My friend & I were looking for a place to eat dinner & we decided on Christopher's. We arrived around 9pm & was seated immediately. We ordered onion rings for our appetizer. I ordered a cheese pizza for my main course & my friend ordered the Bistecca sandwich. Our appetizer arrived quickly & we dug in. It was pretty good, though a slight rant that there was a big Chuck of rings that were stuck together. We had saw that they serve free bread with the meal, but so far had yet to see any. As we were about to say something the waitress brought it out, which I guess is a thing to bring out before the entree. My friends sandwich arrived before my pizza did, but it wasn't too far behind. The sandwich was huge & looked good. My pizza definitely looked made to order, which was excellent. My friend really enjoyed his sandwich as well. We ordered dessert to finish off. I ordered the key lime pie & he ordered cheesecake. My friend said his was just okay. I enjoyed the key lime pie. Overall I enjoyed the experience & the waitress was attentive & nice. read more

Christophers - The very large "1/2 order" of the yummy onion rings. - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Currently the front runner for a date spot for me and my wife. I keep wanting to try new things on the menu but the steak de burgo is just too good! Highly recommend all the appetizers, we love the spinach artichoke dip. The portions are huge and is a good starter. They pour nice drinks and is all around a great atmosphere, definitely our vibe. read more

Great PIzzas and Pasta. The Joe is always a go to Pizza. One of the best in the city no doubt. Fettuccine Gorgonzola is another one!

A family owned 2nd generation restaurant in beaver dale. Great service with a neighborhood feel. Easy to have s greAt dinner in the bar or the restaurant. I ordered the walleye but steaks and pasta are highly recommended. The deburgo is fabulous. read more

Christophers - Steak deburgo - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Wife an I got there at 5:00pm with only a few in the bar. The hostess seated us in the back room at the smallest table in the place right by the kitchen. It was so dark there I had to use my phone flashlight to see the menu. We said something to no avail. When a party of four showed up they turned up the lights. The food was okay. First visit and probably the last read more

Very delicious fare. I'll be coming back for the Boursin Mushrooms and the crab cakes!

Haven't been here for years because I wasn't in love with it when I lived close. This is still just ok to me. Clam chowder had clams and was a great consistency and had ok flavor. I had the Marsala and I do not like red peppers so that could be eliminated from the dish. I like the creamy Marsala but it didn't have an amazing rich deep taste. Husband had chicken Parmesan with Alfredo and red sauce and loved it. read more

Christophers - Chicken Marsala - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I love a classic Italian restaurant and Christopher's is a classic. I started with the Malbec, which is a little spicy, but an excellent wine. The salad with the house dressing was a strike out for me. Iceberg lettuce, croutons that could break your teeth, and way too much dressing. The dressing was good, but the salad should be romaine. I will get the dressing on the side next time. The crab cake appetitizer was a good starter. The crab was very mild. The salmon was excellent. I decided to go with Linguine with Red Sauce instead of the rice. It was definitely an excellent choice. The bread was pretty good also. This place has solid average Italian food and great service. I am definitely going to be back to try some more food. read more

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Love this place! Food is delicious and the place has a fancy feel but still kid friendly! Great Italian classic spot for Des Moines!

I went in to submit a rather large and detailed food order for a client last Saturday and even though they were extremely busy, they took great care to make sure the order was exactly as specified. Shout-out to the entire crew for not only accommodating the order, but also their fabulous customer service. read more

My wife and I just dined at Christophers earlier this week and enjoyed the benefit of their half-price wine night. If you are unaware, Wednesdays and Thursday nights are half-price for the bottle. Definitely helps on the bottom line. Our waitress was fine and we both placed our orders for Italian dishes. I enjoyed my salad with the house dressing. My wife thought the 'house' was sweeter than she remembered and was a little too sweet for her taste buds. Dinner arrived, chicken carcuro for her and chicken parmigiana for me. Her's was basically good, but seemed to lack in seasoning and flavor. Each to his or hers in this judgement. Mine; however, was lacking The chicken breast was as large as a steak. and just as thick. Instead of a crispy crust, it came as a very soft almost mushy portion. Mushy isn't the right term, but it was all I could think of. Just not what a veal or chicken parmigiana should be served like. A little more attention in the kitchen might go a long way since the dining area was very slow that evening. *** read more

