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    Kounter

    4.5 (320 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Kounter Photos

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    KOUNTER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kounter

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    Fried Ribs
    Audra A.

    This is one of our favorites. The fried ribs are so different but in the best way. We often sit at the bar, and have enjoyed the bustling entertainment of watching the servers mixing up cocktails and preparing items behind the counter. The seating options are varied. Brunch and dinner are both excellent options, and we have tried both several times. Service is always attentive and we've never had anything on the menu that was not very good.

    Fried rice lunch dish
    Brittany D.

    Kounter has a nice atmosphere and solid service, which made the visit pleasant overall and you can't beat the history behind it! The staff was friendly, attentive, and checked in at the right times, so no complaints there. The food was a bit underwhelming. It wasn't bad by any means, just lacked the flavor and execution I was expecting based on the menu and hype. Portions were fine, but the dishes didn't quite stand out or justify a higher rating. Overall, it's better than average thanks to the service and setting, but the food is what holds it back from being a full 5-star experience. I'd consider giving it another try, but mostly to see if the food improves. It may be that dinner is better than lunch, we went for lunch.

    Trout dish
    Valissa T.

    Cameron was a great waitress and picked out the best on the menu. The staff was really friendly and it was a great local option for something different and they're open later than other restaurants.

    Steamed muscles
    Carolyn K.

    We love Kounter, especially as a first stop prior to going to Elsie's speakeasy. I've been there before for brunch and mimosas, and now for dinner and the experience overall is always great. Super friendly staff, particularly at the counter/bar. They're attentive even on the busiest of nights. The food is delicious- last time we spilt muscles and a crab dip while we waited to go to Elsie's. Perfect amount of food for two, and came quickly. Only thing we're noticed is that their wait times online don't match when you show up. We've seen before that there are half a dozen "open tables" online so didn't reserve, and then show up ten minutes later to be told everything has been booked all day. Might be something with their systems, but needless to say sitting at the bar is great too if there is a seat.

    Grits
    Scott F.

    Went to brunch at Kounter and it was fantastic. Service was on point. Seated promptly and our server was attentive and made sure we were taken care of. The food... I went with the Salmon "PLT" and it was fantastic. The dome the meal was served under with the smoke was a nice touch. We also had the Fried Everything Bagel which was also delicious. Also had a side of Pimento cheese grits and those were on point. All in all, no complaints and would come back again.

    Sabrina C.

    Charmingly nestled in downtown Rock Hill, boasting culinary delights & historical education on the Friendship Nine. Innovative menu that will make you want to make you try a bit of everything--which my dining partner and I did through an impressive array of oysters, fried ribs, cauliflower bites, crab dip, & Brussels sprouts. Every single bite was delectable & I trust that the leftovers will taste every bit as good for brunch. All that plus an adjoining speakeasy for a nightcap?! Cheers!

    Meatloaf, corn, greens and mom's chocolate pudding
    Jack B.

    Kounter is always a favorite dinner spot when passing through Rock Hill. Today was no different with delicious food and attentive service. The meatloaf served with grilled corn, greens & mashed potatoes with mom's chocolate pie was a perfect end to a long day of traveling. Thank you Kounter team for creating a perfect destination & great food!

    Southwest salmon salad!

    Kounter in Rock Hill, SC absolutely deserves every bit of five stars. The food was delicious, the drinks were perfectly made, and the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and full of character. Our waitress, Brandi (Brandice), was phenomenal -- knowledgeable, informative, respectful, and genuinely happy to be there. Her energy made the entire experience even better. The restaurant itself is deeply rooted in history as part of the Friendship Nine sit‑in location, and you can feel that significance the moment you walk in. It adds a meaningful layer to an already great dining experience. The bathroom was spotless, the prices were very reasonable, and everything from start to finish felt intentional and well cared for. Highly recommend Kounter for anyone looking for great food, great service, and a place that honors an important piece of Rock Hill's history.

    Basil vinegrette. Lettuce in glass jar to be mixed with the vinegrette
    Joan R.

    Ate here for lunch with my dining mate. Friendly staff, nice menu, reasonable price, comfortable atmosphere. I had a cobb salad, with chicken, my dining mate the grilled cheese with a tomato soup sauce and a side order of brussel sprouts. Everything was tasty. I probably would try ordering something different next time. My salad had a 2 small wedges of tomato and very little chicken but lots of lettuce. I asked to omit the croutons. The basil vinegrette was tasty. I guess I wasn't used to their interpretation of cobb salad. The grilled cheese yummy and brussel sprouts great.

    Sliders
    Greg V.

    Food is amazing and service was great! We went as a foursome on a Saturday night and had sharables: Fried Ribs, Char-Grilled Oysters, Chicken + Waffles Sushi, and Beef Sliders. All were excellent! My top two were the sliders and chicken + waffle sushi. So good!

    Annie S.

    We eat here on repeat when we are in town! We've never gotten anything we didn't love. Tons of flavor. Unique menu, clean, friendly staff and food that's doesn't make you feel like crap after. Small and place- sometimes you need a reservation to get in the door.

