Counter Amsterdam for Service Works

Counter Amsterdam for Service Works

Earlier in the year, we swung by Counter, a plant-based neighbourhood wine bar and restaurant in Amsterdam ran by Tatum, Jaime, Raymond and Nathalie. A family affair serving delicious plates and wines by the glass!

How do you find it working together as a family, does owning and running a restaurant give you the opportunity to spend more time together?

A lot of people find it crazy that I choose to work with my parents and boyfriend. But to me it’s one of the best parts of doing this. We make a really good team and I think it’s so special that we have been able to create something I am so proud of together. - Tatum

Counter feels like a real neighbourhood restaurant, was important for you to connect with the local community in Amsterdam Oost?

Well, from the beginning we knew that low prices would be a key part of our concept, and so to be able to do that, you’re of course counting on more return customers and catching people in the neighbourhood.

Aside from the logistical side, we also knew that we would all be there every day with the customers and not just be mysterious owners behind a laptop, and so creating a space that encouraged people to come back often was really important for our own enjoyment and sanity.

It means we get to have genuinely enriching social interactions all week and not always feel like all we do is serve food. - Jaime

Could you tell us a little bit more about the menu at Counter, everything is plant based?

The whole menu at Counter is fully vegan, any food served within our walls will always be vegan. The simple fact is that animal agriculture is not an industry that we support for a number of reasons and if we are able to run a restaurant successfully without needing to lean on those products then it seems like a no brainer.

Also our concept revolves around everyone eating the same dish and sharing that moment and therefore offering plant based food is one of the most effective ways to make sure everyone is welcome around the table. - Jaime

Do you have regulars that come to the restaurant often, what do you think keeps them returning to Counter?

One of things we love most about counter is how many familiar faces we get to see every week. It’s hard to say what brings people back as I’m sure for every customer it’s a different aspect of our restaurant that they connect with the most.

For some it’s the prices, others the atmosphere. Some people just pop in for a chat to be honest, which we love.

I think for most people it’s a little bit of everything and knowing that they’re always welcome no matter what the reason for stopping by is. - Jaime