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The Counter - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Sandwiches Burgers, Sandwiches [Edit]
1420 NW 46th St(between N 14th Ave & N 15th Ave)
Seattle, WA 98107
Neighbourhood: Ballard
(206) 706-0311
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
412 reviews for The Counter
Review Highlights
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"You must try the sweet potato fries." In 110 reviews -
"Fun place to build your own burger." In 37 reviews -
"...grilled onions and roasted red peppers with garlic aioli..." In 13 reviews
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412 reviews in English
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Review from Chris B.
2/20/2012
Have you ever wanted a burger with a little of this or that? Or a combination of two? The Counter is just that place, build your own burger with every topping under the sun. This all starts with the patty, 4 choices - 3 sizes, 12 choices of cheese, 21 choices of toppings that are free and 9 that are an added prices as well as 22 choices of sauces. Is that enough? Try 5 different bun choices! Once you have made you ultimate burger go with the fifty-fifty fries (half sweet potato or onion strings - half regular,) and you will be in a food coma when you are finished. Great place!
FYI- My burger, 1/3lb beef on mulitgrain bun with pepper jack, grilled onions, roasted green chillies, bacon, avocado, lettuce and tomato with chipotle aioli. -
Review from Adam P.
Seattle, WA
2/27/2012
Have you ever wanted a cold burger? Have you ever wanted french fries loaded with cheese to make up for the absolute lack of potato flavor? Well you're in luck, neighbor, The Counter has your name written all over it! Yay, I'm writing a Yelp review! Sauce at no charge!
The build-your-own burger thing is bunk. I've come in here three times anyways, because I'm fat, I like greasy burgers, and I am extraordinarily stupid. Not sure where they source their beef, but it hardly matters as they don't have the faintest idea how to handle it. The meat grind is poor, which you can really observe when ordered medium-rare. The patty has had an unpleasant interior consistency. I went against all my instincts and ordered my burger medium-well the last time I visited in a desperate attempt to get them to cook it hot enough to create some flavor, but all I ended up with was a dry and gummy piece of meat that made me crave a plain burger from my old Junior High cafeteria.
There's something like 50 toppings and none of them are going to make your nasty burger taste any better. Especially not the gummy, cold bacon. It's truly harsh.
The bleu cheese must have been selected by someone who's never eaten food before, as it is on the extraordinarily pungent end of the spectrum, overwhelming what little flavor was there to begin with. Most people who ask you to pay them to cook contemplate ideas like balanced and complimentary flavors, or at the very least, the enjoyment of eating their food. The Counter bucks tradition here, not willing to be constrained by those regressive ideologies. They are truly the John Cage of burgers.
The up-side is that this place is pretty expensive and makes you feel like you're in a mall food court. So, there's that. Go across the street to Mike's and give yourself the Big D with a chili burger instead. -
Review from Chuck L.
2/3 pound custom burger with smoked bacon, horseradish cheddar, egg, and chipotle aoli cooked medium. Wow. Everything was executed perfectly. Meat was tender and juicy. The flavors played nicely together. It is true, the prices are no joke. 2 burgers, 2 drinks (1 alcoholic), 1 parmesan aeoli fry = $48 after tip... At least the parking is covered, free, and plentiful.
Blood Mary with bacon vodka was excellent.
*You do get a free fry if you check in on Yelp...I did not notice this until after we ordered. -
Review from patricia r.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 4/30/2012
Ohhhhhh Counter why did you have to go? I just loved your chili and loved even more your mini slider burgers. Now where am I going to go for yummy sliders? Every place that I have gone to for sliders can't hold up to yours. Hopefully you are just moving to another part of town like maybe to Fremont?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/13/2010
I went there with myself just about to go insane(r), I could not make up my mind to get a beef… Read more »
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Review from Jenn D.
2/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Uhm...
YES. -
Review from Jennifer H.
