I had been literally DYING to come to Founding Farmers, when fellow Yelpers Chris L. and Ruth C. suggested we go for brunch one Sunday I was more than thrilled to jump in the car and head to MD. First thing I noticed was the planters right outside the entrance, serving as the permanent home to potted cabbages and cauliflower. Brilliant touch! The foyer was packed but I had used my trusty Yelp app the night before to make reservations with Open Table - I highly suggest you do the same. There are hundreds of reviews for Founding Farmers, I am pretty sure I share the same views as most of the people that have dined here so without a lot of detail, here is what I think... The Pimcup - a mix of cucumbers, mint, gin and tonic water, served incredibly full and blissfully strong. Deviled Egg Combo - Served on a wood plank, (2) each of regular, lobster, crab and smoked salmon. LOVED the lobster and crab varieties, not a huge fan of the smoked salmon, maybe too much smoke? Bacon Lollies - Okay, lets be real here, these are a gimmick and it is damn good too. Literally bacon, candied, served on a pitch fork. Benedict Arnold - A spin off the typical Eggs Benedict. English muffin topped with breakfast sausage, poached eggs and smothered in black pepper gravy, served with hash browns. - This was run of the mill blah, certainly not the flavor explosion I was expecting. The hash browns were bland, no flavor at all. I wish I had gotten the chicken and waffles! Red Velvet Cake - Okay, see, here is where you are going to be happy you waded through my rambling... get the red velvet cake, you'll thank me later. I don't even like red velvet cake that much, but this was to die for!! There were three of us eating it and still couldn't get though it, the slice was gigantic!! Beignets - It's a running joke among my Yelper friends to order beignets. We have had some good, some ugly and some that are flat out not edible. These were delicious! They were served with chocolate sauce, caramel sauce and raspberry sauce - we inhaled them! The service was upbeat but at times a little slow. I really can't fault our server, the place was full to capacity so drinks and food were taking a tad bit longer to come out than I would have liked, but that's par for the course when you are at a popular and packed place. I will be back - particularly to try the chicken and waffles.
(4)
Gahee L.
I've now dined here twice and will probably return to try some other menu items later. First and foremost, I strongly suggest that you make a reservation regardless of if you're going for lunch or dinner, weekend or weekday. As huge as the restaurant is (2 floors with outdoor seating), it is almost always packed. Even with reservations, you most likely to have to wait a bit. Parking is a bit of a hassle and always in scarcity so just be aware of this as well. As soon as you walk in, you'll notice the noise level. Very noisy. But it makes for a happy atmosphere. The service is prompt, courteous and professional. The waitresses and waiters know their menu quite well. The food always takes a bit too long to come out but given that they make all of their dishes from start to finish, the long wait can be pardoned (slightly). I have had the Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke and the Goat Cheese Ravioli with Chicken Cutlet. The Tuna Poke was great and simple although I was a bit confused by the restaurant's use of the napa cabbage instead of lettuce as the salad base. Napa cabbage has a slight sweetness to it and is much, much thicker than lettuce. There were also thin pieces of white chocolate in the Tuna Poke; I couldn't tell if they were there accidentally or intentionally placed since the menu lacks descriptions of the dishes.. either way, these factors made for a memorable dish. If you're looking to get full though, or want something flavorful, this isn't for you. The Goat Cheese Ravioli with Chicken Cutlet is exactly as it sounds. There are 6 pieces of ravioli stuffed with goat cheese and 2 pieces of flat, fried chicken on top of buttered squash. I underestimated the 6 pieces of ravioli; there's so much goat cheese stuffed in them that I could hardly finish the 6th one. The dish was good, though just a tad too salty.
(4)
Kimberly C.
I have only ever eaten here for brunch. I have been to this location and the DC location an equal number of times, and I have to say I prefer this one. The food and service are consistently better. Not to say that I have never received frustrating service at this location (it is difficult to understand how I can be ignored at the bar when the staff is RIGHT THERE) but that seems to be low frequency and the food is consistent. I prefer this location for brunch and I am sticking to it!
(4)
N B.
What a find, awesome experience ! We sat at the bar and were delighted that it offers a full menu, sophisticated cocktails made the old fashioned. way and great service. Alex was our server and Tim checked on us too. Although we expected excellent food, the superb service really put the 5 in our 5 star rating.We'll be back for the great food and exceptional service - all at modest prices.
(5)
A K.
Met a friend here for breakfast on Saturday morning. We started with the beignets - which are so amazing. I would go back just for the beignets. I followed up with the Founding Farmers breakfast - which came with eggs, a choice of bread (I had a buttermilk biscuit), a breakfast meat and a side (I had the leek hash browns). My friend had the blueberry french toast. I can't wait to go back! Would love to try their lunch and dinner. too.
(5)
Elle Y.
"Hi, we are Founding Farmers. We are a farm to table restaurants where our ingredients are locally sourced..." If I got a dollar for every time I heard someone say that about Founding Farmers, I would be a rich woman. But, their food is pretty legit so I will ignore the constant bombardment of restaurant propaganda and concentrate on reviewing the restaurant experience itself. My friend made a reservation, and we were immediately greeted by the hostess as we were walking up to the restaurant (VIP status, hello?). We were seated upstairs and ready to feast. The cocktail menu looks AH-MAZING, but we opted for wine instead (not that I was complaining at all). The menu had a lot of words, and a lot of reading was involved. But like the waiter said, the salad descriptions didn't list all of the ingredients so that was a bit of a WTF in my book. Obviously if a girl is going to get a salad, she's the type who needs to know exactly what is in it. Duh. But, once we got over that, it was smooth sailing. We couldnt decide on whether we should get the cornbread or biscuits so instead opted for the third choice: the bread and crisps appetizer that came with an assortment of dips (avocado, pimento, some chipotle type mayo, etc...). The dips were pretty darn good, as were the deviled eggs. Now let's be real. No one wants to hear a review about a salad, so instead I will review my friend's fried chicken and mac n cheese. They have the option of Northern or Southern fried chicken, but definitely get the Southern. WTF is northern fried chicken anyways? It doesn't even sound appetizing. The chicken was awesome, and the mac n cheese was heavy. Like, good heavy. So, that's a definite DO GET. Finally, when it came to check time, they bring the bill out in a cute little mail box. How friggin adorable.
(5)
Amanda P.
I've been here a handful of times, and I've never had a bad meal. The service is also great - they really take care of you. Make sure to get the table biscuits with the honey butter, and try the chicken and waffles at least once. If you're going for brunch or you want a great dessert, get the beignets. Make sure to make a reservation, it gets pretty crowded!
(4)
LN G.
Our experiences at Founding Farmers have been mixed. The service is usually very attentive and everyone is always friendly. The decor itself if fun; my kids love the fake mouse hidden by the stairs. The biscuits and pancakes are always a big hit. I also love the angry pasta. And the mixed drinks are always perfect. Unfortunately, as a vegetarian it has become harder to eat at this restaurant. I realize they have a meatless menu, but a lot of those items are very soy-heavy or just have not been great when we have tried them. Normally we could make due ordering off the normal menu, but Founding Farmers uses beef fat in their fryer, which means that many items that are usually vegetarian (french fries, fried green tomatoes, and french toast just to name a few) suddenly have meat in them. Also, even though we always tell our server we are vegetarian, I have had to send back my scrambled eggs twice because there has been bacon mixed into them. I wish Founding Farmers would remove the beef from their fryers. We would eat here much more often if that was the case....
(2)
Boris S.
Crab Eggs Benedict $14 (6/5 NOMs) I'm just yoking with excitement for this breakfast! Holy Benedict these are some of the best Eggs Benedict in town. Two large poached eggs are nice and firm on the outside and perfectly runny yellow yoke on the inside. It was beautiful, so much yoke just flowing everywhere. So many places over cook their poached eggs, but not here, it was prepared to perfection. Noming adventure doesn't end there, it comes with two fresh large crab cakes. Seasoned to perfection with a nice kick that compliments soft running yoke goodness. Complete this great dish with Crunchy potato goodness, shredded leek hash browns. Perfect portion size of this dish, that completely satisfied this hungry nomster. Must try dish during their breakfast and brunch. Prime Rib Dip $17 (4/5 NOMs) Mhh dipping good! Get ready for one massive sandwich with thick layer of meaty goodness of prime rib Very soft and tender and enhanced by au jus dipping sauce. Comes with their yummy fries. Can't believe this is one sandwich! Thing is so massive that I was only able to finish half. Made for a great lunch next day. The only thing, they don't give you the dipping sauce to take home. What made the experience so much better is our amazingly hot waiter. Butternut Squash $6 (5/5 NOMs) Made us feel all squashy on the inside. Get a spoonful of this extremely nomnom butternut squash soup. Seasoned to perfection this is a great way to start your noming adventure. Very smooth light flavor with a slight after kick. Comes with a giant crunchy bread thats perfect for dipping into soup. Can totally go for this again. True Chef Salad $15 (4/5 NOMs) Its crazy world! Is this a salad or meat entree? Hard to tell since there is turkey, ham, prime rib. Pretty much half of the entire cabbage head with sauce and meat on top. Everything mixed together made for a delicies salad meat dish. Love the addition of french dressing and Devil Egg. Can't find many salads with devil egg in them. I guess normal egg is not enough, bring on the dark side! Warning, do not try to eat the whole thing. You will loose and only suffer. Make sure to try to eat half of it, I know it will be hard, even I could not stop until I felt sick. Just taste so good Farmers Chips $9 (4/5 NOMs) What the chip! Those are not your weak bag chips, but super chips! I think these chips will ruine you for any other chip. Large and thick and crispy, now thats the way to make your chips. Comes with three different fun dips, cheesy, honey mustard and some green stuff. Why just dip chips when you can also dip cheddar crisps. Entire chip made out of cheddar. Thats just crazy world out there! Great to share for a large group. Cracked Black Pepper Wings $9 (5/5 NOMs) WOW these wings were amazing! It was like a perfect mix of sauce, seasoning and grilled wings. Mhhhh I so want to try this again. A must try small plate appetizer. Great to share with friends or eat all by yourself. My mouth is watering just by looking at this picture. Grilled Cheese and Clam Chowder Soup $10 (4/5 NOMs) Mhhh its double the gooey goodness with Grilled Cheese and Clam Chowder. Grill cheese sandwich was extremely cheesy gooey with three cheese combo Gruyere, Cheddar, and Muenster. Only thing better then cheese is more cheese! Originally this order came with Tomato Soup, but they allow substitution with soup of the day. I'm happy, usually not a big fan of tomato soups. Bacon Wrapped Dates $9 (5/5 NOMs) Wrap me in bacon goodness, great way to start your lunch is with anything wrapped in bacon. These dates were amazing, You can really taste balsamic glaze and blue cheese with hint of sweetness. The only major issue with this order is that we ate it too fast!
(4)
A K.
Based on yelp reviews, we knew not to expect the greatest service. Our waitress was ok, didn't go over the specials, but food came out in a decent time. Table Biscuits with Honey Butter were good. Enjoyed the Chicken & Waffles, Cheeseburger, and Potato Salad. Potato Salad was made with their house-made pickled vegetables and no mayo - was delicious. Milkshake was good and very creamy, but reminded us of a McDonald's shake which was steep for $6.
(4)
Natasha S.
My fiance and I had been wanting to try Founding Farmers before the Montgomery County location opened, but never got around to it. Finally, we decided to come here for our late anniversary dinner. It was a Wednesday night, we made a reservation even though we thought it wouldn't be too busy. Man were we wrong. It was PACKED. So glad we made reservations! We were actually about a half and hour early for our reservation but they had us seated immediately upon arrival. Our server was a little shy and not very engaging which we actually kinda prefer. Call us anti-social if you will but we just cannot stand sitting and listening to super upbeat servers tell us their life stories. This guy was fine but he did seem a tad nervous. For appetizers, we had; Oven Roasted Cracked Black Pepper Wings Late Harvest Salad (Spinach, Belgian Endive, Balsamic Onions, Apples, Egg, Bacon, Blue Cheese, Barrel-Aged Sherry Vinaigrette) The salad was delicious but had way too much dressing. I would definitely order it again and ask for the dressing on the side or to go easy on it. The wings were AMAZING. They were crispy and juicy with the perfect amount of flavors. The wings were a winner! For our entree's, we had; Crab Cakes Shrimp Bucatini My fiance really liked her crab cakes, but I wasn't really a fan of them. I thought they had too much seasoning, I prefer my crab cakes more au naturel. My pasta was amazing though. The pasta is handmade and if you like thick pasta like me, you will love Bucatini. It's a pasta that is super thick and hollow in the inside, so the sauce gets stuck in it and creates the best texture and flavor when biting into it! The shrimp was delicious! And the sauce was ahhhhhhmazing. It was a tomato, roasted pepper cream sauce and was very filling. Generous portion. I loved everything I had and wouldn't hesitate coming back again. Pricing is a little high, but you pay for what you get. It's real food and you can even taste the difference. Although, they do tend to oversalt, so you may want to request less salt if that is an issue for you. Plenty of parking. Definitely make a reservation if you can!
My favorite breakfast place in the MoCo. Service downstairs/main floor is pretty good, for some reason, the service upstairs isn't. I always make reservations on the weekend, but normally there isn't much of a wait. My boyfriend and I normally get something sweet and savory, with a side of grits (a must). The stuffed french toast is bomb.com , which is always my go to.
(3)
Jen C.
We enjoyed our first experience here. We started with the prosciutto fig farm bread - yum! My fish special served simple style was delicious. The brisket was served on the bone and was also good. The sides we chose were the cucumber/snow peas, beans and pearl pasta. We would recommend all the food we had. We were able to get an OpenTable reservation on a Friday night and were seated in reasonable time. Regarding parking, if you go at a busy time and there isn't room in the parking lot, you can also use the garage and have your ticket validated by the restaurant.
(4)
Kate O.
Absolutely adore this place. I hadn't been in a while (just under 2 years). I am always pleased when I go. Seeing the other reviews, I need to get there for brunch! Since it was a Friday during Lent and I am still one of those crazy Catholics who abstains from meat (lol), I got the salmon made simply with salt and pepper. It came with a lemon for extra seasoning and it was just delicious. I got it with green beans that tasted so fresh I thought they may have just pulled them from a secret garden outside. I got the mashed potatoes with them and they were good, just a tad on the garlicky side though. My boyfriend and I went with another couple, one of my best friends from college and his wife. They were also pleased with their meals of chicken and waffles and chicken pot pie. My boyfriend got the lobster mac and cheese...he let me have his leftovers for lunch on Sunday and my goodness it was fantastic, even two days later! The cocktails are to die for here--they make one of the best sazeracs I've ever had. I had the triple layer chocolate mousse cake with the semisweet chocolate ganache for dessert and goodness you'd think I'd died and gone to heaven. It took me three days counting the night we went to eat it. It was the size of my head--and that's saying something! Overall, I plan to return again someday! It was fabulous.
(5)
Mina C.
I've been to the founding farmers in MoCo and DC several times now. I've always had different experiences, and each visit was notably unpleasant. Overall, I love the idea of founding farmers. Local. Fresh. The last time I came here just left a bad taste in my mouth. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. No humidity, mid 70s, basically a perfect day to grab lunch/brunch with someone. Me and a gf came to celebrate her engagement. I came early knowing it might be packed. Parking took me over 15 mins. Everyone here disregarded street signs, and right of way. So, I was already annoyed, but the restaurant can't help how people drive. Okay, so I put my name down and I am told it will be 45 mins- 1 hour. Long wait. My friend was running late so she suggested we just meet somewhere else that might be a little faster. Founding farmers texted me 1 hour and 45 mins AFTER I put my name down. REALLY?!?!?!?!? What if we had waited (there was a STRONG chance of this). I usually hate leaving places because you have to drive + have a possible wait at the new location. 45 mins doesn't seem all that long if you drive 20 mins, and wait 30 mins somewhere else. But seriously?!... I am glad we decided to leave, because if we went with my first instinct to wait, two extremely HANGRY girls would be very unhappy. NEVER. AGAIN.
(2)
Joanne L.
I came here for brunch today with my family and had a great experience. I would highly recommend everyone to make reservations, as it's a pretty busy place. We started off with beignets and they were HEAVENLY. Each order comes hot with six beignets with three sauces on the side- chocolate, caramel, and strawberry (I think). They were the best pastries I've ever had. Next, I had the traditional eggs benedict and a red velvet pancake. The portion for the eggs benedict was much larger than I expected and it came with a side of leek hash browns. The hash browns were great- they tasted light and weren't greasy at all. The eggs benedict was pretty good too, and I loved the red velvet pancake as well. My brother ordered the chicken and waffles. They're not really my thing, but he enjoyed it. My dad liked his cheeseburger, and my mom enjoyed her egg platter which came with eggs, has browns, a biscuit, and a sausage. We also ordered their soup of the day, gazpacho with crab, which was decent. They also serve freshly squeezed juices, which were tasty. Overall, this place was great! Service is wonderful too. We made a reservation and were seated immediately after we got there. Our waitress Kim was very friendly, attentive, and upbeat. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Chop Y.
My new favorite restaurant on the east coast. Great atmosphere, service, and food. Now I have a new perspective on American culinary arts. I enjoyed the food so much I forgot to take photos of them. Make a reservation. You will need it.
(5)
Deb G.
I've heard about Founding Farmers for quite a while, and was excited to try this outpost in Rockville. Why has no one mentioned what a strange location its in? It's like this little shopping center in the middle of construction and nowheresville. So, when I eventually found it...the decor is definitely cool. I especially liked the jars of pickled veggies throughout the first floor. Our server was super nice and was very helpful in talking through parts of the menu. I decided on the shrimp Louie Cobb salad and a house made ginger soda, while my dining companions got shrimp and grits and an omelet. My salad was beautiful and huge - I sort of wished I had taken a picture. There wasn't a ton of shrimp on my plate, but each shrimp was large and dressed in Louie sauce. There were also tomatoes, avocado, an underripe mango, and potato-cauliflower salad. Let's hit the good stuff: that potato salad was outta sight! I wish I had more, because it was divine! Unfortunately, the rest wasn't overwhelming. The shrimp was good, but because it was the only dressed part of the salad, you had to cut it up and spear a tomato and grab a lettuce leaf and shove it into your gullet all at once. The salad was served on a flat plate, so it was impossible to mix up - not a good move. The dish was also under salted. There were some flakes of kosher salt sprinkled here sbx there, and every time I found one my mouth was like, "yeah! This is what was missing!" I felt that was about the shrimp and grits too -salt would have kicked it up a bit. But I digress. Basically, I had a nice salad. It seemed kind of expensive for what I got, it was pretty noisy, the parking is not great, and it is way the hell out of the way (for me). I don't see myself going back anytime soon.
(3)
Seema K.
Felt discriminated against by the head hostess. Was bypassed for seating by numerous other walk-in customers. Waited for a table of 3 for an hour and half (told 45 min upon arrival) and after numerous follow-ups they continued to prolong our wait. That's when we decided to leave. Never returning to this location.
This is one of my favorite places to eat for breakfast. Making a reservation through their open table is a joke. What is the point of having it if your wait staff doesn't even acknowledge your reservation and offers any table? The restaurant was empty. During the week so I dont understand why the table I wanted wasn't available. Instead I was seated near a rowdy family and a couple with a crying toddler. Not cool. Weekends here is like standing in front of grand central station. At least the host was nice. Actually he was the only friendly face there. Half the time I dislike coming to this location is because of the snobby waiters and waitresses. My party loves coming here for the. Delicious benigets and chicken and waffles. The drinks are overpriced! $4 for an ice tea?! So we order off the breakfast menu And get their chicken & waffles with scrambled eggs. The waffle was a bit dry and semi warm. Our waiter (older guy. With white hair) appeared to be annoyed when we asked him for something so simple. I was so close to the kitchen i felt like walking in and getting it. The water comes in a clear like what milk use to come in. Ours was lukewarm. No ice and no straw. We were never asked about our meal because waiter seemed ticked each time I asked for like more butter or sauces. Then he comes with a portable mailbox. Like he was ready to get rid of us. I told him I wanted one more order. So we had to wait. Then we get the to go order and see that I only got syrup I asked for extra sauces this time I asked a younger waiter with blond reddish semi curly for more. He too seemed annoyed that I had to walk up to the register to speak with him. He then says okay rudely. And he then says something to the other waiter about me. Like really? Is this high school? 5 minutes goes by and I'm Waiting! I asked him again and this kid snaps at me telling me that the other waiter put in the bag. I was like um no. Could you please hand me some? He then reluctantly gives it to me. I should have just return the order and asked for refund for what I had to experience. I should have scratched out my tip because both of their behaviors were uncalled for. The food is ok but the wait staff have issues! The maple syrup is so delicious! Vermont grade A with vanilla and cinnamon. Eggs are great and so Is the chicken. If I could rate the service here I give it a 2.
(3)
Dmitry D.
This place has the best stuffed French Toast iv ever had. Fresh bread stuffed with cran and blueberries on top. And they pastrami hash wad good full of fresh vegetables and eggs were perfectly cooked. We will be back. And my wife finally got her latte with those nice designs on top.
(5)
Luna H.
Second time here and I've got to say, food-wise I left very satisfied. Everything tasted super fresh and delicious. The service wasn't bad at all, considering it was Valentine's Day 10 am! I think this is one of my favorite places to eat out, especially for breakfast/brunch. It continues to amaze, and I can't wait until I go again.
(4)
Michael S.
Great service. Great food. Had a wonderful time dining here. It was a little busy so it took a little time for the server to come to our table. We ordered the brie bread and fried green tomatoes. Both were delicious and we decided to sample their menu and ordered 3 entrees. The lobster mac n cheese, chicken and waffles and the land and sea which is a steak and lobster tail. All the ordered items were fantastic and will definitely be returning to try more menu items. Also we were told the sides for the entrees change daily. Definitely a place you should check out if you have the time
(5)
Erin W.
I lived in Vermont for a good number of years, and let me tell you; The Queen city and her surrounding areas are the royalty of the Farm-to-Table concept. Many of what I would consider to be "quick-bite" joints practiced local, fresh, and sustainably. When I learned my next stop would be the DC 'burbs I was a little more than concerned about the food situation; especially dining out. I got just a little crunchy living in VT I guess. Anyways; overall MoCo Founding Farmers did not disappoint. The food was good, fresh and had some real character. This wasn't your unchained Applebee's knock off. We started off with kettlecorn, and it was a hit all around the table. The coffee I had with it was good. Not fine-European-cafe good, but good. As in, I doubt it came out of a K-Cup good. The meals options were creative, yet many of them were heavy on cream, butter, and cheese. If that's your thing, great. If it's not, make it your thing for the duration of your visit, or you'll be missing out. (Don't bring your lactose-intolerant or vegan pals here). I had the chicken and waffles, since it was highlighted in many Yelp reviews, and I gotta say, Yelp wins again. If you can't decide, I'll make it easy--get the chicken and waffles. And may I add...that's real maple syrup in those bottles. So, I loved the food, and definitely give it a 5 star rating for it. But I can't give the place an overall five-star rating..here's why. The first mishap was for our starter, I was given a dirty plate. Ok. that happens sometimes and they corrected it when I pointed it out. If it ended there, I probably wouldn't knock off a whole star. The second incident was that we were waiting and waiting and waiting for our starter (the popcorn) and it just never came. So finally the de-facto leader of our merry band asked, and it turns out they had burned it. We were all a little upset because of the lack of communication. A lot of times, servers will pop out and say "Hey, there was x,y, z that happened. We're working on making it right". A little communication goes a long way. I realize the service industry is hard and I'm not a server so maybe I shouldn't speak too much on this. But it is what it is, and without impeccable service, you can't have that last star. The final disappointment to me (as I said, i got a little "crunchy" up north) was that for a farm-to-table place, I was shocked that they kept bringing me coffee in new cups. I would have been happy to have the coffee poured into the mug I was using. I was thinking to myself "How wasteful now that they have to wash 3 mugs for one person". Now this isn't "poor" service by any means. But it's not remarkable. If I go back and things change, I'll be thrilled to update my review. Because I think there's probably a plate of chicken and waffles calling my name somewhere out there.
(4)
Richard J.
I was not that thrilled. I had heard good things about this place and decided to try it yesterday for lunch. I had ordered the classic deviled eggs and the seven cheese mac, when it came out it looked delicious. When I bit into the macaroni, which I know that they make, it was gummy. I make my own pasta and have not had that happen before. The deviled eggs had chunks of uncooked onion in the filling and the filling itself was chunky. I will go back and try it one more time, but I will order something different.
(3)
Angela I.
Tried this place for the first time today and it was amazing!! I ordered the fried free tomatoes (they were pretty blah) but my entree was great! I had the boneless ribeye with mashed potatoes and green beans with candied lemon! Superb! My friend had the scratch stock (I pretty sure that's not how to spell it) chicken with a maple thyme glaze, green beans and baked beans! She loved her food as well! I was stuffed to no dessert today! But I def can't wait to return and try the table biscuits and beignets!! Yum!!
(4)
Samantha L.
Tonight, my friend and I dined into MoCo's Founding Farmers. I've been hearing good things about this place from coworkers, family, and friends. Now, I've finally got to try it. The restaurant is well lit, spacious, and quiet enough to have conversations among guests. It's a great place for a date or to celebrate a special occasion. The hostess and server (Scott) were very welcoming and friendly. Our server constantly checked up on us to see what we thought about the food and if there was anything we needed. The Arnold Palmer was served not mixed - it was quite refreshing! I ordered the Lemon Meunière Diver Scallops, which came with four large tender scallops in lemon brown butter sauce and served with butternut squash risotto. It was a pretty garlicky delicious dish. Also, risotto was creamy and rich due to the parmesan cheese. My friend ordered the Fish and Chips, which came with a 8oz Spinner of Today's White Draught Beer. For dessert, we shared a Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with Raspberry Compote. The texture of the cheesecake was smooth, rich, and creamy. The cheesecake was phenomenal! I would definitely return to this business and I would highly recommend it to others.
(4)
Dori M.
One of the most allergy-friendly restaurants we've found that the whole family is happy with... The bacon lolly's might have something to do with that! The staff is knowledgeable and when in doubt they'll provide a cheat sheet of nut-allergy friendly menu items including modifications that can be made. We're sold.
(4)
LaShawne H.
I love this place. I would come every week if it wasn't 1.5 hours from my home. The carrot cake pancakes and the red velvet pancakes are amazing. I've never had anything on the menu that I didn't love. I love the hand spun beverages. You will not be disappointed. So worth the wait.
(5)
Jeffrey H.
One of my very favorite restaurants in the DC / Baltimore area, and my absolute favorite restaurant in the region at the less than $100 / two level. What makes Founding Farmers really special is that they take traditional staples, and somehow take them a notch above. Take for example something as basic as fish and chips. Or hot chocolate. Or a breakfast scramble. Biscuits. Ribs. Mac and Cheese. Founding Farmers takes the same classic dishes, and does them better - more tasty, more crispy, more flavorful - than your average three-star pub or restaurant. They even make many of their own sodas and their own drinks. And to top it all off, you get generous portions of everything. You've read the hype online about the table-to-farm Real Food. It's pretty much on the mark. When they bring the food to the table, you can tell that what they make is in fact made from scratch from fresh ingredients. With only a few average nights, everything I've had here over the last three years I've been coming regularly, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, is just all done better than your average restaurant. Enough to make it very much worth driving out of one's way to go to (and it's an easy drive right off 270), just north of the beltway. There are nights when it gets especially busy - and reservations are a *must*, and once in a very long while there are some nights the kitchen seems off. But those sorts of bumps are expected; no place is perfect. I've been here at least twenty times, brought over a dozen of my friends here, and myself and my guests enjoyed themselves greatly. There's a *reason* why this place is busy as heck, and has earned repeated accolades. Yes, there are certainly better restaurants in DC, but not at this price range. If you want a really special meal *without* spending Michelin-star money: Founding Farmers in MoCo is most definitely worth the trip.
(5)
Jose C.
I came to this place earlier in 2014. The customer service was great. Recently, I came again and the service was horrible. We were sat fairly quick since a lot of tables were empty, but for some reason it took someone to recognize they would be the ones serving us. I would say almost 15 minutes. We missed breakfast by 4 mins which ok, it's our fault. But they were not willing to make an exception. The food is good, I really cannot complain about that. But if you're expecting great customer service, prepare to be somewhat disappointed.
(3)
Vivian H.
I came here with a group of 6 on Sat and got seated right away as we had a reservation. The waitress had really great attitude and explained to us in detail the special drinks and food items of the day. She also let us know that both the breakfast and lunch menu were available at the time. For those of you who have dietary restraints, I found out that Founding Farmer's has a special gluten-free menu so that's def a plus. Now on to the food: 1.) Beignets -We got one order of beignets for the whole table to share and that was def a hit with everyone. I really loved that light and airy texture of the beignets paired with the 3 diff dipping sauces (strawberry, caramel, and chocolate). This is def a must have here!! 2.) Ahi Tuna Poke -This was the dish I ordered. I love avocado and tuna so gave this dish try. All the ingredients tasted fresh but the dressing was too heavy for my taste. I think it would've been better if they just lightly season the dish and put the dressing on the side. 3.) Yankee Pot Roast -I only had a bite of this dish that my friend got so can't really provide a detailed review but I did think the meat was pretty tender and that the seasoning was well balanced. 4.) Chicken and Waffles -Again I had a few bites of the chicken and I thought the texture of the meat was great but again it was a bit overly seasoned for my taste. 5.) Sausage, Mushroom, and Spinach Pan Scramble -This was a dish from the breakfast menu and my friend who got it didn't enjoy it that much because it was under seasoned and it seems to be the type of dish that one can easily make at home. Overall I think my experience was positive with a few misses on the food but I still may give this place a try in the future as I did really like the ambience/service and it's in a very convenient location. From my previous visits and this most recent one, I think maintaining that consistency on the food would be a main area of focus for the establishment.
(3)
PHAN D.
After a disastrous first visit, I gave this location another try. Several minutes after being seated, I still hadn't been greeted by a server. When I did get acknowledged it turns out that this person had passed multiple times earlier without stopping. He immediately asked if I was ready to order. When I asked his opinion of the menu he brightened up and gave hearty recommendations. Since I was dining alone I had the smaller order of devil-ish eggs (classic). Be sure to order the set with upgraded toppings such as lobster. Had the shaved steak open-face sandwich for my meal with avocados, horseradish cream and caramelized onions. Presentation is excellent and the dish was amazing. After a rocky start the experience was overall quite good. Not sure why there would be such a wait for service after the lunch rush has died down but this is definitely a great dining location.
(4)
Peter M.
For me as a European, this is a great introduction to (hopefully) classic American dishes. We loved the Southern chicken. Service was perfect, prices reasonable - a great night out. (The location is a bit soulless, though.)
(5)
C. A.
Recently visited this restaurant and I must say the food was amazing. We had a party of 12 and everyone ordered something different so we could "sample" a variety of food at once. I must say everything I tasted was amazing, but what stood out the most was the cornbread and the devil egg seafood appetizer...O-M-G...I think we ordered 4 of those and someone in my party ordered one to go...SIMPLY DELICIOUS! The serve was good, our waitress did a wonder job ensuring we were well taken care of. The drinks were okay as I enjoyed my cucumber delight...it was very refreshing and the cucumber and cantaloupe was a very nice touch. I definitely recommend making a reservation as it appears to get crowded. I will be back...I have more stuff to sample.
(4)
Anna A.
This is by far one of my favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner spots. Everything is so fresh and delicious. I'm a huge fan of the red velvet pancakes and also their handmade pastas. The decor and ambiance of the restaurant is also a huge plus. My favorite part about the experience other than the amazing food is that cute little mailbox they put your check in. Only reason I didn't give this restaurant 5 stars is because sometimes when I make a reservation they still make me wait a good 10-15 minutes. And sometimes while I'm eating I feel like they're rushing for me to get out. If I want to converse with my friends that's my right!
(4)
Ne F.
Tried MoCo's Founding Fathers today for the first time. I was really disappointed. We tried the beignets which very airy and watery. Not even close to the real thing. For brunch I had the waffle and biscuit and gravy. The waffle had no flavor and was also thin and airy. The biscuit was tasteless also. The gravy was flavorful but it was skimpily poured on top of the minuscule biscuit. The salad I had as a side was a pleasant surprise. Most side salads are all lettuce, this one was topped with avocado, grapes, cheese, tomatoes and nuts. My boyfriend has the dinner chicken and waffles and enjoyed everything except the waffles for reasons explained above. The mac & cheese was runny, but had a great flavor. He was really excited to come today after having a great experience at the DC version. Maybe we will have better luck trying that location next time.
(2)
Nick C.
We were here last week on a Thursday and it was not too crowded. We had chicken and waffles, deviled eggs, fried chicken southern style and butter squash ravioli. Liked it all but the deviled eggs. The eggs were just bland and had a "refrigerated too long" taste.. The chicken and waffles were great. The syrup was thin but tasted wonderful. I would recommend the waffles just to try the syrup. The ravioli was a good but the sauce was too basic and not well put together. Just ok. Kids liked the fried chicken and the service was good. Sodas are made there and very pricey but good. Would go back but not as good as the hype. Some menu items seem like a one dimensional take on a classic. No spark, unoriginal. But will go back.
(3)
Rick S.
I've heard people raving about Founding Farmers for nearly a year before I finally got out there for Sunday breakfast (not brunch) last winter. My girlfriend and I made a reservation for 2 and everything, but there was a big snow storm the night before, so the place was practically empty. They sat us over farther away from the door, which I was grateful for since it was pretty cold out and it helped avoid the drafting, but our server kept forgetting about us. There were maybe 5 parties there. I don't know you can forget anyone when you have so few tables. They even turned the lights off in our section while we were sitting there. After just looking at each other in disbelief and waiting a couple minutes, I went over and let them know we were still sitting there and hadn't received any food after waiting nearly a half hour. Our food came out and it was fine. Definitely not bad, but definitely over priced for what we got. I don't plan on returning any time soon. I've heard that their actual brunch is really good, but it's not even worth it to try for me. The only way I'll be going back is if I'm with a larger group that's got their mind set on that place.
(2)
Jeffrey K.
Overall decor was nice and farm themed which was fun. It seemed like the patrons were a bit more dressed up with dress shirts/ dresses on a Sunday night whereas I was reppin' the west coast in shorts and activewear. It was a nice place where you could have a normal conversation without having to whisper. The service was pretty standard. Water was filled appropriately and dishes were removed in a timely manner. The waitress kept asking what we wanted to order, which I can understand because she wants to move people in and out, but honestly, their menu has a huge selection so it's hard to pick immediately. AND NOW for the FOOD, We started the table off with some farm breads with pimento horseradish and pickled tomatoes. This was amazing. I was not expecting this from some vegetables cheese and bread. Whenever I order a meal, I always choose meat, but fortunately my friends chose this. I would recommend. I ordered the farm platter which was essentially a sampler. The chips that come with it were pretty standard and not at all oily. I think they were baked. The potato salad was unique with no mayo. Not bad. The mexican corn that had cheese on it is not as good as in california, but I can't expect great things like that over here when it comes to latin cuisine. The sliders had good flavor, but the buns were a bit dry overall not bad. The ribs were not that great. I prefer dry rub ribs, but these were slathered in sauce and were on the fattier side since it seemed that the ribs were pre-boiled for faster cooking. And last of all was the mini sausage hot dog. It was a mini sausage in what looked like a piece of texas toast folded in half. It was good.
(4)
Candice D.
Saddened by the overall 3.5 rating for this place, I decided it needed more justice. I've been celebrating my bff's birthdays here for a year and it's a great location for just that. Just visited on July 17, 2014 and I was excited to see that not only did they have a menu change and kept favorites such as the kettle corn popcorn and Lobster Mac as menu staples. (I can't get enough of each dish.) The dishes are homey and yet inventive at the same time. Can't go wrong with any of their popcorn choices, as mentioned, the kettle corn is freshly made and comes out hot (but be careful, I was too eager to dive in and shocked my tongue a bit!) The balance between sweet n' salty is brilliant! Main dishes are very filling and typically require with a to-go box. Try something new when visiting; good to know so much of that's offered is fresh, made on premisses, and healthful. Very vegan and food allergy friendly. The staff does a greet job making you feel at home and suggests their favorites. Cocktails are on point! I'm a gin girl, so I'm partial to The Constitution (a vibrant ginger infused, gin cocktail). Desserts are fantastic! I recommend the homemade bingettes or the huge bowl of homemade chocolate moose (ideal for a group of 3 or more genuine chocolate lovers!) Reservation definitely recommended and FF is on OpenTable as well.
(4)
Kelly C.
Sweet dear baby Jesus in a manger this place is fantastic. Nearly everything on the menu is made from scratch and sustained locally. Tastes like moms southern cooking. You could eat here for lunch and be full the rest of the day. I've been here three times now and have tried: the honey thyme spatchcock chicken, the chicken pot pie, and the southern fried chicken. Fresh delicious ingredients. They also make their own sodas. I've had the ginger and the orange. I liked the orange better. The El Presidente cocktail is awesome! They'll also catch up to you. The tater tots are amazeballs. Everything here is so tasty!! I really can't say enough good things. MAKE SURE TO MAKE A RESERVATION. Very popular place.
(5)
Tera K.
We got there at at 10:40 not realizing that you couldn't order both breakfast and lunch. They start serving lunch at 11:00. We asked the server for a minute to decide. He never came back to check on us. We flagged him down after 5 minutes and he rudely signaled to us that he would be right over. After passing our table twice we just walked out. He never suggested that we wait for lunch or offer us drinks again. Too bad the place looked nice and he would have gotten a nice tip if he would have been even a half decent server. Pretension doesn't pay the bills when you employ people that lack similar qualities.
(1)
Richard w.
Go to the bar, get a cocktail (they make 'em pretty good here), have a little nosh (nothing too adventurous here), and eavesdrop on the conversations around you. You'll be pleased. If you go for a full meal in the restaurant, you will likely be disappointed.
(3)
Wm H.
Excellent food, expect a crowd, this is a downtown eatery out in the suburbs, so you are going to get a high end crowd here. Parking is below so stamp your parking ticket before you go back to your car. Nice farm to fork menu.
(5)
Denise L.
So this is my fave, close to home, quality restaurant! I'll begin with brunch. The fried chicken and waffles are out of this world. If you get the brunch option, the dish is served with chicken fingers and more waffles. Since I come for the chicken, I get the lunch/dinner portion of a half chicken and half a waffle. The portions are generous so expect left overs.This dish also comes with two sides (make one of them the mac n cheese, whatever you do). The chicken is well seasoned, moist, served fresh out of the fryer and comes with a side of gravy. The gravy is a nice touch but not necessary. This will take us right into lunch. When Im not ordering the fried chicken, Im getting the oven roasted, cracked black pepper wings. More than likely a side of mac n cheese is lurking. I also like the Yankee pot roast, one of their signature dishes. The beef is roasted to perfection and served with potatoes and veggies. Don't make plans after eating this, you may need to sleep it off. Fair warning. I'll roll this right into dinner/list all of the other dishes that I like... Fried Chicken and Waffles - MY FAVE! Table biscuits - the ones with the honey on the bottom of the butter dish. They will make you want to slap your mother. Deviled Eggs appetizer - Opt for the combo, its a great idea BACON LOLLIS - the perfect mash up of salty, sweet, syrupy, bacony heaven that you ever did bite Lobster Mac N Cheese - Family favorite and worth every penny Chicken pot pie - If in the mood for CPP this is a great place to get it Corned Beef Reuben - Not better than the Corned Beef King...I'd pass Angry Pasta - Great pasta dish, but I always add meat Low Country Shrimp and Grits - Not the best Ive had I havent had any of the salad but there are plenty options. The drinks are great! Try one of their signatures or have the bartender make your fave and I guarantee you will love it. The bartenders are skilled and friendly. In conclusion, you should expect an exciting dinning experience and excellent customer service. Be sure to try the fried chicken, you cannot go wrong.
(4)
Benjamin W.
Went here for a birthday lunch with my wife on a Thursday. Had a reservation with OpenTable, and were seated as soon as we arrived. Parking can be a little bit interesting with construction and busy parking lots dedicated to nearby retail, but is not bad with a little navigation. The interior of the restaurant is clean and trendy. I got the Carolina pulled pork sandwich and my wife got the chicken and waffles. The sandwich was great with a crunchy alternative coleslaw and fresh cut fries. The chicken and waffles were great, with well seasoned chicken and flavorful waffles, with great Mac and cheese and green beans. Portions are also generous here, but prices are a little high so it fits. The only thing keeping this from five stars is the server we had was pretty lethargic, rather inattentive, and not too helpful with questions. Other than that, it's close to perfect!
(4)
Elizabeth Y.
Love this place!!! While waiting for another member of our party we started off with some drinks which were delicious. Can't remember the name but it had cucumbers and ginger. Started off with bacon lollipops and tater tots that just melted in your mouth. We then proceeded to get the southern chicken. The portions are huge!!! It was good, but a tad on the salty side. The blueberry compote french toast were served as these rectangular blocks, I felt like a little kid playing with edible blocks.. Left feeling very satisfied. Would definitely come back again, but would like to try the DC venue.
(5)
Rachel B.
Had a fantastic time here with my mother and grandmother. We shared the brie and bread with the onion jam, which was AMAZING. Never knew onion jam was a thing, but the mixture of sweet and savory is perfect. I also had the crabcake sandwhich. There was a pinkish sauce that I got on the side, but it complements the sandwich perfectly. My mother got the scallops in the meuniere sauce, which I thought were pretty much melt in your mouth good. My grandmother got the fried chicken and waffles. This was the winner. End of story. Service was good. My water glass was rarely empty, and the waitress was thorough in her explanation of the items on the menu. Overall it was a great experience.
(4)
Marie-Noelle C.
I've been here many times since I don't live too far away. There are days they are awesome, some days they are not, but overall I keep coming back because for the most part it's a solid place to eat. They use high quality ingredients, the staff is generally nice, and if something is not correct, the management is very quick to resolve the issue. Reservations are highly recommended! It's always packed. For brunch, I love the red velvet pancakes. For dinner, the Farm Breads (Brie, Onion Jam, Sliced Apples) is a great app to share.
(4)
Tiffany J.
I went to this restaurant last night for my friend's bday dinner. It was my first time trying the well-knownFounding Farmers, so I wanted in. The atmosphere was cute and cozy w/ dim lighting, perfect for a date. The water is served in glass milk jugs and they give u small glasses to refill yourself, ice available upon request (it's filtered...oooohhh!). I ordered the chicken & waffles (I'm on a quest to see who has the best in the DMV) which came w/ a side of Mac & cheese and green beans. I subbed the beans for the sweet potato with pecan butter (DELICIOUS). The chicken was perfect crispy, slightly salty, but I'm just glad it was seasoned well. The Mac was sooooo good, but idk if they added salt to that too or not, hopefully not seeing as how cheese has enough salt. It only comes w/ half a waffle, mine was cold and wasn't bready like a normal waffle, it was super crispy. I wasn't feeling it. It came w/ a side of icing looking situation, but I got syrup instead. Didn't like the syrup, they serve the real stuff and call me childish but my palette doesn't like authentic maple syrup. I had a couple glasses of water that smelled like dirty dish water so I had to ask the serve to replace them. I'd try them again overall, but i'll def order something different.
(3)
Angel W.
My opinion of this place has not changed much over the years. It's still a mediocre experience. And it's as crowded as ever for reasons unknown to me. Parts of the decor, atmosphere and menu deceivingly lead people to believe they are in for a treat. I could tell that my friends were excited so I felt the need to warn them that the service is extremely slow, that the menu looks amazing but the food can be somewhat tasteless, and to be prepared for the cheesy mailbox that houses the check. We ordered drinks first - pineapple soda (okay), OJ (I remember it being much better before; it was slightly warm), and a bellini (my sister-in-law added several pours of honey and even some strawberry jam to liven it up a bit). She ended up drinking the entire bellini and commented on the nice buzz it offered, but then it slowly turned into a buzz overkill. This is what we had for lunch: 1) eggs, salad, grits (it was okay. The dressing was too sour tasting and gave my sister-in-law a coughing fit), 2) chili dog+shrimp roll+crab roll (the chili dog was good but the shrimp roll was filled insufficiently, 3) I had the bacon burger (which has a vegetarian base (beets, grains) with bacon flavored tofu, tomato, pickle, sauce). It was actually one of the better things I have tried here. It came with a small side salad. At the end of the meal, both of my friends concurred that the experience was lackluster. My brother told me that he didn't appreciate my warning them and that he was excited to try his food but after he took a bit he knew what I meant. It's like every dish is missing a few ingredients to make it restaurant quality. Most dishes appear to be three simple ingredients thrown together without much attention to the details (spices, sides, accompaniments, etc). Also considering everything is supposed to be prepared fresh in-house, I am amazed at how much cold food I have been served over the years. The menu is another issue. They don't have a gluten free menu. They also have a separate vegetarian menu but it's advertised towards meat eaters. So for instance they call a veggie burger a bacon burger or a turkey burger even though it's not. My brother said they just want to appeal to meat eaters but my opinion is that there is already enough food on the menu for meat eaters. Why no appeal to the vegetarians who are always lacking options? Also, what is up with the weird placenta sac hanging on the ceiling posing as a cloud? And what about the birds hovering overhead about to drop a load on the diners' heads? It's quite scary.
(3)
Mary Q.
Haven't been here in 5 years and unfortunately nothing has changed: service deplorable for number of waitstaff available, food served lukewarm, my dish had to be remade. I think I am done.
(2)
Jeanne K.
I came here with a friend for brunch. I immediately noticed it was not as packed and noisy as the DC location, which I appreciated. I like to actually hear my friends speak and not feel like I'm being rushed. I ordered the red velvet pancakes, which I thought was tasty. The portion is huge, so it's definitely good for sharing. I also ordered a side of thick cut bacon, and the name is deceiving because it was not thick cut at all. It was thin and not worth the $6 (or something) I paid for it. While I liked the pancakes I ordered, they weren't particularly great. We ordered brunch cocktails and while we liked them, it was pretty pricey. They're also currently doing construction nearby, so when we sat outside, we could hear the drilling. It wasn't too bad, but definitely not a plus to the dining experience.
(3)
Anne L.
Not sure if we stopped on an off night but it was not up to par. I have eaten here before but it was the first time for my husband. Service was good, our waitress was very attentive. We started with apps, he the stuffed dates and I, the fried green tomatoes. Both were good...of the two, the tomatoes were better. He had the fish and chips and found them a bit underwhelming. Chips were mixed with french fries and were not hot on delvery, merely warm. I had the Scallops with risotto-mash and found it to be very salty. The sear was good but the risotto was meh and over the dish was greasy and the saltiness just too much. Rather than drop $90 on a meh dinner, next time, I'll grab some fresh fish and grill at home.
(2)
Allison K.
Went for brunch. Atmosphere is awesome and food was a little above average (hard to really screw up breakfast). Here is the deal: people come for the food, but return for the service. I would go somewhere else. Hostess seats us and asks, "is this your first time here"? I reply, "yes." She then says ok and walks away. ?!?!? I was waiting for her to go into detail or point out specials. She didn't even say "welcome." Bizarre! Then our waitress seemed like she was hungover or depressed! Drinks would get dropped off with no straw...missing utensils... Sigh. Too many good restaurants for that.
(3)
Kelsey I.
Food is great. Ambiance is great. No competition in the area. But there are some consistent downsides. Parking is an issue, which seems inexcusable in a newer shopping development. Aside from the paucity of spots, the labeling is weird and has been re-done a few times, making it confusing. Do I pay? Do I get a ticket validated? Is this spot for this business? Can I park by the grocery store? The entrance to the restaurant is easy to spot but difficult to get to. There's no designated walkway, so you'll be dodging traffic and plants and squeezing through 12 inch openings between railings. And the service.... Oh the service.... Terribly slow during both peak times and off-peak times. I don't think it has anything to do with the kitchen, as the food is delivered promptly by runners. It's definitely the servers who take forever to greet you, take any orders, clear your dishes, etc. They are nothing but nice in the process, but usually I don't devote 2 hours to brunch or a weekday lunch. And if I do, I'd like to be eating and drinking the entire time. If you've got some time on your hands, try the honey butter cornbread. The entrees are so diverse that I hesitate to give recommendations, but most of their vegetarian dishes are inventive.
(3)
George M.
I am a fan. The tuna salad thingy is amazing. great coctails. Usually packed but I have had luck finding a bar stool where they serve full menu. Super super friendly bartenders; I would go just for that. Even so super busy and hip(!), they are not pretentious in the least. Parking is funny. Even though its in a run of the mill office bldg next to the hwy, they charge for parking even after hours, unless you validate which I always forget to. You can park at Harris Teeter next door but you know....its not recommended!
(4)
Aimie D.
The 2 stars are for their excellent food. I subtracted 3 stars for service. I arrived with my children, 3 & 11, at 830 and we were seated immediately. A few minutes later a woman, who I would later learn was the manager, stopped by to take our drink order. She assured us the waiter would stop by soon. 10 minutes later he did. We told him we were waiting for a friend and ordered begniets. 20 minutes later I flagged him down and asked for the begniets and he told us they take 20 minutes. Good to know, I probably would have ordered something else if I'd known that. Toddlers need snacks if they're going to wait patiently. At this point our drinks are empty and our dining companion is late and can't be reached so I decided to order but couldn't flag him down. Another server delivered our begniets finally and we're delicious. I asked her to take our order. When our food was delivered it was delivered incomplete and by yet another waitress. I was unable to get anyone's attention and so I got up and asked to speak to the manager. When she came I explained what had been happening. She apologized and left. A minute or so later our long lost waiter appeared with the missing items and drink refills. He then apologized and told me it was my fault he hadn't been by and that I should have said something to him before speaking to the manager. Completely inappropriate and terrible customer service. He was very attentive after that and the manager did remove an item from our check but it doesn't erase the bad experience. Our friend did finally arrive and we enjoyed our food but we won't be returning and will definitely not be recommending Founding Farmers to friends.
(2)
Beth C.
Let me start with this - I have been to this restaurant multiple times and have always enjoyed myself but never felt overly impressed; I think this place is over-hyped. My most recent experience was possibly one of the worst experiences I have had at an upscale restaurant. I made a reservation for Saturday night at 7:45 for a party of 6 to celebrate my younger sister's birthday. When we arrived at 7:40, the host informed us that we would be seated "in a few moments" as they were just getting our table ready. We were seated at 8:20pm. Our server was extremely sweet but unfortunately didn't come over to take our drink order until another 5-10 minutes after being seated. Then the drinks that we ordered took another 10 minutes to come out. Because the drinks took forever, and it was getting a little late for my sister and her friend, we decided to skip appetizers and go straight to entrees. Our food came out around 9:00/9:15pm. (An hour and a half after the original reservation time...) Unfortunately, there were a few minor errors with the food. I had ordered a salad with dressing on the side and so had another guest in our party, but my dressing didn't come out with the order. My brother had ordered the Meatloaf and Gravy which came without gravy and a meatloaf that was quite dry. Another sever came by our table and bought us the gravy and dressing that was missing after we had to request it. Halfway through our meal, one of the hostesses came over to ask how everything was. We informed her the food was good but service was just very very slow. She apologized and told us she would take care of desert and some drinks for us and told us she would get refills of our drinks sent to us. Those refills took another 10 minutes to arrive. And throughout the whole meal not one glass was cleared off the table. We ordered some deserts and I told the server that it was my sister's birthday. Those took about 15 minutes to come out also. So we eventually finished our whole meal around 10pm. Sensing we were a little unhappy, when our meal was over, the manager came over to speak with us. We told him that the food was nice and we generally enjoy coming here but tonight the service was just extremely slow. He was very apologetic and offered to invite us back to the restaurant to enjoy a better dining experience. I understand having a Saturday night rush, but surely a restaurant that is constantly busy should have a team that can handle a big rush of people? I was probably most disappointed that our reservation was kind of pointless seeing as we weren't even seated until over 30 minutes after our reservation time. Foodwise I did enjoy my meal - I ordered the Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke salad, it was delicious rare tuna in a crispy green salad with a very Asian inspired dressing. I especially loved the white chocolate shavings in the salad- they added a great twist. I just wish their menu was a little more descriptive - nothing is really explained. Overall if you have never tried this place, go ahead, but I may pass next time.
(2)
Alex C.
While the prices can be steep, the food here is pretty darn good and the portion large enough that you won't leave hungry. My steak left much to be desired, but the chicken and waffles were pretty good. All the sides were good and definitely were tasty compliments. My only major complaint was the pan cooked, not seared, steak; and my dark and stormy that needed a lot more rum in it.
(4)
Rebecca O.
I had the chicken and waffles on my visit to Founding Farmers. The portion sizes are big, so go hungry. I'm pretty serious about my fried chicken, and the fried chicken here is pretty good. Nice and juicy, could have a little more flavor. The waffle, I kid you not, tasted like beer. I'm thinking they maybe used yeast to make it. The service could have been a little more attentive - we had to ask for the specials, veggie of the day, etc. Many of the dishes feature the veggie of the day and the other specials, so this kind of information is important when choosing what to eat. They were overall very nice though. Prices are a little steep but typical of farm to table restaurants. Definitely go and try it out, if at least just once. There are lots of good options of the menu and my party enjoyed everything they ate.
(4)
Mia N.
We drove all the way to Rockville area, which I haven't done in more than 10 years. It was a nice drive on a beautiful Saturday morning. This is pure American comfort food heaven. We don't normally eat this type of heavy gut filling food, but it was very satisfying and reading the menu was exciting and fun. They serve huge portions, and we had to doggie bag my son's and my entrees of fish and chips and macaroni and cheese. Truthfully, I can't eat this type of food every day. It's too heavy and I came home and went to sleep for 5 hours. It's like eating Thanksgiving food, good for once a year. However, my little boy loved this place so we would definitely go again to the new one being built closer to home in Tyson's. I did not like eating in the upper level of this restaurant, felt closed in with the low ceilings like eating in a basement. So it's nicer to eat on the bottom floor with a view of the high ceilings. Next time I will just order appetizers and a salad because this food will put you in a coma. A lot of people were ordering fried chicken and waffles, which is something I could never do...For 3 entrees of a ruben sandwich, mac and cheese, and fish and chips along with 2 appetizers of biscuits and a huge metal pot of kettle popcorn with drinks and tips we paid $72. A little much, but would be good for family get togethers.
(4)
Mrs. Linda J.
My husband and I frequent this place for breakfast when we are in the area. I'm in love with their breakfast. The hot sauce bacon is to die for ! Last week I had the banana foster stuffed French toast. That was HEAVEN on a dish. I love the scrambled eggs especially the ones made with sausage, mushrooms and spinach. I love their grits, I love the entire breakfast menu to be honest ! I have them 4 stars because sometimes their service isn't as good as it should be. We had a tall bald waiter two weeks ago and he took forever to take our order and to clear our plates and to bring our check. Other than him I've had great experiences.
(4)
Thea B.
This is my 4th time eating at Founding farmers and I've been delighted every time. The last two times I've gone the two selections that I'd recommend is the Bacon Lollis which are candied bacon on skewers, YUM! The second dish is their fried chicken and waffles. Talk about a hearty plate. Not only did I get chicken and waffles, but there was also the house mac and cheese and green beans. Also, of you have dietary restrictions such as being glutarded you'll be in good hands as they offer up gluten free or vegan/vegetarian options. I'm already looking forward to my next meal.
(4)
Steven W.
When it comes to vast selections of quality ingredients you can't go wrong with Founding Farmers. Locally sourced and homemade items line the menus for breakfasts, lunch, and dinner. Clam chowder, founding farmers breakfast, and mango soda (seasonal) are my favorites. Make a reservation if you can especially on the weekends.
(5)
Dana M.
Birthday dinner with family and friends! We had a party of 11 on a Friday night, and had made a reservation about two weeks in advance just in case. We all had a great time and everyone really enjoyed their food! I'd never been to this location before, but I have been to Farmers, Fishers, and Bakers a few times. LOVE the concept of the restaurants, and I'm very grateful the waitstaff is so knowledgeable about food allergies - makes it really easy for me to eat there. Best of the appetizers: - deviled eggs seafood trio - with smoked salmon, crab, and lobster. smoked salmon was the best! - farmers pitchfork, with bacon lollipops. caramelized with cinnamon and brown sugar. because...BACON. - mussels with sausage and pesto - bacon-wrapped dates Basically all the appetizers were a huge hit. On to the entrees... I think four people at our table got the chicken and waffles. all LOVED and raved about it. I had the spatchcocked chicken with honey thyme glaze. Great flavor! Don't worry, they don't give you an ENTIRE spatchcocked chicken. Just a small half. Great reviews for the diver scallops, mac n cheese, angry pasta, and skirt steak with chimichurri sauce too. Desserts! rave reviews for the beignets and triple chocolate mousse cake (very rich! you'll probably want to split it...) I had the potomac park sizzle to drink (with coconut, passionfruit, lime, and bitters) - it was good! a little too sweet for me though. And my friend had the clementine, with chili-infused tequila and pineapple. She said it was great! I want to get my hands on the cookbook so I can recreate everything at home!! And of course MUST come back for brunch.
(5)
Pablo G.
Over-rated! Over-rated! Clap, clap, clapclapclap! Seriously though, this place is ok, some items are even good. But it really isn't all that, and from some reviews and word of mouth, you would expect it to be much better. Diet coke from a can? Just weird. I ordered a burger and asked "so that come with lettuce, tomato, and onion?" "Correct" What I got came with those toppings, plus pickles and a sauce I was told is just mayo and ketchup mixed. Had I wanted those, I would have asked for them. Nowhere on the menu did it say those are standard toppings, nor did the waiter mention when I asked about the toppings. When I asked for a new bun, the waiter tried to suggest I try the sauce. When I mentioned I hate mayo and all things mayo, he bristled and reluctantly brought me a new bun 5 minutes later. But the burger was good. Just not worth the price or the attitude. Meh.
(3)
Amir Matin S.
I was thinking about giving this place 4 stars, but I couldn't bring myself to. Frankly, I haven't had a bad dish at Founding Farmers. The cold flatbread appetizers are deeelish! My favorite is the brie topped with apples and jam. The Yankee Pot Roast (aside from the name - GO O'S!!!) is great! Meat just melts in your mouth, and the vegetables and mashed potatoes complement the roast beautifully. Swordfish - cooked and seasoned perfectly! Shrimp & Grits - UHHH-MAZING! A subtle smokey flavor that really lifts the whole dish. The entree salads are great. WHICH PART OF "I HAVEN'T HAD A BAD DISH AT FOUNDING FARMERS" DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND??? GO HERE!!! NOW!!!! (If you're going for brunch or dinner, make reservations).
(5)
Jane D.
The food at FF is delicious and creative. The diver scallops are my personal favorite. The bleu cheese ravioli was masterfully crafted but i would recommend passing on the butternut squash ravioli. As delicious as the food is, it's also grossly overpriced. $10 for four dates filled with cheese is hard to justify. The portion sizes are fair- not too much, not too little. The ambiance would be nice if not for the overwhelming noise level, which is ever present as I've never seen the restaurant less than completely packed. The customer service from my last waitress was poor, but typically the servers are good.
(4)
Jen P.
I've been here a couple of times. The drinks are great. The service is usually pretty fine. The food is pretty good with decent options for all types of eaters. Brunch is probably the best deal, especially if you get the beignets. However, the best thing about it is since its in MoCo, you can walk in to the place and get a table fairly easily (not at peak times) without the wait for the location in DC.
(3)
Peter B.
This review is in response to 2 visits I had at this restaurant. Christmas Experience My parents insisted that we go there because it's one of their favorite restaurants. This was actually the absolute worst experience I've had a restaurant to date. We made reservations for 3 and sat at the bar waiting. Cocktails were fantastic and really not too pricey for the quality of alcohol you're getting. We were seated in reasonable time. Nothing wrong there. Our waiter comes and gets our drinks and, for some reason, informs us that he is tired because he's been working all day. We're all pretty sure he's baked. Which.. Whatever as long as he can do his job you know? Wait time for anything was insane which is understandable for Christmas. Appetizers took 25 min and we had to wait another half hour for our food. The whole time in-between we NEVER saw our waiter except for once about 5 min after serving our appetizers when he informed us that our food with be out shortly. My parents food was ok, but I ordered a steak medium rare and you could tell that the steak had been cooked perfectly and then was sitting under the heating lamp for 10+ min and had turned to a a solid medium-well and had completely dried out. When our waiter came back after bringing out the food, I told him and he got hostile and rushed it back to the kitchen saying something like 'well it looks fine to me, the chef won't be happy about this!' Like Im supposed to give a f*ck? Within 2 minutes a new steak was brought out which was literally uncooked. The chef was clearly mad it got sent back, not realizing it was the waiters fault, and had spitefully sent back a steak that hadn't even been cooked long enough to cook the outside fully. It was still moo'ing and the plate was covered in blood. We got the manager and she was clearly stressed from the business but was nice enough to comp our meals, but I left starving and was extremely unsatisfied. Today's experience Got breakfast with my dad here after he insisted that that was just a one time thing. Got the biscuits and gravy and was unimpressed. It was deconstructed so the white gravy didn't have any sausage flavor and ended up making it a little blah. Poached egg was overcooked on top so there was no runny yolk goodness. Biscuit was good though. Got the seasonal fruit as a side and most of the cantaloupe pieces had rind on it so it was unpleasant to chew. My Dad had the eggs Benedict and said it was incredible so maybe I'm just unlucky. Would not recommend honestly.
(2)
Cheryl L.
came here with my girl for lunch during a day of playing hooky and this is now my latest fav in the area. the chicken & waffles dish is incredibly mind-blowing, a much healthier version than the ones i usually get in atlanta, yet more tasty. I basically love everything about this restaurant-- the ambiance, the drinks, the food, the service, the parking. and esp the chicken & waffles.
(5)
R P.
A really good restaurant! Lots of gluten free options and the food is so fresh! Get the kettle corn! It is such a treat! Has vegetarian options too which is nice? The fresh soda is delicious too! The ginger one was amazing!
(4)
Jen L.
The service and food was enjoyed by all will be back soon. The drinks are interesting and love the ambience. Can't wait to return.
(4)
Charlotte L.
The last few times I went to Founding Farmers I was dissapointed. Even if you make a reservation, you will NEVER be seated on time. I had to ask several times what the status of our table was, and the host staff tend to get annoyed... but I find that always having to wait over 15 minutes for your table, with a reservation is a bit obnoxious. Also, there is no waiting area when you walk in, so everyone is just crammed by the revolving door, and you're always in the way. The past two times I have been for brunch hour, the staff is pleasant..... but as soon as they clear off your plate... ( which they come and ask you if you're done about 3 times) they tell you "whenever you're ready..." I really dont apprecaite feeling rushed when I'm eating, and felt very uncomfortable. I understand they are busy, but you should never make a customer feel like they need to RUSH out as soon as they are done eating. Despite the above dissapointments, the food is always very good. I just wish the atmosphere was as pleasant and up-beat and the staff was as attentive as when they first opened. It is always a shame when restaurants loose customer service points because they are too busy.
(2)
Mike N.
Came here for valentines day and it was perfect. I ordered the Brie apple and onion jam bread, fried green tomatoes, and the chicken pot pie, and my girlfriend ordered the chicken and waffles. Our appetizers were mouthwateringly good. The food was so good that luckily the portions matched our appetite. I highly recommend both of them. After taking a bite of her Chicken and Waffles, I immediately regretted the pot pie. It was decent for what it was, but the C&W was out of this world. Founding Farmers has the tastiest, sweetest syrup that took the dish to another level. It was so good that I begged the waiter for a bottle of it, but sadly no dice. That dish was just perfection. The check came in a cute mailbox that fit the decor well. I've been to both the DC and this location, and both are equally good. This one is nice because you avoid the traffic and hassle of the city as long as you go on 495/270 off rush hour.
(5)
Marc L.
Ate here for a festive send-off dinner as our daughter departed for an academic year abroad. Great atmosphere, imaginative and healthy menu, fabulous bar and beer list, great service. I think this is now our "go-to" informal yet special occasion restaurant.
(5)
Francesca B.
I went to MoCo's Founding Farmers with my mother for dinner. There are three main dining areas- outside, 1st floor and 2nd floor. We dined upstairs and the tables are a bit close together where you are listening to other people's conversations. The food was delicious, especially the bread/cheese appetizers.
(4)
Rob C.
Arrived 5 minutes early and was seated promptly on time - pretty good for a table for 6! (4 adults, 2 children) on a Friday night. Food: good sized portions for the blue cheese burger and regular burger and seafood pasta. The beef was cooked perfectly medium and had great flavors mixed with the bacon and blue cheese. Drinks: Brooklyn Water (beer) was a good lager. I haven't had the other beer selections, but all of the beers and non-alcoholic beverages are brewed from "local" craftsman
(5)
Neri A.
I love it here. Homemade lemon-like soda like no other. I always add lime to my citrus soda but this one hit it right on the spot. The fried green tomatoes, the biscuits....yum. The goat cheese burger was amazing. Love the decor and overall atmosphere. My only regret is that I was too full for dessert.
(5)
Leila T.
Had high expectations, really liked the concept but I feel the food was rushed and not well executed. Ordered the constitution (gin, seltzer, camomile, ginger, blueberries) - they forgot the selzer. To start ordered the Brie, onion jam, apple flatbread. They forgot the apples so I sent it back and out came a new one. Tried the cornbread which was perfect, whole kernels, warm and enough for 4 people. Served with honey and butter on the side. For my main course I ordered the "meatless" loaf. Entire dish was room temp/cold, meatloaf looked like cat food, you could not slice into it, rather it needed to he eaten with a spoon, (like they had a big pot of it and just spooned big globs onto the plate). The texture was just unappetizing, chunky and almost like gruel they serve at prisons. Potatoes were cold and lacked flavor, brocolini also cold. Husband ordered prime rib which he liked. I would likely return to give this place another shot. Love the local, home made, green concept. Kitchen needs to work on the vegetarian menu (and ensuring dishes are warm and including all ingredients before they are sent to customers).
(2)
James G.
This is a wonderful spot. Though ive only frequented sunday brunch, i have enjoyed it wholeheartedly. First: Its an open kitchen dynamic which not only takes guts but means everything must be perfectly organized, not overly noisy, and clean. There not worried about being seen, its a well managed kitchen. The food is nice, simple, well plated, no fuss, great tasting and fresh ingredients and in terms of price, its right up the middle meaning that it wont break the bank for a brunch, lunch, or evening out. Eggs Benedict is a winner. Did i mention the atmosphere, its lovely, warm, inviting, and they make one hell of a Bloody Mary! Keep it coming Farmer's, i will be back for dinner very soon.
(4)
Lauren B.
All I have to say is, really? I was on a work trip in this area, and was told that Founding Farmers was the best restaurant around. I was underwhelmed. I will say that the service was good. We had a table of about 15 people, and we were helped by two servers, who were attentive, knew the menu well, offered recommendations, and got things done quickly and correctly. The other plus was that they had a good list of beers. The food however, left something to be desired. Many people around me, excited to have crab in Maryland, said that the crab cakes were extremely salty. Many didn't even finish their plates. I had the Farmers Salad, which had Champagne Vinaigrette - and it was DRENCHED in it. I could barely taste the other ingredients. I have a sister who lives in DC and has been to the one in that area. When I asked her about it after my meal, she too had not been all that thrilled with the restaurant.
(2)
Mona R.
Visited here numerous times. The menu changes often which is good and bad. Favorites that we usually order and the wings, the prosciutto flat bread (though it has gotten a lot smaller since opening), the chicken and waffles (syrup a lot more watered down that it was before), the salmon, and the flank steak with chimichurri sauce. The last time I called to make a reservation and came here and was still forced to wait. I was starving and not happy. They were overbooking themselves. Other than that the food is great and pretty good service. The mailboxes with the tab in it are an adorable touch.
(4)
Rico S.
The 2 stars says it all. A colleague of mine talked this place up to no end. He smiled when he said that too. When we arrived, I noticed the great ambiance. I loved the decor. Then I noticed the menu. As I suspected, the menu was farm chic. Sausage and eggs turns to andouille and eggs benedict with gouda cheese. Steak and veggies turns into sirloin with watermelon slaw. You get the idea. Orders around the table were as follows: house salad, avocado burger, crisp shrimp and fries, and broiled amberjack on a salt block. For the sake of brevity, based on what everyone at the table said, the grades were B for the salad, A for the burger, D for the shrimp, and C+ for the fish. The fish was good, but the portions were small. After my 2 hour trip home, I was just as famished as when I first arrived. If it weren't for the salt block, I think it would have been a lot worse. The burger was cooked well done and yet still was moist and juicy. The avocados were fresh and tasty. According to my boss, the shrimp were "about as good as a place down the street from my house." That's not saying much given she lives in the semi-hood. There was no feedback to me about the salad except the plate was empty. I rarely go to Rockville, but the next time I go the only reason that'll get me to MoCo's again will be the lack of anywhere else to go without thinking.
(2)
Rae M.
This eco-friendly restaurant serves up farm fresh and home cooking to their customers. I'm a fan for life. Went for breakfast the other day and had the chicken, waffles and eggs and everything was outstanding! They even have syrup with cinnamon sticks infused in the syrup! TO DIE FOR! My party of 5 had 9:45 reservations and it was the perfect time to come for breakfast because the rush doesn't seem to come until around 11 or so. I even ordered freshly squeezed orange juice! I haven't been to a restaurant that even offers freshly squeezed anything, let alone orange juice. WINNING! Even if you don't have to go to the bathroom, go anyway. The decor and the size of the handicapped bathroom will impress you! Awesome quotes and cute little murals grace the walls. Remember the Hen on the door is for the chicks and the Bull is for the dudes. Granted, they do have "W" and "M" on the floor to direct you, but if you're like me, you would be too in tune with the mirror to really pay attention to the letters. This is a cool restaurant with interesting choices for your taste buds.
(5)
Karen P.
I just have to review FF once again, but not with very many stars. The blueberry pancakes are still AWESOME!!!! However, the service was definitely lacking on Thursday morning (November 20th) when two friends took me there for my birthday. The server didn't even bring us water or look in our direction for a half an hour. Lucky we didn't notice for awhile because we were chatting. I asked for an extra butter for my pancakes and it wasn't brought to the table until after I was finished with breakfast. That's so un-FF-like. Coffee was offered and ordered only to get a cup of coffee with no cream. When it finally occurred to our waiter that we were annoyed with our service, his reply was "I'm tall and can't really hear you." What? That is just a lame excuse and we weren't buying it. Yes, it gets loud in there, but the restaurant wasn't very busy and not loud at all. All in all, I have to say that this was a one-time experience from one disinterested waiter and I hope he reads this review and learns from it. His T.I.P. depends on it, I'm sorry.
(2)
Leellani C.
Went here with the ladies from work, my main office is like 5 min from here so why I've never been here couldn't tell you. I like it, nice place, noisy place, parking can fill up at busy times, and yes parking control will ticket your car, yes they will. Handcrafted soda yup, fresh in house made soda, hand cut fries ( real taters), real bread.... Fun at least for me. I had a hotdog and fries..... Don't go there..... I just wanted something simple......but I shared appetizers garlic wings and fried green tomatoes.....oh and skillet corn bread all yummy. This is about to be my early lunch eat at the bar place, cause sometimes a girl just wants to be alone.......and I want to be alone with a fresh strawberry soda and an appetizer
(4)
Dave H.
In short, the food was good. There were problems though. It was Father's Day, my awesome wife made reservations for breakfast here a month in advance and surprised me. We arrived before our 9:30 reservation with our 4 year old and 1 year old daughters. There we are waiting for a table along with other families with hungry kids in the nonexistent waiting area. After about 20 plus minutes they start offering tables outside to people. We ended up taking the offer, seeing as though our kids couldn't last much longer. It may be June but it was darn chilly with the wind, creating problems for my cold 4 year old. Sure, we could have gone back in and waited,but it was getting annoying. We were fortunate to get a high chair, since there were others nearby that had to wait for one. On to the food. The wind affected the food, causing it to become cold quite fast, but I can't hold that against them. I got the farmer's breakfast with eggs, hash browns, and pork breakfast sausage. The sausage was tasty (although not without some gristle). The hash browns were very flavorful, cooked well, crispy on the outside, tender inside. The eggs, which I asked for over-medium, were slightly brown on the outside, and undercooked inside. This is clearly an example of cooking the eggs on a griddle that's too hot. An egg should be cooked at medium-low heat, not on the same heat as the hash browns, in my opinion. My daughter had a delicious waffle. It was crisp on the outside with a fluffy, tender interior. It was gently dusted with powdered sugar with a dab of butter. My wife had Eggs Benedict with crab, which was quite tasty despite some slightly undercooked eggs. We ordered the beignets, which were very good, especially with the trio of sauces for dipping. My wife and I had been to the DC location a couple years ago for breakfast, at which time we were very pleased, and were hoping the same from Potomac. I think if our reservations had been honored in a timely manner as well as inside, my rating could be a bit higher. I'd really like to give the place another try, especially for lunch or dinner, but I'm torn. I don't think it's a lot to expect for a restaurant to be able to handle an anticipated crowd, or to properly cook an egg.
(3)
Sarah G.
We walked in for our reservation and were told we would be seated shortly. Good thing we made a reservation. Usually with a reservation we get taken back right away, but 5-10 mins wasn't too bad. We order "sodas" and the phosphate special. They were okay. The phosphate was tart but not sure if that was the mango. But it had the bubbles unlike the "soda" which was more like flavored water. The food was amazing though. Ordered the beignets expecting them to take the 20 mins, but did not. They were so good though. The farm bread was more like bruschetta which I didn't realize so I would have picked a different one, but the one we had was good. Our brunch dishes were the star. I couldn't believe I kept going back for my partners beat hash. Not something up my alley, but couldn't stop stealing bites. My crab Benedict was amazing too. Overall we are excited to go back and they surprised my expectations. Our service was just a touch off.
(4)
Jen J.
The stuffed French toast was delicious . Also tried the scrambled eggs and biscuits-they were good too.
(4)
Imo P.
Great breakfast place! Worth going out of your way for. Nice ambience, great service. Try the beignets!!
(4)
Emily R.
This was my first experience at this restaurant and at a farm to table place altogether. I truly loved my experience and wish they had these where I live in Pa! My friend wanted me to try this out but it was a Saturday afternoon and we knew it'd be busy. The host was so nice and went out of his way to squeeze our reservation in! Our server was great! Nice, happy, informative/knowledgeable, but best of all she went above and beyond to modify menu items and cater to our needs. She allowed me to get a small portion of the farmer's salad as to not eat such a large portion. It was VERY delicious and the perfect size! Loved the dressing! I also enjoyed the most delicious and refreshing Bellini that ive ever had!!! yes it was $12 so i only had one but it was worth it. For dinner I had the califloyr steak and butternut risotto from the vegetarian menu and it was SO good. I wasn't sure I'd like the arugula pesto but it too was great. We opted for a smaller dessert and chose warm cookies. This was probably my least favorite as they weren't as soft and fresh as I'd hoped. The atmosphere was fairly casual, but people did dress nice. It does get loud with all the people. And I would have preferred my water to have been cooler than room temp as there was no ice, but I didn't mind. All in all it was a great experience, friendly and efficient staff and scrumptious food! Can't wait to return :)
(4)
Michelle N.
So my husband, myself, and a couple of friends went back to Founding Farmers about a month ago to check out their brunch menu. Everything was going wonderfully!!! It was a gorgeous day and got to sit outside and our server was awesome. Everyone except myself got a drink (I'm currently pregnant) but had their fresh squeezed OJ which was pretty good. My husband got the Bloody Mary and he loved it! We got an order of the beignets which were great, light and fluffy and warm! And then came our meals......our two friends ordered the founding farmers breakfast which they liked and my husband and I happened to order the same exact thing- the Run through the garden scrambler. Well, mine was really really good....it had soooo many fresh vegetables which is exactly what I was hoping for. I asked my hubby what he thought and said it was ok. I didn't understand why he didn't love it as mi has I did since we got the same EXACT thing. So I took a bite and it was so SALTY.....AGAIN!!! How is that even possible??? In my last review, at least a year ago, he ordered a meatloaf that was so salty as well!!!!!!! I felt bad cause I knew he was hungry so we switched plates so he could eat. I like salt so I pretended that it was ok but I could honestly only eat a few more bites. I was really hoping the first time around with salty meatloaf was just a fluke but for it to happen again, during brunch as opposed to dinner, and a year later? Something's up....at least one of their chefs needs to tone it down with the salt! We would've said something but it was the first Sunday of the football season and wanted to get back to watch the game in time. I don't know if my husband would be up for trying the place again....chances are pretty slim. Which is sad cause their DC location is great!!!!
(2)
Ashley R.
I made reservations tonight for my mom's birthday two weeks in advance, and called three days prior to make sure that they knew it was her birthday and she would get some sort of special treatment (since any nice restaurant would be more than happy to do so!). Here it is her birthday, with reservations, and they sat her and my dad in the BAR area. Not to mention, the lighting was so dim she had to use her cell phone as a light to read the menu. My dad mentioned AGAIN that it was her birthday in hopes of some sort of effort. All they did was bring out a candle when the waiter brought the check! Seriously....! Don't go for special occasions, ever. The food is okay, but poor service ruins the whole dining out experience...
(2)
Bill D.
Great service and very reasonable prices. Basic breakfast items (various eggs, biscuits, ham, grits, etc.) were awesome. However, the steak part of my steak and eggs was a very poorly seasoned piece of flank (hanger) steak. If you visit this restaurant, stick with breakfast basics and stay away from their beef choices.
(4)
Quiet S.
A co-worker advised me to make my reservation way in advance so I did on OpenTable. I went to FF on my birthday with my folks and glad I did make the reservation. The farmers chips way too addictive. Wrecked my appetite. And I ended up ordering the seafood showstopper. Two huge lobster tails, calamari, scallops and shrimps over pasta. It was huge portion that I had to take some of it home. I'd go back here for the food, definitely. Desert was OK. I had the Red Berry Port. After all that I ate, I didn't want a filling desert and this seemed to do the trick. What I didn't like - the place was too packed and too loud. No surprise there. What's the point of playing music in this restaurant? There was an obnoxious group sitting behind us and they had too much alcohol. They laughed annoyingly loud and it was right in my ear. I couldn't hear what people at my table were saying. The service was not great. The waiter only stopped by our table once during the whole meal and we waited 30 minutes to get the check after we said we were done. In a packed restaurant like this, we don't need to be waiting that long for the check especially when there's a line forming outside.
What a wonderful place. Fantastic, fresh food, great beer selection, and awesome atmosphere. Bacon appetizer was to die for, and the steaks were so awesome. A little pricey, but you get what you pay for, and that is quality at this place.
(5)
Lindsey J.
This is the second time I've been here and both times I've had a reservation that has been put on hold. The food is great but the service (specifically the hosting) is awful. What's the point of having a reservation if I'm not even seated on times. An 8PM reservation does not mean seat me at 8:30pm.
(2)
elaine c.
I tried to dine here with an open mind having heard mixed reviews but was sadly disappointed. The food was just "good" not great & highly overpriced (2 mac & cheese dishes, one w/ fried green tomatoes, a pastrami sandwich with fries & 2 deserts - NO COCKTAILS = $100 for a party of 3) given the quality of the food. We all love a great meal and have no qualms paying accordingly so this isn't one of those reviews written by cheapskates who want the "earth" for the cost of $0.01 (no offense cheapskates *smiles*). Here's the short of our experience: Location: it's actually Rockville and NOT Potomac (we chose this location because we initially thought it was a central meeting point for us (N. Rockville & SW DC dwellers). Reservations - A MUST if you are trying to dine during the brunch/early lunch hours - it really cleared after 2:30ish. Brunch - ends promptly at 1pm (at least on Saturday)! We didn't realize it ended at 1pm and were coming for brunch - no biggie but kinda odd as most brunches end at 2pm at the earliest. Vegan/Vegetarian Menu - only available at DC location, but there are still a few options for vegetarian diners. This was a disappointment because it was one of the reasons we chose to eat here so our lone vegetarian would have lots of options. Service - waitress was great, but the food takes FOREVER to come so be patient or plan on ordering appetizers (HIGHLY recommend the "Smears and Dips" appetizer). Desserts - Flourless chocolate cake was disappointing b/c it was pretty dry & served cold - totally deceptive b/c it has a scoop of ice cream on top which makes you think it's warm! The others were "ok", nothing great, nothing horrible. Noise - this place gets VERY noisy during busy times & there are a lot of kids (which didn't bother us but bothered some diners).
(2)
B Z.
ive been here so many times i shud buy stock...but then thatd mean i cant give an unbiased review...oh the dilemma. well. lets start this shall we? for lunch? the vegan bacon burger is great (may not be on the menu anymore must ask though), nice n tastey, if ur not into that? get one of the dogs. the doggers r great cant go wrong, i prefer the pastrami and chicken and crab . and of course get the freakin beignets ANYTIME and i do mean that. theyre best at brunch though as they dont take 5.8 hours to arrive at ur table during w/e brunch hours. dinner? braised ribs of course, but...theyre QUITE pricey, i dont recall braised ribs being $26 most places ive gone, but i may be wrong. umm what else? oh the chicken and waffles @ brunch r hit and miss sorry...but usually, and i mean this about 7/10 times, the chicken is spot on. flavorful nice and crisp, juicy too. i just love the fact that theres a place in moco thats not too far from me that offers such a wide variety of options under one roof. my only gripe is, ive frequented this place since it opened, and i have to say, like all good things...."" (u know the words), and its really sad the food just isnt consistent enough for my tastes, i have my faves, but across the board just too much hit or miss for me. sorry.
(3)
Yasmeen F.
This is part 1 of my survey. Our party of 6, glamored by the homestead but modern theme of the hostess stand overlooking the bustling bar, decided to return the following week after finding out the wait would be over an hour and half. Even the restaurant stroll, though very brief, had enticed us to wait another time. We'll see you then for part 2 of my survey... (serves me right not to make reservations...sigh...)
(4)
Zach E.
The homemade sodas were delish! I would highly recommend getting one. Popcorn was so so. Would not try again. They have great fish and chips, crab cakes, and fried chicken. The waffles were a little dry for chicken and waffles. It seemed as if the waiter was staring into our very souls as he was going over the menu. Can't decide if it was creepy or endearing, but he was still very helpful.
(5)
Jason F.
Not sure what was worse about this meal. The clueless waiter or the HEAVY food that sat with me for three days? Just writing this review is making me feel bloated.
(2)
Ali B.
I've been here twice once for Sunday brunch, and once for cocktails/appetizers and both times I have been blown away. The bartender was really helpful and seemed to know her stuff. She spent a good amount of time constructing a perfect Mint Julep for me, and did it with a smile. The food is fantastic. I have tried many things on the menu now, and nothing has disappointed so far. The chicken and waffles are fantastic, as are the wings and brie onion jam flatbread. Yes, it gets crowded and reservations are recommended. Just plan ahead and enjoy!
(5)
Kate M.
I've been to FF in Rockville a few times and the food has been consistently good. A bit annoying/difficult sometimes to land a table, but there's not much a popular restaurant can do about that. Service has been great (Server Ellen was attentive and very knowledgable) and the decor gives patrons plenty to look at while you dine.
(4)
Meixin W.
my first impression was not great.. first, we were told that the wait for a table for 2 would be 30-40 minutes. that was okay, and the hostess was very nice and actually also very proactive about finding us two chairs at the bar. the thing is, it was a dark, lonely corner at the back. I was pondering actually accepting this, until i saw a fly whiz by me. we went back to the hostess and told her we would wait for a table, which we were led to immediately! in the exact opposite, sunniest corner of the room with booth seats. so that was nice, but it makes me wonder how long this table has been open, since i saw quite a few other empty tables (maybe reservations, i suppose, who knows). honestly, i'm just confused. after we were seated, it took about 10 minutes before a waiter even got around to saying hi to us, much less asking us what we wanted, which was ridiculous since we were just sitting there with the wrong menus (we wanted the breakfast menu). though not for lack of waiters - they just happened to be more interested in the other tables. our waitress finally found us, and was very very polite and friendly. a waiter who had been walking around serving the area also came up to us shortly after, and asked if anyone was serving us. the whole thing just seemed confused and poorly organized, though the actual waiters were very friendly. after we ordered, the whole thing was pretty smooth. food came out fairly quickly, it tasted great (got the banana foster french toast, yum!). fresh squeezed oj and mimosas were great. and the bill was much less than what we expected, for such rich and well presented food, plus drinks. so i'm thinking the service for any place can have a bad day, and once we actually got a table/waitress it was pretty good. i'd definitely come back, just with a reservation.
(3)
Ben Y.
Ate here for the first time with the wife. I had waffles with fried chicken and she had pastrami hash. We also had a cup of coffee. The waffle was really good. Light and crispy; I have not had a waffle like that in a very long time. The chicken was pretty good also, served with a side of gravy that was tasty. The eggs were average. My wife's pastrami hash was really tasty. The biscuit was nice and the eggs were done well. The only thing was that there was alot of sauce and we wish we would have gotten the sauce on the side. It made the hash mushy. The coffee was good, but I am not sure its worth $3 a cup. Definitely willing to go back again though. Breakfast was good. Parking can be tight though.
(3)
Jeff S.
went to this place last night with a few friends for a Birthday party and the price was very reasonable. Location is easy to find and easy parking. Food was the most impressive part. Even after a few of my friends HYPED it up!!! I think if I'm in the area this will definitely be one of my spot
(5)
Matthew N.
It's lost it's shine. I have been going to Founding Farmers in Potomac since it has opened and it has fallen prey to the plague that overcomes many new restaurants -- the shine is gone. No single event is cause not to visit, but instead it is the long and steady stream of careless mistakes and apathy that will bring this restaurant to end one day. Servers on several occasions represent themselves as lethargic, perhaps to the hours they work, but most likely due to their youth and the idea they should be tipped just for coming to work. I usually go in the morning for breakfast and am greeted with a smile which gets the experience started well. Soon after, the shine is gone by the sometimes 10-minute wait to be greeted by a server. I imagine this is due to their popularity, but by no means a proper standard. The food which has always been delicious is starting to decline due to burned food and shriveled up bacon. However, oddly enough, if you order bacon on the side for an additional $6, it comes to you straight from a magazine shoot. Sometimes the butter in the morning has honey and sometimes not. Sometimes it is frozen solid and other times it's room temperature and perfect to spread on biscuits. When asked about the addition (or subtraction) of honey, we were told it is only provided at certain hours in the morning. On another vist, we were told that was a lie and the server was just lazy. In short, the food is still delicious, but for how long is anyone's guess. And if you're willing to chance a lengthy wait -- go for it. I hope this gets resolved because it is a nice place that deserves to stick around.
(2)
Carson H.
Fantastic. Delicious food and accommodating (family of 4, two small kids) service. My veggie meatloaf was stellar, but my wife said her salad was amazing but the roast veggie sandwich was just pretty good. Our kids destroyed the fried cod. We had to order another portion, because they couldn't get enough. Our four-year old asked for corn on the cob out of the blue, and they waiter was like, "no problem". I'm the kind of person who doesn't really look at the prices, until the bill comes. And I did have a little bit of sticker shock. Technically $$ is correct, but expect the high end of $$ or low $$$, if you drink alcohol.
(4)
Donna W.
Food was simply delish! I would though recommend cutting the peppers up a bit finer in the corned beef hash. My friend had eggs w/ the chicken sausage, side of pancakes and grits. Those pancakes were huge and they were homemade from scratch.. Very very good!
(5)
Elisabeth H.
Sadly Founding Farmers has been crossed off my list for good. This was my third and final visit. Made a reservation last week, and requested upstairs seating (which we finally got yay!!). I will say that upstairs seating is much more intimate and quiet, which I liked. We were a party of four. Our party was seated promptly and our waitress was great. Very personable and knowledgeable. The problem that I had with FF the first time and again this time is there seems to be kinks that need to be worked out. Appetizers were good for the most part, we had the bacon pitchfork/tots combo which was good and the ranch popcorn which was mostly kernels and far too salty for my taste. The main problems arose with dinner. Two plates came out and then a good five minutes later the last two came out. I assume that something must have been late or that something went wrong somewhere. But my plate was one of the last two to come out and everything was cold...and that was the main problem. Everyone had something cold on there plate. Two dishes were served with mashed potatoes, which both servings were cold. I ordered the fried chicken which was disappointing. My chicken was soggy and cold. I had substituted fries for mashed potatoes and those were cold as well. My other complaint with FF and the fried chicken dish I had (also happened with the Fish and Chips I had last visit) is that they do not disclose everything that is served with the dish on the menu. My fried chicken stated that it came with a biscuit, chicken with gravy and mashed potatoes. No where in the description did it say collard greens, which surprise did accompany my meal. Had it been clear that collard greens went with the meal I would have substituted something else, as I do not like them at all and they went untouched which seemed like a huge waste to me. Sadly all four of us left with that same ehh it was okay outlook. On the way home I lamented my decision but realized with so many places to go in the area I didn't really feel the need to go somewhere were two out of three times I had been served cold food. I feel like I can go somewhere like Clyde's and consistently get great food that is hot. But it is a bittersweet decision, the staff is friendly and the food tastes good but there are major kinks that need to be worked out and I personally am not going to continue to spend money waiting for that to happen.
(2)
Inna T.
We were having great time In FF and food was exceptional! Our waitress Franchesca was very funny and smart, very nice design inside. Overall it is located in nice neighborhood and quality of food and variety is very good and tasty.
(4)
Pete D.
Since this place opened their second location, I've finally had the opportunity to come by. We decided to do the brunch and I'm not honestly not sure if I'll be back. First the positive notes. The area is nice I must say, well it is a nicer part of Rockville (not Potomac IMO). Anyway, as you walk in, you get his local rustic feel to the place. From the decor to the wooden benches and chairs. We were posted upstairs in a booth that could use a reduction in size for the table as it was quite snug and difficult to maneuver around the roundabout. The service was overall good and cannot complain. Food runners were attentive as they asked us what we could use after dropping off the plates, server checked back in, no fault here. The lady went with the chicken and waffles and we both were not impressed. A single waffle, two chicken breast strips, and eggs for $12, which is not bad. The waffle was nothing special, at all. In fact it was bland and did not have any crisp to it, but not mushy either. The chicken's batter was decent, maybe they could wrap the waffle in that and dunk in the hot oil. I went with the pastrami hash and it came with 9000g of sodium. It was way over salted, very disappointing, and could've been a good dish. The poached eggs were done well I must say and the touch of mustard gave it a nice, but subtle spice kick. The other dishes at the table were steak and eggs and a waffle with blueberry compote. The thin-cut steak's seasoning was good and actually a good size for $14. On the other hand, the blueberry compote was sweet. It literally covered 90% of the waffle. The waffle is already bland and dull, add the compote over it, and you got yourself a round grid of mush. So the best for last was the beignets. Man, I could eat a ton of these, sadly. The crust on these were fried wonderfully, while the inside had an almost underdone consistency, delicious. The sauce medley was a nice touch, as it gives your palette an adventure. The raspberry was the best of the three. If they had a beignet special, I would be back. Otherwise, you will not see me here by choice, as the other items were mediocre to poor.
(3)
Fran S.
I've been to FF in Potomac 5 times (had to cancel twice because my husband won't go back.) I kept going back because I hope to have a great neighborhood option with downtown quality food and service. 5 visits tells me this won't be it. Service was always a horrible, I experienced long waits for tables (even with tables available in open view) snooty hosts and hostesses, cold food, inattentive service staff, and incorrect orders, despite chats with apathetic managers. On one visit, every table near us (3 tables side by side) had wrong orders AND cold food. And then when they re-delivered the food, the order was WRONG AGAIN. We were all commiserating with one another. That's just HORRIBLE. Waitstaff seem to ignore customers who are trying to flag them, even when they are not busy. Having to PAY for biscuits/bread while waiting forever for food PISSES ME OFF! Food review: Loved: Pot pie, Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke, Skirt Steak, Tomato Soup. Hated: Pot Roast, southern fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, chicken, grits, scrambled eggs (how can you mess up eggs?) FF in DC has such a good reputation, so it was exciting to get a great place in the neighborhood, but it is fairly pricey, so the expectations are high, but their delivery is poor.
(2)
Shannon D.
The cocktails are delicious. The appetizers were fantastic. I'd rather eat popeyes and eggos than their dry ass chicken and waffles, but, then again, there was enough eye candy working there to compensate for that. Great restaurant and cool concept overall. 4 stars.
(4)
sophie S.
I have been here before for tea, which was not a traditional tea at all. The tea was alright with the finger sandwiches and homemade chocolates. The tea itself was alright as well, over all it was nothing fabulous. I went back with my family tonight for dinner with a 7:45 reservation. After finally getting seated at about 8:20 we order drinks and our food right away. It takes about 15 min to get just our drinks. Although the drinks were fantastic (the sodas and the cucumber vodka drink) they took way too long and were not worth the wait. Then we ordered the famous bacon pitchfork which was also very good however took about 30 min to come out. By the time it is 9:15 we have still not gotten our main courses and complained to the hostess as our waiter was nowhere to be seen and hadn't been for a while. She brings us free popcorn but at this point no one is hungry, we inform our waiter and he doesn't apologize or anything. Finally a manager comes over and he is the only reason I would come back. He gave us our meal to go on the house, apologized to a great extent and was very friendly. The menu is very interesting as well as the atmosphere, however they don't know what they are doing. Although some of the food was good, even when we got home we found some of our orders to be incorrect and we would have had to send them back anyway. My father who keeps Kosher specifically asked for no bacon on his salad and when we got home hazaaa bacon bacon bacon!!!!! I had asked for my steak specifically cooked MR with sauce on the side, when i get home it's cooked medium-medium well with.....DA DA DA DA sauce all over that baby! If the manager hadn't given us our meal on the house and been so sweet and apologetic i would never go back. However I may give it another try, i may not. If you run into any problems I would make them known, for it is a new restaurant and they need to know what they are doing wrong. MAKE RESERVATIONS.....even though this doesnt even seem to matter......if you really want to try it i would go around 5pm ;) I will see what happens next time I go to determine my final thoughts on FF. Still some dishes I would like to try. However if I have to wait WITH reservations like that again, i don't think i will stay. good luck
(2)
Dan P.
Great vegetarian options and homemade drinks. Only downside is that there is no vegan menu. Some of the vegetarian items can be made vegan but a restaurant like this should offer some unique vegan options. The service was great and they validate parking.
(4)
Jaclyn S.
I'll start by saying, I REALLY want to like this place. It's close to where I live, it's a trendy atmosphere, I fully support the farm to table movement, the food is good...Unfortunately, I've been there 3 times now and it just isn't happening. The service is absolutely atrocious. The first time I went was for brunch soon after they opened. The service was slow, waitress couldn't answer any questions about the menu, and after waiting over half an hour for our food, they brought out the wrong meal for my husband. We also saw them bring out another wrong dish to the table next to us as well as under-cooked eggs for a pregnant woman who obviously couldn't eat them. We thought maybe it was just because the staff was new, so we gave them another shot. The next time we went for dinner and things were somewhat improved, but the wait staff was still slow and completely ignorant of the menu. The last time my husband and I sat at the bar for dinner, since in our experience we usually get better service at most restaurants when we're at the bar. No dice. Granted, it was a busy Friday night, but the bar seemed completely understaffed (no bar backs?!). The bartender rarely came back to ask us about drinks, he forgot to put in our dinner order and ended up having to comp our appetizer (as well as the people next to us). The hostess was complaining to the bartenders behind the bar about how late people were still sitting down (maybe if the service was faster your table turnover would be better!). Overall the food is delicious, I highly recommend the Spatchcock chicken, and the mixed drinks are good (though pricey). I just wish it wasn't always such a frustrating experience every time I go. And the parking sucks.
(2)
Albert S.
food is unique, but not all that great.
(3)
William F.
I have eaten here three times, to give it the benefit of the doubt. But I will not go again. The food was only fair to poor each time, and we had a problem with improperly cooked food.
(2)
Stephan S.
We been here several time for dinner. We went this time for brunch. Wow is what I can say. Food was great. Try the red velvet pancakes. Always a fun place with a group.
(5)
Ayda S.
This is a great "hometown" place to meet friends for a good meal, just be warned, portion sizes are large, very large, and the grilled cheese isn't what you would expect, much larger, more bread, less cheese but still yummy!
(3)
Christina N.
I like the food here, and the addition of the outdoor patio is nice, but the bartenders are mediocre at best. They have no personality and it feels like you're interrupting them when asking for a drink. I far prefer their do restaurant. Again, the food is great, but if you're looking for a bite and a beverage, I'd suggest you keep looking.
(4)
K K.
When everything works, this FF can be a nice experience. But while the food and service are hit and miss (I've had a few screwed up orders and surly servers), the pricing and wait times are always a little ridiculous. Guess you can chalk that up to a dearth of good places to eat in Rockville, particularly in this immediate area.
(2)
G C.
Got the a Drag Through the Gardens with hash brown and biscuit. It was delicious! Not to heavy and felt satisfied afterwards. Our table also got an order of beignets to share which came with chocolate, caramel and raspberry sauce. Sooo yummy!
(4)
Charity C.
While my boyfriend and I enjoyed this place several times, I will no longer go there after getting the worst food poisoning of my life from their "chicken salad salad." We were there on a busy Sunday afternoon and a few hours later I became nauseated, and needless to say, was very ill with vomiting till the early morning. When I called the restaurant to let them know, the manager argued with me saying it was impossible that it was their fault because as she incorrectly put it, food poisoning does not show symptoms till after 24 hours (when on the contrary, food poisoning symptoms usually resolve within 24-48 hrs). And as the salad was the only thing I had eaten that day, I knew it was the culprit. All that to say, I am more disappointed with their customer service than the food. Founding Farmers, you should do a better job of educating your staff on food poisoning and take stronger precaution against serving inedible dishes!
(1)
Scott K.
My girlfriend and I went to Founding Farmers last night and we both enjoyed a good meal. We made a reservation and were seated promptly. The place has a unique atomsphere and was fairly crowded for a Monday night, but it was Memorial Day. We ordered the fried green tomatoes for an appetizer and it was great. Full of flavor and a good way to start the meal. We both got a salad. My girlfriend ordered the Farmer's salad and it was really good. There were a lot of different ingredients in it, which really gave it a good flavor. My salad was decent, but would order the Farmer's if we were to go back. For dinner I ordered a meat sampler of sorts. It has two mini cheeseburgers, a chili cheese dog, and 4 ribs. It also came with corn on the cob and potato salad. Everything was great. The ribs were some of the best I have had and the chil cheese dog was really good. Burgers were pretty good, but the mini ones at Matchbox are better. They put something on the corn on the cob, which was really tastey. I am not sure what it is, but it is safe to say it was some sort of cheese. My girlfriend got the pulled pork sandwich and fries and she enjoyed both. For dessert we got a French Press and the red velvet cake. The French Press was pretty good, but I think it was a little rushed. The red velvet cake was decent, but would have liked for the actual cake to be more moist. The cream cheese frosting was good though. I would go back to this place it is a different feel from your usual restaurant and everything tastes really fresh and well made. I would suggest reservations because I have also been to the location in DC and it was also crowded. On a side note, they bring the check in a mini metal mailbox and once you have put your card or cash inside of it you put the red flag up so they know they can come by and take it. I thought it was a cool little way of presenting the bill.
(4)
Maureen P.
Ok I was up in Rockville to catch a friend in Chorus Line and really don't know the area and racked my brain on where to take 7 friends to a pre show feast. Almost went to Addie's (Black Salt) then found Founding Famers which peaked my interest because I love Woodbury Kitchen and Level, not to mention the large meatless menu. Two of the eight we're pecetarians/vegetarians not to mention a few diet restriction folks. Thats said, I only read a few yelp reviews once I was sitting at the table and they seemed all over the place so I stopped and decided to go in with an open mind and stomach. So we started with drinks. Now I think I have mentioned that I am mostly a wine drinker, but like the occaisional well made cocktail (like at Level) or of course a good scotch. So, the first thing we all noticed about this place was the incredible drink list. A few of our teetotalers had well, tea! Which came in a cold tall and frothy class...it looked like a booze drink and all gave thumbs up. The rest of the table got a plethora of flavored drinks...mine was the Farmer's Smash. This was a whiskey sour kicked up a notch or two and perhaps a better cocktail than the cucumber margarita I love at Level. Wait did I just say that? Yes yes I did...it so good one friend switched to it as her second drink and I had a second that I split with another friend. YUM! We split several apps: Cornbread (all gave a thumbs up), fried green tomatoes (good but not the best Ive ever had), and the homemade chips with dip (tasty but didn't blow me away). All good splitters, but cornbread was by far my favorite. I was torn between fish and what looked like the house specially...fried or 800 degree oven chicken. I ended up with the Crispy Spatchcock Chicken Spiced with Aji sauce. I was a little worried because I don't do spicy hot and I rarely order chicken out but it just sound right that night, and it was. Cooked almost to perfection, could have been slightly moister but good, with a crispy skin...mashed potatoes, and veg (seasonal selection of squash and peas). My friends that had the meatless dishes were very satisfied. They both took half home it was so much. I was able to taste the White Bean Cutlets which were served in a slightly mexican spiced way with a veg succotash. Even this meat person loved it! Two folks had the fried chicken (one southern and one northern), again both gave a thumbs up and took half home. Another friend had the deviled eggs as an app and she liked the variety of lobster, crab and salmon mixed in. She also ordered the shrimp and grits. I had just made them at home the night before and although hers were good, mine are better:) We were also celebrating a birthday, so although full we ordered a table dessert...one carrot cake, suggested by our waitress, who by the way was fabulous! After our now famous rendition of Happy Birthday, we all dug in and agreed it was pretty good (and HUGE) but the carmel ice cream on the side stole the show. To top off the evening the coffee was perfect...no sugar needed, strong but not bitter. This is little longer than most of my posts I think but there was a lot to cover with 8 people. I am lucky I have friends that let me taste what they order. I can honestly say everyone at the table was thrilled with the meal. My friend who had the Salmon with the Almond mushroom crust could not stop raving...but I never tasted it as she was one the other side of the table. No matter what side we left 8 very full, satisfied Annapolitans with leftovers to boot! We are already talking about a return visit.
(4)
Brit B.
One of my favorite places to eat in MoCo. I've been to the one in DC as well. The service is much better at this one.. they actually honor your reservation time. I'm a big fan of the yankee pot roast, squash ravioli, and fried chicken. The drinks are a must- they make their own syrups. If you still have room for dessert, give the chocolate layered cake a go.. I believe they make their own ice cream too. Downfalls- Noisy, crowded, and don't even attempt to try without a reservation. Luckily, there is an outdoor waiting area in the pavilion.. much less chaotic than standing packed in at the hostess stand!
(4)
Marisa J.
We went here for a meet-the-parents night before our wedding, and it was a hit. The menu was unusual but very appealing to our middle aged and elderly parents and grandparents. When I made the reservation, I requested that we be seated in a quiet part of the restaurant, and we were. They held our reservation even though we ran almost a half our late (I called ahead to let them know). Overall this was a great experience. The service was excellent and the food was great.
(5)
Caitlin B.
I was a little disappointed with my second visit to Founding Farmers. In fact, my experiences were so different that I felt like I should review the restaurant again just to give an accurate assessment. My date and I arrived on time for our reservation and then were instructed to wait for a table for an additional fifteen minutes. Come to find that when we were seated upstairs (which doesn't have nearly as great of an ambience or atmosphere as downstairs), that there were a number of empty tables! Why did we wait? I ordered a glass of shiraz, which was good and about what I expected. My date ordered a dirty martini which the bartender took 20 minutes to make and then when my date asked for some olives, they arrived about 10 minutes later. Not stellar drink service. We ordered the pesto, ricotta, and salami farm bread to share as an appetizer and were pleased. It was good, even if the pesto was a little heavy on the olive oil. For dinner, my date ordered the honey glazed roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. His was more than passable and cooked very nicely. I ordered the ahi tuna salad and felt very misled by the menu description. I would have preferred the tuna seared, but I also enjoy raw ahi tuna, so that wasn't a huge problem. While the flavors were nice, upon closer tasting and inspection I discovered that there was white chocolate on my salad. Since white chocolate is NOT a flavor that I like on its own (much less in a salad), I was really confused and thought that the kitchen must have made a mistake and swapped white chocolate for slivered almonds or something along those lines. It turned me off immediately and I asked our waitress if I was crazy. She said I was not and that she did not know why the fact that there is white chocolate in the salad is not mentioned on the menu. She wanted to know if I was allergic and when I said no, she seemed satisfied and hurried off without asking me if I even LIKED it. Being polite, I did not ask her to send it back (which also would have been impossible since she didn't visit our table again until she asked if we wanted dessert), but I definitely only picked at my food after that. Appetite gone. Based on the overall lackluster experience and the pretty intermittent/slow service, we opted out of ordering dessert and just asked for our check (the only thing that was delivered promptly to our table all night). Founding Farmers, you didn't come close to living up to my first experience. What happened? Biggest issue of the night other than the late and olive-less martini? White chocolate in my salad that wasn't advertised on the menu . . .
(2)
Edna E.
Gave it a second shot - food was just as tasty as ever, and service was much improved. Went during one of the hottest days of the summer, and although the beverages were delicious & refreshing, the 2nd floor loft was uncomfortably hot. Overall, it was a much better experience than the first time.
(4)
Renee S.
So nice to learn about this place. I got the chicken and waffles which was great and a good value. Will go again.
(5)
Jason L.
From time to time you find a place so good that you are willing to excuse the sub par service because the food is fantastic. This happens to be one of those places. Without doing much homework me and the sig-o sauntered in here for brunch one Sunday to find out that the wait was going to be close to 2 hours. That wasn't going to happen so we patiently waited a few weeks and came back here with reservations. I really can't comment on other days of the week but if you are coming here on a Sunday morning for brunch you best have reservations or you will be waiting a long time. First let's get the service issue out of the way. The waitress was very nice but her visits were far and few between. She would disappear for long stretches at a time. If you are one of those needy types who needs to be checked on every five minutes you best head elsewhere. The food is worth the wait though. I had the chicken and waffles and everything on my plate was superb. The waffle is probably one of the best I have ever eaten in my life which is pretty effusive praise given the fact that I don't really like waffles. It was light and fluffy and most importantly hot. The fried chicken tenders they give you with the waffles are crispy, warm, and skillfully fried without a hint of greasiness afterwards. The eggs were also perfectly scrambled and hot (not everyone knows how to cook eggs). It is obvious they pay attention to ingredients here. Everything was fresh and well seasoned. They also bring your check in a little mailbox at the end of the visit and you can lift the flag when you are ready to pay. If they learn to work out the kinks in service they might elevate themselves to a 5 stars. Can't wait to come back and try some of their drinks.
(4)
J L.
I hear their wings are great. Though the fried green tomatoes with goat cheese were incredible I should have skipped them because meals are large. I got the chicken and waffles and it was really good, including their spin on macncheese which was fantastic.. Drinks are expensive but made like per-prohibition with all natural and homemade ingredients. My wife got fish on a salt rock platter which was, as you might expect, too salty. Meatloaf looked good. Nice patio outside too. I was tired of going to The Lodge which is also nice and nearby, do I 'm glad to have FF in my repertoire now.
(5)
Charlese M.
The staff and the good were wonderful! My server, John was particularly awesome! It was our first time dining at Founding Farmers and had no idea what to order and every suggestion John made was a hit! I will definitely be back. Oh, try the macaroni and cheese.
(5)
Jenna K.
So I have never been to the founding farmers in DC because it is always so difficult to get into. But I have now been to the MoCo founding farmers 4-5 times and have loved it every time. I love the drinks because they are freshly made. I have had a few of their salads and loved all of them! The cornbread is amazing as well. I have had the fried chicken which is to die for because you get a little bit of everything which is helpful when you can not decide. You get 2 pieces of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, waffles, and greens. I have also had their burger which was amazing. It had everything in it, avocado, bacon, and the perfect bun. I have been waiting to get their red velvet cake but it has been sold out last time. Overall a great restaurant but beware if you want to have a large group, it is difficult to sit more than 12 people.
(5)
Melinda S.
I'm confused by the previous comments, I had a fantastic meal at Founding Farmers with my family, and I was so impressed with each meal we ordered. We started with the cornbread, which was a great choice (better than the biscuits, I think), and I ate the shrimp and grits as a main. Everyone else was happy with their chicken (the special roasted from the top section of the menu), fish, and fried chicken (I came with three others!). Dessert was absolutely delicious, I can't recommend it highly enough! We had the apple pie and the cookie plate, and it was just fantastic!! Definitely order the pie if you come :-)
(4)
Tom F.
We started with cornbread which was good.My wife's Lobster Mac and cheese was excellent. My southern fried chicken was Sahara dry, bland, and tough, greens were bland and gritty, biscuit was somehow drier than the chicken. I was hungry though so i just ate the potatoes. The food was just overwhelmingly heavy and not worth the money. We like the atmosphere and philosophy, but really didn't need the overlong lecture for each entree. That said, the service was excellent and had the fried chicken comped, even though I said it was not necessary since I had eaten about half the meal. We might go back there, and it might be better with lowered expectations.
(2)
M K.
I shouldn't try to review this place based on my one experience with it, which was the Saturday morning after the derecho storm--it was literally the only place I could make it to with my family because all the roads were blocked and almost all of the restaurants I could get to had no power. I understand there were extenuating circumstances, BUT... What a terrible place to go for brunch. I've been to the DC location for dinner and loved it; I'd read that they had an excellent brunch too so I thought this might be okay. Service was either overtaxed (I do realize it must have been hard for people to get there), but we had to wait a REALLY long time for our food without being warned; when it did arrive, my friend's omelet was not what he ordered; my other friend's meal was cold; the breakfast meals are designed to make you order all the good stuff on the side instead of including it; we had to keep begging for coffee refills, silverware, and even glasses of water; and, to me, most egregiously, they DON'T OFFER WHITE SUGAR OR REGULAR SWEETENERS for their coffee. Because they are a "natural" food place they only have sugar in the raw (which is always soapy to me), and stevia, and that other natural sweetener that tastes terrible in hot beverages. Is white sugar too much to ask for? I actually DID ask for it and was denied "because that's not our ethos." I am all for local sourcing, natural ingredients, etc., but my one unshakable thing I need is my coffee and I want my coffee the way I want it. All of the 'natural" sweeteners on offer simply don't taste good to me and never have. You're telling me the chef doesn't have white sugar in the kitchen to make desserts and french toast? And I can't get a small bowl of it? Bollocks. Please just allow your guests to have their coffee the way they want it the morning after their whole street is covered in downed trees. Coffee is important! I'm sad because I did like the DC location and had been avoiding the Potomac one because of all the negative reviews. Turns out they were right. On the bright side, the bacon was very good.
(2)
Jenn B.
Love this place! I came here for Sunday dinner and was pleasantly surprised! Great service and yummy food! The deviled eggs were seasoned just right and a perfect appetizer since I was STARVING. I had a Bellini and my partner had a beer. We were both overwhelmed by the menu since there is a ridic amount of options, but we settled for the fried chicken dish and butternut squash ravioli. The chicken was uh-mazing! The mashed potatoes were very rich and creamy- deeelish. Not a big fan of the greens since they weren't seasoned very well. The ravioli was very good- small portion though. Lots of flavors and tasted really fresh which I enjoyed (may not be everyone's cup of tea though). For dessert we ordered the red velvet cake which is huuuuge! Super moist, and very rich! Couldn't finish even half of it so took it home. At this point I was stuffed, but happy! Definitely can't wait to go back and try some of the other options!
(4)
Mina P.
I'd eat every meal here if I could. The food is delicious. The drinks are fun. Brunch is pretty awesome, too. It can get LOUD, though, and is very family friendly so go late if you don't want to eat next to a three-year-old.
(4)
DJ L.
Everything people said are similar to my thoughts, so I don't want to be repetitive, but try to be additive. Food: Yes, get the wings. Everyone says so and there is a reason. 11 wings are plated with lime. Squeeze the lime. It's delish. We got a reuben with fries and chicken and waffles (after some hesitation). After reading some of the disappointed comments below about the chicken and waffles, we took a risk. The chicken and waffles came with string beans, mac and cheese (but not elbow), and then Vermont syrup with a cinnamon kick. The chicken was really dry and the white sauce looked almost like wax, as if it was poured on the chicken too early and waiting. But the waffles with the syrup was money! The reuben came with coleslaw which was good, but I never had apples in it before. The meat was good but cold and it didn't have a strong flavor - maybe because the coleslaw was more overpowering? Overall, we killed the warm fries and waffles, but boxed the rest. We ordered the seasonal flavor ice cream - waiter compared it to ice cream with crunched up Whopper balls. Oh, and we got two beers but who can be disappointed with that? Service: Yes, the service is amazing. We sat outside. Get Andrew aka Andie. I must have bothered him with a million questions since it was our first time and never did he seem annoyed. He gave several recommendations and knew the menu really well. Without him, I don't think I would have enjoyed the place as much. Fun: Girls can hang their purse under the tables outside. Umbrellas outside have heaters. Plants hanging on the wall are real and have soil. I was impressed. Yes, they give you your recipe in a mailbox. Super cute. I drive by this place often since it's visible from I-270. I went inside on a Friday night around 8:30PM and it was busy. I gave them my name and was suppose to wait for 30 minutes. Parking was simple once you read the directions. Park in a numbered spot, walk up to the pay meter by the steps, press your digits, #, and then BINGO. Free parking up to three hours. I did all of this while waiting for my table. Overall, I would love to go back again and give it another try. I fell in love with the wings and the atmosphere - inside and outside.
(3)
Mary A.
I have not wanted to eat at this restaurant because I have witnessed employees handling the bread with their bare hands. They also leave their fresh baked bread uncovered in a delivery hallway before eventually taking in to kitchen area. The hallway from the kitchen to the outside dumpster area is always dirty with food garbage & trash. It was said on a TV investigation of restaurants that if the area outside of the kitchen & or bathrooms were not on the clean side that you should not eat there.
(1)
myra f.
Besides our server being absolutely awful, food was decent. Would go back but would not go out of my way to eat here. We had about eight people so orders varied. Most were cooked well and tasted good.
(3)
Cookie D.
We started with the cornbread and Bacon Lollis. What's not to like? Sweet bacon on a stick - this is not your light and healthy appetizer, but we knew that going in! We had the fried chicken with waffles, zucchini, mac and chefs and syrup. Decadent and delicious. This was the best mac and cheese I've had in Washington. It is made with a flat-ish short noodle, which is not your typical mac and cheese noodle, It looked odd, but tasted very creamy and cheesy. The fried chicken itself was good, but turned out to be my least favorite part of the dish - after the Zucchini and the waffle. We had split the carrot cake for dessert - it would have benefited from a tad more sugar in the cream cheese frosting - it's dessert, people, it's supposed to be sweet. If I wanted cheese, I'd order cheese. But the very best part of the meal was the Intelligentsia coffee. It's my favorite coffee in the country - I wish they'd open a shop in Washington!
(3)
Effie N.
in short: the wait staff is fabulous and appropriately attentive the food is good, but not especially memorable. filling but nothing super special the decor and atmosphere were quite nice Ate the following- 1. fried green tomatoes: quite good 2. ribs: barely fair. drinks: good. i would go back but not order the blah ribs. the salads are good. will stick to them.
(3)
Ryan D.
The grilled cheese and tomato soup is awesome but the service isn't that good. Most of the food in the restaurant is good.
(4)
Bob and Audra M.
Love me some beignets! Ok, so I'm from New Orleans and these are not traditional beignets, FF's version is more like a fritter, but I liked em! Plus a trio of sauces to go with...Heavenly! I like to think of them as a breakfast appetizer!
(4)
Rose K.
I usually go to the DC location, but headed over to Rockville for a birthday brunch for a friend. The staff was super friendly, and was nice to accommodate our requests (vegan meal for me). I do wish that they had some vegan brunch items on the menu (like there were before they did away with the vegan menu). They did create something off the menu for me - a medley of sauteed veggies, with a side salad, which was really great of them. The veggies weren't very filling, though (no protein - bring back the tofu scramble!), and the salad wasn't dressed. Our waiter was very nice, though, and our drinks were very tasty. I really enjoyed the bellini! The Bloody Mary looked tasty, but sadly, as most Bloody Marys are, was not veg-friendly. I had been emailing with someone from FF before heading their for brunch, since I heard that the vegan menu had been suspended at the Potomac location. She was very friendly and explained that they'd soon be unveiling a seasonal lunch/dinner menu with a new meatless section. The new items are great (have tried them at the DC location), but it doesn't help a vegan during brunch! Also, I never heard back from FF when I emailed specifically about brunch options. Since I haven't been for dinner, I can't compare it to the DC location, but the service at both is always great.
(4)
C R.
We dropped in for dinner on a Saturday evening just before 6:00 and were seated right away. One member of our party is a FF vet so he pre-ordered our dessert choice (beignets) as soon as the server greeted us since they are made to order and take 15-20 minutes to prepare. I ordered the vegan bacon burger which was fantastic. The hubby got the skirt steak, the kiddo got the mac & cheese, and the FF vet got the chicken & waffles. There was lots of tasting and sharing among the 4 of us. All the entrees got raves. And the beignets were heavenly, especially with the caramel sauce. The only problem was that the hubby's steak came out well instead of medium, but it was replaced quickly on a new plate with fresh sides. My only pet peeve was the lack of a kid's menu. I didn't love spending $12 for upscale mac & cheese, although it was delicious. Our sever was warm, informative, and very attentive. Despite the remote locale vs. the DC restaurant, we'll definitely go back on a weekend. Convenient, free parking is a plus.
(4)
Kim F.
Went to FF for a weekday breakfast. Good: Service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Food was mostly tasty (the leek hash browns are divine!), and the decor is beautiful--it's a lovely place to sit and chat. Bad: The bad starts in the parking lot. Parking is confusing--do I pay or not pay, do I display a ticket for my free 2 hours or not, and where the heck are the poorly-marked meters?? My companion's order wasn't correct, which was a little annoying. English muffins are tasteless--they'd be better off with Thomas--and we had to ask for butter twice after the first portion was the size of my fingernail. Portions are Cheesecake Factory enormous and there's a ton of waste as a result, which seems odd for an eco-friendly restaurant. Jelly of the day was rhubarb. Not everybody likes that. How 'bout some plain old grape for those of us who are less adventurous? I've had lunch here and it was very good, with tastier food and more reasonable meal sizes. Not sure I'd head back for breakfast.
(3)
Yasmin A.
Great atmosphere and food. Nicely designed patio area with flowers and feels relaxing and enjoyable. Food is very colorful, fresh, delicious, and pleasantly plated. Decent prices too in comparison to other restaurants in the area. The ciabatta bread is amazing!
