Cristina Ristorante Italiano

Came here for a family dinner and everything was phenomenal! Even the kids mac and cheese was delicious, we kept stealing bites from the toddler. 11 people ordered and 11 people were happy and full in the end. 10/10, highly recommend.

Cristina Ristorante is a hidden gem akin to NY style Italian restaurants. In a world of fastfood and chain restaurants it is a blessing to find places that stand out and stand on their own. This is fine dining at a reasonable price that leaves you feeling like a king. We hope to get back again soon.

My friend and I came here for lunch on Tuesday afternoon, and were beyond impressed by the food and service exceeded our expectations!!! Christian was the BEST! He offered great recommendations, and shared the history of the restaurant with us. I’ll definitely be back!! Be sure to the pistachio cake when you come by!

I have a feeling just about anything you order here will be perfect from your bread to an appetizer to a glass of cabernet to your main course and finally, a delicious dessert. See pictures for further details 😋The service was also excellent, and I will be sure to return, especially to celebrate specific events 😎

We called to have a large party come in for an early dinner and they accommodated very well. All the food was delicious and well prepared. Staff was attentive without being smothering...a rare skill! My only complaint is about parking. Parking is a premium since the free lot was full and the other lot was metered. Thankfully the first 2hrs are free. If we are back in the area, we will certainly return!

This place is definitely a hidden gem. After reading numerous positive reviews on Google, our family decided to give it a try. It's a small, locally owned restaurant. The calamari had the perfect texture and was paired with a delicious sauce. The veggies were cooked perfectly. All of our dishes were tasty, and the linguine pasta was freshly made. The service was also attentive. This will definitely be our go-to Italian place.

Unfortunately I was not much a fan of the meal. I placed it to go and the food was done earlier than expected which was nice and it came with bread and an olive oil with spices. I ordered spaghetti and meatballs. I saw the ratings were pretty good so I was hopeful. Sadly, the sauce tasted like something out of a can. The meatballs were decent. For the portions given and the taste it was way too much for 20 dollars. Overall I am disappointed in my experience and do not plan on returning.

This is a beautiful hidden gem! I am a MoCo gal and this was mine and my family’s first time eating here. We enjoyed every bit of it all; the service, the food and the vibe was exceptional. Christian was our server and served us with care. It is nice to know that something so good and so close to home.

Oh geez, how much can we compliment this restaurant?!! From the server, Nick, to the cuisine, it was spot on perfection. Kathy had the Gluten Free Wheaton chicken Parmesan. She loved it! I enjoyed the mushroom risotto with a side of shrimp. It was amazing!! Desert we shared crème brûlée and chocolate lava cake. With wine and a couple of bourbons it was roughly $130. If you are in the Bethesda area this is a must visit location

Boo and I ordered for takeout but we'll definitely dine in next time as this food was delicious!!! Didn't take a picture of his fettuccine but he enjoyed his food as well :-) I appreciated the complimentary bread with oil and cheese- especially for take out. Def a good spot to check out in the area

My partner's family used to frequent this Italian restaurant with their Mother--she has since passed away and we decided to go come for a family dinner to honor her Birthday. We were told it was under new management--doesn't mean much to me since I've never been here before but the family stated that the food was a bit different. To me, the food was okay. Not something I'd go out of my way to return for. To be honest, it smelled unpleasant. We were the only ones for about 40 minutes and then around 7:30 it was packed and that is when it began to smell. It could've been the mix of food dishes, patrons or the bathroom--I couldn't tell but I couldn't wait to get outside. Finding parking is a bit uncomfortable and the overall area wasn't the best. Not somewhere you can walk around afterwards.

This is a cute, quaint restaurant serving quality, fresh food. The waiter, Christian, was very nice, polite, patient, and extremely helpful with providing recommendations with details of many of the items. I had the Fettuccine Mediterraneo which has scallops, shrimp, crab meat with your choice of red or white sauce (I always love cheese sauce w/ this type of dish). The seafood portions were ample with fresh jumbo scallops and shrimp. The scallops were cooked to perfection with a delicious flavor. Dessert was a specialty ricotta, pistachio cake, which was very light and refreshing. Not very sweet and easy to eat after a full meal. Most desserts are made in house. I enjoy supporting local, individually owned restaurants; especially when they make an effort to provide quality, handmade, fresh food. I'll have to work my way through the menu. This will be on my suggestion list for others to enjoy as well.