Seattle, WA
1/15/2012
I love the whole create your own burger concept. And for all you low carb peeps out there, you can order your burger in a bowl, a sort of salad style. And the ingredients are all top of the line. Just be weary of the additional/premium toppings (bacon, avocado, sun dried tomatoes are all $1.50 each), because they can turn your already $10-$13 burger into a $15-$20 burger. They have a pickle chip appetizer which is delicious and their onion rings are all stringy and extra delicious. All their draft beers are from local breweries.
Oh yeah, and it's messy, the fillings barely fit in the bun, so if you're worried about your clothes, you might have to fork and knife it.Listed in: Ballard
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Review from Diana N.
4/3/2012
Good burgers, great concept, not so cool pricing! I like the clipboard menu where you can just check off what you want & how you want it. However, every check box checked is some major cash dropping! Great house made vegetarian patty, amazing parmesan fries ( a wee bit salty though) and side sauce choices. Wish the sauces were free though, that would've made up for the hole in my wallet
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Review from Kristina S.
Seattle, WA
3/17/2012
WTF - The Counter is CLOSED! Please someone research why overnight this place shut its doors for good. The place is boarded up with a sign that reads: Closed! WHY!!?? I LOVE this restaurant... the food, awesome employees who know us by name. Please dont be gone forever!!
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Review from Anthony B.
Seattle, WA
3/19/2012 2 photos
Restaurant was CLOSED for Business when I went there on 3/18/2012. I asked a local passer-by who lives in Ballard and she said that the restaurant just abruptly closed over the weekend and went out of business.
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Review from Dawn B.
Seattle, WA
12/28/2011
Completely customizable burgers with expertly prepared fixin's.
I got what I now call my once-a-year burger (anymore and my heart will explode) here and I can still taste it.
English muffin bun, fried egg, applewood smoked bacon, garlic aioli, frizzled onion straws, medium rare plus kobe burger with hand cut fries.
Now you see why it's only once a year? Tick, tick, tick...ka-boom!
It is probably not worth the coronary artery disease later in life but it felt oh, so right now.
Sterile, chain restaurant feel but the food and the polite waitstaff make it feel a bit warmer. -
Review from Stef M.
12/30/2011
OK, I've been here twice now in an attempt to use a Groupon that I purchased. I finally gave up and requested a refund for the groupon because:
1) the first time I went, someone else at the table was using a groupon (only 1 per table)
2) the second time I wised up and decided to sit at the bar. Well, guess what? They wouldn't let me use it there, either! Because, you guessed it, someone else at the bar was using a *$%& groupon.
Way to fail at building business, The Counter! Since I didn't end up eating anything that made me want to return during my two visits, I won't be back. Groupon refunded my money since I wasn't actually ever able to use it.
So, since I've been a couple of times, I have a good idea what the food is like. I tried 2 different burgers, and a shake, and some sides. The food is not very good. The first time I went, i blamed myself for doing the "build your own" option. I picked a whole wheat bun, which was obviously a mistake: dry and stale, it didn't make me want to take a second bite. The toppings didn't jive, but I figured I'd come back (obviously, i had to still use my *$%&ing Groupon!) and get something off their regular menu that I couldn't *$%& up.
The second time, I went with a "normal" menu offering, and it still wasn't good. It didn't help that the kitchen completely *$%&'ed up my order. I asked for the smaller sized (1/3 pound) Counter burger, and the person I was with asked for the 1/2 pound market selection burger. Well, when they came out, my burger looked ... abnormally large. I dug in anyway, and realized that the middle of my burger was basically raw. OK, I appreciate a rare burger as much as the next burger-lover, but this was far less-cooked than that. What happened was: I got a larger burger, but cooked like it was a smaller burger, so it wasn't done enough. the other person's burger was smaller, and cooked normally. The mixed sides of onion strings and sweet potatoes fries we got were humongous and pretty tasty, but I don't go to a burger place to enjoy their sides. -
Review from Chelsea J.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 11/14/2011
I continue to love The Counter. Seems people either love em or hate em but I am among the fans!
