Christner’s Prime Steak and Lobster

This place was amazing. I went for my husband birthday and a toddler and they placed us in a private room for about 4 with a TV. We put cartoons for my daughter and we have a amazing dinner. Food is amazing. Service is amazing. They never forgot about us in that room. We got a free birthday slice of cake. They pour juice directly into my daughter juice cup. They brought my toddler food first to keep her busy.

Cannot even describe how incredible this meal was and the service was exquisite. Mr. Christner himself was there to check in frequently and we were amazed by every course. The lobster is out of this world! Perfect steaks. Amazing calamari, crab cakes, shrimp, and oysters. Oh, and the desserts! Our server, Ryan, was exceptional. My mom had a wonderful birthday celebration! Thank you and Gig ‘em!

I meant to write this review earlier, but am just getting to it now. I experienced Christner’s for the first time last Sunday. I have heard for a long time how they are one of the best steakhouses in Orlando, so I thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt for Valentine’s Day. I always go to a fancy steak dinner on Valentine’s Day, so I thought this place would foot the bill. Boy was I wrong.
The restaurant was very large once you get inside. We were taken to a small room in the very back of the restaurant which looked nothing more than an after thought. It had wood paneling on every wall with large wooden mirrors in an attempt to make it look larger than it was. There were no windows, so it seemed a bit stuffy. Worst of all– it had CARPET. A dingy old fashioned carpet at that. I don’t know about you, but I am NOT a fan of carpet in restaurants– especially for formal dining. Christner’s was formally Del Frisco’s, so I thought that it was renovated since then, but it sure didn’t look like it.
The man that showed us to our table, seemed like it was a giant chore. It was Valentine’s Day, and I was dressed to the nines, and he didn’t even pull out my chair for me. They were quick to bring water, but it took a while for the waiter to come over. I ordered Carole’s Filet, a 6 oz steak that came with potatoes. Everything else here is served ala carte. I swapped the mashed potatoes that came with the dish for the potatoes au gratin. This was a good decision, as the potatoes were quite tasty. The steak itself was decent, but I’ve definitely had better. My boyfriend ordered the Beef Wellington. We’ve always wanted to try it, and it was the selling point in coming here. It was okay. It was a tenderloin wrapped in a puff pastry with a mushroom sauce. I had ordered a side of Bearnaise Sauce to go with my steak, but their recipe was not appealing to my taste AT ALL. I love adding Bearnaise to compliment my steak. It doesn’t have a lot of flavor, just is buttery and creamy. Their Bearnaise, they add some herbs that gave it a horrible aftertaste. I sent it back, and actually got some of the mushroom sauce that comes with the Beef Wellington. My boyfriend ordered asparagus. We saw the table in front of us get 2 orders of asparagus, in which they sent one back. I’m assuming that one was for us, but the waiter never put it together, and never brought ours out at all. We didn’t say anything, because by this point, the food was sub par at best. The table next to us sent back their lobster that they said was bad as well. I’m not sure if things were a little disorganized because it was Valentine’s Day? We were over it at this point, so we ordered dessert to go. I had read reviews saying that they offer a Red Velvet Cake only on Valentine’s Day, so I had to indulge. This by far was the best part of the meal! The slice of cake has HUGE. It tasted homemade and delicious! Overall, I was in no way impressed with this place. For the money, I would have much rather gone to Fleming’s or Ruth Chris’ — who never seem to disappoint. Do yourself a favor, and don’t believe the hype.

Fantastic Valentine’s Day dinner. This restaurant does not disappoint. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but once the complimentary valet service parked our car and we went inside we were pleasantly surprised. Very cozy and comfortable restaurant. There are numerous private dining area as well as many main dining areas. Food was excellent. Well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The most expensive steak on the menu was $ 60 and it served 2. The sides also serve 2. Great steakhouse perfect for a date night.

I want to first start by saying our service was excellent so that wasn’t the issue. The calamari and bread was great so that’s the issue either. The issue was that our steaks were cooked very well on the inside but they seemed charred on the outside. I would say burnt. We didn’t know if some places just cook them like or what but we certainly didn’t love it. The sides were good though and we did enjoy the experience other than that (although it’s not fun paying high price for a steak you don’t love) Service was a 5 but steak was a 2.

