I think what you are talking about usually involves the rev-a- shelf units. They pull out. I have not seen a pantry with the on top arrangement that doesn't have this, but that doesn't mean one isnt' out there. :)
Search for rmkitchen --she has an amazing kitchen and was very generous with sharing pictures when I was asking questions about her space. She has the rev-a shelf pull outs.

What I learned from her is that she wasn't totally happy with the arrangement. Stuff tended to fall off the shelves. Every cabinet guy I talked too recommended against them for the same reason.

While I don't think the look is as attractive, we decided to do a bottom up pantry (so the pantry part goes from the floor to the bottom of the uppers). Then there are 5 roll out shelves in there. Mine is not installed or I would share my pictures.

HTH

Dear beachbum,thanks for response and link. I guess I did not describe it right. What I was thinking is bringing the cabinet by the fridge down to counter and using it as a pantry. It would be 12 deep and 21 wide. I remember seeing rmkitchen's amazing kitchen before and her disapointment in rev-a-shelf. I thought if I had fixed shelving and coming to the counter this way I would save some counter space( drop zone ) and I was planning on puting drawers undeneath.

I've also been thinking about doing this type of cabinet and wonder how I would like it. I'm thinking of putting one at the end of a counter near where we enter through the back door. I've seen this design in a lot of kitchen magazines lately, esp on each side of the stove top. I also saw it as an example on the kraftmaid website in the hickory section. I bet someone here has one.

I have a 12 inch deep cabinet that goes from the ceiling to the counter above my microwave base cabinet. It was only installed a week ago so I haven't had a chance to use it but it certainly looks nice. It is directly across from my small pantry (18 inches wide) with pull out shelves. I figure I can use the tall cabinet over the microwave to hold other items that don't need to be on pull out shelves. I am too tired to post pictures now, but will be happy to if you would like to see it.

Here are a couple of pictures. The cabinet doors are so large that I really can't open them without hardware so I couldn't show you the inside, but at least this gives you an idea of how it looks.

If the 12" deep top cabinet comes down to the countertop, then the remaining depth of the countertop can't be used. It has to left clear to allow the doors of the top cabinet to open, or just to get things out of the bottom shelf of the top cabinet if there are no doors.

We have a cubby for spices and things along the back of our prep countertop. I frequently knock things over when I take out the spices. The weights for the balance scale are most often the victims, but last night is was the cats' Greenies.

Velodoug, Good point. So is it mostly a visual thing, I really like the look. Maybe by the back door at the end of the counter wouldn't be so bad. I was also thinking of doing this in a corner for toaster storage, have the door flip or roll up and pull the toaster out when I use it. Maybe keep the mixer in there also. I've seen a pictures but never seen one in a real house in use.