The first time I visited the Counting House was for drinks and an appetizer and my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. This past weekend we decided to have a full blown dinner to celebrate 10 years without killing each other. Love the atmosphere here with the corky art displays, beautiful lighting, and décor. I would consider this place upscale but found it odd the wait staff was dressed hella casual. I love that Durham is a come as you are kind of town but I felt overdressed because of their attire. Cocktails were innovative and reasonably priced as was the wine. The Beef Tartare was the best rendition I have had to date, in the states or abroad. Beef, egg, sauce, all of it worked well together. My complements to the Chef on this dish. The Scallops and Red Drum were also lovely but missed the wow factor the beef delivered. On the fence if they were worth the $30 price tag. We finished our evening with the toffee pudding and a latte and both were above average. I highly recommend this place for drinks and appetizers/dessert and would choose this place over Nana Steak for a pre-show spot as the DPAC is only a 5 minute walk from here. I don't think I would do a full dinner here again as I feel other establishments in the area i.e. Littler and Bar Virgile offer a better foodie experience. read more

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The staff here is beyond rude. Not only are they rude they could not get orders right. NOT ONLY could they not get the orders right -- They didn't put them in at all. After waiting over an hour for food -- They informed us it wasn't coming. Made us wait longer -- Told us the chef left and "too bad" Not only did they make a mistake which left several guests starving -- they made no apologies. Aside from no apologies one of the bartenders - They were incredibly rude after the fact -- I watched them interrupt a private conversation between two other guests who were discussing what happened privately between them. The bartender who had no place inserting herself in the conversation was SO nasty. It was incredible. Cut to the manager in her crazy polka dotted coat making nasty faces and rolling her eyes at every customer she encountered. I honestly couldn't believe my eyes. I've lived in New York City and I've traveled to many places in the world and NEVER have I EVER seen such poor behavior from a staff. Beyond rude and disrespectful. read more

Stayed at the hotel and came to restaurant for brunch. I had the chicken and waffle and it was amazing! Would def go here again even if I was not staying at the hotel. read more

Disappointing and over priced. I ordered the only vegetarian friendly entre which was the crispy oyster mushrooms, which I was excited about because I love mushrooms. However I was served a plate of underwhelming sautéed mushrooms on the side of 4 very small "fried" oyster mushroom pieces. The sautéed mushrooms were edible but the "fried" mushrooms were a chalky, clumpy, flavorless mess. In fact they looked like the batter was only flour. Texture was disgusting, weirdly greasy, and soggy. It was served on a bed of poor quality lettuce tossed in a bitter dressing. My friends order some oysters which they enjoyed but the plating was sad and not deserving of the cost of the food. Our service was not bad but not noteworthy either. Our server didn't to care that I hadn't touched my food for over an hour. I should've spoke with the manager but at that point I just wanted to leave. The weird gray dividers were reminiscent of cubicle walls. No redeeming qualities worst dining experience in Durham. read more

Very nice experience. Valet parking to begin with is a nice touch. The menu is small but well executed. I recommend the swordfish and short ribs. And even though they were quite busy when we were seated, the service was quick and efficient. Another big plus was that the noise level was low and the tables were not crammed together. My only suggestion is a more extensive wine list. read more

This restaurant is awesome. The food is intriguing and delicious. Be a little adventurous, you won't be disappointed. I had the fish, which was a perfectly spiced Tobacco rolled tuna steak, cooked just right. Save room for dessert, the chef earns stars with real vanilla in the ice cream. Also, this is a place to explore the house cocktails. The decor is great. Whoever came up with the ideas of making animals out recycled men's clothing gets a prize. read more

We went to dinner before a show at DPAC. I ordered the potato soup as an app and it was phenomenal. The burger I had for dinner was great, too. My hubby ordered swordfish and oysters on the half shell. Service was wonderful and dining area has a really neat atmosphere. Don't forget to check out the restrooms (sounds weird, but they're sort of Euro-cool). Highly recommend! read more

