London restaurants best for... Counter dining
12 Denman St, Soho, London W1D 7HH
After beginning life in a shipping container as one of the first restaurants in Pop Brixton, Kricket has come a long way. Inspired by Indian cuisine, they offer an ever-changing menu of Indian small plates. And they feature what may be one of our favourite snacks in town, the samphire pakora dish.
10 Adelaide Street, London WC2N 4HZ
One thing you know you're going to get at any branch of Barrafina is great food. The counter seats might be gone minutes after service opens, but that only proves that the early bird catches the milk fed kidneys.
148 Clapham Manor Street, London SW4 6BX
The Manor sees the Dairy's Dean Parker heading up the kitchen in this restaurant from the people behind Clapham's hugely popular The Dairy. As the new restaurant is just down the road from The Dairy, they'll still be able to use the produce from the rooftop garden and beehives, while Delicatessen will supply the homemade charcuterie.
8/9 Lamb Street, Old Spitalfields Market, London E1 6EA
This is the third London opening for the oyster and seafood restaurant, following Soho and Borough Market. Expect a similar offering of seafood and oysters at this Spitalfields location - but with a huge seawater tank into the middle of the restaurant stacked with 10,000 shellfish allowing diners to choose their own live crab, lobster or oysters.
33 St. James's Street, London SW1A 1HD
This sees Angela Hartnett taking over the site in St James which used to hold Gordon Ramsay's original Petrus restaurant (and where she was Head Chef). Expect "regionally focused dishes, at an accessible price-point, in a relaxed and informal atmosphere – the kind of restaurant I would enjoy eating in every day".
10 Seymour Place, London W1H 5DB
Donostia serves up Basque-style tapas and pintxos in this Marylebone restaurant (the sibling restaurant of Lurra, across the road). Here you'll find top pintxos, perfectly done tortilla, plenty of txakoli and more Basque delights.
41 Dean Street, London W1D 4PY
Staffed by folk who previously worked at Hix in Clerkenwell, expect a small menu featuring the group's favourite dishes from around the world, created with seasonal British ingredients. Plus there's "bring your own vynyl" approach which lets you play your own tunes on the turntable.
28-32 St. Martin's Court, London WC2N 4AL
Fans of counter dining have long known that one of the best lunches in town was to be had up dining up at the bar in Sheekeys, if you could get a table. Happily the move sideways into an neighbouring building has allowed Sheekeys to create a brand new Oyster bar while seemlessly giving it the Sheekey magic touch.
12 Archer St, London W1D 7BB
Jacob Kenedy's Soho Italian wins universal praise for its cuisine, a well-chosen wine list and for being one of the best counter dining spots in London. Pull up a stool at the counter and enjoy the regional Italian dishes on a menu that changes regularly..
5 William IV Street, London WC2N 4DW
In an area of town more usually associated with after-office binge drinkers and faux American burger joints, the arrival of a new, cheerful Bistro offering great comfort food to the weary masses can only be a good thing.
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