This was on my list of places to visit and I finally had the opportunity to come on a day off. I came here for brunch and it was a bit slow which was good for me I figured. The interior was really pretty and modern looking and the art was cool. The service was great and the servers were really kind and friendly. The food was kind of mid-grade which was a bit disappointing. I tried the crispy bacon, pancakes with strawberry compote and a mimosa. I might come back to try other drinks on the menu, but might be good on the food. read more

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The Counting House that I reviewed years ago is much different now and I don't see a return visit. Service is mediocre, no refills, check-ins, etc. I had to laugh at my last visit when my check arrived soon after my food did, with the comment, "No rush." I had had maybe three bites at that point, so I just ignored it sitting there until I was finished. I went with pancakes this time but the dish was to come with a berry compote, that is a berry sauce, whipped butter, not chopped butter, streusel and maple syrup. So this is not what I ordered. I wanted a side of eggs until I saw the price, $8 for two eggs. I skipped those and they don't know how to poach eggs here either or don't use fresh eggs. It is time to stop giving this place more chances. read more

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Pre-dinner drink... Gold Standard with house made toasted graham infusion. Served warm which was perfect for a cool rainy evening. I would def come back for this for a dessert drink. read more

Counting House - Gold Standard - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We booked an Easter Brunch at Counting House inside the art-filled 21c Hotel sometime ago, and walked out on Easter Day fully impressed. The platter-sized pancakes landed with arrived to please. Fluffy inside, crisp at the rim, sweet enough to stand alone. The biscuits-and-gravy; were awesome. The pepper-flecked cream hugged buttery layers so, so good. The Banker's Breakfast stole the show: runny-yolk eggs, smoky bacon, and a heap of potatoes generous enough to share. Service was on point; Stefani kept checking in and was so incredibly helpful, sincere, and friendly. We never felt rushed. AFter the meal, curiosity pulled us downstairs to the old bank vault. What a cool highlight to tour such an old space. Wandering past rows of brass boxes, felt like stepping onto a movie set, and forgetting we were at Brunch. For a holiday brunch that's hearty, unhurried, and just a touch adventurous, Counting House was our best choice. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal brunch! Truly everything on the menu is ten out of ten! The short ribs were so tender you didn't need a knife! The grits were super creamy and paired well with the crab, the ricotta pancakes were the fluffiest most addicting pancakes and arguably our favorite thing on the menu. I feel like there was so much attention to detail in each dish we tried. The menu did a great job of having variety without having an overwhelming amount of choices and everything was reasonably priced. I came here years ago and it was not nearly as good. The new executive chef and new menu has now made this our go to place! read more

Counting House - Short rib hash - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food was exceptional. Excellent presentation and taste. We sat at the bar and the service was great but a bit pricey. read more

Counting House - Beautiful and delicious porkchop and scallops. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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We had an amazing dinner at Counting House prior to a DPAC show. I knew about the vault and museum features, but the food really exceeded our expectations. A little pricey, but the fish entrees (cod and scallops) were super delicious. The oysters we tried as a starter were some of the best I've ever had. The dessert options were fun and I'm glad we tried an array of the menu. Our server was nice and helpful. The ambiance was quiet and nice (for us), as we got in early before the rush. I would definitely go back. read more

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We did a staycation night at the 21C. Our room was not ready on time so they kindly gifted us with a voucher towards our meal at counting house. We had our hearts set for brunch downstairs the next morning, only to find a sign taped to the door saying the restaurant was closed. Horrible experience and such a letdown. read more

