get perfectly cooked shrimp in the desert where it's been frozen for so long.
(4)J L.
I usually reserve five stars for places like Kai, but for the price, this restaurant deserves five stars. This is an excellent restaurant, and that is definitely rare in Phoenix. We enjoyed a nice bottle of wine while waiting for another couple to arrive, and we were never rushed or made to feel like we were a bother because we didn't order any food for the first 45 minutes. The sea bass special was some of the moistest fish I have ever eaten. I am amazed at how they were able to cook such a thick cut perfectly--not one part was over- or under-done. It was served on a bed of pasta and topped with a marinara sauce that was delicious. The entire dining experience was very pleasant. No complaints.
(5)Ludwig T.
I went to Christos a few weeks ago while visiting family in Phoenix. The restaurant was busy and we had to wait a little while to get a table, but the owners were very apologetic and made sure we had prompt service once we were seated. The osso bucco was both delicious and generous in terms of portion size. The bread was everything you would want in an Italian restaurant: warm, fresh, and plentiful. Cannoli and coffee provided the perfect ending to the meal, and absolutely satisfied my sweet cravings! Our table ordered a variety of items, from fish to veal to pasta, and everyone agreed that both the food and service were great. I will definitely go back the next time I am in Phoenix.
(4)Gerald R.
I have been coming here for years and the quality of the food and service have been consistently 5-star quality every time I dine here. I highly recommend the halibut, but everything on the menu is delicious!
(5)Stevey P.
Highlights of Christo's * The neighborhoody Italian cafe feel of the restaurant. * Decent food with run-of-the-mill upscale Italian variety. * Piano jazz player serenading guests. * Crowd with a decidedly old-money North Central Phoenix feel as opposed to the "I eat cat food and go to buffets" Sun City feel. * Professional servers with the memory of an elephant and the attitude of a menopausal woman. I had not been to Christo's in a few years, but upon returning I found the food and atmosphere to be just as consistent. The restaurant is very neighborhoody and inviting. The white tablecloths and piano player in the corner set the mood just right. You see diners here running into old friends at the bar. I did as well. Little old bitties threw their judging looks our way from the bar, since our table of 20 is young, mostly female, we must all be lesbians, right? Right. Consistently good food, not great and not excellent, but good. Modest soups and side salads here are part of the drill. I ordered the chicken limone, breaded and prepared similar to chicken picatta but minus the capers. I tasted my friend's grilled salmon and penne and it was delicious. Considering out large party, the restaurant handled us OK, especially given the the busyness of the evening since it was Dining Out for Life evening where they donate proceeds toward HIV charities. I extended the benefit of the doubt, but expressed concerns over the somewhat long wait time. It was nearly 10 pm when we left given our 7:30 reservations, in which we were promptly seated. Our server, who was skilled at reciting the dozen or so specials of the day, was accommodating, up until the billing situation (which I prepared him for beforehand) - when he turned a little catty, but all was well in the end. This is a 3 star place with potential for four stars.
(3)Hugh P.
We have gone to Christos for over 15 years. It has very consistently good food and service. We have tried almost everything on the menu at one time or another and never had a meal less than great. The osso bucco and duck are favorites along with all the fish dishes. Try it, you'll like it as we do.
(4)Amanda B.
I've been to Christo's a few times over the years, but my last experience was probably in 2004 until I returned to eat with a large group during Dining Out For Life 2008. The food quality has been consistent through the years and reminds me of Riazzi's: It's good, but not stellar. If you happen to be in the neighborhood and have a hankering for the cuisine, Christo's is a solid choice even if I'm more inclined to send you to "the Avenues" to Harley's. The best thing about the meal with the bread. The house bread is wonderful. It's amazing the different perspectives on the same food. There seems to be a general consensus that the soup is lackluster. The salads received mixed reviews and I'm one of the naysayers: my lettuce was wilted and completely soaked in a tasty-yet-average dressing. To be fair, the salads seemed to vary dramatically from plate to plate and some of my companions had plates that looked green and fresh, though still suffering from the drenched dressing issue. The food, all of the food, appeared to be drowning in sauce. While I'm a huge fan of the sauce, it was a bit extreme. I split cannelloni and tortellini with a friend. The tortellini was much better than the cannelloni but, once again, average. The restaurant looks beautiful. The atmosphere is intimate and the evening was complete with a jazz pianist.
