Fantastic people, food and such a unique experience. So much personal interaction with a staff that is so personable, knowledgeable and invested in making your dining experience a one of a kind. The counter style seating makes interacting and viewing the staff at work is incredibly cool. read more

Counter- - Street food tasting menu; March - May 2023 - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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My friend and I came for the street food experience. I want to start by saying that everything was really delicious. I really liked getting to try all different things. We also had the wine pairings which were perfectly matched. Double thumbs up. While this was easily the best meal I have had in Charlotte, what made it even better was they why behind what we were eating. Knowing how much effort is being put back into the community that absolutely needs it, along with the charity pop ups, I'm really looking forward to coming back again and not just supporting a great chef, staff, and restaurant, but one that stands for something more. In addition to all these great things, it was one of the first times I saw staff preparing dishes that didn't look stressed. Everyone was so happy and it was a welcome experience. The counter concept was pretty cool too. 6 stars. Oh also I have an annoying allergy and it was accommodated flawlessly and didn't take away from any of the dishes! read more

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My boyfriend and I went to for the "Aphrodisiac" event for Valentine's Day and it was quite the culinary show. Everything was carefully thought out and perfectly executed from service to food. Counter- now takes the reign for the best fine dining in the city because it is unlike any restaurant with its whimsical and playful approach to food. Chef Sam Hart worked at Michelin-star Alinea in Chicago and it shows... I also really appreciated that they could modify the tasting menu to any dietary restriction, as we are both pescatarian. On top of inspired food, they pair each course with a song and all events/ seasonal menus are themed. Every technique was perfectly executed and left me wanting more. Well worth the $$$$ and a must try for avid adventurous foodies. You will leave surprised. Thank you to the Counter- team for pulling this off we will be back! read more

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This is the best meal I've had in NC, and one of the best meals I've ever had. Everything and every detail - service, quality of ingredients, presentation, atmosphere, overall experience - was exceptional. It's expensive but considering the experience was on par with 3* Michelin restaurants that cost twice as much, the value is also exceptional. It is a tasting menu. They will accommodate virtually any dietary restrictions, but you're not going to know what's being served ahead of time. So, if you're not an adventurous eater, it may not be your thing. If you're looking for an amazing and memorable dining experience, you can't do better than Counter-. read more

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Amazing experience at Counter, the food is delicious and the service is top notch. I loved how the food was all based on a theme and that you learn as you enjoy the food. Will definitely be back! read more

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Had an amazing evening at Counter for their "drive theme " dinner . Seven courses of wonderful interpretations of the greatest drive thrus I. America ! Music and decor were well thought out making the meal and experience. Hard to choose what course was the best . I loved the take on filet of fish and krispy crème but the crazy last dessert presentation made the evening ! Thank you Chef Same and team ! Can't wait to return ! read more

Too much time spent on the "experience", not enough on the food. Chef wouldn't stop talking the ENTIRE MEAL. 5 minute breaks between every course for him to explain the food really made the meal borderline laborious to sit through. read more

I will admit, after reading some of the coverage leading up to Counter's opening, I thought the whole music pairing concept was going to feel like a gimmick. But I was delightfully surprised. A reservation at Counter is equal parts fine dining, molecular gastronomy, performance art, story telling, musical journey, and cooking show. Of course none of that would matter if the food wasn't good. Luckily, they delivered the goods and it was fantastic. Counter is a very welcomed addition to the Charlotte food scene. I encourage you to give it a try before the secret gets out and it's impossible to get a reservation. read more

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Thank you Chef Sam for bringing this gem to Charlotte! As others have mentioned the menu is theme based and changes, but what a wonderful experience. You would think that given the nod to the artistry of food, music, and art that the dinner would be somewhat pretentious, but given the warmth of Sam and the staff - it is far from that. I've dined at many fine restaurants but this experience was something different. What I think other reviewers fail to highlight is the quality of both the ingredients and the preparation. We'll be trying to get a season pass for 2024! read more

To start, the food was incredible and the attention to detail was 100% noted. Perfecto to the presentation, sauces, food. The staff did a great job as well. My downgrade from 4 to 5 starts is that the chef's, while interactive, was not personable. He told his story of the food to the group, yes, he plated the food, yes, but when he plated he showed ZERO one on one personality. Like he c was comfortable putting on the show, but couldn't take the time to say anything personal when he was standing two feet in front of you pouring the finishing sauce on the meat for example. Honestly, very strange. The final blow for me was that his good buy parting words to the group, was that he asked us that if we enjoyed the service and wanted to do something extra, we could donate to one of his 3 selected charities. Mind you that my meal for two was $900 between the main meal, wine pairing, and caviar. To ask me to contribute to your charities is a huge pet peeve and turn off of mine. I have my own charities. Don't try to get me to ante up for yours. I won't return because of that. In summary, overall great experience but one and done. A little too impersonal and formal for me as far as the chef interaction. Atmosphere a little cold. Has potential but .... Lacking for me. read more