(5)
Claudette H.
After initially scouting out this restaurant and finding it quiet, with an extensive menu, I was surprised to return today with my husband at 1:20 on a Wednesday and finding it packed to the rafters! Friendly reception, and very sweet and attentive server. I ordered the Northern fried chicken platter because I love latkes and beets. Big mistake! Latkes were fried so hard they looked and tasted like tiny mahogany pucks. I cannot imagine what the chef put into the beets, but I bit into something so spicy hot my eyes watered. Have eaten beets as Borsch, cold in salad, hot as a side dish, but never fiery hot! Good biscuit but had to ask for butter. Supposed to get a half chicken (I asked) but there was no drumstick..sob, sob. Well cooked though the sauce (on the side as requested) was nasty. Husband had the Pot Roast and liked it but the presentation could be better. Why must food be piled on top of each other so it turns into one big mess...meat on top of mashed potatoes, carrots and haricots buried in the potatoes, and onion rings crowning the entire assembly! I plan to return, perhaps for a later lunch, and try some of the favorites mentioned on Yelp. Prices are on a par with Cheesecake Factory and CPK in this area. A bit noisier perhaps .
(3)
LaVerne J.
Slow service, lukewarm food. I got the chicken and waffle compared to the DC location it was horrible. Waffle was cold and hard, tasted like cardboard and the chicken was dry. Definitely won't go back to this location, I like the DC location a lot better.
(2)
Alan P.
Went there with a buddy this week. Made a reservation for 8:00 on Open Table and was seated right away. I was surprised to see the restaurant basically full at this time on a Monday night. The service was excellent - if possibly even a little too hovering at times. We never lacked for H2O or drink refills. We started with the chips, crisps and dip ap. The dips are tasty and the homemade potato chips a treat. The crisps are good with the dips. i ordered the plank salmon which was seasoned and cooked perfectly for my taste. The veg. side was also done to my liking and mashed potato side was decent but nothing special. My friend ordered the filet med. rare and it was served a bit overdone but he never-the-less said that it was a good steak. Overall, I thought the presentation of the main courses were rather basic and boring; at least when compared to the aps served at FF. IMO $29 for farm raised salmon is a bit pricey. I'm still a fan and would like to return to try a cocktail or two. However, FF will probably be a once in a while kind of place given the prices.
(4)
Hilary M.
Pretty decent place for breakfast -- a slightly out-of-the-ordinary menu and good staff-to-clientele ratio. Food is very good, creative, and well presented. By lunch, this place is a victim of its own success. It is overwhelmingly noisy and the kitchen slows down. Food quality remains good, but there is nothing charming or placid about the place. Stick to breakfast.
(3)
David C.
I don't get it - people keep raving about Founding Farmer's, and 3 times I have been sorely disappointed. SERVICE - The service is very friendly. People are nice, and at least initially are very attentive. However, every time we ordered an appetizer it came either with or after our meal, despite repeated requests that it come first. The last time, we had them just take it back. Also our servers kept disappearing for long stretches. (rating 2.5/5) FOOD - The food is the killer here. I'll go through a few random items. The beignets are pretty good, but they are NOT beignets. They are popover batter that has been fried, beignet style. The pancakes (blueberry, specifically) also are pretty good. Kudos for the cinnamon added to the syrup - it provides a nice kick and an additional depth of flavor to the meal. (rating - 4/5) Now for the disappointments (which, unfortunately, were all my dishes). FIrst, the Red Flannel Hash. To be blunt, it looked like someone threw up on the plate. And while I only tasted the dish, I imagine what it looked like can't taste much worse. It was a horrible amalgam of off flavors and poor seasoning. Strike 1 (and, quite frankly, 2 as well). (rating - 1/5) Next visit (we went at my wife's urging), I ordered a chicken salad salad. First off, at $14 I expect more than 5 pieces of lettuce. But leaving that aside, the salad was overdressed (i.e., a little swimming in dressing) and woefully under-seasoned. The chicken salad wasn't much better. While I appreciated the crunch of sliced almonds, I was left wondering if the kitchen ran out of salt and pepper. I've had saltier food at nursing homes. (rating - 2/5) Strike 3+. Needless to say, notwithstanding an interesting drink menu and very friendly staff, mediocre service combined with less than mediocre food means I won't be back. Unless it's for pancakes and a glass of water (the coffee also was bad). If you want anything other than pancakes, I recommend going to Sugo next door.
(2)
Matt H.
Really Awesome Place!
(5)
Kayci S.
I still have nightmares from the cauliflower steak. I give it 3 stars because I went with two other people who really enjoyed their meals (they were smart and had burgers). This was my first time dining here and I had been hearing nothing but great things so I was excited. We had reservations (which I would suggest because it was relatively crowded ) and we were seated right away. Our waitress was really nice and attentive but I have to knock her for recommending probably the worst thing I have ever eaten. Most people would assume a cauliflower steak does not sound very appetizing but she was pretty convincing! "Cooked like a steak on the grill with steak seasoning and a red tomato sauce underneath..." FALSE it was an enormous piece of undercooked cauliflower with what tasted like ketchup underneath! I thought this would be a good place to try something different because it had such good reviews but i was wrong. Part of me wants to try this place again but if I do I will not be ordering anything adventurous because the food is not cheap and I do not want to waste another $17.
(3)
Zac G.
I don't write a lot of yelp reviews, but I figure I go to this restaurant enough (4 times in the last month) that I should write something. This place is fantastic! When they get things right, the result is an amazing meal. Does that mean they're perfect? No. Sometimes they get things wrong, and when they do make mistakes they fix them quickly and go the extra mile to make sure your party is happy. You go here for the experience: the huge menu, the active atmosphere, the upscale clientele, the delicious food, and the great cocktails. The menu can be pretty overwhelming so following recommendations are dishes I've had here multiple times that have consistently wow'd me. That's not to say everything else isn't great, but these are the ones I find myself coming back to... Drinks: Farmer John Farmer Smash Cucumber Delight Appetizers: Pitchfork Combo Brie and Onion Jam with Apples Flatbread Devil Egg Combo Tomato Jam and Goat Cheese Flatbread (not to be confused with the one with pickled onions) Entrees: South Carolina BBQ with Fixings Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke Salad Lemon Meuniere Diver Scallops Butternut Squash Ravioli Showstopper Seafood Pasta Shrimp and Grits Fried Chicken and Waffles
(5)
Ellen W.
Came back again recently to give this location another try because one of my friends wanted to try it. I have to say the food definitely was better and everything came out just right. It was a bit crowded when we came on a Sunday night so service could have been a little bit faster. Needless to say, it was better than my first visit and I was very satisfied with my meal.
(4)
Elizabeth G.
I love this restaurant. I always choose this place for my special occasions. Love the beignets. Their cocktails are awesome. I love the atmosphere.
I don't even know how to review the place. Everything i've heard about the DC location is fantastic. Everything I could see on the menu was fantastic. All the people around me looked like their food was fantastic, and the bartender who gave us water was fantastic...but here is the problem. I understand that the restaurant just opened, but y'all need to get your S@$% together. The first thing we asked for when we walked in was the vegan menu, which was wonderful. 15 min later while at the bar getting ready to order we found out, that they didn't have the vegan menu yet. That wouldn't have been too much of a problem, but neither the bartender, nor the maitre d' knew that the vegan menu was not being served. I do plan to go back sometime because the meat looked good, but people in my group were vegan so we went down the street to veggie garden. Tips to the owner - - when opening a new location, bring some of your old kitchen staff with you so the kitchen flows and you get food out. - let your staff know whats going on so they don't give erroneous information. - update your website so people know whats going on. update - @Dan - asking for an improved rating is unbecoming, actually making me want to rate you lower. The best way for you to get a better ranking is to improve service, which you are clearly trying to do. Perhaps I will improve the ranking of my review in the future, but that will depend on how well you and your staff do in the future.
(2)
Jeremy B.
Ambiance: Ok. Decor is fine, but it's a little bright and the tables are a little close together for private conversation. There is an upper level, a large bar, and the pastry kitchen is basically wide open, so that's pretty cool. Service:Went twice. Both times, even though we had reserves, we had to wait 10-20 minutes for a table. Not a huge deal, and you know it's a good sign when a place is this busy. First time, waiter was great. Second time, waiter was nice but forgot a couple of items and had to be reminded. Beer Selection: This is clearly one of those newer restaurants where the owner/management is in touch with the craft beer market and wants to serve good stuff to go along with their menu. They have a rotating taps for seasonals from Sierra Nevada, Flying Dog, Victory, and others, as well as taps for an 'IPA of the Day' and a 'White of the Day'. Not bad. Their bottle/can selection isn't huge, but it's solid: Allagash, Oskar Blues, 21st Amendment, Smaltz, North Coast, etc. Food: Ok, HOLY CRAP. This place serves AMAZING food. I would eat here 3 times a day and have to get around in a motorized scooter. First time we went I got the farmer's pitchfork (candied bacon and homemade tater tots on skewers), the butcher's plate (chili dog, mini cheeseburger, ribs), and their seasonal bread pudding. My wife got their popcorn of the day (yes, they have this: awesome), a perfect gnocchi over beef ragu, and housemade sorbet. Second time we went was for brunch. DO THIS. DO IT NOW. Red velvet pancakes, bacon a la carte (three huge slabs, choose from 1 of 4 house glazes), house-made beignets. RIDICULOUS. Value:On the medium-pricy side, as you'd expect. The dinner trip came to $90 for both of us (1 cocktail, 3 beers, 2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 desserts); brunch was $65 (1 champagne, 2 beers, 1 app, 2 orders of pancakes (hers were carrot cake), bacon, hashbrowns, beignets). Overall: The food is wonderful, and the beer list isn't an afterthought. This is the kind of place to go often, if you can afford it and can go during off peak hours.
(4)
Tarra F.
I've been to this establishment twice and haven't been disappointed by the food or service.
(4)
Evsi W.
went back 2 times and had equally as good of an experience as before! had the onion Brie flatbread, Ahi Tuna salad and the Beignets again ....yummmmm The service at the bar was great! We have been served by the same guy each time and like him. BBQ was ok, we go to the south a lot and theirs down there is unbeatable! There was some noisy guy sitting next to us for a while and he acted like he was the only one there, but u can get that at any bar.....so still outstanding for us :)
(5)
Liisa B.
The third time seems to be the charm for us at Founding Farmers. I was invited back by Valerie and she helped me make reservations for 715 on Saturday night. This time we had much better food and service. Our waitress, Carmen, was lovely and helpful. We asked for her recommendations and followed them. We didn't veer too far from what we normally like,and she steered us right. We started with cocktails, a martini for my husband, a Vesper for me. ("Mmm, that's not half bad...") They were both very good. We had the deviled eggs which were ok. The ranch popcorn was great!! My husband had the Frisco burger which he pronounced different enough from the normal burger to be appealing and done well. I had the small prime rib and it was tender and perfectly cooked. The mashed potatoes were not crusted over by the heat lamp this time which was a huge improvement!! The green beans were nicely cooked, not too soggy, nice crunch. We had no room for dessert. Overall, it was a very nice meal, and we are glad we tried again. It is nice to know we can order form the menu and be satisfied. My recommendation would be to ask your waiter and let them guide you to what is good eating based on what you like. I can safely say that we will be back.
(4)
Paul A.
Was invited to the soft opening on Saturday. Had french toast, fried shrimp, flat bread, fries, tater tots, hot dogs and Chili and to top it all off, homemade ice cream. Yes I know, fat meal all the way..but we had no choice over the selections since this was more of an opportunity to critiqued the food was free. Service was 5 STAR fabulous. The cucumber infused cocktail was amazing and the restaurant has a very unique and interesting build out. I won't review the food here since it was the first day of trial runs and the fact that I am not a fan of fried food or hot dogs in general. The menu looks phenomenal and I can't wait to have a regular meal.... All in all if it is anything like the DC spot, this will be a treat for years to come.
(4)
Daniel K.
Customer service is outstanding, I had the pastrami sandwich which was okay. The soda's that they make are pretty awesome. I would recomend getting reservations before you go to the place cause you would have to wait a while to get seated if you just walk in.
(5)
Howard H.
I went to this place excited and with an open mind. I left after paying nearly $200, which included my dinner of a cold hot dog, cold mini-cheeseburgers, and cold pork ribs. The atmosphere is great and they have no problems finding customers (for now). But I am more interested in great food and great service, than worrying about how (or even if) this restaurant is saving the World. I am disappointed, and I going to hit the gym to work off the worthless and plain bad calories I consumed last night. BOO!
(1)
Joe M.
Good news - food was very good. Service was about the worst I ever had. Waiters should not sit at the bar while orders get cold, and it would be nice if they had a clue about what was on tap.
(2)
Olivia H.
Third time's a charm? I went back for another try after receiving an email from the manager apologizing and inviting me back. A dish was forgotten and the timing was a little off, but other wise the service was great! I went with a couple of friends, and we ordered the deviled eggs, mussels and pickled seasonal vegetables to start. I normally wouldn't have eaten the mussels, as I am allergic to pork (I think they are made with chorizo?), but when our waiter overheard me encouraging my friends to get it anyway, he offered to see if the kitchen could accommodate my allergy.... I am ever so grateful they could. All three appetizers were sooooooo good! I loved the mussels and the smoked salmon deviled eggs. My friends ordered a breakfast plate and the chicken and waffles as their main dish, both of which looked appetizing.... but I ordered the wood plank salmon. OMG, the best salmon ever, perfectly cooked with a maple glaze that was caramelized all over- exactly how I like it!!! It came with green beans, and I requested the mac'n'cheese instead of the mashed potatoes. I could have done without the mac'n'cheese- it tasted very much like american cheese, which I don't like. Not a big deal, just a personal preference..... sad, because all the elements of good mac'n'cheese were there- it was rich and cheesy, piping hot with perfect al dente pasta and a nice finish of toasted bread crumbs on top. We ended it with the beignets and espresso. There are no words to describe their beignets. It was the perfect end to a decadent lunch. I will definitely come back again and can only hope that they will continue the better service and food without special arrangements made by the management.
(4)
Ben H.
Me and my family went here the other night. If you're looking for wide variety of good, solid food, this is a great place to go. They seem to make a lot of their ingredients in house, and it really shows. The Appetizers (flat-bread, popcorn, and pickle jar) were in particular really good, and my meal (butchers plate) was very good as well. Overall really impressed with the food, and while we didn't have many drinks it seemed like the bar is a very popular destination and they have award winning cocktails. Service was friendly and helpful, although when they're busy there are a few problems. Nothing too terrible though. A few things that weren't so great. First the desert was hit or miss. The mousse was pretty good (although it is enormous) but the red velvet cake we had was pretty dry. Also, anyone who ordered a salad that night (4 of us) had something missing from it. In addition, I was missing a side, bringing the total of messed up meals to 5 out of 6. This is way more mistakes than can be excused by a busy night, and while it didn't ruin the night it certainly didn't reflect well on the plate preparation, especially the salad department. I've heard similar reports from other people who have gone here as well. Luckily, our waitress was very helpful, and in the end the restaurant went through enormous efforts to rectify the problem, giving us two desserts and SIX $15 gift cards, an extremely generous offer. That final effort definitely ensured we'd be coming back here again. Overall a good, reasonably priced restaurant worth checking out.
(4)
Steph H.
Drinks were bland and pricey, not worth the $12 price tag Appetizers: Deviled eggs - tasty, but just a normal deviled egg Bacon/tater tot combo - this is pretty much one slice of underseasoned bacon chopped into 4 pieces + 8 tater tots (which were good, but not $8 good). There is a more flavorful, cheaper version of this in a bacon cheeseburger value meal at McDonalds. It's literally equivalent to one piece of bacon and small cup of fries. Entrees: Chicken: underseasoned, but with a flavorful and crispy skin. Accompanying veggies were delicious Burger: decent, but nothing notable Pot roast: underseasoned, with a gloopy and flavorless sauce With "farm fresh" ingredients, I would have expected much more flavor and creativity. Noise level: very loud, seemed like a congregation of people who like to bark and cackle loudly at each other
(2)
Stephanie K.
I love the DC location of Founding Farmers. It's my go-to special occasion restaurant. However, as a Marylander, it can be a bit tricky to get to. We decided to try to Potomac location. My date and I had an 8:15 reservation for a Friday night. We got the restaurant early, checked in, and they let us know that they were running 5-10 minutes behind schedule. We didn't get seated until almost 8:40. I guess this is OK on a Friday night, but when we got upstairs, there were at least six empty tables. Really? Our server was really nice and helpful with suggestions from the menu. I settled on the artichoke and chickpea "gunny sack" and my date got the polenta. The inside of the gunny sack - tomatoes, chickpeas, and artichoke hearts -- was delicious. Everything was wrapped in phyllo dough, which, sadly, was not cooked all the way through. Three more minutes in the oven and it would have been perfect! My dish came with a side of spinach that was almost inedible because it had way too much garlic in it (and I LOVE garlic). My date's only complaint about the polenta was that he wished there was more sauce/veggies to balance out the massive serving of polenta. Will I come back? Probably not. I definitely suggest making the trek into DC for the better half of the Founding Farmers family!
(2)
Lauren S.
There are only two good things about this place: the cornbread and the ginger soda. When we arrived on a Thursday night the host told us it would be a 30 min wait, sure no problem. Then some woman intervened and said it would in fact be over an hour wait because the entire restaurant was booked and we would have to sit outside. We said we were willing to wait the hour but she kept insisting we should eat outside. Um, it is 90 degrees outside, no thank you (plus no one else was sitting outside). She was incredibly rude. The food was also a disappointment. I got the south carolina bbq with fixings and was really looking forward to it. The pork was mostly fat, the collard greens were mediocre, and the biscuit was soggy. The decor is nice, but overall it was a pretty bleek experience which was incredibly disappointing.
(2)
Gia H.
I am only giving this a 3 because I love Founding Farmers... Well at least the DC location for now. I know this restaurant has just opened, so I won't butcher the place. However, I was just so excited that this place was brought to Montgomery County, but let down so badly. So my mother and I went here the first Saturday it was opened. We sat up stairs, which looked like a baby tornado hit. There was food on the seats, trash on the floor and an outline of a previous guest's drink right under my arm. Because I am overly too nice, I didn't complain about this. We didn't order hors d'oeuvres because we wanted to save room for dessert - Beignets to be exact! So my mother ordered the Crispy Spatchock Chicken - Honey Thyme Glazed with Dakota Raw Honey style. The description of the entree tells you what it comes with - Well our server told us we choose our sides from the crop list even though it says what the sides come with. Well after my mother choose something from the crop list, the server comes back and says you cannot order from there, but she will see what she can do. My mother decides to keep what comes with it, however when the entree comes, she receives something that she did not ask for nor the items listed in the entree description. In addition, we ordered Mac n Cheese to share and all to say about that was the noodles were undercooked. For my entree I get the Frisco Burger which should have been called the Frio Burger. The burger and the fries both came out cold - Not luke warm or a tad bit warm, COLD. I never send things back, but that was just unacceptable. So they bring me hot fries while I wait for my burger. 15 minutes later, still no burger. I guess I should have asked them to nuke it in the microwave. So 25 minutes later, I receive the burger and ask for a box to go because by that time, I was ready for dessert. "Beignets please. What, it takes 20 minutes to cook? I'm sorry, but cafe du monde never told me it would take 20 minutes for a little peace of heaven to be fried." So I don't know if we didn't read the menu right, but I don't remember it saying it takes 20 minutes because if I did, I would have ordered it while I was waiting for my burger. So when we finally received the beignets, which the guy who delivered them said it would be worth the wait, they weren't all that great... And honestly, maybe it's me because I've had a real New Orleans Beignet. But there wasn't enough powder sugar and it was very doughy like it wasn't cooked enough. With all that said [smile] I will try again at the end of this month. I am too excited that Founding Farmers is in Mo County for me not to like it!
(3)
Jessica K.
The restaurant is wonderful!! I highly recommend it. The customer service was wonderful. I made a reservation on OpenTable. I made a special request for a booth online in the reservation and they fulfilled it with no problem. They gave us the option of being immediately seated at a table or waiting 10 minutes for a booth. We were in a booth in 5 minutes!! Talk about exceeding expectations!! Before our waiter, Tristan came to our table, we were greeted by another waitress, who wasn't assigned to us, but was kind enough to say hello and ask if we were new, and tell us that our waiter was in his way. She saw that it was our first time and made us feel at home with great drink suggestions. Then Tristan came to help us and highly recommended the Potomac Park Swizzle (which is absolutely great). The manager, Gerard, also checked on us. Even on a Friday night, they made my boyfriend and I feel like we were the only customers in the restaurant. The food was absolutely wonderful, the drinks were strong, and the atmosphere even better. We had no difficulty finding parking either. I highly recommend. Great place on any day!!
(5)
Alan H.
The menu was fun and had a couple of interesting entrees to offer. The food was good and we'll presented. The service was slow, hard to find your wait person when there was a problem. It took way too long to get salt or pepper, and for that matter, the cocktail sauce way to long to find their way to our table. The waitress had no clue as to the beers they offer as fare, which is counter to the image they want to project. The cold press coffee was a disaster even though the staff attempted to prepare it twice. Hopefully, with time they will get better!
(2)
Chris P.
I was invited to the soft opening of Founding Farmers in Potomac for dinner. I work in the same office building as the restaurant, so getting there was a breeze. Upon arrival, I was given a friendly greeting by the host staff and quickly escorted to a table. While I found the wait service to be fast, I also found it to be impersonal. Our waiter avoided making eye contact or listening to our preferences. There was also no opportunity to provide feedback. The food was a preselected menu for each table, so diners had no power over what dishes they received. I'm not in much of a position to complain since the food was complimentary, but I feel like forcing random dishes on patrons doesn't encourage them to return. At least give a few options to choose from for each course. The main issue I had was that some tables were getting cuts of prime meat and lobster mac & cheese as their mains, while we received a pork sandwich and a salad. If you choose this format, I think its important to serve meals that are roughly equivalent in value. We felt a bit alienated since tables around us were getting a meals worth twice as much. Most of the food we received was good, not great. The appetizers and desserts were actually my favorite parts of the meal. There were many items on the menu that looked delicious, but I didn't get to sample them. At some point, I'll probably return to try FF's specialty cocktails and some more food items since the location is convenient, but I would not go out of my way to patronize this restaurant based on this initial experience.
(3)
Phillip M.
I can't vouch for the food as I never got in. At 930am on a Sunday with the restaurant more than half empty, we were told we could not be seated for over an hour because we didn't have a reservation. We walked out.
(1)
L W.
2 stars for good, natural food. 5 stars for the noisiest restaurant and not worth enjoying good food if you can't hear your partner across the table. Terrible acoustics, good food. I think the young people (who love noisy restaurants) wouldn't mind this establishment.
(2)
Michael K.
This restaurant is supposedly the newest hot spot in the potomac area. I heard that they're known for their "made from scratch" home cooked food. We started with their deviled eggs which were not bad, but rather simple to make at home. We also had their corned bread which we found to be good. For dinner we had the pot roast and fried chicken which both were good, but nothing I'd jump up and down for. We noticed people sitting near us ordering biscuits and the 3 hot dog platter, and both of those items looked appealing. The service was not good. They didn't bring us water in the beginning, and we constantly had to ask for things. We found this place to be rather trendy, and wouldn't come back again, but we don't regret trying it once.
(2)
Gina R.
I really didn't like it, neither did my daughter. I had to force myself to finish my french toast which I didn't enjoy and didn't really want to order but they were out of pancakes and waffles which was very suprising. My waiter was very good though and I did enjoy the hibiscus soda and my daughter enjoyed the raspberry soda. This place was totally over rated in my opinion.
(2)
Vanessa M.
Such a fan of this FF! First time there and our server, Alex, was so sweet! They were crowded but we didn't have to wait long. Food was hearty and plentiful and those wings... I dream about those wings!
(4)
Rach F.
I have been to founding farmers three times. For my first trip, I went with absolutely no expectations, having heard virtually nothing about the Park Potomac or DC locations. While the food each time has been excellent, the service has been pretty bad. Well, I should say the wait staff has been bad. The first time I went was for brunch, and in the two hours we were there (it took over an hour for us to get our food) we saw our waiter a total of three times. Every time we needed something, we had to flag down any waiter that was passing and ask for more water or coffee, missing silverware, etc. My boyfriend asked if the corned beef hash came with eggs and our waiter said no, so my boyfriend ordered a side of eggs. When our food finally came out, there were eggs on the corned beef, yet our waiter still brought us a side of eggs. When my boyfriend asked our waiter about it, he shrugged and said sorry, yet still charged us for the extra eggs. The food really was good though so we decided maybe we just had an inexperienced waiter. The second time we went, I made a reservation for 5:30 for my father's birthday. The restaurant wasn't full, yet again the waitress hardly ever came over to check on us. The food came out quicker since it wasn't as busy, and it was as usual delicious. We had a pleasant experience, we just hope they improve their wait staff or maybe consider extra training. On our third experience, we sat at the bar, which has tied itself with Clyde's for my favorite bar. The bartender Eric was friendly and helpful, and our food came out surprisingly fast, considering we went around 7:30 on a Thursday evening. I will definitely go back to Founding Farmers, but I would recommend parties of two or three checking for room at the bar before trying to get a table.
(3)
Danielle L.
Very disappointing. You see the menu and it looks great. Wonderful choices and flavors. Yet when it arrives (if it arrives), it's hardly what you expected. I got the shrimp and grits, for example, and it had some odd sauce to it that is not at all what you'd expect in that dish. I don't know if it had too much tabasco or the fishiness of the shrimp. It just wasn't good. trying to get someone to take my order took forever. As did trying to flag someone down to refill my tea. As did trying to find a server to give me a bill. (They seemed to stand around to talk to one another quite a bit but appeared to have no interest in the customers.) The best that I can say for the place is that I like that they offer plugs at the tables and wifi in the restaurant.
(1)
Ryan W.
Ok, I would actually give this place a four star if the wait wasn't so long. I've been wanting to go to the location in DC, but have never been able to get in (to be fair, I didn't really plan ahead each time). That being said, I thought the food was pretty good, but come on. Why would this place be so hard to get into, with the food just being good? You would think this was a 5-Diamond restaurant or something. Also, the service sucked, but we did go on their opening weekend, which I guess is to be expected. I hope it gets better, because I would like to have a nice place to go, close to home.
(3)
Nikki G.
Very disappointing, considering I enjoyed the Founding Farmers in DC. I ordered the crab cakes, and somewhat expect to have a few shells here-and-there. This was terrible, a literally found an entire claw in my crabcake (yes a whole claw!). This meal was completely inedible. I'm not one to complain, but I informed the manager so that a similar meal wouldn't be served to another customer. He was kind enough to remove it from our check (which I didn't ask for, but appreciated)- but I would have preferred a good meal instead. We also ordered red velvet cake for dessert, hoping for a happy ending to our meal, but it was very dry. Again, happy with the one in DC. And like the idea of the restaurant. But this place was lacking and needs improvement.
(2)
Lynna T.
Sent back every single thing we ordered. Waited forever for our food, because it had been sitting and getting cold in the kitchen. They need a couple more months to get into the swing of things. Nothing really remarkable flavor-wise either. Mediocre at best.
(1)
Kat G.
Good service great food. Going for lunch again tomorrow.
(4)
Annie L.
Fried Chicken and Waffles? Need I say more? The make and cheese and combination with the fried chicken, wow, I better get to the gym right after this meal. This place gets packed quick, but love the organic theme, with the milk bottles filled with water, and everything for local farms. I came for brunch and lunch, and to sit at the bar. The blackened pepper chicken is my favorite appetizer, so flavorful, just like me. And this is the first time I have ever tried onion jam, seriously, you may think gross, something you find in your shoe, but it is soooo good in that brushetta with the gr"annie" apples, yum. That's what I would try, just saying. 4 stars, because I know the wait is long, so we don't bother, and just run for some seats at the bar, the service is also hit or miss, hard to get the attention of bartenders, only when busy, which is understandable. Sorry, Clydes ... Potomac Park is stealing customers!
(4)
Queen C.
Ribs, salmon and fried chicken were great! Their menu is a little bit challenging so we asked a lot of questions to our server who is very helpful! The chips with three dips appetizer is delish too!
(4)
Joe L.
Appetizers are really good. Main courses are really good. Desserts are really really good. Drinks look really good (though we didn't have any). Good beer selection. We went on Christmas day, and it was packed, but they were working through the crowd pretty well.
(4)
Deirdre W.
Went to FF for the first time last night--a group of five old friends in town for the holidays. We tried to make a reservation, but they were not taking anymor, but we decided to give it a whirl anyway. Arrived at 7pm and were finally seated around 830pm. And that is on a Thursday night (granted, a holiday week). I had great expectations, but I must say, FF was just OK. The fried green tomato appetizer was very good, as was the farmer chips and dips. The by-the-glass wine list was limited, but some good choices. For my main course, I had the cheese and wild mushroom ravioli. Sounded great, but it was actually very so-so. The ravioli itself was perfectly cooked but rather bland--sadly similar to the stuff in my grocer's freezer. Then it had a "wild mushroom sauce" that had about 3 mushrooms in it. Seriously, it was hard to find a mushroom to pick out and chew on. Oddly, this sauce was paired with dried cherries, and the pairing did not work. And finally, the whole thing had crumbled bleu cheese over the top. Now I love a good stinky cheese, but it was just not right in this dish. As an aside, I read on another review that the wild mushroom sauce was beef-based. That was surprising to me, a vegetarian for many years. My fault for not asking, but I guess it simply did no occur to me. That said, it did not taste even remotely of beef, which is good news for me and maybe not-so-good for others. It was all very edible, and I ate it because I was hungry after the 90 minute wait for a table and another 45 minute wait for a main course. The service was also fine. "Edible" anf "fine" though are disappointing given the hype around FF and the cost. I eat out a lot for business meals and for social, but I am highly unlikely to go back here.
(2)
My I.
Ate there last night for the first time. Pro: Bread 'smear' appetizer was good. The bread is great. The smears (spreads) are just okay. Pro: Squash soup was very good. Con: Very loud, very crowded. Con: The chicken served in that fancy oven was dry. Three of us ordered it, each with a different sauce/rub. The sauce was the only thing moist about the chicken. Any one of the new chicken places (e.g., Peri-Peri) is better for chicken. Dinner for 4 (no alcoholic drinks, 3 appetizers) = $109.00 before tip. Not sure if I'll go back. Much prefer a smaller, more intimate restaurant (Il Pizzico, Vasillies, etc.) BTW ... none of the Exit signs were lit. Not sure if that's legal. They better watch out for the fire marshal.
(2)
J P.
The beignet was really good...that's all i remember from our brunch a month ago - i can't even remember what i ate (meaning their food was forgettable). Excellent service though.
(3)
Ellen S.
I love the menu at Founding Farmers but the service is still terrible. We had to get up and talk to a hostess in order to get the attention of someone who wasn't even our waiter. This place has been around long enough that the kinks should have been worked out. There are too many restaurants in the area. I think I will frequent one of them before going back to Founding Farmers!
Went for breakfast on Sunday morning. Busy, but not crowded; seated promptly. Service was personal and very good; food was even better. Farm fresh food never tasted so good!
(5)
K J.
Don't expect friendly service at reception or the bar. Warm water in ice cold glasses. So disappointed. Food was just as disappointing.
(1)
Nori W.
Went Thursday night with 3 other girl friends. The food was just okay for me (beef short rib - $26), one girl had fried shrimp and she liked the variety of items on her plate, the other two dishes were a salad and a pasta dish. They were both okay. Service was definitely bad though, I thought about talking to the staff or manager on the way out since we were complaining about service the whole night. First of all, our water glasses were empty for a while and our waitress didn't come back to check on us whatsoever after the food was delivered. So we flagged her down and asked her if we could have more water. She brought the water pitcher and sat it on our table without filling our glasses. After the water pitcher ran empty, we were out of water again and it was near the end of our meal, my friend who ordered ice tea was also not offered a refill for the entire meal, she just had an empty glass. Since we were almost done with our meal we just ordered the dessert and decided to pay and go on our way. But definitely only worth a 1.5-2/5 as far as service goes. ******* edited based on 12/26 afternoon tea social experience Two of the girl friends and I went to try the afternoon tea social menu. The food was excellent and this time our waiter was very attentive and friendly. We were treated nicely and thoroughly enjoyed our experience. I hope the first night was just an 'off night' and I've adjusted my review according to this new experience.
(4)
Rachel P.
Fun atmosphere and great food. We enjoyed the popcorn of the day, home-made sodas, and Farmers tea. The menu is very unique which makes it hard to choose a dish, but it didn't seem like you could go wrong. The mac n' cheese was delicious and they give you a big portion. Also suggest the Woodstock chicken - perfectly cooked. Save room for dessert! The ice cream is delicious and the beignets worth waiting for.
(4)
Jessica W.
Another restaurant that I would love to love. However, it proved disappointing the second go round. The restaurant is very comfy, open, airy and welcoming. The bar is very nice too. The service was not that fantastic and the food was less than expected. To start we ordered the Pickled Seasonal Vegetables. These turned out to be raw carrots plopped in some vinegar...thought they would have at least been steamed a little bit or something? We also tried the Butternut Squash soup; this was the most delicious thing we ordered! Regardless of everything else not being too tasty, this soup was delicious. Then we had the Farmer's Salad and Skirt Steak. The salad was okay, nothing special, and the skirt steak was tough and chewy. The part we were most excited about was the Chimichurri Sauce that came with the skirt steak...not so exciting. If I ever find myself here again I might try the cast iron fried chicken but otherwise no extreme desire to come here again.
(2)
Dain K.
A group of us went here on a Wed night and it was pretty packed. The decor was nice, but the average age of the customer was pretty old (I would say fifties). This is probably because it is in Potomac. The food isn't bad (I had the reuben sandwich), but I was not impressed with the service. She seemed a little slow and definitely doesn't concentrate. When the bill came, we wrote down how much we want charged to each card and she somehow screwed that up. The waitress also was complaining to her co-workers about our group, which I think is unprofessional. I think management should definitely focus on training. Would I come back? Maybe, but this place wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)
Mary Ann R.
Went for lunch w my husband. The place is very loud and the service was abysmal. They take your order then you wait forever to get the food and drinks. The food was not good either. Mostly bread and no filling on my sandwich. We will not return.
(1)
Le D.
The only thing worth finding here is decent service and and an interesting ambience. As far as the food, they try as hard as they fail. Add to that a pricey menu and you have a recipe for a bad restaurant. Under cooked carrots, over cooked ribs with a sauce that makes you cringe. I tried multiple entrees and apps and each was as bad as the next. Flat bread consisted of toasted bread with a side of goat cheese drizzled with balsamic and pistachios, another side of tomatoes drenched in a vinaigrette and pickled onions; together on the toasted bread (flat bread) were edible at best. Cocktail was weak, wine was barely drinkable (however the cost compelled me to finish it). I vow to never go back, spread the bad word!
(2)
Catalina A.
Great food very relaxing. Will definitely return.
(4)
N W.
We went to this place on a Saturday night. Had a reservation for 7 pm but didn't get seated until 7:20. It took the waitress 40 minutes to get our drinks from the bar. This is after they made me the wrong drink and told my husband they ran out of tonic for his vodka tonic. They similarly made us wait 30 minutes for dessert. The service was terrible. We had to hunt down our waitress anytime we needed anything including salt and pepper and butter for our biscuits. I ordered the cheeseburger and it had andolutely no salt. One friend had the fried chicken and it was soggy. His coffee also came out warm. Another friend's salad was underdressed and the arugula was wilted. My husband's short ribs were fine. Based on the terrible service and mediocre food we won't be returning.
(1)
E E.
I've been three times (once for brunch and twice for lunch) and have never been disappointed by the food. The tomato and goat cheese flat bread still gives me cravings (fyi -- it's deconstructed, not put together like a sandwich). The grilled cheese and tomato soup was perfection on a blustery day. The eggs benedict was wonderful. My husband thinks they make the best biscuits he's ever had. Other recommendations are to try the popcorn (I've had the ranch flavored), the farmer's pitchfork (combo) and the veggie burger. The red velvet cake was so wonderfully rich and dense, we took most of it home and it still took two more sittings before we finished it off. I think I can only order that one once per year. Overall, for both the quality and quantity, it's a good value. Watch out for those $5 "scratch" sodas, though. Delicious, but no free refills, so mind that you don't end up paying $10+ because you're thirsty. My one caution is this: if you have little patience for mediocre service, go during off hours. Not that servers haven't been friendly, there just aren't enough or something. Our second visit, we had to flag the waiter down just to get the check because he hadn't been by in 20 minutes. Then it was another 15 minutes before we got it. On our third trip it was 10 minutes before the waitress came by, and even then, it was to let us know she was getting water and would be right back. Another 10 minutes went by before we got that water and were able to order. I could overlook it once, or if they were super busy, but this seems to be an ongoing issue.
(3)
Catharine N.
My husband and I are Vegetarians and have been to the Park Potomac FF several times. We have never been disappointed - the food and service have been consistently excellent.
(5)
Ron T.
This was my second time here. The first time I thought it was really good. Nice vibe the drinks were amazing. Went last night and it was busy for a Sunday night. Service was good however the food was mediocre at best. For the price I would rather go to bonefish grill where the food is always decent and for much less. The cornbread was way to salty. The crab cakes were TERRIBLE the salad and drinks were the best part of the meal. I guess its hit or miss here so i will give them one more shot and perhaps it was just an off night
(2)
Pat B.
Wow! I am a huge fan of this (DC) restaurant but last nights experience (in MD) was disappointing. We had to accept an very early hour to eat because no reservations were available. We were seated at 4:45 pm (the place was empty) and left at 7:50 (the place was full and the potential stampede at the lobby area was a true fire hazard). Let's hope that it is growing pains. While our server was a nice guy, he was incredibly slow and sometimes forgot what we ordered. Why not write down orders? The food was ok but needs improving. I had gift certificates obtained from Earthaid. They had no idea what to do with them. I have my fingers crossed that they improve in their cooking and serving standards.
(2)
Katie G.
I was so happy to have a Founding Farmers closer to me. I will make the trek into the city at 9am for some of their delicious food but it's nice to be able to sleep in a little and be close to home. Our service was great! Our waitress was very attentive and asked us several times how we were doing and was always up on the refills (my friend and I had about 5 cups of coffee each). I feel terrible that I have forgotten her name but she was amazing. I really loved her. The ambience was loud, which is to be expected with the Saturday morning brunch set. I love the setting around us and it was fun and funky. Our food came out quickly and delicious. We started with binets and then had the scrambles. Delicious and we way over-ate. The table next to us followed suit with their order because they saw how great our food looked. When we finished our meal, they were in no rush with us and let us sit there for a while enjoying our coffee and talking. The check was brought out in a cute little mailbox (which I've never seen at the DC location) and our waitress told us how great we were to have. All in all, great experience and I will be heading back soon!
(5)
wai t.
To be fair, let me just start off by saying I went here for Valentine's Day (so it could be too busy that the quality of food suffered). My husband and I double-dated with my sister and her boyfriend. When I first looked at the menu there was so much going on - one might even say there was too much going on that it makes it difficult to even see what their specialty dishes are. My one rule is if all else fails and I simply don't know what to get, the fish and chips will never fail me - EVER. Well there's a first for everything - it failed me here. My plate came with two very thin fish tenders, and a ripped off paper bag full of luke-warm soggy fries mixed with chips. My first thought was that it reminded me of taking leftover fries and chips from other people's tables and putting it in a greasy ripped paper bag and then on my plate - not cute, not appetizing, not a great presentation at all. My dish was $14 and it should have been called Chips and Fish. The fish was like garnish for my fries/chips mixture. It actually really made me angry and I felt jipped. I would expect this at a more high end gourmet restaurant (with good fries though, of course) where they place your tiny bit of food on an oversized plate and call it a meal. Not that it's ok, but I would expect that in that sort of restaurant, not here. My husband got the strip steak...it was petite as well but he said it was good. My sister had the Southern Fried Chicken and it came with some bits of fried chicken, greens, and mashed potatos. I tried some of everything on her plate. I've decided that they like to give you a big plop of sides and skimp you on the meat. The greens were awful - looked like collard greens but tasted like ass. It was bitter and had a weird cinnamon flavor (?). Her mashed potatos were dry and luke-warm much like everything else. Her boyfriend had the Chicken and Waffles (one of their so-called best dishes) and he enjoyed the chicken. He doesn't usually eat a lot but even he said he thought he'd have more food on his plate. His came with half a waffle, mac and cheese, and green beans. He gave me the green beans and I thought they didn't really have any flavor and was not hot. I ate them because I was still hungry! My sister pointed out that the green beans on my husband's plate were brown and soggy and the beans I got from her boyfriend were vibrant green. Founding Farmers needs to get it together and have some consistency with their food! Our bill was about $80 - not sure what we really got out of that - very disappointing. One star because I can't give zero stars, and I guess the server was nice and attentive for the most part. And obviously, don't come here if you've saved your whole day's calories to have a delicious filling meal.
(1)
Andrea G.
The service was truly awful. The waitstaff were disorganized, we waited an hour for food, and the floor manager came over in an attempt to remedy the awful service but she was confused and repeated herself several times. All of our entrees were stone cold and had to be re-made. (another hour waiting). It was a true disappointment. The kicker was when the general manager said "so sorry, your bill will be taken care of." yet an hour later, we got our bill and paid for it. The entrees had been removed but everything else was our responsibility. Why lie? Don't attempt a visit unless you have a lot of time and patience.
(1)
Thomas M.
I had to do it. My dinner at Potomac's Founding Fathers was so incredible I thought... "Breakfast!". Before I get to the food, I will say it is high time that Potomac/N. Bethesda had a place for a professional breakfast meetings. A diner is OK in a pinch, but if you have an important meeting where impressions matter, this is the next best thing to the Four Seasons, as far as obsequious service goes. I loved the drink selection at my first dinner, so I wasn't surprised to see very interesting drink offerings for breakfast. Given the health focus of the menu, I had to have the carrot juice, freshly extracted!, for the same price as orange juice. But the coup de grace: PERSONAL FRENCH PRESS! If you are a coffee aficionado, you know that this is the ONLY way to have coffee. (They make it mild for the normal coffee drinker - on my second carafe, I asked them to make it a little more robust.) It is tough to make an interesting culinary experience out of breakfast. Not a challenge here. I had to remind myself that it's the holidays - I don't have to order everything on the menu. We had the purple velvet hash. As I mentioned in my first visit, the vegetables here are an attraction in themselves. I had never thought of adding beets (hence, the purple) to my hash, but this, in combination with goat cheese, poached eggs, and a very light (without being watery) slightly lemony hollandaise made for a varied tasting experience - a different flavor in every bite. Unlike anything else I have ever tried. I feel silly getting so excited about something simple like hash, but when you try it, you'll understand. On leaving I felt satiated, but not stuffed, unlike carb-laden breakfasts can sometimes make you feel. My guest was also impressed, and he said he's coming back with his wife. On another note, I read a couple of negative reviews - I've been 3 times and haven't had a bad trip. It's a popular spot already, so you do need a reservation on a busy night. The food does take a few minutes to come, but no more than any other restaurant I have been to - and it's always great. Plus, every server or bartender has been contagiously enthusiastic. Maybe I'm not that picky, but I do know a good thing, and this is the one of only a handful of unique and fun places in Montgomery County. Did I mention the obsequious staff? If you have a complaint, don't keep it yourself - the staff has bent over backwards for me at any request or comment.
(5)
Kelly S.
Got the chicken and waffles. chicken was great waffles could use a litlle work. Others got the farmers daughter burger and loved it. Definetly going back.
(4)
Geoff L.
Awesome food every time and their drink menu is phenomenal.
(5)
Heather S.
Wish I had read the other reviews before we headed over.. I think they are just getting off to a rocky start and still working out the kinks. This place has potential, so I'll hash out our experience here. Keep in mind, they've only been open 2 weeks. For the most part my complaints have nothing to do with the food (for the most part..) We had a reservation and arrived early. Spoke to the hostess and reminded them that we needed a highchair, thinking it might make it easier for them to put us at a 2 person table with a highchair (giving them more table options for where to put us) -- well they don't have high chairs (WTH?) Ok so we get seated at a booth with a booster. Our 2yr olds first time in a booster.. joy [stress!]. On the way to the table, the floors are slippery - greasy slippery.. we were practically ice skating. My husband takes my daughter to the bathroom, no changing table. He asks me to take her, we literally skate/slide over to the bathroom, hanging on to the bar so we don't fall.. no changing table in the ladies room either. Later the manager tells me they are ordering them and its a high priority to get them in.. but still, I had to change my daughter on the floor. So we order.. Pot roast for DH, french dip for me, sans cheese (really so DH can try it) and mini burgers for the kiddo. Food comes.. French dip has mayo on it (who does that?) burgers have sauce and pickles. None of the menu descriptions indicated these things and the waiter didn't mention it when we ordered. Sent the burgers back. Waiter was very nice about it all, but it took a while for the burgers to come back. Luckily, the corn on the cob she got as a side was fab and kept her happy. The real disappointment came after eating half of the french dip -- a piece of plastic in it. We had a nice chat with the manager, she was very sweet. We talked about the changing tables and the floors and she assured us they were all things they were working on. She apologized about the plastic and said she would go try to find out how it happened. She offered us dessert.. we were tired and full, and not interested in sweets, so she sent us home with some cookies for later. Well I just got around to eating the cookies - they are amazing. The French Dip was pretty good too, the mini burgers were good.. the pot roast could use some work. Like I said at the beginning.. the food is good, this place has potential. If they work out those kinks, I'm sure I'd give them another star or 2. Just keep that in mind if you head over there in the near future.
(3)
Shannon G.
This is my third and probably last time at this location! It's not up to par of the Washington DC location. Today Jan. 16'2012 we were made to wait even though there were tables available... So my husband called and made reservations while we in the place waiting and were seated 20 minutes earlier than projected!! Why was that! The food came and was tepid at best, couldn't tell the waiter because he was AWOL. When I thought I might have some bengets for a treat I was told it would take an additional 20 minutes... Dude you couldn't share that earlier? Just not that great for the prices they're asking!!!
(2)
Dana W.
I was excited to try out Founding Farmers in Potomac but was very dissappointed in the service and food. Our waiter was slow, forgetful, and unattentive. In his hast, he cleared our cocktails before we were finished with them. Our food took a long time and my friend's pulled pork sandwich was freezing cold. A burger ordered as medium came out well-done and charred on top. We had to send back both. My chicken pot pie was a soupy cream mixture with fresh bisuit on top but very little chicken and vegetables. It was gross, like eating half-n-half with bleck pepper! I loved the cucumber melon bev and homemade sodas so I may go back for drinks only. Also, my friend ate there another time and when she asked her waitress to consolidate their left-over apps to one plate, the waitress used her bare hand to move their food. Seriously!!!
(2)
Catherine C.
The headline for our visit: Founding Farmers Founders. We had had dinner at the DC location last summer and looked forward to visiting the new Montgomery County location on 1/6/2012. We were all disappointed. We had a reservation for 7pm and arrived on time. We waited 20 minutes for a table, and the entire time we were waiting, no one checked in with us. (There were for young women staffing the front desk.) Once seated, no apology for the tardiness from our server or the hostess and no visit to our table from the manager either. Wonder if the manager was even aware of the seating delays? We probably could have overlooked the late seating if the food and table service had been good, but neither was up to our relatively modest expectations. We did not order drinks. Instead, we selected a bottle of wine when we sat down but it did not arrive until half way through our appetizers and only after we asked the waiter if he was going to bring it to us. Really? I thought restaurants made their money from alcohol sales. Our entrees arrived pretty promptly and at the same time, but again, we were all disappointed. I had very good (and hot) grouper that was accompanied by mashed potatoes and the vegetable mixture of the day. But for all of us, the sides were barely warm, and the vegetables (green beans and chunks of carrots) were rather unappealing between their color (gone), temperature (nearly cold), and the fact that the carrots were not properly cooked. I could accept less then piping hot vegetables if they were attractively presented (which can require additional time), but FF's presentation called to mind my junior high cafeteria -- large metal spoon scooping up vegetables and then plopping them on the plate. And one of our party ordered fish and chips, which was to be accompanied by a beer chaser. Again, we had to ask for it and it came well into our entree course. In addition to the grouper, the BBQ chicken was quite good, and we all enjoyed the fried green tomatoes and the breads and spreads appetizers. But given the prices, the mediocre service, and the dining alternatives nearby, we won't be heading back any time soon.
(2)
Shannon W.
BY FAR ONE OF THE WORST SERVICE EXPERIENCES IVE EVER HAD. My boyfriend and I ate at Founding Farmers tonight and had service that was WAY too attentive. Usually this is a weird complaint, but seriously we never had a chance to have a full conversation without being interrupted. Not to mention the server constantly rushed us to get out of there. Our appetizers arrived and less than ten minutes after our entrees were there. Our server came by while we were still eating our entrees to ask if we want desert and when we said no (because we were still eating) she brought us the check. After I signed the check she took it off the table WHILE we were still sitting there. Nothing makes you feel less welcome than that. Meanwhile, they place a large pitcher of water on your table so they don't have to constantly fill up your glasses, which is great. However there was a time when our conversation was interrupted because someone (who was not our waitress) came by to fill up our glasses AND THEN our waitress also came by to ask us how we were doing. We just wanted them to LEAVE US ALONE. Anyways after feeling completely rushed through our meal (all of this happened in less than an hour AND we were drinking so even less of a reason to rush us), we went to sit at the bar to have another cocktail because our waitress made it very clear by delivering our check immediately that we couldn't do that there. The bartender was great. The drinks we had at the bar were wonderful and the bartender provided the perfect amount of service. If we go back we would definitely sit at the bar to avoid the horrible service. The food is also very good which is why I'm giving this 2 stars and not 1. We had the pitchfork, biscuits, and stuffed dates for appetizers. The stuffed dates are my favorite. My boyfriend had the butternut squash ravioli and I had the farmers salad and both were good. So all in all, sit at the bar if you want to be there for more than 30 minutes.
(2)
Stephanie K.
Had Saturday brunch here and it was delicious. Started with some drinks: bloody mary and vanilla soda, both of which were very good. I had the bananas foster waffle with a side of black pepper and maple glazed bacon and they were awesome. I cleaned both plates, which is something I rarely do. My husband had the pastrami hash, which he enjoyed as well. Our server was very good and the food/drinks came out at a good pace. We will definitely be visiting Founding Farmers again.
(4)
El H.
I went to Founding Farmers yesterday for lunch with some friends. We had a mixed experience. The food was delicious and ambience was great but they are still working out the kinks with their service. It took them over one hour to bring our food out and a couple of our dishes were cold. And my friend brought her 1 year old daughter and she couldn't handle that long of a wait. Plus, my friend found a piece of hair in her burger. And that ruined my friend's appetite after the long wait for her food. We asked to speak to a manager and it took the manager about 25 minutes to finally make her way over. By that time, my friend with her baby had to leave. The manager was gracious and took the burger and an additional discount off our bill. Plus, she gave us some red velvet cake to go. Now, back to the food. The scallops and fried chicken were very good. I thought the scallops were a bit overpriced for the amount of food you get. The roasted tomato soup was also very delicious. And the red velvet cake is very moist and rich. Overall, I wanted to rate this place higher because the food was great and the atmosphere is nice. But they need to work out getting their food out faster and having the manager deal with complaints in a more timely fashion.
(3)
Mel M.
really, this place is a two star...but i added an extra star because the scallops were DELICIOUS. I came for weeknight dinner with a group of friends, so i sampled a few different dishes. my order was the limon muniere scallop & Risotto. SCALLOPS were a 5 star. Risotto was BAD (Wackala)...it was loaded with cheese but that was not in the description. I had the combination deviled egg appetizer....was very very good. The corn bread was horrible if you know what corn bread is. Im from the south and fresh corn bread from the skillet was at least 3 times a week at home! my mom and everyone elses mom can do better im sure. At FF, the cornbread is CAKE with a few pieces of corn mixed in the batter. COME ON PEOPLE..how can you mess up something as american as cornbread???? The hotdogs and hamburgers were not that great...very standard...i'd rather get it from SONIC. The other dish that LOOKS good is the chicken and waffles...but I'm not sure of the taste. SEEMS a lot of people order the chicken and waffles. FF was packed on this wednesday night.....so its popular and the crowd was varying ages.... I'm guessing this place will stay popular with the middle age + upper class whites. I think the younger diverse crowd is just there to check it out but wont be back more than thrice. I'm glad i went,,,,,,for the scallops I had the Zapata tequila drink as well... TALK ABOUT HOT!!!...it was more habanero than anything...but worth it for the try.
(3)
Contess L.
Bacon covered dates were to die for. And so were the beignets!!! Their special cocktails are tasty too but just real pricey. Over all great experience.
(4)
Kathleen T.
The service at this location is terrible. The food is subpar in comparison to the hype. On my first trip here we anticipated a long wait, we made reservations day of for 8 pm (as that was the earliest time left) but arrived around 7 hoping to get seated earlier. We waited for an 1 hr and 45 minutes. 45 minutes past our reservation for a table. We also watched the hostesses give our table away to another group. The girl responded, "oops" and "don't worry you'll be next". No apologies. Our waiter was very unattentive, didn't refill our drinks, we weren't able to get condiments for our food because he basically never returned.. Next time I returned here was months later for my best friend's birthday brunch. We had attempted twice to make reservations for our group of 7 a few days ahead of time. But the hostesses stated we could not make a reservation for a group that big. I arrived first to the restaurant at 1 o'clock and placed our names, the hostess asked if I had a reservation. I told her we weren't able to make one because of the size of our group but apparently that was untrue. Reservations could be made for a group of our size. Maybe a few days ahead of time wasn't enough? But that's what should have been communicated over the phone!! I was upset and asked to speak to the manager. I saw the hostess walk up the manager and tell her I wanted to speak to her, the manager looked at me rolled her eyes and never showed up. We finally got seated and the waiter was good up until we got our food and he was no where to be found and none of us had silverware. We told 3 employees we had no silverware and finally 15 minutes later and on our last attempt we received it. Seriously horrible horrible service that kills the food and enjoyment of going out.
(2)
Tenecia Q.
Went here for a birthday dinner and I really enjoyed it. We went on a Friday night and we had a reservation. But we got there early so we had to wait a little while. Since it was our first time, our waitress explained how they work and answered any questions we had. We started off the with table biscuits which were delicious. Although, I wish our waitress had explained that only 4 biscuits came with it as she seen that we had 6 people with us. We ordered their lemonade which was good as well. I ordered the fried chicken and waffles which was incredible. I always wondered how these two things could go together but now I know. And I thought the mac and cheese was an odd addition too, but I enjoyed that as well. Everyone with me enjoyed their meal except for one person. Her pasta just wasn't as spicy as she thought it would be. We didn't end up spending a lot of money either which was good. The only real downside was the service. Our waitress was nice enough but not real attentive. I think she checked on us maybe once.
(4)
Kim P.
Went there for the second time this past Friday night. The first time we went service was slow but the food was great. We were celebrating my husbands birthday. About 3 am in the morning I got stomach cramps and was vomiting the next 36 hours, couldn't keep anything down. Never going back again, not sure I will ever look at chicken and waffles again either, or mac n cheese or green beans. Pretty crappy birthday weekend for my husband, had to take care of me puking the whole time.
(1)
Lauren B.
So I went to Founding Farmers with my fam today for a birthday dinner. We started with the biscuits and fried green tomatoes; both were amazing!! All the dishes were great; we got the chicken and waffles, roasted chicken, and shrimp/grits. All of the dishes were wonderfully flavored, and the portions were huge! The mac and cheese was also out of this world. I def recommend this place!!
(5)
tracie w.
Been here twice, both for lunch. Service was great the first time and just ok the second time, just not as attentive. The food is......ok. Tomato soup was delish, but the sandwich was meh. Fried chcken on two peoples orders came out cold TWICE. One plate had cold side dish as well. Sever quickly replaced but 3 plates delivered hot at the same time should not be hard. Would like the food to be better as I would like to support the concept behind the place. Sodas were good.
(2)
Gabriela L.
Oh what a bummer! I was really look forward to eat here for a while and I left disappointed. My husband and I started our meal with 2 cocktails and pickled veggie along with the devilish eggs. Oh my!!! Good way to start. My cucumber vodka cocktail was so good and the eggs were spot on on every level, flavor, presentation and originality. So far the service is good. Here we go with our main courses. I ordered the ahi tuna salad poke and my husband the scallops with risotto. My salad is super big and really tasty, but my husband takes a bite into the scallops and he has a very disappointed face, so I asked what happened.....his scallops are covered by chunks of raw garlic, and he could not taste anything but garlic. In the mean time, we are done with our drinks and my husband is waiting for the waitress to come back to ask for a glass of wine. The risotto was overcooked; the grain should not disentegrate in your mouth once you eat it. The rice should still have a bite to it. My salad is still good but in my opinion it should not be a main course due to the size. The flavor is on the sweet side with the dressing and after a while it gets a bit boring. At this point we really look forward to end our meal on a high note, but that did not happened. They take our plates away but left our empty cocktail/ wine glasses still on the table along with some silverware. The waitress saw that we were out of water and mentioned that she will bring immediately a new bottle. We order the sweet corn cake, and 2 espresso. The cake arrives and finally the waitress realized that we have piled all our dirty stuff on a side of the table and she had the courtesy to take it away. The corn cake was unfortunately very disappointing. It was like eating a corn bread with blueberries. The cake was seating on a raspberry coulis, which really did not at all match the favors of the cake. The espresso arrive but we did not have sugar or spoons, so we wait and wait, until my husband got up and got us sugar, but still not spoons. My husband start stirring the coffee with the fork from the dessert and the waitress comes by to leave us the bill and asked how was the cake. My answer was clearly not a good one, i said something like " eh it was ok" and she said " ok" and left, leaving the half eaten cake still on the table....really? I was not happy with the cake, my husband is stirring the coffee with a fork and she thinks everything is ok? Oh and by the way, where is our water??? The espresso were, sorry to say, disgusting! I took a sip and left it. Conclusions: started on a high note with the appetizers and finished a low note with what it tasted a $2 dollars corn cake and a burnt espresso. Service was awfull; started great with the story of the restaurant and the philosophy of the kitchen and ended up with no water, careless service with total lack of attention to details and customer service. We spent $120 and I believe there are better places for this prices.
(2)
Ingi Z.
I absolutely loved this place and cant wait to go back again!! Went for brunch on a sunday and found the staff to be friendly and the food to be delicious. I had an egg white scramble with veggies and hash browns and a biscuit. The eggs despite being egg whites were phenomenal! They tasted like actual egg whites and not just the liquid stuff that you pour out of a carton. The hash browns were absolutely tasty and not too greasy. The only thing I was not a HUGE fan of were the biscuits. They were a bit to doughy and I didn't feel like they were completely cooked. My boyfriend and I shared a french pressed coffee that was also absolutely delicious!! Cant wait to go back and try the lunch and dinner menus!!!
(4)
Christian L.
Well I personally think that Founding Farmers is fantastic. Admittedly, I have not been to their other location, but I don't really think that is a fair barometer to judge this location by. My wife had been here before, but I did not know what to expect. We had made reservations for 7:15, and I am glad we did, as the wait did look significant. We were on time for our reservation, and were not kept waiting more than five minutes or so before we were seated. The restaurant has that air of new trendiness, and you better be comfortable with loud, close packed crowds, which we were. Not really an intimate dining experience, if that is what you are looking for. Our server was Zack, and he had to be the most enthusiastic server I have ever encountered. His energy absolutely added to our experience. We tried several of their custom concoctions and were pleasantly pleased by them all. I personally recommend the Dark and Stormy for those who like their rum with a little kick to it. Appetizers consisted of the Deviled Eggs sampler and the biscuits of course! The deviled eggs were good, but the biscuits were amazing! For dinner I had the Skirt Steak and my wife had the salt block Rockfish. The skirt steak was done rare according to my request and was sufficiently tender, but the chimichurri on top was not that impressive. I did try my wife's rockfish, and it was quite excellent! Firm and flavorful, the salt block definitely added to the flavor. Unfortunately I don't remember what we had for dessert, but there were so many interesting items on the menu we definitely plan on coming back soon!
(5)
Mike T.
i would give this place 4 stars but the last couple of times i've been there the quality of the food was really lacking. i'd usually get the chicken and waffles which were really good the first couple of times but the last very trips were very disappointing.
(3)
Alan Z.
My wife and I took the in-laws here for dinner last night and long story short - awesome addition to MoCo! The in-laws live in Gaithersburg, and the FF downtown location is their favorite restaurant in DC sooooo, we were stoked to hear of the new spot opening in Potomac. It's been a while since I wrote a review on Yelp, but the experience we had here was awesome enough to bring me out of retirement. We had a reservation for 8:30, but arrived a bit early so as to allow us some time to grab a drink at the bar. As with the DC shop, the drinks here are spectacular. We just got back from a trip to South America and were very surprised to see they had Pisco, which is a Peruvian liquor we have had trouble finding elsewhere in the area. Big plus. Strongly recommend trying a Pisco Sour. The beer selection is solid - I went with a Lagunitas IPA, a perennial fav. We were sat right at 8:30 at a table upstairs. The upstairs space is nicely designed and flows well with the downstairs space. The thought occurred to us more than once that the upstairs could be a pretty rad spot to host a private party...not sure if they do that...but just a thought. So the food....oohhh, the food. Having had several great experiences downtown, we were hoping the new location wouldn't disappoint - it didn't....by a long shot. We started with the combo Farmers Pitchfork (bacon lollies and tots), Roasted Tomato Soup, and Tomato Jam and Goat Cheese Flatbread. All three were awesome, but the Farmers Pitchfork stole the show with an interesting presentation and those freakin' amazing bacon lollies! I went with the diver scallops for my entree, my wife got the boneless ribeye, and the in-laws split the Show Stopper. The first two were great - no complaints at all - but the third was most notable. They have a similar dish downtown, but they've changed it a bit for this location....and it's way better. You get a ton of seafood (def enough for two) and these housemade noodles that are a perfect compliment. The dish has a lot of flavor - maybe slightly spicy to some - but it was perfect if you ask me (I weaseled my way into several bits). Besides the food and drink, the service was great - our server (Laura, I think), was on point. Did a great job of welcoming us and chatting a bit about the opening and some of the changes to the menu. She was always swapping out our water and asking us if we'd like another round of drinks at the perfect time. Even though it was the second night the restaurant was open she had a thorough knowledge of the menu and was able to answer all of our questions. Overall, it was an awesome experience and I can't wait to go back to try some of the other items on the menu!
(5)
Denni O.
Great food and okay svc - it's only day 3. Ppl are way friendlier than the patrons who are bitching about everything from the wait staff to salad being served on a plate vs. a bowl. Really?!?!
(5)
Nancy M.
If you want an unfriendly bar with extremely unfriendly bartenders or a young woman bartender who hasn't a clue as to how to make a dry vodka martini. Or if you want to be ripped off ordering wine which they sell by different size glasses but, which are actually "free" poured than this is the place for you. The wine amounts vary so who knows what you are getting. Unlike it's DC partner things here are not well organized. Sitting at the bar is the most unfriendly bar we have been to. They not only don't all know how to mix drinks they don't know what all the glasses are for. The managers aren't much friendlier in the dining room. People will eat here because they pile your plate with some hits and many misses. And, because the area lacks many good places dine. We would recommend retraining your staff in "people skills" and learning how to make simple popular drinks. Hint--- a twist in a martini does NOT mean a twist of LIME.
(1)
Jane K.
The only reason why I give them a 3 star is for service. I came here for brunch with my parents on a Saturday. I made sure to make reservations. We arrive at the restaurant and I tell the hostess that we have reservations and she said "okay we are setting up tables I will be with you in just one sec". ONE SECOND...turned into 10 minutes. Isn't the whole point of making a reservation is so that your table is ready for you? Also, there were about 3 groups of people who came in after us. They apparently made reservations as well, however, they were seated before us. Felt madddd discriminated. I was ready to storm out the door if they sat us even a minute late. The waiter was no where to be found after our food was given to us. I think he checked on us ONCE. Also, they may consider separating the tables (the ones next to the hostess stand) a little bit. The table in front of us had to squeeze themselves in further so that my parents could sit behind them. The food was ALRITE. I expected a little more after all the hype. I want to try out their dinner but after the terrible service, I may have to think twice about wasting my time here.
(3)
Debra A.
Third and last time. First time was second night it was open. Food and service were atrocious and no one seemed to care. Second time server way too pushy and food mediorce and third time server walked b \y never asked if we needed things like salt and pepper or ketchup. Food again just ok and server only attentive wehn bringing the bill. Nw I can say have really given this place a chance. Go to Matchbox where food is always amazing and so is the service 895% of the time. Save your money and dont eat at Founding Farmers
(1)
Alix H.
I am so disappointed to give FF Potomac one star. We had highly anticipated the opening in Potomac since the downtown location had become more difficult to get in to esp now that many of their previous service issues have improved. The beginning of our visit was perfect...we had a reservation, we were seated immediately and greeted by an eager and excited waiter...the menu had some "old favorites" from the downtown location but some great new additions. As always with our FF experiences, the menu outshined the execution....to begin with, we had to ask for everything...can we have silverware, can we have water, can we have napkins. These are provided promptly but these are pretty basic requirements for dining out so I am not sure that having to ask for them should be part of dining! To begin with, I did not love the beverage recommended by the server and he offered a replacement which I ordered and received (and liked better). When we got the bill, drink #1 was not taken off, but drink #2 had been noted...more on that later. We ordered the traditional biscuits and asked for a side of honey...we had a table of four and there were 4 biscuits...there was an adequately sized container for the honey that arrived about 5 minutes later but less than enough in it for 2 biscuits in the container. We asked for more immediately which we did not receive. The deviled eggs a "must have FF favorite" of mine tasted a little off...not sure if it was the quality of the egg or the preparation but since I have had them at least 20 times, I know what they taste like. For dinner, we were reasonably satisfied with 2 out of the 4 entrees although they were very slow to arrive. The Poto Mac and Cheese was reasonably good (edible but slightly overcooked and would not order again). The main problem with the 2 problematic entrees was the temperature. My fish (fish and chips) was soggy but warm...clearly a re-heat. I did not want a replacement entree since I did not want everyone to have a lengthy wait while they re-did my food. One of the others in my party had shrimp and fries...the shrimp was good, crispy and fresh but the fries were soggy and cold. The final entree, the Ahi Tuna was apparently well made except for directions on what should have been excluded. If we had promptly received our check at this point, all would be have been adequate and this would have been a 3 star review. However, while we were eating, our server was "moved" to another area and all of his tables except ours were in a different section of the restaurant...the tables immediately on either side of us were assigned to a different server who was very attentive to them...after about 10 minutes (we did not finish our plates b/c of the issues with food temperature noted above so maybe despite being done we did not merit attention), we asked the server of the other tables to get our check. She did this and we discovered the additional drink (which at $12 I did not want to pay for) on the bill. In the interim, our server came over, noted the fairly full plates and asked if there was a problem. We reported some of the issues noted above to the server and he said he wanted to talk to the manager before we paid. He disappeared, we assumed he spoke to the manager, but neither the server or the manager ever returned with any proposed solution. From when we received the bill until we left the restaurant (without the Poto Mac that we had asked to have wrapped) it was more than 30 minutes. We are very disappointed with this experience...next time we crave FF, we will go back downtown....at least there, we are confident in the food quality!
(1)
r m.
I was shocked by the drink prices at the bar. $12 glass of wine, $11 bourbon. I was with 10 friends and everyone's jaw was dropping as they got their bill. We were planning on eating there, but promptly left to find a better, local value.
(1)
Hannah K.
All I can say is wow. If I still lived in MD, I would be here all day, everyday. The restaurant is located in a plaza with a lot of other fresh farm to table type of restaurants. The interior of Founding Farmers is adorable, so farm oriented with little touches of cute rustic pieces everywhere. I absolutely loved how all the servers were wearing plaid! My only gripe was how we had to wait 15 mins to be seated, when lo & behold there was an empty 2nd floor. Say huh? But whatever. Me & my friend started off with homemade blueberry & ginger sodas. Oh my goodness they were amazing crisp & refreshing. We then both ordered the tomato soup, which was so silky smooth with a touch of spice. I then ordered the ahi tuna salad, & my friend ordered the chicken salad salad. Seriously, Founding Farmers can do no wrong in my book. The salads were beyond amazing! The ahi tuna salad had tons of huge chunks of fresh ahi tuna (kind of like a poke salad), crispy wontons, greens, avocado & a delicious dressing. My friend's chicken salad was huge, so big in fact she had to take the leftovers home! Knowing I couldn't take my ahi salad back, I ended up eating all of the tuna & avocado, leaving a bed of well dressed greens behind. At the end of lunch, we ended up receiving our check in an adorable red mailbox. Seriously, I can't express my love for this restaurant anymore than I have. I will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Janice F.
The restaurant is good although I would not say it is anything special. Fairly pricey wholesome food with a nice atmosphere. The best part for me is that is very convenient to my house. But I must say the new restaurant ,Sugo Cicchetti, next door is far superior. If you go, try the popcorn of the day!
(3)
sandra d.
I had read some negative reviews and had low expectations. I can't speak for the main courses but my small salad and the bread I had for lunch were delicious. The problem I see with this place is that it is extremely crowded and noisy, and it is hard to find parking. But I guess that goes along with being popular. Service was fast and friendly but it is a good idea to make reservations beforehand, even for lunch .
(3)
Judy J.
I went to the Potomac Location of Founding Farmers this past week with several friends for dinner. This was probably my fifth visit to this location and unfortunately the kinks that you would expect to have been worked out in a new restaurant are still present six months after opening. We were seated promptly upstairs as we had requested, but from there things went downhill. While there were many servers upstairs, we waited between 10-15 minutes at our table completely ignored by all of the wait staff until we finally got the attention of a waiter and told him that no one had even come to ask us if we wanted a drink or bring us water. Not one of them seemed to notice that we were sitting at a table with menus for that long without even water glasses. I was infuriated to be ignored that way in a restaurant. Once we got the attention of a waiter, he took our drink orders and returned with them a short time later. We then ordered appetizers and our meal. The flat bread with granny smith apples, onion jam and brie came out first and it was as usual, fantastic. The flavors just work incredibly well together. We had also ordered corn bread which we waited a few minutes longer before asking when it was going to come. Our waiter told us that they had run out of it, but since we had ordered it at least 10 minutes ago (more like 20 minutes) they would have some out for us within about 10 minutes. Our entrees came out about 15 minutes later and then they did bring us the cornbread. The entrees were fine, but nothing very special. I recommend the plank salmon which is always tasty. My friend's rockfish was prepared well as was the ahi tuna salad which is always a winner. The fourth person in my party had ordered the very veggie salad and had asked for avocado and tomatoes. Of course it arrived without either of those ingredients, but the waiter retrieved a bowl of them from the kitchen and brought them to her. Everyone in my party had been to the restaurant several times and had dealt with similar experiences in the past. It's a shame that this restaurant can't get it's act together. It's as if the management just doesn't care to make things better. The location in DC is a class act, but the Potomac location gets second class treatment. Unfortunately, everyone in my party said they wouldn't be returning any time soon and that's a real shame for a restaurant that had such incredible potential and an awesome location in a high end demographic area.
(3)
S C.
Came here for dinner on the 13th. I made reservations...but we still had to wait about 5 minutes or so. I'm glad this place take reservations. I'll start with the food. I ordered the chicken and waffles. The waffles were good. I liked the maple syrup. The chicken was flavored nicely. A little on the dry side. The buttermilk sauce that it came with didn't really do anything for me. It was pretty bland. The bf ordered the "Lemon Meunière Diver Scallops". It was actually quite tasty. The scallops were cooked well. For dessert we ordered the apple cider sorbet. They had desserts that were out...which was a little disappointing. They also had red velvet cake and carrot cake. The slices were huge!!!! I would of gotten it but we wouldn't have been able to finish it. The service here was okay. The waitresses wasn't very attentive. I would come back and try other items on the menu. Their prices are fair. Hopefully next time I go back I can give them 4 stars.
(3)
Joe I.
My comments are along the lines of everyone else who gave this place 2 or less stars. I brought my wife here for her birthday and also invited some friends. It was very disappointing. Everything from the drinks to the food took a long time to reach our table. When we did finally get our food it was luke warm, as if it was sitting out for a while. The waitress didn't notice that we ran out of water and never bothered to ask if we wanted anymore drinks. What a missed opportunity to make more money. When we asked to take our leftovers home we were given boxes but noticed that everyone around us had their leftovers boxed for them (inconsistent service). The waitress was inattentive and her tip reflected her quality of service. I drove all the way from Columbia expecting to have a memorable experience but instead I left very disappointed. This restaurant is not new to the game and having just opened is not an excuse. The atmosphere was crowded and the wait staff seemed to be all over the place. People from the bar and waiting area seemed to spill over to the dining area. Founding Farmers for me did not live up to the hype. You can add this to the sentiments that all the others have expressed. Two stars just for the food.
(2)
Sondra S.
We dined at the Potomac location 3 times, the last time just Saturday night. The place was packed and we arrived without a reservation so we were advised there would be a two hour wait. What were we thinking. We live in the neighborhood, and are repeats. Bingo, the very gracious manager offered us the bar counter with plenty of space or the sunny side of the new veranda, which we agreed was uncomfortably hot. At the bar we were seated on high wooden chairs, their basic furnishings throughout, therefore a bit noisy. The bar staff is agreeable and though busy with drink orders, is helpful in describling the menu. I ordered the Rockfish with the caramelized onion garnish, and two sides. The fresh asparagus was green and generous the house salad very country served in a bowl. My husband ordered the wild caught glazed salmon and coleslaw. the slaw was unusally strong. There's many sides to choose from including mac and cheese and fresh greenbeans. I'm not a sweets person but we shared the devilsfood all out chocolate layer cake. My husband thought it could be more flavorful. The chocolate cake was offered with strawberry ice cream,but we were served vanilla. On our previous visit during an off time of about four p.m. seating was plentiful and I enjoyed the huge portion of carrot cake and ice cream. The wine list is interesting as is the local beer. On our next visit we will definitely arrive on the "off hour". We like the staff and of course we can't beat the convenience and really fresh garden menu and creative approach to home cooking with a flare.
(4)
Elizabeth W.
We sat at the bar and the service was excellent. The bartenders shouldn't even be called bartenders, they are most certainly master mixologists. Our drinks that the bartender, Devin, recommended were all fantastic. We ordered the bacon lollipops and the deviled eggs for appetizers. Both of those were superb! I ordered a spice strip steak that was delicious and the sweet potatoes that came with it were out of this world! We also ordered the diver scallops with risotto and they were mind numbingly good! Even after all that food we were told we had to have dessert and try the beignets....and I am sooooooo glad that we did! They were moist, airy and just absolutely perfect! I will be back and would recommend this restaurant to everyone I know!!
(5)
Sarah C.
My mommy friends and I are having a post mother's day brunch at Founding Farmers on Sunday and we are SO excited. Most of us have been there before and LOVE it. I have been dreaming about the bacon lollies and wings- they are so good. Everytime I have been the service has been great and the staff very knowledgable and friendly! I also can't wait to try some of the yummy drinks on the menu!!!
I did not realize that reservations would be needed for a suburb brunch place, but we still got to sit at the 'group' table. I felt like an outcast at first, but I soon forgot about being banished to the group table after I got my food. The fruit bowl that I ordered for my toddler was great. I full normal bowl of fruit. I got the benedict and my husband got the french toast...both AMAZING! The french toast was more like a rectangular donut, but still great. And best of all...the coffee there is INTELLEGENTSIA! which I hadn't had since the last time I was in Chicago. I really do like this place. I deducted one star for the hostess who said "I'm sorry, we're fully committed, but you can sit there" as she pointed to the loser table. On the bright side, I'll now know to make reservations.
(4)
Soliya S.
good food,,, bad bar service.
(3)
Rob T.
I give this place 4 stars. After reading the reviews I was nervous about the service, but our waiter was great. He checked back every so often to clear plates and refill our drinks. He had great suggestions for dinner items and we were all happy with what we got. I had the Southern Fried chicken which was pretty good but not the best I've had. The white gravy was a nice touch and the mashed potatoes were decent. As for dessert, the beignets were amazing. This is a cool place to go and get drinks and eat small plates and appetizers like the bacon lollis which are insane and the Brie and onion Jane flatbread. I'll be back for sure
(4)
The C.
I was as planning a 20 guest event and was told that I had to talk to the event person, i called twice and left my contact information and never received a response. I even called a 3rd time and asked to speak to a manager twice and was placed on hold for a long period of time with no answer. I guess this restaurant does not care for my business.
(1)
Lisa H.
We went for brunch and I was happy to see that they had a great menu. I wanted lunch and something light so I got a fried chicken salad. The salad was weak for $14 and the chicken was over fried. My husband got the egg white omelet with hash browns and loved it. He's Italian so it tends to be hard to please him. We'll go back because there aren't many brunch places near us but I have to say I won't be excited.
(3)
Richard P.
Ok, first time I think a dishwasher filled in as our cook on our initial Monday Jan 2 breakfast trial. Management appreciated my feedback and this time knocked our socks off. The beignets were so delicious and warm. Pastrami hash was very hearty and tasty and our biscuits this time were not greasy but flaky and hot. Trace our server was courteous and fast and very attentive to keeping our table stocked and clean. The highlight of the meal were the jumbo sweet blueberry pancakes. The taste of these trumped any of the local chains. It was a meal and dessert all in one. I don't think I have had better pancakes even in a 5 star hotel. I felt like the pastry chef personally made these pancakes as well as the beignets. We will be back for dinner. WOW!!
(5)
Winifred D.
I have been there 10 times and have had a wonderful experience each time! We have had servers; such as, Andy and Shayna, who were personable and knowledgeable regarding the menu. The menu has many "comfort" foods that you just don't find anywhere. Pot Roast and Meatloaf and excellent. Their version of a "Mint Julep" is the closest to really "down South" I have found. The beignets for dessert (that you must order early) are excellent. I can't wait to go back! You MUST make a reservation. People flock to this place.
(5)
greg g.
Wonderful dinner...Fried chicken was excellent...appetizers were inventive and tasty...Beignets for desert were wonderful. Downstairs is a bit loud but upstairs is more comfortable, less crowded and conversation is easier.
(4)
Laura J.
FF was OK, but expensive! We were seated right away at 7:00 (made a reservation), but seated in the crowded bar area. The wings were very good - tangy terriaki grill. The Farmers salad was very delicious with alot of interesting toppings like dates. The prime rib was not very tender and the scallops were gritty. The disappointment was later when the disturbing stomach aches started...we did not feel well....so, I guess that says it all...not sure if we'll go back. Too bad, the menu and atmophere looked promising....
(2)
Cynthia J.
Let me begin by saying that I wish there were a "zero star" rating option. There's not, so 1 star will have to do. My husband and I stopped by the bar to have a drink last night around 6:30. After finding 2 open bar stools, we sat down and about 6-7 minutes later a bartender asked us if we'd ordered anything yet. We hadn't so she took our drink order. I did not like the beer I ordered so I gave it to my husband to drink instead of being "that customer" and returning it. We were going to order food but after about 20 minutes of sitting with no drink in front of me and nobody asking if we would like to order anything, we decided to leave. Let me tell you that my husband ordered a $12 drink and would have very well ordered another if someone had asked him. Instead, we sat at the bar watching the bartenders run around talking about how they were "going to lose it" because it's so busy. Now let me remind you that if you are "that busy" on a Tuesday night, you either need to hire more experienced bartenders to handle the volume and their stress level or simplify your labor intensive, muddled and mashed drink menu so that your bartenders can give attention to the people actually making them money.......bar guests, not service bar. Apparently the bartender was so "stressed" that she needed a shot in the middle of her shift to calm her down. My husband and I have been in the industry (bartending) for 10+ years. Believe me, I know what sometimes goes on during bar shifts....you take shots, I get it. But, if you're going to do a shot (very non-discretely) might I add, you may want to make sure all of your bar guests have drinks first. I will finish by saying that I called and spoke to a manager who offered us to come in and have a night out on her. We have no desire to return, therefore I declined her offer. I hope this place gets it's stuff together before Sugo opens next door otherwise they'll be out of business.
(1)
John S.
I wasnt sure what to expect.one of the things I did not like was a lack of handycapped parkin.2 parking spaces for handycapped people are you kidding me.But when I walked in was not bad.I just wish it had a kids menu because there were a lot of kids there and the menu didnt seem to have enough kid friendly items.Also the chairs were way too high to sit in and uncomfortable.Another thing was that when the group was getting there we had to wait for a good amount of us to be seated,there were plenty of empty tables we could have already sat down,most places do that.Now for the menu it is a decent sized menu.The waitress we had was very good and patient with our group.Exlpained the specials and offered selections that my mom asked.She decided on the plank salmon.That was perfectly done,and the glaze sauce was just the right amount,not overpowering the fish.I chose the chicken n waffles.I had never had it and wanted to try something different.It came as half a chicken,which was done perfectly,waffles were good size,but wasnt sure if it came with syrup,if it did it was forgotten.The chefs veges were cooked good,squash,peas n zuchinnin for that night.All in all not bad,but needs imrovement.
(4)
Lisey W.
A group of us went for dinner recently and started out with their skillet of corn bread which was good and made with actual kernels of corn. Half of us ordered the pot roast and another ordered the fried chicken and waffles. The pot roast came with carrots and a few green beans over mashed potatoes. It wasn't bad but it contained an ingredient that I didn't care for - not sure if it was rosemary or cinnamon. I like my pot roast to taste homemade and not try to be upscale in any way. The fried chicken and waffles dish was served almost 15 minutes after they brought out the first entree -and it didn't look that impressive. The restaurant should have offered a complimentary dessert or something to make up for having to wait so long for this last entree, but they didn't. Service overall was just okay - you'd expect better service from a restaurant of this caliber. Overall the food was good but not great. We will come back and give it a second try though.
(3)
Fantome S.
Went this AM for brunch and like many reviews here had positives and negatives. The sandwich with roasted veggies and goat cheese was very good although the fries that came with it were practically cold. I did receive new fries pretty quickly though after complaining. The salads are overpriced, especially the green salad that runs 14 w/o any chicken. Not filling at all. The biggest ripoff overall is the $5 sodas. Mine had 8 huge ice cubes leaving me with about 3 sips of soda (no kidding). I think the waiter was also surprised since he barely turned his back and saw my soda glass empty and full of ice cubes. He immediately asked me if I wanted a glass of water. Also a side order of string beans with 9 string beans cost $6. Service was fair at best. Generally inattentive but not horrible. The restaurant is visually appealing, but improvements need to be made to both the service and food to deserve a return trip.
(2)
J. T.
I've been here twice, the second time being about 2 months ago. I was thrilled to go back as the first time was outstanding but I was disappointed. This place is a little on the pricer side for my budget, and the food was just okay. Here's the real issue: my boyfriend and I both got food poisoning after eating here and we were sick for nearly 2 days. I will never go back, because of that. A restaurant like this that takes so much care in where there food comes from needs to put some focus on the food safety and how the food is handled.
(2)
Leslie S.
I have been meaning to write a review for FF for quite some time now ~ my last visit prompted me to accomplish my mission. I went there last weekend for brunch with a dear friend, who happens to be the "mayor" of the FF in DC - but she loves both locations equally. We started out with the beignets - melt in your mouth little puffs of pure gold bliss - best I have ever had - nice trio accompanied to dress them up - raspberry coulis, chocolate and caramel sauces. After trying the sauces - I decided that I preferred the beignets naked - so delicious themselves with just a whisper of powdered sugar. Try them. They are a must! I believe my friend had the Farm Fresh Eggs and I went with my beloved Benedict. The sauce did not fail - one of the best hollandaise sauces that I have ever had - perfectly creamy and savory. Her plate came with the thick cut bacon, naturally, once I saw her side I ordered one for myself - and it was so worth it! Full of flavor nice seasoning and perfect amount of pepper. The food quality here most certainly shines brightly - it is very obvious that they are on top of their game. And they have Chicken and Waffles on the menu?!? Are you kidding me?!? We were non-alcoholic this particular day as we both had to go to work, but I am sure that I will enjoy the brunch cocktails on my next visit. I wish I could remember my server's name - she was super pleasant, knowledgable, and totally on top of my 3 or 4 or 5 tea refills I had - I was very thirsty ;) Manager Eun stopped by to say hello - she is always such a pleasant breath of fresh air :) I cannot say enough nice things about this restaurant - and what I will say is that I cannot wait to return! Shining stars of pervious visits include the homemade ginger ale, the oven roasted wings, the flatbreads, oh and the bacon lollis :)
(5)
Patrick S.
Food was good with a decent variety. OVERPRICED, though. Good service. Atmosphere in the restaurant had a lot to be desired. VERY LOUD and I felt very claustrophobic because everyone was bunched up together. I will not return there.
(2)
Barbara P.
It has been a few weeks since I've visited this location, but I wanted to wait until I've visited their DC location that I've heard such great things. The service and the food pales in comparison to the FF in DC. First of all, the oven-roasted cracked black pepper wings are delicious, not counting the fact that the wings were literally CHARRED BLACK. I do not mean small specks of charred on the wings, but the entire surface of the wings were covered in charred crisp. Granted, the wings were still juicy, but that is obviously not how it's supposed to be served considering the amount of carcinogens on there. Sure, restaurants overcook food all the time, but the waiter actually told us "That's how it's supposed to look!" and never bothers to check back. Seems rather snotty if you ask me! The rest of the stuff we ordered-- the FF cheeseburger, prime rib, and rotisserie chicken-- were delicious. Go for a side of the glazed green beans, only if our mothers would make it like that everyday for dinner. I can't say the same of the angry pasta with chicken as the wheat pasta is unsavory and the chicken was dry. The skillet honey butter cornbread is not as good as it sounds either, go to Whole Foods for some tastier cornbread. It's great to have a restaurant that is mindful of where they get their food from and all the sustainable practices and what not, but this location needs some improvement. Perhaps another visit is in order to see if the restaurant has gotten on track since their first few months of opening.
(2)
Ina C.
The food is so-so and the service? Terrible when it's busy, awesome when it's not. Let's talk about food first. I ordered the honey-thyme roasted chicken, and like they said, it was moist and the skin was crunchy crisp - great. But it was way overseasoned. The chicken was drowning in the sauce, and it was cloyingly sweet. My second visit I stuck with chicken and got their cast-iron southern fried chicken that came with mashed potatoes and collared greens. It wasn't that great. The dark meat was certainly moist, but the breast was unbelievably dry. I also had an egg cream, which I loved, but I finished it in about four long sips. Delicious, but way overpriced at $4. Now the service. When I went on a weekday afternoon, the service was fantastic. We were brought everything we needed the moment we needed it, and it was great. But at 7:30 on a Wednesday night, the quality of service was fine, but everything just took FOR-EVER. First of all, when I got to the front desk at the time of our reservation, the host held up his hand and said, "Sorry - we're still trying to seat our 7:00 reservations. It'll be a few moments." Javi was our server. He brought us our teas and egg creams first, and then about 10 minutes later brought our waters. Our food came about an hour after we ordered it. We had an issue with the Shrimp Louie, and after about 10 minutes of looking around for Javi, we flagged down another waiter who walked by and told him about it. He was gracious about it, but there was still a mistake on our bill when it arrived. There were other issues, but overall, it seems like there's a problem with the service. Yes, it's a big and busy restaurant, but you're still responsible for providing timely service to every customer. So I do recommend this restaurant - the food is pretty good, and I buy into the whole seasonal/local thing. That's important for me to support. But if you do go and you're hoping to eat within a reasonable time frame, go at off-peak hours - lunch, or a 6:30pm dinner.
(3)
Hu H.
Never had a bad experience here! The food is delicious, fresh and the the service is always top notch! The steak and eggs are favorites for brunch, and their cocktails may very well be the best in the DMV!
(5)
M M.
Came in for brunch one Sunday while my dad was in town. I originally planned to go to the DC location but when I called at 9AM to book reservations they informed me that they didn't have anything available until 3PM, so we decided to come to MoCo location which was better and closer for us. Food was great!! I had the Pan Scramble with eggs, spinach, mushrooms and sausage, a side of grits and biscuits and my dad had the Banana Foster waffles and bacon. It was packed!! There were no tables available until 1PM but we were able to sit at the bar and eat. The service wasn't the best, not sure if it was due to the busy restaurant
(4)
Kim W.
Not impressed- bar service was very slow, food was ok, ordered medium rare flat iron -received well done:( they did replace correctly but of course that was after everyone else finished eating. They happily did comp my meal... Finally the restaurant is so loud it is difficult to have a conversation... Good concept bad execution.
(3)
Adam L.
Screw this place! The service couldn't be any worse. It's a damn shame because the food here is quite good. I've been here twice and both times the waitstaff disappeared for 15-20 minutes at a time. On this visit, we put our name in for a table for 2 and decided to wait at the bar. Unfortunately, it took _20_ minutes to get our first drink. The bartender did the whole "If we don't make eye contact, I can ignore you" dance. 5 minutes, fine... but 20 minutes is ridiculous. Once seated, we saw the waitress only three times. She took our appetizer order then disappeared for about 30 minutes. We had finished the app and waited before she bothered to return to take our order. Once she took our order we waited a bit and the food was brought out by someone else. She walked by our table to drop off a condiment then we never saw her again. We finished our meal and waited about 30 minutes before another waiter recognized that we'd been sitting there for ages. He offered to bring us our check, which we paid... without ever seeing our waitress again. Again, the food here is fantastic! I feel really bad for the chef. The fact that this place has a 3-star review with food this good says a lot about how bad the service is.
(1)
Eunice K.
Had the Southern Fried Chicken-- I'm a sucker for fried chicken, sigh. I would've liked to have a more crispy skin on my chicken, the collard greens & mashed potatoes are pretty standard (nothing special), but my biscuit was so yummy. It was so crumbly on the outside but so fluffy on the inside... I mean, I know it's just a biscuit, but damn! the texture was to-die-for. Tried my sister's Crazy Corn Salad. She apparently liked the idea of having caramel popcorn in her salad, I thought would be a little weird, but strangely it worked. The tangy dressing made all the ingredients dance in my mouth (is that corny?). The boyfriend had the chicken pot pie. I'm not a big fan of chicken pot pies, but he loves it. Every time we have came here, this is all he eats. So why 4 stars? Look, I would give the food 3 stars. The reason why I'm giving it an extra star are for two reasons: 1. Service. Both times I've came here, I've had great service. 2. Blood orange soda. The perfect balance between sweet & tangy... this has to be my favorite drink, ever.
The food and ambience were great. The service was clueless and the plating/preparation was terrible. Portion looked very small (and not particularly attractive), but my brunch was great, and just the right amount. Great waffles and syrup!
(3)
Jennifer T.
chicken and waffles, and the biscuits!
(4)
Abigail R.
I really love their philosophy. You can read about how they are doing their part as a "Green Restaurant" here: wearefoundingfarmers.com… Five of us went for Sunday brunch on 7/07/12. Our server, Benjamin, was really helpful and friendly. 2 or 3 other servers come around to refill our coffee and water. We never felt the need to flag someone down for a request or refill. Our orders: - Hot Sauce Bacon: Just get this! I'm not much of a meat-eater, but that was surprisingly good. - "Stuffed New Orleans Style French Toast": This flopped a bit in my opinion. It was a huge portion, beautifully presented, but just a lot of bread and pastry filling. However, I'm also not much on sweets for brunch, and the friend who ordered this loved it. - "Sausage, Mushroom, and Spinach", "Dragged Through the Garden", and "Chicken and Sweet Potato Benedict": These are more my speed for breakfast. Although I didn't get much of the sweet potato or chicken in the benedict, the flavors were wonderfully combined. I will probably have dreams about it. We asked for no cheese in the Sausage, Mushroom and Spinach omelet. It was good but nothing to write home about. Maybe try it with the cheese, as that might be a key element. If you're a veggie fan, you'll probably really like Dragged Through the Garden. I did not try this one, but my friend thought it was the ideal omelet of veggies and eggs. - "Blueberry Pancake with Whipped Blueberry Butter" Definitely having dreams of this! After having said I'm not much for sweets in the morning... I'm glad we only ordered 1 pancake and not three. It's large but I could have eaten a stack of them. They must make these with magic. It's that good. - "Shredded Leek Hashbrowns" - as a choice of a side dish It was mostly potato. If you're expecting a more "leeky" flavor, as I was, you just won't find that in this dish. - "Farmer's Salad" - also a choice of side dish I asked for the recipe to their champagne dressing. This was a great addition to the meal. They are protective about their recipes (and make everything from scratch, in-house), so I'm just going to have to try my best at home to replicate this amazing dressing. - Biscuits: These come with each dish. They're so light and fluffy. I'm not sure how they make them but it's just right. - Bloody Mary: If you like that Old Bay taste for your Bloody Mary, you will probably love this one. I do not and asked they not put the rim on mine. However, the seasoning was in the drink. Thankfully it was not overpowering and I enjoyed it very much. - French Press Coffee: If you have a larger group, or just really like coffee, go for this option over a cup of coffee. The French Press is a better coffee and you get the little carafe at the table. Atmosphere: My friend preferred this atmosphere over the DC location, but I felt it was a bit noisier. The space is lovely with tons of natural light. It's like a converted warehouse with great hanging artwork (3 or 4 all white geese? and 1 red one!), and shelves full of honey and what looked like pickled vegetables, all in large mason jars. I suspect it goes with their "Pre-Prohibition Bar" theme; turn-of-the-century/industrial & such. But because it was just an open space, no dividers or taller booths to break up the sections, the sound resonated so we were kind of shouting to talk with each other. All in all, this restaurant is tops on my list. Even though I prefer the feel and quieter atmosphere of the DC location, I look forward to coming back to both.
(4)
Sarah S.
It takes a lot of work to earn a five star experience at a sit down restaurant in my book, as I tend to judge every little thing sometimes. However, my dinner yesterday evening at Founding Farmers was beyond superb. We got a nice booth and were given a comfortable amount of time to digest the extensive drink menu. They have a huge selection of cocktails and I can't wait to try some! We chose a great white wine for dinner and enjoyed a beautiful pithfork containing perfectly cooked sweet mapley bacon and crunchy gooey tater tots with a spicy mustard sauce to dip. The mussels were buttery and delicious with two hefty toasted baguettes for the soaking. I got to try the chicken (crisp n' juicy) and waffles (crisp n' fluffy) and holly moly! the Mac and cheese that came with it was something I'm definitely coming back for. Apparently they do specialty Mac n cheeses??? Our server was on point and made our experience seamless. Not to mention all that great local sustainable awesomeness. Great job FF, you have another fan!
(5)
Kelley D.
CONS: I won't really go back for the fish. The price was hefty ($28 for a small fillet of salmon?) and it wasn't that much better than what we could make at home. I wasn't a huge fan of their drinks that they make inhouse. I appreciated the novelty but not really worth the price in MHO. The little mailbox with the check was probably a bit much though. The whole flag system wasn't that great. PROS: WINGS. WINGS. WINGS. WINGS. Still dreaming of those wings. Perfectly flavored, cooked just right without being overly crunchy. YUM. The brie, onion, and apple flatbread. The flavors and textures were a winning combination: a little bit salty and sweet from the onion jam, the slight crunch of the bread, the softness of the brie, and touch of the tartness and crunch of the apple. The decors are a bit understated, love the big windows and natural lighting. I need to go and try their brunch.
(4)
Mary E.
There is so much to like about Founding Farmers -- the amazing service, the handmade sodas, the clever appetizers -- but as a vegetarian, I've been a little disappointed. It looks like they changed their menu to indicate that their fries and potato chips are no longer vegetarian, and along with that, it looks like their fried green tomatoes, which were listed as vegetarian for a long time, are not either because apparently they fry all of them in oil that contains beef fat. It was really disappointing, considering that I have not been dazzled by their meatless menu and preferred to order from the main one. The rest of our party really enjoyed their meals, for what it's worth, but considering that I'm the decision-maker in our household, it will probably reduce the number of visits that we make there.
(2)
K. David M.
No longer a new establishment working out the kinks, Founding Farmers needs to improve its breakfast service during the week. Although it opens early, the restaurant's morning staff consistently misses the mark. It takes too long for the host to recognize and seat guests despite very few patrons before 8am. There is never salt and pepper or sugar on the tables. And orders are rarely correct - it's the wrong type of bread or eggs done incorrectly or a green salad rather than fruit salad (which this morning was obviously prepared the day before) or menu items are merely not available. It's as if the staff are still asleep. And the food is only mediocre, not much better than the local diners with few healthy choices (don't even attempt if watching carbs). After a dozen or so attempts at utilizing Founding Farmers for business breakfasts, I will not be returning. Too bad as there are very few sophisticated breakfast venues north of Bethesda. UPDATE 9/12: The store manager contacted me to discuss my post. I have been a few more times for business breakfasts. The terrible waiter is long gone and salt & pepper are always on the tables now. However, service remains spotty and the food continues to be mediocre. Brooklyn's Deli around the corner gets more of my breakfast business now.
(2)
Samir D.
Went for weekend brunch. took a little while to get seated, but once seated the service and food was great.
(4)
Pape T.
Good food... the waitress could've been more attentive, the coffee stronger. Overall, the I liked the atmosphere, the greeters were fantastic and I liked the chicken and waffles!
(4)
Andra N.
I had to update my review. I recently went back and gave it a second shot and I actually was not disappointed! The key is to get simple meals/item, that is what they do best. Before I was messing with too many flavor I was not comfortable with. I got the fried chicken salad and it was the greatest experience of my life. The chicken was so moist and crispy and their honey mustard sauce was wonderful. The only improvement is that we were sitting right on top the the people next to us. They were literally 10 inches away. There was no privacy for conversation or anything. --------------------------------------------------Â--- This place is alright. It took too long for our waiter to first attend to us and take our drink orders and then later on we got a new server mid-way through. The food was a big miss. I got wild mushroom ravioli, which just was all over the place, the flavors were just off. My friend got their chicken pot pie, which tasted too bland. (no salt or pepper?!) I would stick to the classics like burgers or sandwich. Their soda from scratch was delicious though! (I got ginger). I do want to come back and try something else, I'm willing to give it another try one day... but it's just not on the top of my list of things to do.
(4)
Katherine L.
Still sitting here, waiting.... might as well draft my review. I am really disappointed bc I was looking forward to trying this place out. Read mostly positive reviews but let me tell you, the negative reviews are on point. The food was sub par. Didn't even finish. The service was slow and barely present. When Ashley (I think that was her name) came over and introduced herself and asked if this was our first visit we told her yes. You would think they would try to impress on anyone's first visit- guess not. Had appetizers, and entrees, would have had dessert but I was afraid I would be waiting another hour to get that. Had to pass and get the check as soon as possible while there was a chance. As I spent much of my first time here waiting... I don't think I will be returning. Overall very unimpressed and mostly embarrassed, as I dragged my husband to try this place and they did nothing but disappoint. Never again.
(1)
Doug S.
Had the fried chicken and waffles. The concept was awesome. I have never had these two before together. The problem was the execution. Waffles were burnt. Chicken old/over-cooked. My daughter said I need to try Roscoe's ( roscoeschickenandwaffles… ) where they do it right. Ok next I visit her in LA that is on my todo list.
(3)
Joey D.
Having been to both the Georgetown spot (before the flood), and the one in DC we knew what to expect. The decor is great, the staff is friendly, and the food is amazing. We got the fried green tomato app as well as the skillet cornbread - both were amazing! Our entrees were the almond crusted salmon with mashed potatoes and chefs veggies (very good!) and the meatless meatloaf with mashed potatoes and succotash (not as good, did not taste like meatloaf and was very tomato based). We got a slice of red velvet cake for desert and it was great too. I am sure you can make bad decisions concerning food you may or may not like, but that someone else would. We had hoped the vegan meatloaf would deliver a wow meal and it did not, but that does not mean another pallet would not enjoy it. This location is a bit of a hike for us, but we will be back sometime.
(4)
Ginger W.
I really do understand why the reviews for this place are sort of schizophrenic - some awesome, some terrible. I can't always say that when I see yelp's perspective, but in this case, I really do. I go here quite often, and sometimes it is great and other times it's... well above edible, but not great. If a "meh" day were my only experience, I'd think this place were terrible and affected. That said, I've had some great meals here. First of all, the whole place is a little hilarious. Maybe that's just because I come from Fredneck and when you're that far north or into PA or WV and you go to a country place, it doesn't have plaid napkins or people walking around in gingham shirts and jeans because they're going for a look. They're wearing that because they.. you know, might be killing the chicken you're about to eat or something. They're wearing that because that's just just what they wear, not because its the uniform. This place is to farmhouse cooking what Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Dining in Germany experience is to German country cooking. Its not. It's fake. But in this case, I am sort of OK with it. I like Busch Gardens, and I appreciate that the place does a lot of farm-to-table cooking. I support that lifestyle. So they're doing a good thing, but they're doing it with an armful of PBR drinking hipsters with creepy facial hair, and you need to know that when you're coming in. If its a deal-breaker, you've been warned, but you'll miss out on some good eats. Brace yourself: They're going to violate nearly rule in this video and still get a tip, because they're doing it on purpose, and it's incredibly obvious. youtube.com/watch?v=1bR1… The servers squat down at the table or turn a chair around and plop down in their jeans and gingham shirts. Sometimes the chef makes classic things really differently. They clear plates for one person when everyone isn't done. They disappear when you're done -- this particular thing happens almost every time for me here. I like the fish of the day on a salt block, the deviled eggs, the fried green tomatoes, the beignets. They have some very nice cocktails as well. The food is very solid and delicious. It is undeniably fresh while still being comforting. Overall, I am pro-this place. It's just a funny sight. Kind of like Rainforest Cafe, except I get the impression not everyone knows its fake here when they come in.
(4)
Jack K.
Much improved service experience..the lady was very professional and helpful. We had the chicken and waffles. Excellent all around.
(4)
Prem S.
Reservation for 7 people made 3 weeks in advance. Seated at 6 top with a chair crammed on the end. Took 30 min to get drinks. Entrees arrived barely warm. This place is riding on the suburban kid-in-tow crowd that won't venture into a real restaurant.
(2)
Samantha B.
I have never been to a Founding Farmers. I went to this location for a group dinner on a Friday night. There is great parking (which is FREE) and the restaurant is large. Myself and those I went with sat outside (the patio is heated for cooler months). I think this restaurant is over-priced on some items and not over-priced on others. There is a large menu, but I feel like it lacks some American classic foods. I felt like the appetizers were over priced. The service was not the greatest. We at down at 7 and left at 10:30 and we didn't sit there, it just took us that long to get squared away and leave. It took the waiter 10 minutes to bring water, 20 minutes (which felt like 30) to bring our drinks. He always seemed to disappear. He did separate the checks for the big group which I thought was nice, a lot of places wouldn't do that, but it took a while to get our checks. The food was decent, but not the best. I had the chicken pot pie which was good but I thought it was too doughy, didn't have enough potatoes or chicken or carrots or other vegetables. It did have big pieces of celery which I always appreciate. The drinks were good, but not the best. I would be interested to try the house sodas, they looked interesting. I would like to try other Founding Farmers locations before I write off the entire chain of places.
(4)
lori w.
The manager did invite me back to "make it the right experience" but I have not been back since. Just wanted to update my review.
(4)
Karim B.
I like this place because they take their drinks seriously. I like this place because they take their food serious. Most of all, i LOVE this place because they take their drinks SERIOUSLY. Each beverage is crafted with the skill of an artisan and has a unique personality. You'll want to meet each and every one of them, I assure you. My main attraction to this fine establishment are the Dark n Stormy's. It will make you slap the person next to you, then immediately kiss them right after. I had become accustomed to the basic ginger beer and Goslings mixture of a traditional Dark n Stormy, but Founding Farmers puts a delightful twist on this antique cocktail. A drink this good makes me easily spend $100 on cocktails (which I have about twice so far). The food there is beyond amazing. Complete, flavorful, and full bodied meals that will have you worshiping your sense of taste. I like to call it, 'Barnyard Chic'. Food that you'd find gracing a farmhouse table, but also, modern enough for city-dwellin' folks. Lucky for me, everytime I've gone to FF, the wait hasnt been too long. I've always lucked out and gotten a seat at the bar. Screw waiting for a table, belly up to the bar! I giggle at the line of people waiting for tables, when all I do is snatch a stool at the bar! Great opportunity to have the bartender whip up something random or engage in some banter with the other guests or the bartender. Im not sure if you've figured it out, but I adore this place and I HIGHLY suggest dining at any of their locations. Both of them are simply devine. Founding Farmers has earned the right to be my Last Supper.
(5)
Steven S.
Really fun place with great food. We had a Sunday breakfast reservation at the Potomac location. I had a typical breakfast of hash browns, eggs, bacon & sausage; everything was fine but the bacon was outstanding. I ordered the Black Pepper Maple bacon & I was so glad I did. Amazing flavors; as I described to my girlfriend; that it tasted the way a brick oven pizzeria place smells lol SO GOOD! Others in my party ordered french toast, hash & pan scrambles, which were all very good. For the table, we ordered Beignets that came with 3 different dipping sauces; what a treat! Coffee, juices & tea were all fine & prices are reasonable. The feel of the restaurant is very cool too, with quirky things throughout the dining area & the bathrooms are neat too & very clean. I was pushing towards a 5 of 5, but it is more of a 4 1/2 because the food didn't blow me away as I had anticipated. Don't get me wrong, it is very good (for breakfast) & I would recommend to anyone. Stop in & taste for yourself!
(4)
Jessie K.
Good food, great service, good prices. My husband and I go here several times a month. If you want to go on a Friday or Saturday night - make reservations early. I love their brunch. Red Flannel Hash and the Eggs Florentine Benedict are my favorites. Everything I've had here is very flavorful. We usually get the popcorn of the day. The nuts and deviled eggs (not at the same time) are tasty starters too. I really love that they have a vegetarian and vegan section of the menu. I love the vegan bacon burger. I recently tried the white bean cutlets - so, so good and flavorful. The beignets are a great ending - the sauces taste fresh. I am not really a soda drinker, but I like to order a phosphate or a ricky. Parking hint: If things are a little crazy with the outside parking - go to the underground garage. FF validates for the first 3 hours -- and usually, the entire garage is open. If you are there with a person you don't mind being cozy with and the wait is long - there are a few double chairs at the bar.
(5)
I O.
Slow service, mediocre food. I have better eggs at ihop.
(1)
Maureen E.
One of our favorite places for brunch. We've been to the Potomac location for both dinner and brunch and to the DC one for brunch as well. Both locations, our food was excellent. My husband has ordered the southern fried chicken and I've been lame and just got a burger with avocado. But it was a damn good burger. For brunch, I've ordered the crab benedict and it's by far my favorite. My son and husband love the grits and the biscuits are the best I've ever tasted. I keep wanting to try the red velvet pancakes but the crab lures me away. Oh and the potato leek mixture that comes as a side with eggs is amazing. Love the concept of the place and the atmosphere is great. The food just tastes so fresh and flavorful. My son loves looking at all the artwork hanging from the ceiling (at Potomac). It is a bit pricey for kids ($5 orange juice?) and they don't have a kids menu which is slightly annoying. Usually, we just pick and choose form the sides in order to piece together a meal for a 5 year-old. On our first visit to the DC location, when I asked for a booster seat, the host looked at me as if I had asked for a shotgun. 10 minutes later, she returned with one as if it was the hugest hassle in the world. Other than that little incident, our service and food has been great. It's become a regular family brunch staple and we always book ahead on Open Table.
(4)
Anita W.
I went here based on the vegan menu for the DC restaurant on the website. I didn't realize that the Potomac restaurant has a different menu. As someone allergic to milk, there was very little I could eat in this restaurant. Even the pasta is homemade with cream in the noodles. I ended up with a salad, roast chicken and undercooked green beans. They messed up my order the first time, but fully made it up to me. My husband LOVED his southern fried chicken. I won't go back, but I can see why some love this place. I did have the hibiscus soda, and it was good.
(2)
Trevor M.
Founding Farmers still needs to learn something from our Founding Fathers. Since, my initial review I have come back several times....sometimes, you really want to, you need to give a place a second or third chance....here's what I've found. There's the good, there's the bad...then there's the Holy S**t!...did they really do that? The good: The bar is the best thing about this location. The bartenders here are taking their time and taking names and doing it right. The drinks and their house made tonics, syrups and blends are amazing. Do some orders still get wrong. Sure, sometimes eggs don't come out right or someone doesn't get the waffles that they ordered...even asking two different people. But, I have to give the appropriate Laurel and Hardy handshake to Julia working at the bar doing a phenomenal job and helping to create a great drink: The Light & Stormy. Sea Wynde Rum with their house made ginger beer. The bad: The food still seems to be the biggest issue...it used to be the service, but with bartenders/servers like Julia and Andrew...it's gotten a lot better. The food is the issue here which is an unfortunate mixed bag and/or a hit or miss mission of laziness or ignorance, but easily fixable. Fried foods seems to be the ultimate culprit here. The beignets are served on the weekends and usually take 20 minutes for it to be fresh, light, airy and properly fried. In order to fill the mass market cravings for them, they are rolled out like an assembly line and we received ours within 5 minutes. So, the issue with assembly line cooking with fried foods is that consistency goes out the window. 1: You don't have enough friers at the right temperature and everything comes out incredibly greasy and undercooked or... 2: The kitchen staff is so overworked and not paying attention to the temperature and tossing things in till they become overcooked on the outside, but still raw and greasy on the inside. The beignets were the darkest looking dough balls ever. Beignets should be light in color and not looking like a hush puppy after a bad all night binger. The dough was still undercooked and incredibly greasy. On a different day, decided to get the fish and chips. Incredible presentation. See the before picture. The flavor of the batter was great with the use of the Old Bay seasoning giving it a rich mid-atlantic flavor. The fresh house made tartar sauce was rich and creamy with fresh onions and parsley that was not macerated, but allowed to give it texture and life. But the batter was so heavy and with a lower cooking temperature it was undercooked. There was a bag of chips and hand cut fries. The fries were not crisp, but limp and the additional grease was left to soak the hand cut chips so it was overflowing with oil making both sides inedible. Now, see the after picture. Now, I did talk with the manager on hand and he said that he's never seen that batter that thick and raw. He said that he would offer me a new one, but since we were leaving he said it would be comped. It never was. Now, I have a grease pit in my stomach. This was disappointing, not so much that it wasn't comped, but as management, there was still a lack of consistency in service that doesn't match what is seen on the floor by the other staff. The Holy S**t, did they do that?!: Writers note: there's good and bad in this part: The spicy ahi tuna poke made napa cabbage with avocados sexy. The spice was not too overpowering. The blackened pepper wings with soy sauce was a salty, sweet delight. The pickled veggies....spicy carrots. Isn't it supposed to be plural? Just carrots? With the local produce and the ability to pickle...all that there is just carrots. Yummy, but more variety, please. Waffle and Fried chicken. Waffle part good. Fried part, not so much good. The Prime rib sandwich..rich thick au jus, nice rare prime rib, but the bread is too hard and crusty. Great counter point, but makes eating this sandwich is a chore. Bottom line: Go to the bar, get a good drink on....but, be really picky with what you order, just know that there doesn't seem to be any more hair in the food issues. The foundation still needs some work before the Fathers can really come here. These are simple easy fixes...let's hope that they can make it.
(3)
Shantice J.
YUMMY! I have nothing but praises for this restaurant. We had a party of 8 for Mother's Day and the menu has something for everyone. I ordered the Arnold Palmer with sweet tea and lemonade and it was purely delicious. The majority of us ordered the Chicken and Waffles which was a massive platter. My niece and I shared this dish and I am so happy that we did. My mom ordered one of the specialty burgers and she was thoroughly impressed. This was our first visit and it will not be our last.
(5)
Sean F.
Excellent food and service - brunch is very good , try the pastrami hash or a Benedict dish
(4)
Elise W.
LOVE the GCS burger. Goat cheese, pickled veggies, and sustainably-raised meat... doesn't get any better than that. I love this restaurant so much that I actually went twice in one day once. Yum!
(5)
Rafael S.
Down home country style cooking. We had the fried green tomatoes (1/2 inch thick ok) with a crazy good panko batter, the brown sugar and hickory smoked bacon, and Asian wings for appetizers. The four fried green tomatoes come with a tartar like sauce and garlic butter and are very savory. The eight bits of bacon - on upright skewers, and it is tender and smoky. The wings had a taste of hoisin, star anise, and ginger. For entrees, we had to try the chicken and waffles. The chicken was tender, boneless (I dont know how they do that), and juicy. The waffles - very light weight - come with a light maple syrup on the side. Green beans and seven cheese mac and cheese complete the dish. Others had the mahi on a salt block - a little salty, but if that's what you like... For drinks, the The Chelsea Handler was unique - almost as good as the vodka-black tea-ginger concotion at Culinary Dropout in Scottsdale. The CH has prosecco, vodka, OJ, and calvados for a smooth, smoky, and just sweet enough taste. I thought the apple slice with cinammon sprinkles garnish was pretty sharp too. Interior atmosphere was a twist on Pottery Barn and modern with downplayed lighting and high chairs and wooden tables. Not too loud, either.
(4)
Nioleeo A.
The waffles were horrible and I was not impressed with their brunch. Go somewhere else for brunch.
(2)
Jalpa P.
ATMOSPHERE: Posh farmy experience. The decor is very fitting and I love how the servers are all wearing cute outfits that make them looked like they just stepped off the farm. SERVICE: Our waitress was lovely and very informative. The water isn't iced though (is this supposed to add to the farm fresh experience?). I thought the way they present the check to you in a mail box was incredibly adorable. FOOD: Appetizers - Farmer's Pitchfork (Bacon lollipops) were amazing and I highly recommend getting these if you come. Bread with apple, brie, and onion jam was good but not amazing. Ranch popcorn was pretty interesting and they give you a lot. The "Devilish Eggs" were really good here. Entrees - I got the fresh catch salmon prepared with balsamic red onion and this was really tasty. The roasted green beans were crisp and very tasty. The mashed potatoes were amazing too. I tried my friends' entrees as well such as the mushroom ravioli (I think that's what it was) and these were okay. I tried my friend's gnocchi with sausage - the sausage was amazing but the gnocchi was very very dense. One of my friends got one of the meatless items such as the cauliflower steak (meatless) and I personally didn't like it...it just tasted like unflavored baked cauliflower. It came with butternut squash risotto and this was okay. I heard the chicken and waffles were supposed to be out of this world so I was really excited to try this...is it just me or is this supposed to be a salty sweet dish? The chicken wasn't salty enough and the waffle wasn't sweet enough (even after adding the syrup) but It wasn't bad...but it wasn't amazing either. This also came with a side of mac n' cheese which was mehhh...which is interesting because I have never had "meh" mac n' cheese at any restaurant before. I was really thrown off by the corn bread- it's awesome that there was fresh corn in it but it wasn't dense enough for corn bread and it wasn't sweet enough either...I've had better corn bread at hospitals. I'm really disappointed because I cheated on my diet for nothing amazing (except for the awesome Samoa cupcakes that my friend made for the birthday girl). I'm not sure if this place is just overrated because of raters placing more weight on creativity over their flavor palate or if we just got the short end of the stick by ending up at MoCo's FF as opposed to the one in DC (which we originally wanted to go to but was unfortunately booked up). I don't think I'd make a trip back up to this particular location but I certainly am interested in trying the one in DC. And I was certainly more excited about having brunch here and am still interested in finding out if it's as good as it sounds :)
(3)
Pam W.
Needed a good restaurant near the Glenstone Museum and found this online. having had great food experiences at their other locations, I immediately booked this.Sat outside. Large portions. One had the bean soup which was loaded with pork, one had the spicy ahi tuna poke, my husband and I shared a great messy crab cake sandwich with terrific fries. Nice beer selection. Fabulous...could have stayed all day.
(5)
Anne N.
Been wanting to try this place for a while. The food was really good! The farm breads and fried green tomatoes were my favorites but everyone in my party said the fried chicken (northern and southern style) was great. But most of all the service was fantastic! The waitress was so nice and knew all the answers to everything thing we asked. There were substitutions on at least one order and everything was correct and speedy. Totally forgot her name but she was awesome!
(5)
Shelby H.
Been here twice for weekend brunch, and while it's certainly a busy place that could use another server or three, I haven't suffered any of the service indignities that have dragged the ratings down. Instead we've enjoyed some pretty ambitious breakfast fare that kept us bloated and happy. I mean, seriously, the stuffed french toast is about as gloriously close to having gigantic fried Twinkies for breakfast as you can get without being disgusting. The pork sausage is like a mild, delicate meatball. The chicken and waffles isn't quite as amazing as Gladys & Ron's in Atlanta, but it was delicious enough for me to bilk the dog out of her share of the leftovers. The coffee, unfortunately, is on the weak side, and the biscuits don't come with enough butter & preserves to cover them all until you ask for more. Frankly, you're gonna get so stuffed, you might want to skip ordering the biscuits for the table till you figure out what you want. They aren't all that, anyway. Just get the freaking stuffed french toast megatwinkies.
(4)
Helen A.
Yummy and inventive food & drinks! Awesome decor and vibe! Loved the homemade sodas! BUT Make a reservation and don't expect awesome service. The place has the vibe of upscale service when you walk in, but our waitress was clearly gassed by the end of our dinner. Food and drinks never came out together.
(4)
Helen C.
Southern fried chicken was great! And their passion fruit soda was amazing - it wasn't on the menu, but you should ask the waiter what sodas they have that day. The fried chicken meal is huge, so it's nice to come home with leftovers (next day's lunch!).
(5)
Tochi K.
I expected a lot more from Founding Farmers and it didn't live up it. However, I'd give them another chance if I were in the neighborhood. I wouldn't go out of my way for them and it would most likely be for drinks, coffee, and food at the bar. In sum, the decor is nice, menu is interesting, and food isn't bad. Drinks are yummy, prices are a little higher (but not too high), and service needs a little improvement. The Food. Skip the veggie burger; it is ok but not worth ordering: it tastes just ok and is too soggy, so it falls apart in splatters with each attempted lift. Their fries aren't great. Mine also came cold and the waiter offered to replace them. The next set were hot but I could tell they were just re-fried fries--they were very oily so I didn't bother to eat them (and I my love fries!). On the other hand my husband's Gnocchi was fresh and pretty good. The Service. Our waiter wasn't the best (but perhaps it is a little forgivable because he, like many of the other servers, looked like young high school kinds that didn't know better). He wasn't very knowledgeable about their drinks, but went and asked the bar tender. He also wasn't very attentive. Actually, he disappeared after our food was served and we had to flag other waiters for service after that--even the check was handled by another waiter. This shouldn't happen when you are paying a little extra for food. I don't think Founding Farmers lives up to it's image or hype, but it doesn't completely fall flat either.