Birthday dinner on a Saturday night. Shout out to Eric in the bar for preparing another amazing dirty martini! Our granddaughter loved her Shirley Temple garnished with two cherries and an umbrella! I had chicken parmigiana- the BEST I have ever had anywhere. My husband had scallops and said they were delicious. Pizza and spaghetti and meatballs along with our dinner salads were enjoyed by all. Our server, whose name escapes me BUT she also works at Americana was just great! Thank you Ron, Eric and Manuel. Beautiful restaurant to celebrate a 62nd birthday! read more

I have reviewed this place before and it isn't a surprise that I gave it a top rating. Steeped in old world tradition with soft lighting and a supper club vibe this place delivers. I got the chicken parm with a combo of white and red sauce which was perfectly prepared. The salad was not the old run of the mill ones you sometimes get and underwhelms. Service was spot on. These people know what is what. I would also say the prices are reasonable. From out of town or a local, skip the higher end steak places and enjoy an evening here and transport yourself to quiet ambiance and tried and true entrees. read more

Not the best meal we've ever had here. Service was slow...food was just ok for everyone. (8 people) my shrimp and rice was good...the rice was probably the best thing at the table! We come here every so often...hopefully next time a better waiter & food as it really was not that busy. read more

Christophers - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Was just in there this evening. Food was great, but I'd like to leave a review on our server. I think her name was Katie. She was the BEST server I have had in a long time. I will be back to try more of the menu, but I will DEFINITELY be back just so she can be my server again :) read more

Just went there for a company dinner (first time there for all of us). We had the best waitress, Katie, who not only served us, but made us feel like special guests. The bread (yum!) was delicious and the prime rib was perfect. We can't believe that we have lived in this area for 20 years and had never been there! We will be back. read more

Food that was ordered this visit: Margarita pizza, onion rings, side salads with house creamy Italian EXCELLENT! Thin crispy crust pizza that was large enough to share with 2-3 people! Onion rings were some of the best I've ever had and the salad was fresh, not from a bag. Service was friendly and very attentive. Restaurant has kept an old-school vibe that many locals love and prefer. Great place to go for a date or to just enjoy a laid back evening. read more

I think Christopher's gets away with a lot because they have a lot of regulars. We hadn't been there for awhile, and I was disappointed. Service was slow. Our server forgot to bring us our salads. When our main course was served, we asked about the salads. Instead of offering to bring them, she boxed them for carry-out. The prime rib was delicious, but the lasagna was overcooked. The bread was undercooked. And, our bills included a 3.99% charge for using credit cards. If they want to offer an incentive for paying with cash, they should give a cash discount instead of charging more for using credit cards. I won't be returning. read more

Old line Beaverdale business. Been an excellent dining stop for many years and will not disappoint!

Decent food for a small local joint. Very popular on weekends. The fifties-style bar counter is really cool. Probably overpriced for the quality and service, but it's a great place for a burger and a beer. read more

I used to like it, really went down hill. Ordered medium rare prime rib for $34, got a medium-well piece that was crap. I was told this is all they had and no alternative even offered. No discount, nothing. Menu prices all raised. Service was crap. Also 4% fee for paying with a credit card, unfortunately probably won't be back. Chicago speakeasy or John and nicks are way better now. read more

