The Counter

The above at its new location

The Counter is expanding!
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It’s a great pleasure to put my tuppence worth on this place. Three words precede the rest of the review, what a find! With thanks to Nicola and James H for the heads up re The Counter café.

If you don’t live in the immediate area or drive for that matter, the quickest way to reach The Counter is by buses 276 or 488 from either Hackney Wick or Bow Church.

Come 2012, it’ll be a lot easier to come here as The Counter is located within a dessiatine of the new Olympic Stadium. The current state of the café’s location can be described as that of an industrial estate but urban wasteland chic is more apt.

With the exception of under lit and dingy basement establishments, I’m one of those people who can easily adapt to swish places like Le Gavroche or the uncontrived rawness of places like The Counter.

The deliberate omission of discipline when it comes to the décor and furniture is nothing short of heroic. This place projects an ambience of ‘easy like Sunday morning’ calmness about it, and that includes all the other days the café is open on as well. Architects and interior designers should come here and draw on the no nonsense meaning of urban-rustic ease.

The Counter is owned and run by the lovely Jess (although her Kiwi twang made it sound more like Jizzz).

Like Lantana, this is also one the very few discerning and independent coffee shops that offer cooked breakfasts and lunches. As it’s in the case with the current coffee culture in London, the people who come here are often young and energetic, which then makes me geriatric. Well I don’t give a monkey’s, if I end up with a Zimmer frame, I’ll still wheel myself here because it’s worth the bleeding effort.

I’m not giving any prizes away for guessing who supplies the coffee here.

A* Flattus Maximus made by Aussie Will.

The Big Breakfast

The homemade beans and tomato chutney were excellent.

I'm not exactly laden with oestrogens but I wanted to try out the mochaccino.
Sod the hot chococlate this is miles better!

I'm definitely coming back...

Second visit.

Another perfect flattie to liven up your day.

Mumbai Spicy Scramble

Typical Kiwi improvisation.
An audacious alternative to the usual smoked salmon. Stonkingly sublime.

Addictive homebaked ANZAC biscuit.

Purposeful Long Black to ensure that I stay awake for the rest of my wonderful Sunday here.

I’ve had three memorable experiences so far in 2009 and The Counter is one of them. This place is unavoidable, it may well be the holy grail of coffee places in London. A recommendation of paramount importance is thus deserved.

7 Roach Rd,
Hackney Wick
London E3 2PA

www.thecountercafe.co.uk