Counter

I guess this is more a eulogy than a review. I loved this place so much. The drinks were always great. The staff, Omar, Jesse, Kim, were amazing. And the name Counter — directly across the street from McDonalds — could not have been better. A counter option to crap food. Always healthy. Always delicious. Sad that they had to close.

Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone?
I love this place and I am SO sad that it closed. I am heartened that they kept extending the date, but the waitress informed me when I was in there last that the place has been officially sold but they’re marking time until they can seal the deal and the resto will change hands.
I’ve come here for years, for their amazing sangria pitchers in the summer, to their vegetarian/​vegan New Year’s eve (where I even convinced bloodthirsty boys to partake– and they liked it!) to their short-​lived stint serving boozy popsicles a few summers ago, until the Po-​lice shut them down. Curses, arcane liquor laws!
It’s a really versatile space: normal dining room in the back for events and regular dinner, circular bar for drinks (of their organic wines, sangria or cocktails) and the front space organized with comfy chairs and café tables set up in cozy conversation nooks, perfect for a date or catching up with a friend.
A little haiku of love for a place I will miss :
Cool place for veggies
Flaunt the law with boozy pops
I will miss Counter

I enjoyed the mushroom sliders the most. They are juicy and seasoned to perfection. I also had their East Side burger which was not as good and had an odd flavor which I couldn’t make out, the side of fries were to die for. For appetizer, I tried the white bean hummus and Brooklyn pita. It was just OK. I drank the Angry Lesbian cocktail which was extremely strong. I’ll definitely return.
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This is a good vegetarian place. Everyone I went with really enjoyed their meal. I got the mozzarella and basil pizza. I love all pizza, but really, I love the cheesiest, meatiest pizza, so you can understand how this place might fall short. However, my doctor tells me my cholesterol is too high, so I’m eating a plant-​based diet for the next four weeks or so. I will be back…
The sweet potato fries were wildly popular at our table as well.

Cute vegetarian place. Had the mushroom burger which was good but not memorable.

Three stars only because I plan on coming back here to tack on one or two more.
This place is effortlessly classy, friendly and non-​intrusive waitstaff. So non-​intrusive to the point that our waitress forgot I ordered a side of brussel sprouts. I should’ve viewed that as an omen.
BUT… I love beets, especially of the non-​in-​a-​tin-​can variety. So I ordered the Roasted Beet & Radicchio salad with toasted pistachio, balsamic, new york chevre. My friend ordered the brown rice salad. The beet salad was pretty remarkable: great fresh vegetables with a slight but very appropriate burn to the toasted pistachios. Only wish the ratio between the dressing/​garnish and the actual beets was more on the 1:6 than the 1:8 side. But it was good. The brown rice salad was decent.
The hostess was incredibly attentive and apologetic when the order of brussel sprouts took temporary residency in our waitress’ subconscious rather than transferred into the kitchen.
BUT… the brussel sprouts were not good. Dry, rushed, no bueno. I kept eating them to justify spending $ 7 for an underdog vegetable, but soon gave up.
Overall, a decent dining experience, nice place to catch up with a good friend with good food. Will come back and re-​update.

Is is bad to go to the same place for lunch and dinner? That is the question we were trying to figure out after leaving lunch at Counter. It was a fantastic lunch. Counter was really comfortable, it was not crowded, there was plenty of room, and the staff was attentive. I was a huge fan of the music they played! We both had the same thing… very unusual. We had the BLAT, homemade tempeh bacon, wild arugula, avocado, tomato, a delicious smoked paprika aïoli and sourdough bread, it was so yummy, i could had probably eaten two!
We ended up not going back for dinner, but we will have dinner there next time we visit NYC for sure.

This is what I’d hope Pure Food & Wine would be like. Pretty, relaxing atmosphere. Friendly and attentive waitstaff. And a version of vegan and vegetarian food that doesn’t make me want to overturn the table and run to the closest butcher with my wallet out. Not that I’ve ever done that… but I’ve had the urge before.
No, Counter was the perfect vegetable lover’s experience. While we ate at an ungodly early hour in the evening, my compatriot and I were eager to try their $ 9 organic Pinot Grigio — nice and light. The waitress was a wonderful sounding board to our questions and gave fair assessments of each dish. Sharing the kale caeser and walnut paté panini, we oogled the piles of scrumptious food as they came out in massive portions.
The caesar was incredibly flavorful. While I’m not a big fan of kale, I found myself shoveling away at tasty pieces of the green stuff with capers and grilled tempeh. The waitress advised us that the panini was rich and oh yes it was. Amazing, savory walnut paté, aoili, and lettuce sandwiched between buttery fluffy ciabatta … I could eat that dish every day.
All in all, a great meal. And vegetarian! Happy to add another awesome restaurant to my East Village repertoire.