Cristina Ristorante Italiano: A Repeat Delight Another visit to Cristina Ristorante Italiano, and once again, it did not disappoint. This charming spot in [City/Town] continues to uphold its tradition of exceptional Italian cuisine and warm hospitality. The visit started on a high note with complimentary stuffed mushrooms, a gesture that made me feel like a valued guest. These mushrooms were a delightful beginning, bursting with flavor and perfectly prepared. For the main course, I opted for the classic - spaghetti and meatballs. The pasta was cooked to al dente perfection, and the meatballs were juicy, flavorful, and complemented the homemade sauce beautifully. The house salad was a fresh and crisp introduction to this hearty dish, balancing the flavors wonderfully. Dessert was a decadent chocolate cake paired with Limoncello. The cake's rich, moist texture and deep chocolate flavor were a perfect match for the zesty and refreshing Limoncello. On a whim, I decided to follow it up with a cappuccino, which was a delightful finish, smooth and robust. The cherry on top of this delightful meal was the fact that the dessert was complimentary, a kind acknowledgment of my frequent visits. This personal touch is one of the many reasons why I adore this place. The staff at Cristina Ristorante Italiano always impresses with their amazing service. They are not only friendly but also fast, responsive, and incredibly professional. Each visit here feels like being welcomed into a family. I absolutely love this little restaurant for its authentic Italian fare, the cozy ambiance, and the exceptional service. Looking forward to my next visit, Cristina Ristorante Italiano remains a beloved spot for me, where every meal is a memorable experience.

We first dined at Cristina Ristorante Italiano about 3 months ago. We had been looking for a decent "red sauce Italian" restaurant nearby and stumbled upon Cristiana's by happenstance. We weren't expecting much from the exterior appearance, but inside was a different matter. We were greeted at the door promptly and seated quickly. The room is small with large, bold painted murals of Italian scenes on the two walls and a large series of mirrors on a third wall, giving the room a bigger feeling. Tables are dressed in white tablecloths. On our first trip, there were only 2 or 3 tables occupied (more about that later). The menu is quite large and has some impressive offerings for such a small spot. I've tried the calamari appetizer which was quite good and my favorite, the gorgonzola and pear salad (it's huge, but you can ask for a small one if you wish) which is one of the best salads I've ever enjoyed. They offer a wide variety of pastas and you are welcome to substitute a different pasta style for almost any dish (they offer pappardelle, fettuccine, linguini, capellini, spaghetti, penne and gluten free penne). Then there is a selection of meat and seafood dishes. Go for the Gamberoni di Cristina: gulf shrimp and crab meat served over linguini with a lobster sauce. Divine! They usually have one or two specials, too, so be sure to ask. Also check out their changing dessert list (or just opt for an affogato or an after dinner pour). Beer, wine and a limited cocktail list also available. Our first visit was such a success that we've been going back again every week or two since. Service in every case has been excellent. Our favorite server is Elmer, but all have been wonderful, friendly and helpful. There's really only one thing that concerned me: they rarely have had more than 3 or 4 tables occupied whenever we've dined there. We usually go during the week, so maybe that is part of the reason. And they seem to do a lot of deliveries, too. But this is a restaurant that really out to be crowded most nights. They serve a great variety of Italian, they provide excellent service and their prices are relatively moderate. There is free parking nearby at night. Where are all the diners??

Food: AMAZING!!! Everything was so tasty. The complimentary bread with the olive oil style dipping sauce is addicting. I wanted to take more home with me. The garlic bread is even better with the topped Parmesan cheese. The chicken and eggplant parm is delicious and the portion size is enough for you to have leftovers. They honestly have the best Italian food in the Wheaton area. Service: Food came out fast and the server frequently checked in on. He was prompt about refilling our water glasses. Great service, no complaints! Ambiance: feels like a hidden gem. it is an old style Italian theme restaurant. It is small and quaint inside with authentic Italian music playing. It's a great spot for a nice conversation and food. I will definitely be coming back.

