The Counter
1923 Calle Barcelona,
Carlsbad
www.thecounterburger.com
760-652-5480
Take a seat at The Counter, and you’ll realize this is more than just a burger place. You’ve entered a world of gourmet, build-it-yourself burgers that are custom-made to your liking. Made fresh from 100-percent natural Angus beef, this is one burger that doesn’t disappoint.
My family and I arrived on a Saturday night at 6, and there was a one-hour wait. This restaurant is located in a trendy outdoor mall, The Forum, so it was a pleasure browsing the shops to pass the time.
Once inside, the real fun began. Our waitress gave us each a pencil and clipboard featuring an extensive list of toppings for custom-built burgers. The categories included patty type and size, cheese, fresh toppings, sauces and buns. The kids loved being able to check off exactly what they wanted on their burgers.
The full bar offers an extensive wine list and craft beers on tap. My husband, John, ordered Fat Tire, and I ordered Stone IPA. Lauren, 12, and Gillian, 10, each ordered lemonade ($2.50).
John selected a 1/3-pound beef burger with jalapeño jack cheese, grilled pineapple, jalapeños, tomatoes and spicy sour cream sauce on a honey wheat bun ($8.50). I opted for a 1/3-pound beef burger with Tillamook cheddar, grilled onions, roasted corn and black bean salsa and ginger soy sauce on a honey wheat bun ($8.50).
My daughters chose a 1/3-pound beef burger, one plain and one with American cheese and grilled onions on a hamburger bun. Burgers are cooked medium—pink throughout—so we requested medium well for the children’s burgers.
Other fresh topping choices include homemade guacamole, honey cured bacon and sautéed mushrooms. With more than 20 delectable sauces to choose from, there’s something for everyone: basil pesto, chipotle aioli, peanut sauce and sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. My daughters opted for the not-so-exotic ketchup on the table.
You order side dishes (such as fries) separately. We opted for “The Fifty-Fifty” ($4.95)—a plateful of fries and tasty, shredded onion strings. My husband and I also each ordered a side salad ($3.25) made with organic mixed greens topped with tomato, red onion and dressing. Other sides include Turkey Chili topped with cranberries and scallions, and the Hobo Pack, an assortment of grilled vegetables topped with fresh herbs.
We topped off our awesome meal with the warm, chewy Caramel & Chocolate Brownie ($4.95 + $1.95 a la mode). This treat is enough to share—although you may want to keep it for yourself after trying a bite. Other desserts include Apple Crumble, Key Lime Pie and Oversize Chocolate Chip Cookie.
The décor is modern industrial and the atmosphere is lively and fun. This restaurant attracts people of all ages—couples, families and large groups all were settled in and enjoying the night out. Some folks ate at the bar and watched ball games on the large screen televisions. Whether you’re looking for a family night or date night, The Counter is sure to please.
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Ronni Rowland is a mother of two and freelance writer.