Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

Name: The Counter
Address: 11922 Democracy Dr, Reston, VA, 20190
Telephone: (703) 796-1008
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.56

The Counter

11922 Democracy Dr, Reston, VA, 20190

(703) 796-1008
Store is closed

The Counter Menu

Starters

Fried Dill Pickle Chips

Crispy Onion Strings

French Fries

Chili Cheese Fries

Parmesan French Fries

Sweet Potato Fries

The fifty-fifty

Chili

Turkey Chili

Side Salad

Grilled Vegetables
Signature Burgers

The Purist

Old School

Counter Burger

Taco Turkey

Unique Veggie

Grilled Chicken

Mini Cheeseburgers
Sandwiches

Stacked B.l.t.

Grilled Cheese Trifecta

Grilled Ham & Swiss
Signature Burgers In A Bowl

Garden Bowl

The Counter Cobb

Southwestern

Mediterranean

Asian Veggie

Backyard Barbeque
Build Your Own Burger - Choose A Cheese

Danish Blue Cheese

Greek Feta

Gruyere

Herb Goat Cheese Spread

Horseradish Cheddar

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Counter

Starters

Fried Dill Pickle Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Onion Strings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chili Cheese Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Parmesan French Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Potato Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The fifty-fifty [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chili [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey Chili [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Vegetables [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Signature Burgers

The Purist [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Old School [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Counter Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Taco Turkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Unique Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mini Cheeseburgers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Stacked B.l.t. [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Cheese Trifecta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Ham & Swiss [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Signature Burgers In A Bowl

Garden Bowl [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Counter Cobb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Southwestern [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mediterranean [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asian Veggie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Backyard Barbeque [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Build Your Own Burger - Choose A Cheese

Danish Blue Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greek Feta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gruyere [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Herb Goat Cheese Spread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Horseradish Cheddar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Reston for healthy meals suggestion.

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 1825 Fountain Dr )

Visit below restaurant in Reston for healthy meals suggestion.

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 1825 Fountain Dr )

Write An Anonymous Review

Shawna H.

hehere a couple times. Great burgers, good sides and salads. I like their beer and adult shake selections as well. Christian the bartender its awesome! Not only helpful and friendly, but entertaining as well. If you're shopping in the area it's a great place to hang out and grab a bite.
(5)
Kate H.

Third visit here (my co-worker's choice, not mine) and another iffy meal. My burger was overcooked, and my co-worker's was cooked medium, although she'd requested more. When she sent it back to be cooked a little more, they made her a new dish... and out comes a repeat of my dish, not hers. Just as I'd suspected, our waiter (who we couldn't understand AT ALL) wrote "medium-well" on my ticket, not hers. So of course when they remade that dish, they made mine. Back to the kitchen -- again -- and her correct dish came out a few minutes later. Mine being overcooked was typical, so I didn't worry about sending it back. I had almost all my toppings this time, but he missed the avocado that I requested. We ordered one large portion of sweet potato fries, and one large onion straws. They brought us the 50/50, which isn't what we ordered. To make up for it, they brought us another. Service at lunch was a little slow -- took 20 minutes for our order, which is a big chunk of time. After I'd paid the check and was back at the office, I pulled out the receipt and noticed that they hadn't charged us for one of our fries and for two of our drinks. And they charged $.50 for tomato, which we never did figure out. With my co-worker's dish on the house (thanks to the manager who finally brought her the corrected meal), our check was about $20 less than it should have been. This place really needs to pull it together.
(2)
Jenn S.

The Counter is great for gourmet burgers. There are SO many options to make the burger your own - the sky is the limit. We LOVE their 50/50 fries, which are half shoe string fries, and half sweet potato fries. DELISH! I don't know what the sauce is that they serve to dip them in, but it's so tasty! Getting a burger and splitting the fries is a LOT of food, usually too much for me to finish. The place is always packed. It is a little on the pricey side as far as burgers go, but they are gourmet/build-your-own.
(4)
Jon R.

Let's get down to business... Food - 4.5 These are definitely tasty burgers. Is it the best burger I've ever had? I don't think so, but it's damn close. You have some great choices with toppings and condiments, and I really love the fact that they're not swimming in grease like some other burger places (i.e. Five Guys). The meat is always very juicy and tender, and it's cooked just right. For the price, it's just about what you might expect from a decent "build your own burger" place. Also, you MUST try the sweet fries. They're fantastic! Service - 5 The service here is always really great. The manager (might be an owner) is always out on the floor greeting customer, seating customers, and just being an all around personable guy. The first time we ever went there he gave us some free sweet fries just so we could try them out. The servers are young, friendly, and...well...certainly above average in looks (depending on your taste I suppose). When it's all said and done, the wait staff really adds a lot to the visit. Atmosphere - 4.5 I really love the classic yet contemporary style of the joint. Being a musician, I love all the music based art work lining the walls (and the random one with jets...love it). The place is all hard surfaces, but it doesn't get too loud. I'd say it's a great environment to go out with your coworkers or your buddies. I wouldn't really recommend it for a date. I will definitely be going back here over the next few months seeing as how it's near the office. If you're in RTC want a burger, go to the Counter.
(5)
Dottsy Z.

The Counter is a cute little restaurant to grab a burger that a few steps above fast food or a chain's burger. I had the pleasure of visiting The Counter on a "brunch" visit. We were given an order sheet to check off of what type of burger we wanted, with what cheese, and what toppings and what kind of fries we wanted. Since I was in a "breakfasty" mood, I ordered an egg on top of my burger and to be served with an English muffin. My food arrived and it was good! I was disappointed that my over-easy egg was over cooked ...A LOT, but I continued with my meal. I noticed that the patty was lightly seasoned and they were generous with all the toppings. My visit to The Counter was A-Ok with a solid burger and solid service.
(3)
B H.

Where else can you go to eat burgers and feel like you're being healthy? The choice of meats and toppings seems endless (every year at the various Reston festivals, they have a different one to sample and I have never been disappointed) and you make your own burgers. The turkey burgers are especially good and have a nice smokiness to them. The grilled vegetables are a great side as are the fries (the sweet potato ones are my favorite).
(4)
Scott S.

This is my second time to a Counter location (other was CA). Massive turkey burger and sweet potato fries pretty much ruled my afternoon yesterday. The toppings were spot-on and the spicy mayo hit the spot. Prices were reasonable and the service was friendly.
(4)
Daniel H.

I got a coupon in the mail for the mail for a buy one-get one burger bowl so I gave it a shot. My Mom and I went there for a late lunch on a Saturday. There wasn't a wait and we were seated with clipboards to mark up our order Foster's Grille style. Our waiter was attentive and quick to answer any questions we had marking up our order. The number of toppings and meats one could put on their burger were impressive. We only had a few minutes to remark on the wall art when two burger salads the size of the average Cheesecake Factory entree arrived at the table. The burgers were cooked perfectly, the greens were fresh and the toppings did not taste like they were out all day. All in all, it's a great place to grab a bite. Being in Reston, they have a full bar; they even have alcoholic milkshakes! The beer list is huge too, anything from PBR to Chimay. Wine and burgers never quite got along the way beer does so the wine selection is less impressive. The restaurant itself seems to be confused in its decor. It's industrial, green, and retro; on occasion this has worked, but not quite over here. The chairs are metal, solid metal. They do a great job keeping your butt cold in summer, but they are a bit solid.
(4)
John K.

I have been eating here since it opened a couple years back. There is a good selection of burgers and toppings on the menu, including chicken and a surprisingly tasty veggie patty. I usually go with the chicken, jalapenos, hot wing sauce, lettuce, and cucumbers. The sweet potato fries are excellent - the best I have ever had. Service is hit or miss - some servers are definitely better than others, but I have never had any major problems. A good little drink selection. Give the alcohol shakes a try. The Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap is cold and fresh. This is a great place to eat during the warm months when the outdoor seating is open.
(4)
Sunny C.

I don't normally like burgers, but I had the best burger of my life here. Food: I decided to concoct my own burger. Although the toppings I chose didn't normally go together in a meal, it worked out rather perfectly, and I look forward to eating here again. I had the burger with a veggie patty topped with bacon (yes, I did), baby spinach, dried cranberries, roasted corn and bean salsa, and sharp chedd\ar on a multigrain bun with whipped avocado on the side. The taste and texture were perfect and paired together very nicely. The Parmesan french fries as an appetizer was too cheesy/salty, but the texture was perfect. The fries are very thin, allowing for increased surface area, resulting in a more crispy french fry. Mind you, the burger can be pretty big when it comes out, so it can get a bit messy. Recommend cutting it in half and proceeding to eat from there. Atmosphere: Nicely decorated and spacious seating. Service: Prompt and attentive. Bottom line: I will return here when given the opportunity.
(5)
Jennifer S.

I've heard so much about these burgers and was so happy to be able to check it out today at lunch! I love the concept of build your own gourmet burger - turkey burger with honey mustard, brie and grilled onions = delicious! The french fries were amazingly addictive too. This place is definitely worth a stop!
(4)
Robert S.

In my ever continuing quest to find and consume the best burger around The Counter is near the top. A burger is all about the Beef and theirs is high quality and being able to get it cooked any temp (Med Rare for me) is a necessity. I always keep it simple when building mine, cheddar cheese, pickles and bacon on a plain bun. The service here is always good as well, they are friendly and knowledgeable. In conclusion this is always a place I go when I am in the area.
(5)
Iain B.

I just got some take-out today for lunch. When I got back to the office I found that they did a nice job of packaging the burger for transport, it was in a large cardboard clamshell ala McD's and the top of the bun was off to the side so it wouldn't get soggy in transit. They also put the fries into a chili/soup-type container which kept them nice and warm. The burger was good but the fries were super, super salty- so salty that I ended up throwing most of them out. They get 4 stars for good packaging, a good burger and I would have eaten all the fries if I wasn't watching my blood pressure, lol.
(4)
Robert L.

Good ingredients, cool music on rotation, decent but not great beer selection I sat at the bar and ordered a burger with sweet potato fries. The fries were so-so; clearly this place is all about the burgers. The ordering process is straightforward; you just fill out a paper form with all the options. I got a beef burger with fried onion straws, swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and barbecue sauce. The sauce is a little too sweet and lacking in depth, but good. The beef was a perfect medium/medium rare. The swiss was tart, and I could actually taste it in every bite. Similarly, the bacon was flavorful and substantial enough to be tasted in each bite, a rare occurrence I find. I got the multigrain bun, which was actually a bit dry. Overall the burgers are great and everything else is just good. If you're in the mood for a burger, it's a solid choice.
(4)
Samantha W.

With all of the pop-up burger shops nowadays, you never know which ones you can trust. Well, I'm vouching for The Counter when I say you can trust their stuff! I'm not super adventurous when it comes to my burgers, so you'll have to impress me with the basics. I didn't want to get over-zealous w/ my topping choices, so I ordered a turkey burger w/ provolone, sprouts, red onions and lettuce. Perfection. For those who are a little more adventurous than me, The Counter has a lot of different toppings options at your disposal. All three of us got something different and all three of us were in nom-ville. A big hit here is the sweet potato fries (I, myself, am not a fan of sweet potato) so I ordered a side of regular fries for myself. They were shoestring and seasoned w/ just a tad of cajun spice. Our meals came out to about $11 each for burgers and fries. Come here if you want good quality burgers at modest prices.
(4)
H N.

Great service. Good food. Love their sweet potato fries.
(4)
Vanessa P.

This place is worth the trip if you're not local to Reston. The burgers are really big and very filling, with the smallest available at 1/3rd lb. They're all cooked (to a perfect) Medium, though can be cooked to your liking. You're given a clipboard with a pencil upon on entry, seated and left to your own devices to follow the instructions on the paper. You get a meat selection, a cheese selection (they have I think 10-12 different kinds), 4 toppings, sauce and a type of bread. I was disappointed to see they have a regular toppings and a premium toppings section; all premium toppings (like mushrooms, bacon, etc) are $1 extra. I ordered the 1/3rd lb with Tillamook Cheddar, bacon and horseradish mayo and needless to say it was the best burger I've had in a long time. The Beau had a 1/3rd lb with jalapeno jack, horseradish mayo, black bean salsa, red peppers and lettuce. I took a bite of his and while it was good, the extra toppings didn't add too much flavour (plus I'm not a salsa / black bean fan... almost tasted like a burrito to me). In addition to the burgers we have a Fifty Fifty with the regular fries and sweet potato fries... if you've never had sweet potato fries TRY THEM. They're simply amazing -- very faint hint of sweet potato flavour. The 50/50 came with the horseradish mayo (which I was disappointed to find out once the h-mayo I ordered with my burger came out... I could have -- and should have -- gotten regular mayo instead and just used the left over sauce from the fries). This place is a little pricey but definitely worth it. For two burgers, a boatload of fries and two large sodas the bill came to $28. A couple tiny complaints (that didn't ruin my experience and won't prevent me from returning, but were big enough to note) is that by the end of the meal my plate was COVERED in either water, grease, excess blood or whatever else could have possibly leaked from the burger in the time I was eating it. Some of the bun was also soaked in this liquid mess... it was a little off putting. Second, stay away from the corner -- we were sat near the windows in the corner (nice view) but the vent blows DIRECTLY onto that table. If you're sensitive to drafts like I am, get away from the windows. I have a sore throat now from it (should have asked to move but oh well). All in all, it's definitely worth the price and the trip!!! We'll be back-- and soon!!!
(4)
Matt O.

Great spot for custom burgers or some drinks at the bar. For those that want to avoid the douchery at Jackson's, this place is perfect for sitting at the bar and enjoying any drink you can think of without bumping shoulders with other people. The bartenders are awesome(especially Maria). They also have one of the best playlists every time I go there. It's the little things. : )
(5)
Steve O.

Pretty tasty burger. But overpriced like a mofo. I guess you pay for the location??? The decor is as sterile as their sign on the building. Not sure what has more pizazz, their logo or Initech's logo from Office Space. Big advantage over other burger places is that they offer a lot of toppings (uhm fried egg anyone? yes!). Fries and onion strips are good but wish they weren't so damn thin. Chili is a huge portion (enough for two people) but is a bit watery for my taste. Overall, good food, good service but not sure if either justifies the price. The lunch for two cost just over $20 each with tax and tip.
(3)
Chris P.

Solid burger choices, thank you for offering grass fed. It's great to see the world harking back to yesteryears of real beef. Every little step through the pasture matters. I'll 3rd all the suggestions on the parmesan fries. Instant winner!
(4)
Kate R.

I love this burger place. It's so much fun building your own burger and is ab awesome place for me since I have a food sensitivity to sulfites. I just pick toppings I can have and have always had a delicious meal that doesn't feel like it's lacking or sorely tweaked to make it "safe." When I'm in reston I like to come here. The first time I visited, I asked about bun ingredients they brought a manager out to discuss my food sensitivity and check ingredients for me. So excellent customer service. Food is consistently good, too.
(5)
Austin K.

I've had a lot of good experiences here, but also some negative ones that really make me question if I'd come back. My last experience was with a large group and the service was abyssmal. Our waiter was missing for most of our visit and wasn't around to provide drink refills and the food took an inexcusable time to arrive. Our entire experience lasted about 3 hours for what should have been a quick burger lunch. All of this was really just a prelude for the biggest disappointment which was finding a piece of metal in a turkey burger (think one of the metal ties on the end of a tube of meat at the grocery store). While we had a manager apologize and comp the meal, it felt very half-hearted as he tried to shift the blame on the meat supplier. He offered to let us file a report, but we declined since no one was injured. The whole experience was just bad. On the plus side, the food without foreign metal objects was pretty good, but that's far too little ground to make up for the bad service alone.
(2)
Kimberly K.

Good burgers. Indoor and outdoor seating is averrable. The restaurant is clean and organized. Our server was very friendly but a bit slow and disorganized. I like the concept of being able to create your own burger but I can see how orders can get messed up as well. There are a bunch of toppings, sauces, meat patty options. The bun and toppings are all fresh and well made. The bun held everything together nicely and was still fluffy within. The beef patty itself was juicy but not all that flavorful. Their milkshakes are great. They were smooth, creamy, and not overly sweet. Their Fried Pickles and Chili Cheese Fries both got a two thumbs up from the 5 of us. I'm glad we tried this place out, but I definitely wouldn't say this is my favorite burger joint in VA.
(3)
Eric B.

Well, I'm torn here. I usually waste no time trashing a place with pricy, mediocre food and order screw-ups, but they really went out of their way to make it right. Burgers were ok. But my wife's sautÃ©ed mushrooms came on my burger, and she got my bacon and lto. So basically the patties got switched, and the mushrooms were put on wrong patty. Mushrooms required some surgery. I'm really not that picky, or that guy that sends stuff back. In fact, I really wouldn't have cared at all if I didn't have to pick the mushrooms out of my melted cheese to put on her burger. And I didn't have to - they offered to fix it - but I wasn't exactly clear if that meant re-make them, or finger our burgers as I was doing. So I opted for the self-fix. The burgers were not terrible, but not that amazing either. The patty was placed on top of the lettuce, so that came out a bit wilted. Grilled onion was a bit undercooked without enough sweating/caramelizing/glazing. Mushrooms looked good, but my 1/2 lb patty came with one meager tomato slice that covered maybe half the patty - also served under the patty with the lettuce, so sad and wilty too. The bacon was a highlight. It was great. Fries were average. Onion rings a bit thin, and heavily seasoned for my taste. The management and server team really went above and beyond to remedy the mixed up order. Like I mentioned, I'm not a sender-backer, and as much as I appreciate attentive conflict resolution, I prefer the order come out properly in the first place. But these guys really were on top of it. Free shakes (3 of them - of modest size which we also appreciated) for the kids, and one of the burgers taken off the bill. The gestures were much appreciated, and although I'm someone that never asks for it, I readily accepted and I am thankful for the effort. All in all, I think you need to like a loaded burger to really appreciate this place. Not a burger with cheddar, and lto, but a burger with a chipotle aioli, or horseradish aioli, and bacon and onion rings, or bbq sauce and onion rings, etc. Purists beware.
(4)
P T.

All good in the world of The Counter! Burgers cooked perfectly. Kudos to the Chef/Cook.
(5)
Maya W.

We grabbed a quick bite during dinner. The service was great and the atmosphere casual. I loved the shrimp burger, it had a great flavor and was filling. The sweetpotatoe fries and onion straws were a nice alternative to traditional fries. My fiance enjoyed his classic burger topped with an egg. I would definitely return if I were ever in the area.
(4)
Christopher G.

Not the best burger I've ever had, but close to it! I'd definitely say The Counter is somewhere in my top 10 (I've had a lot of burgers from a lot of places). When I went here, the indoor seating was a bit cold, so I opted to sit outside while waiting for my friend to arrive. The Counter is home to some pretty delicious sounding burgers, but what makes them a good choice is their Build-Your-Burger option. I must of looked over the menu many times before I was set on wanting to build my own burger (which is a great option if you are particular in what you want). When my friend finally arrived, I ordered a 1/2lb bison burger with sauteed red onions, cheddar cheese, baby spinach, oven roasted tomatoes, all between ciabatta bread, with a side of their shoestring fries. My friend, on the other hand, got a deviled egg, two mini slider burgers, and parmesan garlic fries, all on happy hour. She's a pretty small girl, so that all filled her up. She even had to bring home her fries, despite me helping her eat her fries! I was truly blown away by the burger. It was so delicious, that if it didn't fill me up so much, I would've ordered another one. Although my shoestring fries and the parmesan garlic fries were delicious, I'm not a fan of the skinny fries. I'm more of a steak fries kind of guy. Delicious, regardless. If you're in the Reston Town Center area, and you're craving a burger, definitely stop by The Counter!
(4)
Nita H.

Took a late lunch around 1pm and this place is still crowded however there was some patio seating available and the weather is great! I was seated quickly and given instructions on how to order a customized burger with plenty of choices or select from the pre-built burgers. I choose to custom build a burger on onion bun, pepper jack cheese, spicy pickles, spinach leaves, red onion, grain mustard and spicy thousand island with a side of fries. Within 7 minutes I had my food! It looked so pretty, however the burger with toppings lacked in flavor BUT the fries were good. Also ordered the mango lemonade.... More like mango water!! It was tasteless, not a hint of lemonade to be found. That I was disappointed in because it tasted as if mangoes were cut up and thrown into water. I will try dessert, wish me luck!
(2)
Jina Y.

This place is really cool. Like other places you can build your own burger as well as pick a burger of their specialty. I really liked the different ingredients and toppings you can put on the burger. Oily, yes. With all the toppings I put on my burger was huge, but I enjoyed every bite of it! I would definitely recommend the onion straws rather than the fries!
(4)
Freddy P.

So far the best burgers in the area. You are able to make your own burger, and the meat they use is organic and they cook it perfectly. The reason I'm only giving them three stars is because of the service. It's slow, very informal and unprofessional.
(3)
Jackson L.

I always had good burgers at the Counter. I like the build your own burger style. It gives patrons a lot freedom to make a burger to their own taste. The counter gives a lot of options to the type of protein (meat, chicken, veggie,etc.), sauces, and toppings. Also give you options to the type of bread used for the burger and numerous sides. I went with my family 2 weeks ago and had a 1/2lb beef burger, with Tillamook Cheddar, Hickory BBQ sauce, coleslaw, pineapple, dill pickle chips, spinach, alfalfa sprouts, roasted peppers all on a toasted brioche bun. I had onion straws on the side. Our family also ordered a basket of parmesan fries and sweet potato fries. All the food was great. I would have rated it 5, were it not for the service. There was one lady who was busy serving every table in the place. There were two people standing in the front just sitting people and not helping to serve the patrons. So the food came out really slow. Even when it was time for us to pay, no one was around to take our bill. Also the servers did not have any name tags or uniforms that made it difficult to know who works there and who doesn't. That being said, I really like the food. The employees just need a little bit of training regarding paying attention to the patrons and having some sort of uniform or dress code that can be identifiable.
(4)
Donna B.

God, I Love this Place! It panes me to have to give it a crappy review. Was there last night, on the patio on a typical hot humid July night. I always get a burger with grilled pineapple and jalapeno jack cheese.The restaurant was not busy at all. So why was my melted cheese hard? my burger cold and hard? and my onion strings and fries cold? I don't understand how the waitress could let our dinner sit under a heat lamp, which obviously wasn't a heat lamp for so long. Again, mind you this place was not busy - it was a Wednesday night! I even downed my chocolate milk shake completely . . . dessert before dinner. Oh I know it was a fluke and no worries, I'll be back. I have to return the condiment dishes that I took in the "take me home" box.
(2)
Ann B.

I've been here twice with my husband and two young kids. The food was good and the staff is very friendly. Both times we were here, there were two (what seemed to be) employees hanging out at a table. The first time I noticed them was because they were sitting at the table making out with each other while I'm trying to enjoy my lunch with my family. I assumed they were employees off the clock because of how they were speaking with the other staff members. The second time we came (total different day of the week and time of day) the same guy and girl were sitting at a table hanging out. The girl was wearing disgustingly short shorts that when she sat down on the seat her entire ass was on it, but that's besides the point. A man that was in his good 80's complimented her outfit, the girl stood up and thanked him by groping his body. Imagine sitting with your two young children trying to eat dinner and watching this! I asked the worker at the host stand if they were employees and he said he just started but he knew the guy was an employee and wasn't sure if the girl was just his girlfriend or another employee as well. Either way, this place is NOT family friendly. I am totally sceeved out and would not come back here to watch a desperate girl who has no where else better to be trying to get any attention she could get by her "boyfriends" co workers. Sorry, I'll find somewhere better to spend my money. My expectation would be that management of a business would find this behavior inappropriate from their staff. I certainly don't find it acceptable and for that reason, I won't be back.
(2)
Pegah Y.

I want to preface this review by saying that the Counter is my all-time favorite burger place. I love the customizable options (you can customize everything down to the bread, cheese, meats, toppings, sauces, etc). I love how fresh everything is. I love how generous the portion sizes are. My love affair with the Counter started back in the days when I lived in California. I would visit at least three times a year when I had the time. The burger I had in Reston paled in comparison to the burger I had back in California. The toppings were good, but the sauces were a bit off and the burger was quite pricey - $15 for my lunch burger (pretty ridiculous). I don't remember it being that much in California, but then again, we're talking about Northern Virginia prices... As usual, I ordered the 1/3 beef burger with a brioche bun, no cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, sundried tomatoes, guacamole, pesto aioli, chipotle aioli, and bacon. It was good, but nothing stellar, and it made me even more homesick for the burgers back in sweet old California.
(3)
Sean R.

One of the best burgers I've had in my life. So good I continue to go back over and over. Good beer selection and a ridiculous amount of choices to customize your burger. Or get fish in a salad, they have excellent ahi as well as chicken and turkey. My go to is always the buffalo though. Mike, Randall, and the rest of the staff are always friendly, attentive and there just when you need them, or more often if you just want to have some fun conversation. It's always a good sign of an eating establishment when the staff eats and hangs out when they're not on shift. The Counter is that sort of place. Don't pass it up.
(5)
Mike B.

Half of the staff was just standing around talking. The place didn;t seem very clean, some of the cushions were ripped or torn and taped up. Kind of going downhill. The food was ok, nothing special. There are many other great burger places in the area I would go back to before I came here again.
(3)
Greg W.

Decent organic burger. I ordered a regular 1/2 lb organic no anti-biotic burger with American cheddar & Korean BBQ sauce. The sauce had no business on the burger. The meat was ok, nothing special. Fairly pricey...burgers are $14. They have a good variety of toppings to choice from. Plane Jane fries that aren't that great. I probably won't go back.
(3)
samantha v.

decent burgers with lots of funky toppings and I like the skinny fries cause they don't fill you up and yet you can satisfy the craving but ultimately the only thing worth coming for are the "grown up" milk shakes. I would come in the winter but those awful metal chairs are so cold and they don't serve any coffee/tea so not ideal for this time of year. service is always decent.
(3)
Crystal C.

I don't eat cheeseburgers very often but this place was definitely a treat. The cheeseburger was awesome. They have the best sweet potato fries I've ever eaten. The atmosphere and menu is simple; it's a 'build-a-burger' place. They give you a simple list of the type of meat, bread, cheese, toppings, 'extra' toppings and condiments to choose from. There's so much choice!. My friends and I all opted to add a fried egg to our burger. We loved it! The service was not great and I wondered if it's because we didn't order drinks but the food was so good I would definitely go back.
(4)
Hart P.

Excellent gourmet burgers plus a fabulous build your own burger menu. Burgers come in all shapes and varieties.
(5)
Jon M.

Burgers are pretty good server was very friendly not sure about the painting though lol we can smell the paint oh did I mention they have a pretty good craft beer selection and try a beer float if you like beer and you also like ice cream you'll enjoy it choose a stout for sure toppings for your burger are endless they also have vegan options
(3)
Caroline M.

I go here as often as I can- it's such a fun place with amazing food! I'm borderline vegetarian so I avoided The Counter for years, just assuming there was no place for someone like me in a burger joint. BOY was I wrong- I get their build-your-own veggie burger every time and it's THE BEST. Fresh ingredients, fast and friendly service, yummy milkshakes, and I definitely recommend building your own burger. There are a bunch of different options (like 6 different buns, patty types, sides, over 20 sauce options including their chipotle mayo which is NUTS) and so you can create your own yummy concoction. I always get a veggie burger with a pretzel bun, sun dried tomatoes, swiss cheese, lettuce, cucumbers, and fresh black bean/corn salsa with a side of sweet potato fries and chipotle mayo. Bottom line- just go. It's amazing.
(5)
Cati S.

Turkey burger with scallions, carrot stings, cucumbers, vegan cheese, gluten free bun ... Yes! Vegan cheese and gluten free bun! For all those like me with endless dietary restrictions, this is definitely the place to quench your burger craving. The ambiance leaves to be desired. It's like a sardine packed corner section of a cafeteria. The staff could hardly squeeze their way in between folks. Yuck! We quickly ordered our food for take out and left.
(4)
Ritzie C.

You done did it now, The Counter. You done did. You mess up once, I'll forgive you. You mess up twice ... hey, I'm a reasonable person and I'ma let that slide. You mess up more times than I care to count? Now we ... no, now YOU got a problem. (Spoiler alert: I burn bridges HARD with my 1 star reviews). When in the area, I occasionally join my family for take out from The Counter. We don't dine in. Why? Because I don't WANT to. And you can't make me. Or is this part of your trick? You mess up my order while I'm dining in, I can slam that burger on your counter and make you rectify your mistake. But when someone picks it up and takes it home and we see how wrong it is ... well, it's like you're nickle and diming my ass. There's a word for that and I'm not going to say it ... (but it rhymes with twindler). I'm gonna set the scene here. Let's just go ahead and assume that I'm indulgent as hell and I get some premium toppings. Hell yeah I want herbed goat cheese spread and a sunny side up egg. Go ahead and throw some onion straws on there, too - nothing's too good for me! Well, not according to YOU, Burger University (cough) drop outs. There's no goat cheese on my burger. My request for a sunny side up egg came out hard boiled and oh hey, what's that? Carrot strings!!! I ordered this piece of trash online so I know there couldn't have been any miscommunication. What's more, we wanted sauce. Not just on the burger, but additional sauce on the side. The bag is void of any sauces that we ordered. So now I have to choke down this abysmal burger DRY?! With hard boiled eggs on it?! Oh, and my sister ordered grilled pineapple on hers. That is not grilled pineapple. Dole put it in a can and you opened that can and put that ring on the burger. For shame. No, I'm not going to get in the car and drive back to get this fixed. If I did, someone better jump out and scream "You just got punked!" No, I'm just going to leave this scathing review to warn anyone placing a take out order online. And I'm not patronizing again. (1) You screwed up way too many times and (2) assuming ya'll read this review, I'm not interested in eating a Sneezeburger. The food here doesn't suck. The person filling take out orders does. I can't and won't blame everyone. You guys figure out who it is and "fix" it.
(1)
Bill B.

It gets four, not five only because of the service....more on that later. Excellent meat choice for burgers. I love the diverse topping they have, as well as bun choices and sauces. The garlic and Parmesan fries are excellent, but nothing beats the sweet potato fries. Food quality also seems tone very good. Now for the negatives - really only two. The cooks can't make a burger to order to save their lives. Order medium rare once - got barely rare. I think they cooked it with a flashlight. Remembering the last experience with internal temps, I ordered a medium burger and got one that was medium well on its way to well done. Servers are nothing to write home about either. Normally have mediocre service, but on occasion I literally have to flag down our waitress to cash out - note that this has been during a time when there were only a couple of other patrons in the restaurant, so it's not like they were slammed. Recommend the beef burger - don't even ask me how it should be ordered to cook though. It all depends on who's cooking that day I guess.
(4)
Ching H.

This place was terribly average. The service was amazing and I loved our waitress, but no amount of good service can make up for any dining experience. We ordered 50/50 parm and sweet potato fries. Both fries were cold and did not come hot out of the fryer. They tasted like they had been sitting sadly under a lamp for quite some time. We went for the customized burgers, and really enjoyed getting to choose what goes into the burger except both of our burgers were bland and left us wanting more oomph. Even all of the toppings and sauce on the side couldn't bring this burger back to life. Even the burgers were slightly cold and the buns were not toasty. This place could be so much better but the burger meat itself just lacks life!!!
(3)
Jon H.

the counter is a very good burger place if you want a big crazy burger with awsome toppings. I really enjoyed the garlic parm fries but I wish they were thicker instead of the shoe string kind. sometime they tend to miss things on the order but I guess it happens when u order 6 or 7 toppings on your burger but otherwise I think this place is nice.
(3)
Raph K.

Great burgers, good service and a pleasant atmosphere. During peak hours it gets a little busy but worth the wait. The tables could be a but hugger but besides that, would visit again!
(4)
Nicole W.

Yum... How come I never knew about this place?! I stumbled upon it after an evening of ice skating at Reston town center. I ordered this awesome turkey burger with Brie and dried cranberries. I loved it! The fires were good too. They had a TON of burgers to choose from and they had a build-your-own burger option. My friends seemed to thoroughly enjoy their meals too. Next time I'm gonna try an adult shake!
(4)
Tiffany N.

The Counter is a great place is you love to customize and build your own personal burger. I have been here a couple times and each time was a good experience.
(3)
Eric N.

Favorite lunch spot in RTC. Came here yesterday to meet a friend who highly recommended The Counter. Having used to work in the town center, I always wanted to try this place but never really got the opportunity to. I was surprised to see a hostess and a bar inside, thinking that The Counter would be similar to Five Guys. Much more of an actual restaurant instead. So you can either order a burger from the normal menu or build your own. I made my own with a 2/3 lb burger, organic mixed greens, fried egg, sun dried tomato vinaigrette, grilled red and green peppers. A side is also included, which I got the sweet potato fries. Toppings can really add up the cost of the burger. A 1/3 lb burger is about $12 and a 2/3 $14. After all was said and done, my bill was about $19 for everything. Expensive considering, but the burger was quite good. Advertised as being hormone and antibiotic free, the burger was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It is nice that they ask you what temperature you want it cooked too. Seasoned well and juicy, the Counter offers some solid burgers. Better than I've had at the other restaurants around the town center. Overall, a bit pricey for lunch if you add on the toppings. I was surprised to see a bar in the Counter, so they do offer a happy hour from 3-6. I probably would only come back every once in a while for lunch when my friends want to go being close by. But a good burger nonetheless.
(4)
Lyndsey C.

Always yummy... love eating outside and my favorite is the veggie burger on quinoa. Usually have fantastic service, a wonderful variety, and always clean and nicely kept. Everything is always fresh and they have beer, wine, and adult milkshakes too. Great place to sit outside and have a bite. Sweet potato fries and onion strings are great too!
(4)
Christina D.

The ahi tuna burger is ok, but it didn't seem like the best quality tuna. I was really disappointed by the veggie burger...the texture was too soft and there was no real flavor to it. Pickle chips and fries are just ok too. The concept of building your own burger is fun, but I don't think the price is justified here..I just feel like the quality is not that great. Perhaps it's the fact that I didn't get a meat burger.
(2)
Diane B.

I came here to eat and sat outside at about 2pm on Friday afternoon after my neighborhood transformer blew, effectively ending my work day and my ability to open my refrigerator. I was very pleasantly surprised. I hadn't found a decent burger joints in NoVa outside of Alexandria, but now I know one. I really liked all the customization options to go on the flavorful and juicy (although slightly greasy) burgers. I also liked the fries. If I wasn't watching my waistline, I'd be back all the time.
(4)
Kelly D.

not the greatest experience. should have realized when the place was empty and all other restaurants had people that it wasn't a great place. bartender didn't know how to make the drink I ordered off of their menu, burger was not cooked through as ordered and was just ok. really not worth the money.
(2)
Brian G.

Tried this place out for the first time today. They have a great selection of hamburgers with pretty much anything you want on it. My wife and I both had bbq bacon burgers and they were phenomenal. I will be back again.
(5)
John L.

Food 4 stars. Had the red eye with half pound beef patty and side of sweet potato fries. Pretty darn good burger. Quality hormone-free beef and cooked like I ordered, medium rare. Hard to get this right on a thick patty but they did it. The sweet potato fries were fresh, with the right crispness on the outside and soft on the inside. Delicious condiments like the sweet sriracha to compliment. Service 5 stars. Was running late to meet a friend for lunch but I was limited on time so my friend ordered for me in advance. I was running later than expected so had my burger put in the back to keep warm. When I arrived I apologized for being late to both my friend and the server (Randy I think who happened to be at the table when I arrived) because I know from having been a server in a previous life that late arrivals mean more time to turn a table which means less made for the day in tips. Randy was totally gracious and actually OFFERED to have a fresh burger made instead of getting the old one sitting under a lamp. I took him up on it and it made the burger taste even better than it would have. Randy rounds up the experience to 5 stars.
(5)
Alice A.

amazing burger, with an amazing staff, for a great value! I custom built my burger and it was really amazing. I had coleslaw instead of fries, which was probably the best ive had in town so far. We ate at the bar, and the bartender was really great. While getting drinks was super fast, getting the actual food took much longer, even though it was about 2:30 pm. My friend had the bizon burger which was great but maybe missing a few toppings (probably half of the size of mine, which had 3 toppings). I definitely recommend anyone to give it a try especially if you are craving burgers as these are really great. My choice: the whole grain bun with the honey mustard and the coleslaw!
(4)
Xuan-Lise C.

I saw that the Baja Turkey burger was rated one of the 25 best burgers in Washington DC, so I figured we would give the Counter a try. Maybe we should of ordered the Baja Turkey instead. We got an Old School minus onions add bacon and a side of half and half (onion string and sweet potato fries). The sauces: The Ranch is very liquid, sort of defeating the purpose of being a dipping sauce. I will say the spicy chipotle aoili was awesome! I also had a taste of the horseradish and it wasn't as intense as I expected it. The BBQ was tasty, and I can see how it would complement a burger very well. We split the burger, which was nice, and it did come out cut in half. The meat was cooked to medium (just like we asked) and the cheddar was quite tasty. The bread would benefit from a good toasting. I was expecting a tasty salty crust on the burger and was disappointed. This isn't my type of burger, the meat is quite dense, I enjoy my patties barely holding on for dear life. Especially for the price of the burger I was slightly underwhelmed. The half and half, not sure if this was a fluke but the onion strings were very oily. It sort of felt like I was eating a bloomin' onion, which to me, although tasty is the worst stomach offender. As for the location, a neat space, chairs are slightly uncomfortable, there apparently was little to no air conditioning, and all the servers seemed overwhelmed. We don't like to complain, we understand the restaurant business is teamwork, and we refuse to ruin someone's day. However service was, quite scarce. The service we did receive was polite, however we were sitting there for a quite while, waiting for water, waiting for our server to get back, waiting for the check.
(3)
Roger B.

Went in and was greeted right away and got my choice of sitting inside or outside. My kid choose outside and were seated right away. The waitress came pretty quickly and asked if we had ever been there before. Nope. Then she explained about the build your own burger. Seemed pretty cool so I went with it and built a burger. Told the waitress I wanted it medium-well and she said the kids burger sliders would be well done if that was ok. The waitress was great. Very attentive and friendly. The kids sliders came out good, but, my burger came out medium-rare instead of medium-well. I was hungry so I just ate it. Still tasted good, but, def would've been better if it was cooked the way I asked. I'll probably order it well done next time just to make sure it comes out at least medium-well. The shoestring fries were awesome.
(4)
Mary C.

I went to this location for lunch and order their signature burger with an order of sweet potato fries. The food was excellent and whatever sauce that came with the sweet potato fries was delicious. I couldn't complain about the service. However, we ordered milkshakes for dessert and they took a little longer to come out than I would've liked. Tiny flaw that will not keep me from coming back again. I can't wait to try more burger options! This is definitely a place for burger lovers!
(5)
John R.

Fantastic food! I was amazed at how delicious everything was. As someone working to cut carbs out of my diet, I love the fact that they offer a burger-on-a-salad option (which I enjoyed more than many other burgers I've eaten in the past). Friendly service, a mouth-watering dessert menu, and great entrees made for a great meal. I signed up for their rewards program after just one visit. Highly recommended.
(5)
Nick G.

i like the "build your own burger" menu. i got the brioche style bun. i would prefer a thicker bun.
(4)
Tim R.

We went back as a team, and have since decided to strike this one off our list. Minimum of 10 minutes to get parking, 20 minutes to sit, 30 minutes to get food already makes this restaurant an hour investment. And, as one of my colleagues pointed out, the "big payoff" at the end of that hour is to pay $20+ for a burger and fries. The burgers are so good, I really wish we could find a reason to add this place to our workplace "wheel of yum". But, we just couldn't justify it. In the end, the price, the wait, the industrial (read as painful) furniture, the inconsistent temps, the odd seating, and the "host" that spent half his time pulling up his fashionably baggy pants and the other half of his time handing out silverware (thankfully, we all ordered finger food and didn't need to taste his drawers) all combined to make this place a no-go.
(1)
Gregory R.

Visited tonight for a quick bite in between regex hacking and Scandal :-) Price was fair, they fancy themselves a bit of a gourmet burger restaurant (nice selection of wines, excellent quality food including hormone free all naturally fed beef and 100% bison). To expect a $10 burger meal here I find unreasonable. I had a custom burger, which was excellent, fresh crisp veggies, correctly cooked meat and awesome shoestring fries. I highly recommend you try the fries with Thai peanut sauce to dip them in, well done. This was reminiscent of the popular Dutch french fry snack "friet met" Loved it, will revisit next time I'm in town.
(4)
Katrina C.

My friend and I recently read about The Counter in Washingtonian as having one of the best burgers in the area. So, we decided to stop in one random Wednesday. I knew virtually nothing about this place other than the fact it served burgers. However, with it being called the counter, I thought this might be a little more casual - like you would walk up to the register and order. So, imagine my surprise when I was greeted by a hostess and sat down at a table. Not a bad thing, just something that surprised me. To their credit, there was a counter where you could sit as well. My friend and I started by splitting a peanut butter shake and shoestring French fries. The shake was super rich and sweet, but balanced well with a good bit of salt from the peanut butter. We got an ample portion of the fries, and they were crispy and thin - just how I like them. For my main course, I ordered the burger bowl. I can't remember the name but it was Mexican inspired. It was basically romaine topped with a juicy burger with tilamook cheese, green onions, jalapeÃ±os, and corn and black bean salad. The salad was very good, but the portion was a little large for me. I don't eat burgers often, but the next time I am craving one, I would stop back here. They have a large build your own burger menu, but premium toppings will cost you about a $1 a piece. It could easily become very costly.
(4)
Victoria L.

The Counter....oh how I love theeee. Too bad, I semi-regret all of the calories I just consumed being here. I love burgers and this place makes some pretty damn good burgers. I hate to say this but I come here more often than I should. The only reason I say that is because when I come, I literally get everything fattening you can think of. The cheese and chili fries are sooo delicious. Good ol' chili, melted cheese on perfectly crispy fries! I start with a 1/3 lb burger with an onion bun. I throw on lettuce, fried egg, bacon, fried onion strings, grilled onions and fried pickles. Then I get the chipotle aioli and sometimes the sour cream sauce. See what I mean...that's about 1,500 calories for toppings (oops!) Then I usually get the sweet potato fries which are probably one of the best sweet potato fries I've ever had. They are just lightly seasoned and crispy. When the burger comes out it's literally a mountain. I usually take off the fried onion strings because it brings the burger down 2 inches so I can fit some part of the burger in my mouth. The burger itself is seasoned well and it's the perfect thickness. It's not some thin burger that you get McDonalds, but a 4 inch thickness of goodness beef patty. Service is quick with very nice employees. Have never had a problem here and the food is always consistent. The only thing you won't enjoy is your tab, especially if you add on more toppings than they offer for free. You only get 4 free toppings and the others you'll have to pay for. My bill typically comes out to $15 for a burger but I think it's worth every penny.
(4)
Mary D.

Great variety of burgers and burger salads! Service was friendly and offered menu suggestions. Would definitely recommend to anyone!
(4)
Scott H.

Stop #2 on our Restaurant Week schedule was The Counter. I had always been interested in checking them out, as their advertisements of gourmet burgers and craft beer sang to my soul. But I've always thought them to be a bit pricy for hamburgers, even though it is Reston Town Center and everything there is pricy. But when we saw the RW offering - appetizer, burger, desert, and beverage (including milkshakes or a draft beer) for $25, we decided this was the time to check them out. We arrived at about 7PM to a very crowded restaurant, but were seated fairly quickly and greeted by a very enthusiastic and bubbly server. After explaining to us how the ordering worked, and referenced the RW menu, we told her that we wanted to go with the RW deal. For the starters, we decided to go half healthy, half bad ... she got the kale and jicama salad with feta, and I got the fried pickles. The fried pickles had a nice, perfectly cooked breading, but we felt the breading-to-pickle ratio was too high. We both loved the salad, which has HUGE. My wife was introduced to jicama and enjoyed it, and the feta was pleasantly mild - my wife typically does not like strong cheeses like feta, but enjoyed this. For dinner, we both went with the burger, which was - as is typical of RW, a prix fix offering of their 1/3 pound burger with brie, mixed greens, bean sprouts, dried cranberries, onion, and apricot sauce on a brioche bun. We both ordered sans onion, and the wife skipped the dried cranberries. The odd combination worked, however, and we found both of our burgers perfectly cooked to our liking and the apricot sauce adding a nice touch with the greens and brie. The parmesan fries that accompanied were also very good. For dessert, my wife got the brownie topped with ice cream and fudge and caramel drizzle. There was a bit of humor here as the server and the kitchen staff disagreed on whether the topping we got was caramel or butterscotch. The kitchen staff swore it was caramel but the server warned us that she was sure it was butterscotch. My wife and I could easily tell by the color that it was indeed butterscotch and when we tasted and confirmed the server shouted in delight "I told you! It's butterscotch!" I got their house-made ice cream sandwich with oatmeal raisin cookies and LOVED it. The biggest disappointment here, really, was the craft beer selection. There was a small (appx 20-30) selection of bottles, and the draft beer selection was more hipster trendy than beer nerdy. Blue Moon, Fat Tire, Stella - typical fare. Left Hand Milk Stout and Flying Dog Raging Bitch were better options, but still hipster in my book. And sadly, their seasonal draft was Sam Adams Oktoberfest. While that's one of the better beers from Sam Adams, I'd expect something more unique as a rotating tap selection. And looking at the menu prices, I can understand the complaints of cost vs. value of their regular menu ... but nearly every RTC restaurant suffers from the cost vs. value comparison. If you are looking for a quality burger and craft beer, I'd recomment Foster's Grille in Chantilly - burgers are not quite as good (but much cheaper) and the craft beer selection is 100X better. But if you have a burger craving and can afford to splurge on a "gourmet" burger joint that offers you vast options of meat (bison is available at an upcharge), artisan cheeses, and high quality toppings, The Counter may just be for you.
(4)
Janelle P.

Love their burgers and all the options, but starting to feel that they are a little overpriced. Still a great place to get a good burger in Reston!
(3)
Ashley H.

I love customizable places like this. Simply get the sheet and check off which meat (or non meat), bread, cheese, veggies, sauces, etc you want. So fun. Indoor/Outdoor seating. didn't get the chance to try some shakes but I will. Only complaint - burgers aren't as rare as I prefer.
(5)
John B. L.

Went here with Da Missus after a movie. Great idea. Execution? Meh. Tried a flight of beers to get a sampling. They were all very good, and I ordered a pint of the favorite. Waitress was good and nice; not great, but good. Burger came out, delivered by someone else, who was surprised that there was only one. I was, too. Somehow, the kitchen lost the 2nd half of the order. The waitress came, explained and said that it would be fixed. Great! Burger was delivered with the fries. Looked good, tasted fine, but I had ordered Medium Well and gotten Medium. After the burger was almost finished, the waitress came by to check on things. I was pleasant and explained what was going on. She had the manager comp my burger, which at $15 was appreciated, but not totally needed, as I had eaten it. Maybe it was because it was after the dinner rush on a Thursday evening. I don't know. The 1st burger was tasty and made as ordered (I tried a bite while I waited). I will probably try them again, once, because many of the choices looked interesting and good. Hopefully, it will be an experience more in keeping with their price points.
(3)
Lynn N.

Gone here a few times and overall good experience. Service is always good and the burgers are tasty. There's the option to get bison, turkey, chicken, veggie, and beef. Get beef. After all, that's what a burger is all about. I've tried turkey and chicken which was alright. The veggie burger however fell apart on me. It was very mushy and didn't work very well in between a bun. Their sweet potato fries were delicious, I really enjoyed those. This place is ok if you want a beef burger with lots of options. But other than that, not my top pick to get a burger.
(3)
Amanda B.

The burger was good and I especially liked the fries (shoestring - thin and crispy my favorite). I like that you can choose the size of your burger and there are numerous toppings to choose from. Service was great. But was very busy for a Friday night. Only thing I can say I didn't particularly like was that the space was very small for a restaurant. Very cramped. Otherwise was great! Will most definitely go back :)
(4)
SARA M.

Second time here, food and service were great. Ordered the bison burger with jalapeÃ±o, and the hot chicken wing sandwhich, both delicious! Sweet potato fries and regular loaded fries were so tasty. Another great meal!
(4)
Scott S.

A Fantastic Concept and Wonderful Burgers! - Loved the ordering system (see photo) and the burger was delicious. I recommend The Counter to anyone who enjoys an occasional, yet exceptional burger. Our server was Cassie; she was great.
(5)
Bro H.

Pretty good burgers, hilariously bad service. The hostess (Manager? If she's not a manager, she should be) was the only person to pay attention to us for the hour+ we were in the restaurant. We spent maybe 5 minutes filling out our order forms, 15 minutes sitting there with filled out order forms and no drinks, and five minutes holding the order forms out over the isle as waiters and waitresses brushed against them and ignored us. Eventually, we had to walk up to the hostess stand and hand in our orders. The hostess was apologetic and comped us some free sodas (some six dollar beers would have been nice, but, alright). Our burgers came out after we'd been sitting there for 45 or so minutes, and they were good, but below par for the course for a 10 dollar burger (I prefer both Ray's and BGR). There was no option on the order form for how you want your burger cooked, and mine came out on the well side of medium, which definitely should not be the default. I enjoyed the nice crust on the burger, but I would have happily sacrificed it for a properly cooked burger. Also, my buddy ordered a 2/3 pound burger and got a 1/3 pound burger. We went because we had a buy one get one free coupon (a direct promotion mailed to us from the restaurant, not from a coupon book or anything), and knowing how bad the service had been already, we were skeptical they'd even honor it. They certainly tried not to. We meet our waiter for the first time after being in the restaurant close to an hour, and I hand him the coupon and he says "I'll take care of it." He doesn't take care of it, and I have to flag down the hostess to point it out. He then comes back, hands me the same receipt, and says "it's taken care of." I flag down the hostess again, and she grabs him and he scoffs at me and says "well I took care of it, but I didn't want to print out a new receipt." Uh. In the end, we were told not to worry about a tip (I was gonna hand it directly to the hostess, who actually deserved a tip, but she intentionally didn't bring me change for my ten, so I couldn't). Still, one person can't run an entire restaurant, and that seemed to be the M.O. at Counter Burger. No chance I would pay full price here.
(2)
Lindsey M.

Loved the food. Loved the service. And I even loved the music. Food was hot and came fairly fast. Wanted dessert but I was so full I had to pass although I did try some of my husbands shake which was amazing as well. I will defiantly be coming back here, and will also make all my friends come too!!!!
(5)
Matt D.

Awesome burgers made to specification. True to the original out in CA. I'd recommend the turkey taco with half sweet potato fries, half onion rings. And, if you have space after cramming all that food down, definitely get an apple pie milkshake. Mmmmmmm. One word of warning, however: it's not where google maps says it is! The address points you to a McCormack and Shmicks. They must deal with the confusion a lot, though, because the very friendly maitre d' walked us out and pointed us back down the street. Instead of turning left on democracy drive, turn right. It's on your right.
(4)
Susan S.

Went to The Counter for lunch today with a coworker, we both ordered BLTs and fries (with one special request, that the garlic aioli be switched for mayo on one of the BLTs). 30 minutes passed, with other diners getting their food, the waitress did not check in with us this whole time. I flagged the waitress down and requested that she find out the status of our order, she said she would. Next thing you know, she is talking to other customers and never got back to us. Finally I got up and requested to speak with the manager on duty who came over and we explained the situation. She was very nice and apologetic, went into the kitchen and lo and behold, another manager came out with our lunch. He apologized profusely and put down our orders. Unfortunately one of the sandwiches came without the fries. The sandwiches were mixed up, it was just a nightmare. The manager who brought out the food apolized again and when he reappeared with the correct sandwich he said that he was going to give us coupons because he wanted us to come back and have a better experience. Guess what! Never got the coupons! I'm guessing that I will not be going back. The waitress also apologized profusely. The waitress did not get a tip.
(1)
Dennis S.

I stacked it high, but not like Albert Haynesworth who eats here and orders the 1lb. Patty with multiple eggs. Our waiter was attentive and seated us quickly, where we created our vehicles to a food coma. (He told us about Haynesworth) The burgers cooked to order here are better than I could have imagined. It's pricey, but so is Build-A-Bear and I'm out to build/ create the perfect burger. I got pretty close though.
(4)
Tiffani N.

It was ok. Not really as good as I would have expected for a place dedicated to gourmet burgers. Definitely not a trendy Five Guys. Possibly went on an off day, so I wouldn't be against going back. My burger was overcooked even though I specifically asked if medium well would still be pink. It wasn't. Like all the different topping choices but beware that some "premium" toppings will add $$ to your burger. It could cost north of $15! My mushrooms were charred, not appetizing at all. My son's egg was barely over easy and spilled all over him but we were never asked how he wanted it cooked. Yuck! Also, during happy hour they wouldn't let you have happy hour specials at a table even though the bar seats like 6 people and is right next to the tables. Weird. I would've ordered so much more if I could have gotten the HH specials. Plus 1 for the music, though. They played old school East Coast hip hop. I lovessssss!
(3)
Sami W.

This place is amazing. You design/build your own burger. The menu is a check off list of the different kinds of meat (beef, chicken, turkey, veggie) breads (hamburger bun, multigrain, english muffin, onion bun) , cheeses (12 kinds including, blue, cheddar, brie, Gruyere...) , sauces, and condiments. There is a huge variety of items, you spend a good 10 minutes designing how you want your burger. Our waiter was very friendly and knew his menu very well. I wish they open one in the Boston area.
(5)
Colleen M.

Whoever decided to have Brie as a burger topping is amazing! I love the Counter. Every time I go there the service is friendly and super fast. It's a bit expensive...a 1/3 pounder will set you back $8, but that's honestly not much more than a "gourmet" burger at a chain restaurant that's not nearly as good. Best place to eat in Reston Town Center, in my opinion.
(4)
Katie P.

Just got back from The Counter and thought it was time to give my two cents. Short review: great burgers, great service and good atmosphere. I'd definitely give it a try if you're in the area. Long review: I opted for the 1/3 lb turkey burger on a multigrain bun with cheddar, tzatziki sauce, lettuce blend and tomatoes. I loved it and finished every last bit. My husband got the 1/3 hamburger also on a multigrain bun, medium with provolone. He seemed to enjoy it and the bite I had was delicious. We also shared a 50-50 basket with regular and sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries stole the show for me. The serving was huge and I wish I had been able to eat more :) The regular fries were good but not something I'd remember next week. The service was quick; we had our food within 10 minutes of sitting down. Good options for toppings and sauces. So much so that I had a hard time choosing what to go with! It was a little loud for my liking but the music selection was good enough that I forgot about it after a few minutes. The Counter is definitely a place I'll go back to. It's just another hidden gem in Reston Town Center!
(4)
A J.

Best veggie burger ever! I was about to give a poor review because the waiter lost my order paper (everyone selects his burger toppings on a sheet). However, the taste of the burger restored their reputation, and my meal was paid by goodwill. My only complaint is that the bar is extremely loud. We went on an NFL Playoff night and people were yelling at the TV--definitely not a place to go for dinner conversations.
(4)
Andrew I.

Been happy every time I've eaten here. Burgers are always good and fries are some of the best. Service can be hit or miss and its a little on the pricey side but I'm okay with it since the quality of food is high.
(5)
Chris C.

I used to go there multiple times per week with neighbors and coworkers the first couple of years after they opened, and always considered it pricey but good with friendly and attentive service. But then a couple of years ago, I had a falling out after some very bad experiences with service, and even food quality, after it changed management. I haven't been back since.
(2)
Emily H.

I'm always in search of a good burger. I ate at The Counter yesterday for lunch and had a decent burger but I think that was my bad - I tend to become excited when I see all the options that are provided for toppings. I ordered a beef burger, 1/3 pound on a whole wheat burger with tillamook cheddar cheese, roasted red peppers, grilled onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon and roasted garlic aioli. All the components of my burger were delicious but I think next time I should take it easy on the toppings and try to enjoy a burger. THe fried dill pickle chips and sweet potato fries were both very well done. The sauces were both very complementary to the items. The service could have been a little better but I won't let that deter me from returning!
(4)
mark w.

Tried Counter for a late Friday lunch. Burgers were excellent: juicy, well prepared, flavorful. Fries were OK: just your normal restaurant frozen fries. Service was also very good: attentive and friendly but not overly so. Price was good given the quality. Decor was modern and cool, music was decent. Best burger in suburban Wash DC IMHO.
(5)
Lowell I.

Four of us went there with reasonably high hopes and unfortunately were disappointed. We ordered a variety of burgers cooked to different levels and I agree with prior posters that The Counter lacks consistency in their cooking. My medium well burger was very pink inside and cooked less well than the burgers ordered to cook as just medium. The burgers were good sized and juicy, but they lacked a beefy or meaty taste. Not sure if it's the ground beef they are using or the cooking technique, but there's just not a lot of flavor. Nothing that is bad - just OK. We ordered the 50/50 fries and onion rings and again we all felt that the fries were very ordinary but the onion rings were pretty good. Service was also just OK and the place wasn't even crowded. I don't have very high needs from waitstaff but the waitress didn't once check on us after our food was served and we had to flag her down for a couple of requests. It was also strange that a different waiter brought my root beer over to our table and placed it in the middle of the table and didn't utter a word. So, I was unsure if it was mine or even root beer vs. some other soda. The Counter seems like it should be better than it is. The concept is good but the execution is not. Better training of waitstaff and rethinking how the hamburgers are cooked would be a good place to start.
(2)
Shaggy L.

It's an upscale burger place, unlike other burger chains (MC, BK, Wendy's...). Loved the Counter Burger(Beef) & their Unique Veggie patty which lived up to it's name "Unique" in taste. Hated their onion rings but loved the fries.
(4)
Raymond M.

Decent burger place but a bit too much thinking involved for my taste. Didn't care for the fact our burgers came out rare.
(3)
Alex S.

We found this place while visiting Santa Monica, CA and then learned there was one located in Reston. Good burgers and even better sweet potato fries! While it may be pricier than places like Five Guys, I would personally choose this place over Five Guys any day!
(4)
Paul B.

In Reston Town Center, The Counter is a great place if you're looking for a burger. Moderately pricey, but about what you'd expect given the area. The burgers were all cooked to our specifications (there's an order form for your burgers so you get exactly what you want), and the appetizers, despite being served with the meal, were also very good. I recommend the sweet potato fries.
(4)
Lisa E.

The menu looked delicious but we never got service or a waiter, not even after 20 minutes of waiting and asking another waiter who responded "oh she must be in the kitchen" before walking off to lean against the bar. It wasn't busy and it wasn't off hours. We walked out.
(1)
Diane M.

This is a cute place. Atmosphere reminds me of something you would find in New York City (cramped, small tables...)... The burgers are good and you can pretty much get anything you want! Some toppings are out of the ordinary. Price is OK.. They have shoestring fries- not my favorite. Service is hit or miss. We went twice now and the first time was great service. Food comes quickly. The service was lacking and poor the 2nd visit. Five Guys is better in my opinion.
(3)
jason p.

The other reviews do a great job explaining the offerings, and breaking down the appetizers and such, so Im just going to layout some quick thoughts. You really have 3 good options for the modern day burger joint in Reston/Herndon area. 1) Five Guys, 2) Foster's Grill, and I suppose The Counter The Counter is by far the most expensive, and fanciest place. If you like juicy burgers, Five Guys is best, if you like CharGrilled (my favorite) then Foster's is the best. The beef burgers here rely on the whole "build your own" mechanics and just don't add any other value to the sandwich. We might go back for the mini-burger / beer sampling. That looks like fun. Out of the three of us who visited today, none of us felt like we need to go back any time soon. The place looks so cool that we had high expectations (though I did warn them what the Yelpers said...im just the life of the party) that it just didnt even come close to meeting. Good service though!
(2)
Megan W.

The food was amazing, the service was prompt, and the atmosphere was lovely. What more can I say, I LOVE the Counter!!! I generally end up ordering a burger that is 4 inches thick with all my toppings and the portion of the fries and onion straws are huge (plenty to share with a group!) and the milkshakes are EPIC! I HIGHLY recommend!
(5)
J C.

This place may be the best burger place I have ever been to! The burgers are amazing, there is huge selection of toppings and the staff is kind and courteous. Whenever my wife gives me the choice of dinner spots in RTC this is my choice! Hands down!
(5)
Bryan P.

inconsistent, but solid.
(4)
Jin K.

love their burgers!
(5)
Andy C.

Tucked away in Reston Town Center, The Counter reminds us of how burgers are supposed to be. Fancy burger joints are starting to be the rage with Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington and Good Stuff Eatery in DC. It was only a matter of time before one opened up outside the beltway. They have some specialty burgers that aren't open for alterations, but I'm pretty sure most people will be going for the create-a-burger customization that The Counter offers. Their choice of toppings isn't spectacular, but it isn't bad either. Personally I prefer Ray's Hell Burger, but since I work out here in Reston, The Counter is definitely a worthy contender. Also, the manager was extremely gracious and a really nice guy. When he saw none of us ordered an appetizer, he went ahead and brought over a free tray of sweet potato fries for free. And if you're complaining about the price, you're obviously new to this genre. The Counter's prices are standard to what you'd see anywhere else for this type of food. Great place and I'll definitely come back!
(3)
J G.

3.5 starts. It's certainly a good burger . It's very refreshing to have a burger cooked exactly the way you order it. When I asked for mine medium, the waitress let me know that it would come out pink throughout with a thin line of red in the middle, and that's exactly how it came out. I would have preferred a kaiser roll to the bun they used, but it was still good. The meat was good quality but could use a bit more spices (salt). The price was a bit high though, $12.60 total for a burger (w/ bacon) and a coke, $15 w/ tip. For that $ I'd prefer Ray's in Arlington, but since Counter is closer I'll probably be back.
(3)
Kevin M.

2.5 stars. The food was great, but pricey. I had a 1/3 lbs. burger, single order of sweet fries, diet coke, and a shake for $23 after tip. This is basically an upscale "build your own" burger joint. I was really surprised how small it was inside - no booths and little privacy as the tables are practically on top of one another. Our waiter was nice, but the wait staff in general just seemed pretty sloppy. We ate at the bar and watched the VA Tech football game on the 2 HD flat screens, which was a nice touch. The sweet fries and banana shake were really good and the burger was tasty, but not better than Fuddruckers, in my opinion. The default for their burgers is medium with a pink center, so I made sure to ask for medium well. All in all it was pretty much what I would have expected from a burger place, except for the price. I will probably go back, but may do carryout next time so that I have more elbow room.
(3)
Jay G.

I have been here twice and both times I ordered one of the larger burgers cooked medium well and both times my burgers were closer to raw. I don't think they understand that a bigger burger takes longer to cook because both of these times the person I was with ordered a smaller, medium cooked burger.
(2)
Stephanie H.

The counter is one of my favorite Veg Friendly places to go in Reston, so much so that I had to give it a positive review on my blog. Read all the details on my site stephaniethall.com/2013/â€¦ The service is great. Everyone is always really friendly and attentive to our needs. Also because we go so often a lot of the employees greet us by name. We recently went and had Tracey who is a new employee and she really rocked and provided us with awesome customer service. Nothing was lacking. Also the manager Damon is awesome and very focused on giving each customer a great customer experience. The veggie burgers are the best....made from real food and are great paired with the sweet potato fries. YOU MUST GO!!!1
(5)
Angela C.

Awesome! So you this is a perfect example of you get what you pay for. So their burgers are not cheap compared to other companies that may only charge you $3-$5 for a burger, but they give you quality NO FILLER burgers, not super greasy either. You have different options of what burger you want, veggie, turkey, beef, etc and size and from there you basically piece together your toppings. They have a good wide variety of toppings, sauces, buns, and so on and they are always fresh. I have been twice, no real complaints and will be back again. The only thing I can say somewhat negative is the milk shakes are just ok, I had a peanut butter one it was good, but nothing spectacular. Will be going back to get my burger fixes!
(5)
James B.

Come to The Counter for the burgers. Zillions of toppings, surprisingly expensive for a burger restaurant, but delicious. Great selection of beer & wines. Service is better than expected. Great location, right in the middle of Reston Town Center.
(4)
Azucena H.

I find the Counter to be a fairly good burger joint. They prepare your burgers to order & have a large variety of toppings & sauces. They also have a regular/sweet potato fry combo you can have in case you can't decide. :) The burger was not the best I have had but it was decent.
(3)
Heather J.

I tried the beef burger for the first time today. Every other time, I've gotten the turkey burger (which is awesome, by the way), but today I was craving a classic cheeseburger. I asked for it to be cooked medium - just a little pink in the center, and they cooked it perfectly. For my toppings, I got the classics (or at least my favorite classic toppings) - Tillamook cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and sauteed mushrooms. The mushrooms were great - really made the burger. I also got the regular burger bun this time, rather than the whole grain bun. I hate when the bun falls apart before you've finished the burger, and this bun held up through the last bite. For the sauce, I chose the chipotle aioli. It was tasty, but I wish it had been a little more spicy. We shared the parmesan fries, and they weren't as good as usual. They actually had too much cheese on them, and were kind of greasy. The service was just ok - they're really friendly but they were really busy and didn't come check in on us very often. I also asked for some mayo right when our meals arrived and it never came. Not a huge deal, but worth mentioning. I'll still be back!
(4)
Jay D.

Lets focus on the positives first....excellent burger sauce selection and some committed staff, specially a pregnant lady who was working till late 10:30 at night. Now the reality, burned meat and chicken in all the burgers. Medium well came out to be well charred. Extremely oily onion rings for appetizers,literally dripping with oil. Extremely uncomfortable seating arrangement. And to top it off, extremely pricey. Oh! did I mention that even the bacon ($1.5 extra) was burnt black. I guess we were partly to be blamed by showing up 30 mins before closing time, but then it is absolutely possible for Counter Burger to move up their closing time to 9:30 if their food quality dips to the depths of the Mariana Trench.
(1)
Sandra K.

Once again, I wish they had 3.5! Why oh why do they not have 3.5? I guess the latest trend is burgers, burgers and burgers everywhere! Krazee Burger from Korea opened in Bethesda, The Burger Joint and yes finally I have tried The Counter. I went in without any expectations which I think was a good idea because I can't stand thinking something is going to be amazing and it turns out to be not. Well, this wasn't one of them. The regular beef burger is amazing. Their temperatures are right on so if you say "med-rare" you will get a red hot center. The burger is flavorful and somehow it is juicy without being greasy. Their special chipotle mayonaise is delicious and the 50/50 french fries and sweet potato fries are every more tasty when dipped in their homemade sauce. I had the turkey burger on an onion roll and it was very juicy and seasoned well. Their grilled onions also have a lot of flavor and it is obvious they are using the best and freshest condiments. I picked up the burgers so I cannot comment on service but the bar manager was quick and efficient and it was almost as quick as fast-food drive through. Cost-2 burgers with cheese, 1 order of fries---$24. I think this is somewhat pricey but you do get what you pay for...a delicious juicy burger.
(3)
Sande E.

Food was precooked but hey, it came out fast! Server was on auto pilot and loud. Nice patio. Beer selection was meh.
(2)
Tu-van L.

**2.5 stars** Great casual burger joint in the heart of Reston Town Center. I love the slate blue with silver furniture counters and furniture style restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows making the place really airy and sunny. Wait staff was attentive and had no problem keeping our orders straight. I love the ordering process here. You get a clipboard with an order sheet. The sheet is self-explanatory in regards to what's included in the burger price and what is extra. You place the check marks on what you want and hand it to the waiter. Appetizers and signature burgers in a separate menu. You can't go wrong with that. Great concept and format. Unfortunately the burgers were bland and overall unimpressive. While the toppings can vary in flavor, the burger patty was mildly flavored and undercooked. My first try at fried pickles didn't impress me. I expected a batter instead of breading and the dipping sauce tasted like the sweet and sour sauce you'd get with Chicken McNuggets. Great idea, but I wish the food delivered.
(3)
Jess C.

$12 and 2/3 lbs of chicken?? Plus, Wednesday happy hours offer 4 mini burgers and 4 beer samplers for just $12! What sucks is that you can send your order in by fax, but they won't cook your food unless it is to go, and if it is to-go, they won't let you eat at a table. So if you're planning on sending your order in early to eat and get outta there fast, don't bother. Lame. Despite the receptionist refusing to let us sit down, the host gladly set us up at a table outside, brought us plates, and waters so we could eat our stuff there. Overall, I was happy with the value for my meal, the fries were delish, and the service was good.
(4)
Anh S.

