Guest Review - Christian's Bistro

This is our first guest review by a writer known as Jeff. If you'd eaten somewhere and want to comment (even if it is outside Central Wisconsin) please send it to me! Thanks Jeff for your hard work.

Christian's Bistro
Christian’s Bistro has been open for around nine months. It is in Plover, WI near the Hampton Inn. The physical set up is very nice. It seats around eighty, but they only have six booths, so if you want a booth make sure to ask for one when you make reservations. By the way, you should definitely make reservations. We’ve found that even what you’d think of as a slow night can get busy. The one bad thing about its physical set up is the high metal ceiling and hard floors make it an echo chamber. Christian’s features an open kitchen with a food bar – it is fun to watch the goings on of the cooks while waiting for your food.

The food itself is simply a delight. The waitress told us that they rotate the menu every three months; their current menu includes entrees such as New Orleans Muffaletta Sandwich, Grilled Flat Iron Steak Panini (w/ Brie Cheese and Sweet Potato Fries), and Bacon Wrapped Gulf Shrimp, and appetizers such as Baked Three Day Duck & Wild Mushroom Strudel and Wisconsin Artisan Cheese Plate.
On my recent visit I had the Steak Panini ($9.95). It was excellent. The Brie cheese worked with the steak to create a flavorful combination. My co-eater had one of the six specials offered the night we were there – Monkfish served with broccolini on a bed of arugula ($20.00). After tasting her dish I wish I had chosen to spend the extra money. It was delicious. Our waitress told us that they get their seafood overnighted and it is never frozen. This sounded a bit like a sales pitch, but after tasting the Monk fish, I believe her!

The service was wonderful – our server was attentive but not annoying. Our only complaint is the time it took to get our food. It was a busy night, but I still think thirty minutes to get our entrees was a bit long. Combine that with the fact that they don’t provide any munchies while you wait, and it probably seemed longer than it was.
All in all, Christian’s gets an A+ from us. Excellent food, reasonable prices, good atmosphere.

EDITORS NOTE
Just wanted to add some information from their website:
Christian Czerwonka is an acclaimed chef with an A.O.S. Degree from the Culinary Institute of America. Beginning as a line cook, for superstar chef and TV personality, Emeril Lagasse, at his famous New Orleans eatery, NOLA Restaurant, he gained his southern cuisine flare and refined the art of food and wine pairings. Over the years, he moved his way up to the Chef de Cuisine, designing the menus and running Emeril's Delmonico Steak House in the Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas, and his Atlanta restaurant. Under Christian's supervision, Delmonico was voted the best Steakhouse for two years running.

3066 Village Park Drive, Plover, WI 54467
Hours of Operation:_
Open at 10:30 a.m. with seating until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday-Friday_
Open at 7:00 a.m. with seating until 8:00 p.m., Saturday_
Closed Sunday and Monday_

Quick List…Updated 11/13

Here’s an alphabetical list of places we (meaning me) would recommend eating at in the Stevens Point, Plover, Wausau area of Wisconsin. I’m not including large chain restaurants, since you know what you are getting in those anyway…
I’ll be adding to the list, but wanted to get it posted and started up. Suggestions are welcome.


Chef Chu's
Open for lunch and dinner
Chinese cuisine - great Sunday buffet
$5-$20 entrees

Christians Bistro, Plover
Open for lunch and dinner
$10-$30 entrees

The City Grill, An American Bistro, Wausau
Open for lunch and dinner
$10-$25 entrees

El Mezcal
Open for lunch and dinner
$10-$25 entrees
Excellent traditional Mexican food

The Hill Top, Stevens Point
Open for lunch and dinner
$5-$25 entrees

Hudson’s Grill, Plover and Wausau
Open for lunch and dinner
$10-$25 entrees

Pagliacci
Open for lunch and dinner
$10-$35 entrees
a little overpriced, but good food

Silver Coach, Stevens Point
Open for lunch and dinner
$20-$30 entrees

Water Street Grill, Stevens Point
Open for lunch and dinner
$10-$25 entrees

The Wright Place on 6th St, Wausau
Open for lunch and dinner
$20-$35 entrees

The Wooden Chair, Stevens Point
Open for breakfast and lunch
$5-$15

Insta Review - The Wooden Chair

Located at 1059 Main Street, Stevens Point, The Wooden Chair is another fixture in Stevens Point, much like Bernard's. Unlike Bernard's, I wholeheartedly recommend eating there. The place is full of mismatched chairs, hence the name. They are open only for breakfast and lunch, (7am-2pm). Traditionally, The Wooden Chair has been a great little eatery. Stevens Point held its collective breath a few years ago when it was sold. Thankfully, the quality hasn’t changed. They have a nice array of standard breakfast dishes with especially good omelets – my favorite the sausage and potatoes – as well as sandwiches that range from traditional to stuff the vegetarian crowd likes. The only downside is the service can be spotty. Don’t let that stop you; it’s a great little place to grab a bite.