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

First, the good. The space is beautiful. The staff is attentive, warm and competent. The food? Not so good. I had the snow crab risotto, which said it came with "buttercup squash, vanilla and champagne." It would have probably been better labeled as "rice pudding." In addition to the squash, it also had some bizarre tasting candied fruit element to it. The risotto was also a bit more al dente than I usually like, but I know some folks like it this way. I very nice gentleman came over and asked how we liked the food. I told him the sweet elements in the risotto didn't really work for me, and he suggested in might be a question of balance. Not really. Candied fruit and risotto don't quite go together, And the snow crab really didn't make and appearance. I also had the "loaded potato soup," which came with cheese and bacon. It was way too salty, and I often add salt to things. I couldn't identify the cheese. It was bright orange. My dining partner and I shared the roasted Brussel sprouts which she found to be too sweet, but I thought were OK, but for $15.00 they should have been superb. She was underwhelmed by her flounder. Finally, the "Damn Fine Coffee Liquor" which should have at least been slightly sweet was totally bitter. I don't like cloying liqueurs, but this had only one note, which was just bitter. I am sure it was homemade, but at $11 I want to be blown away. I didn't finish it. The only thing that was supposed to be sweet or savory and hit is mark was the flourless chocolate torte which was quite nice. Also on the upside, they made a very nice Boxcar! And my dining partner liked her cocktail a lot and she is very particular about her cocktails. My recommendation? Come for cocktails and dessert. read more

A gorgeous bar and lounge with unique artwork. There is also a gallery in the hotel showcasing modern paintings, photography, sculptures, and art installations. We had tapas from the bar menu (deviled eggs and mushroom poutine) and tried one of their cocktails (the mass hypnosis). Food was delicious. Cocktail had kind of a medicinal taste that was not really my thing. Got to sit and talk on cozy couches in a semi-private setting. Service was friendly, non-intrusive, and timely. Not too busy at 10pm on Friday night. read more

Counting House - Lighting is bad in this photo, but the place is cozy and well lit. Pictured: deviled eggs and poutine from the bar menu. Both really good! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

One of the best parts of this hotel is the Counting House bar. Great selection of bourbons, and a super cheese sandwich. The bartender was courteous and prompt with his service, the drinks were tasty! read more

I was really excited to try the counting house for brunch, but was unfortunately not impressed. It was very empty, and yet service was on the slower side and not very welcoming. The Bloody Mary was pretty bland, even though I had asked for a spicy one. BUT: the BLT and accompanying salad was absolutely delicious. The fried oysters were fine, but not amazing. So, overall pros and cons. The space is absolutely beautiful! read more

I visited the Counting House during restaurant week in Durham. I opted for a starter of cheesy grits and shrimp and one of the best braised short ribs I have ever had. The dessert of chocolate cheesecake was a nice surprise as well. Located in the Hotel 21c, it is right in the middle of downtown Durham. Solid if a bit lax service but not enough to take away from the 5 star menu and delicious food. Imaginatively composed recipes that were fantastic. This is for grownups with mature palates! read more

Love the bar area and being able to grab a drink and go look at the art display. They have good cocktails and great selection of bourbon and whiskey! Bartenders are very nice as well. Took the time to help me pick out a cocktail I would like even though the bar was completely packed. read more

Boy was I disappointed. I was recommended here so my coworkers and I went for dinner. The food was just okay. The flavors were on the boring side. But worse was the service. Service brings the overall review down to 2 stars (from 3 for the food, 4+ for the atmosphere). The bar service was on point. The service by the waitress once we sat at the table was very subpar. She even had a trainee following her and one of the people commented: "she's being trained by her...??". Too bad as I really wanted to like this place. read more

The food here was very delicious but the service was no where near fine-dining caliber that you would expect based on the price point of this restaurant. read more

I've previously had good experiences at Counting House, but last night was definitely a bummer. Am I alone in finding it ridiculous that two old fashions made with rail bourbon should cost $27? It didn't make sense to me that a rail beverage should cost more than the craft cocktails on the menu using premium liquor... and asking a question about the cost was met with complete rudeness. We tipped anyway, but highly doubt we will return. Oh well. read more

Priced amazingly and cooked with precision this restaurant has more to offer than just food! The experience made the food taste so much better! Paired with a hotel and art exhibit 21c/Counting House is hands down the best establishment of it's kind, I went for my 30th birthday and the staff was amazing and friendly! Bartender was really attentive & really into his craft. I recommend this place to any one having a special event or celebrating a birthday, graduation or accomplishment! read more