I had passed Christopher's a lot while driving down Beaver Avenue after 5 years of living here but it wasn't until yesterday that I tried it for date night with my husband. There is ample parking, the place is pretty big, so keep it in mind for big family dinners or event. The décor and atmosphere are pleasant and interesting: it feels fancy but not pretentious and the bar area is more informal, while the back seems a bit more formal. The menu offerings are generally standard Italian-American fare. If you are looking for traditional Italian, well, I say try the South Side of DSM or just somewhere outside the Midwest. Salad or soup and bread are included with most entrees. The bread with creamed butter was lovely and the salad with balsamic was also good My husband had the Steak De Burgo with asparagus, which he completely devoured and was very happy with it. I was craving creamy pasta so I went with the Fettuccine Alfredo. This dish is ENORMOUS, so think about splitting it or come super hungry. My entire 4 star rating is based on how good this dish was, though. I've had Fettuccine Alfredo elsewhere many times, but Christopher's is one of the best. The pasta is "au gratin", so they smother it with cheese and broil it, the pasta is covered with a lovely layer of golden cheese ; the sauce is creamy, cheesy, and nicely complemented with the grilled chicken. The pasta was a tiny overcooked for my taste (I like al dente) but still maintained its integrity and good mouth feel. I really enjoyed this dish, it wasn't salty or overpowering, it was a memorable experience as far as pastas are concerned, and for me pastas have to be great or I just forget about them. The servers were attentive, the price is reflective of the portion size, so it's justified. I don't know about their other dishes and I'm always iffy about "Italian American" food, but for Christopher's I say go, get the yummy Fettuccine Alfredo, and make your cheese-lover dreams come true. read more

Christophers - Fettuccine Alfredo "au gratin", like the Lord intended - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I really wanted to visit as I had heard positive things from friends so we ventured to Beaverdale for my birthday this weekend with friends. Some of our party got here early to get a table. It wasn't necessary as the place was pretty empty for 5:30/6 on a Saturday night. That didn't stop them from seating us by the waitress station anyway so we could enjoy the sound of cleared dishes crashing every so often. Did I mention they crammed 5 of us around a small round table? We started with the stuffed mushrooms. They were not bad, but we didn't finish them. Some of the food ordered in our group was the recommended chicken Parmesan and prime rib. Portions were large. TMI-the chicken parm goes right thru you. Haven't brought ourselves to reheat the leftovers we brought home yet. Our waitress was great-super friendly, refilled drinks, and checked on us occasionally. read more

How did I live down the road from this place for half my life and just now be getting here? We went as a request for the birthday girl. The ambiance is darker, as you walk in the front door. Photos and paper clippings align the walls of the hallway proudly showing the family owned information. You can tell that it is family owned and operated by the way the owner talks to most of the staff and jokes around with what I would assume are regular patrons. Our waitress was great. She greeted us with smiles and got us going on specials right away. I, as normal, had questions. Viewing pictures on Yelp is always helpful as I didn't know what to try. I saw a full size Chicken Parmigiana. Holy moly... I got Petite Chicken Parmigiana: a sautéed breast of chicken smothered in a cream sauce, mozzarella & parmesan. You can get red sauce, or cream sauce ... or both.. yea I got both. It was really flavorful and deliciously juicy chicken. I am so glad I got the petite size, it was still too much food for me to eat. Hubby got the Beaverdale Burger and fries. This was also a really big helping of food. My Aunt got Encrusted Tilapia which I will be getting next time. It was flaky white fish almond encrusted with a lemon butter sauce or asiago parmigiana encrusted with a roasted red pepper cream sauce served with rice pilaf. This was really good as she let me sneak a bite. Then our birthday girl, or Mom, got fresh Atlantic salmon charbroiled & topped with a fresh dill sauce served with rice pilaf. This was a delicious gluten free option for her dining pleasure. Most of us got the house salad with the house dressing that was also really good. None of us left hungry. I know we all were excited to know what this place has to offer and will be back. I cant believe I had never gotten in here before now. read more

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WOW had "Birthday Dinner" at CHRISTOPHERS last night. What a fun evening with some great food. We had onion rings, Boursin mushrooms, cheese sticks and spinach artichoke dip. Three of us had prime rib specials and one had pasta. Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection. Of course we all four took most of our main course home. So we're going to have some tasty leftovers. read more

