The Counter Review

At the South end of The Gateway Mall sits the newer restaurant, The Counter. Known for their custom built burgers, The Counter boasts to have over 312,120 choices of hamburgers. They even have a hamburger for people with gluten allergies (or dieting) aptly named, “Burger in a Bowl”.




The Counter is exactly what a burger joint should be. Everything you want, nothing you don’t. Their menu is reminiscent of buying a car but without the hassle of salesmen and cheesy gimmicks. You decide the size, the doneness and lastly (but most importantly), the options that come with your new “ride”.

The service is helpful in making suggestions and knowing what “options” go well with your particular tastes. Aside from being a great eatery, they also have a sizable beer list. Because sometimes picking the right beverage is just as important as the food you’re complimenting.

The Counter’s décor was clean and neat - lots of stainless bits, a revolving door and two easily seen TVs. All of this adds up to a great combo for watching the game with good food and good brew.
The sweet potato fries came highly recommend. We took the recommendation and found ourselves ordering cheese fries as well. Both baskets of fries came to our table piping hot and neither of which disappointed. Our table dug in and the fries were gone before we could make sense of just how good they were. Take this as a warning. Make sure to order the large size and share them. The individual sizes leave you wanting more, a lot more.



When building a burger, get crazy and try one of their delicious sauces. A good idea if you have a large group is to have everyone order a different sauce. With so many choices, you can find the perfect combination for your particular tastes. Our favorites were the Roasted Garlic Aioli, Peppercorn Steak Sauce and Sweet BBQ Sauce.


One thing to keep in mind is that this is an ala carte diner. Getting too over the top can thin the wallet. While their prices aren’t “expensive” for a night out, it isn’t the cheapest burger you will ever have. With that said, you do get what you pay for and in this case, a burger that’s worth every penny.

There are always restaurants that come and go. Longevity comes with great food and good service. Burgers cooked to order, Milkshakes of the Month and Killer fries add up to a dining experience that should be around for a long time.

Vienna Bistro Review

Vienna Bistro is a small German restaurant located at 132 South Main Street. Parking can be a problem, so I would suggest taking Trax or paying for parking. They had great service and were accommodating to someone in our party with dietary issues. Make sure to bring cash as they will give you a 5% discount.

Here is a little sampling of our dinners from Vienna Bistro.

Veal made to order (for someone who has celiac)



Hühnerbrust Bauern Art


Jägerschnitzel


Housewurst


Sauerbraten


Geschnetzeltes Züricher Art

Travis' Tin Angel Review

Located near a freeway off ramp and literally across from a park known for its transient populous, The Tin Angel is a small restaurant seemingly placed in the oddest of places. Getting over the previous statement, the setting was surprisingly cozy and what you might expect (read: “hippy”ish, “indie”ish, and small) from a restaurant converted home. Even the silverware and place settings were unique in the fact that they were…well…unique.

The menu was rather small but certainly catered to the guilty eaters of the world. Many items were organic. Even my root beer was “all natural”. There was also a note for the Vegan and Vegetarian eaters to remind them that some of the meals could be ordered specifically for them. Gluten and Nut allergies were also considered. How nice.

It seemed to me that salads were more their forte as all of them came out and were immediately devoured. I am almost certain their salads received praise by all in attendance. The main courses had a slight Italian flare to them – including several dishes of noodles and pasta. My meal, the Sage & Roast Chicken Pasta, was fantastic! Not being a fan of pasta, I was hesitant. However, I didn’t want to pay $25+ for some red meat so I took a chance. I was glad I did. The sauce looked a lot like an Alfredo but after tasting it, was much more buttery. I couldn’t get enough. I would definitely recommend it.

I believe The Tin Angel to be a good place for a quaint meal for two or four persons but for anything more, I would consider someplace else. Our party had six heads and the lot of us took up most of the dining area. The pricing was a little steep. In any case, the food was definitely a plus and comes recommended.

John's Mazza Review

When we first arrived we were escorted to a designated waiting area while our table was being prepared. Nothing I hate worse than waiting by the entry having to dodge all the people coming and going. Even though we only had to wait a few minutes it was a nice change. Once we arrived at our table we had some time survey the restaurant as we waited for Dianna and Travis to arrive. The décor was tastefully done in a Moroccan style with bright color fabrics and some cool lanterns over each table. I ordered a lamb and rice dish which was descent but nothing spectacular. For Mediterranean food it seemed to be tamed down to appease the masses. Also the prices seemed to be a little high for what you got. Overall it was descent meal but nothing I would go out of my way for.
John-

Mazza Review

When dining at Mazza, be prepared for a variety of flavors and spices.

Travis and I were a little apprehensive about eating at Mazza. I had only heard good things, but we are the world’s pickiest eaters. Neither of us had ever eaten Middle Eastern food before.

After telling the waitress it was our first time there, she offered us numerous suggestions.
I decided to start with the potatoes Harra. It was a fairly large serving of cubed potatoes cooked in a variety of spices. It was the perfect amount of flavor for a picky girl like me.

For my entree I choose the Chicken and potatoes Mutabbak which came with a side salad and rice. The salad had a very peppy house dressing. The chicken and potatoes were thinly sliced and layered with onions and a sweet and tangy sauce.

Overall I enjoyed dining at Mazza. It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. I am sure I will go again in the future.