I LOVE this restaurant. I have a gluten allergy, so to find a place where I can eat a burger with a real gluten-free bun that looks like a bun and tastes like a bun, it's a godsend! Granted the service is a bit lacking and on the slow side, but the trade off is well worth the wait. Also, their parmesan fries with garlic aoli. OH MY. The portions are also very large and a burger runs $10+, but for me, it's worth every penny. It also has a full service bar which is cool, and it's in the best location. If you want faster service, I suggest eating at the bar.
(5)
Mary L.

I came here for dinner with a friend awhile back. It was super crowded. We were seated at a two person table sandwiched between other people. It was very awkward and I wish we could have been seated at a table with a little more space. The service was great and super fast! I know it's absurd to go into a burger place and not order a burger, but I just wasn't in a burger mood that night. I got the BLT instead and it was pretty good. I also ordered the fried pickles which were AMAZING. I highly recommend getting them! I don't see fried pickles on a lot of menus in the area, but I fell in love with these when I lived in the south and was so glad I could get them here. My friend got a cheeseburger and she seemed to enjoy it. We also split a side of the garlic fries which were DELICIOUS as well. The only problem was that the portion was huge! We were completely stuffed. I would definitely come back for the pickles and try to go at a different time so I can really enjoy my meal there.
(4)
Rick M.

A simple menu, good burgers and GREAT milkshakes
(4)
Tom T.

As far as burgers go, it was an experience above ordinary burgers! I simply put mushrooms on mine to experience the quality meat and I was thoroughly surprised by how they put effort into cooking my Kobe choice just as ordered! I live in the town center and will definitely go again with friends. Nice job.
(4)
Foodie C.

Good burger Perfectly cooked amazing service! Food 4 Service 4 Cleniliness 4
(4)
Terry J.

$28ish for two burgers, small fries, fried pickle chips and a soda (and 15% tip). I don't get it. I really don't get it. The Counter serves bowling alley food at fine dining prices. Hamburgers, fries, shakes, beer and booze: this is not brain surgery, folks. We are talking burgers and beer. Yes you can get a wide array of cheeses. Yes you can get a wide array of toppings for your burger. You can even get your burger without a bun (!). Wow. But a designer burger only goes so far and then you are buying something other than the food and the service. The brand strives, unsuccessfully, to span the chasm into stylish burger-land where customers cheerfully shell out $10+ for a burger. I don't know what's missing, but something is missing and their formula is absent a critical component or two. Maybe it is the noise level (too high). Maybe it is the price (way too high). Maybe it is averageness of everything other than the burger condiments. On the good side: My burger was prepared perfectly and was moist and tasty. The toppings were as advertised and provided in generous portions. Very, very, very enthusiastic server. The fried dill pickle chips were almost as good as those I enjoyed this summer in an Iowa bar. My soda was refilled without my having to ask. On the not so good side: The price. The price. The price. The fries were the shoe string type and looked like the kind you and I buy at the grocery store...just more expensive. Bleh... Noisy. Really noisy. No effort at sound proofing this place. It wasn't that crowed Sunday evening at 7:00 pm, but I had to raise my voice for my wife to hear me across the table. If I return with my wife, we'll split a burger...
(2)
Next G.

Think twice before going here! Burgers were dry and not juicy. The interesting sauces and unique toppings could not save the burger. The fries were like sticks of cardboard. Not crispy and moist in the inside. The only saving thing about this place was the milkshakes. They really could not get their service right when we were there. So many other people had problems with their orders. Sorry, with so many other places in Reston Town Center, even if this was the only place open, I would rather starve than go back here again. EEK!
(1)
Bill M.

Came in on a windy day I needed a break from walking around . After reading other reviews I have to agree service was a little slow, music was a little to loud . Price okay seemed a little high but after tasting the burger it is good quality. I tried to follow the order form and create my burger I was annoyed I didn't get the lettuce I asked for.
(3)
Jennifer D.

Quality was great. The fries are delicious! We went on a day where they were giving out little vegetarian sliders and my husband and friend said they were delicious! Service was great and friendly, would definitely come back again!
(5)
Christine R.

Just okay. Terribly over priced but you've got to know it's because (and only because) it's at RTC. So I wanted a burger and remembered someone mentioning this place and how you order and that they offered... burger bowls. Um okay. The burger itself was good. The garlic fries, which our server described as "good as crack" (really?) were greasy and TINY. Not shoestring thin,it looked as if they took all the nibbles of broken fries and put them in our bowl. Meh. So I built my burger. Kinda interactive and creative - a little bit of a Fosters Grille feel - but wayyyyy more sophisticated. I made a 1/3 lb topped with jalepeno pepperjack, fried green chiles and corn and bean salsa with chipotle sauce on the side. It was good. My medium came out overcooked which is never fun but the burger didn't seem dry. All in all two burgers, two iced teas and an order of fries ended up costing a little over $40 after tip. Probably won't return. My poor S.O. didn't even get any toppings. Because he just likes meat and cheese. I made the comment that the place was geared more towards woman and I truly felt this way... because men really just want meat and cheese. Plus he said no burger place would have a wall of wine to choose from. SO true. It was fun though.... Just feel like it cost too much for what it really was...
(3)
Holly G.

Pretty good burgers with a nice selection of toppings available. I went with the vegetarian patty (not at all dry like most places) on a multi-grain bun and added Gruyere cheese, artichoke hearts, mixed greens, tomato, basil pesto. For low-carbers, or people who just want something a little different, they offer a burger-in-a-bowl. Everything is piled on your choice of greens - it's basically a burger salad. My husband had one and I think he thought it was a little odd but no complaints. We also split the Parmesan fries (it's not a little side order - it's a big plate full) - yum! No major complaints but still not a place we're likely to visit often.
(3)
Nadine F.

The best part of The Counter is that they have patio seating, but that's kind of where its charm ends. The burgers were OK, but you can get better gourmet burgers at a lot of other places around town. The day I went, they were having a special on margaritas for Cinco de Mayo, which tasted like overly sweetened Sprite. I was hoping that the waitress would ask me how everything was, so I could tell her the margarita was terrible and get something else, but she never asked. The Counter wasn't terrible, but with so many better options in Reston Town Center, I don't think I'll be back.
(2)
Anastasia B.

Delicious. A little pricey for a burger, but considering the quality it is totally worth it. I've been back multiple times and have not been disappointed. Staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. My order (that is so good that I can't bring myself to get anything else) - veggie burger (handmade and wonderful, made of brown rice and veggies) on a huge salad with carrots, sprouts, and onion straws with garlic aioli. Side order of parmesan fries. Sometimes, they let me sub onion straws (a premium item) for cheese (same price as premium items) but some of the managers say nay. Ah well, the onion straws are totally worth it.
(5)
C S.

This place is great. At lunch time it is packed and can take awhile to get a seat. However at dinner time it's a great quick place to grab high quality food and has a full bar and great beer selection. I recommend skipping the build your own unless you really know what you want. The counter burger is great so is the red eye. My friend got a chicken burger prior and he really liked it, juicy and fresh. As far as temps they tend to do the medium more medium well. However the medium rare is slightly over and exactly how I like it. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Mark H.

Fast service. Immediately seated and burger took only around 10 min to come. The burger itself was absolutely amazing I love the choice of toppings which range from sunny side up eggs to avocado to pineapple and cranberry. A big selection of sauces for perfect customization of your meal. The bison meat is very tasty. The only reason I take a star off is because of the high prices -10 dollars for a burger with no sides is expensive but honestly it's worth this burger. It's a must try.
(4)
Leo A.

They told us 15 minutes to wait but we waited 45 minutes. They then said 5 minutes and we waited another 15 minutes. After 1 hour we decided to Leave. This was the last time we will go this location.
(1)
Catherine B.

Re: take out service. It turns out, it IS possible to mess up customizable burgers. I like how you can place your order, set the pick up time, and pay online. That being said, I do NOT like how it is up to the customer to exercise due diligence in ensuring the order is correct and complete when picking up. Several times have I had my order messed up. Paid for extra sauce? Too bad! Not only will you not get your extra sauce, you won't get ANY sauce...for ANY of the burgers/sides you order. Premium toppings? Yup, those will be messed up too. You paid $45 for 3 burgers and sides? The Counter can't ensure that your order is complete. Call and express your displeasure about take out service? "Oh, I...uh...whaa? I'll tell the manager?" : : hangs up : : Why is that a question? Where is my apology? Are you incapable of putting the manager on the phone when I call? Am I supposed to drive my food back to get it corrected? That pretty much defeats the concept of take out, which is a hassle free meal. Customers should not be responsible for quality review of take out orders. However, if you choose to order your food to go from The Counter, be prepared to quality check before you depart. Evidently, the onus is on the paying customer.
(1)
Christina K.

I thought this place was too pricey, almost 16 bucks for a burger and onion strings.. I didn't see yellow mustard on the list so i ordered the house mustard which comes for an additional cost. I didn't add any of the "premium" extras which would have been more $$$. I ordered a 1/2 pound cheese burger done well....yes, I do like my burgers well done. When I cut it in half the burger was pink. The waitress did offer to make me a new burger but it was late and everyone else was already eating. I didn't want to sit and watch everyone else eat while my new burger came. The flavor of the meat was ok nothing special. The onion string were just ok too. Really greasy. The service was good. If the meal had been really good, I wouldn't have minded the price. Next time I want an amazing burger and fries I will make the drive out to The Melt in Leesburg. Now that is a place worth the drive and the $$$.
(1)
Robin S.

I was a little bit skeptical of The Counter because while I love burgers the list of ingredients was a bit fancy-pants. That said, my burger was incredible and so were the cheese fries. Service was friendly and fast. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Drew S.

This place takes their burgers very seriously! I'm a big fan of bison burgers and they can be hard to find, but the counter has them . If you are conscious about getting a bunch of protein in your diet but love to eat out instead of map prepping all the time, the counter is a must. Make sure to try all the various sauces.
(4)
Yaka H.

Overall, nicely composed burgers with consistently, thin-cut crispy fries. The reason for the 3 stars? Cleanliness, some of the burger components were a little bit off, and price. Burgers here are cooked to order, which is great! I do think they do tend to undercook to some extent, but that's usually better than overcooking in my opinion. There's a whole slew of create-your-own-burger, types of meats, toppings, sauces, etc. There's pre-set burgers, including a market daily special and 2 monthly burgers. French fries here are thin-cut and golden crisp. Really consistent here. I tried the market select special, which was a lamb burger with lemon mint yogurt sauce, crispy onions, spinach, sautÃ©ed mushrooms on a ciabatta bun. Overall a nice and juicy burger, but the soft, chewy ciabatta bun just detracted from that. It would have been nice to have the bun toasted. Though, personally thought it was quite pricey due to the sheer size of the entire thing. SX's burger really dwarfed mine completely. SX tried the red eye burger, which was a bison patty with egg, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato on a onion bun (instead of the English muffin). That burger patty itself looked 4 times the size of mine, but overall a much better composed burger. That sweet sriracha sauce was delicious. It was quickly turned into a fry dipping sauce. This place could use a good scrub down on the interior, including the tables, chairs, and the floors. Service was pretty MIA on drink refills, but were nice when they were around. Prices here are a bit more than your average burger joint, but if you make the right combination, could be worth it.
(3)
Steve C.

Excellent, but expensive, burgers. We walked through Reston Town Center on a Saturday afternoon. Even though it was close to 2:00, there were a number of patrons indoors and outside of The Counter. Service was terrific, from both the maitre 'd and server (who offered and brought me tastings of the two red wines I was trying to choose between). I, too, love the detailed build-your-burger menu, which allows you to choose meat, size, bun, sauces, and standard and premium toppings ($1 extra for premium). The base 1/3 lb. sandwich starts at $10, which includes toppings and bun choice, but cheese and premium toppings add up quick. Since the 1/2 lb. burger starts at $12.50, you can quickly approach $20 for a 1/2 lb. before ordering a side ($3 each). My wife and son got customized standard-sized cheesburgers, plus one side each and iced tea. I ordered a glass of red wine and the 1/2 chicken sandwich (no side). All of our food was perfectly cooked and delicious. While I think Ray's Hell Burger has better basic grill burger flavor in this area, The Counter burgers were right up there, juicy and perfectly cooked to order, as was my chicken sandwich. All in all, great food and service. But with items described above, our tab was $61 before tip. Ouch. We will be back, but likely more judicious in our ordering.
(4)
Dagny T.

Awesome burgers and milkshakes. I'm rating it 4 stars not 5 though, because shit's expensive. Like $20/burger expensive (at least when I eat there because I pile on the expensive add-ons). I've had both beef burgers and the bison burger. Now their bison burger is advertised as lean meat. Every time a place advertises something as low fat or lean meat - I assume it tastes like shit. (America has this obsession with low fat but everyone keeps getting fatter.. this is a rant that could take me forever to discuss... but suffice to say that it isn't (good) fat that makes people fat - it's overeating carbs.) Anyways, yeah the burgers are delicious and juicy and you can customize it probably an infinite number of ways. i.e. toppings/cheese/etc. You can have your burger served on a bed of greens (they have a bunch of choices, spinach, arugula, mixed, etc) or a variety of buns, including gluten free buns. They have a wide variety of cheeses and other toppings such as artichokes or roasted corn and black bean salsa. The dressing options are also limitless - I love the horseradish mayo. Sweet potato fries are good. Milkshakes are good too - and you can get them spiked. The food tastes clean too. I mean, I'm not sure it is, but my body is usually good at detecting fillers/processed stuff/trans fats/etc by making me all bloated, generally feel lethargic, or have ass blowout. Yes, eat here, be prepared to spend money, but understand that it's money well spent.
(4)
Kathryn K.

I love this place! It's one of the few restaurants where the veggie burger is vegan. They even have vegan cheese and guten free buns! If you also have dietary restrictions this is a great option.
(5)
Saher J.

Customization to the max. I love this place. There are so many choices. I initially had my first experience with this place in California when they opened it up in Palo Alto. I was beyond excited when I found one here in Reston ! This place has a great array of options. Different buns, cheese, sauces, and toppings. It can be overwhelming but who doesn't want to get creative with a burger once in awhile. I really have no favorite because every time I come in I try something different. The price is decent more than an average burger but you pay for quality and creativity. For those less creative they have a menu you can order standard burgers. The staff is up to par. They are polite and pretty efficient. I definitely would recommend it to my friends. Maybe not a date because it can tend to get a little messy.
(5)
Ed M.

The service is not the best. 3 of us ordered, two of us got drinks, though one was supposedly wrong (not). 10 minutes later the new ones showed up. Same as before but this time right. Then told the beer we ordered died and we ordered different beer only to have the original order show 3 minutes later. Time between placing order for beers was average of 20 minutes. Time for food was over 30. These were hamburgers, not like it was a turkey roasted from scratch when ordered. Not impressed.
(1)
Ann T.

Ridiculously. Expensive. For a $16 burger , I'd expect fries to come with the meal. Not at counter burger. That'll run you an extra $3. We were a party of three ppl, and we spent about $90 including tip. Albeit we had drinks, but it was three beers...one of which was a PBR! I just don't get it. The food wasnt that good to warrant the price. I would have much rather gone to Jackson's, Ted's, or any place else in the area for that kind of money. Just wasn't worth it. Never again.
(1)
Sampad D.

Its a huge burger place..They have different type of burgers on menu ..I found most of them to be on costlier side... They also have an option for "Make your own burger" .. I ordered my burger in bun but I will suggest people to have burger in bowl..with the option of having so many stuff to the burger it becomes bit difficult to eat it with bun.. I got my burger for $11 (excluding tax) .. So definitely on the costlier side.. My burger was just OK...Now knowing the concept and geting the feel of it I guess I will beable to order a better burger next time...
(3)
Ariel S.

A great place to build your own burger! Great options to choose from. A little pricy. Great sweet potato fries! Service is always on point.
(4)
Akua O.

This visit I tried the 100% organic bison on the burger with the fried onions. My first try of bison and it was really good! Their fries as always are really good and I also tried their caramel coffee milkshake which was very very good as well. Still one of my favorite burger joints in the area!
(4)
Nicole K.

Decided to stop in here after some retail therapy. Sat at the bar and was greeted by a very friendly bartender with extensive knowledge in local beers. Highly recommend a brew with one of the outstanding burgers.
(5)
T. V.

After meeting Bobby "The Socialite of Reston" on Friday night, he recommended that I and my good friend try this new burger spot in RTC. I like most faithful yelpers, yelped this place to grasp a feel for what I should expect. I must say the burgers were simply delicious and a perfect serving size (whoever said the portions were too small you ma'am/sir are just plain GREEDY). I ordered the "Red Eye": beef patty, cheddar, apple wood bacon, sweet sriracha, and an egg sunny side up that originally came on an English muffin. I instead switched it to a wheat bun. OMG best last minute decision I ever made!! My good friend, however, took on the task of building her own burger. She created a gourmet turkey burger with baby spinach, sharp prov, and smoky chipotle aioli. YUM!! We also ordered the Chili cheese fries...DROOL!! We split those and actually thought we would have enough room to order a milkshake. Fail! So we will definitely return to this place to try a shake this summer! All in all, this place is excellent! Yes you will pay more than what you would at Micky D's or Burger King. That is because the burgers are unquestionably made from REAL MEAT and hello they're GOURMET!! Did I mention they have an Ahi Tuna burger...(gasp) OKAAAY I'm done! This place is awesome!!!
(4)
Annamaria K.

:( I'm so sad to give only ** but the food wasn't as great as it is in Palo Alto Counter, not even close.... We waited forever to receive our food, which was on the cold side....I found burned food bits in my salad...on the other hand my kiddo loved her small cheeseburgers. It was cold inside, we were (and other people too) had our coats on.
(2)
Kerry T.

Very nice place, management was very helpful! Went above and beyond!
(5)
Robn B.

I went there for the first time tonight and I must say it was the BEST burger I've had!!! The host was friendly and my waitress was very knowledgeable of the different types of burgers-beef(so yummy), turkey and veggie. I might have to go back the next couple of nights just so I can taste all of them. The chili fries are insanely delicious but then again so are the sweet potato fries and homemade onion strings. Oh-ya and the milkshake was so delicious I had one there and I got one to go. Awesome music and a great looking staff. I couldn't of asked for a better night.
(5)
A R.

I realize this is primarily a burger joint but I opted for the chicken sandwich. I was disappointed to to find out It was only slightly better than chick-fil-a. Additionally it was a bit skimpy -- they really need a 1/2 lb option. You're much better off going across the street to Jackson's, where you'll get a much better sandwich (larger portion with fries) for the same price. I will say the staff was very friendly and I liked the music but I'll will probably not return.
(2)
Cheryl T.

Let me preface the 3 star rating with I will be following up to re-review after I go again. We got the parmesan fries - which were delish, but VERY oily!! Originally I wasn't a fan of how they bring them out before your burgers, but because of the seasoning, they were more like an appetizer than fries I would eat with a cheesburger. So when my burger came, and I tried to pair the two, it was not a good combo. Next time I am going to do the half and half of fries and onion strings. I got the horseradish cheddar cheese, and was worried about pairing a sauce with it because I thought it would have such a strong taste. Well I don't know if they accidentally gave me regular cheddar or not, but there was zero horseradish taste! All in all, the burger was good, albeit less greasy than I usually like. Looking forward to going back to try different toppings!
(3)
Page L.

I have been to the counter all of three times. The first time my waiter was a very kind person, but the food I ordered was wrong and the burger over cooked and dry. The second time I went the I only ordered fries and beverage and it was good. So the third time I go I order a medium burger, and the gentleman behind the counter says that it will be pink in the middle and I agree upon those terms and pay for my food. However when it came out it was literally dripping blood, when I tried to return the burger he let me know that he had 'warned me' and I did not get a refund and had a nasty case (which I could only assume was) food poisoning for the next couple days (and I only had a bite of the burger!). So in conclusion, there fries are to die for yummy, there service is decent (aside from that one server), and the rest of the food is over priced and tasteless.
(1)
Marjee C.

I agree with other posters that the fries are amazing and I find the condiment/toppig selections to be very compelling (and have visited the restaurant multiple times eager to try new varieties, I also want to add that the the Vegetarian patties are EPIC, truly the very best in the DC metro area. Honestly, I think those of you ordering meat patties are missing out. The only reason I can't give the full five stars is because sometimes the service is a little "meh." That said, this is a must for vegetarians or anyone who wants to know the joy of a paradigm-shifting veggie patty.
(4)
Cory L.

Its been 11 months since dining here. I went in with mediocre expectations....they still failed. Service is terrible. Waitress comes by our table and asks what we would want to drink (hello or hi would have been nice). Leaves before we even finish with our request. Also, service is very slow. You are at the mercy of their excellent time management. Time to chat, time to check my phone, time to horse around. The only time she was nice and actually smiled was when she dropped off the check after running my card. It amazes me that servers think that they should only smile when its time for the tip. Bam. Heres a tip. You earn your money, just like everyone else lol. Well, people come to a burger joint for a good burger, not the service...right? Ok, on to the food. I would probably get a better beef burger at a Popeyes. The burger is bland, not even warm, and the quality of the meat is subpar. I actually asked for mayo because it was super dry (I ordered medium). Lessons learned..again, that just because you can customize your burger, does not make it a gourmet burger. This place is just gimmicky. Dont even remind me of the extra ham topping I ordered (one paper thin shaved (not slice) piece of air dryed ham on top. So thin, it would melt in your mouth, but even then, you wouldnt be able to taste it. Want a good burger? Go to Rays Hellburger (by the way, I did go to Rays this past weekend, so going into Counter made me depressed)..or BRG (not BRB), or Five Guys, heck even that Sinister Clown chain. Counter is all show, no go. Just gimmicky. And to all you Yelpers that actually rave about this place...are you serious? Great, now im the bad guy! remember, 2.5 is average, 3 is good. Whats with all you saying bad things and then giving a 3? This does not help the movement..the "if youre gonna charge more for food, make it more tasty" movement. -Meh. I've experienced ALOT better.
(2)
Tim M.

The burgers are much better than many other burger joints around the DC area. The sweet potato fries and the regular potato fries are delicious as well. They are not soggy nor oily nor overly salted. The string onions are nice, although the crispiness varies from plate to plate. I like mine crispy, which I got. The burgers are as The Counter advertises: build your own burger. I had the 2/3 lbs buffalo, which was pretty lean, but not dry. The bacon was not overly salty , and the greens were fresh. Really, I have nothing to complain about on the burgers or the sides. The organic bison meat is pretty tasty. I appreciated that everything wasn't overly salty (did I say this already), like so many other places. It's a small place, so service (e.g. seating) is going to be challenging just like any other place with limited seating. Although, I saw pretty quick turn over. Our service was quick and we didn't have to ask for refills on drinks. So, service was good as well. Price: I do not understand why people complain about prices when you can look at the menu on line and in advance. If $1.25 for an extra slice of cheese or topping is too much, then don't go there. Even McDonald's charges extra for a small piece of american processed cheese. Are the burgers on the expensive side? Compared to what? My 2/3 lb loaded burger wasn't any more expensive than other places. If you don't want to spend that much on a burger and want to have a formal sit down, you know in advance how much it is going to cost, so go to a different place. The burger on the salad was good as well. The salad is pretty large. The greens were fresh, and the burger on top was good as well. I'll definitely go back again.
(4)
Will H.

The burger was nothing to write home about. With all the fierce burger competition these days, you really have to step up your game. I like to think that I'd give it another shot assuming they were just having a bad day, but it's a bit of a commitment.
(2)
Susan F.

The Counter was okay. It wasn't what I dreamed it would be as I walked by for MONTHS waiting for them to open. You basically get to order your burger by filling out a form and checking off what you want on it. You get to choose from all kinds of toppings and sauces. Fries don't come with the meal they are extra. We opted for the 50/50 where it was half french fries and half sweet potato fries. The fries were okay. The burger was also just okay. They did forget my grilled onions which I know I checked off...but didn't figure it out until I was almost done with my burger. Service was okay.... It was over $30 for 2 burgers, fries, and 2 drinks. I might go back...but only if someone I was with really wanted to go.
(3)
Eric P.

Oh my God, these burgers are orgasmic. It's hard for me to get excited about a burger - I mean they are such an American commodity, why would I want to pay $9 for a 1/3 lb. burger? Because the degree of customization allowed here enables you to create YOUR perfect burger. Every little detail - the freshness of the dill chips, that fact that they know buffalo sauce gets messy, so they put it on the side - coalesces into an amazing burger. This is a perfect example of a place that does one thing, and does it very well. The waitstaff is very attentive, fast and competent as well. Our group arrived on a very cloudy weekday at 12 noon. Every indoor table was occupied, and no one was sitting outside because of the possibility of rain. Rather than being bureaucratic and telling us "sorry, there's a 10-15 minute wait," they let us sit outside and hoisted up an umbrella for us! (Luckily, it never did rain during our meal.) I envy those who work in Reston Town Center and get to enjoy these burgers as much as they want.
(5)
Christine M.

This place is the shit. Modern burgers and fries with a cute modern diner atmosphere. I'm a vegetarian and my husband eats everything and we were both very happy. There are so many options to customize your food. We had the parm fries and holy crap are they delicious! We also had an "adult" milk shake. Boos+ ice cream = life is good. Also, some reviewer said they don't have craft beer. He's lying. I had a Left Hand milk stout there. It wasn't a huge selection of craft beer but they had Port City (Alexandria brewery) and some other stuff there. The service was good too. I was a klutz as usual and as I was putting my food into the doggie bag I dropped it on the floor. One of the managers saw and had the kitchen make me another one. It came out quick too.
(5)
Jon M.

created my own burger. 1/3 lb was enough to satisfy my hunger. veggies were fresh. toppings were fresh. burger was cooked with a perfect pink center. only negative was the cold sweet potatoe fries.
(2)
Becky F.

Great service, friendly staff, and good food. Fried pickles were delicious, and the burgers were spot on. A little pricey, but it is in Reston town center. Its a good place for a picky eater, because you can pick exactly what you want.
(4)
Kelli A.

Before today, I would have given this place 5 stars, I usually love this place and recommend it to all my friends, but today we didn't get the best service... I frequent The Counter more than I'm willing to admit. Food: Although the menu looks amazing, I am a huge fan of the "Build Your Own Burger" option. The quality of their food is great. I've been to tons of burger places, and this will forever be my favorite. The beef burger (I usually get 1/3 lb.) is cooked medium, with unlimited standard toppings for only $10 bucks! This might sound pricey because "it's just a burger", but it's not! Every single topping, right down to the bun, has an amazing flavor/taste. Service: I hate to knock a few stars off for service, as I've been here 10+ times in the past year and a half and always had a pleasant experience. Today was my first "terrible" experience, however. I'll give the disclaimer that we came during lunch time, but when we were seated, the patio was empty--just us four ladies. We didn't demand much, as I've worked in the restaurant industry before, so I'm very mindful of how we treat our servers. She seldom came to the table. We were on our first or second bite and she comes to our table and asks, "Did you want your check?" Perhaps I'm thinking too much into this, but ehhh that's pretty rude considering our plates just touched down to our tables. I let that go. Now comes the real time where we ask for our check. Again, being in the restaurant industry, especially during lunch, I ask if checks need to be split. I would have let her know initially that we would be splitting checks, but she was all over the place. Anywho, the check comes, all on one check and we all have different forms of payment. I asked her if we could split the checks and she gives me a blank stare and says she can't. My friend interrupts me and asks if we could just separate it on the back and she can divvy it out like that. The server literally says to us, "Yeah, that's the only option. I can't split your checks because I'm busy." uh... yeah. okay. I'll leave that alone. Checks come, but of course she charged us incorrectly. We were so frustrated that we just signed our receipts and left. I'll stick to the bar next time, which is where I usually sit, and get topnotch service even though the bartenders have to make EVERY TABLE'S drink.
(4)
Jade S.

My girlfriend had been in London and had a small layover at Dulles. We went to The Counter bc she had been craving it so much. Everything is delicious but make sure to get the parm fries!
(5)
Omar R.

Glad I found this place! Friendly staff, right on the town center... Kid and crowd pleaser because who doesn't like burgers and fries??? Plus the New Belgium Hop Kitchen on Tap is the Shiznit! You can order a burger from the menu or make your own! Go traditional or make it In a bowl (Dodge the Gluten)... They've got GMO free antibiotic free Beef. This place is pretty cool, give it a chance.
(5)
Melissa J.

The burgers are always so juicy! Whenever I crave a cheese burger I always think of In-n-out and the Counter. Since the nearest In-n-out is 3000 miles away, the Counter will have to do. They also have incredible boozy milk shakes. Minus one star because the seats are aluminum and the overall atmosphere is just cold. Every time I go in this place I freeze my buns off. Maybe patio seating is the way to go?
(4)
Sant A.

Stopped by for burgers, as recommended by a friend...nice atmosphere...waitress took order...they didn't ask how we wanted each burger cooked and when the burgers arrived, my wife's burger was just about rare and mine was medium rare...we sent them back and they brought back cooked to our liking...it would have been nice to have been asked first..burger was pretty good when cooked but just a lil pricey for just a burger and fries...$15 Burger, yikes...am I ordering a hotel burger? Don't think I will be going back
(2)
Thomas S.

The Counter is a fun and exciting place to spend some time for a delicious meal either by yourself or with friends. I really enjoy the way you can either order off the menu or are able to use a "worksheet" to create a burger if your choosing along with picking from a variety of sauces, cheeses, and toppings that you could add onto the item of choice. Have a pleasant and knowledgeable wait staff and the food did not take very long to come out once ordered. Last time was completely full and food took about 10 minutes. The staff keep on top of your drinks and so far I have not had a refill waiting before finishing my current glass. This is a great spot to eat if at the RTC for shopping or just to kill some time before going to the cinema. Would definitely go back and will be bringing some friends and family along for the ride.
(4)
Dave G.

Oh well, they did it again...Ruined the burger and ruined the fries. When it's good, it's r-e-e-e-e-a-l good. But, majority of the time it's an expensive waste of time here. Update: AND THEN, he had the gall to charge me double for stuff I didn't even order! Didn't bother to tell the mgr that I was not happy, nor did the mgr think anything was wrong when an entire triple order bowl of fires came back untouched. Giving up on this place. Period.
(2)
Michael A.

Oh, The Counter. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 1: Quality The quality of the meat the veggies is INTENSE. I have never had anything from here that wasn't absolutely 100% fresh and delicious. (And I eat here so often the staff often crack jokes about it.) 2: Value Yeah, it's not exactly as cheap as the Dollar Menu, but the fact that I can get a pound of meat and a plethora of toppings for less than 20 bucks, well that's value to me. 3: Service Always snappy. I've never felt abandoned here. Never. Not once. 4: THE MILKSHAKES, OH DEAR GOD THE MILK SHAKES THEY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE (AND YOUR WAISTLINE.)
(5)
Zainab Q.

If you're in the mood for a well-prepared, gourmet burger, this is your place! The meat selections vary from chicken to bison, and the selection of toppings are endless! Great place to create a custom burger to your own liking. And, their sweet potato fries are amazing. Mouthwatering. I ate those more than the actual burger.
(4)
J K.

Pricey but good ... While I wouldn't trek out to Reston just for their burger, I would recommend you give it a try when in the area. This trendy, upscale burger joint boasts all sorts of condiments and toppings, mundane to esoteric, alfalfa, goat cheese, kale, daikon, dried cranberries, etc. However, in the end, the burger is only good as it's meat and the way it's cooked. Strip away the accroutrement pretensions, you still have a very good burger. My favorite, Old School ...
(4)
Delali S.

Love it. Ate twice there. Food is great and fresh. Meat is tasty. Servers are genuinely nice and helpful. Try the vegetables skewers its AMAZING. bit pricey but its good quality food so its worth it.
(5)
Sal D.

I've been here a few times in the past but I went this past Friday for lunch. I usually wait for a table but decided to sit at the bar this time with a co-worker. From my experience the service varies and usually only go here when I'm not pressured for time. However this time the service at the bar was quick efficient. Our bartender definitely knew how to provide fast service. She recommended us some great beer and food selections. Always go for the customized burger because that is the best part! Definitely worth coming here but try getting a seat at the bar if possible.
(4)
Sarah C.

These are Gourmet burgers, with a capital "G". Yes, they are pricey. But they are worth it. The place is small with little seating, so it does get crowded. And with people constantly going in and out the door, it can get pretty cold. BUT - the decor is clean and modern and fun and their counter is also a bar with a pretty decent selection (especially for a burger joint). The burgers are huge and messy and you can load them up with all kinds of unique toppings (feta, blue cheese, boiled eggs, pineapple, sprouts, avocado, mushrooms, artichoke) and sauces (Pesto, Ginger Soy, Horseradish, Peanut Sauce, Tzatziki) though a lot of things have additional costs that can add up (bacon, really? Is that not standard burger fare?). If building your own custom burger is daunting, you can order on of their signature burgers. They also have killer sides (sweet potato fries, garlic parmesan fries, chili cheese fries, fried pickles), shakes, and boozy shakes. *EDIT* There are some bad reviews on here (mostly from 2009/2010) complaining of bad service and dry burgers. The service is still a little chaotic (not bad), but the burgers are anything but dry. Mine have always been super juicy - running all over my hand and plate when I eat them.
(5)
Winston S.

Above average burgers, although despite ordering the meat to be medium rare, ours was bleeding so much it was practically mooing. We almost sent it back, but decided not to bother. Order medium if you want medium rare.
(3)
Harsh A.

I love this place Great tasting vegetarian burger.. Its not a burger its like a pizza burger ..unlimited toppings
(5)
Caitlin B.

Great service, great price, clean and cozy atmosphere. The Counter has an amazing selection to build your own burger. The veggie burger is delicious and all ingredients are fresh. Love their milkshakes and shoestring fries as well!!
(5)
David A.

We've been several times, and love it. Waiters are friendly and efficient, but above all, the burgers are outstanding. The best part is that you have numerous options regarding the burger bun (or just a bed of salad), cheeses, and toppings. You can choose from over two dozen items to accessorize your creation, to include onions, grilled onions, red onions, mushrooms, various other veggies, etc... And there's more! The sweet potato fries are sublime, and the beer selection quite respectable. It's a casual place in a high-end environment with very reasonable prices.
(5)
Sophia A.

I am so glad The Counter came to Reston. It is my favorite restaurant in Reston Town Center and my go-to spot while I am in town! The sweet potato fries are incredible and the customizable burgers are great (I am personally a fan of the grilled pineapple). Also, be sure to try the bison burger!!! It is a bit pricy, but the selection and location are fantastic, and (when it's nice out,) there is a great outdoor seating area.
(5)
Max D.

Hands down best service I've had anywhere. Our server Tyler was incredibly friendly with our whole group and had us laughing most of the time when she came over, very beautiful girl too. She suggested the Loaded Spuds to start us off and they quickly became my favorite fry appetizer. I didn't feel much like making my own burger so I just ordered the Knife and Fork. Phenomenal burger. I never really would have thought of putting fries on my burger but it worked!! This place will definitely be seeing more of me (hopefully when Tyler is working!)
(5)
Helon L.

Built my own burger this last visit. It's been a while since I last been to counter. The sweet potato fries in the 50/50 fries order was limpy and soggy. We could tell it wasn't freshly prepared... But the restaurant was packed, too. That kinda ruined the experience for me, I mean that usually was the highlight every time we go the, and I thought it is supposed to be a popular item. In addition, the multigrain buns on the burger was not that impressive; it lacked texture and sort of melted into the other ingredients. Overall, the food didn't appear gourmet-like anymore, that's too bad.
(2)
Donald G.

Went here with a friend today. I made my own burger, she got an ahi tuna burger, and we split sweet potato fries and their regular fries. The food tasted great and you could tell the ingredients were fresh. The only issue we had was lack of attentiveness from our waiter; however, it wasn't all his fault. He appeared to be the only waiter for a lot of tables. Although I thought it was a little pricy, the food was good so I can't complain too much!
(4)
Jerica D.

This is my go to place for sliders esp. during their happy hour when sliders are $2 a slider and half off side items! This place is located in the Reston Town center and is very nice to eat outside on a summer day. Their shakes are really good for a little more $ you can mix your shakes with alky! They also serve Beer and wine or have a full bar if you wish. They have the best fries and curly strings!!! The bad--The inside is a little tight when it is crowded and not much seating. I only orders sliders when i go, but my husband once ordered a regular size burger and he was not happy and said it did not taste good.The last few times I have went have not been so up to par. But this hasn't stopped me from coming or being a regular.
(3)
Lynn S.

Burgers here have been fine with lots of personal choices in the toppings. Side dishes have been good, too, but a restaurant should be cleaner. Summer is a time to seek out restaurants with pleasant outdoor areas where you can relax and get a bite to eat. The patio looked inviting until I saw jars of condiments baking in plastic containers. No one seemed to care even after I mentioned it.
(2)
Sam Y.

I was watching an episode of Food Paradise on burgers and I had a really bad craving for a big, juicy burger. My friend said that there was a place in Reston Town Center that she had never been to before, so we decided to check it out. The decor is pretty nice - there was only one long booth along side both walls and a bunch of little tables throughout. The weather was incredible on the night we went, so there was a very long wait for outdoor tables. We chose to sit inside because we were starving. The way you order is a little unique. You can get one of their specialty burgers off the menu, but they also have a paper/pad so you can pick exactly what kind of burger you want (bun, meat, toppings, extras, and sauce). I thought this was a really great idea and they really had a lot of different choices. The reason why I'm giving this place two stars: 1) The service was incredibly slow. My friends and I had to wait foreverrrr to get anything. The server walked by a couple of times and didn't give us refills until we asked. Granted, it was near closing time, but there were still a couple other parties besides us, so it wasn't like they were going to be able to leave any sooner by not giving us refills. The food took a really long time to come out as well. That would be understandable if the burgers were AMAZING, but on to my next point. 2) The meat was incredibly under-seasoned and burnt. Our sever explained to us when we were ordering that their medium is a little more pink than normal places. I like my steaks medium-rare, but I always tend to eat my burgers cooked a little more thoroughly. So, I asked for it to be cooked a little more on the medium-well side. He shouldn't have even wasted his time explaining all of that because the meat came out super dry. No hints of pink at all. 3) Finally, this place is way too expensive for a burger joint. If the quality was great, I wouldn't complain, but for what it is... I definitely felt jipped. We were a party of four: ordered four burgers, two appetizer fries and four sodas and the total came out to be close to $80. That's just ridiculous. Save your money! I would rather go get a whopper from Burger King than to eat here again.
(2)
Aaron S.

Burgers are a bit pricy but they are quality! I enjoy mixing and matching all the options! Seriously, they give you a checklist with a pencil and clipboard so you can order your burger. There are literally hundreds of options! Also their taps change quite often and have some unique choices too. Staff are quirky but in a good way and are very pleasant! If you want a low key place that has above average burgers and good beer, you should be here!
(4)
Amanda W.

Food is reasonable, so I'm told. They push the custom burger but that was a bad idea for us. Our order was wrong several times, the kitchen was slow and our waiter had to be reminded to bring things like lemon. Items weren't ready at the same time. For example, fries weren't ready when the burger was. They also forgot several items on my order. He first brought me one of them but when we realized other toppings were missing, he took my plate. I did not get my order back until well after everyone else was done and we were ready to go. The manager removed my item from the check, which was appropriate since I never ate it. Most people go to a restaraunt to eat, not watch everyone else. Bummer.
(2)
Lauryn G.

DON'T GET THE VEGGIE BURGER! It was highly recommended from our waitress, who described it as hearty and delicious. Most certainly not either of those descriptors. The veggie burger even looked gross; both weirdly sweet and a fall apart consistency, this was the most expensive and most disgusting meal I've ever had. I was shocked that after telling the waitress (who disappeared for the entirety of our meal leaving us with no refills and none of the sauces that we had ordered) that my barely touched food was really not good, she cheerfully responded, "Okay! I'll go get your check then." Umm.... really? I paid almost $20 for the grossest uneaten meal. Yuck, just don't go here.
(1)
Aaron G.

Three-star burgers at five-star prices. The Counter offers a B-range burger experience. Better than Five Guys, but not as good as Good Eats or Rays. Unfortunately they've raised their prices, so expect a meal to cost at least $20, which, when you think about it, is really kind of ridiculous. For this reason, The Counter is now stricken from my shortlist of go-to places. Also, they no longer offer a 1lb burger and extra patties are $5 (twice as much as most places). On the plus side, they have lots of topping options, all of which appear fresh, and offer milkshakes and booze. The outdoor seating is nice. Service is adequate.
(2)
Asia G.

I would have given 3 stars , but as of September the price for a 2/3lb burger will cost you $15.64. Today, I download their menu online, placed my order over the phone. Pickup and surprise! it's now 3.25$ extra because of mandatory side item. No , I prefer not to order fries, or side of mixed greens. Too bad, you'll still get charged for it. For me paying almost 16$ for a burger is a bit steep for my blood. I meet my SO for lunch here 2-3 times a week, we'll be looking for other options due to the recent change. Note: not all counter locations enforce a mandatory side option, the Reston Location is however (Step# 6 of self check menu). Pretty sly if you ask me. I'll post pics of the new and old menu.
(1)
Bryan L.

Cody K Server #1007 Reston VA location . Ask for him by name Yelpers. This guy was an amazing server. I got a Bison burger and the lady got a regular cheese burger. Spent 30something dollhairs. Never a dry glass, refills by the dozen. Speedy service with a smile and wonderful suggestions. BOOM
(5)
Annabelle L.

finally came here for lunch after meaning to try it for ages. their veggie burgers are awesome! i had the veggie burger in a bowl, with mixed greens, dill pickle chips, grilled pineapple, roasted red peppers, sauteed mushrooms, greek feta & a lemon vinaigrette. it was beyond delicious! my friends & i each ordered a burger. we also got fried pickle chips & sweet potato fries for the table to share. we ended up taking most of that home, the burgers were so filling by themselves. you will not have room for dessert. or even dinner later. the ability to get your burger in a bowl is nice. it's much less messy to eat & felt a little more classy. they do offer gluten-free buns as well. the outdoor seating is ample & our server was very sweet. if you need lunch after a hard day of shopping at reston town center, i recommend this one!
(4)
Tom G.

More of a restaurant than a usual burger cafe. Cost a little more but we go for the organic burgers with whole grain buns.
(4)
H H.

This is my go to place when my child and I need dinner. We usually get their burgers and milkshakes-yum. I would have given this place 4 stars but here is why I don't. OVERPRICED! Seriously, a $12 hamburger? Do they slaughter the cows out back? The milkshakes are delicious, but do they spike them with cocaine? You will break the bank eating at this place when for $4 you could eat the same at McDonalds, not that I advocate McDonalds, but GEESH. SERVICE! Ugh. First time we went, I ordered the mini hamburgers and pointed to the CHILDRENS menu (after all I had a CHILD). The waiter brought out 4 mini hamburgers. I thought to myself, hm, it said 2. Well, on the adult menu is also mini hamburgers and for more money! That kind of pissed me off when I got the check. The last time I went the server forgot our fries though we asked three times and he was a bit glib. As we were about to give him our order (one person was just mulling it over for a second-all of us VERY hungry) he kept saying "I'll come back" then it took him a good 15 minutes to return. BATHROOMS! My shoes were sticking to the floor-GROSS Other than that, you wont be disapointed. Decent outside seating, inside is a bit loud and crowded. You come in and if you are ordering a specialty hamburger, you pick out what you want on it by checking off a menu with a little pencil. DELICIOUS Milkshakes (especially the adult ones) Fried pickles-OMG, never thought I would like these They do take out but like most restaurants, be forewarned, the quality of the food is different and they forget to pack stuff, like the delicious sauce the fried pickles come with.
(3)
Christine M.

If I'm being honest- the burgers are okayand the options are endless. The issue is that I do not see a vast difference between your usual burger place suspects-- around 16+ dollars for a burger and fries is too expensive.
(3)
Lolah B.

Love the food but a bit over priced for a tiny portion. Kid-friendly place. PS. does not come with fries. you have to order separate.. but they do have a lot of different types of fries. I customized my burger, but I still felt hungry afterwards. The servers were friendly, and helpful. The place is a great for families, there's a lot of kids dining at the restaurant (which I love). I hate restaurants that get all snobby when you have your crazy kids with you. Overall, I loved the food. hate the pricing. great place for families with a lot of kids.
(3)
AgentxAngel X.

you'd think that one thing a burger place should be able to do is cook a burger properly. asked for my burger medium rare and it came out medium well. both the burgers we got had an over-cooked egg on it, which they have listed on their menu as "sunny side up." what a disappointment. the bartender seemed to try his best not to acknowledge the situation too. the only reason i give it two stars was cause of the fries.
(2)
Ami F.

Enjoyed the Counter but overall it's overpriced, even by DC standards. The good stuff - Lots of fun drink options to choose from, including interesting beers and adult milkshakes. - The hostess and our waitress were both extremely friendly and walked us through the menu. - Our waitress suggested the parmesan fries and told us they were "like crack"... and they were! Which is good but bad at the same time since you can eat a lot of those dang fries - I liked that you can order burgers "in a bowl". At first this sounded weird, but a lot of times I don't want all that bread anyways, so it worked out - You can customize your burger size, meat, cheeses, toppings etc. And there is A LOT of choice. The not so great stuff - The burgers.. I got the "un-brie-lievable and my boyfriend built his own. While we both liked our burgers, neither of us thought they were anything special. Part of the problem with having so much choice on the "build your own" model, is that it can be really confusing to figure out what combinations will taste good together. Plus, you can really rack up the costs with the additional toppings. - Service was a bit slow for it not being that busy (we went at 8:30ish on a Friday night) - It was really cold for some reason. I usually try not to complain about such random things, but if you go, bring a sweater with you. Bottom line: I would give this a 2.5 rating if I could. It's a fun place, but for a couple of mediocre burgers, it shouldn't cost nearly this much.
(3)
Cory R.

The burgers are good - top notch ingredients. Pass on the deviled eggs though, they were uninspired and overcooked.
(3)
Ali Z.

I tried this place a few years ago when it first opened and thought the burgers were average at best and not worth the price. I went back yesterday and thought the burger was amazing. It was so tasty I didn't need to add any ketchup to my burger. The toppings were fresh and sweet potato fries were good too. I am docking one star because they take a long time to bring out your food.
(4)
Ting W.

Wonderful burgers that are a little higher quality than I'm used to. With that higher quality comes with a higher price tag, but it's worth it. Their sweet potato fries are good but I wish the portion size of the fries were larger. We used a livingsocial/groupon (can't remember which) deal when we came here so luckily, the price went down for us. If the deal appeared again, I would likely come visit again. I only wish the Counter was located closer to where I resided so I could order more frequently.
(4)
Taylor D.

My boyfriend and I were here last night for dinner. While we were eating he said, "I don't get it why you haven't written a review for this place yet." So I told myself I would. The burgers are amazing every time, the staff is friendly, the location is great (who could complain about Reston though?), and it's an all over great experience. You can chose what you want on your burger from the large array of toppings and sauces they have. Even when it's busy, your food comes out in a short amount of time and is as delicious as it could ever get. Though i'm never able to finish my burger completely, even though i wish i could, the burgers are great even heated up at home. So don't be worried if you have left overs. The only bad thing i really have to say is that it's a bit on the pricey side, especially for burgers. I think it's worth what you pay for though. So if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend that you do.
(5)
Bobby R.

What a wonderful, terrible circle into which I have fallen. All my reviews are of three- or four-star quality because I look at Yelp ahead of time and only go to three- or four-star places (or higher, if I can find them). This is no exception. I mean, it's a burger joint; I really wasn't expecting to be blown away by anything. That said, the service was very attentive, informative, and professional, the atmosphere was very nice (I sat at the bar), and burger was really very good. Shaundra did an excellent job of walking through the ordering process and was on top of everything as far as I could tell. The burger came out very quickly (which makes me think these patties aren't truly made to order, but who cares?) and the fries soon followed. All in all, I would happily return or even suggest it as a lunch option. So I play this little game with myself...I intentionally do not look at menu prices (sometimes you cannot help it, but I always order whatever I want and never do a tally) and at the end of every meal I eat at a new restaurant, I set a number in my head on the VALUE I think I have received (not what I think the price is going to be). "That felt like a [insert value here] meal." If the actual price is below that number, I feel like I received a consumer surplus and therefore my impression goes way up. If the price is higher than the number I predetermined, I think I may be getting the shaft a little, and that never feels good unless you're into that sort of thing. No exception here...a bacon cheeseburger with fries (with stuff on them - Parmesan and herbs, I think) and a soda...felt like a $16 meal. Nope, just shy of $19. And Shaundra was so good, I had to leave a decent tip. So $23 for a burger, fries, and a drink. $23. For a burger. That felt like a [insert shaft here] meal.
(3)
Joshua D.

I really like the concept, but it's poorly executed. Slow service, and last time I was in there, the music was so loud it actually hurt my ears. Like even louder than that bar loudness where you have to yell over people. It was actually painful. The food is OK, a little bland. I like the natural, local aspects, but I am not going to make any special trips to this place. And it's really in a bad location. Why would I get burgers at RTC? It's where people go to lunch with clients or dinner with friends -- over-the-counter burgers don't really fit that bill.
(2)
Howard C.

Great fries, great service. This place was laid back. It was everything you imagined a burger bar to be, nice selection of beverages and burgers. The reason I give this place only three stars is because the prices were a bit higher than I thought the food deserved. The service was nice and helpful as well. This is a great place to catch up with an old buddy, but not to take a girl on a first date or anniversary. I would not have any qualms returning here.
(3)
Jennette L.

Burgers where cooked perfectly. Sweet potato fries where addicting. Regular fries got stale quick.
(4)
J K.

Burger was pretty good there. Forgot exactly what toppings I chose but everything came out good including my sweet potato fries with garlic aioli for dipping. I like that they let choose a dipping sauce with your fries. Our server was enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
(4)
Mimi P.

Oprah's favorite burger?!?! Undoubtedly, among one of mine =) The Counter's concept seemed appealing -gourmet burgers but not at gourmet prices. How can you beat that? The Counter tries to impress you anywhere from the bun to the meat and even the additional condiments/sauces. They have a large selections of toppings and sauces. If you're into a great deal of a burger the 2/3lb burger is really juicy and they cook it to perfection- nice and pink. On top of that, the onion fries go great with their burgers. I prefer to stuff them into my burger. Though, I do wish they had alotted more selection of toppings on your burger at no extra cost when you get the "make-your-own burger." Still, I'm a fan.
(4)
Sepi B.

We love the food. I'm a vegetarian, my hubby is on a gluten-free diet and our teenager has a BIG appetite. So, food-wise this place caters very well to our taste and dietary needs. Then, why two stars??? This place, unfortunately, has one of the worst services you could ever find in the Reston Town Center area. The servers are amazingly spacey. They make so many mistakes, its just ridiculous. Once the waitress forgot to bring back my credit card. I left the restaurant not realizing I had it. But the next morning I realized they never returned it to me. It took them 3 days to find it after vehemently denying they had my credit card. & the manager never even offered a simple apology! Laughable. Another time, my husband and son went to The Counter and specifically told the server they are on a time constraint and they need to be out the door in half an hour. Would they be able to expedite the order? The server said yes! And the food never arrived. People who got there after them were served but not my family. My husband & son had to leave hungry and again, no one batted an eye. So, I'd say go for the food if you must (pay cash so they don't lose your CC) and don't expect good service. With that expectation in mind, you'll love the burgers.
(2)
Cat P.

Even when I was still an omnivore, I never really craved hamburgers. I found most patties too bland for my taste, with the exception of our local darling, Five Guys. Anyway, so the disclaimer: This review is for a veggie burger that I created using their very Chipotlish concept and the restaurant as a whole. First, I was pleasantly surprised when I entered the Counter for the first time. I was expecting it to be a fast food/self-serve type place, but it's actually full-service with a cheerful host who takes you to your table. The tables are diner-like, but the overall space stands out for being somewhat trendy-looking thanks to more modern wall art and hip servers (piercings, tats, cool hair). Anyway, back to the food. The idea behind the Counter is that you can customize your own burgers with their humanely sourced meats or in-house vegetarian patty. In addition to creating your own burger, you can also get one of their signature burgers, combinations already determined for you. The special of the day was their lamb burger, which, even to me, sounded really good. There was a veggie option, too, but we opted to make our own. So first you select your protein, the usual. Then you select your cheese. Choices included muenster, goat (never really thought to put goat cheese on a burger), brie, jack, cheddar, and more. You then got to choose up to four toppings. They also had some "premium" add-ons, such as avocado. The next step was picking one of their many sauces to go with it. Lastly, you picked your bun, or chose to go bunless. Our creation was a veggie patty with Gruyere, topped with sprouts, avocado, roasted red peppers, and roasted garlic aioli. Yum, yum, yum. The patty was livened up with bits of smoky corn kernels throughout, very nice touch. Probably one of the best veggie burgers I've ever had. And that aioli? It was bangin'! You can't really go wrong with the toppings we chose, but the delicious sauce and flavorful patty made it all the better. We also shared some sweet potato fries, onion rings, and fried pickles. (This diet isn't working!) I loved all of these sides. The onion rings were super thin, which is my preference, though not his. They were shoestring onion rings, if you will. The sweet potato fries were nice and crispy. Not a pickle fan, but as any foodie or chef will tell you-everything tastes better fried. But it's not just that the food was fried, the ranch and other sauces accompanying our guilty pleasures were tasty and addictive. My first time at the Counter was a great overall experience. Besides the great food, we also enjoyed the attentive and accommodating service. Both left full and happy.
(4)
David H.

They give you a menu of various buns, types of meat (beef, bison, etc.) and toppings to pick for your burger. I like that you check the boxes for your desired burger, eliminating the annoyance of the waiter hearing your "no mayo" request as "extra mayo" or failing to write down your order then giving you the wrong order. I also like the variety of toppings and the burger was well seasoned and went well with the onion roll. The burger was very good but not amazing. The fries were just average and the really thin type that you either love or hate. I enjoyed my lunch and would be back if I'm in the area but with so many other burger places worth trying in the DC area I wouldn't make a special trip.
(3)
Big M.

Lunchtime at The Counter with my co-workers. Got there around 11:50, peak lunchtime rush. Wait was not bad, about 10 minutes. I ordered the Southwestern Burger in a Bowl with sweet potato fries. Burger was cooked to order (medium rare) and the guacamole was fresh. Burger was good - but not spectacular. LOTS of options for toppings. The burger tasted a bit dry as if it had been cooked, kept warm and then reheated just before serving. Not bad, mind you, but when you pay $17.50 for a burger, it had better stand out. Given this was served 'in a bowl' you'd expect all the fixings (lettuce, corn & black bean salsa, etc) to be fresh. They weren't - they tasted tired and somewhat wilted. What I really liked: Sweet potato fries were awesome! They were served with a side of horseradish dipping sauce - quite yummy! Ditto for the onion rings - crispy, delicate wisps of onion - not greasy at all! Service was a bit slow as they appeared to be understaffed. Those present were in a constant state of hustle, Finally, a member of our group had requested 'medium-well', but received a 'medium-rare' - more rare than mine. The waiter was apologetic and a new burger was remade without any fuss. Sadly, it too was medium-rare. This works fine for those of us who like our beef still mooing, not so good for those who don't. I'd like to try The Counter during non-rush periods and see what the kitchen can do when things are a bit more relaxed.
(3)
Saritah K.

We were craving hamburgers and this seemed like the right place to try. We were surprised to find it is a proper sit down restaurant and not a fast food place. Our server was one of the most attentive servers we have ever had. He made suggestions but he wasn't pushy. He let us take our time but he never forgot about us. So for the ordering you get a piece of paper with check boxes and you can choose how you want your burger: what kind of meat, what cheese, what toppings, what sauce. I really liked that it was customizable. Taste-wise mine was great. The fries and sweet potato fries were good too. They have many adult drink offerings and happy hour too. So some time we'll have to go back and try that out. And of course the next time I have a hamburger craving this will be my go-to place.
(4)
Daniel G.

One of the better "high end" burger places in the area. Beef quality is very high. Shakes are good. Most toppings are quite good - try the onion straws, they are awesome. That being said, the quality of the burger is such that I wouldn't kill it with toppings - I made that mistake my first time. Service is prompt and friendly. Store is NOT overly large and can be crowded. This is a casual place - not for business and not for a date.
(4)
Claudia J.

Overrated and over priced. Although, I might attempt to attribute the pricing due to being located in RTC. :::What I loved -sweet potato fries and the french fries (50-50) served with the house horseradish ketchup sauce= DANK! -Oreo milk shake :::The burgers Meh. Were they good? They were"aiight". Plenty of toppings to pick from, but... I dunno, the meal was underwhelming. Nada to write home about, or really even remember. ... If you're coming to a burger joint for burgers, the sides shouldn't be the highlight.
(3)
Charles F.

If there is one word to describe "The Counter" it is options. I have been to the restaurant on several occasions. Most recently, I took a friend out for lunch and decided to take them to "The Counter" If you are into burgers and choices, this is the place to go. The burgers come in 1/3-pound increments and are probably the most delicious burgers I've had in a while. With the sheer choices available, you may want to plan ahead and check out their menu online to plan your attack. When you do decide to go, be sure to order an appetizer of sweet potato fries to go along with your meal. They are wonderful, and are served with a horseradish mayo. It is absolutely delightful, and they give a very fresh taste to begin the meal. Then, when you are not expecting it, out on a plate comes your massive hunk of beef, topped with all sorts of deliciousness. For instance, I managed to eat a 1/3-lb burger, topped with lettuce, tomato, zesty BBQ sauce, applewood smoked bacon and gruyere cheese, served on an onion bun cooked medium well. It was big, juicy and I engulfed every last bite. If you are into burgers and enjoy playing with your flavor options (and experimenting with your palate) then give "The Counter" a go.
(4)
Anita C.

The Counter has enormous burgers that are pretty much a heart-attack on a plate. Delicious. You custom-make your burger, beginning with the type & size of protein. You can choose from beef, chicken, or fish(?), and the smallest size is 1/3 of a pound. There's also a 2/3 pound option. I ordered the 1/3 lb beef and it was $9.00. The possibilities after that are endless. You choose: 1) Type & size of protein: beef, chicken, etc. 2) Type of cheese: brie, 2 kinds of cheddar, jalapeno jack, etc. 3) 4 toppings: organic mixed greens, lettuce mix, dill pickle chips, sprouts, tomatoes, jalapenos, etc. 4) 1 sauce: honey mustard, mayo, sweet BBQ, etc. 5) + $1.25 each for premium toppings: housemade guac, avocado, etc. 6) Type of bun: onion, multigrain, plain You can opt to put your combination in a salad mix instead of a bun, if you'd like a healthier option. That's +$1.00. The aforementioned options are just a few of the selections they have - there are at least 15 options for each category! My burger was a perfect medium and the cheese was nicely melted on top. I got it on top of a salad mix for a lighter counterpart. We also got the 50/50 fries with sweet potato fries & regular fries. The sweet potato ones were WONDERFUL. Get them!! Btw, this place is excellent for large parties. We came with a party of 6 for lunch, and our waitress kindly offered to split our checks. More impressively, she split our 50/50 fries in six. My bill read, "50/50 fries at 1/6 = 70 cents per." Pretty awesome, right?
(4)
John G.

Not bad , but really not impressive , personally would have enjoyed a five guys burger instead. Sauce for fries was tasty here though.
(2)
Johnson H.

I visited this spot for the first time tonight. It's a gourmet-create-your-own 1/3lb, 2/3lb, or 1lb burger joint. With enough variety of toppings for you to choose from that I probably spent 10-15mins scanning a rundown of it all then taking a deep breath and... start personalizing my burger. I created a 1/3lb, Medium (that came out more like medium-well :( but to my surprise it was still a juicy patty. That definitely gives kudos for the quality of the meat!) topped with gruyer, mixed greens, fresh sliced tomatoes, 'fried' (caramelized) onions, on a ciabatta roll with a chitpole aioli on the side. And a order of sweet potato fries (sold separately) When I completed my burger & sweet potato fries. I was surprised but glad that my meal didn't feel heavy and greasy. Say in comparison to consuming a similar meal at any local FiveGuys. The restaurant itself is very contempo diner with a bar/lounge twist to it? Something pleasantly different to the rest of the offerings within Reston Towncenter. The staff was courteous and attentive. We didn't feel rushed out of there after we finished eating and was just laughing and catching up. I would go back to give them a try again. Hopefully, next time my burger will be cooked to just right. Like they did for my friend's tonight.
(3)
Jorina N.

We always find ourselves coming back whenever we are craving burgers. It's really good, juicy, not greasy and the quality of food and service are consistent everytime! They have over 15 different topics to choose from...and we always have fun trying different combinations each time we visit. sweet potato fries are always our standard app!!
(5)
S W.

A burger and fries, I really enjoyed the concept here. Design your own burger, different meat selections, various bun and topping and sauces. Good service, quick service!
(4)
Greg O.

The only thing keeping my rating of the Counter up this high is the food. First of all, my compliments to the chef. The fries were delicious- we wanted to try the onion strings, but they were out, so we went with the Parmesan and sweet potato fries- both excellent. And the burger was delicious again- perfectly cooked and the toppings were all good. If only the service lived up to the food. This time we were practically ignored by our server the entire time. He was slow to even acknowledge us after we sat down, never offered a drink refill and never asked how the meal was. (On a side note, the server we flagged down to refill our drinks was very nice and accommodating, I wish he had been our actual server.) I finally had to flag our server down to just get the check. I really want to keep coming back since the food is so good, but the service has a lot of catching up to do.
(3)
Jeanne B.

Awesome burgers!!! Went in to try this place and loved it. Our waitress was very helpful, if overwhelmed with tables but not her fault. You order from a "make your own" burger clipboard. The toppings are "different" for burgers. I had cole slaw and craisins. The sweet potato fries and fried onion strings were super as well! Can't wait to go back and try one of their "adult" milkshakes!
(4)
Jennifer M.

Burgers and beer... what more is there to say? Oh yeah, I forgot the fresh, tasty, and huge portions of shoestring and sweet potato fries ($5)! I got the 1/3 lb burger ($8.50) and it was almost too big for me to take a bite out of. It was such a good burger and company was so great that I thoroughly enjoyed my mess. A monster of a perfectly pink (not dry, not tough) patty, Horseradish Cheddar, tomato, organic lettuce mix, and pickles in a moist multigrain bun... oh my. Granted, the patty WAS a little bland as another fellow Yelper has mentioned, but the chipotle aioli sauce I got more than made up for it. And did I mention the BEAUTIFULLY pink center? I hate overcooked meat. I love this burger. And the beer. Several beers on tap, but I chose the Spaten ($6). It came cold with a wonderful bit of foamy head. Great place to hang out in Reston without breaking the bank. I would most definitely be more than happy to come back again. We had wonderful service from two of the waitresses and did not experience any of the service downfalls that any of the other Yelpers mentioned.
(4)
Nishchay S.

The custom burgers we all hd in a grp of 6 wer just amazingggg..the best burger i hv hd in us
(5)
Vince R.

Long wait and understaffed. The food is fair at best small portions and not worth a second try. Tight seating with people bumping into to while you eat.
(1)
Manny F.

Impressed. I went there based on recommendations from co-worker. The Hyatt never mentioned it once- a gem! Ended up with Bourbon Vanilla Shake made from Vanilla with Stoli Vanil Vodka, Di Soranno, Kahlua and Makers Mark. The meal was a grass fed, hormone/antibiotic free angus burger with taziki (never had this dressing before). Delicious! and I'm sure I've clogged an artery. The server was very gracious, educated and served us a great meal at the bar area. The best part is that its a chain right here from SoCal.
(4)
Michael W.

I ordered the mediterranean turkey burger bowl and found it to be very tasty. My colleague had a crab-cake burger that looked terrific. Neither of us really cared for the sweet-potato fries. The big winner for the meal was the oatmeal-raisin cookie ice cream sandwich for dessert ($3) Good food at a great price, but not particularly memorable.
(3)
Cathy E.

I love the mini burgers here! The staff is always so friendly and the food is great. Best burger in RTC and the whole area. Gotta try the bison!
(5)
Steve T.

This is my 2nd time going to The Counter for lunch. This time, I got the veggie burger because one of my coworkers got one the last time, so I just had to try it. I usually feel ripped off if I pay over $10 for lunch and don't get a meat (like getting a salad), but this veggie burger was worth it. Not sure what it was made out of, but it had the consistency and texture of a meat. I don't think it had any fillers like ground up chinese newspapers, or gym mats, so I'm happy with my lunch. BTW, the sweet potato fries are amazing, especially with the horseradish mayo they come with. Only in America would you eat french fries with mayonnaise. Overall, the food was good; but like everything else in Reston Town Center, you're paying for atmosphere too. If you've never been, come once to judge for yourself. If you're coming everyday, save yourself some money and go to 5-Guys in Plaza America.
(3)
Philip T.

The idea of a high-end burger joint always struck me as kind of silly. Few things represent to me a more down-home, simpleton food than a patty of ground up cattle on a bun, so I was slightly skeptical coming here. For full disclosure I'm also part of the grilling club at my university (shout out to GUGS) and I have to say we make a pretty mean burger so my standards are already pretty high. Getting back to the point however, The Counter makes a pretty good burger though there are a few problems which keep it from being the best. First, there are two options on the menu; you can create your own burger through a terrifyingly large number of choices of meat (or un-meat if you choose the veggie patty), buns, cheese, toppings, and sauces, or choose from pre-spec'd burgers and other dishes. It was overwhelming to be honest but it's a pretty straightforward system once you get past the initial shock. I got a 2/3lb beef burger done medium-rare with grilled onion, horseradish cheddar, roasted red pepper, tomato, mixed greens, and spicy sour cream, on a multigrain bun (I dare you to say that 5 times in a row). One thing they do which I really, really like is that they will cook your burger to whatever doneness you would like, mostly because a well-done burger makes me cry on the inside. My friends and I also got a plate of sweet potato fries and onion strings to share. When our food arrived the burger sure did look fantastic. The weight is post-cooking according to the menu so there's no cheating you out of your meat here. Upon first bite, I was struck by two things: 1. "My lord, this burger is dripping juice everywhere" and 2. "Wait, where's the flavour?". The first can be attributed to the fact that they did cook my burger per my request, though it was pushing more rare than medium rare; I could practically hear the thing moo in protest. The second comes from the fact that despite there being quite a lot of what should have been delicious and flavourful toppings, there seemed to be a general lack of seasoning. I'm a fan of letting the beef speak for itself and have its flavour be the focal point of a burger, but salt and pepper are your friends if you want to achieve burger nirvana. My burger was also quite difficult to eat and the bottom bun pretty much turned to mush after a few bites from all the juice. Overall, it was a good though messy experience. The sweet potato fries on the other hand were delicious, among the best I've had actually. I would definitely recommend them. The onion strings were less memorable; they were crispy but on the greasy side. The service was another highlight of our visit. The server was very helpful and personable. Our food came out pretty quickly too. The Counter has both inside seating with a bar as well as patio seating outdoors. It's nice, sleek, and modern and had a great casual atmosphere. Finally comes value. My monster 2/3 lb burger cost $11.50 and a side of fries/onion strings cost about $6.50 split four ways (the portion size is more than share worthy). It is on the pricier side for a burger but they do cook it well and for Reston Town Center it's a pretty good deal for a sit-down place. Overall, I would return and maybe try a different combination of toppings and sauces and see if I get a tastier result. So maybe I'm not a fancy pants burger convert, but The Counter did show me there is some sense in the idea. For me however, I guess I'll stick to the mantra that simpler is better: quality beef, seasoning, fire, cheese, bun, eat.
(3)
ap m.

The Counter Burger. Yeah, the premise is pretty cool- you come in and get to customize your own burger, lots of toppings, etc..etc.. But they also have specialty burgers that you can order. The Counter Burger. 1/3 beef (which they cooked perfectly to what I wanted- not too pink, not too dark), onion rings, cheese, grilled mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, and dipping sauce- all between two buns. I'm drooling just thinking about it. Very juicy burger, very good portions of onion rings and mushrooms. The sweet potato fries and the sauce were bomb. Had this for lunch and it took a while to be ordered, cooked and ready for carry out, but pretty understandable considering they are cooking big beef back there. They need to open a restaurant closer to DC METRO area.
(4)
Randy M.