A customer at my bar in Charleston, SC referred me to this place in Des Moines. My hotel, Holiday Inn Express, offered a ride within 5 miles. This location was 5.1 miles. The driver said it was outside of their limits. It was a beautiful day and I chose to walk. The entire walk was through neighborhoods and the temperature was mild (unlike the extreme heat at home) so it was perfect. The staff at Christopher's is friendly, attentive and on point. The food is phenomenal. The atmosphere is friendly and inviting. Shout out to Eric, Naomi, Ron and, of course, the back of house staff, for a wonderful evening. Thank you so much for your kindness and tremendous hospitality! Hope to be back soon!! read more

FAMILY! This place is all about family. This restaurant has been in this neighborhood for some time. You can tell when people come in and give hugs to the waitstaff. They care about the guest and the guest care about the staff. I don't think they have update anything since married with children was prime time. That doesn't mean it not good food. If it's not broke don't fix it. This place is not broke and is actually fantastic. If you want a delicious prime rib this is a good joint for it. Their menu says it could be sold out by 6 which is true. The meatballs in the vodka sauce are really good. Their manicotti is one of my favs in town. I can't tell you about the salad, because I don't bother with them in a restaurant. Especially at dinner time. I really love their burger and its in my top 5 in Des Moines. If you want it fresh and perfect order it at night. If you want to save a few bucks go in on Saturday lunch $6 gets you a burger and fry basket. Sure you can go order off the $1 menu for a better deal somewhere else, but Christopher's still uses real beef. read more

Christophers - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

I recently heard a friendly debate among some old south-side folks about the best Italian food in DM. There were the usual mentions but one I didn't expect was Christopher's in Beaverdale. I'd never even considered that it would be an Italian place. Probably because of the name. My wife and I tried it on a Friday night. It was packed, and is setup with a pretty large bar and multi-room dining area. Cozy. We had a reservation but still had to wait a little while before being shown to a nice booth. It's definitely a locals place with a lot of families and regulars. It feels comfortable and homey like a locally-owned place should. The staff (at least our waiter) obviously had been there for many years. The owner who originally took our reservation was very professional, although the front desk ladies (mom? grandma?) just seemed tired. But everyone was friendly and accommodating. The food choices were typical Italian dishes. We both had pasta dishes, and while it was pretty good food, and well prepared, it was nothing beyond a typical Italian place. Prices were reasonable - we each had a drink plus dinner for about $50 before tip. The best Italian in Des Moines? Nah, but it was a nice evening meal and experience. read more

Love Christopher's pizza, burgers, and steaks. Service is always fab, drinks are alway good and atmosphere great.

I had such an amazing experience here sitting at the bar here at Christophers. This place has been around for so long, I remember going to this restaurant when I was in high school. As an adult, I wonder why I never went back until this past weekend. The place itself is dated but knowing it's family owned and been successful for so long you have to give it a pass. We sat at the bar and that's where this place wins. All of the bartenders were super friendly we didn't have just one that took care of us, it was the entire crew and waitress in the bar area that all tended to us. We got a few appetizers, calamari and spinach artichoke dip. Some of my other friends also got an entree too but I already ate in advance so I will return for a full meal. The appetizers we had were both delicious, it's always nice when a spin dip actually has chunks of artichokes and not just some cheesy dip. Anyway, the entire staff were so friendly that it really made the experience so amazing. If the rest of the food were just mediocre, I wouldn't care because of the staff were so top notch. I very much understand why this place has been around forever and I myself will definitely be coming back. read more

We love Christophers. Not only because it's in our Beaverdale neighborhood but because the food is consistently good. It's reminiscent of the old dinner clubs of the 60's and I've been a patron since about that time! Steaks and pasta are good, great sandwiches and rings if you want something lighter and the pizza is our Favorite in town!! We always ask for our favorite waiter Gary too- he's the best in town too!! read more

The food at this place was amazing the burger and fries was on the menu even though it is a Italian restaurant it was still delicious the service was very good the waiters came by every few minuets to refill water and the place was clean with a Italian vibe and it was overall was super good. read more

Awesome family restaurant with excellent staff, service and food. Reservations are probably needed for weekends. We were there 15 minutes after opening on a Friday night and we're lucky to get a first come first serve table for the 5 of us in the bar, which was perfect. Go and enjoy the wonderful Italian cuisine. read more

food is authentic italian. so flavorful and well made. great service! soup of the day and desert especially stood out!