(3)
Foster C.
we had heard about this restaurant and decided to give it a try. First reservation does not mean a thing. You can make a reservation for 8 PM and get seated at 8:30 pm. I told the young lady the reason I made the reservation was so I do not have to wait. I was told "they have no control when the people gets up". Yes you do, DO NOT OVER BOOK! Corn bread was great so as the soup. Salad was ok and it was served room temp on a hot plate. Salad suppose to have figs, but did not see any figs or a fig. entrees were good. My ribs was very nice but my wife,s Fried Chix was dry and the biscuit was not eatable. Dessert was awesome and so as our service. Our server was pleasant and very much hospitable. Overall nothing special.
(3)
Susan G.
I actually like the food here, when cooked correctly. It would be great if there was a consistency to their food and service. On more than one occasion, key ingredients have been missing from dishes - and we were not notified, silverware was an afterthought, and you have to ask for water. What restaurant requires you to ask for water?! When done right, this restaurant has all the makings to be very, very good. Not just sometimes very good. I hope they improve the staff training and bring some uniformity and consistency to both the preparation of food and the service. I'm giving FF 3 stars because the food has potential.
(3)
Aisha S.
I've had great and average meals with Founding Farmers, but the great outweighs the average in my opinion. Among the great are the plank salmon with maple syrup-apricot glaze, skirt steak, skillet honey butter cornbread, and beignets. Among the average are the butternut squash mascarpone ravioli (which could have been great if it wasn't swimming in so much oil) and the fried green tomatoes (again way too oily and too bready). I'm also a fan of their housemade sodas and the general atmosphere at this location. It can get pretty crowded here just like the DC location, but the silver lining is that I will always remember to make a reservation and get my Open Table dining points. I almost have enough for a $20 gift certificate!
(4)
Jeanine S.
I've been to this location twice and it's consistent food and drink wise, but the service bugs me enough to drop a star. 4 stars on food and beverages, 3 stars for service. I ALWAYS get the organic cucumber delight and the chicken and waffles because it's the best "cheat meal" ever.
(3)
Mindy M.
Sustainably caught/harvested/prepared; how could it get any better? Founding Farmers is doing things right: in and outside of the kitchen. From carefully selected and art-form cocktails on to a take-you-back-home-comfort skillet cornbread and table biscuits to artisanal breads, burgers, fried chicken, "bacon lolli's", be prepared to be "wowed." I personally was interested in their dessert menu that night after glancing at their visible bread & bakery kitchen. I was not at all disappointed! Chocolate mousse was my choice. It was dense, rich, and dreamy! A bonus when I got to experience it again the next evening (leftovers!) My whole dinner experience was accented by their professional and well trained staff. The server we had mentioned he was especially hip to what happens behind the bar which was great for my table of cocktail lovers. He was so knowledgeable about their menu. What I tried that evening: Skillet cornbread with house made honey butter - to die for! Table Biscuits- cakey and moist- so good. Candy Corn Bread- radishes, apple chutney and marscipone on house made bread was my favorite! Bacon Lolli's which are is good as they sound! Pickled veggies- their epic approach to sustainably prepared produce. Delish! Chocolate Mousse- see above! With a bite of my better half's salmon and potatoes here and there, from start to finish, Moco's Founding Farmers provided an ethical, globally conscious, fantastic experience.
(5)
robert H.
Carmen was an awesome waitress she really knows the menu and really cares about her customers it was obvious ! We had a little question about the bland deviled eggs and Carmen was really disappointed that we did not enjoy them. Carmen told the manager Christian G who visited our table with genuine concern. They still serve great food here and I highly recommend this place. Thanks Carmen and Christian G.
(5)
Melissa R.
Founding Farmers went above and beyond to make amends for a less than stellar previous experience. Drinks were fantastic, appetizers were delicious, staff was great. Thank you for the fun night out! We will definitely be back.
(5)
Ashley B.
Love this place! I haven't been as excited about a restaurant meal in a long time. I've been there for lunch and weekend brunch, and I'll definitely drop by for a dinner there soon. The dining area, at least on the lower level, has a cool "organic farm meets industrial warehouse" decor. There's a lot of energy in there, with lots of people chatting at the bar and waiters and other staff moving around. I've enjoyed the attentive service, even during peak hours. As everyone has already noted, the chicken and waffles is such a great choice! The portion is very generous...it became lunch, then dinner for me. The chicken is crispy and very well seasoned. The mac and cheese is super tasty - very cheesy - and I'm always a fan of breadcrumbs. My favorite side though, are the green beans! They are bright green, crunchy, buttery and salty! One its own,the waffle was meh at best. But once I added the butter and the syrup, I was happy with the waffle too. For brunch, I've had their beignets (love the caramel sauce) and the standard scrambled eggs/bacon/hash browns. The highlight of that meal was the fresh squeezed lemonade and my waiter made to sure to keep the glass filled. I'm excited to try other menu items, but I have the feeling that I'll have a hard time skipping another round of the chicken and waffles!
(5)
Rita C.
We visited for an early-ish breakfast (for a Saturday) at 9:30 am. We made a reservation since we were a party of 6 and our table was ready when we arrived. It was very busy, so the reservation was a good move. The service was excellent from the moment we walked in. We ordered beignets and biscuits for the table and both were excellent. The dipping sauces that came with the beignets were particularly fantastic (especially the bourbon caramel one). The food was excellent. My favorite was the red flannel hash (two poached eggs over a potato hash prepared with beets and goat cheese). We also took advantage of the bacon upgrade options on the breakfast combo and were not disappointed. Honestly, the only reason I gave this place 4 instead of 5 stars is for their coffee.The americano and french press coffee were decent, but the cortado that I ordered tasted like it was 50% sugar, 45% milk, and only 5% coffee. I couldn't drink more than a few sips - worse than Starbucks! That said, we will be back. This place was a breath of fresh air. Delicious food, great service, and a cute location.
(4)
Kelsey O.
I read the reviews online so for a Saturday I called in advance and scheduled a reservation for 7pm and was asked if I had a seating preference, so I requested a booth for two. We showed up 10mins early and informed the hostess of our reservation she found our name and said it would be a few mins. We waited till 7:05 and asked again about our table the hostess said "who are you?" We said our name and reservation time again, she said once again it would be a few more mins and while people who came in after us were seated before us. We were then seated at 7:10 but at a very small table, I informed the man who was seating us of my reservation for a booth, he told me it would be a half hour wait for a booth and apologized, then sat us at the table. Not even five mins later a booth across from the table we were sitting at opened up. I went to the hostess and asked if we could switch to the booth, since we had just been seated and had originally reserved a booth. I was told "no we don't take seating requests when we take reservations," (I was asked originally by one of their employees on the phone when I made the reservation if I had a seating preference) and she then told me the booth was "going to a party larger than two people," even though the booth next to the one I was requesting had a pair of ladies seated in it and one across also had a couple seated in it. As I was asking the hostess for the booth our server arrived at the table, my boyfriend informed her of the situation and she got us a booth in under ten mins. We placed a drink order with her while we waited. Our drinks arrived and the manager came over and apologized for the seating mishap and said our booth would be available very shortly, she then helped our server clear and clean the booth and our server moved us too it. Our server was Shannon and she was fantastic, really went above and beyond to make sure we had a good experience. The manager as well was accommodating and did come back a few other times throughout our meal to make sure we were enjoying everything as well. The food was delectable. We got the corn bread very tasty. The bacon lollies were slightly sweet and very smokey, not very greasy with was a pleasant surprise for bacon! We also got the devil-ish eggs a classic taste, with the perfect amount of chives and very fresh. For my Entree I got the Northern Fried Chicken with latkes and beets. The chicken was moist, tender and came with two breast pieces, one was boneless, the skin was crispy, salty and had just the right amount of pepper. One of the Latkes had classic applesauce on top and the other had a tangy tzatziki sauce on top it was amazing. The beets were tender and full of flavor. The drinks were also very good and the bar had a very large selection. I got a Potomac Park Swizzle and a Fraise Fling. The Fling was vodka based, refreshing, light and playful. The Swizzle was boozy, citrusy and full of sugar I loved it. Over all I will give this a second chance because the food and drinks are worth going back for and because of the very nice manager and our exceptional server Shannon who went above and beyond and did not only her job but the hostess job as well. Everything was perfect except the hostess.
(4)
Connie L.
This is my default brunch place in MoCo, for many reasons. I like the overall ambience of the restaurant, with the huge windows allowing a ton of natural light to flow into the place creating a nice brunch atmosphere. In front of the restaurant is also a nice mini garden and fountain area which is perfect for taking pictures if the meal was a special occasion such as a birthday or going away The service here is phenomenal as well. Every time I've come I've been met with friendly servers that are both helpful and personable. Some times the wait here can be long depending on the day and time so I would recommend making reservations just in case. The actual food itself is good, but nothing amazing (especially for the price). I recommend the pork roast, which was sweet, juicy and succulent. Getting the platter with the extra sides is well worth it.
(4)
Fred K.
Still as good as ever. Came here tonight on a Monday evening and this place jamming (feels like a Saturday night). Service was just great too. For any vegetarian eaters, this place must have the most vegetarian selections. The cauliflower steak was one of my colleagues favorite vegetarian entrees she's eaten. They have one of the best cocktail menus around the area and the cucumber vodka and their old fashion really hit the spot. My ribeye was so big I had to take half home. It was cooked a perfect medium rare with lots of juices from the blood. Yum! The red velvet cakes was just divine. Tasted like it just came out of the oven. Time to work this off tomorrow morning!
(4)
Ching C.
4.5 stars. Came here previously for dinner, and most recently for brunch with friends for bf's birthday. Their cornbread appetizer was gigantic- so worth it for $5. It comes in a cast iron pan, and has corn kernels in it, as well as being sweet, hot, moist, and just delicious. Dinner: I got the steak and enchiladas, and it was pretty good. Steak was cooked well, enchiladas were decent and loved the avocado on top! You also got a corn on the cob with that mexican cheese (queso blanco?) but I was too full to eat it. Pretty large portion. Boyfriend got the farmhouse platter, which was good to try a little bit of everything. everything on the platter was really good. We really liked the chili dog - they had special bread, and the sliders, and the ribs fell off the bone. Entrees are kind of expensive, but they're large and def worth it. We were really full. Brunch: I got the sausage, mushroom, and spinach egg scramble and it was pretty good. I always add ketchup/hot sauce or something on it for a kick (since they don't usually season eggs and stuff, but i like it that way - i like eating my eggs with ketchup.) Also a generous portion of food. Boyfriend got the hangover hash - wow - the chili is SOO GOOD. Absolutely love this dish! Highly recommend it! One of my friends got the banana's fosters french toast and it looked really really good. It was also big. Personally, I don't think I could eat that much sweets so I'd need to share that with someone and have something savory too. After eating chicken and waffles at 2 other places, although I didn't try it at Founding Farmers, it looked kind of underwhelming compared to the ones I've tried. Giant waffle with small chunks of fried chicken. Looked a bit disproportionate. I really liked the chicken and the mini waffles at Miss Shirley's Cafe in Baltimore, so I'm probably a little biased. But the other chicken and waffles I had both had really good sauces too. Compared to the hashes here, I just feel like it's not as worth it. Beignets are pretty good here! Eat them while they're hot! Got some beignets comped for boyfriend's birthday and they sang for him :]
(4)
Coco B.
It was really average. The ambiance was pretty interesting but the food was kinda meh. The only thing that I did enjoy was their scratch soda! We had chicken pot pie, chicken & waffle and for starters we ordered some biscuits. Food took forever to come. And after waiting 20 min waitress appeared to just casually informed us that the entree I ordered could not be made. I ended up ordering chicken & waffle because everyone talks how great that is. I thought it was just a confusing hodgepodge of fried chicken, waffle, beans and some mac & cheese.
(2)
Y. K.
From the get go, it's location is great--easy to find, Harris Teeter nearby, easy parking, spacious. When we get in, the host is usually really friendly, which is, sad to say, rare for most customer service employees. Anyway, wait isn't too long usually, but i still recommend using open table for reservations. Food is expensive but good quality, although I got their spicy pasta once and had a stomachache. I enjoyed their slow cooked ribs very much, and their artisanal breads are crazy expensive but really delicious. I also came for breakfast once and enjoyed their compote French toast, but it is deep fried so if you can't handle it you have been warned. The interior design is very hipster, earthy?; they have flying geese, mason jars of fake? Pickled foods, bookcases with books, and lots of wooden furniture. The seats are comfortable enough, water is service in a mason jug type thing? My boyfriend loves this place. I do recommend !
(4)
Trish J.
Okay, everyone told me "go for brunch, go for brunch" but I didn't quite believe them or focus on finding the time. Family was in town and they are big fans of breakfast food, so finally took the plunge. Revise my previous 4 star to a solid 5. Oh. My. Goodness. Seriously, go for brunch! The stuffed french toast was to die for. It was one of the most delicious pieces of food I have ever put in my mouth. Huge portion though. Way more than one person should ever eat, but darn good. I had the banana fosters version, but can't imagine the others are that much different. The bloody Mary was also tasty. Very spicy, but they seem to make it fresh so if you don't like lots of pepper I think they could scale back. Fam had the waffles and also seemed to really like them.
(5)
Michelle G.
This is one of my favorite places hands down. I've been here for various meals from brunch to late night dinner and dessert. Everything was great. I've sat upstairs and downstairs in regular seating, and at the bar. The staff is friendly and I've only had wonderful experiences here. Would highly recommend for a date night or a large group. Love that it's open late for the suburbs.
(5)
Adam G.
I recommended to my coworkers as I have been to DC location many times. Did not disappoint. Server was friendly and informative. Relaxed atmosphere and much less crowded than city. Bunch of apps to share. Cornbread and wings were especially good. I had the BBQ pork entree which is probably my least favorite thing I've ever gotten here so I had to give a four instead of five. BBQ sauce was nothing special and the collared greens were bland. Overall tho this place is great. Reasonably priced. Casual but gourmet. Good service and very diverse menu. Drinks are great too but because they are handcrafted they are a little pricey.
(4)
Atiya Y.
This was my second visit to this location and I still love this place! Drinks: home made mango soda. I could taste a slight mango flavor, my friend only tasted lime( there was a slice of lime as a garnish inside the drink). As pretty as it was, I would have to say that we were both a little disappointed, but happy that we tried something new! Ended up resorting to my usual: arnold palmer. yummm! Apps: 1. Tried the procuitto, balsamic farm bread. Wished that the procuitto was sliced a little bit thinner. It was a little tough to bite into, but I enjoyed it just the same. 2. classic deviled eggs: with a sprinkle of salt and a few cracks of pepper, these really hit the spot Dinner: 1. Clam chowder soup with a crostini: soup was very flavorful and I didn't have to hunt to find the actual pieces of clam! It was nice and creamy without being too thick or thin. #win 2. Fried chicken and waffles: waffles have a nice light crisp on the outside, but soft and warm on the inside. How do they do it?! Chicken was seasoned and fried to perfection. (this is the third time that we've had this...taste has been consistent!) Service: Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. Random: Love the fact that the food is down home "make you wanna slap your momma" good, but presented very beautifully and the vibe of the restaurant isn't pretentious. That combination is so hard to find!
(5)
Emily T.
I'm surprised by the mixed reviews here. I recently went for dinner with a group. There is a lot of street parking, but valet is available too. We ate outside. They have some interesting drink choices. We enjoyed the bacon lollipops, fried green tomatoes, kettle corn, and deviled eggs. Then, I had the chicken and waffles which comes with green beans AND Mac and cheese. It was so much food, but very delicious. Finally, we got a couple scoops of ice cream for the table. Everything was cooked perfectly, and the waitress was very attentive.
(5)
Connie L.
Mm why does service always suck here? Our server only came a total of 3 times. Coffee only got refilled once because I had to track her down for one. The table next to us got continuous awesome service. Got beignets which were good. Crisp on outside and soft on inside. Steak and eggs. Good except eggs were way underdone. The whites were completely still raw. Steak was actually way less than medium rare. Still bloody. Last time I went the steak was overdone. Can't they get it right? Would've told the server but first she was nowhere to be seen. Second she was kind of unpleasant so I didn't want her to possibly mess with my food. Positive: the biscuit was freaking delicious and awesome with the honey&butter and jam... Best part of the meal Again, took forever to get the check. Service can definitely make or break a meal and today was another unpleasant experience.
(2)
Bent B.
FOUR DAYS!!!! TO EAT ONE SLICE OF CHOCOLATE CAKE!!!!! The Chocolate cake, sized for a family of twelve... was so pure, it started to melt on my counter, I placed it in the fridge. Here are the details that I think you should know: 1. It took me four days to eat this cake, its that big, It was a complete CAKE in the shape of a slice. 2. It tasted like virgin chocolate or a fluffy new born cake. If cakes could be born, this one was one hour old it tasted that smooth and completely lacking of any chemicals, it was the cleanest cake I've ever had. 3. I couldn't throw it out. I never eat this crap (cake) I'm slim, rarely do I eat friggen take home anything.. I get bored of it fast, this time I felt like a criminal, I kept eating it and it took me DAYS People! You better get in there and order this cake, GOD DAMN THAT CAKE WAS HUGE!!
(5)
Victoria L.
*************Make reservations!!!!************ ---------------------------------------- I made reservations for 1:30 on a Sunday for brunch. At 1:30, they were still seating 1:15 reservations. Luckily, we didn't have to wait too long. We were seated by 1:40, which is not bad. I love the decor and layout! There's also seating upstairs, which is where we were seated. Service: Friendly! Our waitress checked up on us several times. Our coffees were refilled when asked. Our plates were cleared. New silverware was given to us after our appetizers. Great service! Food: Uncle Bucks Beignets [$8]: Comes with 6 pieces - they're like fried dough/doughnuts with powdered sugar. Served warm with 3 different sauces - raspberry, chocolate, and caramel. Definitely very sweet. The chocolate was my favorite sauce, but the beignets were even more delicious on its own! Yummy! I would definitely recommend if you have a sweet tooth! Or even at the end as dessert! Went wonderfully with coffee! Green Fried Tomatoes [$8]: Comes with 4 pieces - crispy; 2 types of sauces - pretty good Hangover Hash [$12]: potatoes with chili, pimento cheese, cheddar, 2 poached eggs, and a choice of bread - pretty tasty.. I just wish there was a bit of a kick/spice to it. But it was still good! Coffee [$4]: free refills: delicious! Others ordered chicken & waffles and beef pastrami poached egg hash. They both loved their dishes! Portions are generous. We all brought home leftovers and left soooo full & satisfied! Restroom: Downstairs, clean, and cute
(4)
Beatriz K.
My husband an I had an excellent dining experience here. The waiting staff was uber friendly and considerate, making sure our water glasses were full and constantly asking if we needed anything all the while displaying a genuine friendly smile. Our pickled veggie starter was a nice appetizer to our center cut steak and surf and turf dish. We ordered our steaks medium and I must say they were seasoned and cooked to PERFECTION! No need for salt, pepper or steak sauce. The side green beans were also cooked to perfection, no need for added seasoning. The desserts were to DIE for. I am very picky when it comes to red velvet cake (best I've ever had was Cakeman Raven's), however, this red velvet cake is worthy enough to be classified as a TRUE red velvet cake. My husband broke down and had the carrot cake and he said it was pretty amazing especially with the apples in it. Everything here tasted fresh and made with a passion. I am sad that there isn't a location in NYC. :(
(5)
Najy S.
Ok I love almost everything here... but every once in a while there's miss. YES: cornbread, chicken wings, bacon, farmer's salad.... ok almost everything. Meh: veggie burger. some of the basic fish options. some of the cocktails. The service is also good about 80% of the time. Just a protip: always make a reservation. ALWAYS. Day or night.
(4)
Ryan P.
Came here for a friend's birthday dinner, and she had made reservations for 830, but we ended up showing up at 850ish. I would give this place a 5 star but the greeter was kind of rude on how she attended to us. She laughed at my friend when she heard we had reservations for 830 and it was 850, which she didn't have to. But we still were there obviously to be seated, and didn't have to roll her eyes at my friend, who was being polite in this situation and just wanted to get checked in. That turned me off from the get go, so we waited at the bar and ordered some Moscow mules. We were then seated by Sydney, and she was very attentive and gave us the run down of the place. We ordered the chicken and waffles, prime rib, and the short rib. It was all delicious! I personally had the prime rib, and it was salted a little more than what I am used to, but I have a high tolerance for salt and prefer my dishes salty. The sides I got were the spinach and fries, both on point! This place is really nice, have a nice farm to table appeal, and the dishes were great!
(4)
Preet M.
Service: I had an evening reservation here last Wednesday and I walked in about half an hour early expecting to be turned down until my reservation time. Instead, I was offered a seat at the bar and was even given the benefit of effortlessly transferring my bar tab to my table when I was seated. My friend and I ordered a couple of drinks at the bar and were seated after what seemed like only seconds after finishing our drinks. We were even allowed to carry our newly filled glasses to our table with us. Our server, who was also a bartender for the night told us he would be waiting on us. At first I was slightly turned off thinking that he would be too preoccupied with the bar patrons to pay mind to us. I was thankfully proven wrong and received stellar service throughout the evening. Food: I decided to be budget friendly and split a pot pie and some burger sliders with a friend. We received the six sliders and the decently large pie and dug in. The food was delicious and definitely plentiful. We left with enough left over for a meal. The best part was that after ordering four cocktails, an appetizer (with enough quantity to be a full meal) and an entree, our bill came out to about $60, which is what I expected to pay for the drinks alone! Environment: I came in as the sun was setting, which in combination with the dim lighting made the restaurant seem almost like a real barn lodge! The contemporary decor adds the necessary touch in order to keep the building "with the times" as some would say. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience here and will definitely be coming back with my family. I'm just mad I forgot my camera at home!
(5)
John H.
I have never had a bad meal at FF. Great drinks, excellent food, and the desserts are just supercalafragalistic. The chicken and waffles are my go-to dish. I have it with Mac n cheese and mashed potatoes. The sides are sooooo good, the chicken so tender and juicy. The waffles are average but the other stuff is so good it's not anything to worry about. The desserts are the best I've had in the area. The best cheesecake I've EVER had. Beignets will make you wonder where they have been your whole life. Cakes are insane too, although the ice cream they serve with it isn't great. The cons- parking sucks, wait time sucks, a bit expensive, service is hit or miss. You must try FF.
(4)
Amaresh S.
This place definitely seems to be one on the rise. While I've heard some more average reviews in the past, eating here a couple days ago showed me FF is trying to improve and really take care of its patrons. If you're coming here, you have to realize that you're going to be spending some money. Don't come and try to get the cheapest entree w/ no app and no dessert, because while you're food will be good you probably won't be getting much of the experience. Get an appetizer (they're good) and split a dessert, enjoy the atmosphere, and don't worry about the cost of your meal. If you're really worried about spending too much, I'd say go somewhere else because you're not going to enjoy yourself here. Came here with my brother, started with the deviled eggs and the pesto bread. The eggs were great, the yolk was nice, light, and fluffy. The bread (it was basically bruschetta) was also pretty good, it had pesto, tomato, pine nuts, and cheese. For the main dish I got the cranberry veggie burger w/ brie. Now, I like my veggie burgers a little firmer (this includes the bread as well) but this one was on the softer side. But besides that, the actual taste was pretty good. I just don't really like when things start falling apart as I'm eating them. It came with a salad, which had some dressing that was slightly too salty, but otherwise okay. For dessert, we split the beignets. Now, I only know what these are (and how to pronounce them) from the movie Chef w/ John Favreau. Definitely get them here - they're made from scratch for every order (had to wait about 20 minutes for 'em, if you're in a rush tell your waiter early) and they are so worth it. Also, when I was there they ran out of the first entree I ordered. But I was impressed with their communication about it, I overheard someone coming by to double check with our waiter to make sure we were informed asap about it. Really goes to show they're taking the extra step to make sure I'm able to order something else sooner rather than later, which I appreciated.
(4)
Ashley W.
Where do I begin? I can't actually believe I got an RSVP! Everyone knows Founding Farmers is like an exclusive food club that requires patience and stealth like stalking to grab a seat for brunch or any other time of the day. Suprisingly, I snagged one right after church! (miracle or what?) We were seated promptly and ordered the table biscuits. With a distressed look, these sea salt biscuits would make you slap you momma! They literally, are the best tasting biscuits I've EVER had. And when you top it with the jelly and honey butter, the gates of heaven opens up and angles sing. It is THAT serious. So serious, we ate 2 a piece and I ordered more to bring home and share with my boyfriend b/c I couldn't allow him to go another day on this earth without tasting these damn biscuits! Now that a whole paragraph about biscuits are out of the way, we ordered the classic chicken and waffles and my own al'carte meal. The chicken and waffles were delish. The chicken was well seasoned, waffle was airy and the syrup taste like it was hand churned out back. My custom meal consisted of some chicken-apple sausge (tastes the way it sounds), hot sauce bacon, eggs and burbon french toast. The bacon itself, needs an entire platter of all the various flavors/sauces it comes in. It's as if they have a pig out back just slicing away and I don't even like/eat pork! But I devoured it! Eggs were well seasoned, and the burbon could be tasted in the french toast which was crispy on the edges and moist in the midde (no need for syrup) I'm so in love, I will be stalking to book a table for my birthday. Lettuce pray it works.
(5)
Sara H.
3.5/5 I wish I could say that the food is the same as the DC FF but it just isn't the same. Been to each location more than a handful of times now and I'd say that the MoCo location leaves me a bit disappointed. The night started off strong as we scarfed down the skillet cornbread. Definitely try this! The cornbread has whole kernels of corn and comes with yummy honey butter. Definitely an appetizer we regularly order when we come here. Then as we received our entrees, things started missing the mark. Chicken bolognase bucatini - usually one of my favorite pasta dishes to get! BUT the pasta was a bit dry and were stuck together in a clump this time. Maybe the pasta dried out a little while the other dishes were being made? But was really disappointed. Chicken and waffles - the chicken was really salty. We ate most of it without the skin because of it. I will add, however, that the C+W has always been solid in the past. Farmers slaw reuben - probably the best dish we ordered tonight. Unique reuben in that it does not use a typical coleslaw but more of vegan slaw (includes apple and semi-dried grapes in thousand island dressing). Sounds weird, but it gives a nice subtle sweetness to every bite. My husband is a reuben fanatic and he says he enjoys the reubens here when he is up for having an "unconventional" reuben. Not sure if this was just an off-night but tonight just missed the mark. The only thing that makes this place better than the DC FF is the flying ducks in the ceiling (and maybe the cute little mailbox that delivers your check).
(3)
Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Multiple service errors from the start. We checked in and it was crowded with people waiting to be seated. Chaotic. Ordered drinks. Waiting patiently for drinks. Ordered food. Two people on table receive their food. We wait. We ask. We get a soup. Finally we get our food. We wait. We order a drink. We wait. Waiting patiently again. Receive drink. We wait. We ask for a dessert menu. We have a simple request. Maybe not. No answer. We receive our dessert. We leave hopefully to not return. Aloha Oe'
(2)
Angela W.
I'm not sure what everybody is raving about because this place isn't that amazing. I went here for my birthday dinner and was hoping for a great meal, but I'm sad to report that I was disappointed. For starters, the waiter talked incessantly and wouldn't stop describing every little thing on the menu - giving us barely any time to look it over and decide what we wanted to order. He boasted how the crab cakes are made fresh at another location and sent over - but I was extremely underwhelmed by them. They cost $30 and were so soaked through with lemon juice that they were soggy. I didn't know crabcakes could be soggy until I started eating them. The sides I chose for my crabcakes were green beans (I questioned if they were even cooked through) and cole slaw (which isn't on the menu but I asked for a substitution). The cole slaw was terribly bitter and not what I had expected. It's apparently the slaw they use on a burger. I asked to switch to french fries because they were a more palatable go-to option. The french fries were actually quite oily but I still had the bitter taste of slaw in my mouth so I just ate them. The only pros to my experience here were the table biscuits and the beignets - which come with many dipping sauces and, though oily, were a guilty pleasure. The homemade soda is worth a try as well. Overall, I was very dissatisfied with my main course, but the appetizer (biscuits) and dessert (beignets) allowed this location to remain at a rating of three stars. I will be trying the DC location because I believe it will be much better than what I experienced at the MoCo location. Again, very underwhelmed. Don't understand the hype.
(3)
Janeene S.
We made brunch plans thinking they had the buffet, but they didn't! We were all a bit sad until we saw the menu and ordered the chicken & waffles. I've never had chicken & waffles before, but 3 out of the 6 of us ended up ordering it. Very good! The first time I came here I ordered the bean & rice burger. It was very flavorful and not heavy on the bean. I've been here several times and each dish is better than the last. We plan to head to the other location to check that one out as well. Great place to meet up with friends and eat a very good meal.
(5)
Jessica S.
Had a great lunch experience. ... food was very good as usual and the server was excellent.
(5)
Jeremy D.
So I went here for brunch for a friends birthday...had heard a lot about this place and it had a lot of positive hype. First of all the interior decor was well...discordant. Weird flying geese overhead, cowboy themed silverware... Just didn't really get it. The actual seating area is very open and was super crowded...we were at a big table right by the revolving doors and wasn't a great relaxed setting. Service was pretty terrible...just ridiculously slow. Food took close to a half an hour to arrive after we ordered. While the waitress was nice enough, you could tell she was just trying to get us in and out as fast as possible. It was hard to get her attention after we ordered our food. And as soon as we paid, we stopped getting refills on our beverages even though it was obvious we were staying for a while. I ordered the generic breakfast. The porters bringing the food were very confused about who ordered what, and didn't even know what was on some of the plates. My food was ...meh...very bland toast, burnt bacon, OK eggs, and decent hash browns. Honestly have had better breakfast (and still locally sourced) at Silver Diner. I think what most pissed me off is that they charge FOUR freakin dollars for a cup of coffee. Which is just absurd in my opinion and a sign of yuppie price gouging. Won't be going here again, you can get much better brunch food, with !much more friendly and personable staff elsewhere.
(2)
Arly J.
We enjoyed our visit. Everything is made from scratch and it's so hard to decide what you want to get some of our highlights were the Garlic Black pepper wings, fried green tomatoes and blue cheese bacon dates. we would pass on the breads, ships and crisp. so many other things to choose from. for dinner we enjoyed our blue cheese wedge, Yankee pot roast was so tender with mash and the chicken and waffles was spectacular. Don't forget to order desert you will not be disappointed. Would suggest reservations seems like it is always full.
(5)
Kate H.
As fans of the D.C. location, a colleague and I were delighted to come across this outbound location during a recent visit to Rockville. Sad to say that this FF doesn't light a candle to the original. Seating was no problem during the height of the rush hour. Our server was odd -- no other word for it. He never once looked at us (he looked out the window behind me every time), rolled his eyes and said "I can't eat that meatless stuff" when my colleague asked about a vegetarian burger, and brought me a completely wrong order (claimed he hadn't written it down when he actually had). My corrected order took about 12 minutes, and he questioned if we were in a hurry when he had to refire both my dish and my colleague's. Luckily the food was delicious. Start off with a great basket of bread and chips that comes with four dips and spreads ($10). My colleague decided on the way out to speak with the manager, who was aware of my incorrect order but surprised by our other information. To his credit, he gave us both incentive to return and give them another shot. That was unnecessary but appreciated and certainly gives me reason to try them again next time I'm in the area.
(3)
Kassie E.
After 6 unsuccessful weeks of trying to make it to brunch at the DC location, I caved in and made reservation at the MoCo location. Not a bad idea considering theres a nice parking lot outside (still a fight to get a spot tho). But essence of city life is lost amongst the new burby developments in the borderline gaithersburg/rockville/potomac area. Anyway to the service. I booked my reservation a week in advance--yes its that serious--youll wanna do the same for Sat/Sun brunch. Walked in and was immediately sat (a luxury in the DC FF as even with a rez theres still a wait) I ordered the beignets AMAZING. Omg it was like a light an airy tasted dark Krispy Kreme doughnut minus the kreme. You get three sauces to dip em in...mm mm mmm Ive been craving these beignets for a year. And finally it satisfied my deepest fried desires. I had the eggs red velvet pancake and chicken apple sausage. The eggs were lacking something (maybe seasonings), the leek hashbrowns were good and the chicken apple sausage was good too. I took away one star because of the price of the mimosa. I love mimosa but have never paid more than 8 dollars for it. IDK if its because the orange juice is freshly squeezed but $12 bucks for a mimosa is ridic. Ill be back for the beignets and to try their lunch--but in the DC location.
(4)
Jon L.
I visited once, but it was more than enough for me to decide never again! Our waiter was not attentive, I constantly had to ask and re-ask for just a refill of water. I originally ordered a pasta that sounded quite good to only be informed 15 minutes later that they did not have the ingredients to make it. I proceeded to order another dish that came out absolutely gross. I've never seen a restaurant mess up an alfredo sauce. They made store bought cans of alfredo seem like an exquisite dish. Oh, and did I mention that this place is quite pricey??? Maybe I caught them on a bad night, but I will not be visiting again. My money would be spent more wisely elsewhere.
(2)
Sarah C.
Food was good. Service not so much. Waited 30 minutes for a table which we had a reservation for and waitress made no effort to make us feel welcome.
(3)
Rui Z.
What I liked: We were seated within 10 minutes of showing up for Saturday brunch and ordered some beignets as a starter- these were tasty and fresh and were paired with raspberry, chocolate and caramel dipping sauce. The Founding Farmers breakfast sets here are very filling, too, and well-proportioned for the price point. Founding Farmers, being a farm-to-table restaurant, might take a bit longer to cook your food. Having said that, it seemed well worth the wait. Other Notes: Our waiter was courteous but took a little while to get back to us, which is somewhat understandable given that this place is packed for weekend brunch. The lighting indoors is a bit dim. If your party is okay with this and the weather is nice, I would say to opt for patio seating.
(4)
Eddie K.
I have to say after dining here several more times for breakfast and lunch, the food and service has vastly improved since my last review. Breakfast has been really solid. Kids love the blueberry pancakes- it does taste really good. The traditional Benedict is good as well as the chicken and waffles. For lunch/dinner the only items we order are southern fried chicken, Yankee pot roast, and prime rib dip. Save room for dessert!
(4)
Sam L.
Terrible food, tasted absolutely disgusting. The service is quite terrible. The food took way too long, I had to go and ask them many times where it is. And ice cream doesnt take an hour to arrive. This is the worst restaraunt and worst experience in one I have ever had. I wish I could give them no stars.
(1)
Jessica S.
Yay! We found a great restaurant we loved! The food here is delicious. The husband and I had gazpacho soup, the northern fried chicken but with the southern fried chicken's sides, and the veggie meatloaf. The food was all great and tasty. The food is made from scratch and on site. The collard greens that came with the chicken meal weren't spectacular, but that's OK. We also tried two cocktails - the constitution and the blackberry sour - both were outstanding. The cocktails are old-timey, which is a nice change. Our server Andrew was very kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. He definitely knew the menu and gave great recommendations. All the food here is great, and even better, reasonably priced for the DC area. The vibe here is much more laid-back and not pretentious like the majority of restaurants in DC. We'll definitely be back!!
(5)
Ana L.
We missed the brunch. The food item names are fancy but the food is not much to be wow-ed. I had shrimp and grits which tasted good. Also ordered a coffee concoction looks amazing... Too bad the taste didn't impress as much.
(3)
Priscilla Y.
I've been here a couple of times and the food has always been superb. Their crab cake sandwich was pretty outstanding. They give a generous amount of crab meat. Do note that with the sauce on the bun, it is a pretty messy sandwich to eat. Juice kept dripping and the crab meat kept falling out. It was still delicious and very tasty, but not a good choice if you're eating with your boss and co-workers. I tried a bite of the spicy ahi tuna poke salad, which was a mixture of raw ahi tuna, avocado, and vinaigrette. It is a light, healthy option for lunch or a shared appetizer. I love fish and avocado so I'll probably order this again next time. The chicken pot pie is not a pie, but a dish of pot pie filling topped with two biscuits. This is comfort food. The portion is pretty huge and filling. You get plenty of pulled roasted chicken. The biscuits are not too bad. For dessert, we went with the Triple Layer Chocolate Mousse Cake with Strawberry Ice Cream. The moist chocolate cake paired with the strawberry ice cream was heavenly. This is definitely worth getting. We also went with the Seasonal Fruit Crisp, which tasted like an apple turnover. I am not a fan of fruity desserts so I thought this was alright. I have also come here for breakfast. I usually go with the Founding Farmers Breakfast with Bacon. It is bacon, eggs, and optional leek hash brown breakfast so nothing too outstanding, but still a hearty breakfast. I've never tried it, but they make their own house sodas. Every person I came here with who has ordered a soda was impressed with it. The service is usually pretty good, but this most recent visit, it kind of sucked. The server was so slow and inattentive. What could have been an hour lunch turned to two hours. Food coma is about to get at me. All in all, my experiences at Founding Farmers has been pretty positive. The prices are decent and the ingredients are fresh. They have a cute setup going on to give diners that rural atmosphere. It is best to make reservations. This place gets pretty packed.
(4)
Timothy C.
I had heard great things about Founding Farmers, and Yelp seemed to agree, so I chose it for my wife's birthday. We aren't super fancy people, but we love trying new and creative things, so we got a reservation and settled in to a small two person table on a Saturday night. The staff had a rough start, juggling us between a few people and bringing us the wrong appetizer before finally settling into a groove. We ordered some appetizers and sodas to start before perusing the menu and settling on some entrees and dessert. Top Dog: Fried Chicken and Waffles with Mac N Cheese - Some people talk about fried chicken like it is amazing, but I've never had the piece of fried chicken that convinced me. Maybe this is sacrilege, but FF's fried chicken was the closest I've come. I don't like the crunch coating on most fried chicken, and this chicken was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and had a light, fluffy coating that was perfect by itself, or mixed with some equally fluffy waffle and syrup. With 50+ things on the menu to try, I would likely get this again if I returned. Contendor: Lemon Scallops over Risotto, Chocolate Mousse - In my opinion, a good scallop is made by a good sear and whatever you flavor it with. The savory risotto/lemon combo was a great one, and the crispy sear bound the flavors together with texture. The decadent mousse was topped with fresh whipped cream, drizzled with caramel, scatter with baby malt balls, and served in a gigantic bowl. Wowsers. Surprising: Tots, Grapefruit soda, Fried Green Tomatoes - I had never had fried green tomatoes, and I figured this was the place to try them. While not my favorite, I did enjoy them more than expected. My wife love grapefruit drinks, and she quite enjoyed her mixologist-made soda (we could see the dude tossing shakers around his torso at the bar) The tater tots were great, best tots I've had, so flaky and fresh, and I didn't expect them to outshine the bacon Lolli's Disappointing: Chocolate soda, Bacon Lollis - OK, chocolate and soda do not mix well, and this is where my "if it's good, try it here" theory failed. IT IS NOT GOOD! And as for the bacon lollis, you really have to try hard to mess up bacon. Try hard they did. It was floppy, not crispy at all, and slathered in a sauce, poked through a stick. Bacon doesn't need sauce or a stick if it is cooked right! Bacon, your reputation is being ruined here. Get out of that sauce, stay on the griddle a tad longer, and let your true self shine! Overall, happy we went, more pros than cons, and I'd be back in a jiffy for the right occasion. A part of me thinks they try too hard, but since I get on places all the time for not trying hard enough, I'll let it slide.
(4)
Kimberly T.
Founding Farmers is AMAZING. I try to take as many people here as I can, especially if they are coming form out of town. It is a bit pricey, but I feel like it is worth it. It is a self-sustaining restaurant that makes everything from scratch with mostly locally grown food. They even have a herb garden right outside of the restaurant. It is great for vegans and vegetarians and anyone that is picky about their food, since it is all from scratch they can change it for any dietary needs. Make sure that for brunch or the evening you make a reservation, you can even do it on open table they get crowded and it is always the best option for here. Drinks: They make their own sodas. The alcoholic drinks are absolutely delicious, they do everything right there and it is made by them. superb. Appetizers: I will say that the Farmer's pitchfork (just bacon and tots) is overrated and overpriced and I don't recommend that. I recommend: wings, deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes. I also recommend the flatbread, especially the prosciutto, fig, and mascarpone or the brie onion jam and apple slices for you vegetarians. The tomato soup is delicious it is tangy and spicy at the same time, if you love tomato soup you will love this. I don't even like tomato soup that much and I try to have this as much as possible during the winter time. Entrees: I honestly don't think you can go wrong with anything on here. The pasta is handmade and really delicious. The chicken and waffles is banging. I love getting the steak and enchiladas, but the skirt steak is very delicious as well. Breakfast: Get the beignets, they are amazing, like out of Princess & The Frog almost. They look exactly like Tiana's. They are famous for their Red Velvet panckes, which I also found to be great, but HUGE. Share this with the table it might be too much for one person.
(5)
Heather M.
There is a reason why Founding Farmers has been on the Food Network (1. The Best Thing I Ever Ate and 2. Meat & Potatoes)- this place knows how to pack in the flavor with every single bite in every single item on their menu! In terms of their decor, they add in a modern flare to the farm to table concept. Only downside is that it gets really loud and packed inside- but that's because everyone knows where it's at so you gotta be understanding. Service was good- seems like all the servers knew what they were doing since they were able to handle the crowd so well! Food was presented beautifully and in a timely fashion. It's great to come on a Saturday for a late lunch because they offer both the brunch and lunch menu! Honestly, their stuffed french toast is my absolute favorite. Hot & crispy on the outside with vanilla cream from the inside just oozing out~ I've also tried their chicken and waffles before- not bad but being from down South, it wasn't the best I've had. Their red velvet cake was sweet alright and a tad bit dry. But hey, at least you know you're eating dessert...? Overall, I love coming here for homey/semi-country/American food but it's not an intimate setting and you may sacrifice some of your hearing by the end of your meal.
(5)
Ana P.
BP and I came for dinner on a whim on a Saturday night and needless to say the place was bursting at the seams. There was an hour wait for a table for two so we tried our luck at the bar which was self-seating. We were pretty close to getting seated, at least we thought so! We just ordered Beignets to go, waited about 20 mins to get order and ended up leaving. A few minutes later in the car I ripped open the container and found the heavenly dessert covered in powdered donuts and surrounded by dipping sauces. I think there were about eight Beignets in the container and the total came out to $8.40. BP described the Beignets as flaky desserts, sort of a mix between funnel cake and donuts. I agreed, but they also reminded me of a cronut. The dipping sauces were smooth dark chocolate, creamy salted caramel, and tart raspberry. I think the caramel was my favorite and BP enjoyed the dark chocolate, but we both agreed the Beignets tasted fabulous on their own. The main reason I am currently giving Founding Farmers 3 Stars is because how greasy the Beignets became when they cooled down. They became heavy and so oily that it made me a bit sick. We would be excited to come again and update this review, but next time I'll make sure we make a reservation!
(4)
Mike M.
Went for Sunday brunch. Very busy ...expected. Nice server. Eggs Benedict...came dry no hollandaise, and an over cooked egg...big letdown
(2)
Mimi V.
Great brunch. Nice biscuits, corn muffins, shrimp and grits. I'll definitely be back when returning to MD
(4)
Allen S.
This is one the best restaurants I have gone to in a longtime. I absolutely crave great tasting high quality food. If you decide you want to hop on the Founding Farmers bandwagon, I strongly suggest for you to make a reservation as space is limited and it constantly crowded. The first time I went, it was on a Saturday night around 7pm. The place was packed and usually common-sense would dictate that a packed restaurant means the food must be pretty good. For starters, I ordered the cheeseburger sliders. Much to my surprise, they came out with a small order of french fries where I was totally unaware that french fries accompanied the sliders. The sliders were amazing. They were filled with lots of flavor and I could immediately taste the freshness in every bite. What I like about this restaurant is how this place makes everything from scratch. For my entree, I couldn't decide on what I wanted because everything looked so delicious, so I settled for the country fried chicken with mashed potatoes and veggies. The fried chicken was amazing!! They cooked it to perfection where it came out with a nice light brown texture. I didn't have to fight through any bones and they make sure they serve you a pretty decent portion. The pieces of chicken were very juicy and tender. Once again, the quality of taste and the freshness was present in that dish. To quickly brief the service, the server was very attentive to my table and he didn't allow the busy atmosphere to mess up his groove. On my second visit, I came for breakfast on Saturday morning. Much to my surprise, it was still crowded and patrons started showing up to the door fast. I ended up getting an order of the hearty oatmeal as a starter. My own review has me thinking about that oatmeal. They serve the oatmeal in a nice sized bowl and it comes with a side of raisins, pecans, brown sugar, strawberries, and warm cream. Add all of the ingredients or whatever you prefer and you will be blown away. For my entree, I got the 'Make Your Breakfast' and I got the pork sausage, scrambled eggs, potatoes, and baguette. The entree was pretty good, but maybe I should have gotten the pancakes instead. Be aware that you cannot select the pancakes in the 'Make Your Breakfast'. It must be ordered seperately. I will definitely return and I will make sure to tell all of my friends to make a reservation.
(5)
Cat L.
5 stars for lunch/dinner menu, 3-4 stars for brunch/breakfast. This is a beautiful restaurant that plays up its emphasis on home cooking and local farming. I like taking visitors from out of town here because it's not a chain, is reasonably priced, and has an expansive menu with a lot of options. Although a lot of people enjoy coming here for brunch, I actually prefer coming here for lunch/dinner because the menu options are better. Some of the dishes I've tried during brunch are the florentine eggs benedict, chicken and waffles, and beignets. All were okay, but nothing spectacular and nothing to set Founding Farmers apart from normal brunch places. On the other hand, the lunch/dinner menu has some options that are out of this world. The fried green tomatoes are the BEST that I've had. It comes with two amazing sauces, and the best I can describe it is that one is green and the other is white and made out of some type of goat cheese. They're pricey ($7 for 4 slices of tomatoes) but are absolutely delicious. I was also blown away by the pot roast and the brie, onion, and sliced apples farm bread. I've tried the popcorn of the day once and thought it made for a really cheap but delicious starter. The only thing that I've had on the dinner menu that I would not recommend is the hot dogs - I ordered them once because I thought they would taste different, but they just taste like hot dogs from any hot dog stand. If you aren't stuffed full after your meal, I highly recommend trying the red velvet cake. At $8, be prepared for a gigantic slice. A group of 8 of us ordered 2 slices to share and there was more than enough cake for all of us. The place gets really busy during rush hour, so try and make reservations beforehand if you can. Also, parking in the shopping center is extremely limited.
(5)
Michael Y.
Oh, Founding Farmers. We go way back, you and I. And although you have gotten rid of some of my wife's favorite dishes (which we definitely need to talk about), you still have my heart. Here's the deal: the food is great. I have been to both this and the DC location, and MoCo by far has the better menu and service. I'll make the drive. Let me tell you why: The Meals: - Kettle Corn is a classic treat, and it comes in a HUGE tin, fresh out of the...popper? Anyways, delicious. - The Biscuits can be hit or miss, being too dry about 30% of the time. During brunch, these come with a delicious jam. Otherwise, you get their honey-butter. Either way, ask for extra! - The Cornbread served fresh in the skillet, however, is a dream with some smooth honey-butter slathered on it. It is the real deal, with actual corn. In cornbread? Preposterous! - For entree, go with the hot dogs for an All-American meal. One bite and you can hear the snap of the skin as you bite into the dog. - Poultry, you say? Chow on the Chicken Pot Pie! It is creamy, flavorful, and comes "top-down" with a biscuit for you to disperse as needed. You may need a little salt. - My latest fave is the French Dip with mashed potatoes. This dish has by far been the most consistently delicious meal I've gotten here. And frankly, I'm afraid to stray. - All of their desserts are amazing and HUGE! Uncle Buck's Beignets are well worth the wait, fluffy and warm. I got the Blue Ribbon Apple Pie last time, and it was perfection! Served with an amazing vanilla ice cream that just blended with the warm apple filling perfectly. The Feels: The lost star is for the service. It's not bad service, but can be inconsistent. Here's the deal: If you're coming during a busy time, make sure you grab a cocktail and just RELAX. Don't be in a hurry. Use the time you're waiting to review your menu and save time for when the server is ready. They are very friendly, but can sometimes succumb to the fast pace. This shouldn't be acceptable, but just just like your husband's obnoxious laugh or your best friend's public profanity, you learn to accept it. The ambience more than makes up for it, so if you come with the mindset of hanging out with great food and drink in mind, you will have a great experience. TIPS: - Reservations! Make one. - If it comes with honey-butter, ask for an extra cup of it when you order. TRUST ME! - The sodas are handmade! You only get one fill-up per order. They do sell some brand-name sodas, but you're getting a one-off can and not saving much money. They are very good at preparing you for this, though.
(4)
Jessica P.
Recently visited this Founding Farmers location for brunch. This was our second time trying out the brunch here- many people rave about it. For the second time, we left feeling pretty lack-luster about the meal. I had the Hangover Hash- I was starving and wanted something really hearty. The hash was their leek hashbrowns, it was smothered in pimento cheese and topped with beefy chili and two poached eggs. It was served with a buttermilk biscuit, which I would say was hands-down the best part! Mostly- this meal was just a little over the top and too much, even for my hearty appetite. I think it would have been worse if I had a hangover actually... My husband got the ham and eggs and did not care much for the ham. I think we are done with Founding Farmers' brunch. Its too expensive ($12 for a mimosa??) to not hit the mark every time.
(2)
Michele K.
Not impressed. I was having brunch on a Sunday with a large group. We had a reservation but the party occupying the table we were to be at was sitting there texting for 30 minutes after the reservation time. Now if they were lingering over coffee I could see this, but clearly having finished their meal a tactful message from the manager or hostess would have been appreciated on our end to move along. That started things off poorly. Then a long wait for our server. By time we got coffee it was almost 45 minutes from being seated. Then our server didn't know if they have a GF menu. The person asking has been there for dinner and was given a GF menu. Saying you can help them out is t reassuring. It sounds as if the server doesn't appreciate the severity of accidental gluten contamination can be for someone. If a server doesn't know the answer the response is, let me check and get back to you. Not a fumbled I can help you with the menu. Anyone who must avoid gluten can usually interpret a menu. Bar drinks are ridiculously over priced. I know this is Rockville but $14 for most cocktails is nuts. I ordered the maple ham and eggs. Worst piece of ham ever. Mostly fat. I also presumed the maple portion would be that it was grilled with a maple glaze or similar. No. The piece of extremely fatty ham, which should have been rejected by the kitchen was served with a mountain of insanely sugary maple glaze that didn't taste hot or even warm. The eggs were also very very loose. Scrambled eggs should not have runny whites. The biscuit and has browns were decent and that was the best part. For a place that puts itself forth as being aware and food conscious, they are failing. I won't be back.
(1)
Ashley C.
3.5 stars rounded up! Went for brunch on a Saturday at 9am. The hostess (who, in fact, turned out to be a manager) seemed a bit grouchy when we walked in and asked for a booth. However, after I found a strand of hair in my pancakes, she was friendly and offered a new plate. I was a bit grossed out by the hair, but it didn't ruin brunch for us. The blueberry pancakes, hash browns, and spinach-mushroom-sausage omelette are good. Also, be sure to ask for the honey butter to eat with your biscuit/English muffin! Servers were great, although service was very very slow. To my surprise, there was already a wait by 10am so be sure to arrive early! It's a cute restaurant with a great ambiance. I don't think the food is to die for (aka I would not wait 1-2 hrs) but I would definitely return occasionally for brunch with family or friends.
(4)
Valerie S.
My family and I have come here to celebrate different events at least 3 or 4 times. We usually enjoy the food and service, but we probably won't be coming back for a while. (For clarification: we ordered off the spring 2015 menu, and I'm not one to dole our negative reviews. We had this meal 2 weeks ago, so my emotions aren't fresh.) Our server was very friendly, if not a little (read: VERY) talkative and enthusiastic about the menu. Everything he recommended was (of course) the most expensive things on the menu, and when we gave our orders he went off on tangents about each thing we had chosen. It was a little annoying, but I know he was just doing his job so the review doesn't really reflect on him personally - he was a great waiter otherwise. The appetizer we got was the candy corn bread, which was way better than described on the menu. Once we got our entrees, though.. Those were another story. I ordered the four corn salad, which the waiter told me about in detail, saying it had popcorn, corn bread, sweet corn, and another type of corn to make up the four corns. I probably should have listened to my gut, but got it anyway. If you're looking for an actual salad - DON'T ORDER THIS! I was give a sparing plate of greens with HUGE chunks of cornbread, soggy popcorn, and big squares of mango (which weren't on the menu or described to me.. I like mango, but these were BIG squares compared to everything else on the plate.) It was just way too much, and DEFINITELY not a salad in my opinion. The salad typically comes with chicken too, which I didn't get, but I can't imagine having another ingredient on that plate. My Mom got the Shrimp and Sundried Tomato Bucatini, which she liked except for the fact that it was chock full of so much rosemary, she could hardly taste anything else. My brother got the Northern Fried Chicken, and it was all tasty except for the beets. The only way I can describe them is that they tasted like a yankee candle - and not in a good way. I could smell them before I tried them, and immediately only tasted clove and cinnamon. I did let our waiter know that maybe he should tell the chefs that the beets were really overpowering, but who knows if he actually did. I don't know if the chefs in back were just heavy-handed with the herbs and spices that day, but either way it left all of us thinking we'd try somewhere else for our next family dinner.
(3)
RaShonda R.
I'd been to the Founding Farmers in DC countless times so we decided to try this location since we were meeting up with a family member staying in Bethesda for a work trip. Same menu as the original. I was quite surprised to see the restaurant was just as packed as the downtown location. Glad we made reservations. Even with reservations, we were asked to have a seat at the bar for a few minutes while our table was prepared. The food was great as always but the service was a little slower than I've come to expect with the other location. The original is still my favorite.
(4)
Odie O.
What a disappointment.... Honestly, I expected a lot more from this restaurant. It is an incredible chain so I expected the experience to be just as good as the one in DC. I was mistaken. When my food came it was pretty much cold as if it had been sitting for at least 10 minutes. The red velvet pancakes that are usually large & thick was very thin and it was burnt. I normally get one because of how big it is but I was disappointed at my very thin & small pancake. It might as well have been a crepe. My eggs were cold & the cheese wasn't melted. I had 4 others with me who also commented that their food wasn't very hot either. I won't be back to this location, I will just go somewhere else if there are no open reservations at the DC location.
(3)
TereSita D.
Love love loveeeee this place!! Been here about a handful of times and each time I crave more. Simple, all american food done right! Appetizers: Sea food devil eggs and the bacon wrap dates. Oh man.... Its devine! They do not sheist on the seafood on those eggs. And the bacon wrap dates with the blue cheese.... It's always a must for us!!! Entree: Chicken and waffles: You cant go wrong with the chicken and waffles. Chicken is cooked to perfection, and beyond juicy. A bit salty... But i don't mind it. The waffle on the other hand.... It's the syrup that makes the waffle for me. The syrup of theirs is heavenly good. I can go on and on about their menu. This is definitely a Place to go again and again. You wont regret it!!!
(5)
Bianca F.
I came here with some friends since we love Founding Farmers, but opted to try the Montgomery County location. We shared a bottle of white wine which was quite good (Fernland's Sauvignon Blanc). I was seriously craving seafood and chose the scallops and risotto. The scallops came with a butter sauce and I asked for that to be served light, with as little butter as possible. The risotto was a butternut squash and pea mix; not really how I imagined that risotto to taste. I should have substituted the risotto for mashed potatoes and spinach. You only get 4 scallops, so get an appetizer too. My friends had the salmon (with the onion topping and the cedar plank). One friend loved the onion topping while the other thought the salmon on the cedar plank was dry. My friend liked her cauliflower steak, just wished that it was served hot instead of room temperature. The Mac and cheese was good; tons of cheese ~ worth it! I like the location and after making some small adjustments with my order, I'll be back for sure.
(3)
Meggie C.
Okay so this is my update to my previous review lol i LOVVVEEE their breakfast but my opinion on their dinner remains the same lol their breakfast omgggg is a must try. so filling. good sized portions. yummy!!! everytime i go i get their cinnamon stuffed french toast and their chicken apple sausage with a side of scrambled eggs! just to let you know, the french toast, its big. like i could only finish one with my mel. and i just tried their hibiscus soda and it tasted amazing! i loved it. their chicken and waffles and red velevt pancakes are pretty good too! i would deffintiley advise you to make reservations on weekends though especially for breakfast because it gets PACKED! both this location and the one in washingyon dc. they are opening a third location in tyson's area i beleive too.
(4)
Ramon D.
We dined here after our daughter's commencement with one of her friend's and her family. It was easier to get reservations for a large party here than the DC location. Wonderful farm to table concept restaurant in a newly built complex. The place was easy to find. They have a full bar with some good values for wine and decent beer choices. We started with some freshly baked cornbread, brie and prosciutto farm breads. Sooo good. Dinner was equally amazing. We had a variety of dishes for dinner - Diver scallops with butternut risotto, shrimp and grit, slow-braised short ribs (so tender), southern fried chicken, cedar plank salmon and others. We must have ordered half the menu :) All were very good indeed. Excellent choice in Montgomery County. I would like to visit the DC location the next time I am in town.
(4)
Angel T.
Really yummy food...all hand made. I ordered the meatloaf and every bite made me say ,"hmmm."
(4)
kevin c.
Have been there for brunch/breakfast. We have tried a few things here and all were very good. Service is good and prices are as well. Chicken and waffles are very good and are the fav choice here. Biscuits are just ok. Would definitely visit again.
(4)
Samantha S.
Visited for weekday lunch. We had clam chowder, roasted tomato soup, mixed green salads and fruit cobbler. Total $50. The decor is cute with many touches to continually remind you of the farm to table theme. The service was friendly and efficient. Everything we ordered was fresh and very good. Nothing really unique, but then we didn't try any signature items or the hand crafted old time sodas. The noise level is too high for easy conversation, most likely because of the aluminum and concrete decor. Overall, a good, quick lunch spot with fresh and tasty food.
(4)
Dora P.
I love the brunch and fresh juices. The service was a little slow but it gave us time to enjoy the meal and relax. If it weren't so busy we'd go every weekend. But they're busy because it's good!
(4)
Jiyea C.
I was expecting more from this place, as I had heard that it was a DC institution. The good: their house-made sodas! We tried the blood orange one and it was delicious! Their corn bread appetizer was also not to be missed! It's so moist and delicious, served in a cast iron pan and I honestly wanted to take an order to go to bring back on the plane to Boston. Their decor is also very cute, with random pickling jars and 'farmer' motifs. Dessert was a very generous and decadent slice of carrot cake. However, all the entrees we got were just so-so. We tried a salad, a pasta dish, and the grilled cheese+tomato soup, and they were all so mediocre that I don't even remember what they were called.
(3)
Allison S.
I have been to Founding Farmers for breakfast over a dozen times and it is always a great experience. The service is great and the atmosphere is perfect for a casual business meeting. For dinner the Ahi Tuna Poke salad is to die for, a must order!
(5)
Sierra T.
We went there for a New Year's Day brunch and were very happy. The food was good. Service was friendly and attentive. I highly recommend reserving a table since they were full. We've tried the Beignets per other reviewers suggestion and they were really well done. Fluffy and sweet. The chicken and waffle breakfast was good but nothing exceptional. I do not think I will order it again since they have other exciting sounding things on their menu to try. They are very baby/child friendly. This is great since you can't always find great food at the places you can go with an infant. We will definitely return.
(4)
Julie H.
The food here is really good, the concept is cute and the ingredients are said to be locally sourced. All statements are true, and the food here is really good from their appetizers, entrees, and desserts. A few things I've tried from this restaurant are: 1. Oven-Roasted Cracked Black Pepper Wings: Great appetizer to order, very flavorful and enjoyable. The only thing is that the wings were semi burnt, but not to a point that it was difficult to eat. I enjoyed it very much, the oven roasted and black pepper gave the wings a lot of flavor. 2. Prime Rib Dip: Alright, nothing special from all of the other prime rib dips i've tried at other places. 3. Skirt Steak & Enchilada: Skirt steak was good, but nothing special in particular. The enchiladas were kind of plain and didn't have anything special. The dish overall was a good portion and everything together complimented the entirety of the dish. 4. Lemon Meuniere Diver Scallops: This dish was amazing. From the risotto to the diver scallops itself, the scallops were cooked to perfection and had a lot of flavor. However, there were only FOUR scallops in the whole dish. For the price, wish there were a few more scallops than that. The risotto was delicious! 5. Triple Layer Chocolate Mousse Cake: This was delicious and not bitter, because some chocolate cakes can be bitter. IT was very enjoyable and not too sweet or plain. 6. Table biscuits: very dense and filling. Comes with honey and butter spread, complimenting the biscuits very well. It is very filling. 7. Eggs Benedict: can't go wrong with eggs Benedict. However there's nothing distinguishing/special from their dish. The sweet iced tea here is amazing, tastes so refreshing. I love it. It was a great restaurant, but the food is a bit pricey here.
(4)
Gayle H.
I went to brunch on Sunday I had the chicken and waffles it was okay. The Benet's were very light and good. Because my daughter suggested I have lunch I went there again on Monday. I ordered the devilish eggs, shrimp grits and andoullie sausage. My server was named Perry ( I think) she described the dish as being very spicy,asking, she described the devilish eggs as being sweet with pickles. The presentation was good but the eggs were bland no pickles needed salt, the greens had no flavor either again no salt. The shrimp and grits huge pieces of green peppers and onions no sausage. The lemonade (refillable) was very good and the manager immediately came over addressed the food offered to make another dish with the sausage for me I only paid for the eggs and lemonade. With that I CAN TRY THIS PLACE AGAIN.
(2)
Steve L.
First time here so didn't know about the crowds and wait time for tables. Sat at the bar just in time for a great brunch. Had the upgraded peppercorn bacon and everything was full of flavor. Definitely interested in coming back again.
(5)
Nicolle P.
My girlfriend and I came here on 12/23/14 off of a recommendation from a friend of hers. I arrived first around 15 mins before our reservation time of 1:30. I was seated immediately and this place was packed so I'm glad we had the reservation. I was seated on the lower level by the windows and kitchen was just off from us. Nice seats we could see the whole restaurant. As I waited from my friend our server was very nice. Got our water for the table and I ordered a peach bellini. It was really good but was it worth the 12 dollars I paid for it no. As my friend arrived and we looked the menu over we decided to try the seafood deviled eggs. Two salmon, two regular, two crab and two lobster. They were all under seasoned. The salmon was our least favorite and the crab and lobster we just okay I would not get these again. As for our entire. I had the slow braised beef rib with Mac and cheese and long string beans. I must say it was amazing AMAZING!!!! The seasoning was great a tad salt and pepper on my sides but it was so good and worth every bit of the 26 dollars it cost the portion was huge. The meat was so tender and the sauce was on point. My girlfriend got the chicken and waffles. She said it was ok her chicken was kind of dry and so was her mac and cheese. Her waffles were light and sweet she said. Not sure if she would have it again. She did rave about her mango soda which I did taste it was heavenly and I had and Arnold Palmer not so good. We'll the lemonade portion was not the tea and mixing it well didn't help. We did order dessert I have the triple layer chocolate cake and strawberry ice cream it was huge and very very good. The ganache on top was really sweet but it's devils food cake and a light chocolate mousse was so good. The homemade strawberry ice cream was a nice touch. I needed all the sugar from the food coma I was inn to drive back home. She had the apple crisp or pie with vanilla ice cream she enjoyed hers as well. Our server Daniel was great he was attentive and made recommendations when we asked and if we had any questions about anything he was so helpful. He let us enjoy our meal and wasn't to in your face. Great service I would ask for Daniel again I love great customer service. Overall I would come here again.
(4)
Patti L.
When I made the reservation through Opentable for Sunday brunch on Saturday night, there so many times to choose from that I hesitated before securing one. When I arrived at Founding Farmers, I was glad I did because there were groups waiting to be seated as the restaurant was packed! It makes me wonder if people, like me, don't reserve a seat until last minute or if people don't enjoy placing reservations. My party of two was promptly seated and proceeded to have great service. It was Sunday brunch after all and they gave us just the right amount of time to eat and chat. I was torn between ordering the biscuits and gravy and the chicken and waffles. The server recommended the chicken and waffles saying that it was their best offering. I had heard of their offering the dish, so I assumed he was correct. I also ordered a phosphate to drink, curious how different it was from a typical hand-crafted soda. The phosphate was delicious and I felt that it was like a less sweet soda, though not to the territory of flavored seltzer, and comparable to Italian soda. The waffle was spot on and stayed crisp on the outside and soft on the inside throughout the meal. The chicken, however, was not crispy on the outside and the batter kept falling off. In the end, I felt like I was eating chicken tenders on top of a great waffle. All in all, I had a great time and would come back to try other options.
(4)
Stuart W.
My wife and I visited here last night for dinner. We had a reservation and yet still had to stand around and wait for over 5 minutes before they could seat us. There were a lot of people standing around waiting for a table so this was not a comfortable start to our experience. When we were seated again it took at least 5 minutes before anyone even came to greet us. We ordered 2 cokes when one server finally came to greet us, and these took over 10 minutes to arrive - in fact we received our appetizer first! We were told twice that our sodas were coming but instead of just telling us that why not just get them? All they were was a standard can (which ridiculously cost $3!). For appetizers we ordered the deviled eggs for $5 and the biscuits for $5 and shared them between us. They were both very good but my wife said it would be better if the honey and the butter were separate. Also, we saw the server bring them out, take them to the table behind us, and then instead of bringing them to us, disappeared around the back and asked another server to bring them to us. We're not going to fall for that one! For our entrees my wife ordered the southern fried chicken which came with collared greens and mashed potatoes (and another biscuit which wasn't shown on the menu but was a nice surprise for her). I tasted the chicken and have to say it was amazing. It's added another star to this review alone! I ordered the sausage mushroom gnocchi. The sausage and gnocchi were both very good and it was a huge amount of food, however there were not enough mushrooms for my liking and the sauce was just too sweet. I couldn't quite pick out the flavors but I don't think the sauce fitted in to the rest of it. Overall the only reason we'd come back is for the fried chicken and to try the desserts. We'd probably come back at a less busy time too in the hope for better serivce - it was poor at best, very slow and unprofessional. The prices, apart from the $3 cokes, were reasonable for the amount of food. Sort your poor service out and maybe I'd recommend you to others but until that happens I will have to be honest with others about your need to have a better service system in place.
(3)
Christina W.
I was invited by management to come back for a do-over, and they definitely improved. The food was good, per usual, but the service this time around was much, much better. We clearly had a seasoned waiter who was attentive but not pushy, and it made the experience much more pleasant. Thanks for making things right, Founding Farmers!
(4)
Lindsey A.
Came in here once again for breakfast/brunch this past weekend and it did not disappoint, was every bit as good as my last meal here and I remain an enthusiastic fan of everything about this place. We were seated upstairs, which was nice, and got two breakfast cocktails (the Ramos Gin Fizz which was excellent and a very good Bellini) and then two of us had the Founding Farmers Breakfast, one person had the creme-filled french toast which looked incredible if you have a breakfast sweet tooth (I don't really) and then a basket of the beignets for the table. The beignets came out first and were just incredible, the perfect crispy fluffy fried texture and served with delicious caramel, chocolate and raspberry sauces on the side, dusted with powdered sugar. Afterwards our breakfasts came, including the aforementioned huge slices of creme-filled french toast, and then my breakfast which included two perfectly done over easy eggs, crispy leek hash browns, and a perfect fluffy hot biscuit with honey butter on the side, and one piece of delicious breakfast sausage. The service was great, friendly and just attentive without being annoying, as usual, our server was great about refilling coffees and waters and such, and we had a great time. We all left incredibly stuffed, as well. I really like this place and wish we had something like it in central NJ.
(5)
Joodie T.
This was our first time here and wow, this will not be our last. We had Vince who was knowledgeable about the menu and gave us amazing pointers on the most popular dishes. -Bacon wrapped dates with blue cheese. Delicious play on sweet and savory. -Fried green tomatoes. Crispy coating with a juicy and sweet green tomato on the inside.That dish would make any southerner proud. -Crazy corn salad. Fresh romaine and baby greens with chunks of avocado, mango, thinly sliced peppers, lean chicken, corn bread, steamed corn off the Cobb, and caramel popcorn for added fun. -Beignets take approximately 15 min so order when you're halfway through your entree. Heavens to Betsy, it's worth the wait!!! And as a bonus, these clever folks make their own thirst quenching sodas from scratch including neato flavors such as vanilla, pear, and hibiscus. You can't go wrong here.
(5)
Kasey L.
I feel like I must have visited somewhere different based on glowing reviews. It's rare that I struggle to think of positive things to say about a place, but this is definitely one of those occasions. We visited here on the recommendation of family. When we walked in, I was blown away by how loud it was. It was definitely not going to be possible for our grandfather to hear our conversation. Despite having a reservation, we had to wait around for awhile for "the right person" to get back to the hostess stand to find our table. We ended up upstairs, which was a little quieter. The first sign that something was weird was the menu. I know that it's trendy to minimally describe dishes (and hey, I don't need to know the recipe down to the very last herb), but there were things on the menu that actually didn't make sense and deserved way more explanation. We asked the waiter to explain several dishes and enjoyed the surprises of included side dishes that were mentioned nowhere on the menu. My favorite was the "Straw and Hay with Bacon", which turned out to be a pasta dish in a cream sauce with lots of veggies and bacon. The food we ended up with was mediocre at best. The best food of the entire meal was the cornbread appetizer, which arrived in a cute cast iron skillet with honey butter. It had lots of chunky corn in it and was a good size for four people. My husband was the only one to order a soda, and it came in a regular can (like a "Save $5 at Six Flags can). I found this cheesy and not particularly sustainable. I ordered the pot roast, a great choice based on Yelp reviews and one of the five things on the menu listed as a "specialty". It had a big chunk of roast (good, but pretty fatty) and lots of veggies (celery, sweet potatoes, carrots, and pleasantly well cooked) on top of a giant bowl of mashed potatoes. I hate to say it, but it kind of evoked the memory of the KFC bowl. It had a pretty salty gravy/sauce which arrived with a thin film on top, kind of like it had been sitting for too long. It had some crispy onion strings on top (usually one of my major favorites), but they were mostly burnt (and black). I ate most of it but had no desire to take home leftovers. My dining companions got other items and no one was particularly impressed. My mother-in-law barely touched her pulled pork, which was served plopped on a plate with beans, a giant portion of relish (?), and overcooked kale. We overheard the couple next to us saying to each other that they found the entire experience overrated as well. The prices were $12 and up. My particular dish was $16, which definitely doesn't describe its worth. My last gripe is with the "local" vibe. Walking into this place doesn't make you feel like it's local at all (huge, a million choices on the menu, etc.). It's decorated with pictures of farms that describe their products, and the farms are in places like Iowa, Washington, etc. There's no indication on the menu of where anything comes from either. I think our expectation was farm-to-fork, but I'm not sure that's an accurate way to describe the restaurant. I hate to say it, but I would not come back, nor would I recommend it to someone else.
(2)
Ryan L.
Two stars may be generous after seeing the description "Meh. I've experienced better." A one star ("Eek! Methinks not.") is a much better fit, based on food alone, but the facilities were nice. My wife, mom, and grandpa decided to come here for dinner having heard good things. We were told it's a great restaurant with solid food. We were also told we had to order the fried green tomatoes and that they were amazing. We arrived at 6:44 for our 6:45 reservation and we were told they'd have to find a table for us (not really how reservations are supposed to work, but whatever). We were seated 10 minutes later, but not a huge deal. Restaurants can be busy and stuff like this happens, it's not the end of the world. We were seated upstairs which was a bit quieter than the first floor (which was incredibly noisy) and were handed our menus. The menu was a huge issue for me and everyone else in my party. None of their food items are described. They just have names. In some places this is fine and the name says it all. But when you have options like Straw and Hay under a pasta section with no description that's not particularly helpful. Or if you have three variants of chicken that all come with different sides that make up half the dish but it doesn't tell you what any of those are (or mention that at all) it's a little weird. We had to ask our server to explain any meal option that we thought we might be interested to find out what came with it (I just checked the menu online and it looks like they have descriptions there. I guess I should have pulled my cell phone out... I'm pretty convinced they were trying to fit their entire menu on a single page which is why they dropped the descriptions and that seems like poor judgement). We ended up ordering the fried green tomatoes, and pan fried corn bread to start. The fried green tomatoes had decent breading and came with a goat cheese spread. Nothing outstanding. The corn bread was decidedly the best part of our entire meal which says a lot about the rest of the food since corn bread is pretty much the same no matter where you get it and is pretty much impossible to mess up. For dinner we ordered the Yankee Pot Roast (listed as a signature and reviewed as the highlight of this restaurant, the best it has to offer), the Southern Fried Chicken, the Southern Carolina BBQ with Fixings and the Goat Cheese Ravioli with Chicken. The Pot Roast came with burned onion strings and veggies. I can make a much better pot roast than this in a crock pot at my house. The southern fried chicken was also dry, and came with overcooked greens. The goat cheese ravioli and chicken itself was okay, but the whole dish was slathered in a ridiculously sweet honey sauce that ruined it (not mentioned by the waiter when I asked what it came with, he just said squash). The BBQ meal was probably the worst. The pulled pork looked like it had been steamed. Not just steamed but steamed for about 10 hours too long. It was the consistency of a thick applesauce. It also came with overcooked greens, a heaping pile of relish (usually a garnish?), pickled cucumbers, and beans. The only part of the plate that was edible were the cucumbers (literally everything else was still there when the plate was cleared). I would not come back here again.
(2)
Jared W.
Overrated for the price. Decent food w/ homestyle atmosphere. They do not have real sodas, just their homemade kind.
(3)
Tippi M.
The food tastes great, but don't think you get to feel good about eating it b/c their entire concept is manufactured BS. Not one thing on the menu is organic - they don't even try - they actually bash organic food because it "doesn't make sense". Personally, it never makes sense to ingest hormones and antibiotics in my dairy. Fine if you're like every other restuarant, but don't portray yourself as a highbrow operation. They are owned by the ND Farmers Union: The North Dakota Farmers Union, which became involved in the business as a way to promote family farms, defines a family farm as one owned and operated by a family that makes its living off the land. That could include multimillion-dollar companies with national distribution and farms with thousands of acres. Such farms have come under fire for their intensive use of pesticides on fruits and vegetables. They are also criticized for excessive use of hormones and antibiotics in livestock, which often are housed in crowded conditions with little or no access to pasture.
(1)
A A.
Came here with my siblings for a nice dinner out. The service and everything was great, but there were two problems that had occurred with our food: 1) My brother had giant pieces of egg shells in his macaroni and cheese. 2) My brother in-law bit into his burger from which a long strand of hair came out in his bite. I did give it 2 stars instead of 1 because the service was great. They did take care of us by having the waitress and manager coming up to apologize. They provided us with a $35 gift card, removed the price of the two dishes, and provided us with a round of free desserts. I probably would have given this place 4 stars because I understand that accidents do happen, but the fact that there were 2 dishes rather than just 1 that were messed up is pretty inexcusable. I probably won't be coming back here again. All of us lost our appetites and couldn't finish our food anymore after we saw him pull the hair out of his mouth. We did however enjoy the desserts.
(2)
Adam D.
Consistently comeback for the farmers pitchfork (bacon and tots). I like that they use natural ingredients to make sodas in house. I recommend the chicken and waffles, Mac and cheese and chili cheese dogs. Only thing I can say this place is lacking is on the desserts ... They're very mediocre. Definitely don't come here if you're dieting lol.
(4)
Gerry B.
Pretty good, I like the vintage drinks and the menu was good. Only complaint were the biscuits were really salty. The wait staff was very attentive and the manager came by and chatted with us for several minutes, very personable. A bit pricey, but a good once in a while place, would be good for a group.
(3)
Chris J.
The food is as advertised. Farm fresh ingredients make for delicious meals. Decor was inviting and clearly the place is popular so be sure to get a reservation. Would have been five stars had the waiter not taken forever. Still a must try if you are in the area.
(4)
Emily G.
Great service and great family atmosphere. We didn't have a reservation, but chose to take our chances at the bar and were successful. We were lucky enough to get 2 seats right away and were welcomed by the bartender immediately. We put our drink and food orders in right away and had them quickly. I would highly recommend the bananas foster pancakes, they're incredible!
(5)
Charles M.
Brunch is amazing, we go at least once a month. Dinner has been more hit or miss.
(4)
Mary Kate M.
I came here with my friend Olivia the other day for brunch. She lives in Rockville, and we went based on her recommendation because she said the last time she really enjoyed her visit. We waited about 15 minutes to get a table before being seated. Our server was very nonchalant about seeing us or any case, serving us too. She went over the menu and such, about 10 minutes later took our orders and went from there. We saw our server only a couple of times after that during the of meal and that includes her bringing out the food and the check... I ordered the banana foster waffle at first and my friend ordered the plain waffle with a $5 side of dry flavorless bacon which had three pieces. When both of our orders arrived, they looked absolutely nasty. Our dishes were cold for one, and the waffles looked extremely dry. My waffle had less than half of a banana cut up on it. When I order banana foster anything, I expect more fruit on there if I am paying $9 for it. There was a drizzle of something else on it which I think was supposed to be a type of glaze which was poorly done and presentation was a mess. No whip cream on the banana foster either. When our server put the plates in front of us, Olivia and I both did a double take on our dishes then looked at each other and thought what in the world is this? How can you mess up bacon too? I had to flag down a server to get them returned. Our server came back about 5 minutes after the fact to see what was wrong when we had our dishes returned, and we explained to her our sentiment. The GM then took the time to come by as well. She apologized for everything then asked us if we wanted different items. Olivia reordered her waffle and I changed my order to chicken and waffles. By this point, we had been here for about 45 minutes, I had not ate at all that day, and was hitting my tipping point. When they brought out our new orders I had the same feeling from before with this dish as well. Both waffles were warm, but still dry. My chicken was not that good, and luckily they didn't screw up the scrambled eggs. At the end of the day, I paid $18 for a meal and orange juice that was no better than something I could have made much better myself or gotten a better breakfast at 7/11. It was pretty offensive to have a place that takes so much pride into their farm to table concept only to have this happen. I will not be returning, unfortunately, and only hope that this doesn't happen to you. On a positive note, I do appreciate the manager coming out and switching our meals even though both pretty much sucked.
(2)
Mike B.
This article is a Mike B. special STAR EDITION! A star next to each pun/farm joke! Capitalizing on the success of farm to table cuisine, Founding farmers is *raking it in. It's located in the new (extremely wealthy) potomac park community. This neighborhood was a great place for the restaurant to *plant itself. In such a young affluent neighborhood, the investment is on *firm ground Tonight for dinner we started off with the Poto macaroni and cheese. It was super cheesy though the macaroni was slightly overcooked. The flavor was a slam dunk though! Around us we saw tons of tables *shoveling in the "bacon lollis." Pieces of bacon are served on long skewers that are aligned on a pitchfork (thats not a pun - they're actually served on a pitchfork). For entree's we got the shrimp and grits and southern fried chicken. Yeah, we decided we wern't gonna *water down this meal with anything healthy. User Tip: The southern fried chicken is panko breaded. The northern fried chicken (as per our waitress' description is a smaller crumb) We got the southern fried chicken with mashed potatoes, collard greens, a biscuit, and white gravy. There also was some small non-tasty compote (it might as well been a small *weed in the garden; I got rid of it) **I know that one was a stretch** That being said, the white gravy was absolutely delicious. The collard green's were fairly flavorless. If only everyone knew about Aunt Angie's famous Collard Green recipe. ( Hint: there's smoked turkey necks involved) The biscuit was soft and delicate perfection- they must have *milled those grains themselves. It was so fresh and delicious! Shrimp and grits were wonderful perfection. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and were spicy in wonderful hearty brown sauce that included (what I think to be) andouille sausage and peppers. NOLA STYLE! All in all, the experience was great with minor issues. Glad we came early for dinner, it's almost if they let the *stable doors open. The *herd of people at the front door waiting *grew 200 percent from when we came in. Founding farmers is a great *fertilizer to the potomac park commercial area, that I'm sure will *grow and grow because of restaurants like this one.
(4)
Rhonda R.
Farm to table indeed!!! Certainly a fulling very tasty meal! We had the biscuits with honey butter which are better than my mothers ! Fried green tomatoes were fried perfectly ! The red mashed potatoes were perfect!! And don't forget the vanilla bean cheesecake with a raspberry sauce!
(4)
victoria j.
Ambiance - Great decor and awesome service! We sat in the upstairs loft area because we had a large party of 10. Being upstairs provided some privacy and it was less loud than the main downstairs dining area and bar. This is a great place for after-work appetizers and drinks or if you're on a date and you're not looking for something too intimate. Not that you can't, but I wouldn't recommend bringing kids during dinner hours. Food - Appetizers were tasty! The popcorn flavors are creative and surprisingly delicious. Biscuits were good but too filling for me as appetizers. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because I was disappointed in my main dish - crab cakes. They were WAY-overseasoned to the point I could barely taste the crab itself. However, the sides were really good. Especially, the brussel sprouts with bacon in maple syrup. Some people in my party ordered chicken and waffles and they said it was very good. I really recommend the beignets for dessert! Drinks - They offer a wide selection of premium draft beers. I liked all 3 that I tried (Raging Bitch is the only name I remember). Some people in my party ordered cocktails and were very happy with their orders.
(4)
Mark K.
One of the most unique and wonderful places we have been in a longtime. The decor and especially the menu are truly one of a kind. The variety of Breads, biscuits, pancakes, French toasts in remarkably creative concoctions that are beyond anything we've encountered. High energy place. Very loud, so not a place for quiet conversation but amazingly innovative food in a nice location with friendly service. As many have written-definitely worth going WAY out of your way for. Also astoundingly inexpensive for quality.
(5)
Karen M.
This is definitely my favorite American-style restaurant in the DMV! I've been here for brunch, dinner, and happy hour--all of which were great experiences. It is, needless to say, always busy and packed. Make a reservation if you're on a time restraint. Everything on the menu is delicious so choose wisely. My all time favs: veggie burger, mac & cheese, and sweet-potato fries!!! From the moment you walk in to the moment you get your check, I can definitely say is a unique experience. I love the fact that the waiters are dressed in flannel button ups and jeans--very country-like. All in all, this place deserves more credit than is shown on Yelp. Don't always believe what you read online.
(5)
Ashley Z.
Chocolate mousse cake was kinda dry. The strawberry ice cream was delicious. Parking was lame. D.C. is better.
(2)
Zach M.
I have always had amazing food here. I don't think I've ever had a bad dish. I take friends here as often as possible. I cut myself on one of their janky mini-mailboxes they use to deliver your check/take your payment. Otherwise one of my favorite restaurants in the area.
(5)
Janelle J.
This is the second time that I've visited this location. Ordered the fork tender pork ribs with the kale and pears as a side. No fork needed for the ribs and the sauce compliments it well. Pear and kale, chef's veggie, is a good mix of tart and sweet As a cocktail, I ordered the dealers choice To start, our table ordered the bacon Lillie's and biscuits.
(4)
Sylvia C.
Pitchfork with bacon lollis and tots. Get the lollis and forego the tots. That bacon was good. You don't need potatoes with that. Bacon 5/5 tots 1/5 Candied Corn, Mascarpone, Charred Apple Chutney-pretty good. 3/5 Butcher's Farmhouse Grill-everything here felt like a couple notches up from bar food. I enjoyed it because it's meat. But not foodie-worthy. 3/5 Black Pepper Gnocchi, Sausage & Amaretto Cream - the sauce was pretty delicious. The gnocchi was inconsistent. You can tell it was home made, but the problem was that they came in different size chunks. The larger chunks were a bad ratio to the sauce that it could hold. Having said that, the gnocchi itself was bland and is nothing without that sauce. 3/5 Cocktails are ok. Nice that this place is trying to be foodie, but they have a long way to go.
(3)
Lindsay W.
Fantastic brunch! I had a standard Farmers Breakfast and a guava Rickey and both were extremely good. Bacon was cooked to order, buttermilk biscuit with orange marmalade was something I would happily eat every single day, and the Rickey had a really great ratio of tangy lime to sweet guava puree. My scrambled eggs were pretty runny, though, so if you like your eggs fully cooked make sure to specify that upon ordering. Fiance got pastrami hash and Cortado to drink--this coffee is extremely thick with sweetened condensed milk. Definitely would recommend this awesome place! Can't wait to go back and try the dinner menu.
(5)
Mb B.
there was a big roach on the back of the seat of the booth. The staff offered no compensation we paid for our meal and left they came outside and said they sprayed three times a week. Shall not be returning.
(1)
Chris C.
Great drinks (hand crafted cocktails) and amazing food. This is probably the best place to eat in Montgomery County. Their food and drink menus rotate with the seasons so you never get tired of it. It can be a bit pricey, but well worth it if you are a foodie.
(5)
Melanie K.
We've been here several times. Founding Farmers is one of our favorite restaurants and it's one of the few places I've been where I almost always get something different and always L-O-V-E it. So it seemed fitting that we came in for Valentine's Day dinner. Frankly, the place should change its name to "Gluttony" because my hubby and I can't seem to leave without being completely and utterly stuffed to the gills. Last night we went in and tried to go a little lighter than the last time we came in for dinner. We got the Farmers Chips, Cheddar Crisps and Dips as a starter and it was OK. I'm not a huge fan of kettle cooked chips, but hubby liked them and the dips were really tasty. I got the Southern Fried Chicken Salad for my entree and it was phenomenal. I've never gotten the fried chicken here and honestly I'm not a huge fried chicken person, but this chicken. Wow. It was a little spicy and a lot juicy and tender. M-m-m! Hubby got the Chicken Salad Salad and although he said it was good, he was very jealous of my salad! We finished our night with an order of Uncle Buck's Beignets and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Those Beignets. Are. To. Die. For. A few of my other favorites entrees are: Chicken Pot Pie, Angry Pasta and Chicken Bolognese with Bucatini. If you're here for brunch, get the Florentine with Spinach and Tomato Eggs Benedict. My sister, dad and husband all swear by the Fried Chicken and Waffles. Also worth noting is our server: Kevin. This was the second time he was our server. He's super friendly and attentive, but not overbearing. If you're lucky, you'll end up in his section.
(5)
Scott A.
This place is awesome for lunch or dinner. 1. The food is first rate. I've gone to Founding Farmers and had a couple of beers and appetizers - great mix of food and good beer. 2. I've been for dinner - friends and we had a blast. The place is a little loud if you are going for conversations but the food overcame the loud. 3. I've been for lunch and ate outside. Less noisy you can have a conversation and the food fantastic simply makes this place an incredible place to go. This is a great place to go. Food great. Beer is excellent (selection and quality) and the servers are engaging and fast. A little noisy if you are planning a conversation but overall its a great restaurant!!!
(5)
Xtine C.
Come here to eat the appetizers like the flatbread or wings!!! They are delicious. Don't get the entree meals - for some reason they are terrible. My bf got the chicken pot pie which turned out to be a gravy soup and a biscuit on top and terribly lacked in flavor; it was a big mush. I had the fish of the day (smoked plank salmon) and they messed up my order and brought a diff salmon dish - which tasted bland as well. The drinks are good and really pricey but I would say it's a good hangout spot overall.
(4)
Jessica N.
I want to love this place - my family and I have been here a few times for their weekend brunch. It's fairly easy to get a reservation, they have plenty of parking, and serve brunch on Saturdays - this makes it one of our go to places when family is in town for the weekend. This weekend we sat outside on their patio which was really nice - a great way to enjoy a mild summer morning. Service was okay - our waiter was very friendly, but everything was a little slow - could be because we were outside. But one thing that frustrates me is when the waiter drops off three out of four peoples food and then there is a pretty decent wait until the fourth person's comes out which is what happened to us. Also, I get frustrated when the waiter forgets to check on the waters and coffee to see if anyone needs refills - just make that part of your routine. Again this could be because we were outside. Now on to the food - the last couple of times I've been a bit disappointed with the food and it's hard to pinpoint what was wrong. This time I tried to figure it out - I ordered a pan scramble with sausage, mushrooms and spinach and it was just bland and under seasoned. It didn't taste like the kitchen used any salt or pepper and the sausage was sorely lacking in flavor. My husband had the ham steak and eggs, which he enjoyed. Our companions had the bananas foster pancakes and the maple cinnamon stuffed French toast. The pancakes were a little too sweet for me, but the stuffed French toast (also sweet) was excellent. For the table we had their biscuits which were served warm and with a delicious honey butter - yum! We will probably go back one weekend, but I'll just have to be more selective in my ordering.
(3)
M T.
Excellent crabcakes - full of freshly cooked crab meat with little filling. Beer selection was good, southern fried chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, though a tad too salty. Cheerful environment with friendly servers. Will definitely come back!
(5)
Randy P.
When I walk in a place and as I am placing my drink the waitress recognizes me, I guess I like this place. While it can be pricy (I consider myself lucky to escape on only two cocktails, they are so good) the food is great - and the staff is always friendly, even when you end up staying past closing. Any place that serves bacon lollipops has a special place in my heart.
(5)
E M.
Dirty fork when I sat down. Dirty plate came out with the beignets which were both somehow over cooked while one had what appeared to be raw batter smeared on a side. Had to ask twice for water and had to ask for a refill of my coffee after it sat empty for 5-10 minutes. The main dishes were good but nothing special, certainly nothing worth $12-$14 per plate. Indifferent wait staff and over priced food. We won't be back.
(1)
Rachel A.
Went there for brunch on 4th of July. We had a reservation, and they seated us pretty quickly. We were able to pick from the brunch menu and the regular menu, so that was nice, but I was disappointed that they didn't have any specials for the 4th. My aunt ordered a cappuccino and when it came out, the cup had a ring of lipstick around the front. GROSS. It then took about 20 minutes for them to come back with another one. I ordered brunch, which was done perfectly, and the grilled ciabatta was delicious, but for the fact that all my food was cold. My aunt ordered a salad, so there was no way they were trying to make the food come out at the same time. Also, the one sausage was kind of stingy as a portion. We also ordered a side of grits which was cold, and tasted very bland. We did not receive water refills, our waiter did not come check on us at all throughout the duration of the meal, and it took several attempts to get his attention to get the check. I've been to the Founding Farmers in DC, and was thrilled with the level of service and attention there. Needless to say, I will not be back of my own accord.
(1)
Jasmine S.
I have dined here on many occasions for lunch. There are very few things are not good about this place. The fried chicken is delicious, and I've always enjoyed their pasta, although the portions are a bit small. Founding Farmers also makes their own Rickeys, seasonally which I have found to be either delicious or disgusting. Service is always excellent. I would definitely recommend this place to someone in the area.
(4)
Crystal D.
Love this place. If going on the weekend it's best to make reservations because They are always crowded even in the snow. The food is always consistently delicious.
(5)
Mike M.
See my previous reviews for opinions and past experiences. I'm focusing this update on today's experience and specifically on the way the popcorn appetizer was delivered to the table. If you haven't tried it, FF offers flavored popcorn as an appetizer (or I guess dessert if you preferred). It's a fun thing that my kids really like so we usually order it as soon as we sit down. As I recall, it was previously served in a box type of thing. Today we ordered the popcorn as soon as we sat down. Soon, our drink order was taken. Our drinks were soon delivered then later, our entree order was taken. We waited a while longer and finally my wife waved the waiter over and asked about the popcorn. He said they were preparing it a new way and it was slowing everything down but it would be out shortly. After a bit longer, the popcorn was delivered. (as a side note, it was delivered moments before our entrees were delivered. This seems to be a recurring issue at FF.) The popcorn was served in a large pot, about 8 quarts I'd guess. The waiter carefully placed it in the center of the table and said to be careful as he explained that this is the pot the corn is popped in and it's very hot. No kidding, this thing was blazing hot. Dangerously.hot. Absolutely stupid for a restaurant to put something like this on a table. Whoever came up with this should be immediately fired. So, first of all, the popcorn is down in the pot, so you have to reach down in this cauldron to reach the corn. Without exception, all 5 of us burned our wrists and arms on this thing. We resorted to trying to use a fork to get it out (no serving utensil is provided). That resulted in the kettle corn going all over the table and more burns as we pried the sticky corn apart and out of the pot. The highs? Well, it seems like it's a larger quantity of corn. My family thought it was better than usual. My take was that it was fresher than usual. Still only $2 so it's a great deal. But please, management, reconsider the way it's served. This is truly dangerous. I'd suggest transferring it to another bowl of some kind. Someone is going to get burned badly with these things.
(3)
Ahmad S.
Stopped in here yesterday to place a pick up order. I placed the order on the phone and gave them a time I'd arrive to pick it up. Founding Farmers never fails to amaze me. I showed up early and they quickly placed the order in for me and apologize for it not being ready - which was silly since I was the one who showed up thirty minutes early. I sat at the bar - bartender was friendly and service was great. He asked me if I had placed my order - to which I responded affirmatively - at which point he pulled up my order and confirmed it with me. When my order was ready, he brought it to me at the bar along with the check. I got home and the food was hot, fresh, and packaged perfectly. I'm so glad they have a pick-up option, because nothing beats being able to bring such an amazing meal home! I love dining in here, but will definitely mark this place down as a good to-go option for future visits.
(5)
Dee B.
After my initiative review I received a response. I decided to give them another shot today because the food really is fantastic and La Madeleine was torn down to make way for the new mall on Rockville Pike. FF must have taken my review to heart because not only were the staff more attentive (though it wasn't busy when I went) but the senior staff were also checking up to make sure everything was A-OK. As usual the food was fantastic. I got the tomato soup which was perfect and the consistently good fried chicken salad. Keep up the great work, FF.
(4)
Jenna E.
My family and I ate here for the first time today. I ordered the goat cheese ravioli with chicken cutlet and both were delicious. My only issue was that it came on a large amount of buttered squash and only had six pieces of actual ravioli. Since there is no description for any of the foods, most of our plates came with something unexpected and I don't think that's great considering the amount of picky eaters and people with food allergies in the world. The "poto" mac and cheese was also easily the best I have ever eaten and came in quite a large portion. My brother's waffle took a bit too long to arrive, so the manager came to us and apologized and then took it off the final bill. There in house sodas put all others I have ever consumed to shame and I actually ended up ordering a second even though there weren't free refills. The cheesecake and carrot cake are enough to feed three or more people each and are EXCEPTIONAL. Over all, would and probably will go again.
(5)
Gretchen P.
3.5 stars. I had a le terrible experience at the original Founding Farmers in DC a couple years ago, so when my friends invited me to dinner at this location I was a little hesistant, to say the least. I actually ended up having a very pleasant evening! We all shared a bunch of appetizers -- the green goddess dip was epic, as was the corn bread. I started with a farmer's salad, and then got the scallops with butternut squash risotto. The scallops were great, the butternut squash was only okay. And the service was about 1000x times better than when we ate at the DC location, but there were still a few hiccups (beer taking forever to come out for my boyfriend, one person's ordered getting messed up. I would say that this trip did help redeem FF for me, although it wasn't a perfect experience. But the food was good and the company was even better, so all in all I did have a great time.
(4)
Megan Q.
Delicious! Our server was very attentive and sweet and our lunch was delicious. We were seated near the door and it was very loud but overall, I would return.
(4)
J C.
I've been to the Founding Farmers in DC and have never had a complaint, but this is my first time in this location. I'll preface this by saying I was not a terribly big fan of the food I got, but that probably calls into question my choosing abilities, rather than their cooking. On the other hand, I feel a restaurant should only put on a menu dishes they know how to cook perfectly, so this is perfectly fair game. I'll start with the good. I got a Farmers' Sazerac, which used Remy Martin Cognac. As always, the cocktails are fantastic here, though perhaps this one was a bit too citrusy and not sweet enough. We got the seasonal picked vegetables as an appetizer. It was pickled green beans, which were just fine. For an entree, I got the lobster mac and cheese. In terms of volume, this was a massive meal and I was very full. The cheese sauce was creamy and cheesy, without tasting artificial like Kraft Mac and Cheese. The pasta may have been slightly dry. It was garnished with panko breadcrumbs My main complaint was with the lobster. First, there wasn't that many chunks of lobster. It felt like there was less lobster than in your standard lobster tail. For $28 I expected more. Second, the lobster was very chewy, which is indicative of overcooking. The lobster did have that characteristic sweetness though. That said, I'll be back again but I won't be getting the lobster mac and cheese. I trust the Founding Farmers brand due to my previous visits to the DC location. There's other stuff that's good on the menu.
(3)
Dolph R.
Good God, we've got to rock down to Electric Avenue, then we'll get you higher. Tottenham Hot Spurs!!!!
(2)
Candace C.
After reading the reviews I was excited to try the menu items others had recommended on here. We had the apple/onion and fig proscuitto breads. Both were good but the fig was definitely the better of the two and actually ended up being my favorite part of the whole meal. The fried green tomatoes were a disappointment with their lack of taste and bland coating. After much deliberation I settled on the Southern fried chicken, collard greens and mashed potatoes for my main course. When the waiter set the plate down I could tell the chicken was dry. I dug in anyway hoping it could still live up to its rave reviews. It didn't get better. On top of being dry the skin had no flavor and the dryness overtook any taste the actual meat may have had. The mashed potatoes would have been good if they hadn't been barely warm. The collard greens were the most flavorful, well-cooked item on the plate. Had I not been someone's guest for the meal I would've sent the whole meal back, something I very rarely do. All in all I would not go back or recommend this restaurant to others, especially given the prices charged.
(2)
Ani J.
I had heard a lot about this place, and always wanted to try it. Last weekend we got a reservation and finally got the opportunity to try this place. The restaurant is spacious, with a cozy ambiance. We were seated promptly and the waiter took our drinks order. We ordered the following: - Table Biscuits: DELICIOUS!!! These were warm and perfectly flavored. So good. - Fried Green Tomatoes: DELICIOUS!!! So good. Never had green tomatoes that tasted so good. - Meatless Turkey Burger: This was ok. I asked them to bring it without cheese, they of course didn't listen and brought it with cheese. The burger tasted ok. I wish I had ordered something else instead. I want to go back and try some other things on their menu. Definitely a great place for vegetarians.
(4)
Kat F.
So if I could give them an overall three and half stars I would. I've actually been here a bunch of times so let me break it up a bit: For BRUNCH four out of five stars: Whenever someone visits from out of town it's the perfect brunch spot. Whenever we forget to make a reservation we just grab a seat at the bar. I've never waited more that 10 minutes going that route. The bloody mary's are the absolute best. And all of the brunch options are fabulous. Although my favorites are definitely the hashes, especially with the chili on it. The bartenders are always excellent with service and just the right amount of chatty. The waiters are just as good but are spread a little thin, but I've never had a bad experience. For LUNCH three out of five stars: We've been here a few times for lunch too and the food just isn't as great. My friend got the veggie burger and she said it was quite dry. I got the turkey/gruyere sandwich and it was also dry and had wayy too much turkey on it so that it almost had no flavor. But the whole meal is saved by the farmers bread with brie and onion jam because it is BANGIN. Like seriously, get it. Okay and then here we come to my beef with this place. I went here for brunch with some friends who were visiting. We thought we had made a reservation but they didn't have us down. She suggested we sit at the bar but then came over to get us because they has a table for us within like five minutes which was SO great, we really appreciated that. One of my friends is vegan and they have a special vegan menu which they bring over to us and she orders the veggie scramble. We assumed that since it was off the vegan menu it would either be scrambled with tofu or just be the vegetables but when it came it was veggies with EGGS. My friend asked if it was eggs and the waiter said "Of course they are that's what SCRAMBLE means." We were all so confused because she had ordered off the VEGAN menu. After about 20 minutes and my friend ordering about 8 different variations of things only to be told that that item was in fact not vegan she ended up eating some sauteed squash and zucchini with a toasted hamburger bun. And to add insult to injury they still charged her the full price of the meal she had originally ordered. I understand that it is difficult to accommodate vegans, but if you say you have a menu dedicated to vegan food you should make sure all the things on that menu are in fact vegan. And if you mess up you should always apologize and not be rude to the patron. So! Come here for brunch but DON'T bring your vegetarian/vegan friends
(3)
Yolit Y.
went over there 10pm yesterday with my wife and set on the bar,i have to say that they have amazing variety of great alcohol including isly whiskey !! a nice guy was in the bar and took care of us with great starters as fried green tomatoes 'pickled carrot and mini burger(yummmmi and juicy) even the whiskey was well served neath !! overall experience was more than great and i will definitely recommend this place for late evening!!one more import thing to mention is the great music
(5)
Shannon O.
I came here with my family for my Grandfather's birthday lunch. Service was AWESOME! Food was AWESOME! Drinks were AWESOME! I will definitely be back here again and I would like to check out the DC location. We brought a cake for my grandfather and they were so accommodating by bringing the cake out for us when we were ready for dessert. They didn't charge us for a cake fee or anything.
(5)
Aline K.
I have dined here for dinner on numerous occasions, and really enjoyed it. Must mention first above all, GREAT service. Every waiter/waitress I've experienced has been very pleaseant. Bacon lovers MUST TRY the Bacon lollis. Before I tried them the first time I didn't think they'd be anything special. Boy was I wrong! They are like a candied/sweet bacon. Absolutely delish, I try to savor every bite. I really also enjoy the Deviled eggs. It comes with 8 eggs, 2 traditional, 2 with crab meat, 2 with lobster, and I believe 2 with shrimp. I love how they are seasoned, and its a new twist on deviled eggs. Another of our favorites is the skirt steak enchilada (i've had it slightly over cooked before, but the last time It was cooked perfectly medium). The fish and ships is also a good order. I'm not really a fan of the fries though. For dessert, we've gotten sorbet (strawberry lemonade) and that's always been very good. But, if you love bacon, do yourself a favor and get the bacon lolli's! You won't regret it.
(4)
Bek Z.
The food selection is good. Definitely start with the bread appetizers. They are great. I really like the sandwiches, especially the pastrami on rye. Beer and wine selection is also pretty good.
(4)
Jin P.
I'm shocked a restaurant chain as nice as this one doesn't have better trained staff. Just left after a disappointing lunch and I'm done. My French fries were cold and stale and our server forgot to switch my cole slaw to green beans but she was literally nowhere to be found for at least 15 minutes. I was so hungry that I ate it anyways. When she finally appeared I asked for ketchup for my cold fries. By the time she brought it I was done eating. This isn't the worst lunch outing I've had but I expect more from a place of this caliber with the kind of reputation they have. Before ever trying Founding Farmers I always heard people raving about their food. But I haven't been impressed on any of my visits-dinner, brunch, and now lunch. There's better places to spend your money where they won't charge you for bread.
(1)
Nina P.
I reviewed the DC location years ago and since then I've been there many times. After accompanying my friend with her wedding dress shopping, I was elated when I found out there was a Founding Farmers across the street. The Clementine is one of my favorite cocktails and was the perfect reward for having to drive all the way to Potomac, Maryland. My friend enjoyed the Bone which I've also had before, it's definitely strong, not girly, good choice for a dude, and a pork lover's drink being garnished with a delicious strip of bacon. Very consistent with the DC location. Great service, average food. I love the pickled vegetables - always order it. Was disappointed that they didn't have a mix like I've always gotten in the DC location. They only had green beans. The burgers are probably your best choice or perhaps an entree salad. Their other entrees just don't make the cut (i.e. talking about you, skirt steak/enchiladas). If you live in Maryland, don't bother with ever going to the DC location because we easily got a table and the bar had seats available as well around 430pm on a Sunday afternoon.
(3)
P F.
I've been here twice so far. Once for lunch and the last time for dinner. Overall, good place. I had dinner reservations for 9PM. Arrived at 9PM and I was told it was going to a bit of a wait. We were seated at 9:30. That's a bit excessive, especially when one has reservations and the restaurant has pretty much cleared out at that time. At 9:15 I asked for an update and the host/hostess kind of gave the attitude of, "Don't complain. You are privileged to eat here/We are doing you a favor". As for the food: We had the fried green tomatoes for an appetizer. Good but not great. I guess I just had to try them because I've never had fried green tomatoes before. For the main course we had the pot roast and the hot dogs. The pot roast was the star of the night. Solid five course dish! It was pot roast served on top of mashed potatoes with fried onions on top along with vegetables and potatoes. Huge portion and filling. The hot dogs were also very good. The mustard and bacon one had too much mustard on it for my liking. Consider getting the mustard on the side. The sweet relish one was very good. Overall, good place. I would go back because the food is good. Waiting 1/2 hour when you already have reservations is not acceptable.
(4)
Richard K.
If you're looking for good setting with food & service to match then this is the place to be. Ryan our server was a polite & informative without being overbearing. I'll be back!
(4)
Lillian C.
I simply am not impressed with founding farmers. This would be my first visit to the MoCo, but second visit including my visit to the DC location (in the IMF building nevertheless. ) As much as I want to embrace the "farm to table" model, this food screams "safe" and "boring". One of their mainstays is fried chicken, so you'd think mmmm southern cooking. If you're going to make the sacrifice and consume the calories, it better be amazing right? Not this! With the entree option, you get a measly half waffle (what the heck!?!) so you can only have about two bites of "chicken and waffle" before you just eat straight up fried chicken. And this fried chicken is nothing like southern fried chicken- it's incredibly dry and the only spices to speak of is too much salt and pepper and too little of everything else. You're doing it wrong when Popeye's makes a much better piece of chicken than you for a third of the price. (BUT IT'S LOCAL...) Why I really disliked this dish was the mac and cheese! What a travesty! I am a mac and cheese junkie to the point of borderline honorary Canadian. I ate so much mac and cheese in college, I might be 50% mac and cheese. And mac and cheese is unfortunately one of those dishes 100% better with manufactured elbow macaroni. You need that springy semolina hollow shape to support a nice creamy, tangy sauce and here we have are sad little chunks of pasta with a quasi-al dente, mushy texture in a gooey bland cheese sauce. It pained me to eat it. And the "greens", I thought I was going to get some collards or kale but it was just a few cold green beans. Serve this dish in the south and you'd be laughed out of town! I'm so glad I didn't indulge in the steep 28$ lobster version!!! And the kicker- asked for hot sauce and the waitress disappeared and was nowhere to be found for the next half hour. We had to grab the bus boy as he was bussing my partner's dishes to get some. It just is mind boggling that any institution that wants to serve anything remotely southern doesn't want to put out a bottle of hot sauce and such a request was so difficult. It's obviously my fault for thinking that a smarmy place like this is capable of serving southern food even though we're technically in the south. I had better luck with southern food in Portland, Oregon thousands of miles away from the south than here!
(2)
Allison W.
I've eaten here a few times and I had a great time! Most recently, I came this past Saturday for brunch. We made a reservation and were seated immediately upon arrival. Our server was fine, a little short (in manner, not stature :) but she had a large section of tables from what I could tell. The Frisco burger that I ordered was fantastic, grilled exactly as I asked. We also got an order of the beignets and they did not disappoint. Yet to have a bad experience at a Founding Farmers, so needless to say I'll be back soon :)
(4)
Tawanna W.
First time diner, and I enjoyed the experience. My girlfriend and I met for brunch. I had a 1:00 reservation and arrived about 10 minutes early. I was told that my table would be ready closer to 1, which was fine, they were pretty busy and had an hour wait if you did not have a pending reservation. The hostess was very nice, and showed me to my table on time for my reservation. There were a lot of larger groups having brunch and overall it appeared to be a very comfortable, clean, friendly environment. While I waited for my girlfriend to arrive I ordered a bellini and the popcorn of the day which was ranch. The bellini was so so, nothing exciting and I definitely wouldn't order it again, and the popcorn although it was very fresh and smelled delicious, the ranch flavor was a little overbearing. I barely made a dent in my order. My girlfriend arrived and we ordered breakfast. I ordered the belgian waffle with applewood smoked bacon and a side of grits. The food was delicious. It looked appetizing, it was very flavorful, and the appropriate temperature when it arrived to the table. I ordered a mimosa to go with my breakfast, which was a lot better than the bellini I had earlier. My girlfriend enjoyed her breakfast as well. She had a hearty portion of blueberry pancakes,scrambled eggs and chicken apple sausage. The only part of my visit that I didn't enjoy was my service from Alyssa, she was very slow and not attentive. The best part of my visit was the delicious looking food not only at my table, but also at the tables around us. I can't wait to go back and try the southern fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collard greens. The guys next to us ordered the chicken and it looked as if it had been fried perfectly. So I'm definitely looking forward to my next visit....yes, there will be another visit!!! Oh, and the mailbox idea is really cute. The server brings you your check in a little mailbox. Once you are ready to pay, you place your form of payment into the mailbox and raise the red flag so the server knows that you are ready.
(4)
Eric S.
Thank you to General Manager Ashley for being a strong leader and continuing to show why Founding Farmers has outstanding customer service. Your caring attitude towards customers is appreciated and makes dining a pleasure. I will continue to go back and recommend the restaurant highly
(5)
b r.
I'm basing my review on experiences in May-June 2015. Today I called with the intent to order carryout - roasted veggie and avocado sandwich. I was initially put on hold twice (total of 7 minutes). After the second time, a person apologized and said she was going to transfer me over to the actual restaurant (I thought I had CALLED the actual restaurant, based on the MoCo number on the Founding Farmers webpage). I said okay and was put on hold a third time. Then a voicemail came on telling me the person was not available and to call back later. Excuse me? WHAT?! So much for ordering. I didn't call back and never will. A few weeks earlier, I had checked out MoCo Founding Farmers as a possible venue for a group celebration. They don't have a separate room, but rather an upper floor (luckily elevator accessible). That would have been fine, except that the lower and upper floors share the same ceiling, so potential echos. They told me to contact their event coordinator via email to "discuss" my plans for the group celebration. I asked if they had a phone number--they said no, the event coordinator only communicates via email. After I checked out the venue that day, I decided to order carry-out during dinner time to check out the food and the noise level. I had a hard time deciding on the few vegetarian dishes they offered. I'm mostly vegan, so I don't expect a lot from an American restaurant. The person on the phone (I actually reached someone on the phone this time) convinced me to get the seven-cheese macaroni. She said it would be ready in 20 minutes. I showed up 30 minutes later and then hung around the bar another 15 minutes while they prepared my order. It was so noisy around the bar (which echoes up to the second floor), that I had to yell into the bartender's ear so he could almost hear me. Obviously not a good venue for a party if you want to be able to have a conversation. If you're into loud, echoey, crowded restaurants, then this is the place for you. Finally, the macaroni really wasn't that good--kind of dry & clumpy. For a dish that's normally so decadent, I expected something really good--even if veggie cuisine is not their specialty. I understand why a restaurant this busy would have a more complex phone system that might result in poor communication/customer service, but what I don't understand is why this restaurant is so busy.
(1)
Samuel C.
This place is could be better! Party for 5. The parking lot is small. Have only 2 hours parking. Don't have to wait long. The water is like warm water. The like no ice cube or anything. Recommend you not to drink it! But the drinks are really really good. The shrimp is pasta is nasty. Very salty. Not really good at all. The chicken salad is good, soup and sand which are good. The people are nice and friendly. Mostly every 10 minutes the come by check on us how the food was which that is so annoying.
(3)
Mis H.
Went here for my bday dinner. I had the meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Good size portions and food tasted fresh. Will definitely be back...very very soon!
(4)
nic b.
So good. So darn good. Had the Yankee pot roast and the portion was enormous. The meat was tender and perfectly cooked, the mash was delicious, parsnips, turnips(?), perfect. Girlfriend had the prime rib dip...it was unbelievably good. We screwed up our app order and the server was perfect, offered to take the item of the bill but i decided to keep it (girlfriend didn't see horseradish on the description)...Anyway this is all a way to say our server was fantastic and had lots of great recommendations. He was very attentive! We had a great time, enjoyed amazing food and it was all very reasonably priced! We will be back.
(5)
Mil N.
I cant believe it took me so long to write up a review on this place. Me and my mom come here for brunch or lunch every weekend, mostly sundays, and its one of our favorite places to go. I just came home and had a truly exceptional experience that was outstanding to all other times I've been here which is what prompted me to write this review. What I love most about this place is that everything they make and serve (ingredients) are all made in house fresh and from amazing quality. The service is amazing and everyone there is extremely knowledgeable about the menu. I havnt had one server who didnt know how to answer any of my complicated questions yet. These guys are truly professional. I want to point out that the manager (which I didnt get his name) and the executive chef (Dan Dienemann) went above and beyond to ensure that I had the best experience imaginable and that my food didnt come out less than perfect. Great job guys, keep up the good work! Thanks for the gracious hospitality. -Milad
(5)
Claire S.
Love their simple, tasty breakfasts. Servers are always friendly, and it has a good vibe. On weekends it's best to make a reservation as the line can get out the door!
(5)
Zachary B.
I love Founding Farmers. The recipes are full of flavor and the service has always been attentive in my experience. I crave the chicken and waffles with Mac and cheese. FF makes some of the best Mac and cheese I've had out. The ambiance is light, bright and fresh. They've blended the fresh from the farm feel with modern uses of material. The drinks are often pricey, but I accept that going in. It's a restaurant first, so I go knowing alcohol will up the bill.
(5)
Alicia G.
All the things you love about Founding Farmers DC but in MARYLAND! It's much less crowded and easier to get a table, feels more spacious and there's always super friendly service. The parking situation isn't my fav but it sure beats finding a street spot downtown! Yay Potomac!
(4)
Sarah C.
Update: Tried again with a large brunch group. Had reservations and even brought a couple unexpected people -- still seated right away. Pleasant and prompt service, even for the late arrivers to make sure they didn't have to wait too long for their food after we were served. That's a plus, plus. Food was delish, and every one of us (9) was happy. The ginger and vanilla sodas are fresh, and I again tried the Pimms cup - amazing! Hands down this place knows what they're doing! Next dinner....
(4)
Marianne Z.
I finally made a trip here with some old friends after hearing such good things about it. I ended up being a huge fan of everything, the food, the environment, and the service! We were there for almost 3 hours, and our server was so friendly! The sodas are so good, I tried the grapefruit. I ordered the salmon, it was delicious! And the chocolate mousse cake was so yummy, but so big! Luckily, 4 girls were able to finish it.
(5)
Mary R.
I am a huge fan of the chicken n waffles. It tastes like homemade fried chicken....I don know how they do it but it's Devine. If u have room for dessert, get the red velvet cake...its a huge slice so u can definitely share. Priced very reasonably...can't wait to try the dc location.
(5)
Rachel L.
I'd heard great things about the DC location, so I was excited to see Founding Farmers opening the Potomac location (which is close to Rockville, where I live). My husband and I had date night so I checked online at the last minute to see if there were reservations available. Surprisingly, at 7:30pm on a Wednesday I could have made a res for 7:45. I made it for 8 and we arrived right on time. Well, apparently their "reservations" on OpenTable are akin to putting your name on the waiting list; we ended up waiting a good 40 minutes for a table (according to the hostess there were "a few reservations ahead" of us). It's ok, the restaurant was packed and we just got some drinks at the bar. They were friendly about it. But, why accept a reservation for 8 when you're not going to have a table until at least 8:30? Almost immediately after we were seated, our waitress arrived, ready to take our appetizer order. Well, the menu here is quite large and we needed a couple minutes to review it, she seemed surprise that we weren't ready yet. Over the course of the night, her timing was a bit off and slow. It seems they are definitely getting the service kinks worked out. BUT the food was all excellent. We ordered the cornbread appetizer which was quite possibly the best cornbread I've ever eaten. It's sweet - so some may not be into that, my husband wasn't as much as I was - and it has corn kernels in it. Both things I like. The texture was right on - moist and crumbly. A little odd to serve it as an "appetizer", but excellent nonetheless. I had their "strawberry fizz" drink which was pretty to look at and yummy to drink. For an entree I had Southern Fried Chicken which was pretty awesome. Really tasty batter/breading, seasoned perfectly, with moist, juicy flavorful chicken inside. Awesome mashed potatoes with white gravy. Fluffy biscuit. Not really a fan of the collard greens but that's my taste, they were well prepared. Served with pickle relish on the side but I didn't try it. My husband had Lobster Mac and Cheese. He thought the house-made pasta was undercooked (I think he just likes his pasta extra soft.) and that the lobster tails being placed on top didn't allow the lobster flavor to blend with the pasta enough. However, I thought it rocked and kept stealing bites off his plate. I'm happy to have an American restaurant with this quality of food in our area, and will definitely be back. If they fix the service issues and the food is consistently as good over a few visits, I would upgrade this to 5 stars.
(4)
Jennifer S.
I had the corn salad here. It was decent but not great. The bread is very good here. There is seating upstairs, and it is more private than downstairs. I recommend sitting upstairs. Service is friendly but is very slow to bring out your main course.
(3)
austin b.
Woop Woop! Went to Founding Farmers Potomac last night and had an awesome experience. Yea yea, the space is dope and the drinks are awesome, but let's cut to the chase here. I bet you didn't know the best BBQ in MD was located in Potomac, eh? You HAVE to try the Carolina BBQ with Fixins platter. I'm a huge collard greens fan and the ones here did not disappoint. The baked beans had huge chunks of bacon in it and the pulled pork was pipin' hot and super delicious. It also came with this little side of cucumber and onion salad that was really refreshing. Oh yea, and don't forget the pitchfork combo and the brie with onion jam and apples flatbread. Those two are can't miss appetizers. So psyched we have a legit restaurant option in Potomac. Can't wait to try the brunch!
(5)
Mike W.
This is my first Yelp review. I've had a profile for close to 3 years and never really been impressed enough to bother writing my thoughts down when so many other people have done it before me, but for a new restaurant that is this good I'll break the embargo happily. Let's cut right to the chase. It's Founding Farmers, of course the food is delicious! I've ordered more things off their menu (at the DC location) than I can count and not one single thing has ever been less than excellent. And from the 8 or so things my table ordered last night, it is the exact same situation with the Park Potomac location as well. Bacon Lollies, ridiculously good. Brie and onion jam flat bread, staggeringly tasty. Frisco Burger, I dare you to try and find a better one. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. Drinks were great. Bartenders are on point and drinks taste exactly the way they should. They are ready quickly, and the bar area is as nice as you'll find in the area. Great selection of beers and better cocktails than anything around for miles. Decor, like others have mentioned, is very well put together. Great look for an upscale feel, but not so high-end that you feel like you need a coat and tie. It's right in that perfect happy medium place. Seats are comfortable, tables have plenty of space, and even when it's busy it's not so loud that you have to shout. Excellent execution overall. Service is great as well. For servers that hadn't even had one full shift under their belts, every single one was friendly and very knowledgeable. The kitchen was obviously working out some opening night hiccups, but the servers were great about it and never disappeared for long stretches. Always there just in time for a drink refill. I highly recommend Founding Farmers Park Potomac to anyone. It's head and shoulders above every other restaurant in town. I know places in the area like Clyde's have their loyal following (trust me I'm one of them), but there's no denying Founding Farmers is the new king of the hill.
