Unfortunately I cannot give this place a good review. Out of the three of us eating, no one liked any of the food. All in all I feel like they're just trying too hard and missing the mark. They would benefit from simplifying the dishes first, then modifying/experimenting once the base dish is top notch. For example, two of us ordered salads. For some reason they come 1/2 in a bowl and 1/2 in a jar. You're supposed to shake the jar and use tongs to pull out the salad to put in the bowl, then mix again. WHY? Is this just trying to be a cool social media jar salad? Those are meant for meal prepping so your top ingredients aren't soaked by the dressing over time. At a restaurant it's just awkward and unnecessary. For my salad, the chicken was very dry and the fried coating was burnt. The dressing was also crazy sweet. We had also gotten two appetizers, the tachos and the fried ribs. The tachos were mushy and had a strange sweet relish on top. The flavor was kind of all over the place. If the tots were normal tot size and not the size of of a kiwi, they would probably crisp up better and be better complimented by the relish. The fried ribs were ok, but would have been much better without being fried. I guess it's a novelty? Idk, just another example of where it seems they try too hard to be something different/cool and it doesn't land. People were nice, venue was cool... I think dinner would be better (we were there for lunch). The people I was with had to get other food after... so I can only give the place 2 stars if we had to go pay for another meal afterwards. read more

Wow. Flew from West Palm Beach to Charlotte driving to Ft Jackson. Went out of our way to try this place. Amazing. Worth the drive. Crazy flavors awesome staff read more

Once again Kounter deserves 5 stars!! The scallop dish is fabulous!! Service always great!! The salmon was also outstanding!! Plates cleaned 100%!! read more

See all

Staff was very friendly and the chef came out to socialize with everyone. The steak was great and they potato pancake was exceptional. The restaurant is small, so it can definitely get loud in there. Also it completely convinced my "medium rare" steak wasn't actually "rare," but that's my biggest negative, so I can't complain too much. The desert was unique, not the greatest ever, but the presentation was solid. read more

Kounter - Banana Foster Bao - New American Near Me - Rock Hill, South Carolina

See all

Cool old building. Chefs behind bar very friendly. Unique food done well. Need to add specials/rotating menu.

My wife and I are currently shopping for a home in Rock Hill. So we've visited the town several times and we are always on the lookout for a great place to dine. There is no shortage of restaurants and bars in the downtown area. But we may have found our favorite. We stopped at Kounter on Thursday night and sat at the bar to get a feel for the place. We had a couple cocktails which were excellent and checked out the menu. The staff was so pleasant. The manager even came over to welcome us and talk about their food etc. The menu is very eclectic. We went back on Friday and split a couple orders. We had the fried bacon with the cheese dip and the fried duck bao tacos. It was AMAZING!! We can't wait for our next trip! The pear martini is a must! Btw. They are opening a Speakeasy lounge next door! They are expecting to open in December. Highly recommend! Prices are fair and there is something for everyone! read more

See all

What a culinary treat. Food presentation was awesome. Food was absolutely delicious. The tuna poke was a surprising treat. The sliders, enormous. Drinks were good, wide variety for all the tastes. Service was good as well. Cute location. Will definitely be back. read more

See all

This place was worth the 40 mins drive from Charlotte. The decor is super cute and price of everything was in keeping with the area and it was delicious. Our waitress Sydney was training a new waitress Emily and both were kind and friendly and talked about the menu. That is how I learned about the featured cocktail where some of the proceeds benefited a local women's shelter. The cocktail had mezcal which added a smokey eliminate which was a surprise considering the name of it. I ordered the steak and eggs which was cooked perfectly but the sauce was okay but the star on the table was the Spinach mushroom quiche Oscar that my girlfriend had. That thing was packed full of flavour and crab meat throughout...I wish I had ordered that. Buy next time we come back we will. They also have Cuban toast and if you have not had it, ORDER IT....it is always crispy and buttery and flacky. The hashbrown were good as well. My other girlfriend had the Red sangria and the ice cubes had fruit in them which was a BONUS. Also for 14.00, they have bottomless mimosa but they have a rule or law were they can't call it bottomless but it is...but they call it a 2 HOUR mimosa....so if you see that on the menu that is the bottomless. Happy Brunching read more

See all

Food: Salads are fresh with blended ingredients and a dressing that was so aromatic! Environment: beautiful decor. Tight space though. Parking: free available I would recommend this place! read more