It was my best friend’s birthday and she wanted to come here. The complimentary valet was really nice and kept us from walking in the rain. We arrived 45 mins before our reservation but we were still seated which was also really great. I guess the guy was a hostess that seated us, he seemed really upset while doing so. He spilled water several times while pouring our glasses of water and had a scowl. Our waiter Chris was AMAZING! I have never had such exemplary wait service before. He was very knowledgeable of the menu and very funny. He was a joy. I was disappointed in the drink offers. I don’t drink alcohol so wine was off the table and I don’t drink soda so I couldn’t have that. They had tea, but it was unsweet and as a true southern doll, I can’t drink unsweet tea. So we both opted for water all night. The menu wasn’t as extensive as I had hoped. My friend ordered a crab cake for an appetizer but nothing on the appetizer menu stuck out to me. I did taste her crab cake and as someone who hates crab cakes, it wasn’t bad. She loved it. The menu is a la carte. I have to be honest, I have no idea what steak she ordered, but I had the Filet Trio that came with three three ounce filets and two dipping sauces but they offer you the third. In addition we ordered the broccoli au gratin, lobster Mac and cheese, and a baked potato. The château potatoes came with my filet trio. I LOVED my filet trio. The darker sauces who’s name I can’t remember drove me crazy! I put that stuff on everything! It was delicious. The broccoli au gratin was a bit of a disappointment. The lobster Mac and cheese was a bit sweet because of the lobster but totally delicious. The château potatoes were very good as was the baked potato. I was disappointed in the size of the filets for the $ 42 price. The sides were all big enough to share, which was cool. Now we had researched this place beforehand and knew it was on the expensive side, so we were prepared. In keeping with what I read online, we spent $ 200 for two people including the tip. They gave us free cake because of friend’s birthday, but it was good enough I would’ve paid for it. The owner even came to the table to wish my friend a happy birthday. She was also super sweet. The cake was absolutely delicious, we devoured it so much we ignored the cheesecake that I still haven’t tasted. I only gave four instead of five stars because the broccoli au gratin which I was looking the most forward to was not good, the filet trio was smaller than I wanted them to be, the lacking of appetizers, and scarce offering of non alcoholic drinks. I still plan on coming back for my birthday.

Absolutely amazing!!! My husband is a steak snob and I took him there for his birthday, he was impressed to say the least. We had a private room (highly recommend for celebrations) and a very attentive waiter. The owner came to our table to wish my husband a happy birthday and they even sent over a magician. The experience alone was worth the price. Try the orange cake, I don’t care for anything orange flavored but this cake was phenomenal! We are already planning our next trip!

I have been here many times– and my steak is always great– but usually does not come out as ordered– they tend to fly on the side of undercooking– so I have learned this from experience and just order medium and i get a decent medium rare.
The staff is always friendly and you can tell the wait staff is loyal and worked there for years– however friendly does not mean the best service. Last trip there i spent 250 on a dinner for two– best steaks and sides as usual but we started with Fried oysters– and i bit into a shell and nearly cracked a tooth– when the waiter asked how it was i mentioned said shell and i got a laugh… A LAUGH!!! no apologies– no taking the plate of food back — just a little laugh like he mis heard me or he just did not care.
If someone is spending that kind of money on a dinner for two– it should be exemplary– and that oyster plate should have been removed from the table and comped. after the first i obviously did not dive in for anymore as my taste soured on the item– so he knowingly cleared a FULL plate and heard my complaint but did nothing.
Orlando is not short on quality steak houses– and i was loyal to this one– but no longer

Wow… Let’s do this in order;
1. I pull up valet. Valet guy was kind and hospitable so
2. I get greeted by manager and host. They were both nice and I sit in the bar. I get greeted from the «kid» behind the bar and when I say kid, this is why; I asked for bottled water and he says «we don’t have none, like in plastic bottles»… Ok. Then I found they have Panna in a glass bottle so I order that… Still no menu though.
3. As I’m trying to order I asked if they had prime rib and the reply I get was «no but we have prime steaks» Lol. Who answers like that? Really!!!
4. So I order a New York strip medium rare it comes out between rare and raw. She tells me to slice it and keep it on the hot plate and it will cook. Lol, so I sent it to get cooked right only for it to come out a lil tougher but whatever.
5. In conversation I ask if they know of a grass fed beef place and the server says «we’re grass fed, our boxes in the back say Omaha grass fed»! Ok now, that’s impossible 1^st of all if you advertise prime usda like they do and 2^nd if it is possible then they’re advertising totally false information but then I ask myself why would he lie…
–This sucks because I want to like this place but just can’t after tonight.
2 stars; 1 for cleanliness and 2 for staff being nice, as in the employees.

If i am going to spend 100 dollars a plate, and my wife wants her steak Medium, it should come out Medium. I would not go back simply because it was Just OK.
Not for nothing the service was very good but not good enough to bring out our order the way we wanted it.
Go up the block to Flemings and the service might not be as good but the meal is consistently good.

