The Counter
Hamburger restaurant · Mountain View ·

The Counter

Hamburger restaurant · Mountain View ·

Customizable gourmet burgers, vegetarian options, beer & wine

customizable burgers
veggie options
sweet potato fries
pricey
outdoor seating
mini burgers
cleanliness issues
automatic service charge
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null
The Counter by null

Information

2580 W El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA 94040 Get directions

$20–30

Order delivery
See Menu
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Trendy

Information

Static Map

2580 W El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA 94040 Get directions

+1 650 948 2333
thecounter.com
@thecounterburger
𝕏
@counterburger

$20–30 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Trendy
•Family friendly
•Good for groups
•Good for solo dining

Last updated

Jan 10, 2026

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2026 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater
391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

The Varsity in Midtown Atlanta Suspends Its Famous Drive-In Carhop Service Due to COVID-19 | Eater Atlanta

"Established in 2003, The Counter positions itself as the 21st century’s bold, anti-established answer to the classic burger joint, featuring industrial decor, contemporary music, cold beer, unique wines, cocktails, and highly customizable burger options limited only by the customer’s imagination." - Beth McKibben

https://atlanta.eater.com/2020/7/9/21319214/the-varsity-midtown-atlanta-suspends-drive-in-service-due-to-covid19-pandemic
The Counter
@eater
391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

People Waited in Line for Hours at a Smyrna, Georgia, Kentucky Fried Chicken for Vegan Fried ‘Chicken” Nuggets and Wings | Eater Atlanta

"Established in 2003, The Counter positions itself as a 21st‑century answer to the classic burger joint, emphasizing industrial decor, contemporary music, cold beer, distinctive wines and cocktails, and highly customizable burger options said to be limited only by your imagination." - Mike Jordan

https://atlanta.eater.com/2019/8/30/20838190/kentucky-fried-chicken-vegan-wings-nuggets-atlanta-georgia
The Counter

jasen W.

Google
When I walked in at 330pm on a tuesday there were 3 other tables with patrons. I was not greated when i came in and it took a couple of minutes before i got a hello and some menus brought to me. There was some good but also a lot of bad about my experience... The Good... The meat was fresh and cooked to my desired temperature. The Loaded tator-tots were delicious and there was a large.portion. It was also happy hour (3pm to 5pm Mon thru Fri) so the food was cheaper then normal. The Bad... and there is a lot... 1st off, i was not told by the bartender that it was happy hour and 16 oz beers are $5 but 20 oz beers are $11. I ordered a 20oz without knowing it was happy hour so it cost me an extra $6 for 4 oz of beer be ause i was not told by the bartender that it was happy hour before I ordered. I ordered the loaded tots, the mini cheeseburgers and the brussle sprouts from the happy hour menu. The sprouts were burnt on the outside but still raw on the inside. The sauce was decent but they were hard to eat. The burgers are small for what you get and are very.pricey. I was ignored throughout my meal.and had to.continuously find my waiter and ask him for stuff instead of him checking on me. And above.all else... THIS.PLACE CHARGES A 4% surcharge without asking to support a small business... it does not say what business but I assume its theirs and charging people extra for nothing is a GIANT RED FLAG!!!!!!! After all that, i doubt i will be back to give them more of my money. For the price, I expect much better service and quantity for the price. 5 Guys is cheeper and better and i am not a huge fan of 5 Guys,.if that says anything... anyway, dont waste your time here.

Nikki L

Google
Service is always on point. The comfortable seating and abundant natural light make it a perfect spot for a relaxing weekend lunch. The burgers, fries, and shakes hit the mark—classic diner fare done right.

Mayank A.

Google
Absolutely amazing! Every bite felt like a flavor explosion. Easily one of the best burgers I’ve had in a while. 11/10, would go back just for this!

Alan C.

Google
The very best burger place in the bay. Perfectly cooked, juicy and tender. I absolutely LOVE their Parmesan Cheese Fries, the perfect addition to any meal. Their service is very fast, with zero wait time. I have been coming here for the past two years and felt it deserved a review.

Lucas Z.

Google
Delicious gourmet burger, never let us down. The high quality meat pattie was juicy and all the toppings we customized were very fresh.

joyita S.