(3)Sarabear B.
Having grown up in a city with a large traditional Italian neighborhood, full of large traditional Italian restaurants, the first thing I tried to find in Phoenix was a good plate of tortellini and a decent piece of Veal Genovese. I found them at Christos. The atmosphere at Christos is very traditional... white tablecloth, stemware, cloth napkin and flower centerpieces. It feels special when you come here for a meal, but the meal is very reasonably priced. The menu is traditional, with dishes like Pasta Primavera, Linguine with Clam Sauce, Chicken or Veal Saltimbucca, Canneloni, Chicken, eggplant or Veal Parmigiana. They have Cioppino, decent salads and a good wine list. What more could you ask for?
(5)Deanne D.
I have to say, I have been going to this ristorante for the past twenty years with my family. Every time we go there we have the same server. We are always greeted well and the alfredo is amazing, and so is the sea bass, the halibut, and veal chop. The homemade house salad dressing is one of a kind too. The new bar/ lounge area is nice and the pianist is a nice touch. Love Christo's.
(5)Bridget G.
The food is modestly priced and I was impressed. Our waitress was very nice and told us our specials. I went with the angel hair with shrimp and it came with a whole bunch of shrimp. Usually you order something like that and it comes with a few shrimp, but I was shocked at how much came on my dish. If I live here ever again I would go back again and again, it's an upscale feel but the prices are very low and the food is delicious.
(4)Stu M.
Again a great meal. I had the poached salmon, one of the best in a long time. As usual service was great and the food was outstanding, can't wait to try his sea bass .
(5)Jim a.
Since 1975 Christos has been consistent with quality of food and fairness with pricing. Service is always brisk, attentive and thorough. Unlike some restaurants, it's not necessary to fill up on bread to be filled up.
(4)Lindsey P.
Visited Christos for the first time today and was completely unimpressed. Upon arriving at 2pm in 112 degree weather my husband was told that "normally he would not be admitted with a tank top on, but since we were with a regular, it was okay". Mind you, he didn't have on some nasty undershirt, but a nice tank top. When I got my salad I was amazed that such a "high class" and "must visit" restaurant would serve a skimpy salad with iceberg lettuce. At lease when I go to Red Lobster (yikes) I know what to expect. Needless to say, I pushed the "salad" around my plate until the waitress came and got it. I ordered the Pomodore with Grilled Chicken and there was nothing special about it, I only ate about four bites. My husband ordered the Veal Genovese and commented that is tasted funny; it's "distinctive" taste made my husband sick to his stomach. Honestly, it was like Italian food that you have at an aunts house even though she's really too old to cook well anymore. Nothing special, nothing mind-blowing, just food. Luckily, we were at a business function and didn't have to pay for this meal. The service was fine but even for a free meal, I wish I hadn't been teased with promises of how "amazing" Christos is.
(1)Ava M.
I love this restaurant! The waiters are always very accommodating even if you have personalized requests. It is important to make a reservation, but usually they will get you in shortly. The food is very good. The best part is you get a lot for your money. WIth the order of an entree you receive: bread, soup and salad. Try not to finish everything or else you will find yourself full and fat at the end of the meal. Also, this place is not for children. It is romantic and full of mature adults that really don't feel like hearing a screaming child. I've regretfully been there done that. They have a bar with a nice happy hour. Also is a pianist who plays light jazz and softly sings along. Overall, I would recommend checking this place out.
(4)Kyle.. ..
So, when I was much younger I went to Christos and it was the first place I had escargot. I remember the good food and calm environment. Sadly, it appears things have changed since I was a child. I was with my parents and we arrived later then our reservations had claimed we would. The workers were very nice and said they would try to fit us in the best they could. People kept on walking though the door with reservation after reservation. We waited maybe 15 minutes until we were seated. After a short time our waiter came by and rattled through the specials. Once he left we were unsure of what he actually said. I knew before I arrived I would order some escargot and decided to go with some kind of halibut special. The escargot came and did not taste as great as I had remembered. It was all right, don't get me wrong but did not stand out. Our meals came with salad and soup. The salad had more then enough dressing, luckily the dressing was good. The food arrived but did not impress. The plate looked very plain with items not being placed in any nice manner. The halibut was slightly over cooked and did not have much flavor. It was difficult to speak to one another over the many other loud conversations. It would have been nice if the food was as good as I had remembered it.
