The Counter

Like this place needs another review, but I have to tell you I ate there this weekend and I am already thinking about going back some time this week. My mouth is watering just thinking about what combination I am going to come with for my burger next time. I usually stick to the basics when it comes to my burgers so the Old School was perfect but with all those options staring me in the face I am going to have to try my hand at creating a burger. I figure if I start planning now by the time I get there I might have an idea about what to pick, the problem with my idea is that I am thinking about it all the time making me hungry and anxious to return. I of course can't wait for the sweet fries and shake to round out the experience. Alright I gotta stop rambling because I am going to hop in my car and go grab lunch at The Counter. Pros: The Waitress's (aka the service), the food is awesome, and the whole feel is great! Cons: There are none in New York! more

We waited an eternity for a table on a Saturday night, and waited sitting on the concrete outside since there was no room inside anywhere. It was way too busy for me, but the burgers were very good and I could get mine on lettuce instead fo a bun. more

Get real you people, go to a in & out and it is a third of the price and ten times better.\r I had the special lamb burger of the month: the bread was three times bigger than the burger; the burger was so dry I could not eat it; no seasoning what so ever and it took 30 minutes for the disaster to arrive.\r Our table also had a burnt Veg burger a regular burger and a dry turkey burger and all of the food had issues.\r Please I love the concept but it seems like it is way too difficult to pull off.\r \r Sorry \r Pros: that you ca choose your own Cons: they can not execute the concept more

First let me say that the burgers are good. However yesterday evening it was cold out (as cold as it gets here in so cal- which I realize isnt below freezing or anything but...) and The Counter has these giant windows/garage doors open, which pretty much make it one giant screen on the south side of the restaurant. There was quite a draft which made things really chilly in the restaurant. When we asked if they could please close or lower the windows, the said hmmm we dont really do that because we are trying to create ambiance- an ambiance of what cold diners? The fact the garage doors are up does nothing for the ambiance. So if The Counter prefers ambiance over customers than so be it. I then looked around and realized that everyone else was bundled up - so I guess if you come dressed for the weather on the outside you'll be fine even though you technically are dining inside! Now back to the food. The food is good, it is a good burger at a reasonable price with yummy sides, and a creative experience. There are so many sides it is even a little overwhelming to pick. On to dessert...we ordered the chocolate burger for dessert. A cold donut that tasted waxy with a cross between mousse and frozen yogurt (which might be better) that was really just plain bad. So I might go back for the burgers in the summer or all bundled up for the winter but then again there are a lot of burger joints out there so I am still in search of great burger and great service, thus I might just keep looking! more

I have had both good burgers and not so good burgers here. It is a make your own burger place, and some of the choices that I've made haven't been the best. But, I think I have it to a science now, and with all the toppings and sauces, it makes it very tough to choose. The problem that I have with it is the waiting list. You write your name on a list and then they call you after a very long wait. It's always crowded and the system isn't the best. The one thing that is a MUST get here is the Peanut butter and banana or peanut butter and chocolate milk shake. COME HUNGRY. more

THis place is great. You probably have to wait but once you taste it you will forget about it. Service was good...fitting with the type of place it is. Price is fair for the value. Taste is great. Music is great. Vibe is fantastic. Order the Fried Pickles and the Chocolate Burger. \r \r Pros: Great Vibe and Atmosphere. Great Food Cons: Little wait more

HOT today GONE soon. The burgers are good, but who cares? I had to ask for silverware, napkins, refills on ice tea, the counter cleared, the check. The owner is too concerned about Venture capital to actually work on a weekend at 12:30. So Long. more

Well, these burgers are really only as creative as you are, but they certainly give you all the tools you need to build a really good burger... more