Went for a work lunch this week. Service was quick, we were in and out in about 40 minutes, this was at 11:30. We got an order of 50-50 fries for the table and we each ordered a burger. My 1/3 lb burger was excellent, pink all the way through. I didnt get any toppings out of the ordinary but they were fresh and of good quality. You pay a little more to get a burger at the counter but its a nice break from the normal burger joints. Not much of a greeting and there was a lot of goofing around at the hostess stand, which is right in the middle of the seating area. When leaving there were no less than 4 employees socializing at the stand.
(4)
Bethany R.

Went back a few weeks ago for a vegetarian friend's birthday and tried the veggie patty. For a happy meat eater, it was surprising how good it was. It seemed very messy and hard to keep together, but the flavor was something amazing, not like the usual trying to impersonate meat fake patty. I might even order than myself once!
(5)
Shadi S.

This is my favorite place for my burger-fix in the Herndon/Reston area. Evidently it's a Chicago chain and one of Oprah's favorites as well? I've gone enough to earn myself a frequent-flier card. And subsequently a weight problem (I kid, I kid). If you're looking for something that's not greasy (I see you, Five Guys) and neither dry nor tasteless (looking at you, BRB), then you'll like The Counter - their turkey burgers are flavorful and juicy. I usually like to build-my-own (1/3 turkey with greens/feta/tzatsiki) and I FIEND for the parmesan string-fries. Don't miss out on those and if you're in the mood, check out their fried pickles and/or milkshakes! Yummmmm. I have yet to expand my selection and try other things but why change something so good when you found it?? Give them a shot if you haven't already.
(4)
Claire R.

Oh my goodness. I LOVE this place. My friend and I met for lunch and this time around we got the "fifty-fifty" with sweet potato fries and fries. As for the burger, I got a more basic burger this time around. I got a 1/3 pound beef burger on a hamburger bun. I went with American cheese, dill pickle chips, the lettuce blend, and red relish. It reminded me of the cheeseburgers I used to get from my favorite burger place (that haven't been as good the last few times I've gone). It's final. This is my new favorite burger place.
(5)
Chunnu B.

Well deserving of 3.5 stars. It's a good thing The Counter has an extensive list of toppings for your burger because those are the only things saving them. What I mean to say is, that if you only had a bun and some meat this review would plummet down to a 2 stars. The Counter is a custom burger restaurant in Reston Town Center with a very modern look (aluminum chairs, white tables, high ceiling) and a very friendly and welcoming staff. Cool points to them, they also have a bar where they...make adult milkshakes! We had an alcohol-free chocolate milkshake which was pretty good, could've been better but, still pretty good. So here's the thing with their burgers, like I mentioned before, if it weren't for their extensive list of toppings the burger itself would've been pretty bland. With that said, the options they have for toppings are pretty great. I customized my burger with 1/3 lb beef (you have the option to chose: chicken, turkey, or a veggie patty as well!), horseradish cheddar cheese, jalapenos, sprouts, pickles, scallions, with their spicy mayo (which they serve with their fries, just a huge f.y.i. for those who try to avoid mayo...) all on a multi-grain bun (other options include regular bun, onion, and English muffin.) With my given options, I think this was as spicy as I could get it. As for the fries, get the best of both worlds by ordering a plate of 1/2 sweet potato and 1/2 regular fries - they were everything french fries should be (except, well, French.) Maybe not my first pick of the many restaurants in RTC but it is definitely where I will be headed when I need an adult milkshake and some fries.
(3)
Peter M.

Pretty darn good burgers. I like the ordering system where you check the boxes for what you want to order. No reason not to get what you want. It was crowded on the summer night we stopped in and had to wait about 25 minutes and it was well worth it. The onion strings were quite tasty and the 50/50 fry platter was big enough for two adults to share. I didn't like the add on price for the "premium toppings" like bacon or fried egg, but not horribly expensive. Would hit The Counter again if I was passing through or visiting the area.
(4)
Jessica K.

I kind of like this concept... Building your own burger. I got the 1/3 turkey burger on a multigrain bun with jalapeno jack cheese, organic mixed greens, sprouts, sauteed mushrooms, and chipotle aioli sauce. along with the fifty-fifty fries/sweet potato fries. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The burger was really good, the bun was good! Whenever I crave a burger, I'm coming here.
(4)
Lina T.

Seating is a bit tight here, service is great, and they do have a lot of options to choose from on the menu. However, I didn't like this place. I ordered a turkey burger on a multigrain bun with pepperjack cheese, bacon, lettuce, jalapenos, pickles, and a side of chipotle sauce. My friend and I got the cheese fries (thin cut) to start off with and it was a big plate. I wasn't expecting that much and we couldn't finish it. I didn't care too much for the cheese because it was dry but the fries itself were really good. My turkey burger was overcooked and dry. It lacked flavor and the bun was kind of hard. My friend got a bison burger with egg and bacon. I tried it and it was ok but nothing great. It definitely doesn't compare to the other burger joints. I do like the fact though that they have a lot of options you can choose from on the menu. You can do a burger in a bowl which is cool. They also have milkshakes and alcohol. Overall, I was really disappointed. I don't think I'll come back.
(2)
Kate P.

Burgers--Well, I've only tried the veg burgers here. I haven't tried the other burgers yet because the veggie burger is so great! It's wonderful! The flavor, topping options and sauces are all amazing. I'm a fan of pesto sauce especially. Appetizers/sides: Fries--love them all but the parmesan fries are wonderful. Try them. Onion straws are also good. Pretty ordinary, but good nonetheless. Have tried the fried pickles which were okay. I'm not a big pickle fan so I'm not the best judge. Drinks--overpriced but maybe not because I found the drinks to be quite strong! Shakes--Yum! I love the peanut butter chocolate. Brownie--my friend ordered the caramel brownie and it was definitely sized to share. Very good! Service--has never been outstanding in my several visits, but it's never been horrific either. It could be improved and clearly the crowd comes for the food, not the service. Decor--cute, simple for a burger joint. Overall--a fave place and very tasty food. I wouldn't consider it "cheap eats" but it's not outrageous. It's definitely worth it. Great menu and great way to jazz up burgers.
(4)
Jack S.

The set up is annoying at lunch, people crowd in the doorway to be seated and annoy the crap out of you if you are seated near there. The people were nice enough. I think their claim to fame is the variety of toppings they offer and i like that i could check off the items I wanted. burger was cooked to the temp I asked for. Fries tasted good but could be better presented. Problem is mainly the price, I don't want to pay 15+tip for a burger, fries, and a soda. that should be more like 10+tip. (I didn't get extravagant or or anything with the toppings, I actually ordered a signature burger) Unless I am really hard up for a burger, I won't be back.
(2)
David Y.

I really like The Counter. I came here on a Saturday night for dinner with 3 friends. We got here around 8pm without a reservation. Even though the place was packed, we were seated in about 15 minutes. I ordered a custom burger. I had a 1/3 lb burger with horseradish chedder, jalapenos, chopped green chiles, grilled onions, coleslaw, and honey mustard sauce on a multigrain bun. It was delicious! I love how this allows you to custom make your burger. This allows for some unique combinations, but I think it all will come out delicious. The service was good. The wait staff was attentive and courteous. The atmosphere was bustling. I would definitely come back again!
(5)
Alex P.

The best gourmet burgers I've had! The meat is quality, and its cool that they will cook it anyway you like (I love medium rare). All of the toppings and sauces that I have are great and my overall experience with the burgers have been great! All of the sides are really good too. Fried pickles, Shoestring fries and sweet potatoes = really good. However, the onion straws which are good too, are always execcessivly dripping with grease. I would give the food five stars, but I had to give the Counter a 4 star because its always been a hit or miss with the service, some days they are good and some days I want to walk out because the service sucks! My Girlfriend once had to send back a turkey burger that she ordered because it was burnt, but they gave us a voucher for a free burger so we were okay with that. But Overall, the burger is way too good here to stop eating here because of the service. If you like really good burgers, definitely go to the counter, you will not be dissapointed!
(4)
James K.

Don't believe the hype. It was OK at best. It was not as great as I had hoped. Their garlic parmesan fries had too many herbs and just tasted funny. The burgers took FOREVER for them to come out. Service is a joke. It is cool that you can build your own burger. But it can be pretty costly with all of the add ons. I've had better, and I'm sure you have too. Yes I may be being harsh but just my opinion....there is definitely better out there.
(2)
D C.

Would NOT go back! No excuse for these problems: 1) Terribly overpriced for the quality of food. Burger had zero taste, came out overcooked and barely room temperature; plus fries were cold 2) service was just as poor, waitress never came back to ask how food was, nor apologize for bringing out cold food 3) the music playing was just plain awful 4) place was empty, I can't understand why service and food was so bad; all staff was just standing around the bar yapping.
(1)
Jenny N.

I've only been here once, but I'm pretty sure I won't change my opinion. I really love this place! There's a lot of variety and the fact that they have the burger salad style is what really gets me. I know it defeats the point of a burger, but sometimes I want that and a salad. It's just a perfect combination. I'm definitely coming back here. The staff was extremely welcoming and we felt comfortable. Though the interior felt a bit cold with the furniture, it's fixed by the quality of the food.
(4)
David R.

Under new management and it shows. The vibe is calmer, the beer offerings are ever changing and the people working behind the bar are enthusiastic, but not over the top as the previous bar tenders. Burgers/menu has not changed much - kind of odd they don't offer A1 or Heinz 57 sauce on the menu. One thing I would suggest is offer more cheese selections. One of these days I will try the fried egg on a burger..........
(4)
Margy T.

The restaurant was definitely fully staffed at the time, I made eye-contact with a few waiters multiple times- some even walked around us- yet it takes 10 minutes plus (we walked out before wasting any more time) to greet us and take our order? Won't be returning.
(1)
Jane O.

I discovered this place after I received a coupon for a free burger in the mail when they first opened. Im glad I decided to try this place out because its great!! I order the same exact thing everytime: 1/3 lb burger with lettuce, tomatoes, grilled onions, and pineapple! They have the BEST sweet potato fries ive ever had. The regular fries are ok if youre into thin fries. The location is great! Make sure to get outdoor seating in the summer time..It would be a shame not to! Definitely recommend this place to everyone if youre looking for a delicious not so greasy burger.
(4)
Mark D.

Burgers are great and they have a huge variety of topping. I love the bison burger with sliced avocados and bacon.
(4)
Jack K.

A petty good burger. They'd been out of the green chills for about a week though (which the server didn't know until after he took our order--more about this dummy later). Understand that the The Counter, Reston, is in the heart of the Reston Town Center, and in the middle of the business day, full of, yes, business people. How does The Counter, Reston play to this audience. By blaring rap music in the restaurant, of course! Makes perfect sense, right? We went outside and had to sit directly in the sun because we wanted to be able to hear each other. We were JUST about to come to the critical point in our discussion, and our waiter decides that's the perfect time to interrupt me mid-sentence and start talking to us. Adult supervision please!
(2)
Edward C.

So, tonight I took my talents to The Counter, a burger joint in Reston, VA. How did this all come about? Well, as much as I'd like to hold an hourlong special on ESPN to answer this question, it's probably faster if I just type it here. I was really looking for new places to eat out in the West coast, as I'm taking a trip later this year. When I stumbled upon The Counter during my searches on the Internets, I realized that people have been telling me about a popular Los Angeles based burger chain that's opened opened a store in Reston called The Counter. Boom, 2 and 2 was put together, and off I went. What does The Counter offer? Well, upon being seated, you are presented with a clipboard which holds a checklist menu where you can customize a burger to your hearts desire. Want a chicken or vegetarian burger? Check. Want hard boiled eggs in your burger? Sure. Want Organic Mixed Greens with Danish Blue Cheese on a 2/3 lb Turkey burger served in a bowl on a bed of lettuce? Yup, yup, yup and yup. This place offers it all. So how did it all taste? Well...taste wise it was good! The interesting thing here is, you really can't ever blame them for a bad burger; you tell them exactly what to put in there. As long as they provide fresh, flavorful ingredients (and they do), then it's really your burger to make or break. My 1/3 lb beef burger with Sharp Provolone and grilled onions, roasted corn and black bean salsa, sprouts, tomatoes, fried egg and peanut sauce on a multi grain bun was big, juicy, fresh, and well balanced. My only knock was that the beef was completely unseasoned; a pinch of salt would have created a great charred crust--but that's really just my preference. (And, really, when I realized that adding salt would really bump up the sodium level--boom, it made sense. No salt = healtheir. Applause). As I'm sure many are wondering, how does it compare to the plethora of other gourmet burger joints popping up throughout DC like robotic moles in a Whack-A-Mole carnival game? Well, here's the thing...it's really just different. It's not so much a gourmet burger place, like Ray's or Joe's. It's a taste of California fresh, where you can build your own fresh 100% natural Angus beef (hormone and antibiotic free; humanely raised and handled, to boot) burger, replete with carrot strings and apricot sauce. And for that reason, I'll return time and time again. The Counter provides a West Coast fresh twist on familiar foods that has heretofore not been readily available in the DC area. Awesome!
(4)
Jennifer H.

One of the best turkey burgers I've ever had! And i love that you can pick an choose whatever random crap you want on your burger. We got black bean salsa and pesto. Kind of weird, but it tasted great! We also go the Counter Burger. It was solid, but I was crazy about it. It came with a sweet relish, but I didn't really like it. It was better without or with a bit of ketchup imo. Please get the pickle chips :D they are so delicious! And the manager at the time was so very nice and accommodating b/c I had brought my pup out to chill with us.
(4)
Mary L.

Great burgers and shakes(when you can get them). Came tonight at 5:30, ordered a burger (rare) and a coke float. Oops, sorry, they're out of vanilla ice cream. Ok, so I switch to a cocktail. Ten minutes later I'm told they're out of lemonade. Ok--I'll stick with water, since I already have a glass--I know they haven't run out of that! Another 15 minutes go by and our burgers arrive. Mine's well done, not rare. But I eat it, fearing they may run out of beef if I asked to have it done over. Not our first time here, but may be our last. Mgmt needs a swift kick in the ass.
(2)
Amanda J.

I've been going to Reston's The Counter over the last couple years and it's one of my favorite burger joints. I don't eat beef and it's often hard to find places that make great turkey burgers, much less excellent ones and my beef eating friends always seem to be happy with their choices too. Other favorite menu items include their fried pickles and "adult" shakes. However, what keeps this restaurant from getting my 5 star rating and why I caution friends when I recommend this place is the service. Sometimes it seems like there are only one or two waiters on staff with how terribly slow it is -- and that's not an exaggeration. Once my adult milkshake, which was ordered at the beginning of my meal as my drink, didn't come out until the end with my check! Another time my friend's order apparently got lost as her burger came after I had already finished mine. I've never felt like it was the waiter's fault as much as perhaps they are way understaffed. The best time to eat here is in the summer or when the weather is nice enough you can eat outside on their patio space. The inside feels crowded, the music is frequently so loud that I have to shout to talk, and the chairs are very uncomfortable. Fantastic food, but less than fantastic service -- if they did take out it might be perfect.
(3)
David C.

I used to love this place, then the menu (and possible management) changed and it became an "eh" place. It seems that they don't use as fresh ingredients and don't cook the food with the same care as they used to. I still love the staff and alcohol selection tho.
(3)
Paul W.

OK, I'm not a fan. yet. I think my previous comment that this place is a bit on the pricey side is still on point, too. But, I think I finally unlocked the secret to this place. OK, really my coworkers did and I just followed suit like a lemming, but it still worked. The burgers are really best in salad form. OK, I know that sounds like blasphemy, and loving burgers as much as I do I'm a bit chagrining to be suggesting this, but really, trust me. The meat is higher quality than anything else in the Reston area that I've found. And the flavor of the meat really comes through in the salad much more than it does on a bun. Sure, the buns are "gourmet". Whatever. The bread takes away from the quality of the meat. So, if you've been disappointed with the burgers here (as I have been) and you haven't tried them in salad form, give it a shot. If the next couple visits go as well as this one did, I'll bump it up another star.
(3)
Susan H.

I've been keeping an eye on the Yelp reviews for Counter---and they have been helpful. In its early days, I noticed that the reviews mentioned that the place didn't have its act together, so I knew not to go right then. As time progressed, the reviews got much better. So...I felt that the time was right to give it a try. We went around quarter to 5 on a Saturday and the place wasn't busy. After we were given our clipboards, the man who seated us asked if we had been there before. When we said "no", he walked us through the ordering process. He was also able to answer questions about the various toppings. For example, I was interested in trying the horseradish cheddar but was concerned that it might be too heavy on the horseradish. He assured me that it was mildly flavored---and he was right. We ordered a fifty-fifty basket of potato fries and onion strings. The portion size is meant for two or more people. It comes with 2 dipping sauces---a bbq one and a ranch one. In addition, there is a bottle of ketchup and salt and pepper on every table. Of the two items in the basket, the onion strings were our favorite. They were very thinly cut, lightly battered, well-fried and very tasty. The potato fries were good---not the best we ever had but far from the worst. We both got 1/3 pound beef burgers. On mine I had horseradish cheddar, lettuce, dill pickles, tomatoes, fried onions and bacon. My husband had Swiss cheese, bermuda onions, lettuce, dill pickles and tomatoes. I got mine medium well, he got his medium. We both got the regular hamburger bun. For a sauce, I got horseradish mayo and my husband got regular mayo. Over all, we were both quite pleased with our burgers. I especially was impressed with how well the medium well burger came out. I knew that I was taking a chance by ordering it that way since some places don't know how to properly cook a burger that way. I liked that the horseradish cheese and the sauce weren't overpowering. Rather, they were just right. Also, I liked that you are given your sauce on the side so that you can add as much or as little as you want. The only topping that had me thinking "meh" was the bacon. It was thick, properly cooked but with little flavor. Maybe I'm spoiled now that I've had the bacon from Jackson's across the street LOL! We will be back. The service was good. Our waiter was friendly but he did give off the impression that he was a new employee. I ordered coke to drink and he ended up asking me 3 times if I wanted diet or regular. In the end, he did bring me what I ordered. I'm sure with time, he will be more at ease. At one point, the manager came by to see if everything was OK---a nice touch. It wasn't cheap. With the two burgers, the fifty-fifty, a coke and a non-alcoholic beer, it came to just over $31 before the tip. However, we thought it was worth it due to the good quality meat and the chance to build your burger just the way you want it. We will be back!
(4)
Andrea F.

What can I say...I'm a cheeseburger-holic and The Counter offers up just that awesomeness on a bun in a 100 ways. I would have given 5 stars except for the occasional time my meat is less than piping...but that's rare (no pun lol). The burgers are fresh angus or bison or turkey and the choices for you to build your own are endless. My fave is brie, bacon and avocado on a Bison burger. Also dangerously addictive are the parm fries and brownie. This is definitely not a place to go while dieting but oh so worth the splurge. Fun atmosphere, a great bar and very friendly servers. I'd recommend stopping here over almost any other Reston Town Center eatery!
(4)
Marc M.

Burgers 2 Stars Milkshake, shoe string fries, and sweet potato fries 4 Stars I'd come back here, but not so much for their burgers. They do a great job on presentation, that I will concede. I enjoyed checking boxes on the order sheet for my burger which was fun and gave an added level of customer involvement which I appreciated. I got the: 1/3 pound beef burger (medium rare) onion bun grilled onions scallions roasted corn and black bean salsa jalapenos horseradish cheddar apple wood smoked bacon The meat itself was very plain without any seasoning on it, but it was cooked correctly for a medium rare. Still, a far cry from getting a pepper crusted pattie from Ray's Hell Burger, or some other such tasty meat from the heavens via Ray's. The cheese was tasteless. Looked and tasted more like Kraft sliced cheese. The rest of the ingredients made for quite the sight when it showed up at the table with all of the colors which screamed for attention. My attention was quickly usurped by.... Next up got a half and half order of the shoestring fries and sweet potato fries. The sweet potato ones are the standout, but the combo is worth ordering to share since more is delivered to your table than any sensible person would attempt to eat alone, and it's nice to get a little variety. Last up was the chocolate shake. Excellent. Hand scooped ice cream, milk, chocolate syrup. Thank you for delivering exactly to my expectations on this one.
(3)
nikkie d.

I just like you can customize your burger to the tee its a lil pricey but they are very generous with their sides. They also have drinks, and byo shakes as well. They even have adult shakes which I'm going to have to try.
(4)
Linh O.

A bit pricey and sometimes they seem to get overwhelmed with customers and the manager we saw one time didn't seem to know how to deal. BUT they're mostly friendly and the food is pretty damn good! The horseradish cheddar cheese is SO freaking good, get that over the horseradish mayo sauce if you need to decide between the two.
(3)
Henry R.

Okay burgers, you can customize it however you want and even have it on a bowl if you like. The burger can be a bit of a mess to eat though, it is burger after all. They have a variety of toppings and sauces you can choose from to customize your burger and several different type of buns as well. The sweet potato fries are my favorite here though! Especially with the horseradish mayo sauce. Overall, pretty decent burgers, good fries, and a bit on the pricey side.
(3)
Milind S.

one of the very few places which serve up some very appetizing veggie burgers! unlike other places where veggie patty is pretty much made of soy or imitation meat, the veggie patty here is pretty darn delicious, made up of rice, lentils, potatoes and other veggies. rest of the stuff is pretty much standard, pick your toppings, dressing, bun and fries and you are all set! herb goat cheese is fresh and tastes amazing! They also have a good selection of sprits & beers and specialty cocktail so thats a plus! I do feel the service is a bit slow and they can improve on that... otherwise a pretty good place to go to satisfy your craving for a burger!
(4)
Lindagrace D.

Warning: They have their own scale for meat temperatures!! ~Medium Well equates to Medium ~Medium equates to Medium Rare ~Medium Rare equates to Almost Alive Once you understand this, you will enjoy this solid good joint. Part of the fun is the ordering -- you get a little clipboard and bowling-alley pencils to mark off the ingredients of your custom burger. That aspect of ordering kinda reminded me of a sushi bar. It's fun! The burgers themselves are decently juicy and a nice size, too. I'd give them a strong B+. Not the best I've ever had, but certainly much better than average!! I consider myself a true french fry connoisseur, and I have to say the Parmesan Fries are quite the indulgent treat, described as "Crack Fries" by our spunky waitress. When I envision Natalie Portman gaining back 30 lbs in one day, as she claimed she did after filming Black Swan, I see her in my mind eating a plateful of these Parmesan Fries, getting the job done. Heck, I'd go to The Counter for the fries alone! The ambience is cool -- stainless steel chairs and tables and floor-to-ceiling windows. A fun and comfortable dining experience overall.
(3)
Nick H.

One of my favorite recent trends is for upscale restaurants to serve classy modern versions of simple regular foods. Gourmet burgers are a prime example. I had passed by the Counter countless times while visiting the Reston Town Center, but only recently made the decision to try it out. I wasn't disappointed. The burgers were cooked excellently. The fries were AMAZING. I also tried the deep fried pickles and they were great as well. For those of you who have seen the animated movie Ratatouille...my first bite of the food here reminded me of the critic from the movie when he took his first bite of the ratatouille dish that reminded him of his childhood. I had that kind of amazement in my first bites. The only criticism I have of this place is that the prices are a bit high. Gourmet burger or not, there's only so much I'm willing to pay for this type of food, and so this wouldn't be my choice for burger on any day to day basis. But once in a while, The Counter offers a pleasant change!
(4)
Ellie B.

Been here a handful of times, and every time it was packed, and every time we got fast, friendly, and efficient service!! I am in love with their black bean burgers, and my husband loves their choice of cheese for his burger. I love that you can choose exactly what you want, and all of the toppings. It makes it easy and void of any hassle. Always great service, which makes the prices worth it!!
(5)
Catherine G.

YUM! And that means all the times I've been here! I've never had an issue with service, but I think it's probably cuz I have that "I'm a bitch" look about me. I like the burgers and the many different ways you can get them, though I'm wary of making them too exotic. You never know when that item you thought was good turns out to NOT be so good with your burger. But for me, the best part is when we order the half and half fries. Half regular shoestring fries and half sweet potato fries! JUST YUMMY! If you love sweet potato fries, you definitely have to try theirs!
(4)
Jeff H.

My wife and I, who never complain about anything, had a terrible experience during lunch at The Counter burger restaurant at the Reston Town Center today. It took a long time to have our order taken and others who arrived after us had their orders taken before us because they complained about the wait. The entire service experience was extremely slow, but we weren't in a rush and we didn't get uptight about it. In addition, the burgers were significantly undercooked compared to standard temperatures. Here is where it gets worse... The waitress confused credit cards and mistakenly charged another customer's meal using our credit card. So our credit card was charged twice (our meal and the other customer's meal) and the other customer almost unknowingly left with our credit card! The waitress seemed indifferent about the mistake and barely even admitted that it happened. However, she said she would fix it. We left, still without complaining, and then we decided to return to speak with the manager to make sure the problem was resolved. The manager apologized that the incident occurred, but he said everything would be fine even though he never conferred with the waitress or checked their system. He basically did nothing for us. Now we need to monitor our credit card activity to make sure the erroneous pending charge goes away. We will not be eating there again.
(1)
Heather N.

I go to The Counter on average one to three times a week. My work schedule means that I often work 10 - 12 hour days and by the time I get home I am starving and have absolutely no desire to cook. The time I get home tends to limit placed we can go, so it is really nice that an option as good as The Counter is available. I am a vegetarian, and their made to order, custom veggie burgers really are top notch. They are good enough that I never want to eat a veggie burger when I go out anywhere else, because I know it won't be as good. The servers have all (mostly) gotten to know us, and are friendly and excited to see us. Four star instead of five because sometimes it can be way way too cold inside, even when I make sure to bring a heavy sweater.
(4)
Angel W.

First thing's first! Try the parmesan fries!!!!!! They give you a mountain of them! They are string fries with aioli and garlic and they are mouth watering. You may not have room for anything else after this. It's almost impossible to stop eating them. I also come here for the veggie burger. Any place that makes veggie burgers with vegetables and grain (no soy or tofu or fake meat product) is a friend of mine. Their actual patty is a bit bland but I like to add the plentiful toppings and dressings. At once point they had a special topping - fried pepperocinis - but that was only for a limited time and they were fabulous. I wish they would offer them as an everyday topping choice. The food is a bit pricey for what it is. When I have taken a group there, there were complaints about the steep prices for an establishment of this type.
(4)
The Fence C.

I've seen a bit of a dip in quality recently but I'm still a big fan of the spot. The burgers are huge, albeit a tad overpriced. I'm a sucker for customization though. Patties are juicy on the inside, but the outer layer tends to have a sort of spongey texture. Probably has something to do with how it's pressed (the burger never falls apart which is a good thing, but it takes a toll on the tenderness). I left my number for a waitress who had a septum piercing, tattoos on her arms, a slender frame and kind eyes. I sensed an intriguing personality accompanied her unique beauty. Alas, I didn't get a call. I'm calling you out, woman. Why date someone who will undoubtedly undervalue you, when you could be with someone willing to declare his devotion to you in a public fashion through a vaguely anonymous internet account? Oh, how the opposite sex continues to elude me. Oh Almighty God in Heaven, if you're not getting me laid does this mean you want me to join the clergy? I have so many questions.
(4)
Mary D.

My husband and I live across from Reston Town Center, The Counter is our go to spot. Great service, great beer, great burgers and a great experience.
(5)
Sunny M.

One of the best places for burgers. Very reasonable. Delicious burgers. Beautiful location. Friendly staff. Love it!
(5)
Rebecca M.

I am updating my review to reflect warmer and more attentive service in my last visit to the counter. On this visit, I was greeted, seated, and served promptly. My hamburger was cooked to pink perfection and topped with Swiss, sautÃ©ed mushrooms and onions. I had a red wine blend in the stemless bowl and it paired wonderfully. My mother, the "octogenarian adventurer" pointed out that these glasses ensure a good, quick wash in the industrial dishwasher. So for my mother and for the improved service I experienced, I have increased my rating to reflect the four stars earned by this fun and ingenious little tailor-made burger emporium!!
(4)
U.S. A.

Quick update the waiter who has been great and we seek him out is Brian. He also does magic tricks for the kids
(4)
Rich K.

Been there twice now. Each time I am shocked at the prices. But... If your going to a fancy burger joint this is the one not to miss. Sauces are good and the fries better than across the street at the corporate french restaurant. Lamb burger is great and regular burgers of beef are as well. Good service and very friendly too.It makes you like this place.
(4)
Cary C.

Ingredients are fresh and tasty, and the fries are delicious (if you like thin fries). But, I don't think it works very well to have people creating their own elaborate recipes for their burger...maybe I'm just not good at it, but every time I've gone here and tried to combine flavors of toppings and options I think I'll like, I end up feeling like there are way too many flavors going on and they didn't come together right and I'm disappointed. I think this is one of those cases where it's better to just give people the chef's tried and true combos. Pretty good but thought they'd be better given burgers is ALL they do...honestly I like Five Guys better.
(3)
Lindsay S.

The food here is a 4 or 5, but the service and the concept drag it down to a 2.5. First off, their veggie burger is DELICIOUS! Very well seasoned and it just tastes great. Like I said, their food is very good. The main downside of these restaurant is their service. Do not expect to dine here with less than an hour to spare. I assume that it's because all of their food is made as you order it, but the food delivery takes forever! And then if something is wrong with your order, it takes just as long to bring it back to you! The first time I went here, my friend's burger was still very raw when it came out. We didn't have time to get it sent back and remade because it had taken 30 minutes to get the food in the first place, so he just didn't eat. However, they did comp his meal and give us a gift card for our next visit. I came here again yesterday with a group of 5. Three of our group were on a diet and this wanted their burgers in a bowl instead of on a bun. They upcharge for this! (I believe $1.50 on your burger that already costs $12) Another annoyance, every burger comes with a side and no option to opt out. Given that these three people were on diets and already getting their burgers on a salad, neither fries nor a side salad seemed fitting. You should get the option of NOT having a side, particularly when you're paying the upcharge to get your burger on a salad. I am just really not a fan of how The Counter nickel and dimes you for everything. I got charged an extra 50 cents to get a vegan bun. And when you want 5 toppings instead of 4, they charge you, or if you want 2 cheeses instead of 1, they charge you. However, if you were to only get 2 toppings, like I did, they don't reimburse you the $1. Or if you don't get any cheese at all, like one person in our group, they don't deduct the $1.50 the cheese supposedly costs from your bill. Like I said, the food here is really great, but the concept and pricing is definitely lacking.
(2)
Hugh M.

I came to The Counter with reasonably high expectations, to be fair. A pescetarian going to a burger restaurant should always be wary, but after seeing the praise for their vegan burger I had to give it a go. I was torn between ordering the tuna burger and the vegan burger, but as the former had Sriracha sauce and the latter was $4 less expensive, I went vegan. Ultimately, I was disappointed. While still better than most vegan/vegetarian burgers that I've had, it was ultimately too mushy and bland. This is the plight of every vegan burger I've had, and this place was no different. in fact, I wasn't even inclined to finish my burger; I left about a third of it on the plate, and it was my first meal of the day. I'd give the burger 2-2.5 stars, actually, but I'm giving a 3-star rating because the vegetable skewers I had on the side were quite flavorful, and brought the average up to 3 stars. Finally, although this didn't affect the rating, our waters weren't refilled for quite a long time, and this was only after my friend specifically asked for more (his glass had been empty for a while at this point). Overall, not recommended, although I might go back and try the tuna burger next time.
(3)
Dominique F.

Ok, so here's the deal, usually I really care about the service, but in this case the slow service won't affect my rating as much. Why, you might ask? Well, here's the deal; I decided to be vegan for lent without ever having a veggie burger before. So, when it was time for me to eat my first veggie burger it sucked and I was sad. Today I came to the counter and absolutely loved every single bite of my veggie burger and fries. It was delicious!!! Definitely coming here again; I just hope the service is a bit faster then.
(5)
Ethan Z.

Chain originally from California. LOTS of burger options (all customizable). You want a burger with fried egg, avocado, and onion rings? They'll do it. Typically too big for one normal-sized human to eat in one sitting. But, if you're not in the mood for a $10-15+ burger you should look elsewhere. However, the burgers are very good. They also have veggie options if you're into that sort of thing. Sweet potato fries are the jam. Service is friendly. Outdoor seating is nice in the summer. A few beers on draft help the atmosphere.
(3)
Shri J.

Great burger choices and pretty fancy when it comes to what you want to put in your burger. Also great variety of malt shakes to end the experience on a sweet note. As vegetarian I went there and was quite amazed at how great the veggie burger tasted. The atmosphere is family friendly and the staff are amazing!! The fries are also so yummm Give it a shot...You will love it:-)
(5)
Hamilton H.

I have to completely agree with Kevin O. If the food matched the service here....then I would come back. I only rate food on Yelp so thus the 1 star. The lettuce in the salad was turning on a $15 dish. Non starter. Turkey burger was tough and over cooked. My sweetie's Asian Veggie dish was adorned with grilled "canned" pineapple. Again, totally not cool for a place that touts organic this-and-that and charges a PREMIUM for lousy food. I don't see how this place will be around too much longer...
(1)
Michelle N.

After my review I've returned many, many, many times and have had the pleasure of dining in whether it was inside or al fresco (highly recommend!). I absolutely love this place. I don't think I can ever get a burger anywhere without the option to customize it. My go to is usually a 1/3 beef burger or a vegan veggie burger (OMG, amazing!) in a bowl, with an assortment of fresh vegetables, and garlic aioli. I always, always, always get the onion straws as a side although once in awhile they can be a little more soggy than crispy. If you're sharing, you can also get the 50/50 which allows you to pick 2 of: onion straws, regular fries, seasoned fries (parm!), or sweet potato fries. Really, how can you say no to fries? Service is always amazing and the food never disappoints (aside from the occasional soggy onion straws). If it's nice outside definitely take advantage of being able to sit on the patio. It's great to be able to people watch and also share the space with furry friends. I love that Reston Town Center is so dog friendly and that The Counter loves dogs too. Next on my to do list: Adult Milkshakes! Though I'm not much of a milkshake gal and usually the burger and straws are filling themselves, but if there's alcohol in these, I may have to save space in my belly for them :)
(5)
Kevin O.

The service was stellar but the food was garbage. The kitchen seemed to be messing up every order. As we were being seated I saw two tables simultaneously complaining about the same problems! My burger came out cold and it was only after i sent it back that I realized my fries were already room temp. The burger was returned hot but was basically insipid. The fries sucked. The sweet potato fries sucked. The fried pickles were a waste of money. So there you go. Excellent servers doing their best to cover for a god-awful "kitchen." No joke. Save your $50 and go to the cheapest fast food place you can imagine. You'll get a better burger.
(1)
JJ H.

Having lived in the RTC for a few years now, I've visited the Counter numerous times with VERY mixed results. On a positive note, the fries (especially the sweet potato fries) are very good. Sadly though, I've had (too many) more lousy burgers than good ones; usually dried out, overcooked (grey & burnt) but sometimes undercooked and funky tasting. In short, 'overpriced and inconsistent'. Tip: Ordering 'to go' is a serious gamble; your toppings will probably be wrong and your burger will definitely be selected from the over/pre-cooked pile.
(2)
Michelle W.

I've come to The Counter for my last two birthday dinners and my graduation lunch. I love The Counter because it's fuss-free and a much cheaper alternative to the the expensive restaurants that inhabit Reston Town Center. Getting your burger craving for $9 in Reston Town Center? Not bad at all. The Counter's concept is to the point--you are given a list of possible meats, toppings, condiments, and buns, and you craft your own burger. It's fun to be in control of your own burger, and there are a wide variety of ingredients to choose from gruyere cheese to ginger soy glaze. I always order the 1/3 burger and can barely finish it. They really pack on the toppings here, so about half way through the burger, it gets really messy to eat. I always have to switch over to utensils at this point. I've never tried the burger in a bowl. Order the fries too! Whether it be the potato fries, sweet potato fries, or crispy onion strings, they are all great options. I'm in love with the parmesan fries. The portion size is big enough to split between four people too.
(4)
Lauren R.

Absolutely amazing burgers. Tons of toppings. Awesome sides. BEST MILKSHAKES. Outstanding service. 6/5 stars.
(5)
Randall G.

Expected more from a gourmet burger joint. If you specialize in burgers, they should be great burgers; this wasn't. It was a good burger but not close to the best ever. Also fries were disappointing. Shoestring fries just don't make the grade. A serious burger requires serious fries. I'd eat here again, but I won't be counting the days.
(3)
Jake T.

The meat tastes great and you can tell it's fresh. Love how you build your burger and can customize it so much. I'd recommend some fries and onion strings as well.
(4)
Eric J.

The mini burgers were nothing special
(2)
Livia M.

I LOVE this place! Everything is delicious. The service is hit or miss though. The adult shakes are great
(5)
A M.

Really good burgers and a great bar!
(4)
Matthew C.

As a vegetarian, it's not often I get excited about a burger place. But I was told to expect great things from The Counter, and overall the establishment didn't disappoint. Although there are a few things it could do better, as long as one knows what to expect it is possible to have a very enjoyable experience. The Counter's veggie burger is packed with rice, corn and black beans, and it has a moist, crumbly texture which is much more appetizing than the tough, dry veggie burgers found in many restaurants and stores. The texture and composition of the burger, however, can be its own worst enemy. Mine fell apart two or three bites in, and I wound up with large chunks on my plate which I just ate with my hands. This raises an important point, too: If you don't appreciate the textural experience of eating with your hands, be sure to ask for silverware when ordering since it isn't provided. Even my girlfriend, who ordered her veggie burger as a salad, didn't receive a fork until she made a special request. Leaving aside quibbles about the lack of silverware, The Counter also excels in the variety of toppings it offers. You get a choice of cheese and four other toppings standard with your burger; unfortunately, there is no way to swap cheese for an extra topping of the non-dairy variety. There are also a number of "premium toppings" which you can pay extra for. Finally, you get to choose your sauce and type of bun. I got baby spinach, grilled onions, marinated artichokes and spicy pepperoncinis; a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette; and a multigrain bun. It was a good balance of ingredients, with none drowning out the flavor of the others or the burger itself. Perhaps most important to success in this regard is that the sauce is served on the side, which means you are in control of how much additional flavor is added to the burger. My party also got onion strings and sweet potato fries, which were served with three different sauces. Although the fries and strings were labeled on the menu as "starters," they were brought out to our table with the rest of our food. This certainly wasn't a deal breaker for me, but if you want your appetizers quickly then you may want to specify that. In the end, the variety of ingredients, skillful preparation and quantity of food (burgers come in 1/3, 2/3 and 1 lb patties) outweighed (no pun intended) The Counter's shortcomings and justified what some might consider a hefty price tag for a burger.
(4)
Matt H.

The burgers were just ok, but not bad at all. You can customize them any way you want them, including the size (1/3, 2/3, or 1 lb) or the bun. The fries, including the sweet potato fries, were a little greasy, but they weren't bad. Overall, the food was decent, but kind of pricey for a burger and fries in my opinion.
(2)
Grand Y.

They said they would make my burger rare, but it came out cooked EXACTLY AS MUCH as my friends, who ordered their burgers medium and well-done, respectively. Having just cycled 104 miles, I wasn't prepared for them to remake the burger. I would've been ok if they said they couldn't make the burger rare, or that all burgers are prepared the same. The sweet potato fries were thin and very, very fried. the regular fries were ok, but I wouldn't get them again.
(2)
Emma D.

Best vegan burger I've ever had. Got the 1/3 lb veggie patty, no cheese, sautÃ©ed onions, roasted red peppers, pickles, and mixed greens. The sauce I got was the sundried tomato vinaigrette. I got the onion bun. It was DELICIOUS. Literally the best I've had. I liked filling out the little card at the beginning because I felt like I could take my time and have my order put in correctly. As a new vegan, I really appreciated the AMAZING veggie burger. I would definitely go here again just for this. And I got the sweet potato fries, which were pretty good! I ate them with ketchup. The sauce looked good though for non-vegans who eat mayo. Atmosphere was good, waitresses we had were so sweet and attentive, and FREE PARKING in the big garage across the street. No complaints at all. Yes, it is expensive but you can't get a decent lunch for less $$ anywhere around. So I'm not too put off by it.
(5)
Boris S.

from Top NOMs of 2011 list (5/5 NOMs). This place never disappoints!!! There is a reason I consider this the best burger place in the area. I love making my own burger, their toppings and meat are top notch. I of course try to stuff as much as possible into mine :) wow I think I'm in love! Parmesan French Fries (5/5 NOMs). These are some of the best fries I've ever had. This is nomnom overload! You must try this starter with your burgers.
(5)
Patricia S.

Love the food - it's just a bit too pricey to frequent ...
(4)
Namita M.

Very good customized veggie patties. Fresh fries and good selection of burger toppings.
(5)
Mark O.

We stopped here on a Sunday for an early dinner. Long story short both our burgers came out at room temperature and there was just a handful of people in the restaurant. They did the replacement while we ate the fries which were barely hot. The second round of burgers were completely unremarkable (The Counter and Spicy Bison). $50 later with tip we left wondering how this place stays in business. My guess is it's better to come on a weekday when it's busier but we won't be back to find out.
(1)
Joy G.

The burgers are so good and potentially the best sweet potato fries ever. As of recent, a side is now included... Fries, sweet potato fries, side salad or onion straw... And a 1/3lb burger for around 12 bucks. You build your own or they have pre-fixed specialty burgers. I've never had a bad combo. They also have great craft beer on tap and adult style milkshakes. My only complaint is there is always a wait at dinner time. Given, it's a tiny space- they do a good job of minimizing wait time considering. After being a regular here for 2 years we haven't had a bad trip.
(5)
Thomas S.

When it comes to a sit-down burger craving, The Counter hits the spot, often. We have tried almost everything on the menu, have yet to find something that wasn't satisfying and the choices are consistently fresh. Recent discovery of the homemade ice cream cookie sandwich pushes this from 4 stars to 5 stars, as does the awesome staff who enjoy each other and work hard to make sitting at The Counter a great experience. I personally recommend 1/2 lb in a bowl with any cheese, added spinach, carmelized onions, egg, jalapenos and cucumbers with the spicy salsa (AWESOME!) as the "sauce." The off-menu "trio" of sides is the best of everything.
(5)
Linda C.

Stopped here today with the hubby and enjoyed a nice lunch at The Counter. It's not a very big place, but there are enough tables as well as seats at the "counter/bar" to accommodate folks. We only had to wait for about two minutes to get our table. In summer, there is additional seating on the patio, helping to alleviate any wait. So the concept here is a little different from most burger places. Upon sitting down, you are presented with a clipboard and a form to fill out. You get to choose everything about your burger, from start to finish. This makes it interesting, if not a little scary. First, choose ground beef, chicken breast, ground turkey, organic bison, or today's special (e.g., tuna). Then move on to your toppings, and man there are lots to choose from! This is where it gets scary for me. You can be adventurous and choose gorgonzola, feta, gruyere or brie. Or go traditional and get cheddar or Swiss. Toppings range from the usual to the exotic, like cranberries or a hard boiled egg. Some toppings, like bacon or avocado, will cost a bit extra. Companion sauces range from pesto to chipotle aoili to lemon vinaigrette, with BBQ or mayo available as well. I'm just mentioning a few, mind you, because there are a whole lot more to choose from. My problem is that I am not always sure what works with what, or if I'm going to like that bison burger with herb goat cheese spread, black olives and apricot sauce. I suppose I'm just not that adventurous when it comes to messing with my burger. The servers will help you if you really get stuck, but for me, I tend to stick with the tried and true when I'm paying $9 for a burger. Sweet potato fries and onion "strings" are delicious and are served with ranch, BBQ, and horseradish mayo for dipping. Prices are definitely on the high side (lunch for 2 cost about $35! And no alcohol was involved!) but everything was delicious. Next time you are at Reston Towne Center, you might want to check this place out, especially if you are in the mood to mix things up.
(4)
Art P.

Best fries! And the burger...mmmm...the burger! Think conceptually of Burger King's "have it your way" theme but done in a distinctly American way.
(5)
Izzy H.

It's fine. The wait for the food was very long (think 30ish minutes-granted it's a Sunday and early afternoon) The food was decent but the order came out wrong (still were charged for the original order though) I like that they have the bowl option and that kale is one of the choices. I would have given it a 3.5 by the time we were eating the food. The sweet potato fries were really good. Then we finished and waited another 30 minutes for the check-I'm not rushy when it comes to eating out but it really wasn't that busy. So after being there for 2 hours I'm like ehhh maybe 3 stars. Then I went into the bathroom. Yeah 2 stars.
(2)
K M.

We had a good time here. There are lots of choices, not your average burger joint. They seemed short staffed while we were there. Server was very friendly and helpful, but seemed to have too much to do and keep track of. Service was very slow. Food while tasty and a little different than the average seemed a little pricey for what you get, considering the whole experience. Definitely worth a try, not a go to for me.
(3)
Stacy G.

I'm the cheapest mother f-cker on the planet. Really. Unfortunately this is at odds with my love of gourmet burgers and nice steakhouses. So when I say that this expensive burger is worth every penny - you know it hurts me to say it, but it's true. The quality of the meat is out of this world. I phoned in an order for a burger to go because I knew I'd be passing by and I've been meaning to try this place for forever. I wasn't even really that hungry because I'd actually had a Ribeye steak 3-4 hours earlier. Well I was running late and so by the time I picked up the burger it was probably sitting around for 20 minutes and was just warm, not hot (completely my fault). Usually I'm very picky about my food being hot, but the burger was so yummy that I couldn't stop eating it. It was a very amply sized burger and much bigger than any 1/3 lb burger I've ever seen. In like 5 seconds flat I had basically inhaled the entire burger and I wanted more. And let me remind you again that I wasn't even really that hungry in the first place. It was just that good. This place serves a premium burger gourmet burger. I'll definitely be dreaming of it for the next week and I'll be back soon. P.S. I wasn't overly impressed with the grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese was probably fine, but I expected something better than wonder bread and was disappointed by that. But I think it was only $5 so I guess I can't complain that much.
(5)
Juicy G.

No thank you. I tried to find pros and cons of this place, but sadly the cons crushed the very few pros by their sheer weight. For starters, I don't like nickel and dime operations, and that's exactly what The Counter thrives on. "How much more money can we squeeze out of the customer for toppings on a burger?" It's handled very hypocritically. The Counter is more than happy, and insistent, to charge you an additional $1.25 for one more slice of cheese, but in the same regard, they're not willing to lower the price by a $1.25 if you don't want any cheese. Same thing with the extra toppings. They allow you four with your starting price of the burger, and want to charge you seventy-five cents for every additional one. Yet if you don't choose all four, they're certainly not willing to lower the price by seventy-five cents per topping that you don't take. If the nickel and diming wasn't bad enough, the food is. I got a chicken sandwich, and my friend got a burger. She ordered hers medium well, which came out somewhere between rare and medium. My chicken sandwich went to the opposite extreme, and was dried out and rubbery from being overcooked. I took one bite out of it, and pushed the plate away. They were at least nice enough to comp me for it. About the only saving grace to the meal was the chili cheese fries which were astounding. Unnaturally astounding. Especially considering how much they screwed up the main courses. Food aside, the place is small, loud, and made even louder by blaring music. What is it with restaurants that feel like the customers want to listen to music while eating as opposed to talking to their company? Turn it down! Better yet, turn it off! The Counter just doesn't impress me.
(1)
lisa y.

Had lunch here today. Had heard about it from my sister in Walnut Creek, CA. I had a hamburger with blue cheese, pickles & grilled onions. Very good!! My favorite items had to be the deep fried pickles & parmesean fries. Will definitely go again!
(4)
Glenn C.

The Counter is a solid alternative to places like Five Guys and Foster's, when you want a hamburger that's above what you'll get with fast food drive-thrus, but without the full restaurant experience. The interior is sparsely decorated, with steel tables and chairs lining the walls, a bar in the center, and not much else. Instead of a traditional menu or a walk-up window ordering setup, The Counter instead opts for the same system that Foster's uses. You're given a slip of paper with all the options on it, and you simply check off what you'd like to have on your burger. The options are extensive. They give you full reign with deciding the size, type of patty, and bun that you'd like, then you get to picking your toppings. Every normal burger topping you can think of is available, along with a few special ones you may not. My favorite option is the fried egg- nothing beats a big juicy burger with a sunny side up egg on top. They also have beers on tap and special imports in bottles for sale, too. The imports are actually far better than I ever would've guessed- every time I go in I see something I really like or something interesting that I haven't tried. So why only three stars, you ask? One thing, really: the price. For a 2/3 pound burger (it is worth noting that the weights are AFTER cooking, which is unusual) topped with a few choice options, you'll be paying somewhere around $12-15. For a hamburger, even a good one, that is simply too much. Fudruckers burgers are just as good, and they cost half what Counter bugers do. The fries are expensive, too. It takes this place out of the realm of "quick bite" and into "full meal" territory, just based on price. Every time I think about going to The Counter, I say "well, if I'm going to pay that much, I may as well have a sit-down meal instead." And to heighten the issue, there are dozens of great restaurants within one block's distance. It's Reston town center- there are way too many other choices at this price point. The only other (much smaller) issue is the same one I have with Five Guys: when you leave, it feels like you have a brick in your stomach. It's so heavy! And the thing is, I don't get this same feeling in my gut when I go to Fudruckers, Clyde's, or any other place that serves hamburgers. It really is unique to Five Guys and The Counter. Maybe I'm different and you won't have this problem, but for me it's just a bit too heavy. Even still, The Counter is a nice little place for a fat, deluxe hamburger. If you don't mind the higher price level and can handle the stuffed feeling afterwards, then nosh away. No matter what, it's worth trying out at least once.
(3)
Patti S.

First time trying this place and it is absolutely the best! I don't eat out much due to allergies and normally not enough selections worth the cost, but their Bison burger bowl and sweet potato fries are the absolute best!! Huge selection of gluten free, dairy free and soy free choices. My daughter ran in and picked up our takeout and she also made mention how nice the workers were - definitely refreshing!! Thank you, will definitely be a regular!! :) A++++
(5)
Alexa C.

Loved their build your own burger with many options for toppings. I had the turkey burger with a gluten free bun, delicious! Loved that they had goat cheese for an option. Their fries are sold ala carte and in a gluten free fryer. I had the traditional fries and enjoyed them. Staff was good for service, but it was also dead. Nice perk, they packed up our drinks to go to take with us, nice additional bang for your buck!
(4)
Steve L.

3.5 Stars bumped to 4 because the food is better than I would rate a 3 star place. Also, Jarrett B and I got our order to go. If I had to deal with the long wait in that crowded place with decor that left a lot to be desired, it's possible this would be a 3-star rating. I put off visiting this place for a long time because I'd already sampled some leftovers from friends. Because of that, I thought the burger kinda sucked. Turns out, all my friends did NOT get the burger at the recommended "pink throughout" temperature. Since their burgers were browned throughout, they were always dry and unsatisfying. The menu is a bit overwhelming, but after 15 minutes of studying the menu at home while waiting for Jarrett B to get here, I chose the following: Step #1 Choose a Burger: 1/3 lb beef, recommended temp (pink) Step #2 Choose a Cheese: Jalapeno Check Step #3 Choose up to 4 Toppings: Grilled Onions, Jalapenos, Lettuce Blend, Scallions Step #3.5 Premium Toppings (1.00 Per Selection): Fried Egg, Fried Onion Strings Step #4 Choose a Sauce: Roasted Garlic Aioli Step #5 Choose a Bun: Hamburger Bun Step #6 Give us ways to spam you: No. Were my burps kickin' for the rest of the night? Hell yeah. But I really enjoyed the freshness of all the ingredients used - especially the loads of scallions. And fried onion strings are always awesome. But here are some gripes: I probably wouldn't do the egg again, it was a small, puny egg. I wish the jalapenos were fried or roasted. Hmm...looking at the pic I posted...that doesn't look like JALAPENO CHEDDAR. WTF?? Oh well. I'd still go back.
(4)
Claude P.

Great burgers and sweet potato fries. Music could be turned down a little for a more relaxing experience.
(4)
JA V.

Really like this place! They usually have good beer options on tap, burgers are really good, the meat, the bread, etc; the idea is that you build your own custom burger based on a list of ingredients. The fries are the best - both regular and sweet potato.
(4)
Kate D.

Had dinner here tonight with my husband. We sat at the bar and had the BEST bartender ever! Christian was attentive, timely, and friendly. Food came out perfect as usual.
(5)
David L.

hard to go wrong when you basically build the burger with your preferences
(4)
Brenda -.

Great new menu! I tried the salad option, which was delicious. The vanilla milkshake was perfect, as always. Finally, our server, Randy, was fantastic. I have a long list of atypical food allergies, and Randy went well out of his way to verify the exact contents of multiple possible menu choices. He did all this with a smile and friendly attitude. We will, as usual, be back.
(5)
J C.

Burgers are tasty. However, my patty was warm, suggesting they have some precooked and waiting. Fried pickles were good and hot, but a chipotle mayo would have paired better than the apricot sauce. Wobbly tables. Ordered fries that never came, even after a reminder. Would be a solid 3 if not for that. EDIT: This review is about a year old. Yelp never published when I thought they did. So take that into account when considering this restaurant.
(2)
Lisa R.

These are LEGIT gourmet burgers. Finally, a solid beef patty that is actually "set" before it's served so when it comes out to you it's not covered in grease. On top of that, the burgers truly are weighted after cooking. A 2/3 burger is * huge *. There is an excellent selection of quality toppings, sauces, and cheeses. The parmesean shoestring fries are to die for. I could eat them alllll day! FULL SERVICE BAR. ADULT MILKSHAKES. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. Service was friendly, the decor was a bit sterile, but okay I guess. The only only hold back I have with this place, I guess is because there are SO MANY choices, it can be a little daunting. I'm an adventurous eater, but sometimes I'm not in the mood to randomly pick toppings and inadvertantly ruin my delicious burger. That said, I know the whole thing with The Counter is choice, so I get that, however, I do wish there were some more pre-set beef options, and/or a "signature" beef burger (there was one Counter Burger, but it didn't stand out to me) for those less adventurous. All things considered, this is a great option for pre-gaming before a night out on the town (although the location being in Reston might be a bit strange for that, unless you are going out drinking in the town center, which I guess some people do), or fast decent burger. Not quite date night type of venue, but post run from the trail high protein meal kind of place.
(4)
K C.

Without the bun in a bowl is surprisingly just as good. Yeah-this is a customized bowl of love to appease anyone that adores good food that's so fresh & tastes good all @ same time. The chairs are kinda like being in detention after school ,so get a booth if you can. Either way, the b&w candid canvas adorning the walls are splendidly easy on the eyes. Looking forward to returning on an evening to experience the ambiance.
(4)
Peter K.

Eh... the concept is nice but fails on execution. I'm wondering if the execution is poor because this place is located in Reston Town Center. What percentage of people who eat out at a place like Reston Town Center are snobby enough about food to demand a great burger place? Exactly. It'll always be just good enough for the suburbanites who want a slightly better burger than Five Guys but isn't going to give you a gastronomic orgasm like some of the burger places I've been to in New York. You can tell from many of the other reviewers who think this place is amazing because their only other points of comparison are Five Guys and Fuddruckers. I got the Counter burger. First, when I was ordering and asked for it cooked medium, she asked "Are you okay with the burger being pink throughout?" I was confused. Why are you asking me this? I just told you how I wanted the burger. As she took everyone else's order, she did the same thing, confirming how they wanted their burger cooked. Come on. This just perpetuates the idea that this place caters to suburbanites who don't give a crap about food and don't know the difference between medium rare, medium, medium well, etc. You don't need to confirm how people want their burger cooked because if they ask for their burger medium and don't understand that it won't be cooked all the way through, screw them -- you just tell those kind of people to go to Five Guys or McDonalds. They piled on way too many of the stringy onion rings. I don't really care for stringy onion rings. I prefer the thicker kind. The beef patty was just ok -- nothing particularly noteworthy about its juiciness or flavor. The regular fries and sweet potato fries were just mediocre too.
(3)
Daniel C.

I get to choose everything in my burger and how it's cooked. and the fries are nomz. Fried Egg on burger is the bomb. Steak Sauce is good too. Picture added.
(4)
Raena D.

On several occasions, I've found myself here with a burger craving. The sweet potato fries and their amazing aioli sauce can't be passed up. I'll also attest to their amazing milk shakes that will hold you over while you wait for your food. They are fairly large though, so it's best to try and split one with someone or else you won't have any room for your burger! Alright, so the selection of toppings and sauces is next to none. There are several types of BBQ sauces, pesto, aioli, guacamole, etc. They also have a variety of buns to choose from and tons of other toppings like pineapple, sauteed onions, onion rings, spinach greens, mixed greens (forget regular lettuce!).... Basically, you never need to order the same burger twice. Also recently, they added buffalo to their menu, which I happen to prefer over beef. Just be aware that being organic, it comes with an up-charge. Build your own burger here is by the 1/3 pound with your choice of 4 regular toppings in addition to premium toppings. The bacon is totally worth it as well as the avocado- which I've never had be under ripe. The only disappointment I've come across is the pineapple, which is canned :-( So I've skipped that after ordering it once.
(4)
Norman C.

I work in Reston Town Center, never actually eaten here before till today. Boy was that a horrible First experience. I ordered Carry out since I had alot of work to tend to. I ordered online at 1130am, for a 1230pm pick up. I arrived at 1230pm to pick up my food and was ready! awesome! I decided to check out my order before I left. WAIT i had ordered a Turkey burger with organic greens. Why is there a burger on a bun with a side of salad dressing in my bag??? The associate took it back, and replaced it no problem. This time I did not check the bag. I walk to other side of the town center get to my desk, open it and, great there is this salad ready to be eaten WITH OUT the salad dressing. At this point I was pretty upset, first they messed up my order, then they took out my salad dressing, but added salad. WTF. I had to bug my coworkers for some dressing. Also the meet was fairly dry, and the patty was burnt a bit too much for my liking. First time there! First time failure. I sent them an email with my confirmation order and a complaint, I haven't got a response back even though I know they have read it...how do I know?//// because I got a read receipt back.
(1)
Kim W.

Eh, I came here because a friend was raving about a veggie burger they had so I decided to try it. We came on a Friday around 7pm...it wasn't busy. We sat at the bar and filled out what looked like a survey form for my burger. The burger came out pretty fast and its presentation was appealing. However, one bite and I swear it tasted like I was eating grass. I didn't like it. The husband had a plain cheeseburger with ketchup and thought it was good but he did say that he thinks Friday's burgers are better...so not sure if that could help you gauge the quality here. Prices were ok but not cheap. If my friends didn't want to meet up here I wouldn't go. If you're a fan of burgers it's worth a try but you could probably get a better one next door at Morton's during lunch time for the same price.
(3)
Meg G.

This is a smallish restaurant in the Reston Town Center. It is quite popular, and there is often a wait at peak meal times. I've dined here about 5 times since it opened in 2009, and I have to say, I just don't get the big deal about this place. It is kind of cool that you can make your own burger, but for the prices, I don't find it that good. That may be because I don't eat beef, so I get the turkey burger or chicken..but still, the turkey burger is no different than I can make at home. That said, I've never had a horrible issue with service there. I've been a couple times with a large-ish group (~10 people)..they've handled our group fine considering the small space. Also, their sweet potato fries are THE BOMB! I'm giving this place two stars. I'm not much a fan of their burgers..and unfortch, sweet potato fries don't make a satisfying dinner.
(2)
Stephanie O.

Love the lettuce bowls! I almost always get a turkey burger in a lettuce bowl because there's no gluten free bun. The portion is HUGE - and even though the menu selections look great I've never been able to pass up creating my own burger. They seriously have so many toppings to choose from. Also love the fries - especially the half regular / half sweet potato order. All in all great burger and fun place for a casual dinner or to take friends and family visiting from out of town. My only recommendation - get a gluten free bun! Pleaseeeeeee.
(4)
Gurkie C.

Counter Burger has a good home made veggie burger with some odd ingredients such as cranberries but I am not complaining because the veggie burger really comes together. To me what they are all about is the toppings, you can pick 4 standard toppings a cheese and a sauce for the base price, otherwise you can add more which increases the cost. I tend to order roasted green chile, roasted red pepper, grilled onions, and tomato. They have some toppings which cost more, such as grilled mushrooms but they have fun ones at the regular price. The burgers themselves do not come with fries or any other accouterments. However you can order a "single order" of fries or onion straws for an inexpensive price and get a nice side. Watchout though if you dont ask for a single order you might end up with a lot more than you bargained for (on the check and how much food you want.)
(4)
Stacy K.

The food at best is mediocre. We got the fries and onion straw combo which came out cold and before our burgers. We like to eat our sides with our burgers. The fries and onion straws are so thin they are difficult to eat with your fingers. The staff: The gray haired guy behind the bar, maybe the bar manager?, is completely spastic. He would bop over "is it the best burger you've ever had?" He must have placed the wrong appetizer order for a group at the end of the bar which was pricier than what they ordered. Instead of him being gracious and leaving the bigger better order he took the food back to the kitchen and on his way he knocked over a bottle of chocolate sauce, like a petulant child. The manager is a real piece of work! A young kid was behind the counter and the manager belittled him and cursed at him, yes...all within earshot of customers. This was the most uncomfortable dining experience I've had outside of my inlaws(hahahahahahahah). Needless to say our bill was comped and we will NEVER eat there again!
(1)
Jenn K.

My best experience here yet. This time I did a special side order of grilled veggies (in place of fries) that wasnt on the menu, at my waiter's recommendation- I was very very happy I did. The waiter brought out an entire plate full of thinly grilled zucchini and carrot strips and a pepper medley and roasted, grilled sweet corn. So very good and guilt free. Quite a steal for under $3 too!
(5)
Pearl S.

Come here often, and order everything on the menu. Seriously. Order anything and everything and you will always be happy. I cry sometimes when I know that I don't have "The Counter" near where I live now.
(5)
Elizabeth B.

Ask for MJ! She a new server but you wouldn't be able to tell, she is extremely knowledgeable about the menu and beers, she also has a great friendly attitude. She made us feel like the only table in the restaurant because we received such a high grade of service. I will always ask for her next time I go in, my family and I are her new regulars!
(5)
Arthur T.

Burger in a bowl. Been going here for a while and they always make things right. Great food and good quality fresh stuff. Staff is always very helpful and always gets the order right. If I am eating at the restaurant or picking up a to go order it's always right. Oh don't miss the parm fries! Oh and they have discounted half off starters from 4-6. Great place when you want a legit burger exactly the way you want it.
(5)
Sergio J.

Bad service, waited for 10 minutes for somebody to hand me a menu, or offer drinks, but nobody seemed to care, and the restaurant was not busy at all. Having so many options in Reston, we decided to leave.
(1)
Joceyln Y.

Love this modern burger place located in the Reston Town Center. You can get one of the signature dishes which I havent even had a chance to try because Ive always customized my burger. They do have a small outside seating area. To customize you can choose a regular beef burger, turkey, chicken, or veggie. Not norm a veggie burger eater, but its probably the BEST veggie burger I've had. I dont use any of the sauces, always ask for it on the side. We usually get the 50/50...50% shoestring fries and 50% sweet potato fries. BOTH ARE YUUUUUMMMYYY!!!!!! Cant tell you which one I like better. We did try the Turkey chili which was different than I'm used too. There was corn and dried cranberries in it...wasnt bad. This place is for ALL AGES and the bar area is very "modern"...they do serve alcohol there which is nice :) EVeryone that has come here with me...LOVES it.
(4)
Amy T.

Their burgers are good and the option to chose what to top 'em with is fun however the rest of the food I found to be mediocre. The biggest disappointment was their chili which was literally mostly grease and not very flavorful.
(3)
Sars L.

You can choose whatever you want to be on your burger! And they have so many options! The sweet potato fries are great, and the regular fries are thin and crispy (which I love also). Sometimes I get the turkey burger because it's not as greasy, but it's a little dry & sometimes salty. Anyway, I'm usually too full after eating the whole burger to finish the fries too, so I recommend sharing the fries! If you can go during a nice day, they have outdoor seating! It gets kinda packed so going during off-hours will minimize waiting time. Good for a couple, seating kind of sucks for groups.
(4)
Rawley V.

Very good burgers, and enough toppings to really allow you to mix it up. The fried onion "strings" make a great appetizer. Even at $10 a burger, given the fixins, it's a value pick.
(4)
Jessica P.

This is my favorite burger place in the area. You can customize every aspect of the burger, from toppings to bread to having it on a salad. The "burger in a bowl" is a great idea, the flavor of a burger with the guilt-free feeling of a salad, especially when you opt for a turkey burger with lots of veggies. The chili cheese fries are to die for, the sweet potato fries are also pretty delicious. The outdoor patio is great in the summer for people watching, never a dull moment. We bring picky friends and family here and everyone always leaves happy. Overall, if you are at the Reston Town Center and looking for a relaxing, reasonably priced and delicious dinner, I would certainly recommend the counter.
(5)
Peter K.

Why yes I'd like to have CHIMAY with my BURGER. Enough said. This place is incredible. They serve burgers ANY way you want them: meat: turkey/beef/veggie buns: whole wheat/potato/lots of other options. You know how some places advertise that their menu options give you 16,000 different possible combinations? Well, that's actually possible here because you have incredible add-ons like mango chutney, fried onions, arugula, dried cranberries. Basically everything you like + stuff you would never imagine applying to a burger but actually tastes orgasmic. They could stop there, but their sweet potato fries are also fried to chewontheinside-crunchyontheoutside perfection. Oh, and the chocolate shakes are the best shakes I have ever had, period. Read my reviews, I don't get this positive that often. My only critique is that I'm putting on weight. Prepare to wait at least ten minutes during peak hours. [Beer Notes: Bottled Sam Adams, Chimay, Leffe, etc. A few more on tap, I don't remember what.]
(5)
Sean L.

To Die For Burger Recently I've been obsessed with this Custom Built Burgers from The Counter thecounterburger.com/menu at Reston Town Center My Deadly combination is 1. 1/3lb of medium rare beef on an onion bun 2. with SPICY Jalapeno Jack cheese & 3. more SPICY Jalapenos (hot, hot & hot!), Grilled Onions, Lettuce Blend & Coleslasw (to balance the hot spicy) & 4. lovely sauteed mushrooms & 5. garnish with Steak Sauce then Voila ! c'est le meilleur burger jamais bonus, SUPER creamy pistachio gelato from Pitango Gelato is right next door :) pitangogelato.com/locatiâ€¦
(5)
Jake A.

Food is ok- however prices are a little high for what they deliver. Carryout takes forever, even for call-ahead orders. Food comes luke-warm and soggy (esp the fries). Right down the street, you get a better burger and far superior fry for less $$ at Be Right Burger.
(2)
Michael M.

Since I would say this is the best burger place, I can only compare each visit to the previous one. Well, this was just as expected. Fantastic! The burger was once again 5 stars. This time I tried the cheese fries to go along with it. I loved them. The only thing I would recommend is that they layer them fries, cheese, fries, cheese. This way the fries on the bottom would get some cheese. There was a banana split shake on the menu this time. It was good but not as good as the peanut butter shake. Keep doing what you're doing.
(5)
Yelly A.

Took off 1 star for pricing...because $9 for a plan burger without cheese and with no "premium" or extra toppings is a bit ridic. I got my 1/3 lbs with very light toppings (tomato, cucumber, pickles, scallions) so that I could actually evaluate the burger patty itself. The meat was DELICIOUS! Wayyyy better than Good Stuff (over-rated). I'm on a diet at the moment so I had it on an english muffin. I recommend that combo even if you're not calorie counting. Also appreciated the fact that they had plain seltzer water as a free refill option :) The sauces come on the side; I didn't get one but I thought it was important to mention! TL; DR Best-tasting burger I've had in the DC area, but too pricey to go too often.
(4)
Andrew D.

The Counter serves good burgers for reasonable prices and has outdoor seating. The vegi burger is amazing and not something I would ever normally order, but sometimes do here. The Counter is much better than the other option in the town center BRB which serves you frozen patties for similar prices.
(5)
Anson P.

