Great Italian food in large portions!
Christie's Italian Seafood Grill is nestled in the corner of a strip mall located on Route 9 South in Howell, NJ. At first glance, it is a small place and easily overlooked if you are speeding down the highway. Do yourself a favor - stop.

On entry to the restaurant, one is immediately greeted by one of the two owners. Patrons are led to tables draped in white linen. The ambiance is cozy and not overly formal. The volume can be a bit loud due to the smallness of the space but it is not obnoxiously so.

A waiter comes to greet the table and we are treated to a recitation of the list of blackboard specials - each accompanied with a brief description. The specials are inventive and not your usual run of the mill.

We started off with the Hot Antipasto for Two. A large platter comes out with an eggplant rollatine, four clams casino, two large shrimp- scampi style, four crabmeat stuffed mushrooms, a handful of mussels marinara, a generous eggplant rollatine and zucchini fries. This is a dish not to be missed. The seafood is tender and perfectly done each keeping its own flavor (and not absorbing the others - this often happens in large combo dishes). The mushrooms stuffing tastes of crabmeat (!) and the eggplant rollatine is tender and delicious. The most pleasant surprise is the zucchini fries. Done in a shoestring fashion, they are lightly fried and are light as air. There is no extra oil absorbed here so the zucchini flavor really pops (and tastes delicious dipped in the leftover marinara).

Bring a big appetite because the dishes here are very generous. Seafood is their specialty and is not to be missed here. The specials are a must try but that does not mean the regular menu doesn't deserve a second look. The Seafood Fra Diablo is loaded with seafood and linguine (a nice balance of each). It is spicy enough and can be kicked up upon request. The Baked Tilapia Oreganata is perfectly breaded and the buerre blanc sauce that graces it is flavorful and delicate enough to accent.

While seafood is their specialty, they do the carnivores justice as welL The Double Cut Pork Chops are very generous in size and are done perfectly. The chops are layered w/ a portobello mushroom, roasted red pepper and smoked mozzarella. The porcini mushroom glaze is enough to accent (as well as dip) and does not overpower the dish. A Filet Mignon came out wrapped lovingly with bacon and lightly breaded- oerfectly done. It was so tender, it felt like you could cut it with a fork.

Desserts here are offered up via a dessert tray and are not made in house. Selections include creme brulee, cannoli, a cheesecake and other offerings that change.

Christie's is a needed and welcome addition to Howell. A dinner not to be missed.    [02 Dec 2005 17:40:15]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Hot Antipasto,

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