Comments on: New burger joint coming to Ballard Blocks

By: megannoel

megannoel — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:08:58 +0000

my boyfriend and i went to the counter for the 1st time last weekend.
we ordered: 1 chocolate shake, and 1 coffee shake. we got 2 chocolate shakes. they were very good, i will admit. $5 each they better be.
we ordered: 1/2 sweet potato fries and 1/2 regular fries. we got 1/2 sweet potato fries and 1/2 onion rings.
we ordered: a medium well done burger. we got an extremely rare burger. the chicken bowl however was prepared as expected. we both had upset stomachs for a few days after. not food poisoning, just it was sort of greasy and i dunno. the tab came to a bit over $40 + tip. honestly wendi's is better and it would have cost a fraction of what we paid :(

By: fred

fred — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:00:17 +0000

We were driven away from the outdoor seating at the Red Mill on Dravus (Magnolia) by some loud drunk homeless people. So it does happen.

By: jon sully

jon sully — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:29:36 +0000

3 words…..Mike's Chili Parlor

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:40:55 +0000

Call me cranky, but if I'm looking for a burger I'm heading to Scooters. If I want a burger and a drink, it's Hamburger Harry's. I'm not interested in a California export. Thanks anyhow.

By: sleestak

sleestak — Fri, 29 May 2009 07:01:28 +0000

"we lived in LA and.."

"im from California and..."

ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

if you like it so much, please move back. I frakin hate it when people move out here and pull that "well, in SO AND SO we had this" or "Seattle sucks! it doesn't even have a WHITE CASTLE! where i'm from in New Jers...." ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I'm out of handing out gold stars and one-way bus passes guys and gals

By: kjm

kjm — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:41:56 +0000

We lived in LA for a short time a couple of years ago and went to The Counter frequently with our two young kids. It is awesome. You fill out your burger menu ahead of time with your choice of toppings and I believe they were about $8-9 (a lot less than Lunchbox Laboratories!). They have awesome sweet potato fries and it was totally kid friendly. I can't wait for it to get here!

By: Lisa McConnell Geisness

Lisa McConnell Geisness — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:53:46 +0000

Thank you for a thoughtful and cogent post, Michelle. :)

By: angelatini

angelatini — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:48:18 +0000

YES!!!! IN N OUT!!!!!!!!!

By: Sean McClintock

Sean McClintock — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:28:45 +0000

You're right, it is different. I'd rather support a local chain where the money is going to stay in the local economy than an out-of-state chain where the profits go elsewhere. Granted, it's not a big national chain, but I'd rather give my money to Dick's or Tom Douglas, etc.

By: J

Mon, 25 May 2009 21:34:47 +0000

I have been to the counter in Santa Monica. It is one of the best burgers I have ever had. All the various options made it great. They also had really good fries. Everyone will really enjoy this place.

By: Tiptoes

Tiptoes — Mon, 25 May 2009 19:12:47 +0000

"the people that work there are a lot of fun."

Well that ain't gonna go down well with Ballard's perpetually aggrieved class.

Next thing they'll find out it's too expensive for them. Then we'll have to hear more 'we hate people who make more money than us' rants.

By: a dude

a dude — Mon, 25 May 2009 09:15:22 +0000

these kinds of comments are so juvenile. the owner will almost for sure be local. whats it matter if a restaurant that looks just like it is 1000 miles away?

By: buh

buh — Mon, 25 May 2009 05:37:45 +0000

So that is your description of a “gourmet burger” ?

Or maybe its just another way to keep out the undesirables. I'll start the stop watch once they open and find themselves dialing 911 to get the homeless out.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:35:17 +0000

I have been to The Counter in So Cal. Its Great. The food is fresh and the people that work there are a lot of fun. There is nothing like in Seattle. I don't think its a chain so to speak but each place is individually owned and operated. To me this sounds more like what everyone here wants. The 300,000 thing is a bit misleading. What they are saying is over 312,000 combinations of ingredients. According to a blog I read about their Palo Alto location,
some mathematician came in and did the math with the total number of ingredients on the menu. This totaled 312,000 combos, not 300,000 ingredients. I just counted and their menu has about 65 ingredients including the beef,cheeses, sauce, other toppings and buns. I could not imagine having an inventory that consisted of 300K ingredients.

Either way I'm glad someone is stepping up and bring some more life to Ballard Blocks. I'll certainly give them the benefit of trying the place before I pass judgment. And as someone else said here it will bring jobs to Ballard and thats a good thing.

If you remember there were a number of people that didn't like the idea of Trader Joe's coming to Ballard. Now it seems like its always been here.

Nothing stays the same forever. Ballard once was just a rough fishing based town, who would have thought it would be what it is today 20 or 30 years ago.

Michelle

By: Trix

Trix — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:29:14 +0000

You have a point. I'm just saying I, myself, like doing something other than Dick's and Taco Bell once in awhile. And I'm not going to nay say the place before I try it out.
I can't cook, so the more restaurants in Ballard the better.
I eat at Hattie's all the time, btw. Good food at decent prices.