Meh. If you're interested in going to an upscale burger joint to sip on some wine or a 5-10 dollar beer, then this is your place. I ordered a 1/3 pound burger, their cheapest. It came with a choice of 4 toppings, a choice of cheese, and a sauce. I went with lettuce, raw onions, corn and beans mix, and roasted peppers. Topped it with some herb goat cheese and spicy sour cream. I also threw a fried egg on there for an extra dollar because what dish isn't made better by a fried egg on top? The burger was good, but not 10 dollars good. They cooked it medium rare and it was done correctly. I feel like I'm paying for ambiance that I don't give a crap about. Also, all the sides are a la carte and pretty steep in price. A side of fried pickles ran us 4 bucks. And I don't recommend them. There's so much batter on them, it doesn't really matter that there are pickles in the middle because you can't taste them. The onion straws and sweet potato fries were nothing special but like everything else was overpriced. The service was good, but the wait for food was a little on the long side, especially considering it was burgers and fries. I'm comparing the wait time to Ray's, which in the Yelp world sets the standard. Drink refills came pretty quick. I wasn't a big fan of the clipboard menus. I've been conditioned to avoid anyone holding a clipboard as they are usually carried by annoying people trying to get you to sign some kind of petition or make a donation. So it can be a little scary when you see a bunch of people standing outside this place holding clipboards. But that's just me. If I'm in the area, it won't be at the top of my list, but I wouldn't be opposed to letting someone else pay for my meal here.
(3)
Jarrett B.

I went here with Steve L. a few nights ago and I was pleasantly surprised...probably because I'm a big cynic and when I see a burger joint in the suburbs decorated to look like a trendy NYC spot...I get nervous. I think the real saving grace here was that we ordered our burgers to go - the line was chaotic and long and the restaurant was really crowded. Still, despite the crowd, it at least seemed to me like the staff was managing to hold it all together...but, seriously, it was chaos. Go for walk while you wait for your food! I am a big fan of having interesting blends of flavors and toppings on my burgers and this place definitely delivered on that front. There were actually so many options that it was a little overwhelming - but overwhelming in a mouth-watering sort of way, not in an intimidating sort of way. I ended up going in a sort of French bistro direction with gruyere cheese, grilled onions and a dijon vinaigrette. Everything was fresh and delicious - just be sure to order your burger medium, not scorched. For the record, if you are the kind of person that thinks it's gross to order a burger medium and still a little pink, you are probably also the kind of person that won't appreciate the novel ingredient choices on the menu or the price tag that comes with it all.
(4)
Mai K.

High quality beef, and good fixings to burger ratio. I really enjoy being able to check-off the fixings on a note pad -- it feels like a game. However, when I ordered a rare burger, which in itself is probably a burger no-no, it was delivered mooing. I will know better another time. For the price, I would probably be more satisfied at another gourmet burger place, though the Counter's burgers are pretty darn tasty when they are cooked.
(3)
Kimberly H.

Why do I love this place? Sweet fries and onion strings. Sweet fries and onion rings/strings seem to be few and far between which around here which is why we decided to drive the extra miles to check this out. The burgers are high quality and the toppings are unique. The price is not cheap, but I will pay extra to have toppings you can't find anywhere else. Kung Pao sauce on a burger? Where else can you get that as the sauce of the month? You can also do turkey or chicken instead of burger if you want. I highly recommend the chicken sandwich with honey mustard. If you don't want to spend and don't want unique - go to Wendy's. If you are more adventurous and willing to drop a few bucks more - this is the place for you. Total bill - $35 including tip (1 burger, chicken, 50/50 and two drinks).
(4)
Rachel W.

GREAT burgers, terrible service!! Yummy! I would go back!
(4)
Philip G.

I keep trying to like the counter, and I keep getting disappointed. Right off the bat everything is really expensive, I always get annoyed when burgers start costing over $10, there is no reason for it unless your getting actual steak. Then the toppings, the jalapanoes are dilled (big pet peve), and the "fried" onions taste terrible. Many places seem to think a fried onion is actually just a onion dunked into overpowering balsamic vinegar, i really do not get it. The bacon and cheese are of good quality, but again the price starts to add up. If you like their toppings, then you probably love this place, that what it all comes down to, I do not enjoy them as much as other establishments. Edit: I threw up an extra star because they obviously care about customer opinions and I appreciate that. I also want to clarify, there is nothing inherently "bad" with burgers at the counter, but I still feel its too expensive for what you get in comparison to the plethora of other burger places in the area.
(2)
Robert T.

One of the 5 best burgers you can get in the DC area, IMHO. You can get it many different ways (cheese, toppings, etc), but the classic Tillamook Cheddar and lettuce, tomato, and [choose your own sauce] is sure to be top shelf. Fries (sweet and regular) and onion straws are very tasty. Place is located in a fun place in Reston Town Center, and good for beers/sports, too. Frequent Visitor since Jan 2011.
(4)
S H.

Pretty good burgers- may want to skip the veggie burger since it's held together with rice. Portions of sides are huge. It's probably best to order one for two or more.
(3)
Kimberly W.

Ate an early dinner here on Saturday. My second or third time at The Counter, but I don't think I'll be back. The burgers are decent (and the sweet potato fries are amazing), but the service has always been so terrible. This time took the cake. When my burger arrived, it was missing 2 of the 4 toppings I ordered on it. We waited 5 minutes for our server to make an appearance somewhere in the dining room and then I got up and asked the host to find her for us. It still took her several minutes to show up at our table. When I very politely mentioned that my burger was missing grilled onions and cheese, she got out my order sheet in an attempt to argue with me! When she saw that I was right, she went back to the kitchen and came out a few minutes later with a cup of grilled onions and a piece of cold cheese. By this time my burger was barely warm. Who wants to eat cold cheese on a lukewarm burger? Gross. I should have pushed to speak with a manager, but by this time I just wanted to leave. Can't believe I paid $9 for the few bites of the burger I had. It's a great concept and the food is pretty good, but the service keeps ruining it for me. Too bad.
(2)
Chris D.

The burgers are pretty good but expect them to forget atleast one topping on your order. Last time I went the group next to us were charged for fries they never received. Luckily my fries arrived with my burger but was missing the obligatory topping. I used to really like their chili cheese fries but the last few times they changed their chili recipe and now it tastes like it came out of a big family sized costco can. I will be going back but only when I have to lol... I really miss Fuddruckers and Ted's Montana Grill
(3)
Lydia B.

Who doesn't love a good burger joint? And this place makes sure they have something for everyone. They even have a Vegetarian burger. So the concept is upscale build your own burgers. You get a checkoff list of everything they have and you build your burger how you want. You start by deciding your protein (beef, chicken, veggie, etc.) and the size you want (1/3, 2/3, 1 pound) and whether you want it on a bun or in a bowl. Then you pick what kind of cheese you want. Then on to toppings (so many to choose from, but 4 are included in the price) and then gourmet toppings (fried egg, onion straws, and avacado are among the choices) which are extra. Then you pick your sauce and kind of bun. They also have some specials in each category too (the night we went Ahi Tuna was special protein). I ended up with 1/3 pound (which was more then enough) beef burger with blue cheese, onion straws, scallions and steak sauce on a regular bun (special bun that night was onion, but they were out). I also had a rootbeer float (one of my friends asked if I was 5, I said "yes" when it comes to rootbeer floats...yummy!), but they have a pretty good beer selection which is what everyone else had. We also got for the table fried pickles, french fries, sweet potatoe fries and onion straws (there was 6 of us). All were really good and came with fun dipping sauces. Our waiter was really good and very patient. Several of us had a hard time deciding what to put on our burgers because there are so many options. My only negative is the decor is a lttle sterile and the chairs aren't very comfy. It was also a little chilly in there. I also make sure you listen to the waiter when ordering temp. on your burger. I ordered mine medium rare and he said that is a cool red center. I said okay because typically restaurants over cook their meat, but I would say he was right and my burger was a little rarer then I usually eat, but it was tasty so no complaints because he warned me.
(4)
Courtney C.

We were at the Reston Wine Festival on Saturday and tanks to yelp, we stopped here for lunch after our wine tasting. Seating outside was somewhat uncomfortable and a little dirty on a windy day, but it was too nice out not to sit outside. My husband ordered the 1/2 lb beef burger medium well with pepper jack cheese, avocado and aolli on a bun. He loved it and is a very picky burger eater. I ordered the 1/3 lb chicken burger with grilled pineapple, organic greens, tomato and a ginger soy glaze on an english muffin. I was disappointed. The chicken was delicious, the pineapple looked like canned tiny pineapple rounds, the tomato was great, 4 tiny baby greens were not enough and the glaze was so watery and served on the side. It was not impressive in any way. I have been craving an english muffin for weeks but this one did nothing but disappoint. barely toasted, very chewy, and stale tasting. I ended up not eating it after a few bites. We also ordered the 50/50 fries and sweet potato fries which were great, when we finally got them towards the end of our meal. The service was lacking and the price was a little on the high side for the quality of my food. It wasn't bad and maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but with so many restaurants nearby, I would try another place before returning here.
(3)
Dave C.

I want The Counter to be better than it is. Heck, it *should* be better than it is. A "gourmet burger restaurant"? YES, PLEASE! And they are trying, bless them, but it just misses the mark on too many things. You order burgers by filling out a form, where you choose your patty, bun, toppings, sauces, and so on. There's a standard configuration and you can pay extra for additional toppings or whatever, just like a pizza. Then a waiter picks up your orders, reviews them, and punches them into the ordering system. OK, so fine; I'll go through a bureaucratic exercise so you'll feed me. Fine. The big problem with this place is that the burgers turn out to be very middle-of-the-road and expensive, compared to getting a decent burger at most other restaurants. The almost infinite number of choices can yield moments of genius (fried egg on a BBQ burger!) and also invite disasters. Sometimes too much choice is NOT a good thing. The restaurant itself is none-too-comfortable, either. The chairs are unforgiving and the tables are very small...and I'm not exactly an NFL linebacker, know what I mean? Plus, the TVs behind the bar are very distracting because the place is so small, and it always seems to be colder in there than seems right. So while I'd love to give The Counter a rousing thumbs up, I find that I can't. It's fine for a burger if that's what you're craving but, personally, I prefer places a little more comfortable, less frantic, and more personable about taking my order than giving me a piece of paper and a pencil.
(3)
Brandy C.

I was really pleased with my first experience at The Counter. I loved the concept and all the options available. The service was friendly and the manager even stopped by to see if we enjoyed everything. I will definitely make it a point to come back next time I'm in the area.
(4)
Amy S.

Fantastic burgers, including their turkey burgers. A bit pricey. For the best value, get the largest size burger and take half of it home with you for a second meal.
(5)
Maggie A.

Amazing burgers! I got the signature Counter burger and was very happy with my selection. They have a great variety of toppings to choose from when building your own burgers as well. Also, the fried pickle chips with apricot sauce were great!
(4)
Barbi N.

Love this place and will come back again and again until the day I decide to get serious about dieting. I love that you can build your own burger in so many different variations. They even include "fried egg" as an option, and I'm a sucker for a fried egg on anything. There's a cool little bar if you're dining alone or whatever, and they play really cool music while you eat. It feels like a slice of California for me since the first time I went was to the one in Los Angeles.
(4)
Jay C.

There aren't a whole lot of good burger places around so when one pops up, I jump at the chance of trying it. I was really excited to stop by here the other night, unfortunately, I wasn't totally thrilled. We stopped in here on a Friday night around 6:30 pm or so. We sat outside which could have been a mistake (the sweet summer breeze of carbon dioxide from the cars, fresh air, and burger smoke from all of the resturants wafted by). We endured and waited patiently for our burgers. I got the 1/3 lb with classic American cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo. I try to get this as this is my litmus test. Well, I can honestly say, It was...good. But that's about it. I think the beef was just average (even being some special type of organic or something) but it was well seasoned. Despite this, IMHO, I make a better burger at home. I would say you get what you pay for, but you get a bigger burger and it is much better either at Sweetwater or Jacksons. ...and, the fries are better at the GAR restaurants. So...in the end, it was good, but I would think twice about making this place my go-to for a da best burger in town. ...that award still goes to Ray's....but definitely better than the over-cooked hockey pucks at Five Guys.
(3)
Kelly K.

This is a great upscale burger place, and the only reason it's getting four out of five stars from me is because I have had two instances where my order was taken incorrectly. I did send an email to management, and the problem was resolved right away. In my opinion, The Counter has the best vegetarian burgers in Northern VA, and I really like the option to have your burger in a salad bowl.
(4)
Alexandra M.

how many times do i have to say, "i want to like this place, it has potential..."!?! ms. lynn - i couldnt agree more. the entire staff looked completely sloppy and unprofessional. my sister and i went on a shopping venture and we were hungry. looking for something slightly healthy but not just a few pieces of lettuce that some places call a salad. i saw that they had the option for a burger bowl...chipotle reference? ill take it. it was good. i got a handful of toppings, avocado, feta, it was pretty fantastic. huge, and pretty healthy. you can keep it that was with any dressing on the side. well, we ventured from healthy with the sweet potato fries which were seriously awesome. my thing was the service. we sat at the bar, it was the middle of the afternoon, lets say 2-ish. and my drink was frequently empty while she (the bartender) was standing in front of me. she was talking to her friend at the bar. the food runner, a woman who looked much more professional, saw my empty glass and offered me a refill. we were also never asked if we had dined there before, which we hadn't because although it is easy to mark little check marks in a box, its a nice touch to show that they also have another menu underneath, something my sister and i noticed after we filled out our papers... the music was very very loud and kind of a strange mix.
(3)
Adriana M.

Do NOT get the turkey burger. The veggie burger is wonderful. Great service :)
(4)
Dustin S.

Decent place, but expensive. Pick a burger, pick your toppings, thats the concept pretty much. Lots of toppings to choose from, but most are unnecessary. Chances are, if you're a dude like me, the toppings you're gonna want will cost extra; cheese, bacon, etc. All in all, if you want a pretty good burger, some fries and a drink, expect to pay around $10-15. On a sidenote, the sweet potato fries are money. Five Guys is better.
(3)
T E.

Monday night, restaurant over half empty. 15 minute wait. Outrageous here.
(1)
Mukur H.

So, I first had the mini burgers and sweet potato fries at the Reston Oktoberfest and loved em. I dont know if it was because I had nearly chugged two beers prior to getting the meal or if it was really that good. Then, I come check on Yelp! and see only 3ish stars and begin to think that maybe I was drunk enough to the point where even crap from Austin Grill tastes awesome. Well, I was in the area and decided to stop by, I mean what is the worst that can happen? We step into a crowded restaurant which provides very little personal space. I swear you could move any table about 2 inches in either directions and presto! you got new "friends". Although the walls were covered in baby, blue with black and white Polaroid type pictures and steel fixtures, it some how worked. So we sat down and after 10 minutes of "customizing", ordered 2 burgers and an order of sweet potato fries. I got a 2/3 lb. burger (and thats after cooking!!!) cooked medium rare with southwestern ceaser, red onions, chilies and corn and black bean salsa. Besides seeing no toppings but cheese on top of the patty (they were under the patty) and making an ass of myself by saying so, I LOVED my extra freaking large burger, it was cooked perfectly and the toppings went very well together. The Southwestern ceaser was delicious and tied all the stuff together. My fiance got a 1/3 lb. burger cooked medium rare with some American cheese, garlic aioli and grilled onions. The patty was once again cooked perfectly and the size of the burger was much more manageable. The onions were grilled but had a bite to them and the garlic aioli made sure you knew there was garlic in it. Over all, she liked her burger after taking off what seemed like half an onion off the top of the patty. When I ordered sweet potato fries, the waiter asked me if we would like fries for both of us, I didn't really know if he was asking if I wanted to orders or if he would give us extra. I told him, I just wanted one order, how ever that much brings. Well.... I think they probably killed 2 sweet potatoes with the amount of fries we got for $4-5 bucks! We much down on them with full force and only managed to get half way though. Took the rest home to share with some friends we met up with later. The fries were cooked well, and the horseradish mayo sauce was a perfect compliment. Over all, the meal came out to $29 bucks with tip and I would definitely come again. Is it better than Ray's? I dont know think so, but it is very comparable. I wanted to give it a five just to increase the total score, but well... it was a 4 for me. Go customize your own burger and make your own decision on where this place deserves a 2 or 3 or 4...
(4)
Will O.

My burger was excellent, and I'll definitely return. I was willing to try something different, because there was a lot of that on the menu. I'm not sorryI did! I can't wait for another reason to return to The Counter!
(4)
Rich D.

I retry this place every couple of months and it never gets better. The food is decent enough, but the staff is problematic at best. Fries sometimes get delivered well before burgers and are cold by the time the burger arrives. Getting refills on drinks can be difficult. On my most recent visit the place was at least half empty, but there was a 10-15 minute wait for a table. We walked out and probably will never go back.
(1)
Rebecca E.

I had heard good and bad, but decided to give it a try. I was a little overwhelmed by the menu and wasn't sure which combination would make the best burger, but got some tips from the bar tender and other patrons. The fries and onion rings basket was very good, but I was not overly impressed with my burger. It was dry and somewhat bland. I liked the bartender and the other patrons were very friendly. I'm guessing that if I chose to come back it would start to feel like 'my' joint. However, for the price and quality of the burger, I most likely won't be returning soon.
(2)
Sam G.

This place is where you get the best burger in town!! Not only do you get to build your burger you can build your own shakes too!! The service was perfect! The food was amazing and my experiences there have always been great! If you ever want to enjoy a great casual dinning experience then come here!
(5)
Bill F.

What a great place to grab a burger. The food is pretty good but the clientelle when I went was a little too familoy for me with kids running around everywhere. They really do neeed a bigger place but the location rocks. The infinite possibilities of burger selection are great and I would suggest going late lunch or early dinner to miss the long lines.
(4)
Catherine L.

One of my favorite restaurants of all time!! My boyfriend and I usually split the 50/50 onion straws and sweet potato fries - which are shoestring, not those big chunky kinds you see at other burger places. They come on a huge family-sized platter with some dipping sauces. You really can't go wrong with the toppings either - I usually spend a few hours daydreaming about my burger at work so I don't get overwhelmed with choices when I have to order. I get the 1/3 beef burger which is probably the size of a regular at Five Guys (I could actually be completely wrong cause I haven't set foot in there since I found The Counter...) The service is great. Once when we were seated outside, a huge thunderstorm came in and the manager was quick everyone inside, while the fancy schmancy places across the street stayed outside and pretended Northern Virginia wasn't starting to get some crazy natural disasters. We were re-seated within 5 minutes even though there was a wait. Overall awesome place. A meal for 2 usually comes out to about $30.
(5)
Ben A.

Awesome place, you go in and fill out a sheet with all the glorious options for your burger creation. Things I have tried that are good: - Sweet potato fries & parmesan fries - Great Danish blue cheese - Awesome BBQ sauce
(5)
Shevonne P.

The kids and I went there to meet a dear friend. We sat there for about 15 minutes, and no one attended us. My friend got the waitress attention, and she seemed overly annoyed for some reason. After five minutes of waiting for her to return, we gave her our orders. She was half listening the entire time, so we had to repeat our orders like three times. My friend wanted a specific steak sauce, and he was asking if the one they have is the one he likes. She looked at him perplexed and rudely asked, "You don't know what steak sauce is?" I was amused that this girl, who obviously didn't want to be a waitress, was working there. The reason I gave it two out of five stars was because the food was pretty awesome. My burger with cheddar cheese, ailoli sauce, multigrain bun, and salsa was delicious. The crispy onions were good too. They forgot a spoon for my daughter's applesauce twice. I asked another waitress to bring some, and we still didn't get it. We had to ask twice for refills, and the waitress responded, "Oh, I forgot the first time cause I was busy over there." Note to waiters cause this is like the third time this has happened to me: Sometimes honesty is NOT the best policy. I don't want to hear that you just didn't care to do your job and expect me to feel any sympathy for you. Another thing about this place we noticed is that there were no lights that came on when it got dark. We are eating outside. The restaurant across from it did, but at The Counter, you were eating in the dark. This place has potential, but their wait staff and lack of lighting is killing it.
(2)
Kilani W.

good place, casual, delicious burger !
(3)
Victoria S.

Mmmmm. Veggie Burgers! In Reston TC for the second weekend in a row for the Oktoberfest. Our tummies were a'growlin' so we headed to Counter Burger - the hip [you guessed it] burger place. Where you order your burger with a check list of what you want. Pretty cool, dude. I ordered the homemade veggie burger (not Boca or Morningstar) with jalepeno cheddar, tomato, pickle, mixed greens and ranch. And of course a side of cheesey fries. YUM! Great stuff. We sat at the bar and had beers with our burgers and loved every minute. Staff was supper friendly and hipster-ready. I would def go back. Hope they open one in my area. Prices are a bit more than Fuddruckers but it's a little more upscale for a burger place. Also, they don't use styrofoam - I HATE styrofoam with a passion.
(4)
Blaire R.

Met friends for dinner - we all thought what we got was incredible. First of all, the kids meal is HUGE, I mean it's really an adult meal with a kids meal price. Got my daughter the ham and cheese. It was real ham (not cheap cold cuts) smothered in cheese on a full-sized sandwich. My husband had the bison burger which was on special and ate every bit of it. Generally, I am not a burger person, but I made my own 2/3 pounder (which is HUGE, btw) and ate until I physically ached. And really, the pricing is fair - since I didn't get cheese on my burger, she gave me some extra toppings, so my burger ended up being $11 or $12 which is really good for the size and quality. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Nitin S.

Great burgers with lots of choice. I try to go at least once a week.
(5)
Ryan E.

Friday evening, I expected the place to be pretty busy. In all reality, not too bad. We had about a 20 minute wait and we were able to choose our burger ingredients while we waited. The 'build your own burger' concept is good, but I think executing it can be difficult. A piece of paper and a crayon is not exactly what I had in mind, not to mention in the end all you do is hand it to your waiter when you're seated. Seems like this could be stream-lined a little bit so the wait isn't so bad. After all, the place isn't that big inside, so I think they could benefit from that. Inside is nice. Clean, sort of a new-age diner feel to it. A decent beer and wine selection, which was refreshing to see at a burger joint. The server came and took our orders quickly enough, but our drinks were delivered to us just barely before our food. My burger was beef, 2/3 lb, which I ordered medium. It came more medium-rare, which from other reviews I've read, seems to be the trend. More rare than desired. Now, I don't mind this, but for others who are more particular I can understand how this could be an annoying turnoff. For cheese, toppings, and sauce on the burger, I chose horseradish cheddar, grilled onion, roasted corn and black bean salsa, sprouts, tomato, avocado, and honey cured bacon, with the southwest caesar dressing. I know, I decided to go light..... I'm on a diet, OK!?!? All this with a side of regular fries. The wait for the food was average, no complaints there. My burger was actually really really good. Besides being more rare than I wanted it, the ingredients were fresh and flavorful, including the avodaco - which really makes a burger for me when paired with crisp bacon. The southwest caesar sauce was tangy, had a nice punch to it, and complemented the burger well with the crunchy corn and bean salsa. Overall, I really enjoyed the food - 4 stars. Service was not good. After we were done eating, it took 15 mins from them to clear the plates and deliver checks. After we gave them our credit cards for the checks, another 15 min wait. My buddy also asked twice to get his soda refilled, once to our server, once to the manager. It was never filled - 2 stars. Total - 3 stars. Good food, service needs improvement.
(3)
Christina C.

I found this place through Yelp and what a great find! Been here twice and never disappointed with the food. Both times I had a lettuce bowl, once with chicken and the other time with turkey. I like creating my own "burger bowl"--cool concept and a fresh change from a burger. My fiancÃ© had a burger (which of course I had to try) and it was delicious. Also had the parmesan cheese fries, which are delicious. Service was a bit dicey both times we went. First time, we sat at a table and it took about 15 mins to get the check. No drink refill. Second time, we sat at the bar and the bartender/waiter was more concerned with the girls next to us than asking for drink refills/how the meal was (again, no refill until I asked another waiter for help who was more than helpful). Maybe the servers we had both times were just really out of it? The Counter is good but I do think they need to iron out some service kinks if they are going to be a sit-down restaurant. I will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Carol P.

Enjoyed the burger in a bowl nice idea will try at home. Some of the premium toppings could have been included for the price of the burger. Liked the corn salsa and onion straws.
(4)
Nguyen V.

Bring your ear plugs as you will need that more than your appetite. The music is so loud that you will not be able to hear yourself think. You better hope the wait staff is able to hear your order and get it right. The Counter tries way too hard to reinvent the burger that it actually tastes anything other than a burger. The food is average and not what you will pay for. Just about the only thing that is decent is the fries. For the money they charge for each specialty burger and sanwiches, you will come out there asking yourself "That's it?" Burgers are small and garnishes are very small. I had one tomato slice and two cucumber slices that were so thin, you could see through it. Also, my burger came bland as it was not seasoned. Save yourself the money, your hearing and time and go somewhere that you can enjoy your burger and enjoy your company.
(1)
Ruth C.

I should've parked towards the back side of RTC, but it was a nice night out for the stroll... up until the part where the parking garage fire alarm went off for 10 minutes while we were perched on the benches outside, waiting for our food and staring at random dog dishes sitting outside Mon Ami Gabi across the walkway. Two tvs on different channels over the bar, one showing some bowling tournament from the 80s. Service was kind of terrible, to be honest; a bunch of the waitstaff were chit chatting by the register, one girl in the dining group in front of us wandered into the back area to talk up her waitress friend, and I kinda had to pull some 'tude to place our order to go. Then they forgot the pickle chips on White Dragon's burger. Which is hilarious because it took him 2 minutes longer than me to fill out the form, not because he's indecisive, but because he was shading in each bubble carefully like he was still taking the GREs. Blank cardboard boxes were cute. The waitress had said that the beef burgers tended to be done medium, but once we bit in the patties were definitely medium-rare to rare. Which was okay for me, and surprisingly okay for White Dragon, but I'm sure other customers would have a screaming fit over this discrepancy. 1/3 lb was plenty of meat for us. Dill pickle chips were pleasantly crunchy but I'd probably pass them over next time. I really liked the sprouts and gruyere, and found the grilled onions and pineapple acceptable, the latter of which was presented with nice sear lines on a hearty quarter-inch slice. Given my chosen components, I'm glad I went for the sturdy mutigrain wheat bun. The sauces were packaged separately to keep the burger from getting excessively soggy, though the wonderful meat juices that ran down my arm gave our napkin load a run for its money. My basil pesto was pretty boring as far as pestos go, but sufficient for changing the flavor dynamic of my bites. Wouldn't get the sweet potato fries here again-- super bland, stuck to its foil nest, and the horseradish mayo sauce it comes with didn't really save it.
(3)
Danilo B.

Awesome burgers that are actually cooked the way you request them. Sweet potato fries and onion strings are awesome (one "50/50" order serves three to four people). Had a chocolate malt shake and it was one of the best I've ever had in this area. Service was great and everyone is friendly and upbeat. Music playing was a mix of good rock and hip hop - nice change to cheesy stuff you usually hear.
(4)
Cristal S.

Is there any way to give zero stars? The only good thing about my experience here was our greeter. Everything else from the service to the incredibly unappealing, bland burger went downhill from there. Do not waste your money. Customized burgers should not come out as fast as a McDonalds burger. I had two bites of the beef burger and then lost my appetite. The meat was not even warm. How do you serve a customized burger in about 5 minutes and then bring it out cold? Will never go back to this joint again.
(1)
C S.

The Missus and I visit the Reston Town Center quite often for the variety of eateries. For the last year we watched this one corner space that had signs in the window advertising a new burger joint. It took them a long time to finally open, but they finally did and so we scampered in on the first weekend of business. The Counter Burger's shtick is to be "counter" to the "normal" burger places. They have a wide variety of burger choices and sizes. Sizes? Yes, sizes. They have burger sizes from small up to the giant 1 lb of beef burger. Which, of course, is the one I ordered. Now, I will be nice and say that this was their first weekend of business and problems are expected. I couldn't get any iced tea as they were "out". Out of iced tea? How does that happen? "You Virginian's drink a lot of iced tea," the waiter said. Also, the music in the place, while enjoyable, was WAY too loud. Hopefully they have at least turned it down a bit since being in business. As far as the food goes, I would not recommend the 1 lb burger. Oh sure, it might be something you'd get when you're there with your frat brothers betting on who can actually down one of these behemoths, but due to it's size, they can't cook it properly. Because it is so big, they have to over cook the outside in order to get the inside to the requested "medium well" temperature and color. Also, they lacked an oversized bun to go with the oversized patty, so you get a huge hamburger patty top and bottomed by what looks like a dinner roll cut in half. I had to eat the burger with a knife and fork as it was just to messy and unwieldy to eat with my hands. The Missus had a more normal sized burger but can't remember much about it. Guess that's pretty much the textbook definition of unmemorable. We give them slack because it was their first weekend of business and had to work out a lot of kinks. We'll try again in a few months and see if anything's improved. At this point I can neither recommend or nor warn you away from this place. Time will tell if they improve or not.
(2)
Blake J.

I decided to try The Counter the other day, after highly anticipating its opening. We were fortunate enough to arrive at an off-time and were able to be seated right away. We were first sat inside... the seating was a little awkward due to the closeness of the tables and the entire place was VERY loud. Shortly after we sat down a table outside opened up, so we opted to move outside. The noise level was much more acceptable outside. I got a 1/3lb bacon cheddar cheeseburger with fries and a water, which came out to around $15 after the tip. The burger was okay... nothing memorable. The bacon was dry and crispy. The burger itself was somewhat juicy, but not very flavorful. The fries were good. Service was just okay. This place is pretty expensive compared to other more satisfying burger options and I left feeling as if I could have eaten more. Note, that I did order the smallest burger they had, but at that price I should have felt full. Overall, the experience was not memorable and I probably will not be returning. If you're in Reston Town Center and want a good burger I would go to Morton's or Jackson's.
(2)
Alexis Y.

The burgers are a bit pricy but well-seasoned and precisely cooked. I've eaten there once and gotten take-out a few times. The time I ate there it was shortly after they had opened - the service was friendly enough but they were very disorganized. They seemed to have no idea why we were there or what strange products we were trying to order from them. It's like it was everyone's first day and no one had seen a menu or even been told they were working in a restaurant. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt since they were new but it always seems to be that way when I'm there picking food up also. It is also a small and cramped dining area. Despite these critiques, I give them 4 stars because it is a delicious burger (I'm told the veggie, turkey, crabcake burgers are good also), they have creative beer and beverage options, they do better take-out than dine-in, it's a bit unique compared to other burger places, and MOST importantly because of the parmesan fries!!!! They are just too ridiculously good with fresh garlic and rosemary...a bit of vinegar also I believe. I have been thinking about them ever since I went last and may return soon just for these fries!
(4)
Catherine P.

Great burgers, love that I can have a vege burger in a bowl, great sweet pot fries!
(5)
Amar R.

Great burger, well cooked beef patty, good topping option and good fries to go with the burger. A touch expensive but I would not paying that much considering the location. All and all I would definitely keep going.
(4)
Scott F.

I've been to The Counter probably more times than is healthy. The breakdown: Appearance: Clean, industrial. Aluminum and Formica. Some outdoor seating, which you might share with a pet just outside the perimeter. A smallish bar area. If you're here on a weekend evening, be prepared for a wait. The entryway gets crowded and it's fairly kid-friendly. Service: Usually good enough. If it's really busy, you might have a hard time catching your server. They do a good job of keeping drinks full, though. Food: Burgers, done the way you want. Choose a protein (beef, chicken, turkey), a size, on a bun or in a salad, and customize. You can choose cheeses, add-ons, sauces, the usual (and some unusual) toppings, and your bun. If you choose beef, you can select a doneness level. Medium is seriously meduim there: just warm and pink, and soft in the middle. If you don't do well with that, go medium-well or well-done (hey, it's your choice). I've switched almost exclusively to the turkey burger, which is just as good, IMO. Bacon is tasty; the sauteed mushrooms are heavily flavored with thyme and not worth it. You can get skinny fries, onion strings, sweet potato fries, or a fifty-fifty with two of those. The fries and onion strings are crispy and delicious; I'm not a sweet-potato guy, so I can't say about those. A fifty-fifty is plenty for two people. Price: Not bad for what you get. More pricey than Five Guys, but you can get Tillamook cheddar, garlic aioli, and spring mix on your burger. Notes: You'd better be seriously hungry if you're going for a 2/3 pound burger and fries. Also, if you want onion strings on your burger, you'll pay $1.25 if you get them as an add-on, but it's no extra cost if you take some off that fifty-fifty. Finally, they offer desserts, but why do that when you can get a gelato at Pitango next door? Overall: Good burgers with a great range of toppings and excellent skinny fries and onion strings. Generally good service, but busy times might make it iffy.
(4)
Carolyn S.

At The Counter, my main beef is with the beef. The burger patty should be the star of the show- but mine provided texture and roughage more than anything. It had almost no flavor- a slight char, but no "beefiness". To confirm that this phenomenon wasn't just due to overpowering toppings, I tried the beef on it's own. Still lackluster. It made me think back wistfully to the burger I had at Good Stuff Eatery in DC the week before- THAT beef has stage presence. And even though The Counter will bend over backwards to give you the burger toppings you want, they are markedly less flexible when it comes to french fries - perhaps because fries have an insanely high profit margin? While I was interested in the parmesan fries, and my SO in the sweet potato fries, our waitress confirmed that the only available sizes were not single-serving, but for two people. I'm a girl who needs her sweet and salty fry fix, so we ordered both types. The portions were huge- plucking a fry from the fry-heap is like taking a bucket of water out of the ocean. By the end of our meal, our fry heaps looked the same size as when they were served. On one hand, I think it's ridiculous that a burger joint won't offer single serving portions. On the other hand, those fries were amazing. Our tab (for two people) came to $40- unfortunately this place doesn't make my cut for gourmet burger dinner dates. With the focus on toppings, this burger joint is truly a "jack of all trades, and master to none."
(3)
Cameron D.

Ate here for lunch -- ordered to-go and enjoyed everything by the fountains in the park one block away. I am quite picky about burgers and these were the best I've ever had. If you like plain burgers, it is certainly not worth paying $9, BUT... If you like loading on crazy toppings, this place is for you. The turkey burger and the beef were perfectly seasoned and cooked very nicely. On the turkey burger I loaded it up with the herb goat cheese, spring lettuce mix, grilled onions and shredded carrots. Seriously, the best burger ever. If you don't like what you get, you are probably bad at ordering. My kids are picky and it's not worth fighting the "eat what's on your plate" battle in public, so they had their beef burger plain and it was STILL so good. The sweet potato fries were great too. I will definitely be back soon, maybe with my husband on father's day. It doesn't hurt that pistango is next door...
(5)
Simon M.

$28 for two burgers and shared plate of fries and two ice teas? Seems kind of pricey to me - my burger was OK - nothing great - skip this and go to Jackson's or if you want a REALLY good burger Ruth Chris or Morton's are local as well - or just go to 5 guys......
(2)
Tina M.

3.5 stars from me. I really liked this place for a quick lunch. Food came out fast and was very tasty. I LOVED that you could 'design' your own burger. Huge fan of that. Service was fine, but there were only 2 other tables seated when we went (it was 11:30 on a Sunday). My only complaint is that the music is WAY too loud and my friends and I had a hard time talking over it.
(3)
Kathy C.

i really love the counter. the sweet potato fries are amazing. i also like all the burger combinations and the option to have an English muffin instead of a regular bun. my burger is always cooked perfectly which is hard to find. i'm definitely surprised that the reviews for this place are not better than they are. i have never been disappointed.
(4)
Josh B.

I've eaten at the location in Palo Alto a few years ago, so I expected a similar experience at the Reston location. I made a serious error ordering a chicken burger, which turned out to be a chicken breast, not ground chicken as I'd hoped. I also ordered a multigrain roll which I would not recommend. It was dry and a bit hard. Oh well, live and learn. My wife and daughter had hamburgers, which were delicious. We shared sweet potato fries, and the waitress even gave us a free Chocolate shake. Cute toddler FTW! The restaurant was very crowded on Friday night, but the counter was available, so there was no wait. Otherwise, be prepared to wait. Also, it was freezing inside, with nowhere to escape the draft from the open door. The total for 2 burgers, a kids meal, and fries came to $24. I wouldn't travel to go back, but if I'm near the Reston Town Center again, I'll be back.
(3)
Scott S.

The Counter is a trendy burger joint that really doesn't deliver. I agree with other reviewers - this place has nothing on Five Guys. My wife and I went on a BOGO coupon, but still ended up at $20 with a shake and fries. The only reason they don't get 1 star is their "Custom Burger", where you can choose any toppings. This can be a recipe for disaster, though, as evidenced by my wife's "Blue Cheese, Craisin, Hard-Boiled egg & Steak Sauce" burger.
(2)
Scott S.

Met my wife for dinner Friday night, and was faced with a predictable 30 minute wait. Once seated, our server, Traci, was lovely. When it came time to give her our order sheets, the difficulty began. The Counter was out of turkey burgers and bison, anythng marked MarketPlace, and a bunch of other things. This, on a Friday night when high traffic should be anticipated. My wife was peeved at no turkey, as that is her go-to. She asked if it would be easier to just tell us what was available instead. Having been there before and gotten overcooked burgers when ordering medium well, we ordered medium. This time the burgers were the other extreme: RARE. Barely warm pink throughout. Yuck. My 16 year-old son, a usually-hearty eater, ate about a third of his. We mentioned that all three were undercooked. Our server said she'd mention it to the manager. We thought he would comp our son's, or visit the table at the very least. Neither occurred. So inconsistency seems to be the hallmark at The Counter. When paying over $60 for 3 burgers, an order of fries, and drinks, you expect better. And you should, especially at Reston Town Center where there is a plethora of better choices.
(2)
Molly M.

This is a small shop in Reston Town Center that offers burgers, chicken burgers and turkey burgers along with the usual sides and a full bar. The Parmesan Fries came out first and were delicious and enough for a few people to share. My burger was average - the meat lacked flavor and needed salt. The toppings I chose were all fresh and tasty. I'd come back, but I'd absolutely ask them to flavor the meat if that's an option. Overall the price was a bit steep, but that's expected in Reston.
(3)
Matthew S.

Friendly service, great burger options, and some unique draft beer selections. Overall a great neighborhood burger joint for a casual meal.
(4)
Adriana V.

Five big stars for this place, in my opinion. I'm not a big burger fan. I don't usually order them when there's grilled chicken or hot dogs to be had - so it takes a pretty darn good burger to get me coming back for more. I had moderate expectations for The Counter, and went because the boyfriend really wanted to try it out. I'm glad we did. The first major point is the selection. They have tons of cheese, sizes, buns, sauces, and odd add-ons. I really appreciated the customizable burger idea. I wound up ordering a 1/3 lb beef burger (PLENTY for me) with the cheddar, red onions, scallions, and bacon and a fried egg. The bacon and the egg were extra, as all premium toppings are. No real surprise there. The surprise came when I went to order my burger medium-rare and got asked if it was ok that they cook it so it's red all the way through. That won major points. If you like your burgers more well done, you can order them that way. It's unusual, however, to get a true medium rare burger. When they served our food, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything was mouthwateringly delicious, and super fresh. As far as I'm concerned, the burger was perfect. The decor is sparse, but in that edgy, modern sort of way. Not super comfortable chairs but the food came out extremely fast, so it's not like we were there for hours. Great beer and wine selection as well. Definitely 4.5 stars all-over, 5 stars for the food.
(5)
Brian H.

Yes, the price is more. Yes, the service can be quirky or not as one would expect (as taught by the "man" in places such as Chilis). However, the burger meat, toppings and sides are what makes The Counter worth trying. If you just want a cheeseburger and plain fries, go to Five Guys. If you want sweet potato fries, toppings like king pao sauce and pickled cucumbers, go to The Counter.
(4)
JJ c.

food was def 4-star worthy, however the service, as always was slow, inconsiderate, and unimpressive. we had to ask the server to take our order, ask where our food was after 20 mins of waiting and seeing other tables that ordered after us get their food, and finally, for the check. And my drink was never refilled. we got a show tho. a server impressively saved three dishes spread across her forearm as she gracefully slid across the wet floor. after the brilliant show, the yellow 'caution' sign went up. obviously i wasn't surprised when a customer almost slipped. nothing is worth two hours for lunch so suffice to say, i'm not returning anytime soon.
(2)
Monica B.

On MLK Day the restaurant was packed but the service was still prompt and the order was perfect. (And the food tasted great as always.) We'll definitely continue to come here and keep our fingers crossed for continued excellent service.
(4)
Ashley A.

Veggie burger with guyere, sauteed onions, tomato, and avocado. I am a fan since i can build it however I like and they have a great veggie burger. Their sweet potato fries and onion strings are yummy as well.
(4)
Neck F.

Sorry this place is not a real burger joint. They try and make you think that their an "upscale" burger joint but they are far from that. First of all the server refused to split our checks for us as we went here with two of our friends and we simply asked for our server to please split our check for us two ways and he said that he can not do so that he can only split our check in half completely which is not fair as we ordered items that were not the same. As for the food itself not great at all. First of all they do not have any sides like fries they simply let you order your fries as a starter and then they came out like fifteen minutes before our actual burgers came to our table. Not sure where they came up with this crazy idea but the normal regular burger joints let you order your burger and your French fries and they come to our table together. We had wanted to save some of our French fries to have with our burgers but honestly fries seem to be a little colder when we received them like fifteen minutes before our burgers were on our table. My Fiance had a tasteless burger with an extremely hard bun. I had a veggie burger that seemed to be one of the veggie burgers that we buy from the grocery store in the frozen food section. The French fries tasted like McDonalads French fries and the sweet potato French fries were fine and the sauce that came with the sweet potato French fries was great. The artichoke hearts on my Veggie Burger were great but honestly that was about all that was great on my Veggie Burger honestly my Veggie Burger was a little tasteless as well. The veggies with the exception of my artichoke hearts were not extremely fresh. Honestly we are more than likely not coming to The Counter anymore we have been once and honestly it was not great at all it had a lot of followers and were not sure why as it was not great.
(1)
Roxy J.

So today for lunch I wanted a yummy hearty burger...hadn't had one in a while and since the cafeteria is closed this week in our building, I ventured here today for lunch with my coworker. I did my research first read the yelp reviews etc. was a little skeptical after the reviews but when I saw the menu I was sold. I love the fact that they offer sooo many different toppings! ( Perhaps because I LOVE condiments and toppings) Upon arriving (we beat the lunch rush) we greated by the hostess who was extremely pleasant and proceeded to walk to the counter where we were meet my a gentleman (who I am going to assume is the Manager or Owner) who broke everything down on how to order etc. after picking his brain and asking 100 questions we proceeded to order. I decided I would try the 1/3 burger on a multigrain bun with a fried egg, alfalfa sprouts, red onion, lettuce, tomato, and tillamook cheddar, my co-worker got the mediterranean bowl and I got a large order of fries (the 50/50- so both sweet potato fries and regular fries). So 15 minutes later we come back as directed It smelled sooo good when we were walking to the car, driving, in the elevator then finally to our desks. the aniticpation was well worth it. DELICIOUSNESS, Tender Juicy, just a damn good burger. I loved the fact they added ranch and a horseradish ketchup to go with the fries! Extra yummy will be back!
(5)
Alix H.

We have been back to the Counter many, many times since the last review so I thought I would add a positive update. With the exception of an occasional snafu, the food has been good (fries soggy, underdone, etc.) and minor glitches in service (on the bill), we have enjoyed this place and prefer it to virtually every other burger joint around! Keep up the good work!
(4)
Sarah P.

This is a fun place for a good burger. Build your own so you can be as crazy or traditional as you like. My husband likes the pickle fries. The sweet potato fries were so good! Another favorite part of this place is going to Pitango next door for dessert!
(4)
Heather P.

Not impressed. Service was not good. Ordered burger and crab bowl burger, onion strings. Burger cooked right crab bowl ok onion strings thumbs down. Ice tea took 2 sips told waiter it was not good he brought water and still charged for tea. He asked how was everything I let him know onion strings were a let down. He went onto tell me he didn't charge me for them after I said they were bad. Why can't some wait staff look at the table see whats going on with the food and tell something is not good. I know they don't care its not their business welcome millinium kids.
(3)
Terry S.

Meh. The burgers are decent, but the service and the fries leave a lot to be desired.
(3)
Martha M.

I am vegan and my carnivorous companion and I both really enjoyed our meals. So many great options!
(5)
Brandon R.

I love hamburgers. It is one of the few foods that I have consistently enjoyed all my life. I unabashedly believe it is true American food and I am on a never ending quest to find the perfect burger. My quest today leads me to 'The Counter'. Located in the recently upgraded Reston Town Center, The Counter is not the typical hamburger joint. Absent is the typical poorly lit, dingy tables and fixtures with bad sports memorabilia. The setting here is much different. While the experience at The Counter should not be described as fine dining, the host station, and the bright lighting tends to lend itself to a more trendy place that should be referred to as an eating establishment rather than a hamburger joint. Enough about the atmosphere, as the food is quite good. The appeal of 'The Counter' is the wide selection of toppings to choose for one's burger. There are just too many toppings to even mention, but there were a few that struck my eye and eventually found themselves on my burger. I chose a normal bun(whole wheat bun is an option) with mixed green lettuce, tomato, mayo, bacon AND brie. While the toppings are interesting for me, it always comes down to how the actual burger taste. The Counter burgers certainly pass the test of providing a savory, juicy burger that is well complemented by very interesting choices for toppings. They do a really good job of choosing fairly quality beef and the preparation meets the standard of the meat. There was just the right amount of fat without creating a river of grease down my arm and seasoned well enough such that it would enhance rather than overpower the taste of the burger. The brie on my burger was certainly a winner. This was a first for me and will certainly not be the last burger I order with such a fancy flair. Along with toppings there are also a few side items that were instant hits for me, namely the sweet potato fries. All in all, certainly a good first experience, my only real complaint, the price. At $20(including tip) this was not so much a good option for an everyday family outing, but certainly a nice treat every now and then.
(3)
Kevin B.

I'll give this an ok. I feel like the whole restaurant was having an identity crisis trying to be modern/50s diner/organic hippie at the same time. The fries are definitely on point but the burger wasn't anything special which is a pretty sad thing to say for a burger joint.
(3)
Jeffrey L.

Good burgers, and a bit of attitude. But the place is fresh and informal. Lots of young kids - 20 - 30, as well as families.
(4)
Jackie J.

I am very disappointed with the counter. I walked by and it had a nice new and fresh look and had a good crowd eating inside and waiting outside, so we decided to try it. First off, the burgers are way overpriced ($9 for the smallest,) especially since they don't come with fries. Maybe the price would have been worth it if the burger was actually good, but OKAY and ehhh would be my best description. The burger was juicy but had little flavor. There were a variety of sauces available for the burger, but none of the ones we had were all that great and I wouldn't have high expectations for the ones we didn't try. For cheese, I chose the horseradish cheddar, and it too had little flavor. The bun was also nothing special, pretty boring, which i guess perfectly compliments the rest of the flavorless burger. We also had the onion straws, and even those were disappointing. They were very thin and essentially tasteless. The service was just okay too. Despite having 3 servers coming by to help us, it was still slow. My burger was also missing one of the toppings I had written down. I would not go back. Like others have said, for the price you'll be much more satisfied with Unos, Jacksons, or Cydes. Conclusion: NOT WORTH IT! spend your money elsewhere! To be perfectly honest, I would have been more satisfied with a BigMac.
(1)
Sasha D.

This is one of my favorite places to get a burger. The service however leaves very little to be desired. I have been there 6 times and the food has always been great--how can you beat designing your own burger-and my drink glass always goes empty until they come for the bill. It would be great if they could get their act together, but they have had very young staff that is more interested in talking to each other.
(3)
Amanda K.

My husband and I moved to the RTC about a month and a half ago. We finally decided to try this place out with another couple. We decided to sit outdoors (which took over 15 mins to get seated on a Friday night). Everyone ordered draft beers and it took 10-15 to get our beers and our appetizers came out before that. We ordered fried pickles and two orders of fries and onion strings to share. The fries you can get better at McD's. The fried pickles were gross. My meal was a burger w/ melted cheese on top of a bed of baby spring lettuce. I liked the fact I could customize my burger (I am not a huge carb fan, so I could get the lettuce instead of a bun). My burger was pretty good. My husband ordered the counter burger and said it was warm at best. He also said the cheese was melted on there like it was sitting under a heat lamp. Our meals total was very expensive for what you get there. You are better off going to 5 Guys burgers or Fuddruckers
(1)
Denise C.

I finally got to experience Counter Burger... first a confession...I don't really eat meat. So going to a place that specializes in burgers is kind of dumb...but I perused the menu and they had VEGGIE Burgers...so it was on... if you don't eat veggie burgers then you probably don't know that it's possible for them to be really good or really horrific depending on the ingredients. But this one was amazing, I got the whole wheat bun, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes (that were actually ripe-don't you hate it when you get short changed on fresh vegetables because they think under all the toppings you won't notice-well I notice)...pickles, red onions, ketchup, and wait for it...course grained mustard...it was AWESOME...and so were the fries. I would definitely go back. It's definitely upscale burger place...not a dive by any means...but still casual and the staff was great and knowledgeable about the menu.
(5)
Jenny B.

Well- I wrote a review a few months ago regarding an awful experience there. I went back to try it out again and all the issues that I had are gone. I will chalk it up to them being new and having some issues getting the kinks out. Luckily, I went with two of my friends and they both thought it was the best thing ever. We had great service and our burgers were perfect. I cannot tell you how much I loved my burger. Plus they have incredible fries and side selections. We ordered all types and even had the grilled vegetable pack. I would put this place ABOVE Ray's Hell Burger, any day. The Counter is SO much better!
(5)
Eric B.

The food was GREAT! I love that you can make it how you like it!
(4)
Joseph H.

Great burgers! Maybe the best I've ever had. Excellent sweet potato fries.
(5)
Matt Z.

Decided to go eat at Reston Town Center after kayaking in Lake Anne. After walking around for a few minutes, we decided to take a chance. Quality, flavorful, and juicy burgers - Angus beef (as well as chicken, turkey, and veggie) - Portions are big to start with (1/3, 2/3, or 1lb burgers) - Great selection of toppings & unique - Choice of having a burger in either a bun or bowl. Appeared clean & very modern. While visiting the restaurant, one of my family members noticed a hair on their burger. Immediately we told them and they apologized. The burger was cooked fresh & was brought out in a few minutes. The waitress told us that the burger was on them, and we got a free burger. She was pretty friendly, as well. Ordered "The Counter" burger (cooked medium-well). It turned out to be pretty juicy & flavorful. While it was advertised as having a Tomato-Vinaigrette, I did not find the flavor to be strong enough (I could barely taste it). And a stronger sauce would have been better. As said before (in other reviews), the toppings can make your burger pretty pricey. For a 1/3rd burger, the price starts at $8. This would not be an every day stop. However, if there was a special occasion, I would recommend this place.
(4)
Candace C.

This place is like a pizza joint. You've got your basics and you just build up from there. Depending on what you want, this can add up and other places that have specialty burgers might end up being cheaper. But here, the idea is that everyone at the table gets exactly what they want. The burgers are good--the meat tastes fresh, the toppings are fresh and the sauces are interesting. Don't worry about the the "extra charge" for sauces on the menu--they'll gladly swap your sauce (which always comes on the side) for free. I really enjoyed the sweet potato fries which were nice and crispy, but it's sad that you have to order them, or any sides, separately. At first I wanted to give this place a 3, but here's what raised the game for me to a 4. 1) The service---wow--there are plenty of restaurants that could learn a few things from the service here. It's Clydes-like--very friendly and cheerful, as well as efficient. 2) The apple pie shake. As a Pitango fanatic I find it hard to eat sweets anywhere else in Reston Town Center, but I finally broke down to try a Counter shake. Apple pie a la mode in a cup--can't go wrong there!
(4)
Simplehiccup D.

Milkshakes, french fries and veggie burgers- all yum.
(5)
A A.

On my most recent burger tour, in search of finding the best burger in the DC Metro area, I came across The Counter in the Reston Town Center. The location is easy to get to and there's free parking at a nearby garage. We went on a Tuesday night and it wasn't too packed so we were seated right away. I absolutely love the design inside - minimal and clean, with a bar up front (you can order beer there). Service was as good as it's going to get; the waiter was patient, knowledgeable, attentive, and really sold things well. We were a large party of 8 and he took the time to answer all questions and explain the ordering process of "design your own burger" and a little bit about the California chain. There was SO much to choose from, that it took us forever to order. I would strongly recommend to look at the menu prior to going in there so you can have an idea of what you want since there are so many combinations of things you can get, just to at least narrow it down and have an idea. We started off with fries (nice to have sweet potato fries as an option) as the appetizer and then had our burgers as the main dish. The sauces to dip your fries in were great - go crazy and mix two or three. Everyone at our table ordered differently with our burgers and we were really happy with our choices. Overall it was a little pricey, but well worth everything we got.
(4)
Chris S.

Finally! Finally it has happened to be. I find a Reston burger joint, and can live happi-lee. Just Joking. A lil corny. But the counter is serious. I mean a real burger with real toppings and taste. Blows Red Robin out the gourmet burger water just by their french fry arrangements alone. Where else can I get half french fries, half sweet potato. Or half onion rings and half sweet p in a basket. There are some combinations to play with trust me. The burgers are very good. Doesn't taste as heavy as Robin's. They also have sauces galore to choose from. If you are indecisive you could be at Counter Burger forever. I suggest you do a lil research before going. Only downside is it is a bit expensive, but hey its in the teeth of Reston. Another gem from Cali to land in the East. You gotta love it right? Now, bring on In-N-Out ALREADY!
(4)
George C.

My wife and I visited the Counter Burger in Reston early on a Thursday afternoon. The place was almost deserted, with more staff present than filled tables. So we thought that service at least should not be a problem. We were very wrong. While the food was quite good, the service made the meal one of the least pleasant dining experiences we've ever had -- and as a Foreign Service family we've eaten at restaurants across the United States and in Europe, Africa, and the South Pacific. Apparently Counter Burger prefers to hire very young and inexperienced wait staff --great for the bottom line, not so good for the customers. (They also have loud and not very pleasant Muzak, which i guess they think adds to the youthful "vibe.") Our server left us without food for about 25 minutes, after which she confessed she'd completely lost our order. When the main course eventually showed up, it did not bring with it the starter course, which we asked to be served with the main course but didn't arrive for another 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, we were within easy view of the evident manager --at least, he was the only staff member clearly over 20 years old. Yet he took no interest in why two customers were sitting so long without their order, even though with such young staff management is crucial. We've complained to Counter Burger about this episode. We'll see what comes of it. But from my point of view, it doesn't matter how good the food is if it doesn't show up.
(1)
Jon B.

Great burger spot. 2/3 lb burger was just right for me. Get em cooked med rare.
(4)
Nabeel A.

Everyone loves a good burger place. Everyone really really enjoys a great burger place. For me The Counter falls somewhere in between. I wish their burgers tasted like 5 guys minus the grease and peanut covered floors you typically enjoy at the 5 guys. I went to the counter for a lunch with couple of my buddies. The line was insane even in the below freezing temperature. We waited 25 minutes before we could sit down. The manager or the person at the counter was really nice and engaging. If he wasnt there and updating us I think we wouldve walked out with a negative experience. Also if you are planning to take a big group, call ahead -- this place isnt too big. We sat down and picked our meats, toppings, premium toppings, fries and drinks. They offer insane number of toppings and sometimes you really have to think if your construction is going to be as tasty as it sounds on paper. Burgers were good, fries need a bit more weight to them (it feels like you are eating potato air), and overall everything turned out just okay. The biggest surprise was when the manager came over to our table again, apologize for the wait and said -- I will cover your entire lunch and I am sorry again. That certainly won us over. Thats excellent customer service and we will definitely return for our next burger bites.
(4)
Greg G.

The food was great! Hands down. Went there with my ex girlfriend for valentines day. The service was very helpful, just a little slow at the begining (probably because of the rush that night). I'd deffanatly come back here for a nice burger.
(4)
Ryan M.

Still an outstanding place to grab lunch! Still getting the same thing (chicken sandwich with brie, organic greens, red peppers, garlic aoili on the side) every time, and still bringing out of town guests here after a year. Love it.
(4)
Jeff T.

Update #2: My review appears to have been removed for some reason, so I'm updating it in hopes of it staying posted. Also, I've heard from coworkers that they went again and it was much better (normal), so I'm going to give it another try. I really want this place to be good. I've heard nothing but great things about the California locations. Update #1: My first experience was pretty bad, but I was convinced by the owner to give it another try. Service was much better the second time, though we were asked to come at an off hour so they would not be busy. Food was better too, though my burger was undercooked (raw inside) when it came out. While the second trip was better, my first experience was one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had (not exaggerating). I've bumped the score up to "two stars" from my original "one", as I think that is a fair average between my experiences. Given the attempt by the owner to make up for the initial experience, I'm going to give them a 3rd try soon, and will up the score again if the experience is decent again. Here was my original experience: To be fair, I believe most of the horrible first experience came down to failures on the part of our particular waiter. Issues included: - Inability to get drinks refilled, despite asking several times throughout the meal. - An appetizer (chili-cheese fries) coming out after the whole table finished eating both their appetizers and burgers - Soggy/room temp fries (cheese on cheese fries was congealed) - At least some toppings left off of half the burgers at our table, despite everyone filling out their own checklists for toppings - Waiter did not know which shakes were which flavors, so everyone had to taste to find theirs - Service was slow at 1.5 hours from the time we were seated to when the check arrived. Bad service aside, I thought the burgers were decent. Cooked to temp, and flavorful. Also, I didn't have a shake, but 3 other people at the table did, and were all very happy with them. Here are my current ratings (based on both visits): Food: C Burgers = Slightly Above Average, Fries= Below Average, Shakes = Pretty Good Price: D At $10+, there are plenty of better/cheaper burgers around. Service: C ("F" for the first visit + "A" for the second) I've already mentioned the issues with the first visit. The second visit saw a lot of positive attention from management, although we were there when it was pretty much empty, and they were trying hard to make up for the first visit. I'll be interested to see what it is like if I try them again as a normal customer at a busy time. Atmosphere: C Nothing great, nothing bad. Seating was a little cramped. My personal recommendations: 1) Go at an off-peak time or order To-Go 2) Skip the fries 3) Get a burger and a shake (everyone did rave about the shakes) 4) Double-check your order
(2)
scot k.

After I posted the original review I was contacted by the counter. Every time since then my burgers (and my friend's burgers, so it has nothing to do with me getting on their good side) have been coming out perfect. So they are on my go to list for burgers!
(4)
Sharon M.

My boyfriend and I were looking for apartments in this area and decided to go here for lunch. We're a little bit of burger snobs (after you've eaten at Shake Shack and Burger Joint in New York, you just want every burger to be similar) so this place is actually up to the challenge. You get 3 choices for a burger patty (star number 1): 1/2 lb, 2/3lb and 1 freaking lb. I went in between and did the 2/3lb burger. The meat was huge, delicious and juicy (star number 2). The sides were plentiful and not the best sides, but they did the job (star number 3). We had the regular fries and the onion strings. Lastly, the service was speedy and they did a good job of refilling my drinks when it went empty (I cannot STAND places that let your drinks just stay empty forever) (star number 4). You also have the choice of building your burger or just getting it from the menu. My boyfriend had a burger from menu, I built mine up (mushrooms please!). I like that you have the choice. I truly like this place but wasn't BLOWN away, hence, I didn't give it the last star. Good place for good lunch and good atmosphere (the music wasn't too loud). Not a bad bet. It helped that the manager stopped by to make sure we were a-ok. P.S. By the way, that burger was so huge, that I didn't eat the rest of the day. Also, I didn't eat before-hand. Not a bad bang for your buck.
(4)
Tiffany W.

The Counter is a new restaurant in the Reston Town Center and is quite a spot. The idea is you build your burger (beef, turkey, veggie or chicken) based on a selection of bread, cheeses, condiments and sauces. The list of items to choose from is bigger than any other burger joint I've seen - so for the experimental at heart...this place is for you! I ordered the turkey burger in a bowl (no bread) on a bed of lettuce with scallions, american cheese and the roasted corn and black bean salsa - yum! Oh, and the sweet potato fries are excellent! The service was great - kudos to the waitress for asking my large group of 9 if we wanted separate checks, and kudos to the manager who stopped by to say hello and was at the door saying goodbye when we left. I will definitely return if I'm in the Reston area.
(4)
Karen R.

I discovered this place a few months ago and have been craving it ever since. I had to go back the other night to get my fix. The concept of creating any type of burger with a lot of different toppings ranging from sauces to veggies to meat and cheese is amazing. Only bad thing is that you will leave in a food coma, but at least you have the Town Center to help walk it off some. The price is a bit high for a burger joint, but then again I can't think of any place that lets me create literally any burger I want with limitless possibilities. Will definitely go back again!
(4)
Rob G.

These burgers were awesome! The sparkling wine in a can...not so much. Tender, juicy and tasty had me cleaning my plate...truly a great burger
(4)
Dede O.

So I am such a fan of this plae...so much so that I hae recruited friends to eat here as often as possible. I justlike the comlex simplicity of it all. Something about building a burger however you want it without judgement makes me so happy and excited. There is a myriad of combinatons that you can have when building your burger. A paper sheet that has tons of topings bread options, cheese choices, etc. You want cranberries on your turkey burger with a fried egg on top POW there ou go...you wan it you got it...and definitely cannot forget the sweet potate fries...ahh whenever I am there I am just happy.
(5)
Frank W.

I had the old school burger since I was to lazy to "build" my own. Great selection but no buffalo meat??? Service needed improvement and food was ok.
(3)
Matt C.

4.5 Stars This place is great. Lots of selection for an infinite amount of burgers. They have multiple sizes as well as meats and a veggie option. Trust me, these are a handful as well as a mouthful. Their shakes and malts are great too, a perfect compliment. Oh, and their sweet potato fries are a must. Be aware of going during the lunch rush you will be waiting a bit but they are usually pretty quick. They have outside seating as well. This is not going to be a 5 Guys burger, it's at least a step above. If you want 5 Guys, go to 5 Guys. This place offers the gourmet side of burger-ing. That's exactly what you get, a gourmet burger prepared just how you like it. This is one of the few places I will get a medium rare burger, they cook it perfectly. You can't go wrong if you want a burger, veggie burger or chicken sandwich!
(4)
Becky P.

Came here with three others for a late lunc (around 2pm). We had our choice of either indoor or outdoor seating and chose the indoor to escape the humidity. We ordered some fried pickle chips to occupy us while we tried to conquer our indecisive tendencies. The "chips" had a crisp, thin breading and were piping hot. We enjoyed the dipping sauce as well. The clipboard create-your-own style was fun, and as a non meat-eater I appreciated being able to create my own tasty veggie burger. I ordered it with the honey wheat roll, horseradish cheddar (wasn't spicy at all, perhaps I should have gotten the pepperjack), tomato, black bean and corn salsa, jalapenos, and spicy sour cream on the side. The sour cream was fine, but the veggie burger itself was so tasty I didn't really want the sour cream to overpower it. The table ordered a 50/50 sweet potato and french fry plate. The sweet potato fry dip was super tasty with both fries. My meat-eating companions (one ordered the chicken, another ordered the giant 2/3 beef burger as he was told the full pounder would take 30mins to cook!) seemed to really enjoy their sandwiches and chosen toppings. The brother's only regret seemed to be that he didn't order the Birthday Cake Shake along with his own veggie burger. I would come back here for another lunch with friends- our service was friendly but not overbearing, and the prices were average for the Town Center area.
(4)
Kate S.

I'm also surprised to see that this place got such terrible reviews. I went on a Saturday afternoon, after the usual lunch time. There were plenty of tables available and the music was definitely fun. We had excellent service - I ended up with two sodas at one point because two different servers brought me refills. We had the 50/50 fries and sweet fries. Those sweet potato fries were absolutely to die for, especially with the sauce. My friend and I each made our own burgers. I had a turkey burger, which was very good. As far as prices goes they seem completely reasonable to me. This place isn't Five Guys - you have more options, more atmosphere. You would pay the same amount for a lame meal at Fridays or any other such chain so why not suck it up and branch out a little? All told this place is definitely worth a try.
(4)
Jocelyn T.

Love this place! I love sweet potato fries and my husband loves regular, here we get both - on one plate! I have never made my burger the same way twice which is what makes it so fun. It's a great quick and casual place for lunch or dinner - a go-to in our household.
(4)
Laurent G.

Love the concept: choosing amongst many interesting options to build up your own burger. All the ingredients were good and fresh. My burger was medium rare as I like it (that's rare, no pun intended). Service was attentive. I will go back.
(5)
Erin P.

This was by far one of the worst dining experiences I've had. In a full disclaimer- we went on a popular night. We're very understanding and patient when it comes to a busy dinner hour. That said, the waiting area is awkward and you'll have people running into you every 30 seconds, so your patience will be tested. Once we were seated is when the real "fun" began. Taking in the "atmosphere" didn't help. The interior decor is disjointed and obviously picked by an interior decorator going for a campy, VIP look. The whole air about this place is reminiscent of a "better than you" night club. Over burgers? *eye roll* Get over yourself. The drum and bass/remixed pop music was NOT working either. I'm all for mood music, but the volume was so high were were literally shouting and practicing reading lips. My husband asked the waiter if the music was always this bad and loud and the waiter smiled and shouted, "oh yes, it's horrible- this is my song!" What does that even mean?? The menu is presented a la carte. You want fries with that $12 burger? You'll pay extra for that. My husband and I ordered sweet potato fries to go with our (literally) hand selected burgers. They provide you with mini golf pencils and a scorecard to get your burger ingredients "just right." After ordering we waited a good solid 15 minutes to receive or drinks and about another 20 before our appetizer came. What's funny is we didn't order an appetizer... it was our "side" of sweet potato fries. Apparently they think it's hip to eat your fries as an appetizer and your burger solo. The burgers took another good 30 minutes to come out after our fries. When they arrived my husband and I were immediately confused. One of the burgers had a different bun than ordered, so we decided to investigate the accuracy of the rest of the order. Both of our burgers were COMPLETELY wrong. Half of my toppings were on my husbands burger, half of his toppings were on mine, and there were several choice items thrown in that we never even ordered. On top of that the burgers were a lot less done than our medium/medium well requests. It took a while to get the attention of our server. When we explained the situation he looked at us like we were being difficult, sighed, and said he'd try to find our original paper orders in the back. I find it highly irritating that I placed my own order, had two orders completely butchered, and then received an attitude from our server. We quickly ate the burgers (which took about an hour to an hour and a half to receive after ordering) and were ready to head out. An hour later our FOOD POISONING started setting in. My husband had a horrible stomach ache and spent the entire night in the bathroom. I was just feeling a little off at first, but woke up in the middle of the night with one of the worst vomiting spells I've ever had. It lasted until mid-day the following day. Hands down the worst food poisoning I've ever had. Now when we visit our favorite gelato spot next door, I have to talk my outspoken husband out of throwing open the front door and screaming about intricate details of his food poisoning. I will not be going back (unless I'm dragging my husband away from a loud public protest).
(1)
Michael G.

I'm a vegetarian, one daughter's vegan, and my wife and other daughter are omnivores. I got the veggie burger, my vegan daughter got the veggie burger in a bowl, my wife got the veggie burger and my other daughter got a cheese burger. We all thought it was great. It was the best veggie burger I've ever had. At the end, my wife told the waiter that it was my birthday and he threw in one of the burgers for free.
(5)
Willy L.

Another burger place in Reston, competition is getting fierce. This place is going to hang its hat on fresh organic ingredients and many variations to choose from. It's a little pricey considering other places around (5 guys, fosters, etc) but considering its location and the types of ingredients I can understand to a degree. I went with the Turkey burger w/ Gruyere cheese (red onion,tomato,jalapeno,mushrooms). Skipped any side and grabbed a iced tea. Service was decent, I mean there is not a whole they need to do. Came out in about 10 mins, hot and fresh and pretty much perfect. The size of the burger reminded me of how it would be if I cooked it at home. I will for sure try this place again, and decide if its worth the extra cash or just stick to 5 guys and fosters. To be continued yelpers....
(3)
Jess V.

Not impressed. I love burgers, but haven't fallen in love with the Counter like I had hoped would happen. The beef burgers are ok, but the service has always been slow, and the prices are high for a burger. They do get props for a wide variety of burger toppings, and the bar area is nice, but I'm not committed. They have a nice outside area, but the inside is small and cramped, especially when it's crowded.
(2)
Shelly N.

