Du-par’s at the Original Farmers Market has served classic meals and fresh pies since 1938. It’s pumpkin season at Du-par’s, with pumpkin pie baked fresh. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Since James Dunn and Edward Parsons combined their surnames and started Du-par’s Restaurant and Bakery in 1938, customers have come from far and wide for the fluffy hotcakes, homestyle food and mouth-watering homemade pies. It’s fitting that Du-par’s is located at the Original Farmers Market, which itself started two years earlier as a roadside locale where farmers sold fruits and vegetables out of their trucks. Owned and operated since 2018 by Frances Tario, Du-par’s Restaurant and Bakery celebrated its 88th anniversary in July and maintains a tradition of offering sumptuous meals in a relaxed and familiar setting.

“For 88 years, Du-par’s has been committed to welcoming generations of patrons with great food, warm hospitality and a timeless dining experience,” Tario said. “We are honored to continue that tradition and look forward to celebrating with everyone as we work toward our 90th anniversary and beyond.”

Just walk up to Du-par’s and it feels like home, complete with a white picket fence. Inside, comfortable red upholstered booths welcome hungry customers. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served by dedicated employees, many of whom have been with the restaurant for decades. Du-par’s is known for world famous buttermilk hotcakes made from a secret recipe and served with melted butter and maple syrup. The French toast is made from house-made brioche, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with maple syrup. Hearty eaters can enjoy steak and eggs or country fried chicken served with scratch-made country gravy, two extra large eggs, house-made golden hash browns and hot buttered toast or a Du-par’s bakery muffin. Blue Plate Specials are available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m.-noon for a quick breakfast on the go.

Fresh salads, signature soups, juicy hamburgers and hearty sandwiches are on the menu. Popular items include the Monte Cristo which features sliced ham, turkey, Swiss and American cheese on house-made brioche bread batter dipped and grilled golden brown, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with raspberry sauce.

Hungry diners will find American classics such as chicken pot pies, gourmet meat loaf, country fried steak and four cheese macaroni as well as poultry, seafood and USDA Prime New York steak. Tario said Du-par’s serves a Thanksgiving turkey dinner every day of the year, and the tender beef liver smothered with bacon and caramelized onions has become so popular Du-par’s introduced a beef liver sandwich.

Diners can also indulge their sweet tooth with malts and milkshakes, homemade hot fudge sundaes and banana splits, but don’t forget to save room for pie either whole or by the slice. Du-par’s offers a full bakery with fresh seasonal, traditional and specialty pies. Fans of cherry, apple and blueberry will not be disappointed, or try the lemon meringue, southern pecan or coconut custard pie. Fall is a great time for a delicious meal and dessert at Du-par’s with pumpkin pies, pumpkin cold and hot brews and pumpkin hot cakes.

“With iconic diners, there aren’t many left,” Tario said. “We still offer early supper and the entire menu all day. We have homemade jams and pastries and pies. Everything is homemade – just like Mom. You can’t find that anymore. And, we just turned 88 years old, and that says a lot.”