The bar at Counting House, 21c Museum Hotel's lobby restaurant and lounge, is the perfect place to enjoy seasonal and classic cocktails designed to pair with the fresh, bold and playful dishes on Chef Stephanie Klos's menus. Sip your cocktail as you peruse the art museum, open 24/7, or relax at the bar with friends.
Counting House is my favorite go to place for yummy food, relaxed environment and a no rush feel. The art gallery vibe is a bonus, the waiters and waitresses are inviting and it's a place where I love to go to relax, eat and drink. Love the pink penguin, such a vibe and feels like it brings good energy. The pound cake was so freaking good, honestly, all of the desserts were great. The chicken finger things were awesome, they've been stepping up their game and it's paying off.
Parishoner1 Parishoner1
Mar 28, 2025
5
This was our first visit and we were a party of four. The food was very, very good and the service was excellent also. We had Japanese milk bread and.Goujon For appetizers, two of us had the Cavatelli, One of us had the pan chicken and the other, the pan roasted bone in pork chops. All of them are excellent. I would only add that I wish the descriptions of the dishes were more complete with translations on some of the names. I realize that asking the waiter is appropriate and they like to describe them, but it’s easier to choose when you see it in writing. For example, it would’ve been nice to know that the cavatelli was black and made with black squid ink pasta. A very enjoyable dinner and we will return.
Lauren Tanman
Mar 10, 2025
5
Amazing food, very attentive wait staff who made me a special martini based on a quick conversation.
Brian Chan
Feb 16, 2025
5
The food was great, and it is so close to the theater that it is a perfect combination. The staff is also aware of their proximity and guests, so they make every effort to get you the service you deserve while getting you to the theater in time.
Bugs Subu
Feb 16, 2025
5
This is one of our favorite places to just grab a quick drink! The couches are cozy and the drinks menu is expansive! You can get any cocktail under the sun and the specials are very affordable! The atmosphere is fresh and sophisticated, unlike some other places in Durham, which can get quite dark and claustrophobic.
Fenrael
Jan 27, 2025
4
Nice for evening drinks. Their avocado toast is okay. The staff is professional.
Gary Dabbagh
Jan 12, 2025
4
What a unique experience. Dining among real and imagined creatures on the expansive walls.
A well made Manhattan with sublimely briny broiled oysters were magnificent.
Ahh, if only the pork chop was done to a slightly pink center rather than the chewy well done slab of meat that was served.
I will return.
James Pierce
Nov 25, 2024
4
My partner 58 and I 60 went on Saturday 11/23. The place is exciting and stimulating with the atmosphere and art.
We go out somewhere special say once a quarter and the menu here was quirky. 1) the right justify made both of us turn it upside down and I observed the same thing by many other dinners. 2) we didn't realize the menu was going to have a seafood focus which neither of us chose one of those options. 3) the exotic drink menu... We both decided to try one of them I can't say that our results were exciting the staff person should have been able to describe the drinks a little better. 4) we would have preferred to have a bread option with our salads not just the milk bread...someone mentioned to us about the rosemary bread that use to be served.
I don't feel the menu fits to what the public who would come there wants. We have been to J Alexander's three times this year... And with the service and the food we experienced I know we'll go back. With the food at the counting house I just can't say the same with the Counting House.
Sincerely,
James Pierce
Inn At Duke hotel is an unsafe dump
Aug 5, 2024
5
We're from Florida. The family is from Beijing. Choose to meet at Duke. This restaurant has great steaks on the Internet. Although the lunch menu does not offer steak. But the kind waiter told us that the building had an old bank vault and an art gallery open. The lunch menu is small. But the environment is quiet. Thank you for her patience in introducing us to the old vault as part of our Duke tour. Interesting mystery
Rebecca “Moss” Brannon
Jul 4, 2024
3
My visit wasn't shockingly bad, but it wasn't good enough to make me want to return (or to recommend this restaurant to any of my 500 convention colleagues, except perhaps the ones I don't like). My server had a wonderful disposition. She was super nice and wanted to please, so her mistakes were clearly management's fault for not training her well enough, I made a point to emphasize that I wanted the fries to be fresh and hot. The fish was tasty and piping hot, but the fries obviously weren't held under a heat lamp while the fish was frying, so they were cool by the time my food arrived. My server placed the food on the table and promised to come back to check. She didn't notice that my table had no salt and pepper, nor did she hear me asking for it as she walked away. Even though the restaurant was TOTALLY EMPTY, she failed to check on my satisfaction until I had finished eating, which is especially bad when the customer emphasized concerns and specific needs when ordering. That's an indication of bad management. When she asked "how was everything?", I replied "It was mixed, some good and some not very good." My server didn't even ask me to say what wasn't good! That's bad management. She clearly didn't know how to respond to a customer who clearly wasn't TOTALLY happy. I guess I now understand why this restaurant wasn't packed with customers.
Joe Ratner
Jun 23, 2024
4
Mac was or server. She was totally on the ball. Now van Gough coffee can't be beat. The po boy was delicious and the lox but was giant. The fries were very good and crispy