See all

Okay so since the pandemic hit I've had very low expectations for restaurants because I understand there's staffing shortages and shortages when it comes to food and what not. But going to Kounter last night was AMAZING. It has easily become my favorite dining experience ever. My boyfriend and I had reservations at 5 but we arrived a little late because we couldn't find parking and I was so nervous they were gonna give our table away but they didn't thankfully. We get in there and the service was impeccable, from the sweet ladies who greeted us right before we got to the door to our waitress, Beth (who was freaking fantastic). Beth was kind and attentive and she really made our experience soooo much better. Okay so now let's talk about the food and drink, for the cocktails I ordered the White Russian & my boyfriend ordered a Long Island. And let me tell you these drinks were STRONG I'm so used to restaurants skimping on the liquor but not here, they gave you a pretty fair amount and the drinks were DELICIOUS!! For food my boyfriend ordered the steak & potatoes and I ordered the bacon wrapped meat loaf. The food had no business being that good. I personally am not a fan of meatloaf but this meatloaf was EXQUISITE, it's came with this white sauce and it was just too good I had to resist from licking my plate lol. Overall we had an amazing time and what made it even better was that Beth gave us a little hand written note and that just made my night. We will definitely be coming back!!! read more

Kounter - Note from Beth - New American Near Me - Rock Hill, South Carolina

See all

During this visit to Rock Hill, we made brunch reservations and I'm sure glad we did! The drinks were good - including their weekly Community Cocktail that was bourbon and peach-based, Bloody Mary, and Cheerwine Sangria. The food was delicious, too, just like last time! The group ordered a variety of dishes and all were good. I got The Old Town Original. The fried rib was delicious (and unique to me as I've never had one before, much less at brunch), the cheesy grits were thick (good in my book), and the jalapeño bacon had a little kick to it. Good friendly customer service and great Sunday Brunch experience! read more

See all

Small, cute spot! The menu choices have nice touches with some ingredients that you wouldn't really expect to go together, but they do!! (The chef knows what he is doing!) Our waitress Skylar was super nice and even told us about many things to do for fun in Rock Hill! read more

Used to be a stellar place... maybe quality has declined recently, but it's a solid option for contemporary food in Rock Hill. read more

I've been looking for a place this amazing and I'm glad I heard about this restaurant from a friend. My husband, daughter and I came in for lunch and were impressed with the service and the food! We had the Og Chix Sammie and it was delicious! We ordered the Roasted Brussels (10 out of 10 delicious!), sriracha edamame, corn and Cubano Sandwich. Everything was top notch, absolutely delicious. Come get a great meal and learn about history while you're there by viewing the well laid out timeline of events in the hallway area. We were pleased to meet Brianna (Breonna?) Who was instrumental in the addition of this educational piece while we were there. Brianna and her mother were charming and I'm glad we were able to meet them. Our server, Andrew was top notch. I cant recall a better server in all my experiences. I love this place! read more

See all

Went for a business lunch. The server was so very friendly. Sat at a table at the window. Brought back nice memories as we ate there many times when it was Five and Dine. We ordered the KR8 Krisps as an appetizer. So full of flavor on their own but we got the Wisconsin beer cheese to go with them and that was like steroids!! :-) Entree - I got the Cubano. I really wanted the cake platter chicken sliders but they don't serve those during lunch. It was very good but I wouldn't say excellent. The bread overwhelmed the contents. For sides, I got the fries and Brussels sprouts. Fries were very good but the sprouts were fantastic! Can't wait to go for dinner. High recommendation. read more

Great location with great food. I'm glad it was recommended to me and will be going back.

excellent food and incredible history!!! we had a huge table and everything was GREAT!!! It is a high recommend if you are in Rock Hill area. Be prepared though... the portions are big enough for leftovers!!! read more

Kounter - Beef Slider & fries w/ malt vinegar... - New American Near Me - Rock Hill, South Carolina

See all

Amazing food and reasonable prices, we'll be back for sure. Cool ambiance, neat updated take on the classic American counter diner. As a hobbyist woodworker, I loved all of the wood accents. Service was excellent as well read more

So glad Rock Hill has preserved this spot for history. Site of Friendship Nine sit in, this diner has the feel of diner, with things like meatloaf but with an upscale twist. Full bar. The drink is pretty but should come with warning "Smokey flavor forward". We made reservations. Worth a visit. read more

Kounter - Rose colored glasses drink - New American Near Me - Rock Hill, South Carolina

See all

My parents and I came here for dinner. I had the bacon wrapped meatloaf and also a side of the honey vanilla plantains. The plantains were practically dessert (which was exactly what I wanted) and the meatloaf and associated sides were fantastic. My dad had the lobster gnocchi and really enjoyed his meal. My mom had the shrimp and grits and, while I cautioned her against it since she "doesn't like grits", she actually very much enjoyed everything. We would definitely come back! read more