(5)
Cinneah E.
Excellent service and delicious food, even for a late night, large group of 15+ hungry young adults! Service: A+++ The staff provided us with complimentary appetizers due to our long wait for a table (which was technically no real fault on their end). When we did arrive to our table, they quickly took our orders. They even threw in complimentary desserts for us after we paid our bills, which was a pleasant surprise as we were celebrating my birthday! Never once did we have to flag down our servers. They and others were quick to bring us utensils, more refills, condiments, napkins, and anything else we needed. We all know how refreshing it feels to eat with a group and still have fast, excellent servers. They were friendly and extremely courteous the entire evening. Food: A++ Start off like we did with the Farmers' Pitchfork with Bacon Lollis, Table Biscuits, the Popcorn of the Day, and the Oven-Roasted Cracked Black Pepper Wings. For dinner, try the Fried Chicken & Waffles, Crab Cakes, Frisco Burger, Plank Salmon or the Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke Salad. Finally, you can't go wrong for dessert with the Red Velvet Cake, the Carrot Cake or any of their milkshakes. Everything was simply amazing! Value: A++ For the amount of food you will receive, in addition to the fact that all the food is locally grown and is "true," the prices cannot be beat. I love how all the food tasted very fresh and home-cooked. If you're in the area or want to enjoy dinner without the DC rush, stop in! I will definitely be returning in the future!
(5)
Amy W.
Beside the wait... Food was good and I will come back here anytime for their Bloody mary. Please speed up the serving!!!!! Over an hour wait for 4 ppl is not acceptable =( but we got the food for free =)
(3)
Tri L.
Was disappointed to see the bad reviews on Yelp for the Potomac location, but decided to give it a try anyways. We had a party of 4 and had an excellent meal, and will be returning. Maybe they have gotten over whatever issues they had since opening. The wings are great, so just get them. Hot dog plate was good, but a little heavy (then again its a hot dog plate). Skirt steak was great, as was the cedar plank salmon. The southern style fried chicken was well done as well, although I don't know why restaurants insist on ruining the crunchy goodness of fried chicken by pouring gravy all over it (just ask for it on the side). Overall a great meal. They have a HUGE menu, which can be good and bad, depending on how you look at it.
(4)
Susan R.
My husband and I ate at the bar. I had a phosphate of the day (blood orange) and my husband thought the selection of beers on tap were ok. We also ordered the fried green tomatoes and devil-ish eggs. The eggs were great with sriracha sauce and the fried green tomatoes were a too chewy for me but loved the green goddess sauce (avocado and olive oil) that came with it.
(3)
Bill P.
This could be my GO TO spot driving back from Bethesda to Gaithersburg. Nope.....not a big Tower Oaks Clyde's fan. The only other option outside of Rockville Pike. Sat at the end of the bar and enjoyed great HUGE house salad $7.00 with all of the usual accoutrements......Tomatoes, Blue Cheese, Croutons, Ranch dressing. Slow-Simmered Chili.....$12.00 shrewn beef black beans challots......very tasty!!!!! UMD's Tim Brant was in the house!!!!! HE did not buy me my second glass of wine. Thanks barkeeps!!!!!! Tables tough to get here so make revs or join me at da bar!!!!
(5)
Mike K.
Great drinks, nice flair, Potomac jet set families galore. Great for Brunch I hear. Local produce and meats, nice touch. Poor Zoe's next door, empty whild FF was jamming.
(3)
Crystal Lynne C.
I haven't been this disappointed in a DC-based restaurant opening in Rockville since Matchbox. Harsh, I know, but I feel somewhat foolish for so highly anticipating the arrival of Founding Farmers. Cuong and I showed up for dinner on opening night, and were seated close to our reservation time. I was delighted to see that the industrial decor was similar to the DC location. Knowing that there would be certain differences and setbacks, I tried to stifle my high expectations. Pros: -First of all, Laura was an outstanding waitress. Patient, personable, and tended to us the best she could under the chaotic evening's circumstances. -The Devilish Eggs are just as good as the DC location. -The check came in a tiny mailbox. -The pumpkin cheesecake wasn't terrible, but the wait off-set the dessert. Cons: -The food came out slow. Not painstakingly slow, but long enough for Cuong to say something. And he's ridiculously patient. -My scallops were rubbery and slightly overcooked. I love scallops. I was given 4 and only ate three. Cuong had some sweet potato mash or something orange and gingery and it was DISGUSTING. It's the worst thing I've ever had in any restaurant. The flavors were so overpowering that it tasted like Pine-Sol. -I ordered an egg cream soda thing, and the waiter who brought it out to me didn't leave a straw. It went flat before I could drink it. -Cuong's short ribs were drenched in sauce and only had a little bit of meat on them. -The pumpkin cheesecake took forever to come to the table. I'll give this place another try someday. But I'm in no rush.
(2)
Lynn Y.
I've been wanting to try this place for over a year but will not after the horrible experience I had with the person answering the phone. I called one Saturday evening to make a reservation and was told "Sure, no problem we can fit you in at 9:30". It was a couple hours away but I was willing to wait so I asked him to put me down for a table for two. He then proceeded to say with disappointment "Oh, only two? I thought you had a bigger party. We don't have room for only a party of two." How you can have room for a large party, but not for a party of two I will never understand. Obviously this place is only concerned with making money on large parties.
(1)
Don R.
Went here on Sunday for brunch. Very crowded; had to wait even though we had a reservation. Loud downstairs, but not upstairs where we were seated. Our server was great; she really made an effort to listen and understand. The restaurant has a large menu. My son said, "like Cheesecake Factory" which is a decent comparison, except this food is more "homey." But like Cheesecake Factory, when you have an enormous menu you have some hits and some misses. Since it was our first time, we wanted to try lot of things. My wife had the eggs Benedict which she liked. My son had lobster mac and cheese which was just OK. I had a garden scramble which was ho-hum at best (and a really small serving) and a side of pork breakfast which was awful! (They cut it in half lengthwise before cooking -- why would anybody ever do that?!?!? -- and then burned it. The explanation is "That's how we cook it.") They make a big deal out of their coffee, and they should. It's by one of the best roasters in the World. Trouble is, they don't know how to make coffee. The flavor was (would have been) good, but it was as weak as Kool Aid. The popcorn, which is their big gimmick was disgusting -- stale, cold, no butter or salt and dry. The flavor was BBQ, which would have been OK but the rest was so bad that nothing could save it. The waitress took it off the bill. The cornbread is to die for and the beignets were great, though not New Orleans style; they were more like donuts. We paid a pretty hefty price, and it was definitely not worth going back.
(2)
Rasha B.
its is a great place, great food, workers are very nice, i just loved it.. i went there with my baby husband and couple of friends.. we had a great time.. you feel the quality of the food.. it is awesome :)
(5)
Alexandra S.
Service was great even though it was SUPER busy on a Sunday morning at 10AM. The food and drinks are DELICIOUS. One criticism would be of the grits. I suggested to the waitress that I only like grits when they're cheesy and she said "oh we can do that." The grits arrived with a huge slab of (cheddar?) cheese on top. It was totally unattractive, unlike the other delicious food we had. The homemade blueberry soda was SO good (though not sure it was worth $5) and freshly squeezed OJ is always a treat as few people do it anymore. I would definitely go back next time I'm down in that area.
(4)
Scot W.
Went here for brunch today and had a solid meal. The quality of the food certainly matches the quality of their foggy bottom location. The ambience is not as good or lively, but of course what can you expect from rockville. The restaurant is still going through some growing pains...had trouble finding our reservation, our waiter brought out a pot of cold coffee instead of the tea my girlfriend ordered (which they fixed right away), and they were missing the ingredients for her first choice of entree, but the whole staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. We split biscuits and fried green tomatoes, both of which were excellent...I particularly liked the green dipping sauce that accompanied the tomatoes. I had the chicken and waffle; the waffle was good, light fluffy and crisp on the outside. The chicken was a little dry for my taste, and the skin/batter had all of the flavor and seasoning, leaving the meat kind of bland. The gravy and scrambled eggs that came along side were both very good... My girlfriend had the blueberry pancakes...a truly massive plate of pancakes that she thoroughly enjoyed. Great food, good friendly service, worth checking out.
(3)
Diana M.
Really accommodating to food allergies. Food is OK, but not worth the prices or the hype. What is good is that they source local. Need some more creativity in the kitchen for the image that they are trying to create. Service is great.
(3)
Michelle P.
very disappointed...where do i start. I ordered the Crispy Spatchcock Chicken because I saw it on Non-Stop Foodies. It looked really good on TV. Well was told that it would come with String Beans and Mashed Potatoes. Instead it came with Mashed potatoes and a side of Roasted Veggies that included more potatoes. it was laden with Salt, and looked like it was sitting under the heat lamp for awhile. My aunt got the same thing, and my mom has the Chicken and waffles, her fried chicken was so salty that i actually coughed more then a few times because it was so salt laden. the half of waffle was really soft...which wasn't all that great. It came with mac and cheese and salty roasted veggies. our waiter was super nice though, he comped our meal for the long wait which was more than 45 minutes, and he gave us a piece of red velvet. i wanted to tell him to keep it, it was super dry. We ended up tipping him well since he was really sweet and very helpful! It isn't worth the drive out to Potomac from DC. the only reason we drove to Potomac is because the Spatchcock Chicken isn't available at the DC Location. I personally think there is a lot of hype for this place but it's just not that great to me.
(2)
Susan C.
I was very ready to give FF a try. Head lots of good things, and I think it has a great chance. But the service has to improve. Showed up at 12:45 today, told we would be seated in 30 minutes, at 25 minutes we were told it would be another 20 minutes, then at 15 more minutes the hostess said; I am working as hard as I can ( with a smile) But why not just be honest. Or, get an accurate host system. We walked over to the Wine Harvest and had a great lunch without any drama
(1)
Charles P.
This place was God-awful! My partner and I put our names in for an hour wait (which is no big deal normally). Then we see people come in who are being sat down before us. When asked what the deal was, the host said these people had reservations for 10:00 and it was 8:30! Why would you sit someone at 8:30 when they had reserved for 10?! One star down! Next we are sat down at a communal table for 8. We are the only two people at this long table (very awkward). Our waitress comes after about 10 minutes of waiting and we order drinks. Twenty-five minutes go by with no drinks (not even water) and we had two different waitresses ask if we've been served already. The second waitress takes our food order. One star down! After waiting another hour we get our appetizers (one star down) followed by another 30 minutes of waiting for our entrees (one star down) both of which were either room temp or cold (one star down). That's zero stars! I have never been this poorly treated at any restaurant! I felt as if they knew we were a broke young couple who didn't live in this bourgeois area and we were treated as second class citizens and segregated because of it. I don't care how "upscale" the area is, you don't treat ANYONE like this! The only saving grace was the fried green tomatoes. Absolutely delicious, the only hot food we had, and amazing with those dips (one star up).
(1)
Glenn F.
I had high hopes for this place. We had a 7pm reservation that we made 1.5 weeks in advance and ended up waiting until 7:30 to sit. Once we sat things looked good with our waiter coming right over and getting drink orders, explaining the specials, and being engaging. After that it took another 20 minutes to get our food ordered, and 50 minutes to get the food, which one was ice cold. While I thought the food was pretty good the place is not run very well. We sat on the top level and while we waited the 70 minutes total for food we watched waiter after waiter bring up food to the WRONG TABLES. It was actually laughable after about the 6th time. The place was in chaos. Too bad they are clueless because I did like the food. 0 stars on service 4 stars on food overall 2 stars
(2)
Ryan C.
Had the dogs and rolls one visit and they were great! The crab cakes were ok, nothing special but I really enjoyed the mac and cheese and loaded potatoes that came with them. Its a little on the expensive side for some items so bring your parents or someone else who is willing to pay for those items.
(4)
Sharon F.
Good food but long wait times even with a reservation. Would be helpful if they used buzzers.
(3)
Juls K.
We go to FF periodically, almost every weekend. I find it best to book a reservation via open table, but very often when there are no spots available we seat at the bar. Peppered wings are very very delicious, highly recommend.
(4)
Esther O.
Well, the vegan water was tasty.... But other than that ... seems really nice... but I'm posting mostly as a warning for the vegans out there, since I know that their vegan menu is a huge part of the draw to the restaurant. However - they currently do NOT have the vegan menu. I intend to go back (and update this review) when it returns (they say it will), but for now - avoid this location if you're looking for the vegan options. On the bright side, the bartender was incredibly friendly and helpful and apologetic, and a definite highlight to the location.
(2)
Lynsey T.
Perfect for brunch on the patio! Amazing service and food!
(5)
Mary L.
So I've been here a couple of times and every experience so far has been pretty good. I always get the bacon lollies because they're absolutely delicious and a must if you come here. They caramelize like brown sugar, maple and a hint of cinnamon on the bacon. It's sooo good. Kind of like candy bacon. Yummy. I came here for breakfast and had the chicken and waffles which were really good. The chicken is nice and moist and the syrup used isn't too thick and nice and sweet. When I came for dinner I had the southern fried chicken once. It was really good. The chicken was tender and juicy and it was accompanied by this green jalapeno sauce that paired with the chicken was a combination of sweet and salty. Really good. I also had the pot roast when I was here. It was really good. Very tender and not too dry or fatty. It comes with the vegetables or the day which were rhubarb, beets, and carrots. The carrots were slightly overcooked but the rhubarb was cooked perfectly. I've never liked beets. Ever. But the beets that came with the dish were really good. Also, try their soda flavor of the day. I've had the blueberry a couple of times and it's soo good. When you're finally done with all the main courses, be sure to make room for the beignets. They come with caramel, chocolate and raspberry sauce. Usually takes about 20 minutes or so to make fresh so order them halfway through eating your main course. The staff were friendly and attentive but not overly so. Overall: wonderful, addictive bacon pops+ yummy food+ good service= a go to spot while in Rockville.
(4)
Bill S.
This place pissed me off. The first time we tried to go there we called. They said come in by six and we can seat you without reservations. we arrived at 5 5:45 and where told to get lost. Not quite but the host, could not have been more arrogant in telling us no reservation no seat, When we told him we had called he was an even bigger prick (did I say that) In any case after our rejection we did make a reservation, where seated in reasonable fashion and then got horrible service with lots of apologies. I won't go back unless forced. This place is too arrogant for may taste. (oh the food was OK but cold)
(1)
Andrea B.
The waiter started out great...brought our food and never came back. Then we saw him leaving...so we tipped another waiter for bringing our check...food was great. Looking forward to going back and sitting at the bar. And they have popcorn of the day :o) Don't even think about getting in at normal lunch or dinner hours during a weekend! Just planned a lunch for Monday & after that I will update my review~
(3)
Mary M.
We gave this place two tries. We won't be back, which is unfortunate because we support the concept. The execution is sub~par and the are no concessions for the shortcomings. We arrived 10 minutes early for our reservation. We were told we would be seated in 10 minutes. Every 10 minutes we checked in with the overwhelmed hostess and were told 10 more minutes. After a 30 minute wait we were seated. We ordered..and waited a good solid hour for our food to arrive. The food was fair and cold...cold eggs after waiting an hour... We were there about two and a half hours for a fair overpriced breakfast (70 bucks for eggs and pancakes with no coctails or specialty drinks). We had to ask repeatedly for the basics such as syrup for pancakes, sugar for coffee, etc. Inspite of the wait and the sporadic arrival of our meals and condements, the waiter offered no concessions. It would have been nice if they brought us exra coffee or comped something but they did not even offer. The waiter was nice and obviously embarassed by the whole thing but like I said, he did not offer anything to offset the problems. It would have been nice for the manager to stop by and apologize. As for the food, the farmers breakfast was cold and fair, the red velvet pancakes were regular pancakes with red food coloring, the red something hash was too filled with green peppers and onions for me (I was expecting more leeks) the eggs were good. The turkey sandwhich was excellent. Word of caution for vegetarians...items that one might assume are veggie are not so be sure to ask. For example the veeggie burger is made with beef stock and the home made ketchup has something non~veg (anchovie??) We were patient and forgiving because the place is new and we really wanted to have a new go to place but this is not going to be it. To top it off, we had to pay for free parking to get out of the lot... go figure.
(2)
Adam S.
FF has lots of potential. But potential doesn't amount to jack when the wait staff is undertrained, unprepared and generally uninviting and the food is sub-par to say the least. Our party of three decided to try FF in its first week of operations at the Potomac location (apologies for the delayed review) and I hope for everybody's sake that they will work out the kinks. I ordered the egg salad sandwich with sweet potato. My GF ordered the turkey sandwich and fries and her friend ordered the grilled cheese and tomato soup. We all split the cornbread. First of all, if you remove an empty pitcher of water, please fill it and bring it back. Second, if I ask "Do you have a straw?", please don't reply with a simple "Yes". If I ASK for a straw, I most likely am in NEED of one and would GREATLY appreciate a straw. If you bring a pan of cornbread, please bring a few small plates as well so we don't need to eat with our hands. I just get the feeling that the staff that works at FF has never worked in the restaurant industry and became extremely flustered during opening week. By the sound of the latest Yelp reviews, it doesn't seem much has changed. After 45 minutes, the food hadn't arrived so our waitress offered to check on the order. Never saw her again. Then, one of the managers came over to check on the order and after another 20 mins, brought popcorn to the table to tie us over. A fine gesture, but I could care less about popcorn. Orville does a fine job at satisfying my popcorn needs thank you very much. While this is going on at our table I made some observations: the table behind us sent back their salad three times. The table next to us sent back their meal because it was cold. The table across the way (Party of four that came after us) received their chicken and waffles before we did (Which I guess solves the question of which came first: The chicken or the egg?) This should have been a clue. After almost two hours, the food arrived and to no surprise, the grilled cheese (which as lathered in mayo. Something I have never seen/heard of before), fries and tomato soup were cold. The turkey sandwich was all dark meat (which wasn't necessarily their fault, just not what we expected) was cold as well. For the record, my meal was great. Great egg salad and while the sweet potato was a bit oily, overall, it was pretty good. Well, we sent the meal back and they comped the entire meal which is the only reason I would even think to consider entertaining the idea of going back. The manager left us with this comment "Please come back when the kitchen isn't so busy" Call me when that day comes.
(1)
Janis W.
Had to wait way too long to be seated, as well as other patrons that came in after me. Was not given a choice in type of bread for meal and there was no perserves..The waitress could be easily replaced. Very disappointed ...would not go back.
(1)
MacKenzie W.
Went here on a Sunday for brunch and enjoyed it. Went pretty early and it wasn't crowded yet, but by the time we were leaving (around 11) it was PACKED, so def make a reservation. Service was good. Food was very good. Got the fresh grapefruit juice, awesome! The beignets are a must-have. The raspberry sauce is amazing. I got the chicken and waffles and the waffle was probably the best I've ever had, along with the white gravy. The chicken was average, a little dry. Someone in my party got the blueberry pancakes and they were amazing. Another person got the eggs benedict, and for someone who normally doesn't like ham, that was probably the best I've had. The only complaint that I really have is about the management...will be having a party there in a few weeks and we asked to speak to a manager while we were there about their accommodations for large groups. The woman gave us a hard time and said that we'd have to split up our party of 15 into 2 tables, that they couldn't give us seats together and that we'd have to do it at 5 PM...they don't host parties any other time. Seemed a little weird that they can't accomodate that for a large party they'll be making good money off of. Still planning on doing the party there...will report back as to the service we received.
(3)
Rice L.
Very friendly service and great food...for the most part. I got the eggs benedict with leek hash and my partner got the french toast with blueberry compote. These were delicious. Before the meal we got the beignets, however,we got the beignets. Unfortunately these weren't very good. I expected soft, fluffy fresh doughnuts but instead I got CRUNCHY. Apparently I got the crunchiest ones in the bunch, so I was disappointed.
(4)
Pravin C.
Good place for hungry people. The portions are really good and food tastes good. Its better to have reservations unless u wanna wait. Only negative thing is server doesn't come to check on u as much as u would like. Otherwise a good place for family or friends to go eat.
(4)
Jared B.
Friendly hosts and knowledgeable wait staff. One of the best Bloody Mary's I've ever had ($8, in a tall glass). Variety of menu offerings, ask for the separate vegan menu if you're so inclined. Industrial casual meets farm to table. A little pricey for what it is, but I'm back for brunch every few months or so.
(4)
Lauren M.
We really love this place. There is no gluten free menu but I have ordered more than just a salad and never gotten sick. I like the shrimp and grits and the ribs :) My husband ONLY ever orders the Mac and Cheese and looks forward to it in a way he has never cared about food. We often leave with leftovers and enjoy them the following day :) The Ranch Popcorn is surprisingly great :) Breakfast looks amazing if you can eat gluten. For those of us who cannot, breakfast is nothing special. Make reservations!
**Horrible for Vegans** After getting horrible service the first 3 times I went to FF, I posted a terrible review. The manager wrote me and told me to give it another shot. So I thought, why not. I went back with a friend and ordered a salad. It came with cheese even though it wasn't written on their menu. I also asked for it vegan but they put ranch dressing on it. When the waitress discovered the mistake, I don't think they remade the salad, I think they picked off the cheese and mixed it all together. I could distinctly taste cheese. FF is way too pricey for the service and food. I ate a few bites of the salad and threw it out at home. **I will never go back their and I will be warning all of my vegan friends.
(1)
C Q.
Had lunch with coworkers around noon on a weekday. Our waitress was very friendly and took good care of us. I ordered Fried Chicken Salad. My coworkers ordered chicken pot pie and pick three rolls (chicken salad, shrimp and crab). I had a taste of their food. The "soup" in the chicken pot pie was really good, rich and creamy. The crab roll was delicious! My chicken salad was really good. The fried chicken was juicy and flavorful. The greens were fresh and tender. The salad came with ranch and honey mustard dressings (I asked for it on the side). It was surprising that both dressing tasted good separately and together. The food was delicious. The service was great. It was a very relaxing meal. I will definitely come back to get the crab roll and try something else.
(5)
Angie C.
Writing this review left me befuddled. How do you rate a place that royally messed everything up but tried their best to make it right? I settled for one star with a possible update in the future. Our food came out in staggered bursts starting at the hour mark after being seated. Two of our entrees came out before anything else followed by a short burst of appetizers then another 30ish minute lull between food. Once all of us finally got our meals nothing tasted quite right and some of it was already cold. Also, I didn't even get the correct order of Mac and Cheese and we never got our Combo Deviled Eggs because the kitchen ran out of eggs. Management was apologetic and just took care of our whole check but I wanted eggs and would have paid for them too! Ultimately what I want out of a restaurant experience is great food and to not have to resort to killing my hunger pains with rounds of Cucumber Delight cocktails (no matter how delicious and refreshing they are). Although I am not jumping to return to this particular location, I will probably give it another shot waaaaay down the line. Once all the snafus of a new restaurant get worked out this place could be a great addition to the area.
(1)
Wesley L.
AB.SO.LUTE.LY. PERFECT. We took a party of 7, six adults, one three year old, there, and the service and food were incredible. People in other reviews have complained about the service, maybe because they were new, but that apparently has been remedied. Service staff was prompt, friendly, knowledgeable and worked as a team. None of that, "I'm not your server" attitude at all. It was definitely collaborative. We asked to have the lobster mac and cheese as an appetizer, and our server Trace, who was incredible, was happy to oblige. The lobster was plentiful and cooked perfectly. We also had the devil-ish eggs combo and they were great. Four different varieties, 8 halves altogether. Total cost of starters: $42. Fed 7 people very well. My sister had the seasonal scratch soda, which was blueberry for the season, and I had the ginger. They were fantastic, light and very refreshing and fresh. I personally had the gnocchi with beef ragu. They were soft, pillowy, light and just like I imagine Fabio Viviani's must be like too. My father and brother-in-law had the Seafood Show Stopper which were loaded up with TONS of mussels, another split lobster tail cooked to perfection, shrimp and fried fish. My father even was able to substitute linguine for the bucatini it normally comes with. Again, our server Trace was happy to oblige. My mom had the crispy shrimp which were cooked perfectly and exceptionally crispy; one sister had the chicken pot pie which was amazing; and the other had the southern fried chicken, equally amazing. We did not save room for dessert, as we were celebrating birthdays at home afterward, but the peanut butter pie sounded amazing and I'm sure would not have disappointed. The check in total for 6 adults came to $200. Can't beat that! Bonus points to the restaurant - it is near the neighborhood that I grew up in, Potomac Springs. It's changed a ton! But it was nice to drive by my old house on Oakenshield and see that some things have stayed the same. Nostalgia, great food, wonderful family time, exceptional staff; what else does one need? PS - My parents are Taiwanese and generally critical of Western fare, but my father had nothing but raves for the food, which is a miracle in itself. Highly recommend it!
(5)
Adam W.
Been to the DC branch several times, always good. First time to MoCo, good as well. Had Yankee pot roast for lunch, came hot, and not salty. Wife had some garlic bread with cheese, and salad something. She enjoyed the freshness of them. For desert we had the freshly made fried donuts. Looking forward to the opening of the Tysons branch during the summer. A plug for our waitress, Alex, good job.
(4)
Kimberly M.
Very delicious! My husband and I split the bacon and home made tater tots (forget what the dish was called) as an app - those tots were fantastic. Hubby loved the bacon, which was coated in a smokey-sweet flavor. I had the chicken and waffles with the mac and cheese and greens for dinner. The waffle was cold, but it was still yummy. Chicken was great and the mac and cheese was AMAZING!!! Seriously. Amazing. My husband had the pot roast...eh. The flavor was there, but the potatoes and veggies were still crunchy. We shared the 2 cup french press coffee and the chocolate mouse cake for dessert. The coffee was nice and smooth and the cake was very rich and dense. I also had the Strawberry Lemon house made soda to drink. I simply loved it. Not too sweet at all - very refreshing. I love all the cool "crunchy" and "granola" things about this place, too - being a certified Green restaurant and all that. I definitely plan on returning!
(4)
Bailey L.
Favorite restaurant in N. Bethesda/Rockville/Gaithersburg area. Consistently very good. Innovative cocktails, good draft beer and wine selection. Menu is large but the kitchen manages to put out some fresh, tasty food from appetizers all the way through dessert items. Spatchcock chicken and fried chicken are some stand outs. No hiccups in service. Only knock might be that it can get very loud in the open concept.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Today was my first time going to Fouding Farmers. I have heard excellent reviews about the restaurant in DC so I decided to give the potomac restaurant a try. My friends and I went for their famour brunch! The food was fantastic! Full of flavor, fresh, and very innovative. We also got Bloody Marys which were spicy and tasty. They have a beautiful atmosphere and an extensive bar, The only thing that was missing is the service. Aside from a waiter who was not very accomodating (it may have been his frist time waiting so I am not going to pretend to know his story) the food took over an hour to come out, we were missing essential things like silverware, coffee, and we had to ask for certain things numerous times. All in all I will go back! The food was great and the prices were fair. This is a new restaurant and it takes awhile to go into the swing of things in terms of customer satisfaction and service!
(3)
Perry H.
Came in for brunch Sunday while in town for a wedding. I definitely recommend a reservation as at 9:30 there was a wait. I think the design and decor is great, farmhouse chic with good light and high ceilings. I give the decor four maybe even five stars - I liked it a lot. You can definitely tell this branch just opened as the staff are definitely working out some kinks. I can't even tell you how many times I heard things hit the floor during my 45 minute breakfast. Just at our table alone we had three things dropped either coming out of the kitchen or bringing food out. I also overheard the table behind me complaining to the manager about their server, how slow and sloppy they were. Our server was fine, a bit awkward but fine. The food, which is what its all about, was pretty good. It was a very mixed bag for my table. My wife the "red flannel" hash which consisted of goat cheese and beets roasted with shredded leek hasbrowns and poached eggs. She really enjoyed this a lot and although I didn't try it, it looked attractive enough. I wasn't as impressed with my chicken and sweet potato benedict. There wasn't much chicken at all and the presentation wasn't what I was expecting. Basically they mixed small pieces of chicken with sweet potato puree and spices, served it on an english muffin topped with a poached egg and hollandaise. I was expecting a seared piece of chicken with sweet potato puree spread on the english muffin. Either way, its all about taste and I found it lacking. The french toast seemed a bit overcooked although I can speak highly of the leek hashbrowns and bacon (how can you mess up bacon?) There aren't a lot of brunch options in the area from what I found, so for that and the ingredient quality, its worth a try. Definitely give them a bit longer to work out some kinks and give it a try.
(3)
Janelle K.
Inconsistent food- brunch was off and didn't taste good today. Always great service.
(2)
Halley K.
One star down is because they got rid of the vegan menu The other star down is because my sandwich was soggy On the other hand, the service was super friendly and helpful and I love the idea of eating local and all. The rest of the family was happy with their food - ribs, skirt steak, pot roast, enchilada. The fries taste like McDonald's fries - but that's not a bad thing!
(3)
Aa Foodie F.
I hate to write a review for this restaurant since it was one of my favorites for a while but they left me no options. I've been going to FF in Potomac, MD since they started. I was very excited when it opened given the DC location is a great restaurant. They had a good start but little by little the quality of service and management has gone downhill. The food is still good if they get their act together and serve you (but the food is not as great as the DC location though), specialty drinks (mainly Rick's Roy) can be hit and miss depending on the bartender. I think it is obvious from a simple comparison of the reviews for the Potomac location to the DC location that the Potomac location is not as good. Service has deranged over time and to me the manger(s) is to blame. Last 3 times (over the past 6 weeks) we went there service was consistently poor. Last night, the last occasion, my wife and I got there and it was not very busy given that it was a Tuesday and election night. The hostess was not very welcoming. In fact, she took her time to get to us and when she did her opening line was the weirdest I have ever heard from a hostess, she said "what can I do for you?". Who trained her?!! What do you think I';m there for a hair cut or an oil change?!!! Anyways, I took it as a bad anecdote and ignored the issue. Then we were seated and after 20 minutes ad multiple attempts to get the attention of waiters, I finally asked the hostess calmly and jokingly if she had forgotten about us and she apologized and said that we were going to be served immediately. After 10 minutes or so, we just got fed up called her up and told her how ridiculous it was, we walked out and before we do that asked to see the manager. The manager half apologetic and half defensive asked us to stay. Of course, we didn't tay since we didn't want any unwanted ingredients in our food! We're not going back. Great restaurant going down because of rookies. [we went next door to Suco and had a nice experience which is why FF Potomac needs to act things together cause there are other options in the neighborhood]
(2)
Kristy H.
I was so pumped to finally eat at Founding Farmers. A few friends and I had reservations and they sat us right away. Once we were at our table, we waited about 15 minutes, and nobody came to the table. We had to ask the host about getting a server. So finally, we get someone to come take our drink and appetizer orders and she was super knowledgable and friendly. Unfortunately, we never saw her again. We got our drinks and appetizers without a problem but then waited a long time before they brought any of our meals out. When they did, they only had three of the four meals, and the prime rib sandwich we ordered with only meat and cheese and everything else on the side (this order was VERY specific and the waitress that took that order confirmed that she understood). We had to wave someone down and a third server took away the mistake and looked into the missing meal. The manager came over to apologize and offered a salad while the missing meal was made and the prime rib remade. Eventually, we got all of the food back correctly. They did offer us free dessert for the mix up. The food was amazing. We had the handcrafted sodas, biscuits, bacon and tots, chicken and waffles, prime rib dip, honey chicken, and my friend had some kind of fish. For dessert we had the red velvet cake and pumpkin cheesecake. Once we actually got our food, we were VERY happy. I will definitely try this place again. I hope that the shoddy service was just a result of this place being so new.
(3)
Kelly K.
We ate here for the first time on Saturday 1/4. Parking was awful - the parking lot for was completely packed. Apparently there is a parking garage that they validate for, but I didn't know it was there until after we left. We ended up parking in the Harris Teeter lot, which is only 1 hour parking. Luckily we were finished within an hour so it wasn't a problem. Our server was friendly and very quick. She was really knowledgable about the menu, which was great since we'd never been before. I ordered The Clementine from the drink menu - its made with a spicy tequila so it tasted like a spicy clementine fruit. Sounds weird, but it was really good. Overall the food was great - I wasn't a big fan of the ranch popcorn that was their special for the day though. Other than facing the parking situation again, I'd be happy to come back and eat here.
(4)
Lee G.
We ate dinner at Founding Farmers in Montgomery County earlier this week. Let me get this out of the way first; the food and service were excellent, as usual. But I was really disappointed to see that FF had lit a gas fired fire pit in the middle of their patio, burning natural gas and releasing unnecessary CO2 into the air. Every day we learn more about global warming and the damage that carbon does to our world, so to see a restaurant like Founding Farmers contributing to global warming in this unnecessary way was, to say the least, surprising. It is true that it was a chilly evening for July (itself evidence of climate change and the erratic nature of the jet stream) but the fire pit did little if anything to warm the patio. I was sitting at a table very close to the pit, and I didn't feel any warmth from the fire at all. There were only one or two tables that were closer, and maybe they felt some warmth, but most of the people sitting outside probably got no benefit at all from the fire. So I give FF 5 for food and service, 1 for environmental wastefulness, and an average grade of 3. Shame on you, FF, I would have expected better from you. Turn that polluter into a planter and I'll be happy to take down this review.
(3)
Kim T.
My husband and I went for a relaxing Sunday dinner. We were not disappointed. The service was great and the food was fantastic.
(5)
Etta H.
This was my 2nd visit to Founding Farmer's. My first visit was to the DC location. I need to check out the DC menu again, as I don't recall the vast menu options I had this time around. I frankly was not overly impressed with my first visit. A group of us went on Saturday to celebrate my sister's birthday. I was ho-hum about the choice of restaurant, but my daughter advised, this is where my sister requested. It was a little drive for me and others, but hey we weren't walking so it was all good. To sum it up, it was an excellent adventure. We were first seated outside, which seemed like a good idea: sunny, warm Saturday afternoon. We quickly decided to move indoors as several seats were in the direct path of Mr. Sunshine, even though the umbrellas were up. We were promptly re-seated to the upstairs dining room. There is a lift - elevator for us regular folk. :-) Shaun was our waiter. He was most excellent. There is nothing worse, (well there is, but humor me), than a waiter or waitress that has no idea of the food they are serving. There were 7 adults and a toddler. I think we all had questons except the toddler!! Shaun answered each and every question. He knew about the food, the toppings, entrees, condiments, everyting. Crab Cakes, Chicken & Waffles, Reuben Sandwich, BBQ Grill Platter, (something like that), Chile Cheeseburger, Crab Benedict and Fish & Chips were the entrees ordered. Everyone enjoyed their selection. The toddler had the mini cheeseburgers, and from the way she ate them, I'm going with a 2-thumbs up on those as well. I had burger with side of chile as everyone doesn't do good chile....then requested more as it was tasty. No beans....after some pondering, we decided it really tasted like sloppy joe...overkill? Sloppy joe topped burger....naw!!! Besides, it was good for dipping my fries. I also tasted the Reuben and Crab Cakes, both of which were pretty good and I'm a Native New Yorker aka - Reuben Snob. Chicken and Waffles looked good as did the platter: which I believe had a sausage/hot dog item, mini burger and portion of bbq ribs along with an ear of corn that looked very gourmet. Maybe fries as well, not sure. My cousin said the fish was thick, but that's been my experience with Fish & Chips. Also, the chips were a duo: homemade chips - large rounds of fresh potatos that were fried as well as french fries. Chips would have been great with some sort of seasoning. Oh yeah, we had a couple orders of the spicy wings. They were "ok". I do better wings but they were not all bad. Very dark, likely from the sugar or whatever is in the marinade, but not a burnt taste and not spicy as the name suggests. Once we were ready they brought out the cake we had left with mgt upon our arrival to the restarant. Candle was lit and appropriate knife to cut cake. Shaun was attentive to all our service needs right down to take out boxes the entire time being most pleasant. A great dining experience was had by all!!!
(5)
Richard M.
Just had my office holiday party there on Wednesday night for 20 people. The plans got off to a slight rocky start when a few weeks earlier I had called both the Potomac and DC locations a few times and I couldn't get anyone to call me back. But once Cameron, their Hospitality Coordinator got involved, things couldn't have gone smoother. We sat upstairs and from 5-6, as promised, no one was seated up there but us so we had our own little private party for the first hour. The service from start to finish was great. Our servers, Charlie and Diego, couldn't have been more attentive and did a great job keeping the drinks and apps flowing. All of the apps were really good such as the flat breads and bacon wrapped dates but the combo deviled were more interesting than tasty. The wine drinkers were pleased with the selection and the specialty cocktails were good. I had some melon, cucumber and vodka drink and it was really good - sweet but good. Now I'm not going to go into all 20 entrees but my favorite was the Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke salad that my wife ordered. The people that ordered the pot roast and the fried chicken were really pleased as well and the rock fish that I ordered was really fresh. The only entree that people really didn't love was the lobster mac and cheese. Not that it was bad but it's just a really heavy dish and you have to be in the mood for heavy. The deserts? Oh my! really really good. We got a little bit of everything but the big winners were the Red Velvet Cake and the Peanut Butter Pie. The only thing I will ding them on is their lack of offerings for vegetarians. I specifically picked FF Potomac because I work with a few vegetarians and when I looked at the menu online, they seemed to have a decent selection of entrees that didn't have meat, chicken or seafood in them so I thought we were safe. It turns out that even the Four Cheese Wild Mushroom Ravioli was made with beef stock. So if you want vegetarian, i guess you have to go to their DC location which has a Vegan menu or stick to lettuce :) So in the end, I thought everything was really good and I look forward to going back again.
(4)
Shauna G.
I went here with my family for breakfast last week and we were blown away by this place. We were throwing out superlatives like we were trying to make room for them in our overstuffed stomachs. 1) I got the Florentine egg's benedict. The hollandaise sauce was amazing - rich but subtle - and well balanced with the spinach, muffin, and perfectly poached egg. Best ever. 2) My sis got the Banana's Foster French toast, which she declared "best french toast ever". She let me try a bite (actually, I demanded several) and it really was exceptional. Very sweet, so don't get it unless you like desserty breakfasts, but not overwhelmingly so. 3) I actually forget what my dad got, but when he tried his maple-and-pepper-glazed bacon he stopped the conversation with an "Oh. My. God." Didn't try it because I'm vegetarian, but it's pretty clear that the bacon here is on an entirely different plane of existence from most bacon. It's cut in thick, long strips and is way more than one can actually eat - my dad took half of it home. 4) We got a serving of beignets for the table. They came hot and soft and lightly dusted with sugar, and with three sauces: raspberry, caramel, and chocolate. If I hadn't been so full by this point I probably would have licked the sauce bowls clean. Even the food that wasn't "best ever" (my mom's leek and goat cheese and roasted beet hash; whatever my dad got) was very very good. The drinks are a bit pricey but if you can afford it, the glasses of fresh squeezed juice are lovely. And they give you the bill in a little mailbox! This is our new go to place in the Potomac area.
(5)
Mel B.
Food is pretty amazing, unfortunately ran into a very mean and rude bartender. Make sure you get a nice bartender :) It makes all the difference in your restaurant experience. Don't take a date there !
(3)
Tiffany S.
Ok....this is my 6th or 7th time here and I have to Yelp about this issue because it's ticking me off....Can a sista get some hot food here EVER?!?! My God....my food has never been hot!!! What is the issue in the kitchen?! And tonight I ordered cookies which I could swear were advertised as "warm" and they are so hard and cold I could break a tooth! I'm literally on my way home now! C'mon FF - get it together! By the looks of past reviews I'm not the only person who experiences this!
(3)
Taylor F.
delicious meal tonight! it was my first visit and I was not disappointed. very busy on a Tuesday night with a 30-40 minute wait for even one person. got a seat at the bar. very friendly bartender there. waiter wasn't the best but service was quick. ordered fish and chips. the price was good at $14 with decent portions. I was going to go for my birthday dinner but they couldn't accommodate our party at the time we wanted. I will definitely return!
(4)
Taylor K.
After hiking the entire length of the Billy Goat trail in Great Falls Park (8.5 miles); the wife and I were famished and ready to eat a good meal. We had been to the FF in DC before; but had never been to this new location. It is in a new and very nice part of town and parking is free if you are dining there. We arrived at around 2pm on a Friday and it was busy, but we were able to get a table right away outside. If you go at any peak time though, I would highly recommend making a reservation a day or two in advance. It was a lovely day and the patio was a very nice place to eat. For an appetizer, we got the biscuits with the honey butter; simply amazing! We have also got the bacon lollies (kinda pricey for the portion) and popcorn of the day before; both are very good. FF has so many unique dishes that are so yummy. For my meal, I got the dogs and rolls; they have an assortment of flavors/types to choose from. These were very good and filling. The burger is good as well and have heard good things about the chicken and waffles, if that's your sort of thing. I can't wait to go back and try something new or even try their breakfast. This place is truly farm to table, utilizing meats and fruits/veggies from local farmers. Everything is so flavorful and fresh and the prices are decent. If you are in the Potomac, MD area, you should definitely give this place a try. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Pat S.
Real food cooked well at a great price with something for everyone. Party of six, grown children and grandma included. We all loved our cocktails, the biscuits and bacon wrapped dates were yummy, and not a single miss on our entrees: I ordered off the vegetarian menu (trumpet mushroom scallops), kids had fried chicken, husband had Yankee pot roast, grandma had roast chicken. Waiter was helpful and available. It's our new go-to place when friends come in to town or when we're with a group -- something different, reasonably priced, lively crowd, relaxed atmosphere. Big win for MoCo.
(5)
JP W.
Review written by my 9 y.o. The food was SOOO good but it took forever to come out AND they forgot the cream to my moms coffee. I thought the mouse bowl 4 2 was extremely good you should order it if you come here!! ;)
(3)
Alex M.
Disappointed yet again. Gave this place several tries. Overpriced and poorly executed dishes. Not so fresh squeezed lemonade; cloyingly sweet honey glazed chicken; oily, undercooked green beans with off flavor, lumpy mashed potatoes. My daughter's pasta was dry, shriveled and undercooked. Son's southern fried chicken bland... Also left uneaten.
(2)
Megan A.
The Dark and Stormy cocktail was absolutely gorgeous and delicious. So were the bacon wrapped dates. Looking forward to going back for more than drinks and appetizers.
(5)
Vinny T.
The food is really hit or miss here. Appetizers: Skillet Honey Butter Cornbread is light and fluffy and has kernels in it (4/5). Table Biscuits were extremely dry and the chow chow that came with it was overly sweet. I even like Popeyes biscuits over this... (1/5). Main Courses: Honey Thyme Glazed with Dakota Raw Honey Crispy Spatchcock Chicken had a nice crispy glazed skin that went well with the slightly dry meat. The vegetables (green beans, carrots, and mash potatoes) were very good and the portion of the entire entree was huge. (3/5) Poto Mac n Cheese was terrible even with the 7 cheeses in it. There was no flavor. Nothing. Absolutely no cream at all. (1/5) Dessert: Red Berry Port Sorbet was very tart and refreshing but nothing special. (3/5) Service can be slow due to the place being so packed. (3/5)
(3)
Loesje T.
Saturday was our first foray into this much touted restaurant. It wasn't what it portends to be. Our service wasn't good at all, forgot the appetizer, brought the wrong drinks, no water, no silverware, no sugar, etc. We were constantly asking for something! The food was ok but something your grandmother would make and you should have learned to do yourself. But, alas, mothers don't cook much anymore so these recipes are lost in families. The ice-cream that was supposedly made daily had ice crystals on it, not fresh and not made that day. Restaurant was dirty. Food stuff on the floor, bits of paper, etc. No one had run a broom, etc. and it was late afternoon before the night rush of people. It was a cold atmosphere and rather dismal. I'll by-pass it but glad I tried it once. There are so many other organic restaurants that do a much better job.
(2)
V P.
Like most of my fellow Yelpers, after visiting Founding Farmers in DC, I was excited to find that opened a location in Potomac, MD. I loved the location in DC & I was thrilled to see one nearby. We arrived around 8:30pm at the beautiful restaurant with the wait of about 45 minutes, so we decided to spend our time at the bar. The cucumber/melon drink was definitely amazing. For an appetizer, we decided on the fried green tomatoes. I thought they were heavily battered, but overall pretty good, especially with the dipping sauces. We chatted up the bartender for further recommendations & decided to stay at the bar, despite the hostess inviting us to our table. We ordered the Seafood Showstopper, the Rockfish (almond mushroom crusted), & the center cut filet. Can't say the three of us were overly exhilarated. The rockfish was a bit bland, the filet was dry & overcooked, but I enjoyed the showstopper. It literally stopped the show, as people stopped by to see what we ordered. The battered fish was over-salted, but nevertheless delicious. The mussels were very sandy (read: cracking between my teeth) and the pasta portion was not only an overload, but overcooked & plain. Overall, the ambiance is beautiful & full of good energy, but the food was ok and a bit pricey.
(3)
M. K.
No idea why this place has only a 3-star average. I am very stingy with giving a place 5 stars but this one is definitely deserving of the rating. The hubs and I came here recently for a birthday dinner and didn't want to leave! The place was busy and noisy, especially for a Monday night, but I generally enjoy going to places with that kind of atmosphere. Who wants to be the only couple sitting in a dead silent restaurant? Not really my thing, anyway. It took the two of us about 15 minutes to get a seat, which was fine. We were immediately greeted by a friendly server and ordered up a round of beers. Their drink menu is extremely impressive because it uses all-natural ingredients - no run-of-the-mill sodas here. I got the double chocolate stout which was AMAZING. Highly recommended if you like stout, chocolate, or even just alcohol in general. It was seriously smooth. Bacon lolly and tot appetizer was very good (brown sugar bacon on a stick...mmmm) and burgers were cooked perfectly. The beef was fresh-ground and the sauce they put on their Frisco burger was perfect. The worst thing about this place was choosing from their giant menu. Will definitely be coming back to sample some of the other goodies.
(5)
Alvin H.
I've been here a couple times now and decided to write a review. I've been here for dinner three times now. I give it three stars mainly because the food is honestly overpriced for the quality of taste and the service is a bit slow. Although we made reservations the first time, we still had to wait around 30 minutes after our reservations to be seated. The second time I was there, the same thing happened. The hostess was also giving free appetizers to groups ahead of us that had waited past their reservation time, which is nice, but seemed to have forgotten about my group. I had to ask if we were going to get the same treatment for waiting and this was promptly resolved. The wait staff was slow. I understand how busy a restaurant can get but don't take reservations if you consistently can't honor them. The ambiance is nice, and can get pretty noisy as its busy during dinner hours. The philosophy behind using local farm food is also very appealing. I've had the deviled eggs (ALL OF THEM), mussels, chicken pot pie, mac n cheese with lobster, and some other dishes I do not remember at this time. The chicken pot pie was not what we were expecting. It was the innards of the usual pie, with bread chunks thrown in. It was lukewarm and I honestly got sick of it halfway through the meal. I will have to say I was not thoroughly impressed with any of the dishes. They were either too salty, or tasted just okay. The food here is not something I would rave about. I've had a couple alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and these were very good. A bit pricey for how much you get but that's often the case with these kinds of hand-crafted drinks. Although I was not impressed with the food, my girlfriend loves their red velvet cake. Sometimes we stop by just to pick up a slice. I think the batter is a bit too dry/grainy but it is overall quite delicious. If you go to the bar area and order its usually faster because the bartenders are much more attentive. This restaurant has potential to be even greater, and I hope it improves in various manners.
(3)
Bob L.
Founding Farmers has a lively and fun atmosphere. The food is creative, fresh, and tasty. The wait staff was eager and knowledgeable -- and even ready for our questions about what items were vegan and/or gluten free. They brought out the wrong dish for one of our guests, but quickly fixed the problem. The place is a quite a bit overpriced, but it is good for an occasional night out.
(4)
linda B.
Food:Indelible! Had an egg thing for brunch and is was soooooo dried out and salty it could not be eaten. Service: Waitress seemed quite anxious for us to leave.
(1)
Cynthia R.
Good food, good atmosphere. Seems to get pretty busy=little loud. I would definitely go back on "date night," but only with a reservation.
(3)
Amanda B.
It's my second time there, and man, the service is just miserable. Our server Tristan was quite the jerk. I understand working during a lunch hour can be quite hectic and his delay to bring us a dessert menu wasn't a problem. That is, until he made it one, unapologetically stating that he just can't keep up the customer service when he has 8 tables. It's a freakin dessert menu; who cares. The least you can do is not be a jerk about it and make us sound like the bad guys. Rule of thumb in customer service: always let the customer thinks they know best. For how much you pay, you'd think it would cover a little more respect and less defensive tendencies in the staff. Food was fine, I had the scallops. Couldn't finish them because they were so salty, but was good all the while. Ice cream too was great. Service was just not up to par with other restaurants of its supposed caliber. I'm sure I'll go again, and hopefully get to write a much nicer review.
(1)
Michelle D.
We visited today (Saturday) for my husband's birthday around 10:30am for brunch. We were seated immediately next to the bar. Bottom-line: Our waiter was terrible (his presence and service was sparse) but we will definitely be back b/c the food was outstanding esp. my husband's fried chicken, pancakes and eggs (he swapped waffles for pancakes). The pancakes were HEAVENLY... the stuff dreams were made of and that's just the regular ones (not the red velvet or others you can order). I ordered the Sausage, eggs, fresh fruit and homemade english muffins. The sausage was SO good and the fruit was so fresh, sweet and juicy but everything else was pretty ordinary. The butter and jam for english muffin did not arrive with my meal (which is not a big deal EXCEPT that our waiter was no where to be seen for long durations). I will definitely order what my husband ordered next time! His meal (or the pancakes alone) made our trip here worth it (and I am not a big pancake fan). More specifics about our service: It took him a while to greet us (and we're not too picky or intolerant about these things). And once he did come it would take another looooong wait before we could flag him down again. Our food took a long time to arrive (abnormally long). We were engaged in conversation for a long time and realized that we had sipped all of our pressed coffee and discussed many things and our food still was not there. Towards the end of the stay we just gave him our credit card for the bill b/c we knew once he left our sight it'd take him another lengthy duration before we'd see him again. If this place could make their service as good and consistent as their philosophy, their chefs and decor... they'd be hard to beat.
(4)
Thomas B.
You're in Potomac. I get it. You feature an organic, farmer theme, but...come on. The food is overpriced and the drinks are OUTRAGEOUS. The food was just "eh". I ordered the salmon and my guest had the Spatchcock chicken. They are KNOWN for this chicken...well, his chicken was pretty bloody. He discovered it after he had eaten the first half and was pretty grossed out. The server took care of it and we were not charged, but still GROSS. YUCKY. My salmon was fine, but I was not overwhelmed. For the price, I would rather go elsewhere. Don't even ask about my mediocre $14 martini. There is no happy hour here, so they are missing out on their location close to offices. The place was loud and there were families with kids there, so if you are looking for a romantic place, I would not go here until after 8:00 PM. I was hoping this would be good, but I will not go back. Very disappointing. I hope they read Yelp because they also need to clean their dusty cloud off. If you go, look up and see the grey of the cloud. Gross, especially if it is hanging over your table!
(2)
W T.
Over-rated I don't know what all the hype is about this place. Yes, I get that they use good wholesome local ingredients. But they need to make it taste good. The burger was just average and I did not like the chicken pot pie at all (too heavy). The pot roast was not bad but not spectacular. My husband tried the pulled pork sandwich at the DC location and he did not like it at all either. The only thing that may have been exceptional was the cornbread.it was moist and had real corn kernels. I don't plan to go back.
(2)
Jeffrey T.
While I have frequented founding farmer's many times, I feel like there MoCo location goes down hill every time I visit and is a much different experience from that in DC. Classic that I have gotten there like the fried green tomatoes now come with a very thick bread crusting. The brunch items like the hashes lack flavor (almost like the Chef forgot the seasoning), and the last time I went there the waitress recommended the beignets ("best in the world"), well let me tell you, I had to set her straight. They were burnt (like the oil needed to be changed) and the inside was a Hole (like someone had carved out the inside) not airy and fluffy like they are suppose to be. Also they bring out caramel and chocolate sauce for them. Classic like beignets if done right don't need anything on the side. I still think there fresh fish cooked on sea salt block is good but expensive. So overall, while I used to be a fan of this place, waiting for one hour for a table (always people waiting out the door) is not something I will be adding to my list of things to do in the future. Especially considering all the restaurants in the area.
(2)
Reena J.
I recently made a reservation for a large party I was put in touch with Rebecca who is AWESOME! She made it so easy even with all my changes. The other thing I really appreciated was being able to call ahead a preorder some appetizers for the party. All the staff who helped make this reservation were so nice and friendly over the phone. I would recommend Founding Farmers to anyone who is looking for a good spot for large parties. This was the only place we called that did not require us to sign a contract or put down a deposit or worse one place we tried required a ridicilious minimum amount for the bill. Thank You to everyone at Founding Farmers and espicially to Rebecca at the MoCo location.
(5)
Michael L.
We had Sunday brunch a few weeks ago and loved it. Food was great with a slightly different spin on each of our dishes. Atmosphere was perfect in that the building resonates just enough to make it feel upbeat but not so loud that it's annoying. The service was spot-on, and we didn't have to wait long for our food despite the place being packed. the mason jars for your water and the mailbox for your check were nice touches. Also, the parking lot even has wide parking spaces (in MoCo!!).
(5)
Dan H.
The managers did write us and offer to sponsor some app and a few drinks. I have to say that was very kind. I didn't write a review to troll for free bees but the thought was nice. I'll give them another try on my own dime.
(3)
Rob K.
About 3.5 stars is where I'd put Founding Farmers. We've only gone for breakfast, and in fairness we do want to go for lunch or dinner, but we've had up and down experiences. I'll second what everybody has said about wait times. We've gone four times, each time with a reservation, and were seated promptly at our time. However, we've seen the waiting undergone by those without reservations and it doesn't look fun. Needless to say, I think reservations are very recommended. As for our food/dining experience, 2 times very good, and 2 times not so good. First time, 3 days after open: Good. Breakfast scramble with veggies and grits, huge bowl of grits, very good size of eggs/potatoes. Shared an order of beignets and dipping sauce which was amazing. Service a little slow, needed to ask for water, but no biggie, chalked it up to opening weekend. Second time: So-so. Ordered same breakfast scramble w/ grits. Small bowl of grits, sub-par scramble. (To the extent that if seemed like they only used one small egg for the whole dish....) The hangover special my partner got was very good though. Rasberry lime rickey, excellent. Slow service again, not so much for food, but as we finished our meal and awaited the check. It was 20+ minutes from finishing our order to getting our check. Third time: Great. Regular french toast for me, blueberry pancakes for partner, split side of eggs + sausage. Excellent breakfast. Attentive service, food brought quick. Great waitress. Fourth time: Bad. Same order as #3, but received blueberry topped french toast for both of us. I just scraped the blueberries off, disappointed. Partner wondered how 'blueberry pancakes' could be misconstrued as 'blueberry french toast'..... Worst part, we were charged for 3 french toasts (and the third was a plain!). Easy enough to fix, and the waiter apologized, but we were pretty disappointed overall with not getting our correct dishes and all. The food, at least breakfast, is very good when everything clicks. The prices for the food, we felt, were pretty fair for the portions, but the drinks (as one would expect) are pricey. (Try $5 for about 2 big sips of OJ...) It just felt to us that they're still going through some growing/just open pains. That being said, nearly every time we drive by the parking lot looks packed, so people seem to be interested/giving them a break. To us, the short falls seem more to be about service, which can hopefully be worked out over time.
(3)
Once I.
This is a review of a brunch/lunch at the Founding Farmer's location in Potomac. We made reservations and showed up about 5 minutes early. After some initial confusion and a debate between the host and the wait staff we were seated in a booth upstairs. We sat down and were promptly moved to another table for reasons not explained. During brunch they offer both their brunch and lunch menu which is overwhelming to say the least. Two large oversized menus that our server couldn't keep straight. They offer a rotating tap of beers though our server didn't know what any of them were. We ordered a round of drinks and tea and the tea didn't arrive for 15 minutes because they "ran out of mugs". After that we ordered some cornbread and some popcorn for the table. The cornbread was warm and was definitely above average. The popcorn was inexplicably colder than room temperature, not even warm and stale. As the main course we ordered shrimp and grits, blueberry pancakes, waffles and fried chicken, and ribs, and fish and chips. Blueberry pancakes: They looked pretty good, sizable serving. Ribs: The person having these said they were quite good Chicken and Waffles: This looked good, but was pretty average. Additionally they have different sides according to if you order them for brunch of lunch (eggs vs. mac and cheese). The server did not point this out when it was ordered off the lunch menu, she received the breakfast version. Shrimp and Grits: This was the standout. It was quite well done. Fish and Chips: This was the biggest drawback to the meal. For $14 you receive two small strips of fish and a small paper bag of thin cuts fries with potato chips mixed into them for some reason. The small portion of fish was in a soggy batter and extremely salty, a huge disappointment. This dish comes with an 8oz tumbler of white beer which did not arrive with the dish. I had to remind the server of this and she brought the beer 10 minutes later. Overall this was a forgetful experience. The service was mediocre at best, tipping $20 off $110 check seemed a bit much for the server's overall lack of knowledge about the menu and lack of attention to the table. This is arguably the only place I've ever been , in the US or Europe, serving breakfast that has ever run out of coffee mugs during a brunch....strange. If you're going to go, I'd maybe hit the foggy bottom location.
(2)
Gloria B.
I visited them a while back when they first opened and loved the food and decor, ever since then I have been dreaming of the shrimp and grits. I was very disappointed when I returned. The food took way too long. We had a 5:30 reservation and by the time we left there is was 7:30, and this was after rushing out with no dessert because that would have taken another hour. The food was not as good, and what was good was way over priced for the portion you receive.
(2)
Devon N.
Our party of eight arrived for our 7:30pm reservation on a Friday. We were seated on time. It was busy & we finished eating at 9:30pm with no dessert. Homemade sodas were great. Do not recommend the very dry small plate table biscuits or cornbread. Chicken wings, bacon lollis, baby burgers, & brie flatbread were good. Milkshake was more milk & syrup than ice cream. 7-cheese mac&cheese, pulled pork & prime rib (salty) sandwiches, ribs, skirt steak enchilada, crispy shrimp, & spatchcock honey chicken, & meatless meatloaf were all tasty. The Italian wine was good but the Mai Tais were a lime concoction (we wanted the Hawaiian-style kind we had 2 yrs. ago at FF's DC location). Out the door with tax for $266 (tip extra). We've gone back for the high tea event and while the tea was great, the snacks were meh. We have gone again for dinner as well but found it very noisy, so we cannot carry on a conversation. These high ceilings in restaurants spoil any ambiance and make one feel as if you are eating in a mess hall or warehouse. Have not been back in a while.
(4)
Patricia D.
Here in the DMV for a wedding, I immediately reached out to my local people for a good brunch spot with great food. The overwhelming reply was Founding Farmers. We were staying in Silver Spring so we first called the DC location and they had over an hour wait for 5 people buy suggested we try the Moco location. I walked in and asked for an outdoor table because it was a gorgeous day and it's a bit loud on the inside which I thought might bother my mother-in-law. I was told they would clean up a table for me so I was impressed it happened so fast... But then I waited, and waited and after about 10 minutes I asked about this alleged table and was told it was saved for a guest with a reservation. Hmmmm ok. We opted for inside seating and ended up in a nice corner booth so it worked out ok I guess. Our server shared the highlights of the restaurant after bringing us water. It's all farm fresh, mostly local and they even make their own sodas and some liquor from scratch. I had the strawberry-lime which was lightly sweetened and very refreshing so thumbs up for that recommendation. The table water is served lukewarm and it has a weird smell to it - maybe being from FL I'm just not used to their tap water but glad I had my soda. Now on to the food and why I gave this place a strong 4 stars. We started off with the mini burgers, beignets, garlic pepper wings and deviled eggs to share. The burgers were so tender and seasoned to perfection which onions, cheese and a light relish - and there are 6 of them on a plate! The beignets were light and served in a cute paper bag with powered sugar and 3 dipping sauces. Yum. They were a hit too. The eggs though simple but had great flavor, mixed with onion and other seasonings. And lastly the wings, sticky, strong garlic Sweet deliciousness. Another server came by and cleared our plates and took our forks. The problem is when our main meals came we had to wait for forks that they all of a sudden were short on. It took a few minutes for our server to track them down. For our main dishes we tried the dinner version of chicken and waffles - now let me say, I'm yet to have this combo and REALLY enjoy it. Either the waffle sucks or the chicken is bland. FF got this combo right. Well seasoned moist chicken, fluffy Belgium waffles but the star is their bourbon flavor syrup! I started putting it on everything. My beignets, my leek hashbrowns, my spoon. Their 7 cheese Mac is the real deal, in between baked mac and saucy Mac it was certainly cheesy. I tried the crab Benedict and my fave part was the homemade English muffins. They bake all their owns biscuits and breads there on site. There was a good portion of crab but the sauce it was in was a little over powering. I would have preferred less or none. Our server was very sweet and brought us to-go cups with tea and lemonade before we left. I can see why locals rave about this spot and I think even with a few missteps, it lives up to the hype.
(4)
John M.
After dining here countless times, I have a few recommendations: 1. If it's an evening or weekend, make a reservation in advance. 2. Do try an appetizer even it's just the "popcorn of the day" AND save room for dessert. 3. Full bar available and for the non-drinkers, specialty sodas are worth a try. Appetizers to try: Popcorn (every specialty flavor is an excellent way to start the meal) Fried Green Tomatoes (amazing dipping sauces) Honey Butter Biscuits (again, incredible sauces) Entrees: Chickens and Waffles (best friend chicken, belgian waffle, mac n' cheese, and asparagus) Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke Salad (extremely different from any salad I've ever had; so many great flavors) Fried Chicken Salad (best fried chicken I've ever had) Chicken Pot Pie (a variation; chicken pot pie filling with 2 homemade biscuits on the side) Desserts: Carrot Cake Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Red Velvet Cake ***All HUGE portions; enough to share with another.
(5)
Ijene L.
ALLLLRIGHTY.... So this is my 3rd Founding Farmers location after trying DC and Tysons corner. How does this sibling stack up? Uhhhhh...well. Id like to call this location, the bipolar half sibling annnnd I'll tell ya why. Walk with me... OK...so I made a 10 am reservation, figuring Ive done dinner, Ive done lunch but never my favorite meal. What the whaaa? Gotta cover all bases right? OK. So I get there and parking is easy breezy, lemon squeezy. AWESOME. Having said that, I walked through the door and couldve froze ice on the hostesses arce. She barely spoke and didnt crack a smile or ANYTHING. I was almost jarred by it. Rarely does that happen...uh anywhere! I was seated quickly at a nice spot in the center of this oddly decorated, post modern, industrial slash Old MacBoughie had a farm motif...it'll do I guess. LOL Here's where we go from sweet Mommy Dearest to NO MORE WIRE HANGERS!!! The waiter was an older gentleman, slow and deliberate moving, strolling from table to table like Andy Dufresne in the damn Shawshank prison yard. I mean...you dont have to fly over to me, but DAMN...10 mins before a drink order? Lame. He was knowledgeable but snotty and short with me and I just didnt care after about 3 sentences. It wasnt busy, so his demeanor was bizarre. SMH Anyway, I placed my order EVENTUALLY ...FOR THE DRINK ONLY!. Took another 11 minutes (I timed it) to get him to come back to my table for my food order...My food came about another 15 mins later and I was FINALLY eating... I just...siiiiighhhhhh...UNDERWHELMED with service. K...The food comes and bipolar MOCO FF turns into the best thing EVER! I honestly wanted to give this place 4 stars if it weren't for service, BUT,,,saving grace...the biscuits and gravy...OH MAH GAHHHHH... It was just SO good I needed a moment to readjust my attitude. LOL The waiter NEVER NOT ONCE came to ask me how the food was or anything until I finished eating and thats a real shame, because it wouldve been THE ONE thing I wouldve raved about. The biscuits and gravy came with two perfectly poached eggs and sausage layered like a Benedict and it was ...IMMACULATE. PERIOD. Black pepper maple bacon...IMMACULATE. PERIOD! Grits....IMMACULATE! EXCLAMATION POINT! :) I really enjoyed the food. That being the most important element, they DID NOT screw up. It is the only reason Id be back. Overall, I have to give hot and cold MOCO branch a rating of pretty good. I really think the food deserves 4 maybe even 5 stars, but the service was just so cold and slow and uninspired that I cant justify a fourth which is a pity because the food kicks all kinds of bootay... If they work on greeting customers, and employ waitstaff that cares about the brand they'll be on par with DC and ripe for awesomeness! Until next time... 3/5 tummy rubs.
(3)
James M.
I've always had a satisfying meal at the DC location, and today I finally got around to trying the MoCo location for Breakfast/Brunch. Everything went smoothly as expected, and then some. We got the Chicken & Waffles ($12), Biscuits & Gravy ($10), Uncle Buck's Beignets ($8). OJ ($5), and Coffee ($4). Chicken - 5, Waffle - 3, Together - 4 Biscuits & Gravy - 3 (definitely will not be ordering again) Uncle Buck's Beignets - 4 (we only liked caramel out of the 3 sauces. next time I'll ask for 3 servings) OJ - 5 (small but DELICIOUS. definitely the best OJ I've had in quite some time. MUST TRY!) Coffee - 3 Downstairs seating was packed, so we sat at a booth upstairs, which was nice and spacious. Convenient location, free parking with validation, friendly service, Wi-Fi, fantastic food. Thanks for yet another great meal! We'll definitely be back to try your other delicious dishes.
(4)
june k.
Chicken and waffle is a must!!!! Got the tuna salad. It tasted great but the random white chocolate flakes that were added was kinda random.
(4)
Lexi Z.
Haven't gotten to the food yet, it's 7:40 and we are waiting for my 7:15 reservation! Don't take reservations if you can't honor them.
(2)
Connie Y.
*Their customer service did a great job at responding to this complaint and this was definitely an isolated incident.* This was possibly the WORST SERVICE I've ever had at one of my favorite restaurants!! It began wonderfully with an Open Table reservation on Thursday night at 6:45pm that was kept on time, and a waiter that initially appeared welcoming. We even ordered the dishes he recommended because he seemed to offer his honest opinion and was deceivingly friendly enough. Our food arrived in a timely fashion and my two girlfriends and I were enjoying ourselves with food and conversation. Our waiter would even come periodically to ask how everything was. SUDDENLY, he came back and asked if were done with dinner even though we still had our forks in our hand. We even had food on our entree dishes, so we said no. He came back in about 10 minutes. Because he asked us again if were done eating AGAIN, we just said yes because it became frustrating. I still had food on my plate! He then began to clear our tables and said he'd return in a minute to give us our dessert menus. After we decided not to have any dessert, he proceeded to have our check ready in a minute even though we were talking amongst ourselves and didn't even ask for the check yet. He had it ready even though we had just one minute ago turned down dessert. What if I wanted coffee a minute later?!? This all happened within the span of 15 minutes. When we hadn't even put our credit cards down yet, he had already returned and asked if we were ready to pay!! My friends and I were so speechless, we couldn't even have a pleasant conversation because it kept getting interrupted. This restaurant needs quality control for their waiters. ON AN ENRAMPAGEMENT! (Yes, I know it's not a word)
(1)
Natalie K.
This was some good dining. It started off with a great cocktail--something gin and fizzy with a lemon twist--and went from there. I could probably have eaten the whole platter of corn bread and washed it down with a housemade soda and called it a night, but I kept going with the fried green tomatoes, a salt-crusted ribeye, some Israeli couscous, and the ginger peach sorbet. My friend ate the pot roast, which caused me more than a little envy. She came across an unknown veggie in the pot roast that stumped us both, and within a few minutes someone from the kitchen was at our table to ID the veggie as a golden beet! Delicious! The only agonizing part about eating here is the decisions you will make. That said, it's hard to second-guess your choices when you're so busy with mouth-bliss. The atmosphere was bustling and had a fresh decor--nothing stuffy--and I could have easily enjoyed an evening at the bar if we hadn't thought to make reservations. I still get a little happiness thinking about this meal two weeks later, and can't wait to go back.
(5)
Megan B.
Like every other Founding Farmers in the area, this place is great - delicious food and totally affordable. The hostess seated us right behind the hostess stand and I almost said something, but it turns out fine that I didn't. There's a big partition between the seat and the stand, and somehow you feel like you're part of the bar area and not three feet from the door. Food was amazing, per the photos. I've only ordered burgers at Founding Farmers, but I've enjoyed them every single time. I was pleasantly surprised by the side salad as well. They call it a "house" salad, but it's got avocado and grapes and I don't know what else, it was just so yummy. The happy hour looked happening too. Actually, by 5:30 the place was filling up, and every time I've gotten to a FF after 6, I've needed to wait. So make that reservation. You won't regret it. Parking at this location SUCKS. It's in a new shopping development with too many stores and not enough parking. Good luck.
(4)
Carol F.
LOVED the food. Ordered chicken and waffles - pretty good. Honestly I didn't go too crazy for them. Had them with mac and cheese and lemony green beans for sides. Sounds silly, but the sides stood out more to me (I'm a little cheese-crazy...:D) BUT. The most amazing, mind-blowing part was appetizers. Omg. The pesto bread appetizer was downright amazing. Maybe I was really hungry that day. Because it was like the best thing I've ever eaten. Deserves it's own paragraph. Try it, gogogo! Fried green tomatoes were also amazing. Maybe next time I come here I'll just order all starters for my meal. 4 stars though, because our party had a reservation, we showed up early, and still waited about 30 minutes or so. Hosts didn't really seem too concerned. Sorry, but that pretty much defeats the purpose of a reservation? Nevertheless, will definitely be coming back to try more things on the menu. Maybe dc location next time?
(4)
Tim H.
With food this good we had to give it another shot. Despite having a reservation and getting there on time we had to wait about 15 minutes. Grr. But other than that it was a much better experience. As luck would have it we got the exact same waiter, who was flawless this time, suggesting what happened last time was not the norm. I'll keep coming back, so more stars might be in order shortly. And of course, the food and drinks were tremendous. FF's menu (especially the drinks menu) is so extensive and so consistently good you could come back every week and have a new experience each time. Often at places with a bar this good I would recommend sitting at the bar itself, talking to the bartender, and getting a couple highly customized drinks. Unfortunately this particular location requires you to drive there, so that becomes less of a useful strategy. But if you've got a DD, that would likely be a cool evening.
(3)
Mariella B.
Enjoy this place for the ambiance and the food is delicious. Boyfriend and I decided to come here for a date night after he got off work at 7:30. I was a bit hesitant since I know how crowded it gets and I saw on Open Table that all the 7:30-8:00 slots were unavailable. But from my experience Open Table reservations are less reliable and it's just better to go in person to the restaurant. When we arrived we saw a packed parking lot, a bunch of people standing outside and around the door so I figured there would be a wait, and the tables full. I said there we there was two people and we didn't have a reservation....how long would the wait be, the hostesses response "I'm going to seat you now." Hmmm....weird? So she takes up upstairs and there we find all this open sitting that they've been hoarding? I figure since it's a Saturday people came earlier in the day to eat like 5ish-6:00. So def glad we took our chance on coming here because the whole Open Table operation can throw some people off and may not want to come and take the risk. We start off OF COURSE with the combo pitchfork (bacon lollies & tators) I normally hate mustard but I love the ketchup/mustard seed sauce they give you. Also for drinks we decided to go with beer this time instead of the usual cucumber melon and some manly drink. I got the seasonal lager and he got the IPA, seasonal was good since it's summer time it's pretty sweet. For dinner he ordered the chicken pot pie, which comes with two pieces of biscuit on top in a pot versus an actual pie (I prefer a pie crust) but he liked this version. I ordered the meat loaf, instead of mashed potatoes I got fries and the vegetables I chose the snow pea and cucumbers (which come cold.) I really enjoyed the cold snow peas/cucumbers but the meat loaf was dry and the oregano and I think it was thyme or Italian seasoning that overpowered each bite. I ended up returning the dish for a grilled cheese and tomato soup, my sister got this last time and it looked delicious. When it came out the bread had barely been grilled, the cheese barely pulled apart, and the fries were still hard. I figured they were rushing to get the food out to me but the only edible item on the plate was the tomato soup. Randy our server asked if everything was okay and we explained to him. Amanda the manager came out and apologized and offered for us to take something home or a dessert, we opted for beignets since I filled up basically nibbling on the dishes. The beignets were on point like always. The nice gesture from the manager was great and added an extra star for this visit.
(4)
Cathy K.
Came here for Saturday brunch, quite busy but there wasn't any wait. Friendly waitstaff got our large party with two little kids seated quickly. I haven't visited the world famous chicken and waffles places in NYC, namely Amy Ruth's, even after living here for 15 years, so there's no means of comparison. I had my first chicken and waffles experience EVER here and if I die having no other experience, I'll be fine because from the gravy, waffles, to the chicken - everything was slammin! Also, there was a side of eggs, I asked for scrambled and it was quite good, nothing out of this world but very solid and better seasoned than others I've had. Even with a larger than average appetite, I was stuffed and full for over half the day which is incredibly rare - an excellent value. Asked for GRAVY on the side in a small rammikin that ketchup comes in at other restaurants. Nice seasoning and spice, can't describe the flavor but it was definitely present without being overpowering. Went so perfectly with the chicken and waffles. Waffles - slightly crispy on the outside and perfectly soft on the inside. Slight cinnamon taste, just how I've heard it should be. CHICKEN - dios mio. So good!!!!! The best part. My aunt lives in the area, has had the C&W here before and told me it can be greasy. As you can see from the pics I included, no gleaming specks of grease, just crispy, flavorful perfection. In case you didn't know, it's boneless, so it's like chicken fingers - probably the best you'll ever have, at that! Red velvet cake with vanilla ice cream - the ice cream had a hand-spun texture and was so, so good. The red velvet cake was huge - even as a to-go order, it was almost the serving size of an average pasta dish at most restaurants. It took me three days to finish on my own and I didn't even eat it entirely but it started going bad... And the all-natural concept on top of it all? I wish I could find a place like Founding Farmers in NYC without having to pay $20 for a (small) plate. All you two-star givers are so ungrateful! :(
(5)
Brian I.
Best American food I've ever had -- home-grown, made from scratch and fresh as can be.
(5)
Anita C.
The two-star "Meh. I've experienced better" accurately sums up my experience at Founding Farmers. Contrary to many Yelp reviews, the service wasn't my concern with the restaurant. I had no problems with making a reservation for a Friday lunch, nor with getting seated. We got to the restaurant around 12:15pm and we were immediately seated. Our waiter was very pleasant, attentive, and helpful. Now for the food...we sampled: 1) Bacon lollis/tater tots combo ($8): the bacon lollis were actually my favorite item during lunch. It's literally a nice, thick chunk of bacon on a skewer. Be warned though, the bacon is very, very oily and greasy. However, the flavor truly impressed me. The bacon was salty and sweet, and the meat was cooked well. The tater tots were nothing special. 2) Devil-ish eggs (featured on the Food Network) ($4): they taste...like regular deviled eggs. A little too much mayo stuffed in them for my liking. 3) Crazy corn salad ($13): This was my entree, and one of my main issues with the dish was that the roasted chicken in my salad was ice cold. I had expected chunks of warm, flavorful chicken atop a bed of mixed greens and veggies. However, the chicken was cold, dry, and pretty flavorless. I enjoyed the chunks of mango (not listed in the item description) and caramel popcorn in the salad. 4) Chicken pot pie ($14): My friend's chicken pot pie came out very lukewarm in temperature, as opposed to steaming hot as we would've liked. We suspected that while eating our appetizers, our food had been sitting out for awhile. The pot pie was creamy and generous in portion, but its lukewarm temperature threw us off. He also added a generous amount of salt and pepper, stating that it was too bland. I think Founding Farmers has a lot of potential, especially because there are no restaurants of its kind in Montgomery County. I enjoy the idea of using fresh ingredients and locally sourced cooking, especially having just moved from San Francisco, the heart of this kind of cooking. However, I think they need to fine tune their flavors and ensure consistent dishes that come out hot and well-seasoned. I may be back, as my friends have recommended their fish dishes and skirt steak, but my first experience left me very underwhelmed.
(2)
Sara K.
This is an update to my 08/22/2012 review. After writing the original review, a representative from Founding Farmers reached out to me addressing my concerns about the front staff. The rep was incredibly prompt and offered to remedy any issues we had with our original experience. I do appreciate the fact that management has an ear to the ground, and responded back to a Yelp review with such attentiveness. My overall impression of the restaurant, still, is that the front (host) staff just does not do as good of a job as the servers in the restaurant. I do not know whether this is a training issue, an issue with overall attitude, an issue with volume of the customers coming through the front doors, etc. But the bottom line is: while servers in the restaurant earn every penny of their wages and tips, I'm not sure that the front staff pulls their weight the same way. This observation is based on numerous visits to the restaurant. We did take up the management's offer of a free meal, and have since gone back several times with friends and family. We've always enjoyed our meal (brunches, especially), and the quality of the food and table service bring us back. Ultimately, I am very glad to have a Founding Farmers location in Montgomery County, as I think it's a great addition to the restaurant community here in the 'burbs. I'm even willing to deal with a little bit of annoyance for a few minutes at the front of the house to get to my table.
(4)
Grace M.
Friendly, if not busy staff. Drinks are delicious. Food is meh at best, just not impressed. Bacon lollies and corn bread are the best items on the menu. This place is overhyped.
(2)
Sarah S.
Blueberry stuffed French toast was good. The fluffer nutter butters (the appetizer with bananas and peanut butter) were not. Would go again for the French toast.
(3)
Michael B.
My favorite restaurant in the Rockville area - and Rockville has good restaurants to begin with. I've never had a bad meal here - the pepper gnocci is excellent, the carolina bbq is excellent, the fish is excellent almost any way you prepare it (I recommend the meuniere or salt block preparations), the spatchcock chicken is excellent (the Brussels sprouts that come with it are AMAZING, and have forced me to look at Brussels sprouts in a whole different way). Their phosphate sodas are pretty unique if you like tart drinks. I also recommend the bacon lollies and their red onion flatbread.
(5)
Jessica N.
**A final update after another ten visits or so** My friends and I enjoy eating here around 9am when they're still serving breakfast but the place is quieter and not too busy. More than half the time we go for breakfast we get the same server and he's very unpleasant and impersonal. We try extra hard to be nice or cheery but it's no use. And every time, I order my iced latte and ask for the cream to sweeten it. And every time, he asks me to repeat it like he's never heard this request before and I'm a pain in the ass. I really wish they had better service here. I can only think of one server that's memorable in a POSITIVE way. The food is what keeps us coming back. It's delicious! Wish the service put me and my friends in a better mood. Until their service is more reliable, this place will continue to be a 3 to 4 star experience. **I've edited this review after a great third visit this past weekend.** Overall, the food is great. The service fluctuates but our most recent experience (3/24/13) with Chris was fantastic. The brunch was delicious and the beignets that he recommended were exceptional. Management is very nice and quick to respond. We'll definitely be back for brunch again and again! **Original review below** Went here for brunch. They were PACKED so we sat at the bar. We ordered eggs benedict. Our eggs arrived with no silverware. We waited for forks/knives as our food cooled. Our friends arrived 20 mins later, ordered the same thing, and waited 4 or 5 mins for silverware. Seemed to be a pattern. Our ticket was brought to us before asking if we wanted drinks or dessert. We felt like an inconvenience to them from start to finish. Overall, poor service but great food, so we decided to return today, 12/26/12. It was about 40% occupied when we arrived. The hostess sat us at a tiny table pushed up against the staff register. The waiter had to tuck his elbows in to keep from hitting my husband in the head. We asked to move to one of the 7 or 8 wide open booths. They moved us. Our waitress took our drink order (bloody mary and sweet iced tea). Our drinks arrived and we asked if the burgers were good. "Which one?" she asked. ("Frisco.") "Oh, it's okay.. its good." is how she described the Frisco burger. She couldn't tell us the portion size of two of the meals so we gave up asking questions and ordered the "okay" burger. The burgers and fries were DELICIOUS. The waitress checked on us once, brought my husband a beer, and never offered to refill my iced tea or bring water. I finally caught her after I'd finished all my food and was really thirsty. She told me that she'd have to charge me for another sweet iced tea or I could have ONE free refill of unsweet tea. I asked for unsweet tea. She cleared our plates and later came back to see I still had no drink. She brought our check and asked if I still wanted a drink. Wth? "Yes!!! I'm thirsty!!" She brought it, I finished it in one gulp, and we paid the bill. The kicker was that stupid iced tea was $4 a glass! For iced tea?
(4)
Andy W.
This is by far the best brunch spot in the area. Every time I go, I get the chicken and waffles. Great food, great service, overall a great experience.
(4)
Amanda L.
Heard lots of reviews regarding this restaurant from friends and online comments. Finally decided to try the one in Potomac. We made a reservation and arrived on time. The parking is connected with Harris Teeter parking to the left which could be an issue during rush hours, and the restaurant is to your right. It's a new neighborhood in Potomac and some buildings are still being built. We got a table for two near the corner which is quiet nice as I put the request to be as private dinning experience as possible, apparently, they consider that when seating tables. The waiter is very knowledgeable about the food and make good recommendations for drinks. I chose the a soda something like today's vicky. Then the other party has ginger draft soda. The spicy and sweet wings are so good as it was cooked with honey and glazed on the wing skins. Chicken and waffle is a signature but we asked it to be cooked without cheese so it came out a little dry for the chicken meat. Mine is BBQ boneless ribeye. The portions for us are big and we end up pack half of the ribeye home. The entree came with two crop sides and broccolini is definitely my favorite. We ended the dinner with two ice creams: deep chocolate and Dulce de Leche (flavor of the season). You can tell it's greenly sourced and tasty. I saw lots of families dine out for special occasions, lots of businessmen came after work. So it's good for any kind of events. I would say they cooked the food in the right way with right ingredients that fit all foodies.
(4)
Richard S.
If I've posted this before, I apologize. But still the worst bar service of any place I can recall. Now, you don't come here to hang out at the bar. But is it asking too much that, if you're sitting at the bar waiting for someone, prepared to order a drink, you at least get acknowledged within 5 minutes?
(2)
Tara S.
I was (and am!) super-excited about a MoCo restaurant with a whole vegan menu. You mean my friends can chow down on delicious animal parts and I can order something other than french fries? Sign me up! But the vegan food at this location just seems...meeeh. I've had the bacon burger and the meatloaf (yes, I love me some faux meat), and they both seemed awfully bland. Not a dealbreaker, but for $14-$18 an entree, I'd like to have a reaction more positive than *shrug.* I was happy to suffer in silence since I assumed my friends were enjoying some really exceptional meaty cheesy deliciousness. But now that I see the MoCo location's 3-star Yelp consensus, I wonder if they were suffering in silence too, assuming I was enjoying my many vegan options... Meat-lovin' fiance agrees; not impressed. Bummer this place doesn't seem as good as the DC location. It sure is beautiful though! An aside to Dan, the Founding Farmers guy who answers all negative Yelp reviews with a defensive attitude: READING your business' Yelp reviews is a totally awesome way to identify problems you can fix going forward. ARGUING with your business' Yelp reviews just makes everyone reading these a little less impressed with the Founding Farmers Experience. You should probably stop.
(3)
Jeremiah R.
I'm giving it four stars but I'm feeling like it was a 3 1/2 star experience. I've been to the location in DC before and had a wonderful meal. It was my birthday and I wanted to get the fried chicken and waffles. I went with my family of five (three kids) and we had a great meal. They don't have a kids menu and the prices are $10 and up - so it was more expensive than usual. All of us enjoyed the food we ate but the drinks all lacked to us. They make all of their food and drinks and get fresh ingredients from local farms so the quality is excellent. However, nobody in my family really cared for any of our drinks and spending $5.00 on a soda for a kid just doesn't feel right. The payoff is the food is excellent though. We had fried green tomatoes, bacon wrapped stuffed figs, fried chicken and waffles with mac and cheese, southern fried chicken and mashed potatoes, grilled cheese and tomato soup. Everybody really enjoyed the food they ordered and we would certainly come back again to eat. I'm thinking we would make it more of a date night for the wife and I since it gets too expensive with the kids. Loved sitting outside and the area that it is in is really starting to be a cool little spot. Overall, it's worth trying and this is a great addition to MoCo's dining options. I think this would be a great spot to bring family/friends that are from out of town. Trendy, upscale feeling, and quality food. All the things out-of-towners like.
(4)
Christopher Galen D.
My first visit at this location in Montgomery County. This place has better parking than in Washington. I had a shrimp pasta and salad.
(5)
Charles W.
The food was good. I tried their meatless dish with grilled cauliflower and risottos. it was not bad. the customer service was the best.
(4)
M C.
Love this place! Food was great and service was attentive. Very busy, even for a monday night - which I guess is a good sign! Definitely recommend!
(4)
Doo P.
This place is one of those Farm to Table theme restaurant. All the items did taste fresh from the farm, but the main entrees lack flavor. Said the Fried Chicken & Waffle was good here but had better elsewhere. This place is only really good for drinks & their small plates. The best thing here is their devilish eggs combo & flat bread spreads. So, if you are in the mood of just hanging out with friends for drinks & snacks... This is the place. Save your money for dinner somewhere else.
(3)
Bren F.
Went on Mother's Day, and it was not the first time dining there. Rezzie was at 3 pm, they weren't particularly busy. I have ate dinner there a few times, lunch and breakfast. The food is okay, nothing fabulous. It is presented well, etc. So yesterday, for some reason our table of 5, was sat at a table for 10? 2 of the 5 were 6 and under. After we were sat, we waited about 10 minutes for a waiter to acknowledge us and give us a high chair for my 1 year old. I did specifically ask in the reservation for a high chair. Once the food was ordered everything came out fine, except for the fact that Founding Farmers REALLY DOESN'T LIKE KIDS. I mean really can't stand them and resents parents who bring them into their restaurant. For example, no kids menu ( if there is one, it was not presented)...for me this is not a dealbreaker, I rarely order off the kids menu for my kids, anyway. The waiter suggested that they could make noodles and Parmesan for the kids. The KIDS parm noodles came out with pepper flakes in them - BIG GIANT Pepper flakes. I personally like spice and eat Indian curries, wasabi on my sushi, thai food, etc. Find me a child who likes to actually see spice in their food at my kid's age?! My 6 year old barely touched them - 1 year old thought they were the best thing ever - she eats everything, anyway! The waitress made sure to say everything was made to order, so the kitchen thinks the KID's parm noodles (receipt said KIDS NOODLES) should have noticeable spice in them???? I am mostly vegetarian (eat some seafood/fish, no other meats), in the past I was excited to see their vegan/vegetarian menu. Well, meh, boring, and re-purposed is what that is! On a previous trip, my sister ordered one item off the veg menu, I ordered a different one - we realized they re-purposed the meat like lentil innards for each of our entrees. Wow, not what I was expecting at all. So this time, I told myself the grilled cheese/tomato soup combo will be fine and I will not venture out past that to be disappointed - it was fine, but the tomato soup was a little spicier than I recalled, which meant I couldn't share it with my spice-shy 6 year old - once again, 1 year old scarfed it down. I ordered brocollini instead of the beef lard fries/chips. Well, they put cayenne pepper on it, so there was no way I could offer it to either of my kids, and they love vegetables?! The morale of the story, is that I am done with this restaurant. They lack originality and most important they REALLY DON'T LIKE KIDS. Don't get me started that the french fries are made with beef lard. Since, I need to feed my kids and like to/have to take them with me when I eat - I am crossing this place off the list.
(2)
John J.
Scratch ginger soda and Manhattan soda were great. Pork ribs was good but the fried chicken and waffles was average. I agree with some people that the fried chicken wasn't as crispy but the waffle was good. My wife and I would go back. I would definitely recommend making reservations.
(4)
Deborah N.
Lotsa mistakes. So many that they comped my meal. But food was so good, I will be back. Seriously, though, even though I went on Day Two, the fact that my server did not know which salad dressings the restaurant had was irksome. It's not like they didn't give them a month of training. Actual exchange: Me: What kind of salad dressings do you have? (They were not printed on the menu.) Server: I, uh, I uh, Honey Mustard??? Uh, what would you prefer? Me: I would prefer to have a server who knew which salad dressings they served in his restaurant!
(3)
SY Y.
I love their fried chicken and waffles, and I usually order that whenever I come here for brunch. It is just done so well. My husband loves their pancakes, especially their maple syrup. We came here recently for dinner, and I was happy to discover their dinner to be just as good. My husband ordered their Founding Farmers burger with louie dressing (Louie, Louie, Louie, Louie??), and he said it was delicious. You could definitely taste the freshness of the meat and it came out medium rare, just like what he ordered. Not almost well done medium rare, not blood-dripping rare, but a proper medium rare. My seven-cheese mac and cheese was heavenly, even though it was probably 1000 calories, but it was so worth it. If you have room for dessert, I recommend their red velvet cake. A gigantic slice of greatness at a very reasonable price.
(5)
Raycal B.
This place is delightful. Tried the Chateau Julienne Moscato which was very light and sweet. Complimented the meal very well. As small plates, we got the Black Pepper Wings and the Cornbread and tried the Popcorn of the day, which was Cheddar popcorn, it was tasty. I got Farmers Tea to drink and my husband got the Arnold Palmers, both were very good. For our main course I got the Fried Chicken & Waffles which came with Green Beans and Mac & Cheese and my husband got the Honey Glazed Chicken which came with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans. The cornbread was so fresh and delicious. Tasted like my grandma went and got a ear of corn and shucked it herself. We got the Red Velvet Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for dessert. That cake was HUGE!!! Couldn't even dare to get through half of it. My favorite dish by far was the Macaroni & Cheese. Please, whatever you do...order it. You won't regret it. Best Mac&Cheese EVER IN LIFE! I can't wait to go back again. A Foodie's Delight. All Food is made fresh when you order it.
(5)
Brandon B.
FF never disappoints! The food is great and the staff is even better. One of my fav restaurants in the area.
(5)
Catherine K.
Definitely make a reservation! I made one for 5:45pm and was seated right away. I have heard wonderful things about this place, but I thought that it was just ok. For my main dish, I ordered the butternut squash mascarpone ravioli. The butternut squash was tasty, but the ravioli felt too heavy after only a couple of bites. I will not order this again if I ever come back. My family and I shared three rolls (chicken salad, shrimp, and crab). These were yummy and my favorite thing out of everything that I ate. I also ordered the popcorn of the day and was sorely disappointed with the taste of it. It tasted stale and poorly seasoned. The restaurant itself has a cool and modern vibe to it. But, it is very loud and I could hardly hear what my family members were saying. I really wish I could give this place better reviews but the food I ordered and the ambience leads me to give it three stars. If I come back, I will try the other menu items and hope that I will be more pleased with them.
(3)
Mike C.
If this restaurant was a pet, it would be a pug dog. If it were a sports team, it would be the Mets, and if it were a movie, it would star Nic Cage. Once you experience it, you're keenly aware that things can and should be better. After a 15 minute wait to shown to our "reserved" table, we ordered a sort of devilied egg sampler platter, cornbread, and salmon done two different ways, along with a glass of wine and a beer. I will say right off the bat that that's some of the best cornbread I've ever had. Consistency light and fluffy, yet crusty and firm around the edges. Taste just sweet enough and just salty enough, and with a few of those hokey corn kernels hanging around inside. And our server was good: as attentive and friendly as he could be given the workload. The meal: the eggs completely lacked pep or zing and we had difficulty telling the lobster from the crab ones; the salmon, both plates, was overdone--dry and lacking any joy, especially my mustard sauced-almond-crusted version, which looked and tasted like a frozen dinner; and my date's wine looked like a 6 oz pour. My beer was great though, Brooklyn Winter Seasonal, but I can't really credit FF with its brewing. And all this for $100...hmm. There are so very many much better ways to spend a C-note. Metaphorically speaking here, get a shelter shepherd instead of the pug; see the roller derby instead of the Mets, and for gods sake pick up a half dozen Fringe tickets before seeing the 3D Nic Cage movie with all the popcorn and stuff. Sadly, I can't imagine the set of circumstances which would bring me back or recommend Founding Farmers. One star for terrific cornbread though!
(1)
Marc H.
Thank. God. I can't believe there's finally a legitimate restaurant in Potomac proper. I came back in town this weekend to visit my parents and had the opportunity to check out the new restaurant. Wow. Loved the scene (it was packed!), and can't wait to come back. First off the space is gorgeous. Like the mainstay in DC, it gives off a modern rustic feel. The attention to detail here is clearly evident, I love all the small touches. When you walk through the revolving doors you're greeted by the host stand as well as the bar off to the left. The bar itself is great... there's seating all the way around, the selection is insane (unbelievable they have all this in Montgomery County!), and of course the cocktails themselves are delicious. The cucumber cocktail thing they have is the perfect summer drink. The food? Yea, it rocks. I've been to the DC location tons of times and I think it's great that the Potomac location has a slightly different menu than the one in DC. We had the pitchfork combo, with the bacon lollies and the tots. Yep, the bacon lollies are just as good here as they are in DC. The mini cheeseburgers are great for sharing and they were cooked perfectly. And if you've never had the brie and onion jam flatbread I'd argue you've never really eaten delicious food. For entrees, I had the spatchcocked chicken. Heh, spatchcock. Good times. But seriously, order it, you won't regret it. One of my friends got the Carolina BBQ with Fixings entree... holy moly! She loved it, I loved it, we loved it, you'll love it. Founding Farmers BBQ, get some. Overall, this is a MUCH NEEDED addition to the restaurant scene in MoCo. I think the Park Potomac area itself is going to do very well in general, and I'm thrilled to have a new go-to restaurant in my old hometown.
(5)
U P.
Delicious food and great ambiance! Great alternative to the DC location because there's parking and it's not quite as busy :)
Rolled into Founding Farmers on a last minute reservation opening for some brunch. This is a great place for kids as the noise level is loud and the portions are a good size so that you can share plates with them and not have to pay for a "kids meal". I ordered the gravy and biscuits with leek potatoe hash and my wife ordered the bourbon french toast. The biscuits and gravy were tasty but nothing to write home about. Instead of having pork sausage in the gravy they chose to have a patty on a biscuit with the gravy poured over it with poached eggs on top. The poached eggs were a little overdone but still provided some runny yolk to really help the dish. The leek potatoe hash had a mild flavor and needed more salt to really fine tune it. Personally, an addition of some spice would have helped this disk. The Bourbon French Toast was excellent as always (I had a piece of my wife's). Tastes like a fried doughnut as the batter had to have had some sugar in it to give it a crisp texture. Very delicious. I would highly recommend. The unfortunate thing that always seems to throw the servers off is the request for any syrup being warmed up. They have an adverse reaction at the request when instead they should be ready to serve. Just a thought. Overall, love the concept of Founding Farmers and the food. We will always be back for more.
3 1/2 star I guess. Service has improved since the early days, but still not perfect. Food can be on the salty side, I love some, not so much others. First visit was busy lunch time back in December when all the holiday luncheons were happening so the service was SLOW. We had a reservation yet still waited 10 mins (not acceptable when people only have an hour for lunch). Then we waited forever to get our entrees and check. It was a two hour lunch. My beef ragu gnocchi was sooo salty I barely touched it. Do not recommend. Based on first visit, 2 stars. Second visit was workday lunch again but in January and on the early side )got there 11:40. Service was amazing, as the restaurant was relatively empty. We got seated rightaway, the waitress was efficient and not intrusive but filled out water glasses every time. I had chicken & waffle and I thought was better than DC's FF, less dry and more flavor. Based on second visit, 4 stars. Third visit was for dinner last night with the fam. Service was good except at the end our waitress never came back to get our payment, despite our mailbox red flag up for a long time. I was holding my 13 months old and he was ready to go! Finally another guy took our payment and was nice about it. We got cornbread (always a hit) and fig & prosciutto (sp) flatbread (overrated, all their flatbreads are ok and overrated IMO) to start. My mom's braised beef short rib was amazing! It's on the salty side but meat was falling off the born tender. My dad's pot roast is pot roast, it's a great value plus if you like pot roast go for it (I don't). I got the ahi tuna poke which I'm glad to have tried but I wouldn't order again. It's just ok, lots of raw tuna but taste just ok. Dessert we got the beignets and that's always yummy (it's hard to screw up fried dough). Based on this visit, 3 1/2 stars. They are crazy busy so I don't think any reviews here will matter much. There aren't many good restaurants in that area so FF will continue to be doing great business! Maybe the restaurant Cava owners going to open next door will give it some competition?
(3)
Elena S.
Went here for birthday brunch with a friend and paid for the most expensive waffle ever. That being said, it was one of the most delicious waffles ever. And leek hash browns? Hell yea!
(3)
Mike P.
This was my first time to Founding Farmers. After hearing from several friends about it, my wife and I decided to give it a try. The decor was unique as mentioned in other posts, though the pickling jars stacked on the cabinet shelves reminded me too much of the scene in The Walking Dead when the Governor was admiring his severed heads. I digress... We ordered the bacon-wrapped dates to start. Delicious! My wife ordered the chicken pot pie and I ordered the fried chicken and waffles. Again both we're amazing. When we finished our main course, we had already decided to get a dessert since we had heard they had an in-house dessert chef. Everyone around us seemed to like the red velvet cake, and as a big fan of red velvet this made my decision easy. Although good, the cake seemed dry inside, even hard in places, almost like it had been sitting out for a while. I was also surprised to learn that this restaurant uses artificial red food coloring, only because everything about their menu seems to push for locally-produced, all-natural ingredients. On a side note, we loved paying the bill via the mailbox. Cool idea Despite the disappointing dessert experience, everything else was amazing and we'll likely go back at some point.
(4)
Amy Amy R.
This place is amazing. From the service on the phone to the drink to the food. 5 stars all around. There is nothing on the menu that will disappoint you. Spicy Tuna Poke if you are feeling healthy, chicken and waffles if you aren't. Best Mac and cheese ever. Drinks are delicious, try something new. The bartenders know what they are doing. Always busy but if you make a reservation you are good. Just a sign of a great restaurant and a hot spot. Service is usually very good, a few hiccups but go so often it's bound to happen. One of best restaurants in area. Enjoy!
(5)
David W.
My father loves the shrimp and crab rolls here... And that is at least 1 1/2 or 2 of the 3 stars. The rolls are tiny, and filled with mayo (which is why he likes them) - to me they have too much mayo and are too small, and I thought the house made chips were a bit greasy and under salted... But dad is happy. I asked for a gluten free menu, they don't have one but assured me the waiter could help guide me. He could not. He had a cheat-sheet, but he only glanced at it to answer my questions, rather than let me see it. He told me any of the meat items would be gluten free. I asked if that included the ribs, and he assured me it did. He was in training, and his trainer also assured me the ribs were Gluten Free. 5 minutes later they came back to tell me the BBQ sauce on the ribs was NOT gluten free (I am happy the double checked - the other star they got from me), and asked me if I wanted the BBQ ribs minus the BBQ sauce? I said no, and they suggested the roast chicken. The chicken was ok, fairly tender and it came with green beans that were cooked perfectly (still slightly crisp) and mashed potatoes that were as dense as potatoes can be without becoming cement. I asked about dessert, and the response was "for you, not much.... maybe the ice cream". Overall hit or miss - but pretty good service despite the mistake on the ribs, and my dad was happy with his meal - so I am sure I'll be back again. EDIT: after posting this review I got a nice note from the manager offering to treat me to something gluten free on my next visit - and addressing my concerns about the waitstaff having information on the ingredients of menu items. Very helpful and friendly - and much appreciated! - worth an extra star.
(4)
Pratik P.
Chicken and Waffles (3x). Joe's Chili Cheeseburger. Frisco Burger. Southern Fried Chicken. Skirt Steak and Enchilada. Mac and Cheese. Founding Farmers Breakfast with Bacon (2x). Sundried Tomato and Artichoke Cast Iron Skillet Eggs. Fried Chicken, Eggs, and Waffles. I tried to come up with the list of all the things I've eaten at MoCo's Founding Farmers over the last year -- what you see above is probably half of the damage I've done at the restaurant. These guys _consistently_ make farm fresh food and keep it new by periodically changing the menu. I work right in North Bethesda and my team love coming here for almost every occasion, whether it be business breakfast/lunches, going away celebrations, or just even a casual lunch. They rock in service, too. Bonus points for serving Intelligentsia coffee... it seems like they have fresh beans and new roasts on deck every time we order. (Oh by the way, these guys are coming out with a cookbook this October, so get ready. I don't think you can pre-order, but you know for damn sure I'm buying mine the first day it's available.)
(5)
Charles K.
Went here for Sunday brunch hours and sat at the bar since the wait was for over 30 minutes. I liked the lay out and overal ambiance. One thing I noticed that I didn't care too much for was that a lot of the ingredients that would go into your mixed alcohol drinks are just sitting in front of you on the bar. The reason I don't really like this is because I could literally sneeze and get it all over that stuff. Not cool. The girl making drinks would touch stuff and then grab fruit with her bare hands and stuff - I'm not a big germaphobe but that doesn't seem sanitary.... On to the actual food experience: We split a banana fluffer nutter appeteaser and it was okay. There could def be more peanut butter and some more fluff (cleamy marshmellow spread). I ordered the chicken and waffles, and it was good but I would have liked some more chicken or at least bigger pieces. I got three pretty small sized tenders on top of a pretty flat waffle. It tasted good at least. You get a small portion of gravy as well. I would have rather ordered what my roommate ordered - which was the Benedict Arnold which was really good. The biscuits were good - the gravy was good - the sausage was good - just gooooood. We also ordered two sides of bacon. One order of the thick cut pepper maple and one order of the normal crispy bacon. I LOVE bacon and the thick cut was definitely flavorful and meaty. Not too fatty and was drenched in this pepper maple sauce. YUM. Cannot say the same for the regular bacon that looked way over cooked - one of the pieces was charred - how can they even serve that?! Overall the experience was fine and the food was good, but some of the things i mentioned above concerned me. I will go back again and try other things and see if it was just a bad day or not.
(3)
Kevin H.
I wish i could have given this review a higher rating because the food here was really great, but we had a problem with the service. I ordered the chicken and waffles and was really pleased with both the quality and quantity of the serving. The macaroni is really outstanding and they also offer old fashioned custom sodas. I tried the mango soda and was definitely pleased with the real mango bits that were in the drink. My recommendation is to keep a close eye on your bill, though. Our check came to around $100, which did not include gratuity (I made sure to check). After we gave the waiter our four credit cards to split the check, he came back with over thirty dollars on each card. When we checked the math, exactly 18% of the original bill had been added. We asked him why this happened and he said it was an error. He re-ran our cards, but the amount was still higher than it should have been. Since it was a lunch hour, we left after signing off on the "revised" amount. I called the place back because I was still a bit miffed, and they took my information and promised to call me back. Five days later and I haven't heard anything yet. Pretty annoying. But like I said, the food is great...just be sure to bring your calculator with you if you venture out there...
(2)
Logan M.
Went here for lunch last week and was definitely impressed by the food. I got a simple grilled cheese and tomato soup, it was out of this world! It is expensive though be prepared, but definitely will be back again. Only thing I didn't enjoy was how stuck up the girls at the hostess desk were.
(4)
Donna Y.
I made a reservation here about a week in advanced for 4 people and apparently a reservation here is a must ... a wait here with no reservation is 1-2 hours! We were seated immediately even though we arrived 20mins early. For appetizer, we ordered the classic deviled eggs (4) and it was delicious with chunks of celery and onions (similar to the ones at the DC location). For my drink, I ordered the New York egg cream (4) which has chocolate syrup, whole milk and seltzer. I didn't like this combination very much ... too much seltzer and not enough chocolate. For my dinner entree, I ordered the chicken pot pie (14) which is served in a soup form and the flavors were wonderfully creamy and it comes with onions, carrots, potatoes, chicken and a biscuit. This dish has so much starch and carbs which made me sleepy half way through... don't get me wrong.. it tasted delicious just too heavy and rich for me. And lastly.... I never forget the dessert... I enjoyed the fresh churned pistachio Ice cream (3) yummo! The service was pretty good. We had to wave down our waitress a couple times to refill out water bottle. Good: Deviled eggs pistachio ice cream So-so: Chicken pot pie Bad: New York egg cream
(3)
Amy L.
To die for deliver egg combo! And the fried green tomatoes... Amaze. From start to finish a mouth watering experience.
(5)
Greg O.
This was my first time to a founding farmers, having never been to the DC location before either. First, I was glad to parking has changed to allow for free parking finally. The decor inside really stands out- so many little details everywhere, from the mousehole with the mouse cutout silhouette on the stairs, to the jars of pickled vegetables, the quotes on the revolving door and even the artwork on the ducts. Our server was great throughout, and dealt with a very tough situation extremely well, as did his manager. It turns out one of the dishes ordered by someone else in our party wasn't available, but our server didn't know until the meals were being served. He profusely apologized, as did the manager who promptly came over, and comped her whole meal, as well as gave the whole table free dessert. One of the steaks another person ordered was completely overdone as well, and was promptly replaced with another properly cooked steak and comped as well. It was nice to see actual customer service at work, something that seems dead at many other restaurants. As for the food- real sweet drink for a drink is a great start. The ranch popcorn as an appetizer was delicious, as were the deviled eggs, and I don't actually like eggs! For my entree I went with the dogs and rolls, where you can select three different rolls or hot dogs. I went with the bacon cheddar dog, chicken salad roll and a pastrami roll. The chicken salad roll was amazing- easily one of the best chicken salads I've ever had. The pastrami roll was a disappointment- simply pastrami on bread, and the pastrami was tasteless. But the bacon cheddar roll made up for that- a second amazing roll. Overall a great experience and I would definitely come back.
(4)
Sarah A.
Came here a second time to give brunch a try...but again was not that impressed. First time I ordered the chicken and waffles, which was a waste of my money. The "chicken" were 3 lousy pieces of chicken strips that were very dry. My sister and I did not get greeted (by our server) for a good 7-10 mins) which is unprofessional and he did not check on our table that often. Probably would come back to grab brunch or something to catch up with an old friend, but nothing more than that. They do have a cute little mailbox for the check!
(2)
Diana Z.
This place was hopping on a Sunday at lunch, but unfortunately that meant waiting 15 minutes for our table (despite our reservation) and it was so loud we could barely hear each other. I chose a vegetarian sandwich (grilled veggies) which was soggy and very disappointing. Fries were not worth eating, and since I usually can't resist fries, that says alot! I enjoyed the Founding Farmers in DC, although that was also very loud. I have recommended the DC restaurant, but would not go back to MoCo.
(2)
Drew C.
These guys continue to go downhill Now when you call they won't even tell you if there is a line Clyde's has been in the area for decades - there is a reason. If you are looking for somewhere to go and you want a better choice - try Clyde's
(1)
Jamie G.
This is my FAVORITE restaurant and I always insist on going here when I'm in town. I've been to both the DC and MD spots. Everything about this place rocks - the food, drinks, and atmosphere. I'm obsessed (and I live 150 miles away). Even the ice cubes are worth writing home about. My favorite is the plank salmon - incredible. I've also had the farmers meatloaf, not my typical go to (that would be salmon) but certainly worth the stray away from the usual because it was amazing. Definitely split a flatbread as an appetizer. You will not be disappointed. I'm still going with 5 stars but on my last visit we ordered a round drinks for our meal which we waited and waited for. Halfway through the meal the drinks had yet to arrive so we flagged down our waitress to cancel the order since at this point we were just about done eating. The waitress apologized for the significant delay and the manager even came over to apologize and gave us the drinks for free, can't beat that! Make a res because this place is ALWAYS packed. Absolutely be back on my next DC trip.
(5)
Tracey C.
Tucked away in a far, far away land called Pahtoemac stands a wonderful restaurant named Founding Farmers. Here you will meet lovely people who serve you nice sized rations of delicious comfort food. Excellent service and excellent dishes will leave full and hyou appy. I took a friend here for a birthday brunch. Cornbread wasn't on the menu that morning but they still whipped us up a fresh skillet of the stuff. My Southern grandma would have been jealous (RIP). It was moist with a hint of sweet and tasted like something my family would make. Trust me that is a serious compliment. The french toast was my favorite. It tasted as if it was cooked in pure butter and every bite was enhanced by the crispy texture. It didn't need any extra toppings just syrup. The eggs were fluffy and they added just the right amount of spinach and cheese. The only disappointing element were the hash browns. The flavor was just ok. We will be back to try dinner. Hopefully, it will be just as good as breakfast and I may be ok with wasting gas in order to get back to this Pahtoemac.
(4)
Desi W.
for some reason the food was better at the DC location. the food was still good but the fried green tomatoes had too much breading
(2)
Aniket D.
Founding farmers is one of the best New American restaurants in the area. They feature a diverse menu with many good dishes. The farmers pitchfork is a great stater option. Although I appreciate the homemade pasta at founding farmers, the texture in the chicken bolognese was a bit chewy, similar to Asian noodles. The crab cake sandwich that my wife ordered was excellent as was the carrot cake desert which large enough for our party of four to share. I do wish they served organic meat, but overall, this place is really worth a visit.
(4)
Kelsy S.
In another trip for brunch, we tried the beignets and bacon lollies. The beignets are very tasty and as close to NoLa style as one can expect, just a bit more dense. I liked the addition of sides of caramel, chocolate, and raspberry preserves. I like that the raspberry preserves taste like raspberries not SUGAR. The bacon lollies were SUPER tasty, highly recommend. I got the ginger drink, and it was very refreshing...my husband got the bloody mary...i kept stealing some of his bloody mary :)
(4)
Luke H.
I've never had a bad meal in the 6 or so times that I have been to Founding Farmers-these meals including brunch, lunch, and dinner. Their sandwiches and salads are absolutely epic, and I can't say enough about how beautifully, gargantuanly tasty the reuben is. It's truly the best version of the sandwich I have ever had: thick-cut pastrami, red cabbage slaw, and a delicious house-made remoulade. The fried chicken is also outstanding, as is their ribeye steak. The bacon lollipop appetizer, however, is a show-stopper that must be had at any and every meal...you're making a massive mistake if you don't order it. While Founding Farmers definitely can do healthier options, I urge you to stop counting the calories and splurge while you're there. For example, at brunch, you COULD get the vegetable omelette, which is certainly solid; but if you want to be blown away, go for the bananas foster pancakes. You won't be disappointed. And lastly, make sure to get a drink while you're there-the wine and beer selections are well-curated and the cocktails are crazy good. Founding Farmers is definitely one of the best restaurants in the DMV.
(5)
Evelyn N.
I met a friend here for lunch and had heard good things. I was not impressed. It was loud, crowded and I didn't think the food was that great. Not bad but nothing special. I have no desire to return.
(2)
John N.
4.5 out of 5 Stars!!! This is not your typical all Natural fully sustainable restaurant. They take this concept to a whole new level. A lot of other reviews complain about service and to be fair I have seen my fair share of bad service. After working at Houston's Restaurant for the better part of a decade, I have come to realize that I will never receive the service I want unless I eat at Houston's. With that being said, the wait staff here are friendly and they do seem to try and work in a team inspired system. But there are little things that get annoying. Not automatically refilling drinks, or knowing that if I place my napkin and silverware on my plate that I am done with my food. Other than that the service was good. The food here is amazing, and ultimately this is what keeps people coming back for more. The first time I came here was actually at the DC location. The DC location is always jammed packed so I was surprised when I walked in to the Potomac location and got sat right away. To be fair this was New Years Day but still, I figured it to be at least a 30 minute wait. We got seated upstairs where I think the sucky Sunday staff has to work but we had pretty good service. Like I said before not the best but ok. We started out with an appetizer of the Flat Bread with Brie, sliced apples and an Onion Jam. Who ever thought of this combination of deliciousness needs a Nobel Prize. I actually thought the cheese was going to be melted but it came out at room temp and still was awesome. For entrees, I had a chili burger and the girlfriend had the Crazy Corn salad. When I picture a chili burger I picture a giant burger with chili oozing from the sides topped with shredded cheddar cheese and diced onions on top. What came out was slightly disappointing. The chili was more solid and it had sliced melted cheese on top which held everything together. All in all it was a good burger but not the best chili burger I have ever had. Now the crazy corn salad was interesting. It felt like a giant corn had eaten different types of corn and then shat out the mixture into a salad mixed with chicken. To be honest it still was tasty but I dont think I could eat more than a couple of bites before I got sick of it. I mean it had white and yellow corn, caramel corn with popcorn, and other unidentifiable corn. Truly Crazy corn. All in all great place I will return.
(4)
Paola G.
Its true, service is on the slow side. Despite this I had a great time because I was in good company. Out of all the 7 dishes we ordered I believe my dish was the best one. I got the chicken and waffles, which at first I hesitated to order because the one thing I fear is ordering dry chicken. well to my surprise my chicken was delicious, and so was the mac and cheese and the waffles. (I think they should make a whole waffle for all the chicken they give you) We did have the green tomatoes and the Prosciutto, Fig, Mascarpone as apps which were both delicious. One of my friends ordered a Mahi mahi which was uncooked, pretty much raw on the inside. It was gummy and so they had to take it back, instead of cooking it for a while longer they took forever to bring her dinner back and so she took it home with her and it was comped. She was upset and so was I. Then I ordered a margarita and I never received it. After asking the server a bout a "signature* drink (Margarita) with a twist of orange peels and him not knowing a thing about it, I finally texted my friend to ask for the name. The server then told me it was Mandarine not orange, which is pretty much the same thing as he could of easily suggested that drink and saved me 15 minutes of wait time. Maybe I should of known the name but I never got the drink so I canceled it. The Tuna salad looks amaze in pictures but it looks like it lacks ingredients (to me at least). The skirt steaks were alright, they lacked flavor and the chimichuri didnt come with the steak so we had to ask for extra, eventhough he clearly said that it was already on it, maybe it was condimented with it..The Frisco burger also lacked flavor and was a bit on the un cooked side. It does have potential to be a good burger especially because you can tell the beef is farm raised. Everyone elses dish was okay, nothing to rave about really. My friend did tell me that she tried the pot roast the week before and that it was to die for. With that said, Ill be back for that pot roast & more chicken and waffles.
(3)
J G.
I've been to this location more than a handful of times, and this review will cover my recent experience mostly. Appetizers: I've ordered the popcorn, bbq nuts, and the fried green tomato. All of which are surprisingly delicious, although the popcorn is now kettle corn which is more of a desert. Entrees: I've found the most satisfaction in ordering familiar items, but not expecting them to taste familiar. Whether it's the freshness or the way the cook makes the food, it's always surprisingly delicious. I've had the Southern Fried Chicken, which wasn't too greasy or salty. It's taste, mixed with the greens on the side, was new and refreshing (delicious). Last night I ordered the Pork Sandwich, and being a big BBQ pork fan I figured I wouldn't be impressed. The pork wasn't nearly as flavorful as the bun or the sliced cucumbers, but it was absolutely delicious. Deserts: I've made more trips to Founding Farmers for the deserts alone. I highly recommend the Chocolate Mousse or the Beignets. The Chocolate Mousse is extremely flavorful, and easily enough for 3-4 people. The Beignets take 10 minutes to come out, but are absolutely delicious. I've also had the chocolate cake (meh), the cookies (meh), and the apple pie (Very good). Service: You usually don't wait half as long as the hostess says. Also, the waiters I've had are extremely attentive and friendly. My best experience was at the bar. We were treated to great service from our bartender, Charlie, who made us try these awesome drinks (try the melon cocktail thing). She was fast, friendly, and went the extra mile to make sure we had a great time. The Bad: I think the food is too expensive for what it is. The food is great, but the price point they come in at makes me second guess choosing Founding Farmers on most nights.
(4)
Shachi B.
I've had nothing but disappointing experiences here. They include eat-in and takeout meals. Here's my brief rundown: Eat-in: First time: I ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich. On paper, it sounded heavenly. In reality, it was terrible. It was so greasy that every time I picked it up, oil oozed from the bread. Terrible. Their sides were nothing spectacular either. Second Time: I ordered the straw and hay pasta. Not great either - the vegetables didn't taste very fresh, and the pasta was overly oily. Pass. Takeout: I've ordered the late harvest salad 3 times so far (clearly, I do not learn from my mistakes). All three times I've requested no bacon on the salad, and all three times they forgot. It wasn't until I returned to my office that I realized the error, and had to throw out the salads since they were inedible for a vegetarian like myself. When I called to point out the error, all they could offer the first two times was an "I'm so sorry". The third time the manager did offer to take the amount off of my credit card, which was appreciated. (As of 12/28, the amount hasn't refunded on my card though) The only saving grace about this place is their bar. The drinks are creative (for Potomac) and their appetizers are pretty tasty. Their tater tots are literally the only saving grace about this entire restaurant, I'd come for those alone. It's fine for Potomac, but please don't come out of your way for it.
(2)
Liz F.
Rather average overall. Somewhat interesting decor with creative pieces such as clouds, ducks and industrial light fixtures hanging from the ceiling mixed with what was trying very hard to be a down home vibe. All in all, it left me kind of cold and made for challenging acoustics and we were there after 930p when it wasn't terribly crowded. Must be quite a din when it's packed - and that's not a good thing... Service was adequate. Waitress was friendly but not terribly interested in our party of four. Felt like she was just waiting to finish up so she could get going to her evening plans. Bartender was okay - again, not bad but not great either. As to the food, just okay. I ordered crispy shrimp which was served moderately hot but had obviously sat under a heat lamp. The shrimp were served over a bed of cold French fries. Cole slaw had an interesting flavor - almost like a touch of curry had been added. Didn't hate it but definitely different. Corn bread was inedible. Cold, hard and flavorless (as opposed to the delicious mini corn muffins I just had at B Smith's restaurant in Union Station in DC!). Tried my sister's fried chicken which was hot and quite good and my brother-in-law raved about his BBQ ribs. I wouldn't rush to this spot but its serviceable if you're in the area.
(3)
Chris M.
The lively atmosphere and active bar scene are awesome! Came here on a Friday night for dinner at 7:30pm with a large group and it was not what I thought it'd be. It was better! The restaurant has 2 floors, with the 1st floor containing the bar. It was dimly lit around the bar, but the outer edges of the restaurant was well lit for those dining. The crowd was very trendy with many looking like they were there to have after work Friday night drinks, but there was the occasional family sitting around as well. The party I was in made reservations a few hours before we were planning on dining. Once we started to get there, they walked us to our table & our waitress come promptly over. She had great recommendations on entrees, along with the beer and wine selection. The courses were timed perfectly and even though we had a large group on a Friday night, we didn't have to wait long. For appetizers, we enjoyed fried green tomatoes, bacon-wrapped dates, and an assortment of deviled eggs stuffed with crab, salmon, and other tasty things. Everything was flavorful and devoured quickly! As for dinner, I had the chicken pot pie--which I thought was an unique menu item. The meal was at the right temperature with a lot of vegetables and the right amount of crust. However, I thought it would be more flavorful because of the mixture of vegetables and cream sauce. After we were all done eating, we enjoyed each others company for about an hour. No one from the restaurant pressured us to leave so they could fill the table. Overall, I think Founding Farmers does live up to the hype. I would certainly go back and try other unique entrees.
