The Counter
If you're looking for a casual yet trendy spot in Phoenix, The Counter should definitely be on your radar. Located at 50 N Central Ave, this restaurant offers a fun and relaxed vibe, perfect for a night out with friends, family, or even a group gathering. The atmosphere is lively but not overwhelming, with a moderate noise level that keeps the energy up without feeling too chaotic. Whether you're stopping by during happy hour or bringing the kids along, you'll find The Counter to be a great choice for a meal that everyone can enjoy.
The highlight here is, of course, the custom-built burgers. At The Counter, you get to be the architect of your meal. You choose from a variety of fresh ingredients and build the perfect burger to satisfy your cravings. With a menu offering creative combinations and classic options, you’ll never get bored of the delicious choices available.
What makes The Counter even more appealing is the family-friendly and group-friendly atmosphere. It’s an ideal spot if you're out with your kids or hanging out with a group of friends. Plus, there are some great happy hour specials to make the evening even better, so be sure to take advantage of those.
If you’re in the Phoenix area and craving a burger that's tailored to your exact tastes, The Counter delivers. With its relaxed, yet vibrant atmosphere, it’s the kind of place where you can unwind and enjoy a great meal, all while keeping the vibe casual.
Reviews
I've been passing by this spot a lot lately and keep saying... I'm going to check this place out! Well, I finally did! After my weekly hike, I was hungry, dusty and in no mood to cook dinner. I was craving a beer and a burger- perfect after hike meal!!! Came in, preferred a blue moon and the Chipotle turkey burger. The burger has cranberries on it- weird, but oddly very tasty. It's an all natural ground turkey * jalapeño jack * lettuce blend * dried cranberries * scallions * chipotle aioli * brioche bun concoction that truly works! I'm a believer! We also ordered the half onion strings and half sweet potato fries. Delish! Our server Moon was super sweet and helpful. She gave great suggestions. Additionally, with all of this extreme hand washing going on, my hands were dry as concrete..I complained that I didn't have lotion- and she gave me some!!! Love her!! She saved my life!!
We stopped here to eat before a concert downtown and had a pretty decent experience. No wait for a table, which was great. We each built our own burger. Both burgers were decent. My french fries were delicious. I ate every single one of them. I would definitely try this place again the next time I'm downtown.
My coworkers and I decided to go to the Counter for lunch, so we walked over to the restaurant. I would imagine that there would be street parking available or even visitor parking at the Renaissance building. We came just before noon, and was seated almost immediately. Server was quick to take our drink orders and friendly. Within a few minutes, everyone ordered their food, in which we clarified to have the bill split per person (there was 6 of us). I ordered the custom 1/3 lb chicken breast burger with Multigrain bread, Jalapeño Jack cheese, Chipotle Aioli, lettuce/tomatoes, and side of Coleslaw. Within 15 minutes, everyone's food came out at the same time and the burgers looked and smelled great! For those of you who enjoys a good quality burger and may be picky with the sort of specific toppings to include in your meal, I would definitely recommend for you to try this place out. Keep in mind that lunch time may get quite busy.
AMAZING GLUTEN-FREE BURGERS! We were Downtown and needed to find a new and yummy place for lunch. What makes The Counter stand out is their QUALITY meats and LARGE topping selection. They have a special menu for burgers that come with a GLUTEN-FREE BUN or on FRESH GREENS. You can also BUILD YOUR OWN gluten-free burger! I, of course, had to build my own burger! What's really unique about this restaurant is that you're able to PICK THE SIZE (there are 3 options: lb, 1/2 lb, or 1 lb). I love having those choices because if you can't eat a full pound, you can opt for a smaller size to fit your appetite! There are also PLENTY of topping choices. I went with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado! My date got provolone, lettuce, jalapeños, grilled pineapple, and scallions! You also have several side choices: I got veggie skewers and my date got shoestring fries! Our waitress was so NICE and PATIENT with us considering we took a while to write in our order. We started off with a banana shake to split. The ice cream was very thick and the banana taste was extremely distinct. When the food did come out, the meat was fresh and juicy! You can also select how rare or well-done you want the meat to be cooked! Ours was grilled PERFECTLY to our preferences. The vegetables skewers were richly season which made them pop! Overall, we had such a GREAT experience at The Counter. You have so many options and customizations, it makes the place INNOVATIVE. I just love the VARIETY and VERSATILITY of the menu! Also, the gluten-free buns were DELICIOUS! I'm definitely going to be back to try different burger styles and maybe something in their summer special menu.
The hospitality definitely shines throughout their entire staff. They constantly checked up on our table to make sure we had what we needed. Nick helped us out at the register and knew the menu like the back of his hand. If you are a picky eater and want to customize your burger this is the place for you. You can chose from which cheese, which bun, how big you want your patty to what type of meat. They even have impossible patties here for those that are vegetarian. They do offer gluten free buns as well. I highly recommend their appetizers. All the pickle lovers need to try their Fried Dill Pickles. The batter they use has just the right amount of crisp and crunch, not heavy at all. The pickle itself has the right amount of tart and salt. Hot Wings has a nice kick from the sriracha and a sweet glaze to coat each wing entirely. Also comes with more sauce on the side to dip. Loaded Tots were definitely loaded, they didn't skimp on any of the topping. The tots were extra crispy and not drenched in grease. The Fifty-Fifty is perfect for those that couldn't choose between getting sweet potato fries or onion strings.