West Side Burgers - The Counter vs, The Stand vs The Colony? Where should we eat?

[Jeryy]

My wife and son are hungry for burgers - they're tired of mine. Which of these three places, and these three only, is best in your opinion? Thanks

[Burger Boy]

Why bother with all these Johnny come latelies. Go straight to 26 Beach, they been doing great burgers on homemade buns for 25+ years. It is a done deal and they come with salad or fries included. www.26beach.com

[Burger Boy]

Sorry about the double post, I tried to remove it and I don't know, sorry.

[misterjon]

I'm a frequent Apple Panner, but I very much enjoy Marty's, which is maybe three blocks east on Pico, right next to the fire station. Great onion rings, too.

[bu dat]

i'd say skip the counter - it is below average. the meat is not seasoned and fairly dull (i guess that's why they want to cover it up with all the toppings. plus, the buns don't really hold up to the size of the patties. the hamburger is juicy which just disintegrates the bun into a soggy mess which, to me, is unappetizing.

haven't had a hamburger at the stand and never been to the colony.

[Jeryy]

Thanks Houndees - We're headed off to the Colony Cafe. I'll report back. BTW I can't stand the Apple Pan - never understood why their burgers were so praised. I do LOVE their tuna sandwiches and fries.

[Servorg]

When I go to Colony Cafe it's for their chili cheese dogs. They also have good, fresh made potato chips to go with the dogs.

[westsidegal]

completely concur with Jeryy about the apple pan burgers.

[wutzizname]

Between these three, I'd go to the Stand. Colony would be the runner up. Not a fan of the Counter. And though I could happily list off 5 or 10 better westside options, I have this odd ability to follow directions/requests, so unlike others, I'll keep those recommendations to myself.

[roxhills]

Been to all 3 (but haven't had a burger at The Stand). Give Colony Cafe a try. I have 1 kid (out of 3) who ONLY eats burgers (and crackers with peanut butter) so we've eaten at nearly every kid friendly burger place in LA. She wasn't crazy about the Counter. She really enjoys Colony Cafe. Also, think about Hole in the Wall -- not sure if it is open on Sundays but the burgers are great. It is off SM, 1 block west of Sepulveda. Also, Umami burger is good if your son is a little older-- maybe 10+.

[maudies5]

Barney's burger on San Vicente.

[caldad02]

The answer to your "Burger Dilema" is simple:

Go to THE APPLE PAN !!!

[wienermobile]

I second the apple pan and save some room for pie.

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Apple Pan
10801 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

[bulavinaka]

"...save some room for pie."

Yes, the banana cream pie. :)

[taiwanesesmalleats]

Skip the burgers and just get the banana cream pie.

[bulavinaka]

Been to The Counter. While great in concept, the service can be spotty, the orders can come wrong/incomplete/mixed up, and the beef is somewhat lackluster. It's still a pretty decent burger experience in a fun way, especially if you haven't been before, but keep your order as simple as possible. The number of options for toppings is crazy. Attempting to pile multiple toppings on your burger will result in a futile mess. The beer and wine choices are pretty good, and the shakes are first rate. You can order burgers by size of patty, and they go from big to huge, to no-way. Haven't been to neither The Stand nor The Colony - sorry...

[westsidegal]

imho, the quality of the cheese and toppings offered at the counter is top flight.

also, to my palate, the burgers at the counter are not at all lackluster.
ymmv

[bulavinaka]

I wrote, "...and the beef is somewhat lackluster."

You replied, "...the burgers at the counter are not at all lackluster."

I addressed one component of the burger - the main one for meat eaters - the beef.

I am guessing you are addressing the burgers you've had in its totality. Assuming you're still a pescatarian (I think you are at least), I'm assuming you're referring to a non-beef burger, no?

[Servorg]

Are you any chance channeling Earl Butz (former Agriculture Secretary for Presidents Nixon and Ford) when he said At the 1974 World Food Conference in Rome of Pope Paul VI's opposition to "population control" (in his best mock Italian accent) - "He no playa the game, he no maka the rules." ;-D>

[Burger Boy]

Why bother with all these Johnny come latelies. Go straight to 26 Beach, they been doing great burgers on homemade buns for 25+ years. It is a done deal and they come with salad or fries included. www.26beach.com

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26 Beach
3100 Washington Blvd., Venice, CA 90292

[westsidegal]

if you end up at 26 beach, i strongly recommend getting the really good fries with your burger instead of the meh salad.

[Burger Boy]

LOL, I love you! Try the Cesar salad, they make the dressing there. They also mkae their 1000 island and all their dressings.

[westsidegal]

i tried the caesar salad and found it to be meh.
strange because i adore almost all their entree salads (ESPECIALLY their tuscan salad--had it last friday night for the millionth time)
somehow the side salads that come with the burgers, imho, just don't cut it.

[Burger Boy]

The marriage proposal is off the table. Where do you like to go for a good caeser? I actually like theirs, oh well.