Google
Going with five stars. I loved their fish burger. fresh, juicy and healthy. I absolutely love how one can customise burgers according to their desire. They have gluten free bread, vegan, vegetarian options.

Dr. Manuel K.

Google
Positive: A wide range of menu choices and I like the taste. Not so good: The prices are too high for a weekday lunch IMHO ($25 in my case). Also, I would like to have more low caloric food choices. In addition, although the staff is very friendly, I was unhappy on several occasions: Bringing food but forgetting the cutlery 🍴or not offering a refill on the drinks 🍻.

Angela J.

Google
Louis was great! Burgers are tasty for the right price. Love the atmosphere. Got seated immediately our server Louis explained the menu and he took care of us from beginning to end. Bar drinks were delicious. Will be back! Suggest you stop by and get a real burger not a fast food patty.
google avatar

Eric I.

Yelp
While the baseline cost of this burger is high, the amount of toppings/fixings (~20!) you can add for free is pretty monumental. A hard boiled egg, no problem! Slaw, veggies, grilled pineapple, sure! All for no extra cost. So it's impressive and you end up with a towering stack of food. We got take out and our order was ready when we arrived, so service was good. We just stopped in, but it looks like a fun place to eat in as well. The burger tasted good, was filling, so easy place to like and nice variety of protein bases. I had the grilled chicken and my wife had the veggie burger.
google avatar

Daniel F.

Yelp
Wanted to give The Counter a try since I've never been before. Location is nice and the people are friendly. For the most part it's very clean and there's a bar as well, but empty and I soon found out why. Quality of food is ok and really overpriced. We ordered 3 burgers , 2 fries and tots and wings and the bill was over $100. I'd expect more for burgers, fries and wings. The service was slow for it being really empty. What I ordered: Counter burger was ok. Did like the strings onions in the burger, but nothing special overall. Tots were decent. Honey Bbq wings were good and the ranch was good. Probably the best thing we had. Overall place was just ok. Not a place I'd go out my way for if I'm craving a burger.

Dave

Yelp
Never again. This was my first and definitely my last stop here. The meal was absolutely not worth the money, and the state of the fries was unacceptable; they were so soaked in oil they were practically inedible.
google avatar

Auggie L.

Yelp
Went for Weekday Lunch Special Food - 1/5. This might be one of the saddest burgers I've had at a restaurant. I have no idea if they reduce the size of the meat for their counter combo special, but the meat was laughably thin. The height of the burger came entirely from a stack of lettuce, as even the tomatoes were thicker than the meat. I ordered a medium rare and received a medium well. This wasn't entirely the fault of the kitchen, as with how thin the meat was, they should be praised for not cooking it to well done. Fries were crispy and seasoned well. Service - 1/5. The actual service itself was fine as they were friendly and attentive. What I found offensive is the service charge language that was clearly blocked by sharpie. On the website menu, it states "A 15% service charge for dine-in checks and on take-out has been included to the price of our menu items." which explained the higher prices. However, their in store menu erased that particular part of the menu, the server did not mention anything, and the receipt cleared asked for a tip. The prices on the online menu and the in store menu were exactly the same, so the prices should reflect the service charge inclusion. Yet they tried to hide that fact to take advantage of unsuspecting diners to finesse a tip out of them when service charge was already included. This was a dirty and shameful practice by their team. Value - 1/5. Burger was awful and way overpriced at $16 for the counter combo. This would be overpriced even if the service charged was included in the menu, as advertised online, but they tried to hide that language to charge you even more. I feel disgusted to support such an establishment with unethical practices. Trust the low ratings and hard pass. Parking - Mall Lot (Free)
google avatar

Rudy D.

Yelp
Never been to this location before and has been many years ago that I had been to one of these. Pricing shocked me back then and was still a shock @ $18+... with no fries! Thought it odd that when asking about a burger, our server chuckled and said I don't eat beef, but it's popular! Saw her again only to ask what we wanted to drink beyond water. Burgers were just OK and not memorable. Place looks like it needs a refresh. While I was happy that they have a military discount, a 4% small business fee was added.

james w.

Yelp
Ordered simple sliders and specifically asked for no cheese and medium rare to go. Got the order with cheese and fully cooked. I did saw the order taker entered these to the system but somehow the order did not reflect that at all. Poor experience.
google avatar

Darryl L.

