Review: COUNTER, Vauxhall Arches, London

A classy brunch affair in the heart of Vauxhall...

When one's looking for a classy restaurant that serves brunch, Vauxhall doesn't necessarily spring to mind. While the Vauxhall area has been slowly becoming gentrified over the past few years, it has a reputation for being a bit seedy and lacking any decent restaurants - until COUNTER came along.

COUNTER is a 175-cover all-day bar & brasserie housed in an expansive 200-foot long arch. The decor is equal parts futuristic and retro with glittering antiqued mirrors and a palette of lacquered grey tones, which are highlighted with brass detailing and custom-made lighting set off against reclaimed teak floors.

When we arrived at around 11am on a Sunday morning, the restaurant was fairly quiet, providing a relaxing environment for my husband and I to catch up over a perfectly made latte -  a crucial part of any breakfast as one knows.

Bellinis, burgers, pancakes and so much more.

What more could a girl want?!

Food and drink ***
Ambience ****
Staff attentiveness/friendliness **

We loved the unique menu options, which provided an eclectic variety of freshly made (and seasonal) French and American inspired dishes to choose from. My husband opted for the BBQ pulled pork (£10), a hearty option consisting of grits cakes, poached egg and chipotle hollandaise, which was well seasoned and very moreish.

I opted for the breakfast burrito (£8.50), which was filled with sausage, scrambled eggs, avocado crema, spinach and jalapeño and served with a fiery dipping sauce. I loved the spiciness of the sauce and the sausage, which was perfectly balanced by the coolness of the avocado.

We also enjoyed a fabulous pineapple and coconut smoothie (£6.00), which was basically a piña colada without the booze -  really tasty and the closest thing I'll get to a beach holiday for a while!

For those needing a bit of 'hair of the dog' to counteract a hangover after a riotous weekend, Counter’s impressive brass-topped bar shakes up some of the Capital’s best tasting cocktails to sip on – whether it’s a top Tom Collins, a magnificent Martini or the quintessential Cosmo.

​Counter also offers a carefully curated wine list, comprised exclusively of French and American wines, as well as an extensive selection of laid-back craft beers to quench the thirstiest of mouths.

COUNTER also has a ‘Build Your own Bellini’ (£20) option, which includes a bottle of La Marca Prosecco and peach puree and peach slices. We loved building our bellinis and quite frankly, couldn't think of a better way to wrap up the weekend in style!
​
Ashley Miln


Counter
Vauxhall Station
7-11 South Lambeth Place
London SW8 1SP

countervauxhall.london