We continue to have nothing but terrific experiences at this restaurant when we stay at the 21C. This time we did breakfast and the service we received from Ann Marie was worthy of 5 stars alone for her caring, her kindness, her professionalism and for making me feel truly special for my birthday. Husband had their Breakfast Biscuit Sandwich with Tots while I had the Smoked Salmon BLT with Tots. She even brought me a birthday breakfast brulee for dessert complete with candle! And get this...she told us the pink penguin would be happy to visit us and she took my pic with him! Plus made sure I got a pic with the breakfast brulee. On top of it, she gave us our tea and coffee to go, as well as the rest of my sandwich, which we took back up to the room. All tasted terrific as always and we were made to feel so welcome and special from the moment we arrived and were greeted by a beautiful friendly Hostess. Much appreciation! read more

Counting House - Delicious smoked salmon BLT - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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My partner and I came on a weekend evening for dinner. It was very crowded when we came, luckily we had a reservation. The ambiance was very modern and sophisticated while also a bit eclectic with animal models all over the walls and ceiling. We ordered raw oysters and a plate of crackers to start. I ordered the Rigatoni alla vodka which was delicious with a generous amount of seafood. We ended the meal with an ice cream sandwich with caramel popcorn which was very refreshing. Overall we had a great experience and will definitely return! read more

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Our FIRST TIME impression ? An OVERRATED pretentious purveyor of mediocre OVERPRICED food. Only person happy in our party of SIX ordered the 'Smashburger'. The other fancy 'gourmet' dishes like Gnocchi just weren't that good, especially $134 for two. Special 6 oz bourbon cocktail called 'Isn't she lovely' $17 was good, nice lemony flavor with at least a tablespoon of actual liquor. My fish was a plain white fish served whole, lots of picking through bones, flavor was sweet and tasty but not particularly satisfying, I should have ordered something else, I guess. We liked the tall pleasant older lady who served us. The manager brought out some dishes and drinks and clumsily placed them with the incorrect diner, kind of comical 'auctioning off', usually a mark of unprofessional service, staff short handed they explained later. Service overall somewhat uneven and sporadic, noise level was a bit obtrusive, strangely for FRIDAY night NOT THAT BUSY. Could this be an ambitious concept that's failing ? Mmmmm could it be the $56 ribeye that disappoints ? MANY MANY better choices at this outrageous price point. Bin 54 in Chapel Hill for example. Oh, yeh entree dishes took 45 minutes to come out, my attitude is "just inform me if the kitchen is slow, running behind, OK ?" read more

I was expecting the restaurant to be packed for brunch and it wasn't, which I found somewhat concerning during prime brunch hours. The hostess was warm and welcoming, and our server was pretty average. I loved the decor within the space and the food was also plated very nicely. My friend and I ordered the trout dip and it was amazing! My friend and I agreed to let each other sample the others order; I got the raspberry crème brûlée French toast and she got the shrimp and grits. The French toast was delicious!!! read more

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@countinghousenc has become on of my favorite restaurants in the Triangle! And yes, there's an art gallery and bank vault in the building If you're a fan of mussel, the rigatoni alla vodka Flavor profile is absolutely spectacular! Branzino is also a winner accompanied with the crispiest potatos. read more

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With a small, eclectic menu and and intimate atmosphere, counting house is highly recommended for a date night! The server was awesome and very knowledgeable and the food was delicious. They even ended the meal with a bowl of house made cotton candy which was a nice treat! The menu is definitely pricey but overall a solid place to enjoy a meal. read more

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The steak was a bit pricy at ~$75 but super good. The garnish was an interesting thinly sliced root vegetable. I honestly would have preferred something more standard like potatoes, but they weren't bad and it was nice to have something different. The mocktails looked and tasted like alcohol (which they weren't, of course). They were quite strange and I honestly would not get them again. Of course I had to get the most interesting item on the menu: the popcorn ice cream sandwich. The taste of the macadamia nut cookie was very overpowering and I could not taste much of the flavor of the popcorn ice cream, but overall it was a good desert. Very heavy on the cookies. Service and ambiance were decent and what I expected for this type of restaurant. read more

