A warmly run Goan restaurant offering generous, distinctive food and unusually strong value, with occasional takeaway quality and spice-consistency concerns.
Taste of Goa delivers strong food quality and attentive service that consistently earn praise from diners, with particular standouts in flavour, tender proteins, and generous portions at moderate prices. Inconsistency in execution, particularly in takeaway orders where some report bland or oily dishes, prevents a higher grade. The friendly neighbourhood setting and welcoming atmosphere make it a reliable local choice rather than a destination.
Taste of Goa feels like a friendly neighbourhood restaurant that happens to offer a genuinely regional menu. Diners describe warm welcomes, thoughtful dish recommendations, and a relaxed room with background music; one visit even included a move away from a noisy group so conversation could continue comfortably. The nearby Crouch Hill and Finsbury Park connections make it easy to reach, while regulars give it the feel of a local favourite rather than a one-off novelty. The cooking is broader and more Goan-focused than a standard high-street curry menu, with fish thalis, xacuti, ambot tik, cafreal, coconut-based curries, and plenty of seafood. The thalis are the smartest first order: they offer variety without an intimidating bill, and the breads are repeatedly singled out for their freshness and fluffiness. Most diners find the food vibrant and generous, although a small cluster of takeaway reviews reports unusually bland, oily dishes and stale bread, so dining in appears to be the safer bet for a first visit. Families are well served by the current menu: mild chicken korma, chicken tikka masala, naan, rice, breads, and familiar vegetable sides give less adventurous eaters clear options, while older children can explore thalis or grilled dishes. Reviews include a son enjoying the chicken korma, but there is no separate children's menu shown. Spice can reportedly be adjusted, though some signature curries run hot.
Area vibe: Bustling, diverse urban district centred on a major transport interchange and park.
Safety: Generally active with good evening footfall around the station but quieter residential streets can feel subdued after late hours.
What's nearby: Next to Finsbury Park station and the park itself, with shopping parades, bus/rail links and a varied local dining scene.
The thalis are the best first order, but the Goan specialities offer a few more distinctive choices.
Go for the regional cooking and warm service, but plan around the wait, spice levels, and less reliable takeaway quality.
Taste of Goa feels relaxed and welcoming until a busy group turns the room noticeably louder.