This is the place. The staff care, the place is warm, they make damn good drinks and food. Will always be, one of the best for me.

Adele was amazing! Such great service. Can not recommend this place enough :) highly recommend the caesar salad and the cheese curds!

A collection of food and drinks we've had recently. I've reviewed counterpoint before and have been frequenting this spot for at least 6 years now and what I love about it is it's been a constant - the food is consistently delicious, the drinks are unique and well made, the staff are amazing and make you feel like family, and the vibes are always perfect. Think elevated chill. It's never rowdy, but it's always a fun time with great conversation. And the owner Cam is such a down to earth and genuine human. Plus, it's super dog friendly! It's our favorite local spot for sure read more

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I have been wanting to try this place for awhile and was pleasantly surprised while I walked in on a whim. It is much bigger inside than appears on the outside: very cute dim lit tables for you enjoyment. The bartenders are welcoming and informative as well as very kind. Homemade chips and salsa are fresh and so worth the $6!! I want to try so many things here in the future! read more

I'll start off this review by saying anybody that wants to take me out, like anybody at all, invite me to Counterpoint and I'll be there. Will I be there for you? Honestly no, but you can watch me eat fried cheese curds and try to not fall in love with me too much. Counterpoint is one of those places that feels like it's been here forever but is also new. It's comfortable when going solo or hanging with a few friends. It's the neighborhood dinner spot. I mean we have other options but none cover all the bases like Counterpoint. Meeting someone for a drink? Counterpoint. Going on a dinner date? Counterpoint. Just want to grab a snack or a sandwich? Counterpoint. Wanna enjoy a weekend brunch meal? Counterpoint. The cocktails that I have already tried have been delicious. My favorite so far is probably Unprotected Science. But since they're all good I think I'll be able to order something else next time. Gotta try a few more of these before the cocktail menu changes! But really that drink with the bourbon and the apple cider syrup was just too good. Maybe one more for old times' sake. Can't be all about the drinks- the food is delicious too. Cheese curds, always, fried and cheesy with the mustard aioli? Oh, you just know that's going to be good. Also great- the tacos. Beef or pork, can't go wrong. Plus the amount of radish on here can be quite generous. It's pretty and it's probably good for you. They're like "have a veggie before you inhale this birria taco." Thanks for looking out for us, CP. The pretzel is a great sharable snack. The bbq pork sandwich was delicious and very filling. I'm not a fan of the grilled romaine for the Caesar but hey, it's a nice meatless option for some folks. I'm not sure how often the dessert selection changes, but if they ever tell you that have a churro donut ice cream sandwich- yeah, you want that. If you're dining with someone who says they don't have room for dessert? Well, sucks to be you, but you should just go on ahead without them and order it. This wagon train has no room for the weak and those who lack a secondary dessert stomach. In closing- go to Counterpoint, order something that will most likely be quite tasty, and have a great evening. read more

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Matt with a Mohawk is super Absolutely amazing food and drink here, super cool bartenders, servers etc etc! This is our second time here in two nights! Had the spicy, crispy shrimp, the chicken tortillas soup and the salmon bacon sandwich, soooo bomb! Matt with a Mohawk is super COOL!!! read more

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This was my second time coming here and we sat at the bar. Its a cute neighborhood bar which we will be returning to. We just wanted to grab a beer so we both had pliny the elder and ordered the velvet glow. It was lovely. Can't wait to come back. My friend ordered Donna's pickled beer and he did not like it. The bartender was nice enough to replace the beer with something he enjoyed. Great place. read more

Counterpoint - Shrimp and shishito peppers - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

An unexpected two-timer during my stay in SD. I initially went rather late and sat at the bar. I was greeted by the oh-so-wonderful Laren. She gave me her recommendations, and I went with their hot honey chicken sandwich with fries and started with a very generous kale salad. The salad didn't look as good as it tasted, and it was good. I took most of it home, making sure to be mindful of my incoming sandwich and fries. Laren actually prefers the burger to the chicken sandwich, but I fell in love. I notice a hot honey sandwich is not foreign to restaurants and bars in San Diego, but I don't think I can find a better one than here at Counterpoint. Of course a deciding factor are the (French) fries, and let me tell you, I was completely satisfied! Let's not forget the great cocktails and beer! Plus, there's really cool glass art and a semi-private area upstairs. I think the bar manager gave me a different name each visit (my first time here, there was another guy working too), but he and Laren know their SD pubs and grub. Counterpoint has good tunes (can't go wrong with multiple Prince hits), great staff, and cool people, making this my new favorite watering hole. Thing is, I live in Miami. Well, if I make my way back, I hope to see this crew again. I think this might be my first five-star review, wow. Make no mistake, this is a bar with good food, not the other way around. Relax knowing you get the best of both worlds and if you venture here, tell them Diana from Miami sent you. read more