I've eaten here only twice but I learned something from my first visit...don't bother with the bun because the burger won't fit in your mouth anyway because it's so huge. So on my second trip, I opted for the carb-friendly no-bun option and got my burger on a bed of field greens. Wise choice that I will be repeating from this point further. The thing I love about this restaurant is that (1) I can pretend I'm eating healthy, (2) you can only blame yourself for a "gross" combination of ingredients, and (3) they serve yummo sweet potato fries.
(4)
Pete R.

So after my initial review, I was contacted by the Owner of Counter Burger, who wrote me a very nice note about my experience. I have to say I am overwhelmingly impressed with that - it shows a large degree of commitment on their part. I'll give it another try.
(4)
Angee K.

One of my absolute favorite places to eat! The staff are fantastic and the food is amazing! There is something for everyone! Beef, turkey, chicken, veggie or fish, all the fixin's and a ton of bread choices. Thank goodness I don't live within walking distance!
(5)
jac j.

We've been here 3+ times and this custom burger place is good! Love it - even loved the veggie burger and the turkey burger but especially love the custom idea - build your own - ya! The sweet potato fries are awesome and there is so much variety on the menu. The service was good except once (and it was the waiter - he was in the wrong position). The shakes were great and did I mention how much we loved the burgers. . . .all of them, even the burger in a bowl!
(5)
Eric B.

Well, I'm torn here. I usually waste no time trashing a place with pricy, mediocre food and order screw-ups, but they really went out of their way to make it right. Burgers were ok. But my wife's sautÃ©ed mushrooms came on my burger, and she got my bacon and lto. So basically the patties got switched, and the mushrooms were put on wrong patty. Mushrooms required some surgery. I'm really not that picky, or that guy that sends stuff back. In fact, I really wouldn't have cared at all if I didn't have to pick the mushrooms out of my melted cheese to put on her burger. And I didn't have to - they offered to fix it - but I wasn't exactly clear if that meant re-make them, or finger our burgers as I was doing. So I opted for the self-fix. The burgers were not terrible, but not that amazing either. The patty was placed on top of the lettuce, so that came out a bit wilted. Grilled onion was a bit undercooked without enough sweating/caramelizing/glazing. Mushrooms looked good, but my 1/2 lb patty came with one meager tomato slice that covered maybe half the patty - also served under the patty with the lettuce, so sad and wilty too. The bacon was a highlight. It was great. Fries were average. Onion rings a bit thin, and heavily seasoned for my taste. The management and server team really went above and beyond to remedy the mixed up order. Like I mentioned, I'm not a sender-backer, and as much as I appreciate attentive conflict resolution, I prefer the order come out properly in the first place. But these guys really were on top of it. Free shakes (3 of them - of modest size which we also appreciated) for the kids, and one of the burgers taken off the bill. The gestures were much appreciated, and although I'm someone that never asks for it, I readily accepted and I am thankful for the effort. All in all, I think you need to like a loaded burger to really appreciate this place. Not a burger with cheddar, and lto, but a burger with a chipotle aioli, or horseradish aioli, and bacon and onion rings, or bbq sauce and onion rings, etc. Purists beware.
(4)
Christopher G.

Not the best burger I've ever had, but close to it! I'd definitely say The Counter is somewhere in my top 10 (I've had a lot of burgers from a lot of places). When I went here, the indoor seating was a bit cold, so I opted to sit outside while waiting for my friend to arrive. The Counter is home to some pretty delicious sounding burgers, but what makes them a good choice is their Build-Your-Burger option. I must of looked over the menu many times before I was set on wanting to build my own burger (which is a great option if you are particular in what you want). When my friend finally arrived, I ordered a 1/2lb bison burger with sauteed red onions, cheddar cheese, baby spinach, oven roasted tomatoes, all between ciabatta bread, with a side of their shoestring fries. My friend, on the other hand, got a deviled egg, two mini slider burgers, and parmesan garlic fries, all on happy hour. She's a pretty small girl, so that all filled her up. She even had to bring home her fries, despite me helping her eat her fries! I was truly blown away by the burger. It was so delicious, that if it didn't fill me up so much, I would've ordered another one. Although my shoestring fries and the parmesan garlic fries were delicious, I'm not a fan of the skinny fries. I'm more of a steak fries kind of guy. Delicious, regardless. If you're in the Reston Town Center area, and you're craving a burger, definitely stop by The Counter!
(4)
Nita H.

Took a late lunch around 1pm and this place is still crowded however there was some patio seating available and the weather is great! I was seated quickly and given instructions on how to order a customized burger with plenty of choices or select from the pre-built burgers. I choose to custom build a burger on onion bun, pepper jack cheese, spicy pickles, spinach leaves, red onion, grain mustard and spicy thousand island with a side of fries. Within 7 minutes I had my food! It looked so pretty, however the burger with toppings lacked in flavor BUT the fries were good. Also ordered the mango lemonade.... More like mango water!! It was tasteless, not a hint of lemonade to be found. That I was disappointed in because it tasted as if mangoes were cut up and thrown into water. I will try dessert, wish me luck!
(2)
Jina Y.

This place is really cool. Like other places you can build your own burger as well as pick a burger of their specialty. I really liked the different ingredients and toppings you can put on the burger. Oily, yes. With all the toppings I put on my burger was huge, but I enjoyed every bite of it! I would definitely recommend the onion straws rather than the fries!
(4)
Jackson L.

I always had good burgers at the Counter. I like the build your own burger style. It gives patrons a lot freedom to make a burger to their own taste. The counter gives a lot of options to the type of protein (meat, chicken, veggie,etc.), sauces, and toppings. Also give you options to the type of bread used for the burger and numerous sides. I went with my family 2 weeks ago and had a 1/2lb beef burger, with Tillamook Cheddar, Hickory BBQ sauce, coleslaw, pineapple, dill pickle chips, spinach, alfalfa sprouts, roasted peppers all on a toasted brioche bun. I had onion straws on the side. Our family also ordered a basket of parmesan fries and sweet potato fries. All the food was great. I would have rated it 5, were it not for the service. There was one lady who was busy serving every table in the place. There were two people standing in the front just sitting people and not helping to serve the patrons. So the food came out really slow. Even when it was time for us to pay, no one was around to take our bill. Also the servers did not have any name tags or uniforms that made it difficult to know who works there and who doesn't. That being said, I really like the food. The employees just need a little bit of training regarding paying attention to the patrons and having some sort of uniform or dress code that can be identifiable.
(4)
Donna B.

God, I Love this Place! It panes me to have to give it a crappy review. Was there last night, on the patio on a typical hot humid July night. I always get a burger with grilled pineapple and jalapeno jack cheese.The restaurant was not busy at all. So why was my melted cheese hard? my burger cold and hard? and my onion strings and fries cold? I don't understand how the waitress could let our dinner sit under a heat lamp, which obviously wasn't a heat lamp for so long. Again, mind you this place was not busy - it was a Wednesday night! I even downed my chocolate milk shake completely . . . dessert before dinner. Oh I know it was a fluke and no worries, I'll be back. I have to return the condiment dishes that I took in the "take me home" box.
(2)
Ann B.

I've been here twice with my husband and two young kids. The food was good and the staff is very friendly. Both times we were here, there were two (what seemed to be) employees hanging out at a table. The first time I noticed them was because they were sitting at the table making out with each other while I'm trying to enjoy my lunch with my family. I assumed they were employees off the clock because of how they were speaking with the other staff members. The second time we came (total different day of the week and time of day) the same guy and girl were sitting at a table hanging out. The girl was wearing disgustingly short shorts that when she sat down on the seat her entire ass was on it, but that's besides the point. A man that was in his good 80's complimented her outfit, the girl stood up and thanked him by groping his body. Imagine sitting with your two young children trying to eat dinner and watching this! I asked the worker at the host stand if they were employees and he said he just started but he knew the guy was an employee and wasn't sure if the girl was just his girlfriend or another employee as well. Either way, this place is NOT family friendly. I am totally sceeved out and would not come back here to watch a desperate girl who has no where else better to be trying to get any attention she could get by her "boyfriends" co workers. Sorry, I'll find somewhere better to spend my money. My expectation would be that management of a business would find this behavior inappropriate from their staff. I certainly don't find it acceptable and for that reason, I won't be back.
(2)
P T.

All good in the world of The Counter! Burgers cooked perfectly. Kudos to the Chef/Cook.
(5)
Maya W.

We grabbed a quick bite during dinner. The service was great and the atmosphere casual. I loved the shrimp burger, it had a great flavor and was filling. The sweetpotatoe fries and onion straws were a nice alternative to traditional fries. My fiance enjoyed his classic burger topped with an egg. I would definitely return if I were ever in the area.
(4)
Freddy P.

So far the best burgers in the area. You are able to make your own burger, and the meat they use is organic and they cook it perfectly. The reason I'm only giving them three stars is because of the service. It's slow, very informal and unprofessional.
(3)
Pegah Y.

I want to preface this review by saying that the Counter is my all-time favorite burger place. I love the customizable options (you can customize everything down to the bread, cheese, meats, toppings, sauces, etc). I love how fresh everything is. I love how generous the portion sizes are. My love affair with the Counter started back in the days when I lived in California. I would visit at least three times a year when I had the time. The burger I had in Reston paled in comparison to the burger I had back in California. The toppings were good, but the sauces were a bit off and the burger was quite pricey - $15 for my lunch burger (pretty ridiculous). I don't remember it being that much in California, but then again, we're talking about Northern Virginia prices... As usual, I ordered the 1/3 beef burger with a brioche bun, no cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, sundried tomatoes, guacamole, pesto aioli, chipotle aioli, and bacon. It was good, but nothing stellar, and it made me even more homesick for the burgers back in sweet old California.
(3)
Eric N.

Favorite lunch spot in RTC. Came here yesterday to meet a friend who highly recommended The Counter. Having used to work in the town center, I always wanted to try this place but never really got the opportunity to. I was surprised to see a hostess and a bar inside, thinking that The Counter would be similar to Five Guys. Much more of an actual restaurant instead. So you can either order a burger from the normal menu or build your own. I made my own with a 2/3 lb burger, organic mixed greens, fried egg, sun dried tomato vinaigrette, grilled red and green peppers. A side is also included, which I got the sweet potato fries. Toppings can really add up the cost of the burger. A 1/3 lb burger is about $12 and a 2/3 $14. After all was said and done, my bill was about $19 for everything. Expensive considering, but the burger was quite good. Advertised as being hormone and antibiotic free, the burger was cooked to a perfect medium rare. It is nice that they ask you what temperature you want it cooked too. Seasoned well and juicy, the Counter offers some solid burgers. Better than I've had at the other restaurants around the town center. Overall, a bit pricey for lunch if you add on the toppings. I was surprised to see a bar in the Counter, so they do offer a happy hour from 3-6. I probably would only come back every once in a while for lunch when my friends want to go being close by. But a good burger nonetheless.
(4)
Lyndsey C.

Always yummy... love eating outside and my favorite is the veggie burger on quinoa. Usually have fantastic service, a wonderful variety, and always clean and nicely kept. Everything is always fresh and they have beer, wine, and adult milkshakes too. Great place to sit outside and have a bite. Sweet potato fries and onion strings are great too!
(4)
Christina D.

The ahi tuna burger is ok, but it didn't seem like the best quality tuna. I was really disappointed by the veggie burger...the texture was too soft and there was no real flavor to it. Pickle chips and fries are just ok too. The concept of building your own burger is fun, but I don't think the price is justified here..I just feel like the quality is not that great. Perhaps it's the fact that I didn't get a meat burger.
(2)
Diane B.

I came here to eat and sat outside at about 2pm on Friday afternoon after my neighborhood transformer blew, effectively ending my work day and my ability to open my refrigerator. I was very pleasantly surprised. I hadn't found a decent burger joints in NoVa outside of Alexandria, but now I know one. I really liked all the customization options to go on the flavorful and juicy (although slightly greasy) burgers. I also liked the fries. If I wasn't watching my waistline, I'd be back all the time.
(4)
Kelly D.

not the greatest experience. should have realized when the place was empty and all other restaurants had people that it wasn't a great place. bartender didn't know how to make the drink I ordered off of their menu, burger was not cooked through as ordered and was just ok. really not worth the money.
(2)
Brian G.

Tried this place out for the first time today. They have a great selection of hamburgers with pretty much anything you want on it. My wife and I both had bbq bacon burgers and they were phenomenal. I will be back again.
(5)
Nicole W.

Yum... How come I never knew about this place?! I stumbled upon it after an evening of ice skating at Reston town center. I ordered this awesome turkey burger with Brie and dried cranberries. I loved it! The fires were good too. They had a TON of burgers to choose from and they had a build-your-own burger option. My friends seemed to thoroughly enjoy their meals too. Next time I'm gonna try an adult shake!
(4)
Tiffany N.

The Counter is a great place is you love to customize and build your own personal burger. I have been here a couple times and each time was a good experience.
(3)
John L.

Food 4 stars. Had the red eye with half pound beef patty and side of sweet potato fries. Pretty darn good burger. Quality hormone-free beef and cooked like I ordered, medium rare. Hard to get this right on a thick patty but they did it. The sweet potato fries were fresh, with the right crispness on the outside and soft on the inside. Delicious condiments like the sweet sriracha to compliment. Service 5 stars. Was running late to meet a friend for lunch but I was limited on time so my friend ordered for me in advance. I was running later than expected so had my burger put in the back to keep warm. When I arrived I apologized for being late to both my friend and the server (Randy I think who happened to be at the table when I arrived) because I know from having been a server in a previous life that late arrivals mean more time to turn a table which means less made for the day in tips. Randy was totally gracious and actually OFFERED to have a fresh burger made instead of getting the old one sitting under a lamp. I took him up on it and it made the burger taste even better than it would have. Randy rounds up the experience to 5 stars.
(5)
Alice A.

amazing burger, with an amazing staff, for a great value! I custom built my burger and it was really amazing. I had coleslaw instead of fries, which was probably the best ive had in town so far. We ate at the bar, and the bartender was really great. While getting drinks was super fast, getting the actual food took much longer, even though it was about 2:30 pm. My friend had the bizon burger which was great but maybe missing a few toppings (probably half of the size of mine, which had 3 toppings). I definitely recommend anyone to give it a try especially if you are craving burgers as these are really great. My choice: the whole grain bun with the honey mustard and the coleslaw!
(4)
Akua O.

This visit I tried the 100% organic bison on the burger with the fried onions. My first try of bison and it was really good! Their fries as always are really good and I also tried their caramel coffee milkshake which was very very good as well. Still one of my favorite burger joints in the area!
(4)
Nicole K.

Decided to stop in here after some retail therapy. Sat at the bar and was greeted by a very friendly bartender with extensive knowledge in local beers. Highly recommend a brew with one of the outstanding burgers.
(5)
Xuan-Lise C.

I saw that the Baja Turkey burger was rated one of the 25 best burgers in Washington DC, so I figured we would give the Counter a try. Maybe we should of ordered the Baja Turkey instead. We got an Old School minus onions add bacon and a side of half and half (onion string and sweet potato fries). The sauces: The Ranch is very liquid, sort of defeating the purpose of being a dipping sauce. I will say the spicy chipotle aoili was awesome! I also had a taste of the horseradish and it wasn't as intense as I expected it. The BBQ was tasty, and I can see how it would complement a burger very well. We split the burger, which was nice, and it did come out cut in half. The meat was cooked to medium (just like we asked) and the cheddar was quite tasty. The bread would benefit from a good toasting. I was expecting a tasty salty crust on the burger and was disappointed. This isn't my type of burger, the meat is quite dense, I enjoy my patties barely holding on for dear life. Especially for the price of the burger I was slightly underwhelmed. The half and half, not sure if this was a fluke but the onion strings were very oily. It sort of felt like I was eating a bloomin' onion, which to me, although tasty is the worst stomach offender. As for the location, a neat space, chairs are slightly uncomfortable, there apparently was little to no air conditioning, and all the servers seemed overwhelmed. We don't like to complain, we understand the restaurant business is teamwork, and we refuse to ruin someone's day. However service was, quite scarce. The service we did receive was polite, however we were sitting there for a quite while, waiting for water, waiting for our server to get back, waiting for the check.
(3)
Roger B.

Went in and was greeted right away and got my choice of sitting inside or outside. My kid choose outside and were seated right away. The waitress came pretty quickly and asked if we had ever been there before. Nope. Then she explained about the build your own burger. Seemed pretty cool so I went with it and built a burger. Told the waitress I wanted it medium-well and she said the kids burger sliders would be well done if that was ok. The waitress was great. Very attentive and friendly. The kids sliders came out good, but, my burger came out medium-rare instead of medium-well. I was hungry so I just ate it. Still tasted good, but, def would've been better if it was cooked the way I asked. I'll probably order it well done next time just to make sure it comes out at least medium-well. The shoestring fries were awesome.
(4)
Mary C.

I went to this location for lunch and order their signature burger with an order of sweet potato fries. The food was excellent and whatever sauce that came with the sweet potato fries was delicious. I couldn't complain about the service. However, we ordered milkshakes for dessert and they took a little longer to come out than I would've liked. Tiny flaw that will not keep me from coming back again. I can't wait to try more burger options! This is definitely a place for burger lovers!
(5)
John R.

Fantastic food! I was amazed at how delicious everything was. As someone working to cut carbs out of my diet, I love the fact that they offer a burger-on-a-salad option (which I enjoyed more than many other burgers I've eaten in the past). Friendly service, a mouth-watering dessert menu, and great entrees made for a great meal. I signed up for their rewards program after just one visit. Highly recommended.
(5)
Tim R.

We went back as a team, and have since decided to strike this one off our list. Minimum of 10 minutes to get parking, 20 minutes to sit, 30 minutes to get food already makes this restaurant an hour investment. And, as one of my colleagues pointed out, the "big payoff" at the end of that hour is to pay $20+ for a burger and fries. The burgers are so good, I really wish we could find a reason to add this place to our workplace "wheel of yum". But, we just couldn't justify it. In the end, the price, the wait, the industrial (read as painful) furniture, the inconsistent temps, the odd seating, and the "host" that spent half his time pulling up his fashionably baggy pants and the other half of his time handing out silverware (thankfully, we all ordered finger food and didn't need to taste his drawers) all combined to make this place a no-go.
(1)
Katrina C.

My friend and I recently read about The Counter in Washingtonian as having one of the best burgers in the area. So, we decided to stop in one random Wednesday. I knew virtually nothing about this place other than the fact it served burgers. However, with it being called the counter, I thought this might be a little more casual - like you would walk up to the register and order. So, imagine my surprise when I was greeted by a hostess and sat down at a table. Not a bad thing, just something that surprised me. To their credit, there was a counter where you could sit as well. My friend and I started by splitting a peanut butter shake and shoestring French fries. The shake was super rich and sweet, but balanced well with a good bit of salt from the peanut butter. We got an ample portion of the fries, and they were crispy and thin - just how I like them. For my main course, I ordered the burger bowl. I can't remember the name but it was Mexican inspired. It was basically romaine topped with a juicy burger with tilamook cheese, green onions, jalapeÃ±os, and corn and black bean salad. The salad was very good, but the portion was a little large for me. I don't eat burgers often, but the next time I am craving one, I would stop back here. They have a large build your own burger menu, but premium toppings will cost you about a $1 a piece. It could easily become very costly.
(4)
Mark H.

Fast service. Immediately seated and burger took only around 10 min to come. The burger itself was absolutely amazing I love the choice of toppings which range from sunny side up eggs to avocado to pineapple and cranberry. A big selection of sauces for perfect customization of your meal. The bison meat is very tasty. The only reason I take a star off is because of the high prices -10 dollars for a burger with no sides is expensive but honestly it's worth this burger. It's a must try.
(4)
Leo A.

They told us 15 minutes to wait but we waited 45 minutes. They then said 5 minutes and we waited another 15 minutes. After 1 hour we decided to Leave. This was the last time we will go this location.
(1)
Scott H.

Stop #2 on our Restaurant Week schedule was The Counter. I had always been interested in checking them out, as their advertisements of gourmet burgers and craft beer sang to my soul. But I've always thought them to be a bit pricy for hamburgers, even though it is Reston Town Center and everything there is pricy. But when we saw the RW offering - appetizer, burger, desert, and beverage (including milkshakes or a draft beer) for $25, we decided this was the time to check them out. We arrived at about 7PM to a very crowded restaurant, but were seated fairly quickly and greeted by a very enthusiastic and bubbly server. After explaining to us how the ordering worked, and referenced the RW menu, we told her that we wanted to go with the RW deal. For the starters, we decided to go half healthy, half bad ... she got the kale and jicama salad with feta, and I got the fried pickles. The fried pickles had a nice, perfectly cooked breading, but we felt the breading-to-pickle ratio was too high. We both loved the salad, which has HUGE. My wife was introduced to jicama and enjoyed it, and the feta was pleasantly mild - my wife typically does not like strong cheeses like feta, but enjoyed this. For dinner, we both went with the burger, which was - as is typical of RW, a prix fix offering of their 1/3 pound burger with brie, mixed greens, bean sprouts, dried cranberries, onion, and apricot sauce on a brioche bun. We both ordered sans onion, and the wife skipped the dried cranberries. The odd combination worked, however, and we found both of our burgers perfectly cooked to our liking and the apricot sauce adding a nice touch with the greens and brie. The parmesan fries that accompanied were also very good. For dessert, my wife got the brownie topped with ice cream and fudge and caramel drizzle. There was a bit of humor here as the server and the kitchen staff disagreed on whether the topping we got was caramel or butterscotch. The kitchen staff swore it was caramel but the server warned us that she was sure it was butterscotch. My wife and I could easily tell by the color that it was indeed butterscotch and when we tasted and confirmed the server shouted in delight "I told you! It's butterscotch!" I got their house-made ice cream sandwich with oatmeal raisin cookies and LOVED it. The biggest disappointment here, really, was the craft beer selection. There was a small (appx 20-30) selection of bottles, and the draft beer selection was more hipster trendy than beer nerdy. Blue Moon, Fat Tire, Stella - typical fare. Left Hand Milk Stout and Flying Dog Raging Bitch were better options, but still hipster in my book. And sadly, their seasonal draft was Sam Adams Oktoberfest. While that's one of the better beers from Sam Adams, I'd expect something more unique as a rotating tap selection. And looking at the menu prices, I can understand the complaints of cost vs. value of their regular menu ... but nearly every RTC restaurant suffers from the cost vs. value comparison. If you are looking for a quality burger and craft beer, I'd recomment Foster's Grille in Chantilly - burgers are not quite as good (but much cheaper) and the craft beer selection is 100X better. But if you have a burger craving and can afford to splurge on a "gourmet" burger joint that offers you vast options of meat (bison is available at an upcharge), artisan cheeses, and high quality toppings, The Counter may just be for you.
(4)
Janelle P.

Love their burgers and all the options, but starting to feel that they are a little overpriced. Still a great place to get a good burger in Reston!
(3)
Victoria L.

The Counter....oh how I love theeee. Too bad, I semi-regret all of the calories I just consumed being here. I love burgers and this place makes some pretty damn good burgers. I hate to say this but I come here more often than I should. The only reason I say that is because when I come, I literally get everything fattening you can think of. The cheese and chili fries are sooo delicious. Good ol' chili, melted cheese on perfectly crispy fries! I start with a 1/3 lb burger with an onion bun. I throw on lettuce, fried egg, bacon, fried onion strings, grilled onions and fried pickles. Then I get the chipotle aioli and sometimes the sour cream sauce. See what I mean...that's about 1,500 calories for toppings (oops!) Then I usually get the sweet potato fries which are probably one of the best sweet potato fries I've ever had. They are just lightly seasoned and crispy. When the burger comes out it's literally a mountain. I usually take off the fried onion strings because it brings the burger down 2 inches so I can fit some part of the burger in my mouth. The burger itself is seasoned well and it's the perfect thickness. It's not some thin burger that you get McDonalds, but a 4 inch thickness of goodness beef patty. Service is quick with very nice employees. Have never had a problem here and the food is always consistent. The only thing you won't enjoy is your tab, especially if you add on more toppings than they offer for free. You only get 4 free toppings and the others you'll have to pay for. My bill typically comes out to $15 for a burger but I think it's worth every penny.
(4)
Mary D.

Great variety of burgers and burger salads! Service was friendly and offered menu suggestions. Would definitely recommend to anyone!
(4)
Gregory R.

Visited tonight for a quick bite in between regex hacking and Scandal :-) Price was fair, they fancy themselves a bit of a gourmet burger restaurant (nice selection of wines, excellent quality food including hormone free all naturally fed beef and 100% bison). To expect a $10 burger meal here I find unreasonable. I had a custom burger, which was excellent, fresh crisp veggies, correctly cooked meat and awesome shoestring fries. I highly recommend you try the fries with Thai peanut sauce to dip them in, well done. This was reminiscent of the popular Dutch french fry snack "friet met" Loved it, will revisit next time I'm in town.
(4)
Ashley H.

I love customizable places like this. Simply get the sheet and check off which meat (or non meat), bread, cheese, veggies, sauces, etc you want. So fun. Indoor/Outdoor seating. didn't get the chance to try some shakes but I will. Only complaint - burgers aren't as rare as I prefer.
(5)
Sampad D.

Its a huge burger place..They have different type of burgers on menu ..I found most of them to be on costlier side... They also have an option for "Make your own burger" .. I ordered my burger in bun but I will suggest people to have burger in bowl..with the option of having so many stuff to the burger it becomes bit difficult to eat it with bun.. I got my burger for $11 (excluding tax) .. So definitely on the costlier side.. My burger was just OK...Now knowing the concept and geting the feel of it I guess I will beable to order a better burger next time...
(3)
Ariel S.

A great place to build your own burger! Great options to choose from. A little pricy. Great sweet potato fries! Service is always on point.
(4)
John B. L.

Went here with Da Missus after a movie. Great idea. Execution? Meh. Tried a flight of beers to get a sampling. They were all very good, and I ordered a pint of the favorite. Waitress was good and nice; not great, but good. Burger came out, delivered by someone else, who was surprised that there was only one. I was, too. Somehow, the kitchen lost the 2nd half of the order. The waitress came, explained and said that it would be fixed. Great! Burger was delivered with the fries. Looked good, tasted fine, but I had ordered Medium Well and gotten Medium. After the burger was almost finished, the waitress came by to check on things. I was pleasant and explained what was going on. She had the manager comp my burger, which at $15 was appreciated, but not totally needed, as I had eaten it. Maybe it was because it was after the dinner rush on a Thursday evening. I don't know. The 1st burger was tasty and made as ordered (I tried a bite while I waited). I will probably try them again, once, because many of the choices looked interesting and good. Hopefully, it will be an experience more in keeping with their price points.
(3)
Lynn N.

Gone here a few times and overall good experience. Service is always good and the burgers are tasty. There's the option to get bison, turkey, chicken, veggie, and beef. Get beef. After all, that's what a burger is all about. I've tried turkey and chicken which was alright. The veggie burger however fell apart on me. It was very mushy and didn't work very well in between a bun. Their sweet potato fries were delicious, I really enjoyed those. This place is ok if you want a beef burger with lots of options. But other than that, not my top pick to get a burger.
(3)
Amanda B.

The burger was good and I especially liked the fries (shoestring - thin and crispy my favorite). I like that you can choose the size of your burger and there are numerous toppings to choose from. Service was great. But was very busy for a Friday night. Only thing I can say I didn't particularly like was that the space was very small for a restaurant. Very cramped. Otherwise was great! Will most definitely go back :)
(4)
SARA M.

Second time here, food and service were great. Ordered the bison burger with jalapeÃ±o, and the hot chicken wing sandwhich, both delicious! Sweet potato fries and regular loaded fries were so tasty. Another great meal!
(4)
Scott S.

A Fantastic Concept and Wonderful Burgers! - Loved the ordering system (see photo) and the burger was delicious. I recommend The Counter to anyone who enjoys an occasional, yet exceptional burger. Our server was Cassie; she was great.
(5)
C S.

This place is great. At lunch time it is packed and can take awhile to get a seat. However at dinner time it's a great quick place to grab high quality food and has a full bar and great beer selection. I recommend skipping the build your own unless you really know what you want. The counter burger is great so is the red eye. My friend got a chicken burger prior and he really liked it, juicy and fresh. As far as temps they tend to do the medium more medium well. However the medium rare is slightly over and exactly how I like it. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Catherine B.

Re: take out service. It turns out, it IS possible to mess up customizable burgers. I like how you can place your order, set the pick up time, and pay online. That being said, I do NOT like how it is up to the customer to exercise due diligence in ensuring the order is correct and complete when picking up. Several times have I had my order messed up. Paid for extra sauce? Too bad! Not only will you not get your extra sauce, you won't get ANY sauce...for ANY of the burgers/sides you order. Premium toppings? Yup, those will be messed up too. You paid $45 for 3 burgers and sides? The Counter can't ensure that your order is complete. Call and express your displeasure about take out service? "Oh, I...uh...whaa? I'll tell the manager?" : : hangs up : : Why is that a question? Where is my apology? Are you incapable of putting the manager on the phone when I call? Am I supposed to drive my food back to get it corrected? That pretty much defeats the concept of take out, which is a hassle free meal. Customers should not be responsible for quality review of take out orders. However, if you choose to order your food to go from The Counter, be prepared to quality check before you depart. Evidently, the onus is on the paying customer.
(1)
Christina K.

I thought this place was too pricey, almost 16 bucks for a burger and onion strings.. I didn't see yellow mustard on the list so i ordered the house mustard which comes for an additional cost. I didn't add any of the "premium" extras which would have been more $$$. I ordered a 1/2 pound cheese burger done well....yes, I do like my burgers well done. When I cut it in half the burger was pink. The waitress did offer to make me a new burger but it was late and everyone else was already eating. I didn't want to sit and watch everyone else eat while my new burger came. The flavor of the meat was ok nothing special. The onion string were just ok too. Really greasy. The service was good. If the meal had been really good, I wouldn't have minded the price. Next time I want an amazing burger and fries I will make the drive out to The Melt in Leesburg. Now that is a place worth the drive and the $$$.
(1)
Robin S.

I was a little bit skeptical of The Counter because while I love burgers the list of ingredients was a bit fancy-pants. That said, my burger was incredible and so were the cheese fries. Service was friendly and fast. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Drew S.

This place takes their burgers very seriously! I'm a big fan of bison burgers and they can be hard to find, but the counter has them . If you are conscious about getting a bunch of protein in your diet but love to eat out instead of map prepping all the time, the counter is a must. Make sure to try all the various sauces.
(4)
Greg W.

Decent organic burger. I ordered a regular 1/2 lb organic no anti-biotic burger with American cheddar & Korean BBQ sauce. The sauce had no business on the burger. The meat was ok, nothing special. Fairly pricey...burgers are $14. They have a good variety of toppings to choice from. Plane Jane fries that aren't that great. I probably won't go back.
(3)
Hart P.

Excellent gourmet burgers plus a fabulous build your own burger menu. Burgers come in all shapes and varieties.
(5)
Yaka H.

Overall, nicely composed burgers with consistently, thin-cut crispy fries. The reason for the 3 stars? Cleanliness, some of the burger components were a little bit off, and price. Burgers here are cooked to order, which is great! I do think they do tend to undercook to some extent, but that's usually better than overcooking in my opinion. There's a whole slew of create-your-own-burger, types of meats, toppings, sauces, etc. There's pre-set burgers, including a market daily special and 2 monthly burgers. French fries here are thin-cut and golden crisp. Really consistent here. I tried the market select special, which was a lamb burger with lemon mint yogurt sauce, crispy onions, spinach, sautÃ©ed mushrooms on a ciabatta bun. Overall a nice and juicy burger, but the soft, chewy ciabatta bun just detracted from that. It would have been nice to have the bun toasted. Though, personally thought it was quite pricey due to the sheer size of the entire thing. SX's burger really dwarfed mine completely. SX tried the red eye burger, which was a bison patty with egg, bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato on a onion bun (instead of the English muffin). That burger patty itself looked 4 times the size of mine, but overall a much better composed burger. That sweet sriracha sauce was delicious. It was quickly turned into a fry dipping sauce. This place could use a good scrub down on the interior, including the tables, chairs, and the floors. Service was pretty MIA on drink refills, but were nice when they were around. Prices here are a bit more than your average burger joint, but if you make the right combination, could be worth it.
(3)
Steve C.

Excellent, but expensive, burgers. We walked through Reston Town Center on a Saturday afternoon. Even though it was close to 2:00, there were a number of patrons indoors and outside of The Counter. Service was terrific, from both the maitre 'd and server (who offered and brought me tastings of the two red wines I was trying to choose between). I, too, love the detailed build-your-burger menu, which allows you to choose meat, size, bun, sauces, and standard and premium toppings ($1 extra for premium). The base 1/3 lb. sandwich starts at $10, which includes toppings and bun choice, but cheese and premium toppings add up quick. Since the 1/2 lb. burger starts at $12.50, you can quickly approach $20 for a 1/2 lb. before ordering a side ($3 each). My wife and son got customized standard-sized cheesburgers, plus one side each and iced tea. I ordered a glass of red wine and the 1/2 chicken sandwich (no side). All of our food was perfectly cooked and delicious. While I think Ray's Hell Burger has better basic grill burger flavor in this area, The Counter burgers were right up there, juicy and perfectly cooked to order, as was my chicken sandwich. All in all, great food and service. But with items described above, our tab was $61 before tip. Ouch. We will be back, but likely more judicious in our ordering.
(4)
Jon M.

Burgers are pretty good server was very friendly not sure about the painting though lol we can smell the paint oh did I mention they have a pretty good craft beer selection and try a beer float if you like beer and you also like ice cream you'll enjoy it choose a stout for sure toppings for your burger are endless they also have vegan options
(3)
Dagny T.

Awesome burgers and milkshakes. I'm rating it 4 stars not 5 though, because shit's expensive. Like $20/burger expensive (at least when I eat there because I pile on the expensive add-ons). I've had both beef burgers and the bison burger. Now their bison burger is advertised as lean meat. Every time a place advertises something as low fat or lean meat - I assume it tastes like shit. (America has this obsession with low fat but everyone keeps getting fatter.. this is a rant that could take me forever to discuss... but suffice to say that it isn't (good) fat that makes people fat - it's overeating carbs.) Anyways, yeah the burgers are delicious and juicy and you can customize it probably an infinite number of ways. i.e. toppings/cheese/etc. You can have your burger served on a bed of greens (they have a bunch of choices, spinach, arugula, mixed, etc) or a variety of buns, including gluten free buns. They have a wide variety of cheeses and other toppings such as artichokes or roasted corn and black bean salsa. The dressing options are also limitless - I love the horseradish mayo. Sweet potato fries are good. Milkshakes are good too - and you can get them spiked. The food tastes clean too. I mean, I'm not sure it is, but my body is usually good at detecting fillers/processed stuff/trans fats/etc by making me all bloated, generally feel lethargic, or have ass blowout. Yes, eat here, be prepared to spend money, but understand that it's money well spent.
(4)
Kathryn K.

I love this place! It's one of the few restaurants where the veggie burger is vegan. They even have vegan cheese and guten free buns! If you also have dietary restrictions this is a great option.
(5)
Saher J.

Customization to the max. I love this place. There are so many choices. I initially had my first experience with this place in California when they opened it up in Palo Alto. I was beyond excited when I found one here in Reston ! This place has a great array of options. Different buns, cheese, sauces, and toppings. It can be overwhelming but who doesn't want to get creative with a burger once in awhile. I really have no favorite because every time I come in I try something different. The price is decent more than an average burger but you pay for quality and creativity. For those less creative they have a menu you can order standard burgers. The staff is up to par. They are polite and pretty efficient. I definitely would recommend it to my friends. Maybe not a date because it can tend to get a little messy.
(5)
Ed M.

The service is not the best. 3 of us ordered, two of us got drinks, though one was supposedly wrong (not). 10 minutes later the new ones showed up. Same as before but this time right. Then told the beer we ordered died and we ordered different beer only to have the original order show 3 minutes later. Time between placing order for beers was average of 20 minutes. Time for food was over 30. These were hamburgers, not like it was a turkey roasted from scratch when ordered. Not impressed.
(1)
Ann T.

Ridiculously. Expensive. For a $16 burger , I'd expect fries to come with the meal. Not at counter burger. That'll run you an extra $3. We were a party of three ppl, and we spent about $90 including tip. Albeit we had drinks, but it was three beers...one of which was a PBR! I just don't get it. The food wasnt that good to warrant the price. I would have much rather gone to Jackson's, Ted's, or any place else in the area for that kind of money. Just wasn't worth it. Never again.
(1)
Kelli A.

Before today, I would have given this place 5 stars, I usually love this place and recommend it to all my friends, but today we didn't get the best service... I frequent The Counter more than I'm willing to admit. Food: Although the menu looks amazing, I am a huge fan of the "Build Your Own Burger" option. The quality of their food is great. I've been to tons of burger places, and this will forever be my favorite. The beef burger (I usually get 1/3 lb.) is cooked medium, with unlimited standard toppings for only $10 bucks! This might sound pricey because "it's just a burger", but it's not! Every single topping, right down to the bun, has an amazing flavor/taste. Service: I hate to knock a few stars off for service, as I've been here 10+ times in the past year and a half and always had a pleasant experience. Today was my first "terrible" experience, however. I'll give the disclaimer that we came during lunch time, but when we were seated, the patio was empty--just us four ladies. We didn't demand much, as I've worked in the restaurant industry before, so I'm very mindful of how we treat our servers. She seldom came to the table. We were on our first or second bite and she comes to our table and asks, "Did you want your check?" Perhaps I'm thinking too much into this, but ehhh that's pretty rude considering our plates just touched down to our tables. I let that go. Now comes the real time where we ask for our check. Again, being in the restaurant industry, especially during lunch, I ask if checks need to be split. I would have let her know initially that we would be splitting checks, but she was all over the place. Anywho, the check comes, all on one check and we all have different forms of payment. I asked her if we could split the checks and she gives me a blank stare and says she can't. My friend interrupts me and asks if we could just separate it on the back and she can divvy it out like that. The server literally says to us, "Yeah, that's the only option. I can't split your checks because I'm busy." uh... yeah. okay. I'll leave that alone. Checks come, but of course she charged us incorrectly. We were so frustrated that we just signed our receipts and left. I'll stick to the bar next time, which is where I usually sit, and get topnotch service even though the bartenders have to make EVERY TABLE'S drink.
(4)
Jade S.

My girlfriend had been in London and had a small layover at Dulles. We went to The Counter bc she had been craving it so much. Everything is delicious but make sure to get the parm fries!
(5)
Omar R.

Glad I found this place! Friendly staff, right on the town center... Kid and crowd pleaser because who doesn't like burgers and fries??? Plus the New Belgium Hop Kitchen on Tap is the Shiznit! You can order a burger from the menu or make your own! Go traditional or make it In a bowl (Dodge the Gluten)... They've got GMO free antibiotic free Beef. This place is pretty cool, give it a chance.
(5)
Mike B.

Half of the staff was just standing around talking. The place didn;t seem very clean, some of the cushions were ripped or torn and taped up. Kind of going downhill. The food was ok, nothing special. There are many other great burger places in the area I would go back to before I came here again.
(3)
Caroline M.

I go here as often as I can- it's such a fun place with amazing food! I'm borderline vegetarian so I avoided The Counter for years, just assuming there was no place for someone like me in a burger joint. BOY was I wrong- I get their build-your-own veggie burger every time and it's THE BEST. Fresh ingredients, fast and friendly service, yummy milkshakes, and I definitely recommend building your own burger. There are a bunch of different options (like 6 different buns, patty types, sides, over 20 sauce options including their chipotle mayo which is NUTS) and so you can create your own yummy concoction. I always get a veggie burger with a pretzel bun, sun dried tomatoes, swiss cheese, lettuce, cucumbers, and fresh black bean/corn salsa with a side of sweet potato fries and chipotle mayo. Bottom line- just go. It's amazing.
(5)
Cati S.

Turkey burger with scallions, carrot stings, cucumbers, vegan cheese, gluten free bun ... Yes! Vegan cheese and gluten free bun! For all those like me with endless dietary restrictions, this is definitely the place to quench your burger craving. The ambiance leaves to be desired. It's like a sardine packed corner section of a cafeteria. The staff could hardly squeeze their way in between folks. Yuck! We quickly ordered our food for take out and left.
(4)
Ritzie C.

You done did it now, The Counter. You done did. You mess up once, I'll forgive you. You mess up twice ... hey, I'm a reasonable person and I'ma let that slide. You mess up more times than I care to count? Now we ... no, now YOU got a problem. (Spoiler alert: I burn bridges HARD with my 1 star reviews). When in the area, I occasionally join my family for take out from The Counter. We don't dine in. Why? Because I don't WANT to. And you can't make me. Or is this part of your trick? You mess up my order while I'm dining in, I can slam that burger on your counter and make you rectify your mistake. But when someone picks it up and takes it home and we see how wrong it is ... well, it's like you're nickle and diming my ass. There's a word for that and I'm not going to say it ... (but it rhymes with twindler). I'm gonna set the scene here. Let's just go ahead and assume that I'm indulgent as hell and I get some premium toppings. Hell yeah I want herbed goat cheese spread and a sunny side up egg. Go ahead and throw some onion straws on there, too - nothing's too good for me! Well, not according to YOU, Burger University (cough) drop outs. There's no goat cheese on my burger. My request for a sunny side up egg came out hard boiled and oh hey, what's that? Carrot strings!!! I ordered this piece of trash online so I know there couldn't have been any miscommunication. What's more, we wanted sauce. Not just on the burger, but additional sauce on the side. The bag is void of any sauces that we ordered. So now I have to choke down this abysmal burger DRY?! With hard boiled eggs on it?! Oh, and my sister ordered grilled pineapple on hers. That is not grilled pineapple. Dole put it in a can and you opened that can and put that ring on the burger. For shame. No, I'm not going to get in the car and drive back to get this fixed. If I did, someone better jump out and scream "You just got punked!" No, I'm just going to leave this scathing review to warn anyone placing a take out order online. And I'm not patronizing again. (1) You screwed up way too many times and (2) assuming ya'll read this review, I'm not interested in eating a Sneezeburger. The food here doesn't suck. The person filling take out orders does. I can't and won't blame everyone. You guys figure out who it is and "fix" it.
(1)
Bill B.

It gets four, not five only because of the service....more on that later. Excellent meat choice for burgers. I love the diverse topping they have, as well as bun choices and sauces. The garlic and Parmesan fries are excellent, but nothing beats the sweet potato fries. Food quality also seems tone very good. Now for the negatives - really only two. The cooks can't make a burger to order to save their lives. Order medium rare once - got barely rare. I think they cooked it with a flashlight. Remembering the last experience with internal temps, I ordered a medium burger and got one that was medium well on its way to well done. Servers are nothing to write home about either. Normally have mediocre service, but on occasion I literally have to flag down our waitress to cash out - note that this has been during a time when there were only a couple of other patrons in the restaurant, so it's not like they were slammed. Recommend the beef burger - don't even ask me how it should be ordered to cook though. It all depends on who's cooking that day I guess.
(4)
Ching H.

This place was terribly average. The service was amazing and I loved our waitress, but no amount of good service can make up for any dining experience. We ordered 50/50 parm and sweet potato fries. Both fries were cold and did not come hot out of the fryer. They tasted like they had been sitting sadly under a lamp for quite some time. We went for the customized burgers, and really enjoyed getting to choose what goes into the burger except both of our burgers were bland and left us wanting more oomph. Even all of the toppings and sauce on the side couldn't bring this burger back to life. Even the burgers were slightly cold and the buns were not toasty. This place could be so much better but the burger meat itself just lacks life!!!
(3)
Jon H.

the counter is a very good burger place if you want a big crazy burger with awsome toppings. I really enjoyed the garlic parm fries but I wish they were thicker instead of the shoe string kind. sometime they tend to miss things on the order but I guess it happens when u order 6 or 7 toppings on your burger but otherwise I think this place is nice.
(3)
Thomas S.

The Counter is a fun and exciting place to spend some time for a delicious meal either by yourself or with friends. I really enjoy the way you can either order off the menu or are able to use a "worksheet" to create a burger if your choosing along with picking from a variety of sauces, cheeses, and toppings that you could add onto the item of choice. Have a pleasant and knowledgeable wait staff and the food did not take very long to come out once ordered. Last time was completely full and food took about 10 minutes. The staff keep on top of your drinks and so far I have not had a refill waiting before finishing my current glass. This is a great spot to eat if at the RTC for shopping or just to kill some time before going to the cinema. Would definitely go back and will be bringing some friends and family along for the ride.
(4)
Dave G.

Oh well, they did it again...Ruined the burger and ruined the fries. When it's good, it's r-e-e-e-e-a-l good. But, majority of the time it's an expensive waste of time here. Update: AND THEN, he had the gall to charge me double for stuff I didn't even order! Didn't bother to tell the mgr that I was not happy, nor did the mgr think anything was wrong when an entire triple order bowl of fires came back untouched. Giving up on this place. Period.
(2)
Michael A.

Oh, The Counter. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 1: Quality The quality of the meat the veggies is INTENSE. I have never had anything from here that wasn't absolutely 100% fresh and delicious. (And I eat here so often the staff often crack jokes about it.) 2: Value Yeah, it's not exactly as cheap as the Dollar Menu, but the fact that I can get a pound of meat and a plethora of toppings for less than 20 bucks, well that's value to me. 3: Service Always snappy. I've never felt abandoned here. Never. Not once. 4: THE MILKSHAKES, OH DEAR GOD THE MILK SHAKES THEY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE (AND YOUR WAISTLINE.)
(5)
Zainab Q.

If you're in the mood for a well-prepared, gourmet burger, this is your place! The meat selections vary from chicken to bison, and the selection of toppings are endless! Great place to create a custom burger to your own liking. And, their sweet potato fries are amazing. Mouthwatering. I ate those more than the actual burger.
(4)
J K.

Pricey but good ... While I wouldn't trek out to Reston just for their burger, I would recommend you give it a try when in the area. This trendy, upscale burger joint boasts all sorts of condiments and toppings, mundane to esoteric, alfalfa, goat cheese, kale, daikon, dried cranberries, etc. However, in the end, the burger is only good as it's meat and the way it's cooked. Strip away the accroutrement pretensions, you still have a very good burger. My favorite, Old School ...
(4)
Delali S.

Love it. Ate twice there. Food is great and fresh. Meat is tasty. Servers are genuinely nice and helpful. Try the vegetables skewers its AMAZING. bit pricey but its good quality food so its worth it.
(5)
Sal D.

I've been here a few times in the past but I went this past Friday for lunch. I usually wait for a table but decided to sit at the bar this time with a co-worker. From my experience the service varies and usually only go here when I'm not pressured for time. However this time the service at the bar was quick efficient. Our bartender definitely knew how to provide fast service. She recommended us some great beer and food selections. Always go for the customized burger because that is the best part! Definitely worth coming here but try getting a seat at the bar if possible.
(4)
Max D.

Hands down best service I've had anywhere. Our server Tyler was incredibly friendly with our whole group and had us laughing most of the time when she came over, very beautiful girl too. She suggested the Loaded Spuds to start us off and they quickly became my favorite fry appetizer. I didn't feel much like making my own burger so I just ordered the Knife and Fork. Phenomenal burger. I never really would have thought of putting fries on my burger but it worked!! This place will definitely be seeing more of me (hopefully when Tyler is working!)
(5)
Sarah C.

These are Gourmet burgers, with a capital "G". Yes, they are pricey. But they are worth it. The place is small with little seating, so it does get crowded. And with people constantly going in and out the door, it can get pretty cold. BUT - the decor is clean and modern and fun and their counter is also a bar with a pretty decent selection (especially for a burger joint). The burgers are huge and messy and you can load them up with all kinds of unique toppings (feta, blue cheese, boiled eggs, pineapple, sprouts, avocado, mushrooms, artichoke) and sauces (Pesto, Ginger Soy, Horseradish, Peanut Sauce, Tzatziki) though a lot of things have additional costs that can add up (bacon, really? Is that not standard burger fare?). If building your own custom burger is daunting, you can order on of their signature burgers. They also have killer sides (sweet potato fries, garlic parmesan fries, chili cheese fries, fried pickles), shakes, and boozy shakes. *EDIT* There are some bad reviews on here (mostly from 2009/2010) complaining of bad service and dry burgers. The service is still a little chaotic (not bad), but the burgers are anything but dry. Mine have always been super juicy - running all over my hand and plate when I eat them.
(5)
Winston S.

Above average burgers, although despite ordering the meat to be medium rare, ours was bleeding so much it was practically mooing. We almost sent it back, but decided not to bother. Order medium if you want medium rare.
(3)
Harsh A.

I love this place Great tasting vegetarian burger.. Its not a burger its like a pizza burger ..unlimited toppings
(5)
Caitlin B.

Great service, great price, clean and cozy atmosphere. The Counter has an amazing selection to build your own burger. The veggie burger is delicious and all ingredients are fresh. Love their milkshakes and shoestring fries as well!!
(5)
David A.

We've been several times, and love it. Waiters are friendly and efficient, but above all, the burgers are outstanding. The best part is that you have numerous options regarding the burger bun (or just a bed of salad), cheeses, and toppings. You can choose from over two dozen items to accessorize your creation, to include onions, grilled onions, red onions, mushrooms, various other veggies, etc... And there's more! The sweet potato fries are sublime, and the beer selection quite respectable. It's a casual place in a high-end environment with very reasonable prices.
(5)
Sophia A.

I am so glad The Counter came to Reston. It is my favorite restaurant in Reston Town Center and my go-to spot while I am in town! The sweet potato fries are incredible and the customizable burgers are great (I am personally a fan of the grilled pineapple). Also, be sure to try the bison burger!!! It is a bit pricy, but the selection and location are fantastic, and (when it's nice out,) there is a great outdoor seating area.
(5)
Helon L.

Built my own burger this last visit. It's been a while since I last been to counter. The sweet potato fries in the 50/50 fries order was limpy and soggy. We could tell it wasn't freshly prepared... But the restaurant was packed, too. That kinda ruined the experience for me, I mean that usually was the highlight every time we go the, and I thought it is supposed to be a popular item. In addition, the multigrain buns on the burger was not that impressive; it lacked texture and sort of melted into the other ingredients. Overall, the food didn't appear gourmet-like anymore, that's too bad.
(2)
Donald G.

Went here with a friend today. I made my own burger, she got an ahi tuna burger, and we split sweet potato fries and their regular fries. The food tasted great and you could tell the ingredients were fresh. The only issue we had was lack of attentiveness from our waiter; however, it wasn't all his fault. He appeared to be the only waiter for a lot of tables. Although I thought it was a little pricy, the food was good so I can't complain too much!
(4)
Jerica D.

This is my go to place for sliders esp. during their happy hour when sliders are $2 a slider and half off side items! This place is located in the Reston Town center and is very nice to eat outside on a summer day. Their shakes are really good for a little more $ you can mix your shakes with alky! They also serve Beer and wine or have a full bar if you wish. They have the best fries and curly strings!!! The bad--The inside is a little tight when it is crowded and not much seating. I only orders sliders when i go, but my husband once ordered a regular size burger and he was not happy and said it did not taste good.The last few times I have went have not been so up to par. But this hasn't stopped me from coming or being a regular.
(3)
Lynn S.

Burgers here have been fine with lots of personal choices in the toppings. Side dishes have been good, too, but a restaurant should be cleaner. Summer is a time to seek out restaurants with pleasant outdoor areas where you can relax and get a bite to eat. The patio looked inviting until I saw jars of condiments baking in plastic containers. No one seemed to care even after I mentioned it.
(2)
Lauryn G.

DON'T GET THE VEGGIE BURGER! It was highly recommended from our waitress, who described it as hearty and delicious. Most certainly not either of those descriptors. The veggie burger even looked gross; both weirdly sweet and a fall apart consistency, this was the most expensive and most disgusting meal I've ever had. I was shocked that after telling the waitress (who disappeared for the entirety of our meal leaving us with no refills and none of the sauces that we had ordered) that my barely touched food was really not good, she cheerfully responded, "Okay! I'll go get your check then." Umm.... really? I paid almost $20 for the grossest uneaten meal. Yuck, just don't go here.
(1)
Sam Y.

I was watching an episode of Food Paradise on burgers and I had a really bad craving for a big, juicy burger. My friend said that there was a place in Reston Town Center that she had never been to before, so we decided to check it out. The decor is pretty nice - there was only one long booth along side both walls and a bunch of little tables throughout. The weather was incredible on the night we went, so there was a very long wait for outdoor tables. We chose to sit inside because we were starving. The way you order is a little unique. You can get one of their specialty burgers off the menu, but they also have a paper/pad so you can pick exactly what kind of burger you want (bun, meat, toppings, extras, and sauce). I thought this was a really great idea and they really had a lot of different choices. The reason why I'm giving this place two stars: 1) The service was incredibly slow. My friends and I had to wait foreverrrr to get anything. The server walked by a couple of times and didn't give us refills until we asked. Granted, it was near closing time, but there were still a couple other parties besides us, so it wasn't like they were going to be able to leave any sooner by not giving us refills. The food took a really long time to come out as well. That would be understandable if the burgers were AMAZING, but on to my next point. 2) The meat was incredibly under-seasoned and burnt. Our sever explained to us when we were ordering that their medium is a little more pink than normal places. I like my steaks medium-rare, but I always tend to eat my burgers cooked a little more thoroughly. So, I asked for it to be cooked a little more on the medium-well side. He shouldn't have even wasted his time explaining all of that because the meat came out super dry. No hints of pink at all. 3) Finally, this place is way too expensive for a burger joint. If the quality was great, I wouldn't complain, but for what it is... I definitely felt jipped. We were a party of four: ordered four burgers, two appetizer fries and four sodas and the total came out to be close to $80. That's just ridiculous. Save your money! I would rather go get a whopper from Burger King than to eat here again.
(2)
Aaron S.

Burgers are a bit pricy but they are quality! I enjoy mixing and matching all the options! Seriously, they give you a checklist with a pencil and clipboard so you can order your burger. There are literally hundreds of options! Also their taps change quite often and have some unique choices too. Staff are quirky but in a good way and are very pleasant! If you want a low key place that has above average burgers and good beer, you should be here!
(4)
Amanda W.

Food is reasonable, so I'm told. They push the custom burger but that was a bad idea for us. Our order was wrong several times, the kitchen was slow and our waiter had to be reminded to bring things like lemon. Items weren't ready at the same time. For example, fries weren't ready when the burger was. They also forgot several items on my order. He first brought me one of them but when we realized other toppings were missing, he took my plate. I did not get my order back until well after everyone else was done and we were ready to go. The manager removed my item from the check, which was appropriate since I never ate it. Most people go to a restaraunt to eat, not watch everyone else. Bummer.
(2)
Aaron G.

Three-star burgers at five-star prices. The Counter offers a B-range burger experience. Better than Five Guys, but not as good as Good Eats or Rays. Unfortunately they've raised their prices, so expect a meal to cost at least $20, which, when you think about it, is really kind of ridiculous. For this reason, The Counter is now stricken from my shortlist of go-to places. Also, they no longer offer a 1lb burger and extra patties are $5 (twice as much as most places). On the plus side, they have lots of topping options, all of which appear fresh, and offer milkshakes and booze. The outdoor seating is nice. Service is adequate.
(2)
Asia G.

I would have given 3 stars , but as of September the price for a 2/3lb burger will cost you $15.64. Today, I download their menu online, placed my order over the phone. Pickup and surprise! it's now 3.25$ extra because of mandatory side item. No , I prefer not to order fries, or side of mixed greens. Too bad, you'll still get charged for it. For me paying almost 16$ for a burger is a bit steep for my blood. I meet my SO for lunch here 2-3 times a week, we'll be looking for other options due to the recent change. Note: not all counter locations enforce a mandatory side option, the Reston Location is however (Step# 6 of self check menu). Pretty sly if you ask me. I'll post pics of the new and old menu.
(1)
H H.

This is my go to place when my child and I need dinner. We usually get their burgers and milkshakes-yum. I would have given this place 4 stars but here is why I don't. OVERPRICED! Seriously, a $12 hamburger? Do they slaughter the cows out back? The milkshakes are delicious, but do they spike them with cocaine? You will break the bank eating at this place when for $4 you could eat the same at McDonalds, not that I advocate McDonalds, but GEESH. SERVICE! Ugh. First time we went, I ordered the mini hamburgers and pointed to the CHILDRENS menu (after all I had a CHILD). The waiter brought out 4 mini hamburgers. I thought to myself, hm, it said 2. Well, on the adult menu is also mini hamburgers and for more money! That kind of pissed me off when I got the check. The last time I went the server forgot our fries though we asked three times and he was a bit glib. As we were about to give him our order (one person was just mulling it over for a second-all of us VERY hungry) he kept saying "I'll come back" then it took him a good 15 minutes to return. BATHROOMS! My shoes were sticking to the floor-GROSS Other than that, you wont be disapointed. Decent outside seating, inside is a bit loud and crowded. You come in and if you are ordering a specialty hamburger, you pick out what you want on it by checking off a menu with a little pencil. DELICIOUS Milkshakes (especially the adult ones) Fried pickles-OMG, never thought I would like these They do take out but like most restaurants, be forewarned, the quality of the food is different and they forget to pack stuff, like the delicious sauce the fried pickles come with.
(3)
Christine M.

If I'm being honest- the burgers are okayand the options are endless. The issue is that I do not see a vast difference between your usual burger place suspects-- around 16+ dollars for a burger and fries is too expensive.
(3)
Lolah B.

Love the food but a bit over priced for a tiny portion. Kid-friendly place. PS. does not come with fries. you have to order separate.. but they do have a lot of different types of fries. I customized my burger, but I still felt hungry afterwards. The servers were friendly, and helpful. The place is a great for families, there's a lot of kids dining at the restaurant (which I love). I hate restaurants that get all snobby when you have your crazy kids with you. Overall, I loved the food. hate the pricing. great place for families with a lot of kids.
(3)
AgentxAngel X.

you'd think that one thing a burger place should be able to do is cook a burger properly. asked for my burger medium rare and it came out medium well. both the burgers we got had an over-cooked egg on it, which they have listed on their menu as "sunny side up." what a disappointment. the bartender seemed to try his best not to acknowledge the situation too. the only reason i give it two stars was cause of the fries.
(2)
Ami F.

Enjoyed the Counter but overall it's overpriced, even by DC standards. The good stuff - Lots of fun drink options to choose from, including interesting beers and adult milkshakes. - The hostess and our waitress were both extremely friendly and walked us through the menu. - Our waitress suggested the parmesan fries and told us they were "like crack"... and they were! Which is good but bad at the same time since you can eat a lot of those dang fries - I liked that you can order burgers "in a bowl". At first this sounded weird, but a lot of times I don't want all that bread anyways, so it worked out - You can customize your burger size, meat, cheeses, toppings etc. And there is A LOT of choice. The not so great stuff - The burgers.. I got the "un-brie-lievable and my boyfriend built his own. While we both liked our burgers, neither of us thought they were anything special. Part of the problem with having so much choice on the "build your own" model, is that it can be really confusing to figure out what combinations will taste good together. Plus, you can really rack up the costs with the additional toppings. - Service was a bit slow for it not being that busy (we went at 8:30ish on a Friday night) - It was really cold for some reason. I usually try not to complain about such random things, but if you go, bring a sweater with you. Bottom line: I would give this a 2.5 rating if I could. It's a fun place, but for a couple of mediocre burgers, it shouldn't cost nearly this much.
(3)
Cory R.

The burgers are good - top notch ingredients. Pass on the deviled eggs though, they were uninspired and overcooked.
(3)
Ali Z.

I tried this place a few years ago when it first opened and thought the burgers were average at best and not worth the price. I went back yesterday and thought the burger was amazing. It was so tasty I didn't need to add any ketchup to my burger. The toppings were fresh and sweet potato fries were good too. I am docking one star because they take a long time to bring out your food.
(4)
Cat P.

Even when I was still an omnivore, I never really craved hamburgers. I found most patties too bland for my taste, with the exception of our local darling, Five Guys. Anyway, so the disclaimer: This review is for a veggie burger that I created using their very Chipotlish concept and the restaurant as a whole. First, I was pleasantly surprised when I entered the Counter for the first time. I was expecting it to be a fast food/self-serve type place, but it's actually full-service with a cheerful host who takes you to your table. The tables are diner-like, but the overall space stands out for being somewhat trendy-looking thanks to more modern wall art and hip servers (piercings, tats, cool hair). Anyway, back to the food. The idea behind the Counter is that you can customize your own burgers with their humanely sourced meats or in-house vegetarian patty. In addition to creating your own burger, you can also get one of their signature burgers, combinations already determined for you. The special of the day was their lamb burger, which, even to me, sounded really good. There was a veggie option, too, but we opted to make our own. So first you select your protein, the usual. Then you select your cheese. Choices included muenster, goat (never really thought to put goat cheese on a burger), brie, jack, cheddar, and more. You then got to choose up to four toppings. They also had some "premium" add-ons, such as avocado. The next step was picking one of their many sauces to go with it. Lastly, you picked your bun, or chose to go bunless. Our creation was a veggie patty with Gruyere, topped with sprouts, avocado, roasted red peppers, and roasted garlic aioli. Yum, yum, yum. The patty was livened up with bits of smoky corn kernels throughout, very nice touch. Probably one of the best veggie burgers I've ever had. And that aioli? It was bangin'! You can't really go wrong with the toppings we chose, but the delicious sauce and flavorful patty made it all the better. We also shared some sweet potato fries, onion rings, and fried pickles. (This diet isn't working!) I loved all of these sides. The onion rings were super thin, which is my preference, though not his. They were shoestring onion rings, if you will. The sweet potato fries were nice and crispy. Not a pickle fan, but as any foodie or chef will tell you-everything tastes better fried. But it's not just that the food was fried, the ranch and other sauces accompanying our guilty pleasures were tasty and addictive. My first time at the Counter was a great overall experience. Besides the great food, we also enjoyed the attentive and accommodating service. Both left full and happy.
(4)
David H.

They give you a menu of various buns, types of meat (beef, bison, etc.) and toppings to pick for your burger. I like that you check the boxes for your desired burger, eliminating the annoyance of the waiter hearing your "no mayo" request as "extra mayo" or failing to write down your order then giving you the wrong order. I also like the variety of toppings and the burger was well seasoned and went well with the onion roll. The burger was very good but not amazing. The fries were just average and the really thin type that you either love or hate. I enjoyed my lunch and would be back if I'm in the area but with so many other burger places worth trying in the DC area I wouldn't make a special trip.
(3)
Big M.

Lunchtime at The Counter with my co-workers. Got there around 11:50, peak lunchtime rush. Wait was not bad, about 10 minutes. I ordered the Southwestern Burger in a Bowl with sweet potato fries. Burger was cooked to order (medium rare) and the guacamole was fresh. Burger was good - but not spectacular. LOTS of options for toppings. The burger tasted a bit dry as if it had been cooked, kept warm and then reheated just before serving. Not bad, mind you, but when you pay $17.50 for a burger, it had better stand out. Given this was served 'in a bowl' you'd expect all the fixings (lettuce, corn & black bean salsa, etc) to be fresh. They weren't - they tasted tired and somewhat wilted. What I really liked: Sweet potato fries were awesome! They were served with a side of horseradish dipping sauce - quite yummy! Ditto for the onion rings - crispy, delicate wisps of onion - not greasy at all! Service was a bit slow as they appeared to be understaffed. Those present were in a constant state of hustle, Finally, a member of our group had requested 'medium-well', but received a 'medium-rare' - more rare than mine. The waiter was apologetic and a new burger was remade without any fuss. Sadly, it too was medium-rare. This works fine for those of us who like our beef still mooing, not so good for those who don't. I'd like to try The Counter during non-rush periods and see what the kitchen can do when things are a bit more relaxed.
(3)
Saritah K.

We were craving hamburgers and this seemed like the right place to try. We were surprised to find it is a proper sit down restaurant and not a fast food place. Our server was one of the most attentive servers we have ever had. He made suggestions but he wasn't pushy. He let us take our time but he never forgot about us. So for the ordering you get a piece of paper with check boxes and you can choose how you want your burger: what kind of meat, what cheese, what toppings, what sauce. I really liked that it was customizable. Taste-wise mine was great. The fries and sweet potato fries were good too. They have many adult drink offerings and happy hour too. So some time we'll have to go back and try that out. And of course the next time I have a hamburger craving this will be my go-to place.
(4)
Daniel G.

One of the better "high end" burger places in the area. Beef quality is very high. Shakes are good. Most toppings are quite good - try the onion straws, they are awesome. That being said, the quality of the burger is such that I wouldn't kill it with toppings - I made that mistake my first time. Service is prompt and friendly. Store is NOT overly large and can be crowded. This is a casual place - not for business and not for a date.
(4)
Claudia J.

Overrated and over priced. Although, I might attempt to attribute the pricing due to being located in RTC. :::What I loved -sweet potato fries and the french fries (50-50) served with the house horseradish ketchup sauce= DANK! -Oreo milk shake :::The burgers Meh. Were they good? They were"aiight". Plenty of toppings to pick from, but... I dunno, the meal was underwhelming. Nada to write home about, or really even remember. ... If you're coming to a burger joint for burgers, the sides shouldn't be the highlight.
(3)
Jenn K.

My best experience here yet. This time I did a special side order of grilled veggies (in place of fries) that wasnt on the menu, at my waiter's recommendation- I was very very happy I did. The waiter brought out an entire plate full of thinly grilled zucchini and carrot strips and a pepper medley and roasted, grilled sweet corn. So very good and guilt free. Quite a steal for under $3 too!
(5)
Pearl S.

Come here often, and order everything on the menu. Seriously. Order anything and everything and you will always be happy. I cry sometimes when I know that I don't have "The Counter" near where I live now.
(5)
Elizabeth B.

Ask for MJ! She a new server but you wouldn't be able to tell, she is extremely knowledgeable about the menu and beers, she also has a great friendly attitude. She made us feel like the only table in the restaurant because we received such a high grade of service. I will always ask for her next time I go in, my family and I are her new regulars!
(5)
Melissa J.

The burgers are always so juicy! Whenever I crave a cheese burger I always think of In-n-out and the Counter. Since the nearest In-n-out is 3000 miles away, the Counter will have to do. They also have incredible boozy milk shakes. Minus one star because the seats are aluminum and the overall atmosphere is just cold. Every time I go in this place I freeze my buns off. Maybe patio seating is the way to go?
(4)
T. V.

After meeting Bobby "The Socialite of Reston" on Friday night, he recommended that I and my good friend try this new burger spot in RTC. I like most faithful yelpers, yelped this place to grasp a feel for what I should expect. I must say the burgers were simply delicious and a perfect serving size (whoever said the portions were too small you ma'am/sir are just plain GREEDY). I ordered the "Red Eye": beef patty, cheddar, apple wood bacon, sweet sriracha, and an egg sunny side up that originally came on an English muffin. I instead switched it to a wheat bun. OMG best last minute decision I ever made!! My good friend, however, took on the task of building her own burger. She created a gourmet turkey burger with baby spinach, sharp prov, and smoky chipotle aioli. YUM!! We also ordered the Chili cheese fries...DROOL!! We split those and actually thought we would have enough room to order a milkshake. Fail! So we will definitely return to this place to try a shake this summer! All in all, this place is excellent! Yes you will pay more than what you would at Micky D's or Burger King. That is because the burgers are unquestionably made from REAL MEAT and hello they're GOURMET!! Did I mention they have an Ahi Tuna burger...(gasp) OKAAAY I'm done! This place is awesome!!!
(4)
Annamaria K.

:( I'm so sad to give only ** but the food wasn't as great as it is in Palo Alto Counter, not even close.... We waited forever to receive our food, which was on the cold side....I found burned food bits in my salad...on the other hand my kiddo loved her small cheeseburgers. It was cold inside, we were (and other people too) had our coats on.
(2)
Sant A.

Stopped by for burgers, as recommended by a friend...nice atmosphere...waitress took order...they didn't ask how we wanted each burger cooked and when the burgers arrived, my wife's burger was just about rare and mine was medium rare...we sent them back and they brought back cooked to our liking...it would have been nice to have been asked first..burger was pretty good when cooked but just a lil pricey for just a burger and fries...$15 Burger, yikes...am I ordering a hotel burger? Don't think I will be going back
(2)
Arthur T.

