New restaurant offers a fresh take on poke bowls and sushi burritos at Lakewood Ranch
Since it opened three weeks ago, customers have been beating a path to Pacific Counter for fresh, high quality poke bowls and sushi burritos, served with a happy helping of good vibes.
Partners Tanner Loebel, Eric Bialik and Chitthasack Noythanongsay, also known as “Chef Tock,” opened the restaurant in The Green at Lakewood Ranch in Unit 109, 11581 State Road 70 E. with a clear vision.
Pacific Counter invites its guests to craft their own cuisine in an environment that inspires healthy eating, drinking, thinking, and being.
This is the second Pacific Counter. The partners opened their first at 660 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg three years ago. In part, they were attracted to Manatee County by local residents who discovered the St. Pete restaurant and asked for one in the Bradenton area.
“They kept telling us you have to check out Lakewood Ranch,” Loebel said.
That’s exactly what the partners did. They liked the demographics, the location, and the freshness of the community. They also visited several area restaurants, watched customer activity and decided to sign a lease in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic derailed their plans for nearly a year, but when they opened at Lakewood Ranch they found a ready market.
“We opened on a Wednesday and it has been gang busters all the way,” Loebel said.
Customers like the fast-casual “roll it or bowl it” offerings. The “build your own” is the most popular option.
While the restaurant is known for its daily offerings of fresh fish, it also offers non-seafood and vegetarian/vegan items. All food items on the menu are priced below $12. Drink options are $5 or less.
The menu features eight ready-to-order counter creations, as well as a limitless build-your-own options.
Traditional sides such as edamame, miso soup, and Spam Musubi are also found on the menu, along with their Pineapple Dole Whip for dessert.
A variety of six different juices and teas are handcrafted daily, available via self-serve dispensers. Also available: Also available: canned and bottled beverages, a fun lineup of Bubble Teas, and Sake Slush.
“We want the food to be as beautiful as it is delicious,” Loebel said.
Pacific partners with third-party delivery services, and offers a catering program.
“We knew from the beginning that we would like to open multiple locations, but didn’t realize we would be fortunate enough to have it happen so quickly,” Bialik said.
“It has been pleasantly, extremely busy and overwhelmingly positive. We have seen some people a dozen times already,” Bialik said.
Hours of operation are 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. seven days a week.
For more information, visit www.pacificcounter.com, or follow along on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pacificcounter and Instagram @Pacific_Counter.
This story was originally published February 18, 2021 at 10:49 AM.
