Wednesday, October 15, 2008

May in NYC: Counter for Dinner

The next stop on the Memorial Day weekend in NYC tour (see previous post) was Counter for dinner. Between Los Angeles and New York, I've been fortunate enough to try many incredible and sometimes gourmet vegan restaurants. Counter, which is vegetarian, is quite possibly the best of the best. My dad said it's among the best restaurants (vegan and omni) that he's ever dined!

We ate early by NYC standards because we were on our way to see Rent on Broadway.



The server started us with complimentary whole grain bread accompanied by a wonderful dipping concoction.


Our appetizers were outsanding! We shared a mezze of Artichaut Farci (from the menu: stuffed artichokes), Corn Beignets with Remoulade Sauce, and Panisse with Aioli (chickpea fries).

Our other appetizer was the Potato-Almond Gnocchi (lemon-thyme sauce with crispy sage).

For the main course, we shared Chef Geraud's Signature Vegetable B'Steeya (phyllo pastry stuffed with a melange of saffron-basmati rice, vegetables, pine nuts, almond-orange blossom butter, and a side of mint-cucumber creme fraiche). Our server intuitively told me that the creme fraiche was vegan (Counter serves a few dairy items).

Who could pass up Chocolate Fondue served with fresh fruit and muffins for dessert? It was nothing short of divine.

Counter is absolutely a new favorite. Their food is flavorful, rich without being heavy, and truly gourmet. I'm struggling to find words to adequately describe the dinner experience I had there, but I certainly will return.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Attends : tu as mangé chez Counter mais en plus tu es allée voir Rent? Trop classe!

Rural Vegan said...

Thanks for your comment. And yes, I am hopelessly addicted to TJ!

What a spread they put out at Counter!

Leigh said...

I loved our experience at Counter. We had a wonderful brunch there last year.

Anonymous said...

let me just say that all that food looks damn good. i think the bread and that bowl of dipping sauce are my favorite ones.

VEGAN TICKLES said...

chocolate fondue...yummmyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!

KZ said...

amazing! you have to visit again and try their brunch (and stop at my place for a fried tofu sandwich!)

Liz Ranger (Bubble Tea for Dinner) said...

Amazing! Someday I want to eat at a gourmet restaurant half as good as this one - I mean, chickpea fries?? wow....

Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...

now I'm officially homesick :(

aTxVegn said...

You are so lucky to get to dine at Counter. I would love to go on an eating tour of NYC.

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Lovely restaurant experience!!

Anonymous said...

ok, when i am in NYC 2 weeks from today i will eat this place to the mofo GROUND. it is so on. thanks for finding this! can't WAIT.

Anonymous said...

I think I've eaten at this restaurant, but it was several years ago. I remember it being delicious and it looks like it still is!