Lombok, Half Moon Lane, south London

An unassuming local restaurant serving an array of Asian food, Lombok is the place to go in  Herne Hill for a respectable Thai curry. The menu offers a broad list of dishes from across Asia, including Thai green curries, red curries, taramind duck, Singapore chilli crab, wok fried chicken and pad Thai noodles. The curries tend to be a choice of chicken or king prawn. The starters can be a bit disappointing - the dim sum, for example, may be lame, while the chicken wrapped in seaweed can be a bit dry - - it really needs the accompanying soy sauce. The main courses, which tend to come in big portions, are better. The delicious, rich and filling Massaman curry (about £9)  - one of the chef specials - is served in lamb, beef or chicken variations and includes potatoes, onions and peanuts. A bowl of good steamed rice costs £1.70, while Tiger or Singha beer is about £3 a bottle. The service can be a little gruff, but is efficient and quick. Lombok is robust enough to ride out a recession or two. 7/10