Counting House - Loaded Tots and Fried Oysters - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great artistic atmosphere at Counting House in downtown Durham. I've been to the bar several times and have been waiting for an occasion to eat in the restaurant. The menu was small and upscale with choices of small plates, charcuterie and entrees. It was a hard decision. There were several options I would have liked to try but scallops are my go to favorite and Counting House did not disappoint. The dish had great bright flavors and perfectly cooked scallops. It went well with the Emerald Hour cocktail, an herb and prosecco delight! This a great place for a special occasion or maybe if you want a small dish with drinks. I love the bar, the art and the style at Counting House. And now I love the food ! The are lots of fun things to discover around the hotel. read more

Counting House - Amazing scallops ! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Went to check out the bar in this artsy boutique hotel. We were a group of 15 people, had a lot of space at the back of the bar. Comfortable sofas. Good service. I had the Fullsteam IPA which was good. All the artwork on the different floors certainly make it a unique bar experience. You can take your drinks from the bar area and stroll around looking at weird, expensive objects and go 'hmmm, interesting' along with some intellectual nodding. By the entrance there is like a waterfall made of plastic spoons and there is a large American flag made out of thousands of little miniature army men. There is a bank vault downstairs with a couple of sofas in front of the safe deposit boxes where you can hang out. Some of the big vault deposit doors look like a massive iron laundry machine. And the floor has a dollar bill pattern. If you are claustrophobic you might want to stay upstairs. read more

I sat at the bar for some oysters, an appetizer, and some wine the other night. The oysters were nice, with a little granita along with the mignonette and cocktail sauce. I also had the shrimp and grits, which were fine but not particularly memorable. I had been hoping to order a cocktail, but there wasn't much on the list that I found intriguing. One of the drinks had an ingredient I had never heard of. I asked the bartender what it was, and she replied "I don't know, I've only been bartending a few days." Okay, I get that everyone starts somewhere, and I don't want to hold her lack of experience against her. But I do think that (a) the bartender should be familiar with all the ingredients used in the short list of the restaurant's specialty cocktails, and (b) if you don't know the answer to a basic question like that, the reply should be, "let me find out," not "I don't know." There was a second bartender working that night as well. I told him I wasn't seeing anything I was in the mood for on the cocktail list, but that I like drinks that are a bit fruity with some bitter notes, and vodka, gin or tequila, could he recommend a cocktail, perhaps a specialty of his? He replied he didn't really have any specialties that aren't on the list. So in the end, I just ordered wine. This is a rather important bar for Durham, and I'm just concerned that the bar itself doesn't seem to be in very experienced hands. read more

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

I really just don't get the hype. Went in for dinner with my girlfriend excited from the buzz about the menu here but left extremely disappointed. Setting - The bar definitely sets the tone as a swanky Manhattan style space ...vibrant crowd all seemed to be having a good time. The bar is slightly removed from the dining room but still overlooks it. It's nice that you can choose to be in either space depending on your mood....we opted for the dining room. The place was relatively busy but we were seated without a wait. Service - borderline pretentious which was almost alarming given that the servers are wearing jeans and a casual/dress shirt with an apron. Our server seemed like she was maybe trying to be nice but really struggling. More concerned with what we should have known about the menu instead of just explaining and answering our questions. She seemed to loosen up a bit as the meal progressed but the first impression definitely stuck with us. The Food - To get to the point, the menu is limited and it seemed as if they were trying a bit too hard to stand out. I guess ambitious would be an appropriate description. I appreciate fun and exotic ingredients, but there is a time and a place for them on every menu. This one is just littered with one after another and there was no rhyme or reason for a lot of it. We tried the Tobacco Tuna, the Rotisserie Chicken and a pasta entree that I cannot quite remember. Nothing we had was particularly bad, but nothing was particularly enjoyable either. We did receive some cotton candy with the check which just added to the bizarre feel of the place. A drink each and tip put us north of $120. Money isn't the issue but it's just one of those meals you know you could have gone elsewhere and had for half the price. I would prefer Harvest 18 at Southpoint for the food at a fraction of the price or Taza in Cameron Village which is more comparable in setting and blows this place out of the water on all counts. read more