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I'd go out on a limb saying that Counterpoint should be the standard for all eateries/bars. But, that would be to high of a standard for most any place to attempt to achieve. It's hard to decide if this is a place to grab a drink or a place to grab something to eat.. when really it's both and more. The menu changes from time to time, which is loveable, but a little worrysome.. why? The Chipotle Chicken Penne Pasta should be declared a NATIONAL TREASURE AND PROTECTED AT ALL COST. Ok, that might be a bit extreme, but once you try it, it'll be evident what I'm talking about. Forgive me, but I can't remember the exact name of the soup of the day when we stopped by, but it was "Abitta Ramen". It's something like taking a beef consume, adding beef barbacoa, and magically putting in ramen.. and adding ramen ingredients. It's overwhelming. It's consuming. It crosses traditional food barriers to create something very.. San Diego... but unique, new and beautiful. Yes, it's a soup. But, it's a really, really @#$#ing good soup. Like, really good. Then.. the team that works there. They're what I'd say you'd call perfect. They're into their food, they know what's going on and magically show up at all the right moments. Counterpoint makes a person want to move to Golden Hill just to become a regular. read more

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We liked their beer selections the best. The food could use a little help or maybe because it was what we specifically ordered. The ribs were extremely dry and the tacos were pretty salty. Beer was good though! read more

We used to live so close to Counterpoint and would always see how it fills up both for dinner and brunch hours. We finally got to try it and it didn't disappoint. Ambience is amazing for either a date or a friends' night out. I'm not the biggest fan of American bar food but the cajun penne pasta and the bbq pulled pork burger we ordered turned out amazing. They also serve amazing cocktails as well! Now we totally get the hype of this place. read more

Counterpoint - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Super friendly service from Everyone! Came here just for drinks, but will definitely have to come back for the food! Cocktails were very different and very good! And great pricing compared to cocktails nowadays at most restaurants. Cozy atmosphere read more

Counterpoint - Oaxacan old fashioned, Yea No Yea - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum. Re-visited Counterpoint after various years of not dining there. We had a delicious meal along with yummy cocktails and good beer. We ordered their pretzel, mac n cheese and their Caesar salad. The pretzel was yummy and fresh- served with a yummy Dijon and their house made three cheese sauce. The mac and cheese was delicious with the perfect amount of cheese, topped with breadcrumbs for the added crunch. Lastly the Caesar salad was AMAZING- something about grilled lettuce just does it for me. It made the lettuce taste like a protein rather than well leafy lettuce. I ordered their sangria which was not on the menu but they gladly made it. Keep doing what you're doing Counterpoint. Great food options! read more

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First day back open and better then ever. So great to see a spot with so much love and passion in what they do. Drinks and food are eclectic and just about anyone can eat here. Server always bussing around and even the owner stops by the table to see how everything's going. Can't wait to come back thanks for the dope vibes and welcome back. read more

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dare I say best bar food I've had in San Diego? This place does gastro pub food classics but elevates it to the next level. I'm on a mission to find the best burger in san diego and counterpoint was brought up and it was amazing. the burger was big mac dupe but elevated it was insane - the fries are amazing but most importantly the kimchi Brussel sprouts. to top it off the dessert was probably the best dessert ive ever had. read more

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First at Counterpoint and I was very impressed! I went in knowing they went through a recent remodeling and it looks fantastic. Great service from Chloe and the rest of the staff! Had the chicken and waffles benny and it really blew me away. Also met the owner who was very welcoming! read more

Counterpoint - Chicken and waffles benny - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Favorite local spot in the neighborhood for date night. Amazing ambiance and service and food is always on point. Get the Mac n cheese, a salad and one of their yum cocktails or local beers and call it a night. read more

Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic. Stop reading and just go. The owner is involved at every level - all the way to the table. Touch points are important. Food options, drink options (full bar) are on amazing. Plenty of seating is available. A great golden hill spot.... read more

I love this place! I just moved to the area and my boyfriend and I came here two nights in a row! Great service, food and drinks. read more

Counterpoint - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Located right off the freeway in golden hills easy access. The Brussel sprouts are great and so are the drinks. Lots of parking on the streets. Variety of food and drinks. Atmosphere is Amazing and staff are great. read more

Counterpoint - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Chill bar in Golden Hill! I was waiting for my table at Kingfisher nearby & decided to get a couple of drinks here beforehand. Dog friendly at their outside patio, which is heated at night. & inside is cozy & intimate, & they have a loft upstairs. Friendly bartenders! read more

Amazing amazing veggie burger with sub of Brussels sprouts!!!! I sat outside with a friend and the service was great and trees surrounding us made the ambiance so beautiful! Love this place. read more

