Counting House — Restaurant in Durham

We stopped in mid afternoon during a rainstorm for some appetizers and drinks. We sat in the couch lounge area close to the bar and ordered the charcuterie board and several drinks. After 20 mins we still did not have our charcuterie board so asked the waiter if she knew where it was, she replied “I’m sure it’s coming” and walked off. Later the bartender we had placed order with approached us to inform us that it hadn’t been placed, but he’d place it right away, no big deal. We received the charcuterie board, which was great, and later asked for the check. Which is where the issues started.

We initially received a non itemized bill that looked high so asked for the itemized bill. Once provided we asked why there was a surcharged item on the bill tagged as an extra item for the charcuterie board. We had only asked for the charcuterie board, we did not ask for any adding or anything else. The waiter took the bill and couldn’t find the bartender who we placed the order with to confirm why there was an additional surcharge. For the next 10-15 mins she proceeded to run back and forth from the bar area to the restaurant area without informing us of what was going on. Eventually she mentioned that they were going to bring us out an additional cheese. We at that point stated we just wanted the check as we had been waiting for sometime for it. At this point the manager walked out and we explained the situation to her she seemed understanding, but again offered the cheese at which point we again reiterated we just wanted the check as we had been waiting for an updated check for over 10 minutes. The manager said okay and walked over to the register, but then disappeared into the back. We waited in our seats for another 10 minutes for the check, but had no luck. We eventually stood up and went to the bar to wait for the check and asked someone that I simply wanted the check. She said, “it’s here this is what you’re going to be charged”, but didn’t provide a copy for me to sign. I mentioned I’d like to sign the check. Eventually the bartender who we had placed the order with showed up and apologized that he got the order wrong at the beginning with the additional item. I honestly feel like this is something the manager could have handled or one of several other people we interacted with without such a long delay.

Needless to say, good charcuterie and drinks, poor service from management and team for what was an easy fix to a billing issue...

First off all, i want to clarify that I would let 70% of my complaints slide normally, but this is a "fine dining experience". I mean there is a human centipede tiger suit on the wall and a sword fish made out Legos. So this is a real class place. The bathrooms are 😚👌

Warning signs were all over that I was about to enter dining hell. While being seated, they were still setting our table, which is fine for Red Lobster, but your Lego swordfish God demands more. After we got seated, the waiter took 20 minutes to greet us and then another extended absence to return for our order. These things can be forgiven, but at the same time, we were not demanding to be sat. We were happily standing by the bar waiting to order drinks. Note to all restaurants, please, don't rush the seating. Set the table, let the waiter go blow some cabbage, or whatever, and seat us when YOU are ready. Why start on a shaky foot?

For my appetizer, I had dirty, gritty mussels on toast, the toast, I guess, was to mask the delight of crunchy dirt. For a shared app there was a shell in the shrimp dish, where the sauce was an unforgettable (though nearly inedible) salt reduction.

This is where things get weird. To end our first course (appetizer plates still on the table), our server started pestering us about...ordering DESSERTS!!What? Wait...what? Even after we said no, not interested, the next time we saw our waiter they STILL brought dessert menus, and when they returned a third time they asked what we thought at which point we said that we haven't had our entrees. I heard that this compounded with actually ordering a dessert, you know after our meal, lead to our waiter crying. Not sure. I didn't hang around to see it.

Honestly, maybe all of this speaks more to there being an issue with portions than anything else. You can't tell an app plate from an entree plate? Holy $#^*, man.

The entrees themselves were fine, but there are too many great places to eat to spend $$$ on "fine". Atmosphere alone and being connected to a hotel may be enough to save this restaurant, but I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't.

The worst part is that dining at this place truly embarrassed my friend who insisted we try it. They said the experience was day and night compared to when they last went, but I don't buy it. Bad way to start...

This was a horrible decision to go to for my Fiancée birthday. First, we arrived early, about 10 or 15 mins, and our table was not ready. However, the restaurant was not packed at all. Only the wait staff was dressed to match the atmosphere of the art. Everyone else must just work part-time based on their attire. The service was flavorless and basic and fell so short that a fast food chain restaurant could teach these individuals how to do their job accurately. The old-fashioned outlook of not addressing everyone at the table except who is perceived as the paying customer is shameful. The atmosphere with artwork surrounding us was beautiful, and unfortunately, it was the presence of staff members who could care less about the quality of service that is provided to guests. I wanted to provide a lovely dinner and instead I was dealt a evening that involved 5 different Bottles of wine (all of which are over a $100 a piece, per bottle not by the glass) being out of inventory, yet not removed from their menu and a set of Japanese Milk Bread being served to us as we are leaving. Literally, after we asked the check and for our food to be boxed and remove the bread since it was not up to par, then we were sent another bread that was still not satisfactory. I wonder if the reviews on this place was just due to the customer, since to the appearance of the establishment and I am very regretful that I did not take heed to their mentioning of bad customer service. It's a pity that beautiful artwork and atmosphere at the mercy of people who are no better than a McDonald's Ice Cream machine operator, aka unreliable, and lacks more than words in this post describe. The unprofessionalism, the attire of management and bartender, the inability to serve dishes properly in such a setting. Whomever owes this place really should invest in their front of house staff and inform the chef that salt and pepper are not the main/only ingredients in fish dishes. Please pay someone to expand their taste/cusine choice. Long story short, do not waste your money. Outback, Chili's, Longhorn, Applebee's, Ruth Chris, ORO, La Mala, and Viecory are several other BETTER options, and their staff actually knows how to provide...