After visiting the museum at 21C hotel a couple of times since the hotel opened, I was looking forward to visiting Counting House for dinner. It pains me to say this, but this restaurant was a disappointment. At the end of the night I was very annoyed by the amount of money that we spent and the lack of satisfaction. I ordered the Braised Beef and my wife had the Rabbit Pappardelle as our main dish. Braised Beef: "parsnip puree, sunchoke, beef jus" The braised beef had very little flavor -- it tasted as if they just dropped a piece of meat in a crockpot with only water. On a positive note, it was nice and tender and not too fatty. Rabbit Rosemary Pappadelle: "rabbit, yellow eyed steubens, preserved lemon" The Rabbit Pappadelle tasted like chicken noodle soup... ugh. Nothing in the description alluded to this flavor. Plancha Octopus: "chorizo baked butter beans, salsa verde" The octopus and beans did not go together well and neither tasted good on their own either. Roasted Hubbard Soup: "fermented beet, candy stripe beet, frisee" I didn't like the flavor (and I am usually a fan of beets). I didn't even want to look at the dessert menu because the rest of the meal was just not worth it. Perhaps we "chose poorly" but, personally, I think they could do a lot better and shouldn't serve any of the dishes that we ordered. Among the other great restaurants that have popped up recently, I think this place needs to work at setting the bar higher and be more adventurous. I'm not going to give up on this place but I won't go back until they significantly change the menu. read more

We went to the counting house for a holiday luncheon for 8. The seared sea scallops came with only 2 scallops and creamed risotto which was not well articulated in the menu. We were expecting the main course to be sea scallops. The creme brûlée has heavy taste of Clove so average. Service was ok. I didn't but think it was a good value for the prices. read more

We sat at the bar. They have a pretty large bourbon collection. Some very unique bottles. The cocktail were great. read more

Two nights, back to back, and two VERY different experiences, even with the same server! Night one: arrived about 9pm (friday) to a packed house - great energy and wonderful space at the bar! We were seated at the only spot left - a couch - and were promptly greeted and our order was taken by our lovely server. Drinks came quickly and food (the burger and fries!) was wonderful. We were checked on multiple times despite the busy atmosphere. Night two: we returned around 10pm the next night (saturday) excited to show off the space to a few friends from Raleigh. We looked for a seat at the bar with no avail and then a spot on a couch opened up near the front door. The hostess pointed us towards it and we were excited to try a new cocktail! We sat, the same waitress we had the night before kindly cleared off the table space, and came back to wipe it off. We then sat there for 15-20 minutes while she served the group across from us, and she seemed uninterested in looking our way. She was busy, that's for sure, but we ended up leaving after 20 minutes of being ignored. We'll try the bar again, but will be hesitant to go later in the evening due to our last experience. Hoping the kinks get worked out soon in regards to being served in the couch areas of the bar. read more

Dined earlier tonight at Counting House with friends. Great dining experience from the moment we arrived. We had a reservation, arrived a few minutes early, were warmly greeted and promptly shown to our table. The restaurant's visual aesthetic is quite impressive -- a great combination of clean lines, open space and positive energy, with a tribute to the timeless Art Deco cool factor. Ingenuous artwork is on display throughout the restaurant -- look up from your electronic devices people and enjoy the thoughtful, fun art presentations on the walls above the tables and the small polar bear faces (that move with the room's airflow!) amidst the ceiling's large "ice-crystalesque" light installations. Our server John was first-rate; great personality, very informative, professional and attentive. I thoroughly enjoyed the artistically-presented shrimp & grits (not your mama's, I assure you), my entree (flounder) was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. For dessert, the warm banana pudding (tucked into a perfectly fried pillow of puff pastry) and served with homemade peanut butter ice cream was absurdly delicious. At the end of the meal, our server John brought us watermelon-flavored cotton candy made fresh in the kitchen -- such a fun (and delicious) surprise to close out the meal. I would be remiss in reflecting on my Counting House dining experience if I failed to mention the fuschia penguins -- the fun-sized molded plastic fuschia-colored penguins that can be found throughout the 21c Museum Hotel. In the case of the restaurant, these charming happiness-invoking penguins find their way (thanks to the wait staff) to diners' tables to further elevate the positive energy throughout the venue. How can you not have fun sitting across the table from a cheerfully-colored penguin? (Even the Grinch would crack a smile!) After a while, the penguin moves on to another table to spread the love and goodwill. Following the meal, my friends and I commented to each other on the great food, positive energy, and attentive staff -- even more remarkable considering the restaurant and hotel have been open for less than two weeks! Counting House has brought a new level of dining sophistication, quirky fun and a thoughtful, impeccably- executed menu offering to Durham's dining scene. I look forward to returning again and again. read more