I ordered the Penne Vodka Cristina Style and it was supposed to come with peas but for some reason they substituted carrots or mistakenly used carrots instead of peas which gave it a weirdly sweet flavor that I wasn't expecting. My palate was expecting the earthy flavor of peas and instead I got sweet. Wasn't a huge fan and I may not order from them again if they are going to substitute ingredients without reaching out first. Don't appreciate them playing with my food that is overpriced to begin with.

With their new management and new chef (so I have heard), it is even better than before. Everything was top notch and not overpriced. We had Caesar salad, eggplant Parmigiano, and fettuccine Alfredo. Even the bread and flavored olive oil was great. We were too full for dessert.

I have always loved Cristina's as I used to take my late mother there and we both enjoyed it. Today the service was excellent, we went for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Our group ordered the roasted Brussel sprouts appetizer, and entrees of spaghetti and meatballs and from the light menu-the scallops/shrimp over roasted cauliflower and garlicky spinach. Everything was good, but the brussel sprouts were very oily and so was the scallop entree; both were also very spicy. The star of the dinner was from the dessert menu, a pistachio and ricotta cheesecake, it was light, not too sweet, and just so delicious. I asked what happened to the previous owner, I was told that he sadly has died. There were also pesky flies inside the restaurant, that was a downer. There is no longer opera music playing, but other music which was pleasant, but not the same as the opera music.

First time eating here and very impressed. Service was very friendly and accommodating for our party of seven. We had the burrata, calamari, and caprese salad for starters, and mushroom risotto, penne vodka, lamb, salmon, and surf and turf dish for entrees. Dessert we ordered the tiramisu, strawberry zabaglione, and cannoli. Everything was amazing.

The food was surprisingly good. My husband ordered the whild mushroom risotto and l ordered the fettuccine Mediterranean. We both were very happy with our food. The service was super friendly, too. The ambiance was also lovely. We will be back.

We held a private celebration on Saturday, January 21, 2023 in honor of our moms 77th Birthday . We had a great time. The food was amazing and service as well. Everyone was delighted with the menu, shrimp scampi, chicken Marsala and so much more !! Here is mom Cristina, enjoying her 77th Birthday with a friend!

One of my favorite local restaurants for years. Old world, ambience, wonderful Italian food in a quaint setting. Excellent service and wonderful entrées, although It should be said, the entire local community was saddened by the passing of the elegant old world owner, who never seemed to missed a night working the floor. That said the restaurant never missed a beat and is still one of the best places to great Italian food in Wheaton.

This restaurant was pretty good! The service was attentive and the burrata was a delicious starter. I personally didn't love the lobster ravioli but my fiancés enjoyed their entrees.

Fantastic service and food. Five stars is not enough for this magical place. Highly recommend that you visit soon.

We used to love this place but I had a negative experience today and not sure I want to keep coming back. I ordered two entrees for pick up and when I came to get the food I was charged $9 more than listed online. I brought that to the attention of the manager and he told me that the prices I found ON THE RESTAURANTS WEBSITE must have been from the old owners. First of all, I had no idea the restaurant had new owners nor was it advertised anywhere, and even if that is the case, I think they need to honor the online prices posted on THEIR WEBSITE. So beware that if you order based on the only available menu available, you will end up paying a lot more than listed.

This place is awesome ! I'm going back !!! The food was fresh and was cooked just right. I would highly recommend this place to any of the people I care about. The waiter was very nice and the ambiance was nice and laid back and they were playing music by the Jackson 5 !

Authentic Italian cuisine, charming decor and great value. Attentive service. And nothing like topping off a meal with a Julius Meinl cappuccino!

Place doesn't look like much when you drive through the hills of Wheaton lol. But this gem here is so cute and so yummy. Had a whole course meal with my date at the time and my goodness. Had a cute window seat (which was super sweet to put us there) had a great server. And the food?! Classic Italian food which is sometimes hard to find in a world that makes everything so modernized but you just want a good old chicken picatta, no fanciness to it. Which is exactly what I got. Parking is a few stores down, or street parking if you're lucky. But don't let this place fool you, it's SOOO good here. Give it a shot!

