"counter line" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used in a figurative sense to refer to an argument, course of action, or position meant to oppose or challenge another one. For example, "The mayor argued that the city should defund its police department, but some council members have suggested a counter line of increasing police funding."
Red stools and a blue counter line the right and back walls of the narrow shop.
So be ready for brusque service, move through the counter line at a reasonable speed, and whatever happens, do not lose the ticket they hand every customer on the way in.
Tacos are served from a vintage Volkswagen van with a roof that pops open like the lid on a shoe box — you exchange cash for casino chips at a counter, line up at the van, then take your food to one of the hand-painted folding tables or counters scattered around the cavernous space.
The one walking gently through the crowds towards the counter line at Chick-fil-A?
This, of course, is ridiculous, equivalent to blaming checkout counter lines on overpopulation.
Sally Kayoni, the shopkeeper, stands on tiptoe to be seen over a counter lined with car batteries, radios and DVD players.
The band's new arrangements of the McHugh songs -- by Mr. Blanchard and his pianist Ed Simon -- are witty, with reharmonized counter lines running against the classic melodies.
It had a service window that opened onto the street for customers who wanted their food to go, and a counter lined with stools for those who preferred to eat inside.
Well before 10 a.m., Lencho's fans are three and four deep around the counter, lined up for tacos of grilled beef, onions, cilantro and hot sauce — a perfect on-the-go lunch for about $5.
As a soloist he depended as much on silence as he did on notes to get his message across; as an accompanist he was as likely to play fuguelike counter lines as the staccato chords that were standard bebop procedure.
Mr. Motian, the great drummer whose reputation goes back to Bill Evans's old trio as well as Keith Jarrett's American band in the 60's, loves changing texture in each bar, and he has a curious approach to old tunes by Monk, Mingus, Parker: there are four lead instruments in the band, sending out a dense thicket of lines and counter lines.
