One Room, Two Crowns: Christini’s Also Rules Orlando Italian
Christini's Ristorante Italiano takes No. 1 in our Italian rankings with a Net Score of 97.1 — why it won, and what to get when you go.
2 minute read
Christini’s Ristorante Italiano is the No. 1 italian pick in Orlando — not by our say-so, but by the numbers. In Orlando Citizen’s Top Businesses rankings, it posted a Net Score of 97.1, the highest in its category, on a blended 4.9★ drawn from 5,546 public reviews. This is the winner’s profile: why it won, what to get when you go, and the details that make it a Dr. Phillips fixture.

Why it won
Our Net Score blends a business’s public ratings across the review sources we could retrieve — here: Google 4.8★ (339), OpenTable 4.9★ (5,207) — weights them by review volume, and then applies Bayesian shrinkage (m = 200) so a handful of five-star reviews can’t outrank a proven track record. Christini’s Ristorante Italiano cleared a field of 22 ranked businesses in Italian. That is a clear margin over the No. 2 finisher, Osteria Ester (93.2). Scores compare only within a category, and the underlying ratings were retrieved November 14, 2026.
What to order
The fagottini alla pera and the gnocchi bolognese; the tiramisu is the classic finish.
The names that come up again and again in its listings: Veal chop, Chicken piccata, Osso buco.
Worth knowing
Dress code enforced; expect fine-dining prices.
The local detail
Accordion music, a rose for the ladies, and decades of Dr. Phillips regulars.
The essentials
- Find it: 7600 Dr Phillips Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819
- Directions: Get directions
- Neighborhood: Dr. Phillips
- Hours: Daily 6 p.m.–10 p.m. (as listed in November 2026 — confirm before a special trip)
- Phone: 407-345-8770
- Online: official site
See the full list: The 10 Best Italian Restaurants in Orlando — every ranked business in this category, with scores.
Share this award:
Share on Facebook · Post on X · ·
🏆 Christini's Ristorante Italiano — this award is yours to use
Congratulations on Best Italian 2026. The badge is free to use on your website, your socials and in your window — all we ask is that it links back to your feature, this page.
⬇ Download the badge (PNG, full size)
Or paste this snippet into your website — it displays the badge and links to your feature:
Photo: eliazar (CC BY), via Openverse. Photo-grade treatment by Orlando Citizen. The photograph is representative of the category, not the business itself.
Part of Orlando Citizen’s Top Businesses in Orlando series. Net Scores are recalculated from fresh public review data each edition.
Orlando Citizen by email
The weekly edition, in your inbox
One email, every Saturday: the week’s edition of Orlando Citizen — the week’s stories, rankings and winners, gathered in one place. Free, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
The Ranking Behind the Award
- The Full RankingOrlando’s best Italian, ranked
- On the MapSee Christini's Ristorante Italiano on the Top Spots map
- The NeighborhoodDr. Phillips — the area guide
- Fellow WinnersTin & Taco — Best Mexican & Tacos winner, profiled
- Fellow WinnersBig John's Rockin' BBQ — Best BBQ winner, profiled
- The Full IndexAll 30 Top Businesses in Orlando rankings
- Browse by AreaOrlando by neighborhood — every area guide
About the byline
Staff Reports
Stories filed under Staff Reports are reported, written and edited by Orlando Citizen’s staff in Orlando — the same desk behind the Top Businesses rankings, the Tourism guide and the weekly edition.
Spotted an error? Tell us — corrections · How we rank


