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Hours

Mon.-Thu. 11AM-10PM
Fri.-Sat. 11AM-11PM
Sun. Noon-9PM

Parking

Free lot
Metered street parking

Pricing

Low ($)

City's Best

Counter   

2901 Ocean Park Blvd # 102
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310-399-8383
www.thecounterburger.com

Rating: 4 out of 5  (43 Ratings)   Read Reviews (43)    Rate and Write a Review

If you ever endured night sweats wondering whether dried cranberries would ever make it onto a burger, you can finally sleep dry and rest assured. At Jeff Weinstein's design-your-own-burger fest, the co-founder of Firefly in Studio City offers forth more unique color combinations than a Rubik's Cube. At The Counter, it's a five-step process. Choose a certified organic beef, turkey or veggie burger (1/3 lb, 2/3 lb or one pound) and then one of eight cheeses, four toppings, a sauce and finally, a roll to house the easily-toppled creation. (Toppings range from grilled pineapple to roasted corn and black bean salsa, while sauces include a caramelized-onion marmalade and mango chutney.) Inside a cool, retro setting with a distinct modern flair, check off everything you want on the clipboard menu for lunch and simply hand it to the woman behind the cash register. For dinner, tableside service is available. Trying to stay faithful to that Atkins' regimen of no carbs, The Counter's "Burger in a Bowl" -- mixed baby greens and a bun-less burger -- is essentially the only salad option, but ordering any one of these culinary skyscrapers without a bun never leaves you feeling deprived. And for a side dish you won't find anywhere else, try the crispy, fried spicy dill pickle chips, while for dessert a more traditional, yet superb apple crumble has everything you need out of this sweet, southern surprise except the porch swing.

User Ratings and Reviews Rate and Write a Review

43 Ratings and Reviews

Order by: Oldest | Newest
jondanalake
Review rating 2 out of 5
Take Your Own Buns
By jondanalake on 10/03/2009
This could be the best hamburger in town except for the rolls which are stale and dry. I ordered the same burger 4 different times to be sure if the stale buns were a fluke. Nope. The roll was stale, dry and crumbly each time. Too bad. The Counter should be too good for bad rolls.
user image
Review rating 1 out of 5
By Rsp008p on 08/24/2008
user image
Review rating 5 out of 5
Order 1/2 what you think you can eat!
By Pawnosh on 07/25/2008
I'm a grandmother, and I can tell you, this is the best burger I have ever eaten. And I have personally been to 8 of the 10 on this list. I've given up on trying to eat this burger with my hands so I either order it without the bun or I simply resort to using a knife and fork on the whole thing. I also order anything slippery (like avocado) on the side. Also their wine and beer list is limited, but wonderful. I love Chamay beer from Belguim Trappist Monks, and never find it on menus, but here it is. Also order your fries (1 order for 2 to 3 people) 1/2 onion rings and half fries or sweet potatoe fries. Their milkshakes are to die for, but I've never had room for one so I got our waitress (Sophia is very warm and helpful) to bring me a taste of their special of the month shake since it sounded so incredible. I've never brought anyone here who didn't love it as much as we do. And trust me, we're fussy.
user image
Review rating 4 out of 5
the counter
By DancingVina1 on 07/15/2008
Awesome concept, good food, fun atmosphere and cool art to look at. If you check out the website you will see their really progressive and support and community in a diversified way. Erin (L.A.)