Counting House - Fuschia Penguin stopped by our table at Counting House. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This bar/restaurant is incredibly chic and sexy. The vibe is very relaxed, artsy and creative. There is something to look at in awe in every corner. We stayed in the hotel and came down to have a cocktail in the hotel bar/lounge and we were very impressed. I tend to judge a place by the looks but I was impressed at first sight. The customer service was flawless as everyone was attentive, generous and just as pumped about the art we were snapping pics of. We would totally recommend this place and would definitely be back our next visit to Durham. read more

This is not a review for this location as a place to hang out at, I love 21c, this is strictly considering it as a restaurant. I was in a fun position to pick my choice of restaurant for a dinner that would be on Duke's tab, I decided to try somewhere I hadn't been, the Counting House restaurant at 21c. I have been here several times for drinks and thought it would be a great place to take an out of town speaker. The ambiance is great and made a favorable first impression on my group of 7. Unfortunately, the rest of the night was not as impressive. The first beer I ordered took over 15 minutes to come out. To be fair, when I pointed out the delay they did comp the drink at least. The service in general was slow and unrefined that night. At this price point and with this nice a venue you expect a level of service and it just wasn't there. I thought it was just me, but other people at the table noted the service was a little subpar. Now onto the most important part, the food. The sea snacks we ordered (we got one of every option) were a highlight, I recommend them. The tobacco tuna and trout terrine were especially good. The entrees however were disappointing. I ordered a pork porterhouse (aka a pork chop), and it was just that, a standard pork chop. It was fine, but considering it was priced at about $30 it was disappointing. There was no real depth of flavor to the dish, it couldn't compare to entrees I have had at comparable restaurants in Durham like Nana's, Rue Cler, Vin Rogue etc. The vegetable dishes I ordered as a side were also disappointing. The collard green dish contains almost no collard greens, it is a dish of chickpeas. The roasted zucchini steak was good but a smaller portion than I would have thought, and zucchini is not an expensive ingredient. We all ordered dessert, and there were some highlights. I wasn't the biggest fan of my sheep's milk cheesecake, but the sweet potato dessert was quite good. I recommend that. Overall we had a perfectly fine meal, but it was sadly just fine. I must admit that if I could redo it I would have gone with somewhere else. I do give many thanks to the management who where easy to work with both when I needed to book and when I needed to arrange payment. read more

If l just had to rate the atmosphere, they would get a 5 star rating. The decor is incredible and the pieces of art work are so unique. Went here for Sunday brunch. The drinks (a very small glass of wine for $14 and a small flute of mimosa for $9) are way over priced and the food was luke warm in temperature. Eggs Benedict awful as the eggs were hard, bread was soft and cold and the sauce was clumpy. If you are going to be an upscale restaurant you really need to have upscale food. A few more options would be nice. The grits were very good but again cold in temperature. Not sure l would go back as one visit to see the uniqueness of this place is not worth the prices you are paying for mediocre food and overly priced drinks. read more

I hate to give a bland review but this place go me no choice. The food was really just bland and lacking in flavor. It has an interesting theme of Africa, Asia, etc, but doesn't realize those countries also use salt and pepper to season. Bummer. The service, how ever was filled with genuine and sweet staff. We felt bad our food experience was such a drag. The staff was great in doing everything they could to make us happy. read more