Yelp
Burgers very small and service unhelpful. Taste is average at best. Did not find value. Have not returned.
google avatar

Jacqueline S.

Yelp
Good service, we are not here at a busy time (late afternoon). Pretty restaurant, convenient location in the large Safeway shopping center. We like the "create your own" idea- customize it how you like. Portion are big, sides are separate, not included, you can add what you want for $4. Some more upscale stuff is a higher price. We liked our food, server was friendly and fast. Cost $60 for 2 burgers, sides, and water for our beverages. Loved being able to choose bread, condiments and filling. It's "spendy" but fun. There's a bar area inside.

Jake R.

Yelp
Literally found a bread bag clip in my burger while chewing, the counter used to be super good but this location is not up to snuff compared to cupertino's quality as of a few years ago. Very lazy and stupid to leave objects in food, a feat I have never achieved in my entire life. Hire better people and lower the prices for your not so tasty food. At the very least that item I was not charged for.
google avatar

John S.

Yelp
This place should be Closed not good at all. Don't waste your money here. Used to be great went down hill

Stephen R.

Yelp
THE WAITSTAFF ADDED THEIR OWN TIP AFTER CHARGING MY CARD Food 3/5. Service 0/5. Came on a Saturday afternoon around 4PM and there was no staff on the floor. We sat ourselves, waited 5-10 minutes before anyone came out the back and noticed us and eventually took our order. 15 minutes later they brought me the wrong order, and it took another 10 minutes for the right food to come out. Still hadn't cleaned dirty dishes off the nearby tables from when we walked in. Two burgers and two fries cost $70.52 I was frustrated and did not leave a tip. A few days later my credit card was charged $12 higher than it should have been, i.e. they added their own $12 tip. I called their (650)948-2333 phone number about 10 times before someone picked up to address the issue (there is no voicemail option). Apparently they will escalate to their manager, who is supposed to call me... sometime, I guess. Now I'm just waiting for the amount to be refunded. Maybe your experience will be better than mine, and the service will be fine, and you won't have to deal with credit card fraud. But keep your receipt and check your bank statement, just in case!

Heyward D.

Yelp
Do not go! Service was slow and unfriendly. Burger was plain and expensive. And then they charge you a 4% "Small Business Surcharge"!? WTH is that?
google avatar

Richard B.

Yelp
I drove 25 minutes to get to The Counter, arriving at 8:46 PM -- well before their posted closing time of 9:00 PM -- only to be told they wouldn't serve me because they were "about to close." If you're going to turn customers away 15 minutes early, change your hours or at least be upfront about it. Extremely disappointing and unprofessional. I won't be back.
google avatar

Lisa H.

Yelp
It was just ok for $24 total with no sides or drinks! Yikes. I got the vegan cheese added not realizing that this was an extra $1.50 and it was super weird looking - not melted - never seen anything like this before anywhere else. Scraped it off. Otherwise it was an ok burger just way too much money for what you get IMO. Awkward to eat as most of their burgers are stacked so high even with just minimum amount of toppings. Ended up having to ditch half the bun to try to bit into it without a huge mess lol

Z. P.

Yelp
Honestly quite disappointed, the Old School burger had no taste as well as no condiments, easily the worst burger I've had. Chili cheese fries tasted like something from a crummy school cafeteria and the strawberry shake tasted like artificial flavors like the one you get from Costco food court.
google avatar

Mira D.

Yelp
the counter is known for their burgers, but i ended up ordering the "sonoma bowl" for more vegetables: quinoa, mixed greens, beef patty, tomatoes, onions, pesto, herbed goat cheese. the burger was decent (a little dry) and had herbed goat cheese slathered on the top. there was not much mixed greens or quinoa. the tomatoes and onions were oven roasted which was nice but i thought the dish had an unnecessary amount of onions. overall, it was okay -- i feel like given the price point, there could have been a bigger portion or more flavorful.

Mr. A.

Yelp
Pretty gross in general. We sat at a grimy table, and the men's' bathroom was wet and dirty. The food was bland and overpriced. I ordered a salad without meat, and I was served a salad with meat. I sent the salad back, and received the same exact salad (sans meat) back. I sent it back again and received the same salad back with a little extra lettuce on top to cover the meat juice.
google avatar

Christopher P.

