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Seeing Michelin Stars in North Carolina
The Michelin Guide expansion included Asheville, Charlotte and Raleigh, with tourism groups funding inclusion and spotlighting acclaimed North Carolina restaurants.
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Charlotte’s dining scene reached a new milestone Monday, Nov. 3, as Counter- became the city’s first Michelin Star restaurant — earning not just a coveted Star, but also a Michelin Green Star for sustainability.
Since opening in 2020, Counter- and chef-owner Sam Hart have drawn attention for a boldly different approach to dining — one that’s now won the world’s top culinary prize.
Here’s what to know about the Michelin Star restaurant, pulled from CharlotteFive’s years of original reporting:
Why is there a dash in Counter-?
When Counter- opened, Hart told CharlotteFive’s Melissa Oyler the name was intentional: “It’s around the concept of us being Counter- to how every restaurant runs and opens. We are Counter-intuitive etc.”
You can expect your experience to be counter to any of your prior expectations of a multi-course dinner out, Melissa wrote in 2020. The origin, philosophy and ambition behind Counter-.
Shortly after opening, Counter- quickly expanded to accommodate a growing base of adventurous diners eager for its creative tasting menus. More on the early expansion.
Hart also created Biblio, an intimate wine bar located in the same space as Counter-. Known for curated wines and creative small plates, Biblio garnered its own loyal following. In 2023, Hart closed Biblio to allow Counter- to expand and elevate its acclaimed tasting experience. Learn more about that decision.
Hart recently announced plans for a new restaurant called Scapegoat in the Biblio space, reported Unpretentious Palate.
Michelin Star & what’s next
Counter-‘s signature: multi-course tasting menus, immersive themes, and a constantly evolving experience. With its Michelin Star, it’s Charlotte’s top reservation — plan ahead.
At Counter-, CharlotteFive’s Heidi Finley wrote last year, “you’ll find a place dedicated to pushing the limits of the culinary craft. It’s a place where the staff reduces 100 watermelons into 1 gallon of juice and spends months blackening apples. A place where every detail of the experience is carefully arranged, with the perfect selected stemware at the ready for each sip and rotating, hand-picked utensils perched on a spoon rest for each bite.”
Check out our inside look at the evolution of Counter-.
About chef-owner Sam Hart
Hart is known for creative vision and pushing Charlotte’s culinary boundaries — with Counter-, their pasta spot Spaghett and their upcoming Japanese concept Maneki.
James Beard honors for Sam Hart
Michelin isn’t the only reason chef-owner Sam Hart is in the spotlight. Hart is also a 2023 James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: Southeast, a national recognition for their creative and influential work in Charlotte.
Editor’s note: This curation was created with AI assistance, drawing from CharlotteFive’s original reporting.
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This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 11:32 AM.
CharlotteFive staff
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