Burger in a bowl. Been going here for a while and they always make things right. Great food and good quality fresh stuff. Staff is always very helpful and always gets the order right. If I am eating at the restaurant or picking up a to go order it's always right. Oh don't miss the parm fries! Oh and they have discounted half off starters from 4-6. Great place when you want a legit burger exactly the way you want it.
(5)
Jenny N.

I've only been here once, but I'm pretty sure I won't change my opinion. I really love this place! There's a lot of variety and the fact that they have the burger salad style is what really gets me. I know it defeats the point of a burger, but sometimes I want that and a salad. It's just a perfect combination. I'm definitely coming back here. The staff was extremely welcoming and we felt comfortable. Though the interior felt a bit cold with the furniture, it's fixed by the quality of the food.
(4)
David R.

Under new management and it shows. The vibe is calmer, the beer offerings are ever changing and the people working behind the bar are enthusiastic, but not over the top as the previous bar tenders. Burgers/menu has not changed much - kind of odd they don't offer A1 or Heinz 57 sauce on the menu. One thing I would suggest is offer more cheese selections. One of these days I will try the fried egg on a burger..........
(4)
Margy T.

The restaurant was definitely fully staffed at the time, I made eye-contact with a few waiters multiple times- some even walked around us- yet it takes 10 minutes plus (we walked out before wasting any more time) to greet us and take our order? Won't be returning.
(1)
Jane O.

I discovered this place after I received a coupon for a free burger in the mail when they first opened. Im glad I decided to try this place out because its great!! I order the same exact thing everytime: 1/3 lb burger with lettuce, tomatoes, grilled onions, and pineapple! They have the BEST sweet potato fries ive ever had. The regular fries are ok if youre into thin fries. The location is great! Make sure to get outdoor seating in the summer time..It would be a shame not to! Definitely recommend this place to everyone if youre looking for a delicious not so greasy burger.
(4)
Mark D.

Burgers are great and they have a huge variety of topping. I love the bison burger with sliced avocados and bacon.
(4)
Jack K.

A petty good burger. They'd been out of the green chills for about a week though (which the server didn't know until after he took our order--more about this dummy later). Understand that the The Counter, Reston, is in the heart of the Reston Town Center, and in the middle of the business day, full of, yes, business people. How does The Counter, Reston play to this audience. By blaring rap music in the restaurant, of course! Makes perfect sense, right? We went outside and had to sit directly in the sun because we wanted to be able to hear each other. We were JUST about to come to the critical point in our discussion, and our waiter decides that's the perfect time to interrupt me mid-sentence and start talking to us. Adult supervision please!
(2)
The Fence C.

I've seen a bit of a dip in quality recently but I'm still a big fan of the spot. The burgers are huge, albeit a tad overpriced. I'm a sucker for customization though. Patties are juicy on the inside, but the outer layer tends to have a sort of spongey texture. Probably has something to do with how it's pressed (the burger never falls apart which is a good thing, but it takes a toll on the tenderness). I left my number for a waitress who had a septum piercing, tattoos on her arms, a slender frame and kind eyes. I sensed an intriguing personality accompanied her unique beauty. Alas, I didn't get a call. I'm calling you out, woman. Why date someone who will undoubtedly undervalue you, when you could be with someone willing to declare his devotion to you in a public fashion through a vaguely anonymous internet account? Oh, how the opposite sex continues to elude me. Oh Almighty God in Heaven, if you're not getting me laid does this mean you want me to join the clergy? I have so many questions.
(4)
Mary D.

My husband and I live across from Reston Town Center, The Counter is our go to spot. Great service, great beer, great burgers and a great experience.
(5)
Sunny M.

One of the best places for burgers. Very reasonable. Delicious burgers. Beautiful location. Friendly staff. Love it!
(5)
Rebecca M.

I am updating my review to reflect warmer and more attentive service in my last visit to the counter. On this visit, I was greeted, seated, and served promptly. My hamburger was cooked to pink perfection and topped with Swiss, sautÃ©ed mushrooms and onions. I had a red wine blend in the stemless bowl and it paired wonderfully. My mother, the "octogenarian adventurer" pointed out that these glasses ensure a good, quick wash in the industrial dishwasher. So for my mother and for the improved service I experienced, I have increased my rating to reflect the four stars earned by this fun and ingenious little tailor-made burger emporium!!
(4)
U.S. A.

Quick update the waiter who has been great and we seek him out is Brian. He also does magic tricks for the kids
(4)
Rich K.

Been there twice now. Each time I am shocked at the prices. But... If your going to a fancy burger joint this is the one not to miss. Sauces are good and the fries better than across the street at the corporate french restaurant. Lamb burger is great and regular burgers of beef are as well. Good service and very friendly too.It makes you like this place.
(4)
Cary C.

Ingredients are fresh and tasty, and the fries are delicious (if you like thin fries). But, I don't think it works very well to have people creating their own elaborate recipes for their burger...maybe I'm just not good at it, but every time I've gone here and tried to combine flavors of toppings and options I think I'll like, I end up feeling like there are way too many flavors going on and they didn't come together right and I'm disappointed. I think this is one of those cases where it's better to just give people the chef's tried and true combos. Pretty good but thought they'd be better given burgers is ALL they do...honestly I like Five Guys better.
(3)
Lindsay S.

The food here is a 4 or 5, but the service and the concept drag it down to a 2.5. First off, their veggie burger is DELICIOUS! Very well seasoned and it just tastes great. Like I said, their food is very good. The main downside of these restaurant is their service. Do not expect to dine here with less than an hour to spare. I assume that it's because all of their food is made as you order it, but the food delivery takes forever! And then if something is wrong with your order, it takes just as long to bring it back to you! The first time I went here, my friend's burger was still very raw when it came out. We didn't have time to get it sent back and remade because it had taken 30 minutes to get the food in the first place, so he just didn't eat. However, they did comp his meal and give us a gift card for our next visit. I came here again yesterday with a group of 5. Three of our group were on a diet and this wanted their burgers in a bowl instead of on a bun. They upcharge for this! (I believe $1.50 on your burger that already costs $12) Another annoyance, every burger comes with a side and no option to opt out. Given that these three people were on diets and already getting their burgers on a salad, neither fries nor a side salad seemed fitting. You should get the option of NOT having a side, particularly when you're paying the upcharge to get your burger on a salad. I am just really not a fan of how The Counter nickel and dimes you for everything. I got charged an extra 50 cents to get a vegan bun. And when you want 5 toppings instead of 4, they charge you, or if you want 2 cheeses instead of 1, they charge you. However, if you were to only get 2 toppings, like I did, they don't reimburse you the $1. Or if you don't get any cheese at all, like one person in our group, they don't deduct the $1.50 the cheese supposedly costs from your bill. Like I said, the food here is really great, but the concept and pricing is definitely lacking.
(2)
Lauren R.

Absolutely amazing burgers. Tons of toppings. Awesome sides. BEST MILKSHAKES. Outstanding service. 6/5 stars.
(5)
Randall G.

Expected more from a gourmet burger joint. If you specialize in burgers, they should be great burgers; this wasn't. It was a good burger but not close to the best ever. Also fries were disappointing. Shoestring fries just don't make the grade. A serious burger requires serious fries. I'd eat here again, but I won't be counting the days.
(3)
Jake T.

The meat tastes great and you can tell it's fresh. Love how you build your burger and can customize it so much. I'd recommend some fries and onion strings as well.
(4)
Eric J.

The mini burgers were nothing special
(2)
Hugh M.

I came to The Counter with reasonably high expectations, to be fair. A pescetarian going to a burger restaurant should always be wary, but after seeing the praise for their vegan burger I had to give it a go. I was torn between ordering the tuna burger and the vegan burger, but as the former had Sriracha sauce and the latter was $4 less expensive, I went vegan. Ultimately, I was disappointed. While still better than most vegan/vegetarian burgers that I've had, it was ultimately too mushy and bland. This is the plight of every vegan burger I've had, and this place was no different. in fact, I wasn't even inclined to finish my burger; I left about a third of it on the plate, and it was my first meal of the day. I'd give the burger 2-2.5 stars, actually, but I'm giving a 3-star rating because the vegetable skewers I had on the side were quite flavorful, and brought the average up to 3 stars. Finally, although this didn't affect the rating, our waters weren't refilled for quite a long time, and this was only after my friend specifically asked for more (his glass had been empty for a while at this point). Overall, not recommended, although I might go back and try the tuna burger next time.
(3)
Dominique F.

Ok, so here's the deal, usually I really care about the service, but in this case the slow service won't affect my rating as much. Why, you might ask? Well, here's the deal; I decided to be vegan for lent without ever having a veggie burger before. So, when it was time for me to eat my first veggie burger it sucked and I was sad. Today I came to the counter and absolutely loved every single bite of my veggie burger and fries. It was delicious!!! Definitely coming here again; I just hope the service is a bit faster then.
(5)
Ethan Z.

Chain originally from California. LOTS of burger options (all customizable). You want a burger with fried egg, avocado, and onion rings? They'll do it. Typically too big for one normal-sized human to eat in one sitting. But, if you're not in the mood for a $10-15+ burger you should look elsewhere. However, the burgers are very good. They also have veggie options if you're into that sort of thing. Sweet potato fries are the jam. Service is friendly. Outdoor seating is nice in the summer. A few beers on draft help the atmosphere.
(3)
Shri J.

Great burger choices and pretty fancy when it comes to what you want to put in your burger. Also great variety of malt shakes to end the experience on a sweet note. As vegetarian I went there and was quite amazed at how great the veggie burger tasted. The atmosphere is family friendly and the staff are amazing!! The fries are also so yummm Give it a shot...You will love it:-)
(5)
Hamilton H.

I have to completely agree with Kevin O. If the food matched the service here....then I would come back. I only rate food on Yelp so thus the 1 star. The lettuce in the salad was turning on a $15 dish. Non starter. Turkey burger was tough and over cooked. My sweetie's Asian Veggie dish was adorned with grilled "canned" pineapple. Again, totally not cool for a place that touts organic this-and-that and charges a PREMIUM for lousy food. I don't see how this place will be around too much longer...
(1)
Michelle N.

After my review I've returned many, many, many times and have had the pleasure of dining in whether it was inside or al fresco (highly recommend!). I absolutely love this place. I don't think I can ever get a burger anywhere without the option to customize it. My go to is usually a 1/3 beef burger or a vegan veggie burger (OMG, amazing!) in a bowl, with an assortment of fresh vegetables, and garlic aioli. I always, always, always get the onion straws as a side although once in awhile they can be a little more soggy than crispy. If you're sharing, you can also get the 50/50 which allows you to pick 2 of: onion straws, regular fries, seasoned fries (parm!), or sweet potato fries. Really, how can you say no to fries? Service is always amazing and the food never disappoints (aside from the occasional soggy onion straws). If it's nice outside definitely take advantage of being able to sit on the patio. It's great to be able to people watch and also share the space with furry friends. I love that Reston Town Center is so dog friendly and that The Counter loves dogs too. Next on my to do list: Adult Milkshakes! Though I'm not much of a milkshake gal and usually the burger and straws are filling themselves, but if there's alcohol in these, I may have to save space in my belly for them :)
(5)
Kevin O.

The service was stellar but the food was garbage. The kitchen seemed to be messing up every order. As we were being seated I saw two tables simultaneously complaining about the same problems! My burger came out cold and it was only after i sent it back that I realized my fries were already room temp. The burger was returned hot but was basically insipid. The fries sucked. The sweet potato fries sucked. The fried pickles were a waste of money. So there you go. Excellent servers doing their best to cover for a god-awful "kitchen." No joke. Save your $50 and go to the cheapest fast food place you can imagine. You'll get a better burger.
(1)
JJ H.

Having lived in the RTC for a few years now, I've visited the Counter numerous times with VERY mixed results. On a positive note, the fries (especially the sweet potato fries) are very good. Sadly though, I've had (too many) more lousy burgers than good ones; usually dried out, overcooked (grey & burnt) but sometimes undercooked and funky tasting. In short, 'overpriced and inconsistent'. Tip: Ordering 'to go' is a serious gamble; your toppings will probably be wrong and your burger will definitely be selected from the over/pre-cooked pile.
(2)
Michelle W.

I've come to The Counter for my last two birthday dinners and my graduation lunch. I love The Counter because it's fuss-free and a much cheaper alternative to the the expensive restaurants that inhabit Reston Town Center. Getting your burger craving for $9 in Reston Town Center? Not bad at all. The Counter's concept is to the point--you are given a list of possible meats, toppings, condiments, and buns, and you craft your own burger. It's fun to be in control of your own burger, and there are a wide variety of ingredients to choose from gruyere cheese to ginger soy glaze. I always order the 1/3 burger and can barely finish it. They really pack on the toppings here, so about half way through the burger, it gets really messy to eat. I always have to switch over to utensils at this point. I've never tried the burger in a bowl. Order the fries too! Whether it be the potato fries, sweet potato fries, or crispy onion strings, they are all great options. I'm in love with the parmesan fries. The portion size is big enough to split between four people too.
(4)
Livia M.

I LOVE this place! Everything is delicious. The service is hit or miss though. The adult shakes are great
(5)
A M.

Really good burgers and a great bar!
(4)
Matthew C.

As a vegetarian, it's not often I get excited about a burger place. But I was told to expect great things from The Counter, and overall the establishment didn't disappoint. Although there are a few things it could do better, as long as one knows what to expect it is possible to have a very enjoyable experience. The Counter's veggie burger is packed with rice, corn and black beans, and it has a moist, crumbly texture which is much more appetizing than the tough, dry veggie burgers found in many restaurants and stores. The texture and composition of the burger, however, can be its own worst enemy. Mine fell apart two or three bites in, and I wound up with large chunks on my plate which I just ate with my hands. This raises an important point, too: If you don't appreciate the textural experience of eating with your hands, be sure to ask for silverware when ordering since it isn't provided. Even my girlfriend, who ordered her veggie burger as a salad, didn't receive a fork until she made a special request. Leaving aside quibbles about the lack of silverware, The Counter also excels in the variety of toppings it offers. You get a choice of cheese and four other toppings standard with your burger; unfortunately, there is no way to swap cheese for an extra topping of the non-dairy variety. There are also a number of "premium toppings" which you can pay extra for. Finally, you get to choose your sauce and type of bun. I got baby spinach, grilled onions, marinated artichokes and spicy pepperoncinis; a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette; and a multigrain bun. It was a good balance of ingredients, with none drowning out the flavor of the others or the burger itself. Perhaps most important to success in this regard is that the sauce is served on the side, which means you are in control of how much additional flavor is added to the burger. My party also got onion strings and sweet potato fries, which were served with three different sauces. Although the fries and strings were labeled on the menu as "starters," they were brought out to our table with the rest of our food. This certainly wasn't a deal breaker for me, but if you want your appetizers quickly then you may want to specify that. In the end, the variety of ingredients, skillful preparation and quantity of food (burgers come in 1/3, 2/3 and 1 lb patties) outweighed (no pun intended) The Counter's shortcomings and justified what some might consider a hefty price tag for a burger.
(4)
Matt H.

The burgers were just ok, but not bad at all. You can customize them any way you want them, including the size (1/3, 2/3, or 1 lb) or the bun. The fries, including the sweet potato fries, were a little greasy, but they weren't bad. Overall, the food was decent, but kind of pricey for a burger and fries in my opinion.
(2)
Grand Y.

They said they would make my burger rare, but it came out cooked EXACTLY AS MUCH as my friends, who ordered their burgers medium and well-done, respectively. Having just cycled 104 miles, I wasn't prepared for them to remake the burger. I would've been ok if they said they couldn't make the burger rare, or that all burgers are prepared the same. The sweet potato fries were thin and very, very fried. the regular fries were ok, but I wouldn't get them again.
(2)
Emma D.

Best vegan burger I've ever had. Got the 1/3 lb veggie patty, no cheese, sautÃ©ed onions, roasted red peppers, pickles, and mixed greens. The sauce I got was the sundried tomato vinaigrette. I got the onion bun. It was DELICIOUS. Literally the best I've had. I liked filling out the little card at the beginning because I felt like I could take my time and have my order put in correctly. As a new vegan, I really appreciated the AMAZING veggie burger. I would definitely go here again just for this. And I got the sweet potato fries, which were pretty good! I ate them with ketchup. The sauce looked good though for non-vegans who eat mayo. Atmosphere was good, waitresses we had were so sweet and attentive, and FREE PARKING in the big garage across the street. No complaints at all. Yes, it is expensive but you can't get a decent lunch for less $$ anywhere around. So I'm not too put off by it.
(5)
Boris S.

from Top NOMs of 2011 list (5/5 NOMs). This place never disappoints!!! There is a reason I consider this the best burger place in the area. I love making my own burger, their toppings and meat are top notch. I of course try to stuff as much as possible into mine :) wow I think I'm in love! Parmesan French Fries (5/5 NOMs). These are some of the best fries I've ever had. This is nomnom overload! You must try this starter with your burgers.
(5)
Patricia S.

Love the food - it's just a bit too pricey to frequent ...
(4)
Namita M.

Very good customized veggie patties. Fresh fries and good selection of burger toppings.
(5)
Juicy G.

No thank you. I tried to find pros and cons of this place, but sadly the cons crushed the very few pros by their sheer weight. For starters, I don't like nickel and dime operations, and that's exactly what The Counter thrives on. "How much more money can we squeeze out of the customer for toppings on a burger?" It's handled very hypocritically. The Counter is more than happy, and insistent, to charge you an additional $1.25 for one more slice of cheese, but in the same regard, they're not willing to lower the price by a $1.25 if you don't want any cheese. Same thing with the extra toppings. They allow you four with your starting price of the burger, and want to charge you seventy-five cents for every additional one. Yet if you don't choose all four, they're certainly not willing to lower the price by seventy-five cents per topping that you don't take. If the nickel and diming wasn't bad enough, the food is. I got a chicken sandwich, and my friend got a burger. She ordered hers medium well, which came out somewhere between rare and medium. My chicken sandwich went to the opposite extreme, and was dried out and rubbery from being overcooked. I took one bite out of it, and pushed the plate away. They were at least nice enough to comp me for it. About the only saving grace to the meal was the chili cheese fries which were astounding. Unnaturally astounding. Especially considering how much they screwed up the main courses. Food aside, the place is small, loud, and made even louder by blaring music. What is it with restaurants that feel like the customers want to listen to music while eating as opposed to talking to their company? Turn it down! Better yet, turn it off! The Counter just doesn't impress me.
(1)
Linda C.

Stopped here today with the hubby and enjoyed a nice lunch at The Counter. It's not a very big place, but there are enough tables as well as seats at the "counter/bar" to accommodate folks. We only had to wait for about two minutes to get our table. In summer, there is additional seating on the patio, helping to alleviate any wait. So the concept here is a little different from most burger places. Upon sitting down, you are presented with a clipboard and a form to fill out. You get to choose everything about your burger, from start to finish. This makes it interesting, if not a little scary. First, choose ground beef, chicken breast, ground turkey, organic bison, or today's special (e.g., tuna). Then move on to your toppings, and man there are lots to choose from! This is where it gets scary for me. You can be adventurous and choose gorgonzola, feta, gruyere or brie. Or go traditional and get cheddar or Swiss. Toppings range from the usual to the exotic, like cranberries or a hard boiled egg. Some toppings, like bacon or avocado, will cost a bit extra. Companion sauces range from pesto to chipotle aoili to lemon vinaigrette, with BBQ or mayo available as well. I'm just mentioning a few, mind you, because there are a whole lot more to choose from. My problem is that I am not always sure what works with what, or if I'm going to like that bison burger with herb goat cheese spread, black olives and apricot sauce. I suppose I'm just not that adventurous when it comes to messing with my burger. The servers will help you if you really get stuck, but for me, I tend to stick with the tried and true when I'm paying $9 for a burger. Sweet potato fries and onion "strings" are delicious and are served with ranch, BBQ, and horseradish mayo for dipping. Prices are definitely on the high side (lunch for 2 cost about $35! And no alcohol was involved!) but everything was delicious. Next time you are at Reston Towne Center, you might want to check this place out, especially if you are in the mood to mix things up.
(4)
Art P.

Best fries! And the burger...mmmm...the burger! Think conceptually of Burger King's "have it your way" theme but done in a distinctly American way.
(5)
Izzy H.

It's fine. The wait for the food was very long (think 30ish minutes-granted it's a Sunday and early afternoon) The food was decent but the order came out wrong (still were charged for the original order though) I like that they have the bowl option and that kale is one of the choices. I would have given it a 3.5 by the time we were eating the food. The sweet potato fries were really good. Then we finished and waited another 30 minutes for the check-I'm not rushy when it comes to eating out but it really wasn't that busy. So after being there for 2 hours I'm like ehhh maybe 3 stars. Then I went into the bathroom. Yeah 2 stars.
(2)
lisa y.

Had lunch here today. Had heard about it from my sister in Walnut Creek, CA. I had a hamburger with blue cheese, pickles & grilled onions. Very good!! My favorite items had to be the deep fried pickles & parmesean fries. Will definitely go again!
(4)
Steve L.

3.5 Stars bumped to 4 because the food is better than I would rate a 3 star place. Also, Jarrett B and I got our order to go. If I had to deal with the long wait in that crowded place with decor that left a lot to be desired, it's possible this would be a 3-star rating. I put off visiting this place for a long time because I'd already sampled some leftovers from friends. Because of that, I thought the burger kinda sucked. Turns out, all my friends did NOT get the burger at the recommended "pink throughout" temperature. Since their burgers were browned throughout, they were always dry and unsatisfying. The menu is a bit overwhelming, but after 15 minutes of studying the menu at home while waiting for Jarrett B to get here, I chose the following: Step #1 Choose a Burger: 1/3 lb beef, recommended temp (pink) Step #2 Choose a Cheese: Jalapeno Check Step #3 Choose up to 4 Toppings: Grilled Onions, Jalapenos, Lettuce Blend, Scallions Step #3.5 Premium Toppings (1.00 Per Selection): Fried Egg, Fried Onion Strings Step #4 Choose a Sauce: Roasted Garlic Aioli Step #5 Choose a Bun: Hamburger Bun Step #6 Give us ways to spam you: No. Were my burps kickin' for the rest of the night? Hell yeah. But I really enjoyed the freshness of all the ingredients used - especially the loads of scallions. And fried onion strings are always awesome. But here are some gripes: I probably wouldn't do the egg again, it was a small, puny egg. I wish the jalapenos were fried or roasted. Hmm...looking at the pic I posted...that doesn't look like JALAPENO CHEDDAR. WTF?? Oh well. I'd still go back.
(4)
Claude P.

Great burgers and sweet potato fries. Music could be turned down a little for a more relaxing experience.
(4)
JA V.

Really like this place! They usually have good beer options on tap, burgers are really good, the meat, the bread, etc; the idea is that you build your own custom burger based on a list of ingredients. The fries are the best - both regular and sweet potato.
(4)
Kate D.

Had dinner here tonight with my husband. We sat at the bar and had the BEST bartender ever! Christian was attentive, timely, and friendly. Food came out perfect as usual.
(5)
David L.

hard to go wrong when you basically build the burger with your preferences
(4)
Brenda -.

Great new menu! I tried the salad option, which was delicious. The vanilla milkshake was perfect, as always. Finally, our server, Randy, was fantastic. I have a long list of atypical food allergies, and Randy went well out of his way to verify the exact contents of multiple possible menu choices. He did all this with a smile and friendly attitude. We will, as usual, be back.
(5)
J C.

Burgers are tasty. However, my patty was warm, suggesting they have some precooked and waiting. Fried pickles were good and hot, but a chipotle mayo would have paired better than the apricot sauce. Wobbly tables. Ordered fries that never came, even after a reminder. Would be a solid 3 if not for that. EDIT: This review is about a year old. Yelp never published when I thought they did. So take that into account when considering this restaurant.
(2)
Lisa R.

These are LEGIT gourmet burgers. Finally, a solid beef patty that is actually "set" before it's served so when it comes out to you it's not covered in grease. On top of that, the burgers truly are weighted after cooking. A 2/3 burger is * huge *. There is an excellent selection of quality toppings, sauces, and cheeses. The parmesean shoestring fries are to die for. I could eat them alllll day! FULL SERVICE BAR. ADULT MILKSHAKES. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. Service was friendly, the decor was a bit sterile, but okay I guess. The only only hold back I have with this place, I guess is because there are SO MANY choices, it can be a little daunting. I'm an adventurous eater, but sometimes I'm not in the mood to randomly pick toppings and inadvertantly ruin my delicious burger. That said, I know the whole thing with The Counter is choice, so I get that, however, I do wish there were some more pre-set beef options, and/or a "signature" beef burger (there was one Counter Burger, but it didn't stand out to me) for those less adventurous. All things considered, this is a great option for pre-gaming before a night out on the town (although the location being in Reston might be a bit strange for that, unless you are going out drinking in the town center, which I guess some people do), or fast decent burger. Not quite date night type of venue, but post run from the trail high protein meal kind of place.
(4)
K C.

Without the bun in a bowl is surprisingly just as good. Yeah-this is a customized bowl of love to appease anyone that adores good food that's so fresh & tastes good all @ same time. The chairs are kinda like being in detention after school ,so get a booth if you can. Either way, the b&w candid canvas adorning the walls are splendidly easy on the eyes. Looking forward to returning on an evening to experience the ambiance.
(4)
Peter K.

Eh... the concept is nice but fails on execution. I'm wondering if the execution is poor because this place is located in Reston Town Center. What percentage of people who eat out at a place like Reston Town Center are snobby enough about food to demand a great burger place? Exactly. It'll always be just good enough for the suburbanites who want a slightly better burger than Five Guys but isn't going to give you a gastronomic orgasm like some of the burger places I've been to in New York. You can tell from many of the other reviewers who think this place is amazing because their only other points of comparison are Five Guys and Fuddruckers. I got the Counter burger. First, when I was ordering and asked for it cooked medium, she asked "Are you okay with the burger being pink throughout?" I was confused. Why are you asking me this? I just told you how I wanted the burger. As she took everyone else's order, she did the same thing, confirming how they wanted their burger cooked. Come on. This just perpetuates the idea that this place caters to suburbanites who don't give a crap about food and don't know the difference between medium rare, medium, medium well, etc. You don't need to confirm how people want their burger cooked because if they ask for their burger medium and don't understand that it won't be cooked all the way through, screw them -- you just tell those kind of people to go to Five Guys or McDonalds. They piled on way too many of the stringy onion rings. I don't really care for stringy onion rings. I prefer the thicker kind. The beef patty was just ok -- nothing particularly noteworthy about its juiciness or flavor. The regular fries and sweet potato fries were just mediocre too.
(3)
Joy G.

The burgers are so good and potentially the best sweet potato fries ever. As of recent, a side is now included... Fries, sweet potato fries, side salad or onion straw... And a 1/3lb burger for around 12 bucks. You build your own or they have pre-fixed specialty burgers. I've never had a bad combo. They also have great craft beer on tap and adult style milkshakes. My only complaint is there is always a wait at dinner time. Given, it's a tiny space- they do a good job of minimizing wait time considering. After being a regular here for 2 years we haven't had a bad trip.
(5)
Thomas S.

When it comes to a sit-down burger craving, The Counter hits the spot, often. We have tried almost everything on the menu, have yet to find something that wasn't satisfying and the choices are consistently fresh. Recent discovery of the homemade ice cream cookie sandwich pushes this from 4 stars to 5 stars, as does the awesome staff who enjoy each other and work hard to make sitting at The Counter a great experience. I personally recommend 1/2 lb in a bowl with any cheese, added spinach, carmelized onions, egg, jalapenos and cucumbers with the spicy salsa (AWESOME!) as the "sauce." The off-menu "trio" of sides is the best of everything.
(5)
Daniel C.

I get to choose everything in my burger and how it's cooked. and the fries are nomz. Fried Egg on burger is the bomb. Steak Sauce is good too. Picture added.
(4)
Raena D.

On several occasions, I've found myself here with a burger craving. The sweet potato fries and their amazing aioli sauce can't be passed up. I'll also attest to their amazing milk shakes that will hold you over while you wait for your food. They are fairly large though, so it's best to try and split one with someone or else you won't have any room for your burger! Alright, so the selection of toppings and sauces is next to none. There are several types of BBQ sauces, pesto, aioli, guacamole, etc. They also have a variety of buns to choose from and tons of other toppings like pineapple, sauteed onions, onion rings, spinach greens, mixed greens (forget regular lettuce!).... Basically, you never need to order the same burger twice. Also recently, they added buffalo to their menu, which I happen to prefer over beef. Just be aware that being organic, it comes with an up-charge. Build your own burger here is by the 1/3 pound with your choice of 4 regular toppings in addition to premium toppings. The bacon is totally worth it as well as the avocado- which I've never had be under ripe. The only disappointment I've come across is the pineapple, which is canned :-( So I've skipped that after ordering it once.
(4)
Bryan L.

Cody K Server #1007 Reston VA location . Ask for him by name Yelpers. This guy was an amazing server. I got a Bison burger and the lady got a regular cheese burger. Spent 30something dollhairs. Never a dry glass, refills by the dozen. Speedy service with a smile and wonderful suggestions. BOOM
(5)
Norman C.

I work in Reston Town Center, never actually eaten here before till today. Boy was that a horrible First experience. I ordered Carry out since I had alot of work to tend to. I ordered online at 1130am, for a 1230pm pick up. I arrived at 1230pm to pick up my food and was ready! awesome! I decided to check out my order before I left. WAIT i had ordered a Turkey burger with organic greens. Why is there a burger on a bun with a side of salad dressing in my bag??? The associate took it back, and replaced it no problem. This time I did not check the bag. I walk to other side of the town center get to my desk, open it and, great there is this salad ready to be eaten WITH OUT the salad dressing. At this point I was pretty upset, first they messed up my order, then they took out my salad dressing, but added salad. WTF. I had to bug my coworkers for some dressing. Also the meet was fairly dry, and the patty was burnt a bit too much for my liking. First time there! First time failure. I sent them an email with my confirmation order and a complaint, I haven't got a response back even though I know they have read it...how do I know?//// because I got a read receipt back.
(1)
Kim W.

Eh, I came here because a friend was raving about a veggie burger they had so I decided to try it. We came on a Friday around 7pm...it wasn't busy. We sat at the bar and filled out what looked like a survey form for my burger. The burger came out pretty fast and its presentation was appealing. However, one bite and I swear it tasted like I was eating grass. I didn't like it. The husband had a plain cheeseburger with ketchup and thought it was good but he did say that he thinks Friday's burgers are better...so not sure if that could help you gauge the quality here. Prices were ok but not cheap. If my friends didn't want to meet up here I wouldn't go. If you're a fan of burgers it's worth a try but you could probably get a better one next door at Morton's during lunch time for the same price.
(3)
Chris P.

Solid burger choices, thank you for offering grass fed. It's great to see the world harking back to yesteryears of real beef. Every little step through the pasture matters. I'll 3rd all the suggestions on the parmesan fries. Instant winner!
(4)
Kate R.

I love this burger place. It's so much fun building your own burger and is ab awesome place for me since I have a food sensitivity to sulfites. I just pick toppings I can have and have always had a delicious meal that doesn't feel like it's lacking or sorely tweaked to make it "safe." When I'm in reston I like to come here. The first time I visited, I asked about bun ingredients they brought a manager out to discuss my food sensitivity and check ingredients for me. So excellent customer service. Food is consistently good, too.
(5)
Austin K.

I've had a lot of good experiences here, but also some negative ones that really make me question if I'd come back. My last experience was with a large group and the service was abyssmal. Our waiter was missing for most of our visit and wasn't around to provide drink refills and the food took an inexcusable time to arrive. Our entire experience lasted about 3 hours for what should have been a quick burger lunch. All of this was really just a prelude for the biggest disappointment which was finding a piece of metal in a turkey burger (think one of the metal ties on the end of a tube of meat at the grocery store). While we had a manager apologize and comp the meal, it felt very half-hearted as he tried to shift the blame on the meat supplier. He offered to let us file a report, but we declined since no one was injured. The whole experience was just bad. On the plus side, the food without foreign metal objects was pretty good, but that's far too little ground to make up for the bad service alone.
(2)
Kimberly K.

Good burgers. Indoor and outdoor seating is averrable. The restaurant is clean and organized. Our server was very friendly but a bit slow and disorganized. I like the concept of being able to create your own burger but I can see how orders can get messed up as well. There are a bunch of toppings, sauces, meat patty options. The bun and toppings are all fresh and well made. The bun held everything together nicely and was still fluffy within. The beef patty itself was juicy but not all that flavorful. Their milkshakes are great. They were smooth, creamy, and not overly sweet. Their Fried Pickles and Chili Cheese Fries both got a two thumbs up from the 5 of us. I'm glad we tried this place out, but I definitely wouldn't say this is my favorite burger joint in VA.
(3)
Sean R.

One of the best burgers I've had in my life. So good I continue to go back over and over. Good beer selection and a ridiculous amount of choices to customize your burger. Or get fish in a salad, they have excellent ahi as well as chicken and turkey. My go to is always the buffalo though. Mike, Randall, and the rest of the staff are always friendly, attentive and there just when you need them, or more often if you just want to have some fun conversation. It's always a good sign of an eating establishment when the staff eats and hangs out when they're not on shift. The Counter is that sort of place. Don't pass it up.
(5)
Raph K.

Great burgers, good service and a pleasant atmosphere. During peak hours it gets a little busy but worth the wait. The tables could be a but hugger but besides that, would visit again!
(4)
Nick G.

i like the "build your own burger" menu. i got the brioche style bun. i would prefer a thicker bun.
(4)
Susan S.

Went to The Counter for lunch today with a coworker, we both ordered BLTs and fries (with one special request, that the garlic aioli be switched for mayo on one of the BLTs). 30 minutes passed, with other diners getting their food, the waitress did not check in with us this whole time. I flagged the waitress down and requested that she find out the status of our order, she said she would. Next thing you know, she is talking to other customers and never got back to us. Finally I got up and requested to speak with the manager on duty who came over and we explained the situation. She was very nice and apologetic, went into the kitchen and lo and behold, another manager came out with our lunch. He apologized profusely and put down our orders. Unfortunately one of the sandwiches came without the fries. The sandwiches were mixed up, it was just a nightmare. The manager who brought out the food apolized again and when he reappeared with the correct sandwich he said that he was going to give us coupons because he wanted us to come back and have a better experience. Guess what! Never got the coupons! I'm guessing that I will not be going back. The waitress also apologized profusely. The waitress did not get a tip.
(1)
Dennis S.

I stacked it high, but not like Albert Haynesworth who eats here and orders the 1lb. Patty with multiple eggs. Our waiter was attentive and seated us quickly, where we created our vehicles to a food coma. (He told us about Haynesworth) The burgers cooked to order here are better than I could have imagined. It's pricey, but so is Build-A-Bear and I'm out to build/ create the perfect burger. I got pretty close though.
(4)
Tiffani N.

It was ok. Not really as good as I would have expected for a place dedicated to gourmet burgers. Definitely not a trendy Five Guys. Possibly went on an off day, so I wouldn't be against going back. My burger was overcooked even though I specifically asked if medium well would still be pink. It wasn't. Like all the different topping choices but beware that some "premium" toppings will add $$ to your burger. It could cost north of $15! My mushrooms were charred, not appetizing at all. My son's egg was barely over easy and spilled all over him but we were never asked how he wanted it cooked. Yuck! Also, during happy hour they wouldn't let you have happy hour specials at a table even though the bar seats like 6 people and is right next to the tables. Weird. I would've ordered so much more if I could have gotten the HH specials. Plus 1 for the music, though. They played old school East Coast hip hop. I lovessssss!
(3)
Katie P.

Just got back from The Counter and thought it was time to give my two cents. Short review: great burgers, great service and good atmosphere. I'd definitely give it a try if you're in the area. Long review: I opted for the 1/3 lb turkey burger on a multigrain bun with cheddar, tzatziki sauce, lettuce blend and tomatoes. I loved it and finished every last bit. My husband got the 1/3 hamburger also on a multigrain bun, medium with provolone. He seemed to enjoy it and the bite I had was delicious. We also shared a 50-50 basket with regular and sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries stole the show for me. The serving was huge and I wish I had been able to eat more :) The regular fries were good but not something I'd remember next week. The service was quick; we had our food within 10 minutes of sitting down. Good options for toppings and sauces. So much so that I had a hard time choosing what to go with! It was a little loud for my liking but the music selection was good enough that I forgot about it after a few minutes. The Counter is definitely a place I'll go back to. It's just another hidden gem in Reston Town Center!
(4)
A J.

Best veggie burger ever! I was about to give a poor review because the waiter lost my order paper (everyone selects his burger toppings on a sheet). However, the taste of the burger restored their reputation, and my meal was paid by goodwill. My only complaint is that the bar is extremely loud. We went on an NFL Playoff night and people were yelling at the TV--definitely not a place to go for dinner conversations.
(4)
Andrew I.

Been happy every time I've eaten here. Burgers are always good and fries are some of the best. Service can be hit or miss and its a little on the pricey side but I'm okay with it since the quality of food is high.
(5)
Chris C.

I used to go there multiple times per week with neighbors and coworkers the first couple of years after they opened, and always considered it pricey but good with friendly and attentive service. But then a couple of years ago, I had a falling out after some very bad experiences with service, and even food quality, after it changed management. I haven't been back since.
(2)
Emily H.

I'm always in search of a good burger. I ate at The Counter yesterday for lunch and had a decent burger but I think that was my bad - I tend to become excited when I see all the options that are provided for toppings. I ordered a beef burger, 1/3 pound on a whole wheat burger with tillamook cheddar cheese, roasted red peppers, grilled onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon and roasted garlic aioli. All the components of my burger were delicious but I think next time I should take it easy on the toppings and try to enjoy a burger. THe fried dill pickle chips and sweet potato fries were both very well done. The sauces were both very complementary to the items. The service could have been a little better but I won't let that deter me from returning!
(4)
Shawna H.

hehere a couple times. Great burgers, good sides and salads. I like their beer and adult shake selections as well. Christian the bartender its awesome! Not only helpful and friendly, but entertaining as well. If you're shopping in the area it's a great place to hang out and grab a bite.
(5)
Kate H.

Third visit here (my co-worker's choice, not mine) and another iffy meal. My burger was overcooked, and my co-worker's was cooked medium, although she'd requested more. When she sent it back to be cooked a little more, they made her a new dish... and out comes a repeat of my dish, not hers. Just as I'd suspected, our waiter (who we couldn't understand AT ALL) wrote "medium-well" on my ticket, not hers. So of course when they remade that dish, they made mine. Back to the kitchen -- again -- and her correct dish came out a few minutes later. Mine being overcooked was typical, so I didn't worry about sending it back. I had almost all my toppings this time, but he missed the avocado that I requested. We ordered one large portion of sweet potato fries, and one large onion straws. They brought us the 50/50, which isn't what we ordered. To make up for it, they brought us another. Service at lunch was a little slow -- took 20 minutes for our order, which is a big chunk of time. After I'd paid the check and was back at the office, I pulled out the receipt and noticed that they hadn't charged us for one of our fries and for two of our drinks. And they charged $.50 for tomato, which we never did figure out. With my co-worker's dish on the house (thanks to the manager who finally brought her the corrected meal), our check was about $20 less than it should have been. This place really needs to pull it together.
(2)
Jenn S.

The Counter is great for gourmet burgers. There are SO many options to make the burger your own - the sky is the limit. We LOVE their 50/50 fries, which are half shoe string fries, and half sweet potato fries. DELISH! I don't know what the sauce is that they serve to dip them in, but it's so tasty! Getting a burger and splitting the fries is a LOT of food, usually too much for me to finish. The place is always packed. It is a little on the pricey side as far as burgers go, but they are gourmet/build-your-own.
(4)
Jon R.

Let's get down to business... Food - 4.5 These are definitely tasty burgers. Is it the best burger I've ever had? I don't think so, but it's damn close. You have some great choices with toppings and condiments, and I really love the fact that they're not swimming in grease like some other burger places (i.e. Five Guys). The meat is always very juicy and tender, and it's cooked just right. For the price, it's just about what you might expect from a decent "build your own burger" place. Also, you MUST try the sweet fries. They're fantastic! Service - 5 The service here is always really great. The manager (might be an owner) is always out on the floor greeting customer, seating customers, and just being an all around personable guy. The first time we ever went there he gave us some free sweet fries just so we could try them out. The servers are young, friendly, and...well...certainly above average in looks (depending on your taste I suppose). When it's all said and done, the wait staff really adds a lot to the visit. Atmosphere - 4.5 I really love the classic yet contemporary style of the joint. Being a musician, I love all the music based art work lining the walls (and the random one with jets...love it). The place is all hard surfaces, but it doesn't get too loud. I'd say it's a great environment to go out with your coworkers or your buddies. I wouldn't really recommend it for a date. I will definitely be going back here over the next few months seeing as how it's near the office. If you're in RTC want a burger, go to the Counter.
(5)
Dottsy Z.

The Counter is a cute little restaurant to grab a burger that a few steps above fast food or a chain's burger. I had the pleasure of visiting The Counter on a "brunch" visit. We were given an order sheet to check off of what type of burger we wanted, with what cheese, and what toppings and what kind of fries we wanted. Since I was in a "breakfasty" mood, I ordered an egg on top of my burger and to be served with an English muffin. My food arrived and it was good! I was disappointed that my over-easy egg was over cooked ...A LOT, but I continued with my meal. I noticed that the patty was lightly seasoned and they were generous with all the toppings. My visit to The Counter was A-Ok with a solid burger and solid service.
(3)
B H.

Where else can you go to eat burgers and feel like you're being healthy? The choice of meats and toppings seems endless (every year at the various Reston festivals, they have a different one to sample and I have never been disappointed) and you make your own burgers. The turkey burgers are especially good and have a nice smokiness to them. The grilled vegetables are a great side as are the fries (the sweet potato ones are my favorite).
(4)
Scott S.

This is my second time to a Counter location (other was CA). Massive turkey burger and sweet potato fries pretty much ruled my afternoon yesterday. The toppings were spot-on and the spicy mayo hit the spot. Prices were reasonable and the service was friendly.
(4)
Daniel H.

I got a coupon in the mail for the mail for a buy one-get one burger bowl so I gave it a shot. My Mom and I went there for a late lunch on a Saturday. There wasn't a wait and we were seated with clipboards to mark up our order Foster's Grille style. Our waiter was attentive and quick to answer any questions we had marking up our order. The number of toppings and meats one could put on their burger were impressive. We only had a few minutes to remark on the wall art when two burger salads the size of the average Cheesecake Factory entree arrived at the table. The burgers were cooked perfectly, the greens were fresh and the toppings did not taste like they were out all day. All in all, it's a great place to grab a bite. Being in Reston, they have a full bar; they even have alcoholic milkshakes! The beer list is huge too, anything from PBR to Chimay. Wine and burgers never quite got along the way beer does so the wine selection is less impressive. The restaurant itself seems to be confused in its decor. It's industrial, green, and retro; on occasion this has worked, but not quite over here. The chairs are metal, solid metal. They do a great job keeping your butt cold in summer, but they are a bit solid.
(4)
John K.

I have been eating here since it opened a couple years back. There is a good selection of burgers and toppings on the menu, including chicken and a surprisingly tasty veggie patty. I usually go with the chicken, jalapenos, hot wing sauce, lettuce, and cucumbers. The sweet potato fries are excellent - the best I have ever had. Service is hit or miss - some servers are definitely better than others, but I have never had any major problems. A good little drink selection. Give the alcohol shakes a try. The Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap is cold and fresh. This is a great place to eat during the warm months when the outdoor seating is open.
(4)
Sami W.

This place is amazing. You design/build your own burger. The menu is a check off list of the different kinds of meat (beef, chicken, turkey, veggie) breads (hamburger bun, multigrain, english muffin, onion bun) , cheeses (12 kinds including, blue, cheddar, brie, Gruyere...) , sauces, and condiments. There is a huge variety of items, you spend a good 10 minutes designing how you want your burger. Our waiter was very friendly and knew his menu very well. I wish they open one in the Boston area.
(5)
Colleen M.

Whoever decided to have Brie as a burger topping is amazing! I love the Counter. Every time I go there the service is friendly and super fast. It's a bit expensive...a 1/3 pounder will set you back $8, but that's honestly not much more than a "gourmet" burger at a chain restaurant that's not nearly as good. Best place to eat in Reston Town Center, in my opinion.
(4)
Marjee C.

I agree with other posters that the fries are amazing and I find the condiment/toppig selections to be very compelling (and have visited the restaurant multiple times eager to try new varieties, I also want to add that the the Vegetarian patties are EPIC, truly the very best in the DC metro area. Honestly, I think those of you ordering meat patties are missing out. The only reason I can't give the full five stars is because sometimes the service is a little "meh." That said, this is a must for vegetarians or anyone who wants to know the joy of a paradigm-shifting veggie patty.
(4)
Sunny C.

I don't normally like burgers, but I had the best burger of my life here. Food: I decided to concoct my own burger. Although the toppings I chose didn't normally go together in a meal, it worked out rather perfectly, and I look forward to eating here again. I had the burger with a veggie patty topped with bacon (yes, I did), baby spinach, dried cranberries, roasted corn and bean salsa, and sharp chedd\ar on a multigrain bun with whipped avocado on the side. The taste and texture were perfect and paired together very nicely. The Parmesan french fries as an appetizer was too cheesy/salty, but the texture was perfect. The fries are very thin, allowing for increased surface area, resulting in a more crispy french fry. Mind you, the burger can be pretty big when it comes out, so it can get a bit messy. Recommend cutting it in half and proceeding to eat from there. Atmosphere: Nicely decorated and spacious seating. Service: Prompt and attentive. Bottom line: I will return here when given the opportunity.
(5)
Jennifer S.

I've heard so much about these burgers and was so happy to be able to check it out today at lunch! I love the concept of build your own gourmet burger - turkey burger with honey mustard, brie and grilled onions = delicious! The french fries were amazingly addictive too. This place is definitely worth a stop!
(4)
Robert S.

In my ever continuing quest to find and consume the best burger around The Counter is near the top. A burger is all about the Beef and theirs is high quality and being able to get it cooked any temp (Med Rare for me) is a necessity. I always keep it simple when building mine, cheddar cheese, pickles and bacon on a plain bun. The service here is always good as well, they are friendly and knowledgeable. In conclusion this is always a place I go when I am in the area.
(5)
Iain B.

I just got some take-out today for lunch. When I got back to the office I found that they did a nice job of packaging the burger for transport, it was in a large cardboard clamshell ala McD's and the top of the bun was off to the side so it wouldn't get soggy in transit. They also put the fries into a chili/soup-type container which kept them nice and warm. The burger was good but the fries were super, super salty- so salty that I ended up throwing most of them out. They get 4 stars for good packaging, a good burger and I would have eaten all the fries if I wasn't watching my blood pressure, lol.
(4)
Robert L.

Good ingredients, cool music on rotation, decent but not great beer selection I sat at the bar and ordered a burger with sweet potato fries. The fries were so-so; clearly this place is all about the burgers. The ordering process is straightforward; you just fill out a paper form with all the options. I got a beef burger with fried onion straws, swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and barbecue sauce. The sauce is a little too sweet and lacking in depth, but good. The beef was a perfect medium/medium rare. The swiss was tart, and I could actually taste it in every bite. Similarly, the bacon was flavorful and substantial enough to be tasted in each bite, a rare occurrence I find. I got the multigrain bun, which was actually a bit dry. Overall the burgers are great and everything else is just good. If you're in the mood for a burger, it's a solid choice.
(4)
Samantha W.

With all of the pop-up burger shops nowadays, you never know which ones you can trust. Well, I'm vouching for The Counter when I say you can trust their stuff! I'm not super adventurous when it comes to my burgers, so you'll have to impress me with the basics. I didn't want to get over-zealous w/ my topping choices, so I ordered a turkey burger w/ provolone, sprouts, red onions and lettuce. Perfection. For those who are a little more adventurous than me, The Counter has a lot of different toppings options at your disposal. All three of us got something different and all three of us were in nom-ville. A big hit here is the sweet potato fries (I, myself, am not a fan of sweet potato) so I ordered a side of regular fries for myself. They were shoestring and seasoned w/ just a tad of cajun spice. Our meals came out to about $11 each for burgers and fries. Come here if you want good quality burgers at modest prices.
(4)
H N.

Great service. Good food. Love their sweet potato fries.
(4)
Cheryl T.

Let me preface the 3 star rating with I will be following up to re-review after I go again. We got the parmesan fries - which were delish, but VERY oily!! Originally I wasn't a fan of how they bring them out before your burgers, but because of the seasoning, they were more like an appetizer than fries I would eat with a cheesburger. So when my burger came, and I tried to pair the two, it was not a good combo. Next time I am going to do the half and half of fries and onion strings. I got the horseradish cheddar cheese, and was worried about pairing a sauce with it because I thought it would have such a strong taste. Well I don't know if they accidentally gave me regular cheddar or not, but there was zero horseradish taste! All in all, the burger was good, albeit less greasy than I usually like. Looking forward to going back to try different toppings!
(3)
Page L.

I have been to the counter all of three times. The first time my waiter was a very kind person, but the food I ordered was wrong and the burger over cooked and dry. The second time I went the I only ordered fries and beverage and it was good. So the third time I go I order a medium burger, and the gentleman behind the counter says that it will be pink in the middle and I agree upon those terms and pay for my food. However when it came out it was literally dripping blood, when I tried to return the burger he let me know that he had 'warned me' and I did not get a refund and had a nasty case (which I could only assume was) food poisoning for the next couple days (and I only had a bite of the burger!). So in conclusion, there fries are to die for yummy, there service is decent (aside from that one server), and the rest of the food is over priced and tasteless.
(1)
Sergio J.

Bad service, waited for 10 minutes for somebody to hand me a menu, or offer drinks, but nobody seemed to care, and the restaurant was not busy at all. Having so many options in Reston, we decided to leave.
(1)
Meg G.

This is a smallish restaurant in the Reston Town Center. It is quite popular, and there is often a wait at peak meal times. I've dined here about 5 times since it opened in 2009, and I have to say, I just don't get the big deal about this place. It is kind of cool that you can make your own burger, but for the prices, I don't find it that good. That may be because I don't eat beef, so I get the turkey burger or chicken..but still, the turkey burger is no different than I can make at home. That said, I've never had a horrible issue with service there. I've been a couple times with a large-ish group (~10 people)..they've handled our group fine considering the small space. Also, their sweet potato fries are THE BOMB! I'm giving this place two stars. I'm not much a fan of their burgers..and unfortch, sweet potato fries don't make a satisfying dinner.
(2)
Stephanie O.

Love the lettuce bowls! I almost always get a turkey burger in a lettuce bowl because there's no gluten free bun. The portion is HUGE - and even though the menu selections look great I've never been able to pass up creating my own burger. They seriously have so many toppings to choose from. Also love the fries - especially the half regular / half sweet potato order. All in all great burger and fun place for a casual dinner or to take friends and family visiting from out of town. My only recommendation - get a gluten free bun! Pleaseeeeeee.
(4)
Gurkie C.

Counter Burger has a good home made veggie burger with some odd ingredients such as cranberries but I am not complaining because the veggie burger really comes together. To me what they are all about is the toppings, you can pick 4 standard toppings a cheese and a sauce for the base price, otherwise you can add more which increases the cost. I tend to order roasted green chile, roasted red pepper, grilled onions, and tomato. They have some toppings which cost more, such as grilled mushrooms but they have fun ones at the regular price. The burgers themselves do not come with fries or any other accouterments. However you can order a "single order" of fries or onion straws for an inexpensive price and get a nice side. Watchout though if you dont ask for a single order you might end up with a lot more than you bargained for (on the check and how much food you want.)
(4)
Stacy K.

The food at best is mediocre. We got the fries and onion straw combo which came out cold and before our burgers. We like to eat our sides with our burgers. The fries and onion straws are so thin they are difficult to eat with your fingers. The staff: The gray haired guy behind the bar, maybe the bar manager?, is completely spastic. He would bop over "is it the best burger you've ever had?" He must have placed the wrong appetizer order for a group at the end of the bar which was pricier than what they ordered. Instead of him being gracious and leaving the bigger better order he took the food back to the kitchen and on his way he knocked over a bottle of chocolate sauce, like a petulant child. The manager is a real piece of work! A young kid was behind the counter and the manager belittled him and cursed at him, yes...all within earshot of customers. This was the most uncomfortable dining experience I've had outside of my inlaws(hahahahahahahah). Needless to say our bill was comped and we will NEVER eat there again!
(1)
Sars L.

You can choose whatever you want to be on your burger! And they have so many options! The sweet potato fries are great, and the regular fries are thin and crispy (which I love also). Sometimes I get the turkey burger because it's not as greasy, but it's a little dry & sometimes salty. Anyway, I'm usually too full after eating the whole burger to finish the fries too, so I recommend sharing the fries! If you can go during a nice day, they have outdoor seating! It gets kinda packed so going during off-hours will minimize waiting time. Good for a couple, seating kind of sucks for groups.
(4)
Rawley V.

Very good burgers, and enough toppings to really allow you to mix it up. The fried onion "strings" make a great appetizer. Even at $10 a burger, given the fixins, it's a value pick.
(4)
Jessica P.

This is my favorite burger place in the area. You can customize every aspect of the burger, from toppings to bread to having it on a salad. The "burger in a bowl" is a great idea, the flavor of a burger with the guilt-free feeling of a salad, especially when you opt for a turkey burger with lots of veggies. The chili cheese fries are to die for, the sweet potato fries are also pretty delicious. The outdoor patio is great in the summer for people watching, never a dull moment. We bring picky friends and family here and everyone always leaves happy. Overall, if you are at the Reston Town Center and looking for a relaxing, reasonably priced and delicious dinner, I would certainly recommend the counter.
(5)
Peter K.

Why yes I'd like to have CHIMAY with my BURGER. Enough said. This place is incredible. They serve burgers ANY way you want them: meat: turkey/beef/veggie buns: whole wheat/potato/lots of other options. You know how some places advertise that their menu options give you 16,000 different possible combinations? Well, that's actually possible here because you have incredible add-ons like mango chutney, fried onions, arugula, dried cranberries. Basically everything you like + stuff you would never imagine applying to a burger but actually tastes orgasmic. They could stop there, but their sweet potato fries are also fried to chewontheinside-crunchyontheoutside perfection. Oh, and the chocolate shakes are the best shakes I have ever had, period. Read my reviews, I don't get this positive that often. My only critique is that I'm putting on weight. Prepare to wait at least ten minutes during peak hours. [Beer Notes: Bottled Sam Adams, Chimay, Leffe, etc. A few more on tap, I don't remember what.]
(5)
Sean L.

To Die For Burger Recently I've been obsessed with this Custom Built Burgers from The Counter thecounterburger.com/menu at Reston Town Center My Deadly combination is 1. 1/3lb of medium rare beef on an onion bun 2. with SPICY Jalapeno Jack cheese & 3. more SPICY Jalapenos (hot, hot & hot!), Grilled Onions, Lettuce Blend & Coleslasw (to balance the hot spicy) & 4. lovely sauteed mushrooms & 5. garnish with Steak Sauce then Voila ! c'est le meilleur burger jamais bonus, SUPER creamy pistachio gelato from Pitango Gelato is right next door :) pitangogelato.com/locatiâ€¦
(5)
Jake A.

Food is ok- however prices are a little high for what they deliver. Carryout takes forever, even for call-ahead orders. Food comes luke-warm and soggy (esp the fries). Right down the street, you get a better burger and far superior fry for less $$ at Be Right Burger.
(2)
Michael M.

Since I would say this is the best burger place, I can only compare each visit to the previous one. Well, this was just as expected. Fantastic! The burger was once again 5 stars. This time I tried the cheese fries to go along with it. I loved them. The only thing I would recommend is that they layer them fries, cheese, fries, cheese. This way the fries on the bottom would get some cheese. There was a banana split shake on the menu this time. It was good but not as good as the peanut butter shake. Keep doing what you're doing.
(5)
Yelly A.

Took off 1 star for pricing...because $9 for a plan burger without cheese and with no "premium" or extra toppings is a bit ridic. I got my 1/3 lbs with very light toppings (tomato, cucumber, pickles, scallions) so that I could actually evaluate the burger patty itself. The meat was DELICIOUS! Wayyyy better than Good Stuff (over-rated). I'm on a diet at the moment so I had it on an english muffin. I recommend that combo even if you're not calorie counting. Also appreciated the fact that they had plain seltzer water as a free refill option :) The sauces come on the side; I didn't get one but I thought it was important to mention! TL; DR Best-tasting burger I've had in the DC area, but too pricey to go too often.
(4)
Andrew D.

The Counter serves good burgers for reasonable prices and has outdoor seating. The vegi burger is amazing and not something I would ever normally order, but sometimes do here. The Counter is much better than the other option in the town center BRB which serves you frozen patties for similar prices.
(5)
Jarrett B.

I went here with Steve L. a few nights ago and I was pleasantly surprised...probably because I'm a big cynic and when I see a burger joint in the suburbs decorated to look like a trendy NYC spot...I get nervous. I think the real saving grace here was that we ordered our burgers to go - the line was chaotic and long and the restaurant was really crowded. Still, despite the crowd, it at least seemed to me like the staff was managing to hold it all together...but, seriously, it was chaos. Go for walk while you wait for your food! I am a big fan of having interesting blends of flavors and toppings on my burgers and this place definitely delivered on that front. There were actually so many options that it was a little overwhelming - but overwhelming in a mouth-watering sort of way, not in an intimidating sort of way. I ended up going in a sort of French bistro direction with gruyere cheese, grilled onions and a dijon vinaigrette. Everything was fresh and delicious - just be sure to order your burger medium, not scorched. For the record, if you are the kind of person that thinks it's gross to order a burger medium and still a little pink, you are probably also the kind of person that won't appreciate the novel ingredient choices on the menu or the price tag that comes with it all.
(4)
Robert T.

One of the 5 best burgers you can get in the DC area, IMHO. You can get it many different ways (cheese, toppings, etc), but the classic Tillamook Cheddar and lettuce, tomato, and [choose your own sauce] is sure to be top shelf. Fries (sweet and regular) and onion straws are very tasty. Place is located in a fun place in Reston Town Center, and good for beers/sports, too. Frequent Visitor since Jan 2011.
(4)
S H.

Pretty good burgers- may want to skip the veggie burger since it's held together with rice. Portions of sides are huge. It's probably best to order one for two or more.
(3)
Kimberly W.

Ate an early dinner here on Saturday. My second or third time at The Counter, but I don't think I'll be back. The burgers are decent (and the sweet potato fries are amazing), but the service has always been so terrible. This time took the cake. When my burger arrived, it was missing 2 of the 4 toppings I ordered on it. We waited 5 minutes for our server to make an appearance somewhere in the dining room and then I got up and asked the host to find her for us. It still took her several minutes to show up at our table. When I very politely mentioned that my burger was missing grilled onions and cheese, she got out my order sheet in an attempt to argue with me! When she saw that I was right, she went back to the kitchen and came out a few minutes later with a cup of grilled onions and a piece of cold cheese. By this time my burger was barely warm. Who wants to eat cold cheese on a lukewarm burger? Gross. I should have pushed to speak with a manager, but by this time I just wanted to leave. Can't believe I paid $9 for the few bites of the burger I had. It's a great concept and the food is pretty good, but the service keeps ruining it for me. Too bad.
(2)
Chris D.

The burgers are pretty good but expect them to forget atleast one topping on your order. Last time I went the group next to us were charged for fries they never received. Luckily my fries arrived with my burger but was missing the obligatory topping. I used to really like their chili cheese fries but the last few times they changed their chili recipe and now it tastes like it came out of a big family sized costco can. I will be going back but only when I have to lol... I really miss Fuddruckers and Ted's Montana Grill
(3)
Lydia B.

Who doesn't love a good burger joint? And this place makes sure they have something for everyone. They even have a Vegetarian burger. So the concept is upscale build your own burgers. You get a checkoff list of everything they have and you build your burger how you want. You start by deciding your protein (beef, chicken, veggie, etc.) and the size you want (1/3, 2/3, 1 pound) and whether you want it on a bun or in a bowl. Then you pick what kind of cheese you want. Then on to toppings (so many to choose from, but 4 are included in the price) and then gourmet toppings (fried egg, onion straws, and avacado are among the choices) which are extra. Then you pick your sauce and kind of bun. They also have some specials in each category too (the night we went Ahi Tuna was special protein). I ended up with 1/3 pound (which was more then enough) beef burger with blue cheese, onion straws, scallions and steak sauce on a regular bun (special bun that night was onion, but they were out). I also had a rootbeer float (one of my friends asked if I was 5, I said "yes" when it comes to rootbeer floats...yummy!), but they have a pretty good beer selection which is what everyone else had. We also got for the table fried pickles, french fries, sweet potatoe fries and onion straws (there was 6 of us). All were really good and came with fun dipping sauces. Our waiter was really good and very patient. Several of us had a hard time deciding what to put on our burgers because there are so many options. My only negative is the decor is a lttle sterile and the chairs aren't very comfy. It was also a little chilly in there. I also make sure you listen to the waiter when ordering temp. on your burger. I ordered mine medium rare and he said that is a cool red center. I said okay because typically restaurants over cook their meat, but I would say he was right and my burger was a little rarer then I usually eat, but it was tasty so no complaints because he warned me.
(4)
Courtney C.

We were at the Reston Wine Festival on Saturday and tanks to yelp, we stopped here for lunch after our wine tasting. Seating outside was somewhat uncomfortable and a little dirty on a windy day, but it was too nice out not to sit outside. My husband ordered the 1/2 lb beef burger medium well with pepper jack cheese, avocado and aolli on a bun. He loved it and is a very picky burger eater. I ordered the 1/3 lb chicken burger with grilled pineapple, organic greens, tomato and a ginger soy glaze on an english muffin. I was disappointed. The chicken was delicious, the pineapple looked like canned tiny pineapple rounds, the tomato was great, 4 tiny baby greens were not enough and the glaze was so watery and served on the side. It was not impressive in any way. I have been craving an english muffin for weeks but this one did nothing but disappoint. barely toasted, very chewy, and stale tasting. I ended up not eating it after a few bites. We also ordered the 50/50 fries and sweet potato fries which were great, when we finally got them towards the end of our meal. The service was lacking and the price was a little on the high side for the quality of my food. It wasn't bad and maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but with so many restaurants nearby, I would try another place before returning here.
(3)
samantha v.

decent burgers with lots of funky toppings and I like the skinny fries cause they don't fill you up and yet you can satisfy the craving but ultimately the only thing worth coming for are the "grown up" milk shakes. I would come in the winter but those awful metal chairs are so cold and they don't serve any coffee/tea so not ideal for this time of year. service is always decent.
(3)
Crystal C.

I don't eat cheeseburgers very often but this place was definitely a treat. The cheeseburger was awesome. They have the best sweet potato fries I've ever eaten. The atmosphere and menu is simple; it's a 'build-a-burger' place. They give you a simple list of the type of meat, bread, cheese, toppings, 'extra' toppings and condiments to choose from. There's so much choice!. My friends and I all opted to add a fried egg to our burger. We loved it! The service was not great and I wondered if it's because we didn't order drinks but the food was so good I would definitely go back.
(4)
D C.

Would NOT go back! No excuse for these problems: 1) Terribly overpriced for the quality of food. Burger had zero taste, came out overcooked and barely room temperature; plus fries were cold 2) service was just as poor, waitress never came back to ask how food was, nor apologize for bringing out cold food 3) the music playing was just plain awful 4) place was empty, I can't understand why service and food was so bad; all staff was just standing around the bar yapping.
(1)
Bro H.

Pretty good burgers, hilariously bad service. The hostess (Manager? If she's not a manager, she should be) was the only person to pay attention to us for the hour+ we were in the restaurant. We spent maybe 5 minutes filling out our order forms, 15 minutes sitting there with filled out order forms and no drinks, and five minutes holding the order forms out over the isle as waiters and waitresses brushed against them and ignored us. Eventually, we had to walk up to the hostess stand and hand in our orders. The hostess was apologetic and comped us some free sodas (some six dollar beers would have been nice, but, alright). Our burgers came out after we'd been sitting there for 45 or so minutes, and they were good, but below par for the course for a 10 dollar burger (I prefer both Ray's and BGR). There was no option on the order form for how you want your burger cooked, and mine came out on the well side of medium, which definitely should not be the default. I enjoyed the nice crust on the burger, but I would have happily sacrificed it for a properly cooked burger. Also, my buddy ordered a 2/3 pound burger and got a 1/3 pound burger. We went because we had a buy one get one free coupon (a direct promotion mailed to us from the restaurant, not from a coupon book or anything), and knowing how bad the service had been already, we were skeptical they'd even honor it. They certainly tried not to. We meet our waiter for the first time after being in the restaurant close to an hour, and I hand him the coupon and he says "I'll take care of it." He doesn't take care of it, and I have to flag down the hostess to point it out. He then comes back, hands me the same receipt, and says "it's taken care of." I flag down the hostess again, and she grabs him and he scoffs at me and says "well I took care of it, but I didn't want to print out a new receipt." Uh. In the end, we were told not to worry about a tip (I was gonna hand it directly to the hostess, who actually deserved a tip, but she intentionally didn't bring me change for my ten, so I couldn't). Still, one person can't run an entire restaurant, and that seemed to be the M.O. at Counter Burger. No chance I would pay full price here.
(2)
Lindsey M.

Loved the food. Loved the service. And I even loved the music. Food was hot and came fairly fast. Wanted dessert but I was so full I had to pass although I did try some of my husbands shake which was amazing as well. I will defiantly be coming back here, and will also make all my friends come too!!!!
(5)
Matt D.

Awesome burgers made to specification. True to the original out in CA. I'd recommend the turkey taco with half sweet potato fries, half onion rings. And, if you have space after cramming all that food down, definitely get an apple pie milkshake. Mmmmmmm. One word of warning, however: it's not where google maps says it is! The address points you to a McCormack and Shmicks. They must deal with the confusion a lot, though, because the very friendly maitre d' walked us out and pointed us back down the street. Instead of turning left on democracy drive, turn right. It's on your right.
(4)
Ben A.

Awesome place, you go in and fill out a sheet with all the glorious options for your burger creation. Things I have tried that are good: - Sweet potato fries & parmesan fries - Great Danish blue cheese - Awesome BBQ sauce
(5)
Shevonne P.

The kids and I went there to meet a dear friend. We sat there for about 15 minutes, and no one attended us. My friend got the waitress attention, and she seemed overly annoyed for some reason. After five minutes of waiting for her to return, we gave her our orders. She was half listening the entire time, so we had to repeat our orders like three times. My friend wanted a specific steak sauce, and he was asking if the one they have is the one he likes. She looked at him perplexed and rudely asked, "You don't know what steak sauce is?" I was amused that this girl, who obviously didn't want to be a waitress, was working there. The reason I gave it two out of five stars was because the food was pretty awesome. My burger with cheddar cheese, ailoli sauce, multigrain bun, and salsa was delicious. The crispy onions were good too. They forgot a spoon for my daughter's applesauce twice. I asked another waitress to bring some, and we still didn't get it. We had to ask twice for refills, and the waitress responded, "Oh, I forgot the first time cause I was busy over there." Note to waiters cause this is like the third time this has happened to me: Sometimes honesty is NOT the best policy. I don't want to hear that you just didn't care to do your job and expect me to feel any sympathy for you. Another thing about this place we noticed is that there were no lights that came on when it got dark. We are eating outside. The restaurant across from it did, but at The Counter, you were eating in the dark. This place has potential, but their wait staff and lack of lighting is killing it.
(2)
Kilani W.

good place, casual, delicious burger !
(3)
Victoria S.

Mmmmm. Veggie Burgers! In Reston TC for the second weekend in a row for the Oktoberfest. Our tummies were a'growlin' so we headed to Counter Burger - the hip [you guessed it] burger place. Where you order your burger with a check list of what you want. Pretty cool, dude. I ordered the homemade veggie burger (not Boca or Morningstar) with jalepeno cheddar, tomato, pickle, mixed greens and ranch. And of course a side of cheesey fries. YUM! Great stuff. We sat at the bar and had beers with our burgers and loved every minute. Staff was supper friendly and hipster-ready. I would def go back. Hope they open one in my area. Prices are a bit more than Fuddruckers but it's a little more upscale for a burger place. Also, they don't use styrofoam - I HATE styrofoam with a passion.
(4)
Blaire R.