Yelp
I've been here a few times but not recently - in fact it's been a few years. And when I've gone, I've always ordered a burger - that is what they do after all! But the chili caught my eye on the menu so decided to change it up. The portion was large - enough remaining for lunch the next day. I didn't see any pics on Yelp so wasn't sure what to expect. There are many types of chili but I like just about all of them so I wasn't too worried. The consistency is almost like sloppy joes although not as sweet - you could definitely make a sandwich out of it. It comes with two slices of toast for just that purpose. If you are expecting more soup like then I would skip. Apologies for the pic - already had a few bites (have to remember the phone eats first!). I asked them to hold the cheese. It was filling and tasted pretty good - not the best ever but solid 4 stars for that type of chili. We also had the shoestring fries and onion strings which were both amazing!

S S.

Yelp
My family and I have gone to this restaurant for several years because their veggie burger is pretty decent and for the selection of toppings. A year or two ago, they started adding $1.50 for cheese on top of a $16 burger. It seems a bit excessive. Anyway, at least that is disclosed in the menu and it is our choice to not add cheese. I am fine with that. When we went there a couple of days ago, they tacked on a "Small Business Surcharge" of 4% in the bill. The waiter said he doesn't know what it is for, but they started adding it because some other restaurants are doing it. OK, fine, but it wasn't disclosed in the menu; it was just added on to the bill. When I asked the waiter, he said "I think they are printing a new menu with that information". Poor waiter, it isn't his fault, but it is crappy for the ownership to add an arbitrary fee on top of an already expensive menu without disclosing it in the menu. I thought there was a CA law against it. Oh well!

Collin W.

Yelp
I'm extremely disappointed with the service I received tonight at The Counter. I've been here before and usually have a good experience, but this was by far the worst. My friends and I had to wait repeatedly for basic things like water, and our server only checked on us about every 20 minutes. I ordered a Caesar salad and was given a house salad instead--when I asked about it, I was told that's just how they make their salads. One friend waited 35 minutes for a simple ice cream order, and our sides of onion rings and sweet potato fries never came out with our meals. To make matters worse, when it was time to pay, we were told the check couldn't be split more than two ways and that we "should've communicated that earlier," even though no one informed us of that policy beforehand. There was a clear lack of accountability and consistency across the board, and no staff member made an effort to make things right. Unfortunately, I can't recommend this location anymore. The experience left all of us frustrated and disappointed.

Angel V.

Yelp
Burger and fries flavor were good, except the food arrived cold, i'm not sure how if the food arrived shortly after we ordered, disappointed nonetheless
google avatar

Quoc H.

Yelp
Takeout order: 6/10 Sonoma Bowl $14 - Pesto sauce was decent and burger patty was ok. Overall just expensive for a salad
google avatar

Ted M.

Yelp
I love how you can custom make your burger how you feel/or have a taste for...I change it up every time I visit. Their fries are def. on point. The service is always good. Ambiance is pretty consistent every time I visit. Busy but not too busy!
google avatar

Gina M.

Yelp
Service was awesome as always. Sat outside in anticipation of my toddlers being very loud, they did not disappoint and screamed their little hearts out. Luckily the couple next to us were more so amused and happy to interact with them. The Hippie salad is delish! I added chicken...okay, you got me...I also added bacon and I could not finish it, so next time I do order it, I'll ask for the dressing on the side. Also ordered a plethora of menu items. Brussel sprouts - which were large in size and cut in half, tasty and cooked to perfection. Buffalo wings - crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Children's chicken tender meals - 4 strips lightly breaded with juicy pieces of chicken. Shoestring fries and sweet potato fries were great. Sonoma salad and a burger, I wasn't able to taste them but tbh you can't go wrong with any item on the menu, except for the fact that you should have ordered more lol. Service was fast despite being full of customers, and they came to check on us frequently which is awesome. Love it here!
google avatar

Dianne L.

Yelp
Tried their Impossible Burger for the first time, and it was good. Service was a little slow, but I love their fries and onion rings. Overall, The Counter delivers an okay experience across all their locations. I would probably give this The Counter a 3.5 rating if I could.

Martha D.

