Lamberts

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http://chopstix2steaknives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/lambert...

We found ourselves in a restaurant called Lambeth. It was a comfortable setting which exudes a charming modern vibe.

We opted for the fixed menu (2 course £17, 3 course £20) which offered quite a good selection.

I was genuinely surprised with the quality of the food which all came out consistently well seasoned and delicious.

This is one place that I wish was in my neighbourhood. Good food and Great value – what more could you ask for.

Decent British food, not extremely adventurous in terms of flavour and ingredients, but I guess the philosophy of the restaurant is to use seasonal and local ingredients, which does limit the range of dishes that can be produced.

Execution was hit and miss – our cauliflower soup with smoked haddock and quail’s egg was spot on, but the six hour roast pork belly was very tough, but my pan fried pollock fillet was extremely fresh and well cooked.

£20 for 3 courses on a Saturday lunch menu is not bad. In the City you pay £30+ for that, but you also do get more interesting menus and consistent execution (The Chancery is a good example). But for Balham, it is probably one of the finer and better restaurants in the area and £20 for 3 courses is not bad. A pity that the service charge was 12.5% – I personally feel unless it is a very high end restaurant with exceptional levels of service, 10% is good enough.

09/09 EDIT: We went back here again on a Tuesday evening, and found the meal qjuite disappointing. Despite a more than half empty restaurant, our main courses took more than half an hour after we finished our starters – I suspect the kitchen forgot our order. Furthermore, after enquiring where our food was, it took another further 10 minutes for more complimentary bread to be brought (and two measley slices at that!). When the food arrived, although the fish was warm, the crushed potatoes were cold. The final kick in the teeth was when the bill came – and there was still a 12.5% discretionary charge still attached. Review has now been downgraded to 2 out of 5 stars.

Reviewed by The London Insider
http://www.london-insider.co.uk/2011/01/review-lamberts-r...

Probably one of the few 'Proper' restaurants in Balham i.e. not a pub/bar with food and not a themed or ethnic speciality place. Sort of French/Modern but not mean on portions. Some 'brown-rice' type stuff for the veggies but enough of a mix to keep everyone happy. A little pricey but worth it for something a bit posh.

I would buy them a pint.

Lamberts is a cosy little place – right next to Balham station, it is ideally located, as it is easily accessible in high-heels (if you are having a super posh dinner date, which we weren’t), and you can get as drunk as a skunk and still get home in one piece, with no trouble (which we did).

Slightly unsteady for having two cocktails at once (pre-meal drinks down the road), we were shown to our table. We took an age just deciding on drinks, because we were so overwhelmed by the delicious sounding menu options. Finally, Paul took the bull by the horns and ordered us each a champagne cocktail, and a bottle of their Saint Chinian 2005 (to share!!) The waiter staff were very attentive and spotted every time we finished a bottle of water throughout the evening, promptly replacing it.

Eventually, we managed to decide on what we wanted to order, and vowed to share a taste of each dish.

For starters, I predicted correctly that Ben would home in on the Cornish squid, served with black pudding, confit tomato and dill oatcakes. I chose roasted Jerusalem artichoke soup, topped with rabbit ravioli and thyme oil. Angharad chose the potted ham hock and peas, with grilled spelt bread (which would have been my alternative choice), and Paul went for the partridge Wellington, plum purée and spiced jus. The latter, we were warned, would take an extra ten minutes to prepare, but it was all beautifully timed and all starters arrived within moments of each other.

For our mains, I could do nothing but chose the duck: if duck is on the menu, it is MY duck. Here, it was glazed Telmara farmed duck breast, presse of leg, smoked garlic mash, baby gem, peas and bacon. Ben went for the rare breed beef (which was Galloway) from the chargrill, chips, portobello mushroom and peppercorn sauce, and he had a side of baby gem, peas and bacon as an extra. Angharad went for the game of the day, which was saddle of deer, and came served with a potato rosti, and finally Paul chose the herb crusted saddle of Blackface lamb, garlic & thyme potato terrine with caramelised pearl onions.

We all tried all of the courses (except Angharad wouldn’t touch Ben’s starter with a bargepole, for fear of tentacles) and agreed it was the best meal we have had in a long time. I know that once Angharad gets back from her travels she intends to review the food on her blog, and so I will post a link to that once it’s up.

Finally, what is a fine-dining experience without the gluttony of pudding that none of us really need or have space for? Exactly.

Angharad has the elderflower & creme fraiche tart, strawberry sherbert and Secrett’s farm strawberries, and I said “yes!” to the Amedei Toscana chocolate mousse, malt ice cream and shortbread. Ben was content with a piece of shortbread to accompany his whisky (a Benromach Peat Smoke from Speyside) and Paul and I split a decanter of port (although by this point I was thoroughly plastered and ready for sleep – it was a Quinta do Tedo, LBV, 2002). Oh Lamberts, I WILL be back.

We paid our bill. Ben ate three of the four complimentary truffles that came with it. We piled into a taxi and headed home, vowing to explore our local area more in future.

Great resturant, but not quite up there with Chez Bruce and the pricing is pretty similar.Good produce well cooked, lovely decor. Each time I go I never fail to be impressed.

This is one of the best restaurants in London to my mind - and I've eaten in a lot - and definitely the best one south of the river. Joe Lambert has done an amazing job and his staff are the last word in excellence!

This is one of the best local restaurants in London and serves food which is just as good as many of the top central London restaurants.

If you’re a SW london person i recommend Lamberts over Chez Bruce and it’s worth the trek if you’re not a local.

I reckon this is the best restaurant in Balham right now (Chez Bruce is better, but it’s in Wandsworth Common, not Balham).

Great food, good service and not bad value.

Great fusion restaurant just south of Balham Tube, offering a European style menu in clean and classy surroundings. The service is friendly and the wine list extensive. Add to this great food and a relaxed romantic atmosphere, and you’re talking about one of the best kept secrets in Balham.

With dinner deals at £16 for two courses, and some seriously good steak for meat lovers, this place isn’t going to break the bank either, so instead of heading into town for the pricey, poncey places, try this place on for size.