Very happy with our dinner. The fettuccine Mediterraneo was amazing. A little spendy at $34 but very good. The garlic bread was also amazing. As well as the crab bisque. I would highly recommend

Best little restaurant in Wheaton! I booked the entire restaurant for a family reunion and the food was amazing! Chef Ismar is amazing. Staff and food a 10!

Reuniting with family for a private intimate lunch. Cozy and welcoming restaurant. Christian was our server and he was great! The Gamberoni di Cristina was very good & ended the dinner with Limoncellos.

This restaurant serves one of the best Italian dishes in town. We were here for my godchild's baptism reception and the food is amazing!! From appetizers to dessert. We will continue to support you. Compliments to your staff.

New menu since Pre- Covid days. We started with a cured meat and cheese appetizer which was wonderful! Pasta was very fresh BUT a little spicy (seems like the chef went a little overboard on the red pepper flakes). Our dessert was delicious! Really enjoying the "new Cristina's".

Excellent service...some of the best in the area. Super personable and friendly. The Italian food is delicious and Christina is my favorite in Wheaton. The only downsize is it isn't cheap...but it is definitely worth it to check out.

I've been a loyal customer for 10+ years and you can see why. I love Cristina's because they've been consistently making amazingly delicious food (never had a bad dish). The service is even way better. Amazing staff, always aiming to please. It has that Mom and Pop, small resto vibes, it's not pretentious. For starters, we always go for Calamari and mussels (in white wine sauce). This place has the best calamari! And believe me I've tried a few. As you take a bite, it's crunchy from the batter to juicy and sweet on the inside, it has that snap as you eat it unlike others that are chewy and stake stale and soggy. I just squeeze lemon to keep it simple. The mussels are my all time fave. I can eat a bucket of this! Love love! The white wine sauce- tangy and garlicky . And dip it with my favorite garlic bread, by the way they offer you an extra bowl of garlic bread (I'm in breas heaven). Next up is Eggplant Parmigiano . First time trying it and my plate was completely clean. You know even it had the marinara sauce with cheese, I was still able to taste the eggplant. So yummy! Now I understand why my Mom always orders this. I've always ordered the salmon or branzino dish, and both are delicious. My daughter always gets the chicken alfredo, and she's hooked. She doesn't order anything else. The only restaurant, that she actually finishes her plate. At the end we always get their Tiramisu and/or cannoli and espresso for me. Amazing food and service! Please come and support.

Related to the location, not the food, parking is limited. After 10pm it's fine but ensure that you provide time for parking. We went due to the food reviews here, but please be warned. Portions were very small, the fountain sodas were non refillable. Seriously, we aren't living in the 80's anymore. Also, the prices were inflated across the board. Totally not worth it. For their prices I can go to Maggiano's. The food was just 'ok'. Again, going to a Maggiano's or another equitable restaurant next time. Will not be returning here.

I went back to give another chance and it was terrible!!! The service is bad. My dish was terrible and three out of five people in my party did not like their dishes. The main problem is their marinara sauce is bad. It's cream based and has no flavor. They have creative dishes but the sauce is everything for an Italian place.

Hands-down the best Italian food I've ever had in the DMV area. They have beautiful artwork of Italy around the dining hall. The staff was super friendly. I had the eggplant Parmesan which was absolutely delicious. Usually I get the chicken Alfredo but the eggplant Parmesan is my new favorite. Will keep coming back! Oh..... they had a flower on top of the dish they brought out! 5 stars!!!!

The food is outstanding, a cute but generally busy on weekends. The garlic in the shrimp with beans appetizer is my favorite. I've been there many many times over the last 15 years for casual and special occasions and have never been disappointed. The staff are wonderful and the owner is warm. Prices have gotten a bit steep but that has not deterred me from coming back. Thanks!

Love all of the entries especially the lasagna. Fish is very tasty. Great cozy atmosphere.