What a waste of space, this restaurant is BEAUTIFUL, bar is huge and very vibrant, service top notch, but the food, oh my god. I have eaten at Prof on Main in Louisville and the food there blows your mind. not sure what was going on here. none of he dishes had a sauce or were constructed with not logic at all. Asked the server who is the Chef, he just rolled the eyes and that was enough answered for me. Hope the improve because I do want to come back here badly. read more

Normally, the Counting House is a safe bet for a good restaurant option prior to going to the DPAC for a show. But, regrettably, not last night. Kitchen was disorganized and food orders became backed up. Waited about 60 minutes for our entrees to finally show up. Had to rush through dinner in order to make curtain. Not the way I want to start an evening out with friends. As I've experienced better there before, I'll probably give them another chance. read more

Wow what a restaurant. Good food, drinks, desserts & after dinner liqueur too. Extremely friendly and accommodating staff. I went with a friend and both of us are vegetarians. They happily modified the dishes to make them veggie. The restrooms on the first floor are an experience. read more

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Upscale atmosphere is bar none the best is Durham! Def a great place for late night drink and dessert or a spot to hang for the evening.

Chef made my a vegan cuisine on the House. I ordered oatmeal and coffee as brunch. The gallery is also a highlight of this nice restaurant. read more

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

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This is a really cool venue. The decor around the dining room and the bar is fun and filled with different metal sculptures of animals. The hostess was friendly and seated us quickly. It did take almost an hour to get our food and the dishes are a bit small for the price. I ordered the Sea Snacks: the Trout Terrine, the Tobacco Tuna and the Marinated Muscles. My favorite of the three was definitely the tuna. The muscles were a little overcooked and rubbery but other than that, the rest of the entree was delicious. I did get dessert. My friend and I split the Chocolate Delice and the Sheep's Milk Cheesecake. The Chocolate Delice was very rich and I really enjoyed it. I really liked the Sheep's Milk Cheesecake though I was kind of thrown off in that it is not that much like a cheesecake (the texture is harder than a traditional cheesecake and much saltier). I explored the art gallery after dinner which was really cool, especially the pieces on the ground floor by the dining room (like an American flag made of thousands of plastic army soldiers). The art pieces are definitely more modern than I tend to go for but it was still a cool feature to explore after dinner. read more

Visited the Counting House for drinks and cheese on 1/31 and had a very poor experience. Ordered the cheese board and it wasn't served to us until we had to followup up 15 minutes later and found that it hadn't been entered in the system. Had the board entered in the system and it came out about 15 minutes later. Once we finally received the check it had an additional charge on it. Explained to the waitress and had to wait an additional 20 minutes for the waitress to relay info to management and for management team to finally adjust the bill for the item we we were incorrectly charged for. A simple adjustment for a servers error should not have cost us over 20 minutes of our time. read more

Loved this place. It was classy and artsy. The drinks are awesome, enough kick in them. Will be back for dinner.... read more

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came back again for dinner. food was great except the steak tartare which I thought had too many capers. Couldn't taste the beef, just the capers. Had pumpkin soup, which was delicious and the cornish hen was accompanied by seasonal vegetables and sauces. This time the service was right on point. Again the ambience was perfect. Definate local favorite. Price was very reasonable to the high quality of food, the artistic surroundings and the wondering plating. The warm, fresh potato bread served with soft butter also stood out. Going to give 5 stars this time around. I've only eaten steak tartare a couple of times and I'm not sure that it wasn't on point. Didn't order alcohol this time around. read more

Unfortunately I was very disappointed with my service here. The restaurant may be inside 21 C Museum Hotel but the service is extremely low in comparison. After waiting at the low crowded bar for for 20 min we managed to wave down a bartender. Intrigued by by the drink selection we started to ask questions. (Example; What's your favorite drink? What's the most most popular cocktail? What's the difference between choice A and B?) Each answer was the same. "Their all good". After getting our first drink we decided to leave because we didn't feel welcomed and the drinks were less than satisfactory In taste & presentation. The next day I was told by hotel management that complementary coffee was available for all guest in the morning. After asking for coffee I was questioned If I was actually a guest. After showing my key card I was given lukewarm old coffee to go. I will stay at the hotel again but I will not be eating or drinking at Counting House. Ambiance. ***** Food/Drink. ** Fun. ** Service. * read more

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