Counterpoint - Veggie burger and Brussels sprouts! Featuring the kale salad my friend ordered! - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I had such a good experience here so I'll definitely be back! They have a nice little patio area outside, so I went ahead and sat out there. Nice, calm ambience. I ordered the Brussels sprouts with kimchi sauce and completely fell in love! It was my first time ever trying kimchi of any variety and it was so tasty! It was AMAZING paired with the Brussels sprouts! I was taken aback at the generous portion they served me. It was a nice surprise because they gave me a heap of sprouts! The Bloody Mary i ordered was really refreshing. I had the option of having the rim salted but I decided not to. The drink had a little kick to it so if you don't like any kind of spicy (in my opinion, it was a very mild spice), you may want to ask for a non-spicy Bloody Mary. I also ordered just a shot of vodka, and saw on my tab that it costed $8. A little pricey in my opinion but no biggie! Everything else was great. The waiter was also super pleasant! Very polite, helpful and attentive without being overbearing. If you've been thinking of checking this place out, I highly recommend it! read more

Counterpoint - Kimchi Brussels sprouts with Bloody Mary - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Comfort food at its finest. Pretty simple menu but filled with good stuff. We sampled the soft pretzel, fried cheese curds, and fries as appetizers. For our main meal we each ordered the fried chicken sandwich. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture but it was SO good and very filling. We definitely left feeling the onset of a sweet food coma. Also, I wish I took a picture of the food/drink menus because the ones on here are so outdated! read more

Counterpoint - Soft Pretzel, Fried Cheese Curds, Fries - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Omg this place was fantastic. Definitely a hole in the wall, The staff was great! The food was great! We were from outta town but 10/10 would come back. :) read more

In the discussion for top burgers in San Diego. Their cocktails are great too! Staff is always super friendly. read more

I've given this place a couple of tries, before and after they "remodeled." (I couldn't tell what changed before and after this remodel) The food is good, and the service is fine. But the prices just are not worth going out to eat for. $15 for a standard Manhattan, $22 for a salad ($16 without chicken), $18 for a penne pasta dish (which was admittedly tasty). I want to like this place and go back, but the cost unfortunately doesn't justify it. read more

Great food. Excellent service. The ambiance very chilled and relaxed. Their beer selection is awesome. read more

I love finding a gem that's been there all along. We enjoyed delicious cocktails and beers first, then dug into really good bites. I had the poke tacos - yum! Husband had the burger which wasn't cooked enough for his taste but honestly, just stop ordering well-done! I say. Nice groovy aughts disco kept us happy, paired with friendly service to make this a solid neighborhood pub. We'll be back for the patio when its warmer! read more

Counterpoint is great for a casual meal! I've had both their brunch and dinner a it was so tasty. The farro kale salad is hearty and delicious and the salmon sandwich was perfectly cooked. The cocktails are also so well crafted and it slushee was refreshing. Service was warm and welcoming, such a wonderful neighborhood spot! read more

Counterpoint - Farro Kale Salad IG: @caloric_content - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Well made drinks, friendly and attentive service. This is a cute neighborhood spot a bit tucked away but worth a night out at.

So fucking good!!! Warm/friendly servers and gorgeous inside. Dog friendly Iced tea is on point ! read more

Counterpoint - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

A real tremendous experience in every way! Great meats! Great service and a beautiful help yourself salad etc. bar! Beautiful!

This is a locals spot, super cozy, good people, excellent food. One of my local favorites.

We had a great time here for dinner, very delicious food! We had chicken chipotle pasta and the Mac and cheese w/ Nashville fried chicken 10/10 recommend Loved the atmosphere and service we definitely would be back read more

Got the chipotle chicken pasta and it did not disappoint! The menu overall has lot going on, so there's an option for everyone. A good safe option if you're looking to appease a large group, but otherwise nothing super special food-wise. Parking is on street as the restaurant is not located in a lot. read more

The customer service was fantastic and the food! I need to come back to try their birria tacos and they have my favorite Spanish white wine!!! I got their Mac n Cheese and fried chicken. It was delicious! I wish I got our waiters name he was fantastic! read more

The bartender was amazing. She made a great drink and was very engaging and attentive. I had the chipotle chicken pasta. It was good. Some of the chicken was tough and other parts were very tough. The fried chicken sandwich was just ok. Overall nice experience. Highly recommend the drinks! read more

Great food, great service. This is a hidden gem that I'm sure neighborhood folk are familiar with. I had their cheeseburger and fries and pretty much the best pretzel I've had in a long time. read more

This review is almost 15 years overdue. When I first encountered Counterpoint years ago, everything was amazing and not much has changed. I've always loved the cozy and local vibe, the unique drinks, the impressive tap list and the delicious and well thought out food menu. The service is awesome. CP never disappoints and will always be near and dear to my heart. read more

Counterpoint - Fortuitous fracas - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California