Foster’s Kitchen: Fresh, Local Comfort Food

Kona residents Jeff and Sarah Foster are dreamers with a mission. After 17 years of working in Kona’s restaurant industry, the couple saw an opportunity to make their dream of owning their own dining establishment come true and set out to make it a reality.

Jeff relocated to the Big Island as the managing partner for Outback Steakhouse. Nine years later, in 2009, he spent a couple years off opening, designing and running Humpy’s Ale House before going on to manage Splasher’s Grill in Kona.

Today, the Foster’s are enjoying the success of their new Foster’s Kitchen—a fine dining experience in downtown Kailua-Kona with a casual and family-friendly feel.

“The restaurant business is all I’ve ever known and it’s always been my dream to open my own,” said Jeff. “My wife and I were so happy when we saw our current location come available. It seemed like everything just came together at the perfect time. We parted ways with Splasher’s and literally the next day, Pat from the Citizen Irish Publik House contacted us about the space—and from there, everything just fell into place.”

Foster’s Kitchen opened in October 2016 and has since been highlighting the hard work and dedication of local farmers and ranchers by using Hawai’i-grown fruit, vegetables and meats. The Fosters are proud to use local fresh-baked breads, Kona coffee and kombucha. They know that when patrons dine at Foster’s Kitchen, they are supporting several local businesses.

The majority of menu items are created from scratch and require extra time for preparation. The Fosters are proud to be part of the slow-food movement and believe a good dining experience is worth the wait.

“I grew up in Virginia and North Carolina, as did our chef,” said Foster. “You’ll notice the southern-Cajun flare in our menu.”

“Our goal in opening Foster’s was to create a place that puts people first, where they would be proud to work, and proud of the food and drinks they served—a place that supports local, makes things from scratch with the freshest ingredients,” said Jeff. “We really couldn’t have done it without the help of our great team.”

Committed to the art of cuisine made from scratch and hand-crafted cocktails created with only the freshest ingredients, Foster’s Kitchen showcases the work of local food growers with a diverse menu of comfort food and delicious adult beverages.

The chef uses non-GMO or USDA Certified Organic products whenever possible, and the service team strives to provide the highest level of quality service to the community.

With appetizers ranging from whipped goat cheese bruschetta to stuffed mushrooms, and sizzling entree’s like lamb chops and fresh rosemary stuffed chicken marsala, there’s something for everyone on the menu.

For something super comforting, the cheesy shrimp and grits comes highly recommended.

Mouth-watering desserts include warm monkey bread and the gooey, chocolaty goodness of warm lava cake topped with locally crafted vanilla ice cream.

All this delicious down-home cooking is served in a cozy, open-air setting with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.

The Fosters have created a welcoming atmosphere in their dreamy new establishment. Kona hopes they’ll stick around and call the Big Island home for many years to come.

Foster’s Kitchen, located at 75-5805 Ali’i Drive in Kailua-Kona, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Happy hour runs from 3 to 5 p.m. and 9 to 11 p.m. Nightly, live entertainment is 6 to 9 p.m.
For dinner reservations call (808) 326-1600.

Chicken marsala with mashed potatoes from Foster’s Kitchen. Karen Rose photo.

Foster’s Kitchen. Karen Rose photo.

Herb-crusted lamb chops with creamy polenta and sauteed seasonal veggies from Foster’s Kitchen. Karen Rose photo.

Kilauea stuffed mushrooms broiled with marinara and mozerella cheese from Foster’s Kitchen. Karen Rose photo.

Lava cake with strawberry coulis and tropical dreams ice cream from Foster’s Kitchen. Karen Rose photo.

Whipped goat cheese bruschetta with balsamic reduction. Karen Rose photo.