I drove from Charlotte to Rock Hill to meet friends and patronize this restaurant and to celebrate my life. I met and had a chat with Rob the chef. The man is an Artist. I had Tuna Smokey Poke and Lobster Gnocchi. Oh my spectacular. The poke is out of this world and creative. Order it for the experience but more for the taste. Brilliant. Service was remarkable. Top notch experience in every way. Thank You! read more

Kounter - Lobster Gnocchi! To die for! - New American Near Me - Rock Hill, South Carolina

See all

3rd visit, 1st time for brunch......absolutely 0 disappointment!...this place is amazing....the brunch menu is as eclectic as the dinner menu....I went with the old town original which is like a best of dish!....cheesy grits, fried rib, perfectly cooked egg, hash...and hands down the best bacon ever....my wife had the yogi berry which she thoroughly enjoyed, and the four of us all tried the " bed" of raspberry mousse it was sitting on, and all were loving it!, also split the chocolate croissant....perfect!..... our neighbor had the asparagus/ crab quiche....she herself is a top notch chef and was blown away...crust was amazing, real crab, just amazing......this place is hitting 100% in every category!...even pricing is fair for what you receive!....get to Kounter! read more

See all

Absolutely amazing food & service! Had to stop by the following week, food is that good! Chef is very talented!!

Love the food. Love the drinks. Love the service. Love the location. Love the history and how they preserved it while keeping a functional restaurant. We eat here every time we are in town. read more

Got a handful of dishes to go and everything was delicious and would totally order them again. The restaurant is adorable inside as well.

Kounter provided my party of 3 with an amazing atmosphere. The food was very good and the presentation was phenomenal. The hostess was friendly and very courteous. We had reservations for 4:30 at the Kounter and the bartender and sous chef that worked at the bar were incredible. We ordered the garlic shrimp, black Wingz, fried ribs and the Brussels sprouts with tofu as appetizers. My favorite was the fried ribs, they are a must. The brussel sprouts were a bit salty but I think if I had them with a side of rice it would have been a little better for my tastes. I highly recommend going to Kounter and I can't wait to book my next visit with them. read more

See all

We just moved to the area from Ohio, and due to the abundance of amazing restaurants formerly around us we have pretty high expectations when dining out. That said, Kounter is one of the first restaurants we tried in Rock Hill, and well, everything else in the area is going to have a lot to measure up to! The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated while still being cozy and inviting, and it's history with the Friendship 9 is so interesting. The service from start to finish was warm, prompt, and friendly. We ordered the Cheerwine sangria and the twisted White Russian for cocktails, and they were delicious! Kounter doesn't just slap cocktails together like a lot of places do these days, they take their time with every detail. From the brûléed limes frozen in the sangria's ice cubes, down to the tiny line of peanut butter cups on a skewer in the White Russian. For our app we tried the fried ribs, and once again, delicious. The bbq sauce is equally sweet and spicy, the ribs are fall off the bone tender, and the deep fried crunch sends them over the top. Combine that with the fresh tartness of the pineapple jicama pico and the sweetness of the honey vanilla plantains, and you have a perfect trifecta. My husband decided on the spaghetti o's and meatballs for his entree, and he loved every bite. He said everything was perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked, and that he wasn't sure about the orange ricotta was going to be but somehow it worked out just right in his dish. I chose the seared scallops and I hope they never leave the menu! There are so many different things going on flavor wise in them (white cheddar, candied bacon jam, pimento cheese, and roasted tomato basil vinaigrette) that I wasn't sure if that would overwhelm the delicate scallops, but everything sounded so delicious I figured I'd give it a shot! Every bite was nothing short of divine. Every flavor and every texture went together perfectly. The smoky crispy grit crouton, the creamy, salty pimento cheese, the tart vinaigrette, and the sweet bacon jam. I literally can't say enough about them. Alas, we were too stuffed from dinner for dessert, but we will most definitely be back! I would highly, highly recommend Kounter to anyone, and this will be our first choice to bring visiting friends and family to when they're in Rock Hill! read more

Kounter - Cheerwine sangria and twisted White Russian - New American Near Me - Rock Hill, South Carolina

See all

Chef takes great pride in his dishes here. Been 3 times and everything is always super fresh and the presentation is high level. Also love the history of this place. Celebrating the Rock Hill Friendship 9....awesome that this history is being preserved. Hummus and Cheese is a no-brainer....made in store, amazing!! I always start with this. read more