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This restaurant is located in the lobby of 21C. It is open later than most other restaurants in downtown so it was a nice option for checking in late. They have a seasonal menu so it is more limited. It was pretty quiet and empty inside so service was fast. Food was pretty good but on the smaller side. read more

Ambiance is spectacular! Especially the pink penguins! Went for brunch it was not busy at all yet service was absolutely lacking. Coffee and latte came cold. Waitor has worst attitude and never checked on us, couldn't get away from us fast enough when she did drop off the food. The food was also cold. Will not come back they obviously ride on the ambiance to drive business. read more

Food ...very good, Service.....excellent, ambiance.... excellent, overall experience above expectations. Highly recommended for a night out. read more

Absolutely the worst service at the bar! Our group arrived for a Sat check-in but our rooms were not ready at 2pm. The front desk suggested we go to Counting House bar for a drink. At the bar we were told the kitchen closes from 2pm to 5pm. We ordered beers and a Diet Coke which they did not have Diet Coke. Ok. We finished the first round and were ready for another but were completely ignored. I finally asked the bartender for another drink and was told they closed at 2pm. Why would you open a tab for us if we couldn't get another drink? We went out to dinner and a show and came back to the bar for a drink. Again we were completely ignored and had to ask several times for a drink. The bartenders would rather talk with their friends at the end of the bar or be on their phones rather than serve customers. read more

Dinner was delicious. My prime short rib was tender and flavorful, good portion size. The drinks were good. Our server was friendly and took good care of us. Overall, we were pleased with what we all had ordered. read more

We went here to celebrate a friend's birthday, and were greeted with unexpected service. The restaurant had recently experienced an outage on their AC, but they did place some fans around the table to help keep us cool. The server lacked enthusiasm and we had to consistently prompt them to receive service. The menu is pretty limited, which is never an issue but they were sold out of more than just a few of the entrees, leaving only select choices for our meal. We were also told that the gnocchi came with protein, but then found the monetary addition of the protein on our checks. The meal took over an hour to receive, but we did have a party of 8. The meals were not warm, so they were probably sitting under the heater for some time. They also forgot two meals in our party, and had to scramble to make them after the rest of us got our meals. The food was good, though one of us did find a hair in our meal. The general manager Tony did comp our meal though and was incredibly apologetic for the lack of service our party received, which was extremely appreciated. Overall, the ambiance was quiet with dim lighting, the food was good but lacked sufficient service. read more

Wow! I have been eyeing this hotel bar for quite sometime but never realized they had a great bar/restaurant inside. We stopped in here for a good cocktails and an appetizer and we were not disappointed. We would've had diner here, but we already had reservations somewhere else. Great spot! I just wish there was more signage for people like us walking by. read more

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I stayed at the 21c Museum Hotel and went to their (associated?) ground floor bar, the Counting House. I enjoyed their craft cocktails and some appetizers (the oysters). The food and service were both good. They did get busier later in the evening, and the servers were very busy. (Perhaps the CH could've used another, but that's not on the server.) I did not go further into the menu than the light appetizers. The ambiance is interesting; I think they're pursuing the art museum vibe that the hotel is going for. read more

It's a great place to chill/hangout and grab dessert/drinks. We always enjoy the art and sculptures since it's a museum hotel. Flourless chocolate torte and pumpkin spice creme brûlée are amazing. Oh btw the bathrooms on the second floor are fun - clear glass turns into frosted glass after you lock the door. read more

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First time here and would highly recommend it. The atmosphere was up best.thevwsitress Carina was excellent attentive and gave amazing food and drinks recommendations. read more

Disappointing. The space looks nice, and the staff is courteous, but the food is lacking. Coffee tasted old, the second cup was fresher, but not good coffee. Breakfast tacos were dry with very little flavor. Hot mess was an odd combination of things, not very tasty. We won't be back. read more

What a wonderful place to gather for dinner! The food is absolutely delicious and the vibe is very very cool. I dined here with colleagues on a work trip and it did not disappoint. The service was also very professional and we appreciated their expertise on the menu, wine, etc. read more

