Tucked away off of Kilmayne Road is the burger joint, Corbett’s Burgers! Located in the same plaza as Big Lots! and Sushi-Thai, it’s a bit off the beaten path unless you’re looking for the place. But the concept intrigued me: great burgers and a huge selection of old-school sodas. I mean, who can resist? The challenge that Corbett’s has is that while it’s hard to mess up a burger (when was the last time you had a bad one?), it’s also really hard to stand out. The only way to find out was for me to stop into Corbett’s for a quick lunch!
Inside, Corbett’s has a traditional diner feel. A bit casual, nostalgic and such, the walls are dotted with knick-knack’s and pictures from days gone by. It’s a very open space with exposed grills and counter to the left and seating to your right. You immediately notice the three refrigerated cases of glass bottled soda along with some red stools with bottle cap seats, cool! And there’s also a lot of stainless steel and chrome, very traditional. Corbett’s also has patio seating on the plaza sidewallk.
Order at the counter, there’s a large red menu hanging overhead with the burgers, toppings, sauces and signature types. It may be tricky to navigate if you’re not a decisive ordering type. In addition to burgers, you can also get a hot dog, grilled sandwiches and have your choice of about 8 sides (fries, cole slaw, beans, etc) with your sammich. I go for a double BBQ burger along with seasoned fries and a bottled soda. The lunch comes to $12+ dollars so I’m expecting pretty darn good!
We grab a four-top and the place is busy with moms, dads and kids, must be popular with Cary families in the area. I’ve got a Neri peach soda in a glass bottle and it doesn’t take long for the food to come out, maybe 5 – 10 minutes. The burgers are served in wrapped paper foil and the fries looked nice, they were waffle-cut which they should probably advertise. I stare at my burger for a bit, it’s got well-melted cheddar, some shredded lettuce, tomato, bacon and root beer BBQ sauce. The patties here at Corbett’s are each 1/4 lb. and thickish. The meat is ground pretty dense and it’s tasty with a hit of salt on the surface, grilled medium well. The bacon is nicely done with maple flavor in the back but I have a hard time tasting the BBQ sauce. And it’s a dense handful, the bun (potato I think), starts to come apart under the weight and moisture from the toppings. Overall I liked Corbett’s burgers even if they aren’t mind-blowing. They tasted a bit like Chuck’s in my opinion. The waffle fries were quite good and reminded me of Chick Fil A’s version.
We chowed down our food and some mints were brought to the table, nice touch. And we were out pretty quick but the place was quiet due to the recent snow. Corbett’s Burgers and Soda Bar does a nice job dishing out a solid burger with all sorts of interesting drinks. Kids there had a lot of fun choosing the exact soda they wanted and they have a ton here, over 200 flavors! The place reminds me a bit of Hwy 55 (the old Andy’s Cheesesteaks) but locally owned and supported. Of course that means it’s all a bit more expensive, especially with the bottled sodas at $2.45 each. I’m sure I’ll be back at some point and time but admit it won’t be my first choice due to location and price. Like I said, it’s hard to cook up a bad burger but to stand out you really have to be something special. For me, the best burger place is still FLIP down in Atlanta. But if you’re in Cary on Kildaire Drive and in the need for some seared beef, Corbett’s will do you fine! Tasty burgers, excellent waffle fries and a plethora of drink choices are bound to keep you happy and full..
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