Pacific Counter - Lakewood Ranch — Restaurant in Sarasota

Pacific Counter is an absolute gem of a poke restaurant, and it has easily earned its status as a five-star establishment. Situated in the heart of our city, this vibrant eatery offers a remarkable dining experience that will leave you craving for more.

From the moment you step inside Pacific Counter, you are greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The modern and stylish decor sets the stage for an enjoyable meal. The restaurant's attention to detail is evident, from the comfortable seating arrangements to the impeccable cleanliness.

Now let's talk about the star of the show—the poke bowls. Pacific Counter goes above and beyond in delivering poke bowls that are truly exceptional. Their commitment to sourcing the freshest ingredients is evident in every bite. The variety of fish options available, such as tuna, salmon, and even octopus, ensures there is something to satisfy every palate. Each bowl is expertly crafted, with perfectly seasoned fish combined with a diverse selection of toppings and mix-ins. The flavors are well-balanced, and the portion sizes are generous, making every bowl a satisfying and fulfilling meal.

What sets Pacific Counter apart is their incredible attention to customization. They offer a build-your-own-bowl concept, allowing you to create a personalized culinary masterpiece. From the base options like rice, salad, or noodles to an extensive range of toppings, sauces, and spices, the possibilities are endless. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, always ready to guide you through the selection process and make recommendations based on your preferences.

Apart from their exceptional poke bowls, Pacific Counter also offers a delightful array of sides, including seaweed salad, edamame, and crispy wontons, which perfectly complement the main dishes. They also have a selection of refreshing beverages and unique desserts to complete your dining experience.

The service at Pacific Counter is top-notch. The staff is attentive, friendly, and passionate about what they do. They take the time to ensure that each customer is well taken care of, and they are more than willing to accommodate any special requests or dietary restrictions.

In addition to the fantastic food and service, Pacific Counter maintains a clean and hygienic environment, which is particularly important in today's world. They prioritize the health and safety of their customers, providing a comfortable dining experience that you can enjoy with peace of mind.

In conclusion, Pacific Counter is an exceptional poke restaurant that deserves every bit of its five-star rating. From the moment you enter, you are greeted with a welcoming ambiance, and the quality of the food and service surpasses expectations. Whether you're a poke enthusiast or simply looking to indulge in a flavorful and customizable meal, Pacific Counter is the place to be. Prepare to be impressed by their delicious offerings, friendly staff, and overall commitment...

Just stopped in the for the first time. Everything looked very fresh and well prepped. There are a lot of choices (a good thing), and their menu is very esthetically pleasing and easy to read/follow. The gentleman who made my bowl (and may have been the owner) was extremely friendly and courteous. There were two older women in front of me who had never been there before and had a few questions. He was very patient and informative, even with a line of 5 people behind me. So definite 5 stars for service.

I got the combo- build your own bowl (spicy tuna, salmon, masago, pineapple salsa, wonton and garlic crisps, scallions, avocado, sushi rice and greens with poke sauce), spam musubi, and lychee lemonade. It was all great. A lot of places skimp on their proteins but I got a very hearty portion size of salmon and spicy tuna and they were nice large cubes. I was honestly surprised how much was given. The spicy tuna is indeed spicy compared to sushi places (which can be very mild), but quite tasty.

May seem minor, but a good indicator of the quality/attention to detail is the rice. The rice on my spam musubi (and I assume the sushi rice) was seasoned!!! Thank the heavens! So many places serve “sushi rice” but it isn’t seasoned with vinegar and sugar, which is really necessary give it that bit of dimension and depth of flavor when working in the mild flavor profile of Japanese/Japanese fusion foods. The spam musubi also had the sweet soy sauce and furikake (which a lot of places will skip) Honestly- so fantastic and I was so happy!

Really great experience with the food and service here. Whoever is responsible for this place really cares, and I recognize and appreciate it! Everyone should come try this place out!

Thought it was great and returned a few days later for another bowl- sushi rice with mixed greens, salmon and tuna, masago, avocado, seaweed salad, furikake, and a side (very generous portion) of wonton chips. I love adding the poke...

As someone who was born and raised in Hawaii, I'm well aware that I'm not going to get good poke on the mainland. So my standards are very low. But this place was rough. It's in a clean area, and it's a clean restaurant. Seems to have quite a lot of side veggie choices which is nice. The girl at the counter was very clearly new and did not know what the names of any of the items were so I had to point out to her what i wanted. Not a big deal, everyone has to learn. My complaint is not with the staff, the location, or the restaurant itself. It's the fact that the fish was extremely clearly not fresh. I could smell it the second I opened the bowl. I took a bite anyway, it was not rotten, but it definitely wasn't good or fresh. Perhaps it was frozen and thawed too many times, maybe it's a batch that got made a couple days ago, I don't know. But eww. The rest of the ingredients in the bowl were very tasty, but the whole point of going was for the fish. Strong fail on this point. And no, I was not about to drive 30 minutes back there after a long day of work to complain or get a refund. I was exhausted and just decided to call it a loss. But if you're looking for good poke, this is not the spot. Go visit...