CiaoCristina!

Today we decided to go out for some Italian food. Instead of relying on our old favorites, we decided to try someplace new. CiaoCristina! won the coin toss. It is located across from Warner Brothers Studios on Olive right next to the Bank of America. The place looks tiny from the outside but there are actually 10 or so tables inside, a full bar, and what seemed like a lucrative take-out business.

When we arrived there were a couple of other groups at the tables but it was nearly impossible to tell that people were there on the drive in...it isn't the kind of place that you'd just walk into with nobody else there. I think if it was empty I would've considered going somewhere else.

We were warmly welcomed and seated immediately and offered drinks. 3/4 of us ordered water and our other member ordered diet coke...which turned out to be a slightly pricey no-refill natural diet soda.

It took us quite a while to look over the menu. I think it was the layout that really took me awhile. On the front cover were Salads, Appetizers and Paninis, inside pasta and meat dishes, and on the last page pizzas. I think maybe if it was a cover and then 3 pages in the center it would be easier to read.

Our food took a long time to come. While waiting, they serve a glass of crispy and flavorful breadsticks. We wished for more as we devoured them and continued to wait while two take-out orders and another table who was there first were filled. I think there may have been only one chef on duty but assume that weekday lunches have a quicker turnaround time. When our food did arrive, it really wasn't hot. The pizza was room temperature as was my sandwich. I didn't inquire on the pasta, but it wasn't steaming.

I ordered the CiaoCristina! Panini which is homemade focaccia with marinated tomatoes, roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella, basil and a pesto spread. It comes with choice of chips or salad. My compatriots ordered a 16" pizza Margaretha with prosciutto to share with two, and a vodka sauce linguine dish.

For the pasta and pizza the prices were a tad high. The ingredients seem to be fresh and natural which may boost the price. The neighborhood the restaurant caters too is a little bit more upscale than our normal area so the prices may not seem too outlandish, but a plate of pasta (average portion size) without bread or salad for $12-15 is a little steep. The pizza wasn't particularly flavorful, the prosciutto seemingly too large and flimsy for a pizza and a serious lack of cheese. The pasta wasn't memorable either.

The sandwich, however, was the best deal. My sandwich was really large and came with chips (or salad). The chips were homemade. The sandwich had a lot of great flavors and textures and enough mozzarella to beat the price. The sandwich was $8 which I think is average price for a gourmet-style sandwich.

As it turns out, the sandwiches seem to be the only reason to go back to CiaoCristina! So, if you work nearby and just want a gourmet Italian sandwich, I recommend dropping by. If you get there and think a $3 slice of pizza sounds better, think again, and get the sandwich.





CiaoCristina!
4201 W Olive Ave
Burbank, CA 91505
Map