Yelp
Food: asked Extra well done on meat; even added, with burn't edges. Husband wrote on paper, burn it. Meat looked broiled or cooked ontop of grill with lots fat. Hus aaked for cheese; no cheese. Service: customer svc courteous, friendly, professional. Cleanliness: hus used bathrm: dirty. Soap dispenser with crud, mold, mildew and dust on top. Sink dirty, stained, spots on metal part. No papertowels in dispenser to dry hands ( though airblower did work). Trash bin up against stall door overflowing...F by dept of public health in my opinion. We will never return here ( not like its a cheap place)! Would give 2 but bathrm killed it. Mom always said, you can tell how clean personnel is by the cleanliness of a bathroom!!
google avatar

Priti M.

Yelp
I'll go on record first that I really liked the counter - they generally have a solid burger and good fries. They were my go to for a burger fix when I was in Mountain View. On this visit, that changed. I'm not sure if it was an off day or some other issue but I chose the create your own burger - with pretty simple ingredients - cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion. They made it wrong twice - first with pickles, second with pepperoncini, and the meat was undercooked (I ordered it medium well). When I mentioned this to the server, they fixed the first mistake, brought the second burger, and took the second one away after I left it half eaten. They apologized and offered to make me another burger to take to go. I declined; I'm not sure what I'd have done with a whole other burger, after the first 2 came out incorrectly. I'm bummed. This used to be a solid place to get a bite to eat, but it seems like that's not the case anymore. Hopefully this is a one off experience that I had. I'd consider your other options first and go in with lower expectations if you still decide to try it. For the price we paid, I'm not sure it's worth it.
google avatar

Brian K.

Yelp
Still enjoy this spot for good burgers and service. But man, is it pricey!! And, they now automatically include the tip (I hate that policy). A 1/2 lb burger with Swiss cheese, mushrooms and fries was over $30!! And the amount of mushrooms they give you is absolutely pathetic! They'll give you a big old slice of pineapple for free, but charge like $4 for a few slices of mushroom. Good burger but they nickel and dime you big time!! Next time I get a craving, I will seriously consider a double burger from in and out before this place.

Kenny H.

Yelp
Burgers should not cost this much money. Went with the family for a treat but the burgers took almost an hour and they weren't even cooked right. The nickel and dime model of all the "premium" add-ons was ridiculous. One of my kids ordered medium and had a well done patty, another person ordered a medium well and it was pink throughout. Even then, it was not even tasty or juicy. I ordered a drink and they never refilled it. $5.99 for a soda is wild! My side of fries were also cold when they came out, and unremarkable. I think we would have had a better time at McDonalds. The waiters didn't really care either, probably because they got an automatic 18% tip. I don't mind tipping, but its unacceptable to take 18% tips automatically and give bad service. They allow you to ask to remove the tip, but I bet that hardly ever happens, we certainly didn't remove it -- customers shouldn't be put in that position to talk to their waiter about why they didn't deserve a tip, we just won't come back. I'm left wondering why they get so much business.
google avatar

Diane M.

Yelp
When you ask for your burger WELL DONE... Then they say "Sorry your burger wasn't to your liking." "I simply asked for it well done. Does this look well done to you???" Also, I asked for American Cheese. It had NO cheese.

Kathleen B.

Yelp
The Hamburgers, whether on the regular Menu or Make Your Own, were OUTSTANDING. Grass-fed beef, great regular Fries, Sweet Potato Fries or Onion Rings were NOT over-fied; they were crunchy without being overcooked. The service was knowledgeable, quick, and very friendly. The place is a bar, but a really contemporary one. Dark colors, but huge windows do keep the space light and airy. When traveling away from home, it is always thrilling to find a delightfully COOL place like The Counter. Thank you for a delightful evening. Sorry no photos.
google avatar

Nancy L.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite burger places. I love the fact that you can get as many toppings as you like. I got the burger in a bowl of mixed green with grilled pineapple, grilled onions, eggs, roasted corn, olives, roasted peppers , and jalapeño. That is everything but the kitchen sink! The fries are thin and crispy with parmesan cheese. The sweet potato fries are light and crispy , not oily.

Linda W.

Yelp
We waited an hour for our burgers before asking for a status update. They said our burgers would be out within a few minutes, and they must have made them in a hurry because we got food poisoning.
google avatar

Tinh P.