I have been wanting to try Kounter for the last couple of years. The reviews for this place average 4.5 stars. It's always a treat to go downtown. Unfortunately, the food we had did not live up to all the hype. I ordered the smash burger, looking forward to the bourbon BBQ sauce, bacon jam, aged cheddar and herbed goat cheese. I could not taste anything but a tough burger. There wasn't enough of the other ingredients on it to get the full flavor. My Mom ordered the veggie sandwich with the Asian brussel sprouts as her side. The brussels were tough and chewy. She didn't finish them. Also said she wouldn't order this sandwich again. My Dad had the crab cake sandwich and cream corn. He enjoyed his meal. Very disappointed overall with the food. The service was very good!! Staff is very friendly and accommodating. This is the only positive of the dining experience. read more

Kounter - Check - New American Near Me - Rock Hill, South Carolina

See all

Absolutely loooooovvvveeee Kounter! If you're a foodie, this is a great place to experience all their unique and delicious offerings. We started w the chicken and waffle sushi. Fried chicken was awesome. The syrup has a hint of horseradish but isn't overpowering. We shared the smoking tuna poke. Love the presentation and all the flavors and textures in this dish. For entrees we shared the seared scallops and shrimp and grits. Seriously the scallops dish is the bomb! Candied bacon, pimento cheese and the tomato vinaigrette had all the flavors! I loved their take on shrimp and grits. The crispy collards were yum yum! Honestly you can't go wrong ordering anything here! Wonderful service and amazing food..we will be back many times! read more

See all

What a great meal we all had. Fried rib appetizer was excellent. Shrimp and grits were a unique presentation and perfect. Hangar steak on potato pancake was yummy. Salmon over mushrooms also scrumptious. Service by Natalie was timely and attentive. No room for desserts. Maybe next time. What a nice find! read more

Oh my god! The food here is ridiculous! I had the smash burger and honestly I have never loved a burger so much. The Brussels sprouts on the side were transcendent. I came here expecting a so so meal at a historically significant diner and I received so much more. read more

Service was good and the location is cute. Unfortunately, the food is pretentious and overpriced. Overall the food for brunch was just ok. I had the old town classic and I was served cold and soggy potato hash and cold and dry cheese grits. The stars of the plate were the rib and jalapeño bacon, unfortunately they weren't enough to save the meal. If you're going to "elevate" classic southern cuisine, at least try to serve it hot and fresh. read more

I'm not sure how many reviews I've done for this fine culinary establishment but one more can only help. Fine food at a fine price with great service. Don't get no better! Everything I've tried is off da hook. Our favorite is the poke app. It also has a very nice show with the smoke. Anything you get here will be the best you ever had! read more

The perfect spot for a new experience! Try everything, but don't skip the pear martini or the ahi tuna.

Good atmosphere and great service. Lots of great dishes. Chicken and waffles were great. My meal was crab cakes and they were okay. I thought the flavor was good but a lot of filling. I'm from Maryland so I have high expectations, so may be better to others. Lots of cool options on the menu and the smoking tuna poke was cool as they took the cover off and the smoke came out. Overall good experience and would come again read more

See all

Bloody incredible food. Had the "creole masone " and the crab was great as was everything else.

Sunday brunch with my wife at Kounter. Excellent service from bartender and all servers. I ordered The Old Town Original, and wife order the Eggs Benny which was a great portion, and very savory! Will definitely come back for dinner menu items! read more

See all

My wife and I went here for a date night Friday and everything lived up to what we had heard. I don't give out 5 stars often but as of this one visit there was nothing I would change. To start we were quickly greeted and as soon as we were sat our server came by. We both ordered a drink from the bar and we're surprised to see our server make the drinks. They both came out perfect. The baked feta we had for a starter was the perfect size to get us going and the flavors were on point. For our main course I ordered the bacon wrapped meatloaf and absolutely loved every bite. The cilantro crema was a perfect compliment to the meatloaf. My wife had the lobster gnocchi and she really enjoyed it. For dessert we went with the whipped key lime and hands down was one of the best key lime desserts I have ever had. Overall we had a great experience and there is no doubt in my mind we will return soon. read more

See all

Great food. Unusual dishes with unusually delicious taste You will be glad you chose the establishment from the time you arrive until you depart. The prices are adequate for such a great meal. Trust me, you will make the experience a conversation with friends as to how much you enjoyed the entire event. I would recommend this establishment for any small group gathering as the crowd gets large in the evenings. Oh! The desserts are killer! We visit Kounter frequently, and never have we been dissatisfied. Great for a cozy and warm night out. My only complaint is the app I used to post my opinion.......................... it makes you write too much. read more