The Counter

I had heard about this place for a while so decided to check it out with a friend. I have to admit I was surprised at the locale - a nondescript shopping center. I had imagined it being closer to the beach, but no matter - i was here for the food, not the view. Inside, it was very white, clean and modern, with a bar area displaying many interesting wines and beers and a plasma tv for games; and already quite crowded at 11:30am. We managed to squeeze into some open seats at the bar and began the ordering process - which for a first-timer was relatively complicated. Each person gets a standard form, where you check off the type of meat you want, the size of the patty, the cheese, type of bread (or no bread for the carb-conscious eaters), toppings, etc. There are so many varieties and combinations that it can be rather overwhelming. I prefer my burgers straightforward without fancy sauces and spreads so I waived many of the options. The wait for the food was quite long, but I suspect it's because the burgers are made fresh to order (since everyone's burger is unique) and I was salivating after the huge baskets of fries and onion rings passing me by. Finally we got our food, and it was all quite good. Not spectacular or memorable like the Father's Office Burger or In-n-Out .. but good. I particularly like the fact that you can customize the burger and have wine with your burger (now, if only they would serve alcohol at In-n-Out ...). I do have to say the fries (regular and sweet potato) were quite yummy and the order is immense! When I finished I noticed a huge line out the door - so my advice is to get here early or be very patient. All in all this is a nice place - not amazing, but consistent and fun and satisfying to many different tastes. Pros: Build-your-own burgers; great fries and onion rings Cons: Long wait; slow service more

all i can say is that theyrrrr greatttt! just like tony the tiger would say. i will def go back again and tell all my friends on city search ;) Pros: the best more

The counter is another attempt to make a simple cheap food more expensive and complicated than it needs to be. The one good thing about the counter is that you can go with a large group and still feel like you're out because they have a full bar in the restaurant. The meal begins with you filling out what seems to be a mini golf score card. One can almost be overwhelmed by all the choices that the counter offers. If you are into making a custom burger than this is the place for you. If you want a cheap burger than run because your burger can range from 8-15 depending on what size you choose and what you put on it. The fries reminded me of McDonald's but with a smaller serving.\r If you're headed out with Friends then consider the counter...if you're looking for the best burger in LA or a cheap eat then this is not the place for you. Pros: Bar and burgers, service, Choice Cons: Price!!! Potentially confusing more

My girlfriend and I went to The Counter and it was hopping. Wall to wall people and a great buzz in the air. You couldn't help but wonder wh... more

I live down the street from this joint and on occassion have had the urge for a nice burger to take home and enjoy on the couch. I have attempted take out from The Counter 3 times. The first time the nice gentleman on the phone forgot to put my order in. I left my house 25 minutes after I placed my order, only to find out that the order was never placed. I waited another 30 minutes in the restaurant for my food. They were very nice and apologetic inside. The second time I placed the order they put my toppings on my friends burger and her toppings on mine. The final time, my to go order took about 55 minutes. I have decided I will no longer get take out from them and if you do, make sure to check your order before you get home. Service is slow and hamburgers are mediocre (could make them at home). Chicken sandwiches are good if you tell them to leave the butter off the bun and salads are just shredded lettuce that they would put on the burger. I recommend their fries and ummmm yeah their fries. Pros: sweet potato frites more

While I was here, a member of the wait staff spilled food they were carrying on me, mumbled ""sorry"" and threw a napkin at me; the waitress behind the bar basically ignored my friend and I to talk with a friend of hers, and the whole place reeked of trendier than thou people crammed together to make the ""Santa Monica Scene"". \r \r There are better places around with less snobby people and crowds. I only give it three stars because the person I was with liked his burger. Pros: My friend liked his burger, customizable, interesting concept Cons: If you spill something on someone, please don't act like it's their fault for sitting there and being alive more

This has to be the Best burger I have EVER tried, and I have tried a ton of burgers. It makes it specaila when you eat it because it is like your artistic creation. the quality of ingredients is amazing, and everything tastes fresh. Besides getting a burger I highly recommend the 50-50 with half sweet potato fries and regular fries(you can get it in any combo with onion rings also). Milkshakes are think and delicious. Try the special Milkshake of the month.\r Pros: Burgers, Choices of toppings, fast service once seated Cons: tables are too close together, takes a long time to be seated more

You can never end up with the same burger because there are so many choices when you take the clipboard in your hand to build your own. The sweet potato fries are incredible and when you can't decide between fries and onion rings you can order the 50/50 which is an order with half fries and half onion rings with three different dipping sauces. Great milk shakes (I'm a big fan of Vanilla Malts and this one's right up there with one of the best). Never had dessert here because I'm always too full. Gets VERY VERY busy by 1pm for lunch and 6pm for dinner so be prepared to wait a bit if you go during prime time. It's worth it. Pros: Do-it-yourself burger building, great milk shakes, great sweet potato fries. Cons: Very noisy, tables very close together. more

