We had a flawless dinner experience! Highly recommend. The tomato and peach salad was like nothing I’ve ever had- my husband and I both loved it! The Japanese milk bread was fantastic! Chef Melanie Wilkerson is very clever and uses high quality, fresh ingredients. The drinks were excellent! I had the “who rule the world” cocktail, yum!! The staff were very attentive and friendly! Will definitely return!
We also returned for breakfast. The egg white frittata was delicious! The pancakes were perfect! Love love love this place!
Nicole Wilbanks
This is my go to brunch spot when we have visitors in town, I have never had a bad meal, the staff is always friendly.
Marlyn
I was visiting Durham for the first time and wanted local experiences, including culinary. Counting House does not disappoint! I didn't take pictures because I wanted to be in the moment. This place is not a chain experience and is also not pretentious. What it is, isan upscale creative experience. I had 3 couses: Japanese milk bread and pina colada, mushroom risotto, and pineapple upside down cake. You can actually taste the ingredients - no overload of salt and sugar to mask the flavor profiles. This is the test: the pineapple upside down cake was a good cake even without the fruit o top. The risotto was creamy and even if you don't like mushrooms, try it! The ambience was everything! Quiet, dim lighting, and basically if you've seen The Bear on Hulu, this is similar to the type of restaurant Carmy and his team were trying to build. Everyone is on board and I can't wait until they get a star because this place absolutely is doing the work to get one.
Mercedes
Such a weird experience. Based on prior reviews I expected to be WOWED. The appetizers were amazing (oysters and brussels - although the brussels had too much sauce). My son's chicken was the best he's ever had. I had the gnocchi which was swimming in sauce. Later that evening after dinner I had major stomach pains and became sick. The restaurant was EMPTY. There was no host/hostess. After 10 minutes the bartender seated us. It was like a ghost town. I would not return based on this experience. Also we stayed in the 21c Hotel which is how we found this restaurant, which was also supposed to serve breakfast. I called 3 times to order room service but there was no answer. When we checked out the front desk staff apologized and said only one person was working breakfast and she must have been on a delivery. There was no option to grab something on our way out so we left hungry before college tours. Bizarre. Poorly managed would be my guess.
Robert
Cocktails were very small. My martini served in a coupe was half full - very disappointing for $18. The tomato peach salad was the highlight of the dinner. The restaurant billed itself as a seafood inspired place. There was only one seafood entree offered on a very limited menu and it was a whole fish. The ambiance was nice but I would not return.
Jon
I'm probably being a little harsher on the food than I should be because the salads were both excellent and the entrées were delicious. But both the gnocchi and risotto were not hot when served, just warm enough to not be room temperature. That was a bit of a bummer. Again, though, delicious (if you don't have show tickets, you could opt to send back). The service was excellent, personal without being obsequious. Of particular note were the wine recommendation Matt made and comping the milk bread that had been overlooked. The atmosphere was, surprisingly, a bit sterile but that is probably more a reflection of personal taste. The wine list is surprisingly and refreshingly short (try the Italian chardonnay). We will definitely return because the flavors, service, and value make this a very worthwhile destination.
LOUIS
We've eaten at Counting House a few times. Very nice restaurant and great location when attending DPAC shows. Menu is limited. Service is good and friendly. I've never tried their steaks before, and I came in craving a ribeye. I usually have ribeyes, and sometimes filets. The steak presented to me looked, felt (cutting), and tasted like a strip. No way it was a ribeye. I told the waiter, who inquired with the chef, and he replied the chef said it was a ribeye. It was the worst steak I've ever eaten. It could not have been a ribeye. It had no flavor, no tenderness, no marble. Nope. If it was in fact a ribeye, it was like one I've never seen or tasted-and they are ordering from the wrong source. I was disappointed they did not own the problem and make an effort to appease me. I'm not a complainer and usually give only positive reviews, or none at all. Do not order a steak from this restaurant!
Alex
Hard to believe anything here is fresh. I got the burger and the fries were obviously frozen and inedible. The man next to me also order the burger and left all of the fries on the plate as well. I ordered a desert that was supposed to have fresh fruit but they were slimy. Also not sure if something was wrong with the AC but it was unbearably hot in the restaurant as well to the point where I was sweating just sitting there
scott
Very good food, good service, but kitchen was incredibly slow. 40 minutes from order until food arrived.
Diana
The host and staff are friendly and warm, just as the food is. I didn't have a cocktail, but the menu looked wonderful.
The food was good and service also. However, the air conditioning was not working and it was difficult to enjoy your email while sweating your butt off. Felt terrible for the staff
Diane Midgette
Breakfast food yummy. Service great
Chad Goss
Did not get our first drinks until after we had eaten all of our appetizers. Only water. Was not that busy. Had the pork chop it was overcooked to my liking and the cabbage should have been cut up a little more. Hard to eat. The service was good. Had high expectations.
Stuart
This was our first time in Durham and we were looking for something out of the ordinary. We were very successful in going to this restaurant. While the food occasionally tries a little too hard to be different and innovative, the overall effect is wonderful. We particularly enjoyed the ribeye, and the clams and mussels dishes. The service was excellent, and the environment was conducive to enjoying the food. I would go back again next time I am in Durham.
