| C O U N T E R |
Counter Vauxhall Arches
Holding the record for being the longest restaurant in London at 200 feet; Counter Bar & Brasserie is said to bring authentic contemporary French-inspired dining to Vauxhall’s arches, and I wouldn’t disagree.
Immediately I noticed the bright and spacious interiors. Counter is known for their quirky original teak parquet which has been reclaimed from an old asylum in Yorkshire. But personally, I was instantly drawn to the focal point of the restaurant: its long and bright (very, very yellow) brass-covered island-bar topped by floating lighting elements designed by Lumenzel Berlin. And as you head to those much needed bathrooms, their antiqued mirrors and select vintage objects complete the ‘Deco Meets Disco’ feel of the leading corridors, creating a total of 4,800 square foot venue.
I was curious as to why the venue had been reclaimed, as I had passed by Vauxhall multiple times and to be quite honest I had not noticed the ‘Counter” sign – which literally as of now stands out like a sore thumb. Originally, the design concept was perceived by Robert Moore and the colours chosen by Pene Parker. But meanwhile BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Mark Hill added unique touches including prints of the 18th century Vauxhall Pleasure Garden and this sparked the new buzz that is now the Counter.
Is it time to eat yet?
During the weekends, “Bottomless” brunches are served with a hint of American breakfast classics (such as Nutella-stuffed French toast, Lobster Benedict, and Blueberry Pancake Stack with Maple Syrup and Bacon).
But a spectacular menu could not be complete without a mouth-watering all-day brasserie-de-luxe menu. Counter’s includes the Wright Brothers oysters on ice, 28-day aged Chateaubriand from Dedham Vale Farm, French summer classic Salade de gesiers , and Lobster burger packed with crayfish and home-made tartar sauce.
However, because I have already been obsessing over multiple brunch spots (such as Views and Rumpus Room Ldn) I decided to try something different – a nice and quiet dinner.
Except it wasn’t quiet, it was extremely buzzing – which was expected being as it is just a few seconds from Vauxhall London station – the heart of Europe’s largest urban re-generation area.
Counter’s head chef Mahrez Loukal trained under Alain Ducasse, became head chef at Michelin-starred Chez Bruce and returned last year to London after four years as executive chef for three brasseries, including La Rotonde de la Villette, in Paris. This culmination of his experience in French cuisine and knowledge of where to source the freshest local British ingredients, including from local artisans like the Kennington Bakery, shines through in the delicious yet modern cooking at Counter.
For starters, we indulged in yummy muscles and french-styled escargot (I was surprised to see such a large portion of starter, especially in London) and my main of Braised French Trimmed Lamb Shank and Ray’s Slow-cooked whole Poussin with Fresh cep, Lemon and Herb Butter.
I would definitely return to this amazing venue with the hopes of trying their brunch menu, and I’ll be more than surprised if it is any better than the dinner experience we had at The Counter.
Oh, and one more thing…
Later at the bar the mixologists served signature cocktails such as the refreshing Goding Fizz with rosemary and cucumber infused Beefeater gin, alongside curated wines from France and the USA and craft beers. I don’t drink and will always recommend virgin substitutes, however if you are going to indulge then this is the spot to be.
Need I say more?
Address:
Counter, 50 S Lambeth Pl, London SW8 1SP
Contacts:
For all restaurant bookings please contact: 02036939600
For all press enquiries please contact JPR Media Group, adriana@jprmediagroup.com,
t: 020 7584 1978
To visit Counter and further information please visit: http://www.counterrestaurants.com/
Opening Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:00am-11:30pm
Saturday 9:00am-12:00am
Sunday 9:00am-11:00pm
Please click here for more information about our founder Philip Reicherstorfer and his company.
Thank you, Phillip ❤
| F O L L O W | T H E M |
| I N S T A G R A M | | F A C E B O O K | | T W I T T E R |
Thank you, JPR Media Group ❤
#FoodisLife #FoodisLove #FoodisEverything
| T H I S | I S | M Y | B E A U T I F U L |
| F | M | B |
Eni Maj 