Nancy Lam’s Enak Enak – best restaurant on Lavender Hill

November 2011
– This post (below) supersedes Lardbutty’s previous blog on Enak Enak + upgrades the rating from 4.5/ 5 to *top rank 5/ 5*.

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Exceptional Asian-fusion dishes at family-run local restaurant

Every time I’ve been to Enak Enak the food has been exceptional. On our latest visit – an early birthday celebration for BK – we were shown to our table with the usual warm reception.

Celebration mee – a cause for celebration indeed…

 

Starters: mixed satay platter, tom yum soup + beancurd with peanut sauce

A sign of the times, the restaurant was only half full (this side of Lavender Hill is slightly off the beaten track after all) but serving staff were their usual hospitable, attentive selves.

And Nancy Lam doesn’t just put her name over the door. She was – as ever – milling around the restaurant, chatting with customers, ensuring everything was to satisfaction and generally giving it her personal touch.

For starters the three of us shared mixed satay (BBQ prawn, really tender spare-rib, chicken with peanut sauce and achar achar pickles) @ 12.95, chicken tom yum soup @ £5.75 and tahu goreng (crispy fried bean curd with beansprouts-disguised-as-cabbage-strips and peanut sauce) @ £7.95. Beautiful.

Beef rendang – rump steak stewed in exotic spices, finished with a touch of coconut

For mains, K had his usual: beef rendang @ £9.75 (he loves it so much that even though he wants to try other dishes on the menu, he just can’t quite bring himself to forfeit the rendang). BK had the same, and I managed to venture away from my favourite squid dishes on this occasion and had lamb curry @ £10.50, which I requested to be slightly hot. It had a lovely warm, spicy kick to it and was beautifully tender.

Lamb curry – so tender, with a gentle spicy kick

A main course averages at around £13 (including rice @ £2.75) which is inexpensive for such premium food and comfortable surroundings. And bottles of wine start from around £20.

Pak choi – side vegetable dish @ £6.50

Cashew nut fried mee – egg noodles with fresh veg + cashew nuts @ £8.50

More of the menu:

Mixed satay starter: BBQ prawns, chicken satay, spare ribs, achar achar

Beef satay starter

Udang Lemak – prawns in sambal sauce + coconut cream

Virgin squid in lemongrass + coconut with cashew nut fried mee etc

The verdict: LardButty rarely gives full marks to restaurants, as there’s usually some room for improvement. I’ve had several faultless experiences at Nancy Lam’s now, where we couldn’t be made to feel more welcome and comfortable if we were in someone’s own home. The whole experience at Enak Enak is really satisfying and special.

Restaurant info:
– Lardbutty rating: 5 / 5
– Photos on flickr More photos of Enak Enak food>>>
– Type: Indonesian/ SE Asian fusion
– Address: 56 Lavender Hill, London, SW11 5RQ
– Nearest stations: Clapham Common (tube) or Queenstown Rd, Clapham Junction (mainline)
– Enak Enak website
– Sample menu (as of Nov 2011): Enak Enak dinner menu
– Location: Enak Enak map

Even more
– Marco Pierre White says it’s worth a visit>>>

– Nancy Lam on This Morning TV making Beef Rendang 

– BK’s b’day – being looked after:

Sample menu: