West Hollywood and the surrounding area has no shortage of great places to eat, and some of them make an awesome burger. Now, there is a new player in the local burger game that offers over 312,000 different burgers. The Counter, well known and well liked by foodies that have visited their locations in the beach cities, has opened near the corner of Sunset and Fairfax. 

Actually, The Counter doesn’t have a menu with over 300,000 burgers listed. Instead, there is a little work involved on the part of each customer. As you enter, you are handed a clipboard with an almost limitless list of options and toppings from which to choose. And that is easier said than done because everything sounds incredibly tasty.

It seems as though they truly have something to appeal to everyone. First, you select the type of meat (or veggie patty) and size of burger. They even have something called ‘Burger in a Bowl’. I was shocked when the server placed the bowl on the floor and told me that before I could eat it, I would have to bark like a cocker spaniel. Just kidding, of course. Burger in a Bowl is not dog food, but an alternative to those who are avoiding bread in their diet.

Next you get to pick your favorite type of cheese. We’re not talking the basic few cheeses you would find at any burger joint, we are talking about an impressive selection of cheeses ranging from Danish Blue and Jalapeno Jack to a tangy Horseradish Cheddar. If you’re a purist and prefer good old American or Swiss, they have those too.

Next, it’s time to select the toppings for your burger. Grilled pineapple…no worries; dried cranberries…not a problem. They even have organic mixed greens and sliced cucumbers on the lengthy taste tempting list. A separate list of ‘Premium Toppings’ includes fried egg, fried onion strings and honey cured bacon. Finally, pick the type of bun you would like and your burger is immediately put into production. 

And how are the burgers? Well, as for mine, it looks beatuiful on the outside but it's really pink on the inside. Oops - my bad. As one who prefers a burger cooked all the way through, I could have easily avoided that little problem by requesting my burger well done, which I neglected to do. The patty is thick and juicy and the toppings are fresh and flavorful. I couldn't decide whether to have fries or onion rings with my burger, so I'm having some of each. Both are thin, crispy, and quite flavorful.

It seems that word has gotten out about the area's newest eatery. The Counter is doing a brisk business tonight and everyone seems to be having a great time. The interior of the restaurant has a trendy, industrial look. The lighting and color scheme are warm and welcoming. The restaurant has a fairly spacious indoor dining area but, for those who prefer to take advantage of the beautiful Los Angeles weather, I recommend grabbing a table on the outdoor patio.

The Counter was founded in 2003 and now has locations sprinkled throughout California and in cities across America. The ‘Coming Soon’ list of new locations includes Miami (Miami International Airport), Houston, and Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The Counter Los Angeles is located at 7919 Sunset Boulevard, just west of Fairfax. 

On the web: http://www.thecounterburger.com