We purchased the very first season pass to Counter- and have happily participated in every seasonal dinner since they opened. Sam Hart, Elinn Hesse, and the entire team create a very unique culinary experience. In short, they are bold. Are you going to love every single dish? Of course not, but you will never be bored. They will challenge your palate with beautiful and delicious food while entertaining you with kickass music. read more

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Counter- was a unique experience among restaurants I've dined at in Charlotte. There may be a couple of other restaurants with tasting menus now, but I'm sure there are none that pair their dishes with both fantastic wine choices and music! Chef Sam and the other staff were personable, helpful and friendly. We felt very welcome at Counter-, and quite enjoyed our experience. We purchased the standard wine pairing, and we were both quite happy with the quality and appropriateness of the pairings. We also purchased the truffle add-on, and our personal opinion is that while this additional course was tasty, unless you truly appreciate truffles (we know nothing about them), you may not find this addition to be worth the extra cost. I would definitely recommend Counter- for the hospitality, originality and quality of food. I'm looking forward to returning and trying the next set of innovative dishes! read more

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The best restaurant in Charlotte. Unique concept that I've not seen anywhere. Will be coming back many times in the future. read more

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This dinner was amazing. Chef Sam is passionate about his love of Prince and worked some magic with this special menu. Every dish was perfection and the coordinating music was played exactingly. Everyone involved with our dinner was a professional through and through. Yes, the price is ridiculous and YES the experience is ridiculous. I came fully prepared to leave still hungry but did not! I will absolutely be back for another experience. read more

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This restaurant is incredibly underwhelming. While they are definitely trying to be unique in a city that has no other similar restaurants, it's just okay. Chef Sam has a big ego. If you ask him, the restaurant is worthy of a Michelin Star. But it falls flat in many aspects. To start with, some of the staff has an attitude. They yelled at my husband and I that we came in the wrong door. Ummm, okay. Have better lighting and signage. Secondly, their decor felt like a bachelor pad with a hodge podge of flags from around the World. The food tasted just okay. The courses that we liked the best were from their one Asian chef. The rest were lack luster. The restaurant is trying really hard to be an Oriole (Chicago) or Alinea (Chicago) but it isn't. For the money, there are better options in Charlotte. read more

Counter has been on my list of places to try. When the "Street Food" segment was announced, I jumped right on it! So happy I did. When you walk in the doors of Biblio, a hostess is their to greet you and check you in. He was super nice. I sat at the bar while I waited and was offered a complimentary glass of wine (which was delicious) while I waited for my section to be seated. When it was my turn to go back, I grabbed my glass and was guided down this beautiful hallway filled with butterfly artwork. Turns out, they were cutouts of albums played during their events. You tell them your name and they take you to your designated seat. I didn't originally have a wine pairing, but after the week I had, decided to go all in on the experience. Best decision made! All the wines were delicious and incredibly paired. From the music, to the wine, to the artwork, everything was expertly paired and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience! Can't wait to go back again! read more

Counter- - Complimentary wine and the passport/menu for the night. - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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This place is so so fun for charlotte! Such an experience. Perfect for date night. Don't go here if you need to have important conversations over dinner, it's too interactive for that. I would always get the wine pairing and whatever course add-on they offer. Cannot recommend enough! read more

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We actually loved every part of our time at dinner - every part was carefully thought out and executed, from pre-dinner wait to music before every course. It was dinner and a show. It is an interactive experience - this is meant to be shared with those around you and the artists/chefs themselves. We had the drive-thru themed dinner and loved every bit! Highly recommend. The folks were so happy and seemed to very much love their job and taking care that we had the best time. Thank you so! read more

Underwhelming is a compliment for how bad the food was coupled with the astronomical pricing. My reason for 2 stars and not zero was the service and effort. Chef Sam seems very passionate and he clearly puts in a lot of thought into his menus and concept. All that being said, the food was awful. The best analogy I could use to describe this place a like when a child say that they love chocolate and they also love pasta individually and therefor the two things they like must be even better when together. Out of a 14 course meal, I can honestly say the best course was the bread. Very disappointing as this was place has great reviews however I'm convinced that the people of Charlotte are so desperate to finally have a fine dining experience similar to one you may find in Spain, France or even a bigger city like NY that they are turning a blind eye to quality. For some context, I enjoy and have experienced great food whether it is at a Michelin Star restaurant or a hole in the wall neighborhood joint and sadly, this just simply doesn't meet the bare minimum standard. All this being said. Chef sam and his team work hard to provide a unique concept and it shows. Lastly, my bill was 654 dollars for a party of 2 which is something I am happy to pay for a meal that is memorable. This price tag for the very odd mixtures of food that didn't mesh and almost child like thought out menu was a tough one. I would not recommend. If you are looking for a unique experience or tasting menu, check out Bardo or for a more casual vibe with excellent quality, the sister restaurant VANA. read more