Met friends for dinner - we all thought what we got was incredible. First of all, the kids meal is HUGE, I mean it's really an adult meal with a kids meal price. Got my daughter the ham and cheese. It was real ham (not cheap cold cuts) smothered in cheese on a full-sized sandwich. My husband had the bison burger which was on special and ate every bit of it. Generally, I am not a burger person, but I made my own 2/3 pounder (which is HUGE, btw) and ate until I physically ached. And really, the pricing is fair - since I didn't get cheese on my burger, she gave me some extra toppings, so my burger ended up being $11 or $12 which is really good for the size and quality. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Nitin S.

Great burgers with lots of choice. I try to go at least once a week.
(5)
Ryan E.

Friday evening, I expected the place to be pretty busy. In all reality, not too bad. We had about a 20 minute wait and we were able to choose our burger ingredients while we waited. The 'build your own burger' concept is good, but I think executing it can be difficult. A piece of paper and a crayon is not exactly what I had in mind, not to mention in the end all you do is hand it to your waiter when you're seated. Seems like this could be stream-lined a little bit so the wait isn't so bad. After all, the place isn't that big inside, so I think they could benefit from that. Inside is nice. Clean, sort of a new-age diner feel to it. A decent beer and wine selection, which was refreshing to see at a burger joint. The server came and took our orders quickly enough, but our drinks were delivered to us just barely before our food. My burger was beef, 2/3 lb, which I ordered medium. It came more medium-rare, which from other reviews I've read, seems to be the trend. More rare than desired. Now, I don't mind this, but for others who are more particular I can understand how this could be an annoying turnoff. For cheese, toppings, and sauce on the burger, I chose horseradish cheddar, grilled onion, roasted corn and black bean salsa, sprouts, tomato, avocado, and honey cured bacon, with the southwest caesar dressing. I know, I decided to go light..... I'm on a diet, OK!?!? All this with a side of regular fries. The wait for the food was average, no complaints there. My burger was actually really really good. Besides being more rare than I wanted it, the ingredients were fresh and flavorful, including the avodaco - which really makes a burger for me when paired with crisp bacon. The southwest caesar sauce was tangy, had a nice punch to it, and complemented the burger well with the crunchy corn and bean salsa. Overall, I really enjoyed the food - 4 stars. Service was not good. After we were done eating, it took 15 mins from them to clear the plates and deliver checks. After we gave them our credit cards for the checks, another 15 min wait. My buddy also asked twice to get his soda refilled, once to our server, once to the manager. It was never filled - 2 stars. Total - 3 stars. Good food, service needs improvement.
(3)
Christina C.

I found this place through Yelp and what a great find! Been here twice and never disappointed with the food. Both times I had a lettuce bowl, once with chicken and the other time with turkey. I like creating my own "burger bowl"--cool concept and a fresh change from a burger. My fiancÃ© had a burger (which of course I had to try) and it was delicious. Also had the parmesan cheese fries, which are delicious. Service was a bit dicey both times we went. First time, we sat at a table and it took about 15 mins to get the check. No drink refill. Second time, we sat at the bar and the bartender/waiter was more concerned with the girls next to us than asking for drink refills/how the meal was (again, no refill until I asked another waiter for help who was more than helpful). Maybe the servers we had both times were just really out of it? The Counter is good but I do think they need to iron out some service kinks if they are going to be a sit-down restaurant. I will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Carol P.

Enjoyed the burger in a bowl nice idea will try at home. Some of the premium toppings could have been included for the price of the burger. Liked the corn salsa and onion straws.
(4)
Nguyen V.

Bring your ear plugs as you will need that more than your appetite. The music is so loud that you will not be able to hear yourself think. You better hope the wait staff is able to hear your order and get it right. The Counter tries way too hard to reinvent the burger that it actually tastes anything other than a burger. The food is average and not what you will pay for. Just about the only thing that is decent is the fries. For the money they charge for each specialty burger and sanwiches, you will come out there asking yourself "That's it?" Burgers are small and garnishes are very small. I had one tomato slice and two cucumber slices that were so thin, you could see through it. Also, my burger came bland as it was not seasoned. Save yourself the money, your hearing and time and go somewhere that you can enjoy your burger and enjoy your company.
(1)
Ruth C.

I should've parked towards the back side of RTC, but it was a nice night out for the stroll... up until the part where the parking garage fire alarm went off for 10 minutes while we were perched on the benches outside, waiting for our food and staring at random dog dishes sitting outside Mon Ami Gabi across the walkway. Two tvs on different channels over the bar, one showing some bowling tournament from the 80s. Service was kind of terrible, to be honest; a bunch of the waitstaff were chit chatting by the register, one girl in the dining group in front of us wandered into the back area to talk up her waitress friend, and I kinda had to pull some 'tude to place our order to go. Then they forgot the pickle chips on White Dragon's burger. Which is hilarious because it took him 2 minutes longer than me to fill out the form, not because he's indecisive, but because he was shading in each bubble carefully like he was still taking the GREs. Blank cardboard boxes were cute. The waitress had said that the beef burgers tended to be done medium, but once we bit in the patties were definitely medium-rare to rare. Which was okay for me, and surprisingly okay for White Dragon, but I'm sure other customers would have a screaming fit over this discrepancy. 1/3 lb was plenty of meat for us. Dill pickle chips were pleasantly crunchy but I'd probably pass them over next time. I really liked the sprouts and gruyere, and found the grilled onions and pineapple acceptable, the latter of which was presented with nice sear lines on a hearty quarter-inch slice. Given my chosen components, I'm glad I went for the sturdy mutigrain wheat bun. The sauces were packaged separately to keep the burger from getting excessively soggy, though the wonderful meat juices that ran down my arm gave our napkin load a run for its money. My basil pesto was pretty boring as far as pestos go, but sufficient for changing the flavor dynamic of my bites. Wouldn't get the sweet potato fries here again-- super bland, stuck to its foil nest, and the horseradish mayo sauce it comes with didn't really save it.
(3)
ap m.

The Counter Burger. Yeah, the premise is pretty cool- you come in and get to customize your own burger, lots of toppings, etc..etc.. But they also have specialty burgers that you can order. The Counter Burger. 1/3 beef (which they cooked perfectly to what I wanted- not too pink, not too dark), onion rings, cheese, grilled mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, and dipping sauce- all between two buns. I'm drooling just thinking about it. Very juicy burger, very good portions of onion rings and mushrooms. The sweet potato fries and the sauce were bomb. Had this for lunch and it took a while to be ordered, cooked and ready for carry out, but pretty understandable considering they are cooking big beef back there. They need to open a restaurant closer to DC METRO area.
(4)
Randy M.

Went for a work lunch this week. Service was quick, we were in and out in about 40 minutes, this was at 11:30. We got an order of 50-50 fries for the table and we each ordered a burger. My 1/3 lb burger was excellent, pink all the way through. I didnt get any toppings out of the ordinary but they were fresh and of good quality. You pay a little more to get a burger at the counter but its a nice break from the normal burger joints. Not much of a greeting and there was a lot of goofing around at the hostess stand, which is right in the middle of the seating area. When leaving there were no less than 4 employees socializing at the stand.
(4)
Bethany R.

Went back a few weeks ago for a vegetarian friend's birthday and tried the veggie patty. For a happy meat eater, it was surprising how good it was. It seemed very messy and hard to keep together, but the flavor was something amazing, not like the usual trying to impersonate meat fake patty. I might even order than myself once!
(5)
Shadi S.

This is my favorite place for my burger-fix in the Herndon/Reston area. Evidently it's a Chicago chain and one of Oprah's favorites as well? I've gone enough to earn myself a frequent-flier card. And subsequently a weight problem (I kid, I kid). If you're looking for something that's not greasy (I see you, Five Guys) and neither dry nor tasteless (looking at you, BRB), then you'll like The Counter - their turkey burgers are flavorful and juicy. I usually like to build-my-own (1/3 turkey with greens/feta/tzatsiki) and I FIEND for the parmesan string-fries. Don't miss out on those and if you're in the mood, check out their fried pickles and/or milkshakes! Yummmmm. I have yet to expand my selection and try other things but why change something so good when you found it?? Give them a shot if you haven't already.
(4)
Chunnu B.

Well deserving of 3.5 stars. It's a good thing The Counter has an extensive list of toppings for your burger because those are the only things saving them. What I mean to say is, that if you only had a bun and some meat this review would plummet down to a 2 stars. The Counter is a custom burger restaurant in Reston Town Center with a very modern look (aluminum chairs, white tables, high ceiling) and a very friendly and welcoming staff. Cool points to them, they also have a bar where they...make adult milkshakes! We had an alcohol-free chocolate milkshake which was pretty good, could've been better but, still pretty good. So here's the thing with their burgers, like I mentioned before, if it weren't for their extensive list of toppings the burger itself would've been pretty bland. With that said, the options they have for toppings are pretty great. I customized my burger with 1/3 lb beef (you have the option to chose: chicken, turkey, or a veggie patty as well!), horseradish cheddar cheese, jalapenos, sprouts, pickles, scallions, with their spicy mayo (which they serve with their fries, just a huge f.y.i. for those who try to avoid mayo...) all on a multi-grain bun (other options include regular bun, onion, and English muffin.) With my given options, I think this was as spicy as I could get it. As for the fries, get the best of both worlds by ordering a plate of 1/2 sweet potato and 1/2 regular fries - they were everything french fries should be (except, well, French.) Maybe not my first pick of the many restaurants in RTC but it is definitely where I will be headed when I need an adult milkshake and some fries.
(3)
Peter M.

Pretty darn good burgers. I like the ordering system where you check the boxes for what you want to order. No reason not to get what you want. It was crowded on the summer night we stopped in and had to wait about 25 minutes and it was well worth it. The onion strings were quite tasty and the 50/50 fry platter was big enough for two adults to share. I didn't like the add on price for the "premium toppings" like bacon or fried egg, but not horribly expensive. Would hit The Counter again if I was passing through or visiting the area.
(4)
Jessica K.

I kind of like this concept... Building your own burger. I got the 1/3 turkey burger on a multigrain bun with jalapeno jack cheese, organic mixed greens, sprouts, sauteed mushrooms, and chipotle aioli sauce. along with the fifty-fifty fries/sweet potato fries. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The burger was really good, the bun was good! Whenever I crave a burger, I'm coming here.
(4)
Lina T.

Seating is a bit tight here, service is great, and they do have a lot of options to choose from on the menu. However, I didn't like this place. I ordered a turkey burger on a multigrain bun with pepperjack cheese, bacon, lettuce, jalapenos, pickles, and a side of chipotle sauce. My friend and I got the cheese fries (thin cut) to start off with and it was a big plate. I wasn't expecting that much and we couldn't finish it. I didn't care too much for the cheese because it was dry but the fries itself were really good. My turkey burger was overcooked and dry. It lacked flavor and the bun was kind of hard. My friend got a bison burger with egg and bacon. I tried it and it was ok but nothing great. It definitely doesn't compare to the other burger joints. I do like the fact though that they have a lot of options you can choose from on the menu. You can do a burger in a bowl which is cool. They also have milkshakes and alcohol. Overall, I was really disappointed. I don't think I'll come back.
(2)
Kate P.

Burgers--Well, I've only tried the veg burgers here. I haven't tried the other burgers yet because the veggie burger is so great! It's wonderful! The flavor, topping options and sauces are all amazing. I'm a fan of pesto sauce especially. Appetizers/sides: Fries--love them all but the parmesan fries are wonderful. Try them. Onion straws are also good. Pretty ordinary, but good nonetheless. Have tried the fried pickles which were okay. I'm not a big pickle fan so I'm not the best judge. Drinks--overpriced but maybe not because I found the drinks to be quite strong! Shakes--Yum! I love the peanut butter chocolate. Brownie--my friend ordered the caramel brownie and it was definitely sized to share. Very good! Service--has never been outstanding in my several visits, but it's never been horrific either. It could be improved and clearly the crowd comes for the food, not the service. Decor--cute, simple for a burger joint. Overall--a fave place and very tasty food. I wouldn't consider it "cheap eats" but it's not outrageous. It's definitely worth it. Great menu and great way to jazz up burgers.
(4)
Jack S.

The set up is annoying at lunch, people crowd in the doorway to be seated and annoy the crap out of you if you are seated near there. The people were nice enough. I think their claim to fame is the variety of toppings they offer and i like that i could check off the items I wanted. burger was cooked to the temp I asked for. Fries tasted good but could be better presented. Problem is mainly the price, I don't want to pay 15+tip for a burger, fries, and a soda. that should be more like 10+tip. (I didn't get extravagant or or anything with the toppings, I actually ordered a signature burger) Unless I am really hard up for a burger, I won't be back.
(2)
David Y.

I really like The Counter. I came here on a Saturday night for dinner with 3 friends. We got here around 8pm without a reservation. Even though the place was packed, we were seated in about 15 minutes. I ordered a custom burger. I had a 1/3 lb burger with horseradish chedder, jalapenos, chopped green chiles, grilled onions, coleslaw, and honey mustard sauce on a multigrain bun. It was delicious! I love how this allows you to custom make your burger. This allows for some unique combinations, but I think it all will come out delicious. The service was good. The wait staff was attentive and courteous. The atmosphere was bustling. I would definitely come back again!
(5)
Edward C.

So, tonight I took my talents to The Counter, a burger joint in Reston, VA. How did this all come about? Well, as much as I'd like to hold an hourlong special on ESPN to answer this question, it's probably faster if I just type it here. I was really looking for new places to eat out in the West coast, as I'm taking a trip later this year. When I stumbled upon The Counter during my searches on the Internets, I realized that people have been telling me about a popular Los Angeles based burger chain that's opened opened a store in Reston called The Counter. Boom, 2 and 2 was put together, and off I went. What does The Counter offer? Well, upon being seated, you are presented with a clipboard which holds a checklist menu where you can customize a burger to your hearts desire. Want a chicken or vegetarian burger? Check. Want hard boiled eggs in your burger? Sure. Want Organic Mixed Greens with Danish Blue Cheese on a 2/3 lb Turkey burger served in a bowl on a bed of lettuce? Yup, yup, yup and yup. This place offers it all. So how did it all taste? Well...taste wise it was good! The interesting thing here is, you really can't ever blame them for a bad burger; you tell them exactly what to put in there. As long as they provide fresh, flavorful ingredients (and they do), then it's really your burger to make or break. My 1/3 lb beef burger with Sharp Provolone and grilled onions, roasted corn and black bean salsa, sprouts, tomatoes, fried egg and peanut sauce on a multi grain bun was big, juicy, fresh, and well balanced. My only knock was that the beef was completely unseasoned; a pinch of salt would have created a great charred crust--but that's really just my preference. (And, really, when I realized that adding salt would really bump up the sodium level--boom, it made sense. No salt = healtheir. Applause). As I'm sure many are wondering, how does it compare to the plethora of other gourmet burger joints popping up throughout DC like robotic moles in a Whack-A-Mole carnival game? Well, here's the thing...it's really just different. It's not so much a gourmet burger place, like Ray's or Joe's. It's a taste of California fresh, where you can build your own fresh 100% natural Angus beef (hormone and antibiotic free; humanely raised and handled, to boot) burger, replete with carrot strings and apricot sauce. And for that reason, I'll return time and time again. The Counter provides a West Coast fresh twist on familiar foods that has heretofore not been readily available in the DC area. Awesome!
(4)
Jennifer H.

One of the best turkey burgers I've ever had! And i love that you can pick an choose whatever random crap you want on your burger. We got black bean salsa and pesto. Kind of weird, but it tasted great! We also go the Counter Burger. It was solid, but I was crazy about it. It came with a sweet relish, but I didn't really like it. It was better without or with a bit of ketchup imo. Please get the pickle chips :D they are so delicious! And the manager at the time was so very nice and accommodating b/c I had brought my pup out to chill with us.
(4)
Mary L.

Great burgers and shakes(when you can get them). Came tonight at 5:30, ordered a burger (rare) and a coke float. Oops, sorry, they're out of vanilla ice cream. Ok, so I switch to a cocktail. Ten minutes later I'm told they're out of lemonade. Ok--I'll stick with water, since I already have a glass--I know they haven't run out of that! Another 15 minutes go by and our burgers arrive. Mine's well done, not rare. But I eat it, fearing they may run out of beef if I asked to have it done over. Not our first time here, but may be our last. Mgmt needs a swift kick in the ass.
(2)
Amanda J.

I've been going to Reston's The Counter over the last couple years and it's one of my favorite burger joints. I don't eat beef and it's often hard to find places that make great turkey burgers, much less excellent ones and my beef eating friends always seem to be happy with their choices too. Other favorite menu items include their fried pickles and "adult" shakes. However, what keeps this restaurant from getting my 5 star rating and why I caution friends when I recommend this place is the service. Sometimes it seems like there are only one or two waiters on staff with how terribly slow it is -- and that's not an exaggeration. Once my adult milkshake, which was ordered at the beginning of my meal as my drink, didn't come out until the end with my check! Another time my friend's order apparently got lost as her burger came after I had already finished mine. I've never felt like it was the waiter's fault as much as perhaps they are way understaffed. The best time to eat here is in the summer or when the weather is nice enough you can eat outside on their patio space. The inside feels crowded, the music is frequently so loud that I have to shout to talk, and the chairs are very uncomfortable. Fantastic food, but less than fantastic service -- if they did take out it might be perfect.
(3)
David C.

I used to love this place, then the menu (and possible management) changed and it became an "eh" place. It seems that they don't use as fresh ingredients and don't cook the food with the same care as they used to. I still love the staff and alcohol selection tho.
(3)
Paul W.

OK, I'm not a fan. yet. I think my previous comment that this place is a bit on the pricey side is still on point, too. But, I think I finally unlocked the secret to this place. OK, really my coworkers did and I just followed suit like a lemming, but it still worked. The burgers are really best in salad form. OK, I know that sounds like blasphemy, and loving burgers as much as I do I'm a bit chagrining to be suggesting this, but really, trust me. The meat is higher quality than anything else in the Reston area that I've found. And the flavor of the meat really comes through in the salad much more than it does on a bun. Sure, the buns are "gourmet". Whatever. The bread takes away from the quality of the meat. So, if you've been disappointed with the burgers here (as I have been) and you haven't tried them in salad form, give it a shot. If the next couple visits go as well as this one did, I'll bump it up another star.
(3)
Andrea F.

What can I say...I'm a cheeseburger-holic and The Counter offers up just that awesomeness on a bun in a 100 ways. I would have given 5 stars except for the occasional time my meat is less than piping...but that's rare (no pun lol). The burgers are fresh angus or bison or turkey and the choices for you to build your own are endless. My fave is brie, bacon and avocado on a Bison burger. Also dangerously addictive are the parm fries and brownie. This is definitely not a place to go while dieting but oh so worth the splurge. Fun atmosphere, a great bar and very friendly servers. I'd recommend stopping here over almost any other Reston Town Center eatery!
(4)
Susan H.

I've been keeping an eye on the Yelp reviews for Counter---and they have been helpful. In its early days, I noticed that the reviews mentioned that the place didn't have its act together, so I knew not to go right then. As time progressed, the reviews got much better. So...I felt that the time was right to give it a try. We went around quarter to 5 on a Saturday and the place wasn't busy. After we were given our clipboards, the man who seated us asked if we had been there before. When we said "no", he walked us through the ordering process. He was also able to answer questions about the various toppings. For example, I was interested in trying the horseradish cheddar but was concerned that it might be too heavy on the horseradish. He assured me that it was mildly flavored---and he was right. We ordered a fifty-fifty basket of potato fries and onion strings. The portion size is meant for two or more people. It comes with 2 dipping sauces---a bbq one and a ranch one. In addition, there is a bottle of ketchup and salt and pepper on every table. Of the two items in the basket, the onion strings were our favorite. They were very thinly cut, lightly battered, well-fried and very tasty. The potato fries were good---not the best we ever had but far from the worst. We both got 1/3 pound beef burgers. On mine I had horseradish cheddar, lettuce, dill pickles, tomatoes, fried onions and bacon. My husband had Swiss cheese, bermuda onions, lettuce, dill pickles and tomatoes. I got mine medium well, he got his medium. We both got the regular hamburger bun. For a sauce, I got horseradish mayo and my husband got regular mayo. Over all, we were both quite pleased with our burgers. I especially was impressed with how well the medium well burger came out. I knew that I was taking a chance by ordering it that way since some places don't know how to properly cook a burger that way. I liked that the horseradish cheese and the sauce weren't overpowering. Rather, they were just right. Also, I liked that you are given your sauce on the side so that you can add as much or as little as you want. The only topping that had me thinking "meh" was the bacon. It was thick, properly cooked but with little flavor. Maybe I'm spoiled now that I've had the bacon from Jackson's across the street LOL! We will be back. The service was good. Our waiter was friendly but he did give off the impression that he was a new employee. I ordered coke to drink and he ended up asking me 3 times if I wanted diet or regular. In the end, he did bring me what I ordered. I'm sure with time, he will be more at ease. At one point, the manager came by to see if everything was OK---a nice touch. It wasn't cheap. With the two burgers, the fifty-fifty, a coke and a non-alcoholic beer, it came to just over $31 before the tip. However, we thought it was worth it due to the good quality meat and the chance to build your burger just the way you want it. We will be back!
(4)
Marc M.

Burgers 2 Stars Milkshake, shoe string fries, and sweet potato fries 4 Stars I'd come back here, but not so much for their burgers. They do a great job on presentation, that I will concede. I enjoyed checking boxes on the order sheet for my burger which was fun and gave an added level of customer involvement which I appreciated. I got the: 1/3 pound beef burger (medium rare) onion bun grilled onions scallions roasted corn and black bean salsa jalapenos horseradish cheddar apple wood smoked bacon The meat itself was very plain without any seasoning on it, but it was cooked correctly for a medium rare. Still, a far cry from getting a pepper crusted pattie from Ray's Hell Burger, or some other such tasty meat from the heavens via Ray's. The cheese was tasteless. Looked and tasted more like Kraft sliced cheese. The rest of the ingredients made for quite the sight when it showed up at the table with all of the colors which screamed for attention. My attention was quickly usurped by.... Next up got a half and half order of the shoestring fries and sweet potato fries. The sweet potato ones are the standout, but the combo is worth ordering to share since more is delivered to your table than any sensible person would attempt to eat alone, and it's nice to get a little variety. Last up was the chocolate shake. Excellent. Hand scooped ice cream, milk, chocolate syrup. Thank you for delivering exactly to my expectations on this one.
(3)
nikkie d.

I just like you can customize your burger to the tee its a lil pricey but they are very generous with their sides. They also have drinks, and byo shakes as well. They even have adult shakes which I'm going to have to try.
(4)
Linh O.

A bit pricey and sometimes they seem to get overwhelmed with customers and the manager we saw one time didn't seem to know how to deal. BUT they're mostly friendly and the food is pretty damn good! The horseradish cheddar cheese is SO freaking good, get that over the horseradish mayo sauce if you need to decide between the two.
(3)
Henry R.

Okay burgers, you can customize it however you want and even have it on a bowl if you like. The burger can be a bit of a mess to eat though, it is burger after all. They have a variety of toppings and sauces you can choose from to customize your burger and several different type of buns as well. The sweet potato fries are my favorite here though! Especially with the horseradish mayo sauce. Overall, pretty decent burgers, good fries, and a bit on the pricey side.
(3)
Milind S.

one of the very few places which serve up some very appetizing veggie burgers! unlike other places where veggie patty is pretty much made of soy or imitation meat, the veggie patty here is pretty darn delicious, made up of rice, lentils, potatoes and other veggies. rest of the stuff is pretty much standard, pick your toppings, dressing, bun and fries and you are all set! herb goat cheese is fresh and tastes amazing! They also have a good selection of sprits & beers and specialty cocktail so thats a plus! I do feel the service is a bit slow and they can improve on that... otherwise a pretty good place to go to satisfy your craving for a burger!
(4)
Lindagrace D.

Warning: They have their own scale for meat temperatures!! ~Medium Well equates to Medium ~Medium equates to Medium Rare ~Medium Rare equates to Almost Alive Once you understand this, you will enjoy this solid good joint. Part of the fun is the ordering -- you get a little clipboard and bowling-alley pencils to mark off the ingredients of your custom burger. That aspect of ordering kinda reminded me of a sushi bar. It's fun! The burgers themselves are decently juicy and a nice size, too. I'd give them a strong B+. Not the best I've ever had, but certainly much better than average!! I consider myself a true french fry connoisseur, and I have to say the Parmesan Fries are quite the indulgent treat, described as "Crack Fries" by our spunky waitress. When I envision Natalie Portman gaining back 30 lbs in one day, as she claimed she did after filming Black Swan, I see her in my mind eating a plateful of these Parmesan Fries, getting the job done. Heck, I'd go to The Counter for the fries alone! The ambience is cool -- stainless steel chairs and tables and floor-to-ceiling windows. A fun and comfortable dining experience overall.
(3)
Nick H.

One of my favorite recent trends is for upscale restaurants to serve classy modern versions of simple regular foods. Gourmet burgers are a prime example. I had passed by the Counter countless times while visiting the Reston Town Center, but only recently made the decision to try it out. I wasn't disappointed. The burgers were cooked excellently. The fries were AMAZING. I also tried the deep fried pickles and they were great as well. For those of you who have seen the animated movie Ratatouille...my first bite of the food here reminded me of the critic from the movie when he took his first bite of the ratatouille dish that reminded him of his childhood. I had that kind of amazement in my first bites. The only criticism I have of this place is that the prices are a bit high. Gourmet burger or not, there's only so much I'm willing to pay for this type of food, and so this wouldn't be my choice for burger on any day to day basis. But once in a while, The Counter offers a pleasant change!
(4)
Ellie B.

Been here a handful of times, and every time it was packed, and every time we got fast, friendly, and efficient service!! I am in love with their black bean burgers, and my husband loves their choice of cheese for his burger. I love that you can choose exactly what you want, and all of the toppings. It makes it easy and void of any hassle. Always great service, which makes the prices worth it!!
(5)
Catherine G.

YUM! And that means all the times I've been here! I've never had an issue with service, but I think it's probably cuz I have that "I'm a bitch" look about me. I like the burgers and the many different ways you can get them, though I'm wary of making them too exotic. You never know when that item you thought was good turns out to NOT be so good with your burger. But for me, the best part is when we order the half and half fries. Half regular shoestring fries and half sweet potato fries! JUST YUMMY! If you love sweet potato fries, you definitely have to try theirs!
(4)
Jeff H.

My wife and I, who never complain about anything, had a terrible experience during lunch at The Counter burger restaurant at the Reston Town Center today. It took a long time to have our order taken and others who arrived after us had their orders taken before us because they complained about the wait. The entire service experience was extremely slow, but we weren't in a rush and we didn't get uptight about it. In addition, the burgers were significantly undercooked compared to standard temperatures. Here is where it gets worse... The waitress confused credit cards and mistakenly charged another customer's meal using our credit card. So our credit card was charged twice (our meal and the other customer's meal) and the other customer almost unknowingly left with our credit card! The waitress seemed indifferent about the mistake and barely even admitted that it happened. However, she said she would fix it. We left, still without complaining, and then we decided to return to speak with the manager to make sure the problem was resolved. The manager apologized that the incident occurred, but he said everything would be fine even though he never conferred with the waitress or checked their system. He basically did nothing for us. Now we need to monitor our credit card activity to make sure the erroneous pending charge goes away. We will not be eating there again.
(1)
Heather N.

I go to The Counter on average one to three times a week. My work schedule means that I often work 10 - 12 hour days and by the time I get home I am starving and have absolutely no desire to cook. The time I get home tends to limit placed we can go, so it is really nice that an option as good as The Counter is available. I am a vegetarian, and their made to order, custom veggie burgers really are top notch. They are good enough that I never want to eat a veggie burger when I go out anywhere else, because I know it won't be as good. The servers have all (mostly) gotten to know us, and are friendly and excited to see us. Four star instead of five because sometimes it can be way way too cold inside, even when I make sure to bring a heavy sweater.
(4)
Angel W.

First thing's first! Try the parmesan fries!!!!!! They give you a mountain of them! They are string fries with aioli and garlic and they are mouth watering. You may not have room for anything else after this. It's almost impossible to stop eating them. I also come here for the veggie burger. Any place that makes veggie burgers with vegetables and grain (no soy or tofu or fake meat product) is a friend of mine. Their actual patty is a bit bland but I like to add the plentiful toppings and dressings. At once point they had a special topping - fried pepperocinis - but that was only for a limited time and they were fabulous. I wish they would offer them as an everyday topping choice. The food is a bit pricey for what it is. When I have taken a group there, there were complaints about the steep prices for an establishment of this type.
(4)
Vanessa P.

This place is worth the trip if you're not local to Reston. The burgers are really big and very filling, with the smallest available at 1/3rd lb. They're all cooked (to a perfect) Medium, though can be cooked to your liking. You're given a clipboard with a pencil upon on entry, seated and left to your own devices to follow the instructions on the paper. You get a meat selection, a cheese selection (they have I think 10-12 different kinds), 4 toppings, sauce and a type of bread. I was disappointed to see they have a regular toppings and a premium toppings section; all premium toppings (like mushrooms, bacon, etc) are $1 extra. I ordered the 1/3rd lb with Tillamook Cheddar, bacon and horseradish mayo and needless to say it was the best burger I've had in a long time. The Beau had a 1/3rd lb with jalapeno jack, horseradish mayo, black bean salsa, red peppers and lettuce. I took a bite of his and while it was good, the extra toppings didn't add too much flavour (plus I'm not a salsa / black bean fan... almost tasted like a burrito to me). In addition to the burgers we have a Fifty Fifty with the regular fries and sweet potato fries... if you've never had sweet potato fries TRY THEM. They're simply amazing -- very faint hint of sweet potato flavour. The 50/50 came with the horseradish mayo (which I was disappointed to find out once the h-mayo I ordered with my burger came out... I could have -- and should have -- gotten regular mayo instead and just used the left over sauce from the fries). This place is a little pricey but definitely worth it. For two burgers, a boatload of fries and two large sodas the bill came to $28. A couple tiny complaints (that didn't ruin my experience and won't prevent me from returning, but were big enough to note) is that by the end of the meal my plate was COVERED in either water, grease, excess blood or whatever else could have possibly leaked from the burger in the time I was eating it. Some of the bun was also soaked in this liquid mess... it was a little off putting. Second, stay away from the corner -- we were sat near the windows in the corner (nice view) but the vent blows DIRECTLY onto that table. If you're sensitive to drafts like I am, get away from the windows. I have a sore throat now from it (should have asked to move but oh well). All in all, it's definitely worth the price and the trip!!! We'll be back-- and soon!!!
(4)
Matt O.

Great spot for custom burgers or some drinks at the bar. For those that want to avoid the douchery at Jackson's, this place is perfect for sitting at the bar and enjoying any drink you can think of without bumping shoulders with other people. The bartenders are awesome(especially Maria). They also have one of the best playlists every time I go there. It's the little things. : )
(5)
Steve O.

Pretty tasty burger. But overpriced like a mofo. I guess you pay for the location??? The decor is as sterile as their sign on the building. Not sure what has more pizazz, their logo or Initech's logo from Office Space. Big advantage over other burger places is that they offer a lot of toppings (uhm fried egg anyone? yes!). Fries and onion strips are good but wish they weren't so damn thin. Chili is a huge portion (enough for two people) but is a bit watery for my taste. Overall, good food, good service but not sure if either justifies the price. The lunch for two cost just over $20 each with tax and tip.
(3)
jac j.

We've been here 3+ times and this custom burger place is good! Love it - even loved the veggie burger and the turkey burger but especially love the custom idea - build your own - ya! The sweet potato fries are awesome and there is so much variety on the menu. The service was good except once (and it was the waiter - he was in the wrong position). The shakes were great and did I mention how much we loved the burgers. . . .all of them, even the burger in a bowl!
(5)
mark w.

Tried Counter for a late Friday lunch. Burgers were excellent: juicy, well prepared, flavorful. Fries were OK: just your normal restaurant frozen fries. Service was also very good: attentive and friendly but not overly so. Price was good given the quality. Decor was modern and cool, music was decent. Best burger in suburban Wash DC IMHO.
(5)
Angee K.

One of my absolute favorite places to eat! The staff are fantastic and the food is amazing! There is something for everyone! Beef, turkey, chicken, veggie or fish, all the fixin's and a ton of bread choices. Thank goodness I don't live within walking distance!
(5)
Pete R.

So after my initial review, I was contacted by the Owner of Counter Burger, who wrote me a very nice note about my experience. I have to say I am overwhelmingly impressed with that - it shows a large degree of commitment on their part. I'll give it another try.
(4)
Lowell I.

Four of us went there with reasonably high hopes and unfortunately were disappointed. We ordered a variety of burgers cooked to different levels and I agree with prior posters that The Counter lacks consistency in their cooking. My medium well burger was very pink inside and cooked less well than the burgers ordered to cook as just medium. The burgers were good sized and juicy, but they lacked a beefy or meaty taste. Not sure if it's the ground beef they are using or the cooking technique, but there's just not a lot of flavor. Nothing that is bad - just OK. We ordered the 50/50 fries and onion rings and again we all felt that the fries were very ordinary but the onion rings were pretty good. Service was also just OK and the place wasn't even crowded. I don't have very high needs from waitstaff but the waitress didn't once check on us after our food was served and we had to flag her down for a couple of requests. It was also strange that a different waiter brought my root beer over to our table and placed it in the middle of the table and didn't utter a word. So, I was unsure if it was mine or even root beer vs. some other soda. The Counter seems like it should be better than it is. The concept is good but the execution is not. Better training of waitstaff and rethinking how the hamburgers are cooked would be a good place to start.
(2)
Shaggy L.

It's an upscale burger place, unlike other burger chains (MC, BK, Wendy's...). Loved the Counter Burger(Beef) & their Unique Veggie patty which lived up to it's name "Unique" in taste. Hated their onion rings but loved the fries.
(4)
Raymond M.

Decent burger place but a bit too much thinking involved for my taste. Didn't care for the fact our burgers came out rare.
(3)
Alex S.

We found this place while visiting Santa Monica, CA and then learned there was one located in Reston. Good burgers and even better sweet potato fries! While it may be pricier than places like Five Guys, I would personally choose this place over Five Guys any day!
(4)
Paul B.

In Reston Town Center, The Counter is a great place if you're looking for a burger. Moderately pricey, but about what you'd expect given the area. The burgers were all cooked to our specifications (there's an order form for your burgers so you get exactly what you want), and the appetizers, despite being served with the meal, were also very good. I recommend the sweet potato fries.
(4)
Lisa E.

The menu looked delicious but we never got service or a waiter, not even after 20 minutes of waiting and asking another waiter who responded "oh she must be in the kitchen" before walking off to lean against the bar. It wasn't busy and it wasn't off hours. We walked out.
(1)
Diane M.

This is a cute place. Atmosphere reminds me of something you would find in New York City (cramped, small tables...)... The burgers are good and you can pretty much get anything you want! Some toppings are out of the ordinary. Price is OK.. They have shoestring fries- not my favorite. Service is hit or miss. We went twice now and the first time was great service. Food comes quickly. The service was lacking and poor the 2nd visit. Five Guys is better in my opinion.
(3)
jason p.

The other reviews do a great job explaining the offerings, and breaking down the appetizers and such, so Im just going to layout some quick thoughts. You really have 3 good options for the modern day burger joint in Reston/Herndon area. 1) Five Guys, 2) Foster's Grill, and I suppose The Counter The Counter is by far the most expensive, and fanciest place. If you like juicy burgers, Five Guys is best, if you like CharGrilled (my favorite) then Foster's is the best. The beef burgers here rely on the whole "build your own" mechanics and just don't add any other value to the sandwich. We might go back for the mini-burger / beer sampling. That looks like fun. Out of the three of us who visited today, none of us felt like we need to go back any time soon. The place looks so cool that we had high expectations (though I did warn them what the Yelpers said...im just the life of the party) that it just didnt even come close to meeting. Good service though!
(2)
Megan W.

The food was amazing, the service was prompt, and the atmosphere was lovely. What more can I say, I LOVE the Counter!!! I generally end up ordering a burger that is 4 inches thick with all my toppings and the portion of the fries and onion straws are huge (plenty to share with a group!) and the milkshakes are EPIC! I HIGHLY recommend!
(5)
J C.

This place may be the best burger place I have ever been to! The burgers are amazing, there is huge selection of toppings and the staff is kind and courteous. Whenever my wife gives me the choice of dinner spots in RTC this is my choice! Hands down!
(5)
Bryan P.

inconsistent, but solid.
(4)
Jin K.

love their burgers!
(5)
Andy C.

Tucked away in Reston Town Center, The Counter reminds us of how burgers are supposed to be. Fancy burger joints are starting to be the rage with Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington and Good Stuff Eatery in DC. It was only a matter of time before one opened up outside the beltway. They have some specialty burgers that aren't open for alterations, but I'm pretty sure most people will be going for the create-a-burger customization that The Counter offers. Their choice of toppings isn't spectacular, but it isn't bad either. Personally I prefer Ray's Hell Burger, but since I work out here in Reston, The Counter is definitely a worthy contender. Also, the manager was extremely gracious and a really nice guy. When he saw none of us ordered an appetizer, he went ahead and brought over a free tray of sweet potato fries for free. And if you're complaining about the price, you're obviously new to this genre. The Counter's prices are standard to what you'd see anywhere else for this type of food. Great place and I'll definitely come back!
(3)
J G.

3.5 starts. It's certainly a good burger . It's very refreshing to have a burger cooked exactly the way you order it. When I asked for mine medium, the waitress let me know that it would come out pink throughout with a thin line of red in the middle, and that's exactly how it came out. I would have preferred a kaiser roll to the bun they used, but it was still good. The meat was good quality but could use a bit more spices (salt). The price was a bit high though, $12.60 total for a burger (w/ bacon) and a coke, $15 w/ tip. For that $ I'd prefer Ray's in Arlington, but since Counter is closer I'll probably be back.
(3)
Kevin M.

2.5 stars. The food was great, but pricey. I had a 1/3 lbs. burger, single order of sweet fries, diet coke, and a shake for $23 after tip. This is basically an upscale "build your own" burger joint. I was really surprised how small it was inside - no booths and little privacy as the tables are practically on top of one another. Our waiter was nice, but the wait staff in general just seemed pretty sloppy. We ate at the bar and watched the VA Tech football game on the 2 HD flat screens, which was a nice touch. The sweet fries and banana shake were really good and the burger was tasty, but not better than Fuddruckers, in my opinion. The default for their burgers is medium with a pink center, so I made sure to ask for medium well. All in all it was pretty much what I would have expected from a burger place, except for the price. I will probably go back, but may do carryout next time so that I have more elbow room.
(3)
Jay G.

I have been here twice and both times I ordered one of the larger burgers cooked medium well and both times my burgers were closer to raw. I don't think they understand that a bigger burger takes longer to cook because both of these times the person I was with ordered a smaller, medium cooked burger.
(2)
Kerry T.

Very nice place, management was very helpful! Went above and beyond!
(5)
Robn B.

I went there for the first time tonight and I must say it was the BEST burger I've had!!! The host was friendly and my waitress was very knowledgeable of the different types of burgers-beef(so yummy), turkey and veggie. I might have to go back the next couple of nights just so I can taste all of them. The chili fries are insanely delicious but then again so are the sweet potato fries and homemade onion strings. Oh-ya and the milkshake was so delicious I had one there and I got one to go. Awesome music and a great looking staff. I couldn't of asked for a better night.
(5)
A R.

I realize this is primarily a burger joint but I opted for the chicken sandwich. I was disappointed to to find out It was only slightly better than chick-fil-a. Additionally it was a bit skimpy -- they really need a 1/2 lb option. You're much better off going across the street to Jackson's, where you'll get a much better sandwich (larger portion with fries) for the same price. I will say the staff was very friendly and I liked the music but I'll will probably not return.
(2)
Dave C.

I want The Counter to be better than it is. Heck, it *should* be better than it is. A "gourmet burger restaurant"? YES, PLEASE! And they are trying, bless them, but it just misses the mark on too many things. You order burgers by filling out a form, where you choose your patty, bun, toppings, sauces, and so on. There's a standard configuration and you can pay extra for additional toppings or whatever, just like a pizza. Then a waiter picks up your orders, reviews them, and punches them into the ordering system. OK, so fine; I'll go through a bureaucratic exercise so you'll feed me. Fine. The big problem with this place is that the burgers turn out to be very middle-of-the-road and expensive, compared to getting a decent burger at most other restaurants. The almost infinite number of choices can yield moments of genius (fried egg on a BBQ burger!) and also invite disasters. Sometimes too much choice is NOT a good thing. The restaurant itself is none-too-comfortable, either. The chairs are unforgiving and the tables are very small...and I'm not exactly an NFL linebacker, know what I mean? Plus, the TVs behind the bar are very distracting because the place is so small, and it always seems to be colder in there than seems right. So while I'd love to give The Counter a rousing thumbs up, I find that I can't. It's fine for a burger if that's what you're craving but, personally, I prefer places a little more comfortable, less frantic, and more personable about taking my order than giving me a piece of paper and a pencil.
(3)
Brandy C.

I was really pleased with my first experience at The Counter. I loved the concept and all the options available. The service was friendly and the manager even stopped by to see if we enjoyed everything. I will definitely make it a point to come back next time I'm in the area.
(4)
T E.

Monday night, restaurant over half empty. 15 minute wait. Outrageous here.
(1)
Rebecca E.

I had heard good and bad, but decided to give it a try. I was a little overwhelmed by the menu and wasn't sure which combination would make the best burger, but got some tips from the bar tender and other patrons. The fries and onion rings basket was very good, but I was not overly impressed with my burger. It was dry and somewhat bland. I liked the bartender and the other patrons were very friendly. I'm guessing that if I chose to come back it would start to feel like 'my' joint. However, for the price and quality of the burger, I most likely won't be returning soon.
(2)
Sam G.

This place is where you get the best burger in town!! Not only do you get to build your burger you can build your own shakes too!! The service was perfect! The food was amazing and my experiences there have always been great! If you ever want to enjoy a great casual dinning experience then come here!
(5)
Bill F.

What a great place to grab a burger. The food is pretty good but the clientelle when I went was a little too familoy for me with kids running around everywhere. They really do neeed a bigger place but the location rocks. The infinite possibilities of burger selection are great and I would suggest going late lunch or early dinner to miss the long lines.
(4)
Mukur H.

So, I first had the mini burgers and sweet potato fries at the Reston Oktoberfest and loved em. I dont know if it was because I had nearly chugged two beers prior to getting the meal or if it was really that good. Then, I come check on Yelp! and see only 3ish stars and begin to think that maybe I was drunk enough to the point where even crap from Austin Grill tastes awesome. Well, I was in the area and decided to stop by, I mean what is the worst that can happen? We step into a crowded restaurant which provides very little personal space. I swear you could move any table about 2 inches in either directions and presto! you got new "friends". Although the walls were covered in baby, blue with black and white Polaroid type pictures and steel fixtures, it some how worked. So we sat down and after 10 minutes of "customizing", ordered 2 burgers and an order of sweet potato fries. I got a 2/3 lb. burger (and thats after cooking!!!) cooked medium rare with southwestern ceaser, red onions, chilies and corn and black bean salsa. Besides seeing no toppings but cheese on top of the patty (they were under the patty) and making an ass of myself by saying so, I LOVED my extra freaking large burger, it was cooked perfectly and the toppings went very well together. The Southwestern ceaser was delicious and tied all the stuff together. My fiance got a 1/3 lb. burger cooked medium rare with some American cheese, garlic aioli and grilled onions. The patty was once again cooked perfectly and the size of the burger was much more manageable. The onions were grilled but had a bite to them and the garlic aioli made sure you knew there was garlic in it. Over all, she liked her burger after taking off what seemed like half an onion off the top of the patty. When I ordered sweet potato fries, the waiter asked me if we would like fries for both of us, I didn't really know if he was asking if I wanted to orders or if he would give us extra. I told him, I just wanted one order, how ever that much brings. Well.... I think they probably killed 2 sweet potatoes with the amount of fries we got for $4-5 bucks! We much down on them with full force and only managed to get half way though. Took the rest home to share with some friends we met up with later. The fries were cooked well, and the horseradish mayo sauce was a perfect compliment. Over all, the meal came out to $29 bucks with tip and I would definitely come again. Is it better than Ray's? I dont know think so, but it is very comparable. I wanted to give it a five just to increase the total score, but well... it was a 4 for me. Go customize your own burger and make your own decision on where this place deserves a 2 or 3 or 4...
(4)
Will O.

My burger was excellent, and I'll definitely return. I was willing to try something different, because there was a lot of that on the menu. I'm not sorryI did! I can't wait for another reason to return to The Counter!
(4)
Rich D.

I retry this place every couple of months and it never gets better. The food is decent enough, but the staff is problematic at best. Fries sometimes get delivered well before burgers and are cold by the time the burger arrives. Getting refills on drinks can be difficult. On my most recent visit the place was at least half empty, but there was a 10-15 minute wait for a table. We walked out and probably will never go back.
(1)
Catherine L.

One of my favorite restaurants of all time!! My boyfriend and I usually split the 50/50 onion straws and sweet potato fries - which are shoestring, not those big chunky kinds you see at other burger places. They come on a huge family-sized platter with some dipping sauces. You really can't go wrong with the toppings either - I usually spend a few hours daydreaming about my burger at work so I don't get overwhelmed with choices when I have to order. I get the 1/3 beef burger which is probably the size of a regular at Five Guys (I could actually be completely wrong cause I haven't set foot in there since I found The Counter...) The service is great. Once when we were seated outside, a huge thunderstorm came in and the manager was quick everyone inside, while the fancy schmancy places across the street stayed outside and pretended Northern Virginia wasn't starting to get some crazy natural disasters. We were re-seated within 5 minutes even though there was a wait. Overall awesome place. A meal for 2 usually comes out to about $30.
(5)
K M.

We had a good time here. There are lots of choices, not your average burger joint. They seemed short staffed while we were there. Server was very friendly and helpful, but seemed to have too much to do and keep track of. Service was very slow. Food while tasty and a little different than the average seemed a little pricey for what you get, considering the whole experience. Definitely worth a try, not a go to for me.
(3)
Mark O.

We stopped here on a Sunday for an early dinner. Long story short both our burgers came out at room temperature and there was just a handful of people in the restaurant. They did the replacement while we ate the fries which were barely hot. The second round of burgers were completely unremarkable (The Counter and Spicy Bison). $50 later with tip we left wondering how this place stays in business. My guess is it's better to come on a weekday when it's busier but we won't be back to find out.
(1)
Stacy G.

I'm the cheapest mother f-cker on the planet. Really. Unfortunately this is at odds with my love of gourmet burgers and nice steakhouses. So when I say that this expensive burger is worth every penny - you know it hurts me to say it, but it's true. The quality of the meat is out of this world. I phoned in an order for a burger to go because I knew I'd be passing by and I've been meaning to try this place for forever. I wasn't even really that hungry because I'd actually had a Ribeye steak 3-4 hours earlier. Well I was running late and so by the time I picked up the burger it was probably sitting around for 20 minutes and was just warm, not hot (completely my fault). Usually I'm very picky about my food being hot, but the burger was so yummy that I couldn't stop eating it. It was a very amply sized burger and much bigger than any 1/3 lb burger I've ever seen. In like 5 seconds flat I had basically inhaled the entire burger and I wanted more. And let me remind you again that I wasn't even really that hungry in the first place. It was just that good. This place serves a premium burger gourmet burger. I'll definitely be dreaming of it for the next week and I'll be back soon. P.S. I wasn't overly impressed with the grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese was probably fine, but I expected something better than wonder bread and was disappointed by that. But I think it was only $5 so I guess I can't complain that much.
(5)
Glenn C.

The Counter is a solid alternative to places like Five Guys and Foster's, when you want a hamburger that's above what you'll get with fast food drive-thrus, but without the full restaurant experience. The interior is sparsely decorated, with steel tables and chairs lining the walls, a bar in the center, and not much else. Instead of a traditional menu or a walk-up window ordering setup, The Counter instead opts for the same system that Foster's uses. You're given a slip of paper with all the options on it, and you simply check off what you'd like to have on your burger. The options are extensive. They give you full reign with deciding the size, type of patty, and bun that you'd like, then you get to picking your toppings. Every normal burger topping you can think of is available, along with a few special ones you may not. My favorite option is the fried egg- nothing beats a big juicy burger with a sunny side up egg on top. They also have beers on tap and special imports in bottles for sale, too. The imports are actually far better than I ever would've guessed- every time I go in I see something I really like or something interesting that I haven't tried. So why only three stars, you ask? One thing, really: the price. For a 2/3 pound burger (it is worth noting that the weights are AFTER cooking, which is unusual) topped with a few choice options, you'll be paying somewhere around $12-15. For a hamburger, even a good one, that is simply too much. Fudruckers burgers are just as good, and they cost half what Counter bugers do. The fries are expensive, too. It takes this place out of the realm of "quick bite" and into "full meal" territory, just based on price. Every time I think about going to The Counter, I say "well, if I'm going to pay that much, I may as well have a sit-down meal instead." And to heighten the issue, there are dozens of great restaurants within one block's distance. It's Reston town center- there are way too many other choices at this price point. The only other (much smaller) issue is the same one I have with Five Guys: when you leave, it feels like you have a brick in your stomach. It's so heavy! And the thing is, I don't get this same feeling in my gut when I go to Fudruckers, Clyde's, or any other place that serves hamburgers. It really is unique to Five Guys and The Counter. Maybe I'm different and you won't have this problem, but for me it's just a bit too heavy. Even still, The Counter is a nice little place for a fat, deluxe hamburger. If you don't mind the higher price level and can handle the stuffed feeling afterwards, then nosh away. No matter what, it's worth trying out at least once.
(3)
Patti S.

First time trying this place and it is absolutely the best! I don't eat out much due to allergies and normally not enough selections worth the cost, but their Bison burger bowl and sweet potato fries are the absolute best!! Huge selection of gluten free, dairy free and soy free choices. My daughter ran in and picked up our takeout and she also made mention how nice the workers were - definitely refreshing!! Thank you, will definitely be a regular!! :) A++++
(5)
Alexa C.

Loved their build your own burger with many options for toppings. I had the turkey burger with a gluten free bun, delicious! Loved that they had goat cheese for an option. Their fries are sold ala carte and in a gluten free fryer. I had the traditional fries and enjoyed them. Staff was good for service, but it was also dead. Nice perk, they packed up our drinks to go to take with us, nice additional bang for your buck!
(4)
Stephanie H.

The counter is one of my favorite Veg Friendly places to go in Reston, so much so that I had to give it a positive review on my blog. Read all the details on my site stephaniethall.com/2013/â€¦ The service is great. Everyone is always really friendly and attentive to our needs. Also because we go so often a lot of the employees greet us by name. We recently went and had Tracey who is a new employee and she really rocked and provided us with awesome customer service. Nothing was lacking. Also the manager Damon is awesome and very focused on giving each customer a great customer experience. The veggie burgers are the best....made from real food and are great paired with the sweet potato fries. YOU MUST GO!!!1
(5)
Angela C.

Awesome! So you this is a perfect example of you get what you pay for. So their burgers are not cheap compared to other companies that may only charge you $3-$5 for a burger, but they give you quality NO FILLER burgers, not super greasy either. You have different options of what burger you want, veggie, turkey, beef, etc and size and from there you basically piece together your toppings. They have a good wide variety of toppings, sauces, buns, and so on and they are always fresh. I have been twice, no real complaints and will be back again. The only thing I can say somewhat negative is the milk shakes are just ok, I had a peanut butter one it was good, but nothing spectacular. Will be going back to get my burger fixes!
(5)
James B.

Come to The Counter for the burgers. Zillions of toppings, surprisingly expensive for a burger restaurant, but delicious. Great selection of beer & wines. Service is better than expected. Great location, right in the middle of Reston Town Center.
(4)
Azucena H.

I find the Counter to be a fairly good burger joint. They prepare your burgers to order & have a large variety of toppings & sauces. They also have a regular/sweet potato fry combo you can have in case you can't decide. :) The burger was not the best I have had but it was decent.
(3)
Heather J.

I tried the beef burger for the first time today. Every other time, I've gotten the turkey burger (which is awesome, by the way), but today I was craving a classic cheeseburger. I asked for it to be cooked medium - just a little pink in the center, and they cooked it perfectly. For my toppings, I got the classics (or at least my favorite classic toppings) - Tillamook cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and sauteed mushrooms. The mushrooms were great - really made the burger. I also got the regular burger bun this time, rather than the whole grain bun. I hate when the bun falls apart before you've finished the burger, and this bun held up through the last bite. For the sauce, I chose the chipotle aioli. It was tasty, but I wish it had been a little more spicy. We shared the parmesan fries, and they weren't as good as usual. They actually had too much cheese on them, and were kind of greasy. The service was just ok - they're really friendly but they were really busy and didn't come check in on us very often. I also asked for some mayo right when our meals arrived and it never came. Not a huge deal, but worth mentioning. I'll still be back!
(4)
Jay D.

Lets focus on the positives first....excellent burger sauce selection and some committed staff, specially a pregnant lady who was working till late 10:30 at night. Now the reality, burned meat and chicken in all the burgers. Medium well came out to be well charred. Extremely oily onion rings for appetizers,literally dripping with oil. Extremely uncomfortable seating arrangement. And to top it off, extremely pricey. Oh! did I mention that even the bacon ($1.5 extra) was burnt black. I guess we were partly to be blamed by showing up 30 mins before closing time, but then it is absolutely possible for Counter Burger to move up their closing time to 9:30 if their food quality dips to the depths of the Mariana Trench.
(1)
Sandra K.

Once again, I wish they had 3.5! Why oh why do they not have 3.5? I guess the latest trend is burgers, burgers and burgers everywhere! Krazee Burger from Korea opened in Bethesda, The Burger Joint and yes finally I have tried The Counter. I went in without any expectations which I think was a good idea because I can't stand thinking something is going to be amazing and it turns out to be not. Well, this wasn't one of them. The regular beef burger is amazing. Their temperatures are right on so if you say "med-rare" you will get a red hot center. The burger is flavorful and somehow it is juicy without being greasy. Their special chipotle mayonaise is delicious and the 50/50 french fries and sweet potato fries are every more tasty when dipped in their homemade sauce. I had the turkey burger on an onion roll and it was very juicy and seasoned well. Their grilled onions also have a lot of flavor and it is obvious they are using the best and freshest condiments. I picked up the burgers so I cannot comment on service but the bar manager was quick and efficient and it was almost as quick as fast-food drive through. Cost-2 burgers with cheese, 1 order of fries---$24. I think this is somewhat pricey but you do get what you pay for...a delicious juicy burger.
(3)
Sande E.

Food was precooked but hey, it came out fast! Server was on auto pilot and loud. Nice patio. Beer selection was meh.
(2)
Tu-van L.

**2.5 stars** Great casual burger joint in the heart of Reston Town Center. I love the slate blue with silver furniture counters and furniture style restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows making the place really airy and sunny. Wait staff was attentive and had no problem keeping our orders straight. I love the ordering process here. You get a clipboard with an order sheet. The sheet is self-explanatory in regards to what's included in the burger price and what is extra. You place the check marks on what you want and hand it to the waiter. Appetizers and signature burgers in a separate menu. You can't go wrong with that. Great concept and format. Unfortunately the burgers were bland and overall unimpressive. While the toppings can vary in flavor, the burger patty was mildly flavored and undercooked. My first try at fried pickles didn't impress me. I expected a batter instead of breading and the dipping sauce tasted like the sweet and sour sauce you'd get with Chicken McNuggets. Great idea, but I wish the food delivered.
(3)
Jess C.

$12 and 2/3 lbs of chicken?? Plus, Wednesday happy hours offer 4 mini burgers and 4 beer samplers for just $12! What sucks is that you can send your order in by fax, but they won't cook your food unless it is to go, and if it is to-go, they won't let you eat at a table. So if you're planning on sending your order in early to eat and get outta there fast, don't bother. Lame. Despite the receptionist refusing to let us sit down, the host gladly set us up at a table outside, brought us plates, and waters so we could eat our stuff there. Overall, I was happy with the value for my meal, the fries were delish, and the service was good.
(4)
Anh S.

I LOVE this restaurant. I have a gluten allergy, so to find a place where I can eat a burger with a real gluten-free bun that looks like a bun and tastes like a bun, it's a godsend! Granted the service is a bit lacking and on the slow side, but the trade off is well worth the wait. Also, their parmesan fries with garlic aoli. OH MY. The portions are also very large and a burger runs $10+, but for me, it's worth every penny. It also has a full service bar which is cool, and it's in the best location. If you want faster service, I suggest eating at the bar.
(5)
Mary L.

I came here for dinner with a friend awhile back. It was super crowded. We were seated at a two person table sandwiched between other people. It was very awkward and I wish we could have been seated at a table with a little more space. The service was great and super fast! I know it's absurd to go into a burger place and not order a burger, but I just wasn't in a burger mood that night. I got the BLT instead and it was pretty good. I also ordered the fried pickles which were AMAZING. I highly recommend getting them! I don't see fried pickles on a lot of menus in the area, but I fell in love with these when I lived in the south and was so glad I could get them here. My friend got a cheeseburger and she seemed to enjoy it. We also split a side of the garlic fries which were DELICIOUS as well. The only problem was that the portion was huge! We were completely stuffed. I would definitely come back for the pickles and try to go at a different time so I can really enjoy my meal there.
(4)
Rick M.

A simple menu, good burgers and GREAT milkshakes
(4)
Tom T.

As far as burgers go, it was an experience above ordinary burgers! I simply put mushrooms on mine to experience the quality meat and I was thoroughly surprised by how they put effort into cooking my Kobe choice just as ordered! I live in the town center and will definitely go again with friends. Nice job.
(4)
Foodie C.

Good burger Perfectly cooked amazing service! Food 4 Service 4 Cleniliness 4
(4)
Terry J.

$28ish for two burgers, small fries, fried pickle chips and a soda (and 15% tip). I don't get it. I really don't get it. The Counter serves bowling alley food at fine dining prices. Hamburgers, fries, shakes, beer and booze: this is not brain surgery, folks. We are talking burgers and beer. Yes you can get a wide array of cheeses. Yes you can get a wide array of toppings for your burger. You can even get your burger without a bun (!). Wow. But a designer burger only goes so far and then you are buying something other than the food and the service. The brand strives, unsuccessfully, to span the chasm into stylish burger-land where customers cheerfully shell out $10+ for a burger. I don't know what's missing, but something is missing and their formula is absent a critical component or two. Maybe it is the noise level (too high). Maybe it is the price (way too high). Maybe it is averageness of everything other than the burger condiments. On the good side: My burger was prepared perfectly and was moist and tasty. The toppings were as advertised and provided in generous portions. Very, very, very enthusiastic server. The fried dill pickle chips were almost as good as those I enjoyed this summer in an Iowa bar. My soda was refilled without my having to ask. On the not so good side: The price. The price. The price. The fries were the shoe string type and looked like the kind you and I buy at the grocery store...just more expensive. Bleh... Noisy. Really noisy. No effort at sound proofing this place. It wasn't that crowed Sunday evening at 7:00 pm, but I had to raise my voice for my wife to hear me across the table. If I return with my wife, we'll split a burger...
(2)
Next G.

Think twice before going here! Burgers were dry and not juicy. The interesting sauces and unique toppings could not save the burger. The fries were like sticks of cardboard. Not crispy and moist in the inside. The only saving thing about this place was the milkshakes. They really could not get their service right when we were there. So many other people had problems with their orders. Sorry, with so many other places in Reston Town Center, even if this was the only place open, I would rather starve than go back here again. EEK!
(1)
Bill M.

Came in on a windy day I needed a break from walking around . After reading other reviews I have to agree service was a little slow, music was a little to loud . Price okay seemed a little high but after tasting the burger it is good quality. I tried to follow the order form and create my burger I was annoyed I didn't get the lettuce I asked for.
(3)
Jennifer D.

Quality was great. The fries are delicious! We went on a day where they were giving out little vegetarian sliders and my husband and friend said they were delicious! Service was great and friendly, would definitely come back again!
(5)
Christine R.

Just okay. Terribly over priced but you've got to know it's because (and only because) it's at RTC. So I wanted a burger and remembered someone mentioning this place and how you order and that they offered... burger bowls. Um okay. The burger itself was good. The garlic fries, which our server described as "good as crack" (really?) were greasy and TINY. Not shoestring thin,it looked as if they took all the nibbles of broken fries and put them in our bowl. Meh. So I built my burger. Kinda interactive and creative - a little bit of a Fosters Grille feel - but wayyyyy more sophisticated. I made a 1/3 lb topped with jalepeno pepperjack, fried green chiles and corn and bean salsa with chipotle sauce on the side. It was good. My medium came out overcooked which is never fun but the burger didn't seem dry. All in all two burgers, two iced teas and an order of fries ended up costing a little over $40 after tip. Probably won't return. My poor S.O. didn't even get any toppings. Because he just likes meat and cheese. I made the comment that the place was geared more towards woman and I truly felt this way... because men really just want meat and cheese. Plus he said no burger place would have a wall of wine to choose from. SO true. It was fun though.... Just feel like it cost too much for what it really was...
(3)
Holly G.

Pretty good burgers with a nice selection of toppings available. I went with the vegetarian patty (not at all dry like most places) on a multi-grain bun and added Gruyere cheese, artichoke hearts, mixed greens, tomato, basil pesto. For low-carbers, or people who just want something a little different, they offer a burger-in-a-bowl. Everything is piled on your choice of greens - it's basically a burger salad. My husband had one and I think he thought it was a little odd but no complaints. We also split the Parmesan fries (it's not a little side order - it's a big plate full) - yum! No major complaints but still not a place we're likely to visit often.
(3)
Nadine F.

The best part of The Counter is that they have patio seating, but that's kind of where its charm ends. The burgers were OK, but you can get better gourmet burgers at a lot of other places around town. The day I went, they were having a special on margaritas for Cinco de Mayo, which tasted like overly sweetened Sprite. I was hoping that the waitress would ask me how everything was, so I could tell her the margarita was terrible and get something else, but she never asked. The Counter wasn't terrible, but with so many better options in Reston Town Center, I don't think I'll be back.
(2)
Anastasia B.

Delicious. A little pricey for a burger, but considering the quality it is totally worth it. I've been back multiple times and have not been disappointed. Staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. My order (that is so good that I can't bring myself to get anything else) - veggie burger (handmade and wonderful, made of brown rice and veggies) on a huge salad with carrots, sprouts, and onion straws with garlic aioli. Side order of parmesan fries. Sometimes, they let me sub onion straws (a premium item) for cheese (same price as premium items) but some of the managers say nay. Ah well, the onion straws are totally worth it.
(5)
Cory L.

Its been 11 months since dining here. I went in with mediocre expectations....they still failed. Service is terrible. Waitress comes by our table and asks what we would want to drink (hello or hi would have been nice). Leaves before we even finish with our request. Also, service is very slow. You are at the mercy of their excellent time management. Time to chat, time to check my phone, time to horse around. The only time she was nice and actually smiled was when she dropped off the check after running my card. It amazes me that servers think that they should only smile when its time for the tip. Bam. Heres a tip. You earn your money, just like everyone else lol. Well, people come to a burger joint for a good burger, not the service...right? Ok, on to the food. I would probably get a better beef burger at a Popeyes. The burger is bland, not even warm, and the quality of the meat is subpar. I actually asked for mayo because it was super dry (I ordered medium). Lessons learned..again, that just because you can customize your burger, does not make it a gourmet burger. This place is just gimmicky. Dont even remind me of the extra ham topping I ordered (one paper thin shaved (not slice) piece of air dryed ham on top. So thin, it would melt in your mouth, but even then, you wouldnt be able to taste it. Want a good burger? Go to Rays Hellburger (by the way, I did go to Rays this past weekend, so going into Counter made me depressed)..or BRG (not BRB), or Five Guys, heck even that Sinister Clown chain. Counter is all show, no go. Just gimmicky. And to all you Yelpers that actually rave about this place...are you serious? Great, now im the bad guy! remember, 2.5 is average, 3 is good. Whats with all you saying bad things and then giving a 3? This does not help the movement..the "if youre gonna charge more for food, make it more tasty" movement. -Meh. I've experienced ALOT better.
(2)
Tim M.

The burgers are much better than many other burger joints around the DC area. The sweet potato fries and the regular potato fries are delicious as well. They are not soggy nor oily nor overly salted. The string onions are nice, although the crispiness varies from plate to plate. I like mine crispy, which I got. The burgers are as The Counter advertises: build your own burger. I had the 2/3 lbs buffalo, which was pretty lean, but not dry. The bacon was not overly salty , and the greens were fresh. Really, I have nothing to complain about on the burgers or the sides. The organic bison meat is pretty tasty. I appreciated that everything wasn't overly salty (did I say this already), like so many other places. It's a small place, so service (e.g. seating) is going to be challenging just like any other place with limited seating. Although, I saw pretty quick turn over. Our service was quick and we didn't have to ask for refills on drinks. So, service was good as well. Price: I do not understand why people complain about prices when you can look at the menu on line and in advance. If $1.25 for an extra slice of cheese or topping is too much, then don't go there. Even McDonald's charges extra for a small piece of american processed cheese. Are the burgers on the expensive side? Compared to what? My 2/3 lb loaded burger wasn't any more expensive than other places. If you don't want to spend that much on a burger and want to have a formal sit down, you know in advance how much it is going to cost, so go to a different place. The burger on the salad was good as well. The salad is pretty large. The greens were fresh, and the burger on top was good as well. I'll definitely go back again.
(4)
Will H.

The burger was nothing to write home about. With all the fierce burger competition these days, you really have to step up your game. I like to think that I'd give it another shot assuming they were just having a bad day, but it's a bit of a commitment.
(2)
Susan F.

The Counter was okay. It wasn't what I dreamed it would be as I walked by for MONTHS waiting for them to open. You basically get to order your burger by filling out a form and checking off what you want on it. You get to choose from all kinds of toppings and sauces. Fries don't come with the meal they are extra. We opted for the 50/50 where it was half french fries and half sweet potato fries. The fries were okay. The burger was also just okay. They did forget my grilled onions which I know I checked off...but didn't figure it out until I was almost done with my burger. Service was okay.... It was over $30 for 2 burgers, fries, and 2 drinks. I might go back...but only if someone I was with really wanted to go.
(3)
Eric P.

Oh my God, these burgers are orgasmic. It's hard for me to get excited about a burger - I mean they are such an American commodity, why would I want to pay $9 for a 1/3 lb. burger? Because the degree of customization allowed here enables you to create YOUR perfect burger. Every little detail - the freshness of the dill chips, that fact that they know buffalo sauce gets messy, so they put it on the side - coalesces into an amazing burger. This is a perfect example of a place that does one thing, and does it very well. The waitstaff is very attentive, fast and competent as well. Our group arrived on a very cloudy weekday at 12 noon. Every indoor table was occupied, and no one was sitting outside because of the possibility of rain. Rather than being bureaucratic and telling us "sorry, there's a 10-15 minute wait," they let us sit outside and hoisted up an umbrella for us! (Luckily, it never did rain during our meal.) I envy those who work in Reston Town Center and get to enjoy these burgers as much as they want.
(5)
Christine M.

This place is the shit. Modern burgers and fries with a cute modern diner atmosphere. I'm a vegetarian and my husband eats everything and we were both very happy. There are so many options to customize your food. We had the parm fries and holy crap are they delicious! We also had an "adult" milk shake. Boos+ ice cream = life is good. Also, some reviewer said they don't have craft beer. He's lying. I had a Left Hand milk stout there. It wasn't a huge selection of craft beer but they had Port City (Alexandria brewery) and some other stuff there. The service was good too. I was a klutz as usual and as I was putting my food into the doggie bag I dropped it on the floor. One of the managers saw and had the kitchen make me another one. It came out quick too.
(5)
Jon M.

created my own burger. 1/3 lb was enough to satisfy my hunger. veggies were fresh. toppings were fresh. burger was cooked with a perfect pink center. only negative was the cold sweet potatoe fries.
(2)
Becky F.

