Social Profile: 
✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
… View more
A dining experience that merges your senses into an immersive mix of sound, taste, art, and hands on involvement. Chef Sam Hart changes his themes and menus on a quarterly basis keeping guests on their toes. Discover the next chapter of culinary en-counters.
High-concept restaurant serving a 10-course tasting menu & wine pairings amid industrial-chic decor.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 2001 W Morehead St D, Charlotte, NC 28208
Phone: (980) 292-2090
Website: http://counterclt.com/
Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Tasting Menu in Charlotte I Counter-
Counter- is an intimate, full sensory dining experience located in Charlotte, NC, featuring themed, rotating tasting menus created by Executive Chef and …
c o u n t e r – (@counterclt) • Instagram photos and videos
Full-Sensory, Story-Driven, Musically-Paired, Tasting Menu. Michelin Guide ⭐️ ♻️ Book WINTER: HOME Charlotte, NC …
Counter – Charlotte – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
To say that Counter is an outlier in the Charlotte dining scene risks understatement: this ambitious, mercurial project from Chef Sam Hart is sui generis.
Reviews
Phieu Kpa
Really awesome spot! We ate here for the drive thru menu, the titanic menu, and a good amount of wine tastings! We always have a great time and can’t wait to go back! The food is interesting and thoughtful and the service is impeccable. The wine pairings were really fun too and offered good selections. We love it!
… moreDamon Picklesimer
I don’t think I could give anything less than 5 stars if I tried. They would have to deliberately pour boiling water on my lap and, as long as they gave me a sincere apology and slide me a bottle of their wine, I would find a way to ask Google for a 6th star. The experience and meal were well-thought-out and worth every penny. The creativity they put into everything they did, created the scene for an amazing night out and it was perfect. Very allergie friendly and can accommodate. Thank you again for the wonderful night.
… moreJulianna M
Counter is incredible! We absolutely loved the experience and the service. The food plating is stunning, and every dish is both beautiful and delicious. They offer optional food and wine pairings, and even have a curated playlist that’s perfectly timed with each course. The atmosphere is gorgeous, and the overall concept is so unique. Plus, tips go to charity, which makes it even better. Truly an amazing experience from start to finish.
… moreNicole Giacalone
We are visiting friends and we are from Florida, they brought us here for our anniversary and we absolutely LOVED it! The whole staff worked together like a fine tuned machine! We will definitely be back when we come visit again! We were here for the Ozzy Osborne tribute dinner , with a side of Buddy Holly and a Joe Dirt reference IYKYK.
They were great about food likes and dislikes as well! 10/10 recommend!
… moreThey were great about food likes and dislikes as well! 10/10 recommend!
Lo Myrick
This is the most unique dining experience I’ve ever had! I’ve had a lot of tasting menus before, but Counter- stands out above the rest as they pair food with a story, music, locally sourced ingredients, and a great atmosphere.
I’ve visited a number of times over the years and I’ll keep returning!
Each season (Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring), they pick a theme and build an experience around it. They also have shorter 1-2 week pop-up special menus – past examples have been tributes to Elton John, Beethoven, the Titanic, Time (the concept), Burgundy (France), Fire, and many more.
A few other fun facts: They pay their employees a salary (well above minimum wage) and give them PTO – both of which are basically unheard of in the restaurant industry. They support local artists, they have a non-profit arm, and support a few local non-profits.
If you’re a foodie and/or enjoy a great experience, you’ll love Counter- !
(Pics are from different events over the years)
… moreI’ve visited a number of times over the years and I’ll keep returning!
Each season (Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring), they pick a theme and build an experience around it. They also have shorter 1-2 week pop-up special menus – past examples have been tributes to Elton John, Beethoven, the Titanic, Time (the concept), Burgundy (France), Fire, and many more.
A few other fun facts: They pay their employees a salary (well above minimum wage) and give them PTO – both of which are basically unheard of in the restaurant industry. They support local artists, they have a non-profit arm, and support a few local non-profits.