As an avid meat-​eater, I was a bit skeptical about going to Counter for my birthday, but I’m always up for trying new things. When I arrived, my friends were waiting for me with a great Malbec red wine. We then started out with appetizers of hummus, an artisanal cheese plate, and grilled brussel sprouts. The hummus was SO fresh, and the consistency was finely mashed, as opposed to pureed. Such a great idea! The cheese plate, consisting of 4 different cheeses, bread, and a fruit jelly bar were paired fantastically! Then it came to the entrees. I ordered the East Side seitan-​mushroom burger with avocado. It tasted JUST like a burger without the dripping grease and feeling of obese death after! SO so good! My friend’s mom got the Pot Pie (meatless version of the chicken pot pie) and it was equally delicious! All in all, a good meal AND the service was good. I will definitely be going back!
Worth the trip, worth the money, worthy of serious foodies.

Flipping through Clean Plates (the fabulous veggie/​vegan food guide to NYC that if you don’t already have you should get) and came across Counter. Just a few blocks from my home and I had never noticed it, hmmm… must try. Open table. Check!
My two friends and I went for Saturday brunch and wanted everything on the menu. Yes, that’s ME saying that. Very rare. We decided to do sharesies. We had the chocolate chip pancakes, caesar salad, crunch salad and some egg dish (that I didn’t eat) and homefries. EVERYTHING was delicious. The caesar wasn’t actually caesar dressing — it was something vegan and amazing. Delicious homefries. Choc. chip pancakes that weren’t too anything — they were just so damn good.
Sweetest waitress. EXCELLENT, I mean, excellent music. I was singing along to every single song.
This is my new go-​to and I’m super excited about it.

I. Love. Counter.
Granted I’ve only been here once since I live across country, but the raspberry butter served here still haunts me in my dreams. Seriously.
I ordered the Tofu Scramble and it was SO GOOD! Normally, tofu scramble I get at most restaurants doesn’t impress, but Counter makes a perfect scramble. It was so flavorful, fresh, and simple! And they use baby heirloom tomatoes! I could eat a basket of those things in a minute. My dish also included toast w/​jam and raspberry butter, a side salad, and house potatoes. I also had the chance to try the biscuits and gravy and they were really, really good as well. That’s saying a lot because I’m not the biggest fan of biscuits and gravy, but loved it here. OH they also make their own ketchup. How cool is that?
Service was friendly and fast. Coffee refills kept on coming and that was great. We had a great little booth/​table that overlooked the street. It’s a little more on the expensive side, but well worth it. It was the perfect sunny morning brunch.

I LOVE Counter. The food is delicious, hearty, healthy, nourishing, comforting, satisfying, and innovative – there are not enough adjectives for me to express my devotion. However… should I say loved? The reviewer before me was probably correct: it is likely they will be closing, probably in April is the word on the street. For my part, and to my budget’s detriment, I will be going there for as much as possible, while I still can, for their cornmeal crusted fried kombucha squash bites, escarole and white bean soup, almond crusted tofu with boy choy and delicious brown rice, walnut lentil pâté, and the off-​the-​hook vegan biscuits and gravy. It was PACKED on a Tuesday night; I don’t get why they are closing?!? But maybe if we go en force they will see the error of their potential ways. Counter? Are you listening? We love you, please don’t go!
Footnote: I’m marking it as Spendy but it could definitely be cheaper if you eat a less-​expensive burger or main or snacks, and don’t order a cocktail or wine.

I came here for brunch. I wish the service wasn’t so stiffy, the lady barely smiled but overall we got everything we asked for.
We ordered the potato patties, omelet and tofu scramble. I loved the tofu scramble — it wasn’t heavy and I loved the nutella touch. I think the portions are not big which is what everyone has been saying on the reviews below. However, for $ 9 the tofu scramble was good, less pricier than Josie’s that has a similar option on their menu.
I’d return, but this place is nothing to rave about — healthy, organic food it was.

Came here last night for dinner before seeing a friend’s show in the area. The service was good & they got us in & out pretty fast since we were short on time.
We had a yummy cauliflower salad, white bean hummus pizza, & grilled summer vegetables. I was kind of disapointed that the grilled vegetables was just grilled corn, but it came with a yummy crème-​fresca kind of sauce so that was yum. Overall, the food seemed a little overpriced for what it was and there wasn’t enough stuff on the menu that would entice me to come back again in the near future.

Counter has since down-​sized its menu considerably and now only offers simple sandwiches and salads and appetizers. I think the prices are too high for what they offer (the only dish that stood out to any of the four of us was the seitan burger).
Their alcohol prices are also steep. When I came back a second time I had a draft beer and we shared a paprika popcorn ($ 3) which was really tasty and one of the cheapest things on the menu (that said, how expensive is it to make popcorn and then sprinkle paprika on top?).
I’d come back to Counter mostly just for the ambience and location. Also, it doesn’t seem to get too crowded, so this is a good spot if you’re looking to accommodate a larger group of people.

