Christo's — Restaurant in Phoenix

This was disturbing. I usually like small family owned eateries because of not only ambiance and esthetics but also because of friendly staff and the love that goes into the food. Well those traits must have passed away before we got here.

We found the place online after reading reviews looking for family style Italian restaurants in the Northern Phoenix area. We wanted an experience to remember and we got it. Aside from the lack of parking entering off of the busy 7th St roadway, the initial service lacked charm with the front booth loaded with handwritten note pads and sticky notes with what seemed a confused greeter. She asked if we had made reservations to which I thought there must be a rush due to no visible dining area from the door. Come to find the place was empty with only a family of six at a table in the room.

The decorum was somewhat pleasing, outdated but comfortably old fashioned with white table cloths and brownish folded cloth napkins sitting on top of a saucer marking sittings.

The waiter came over and provided us menus which were actually nice. Fo-leather folding two-sided menu books with simple menu items written in suedo Italian and no pictures provided the expectation that the food would speak for itself and be worth the minimum $15 per plate price. The waiter told us the specials but said them so fast that we really didn't catch any of it. They included fish and that's all we really heard.

After ordering we had an opportunity to look the place over. Dimly lit rooms provide a slightly romantic appeal which I like. Perhaps though they could turn the lights up a bit more when they clean. My Fiancee wiped her finger across the brick ledge to return a dusty black line on her hand. This would have been something to disregard had the not been placing pepper grinders directly on this surface. Aside from watch a waiter scratch his beard with his hand and then grind Parmesan into a customer's food we thought at this point the food better be worth it.

Bread came first, an attempt at toasting had burnt it on top and bottom and it was difficult to rip. A saucer of butter pads you'd find at a cheap motel in the continental breakfast bar was provided as well. Then the soup, Ministrone served in souffle cups obviously from either Campbell or Progresso, poured from a can, heated and served. Uniform chunks of carrots, celery and potatoes with a couple beens and the classic over soaked soft square noodles gave this one away quickly. Then the salad came. My Fiancee asked for the dressing on the side, especially after they explained they have but 2 dressings, a honey mustard vinaigrette and plain oil and balsamic (not a vinaigrette). They ignored this request and tossed the salad in heavy doses of the honey mustard stuff. I usually say you can tell the quality of a restaurant by the quality of its lettuce. This was the same stuff I get from Fry's in the bagged section of the produce department, but slightly wilted. So far the food had three strikes and they weren't batting too good on service and cleanliness.

I ordered a chicken dish based on waiter recommendation. My Fiancee and my friend visiting from out of town ordered the pasta. The dish placed in front of me looked aweful and tasted worse. It was breaded chicken clearly frozen and reheated with a melted glob of white cheese on top swimming in a yellow vinaigrette with rubbery slices of carrots and broccoli stalks on the side. The sauce left much to be desired and first bite was sour and aweful. The breading had soaked up some of the liquidy pour and become mushy like microwave TV dinners do. The pasta had chunks of whole tomatoes slopped with chunks of perfectly cubed chicken in a greasy sauce and flavorless noodles. We couldn't eat it.

We explained this to the waiter who comped our meal and then left. We thought we were done but then the waiter followed us outside to apologize about the food and ask for a tip. Gratuity is earned not expected.

We got what we wanted, an experience to...

My wife and I tried this place out for an early Valentine's dinner to avoid the crowds. We were very pleasantly surprised. Our waiter, Santino, is an older gentlemen with a nice, thick Italian accent. It's clear he is very experienced with serving, the details of each dish and the daily specials. He was excellent and, as politically incorrect as it may be, having an Italian-accented server really adds to the atmosphere of this authentic Italian restaurant (even if it is owned by a Greek.) Basically, what I'm saying is, if Santino was working at McDonald's, I would eat at McDonald's more often. :)

The food was excellent and each dish came out in a timely manner. We arrived on a Wednesday night and parking was easy, no reservations and we were seated immediately. The restaurant was respectfully busy on a random Wednesday night, so that tell's you something. People obviously like it!

We started with drinks. I had a Coke, my wife an iced tea. They have a fine wine menu with plenty of choices available as well, of course.

They brought a basket with a small loaf of bread (similar to French bread) with a ramekin with about four pats of real butter.

We ordered the fried mozzarella, which arrived not as sticks as you might expect. Instead, there were two triangles (shaped like Arby's potato cakes) put together to form a square and a generous portion of a heavy marinara was on top. I found the marinara a bit strong, but nothing I couldn't scrape away with a fork. I like that it was different, but still good.

My wife ordered the chicken Florentine while I opted for the Angel Hair Pomodore. In fact, trying to find a restaurant in town that served Angel Hair was quite difficult and it was my Google research that landed us here. You'd think Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill, Bucca Di Beppo, and other popular Italian chains would offer it, but sadly, no.

Each meal includes a soup and a salad. We were told when we sat down what the soup was, but there was no mention of the salad or any choices to be made. I guess you get what you get as far as type of salad and dressing. I don't eat soup or salad (I'm a fussy eater) but my wife seemed to enjoy it.

The Angel Hair Pomodore was done right! Old school, no tomato sauce, just real chunks of stewed tomatoes tossed with olive oil, basil and garlic. Often times I find pasta sauces (and pizza sauces) far too sweet. Not a problem here. It was almost bitter. I loved it!

My wife enjoyed her chicken Florentine, though the broccoli, cauliflower and carrots were a bit crunchy for being steamed. A minor issue, really.

The person who refilled our drinks must have visited our table a half-dozen times to top off our glasses of water and my wife's iced tea. He also refilled my Coke for me (which has to be done at the bar.)

I worry that giving this place 5 stars may set unrealistic expectations if you've never dined here before. I know the rating is important to the restaurant, but so many things can change during a dining experience. Think of this place as a 4 star and hopefully it will exceed your expectations (if that makes sense.)

We'll definitely be back!

Iced tea: $2.50 Coke: $2.50 Fried Mozz: $6.95 Chicken Florentine: $15.95 Angel Hair Pomodore: $12.95

Tax: $3.39 Total: $44.24

(service from Santino: $ Priceless!)

That's a bargain for this kind of food in this kind of atmosphere with this...

We went for dinner Saturday, the food was very bland, Stuffed mushroom appetizers came barely warm the mushroom itself was cold, the waitress never came back to ask how it was. I ordered the Tortellini Alfredo with mushrooms dish it also came out luke warm and Alfredo was very runny also flavorless the waitress again did not come to ask how our food was tasting. I waved down the wait staff and told him the dish was not good and barely warm he took it and said he would let our waitress know, she came few minutes later opening a menu asking what did I want to order, not a sorry you weren't happy, I declined on ordering anything else.

My husband order the Veal special and he too was displeased it lacked flavor the presentation was beautiful but no flavor, he maybe ate a 1/4 of his and when the waitress finally came over she just asked would he like a box which he said no and that dish was over $30 the waitress still never once asked how was it just asked did we want dessert. Heck no we don't.

The bill came and they removed my Tortellini but charged me for the cup of soup and small salad that was included with the dish, which I took one spoonful of as it was not good plus didn't eat one bite of the salad because it was soggy from too much dressing. My husband tried doctoring his soup with salt & pepper he maybe ate 2 bites he also did not eat the salad and again the waitress never asked how is it.

Italian food is usually rich in flavors so it was a big disappointment for us. The restaurant was full of what appeared to be "regulars" and seniors so maybe they can't use to much seasoning and flavors for...