If you’re a foodie and/or enjoy a great experience, you’ll love Counter- !
(Pics are from different events over the years)
Stephanie Smith Hall
I loved everything about this immersive culinary experience. The storytelling, thought provoking themes for each course, curated music playlist, and exceptional teamwork and enthusiasm are one of a kind. The food paid a delicious and elegant tribute to Carolina crops in beautiful presentations rich with flavors. Wonderful experience. Photos are of one of the courses showing the acorn cap (w/dairy) and special dairy-free version.
… moreRobert Cho
Phenomenal food and experience. Chef Sam Hart made our night incredibly special. Was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. The wine pairing from the local vintners was awesome—definitely worth the additional cost. The music and art bring everything into a cohesive experience worth seeking.
… moreAlexis
We’ve been to counter twice in the past year and have another visit already booked. Counter truly gives you a dining experience from the prep and serving being done in a performance like way to how amazing and unexpected the food is. This place offers unique combinations that are paired in the most perfect way. Chef Sam is always involved in the experience and interacts with most if not all of the diners. The mother broth that continues to simmer is the cherry on top. It’s something familiar yet new with each visit. We are hooked and will continue to comeback to experience Chef Sam’s magic.
… moreJustin Osborne
Sam and his entire team present one of the most extraordinary culinary adventures in the country! First ever Michelin Star awarded in NC and well deserved! Stop what you’re doing and make a reservation!
… moreCurtis Stone – The Realtor
Tonight, I had the incredible pleasure of dining at Counter in Charlotte, North Carolina and I can honestly say, it was one of the most inspiring dining experiences of my life. The restaurant is led by Chef Sam Hart, and it doesn’t take long to realize that food, storytelling, and mission-driven creativity aren’t just his passions… they’re his entire language.
Calling Counter a “restaurant” feels incomplete. It’s part dinner theater, part art installation, and part love letter to North Carolina. From the moment you sit down, you’re not simply eating, you’re participating. The decor, the energy, the sound, even the silence.. everything is intentional. Counter doesn’t just feed you; it enlightens, entertains, and involves you.
Their mission is clear and relentless: Local, through and through.
The tables? Made in North Carolina.
The plates? Thrown and fired by a North Carolina ceramicist.
The ingredients? Grown, caught, or raised here.
The inspiration? 100% Carolina.
Chef Hart began our ten-course meal by explaining that every dish was designed to represent or evoke a memory tied to the state, moments from his life, his team’s stories, and the seasons themselves. From local trout and mushrooms to beef or berries, every plate felt like a chapter in a storybook about the land we live on. The flavors were beautiful, but it’s the emotion behind them that left a mark.
Counter’s service runs with the precision of a Swiss watch but it’s the chaos underneath that makes it magical. The music isn’t simple background noise.. it’s choreography. It swells to mask the kitchen’s intensity, then quiets to pull you closer. At one point, the staff began walking backwards mid-service… not by mistake, but because the song lyrics literally said “going backwards.”
It’s small moments like that (moments you’d miss if you blinked) that show how deeply this team is obsessed with storytelling. They’re not just plating foo, they’re building a world. Despite the obsessive artistry, there’s no pretension. The staff laughs, curses, dances, and interacts like real humans who love what they do. At one point, during a course introduction, an F-bomb dropped in perfect sync with the music. Somehow, it fit the rhythm of the moment.. raw, unfiltered, honest.
Chef Hart and his team are on a mission to be a one of a kind and truly unique project. Every week, they give away fresh vegetables to the community. They’ve structured their business to give employees partial ownership, ensuring that success is shared, not hoarded. Each season’s story, ts menu, its art, its playlist.. is told once and then retired forever.
No reruns. No repeats. No second act.
Each menu is a time capsule, a fleeting moment in the city’s creative life that, like all great art, only exists once. So when Counter received North Carolina’s first-ever Michelin Star (just two days ago), it wasn’t just a culinary victory, it was a moment of poetic justice. A restaurant so deeply committed to its people, its state, and its purpose deserved to be the one that made history.
