Cornbread madeleines and poussin with grits; Appalachia will serve up Southern food with a London polish

It's all change over at the restaurant formerly known as Counter 71 in Shoreditch. The chef's table restaurant previously focused on an all-British menu. Now it's being turned into Appalachia, a restaurant inspired by the mountainous region of the US.

For the new restaurant, a new chef has been brought in - Alistair Borer (ex-Smoking Goat and Nutbourne). He's taking the American co-owners Camilla Meshiea and Ryan Sheenan's vision to the table. And really, the idea to turn the restaurant over to American influences does marry the whole space here together as the bar downstairs, Lowcountry run by Ryan, already pays homage to the American south.

And while the counter-led restaurant will stay in the same form, the menu is going to be very different. Dishes on Borer's menu include smoked eel and jalapeños deviled eggs, cornbread madeleines, grilled poussin with grits and pork chop with collard greens. We also like the sound of the curried crab omelette.

Following a three-week refresh, the restaurant is gearing up to open next month.