State Farmers Market Restaurant — Restaurant in Raleigh

-General summary: You would think Elvis rose from the dead and was putting on a free concert the way people are flocking to this place, but I just don't get it. The food and atmosphere are no better than a middle school cafeteria, and you have to literally wait hours for it! Save yourself the time and effort and get a meal at a chain restaurant or gas station, which is going to be of equal quality and about 20 times faster!

Worse offenses: -You have to wait in line for everything (to park, to get in the building, to get your name on the list, to get a buzzer, to wait for your table, to wait for the restroom, to check out). For reference, we went on a Sunday, which I understand is their busier time.

-I read one comment before coming that said "Don't come here if you care about your health!" but I was part of a group who wanted to try it out for the first time, and I figured I could find something to eat. Nope. I can't have gluten or dairy, which I admit can be challenging, but pretty much every restaunt still has several options. This restaurant, however, does not allow any substitutions, making it impossible to have a meal that wouldn't make me ill. Not even a dairy-free creamer so I could enjoy a cup of coffee with breakfast. After waiting literal hours to get in, I was so starving that I gave in and ended up eating items that I knew were going to make me sick because I couldn't wait to stop at another restaurant on the way home. And I agree with the sentiment that if you care about your health at all, this is not the place for you. Everything is soaked in butter, oil, covered in cheese, fried, sugar, salt, dough, etc. You can't escape without a heart condition, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes.

-Everything about this restaurant is to make is easier on them; they do not care about the customer experience at all. We are cattle shuffled in, fed our slop, branded, and booted back out so the next group can be ushered in. Examples include: They don't split bills, no matter how big or small the group size. They don't accept reservations (so they don't have to commit to anything). Cheap prison-grade cafeteria serve ware. Even when your group is there in person, the group cannot be put on the wait-list (even if it's a 2 hour wait until) until every single member of your entire party there is in person (I could understand not SEATING your group until everyone is there, but to not even put you on a waitlist that's still going to take multiple hours to get through!?). So if you have to park 15 minutes away because all the lots nearby are full (again, how?!) your entire group will have to wait just to hurry up and wait some more. And when you're on the waitlist they give you a buzzer that only works within a short distance, so if you have a 2-hour wait, you literally have to stand outside in the heat waiting for your buzzer to go off (you cannot visit the farmers market, flea market, or anything else nearby to pass the time). The tables are crammed so close together you can't slide your seat out without ramming into a stranger. They don't allow any modifications to the items offered on their menu (which doesn't include ingredients or photos, even on their website, so good luck if you have any kind of allergy!). And the lines for everything are ridiculous! This is mediocre food, not Disneyland! I don't know what's going on with everyone else leaving positive reviews, but I wouldn't wish this restaurant on anyone I cared about in...

I really wanted to like this place. I really did. I think I was just unlucky and came at the wrong time. I arrived with my friends on a drizzly summer morning, just managing to catch the restaurant just before brunch rush. The waiter was nice and cheery, got us started with the menu. We had prepared to order beforehand, but there were so many delicious things our trio decided to order 3 of the most tasty looking/value-wise and share among eachother. The menu is large, full of American Southern classic breakfast meals, and appropriately priced for a Raleigh restaurant-- basic meals start at $9, and the more extravagant end somewhere between $10-$12. There is a wide selection of Southern favorites such as corn beef hash, chicken n' waffles, and even Eastern NC BBQ-- which is what my group decided on choosing.

The chicken n' waffles was fabulous. Instead of a meager fried drumstick, my boyfriend received an entire HALF of a cornish hen DEEP FRIED in the crispiest skin imaginable. The belgian waffle was crispy, airy, and light, and the bananas were lightly sweetened. The corn beef hash had epic proportions, and was served with a generous helping of two eggs (though they were not quite served over medium as asked) and toast. Meanwhile, I eagerly anticipated the Eastern NC BBQ, only to come across many surprises...

Firstly, the BBQ was minced/flaked to the side. Not what I was expecting, but if it tastes good, appearances are nothing. There was a nice serving of mac n cheese (very good) and excellent, well-seasoned collard greens. I also got a complimentary side of banana pudding which for $11 is a steal. The BBQ, however, was the largest disappointment of all: they were incredibly vinegary, sour, and borderline too salty to handle. I may be an immigrant, but I've acclimated my tastebuds to the American South since moving here; even my American born and raised friends said it was too sour and salty.

We tried hiding it with fruit jelly and maple syrup, hoping the pungency would mix well with the sweetness. No dice. My appetite was quickly waning as I took nibbles of the incredibly sour flakes, my attitude souring as well as my friends enjoyed their delicious meals. The restaurant was incredibly busy at this time (11am-12pm) so it was difficult to hail a waiter to remake it. My lips puckered, I stole bites from my friends' plates, and packaged my bbq for takeaway.

At home, I tried to fix my leftovers. I added a nice sweet and thick BBQ sauce to try and balance the flavors. But then, the sheer saltiness and sourness punched me in the face. It was inedible. I shared the leftovers with my boyfriend and friend, to which both disposed of as well. There was a hint of rancidness throughout the entire meat, which I could not get over, and alas, I said goodbye to my Eastern BBQ.

All in all, I absolutely recommend this place. The atmosphere is classic, Southern Breakfast diner, the prices are appropriate for Raleigh standards, the portions are huge and you will absolutely be taking home leftovers. I would stray away from the Eastern BBQ though, or at least muster up the courage to have something remade unlike I.

We will be visiting again. This time I will not be swayed and order chicken and...

Omg the food is ok!!! I had smothered pork chops and the pork chop was horrible, so tough it would barely cut with a knife. I was looking for a pork chop that would be tender marinating in gravy for some time. The hostess, Tina was absolutely the best. She had a very professional welcoming great personality and was very accommodating. When we got ready to leave, Tina offered to take our money to pay the cashier since I was experiencing a disability. We noticed a server/waitress named Clara (white female) who had on green overalls with ankle boots while we were there, clearly having a problem serving Blacks. She went to every table around us, asking if everything was ok, except the few blacks (3-4 tables) there that were patronizing the business? She never went to any table while we were there and tried to accommodate any Blacks who were eating there. I watched her the entire time we were there. We were there almost to closing, so Clara decided to ask others (whites) sitting around us if they wanted free banana pudding because there were 4 servings left that the kitchen would waste. She never asked us and the ironic thing about it was, we had been in the restaurant long before the people she decided to give the banana pudding too. Ryan, was our server & he did an outstanding job serving us but I won't return to a place where I choose to spend my money and be made to feel so unwelcomed. I don't remember our table # but we sat in section of table #310. Tina worked at the hostess booth and she was training a new hostess yesterday. Clara worked at the counter across from the hostess station and area entering the kitchen. A person such as Clara don't need to be working in such an in front area dealing with ANY CUSTOMERS with such a displeasing personality and spirit toward ANY RACE.... She's the real reason I won't be returning!! When we were leaving was the only time she acknowledged us and that was because we were near the managers counter where you pay and the Mgr was there counting/closing out the register. Beware of Clara, very displeasing to watch the face she covers up...