(4)
Lina B.
I came at a rather slow lunch hour, so the service was very good (not like what other people have been saying). We were seated upstairs. There was 1 other table seated when we got there and by the time we left there was a party of about 10 and another table of 4 upstairs and downstairs was packed. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful and provided us with recommendations. I got the southern fried chicken with collard greens and mac & cheese substituted for the mashed potatoes. Another friend got the same thing but with mashed potatoes, another got the pot roast, another the french dip. Friend that got french dip said it was the best one he had ever had. I got a little taste, it was pretty good. Pot roast sits on top of mashed potatoes. They don't put the veggies in til the very end of cooking it, so theyre still rather crisp...its so delicious. I took more than a few spoonfuls of this friend's lunch. Southern fried chicken was SO DELICIOUS. I love greens and I absolutely loved the gravy on top. The chicken was very juicy on the outside and I don't think I left one centimeter of skin remaining...it was so crunchy and mmmmm. I am definitely returning sometime soon, and probably for lunch. My friend also got one of the flavored sodas, Hibiscus, which I didn't think was that great but it was ok. I would want to try one of their cocktails next time as well.
(5)
Wayne F.
Just discovered this place. I wish I had discovered it sooner. Holy cow. Largest menu in town. Best quality considering variety. Food was delicious. Bread is baked fresh daily and you can taste the freshness. French fries are best I have ever had. My fish was delicious - but I wish I had ordered some comfort food as that seems to be the specialty. Like the fish and waffles. Considering the quality of the food - the prices are actually very reasonable. I cant say enough about this food. Probably best value in DC.
(5)
Ryan G.
Went here a couple weeks ago for dinner with family to celebrate our engagement with my finance and her family. We have had brunch here on numerous occasions and have always found that they did a great job with the food and cocktails. Since on this evening we were celebrating we decided to go big on wine. That didn't happen, not for the lack of effort, but for the fact that they don't have a wine list other than wines in the $30-$40 range. I don't think this place realizes the opportunity they are missing out on by not having any wines priced more than forty or so dollars. Do they realize what the avg mortgage is right across the street? We asked if they had a reserve list, turns out they had two bottles, one white and one red, a Stags Leap Cab and a Cake bread Sauv blanc. We ordered them, keeping in mind we were a party of six. The server took our order and did not return for about 20 minutes to fetch them. We finally looked around and she came back to pour the wine and take our orders. When halfway through our appetizers she said "this was our last bottle of the red", I asked how about the white? She said that was the last bottle too. So not only did she take our order for their most expensive wines, two bottles for a group of six, but she didn't tell us they were also her last bottles of each! This was such an amateur mistake, I hope the restaurant works on improving their beverage program. Nothing like starting out with a nice bottle of wine then to finish with a cheap one...The bar seems nice, and the cocktails are good, but wine service totally lacks, as well as having a wine list in general. On to the food. The dinner menu was completely disappointing compared to the brunch menu. The entrees are boring. In the "Signature" dishes section on the menu was included a Yankee pot roast and Chicken Pot Pie, really? Is the Chef on vacation? Chili cheese dogs on the menu? For what almost seems like a serious restaurant this place is trying to be too many things for too many people. And what is up with the organization of the menu? You don't know where to look, way too many sections and categories. I'll stick to brunch with this place. I hope they completely remake the dinner menu, and spend some time on service and their wine program.
(2)
N D.
Since my review, I've returned to Founding Farmers a couple of times, and the service hasn't been as good as before. The servers have seemed rushed and/or overwhelmed by allergy information. I've also made reservations where the information that I've provided on the phone hasn't been provided to server regarding special occasions. The food remains as good as before, and I've still enjoyed my meals at Founding Farmers, but I am disappointed the experience of dining here hasn't remained as stellar.
(2)
Larry B.
Farm to table restaurants just tug at my heart strings. I like the idea of locally grown seasonal foods being featured and the menu being designed to make good ol' fashioned All America fare the focus. A little bit pricey. A little bit underwhelming in terms of service. However, I really like the atmosphere and the style. You'll know you're in store for a treat as soon as you enter the building. Go, enjoy!
(4)
Eva W.
I've been here three times so I feel like I can fairly review this restaurant now. Plus: The food. Lots of good stuff. I had a hot dog that was the best hot dog I've ever eaten, and I've eaten hot dogs in Paris. Terrific homemade tater tot/bacon appetizer. Good chili. Terrific cake for dessert. Well-labeled menu for those looking for vegetarian/vegan/pork-free options. Minus: I think it's overpriced. This is mitigated by portion size, but I'd rather have fewer leftovers and a cheaper check. I wish they had a bigger selection of small plates or even a children's menu. Service leaves a lot to be desired. The waitress consistently forgot to bring my son's GF her wine when we went there for a birthday. She was reminded more than once, it didn't help. And it's a bit slow--understandable when it's busy, annoying when it's not. It was like pulling teeth to get the bartender's attention to get change for a $20 so I could leave a tip. There's not a lot of handicapped parking. They should fix that. I like it but I'd rather go to Silver Diner instead. At least you can get what you ordered without nagging.
(3)
Marla L.
Service excellent. Food great. Like the fresh ingredients and local sustainable preparations. Got the ribs. Fall off the none tender and delicious. The Brussels sprouts were amazing. I would order them all by themselves.
(5)
Janelle M.
I have to say, I was really underwhelmed. I went here with the girls from my office. The decor and ambiance were nice - and if one could eat the decor, they'd probably get 4 stars. But... The food is edible - I'll give it that. It's southern food that is trying to be ostentatious. Cracker Barrel is southern food, but you know, I'd rather go there. It's less expensive, and there's no pretense. Founding Farmers is for people who secretly like fried everything, but don't want to be "seen" slumming it. Over-inflated prices don't make food better. I ordered their macaroni and cheese, and one rail drink, at 5:30pm. I don't know on what planet that should cost $23, but it did. The coworker next to me ordered one glass of wine. When the check came, they had charged her for a full bottle. The food wasn't even really GOOD. The macaroni was soggy, and the sauce so rich and heavy that my arteries were begging for an overdose of Lipitor, and my stomach for Prevacid. I left thinking that the food is WAY over priced for what it is, and that there is no reason under the sun that I would want to pay a premium to eat my southern food in an establishment that is socially acceptable to the upper-scale denizens. I have no problem paying through the nose for good food (Hello, Table 21 and Komi). Unfortunately, Founding Farmers wants you to pay through the nose for only barely mediocre food. Service was incredibly slow - we had to flag down other servers to beg for more water for the table, and once we asked for our checks, it was nearly 40 minutes before they arrived, and then another 40 before the cards were all run. Founding Farmers needs to go back to the drawing board, and try again.
(2)
Katie B.
Great food - (similar to DC location) My boyfriend and I took a couple visiting for dinner last night and we had a great time at a reasonable price (we got 3 drinks, 2 apps, 4 entrees and 2 desserts for $140 plus tip). The atmosphere at FF is casual, with excellent service, solid dishes and just a bit of quirk to keep it interesting. We started with bacon wrapped dates and cornbread. I can not explain to you the delicious smokiness of this app, you'll have to order and learn for yourself! The cornbread was solid. Then I moved onto the Scallops with butternut squash risotto. This was a solid and full-filling dish, but it somehow lacked that extra umph that I expected from FF. HOWEVER, my boyfriends pulled pork BBQ was AMAZING. Similar to the dates appetizer, there was so much flavor and love in his pork that brought you back for more again and again. For dessert our table shared the carrot cake and fruit crisp. It took quite a while for these to come out of the kitchen, the portion size was very large and they were also delicious. I was also quite happy to see the wide variety on the dessert menu and would have been happy with almost all the selections. My only negatives for this place was, 1) we were given a dirty plate, 2) I don't really like the lighting, 3) they put dining checks in a corny mailbox thing That being said, we will def come back as we live in the area and parking is available (unlike in the DC location).
(4)
Patrick S.
went in for lunch, was bustling and a great atmosphere had an amazing Sazerac to start the lunch, followed by the Crab Gazpacho, which was a nice starter before my meatless Bacon Burger, the "Bacon" being smoked tofu, i was floored, the best veggie burger i have ever had full disclosure, it took a little while for my burger to come out, I am a patient guy and didn't mind, but the servers realizing it was taking too long offered a free dessert, told them that was ok, so instead they didn't charge me for my burger, was wowed by the gesture, i am planning to go back as often as i can to explore this menu
(5)
Diana D.
What a disappointment! I love your DC location and suggested to a group of my friends that we catch a late dinner after the twilight run on Saturday night. I made a 10:30pm reservation and we came hungry. They set us up by the bakery kitchen as we ogled at the red velvet cake all night. We sat around waiting for the waiter to take our drink orders and set us up with utensils, etc. 20 minutes later we see our waiter Nadine. Oh Nadine, you started out well and just ended so badly. Why? What happened? After you took our order we barely even saw you. We had to give our selves utensils, we had to keep reminding you to refill our drinks, we had to go get our own dessert after we saw it sitting on the counter begging to be eaten. I know it's late, but it's Saturday night and the restaurant took our reservation and seated us. The worst part of the night was when I had to ask you for a dessert menu. When we were ready to order the beignets and the red velvet cake, you then warn us that it would be another 20 minutes for the beignets. Nadine, here is a tip for you. If a dessert is going to take some time to prepare, a good time to let people know about it would be when you present us with the dessert menu. Just like if you are out of an entree. You do not tell people when you are about to take the order. Another tip for you, if the table orders a few dessert and one is going to take a while to prepare, why don't you offer us to bring out the other desserts first? These are simple things to make people happy and not waiting around. All in all, I had a disappointing experience on Saturday night. I am embarrassed to have brought my friends here and have such bad service. Having good service is the other half of a good dining experience and although the food was good, I left with a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)
Kimie K.
Just to make it easy to picture this restaurant, I'm going to make this real simple for you:) Atmosphere: great! Not too loud, not too awkwardly quiet Decor: great! I like how they stick up to their "farmers" theme by having mailbox to give me the check. Also their water is in a milk-jar which I thought was very cute and that way you don't have to ask your server to fill up the water. Food: my husband had steak with corn on a cob and enchilada. And I had devilish eggs with combo(seafood). For drinks, we had freshly squeezed pineapple juice. For desert, we had fried donut thing(can't remember what it was called but it started with B). To sum up, everything was amazing except devlish eggs(I could smell that unpleasant fishy scent). But the rest of food made up all that. I would give 5 stars to the rest of these food:) Service: the best I've ever had. I still remember her name. Her name was Shanon and she was extremely nice and kind when we were asking her bunch questions of what certain dishes were about. She recommended good foods and kept her smiles on her face the whole time. She is probably the part of reason why we would return to taste more dishes!
(5)
Jenn B.
I've been here so many times since I have discovered this place I've lost count. I usually come with a few friends and we all love it. Among us we have ordered and tried most of the menu and we never seem to be disapointed. My favorite entree is definitely the spatchcock chichen with the maple mustard glaze, the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, and chicken and waffles. I know a lot if people complain about the Mac and cheese but I love it. The flavor is great and it's a nice rich side. I also feel like the food is perfectly seasoned. Never too salty or undersalted. The beignets are well worth the wait. My favorite Resturant in Mont Co.
(5)
Kathryn L.
My husband suggested this place for Sunday brunch, and since I'm trying to encourage him to make more restaurant suggestions, I agreed to it even though the Yelp reviews looked a little underwhelming. The food was OK--we started out with biscuits for the table, and they were fantastic--the highlight of the meal, which may tell you something. The strawberry jam they served with the biscuits was runny (and there wasn't enough of it!). The server brought out a second tray with different jams after we'd finished all the biscuits. My husband opted for the chicken and waffle, and I ordered the chicken/corn tart. After about 10 minutes the server came out to say they were out of that tart and so I switched over to the spicy BBQ shrimp tart. Husband liked his meal, but he's easy to please. My tart was OK, but it felt like it scrimped on the shrimp--4 small overcooked shrimp without much flavor. It was accompanied by a supposedly mesclun (but really mostly romaine) salad that had one of several ingredients--1 grape, 1 cherry tomato, 1 date, 1 small bit of avocado--and no real identity. I also had the Rickey of the day, which I think was mango or guava supposedly, but it tasted more of grapefruit juice than anything else. Fortunately we were able to be seated outside, because the place was packed inside and incredibly, incredibly loud. If there hadn't been outside seating I think we would have left and tried someplace else; there was no way we could have had a pleasant meal with all that racket. I could barely stand to wait by the hostess stand while we waited to be seated, it was so uncomfortably loud. I would give this place another star if the prices were lower, and from what I saw of the lunch entrees they may have been better than the brunch offerings. But based on our experience, it was not good value for the money.
(2)
Tammy K.
Not sure why this place has so many negative reviews. I had a Friday night reservation. Unfortunately, a surprise downpour caused all the outside diners to move inside, so we were about 15 minutes late getting seated. The hosts were extremely gracious and even gave a $15 credit to the meal. The prices here are not low, but they seem to be on the mark for the high quality of the food. The beignets are to die for.
(5)
William B.
I've been here a couple of times for various family get together's. I think it's a solid place. Nothing overly wonderful, but very solid. They do have some different menu items that you don't see every day, which is nice. I'd definitely go back, but I'm not dying to!
(3)
Stephanie W.
The beignets are heavenly and the New Orleans French toast and Pastrami Hash were awesome dishes. Not to much the Benedict Arnold, but I came back and had the amazing pancakes! This place is a carb-lover's heaven.
(4)
A C.
Took a party of 7 to this restaurant on Sunday 8/27/12 for my Dad's 75th Birthday. Hostess: We had a reservation for 1:30 pm. We arrived on time. Our table was not ready and we were not seated for 25 minutes, which was very upsetting to me given that my parents are aging and there is no seating in the waiting area. We were finally seated upstairs after quite a long wait and my mothers was in pain from standing. . Waiter: Excellent. Once we were finally seated, the waiter provided very good service. Because the wait for our table was so long, the waiter gave us $22 in appetizers for free. I left a generous cash tip. Food: Good We ordered the popcorn, bacon lollis and hashbrowns, The popcorn was covered in a barbeque flavoring that made it wet and it was cold. I didn't like cold wetness on the popcorn. The bacon lollis were very good and the hash browns were just ok. I would have like the hash browns better if they were crustier on the outside and creamier on the inside. I ordered the Ahi Poke which was fantastic. Others ordered chicken and waffles and mussels. Everyone loved the entrees. For dessert, I ordered a whole carrot cake in advance. The cake was delicious. Pricing: Reasonable, except I was overcharged $15 A girl named "Victoria" took my cake order and she told me the cake would cost $35, but I was charged $50, so I was charged $15 more than I expected. I didnt mention it to the waiter because I didnt have time to wait for a correct bill. Our meal for 7 people was reasonably priced at $30/pp not including the tip. Atmosphere: The restaurant is clean and nice, but it is very loud and it is hard to hear a person speaking right across the table. Recommendations: 1) Either honor reservations, or don't take reservations at all. It is not fair to have patrons waiting 25 minutes to be seated, especially given there is nowhere to sit in the lobby. 2) Don't put anything wet on the popcorn 3) Make sure the staff knows the pricing so patrons are not overcharged
(3)
Alanna S.
The food was fantastic- can't deny it. HOWEVER, the service was atrocious and if you enjoy being treated as a human being I recommend eating at a different restaurant. What is the point of making a reservation if you are seated 30 min later? And after you complain that parties that arrived later than you were seated first, your request of being sat downstairs was not honored. Killing it so far, Founding Farmers! The manager, Amanda, tells us how sorry she is and gives us two appetizers on the house. But once we open the silverware, food all over our forks and knives. Nothing like a true eating experience to be able to see what the person before you ate. Of course when Amanda came back to check on us (45 min later....), she did the typical "would you like another cocktail?!" thing that restaurants do, but each drink was $12 so thank you for that slimy trick after giving us dirty utensils. IT WAS REALLY APPRECIATED AMANDA!!! Basically, if you like to instagram your food this is the place to go. If you want to eat in a respectable restaurant, avoid Founding Farmers.
(2)
Theresa A.
I came here twice for dinner with some friends. I usually go to the DC location because its closer to me from the VA side. Maybe I am biased, but I like the DC location more, the food was more flavorful and tasty. I had the ahi tuna salad, which I usually get from the DC FF and loved it, but this salad was not as satisfying in MOCO FF. Something was different, like less avocado and tuna or something. I wasn't impressed as I was for DC location.
(3)
Ajay A.
This is the first one star that I have given a restaurant. Generally I like to give restaurants the benefit of doubt for a dish gone bad, or if an employee has an attitude I figure everyone has a bad day now and then. The one star is for the following: 1. Hostess with an attitude 2. Fish that was raw (really raw) 3. Inconsistent explanations for not seating us outside on the patio 4. Inconsistent explanations for empty tables inside the restaurant 5. We were told that it was restaurant policy that everyone in a group had to be present in order for our name to be put on the list. Usually restaurants request that everyone in a group be present in order for a group to be seated, which makes much more sense. Six of us had gone for dinner this evening (sunday), and things started unraveling from the start. We asked to be seated on the patio, and were told by the hostess with an attitude that the last table had been taken, and there was an hour wait for a table. On seeing that there were at least four 8-seat tables that were empty on the patio, I asked one of the servers why we could not have one of those. She first said that there were no umbrellas for those tables. It was dusk, and I told her we did not need umbrellas. She then said that they did not have any servers for the extra tables outside. That was a plausible explanation, so we did not say anything more. We then asked about an area that had empty tables, and the same hostess said that the area was closed. One member of our group pointed out that there had been patrons there an hour back (when she had tried unsuccessfully to give a name give the hour-long wait). Miss attitude then said that those tables were reserved. Our server was very friendly and most of the food was good. Unfortunately, the dish that I ordered, rockfish with almond and mushroom crust and with mustard sauce, green onions and parmesan, was raw. Not just slightly raw, but mostly raw. I did not expect that for a $28 entree. The server took it back right away, but by the time it arrived, most of the others in the group had finished their meal.
(1)
Aelisa D.
After hearing so many of my friends brag about the Farm-to-Table American inspired food, I was so excited when my lucky day finally arrived. I made reservations since we had a big group, and when we arrived at 6pm we were seated immediately. A friendly face and large picnic style table with high bar stools greeting us when we arrived. We were then presented with the eclectic drinks and dinner menu. I had heard great things about their fried chicken and waffles (two choices in how your chicken is prepared). For some odd reason though, I decided to go for a the cheeseburger. It was served on a brioche bun with a side of fries. I ALWAYS bring home a doggy bag for my fur child, but my burger was so good I ate the entire thing. I didn't even feel guilty...until I arrived home empty handed. The drinks are a little pricey but definitely worth it. I had the Fraise Fling ($12) which consisted of: prairie Organic Vodka, prosecco, strawberries, lychees, and agave. It did not disappoint. I loved the food, the theme, and the atmosphere. It is a fun place to go with a group and I'd also recommend it for date night.
(4)
Nami C.
Good food is worth the wait, and remember to save room for the dessert. Not only the cake is good, but the ice-cream is surprisingly excellent and their drinks menu are awesome too. Because of its popularity RESERVATION IS A MUST, luckily OpenTable is very convenient.
(5)
Amy G.
Brunch only review... This is probably the best brunch around. Always a good time with good pricing and wonderful fresh food. Don't miss out on panakes and beignets. You won't regret it!
(5)
Kevin G.
this place was the worst dinning experience I have had in a very long time. I only wish the people had been rude because if I sense rude in the beginning I leave rather than support an establishment otherwise. They where kind of nice so I stayed only to be subjected to flavorless food and lousy cocktails. Starting with the foe fusion interior to the foe top shelf bar that doesn't have one bottle of rye out of the ten different kinds that's older than 10 years. Why have so many and charge so much if they are all the same? They had no beer, the coolers had been broken for a week or so said the bartender. So instead I had a sazerac made with cheap rye. we had the cornbread but all you could taste was all of the Pam they had sprayed in the pan that it comes in so it tasted like asparagus rather than cornbread. FAIL My wife ordered the polenta and it was inedible as it had been spiced beyond recognition. I had the straw, The only resemblance to this typically made dish called straw and hay made of cream, pasta, pancetta, peas etc. straw might have had more taste. It really could have been anything. I didn't right this review for a month after eating there because I didn't want to be overly negative as it is not my thing but to pay a hundred bucks to eat a meal that could have been made by vocational school students really left a mark.I was amazed by how many people lined up to get in this place but its trendy and I guess that matters to some, not me. what it really tells me is that this part of town needs some more good restaurants as apparently you can serve mediocre and align it with a farmer and sell it pretty successfully. Do you self a favor, cook at home before you waste your money on this gimmick rich establishment
(1)
Cynthia L.
4 drinks, appetizer, 2 entrees, and $120 later...my friend & I left feeling so unsatisfied. We were going to aim for their salads but they had some very "unique" mixtures, none of which sounded appetizing (i'm not a fan of fruit and nuts in my salad). So initially, we had ordered Mushroom Ravioli. Really, who can go wrong with mushroom ravioli? It's carbs stuffed with mushrooms....we just didn't pay attention to the "four cheese" printed before it. The dish was pasta made in a mini-muffin tin, stuffed with goat cheese, surrounded by blue cheese crumble, and 2 other cheese with chunky mushrooms on the side. We both were resigned to forcing it down, but our super nice waitress saw my reaction and so generously replaced our dishes...so this is what we ordered: -Mixed drinks - delicious...although I can't remember the name of mine (it was a sweet tequila mix drink), the other was a mojito (nicely done with a hint of spice...nutmeg or cinnamon) -Salami, pesto & goat cheese flatbread - It was very tasty but we had to add so much salt and pepper to it. - Lobster Max & Cheese - Tasty but as I suspected, only had 2 tiny pieces of lobster on top rather than mixed into the mac & cheese and at $28 for this dish, it didn't feel worth it at all. - 3 Hot Dogs - My friend enjoyed the crab roll (I was personally disgusted with the mayo-wasabi tasting mushy roll). I enjoyed the chili dog (minus the onion), and the bacon dog. No dessert. It's not the farm to table concept that I don't like, it's the high price and mediocre tasting food that I mind.
(2)
Joris M.
Just like their DC location, the MoCo version has an entertaining cocktail menu, very well executed, and a diverse menu. I had the spatchcocked chicken with maple glaze and it was excellent. Half a chicken, so too much for one sitting plus the mashed potatoes. That was on top of the Fried Green Tomatoes appetizer. We went on a Thursday night at 7:30, party of 6, and with a reservation we waited about 10 minutes for a table. The place was packed then, but emptied out by 8:30 or so. I'd recommend making a reservation if you go during prime time.
(5)
D. K.
WARNING: PHOTOS ARE DONE BY OWNER, NOT CUSTOMERS. I WAS BRIBED TO COME BACK SO I CAN CHANGE MY REVIEW (why bother if I'm living in North Carolina?). DON'T BE FOOLED. This place was crap. I went for a friend's birthday (who is a head chef of a different restaurant) and trusted his judgement. The only positives about this place is that the drinks were good and the service was good. My biggest complaint is the price for drinks and food. I could get the same drinks at a club in DC for the same price. This isn't even a fancy restaurant. Sure this restaurant supposedly makes food from the "local farms," but so does the Silver Diner off of 355/Rockville Pike too. The food quality was awful. I ordered a bread (forget what it was). When it was delivered to my table, it was a hard as a rock. I couldn't even eat it. I asked another friend about what he thought of the restaurant since he has been here three times (a server at an upscale Italian restaurant in DC). He says the food at Founding Farmers is a hit or miss. We both agreed that FF has a lot of room for improvement. 2 stars because hey... drinks were good and the quality is a "hit or miss" based on a second person's experience here. I could get cheaper drinks elsewhere though (i.e. Rockville Alehouse... $10 for a Sangria pitcher FTW).
(2)
Seulki K.
I wonder why this place only received 3 stars overall...because I loved this place so much. The food felt fresh, healthy, and delicious. When they say they only use organic, local farm ingredients, I usually am a skeptic, but I really believed it with this restaurant because you can really taste the difference. I had the crab benedict with grits, and my friends had the roasted chicken dish and the egg scrambled omelette. All of them I thought had a fresh taste because the chicken and the eggs did not have that stinky, fishy aftertaste that is usually found in store bought chicken and eggs. I also had the fried green tomatoes and pickled vegetables, which were both very delicious. The price is a tad expensive, but I felt like the price points were very respectable since they ARE using organic ingredients after all. The only downside I had with the experience was the service. When we paid our bill, we decided to do half and half with cash and credit card. The waitress lost one of the 20 dollar bills, and I ended up paying little bit more on the credit card. The waitress fixed our bill without finding our lost 20 dollar bill, but it was still.. an unusual situation for us to be in.
(4)
Matt P.
A perfect place for a night out. Started out at the bar where they have a huge variety of different mixed drinks. They hand squeeze all of their mixers. Wife had the el presendente. She said it was really good. Strayed off with bacon Lollies. Was real good. I had pot roast. I could not finish it but it was yummy. Wife had scallops and she said they were cooked perfect. Service was the best. An energetic waiter and I wish I remember his name. Will for sure go back.
(5)
Justine S.
I was so disappointed in my meal here. I really don't want to write a 'mean' review but I have to tell the truth. I ordered the Arnold Benedict - supposedly their take on sausage and gravy for brunch. It was so bland when it came out that I asked for another plate. It came back exactly the same. And I thought I was being smart for ordering something classicly country/southern at this place. Nope, I was wrong. It literally tasted like watered down milk. And the english muffin was stale! STALE. Our waiter was nice about it but he didn't even offer to take it off of our check. I didn't even eat any of my second dish. My boyfriend loved his pastrami hash and I loved the place and the coffee but it wasn't enough. Now that I think about it, I wish they offered to change my order to something else. I just couldn't believe that it was awful!
(2)
Meredith G.
Alright. So Valerie, a manager at FF contacted me following my first review and offered us a chance to try the restaurant again, on the house. We considered and took her up on the chance. I have to say the difference between this time and last was dramatic. The service was 100xs better, making the entire experience so much more satisfying. It made me realize how much that factor alone can make a difference. This time, i tried the chicken and waffles, and the $5 orange juice. My husband ordered the blueberry pancakes, pepper bacon, a bloody mary, and we shared the french pressed coffee. In our view, the coffee and the pancakes really shine at Founding Farmers. I'd never had chicken and waffles before and found it ok - i liked the yeasty waffle best, as did our 2 year old who drank most of my orange juice. We were tempted by the beignets but thought it would be too much. I would go back again for pancakes and would like to try out fare at other times of day like lunch and dinner. Thanks Valerie for the opportunity.
(4)
Kendra Z.
This is easily my favorite restaurant in MoCo. The food is phenomenal. The service is genuine. I could easily eat here everyday. I highly recommend the bread appetizers - the fig and cheese as well as the basil and tomato. Entree wise...I love everything I've tried. The gnocchi is OUT OF THIS WORLD. If you're looking for an awesome find without having to travel into DC - this is it
(5)
Angelica C.
Excellent food and excellent service! A reservation is a must if you don't want to wait a long time!
(5)
Ellen J.
Absolutely delicious! Hands down the best Mac & cheese I've ever had at a restaurant. It's very rich so I substituted it as one of my sides so I could have a small portion. Very broad menu; there is something suitable for everyone! They make their own sodas. I have only tried the passion fruit one, but I can't wait to try others.
(5)
allen w.
First time visit after driving by several times. Stopped by for lunch with my wife. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable. Our server "Gabby" was awesome. We had the shrimp & grits and the goat cheese burger. Both dishes were fantastic. We usually don't get dessert but Gabby couldn't say enough good things about the cheesecake, so we gave it a try along with the carrot cake. Neither dessert disappointed the cheesecake was light and delicious. Never tasted a cheesecake like this before it was very good. The carrot cake was also very good but the cheesecake was the hit. We will definitely return to the Founding Farmer.
(4)
C P.
This is one of the most interesting reviewed places on Yelp. People either love it or hate it. It is the Napolean Dynamite on Yelp in that it's so polarizing. I think I figured out why. Unfortunately for the restaurant, the people who hate it really seem to go out of their way to slam it. I was tempted to do just that but I showed real restraint it giving it another visit before I reviewed it. HERE IS THE PROBLEM: IT'S TOO AMBITIOUS GIVEN ITS ABILITY. The menu is one that would appeal to foodies like myself. The problem is it can't deliver. For example, whenever I go to a decent restaurant and see Fried Chicken as an entree, I always order it because usually it means it's something special. The problem here is that while it's OK, it's nothing to get excited over. Same goes for the Devil-ish eggs. Compare theirs to Ray's the Classic's and it's no contest. When I saw their custom sodas, I was really anxious to try them with my kids. We ordered 3 and only one of them were even close to pleasant. To the restaurant's credit, they took it back. This is going to sound very food snobbish but what I have found is that people with unsophisticated restaurant food palettes love this places. For example, my 13 year old niece's idea of Italian Restaurants is Olive Garden and pasta with red sauce and she thinks this is the best restaurant in the world and always hounds me to take her here when she visits. The sad thing is the area really needs a restaurant like this as you have a lot of affluent foodies living in the area who are not going to be satisfied by the options in Rockville. I hate to say it but they need to get a new higher caliber chef. They could probably keep the entire menu, but just need to execute a little better even if it means upping the prices.
(3)
Yuri I.
Founding farmers has a industrial farm theme thing going on with their interior design. However, their service is big city efficient. The staff has their roles down pat. Decent wine and drink list. My "El Presidente" was made for this peon to feel like a big shot with just the right amount of froth from a proper shaking. The fried green tomatoes were truly the worst I have ever had, tasting of vegetable oil. North Carolina barbecue was average but Luke warm. It came with pickled onions on top which were really tasty. The green beans on the side clearly came straight from the farm but were somehow dry? I really can't say they were bad but dry was a new sensation for a veggie and not appealing. Desert was a apple berry crisp with vanilla ice cream on top. It was average but yes, it's sugar and hit the sweet spot. The accompanying coffee was "Intelligencia" brand and delicious. 2.5 stars Yuri
(4)
Maryam B.
I ate at founding farmers a while back but that Mac n cheese was memorable. It's 9 in the morning and that's what I'm craving. And have been for the past week
(4)
S L.
Been coming here for over a year. This is our go to place for a nice night out. We're very aware of what we eat, and where we eat comes from, which is why we prefer going here. Fried chicken is great. The girlfriend always gets the diver scallops with the butternut squash risotto. I don't think I've seen her order anything else here. It's one of her favorite things to eat. She also raves about the fried green tomatoes, and gets them every time. The herb crusted prime rib is hit or miss in my experience. I think it gets reheated, so some times it comes out kind of cold/warm and not juicy at all. I think I'll be passing on ordering this in the future. Their mashed potatoes are so damned good. They have a light flavor, not overwhelming. Arguably the best I've ever had. The hand made sodas are great. I prefer water, but I will on occasion get a soda if it doesn't have high fructose corn syrup. The vanilla soda is wonderful. It's a slightly carbonated, vanilla flavored water. I had my girlfriends mother try it when we took them out to dinner and she loved it (she despises soda!). I've had the seasonal strawberry soda which was great as well. This is a very good restaurant with high quality ingredients. When they're busy, it gets extremely loud. I've also noticed they'll try and rush you out if there are a number of people idling by the front door waiting on a seat. Overall, great place and great food!
(5)
C.L. M.
Huge fan of this Farm to Table restaurant. Even though it can be packed, the food has always been fantastic. We have tried a lot on the menu and never been disappointed. Just wish the restaurant was larger to accommodate more people!
(4)
Scott S.
A good brunch choice in the DC area. We had fried chicken and a veggie scramble with a biscuit... the biscuit was crazily the best part! The meal was overall very well made and looked as healthy as a fried chicken could. We also had the espresso/soda speciality drink for a change; not a big fan of soda myself, but it was good none the less. There are not many "brunch" places in the area besides bagels, Eggspectations and maybe a handful of French places. You can get more of an American mix here than I've seen anywhere else. If I'm missing something, please feel free to let me know. I'm a big fan of trying out new breakfast/brunch restaurants (keep in mind, I'm talking about restaurants and not bagel/coffee joints).
(3)
E. F.
Oh yes, I'm updating again! Last time we were at FF for dinner (Valentine's Day), we were inconvenienced by a menu that had hidden meat (my boyfriend is vegetarian). Luckily, our waitress knew the menu backwards and forward! :-) I had tweeted @foundingfarmers and they assured us a new menu was in the works and we experienced that today. YES, YES, YES. There is a whole Meatless section, including a meatless Bacon Burger. My boyfriend got that and I stole a bite. It was really good!! Not only were there vegetarian and vegan entrees in the Meatless section, the rest of the menu had "v" and "vg" for other items suitable for non-carnivores. I got the Many Vegetables Salad, which lived up to its name. Everything was so fresh, including corn that was clearly cut from a cob. Yum. Thank you so much, Founding Farmers! We're always happy with everything we've eaten here.
(5)
Al C.
I have one main line of advice for you foodies: sit at the bar. I have never seen the bar so full that I couldn't get a seat In five minutes. Usually Fri night around happy hour there's plenty of space. The bartenders are totally unpretentious and they make the BEST cocktails! Perfectly balanced and good to the last drop. They listen to you and make something based on your description of what you want. They will give you a sample taste of anything and are great conversationalists, too. It's twice the class and quality of a top bar with none of the haughtiness. That said, the only reason I can stomach the $12 drink prices is that I lived in Manhattan for two years. This is a once-every-two-months kinda place for me. The food that everyone raves about I find to be hit or miss, personally. The hash browns are laughable. Might as well steam them for how un-crunchy they are. Do not go to brunch expecting fast service. Veggie meatloaf is pretty hearty but way too salty. Shrimp and grits were good but a bit greasy. What never fails is the appetizer section! The breads and spreads are amaaaazing, esp the onion jam with Brie!
(4)
Raven M.
I work in a hospital and the cafeteria food was just not cutting it. So immediately afterwork we go check out this Founding Farmers restaurant everyone has been talking about. Since it's home grown, organic, fresh, blah blah all the good stuff food should be, we didn't feel so bad about completely stuffing our faces like we would never have another meal again. Even after our feast, we stayed and enjoyed delicious cocktails, not because our food-babies were impairing our movement, but because the drinks were good. The food: the asian black pepper wings- I don't usually order chicken but the waitress insisted they were amazing. I wanted to hug her after I tasted them. The fried green tomatoes were so good, as was the guacamole like sauce that came with. The staff unfortunately could not share the recipe with us. I'll just have to go back....The entrees, were all great as well but if i keep thinking about it i'll abandon this review and get in my car. But the beignets, so good. They weren't the same as actually Louisiana beignets, but their creation made me for get what a real one was supposed to taste like.
(4)
Anthony O.
first time i tried this place my burger was cooked RAW! i had asked for med well. thought I give this a second chance and try the southern Fried Chicken well..the chicken was the saltiest chicken i have ever had! I will never order take out from there ever again.
(1)
Don L.
Dinner was excellent. I had the polenta which was so more elaborate than the menu promised. Overdelivery! My only quibbles (although I'm still giving it 5 stars) were minor: - We ordered a flatbread after the waiter described it, but it was much smaller than he described. We didn't realize this until after we had eaten most of it and were going "Is that it?" so it seemed too late to complain. Actually, it wasn't even flat so the description on the menu was misleading too! (But it was soooo tasty.) - The homemade ginger soda had ice in it. Seemed excellent for awhile but by the time I got to the bottom, the melt had diluted the soda so the flavor was disappointingly weak. Bear in mind that this was in the middle of the winter so ice was not needed. Indeed, the water glasses had no ice in them so clearly someone recognized ice was inappropriate. Very odd.
(5)
Karena J.
I really like Founding Farmers in DC so was excited to find out that they had opened one closer to me in Potomac. I've been to this location twice. The first time, the service and organization was atrocious. It was so bad, that the manager apologized and comped our whole $300 meal for our party of six. But the food was good, especially the bacon lolli's - slow roasted and so soft that it melts in your mouth. Due to the manager's apology and my craving for the bacon, we decided to give it another try. I'm so sorry to be disappointed again. The bacon was a far cry from what we had the first time - it was now tough and chewy. I'd rather have bacon from Denny's. I ordered a $15 salad that consisted of a sliced 1/3 head of lettuce under shredded cheddar cheese and topped with a slab of dry turkey, a tiny amount of prime rib that was cold with fat edging that congealed, and 3 slices of deli ham. What was this? It looked like left overs from a neighbor's trash. So odd that this salad was ever conceptualized by Founding Farmers. My husband did enjoy his wings and the fried green tomato appetizer had a hearty crisp breading. The service was better the second visit although I'm not sure why they do not have tables ready... when we arrived, the restaurant was half full and it took 5 minutes for the hostess to leave her stand, set up the table and come back to finally lead us to it. Odd. Disappointing. Don't waste your time. Go to Sugo next door if you read this as you are driving to Founding Farmers.
(2)
Breezy Q.
We waited forever to be seated, despite the fact that we had a reservation, and then we waited forever for our food -- which, when it finally came, was unimpressive and clearly overpriced. Meh.
(2)
Helene M.
The service was great. The noise level was awful. Couldn't hear yourself talk. The food was okay. I've had better.
(3)
Matt M.
I wish Yelp allowed half stars! This place was not "meh!" enough for a two star, but not three star, either. Although I really appreciate their focus on local sourcing and in-house preparation, the end result was okay, but not fabulous. Starters were not great, but not awful...the descriptor that comes to mind is uninspired. Entree portions were massive and more interesting than the starters, but also didn't overly impress. My biggest complaints were with the overly complicated menu (two menus, actually) and overly ambitious drink menu. Thankfully, the staff was quite nice and very helpful, but I have to say I won't likely be going back.
(3)
Tim V.
I've eaten here about a dozen times. I seriously recommend the flat breads, the New Oreans style french toast, and the french press coffee. Oh, and the red velvet cake... OMG, so freakin awesome! It does get a little noisy in here. I often just eat at the bar. Ask for Eric or Jackie.... and sit in their section at the bar. They are both absolutely amazing!
(4)
Matt L.
This is usually a once a month brunch spot for us, so figured it was time to break it down Yelp style. Sunday at 10 AM, the 1st floor seating of the restaurant was pretty much to the brim, which was surprising, but nice to see so many people up and alive. The hostess team does a great job of keeping the patrons informed, and at ease. Those with reservations are treated as such, which you cannot say for other establishments. The wait staff is prompt, friendly, and has an obvious passion and work ethic. It appears that each server is loaded with 6-7 tables, which can be a daunting task. We started our brunch of fun with two Pimm's Cups, which is a gin-based drink, and a throwback to the late 1800/early 1900s. The mixology team at FF is innovative, and very talented. The perfect drink for a Sunday morning and the Cucumber garnish was a nice touch. Instead of a normal biscuit bread service (which you do have to pay for), we went with the Banana Fluffer Nutter. This tasty treat is a honey-wheat toast, topped with peanut butter, banana, and marshmallow fluff. It was topped with chocolate candies, and roasted peanuts. The peanuts had a bit of a heat kick to them, which I enjoyed, but didn't really fit the dish. A generous serving of 6 fluffer strips is what is plated. If only Elvis was still alive, and a Montgomery County resident... In continuing my healthy breakfast, I went for the Red Velvet Pancakes. These pancakes cover a fairly big plate, and were perfectly cooked. The problem was they were essentially buttermilk pancakes with red food coloring. The cocoa taste of the Red Velvet ceased to exist, although the cream cheese frosting/topping was very tasty. My mate went with a standard bacon/eggs combo, although the grits were served in a giant bowl, and tasted amazing with a tad of butter. The eggs were well-executed, and the bacon was cooked properly. The crown jewel of our meal was the side of Black Pepper Maple Glazed Bacon. This bacon is thick, and a visual delight. They leave a fair amount of chew, which is so important to a good piece of thick bacon. The glaze is a bit on the sweet side, but has such great flavor, you may not even notice. The menu is so fun and complex that the ordering/decision process is no easy feat. We look forward to returning for many months to come.
(4)
Len W.
Watch out when in party six or more! They add tip to bill without mentioning it, it was not obvious on the menu. Server screwed us and knew it.
(1)
Kellie D.
This place is cool and I love the idea....however the food was very meh. The table biscuits would have been ok but they forgot the honey so it was pretty lame until we for that...then it was yummy. We asked for the smoked salmon deviled eggs....they put nothing but chopped smoked salmon in the filling no yoke at all....they had to fix it lol, then they were just ok...very lackluster I prolly could have whipped up something better at home. The dinners and desserts were not memorable. The homemade sodas are a waste of money, I make better sodas at home with my soda stream with Monin syrups.
(2)
Kim A.
The food was mostly great, and pretty much lived up to the rave reviews I keep hearing. Unfortunately, they seemed a bit unprepared for New Year's Eve. They weren't able to make the Manhattan soda (the espresso machine was down all day), and were out of the first 3 or 4 cuts of steak we tried to order. The prime rib was one of the available pieces, but was a little tough. We got the "devil-ish eggs" to start. They were pretty good, but a little bland. Onto the positive: The "phosphate", blood orange soda, was amazing! I usually stick with water, but tried a sip and had to order my own. They make these sodas in-house, and it was the perfect blend of sweet, sour and fizz; so good!! I really am intrigued by the coffee infused soda now, and will definitely be trying it next time. I had the plank salmon (no plank, they were also out of those, but I hear it's just a wooden block anyway) with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. The salmon was cooked really well, and had just the right blend of seasonings. I took it as it came with the "plank" order, but there are several other ways to choose from. The brussel sprouts were a little on the sweet side, which is new for me, but surprisingly I liked them a lot. The mashed potatoes were great (could have been warmer actually), and the flavor and texture was perfect. I loved how a little bit of the red potato peel was left in. The decor was a mix of cute, rustic and modern. The checks some in a tiny mailbox, and you put the flag up when you're ready for them to take it. There were lots of nice little touches all around the restaurant.
(3)
Tay S.
The food was amazing, the service was great, and we got there a little after 9 and there was no wait! I will most certainly go back here!! Oh and the $12 mimosas are worth every penny!
(5)
Carmen S.
Birthday brunch with my hubby did not disappoint. We each started with a bloody mary - which were wonderfully spicy and complex, topped with fresh lime slices, pickled asparagus (nice touch) and fresh parsley. My husband ordered the biscuits and gravy and loved the perfectly cooked eggs and biscuits, but got VERY little gravy on his dish. I ordered the chicken and waffles, and they were delicious, but again... skimpy on the gravy. Overall delicious food in a loud but original environment. Next time I plan to order the Crab Benedict!
(5)
Kaye N.
we went to founding farmers for the first time and since this is a location close to where we live we chose to go here. we went on a sunday around 1pm and the place is packed. its a good thing we made reservations and our wait time was less than 10mins. the server was very nice. she asked if it was our first time and when we said it was, she started telling us a little but about the history of the restaurant. we got classic devil-ish eggs and it was delicious. i will say its nothing special but it was well made. the coffee press was lovely and we loved the coffee(one of my favorite there) both my boyfriend and i ordered the "land & sea"(steak and crab meat or lobster). i had the 8oz. steak with lobster with salad and red potatoes- i love the salad,and lobster with the butter sauce. the steak was ok. nothing special really. my boyfriend got the steak and crab cake with mac and cheese and fries. and he loved everything:) we will definitely go back to try the breakfast menu. make a reservation before heading out there.
(4)
Semra E.
I came here for brunch with some friends on a Sunday morning. I'd heard great things about the place so I was really excited to try it out myself...unfortunately it wasn't as smashing as I'd hoped. On top of that in my Bellini there was a piece of floating plastic (that I seriously thought was some type of ice that they hand cut because it's known for doing everything from the bottom up, it was also semi submerged that's why I drank the entire thing and THEN realized that it was plastic AFTER the fact)....smooth. I didn't feel like it was worth wasting the servers time with explaining that because they also brought out the wrong dish to one of my friends 2 times already. We were patient and honestly didn't complain while there because if you can't get it right the first time I most likely won't come back. It's like when you date someone, sometimes you just have to read the red flags and keep it moving. I'm sure others have had better experiences than the one I had since I've read lots of reviews on this place, but I don't even live close enough to this place to try it out again and there's plenty of spots in DC for brunch, so I'll stick to those.
(2)
Colin H.
Depending on when you go, your experience will differ. Recently had brunch there and had a delicious meal, but the server was young, unprofessional, slow, and unfriendly. Dampened what could have been a really great brunch experience. I ordered the chicken (actually tenders) and waffles (that comes with eggs-your-way, and a side of gravy) along with a Manhattan Soda (Iced-Espresso with Seltzer Water, and Whipped Cream). Food was very tasty! Wife ordered the Traditional Eggs-Benedict along with a Leek & Potato Hash along with a Bellini (Fruity, alcoholic beverage) she says the food was ok and has had better elsewhere. Our dinner experience was slightly better in that our server was professional, personable, knowledgeable, and efficient. I ordered the Traditional Pot Roast that was ok, nothing special but I know I won't order that again. I did like the Farmer's Smash (Whiskey based drink) and has become one of my all-time favorite drinks! Wife ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli and she liked it, tried some and I think it is one of their better dinner items. She also ordered the Egg-Cream Drink (Chocolate Syrup, Seltzer Water, and Whipped Cream) and it sounded better than it actually tasted. Overall, the restaurant has potential to be great but the inconsistency in service really hinders them. I want to go several more times and order some other items on their brunch, and dinner menu to get a better sense of their food.
(3)
Adrian A.
I rarely post reviews but I felt was important to post this one. I enjoyed a late lunch at the Potomac founding farmers. I witnessed to very very heavyset stocky women sitting in the corner of the bar. They were visibly angry and I overheard them complaining to one of the bartenders, I think her name was Charlie. They were ranting and raving about the other bartender who I've witnessed give them nothing but good service. I don't know why these two were so angry but I heard them continue to say that want to write complaints etc. try and ruin the reputation of this restaurant. They were treated respectfully and kindly in a way that even I as a former restaurant professional not have done. This place is good when everything is going great. The test of a really good restaurant is when things go wrong. I never could've thought you could train or represent that type of patients and class under those circumstances. Top marks on top work to the bar staff. I will return again The other bartender, Jackie hit things with stride and continue to give everyone else at the bar a great time. And by the way I'm real and I don't work for this place. I'm just shocked when I see people treated.
(5)
Bella B.
Overall: Good, wholesome food. Really wish there were more of these types of places around. Must request "no salt", unless that's your thing. Also, every time I go there the cups smell like eggs, something in their dishwashing process doesn't get rid of the smell. But if that is the cost of eating organic and having locally sourced food, then I would gladly plug my nose while drinking water. Have been going for dinner for a few years now but just tried the brunch. Eggs florentine: bread to egg ratio is off, too much bread; eggs cooked just right (nice and runny); too much salt Banana foster waffles: pretty goo; too little bananas but otherwise no complaints here This place is a must, don't hesitate going!
(4)
Meg S.
Though I vowed I would never go back after my dining experience here, a friend who had a much more positive first experience at Founding Farmers convinced me to try again. Disclaimer - the manager did offer me a free meal after reading my first review, but I didn't take her up on it. So this review is based on me paying my own way, and them not knowing I was there. This time I went for brunch. The kitchen served it all up at a good pace and our waitress was responsive. Unfortunately, the waitress cleared my coffee cup when it was empty rather than refilled it, so I guess you have to pay-per-cup there. Too bad, because it is really fantastic coffee. Also, the waitress never put in our beignet order. Instead, she brought us biscuits ahead of our entrees, which we thought was her just thoughtfully serving us our sides first so we wouldn't go hungry. Because there's such a delay on the beignets, by the time we realized this was an error rather than our side dish, it was too late to order the beignets. And then she charged us for the biscuits, even though both of our entrees were supposed to come with biscuits on the side for free. And finally, she served us ketchup with the biscuits, instead of jam (it wasn't until our main courses came, with more biscuits and jam, that we realized none of this was deliberate). So that's a four-part error on the starter. A bit of a head scratcher, and I'm actually quite disappointed that I never got to try the beignets, since they're so well liked by other diners. The other oddity was that my companion and I both ordered egg dishes - mine was a scramble and hers came in a skillet. The peculiar thing is how different the portion sizes were - mine looked like it consisted of a scant two eggs scrambled with one large mushroom and four slices of sausage (with lots of white space left on the plate), but hers was substantially larger. Normally, restaurants have fairly consistent portion sizes from dish to dish, so this was strange. So how do I assign stars to this review? Technically the first time was worse - I nearly cried from embarassment at the disparity between our service and the tables around us. This time our waitress was much more welcoming, but our order and our bill were incorrect, and the waitress told us she couldn't make it up to us (because the beignets take 20 minutes, so we'd be having them long after we finished our entrees; also we *did* eat the first biscuits she served us, and those were the ones that cost $5, so she said it would make sense for us to pay for them... I guess I should have asked her to bring us a menu so I could show her they should have been free, and her serving us two sets of biscuits is not our fault, but I simply don't argue with wait staff in public and can't bring myself to do such a thing). I think it all washes out to another two-star review. Very good food, but I come away feeling a bit like I'm never really going to actually ENJOY a meal there. It always feels like more of a breadline where you get the treatment and the food that they decide to give you. I hope they treat enough people well that they stay open, because the *idea* of Founding Farmers is such a nice one.
(2)
Lisa B.
Valerie the manager invited me and a guest to try the restaurant again and we were very pleased with the new experience. The other bonus was that the hosts and servers seemed to have no clue we were going to get the meal comped, which was good (or else they were good actors). Our server was very knowledgable about the menu and gave us lots of recommendations. We ordered the asian black pepper wings and mussels which were both delicious. The wings were seasoned perfectly and had just the right amount of lime. The mussels came with some delicious bread, too. For the entrees my husband got the surf and turf (which he got the last time, too) and I got the lemon meuniere scallops. I just took a bite of the risotto, but everything was great. For dessert we shared the chocolate mousse bowl - and rolled out of there. Founding Farmers did exactly what they should - allowed us to try them out again on the house and converted us to fans and people that will re-visit the restaurant in the future. Thank you! The other thing I'll mention is the excellent service, you don't realize how much service matters until you get bad service. Our server this time was enthusiastic, attentive and seemed to recommend the right dishes for us. We'll be back.
(5)
Sheri Y.
I have a vegan meatloaf and it was delicious. This is my first time here for dinner.
(4)
Vah G.
A friend of mine took me here for lunch one day after we got back from DC. It's a pretty busy place. The interior decor of the restaurant is very eclectic. I ordered a cocktail called the El Presidente and to my surprise came with a small glass of beer. The chef salad was ok. I had the Fish and Chips for my entree. The fish servings were large but very breaded. I probably would come back.
(4)
Al E.
The food & drink menus are great - but they have limited bar space. My wife and I like to pop in for a drink but have to wait 30 mins for space at the bar - usually because some middle aged woman has reserved a seat with her coat/bag and decided to get 4 or 5 cocktails in before the person she is waiting for arrives! this has happened 3 times now! they really need to expand the bar space to the front of the restaurant and be willing to tell people to move their stuff when others are waiting! this place had HUGE potential but are not taking advantage of it.
(2)
Elliott K.
I had breakfast here, the food was excellent. My father had the traditional eggs Benedict, and I had the fried chicken and waffles. I thoroughly enjoyed my dish. The chicken was breaded well and the skin didn't fall off the meat, it stuck with it. The waffles were nice and fluffy, but still had a good chew to them. The beignets were also very tasty. They came with 3 sauces, chocolate, honey and syrup. They were fresh and served in a little paper bag. All in all, a good experience and delicious food.
(5)
Brett M.
loved founding farmers. Everything we tried was really good and seems very fresh. I'm now a regular.
(4)
Tina N.
As much as I want to give Park Potomac Founding Farmers 4-5 stars...I just can't. This location just isn't the same as the one in DC. I always get the fried chicken and waffles ---and its different between the two location. The DC one is much much better. I understand Park Potomac location just opened a few months ago...but I was hoping for the food taste the same as the DC location. Park Potomac is in a more accessible area--easy parking and right off of I270. But I would drive the extra 20 mins to go to the DC location. Hibiscus Handcrafted soda is delicious at both location. They taste the same. The cornbread tasted the same at both the location. Service: good service, your check comes in a cute little mailboxes.
(3)
Raven J.
Food is good, but overpriced. The reason for the low rating is that I was on extended hospital bed rest and requested that my family bring dinner from this restaurant to change up the hospital food. Founding farmers refused to provide any type of carryout service even when my parents offered to bring Tupperware so they could bring me dinner. This is atrocious customer service, I will not be returning to this restaurant, and encourage others to do the same.
(1)
Ashley R.
I had heard so many good things about this place so I gave it a shot. My wife and I started with the deviled eggs. They were just so so nothing special. Our server suggested the pot roast so I tried it. Once again nothing special. I really wish I liked this place better because I really am a supporter of their farm to table concept, but in the end I was just not impressed with the end product. I also felt like it was way overpriced for the quality.
(2)
Trista W.
Came here for brunch on a Sunday. We (party of 2) were seated right away at 10:15 on a Sunday morning. We had the beignets which were a delicious starter and we each ordered the pancakes. Regular and blueberry. The pancakes were HUGE but soo tasty. I also added a side of the black pepper and maple bacon which was amazing. I will definitely come back and work my way through the breakfast menu!!
(4)
Martica C.
Hands down, the best pancakes I've ever had. My mom and I both ordered the blueberry pancakes and absolutley loved them. Of course we both had leftovers since they're the size of dinner plates! Service was friendly and pleasant. I've only been here for brunch thus far, but I've heard nothing but great things about their general menu, so I'm definitely looking foward to going back for lunch/dinner....or more pancakes ;-) Reservations are HIGHLY recommended as this place is always packed.
(4)
callie h.
After moving out of DC to the burbs to raise a family, we were hoping that FF would be a place we could go for an occasional date night that might be close to what we had in DC. Despite some previously good reviews, this place really rates below even other MoCo restaurants. We had made a reservation 2 weeks in advance and were still seated in the bar. When we asked to be moved because it was incredibly loud, we were moved upstairs. The upstairs looks like a Denny's. Terrible decor and lighting. The drink of the day was overly sweet and syrupy, the popcorn (ranch??) was salty and just plain bad. My food (the mac and cheese) was cold and consequently chewy and disgusting. My husband's chicken was overly salty and just not good. We were some of the first customers at the DC Founding Farmers (even under its previous name), and this was just beyond disappointing.
(2)
Lilian Y.
I came here with a couple girlfriends and it was alright. The deviled eggs were delicious! Chunks of celery and onions with egg yolk! The best I've ever had! I ordered the fish and chips. The fish was alright. I think I've had better. But it was lightly fried and was light to the touch. I think there was something else in the tartar sauce. I couldn't pin point it but it was definitely different. For dessert, I got the Raspberry Sorbet. OMG SO DELICIOUS! My friend got the pistachio ice cream and I had a bite. That was also delicious!! It's home made so it's fresh each time.
(3)
Nick F.
Great place to eat! I had the beef short ribs. They were cooked to perfection! Also had a appetizer called the pitch fork or something like that. It had bacon stripes and tater tots with dipping sauce. It was awesome!!
(4)
Mike D.
The scrambled eggs with gravy is delish, the waffles and fried chicken also very good. My waitress was very pleasant and professional. Every need seemed to be met quickly by all the patrons .
(3)
Roy S.
The meatloaf was really good!!! The pulled pork BBQ sandwich was not at all a classic BBQ meal. Pickles and onions in the sandwich? Mustard? Once I pushed the onions off it was a really good meal. I also really liked the lemonade.
(5)
Janny D.
I want to like this place, but it pales in comparison to Silver Diner. If you pay extra for the special bacon, you still only get like 2 slices. Last time we ate here, getting the check in a reasonable time was difficult. The hostess definitely seemed displeased that I didn't include my 1 year old in the reservation. We had to wait for a little while to ask for some butter for our bread since the wait staff wasn't communicating and nobody was really checking on us. I would have loved a second cup of coffee, but we just didn't have the time.
(2)
Justine K.
I love the water carafe that is left at the table. Everything the waiter recommended was great from the cucumber cocktail to the red velvet cake. To start the cornbread was super good with the honey butter. Chicken and waffles is a must try when coming to Founding Farmers! The fried chicken was perfectly tender inside and the skin super crispy. It came with a side of Mac and cheese and green beans. OMG! The Mac and cheese was delicious. The red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting is the best ever and it's so huge it could feed three. The previous times I've been here I've had the fried chicken salad and burgers. All are good!
(5)
Raven T.
Had brunch with a friend here last month. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, especially when there perfectly delicious brunch options closer to me, but if you're in the area definitely check it out. I'd recommend making reservations, particularly for Sunday brunch. The atmosphere and decor, for that matter, are a lot like Eggspectation. Although I did not partake in the spirits they seem to have an excellent selection with house made juices, bitters, etc. I ordered the beef pastrami hash. If you've read any of my other reviews you know I am a potato connoisseur, so I was disappointed that they use shredded potatoes instead of diced or cubed home fries. Even if they shred the potatoes in house, home fries just make for a heartier hash. It was topped with peppers, onions, and pastrami that were tasty and a good balance of flavors. It was served with a fresh biscuit that was absolutely delectable, especially with syrup. Other than the biscuit, the meal was pretty basic; something I could have made at home. I may be missing out having not been to dinner here (according to my fellow yelpers) so maybe I'll try that next time I'm in the area.
(3)
Dee B.
A tale of two different restaurants. Food gets five stars, and service (or lack-there-of) ONE STAR. The steak and eggs were AMAZING, the service was just terrible. We'd been seated at our table for at least 10 minutes, might have been 15, when I finally flagged down an employee wiping down another table and asked if she knew who are server was. Five minutes later he runs over, sweaty and all. Although he was initially apologetic, he was a bit stand-offish the rest of the time, and everything just took too long and too many mistakes were made made (my gluten-free plate had a biscuit on it, no butter or jam was brought for the folks who did have biscuits, beignets were ordered but never materialized). I do wish the service would match or even come close to being as good as the food is.
(3)
Francesca C.
Great service. Decent parking. Friendly atmosphere. They put your check "in the mail" aka in a little mini mailbox which they place on your table. The food was good - I ordered eggs Benedict and my friend ordered the beet hash - but I have to say it wasn't anything mind blowing or super special. Good consistent food but I like a little something special with my brunch.
(3)
Bruce C.
VERY DISAPPOINTING SECOND TIME AROUND!! I consider myself to be a fried chicken expert and lover. Dined here in Bethesda and the chicken had zero flavor! What's strange is that I had the chicken earlier in the week in DC and it was the same thing....no flavor. Did something change??? I eat this dish at least once every 10 days or so because it is usually the absolute best I've had including in the south!! Something has changed, not sure what it is. I traded in my meal for the fish and chips. Service was great, but I guess I will have to find another place for great fried chicken.
(2)
Eric P.
My girlfriend and I came here tonight after the gym because we were in the mood for some founding farmers. This is our 4th time coming and we love it. The place is always nice and clean and their staff is always polite. One of our favorites is the the Brie Bread Starter, it is to die for. Literally, this is one of those things that mixes in your mouth and creates a whole mix of flavors. I suggest everyone get that. Today, I got the Salted Prime Rib which is only available for dinner and it was great. Although, I asked for well done and it was still red in the middle, it was still delicious and juicy. Be careful though the use rock salt so it come out salty which I love so I had no problem, the steak is wrapped with a thin layer of fat so it has a greattt flavor. My girlfriend had the Spinach Blue Bacon Salad and it was really good too. Lots of bacon!. and they use the real thick bacon bits and not the tiny fake ones. For dessert, you need to try the Red Velvet Cake! enough said. Its huge enough to share with your SO, it is honestly so good. For Breakfast the Crab Egg Benedict and Beignets are my go to. You cant go wrong with anything though. Also look online and make a reservation if you can, it is easy and saves you alot time!
(4)
L W.
We have eaten here several times and in general we are always satisified. I bring my friends from home and they are always flabbergasted by the chicken and waffles and the beignets. I came here with my family in the middle of May and the egg chef was off his or her game. This would be the only time I ever had a complaint with this location. Today we had Allyson and her trainee as waitstaff and they were very friendly - in direct contrast to one of the hostesses.
(4)
Marjorie M.
It wasn't anything special. First time going there and I don't think I'll be running back. The food was good but nothing outrageously amazing. The food took awhile to come out. I got the steak&legs. Which was okay, however the steak was more on the fatty side. For the price it was just alright
(3)
Connie M.
I am still a fan of Founding Farmers and it hurts me to drop my review down a star. This is a tough review to write... I always like to start with something positive before I write something negative...bear with me as things will be out of sequence. It was MY birthday dinner so I picked my favorite restaurant in Rockville. I used "open table" for the first time to make reservations and that was super simple! Best part of the night: Great Server! We had Chris T. who had a smile on his face and was very attentive! When the entrees came out before the appetizers, he told me he took them off the bill because we were not having dessert (had to head home for bday cake!) and all they did for birthdays was put a candle in the dessert. He knew how disappointed I was that we had already started eating our entrees and almost sent the appetizers back. I did not ask him to comp anything because we ended up eating and really enjoying the bread with mascarpone, figs and prosciutto as well as the bacon lollipops. He really went above and beyond...and he had no idea that I was bummed about the service from the other staff. (5 stars) Food: Appetizers were the bomb! Sister who doesn't even like figs was chowing down on this yummy combo! We also had the Smear with green goddess, pimento cheese and romesco toppings. (5 stars) Hands down the best entree was the Yankee Pot Roast. Tender beef, root veggies, mashed taters and a boatload of onion straws! My youngest sister was kind enough to trade her dish for my shrimp and grits. She really enjoyed the sauce. I thought there were a lot of shrimps...i lost count after 6. Mom had the goat cheese ravioli with chicken cutlet. We all agreed that was probably the best chicken cutlet we ever had. Mom really enjoyed the ginger squash puree. The other sister chose the macaroni and cheese which comes with sliced apples and ham. Maybe my nose was off that night. I love cajun sauces but wasn't loving mine. Plus, I thought my sister's mac and cheese smelled a little off but she didn't think anything was wrong. I was disappointed the goat cheese raviolis were cold...but after thinking about it, hot goat cheese might not hold it's integrity. (3.5 stars) My disappointment: Before I started using Yelp, I would write a stellar note to an outstanding server or give the manager a disappointed note about sub-par service. I don't think it is fair to post grievances online without giving management a chance to fix things. However, I think the behavior I am about to describe is typical of MOST restaurant. Because I have had outstanding service from Founding Farmers in the past, I expect it to be the norm rather than the exception. I walked in at 7pm and was greeted by a smiling hostess. After she told me I was the first to arrive and to let her know when the rest of my party arrived, she instantly turned away from me. I felt she could have spent another 30 seconds explaining that their policy was to seat the entire party and I should have a drink at the bar while waiting for everyone else. Especially since there was no one behind me. Feeling a little slighted, I take 5 steps to the bar and sit down. Bar is 75% full with many getting ready to leave. I was almost directly in front of the bartender who was making an elaborate drink and he had no choice but to notice that I sat down to his left. He refused to make eye contact with me. Was I expecting too much for a smile? An acknowledgment that I sat down and someone would be with me in a minute? Feeling slighted a second time in less than 5 minutes. (2 stars) The second bartender notices me and was very attentive. Answers my questions and even puts a glass of water in front of me before he makes my Blood Orange Phosphate. I try to order a couple more drinks but now 2 attractive ladies have sat down to my right and I am not having luck catching the attention of either bartender. I am frustrated and half tempted to leave and go somewhere else. By now my family has already found me and been seated. If they were not waiting for me, I definitely would have just left. (2 stars) How do you complain about this? The behavior of the hostess and bartenders are typical of what you find at many restaurants. They are doing what they are paid to do. Sad how eye contact or a smile was all I needed. Sadder that I am not the only one who feels this way. At least the Servers ROCK!
(4)
Timmy L.
We stopped by here last Saturday for brunch during a road/holiday trip to Maryland. A friend made reservations so we were seated pretty quickly (about a 5-8 minute wait). The place was pretty crowded and I was glad we were seated on the upper level where it was much quieter. There were 6 of us so we started out with the Beignuts... they were awesome. Very soft and rich. A couple of my friends have been there before so they knew what to order. It was pretty difficult figuring out what to order as a main dish. I really wanted to try the Crab Benedict but I was hearing some mixed opinions on the dish. I was in Maryland so I had to have a crab dish, so I settled on the crab cakes. The crab cakes themselves were really good. A lot of crab meat and not so much filler (breadcrumbs, etc). I was struggling between giving this restaurant 4 or 5 stars but I settled on 4 because of the sides (that come with the entree) and... this is weird... the water. The house water was... salty. The hell? We were drinking salt water. The sides... it wasn't that they were horrible, they were decent (I decided on the kale and the mashed potatoes), but it was because I really didn't have any options. I was given the choice of two sides with the entree, but only three options... which were the kale, mashed potatoes and a carrot or something. I found this a bit weird given how extensive (looking) the menu is. However, it was worth the trip here. Get the Beignuts (another friend ordered a separate order for dessert, they were that good). Let me know how the house water is.
(4)
Parvinder H.
Heeding the advice of fellow yelpers we made reservations. We were glad of it when we turned up on a busy Saturday at noon and saw a line of people waiting for a table. We were seated straight away. We ordered breakfasts from the brunch menu and we all enjoyed our meals. Our particular favourites were the leek hash browns and the fried chicken. My only complaint of the food would be of the presentation and in particular the fruit and salad that came with the breakfasts. They looked like they had been made up hours in advance and put In the fridge as they had a brownish tinge to them. On a positive note our waitress was beyond friendly. She came by to refill the coffee cups frequently, she checked in on us twice to see if the food was to our liking but all the while not making us feel rushed. She offered a to-go-cup for my unfinished milkshake. The milkshake was amazing by the way, they had used real vanilla beans. The decors pretty fab with clouds and birds suspended from the ceiling. The bill comes in a cute little mailbox. Overall it was a good experience.
(4)
Eunice K.
i think i went around the first weekend of january for dinner with my sisters and some other friends that have never been to founding farmers. i was hoping it would be better but oh my.. :( service usually always starts off really well. but somehow they have a hard time keeping that good service throughout the meal. i just don't understand. anyways. the wings were really good like always cornbread was not good. it tasted like it was made with old gross oil. i don't know. it had a really bad taste and i was so annoyed but brushed it off. it also tasted like cardboard. red velvet cake was dry and tasted old :( i've had the red velvet cake but this did not taste the same and it may be my taste buds but i was not pleased they also change the things in the dishes so it's kind of annoying. the ahi tuna salad did not have white chocolate in it but now it does? like what?! i think that if you are changing things in your menu then you need to write that in the menu and not tell customers it's the same as it always was. also something like the crazy corn salad i think or now called something else has caramel popcorn in it but it is not listed in the ingredients like that's a game changer for me cus i like the salad without caramel popcorn. i asked the server if it has popcorn and he told me it does and said they revamped the menu but everything is still the same... we ordered some other dishes and it just was not as good as it should have been D: i don't know but the quality of the place seems to have gone down :( at least the wings did not disappoint! someone was walking around that night and asked us how our meal was and i told them it was not good and they asked why and i told them and she apologized and she said she would be back but never came back so we just paid and left.
(2)
Mary T.
This is based on my experience with a large group. They are not large group friendly. They have great food, but if you have a large (10 plus people) look elsewhere as they seem very bothered by a large group and are not set up to handle a large party
(2)
Alexis B.
Great food! The servers are really nice and knowledgeable. Our bartender, Joseph, answered our questions before we even asked. I had the Goat Cheese Ravioli and Chicken cutlet. Everything was delicious! Nice size portion as well for a great price.
(5)
Megan H.
In a way, Founding Farmers reminds me a bit of Cheesecake Factory. There's something there for everyone and you can expect the food to be decent. I've never had a bad meal here, yet nothing really keeps me coming back for more. The fried chicken is a massive portion! It's all white meat - I'm a dark meat fan, so I was very skeptical of this being potentially dry as sand, but it happened to be the best white meat fried chicken I've ever had. It comes de-boned, with the exception of one bone in the wing area. The waffles were light and fluffy and came with a little pat of butter between the two waffle wedges. Mango soda was also a hit! Unfortunately, no such thing as free refills on that elixir. Service was a bit slow, but that may have been because we had a party of 8. The front desk area gets majorly crowded when it's peak time. It's hard to figure out where to situate yourself when you get called for your table, and it's that 30 second window where the hostess is getting the menus and figuring out which table to bring you to, while other people are coming through the rotating door to put their name down, and they look at you like why are you in my way can you move please so I can talk to the hostess, but you're still waiting for the hostess, but you don't want to move from where the hostess last saw you cus then she might think you dipped out, oh goodness the anxiety before your meal, now all I want to do is just go home and eat takeout instead.
(3)
Ellen L.
Great service, awesome food, I love the decor and how easily comfortable you feel coming in here. I love coming here for brunch - I am always willing to drive 25 minutes from silver spring to come here for brunch. Its THAT good. I do recommend that you make a reservation either online or calling in. I made the mistake of just walking in and the wait was an hour+ (granted this was lunch time on a saturday). Its a cute place for a girls get together, a cute lunch/dinner with the babe or even a family breakfast/lunch. I love their concept too!
Food is definitely well-prepared and tasty here. As other Yelpers mention also though, it's the service that adds a darker color to the overall dining experience. We had a reservation for eight. Upon arrival, we were told that we couldn't be seated until all eight people were uniformly present. So we busy ourselves at the bar but once everyone was present, there was still a wait. No matter, I figure. But when we're finally all seated, the wrong drinks were delivered, and an appetizer for popcorn we never ordered also came to us. AND that same popcorn appetizer still wound up on our bill (thank goodness an astute friend picked up on that). We all enjoyed the table biscuits, which were very light, and the honey+butter that came with the skillet cornbread was spot on. My chicken pot pie was also creamy and hearty. They do have gluten-free options, as other Yelpers have pointed out. Unfortunately, they don't offer you the gluten-free menu until you specifically ask for it. The chocolate mousse was delightful, though in retrospect they accidentally served us the mousse bowl instead of the mousse cake. You get the idea about the service. The food is great but you do have to keep a hawk's eye on what you're receiving and getting billed for, otherwise you'll end up paying and eating for someone else's food.
(4)
ny w.
This place is pretty popular, so you may have to wait for a seat or get a reservation. We visited on a busy afternoon in December and opted to sit at the community table, which was fine. Elijah our host was training a new hire and both were very charming, fun and attentive. We even got information on places to visit in DC! About the food: we ordered classic devil eggs, candied bacon, Bloody Mary's, chicken and waffles, chicken and collard greens. The chicken was perfectly seasoned, moist and crispy on the outside. In a nutshell everything we ordered was delicious. We will definitely be returning when we visit MD this summer.
(5)
Lena W.
I held my breakfast brunch here over the summer (yeah, I know I'm late posting) but I was very pleasantly surprised. I will say I experienced some frustration with getting reservations because they couldn't/wouldn't confirm that a party of 12 could be seated together and that they'd only know once we arrived, not even earlier in the morning. Needless to say, that wasn't optimal. However, once we got there, they had seated us together in a nook toward the front of the restaurant that worked perfectly. Kudos to them for that because it made my day. The food was delicious. Everyone had a wide variety of dishes and none were disappointed. I was partial to the beignets - the raspberry sauce was heavenly! The service met expectations and the prices were reasonable. This will likely be my preferred location over the DC one. The biggest downside is the parking situation. When we were here, there was construction on part of what I believed was a parking garage, so we ended up having to circle the lot to find a spot. We ended up parking near the market, worried that we'd get towed. Clearer signage about parking would be appreciated.
(4)
Priyanka S.
A real discovery in rockville! Hustling bustling ambience, quick&smart service and awesomely delicious food set this place apart... --highly suggest prebooking table for Sunday brunch or try the bar area for full service --try out house blend coffee and blueberry french toast..Yummilicious! Definitely deserves another round:) Chk out the cool new bill box!
(5)
Yasmin M.
My family and I went to Founding Farmers for Brunch last Saturday June 6, 2015. We were 100% satisfied. Our waiter was Andy he was just amazing. He had excellent Customer Service. We didnt had to ask for anything he had it ready for us. My daughter ordered this appetizer it was like tiny dognuts. It was so yummy. Each entrees we ordered was very delicious. We were fortunate enough to meet one of the managers Ms. Rizza. She was very kind to us. All in all my family and I had an enjoyable Brunch. Food delicious. Nice restaurant.
(5)
Lo L.
From the beginning it was just chaos! Had reservations at 12. Had to tell the hostess twice that we were there. Both times she asked if we wanted to sit inside or out and which both times we stated whatever is available. Once we got seated, we placed our drink orders. The server brought out my drink plus a drink that I cancelled when I initially ordered and didn't bring my friends drink. He asked her again what she ordered and she repeated her order. Her drink came out about a minute before our food came out. About 3 minutes after our food was delivered, our server came back asking how everything is. If he didn't place our food and run away, he would've noticed that we had no utensils or condiments. Definitely not worth going back. The food was subpar. The grits looked like mashed potatoes. Not impressed at all. I've had better service at a chain restaurant where the in house staff is more organized.
(2)
Amber F.
I've been to the FF at Dupont several times, but this is my first time at Moco FF. We came to celebrate a birthday and had a reservation at 8pm. We arrived 10 minutes early and didn't get seated until about 8:45. THAT, is not a great start of a celebration meal. The whole time we were waiting, staff at FF didn't seem to care at all. They just kind of ignored us until we went to ask about our reservation and when we might be able to get seated. The food itself was good. Big portion and delicious as always. I always get the fried green tomatoes (the green sauce is so freaking good!). Green tomatoes are a must whenever I visit FF. I also had their pesto bread, which is delicious and refreshing. Some friends at my table ordered their famous chicken and waffles and loved it. Their ribeye seemed to be on the salty side, but still yummy. I had the platter, and I have to mention that their corn on the cob is absolutely amazing. Our server was also attentive and friendly. It would have been a pretty good experience (except for the waiting) if I didn't get food poisoning later that night. I can't confidently say that I'll be back for the Moco FF, sorry.
(3)
Lan N.
From the mixed reviews, I was almost expected long waits for food and service. But despite coming in on the tail end of Sunday brunch, I was seated immediately since I had made reservations. The entire experience was pretty painless. The food was great. I was not hungry, so I tried the cornbread appetizer and a portion of baked beans. Both were among the top that I've had, though the price was quite steep for what it was ($6 for a few spoonfuls of baked beans). My friend had a proper portion and ordered the goat cheese and beet hash. The eggs were poached perfectly and she said that her dish was delicious. I can see myself returning here if someone else wanted to go.
(3)
Tahira R.
Very cute and rustic ambience, a nice medium between laid back and classy. The food was yummy and healthy. I got the pasta side and pesto flatbread. Both were delicious but could've used a bit more flavor. The staff is very kind and our waiter knew the menu inside and out. Overall, a super cute place with great food and decently priced!
(4)
Elizabeth C.
A solid 3.5 starts. I've been to this location and the DC Founding Farmers location a couple times, and while the food is just as great in this location as many other Yelpers have mentioned the service is just not that great. This location was packed on an early Sunday for brunch and although you have a reservation, you can end up waiting to get seated. Thankfully the wait wasn't too long and as we were seated our waiter stopped by to introduce himself and fill our water glasses. After that we rarely saw him at all until the very end when he delivered and picked up the check. We ordered bellinis to drink and for our meal we ordered the crab benedict, spinach and tomato benedict, and the blueberry compote stuffed french toast. After ordering it took about 30 minutes for our bellinis to come out and then another 20 or so for our food to come out. The bellinis were delicious and the champagne cocktail glasses they were served in were so adorable! The benedicts had perfectly poached eggs, and my crab benedict was heavy on the crab meat and that was awesome! I loved the leek potato hash browns that I opted for my side. The blueberry stuffed french toast was gorgeous to look at and yummy as well. The food here is definitely awesome and worth the wait, however the service has generally declined over the past year since I've come regularly and could definitely use some improvement.
(3)
Steph S.
Recently revisited this awesome place for brunch and it was delicious. The biscuits are to die for! I think all the people in my party got the basic breakfast and everyone enjoyed their meals. I will definitely be going back for breakfast or any other meal soon!
(4)
Bell A.
I've always heard great things about Founding Farmers but this experience was lack luster to say the least. Made a reservation and was seated immediately which was great. Good location, parking is tight but that's expected for a Saturday morning. Ordered the red velvet pancakes. Meh. I've had better. My friend had the original buttermilk pancakes which she didn't care for either. My other friend had the stuffed french toast. Another fail. I got orange juice as my drink. Thinking the Orange juice was refillable, I got more. And more. And then another one. Turns out, they charge per glass. WTH. Five dollars per orange juice because they're freshly squeezed. I was not told I would be paying per glass. It's not like this is a mimosa or wine. It's ORANGE JUICE! I paid more money for juice than my nasty pancakes. The place is cute. The beignets are the bomb. Service is good. The food & prices of orange juice suck.
(2)
Stephanie S W.
The biscuits and honey are to die for! My husband and I eat here a lot (at both the MoCo and downtown DC locations) and everything is consistently good on the menu. For winter, I would recommend their grilled cheese and tomato soup combo. Reminds me of home and is warming during these chilly months. The ambiance is eclectic farm-ville (with white geese flying across the restaurant) and a wooden barn frame lining the stairs to get to the upper dining level. Good parking in the surrounding area.
(4)
Puneet M.
Founding Farmers... well so glad I found you! This was my first first to the MoCo location, I have been to the PA avenue one several times. Before I start, lets just say this... Founding Farmers is a busy busy place... make sure you have reservations or you will be waiting for hours... not a single hour, but hours. Once inside, you have to love the decor, modern farm meets modern lines and lighting. Really neat place. So points for decor.. but you are NOT here for the decor, you are here for the food!! The food... oh man the food... it is so good you want to buy one of those expandable pants and just eat!! Founding Farmers, as the name says, is a farm to table type of place, where everything is locally sourced and has a great fresh taste!. So far I have tasted the chicken and waffles... darn good... nice crispy chicken with a great waffle. They also pair it with some fresh gravy which makes everything fantastic... you get the sweetness of the waffle with syrup and then the saltiness of the gravy and chicken... and boom one of the better meals you will have!! My knock against the chick and waffles is the size of the chicken. If you are getting a breakfast portion then its 3 chicken strips... the lunch portion is actually a bone in piece, so which ever your preference. The other items are good are their french toast... it is stuff french toast and the different toppings are amazing! The fried green tomatoes are great as well, great breading and crispiness with a semi-juicy tomato. While we ate all of this great food we also sipped on some french press coffee which had a great nutty taste to it. The last two items, were biscuits which are made in house daily actually basically when you order. The other item is their beignets, which are great!! Semi-crispy on the outside and almost gooey on the inside... they come with either chocolate, strawberry or peanut butter preserve... all of which are amazing!! So as you can see tons of different food and drink items, each better than the last. Lastly, the service is always spot on, very knowledgeable and friendly with questions or alterations. Would I go back to Founding Farmers... heck yes... and already have so grab your flannel shirt and head on down the MoCo Founding farmers!
(4)
Desiree T.
Great food, great ambiance, great service! My family and I went to Founding Farmers for Father's Day and really enjoyed our experience. We were early for our reservation and had time to enjoy the cocktail menu at the bar. I loved my Clementine and my Dad loved his El Presidente. The bartender was knowledgeable and made solid recommendations. Side Note: Bar stools are wide and comfy. I hate a narrow stool. Dinner was delicious. Make sure to get the biscuits with whipped butter and honey. The fries that came with my shrimp and fries were great and my Dad really enjoyed his steak (8 oz). The only thing I didn't care for is that my shrimp were not completely deveined - which is a rookie mistake for sure. Dessert was tasty - blueberry crumble and carrot cake. The restaurant was easy to find and parking was available. I'll definitely return!
(4)
Michelle L.
Usually I'm not keen on writing a review as I'm still sitting here but our experience has been disappointing. My boyfriend and I were excited to try out the brunch after hearing about all the hype. We both got lattes and the founding farmers breakfast. First of all, my latte looked and tasted very different than my boyfriend's latte, it simply tasted burnt . I had to ask and waited 10 minutes for a replacement. Then my toasts came burnt, without the preserve mentioned on the menu. Again, had to ask for replacement. My boyfriend struggled to eat anything from his plate, everything was lukewarm and looked unappealing. It's never ideal when a dining experience ends up with a conversion with the restaurant manager.
(1)
Daniel B.
Bacon lollipops. Just imagine. It is literally bacon on a stick. Bacon that is cooked to the perfect texture (not too crispy and not too chewy) and it is glazed in brown sugar and cinnamon and DID I MENTION THEYRE LOLLIPOPS?!?! Literally amazing overwhelmed by how delicious it is praise God I give up everyone go home. Also their Southern chicken is fantastic. Zesty, flavorful, but not too spicy. It's classic comfort food. They've also got bacon wrapped dates. I just really love bacon ok don't judge me!
(5)
Val V.
Weekend Brunch is a busy time and making a reservation a day before was plain common sense. No issues with Parking either outdoors, near the Harris Teeter or garage (they validate). Not sure why others complained about this. Got us seated right away but no server came by to check on us for a good 7 minutes. Had to flag somebody who was helpful enough to look for our server Lisa to take our order. Some observations: 1. A six inch crack was on the water drinking glass and was served to us. 2. Something inside the water bottle that appears to be seaweed. Asked Lisa to replace it. 3. Uncle Bucks Beignet (ben-yay in French) aka French donuts with Rasberry, caramel & choco dipping is a must. 4. The serving size is good for two people unless you have a big appetite. 5.Waffles, pancakes, founding farmers breakfast with eggs bacon and chix sausage were ok. 6. Decor and ambiance is very nice and our server was pleasant to take care of every request. 7. $74 for brunch for 4 pax is a bit on the steep side but once in a while is not bad.
(3)
Matt M.
An amazing Sunday brunch!!! Despite it being very busy, the wait time was less than 10 minutes. The servers (we got 3), were very friendly and vigilant at keeping drinks full. Drinks: Pimm's Cup - limey, refreshing, and strong! Bellini - flavorful, a bit bitter, and strong! House coffee - delicious, rich, soothing Jasmine tea - tasteless, boring, forgettable Food: Yeast balls - light, fluffy, and absolutely amazing. Came with raspberry, chocolate, and caramel dipping sauces Brown sugar bacon - sweet, savory, and fresh Chicken and Waffles - yummy Belgian waffle, moist strips of fried chicken, and white gravy on the side. I drizzled a little maple syrup on it Sausage spinach pan scramble - very light egg, savory sausage, and fresh flavor Pancake - they got this thing mastered. Fluffy, light, big, and delicious! Total cost of an amazing brunch for two (stuffed completely to brim for the rest of the day): $83.74 FF is not just a restaurant. It was an experience. I will be rushing back.
(4)
Tracie D.
Always great customer service and happy to accommodate any needs. Food is fresh and seasonal and the servers are friendly and attentive.
(5)
Nicole R.
Fantastic food, service and vibe. Arrived during the busy lunch rush and the waiter was right on point. Knowledgable, professional and patient (the group had a bill mis-hap at the end). Ordered the veggie sandwich with side salad - AMAZING. 5+ stars. Located near Harris Teeter, right off exit 4 towards Potomac. Lots of free parking. Highly recommend Founding Farmers.
(5)
Papa W.
Mother's Day brunch with the family...interesting but I pass. The concept of local farmers to table, although impressive not really a draw for me. I had the stuffed french toast after an order of beignets with sauce. The food was very flavorful and filling but too much emphasis on "fresh" supplied food as a route to charge a higher price. The restaurant was VERY busy, thus VERY noisy so not a peaceful meal. Couldn't really talk over the clatter of dishes and conversations at other tables. Not one of my favorite spots in DC area.
(3)
Margaret Z.
While the food here is still amazing, the service has gotten consistently more mediocre over this year. I come here at least a few times a month, always with reservations, yet I have been waiting longer and longer to be seated once I check-in with the hostess. It took almost a half hour for us to get our brunch order this morning and I even saw the food runner set our dishes on the wrong table before realizing his own mistake. Then he went back to the kitchen and did not return for several minutes. Our waiter was not to be seen for the rest of the meal and it wasn't until another waiter saw us impatiently looking around for our original one that he asked if he could charge our card... it would have been nice to at least SEE the check first before being asked to pay for it. At a place like this and as a loyal diner for so long, I expect better.
(3)
Eric U.
Excellent ham and eggs. The pancakes are also well worth having, several great varieties including carrot cake!
(4)
Professor P.
I think the main issue with this restaurant is service. I'm sure they have great food. But when the service is this slow, what's the point of making reservations? A week ago, we decided (me and my gf) to go to the dc location around 6 or 7pm. The place was packed and the wait was over an hour and forty five minutes. So tough luck.. This week we came back with kids and made sure we had a reservation ready but this time around, we decided it was best to book one near the hotel we were staying in Rockville, MD. We thought 6:15 was good enough - came in at 5:59 and was told we'd be seated close to 6:15. That time passed, still waiting. Was told another 10 minutes. At this point I'm asking myself, whats the point of the reservations when you have guest waiting anyways. Usually these are reserved seating but not at this chain of restaurants. It's basically first come first served still! It's really annoying. We were finally seated when I mentioned that I had a reservation at 6:15 and it is now 6:25 and were still waiting. We've been waiting for nearly a half hour now. We were told that, they were working on getting the tables ready. We see people pass us with 5 or more and they were seated first. Finally, at around 6:40, 40 minutes later, we were finally seated upstairs. I don't think the restaurant knows about what goes on their front of the house. There seems to be some sort of miscommunication somewhere. I still don't believe that this restaurant actually honors their own reservation system. It's like, "oh, yeah, we like you, you'll be seated in 5." One of the most annoying experiences at any restaurants I've ever had. Their food, on the other hand, was delicious. I wish I could go back and get some more. But I will not after this visit.
(1)
Hs T.
Best fried chicken and waffle in MoCo. Also love their house made scratch sodas if you are the designated driver for the night. We always get the chocolate mouse for two that feeds four easily to finish the meal. Wings are pretty delicious too.
(5)
Sakeeeennnnaaa H.
I really really really like this place. I like the way it looks. I like that all of the seating is fat friendly. I like that the decor makes me feel like I should be sitting on a stool and milking something. Or maybe I watch too much tv? So far everything I've gotten has been baller. I think I'm obsessed with the braised Short ribs. My mouth is legit watering as I'm typing this. The sauce is so amazing. The meat is fork tender and soft and chewy and awesome. And I am here for this. I had this beautiful perfect meal for my friends birthday and kind of went into this zone. It was just me, my braised Short Rib my mashed potatoes ( seasoned beautifully) and my spinach. My friend is talking and I am having this mouth orgasm. I don't know how to explain it better than that. I finished it off with the beignet which came with different sauces. It was beautiful and I'll be back.
(5)
susan o.
Wow. Really awful. Decent cornbread and honey butter. Everything else was poorly executed. Disappointing!
(1)
Anika G.
This is a good spot to go with a group of friends or for a more trendy date. It's in a nice spot in Potomac with convenient parking (not true of comparable places in the city!) and it's got a great ambiance. The food, while not cheap, is unusual and tasty. Their selection of bar snacks could be better (at least, that was the case last time I went there, which was several months ago) but the ahi tuna salad was spectacular and incredibly filling. Their drinks are also really good - their cocktails and mixed drinks, while not cheap, are creative and delicious. I haven't tried the brunch, but I could see that being excellent.
(4)
S V.
Great brunch spot. Good place to grab your typical brunch food like eggs benedict, grits, etc.
(5)
Elizabeth W.
I've heard such mixed reviews about this place that I was skeptical and it has taken me a long time to finally come here. But you cannot keep me from breakfast, never in a million years! We were a table of six, and made a reservation just to make sure we wouldn't have to wait. It turns out there were plenty of tables but we were glad to have the reservation anyway. Our server was pretty awesome. Her name was Kimberly and she was friendly, attentive and kept the water plentiful! My number 1 rule is keep the water coming!!! She was also knowledgeable about the menu and very enthusiastic about the sodas. I quite enjoyed having her as a server. The food was delicious too! The french toast were humongous! More like building block size than food sized! All the food looked delicious. I got the chicken, egg and waffle. The waffle was huge and the portions filled me up and kept me full for a while with out being bloated. My friends got the pan scramble and the ham and eggs. It was all delicious! The only complaint we had was the coffee one of my friends got was $4 and it was the size of a thimble. I exaggerate of course, but it was extremely tiny. I know people have gotten bad food and bad service here, but the breakfast is alright in my book! And service always depends on the server.
(4)
Ruth C.
Not bad. I wouldn't mind getting drunk and nibbling off their kale plant outside. Tried their Chelsea's Manhattan and Corpse Reviver cocktails, which were reasonably tasty and skewed slightly towards sweet and tart, respectively. The former warranted less recommendation than the latter, but neither impressed me enough to repeat. Fried chicken and waffles were okay. The single golden waffle was large and airy, and decadent after application of honey butter and syrup. The two accompanying pan scrambled eggs were fluffy and gently seasoned. Had I realized that the protein would be offered in tender form instead of bone-on, I probably would have picked a different menu item... moist meat but the batter didn't adhere well to its surface. Beignets were decent on the merit of their dipping sauces, and at least it didn't take more than the disclaimered 20 minutes. Slightly tacky surface under the powdered sugar-- touch of honey? and a plush interior beneath the shell. I preferred to pair my share with caramel, but the chocolate also won out over the raspberry. Red velvet cake was similarly excellent, with many even layers of frosting and a well-balanced sweetness. Service was super friendly but a bit too overwhelmed to keep up with all the details. I appreciated our server's integrity for proactively admitting that my cocktail delay stemmed from him briefly forgetting that I'd placed a drink order. Water refills were infrequent. Our plates were cleared but we were never offered dessert menus, which we ended up asking another server to provide. After our dessert arrived, we ended up flagging down a different staff member to acquire silverware. Mailbox cheque holder was a cute detail, though having the same "raise the flag for service" feature might have been useful during the meal. Bathroom is tucked in the back but clean. Parking is a beast of a challenge, I ended up finding a spot on the back side of the building. FF has been in my bookmarks since I saw their branding on Bones, but I'll probably go to the other location for my hit list: shrimp and grits; diver scallops & butternut risotto, squash; raviolis; gnocchi & sausage; braised short rib.
Oh the regret. With the awful weather, I had decided to actually put on real clothes (read: not sweatpants) to go to dinner here on a Friday night. BIG MISTAKE. The menu is comfort food. Comfort food and real (fitted) clothes DO NOT GO TOGETHER. Portions are huge; so large in fact that I'd believe my grandmother was back there in charge of plating. Libation offerings are impressive. They make their own booze so they have a number of signature cocktails using those. I got the Farmer Smash and the bf got the Farmers sazerac. He was a little disappointed in his, but essentially it's all booze so there's only so much you can do to please the palette here. I highly recommend the Smash though--it's strong and has a citrus ginger flavor. We split the pot roast and the short rib entrees. Sides change regularly depending on what's in season, but standards like mashed potatoes and green beans are generally not an issue. The pot roast was savory and flavorful and unfortunately set down in front of the bf and not myself. I got first dibs at the short rib, which I was hoping was braised in a tomato-based sauce. But it was not. Instead it was smothered with BBQ sauce that, albeit good, is not my favorite. The mashed potatoes were excellent though. I still wish I had the pot roast but stealing dishes from people is frowned upon I guess. We barely managed to polish off the food between the two of us, and due to an alarming lack of self control we even split the apple pie for dessert. It's made in house because duh grandma's working in the kitchen. Even though it was pretty damn good, I found it to be a little too sweet for my taste. We then hobbled down the stairs and went home to complain about how full we were until we forfeited to a food coma. The end.
(4)
Ade A.
What's there to say that hasn't been said?? Great food and good atmosphere. If you're looking for great comfort food and a bit of uniqueness to traditional American cuisine, this is the spot!
(5)
Eric F.
I go here with my girlfriend whenever I stay with her family in Potomac (I've been here four or five times at this point), and I always enjoy it. The first few times, I ordered the vegetarian bacon burger with a side of jalapeños -- the jalapeños gave it a nice kick, and the burger is one of the more complex vegetarian dishes I've tried. It was also pretty filling -- I typically found myself pretty stuffed by the end of the meal, especially when I had a bowl of tomato soup to start. For a change of pace, I ordered the mushroom reuben the last time I went. I enjoyed it thoroughly, although I can't say it was anything more than I would have expected (I don't think a mushroom reuben is the type of dish that will ever blow you out of the water). Nevertheless, it was a very solid vegetarian sandwich. The drinks are great as well -- they make a mean Bloody Mary, and I've enjoyed the non-alcoholic drinks I've tried as well, especially the Manhattan soda (coffee and espresso soda). It's a nice alternative to the typical cup of coffee, especially if you're going for a later lunch.
(4)
Sally Y.
Good service, nice atmosphere. Definitely spacious enough for families. The staff seems to deal with children a lot so don't be too embarrassed if your child is crying or spilling things. Large portions, offers dishes that represent the best of American breakfast/brunch. I would say that although Founding Farmers offers the variety we all seek in a brunch place, the food isn't mind blowing. It's alright. Food Highlights: -Beignets: who doesn't like a nice piece of fried dough dusted with powdered sugar? Definitely order it as soon as your waiter starts talking because it takes a little longer to make and you won't be disappointed. Really, it's hard to mess up fried food like this. -Pancakes: okay, I wouldn't say these pancakes are the best, but they're definitely huge and worth eating if you have a craving. I can't really compare the Rockville location and the DC location because I've only had brunch in Rockville and dinner in DC. I'll say that I think the dinner menu offers much more and the drinks are delicious. Founding Farmers is probably the only true brunch location in the Montgomery County area (I say this because I truly dislike Busboys and Poets). Parking: There's parking reserved for the restaurant, but you usually won't get towed if you park in the Harris Teeter lot (not in my experience).
(3)
Jackie S.
Definitely one of my favorite places to eat in Montgomery County. I have been here on multiple occasions for breakfast, lunch and dinner! I went here most recently for breakfast with my girls and had the beignets, which are amazing! They were perfect for sharing between all 6 of us and the dipping sauces they gave all tasted wonderful. I had the red flannel hash because I love beets, and it was very good. All of the ingredients blended so well together and the portion size was perfect - the biscuit on the side was also amazing, and the honey butter that they give is my favorite. Love everything about this place and how fresh all of the food/drinks taste :)
(5)
Diane B.
I was really unimpressed with my trip here. I'm sure it's in large part due to our waiter, but the waiter is part of the experience, and Founding Farmers would do well to let this one go. My party had 3 adults and 3 children. Despite asking for water for the children multiple times, it never materialized. My husband gave my son his water and never was given a drink. Midway through dinner my friend asked for a menu so she could order more food because her tomato soup tasted weird, but the waiter never came back to take her order. He also told us all our food was on the table, but he clearly forgot our beignets. I asked about them and he said they take a little longer, but they took so much longer, it was obvious he never placed the order. The food was also a disappointment. Our hard boiled eggs were so overdone it was like they came from a gas station convenience mart. My husband ordered the pulled pork, but they had run out, so instead he got a burger that came out well done rather than medium rare. My children's biscuits were so greasy that they coated my fingers. My blue cheese burger and the deviled eggs were the lone decent food items, but it hardly made up for our otherwise unstellar experience. None of this could be rectified because the waiter was busy flirting with the girl at the next table over. Too bad for him that he didn't get a tip.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Maryland! I have been to this location twice and to the DC location once. We had reservations for each of the visits and each time were seated just a little after our reservation time. Everyone from the front desk staff to the servers are extremely polite and pleasant. Their fried green tomatoes are amazing! (Vegetarians, watch out - even tho this appetizer does not have meat, it is fried in the same oil as their fish and so is not entirely vegetarian.) I also love their popcorn! They have a few different flavors available (I believe they change the flavor on a daily basis). I had the ranch flavored popcorn on my first two visits and cannot even begin to tell you how much I love it! On my last visit, I had their caramel popcorn which was also pretty good, but the ranch popcorn is still my favorite. My favorite entree at Founding Farmers is their Sausage Gnocchi. It is delicious and also quite filling! Another favorite of mine at this place are their house made sodas. I usually get the ginger soda (don't get this if you are not generally a ginger fan, very strong flavor!). On my last visit my friend got their mango lime soda which was also very good (and a better pairing with most of their entrees than the ginger soda).
(5)
Joanne K.
Awesome restaurant! Not too crowded, very kind waitresses, and of course amazing food! Had a wonderful birthday celebration here for a friend this past March 2015. Highly recommend the 3 hot dogs dish which I was able to pack 2 home and eat the next day. Husband loved the Mac 'n Cheese side as well as his chicken and waffle. We sampled a variety of appetizers and dishes and everything on the menu was great!
(5)
Nicole S.
Great food and variety but lousy service! We waited 45 minutes just to get bread on the table with three hungry kids.
(4)
Sharon L.
Came here for a 1pm Saturday brunch w/ group of 6. Had a reservation beforehand but still had to wait ~10min. Ambience/decor: very modern & bright! I love that there are large booths too - more cozy/comfy experience. Service: - I told the host/waiter to take my card first before we sat down and not any others (didn't want to have to fight for check later) - and they kept it under wraps until the end! I definitely appreciated this. - Waiter was friendly, but at this busy time it was hard to flag him down to ask for more stuff. He seemed rushed and missed my ask for coffee/other things a few times. Food: - Coffee: $4 a cup which I found kind of expensive, but it was good & free refills. Milk also comes in a cute metal 'milk carton'! - Glazed Bacon Lollis: Really cool presentation - came in a pitchfork-like thing w/ the bacon pieces on little skewers. Bacon itself was the right chewy/crunchiness level, though I found it a bit too sweet for me. - Peanut Butter Banana Toast: Bread was actually soft, not toasted, which I wished it was. Little chocolate balls on top. I expected this to be sweet/creamy but it actually tasted pretty light. - Traditional Ham Benedict: Delicious! Eggs were poached perfectly and ham was the thin type which I actually prefer to thick-cut - Hash browns: Not a lot of seasoning but the outside was crunchy and the insides were warm and soft. Yummmm - Chicken & Waffles: Liked the breading, which was crunchy and a bit spicy. The chicken itself felt a little dry to me though. Waffles were light and fluffy but kind of flavorless - Sausage, Mushroom, Spinach Scramble: Well seasoned and lots of ingredients. The sausage was delicious. - Chicken Pot Pie: Creamy sauce was good but seemed like it was 90% potatoes, 10% chicken. The crust/topping was biscuit-y instead of the regular pie topping, but Iuckily their biscuits are yum - Original Pancakes: solid - fluffy but not too airy. A bit too much powdered sugar on top but could easily brush it off - Cinnamon Maple Syrup, Strawberry Jam + Honey Butter: all amazing. You must try all of these! Especially w/ their biscuits. Overall a good meal and was fairly priced (6 entrees, 2 apps, 1 side, 2 coffees & 1 cocktail came out to be $139 (incl. tax/tip). And the portions are huge! Would come here again but will want to try some of their other entrees.
(4)
Sandy A.
This place was amazing had a family dinner here for 6 they sat us with no problem the server was great the bartender made the best margarita I have had in a long time and the food was fantastic it was fresh seasoned well it was awesome ! I will be returning
(5)
Vincent I.
I definitely recommend sitting at the bar for brunch. The service was great, and I'm looking forward to coming back. I got the steak and eggs with a biscuit, hash browns, and a spiced tomato. The sunny-side up egg was perfectly cooked. The tomato was juicy and delicious. The biscuit was warm, tasty, and not too dry. The hash browns were nicely browned. Everything was great!
(5)
Matars Z.
This review has nothing to do with the food. The food is solid, and on some occasions, even exceptional. We have gone back a number of times for the beer selection and the later night hours allowing us to have a nice place to relax later in the area..... It doesn't matter if its late, or early, full or empty, the staff and waiters here, with the exception of two EXCELLENT hardworking managers, are all HUGE FAILS. We have had every experience - we have had reservations and then been told to stand waiting for a good 45 min, we have shown up to find out the kitchen closed 30 min before posted closing on official website.... those problems have not reoccurred--but the wait staff--that never, ever changes: Its a running joke when we arrive, as we assume we will have bad service -- delays, cold food, errors, no service at all (they forget to show up). Its the kind of staff that when you try to get their attention, they pretend to look away. It would be funny, if it wasn't sad. Half the time the manager has to fix the situation. And the managers are great. We've had them serve us on a number of occasions, because the waiter forgot. Most recently we watched the waiter battle his electronic entry system for 12-15 minutes a go, or stand chatting...while his tables waved-or customers got up to get his attention. How it is that this place cannot manage to hire competent wait staff is beyond us. Too bad, as we enjoy the food, especially the balsamic onion blue cheese burger, the flat breads, the chicken bucatini and the beers.....
(1)
Suzanne T.
The food was great, but the service staff dropped the ball. We called ahead, made a reservation and told founding farmers it was a birthday. We should of done ourselves a favor and called another restaurant. We arrived on time but were informed that still had to wait twenty minutes for a table. It happens, no big deal. There were 3 people at the host stand: they were all rude, they all had attitudes. We made a reservation and we were not making any demands, so I don't know what rudeness was about. A yellow card was placed on our table, I imagine that was to indicate a birthday, but maybe I'm wrong because no birthday was acknowledged by the staff. Our food was great and came out promptly. They are really doing great work in the kitchen for everything to come out so delicious and in a timely manner. Our waitress also had an attitude. If we dared to ask a question about the menu: she was annoyed and acted as if we were stupid. I paid the bill and I intended to give her all the change left from breaking $200 as a 25% tip (to be polite, not because the service warranted it), but she never came back with the money and more importantly THE RECEIPT. We waited for another twenty minutes and asked the hostess, but our waitress could not be found. After an expensive evening of paying to be treated rudely, we gave up waiting and went to the wine bar across the plaza. After all that poor service, we needed another drink lol.
(2)
Jazmin L.
Came wit my family who were in town from NYC. Customer service was outstanding. Staff were very attentive to our needs. Waiters checked in on us several times throughout the experience. There were plenty of kids there, who were treated just as well as the adults. The food was outstanding; ingredients were very fresh and of the highest quality. I HIGHLY recommend for any celebration and will definitely be returning when family comes to visit again. Parking is right outside so it's super convenient. Love, love, LOVE this place.
(5)
Nicole B.
My family and I went here last night to celebrate a birthday. The atmosphere is very cozy and warm, for one--we were seated in a booth upstairs, in a decidedly quieter area than the rest of the restaurant, which was quite pleasant. The service is thorough, friendly, and helpful, which was great... if not a little overwhelming. The food itself is creative (though unconventional--I've never had sliders with relish and diced onions standing in for mayo and lettuce before) and very, very rich (both taste-wise and money-wise, haha). I had some deliciously harsh lemonade and a slice of red velvet cake so huge I had to take it home and finish it the next morning. All said, I'm not exactly sure where I stand on this place. I suppose if you're willing to pay top dollar for new spins on old "American cuisine" classics, provided you can handle dense and filling food (not necessarily something most people can handle!), then Founding Farmers is for you.
(3)
Josh G.
Good but a bit over priced and we checked out Sugo next door and that was just as good and not such a zoo. I like it more when I drank.... still solid
(4)
Dan J.
Definitely not living up to the name or reputation. First off, don't expect to actually sit any time near your reservation time. Our 8:30pm reservation didn't get us a table until 9:20pm. And that was happening to everyone, the entrance was packed with people waiting for their tables. Second, the food was all over the spectrum. Burnt enchiladas, under cooked steak (medium rare shouldn't be mooing), cold mac and cheese, just not great. The only thing we had and enjoyed was the pork lentil stew. Third, don't use the parking garage below the restaurant. They validate parking, but only for a couple hours, so if you stay beyond the limit (for example, waiting close to an hour for a table), you'll still end up paying for the free parking. The server was on the ball though, and was very attentive. Oh and the table biscuits were delicious. Overall based on this service, it's worth it to just head in to the DC location.
(2)
Cat L.
Came here on a Saturday for brunch, had the chicken and waffles and Pastrami Hash & Bloody Mary. The pastrami was very light and fresh - lightly sauteed with potatoes. The waffles were very light and crispy, very pleasant. One of the better brunches I've had, comparable to NYC! My bf wanted to return again the next day! Great atmosphere as well.
(5)
Chantel E.
I love Founding Farmers, in fact, I have been to both locations several times. However, I must say that I visited on Christmas Day and I was highly disappointed. First, we had a party of 8 so the only time we could make reservations was for 8pm, which is silly because the restaurant closed at 8pm that day. Why would you make a reservation for a large party at the same time the place closes?? Second, by time we got there, they were out of everything; cornbread, short ribs, desserts, and the fish of the day. I'm pretty sure they had an idea of the amount of people being served that day because they were fully booked for the day, why not make sure you have enough food for your guest? My family was highly disappointed because they were out of your signature items. When we sat down, one of the first things our server asked us was do we want to order drinks because the bar is closing at 8:30. We barely got our coats off and settled in and then we find out the bar is closing?? Third, you could tell that the kitchen staff was ready to close up and go home because the quality of our food. My uncle asked for the slider burgers to be WELL DONE and they came out medium. Our server took them back only to have them be medium. It looks as though they put the burgers in the microwave because the bite my uncle took was still in the bread. THEN, my pregnant cousin ordered the shrimp and grits only for it to be served with a long black hair in it. How disgusting! My grandmother ordered the southern style fried chicken but it looked like the northern style because it had panko breadcrumbs. I ordered my usual, the spatchcock chicken only to be highly disappointed. It tasted like it was some leftover chicken thrown on my plate. I've had this dish several times (it's usually my go to) and I know what it is supposed to taste like. I ended up throwing away the leftovers because the dish just wasn't good. Last but not least, the server asked us if we wanted to order dessert but since we could only choose one thing, because that's all that was left, we declined. Overall, we were SUPER disappointed in our meal. Usually the food is cooked with such love, but this time it was prepared with haste...and hair! I felt so bad because I was the one who recommended the place and my family had waited all day to eat here only to be very disappointed and let down by their meal. Thanks for letting my family down on Christmas Day...of all days. I am usually quick to recommend FF to family and friends, but after this experience, I might have to think twice. Also, I sent this compliant directly to FF back in January and I have yet to receive a response from management or any staff member.
(1)
Ashley W.
this place totally lives up to its reputation! -- defintely make a reservation for weekend brunch-- the wait can be crazy... but well worth it... This is where comfort food meets local/organic farm fresh! I've tried everything from their french toast, to chicken and waffles to the macaroni and cheese -- no complaints... so delicious and affordable for the quality! The cocktail list is extensive here and well worth a try -- the waitstaff here is great and helpful for providing a few pointers if you are indecisive.. This is a great location in addition to the original on Penn Ave in the district -- easier parking.. and easier to get a sought after reservation! Enjoy -- definitely a good place to take out of town guests to show them some of the great food this area has to offer!
(4)
Joseph W.
This restaurant would have gotten 5 stars but, I called to make a reservation at the restaurant in Potomac and they told me they had no reservations. I called the DC location and they made me a reservation in Potomac. Go figure right! My Reservation was at 7:45 pm, I didn't get seated till a little after 8:00pm. My family and me sat upstairs, loved the atmosphere. My waiter was on point, would come around every so often to check on us. I was impressed that they had a elevator for my mother in law who had a walker. Love the biscuits, they were great. I had a drink that had a little spice to it, shameful to say I felt it the next day. I ordered the chicken pot pie, needless to say that I will never get a chicken pot pie from KFC or the Safeway again. Portions were big!!!! Fried Chicken was on point. For dessert we got Carrot cake, and the double chocolate cake, I was really impressed buy the size portion, since other places that I went to were kind of small. I would definitely come back here.
(4)
Nick S.
I love this place. The decor gives the whole restaurant a sense of ADHD; it can't decide what single style it wants to emulate, so it picks a handful and goes with it! The food. Oh, the food. You need 30 minutes just to read the menu. Not to mention the countless Q&A's with the staff on the specials, their craft and sometimes simply exclamations of OMG HOW MUST I CHOOSE. I finally settled on the crab cakes, which at a market price of $30 (learned after) is no small amount to sneeze at, but holy jeebus these were amazing. Like, some of the best crab cakes I've ever had in my life. No regrets. They also have a rotating selection of beers which are outstanding. I sampled both IPAs they had available (Raging B*tch and another I forget) and loved 'em. Although the menu lists quite a few expensive items, you can get out with a main and a drink for $20 a person. On the high end, you'd be hard-pressed to exceed $50 a person unless everyone got market-priced dinners and desserts and lots of booze. You better believe I'll be back to try brunch next!
(5)
Li S.
This is best Valentines present for me and my husband.I seldom write reviews on yelp.But this place made me do this.If you have never been here trust me you need to!The food is awesome and the service is very good!
(5)
Melissa C.
I love Founding Farmers. Love it. I've been going to the DC location since it opened and this was my 2nd visit to the Potomac Park site. It was New Years Day. Lots of folks feeling the effects of their reveling the night before. No one had black-eyed peas at home, so the place was PACKED. Packed, I say! Not that this is a surprise; I've never been to Founding Farmers when it wasn't. *TIP: If you don't have a reservation, no matter the location, you will not--WILL NOT--get a table. Save yourself the trouble and go sit at the bar. My friend and I stopped in, snagged two spots at the bar (avoiding the crush of people waiting for tables) and were immediately served coffee and had our appetizer (beignets ... YUM!) and cocktail orders (bellinis ... SUPER YUM!) taken. The bar staff was fun, interactive, charming, and Johnny-on-the-spot with everything we needed. The coffee was piping hot. Score! The beignets were perfectly puffed, fried to perfection, and not at all oily. Our bellinis were magnificent. Slightly sweet, but not cloying; perfectly refreshing. My friend ordered Red Flannel Hash: leek hash browns with beets, goat cheese, and poached eggs (with a practically-as-good-as-the-south buttermilk biscuit), and it was deeeeeeeeee-licious. I had steak and eggs: a rib eye cooked exactly how I wanted it (pretty much still mooing), fluffy, creamy scrambled eggs, fab leek hash browns, and a biscuit that came along with locally made preserves. Not that I ever would have expected anything different, but it was one of the best breakfasts I'd had in ages. The perfect way to start the new year. This is one of those places that just never disappoints. Not only that, it always goes way beyond what I was expecting.
(4)
Elizabeth D.
Very very good food. Love the local feel of the menu and all the options. It gets CRAZY crowded on the weekends, so be prepared to wait if you show up at a peak time without a reservation. Cocktails are great and there's a nice selection of beer and wine as well. I loved the blue cheese, bacon and balsamic burger. Incredible flavor. Biscuits are a good start too! Prices are a tad high in my opinion, so be prepared to spend. Service was very good, but parking is a nightmare (construction at time of review, but still bad!) If you're there with kids, they have high chairs, but no changing table that I could find in the bathrooms (although the handicap stall has a cabinet that can work).
(4)
Bonnie W.
Pluses: great place for brunch, young and old at home here. Beignets to die for, better than Nola's Cafe du Soleil! Egg dishes excellent, awesome bacon. Water on tables is handy. Mixed: very loud, very crowded. Open Tabe reservations got us right in and upstairs considerably quieter. $12 Bloody Mary was good, but not to die for. Bad: parking below is Not free. Asked if validated and server said no, it's free, but had to pay $4.50, peeving dear husband.
(4)
Vicki T.
I am very disappointed that they no longer have a good selection of vegan items on the menu. My choices for dinner were quite limited. I must say the service was great and the server tried to find vegan options for me, b ut overall my meal was just OK.
(2)
Ronie N.
The morning after a very pleasant early dinner at FF, I had a huge moment pf panic when I discovered that my wallet was missing from my purse. I hoped that it was at FF and that the good staff there would have discovered it and placed it safely under lock and key. To my immense relief, my best scenario came to pass. The restaurant manager, Rizza, confirmed that my wallet (floral with leather trim, three credit catds, drivers licence, etc) was in their safe, having been found under the table by our waiter Mike. Kudos to the integrity and professionalism of these great staff st FF!
(5)
Elyssa J.
My mom claimed to have an awesome meal here when she was in town. I mentioned this to my friend and she made brunch reservations right away for this location. The downtown spot fills up very quickly so if you have the ability to get to this one, I'm sure they are similar. The seating and space is very open and full of light. The place was hoping at 11am. The booths here are great. I hate sitting in unpadded wooden chairs so I was happy to see booths for two. FOor food, we ordered the beignets to share, apple-cinnamon waffles and bacon for me. The beignets were super yummy. The only downside was that they came with our food so we didn't have too much time to enjoy them before our main's came. However, they do keep nicely and we had them for dessert later that afternoon! The waffle was cooked a bit hard - I'm more into fluffier waffles but it all still tasted fresh. This location offers soy and almond milk which is awesome. I rarely find a place with non-milk subs. The milk (or milk variation) comes in a cute metal carton. When you get the bill, your server brings it in a little mail box and exclaims "your check is in the mail". A cute touch. Overall, I'd happily come back to try some other menu items. It's super affordable and yummy!
(4)
Jennifer D.
We were there 7/11/15, having made a reservation through Open Table (never will again!), I had to call the restaurant to let them know we were running a few minutes late (we got there about 5 min past our reservation time). Open Table sends me an email about why I missed my reservation. Grrrr. Anyhow, about the restaurant experience: Excellent appetizer, amazing blackberry sour and arnold palmer, super awesome entrees, dessert to go, and a great waitress, who I think we have had wait on us at another restaurant in the past. Glad to see her again, she was awesome! We are anxiously awaiting another day that we can head down and have another amazing meal.
(5)
Chloe S.
Visited twice for breakfast. This place is always crowded (30+ minutes wait for weekend breakfast/brunch) so definitely make a reservation if you can. Stuffed French toast was awesome!!! I also ordered chicken sausage, fried eggs, and hash brown - all tasted great. Hash brown was super crispy and I loved it. Red velvet pancake was stacked high (at least 4-5) but it was too sweet for me. Omelet was just okay, nothing special. Also the regular coffee was over-priced. The serving staff was very friendly every time.
(4)
Tina H.
I really like F.F, but 3 stars for their unpredictable service. When they're full staffed, service is awesome. When they're short-staffed, everything is double the wait. Food wise - you can't go wrong with their chicken & waffles! Their leek hashbrown is delicious as well! Their espresso is a bit on the stronger side for me, but food is always good!
(3)
Rita S.
I was feeling very nauseous when i arrived because I was in my first trimester at the time. I ordered the home style chicken noodle soup and it was DELICIOUS! I felt good and it tasted so good!
(4)
Eric L.
Food is great and the price I feel is comparable to the taste and the amount they give you. We had really great service even when it was busy and our waiter was very cheery. They were even accomodating when they messed up the order during busy times and dind't make a deal about it. For appetizer we ordered fig,apple and cameralized onion bread. It was tastey but I felt that there was more bread then toppings. Also ordered the bacon lollipops... which I highly recommend. It's fun to eat and very tastey if you like bacon. I ordered the ribeye based on my servers recommendation. The ribeye was very good it had some kind of dry rub on it... and I wish they put more of the dry rub on it. Had a nice little spicy kick but I didn't think it had enough. The date ordered the cast iron stove chicken and had the peruvian style one. Personally... I thought the chicken was very dry. We ordered veggies... and came with beans and brussel sprouts. I admit the beans were boring but the brussel sprouts were very tastey to eat. To finish it off we had Applie Pie. Now... I'm going to sound cliche but it literally tasted like home baked cinnamon and sugar heavy apple pied. Which I totally recommend getting if that's the way you like it. I recommend this place for pretty much any dining experience.
(4)
Elizabeth C.
First off, amazing food and drinks. I no longer even entertain the idea of buying a cocktail with syrup that isn't made right there from fruit. Their food and drinks are fresh and mostly house-made. One thing that bothers me is that I've requested via Open Table to get certain areas of seating for special occasions. For my father's birthday, they sat us behind the bar right next to the bathrooms. I was disheartened because I had requested to be in the main area. They're always busy, but I made this reservation over a week in advance. Service is about as fast as it could be in such an always-packed place. I've yet to find a time when it's not packed. I'd like to figure out when that might be so I can only go then! I'll miss FF after I move to SoCal. I'll be eating there at least once more before our move in October. Oh, and try the goat cheese ravioli and the apple/brie/onion jam app. To. Die. For.
(4)
Kesha T.
I enjoyed the atmosphere and the courteous staff. They were very friendly and helpful. The server I had was knowledgeable of the menu and was spot on with all recommendations. I had the combo Devil-ish eggs with the Maine lobster, crab and smokes salmon... I'd pay for a dozen of them...they were really good. The yolks were a great consistency and the flavors were well balanced. I had the chicken and waffles...the most memorable chicken and waffles I've had was at the original Roscoes in LA...these here measure up quite well! The chicken was warm, crispy and seasoned decently. It was well balanced with the waffles; their syrup is made in house and was not overly sweet nor bland. The drinks were refreshing...not meant to have you clear your throat upon the first sips. Parking was a breeze, in the back.
(5)
Emile H.
I like founding farmers, but have to say that they have gone a bit down hill since they first opened. I've found some of their dishes (for example the candied green beans side) to be quite inconstant, and sometimes too salty and overcooked while very good other times. Their dragged through the garden omelette is my favorite brunch dish. There are plenty of vegetarian options and a few very solid vegan options. Both of their veggie burgers are some of the best in the rockville area. It can get pretty loud on a Friday/Saturday and you might be waiting a while even if you have a reservation.
(4)
Phi N.
Gave this place another chance because maybe last time was just a fluke. Started with the Cracked Black Pepper Wings. They were really good (I thought I took a pic of the wings but I can't seem to find it... sorry). Got the fried chicken and waffles again for my main meal. Unlike the last time that I was here, it came out hot. Still doesn't compare to fast food fried chicken in taste though... And instead of serving it with eggs, it now comes with greens and mac & cheese. My friend got the Butternut Squash Mascarpone Ravioli. I'm not a fan, but well, girls seem to like it. Oh, and on a cold day, the hot chocolate is not bad! I would prefer a little sweeter, but it was still worth the order. Service and ambiance were on point as expected. **I don't feel like adding another update with a lot of the same info... so I'll just edit this one** -Wouldn't order the fried chicken here again -The deviled eggs are well worth the order -Mahi mahi fish on a salt block was delectable but tiny... I can't get full of this! -Apple pie dessert was awesome
(4)
Kimber S.
