An enduring chapter in Wheaton’s dining history has come to a close. Cristina Ristorante Italiano, the beloved neighborhood Italian restaurant that has been a staple for over two decades, closed its doors permanently on Monday after making the decision to not renew the expiring lease.
The restaurant, located at 2666 University Boulevard West, first opened in May of 2002. It was the vision of owner Nick Kontos, a seasoned restaurateur with deep roots in the local dining scene. Kontos had previously found success running two other well-known establishments at La Panetteria and the Athenian Plaka Bethesda. When he took over the Wheaton space, his goal was to bring a taste of upscale, traditional Italian cuisine to a new customer base.
Kontos, a man of two culinary worlds, brought a unique perspective to his work. The son of an Italian mother and a Greek father, he learned to appreciate the native cuisines of both his parents from a young age. This dual heritage has long been a source of passion, and a good-natured dilemma. “I’ll be honest,” Kontos once said in an interview with the Patch. “I can say 50/50. I love both. I used to have a Greek restaurant, and I missed the Italian food. Now, I have an Italian restaurant, and I miss the Greek food.”…