Their sweet potato fries are top notch and not greasy at all. They are served with a spicy chipotle dip that is oh so delicious. I also like their regular fries a lot.
Service is efficient and friendly and the wait is never too bad. I like the burgers and don't find the prices to be too bad considering the smallest burger patty is 1/3 pound!
Chairs are not very comfortable and seem kind of flimsy but I guess they're going for the diner-esque atmosphere so it's rather fitting.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/6/2010
This is a great burger place to visit when you are very hungry! I usually eat half of a 1/3 pound… Read more »
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Review from B. J.
11/10/11 - I enjoyed the experience today but today my perfectly medium rare burgers with brie and another with bluecheese were way too rich and overpowered my burgers. I probably wouldn't order them this way again.
I'm just glad I have options.
I still love the parmesan cheese fries and the shoe string onion rings!
Service has always been friendly and attentive!
I'll be BACK! -
OH and I used my Groupon ($10 for $20) for this deal! I hope the counter comes back again with groupon! - So worth it!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/28/2011
For a hamburger / bar chain, I was impressed with the quality of the food, service and there's a… Read more »
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Review from Jan S.
Lynnwood, WA
1/11/2012
Sweet potato fries were good and the side dipin sauce really good and they did not mind bringin more but over all I thought this was a little spendy, lacked atmoshere... was this supposed to be a diner style?? I did like the fact that you could have your burger without the bun but why did it cost so much more on a little lettuce??
Not on my list to go again however I'm not the biggest build your own burger fan. -
Review from Alex S.
Columbia City, Seattle, WA
2/21/2012
Love this place. You get to customize your very own burger; you choose what bun you'd like, the size of your patty, the cheese, the toppings, and the sauces. Each customized burger varies in prices, I believe I paid around $10 for my burger. The waitress was helpful and recommended me an extra sauce with no charge! I love their burgers and their fries, delicious. I would definitely come back no doubt about it.
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Review from Jimmy Z.
Seattle, WA
2/19/2012
I'm a big time burger lover, and I especially love the create-your-own-burger kind of option, so when The Counter opened I was really excited to try it and it completely lived up to my expectations.
The menu is perfectly organized and accessible (you just check off the items you want), there are tons of options, and they don't nickel-and-dime you for every item you want to add to your burger. It is a little bit pricey, but definitely worth it for the quality and size of the burgers.
Most importantly, the burgers are delicious and pretty big (the 1/3 lb. burger is the smallest they offer and it will probably fill you up). I don't live close enough to go regularly, but I've been back a few times and would certainly recommend it to anyone that's in the neighborhood. Each time I go back I find myself building a completely different burger and trying ingredient combinations I never would have thought to try, and each time I leave completely satisfied. -
Review from Brittany P.
Seattle, WA
3/15/2012
This was the BEST veggie burger! Heard good things about it and wasn't expecting too much since most places serve a bland boca patty as a substitute, but this was far beyond satisfying! It is not imitation meat, just a vegan blend of grains and veggies...pure bliss! The bun and toppings were all flavorful and fresh, and the shoestring fries were crisped to perfection! Server was friendly and atmosphere was pleasant. Will definitely be back here again, it's well worth the 20 minute bus ride.
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Review from Megan S.
9/28/2011
Finally tried out this newer joint at The Ballard Blocks location last night with the bf. We were both disappointed. The place is sterile and we were the only couple sans kids at happy hour. Well, I guess this is Ballard, so I shouldn't be surprised about the family take-over part. What was sad was that if the service had been better, it probably would have changed our opinions some.
The dude who greeted us at the door was really sweet and seemed excited that we were first timers and gave us a run down of how The Counter works. Great.
