Counter

Note: The Counter is CLOSED. The Counter is all about customization. You pick your patty size, meat choice, bun type, toppings, cheese, sauces and much more. They use an all natural beef sourced from Colorado, so no need to worry where your cow is coming from. Burgers are cooked to just a bit below medium-rare to highlight natural flavor. The Counter is beyond just your simple ketchup and mustard burger. \r \r My favorite toppings include the fried egg, honey cured bacon, roasted garlic aioli and grilled onions. The burgers are massive, so bring your appetite! Perfectly cooked and juicy, the Counter far surpasses some other burger joints in Seattle. Note, this is a premium burger, so be prepared to spend at least $10 for your creation. The starters are quite good too, especially the Fried Dill Pickle Chips with Apricot Sauce and the Sweet Potato Fries. Both fried just to the right crisp with a touch of salt. Sides, amply proportioned are best shared. The milkshake was not my favorite, however they have plenty of other choices including a good selection of beers on tap. \r \r Servers are friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. The Counter is a casual, kid and adult friendly environment. Destined to be a longstanding neighborhood tradition. Pros: Quality Beef, Fried Pickles Cons: Making a Decision more

I ate at The Counter the other night. First of all, it's a really fun atmosphere. Flat panel tvs were playing a World Cup soccer match and lively music was playing over head. Of course, the main thing I was there for was a burger. I had a turkey burger on a multigrain bun and sweet potato fries. The burger was juicy and the bun was dense and flavorful. The biggest treat was the sweet potato fries. They came with a creamy sauce that tasted like it had some horseradish in it. So it made the perfect salty, sweet, tangy combination. more

Unique little build your own burger joint in Ballard. Sweet potato fries were VERY good; however, the whole concept might be flawed because I ended up putting so much crap on my burger that I couldn't really taste what it all was and it was pricey. I might go back for the fries, but that's it. Service was friendly though. more

Food is of good quality, but the ""build your own"" concept is little more than a gimmick. You can find better - more unique - burgers elsewhere. more

Though the ingredients are sustainable and of high-quality, the customization options are a-plenty, the restaurant clean, and the service acceptable, there is nothing terribly special about The Counter Burger. Pros: sustainable/quality ingredients Cons: can get pricey more

Located in the Ballard Blocks this chain restuarant is fun for burger lovers. You have multiple choices with what to add to your burger everything from what kind of bun to what kind of cheese and up to 4 toppings included in the price. You even have to decide how big of a burger you want and whether or not you even need the bun. Unfortunately there are a lot of extras that sound great and the price can add up fast. Good bar area perhaps for a team get together, local brew. Hobo vegetables are pretty good, although I was warned not to eat the parchment paper, apparently this has been a problem in the past. Next time I will try the deep fried pickles. Homemade veggie burger. Pros: lots of options, tasty Cons: adds up quick, lack of descriptions of sauces. more

Once you take your first bite of a Counter burger you will begin to compare every other burger you have to it! Choose your bun or have it in a bowl. Choose your burger, small, medium or large (one whole pound!) as well as type of meat - beef, chicken, turkey or veggie. Choose from a dozen cheeses including gruyere, brie and goat. Choose your toppings, choose your sauce - Oh my! So many choices that it may take you a while to build the perfect burger, but it will be well worth it ? who knows better what you like than you? With a fine selection of beer to wash it all down and a fun atmosphere, this will quickly become your go-to locale for a great casual dinner out. more

The Counter has several selling points for me, not the least that you can customize every element of your burger from meat to toppings to bun to size (up to 1 lb.!) I like that I can eat there without worrying that my beef comes from a disease-ridden feedlot somewhere. I'm all for the e. coli-free experience! The fries come in regular, sweet potato, or the onion string variety, none of which are outstanding but get a boost from a strong lineup of aiolis and dipping sauces, all of which can be ordered on your burger as well. They also have a decent selection of local wine and beer. Most of all, they are extremely attentive on twitter (@CounterBurger) and they always seem to have some kind of special going on, like 4 sliders with a 4 microbrew pairing for $12. In Seattle (or anywhere, really) it is rare to find a restaurant that is so responsive and rewarding to its customers. Pros: Local & sustainable food from a ""chain"" Cons: Not the cheapest burger around more