Fullsteam ATC — Restaurant in Durham

Great beer and atmosphere, vomit inducing food. Okay.... there is a reason for the one star that I'll change once they fix the 'food' SO - Recently Fullsteam got it in their head that it would be a great idea to chase off all the food trucks and open their own kitchen, although they still let Sumon there on Mondays it seems - small miracles be praised. We were really excited for this as food was the one thing the place lacked. The food trucks made up for it usually if you could stand the lines and crowds. Unfortunately, what Fullsteam serves as 'food' can barely be called such. We were there a couple of weeks ago with a group friends from out of town and ordered a few things: Here's an example - "Cripsy Chicken and Sweet Potato Tots." = Fried up chicken bologna (I kid you not) served with sorghum hot mustard and... wait for it... Shakerag blue cheese... blue cheese? Really? The tots were barely passable. Next on the list of Southern Cuisine: "Fried Okra with Malt vinegar Aoli " - A whole banana sized monster okra (Protip - that size you don't use for frying!!!) that was battered in thin tempura batter that fell off... They are obviously shooting for modern hipster take on 'southern' food, but this is more like someone from Alaska being told about southern food and trying to make it on description alone. This is the kind of food Gordon Ramsey would take a reluctant bite from, spit out, and say "Fu-k me." then go yell at people in the kitchen. They are in desperate need of a real chef if just to come up with edible bar food that the staff can easily manage. That or let the food...

For at least six consecutive years, I and the other members of the Orange County Artists' Guild have been very grateful for the support of Fullsteam and its owner, Sean Wilson. In short?.. Fullsteam has not only donated, but also DELIVERED, four or five cases of its finest brews for our annual Fall Studio reception each year. Their doing so has been a lifesaver. More to the point, the beer is GOOD....even the polite (as a general rule) chronic white-wine sippers have learned that Fullsteam's beers and ales are infitely more interesting than the usual, boxed gallery fare. I suppose i can't make a stronger recommendation than this....: Each year, I would think "Oh, this is WAY too much beer,,,,I'll have to lug it all the way back into Durham after the reception." Every year, however?.....it was all GONE by the end of the reception (although I would, i'll admit, keep four cans for myself). In any case, many thannks to Fullsteam and Sean. sincerely,

David Terry Hillsborough, NC P.S. I wrote this before reading any of the previous reviews. I'm glad to see that so many others have lauded Fullsteam for its dedication to the coomunity/town. I should emphasize that someone or another from Fullsteam would take the time each year to drive the donationa ll the way out to us in Hillsborough (which is an hour out of a busy person's day, which I appreciate). Once again?....Great Beer, Great Food, and (most importantly to me) Great Folks running and working for...

I don't remember how long it's been since I gave serious thought to the "where shall we have beers tonight?" question. Fullsteam is a foregone conclusion.

But, you say, there are dozens of other beer dispensaries in Durham and around the Triangle! What is the root of such dedication? Do not these other fair establishments serve fermented beverages at least as tasty?

Indeed, they do. If you are looking for tasty local beer, there are a panoply of options.

The thing is, when you go to Fullsteam, you're sitting down in a physical manifestation of the very soul of Durham. You have to go halfway down the block just to find bike parking. A guy you go to church with has his name on a Certificate of Awesome. Your friend foraged for the persimmons in your First Frost. Near the stage, a crowd of thirtysomethings are celebrating someone's birthday with a cake frosted to look like a dinosaur. Next to you, a dog is lounging on the floor. (Possibly your dog!) Everything on tap is delicious and there are food trucks outside.

Sure, there are fancier places you can go, but you wouldn't get to draw on the bar with dry erase markers, and you probably wouldn't just happen in on a screening of a Truly Awful Movie or a belly dance expo.

Put on your flip flops (or don't -- that's probably okay) and spend an evening or eight there. I hope you won't be disappointed, but if you are, we could never be...