Burger of the Gods

[chipotle]

It is vitally important that I tell you about The Burger. Specifically, The Counter Burger.

The Counter is a burger place which—up until yesterday—existed only in Santa Monica. Yesterday evening, they opened their second location in Palo Alto. It’s a bit expensive—although not more so than local landmark joint Kirk’s Steakburger—but that was a damn good burger. Good quality beef, and when they cook it medium, they actually mean it: a bit crusty on the outside like a good steak, some pink on the inside, and so juicy the bun’s liable to get soggy.

What the Counter’s claim to fame is—you’ll deduce this immediately from the menu—the choices. I had my burger with cheddar, grilled onion, roasted chile and baby greens, with garlic aioli on a honey wheat bun. Would you rather have a turkey burger with herb goat cheese, roasted red peppers, sprouts and ginger soy glaze on an English muffin? No problem. Carrot strings? Grilled pineapple? Horseradish cheddar? Sun-dried tomato vinaigrette? No problem.

The menu claims their weights are measured after cooking, not before; whether or not that’s true, it certainly didn’t seem like less than a third of a pound to me. The fries were also pretty good—not rave-worthy, but well-cooked, well-salted, and not greasy. They’re also pretty substantial—one order is enough for two people, I’d say.

Is it as good as the Quinn’s Lighthouse burger I wrote about earlier? Well… objectively, it’s better. I’ll still have a soft spot for Quinn’s, though, which is also damn good, ridiculously big, and comes on great sourdough bread—one of the few things the Counter doesn’t have as an option.

(N.B.: It’s also important that I note the place has a full bar with good beers on tap. Just so you know.)

Comments

[prickvixen.livejournal.com]

Well, I do like the taste of a good burger...

[mordrul.livejournal.com]

Man I was with you right up until the bit about... sprouts on a burger. I mean, WTF? That's like putting tofu in a beer.

Just about everything else sounds pretty damn good though, especially horseradish cheddar. I'll always have a weakness for horseradish.

If I ever do go to CA I will have to make this a specific stop.

[chipotle.livejournal.com]

Well, they are from California. I've decided that California by and large doesn't eat any healthier than the rest of the country, natives just believe that everything becomes healthy if you put sprouts or avocado on it.

I'll almost certainly get the horseradish cheddar on a burger sometime soon, though.

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

Yum!!!

Maybe this place should go on the short list for FC? :-)

[misseli.livejournal.com]

My husband, the unicorn, sent me here. The menu looks really intriguing, and if the PA location is open late enough ... sounds like a good spot for an occasional post-class dinner. Thank you for the review.