Not 2 seconds later the waitress comes over all bored with a touch of pissed off and rips into what The Counter is all about. Um, we just got that, only dude was way nicer than you. She made us feel like she was inconvenienced that we were even there and continued to make us feel rushed to order.
We had barely gotten a grip on the menu when she comes over asking us if we're ready to order. Uh, no. We told you we're newbies and you have like 5,000 options. Anyway, so I feel like I need to order something or she'll never come back the way she's pushing us so I see the fried pickles and say we'll get that. Beers were easy to choose since we were right by the taps. Pretty good selection on the beers, I must say. I got a Dick's Danger on tap which nobody ever has. Cool.
The fried pickles were pretty darn good. Nice crust and not too heavy. The sauce was like McDonald's sweet and sour. Gross.
We order our burgers. The waitress continues to basically treat us like inanimate objects. We get the burgers pretty quickly and they have no flavor and the sauce is on the side. Weird. Even though you get gobs of toppings, etc. there is not much flavor in any of the ingredients although they charge you an arm and a leg. Oh and my bf asked for well done, but I said no such thing, however mine was definitely well done.
So we got this place figured out: they give you all these options, then they gouge you for the very thing that supposedly makes this place unique. My bison 1/3 lb. burger cost about a dollar more than the bf's 2/3 lb. cow burger. At the grocery store, we don't see that much of a price difference between the two meats, so what gives?
In the end, we ate our burgers, they weren't terrible, but we probably won't ever come back. And they should promote the greeter guy and ace the bland ennui-filled slag. -
Review from Stephanie L.
Bellevue, WA
Boyfriend and I came here on our anniversary after Theo Chocolate Tour because the Yelp Check in deal for a free fry with any purchase of a burger. I thought it was going to be another divey burger place in ballard. NO NO NO. I felt like I was back in Beverly Hills with this joint.
It looked like they had a full bar with waitresses busting out some dranks for customers while they sat us down. You can choose exactly what you want on your burger. They give you a limitation of the amount you can put on your burger for a set price, but they're pretty awesome choices. Grilled pineapple, grilled onions, mixed lettuce, cranberries...delish!
For both of us with the free fries, it was sub $20. I will absolutely come back here again. I got the smallest burger (1/3 pound) and I had a hard time finishing it. Highly recommended. -
Review from Andrew S.
10/13/2011
I'm a burger aficionado, and I love The Counter!
I try burger places everywhere I go. I first tried the Counter in Hawaii last year, and loved it. Had to stop into Ballard and try this location when I heard it opened, and have been back a few times already.
I can't get enough of this place. I have seen people on here griping about the price, but I feel its well worth it. The burger has been cooked the way I have asked for it, each and every time. The toppings (oh the toppings!) have been consistently great. Milkshakes? Awesome. Being that I am not from the States, I like to ask about what the local beers are, and I have been well informed each time.
If you live anywhere near, you should go to The Counter! Doooooo it!!! -
Review from Teresita C.
Seattle, WA
7/9/2011
There are so many great burger places in Seattle that it is tough to go to a "chain." That being said, the food at the Counter is delicious, and service is FANTASTIC. I thoroughly enjoyed grubbing down in their shiny silver universe.
I LOVE their skinny fries, thin and super crispy, and not overwhelmed by salt. The sweet potato fries were fab as well, especially if you add a little pepper.
People complain about the expense but The Counter includes cheese and 4 toppings on their burgers which makes it a little more acceptable. If you go to a burger joint that charges $6 or 7 then charges $1 for each topping, pretty soon you're at 10 bucks or more.
I went with two meat eaters who frequent other burger joints and collectively we marveled at the flavor and how well it was cooked. The waitress convinced us to have a brownie for dessert (where did we find the room?) and we split one four ways. Great hot melting chocolate love Batman, NOW THAT'S A BROWNIE! -
Review from Kayla G.
