The Counter (Custom built burgers), now open at Hillsdale Shopping Center, San Mateo

[hhc]

The Counter San Mateo is now open in Hillsdale Shopping Center. The San Mateo location also boasts an upstairs mezzanine which is available for private dining. Other locations: Santana Row, SJ & Palo Alto. Anyone try the other locations?

The Counter
41 West Hillsdale Blvd
San Mateo CA 94403
Ph: 650 212 3200
650 212 3201 FAX

OPEN DAILY
Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm
Sunday 11:30am-9pm

Website:
http://www.thecounterburger.com/

-----
Santana Row
355 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95128

Hillsdale Shopping Center
3101 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94403

[hhc]

From The Counter FB: National Chili Day is Thursday, February 24th! Celebrate at all U.S. locations with a free chili topping on your burger

[missusp]

I've been to the Palo Alto location and the Marina Del Rey location. Are they the best burgers ever? Nope. But I don't turn it down if someone wants to go and needs a lunch date!

Their veggie burger is worth a try - nice, thick patty (definitely not a flat little gardenburger). Also, their pickle chips are pretty addictive.

[bbulkow]

My experience with the PA location is the service is so slow I can't count on getting out in a reasonable time for a lunch date. I've had most lunches take more than an hour.

Are the other locations better, or is it systemic?

[budnball]

I think it is systemic as I have had the same problem at Santana Row. Besides, what sounded like a great concept, fails in delivery. The problem is the meat. Just not great tasting, not bad but not very good either. And the "build your own drink" concept, follows suit.

-----
Santana Row
355 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95128

[alyssakies]

I've been to the Santana Row location quite a few times. I like the burgers (mostly for the diversity of the selection, the quality of the burger itself is so-so) and the sweet potato fries with horseradish mayo is definitely solid. I haven't been there in awhile, but whenever I did go there, the hostesses were always rude. Hopefully they've gotten some new ones.

-----
Santana Row
355 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95128

[tstrum]

Yes. I have tried Corte Madera location. And I don't get it. You order custom made burger and they are mediocre and overpriced.

-----
Madera
2825 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025

[Foodnut8]

A nice addition to the area, right next door to Trader Joe's.

The 1/3lb Beef burger ($7.95, weight after cooking!) was huge. As big as only a few other places. They do ask how you want the meat done and default to a slightly pink in the middle, medium rare. Ours came with very little redness but was still juicy. The Tilamook cheddar cheese tasted good. The bun was solid, although the onion bun we had one another burger was very good. The grilled onions, organic mixed greens, dill pickle chips, and tomatoes were fine. The sweet BBQ sauce was on the side and was really, really sweet as was the honey mustard. It’s a good thing they keep it on the side.

On the Peninsula, this is easily better than places like Jeffrey’s, Rave Burger, and Jack’s. Godfather’ s still has more style.

Fifty-Fifty ($4.95) French Fries and Sweet potato fries was also pretty solid. The fries were very thin and a bit salty, while the sweet potato fries were excellent. Horseradish mayo is served alongside the fries.

-----
Rave Burger
144 E 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401