Although I have been sick since eating here this past weekend (not their fault...but mine and my stupid food sensitivities) I really like it here. Way less crowded then the one in DC and they have parking. This time I had the mushroom reuben...delicious. We also tried the little donuts (the name escapes me at the moment) and my friend had a pancake and some pasta dish that looked good. Next time I will have to get something else...bummer:( oh our waitress was nice too.
(4)
Tara B.
MoCo's Founding Farmers (Potomac, MD) was the worse restaurant experience I have ever had. Service from our waitress was horrible. She went missing on three different occasions. I ordered my food, Eggs Benedict, with came out cold, tasted bland and wasn't cooked all the way. My husband ordered coffee twice, and still wasn't brought out to him until we requested the manager. I would not recommend going to this location for brunch. :ater that day, I suffered from food poisoning. Since the restaurant manager gave us a $25 gift card for the horrible experience, I may try the one in DC. I have my fingers crossed and hope the food and service is better! Maybe lunch or dinner is better as well.
(1)
B L.
The decor is really cool!!! The menu looks amazing but the food was really disappointing. The fried chicken was dry and super greasy and the bacon lollipops were sickly sweet. Our server seemed forced and very uncomfortable and overwhelmed with way too many tables. I certainly won't be rushing back.
(2)
Farah K.
I went to Founding Farmers for my birthday brunch this weekend. Like everyone suggested, I made sure to have a reservation. And thank gosh for that, because when we walked in it was PACKED. My dad said it was like a fish market back in Bangladesh during a weekend. Odd comparison but true. But luckily we were seated within five minutes of arrival. The servers here are dressed like hipster farmers, but that added to the charm I think. Had to get the table biscuits and it did NOT disappoint. They were warm and flaky and delicious with the honey butter. My dad and I both got the chicken and waffles 25.media.tumblr.com/3367… (providing links because Yelp's tiny photos don't do the food justice) My mom got fish and chips 25.media.tumblr.com/216b… and my brother got the steak and eggs 25.media.tumblr.com/1063… The food was good. I will say the waffles and chicken were delicious. The scrambled eggs were slightly... underwhelming for me though. The whole bill came out to about $60 for four people which isn't too bad. However I'd highly recommend this place. I wish Yelp allowed for half stars, because right now I'd give it a 4.5/5. I do think they should just serve a plate of the biscuits on the house as a nice gesture of customer appreciation. But that's maybe me just being greedy about the biscuits.
(4)
Vishal S.
We are big fans of Founding Farmers in DC, so we were thrilled to discover there is a Founding Farmers very close to our new home. We stopped by the other day for brunch and we were not disappointed. Knowing from past experience, we had reserved tables for our party and were seated a few minutes after arriving at our designated time. The place is like the other location - loud, packed, and just as good :) Our usual order of beignets did not disappoint! This time we ordered the Skirt Steak and Enchilada and Shrimp Bucatini. Both dishes were excellent with the shrimp being the winner of our meal - the sauce was what set the dish apart. As always, we had enough leftovers to make another meal for us. Service here is good too that makes the dining experience that much better!
(4)
Wilbur M.
I'd like to be more positive about this place because the food is everything it claims to be, but the service is consistently bad. I don't know whether they're understaffed, under-motivated, or just disorganized, but there's always an excessive wait at every stage. We routinely have to start asking for our server before we even order because it's always 10-15 minutes before anybody deigns to come by. It says something about the food that we keep coming back, but we do it less and less often than we otherwise would because of the aggravation the poor service creates. And it's not just sometimes, it's every. single. time., whether they're crowded or not. It's too bad, because the southern fried chicken is about as good as it gets, the biscuits are great, and the breakfast items very high quality.
(3)
Arthita G.
The place looks nice and clean. The lighting and ambience are good. It's spacious and they can accommodate huge groups of 20 people as well. Food was reasonably good. Portion sizes were large and things looked fresh. Carrot cake I ordered was way too huge for someone to finish and so was the red velvet cake. The only reason I took off a star is that all the foods were very oily to my taste. Even though I was having farm fresh food, it was disturbingly oily and unhealthy looking.
(4)
Shira S.
We came in here looking for dessert and drinks after seeing a show. Unfortunately, choices for dessert type drinks are slim in MoCo. Either way, we sat at the bar and where a bartender promptly came over. After learning that they don't have any dessert drinks (insert sad face here), we made our own by ordering a hot chocolate with a shot of baileys. We also attempted to order the plate of warm cookies to go with it because how awesome does that sound?? I mean hot adult chocolate and cookies?!?! Oh yes! But, after learning that the cookies are pre-plated and you have to have all five, even if you don't like those five, we decided not to share that. Interestingly, the bartender shared that they used to allow people to pick the cookies they wanted and most everyone ordered snickerdoodles and chocolate chip rather than the other kinds. Well...if that is what everyone is ordering (along with a peanut butter) why are you bothering with shortbread and macaroon cookies? Oh well.... Either way, the hot chocolate was delicious, especially with the baileys added to it. I do think their prices are on the high side so between prices and lack of cookie choice, they got knocked down a couple stars.
(3)
Melanie M.
Disappointing birthday dinner here tonight. We gathered from DC, MD and VA to celebrate my daughter's birthday, arriving on time with reservations for our party of six. We had to wait a while to be seated which was fine. The food is incredible and comes out fast. A little too fast because we still had our appetizers and had no room on the table for our entrees. They are really rushing people through here. I think the founding farmer theme has to do with rushing folks through like cattle or something. We didn't dawdle or linger over our food at all, yet the server was asking to box up my husband's food while he still had the fork in his hand and food in his mouth. The focus is all on turning over tables. The rush was so comical we were laughing. When we made it outside to the sidewalk a guy was chewing his food, I kid you not. We were like, Wow, they didn't even let him finish eating! The food is really very good, but don't expect to have a family celebration here. Just eat and moooove along.
(3)
Xen N.
Been there 3 times. Consistently good service, great food and pleasant staff. Love this place! Will be back!
(5)
Mariella V.
Founding Farmers is a staple for me. Whenever someone is visiting the area I take them here to impress them and it works! There is something for everyone here: from meat lovers to vegans. I especially love their breakfast, it's a great price and their cortadito is quite indulgent. I once waited 2 hours for a table, but I wasn't even that mad once I got my food. It gets very crowded, so I would get a reservation if possible. I have had their vegan meatloaf three times already, I really should try something new but its delicious and huge so I can't really help myself. Their mac and cheese, vegan reuben, veggie burger, ravioli is amazing too. I never drink sodas but I do when their home made. They don't have an abundance of desserts but their beignets are the bomb. It's worth the wait. OH and you have to try the cornbread! It's the best cornbread I have ever had. This is exactly how my southern grammie makes it, if I had one... The atmosphere is formal and casual. You can show up here in a prom dress or shorts. Doesn't matter. Service is always amazing, and the servers know everything. Menus items don't have descriptions on them so you have to ask what it is. Some booths are very dimly lit to provide an romantic feel but it really just makes it hard to read the small font of the menu. Anyways, I love it here. Support local green business and local farmers.
(5)
Shawn H.
Excited to try after some strong recommendations. This is two visits in. Friday night just me and my wife Sept 2014 then again with our two kids on a Saturday night in November 2014. Everything is fine. Which is probably the only issue I have with the place. If I didn't have to drive 25 minutes to get there and it was a decent neighborhood restaurant to go out occasionally when we didn't want to cook, that'd probably help. It's not that though, they want to be a destination, and for us it wasn't. Details Apps: Glazed bacon Lollis, Devil-Ish Eggs, Blue Cheese Bacon Dates - over two visits, we haven't found an app that was special. They were all fine however, just easily duplicated at home. Entrees Chicken and Waffles. This is a pretty serious plate of food, the first time we ordered it they mistakenly served tea instead of syrup (total fluke). I had it again the second time and it was much better with actual syrup, I enjoyed the meal, the chicken was crispy and good, it's served with Mac n cheese, gravy, syrup, and waffles, it was all pretty savory. We tried the farmers platter, nothing memorable here, I'd go with something else. Mac & Seven Cheese - same that comes with the chicken and waffles. Pretty savory, not a flavor overload like I expected, but good. Boneless Ribeye - I didn't try this, but mediocre enough for my wife to get half of it taken home. The overwhelming sentiment is that it can all be done at home, for some if they don't cook much this place will be fine. If you live with or are a pretty good cook, you'll be underwhelmed. Summary: not bad prices on the food, nice environment but not romantic, you're definitely amongst everyone else there, the servers are all nice enough, drinks are a little pricey. Not worth the reservation it takes to get seated for me on a Friday or Saturday night.
(3)
Rose V.
The most delicious meal! We went as a group of seven, and everyone raved about their meal. Favorites were the Mac and cheese and the chicken and waffles. The cocktails were also fabulous, although it took a while to get them. The interior is funky and comfortable, and our server was very friendly. Overall a great experience, I want to go back soon!
(5)
Rhex X.
Good ambiance, good food and very friendly staff. Over all... Great place to have brunch!
(4)
Caroline L.
I've been to the D.C. Founding Farmers once which I gave 2 stars- however this was years ago (and looking back it looked like I was a bit too tough on them). So I finally tried to give this location a try. It's definitely loud in this restaurant but I think it gives a trendy, buzzworthy type of vibe. I liked how the bar area looked but sat in the dining room w/ my family. Our server was fine- he wasn't as attentive as I would've liked (took me about 10 mins to flag him down) but he was nice and didn't mess up anything. I was a bit hesitant about the champagne vinaigrette dressing but he assured me it was delicious- and it was. I said in my last review that I wouldn't buy the shmears again but I did- hey, gotta try it twice, right? This one sealed the deal that I shouldn't (again). The bread was toasted beautifully but it's just nothing special. My dad got the crabcake entree and I got the crabcake sandwich. Two huge mistakes. If I can compare- I like to eat a ton of salty salty salty ranch flavored sunflower seeds while on my computer. I am not shy to salty foods but the crabcakes were nasty. I'm too passive to send food back but I almost did. When I got the bill, I started laughing b/c the crabcake entree was $30 (mp). I have absolutely no problems paying $30 for crabcakes- but do not make it salty, burnt on both sides, and look like it came out of the frozen foods section! Major props goes to Coastal Flats and Coco Pub's who does it right. Btw my dad is a 200 lb man and he ate one crabcake and said "maybe your mom can do something w/ the other one at home" and didn't finish his meal. Ok, enough w/ the crabcake-- my mom said her salmon was dry and my grandma's egg salad was also... ugh, salty. But oddly enough the fries were crispy and seasoned right. I'm hesitating that 2 stars is a bit harsh but for the price I expect more. Plus my family told me "hey, dinner was great!" but their half eaten entrees told me otherwise.
(2)
Matt B.
I've eaten here three times, having the diver scallops meunierie, pork and lentil stew and the shrimp & grits. Everything was excellent including the service. I really enjoyed the diverse ingredients in the stew, including avocado and a poached egg.
(4)
Chih-Jung C.
It's good, really good. However, you have to call for reservation before you go there. There are lots of people. I waited over 40 mins to get a table, and enjoy my lunch! So, if you want go, make RESERVATION before you on the road.
(5)
Jethro T.
Believe the hype- the whole dining experience here was great! I went twice this past weekend- once Saturday morning for breakfast and again on Sunday for early dinner. Saturday morning my friends and I split beignets (which at 6 per serving are easily enough for 3 people) and washed them down with Intelligentsia coffee. The special house blend was superb. I had the yogurt with berries/granola and my friends had the eggs Benedict and chicken and waffles. We all left satisfied. For dinner Sunday I ordered the chicken and waffles (because it looked so good the previous day) and my friend got shrimp and grits with andouille. We washed this down with beer flights. To top the meal off we ordered cookies and decaf coffee. I felt truly pampered eating such good food in such a cozy atmosphere. I want to come back and try everything on the menu!
(5)
Jason F.
Love FF. Love the wait staff. Love the food! If you can manage to get in here, you will most likely have a good experience. Recently, I tried to make a reservation for my family for brunch. Coming from a large family, this was a large reservation. 12 adults and 6 children. Here were the options presented to me: A) Gauranteed $100 minimum per person (adults and children) which does not include tax or gratuity. So, most likely a total of around $2300 for 12 adults and 6 children....for brunch. B) My party could be split into two tables that would not be seated next to each other due to the "floor layout and volume of the restaurant". Since my family rarely gets everyone together like this, not a good option for us. C) Come in for brunch Monday - Thursday. So...when we're all working. Since no options presented made sense for our party, we will be going elsewhere.
(2)
Sarah P.
I've visited Founding Farmers about three times now, and every time, I've left happy. The service is always pretty fast, despite it ALWAYS (not exaggerating here) being busy. I do recommend making reservations beforehand, or you'll have a wait. The last time I went, I got the goat cheese burger. I looove goat cheese, and they definitely did not skimp on the cheese. It was delicious! The fries are pretty good too. I've also gotten the fish & chips, and despite what some other reviews said, I found it absolutely delicious. The portions of fish were huge, plus it was perfectly breaded - the breading was light and crispy, and was seasoned well. You also get a mix of fries and chips, which are both good, plus it comes with a little glass of white beer. The beer was really good (kind of tasted like blue moon) and compliments the fish well. Also, I love that this place has their own "made-from-scratch" sodas. Their bartenders make a mean cocktail, and I love their variety in drinks on the bar menu. All in all, this place is awesome. It's no wonder why it's always packed, even on a Tuesday night.
(4)
Allison S.
Today was the second time my husband and I have eaten at Founding Farmers. The food was amazing! We ordered 2 appetizers, the seafood devil-ish eggs and glazed bacon. The bacon wasn't burnt the way I like it, but my husband loved both. I ordered the Mac & Seven Cheese. I am a very picky Mac & Cheese critic and this is probably THE BEST Mac & Cheese I have ever had! My husband ordered the Land & Sea (8 oz. steak and lobster tail). He said it was very good - the meat was very tender and juicy and everything was seasoned well. He said the dressing on his side salad was also really good. For desert, we both ordered milkshakes. I got the deep chocolate shake and he got he bananas foster shake. The banana shake has a little bit of a cinnamon taste to it and is just like the ones my mother in law makes, very good. I was not as impressed with my chocolate shake. It tasted a bit powdery/dry, but the great service made up for any disappointment. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant. If you go there try the MAC & CHEESE
(5)
Mistery M.
OK good job you improved hostessing and service. I am proud of you. Your servers actually pay attention to the tables and you did away with the stupid pooled service system. Good drinks. More vegan options. I know you can do it. People grow shit on farms other than "meat". That said your veggie loaf is nice. The cauliflower steak is meh. Try harder.
(4)
Eduardo B.
Crab cakes with mac & cheese! everything is incredibly fresh here and it definitely has the perfect atmosphere. You feel like you're sitting in the kitchen of a farm. The service is excellent, they actually know about the food and how it's made. Our servers recommendations were perfect. This is definitely added to my favorites list!
(5)
Edwin O.
Nice ambiance, decent food, somewhat slow service. We'll be back due to large menu and location.
(3)
Anthony C.
My fiance and I eat here at least once a week. This is by far our favorite restaurant and it deserves every one of the 5 stars. Their drinks are top notch and they make all of their mixers in-house. The bartenders are amazing and the servers are excellent. The food being locally grown and made fresh daily truly shows. From the Chicken Bolognese Bucatini to the Cedar Plank Salmon, Prime Rib, Butternut Squash Mascarpone Ravioli, and many other great entrees you really can't go wrong with any selection. If you haven't tried it yet, you definitely should.
(5)
Hugo T.
Customer service was great real attentive but the food wasn't to my liking. I got the chicken and waffles and chicken was plain but the waffles were good. My wife got the farmer plate and it was just awful, but the reason I'm giving it 4 stars is for the customer service. The manger asked for feed back and didn't charge us for any of the entree.
(4)
Charlie R.
This place is very good. We eat there all the time. Wish they'd expand the menu but you can't go wrong. Steak is a bit iffy but everything else is a 5. We always eat at the bar.
(4)
J T.
Founding Farmers will always satisfy, however, this location is noticeably worse than the DC location. The prices are the same, but the portions are significantly smaller. The food is still very good, but the quality is not the same. Head to DC.
(3)
S M.
This place used to be one my favs, but is going down fast. Managerial oversight does bot exist anymore. A party of 8 went there tonight and food was very average. The muscle was half the usual size in portion and 1/5 in quality. Waiter spilled an entire beer flight on my guest and instead of an apology graciously said that don't worry I make you another one. I don't think I go there again.
(2)
Sarah M.
Waited well over an hour for a reservation that we already made... Even though the point of a reservation is so you don't have to wait. But once we finally got seated the food was delicious! (Don't order a coke. Super expensive and no refills). Brie flatbread was tasty. Fried green tomatoes were tasty. But my favorite by far was the breads and spreads appetizer. Oh man! So good! Everything here is tasty!
(3)
Michael G.
It was a perfect plan I thought. What more politically incorrect thing could I do on the day before Columbus Day than go to Founding Farmers (a group of people who helped to steal Native American land as much as anyone)? But, as usual, reality got in the way of my preconceptions. I'm not saying that the original inhabitants of the United States would completely approve of Founding Farmers, but it did have a certain lefty ethos that I quite enjoyed. First of all, I loved that their produce comes from a group of non-factory, and local, farmers. And I could almost taste it in the food. I got a skillet and, amazingly, the eggs tasted like eggs (and it was thick and filling, almost a souffle made of breakfast stuffs) and not like chemicals. The hash browns on the side actually tasted like potatoes (though richly fried to meet a modern palette). The biscuit actually tasted like bread. And what amazed me most about the meal was that it cost less than a lot of comparable inorganic brunch places. I also expected this place to be quite inegalitarian (read stuffy). But it wasn't. The wait times for tables were insane on a Sunday, but we were sat at the bar right away with a group of wide-ranging individuals who were glued to the Redskins game (I watched it too to be even more politically incorrect on Columbus Day weekend). The bartender was friendly and fast. What put this place over the top was the aesthetic though. Every little place that it could have kitschy decor, it was modern. Every place they could post twee sayings, they were educational. About the only thing missing was a diversity in whose ideology they chose to represent. But, hey, I had to find something a little offensive if I was looking for it, right?
Great breakfast options! However, make a reservation!!
(4)
Sari S.
Went for breakfast this morning because we wanted to find a new spot. IHOP has been very lacking lately. The food here was different from what we are used to. The taste wasn't bad but my grits were not creamy which is how I like them. My daughter got the yogurt and granola which seemed good but a little pricey. Overall it was a good experience.
(4)
Nicole L.
I took my gf to dinner to congratulate her for her engagement it was a nice restaurant for the area. I was disappointed they did not have better selections of sparkling wine. There was only one choice when we were there it was not that good. We had it anyway it was $30 a bottle. I had the steak it was ok. Nothing really stood out. The server was attentive and prompt with service.
(3)
Jennifer L.
The atmosphere is pretty casual and they have cool decorations. Good service. The wait staff are friendly and experienced. I've been here a couple of times and I definitely recommend chicken and waffles. I thought it was a weird combo at first but they actually go together really well. The check comes in a little mailbox!!! So adorable!!!!!
(4)
Alisa O.
Founding Farmers proves that DC suburbanites are ready for better fare than the chains that reheat manufactured food. Make reservations if you go during peak hours.
(5)
A. W.
Excellent follow-up from manager; will update when I revisit!
(2)
Coqui B.
I've been a few times and have always had great service and an incredible meal. The brunch is the best! One of the best in the area in my opinion.
(5)
Rachel R.
After reviewing on yelp, I booked a table for 4 the same day for Sunday brunch. Our table was ready upon our arrival. Everything we ordered was fantastic, corn bread, mixed salad, squash soup of the day, lobster mac n cheese, chicken and waffles, biscuits with bacon, risotto and then desserts, vanilla ice cream was so good and not to miss the beignets. Everything was fresh and we didn't wait long for the dishes to get to our table. We were on the second floor, less noise than the first and the service was great. Will definitely be back to try other dishes.
(4)
Margo S.
My husband and I frequent Founding Farmers in Tyson's Corner about 2-3 times a week. We have also visited the Georgetown Farmers Fishers Bakers a few times. The service is always excellent at both places as well as the quality and taste of the food. We have brunch every Sunday in Tyson's. I was very surprised and disappointed at our experience at MoCo's Founding Farmers. We were greater promptly and seated promptly, however, It went down hill from there. I was surprised there was not brunch buffet like in Tyson's and Georgetown. This was okay, as I eat the regular breakfast through the week. However, I was very surprised the waiter NEVER, came back to check on us once our food arrived. My food was cold, I had to snag someone else to take it back to the kitchen as the waiter disappeared.The food was then brought back with a better presentation and hot. My husband basically ate his breakfast by himself, as it took a while to receive my second plate. Again, we had to flag down the waiter to get our check. This is not what I expected at all. I have never had bad service at any of the other Founding Farmers. This establishment could take lesson's from the Tyson's or Georgetown location, in customer service and hospitality. So disappointed on Mother's Day...:(
(2)
Meghan M.
First visit for brunch and it was great. The red flannel hash (beet and goat cheese hash) was delish. Chicken and waffles looked and smelled good, but friend said the biscuit and sausage gravy was lacking- small portion and not as expected. Brunch drinks were good and made with real egg, not some mix. Biscuits were good and seemed hand formed as they were not uniform in size. Just wish they were more generous with the butter and jam considering it was four large biscuits.
(5)
Irena N.
A very solid 3 stars. Reservations were easy to make on short notice, which I appreciated. I was running late, but my family was seated right away. This location of Founding Farmers faces the highway. Not exactly cheerful and I probably wouldn't recommend sitting outside due to the noise. Inside, though, it's very open and comfortable, much like the DC location. Parking was a little tough, and we ended up parking in the Harris Teeter lot after circling the restaurant a couple of times. But hey, we live in DC, we're grateful for ANY parking. The food was solid, and everything was reasonably priced. My family's breakfast entrees were tasty, and I had delicious eggs benedict that were done just right; but my S.O.'s chicken and waffles were less than impressive. The waffle part was just fine, but the "fried chicken" were really a few dry, overseasoned chicken tenders. Not tasty. I think most people are expecting a piece of fried chicken and not a small tender... Drinks were great, except for the part where one of the servers dropped my mimosa, spilling it all over the table, and then forgot to bring me another one. To the restaurant's credit, once our waiter realized what happened, he not only brought me a replacement mimosa, but also comped it. I realize these things happen, and we still tipped well. But honestly, someone should have caught it. The drinks were rather loudly dropped, the whole table (and my sister's lap) had to be wiped down, and still I sat there with no drink for about 15 minutes. I would return.
Love this place! Come here for brunch very often and it never disappoints. One thing that makes me sad is that the fresh orange juice and mimosas are soooooo pricey! :(
(5)
Neil E.
This is always my go to whenever someone from out of town wants a good meal. The wide variety of options creates a challenge to find a something you don't like. That said my most recent trip on a Tuesday at 5pm left something to be desired with respect to the level of service being provided. The food way great, but we were never checked on by our waitress once the meal was delivered. We had all finished our meals for at least 10 minutes before she returned. ( There were not many people at all in the entire place.) I assumed there was a shift change and she was gone for the evening. Nope. Not so lucky. If the service matched the food I'd give it a five star every time.
(3)
Virgus D.
This was my first visit to the restaurant and it was amazing.The waiter was outstanding.He was very engaging and provided suggestions that were helpful. I selected the veggie omelet that included a variety of fresh veggies.The reservations were timely and we were seated immediately.In summary this is one of the best healthy food restaurants in the Washington Metro area.Highly Recommended !
(5)
Yinka A.
I've been to the DC location numerous times, but had not eaten dinner there since it opened as I would often go for their delicious Sunday brunch. I decided to take a friend to the Potomac location in celebration of his new job, hoping that it would be just as good as the DC location. We were not disappointed! We loved it! The food was excellent. We had the deviled egg appetizers and share our main meals consisting of crab cakes with mixed veggies and salmon with the most delicious mashed sweet potatoes and the best Brussels sprouts I've ever had. I was so glad he enjoyed the food. Additionally, the waiter was very friendly and helpful when it came to recommending a dish. Definitely plan to dine at the Potomac location again.
(5)
Patrick M.
Food was 4.5 star plus and well priced- too. Good portion size and quality ingredients. The knocks IMHO was the general service. Service was very poor- we were sat over 30 minutes late with a resevation... probably closer to 45 minutes. Water glasses were empty and we had to ask for refills. One entree didn't show-up and 5 minutes later I had to track down a Mgr to make them aware. Chef did apologize and brought it out herself and apologized. No comps or credits for any issues and miscues. Also they were sold out of the wings- we specifically went to try. -1 star for poor service. Another knock for a restaurant of this quality was the wine list and offerings. Very mediocre entry level wines... not to be a snob... but it seems that they are afraid to put some higher quality/priced wines on the list. -.5 star This could be a 4.5-5 star restaurant with some minor tweaks... service and a better wine list. Was visiting from out of town.
(3)
Richard W.
I previous gave a review that was a 3 from Thanksgiving, 2013 which got an email from their marketing department seeking more information. Great they are listening for feedback. I responded and got a post commitment with thanks and that I would get a complimentary dessert - that didn't happen but did go back. Party of 7 with reservations (really needed here) and was promptly seated - thank you! All entrees delicious - raves from everyone. Big wish is that restaurant management would teach their servers to serve drinks appropriately - meaning serve a beverage holding the bottom of the glass, not the lip as our server initially did. and servers do not adjust your hair and continue serving! Two major yuck factors by our Waitress.
(4)
Amber K.
Love this place. Get the table biscuits with the honey butter! Make reservations if you're going for brunch.
(4)
Audrey K.
This place is awesome! I came here with a friend for Sunday brunch and we made a reservation for noon and we were seated by 12:10 on what appeared to be a very very busy Sunday afternoon. We had the uncle buck's benigets, breakfast chicken and waffles and lunch chicken and waffles. Everything we had was great and we'll definitely be returning!
(5)
Sydney L.
I thought this Mo-Co outpost of Founding Farmers was just okay. I've been to the DC location for dinner and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to try brunch here. The restaurant was very busy, but we were seated on time for our reservation. The server was friendly and on top of things even though all tables were full. The food though, was just okay. I was expecting it to be more tasty, but no one at our table of five was impressed much. I feel like they are trying too hard to be local and farm-fresh, that they missed out on flavor. Won't be going back.
(2)
Missy K.
I came here for the first time last Saturday night. I'd never heard of it but was pleasantly surprised. The service was fine (although my friend tried like 3 times to get coffee from our server, to no avail) but the food was great. We shared the blue-cheese stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates and fried green tomatoes for appetizers and as soon as we'd finished, we wished we'd ordered more dates. They were awesome! I had the spicy ahi tuna poke, which in a restaurant that mostly had classic American food was a little odd, but I wasn't disappointed. It was pretty fantastic. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)
Bloss C.
Beignets (served with Raspberry, chocolate and caramel sauces). The beignets here are perfectly fried on the outside and soooooo warm/moist/gooey on the inside. They give you a bag of them for $8. $8 is a little pricey for some fried dough, but they are very good, so I'll go for it. Everything else I had here was either ok or not very good. The biscuit was too dry. My artichoke skillet dish (basically a frittata) wasn't very tasty. The grits that came with it were abhorrent. They had very good grits flavor, but with the texture of porridge. The hash browns were good. I would come back, but I would order the simpler items on the menu. Also my cup of coffee was $4 which I'm not feeling. Service was very very good.
(4)
Samantha K.
I LOVE Founding Farmers. The service here is always wonderful with bright, spirited, and happy employees. I'd recommend everything on the menu but my personal favorites have always been the Brie with Onion Jam Farmer Bread, Cornbread, Green Tomatoes, Crispy Shrimp, and the Apple Pie However, four stars because the only thing I'd advise staying away from are the salads. It's very over priced and not very satisfactory. But, totally go. It's worth it.
(4)
Nick B.
We had a party of about 15 people for a birthday dinner. Everything was good until they brought the check and told us they couldn't separate because they weren't previously told that the checks would need to be separate at the time of the reservation. We had family travel a long distance to come to this place and were met with no help on this matter. We spent a large amount of money with this party and would have praised the restaurant if they hadn't been so unwilling to correct the mistake that should have been caught early on by their staff. We will NEVER recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
David H.
I ordered the fried green tomatoes for starters then the flat iron steak, mashed potatoes, and blue cheese slaw. My wife let me taste her shrimp and grits ratatouille. The food is unbelievably spot on. This is a must go to restaurant. The steak was almost tenderloin tender-juicy! The $ is reasonable! Great drink selection as well.
(5)
Dette T.
We've been to the one in DC and it was our first time to try this location.. We were expecting about the same experience but boy! This place just went over the top! Our waiter, was so nice and patient.. The manager, Maribel, was aaawesooome!!!! She came to our table few times to check if we're doing great and corrected some mishaps during our dinner.. Honestly, they really didn't have to cuz we were happy as it was but they were so nice and kind to actually make it a better experience for us... As a diner, I always expect good customer service but man! They were GREAT! I'm definitely going to rave about them for the rest of the week (or two) to my coworkers and make sure everybody tries FFMoCo! Great food + great service + affordable price! Nothing more you can ask for!!
(5)
M Z.
Despite the website's claim that they are veg-friendly, there are no vegetarian options other than oatmeal for breakfast, which seems strange coming from a place with "farmers" in the name. The server suggested I get the farmer's breakfast and said it could be vegan without eggs or meat. But it ended up consisting of two small slices of tomato, a tiny fruitcup made mostly of grapes, and a slab of cold hashbrowns. They included a biscuit too but she wasn't sure if it had butter or milk in it or not. Honestly, this place was a big disappointment and bummed me out on what was supposed to my birthday brunch. I left hungry!
(1)
Indeara T.
Excellent food and Customer service. Joseph was our server and he served us well, very attentive and friendly. My husband highly recommend this restaurant, and we give this place 5 stars. Perfect for date night and perfect for families as well.
(5)
Eric N.
One of my favorite locavore joints. Great service. Clean, inviting interior. Too far from Balty, or I would be here weekly. I have had had the fish on numerous occasions, and it has always been fresh and delicious. The portions are more than adequate, and the prices are reasonable.
(5)
Alex G.
Amazing service, we forgot our food and our server came out to our car to give it to us
(5)
Tracia D.
Red Velvet pancakes.... Good. Carrot cake pancakes.... Good. Egg white omelette with veggies.... Good Wine.... Good Bellini.... Good Coffee.... Good Check in the "mailbox", which is an actual mini mailbox.... Ãœber cute! Loved that.
(5)
Robin B.
Great atmosphere and great food. Customer service was good but the drinks (cocktails) could have been better. The decor was beautifully appointed and the seating comfortable. I would recommend this place to friends and family. However, a bit on the expensive side.
(4)
Karen K.
Dinner at Founding Farmers was ok as the three stars indicate. One major problem - understanding the waiter. He spoke so quickly and had a slight accent. We had to ask him to repeat the specials and then just gas up as no one understood. The food is fine but nothing special. One exception, the corn bread with honey butter. Delicious. After the waiter described the differences in the fried chicken, one friend ordered the Southern fried chicken with collard greens and mashed potatoes. She hardly ate anything and was very disappointed in all of it. The other thee of us had salads that were fine. The ahi tuna poke was the best of the bunch and a very generous portion. Would I come back? Yes, because the location is convenient to meet up with friends. But, it would not be my suggested place.
(3)
A. D.
Worst service!!! My husband and I sat at the bar for dinner and drinks and had a horrible experience. The bartender (his name is Tim) was so full of himself made our drinks. We each had one drink which is why this review is getting one star because it was tasty, but since it follows a recipe, I'd prefer anyone else but this guy to make it. So we ordered food, and then sat there for a good 15 minutes while our empty dirty dishes and glasses sat in front of us. We tried to wave down a bartender to order more food and drinks, to no avail. The bartender stood at the other end of the bar scrolling through his phone laughing and showing his colleagues pictures or something. The point is, he was doing this in the middle of a horseshoe bar where all of the customers could see how little he cared about them and doing his job. We planned on ordering more drinks, if we could get this guy's attention away from his phone, but then got fed up with trying. At $12 dollars a drink, and ZERO service, we didn't see the point of staying. We went next door to Sugo's where they actually care to have customers, and we continued our dinner over there. I'd much rather give my hard-earned money to a person who actually does his job. I will never go back there. By the way, my husband mentioned this to the floor manager, who also didn't seem to care about the bartender and his blatant disregard to customers or his job. Don't waste your money on this place, it's just not worth it.
(1)
Sisley C.
***EDIT 1/27/13 -- YOU MUST TRY THE CONSTITUTION (A DRINK) AND THE SKIRT STEAK AND ENCHILADAS (TO DIE FOR)!*** I cannot say any bad things about this place! It is absolutely delicious. I've been here twice and was literally blown away by the food. The service is always top notch as well. For appetizers, I've had the oven-roasted cracked black pepper wings. Let me tell you... THIS IS UNLIKE ANY WINGS YOU'LL EVER HAVE. Oh my goodness - I got this both times I came. They give you a lime that you're supposed to squeeze over the wings. Mmm... you can't not get these wings! I've also had the popcorn (just okay... regular popcorn), mussels with sausage and pesto (pretty good and flavorful; must have bread to dip into the sauce!), and the proscioutto, fig, and marscapone flatbread (very good as well!). Entree wise - THE CRAB CAKES. Pure lump crabmeat. The seasoning is delicious. It has this "mustard" sauce that the crab cakes are placed on top of. It's good - not like regular mustard because I HATE MUSTARD. So don't worry, you mustard haters! I've also had the prime rib (so tender and juicy - would definitely get again!). I've had a taste of the skirt steak and enchiladas. The skirt steak seemed tough at first, but it was actually really good. Now desserts... the seasonal pomegranate vanilla sorbet is to die for. It's so yummy and unlike any sorbet you've ever had. I'm not sure when they stop serving it but it is seasonal so get it quick! Founding Farmers is known for their drinks as well. I really recommend the hibiscus scratch soda. It is so yummy and home made in the house! (This has no alcohol). As for alcoholic drinks, I've had a taste of the organic cucumber delight (very refreshing), Dark N Stormy (not really my style.. very gingery and rum-my), and the Victory Golden Monkey beer (very strong and "hoppy;" has 9.5% alcohol so you already know what it must taste like compared to a normal 4.5% alcohol content beer). The presentation of everything, including drinks, was perfection. I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Michael O.
I've been here at Founding Farmers for a couple of years. The food has been consistently good until of late. I have noticed the decline in taste an/ord volume of fish and chips, hamburgers, and bacon lolli appetizers. Anyhow, let's start with the positives. The restaurant is located in a business/residential area right outside of I-270 and it shares the same building with an italian restaurant. Needless to say, it's in a great neighborhood. Another positive is the consistency of the mixed drinks mixed by Chu. My go to drink is the Southside and Chu is excellent at making it. The bar scene is mixed, but seems like workers from the NIH and locals from the ritzy Potomac neighborhood congregate here since you need a car to get here. Anyhow, the food as mentioned before is at best average and I would definitely not spend time for formal dining here. Founding Farmers has a good bar and mixed drink selection, but their food is just okay.
(3)
Wing C.
3.5 stars - love the concept and service. I was impressed by FF's brunch last summer so I decided to host my mini high school reunion here tonight and to try out their dinner menu. We arrived promptly for our 7:30 reservation and they had a table for us right away. Our waitress was extremely sweet and welcoming. She explained the menu through and through and allowed us to substitute any of the sides - in which she had to repeat so many times cuz my friends and I are terrible listeners. Two of my friends ordered their signature chicken and waffles (1 with a side of mac and cheese + sauteed summer squash and zucchini, 1 with a side of watermelon mint salad + mashed potato), One friend ordered the ahi tuna salad and another ordered the rotisserie chicken dinner with broccoli and mashed potato. I decided to go meatless by ordering their fake turkey burger and swapping in the watermelon mint salad and out the lemon arugula salad. We also ordered the home made chips with the 3 dips to share as an appetizers and all 4 members of my group decided to try their mango soda. The drinks came out almost immediately and the appetizer came out shortly after. Still on my post-Asia diet, I decided to skip the appetizer and drinks altogether so I didn't have any taste of the chips (not a chip fan in general to start with). My 4 friends enjoyed the chips very much - the serving of chips was extremely generous but the dips were not - a spoonful of each at most - felt a little ripped off since the chips although homemade are still ordinary chips. For the price, we were expecting a little more home made dips! After the appetizer, our main entrees took almost 30 mins to arrive. Not quite sure what took so long but our waitress did come by to tell us the entrees were coming soon. When they were passing out our entrees, I was immediately impressed by the portion size of each - especially the dinner with the sides and ahi tuna salad. All my friends' entrees tasted awesome but for mine. I guess that's on me for not ordering one of their more known dishes. My turkey patty was slimely and had a texture of something close to the center of a crab cake. The buns were overloaded with cranberry compote - wayyyy too sweet and totally ruined the burger. And the caramelized onion and shoestring fried onion overwhelmed the taste of everything else - i couldn't even tell I had brie in my burger. Everything was mushy, slimely, onion-y and sweet. And I regret swapping for watermelon mint salad. I couldn't taste a single hint of mint in my dish. It was pretty much cubes of sweetened watermelons. Overall, definitely not a fan of my dinner. Still a very successful reunion dinner. My food wasn't awesome but would love to return for more of their signature dishes and perhaps after my post-Asia diet where I'm a little less plumpy.
(3)
Regina C.
I can't tell you how much I am in love with HANDS DOWN the best crab cakes I've EVER had in my whole entire life. I'm visiting Texas and I'm completely mortified that I can't bring these crab cakes back home. Your crab cakes will be one of the reasons why i'm coming back to Maryland! Succulent, not too much breading, EXCELLENT seasoning and you even topped it off with lightly buttered green beans. Jesus was that a beyond satisfying meal!
(5)
Mike M.
how anyone can give this place less than five stars is beyond me. I've been coming here for years. the place is the true meaning of value. locally sourced ethically raised meats, delicious flavors and textures, specialty cocktails worth writing home about, excellent and friendly servers, a cool atmosphere, I mean, if you don't like this place, what is wrong with you? they have a fantastic brunch, too. this is the best restaurant in MoCo in my opinion. for the value you can't beat it! trust me, get the black pepper soy wings each visit. they are that good. every. time. mmmmmmmm
(5)
Emily P.
Took dad here for Father's Day, and he was a huge fan, as was I. (And, mind you, he is a tough critic!) I requested to have us seated in the booths, and we were swiftly brought to the second floor (why, thank you). Impressed with everything (see photos). Of note: Fried green tomatoes, crispy and scrumptious; skirt steak, very juicy; little on the salty side, would have been nice to have the chimichurri on the side, sweet squash and yummy mashed potatoes; carrot cake, is massive; liked the seasonal crisp (peach and blueberry) better. Be prepared for leftovers! And of course make a reservation beforehand.
(4)
Libby F.
Finally made it for breakfast (brunch). It was Easter Sunday, and with a 10:30 am reservation we had no wait for our booth. My friends had never been and were excited to check this place out. We almost had whiplash from watching all the tasty dishes whiz by our spot. We contemplated ordering the beignets. Our waitress said that there would be no 20 minute wait like the menu states because they were expecting mass orders and were consistently frying them up. My one friend got the crab benedict, just to compare it to our usual breakfast treat from Clyde's. While she enjoyed it, I think Clyde's won out mainly due to their accompaniment of delicious home fries. I had the red velvet pancakes. While the stack of three is a bit odd looking, they were very delicious; not chocolaty, but the server did say there was some cocoa in them. Mine had butter on top, not cream cheese like another reviewer mentioned. My other friend opted for something from the lunch menu even though it wasn't really available, they made it for her anyways. It was the grilled cheese and tomato soup combo. Simple, but satisfying. Our server was awesome. She checked in with us regularly, chatted with us, and didn't rush off. Service has definitely improved as I knew it would since November. I will be back. Free and easy parking is a plus. I can't wait to try so many other dishes from their enticing menu.
(5)
kara h.
Lunch and Breakfast are great!
(4)
Krystle T.
I had high hopes for this place, but honestly, it wasn't anything special. First off, I'm bummed I missed the breakfast! I heard they're known for their breakfast menu, but I can only vouch for their lunch. Came here on a Thursday afternoon at about 11:15 and it wasn't crowded. It got a lot more crowded at around noon because of all the people in the nearby offices going on lunch breaks. I wanted to try something different so I ordered the crazy corn salad ($13). It was not bad. I would eat it, but it wouldn't be something I would look forward to and order again. My friend ordered their mac and cheese which had 2 kinds of cheese, peas, and apples. The waitress spoke up about this dish, but it was kind of bland for mac and cheese. Another friend got the turkey sandwich and added avocado. He would give it a 3.5/5. It needed tomatoes! They also had popcorn of the day for $2, but the flavor that day, Butter sage, didn't sound very good so we didn't order it. The waitress wasn't the best. She left before we finished ordering. Overall, I would go again to try their breakfast, but this wouldn't be my go to place.
(3)
Ed M.
The first time I went here I wasn't sure what to expect since it was described to me as "an acquired taste." Let me tell you, that description is inaccurate, this place is amazing, and has become my favorite restaurant. I would recommend their bacon lollies, fish and chips (best I've ever had), and mousse bowl for two (which is really for 4 or 5).
(5)
Roland Q.
I love the drinks here. They're made from organic grains so whenever I get a drink it goes down SMOOTH. Anyhow other then going down smooth i also feel the effects but do not get a headache which is great. There vegetarian selection here is pretty impressive. Oh yeahhh Love there Mac and Cheese WOOO
(4)
M. G.
As a follow up, one of the managers was gracious enough to respond to my yelp review below, promising to follow up with me about my experience via private message but hasn't yet. I was so looking for a reason to return to this establishment:(
(1)
Joseph B.
First visit to this restaurant. Very disappointed in myself that I never visited this place when I lived in Arlington, VA. Went for brunch/breakfast this past Saturday. Awesome meal. Great atmosphere. Will definitely be back. Will definitely recommend to everyone I know.
(5)
Audrey M.
I got the Founders Farmers Breakfast and it was ok. The multi grain toast was awesome and chicken apple sausage. My eggs scrambled with cheese and hash browns were salty, I couldn't finish it. Our waiter took forever getting our payment but my coconut green tea was great.
(3)
Sherrie H.
Server was client-focused and checked back with me often. She went to ask the chef specific questions when she didn't have an answer for me. I really appreciated her attention to details. For less noise, consider sitting upstairs. Their chicken was top notch and freshly cooked to order.
(4)
Samantha L.
Both of my trips to Founding Farmers in Park Potomac have been for brunch. The first trip was shortly after they first opened. The food was decent, but the service was terrible. We must have waited 45 minutes for out food after placing our order. We then had to flag down the waitress to get our check, and she didnt come back to get it for another 20 minutes. Since it was so close to when it opened I decided to give it another shot a few months ago for brunch with some friends. While the service had improved slightly, there were still lots of issues. One person in our party was gluten-free. She ordered something and asked for no bread... her plate came with the bread on it. My egg scramble was *very* overcooked... and because they had to re-make my friend's dish that came incorrectly, she ended up getting her food about 15 minutes after the rest of us were finished eating. My very first trip to the original Founding Farmers back in 2011 was fantastic. I was excited when this one opened in Montgomery County since i live in Bethesda, but I can honestly say after these two experiences I probably would not go back.
(2)
Chris T.
Pretty good homestyle cooked foods, great atmosphere.
(4)
Mike Y.
Like my friend Ina said, the food here is so-so. I was not here at a time when it was terrible busy, so my service was pretty good. Table for three Saturday around 1-2PM. The restaurant was buzzing but we were able to sit immediately. We sat upstairs, the bar looked nice but the restaurants design felt very chipotle-esque. i appreciated the farms painted and dated on the walls. It was comfortable. Our server was very upbeat and friendly. We ordered the chips and dips. The cast iron fried chicken southern style. crispy spatchcok chicken with aji sauce. apple pie. chocolate ice cream. The chips and dip was solid. cheesy dips, crunchy chips. guacamole was a little sweet. thought that was weird. two cheesy dips were good. i like cheese. The southern style fried chicken was meh. It definitely felt like...i dont know, healthy fried chicken? the chicken was a tad dry. the skin not crispy enough. the batter not substantive. just...meh. the collards that came with it, also a little sweet. i prefer my collards to be porky. i think its Pie's N Thighs fault. The mashed potatoes that came with it were the best part of that plate. The gravy could have been thicker a little better seasoned. The crispy spatchcok chicken with the aji sauce? Meh as well. definitely not crispy. the aji sauce tasted like avocado with worcester? i dont know what that was a little sweet too. and green. The orange soda was good. The strawberry soda was better. The apple pie was the highlight of the meal. The ice cream was superb (of course we got the apple pie a la mode!). The chocolate ice cream was exceptional. It tasted like...chocolate + ice cream. not...chocolate-flavored ice cream. not chocolate syrup made into ice cream. but chocolate, real chocolate but in ice cream form. real great for ice cream and chocolate lovers. The bill comes to you in a little cute mailbox. i liked that. i think you're overpaying for what you're getting. i appreciate the organic, fresh made movement but for the money you're spending here you can definitely get tastier. maybe we just chose lackluster dishes but there is definitely some room to tighten up on the entrees. appetizers and desserts are all good and a plus but not enough to take me into being a fan.
(3)
Lisa N.
1. Make Reservations 2. Order the Chicken and Waffles. And try the Bacon Lollipops. 3. Leave happy and satisfied =) I've never been to the DC location, but Founding Farmers lived up to the hype. Service is friendly, the portions are generous, and there's a ton of variety. It was difficult to choose what to eat, but you can't go wrong with the chicken and waffles and bacon lollis. We also tried the Fried Green Tomatoes which were good and the Chicken Wings which are definitely a safe and bang-for-your buck appetizer. I will be back for sure!
(5)
Maria C.
I've been here at least 5 times so I figure it's time to write a review. I've had a variety of foods, from the lollipop bacon to the cauliflower steak, and I can safely say that this is definitely a staple farm-to-table restaurant in Potomac. The service is always gracious and friendly and the ambiance is good as well - tall ceilings on the first floor, and good mixture of booths and tables. The food is always very fresh - favorites include the eggs florentine, chicken pot pie, and fried green tomatoes. I've had a few of the scratch sodas before, which do taste very good but the glass typically comes out with 20% juice and 80% ice, so I now ask for it with little to no ice :) As it is a pretty popular restaurant, I recommend making a reservation.
(4)
Kimberly T.
I love the atmosphere at Founding Farmers! Definitely need to make reservations. I've been to both locations, the one in MD and DC and I like the MD location more because it seems more open and bigger. The first time I came here it was for a friend's birthday, she ordered a large amount of items to share: popcorn, deviled eggs, and bacon-wrapped dates. Seems silly to order popcorn at a restaurant but for $2, the restaurant gave a movie sized portion and there was plenty to share of the ranch flavored popcorn! I've had their eggs benedict and chicken and waffles for brunch, they were definitely great choices. For dinner, I've had the skirt steak which was average. There wasn't anything special about it. If you have a sweet tooth and are craving dessert, be warned.. their cakes are huge! I'm sure all the desserts taste good, but the red velvet definitely hit the spot. I will continue to come back, definitely want to try the pot roast next!
(4)
Christine O.
What makes Founding Farmers so great is in it's name - farmers = real farmers' grown food. If you're on the fence like me to whether go or not, just try it so you'll know what the talk is all about and how REAL food taste like! The prices are what you'll pay if you went to any organic market. Everything seems fresh and made with care. Went during dinner time so I'll have to come back again during brunch (my favorite meal of the day!). + place is easy to get to + plenty of parking + great service team (hosts, waiter/waitress, and even runners clearing tables etc) + plenty of options + everything comes out smelling delicious and hot! + delicious foods Appetizer: Party ordered the bacon and tots pitchforks (tots were good; party said bacon was out of this world), ranch popcorn (party had kids so they enjoyed this, biscuits and the farmer salad. All were good. I think my party was anxious for the food and think the delivery of the food is slow... I thought it was a good time to talk! Dinner: Crab cake (came with two) with mashed potatoes and green beans (chef's vegetable of the day) was delicious! I couldn't finish my plate and had to take one of the crab cake home. The mashed potatoes was heavenly and I love green beans! The crab cake didn't have a lot of fillers. The rest of the party enjoyed their dishes (mac and cheese; fish and chips was a popular; bacon and avocado burger and steak). I was tempted to order the free range chicken ... I will do that next time! Dessert: Red Velvet cake + ice cream: delicious. We all had to split the cake since we were all so full! But the cake is definitely homemade, rich, and the ice cream is perfect with it! Wasn't too sweet and wasn't too plain - just right! Check came out in a mailbox -- so cute. Why 4 out of 5 stars? As an avid shopper/diner at Whole Foods Market, I feel like their freshly prepared foods that come out hot are similar to Founding Farmers. But great to know there's a place my party can go to without the grocery market feel :)
(4)
Michael R.
First Founding Farmers tonight. Food Was Fantastic, Server was horrible. Will definitely be returning to give the service one more shot.
(3)
Norman G.
The food at this restaurant is varied and excellent, and the beer selection, while not extensive, is also very good. HOWEVER, unless you are planning to lunch alone at the bar, be aware that the noise level is very high when the restaurant is crowded. It may be difficult to have a conversation at a table for four and close to impossible with a larger group.
(4)
Sloan S.
I obsess over Founding Farmers. It is just one of those places that is consistently good, which really means a lot to me... I know I will always go in, have dinner, and leave totally full and happy. Here are a few of my favorites: - Table Biscuits - Smears, Dips, and Table Bread - Sweet and Sour Tomatoes with Horseradish Pimento Cheese Flatbread - Cedar Plank Salmon - Low Country Shrimp and Grits - Lobster Macaroni and Cheese I'm also enamored with the Organic Cucumber Delight cocktail. It is so refreshing... pretty sure I order it every time I visit. The bar also has a great selection of bourbon. The restaurant has a very cool concept and I love that the food is locally-sourced. One of my favorites in Montgomery County!
(4)
Casey K.
Loved! I had the Red Flannel Hash and my friend had the Benedict Arnold (story to ensue). We were halfway through our meal when a waiter came over with a plate and said, "How's the food?" My friend answered its really good, and the waiter said,"It's not what you ordered" He was standing there with my friends actual food order which they gave to us on the house! My friend had received the traditional benedict with house cured ham instead of the sausage on the arnold. We laughed that he was not able to notice the difference. He said, "honestly, this is so delicious I didn't even notice that it was sausage and not ham". Since we got to try both eggs benedict, I will say I like the sausage better, my friend liked the ham, I say you cannot go wrong with either choice, they both were delicious. My hash was very good, it was simple, but all the flavors worked nicely with each other, and as a beet lover, I would definitely recommend this dish. We also ordered the beignets when we first sat down b/c they are made to order and take a little bit of time to get to your table. They are so worth the wait. They are served with a berry compote, and chocolate sauce, and a caramel sauce. My favorite was mixing the berry compote with the chocolate sauce...amazing. On a separate occasion, I have also had the meatloaf and the chicken pot pie, both of which are great comfort food and delicious. In the chicken pot pie, there is a massive biscuit submerged at the bottom...ah so good! Bottom Line: This place is great because it just has really good comfort food and a place that even the most pickiest eater in your party can find to eat. In essence, it's "A Down Home Southern Meal in the middle of Potomac, MD" You will not be disappointed.
(4)
Nik K.
We got the Reuben sandwich and the blue cheese bacon balsamic onion burger with Brussels sprouts and beans. The Reuben was very juicy and the burger was very flavorful as well. Definitely recommend the Brussels sprouts. Overall there was a touch of sweetness to each item. The Beignets, of which there were 6, were very delicious with 3 dipping sauces.
(5)
Maria M.
Cornbread cornbread cornbread! Get it! for the appetizer, though you may want to share it if you don't want to be full before your real entree. Delish! Sweet with savory, cooked to perfection. Loved it. We also got the fried greed tomatoes as an appetizer. Which wasn't bad at all. A little too much fried batter for me, but hey, not really too much to complain about I guess. We also ordered the chicken and waffles. The chicken was great! Fried but not dry and definitely meaty. The waffles were ok. It also came with green beans and mac and cheese which I wasn't too crazy about buy hey, you can't win them all. My friend had the gnocci... which was also very tasty, but I was too full to really even get a good gist of how it tasted. Overall, it was a great experience. We went on a Tuesday night around 7:15 but since they said we had about 20 min to wait, we just sat at the bar which had the full menu too. So no big. The atmosphere was nice and homey. I'd definitely take my husband here since he likes hearty meals. Recommended yes! =)
(4)
Sa N.
Sometimes the food can be oversalted... But generally you should Just get the chicken and waffles... The other food is good, but the chicken and waffles is really delicious! Been there for brunch and dinner both are very good. The beer flights are fun.
(4)
Lina T.
This location is always super busy on the weekends. The food is great and reasonably priced. The drinks however are overpriced and not that great.
(4)
Nathalie V.
The entire meal left me speechless!! From our waiter, to the ambiance, to the food and drinks...I am very impressed with Founding Farmers. I love trying new places and can't say enough about the service we received. I normally don't write reviews but Founding Farmers deserves one! Our waiter was Kevin and we looved him!! Very knowledgable about the food AND drinks! He has a great personality and a natural at what he does. We had the Organic Cucumber Delight as our drink...the most refreshing drink I've ever had. The mix of cucumber and cantaloup reminded of the much needed summer's arrival! Not too strong, not too sweet, not to tart...the perfect balance of flavor! I had to order a second round! The first course we had was the Table Biscuits and also a butternut squash soup. I have never had such a great soup! My family has our own traditional butternut squash soup we eat on the first day of the new year and this brought me back to that! Such a wonderful flavor and texture. Forget about dipping those biscuits in the soup. The biscuits were served with "Chow Chow", a green tomato jam (if I remember correctly) and it was. A. Mazing! Perfect balance with the softness of the biscuit! YUM! For my main course, I ordered the Fried Chicken and Biscuits! The crust on that chicken was well seasoned and as crunchy as you'd want a piece of fried chicken. While being crunchy, the chicken was soft and moist...it hit the spot! The waffles were crispy, buttery and just the right texture to compliment the chicken. My meal was served with green beans and a non-traditional Mac & Cheese (so full of flavor and just the right amount of cheese)!! My son ordered the Shrimp Bucatini and Oh My Shrimp!! They were huge! The homemade pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauce just clung to the noodles perfectly! The fresh sprigs of dill added so much color and flavor; my son just ate his leftovers for breakfast!! My sister ordered the Shrimp and Grits; I would have thought we were down south! Again, OH MY SHRIMP...the filled the bowl! The grits were perfectly soft and creamy, covered by that delicious sauce and those jumbo shrimp and smoked beef sausage! OMG!! I could have died! Could that be my last meal? I hate to keep going but I must...I made sure to save some room for dessert. Those beignets, those beignets! What do you say about those beignets? Crispy on the outside, those soft nooks and crannies on the inside. Thank you Lord for those beignets! All three sauces were a great compliment to the fried delights but my favorite was the raspberry coulis. Like a fresher, better, tastier jelly donut. I can say that I am thoroughly pleased with everything we ate and drank...we are still talking about the food. I'm ready to come back again for round two. Scratch made, FARM FRESH american style comfort food is what you'll find here and I am certain, you will not be disappointed!!
(5)
Lorena B.
Oh man, my mouth is watering just thinking about the food and drinks. Two snaps for FF, hunty! We had a 7:15 res but arrived about 30 minutes early so we headed to the bar for liquid appetizers. I tried the Cono Sur chardonnay from Argentina and loved it; the drier the better for me. The date got some blood orange beer (sorry don't remember the name) that smelled really nice, like a Jo Malone fragrance, and the taste wasn't bad either. Later, during dinner, I ordered the caipiroska which is Tito's, lime, and sugar, and it was so refreshing! I guess it's like a handcrafted take on a vodka tonic. Then it was time to leave the bar and check in for our table. The smiling young host who walked us upstairs and the server were both friendly and chatty without being overbearing, and the server gave us plenty of time to look over the menus. Deviled eggs are the trend these days so we go those to start. They were actually kind of bland, like what you're forced to eat at some office potluck. But whatever, they were forgotten as soon as the entrees came. My shrimp and grits were awesome! Loaded with plump shrimp, spicy sausage, creamy grits, and juicy tomatoes... so good. Nonetheless, I was super jelly of the fried chicken and waffles he ordered. There was so much food! Crisp fried chicken, gooey mac n cheese, fresh green beans, and homemade waffles with maple syrup, and it was all delicious! Insert Homer drool here! I wanted the red velvet cake but since it was his celebratory dinner, we got the vanilla bean cheesecake for dessert. I'm not a fan of cheesecake but I have to say it was pretty good. The vanilla kept the cheesecake from being too rich and it had a nice texture, plus it came with apple compote. FF was good y'all. Anyone wanna sneak out of work early and meet me there?
(4)
Kathy B.
I had to think about this review for a little bit. A part of me feels this place is overly hyped. I hear about it so often and I'm partial to small, mom-pop type restaurants rather than larger, well-known chains. With that said, this place serves good food. The staff is nice and the atmosphere is also enjoyable. I love the biscuits for the table. They are probably the best biscuits I have had in this area. I will say, I wish their pancakes came with something on the side (as opposed to ordering an extra side of bacon) because that is a lot of grain for one entree and it's huge! To some people this is a perk so I won't complain about it too much. I like a little more variety in my meals and after awhile, the pancake can become a little too much by itself if you do not get sides. The coffee is good as well. Nice and strong.
(4)
Sarah M.
Founding Farmers... Fantastic. I have been to the Washington, DC location on several occasions, and it's become one of my favorite spots for brunch in the city. The location in Potomac, MD, is just as impressive. We had a little bit of a wait last night for dinner, so my two friends and I sat at the bar and ordered drinks while we waited for our table. The bartender was personable, and he made our wait enjoyable. When we got to our table, I ordered the popcorn of the day as an appetizer. It wasn't impressive, but for two dollars, it was worth it. Our waiter was exceptional. He recommended items from every list on the menu, and gave us his honest opinion on what he liked/didn't like. I ordered the Plank Salmon with mac & cheese and chef's vegetables. One word: superb. One of my friends ordered the Northern Fried Chicken and my other friend ordered the Bacon Burger. The fried chicken was delicious, but the bacon burger was a bit too burnt. For dessert, we all shared beignets. They were divine. Note: if you want the beignets be sure to order them when you order your main entrees because they take a while to make.
(4)
Susan M.
Excellent cocktails and service; however, I wasn't impressed with the food (options, quality), compared to the DC location. Recommended (but I'm not in a hurry to go back).
(3)
Jessica A.
I've been here way too many times, it's possible my husband and I can single-handedly keep it afloat. We LOVE this place. LOVE. I mean, can you be in love with a place? Because we are. Their food is AMAZING. EVERY. SINGLE. THING. At least, everything we have tried is so incredibly amazing. Look, we love food. No, we love GOOD food...and this place has some GOOD food. I promise. If you go and hate it, I give you permission to send me some hateful messages.
(5)
Muriel H.
I love this place. I have been there twice so far. This time I went for a friend's birthday lunch and ordered the fried green tomatoes, Farmer's Daughter Burger, and their macaroni and cheese! Simply delish! I am a fan of this place...100%!
(5)
Domonique W.
I'm a huge fan of Founding Farmer's. I've been to this location twice and the one in DC a handful of times. I find everything I order from them to be delicious and I can't believe this is my first time reviewing this place! I made a reservation earlier in the week for a party of 5 at 10am with no problem. Received a call from one of their hostesses confirming my reservation two days prior to my visit. When I arrived for my reservation all went well and my party and I were seated promptly. I normally order the bananas fosters stuffed french toast (soooooo sooooo soooo amazingly good! I cannot rave enough about how seriously good it is!) when I go here for breakfast, but I really wanted to try my brunch fave, crab benedict. I also ordered biscuits and beignets for the table to share. Biscuits were average...but the beignets were superb! Crispy and sweet on the outside, warm and flaky soft on the inside...yum! Came with three dipping sauces as well, chocolate, raspberry, and caramel. My faves being chocolate and raspberry mixed together. My entree was fantastic as well!! Seasoned just right, poached eggs not too runny like I prefer, english muffins toasted nicely, and the crab was all real (no filling!). Once again, Founding Farmers proves why it is one of my favorite restaurants in the DMV. Amazing food and great service! I do recommend a reservation though...it tends to get backed at both locations.
(5)
John K.
Bottom Line: Salty and Dry. Went for lunch. Ordered crispy spatchcock chicken with maple mustard glaze. Side dishes were sauteed kale and mac and cheese. Tasted my wife's chicken pot pie as well. The good: chicken was cooked well and the skin actually was crispy! Very good glaze...not too sweet. Just right. And excellent whiskey selections as I constantly stared at their bar. Service was amazing to the point of excessive as the waiter reached over my table to grab the water bottle to pour into our glasses. Minus the lack of etiquette he provided quality service. The bad: DONT EVER ORDER THE SAUTEED KALE!!! Extremely salty. Couldnt eat past one bite of it. The mac and cheese was dry and not cheesy. If I wanted day old elbow noodles cooked with kraft cheese I would have gone to a cheap diner. And the chicken pot pie was just average. Chicken was dry or tough. The biscuit was flavorless and very dry. The cream moght have been the saving grace. Im not sure how they plan on keeping these options. They should take them off the menu and keep the quality dishes. I asked the waiter to replace the kale with a side salad which was good with baby tomatoes, avocadoes, and an italian style dressing. Conclusion: would go again but try something new with whiskey.
(2)
Tina B.
Today I went here for lunch with my sister, but they were really busy so I had a choice to wait 20 minutes for a table or sit at the bar. Both me and my sister decided sitting at the bar look fun. Instead of barstools they had a bar bench! I like going here to eat. They have a good atmosphere. Our server was the bartender. His name was "Santchai" and he was very nice and helpful. We didn't know what to eat, so we asked him what he would recommend. Since it was my sisters first time here, he gave us the whole run down on where the food came from and when we had questions he answered it very nicely. I like sitting at the bar sometimes because you get to have a good conversation with the bartenders more than if u were to sit at a regular table. It's just more fun. For appetizers we had some biscuits that are made everyday. My sister had "The Seafood Show Stopper" and I got "The Butchers Farm House Grill!" For dessert we had a "Fruit Crisp" and the "Blue Ribbon Apple Pie!" (All the desserts are made everyday fresh). The food was great and they came out in pretty good portions. I would definitely recommend it to people.
(5)
Bryony B.
I love that Founding Farmers has given Maryland a much more convenient location! I come here quite often actually and its often really busy. The food is never disappointing. I would recommend the mushroom/asparagus/goat cheese tart or the pot roast. My husband loves the chicken pot pie. Also would recommend their red velvet cake - their pieces are HUGE! The soda Pharmacy is also such a cool concept with all the different fresh drinks. However, keep in mind that a lot of them are not as sweet as you might expect. There is a nice outside eating area with herbs growing on the walls - I haven't been able to eat out there yet due to rain or snow, but its on my list to do next time I get a chance. Be aware that they start running out of food items on Sundays - apparently they get shipments on Monday..... We had a party of 10 for dinner on a Sunday night and they were out of SO MUCH stuff it was crazy. However, the manager did offer us a bunch of free desserts to try and make up for it.
(4)
laz b.
Great grilled cheese, mousse, omelets, and donuts. I forget what the donuts are called but they are from Louisiana. Great place for comfort food. Prices are reasonable.
(5)
C.M B.
I was excited to try this place, met some friends here. We had reservations for 8pm and were not seated until about 8:45. That's a bit much when you have reservations.... although reading other reviews it seems like it may be a common occurrence at this place! I had halibut which was over cooked and not good, the accompanying sides a cucumber salad and watermelon were good. My dining friends had the ahi tuna salad which pretty much filled up the entire plate but neither raved about it. Another had fried green tomatoes and deviled eggs which she said was good. Our waitress had the personalty of a door knob. Never asked how the food was, not attentive and certainly didn't deserve the tip she received. Although the place seems popular, I'm in no rush to return, especially with the wait and the personality of the wait staff, it's not worth the trip or money!
(2)
sherri s.
We've been here several times both for dinner and brunch. Each time we've left happy and full. We love the variety on the menu. We have to keep going back because we want to try almost everything on the menu (twice)! This place is always busy when we go but even if you don't have reservations, the food is worth the wait and the bar can certainly keep you happy while you wait.
(5)
Allison L.
I came here for an early dinner last weekend with my mom and sister when a 5 pm reservation popped up on OpenTable. I'd been wanting to come here for a while but between living an hour away and reservations not always being easy to come by, it just hadn't happened yet. Luckily, it wasn't disappointing and our complaints were very minimal. We wanted to start with the goat cheese flatbread since my mom is lactose intolerant, but, unfortunately when they get their goat cheese at the restaurant, they mix it with cream... therefore taking a lactose intolerant ok cheese, and making it not ok at all. This also ruled out the goat cheese ravioli my mom was going to get for an entree. Instead, we started with the farmers chips, cheddar crisps, and dip, which was really good, and looked really large. I thought there was no way we could possibly finish it, but, nope, gone in 15 minutes. There were only a few cheddar crisps, which tasted like giant softer cheez-its. The dips were good but there was no more than like 2 tablespoons of each. I got the dogs and rolls dinner with a crab roll, chicken salad roll, and bacon cheddar dog. I assumed I'd like the crab roll the most but was actually not a fan as it was too sauce-y and not enough crab-y. The chicken salad was good and the bacon cheddar dog was good as well, probably my favorite. My mom got the Northern fried chicken, with really awesome apple sauce. My sister got the Southern fried chicken, with the best macaroni and cheese I have ever had, ever ever ever. Next time I go back I'm just getting a giant bowl of this and going to go into a cheese coma. We got the beignets for dessert, and while they were good (can't really screw up fried dough and sugar) they were not really at all like New Orleans beignets and more like popovers as they were more airy than doughy and very greasy. The dipping sauces were nice compliments. Parking was easy, and our server was nice and attentive (although he had a very over-the-top happy attitude that maybe was real but most likely not). Overall, a good experience.
(4)
Andrea K.
We were seated quickly(we had a reservation for a Sat night). And our waiter came over pretty quickly. The food was good and the desserts are huge. However, here are my complaints(which may or may not be important for you). It is very noisy(and yes, I am older). Second, I asked the waiter about the fried green tomatoes- were they vegetarian? he said yes and we ordered them. When they came, the server said is anyone a vegetarian - these are cooked in beef fat.(!?!). Then the manager- came over to apologize (sort of) " her apology " well, these are vegetarian but they are cooked in beef tallow". SERIOUSLY- how does a major restaurant have a manager who would say that?? I understand that a member of the public might not get it but the manager???. And don't order that "Cauliflower steak"- which I ordered a different time- it is a hunk of roasted cauliflower served with a little risotto and brocolli rabe- not worth $16. Get the veggie "meatloaf".
(3)
Mari S.
I am sorry to bring up what happened today to us especially for those who are big fan of this place. We were also the ones who've been pretty happy with what they serve thought how they do gave us a little concern in the past. But what happened in the past were acceptable level -- a pot of tea was leaking because of a crack, which was quickly replaced but the original tea bug was used, making tea very diluted, etc. But the problem we experienced today made us decide it'll be very hard for us to come back to this place. We ordered 3 dishes, blueberry pancake, egg-sausage, and a crazy corn salad. They were for two of us. We meant to share the salad. The waiter who brought the dishes asked us if we need small plates to split the salad. I said, "Yes, please." Two stacked dishes were brought to us right away. When I picked up the first dish, I felt grease. Then, I realized these dishes were not clean! The 2nd dish clearly had some foods/source left on it. Then, I looked at the first dish and realized there is butter everywhere. Yuck! I quickly report this to a waitress near-by and the dirty dishes were quickly removed from our table. And our waitress came back with new plates and apologize. We accepted her apology. But we feel it is a serious mistake that the waiter could bring dirty dished to the customer's table like that. It's not only the person's mistake, but I just wonder how their kitchen look like, blending dirty and new dishes on the same area? I hope it is a very isolated mistake. I feel Health Department should do a good inspection to their kitchen.
(1)
Vaidehi M.
Very good for Brunch! Reservations are must if you plan to visit on weekends. I liked downstairs seating more. The beignets donuts are delicious ( if you don't like sweet then fyi: donuts are too sweet). Also, this place is very popular so parking is hard to find. Overall I loved this place.
(4)
Angel H.
All I can say is that you can't go wrong at FF. From salads, to wings, ribs or just a grilled cheese sandwich, everything is awesome. Breakfast at FF is one of the best in the area.
(5)
Wade E.
We've eaten here twice. The place is beautifully designed, nice dining room, bar and the bathrooms were neat. We went during dinner time and both times we were seated quickly without a reservation. (not sure if this is always the case, we might have gotten lucky) We started with the fried green tomatoes, which were great! They were fresh, crunchy and the goat cheese spread was a nice unique touch. We've had them twice and we'd probably get them again. Both times we ordered the Spatchcock Chicken with Honey Thyme Glaze, and this was amazing. Some of the best chicken I've ever had. The chicken was perfectly cooked and the skin was nice and crispy. I had a side of the brussels sprouts and bacon and they were the best brussels sprouts I've had so far. The fried chicken on the other hand was just okay, the skin was crispy, but the chicken was a little dry and not as flavorful. The chicken pot pie is not a traditional chicken pot pie, which is cool (it has 2 biscuits overtop of the traditional fillings in a bowl. It was a bit salty, and the vegetables were not evenly cooked. I sent it back and the server was very nice and removed it from our bill and offered me some other options. My dad ordered the meatloaf both times he went. He said it was too salty the first time, but hoping it was just a fluke he ordered it again, but again it came out dry and too salty. The mashed potatoes on the other hand, were fantastic! Overall, I enjoyed both visits. They have a great variety and I'm still curious to go back and try some of their other dishes.
(3)
Kathy D.
I've been here before for dinner and heard great things about their brunch, so gave it a try today. Make reservations! This place is packed all hours of the day. -Beignets ($8): We started off with the beignets, which were light and airy with the perfect crunch. They come with 3 sauces - I especially liked the raspberry coulis and semi-sweet chocolate sauce. The caramel sauce was too sweet for me, especially since the beignets already have powdered sugar on them. Delicious! -Bloody Mary ($8): I usually hate Bloody Marys, but Founding Farmers was ranked as having the #1 Blood Mary in DC this past November, so it was a must try. YUM. It was fresh with a great spicy kick. I'm converted. -Pastrami Hash ($12): Average. As with all dishes at Founding Farmers, the ingredients were obviously fresh and high-quality, but this dish was on the bland side and begged for seasoning. -Founding Farmers Breakfast with Sausage ($9): This is what my boyfriend got. I tried the chicken-apple sausage, which was solid. The eggs were standard and he said the grits were too thick and needed salt and butter. The ciabatta bread, slathered in their butter and honey mixture makes me weak at the knees. Overall, I might pass on brunch next time, but will definitely go again for dinner! Prices are reasonable, the menu offers an extensive selection, and there's lots of classic comfort foods, with the volume turned up. :)
(4)
Jason C.
A couple weeks back I had the chance to call Valerie (the manager), who offered up to assist me whenever I go to the Founding Farmers. That day, I had a very important business contact who I was treating for lunch. I had exquisite service.....it was truly remarkable and it was very clear preparations were made before I arrived. At least 2-3 staff were tending to our needs at every given moment. I must say this was the best service that I have received in the DMV area to date. Servers were not bothersome nor were they intrusive, but got things done when need be. That was the day that I decided to bring all important business lunches/dinners to Founding Farmers. Sometimes you just absolutely need that high level of service on a given day or with a particular person and Founding Farmers delivered. I have yet to meet a manager like Valerie in this area who pays so close attention to detail and puts such a sincere effort into making customers happy. Founding Farmers, you should be very fortunate to have someone like Valerie work for you. From this point onwards, Moco Founding Farmers is the spot if I need "that" level of service. If God forbid, you ever have an unpleasant experience, shoot Valerie an email and see what she does for you the next time you're here.
(5)
John H.
This is technically a fancy ihop with nice ambience closer to bar. I had the chicken and waffle and it is just too dry. Would never come back again.
(3)
Candace T.
If you skip the entrees and fill up on appetizers and dessert, FF is amazing! Ambiance: I went with my boyfriend and his mother, for her birthday. FF is great for that kind of meal: it's upscale enough to be the tiniest bit fancy, but the prices are not outrageous. I'm not a fan of the hipster-y decor, but overall, it's a nice feel. Boyfriend's mom thought it was too loud; I'm not sure if the upstairs would be quieter. Food: The starter flatbread with brie, apple, and onion jam was out of this world good. It was also HUGE; easily a meal in itself, and even quite a bit when split 3 ways. We also had the fresh, soft, steaming hot, crisp-outside beignets for dessert, and holy crap, were they good! Seriously, just get some starters and the beignets, and you'll have a delicious dinner. All of our entress were underwhelming, though. My grilled cheese was too much bread, not enough cheese, my boyfriend said Popeye's had better fried chicken, and his mom didn't love her roast beef sandwich. None were awful, but none were worth the price. Wheelchair accessibility review: There is a door beside the front revolving door that is accessible. My boyfriend opened it from the inside, but I believe it was unlocked. No push button that I remember. Inside is room and easy to maneuver. I didn't use the restroom, or upstairs seating, so I don't know how accessible either of those are.
(4)
Debbie R.
I am not in agreement with most of these reviews. I thought it was exactly OK. The prices were good and the many interesting-sounding menu choices had me very excited. I wanted to try everything! But the food itself was average. I got the flat iron steak special. The steak tasted like nothing and the sauce they put on it was cloyingly sweet. My husbands fried chicken (and waffles) was very dry and also very bland. The cornbread appetizer tasted dynamite but I don't know if I'd order it as an appetizer again because it was very cake-y and sweet and really more like dessert. I doubt I'll go back mainly because of the noise. That place is LOUD. We were a party of 5 for a birthday gathering and had to yell across the table to have a prayer of being heard. My poor 83 year old dad just could not participate in the conversation at all. He couldn't hear what anyone was saying. We were sitting upstairs, too, which seemed slightly less loud than the downstairs. We had made a reservation on the early side hoping to avoid this (although we still had to wait about 15 min past our reservation to be seated) but I guess the place is just that nutty all the time. Just not worth it to me. I think Olney Ale House does a slightly better job at this genre of food w/o the stressful atmosphere. Edit: I forgot to mention that if I do return, it will be for the ice cream. The strawberry ice cream may be the best I've ever had.
(3)
Mel T.
Wonderful service. My friends and I had a wonderful time here and the waitresses there had everything right! I would highly recommend!
(5)
Sam W.
Nothing better than brunch on Sunday with friends and family. We've been here a couple of times and I'm not sure how to compare the two experiences. Service was terrific on both occasions, so well done! I can't quite explain it, but I felt more satisfied on my first visit a couple of months ago. The food was still quite good this time around, but some "umph" was missing. I hit the pastrami hash the first time around and it was awesome; this time I had the sausage, mushroom and spinach pan scramble and came away pleased, but not wow'ed. I did have a nibble of the fried chicken waffle and will have to try it the next time down I'm in Potomac! For beignets outside of Nola, Uncle Buck's version were tasty and could have used a bit more powdered sugar. Not too bad this far up North. 4 stars because of service, farm to table concept and good food, especially the hash and the high potential for the fried chicken waffle.
(4)
THRIFT m.
Littered with all the current buzz words "green" "carbon credits" "sustainable" "stewardship of natural resources" "energy efficient light bulbs" If you eat meat and animal products there is no such thing as sustainable ect. Bartender Timothy made my cocktails (I asked for not very sweet) and they were very tasty. All said and done this isn't really a restaurant for me as I prefer light meals with lots of raw, fresh and green. Everything looked really brown & super heavy on the fats, cream, cheese and animal. I do love fresh french fries though. They were okay (cold) but beware they are fried in LARD! And its not mentioned on the menu. Yikes. I suspect everything is fried in lard. Assured that the faux meatloaf was vegan I went ahead with the meal. It tasted like stuffing and was very well seasoned and I love stuffing. It was really good. My only gripe is the salt. Holy moly the salt! I think, people that don't eat animals & their secretions taste salt, fat and sugar more intensely? or at least I do. My husband ordered the salmon and said it was very good but too much salt in the meal too. He said some appetizer bacon thing was overkill too. Mom said her pot pie was good but too salty. We eat quite healthy so I think the food was far to rich for us. The other 2 people with us seemed to enjoy their food very much and made no mention of salt or richness of food. I'd go back for drinks definitely. I would have to think about ordering food just for the salt and lack of lighter fresher veggie options. I wish "farm to table" meant a celebration of tomato, beet, garlic, leek, watermelon, or strawberry season but I dream.
(3)
Nari L.
Came here for brunch with a few friends. I got the chicken and waffles which was good. Not amazing but I liked it. I really enjoyed the beignets with all the different sauces. I highly recommend them! Their outdoor patio is dog friendly which is always a plus!
(4)
Liza X.
Beautiful restaurant! I used to frequent the one in foggy bottom because I worked very close to it. I chose this location this time since my friend lived in MD and I live in VA and it was the perfect middle spot to meet. Firstly i'd like to say that this place is always sooooooooooo busy so you MUST MUST MUST make a reservation to save yourself a headache especially if you are going during peak eating hours like 12/1, 6/7 etc. When i arrived, it was almost impossible to find parking. They are doing some construction here and there. I drove around and finally got a spot, the friend I was meeting said that there is also side parking a little ways away. Once we got inside around 730ish ( which is when our reservations were) it was super packed. I asked the hostess for my reservation and she said that they were running behind schedule so it'd be a 15 min wait. I didn't mind and slightly expected it so we grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered a few drinks. I ordered the cucumber delight which is vodka based. It tasted a little sweet and fresh and came with cucumber and cantaloupe. I thoroughly enjoyed this drink. For appetizers we order the spicy mussels. They were good only because I don't mind the taste of sausage...but it's a strong taste. The bread on top was little salty but went well with the mussels. For entrees I order the friend chicken and waffles-which is a special they have and also my favorite. It was delish. It comes with mac and cheese which isn't your typical mac and cheese. The pasta is flat and bigger and the cheese is thick not watery. Also came with string beans which were crispy. The chicken was crunchy and moist on the inside and the waffles were crispy and buttery. My friend ordered the crab cake sandwich which I was able to eat a little of. The crab meat was fresh and large and chunky, the bread very soft. The sandwich was served with a bed of fries. Overall it was a great experience, almost similar to the foggy bottom location just in the middle of nowhere. the good thing is that the area seemed to be developing so it's sure to be more popular spot later on. Go try it!
(4)
Blanche N.
My husband and I went here for brunch. We loved the sister restaurant in DC so we wanted to try this one out. Overall, we enjoyed the atmosphere and food. The service was great. I liked the chicken sausage better at this location but we liked the banana nutter appetizer better at the DC restaurant. I would definitely go again if I was in the area.
(4)
Courtney H.
I love this place! Get the beignets!!! Today my group tried the chicken pot pie, chicken and waffles, and the prime rib sandwich. Everyone thought their dishes were amazing!! Ive always been impressed with everything ive had
(5)
Jennifer A.
Had brunch here and it was a great choice by my friend who lives in the area. First of all, this place was PACKED! Definitely make a reservation, you won't regret it. I ordered the ahi tuna salad and it was delicious. The presentation was also a huge plus because it's always great when your food looks pretty. Since it was brunch we naturally had a beverage! My friend got a mimosa and I a bloody mary. You can't really go wrong with a mimosa but I must say the bloody mary was perfectly made....a bit spicy but with a lot of flavor. Our server was exceptional and everyone on the staff was so friendly. I accidentally spilled my water right as soon as one of the managers Rebecca walked by. She jumped right to the rescue and brought napkins to help...thank you Rebecca!
(5)
Kelly P.
I just love the cocktail menu, even if they are way too expensive for outside of DC.
(4)
Jackie T.
I cant say enough great things about this place. Ive been here so many times, every time has been great!!! Well when you make a reservation. Always make a reservation, this place is packed on weekends and for lunch! My favorite is the breakfast. Tip - try the popcorn, its great! Stay away from soda if your looking for typical syrup based soda.
(5)
Joe C.
There's a bunch of things about Founding Farmers that just don't match up. That's not necessarily a bad thing - just not what I would have expected. Based on reviews talking about how busy it usually is for brunch on the weekends, we were sure to make a reservation ahead of time - for Saturday morning at 11am. The restaurant was less than half full when we arrived. Even by the time we left, the place was at 2/3 capacity at best. It's a restaurant that is all about sustainability and fresh, local ingredients (take note of the herb garden in the front of the building as you walk in). But the place has a very modern and trendy look about it - it's nothing like most of the restaurants we've been to with similar mission statements and concepts. Similarly, the staff here is much nicer than those at similar restaurants. There's none of that condescension or snootiness. Our waiter was incredibly friendly and attentive - possibly a little too attentive for my taste. We were seated next to the employee ticket station and he was watching me check in on Yelp over my shoulder and suggested that I write a review later. We ordered the "Drag Through The Garden" scramble and the "Founding Farmers Breakfast With Pork Sausage" - with eggs over medium. We were awfully tempted by the beignets, but decided to try them next time instead. Everything we got was great. The eggs were perfectly cooked. The sausage was delicious. The leek hash browns were nice and crispy. Most things needed just a little extra seasoning, but were very close to my preference right out of the gate. Possibly better than any of the other cooked foods, however, were their biscuits with honey and whipped butter, and the strawberry jam. I could almost eat a plate of those instead of a regular breakfast and still be happy. The waiter warned my wife about the Bloody Mary being very spicy when she ordered it; that's exactly how she likes hers - and she loved it. The big surprise for me, however, was the fact that they offer Egg Cream Sodas - and unlike most places that offer them, they make them just how I remember them growing up in New York. The only real problem with Founding Farmer's is how badly they're overpriced. Everything we had was at least a dollar more expensive than it felt like it should be. There are plenty of places in the area where you can get a decent - and cheaper breakfast or brunch. We'll definitely be back again, but I highly doubt that they'll be our first choice.
(4)
Jeff H.
Brunch Review: Everyone told me multiple times how great the brunch was here so I was very excited to try it. I think maybe I set my expectations too high since I left just a little disappointed. So the fried chicken/waffle/eggs had great tasting chicken tenders with a heavy creamy white gravy. They were out of the regular fried chicken, so they substituted chicken tenders. The waffles were crispy on the outside, but a little undercooked/doughy on the inside. So it tasted pretty good, but I couldn't eat it because it was too raw. The scrambled eggs were not bad, but tasted like a scoop from an all you can eat buffet. At least they were cooked completely (I personally hate runny scrambled eggs, but I understand how some people like it). The French toast was very tasty and if you closed your eyes, tasted like a doughnut. The syrup was on the watery side, but not because it was watered down, I think it may be real high quality maple syrup (I didn't check to confirm). This was kind of what I was expecting when I came here...tasty food for a great price. I didn't really like sitting upstairs here. The worst part are the large bright orange lights. These were annoying, and almost made me feel hung over (like many other people that were here). We moved to the booth seating against the wall that didn't have the overhead lights, and I felt much more relaxed. The other thing I didn't like about the upstairs seating were the low ceilings. I'm over 6 foot and I just felt more cramped than I did downstairs where the nice 30 foot ceilings were overhead. Since the brunch food is tasty and the price is good, I actually really want to go back and give it another try. I had to take away a star for undercooked food and the annoying orange lights. I feel this place could possibly win me over in the future. I'll just have to request to sit down stairs.
(3)
Irene F.
The Potomac branch of FF is laid out better than the DC location, with the bar off on the side instead of in the center. The windows all around make it bright and airy, and the level of noise was not bad despite it being pretty busy at lunch time. I went there to scope it out for our company holiday party, and I was impressed that the manager Kathy made a point to stop by and say hi and give me a tour of the restaurant. She was very friendly and thoughtful with her suggestions of how we could host the event. She said the cost to get the whole restaurant for a private event is $10k which includes the cost of food and drinks. There are 2 levels, although the top level is much smaller and more intimate than the lower level. Let's talk about the food: Strawberry sodas were a little sweet for my taste, but once I added a little water to it I did enjoy it. I hope in the future they will have more seasonal fruit soda options. The popcorn needed some salt, but I appreciate it being under salted rather than overly salted. You get a bunch for $2- and it was fun to munch on it while we waited for our food. We had the mahi mahi special and the chicken and waffles. The onion topping on the fish was fabulous. But the fish was a little over done. Overall though it was a tasty dish with a nice size portion of fish. Cost $25. My chicken and waffles came with 2 pieces of waffles, 2 pieces of fried chicken, collard greens, Mac n cheese, and a white sauce. The waffles were good, I wish I had more because they were all gone with just the 1st piece of chicken. The chicken was a little dry, but tasted good when combined with the waffles and sauce. I wish I had known the dish came with collard greens because I detest collard greens- that being said they were pretty good- so if you LIKE collard greens you might love it. Finally the Mac n cheese was extremely different than the version they served at the DC FF location. Where the DC one was way too soggy and mushy, this location the noodles were cooked well, but overall it was a little dry. Keeping in mind that today was their very first day and they we working the kinks out, I think they had a very successful showing. If they improve from here, they will be great. I give them an A for effort, and I look forward to trying them out for breakfast soon! Update: Interestingly this food blogger was part of the soft opening and posted their pictures--- the blogger had 4 pieces of waffles, 3 pieces of chicken and did NOT have collard greens (bleh) on his/her chicken & waffles plate...hmmm...check it out: forkingdc.com/2011/11/03…
(3)
Eunice M.
I loved this place. I went for dinner, and the food was amazing. We got a couple appetizers, and I got the bbq pork sandwich. I absolutely loved everything I ate. Plus the service was impeccable. Our waiter was so friendly and super helpful with any questions we had. All in all, it was a great experience!
(5)
LJ T.
Owner/ manager, I hope you're reading this. FF is one of my favorite restaurants but I was sorely disappointed today when my partner's pastrami hash came with out an egg yolk or a biscuit. He instead asked for grilled cheese to replace the disappointing pastrami hash. Once I had finished my meal and it seemed like the grilled cheese want coming out shortly, we decided to cancel it. The manager came over and told us she was sorry and that we wouldn't be charged for the grilled cheese. This seemed like a no brainer - would you really charge is for it at that point?? They really should have comped our meal. Not sure that we will return.
(1)
Rebecca S.
Had lunch at 1PM with a friend - nice atmosphere. Blueberry soda: never had it before. Taste and texture was a pleasant surprise. Shrimp and grits: very flavorful, generous with the shrimp, never had grits with that kind of consistency and texture (it was interesting, but delicious nevertheless) Chicken and waffles: chicken was deliciously fried, crispy and not oily. Waffles were a bit cold. Mac n cheese were so good. String beans were fine, nothing magical. Seasonal crisp (dessert): clearly made from scratch, baked apples were not as soft, berries inside were a bit too tart for me, vanilla ice cream on top was the saving grace of this dish. Final bill was $50 more or less. I wouldn't mind going back and exploring their menu some more.
(4)
Chris G.
Love the food here, but seriously don't take reservations for parties of 20 for the regular tables. Limit the party size to 8-10 unless you have a special, separate banquet room. The party of 20 was supposed to be gone by 8pm. At 8:30, we're still waiting to be seated for our 8:00 reservation. Totally unacceptable. Okay, update. They gave us our first round of drinks and a dessert to make up for the wait. They took care of us. Still love Founding Farmers!
(4)
Mark N.
Founding farmers...Oh how I thought you would be much better. I was ecstatic to go to Founding Farmers because so many of my friends had amazing pics and said great things about it. We ordered Mimosas when we first got there because there was a short wait. After waiting 10 mins for the table, I was excited to see how the food was. We sat down at our table and started out with beignets and pitchfork appetizer. The beignets was not what I was expecting after trying scrumptous ones in New Orleans. There was no mouthwatering taste when you first bit into it and you definitely didn't want a second bite. I decided to try the dips that it came with because the beignet felt like something was missing. There was chocolate, caramel, and raspberry. All of which did not complement the beignet well. The pitchfork was pretty good (probably the best thing that we ordered) compared to every thing else. The tater tots were cooked well and the bacon was tastety. We ordered crab benedict with hashbrowns, breakfast dish w/sausage and fried Chicken with waffles. There was not anything special about the dishes. The hash browns were too oily and not crispy.The has browns didn't look like it was cooked thoroughly because the other hashbrowns ordered were crispy and looked better. The Eggs were ok, but the crab was a bit salty. The flavor was not special and the english muffing was not separated evenly. I had a small piece of english muffin with crab on one side, while the other side had a thick slice of english muffin. The breakfast dish with sausage was mediocre at best and the sausage was very bland. I was excited to see how the fried chicken and waffles w/scramble eggs would turn out. I was not impressed with the chicken pieces. Instead of chicken wings as I anticipated, strips of chicken pieces were layered over the waffles. The chicken strips or tenders were smaller than the ones offered at most sporting events. To make matters worst, the scramble eggs were extremely salty. The waiter took the replaced the en and brought out new ones. The scramble eggs came out worst than the first time. The new eggs were UNDERCOOKED! I decided that I had given up on Founding Farmers. The only good part of the meal were the Tater tots that we ordered as an appetizer. Although the service was great and splendid, I WAS EXPECTING MORE. This place seems ok for happy hour but is not a place for great food. I was expecting delicious food after hearing the rants and reviews, but little to be expected I was greeted with plates of salty undercooked eggs and soggy hash browns.
(1)
Jenn C.
Food is amazing. Flank Salmon is exquisite! I like the cornbread....I mean you can't really go wrong with the food. The servers are really good with great service. If you don't like something, they will take it back without a beat. The hosts are another story....We got there 30 minutes before our reservation and we ended up waiting an hour. This wasn't because it was running it slow, it was because we were forgotten about! I saw this we a few people. The hosts were rude and squirrelish. PS - breakfast is really good too!
(4)
Andrea K.
Seriously amazing!!! I will remember that bacon for a long time... So good! Even the coffee is awesome! OK I probably just ate more real butter than I have in a year, but such a treat! This place is really inexpensive considering the type of food, and the service. A breakfast I will remember!
(5)
Victoria L.
I drove down to MoCo's Founding Farmers to send off a friend who was moving out of the area. As she is a foodie, I completely trusted her judgement, and boy - I'm glad I did. From the array of scotches displayed at the bar to the amazing scents coming out of that kitchen, my mouth was watering within seconds of stepping into the place. The decor is warm and welcoming and the bar is inviting for sitting down to have a drink while waiting for your parties. I've never seen anyone shake a dark & stormy before, but whatever the bartender did while shaking it made it one of the best I've ever had. Also, this place had me at fried chicken with mac and cheese. My inner fat kid was singing and dancing when she wasn't busy stuffing her face. And the beignets? Oh, the beignets. I could only manage 1 and a half because I was so full, but they were worth every extra calorie. Go here. Go Now.
(5)
E Y.
Delicious food but why no happy hour???
(4)
Christine G.
Be sure you make a reservation, as it seemed like there was a long wait at 7pm on a Saturday. We loved our experience here, yummy food and delicious drinks. We started the meal with a bread topped with tomatoes and pesto, and it was just amazing. The bread was freshly made and the toppings complemented it perfectly. I also ordered the Constitution as my beverage, and I loved it. I also ordered a Blood Orange soda later during the meal, I wasn't too impressed with that, but you got to give things a try so I didn't ding them for that. I'm sure someone would be a fan of it. Chicken and Waffles 10/10 - so yummy. I prefer dark meat so one of the fried pieces was slightly better than the other :) (you are served one dark and one white piece of chicken). I wish I could get extra fried pieces of the batter on the side, it was that good! The waffles were so fluffy and super delicious. Mac n cheese on the side = mom's home cooking. Others at our table ordered a burger and the steak and enchiladas. They were both good too, but I was told the chicken and waffles won. The portions of everyone's entrees were plentiful. I always get annoyed when you pay a good amount for a meal and still leave hungry - that was not the case here. We got dessert too. FYI, if you order the warm cookies (that's what I got and they were delic) finish them there, as they aren't nearly as good the next day (they got stale pretty quick). Service was great - the server gave us as much time as we needed to make our meal picks and she stopped in several times to make sure things were still OK. The restaurant gives you your own milk jug (cute!) of water so you never have to wait for a refill - although a few times several other servers saw that some of our waters were empty so they stopped by to refill our glasses. All restaurants should have a team-like atmosphere like this one. While it is a good bit of a drive for us, we look forward to going back.
(5)
LaToya M.
Have had friends rave about thus place, but to be quite honest I don't understand why. The service was good. The food didn't impress me. It wasn't nasty, just nothing I'd go back for.
(3)
Beth H.
Just about the best food I've ever had. I didn't think there could genuinely be a new and seriously delicious twist on something as simple as Mac and Cheese, but the Poto Mac and Cheese is outrageous. So was the weirdly-named "turkey less burger" (it has no meat, not just "not turkey"). I'm very eager to go back and try more.
(5)
Natasha K.
I eat at Founding Farmers regularly and really love this place! The drinks are really good... even if you get a non-alcoholic drink like a soda (made to order). My favorite item is the banana foster stuffed french toast during brunch, but the salads are also amazing! The only cons include noise and the wait. You need to make reservations... it gets a bit busy. The desserts are "okay," but I am a bit of a dessert snob.
(4)
Mackenzie H.
I love Founding Farmers. Super good food, super good decor. Not to mention, locally grown foods, which it always good for the conscience. If you come for brunch, definitely consider getting chicken and waffles because, let's be honest, always a cool dish and not very prominent in our area. All the food in great though, so whatever you decide to eat, I'm sure it will be awesome.
(4)
Meaghan M.
I've been here a few times, now - twice for brunch and once for dinner. My experiences have overall been great, with a few minor hiccups. I can't seem to escape the chicken and waffles/chicken,eggs, and waffles - they are delicious, and the gravy (not initially appealing to me, as I'm always 'eh' on it) is delicious. I got a roasted chicken dish when the boo and I came here for dinner, which was delicious. He got a steak and lobster tail - the lobster tail came out pretty foul looking (and tasting) - way overcooked, shriveled up -- but the manager on duty that night (a woman, I wish I remembered her name!) quickly amended the situation, got him a crab cake (as he no longer wanted lobster), apologized, and comp'd our desserts and coffee, which was great. We had delicious, strong drinks as well. A lot of people seem pretty disappointed with the food and/or service, but both have been exceptional every time I've been here. Yes, you'll wait if you come to brunch at noon on a weekend - but if there isn't a crowd at a brunch spot at that time, I'm a little concerned about eating there!
(4)
Stan W.
Ordered the exact same dish as the other Founding Farmers: chicken & waffles. Waffles here were too crunch and chicken was over-fried. Nice service, but stick to the location in DC.
(3)
Karen R.
Food, drinks, & atmosphere make this a great place to go any day. The prime rib is delicious and I can't get enough of their beignets!
(5)
Sara S.
My husband and I had our first experience here for my 30th birthday. We made reservations for an early dinner in hopes of beating some incoming bad weather. So glad we made reservations because despite the early time (4:45) it was absolutely packed in there. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about both the menu and the overall farm to table concept. We had the brie, onion jam and apple farm bread as an appetizer. It was delicious. It was the perfect mix of sweet, sour and savory. The bread itself was a great consistency - crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I got the chicken and waffles and my husband got the lemon meuniere diver scallops. Both were great. The chicken was crispy and well seasoned and the combination with the sweet waffle and syrup was perfect. The diver scallops were perfectly cooked. They came with a butternut squash risotto that was creamy and delicious but didn't have very much of a butternut squash taste to it honestly. We are already planning a return trip to try more items off the exciting menu here.
(5)
Jim G.
Overpriced, way too noisy, untrained wait staff gives poor service. On a Friday night, it's so noisy that it is hard to hold a conversation. When I asked for pepper, I received a pepper mill that was empty. The food was only okay and a poor value for the money charged. This is not a restaurant that I will return to nor will I recommend it to a friend.
(1)
Bill M.
Somebody needs to send me the recipe for the Aji spiced spatchcocked chicken. It is so tender and savory. The biscuits are great, farmer's pitchfork is good, and my wife loves both the roasted turkey and french dip sandwiches. I need to try the skirt steak next time. Red velvet cake and shakes are great to share, probably 3 people can share either of them.
(5)
Nada A.
this place serve a good food but not as much as Washington DC branch. I tried their macaroni and cheese and i am not happy with it. it was dry and overcooked. actually you cant see the shape of the macaroni, it seems that because it was overcooked it stucked to the bottom of the pan and the chef scratched the pan and served it to us!! on our table 6 of us had the macaroni and cheese dish and we all had the same horrible thing. for the chicken and waffles it is very delicious.
(3)
Tracy K.
So I wanted to update my review. We ended up waiting about 40 minutes for our table, which was a big disappointment, but thankfully the disappointment ended there. We had a great server who was very quick to take our orders and prompt with delivery of drinks, apps, dinner and dessert. We all had a little something different for dinner - steak, chicken pot pie, scallops and grits and shrimp. Dinner was really amazing. We couldn't have been happier with our meals. We ordered desserts and because it was my birthday my cake was comped, which was a nice gesture. Afterwards, Emily, the manager, came over to greet us and make sure our evening went smoothly after the earlier delay. She was very friendly and made our visit that much better. We will be back and hope the reservation times and actual seating times will be in sync.
(4)
Lizzy B.
Food is excellent but don't bother coming here without a reservation. You'll die of hunger waiting to be seated!
(3)
Mahesh R.
This has quickly become our favorite restaurant due to ambience, affordability, and creativity. Every ordering moment is a stressful situation as its always difficult to choose between all of the fantastic dishes. To date, I have yet to have a dish that didn't amaze me. As a result its 1 of 2 places that we insist on going to when we have out id town guests (repeat guests quickly begin to insist as well). Go to favorites are the chicken pot pie, yankee pot roast, sausage gnocchi, and the prime rib dip. However, there is something to be said about the equity of awesomeness across the menu when your "go to" list is 4 dishes and counting. Love this place, its always in the running when deciding where to go for dinner.
(5)
A J.
Went in today for brunch and it was good, not amazing or mind blowing for the cost. Got the fluffernutter app to start, for our 1 1/2 yr old, and it had spicy peanuts crumbled over the top. I thought it was too spicy for a toddler but she just ate around them. Would have liked a heads up from the waitress first. Husband had chicken and waffles , I had Benedict. Both good but not great. Price was steep for the quality of good we received. Probably won't be going back.
(3)
Melanie Y.
Hubby brought me here for my bday dinner recently and it was our first time to Founding Farmers. The first time we checked in was a fluke though, since we didn't call in for a reservation and the wait would've been too long. Since we've heard plenty of good things of the place, we wanted to come back when it was less busy and try it. The whole concept about Founding Farmers is that they bring in fresh ingredients from local farmers from the area. They make their bread, even soda on location. I ordered the land and sea and hubby ordered the chicken pot pie. Both were simply delicious and fresh. The service was great as well; attentive. We sat outside and although the view wasn't the best, we were still able to enjoy our dinner there. I would definitely come back again and try out some more dishes on the menu.
(4)
Rob B.
Make a reservation! I am glad we did, it was packed for Sunday brunch. A great time of day to try something new, both the lunch and the brunch menu are options and the wonderful biscuits are served on the weekend. Do not miss the beignets! They say allow 20 minutes but the cook them all day on the weekend, so we were served in 10 minutes and lasted less than two minutes on the table. A trip to NOLA and back! The raspberry sauce on the side guild-ed the Lilly. Pastrami hash, my poached eggs and Hollandaise was perfect. I would have appreciated more pastrami in my hash. Service is friendly but also leisurely.
(4)
Dave V.
it was my first time going to founding farmers and lucky that its just 10 minutes away from my place. I took my parents with. From the moment you enter the place, you can smell the food right and it was really good! the place look very nice and clean. A young nice host took us to our table and asked us how our day so far... he was very nice and laid back which really good. Our server is very lovely as well, for starter, we ordered beignet and it was sooooooo amazing! fresh, warm, delicious! I also ordered a latte and I am also very satisfied!! creamy and foamy which I always prefer! I ordered the red velvet pancake and the traditional ham benedicts. The pancake was good but I didnt really take the red velvet flavor (which is one of my favorite cake) but I still give it a thumbs up, but my suggestion is probably order a regular pancake instead. The benedicts was also good but a bit dry for me. I have gritz on the side, which is kinda different, I am use to eating grits that has the soup base consistency but their's are more of a dryish texture that it doesnt require a bowl coz it will not spill or splatter everywhere, more like a gelatinous texture which still good but I prefer more soup based grits. Overall, I am happy with their service, food and the ambience! will go back again to try another food from their menu!
(4)
Aaron G.
I'm seriously jealous of people living near this place... Stunning fresh food. Freshly made kettle corn appetizer for $2. Northern fried chicken is incredible.
(5)
Cat W.
Their brunch is pretty close to perfect. I actually had the worst waiter last time I was there but the food was great and service is usually great so I'm letting it slide. Aside from the fact that our juices and appetizer nuts came 40 minutes after we sat down, they were freshly squeezed and the nuts were surprisingly so delicious (sweet and spicy) and still hot. My friends got the chicken and waffle, a goat cheese and mushroom tart, and steak and eggs, while I got the red flannel hash. Another time, we got the banana fluffer nutter which was really just to die for. Portions are extremely generous in the morning as they are at night. Everyone loved their entrees and other than my beets being a little burnt the rest of it was great. Overall, I love their lobster mac and cheese more than anything in the world but the brunch here is really great.
(4)
Joseph Y.
Get their oatmeal for brunch and the pot roast for dinner!
(5)
Tre F.
Don't eat here, just drive on by. I don't want you to develop a habit of eating here everyday, cause it's that good. We basically drove from Philadelphia just to eat here.....again. Huge fan of the location in DC, but the parking makes this location a winner. The atmosphere is great, the service is awesome, and oh yeah...the food. The black pepper wings are really really good. The chicken and waffles are amazing. I consider myself an aficionado when it comes to chicken AND waffles. The combination, I'm your guy. This is by far one of the best on the planet. I could also mention the goodness of the popcorn. It's not just popcorn or I could talk about the amazing red velvet cake. Or better speak on the beverage options. No coke or Pepsi here, but they are amazing. Here's the gist, I love this place and you will too. It could probably change your outlook on life. Yeah one meal can do that. Go there. I'm looking for investors to open a Philadelphia location. Seriously, let's take up a collection.
(5)
Sajid S.
Good place for those living in MoCo. Friendly staff. Everything on menu is good. Try Chicken and Waffles. You can't go wrong on that.
(4)
Annie C.
I've been here a couple times over the past year or two. I love their lunch and dinner but I'm not a fan of their brunch. Lets start with BRUNCH, if you order chicken and waffles expect chicken TENDERS and bland waffles. The stuffed french toast is really yummy but is sooooo much to eat, i recommend sharing the dish. The table biscuits are very moist and to die for with their honey butter. And you can't have brunch without MIMOSAS! which are good here also. On to the lunch and dinner. Honey Glazed chicken, LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE! Their steak (forgive me for not remembering the name of the dish) is so/so nothing very special about it. The mac and cheese is my favorite! The plank salmon is very delicious and a must try! and no body hates the bacon lollis, the tator lolls however, not so yummy. The atmosphere is very creative and the staff here are very nice. If you don't make a reservation expect a pretty long wait depending on the time.
(4)
Jen C.
I appreciate that the manager of FF contacted me to give the restaurant a try again. The first time we went, it was a couple weeks after opening (refresher: hour to receive food, barely attended; subpar entrees). This time around, there were still issues with the kitchen and wait-times, but the difference today was that their attentiveness made up for it. *********Looking at today as if it were our very first visit, they do deserve 4 stars. However, I want to note something. We were an exception to the norm, as we were invited back to give FF another try to do better. When I looked around the room, none of the other tables were receiving nearly as much attention. Others only got a visit to take orders, receive food, and receive check. A random sampling of them got a stop-by the visiting DC manager. WE received at least 6 checkups by both the waiter and manager. What will be telling of their strides to better service is if they can keep up today's 4 star experience when we visit again again, on a normal occasion without being singled out. And to everyone else.************ Seating: We arrived to a crowded FF at 1pm (RSVP'd). We were seated at 1:45pm. They were apologetic about the wait and confusion (we had a table downstairs but it was never cleared for us, so once we walked towards and he noticed, we were detoured upstairs). Understandably, it was packed, so there was no need for me to be too hypersensitive about it this time. Service: A waiter came by our table and mentioned that our actual waiter was experiencing "difficulties in the kitchen" -- which was also what happened our first visit.. Again, assuming this was our first visit, this is very forgiving as he was friendly, helpful, and appeared often -- no one came by last time. (Amidst all this, ensue clanging and dropped plates echoing from the kitchen.) He ended up becoming our permanent waiter, and stopped by after the apps and entrees to ask if we needed anything. The manager came by both times too, to check if the food was good. Drinks: Seasonal beer has switched to a lemonade+white now...my favorite drink. Try this citrusy winner. The Manhattan was definitely a pick me up in that it was unexpected; it was seltzer coffee. It's tasty after taking a few adjustment swigs, but I don't want to have to down a third in one go to like a drink. Appetizers: Butternut squash soup with bacon was large enough for two and deliciously memorable. Small plate salad was standard fare. Pesto sausage mussels were good, enough for 4 to munch on...garlicy bread that came with it was amazing. Muffins tasted exactly like Popeyes', sans butter. All together, very tasty combo of small plates. Entrees: Chicken pot pie is heartier and different, but not worth ordering; don't expect a crust on top. It's simply a soft, thicker soup of pot pie ingredients, with a muffin on top. The gnocchi with braised beef was good in flavor but unmemorable, and way too chunky to follow up a first course on. Had they made the gnocchi pieces much smaller, it would have been a more successful dish. Prime rib dip was an EXCELLENT sandwich. Worth $17 not so sure, but I would say that is my favorite and only item on the entrees list that I would order. Bottom line: I stand by my conclusion the first review. Come with a group for the great ambiance, order some alcoholic drinks, split small plates/flatbreads, skip the entrees, and you'll have yourself a great meal. Assuming the special service I got today sticks, too, and FF has the potential to win your heart over.
(4)
Sonia C.
I love this place! The food is so good and the people that work there are so friendly and love the atmosphere of the restaurant. You need to make a reservation as this place is so busy. The few items I have had as I keep going back to them because they are too good are: Drag thru the garden - breakfast item and so healthy egg whites and veggies in a scramble style which crispy hash browns - YUM The bloody Mary's are my favorite but beware they have a slow burn after your first sip, I love the heat they have to it. The deviled egg sample so good - only issue I had was that the wood board they presented them on did make it unappealing as the wood board was cracked and that is not healthy as bacteria builds up on those wood boards especially with those deep cracks. Meatloaf dinner was so good, has mushrooms which they do not tell you on the menu so make sure you love mushrooms, the mashed potatoes are so creamy and then the green beans are still crunchy and delicious. Now for the salad people, the Tuna Poke is a sushi lovers dream and the presentation of the salad is very impressive and everyone will be looking at your dish at the table when it arrives. So to sum it up I love this place and would have given 5 stars but as my friends and I did mention the cutting board with the deviled eggs was a turnoff for sanitary reasons I hope they correct that as I did mention that.
(4)
Cherie M.
Great fun to sit at the bar and order cocktails. Makes date night fun to choose the bench stool too! The bartenders are attentive and make terrific vodka cocktails. We sampled many small plates on the menu and especially enjoyed all of the items with corn.
(4)
K Two's Mom N.
I wanted to love this place. Loved the idea and concept. The food was very good. The service was horrible. Came in with a party of 14 people. The bartenders were snotty and the waitress was clueless. We asked several questions about the menu: what is in the green goddess dip. Her answer was pimento cheese and pimentos. Really? Don't you mean avocados? Asked for French dressing. Brought ranch. Asked if bacon was in something...no idea. Asked what the side dish was with a meal-again no idea. The poor either untrained or just clueless girl. She easily could have uphold our table on a ton of stuff and wouldn't know where to begin. I would come here again, but first serious training needs to happen. Oh and the bathrooms were trashed.
(3)
M C.
I only had one Brunch at this place about a month ago, and it was absolutely horrible. The omelette I ordered was very bland. The worst thing is that it was full of egg shells in the omelette. The shells were in such extensive amount and in big pieces that I couldn't even finish 1/4 of the plate. I told the server about it. He took the food away and said he was sending it back to the kitchen. Then no ending. When I asked him about the results, he didn't say anything but just pretending to be busy. It was a big group of us so I didn't follow up extensively. But that was absolutely horrible experience with no service recovery. I will never go back to that place ever again!!!!!
(1)
FoodGrade H.
Favorite restaurant hands down! Cornbread is AMAZING! Fried chicken is YUM! Mac and cheese is my favorite and they make the best around! I wish I could fine out every night cause of probably go here. Haven't tried the bar yet, don't want to end up getting drunk and ordering everything on the menu but I'll try the bar and let you know! Love love love! Yum!
(5)
Alison M.
So, I have to say I had my first experience at this place on Fri. Nov 22 and I really enjoyed it! The drinks were great, the service was great and the food was amazing. I truly appreciate the enthusiasm from the staff. You can tell they enjoy being there and love the products that are being produced by the restaurant. I plan to come back as much as possible! Forgot to mention, I made my reservation on open table. The place was pretty packed at 9:30pm when I arrived so I definitely recommend making reservations if you have the opportunity to do so!
(5)
Den F.
Came here for breakfast/brunch twice now. Service is always great - very friendly. I've had their spinach/mushroom/sausage scramble and florentine benedict. You can taste that the ingredients are fresh and the food is not soaked in grease like a lot of other breakfast places. They have great drinks - bloody mary's have with a kick! Strong coffee too! It's a bit pricier so its not for every day breakfast, but definitely good for a nice brunch out.
(4)
Jenn S.
Awesome! Food is great, drinks are great. Love this places' kitchy cool atmosphere, sophisticated and laid back. Yum!
(5)
paul l.
What the hells is up with all this Founding Farmers Hype? This place is the paragon of the DC-style food scene. They are trying soooo hard to be hip and out of the box. But the end up falling on their face. Why not just try to make good food with no pretense? If you look at their menu, they give unusual names for things that already exist... simply to try to make it sound cooler. That's like calling a fat person heavy. It's the same thing... just a new name. The SUBSTANCE doesn't change. They just try to make it appear that it does by giving it a new name. For instance. They call their sandwiches (Tartines, actually) Farmer Bread or something ridiculous like that. What not just call it what it already is? Also, the tarts... it's just a freakin quiche in a skillet! See, from my experience. In the DC Food Scene, the local chefs try to pretend they are in NYC or SF and they say "let's be creative with the menu". Well... if it means adding dill to bucatini pasta, then you've failed. I went to some place similar in Baltimore... they were trying to be so freakin hip... all the waiters had to where a flannel shirt. like they were freakin lumberjacks... i guess that's the "theme" they wanted. But they added MINT to their mac and cheese! Look fellas, creative doesn't mean you can slop things together that have conflicting flavor profiles and call it fusion. Try to produce good food with good ingredients... without having to resort to some lame marketing concept.... and then i'll give you a five star. I've had great food in many countries around the world and all around this country. And I hate when people pull this shiz. Also... these guys are big into the whole locally sourced bs. Look. locally sourced is awesome only IF the local products are a cut above. There is a reason people import lobster from Maine. It's good stuff! and you have it shipped because it is! the local stuff near DC aint that great. This is not Chez Panisse! What's worse is that they charge double for the locally source garbage. If you don't know what good food is, you will most likely be impressed with this place and its utter fakeness. If not, then it's just a place to eat. It's probably at the same level as a seasons 52 or another upper middle class type chain.
(3)
Phil C.
Went down- county today for the first time in a while. Revisited our favorite breakfast place, Mo Co's, but this time we went for a late lunch. My friend has been talking about their skirt steak for quite a while. Continuing our trend of trying to eat healthy, we went for the side salad with fresh greens, fruit and veggies... Healthy and tasty. A great day for fresh lemonade, and it was really tangy and refreshing. Now time for the main course, Skirt Steak with Enchilada and fresh corn on the cob with blue cheese...Perfection. Our server, Jon, was outstanding and kept the lemonade coming. He made good recommendations and provided great service. While in the parking lot, after a great meal, who do I see at the car window, but Jon. I forgot my cell phone and left it on the table. It was really cool that he brought it out to me. This is what you call REALLY great service...thanks again Jon.
(5)
Allison C.
3.5 stars: Love the concept, love the cocktails, love the desserts, jury's still out on the food. I would say that this place is over-hyped considering the actual tastiness of the food, and especially given the steep prices. I have been here twice and both times I loved the cocktails (Moscow Mule, Dark N' Stormy to name a few that I've tried). I also appreciated that they brew their own beer and offer beer flights. I have a slight bone to pick with the actual menu offerings. Although the menu is extensive, with several options for vegetarians and vegans, most of the food seems to be rather unhealthy. It appears the majority of items on the menu appeared to be meaty, cheesy, deep fried, sugary, or otherwise caloric. Now you'd think that an establishment that prides itself on being environmentally and socially conscientious would also consider that a clientele that cares about where their food comes from will also care about the overall healthfulness of their food? I guess those people would end up doing what I did and order something along the lines of a salad or the cauliflower steak (which was just mediocre). Before I've had the chicken pot pie, which had a very biscuit-y thick crust that was a little too heavy and over-the-top for me, I also didn't care for the way the filling was seasoned. I tried the meatloaf (savory and delicious), and the swordfish prepared with the onion crust (?), which was meaty and flavorful with very delicious creamy mashed potatoes, which I will admit were damn good. The highlight of the meal on both occasions was dessert. The first time around it was a warm, gooey fruit cobbler with a crunchy crust and fresh scoop of ice cream. This past time it was a fluffy Chocolate Mousse topped with smooth, sweet whipped cream. We got a serving for 2 in a big bowl that actually served 3-4, it was divine! Looking at other reviews, it appears the dessert was often a favorite part of the meal. The service both times was attentive (although this wavered toward the end of the meal), but overall it felt very corporate.
(3)
Fabio L.
This place is expensive and not as good as I expected from the ratings and hype. In all honesty, I would get more from my money by going somewhere else to eat dinner. I got the flank steak and I thought it was rather boring and small for the price. In short, the food was extremely overpriced. The service was terrible even when it wasn't even that busy. I appreciate it being eco-friendly and all but that is not enough to win my business again. Don't get me wrong, the food at the Founding Farmers was not terrible (it was just okay) but it is not worth the money. I go to restaurants to enjoy the food and the experience so I will not be returning.
(3)
Desiree r.
Thoght it was just decent.
(3)
Renee L.
The mac-and-seven-cheese is to die for. All other macaroni and cheese you have for the rest of your LIFE will taste like boxed junk compared to this! And the cheesecake... OK, I don't even normally LIKE cheesecake and it was amazing. My dining companion ordered it... I had the intention of taking one bite just to try it. Well, I ended up eating over half of it (and the only reason it wasn't the entire thing is because I had that pesky other person who actually ORDERED the thing for himself eating it with me) and seriously considered ordering a second piece to have all to myself. If you're going to pick one place to blow your diet... make this it. Service was great. We actually had to sit at the bar because it was Christmas Day and super-packed (next year = remember to get reservations!) and the service was spectacular. The bartenders were all very polite and courteous and even though they were so busy, they were serving everyone with a smile. And because it WAS so crazy crowded, I fully expected our food to take a while and was totally fine with that... but it was out in about 10-15 minutes! I have heard others complain that it's a bit pricey but I'm going to be straight up honest: I actually don't know how it compares to other restaurants because I never really pay much attention to prices when eating out. Just one benefit of being a dual-income-no-kids household, I guess.
(5)
JiaJia T.
The location is convenient to where we usually stay and I like the ambiance of the restaurant. I've been here twice and have always ordered the exact same thing and have enjoyed it. Nothing amazing but it has been consistently good. The drag through the garden is a tasty and probably healthier scramble with egg whites, cheddar cheese and veggies. I like the quantity of veggies in the scramble and my side of farmers salad is great with greens, dates, avocado, grapes, parmesan, etc. Their latte is strong but good. I always enjoy this dish; however, other dishes that others have ordered such as the pastrami hash consisted of mostly potatoes and few paltry strips of pastrami. Service can be a hit or miss as well.
(3)
Natalie N.
I think Founding Farmers has a good thing going for it. I came here for brunch on a Saturday and it was buzzing with people. What a great atmosphere! I loved the sign in the bathroom "Employees must wash hands. All people should" or something to that effect. They had subtle humor here and there, which I thought was cute. The food was pretty good. I enjoyed the chicken and waffles the most. I shared that and crab cakes benedict and the chicken was much tastier. The highlight of the meal was my coffee drink. The Manhattan Soda, made with Intelligentsia coffee and espresso, agave nectar, sparkling water and whipped cream! It was a specialty drink and to die for. Highlight of the meal! (see my pic of it!) The service was very friendly and fast. Even though she was busy she took care of us and checked on us.
(4)
Zi-Heng Z.
Went on Saturday night with a group of 5; the restaurant was extremely busy. Was seated on time with reservation. Here is what we got: Cider plank salmon, braised short ribs, prime rib and rib eye. I really love this restaurant, however, this time both the service and the quality of the food was not up to what I expect (hence the 3 stars as opposed to 2 or 1). Let me start by saying that the food was still really good, and would def hold a light to a lot of other top notch restaurants in the are, however, not as good as I expect from a Founding Farmers. The GOOD: Cider Plank Salmon, amazing, well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The OK: Prime rib was pretty good, cooked a little more than a medium-rare should, but no complaints & the short ribs were cooked perfectly, however, it was seasoned too salty (I love salty things, and this was too salty for me). The Bad: The Ribeye - this was not good, a horrible cut that came highly recommended over the filet, tones of grissle, fat and about 60% inedible to be honest, and not really seasoned well. Finally, the service was very slow, after taking our orders nearly 10 min passed before a manager of some kind walked over with some water (note: we didn't order any complex cocktails, there were ice teas and a coffee). The waiter also recommended the ribeye over the filet (which made it seem they just wanted to get rid of it, as opposed to a real recommendation). disappointed.
(3)
Jess N.