Where else can you eat with w pink penguin inside of a historical art museum? Food is good - nothing over the top. What makes this place stand out is the service and atmosphere. Don't forget to try the free cotton candy that comes with your check. read more

Counting House - Pasta, Counting House Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I had a great experience at Counting House yesterday! I took a friend out for her birthday and she suggested this place. It is inside the 21C hotel and you turn left to enter the restsurant (there aren't any large signs that indicate the location so we were a little cobfused at first before finding it). The place was clean and spacey with very interesting art hanging on the walls (halfway through the meal I looked up to see a giant orange tiger made of 3D materials and yarn hanging above me). My friend and I started with oyster special. If it is still going on I highly recommend getting the larger ones for $4 each. We then each got a pasta for dinner - she got the rigatoni and I got the fettuccini. Hers was nice in that the pasta was well seasoned and the chicken sausage in the rigatoni goes really well with the vodka sauce. I absolutely loooved mine however, much more! It has that homestyle taste of mom cooked short ribs that I could taste throughout the creamy fettuccini sauce with a hint of goat cheese. There wasn't much of the meat from the short ribs in the pasta itself but I was definitely able to taste it thoroughly. We got a tiramisu afterwards to share and it was nice and rich, and was taken off our tab upon realizing the meal was to celebrate my friend's birthday! Followed after was cotton candy which was such a cute way to end our dinner experience. Also, shoutout to our waitress Olivia who was so sweet and bubbly and attentive! Overall this is a nice quiet restaurant for date night or to catch up with a friend. The limited menu makes it easier to decide on what to get. If you are interested in drinks however the menu was quite extensive! read more

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This is the restaurant for you if you are looking for a artsy ambiance and excellent seafood for dinner in downtown Durham near Duke University. Tip 1: no free parking. However, there is a nearby parking garage as well as the option of valet. The restaurant is tastefully adorned with pieces of artwork making the ambiance very eclectic. The food presentation is beautiful. Lots of color. Good portion sizes. I tried a variety of dishes from their Catch of the Day, scallops to their osso buco and short ribs. Personally, their seafood dishes were way better than their meat dishes. The flavors they captured for the fish and the scallops were fantastic. The side dishes for all the entrees were different and delicious. I think the osso buco requires more flavor. A delightful and unexpected surprise was the cotton candy they served the table at the end of the meal. I loved it! Such a cool element to the dining experience. I also like the bathrooms. They were spotless, the wall is transparent that overlooks the restaurant then frost over when you enter and lock the door. They are all gender neutral bathrooms. Overall, a nice experience. read more

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We had a surprise date night on a Monday night. He found this place on Google and we decided to drive from Cary. WOW! I didn't know about this classy boutique hotel. As soon as we arrived at our table, I was impressed, the decor was exquisite, the lighting, the art and seating. We started off with cocktails and oysters from Canada, perfection. I had the sword fish and he chose the pork chop. The food was flavored to perfection and we both cleaned our plates. The sauce on my fish and vegetables were amazing and I was unable to stop eating it. He said it was the best pork chop he ever ate and loved the sauce with the cabbage. Then we shared caramel cheesecake with sliced apples on the side. Our server made our dinner very special. Her name was Annabell and she had an infectious personality. She was knowledgeable, attentive, suggestive and a pure delight. We are fans and we will definitely be back and next time bring friends. read more