Seattle, WA
2/7/2012
As a cheeseburger fan, this is pretty much my favorite restaurant in Seattle. I love the create your own system, and the ingredients are quality and amazing. More expensive than McDonald's, yeah, but so much more delicious. Also, the burger weights are post cooked, so you get a TON of food.
And the sweet potato fries deserve their own paragraph. They are cooked perfectly (thin and crisp but not too hard) and combined with the dip they're the best in Seattle. I usually fill up on fries and have to take half of my ginormous burger home!
The one negative thing I have to say is that I went there with a large group once and the service was awful. It literally took us almost three hours to get out of there, and we were doing our best to be prepared to order, to pay, etc. I wouldn't go there with a group larger than four or five again. -
Review from Geo D.
Everett, WA
11/5/2011
I'm big burger fan when it comes to restaurants (not into fast food places). This is one of restaurants that serves great burgers. The best about the place is their varies of fries, sweet potatoes, regular fries (best one for me), etc.
Their burgers are so tasty, juicy and so perfect for burger lovers like me. Buns: very soft and very delicious (I'd even eat just the bun itself!). They have varies of toppings you can choose to put on your burger (up to 4). I always go with grilled onion, YUM!
The staff were very friendly and on a plus side, our waiter knew some ASL (American Sign Langage) so it was way cool to communicate with her! Oh and also The Counter is "deaf-friendly" since you just have to fill out the order form what you want/how you want to order for your burger.
Pretty easy and simple.
That's a big plus!! Can't think of anything bad about the place, really. -
Review from Michael V.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 1/8/2012
Just went back again yesterday with friends and the food is better than ever, and our server was the nicest blond person I have ever met! (Except for myself and Charlene Tilton.....)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/21/2010
For anyone who questions whether Oprah Winfrey is the most powerful celebrity in the world, think… Read more »
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Review from Nolan H.
Seattle, WA
10/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The Counter is a burger joint that is stuck in conceptual limbo. If this place would simplify it's concept a little bit more, it could potentially become a regular hang-out for me. Here are the issues that I have with their current product.
1. The decor is very upscale and bright in appearance. Burger restaurants are typically warmer and more rustic in appearance, reflective of the food itself. Instead, this place looks like a posh bar for doctors and lawyers.
2. Fries do NOT come with the burgers, they are served separately and 10 minutes prior to the burger itself! Tack on a little more to the burger price and include fries WITH the burger!
3. This place has a "build your own burger" concept, with tons of options. Too many in my opinion. Adventurous diners like myself, could potentially spend more time figuring out options and toppings, than it would take to actually eat the meal! Not to mention, once the ticket arrives you realize that you just spent $15 on a burger!
4. Customer service is always the landmark to a great restaurant. My bartender spent more time slinging milkshakes than she did tending to the bar customers.
I know that I'm not an expert when it comes to running a restaurant, but I DO know what makes a good burger joint tick. This place obviously appeals to a small demographic that enjoys this type of concept. I'm just a huge burger fan that simply doesn't "get it".Comment from Michelle R. of The Counter 10/17/2011
Nolan, Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate that your… More » -
Review from Michael T.
Bellevue, WA
If you're a burger fan then you have to try The Counter. They offer signature gourmet style burgers and the option to build your own burger from a wide variety of toppings and sauces (up to 4 toppings). I had a custom burger with the following:
- House made veggie patty
- Provolone Cheese
- Red Onion
- Tomatoes
- Crispy Onions
- Sprouts
- Basil Pesto Sauce
- Multi-Grain Bun
We also ordered crispy onion fries and sweet potato fries. The crispy onion fries were really salty, to the point where they were uneatable.
Also had a pint of Maritime Lager (must try for Lager fans).
If you have room for dessert then I suggest trying the apple crumble a la mode. -
Review from Steven J.
Wallingford, Seattle, WA
10/29/2011
We were looking for a paleo friendly restaurant and came accross this restaurant in a review.