Since Founding Farmers is apparently a "must-do" DC restaurant, I went for the first time with a few girlfriends that were in town visiting. Perhaps the food at the DC location is better, but I was very disappointed in the quality of the food at the location in MD. I ordered macaroni and cheese (with ham and peas) as an lunch entree. It was not your typical mac & cheese.. in fact, it was mostly mac, and not much cheese. The pasta itself was undercooked and the the ham and peas didn't add anything special to the dish. Perhaps I'm being hypercritical, but my friends all tried a bite and agreed that it wasn't quite the macaroni and cheese you'd expect. It was an uninspiring, bland pasta dish. Two of my friends got the fried chicken salad and the fried chicken on both plates was over-fried and too dry to eat. One of my friends got a salad, but the kitchen forgot to put the dressing on the side. She sent it back, and they ended up taking the charge off of the bill. My last friend ordered chicken pot pie, which was actually quite tasty. I definitely didn't order the "right thing" which I'm bummed about. This, coupled with the other lackluster dishes at my table, has left me little desire to go back and try anything else.
(1)
Amani A.
Over-rated!!! First of all I have been trying to check this place out for some time now and finally made my way in for Sunday Brunch. I made a reservation through open table because I was told through friends it is really busy. I came with a group of 5 we got both the brunch menu and lunch menu. The menu is really over whelming since we had so much to choose from.. End up getting the Beignets, Wings, Red Velvet pancakes to share for the table. My favorite app was the beignets but they were pretty greasy. I ordered the seven cheese Mac & Cheese and Crispy Shrimp both were good but nothing special. The Mac & Cheese is really heavy and greasy more then I think it should be or expect. The crispy shrimp was surprisingly the better dish. It's a unique place to dine but I don't think I'll be coming back I prefer Sugo for brunch/dinner/lunch right next door. The service at Founding Farmer is also really really slow it took our server several reminder to get us drinks, and utensils. The restaurant is busy they can use a few more servers to help out it's managements fault at the end of the day for giving them way to many tables at once. Overall it was an ok dinning experience like I said early I don't see myself coming back. I tried a good portion of their menu and it was ehhhhhhhh!
(2)
Kim D.
I loved the amount of selections they had on the menu. There is truly something for everyone. I really love the farm to table concept where everything is made from scratch. Great ambiance, cocktail and wine list.
(5)
Antoine B.
Ill say this. If you want to be able to have a fair shot of trying Founding Farmers then this is the location to come to because you will have to make a reservation a week in advance to get seated at the downtown location. I prefer coming to this location because its much easier to walk in and get seated. Same food as downtown location but I would prefer brunch over dinner here anyday
(4)
L F.
I've been to the DC location and liked it. Took my mom and wife here on 7/12. Wife's first steak ordered med and was past well. Next one was blue. Staff not exactly rude, but their behavior (the way the wait-staff and hostesses avoided our gaze when the first steak was overdone) seemed to indicate that kitchen mistakes are maybe not unexpected. If you go out a lot you know what I am referring to. My short rib was mush. Sides were decent. Desert was good (mom's b-day or I would have walked). Food didn't seem cooked to order and tasted more caf-style where the steak and short rib was just waiting to be served up already cooked. I think they just did not have a med one in the oven and when they had to cook one to order they just didn't know how to do it bcs they were not used to cooking to order... just seemed that way to me in my opinion. If you are used to Olive Garden and Fridays, this will be a step up and you will be happy. If you are looking to a decent place to add to your rotation: AVOID! Its not even the money; just I could have gone somewhere decent and now the occasion is wasted. LAME!!!
(1)
Solace C.
At first, I was gonna to turn around and leave because the hostess was sooo snobby! I know this is Potomac but really save the Mean Girls attitude for Ms. Lohan. Service: Can improve, Im not sure if they are ADD and cant focus or what. But no matter what server you get you have to remind them over and over what you need! Carryout orders: Lets say you have a to go meal. They dont pack utensils or napkins!! What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How the heck am I to eat this if Im not going home? The food is good here!!! Real good and real expensive sort of!!! First of they make their own sodas... I had the lemon lime.. but it was a bit sour for me. Their house salad is delish!!! Fresh fresh lettuce!! Their house dressing is not too light or heavy. Its just right! I had their 7 cheese mac and cheese and its soooooooo heavenly delish!!! Swimming in butter and lightly toasted breadcrumbs on top! Similar to Patty Labelles recipe. Red Velvet Cake is heavenly delish! Manhattan drink is ommmmmmmmmmmmmy that good!!! I could order everything off the menu but the service here needs to improve.
(4)
Melissa A.
First, place was mobbed for breakfast. Service was good, waiter terrific. Food flavors fine but execution was pretty poor. Crab Eggs Benedict, good flavors but poached eggs were cold and not really poached, more like soft boiled. Cooked almost solid. Hash browns were cold. Chicken and waffle- waffle cold but the chicken was great. Eggs were cold as well. Perhaps the plates wait to be finished in the kitchen for too long. Again flavors are fine but noone wants to eat cold eggs.
(2)
Seth D.
I call this place, "Find My Waiter." Food is pretty good, but service is awful.
(3)
Steven D.
Founding Farmers fresh tasting food was amazing. It does get really busy, so I highly recommend making reservations. Great friendly and polite staff. I love the fun and unique way they give you the check.
(4)
Tu-van L.
As spacious yet loud as the District's Founding Farmers. While the menu selection varies some, overall the theme and quality of food is just what you expect for FF. My breakfast dogs were delicious and hearty (be mindful that it's mostly scrambled eggs, chopped up hog dogs, and whatever toppings are included in the mix). Of course the (non-)alcoholic beverages are refreshing and were perfect for brunch. Food was great, however service can be spotty. Parking in paid garage, though I don't think they charge on the weekends...
(3)
Jonathan K.
One of my favorite restaurants in the area, never disappoints. Quality ingredients, prepared well, and great service. For brunch the scrambles and benedicts are excellent.
(5)
Robbie N.
Get the Mac and Cheese! Or brunch! Definitely try the cornbread! Great restaurant that is inexpensive and has local, organic and natural food!
(5)
Sarah G.
Dinner was delicious and the service was great. I had the Chicken Pot Pie, which was absolutely scrumptious. My friends had the Shrimp and Grits and the Yankee Pot Roast. They really enjoyed both.
(5)
A W.
New Orleans style French Toast is AMAZING - try it stuffed and add blueberry compote:) Best breakfast in the area the lunch/dinner menu is very good as well but nothing beats red velvet or carrot cake pancakes for breakfast! For lunch I've had the rolls n dogs and chicken n waffles. Fried green tomatoes are a good appetizer along with the salt n pepper cracked wings. Pastas from here leave a lot to be desired but everything else is superb!
What an awesome gastro pub! Our waiter was excellent providing quick service and had a thorough knowledge of everything on the menu, including all the craft beers. I ordered the truffle oil popcorn for starters and was quite impressed. It was not greasy as I have experienced at other venues and the popcorn was very crispy. For my entree, I ordered the fried chicken which was crispy and flavorful! Loved it! My table ordered desert and we were surprised when we received a huge serving that was more than enough for the three of us.
I can't say enough about this place! My BFFs and I sat outside on the patio and had the most enjoyable experience. The waitstaff were attentive and friendly and answered all of our questions. We started with the most amazing deviled eggs and a cheese and bread plate. The bread was incredible. We asked if we could buy it by the loaf, it was so good! (You can't.) I can't pinpoint just what it was about the bread that made it so incredible- it had a chewy/soft texture that was divine. I had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and greens. The fried chicken was boneless and perfectly crunchy and the greens were nicely seasoned. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Amber M.
I am not from the Maryland area and was brought here by some friends. We had a reservation for 1:15 and it was packed. The lady kept telling us it would be 5 more min over and over. Well it ended up being 45 min later. So we sat down and the whole meal it took the waitress forever to bring us drinks anything. The food came and I will say it was amazing. We all enjoyed the food until we found a very large hair in it. I am giving it 4 stars just because the food was good and fresh. I think the main problem at this restaurant is they over book and don't have enough help. I would go back for sure.
(4)
Nicholas C.
We returned with friends to Founding Farmers for our Christmas Day meal. The restaurant as one might expect on Christmas Day was full but in spite of the stress that you would think the staff was under we were greeted in a friendly manner at the hostess's desk. Our reservation time was missed by just a few minutes. Our waitress was with us soon after we were seated. She bubbled over with friendliness! From the moment we gave our drinks order up until we paid the entire process went smoothly. Our drinks came out in a timely manner as did the appetizers, main course and dessert. Throughout the meal we were checked upon not just by our waitress but also other staff members. It was impressive. Our food was all good. Among us we had the meatloaf (four stars), vegetarian meatloaf (five stars), fried chicken and waffles (five stars, and a cheeseburger (four stars). For dessert we shared a huge slice of carrot cake. My previous visits were only worthy of 3-4 stars but I left the restaurant much more impressed!
(5)
C K.
We went there on Sunday morning around 9:30. The place was about half packed. No one was sitting outside yet when we were walking in (but it was packed when we left). We were seated promptly. Ordered chicken and waffle and stuffed French toast with blueberry on top. Chicken and waffle was so so. It was good but nothing special. Personally, I like chicken and waffle at American Tap Room better. Sunny side up eggs were a lot runnier than other places. Make sure to tell them about it if you don't like yours too runny. Stuffed French toast was really really good. One of the best I've had. I'm definitely ordering this again next time. Overall, we liked the place. Little pricey for breakfast food but nice to have decent brunch places to go to. Can't wait for them to open one near Tyson's corner in 2014!
(4)
Tim D.
This is the lesser-known location of one of my favorite restaurants in the DC area. Like their sister location, they focus on "farm-to-table" food and offer a wide variety of thoughtful dishes (and cocktails!). Although there are a ton of cocktail choices, I also suggest putting your trust in the skills of the bartender. Tell them what you like, or a great drink you've had before, and they do a rendition of it. This location is usually packed, so make a reservation. The major positive about this location is the parking.
(4)
Andrew K.
I've been here 3 times so far and it's not a bad option for brunch or lunch. The wait is long for brunch so try to call ahead and make reservations or you can get seats on the patio area. Service is a hit or miss with the first two times being bad but the last time I was there, service was great. Beignets, fish and chips, chicken and waffles, pancakes were good. The home made sodas, burgers and toast was ok. The restaurant is nice and upscale, prices are ok, and I keep bring friends here and they seem to like it but I don't consider it amazing or worth waiting over 30 minutes.
(3)
Karen G.
Great restaurant in Montgomery County! Food was great - American style Nice selection of beers Fun cocktail list Nice atmosphere - I like the decor I had a nice dining experience and will definitely be back!
(4)
Donis M.
They really are trying with the staff at this location. It's so busy for breakfast. Even with a reservation your going wait a while. And the food is cooked to order. Coffee not as good as it used to be.
(3)
Kelly O.
I enjoyed my mixed drink but the food was unremarkable. The most bizarre part of the evening was when the server returned my dirty flatware from my appetizer to me. Passed it off my dirty plate, back into my hand. Then my husband said no, please take our flatware and bring us clean utensils. The attitude of 2 staff members was that new flatware was not something that they provided and they made a big deal over finding clean forks and knives. We eat out frequently and there are many wonderful, unique choices nearby. We will not be back.
(2)
TJ B.
FF has great cocktails. Unique creations that most of the bartenders take pride in constructing just right! Bloody Mary's were good. We went early one evening and our bartender was a bit inattentive, but the drinks were good. Drinks very expensive, though. The food is excellent. The wait staff knows the food well so ask them about what you are ordering if you are concerned about portion size or what other guests thought of it. As others said, the buffalo wings were really good. The hot dogs looked great. I got the big bowl of seafood bouillabaisse, or whatever they called it. It was very good. Had a lobster tail on top. Deserts are excellent. All in all, nice to see a creative twist on everything they serve....from the casual food to the fancy food. All unique.
(5)
Eric L.
This is a place you must try. I went there for a birthday. And all the food is very good. I stuck with fried chicken and waffles and you really can't mess up their specialties. I substitued fries for mashed potatoes because their mashed potatoes are awesome and actually taste like they took a fresh potato and mashed it. The girls got a raw tuna poke salad which looked really good, and the butternut squash ravioli which was alright because it was slightly sour. I got a fruity drink for the birthday girl and she loved it, she probly wanted another one. I came early and told them to bring out the cake I bought (from shilla's bakery). And I was kind of bummed that it was $2 per person to plate the cakes (if you bring your own cake). But there were only 3 of us, so it wasn't that bad. When we finished eating, I gave our waiter that look, and later a guy came out with the cake and a lit candle, and he let us take pictures and blow out the candle. It was great, he was friendly and did a good job at cutting the cake for us. It is quite expensive compared to other places, but it's great not to worry about getting something bad. The atmosphere was quite busy and noisy. The line was out the door on the friday night. Good thing I had a reservation.
(5)
Cesar P.
We took our daughter there for breakfast on President's Day, and it was a fine dining experience. The food is extremely fresh, the beignets are to die for, and the service top notch. My wife and daughter had the pancakes and the Farmers Breakfast. The biscuits were really good, and they make a perfect scrambled egg. I had the hash with pastrami, which wasn't bad; my complaint was that it needed more meat and less peppers. But it was a fine breakfast, a little pricey, but nice for a once in a while treat. I would love to come back to try lunch or dinner.
(4)
Ash S.
Ok so for the sequel my friend and I went back here for lunch at the management's request. Everything seemed very different from my last visit, the place wasn't packed and crazy, the waiter was very cool and knowledgeable, and the food came out in reasonable times. We started off with the Chicken wings (I think it was a special of the day). This sexy little number comes glazed in a soy-maple sauce with garlic and green onions. It is sticky, salty, tender, and really delicious. This is a perfect dish to highlight their general concept of farm-fresh ingredients, the freshness of the chicken comes out in both the texture and the flavor of the meat. The seasoning elevates, rather than disguises, the chicken flavor. We also got the Fried Green Tomatoes, which are battered and deep fried tomato slices served up with a Green Goddess dip and a chive herb butter (I think). It's nice and crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside without too much acidity (a real problem with green tomatoes generally). The Green Goddess dip was the favorite, kind of like a classed-up salad dressing. For our mains we each got the surf and turf - 8oz center cut fillet and the jumbo lump crab cake. The steak was cooked perfectly and again showed off how never-frozen natural-raised cows produce a superior steak. There was none of the slight tang that corn-fed beef has, and it definitely had a melt-in-your-mouth buttery feel to it. As good as the steak was, I feel that the crab cake stole the show. It was basically a generous ice-cream-scoop sized serving of large chunks of crab meat. Just enough breading and seasoning to taste great, but we both got huge hits of crab with every bite. Despite growing up in Maryland, I've never really had much crab, certainly not any 'good' crab before this. It combined the lightness of fish with a kind of meatiness you don't normally get from fish, the crab cake I had today definitely makes me want to go out and eat more crab from now onl The sides were good, and showed some careful execution - my green beans were a nice crunchy texture and my friend's mashed potatoes were nice and creamy. We both enjoyed our special of the day mini salads, consisting of cucumber, mint, and snap peas with a light vinaigrette-style dressing. For dessert, there were a lot of choices that looked incredibly tempting, but in the end my friend went for the Lemon-lavender sorbet. It had a nice, light, and very unusual flavor that was the perfect end to a heavy meal (the mashed potatoes kind of gave him a carb overload). Of course, I am a semi-professional foodie, an eating machine, if you will, and I went with the slightly heavier option of the Beignets. These are a deep-south favorite, consisting of a deep fried 'shoe' pastry dusted with powdered sugar and served with various yummy dipping sauces. We apparently got a batch that had been freshly made because they had both the satisfying crunch on the outside and the heavenly softness on the inside. To me a Beignet basically covers all the good points of a doughnut, without being as heavy. I particularly enjoyed the caramel sauce that came with mine, it also came with a chocolate sauce and a raspberry coulis that were both solid. As far as cocktails, I had the Farmer's Fizz - essentially a mix of gin and champagne with a few liquers. This is a deceptively powerful little number, it looks and tastes like a glass of champagne. Once I'd drank 3/4 of it, the flavor changed, the sugar lump on the bottom and the lemon twist became more pronounced and it developed into a nice Tom-Collins-esque drink. I also had the Beer and a shot option - a 3 beer tasting (8 oz portions) and a single shot of whisky. I opted for an IPA, a lager, and a very very good organic brown Ale, as well as the Bulleit Rye (which may be a local thing, but if you like bourbon or whiskey, give it a shot). And to finish things off, I had one of their special bourbons served over a single, ginormous ice cube, which my friend (and at this point, sober driver) said had less of a surface to volume ratio than smaller ice cubes, allowing for a less diluted, but equally chilled drink. I just thought it looked cool ;) So my overall impression is that the higher end items are where this place shines, thinks like steak, crab cakes, ribs, etc. You can really taste a difference with regards to the high quality farm-fresh ingredients. The burgers, hot dogs, pasta, etc are by no means bad but lack that clear distinction of flavor.
(5)
Lou K.
I always want to love this place but I just can't quite get there. Something's they do incredibly well, like bloody Mary's for example. Other things leave me cold, like the crispy shrimp. On the upside the fried green tomatoes are good and the bacon lollies are as tasty as they look. The atmosphere is lively but the service is always the final nail. It is SO freaking slow especially with drinks. So sad.
(3)
Rachel S.
This place reignited the fire within me to learn how to pickle things. Always get the pickled veggie of the day, just do it. When we went, it was carrots. Best carrots I've ever had. I wanted to bathe in the brine. The rest of the meal was fantastic too. I had the pot roast, as it was our waitress' favorite. Shit was tastyyyy, fried onions, delicious gravy, tender-amazing huge portion of meat, and I'll give it up for the mashed potatoes too. My gal pal had the chicken n waffles which I can honestly say were the BEST fried chicken I've ever experienced. It was juicy, crunchy, and beautifully cooked. We also got some deviled eggs and corn bread, Oh the corn bread. It's served with honey butter, which is amazing on its own. Cocktail wise they have a massive menu of delicious and creative sounding drinks. We opted for some champagne and wine, but if I make it back, I will definitely try a few. The restaurant itself is also just really great. There's a really chill vibe to it. It's not trying too hard, yet everything is locally sourced. You won't find a mason jar here, unless it's hold pickled vegetables. Every single person on staff we encountered were friendly and so excited for us to try the food. It was a lovely dining experience and I'd reccomend it to anyone in DC / Bethesda.
(5)
Nik D.
I have heard so much about this place from friends and family who are in the area! In terms of service, decor, ambiance, I thought that it was great. I went with family and we are all vegetarian. though they have a meatless menu, which I know I appreciate to make it easy, we didn't order a single thing from it. It didn't really appeal to any of us. Meatless meatloaf? Cauliflower steak? Eh. Might be a matter of just describing the things in a more tasty way, but none of them perked any of our ears. We ordered the vegetarian items that were on the main menu: farmer's bread with chickpea spread and yogurt, biscuits, a standard veggies salad, and the butternut squash and mascarpone ravioli with brown butter sauce. The farmer's bread was really yummy! They cut it up nicely to make it easy to share the four slices of the ciabatta bread amongst the group. The biscuits were great. I really liked the honey butter combo on them more than the spicier pepper spread, but still the pepper spread was nice. The salad was good, but kinda over priced for the size. At $18 with no meat, I didn't think it was really worth the money. That being said, the mix of veggies was good as was the champagne vinaigrette dressing. The ravioli was also good. I'm not a huge fan of brown butter sauce as I find it can be a little much after awhile, but the ravioli went nicely with that and the Brussel sprouts in the dish. It's not something I'd want a whole plate of by myself, but was great to share with a group. I will say, it was a bit of a bummer to learn that the fried items were all non-veg as they have beef in the oil. I was looking forward to some fresh cut french fries. We also got the red velvet cake that was WONDERFUL. So moist, fluffy, and not overly sweet. Two of us tried the blood orange soda and the mango soda, and I didn't think it was that great. It might be for someone who is more tolerant of sourness, but I found it to be a little cloying. Overall, it was a nice place and I'm glad that it exists with its local sourcing and no preservatives. I think the DC area could use more places like this with new american fare that is quite vegetarian friendly. I think with a few updates to the vegetarian menu, it could be a big hit for me. Looking forward to trying the brunch next time :)
(4)
Jennifer G.
Consistently good food and attentive service. Sometimes the pasta sauces hit me the wrong way, but I haven't gone wrong with the salads and sandwiches. It can be a little noisy, so ask for the upstairs seating if you'd like to get out of the melee.
(4)
Debbie D.
4th time is the charm? I'm not ready to give them five stars yet but I'm close. Great menu and fantastic food and service. This time I finally ordered something other than the breakfast menu. The northern fried chicken is fantastic! Seriously I didn't even know it was a thing until I tried it but it is so good. Grits remain fantastic as well. My biggest problem now is wondering what to order because I really want to eat everything on the menu.
(4)
Sanjay C.
Had brunch here on a Saturday morning. It was fairly busy, but were were able to get a table very quickly at the bar. The atmosphere is clean, bright, and organic (that's the idea)! Weekend wait can be long so I recommend reservations on the weekends. My wife, a friend, and I ordered an entree and a drink each. Bill came to around $60. Watch our YouTube review of our meal here: youtube.com/watch?v=6yPa… . I ordered the farmer's breakfast: eggs, hash browns, and chicken sausage. It was excellent. Sausage was the highlight. My first batch of hash browns was a little dry so they brought me a fresh plate which was great. Also had a killer Bloody Mary. My wife ordered the chicken and waffles. Looked like chicken tenders, but tasted really good. Waffle was light and crisp on the outside. My friend ordered the Pastrami Hash which was my favorite. Good quantity food, excellent service. Watch our YouTube review of our meal here: youtube.com/watch?v=6yPa… . I've been to Founding Farmers on multiple occasions - both in DC and MD. My favorite items have been the Lunch/Dinner version of the Chicken and Waffles, the macaroni and cheese, the Yankee Pot Roast, and the chilli burger.
(4)
Ruth R.
I don't want to start off my review negatively. There should really be a 3 1/2 star option but ill still with 4. It was a little more than ok but I am still not a fan of this place. I went to dinner last night (Wednesday) with a friend. We made reservations a couple of days ago and there were (at the time) a lot of open reservations for the evening. We both ended up getting off of work early so we strolled to Founding farmers 1 hour early to see if they'd take us earlier. The hostess kindly told us they were getting busy but she will see what she can do to sit us down a little sooner. We waited and waited. The hostess didn't even bother to acknowledge us or come over an mention that it would be impossible to sit us earlier. We were totally ok with that and didn't expect otherwise. I finally walked over to her about 5-10 mins before our actual reservation time and said, "Sooo, I'm assuming we wont be sitting down any sooner?" She said, "Yeah doesnt look like it." So, we ended up waiting an hour. Like I said I wasnt expecting to be seated an hour before our actual reservation time but a little acknowledgement goes a long way! So, once we were seated, the waitress we had was AMAZING! She changed that whole experience around. She was enjoyable and apologized for the minimalist of things. The food was a lot better than I remember last time we were there. I started off with the deviled eggs combo which were delicious. I got the Salmon cooked with garlic, lemon and shallots, a side of mashed potato and kale cooked with pear and garlic for dinner. Everything was really tasty and I enjoyed it a lot more. I know it isn't all about customer service most of the time so to that I would recommend the food here. Their dinner menu is really good. I will have to try it out again but this time I will come exactly on time for my reservation, no earlier!
(4)
Erin L.
Food was great, definitely get the biscuits. We showed up a bit early for the reservation and didn't have to wait till our reservation time, but I'd still make sure to get a reservation. Our waiter was decent, but acted a little like he was trying to get us to hurry up (we took awhile deciding what to eat) and I felt it was a little rude.
(4)
Johnson H.
I'm giving it 3.5 stars. I was part of a table of 8 and so we were seated upstairs for the evening. We rsvp'd a table for just before the dinner rush crowd. Food was definitely better than most around MoCo, The service started off really well. Our server was friendly, informative about the menu, and attentive early on. Then our server was difficult to track down to get a wrong entree corrected and getting our drinks refilled after we got our meals. I would return if I lived closer to MoCo or if a group of friends wanted to go, but nothing really WoW'd me enough to make me drive up to MD too often.
(3)
David M.
Good food, but strange special occasion practice. Despite being asked and telling the person taking the reservation we were celebrating a special occasion; at the end of the meal we were presented with an empty plate with a lit candle. It wasn't just my table, the table next to us had the same treatment. Apparently they have stopped providing the traditional special occasion dessert. I've never had this happen in a restaurant of this caliber; seems cheap. A disappointing end to an otherwise fine meal. Unfortunately the disappointment lingers longer than the memory of the meal.
(2)
J S.
Great spot. Nice atmosphere, manages the big crowd well and really good food. Dinner was better than lunch the next day ( yes, two visits in 18 hours) but worth the visit.
(4)
Michele T.
The food isn't always hot and the portion sizes are getting smaller....but the atmosphere and food are great. I normally get the crab cakes but decided to try the Planck Salmon. I was not disappointed.
(4)
Jess Y.
Came here on recommendation of a friend and was impressed. I love the concept of fresh farm-to-table foods and mixing it with hand-crafted cocktails. Even at 1 PM on a weekday it was still crowded. We had to wait a few minutes to get seated. I also love the atmosphere--cool open-air design with a trendy wooden down-to-earth like-I-am-eating-in-the-most-fashionista-barn-ever flavor. Love the lightbulbs. I know it's a small added touch, but they are pretty awesome. It is a bit loud so it helps you to work on your selective hearing skills. They offer an interesting selection of beverages. I would love to come back to try some of their hand-crafted cocktails with fresh ingredients--but I couldn't convince myself on a Monday lunch to already start the alcohol flow. They do also specialize in italian sodas. My friend got the phosphate of the day and I tried the Manhattan Soda (coffee, espresso, agave, whipped cream, and sparkling seltzer). The Manhattan was like mixing coffee with soda--definitely a new experience. They do brew Intelligentsia coffee, which is also a huge plus for me. We started off with the Black Pepper Chicken Wings, as recommended by other Yelpers. They were delicious! They come with about 8-9 heavenly-roasted chicken wings smothered with sweet black pepper flavor. It's served with a lime which I highly recommend that you squeeze generously over the wings--it adds a nice tartness and rounds out the flavor. My friend ordered the Brie/Onion Jam/Sliced Apples flatbread. We weren't sure what to expect: whether they would be baked into the flatbread like a pizza or just layed on top. When it came out, he had three generous slices of toasted sourdough bread topped with the delicious combo. The onion jam added the perfect sweetness to the munchie. Great combination of flavors. And I definitely want to try the prosciutto/fig/marscapone flatbread some time too! I ordered the grilled cheese (with ham!) and tomato soup. The grilled cheese comes with gruyere, chedder, and muenster and trust me, you can taste all three. I was really surprised by how much ham they gave me--it was chockful. Also, the ham had a great flavor--almost tasted like bacon. It was really delicious. My only complaint was that it was a bit greasy--even for a grilled cheese sandwich! Maybe it's from all of the cheese in it, but it seemed like overkill. The tomato soup was flavorful, rich and a little creamy. It paired perfectly with the grilled cheese sandwich. Service was a little slow but nothing that would deter me from visiting again. Check comes in a little mailbox--quite literally. Cute touch but seems a bit cumbersome also. Overall, great dining experience and they have one of those menus where you look at it and start making lists of all the things you want to try next time.
(4)
Hossein N.
Everything about this place says A-OK other than the service which is actually quite good and attentive. I have gone three times and never been wowed by any of the dishes. The last time I went, I got the tuna poke salad. It was great except the tuna was a bit fishy. Am I being picky? Yes. But at these prices, they need to deliver a high grade tuna in my opinion. The place itself can get quite loud. It doesn't bother me but I think it needs to be mentioned.
(4)
Maggie Maria T.
So after FF contacted me due to the review I posted, they apologized and offered free dessert on my next visit. They staff went above and beyond and provided great service. I wish I could remember the name of our waitress because she was so nice! I ordered the roasted vegetable sandwich which was so delicious! The farm bread and the hot chocolate great as usual. I ordered our complimentary dessert to go and the check and I was surprised when the whole meal was already covered. I was only expecting free dessert but our waitress said that the manager had already taken care of that. :)
(5)
John H.
Must try: chicken wings and squash with bacon soup. This is a very unique restaurant that is all about organic seasonal food. Flavors are excellent with some dishes like the soup and wings, however, the other items like salads and french fries are unimpressive. The food is basically good. There is nothing to write home about except the service which was excellent. The food is not different in taste to a million other "theme" organic restaurants. I will still go here again.
(4)
Justin C.
Before we were sat our server said he couldn't sit a party of five... I inquired more and said he would seat us if we leave by 11. I understand business but the wording could have been better.
(1)
Jeff R.
We've had some outstanding meals at Founding Farmers, but this wasn't one of them. I'm going to start AVOIDING Saturday nights. The kitchen just appears to be overwhelmed. Here were some of the issues (and positives) we ran into. We end ed up having to stand right behind some people who were eating, which couldn't have been the experience they wanted. 1. Took 20 minutes to be seated even though we arrived at our OpenTable reserved time. Dozens of people crowded into the small lobby area. 2. Waiter was great, they do hire excellent waiters. 3. People next to us had to send back their Salmon as being raw on the inside. A preview for us. 4. Butternut squash with bacon soup is amazing! 5. Dinner showed up and it wasn't our dinner! Waiter ran off before I realized it since it was also a steak. Took us a while to flag down the waiter. 6. Dinner arrived and my wife's medium steak was cold and raw on the inside. Barely cooked on the outside. I thought nice restaurants did sous vide on the steaks these days? 7. A random side of green beans arrived and was sent back. 8. The waiter poured my wife a 1/4 bottle of wine in her refill which was very nice, though extra food is not one of the things we needed. I always leave very stuffed. 9. Bill showed up with the random extra green beans still on bill. Took forever to flag down waiter to have it removed. He was very apologetic.
(2)
Justin M.
i was actually pretty upset :( .. my surf and turf was MKT priced rediculously high. crabcake was kinda mushy and undercooked, however my MEDIUM RARE filet was well the hell done. my green beans couldve used 10 more minutes of cooking.. and my greens were way too salty. cmon guys i heard the food here was amazing thats why i spent 50 bucks on a meal. the service however was great, which earned it two stars in my book. ill probably go back sometime and give it another shot.
(2)
Elizabeth D.
I've been here for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, etc. - you name the time and the meal. The menu is spot on, and the service isn't far behind. The bacon lollies (cinnamon coated bacon on pitchforks) are a juxtaposition of flavors in your mouth. One of my favorite appetizers ever. For brunch, I highly recommend the beignets. And as a southern gal, I love my chicken and waffles. Their pastrami hash is very good (albeit a tad on the bland side, but nothing a little pepper can't handle!). Regardless of the date or time, I highly recommend that a reservation be made well in advance. The wait itself is a (positive) testament of how wonderful Founding Farmers is.
(4)
Andria D.
Crowded and expensive. The food was okay. Our server was good, though maybe a bit too personal. There were a couple of vegan options, which was nice... but I was under the mistaken impression there would be more to choose from.
(3)
Redskin F.
Christoper Peterson(my server) and Cameron(the manager) are the main reasons I am a fan, don't get me wrong, the food has always been fabulous but the one negative is the policy about refills. For a place that is so on top of things, refills are a major hassle and big disappointment. I am here at least once a week if not more. I know a lot of the waiters and they know me even Cameron the manager knows me and what like. It's just the refill policy that nags at me, first I thought it was just the soda because of the soda can but I came to find out it's all drinks. If you only drink water this place is for you but watch out they get you on the refill policy and don't even tell you. The food, decor, service are 5 star but it's that refill policy, that brought this down. If you don't mind paying almost $3.50 per can of soda, go for it.
(3)
Sarah W.
Came back here for a late dinner last night with hubby. We arrived at 8:30pm, got sat immediately. Not many people there late on a sunday evening. Homemade chips & schmears - loved this! I love homemade potato chips, and the 3 dips were amazing. perfect for sharing - although, I think for the amount of chips you get, more dip would be preferable (can probably ask waiter for more) Waldorf Salad(?) - spinach, crispy onion, egg, bleu cheese, apple - delicious!!!! perfect for sharing. Fried Chicken & Waffles - hubby's dish. tasty fried chicken, perfect drizzled with maple syrup and eating with belgian waffles. The mac n cheese isn't as good as I remember the one in DC with lobster. Maybe its an off night? Hubby couldn't finish this. Loaded Baked Potato Ravioli - yummmmmmmm. its like periogies, but BETTER, more cheese & bacon! I could only eat half my dish. very filling, could probably split this and a salad/appy with somebody and walk away satisfied. The Bone - drink isn't on the menu in Potomac, but it is in DC - Hubby loves it - it comes with a bacon lolli. Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse for 2 - HUGE bowl of mousse - not sure why we ordered this since we were both soooooooooo full....but its delicious and we took it home with us :) Hubby and I will def come back again. Hopefully for our anniversary in Oct.
(4)
Linda F.
Brunch tastes great; table service is also great. Drinks taste great; bar service is not so great... Unless the guy with the awesome mustache is helping you. I felt ignored, even when it wasn't so busy. I would recommend this restaurant, just as long as it's at a table.
(3)
Chontelle M.
My experiences at the Founding Farmers in DC are super slow and although the food is good, I vowed never to return. They don't have a large waiting area, because they don't need it. It seemed the parties waiting the longest are the ones that did not make a reservation and even then, I think they got seated pretty quickly. It was a completely different experience here. In order to make sure you aren't caught up in the traffic of waiting and racing for bar stools, you should make a reservation. I made a brunch reservation for 11:30 at this place and was surprised by being seated within 10 minutes of the reservation time. The service was great. We had a baby with us so there were lots of special requests and our waitress fulfilled them all with a smile. I highly recommend the chicken and waffles. They are soo great! The chicken is perfectly seasoned, the syrup is pure maple syrup and the eggs aren't too bad either.
(5)
Paul D.
Very disappointed with Founding Farmers. Went with my family to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday with a brunch. I ordered an egg white and veggies scramble with their leek-hash browns. When the other six members of my party were served, our server asked "can I get you all anything else?" I replied, "Just my entree" and he looked shocked. Well, it took a couple of minutes, but my entree finally showed up. It looked like they forgot about it under the heat lamps. The hash browns were dry and crunchy and the egg scramble was lukewarm in some places and down right cold in others. My wife ordered the same entree and she said her's was the same. The other members of my party seemed to like their dishes, so they have that going for them. The room was too loud for conversation, but the price was more reasonable than I was expecting. The beignets were excellent! Next time I'll stick to an order of beignets and OJ.
(2)
Neelo S.
I had brunch here for the very first time in the middle of the week. First of all, I love that there's a nice place to have brunch on a Wednesday. Second, our waiter was so friendly and helpful, I love a restaurant with a lovely service. Finally, the food was exactly what I expected, simple and delicious. I had the hash with eggs and hollandaise sauce-sooo good! My friend had blueberry French toast-so fluffy, it melted in my mouth. A little pricey for brunch, but it was worth the mid-week celebration!
(5)
A B.
I like the food here, and often recommend it to people when they leave my office (I work around the corner)...but lately I have started to change my mind. All of their seafood is farm raised (yea.. i know farmers is in the name...but farmed raised fish is not a good choice). There are a lot of inconsistencies with their food (I tend to order the same items) and inconsistencies with their service. Their take-out items are often missing an ingredient which is frustrating since it is take out (and in house too, today's my husband's sandwich was missing a key ingredient). Acoustics are also very poor. I used to like the place and frequent it but I rather go around the corner to Clyde's.
(3)
Michele S.
We picked this restaurant based on the good reviews for an early Mother's Day. The appetizers (bread plate and fried green tomato) took forever to arrive. The bread was - well bread...nothing special. The tomatoes were thick cut and heavily battered and passable. The burger was ordered as medium well but served rare. The accompanying fries were not hot. The fried chicken salad was not cold and crisp but instead warm and missing 1/2 of the ingredients including the avocado and the cheese. It was basically warm iceberg lettuce with half spoiled tomatoes on a plate with overcooked (burnt in places) dried out chicken. After spending $105, 2 of us had to go to Subway to get something to eat! UPDATE: 5/17/14: I received an email from this restaurant stating, "I'm mortified! I'm SO sorry to hear that we failed you on so many levels - leaving you hungry upon your departure on top of bad service, and poorly executed food. Our Vice President, Dawn Vileno, would very much like to speak to you one on one." They NEVER called me. Apparently, they really didn't care.
(1)
Carol D.
This was our fourth time here. We love this place, with one exception. The menu offers fresh, from scratch ingredients from local farms, as well as traditional style recipes for VA cuisine. The sodas were all bar-made, such as the hibiscus, and they offer egg creams and phosphates! We've had friend chicken, pot roast, chicken and waffles, salmon, crabcake - all fantastic. The sides of collards, mac and cheese - outstanding. Beignets are absolutely delicious. Staff is friendly and efficient. Our only exception, we found them not very kid-friendly. They sat us with a 10 month infant at a bar hightop with a broken child table seat - broken straps and hooks, so they had to move us so they could find a table that a high chair could go up to. They do not have a kid's menu, but will make a pasta, grilled cheese, or burger selection - so we ended up ordering several sides to serve our 10 month old. They did not have a changing table in the men's room, so when we tried to go into the ladies room (asking the auntie to take the infant in), she couldn't find one there either (maybe one was in the handicapped stall, but someone was in there for a long time), so we had to change the baby in the car/parking lot.
(4)
Simone J.
I have only eaten here for breakfast. I love it every time. Everyone I've ever taken here loves it. I wish I lived near by as I miss it. The coffee is good as well as everything else I've ever had.
(5)
Troy H.
Some of the best food I've ever had. Organic, locally sourced, American comfort food. The service is great. Occasionally the servers are weeded. My most recent servers Brian Bates, Thea Goldstein, and Katie Kamman have made my dinners, brunches and lunches unforgettable. Northern friend chicken and the potomac cheese are the go-tos here. Highly recommended. Request the aforementioned servers I raved about fit the best time.
(5)
Michael P.
Most most sit down restaurants, your experience and value you get is enhanced by good servers. I think our server was very good, knew the menu well and his beers, had recommendations, etc. I thought the deviled eggs were really good, as well as the steak and chicken we had ordered.
(5)
Fatima A.
Yummy breakfast! Great coffee! Hash browns, chicken sausage, carrot cake pancakes, yum! The stuffed French toast was a little too sweet for me, but very well done and fresh. The cranberry nice was not good. Don't get it. Too sweet.
(4)
Katherine S.
The food is excellent and it has a fun, vibrant atmosphere. Would recommend reservations because it is typically packed in the evenings.
(4)
Kim C.
I brought my mother for dinner on a Thursday. It was quite busy. My mother has some recent diet restrictions so I was apprehensive about ordering something she could have and exhausting the patience of our server with these restrictions. Natalie was AMAZING in every facet of our experience. She was extremely friendly (something sometimes hard to find in MoCo), patient, and really cared about the our experience at the restaurant. And her recommendations were SPOT ON. When dinner came it only got better. The cornbread was moist and fresh. The fried chicken was juicy and the crust flavorful. My mother barely spoke while she devoured her salmon and fall succotash. The crowning jewel was the red velvet cake. I'm southern and a pain in the rear about my red velvet. It was moist, the icing the perfect amount of tang from the cream cheese, and it wasn't too cocoa-y. The best red velvet, hands down, I've ever had. My mouth is salivating as I type this review. Cannot wait to go back.
(5)
Amy O.
Super impressed with this place. The ambiance was comfortable...the menu expansive. I had a great salad (smaller portion) and a bowl of the tomato soup. It was a perfect lunch and tasted excellent. My colleague ordered the reuben and loved it. He also had their homemade ginger ale and was delighted. Ordered another one (they don't refill on their sodas). Service was great. The only note is that their menu is super expansive. I recommend checking it out online first and have some ideas in mind.
(5)
Brett H.
Amazing place. Met with a new client of mine. The restaurant is clean and I love their open plan feel. We had a couple of drinks and was sold on the Skirt Steak Enchilada. My client had the Prime Rib and Gazpachio....... For dessert we had the cookies and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Our waiter was friendly, informed and entertaining I would definitely be back.
(5)
Louis G.
Sadly not as good as the original. The pot roast in particular wasn't up to snuff. I'll be sticking to DC from now on.
(3)
Arthur K.
Good food. Slow service. Got the hot dog dish. Not bad I have to say. Bacon cheese hot dog was the least favorite. House-made pastrami hot dog was delicious. Apple Gorgonzola flat bread was delicious. Flat bread name is a bit misleading, its more like sliced toasted bread. The service was slow. Like real slow. And that's the general consensus between several friends that have gone in the last few weeks. Drinks took a long time. Orders took a long time. Food-to-table took a long time. I'm thinking they are just getting up to speed though.
(3)
Jerry E.
I ordered prime rib for dinner and it was not "melt in my mouth" as I had expected, notwithstanding the fact I ordered medium rare. So, I was disappointed. Also, the halibut was mediocre, too, when comparing with those that we had in Anchorage, Alaska. The establishment deserves between two and three stars, and I gave it two because they refused to seat us for a table of five when only four were present, and one was trying to find a parking space. Service wise, was topnotch. Oh, be prepared to wait when you visit the place, not sure what all the hype is all about, other than their proclaimed freshness of their foods, organic, being friendly to our environment, etc.
(2)
Candice H.
I came on a Sunday night and it wasn't too packed. My friend and I shared the biscuits (chow chow is great...I want a jar of that stuff in my house!). I had the maple glazed chicken which was really good. We got our food before we got our drinks which was a little annoying. All else, we had great service, good food, and a nice ambiance.
(4)
Julie K.
We were able to get a reservation on line. Food was good. Nice variety of different foods. All staff we encountered were very friendly. We never felt rushed during or after our meal even on a Friday night. I know there was an hour wait for non-reservations. I would go back again.
(4)
Caroline G.
The service at this place was awful, and serious points are mega deducted for this. This was my second visit, first for brunch. Our server was slow, and while she was nice and smiled, did not remember anything we wanted. We asked twice for ketchup, jam and syrup. She brought only syrup and asked us if she forgot anything. UHHHHH...YEA YOU FORGOT THE OTHER 2/3rds of what we wanted. In the meantime, while we were waiting for our ketchup and jam, our eggs and biscuits were getting cold. We saw her visit the table near us TWO times, without giving us another glance. In the end we had to flag down another server, who then promptly brought us what we needed. Second, we requested that our poached eggs be extra runny. It came well done. Since our server never came back to our table, we had to ask another server to have the eggs re-made. AND when the bill came, we were actually CHARGED for the two eggs. RIDICULOUS. Just saying, don't get your hopes up. It's nice to have a classier dining place in Rockville/Potomac, but they still have a ways to go to nail down the whole dining experience.
(2)
Grace L.
I've been to the DC location and was disappointed by the food... but at the new Potomac location, I was disappointed by the service. I understand that it recently opened, so they are probably still working out the kinks. I made a reservation on Open Table for three people, and when my party arrived (right on time), the hostess said they were running 30 minutes behind and didn't seem to apologetic about it. When we did get seated, our server wasn't very good at recommending menu items. Someone I was dining with ordered soup, and when it came, it was the wrong kind of soup! He asked the server to bring him the right one, and the kitchen sent out the SAME one! Twice they got it wrong. It was very frustrating. I ordered the Rockfish, which was pretty good. I would perhaps try this place again once they figure out how to improve on their service.
(2)
Lawrence H.
We've been here a few times and we'll be coming back. We haven't had anything on the menu that we haven't liked. That being said, it only gets 4 stars because there are some things we would like to see on the menu that they do not have. Try the bacon lollies, the shrimp & grits, and the milkshakes. You also can't go wrong with any of the burgers.
(4)
Shelly N.
I love a good breakfast place and am glad to have made the trek to MD for breakfast. I checked Open Table for a reservation and was disappointed to only find one for 1:15pm --which meant we'd have to wait for more than an hour if it was full. I made the reservation and crossed my fingers we could squeeze in earlier since we were past the brunch crowd. When we arrived, it was busy but had a few empty tables so we lucked out and got a table right away. The staff were fantastic--very warm and friendly even though they were swamped with people at various stages of their meal. Our server even took extra time pointing out various items. The food was plentiful and tasty. I'll definitely be back since the menu had too many temptations to pick from. The presentation of each dish kept everyone's eyes staring at each others plates...it's always good to keep an eye out for what we'll try next time. I highly recommend the beignets and their dipping sauces. They didn't last long between the two of us. The restaurant was packed and quite noisy...not really a great place for a group to be able to carry on a conversation from one end of the table to the other.
(4)
Tuesday's S.
Food is terrific. Just terrific. But the service really needs to be improved (and given the consistent sentiment in these reviews), it's a common occurrence. First visit, we both had the chicken & waffles, as well as the cornbread. The chicken was moist, delicious, just great. Waffles were great. Mac & cheese is the side and it's also terrific. I don't think the cornbread was worth it -- it was just OK, and not necessary with the volume of other food (except that the main dish took a while to arrive). Second visit, he had a chili cheese hot dog and a pastrami dog with fries. He enjoyed it (rolls were excellent), but would do the chicken and waffles again. I did the plank salmon, and it was really really good. But I would do the chicken and waffles again, too. So many other things look delicious on the menu as well - eager to try those. Service - We have gone mid-Saturday afternoon twice -- there were lots of other diners, but no line. On first visit, a woman who appeared to be the hostess said hi and then walked off without asking us anything further. We stood there a little confused when a second hostess came by about 3 minutes later. On both visits, the server was friendly and helpful, but disappeared for long stretches. It takes a while to get appetizers, drinks, entrees, bill. It's not a quick experience, and you won't see your server for a while. Ration your beverage - or get a water, too - because you might wait a long time for a refill. Is it because it takes so long to turn out the food, and the servers don't want to have to field questions about how long the food will take? There seem to be enough staff, and yet it's far from a well-oiled machine. I can't imagine going at a peak dining time. The food is fantastic, and we'll keep going back, but having a service overhaul or better systems in place would really help.
(4)
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Address :12505 Park Potomac Ave
Potomac, MD, 20854
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jodi C.
I had been literally DYING to come to Founding Farmers, when fellow Yelpers Chris L. and Ruth C. suggested we go for brunch one Sunday I was more than thrilled to jump in the car and head to MD. First thing I noticed was the planters right outside the entrance, serving as the permanent home to potted cabbages and cauliflower. Brilliant touch! The foyer was packed but I had used my trusty Yelp app the night before to make reservations with Open Table - I highly suggest you do the same. There are hundreds of reviews for Founding Farmers, I am pretty sure I share the same views as most of the people that have dined here so without a lot of detail, here is what I think... The Pimcup - a mix of cucumbers, mint, gin and tonic water, served incredibly full and blissfully strong. Deviled Egg Combo - Served on a wood plank, (2) each of regular, lobster, crab and smoked salmon. LOVED the lobster and crab varieties, not a huge fan of the smoked salmon, maybe too much smoke? Bacon Lollies - Okay, lets be real here, these are a gimmick and it is damn good too. Literally bacon, candied, served on a pitch fork. Benedict Arnold - A spin off the typical Eggs Benedict. English muffin topped with breakfast sausage, poached eggs and smothered in black pepper gravy, served with hash browns. - This was run of the mill blah, certainly not the flavor explosion I was expecting. The hash browns were bland, no flavor at all. I wish I had gotten the chicken and waffles! Red Velvet Cake - Okay, see, here is where you are going to be happy you waded through my rambling... get the red velvet cake, you'll thank me later. I don't even like red velvet cake that much, but this was to die for!! There were three of us eating it and still couldn't get though it, the slice was gigantic!! Beignets - It's a running joke among my Yelper friends to order beignets. We have had some good, some ugly and some that are flat out not edible. These were delicious! They were served with chocolate sauce, caramel sauce and raspberry sauce - we inhaled them! The service was upbeat but at times a little slow. I really can't fault our server, the place was full to capacity so drinks and food were taking a tad bit longer to come out than I would have liked, but that's par for the course when you are at a popular and packed place. I will be back - particularly to try the chicken and waffles.
(4)Gahee L.
I've now dined here twice and will probably return to try some other menu items later. First and foremost, I strongly suggest that you make a reservation regardless of if you're going for lunch or dinner, weekend or weekday. As huge as the restaurant is (2 floors with outdoor seating), it is almost always packed. Even with reservations, you most likely to have to wait a bit. Parking is a bit of a hassle and always in scarcity so just be aware of this as well. As soon as you walk in, you'll notice the noise level. Very noisy. But it makes for a happy atmosphere. The service is prompt, courteous and professional. The waitresses and waiters know their menu quite well. The food always takes a bit too long to come out but given that they make all of their dishes from start to finish, the long wait can be pardoned (slightly). I have had the Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke and the Goat Cheese Ravioli with Chicken Cutlet. The Tuna Poke was great and simple although I was a bit confused by the restaurant's use of the napa cabbage instead of lettuce as the salad base. Napa cabbage has a slight sweetness to it and is much, much thicker than lettuce. There were also thin pieces of white chocolate in the Tuna Poke; I couldn't tell if they were there accidentally or intentionally placed since the menu lacks descriptions of the dishes.. either way, these factors made for a memorable dish. If you're looking to get full though, or want something flavorful, this isn't for you. The Goat Cheese Ravioli with Chicken Cutlet is exactly as it sounds. There are 6 pieces of ravioli stuffed with goat cheese and 2 pieces of flat, fried chicken on top of buttered squash. I underestimated the 6 pieces of ravioli; there's so much goat cheese stuffed in them that I could hardly finish the 6th one. The dish was good, though just a tad too salty.
(4)Kimberly C.
I have only ever eaten here for brunch. I have been to this location and the DC location an equal number of times, and I have to say I prefer this one. The food and service are consistently better. Not to say that I have never received frustrating service at this location (it is difficult to understand how I can be ignored at the bar when the staff is RIGHT THERE) but that seems to be low frequency and the food is consistent. I prefer this location for brunch and I am sticking to it!
(4)N B.
What a find, awesome experience ! We sat at the bar and were delighted that it offers a full menu, sophisticated cocktails made the old fashioned. way and great service. Alex was our server and Tim checked on us too. Although we expected excellent food, the superb service really put the 5 in our 5 star rating.We'll be back for the great food and exceptional service - all at modest prices.
(5)A K.
Met a friend here for breakfast on Saturday morning. We started with the beignets - which are so amazing. I would go back just for the beignets. I followed up with the Founding Farmers breakfast - which came with eggs, a choice of bread (I had a buttermilk biscuit), a breakfast meat and a side (I had the leek hash browns). My friend had the blueberry french toast. I can't wait to go back! Would love to try their lunch and dinner. too.
(5)Elle Y.
"Hi, we are Founding Farmers. We are a farm to table restaurants where our ingredients are locally sourced..." If I got a dollar for every time I heard someone say that about Founding Farmers, I would be a rich woman. But, their food is pretty legit so I will ignore the constant bombardment of restaurant propaganda and concentrate on reviewing the restaurant experience itself. My friend made a reservation, and we were immediately greeted by the hostess as we were walking up to the restaurant (VIP status, hello?). We were seated upstairs and ready to feast. The cocktail menu looks AH-MAZING, but we opted for wine instead (not that I was complaining at all). The menu had a lot of words, and a lot of reading was involved. But like the waiter said, the salad descriptions didn't list all of the ingredients so that was a bit of a WTF in my book. Obviously if a girl is going to get a salad, she's the type who needs to know exactly what is in it. Duh. But, once we got over that, it was smooth sailing. We couldnt decide on whether we should get the cornbread or biscuits so instead opted for the third choice: the bread and crisps appetizer that came with an assortment of dips (avocado, pimento, some chipotle type mayo, etc...). The dips were pretty darn good, as were the deviled eggs. Now let's be real. No one wants to hear a review about a salad, so instead I will review my friend's fried chicken and mac n cheese. They have the option of Northern or Southern fried chicken, but definitely get the Southern. WTF is northern fried chicken anyways? It doesn't even sound appetizing. The chicken was awesome, and the mac n cheese was heavy. Like, good heavy. So, that's a definite DO GET. Finally, when it came to check time, they bring the bill out in a cute little mail box. How friggin adorable.
(5)Amanda P.
I've been here a handful of times, and I've never had a bad meal. The service is also great - they really take care of you. Make sure to get the table biscuits with the honey butter, and try the chicken and waffles at least once. If you're going for brunch or you want a great dessert, get the beignets. Make sure to make a reservation, it gets pretty crowded!
(4)LN G.
Our experiences at Founding Farmers have been mixed. The service is usually very attentive and everyone is always friendly. The decor itself if fun; my kids love the fake mouse hidden by the stairs. The biscuits and pancakes are always a big hit. I also love the angry pasta. And the mixed drinks are always perfect. Unfortunately, as a vegetarian it has become harder to eat at this restaurant. I realize they have a meatless menu, but a lot of those items are very soy-heavy or just have not been great when we have tried them. Normally we could make due ordering off the normal menu, but Founding Farmers uses beef fat in their fryer, which means that many items that are usually vegetarian (french fries, fried green tomatoes, and french toast just to name a few) suddenly have meat in them. Also, even though we always tell our server we are vegetarian, I have had to send back my scrambled eggs twice because there has been bacon mixed into them. I wish Founding Farmers would remove the beef from their fryers. We would eat here much more often if that was the case....
(2)Boris S.
Crab Eggs Benedict $14 (6/5 NOMs) I'm just yoking with excitement for this breakfast! Holy Benedict these are some of the best Eggs Benedict in town. Two large poached eggs are nice and firm on the outside and perfectly runny yellow yoke on the inside. It was beautiful, so much yoke just flowing everywhere. So many places over cook their poached eggs, but not here, it was prepared to perfection. Noming adventure doesn't end there, it comes with two fresh large crab cakes. Seasoned to perfection with a nice kick that compliments soft running yoke goodness. Complete this great dish with Crunchy potato goodness, shredded leek hash browns. Perfect portion size of this dish, that completely satisfied this hungry nomster. Must try dish during their breakfast and brunch. Prime Rib Dip $17 (4/5 NOMs) Mhh dipping good! Get ready for one massive sandwich with thick layer of meaty goodness of prime rib Very soft and tender and enhanced by au jus dipping sauce. Comes with their yummy fries. Can't believe this is one sandwich! Thing is so massive that I was only able to finish half. Made for a great lunch next day. The only thing, they don't give you the dipping sauce to take home. What made the experience so much better is our amazingly hot waiter. Butternut Squash $6 (5/5 NOMs) Made us feel all squashy on the inside. Get a spoonful of this extremely nomnom butternut squash soup. Seasoned to perfection this is a great way to start your noming adventure. Very smooth light flavor with a slight after kick. Comes with a giant crunchy bread thats perfect for dipping into soup. Can totally go for this again. True Chef Salad $15 (4/5 NOMs) Its crazy world! Is this a salad or meat entree? Hard to tell since there is turkey, ham, prime rib. Pretty much half of the entire cabbage head with sauce and meat on top. Everything mixed together made for a delicies salad meat dish. Love the addition of french dressing and Devil Egg. Can't find many salads with devil egg in them. I guess normal egg is not enough, bring on the dark side! Warning, do not try to eat the whole thing. You will loose and only suffer. Make sure to try to eat half of it, I know it will be hard, even I could not stop until I felt sick. Just taste so good Farmers Chips $9 (4/5 NOMs) What the chip! Those are not your weak bag chips, but super chips! I think these chips will ruine you for any other chip. Large and thick and crispy, now thats the way to make your chips. Comes with three different fun dips, cheesy, honey mustard and some green stuff. Why just dip chips when you can also dip cheddar crisps. Entire chip made out of cheddar. Thats just crazy world out there! Great to share for a large group. Cracked Black Pepper Wings $9 (5/5 NOMs) WOW these wings were amazing! It was like a perfect mix of sauce, seasoning and grilled wings. Mhhhh I so want to try this again. A must try small plate appetizer. Great to share with friends or eat all by yourself. My mouth is watering just by looking at this picture. Grilled Cheese and Clam Chowder Soup $10 (4/5 NOMs) Mhhh its double the gooey goodness with Grilled Cheese and Clam Chowder. Grill cheese sandwich was extremely cheesy gooey with three cheese combo Gruyere, Cheddar, and Muenster. Only thing better then cheese is more cheese! Originally this order came with Tomato Soup, but they allow substitution with soup of the day. I'm happy, usually not a big fan of tomato soups. Bacon Wrapped Dates $9 (5/5 NOMs) Wrap me in bacon goodness, great way to start your lunch is with anything wrapped in bacon. These dates were amazing, You can really taste balsamic glaze and blue cheese with hint of sweetness. The only major issue with this order is that we ate it too fast!
(4)A K.
Based on yelp reviews, we knew not to expect the greatest service. Our waitress was ok, didn't go over the specials, but food came out in a decent time. Table Biscuits with Honey Butter were good. Enjoyed the Chicken & Waffles, Cheeseburger, and Potato Salad. Potato Salad was made with their house-made pickled vegetables and no mayo - was delicious. Milkshake was good and very creamy, but reminded us of a McDonald's shake which was steep for $6.
(4)Natasha S.
My fiance and I had been wanting to try Founding Farmers before the Montgomery County location opened, but never got around to it. Finally, we decided to come here for our late anniversary dinner. It was a Wednesday night, we made a reservation even though we thought it wouldn't be too busy. Man were we wrong. It was PACKED. So glad we made reservations! We were actually about a half and hour early for our reservation but they had us seated immediately upon arrival. Our server was a little shy and not very engaging which we actually kinda prefer. Call us anti-social if you will but we just cannot stand sitting and listening to super upbeat servers tell us their life stories. This guy was fine but he did seem a tad nervous. For appetizers, we had; Oven Roasted Cracked Black Pepper Wings Late Harvest Salad (Spinach, Belgian Endive, Balsamic Onions, Apples, Egg, Bacon, Blue Cheese, Barrel-Aged Sherry Vinaigrette) The salad was delicious but had way too much dressing. I would definitely order it again and ask for the dressing on the side or to go easy on it. The wings were AMAZING. They were crispy and juicy with the perfect amount of flavors. The wings were a winner! For our entree's, we had; Crab Cakes Shrimp Bucatini My fiance really liked her crab cakes, but I wasn't really a fan of them. I thought they had too much seasoning, I prefer my crab cakes more au naturel. My pasta was amazing though. The pasta is handmade and if you like thick pasta like me, you will love Bucatini. It's a pasta that is super thick and hollow in the inside, so the sauce gets stuck in it and creates the best texture and flavor when biting into it! The shrimp was delicious! And the sauce was ahhhhhhmazing. It was a tomato, roasted pepper cream sauce and was very filling. Generous portion. I loved everything I had and wouldn't hesitate coming back again. Pricing is a little high, but you pay for what you get. It's real food and you can even taste the difference. Although, they do tend to oversalt, so you may want to request less salt if that is an issue for you. Plenty of parking. Definitely make a reservation if you can!
(4)Jennifer F.
Slow braised beef short rib is the best!!!!!! I always get so full after eating the entrée and never got to taste their dessert.
(5)Tuyet V.
My favorite breakfast place in the MoCo. Service downstairs/main floor is pretty good, for some reason, the service upstairs isn't. I always make reservations on the weekend, but normally there isn't much of a wait. My boyfriend and I normally get something sweet and savory, with a side of grits (a must). The stuffed french toast is bomb.com , which is always my go to.
(3)Jen C.
We enjoyed our first experience here. We started with the prosciutto fig farm bread - yum! My fish special served simple style was delicious. The brisket was served on the bone and was also good. The sides we chose were the cucumber/snow peas, beans and pearl pasta. We would recommend all the food we had. We were able to get an OpenTable reservation on a Friday night and were seated in reasonable time. Regarding parking, if you go at a busy time and there isn't room in the parking lot, you can also use the garage and have your ticket validated by the restaurant.
(4)Kate O.
Absolutely adore this place. I hadn't been in a while (just under 2 years). I am always pleased when I go. Seeing the other reviews, I need to get there for brunch! Since it was a Friday during Lent and I am still one of those crazy Catholics who abstains from meat (lol), I got the salmon made simply with salt and pepper. It came with a lemon for extra seasoning and it was just delicious. I got it with green beans that tasted so fresh I thought they may have just pulled them from a secret garden outside. I got the mashed potatoes with them and they were good, just a tad on the garlicky side though. My boyfriend and I went with another couple, one of my best friends from college and his wife. They were also pleased with their meals of chicken and waffles and chicken pot pie. My boyfriend got the lobster mac and cheese...he let me have his leftovers for lunch on Sunday and my goodness it was fantastic, even two days later! The cocktails are to die for here--they make one of the best sazeracs I've ever had. I had the triple layer chocolate mousse cake with the semisweet chocolate ganache for dessert and goodness you'd think I'd died and gone to heaven. It took me three days counting the night we went to eat it. It was the size of my head--and that's saying something! Overall, I plan to return again someday! It was fabulous.
(5)Mina C.
I've been to the founding farmers in MoCo and DC several times now. I've always had different experiences, and each visit was notably unpleasant. Overall, I love the idea of founding farmers. Local. Fresh. The last time I came here just left a bad taste in my mouth. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. No humidity, mid 70s, basically a perfect day to grab lunch/brunch with someone. Me and a gf came to celebrate her engagement. I came early knowing it might be packed. Parking took me over 15 mins. Everyone here disregarded street signs, and right of way. So, I was already annoyed, but the restaurant can't help how people drive. Okay, so I put my name down and I am told it will be 45 mins- 1 hour. Long wait. My friend was running late so she suggested we just meet somewhere else that might be a little faster. Founding farmers texted me 1 hour and 45 mins AFTER I put my name down. REALLY?!?!?!?!? What if we had waited (there was a STRONG chance of this). I usually hate leaving places because you have to drive + have a possible wait at the new location. 45 mins doesn't seem all that long if you drive 20 mins, and wait 30 mins somewhere else. But seriously?!... I am glad we decided to leave, because if we went with my first instinct to wait, two extremely HANGRY girls would be very unhappy. NEVER. AGAIN.
(2)Joanne L.
I came here for brunch today with my family and had a great experience. I would highly recommend everyone to make reservations, as it's a pretty busy place. We started off with beignets and they were HEAVENLY. Each order comes hot with six beignets with three sauces on the side- chocolate, caramel, and strawberry (I think). They were the best pastries I've ever had. Next, I had the traditional eggs benedict and a red velvet pancake. The portion for the eggs benedict was much larger than I expected and it came with a side of leek hash browns. The hash browns were great- they tasted light and weren't greasy at all. The eggs benedict was pretty good too, and I loved the red velvet pancake as well. My brother ordered the chicken and waffles. They're not really my thing, but he enjoyed it. My dad liked his cheeseburger, and my mom enjoyed her egg platter which came with eggs, has browns, a biscuit, and a sausage. We also ordered their soup of the day, gazpacho with crab, which was decent. They also serve freshly squeezed juices, which were tasty. Overall, this place was great! Service is wonderful too. We made a reservation and were seated immediately after we got there. Our waitress Kim was very friendly, attentive, and upbeat. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Chop Y.
My new favorite restaurant on the east coast. Great atmosphere, service, and food. Now I have a new perspective on American culinary arts. I enjoyed the food so much I forgot to take photos of them. Make a reservation. You will need it.
(5)Deb G.
I've heard about Founding Farmers for quite a while, and was excited to try this outpost in Rockville. Why has no one mentioned what a strange location its in? It's like this little shopping center in the middle of construction and nowheresville. So, when I eventually found it...the decor is definitely cool. I especially liked the jars of pickled veggies throughout the first floor. Our server was super nice and was very helpful in talking through parts of the menu. I decided on the shrimp Louie Cobb salad and a house made ginger soda, while my dining companions got shrimp and grits and an omelet. My salad was beautiful and huge - I sort of wished I had taken a picture. There wasn't a ton of shrimp on my plate, but each shrimp was large and dressed in Louie sauce. There were also tomatoes, avocado, an underripe mango, and potato-cauliflower salad. Let's hit the good stuff: that potato salad was outta sight! I wish I had more, because it was divine! Unfortunately, the rest wasn't overwhelming. The shrimp was good, but because it was the only dressed part of the salad, you had to cut it up and spear a tomato and grab a lettuce leaf and shove it into your gullet all at once. The salad was served on a flat plate, so it was impossible to mix up - not a good move. The dish was also under salted. There were some flakes of kosher salt sprinkled here sbx there, and every time I found one my mouth was like, "yeah! This is what was missing!" I felt that was about the shrimp and grits too -salt would have kicked it up a bit. But I digress. Basically, I had a nice salad. It seemed kind of expensive for what I got, it was pretty noisy, the parking is not great, and it is way the hell out of the way (for me). I don't see myself going back anytime soon.
(3)Seema K.
Felt discriminated against by the head hostess. Was bypassed for seating by numerous other walk-in customers. Waited for a table of 3 for an hour and half (told 45 min upon arrival) and after numerous follow-ups they continued to prolong our wait. That's when we decided to leave. Never returning to this location.
(1)Sky T.
This is by far the best founding farmers location! The food is amazing, and the drinks are the best I've ever had. The staff is incredibly helpful and nice, and the service is extremely fast! I've eaten almost everything on the menu and have yet to taste something I haven't liked (the lobster mac and cheese is my fave). My fiancé and I eat here at least twice a week as no other restaurants in the Bethesda area compare. The only thing I would suggest not to get is the cobbler dessert. It's always far too runny and could use an extra 15 minutes in the oven. Be sure to try them for brunch too, but it's best to make a reservation because they are always busy. We often end up sitting at the bar because its first come first serve and you don't have to wait too long. Also, if you live closer to tysons that location is pretty good too!
(5)Nora V.
My husband and I went to the Founding Farmers for the first time today after multiple friends had highly recommended the place. Delicious raviolis+chicken on butter quash purée!! The place is very nicely decorated, the ambiance is excellent and the service is outstanding.
(4)Shelly J.
This is one of my favorite places to eat for breakfast. Making a reservation through their open table is a joke. What is the point of having it if your wait staff doesn't even acknowledge your reservation and offers any table? The restaurant was empty. During the week so I dont understand why the table I wanted wasn't available. Instead I was seated near a rowdy family and a couple with a crying toddler. Not cool. Weekends here is like standing in front of grand central station. At least the host was nice. Actually he was the only friendly face there. Half the time I dislike coming to this location is because of the snobby waiters and waitresses. My party loves coming here for the. Delicious benigets and chicken and waffles. The drinks are overpriced! $4 for an ice tea?! So we order off the breakfast menu And get their chicken & waffles with scrambled eggs. The waffle was a bit dry and semi warm. Our waiter (older guy. With white hair) appeared to be annoyed when we asked him for something so simple. I was so close to the kitchen i felt like walking in and getting it. The water comes in a clear like what milk use to come in. Ours was lukewarm. No ice and no straw. We were never asked about our meal because waiter seemed ticked each time I asked for like more butter or sauces. Then he comes with a portable mailbox. Like he was ready to get rid of us. I told him I wanted one more order. So we had to wait. Then we get the to go order and see that I only got syrup I asked for extra sauces this time I asked a younger waiter with blond reddish semi curly for more. He too seemed annoyed that I had to walk up to the register to speak with him. He then says okay rudely. And he then says something to the other waiter about me. Like really? Is this high school? 5 minutes goes by and I'm Waiting! I asked him again and this kid snaps at me telling me that the other waiter put in the bag. I was like um no. Could you please hand me some? He then reluctantly gives it to me. I should have just return the order and asked for refund for what I had to experience. I should have scratched out my tip because both of their behaviors were uncalled for. The food is ok but the wait staff have issues! The maple syrup is so delicious! Vermont grade A with vanilla and cinnamon. Eggs are great and so Is the chicken. If I could rate the service here I give it a 2.
(3)Dmitry D.
This place has the best stuffed French Toast iv ever had. Fresh bread stuffed with cran and blueberries on top. And they pastrami hash wad good full of fresh vegetables and eggs were perfectly cooked. We will be back. And my wife finally got her latte with those nice designs on top.
(5)Luna H.
Second time here and I've got to say, food-wise I left very satisfied. Everything tasted super fresh and delicious. The service wasn't bad at all, considering it was Valentine's Day 10 am! I think this is one of my favorite places to eat out, especially for breakfast/brunch. It continues to amaze, and I can't wait until I go again.
(4)Michael S.
Great service. Great food. Had a wonderful time dining here. It was a little busy so it took a little time for the server to come to our table. We ordered the brie bread and fried green tomatoes. Both were delicious and we decided to sample their menu and ordered 3 entrees. The lobster mac n cheese, chicken and waffles and the land and sea which is a steak and lobster tail. All the ordered items were fantastic and will definitely be returning to try more menu items. Also we were told the sides for the entrees change daily. Definitely a place you should check out if you have the time
(5)Erin W.
I lived in Vermont for a good number of years, and let me tell you; The Queen city and her surrounding areas are the royalty of the Farm-to-Table concept. Many of what I would consider to be "quick-bite" joints practiced local, fresh, and sustainably. When I learned my next stop would be the DC 'burbs I was a little more than concerned about the food situation; especially dining out. I got just a little crunchy living in VT I guess. Anyways; overall MoCo Founding Farmers did not disappoint. The food was good, fresh and had some real character. This wasn't your unchained Applebee's knock off. We started off with kettlecorn, and it was a hit all around the table. The coffee I had with it was good. Not fine-European-cafe good, but good. As in, I doubt it came out of a K-Cup good. The meals options were creative, yet many of them were heavy on cream, butter, and cheese. If that's your thing, great. If it's not, make it your thing for the duration of your visit, or you'll be missing out. (Don't bring your lactose-intolerant or vegan pals here). I had the chicken and waffles, since it was highlighted in many Yelp reviews, and I gotta say, Yelp wins again. If you can't decide, I'll make it easy--get the chicken and waffles. And may I add...that's real maple syrup in those bottles. So, I loved the food, and definitely give it a 5 star rating for it. But I can't give the place an overall five-star rating..here's why. The first mishap was for our starter, I was given a dirty plate. Ok. that happens sometimes and they corrected it when I pointed it out. If it ended there, I probably wouldn't knock off a whole star. The second incident was that we were waiting and waiting and waiting for our starter (the popcorn) and it just never came. So finally the de-facto leader of our merry band asked, and it turns out they had burned it. We were all a little upset because of the lack of communication. A lot of times, servers will pop out and say "Hey, there was x,y, z that happened. We're working on making it right". A little communication goes a long way. I realize the service industry is hard and I'm not a server so maybe I shouldn't speak too much on this. But it is what it is, and without impeccable service, you can't have that last star. The final disappointment to me (as I said, i got a little "crunchy" up north) was that for a farm-to-table place, I was shocked that they kept bringing me coffee in new cups. I would have been happy to have the coffee poured into the mug I was using. I was thinking to myself "How wasteful now that they have to wash 3 mugs for one person". Now this isn't "poor" service by any means. But it's not remarkable. If I go back and things change, I'll be thrilled to update my review. Because I think there's probably a plate of chicken and waffles calling my name somewhere out there.
(4)Richard J.
I was not that thrilled. I had heard good things about this place and decided to try it yesterday for lunch. I had ordered the classic deviled eggs and the seven cheese mac, when it came out it looked delicious. When I bit into the macaroni, which I know that they make, it was gummy. I make my own pasta and have not had that happen before. The deviled eggs had chunks of uncooked onion in the filling and the filling itself was chunky. I will go back and try it one more time, but I will order something different.
(3)Angela I.
Tried this place for the first time today and it was amazing!! I ordered the fried free tomatoes (they were pretty blah) but my entree was great! I had the boneless ribeye with mashed potatoes and green beans with candied lemon! Superb! My friend had the scratch stock (I pretty sure that's not how to spell it) chicken with a maple thyme glaze, green beans and baked beans! She loved her food as well! I was stuffed to no dessert today! But I def can't wait to return and try the table biscuits and beignets!! Yum!!
(4)Samantha L.
Tonight, my friend and I dined into MoCo's Founding Farmers. I've been hearing good things about this place from coworkers, family, and friends. Now, I've finally got to try it. The restaurant is well lit, spacious, and quiet enough to have conversations among guests. It's a great place for a date or to celebrate a special occasion. The hostess and server (Scott) were very welcoming and friendly. Our server constantly checked up on us to see what we thought about the food and if there was anything we needed. The Arnold Palmer was served not mixed - it was quite refreshing! I ordered the Lemon Meunière Diver Scallops, which came with four large tender scallops in lemon brown butter sauce and served with butternut squash risotto. It was a pretty garlicky delicious dish. Also, risotto was creamy and rich due to the parmesan cheese. My friend ordered the Fish and Chips, which came with a 8oz Spinner of Today's White Draught Beer. For dessert, we shared a Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with Raspberry Compote. The texture of the cheesecake was smooth, rich, and creamy. The cheesecake was phenomenal! I would definitely return to this business and I would highly recommend it to others.
(4)Dori M.
One of the most allergy-friendly restaurants we've found that the whole family is happy with... The bacon lolly's might have something to do with that! The staff is knowledgeable and when in doubt they'll provide a cheat sheet of nut-allergy friendly menu items including modifications that can be made. We're sold.
(4)LaShawne H.
I love this place. I would come every week if it wasn't 1.5 hours from my home. The carrot cake pancakes and the red velvet pancakes are amazing. I've never had anything on the menu that I didn't love. I love the hand spun beverages. You will not be disappointed. So worth the wait.
(5)Jeffrey H.
One of my very favorite restaurants in the DC / Baltimore area, and my absolute favorite restaurant in the region at the less than $100 / two level. What makes Founding Farmers really special is that they take traditional staples, and somehow take them a notch above. Take for example something as basic as fish and chips. Or hot chocolate. Or a breakfast scramble. Biscuits. Ribs. Mac and Cheese. Founding Farmers takes the same classic dishes, and does them better - more tasty, more crispy, more flavorful - than your average three-star pub or restaurant. They even make many of their own sodas and their own drinks. And to top it all off, you get generous portions of everything. You've read the hype online about the table-to-farm Real Food. It's pretty much on the mark. When they bring the food to the table, you can tell that what they make is in fact made from scratch from fresh ingredients. With only a few average nights, everything I've had here over the last three years I've been coming regularly, for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, is just all done better than your average restaurant. Enough to make it very much worth driving out of one's way to go to (and it's an easy drive right off 270), just north of the beltway. There are nights when it gets especially busy - and reservations are a *must*, and once in a very long while there are some nights the kitchen seems off. But those sorts of bumps are expected; no place is perfect. I've been here at least twenty times, brought over a dozen of my friends here, and myself and my guests enjoyed themselves greatly. There's a *reason* why this place is busy as heck, and has earned repeated accolades. Yes, there are certainly better restaurants in DC, but not at this price range. If you want a really special meal *without* spending Michelin-star money: Founding Farmers in MoCo is most definitely worth the trip.
(5)Jose C.
I came to this place earlier in 2014. The customer service was great. Recently, I came again and the service was horrible. We were sat fairly quick since a lot of tables were empty, but for some reason it took someone to recognize they would be the ones serving us. I would say almost 15 minutes. We missed breakfast by 4 mins which ok, it's our fault. But they were not willing to make an exception. The food is good, I really cannot complain about that. But if you're expecting great customer service, prepare to be somewhat disappointed.
(3)Vivian H.
I came here with a group of 6 on Sat and got seated right away as we had a reservation. The waitress had really great attitude and explained to us in detail the special drinks and food items of the day. She also let us know that both the breakfast and lunch menu were available at the time. For those of you who have dietary restraints, I found out that Founding Farmer's has a special gluten-free menu so that's def a plus. Now on to the food: 1.) Beignets -We got one order of beignets for the whole table to share and that was def a hit with everyone. I really loved that light and airy texture of the beignets paired with the 3 diff dipping sauces (strawberry, caramel, and chocolate). This is def a must have here!! 2.) Ahi Tuna Poke -This was the dish I ordered. I love avocado and tuna so gave this dish try. All the ingredients tasted fresh but the dressing was too heavy for my taste. I think it would've been better if they just lightly season the dish and put the dressing on the side. 3.) Yankee Pot Roast -I only had a bite of this dish that my friend got so can't really provide a detailed review but I did think the meat was pretty tender and that the seasoning was well balanced. 4.) Chicken and Waffles -Again I had a few bites of the chicken and I thought the texture of the meat was great but again it was a bit overly seasoned for my taste. 5.) Sausage, Mushroom, and Spinach Pan Scramble -This was a dish from the breakfast menu and my friend who got it didn't enjoy it that much because it was under seasoned and it seems to be the type of dish that one can easily make at home. Overall I think my experience was positive with a few misses on the food but I still may give this place a try in the future as I did really like the ambience/service and it's in a very convenient location. From my previous visits and this most recent one, I think maintaining that consistency on the food would be a main area of focus for the establishment.
(3)PHAN D.
After a disastrous first visit, I gave this location another try. Several minutes after being seated, I still hadn't been greeted by a server. When I did get acknowledged it turns out that this person had passed multiple times earlier without stopping. He immediately asked if I was ready to order. When I asked his opinion of the menu he brightened up and gave hearty recommendations. Since I was dining alone I had the smaller order of devil-ish eggs (classic). Be sure to order the set with upgraded toppings such as lobster. Had the shaved steak open-face sandwich for my meal with avocados, horseradish cream and caramelized onions. Presentation is excellent and the dish was amazing. After a rocky start the experience was overall quite good. Not sure why there would be such a wait for service after the lunch rush has died down but this is definitely a great dining location.
(4)Peter M.
For me as a European, this is a great introduction to (hopefully) classic American dishes. We loved the Southern chicken. Service was perfect, prices reasonable - a great night out. (The location is a bit soulless, though.)
(5)C. A.
Recently visited this restaurant and I must say the food was amazing. We had a party of 12 and everyone ordered something different so we could "sample" a variety of food at once. I must say everything I tasted was amazing, but what stood out the most was the cornbread and the devil egg seafood appetizer...O-M-G...I think we ordered 4 of those and someone in my party ordered one to go...SIMPLY DELICIOUS! The serve was good, our waitress did a wonder job ensuring we were well taken care of. The drinks were okay as I enjoyed my cucumber delight...it was very refreshing and the cucumber and cantaloupe was a very nice touch. I definitely recommend making a reservation as it appears to get crowded. I will be back...I have more stuff to sample.
(4)Anna A.
This is by far one of my favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner spots. Everything is so fresh and delicious. I'm a huge fan of the red velvet pancakes and also their handmade pastas. The decor and ambiance of the restaurant is also a huge plus. My favorite part about the experience other than the amazing food is that cute little mailbox they put your check in. Only reason I didn't give this restaurant 5 stars is because sometimes when I make a reservation they still make me wait a good 10-15 minutes. And sometimes while I'm eating I feel like they're rushing for me to get out. If I want to converse with my friends that's my right!
(4)Ne F.
Tried MoCo's Founding Fathers today for the first time. I was really disappointed. We tried the beignets which very airy and watery. Not even close to the real thing. For brunch I had the waffle and biscuit and gravy. The waffle had no flavor and was also thin and airy. The biscuit was tasteless also. The gravy was flavorful but it was skimpily poured on top of the minuscule biscuit. The salad I had as a side was a pleasant surprise. Most side salads are all lettuce, this one was topped with avocado, grapes, cheese, tomatoes and nuts. My boyfriend has the dinner chicken and waffles and enjoyed everything except the waffles for reasons explained above. The mac & cheese was runny, but had a great flavor. He was really excited to come today after having a great experience at the DC version. Maybe we will have better luck trying that location next time.
(2)Nick C.
We were here last week on a Thursday and it was not too crowded. We had chicken and waffles, deviled eggs, fried chicken southern style and butter squash ravioli. Liked it all but the deviled eggs. The eggs were just bland and had a "refrigerated too long" taste.. The chicken and waffles were great. The syrup was thin but tasted wonderful. I would recommend the waffles just to try the syrup. The ravioli was a good but the sauce was too basic and not well put together. Just ok. Kids liked the fried chicken and the service was good. Sodas are made there and very pricey but good. Would go back but not as good as the hype. Some menu items seem like a one dimensional take on a classic. No spark, unoriginal. But will go back.
(3)Rick S.
I've heard people raving about Founding Farmers for nearly a year before I finally got out there for Sunday breakfast (not brunch) last winter. My girlfriend and I made a reservation for 2 and everything, but there was a big snow storm the night before, so the place was practically empty. They sat us over farther away from the door, which I was grateful for since it was pretty cold out and it helped avoid the drafting, but our server kept forgetting about us. There were maybe 5 parties there. I don't know you can forget anyone when you have so few tables. They even turned the lights off in our section while we were sitting there. After just looking at each other in disbelief and waiting a couple minutes, I went over and let them know we were still sitting there and hadn't received any food after waiting nearly a half hour. Our food came out and it was fine. Definitely not bad, but definitely over priced for what we got. I don't plan on returning any time soon. I've heard that their actual brunch is really good, but it's not even worth it to try for me. The only way I'll be going back is if I'm with a larger group that's got their mind set on that place.
(2)Jeffrey K.
Overall decor was nice and farm themed which was fun. It seemed like the patrons were a bit more dressed up with dress shirts/ dresses on a Sunday night whereas I was reppin' the west coast in shorts and activewear. It was a nice place where you could have a normal conversation without having to whisper. The service was pretty standard. Water was filled appropriately and dishes were removed in a timely manner. The waitress kept asking what we wanted to order, which I can understand because she wants to move people in and out, but honestly, their menu has a huge selection so it's hard to pick immediately. AND NOW for the FOOD, We started the table off with some farm breads with pimento horseradish and pickled tomatoes. This was amazing. I was not expecting this from some vegetables cheese and bread. Whenever I order a meal, I always choose meat, but fortunately my friends chose this. I would recommend. I ordered the farm platter which was essentially a sampler. The chips that come with it were pretty standard and not at all oily. I think they were baked. The potato salad was unique with no mayo. Not bad. The mexican corn that had cheese on it is not as good as in california, but I can't expect great things like that over here when it comes to latin cuisine. The sliders had good flavor, but the buns were a bit dry overall not bad. The ribs were not that great. I prefer dry rub ribs, but these were slathered in sauce and were on the fattier side since it seemed that the ribs were pre-boiled for faster cooking. And last of all was the mini sausage hot dog. It was a mini sausage in what looked like a piece of texas toast folded in half. It was good.
(4)Candice D.
Saddened by the overall 3.5 rating for this place, I decided it needed more justice. I've been celebrating my bff's birthdays here for a year and it's a great location for just that. Just visited on July 17, 2014 and I was excited to see that not only did they have a menu change and kept favorites such as the kettle corn popcorn and Lobster Mac as menu staples. (I can't get enough of each dish.) The dishes are homey and yet inventive at the same time. Can't go wrong with any of their popcorn choices, as mentioned, the kettle corn is freshly made and comes out hot (but be careful, I was too eager to dive in and shocked my tongue a bit!) The balance between sweet n' salty is brilliant! Main dishes are very filling and typically require with a to-go box. Try something new when visiting; good to know so much of that's offered is fresh, made on premisses, and healthful. Very vegan and food allergy friendly. The staff does a greet job making you feel at home and suggests their favorites. Cocktails are on point! I'm a gin girl, so I'm partial to The Constitution (a vibrant ginger infused, gin cocktail). Desserts are fantastic! I recommend the homemade bingettes or the huge bowl of homemade chocolate moose (ideal for a group of 3 or more genuine chocolate lovers!) Reservation definitely recommended and FF is on OpenTable as well.
(4)Kelly C.
Sweet dear baby Jesus in a manger this place is fantastic. Nearly everything on the menu is made from scratch and sustained locally. Tastes like moms southern cooking. You could eat here for lunch and be full the rest of the day. I've been here three times now and have tried: the honey thyme spatchcock chicken, the chicken pot pie, and the southern fried chicken. Fresh delicious ingredients. They also make their own sodas. I've had the ginger and the orange. I liked the orange better. The El Presidente cocktail is awesome! They'll also catch up to you. The tater tots are amazeballs. Everything here is so tasty!! I really can't say enough good things. MAKE SURE TO MAKE A RESERVATION. Very popular place.
(5)Tera K.
We got there at at 10:40 not realizing that you couldn't order both breakfast and lunch. They start serving lunch at 11:00. We asked the server for a minute to decide. He never came back to check on us. We flagged him down after 5 minutes and he rudely signaled to us that he would be right over. After passing our table twice we just walked out. He never suggested that we wait for lunch or offer us drinks again. Too bad the place looked nice and he would have gotten a nice tip if he would have been even a half decent server. Pretension doesn't pay the bills when you employ people that lack similar qualities.
(1)Richard w.
Go to the bar, get a cocktail (they make 'em pretty good here), have a little nosh (nothing too adventurous here), and eavesdrop on the conversations around you. You'll be pleased. If you go for a full meal in the restaurant, you will likely be disappointed.
(3)Wm H.
Excellent food, expect a crowd, this is a downtown eatery out in the suburbs, so you are going to get a high end crowd here. Parking is below so stamp your parking ticket before you go back to your car. Nice farm to fork menu.
(5)Denise L.
So this is my fave, close to home, quality restaurant! I'll begin with brunch. The fried chicken and waffles are out of this world. If you get the brunch option, the dish is served with chicken fingers and more waffles. Since I come for the chicken, I get the lunch/dinner portion of a half chicken and half a waffle. The portions are generous so expect left overs.This dish also comes with two sides (make one of them the mac n cheese, whatever you do). The chicken is well seasoned, moist, served fresh out of the fryer and comes with a side of gravy. The gravy is a nice touch but not necessary. This will take us right into lunch. When Im not ordering the fried chicken, Im getting the oven roasted, cracked black pepper wings. More than likely a side of mac n cheese is lurking. I also like the Yankee pot roast, one of their signature dishes. The beef is roasted to perfection and served with potatoes and veggies. Don't make plans after eating this, you may need to sleep it off. Fair warning. I'll roll this right into dinner/list all of the other dishes that I like... Fried Chicken and Waffles - MY FAVE! Table biscuits - the ones with the honey on the bottom of the butter dish. They will make you want to slap your mother. Deviled Eggs appetizer - Opt for the combo, its a great idea BACON LOLLIS - the perfect mash up of salty, sweet, syrupy, bacony heaven that you ever did bite Lobster Mac N Cheese - Family favorite and worth every penny Chicken pot pie - If in the mood for CPP this is a great place to get it Corned Beef Reuben - Not better than the Corned Beef King...I'd pass Angry Pasta - Great pasta dish, but I always add meat Low Country Shrimp and Grits - Not the best Ive had I havent had any of the salad but there are plenty options. The drinks are great! Try one of their signatures or have the bartender make your fave and I guarantee you will love it. The bartenders are skilled and friendly. In conclusion, you should expect an exciting dinning experience and excellent customer service. Be sure to try the fried chicken, you cannot go wrong.
(4)Benjamin W.
Went here for a birthday lunch with my wife on a Thursday. Had a reservation with OpenTable, and were seated as soon as we arrived. Parking can be a little bit interesting with construction and busy parking lots dedicated to nearby retail, but is not bad with a little navigation. The interior of the restaurant is clean and trendy. I got the Carolina pulled pork sandwich and my wife got the chicken and waffles. The sandwich was great with a crunchy alternative coleslaw and fresh cut fries. The chicken and waffles were great, with well seasoned chicken and flavorful waffles, with great Mac and cheese and green beans. Portions are also generous here, but prices are a little high so it fits. The only thing keeping this from five stars is the server we had was pretty lethargic, rather inattentive, and not too helpful with questions. Other than that, it's close to perfect!
(4)Elizabeth Y.
Love this place!!! While waiting for another member of our party we started off with some drinks which were delicious. Can't remember the name but it had cucumbers and ginger. Started off with bacon lollipops and tater tots that just melted in your mouth. We then proceeded to get the southern chicken. The portions are huge!!! It was good, but a tad on the salty side. The blueberry compote french toast were served as these rectangular blocks, I felt like a little kid playing with edible blocks.. Left feeling very satisfied. Would definitely come back again, but would like to try the DC venue.
(5)Rachel B.
Had a fantastic time here with my mother and grandmother. We shared the brie and bread with the onion jam, which was AMAZING. Never knew onion jam was a thing, but the mixture of sweet and savory is perfect. I also had the crabcake sandwhich. There was a pinkish sauce that I got on the side, but it complements the sandwich perfectly. My mother got the scallops in the meuniere sauce, which I thought were pretty much melt in your mouth good. My grandmother got the fried chicken and waffles. This was the winner. End of story. Service was good. My water glass was rarely empty, and the waitress was thorough in her explanation of the items on the menu. Overall it was a great experience.
(4)Marie-Noelle C.
I've been here many times since I don't live too far away. There are days they are awesome, some days they are not, but overall I keep coming back because for the most part it's a solid place to eat. They use high quality ingredients, the staff is generally nice, and if something is not correct, the management is very quick to resolve the issue. Reservations are highly recommended! It's always packed. For brunch, I love the red velvet pancakes. For dinner, the Farm Breads (Brie, Onion Jam, Sliced Apples) is a great app to share.
(4)Tiffany J.
I went to this restaurant last night for my friend's bday dinner. It was my first time trying the well-knownFounding Farmers, so I wanted in. The atmosphere was cute and cozy w/ dim lighting, perfect for a date. The water is served in glass milk jugs and they give u small glasses to refill yourself, ice available upon request (it's filtered...oooohhh!). I ordered the chicken & waffles (I'm on a quest to see who has the best in the DMV) which came w/ a side of Mac & cheese and green beans. I subbed the beans for the sweet potato with pecan butter (DELICIOUS). The chicken was perfect crispy, slightly salty, but I'm just glad it was seasoned well. The Mac was sooooo good, but idk if they added salt to that too or not, hopefully not seeing as how cheese has enough salt. It only comes w/ half a waffle, mine was cold and wasn't bready like a normal waffle, it was super crispy. I wasn't feeling it. It came w/ a side of icing looking situation, but I got syrup instead. Didn't like the syrup, they serve the real stuff and call me childish but my palette doesn't like authentic maple syrup. I had a couple glasses of water that smelled like dirty dish water so I had to ask the serve to replace them. I'd try them again overall, but i'll def order something different.
(3)Angel W.
My opinion of this place has not changed much over the years. It's still a mediocre experience. And it's as crowded as ever for reasons unknown to me. Parts of the decor, atmosphere and menu deceivingly lead people to believe they are in for a treat. I could tell that my friends were excited so I felt the need to warn them that the service is extremely slow, that the menu looks amazing but the food can be somewhat tasteless, and to be prepared for the cheesy mailbox that houses the check. We ordered drinks first - pineapple soda (okay), OJ (I remember it being much better before; it was slightly warm), and a bellini (my sister-in-law added several pours of honey and even some strawberry jam to liven it up a bit). She ended up drinking the entire bellini and commented on the nice buzz it offered, but then it slowly turned into a buzz overkill. This is what we had for lunch: 1) eggs, salad, grits (it was okay. The dressing was too sour tasting and gave my sister-in-law a coughing fit), 2) chili dog+shrimp roll+crab roll (the chili dog was good but the shrimp roll was filled insufficiently, 3) I had the bacon burger (which has a vegetarian base (beets, grains) with bacon flavored tofu, tomato, pickle, sauce). It was actually one of the better things I have tried here. It came with a small side salad. At the end of the meal, both of my friends concurred that the experience was lackluster. My brother told me that he didn't appreciate my warning them and that he was excited to try his food but after he took a bit he knew what I meant. It's like every dish is missing a few ingredients to make it restaurant quality. Most dishes appear to be three simple ingredients thrown together without much attention to the details (spices, sides, accompaniments, etc). Also considering everything is supposed to be prepared fresh in-house, I am amazed at how much cold food I have been served over the years. The menu is another issue. They don't have a gluten free menu. They also have a separate vegetarian menu but it's advertised towards meat eaters. So for instance they call a veggie burger a bacon burger or a turkey burger even though it's not. My brother said they just want to appeal to meat eaters but my opinion is that there is already enough food on the menu for meat eaters. Why no appeal to the vegetarians who are always lacking options? Also, what is up with the weird placenta sac hanging on the ceiling posing as a cloud? And what about the birds hovering overhead about to drop a load on the diners' heads? It's quite scary.
(3)Mary Q.
Haven't been here in 5 years and unfortunately nothing has changed: service deplorable for number of waitstaff available, food served lukewarm, my dish had to be remade. I think I am done.
(2)Jeanne K.
I came here with a friend for brunch. I immediately noticed it was not as packed and noisy as the DC location, which I appreciated. I like to actually hear my friends speak and not feel like I'm being rushed. I ordered the red velvet pancakes, which I thought was tasty. The portion is huge, so it's definitely good for sharing. I also ordered a side of thick cut bacon, and the name is deceiving because it was not thick cut at all. It was thin and not worth the $6 (or something) I paid for it. While I liked the pancakes I ordered, they weren't particularly great. We ordered brunch cocktails and while we liked them, it was pretty pricey. They're also currently doing construction nearby, so when we sat outside, we could hear the drilling. It wasn't too bad, but definitely not a plus to the dining experience.
(3)Anne L.
Not sure if we stopped on an off night but it was not up to par. I have eaten here before but it was the first time for my husband. Service was good, our waitress was very attentive. We started with apps, he the stuffed dates and I, the fried green tomatoes. Both were good...of the two, the tomatoes were better. He had the fish and chips and found them a bit underwhelming. Chips were mixed with french fries and were not hot on delvery, merely warm. I had the Scallops with risotto-mash and found it to be very salty. The sear was good but the risotto was meh and over the dish was greasy and the saltiness just too much. Rather than drop $90 on a meh dinner, next time, I'll grab some fresh fish and grill at home.
(2)Allison K.
Went for brunch. Atmosphere is awesome and food was a little above average (hard to really screw up breakfast). Here is the deal: people come for the food, but return for the service. I would go somewhere else. Hostess seats us and asks, "is this your first time here"? I reply, "yes." She then says ok and walks away. ?!?!? I was waiting for her to go into detail or point out specials. She didn't even say "welcome." Bizarre! Then our waitress seemed like she was hungover or depressed! Drinks would get dropped off with no straw...missing utensils... Sigh. Too many good restaurants for that.
(3)Kelsey I.
Food is great. Ambiance is great. No competition in the area. But there are some consistent downsides. Parking is an issue, which seems inexcusable in a newer shopping development. Aside from the paucity of spots, the labeling is weird and has been re-done a few times, making it confusing. Do I pay? Do I get a ticket validated? Is this spot for this business? Can I park by the grocery store? The entrance to the restaurant is easy to spot but difficult to get to. There's no designated walkway, so you'll be dodging traffic and plants and squeezing through 12 inch openings between railings. And the service.... Oh the service.... Terribly slow during both peak times and off-peak times. I don't think it has anything to do with the kitchen, as the food is delivered promptly by runners. It's definitely the servers who take forever to greet you, take any orders, clear your dishes, etc. They are nothing but nice in the process, but usually I don't devote 2 hours to brunch or a weekday lunch. And if I do, I'd like to be eating and drinking the entire time. If you've got some time on your hands, try the honey butter cornbread. The entrees are so diverse that I hesitate to give recommendations, but most of their vegetarian dishes are inventive.
(3)George M.
I am a fan. The tuna salad thingy is amazing. great coctails. Usually packed but I have had luck finding a bar stool where they serve full menu. Super super friendly bartenders; I would go just for that. Even so super busy and hip(!), they are not pretentious in the least. Parking is funny. Even though its in a run of the mill office bldg next to the hwy, they charge for parking even after hours, unless you validate which I always forget to. You can park at Harris Teeter next door but you know....its not recommended!
(4)Aimie D.
The 2 stars are for their excellent food. I subtracted 3 stars for service. I arrived with my children, 3 & 11, at 830 and we were seated immediately. A few minutes later a woman, who I would later learn was the manager, stopped by to take our drink order. She assured us the waiter would stop by soon. 10 minutes later he did. We told him we were waiting for a friend and ordered begniets. 20 minutes later I flagged him down and asked for the begniets and he told us they take 20 minutes. Good to know, I probably would have ordered something else if I'd known that. Toddlers need snacks if they're going to wait patiently. At this point our drinks are empty and our dining companion is late and can't be reached so I decided to order but couldn't flag him down. Another server delivered our begniets finally and we're delicious. I asked her to take our order. When our food was delivered it was delivered incomplete and by yet another waitress. I was unable to get anyone's attention and so I got up and asked to speak to the manager. When she came I explained what had been happening. She apologized and left. A minute or so later our long lost waiter appeared with the missing items and drink refills. He then apologized and told me it was my fault he hadn't been by and that I should have said something to him before speaking to the manager. Completely inappropriate and terrible customer service. He was very attentive after that and the manager did remove an item from our check but it doesn't erase the bad experience. Our friend did finally arrive and we enjoyed our food but we won't be returning and will definitely not be recommending Founding Farmers to friends.
(2)Beth C.
Let me start with this - I have been to this restaurant multiple times and have always enjoyed myself but never felt overly impressed; I think this place is over-hyped. My most recent experience was possibly one of the worst experiences I have had at an upscale restaurant. I made a reservation for Saturday night at 7:45 for a party of 6 to celebrate my younger sister's birthday. When we arrived at 7:40, the host informed us that we would be seated "in a few moments" as they were just getting our table ready. We were seated at 8:20pm. Our server was extremely sweet but unfortunately didn't come over to take our drink order until another 5-10 minutes after being seated. Then the drinks that we ordered took another 10 minutes to come out. Because the drinks took forever, and it was getting a little late for my sister and her friend, we decided to skip appetizers and go straight to entrees. Our food came out around 9:00/9:15pm. (An hour and a half after the original reservation time...) Unfortunately, there were a few minor errors with the food. I had ordered a salad with dressing on the side and so had another guest in our party, but my dressing didn't come out with the order. My brother had ordered the Meatloaf and Gravy which came without gravy and a meatloaf that was quite dry. Another sever came by our table and bought us the gravy and dressing that was missing after we had to request it. Halfway through our meal, one of the hostesses came over to ask how everything was. We informed her the food was good but service was just very very slow. She apologized and told us she would take care of desert and some drinks for us and told us she would get refills of our drinks sent to us. Those refills took another 10 minutes to arrive. And throughout the whole meal not one glass was cleared off the table. We ordered some deserts and I told the server that it was my sister's birthday. Those took about 15 minutes to come out also. So we eventually finished our whole meal around 10pm. Sensing we were a little unhappy, when our meal was over, the manager came over to speak with us. We told him that the food was nice and we generally enjoy coming here but tonight the service was just extremely slow. He was very apologetic and offered to invite us back to the restaurant to enjoy a better dining experience. I understand having a Saturday night rush, but surely a restaurant that is constantly busy should have a team that can handle a big rush of people? I was probably most disappointed that our reservation was kind of pointless seeing as we weren't even seated until over 30 minutes after our reservation time. Foodwise I did enjoy my meal - I ordered the Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke salad, it was delicious rare tuna in a crispy green salad with a very Asian inspired dressing. I especially loved the white chocolate shavings in the salad- they added a great twist. I just wish their menu was a little more descriptive - nothing is really explained. Overall if you have never tried this place, go ahead, but I may pass next time.
(2)Alex C.
While the prices can be steep, the food here is pretty darn good and the portion large enough that you won't leave hungry. My steak left much to be desired, but the chicken and waffles were pretty good. All the sides were good and definitely were tasty compliments. My only major complaint was the pan cooked, not seared, steak; and my dark and stormy that needed a lot more rum in it.
(4)Rebecca O.
I had the chicken and waffles on my visit to Founding Farmers. The portion sizes are big, so go hungry. I'm pretty serious about my fried chicken, and the fried chicken here is pretty good. Nice and juicy, could have a little more flavor. The waffle, I kid you not, tasted like beer. I'm thinking they maybe used yeast to make it. The service could have been a little more attentive - we had to ask for the specials, veggie of the day, etc. Many of the dishes feature the veggie of the day and the other specials, so this kind of information is important when choosing what to eat. They were overall very nice though. Prices are a little steep but typical of farm to table restaurants. Definitely go and try it out, if at least just once. There are lots of good options of the menu and my party enjoyed everything they ate.
(4)Mia N.
We drove all the way to Rockville area, which I haven't done in more than 10 years. It was a nice drive on a beautiful Saturday morning. This is pure American comfort food heaven. We don't normally eat this type of heavy gut filling food, but it was very satisfying and reading the menu was exciting and fun. They serve huge portions, and we had to doggie bag my son's and my entrees of fish and chips and macaroni and cheese. Truthfully, I can't eat this type of food every day. It's too heavy and I came home and went to sleep for 5 hours. It's like eating Thanksgiving food, good for once a year. However, my little boy loved this place so we would definitely go again to the new one being built closer to home in Tyson's. I did not like eating in the upper level of this restaurant, felt closed in with the low ceilings like eating in a basement. So it's nicer to eat on the bottom floor with a view of the high ceilings. Next time I will just order appetizers and a salad because this food will put you in a coma. A lot of people were ordering fried chicken and waffles, which is something I could never do...For 3 entrees of a ruben sandwich, mac and cheese, and fish and chips along with 2 appetizers of biscuits and a huge metal pot of kettle popcorn with drinks and tips we paid $72. A little much, but would be good for family get togethers.
(4)Mrs. Linda J.
My husband and I frequent this place for breakfast when we are in the area. I'm in love with their breakfast. The hot sauce bacon is to die for ! Last week I had the banana foster stuffed French toast. That was HEAVEN on a dish. I love the scrambled eggs especially the ones made with sausage, mushrooms and spinach. I love their grits, I love the entire breakfast menu to be honest ! I have them 4 stars because sometimes their service isn't as good as it should be. We had a tall bald waiter two weeks ago and he took forever to take our order and to clear our plates and to bring our check. Other than him I've had great experiences.
(4)Thea B.
This is my 4th time eating at Founding farmers and I've been delighted every time. The last two times I've gone the two selections that I'd recommend is the Bacon Lollis which are candied bacon on skewers, YUM! The second dish is their fried chicken and waffles. Talk about a hearty plate. Not only did I get chicken and waffles, but there was also the house mac and cheese and green beans. Also, of you have dietary restrictions such as being glutarded you'll be in good hands as they offer up gluten free or vegan/vegetarian options. I'm already looking forward to my next meal.
(4)Steven W.
When it comes to vast selections of quality ingredients you can't go wrong with Founding Farmers. Locally sourced and homemade items line the menus for breakfasts, lunch, and dinner. Clam chowder, founding farmers breakfast, and mango soda (seasonal) are my favorites. Make a reservation if you can especially on the weekends.
(5)Dana M.
Birthday dinner with family and friends! We had a party of 11 on a Friday night, and had made a reservation about two weeks in advance just in case. We all had a great time and everyone really enjoyed their food! I'd never been to this location before, but I have been to Farmers, Fishers, and Bakers a few times. LOVE the concept of the restaurants, and I'm very grateful the waitstaff is so knowledgeable about food allergies - makes it really easy for me to eat there. Best of the appetizers: - deviled eggs seafood trio - with smoked salmon, crab, and lobster. smoked salmon was the best! - farmers pitchfork, with bacon lollipops. caramelized with cinnamon and brown sugar. because...BACON. - mussels with sausage and pesto - bacon-wrapped dates Basically all the appetizers were a huge hit. On to the entrees... I think four people at our table got the chicken and waffles. all LOVED and raved about it. I had the spatchcocked chicken with honey thyme glaze. Great flavor! Don't worry, they don't give you an ENTIRE spatchcocked chicken. Just a small half. Great reviews for the diver scallops, mac n cheese, angry pasta, and skirt steak with chimichurri sauce too. Desserts! rave reviews for the beignets and triple chocolate mousse cake (very rich! you'll probably want to split it...) I had the potomac park sizzle to drink (with coconut, passionfruit, lime, and bitters) - it was good! a little too sweet for me though. And my friend had the clementine, with chili-infused tequila and pineapple. She said it was great! I want to get my hands on the cookbook so I can recreate everything at home!! And of course MUST come back for brunch.
(5)Pablo G.
Over-rated! Over-rated! Clap, clap, clapclapclap! Seriously though, this place is ok, some items are even good. But it really isn't all that, and from some reviews and word of mouth, you would expect it to be much better. Diet coke from a can? Just weird. I ordered a burger and asked "so that come with lettuce, tomato, and onion?" "Correct" What I got came with those toppings, plus pickles and a sauce I was told is just mayo and ketchup mixed. Had I wanted those, I would have asked for them. Nowhere on the menu did it say those are standard toppings, nor did the waiter mention when I asked about the toppings. When I asked for a new bun, the waiter tried to suggest I try the sauce. When I mentioned I hate mayo and all things mayo, he bristled and reluctantly brought me a new bun 5 minutes later. But the burger was good. Just not worth the price or the attitude. Meh.
(3)Amir Matin S.
I was thinking about giving this place 4 stars, but I couldn't bring myself to. Frankly, I haven't had a bad dish at Founding Farmers. The cold flatbread appetizers are deeelish! My favorite is the brie topped with apples and jam. The Yankee Pot Roast (aside from the name - GO O'S!!!) is great! Meat just melts in your mouth, and the vegetables and mashed potatoes complement the roast beautifully. Swordfish - cooked and seasoned perfectly! Shrimp & Grits - UHHH-MAZING! A subtle smokey flavor that really lifts the whole dish. The entree salads are great. WHICH PART OF "I HAVEN'T HAD A BAD DISH AT FOUNDING FARMERS" DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND??? GO HERE!!! NOW!!!! (If you're going for brunch or dinner, make reservations).
(5)Jane D.
The food at FF is delicious and creative. The diver scallops are my personal favorite. The bleu cheese ravioli was masterfully crafted but i would recommend passing on the butternut squash ravioli. As delicious as the food is, it's also grossly overpriced. $10 for four dates filled with cheese is hard to justify. The portion sizes are fair- not too much, not too little. The ambiance would be nice if not for the overwhelming noise level, which is ever present as I've never seen the restaurant less than completely packed. The customer service from my last waitress was poor, but typically the servers are good.
(4)Jen P.
I've been here a couple of times. The drinks are great. The service is usually pretty fine. The food is pretty good with decent options for all types of eaters. Brunch is probably the best deal, especially if you get the beignets. However, the best thing about it is since its in MoCo, you can walk in to the place and get a table fairly easily (not at peak times) without the wait for the location in DC.
(3)Peter B.
This review is in response to 2 visits I had at this restaurant. Christmas Experience My parents insisted that we go there because it's one of their favorite restaurants. This was actually the absolute worst experience I've had a restaurant to date. We made reservations for 3 and sat at the bar waiting. Cocktails were fantastic and really not too pricey for the quality of alcohol you're getting. We were seated in reasonable time. Nothing wrong there. Our waiter comes and gets our drinks and, for some reason, informs us that he is tired because he's been working all day. We're all pretty sure he's baked. Which.. Whatever as long as he can do his job you know? Wait time for anything was insane which is understandable for Christmas. Appetizers took 25 min and we had to wait another half hour for our food. The whole time in-between we NEVER saw our waiter except for once about 5 min after serving our appetizers when he informed us that our food with be out shortly. My parents food was ok, but I ordered a steak medium rare and you could tell that the steak had been cooked perfectly and then was sitting under the heating lamp for 10+ min and had turned to a a solid medium-well and had completely dried out. When our waiter came back after bringing out the food, I told him and he got hostile and rushed it back to the kitchen saying something like 'well it looks fine to me, the chef won't be happy about this!' Like Im supposed to give a f*ck? Within 2 minutes a new steak was brought out which was literally uncooked. The chef was clearly mad it got sent back, not realizing it was the waiters fault, and had spitefully sent back a steak that hadn't even been cooked long enough to cook the outside fully. It was still moo'ing and the plate was covered in blood. We got the manager and she was clearly stressed from the business but was nice enough to comp our meals, but I left starving and was extremely unsatisfied. Today's experience Got breakfast with my dad here after he insisted that that was just a one time thing. Got the biscuits and gravy and was unimpressed. It was deconstructed so the white gravy didn't have any sausage flavor and ended up making it a little blah. Poached egg was overcooked on top so there was no runny yolk goodness. Biscuit was good though. Got the seasonal fruit as a side and most of the cantaloupe pieces had rind on it so it was unpleasant to chew. My Dad had the eggs Benedict and said it was incredible so maybe I'm just unlucky. Would not recommend honestly.
(2)Cheryl L.
came here with my girl for lunch during a day of playing hooky and this is now my latest fav in the area. the chicken & waffles dish is incredibly mind-blowing, a much healthier version than the ones i usually get in atlanta, yet more tasty. I basically love everything about this restaurant-- the ambiance, the drinks, the food, the service, the parking. and esp the chicken & waffles.
(5)R P.
A really good restaurant! Lots of gluten free options and the food is so fresh! Get the kettle corn! It is such a treat! Has vegetarian options too which is nice? The fresh soda is delicious too! The ginger one was amazing!
(4)Jen L.
The service and food was enjoyed by all will be back soon. The drinks are interesting and love the ambience. Can't wait to return.
(4)Charlotte L.
The last few times I went to Founding Farmers I was dissapointed. Even if you make a reservation, you will NEVER be seated on time. I had to ask several times what the status of our table was, and the host staff tend to get annoyed... but I find that always having to wait over 15 minutes for your table, with a reservation is a bit obnoxious. Also, there is no waiting area when you walk in, so everyone is just crammed by the revolving door, and you're always in the way. The past two times I have been for brunch hour, the staff is pleasant..... but as soon as they clear off your plate... ( which they come and ask you if you're done about 3 times) they tell you "whenever you're ready..." I really dont apprecaite feeling rushed when I'm eating, and felt very uncomfortable. I understand they are busy, but you should never make a customer feel like they need to RUSH out as soon as they are done eating. Despite the above dissapointments, the food is always very good. I just wish the atmosphere was as pleasant and up-beat and the staff was as attentive as when they first opened. It is always a shame when restaurants loose customer service points because they are too busy.
(2)Mike N.
Came here for valentines day and it was perfect. I ordered the Brie apple and onion jam bread, fried green tomatoes, and the chicken pot pie, and my girlfriend ordered the chicken and waffles. Our appetizers were mouthwateringly good. The food was so good that luckily the portions matched our appetite. I highly recommend both of them. After taking a bite of her Chicken and Waffles, I immediately regretted the pot pie. It was decent for what it was, but the C&W was out of this world. Founding Farmers has the tastiest, sweetest syrup that took the dish to another level. It was so good that I begged the waiter for a bottle of it, but sadly no dice. That dish was just perfection. The check came in a cute mailbox that fit the decor well. I've been to both the DC and this location, and both are equally good. This one is nice because you avoid the traffic and hassle of the city as long as you go on 495/270 off rush hour.
(5)Marc L.
Ate here for a festive send-off dinner as our daughter departed for an academic year abroad. Great atmosphere, imaginative and healthy menu, fabulous bar and beer list, great service. I think this is now our "go-to" informal yet special occasion restaurant.
(5)Francesca B.
I went to MoCo's Founding Farmers with my mother for dinner. There are three main dining areas- outside, 1st floor and 2nd floor. We dined upstairs and the tables are a bit close together where you are listening to other people's conversations. The food was delicious, especially the bread/cheese appetizers.
(4)Rob C.
Arrived 5 minutes early and was seated promptly on time - pretty good for a table for 6! (4 adults, 2 children) on a Friday night. Food: good sized portions for the blue cheese burger and regular burger and seafood pasta. The beef was cooked perfectly medium and had great flavors mixed with the bacon and blue cheese. Drinks: Brooklyn Water (beer) was a good lager. I haven't had the other beer selections, but all of the beers and non-alcoholic beverages are brewed from "local" craftsman
(5)Neri A.
I love it here. Homemade lemon-like soda like no other. I always add lime to my citrus soda but this one hit it right on the spot. The fried green tomatoes, the biscuits....yum. The goat cheese burger was amazing. Love the decor and overall atmosphere. My only regret is that I was too full for dessert.
(5)Leila T.
Had high expectations, really liked the concept but I feel the food was rushed and not well executed. Ordered the constitution (gin, seltzer, camomile, ginger, blueberries) - they forgot the selzer. To start ordered the Brie, onion jam, apple flatbread. They forgot the apples so I sent it back and out came a new one. Tried the cornbread which was perfect, whole kernels, warm and enough for 4 people. Served with honey and butter on the side. For my main course I ordered the "meatless" loaf. Entire dish was room temp/cold, meatloaf looked like cat food, you could not slice into it, rather it needed to he eaten with a spoon, (like they had a big pot of it and just spooned big globs onto the plate). The texture was just unappetizing, chunky and almost like gruel they serve at prisons. Potatoes were cold and lacked flavor, brocolini also cold. Husband ordered prime rib which he liked. I would likely return to give this place another shot. Love the local, home made, green concept. Kitchen needs to work on the vegetarian menu (and ensuring dishes are warm and including all ingredients before they are sent to customers).
(2)James G.
This is a wonderful spot. Though ive only frequented sunday brunch, i have enjoyed it wholeheartedly. First: Its an open kitchen dynamic which not only takes guts but means everything must be perfectly organized, not overly noisy, and clean. There not worried about being seen, its a well managed kitchen. The food is nice, simple, well plated, no fuss, great tasting and fresh ingredients and in terms of price, its right up the middle meaning that it wont break the bank for a brunch, lunch, or evening out. Eggs Benedict is a winner. Did i mention the atmosphere, its lovely, warm, inviting, and they make one hell of a Bloody Mary! Keep it coming Farmer's, i will be back for dinner very soon.
(4)Lauren B.
All I have to say is, really? I was on a work trip in this area, and was told that Founding Farmers was the best restaurant around. I was underwhelmed. I will say that the service was good. We had a table of about 15 people, and we were helped by two servers, who were attentive, knew the menu well, offered recommendations, and got things done quickly and correctly. The other plus was that they had a good list of beers. The food however, left something to be desired. Many people around me, excited to have crab in Maryland, said that the crab cakes were extremely salty. Many didn't even finish their plates. I had the Farmers Salad, which had Champagne Vinaigrette - and it was DRENCHED in it. I could barely taste the other ingredients. I have a sister who lives in DC and has been to the one in that area. When I asked her about it after my meal, she too had not been all that thrilled with the restaurant.
(2)Mona R.
Visited here numerous times. The menu changes often which is good and bad. Favorites that we usually order and the wings, the prosciutto flat bread (though it has gotten a lot smaller since opening), the chicken and waffles (syrup a lot more watered down that it was before), the salmon, and the flank steak with chimichurri sauce. The last time I called to make a reservation and came here and was still forced to wait. I was starving and not happy. They were overbooking themselves. Other than that the food is great and pretty good service. The mailboxes with the tab in it are an adorable touch.
(4)Rico S.
The 2 stars says it all. A colleague of mine talked this place up to no end. He smiled when he said that too. When we arrived, I noticed the great ambiance. I loved the decor. Then I noticed the menu. As I suspected, the menu was farm chic. Sausage and eggs turns to andouille and eggs benedict with gouda cheese. Steak and veggies turns into sirloin with watermelon slaw. You get the idea. Orders around the table were as follows: house salad, avocado burger, crisp shrimp and fries, and broiled amberjack on a salt block. For the sake of brevity, based on what everyone at the table said, the grades were B for the salad, A for the burger, D for the shrimp, and C+ for the fish. The fish was good, but the portions were small. After my 2 hour trip home, I was just as famished as when I first arrived. If it weren't for the salt block, I think it would have been a lot worse. The burger was cooked well done and yet still was moist and juicy. The avocados were fresh and tasty. According to my boss, the shrimp were "about as good as a place down the street from my house." That's not saying much given she lives in the semi-hood. There was no feedback to me about the salad except the plate was empty. I rarely go to Rockville, but the next time I go the only reason that'll get me to MoCo's again will be the lack of anywhere else to go without thinking.
(2)Rae M.
This eco-friendly restaurant serves up farm fresh and home cooking to their customers. I'm a fan for life. Went for breakfast the other day and had the chicken, waffles and eggs and everything was outstanding! They even have syrup with cinnamon sticks infused in the syrup! TO DIE FOR! My party of 5 had 9:45 reservations and it was the perfect time to come for breakfast because the rush doesn't seem to come until around 11 or so. I even ordered freshly squeezed orange juice! I haven't been to a restaurant that even offers freshly squeezed anything, let alone orange juice. WINNING! Even if you don't have to go to the bathroom, go anyway. The decor and the size of the handicapped bathroom will impress you! Awesome quotes and cute little murals grace the walls. Remember the Hen on the door is for the chicks and the Bull is for the dudes. Granted, they do have "W" and "M" on the floor to direct you, but if you're like me, you would be too in tune with the mirror to really pay attention to the letters. This is a cool restaurant with interesting choices for your taste buds.
(5)Karen P.
I just have to review FF once again, but not with very many stars. The blueberry pancakes are still AWESOME!!!! However, the service was definitely lacking on Thursday morning (November 20th) when two friends took me there for my birthday. The server didn't even bring us water or look in our direction for a half an hour. Lucky we didn't notice for awhile because we were chatting. I asked for an extra butter for my pancakes and it wasn't brought to the table until after I was finished with breakfast. That's so un-FF-like. Coffee was offered and ordered only to get a cup of coffee with no cream. When it finally occurred to our waiter that we were annoyed with our service, his reply was "I'm tall and can't really hear you." What? That is just a lame excuse and we weren't buying it. Yes, it gets loud in there, but the restaurant wasn't very busy and not loud at all. All in all, I have to say that this was a one-time experience from one disinterested waiter and I hope he reads this review and learns from it. His T.I.P. depends on it, I'm sorry.
(2)Leellani C.
Went here with the ladies from work, my main office is like 5 min from here so why I've never been here couldn't tell you. I like it, nice place, noisy place, parking can fill up at busy times, and yes parking control will ticket your car, yes they will. Handcrafted soda yup, fresh in house made soda, hand cut fries ( real taters), real bread.... Fun at least for me. I had a hotdog and fries..... Don't go there..... I just wanted something simple......but I shared appetizers garlic wings and fried green tomatoes.....oh and skillet corn bread all yummy. This is about to be my early lunch eat at the bar place, cause sometimes a girl just wants to be alone.......and I want to be alone with a fresh strawberry soda and an appetizer
(4)Dave H.
In short, the food was good. There were problems though. It was Father's Day, my awesome wife made reservations for breakfast here a month in advance and surprised me. We arrived before our 9:30 reservation with our 4 year old and 1 year old daughters. There we are waiting for a table along with other families with hungry kids in the nonexistent waiting area. After about 20 plus minutes they start offering tables outside to people. We ended up taking the offer, seeing as though our kids couldn't last much longer. It may be June but it was darn chilly with the wind, creating problems for my cold 4 year old. Sure, we could have gone back in and waited,but it was getting annoying. We were fortunate to get a high chair, since there were others nearby that had to wait for one. On to the food. The wind affected the food, causing it to become cold quite fast, but I can't hold that against them. I got the farmer's breakfast with eggs, hash browns, and pork breakfast sausage. The sausage was tasty (although not without some gristle). The hash browns were very flavorful, cooked well, crispy on the outside, tender inside. The eggs, which I asked for over-medium, were slightly brown on the outside, and undercooked inside. This is clearly an example of cooking the eggs on a griddle that's too hot. An egg should be cooked at medium-low heat, not on the same heat as the hash browns, in my opinion. My daughter had a delicious waffle. It was crisp on the outside with a fluffy, tender interior. It was gently dusted with powdered sugar with a dab of butter. My wife had Eggs Benedict with crab, which was quite tasty despite some slightly undercooked eggs. We ordered the beignets, which were very good, especially with the trio of sauces for dipping. My wife and I had been to the DC location a couple years ago for breakfast, at which time we were very pleased, and were hoping the same from Potomac. I think if our reservations had been honored in a timely manner as well as inside, my rating could be a bit higher. I'd really like to give the place another try, especially for lunch or dinner, but I'm torn. I don't think it's a lot to expect for a restaurant to be able to handle an anticipated crowd, or to properly cook an egg.
