The Counter: Have Your Burger and Eat It, Too!
I think burgers unfairly get a bad rap. Sure, red meat should be enjoyed in moderation, but isn’t that true with most things in life?
I say that lean, hormone-free, antibiotic-free red meat should not be feared. That’s why I am a huge fan of The Counter.
The Counter is a “build your own” burger joint with more choices than you will know what to do with, and serves truly fresh, quality ingredients. (Click the menu below to see all the selections in full-size).
I have only tried the beef burgers here, but they also offer chicken, turkey, veggie, or a selected special. I hear the veggie burgers are delicious; not frozen patties, but real mixed vegetables and grains.
To have my burger and eat it too, I tend to ask for the patty to come as a “burger bowl,” in order to cut calories and carbs. Served on a huge bed of either organic mixed greens or a lettuce blend, this is the perfect compromise between a saintly salad and a tasty indulgence. This simple swap can save up to 295 calories!
My delicious burger bowl: 1/3 lb Angus beef on mixed greens, topped with roasted red bell peppers, roasted corn & black bean salsa, red onion, grilled pineapple, and Tillamook cheddar, with BBQ sauce on the side.
Of course, there is the small matter of fries. What’s a burger without fries?!
This large order of salty and sweet potato fries is designed for two, but I think it can easily be split between three or four people. Just never eat directly from the bowl and use your side plate!
So what was the damage on my burger bowl? About 625 calories, sans BBQ sauce. For a filling, tasty, seemingly-indulgent meal, I think that’s pretty darn good!
All nutritional information for The Counter can be found here.
Question of the Day
Have you been to The Counter? What tricks do you use when designing your own meal at restaurants to cut back on calories and fat?
16 Responses to “The Counter: Have Your Burger and Eat It, Too!”
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Bah! Stupid me. I just came back from a jog and I’m about to go out for lunch and here you are posting beautiful burger salads.
I’ve never been to the Counter, and we don’t have any restaurants around here that let you design your own meal (well, besides delis and sub shops, but that’s standard). The only standard “trick” I use when ordering out is to leave off the sauces…it doesn’t matter where you go, the likelihood of a fat-laden sauce drowning your sandwich/entree is high.
Agreed on the sauces! Tons of sneaky calories and sugar in there!
we had the counter come to SLC and it went out of business before i had the chance to try it!
Out of business?! I can’t believe that! Too bad you missed it…their burgers are so delicious!
There’s one in Irvine that I visited with Joe. But I’m afraid that we went the opposite direction and had the special, Carne Asada burger.
Oooh, that must have been one of their special “Market Selection,” burgers!
oh! i think they’re putting something similar to this in nyc! too bad i live on long island and we have nothing cool like this haha
I LOVE The Counter!
And the toddler loves it, too. That’s why it’s our main destination when we eat out. I used to order a side salad and split a burger with hubby. And we’d usually get fries. Lately, I have been ordering the chicken salad bowls, and I love them. The toddler now often gets a kid’s meal and we don’t order the fries anymore, so we aren’t tempted by them as much anymore… 
Hey Lara! I am so glad you posted this- they just opened one of these shops in the East Bay and I have been intrigued.
I don’t order fries because that’s like sending me into a mall- can’t control myself! I love doing a burger on top of a salad and salsa is my favorite topping.
Have a great weekend!
I had the veggie burger in a salad bowl, it was delicious! Normally when you order a veggie burger at a restaurant, it’s flat, hard, and tastes like cardboard. But at the Counter, you can actually see the veggies! It’s delish! :0)
I really want to try the veggie burger next! I’ve only heard good things.
Oh they have one here in Honolulu I have yet to try it as I heard its a very long wait for your food.
I might try it soon after reading this and I can blog about it since I have been lacking in my blog for months!
I must admit that if I’m having a burger, then it’s no holds barred. I definitely go with the bun, and the burger, in my opinion, should be done medium rare (if it’s really good meat, then rare).
I grew up eating bunless hamburgers and hot dogs, and so I definitely appreciate this concept of a restaurant and this post! Hamburgers do get a bad rep, and I find it sad because really they are just like any other good source of protein! When the beef is grass-fed, its even better for you than your average chicken at like a chain restaurant.
Plus when you skip the bun, you don’t feel so bad about those sweet potato fries! Sooo yummy.
The Counter is great! Their sweet potato fries are worth the trip alone! By the way, the turkey burger is also awesome- tons of flavor and not dry at all.
Yum, grilled pineapple! I went to the counter once and almost curled up in the fetal position because of all of the choice! And you are right- a burger is just NOT a burger without the fries. And I could possibly live off of sweet potato fries for the rest of my years and be totally happy (if a tad protein deprived)