Last year in March, I had a visit to NY — and though I blogged my excitement about this restaurant — it didn’t make it to my Unilocal reviews!
I arrived in NYC very late on a Friday night, my friend picked me up and we went straight to Counter Restaurant at his recommendation. We had an amazing dinner — all vegan — at 1AM IN THE FREAKING MORNING! I love this freaking town! Here’s what we had:
* frites with catsup & harissa mayo (vegan)
* corn beignets with remoulade
* hand made papardelle pasta puttanesca
* house made seitan tournadoes with pureed potatoes & garlic seared arugula
Our server/​bartender, Catherine (I think!) from Portland was a real gem — personable, dynamic and super on top of everything. We had a fantastic Paul Dolan biodynamic Chardonnay from Mendocino which was just my style of chardonnay (though not so much my friend’s preference). We met some of the kitchen crew who were warm, personable and engaging. We had a thoroughly good time!

I like Counter brunch, their homemade baked goods which comes with a few mini muffins and other breads is really good (especially the muffins!!), I love the berry spread and nutella it comes with.
Their pancakes are very good & just recently tried their biscuits and gravy which came with hash browns, which wasn’t listed on the menu, not going to complain though! they were good! as were the biscuits & gravy!
I went for dinner twice,. I got the pot pie the first time, which was alright, but nothing to rave about, the second time I got the farmhouse panini which was very good! I liked it a lot, BUT definitely NOT worth $ 14!!! it should really be more like $ 6, my friend got the pizza which I didn’t try but it was soo small for what it costs.
They also used to have the best french toast ever. it was apparently made out of cookie crumbles, which i guess is more like dessert but it was amazing, now they have ordinary french toast.
I’ve always had friendly and quick service here. I just think it’s kind of overpriced.
UPDATE: i had their pancakes again recently & they weren’t as good. so i guess they’re not consistent with them

Something awful has happened to my beloved Counter… OK, perhaps 2 stars is a bit harsh as they still offer a diverse vegetarian and mostly organic menu (particularly on drinks), but the changes are too much for me to handle.
1) service was nowhere near as friendly and warm as it once was. The server I had was nice enough, but kind ditzy, didn’t really seem to know what she was talking about. Come now, but you have to know things with conviction in a resto that offers things the normal populace is not well-​versed in.
2) the whole menu has turned into some weird small plates farce. Still some rather tasty dishes, but it ends up adding up in costs too quickly.
3) WORST — my favorite beloved cocktails have been erased and replaced with SHITE CRAP! Where the hell is my Tie Me To The Bedpost and Not Tonite Dear? I loved those drinks!
So so sad.

I’ve been going to Counter for years now, ever since they opened (seven years ago), so, I’ve seen their changes. I kind of feel like a proud parent who’s watched their child grow up into a lovely adult. Sometimes it’s tough to be a *unique* vegetarian restaurant in NYC. Their old menu had mostly standard vegetarian fare – TLT (tempeh, lettuce, tomato), veggie burger, veggie lasagna, etc. It was good… but nothing really stood out.
Until…
I received a mailing list email a couple weeks ago stating that they revamped their menu, which would be available starting August 4^th. After perusing it online I was excited to try it out.
Now they have a huge selection (26 in all) of small plates, at least three raw plates, some interesting flat bread pizzas and at least four larger plates. Too many choices! It was difficult for C. and I to narrow down what we wanted because everything sounded so wonderful. To name a few:
–Fava Beans and Mint
–Wheatberry Salad with Smoked Tofu and Charred Leeks
–Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salad (with basil and aged balsamic vinegar)
–Minted Eggplant with Garlic Chives and Lemon Vinaigrette
What we ate: Summer Corn with heirloom tomatoes, dates and basil (whole kernels and creamed corn… I was leery at first because I don’t like creamed corn. Hello? Growing up it came from a can=gross!!), Cauliflower «risotto” — with shallots and herb butter, and Grilled Peach and Arugula salad. If I had to, I could eat a vat of the corn salad. It was that dreamy. The flat bread pizza we ordered had a tough crust and needed something to hold the roasted tomatoes and leeks together.
There are eight dessert items that are all vegan and all their ice creams are nut based. I rarely have room for dessert, but I saved some room this time. I ordered the Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with blueberry-​lemon thyme sauce (raw), and I’ve never eaten anything like it! I’ve never had nut cheese before and it’s a nice option for us lactose intolerant folks. The blueberries and thyme nicely complimented the „cheese“ and cookie (?) crust. C. ordered the Sundae, which is black cocoa cake and chocolate and vanilla ice cream. The cake portion tasted like a flour-​less chocolate cake… and was quite good as well. Though, I only had one bite and was trying to not scarf down my own dessert.
They also have an organic bar which is not an afterthought. It’s almost an entity in itself. As C. said, they give you a good pour on the vino and have some interesting cocktails, such as „Tie Me To The Bedpost“ (lavender rosemary infused vodka and cranberry nectar), and, „The 13“ Cucumber» (cucumber juice, fresh cilantro, cucumber-​red pepper infused vodka). You can also order food and sit in the bar if that suits you.
The service is warm and friendly and our waitress was very happy to recommend dishes and answer questions.
The new menu is unique and in my opinion, perfect. I’ll definitely be back.
Gotta call C. and take her with me. We’ve got a lot of small plates to try and wine to drink!

brunch