A LONGTIME INDUSTRY FAVORITE REOPENS IN GOLDEN HILL
A popular hangout in Golden Hill, a neighborhood whose residents include a good number of local hospitality workers, has reemerged after a short closure for a remodel. It was time, says owner Cam Fomby, who opened Counterpoint nearly 15 years ago and still lives in the building behind the 25th Street bar and bistro.
Taking the opportunity to improve some of the space’s inefficiencies while retaining the intimate, house party-like atmosphere that keeps regulars coming back time and again, Fomby has expanded the bar to add more seating and reworked some booths; an update of its upper-level dining area will be the final phase of the facelift.
Though Counterpoint food offerings remain the same, with favorites from executive chef Enrique Baldo’s menu including the burger and fried Brussels sprouts in kimchi sauce, Fomby brought in a close friend, industry vet Ryan Andrews, to refresh the cocktail list. Andrews, who worked at Counterpoint in its early days, is an alum of standout spots like Craft & Commerce and Coin-Op and the current beverage director of GBOD Hospitality Group, which runs downtown speakeasy Prohibition as well as El Chingon in the Gaslamp and Little Italy’s Bencotto and Monello.
In addition to classic drinks ranging from a Sazerac to a Mai Tai, Andrews has implemented a seasonal menu for spring and summer that includes Fire on the Mountain, made with tequila, lime, pineapple, mango, fire bitters, and Tajin, and Waves of Glory, which incorporates vodka, lime, cucumber, aloe liqueur, honey, and soda.