Chef to push culinary envelope with latest restaurant in Charlotte
Chef Sam Hart is set to elevate fine dining in Charlotte.
His restaurant Counter- opens today in west Charlotte, ending months of construction-related delays. It is at 2001 W. Morehead St. and part of the Salt + Vinegar adaptive-reuse project.
New era of fine dining coming to Charlotte with the Opening of Counter-
A new era of fine dining is coming to Charlotte with the opening of Counter-. Led by Owner and Executive Chef Sam Hart, Counter- is an intimate, full-sensory restaurant experience featuring themed 10- and 14-course tasting menus. Chef Sam’s vision pushes the boundary on what creativity in the kitchen means, intertwining food, music, and art with menus that leave guests awestruck and inspired.
Chef Sam Hart looks to push culinary envelope with Counter- debut in west Charlotte
Chef Sam Hart is set to elevate fine dining in Charlotte. His restaurant Counter- opens Wednesday in west Charlotte, ending months of construction-related delays.
Carolinas Food Writers and Photographers Name Their Best Restaurant Meal of 2022
Nikki Miller-Ka, Eater Carolinas contributor, named counter- the best restaurant meal she had in 2022. She said
It was a transcendental experience that left my body, mind, and soul satisfied.
Fine Dining Concept Counter – Reopening in Charlotte, North Carolina
Counter- announced the reopening of its doors in its new home of Wesley Heights, ushering in a new era of fine dining in Queen City. Led by owner and chef Sam Hart, Counter- is an intimate, fully sensory dining experience with themed 10- and 14-course tasting menus. Chef Sam’s vision pushes the boundaries of what creativity in the kitchen means by blending food, music and art with menus that leave diners awestruck and inspired.
2023 Outlook: Trends and Challenges Restaurants Will See
Modern Restaurant Management (MRM) magazine asked experts for their thoughts on trends and challenges that will affect the restaurant industry in 2023. Counter’s director of wine, Bill Cox, was one of the experts.
Cabernet Franc continues to get hotter and hotter – both domestically and abroad. Because Cabernet Sauvignon is overplanted, winemakers have been replacing with Cab Franc, so that there’s more inventory. Consumers are realizing it’s a delicious wine with a good price point.
Etna in the mountains of Sicily is a region putting out beautiful wine, and people are starting to talk about it. East Coast Americans are growing more adventurous but still like a certain degree of brightness, and wines from Etna deliver that mouthfeel with complex fruit character and other components you don’t find in West Coast wines. Etna wines, like etna rosse, are also a great value compared to Italians DOCGs. Where a Brunello or Barola may retail for $50, an Etna is closer to $15.
– Bill Cox, Director of Wine at Counter-
Counter- in Charlotte Debuts its Latest Menu in New Digs
The full-sensory, evocative dining experience at Counter- opens the doors to its new West Charlotte home on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. Serving 14 to 16 guests per evening, the restaurant is rolling out the next iteration of its 10- and 14-course tasting menus that have been in development for the past five years. The menu themes at Counter- change each quarter, and every course is paired with a story and a song on the evening’s playlist. This one, Modern Art, features 10 to 14 dishes inspired by modern artists, including Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, Roy Lichtenstein, and Georgia O’Keefe.
“[Counter-] menus take about four to five years to fully develop because of the research we put into the story,” says chef and restaurant owner Sam Hart. Also, every component of a course is made in-house, so that means time is needed to design dishes, create recipes, and start any lengthy fermentation or preservation processes.
Music Makes the Meal at Counter- in Charlotte, N.C.
The Award of Excellence winner melds culture and food to create an evening that’s an experience, not just a meal.
Would you pair Ludwig Van Beethoven with mustard-laced rouladen? Radiohead with sashimi? At the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner Counter (stylized Counter-, to indicate the word’s meaning as a prefix) in Charlotte, N.C, the music selection isn’t an afterthought, but a crucial part of the tasting menu’s sensory experience.
