Despite the gluten-free options listed, I was informed by staff that due to their small kitchen this restaurant is NOT safe for those with celiac/true gluten allergies. That said, my family enjoyed the unique menu, especially the brussel sprouts.
I did not have any expectations coming into this restaurant, but little did I know that I was going to have a spectacular brunch at this fine place! Not only was the service amazing because of our server who was attentive and bubbly, but the food which was fantastic. I tried the hazelnut latte and Minted matcha iced latte which were both very delicious. The matcha had a subtle sweetness, tartness and was just so smooth and rich. Aside from the drinks, the appetizers were jaw dropping. The grilled cheese dippers was inexplicably delectable, there was so much flavor and the garlic aioli added such a beautiful essence to the dish. Grilled cheese done the right way! The pumpkin chai hotcakes were vegan and gluten free, tasted sweet and felt like autumn with each bite. It was a very enjoyable item and I highly recommend it if you enjoy a sweet treat. Lastly was the rustic wagyu steak sandwich. I was a bit weary about it since i'm not a big blue cheese person, but I was truly astonished by how much the flavors were enhanced by the sour taste of the cheese! It really turned out to be such a flavorful experience. I had such a great experience here and I would definitely suggest trying this place if you haven't already!
We love it here and have been going for a few years now since moving to the valley. The atmosphere is easily 5 stars, very homey with a super large outdoor area and cozy indoor area (fireplace in winter). The pastries are easily 5 stars (gluten-free and vegan pastry options are great too), and the staff also easily 5 stars with everyone always kind and patient.
My only suggestions for improvement would be getting vegan milk options that are unsweetened because the oat and almond milk lattes are quite sweet for us even without any syrups added. Food varies a bit but it's always a delicious mix of comfort food and healthy food and we love that.
This entire street is full of cute locally owned shops to enjoy after you enjoy your lunch or latte.
Review in English + Spanish
My favorite: Vegan dynamite crab meat sushi rolls.
When I lived in Los Angeles, this was my absolute favorite place to eat at. The staff knew very order and they would have it ready to go for me. Reminding me every time.. Gluten free. Confirming that they remember my allergy to gluten.
Their dedication to making each meal safe and incredible, is what makes me think of them still years later. I dream about flying across the country just to be able to eat there.
The flavor balance, the texture and customer service are worth taking a trip there.
I usually would take my order to go. The place inside is small and there is not a lot of seating. It is more intimate. There is a patio out front with a couple of seats.
There are a lot more gluten free options now than when I last went.
If you are just vegan then you have so much to experience!
I Hope you fall in love with them just like I did.
*limited parking. You can park on the street. The parking lot is a little narrow and shared with other businesses.
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My favorites: Vegan crab meat sushi rolls, amazing!
When I lived in Los Angeles, this was my favorite place to eat. The staff knew every order and had it ready to go. They reminded me every time. Gluten-free. Confirming that they remember my gluten allergy.
Their dedication to making each meal safe and amazing is what makes me think of them years later. I dream of flying across the country just to eat there.
The balance of flavors, texture, and customer service make it worth going.
I usually order takeout. The place is small and doesn't have much seating. It's more intimate. There's a patio out front with a few seats.
There are many more gluten-free options now than the last time I went.
If you're vegan, there's so much to try!
I hope you fall in love with them like I did.
*Limited parking. Street parking is available. The parking lot is a bit tight and shared with other businesses.
Came here because we saw online that they were Celiac friendly and took allergies seriously. Fries don’t share a fryer with anything else. Gluten-free bun, and they clean the stovetop before they heat it up. Burgers and fries were excellent.
Edit: 3 hours later and husband is still fine. Legit!
THE COUNTER is part of an international chain of casual, mid-century, American diners. The high-end eatery's gourmet burgers and extensive list of toppings and sides combine into over a million combinations.* (So you can order a different burger combination, for lunch, for about 2,700 years, without once repeating.)