We tried the Bison burger (it may have been their special for the day??) without the bun and picked our toppings, etc.. It was excellent! I only ordered 1/3lb, but could have easily eaten twice that amount.
We went on a Wednesday and it wasn't crowded at all. It was a nice laid back atmosphere. -
Review from Teresa T.
Seattle, WA
10/3/2011
I recently challenged myself to try and follow the Paleolithic diet for 30 days. Short version: no grains, legumes, or anything else fun. Meat, veggies, nuts, and fats.
A friend (who is also challenging herself) and I met up for dinner and we were both STARVING and brainstorming places to hit up. I'd heard things about The Counter before and since they have the "In a Bowl" option, we figured it'd be easy to make Paleo-friendly.
We got there at around 6:30 on a Thursday night and it was slightly bustling with a good mix of couples and families. We split an order to Sweet Potato Fries and they were gooood! The fries were pretty standard, crunchy and sweet, and came with an addicting horseradish aioli that I thoroughly enjoyed (but my friend didn't).
I built my own burger with 1/3 lb of Beef In a Bowl with peppercinis, roasted red peppers, carrot strings, and grilled onions. I added Guacamole (a dollar extra) and with Chipotle Aioli for my sauce. Our burgers came out relatively fast and boy was it a lot of food. Overall though, I found the burger itself a bit under-seasoned and bland. All the other accoutrements didn't help much and I found myself dipping the beef in the aioli for more flavor. As a whole the meal was okay but I think The Counter is an example of when the sum is not as good as its parts.
I would come back and give The Counter a few more tries because their selection seems solid and the fries were yummy. -
Review from Elaine J.
Uhhhh, so not impressed. Heard that they have the best burgers in Seattle. So far from the truth.
The menu is honestly, a little too extensive. Sure it's nice if you want to try something new but, for a burger joint...naaaaahhhh.
Not to mention the frikkin' prices. Not only for a burger but for what you get. Just the burger, minimum is 9 bucks. More than one sauce 50 cents. Fries 3 bucks. Guac, a dollar. Fountian soda 2.50. Stupid.
Parmesan fries were pretty good. Other than that and the free fries that I earned for checking in...So not worth it. So many better places to go for burgers. Boooo hissss. =PListed in: Burger Joints
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Review from Tina H.
Seattle, WA
2/13/2012
Food was good, but pricey ($39 for 2 burger, 2 beers and one order of fries). Would have overlooked the pricey-ness but they brought our check while we were still eating, waited while I pulled up my group-on on my phone, and then proceeded to ask if I wanted a box for my food while I was still trying to eat. Great burgers but wouldn't go back
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Review from Clover A.
4/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum.
I like to order things like this, almost NO chance they'll come out wrong.
Sweet potato fries? Uh, yes please!
Mixed so I can try both? Oh HELL YES.
The meat was high quality, cooked perfectly and I enjoyed all the yummy options.
The service was great, the room was a bit sterile for my tastes but the energy of the server still made it feel comfortable.
I'll be back fer sure. -
Review from Michelle Y.
Seattle, WA
6/4/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Went here last night using a Groupon. It was my second time and I still remember the sweet potato fries with the chiptole aioli and how delicious they were. If you haven't been before, you can either order pre-made burgers off their menu or fill out a sheet where you specify which ingredients you want and they will custom build the burger for you. Options include different types of cheeses, vegetarian / meat options, special toppings like avacado, fried egg or bacon and more.
I would recommend this place to any burger connoisseurs. -
Review from Joe W.
Seattle, WA
10/16/2011
Growing more and more disappointing over time.
Great concept and great sweet potato fries.
Their kitchen is inconsistent in quality. My wife got a stone in her salad a few weeks back. They didn't have much to say and really couldn't repair the situation.Comment from Michelle R. of The Counter 10/19/2011
Joe, I'm sorry to hear how disappointed you are. While I… More » -
Review from Jonathan A.