Yelp
Never going here again. Automatic 18% gratuity and they didn't even fill my drink. I mean I was a waiter once and earned my tip. It says support living wages. I'm sorry but forcing gratuity on someone is unheard of especially when they don't earn it. The owners here trying to act like they caring but obviously just pay your employees more. A fast food chain forcing 18% charger. Rent must be high but the other review show that u conducting business poorly. It's only $4 I'm ok with that but not ok with bad service and they still get that.
google avatar

Melody K.

Yelp
Our dining experience here was average. I came with my sister on a Monday afternoon before our movie started which happened to be their happy hour time. Upon entering, we noticed that the restaurant was very clean and there was only one other customer dining in. We were each given menus and a pencil, but not the happy hour menu by the waiter, who left straight after dropping off the menus. We were confused at first with what the pencil was for so we called him back to ask if we were supposed to circle our orders on the paper menu and also asked for the happy hour menu. He said to not write on the menu and later gave us the happy hour menu. We saw on the menu that they would automatically add 20% service charge. If the service was good, we wouldn't be bothered by the automatic service charge, but because of the bad service we received from our waiter, it didn't feel good to know that the fee would be automatically added. When asked for recommendations, our waiter also wasn't of much help. Maybe it was his off day, but it wasn't busy when he was serving us and it felt like he just didn't want to be there. The waiters had a change of shift prior to our food arriving. We liked our second waiter. He was friendly and checked in with us even after more customers came in. Food was enjoyable, but I'm not sure if I would go out of my way to recommend this location, because although the food was good, there was nothing memorable, plus the fact that there's an automatic additional 20% service fee with mediocre service. Overall experience: (3/5) Mini Cheeseburgers: (4/5) These were nice and juicy. Paired with fries, made a perfect combo. Old School Cheeseburger with Side Salad: (5/5) The meat was juicy, bread was soft and buttery, and lettuce and onions balanced the flavors perfectly. The serving of the salad on the side was big and refreshing. Sweet Sriracha Wings: (5/5) Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. The sweet sriracha sauce was mouthwatering. Loaded Tots: (4/5) Loved how they made the crispy parts just right. The cheese and bacon gave the dish it's delicious flavor.
google avatar

Emily W.

Yelp
Always love The Counter and the ability to customize your own burgers. It's been consistent for all the locations I've been to. The burgers are always so juicy and filling. This time I tried the Parmesan fries during happy hour and they were pretty delicious. Overall would come again + they allow dogs in the outdoor seating area!

Mike C.

Yelp
I think I'm done with the Counter. Used to be our go to place as a family for burgers. Based on how empty it was, I guess many have come to the same conclusion. 1) The waiter did not accept my buy 1 get one free coupon - first time the Counter has not accepted this coupon and the main reason I went there tonight. 2) They were out of the only good beer on the menu - Original Pattern IPA. 3) Two kids in one of the booths yelling at the top of their lungs the ENTIRE time, but no manager ever had a word with them. 4) Just remembered there is an included 18% tip and then I tipped another $7 on top of that, did not remember until I got home. So I tipped about 30% for my worst experience at the Counter ever. Sad to say that I won't be going back.

Helen R.

Yelp
I've been coming here for eight years and the burgers are excellent. But after my last three visits, I gotta say I won't be coming back. The primary reason is lack of cleanliness. Maybe there is surface cleaning, but basically the bathroom is filthy. Dirt swept into corners where it has accumulated. Toilet paper dispensers empty, and the floor disgusting and sticky. Also, I happened to be seated in a way I could see into the kitchen - it looked just as dirty as the women's bathroom. Ironically, we are sitting eating and the guy starts sweeping around our table! Not good restaurant etiquette at all. A more minor issue is head banging acid rock. Like why??? I'm bummed as it's been a place for a reliable burger, but it's too gross now.
google avatar

Maggie W.

Yelp
I came here with my friend since he was craving American food! He ordered the Counter burger, which he liked a lot. I ended up getting the minis without cheddar, which were delicious. The quality of the beef and other ingredients at this spot are great. We had a really good experience here, the waiters were helpful and made suggestions. I would definitely come back.

Eiball I.

Yelp
Actually I took my grandson to The Counter a few months ago. The food was good, menu a bit confusing. There were so many burgers, each one we wanted to change a little. Finally we ordered a plain burger with the cheese, veggies and toppings we wanted. They had a special of tri tips which was so delicious. My grandson nearly devoured my entire dinner! I hope it is still on the menu. Being from the east coast, I thought the prices were high. Perhaps they were in line with other burger spots. We will go again for the tri tips!
google avatar

John S.