Sherri, the franchise owner, stopped by to tell me about her eatery. Reminiscent of a 50's malt shop, it's designed with comfortable booths and space between tables. (The only thing missing is a jukebox.) Place settings are simple. Condiments and extra napkins are displayed on every table. A beer and wine bar stretches across the restaurant's east wall. (Sherri is proud of the selection of "Reds.")
The menu offers 9 animal and vegetable proteins. The buns: wheat, gluten free, vegan, and a lettuce wrap are interchangeable. There are 28 toppings, 12 cheeses, 20 sauces, and 12 sides. Mix and match as you like.
Organic products are used whenever possible. The menu is annotated with dietary information.
I ordered a vegan Impossible Burger with several toppings, prepared medium rare. Lots of restaurants offer Impossible Burgers but not one, so far, has been able to cook it medium rare.
In short order the tallest burger I've ever seen arrived. I don't have a ruler, but my best guess is that the sandwich is about 6 inches tall. It arrived open-face, loaded, as ordered, with a thick, medium rare, Impossible Burger, shredded lettuce, tomato, fried onions, and cucumber slices, piled high on a lightly toasted Ciabatta roll, gently spread with a refreshing vegan mayo.
Before closing the sandwich, I added a dollop of ketchup. Then holding the middle of the sandwich, I took nibbles along the edge. The nibbles turn into bites as I devoured the sandwich. The chef prepared it perfectly. I had also ordered Shoe String Fries. The combination is absolutely delicious. But, try as I might, I left quite a few fries.
The well trained staff is gracious, and friendly. They checked to see if everything was okay. It was.
Expensive, yes. Worth it, definitely.
STUFF: Easy free parking in the rear of the eatery. Walking up the ramp or a few steps takes you to The Counter's rear entrance. Follow the hallway into the dining room. The code, to unlock the large, clean restrooms, can be supplied by any staff member. Everything is ADA compatible.
*Jeff Weinstein opened the first "The Counter" eatery (2003) in Santa Monica California. During the following twenty-three years the chain has grown to 45 locations worldwide: United States, Mexico, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, and Japan.
(First time going on 1/21/21) great customer service! A girl at register and two guys helping out in the back. They were very patient since I let them know it was my first time there. Got a few items; a Mexican iced mocha, so delicious, highly recommend, a chicken pesto panini which will fill you up for a good few hours, some mad tasty (really difficult to find, I guess not many places sell it), a gluten free chocolate chip cookie, and some coffee fix brand coffee espresso Overall the prices were great IMO, and the wait time was very quick, no one there when I arrived, until I was leaving another customer came (12:30 ish). Will be coming back soon to try their lattes!
P.S. they also have cards for each visit!
Best classic breakfast in LA! We love getting a chance to head in. We're especially fans of the banana pancakes and the gluten-free chocolate chip, but everything we've had is wonderful!
Best Gluten-free pizza!!!(Haven't had a pizza this good in 7 years--since i had to go Gluten-free.) Preparation and Flavor was EXCELLENT!
I HIGHLY recommend!!!
Best Indian food I've had in LA. My partner has celiac so we often go to Indian restaurants and Lal Mirch really stood out! We were out with a fairly large group and our server Abu was awesome. We'll definitely be back.
This isn’t a recommendation but a warning. They cook the gluten free noodles in the same water as the regular noodles. There’s nothing safe for Celiacs on the menu except the edamame. I went there because they had no mention of it on their website. Waited 30 minutes for a table…should have asked ahead of time. Sad. It smelled absolutely delicious 😭
Came in after a long, cold day at Universal Studios with my family. We wanted a warm place, with plenty of indoor seating, and a real menu that did not include theme park fare. We were pleasantly surprised when we happened upon Reno’s. My party’s order included a platter of beef ravioli smothered in meat sauce, a crispy gluten-free pizza, and a vegetarian pizza loaded with fresh veggies. We were so tired and so hungry that I forgot to take pics. The restaurant is cozy, friendly, great food and great service. Stop by after a long day at Universal.
Accommodating Gluten-Free