Counter- - This is one of the child like "courses" with a smiley face on it. - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

What a fun, memorable experience that I highly recommend. The food was amazing with a well thought out menu along with the wine and spirit free pairings. The service was exceptional with a friendly, fun service. I live in Michigan, was visiting my daughter, and have never had such a unique and fun dining experience. Thank you, and I can't wait to return. read more

We went for Here & Now and did the old and new world wine pairing, and this was one of the coolest restaurant experiences I have ever had in Charlotte. The food and wine were excellent, we loved the art, music, and history, and the entire experience was top notch. Highly recommend! read more

Please ignore all of those positive reviews and READ THIS FIRST: " The communication was terrible. I was originally told our reservations were at 8:15 pm, then 6:30pm (central time), then 7:30 pm. So I called them multiple times and they never answered (voice mailbox was full), so I emailed them. Never heard back. So we just played it safe and showed up at 6:30, only to be turned away because our reservations were, indeed, at 8:15. So they don't answer their phone OR their emails. " The food was so-so (and -so). And by this I mean some was "so good" and some was "so bad," and the portions were "so small." The theme of the season was Street Food and it tasted just like it sounded: food you'd buy on the street. Hardly worth the $235/person we were paying for the 14-course meal. By the time we were finished, I'd say we consumed the amount of a medium-sized regular meal. And, on a side note, they brought TWO people's food on ONE plate, so we had to SHARE from one plate. For $235/person, I think they could wash the extra plate. Also, the dessert course was horrendous. All 5-6 desserts were terrible. As a dessert lover, I didn't even think that was possible. " This is big: we assumed since this was a "pairing" meal, we would be experiencing wine paired with foods. And that's kind of true. What they do NOT tell you ahead of time is that the cost of the wine isn't included in the $235/plate! The top tier of 3 tiers was almost $400 PER PERSON and that was for a TASTING for each course. In all, I bet we consumed a total o 6-8 oz of wine. " The biggest surprise: tipping is included!! However, they ALSO don't tell you this ahead of time so the average person would have to tip HUNDREDS of dollars on top of the cost of the meal and the wine. Only to find out later that it was included. It IS buried in their website, but is vague and sounds like it pertains only to season ticket holders. " So we were expecting that our meal that was $235/person x 4 people would cost $940 (plus unnecessary tip) actually cost approximately $3,500!!! Unbelievable. " So we were all terribly unhappy (as I'm sure were many people there) and I wrote a review, much longer and more negative and detailed than this one. But to be fair, I emailed a copy of it to Sam Hart, chef and owner, just to see if he'd like to weigh in. He never ONCE apologized for the situation, and he also never DENIED any of the above. He did say, I'm sure in an effort to not let this review be published, that he would give us a $500 credit to their sister restaurant, Biblio. So I replied to that, saying I doubt we'd be going back, etc. Well, something I said must have made him mad because he then told me he was TAKING BACK the $500 credit!! Un.believable. " So my husband and I both decided the two words that describe this experience best are: disappointing (to say the very least) because of the poor quality of the food, and deceptive, due to the lack of information on wine/wine cost and on tipping. " By the way, this event occurred almost a month ago, on April 15, 2023, but it's taken me this long to write a calm, shorter, straightforward, factual review. read more

Some people travel to beaches, some travel to mountains, my wife and I travel to food. We love experiencing the best culinary experiences the world has to offer. Charlotte has a true world class experience at Counter-. The staff here continuously take concepts and produce a magnificent menu that truly honors their inspiration. I have eaten food inspired by everything from different world cuisine to hit recording artists. Maybe it is Chef Sam's delivery and showmanship, but everything not only works and make sense but it is always incredible delicious. If you want to have a high end dining experience or consider yourself a foodie but haven't tried Counter- you need to get your tickets now! read more

Counter- - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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This is a food, wine, and a uniquely historical experience! The staff is so friendly and dynamic. You can really tell that they work and embrace each other as a team. Super beautiful ambience with local artists featured on the walls and simple yet elegant bouquets on the table. Each course is paired with a wine and a musical number that compliments one another and brings recognition to current events. Food featured from all regions of NC! Every single dish and pairing was so fantastic and served with historical meaning. This is such an intimate and moving experience in the culinary arts. Perfect for a date night or for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a spiritual experience! read more

