Foster's Market

neha21
neha21
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
2
Reviews
Editor Pick

Foster's Market

  • August 30, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Iono from Durham, North Carolina
Foster's Market is a small/medium sized restaurant, owned by Sara Foster, a friend and chef/caterer for Martha Stewart. The restaurant features many of the simple down-to-earth cooking, but with a newer, modern flair. It features a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, as well as a small general store which stocks hard-to-find candies, chocolates, and locally produced products. Foster's is a great place whether or not you're meeting someone from out of town, stopping for a drink, a casual lunch, or a date.

Foster's is almost always busy with customers, but there is more than enough space on the 3 outside decks and 2 indoor dining areas to sprawl out and enjoy your food and company. The outdoor decks are filled with flowers and flora to provide shade and an overall very pretty atmosphere. The outdoor decks also provide seating and tables for those who choose to eat outside. Indoor, there is a lounge area filled with sofas, chairs and tables, providing a place for those who want to enjoy the air conditioning, and another area with a few booths and larger tables.

Another reason Foster's is so popular is because of their food. The food served at Foster's is very fresh, and usually organic or locally grown. Although many wouldn't think this affects food quality, you can tell when eating at Foster's. The breakfast menu offers a full assortment of fresh baked bakery products, such as scones, muffins, tarts, cookies, cakes, and bread, biscuits, and bagels. In addition, there is also hot food available, such as breakfast burritos, the omelets of the day, breakfast biscuits/sandwiches. To add to this wonderful variety is a well stocked and wide selection of coffee and teas, featuring hard to find flavors and tastes.

For lunch, there is also a lot variety. As before, there is a wide variety of the breakfast/snack items and coffee. In addition, there is a wide selection of deli sandwiches, grilled fare, salads, wraps, soups and pizza. The menu is almost entirely original, often putting new zest into an old favorite, such as a BLT, and making it a little more fun and original.

The dinner menu features nightly specials in addition to some lunch items. Generally, the nightly specials are more fancy, providing a more relaxed and romantic atmosphere for those wanting to escape the normal drone of most restaurants. Wine and other alcohol is served (provided with ID of course) with a wonderful selection to choose from.

Foster's Market offers a choice for those who live in the Durham-Chapel Hill area, but also for those visiting. This choice is to skip out on the normal and typically bland fare of most restaurants (whether it is breakfast lunch or dinner), and to enjoy a fresh new look on fine dining by going to Foster's. So, if you had any questions about stopping at that quaint and busy restaurant on the side of the road, next time do so, and see/taste for yourself how great Foster's Market is.

From journal Living in Durham

Editor Pick

Foster's Market

  • March 21, 2001
  • Rated 4 of 5 by neha21 from durham, India
I have been to Foster's several times. Sometimes, it's a creamy, hit-the-spot smoothie, other times, it's a delish sandwich, and yet other times a muffin craving. Oh, and the brunch bites are not bad at all.

I like Foster's because it's casual and laid-back, but the food is gourmet and tasty, but not too tricky to pronounce. It's just a great place to hang out too. I could spend hours in the atmosphere, just catching up with a good friend. It's a great place and doesn't discriminate by type of person or age, which is cool. Anything goes and no one feels out of place.

One of the cool things hanging on the wall at the Chapel Hill Foster's (two convenient Triangle locations--Durham and Chapel Hill) is the several-page spread in Martha Stewart's Living magazine. Sara Foster used to work with Martha Stewart in their catering days.

Now, to the details about the food: dine-in or take-out, catering or wholesale, hostess gifts and more, there is a multitude of good stuff to try. Deli sandwiches include, but are not limited to Tarragon Chicken Salad; Bacon, Avocado & Sprouts (herb cream cheese, tomato, cucumbers, basil mayo on sunflower); Greek Vegetarian (artichoke hearts, cucumbers, tomato, spinach, grilled onions, feta spread on Syrian bread); California Veggie (grilled onions, green chiles, lettuce, tomato, sprouts, avocado, muenster and honey mustard on a dill roll). Sorry, I can only vouch for the vegetarian stuff, but I can assure you I polished off every meal, every time.

Next, let's venture into the world of market wraps. Southwestern Jalapeno Cheddar Wrap (black bean spread, avocado, green chiles, romaine, grilled onions, salsa and cheddar), Thai Chicken Wrap (sliced grilled chicken breast with cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, scallions and peanut sauce), and others. The Chapel Hill store offers some fantastic pizzas. TRY THEM. Try them all.

Good breakfasts (what I like to call healthy, but fun) include bagels, fruit, wraps, sandwiches, eggs, biscuits, etc. Soups and salads are available here as well as cookies, muffins, rolls, pies, cakes, and breads. Keep in mind that while each Foster's offers many, many items, they do change seasonally.

Drinks--for the child in all of us: Wabbit Juice (carrot, apple and celery). If you don't want to walk up to the counter and actually order this, try a super milkshake (chock full of tastiness and fruit) or a smoothie (my favorite) of just about any fruits you want. And what's a great hangout without coffee? You can get it here.

Foster's is also a mini, chic shop for nifty gifts, mostly stuff that you like at houseware stores (coffee items, gift baskets, jams & jellies, etc.) And just like any hip gourmet food place, Foster's Market is coming out with a cookbook (in 2002).

Want to see/know more? Check them out at http://www.fostersmarket.com/

My preferences? Durham for atmosphere (very rustic and countryside setting) because you can sit outdoors and enjoy the sun. Chapel Hill has the pizzas. You really can't go wrong.

From journal Delightful Durham

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