(2)Frank G.
Very good food and if your lucky enough to get Warren as your waiter, exceptional, well informed service. Wine list is good and very reasonable - Berringer Knights Valley Cab for $30 when it sells at costco for 20+ - great deal.
(4)Tommy T.
Christo's has been one of my favorites for many years - my dad used to take me there when I'd go to the office with him as a little kid (I think they still have some of the same waiters as back then!). It's not the finest Italian food in the city, but it's consistently very good. I always get the same thing - halibut in a lemon, butter, garlic sauce with a side order of fettuccini alfredo. Halibut is not on the menu, but they always have it as a special (with different sauces) and they'll make it however you like it. Their entrees are very reasonably priced, and come with a salad with a great mustard dressing...however, they tend to have a heavy hand with the dressing, so you might want to ask for it on the side, or ask for light dressing. The service is friendly and the atmosphere at lunch is "business casual"...while it's a white tablecloth kind of place, you'll find people dressed in everything from jeans to suits. And it's not unusual to spot a governor or mayor here.
(4)Gregory H.
Nice atmosphere and quality service. Friendly servers and ambiance. First time, in town for business and read the reviews. Worth a visit if you're passing through. Had the chicken cordon bleu.
(4)Dan E.
We went there for a family birthday and it was great. I was the only male out of the 6 people in attendance and these women love to talk! We were there an hour and half after closing talking and the staff was TOTALLY COOL. I felt bad for staying so long but the staff kept telling us not to worry about it. Great food! Great service!
(5)stuart j.
Have been here twice, and the service and food have both been extremely good. They have a pretty good wine list too here.
(4)Jennifer R.
I've gone twice and have had a great experience on both occasions. The servers have been very knowledgeable and friendly. This is a perfect date night restaurant. I've had the shrimp linguine on both occasions and just love it. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a place where you can get a little more dressed up than usual and enjoy a lovely evening of food and wine.
(4)Carlos D.
Wonderful ambience and service and very reasonably priced. Very friendly servers and family owned!! Had wonderful calamari as an appetizer!! Highly recommended!! Amazingly delicious Dirty Martini's tonight!!!
(5)Emilie F.
Been here a couple of times. The first time was to take a date there for his birthday dinner. He is Italian and I wanted to take him out for a good Italian dinner. I have little experience with Italian so after asking around I found out about this place. He gave it really good compliments (yay for me picking a good place!) and I thought it was good as well. First time I went we had AMAZING service! Second was decent service, not quite as attentive as the first time, but also it was a winter formal night for a high school nearby so I'll let it slide.
(4)Nick P.
I have been coming to Christos since my grandpa first took me as a kid until now as a college kid taking girls on dates. For how good the food is and how much you get the prices are awesome, even for a student. I've gotten everything from pasta, to fish, to the best veal chop I've ever had. At dinner all the entrees come with soup, salad, and bread which is rare nowadays, and at lunch you get a choice of soup or salad. I recently found out their happy hour is great with a revamped bar with a big screen TV, $5 appetizers, and great drink specials. Their service is always great, everything is made to order and they will make any special request happen. I recommend this place to anyone who enjoys a ton of great authentic Italian!
(5)Edward H.
Went there for a business meeting. The place was packed and the staff quickly accommodated us in the back. Dining there is kind of like eating a family dinner with Italians. The food just kept coming and coming. The ambiance was what I would expect from a traditional Italian restaurant back east, so I found it cozy and inviting. I had veal parmesan and it was incredible and very delicious. The pasta was perfected cooked and I found the staff to be old-school and very attentive to our needs. It's rare to find someone who folds your napkin back when you get up and leave the table. I will definitely be returning just for the experience and great food. I do know now I better make a reservation ahead of time because the place is crowded. I am not sure about the noise level in the main area but in the backroom by the bar, we found it fine to conduct our business meeting.
(4)