Friends who know I am a “foodie” have been asking recently – “have you tried ‘Foster’s On The Point’ yet?”  So, while the kids were out of town recently on a trek with my mother, my wife and I got the chance to check the place out for dinner.  Located on Salem Avenue on the west side of Hagerstown, MD., Foster’s took over and totally rehabbed the restaurant and bar space formerly occupied for many years by the old Woodpoint Grill.  While the exterior looks much the same, patrons are in for a treat when they step through the doors of the newly renovated restaurant and bar.

There’s been a tremendous amount of work done here.  The dining space is warm and inviting.  Rustic, yet modern – with an earthen palette of tans, browns, and blacks.  Lots of wood and stone make up the dark and cozy interior.  The bar spans most of the right side of the room, and wooden tables create two distinct dining spaces along the left side of the main dining room, which is partially cut in half by the bathrooms.  Cloth napkins elevate the dining expectations, while the drinks (served in mason jars) serve to balance the atmosphere with a comfortable and unpretentious vibe.  I’d feel comfortable here in either business attire or shorts and sandals.

We arrived during “Happy Hour”, and after being seated by the hostess and ordering some discounted drinks from the bar, we perused the menu.  Honestly, Hagerstown needs about ten or twelve more restaurants that are putting forth this style of dining.  The cuisine is “New American”, and while the menu isn’t overly fancy, it does have some unique offerings.  Sure, there are traditional items like wings and nachos, but there are also appetizers like fried green tomatoes, bruschetta, and a cheese plate offered as well.  There was also a nice array of salads, a soup selection, burgers, sandwiches, and several excellent sounding entrees, like cider-braised chicken thighs and a “catch-of-the-day” seafood selection.

My wife and I opted for the beer-battered asparagus and the fried green tomatoes as our appetizer selections.  The fried green tomatoes arrived in a nice portion size for two, lightly breaded with corn meal, and drizzled with a spicy remoulade sauce.  The asparagus were hand-dipped in a Yuengling lager infused batter, fried crispy and served with a Cajun hollandaise sauce for dipping.  Both were very good, but we did both prefer the fried green tomatoes (and how often do you see those locally?), which we thought won the taste battle for this round.

Then it was on to our mains.  The missus chose the fish tacos and a side salad with a cranberry-mandarin vinaigrette dressing.  The marinated fish in the tacos was well prepared and all of the accompaniments (shredded cabbage, tomatoes, onions, homemade guacamole, and pico de gallo) were fresh, providing a tasty and delicious flavor combination, all wrapped up in a flour tortilla.  I chose the signature “On Point” burger, which was topped with avocado, bacon, provolone cheese, and a freshly fried egg.  Believe me, I’ve had a lot of burgers in my travels, and Foster’s has a good one.  Once I bit into that sandwich and broke the egg, allowing that wonderful yoke to ooze down all over the meat and other ingredients, I couldn’t put it down.  I opted for the fresh, homemade chips as a side, and had mine sprinkled with Old Bay seasoning (there were several topping choices).  Portion sizes were well thought out – adequate, but not overpowering.

Service was friendly and attentive, although the staff practices the “scatter service” style (where whomever is at the window brings your order when it comes up, not necessarily your server), which I personally hate.  This service style leads to frequesnt mistakes, as the person who brings out the food has no idea what anyone ordered at the table, but must begin to “auction off” what they have delivered (“Who had the burger?  The fish?”).  I also thought that the prices were in line with the quality of food that was being presented.  The dining room was buzzing with patrons and the bar area was full, giving the entire place a nice atmosphere.

The west end of Hagerstown has a new “go to” spot to have a relaxing meal, drink, or place to meet up with friends after work.  This is exactly the type on non-chain dining that locals should be embracing and patronizing on a regular basis.  Foster’s slogan is “Get to the Point” and I couldn’t agree more.  Check them out.

 

 

SIDEBAR INFORMATION:

 

Restaurant name:                            Foster’s On The Point

Overall rating out of five:             3.5

Food:                                                    3.5

Service:                                               3.5

Ambiance:                                          4.0

Value:                                                   3.5

Type of Food:                                    New American

Address:                                              1437 Salem Avenue  Hagerstown, MD  21740

Phone:                                                 (301) 739-7182

Hours:                                                 Sundays:  12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Monday – Saturday:  11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Website:                                                https://fostersonthepoint.com/

Facebook:                                           https://www.facebook.com/Fosters-On-The-Point-1684696028497008/

Parking:                                              onsite

Reservations required?               Not required