Cristino's Coal Oven Pizza, Clearwater

I read all the review and was so excited to try this place in my new neighborhood. I have lived in New York and Boston and traveled to Italy three times and love lots of different versions of pizza pie. My tastes are very flexible and developed. I eat out 4-5 times a week always enjoying new places. I ordered a pizza for takeout, and was really disappointed. I shared with the person taking the phone order it was my first time ordering and I wanted a traditional pizza with ham, onions, mushroom and garlic. I arrived 15 minutes later and picked up my hot pizza. From there it was not good. I have been studying the menu to try to understand what I ordered. It was piece of smoky pizza dough without sauce or cheese but with ONLY ham, mushroom onions and garlic. The crust was delicious and perfectly done and smoky. However there was way too much prosciutto and undercooked, actually raw veggies. The flavor was just way to salty due to all the ham. I tried to amend the pie, removing some of the proscuitto, sprinkling cheese on top and baking in the toaster oven. It was not a happy time and a waste of $20. I am so sorry about this experience. The restaurant looks so romantic with all the beautiful flowers and there were lots and lots of folks there, enjoying their dinner. Perhaps the mistake was all mine...I got EXACTLY what i ordered....bread crust with ham and veggies. It was not pizza in my book.

Best pizza anywhere in the bay area, hands down. Everyone I have told about it and has tried it has told me they agree: the best. Cute, quaint little spot with indoor and outdoor seating. Friendly staff and good service. We get to go pizza all the time. Also great paninis. We love the Brooklyn and the Chicken parm paninis. Also, the 2 pasta dishes we tried were also tasty. But the coal oven pizza is what really seperates this place! I give it 5 stars for the pizza. I d give it 4 for everything else. If you like to try small, privately owned restaurants, then this is one you can t miss.

Wonderful food, great staff, nice indoors and outdoors dining. Skip a meal at home and try them.

I have been there for lunch many times. Best pizza in N. Pinellas.

While visiting some friends staying in Clearwater, we decided to try Cristino's Pizza. What a find! There are some places where you eat and decide you need to come back and Cristino's is that type of place. All six of us were impressed with the fresh ingredients, menu choices and service. We all loved the pizza and plan to return anytime we visit to sit outside and try some of the other items on the menu. Great place!!

Was our favorite restaurant in Clearwater - Food and atmosphere feels more like Italy or France than Florida. Nice staff and would def. recommend.

Hands down, best pizza in town! It's steaming hot right out of the coal oven and they use the freshest ingredients, simply the best.

I love this place. They have the best pastas and pizzas. Everytime i go there and try something new I'm not getting disappointed. Ecxept that the portions are just enough tpo eat...

Anthony's Coal fired on McMullen Booth is better. Vincenzo's (across the street from Anthony's) is also better. This place is just ok.

We lived in Pinellas for over 20 yrs and we finally found a pizza place that serves the most flavorful, authentic Italian pizza in Tampa Bay! The Margarita Pizza is are all time favorite, real tomato sauce, fresh basil and mozzarella! We then order their homemade gelato, several different flavors from coconut to hazelnut, YUM! We are regulars now and anytime we are in the area we stop in Christinos. I hope the owners keep up the GREAT WORK. They have the best pizza and gelato in Tampa Bay!