Navsika’s Taverna

With the sun high in the sky, warming our bones and encouraging the family out in their summer best, today seemed the ideal day for a trip to a place I’ve been meaning to try for ages, Nafsikas Taverna at the end of my road on Green Lanes.
Inevitably, a new and unfamiliar place triggered a «What are we going to EAT» sulk in the small ones as we sat down, but it wasn’t long before the warm welcome we received brought shy grins to their faces.
Not sure what we wanted we wandered to the ‘kitchen’ (that’s a bit like what it feels like, sitting in someones kitchen — except there’s optics over the sink, hmmm there’s an idea) and chose our meals.
The kids were more than happy with their chicken kebabs, rice and salad, Mr E pronounced his generous portion of pastichio, made with macaroni, pork and a layer of bechamel on top, delicious and my stuffed vegetables were perfectly cooked. I’m not normally a big fan of vine leaves but my dolmades simply melted in my mouth.
Being a bank holiday (as if an excuse was needed), we treated ourselves to a couple of Keo beers. Two types of bread and salad came automatically to the table.
The children by now were thoroughly at home with the small one wandering around and getting fussed over by the other diners and staff. As we left, they pronounced it ‘the best restaurant’ and were already asking when they could go again. Doesn’t come much more child friendly than that!
Lunch for 4 with 2 beers: £26
Very child friendly

The only Greek restaurant left in Harringay which has a selection of traditional Greek and Cypriot dishes. Atmosphere is quite subdued but they normally have some football on during the week but on Friday and Saturday nights they have live Greek music in the back room. I heard it’s pretty good but haven’t managed it yet.
The food is good quality though not the best and sometimes they heat things up in the microwave depending on the time. But the stews and ospria (pulses) are excellent, healthy and even at times vegetarian. There is charcoal always burning so the souvlakia and souvla are fresh and tasty. The starters are great and all traditional Greek like halloumi and lountza, tzatziki, houmous and my fav tahini, all served with piping hot pitta. Mmmmm.
They serve alcohol from beer to congac, scotch, and wine.
All this and reasonably priced too. They could do with smiling a bit more but hey, the food’s good!

Disappointing, having been recommended by a Greek colleague of my wife, we went in hope and left with a slightly bitter taste in our mouths. Charging fifteen quid for a bottle of Aphrodite is a bit over the top, so £29 for two below par kleftiko and a bottle of plonk, won’t be back in a rush, or maybe even ever…