Wednesday, February 10, 2010

iPhone Wednesday #2 - The Counter

A super-clean lunch place in Studio City featuring "custom built burgers," The Counter was new to me when I stopped by a couple of weeks ago for take-out. The music was loud (visit their website with your speakers on for the gist), so you know me--I didn't stay. But the burger I escaped with was excellent.
Other bloggers known to do iPhone Wednesday are Kim at Seattle Daily Photo, Chuck at One A Day - Mostly Seattle and Ming at Bangor Daily Photo. No guarantees of an iPhone shot, but whatever you find there you'll likely enjoy.

Forgive me, readers, for I have strayed outside the holy realm of Pasadena. But 2010 is a new era and you never know what your intrepid blogger will do. You can't tame me, I tell ya!

26 comments:

Shell Sherree said...

OH. Now I really want a burger to eat!! Takeaway would be the go for me too, Petrea ~ my stomach prefers not to be jangled too much while I'm eating.

bandit said...

I love that hallway pic. They're both admirable, with the sillhouette effect.

Cafe Observer said...

I took a food blogger friend to the Counter of Pasadena last week for a B-Day lunch. It's a burger specility joint.
I did mention to her that the place was not conducive for conversations. Still, it sounds like you got a better meal than we did.

Not a cheap burger place!. So, I can understand if you played the role of bandit to escape with your burger. I'm sure you were exce!!ent!

Petrea Burchard said...

Shell, I have bionic hearing--better than normal for a human. Loud music is outrageous inside my ears and I come away with my whole head ringing.

Thank you, Bandit. I had a bit of a wait (custom burger takes time). Without reading material, my iPhone came in handy.

Did you have burgers, Cafe? I ask because I wonder if they don't do other dishes well.

Yeah, there were a couple of tables of studio people trying to converse. But if you're working in the Valley and you really need to do a working lunch, this probably isn't the place.

SH -ic said...

I love my i phone as well .. best to you r ones :-))

Desiree said...

Kewl--and of course there's one in Pasadena--but not inexpensive, I hear--

Cafe Observer said...

Restless Dez, you may have heard/read it from this K9.

P, I think they mite have just a couple of non-burger items available for those who go to burger places not looking to eat a hamburger.

She had something called the Taco Turkey burger & I had mine custom built. Plus an appetizer sampler with dip saucers. Reminds me of Pie in Burger in this regard: poor value.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hmm. I see we do have one. Perhaps ours isn't as good as the one in Studio City. And perhaps I wasn't paying...

ben wideman said...

I've enjoyed the Counter in Pasadena, but then again, I really enjoy burgers. I found it a little overwhelming at first to browse the massive list of combinations.

My wife loves fried dill pickles, and we were surprised to see that you can order them - something we haven't seen since the east coast.

Petrea Burchard said...

So then perhaps it's a matter of taste. I maintain that my burger was excellent, and we all know Ben is a burger connoisseur. I MUST try fried dill pickles.

Cafe Observer said...

It is a matter of taste when it comes to food or any of the other arts.

I thought Ben was a Beer connoisseur.

We did try the Fried pickles = Much more fried than pickle.

And, the fries were average at best. Onion rings = stringy or wimpy. The Sweet Potato fries were lukewarm & dry.

If you aren't careful, as you're building your custom burger you can build yourself a huge bill just 4 a burger.

pasadenapio said...

The one in Pasadena is next door to Green Street Restaurant. I was there for lunch a couple of weeks ago with a group -- eight of us. I had a turkey burger with grilled onions, provolone, avocado and sprouts. It was delish! I wasn't paying attention to price so don't remember what it was. The service was excellent.

Petrea Burchard said...

Ben is a beer connoisseur.

That does sound delish, PIO. I hope The Counter didn't take over the Indian restaurant. Is that still there?

Cafe Observer said...

PDP, your prayers are belated I'm sorry to say. I can feel your pain. Nevertheless, I rather have the Counther than another Indian place here anyway.

I'm gonna see if I can get into that new specialty Hot People, uh Dog, place on N.Lake tonite.

Amy said...

Somehow I've only been to the one in Santa Monica close-ish to work, and never the one down the street from my home. I love their burgers and sweet potato fries. I'm positively smitten with their milkshakes.

pasadenapio said...

Hate to break it to you, Petrea, but yes, The Counter is where the Indian restaurant used to be.

Petrea Burchard said...

Well, seeing as I liked the Counter I'll probably go there more often anyway. Next time I'm going to try fried pickles and a milkshake.

Desiree said...

CO: Of course you're right!
I misrecollected--

Anonymous said...

Oh no, good milk shakes? I'm sunk.

Geoff said...

The nice thing about the Pasadena counter is that it has a large outdoor seating area that is much quieter than the inside. I've been to both the Studio City and Pasadena Counters multiple times, and think they are equally good. The Counter is a franchise, and apparently the Studio City and Pasadena ones are operated by the same franchisee.

Petrea Burchard said...

More good info, thanks Geoff. For me, great food is almost--but not quite--enough. Knowing there's a quiet area means I'll go back. In spite of the loud music I thought the Studio City one was pretty nice so knowing it's the same franchisee is also incentive.

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Dina said...

I hope no one ever tames you, intrepid Petrea.

Petrea Burchard said...

:)

seanjonesfoto said...

i love both images... especially the hallway shot... i don't have an iphone, only a blackberry, but i've thought of doing a phone post like you do... thanks for the idea...

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks Sean, I'm partial to the hallway, too. I look forward to seeing the phone shots you post.