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Single piece of advice ... nix the dog bowl guys.. not the food though I personally don't love trout dishes .. I mean the bowl.. read more

Counter- - New American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Amazing!!! Can't even tell you how great the experience and food was. They did a great job with the mocktails and accommodating for vegetarians read more

Have been here multiple times and every experience has been excellent and consistently good. Went for anniversary dinner with the wife and they went out of their way to make it a great experience including a handwritten note congratulating us. I enjoy just picking a few appetizers off the menu and pairing with a couple drinks. Tuna, shrimp, and fries are my favorites! We'll continue to support Counter with future visits. read more

My son Rob treated me to a "Greatest Hits" dinner last night at Counter-, where Sam and the crew gave us yet another awesome experience. The service, the music, and the stories behind the dishes all combined to weave a backdrop to the dishes and drinks (non-alcoholic, but I wouldn't have cared--all of the drinks, especially the honeydew-lime-cucumber starter and the ending peaches-and-cream creation, were great). One of the most appealing aspects of Counter- is Sam's attention to where and how the ingredients of his dishes originate. His courses (there were ten) fit together into a quilt of tastes, intrigue, and education about what we were eating and drinking. Last night, the plate dedicated to the Cherokee people was a story all in itself, and I appreciate Sam's honoring their heritage and foodways. If you've not been to Counter- yet, you should go. It's an experience you won't get anywhere else in Charlotte (or on this end of NC, for that matter). read more

I will make it quick and painless. #1 Nothing like it in Charlotte,NC #2 food progression for 10 courses is fast! I mean stellar fast #3 The show from chef with explanations, while music playing....and while you watch the team assemble the next plates poof, your eating again #4 flight of wines just superb....and I am not a wine snob #5 already mentioned they do send out a survey of what you cannot eat. #6 friendly and amazing staff ready to serve. #7 If you are not used to a prixe fixe menu (french for one price), try this one! #8 flavor, attention to detail, I mean all details. #9 you will leave wondering what your favorite or least favorite was. lets face it, we are used to ordering something we are comfortable with. We were lucky enough to have wagyu japanese a5 beef ribeye cooked on yakitory style grill. Freakin amazing!!! #10 you have not been out to eat since the RONA. aND THEY ARE KILLING IT. If you worry about price, well, probably not for you. summary 10 stars!!! sorry about no photos, wife has them, but it was beautiful... read more

New location, even better experience. I'm not sure how they keep getting better (every time is extraordinary), but last evening was my third experience dining at Counter, this time in their new location, and every meal has been better than the last. Last night's dinner was themed to musical artist Outkast and included a bit of trivia as we consumed sophisticated takes on fried fish, crawfish, chicken liver, pork belly and Wagyu beef. The staff continue to make the place shine above all others in Charlotte. No other dining experience is comparable in town and it's why we keep coming back. Somehow they manage to do fancy, delicious food without pretension and in a way that delights consistently. read more

A dining experience most would have once in a lifetime - yet they offer so much you find yourself thinking how you can become a regular. Perfection. read more

I don't think I can put into words how incredible the experience eating at counter was so ill break it down. Staff/chefs: fantastic young knowledgeable people. Very well put together and crazy talented. I can't wait to go back and get to know all of them more. Ambiance: amazing! Super romantic & cool. They trade out the art for each "show" and the music is paired with the dishes. Which is f***ing cool. Food...my god the food (and wine)...I've ate at a lot of amazing places but this was my favorite culinary experience. The dishes are so carefully curated and put together. The presentation is beautiful and the flavorings are both complex but organic in flow. The wine pairings elevated each dish in such an exquisite way. I'll be coming back next time I'm in NC! I felt so appreciated here as well, they made us feel great when we arrived and when we left. read more

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One of the best dining experiences I've ever had. Sam and his team are some of the best in NC. I highly recommend this place. The food is incredible and the accompanying experience was fantastic. If I could give 10 stars, I would. read more

Best restaurant in Charlotte the food in itself is pure art on a plate and on the pallet simply amazing people every single thing is a masterpiece this is a must go to in Charlotte even if your not close by it's worth the trip read more

We had been waiting to go to Counter for quite some time. We finally got there and it did NOT disappoint. Absolutely worth the wait! The entertainment, the hospitality and the food were exquisite. What an amazing experience for all. Chef Sam and team knocked it out of the park. Thrilled to see the exciting next chapter for them in their new space! read more

Sam and his team provide the best culinary experience in Charlotte. It's not even close. So much fun!!!

This is a must-do evening. The food is exquisite, the way they pair food with the theme is creative, and like nothing else you would experience anywhere else in Charlotte. Every time my husband and I attend, we think it couldn't get any better but it always does. I would go out on a limb and say this is worth more in a full experience than any Michelin star restaurant. read more