Will writes...

I sold a camera to a lady photographer heading to Goa over Christmas and after work on Thursday I decided to follow in her footsteps from Fratton station, down Albert Road, past the Kings Theatre to Goa Indian Restaurant. 

The PLACE is one of about 7 maybe 8 curry houses within a 100 yard stretch, sandwiched among antique shops brimming with urban bohemia.  Warm and snug inside it didn’t take long for Tim and I to forget the cold outside.  Did take a full half hour before we got round to ordering.  While we were blabbing waiters must have been wondering whether we’d order anything, were very patient and didn’t rush us mind, indeed SERVICE was polite and restrained all evening i.e. how I like it.  Anyhow after a glass from a decent and very resonably priced Beaujolais (not Claret! I know the difference Mr Albarn!) and Poppadoms with standard condiments I chose Tandoori Mixed Starter, followed by Chicken Tikka Jalfrezi with rice and a Dry Mixed Vegetables.  PRICES are at takeaway level and in view of the FOOD to follow, good value.  Highlights included Lamb Tikka in a lovely yoghurty marinade, a fat Sheekh Kebab, then a super Jalfrezi with a lovely butter cocktail sauce.  Tim’s the type who can’t read menu’s and chose to order pilau rice and a Keema Naan with his toothsome Chicken Tikka Balti which of course came with a naan anyway (silly boy).  We dined very contentedly for a good two and a half hours, left internal fires stoked, a glow in our cheeks.

In SUMMARY don’t visit Goa expecting the real deal, smouldering white sand, dark shiny skinned fishermen in nappies, turbans, hanging fish to dry in the blistering sun.  The waiters are fully clothed and the food is standard indian restaurant in Britain fare but done well, that’s why one should go, as well as the fact one doesn’t have to feel guilty about one’s carbon trail afterwards!

(January 2007)

Five of us crowded in, Thursday 1st March.  Absence of table cloths meant cutlery and crockery sliding around as if abroad ship rolling in heavy seas…or was this the effect induced by another bottle of Beaujolais (?). 

Anyhow the food of good standard again.  Little faulting Kebab roll, a fat, juicy sheekh wrapped in a roti or main courses.  These included Chicken Nizami, Madras based curry (tomato puree, pepper etc), juicy tikka slivers with a swirl of dijon mustard that danced on the palate, rustic yellow Massala Dal, plated up Pilau Rice and a little Chicken Makani, aka butter chicken.  Goa is consistent, sound cooking at constant low prices.