    Fries

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    I have always had a good experience here! They recently elevated the brunch menu and it is fabulous!

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    7 months ago

    Food was good, atmosphere is very nice. The martinis were on point. We had a lovely time.

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    Alicia F.

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    Page 2 of 8

    Ask the Community - Kounter

    Are there Gluten Free options? I've been to their website but know that sauces and preparation styles affect this answer...if you are gluten free and have dined successfully at Kounter I'd love to hear! Hoping to purchase a GC and this matters. Thx

    You can go to their website & read the menu

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    Elsies - Dessert bites

    Elsies

    4.5(11 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Elsie's at Kounter delivers a phenomenal speakeasy experience from start to finish. Hidden behind…read moreits storefront, the intimate, moody atmosphere creates the perfect setting for a memorable night out. The bartenders are top-notch - knowledgeable, attentive, and incredibly skilled at crafting creative, perfectly balanced cocktails. Paired with delicious, well-crafted bites, every detail is hit right on the mark. Highly recommended if you are looking for exceptional drinks, great food, and a unique hidden gem in Rock Hill.

    Had the most incredible time at Elsie's speakeasy for a recent date night. A friend recommended we…read moredo dinner at Kounter first and put our names on the list early for Elsie's. We were told two hour wait, but only ended up waiting about 45 min before we got the text. The experience was fun having to "sneak" through the fake door and into a fun, moody, and eclectic lounge room. The bartenders truly made the night - Harris is wonderful, fun, chatty, and made all our drinks on a whim with almost nothing straight from the menu. We would tell Harris the type of drink and strength, and he made the most incredible cocktails throughout our time there. Truly showed that he's a mixologist and not just a bartender. We so treated ourselves to the caviar and the dessert bites. Would only recommend that the chips be salt and vinegar as the dish was missing some flavor, but the dessert bites were incredible. Will absolutely return for another night soon!

    Photos
    Elsies - Head in the Clouds

    Head in the Clouds

    Elsies - Winter Breakfast

    Winter Breakfast

    Elsies - Lavender Dream

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    Lavender Dream

    Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails - Ahi tuna salad

    Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails

    4.1(260 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    I visit Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails at least once or twice a month. The service is great, the food…read moreis excellent, and the prices are fair. I am usually surprised at how easy it is to get a seat. It's a big space which helps but the food is so good. I always anticipate having to wait. Unless there is a sporting event next-door, I can usually find a place at the bar or get a table. If you sit at the bar, hope Mariah is there. She makes a good cocktail and she's incredibly sweet. Food is consistent and very good. Their smoked wings must be the best in town get the lemon pepper rub in the house made blue cheese dip. You won't regret it. The blackened chicken Caesar salad is also a huge hit. I highly recommend this place. Enjoy!

    We arrived at an odd hour, hungry and tired from a day of driving from early morning until about 3…read morepm. We were a little confused as to how to enter the restaurant, but I chalk that up to being tired. The space is wide open and airy, with large windows and skylights. The restaurant was nice and clean, save for something that was splashed on the wall in our booth - but it's a restaurant. There's going to be little picky things here and there and I'm sure it was wiped down by the end of the day! Our hostess was also our server and she was so knowledgeable about the menu. I took her suggestions at every turn and did not regret it. We started off with the Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts app and let me tell you - I could've eaten that as my entire meal. They are SO delicious and I'll be dreaming of them until I can return to Rock Hill. Holy cow, they were good - crispy on the outside, loaded with flavor and just enough spice to give the sweetness a little bite. So good. My husband had the country fried steak and he said it was very good. Not the best he's ever had, he said, but good enough. He wished there'd been more steak and less crust, but the flavor was right on. They were out of the salt and pepper flounder, so I changed my order to the ranch chicken. Ummmm....excuse me. Who says not to order chicken breasts at restaurants? The portion size is SO generous and the chicken is SO DELICIOUS that I, the girl who rarely bothers to take leftovers, boxed up what was left and brought it back to my hotel and ate it as a midnight snack. The grilled zucchini served on the side of it was delicious. If I ever get back, I'll ask if I can skip the potatoes in favor of more of that zucchini! We didn't really have room for dessert, but when we heard about the warm banana pudding, we were curious. DO NOT SKIP THIS DESSERT. If you're a banana pudding fan, this will blow your mind. Absolutely incredible! It's both warm and cool at the same time, caramelized bananas and a torched meringue topping were bowl-licking delicious. All in all, this was a fantastic experience and I wouldn't hesitate to go back.