Excellent food and daily specials. Amazing! Love my pasta dish. Cooked al dente. Service was excellent.

Small hidden gem of rich authentic Italian restaurant tucked in a corner of Wheaton Food: Zuppa de pesce - 5/5 - super delicious high quality seafood pasta Pollo alla piccatta - 5/5 - delicious creamy linguine with nicely textured lightly baked chicken Pollo alla mafiosa - 5/5 - delicious chicken and spicy sausage with bell peppers; beware it's spicier than it appears* House salad and caesar salad, bread included in meals Service: very friendly, attentive Ambience: not very spacious, especially when all the tables are full Parking: can be a challenge, but not too far away there is a small parking lot that is free after 6pm

So some restaurants have small menus that need expansion and some have huge menus that need retraction. Cristina Italian falls into that latter category. I think generally restaurants should find dishes that they can NAIL and leave the other stuff for other restaurants. Here, for example, the Melanzana Alla Parmigiana (aka eggplant parmigiana) is NAILED! I don't even like eggplant and loved this. This dish should be on the cover of their menu. Sadly, the Vitello Alla Francese (frech-style veal cutlet) was so far off the mark that It should either be completely revamped or removed from the menu altogether. The veal cutlet is supposed to be evened out using a mallet so that the meat cooks evenly and is simultaneously tenderized. By the time this dish arrived at my table, it had been obliterated into paper-thin sheet removing its flavor and texture. The poor egg batter didn't have a chance to find anything to stick to and just dangled there like loose skin on an octogenarian (sorry for that image). The "Lemon butter" was a little to viscous and tart for the whole thing and left me wish it had been omitted entirely. I think that the owners should consider a gathering of tasters to review their menu and score them from best to worst. Once the bottom third have been determined that can be culled from the menu and the overall caliber of the restaurant will rise. I'm definitely going to go back here, but I think I'll go with something a little more mainstream next time to see if it's another dish they can nail.

Below one star...This place sucks. The food is so-so, pricy, small portions, no salad with as meal, you pay extra if you want more bread.

The establishment is clean and elegantly decorated. The food is traditional Italian and very well prepared. I highly recommend if you are looking for real Italian cuisine locally. Very well run business. Excellent atmosphere for an anniversary or a date.

My 200th Review is an excellent 5-star review. My first date with my current girlfriend occurring in my new home, Wheaton, and our 6th date overall. Also, the first date I've ever had occurring in Wheaton. The past 6 years I was living in northern VA; so Wheaton was kind of obscure area to me, and therefore, I never had dates there. I did have dates occurring in places in MD like Silver Spring (downtown), Bethesda, North Bethesda, Gaithersburg, & Greenbelt, but never Wheaton. After moving to Wheaton on Friday, October 13, my parents visited from Arizona to help decorate my new place, etc., and we went to Ledo's next door to here because she signed up for the email club and got a coupon. We saw this Italian place next door with stickers showing best of rewards. I knew this was a place I needed to try with my g/f or with someone else. Tuesday, October 24 was that day. She came down to Wheaton from Germantown, and we walked over here since it's not far from my place, the weather was comfortable, & parking is tough over there. There is a small lot shared with Ledo's & other businesses and some street parking. When we walked in, we were greeted with warm hospitality. The artwork was impressive like Da Marco in Germantown (Our 3rd date). But unlike Da Marco, the Italian food was the best I've had in MD, and the portion sizes were bigger than Da Marco, and it didn't break the bank (similar pricing to Da Marco). Additionally, the owner was nice enough to come by asking how everything was. That was a nice extra touch that doesn't often happen. Just days earlier while my parents were in town, my dad complained about that when I took them to Bobby's Burgers in Montgomery Mall saying the owner or manager is just standing around not asking people how their food was and not doing any kind of work. That didn't really bother me, but my dad seemed to have taken personal offense to that. He even said that the manager of Chipotle in Phoenix would come around asking how everything was. I told him that never happens at any Chipotle here, and he made some snide remark like that's because you live in the DC area. In summary, besides the delizioso (delicious) food, the owner asking how everything was really was what set this place above many other restaurants.