Yelp
They have happy hour 3-6 but Mondays and Thursdays it's 3 to close 11pm Pleasant service at the bar. Here for a football game 5-7 so plenty of time to eat and
google avatar

Amanda V.

Yelp
I went here for a curbside pickup recently because I have always been a fan of personalizing your dish. Pros: vegetarian and vegan options (Impossible burger!), lots of healthy toppings to choose from, excellent sweet potato fries, no napkins were given (yes this is a pro since I was clearly eating this at home and it's eco-friendly to not just distribute napkins) Cons: I arrived on time but the food was cold, the fry container was not even shut, and the Impossible burger is quite a bit more expensive than the actual meat burgers (maybe this says more about animal agriculture products than their plant-based counterparts ?) Bottom line: I will definitely be back, but probably not until I can at least dine outdoors on the restaurant's terrace
google avatar

Brian T.

Yelp
The reviews don't lie. This place is the worst idea you've had in a long time, think through all those mistakes you made prior to making this one. $45 for two burgers and 1 fries. They trick you by adding a ton of random fees, the burgers are listed for $13 each. They forgot my drink but it wasn't a big deal. Just go to In and Out, this place has nothing you want but loose women, regret, and despair.

Michael K.

Yelp
I am not one to bash businesses, but the experience at this Counter was one of the roughest experiences I've ever had as a customer. I ate in a group, no one said their food was delicious, and half of the group eithet couldn't continue eating their meal or said it was below average. Two had their meats cooked improperly. Had nothing else been problematic, this would have been a 2-3 star review. At least one of the servers was friendly! What else went wrong: A server/ bartender rubbed her hands on her forehead and nose multiple times then directly touched drinking glasses before washing her hands. Even worse she put the drinking glasses on the ground before placing them in the chiller. Add in another server touching their forehead directly before grabbing a customer's plate and we were all grossed out by this time. The 15% service charge was well advertised so I wasn't going to complain about that until I was also asked to tip a full gratuity on top of the 15% charge. Our server said the built in 15% wasn't gratuity. We each agreed we will never go back to this Counter location again. It's too bad because a few of us were very hungry.

Ronnie F.

Yelp
For a totally decadent experience, I can highly recommend the Mini Burgers and Loaded Tater Tots from the Happy Hour menu! That includes only two Mini Burgers; outside of Happy Hour, you can order the Mini Burgers, but they come four to an order. This works great for me to split with a friend, or I'll bring half of them home. For Super Extra Decadence, add their delicious chocolate shake! This isn't health food, but it's a fabulous treat. And I am so pleased that they continue to make their patio an inviting place to eat. The south-facing patio is enclosed, so it's pleasant except on the coldest winter days. Then I place my order and wait inside and then go outside to eat.
google avatar

A. D.

Yelp
I am self-proclaimed judging authority on veggie burger :) I really enjoy Counter burger, been going to their first outlet since 2007~ since they first opened in Palo Alto. All thru these years, their quality and taste is consistent and deserves 5-stars for that. I am giving the Mt View place 4-stars as the service can be hit or a miss.
google avatar

Bonnie S.

Yelp
The food is good, the service is ok, a bit on the slow side. They now charge extra for condiments. What a joke,I now have to bring my own mayonnaise and mustard because they charge extra, even though it says it's a free item on the menu. Apparently, the prices went up but it's not printed anywhere.

Alan S.

Yelp
Confusing menu. Rather ordinary burger Terrible service Automatic service charge added. Probably because no one would leave a tip. We waited over 20 minutes for a brownie with a scoop of ice cream. Better service and better prices at McDonald's.
google avatar

Raghunath K.

Yelp
Our team was super excited with the build your own burger bar we setup by ordering catering from counter burgers. They offered chicken, beef, turkey and also the vegan impossible patties to choose according to our convenience. The orders go by the number of patties you order. They will provide all the items like buns, onions, tomatoes, pickles, cheese, sauces and all other condiments to build your burger based on the number of patties ordered. For the sides, we ordered fries and tots along with trays of simple salad. I definitely recommend this for your office party.