Mambow

First of all this is a restaurant run by two women. In my youth women chefs were as rare as hens teeth and I have always waved the flag for women chefs, as I have grown up. Here the two women chef proprietors, via their mothers, aunts and grandmothers have created a wonderful menu of Malaysian style dishes all of which you will find nowhere else that I know of. Don’t come here for old favourites. Chilli is present but not overpowering and spicing and flavouring are as original as the ingredients. I hate congee, a sort of rice porridge, but at Mambow it is boiled, dried ,then steamed, cut into strips with a sauce added and is delicious. As you can see the chef owner was willing to take time to talk to me about what she was doing. The service was good enough, but could have been more polished, perhaps that is something they want to work on. Really only one waitress is all there is room for, but she was a bit rushed, being on her own. The place is crowded and noisy with a young person’s vibe, but the clientele when I visited was older and whatever vibe you seek you will find the food top class. The two deserts were lovely. Plenty to drink. Prices as cheap as can be managed in the current climate, so expect to spend £70 a head without alcohol. Or chose less and cheaper dishes. We had the stuffed skate which was wonderful as it should be at nearly £30 per portion. You order several dishes and share. The people at the next table ordered less dishes and presumably spent less. Lower Clapton Road, where the hell is that?....obviously in Hackney where it is leading the charge of a wave of new style restaurants. One thing check the address and number in Lower Clapton Road as the signage is as modest as the tastes are immodest. And the front door is hidden by a bus stop when there is a bus in it.