One of Des Moines classic places... Open over 50 years, great for dining in dining area or has a really nice bar to eat at with really good food it's not a hipster place its it's made for people who are a little older who appreciate conversation and good Food and good drinks... they have a very nice wine list with some nice Australian reds as well as Italians.... they have wonderful pizza you can share at a table they have incredible sandwiches with high quality meats, my favorite is the prime rib French dip sandwich. They have a wonderful fried chicken skillet dish that they have been famous for again it's about expectations it's not a new wave place but in some ways it's kind of a hidden gem... their dining area is also very classy and very nice classical Italian food. It's the kind of place where the owners know the regulars and the waitresses are friendly and kind.... it's reminiscent of an old style dinner Club and you can probably hear Frank Sinatra in the bar they do have some TVs in the bar for some game viewing its a classy neighborhood bar still going strong. read more

Christophers - The bar itself is a good place to eat and there are tables in a few teams around it if you should choose - Italian Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Great atmosphere and even better food! Went there with my girlfriend and couldn't be more satisfied. Friendly staff and amazing pasta.

An old family restaurant with great food and staff. I have attended holiday parties here and they are wonderful for large groups. The chicken parm is served with marinara and Alfredo. It is delicious! I would I've a larger wine list and more parking, but the food makes up for it :) read more

Wonderful experience with Christopher's for my wedding rehearsal dinner. My mother in law did a beautiful job planning and Christophers carried it out perfectly. Service was great, food was excellent. Thank you! read more

Our group of 5 went on 4/23 at 6 p.m. Reservations were very easy and the so was the check in. We ordered drinks, appetizers and meals. The young man, who was filling up drinks was very attentive and didn't let out glasses go empty! We even said we wished we could tip him separately. The appetizers came out (onion rings and cheese sticks). Onion rings were tasty, hot n fresh, obviously a big hit! The cheese sticks were cold, very cold. We Let the server know and she took the plate of 3 (2 of which had bites in them - on our plates) and went back to the kitchen. She brought 3 back out telling us that she had the cook put them back in the fryer for a few minutes. I would have thought that a full order of a fresh batch would have been cooked and brought to our table to make this right. Sadly, it did not. Next was our meals.... 3 Chicken Parm, 1 Pizza and 1 Pasta with Meatballs (red and white sauce). Pizza was delicious and cheesy! Chicken Parm came out bubbling hot with all kinds of melty cheese. However, the chicken on this was rubbery and chewy as if it was old or microwaved, we didn't eat it, because something was off and we couldn't figure out what. The pasta with meatballs was excellent I'm being told and probably some of the best in town. Probably the option of both sauces won him over too! It was just okay, nothing I would expect for the price we paid. The server we only seen a few times and very briefly. read more

We were told this place was fancy, and we chose to sit over on the bar side instead (turn right when you enter the front). The decor is nice and well-kept, but outdated. Our waiter was great. She kept our glasses full and had prompt, friendly service. I ordered the Beaverdale Burger, and I have to say, I was severely disappointed. It was plain meat. There weren't any seasonings mixed in. Salt? Pepper? Onion powder? Greek seasoning? Nothing. It was just hamburger, and a lot of it. I had pepper jack cheese (an up-charge) on there, too, and it was still flavorless! I wasn't even motivated to finish the entire sandwich. Another Yelper mentioned the lasagna was the "best in DSM," and my husband went with that. He also said it was found wanting. He described it as "a big mass of undefined food with cheese and sauce." But they give you free bread slices with butter, so you have that going for you. This place has NO flavor. read more