Pleas stop going here, people. Only for the sake that I don't like waiting in line. I want something this awesome to be for me and me alone. Come on, ask yourself if you can really find the beauty of putting dried cranberries on your burger? No, you can't! So just save me a lot of time and go to In-N-Out Burger! more

always busy, the line may be confusing, since the staff is busy making milkshakes and scooping ice cream, but the drill is: put your name on the list and customize your burger on the menu forms. the wait may be a while, but the burgers are quite good and the 50/50 skinny onion strings with fries are tasty. the milkshakes are in popular demand and the total price won't be such a shocker. Pros: onion strings, customizing burger on multiple choice menu Cons: trendy hamburgers, long wait, noisy more

After hearing the hype, I finally made it to the Counter for lunch. The quality of the food is great- delicious sweet potato fries, good turkey (though very dry) burgers, and interesting, fresh toppings. The burger in a bowl makes for a great salad like meal. I would eat at this place regularly... if the wait were not so long. Waiting to be seated is one thing, waiting forever to order then get my food is another. The ordering 'checklist' system is simple and seems like it would translate into fast food preparation- this is far from the case! IN short, come here if you have an hour to spare... if you have any less time DON'T! more

I never thought I'd day it, but there is a burger in the world that is (slightly) better than Father's Office - and lucky for me it's also in SaMo. Here's why it's better: you get to create it yourself from a selection of items that is really creative - sundried tomatoes, or blue cheese, or olives, or avacado - you get to choose and the combos you come up with are damn good. The servers are all really nice and attentive. They do not have the beer and wine selection that Father's Office has - and they also don't have Father's Office signature burger - but they do have the best burgers in town. Pros: Build your own burger Cons: Out of the way location more

My wife and I have been hearing the hype around The Counter for about a year now. We figured we go see for ourselves. It was busy, but as soon as we entered we were instantly greeted by a host as well as the manager, who continued to check on us throughout our experience. Which was fantastic, the burgers were made exactly to our specifications and tasted ever so delicious. Our (suprisingly male) server was attentive and humorous. The restaurant was simply a diamond in the rough and we will be returning sooner than later. more

Hello:\r \r I could not wait to give the place a shot after hearing all the great hype. The first time I went I did not understand what all the hype was about. The burgers are too lean and the attractive servers think that being attractive somehow makes your food show up and your drinks to refill. There is almost no effort to make sure the client is enjoying their meal. Ive been 3 times thinking I may have been there on a bad night and it was not the case.\r \r On the bright side they have a great grill cheese and bacon sandwich and the atmosphere outside of the service is very pleasant. \r \r Don't believe the hype. There are better places to get a burger!\r Pros: cool relaxed atmosphere Cons: Horrible uninspired service with a total lack of professional management more

I finally tried The Counter last weekend. I had a 2/3lb. beef burger. It was cooked perfectly and had a lot of flavor. I stuck with an almost traditional burger (lettuce, pickles, onion, grilled onion, horseradish cheddar, red relish) and was very pleased. I will definitely try it again - especially the not-so-ordinary toppings. I also tried the deep-fried dill pickle chips. Interesting but not really my thing. The staff was excellent. There were at least 10 waitresses on duty and they were all friendly and helpful. Excellent uniforms too. Pros: Great service! more

Great make up your own burgers..a fantastic place for kids! We are addicted to the beef burgers with bacon, avocado, swiss cheese and dijon ... more

Wow! What an experience I had at The Counter. Not only was my food amazing, but the staff is NOT your typcial ""LA"" server. My burger in a bowl was mouth watering & I will definetly becoming back in the near future. Make sure to order the cheese fries, they're awesome! Pros: Friendly, Upbeat more

I've been to the counter many times. For lunch, if the line isn't long and all the tables aren't full, it's incredibly worth it. For dinner -- go someplace else. The service is awful, if non-existent. After waiting 30 minutes for a table we finally get seated -- only to wait another 15 minutes for our drinks while tables that were seated after us already had their starters. At that point, we walked. I'm never going back. Cons: awful dinner service more

The Counter serves sumptious burgers to your liking. Their menu allows you to customize exactly what you want. The atmosphere is nice although the place can get a bit crowded during lunch hours. The fries are incredible too. more

The Counter offers the best in gourmet burgers and what makes it even better is they have so many toppings/ingredients to offer and you get ... more