I was in the area and found this place on Google. Overall, I loved this restaurant and will definitely be coming back. The staff is so friendly and very attentive. I actually ordered something that wasn't listed on their menu. I saw they had a lobster ravioli on some reviews on Yelp and decided to ask if it was possible to order that. They were kind enough to make it for me, and it was so good! They were very accommodating and gave my friend a gluten-free option. There were a few reasons why I didn't give 5 stars: 1) My dish was a bit salty. I didn't mind it too much, but I was a little disappointed by the overwhelming taste of salt in the sauce. 2) It was FREEZING. There were people at another table using the napkins as little coats, because it was just that cold. If you go, be sure to bring a jacket. 3) My portion of ravioli was small compared to other places as other reviewers have mentioned. I luckily get full quickly, so this wasn't really a problem. Otherwise, I loved this place and can't wait to go back.

On Saturday, I took my family out to Cristina Ristorante Italiano. There isn't a lot of parking but it's worth it once you find a parking space. We had the Calamari and Mussels for appetizers. Both of them were delicious and perfect to share with others. Then we all choose the Chicken Wheaton, I had no words other than it was very delicious. The combination of all flavors was heavenly. For dessert, we had the tiramisu, crème brûlée, and apple cobbler. All of them taste amazing and were a great ending to our experience at the restaurant. Our family highly recommends this place. Seriously there is value in this dish. Can't wait to come back and choose something else from this great menu.

Everything is so good here and the place is nice the music is wonderful, the service here is amazing and so nice, and there is so many words in this world to describe the food here, i would recommend the lasagna it is amazing.

Good food with good sized portions. And attentive service. Friendly oambience although kind of small, with a city parking lot a few doors down.

Good Italian food served by nice waiters. Glad to have this restaurant as an option for dinner close to home.

Excellent food and service! Definitely will be back to this restaurant and try other dishes on the menu, I ordered the spicy rigatoni and definitely recommend this dish

Last time here was Christmas 2019 (family comes every Christmas). Since that day and this weekend (Sunday September 27, 2021), the place has been sold and there is new owners. We couldn't tell there was change (except maybe by menu). You have to try their mixed vegetables. They are to die for. I cleaned the plate. Then ordered some to take home. The price may seem steep at $5.95 but between the amount and taste, it is well worth every penny.

Small neighborhood restaurant that has been part of Wheaton for many decades. Great food, the fish dishes are especially interesting because you don't always see sea food at Italian restaurants. Parking can be tricky.

What a hidden gem. I can't believe it's taken so long to get here and how delicious this place was. You walk into an unassuming space right off of university to be warmly greeted by the owner and his great wait staff. They give you time to settle in and decide what you will be having. They drop off some warm bread and covered butter to nosh on while waiting and hope you come hungry because the menu sounds as delicious as it is! Early bird special from 5-7pm allows you to choose from about 5 or 6 specials (ranging from mussels over linguine to battered chicken over angel hair pasta and so on) WITH a choice of soup or salad, and a dessert (flan or spuntino or ice cream). Choose wisely because from our range of calamari, salmon, spaghetti, and mussels- it was all delicious. Dessert was even better with their creme caramel (flan), spuntino with chewy pistachios and cherries, and creamy tiramisu. Service was great but wish they were a little more attentive instead of us having to make eye contact to bring them over and a little graceful as they dropped silverware not once but twice. I didn't ask if they had wines by the glasses as when we asked for a drink list, they gave us a menu full of bottles (it seemed). I will have to go back and check on this ;) Parking can be a bit tricky but plenty of lots free after 6 on weekdays and street parking if you dare. All in all, great place in the area for a pseudo trip to Italy!

New menu is fabulous. We ordered take out and everything was ready on time, packaged well and very good. The salmon piccata was tasty, even a bit of char on the broccolini adding texture and flavor. We will be back.

Have been eating here for years, did not know they have new management. Got my usual eggplant parm, was awful. Eggplant was not cooked and was cold and raw, the sauce tasted odd and not very good, I think it might be from a jar. The price was about 25% more then the last time I was there and not worth it at all.