Seattle, WA
6/2/2011
I ate at The Counter for the first time last weekend, and I was thoroughly impressed. After finishing my turkey burger, sweet potato fries, and cookie I was in one of the most satisfactory food comas to date. When I eat burgers this is usually the result I am going for, so it's very important that I walk out the door ready to take a 3 hour nap.
I am a sucker for options, and the the counter is the epitome of exactly that. In fact, there were so many burger options, I found my head hurting trying to make a decision. I ended up getting the 2/3 pound turkey burger with avocado, caramelized onions and peppers, lettuce, tomato, pepperjack cheese, and honey mustard. Diabolic combination of deliciousness!
After finishing my colossal burger, I realized there were more options that were not mentioned on the menu. If I had known they had Bison, I may have chose that over the Turkey burger. The good news is that I definitely plan on going back, and next time the Bison will be mine....oh yes it will be mine! -
Review from Tyler T.
Seattle, WA
Great atmosphere. Sat at the bar and Brittany was very nice and attentive. The burger was good, have had better, but I will be back to build my own burger once again with different toppings next time. I may just have to try the Bison!
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Review from Lisa K.
Seattle, WA
12/26/2011
I love that you get exactly the burger you want, including the type of meat (also have a veggie option, which is what I get). If you've never been there, go to their menu and review the take-out menu (same as dine-in menu) to see the options for your burger. There is also a very long counter at the bar if you prefer that to a table or booth.
Listed in: Ballard
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Review from Heather R.
Lynnwood, WA
6/22/2011
This is a new favorite of mine! My boss took my team here for lunch and I was hooked. I took my mom and husband soon after and they loved it too. The cool thing about this place is how you can customize everything you order. And for a vegetarian (that's me), this is a great thing. You can have your burger on a bun or on a salad, and there are so many different topping to choose from. And everything tastes great!
I see some people on here don't like the atmosphere, they think it's too sterile. But I think it's great. It's unique and fun and I like it. On nice days they will open up the huge windows, or you can choose to sit outside. It's a cute little area right next to Trader Joe's, so the open-air idea really works.
This is definitely a place I will return to many times. -
Review from Angie K.
I'm not sure if I am allowed to critique my dinner when it was a build-your-own burger place . . . but I will. The build-your-own aspect is fun, but it turns out I don't really know what I am doing. So if I were to go back here, I would probably just order one of their pre-planned burgers.
However, despite the food being fine, and the service being fine, I doubt I will go back here. I am an adult, and I can go to any of Ballard's fine eating and drinking establishments just blocks away, all of which have better food and WAY better ambience. The Counter really feels like a fast food place: loud, uncomfortable, lots of kids, busy busy. The food is better than fast food, but if I am going to pay bar and grill prices it needs to be more comfortable for me. And if you want to take your kids somewhere, you can take your kids to the Ram, too, which has better burgers for similar prices. -
Review from Mitch N.
Seattle, WA
8/24/2011
The thing about The Counter, is that no matter what location I go to, I can NEVER get a hot to the table burger.
The burger never comes to the table with the cheese still melted and gooey. I also think they are a little dry, like they are using a very lean piece of beef.
But they have a full bar! So that makes up for things. And they are consistent too across the 3 states and 5 locations I've been to thus far.Comment from Michelle R. of The Counter 9/28/2011
Mitch, I am sincerely sorry to hear you did not have a good… More » -
Review from Ric B.
Las Vegas, NV
9/25/2011
Great concept but the ingredients are dumbed down for the masses. Cibatta role are way to heavy and dense even toasted they are heavy.
Jalapenos and canned with no fire.
Green Chilies are canned, no flavor.
Pepper-jack is a a lot of Jack and no pepper
garlic aioli no bite, way to much mayo
Chipoltle aioli, no burn
Burger was cooked correctly, and the fried pickles were good.
Won't be going back
They need to go to go to the Grind in Vegas and see how it should be done.
