The Counter at Old Ballard Catering Co.

Had the carnitas and chicken tacos; now I fully believe the other guy's review saying the fried chicken was magical 😂 Delicious!! The tacos hit the exact spot and the fries we got on the side were so good~ Looking forward to trying more of their menu in the near future!

Edit: Okay so I'm convinced there has to be some witchcraft going on in there because everything is so good. How are the flavors perfect every time?? I love this place. DELICIOUS FOOD.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Beef/lamb gyro and garlic fries are very, very yummy!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food that tastes like it was made with love!! The chicken gyro slaps. Friendly service too.

I usually never have high expectations of food in Seattle anymore, because everything is overpriced, bland, and is mediocre quality. So when I found this restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised. I got the lemon chicken gyro here, and it was SO good. Definitely top 3 gyros in Seattle, and I’ve had a LOT the past 10 years of living here. Everything was seasoned so well, the chicken was so juicy, the pita bread was soft and moist (some pita breads easily get dry), and even the fresh vegetables were cut in a way where every bite is easy to bite into. The feta was amazing, the sauce was so flavorful, and every bite was just perfect. I normally don’t finish my food if it’s mediocre (my body just rejects it idk), and I finished the gyro after giving my boyfriend, a couple of bites. I also had a side of falafel and they were so crisp yet so moist inside. The seasoning was perfect, it wasn’t dry at all, and I loved how they seasoned it on the outside as well. The guy who owns the place, or whoever was serving me, was very friendly as well, and he recommended dishes that were popular, which I appreciated, but I had to order what I like (Not a fan of lamb, I love chicken gyro). I almost drove there for lunchtime, but found out they open at 4 PM. I had it on Saturday, and it’s Wednesday today, but I’m still thinking about it lol. Around $15 after tax per gyro, which isn’t cheap, but I’d rather pay a bit more for quality rather than pay $9 and waste it.

I rate restaurants on my TikTok and ig food channel and maybe these folks will do a collab with me :p

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is a restaurant that’s definitely build with hard work and love. You can tell from the minute you walk in that they put a lot of effort in their food, their service and even the little talk seems genuine. We tried the fish tacos and I tried a gyro, the portions were massive and extremely fresh. The only thing I would change is that it’s only for takeout and I would love to have a seat there in the summer :) overall, good job guys! I wish the best for your business!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips, Athens Street Gyro, Greek Fries - D

Nested in the corner of a busy crossroads near Roosevelt High School, where the hustle of the city meets the calm of community, lies The Counter at Old Ballard Catering Co., a sanctuary for those seeking culinary solace amidst the chaos. Here, the magic of flavors is woven into each takeaway order, a testament to the art of simple, yet profound delights.

As you approach, a Paul Giamatti-esque figure appears, his countenance in good spirits, ready to take your request with a warmth that feels like an embrace from an old friend. His voice, a melody of kindness, guides you through a menu that promises satisfaction.

Among the treasures offered, the rich, warm Athens street gyro stands out, a symphony of textures and tastes. The meat, succulent and seasoned to perfection, dances with crisp vegetables, all swaddled in a soft, toasted pita that whispers tales of Mediterranean nights. Each bite is a journey, a blend of ancient flavors reimagined for the modern palate, leaving you yearning for more yet content in the moment.

As you savor this culinary masterpiece, the Paul Giamatti doppelganger has moved on, his jovial laughter echoing softly as he serves other customers, leaving you with the memory of a meal that was more than food—it was an experience, a moment of pure, unadulterated joy in the heart of Seattle.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Athens Street Gyro

This is my absolute favorite place to get food in the area! I love that I can order ahead or stop by and pick something up. The service is fast and everyone that works here is friendly and helpful. I've tried nearly the whole menu at this point and can confidently say the quality cannot be beat! You can tell it's made fresh and the quality is amazing. The gyros are the best in town and they do fried chicken on Fridays which has become a favorite at our house.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Friendly staff and delicious food!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

i got the Fried Chickenall i have to say is - wow.wowoh my godthat fried chicken was the best fried chicken i’ve had in my life. it’s unbelievable how good that wasthat breading was utterly magical. It was so insanely flaky and crunchy - just the absolute perfect level of each. It had such a satisfying dark brown color rather than the light brown you see on other fried chicken. You could tell this was truly fried in as much oil as possible - which you could also tell by how the breading was even slightly damp with oil and the bottom of the carton was still somewhat wet from the oileach bite of the breading was just absolute perfectionthe inside of the chicken was also astoundingly good - which i wasn’t expecting. the first time I took a bite of the chicken meat itself - i was shocked by how well it tasted. This wasn’t your boring old bland chicken you’d find somewhere else - it had fat to it - and even if the breading didn’t exist I would still really enjoy eating the chickenthe only thing i wish for is the breading had some spice to it - there pretty much wasn’t any of thatmy next absolute favorite part was the buttermilk biscuits that i got as a side. These were baked so perfectly - with a tough exterior but a soft interior. The butter dipping sauce added to this was the best part of the entire meal - it was so addicting it was impossible to resistwhat drags this down slightly, though, is the greek fries. I didn’t think these were good at all - while they were seasoned well with pepper throughout - the cheese was a) not well distributed and b) pretty infrequent. Also, the fries themselves were pretty hard to the touch but not crispy and didn’t have any softness inside. The white sauce didn’t taste very good eitherI will say the buffalo sauce that I added as a side was quite goodWhat puts this meal over the top is the massive portion size. It did cost a good amount (24 dollars) - but 3 of that was the greek fries which I’ll skip next time in favor of a side that doesn’t cost extra. The pieces of fried chicken were MASSIVE - there was so much food contained in that basket. I wasn’t even able to finish this entire meal. Given that you get this much fried chicken + two sides for a decent price, the value here is pretty damn goodoverall, out of this world fried chicken and biscuits, although the greek fries does keep this from the highest possible score. 9.25 / 10

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 5

Service: 5

Delicious food. Wish they were open later!

Food: 5

Service: 5

Incredible food at a fair price. Will be back forsure.

I haven't tried Greek food often, but the gyro was delicious because it had a lot of vegetables, and the sauce was Greek, so it had a bit of a yogurt flavor and was enjoyable. This restaurant is definitely a chicken restaurant. I don't know how they fry the fries so deliciously. Doordash ordering is possible, but ordering directly from the store is cheaper. When I stopped by to visit in person, the store and kitchen were very clean, and the female owner was very sincere and packed the food quickly. A restaurant you would want to visit again.

Spicy chicken sandwich better than Chik-fil-

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Awesome place really good staff coming back here again!

Top notch. Never had a bad meal from this place. Usually get the gyro or the chicken tenders. Can be a little pricey, but inflation is a real B. Food quality and service are excellent. Very nice owners and staff as well. 10/10

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5