Foster's Market — Restaurant in Durham

At the recommendation of my sister, a resident of Durham, and eho had been meani g to visit Foster's, we selected Foster's for lunch. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted so nicely. It made bith my sister, and I feel genuinely welcomed and at ease. As this was our first visit, we were uncertain about they process for dining in, takeout, etcetera. At this point, we approached Danny and received the layout for ordering. He answered our questions with warmth and expertise. When after consideration, I asked if a substitute could be made, Danny was ever so gracious, and we felt that we had made the right choice to patronize Foster's. The food was delicious! Everything was beautifully presented, and when we discovered that the simple syrup bottle was empty and a problem with one of the liquied dispensers, Danny stepped in and made everything just right. By the way, did I mention that the food was delicious 😋 My sister promised to visit again, and when I return to Durham for a family visit, I will be sure to put Foster's on my plan of 'Things to do."

As we were about to head to the front to settle our bill, I wanted to express or gratitude for the pleasant and satisfying dining experience.

When I was unable to spot Danny. So, I approached a young man (also lovely) and shared with him my desire to offer our appreciation for the wonderful experience. We were told that Danny was in another part of the store, but the employee exclaimed with delight and thanked me for sharing the sentiments and insisted on delivering my message.

Lastly, but certainly not least. We approached the front of the store to the cashier and shared our positive and personal experience with a young lady at the cashier. Before I go any further, I must apologize for not remembering her name... She is truly a rock-star and a memorable ambassador of the Foster's brand, and I hope that whosoever reads my review will know who she is and extend our sentiments because her service was the cherry-on-the-top! I did learn a couple of wonderful anecdotes about her, and one is that she comes from a strong background as a manager in the service/restaurant industry! And a gem, if ever there was one. Danny joined us st yhe register and he will be able to identify the Darling professional at the register.

In closing, and on behalf of my sister, I thank each of you, at Foster's Market for your collective, outstanding customer service, eclectic interior, delicious food, and award deserving, warm and cozy atmosphere at your establishment.

If I were a Michelin Representative, I would definitely award the Foster's Market with a star of excellence for Outstanding Service! And, that you can take to the...

Foster's is a Durham institution. There used to be a second location open in Chapel Hill on MLK/Airport Blvd but that one finally closed. Durham is the original. It is larger and seems set to stay for many years to come.

In a cozy, funky, and somewhat sprawling building you'll find a selection of harder-to-find specialty grocery items and candy along with coffee and the main draw: the food counter. Customers order at the counter and food is brought out to the table. Bus their own table and pay after your meal at the register by the front door. There is indoor and outdoor seating (slightly more outdoors than in), in an eclectic mix of tables and chairs that looks to have been assembled over the years a few at a time, many secondhand.

Foster's serves breakfast foods in the morning hours during the week and through later brunch hours on the weekends. They serve sandwiches and lunch foods all the time, and also have a cold salads case--you can get those to eat at a table or carry out. Along with the regular menu there are usually a few daily specials like different kinds of biscuits, cornbread, soups, and sandwiches. Refrigerator cases have a good selection of bottled beer and craft sodas, and there are a handful of beers on tap for reasonable prices, too. Always on offer are iced tea and iced coffee as well as hot coffee of several varieties. In a dessert case you'll find different kinds of cakes (all served in enormous pieces) and my personal favorite, their famed key lime pie.

The vibe is modern southern, but the food crosses culinary boundaries and many people will be able to find something they enjoy. I think Foster's Market's reputation is based mainly on how good their food is, but also on the friendly efficiency of their staff and the fun decor and cozy atmosphere. During meal times, especially on the weekends, it can get very crowded in here, and you'll have to not mind ducking and weaving between people to look for a table and waiting in a somewhat amorphous line to place your order. But the staff are quick, and the wait is not usually onerous. Prices are reasonable--not the cheapest but you can eat lunch for $10-12 with a drink, depending on what you get. And the freshness and quality of the ingredients along with the inspired recipes makes it a good value.

If you are visiting Durham for the first time or have lived here and never been to Foster's, I highly recommend...

Foster's is one of the dining highlights of Durham. Very comfortable, "classy casual" atmosphere with multiple dining vignettes available, both indoor and outdoor. Something about this place makes it feel very relaxing, despite the fact that it is constantly bustling.

If you've never been to Foster's Market before, stop what you're doing, go now, and get yourself a chocolate whopper. Seriously, I'll wait. Everyone should eat a chocolate whopper at least once in their lifetime. Just do it, and thank me later. Why are you still reading this? GO already!

Beyond the whopper, the Foster's menu is essentially casual gourmet cuisine (or she-she comfort food, as I like to call it), but it isn't the kind of food that's trying to be snobby. It's just very good. I ate here a ton before I became vegan, and my favorites were the grilled turkey club, the cubano, and the thai chicken wrap. You can't go wrong with any of those.

Now that I am (mostly) vegan, Foster's sadly offers very little that appeals to me (Why do restaurants think the only thing plant-based people eat is cold hummus veggie wraps and side salads? WTH? I'm not a rabbit! If I have to eat one more "default" hummus veggie wrap, I think I'll barf.). This is a real disappointment when you consider the talent level of their chef-owner, Sara Foster. But I don't judge Foster's for this since I knew it going in. Besides, it's their business, not mine, and they are clearly successful (But if you are reading this, Foster's, maybe make a bigger effort in the plant-based department, hmm? Don't you think it's time to dust off those cooking school skills and challenge yourself to come up with a few delicious and creative climate-friendly menu options?)

I still go to Fosters on occasion for coffee and a (decidedly NOT vegan) chocolate whopper, and OMG it is totally worth the cognitive dissonance! So congrats! You made it to the end of my review, now go get...