Pricing:
$12-15 for the burger depending on what you add. French fries are sold separately. So if you get fries and including drinks, you're going to be spending a little over $20 per person here.
Distance:
In The Forum strip mall which is right by the Calle Barcelona/El Camino Real intersection. About 10 minutes away for Encinitas residents.
Thoughts:
I feel like The Counter is neither bad nor great. The location in Carlsbad is a convenient one. If you're out shopping it's a decent dining option because there's hardly ever a long wait to get seated (even on weekends).
The food is okay. I like the flavor but it's not the juiciest burger I've ever had. The fact that you have to order fries separately also kind of goes against the grain. I could name a dozen other gourmet burger places that serve equal if not better food and the fries are always included. Their salad bowl option is also iffy. Sometimes the salad is fresh other times it tastes like it's been sitting in the bag too long.
I just feel like the pros and cons balance each other out to make an average dining experience. This is a chain restaurant. I know that concrete is hard to keep looking clean but many times I have walked inside and the whole place feels like no one has been through with a broom all day.
So not a bad option if you just want something quick and painless and there's a location right by you. Would I go here for a special night out or really craving a good burger? Probably not.
