Harden's says

A small place named after its big service counter; it opened originally as a takeaway cheeseburger joint, but has changed to be "the small sit down to eat place we were waiting to be" in July 2021.

survey result

Not enough people have commented yet

Our reviews are based on an annual survey of ordinary diners which runs in Spring each year. But this establishment has not yet gathered enough feedback for our editors to write it up.

Do you think it deserves to be better known?

Write a quick review now using our restaurant diary service. That way it might catch our attention. Next survey, you can transfer your diary entry into our survey system. Everyone who contributes 5 or more reviews in our survey will qualify for a free guide.

For 35 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at Big Counter?

Victoria House, 76 Victoria Road, Glasgow, G42 7AA

What the Newspaper Critics are saying

The Times

Chitra Ramaswamy raved about an unusually “concept-less” restaurant with no website or signage that over its five years has “become a great one”, “home to some of the most generous, comforting, and deeply pleasurable food not just in Glasgow, but the whole of the UK”. 

“Cheery, unpretentious and random-indie-bistro-ish in spirit”, with “ridiculously photogenic tomato-red Formica tables”, it serves a short menu of pan-European dishes, including sharing steaks in technically perfect sauces and desserts that are “inelegant and all the more fabulous for that”.

One highlight stood out: “Asparagus with clams and ham, in a bath of lemony buttery glossiness, is simultaneous exactly what it says it is and more than the sum of its parts. A tremendous dish… one of the best plates I’ve eaten in ages.”

chitra Ramaswamy - 2026-06-07
Victoria House, 76 Victoria Road, Glasgow, G42 7AA
Opening hours
MondayCLOSED
TuesdayCLOSED
WednesdayCLOSED
Thursday6 pm‑9 pm
Friday5 pm‑9 pm
Saturday5 pm‑9 pm
Sunday4 pm‑7:30 pm

Best British, Modern restaurants nearby

The Ivy Buchanan Street
British, Modern restaurant in Glasgow
£94
 ££££
1
Poor
2
Average
3
Good
Red Onion
British, Modern restaurant in Glasgow
£41
    £
3
Good
4
Very Good
3
Good
Unalome by Graeme Cheevers
British, Modern restaurant in Glasgow
£133
£££££
4
Very Good
4
Very Good
3
Good