By: emeraldkity

emeraldkity — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:32:58 +0000

^
we actually have a lot of those places in Ballard.
We regularly frequent India Bistro, Senor Moose, La Isla, Oaxaca, Thaiku
Hattie's Hat, The Dish, et al.

What I really miss is Panko's, A fabulous coffee/Asian shop that made their own scones- the best I have ever had. Fresh lemonade ( even if sometimes I think they forgot the sugar)-breakfast burritos on weekends & best lattes.
Friendly people- have no idea what they are doing now- they are missed.

I would rather a place target what they do well- than have a huge freezer for 300,000 " fresh" ingredients.

Local food, served by/for locals.

By: emeraldkity

emeraldkity — Sun, 24 May 2009 23:37:50 +0000

I like Redmill, Scooters, Little Coney & Dicks for burgers

Chain wise- we already have one of these in Wa & they are fantastic
http://burgerville.com/

This is not the economy to be opening up expensive/high concept places that are meat- intensive=inefficent use of resources.

Gimme more Vietnamese food.

By: Trix

Trix — Sun, 24 May 2009 21:42:10 +0000

Good one, Barfly. Some folks just have trouble seeing beyond the dollar menu. Once in awhile, it's nice to treat yourself to something that doesn't come from a drive-thru window.

By: Barfly

Barfly — Sun, 24 May 2009 20:56:12 +0000

Well if you can't tell the difference between a $1 Big Mac and food made with fresh ingredients, good meats and veggies, hand made fresh for you….I mean, come on.

By: wuuuut

wuuuut — Sun, 24 May 2009 10:32:18 +0000

What is a gourmet burger? I mean come on…

By: Jen Han

Jen Han — Sun, 24 May 2009 09:34:46 +0000

Being a transplanted Californian in Ballard, I am so excited about The Counter coming to Seattle! The food is fantastic- everything from the burgers to the sweet potato fries to the milkshakes. Because they use quality local and organic ingredients, you do pay more than you would stopping in to Dick's Drive-In. However, the prices are still reasonable and totally worth it! Can't wait!

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Sun, 24 May 2009 09:10:22 +0000

This is awesome. Use to live in Santa Monica but never went because it was to busy but recently hopped into the El Segundo Plaza location and I loved it! Can't wait for 1 pound burgers in Ballard!

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sun, 24 May 2009 07:31:30 +0000

It's a chain – it's from California – it has to be evil! ALL THEM CHAINS IS EVIL!

What? Red Robin? That's different. Tom Douglas chains? That's different. The Met et al? That's different. Dick's? That's different.

By: New

New — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:21:43 +0000

I hope some shipping and copying store opens up at Ballard Blocks soon. They have some signs on some windows indicating Marshal Art and Fresh Food!!! But who knows.

Does any one know wha will open at the Ballard Blocks II?

By: Trix

Trix — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:29:08 +0000

72 comments? Ballard has very strong feelings towards their burger joints.
Well, I'll try this place. Anyplace with beer and onion rings is worth a shot.

By: Lisa McConnell Geisness

Lisa McConnell Geisness — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:27:14 +0000

Actually, I am right in Ballard. Where I donate to the food bank each week, donate to the animal rescue center, etc., participate in graffiti removal and street clean-ups, buy the homeless newspaper, buy local. I try to be a decent citizen wherever I am living, so you can be snarky at me at your own will, but what does it prove?

Too true: the use of the word xenophobic was too broad. But I figured the word I'd use that means "irrational bitterness towards people who are from California" wasn't one you'd get.

[No, I know you don't dislike hamburger chains. After all, you made a comment a few months ago complaining about the Denny's being taken down -- which, um, started in California. ]

I am not in a pissing contest: "my place can beat up your place." My point is that to dismiss something, someONE out of hand is limiting to the both of us. It's true: I was born in Los Angeles. Do you think I had any control over that? I am a first-generation born American who is Tahitian, Maori, and Welsh. It was a twist of fate that I was not born in the South Pacific. I have lived in many different places since then. My family is spread out over several continents with different religions, political and cultural beliefs. Yet you've got me pegged, eh?

I find it very troubling that you would "mark" me for being born in a given place, because that is, whether you want to acknowledge that or not, the first step towards dehumanization.

By: Lush

Lush — Sat, 23 May 2009 22:53:25 +0000

Yeah! Scooter rocks!

By: Lush

Lush — Sat, 23 May 2009 22:51:35 +0000

“Bums”? I agree with Neighbor. Classism durng a recession is tacky.

By: ktown69

ktown69 — Sat, 23 May 2009 22:40:26 +0000

I love people who complain about people complaing about…oh, never mind. Sometimes I think all these forums are for is people complaining.

By: Otis Criblecoblis

Otis Criblecoblis — Sat, 23 May 2009 13:14:04 +0000

This is outrageous! 327,256 ingredients? How long do you think it will take to order and to make the burger? Sorry, 2 weeks is too long to me.