What a special evening! Simply put: everything was done right.
We have been to some «trendy» spots lately and have been so let down. Christners delivered on all fronts– excellent service, atmosphere, and amazing food and wine. Can’t wait to return!

Hands down my favorite restaurant in Orlando. Great food and great service. I definitely recommend this restaurant.

Christner’s is a beautiful establishment– the architecture is surprising– inside it opens up to what looks like a fine dining restaurant with a neogothic, Manhattan, Chicago flare. Upscale Neogothic Urban. Our party was greeted and taken to our room a little further into the restaurant. Though the wait for our food was quite timely, our conversation was fantastic and our waiter was amazing and made sure we received everything we’d ordered as some items weren’t received. We ordered the steaks, salmon and a flounder. Everyone enjoyed the steaks and flounder. I ordered the Salmon, very enjoyable. My favorite dessert was the cheesecake with berries, Bry loved the chocolate cake. Overall it was a great meal and service. Fantastic ambiance as well, the energy is amazing.

I loved this place which it wasn’t so pricey and so far from my home!

Came in on a Saturday night. Our table ordered:
Calamari — had a sweet sauce over it, really good.
12 oz Filet (2) — came out rare and had to send back, it was excellent though.
Ribeye — my friend said it was the best he has had.
Spinach — we took two or three bites, it wasn’t anything special.
Mashed Potatoes — good, but nothing that really WOWed us.
Simi Cabernet — their house cab, it was good.
Server was attentive and very knowledgable, atmosphere was intimate, steaks were excellent, side items were OK. Spent $ 300 between 3 people, pretty expensive but I expected it to be. Would definitely return but only for a special occasion i.e. birthday, anniversary.

Formerly known as Del Friscos. Christners is now privately owned and by far the best of the best! This is my favorite place for filet mignon medium rare, broccoli au gratin, cocktails, shrimp sampler, beef Wellington, blue cheese wedge salad and their orange marmalade cake. Their slices of cake are easily shared amongst 4. They serve nothing but top quality cuts and only the freshest fish/​seafood. So feel free to order your steak the way you truly want it here. This is the only place I’ll order my meat medium rare. Top notch staff and plenty of rooms to choose from for group events. Sit on the left side of the restaurant to enjoy the live piano.

What a great place to take the steak lover in your life!
I found out about Christner’s after attending a Unilocal event earlier in the year. I loved my experience so much that I knew I had to take my brother here for his birthday celebration dinner! Our party of four was seated in the bar area to the right of the entrance. I made reservations for 4, but didn’t make any specifications in preferences. I’m mentioning this because if you enjoy a more reserved or quiet ambiance while dining, then definitely book a private room. Dining in the bar area with the tv’s and boisterous, adjoining diners created a sports bar feel.
Food is delicious here! We started off with some calamari, which was tender, yet crunchy from the light breading. My guys ordered their hunks of meat and I got the ahi tuna. Tuna at a steak house, seriously Kady?!? Ron Swanson would be shaking his head at me; I am fully aware of the steakhouse crime I committed. You know what though? I don’t care because the tuna steak was still a *bleep* fine choice! I was able to swipe a bite of the prime rib and NY strip and both were flavorful and juicy. Our table got a variety of side items: spinach, lobster mac, and potatoes gratin. The lobster mac had chunks of lobster, but was sweet. What’s up with that? :shrugs:
Anyway, service was so attentive that we didn’t even have to ask for anything. Things just magically appeared and disappeared when finished with. One of the Christners stopped by our table and wished my brother a happy birthday, how thoughtful! We concluded our dining experience with a complimentary slice of their orange cake. That wonderful, delicious slice of cake had the perfect amount of frosting with bits of orange flesh embedded in every single bite. In the end, everyone was happy and satisfied with their dinner.

Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster formerly known as Del Frisco’s renowned for the Best Steakhouse and Business Dinner in Central Florida introduced its new Cutting Board Series, first of many — a Five Course Wine & Dinner Tasting featuring Cherayne Metz of Château Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Stags’ Leap Wine Cellars with Sommelier Dan Colgan of Christner’s Steakhouse.
A 5-​Course Dinner with 5-​Wines for $ 115, (including tax & gratuity) — now that’s a SWEET deal! Armed with a voracious appetite, loose pants, and my camera, I excitedly awaited Friday, May 30^th.
Dan (Christner’s Sommelier) and Cherayne enlightened even me (wine nerd), and non-​serious wine drinkers alike with their intimate knowledge of wine. Paired with delectable bites meticulously selected to match these fine wines, impeccable presentation, and attentive service — it was an evening etched in my mind for years to come.
Without further adieu, I present to you Christner’s Sip and Savor Evening Affair.
First Course: Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna paired with Ste. Michelle Eroica Riesling. Perfectly seared ahi-​tuna spiked with sweet/​savory/​spicy soy ginger glaze and wasabi cream matched the fruity sweetness and mouth-​watering acidity of Eroica Riesling flawlessly. Asian cuisine, incontestably is one of the best Riesling food pairings.
Second Course: Crab Cake paired with Stags’ Leap ‘Karia’ Chardonnay. Summer a season for the sweet goodness of crab; chilled white glass of wine a pre-​requisite for scorching temperatures. The graceful Karia Chardonnay opened with aromas of apple and pear along with a subtle spice note. It’s round crisp finish paired nicely with the richness of crab. Oh and the crab cakes — they were simply divine! Fluffy and sweet, dressed with a Cajun lobster sauce — I so longed for more…
Third Course: Tenderloin with Bearnaise Sauce with a salad of Beefsteak tomatoes and onions paired with Stags’ Leap Hands of Time. A beautiful beef tenderloin desires a wine that complements the subtle flavors of the meat. The Stags’s Leap Hands of Time red blend with mixed dark berries, sweet oak, spice and hints of dried herbs had soft tannins and lingering finish to match the delicacy of the beef tenderloin.
Fourth Course: Steak au Poivre paired with Col Solare. A good steak calls for a fine Cabernet Sauvignon. A full-​bodied Cabernet has the sufficient tannins and oak to complement the bold flavors of a well-​seasoned piece of beef. The spicy peppercorn gravy, buttery château potatoes, and delicate asparagus were the icing on the cake.
Rich and flavorful 2008 Col Solare offering aromatics of cassis, infused with black fruit, & tobacco with a silky and lasting finish was the perfect finale to our extravagant evening. Yes, I was in nirvana!
Fifth Course: Mandarin Orange Cake and Coffee. At first glance, one can’t help but wonder how to eat this ginormous portion? Based on personal experience — Christner’s freshly made Mandarin Orange Cake will vanish right before your eyes and you will not care to share this luscious yet light, sublime slice of cake. Yeah, it’s that GOOD!
I can’t wait to see what’s next in line for Christner’s Cutting Board Series. To reserve your name for this limited seating on lavish wine dinner, contact
.
Mille grazie (thousand thanks) to everyone including Château Ste. Michelle, Stags’ Leap Winery, and the entire staff at Christner’s for orchestrating this delightful event.

A solid competitor in the high-​end (see: expensive) steak house market. It’s not my favorite place, but it’s not terrible either. Christner’s is located in a fairly non-​descript part of town… not dangerous or sketchy, but certainly not where you’d expect a high-​end steakhouse either. Parking is a little tricky, so just use the complementary valet.
Inside, things change a bit. The décor is warm and dark, if a little old school. I prefer a brighter more modern décor, but this isn’t bad. The food is pricey as expected, and it’s pretty good. I honestly don’t like the fact that they have magicians and magic shows… that just screams cheese to me.
In short: good food, high prices, overall OK.

After researching for weeks which restaurant would be the most impressive for my boyfriends 30^th birthday, I selected Christners. I am from Tampa, and the place to go for a special occasion there, is Berns Steakhouse. I wanted something along those lines. Nothing on International Drive, Restaurant Row or that was a chain restaurant. My prayers were answered by finding Christners.
I work for a large upscale hotel company so my levels of expectation are usually a notch or two above anyone I’m with at dinner. I notice the small details, the customer service and the quality of the product. Here is a list if the things that impressed me.
Private dining booths/​rooms for no extra charge. VIP status without the price tag. I wanted sesting that would allow us privacy and to make the night feel special. The booths were just that.
Service– Service can make or break a nice dinner. With terrible service even the best steak house can fail miserably. Our server Jamie was both attentive but not intrusive at the same time. He helped us select the perfect items and even created a custom cocktail for me after I described what I normally like. He even used thr little crumb table cleaner that I like so much!
Food– The food was perfectly cooked to order and the sides were delicious. My boyfriend ordered the 24oz porterhouse and said it was the best steak he ever had. After starting with the caesar salad my appetite was a bit smaller and Jamie suggested the 6 oz filet mignon even though it was not on the menu. It was steller!
At the end of the night, after an excellent meal we were treated with the house made bread pudding and even received a slice of cheesecake, complimentary to g, in honor of his 30^th birthday.
It was a truly special experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for something unique here in Orlando!