As a really good home cook who enjoys a good burger (I make some really yummy ones at home) I was looking forward to The Counter.\r \r I ordered an iced tea. It was fresh brewed black tea (no fruity flavors, which I appreciated as I like plain iced tea and drink a lot of it at home) but it had been brewed too long so it was a little bit bitter and overly tannic. As I waited for my burger I nibbled on the sweet potato fries/onion strings combo, which came with three dipping sauces that were fine but unremarkable. One of the sauces turned out to be the same as the garlic aoli that came on my burger, which should have been a lot better and it definitely didn't taste homemade. (I've made homemade mayo and aioli before and the difference between ""out of a jar"" and fresh is substantial).\r \r As for my burger, I ordered it with gruyere cheese and grilled onions. I have to agree with some of the other reviewers below...the actual beef hardly had any flavor. (At home when I make burgers I add either kosher salt or onion salt to the ground beef--it is a very simple additive and it is the only seasoning needed but without this, burgers will tend to have little flavor). I also agree with others that the beef is very lean and somewhat dry. If a burger isn't juicy, to me, it just doesn't taste all that great.\r \r Because the burger was flavorless, I had to get the flavor out of the toppings. The gruyere cheese was good, the grilled onions, however, were too greasy. And the garlic aioli was, well, not that great. Finally, the hamburger bun was completely unremarkable.\r \r Please note, my food wasn't in any way bad. It was perfectly edible. However, when I look past the gimmick of ""build your own burger"", and judge it instead on the taste of the food, it turns into a very average meal. It simply wasn't that great. For my money and palate, I will stick with Father's Office. Pros: the gimmick of building your own burger can be fun, the fries/strings are good Cons: a burger joint should EXCEL at making tasty burgers but instead they're dry and tasteless more

I've been to The Counter once and it was great! Yummy in my tummy! The meat tastes like quality and the add-ins you can get in your burger are really unique. For instance, I got my burger on a giant english muffin with garlic aioli sauce; It was delicious! I wouldn't recommend the chili cheese fries though. They weren't that special from any other place I've been to and they were way too greasy. more

I'm not very good at making decisions when faced with this many tasty burger choices, but it's fun trying and even better eating the results. The friendly staff and casual atmosphere add to the fun. more

The burger was awesome and juicy!!!!! Friends recommended this place and it had great reviews. I liked the selection of toppings and side orders. I probably won't go back because it was soooooo crowded and I had to wait awhile fto be seated and for my food. If you don't mind waiting this is a great place for a burger. It would be a fun place to take a freind from out of town or to meet with friends for a long luch. Pros: food Cons: long wait more

i had a hard time deciding what to get because everything on the menu looked so good. i really liked the ""make your own burger"" feature. the burgers are tasty and both the regular fries and sweet potato fries are great. i had the churro milkshake which was pretty awesome too. i would definitely go back for the food, but i would think twice because it was incredibly crowded (even on a weekday) and noisy. Pros: good food, good service, inexpensive Cons: long wait, crowded, noisy more

make your own burger!!! a selection of toppings, sauces, and cheese allow to infinitely customize your... more

make your own burger!!! a selection of toppings, sauces, and cheese allow to infinitely customize your burger. AMAZING sweet potato fries with hors... more

Some of the best burgers you will ever have! more

Some of the best burgers you will ever have! more

I just moved from out of state and my friends have been raving about The Counter. I finally got over there on a late Sat afternoon and i tried a ""burger bowl""....greatest idea ever! I tried the sweet potato fries and an apple crumble shake also. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Now im HOOKED and can't get enough. I love the atmosphere that's bright and features this amazing graffiti style art. I tell everyone now where to go eat and take their friends. Only thing that is on the downside is that it's always pretty busy so waiting is an issue. Pros: amazing food...great service Cons: waiting more

My friends would rave about this place and their amazing customized hamburgers, so I decided to check it out. I was overwhelmed when I got there because the checklist menu was so vast and I didn?t know which sauces and cheese went together, etc.etc. But our extremely friendly waitress helped me figure it out and I got a goat cheese burger with garlic aioli sauce and it was absolutely delicious. I love how their hamburger meat is cooked medium too- I like my meat pretty pink. Also, the onion strings are my favorite- I could pretty much eat them forever. The only downside is that it?s pretty expensive? $12-$17/person seems like a lot for a hamburger place, but I guess this is not your ordinary hamburger. Also, there is a bar and skateboard art that makes it a bit more ?hip? than your average Johnny Rockets. Pros: great service, deliciously cooked hamburger meat, great toppings/sauces, easy parking Cons: a bit expensive, (potentially) long wait more

I read other reviews and I hate to see people complain when they have one bad experience. Your not paying for amazing service its a burger joint! I used to go to In-N-Out all the time and I cannot go their anymore after The Counter. The burger meat is good quality and their not afraid of cooking it rare which gives you a chance to actually taste it. The meat shouldn't be seasoned because if your adventurous enough your toppings and sauce will do the trick. These days Americans just want super salty or sugary food. MORE KETCHUP! YUCK! How bout your taste buds grow up a little. I have never had poor service and I've been their all hours of the day. And if i do happen to have poor service I'm not going to tell people not to go just because of one bad experience.\r \r If you've never been go their with an adventurous mind. Don't get tomatoes, lettuce and American cheese. Try the 50/50 sweet potatoes fries and onion rings. They come with 3 sauces: spicy mayo, ranch, and BBQ that all go perfectly with it. Burgers are about 8 dollars with a premium topping which ain't bad at all. Pros: Sweet potato fries, onion rings, burgers and great toppings. Cons: I wouldn't change anything about the place. more