Think of it as a cross between fine dining, immersive theatre, and a community project. If you’re open-minded, if you care about food, music, culture, and creativity, you’ll find yourself completely swept up. The music ranges from ’80s and ’90s hip-hop and rock to cinematic scores timed to plating. The chefs wear Nike Blazers in the kitchen. The walls feature local art and the whole atmosphere somehow manages to feel both luxurious and rebellious… like fine dining had a baby with a skate shop.
It’s approachable. It’s thoughtful. It’s cool. Counter proves that a restaurant doesn’t need white tablecloths or silent servers to earn a Michelin Star. It just needs heart, precision, and purpose.
For a restaurant so committed to honoring its state, sharing its success, and serving its people, this Michelin Star feels like more than an accolade. It feels like a promise fulfilled.
… moreCalling Counter a “restaurant” feels incomplete. It’s part dinner theater, part art installation, and part love letter to North Carolina. From the moment you sit down, you’re not simply eating, you’re participating. The decor, the energy, the sound, even the silence.. everything is intentional. Counter doesn’t just feed you; it enlightens, entertains, and involves you.
Their mission is clear and relentless: Local, through and through.
The tables? Made in North Carolina.
The plates? Thrown and fired by a North Carolina ceramicist.
The ingredients? Grown, caught, or raised here.
The inspiration? 100% Carolina.
Chef Hart began our ten-course meal by explaining that every dish was designed to represent or evoke a memory tied to the state, moments from his life, his team’s stories, and the seasons themselves. From local trout and mushrooms to beef or berries, every plate felt like a chapter in a storybook about the land we live on. The flavors were beautiful, but it’s the emotion behind them that left a mark.
Counter’s service runs with the precision of a Swiss watch but it’s the chaos underneath that makes it magical. The music isn’t simple background noise.. it’s choreography. It swells to mask the kitchen’s intensity, then quiets to pull you closer. At one point, the staff began walking backwards mid-service… not by mistake, but because the song lyrics literally said “going backwards.”
It’s small moments like that (moments you’d miss if you blinked) that show how deeply this team is obsessed with storytelling. They’re not just plating foo, they’re building a world. Despite the obsessive artistry, there’s no pretension. The staff laughs, curses, dances, and interacts like real humans who love what they do. At one point, during a course introduction, an F-bomb dropped in perfect sync with the music. Somehow, it fit the rhythm of the moment.. raw, unfiltered, honest.
Chef Hart and his team are on a mission to be a one of a kind and truly unique project. Every week, they give away fresh vegetables to the community. They’ve structured their business to give employees partial ownership, ensuring that success is shared, not hoarded. Each season’s story, ts menu, its art, its playlist.. is told once and then retired forever.
No reruns. No repeats. No second act.
Each menu is a time capsule, a fleeting moment in the city’s creative life that, like all great art, only exists once. So when Counter received North Carolina’s first-ever Michelin Star (just two days ago), it wasn’t just a culinary victory, it was a moment of poetic justice. A restaurant so deeply committed to its people, its state, and its purpose deserved to be the one that made history.
Think of it as a cross between fine dining, immersive theatre, and a community project. If you’re open-minded, if you care about food, music, culture, and creativity, you’ll find yourself completely swept up. The music ranges from ’80s and ’90s hip-hop and rock to cinematic scores timed to plating. The chefs wear Nike Blazers in the kitchen. The walls feature local art and the whole atmosphere somehow manages to feel both luxurious and rebellious… like fine dining had a baby with a skate shop.
It’s approachable. It’s thoughtful. It’s cool. Counter proves that a restaurant doesn’t need white tablecloths or silent servers to earn a Michelin Star. It just needs heart, precision, and purpose.
For a restaurant so committed to honoring its state, sharing its success, and serving its people, this Michelin Star feels like more than an accolade. It feels like a promise fulfilled.