    Photos
    Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails - Dinning room

    Dinning room

    Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails - Smoked Chicken Wings

    Smoked Chicken Wings

    Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails - Old Fashioned and Signature cocktail

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    Old Fashioned and Signature cocktail

    The Pump House - Creamy scalloped potatoes

    The Pump House

    3.9(1.2k reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    Great service and craft beer choice Open very late for…read morenight owls Great before a game or race

    Came here for a graduation dinner and overall it was good. Early dinner time (4:45pm) and it…read morewasn't busy. We had a few issues though - I sampled two beers and never got to order a drink. Waitress just didn't follow up. My water sat unrefilled for a long time. Fried okra didn't taste like okra - but that suited a few of the party. But a few of us expected okra flavor only to be disappointed. Temp on the fried green tomatoes should have been warmer but overall it was very tasty. Our appetizer empty plates sat for a while - we even stacked them so it was clear they should be cleared. Ordered the salmon, which was good, but so did my mom. We ordered different temps and they couldn't tell which was which. Wife ordered a salad and for the price, there was barely anything there. Mac and cheese is still the star. Oysters were decent - I expected larger. The half chicken was a generous portion - nice crispy outside but a bit dry inside. I wouldn't order it (I almost did, but my one of our party did). One of our party ordered a stuffed leeks and it was so salty it was inedible. They did fix it and admitted it should have never left the kitchen. By the time the replacement came out it was after 6:05 (and they had to leave at 6:15). So they didn't get to eat their celebratory meal with the rest of us. Not the memory you want for a meal. Desserts were good. Tort was dense - honestly not sure if that's normal. Crème brûlée was very good. For a $400+ experience and our history with Pump House, I expected more.

    Photos
    The Pump House - All the pretty bar garnishes and bitters

    All the pretty bar garnishes and bitters

    The Pump House - Pork chop bone in with a port braised pears and crispy onions

    Pork chop bone in with a port braised pears and crispy onions

    The Pump House - Awesome atmosphere where is the vent space above?

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    Awesome atmosphere where is the vent space above?

    FM Eatery - Bang bang shrimp lunch special (very light- shrimp a bit over cooked)

    FM Eatery

    4.9(130 reviews)
    7.4 mi

    Another great dinner at Fort Mill Eatery. The birria empanada was a standout and easily one of our…read morefavorites of the night. We also tried the Cuban pupusa, which wasn't our favorite dish, needed something, but still good. The mushroom ravioli was rich, flavorful, and something I'd definitely order again. The jambalaya was very tasty, especially the fish. We finished with the spare ribs, which had great flavor but were a bit dry. Overall, a fun experience with a lot of variety on the menu. Our server was delightful. I'd happily return for the mushroom ravioli and birria empanada.

    This was my second visit, and once again, I was truly impressed…read more From the customer service to the food, everything was excellent. It can get quite busy and loud, so it's not the best place for an intimate conversation, and reservations can sometimes be difficult to get. That said, it's absolutely worth it. The menu changes regularly, so I try to visit whenever they announce a new one. Yesterday, we shared several small plates. The bacon-wrapped dates were phenomenal. I almost ordered a second serving before realizing we still had four other dishes coming! The chicken and waffles definitely satisfied my craving--crispy, savory, and full of flavor. The mushroom ravioli was also outstanding. We finished with the stuffed calamari, which reminded me of something my mom used to make when I was younger. It wasn't Asian-inspired like hers, but the concept brought back some wonderful memories. To top it all off, I enjoyed a delicious dessert while feeling pleasantly tipsy from the evening. I'd call that a win!

    Photos
    FM Eatery - Single open dining room

    Single open dining room

    FM Eatery
    FM Eatery - Bar at the back of the restaurant

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    Bar at the back of the restaurant

    Ay Papi Tacos & Tequila

    Ay Papi Tacos & Tequila

    3.9(94 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    We have been going to Ay Papi's since they have opened. We have always enjoyed the selection of…read morestreet tocos and other dishes as well. Overall, this is a good restaurant with solid dishes. The tacos are street style, small but great flavor. They seemingly always have a special toco to try. Their salsa thats served with chips is always fresh. They also have a side mixed green salad that is served with avocado ranch that is always spot on. I will say the customer service is excellent. Always refilling drinks and asking if the order is correct and assisting in any way. The crowds are hit and miss but there seem to be people in and out. The restaurant is clean and unique. I would recommend to anyone looking for street tacos style food.

    The Food: * Oxtail Taco: A disappointment--completely…read moreunder-seasoned. When you're paying for oxtail, you expect deep flavor, and this missed the mark. * Carnitas & Steak: Decent, middle-of-the-road options. Nothing to write home about, but they get the job done. * Chicken: Be warned--this has a serious kick. If you don't have a high heat tolerance, skip it. * Sides: The rice and beans were a major miss; way too much salt, to the point of being hard to finish. * Churros: Very good The Vibe & Service: The service was actually the highlight--awesome staff and a great atmosphere. They have a $5 drink special which is a steal, though it's definitely on the sugary side. The Bottom Line: It's a nice spot with fair prices, but the kitchen consistency just isn't there. If you're looking for a cheap night out and aren't a stickler for seasoning, it's fine. Personally, the quality of the food (specifically the salt and seasoning issues) means I won't be back.

    Photos
    Ay Papi Tacos & Tequila - Hair

    Hair

    Ay Papi Tacos & Tequila
    Ay Papi Tacos & Tequila - Tequila selection

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    Tequila selection

    Kounter - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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