London's longest restaurant!

A Second Serving reviews Counter in Vauxhall...

Counter, which is officially known as London's longest restaurant, is an all-day bar and brasserie that serves up a refined American and French menu. Nestled in a 200ft long arch underneath Vauxhall station, it's a smart and ambitious addition to an area that will only get bigger and better in the future. The beautifully designed space, which is full of grey booths, pretty mirrors and warm, yellow lighting, really is worth stopping off for and should definitely be put on your 'to do' list.

My delicious starter

Why go? 

The food really is pretty damn amazing. For my starter I opted for the tostada after a recommendation from the waiter. It was made up of stone bass fillet (ceviche), corn tortilla, avocado, yuzu vinaigrette and black sesame, which all gelled together brilliantly. The dish felt fresh and healthy and the soft fish and avocado really stood out against the crunchy tortilla. For my main, I went for the lamb rump. It was served pink (exactly as I like it), and came with artichokes, baby aubergines and confit tomatoes. My partner, who had the southern fried chicken, couldn't stop raving about it. Not only was it a huge portion (and no bones) it was much healthier than it sounded as it came in a light batter with spring greens and a sweet potato puree. For dessert, I had rhubarb panna cotta and this was probably up there with the best panna cotta I've ever had. It was creamy, sharp and sweet… just perfect. While the food was delicious, the service was even better. When our waiter saw we weren't sure what wine to go for he paired up a glass of white and red with each dish and this felt like a really special and personal touch.

 

 Downsides?

Frustratingly, the atmosphere of the whole place seemed a little lacking. We visited on a Thursday night, so you'd expect it to be busy, but it was still pretty quiet. This is a shame because Counter really should be noticed for the great place it is. Hopefully in the future more people will stop rather than just travel through the area.

Location?

Arch, 50 S Lambeth Pl, London SW8 1SP