Tucked behind the Commons Courtyard Shop on a glorified alley called Shoppers Lane, just east of Lake Avenue, sits The Counter. We’ve featured this chain location in previous Cheeseburger Weeks, not just because of its terrific burgers, but because of the variety.
And that variety comes from you, as you can add any number of ingredients to your burger to make it your own creation. We opted for the traditional “Old School Cheeseburger” ourselves, one of several “pre-built” burgers, should you not feel like experimenting.
But if you want to enter the lab, there are four protein choices: All-Natural Beef, All-Natural Ground Turkey, All-Natural Chicken Breast , Impossible and Vegan Veggie. Then you can choose from 12 different cheeses, from Cheddar to Gouda, to Feta and Mozzarella. Next up are 24 different toppings, including lettuce, baby kale, tomatoes, cranberries, alfalfa sprouts, scallions, a hardboiled egg, or marinated artichokes.
Choose a size, and then choose one of five different buns, from traditional to brioche, and then choose a sauce or dressing. Add premium toppings if you’re so motivated, and then choose a side, like fries. Or not. But by then, you’ll be seriously hungry.
The burgers here are big, flavorful, and taste a lot like you would make at home. There is also a happy hour Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. So there’s that.
And during Cheeseburger Week, you can buy one and get one for half price, just by mentioning ‘Cheeseburger Week,” of course. There are details, but ask them when you get there.
Cheeseburger Week runs from January 23rd to 28th, as Pasadena honors Lionel Sternberger’s genius in being the first documented individual to put cheese on a hamburger and serve it, at the Rite Spot in Pasadena in 1924. (he burned a patty, and the customer loved it.)
And, beginning January 23, you can take the Cheeseburger Challenge right here.
