Cristina's Barking

Good variety & generous portions — Cristina’s offers a wide menu: steaks (rump, rib‑eye, fillet, etc.), smoked brisket, burgers, chicken dishes, fish & chips, and even Sunday roasts. Often solid food quality (especially steaks and burgers) — Many recent diners praise perfectly cooked steaks, juicy burgers, and dishes like brisket‑mac‑and‑cheese, “The Mess Burger,” or ribs. Halal + flexible dietary options available — The restaurant states it serves halal meat, and offers vegetarian/vegan or non‑meat dishes as well. Welcoming, casual vibe — good for groups or family/friends outings — The overall ambience is described as cosy and friendly; staff have been praised at times for being helpful and accommodating dietary needs. Reasonable pricing for what you get — Compared with central‑London steakhouses, Cristina’s positions itself as more affordable while trying to maintain good quality. Popular and busy — booking recommended, especially for weekends or Sunday roasts — Because it’s well‑liked, Cristina’s can get crowded. One former branch (in Hackney) closed in part due to difficulties with expansion and consistency. You want a hearty, meat‑focused meal (steak, brisket, burgers) at reasonable-ish prices in East London. You’re with friends/family and want a relaxed, casual dining spot that’s more welcoming and affordable than West‑End steakhouses. a good, solid neighbourhood steakhouse with clear strengths and reasonable value, but with the usual trade‑offs of casual dining (some inconsistency, variable service, meat‑heavy menu).

As soon as I walked in to the moment I left was sensational! My beautiful friends brought me here to celebrate my birthday as I have just turned 18 and I tried a selection of starters and main courses…. The brisket burger and steak was deeeeliciousssss!! The marrow and butter candle was heaven on a plate! You have to have the hot rolls with it it’s too good to miss. I had a lovely cheer for my bday and even a lovely song played for me with the most amazing cake…. Tiramisu mixed with choc cake on the bottom 😋 Thank you to the lovely staff Maria and Edite you both were wonderful. Defo coming back

I first went to Cristina’s in Barking in 2019 and again in 2022. Both times I came away really impressed. I used to tell people that for the price and the flavour, this was the best steak place I’d been to. It was an easy five stars back then. Parking is still pretty much the same. ASDA is the best option and spending £5 to validate your car reg is worth it because parking around Barking is limited. I went back in December 2025 after three years away. The interior and the atmosphere are still pleasant, so I was looking forward to the meal. For starters I had the cheeseburger spring rolls. They were actually very nice and something different that I hadn’t tried before. The disappointment started with the mains. We ordered one rump and one sirloin, but we were served two rump steaks. We were told it could be fixed, but it would mean waiting around 20 to 30 minutes. We were really hungry, so we decided to keep what was brought out, but it wasn’t ideal. Considering Cristina’s is not somewhere you can visit regularly in this economy, we wanted this visit to feel special. The rump steak was meant to be medium rare but some parts were burnt, which was strange. One of the sauces also made the steak taste too salty, though I’m not sure if it was the sauce or the steak itself. The lady serving us was lovely and offered a complimentary dessert as an apology. We declined because a small discount on the bill would have made more sense, especially as we really wanted to try the sirloin and it might be a while before we can come back again. Apart from the mix-up, the service overall was very good. I just left feeling disappointed because this is a place I used to praise so much. I’ve been to expensive high-end steak places, but I always thought Cristina’s beat them on flavour and value. This visit didn’t match my previous experiences. I’m not sure when I’ll visit again, but if things improve, I’ll update this review.