210.52(C)Countertops. In kitchens and dining rooms of dwelling units, ....
There is a definite location(s) specified as to where the countertops are required to have receptacles, and 210.8(A)(6) requires KITCHEN countertop areas to be protected by GFCIs, not dining room countertop spaces.
Now a determination of where the countertop area is located needs to be accessed. If the drawings (prints) designate this as a dining room, than GFCI protection is not required. If the area is not designated, then the AHJ has to make a judgement call as to what the space represents.
So my answer is, if the prints say it is a dining room, it is required to have receptacle(s), but they are not required to have GFCI protection.
Pierre