Great service, friendly staff, and good food. Fried pickles were delicious, and the burgers were spot on. A little pricey, but it is in Reston town center. Its a good place for a picky eater, because you can pick exactly what you want.
(4)
Charles F.

If there is one word to describe "The Counter" it is options. I have been to the restaurant on several occasions. Most recently, I took a friend out for lunch and decided to take them to "The Counter" If you are into burgers and choices, this is the place to go. The burgers come in 1/3-pound increments and are probably the most delicious burgers I've had in a while. With the sheer choices available, you may want to plan ahead and check out their menu online to plan your attack. When you do decide to go, be sure to order an appetizer of sweet potato fries to go along with your meal. They are wonderful, and are served with a horseradish mayo. It is absolutely delightful, and they give a very fresh taste to begin the meal. Then, when you are not expecting it, out on a plate comes your massive hunk of beef, topped with all sorts of deliciousness. For instance, I managed to eat a 1/3-lb burger, topped with lettuce, tomato, zesty BBQ sauce, applewood smoked bacon and gruyere cheese, served on an onion bun cooked medium well. It was big, juicy and I engulfed every last bite. If you are into burgers and enjoy playing with your flavor options (and experimenting with your palate) then give "The Counter" a go.
(4)
Anita C.

The Counter has enormous burgers that are pretty much a heart-attack on a plate. Delicious. You custom-make your burger, beginning with the type & size of protein. You can choose from beef, chicken, or fish(?), and the smallest size is 1/3 of a pound. There's also a 2/3 pound option. I ordered the 1/3 lb beef and it was $9.00. The possibilities after that are endless. You choose: 1) Type & size of protein: beef, chicken, etc. 2) Type of cheese: brie, 2 kinds of cheddar, jalapeno jack, etc. 3) 4 toppings: organic mixed greens, lettuce mix, dill pickle chips, sprouts, tomatoes, jalapenos, etc. 4) 1 sauce: honey mustard, mayo, sweet BBQ, etc. 5) + $1.25 each for premium toppings: housemade guac, avocado, etc. 6) Type of bun: onion, multigrain, plain You can opt to put your combination in a salad mix instead of a bun, if you'd like a healthier option. That's +$1.00. The aforementioned options are just a few of the selections they have - there are at least 15 options for each category! My burger was a perfect medium and the cheese was nicely melted on top. I got it on top of a salad mix for a lighter counterpart. We also got the 50/50 fries with sweet potato fries & regular fries. The sweet potato ones were WONDERFUL. Get them!! Btw, this place is excellent for large parties. We came with a party of 6 for lunch, and our waitress kindly offered to split our checks. More impressively, she split our 50/50 fries in six. My bill read, "50/50 fries at 1/6 = 70 cents per." Pretty awesome, right?
(4)
John G.

Not bad , but really not impressive , personally would have enjoyed a five guys burger instead. Sauce for fries was tasty here though.
(2)
Johnson H.

I visited this spot for the first time tonight. It's a gourmet-create-your-own 1/3lb, 2/3lb, or 1lb burger joint. With enough variety of toppings for you to choose from that I probably spent 10-15mins scanning a rundown of it all then taking a deep breath and... start personalizing my burger. I created a 1/3lb, Medium (that came out more like medium-well :( but to my surprise it was still a juicy patty. That definitely gives kudos for the quality of the meat!) topped with gruyer, mixed greens, fresh sliced tomatoes, 'fried' (caramelized) onions, on a ciabatta roll with a chitpole aioli on the side. And a order of sweet potato fries (sold separately) When I completed my burger & sweet potato fries. I was surprised but glad that my meal didn't feel heavy and greasy. Say in comparison to consuming a similar meal at any local FiveGuys. The restaurant itself is very contempo diner with a bar/lounge twist to it? Something pleasantly different to the rest of the offerings within Reston Towncenter. The staff was courteous and attentive. We didn't feel rushed out of there after we finished eating and was just laughing and catching up. I would go back to give them a try again. Hopefully, next time my burger will be cooked to just right. Like they did for my friend's tonight.
(3)
Jorina N.

We always find ourselves coming back whenever we are craving burgers. It's really good, juicy, not greasy and the quality of food and service are consistent everytime! They have over 15 different topics to choose from...and we always have fun trying different combinations each time we visit. sweet potato fries are always our standard app!!
(5)
S W.

A burger and fries, I really enjoyed the concept here. Design your own burger, different meat selections, various bun and topping and sauces. Good service, quick service!
(4)
Alex P.

The best gourmet burgers I've had! The meat is quality, and its cool that they will cook it anyway you like (I love medium rare). All of the toppings and sauces that I have are great and my overall experience with the burgers have been great! All of the sides are really good too. Fried pickles, Shoestring fries and sweet potatoes = really good. However, the onion straws which are good too, are always execcessivly dripping with grease. I would give the food five stars, but I had to give the Counter a 4 star because its always been a hit or miss with the service, some days they are good and some days I want to walk out because the service sucks! My Girlfriend once had to send back a turkey burger that she ordered because it was burnt, but they gave us a voucher for a free burger so we were okay with that. But Overall, the burger is way too good here to stop eating here because of the service. If you like really good burgers, definitely go to the counter, you will not be dissapointed!
(4)
James K.

Don't believe the hype. It was OK at best. It was not as great as I had hoped. Their garlic parmesan fries had too many herbs and just tasted funny. The burgers took FOREVER for them to come out. Service is a joke. It is cool that you can build your own burger. But it can be pretty costly with all of the add ons. I've had better, and I'm sure you have too. Yes I may be being harsh but just my opinion....there is definitely better out there.
(2)
Claire R.

Oh my goodness. I LOVE this place. My friend and I met for lunch and this time around we got the "fifty-fifty" with sweet potato fries and fries. As for the burger, I got a more basic burger this time around. I got a 1/3 pound beef burger on a hamburger bun. I went with American cheese, dill pickle chips, the lettuce blend, and red relish. It reminded me of the cheeseburgers I used to get from my favorite burger place (that haven't been as good the last few times I've gone). It's final. This is my new favorite burger place.
(5)
Bobby R.

What a wonderful, terrible circle into which I have fallen. All my reviews are of three- or four-star quality because I look at Yelp ahead of time and only go to three- or four-star places (or higher, if I can find them). This is no exception. I mean, it's a burger joint; I really wasn't expecting to be blown away by anything. That said, the service was very attentive, informative, and professional, the atmosphere was very nice (I sat at the bar), and burger was really very good. Shaundra did an excellent job of walking through the ordering process and was on top of everything as far as I could tell. The burger came out very quickly (which makes me think these patties aren't truly made to order, but who cares?) and the fries soon followed. All in all, I would happily return or even suggest it as a lunch option. So I play this little game with myself...I intentionally do not look at menu prices (sometimes you cannot help it, but I always order whatever I want and never do a tally) and at the end of every meal I eat at a new restaurant, I set a number in my head on the VALUE I think I have received (not what I think the price is going to be). "That felt like a [insert value here] meal." If the actual price is below that number, I feel like I received a consumer surplus and therefore my impression goes way up. If the price is higher than the number I predetermined, I think I may be getting the shaft a little, and that never feels good unless you're into that sort of thing. No exception here...a bacon cheeseburger with fries (with stuff on them - Parmesan and herbs, I think) and a soda...felt like a $16 meal. Nope, just shy of $19. And Shaundra was so good, I had to leave a decent tip. So $23 for a burger, fries, and a drink. $23. For a burger. That felt like a [insert shaft here] meal.
(3)
Joshua D.

I really like the concept, but it's poorly executed. Slow service, and last time I was in there, the music was so loud it actually hurt my ears. Like even louder than that bar loudness where you have to yell over people. It was actually painful. The food is OK, a little bland. I like the natural, local aspects, but I am not going to make any special trips to this place. And it's really in a bad location. Why would I get burgers at RTC? It's where people go to lunch with clients or dinner with friends -- over-the-counter burgers don't really fit that bill.
(2)
Howard C.

Great fries, great service. This place was laid back. It was everything you imagined a burger bar to be, nice selection of beverages and burgers. The reason I give this place only three stars is because the prices were a bit higher than I thought the food deserved. The service was nice and helpful as well. This is a great place to catch up with an old buddy, but not to take a girl on a first date or anniversary. I would not have any qualms returning here.
(3)
Jennette L.

Burgers where cooked perfectly. Sweet potato fries where addicting. Regular fries got stale quick.
(4)
J K.

Burger was pretty good there. Forgot exactly what toppings I chose but everything came out good including my sweet potato fries with garlic aioli for dipping. I like that they let choose a dipping sauce with your fries. Our server was enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
(4)
Annabelle L.

finally came here for lunch after meaning to try it for ages. their veggie burgers are awesome! i had the veggie burger in a bowl, with mixed greens, dill pickle chips, grilled pineapple, roasted red peppers, sauteed mushrooms, greek feta & a lemon vinaigrette. it was beyond delicious! my friends & i each ordered a burger. we also got fried pickle chips & sweet potato fries for the table to share. we ended up taking most of that home, the burgers were so filling by themselves. you will not have room for dessert. or even dinner later. the ability to get your burger in a bowl is nice. it's much less messy to eat & felt a little more classy. they do offer gluten-free buns as well. the outdoor seating is ample & our server was very sweet. if you need lunch after a hard day of shopping at reston town center, i recommend this one!
(4)
Tom G.

More of a restaurant than a usual burger cafe. Cost a little more but we go for the organic burgers with whole grain buns.
(4)
Ting W.

Wonderful burgers that are a little higher quality than I'm used to. With that higher quality comes with a higher price tag, but it's worth it. Their sweet potato fries are good but I wish the portion size of the fries were larger. We used a livingsocial/groupon (can't remember which) deal when we came here so luckily, the price went down for us. If the deal appeared again, I would likely come visit again. I only wish the Counter was located closer to where I resided so I could order more frequently.
(4)
Taylor D.

My boyfriend and I were here last night for dinner. While we were eating he said, "I don't get it why you haven't written a review for this place yet." So I told myself I would. The burgers are amazing every time, the staff is friendly, the location is great (who could complain about Reston though?), and it's an all over great experience. You can chose what you want on your burger from the large array of toppings and sauces they have. Even when it's busy, your food comes out in a short amount of time and is as delicious as it could ever get. Though i'm never able to finish my burger completely, even though i wish i could, the burgers are great even heated up at home. So don't be worried if you have left overs. The only bad thing i really have to say is that it's a bit on the pricey side, especially for burgers. I think it's worth what you pay for though. So if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend that you do.
(5)
Mimi P.

Oprah's favorite burger?!?! Undoubtedly, among one of mine =) The Counter's concept seemed appealing -gourmet burgers but not at gourmet prices. How can you beat that? The Counter tries to impress you anywhere from the bun to the meat and even the additional condiments/sauces. They have a large selections of toppings and sauces. If you're into a great deal of a burger the 2/3lb burger is really juicy and they cook it to perfection- nice and pink. On top of that, the onion fries go great with their burgers. I prefer to stuff them into my burger. Though, I do wish they had alotted more selection of toppings on your burger at no extra cost when you get the "make-your-own burger." Still, I'm a fan.
(4)
Sepi B.

We love the food. I'm a vegetarian, my hubby is on a gluten-free diet and our teenager has a BIG appetite. So, food-wise this place caters very well to our taste and dietary needs. Then, why two stars??? This place, unfortunately, has one of the worst services you could ever find in the Reston Town Center area. The servers are amazingly spacey. They make so many mistakes, its just ridiculous. Once the waitress forgot to bring back my credit card. I left the restaurant not realizing I had it. But the next morning I realized they never returned it to me. It took them 3 days to find it after vehemently denying they had my credit card. & the manager never even offered a simple apology! Laughable. Another time, my husband and son went to The Counter and specifically told the server they are on a time constraint and they need to be out the door in half an hour. Would they be able to expedite the order? The server said yes! And the food never arrived. People who got there after them were served but not my family. My husband & son had to leave hungry and again, no one batted an eye. So, I'd say go for the food if you must (pay cash so they don't lose your CC) and don't expect good service. With that expectation in mind, you'll love the burgers.
(2)
Greg O.

The only thing keeping my rating of the Counter up this high is the food. First of all, my compliments to the chef. The fries were delicious- we wanted to try the onion strings, but they were out, so we went with the Parmesan and sweet potato fries- both excellent. And the burger was delicious again- perfectly cooked and the toppings were all good. If only the service lived up to the food. This time we were practically ignored by our server the entire time. He was slow to even acknowledge us after we sat down, never offered a drink refill and never asked how the meal was. (On a side note, the server we flagged down to refill our drinks was very nice and accommodating, I wish he had been our actual server.) I finally had to flag our server down to just get the check. I really want to keep coming back since the food is so good, but the service has a lot of catching up to do.
(3)
Jeanne B.

Awesome burgers!!! Went in to try this place and loved it. Our waitress was very helpful, if overwhelmed with tables but not her fault. You order from a "make your own" burger clipboard. The toppings are "different" for burgers. I had cole slaw and craisins. The sweet potato fries and fried onion strings were super as well! Can't wait to go back and try one of their "adult" milkshakes!
(4)
Jennifer M.

Burgers and beer... what more is there to say? Oh yeah, I forgot the fresh, tasty, and huge portions of shoestring and sweet potato fries ($5)! I got the 1/3 lb burger ($8.50) and it was almost too big for me to take a bite out of. It was such a good burger and company was so great that I thoroughly enjoyed my mess. A monster of a perfectly pink (not dry, not tough) patty, Horseradish Cheddar, tomato, organic lettuce mix, and pickles in a moist multigrain bun... oh my. Granted, the patty WAS a little bland as another fellow Yelper has mentioned, but the chipotle aioli sauce I got more than made up for it. And did I mention the BEAUTIFULLY pink center? I hate overcooked meat. I love this burger. And the beer. Several beers on tap, but I chose the Spaten ($6). It came cold with a wonderful bit of foamy head. Great place to hang out in Reston without breaking the bank. I would most definitely be more than happy to come back again. We had wonderful service from two of the waitresses and did not experience any of the service downfalls that any of the other Yelpers mentioned.
(4)
Nishchay S.

The custom burgers we all hd in a grp of 6 wer just amazingggg..the best burger i hv hd in us
(5)
Vince R.

Long wait and understaffed. The food is fair at best small portions and not worth a second try. Tight seating with people bumping into to while you eat.
(1)
Manny F.

Impressed. I went there based on recommendations from co-worker. The Hyatt never mentioned it once- a gem! Ended up with Bourbon Vanilla Shake made from Vanilla with Stoli Vanil Vodka, Di Soranno, Kahlua and Makers Mark. The meal was a grass fed, hormone/antibiotic free angus burger with taziki (never had this dressing before). Delicious! and I'm sure I've clogged an artery. The server was very gracious, educated and served us a great meal at the bar area. The best part is that its a chain right here from SoCal.
(4)
Michael W.

I ordered the mediterranean turkey burger bowl and found it to be very tasty. My colleague had a crab-cake burger that looked terrific. Neither of us really cared for the sweet-potato fries. The big winner for the meal was the oatmeal-raisin cookie ice cream sandwich for dessert ($3) Good food at a great price, but not particularly memorable.
(3)
Cathy E.

I love the mini burgers here! The staff is always so friendly and the food is great. Best burger in RTC and the whole area. Gotta try the bison!
(5)
Steve T.

This is my 2nd time going to The Counter for lunch. This time, I got the veggie burger because one of my coworkers got one the last time, so I just had to try it. I usually feel ripped off if I pay over $10 for lunch and don't get a meat (like getting a salad), but this veggie burger was worth it. Not sure what it was made out of, but it had the consistency and texture of a meat. I don't think it had any fillers like ground up chinese newspapers, or gym mats, so I'm happy with my lunch. BTW, the sweet potato fries are amazing, especially with the horseradish mayo they come with. Only in America would you eat french fries with mayonnaise. Overall, the food was good; but like everything else in Reston Town Center, you're paying for atmosphere too. If you've never been, come once to judge for yourself. If you're coming everyday, save yourself some money and go to 5-Guys in Plaza America.
(3)
Philip T.

The idea of a high-end burger joint always struck me as kind of silly. Few things represent to me a more down-home, simpleton food than a patty of ground up cattle on a bun, so I was slightly skeptical coming here. For full disclosure I'm also part of the grilling club at my university (shout out to GUGS) and I have to say we make a pretty mean burger so my standards are already pretty high. Getting back to the point however, The Counter makes a pretty good burger though there are a few problems which keep it from being the best. First, there are two options on the menu; you can create your own burger through a terrifyingly large number of choices of meat (or un-meat if you choose the veggie patty), buns, cheese, toppings, and sauces, or choose from pre-spec'd burgers and other dishes. It was overwhelming to be honest but it's a pretty straightforward system once you get past the initial shock. I got a 2/3lb beef burger done medium-rare with grilled onion, horseradish cheddar, roasted red pepper, tomato, mixed greens, and spicy sour cream, on a multigrain bun (I dare you to say that 5 times in a row). One thing they do which I really, really like is that they will cook your burger to whatever doneness you would like, mostly because a well-done burger makes me cry on the inside. My friends and I also got a plate of sweet potato fries and onion strings to share. When our food arrived the burger sure did look fantastic. The weight is post-cooking according to the menu so there's no cheating you out of your meat here. Upon first bite, I was struck by two things: 1. "My lord, this burger is dripping juice everywhere" and 2. "Wait, where's the flavour?". The first can be attributed to the fact that they did cook my burger per my request, though it was pushing more rare than medium rare; I could practically hear the thing moo in protest. The second comes from the fact that despite there being quite a lot of what should have been delicious and flavourful toppings, there seemed to be a general lack of seasoning. I'm a fan of letting the beef speak for itself and have its flavour be the focal point of a burger, but salt and pepper are your friends if you want to achieve burger nirvana. My burger was also quite difficult to eat and the bottom bun pretty much turned to mush after a few bites from all the juice. Overall, it was a good though messy experience. The sweet potato fries on the other hand were delicious, among the best I've had actually. I would definitely recommend them. The onion strings were less memorable; they were crispy but on the greasy side. The service was another highlight of our visit. The server was very helpful and personable. Our food came out pretty quickly too. The Counter has both inside seating with a bar as well as patio seating outdoors. It's nice, sleek, and modern and had a great casual atmosphere. Finally comes value. My monster 2/3 lb burger cost $11.50 and a side of fries/onion strings cost about $6.50 split four ways (the portion size is more than share worthy). It is on the pricier side for a burger but they do cook it well and for Reston Town Center it's a pretty good deal for a sit-down place. Overall, I would return and maybe try a different combination of toppings and sauces and see if I get a tastier result. So maybe I'm not a fancy pants burger convert, but The Counter did show me there is some sense in the idea. For me however, I guess I'll stick to the mantra that simpler is better: quality beef, seasoning, fire, cheese, bun, eat.
(3)
Jeff T.

Update #2: My review appears to have been removed for some reason, so I'm updating it in hopes of it staying posted. Also, I've heard from coworkers that they went again and it was much better (normal), so I'm going to give it another try. I really want this place to be good. I've heard nothing but great things about the California locations. Update #1: My first experience was pretty bad, but I was convinced by the owner to give it another try. Service was much better the second time, though we were asked to come at an off hour so they would not be busy. Food was better too, though my burger was undercooked (raw inside) when it came out. While the second trip was better, my first experience was one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had (not exaggerating). I've bumped the score up to "two stars" from my original "one", as I think that is a fair average between my experiences. Given the attempt by the owner to make up for the initial experience, I'm going to give them a 3rd try soon, and will up the score again if the experience is decent again. Here was my original experience: To be fair, I believe most of the horrible first experience came down to failures on the part of our particular waiter. Issues included: - Inability to get drinks refilled, despite asking several times throughout the meal. - An appetizer (chili-cheese fries) coming out after the whole table finished eating both their appetizers and burgers - Soggy/room temp fries (cheese on cheese fries was congealed) - At least some toppings left off of half the burgers at our table, despite everyone filling out their own checklists for toppings - Waiter did not know which shakes were which flavors, so everyone had to taste to find theirs - Service was slow at 1.5 hours from the time we were seated to when the check arrived. Bad service aside, I thought the burgers were decent. Cooked to temp, and flavorful. Also, I didn't have a shake, but 3 other people at the table did, and were all very happy with them. Here are my current ratings (based on both visits): Food: C Burgers = Slightly Above Average, Fries= Below Average, Shakes = Pretty Good Price: D At $10+, there are plenty of better/cheaper burgers around. Service: C ("F" for the first visit + "A" for the second) I've already mentioned the issues with the first visit. The second visit saw a lot of positive attention from management, although we were there when it was pretty much empty, and they were trying hard to make up for the first visit. I'll be interested to see what it is like if I try them again as a normal customer at a busy time. Atmosphere: C Nothing great, nothing bad. Seating was a little cramped. My personal recommendations: 1) Go at an off-peak time or order To-Go 2) Skip the fries 3) Get a burger and a shake (everyone did rave about the shakes) 4) Double-check your order
(2)
scot k.

After I posted the original review I was contacted by the counter. Every time since then my burgers (and my friend's burgers, so it has nothing to do with me getting on their good side) have been coming out perfect. So they are on my go to list for burgers!
(4)
Sharon M.

My boyfriend and I were looking for apartments in this area and decided to go here for lunch. We're a little bit of burger snobs (after you've eaten at Shake Shack and Burger Joint in New York, you just want every burger to be similar) so this place is actually up to the challenge. You get 3 choices for a burger patty (star number 1): 1/2 lb, 2/3lb and 1 freaking lb. I went in between and did the 2/3lb burger. The meat was huge, delicious and juicy (star number 2). The sides were plentiful and not the best sides, but they did the job (star number 3). We had the regular fries and the onion strings. Lastly, the service was speedy and they did a good job of refilling my drinks when it went empty (I cannot STAND places that let your drinks just stay empty forever) (star number 4). You also have the choice of building your burger or just getting it from the menu. My boyfriend had a burger from menu, I built mine up (mushrooms please!). I like that you have the choice. I truly like this place but wasn't BLOWN away, hence, I didn't give it the last star. Good place for good lunch and good atmosphere (the music wasn't too loud). Not a bad bet. It helped that the manager stopped by to make sure we were a-ok. P.S. By the way, that burger was so huge, that I didn't eat the rest of the day. Also, I didn't eat before-hand. Not a bad bang for your buck.
(4)
Joceyln Y.

Love this modern burger place located in the Reston Town Center. You can get one of the signature dishes which I havent even had a chance to try because Ive always customized my burger. They do have a small outside seating area. To customize you can choose a regular beef burger, turkey, chicken, or veggie. Not norm a veggie burger eater, but its probably the BEST veggie burger I've had. I dont use any of the sauces, always ask for it on the side. We usually get the 50/50...50% shoestring fries and 50% sweet potato fries. BOTH ARE YUUUUUMMMYYY!!!!!! Cant tell you which one I like better. We did try the Turkey chili which was different than I'm used too. There was corn and dried cranberries in it...wasnt bad. This place is for ALL AGES and the bar area is very "modern"...they do serve alcohol there which is nice :) EVeryone that has come here with me...LOVES it.
(4)
Amy T.

Their burgers are good and the option to chose what to top 'em with is fun however the rest of the food I found to be mediocre. The biggest disappointment was their chili which was literally mostly grease and not very flavorful.
(3)
Anson P.

Meh. If you're interested in going to an upscale burger joint to sip on some wine or a 5-10 dollar beer, then this is your place. I ordered a 1/3 pound burger, their cheapest. It came with a choice of 4 toppings, a choice of cheese, and a sauce. I went with lettuce, raw onions, corn and beans mix, and roasted peppers. Topped it with some herb goat cheese and spicy sour cream. I also threw a fried egg on there for an extra dollar because what dish isn't made better by a fried egg on top? The burger was good, but not 10 dollars good. They cooked it medium rare and it was done correctly. I feel like I'm paying for ambiance that I don't give a crap about. Also, all the sides are a la carte and pretty steep in price. A side of fried pickles ran us 4 bucks. And I don't recommend them. There's so much batter on them, it doesn't really matter that there are pickles in the middle because you can't taste them. The onion straws and sweet potato fries were nothing special but like everything else was overpriced. The service was good, but the wait for food was a little on the long side, especially considering it was burgers and fries. I'm comparing the wait time to Ray's, which in the Yelp world sets the standard. Drink refills came pretty quick. I wasn't a big fan of the clipboard menus. I've been conditioned to avoid anyone holding a clipboard as they are usually carried by annoying people trying to get you to sign some kind of petition or make a donation. So it can be a little scary when you see a bunch of people standing outside this place holding clipboards. But that's just me. If I'm in the area, it won't be at the top of my list, but I wouldn't be opposed to letting someone else pay for my meal here.
(3)
Mai K.

High quality beef, and good fixings to burger ratio. I really enjoy being able to check-off the fixings on a note pad -- it feels like a game. However, when I ordered a rare burger, which in itself is probably a burger no-no, it was delivered mooing. I will know better another time. For the price, I would probably be more satisfied at another gourmet burger place, though the Counter's burgers are pretty darn tasty when they are cooked.
(3)
Kimberly H.

Why do I love this place? Sweet fries and onion strings. Sweet fries and onion rings/strings seem to be few and far between which around here which is why we decided to drive the extra miles to check this out. The burgers are high quality and the toppings are unique. The price is not cheap, but I will pay extra to have toppings you can't find anywhere else. Kung Pao sauce on a burger? Where else can you get that as the sauce of the month? You can also do turkey or chicken instead of burger if you want. I highly recommend the chicken sandwich with honey mustard. If you don't want to spend and don't want unique - go to Wendy's. If you are more adventurous and willing to drop a few bucks more - this is the place for you. Total bill - $35 including tip (1 burger, chicken, 50/50 and two drinks).
(4)
Rachel W.

GREAT burgers, terrible service!! Yummy! I would go back!
(4)
Philip G.

I keep trying to like the counter, and I keep getting disappointed. Right off the bat everything is really expensive, I always get annoyed when burgers start costing over $10, there is no reason for it unless your getting actual steak. Then the toppings, the jalapanoes are dilled (big pet peve), and the "fried" onions taste terrible. Many places seem to think a fried onion is actually just a onion dunked into overpowering balsamic vinegar, i really do not get it. The bacon and cheese are of good quality, but again the price starts to add up. If you like their toppings, then you probably love this place, that what it all comes down to, I do not enjoy them as much as other establishments. Edit: I threw up an extra star because they obviously care about customer opinions and I appreciate that. I also want to clarify, there is nothing inherently "bad" with burgers at the counter, but I still feel its too expensive for what you get in comparison to the plethora of other burger places in the area.
(2)
Danilo B.

Awesome burgers that are actually cooked the way you request them. Sweet potato fries and onion strings are awesome (one "50/50" order serves three to four people). Had a chocolate malt shake and it was one of the best I've ever had in this area. Service was great and everyone is friendly and upbeat. Music playing was a mix of good rock and hip hop - nice change to cheesy stuff you usually hear.
(4)
Cristal S.

Is there any way to give zero stars? The only good thing about my experience here was our greeter. Everything else from the service to the incredibly unappealing, bland burger went downhill from there. Do not waste your money. Customized burgers should not come out as fast as a McDonalds burger. I had two bites of the beef burger and then lost my appetite. The meat was not even warm. How do you serve a customized burger in about 5 minutes and then bring it out cold? Will never go back to this joint again.
(1)
C S.

The Missus and I visit the Reston Town Center quite often for the variety of eateries. For the last year we watched this one corner space that had signs in the window advertising a new burger joint. It took them a long time to finally open, but they finally did and so we scampered in on the first weekend of business. The Counter Burger's shtick is to be "counter" to the "normal" burger places. They have a wide variety of burger choices and sizes. Sizes? Yes, sizes. They have burger sizes from small up to the giant 1 lb of beef burger. Which, of course, is the one I ordered. Now, I will be nice and say that this was their first weekend of business and problems are expected. I couldn't get any iced tea as they were "out". Out of iced tea? How does that happen? "You Virginian's drink a lot of iced tea," the waiter said. Also, the music in the place, while enjoyable, was WAY too loud. Hopefully they have at least turned it down a bit since being in business. As far as the food goes, I would not recommend the 1 lb burger. Oh sure, it might be something you'd get when you're there with your frat brothers betting on who can actually down one of these behemoths, but due to it's size, they can't cook it properly. Because it is so big, they have to over cook the outside in order to get the inside to the requested "medium well" temperature and color. Also, they lacked an oversized bun to go with the oversized patty, so you get a huge hamburger patty top and bottomed by what looks like a dinner roll cut in half. I had to eat the burger with a knife and fork as it was just to messy and unwieldy to eat with my hands. The Missus had a more normal sized burger but can't remember much about it. Guess that's pretty much the textbook definition of unmemorable. We give them slack because it was their first weekend of business and had to work out a lot of kinks. We'll try again in a few months and see if anything's improved. At this point I can neither recommend or nor warn you away from this place. Time will tell if they improve or not.
(2)
Blake J.

I decided to try The Counter the other day, after highly anticipating its opening. We were fortunate enough to arrive at an off-time and were able to be seated right away. We were first sat inside... the seating was a little awkward due to the closeness of the tables and the entire place was VERY loud. Shortly after we sat down a table outside opened up, so we opted to move outside. The noise level was much more acceptable outside. I got a 1/3lb bacon cheddar cheeseburger with fries and a water, which came out to around $15 after the tip. The burger was okay... nothing memorable. The bacon was dry and crispy. The burger itself was somewhat juicy, but not very flavorful. The fries were good. Service was just okay. This place is pretty expensive compared to other more satisfying burger options and I left feeling as if I could have eaten more. Note, that I did order the smallest burger they had, but at that price I should have felt full. Overall, the experience was not memorable and I probably will not be returning. If you're in Reston Town Center and want a good burger I would go to Morton's or Jackson's.
(2)
Denise C.

I finally got to experience Counter Burger... first a confession...I don't really eat meat. So going to a place that specializes in burgers is kind of dumb...but I perused the menu and they had VEGGIE Burgers...so it was on... if you don't eat veggie burgers then you probably don't know that it's possible for them to be really good or really horrific depending on the ingredients. But this one was amazing, I got the whole wheat bun, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes (that were actually ripe-don't you hate it when you get short changed on fresh vegetables because they think under all the toppings you won't notice-well I notice)...pickles, red onions, ketchup, and wait for it...course grained mustard...it was AWESOME...and so were the fries. I would definitely go back. It's definitely upscale burger place...not a dive by any means...but still casual and the staff was great and knowledgeable about the menu.
(5)
Jenny B.

Well- I wrote a review a few months ago regarding an awful experience there. I went back to try it out again and all the issues that I had are gone. I will chalk it up to them being new and having some issues getting the kinks out. Luckily, I went with two of my friends and they both thought it was the best thing ever. We had great service and our burgers were perfect. I cannot tell you how much I loved my burger. Plus they have incredible fries and side selections. We ordered all types and even had the grilled vegetable pack. I would put this place ABOVE Ray's Hell Burger, any day. The Counter is SO much better!
(5)
Eric B.

The food was GREAT! I love that you can make it how you like it!
(4)
Joseph H.

Great burgers! Maybe the best I've ever had. Excellent sweet potato fries.
(5)
Matt Z.

Decided to go eat at Reston Town Center after kayaking in Lake Anne. After walking around for a few minutes, we decided to take a chance. Quality, flavorful, and juicy burgers - Angus beef (as well as chicken, turkey, and veggie) - Portions are big to start with (1/3, 2/3, or 1lb burgers) - Great selection of toppings & unique - Choice of having a burger in either a bun or bowl. Appeared clean & very modern. While visiting the restaurant, one of my family members noticed a hair on their burger. Immediately we told them and they apologized. The burger was cooked fresh & was brought out in a few minutes. The waitress told us that the burger was on them, and we got a free burger. She was pretty friendly, as well. Ordered "The Counter" burger (cooked medium-well). It turned out to be pretty juicy & flavorful. While it was advertised as having a Tomato-Vinaigrette, I did not find the flavor to be strong enough (I could barely taste it). And a stronger sauce would have been better. As said before (in other reviews), the toppings can make your burger pretty pricey. For a 1/3rd burger, the price starts at $8. This would not be an every day stop. However, if there was a special occasion, I would recommend this place.
(4)
Candace C.

This place is like a pizza joint. You've got your basics and you just build up from there. Depending on what you want, this can add up and other places that have specialty burgers might end up being cheaper. But here, the idea is that everyone at the table gets exactly what they want. The burgers are good--the meat tastes fresh, the toppings are fresh and the sauces are interesting. Don't worry about the the "extra charge" for sauces on the menu--they'll gladly swap your sauce (which always comes on the side) for free. I really enjoyed the sweet potato fries which were nice and crispy, but it's sad that you have to order them, or any sides, separately. At first I wanted to give this place a 3, but here's what raised the game for me to a 4. 1) The service---wow--there are plenty of restaurants that could learn a few things from the service here. It's Clydes-like--very friendly and cheerful, as well as efficient. 2) The apple pie shake. As a Pitango fanatic I find it hard to eat sweets anywhere else in Reston Town Center, but I finally broke down to try a Counter shake. Apple pie a la mode in a cup--can't go wrong there!
(4)
Simplehiccup D.

Milkshakes, french fries and veggie burgers- all yum.
(5)
A A.

On my most recent burger tour, in search of finding the best burger in the DC Metro area, I came across The Counter in the Reston Town Center. The location is easy to get to and there's free parking at a nearby garage. We went on a Tuesday night and it wasn't too packed so we were seated right away. I absolutely love the design inside - minimal and clean, with a bar up front (you can order beer there). Service was as good as it's going to get; the waiter was patient, knowledgeable, attentive, and really sold things well. We were a large party of 8 and he took the time to answer all questions and explain the ordering process of "design your own burger" and a little bit about the California chain. There was SO much to choose from, that it took us forever to order. I would strongly recommend to look at the menu prior to going in there so you can have an idea of what you want since there are so many combinations of things you can get, just to at least narrow it down and have an idea. We started off with fries (nice to have sweet potato fries as an option) as the appetizer and then had our burgers as the main dish. The sauces to dip your fries in were great - go crazy and mix two or three. Everyone at our table ordered differently with our burgers and we were really happy with our choices. Overall it was a little pricey, but well worth everything we got.
(4)
Chris S.

Finally! Finally it has happened to be. I find a Reston burger joint, and can live happi-lee. Just Joking. A lil corny. But the counter is serious. I mean a real burger with real toppings and taste. Blows Red Robin out the gourmet burger water just by their french fry arrangements alone. Where else can I get half french fries, half sweet potato. Or half onion rings and half sweet p in a basket. There are some combinations to play with trust me. The burgers are very good. Doesn't taste as heavy as Robin's. They also have sauces galore to choose from. If you are indecisive you could be at Counter Burger forever. I suggest you do a lil research before going. Only downside is it is a bit expensive, but hey its in the teeth of Reston. Another gem from Cali to land in the East. You gotta love it right? Now, bring on In-N-Out ALREADY!
(4)
George C.

My wife and I visited the Counter Burger in Reston early on a Thursday afternoon. The place was almost deserted, with more staff present than filled tables. So we thought that service at least should not be a problem. We were very wrong. While the food was quite good, the service made the meal one of the least pleasant dining experiences we've ever had -- and as a Foreign Service family we've eaten at restaurants across the United States and in Europe, Africa, and the South Pacific. Apparently Counter Burger prefers to hire very young and inexperienced wait staff --great for the bottom line, not so good for the customers. (They also have loud and not very pleasant Muzak, which i guess they think adds to the youthful "vibe.") Our server left us without food for about 25 minutes, after which she confessed she'd completely lost our order. When the main course eventually showed up, it did not bring with it the starter course, which we asked to be served with the main course but didn't arrive for another 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, we were within easy view of the evident manager --at least, he was the only staff member clearly over 20 years old. Yet he took no interest in why two customers were sitting so long without their order, even though with such young staff management is crucial. We've complained to Counter Burger about this episode. We'll see what comes of it. But from my point of view, it doesn't matter how good the food is if it doesn't show up.
(1)
Jon B.

Great burger spot. 2/3 lb burger was just right for me. Get em cooked med rare.
(4)
Nabeel A.

Everyone loves a good burger place. Everyone really really enjoys a great burger place. For me The Counter falls somewhere in between. I wish their burgers tasted like 5 guys minus the grease and peanut covered floors you typically enjoy at the 5 guys. I went to the counter for a lunch with couple of my buddies. The line was insane even in the below freezing temperature. We waited 25 minutes before we could sit down. The manager or the person at the counter was really nice and engaging. If he wasnt there and updating us I think we wouldve walked out with a negative experience. Also if you are planning to take a big group, call ahead -- this place isnt too big. We sat down and picked our meats, toppings, premium toppings, fries and drinks. They offer insane number of toppings and sometimes you really have to think if your construction is going to be as tasty as it sounds on paper. Burgers were good, fries need a bit more weight to them (it feels like you are eating potato air), and overall everything turned out just okay. The biggest surprise was when the manager came over to our table again, apologize for the wait and said -- I will cover your entire lunch and I am sorry again. That certainly won us over. Thats excellent customer service and we will definitely return for our next burger bites.
(4)
Greg G.

The food was great! Hands down. Went there with my ex girlfriend for valentines day. The service was very helpful, just a little slow at the begining (probably because of the rush that night). I'd deffanatly come back here for a nice burger.
(4)
Ryan M.

Still an outstanding place to grab lunch! Still getting the same thing (chicken sandwich with brie, organic greens, red peppers, garlic aoili on the side) every time, and still bringing out of town guests here after a year. Love it.
(4)
Tiffany W.

The Counter is a new restaurant in the Reston Town Center and is quite a spot. The idea is you build your burger (beef, turkey, veggie or chicken) based on a selection of bread, cheeses, condiments and sauces. The list of items to choose from is bigger than any other burger joint I've seen - so for the experimental at heart...this place is for you! I ordered the turkey burger in a bowl (no bread) on a bed of lettuce with scallions, american cheese and the roasted corn and black bean salsa - yum! Oh, and the sweet potato fries are excellent! The service was great - kudos to the waitress for asking my large group of 9 if we wanted separate checks, and kudos to the manager who stopped by to say hello and was at the door saying goodbye when we left. I will definitely return if I'm in the Reston area.
(4)
Karen R.

I discovered this place a few months ago and have been craving it ever since. I had to go back the other night to get my fix. The concept of creating any type of burger with a lot of different toppings ranging from sauces to veggies to meat and cheese is amazing. Only bad thing is that you will leave in a food coma, but at least you have the Town Center to help walk it off some. The price is a bit high for a burger joint, but then again I can't think of any place that lets me create literally any burger I want with limitless possibilities. Will definitely go back again!
(4)
Rob G.

These burgers were awesome! The sparkling wine in a can...not so much. Tender, juicy and tasty had me cleaning my plate...truly a great burger
(4)
Dede O.

So I am such a fan of this plae...so much so that I hae recruited friends to eat here as often as possible. I justlike the comlex simplicity of it all. Something about building a burger however you want it without judgement makes me so happy and excited. There is a myriad of combinatons that you can have when building your burger. A paper sheet that has tons of topings bread options, cheese choices, etc. You want cranberries on your turkey burger with a fried egg on top POW there ou go...you wan it you got it...and definitely cannot forget the sweet potate fries...ahh whenever I am there I am just happy.
(5)
Becky P.

Came here with three others for a late lunc (around 2pm). We had our choice of either indoor or outdoor seating and chose the indoor to escape the humidity. We ordered some fried pickle chips to occupy us while we tried to conquer our indecisive tendencies. The "chips" had a crisp, thin breading and were piping hot. We enjoyed the dipping sauce as well. The clipboard create-your-own style was fun, and as a non meat-eater I appreciated being able to create my own tasty veggie burger. I ordered it with the honey wheat roll, horseradish cheddar (wasn't spicy at all, perhaps I should have gotten the pepperjack), tomato, black bean and corn salsa, jalapenos, and spicy sour cream on the side. The sour cream was fine, but the veggie burger itself was so tasty I didn't really want the sour cream to overpower it. The table ordered a 50/50 sweet potato and french fry plate. The sweet potato fry dip was super tasty with both fries. My meat-eating companions (one ordered the chicken, another ordered the giant 2/3 beef burger as he was told the full pounder would take 30mins to cook!) seemed to really enjoy their sandwiches and chosen toppings. The brother's only regret seemed to be that he didn't order the Birthday Cake Shake along with his own veggie burger. I would come back here for another lunch with friends- our service was friendly but not overbearing, and the prices were average for the Town Center area.
(4)
Kate S.

I'm also surprised to see that this place got such terrible reviews. I went on a Saturday afternoon, after the usual lunch time. There were plenty of tables available and the music was definitely fun. We had excellent service - I ended up with two sodas at one point because two different servers brought me refills. We had the 50/50 fries and sweet fries. Those sweet potato fries were absolutely to die for, especially with the sauce. My friend and I each made our own burgers. I had a turkey burger, which was very good. As far as prices goes they seem completely reasonable to me. This place isn't Five Guys - you have more options, more atmosphere. You would pay the same amount for a lame meal at Fridays or any other such chain so why not suck it up and branch out a little? All told this place is definitely worth a try.
(4)
Jocelyn T.

Love this place! I love sweet potato fries and my husband loves regular, here we get both - on one plate! I have never made my burger the same way twice which is what makes it so fun. It's a great quick and casual place for lunch or dinner - a go-to in our household.
(4)
Laurent G.

Love the concept: choosing amongst many interesting options to build up your own burger. All the ingredients were good and fresh. My burger was medium rare as I like it (that's rare, no pun intended). Service was attentive. I will go back.
(5)
Frank W.

I had the old school burger since I was to lazy to "build" my own. Great selection but no buffalo meat??? Service needed improvement and food was ok.
(3)
Erin P.

This was by far one of the worst dining experiences I've had. In a full disclaimer- we went on a popular night. We're very understanding and patient when it comes to a busy dinner hour. That said, the waiting area is awkward and you'll have people running into you every 30 seconds, so your patience will be tested. Once we were seated is when the real "fun" began. Taking in the "atmosphere" didn't help. The interior decor is disjointed and obviously picked by an interior decorator going for a campy, VIP look. The whole air about this place is reminiscent of a "better than you" night club. Over burgers? *eye roll* Get over yourself. The drum and bass/remixed pop music was NOT working either. I'm all for mood music, but the volume was so high were were literally shouting and practicing reading lips. My husband asked the waiter if the music was always this bad and loud and the waiter smiled and shouted, "oh yes, it's horrible- this is my song!" What does that even mean?? The menu is presented a la carte. You want fries with that $12 burger? You'll pay extra for that. My husband and I ordered sweet potato fries to go with our (literally) hand selected burgers. They provide you with mini golf pencils and a scorecard to get your burger ingredients "just right." After ordering we waited a good solid 15 minutes to receive or drinks and about another 20 before our appetizer came. What's funny is we didn't order an appetizer... it was our "side" of sweet potato fries. Apparently they think it's hip to eat your fries as an appetizer and your burger solo. The burgers took another good 30 minutes to come out after our fries. When they arrived my husband and I were immediately confused. One of the burgers had a different bun than ordered, so we decided to investigate the accuracy of the rest of the order. Both of our burgers were COMPLETELY wrong. Half of my toppings were on my husbands burger, half of his toppings were on mine, and there were several choice items thrown in that we never even ordered. On top of that the burgers were a lot less done than our medium/medium well requests. It took a while to get the attention of our server. When we explained the situation he looked at us like we were being difficult, sighed, and said he'd try to find our original paper orders in the back. I find it highly irritating that I placed my own order, had two orders completely butchered, and then received an attitude from our server. We quickly ate the burgers (which took about an hour to an hour and a half to receive after ordering) and were ready to head out. An hour later our FOOD POISONING started setting in. My husband had a horrible stomach ache and spent the entire night in the bathroom. I was just feeling a little off at first, but woke up in the middle of the night with one of the worst vomiting spells I've ever had. It lasted until mid-day the following day. Hands down the worst food poisoning I've ever had. Now when we visit our favorite gelato spot next door, I have to talk my outspoken husband out of throwing open the front door and screaming about intricate details of his food poisoning. I will not be going back (unless I'm dragging my husband away from a loud public protest).
(1)
Michael G.

I'm a vegetarian, one daughter's vegan, and my wife and other daughter are omnivores. I got the veggie burger, my vegan daughter got the veggie burger in a bowl, my wife got the veggie burger and my other daughter got a cheese burger. We all thought it was great. It was the best veggie burger I've ever had. At the end, my wife told the waiter that it was my birthday and he threw in one of the burgers for free.
(5)
Amy S.

Fantastic burgers, including their turkey burgers. A bit pricey. For the best value, get the largest size burger and take half of it home with you for a second meal.
(5)
Maggie A.

Amazing burgers! I got the signature Counter burger and was very happy with my selection. They have a great variety of toppings to choose from when building your own burgers as well. Also, the fried pickle chips with apricot sauce were great!
(4)
Barbi N.

Love this place and will come back again and again until the day I decide to get serious about dieting. I love that you can build your own burger in so many different variations. They even include "fried egg" as an option, and I'm a sucker for a fried egg on anything. There's a cool little bar if you're dining alone or whatever, and they play really cool music while you eat. It feels like a slice of California for me since the first time I went was to the one in Los Angeles.
(4)
Jay C.

There aren't a whole lot of good burger places around so when one pops up, I jump at the chance of trying it. I was really excited to stop by here the other night, unfortunately, I wasn't totally thrilled. We stopped in here on a Friday night around 6:30 pm or so. We sat outside which could have been a mistake (the sweet summer breeze of carbon dioxide from the cars, fresh air, and burger smoke from all of the resturants wafted by). We endured and waited patiently for our burgers. I got the 1/3 lb with classic American cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo. I try to get this as this is my litmus test. Well, I can honestly say, It was...good. But that's about it. I think the beef was just average (even being some special type of organic or something) but it was well seasoned. Despite this, IMHO, I make a better burger at home. I would say you get what you pay for, but you get a bigger burger and it is much better either at Sweetwater or Jacksons. ...and, the fries are better at the GAR restaurants. So...in the end, it was good, but I would think twice about making this place my go-to for a da best burger in town. ...that award still goes to Ray's....but definitely better than the over-cooked hockey pucks at Five Guys.
(3)
Kelly K.

This is a great upscale burger place, and the only reason it's getting four out of five stars from me is because I have had two instances where my order was taken incorrectly. I did send an email to management, and the problem was resolved right away. In my opinion, The Counter has the best vegetarian burgers in Northern VA, and I really like the option to have your burger in a salad bowl.
(4)
Alexandra M.

how many times do i have to say, "i want to like this place, it has potential..."!?! ms. lynn - i couldnt agree more. the entire staff looked completely sloppy and unprofessional. my sister and i went on a shopping venture and we were hungry. looking for something slightly healthy but not just a few pieces of lettuce that some places call a salad. i saw that they had the option for a burger bowl...chipotle reference? ill take it. it was good. i got a handful of toppings, avocado, feta, it was pretty fantastic. huge, and pretty healthy. you can keep it that was with any dressing on the side. well, we ventured from healthy with the sweet potato fries which were seriously awesome. my thing was the service. we sat at the bar, it was the middle of the afternoon, lets say 2-ish. and my drink was frequently empty while she (the bartender) was standing in front of me. she was talking to her friend at the bar. the food runner, a woman who looked much more professional, saw my empty glass and offered me a refill. we were also never asked if we had dined there before, which we hadn't because although it is easy to mark little check marks in a box, its a nice touch to show that they also have another menu underneath, something my sister and i noticed after we filled out our papers... the music was very very loud and kind of a strange mix.
(3)
Adriana M.

Do NOT get the turkey burger. The veggie burger is wonderful. Great service :)
(4)
Dustin S.

Decent place, but expensive. Pick a burger, pick your toppings, thats the concept pretty much. Lots of toppings to choose from, but most are unnecessary. Chances are, if you're a dude like me, the toppings you're gonna want will cost extra; cheese, bacon, etc. All in all, if you want a pretty good burger, some fries and a drink, expect to pay around $10-15. On a sidenote, the sweet potato fries are money. Five Guys is better.
(3)
Alexis Y.

The burgers are a bit pricy but well-seasoned and precisely cooked. I've eaten there once and gotten take-out a few times. The time I ate there it was shortly after they had opened - the service was friendly enough but they were very disorganized. They seemed to have no idea why we were there or what strange products we were trying to order from them. It's like it was everyone's first day and no one had seen a menu or even been told they were working in a restaurant. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt since they were new but it always seems to be that way when I'm there picking food up also. It is also a small and cramped dining area. Despite these critiques, I give them 4 stars because it is a delicious burger (I'm told the veggie, turkey, crabcake burgers are good also), they have creative beer and beverage options, they do better take-out than dine-in, it's a bit unique compared to other burger places, and MOST importantly because of the parmesan fries!!!! They are just too ridiculously good with fresh garlic and rosemary...a bit of vinegar also I believe. I have been thinking about them ever since I went last and may return soon just for these fries!
(4)
Catherine P.

Great burgers, love that I can have a vege burger in a bowl, great sweet pot fries!
(5)
Amar R.

Great burger, well cooked beef patty, good topping option and good fries to go with the burger. A touch expensive but I would not paying that much considering the location. All and all I would definitely keep going.
(4)
Scott F.

I've been to The Counter probably more times than is healthy. The breakdown: Appearance: Clean, industrial. Aluminum and Formica. Some outdoor seating, which you might share with a pet just outside the perimeter. A smallish bar area. If you're here on a weekend evening, be prepared for a wait. The entryway gets crowded and it's fairly kid-friendly. Service: Usually good enough. If it's really busy, you might have a hard time catching your server. They do a good job of keeping drinks full, though. Food: Burgers, done the way you want. Choose a protein (beef, chicken, turkey), a size, on a bun or in a salad, and customize. You can choose cheeses, add-ons, sauces, the usual (and some unusual) toppings, and your bun. If you choose beef, you can select a doneness level. Medium is seriously meduim there: just warm and pink, and soft in the middle. If you don't do well with that, go medium-well or well-done (hey, it's your choice). I've switched almost exclusively to the turkey burger, which is just as good, IMO. Bacon is tasty; the sauteed mushrooms are heavily flavored with thyme and not worth it. You can get skinny fries, onion strings, sweet potato fries, or a fifty-fifty with two of those. The fries and onion strings are crispy and delicious; I'm not a sweet-potato guy, so I can't say about those. A fifty-fifty is plenty for two people. Price: Not bad for what you get. More pricey than Five Guys, but you can get Tillamook cheddar, garlic aioli, and spring mix on your burger. Notes: You'd better be seriously hungry if you're going for a 2/3 pound burger and fries. Also, if you want onion strings on your burger, you'll pay $1.25 if you get them as an add-on, but it's no extra cost if you take some off that fifty-fifty. Finally, they offer desserts, but why do that when you can get a gelato at Pitango next door? Overall: Good burgers with a great range of toppings and excellent skinny fries and onion strings. Generally good service, but busy times might make it iffy.
(4)
Carolyn S.

At The Counter, my main beef is with the beef. The burger patty should be the star of the show- but mine provided texture and roughage more than anything. It had almost no flavor- a slight char, but no "beefiness". To confirm that this phenomenon wasn't just due to overpowering toppings, I tried the beef on it's own. Still lackluster. It made me think back wistfully to the burger I had at Good Stuff Eatery in DC the week before- THAT beef has stage presence. And even though The Counter will bend over backwards to give you the burger toppings you want, they are markedly less flexible when it comes to french fries - perhaps because fries have an insanely high profit margin? While I was interested in the parmesan fries, and my SO in the sweet potato fries, our waitress confirmed that the only available sizes were not single-serving, but for two people. I'm a girl who needs her sweet and salty fry fix, so we ordered both types. The portions were huge- plucking a fry from the fry-heap is like taking a bucket of water out of the ocean. By the end of our meal, our fry heaps looked the same size as when they were served. On one hand, I think it's ridiculous that a burger joint won't offer single serving portions. On the other hand, those fries were amazing. Our tab (for two people) came to $40- unfortunately this place doesn't make my cut for gourmet burger dinner dates. With the focus on toppings, this burger joint is truly a "jack of all trades, and master to none."
(3)
Cameron D.

Ate here for lunch -- ordered to-go and enjoyed everything by the fountains in the park one block away. I am quite picky about burgers and these were the best I've ever had. If you like plain burgers, it is certainly not worth paying $9, BUT... If you like loading on crazy toppings, this place is for you. The turkey burger and the beef were perfectly seasoned and cooked very nicely. On the turkey burger I loaded it up with the herb goat cheese, spring lettuce mix, grilled onions and shredded carrots. Seriously, the best burger ever. If you don't like what you get, you are probably bad at ordering. My kids are picky and it's not worth fighting the "eat what's on your plate" battle in public, so they had their beef burger plain and it was STILL so good. The sweet potato fries were great too. I will definitely be back soon, maybe with my husband on father's day. It doesn't hurt that pistango is next door...
(5)
Simon M.

$28 for two burgers and shared plate of fries and two ice teas? Seems kind of pricey to me - my burger was OK - nothing great - skip this and go to Jackson's or if you want a REALLY good burger Ruth Chris or Morton's are local as well - or just go to 5 guys......
(2)
Tina M.

3.5 stars from me. I really liked this place for a quick lunch. Food came out fast and was very tasty. I LOVED that you could 'design' your own burger. Huge fan of that. Service was fine, but there were only 2 other tables seated when we went (it was 11:30 on a Sunday). My only complaint is that the music is WAY too loud and my friends and I had a hard time talking over it.
(3)
Kathy C.

i really love the counter. the sweet potato fries are amazing. i also like all the burger combinations and the option to have an English muffin instead of a regular bun. my burger is always cooked perfectly which is hard to find. i'm definitely surprised that the reviews for this place are not better than they are. i have never been disappointed.
(4)
Josh B.

I've eaten at the location in Palo Alto a few years ago, so I expected a similar experience at the Reston location. I made a serious error ordering a chicken burger, which turned out to be a chicken breast, not ground chicken as I'd hoped. I also ordered a multigrain roll which I would not recommend. It was dry and a bit hard. Oh well, live and learn. My wife and daughter had hamburgers, which were delicious. We shared sweet potato fries, and the waitress even gave us a free Chocolate shake. Cute toddler FTW! The restaurant was very crowded on Friday night, but the counter was available, so there was no wait. Otherwise, be prepared to wait. Also, it was freezing inside, with nowhere to escape the draft from the open door. The total for 2 burgers, a kids meal, and fries came to $24. I wouldn't travel to go back, but if I'm near the Reston Town Center again, I'll be back.
(3)
Scott S.

The Counter is a trendy burger joint that really doesn't deliver. I agree with other reviewers - this place has nothing on Five Guys. My wife and I went on a BOGO coupon, but still ended up at $20 with a shake and fries. The only reason they don't get 1 star is their "Custom Burger", where you can choose any toppings. This can be a recipe for disaster, though, as evidenced by my wife's "Blue Cheese, Craisin, Hard-Boiled egg & Steak Sauce" burger.
(2)
Scott S.

Met my wife for dinner Friday night, and was faced with a predictable 30 minute wait. Once seated, our server, Traci, was lovely. When it came time to give her our order sheets, the difficulty began. The Counter was out of turkey burgers and bison, anythng marked MarketPlace, and a bunch of other things. This, on a Friday night when high traffic should be anticipated. My wife was peeved at no turkey, as that is her go-to. She asked if it would be easier to just tell us what was available instead. Having been there before and gotten overcooked burgers when ordering medium well, we ordered medium. This time the burgers were the other extreme: RARE. Barely warm pink throughout. Yuck. My 16 year-old son, a usually-hearty eater, ate about a third of his. We mentioned that all three were undercooked. Our server said she'd mention it to the manager. We thought he would comp our son's, or visit the table at the very least. Neither occurred. So inconsistency seems to be the hallmark at The Counter. When paying over $60 for 3 burgers, an order of fries, and drinks, you expect better. And you should, especially at Reston Town Center where there is a plethora of better choices.
(2)
Molly M.

This is a small shop in Reston Town Center that offers burgers, chicken burgers and turkey burgers along with the usual sides and a full bar. The Parmesan Fries came out first and were delicious and enough for a few people to share. My burger was average - the meat lacked flavor and needed salt. The toppings I chose were all fresh and tasty. I'd come back, but I'd absolutely ask them to flavor the meat if that's an option. Overall the price was a bit steep, but that's expected in Reston.
(3)
Matthew S.

Friendly service, great burger options, and some unique draft beer selections. Overall a great neighborhood burger joint for a casual meal.
(4)
Adriana V.

Five big stars for this place, in my opinion. I'm not a big burger fan. I don't usually order them when there's grilled chicken or hot dogs to be had - so it takes a pretty darn good burger to get me coming back for more. I had moderate expectations for The Counter, and went because the boyfriend really wanted to try it out. I'm glad we did. The first major point is the selection. They have tons of cheese, sizes, buns, sauces, and odd add-ons. I really appreciated the customizable burger idea. I wound up ordering a 1/3 lb beef burger (PLENTY for me) with the cheddar, red onions, scallions, and bacon and a fried egg. The bacon and the egg were extra, as all premium toppings are. No real surprise there. The surprise came when I went to order my burger medium-rare and got asked if it was ok that they cook it so it's red all the way through. That won major points. If you like your burgers more well done, you can order them that way. It's unusual, however, to get a true medium rare burger. When they served our food, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything was mouthwateringly delicious, and super fresh. As far as I'm concerned, the burger was perfect. The decor is sparse, but in that edgy, modern sort of way. Not super comfortable chairs but the food came out extremely fast, so it's not like we were there for hours. Great beer and wine selection as well. Definitely 4.5 stars all-over, 5 stars for the food.
(5)
Brian H.

Yes, the price is more. Yes, the service can be quirky or not as one would expect (as taught by the "man" in places such as Chilis). However, the burger meat, toppings and sides are what makes The Counter worth trying. If you just want a cheeseburger and plain fries, go to Five Guys. If you want sweet potato fries, toppings like king pao sauce and pickled cucumbers, go to The Counter.
(4)
JJ c.

food was def 4-star worthy, however the service, as always was slow, inconsiderate, and unimpressive. we had to ask the server to take our order, ask where our food was after 20 mins of waiting and seeing other tables that ordered after us get their food, and finally, for the check. And my drink was never refilled. we got a show tho. a server impressively saved three dishes spread across her forearm as she gracefully slid across the wet floor. after the brilliant show, the yellow 'caution' sign went up. obviously i wasn't surprised when a customer almost slipped. nothing is worth two hours for lunch so suffice to say, i'm not returning anytime soon.
(2)
Monica B.

On MLK Day the restaurant was packed but the service was still prompt and the order was perfect. (And the food tasted great as always.) We'll definitely continue to come here and keep our fingers crossed for continued excellent service.
(4)
Ashley A.

Veggie burger with guyere, sauteed onions, tomato, and avocado. I am a fan since i can build it however I like and they have a great veggie burger. Their sweet potato fries and onion strings are yummy as well.
(4)
Neck F.

Sorry this place is not a real burger joint. They try and make you think that their an "upscale" burger joint but they are far from that. First of all the server refused to split our checks for us as we went here with two of our friends and we simply asked for our server to please split our check for us two ways and he said that he can not do so that he can only split our check in half completely which is not fair as we ordered items that were not the same. As for the food itself not great at all. First of all they do not have any sides like fries they simply let you order your fries as a starter and then they came out like fifteen minutes before our actual burgers came to our table. Not sure where they came up with this crazy idea but the normal regular burger joints let you order your burger and your French fries and they come to our table together. We had wanted to save some of our French fries to have with our burgers but honestly fries seem to be a little colder when we received them like fifteen minutes before our burgers were on our table. My Fiance had a tasteless burger with an extremely hard bun. I had a veggie burger that seemed to be one of the veggie burgers that we buy from the grocery store in the frozen food section. The French fries tasted like McDonalads French fries and the sweet potato French fries were fine and the sauce that came with the sweet potato French fries was great. The artichoke hearts on my Veggie Burger were great but honestly that was about all that was great on my Veggie Burger honestly my Veggie Burger was a little tasteless as well. The veggies with the exception of my artichoke hearts were not extremely fresh. Honestly we are more than likely not coming to The Counter anymore we have been once and honestly it was not great at all it had a lot of followers and were not sure why as it was not great.
(1)
Roxy J.

So today for lunch I wanted a yummy hearty burger...hadn't had one in a while and since the cafeteria is closed this week in our building, I ventured here today for lunch with my coworker. I did my research first read the yelp reviews etc. was a little skeptical after the reviews but when I saw the menu I was sold. I love the fact that they offer sooo many different toppings! ( Perhaps because I LOVE condiments and toppings) Upon arriving (we beat the lunch rush) we greated by the hostess who was extremely pleasant and proceeded to walk to the counter where we were meet my a gentleman (who I am going to assume is the Manager or Owner) who broke everything down on how to order etc. after picking his brain and asking 100 questions we proceeded to order. I decided I would try the 1/3 burger on a multigrain bun with a fried egg, alfalfa sprouts, red onion, lettuce, tomato, and tillamook cheddar, my co-worker got the mediterranean bowl and I got a large order of fries (the 50/50- so both sweet potato fries and regular fries). So 15 minutes later we come back as directed It smelled sooo good when we were walking to the car, driving, in the elevator then finally to our desks. the aniticpation was well worth it. DELICIOUSNESS, Tender Juicy, just a damn good burger. I loved the fact they added ranch and a horseradish ketchup to go with the fries! Extra yummy will be back!
(5)
Alix H.

We have been back to the Counter many, many times since the last review so I thought I would add a positive update. With the exception of an occasional snafu, the food has been good (fries soggy, underdone, etc.) and minor glitches in service (on the bill), we have enjoyed this place and prefer it to virtually every other burger joint around! Keep up the good work!
(4)
Sarah P.

This is a fun place for a good burger. Build your own so you can be as crazy or traditional as you like. My husband likes the pickle fries. The sweet potato fries were so good! Another favorite part of this place is going to Pitango next door for dessert!
(4)
Heather P.

Not impressed. Service was not good. Ordered burger and crab bowl burger, onion strings. Burger cooked right crab bowl ok onion strings thumbs down. Ice tea took 2 sips told waiter it was not good he brought water and still charged for tea. He asked how was everything I let him know onion strings were a let down. He went onto tell me he didn't charge me for them after I said they were bad. Why can't some wait staff look at the table see whats going on with the food and tell something is not good. I know they don't care its not their business welcome millinium kids.
(3)
Terry S.

Meh. The burgers are decent, but the service and the fries leave a lot to be desired.
(3)
Martha M.

I am vegan and my carnivorous companion and I both really enjoyed our meals. So many great options!
(5)
Brandon R.

I love hamburgers. It is one of the few foods that I have consistently enjoyed all my life. I unabashedly believe it is true American food and I am on a never ending quest to find the perfect burger. My quest today leads me to 'The Counter'. Located in the recently upgraded Reston Town Center, The Counter is not the typical hamburger joint. Absent is the typical poorly lit, dingy tables and fixtures with bad sports memorabilia. The setting here is much different. While the experience at The Counter should not be described as fine dining, the host station, and the bright lighting tends to lend itself to a more trendy place that should be referred to as an eating establishment rather than a hamburger joint. Enough about the atmosphere, as the food is quite good. The appeal of 'The Counter' is the wide selection of toppings to choose for one's burger. There are just too many toppings to even mention, but there were a few that struck my eye and eventually found themselves on my burger. I chose a normal bun(whole wheat bun is an option) with mixed green lettuce, tomato, mayo, bacon AND brie. While the toppings are interesting for me, it always comes down to how the actual burger taste. The Counter burgers certainly pass the test of providing a savory, juicy burger that is well complemented by very interesting choices for toppings. They do a really good job of choosing fairly quality beef and the preparation meets the standard of the meat. There was just the right amount of fat without creating a river of grease down my arm and seasoned well enough such that it would enhance rather than overpower the taste of the burger. The brie on my burger was certainly a winner. This was a first for me and will certainly not be the last burger I order with such a fancy flair. Along with toppings there are also a few side items that were instant hits for me, namely the sweet potato fries. All in all, certainly a good first experience, my only real complaint, the price. At $20(including tip) this was not so much a good option for an everyday family outing, but certainly a nice treat every now and then.
(3)
Kevin B.

I'll give this an ok. I feel like the whole restaurant was having an identity crisis trying to be modern/50s diner/organic hippie at the same time. The fries are definitely on point but the burger wasn't anything special which is a pretty sad thing to say for a burger joint.
(3)
Jeffrey L.

Good burgers, and a bit of attitude. But the place is fresh and informal. Lots of young kids - 20 - 30, as well as families.
(4)
Jackie J.

I am very disappointed with the counter. I walked by and it had a nice new and fresh look and had a good crowd eating inside and waiting outside, so we decided to try it. First off, the burgers are way overpriced ($9 for the smallest,) especially since they don't come with fries. Maybe the price would have been worth it if the burger was actually good, but OKAY and ehhh would be my best description. The burger was juicy but had little flavor. There were a variety of sauces available for the burger, but none of the ones we had were all that great and I wouldn't have high expectations for the ones we didn't try. For cheese, I chose the horseradish cheddar, and it too had little flavor. The bun was also nothing special, pretty boring, which i guess perfectly compliments the rest of the flavorless burger. We also had the onion straws, and even those were disappointing. They were very thin and essentially tasteless. The service was just okay too. Despite having 3 servers coming by to help us, it was still slow. My burger was also missing one of the toppings I had written down. I would not go back. Like others have said, for the price you'll be much more satisfied with Unos, Jacksons, or Cydes. Conclusion: NOT WORTH IT! spend your money elsewhere! To be perfectly honest, I would have been more satisfied with a BigMac.
(1)
Sasha D.

This is one of my favorite places to get a burger. The service however leaves very little to be desired. I have been there 6 times and the food has always been great--how can you beat designing your own burger-and my drink glass always goes empty until they come for the bill. It would be great if they could get their act together, but they have had very young staff that is more interested in talking to each other.
(3)
Amanda K.

My husband and I moved to the RTC about a month and a half ago. We finally decided to try this place out with another couple. We decided to sit outdoors (which took over 15 mins to get seated on a Friday night). Everyone ordered draft beers and it took 10-15 to get our beers and our appetizers came out before that. We ordered fried pickles and two orders of fries and onion strings to share. The fries you can get better at McD's. The fried pickles were gross. My meal was a burger w/ melted cheese on top of a bed of baby spring lettuce. I liked the fact I could customize my burger (I am not a huge carb fan, so I could get the lettuce instead of a bun). My burger was pretty good. My husband ordered the counter burger and said it was warm at best. He also said the cheese was melted on there like it was sitting under a heat lamp. Our meals total was very expensive for what you get there. You are better off going to 5 Guys burgers or Fuddruckers
(1)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Address : 11922 Democracy Dr
Reston, VA, 20190
Phone (703) 796-1008
Website https://www.thecounterburger.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Burgers

Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.

Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.

McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

Search Your Favourite Restaurants.

The Counter

11922 Democracy Dr, Reston, VA, 20190

The Counter Menu

Starters

Signature Burgers

Sandwiches

Signature Burgers In A Bowl

Build Your Own Burger - Choose A Cheese

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Counter

Starters

Signature Burgers

Sandwiches

Signature Burgers In A Bowl

Build Your Own Burger - Choose A Cheese

Shawna H.

Kate H.

Jenn S.

Jon R.

Dottsy Z.

B H.

Scott S.

Daniel H.

John K.

Sunny C.

Jennifer S.

Robert S.

Iain B.

Robert L.

Samantha W.

H N.

Vanessa P.

Matt O.

Steve O.

Chris P.

Kate R.

Austin K.

Kimberly K.

Eric B.

P T.

Maya W.

Christopher G.

Nita H.

Jina Y.

Freddy P.

Jackson L.

Donna B.

Ann B.

Pegah Y.

Sean R.

Mike B.

Greg W.

samantha v.

Crystal C.

Hart P.

Jon M.

Caroline M.

Cati S.

Ritzie C.

Bill B.

Ching H.

Jon H.

Raph K.

Nicole W.

Tiffany N.

Eric N.

Lyndsey C.

Christina D.

Diane B.

Kelly D.

Brian G.

John L.

Alice A.

Xuan-Lise C.

Roger B.

Mary C.

John R.

Nick G.

Tim R.

Gregory R.