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I went to Counting House for a girls lunch as I had a friend in town visiting and figured it'd be cool to see the art in the 21c museum and grab a bite and some drinks. The 21c art and hotel is interesting, and certainly a test of my taste in art (not my favorite but I appreciate it). That said, it was cool to see the vault that is now an area to sit and have some drinks (and I imagine an Instagram goldmine with its dollar bill tiled floor). The menu looked great and my two buddies had the short rib sandwich special, which they said was really good. We had the deviled eggs because, always get the deviled eggs. They were yummy! And the sweet potato chips were a work of art themselves! I was skeptical when they arrived but the pop of lemon and light crisp made them like a light as air pork rind if you will. I'd get both starters again. I opted for the Asian salad and added chicken. It was just ok. Chicken was over cooked and the whole salad just lacked anything memorable. I'm sure it was healthy and gave me nutrients so, there's that. Our server was very nice and attentive. I was surprised at some recent bad reviews on that. The dining area has more pieces of art to enjoy as you eat and they'll even give you one of their famous penguins to dine with you if you'd like. That's kinda fun. I also liked the Durham map tables near check in. Full bar and some specialty cocktails. I think dinner might be good here so I may try again and get what's on special because that seemed the way to go! read more

Counting House - Durham map table near check in. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Stopped in before a show at DPAC. Just a short walk away. We sat at the bar. The menu is small but we opted for a few drinks, mine was a gin and tonic with a splash of pomegranate. We shared a poached pear with Brie crostini and it was surprisingly delicious. Bar tenders were awesome and the place packed out. Great place to come pre show and will check out the restaurant soon. read more

Counting House - Poached pear and Brie crostini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Went to the bar for a drink before dinner reservations. I loved the vibe and music playlist (the bartender said it was Nelly radio so there were a ton of great jams one after the other) I had the pink lady drink and it was delicious and fresh. My boyfriend ordered mid tier tequila but we were definitely surprised when we saw our bill with how expensive his drink was. Overall, great vibe and cocktail but extremely overpriced for mid tier drinks. Would probably not go back again for that reason. read more

Counting House - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Visited During Mother's Day weekend for brunch and this place was Amazing. The inside art is beautiful and adds great decor to the entire building . They had great mimosas and their food was great all around. I went with 2 picky eaters and my boys loved everything. Best part of the visit was going to the bathroom . Will come back! read more

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I've been to Counting House a couple times and most recently came with some friends for brunch. The dining room has very unique, artistic vibes and doesn't feel like a hotel restaurant at all. We were a few minutes early for our reservation but still were seated right away. We decided to get the bottle of champagne - an insanely good deal at just $10 (with OJ too). For my meal, I got the breakfast biscuit. The biscuit was buttery and flaky, and the sausage was nice and salty but not too greasy, the cheese melty, and the egg was cooked to perfection. The potatoes were ok, maybe could've been a little crispier for my taste. This will always be a solid choice in my opinion, and don't skip the eclectic art displays next to the restaurant - it's free! read more

Counting House - Sausage, egg and cheese breakfast biscuit - so much food and SO good! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I was looking forward to a work dinner here. On my budget, the prices are out of reach. Well. It was DREADFUL. The ambience is soulless, a sort of designer's nightmare of grey. The service was forgetful and chaotic. But what really disappointed was the food. I had the mushroom dish -- a soggy, cold mess. For $$$$$$$. Not going back. read more

Had a delicious meal followed by a stroll around the galleries with a stop in the vault! The food was delicious and I can't wait to go back and try more of the items! read more

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We were excited to eat at the this restaurant as we made reservations a few week in advance to our travels.... What a big disappointment!! 1. Limited menu and not the best choices 2. Limited liquor- false advertisement from website 3. Took 45 min for our food that was cold from sitting to long to come out. 4. Staff wasn't that knowledgeable on menu or cocktails 5. Ambiance is not what they show online. Very cheap seating. Your better off eating elsewhere! read more

We ate here on May 6 for lunch and after hearing all the hype, it was a bit of a let-down. My "grownup grilled cheese" and fennel tomato bisque were fine. The soup was very bland. It could have used some salt and garlic and seasoning. Banana bread was good. Service was spotty. The food took a long time and they forgot to bring food to one person on our party. She had to ask for it to go. So, the food was not bad, just not great. Service is in need of improvement. read more