Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster
Some folks like their restaurant experience to be modern as possible. They like futuristic decor, deconstructed dishes and their menu on an iPad. For those of us who still like things old fashioned, Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster is the bees knees. I was invited to try the menu and was very excited as I’d heard fabulous things about their steaks!
Christner’s, formally known as Del Frisco’s, is located just off the Lee Road exit on I-4. Immediately when you walk in the gorgeous wooden doors it’s like you’ve been transported to a restaurant Don Draper and the rest of the Mad Men would frequent. All of the servers wear adorable bow ties and tuxedo shirts, wood and gold accents line the walls and there is even a talented pianist serenading diners and taking requests.
Photo courtesy of Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster
(While the dark atmosphere is wonderful for the dining experience, it makes photography challenging! So bear with me on the images here. The Christner’s team was kind to provide a few beautiful shots for this post as well!)
While the decor and vibe is old-fashioned, one area Christner’s is exceedingly modern on is their gluten-free options! While they didn’t have a separate gluten-free menu, our delightful server, Bob, was incredibly knowledgeable on what I was able to eat from the menu. Christner’s makes everything from scratch – sauces, dressings, soups and even their desserts!
We started our meal off with two salads. A Caesar (sans croutons) and a crisp wedge salad. The Caesar dressing was very light, more like a vinaigrette than the typical creamy Caesar dressing you’d expect. However it was delicate, refreshing and set the stage perfectly for my steak dinner!
The wedge had a decadent, creamy blue cheese dressing that paired perfectly with the cold, crisp wedge of lettuce and crispy bacon pieces. Incredibly satisfying and delicious.
For the main course we both ordered the 12oz New York strip. I am typically a filet girl, because I prefer a lean steak, but I knew that Christner’s would deliver on an epic steak experience. And I figured a little bit of marbling on the New York strip would only add to the rich flavors. The steak was cooked perfectly and was melt-in-your-mouth soft. Like butter. I’m not sure what their steak seasoning contains but it looked like a simple mix of salt, pepper and perhaps dried parsley? I couldn’t quite figure out what the green bits were, but OH BOY was it tasty!
Photo courtesy of Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster
The sides are served family-style in huge portions. We selected the Chateau Potatoes and Sautéed Mushrooms. The Chateau Potatoes are whipped potatoes with milk and scallions, browned on top and served with a slightly melted pad of butter in the center. Beyond yummy and they went perfectly with the tender steak. The mushrooms came bathed in a garlicky sauce. I love mushrooms with my steak and the flavors paired beautifully!
I don’t know how, but we managed to order two desserts. Yes. TWO! I selected the Praline Parfait. A mountain of fresh, vanilla ice cream topped with pecans caramelized in brown sugar and Myers dark rum. Oh my yum. This was out of this world!! The rum flavor peeked through the brown sugar coated pecans which was an insanely delicious topping for the rich ice cream. The creme brûlée was also decadent with an expertly caramelized sugar top. We had to crack it pretty firmly with our spoon which created a delicious sugar crunch on top of the creamy custard.
The staff at Christner’s is so sweet and they demonstrate incredible teamwork which make the dining experience so special. The dining room manager, Zoltan, came over to make sure everything was going well with our meal and gave us a tour of the restaurant. We even met the owner, David Christner, who was incredibly welcoming and passionate about his restaurant.
Christner’s space is huge. There are two dining areas with many corners and separate rooms that give each area the perfect touch of intimacy. Great for date night or a family dinner. We really had the best seat in the house, right next to the pianist. I bet this table is pretty popular but I highly suggest you request it on your next visit!
In addition to large private dining rooms (that were completely full on a Tuesday night!) they have smaller private rooms that seat about 10 people and have a television and a door, which would make them perfect for small parties or a football watching party where you can cheer and scream as loud as you want without disturbing other guests.
We had a lovely evening full of fabulous food, with impeccable service and a wonderful ambiance. I highly suggest you check out this hidden gem of Orlando. We’ll definitely be returning soon.
Check out their full menu and more details here.
Hugs, kisses + yummy dishes… xoxo
Lauren