David Chang
Came here for a business dinner. Food is delicious, a bit hard to find as it's inside the 21c hotel. Drinks are tasty as well.
We had a flawless dinner experience! Highly recommend. The tomato and peach salad was like nothing I’ve ever had- my husband and I both loved it! The Japanese milk bread was fantastic! Chef Melanie Wilkerson is very clever and uses high quality, fresh ingredients. The drinks were excellent! I had the “who rule the world” cocktail, yum!! The staff were very attentive and friendly! Will definitely return!
We also returned for breakfast. The egg white frittata was delicious! The pancakes were perfect! Love love love this place!
This is my go to brunch spot when we have visitors in town, I have never had a bad meal, the staff is always friendly.
I was visiting Durham for the first time and wanted local experiences, including culinary. Counting House does not disappoint! I didn't take pictures because I wanted to be in the moment. This place is not a chain experience and is also not pretentious. What it is, isan upscale creative experience. I had 3 couses: Japanese milk bread and pina colada, mushroom risotto, and pineapple upside down cake. You can actually taste the ingredients - no overload of salt and sugar to mask the flavor profiles. This is the test: the pineapple upside down cake was a good cake even without the fruit o top. The risotto was creamy and even if you don't like mushrooms, try it! The ambience was everything! Quiet, dim lighting, and basically if you've seen The Bear on Hulu, this is similar to the type of restaurant Carmy and his team were trying to build. Everyone is on board and I can't wait until they get a star because this place absolutely is doing the work to get one.
Such a weird experience. Based on prior reviews I expected to be WOWED. The appetizers were amazing (oysters and brussels - although the brussels had too much sauce). My son's chicken was the best he's ever had. I had the gnocchi which was swimming in sauce. Later that evening after dinner I had major stomach pains and became sick. The restaurant was EMPTY. There was no host/hostess. After 10 minutes the bartender seated us. It was like a ghost town. I would not return based on this experience. Also we stayed in the 21c Hotel which is how we found this restaurant, which was also supposed to serve breakfast. I called 3 times to order room service but there was no answer. When we checked out the front desk staff apologized and said only one person was working breakfast and she must have been on a delivery. There was no option to grab something on our way out so we left hungry before college tours. Bizarre. Poorly managed would be my guess.
Cocktails were very small. My martini served in a coupe was half full - very disappointing for $18. The tomato peach salad was the highlight of the dinner. The restaurant billed itself as a seafood inspired place. There was only one seafood entree offered on a very limited menu and it was a whole fish. The ambiance was nice but I would not return.
I'm probably being a little harsher on the food than I should be because the salads were both excellent and the entrées were delicious. But both the gnocchi and risotto were not hot when served, just warm enough to not be room temperature. That was a bit of a bummer. Again, though, delicious (if you don't have show tickets, you could opt to send back). The service was excellent, personal without being obsequious. Of particular note were the wine recommendation Matt made and comping the milk bread that had been overlooked. The atmosphere was, surprisingly, a bit sterile but that is probably more a reflection of personal taste. The wine list is surprisingly and refreshingly short (try the Italian chardonnay). We will definitely return because the flavors, service, and value make this a very worthwhile destination.
We've eaten at Counting House a few times. Very nice restaurant and great location when attending DPAC shows. Menu is limited. Service is good and friendly. I've never tried their steaks before, and I came in craving a ribeye. I usually have ribeyes, and sometimes filets. The steak presented to me looked, felt (cutting), and tasted like a strip. No way it was a ribeye. I told the waiter, who inquired with the chef, and he replied the chef said it was a ribeye. It was the worst steak I've ever eaten. It could not have been a ribeye. It had no flavor, no tenderness, no marble. Nope. If it was in fact a ribeye, it was like one I've never seen or tasted-and they are ordering from the wrong source. I was disappointed they did not own the problem and make an effort to appease me. I'm not a complainer and usually give only positive reviews, or none at all. Do not order a steak from this restaurant!
Hard to believe anything here is fresh. I got the burger and the fries were obviously frozen and inedible. The man next to me also order the burger and left all of the fries on the plate as well. I ordered a desert that was supposed to have fresh fruit but they were slimy. Also not sure if something was wrong with the AC but it was unbearably hot in the restaurant as well to the point where I was sweating just sitting there
Very good food, good service, but kitchen was incredibly slow. 40 minutes from order until food arrived.
The host and staff are friendly and warm, just as the food is. I didn't have a cocktail, but the menu looked wonderful.
Restaurantji Recommends
The food was good and service also. However, the air conditioning was not working and it was difficult to enjoy your email while sweating your butt off. Felt terrible for the staff
Breakfast food yummy. Service great
Did not get our first drinks until after we had eaten all of our appetizers. Only water. Was not that busy. Had the pork chop it was overcooked to my liking and the cabbage should have been cut up a little more. Hard to eat. The service was good. Had high expectations.
This was our first time in Durham and we were looking for something out of the ordinary. We were very successful in going to this restaurant. While the food occasionally tries a little too hard to be different and innovative, the overall effect is wonderful. We particularly enjoyed the ribeye, and the clams and mussels dishes. The service was excellent, and the environment was conducive to enjoying the food. I would go back again next time I am in Durham.
Came here for a business dinner. Food is delicious, a bit hard to find as it's inside the 21c hotel. Drinks are tasty as well.
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