If you're of a certain age, a visit to Abbey Road -- whose walls are plastered with posters and album covers from the '60s and '70s -- is sure to trigger memories of youth, when the hardest decision you had to make was whether to declare your allegiance to the 60's or 70's. In a way, you'll be faced with a similar choice -- between Abbey Road's burger and its onion rings.

The burger is heartthrob of the masses. Abbey Road's burger is a multiple winner of popularity contests, including "best burger in Cary" and "best burger in the Triangle" awards. Featuring a whopping 10 ounces of grilled-to-order Angus beef -- so big it requires a bun specially baked for it by Roma's Italian Bakery in Cary -- it gets my vote, too.

But all those awards are ample evidence that Abbey Road's burger has achieved the fame it deserves and needs no help from me. It's the onion rings, that I mean to praise. The onions are cut fresh daily -- by hand, not by machine, which explains why they're sometimes a little thicker, sometimes a little thinner. Regardless of thickness, they're fried in a beer batter that, unlike most, doesn't overwhelm their earthy sweetness with doughy clumps. Instead, owner Will Dyson's "secret recipe" batter is light and golden, encasing each ring with a crisp ragged texture. The onion rings are a bargain at $2.49, but they're an absolute steal when they come free with a $6.99 burger.
 

When you imagine what a bar in Cary looks like, Abbey Road probably doesn't fit the highfalutin bill.

From the outside, it resembles the gas station it once was, with a brightly lit, covered parking area where gas pumps once stood. And on the inside it has the comfortable feel of a neighbor's rec room, with dartboards and regular Joes swapping stories over cold beers.

"This is a Cary neighborhood place, and this is an older Cary neighborhood," says Will Dyson, owner. "We're more of what Cary was 25 years ago."

And that's one reason Abbey Road is the latest stop on our summer search for the Triangle's coolest suburb pubs.

On Chatham Street near downtown Cary, Abbey Road draws a mostly neighborhood crowd that includes families having dinner and young, punk rocker-looking types. Everyone seems to know one another.

"Someone comes up to the bar and I could tell you their first and last name, where they're from, all of that," Dyson says. "That's the kind of place this is."

It's also the kind of place people go to when they are tired of the bustle of scenes like Glenwood South.

"I like going to a place like this. It's more relaxing, you're not looking for a party or to hook up with a girl, you just come here to have a beer with your friends," says Travis Umphlette, 21, who works at a popular bar on Glenwood South.

The burgers are another reason Abbey Road is so popular with the local crowd. Voted Best Burger in the Triangle by Citysearch in 2005, the burgers are freshly made from Angus beef and come in many varieties.

In the next couple of months, Abbey Road is expanding. It will take over the vacant space next door and build a larger, smoke-free dining room to accommodate more families for dinner.

"The idea is to have the family have some peace and quiet in a smoke-free environment and loosen up the bar a little bit," says Dyson.

But don't think that expansion is going to change Abbey Road. Unlike some of the other sprawl in Cary, Abbey Road's growth isn't likely to change what patrons love about the bar: the laid back atmosphere and good food.

"Maybe you've had a bad day," says Umphlette. "You come to Abbey Road, and you can have a burger and a beer."
 

Abbey Road Grill is the place to enjoy that irresistible retro charm and at the same time a "mammoth burger" or other scrumptious menu selection!

There is a splashing of pop culture everywhere in the dark tavern atmosphere that is cozy enough to take your sweetheart for a quiet and fun date! The scene really is fun, with a large mosaic in the restaurant featuring retro album art and Hollywood stars, all surrounding the cozy booths to sit in with your sweetheart of friends, making reason for great conversation! The music playing in the background is of course rock and roll oldies, and even if you aren't a fan of the oldies, you will still find plenty of reasons to enjoy this great dining spot in Cary!

The gyros are delicious, and you can get it in either the traditional lamb or even in chicken, and they come with your choice of fires, pasta salad, or onion rings. On that same token, you can also enjoy a delicious Chicken Fajita Pita for $7.49 (it's a pita stuffed with chicken, sauteed peppers, onions, cheeses, with sour cream and pico de gallo), or get one with Steak and Cucumber for $7.49. The Overstuffed Sandwiches are delicious, like the French Dip, the Hot Ham and Cheese, the Rib Eye, or even the Buffalo Chicken. Or, try something fresh off the grill like a NY Strip Steak for $16.99; the Lemon Pepper Chicken for $10.99; or even the Baby Back Ribs for $12.99. The Cactus Jack Chicken is also superb for $11.99 which is Santa Fe chicken smothered with sauteed onions, red peppers, cheeses, salsa, etc.