(3)Sarah G.
We walked in for our reservation and were told we would be seated shortly. Good thing we made a reservation. Usually with a reservation we get taken back right away, but 5-10 mins wasn't too bad. We order "sodas" and the phosphate special. They were okay. The phosphate was tart but not sure if that was the mango. But it had the bubbles unlike the "soda" which was more like flavored water. The food was amazing though. Ordered the beignets expecting them to take the 20 mins, but did not. They were so good though. The farm bread was more like bruschetta which I didn't realize so I would have picked a different one, but the one we had was good. Our brunch dishes were the star. I couldn't believe I kept going back for my partners beat hash. Not something up my alley, but couldn't stop stealing bites. My crab Benedict was amazing too. Overall we are excited to go back and they surprised my expectations. Our service was just a touch off.
(4)Jen J.
The stuffed French toast was delicious . Also tried the scrambled eggs and biscuits-they were good too.
(4)Imo P.
Great breakfast place! Worth going out of your way for. Nice ambience, great service. Try the beignets!!
(4)Emily R.
This was my first experience at this restaurant and at a farm to table place altogether. I truly loved my experience and wish they had these where I live in Pa! My friend wanted me to try this out but it was a Saturday afternoon and we knew it'd be busy. The host was so nice and went out of his way to squeeze our reservation in! Our server was great! Nice, happy, informative/knowledgeable, but best of all she went above and beyond to modify menu items and cater to our needs. She allowed me to get a small portion of the farmer's salad as to not eat such a large portion. It was VERY delicious and the perfect size! Loved the dressing! I also enjoyed the most delicious and refreshing Bellini that ive ever had!!! yes it was $12 so i only had one but it was worth it. For dinner I had the califloyr steak and butternut risotto from the vegetarian menu and it was SO good. I wasn't sure I'd like the arugula pesto but it too was great. We opted for a smaller dessert and chose warm cookies. This was probably my least favorite as they weren't as soft and fresh as I'd hoped. The atmosphere was fairly casual, but people did dress nice. It does get loud with all the people. And I would have preferred my water to have been cooler than room temp as there was no ice, but I didn't mind. All in all it was a great experience, friendly and efficient staff and scrumptious food! Can't wait to return :)
(4)Michelle N.
So my husband, myself, and a couple of friends went back to Founding Farmers about a month ago to check out their brunch menu. Everything was going wonderfully!!! It was a gorgeous day and got to sit outside and our server was awesome. Everyone except myself got a drink (I'm currently pregnant) but had their fresh squeezed OJ which was pretty good. My husband got the Bloody Mary and he loved it! We got an order of the beignets which were great, light and fluffy and warm! And then came our meals......our two friends ordered the founding farmers breakfast which they liked and my husband and I happened to order the same exact thing- the Run through the garden scrambler. Well, mine was really really good....it had soooo many fresh vegetables which is exactly what I was hoping for. I asked my hubby what he thought and said it was ok. I didn't understand why he didn't love it as mi has I did since we got the same EXACT thing. So I took a bite and it was so SALTY.....AGAIN!!! How is that even possible??? In my last review, at least a year ago, he ordered a meatloaf that was so salty as well!!!!!!! I felt bad cause I knew he was hungry so we switched plates so he could eat. I like salt so I pretended that it was ok but I could honestly only eat a few more bites. I was really hoping the first time around with salty meatloaf was just a fluke but for it to happen again, during brunch as opposed to dinner, and a year later? Something's up....at least one of their chefs needs to tone it down with the salt! We would've said something but it was the first Sunday of the football season and wanted to get back to watch the game in time. I don't know if my husband would be up for trying the place again....chances are pretty slim. Which is sad cause their DC location is great!!!!
(2)Ashley R.
I made reservations tonight for my mom's birthday two weeks in advance, and called three days prior to make sure that they knew it was her birthday and she would get some sort of special treatment (since any nice restaurant would be more than happy to do so!). Here it is her birthday, with reservations, and they sat her and my dad in the BAR area. Not to mention, the lighting was so dim she had to use her cell phone as a light to read the menu. My dad mentioned AGAIN that it was her birthday in hopes of some sort of effort. All they did was bring out a candle when the waiter brought the check! Seriously....! Don't go for special occasions, ever. The food is okay, but poor service ruins the whole dining out experience...
(2)Bill D.
Great service and very reasonable prices. Basic breakfast items (various eggs, biscuits, ham, grits, etc.) were awesome. However, the steak part of my steak and eggs was a very poorly seasoned piece of flank (hanger) steak. If you visit this restaurant, stick with breakfast basics and stay away from their beef choices.
(4)Quiet S.
A co-worker advised me to make my reservation way in advance so I did on OpenTable. I went to FF on my birthday with my folks and glad I did make the reservation. The farmers chips way too addictive. Wrecked my appetite. And I ended up ordering the seafood showstopper. Two huge lobster tails, calamari, scallops and shrimps over pasta. It was huge portion that I had to take some of it home. I'd go back here for the food, definitely. Desert was OK. I had the Red Berry Port. After all that I ate, I didn't want a filling desert and this seemed to do the trick. What I didn't like - the place was too packed and too loud. No surprise there. What's the point of playing music in this restaurant? There was an obnoxious group sitting behind us and they had too much alcohol. They laughed annoyingly loud and it was right in my ear. I couldn't hear what people at my table were saying. The service was not great. The waiter only stopped by our table once during the whole meal and we waited 30 minutes to get the check after we said we were done. In a packed restaurant like this, we don't need to be waiting that long for the check especially when there's a line forming outside.
(4)Toya D.
Appetizer: Fried Green Tomatoes (sliced nice and HUGE with a heavy batter and good dipping sauces) and Oven-Roasted Cracked Black Pepper Wings (BEST wings I've had in a while, maybe even ever. The glaze was perfect. Entrée: The Macaroni & Cheese (Gouda, Gruyere, Ham, Peas, Apples) was very filling and perfect for a cold Winter day. I'd love to get snowed in with this dish. Me being me, I picked the peas out -- and went to work. This was also my first time trying Rockfish. Good, meaty fish. Reminds me of a "thinner" Grouper (if that makes sense). TO GO: The Popcorn of the Day (only $2 and enough to share) was BBQ. Very well-seasoned with some peppery kick. I order some TO GO, but should've eaten it there (it was kinda soggy when I got home, but I still nibbled on it anyway.) Would order it again and even share. Parking: FREE weekend parking (up to 3 hours). Etc: This location is way more spacious and open than the Foggy Bottom location. Good for groups.
(5)Alex F.
What a wonderful place. Fantastic, fresh food, great beer selection, and awesome atmosphere. Bacon appetizer was to die for, and the steaks were so awesome. A little pricey, but you get what you pay for, and that is quality at this place.
(5)Lindsey J.
This is the second time I've been here and both times I've had a reservation that has been put on hold. The food is great but the service (specifically the hosting) is awful. What's the point of having a reservation if I'm not even seated on times. An 8PM reservation does not mean seat me at 8:30pm.
(2)elaine c.
I tried to dine here with an open mind having heard mixed reviews but was sadly disappointed. The food was just "good" not great & highly overpriced (2 mac & cheese dishes, one w/ fried green tomatoes, a pastrami sandwich with fries & 2 deserts - NO COCKTAILS = $100 for a party of 3) given the quality of the food. We all love a great meal and have no qualms paying accordingly so this isn't one of those reviews written by cheapskates who want the "earth" for the cost of $0.01 (no offense cheapskates *smiles*). Here's the short of our experience: Location: it's actually Rockville and NOT Potomac (we chose this location because we initially thought it was a central meeting point for us (N. Rockville & SW DC dwellers). Reservations - A MUST if you are trying to dine during the brunch/early lunch hours - it really cleared after 2:30ish. Brunch - ends promptly at 1pm (at least on Saturday)! We didn't realize it ended at 1pm and were coming for brunch - no biggie but kinda odd as most brunches end at 2pm at the earliest. Vegan/Vegetarian Menu - only available at DC location, but there are still a few options for vegetarian diners. This was a disappointment because it was one of the reasons we chose to eat here so our lone vegetarian would have lots of options. Service - waitress was great, but the food takes FOREVER to come so be patient or plan on ordering appetizers (HIGHLY recommend the "Smears and Dips" appetizer). Desserts - Flourless chocolate cake was disappointing b/c it was pretty dry & served cold - totally deceptive b/c it has a scoop of ice cream on top which makes you think it's warm! The others were "ok", nothing great, nothing horrible. Noise - this place gets VERY noisy during busy times & there are a lot of kids (which didn't bother us but bothered some diners).
(2)B Z.
ive been here so many times i shud buy stock...but then thatd mean i cant give an unbiased review...oh the dilemma. well. lets start this shall we? for lunch? the vegan bacon burger is great (may not be on the menu anymore must ask though), nice n tastey, if ur not into that? get one of the dogs. the doggers r great cant go wrong, i prefer the pastrami and chicken and crab . and of course get the freakin beignets ANYTIME and i do mean that. theyre best at brunch though as they dont take 5.8 hours to arrive at ur table during w/e brunch hours. dinner? braised ribs of course, but...theyre QUITE pricey, i dont recall braised ribs being $26 most places ive gone, but i may be wrong. umm what else? oh the chicken and waffles @ brunch r hit and miss sorry...but usually, and i mean this about 7/10 times, the chicken is spot on. flavorful nice and crisp, juicy too. i just love the fact that theres a place in moco thats not too far from me that offers such a wide variety of options under one roof. my only gripe is, ive frequented this place since it opened, and i have to say, like all good things...."" (u know the words), and its really sad the food just isnt consistent enough for my tastes, i have my faves, but across the board just too much hit or miss for me. sorry.
(3)Yasmeen F.
This is part 1 of my survey. Our party of 6, glamored by the homestead but modern theme of the hostess stand overlooking the bustling bar, decided to return the following week after finding out the wait would be over an hour and half. Even the restaurant stroll, though very brief, had enticed us to wait another time. We'll see you then for part 2 of my survey... (serves me right not to make reservations...sigh...)
(4)Zach E.
The homemade sodas were delish! I would highly recommend getting one. Popcorn was so so. Would not try again. They have great fish and chips, crab cakes, and fried chicken. The waffles were a little dry for chicken and waffles. It seemed as if the waiter was staring into our very souls as he was going over the menu. Can't decide if it was creepy or endearing, but he was still very helpful.
(5)Jason F.
Not sure what was worse about this meal. The clueless waiter or the HEAVY food that sat with me for three days? Just writing this review is making me feel bloated.
(2)Ali B.
I've been here twice once for Sunday brunch, and once for cocktails/appetizers and both times I have been blown away. The bartender was really helpful and seemed to know her stuff. She spent a good amount of time constructing a perfect Mint Julep for me, and did it with a smile. The food is fantastic. I have tried many things on the menu now, and nothing has disappointed so far. The chicken and waffles are fantastic, as are the wings and brie onion jam flatbread. Yes, it gets crowded and reservations are recommended. Just plan ahead and enjoy!
(5)Kate M.
I've been to FF in Rockville a few times and the food has been consistently good. A bit annoying/difficult sometimes to land a table, but there's not much a popular restaurant can do about that. Service has been great (Server Ellen was attentive and very knowledgable) and the decor gives patrons plenty to look at while you dine.
(4)Meixin W.
my first impression was not great.. first, we were told that the wait for a table for 2 would be 30-40 minutes. that was okay, and the hostess was very nice and actually also very proactive about finding us two chairs at the bar. the thing is, it was a dark, lonely corner at the back. I was pondering actually accepting this, until i saw a fly whiz by me. we went back to the hostess and told her we would wait for a table, which we were led to immediately! in the exact opposite, sunniest corner of the room with booth seats. so that was nice, but it makes me wonder how long this table has been open, since i saw quite a few other empty tables (maybe reservations, i suppose, who knows). honestly, i'm just confused. after we were seated, it took about 10 minutes before a waiter even got around to saying hi to us, much less asking us what we wanted, which was ridiculous since we were just sitting there with the wrong menus (we wanted the breakfast menu). though not for lack of waiters - they just happened to be more interested in the other tables. our waitress finally found us, and was very very polite and friendly. a waiter who had been walking around serving the area also came up to us shortly after, and asked if anyone was serving us. the whole thing just seemed confused and poorly organized, though the actual waiters were very friendly. after we ordered, the whole thing was pretty smooth. food came out fairly quickly, it tasted great (got the banana foster french toast, yum!). fresh squeezed oj and mimosas were great. and the bill was much less than what we expected, for such rich and well presented food, plus drinks. so i'm thinking the service for any place can have a bad day, and once we actually got a table/waitress it was pretty good. i'd definitely come back, just with a reservation.
(3)Ben Y.
Ate here for the first time with the wife. I had waffles with fried chicken and she had pastrami hash. We also had a cup of coffee. The waffle was really good. Light and crispy; I have not had a waffle like that in a very long time. The chicken was pretty good also, served with a side of gravy that was tasty. The eggs were average. My wife's pastrami hash was really tasty. The biscuit was nice and the eggs were done well. The only thing was that there was alot of sauce and we wish we would have gotten the sauce on the side. It made the hash mushy. The coffee was good, but I am not sure its worth $3 a cup. Definitely willing to go back again though. Breakfast was good. Parking can be tight though.
(3)Jeff S.
went to this place last night with a few friends for a Birthday party and the price was very reasonable. Location is easy to find and easy parking. Food was the most impressive part. Even after a few of my friends HYPED it up!!! I think if I'm in the area this will definitely be one of my spot
(5)Matthew N.
It's lost it's shine. I have been going to Founding Farmers in Potomac since it has opened and it has fallen prey to the plague that overcomes many new restaurants -- the shine is gone. No single event is cause not to visit, but instead it is the long and steady stream of careless mistakes and apathy that will bring this restaurant to end one day. Servers on several occasions represent themselves as lethargic, perhaps to the hours they work, but most likely due to their youth and the idea they should be tipped just for coming to work. I usually go in the morning for breakfast and am greeted with a smile which gets the experience started well. Soon after, the shine is gone by the sometimes 10-minute wait to be greeted by a server. I imagine this is due to their popularity, but by no means a proper standard. The food which has always been delicious is starting to decline due to burned food and shriveled up bacon. However, oddly enough, if you order bacon on the side for an additional $6, it comes to you straight from a magazine shoot. Sometimes the butter in the morning has honey and sometimes not. Sometimes it is frozen solid and other times it's room temperature and perfect to spread on biscuits. When asked about the addition (or subtraction) of honey, we were told it is only provided at certain hours in the morning. On another vist, we were told that was a lie and the server was just lazy. In short, the food is still delicious, but for how long is anyone's guess. And if you're willing to chance a lengthy wait -- go for it. I hope this gets resolved because it is a nice place that deserves to stick around.
(2)Carson H.
Fantastic. Delicious food and accommodating (family of 4, two small kids) service. My veggie meatloaf was stellar, but my wife said her salad was amazing but the roast veggie sandwich was just pretty good. Our kids destroyed the fried cod. We had to order another portion, because they couldn't get enough. Our four-year old asked for corn on the cob out of the blue, and they waiter was like, "no problem". I'm the kind of person who doesn't really look at the prices, until the bill comes. And I did have a little bit of sticker shock. Technically $$ is correct, but expect the high end of $$ or low $$$, if you drink alcohol.
(4)Donna W.
Food was simply delish! I would though recommend cutting the peppers up a bit finer in the corned beef hash. My friend had eggs w/ the chicken sausage, side of pancakes and grits. Those pancakes were huge and they were homemade from scratch.. Very very good!
(5)Elisabeth H.
Sadly Founding Farmers has been crossed off my list for good. This was my third and final visit. Made a reservation last week, and requested upstairs seating (which we finally got yay!!). I will say that upstairs seating is much more intimate and quiet, which I liked. We were a party of four. Our party was seated promptly and our waitress was great. Very personable and knowledgeable. The problem that I had with FF the first time and again this time is there seems to be kinks that need to be worked out. Appetizers were good for the most part, we had the bacon pitchfork/tots combo which was good and the ranch popcorn which was mostly kernels and far too salty for my taste. The main problems arose with dinner. Two plates came out and then a good five minutes later the last two came out. I assume that something must have been late or that something went wrong somewhere. But my plate was one of the last two to come out and everything was cold...and that was the main problem. Everyone had something cold on there plate. Two dishes were served with mashed potatoes, which both servings were cold. I ordered the fried chicken which was disappointing. My chicken was soggy and cold. I had substituted fries for mashed potatoes and those were cold as well. My other complaint with FF and the fried chicken dish I had (also happened with the Fish and Chips I had last visit) is that they do not disclose everything that is served with the dish on the menu. My fried chicken stated that it came with a biscuit, chicken with gravy and mashed potatoes. No where in the description did it say collard greens, which surprise did accompany my meal. Had it been clear that collard greens went with the meal I would have substituted something else, as I do not like them at all and they went untouched which seemed like a huge waste to me. Sadly all four of us left with that same ehh it was okay outlook. On the way home I lamented my decision but realized with so many places to go in the area I didn't really feel the need to go somewhere were two out of three times I had been served cold food. I feel like I can go somewhere like Clyde's and consistently get great food that is hot. But it is a bittersweet decision, the staff is friendly and the food tastes good but there are major kinks that need to be worked out and I personally am not going to continue to spend money waiting for that to happen.
(2)Inna T.
We were having great time In FF and food was exceptional! Our waitress Franchesca was very funny and smart, very nice design inside. Overall it is located in nice neighborhood and quality of food and variety is very good and tasty.
(4)Pete D.
Since this place opened their second location, I've finally had the opportunity to come by. We decided to do the brunch and I'm not honestly not sure if I'll be back. First the positive notes. The area is nice I must say, well it is a nicer part of Rockville (not Potomac IMO). Anyway, as you walk in, you get his local rustic feel to the place. From the decor to the wooden benches and chairs. We were posted upstairs in a booth that could use a reduction in size for the table as it was quite snug and difficult to maneuver around the roundabout. The service was overall good and cannot complain. Food runners were attentive as they asked us what we could use after dropping off the plates, server checked back in, no fault here. The lady went with the chicken and waffles and we both were not impressed. A single waffle, two chicken breast strips, and eggs for $12, which is not bad. The waffle was nothing special, at all. In fact it was bland and did not have any crisp to it, but not mushy either. The chicken's batter was decent, maybe they could wrap the waffle in that and dunk in the hot oil. I went with the pastrami hash and it came with 9000g of sodium. It was way over salted, very disappointing, and could've been a good dish. The poached eggs were done well I must say and the touch of mustard gave it a nice, but subtle spice kick. The other dishes at the table were steak and eggs and a waffle with blueberry compote. The thin-cut steak's seasoning was good and actually a good size for $14. On the other hand, the blueberry compote was sweet. It literally covered 90% of the waffle. The waffle is already bland and dull, add the compote over it, and you got yourself a round grid of mush. So the best for last was the beignets. Man, I could eat a ton of these, sadly. The crust on these were fried wonderfully, while the inside had an almost underdone consistency, delicious. The sauce medley was a nice touch, as it gives your palette an adventure. The raspberry was the best of the three. If they had a beignet special, I would be back. Otherwise, you will not see me here by choice, as the other items were mediocre to poor.
(3)Fran S.
I've been to FF in Potomac 5 times (had to cancel twice because my husband won't go back.) I kept going back because I hope to have a great neighborhood option with downtown quality food and service. 5 visits tells me this won't be it. Service was always a horrible, I experienced long waits for tables (even with tables available in open view) snooty hosts and hostesses, cold food, inattentive service staff, and incorrect orders, despite chats with apathetic managers. On one visit, every table near us (3 tables side by side) had wrong orders AND cold food. And then when they re-delivered the food, the order was WRONG AGAIN. We were all commiserating with one another. That's just HORRIBLE. Waitstaff seem to ignore customers who are trying to flag them, even when they are not busy. Having to PAY for biscuits/bread while waiting forever for food PISSES ME OFF! Food review: Loved: Pot pie, Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke, Skirt Steak, Tomato Soup. Hated: Pot Roast, southern fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, chicken, grits, scrambled eggs (how can you mess up eggs?) FF in DC has such a good reputation, so it was exciting to get a great place in the neighborhood, but it is fairly pricey, so the expectations are high, but their delivery is poor.
(2)Shannon D.
The cocktails are delicious. The appetizers were fantastic. I'd rather eat popeyes and eggos than their dry ass chicken and waffles, but, then again, there was enough eye candy working there to compensate for that. Great restaurant and cool concept overall. 4 stars.
(4)sophie S.
I have been here before for tea, which was not a traditional tea at all. The tea was alright with the finger sandwiches and homemade chocolates. The tea itself was alright as well, over all it was nothing fabulous. I went back with my family tonight for dinner with a 7:45 reservation. After finally getting seated at about 8:20 we order drinks and our food right away. It takes about 15 min to get just our drinks. Although the drinks were fantastic (the sodas and the cucumber vodka drink) they took way too long and were not worth the wait. Then we ordered the famous bacon pitchfork which was also very good however took about 30 min to come out. By the time it is 9:15 we have still not gotten our main courses and complained to the hostess as our waiter was nowhere to be seen and hadn't been for a while. She brings us free popcorn but at this point no one is hungry, we inform our waiter and he doesn't apologize or anything. Finally a manager comes over and he is the only reason I would come back. He gave us our meal to go on the house, apologized to a great extent and was very friendly. The menu is very interesting as well as the atmosphere, however they don't know what they are doing. Although some of the food was good, even when we got home we found some of our orders to be incorrect and we would have had to send them back anyway. My father who keeps Kosher specifically asked for no bacon on his salad and when we got home hazaaa bacon bacon bacon!!!!! I had asked for my steak specifically cooked MR with sauce on the side, when i get home it's cooked medium-medium well with.....DA DA DA DA sauce all over that baby! If the manager hadn't given us our meal on the house and been so sweet and apologetic i would never go back. However I may give it another try, i may not. If you run into any problems I would make them known, for it is a new restaurant and they need to know what they are doing wrong. MAKE RESERVATIONS.....even though this doesnt even seem to matter......if you really want to try it i would go around 5pm ;) I will see what happens next time I go to determine my final thoughts on FF. Still some dishes I would like to try. However if I have to wait WITH reservations like that again, i don't think i will stay. good luck
(2)Dan P.
Great vegetarian options and homemade drinks. Only downside is that there is no vegan menu. Some of the vegetarian items can be made vegan but a restaurant like this should offer some unique vegan options. The service was great and they validate parking.
(4)Jaclyn S.
I'll start by saying, I REALLY want to like this place. It's close to where I live, it's a trendy atmosphere, I fully support the farm to table movement, the food is good...Unfortunately, I've been there 3 times now and it just isn't happening. The service is absolutely atrocious. The first time I went was for brunch soon after they opened. The service was slow, waitress couldn't answer any questions about the menu, and after waiting over half an hour for our food, they brought out the wrong meal for my husband. We also saw them bring out another wrong dish to the table next to us as well as under-cooked eggs for a pregnant woman who obviously couldn't eat them. We thought maybe it was just because the staff was new, so we gave them another shot. The next time we went for dinner and things were somewhat improved, but the wait staff was still slow and completely ignorant of the menu. The last time my husband and I sat at the bar for dinner, since in our experience we usually get better service at most restaurants when we're at the bar. No dice. Granted, it was a busy Friday night, but the bar seemed completely understaffed (no bar backs?!). The bartender rarely came back to ask us about drinks, he forgot to put in our dinner order and ended up having to comp our appetizer (as well as the people next to us). The hostess was complaining to the bartenders behind the bar about how late people were still sitting down (maybe if the service was faster your table turnover would be better!). Overall the food is delicious, I highly recommend the Spatchcock chicken, and the mixed drinks are good (though pricey). I just wish it wasn't always such a frustrating experience every time I go. And the parking sucks.
(2)Albert S.
food is unique, but not all that great.
(3)William F.
I have eaten here three times, to give it the benefit of the doubt. But I will not go again. The food was only fair to poor each time, and we had a problem with improperly cooked food.
(2)Stephan S.
We been here several time for dinner. We went this time for brunch. Wow is what I can say. Food was great. Try the red velvet pancakes. Always a fun place with a group.
(5)Ayda S.
This is a great "hometown" place to meet friends for a good meal, just be warned, portion sizes are large, very large, and the grilled cheese isn't what you would expect, much larger, more bread, less cheese but still yummy!
(3)Christina N.
I like the food here, and the addition of the outdoor patio is nice, but the bartenders are mediocre at best. They have no personality and it feels like you're interrupting them when asking for a drink. I far prefer their do restaurant. Again, the food is great, but if you're looking for a bite and a beverage, I'd suggest you keep looking.
(4)K K.
When everything works, this FF can be a nice experience. But while the food and service are hit and miss (I've had a few screwed up orders and surly servers), the pricing and wait times are always a little ridiculous. Guess you can chalk that up to a dearth of good places to eat in Rockville, particularly in this immediate area.
(2)G C.
Got the a Drag Through the Gardens with hash brown and biscuit. It was delicious! Not to heavy and felt satisfied afterwards. Our table also got an order of beignets to share which came with chocolate, caramel and raspberry sauce. Sooo yummy!
(4)Charity C.
While my boyfriend and I enjoyed this place several times, I will no longer go there after getting the worst food poisoning of my life from their "chicken salad salad." We were there on a busy Sunday afternoon and a few hours later I became nauseated, and needless to say, was very ill with vomiting till the early morning. When I called the restaurant to let them know, the manager argued with me saying it was impossible that it was their fault because as she incorrectly put it, food poisoning does not show symptoms till after 24 hours (when on the contrary, food poisoning symptoms usually resolve within 24-48 hrs). And as the salad was the only thing I had eaten that day, I knew it was the culprit. All that to say, I am more disappointed with their customer service than the food. Founding Farmers, you should do a better job of educating your staff on food poisoning and take stronger precaution against serving inedible dishes!
(1)Scott K.
My girlfriend and I went to Founding Farmers last night and we both enjoyed a good meal. We made a reservation and were seated promptly. The place has a unique atomsphere and was fairly crowded for a Monday night, but it was Memorial Day. We ordered the fried green tomatoes for an appetizer and it was great. Full of flavor and a good way to start the meal. We both got a salad. My girlfriend ordered the Farmer's salad and it was really good. There were a lot of different ingredients in it, which really gave it a good flavor. My salad was decent, but would order the Farmer's if we were to go back. For dinner I ordered a meat sampler of sorts. It has two mini cheeseburgers, a chili cheese dog, and 4 ribs. It also came with corn on the cob and potato salad. Everything was great. The ribs were some of the best I have had and the chil cheese dog was really good. Burgers were pretty good, but the mini ones at Matchbox are better. They put something on the corn on the cob, which was really tastey. I am not sure what it is, but it is safe to say it was some sort of cheese. My girlfriend got the pulled pork sandwich and fries and she enjoyed both. For dessert we got a French Press and the red velvet cake. The French Press was pretty good, but I think it was a little rushed. The red velvet cake was decent, but would have liked for the actual cake to be more moist. The cream cheese frosting was good though. I would go back to this place it is a different feel from your usual restaurant and everything tastes really fresh and well made. I would suggest reservations because I have also been to the location in DC and it was also crowded. On a side note, they bring the check in a mini metal mailbox and once you have put your card or cash inside of it you put the red flag up so they know they can come by and take it. I thought it was a cool little way of presenting the bill.
(4)Maureen P.
Ok I was up in Rockville to catch a friend in Chorus Line and really don't know the area and racked my brain on where to take 7 friends to a pre show feast. Almost went to Addie's (Black Salt) then found Founding Famers which peaked my interest because I love Woodbury Kitchen and Level, not to mention the large meatless menu. Two of the eight we're pecetarians/vegetarians not to mention a few diet restriction folks. Thats said, I only read a few yelp reviews once I was sitting at the table and they seemed all over the place so I stopped and decided to go in with an open mind and stomach. So we started with drinks. Now I think I have mentioned that I am mostly a wine drinker, but like the occaisional well made cocktail (like at Level) or of course a good scotch. So, the first thing we all noticed about this place was the incredible drink list. A few of our teetotalers had well, tea! Which came in a cold tall and frothy class...it looked like a booze drink and all gave thumbs up. The rest of the table got a plethora of flavored drinks...mine was the Farmer's Smash. This was a whiskey sour kicked up a notch or two and perhaps a better cocktail than the cucumber margarita I love at Level. Wait did I just say that? Yes yes I did...it so good one friend switched to it as her second drink and I had a second that I split with another friend. YUM! We split several apps: Cornbread (all gave a thumbs up), fried green tomatoes (good but not the best Ive ever had), and the homemade chips with dip (tasty but didn't blow me away). All good splitters, but cornbread was by far my favorite. I was torn between fish and what looked like the house specially...fried or 800 degree oven chicken. I ended up with the Crispy Spatchcock Chicken Spiced with Aji sauce. I was a little worried because I don't do spicy hot and I rarely order chicken out but it just sound right that night, and it was. Cooked almost to perfection, could have been slightly moister but good, with a crispy skin...mashed potatoes, and veg (seasonal selection of squash and peas). My friends that had the meatless dishes were very satisfied. They both took half home it was so much. I was able to taste the White Bean Cutlets which were served in a slightly mexican spiced way with a veg succotash. Even this meat person loved it! Two folks had the fried chicken (one southern and one northern), again both gave a thumbs up and took half home. Another friend had the deviled eggs as an app and she liked the variety of lobster, crab and salmon mixed in. She also ordered the shrimp and grits. I had just made them at home the night before and although hers were good, mine are better:) We were also celebrating a birthday, so although full we ordered a table dessert...one carrot cake, suggested by our waitress, who by the way was fabulous! After our now famous rendition of Happy Birthday, we all dug in and agreed it was pretty good (and HUGE) but the carmel ice cream on the side stole the show. To top off the evening the coffee was perfect...no sugar needed, strong but not bitter. This is little longer than most of my posts I think but there was a lot to cover with 8 people. I am lucky I have friends that let me taste what they order. I can honestly say everyone at the table was thrilled with the meal. My friend who had the Salmon with the Almond mushroom crust could not stop raving...but I never tasted it as she was one the other side of the table. No matter what side we left 8 very full, satisfied Annapolitans with leftovers to boot! We are already talking about a return visit.
(4)Brit B.
One of my favorite places to eat in MoCo. I've been to the one in DC as well. The service is much better at this one.. they actually honor your reservation time. I'm a big fan of the yankee pot roast, squash ravioli, and fried chicken. The drinks are a must- they make their own syrups. If you still have room for dessert, give the chocolate layered cake a go.. I believe they make their own ice cream too. Downfalls- Noisy, crowded, and don't even attempt to try without a reservation. Luckily, there is an outdoor waiting area in the pavilion.. much less chaotic than standing packed in at the hostess stand!
(4)Marisa J.
We went here for a meet-the-parents night before our wedding, and it was a hit. The menu was unusual but very appealing to our middle aged and elderly parents and grandparents. When I made the reservation, I requested that we be seated in a quiet part of the restaurant, and we were. They held our reservation even though we ran almost a half our late (I called ahead to let them know). Overall this was a great experience. The service was excellent and the food was great.
(5)Caitlin B.
I was a little disappointed with my second visit to Founding Farmers. In fact, my experiences were so different that I felt like I should review the restaurant again just to give an accurate assessment. My date and I arrived on time for our reservation and then were instructed to wait for a table for an additional fifteen minutes. Come to find that when we were seated upstairs (which doesn't have nearly as great of an ambience or atmosphere as downstairs), that there were a number of empty tables! Why did we wait? I ordered a glass of shiraz, which was good and about what I expected. My date ordered a dirty martini which the bartender took 20 minutes to make and then when my date asked for some olives, they arrived about 10 minutes later. Not stellar drink service. We ordered the pesto, ricotta, and salami farm bread to share as an appetizer and were pleased. It was good, even if the pesto was a little heavy on the olive oil. For dinner, my date ordered the honey glazed roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. His was more than passable and cooked very nicely. I ordered the ahi tuna salad and felt very misled by the menu description. I would have preferred the tuna seared, but I also enjoy raw ahi tuna, so that wasn't a huge problem. While the flavors were nice, upon closer tasting and inspection I discovered that there was white chocolate on my salad. Since white chocolate is NOT a flavor that I like on its own (much less in a salad), I was really confused and thought that the kitchen must have made a mistake and swapped white chocolate for slivered almonds or something along those lines. It turned me off immediately and I asked our waitress if I was crazy. She said I was not and that she did not know why the fact that there is white chocolate in the salad is not mentioned on the menu. She wanted to know if I was allergic and when I said no, she seemed satisfied and hurried off without asking me if I even LIKED it. Being polite, I did not ask her to send it back (which also would have been impossible since she didn't visit our table again until she asked if we wanted dessert), but I definitely only picked at my food after that. Appetite gone. Based on the overall lackluster experience and the pretty intermittent/slow service, we opted out of ordering dessert and just asked for our check (the only thing that was delivered promptly to our table all night). Founding Farmers, you didn't come close to living up to my first experience. What happened? Biggest issue of the night other than the late and olive-less martini? White chocolate in my salad that wasn't advertised on the menu . . .
(2)Edna E.
Gave it a second shot - food was just as tasty as ever, and service was much improved. Went during one of the hottest days of the summer, and although the beverages were delicious & refreshing, the 2nd floor loft was uncomfortably hot. Overall, it was a much better experience than the first time.
(4)Renee S.
So nice to learn about this place. I got the chicken and waffles which was great and a good value. Will go again.
(5)Jason L.
From time to time you find a place so good that you are willing to excuse the sub par service because the food is fantastic. This happens to be one of those places. Without doing much homework me and the sig-o sauntered in here for brunch one Sunday to find out that the wait was going to be close to 2 hours. That wasn't going to happen so we patiently waited a few weeks and came back here with reservations. I really can't comment on other days of the week but if you are coming here on a Sunday morning for brunch you best have reservations or you will be waiting a long time. First let's get the service issue out of the way. The waitress was very nice but her visits were far and few between. She would disappear for long stretches at a time. If you are one of those needy types who needs to be checked on every five minutes you best head elsewhere. The food is worth the wait though. I had the chicken and waffles and everything on my plate was superb. The waffle is probably one of the best I have ever eaten in my life which is pretty effusive praise given the fact that I don't really like waffles. It was light and fluffy and most importantly hot. The fried chicken tenders they give you with the waffles are crispy, warm, and skillfully fried without a hint of greasiness afterwards. The eggs were also perfectly scrambled and hot (not everyone knows how to cook eggs). It is obvious they pay attention to ingredients here. Everything was fresh and well seasoned. They also bring your check in a little mailbox at the end of the visit and you can lift the flag when you are ready to pay. If they learn to work out the kinks in service they might elevate themselves to a 5 stars. Can't wait to come back and try some of their drinks.
(4)J L.
I hear their wings are great. Though the fried green tomatoes with goat cheese were incredible I should have skipped them because meals are large. I got the chicken and waffles and it was really good, including their spin on macncheese which was fantastic.. Drinks are expensive but made like per-prohibition with all natural and homemade ingredients. My wife got fish on a salt rock platter which was, as you might expect, too salty. Meatloaf looked good. Nice patio outside too. I was tired of going to The Lodge which is also nice and nearby, do I 'm glad to have FF in my repertoire now.
(5)Charlese M.
The staff and the good were wonderful! My server, John was particularly awesome! It was our first time dining at Founding Farmers and had no idea what to order and every suggestion John made was a hit! I will definitely be back. Oh, try the macaroni and cheese.
(5)Jenna K.
So I have never been to the founding farmers in DC because it is always so difficult to get into. But I have now been to the MoCo founding farmers 4-5 times and have loved it every time. I love the drinks because they are freshly made. I have had a few of their salads and loved all of them! The cornbread is amazing as well. I have had the fried chicken which is to die for because you get a little bit of everything which is helpful when you can not decide. You get 2 pieces of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, waffles, and greens. I have also had their burger which was amazing. It had everything in it, avocado, bacon, and the perfect bun. I have been waiting to get their red velvet cake but it has been sold out last time. Overall a great restaurant but beware if you want to have a large group, it is difficult to sit more than 12 people.
(5)Melinda S.
I'm confused by the previous comments, I had a fantastic meal at Founding Farmers with my family, and I was so impressed with each meal we ordered. We started with the cornbread, which was a great choice (better than the biscuits, I think), and I ate the shrimp and grits as a main. Everyone else was happy with their chicken (the special roasted from the top section of the menu), fish, and fried chicken (I came with three others!). Dessert was absolutely delicious, I can't recommend it highly enough! We had the apple pie and the cookie plate, and it was just fantastic!! Definitely order the pie if you come :-)
(4)Tom F.
We started with cornbread which was good.My wife's Lobster Mac and cheese was excellent. My southern fried chicken was Sahara dry, bland, and tough, greens were bland and gritty, biscuit was somehow drier than the chicken. I was hungry though so i just ate the potatoes. The food was just overwhelmingly heavy and not worth the money. We like the atmosphere and philosophy, but really didn't need the overlong lecture for each entree. That said, the service was excellent and had the fried chicken comped, even though I said it was not necessary since I had eaten about half the meal. We might go back there, and it might be better with lowered expectations.
(2)M K.
I shouldn't try to review this place based on my one experience with it, which was the Saturday morning after the derecho storm--it was literally the only place I could make it to with my family because all the roads were blocked and almost all of the restaurants I could get to had no power. I understand there were extenuating circumstances, BUT... What a terrible place to go for brunch. I've been to the DC location for dinner and loved it; I'd read that they had an excellent brunch too so I thought this might be okay. Service was either overtaxed (I do realize it must have been hard for people to get there), but we had to wait a REALLY long time for our food without being warned; when it did arrive, my friend's omelet was not what he ordered; my other friend's meal was cold; the breakfast meals are designed to make you order all the good stuff on the side instead of including it; we had to keep begging for coffee refills, silverware, and even glasses of water; and, to me, most egregiously, they DON'T OFFER WHITE SUGAR OR REGULAR SWEETENERS for their coffee. Because they are a "natural" food place they only have sugar in the raw (which is always soapy to me), and stevia, and that other natural sweetener that tastes terrible in hot beverages. Is white sugar too much to ask for? I actually DID ask for it and was denied "because that's not our ethos." I am all for local sourcing, natural ingredients, etc., but my one unshakable thing I need is my coffee and I want my coffee the way I want it. All of the 'natural" sweeteners on offer simply don't taste good to me and never have. You're telling me the chef doesn't have white sugar in the kitchen to make desserts and french toast? And I can't get a small bowl of it? Bollocks. Please just allow your guests to have their coffee the way they want it the morning after their whole street is covered in downed trees. Coffee is important! I'm sad because I did like the DC location and had been avoiding the Potomac one because of all the negative reviews. Turns out they were right. On the bright side, the bacon was very good.
(2)Jenn B.
Love this place! I came here for Sunday dinner and was pleasantly surprised! Great service and yummy food! The deviled eggs were seasoned just right and a perfect appetizer since I was STARVING. I had a Bellini and my partner had a beer. We were both overwhelmed by the menu since there is a ridic amount of options, but we settled for the fried chicken dish and butternut squash ravioli. The chicken was uh-mazing! The mashed potatoes were very rich and creamy- deeelish. Not a big fan of the greens since they weren't seasoned very well. The ravioli was very good- small portion though. Lots of flavors and tasted really fresh which I enjoyed (may not be everyone's cup of tea though). For dessert we ordered the red velvet cake which is huuuuge! Super moist, and very rich! Couldn't finish even half of it so took it home. At this point I was stuffed, but happy! Definitely can't wait to go back and try some of the other options!
(4)Mina P.
I'd eat every meal here if I could. The food is delicious. The drinks are fun. Brunch is pretty awesome, too. It can get LOUD, though, and is very family friendly so go late if you don't want to eat next to a three-year-old.
(4)DJ L.
Everything people said are similar to my thoughts, so I don't want to be repetitive, but try to be additive. Food: Yes, get the wings. Everyone says so and there is a reason. 11 wings are plated with lime. Squeeze the lime. It's delish. We got a reuben with fries and chicken and waffles (after some hesitation). After reading some of the disappointed comments below about the chicken and waffles, we took a risk. The chicken and waffles came with string beans, mac and cheese (but not elbow), and then Vermont syrup with a cinnamon kick. The chicken was really dry and the white sauce looked almost like wax, as if it was poured on the chicken too early and waiting. But the waffles with the syrup was money! The reuben came with coleslaw which was good, but I never had apples in it before. The meat was good but cold and it didn't have a strong flavor - maybe because the coleslaw was more overpowering? Overall, we killed the warm fries and waffles, but boxed the rest. We ordered the seasonal flavor ice cream - waiter compared it to ice cream with crunched up Whopper balls. Oh, and we got two beers but who can be disappointed with that? Service: Yes, the service is amazing. We sat outside. Get Andrew aka Andie. I must have bothered him with a million questions since it was our first time and never did he seem annoyed. He gave several recommendations and knew the menu really well. Without him, I don't think I would have enjoyed the place as much. Fun: Girls can hang their purse under the tables outside. Umbrellas outside have heaters. Plants hanging on the wall are real and have soil. I was impressed. Yes, they give you your recipe in a mailbox. Super cute. I drive by this place often since it's visible from I-270. I went inside on a Friday night around 8:30PM and it was busy. I gave them my name and was suppose to wait for 30 minutes. Parking was simple once you read the directions. Park in a numbered spot, walk up to the pay meter by the steps, press your digits, #, and then BINGO. Free parking up to three hours. I did all of this while waiting for my table. Overall, I would love to go back again and give it another try. I fell in love with the wings and the atmosphere - inside and outside.
(3)Mary A.
I have not wanted to eat at this restaurant because I have witnessed employees handling the bread with their bare hands. They also leave their fresh baked bread uncovered in a delivery hallway before eventually taking in to kitchen area. The hallway from the kitchen to the outside dumpster area is always dirty with food garbage & trash. It was said on a TV investigation of restaurants that if the area outside of the kitchen & or bathrooms were not on the clean side that you should not eat there.
(1)myra f.
Besides our server being absolutely awful, food was decent. Would go back but would not go out of my way to eat here. We had about eight people so orders varied. Most were cooked well and tasted good.
(3)Cookie D.
We started with the cornbread and Bacon Lollis. What's not to like? Sweet bacon on a stick - this is not your light and healthy appetizer, but we knew that going in! We had the fried chicken with waffles, zucchini, mac and chefs and syrup. Decadent and delicious. This was the best mac and cheese I've had in Washington. It is made with a flat-ish short noodle, which is not your typical mac and cheese noodle, It looked odd, but tasted very creamy and cheesy. The fried chicken itself was good, but turned out to be my least favorite part of the dish - after the Zucchini and the waffle. We had split the carrot cake for dessert - it would have benefited from a tad more sugar in the cream cheese frosting - it's dessert, people, it's supposed to be sweet. If I wanted cheese, I'd order cheese. But the very best part of the meal was the Intelligentsia coffee. It's my favorite coffee in the country - I wish they'd open a shop in Washington!
(3)Effie N.
in short: the wait staff is fabulous and appropriately attentive the food is good, but not especially memorable. filling but nothing super special the decor and atmosphere were quite nice Ate the following- 1. fried green tomatoes: quite good 2. ribs: barely fair. drinks: good. i would go back but not order the blah ribs. the salads are good. will stick to them.
(3)Ryan D.
The grilled cheese and tomato soup is awesome but the service isn't that good. Most of the food in the restaurant is good.
(4)Bob and Audra M.
Love me some beignets! Ok, so I'm from New Orleans and these are not traditional beignets, FF's version is more like a fritter, but I liked em! Plus a trio of sauces to go with...Heavenly! I like to think of them as a breakfast appetizer!
(4)Rose K.
I usually go to the DC location, but headed over to Rockville for a birthday brunch for a friend. The staff was super friendly, and was nice to accommodate our requests (vegan meal for me). I do wish that they had some vegan brunch items on the menu (like there were before they did away with the vegan menu). They did create something off the menu for me - a medley of sauteed veggies, with a side salad, which was really great of them. The veggies weren't very filling, though (no protein - bring back the tofu scramble!), and the salad wasn't dressed. Our waiter was very nice, though, and our drinks were very tasty. I really enjoyed the bellini! The Bloody Mary looked tasty, but sadly, as most Bloody Marys are, was not veg-friendly. I had been emailing with someone from FF before heading their for brunch, since I heard that the vegan menu had been suspended at the Potomac location. She was very friendly and explained that they'd soon be unveiling a seasonal lunch/dinner menu with a new meatless section. The new items are great (have tried them at the DC location), but it doesn't help a vegan during brunch! Also, I never heard back from FF when I emailed specifically about brunch options. Since I haven't been for dinner, I can't compare it to the DC location, but the service at both is always great.
(4)C R.
We dropped in for dinner on a Saturday evening just before 6:00 and were seated right away. One member of our party is a FF vet so he pre-ordered our dessert choice (beignets) as soon as the server greeted us since they are made to order and take 15-20 minutes to prepare. I ordered the vegan bacon burger which was fantastic. The hubby got the skirt steak, the kiddo got the mac & cheese, and the FF vet got the chicken & waffles. There was lots of tasting and sharing among the 4 of us. All the entrees got raves. And the beignets were heavenly, especially with the caramel sauce. The only problem was that the hubby's steak came out well instead of medium, but it was replaced quickly on a new plate with fresh sides. My only pet peeve was the lack of a kid's menu. I didn't love spending $12 for upscale mac & cheese, although it was delicious. Our sever was warm, informative, and very attentive. Despite the remote locale vs. the DC restaurant, we'll definitely go back on a weekend. Convenient, free parking is a plus.
(4)Kim F.
Went to FF for a weekday breakfast. Good: Service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Food was mostly tasty (the leek hash browns are divine!), and the decor is beautiful--it's a lovely place to sit and chat. Bad: The bad starts in the parking lot. Parking is confusing--do I pay or not pay, do I display a ticket for my free 2 hours or not, and where the heck are the poorly-marked meters?? My companion's order wasn't correct, which was a little annoying. English muffins are tasteless--they'd be better off with Thomas--and we had to ask for butter twice after the first portion was the size of my fingernail. Portions are Cheesecake Factory enormous and there's a ton of waste as a result, which seems odd for an eco-friendly restaurant. Jelly of the day was rhubarb. Not everybody likes that. How 'bout some plain old grape for those of us who are less adventurous? I've had lunch here and it was very good, with tastier food and more reasonable meal sizes. Not sure I'd head back for breakfast.
(3)Yasmin A.
Great atmosphere and food. Nicely designed patio area with flowers and feels relaxing and enjoyable. Food is very colorful, fresh, delicious, and pleasantly plated. Decent prices too in comparison to other restaurants in the area. The ciabatta bread is amazing!
(5)Claudette H.
After initially scouting out this restaurant and finding it quiet, with an extensive menu, I was surprised to return today with my husband at 1:20 on a Wednesday and finding it packed to the rafters! Friendly reception, and very sweet and attentive server. I ordered the Northern fried chicken platter because I love latkes and beets. Big mistake! Latkes were fried so hard they looked and tasted like tiny mahogany pucks. I cannot imagine what the chef put into the beets, but I bit into something so spicy hot my eyes watered. Have eaten beets as Borsch, cold in salad, hot as a side dish, but never fiery hot! Good biscuit but had to ask for butter. Supposed to get a half chicken (I asked) but there was no drumstick..sob, sob. Well cooked though the sauce (on the side as requested) was nasty. Husband had the Pot Roast and liked it but the presentation could be better. Why must food be piled on top of each other so it turns into one big mess...meat on top of mashed potatoes, carrots and haricots buried in the potatoes, and onion rings crowning the entire assembly! I plan to return, perhaps for a later lunch, and try some of the favorites mentioned on Yelp. Prices are on a par with Cheesecake Factory and CPK in this area. A bit noisier perhaps .
(3)LaVerne J.
Slow service, lukewarm food. I got the chicken and waffle compared to the DC location it was horrible. Waffle was cold and hard, tasted like cardboard and the chicken was dry. Definitely won't go back to this location, I like the DC location a lot better.
(2)Alan P.
Went there with a buddy this week. Made a reservation for 8:00 on Open Table and was seated right away. I was surprised to see the restaurant basically full at this time on a Monday night. The service was excellent - if possibly even a little too hovering at times. We never lacked for H2O or drink refills. We started with the chips, crisps and dip ap. The dips are tasty and the homemade potato chips a treat. The crisps are good with the dips. i ordered the plank salmon which was seasoned and cooked perfectly for my taste. The veg. side was also done to my liking and mashed potato side was decent but nothing special. My friend ordered the filet med. rare and it was served a bit overdone but he never-the-less said that it was a good steak. Overall, I thought the presentation of the main courses were rather basic and boring; at least when compared to the aps served at FF. IMO $29 for farm raised salmon is a bit pricey. I'm still a fan and would like to return to try a cocktail or two. However, FF will probably be a once in a while kind of place given the prices.
(4)Hilary M.
Pretty decent place for breakfast -- a slightly out-of-the-ordinary menu and good staff-to-clientele ratio. Food is very good, creative, and well presented. By lunch, this place is a victim of its own success. It is overwhelmingly noisy and the kitchen slows down. Food quality remains good, but there is nothing charming or placid about the place. Stick to breakfast.
(3)David C.
I don't get it - people keep raving about Founding Farmer's, and 3 times I have been sorely disappointed. SERVICE - The service is very friendly. People are nice, and at least initially are very attentive. However, every time we ordered an appetizer it came either with or after our meal, despite repeated requests that it come first. The last time, we had them just take it back. Also our servers kept disappearing for long stretches. (rating 2.5/5) FOOD - The food is the killer here. I'll go through a few random items. The beignets are pretty good, but they are NOT beignets. They are popover batter that has been fried, beignet style. The pancakes (blueberry, specifically) also are pretty good. Kudos for the cinnamon added to the syrup - it provides a nice kick and an additional depth of flavor to the meal. (rating - 4/5) Now for the disappointments (which, unfortunately, were all my dishes). FIrst, the Red Flannel Hash. To be blunt, it looked like someone threw up on the plate. And while I only tasted the dish, I imagine what it looked like can't taste much worse. It was a horrible amalgam of off flavors and poor seasoning. Strike 1 (and, quite frankly, 2 as well). (rating - 1/5) Next visit (we went at my wife's urging), I ordered a chicken salad salad. First off, at $14 I expect more than 5 pieces of lettuce. But leaving that aside, the salad was overdressed (i.e., a little swimming in dressing) and woefully under-seasoned. The chicken salad wasn't much better. While I appreciated the crunch of sliced almonds, I was left wondering if the kitchen ran out of salt and pepper. I've had saltier food at nursing homes. (rating - 2/5) Strike 3+. Needless to say, notwithstanding an interesting drink menu and very friendly staff, mediocre service combined with less than mediocre food means I won't be back. Unless it's for pancakes and a glass of water (the coffee also was bad). If you want anything other than pancakes, I recommend going to Sugo next door.
(2)Matt H.
Really Awesome Place!
(5)Kayci S.
I still have nightmares from the cauliflower steak. I give it 3 stars because I went with two other people who really enjoyed their meals (they were smart and had burgers). This was my first time dining here and I had been hearing nothing but great things so I was excited. We had reservations (which I would suggest because it was relatively crowded ) and we were seated right away. Our waitress was really nice and attentive but I have to knock her for recommending probably the worst thing I have ever eaten. Most people would assume a cauliflower steak does not sound very appetizing but she was pretty convincing! "Cooked like a steak on the grill with steak seasoning and a red tomato sauce underneath..." FALSE it was an enormous piece of undercooked cauliflower with what tasted like ketchup underneath! I thought this would be a good place to try something different because it had such good reviews but i was wrong. Part of me wants to try this place again but if I do I will not be ordering anything adventurous because the food is not cheap and I do not want to waste another $17.
(3)Zac G.
I don't write a lot of yelp reviews, but I figure I go to this restaurant enough (4 times in the last month) that I should write something. This place is fantastic! When they get things right, the result is an amazing meal. Does that mean they're perfect? No. Sometimes they get things wrong, and when they do make mistakes they fix them quickly and go the extra mile to make sure your party is happy. You go here for the experience: the huge menu, the active atmosphere, the upscale clientele, the delicious food, and the great cocktails. The menu can be pretty overwhelming so following recommendations are dishes I've had here multiple times that have consistently wow'd me. That's not to say everything else isn't great, but these are the ones I find myself coming back to... Drinks: Farmer John Farmer Smash Cucumber Delight Appetizers: Pitchfork Combo Brie and Onion Jam with Apples Flatbread Devil Egg Combo Tomato Jam and Goat Cheese Flatbread (not to be confused with the one with pickled onions) Entrees: South Carolina BBQ with Fixings Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke Salad Lemon Meuniere Diver Scallops Butternut Squash Ravioli Showstopper Seafood Pasta Shrimp and Grits Fried Chicken and Waffles
(5)Ellen W.
Came back again recently to give this location another try because one of my friends wanted to try it. I have to say the food definitely was better and everything came out just right. It was a bit crowded when we came on a Sunday night so service could have been a little bit faster. Needless to say, it was better than my first visit and I was very satisfied with my meal.
(4)Elizabeth G.
I love this restaurant. I always choose this place for my special occasions. Love the beignets. Their cocktails are awesome. I love the atmosphere.
(5)David C.
Hostess told us 5 minute wait, turned into 50. They realized they screwed up with their computers and did nothing to correct the issue. Now I will miss the 1st quarter of the redskins game. Not cool. My Fiancé requested olive with Bloody Mary and did not get it and they ran out of the pepper infused vodka.
(1)Alan C.
I don't even know how to review the place. Everything i've heard about the DC location is fantastic. Everything I could see on the menu was fantastic. All the people around me looked like their food was fantastic, and the bartender who gave us water was fantastic...but here is the problem. I understand that the restaurant just opened, but y'all need to get your S@$% together. The first thing we asked for when we walked in was the vegan menu, which was wonderful. 15 min later while at the bar getting ready to order we found out, that they didn't have the vegan menu yet. That wouldn't have been too much of a problem, but neither the bartender, nor the maitre d' knew that the vegan menu was not being served. I do plan to go back sometime because the meat looked good, but people in my group were vegan so we went down the street to veggie garden. Tips to the owner - - when opening a new location, bring some of your old kitchen staff with you so the kitchen flows and you get food out. - let your staff know whats going on so they don't give erroneous information. - update your website so people know whats going on. update - @Dan - asking for an improved rating is unbecoming, actually making me want to rate you lower. The best way for you to get a better ranking is to improve service, which you are clearly trying to do. Perhaps I will improve the ranking of my review in the future, but that will depend on how well you and your staff do in the future.
(2)Jeremy B.
Ambiance: Ok. Decor is fine, but it's a little bright and the tables are a little close together for private conversation. There is an upper level, a large bar, and the pastry kitchen is basically wide open, so that's pretty cool. Service:Went twice. Both times, even though we had reserves, we had to wait 10-20 minutes for a table. Not a huge deal, and you know it's a good sign when a place is this busy. First time, waiter was great. Second time, waiter was nice but forgot a couple of items and had to be reminded. Beer Selection: This is clearly one of those newer restaurants where the owner/management is in touch with the craft beer market and wants to serve good stuff to go along with their menu. They have a rotating taps for seasonals from Sierra Nevada, Flying Dog, Victory, and others, as well as taps for an 'IPA of the Day' and a 'White of the Day'. Not bad. Their bottle/can selection isn't huge, but it's solid: Allagash, Oskar Blues, 21st Amendment, Smaltz, North Coast, etc. Food: Ok, HOLY CRAP. This place serves AMAZING food. I would eat here 3 times a day and have to get around in a motorized scooter. First time we went I got the farmer's pitchfork (candied bacon and homemade tater tots on skewers), the butcher's plate (chili dog, mini cheeseburger, ribs), and their seasonal bread pudding. My wife got their popcorn of the day (yes, they have this: awesome), a perfect gnocchi over beef ragu, and housemade sorbet. Second time we went was for brunch. DO THIS. DO IT NOW. Red velvet pancakes, bacon a la carte (three huge slabs, choose from 1 of 4 house glazes), house-made beignets. RIDICULOUS. Value:On the medium-pricy side, as you'd expect. The dinner trip came to $90 for both of us (1 cocktail, 3 beers, 2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 desserts); brunch was $65 (1 champagne, 2 beers, 1 app, 2 orders of pancakes (hers were carrot cake), bacon, hashbrowns, beignets). Overall: The food is wonderful, and the beer list isn't an afterthought. This is the kind of place to go often, if you can afford it and can go during off peak hours.
(4)Tarra F.
I've been to this establishment twice and haven't been disappointed by the food or service.
(4)Evsi W.
went back 2 times and had equally as good of an experience as before! had the onion Brie flatbread, Ahi Tuna salad and the Beignets again ....yummmmm The service at the bar was great! We have been served by the same guy each time and like him. BBQ was ok, we go to the south a lot and theirs down there is unbeatable! There was some noisy guy sitting next to us for a while and he acted like he was the only one there, but u can get that at any bar.....so still outstanding for us :)
(5)Liisa B.
The third time seems to be the charm for us at Founding Farmers. I was invited back by Valerie and she helped me make reservations for 715 on Saturday night. This time we had much better food and service. Our waitress, Carmen, was lovely and helpful. We asked for her recommendations and followed them. We didn't veer too far from what we normally like,and she steered us right. We started with cocktails, a martini for my husband, a Vesper for me. ("Mmm, that's not half bad...") They were both very good. We had the deviled eggs which were ok. The ranch popcorn was great!! My husband had the Frisco burger which he pronounced different enough from the normal burger to be appealing and done well. I had the small prime rib and it was tender and perfectly cooked. The mashed potatoes were not crusted over by the heat lamp this time which was a huge improvement!! The green beans were nicely cooked, not too soggy, nice crunch. We had no room for dessert. Overall, it was a very nice meal, and we are glad we tried again. It is nice to know we can order form the menu and be satisfied. My recommendation would be to ask your waiter and let them guide you to what is good eating based on what you like. I can safely say that we will be back.
(4)Paul A.
Was invited to the soft opening on Saturday. Had french toast, fried shrimp, flat bread, fries, tater tots, hot dogs and Chili and to top it all off, homemade ice cream. Yes I know, fat meal all the way..but we had no choice over the selections since this was more of an opportunity to critiqued the food was free. Service was 5 STAR fabulous. The cucumber infused cocktail was amazing and the restaurant has a very unique and interesting build out. I won't review the food here since it was the first day of trial runs and the fact that I am not a fan of fried food or hot dogs in general. The menu looks phenomenal and I can't wait to have a regular meal.... All in all if it is anything like the DC spot, this will be a treat for years to come.
(4)Daniel K.
Customer service is outstanding, I had the pastrami sandwich which was okay. The soda's that they make are pretty awesome. I would recomend getting reservations before you go to the place cause you would have to wait a while to get seated if you just walk in.
(5)Howard H.
I went to this place excited and with an open mind. I left after paying nearly $200, which included my dinner of a cold hot dog, cold mini-cheeseburgers, and cold pork ribs. The atmosphere is great and they have no problems finding customers (for now). But I am more interested in great food and great service, than worrying about how (or even if) this restaurant is saving the World. I am disappointed, and I going to hit the gym to work off the worthless and plain bad calories I consumed last night. BOO!
(1)Joe M.
Good news - food was very good. Service was about the worst I ever had. Waiters should not sit at the bar while orders get cold, and it would be nice if they had a clue about what was on tap.
(2)Olivia H.
Third time's a charm? I went back for another try after receiving an email from the manager apologizing and inviting me back. A dish was forgotten and the timing was a little off, but other wise the service was great! I went with a couple of friends, and we ordered the deviled eggs, mussels and pickled seasonal vegetables to start. I normally wouldn't have eaten the mussels, as I am allergic to pork (I think they are made with chorizo?), but when our waiter overheard me encouraging my friends to get it anyway, he offered to see if the kitchen could accommodate my allergy.... I am ever so grateful they could. All three appetizers were sooooooo good! I loved the mussels and the smoked salmon deviled eggs. My friends ordered a breakfast plate and the chicken and waffles as their main dish, both of which looked appetizing.... but I ordered the wood plank salmon. OMG, the best salmon ever, perfectly cooked with a maple glaze that was caramelized all over- exactly how I like it!!! It came with green beans, and I requested the mac'n'cheese instead of the mashed potatoes. I could have done without the mac'n'cheese- it tasted very much like american cheese, which I don't like. Not a big deal, just a personal preference..... sad, because all the elements of good mac'n'cheese were there- it was rich and cheesy, piping hot with perfect al dente pasta and a nice finish of toasted bread crumbs on top. We ended it with the beignets and espresso. There are no words to describe their beignets. It was the perfect end to a decadent lunch. I will definitely come back again and can only hope that they will continue the better service and food without special arrangements made by the management.
(4)Ben H.
Me and my family went here the other night. If you're looking for wide variety of good, solid food, this is a great place to go. They seem to make a lot of their ingredients in house, and it really shows. The Appetizers (flat-bread, popcorn, and pickle jar) were in particular really good, and my meal (butchers plate) was very good as well. Overall really impressed with the food, and while we didn't have many drinks it seemed like the bar is a very popular destination and they have award winning cocktails. Service was friendly and helpful, although when they're busy there are a few problems. Nothing too terrible though. A few things that weren't so great. First the desert was hit or miss. The mousse was pretty good (although it is enormous) but the red velvet cake we had was pretty dry. Also, anyone who ordered a salad that night (4 of us) had something missing from it. In addition, I was missing a side, bringing the total of messed up meals to 5 out of 6. This is way more mistakes than can be excused by a busy night, and while it didn't ruin the night it certainly didn't reflect well on the plate preparation, especially the salad department. I've heard similar reports from other people who have gone here as well. Luckily, our waitress was very helpful, and in the end the restaurant went through enormous efforts to rectify the problem, giving us two desserts and SIX $15 gift cards, an extremely generous offer. That final effort definitely ensured we'd be coming back here again. Overall a good, reasonably priced restaurant worth checking out.
(4)Steph H.
Drinks were bland and pricey, not worth the $12 price tag Appetizers: Deviled eggs - tasty, but just a normal deviled egg Bacon/tater tot combo - this is pretty much one slice of underseasoned bacon chopped into 4 pieces + 8 tater tots (which were good, but not $8 good). There is a more flavorful, cheaper version of this in a bacon cheeseburger value meal at McDonalds. It's literally equivalent to one piece of bacon and small cup of fries. Entrees: Chicken: underseasoned, but with a flavorful and crispy skin. Accompanying veggies were delicious Burger: decent, but nothing notable Pot roast: underseasoned, with a gloopy and flavorless sauce With "farm fresh" ingredients, I would have expected much more flavor and creativity. Noise level: very loud, seemed like a congregation of people who like to bark and cackle loudly at each other
(2)Stephanie K.
I love the DC location of Founding Farmers. It's my go-to special occasion restaurant. However, as a Marylander, it can be a bit tricky to get to. We decided to try to Potomac location. My date and I had an 8:15 reservation for a Friday night. We got the restaurant early, checked in, and they let us know that they were running 5-10 minutes behind schedule. We didn't get seated until almost 8:40. I guess this is OK on a Friday night, but when we got upstairs, there were at least six empty tables. Really? Our server was really nice and helpful with suggestions from the menu. I settled on the artichoke and chickpea "gunny sack" and my date got the polenta. The inside of the gunny sack - tomatoes, chickpeas, and artichoke hearts -- was delicious. Everything was wrapped in phyllo dough, which, sadly, was not cooked all the way through. Three more minutes in the oven and it would have been perfect! My dish came with a side of spinach that was almost inedible because it had way too much garlic in it (and I LOVE garlic). My date's only complaint about the polenta was that he wished there was more sauce/veggies to balance out the massive serving of polenta. Will I come back? Probably not. I definitely suggest making the trek into DC for the better half of the Founding Farmers family!
(2)Lauren S.
There are only two good things about this place: the cornbread and the ginger soda. When we arrived on a Thursday night the host told us it would be a 30 min wait, sure no problem. Then some woman intervened and said it would in fact be over an hour wait because the entire restaurant was booked and we would have to sit outside. We said we were willing to wait the hour but she kept insisting we should eat outside. Um, it is 90 degrees outside, no thank you (plus no one else was sitting outside). She was incredibly rude. The food was also a disappointment. I got the south carolina bbq with fixings and was really looking forward to it. The pork was mostly fat, the collard greens were mediocre, and the biscuit was soggy. The decor is nice, but overall it was a pretty bleek experience which was incredibly disappointing.
(2)Gia H.
I am only giving this a 3 because I love Founding Farmers... Well at least the DC location for now. I know this restaurant has just opened, so I won't butcher the place. However, I was just so excited that this place was brought to Montgomery County, but let down so badly. So my mother and I went here the first Saturday it was opened. We sat up stairs, which looked like a baby tornado hit. There was food on the seats, trash on the floor and an outline of a previous guest's drink right under my arm. Because I am overly too nice, I didn't complain about this. We didn't order hors d'oeuvres because we wanted to save room for dessert - Beignets to be exact! So my mother ordered the Crispy Spatchock Chicken - Honey Thyme Glazed with Dakota Raw Honey style. The description of the entree tells you what it comes with - Well our server told us we choose our sides from the crop list even though it says what the sides come with. Well after my mother choose something from the crop list, the server comes back and says you cannot order from there, but she will see what she can do. My mother decides to keep what comes with it, however when the entree comes, she receives something that she did not ask for nor the items listed in the entree description. In addition, we ordered Mac n Cheese to share and all to say about that was the noodles were undercooked. For my entree I get the Frisco Burger which should have been called the Frio Burger. The burger and the fries both came out cold - Not luke warm or a tad bit warm, COLD. I never send things back, but that was just unacceptable. So they bring me hot fries while I wait for my burger. 15 minutes later, still no burger. I guess I should have asked them to nuke it in the microwave. So 25 minutes later, I receive the burger and ask for a box to go because by that time, I was ready for dessert. "Beignets please. What, it takes 20 minutes to cook? I'm sorry, but cafe du monde never told me it would take 20 minutes for a little peace of heaven to be fried." So I don't know if we didn't read the menu right, but I don't remember it saying it takes 20 minutes because if I did, I would have ordered it while I was waiting for my burger. So when we finally received the beignets, which the guy who delivered them said it would be worth the wait, they weren't all that great... And honestly, maybe it's me because I've had a real New Orleans Beignet. But there wasn't enough powder sugar and it was very doughy like it wasn't cooked enough. With all that said [smile] I will try again at the end of this month. I am too excited that Founding Farmers is in Mo County for me not to like it!
(3)Jessica K.
The restaurant is wonderful!! I highly recommend it. The customer service was wonderful. I made a reservation on OpenTable. I made a special request for a booth online in the reservation and they fulfilled it with no problem. They gave us the option of being immediately seated at a table or waiting 10 minutes for a booth. We were in a booth in 5 minutes!! Talk about exceeding expectations!! Before our waiter, Tristan came to our table, we were greeted by another waitress, who wasn't assigned to us, but was kind enough to say hello and ask if we were new, and tell us that our waiter was in his way. She saw that it was our first time and made us feel at home with great drink suggestions. Then Tristan came to help us and highly recommended the Potomac Park Swizzle (which is absolutely great). The manager, Gerard, also checked on us. Even on a Friday night, they made my boyfriend and I feel like we were the only customers in the restaurant. The food was absolutely wonderful, the drinks were strong, and the atmosphere even better. We had no difficulty finding parking either. I highly recommend. Great place on any day!!
(5)Alan H.
The menu was fun and had a couple of interesting entrees to offer. The food was good and we'll presented. The service was slow, hard to find your wait person when there was a problem. It took way too long to get salt or pepper, and for that matter, the cocktail sauce way to long to find their way to our table. The waitress had no clue as to the beers they offer as fare, which is counter to the image they want to project. The cold press coffee was a disaster even though the staff attempted to prepare it twice. Hopefully, with time they will get better!
(2)Chris P.
I was invited to the soft opening of Founding Farmers in Potomac for dinner. I work in the same office building as the restaurant, so getting there was a breeze. Upon arrival, I was given a friendly greeting by the host staff and quickly escorted to a table. While I found the wait service to be fast, I also found it to be impersonal. Our waiter avoided making eye contact or listening to our preferences. There was also no opportunity to provide feedback. The food was a preselected menu for each table, so diners had no power over what dishes they received. I'm not in much of a position to complain since the food was complimentary, but I feel like forcing random dishes on patrons doesn't encourage them to return. At least give a few options to choose from for each course. The main issue I had was that some tables were getting cuts of prime meat and lobster mac & cheese as their mains, while we received a pork sandwich and a salad. If you choose this format, I think its important to serve meals that are roughly equivalent in value. We felt a bit alienated since tables around us were getting a meals worth twice as much. Most of the food we received was good, not great. The appetizers and desserts were actually my favorite parts of the meal. There were many items on the menu that looked delicious, but I didn't get to sample them. At some point, I'll probably return to try FF's specialty cocktails and some more food items since the location is convenient, but I would not go out of my way to patronize this restaurant based on this initial experience.
(3)Phillip M.
I can't vouch for the food as I never got in. At 930am on a Sunday with the restaurant more than half empty, we were told we could not be seated for over an hour because we didn't have a reservation. We walked out.
(1)L W.
2 stars for good, natural food. 5 stars for the noisiest restaurant and not worth enjoying good food if you can't hear your partner across the table. Terrible acoustics, good food. I think the young people (who love noisy restaurants) wouldn't mind this establishment.
(2)Michael K.
This restaurant is supposedly the newest hot spot in the potomac area. I heard that they're known for their "made from scratch" home cooked food. We started with their deviled eggs which were not bad, but rather simple to make at home. We also had their corned bread which we found to be good. For dinner we had the pot roast and fried chicken which both were good, but nothing I'd jump up and down for. We noticed people sitting near us ordering biscuits and the 3 hot dog platter, and both of those items looked appealing. The service was not good. They didn't bring us water in the beginning, and we constantly had to ask for things. We found this place to be rather trendy, and wouldn't come back again, but we don't regret trying it once.
(2)Gina R.
I really didn't like it, neither did my daughter. I had to force myself to finish my french toast which I didn't enjoy and didn't really want to order but they were out of pancakes and waffles which was very suprising. My waiter was very good though and I did enjoy the hibiscus soda and my daughter enjoyed the raspberry soda. This place was totally over rated in my opinion.
(2)Vanessa M.
Such a fan of this FF! First time there and our server, Alex, was so sweet! They were crowded but we didn't have to wait long. Food was hearty and plentiful and those wings... I dream about those wings!
(4)Rach F.
I have been to founding farmers three times. For my first trip, I went with absolutely no expectations, having heard virtually nothing about the Park Potomac or DC locations. While the food each time has been excellent, the service has been pretty bad. Well, I should say the wait staff has been bad. The first time I went was for brunch, and in the two hours we were there (it took over an hour for us to get our food) we saw our waiter a total of three times. Every time we needed something, we had to flag down any waiter that was passing and ask for more water or coffee, missing silverware, etc. My boyfriend asked if the corned beef hash came with eggs and our waiter said no, so my boyfriend ordered a side of eggs. When our food finally came out, there were eggs on the corned beef, yet our waiter still brought us a side of eggs. When my boyfriend asked our waiter about it, he shrugged and said sorry, yet still charged us for the extra eggs. The food really was good though so we decided maybe we just had an inexperienced waiter. The second time we went, I made a reservation for 5:30 for my father's birthday. The restaurant wasn't full, yet again the waitress hardly ever came over to check on us. The food came out quicker since it wasn't as busy, and it was as usual delicious. We had a pleasant experience, we just hope they improve their wait staff or maybe consider extra training. On our third experience, we sat at the bar, which has tied itself with Clyde's for my favorite bar. The bartender Eric was friendly and helpful, and our food came out surprisingly fast, considering we went around 7:30 on a Thursday evening. I will definitely go back to Founding Farmers, but I would recommend parties of two or three checking for room at the bar before trying to get a table.
(3)Danielle L.
Very disappointing. You see the menu and it looks great. Wonderful choices and flavors. Yet when it arrives (if it arrives), it's hardly what you expected. I got the shrimp and grits, for example, and it had some odd sauce to it that is not at all what you'd expect in that dish. I don't know if it had too much tabasco or the fishiness of the shrimp. It just wasn't good. trying to get someone to take my order took forever. As did trying to flag someone down to refill my tea. As did trying to find a server to give me a bill. (They seemed to stand around to talk to one another quite a bit but appeared to have no interest in the customers.) The best that I can say for the place is that I like that they offer plugs at the tables and wifi in the restaurant.
(1)Ryan W.
Ok, I would actually give this place a four star if the wait wasn't so long. I've been wanting to go to the location in DC, but have never been able to get in (to be fair, I didn't really plan ahead each time). That being said, I thought the food was pretty good, but come on. Why would this place be so hard to get into, with the food just being good? You would think this was a 5-Diamond restaurant or something. Also, the service sucked, but we did go on their opening weekend, which I guess is to be expected. I hope it gets better, because I would like to have a nice place to go, close to home.
(3)Nikki G.
Very disappointing, considering I enjoyed the Founding Farmers in DC. I ordered the crab cakes, and somewhat expect to have a few shells here-and-there. This was terrible, a literally found an entire claw in my crabcake (yes a whole claw!). This meal was completely inedible. I'm not one to complain, but I informed the manager so that a similar meal wouldn't be served to another customer. He was kind enough to remove it from our check (which I didn't ask for, but appreciated)- but I would have preferred a good meal instead. We also ordered red velvet cake for dessert, hoping for a happy ending to our meal, but it was very dry. Again, happy with the one in DC. And like the idea of the restaurant. But this place was lacking and needs improvement.
(2)Lynna T.
Sent back every single thing we ordered. Waited forever for our food, because it had been sitting and getting cold in the kitchen. They need a couple more months to get into the swing of things. Nothing really remarkable flavor-wise either. Mediocre at best.
(1)Kat G.
Good service great food. Going for lunch again tomorrow.
(4)Annie L.
Fried Chicken and Waffles? Need I say more? The make and cheese and combination with the fried chicken, wow, I better get to the gym right after this meal. This place gets packed quick, but love the organic theme, with the milk bottles filled with water, and everything for local farms. I came for brunch and lunch, and to sit at the bar. The blackened pepper chicken is my favorite appetizer, so flavorful, just like me. And this is the first time I have ever tried onion jam, seriously, you may think gross, something you find in your shoe, but it is soooo good in that brushetta with the gr"annie" apples, yum. That's what I would try, just saying. 4 stars, because I know the wait is long, so we don't bother, and just run for some seats at the bar, the service is also hit or miss, hard to get the attention of bartenders, only when busy, which is understandable. Sorry, Clydes ... Potomac Park is stealing customers!
(4)Queen C.
Ribs, salmon and fried chicken were great! Their menu is a little bit challenging so we asked a lot of questions to our server who is very helpful! The chips with three dips appetizer is delish too!
(4)Joe L.
Appetizers are really good. Main courses are really good. Desserts are really really good. Drinks look really good (though we didn't have any). Good beer selection. We went on Christmas day, and it was packed, but they were working through the crowd pretty well.
(4)Deirdre W.
Went to FF for the first time last night--a group of five old friends in town for the holidays. We tried to make a reservation, but they were not taking anymor, but we decided to give it a whirl anyway. Arrived at 7pm and were finally seated around 830pm. And that is on a Thursday night (granted, a holiday week). I had great expectations, but I must say, FF was just OK. The fried green tomato appetizer was very good, as was the farmer chips and dips. The by-the-glass wine list was limited, but some good choices. For my main course, I had the cheese and wild mushroom ravioli. Sounded great, but it was actually very so-so. The ravioli itself was perfectly cooked but rather bland--sadly similar to the stuff in my grocer's freezer. Then it had a "wild mushroom sauce" that had about 3 mushrooms in it. Seriously, it was hard to find a mushroom to pick out and chew on. Oddly, this sauce was paired with dried cherries, and the pairing did not work. And finally, the whole thing had crumbled bleu cheese over the top. Now I love a good stinky cheese, but it was just not right in this dish. As an aside, I read on another review that the wild mushroom sauce was beef-based. That was surprising to me, a vegetarian for many years. My fault for not asking, but I guess it simply did no occur to me. That said, it did not taste even remotely of beef, which is good news for me and maybe not-so-good for others. It was all very edible, and I ate it because I was hungry after the 90 minute wait for a table and another 45 minute wait for a main course. The service was also fine. "Edible" anf "fine" though are disappointing given the hype around FF and the cost. I eat out a lot for business meals and for social, but I am highly unlikely to go back here.
(2)My I.
Ate there last night for the first time. Pro: Bread 'smear' appetizer was good. The bread is great. The smears (spreads) are just okay. Pro: Squash soup was very good. Con: Very loud, very crowded. Con: The chicken served in that fancy oven was dry. Three of us ordered it, each with a different sauce/rub. The sauce was the only thing moist about the chicken. Any one of the new chicken places (e.g., Peri-Peri) is better for chicken. Dinner for 4 (no alcoholic drinks, 3 appetizers) = $109.00 before tip. Not sure if I'll go back. Much prefer a smaller, more intimate restaurant (Il Pizzico, Vasillies, etc.) BTW ... none of the Exit signs were lit. Not sure if that's legal. They better watch out for the fire marshal.
(2)J P.
The beignet was really good...that's all i remember from our brunch a month ago - i can't even remember what i ate (meaning their food was forgettable). Excellent service though.
(3)Ellen S.
I love the menu at Founding Farmers but the service is still terrible. We had to get up and talk to a hostess in order to get the attention of someone who wasn't even our waiter. This place has been around long enough that the kinks should have been worked out. There are too many restaurants in the area. I think I will frequent one of them before going back to Founding Farmers!
(2)Karin W.
Paid my second visit to Founding Farmers yesterday for an early NY eve dinner with my fiancée. Upon arrival, we checked in on time and were asked to wait 10 minutes before being seated. I asked about a few wines, but our waiter was new and had not tasted those that I inquired about. Instead, he offered to bring me a small sample of the Red Rhone blend which I accepted and ended up ordering. My fiancée and I started our meal with the fried green tomatoes and a Founder's salad. The salad was excellent, with nuts, a date, and tasty dressing. The fried green tomatoes, however, I found tasteless:( As a main course, I ordered the squash ravioli with mascarpone, it had a lemon butter sauce and was garnished with chopped brussel sprouts, and found it remarkable. I would definitely recommend this dish and my fiancée agreed that he would order it too. As a side note, our waiter agreed to take a few pics upon request of my fiancée and me. Overall, a very nice experience.
(4)Nanci B.
Went for breakfast on Sunday morning. Busy, but not crowded; seated promptly. Service was personal and very good; food was even better. Farm fresh food never tasted so good!
(5)K J.
Don't expect friendly service at reception or the bar. Warm water in ice cold glasses. So disappointed. Food was just as disappointing.
(1)Nori W.
Went Thursday night with 3 other girl friends. The food was just okay for me (beef short rib - $26), one girl had fried shrimp and she liked the variety of items on her plate, the other two dishes were a salad and a pasta dish. They were both okay. Service was definitely bad though, I thought about talking to the staff or manager on the way out since we were complaining about service the whole night. First of all, our water glasses were empty for a while and our waitress didn't come back to check on us whatsoever after the food was delivered. So we flagged her down and asked her if we could have more water. She brought the water pitcher and sat it on our table without filling our glasses. After the water pitcher ran empty, we were out of water again and it was near the end of our meal, my friend who ordered ice tea was also not offered a refill for the entire meal, she just had an empty glass. Since we were almost done with our meal we just ordered the dessert and decided to pay and go on our way. But definitely only worth a 1.5-2/5 as far as service goes. ******* edited based on 12/26 afternoon tea social experience Two of the girl friends and I went to try the afternoon tea social menu. The food was excellent and this time our waiter was very attentive and friendly. We were treated nicely and thoroughly enjoyed our experience. I hope the first night was just an 'off night' and I've adjusted my review according to this new experience.
(4)Rachel P.
Fun atmosphere and great food. We enjoyed the popcorn of the day, home-made sodas, and Farmers tea. The menu is very unique which makes it hard to choose a dish, but it didn't seem like you could go wrong. The mac n' cheese was delicious and they give you a big portion. Also suggest the Woodstock chicken - perfectly cooked. Save room for dessert! The ice cream is delicious and the beignets worth waiting for.
(4)Jessica W.
Another restaurant that I would love to love. However, it proved disappointing the second go round. The restaurant is very comfy, open, airy and welcoming. The bar is very nice too. The service was not that fantastic and the food was less than expected. To start we ordered the Pickled Seasonal Vegetables. These turned out to be raw carrots plopped in some vinegar...thought they would have at least been steamed a little bit or something? We also tried the Butternut Squash soup; this was the most delicious thing we ordered! Regardless of everything else not being too tasty, this soup was delicious. Then we had the Farmer's Salad and Skirt Steak. The salad was okay, nothing special, and the skirt steak was tough and chewy. The part we were most excited about was the Chimichurri Sauce that came with the skirt steak...not so exciting. If I ever find myself here again I might try the cast iron fried chicken but otherwise no extreme desire to come here again.
(2)Dain K.
A group of us went here on a Wed night and it was pretty packed. The decor was nice, but the average age of the customer was pretty old (I would say fifties). This is probably because it is in Potomac. The food isn't bad (I had the reuben sandwich), but I was not impressed with the service. She seemed a little slow and definitely doesn't concentrate. When the bill came, we wrote down how much we want charged to each card and she somehow screwed that up. The waitress also was complaining to her co-workers about our group, which I think is unprofessional. I think management should definitely focus on training. Would I come back? Maybe, but this place wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)Mary Ann R.
Went for lunch w my husband. The place is very loud and the service was abysmal. They take your order then you wait forever to get the food and drinks. The food was not good either. Mostly bread and no filling on my sandwich. We will not return.
(1)Le D.
The only thing worth finding here is decent service and and an interesting ambience. As far as the food, they try as hard as they fail. Add to that a pricey menu and you have a recipe for a bad restaurant. Under cooked carrots, over cooked ribs with a sauce that makes you cringe. I tried multiple entrees and apps and each was as bad as the next. Flat bread consisted of toasted bread with a side of goat cheese drizzled with balsamic and pistachios, another side of tomatoes drenched in a vinaigrette and pickled onions; together on the toasted bread (flat bread) were edible at best. Cocktail was weak, wine was barely drinkable (however the cost compelled me to finish it). I vow to never go back, spread the bad word!
(2)Catalina A.
Great food very relaxing. Will definitely return.
(4)N W.
We went to this place on a Saturday night. Had a reservation for 7 pm but didn't get seated until 7:20. It took the waitress 40 minutes to get our drinks from the bar. This is after they made me the wrong drink and told my husband they ran out of tonic for his vodka tonic. They similarly made us wait 30 minutes for dessert. The service was terrible. We had to hunt down our waitress anytime we needed anything including salt and pepper and butter for our biscuits. I ordered the cheeseburger and it had andolutely no salt. One friend had the fried chicken and it was soggy. His coffee also came out warm. Another friend's salad was underdressed and the arugula was wilted. My husband's short ribs were fine. Based on the terrible service and mediocre food we won't be returning.
(1)E E.
I've been three times (once for brunch and twice for lunch) and have never been disappointed by the food. The tomato and goat cheese flat bread still gives me cravings (fyi -- it's deconstructed, not put together like a sandwich). The grilled cheese and tomato soup was perfection on a blustery day. The eggs benedict was wonderful. My husband thinks they make the best biscuits he's ever had. Other recommendations are to try the popcorn (I've had the ranch flavored), the farmer's pitchfork (combo) and the veggie burger. The red velvet cake was so wonderfully rich and dense, we took most of it home and it still took two more sittings before we finished it off. I think I can only order that one once per year. Overall, for both the quality and quantity, it's a good value. Watch out for those $5 "scratch" sodas, though. Delicious, but no free refills, so mind that you don't end up paying $10+ because you're thirsty. My one caution is this: if you have little patience for mediocre service, go during off hours. Not that servers haven't been friendly, there just aren't enough or something. Our second visit, we had to flag the waiter down just to get the check because he hadn't been by in 20 minutes. Then it was another 15 minutes before we got it. On our third trip it was 10 minutes before the waitress came by, and even then, it was to let us know she was getting water and would be right back. Another 10 minutes went by before we got that water and were able to order. I could overlook it once, or if they were super busy, but this seems to be an ongoing issue.
(3)Catharine N.
My husband and I are Vegetarians and have been to the Park Potomac FF several times. We have never been disappointed - the food and service have been consistently excellent.
(5)Ron T.
This was my second time here. The first time I thought it was really good. Nice vibe the drinks were amazing. Went last night and it was busy for a Sunday night. Service was good however the food was mediocre at best. For the price I would rather go to bonefish grill where the food is always decent and for much less. The cornbread was way to salty. The crab cakes were TERRIBLE the salad and drinks were the best part of the meal. I guess its hit or miss here so i will give them one more shot and perhaps it was just an off night
(2)Pat B.
Wow! I am a huge fan of this (DC) restaurant but last nights experience (in MD) was disappointing. We had to accept an very early hour to eat because no reservations were available. We were seated at 4:45 pm (the place was empty) and left at 7:50 (the place was full and the potential stampede at the lobby area was a true fire hazard). Let's hope that it is growing pains. While our server was a nice guy, he was incredibly slow and sometimes forgot what we ordered. Why not write down orders? The food was ok but needs improving. I had gift certificates obtained from Earthaid. They had no idea what to do with them. I have my fingers crossed that they improve in their cooking and serving standards.
(2)Katie G.
I was so happy to have a Founding Farmers closer to me. I will make the trek into the city at 9am for some of their delicious food but it's nice to be able to sleep in a little and be close to home. Our service was great! Our waitress was very attentive and asked us several times how we were doing and was always up on the refills (my friend and I had about 5 cups of coffee each). I feel terrible that I have forgotten her name but she was amazing. I really loved her. The ambience was loud, which is to be expected with the Saturday morning brunch set. I love the setting around us and it was fun and funky. Our food came out quickly and delicious. We started with binets and then had the scrambles. Delicious and we way over-ate. The table next to us followed suit with their order because they saw how great our food looked. When we finished our meal, they were in no rush with us and let us sit there for a while enjoying our coffee and talking. The check was brought out in a cute little mailbox (which I've never seen at the DC location) and our waitress told us how great we were to have. All in all, great experience and I will be heading back soon!
(5)wai t.
To be fair, let me just start off by saying I went here for Valentine's Day (so it could be too busy that the quality of food suffered). My husband and I double-dated with my sister and her boyfriend. When I first looked at the menu there was so much going on - one might even say there was too much going on that it makes it difficult to even see what their specialty dishes are. My one rule is if all else fails and I simply don't know what to get, the fish and chips will never fail me - EVER. Well there's a first for everything - it failed me here. My plate came with two very thin fish tenders, and a ripped off paper bag full of luke-warm soggy fries mixed with chips. My first thought was that it reminded me of taking leftover fries and chips from other people's tables and putting it in a greasy ripped paper bag and then on my plate - not cute, not appetizing, not a great presentation at all. My dish was $14 and it should have been called Chips and Fish. The fish was like garnish for my fries/chips mixture. It actually really made me angry and I felt jipped. I would expect this at a more high end gourmet restaurant (with good fries though, of course) where they place your tiny bit of food on an oversized plate and call it a meal. Not that it's ok, but I would expect that in that sort of restaurant, not here. My husband got the strip steak...it was petite as well but he said it was good. My sister had the Southern Fried Chicken and it came with some bits of fried chicken, greens, and mashed potatos. I tried some of everything on her plate. I've decided that they like to give you a big plop of sides and skimp you on the meat. The greens were awful - looked like collard greens but tasted like ass. It was bitter and had a weird cinnamon flavor (?). Her mashed potatos were dry and luke-warm much like everything else. Her boyfriend had the Chicken and Waffles (one of their so-called best dishes) and he enjoyed the chicken. He doesn't usually eat a lot but even he said he thought he'd have more food on his plate. His came with half a waffle, mac and cheese, and green beans. He gave me the green beans and I thought they didn't really have any flavor and was not hot. I ate them because I was still hungry! My sister pointed out that the green beans on my husband's plate were brown and soggy and the beans I got from her boyfriend were vibrant green. Founding Farmers needs to get it together and have some consistency with their food! Our bill was about $80 - not sure what we really got out of that - very disappointing. One star because I can't give zero stars, and I guess the server was nice and attentive for the most part. And obviously, don't come here if you've saved your whole day's calories to have a delicious filling meal.
(1)Andrea G.
The service was truly awful. The waitstaff were disorganized, we waited an hour for food, and the floor manager came over in an attempt to remedy the awful service but she was confused and repeated herself several times. All of our entrees were stone cold and had to be re-made. (another hour waiting). It was a true disappointment. The kicker was when the general manager said "so sorry, your bill will be taken care of." yet an hour later, we got our bill and paid for it. The entrees had been removed but everything else was our responsibility. Why lie? Don't attempt a visit unless you have a lot of time and patience.
(1)Thomas M.
I had to do it. My dinner at Potomac's Founding Fathers was so incredible I thought... "Breakfast!". Before I get to the food, I will say it is high time that Potomac/N. Bethesda had a place for a professional breakfast meetings. A diner is OK in a pinch, but if you have an important meeting where impressions matter, this is the next best thing to the Four Seasons, as far as obsequious service goes. I loved the drink selection at my first dinner, so I wasn't surprised to see very interesting drink offerings for breakfast. Given the health focus of the menu, I had to have the carrot juice, freshly extracted!, for the same price as orange juice. But the coup de grace: PERSONAL FRENCH PRESS! If you are a coffee aficionado, you know that this is the ONLY way to have coffee. (They make it mild for the normal coffee drinker - on my second carafe, I asked them to make it a little more robust.) It is tough to make an interesting culinary experience out of breakfast. Not a challenge here. I had to remind myself that it's the holidays - I don't have to order everything on the menu. We had the purple velvet hash. As I mentioned in my first visit, the vegetables here are an attraction in themselves. I had never thought of adding beets (hence, the purple) to my hash, but this, in combination with goat cheese, poached eggs, and a very light (without being watery) slightly lemony hollandaise made for a varied tasting experience - a different flavor in every bite. Unlike anything else I have ever tried. I feel silly getting so excited about something simple like hash, but when you try it, you'll understand. On leaving I felt satiated, but not stuffed, unlike carb-laden breakfasts can sometimes make you feel. My guest was also impressed, and he said he's coming back with his wife. On another note, I read a couple of negative reviews - I've been 3 times and haven't had a bad trip. It's a popular spot already, so you do need a reservation on a busy night. The food does take a few minutes to come, but no more than any other restaurant I have been to - and it's always great. Plus, every server or bartender has been contagiously enthusiastic. Maybe I'm not that picky, but I do know a good thing, and this is the one of only a handful of unique and fun places in Montgomery County. Did I mention the obsequious staff? If you have a complaint, don't keep it yourself - the staff has bent over backwards for me at any request or comment.
(5)Kelly S.
Got the chicken and waffles. chicken was great waffles could use a litlle work. Others got the farmers daughter burger and loved it. Definetly going back.
(4)Geoff L.
Awesome food every time and their drink menu is phenomenal.
(5)Heather S.
Wish I had read the other reviews before we headed over.. I think they are just getting off to a rocky start and still working out the kinks. This place has potential, so I'll hash out our experience here. Keep in mind, they've only been open 2 weeks. For the most part my complaints have nothing to do with the food (for the most part..) We had a reservation and arrived early. Spoke to the hostess and reminded them that we needed a highchair, thinking it might make it easier for them to put us at a 2 person table with a highchair (giving them more table options for where to put us) -- well they don't have high chairs (WTH?) Ok so we get seated at a booth with a booster. Our 2yr olds first time in a booster.. joy [stress!]. On the way to the table, the floors are slippery - greasy slippery.. we were practically ice skating. My husband takes my daughter to the bathroom, no changing table. He asks me to take her, we literally skate/slide over to the bathroom, hanging on to the bar so we don't fall.. no changing table in the ladies room either. Later the manager tells me they are ordering them and its a high priority to get them in.. but still, I had to change my daughter on the floor. So we order.. Pot roast for DH, french dip for me, sans cheese (really so DH can try it) and mini burgers for the kiddo. Food comes.. French dip has mayo on it (who does that?) burgers have sauce and pickles. None of the menu descriptions indicated these things and the waiter didn't mention it when we ordered. Sent the burgers back. Waiter was very nice about it all, but it took a while for the burgers to come back. Luckily, the corn on the cob she got as a side was fab and kept her happy. The real disappointment came after eating half of the french dip -- a piece of plastic in it. We had a nice chat with the manager, she was very sweet. We talked about the changing tables and the floors and she assured us they were all things they were working on. She apologized about the plastic and said she would go try to find out how it happened. She offered us dessert.. we were tired and full, and not interested in sweets, so she sent us home with some cookies for later. Well I just got around to eating the cookies - they are amazing. The French Dip was pretty good too, the mini burgers were good.. the pot roast could use some work. Like I said at the beginning.. the food is good, this place has potential. If they work out those kinks, I'm sure I'd give them another star or 2. Just keep that in mind if you head over there in the near future.
(3)Shannon G.
This is my third and probably last time at this location! It's not up to par of the Washington DC location. Today Jan. 16'2012 we were made to wait even though there were tables available... So my husband called and made reservations while we in the place waiting and were seated 20 minutes earlier than projected!! Why was that! The food came and was tepid at best, couldn't tell the waiter because he was AWOL. When I thought I might have some bengets for a treat I was told it would take an additional 20 minutes... Dude you couldn't share that earlier? Just not that great for the prices they're asking!!!
(2)Dana W.
I was excited to try out Founding Farmers in Potomac but was very dissappointed in the service and food. Our waiter was slow, forgetful, and unattentive. In his hast, he cleared our cocktails before we were finished with them. Our food took a long time and my friend's pulled pork sandwich was freezing cold. A burger ordered as medium came out well-done and charred on top. We had to send back both. My chicken pot pie was a soupy cream mixture with fresh bisuit on top but very little chicken and vegetables. It was gross, like eating half-n-half with bleck pepper! I loved the cucumber melon bev and homemade sodas so I may go back for drinks only. Also, my friend ate there another time and when she asked her waitress to consolidate their left-over apps to one plate, the waitress used her bare hand to move their food. Seriously!!!
(2)Catherine C.
The headline for our visit: Founding Farmers Founders. We had had dinner at the DC location last summer and looked forward to visiting the new Montgomery County location on 1/6/2012. We were all disappointed. We had a reservation for 7pm and arrived on time. We waited 20 minutes for a table, and the entire time we were waiting, no one checked in with us. (There were for young women staffing the front desk.) Once seated, no apology for the tardiness from our server or the hostess and no visit to our table from the manager either. Wonder if the manager was even aware of the seating delays? We probably could have overlooked the late seating if the food and table service had been good, but neither was up to our relatively modest expectations. We did not order drinks. Instead, we selected a bottle of wine when we sat down but it did not arrive until half way through our appetizers and only after we asked the waiter if he was going to bring it to us. Really? I thought restaurants made their money from alcohol sales. Our entrees arrived pretty promptly and at the same time, but again, we were all disappointed. I had very good (and hot) grouper that was accompanied by mashed potatoes and the vegetable mixture of the day. But for all of us, the sides were barely warm, and the vegetables (green beans and chunks of carrots) were rather unappealing between their color (gone), temperature (nearly cold), and the fact that the carrots were not properly cooked. I could accept less then piping hot vegetables if they were attractively presented (which can require additional time), but FF's presentation called to mind my junior high cafeteria -- large metal spoon scooping up vegetables and then plopping them on the plate. And one of our party ordered fish and chips, which was to be accompanied by a beer chaser. Again, we had to ask for it and it came well into our entree course. In addition to the grouper, the BBQ chicken was quite good, and we all enjoyed the fried green tomatoes and the breads and spreads appetizers. But given the prices, the mediocre service, and the dining alternatives nearby, we won't be heading back any time soon.
(2)Shannon W.
BY FAR ONE OF THE WORST SERVICE EXPERIENCES IVE EVER HAD. My boyfriend and I ate at Founding Farmers tonight and had service that was WAY too attentive. Usually this is a weird complaint, but seriously we never had a chance to have a full conversation without being interrupted. Not to mention the server constantly rushed us to get out of there. Our appetizers arrived and less than ten minutes after our entrees were there. Our server came by while we were still eating our entrees to ask if we want desert and when we said no (because we were still eating) she brought us the check. After I signed the check she took it off the table WHILE we were still sitting there. Nothing makes you feel less welcome than that. Meanwhile, they place a large pitcher of water on your table so they don't have to constantly fill up your glasses, which is great. However there was a time when our conversation was interrupted because someone (who was not our waitress) came by to fill up our glasses AND THEN our waitress also came by to ask us how we were doing. We just wanted them to LEAVE US ALONE. Anyways after feeling completely rushed through our meal (all of this happened in less than an hour AND we were drinking so even less of a reason to rush us), we went to sit at the bar to have another cocktail because our waitress made it very clear by delivering our check immediately that we couldn't do that there. The bartender was great. The drinks we had at the bar were wonderful and the bartender provided the perfect amount of service. If we go back we would definitely sit at the bar to avoid the horrible service. The food is also very good which is why I'm giving this 2 stars and not 1. We had the pitchfork, biscuits, and stuffed dates for appetizers. The stuffed dates are my favorite. My boyfriend had the butternut squash ravioli and I had the farmers salad and both were good. So all in all, sit at the bar if you want to be there for more than 30 minutes.
(2)Stephanie K.
Had Saturday brunch here and it was delicious. Started with some drinks: bloody mary and vanilla soda, both of which were very good. I had the bananas foster waffle with a side of black pepper and maple glazed bacon and they were awesome. I cleaned both plates, which is something I rarely do. My husband had the pastrami hash, which he enjoyed as well. Our server was very good and the food/drinks came out at a good pace. We will definitely be visiting Founding Farmers again.
(4)El H.
I went to Founding Farmers yesterday for lunch with some friends. We had a mixed experience. The food was delicious and ambience was great but they are still working out the kinks with their service. It took them over one hour to bring our food out and a couple of our dishes were cold. And my friend brought her 1 year old daughter and she couldn't handle that long of a wait. Plus, my friend found a piece of hair in her burger. And that ruined my friend's appetite after the long wait for her food. We asked to speak to a manager and it took the manager about 25 minutes to finally make her way over. By that time, my friend with her baby had to leave. The manager was gracious and took the burger and an additional discount off our bill. Plus, she gave us some red velvet cake to go. Now, back to the food. The scallops and fried chicken were very good. I thought the scallops were a bit overpriced for the amount of food you get. The roasted tomato soup was also very delicious. And the red velvet cake is very moist and rich. Overall, I wanted to rate this place higher because the food was great and the atmosphere is nice. But they need to work out getting their food out faster and having the manager deal with complaints in a more timely fashion.
(3)Mel M.
really, this place is a two star...but i added an extra star because the scallops were DELICIOUS. I came for weeknight dinner with a group of friends, so i sampled a few different dishes. my order was the limon muniere scallop & Risotto. SCALLOPS were a 5 star. Risotto was BAD (Wackala)...it was loaded with cheese but that was not in the description. I had the combination deviled egg appetizer....was very very good. The corn bread was horrible if you know what corn bread is. Im from the south and fresh corn bread from the skillet was at least 3 times a week at home! my mom and everyone elses mom can do better im sure. At FF, the cornbread is CAKE with a few pieces of corn mixed in the batter. COME ON PEOPLE..how can you mess up something as american as cornbread???? The hotdogs and hamburgers were not that great...very standard...i'd rather get it from SONIC. The other dish that LOOKS good is the chicken and waffles...but I'm not sure of the taste. SEEMS a lot of people order the chicken and waffles. FF was packed on this wednesday night.....so its popular and the crowd was varying ages.... I'm guessing this place will stay popular with the middle age + upper class whites. I think the younger diverse crowd is just there to check it out but wont be back more than thrice. I'm glad i went,,,,,,for the scallops I had the Zapata tequila drink as well... TALK ABOUT HOT!!!...it was more habanero than anything...but worth it for the try.
(3)Contess L.
Bacon covered dates were to die for. And so were the beignets!!! Their special cocktails are tasty too but just real pricey. Over all great experience.
(4)Kathleen T.
The service at this location is terrible. The food is subpar in comparison to the hype. On my first trip here we anticipated a long wait, we made reservations day of for 8 pm (as that was the earliest time left) but arrived around 7 hoping to get seated earlier. We waited for an 1 hr and 45 minutes. 45 minutes past our reservation for a table. We also watched the hostesses give our table away to another group. The girl responded, "oops" and "don't worry you'll be next". No apologies. Our waiter was very unattentive, didn't refill our drinks, we weren't able to get condiments for our food because he basically never returned.. Next time I returned here was months later for my best friend's birthday brunch. We had attempted twice to make reservations for our group of 7 a few days ahead of time. But the hostesses stated we could not make a reservation for a group that big. I arrived first to the restaurant at 1 o'clock and placed our names, the hostess asked if I had a reservation. I told her we weren't able to make one because of the size of our group but apparently that was untrue. Reservations could be made for a group of our size. Maybe a few days ahead of time wasn't enough? But that's what should have been communicated over the phone!! I was upset and asked to speak to the manager. I saw the hostess walk up the manager and tell her I wanted to speak to her, the manager looked at me rolled her eyes and never showed up. We finally got seated and the waiter was good up until we got our food and he was no where to be found and none of us had silverware. We told 3 employees we had no silverware and finally 15 minutes later and on our last attempt we received it. Seriously horrible horrible service that kills the food and enjoyment of going out.
(2)Tenecia Q.
Went here for a birthday dinner and I really enjoyed it. We went on a Friday night and we had a reservation. But we got there early so we had to wait a little while. Since it was our first time, our waitress explained how they work and answered any questions we had. We started off the with table biscuits which were delicious. Although, I wish our waitress had explained that only 4 biscuits came with it as she seen that we had 6 people with us. We ordered their lemonade which was good as well. I ordered the fried chicken and waffles which was incredible. I always wondered how these two things could go together but now I know. And I thought the mac and cheese was an odd addition too, but I enjoyed that as well. Everyone with me enjoyed their meal except for one person. Her pasta just wasn't as spicy as she thought it would be. We didn't end up spending a lot of money either which was good. The only real downside was the service. Our waitress was nice enough but not real attentive. I think she checked on us maybe once.
(4)Kim P.
Went there for the second time this past Friday night. The first time we went service was slow but the food was great. We were celebrating my husbands birthday. About 3 am in the morning I got stomach cramps and was vomiting the next 36 hours, couldn't keep anything down. Never going back again, not sure I will ever look at chicken and waffles again either, or mac n cheese or green beans. Pretty crappy birthday weekend for my husband, had to take care of me puking the whole time.
(1)Lauren B.
So I went to Founding Farmers with my fam today for a birthday dinner. We started with the biscuits and fried green tomatoes; both were amazing!! All the dishes were great; we got the chicken and waffles, roasted chicken, and shrimp/grits. All of the dishes were wonderfully flavored, and the portions were huge! The mac and cheese was also out of this world. I def recommend this place!!
(5)tracie w.
Been here twice, both for lunch. Service was great the first time and just ok the second time, just not as attentive. The food is......ok. Tomato soup was delish, but the sandwich was meh. Fried chcken on two peoples orders came out cold TWICE. One plate had cold side dish as well. Sever quickly replaced but 3 plates delivered hot at the same time should not be hard. Would like the food to be better as I would like to support the concept behind the place. Sodas were good.
(2)Gabriela L.
Oh what a bummer! I was really look forward to eat here for a while and I left disappointed. My husband and I started our meal with 2 cocktails and pickled veggie along with the devilish eggs. Oh my!!! Good way to start. My cucumber vodka cocktail was so good and the eggs were spot on on every level, flavor, presentation and originality. So far the service is good. Here we go with our main courses. I ordered the ahi tuna salad poke and my husband the scallops with risotto. My salad is super big and really tasty, but my husband takes a bite into the scallops and he has a very disappointed face, so I asked what happened.....his scallops are covered by chunks of raw garlic, and he could not taste anything but garlic. In the mean time, we are done with our drinks and my husband is waiting for the waitress to come back to ask for a glass of wine. The risotto was overcooked; the grain should not disentegrate in your mouth once you eat it. The rice should still have a bite to it. My salad is still good but in my opinion it should not be a main course due to the size. The flavor is on the sweet side with the dressing and after a while it gets a bit boring. At this point we really look forward to end our meal on a high note, but that did not happened. They take our plates away but left our empty cocktail/ wine glasses still on the table along with some silverware. The waitress saw that we were out of water and mentioned that she will bring immediately a new bottle. We order the sweet corn cake, and 2 espresso. The cake arrives and finally the waitress realized that we have piled all our dirty stuff on a side of the table and she had the courtesy to take it away. The corn cake was unfortunately very disappointing. It was like eating a corn bread with blueberries. The cake was seating on a raspberry coulis, which really did not at all match the favors of the cake. The espresso arrive but we did not have sugar or spoons, so we wait and wait, until my husband got up and got us sugar, but still not spoons. My husband start stirring the coffee with the fork from the dessert and the waitress comes by to leave us the bill and asked how was the cake. My answer was clearly not a good one, i said something like " eh it was ok" and she said " ok" and left, leaving the half eaten cake still on the table....really? I was not happy with the cake, my husband is stirring the coffee with a fork and she thinks everything is ok? Oh and by the way, where is our water??? The espresso were, sorry to say, disgusting! I took a sip and left it. Conclusions: started on a high note with the appetizers and finished a low note with what it tasted a $2 dollars corn cake and a burnt espresso. Service was awfull; started great with the story of the restaurant and the philosophy of the kitchen and ended up with no water, careless service with total lack of attention to details and customer service. We spent $120 and I believe there are better places for this prices.
(2)Ingi Z.
I absolutely loved this place and cant wait to go back again!! Went for brunch on a sunday and found the staff to be friendly and the food to be delicious. I had an egg white scramble with veggies and hash browns and a biscuit. The eggs despite being egg whites were phenomenal! They tasted like actual egg whites and not just the liquid stuff that you pour out of a carton. The hash browns were absolutely tasty and not too greasy. The only thing I was not a HUGE fan of were the biscuits. They were a bit to doughy and I didn't feel like they were completely cooked. My boyfriend and I shared a french pressed coffee that was also absolutely delicious!! Cant wait to go back and try the lunch and dinner menus!!!
(4)Christian L.
Well I personally think that Founding Farmers is fantastic. Admittedly, I have not been to their other location, but I don't really think that is a fair barometer to judge this location by. My wife had been here before, but I did not know what to expect. We had made reservations for 7:15, and I am glad we did, as the wait did look significant. We were on time for our reservation, and were not kept waiting more than five minutes or so before we were seated. The restaurant has that air of new trendiness, and you better be comfortable with loud, close packed crowds, which we were. Not really an intimate dining experience, if that is what you are looking for. Our server was Zack, and he had to be the most enthusiastic server I have ever encountered. His energy absolutely added to our experience. We tried several of their custom concoctions and were pleasantly pleased by them all. I personally recommend the Dark and Stormy for those who like their rum with a little kick to it. Appetizers consisted of the Deviled Eggs sampler and the biscuits of course! The deviled eggs were good, but the biscuits were amazing! For dinner I had the Skirt Steak and my wife had the salt block Rockfish. The skirt steak was done rare according to my request and was sufficiently tender, but the chimichurri on top was not that impressive. I did try my wife's rockfish, and it was quite excellent! Firm and flavorful, the salt block definitely added to the flavor. Unfortunately I don't remember what we had for dessert, but there were so many interesting items on the menu we definitely plan on coming back soon!
(5)Mike T.
i would give this place 4 stars but the last couple of times i've been there the quality of the food was really lacking. i'd usually get the chicken and waffles which were really good the first couple of times but the last very trips were very disappointing.
(3)Alan Z.
My wife and I took the in-laws here for dinner last night and long story short - awesome addition to MoCo! The in-laws live in Gaithersburg, and the FF downtown location is their favorite restaurant in DC sooooo, we were stoked to hear of the new spot opening in Potomac. It's been a while since I wrote a review on Yelp, but the experience we had here was awesome enough to bring me out of retirement. We had a reservation for 8:30, but arrived a bit early so as to allow us some time to grab a drink at the bar. As with the DC shop, the drinks here are spectacular. We just got back from a trip to South America and were very surprised to see they had Pisco, which is a Peruvian liquor we have had trouble finding elsewhere in the area. Big plus. Strongly recommend trying a Pisco Sour. The beer selection is solid - I went with a Lagunitas IPA, a perennial fav. We were sat right at 8:30 at a table upstairs. The upstairs space is nicely designed and flows well with the downstairs space. The thought occurred to us more than once that the upstairs could be a pretty rad spot to host a private party...not sure if they do that...but just a thought. So the food....oohhh, the food. Having had several great experiences downtown, we were hoping the new location wouldn't disappoint - it didn't....by a long shot. We started with the combo Farmers Pitchfork (bacon lollies and tots), Roasted Tomato Soup, and Tomato Jam and Goat Cheese Flatbread. All three were awesome, but the Farmers Pitchfork stole the show with an interesting presentation and those freakin' amazing bacon lollies! I went with the diver scallops for my entree, my wife got the boneless ribeye, and the in-laws split the Show Stopper. The first two were great - no complaints at all - but the third was most notable. They have a similar dish downtown, but they've changed it a bit for this location....and it's way better. You get a ton of seafood (def enough for two) and these housemade noodles that are a perfect compliment. The dish has a lot of flavor - maybe slightly spicy to some - but it was perfect if you ask me (I weaseled my way into several bits). Besides the food and drink, the service was great - our server (Laura, I think), was on point. Did a great job of welcoming us and chatting a bit about the opening and some of the changes to the menu. She was always swapping out our water and asking us if we'd like another round of drinks at the perfect time. Even though it was the second night the restaurant was open she had a thorough knowledge of the menu and was able to answer all of our questions. Overall, it was an awesome experience and I can't wait to go back to try some of the other items on the menu!
(5)Denni O.
Great food and okay svc - it's only day 3. Ppl are way friendlier than the patrons who are bitching about everything from the wait staff to salad being served on a plate vs. a bowl. Really?!?!
(5)Nancy M.
If you want an unfriendly bar with extremely unfriendly bartenders or a young woman bartender who hasn't a clue as to how to make a dry vodka martini. Or if you want to be ripped off ordering wine which they sell by different size glasses but, which are actually "free" poured than this is the place for you. The wine amounts vary so who knows what you are getting. Unlike it's DC partner things here are not well organized. Sitting at the bar is the most unfriendly bar we have been to. They not only don't all know how to mix drinks they don't know what all the glasses are for. The managers aren't much friendlier in the dining room. People will eat here because they pile your plate with some hits and many misses. And, because the area lacks many good places dine. We would recommend retraining your staff in "people skills" and learning how to make simple popular drinks. Hint--- a twist in a martini does NOT mean a twist of LIME.
(1)Jane K.
The only reason why I give them a 3 star is for service. I came here for brunch with my parents on a Saturday. I made sure to make reservations. We arrive at the restaurant and I tell the hostess that we have reservations and she said "okay we are setting up tables I will be with you in just one sec". ONE SECOND...turned into 10 minutes. Isn't the whole point of making a reservation is so that your table is ready for you? Also, there were about 3 groups of people who came in after us. They apparently made reservations as well, however, they were seated before us. Felt madddd discriminated. I was ready to storm out the door if they sat us even a minute late. The waiter was no where to be found after our food was given to us. I think he checked on us ONCE. Also, they may consider separating the tables (the ones next to the hostess stand) a little bit. The table in front of us had to squeeze themselves in further so that my parents could sit behind them. The food was ALRITE. I expected a little more after all the hype. I want to try out their dinner but after the terrible service, I may have to think twice about wasting my time here.
(3)Debra A.
Third and last time. First time was second night it was open. Food and service were atrocious and no one seemed to care. Second time server way too pushy and food mediorce and third time server walked b \y never asked if we needed things like salt and pepper or ketchup. Food again just ok and server only attentive wehn bringing the bill. Nw I can say have really given this place a chance. Go to Matchbox where food is always amazing and so is the service 895% of the time. Save your money and dont eat at Founding Farmers
(1)Alix H.
I am so disappointed to give FF Potomac one star. We had highly anticipated the opening in Potomac since the downtown location had become more difficult to get in to esp now that many of their previous service issues have improved. The beginning of our visit was perfect...we had a reservation, we were seated immediately and greeted by an eager and excited waiter...the menu had some "old favorites" from the downtown location but some great new additions. As always with our FF experiences, the menu outshined the execution....to begin with, we had to ask for everything...can we have silverware, can we have water, can we have napkins. These are provided promptly but these are pretty basic requirements for dining out so I am not sure that having to ask for them should be part of dining! To begin with, I did not love the beverage recommended by the server and he offered a replacement which I ordered and received (and liked better). When we got the bill, drink #1 was not taken off, but drink #2 had been noted...more on that later. We ordered the traditional biscuits and asked for a side of honey...we had a table of four and there were 4 biscuits...there was an adequately sized container for the honey that arrived about 5 minutes later but less than enough in it for 2 biscuits in the container. We asked for more immediately which we did not receive. The deviled eggs a "must have FF favorite" of mine tasted a little off...not sure if it was the quality of the egg or the preparation but since I have had them at least 20 times, I know what they taste like. For dinner, we were reasonably satisfied with 2 out of the 4 entrees although they were very slow to arrive. The Poto Mac and Cheese was reasonably good (edible but slightly overcooked and would not order again). The main problem with the 2 problematic entrees was the temperature. My fish (fish and chips) was soggy but warm...clearly a re-heat. I did not want a replacement entree since I did not want everyone to have a lengthy wait while they re-did my food. One of the others in my party had shrimp and fries...the shrimp was good, crispy and fresh but the fries were soggy and cold. The final entree, the Ahi Tuna was apparently well made except for directions on what should have been excluded. If we had promptly received our check at this point, all would be have been adequate and this would have been a 3 star review. However, while we were eating, our server was "moved" to another area and all of his tables except ours were in a different section of the restaurant...the tables immediately on either side of us were assigned to a different server who was very attentive to them...after about 10 minutes (we did not finish our plates b/c of the issues with food temperature noted above so maybe despite being done we did not merit attention), we asked the server of the other tables to get our check. She did this and we discovered the additional drink (which at $12 I did not want to pay for) on the bill. In the interim, our server came over, noted the fairly full plates and asked if there was a problem. We reported some of the issues noted above to the server and he said he wanted to talk to the manager before we paid. He disappeared, we assumed he spoke to the manager, but neither the server or the manager ever returned with any proposed solution. From when we received the bill until we left the restaurant (without the Poto Mac that we had asked to have wrapped) it was more than 30 minutes. We are very disappointed with this experience...next time we crave FF, we will go back downtown....at least there, we are confident in the food quality!
(1)r m.
I was shocked by the drink prices at the bar. $12 glass of wine, $11 bourbon. I was with 10 friends and everyone's jaw was dropping as they got their bill. We were planning on eating there, but promptly left to find a better, local value.
(1)Hannah K.
All I can say is wow. If I still lived in MD, I would be here all day, everyday. The restaurant is located in a plaza with a lot of other fresh farm to table type of restaurants. The interior of Founding Farmers is adorable, so farm oriented with little touches of cute rustic pieces everywhere. I absolutely loved how all the servers were wearing plaid! My only gripe was how we had to wait 15 mins to be seated, when lo & behold there was an empty 2nd floor. Say huh? But whatever. Me & my friend started off with homemade blueberry & ginger sodas. Oh my goodness they were amazing crisp & refreshing. We then both ordered the tomato soup, which was so silky smooth with a touch of spice. I then ordered the ahi tuna salad, & my friend ordered the chicken salad salad. Seriously, Founding Farmers can do no wrong in my book. The salads were beyond amazing! The ahi tuna salad had tons of huge chunks of fresh ahi tuna (kind of like a poke salad), crispy wontons, greens, avocado & a delicious dressing. My friend's chicken salad was huge, so big in fact she had to take the leftovers home! Knowing I couldn't take my ahi salad back, I ended up eating all of the tuna & avocado, leaving a bed of well dressed greens behind. At the end of lunch, we ended up receiving our check in an adorable red mailbox. Seriously, I can't express my love for this restaurant anymore than I have. I will definitely be coming back!
(4)Janice F.
The restaurant is good although I would not say it is anything special. Fairly pricey wholesome food with a nice atmosphere. The best part for me is that is very convenient to my house. But I must say the new restaurant ,Sugo Cicchetti, next door is far superior. If you go, try the popcorn of the day!
(3)sandra d.
I had read some negative reviews and had low expectations. I can't speak for the main courses but my small salad and the bread I had for lunch were delicious. The problem I see with this place is that it is extremely crowded and noisy, and it is hard to find parking. But I guess that goes along with being popular. Service was fast and friendly but it is a good idea to make reservations beforehand, even for lunch .
(3)Judy J.
I went to the Potomac Location of Founding Farmers this past week with several friends for dinner. This was probably my fifth visit to this location and unfortunately the kinks that you would expect to have been worked out in a new restaurant are still present six months after opening. We were seated promptly upstairs as we had requested, but from there things went downhill. While there were many servers upstairs, we waited between 10-15 minutes at our table completely ignored by all of the wait staff until we finally got the attention of a waiter and told him that no one had even come to ask us if we wanted a drink or bring us water. Not one of them seemed to notice that we were sitting at a table with menus for that long without even water glasses. I was infuriated to be ignored that way in a restaurant. Once we got the attention of a waiter, he took our drink orders and returned with them a short time later. We then ordered appetizers and our meal. The flat bread with granny smith apples, onion jam and brie came out first and it was as usual, fantastic. The flavors just work incredibly well together. We had also ordered corn bread which we waited a few minutes longer before asking when it was going to come. Our waiter told us that they had run out of it, but since we had ordered it at least 10 minutes ago (more like 20 minutes) they would have some out for us within about 10 minutes. Our entrees came out about 15 minutes later and then they did bring us the cornbread. The entrees were fine, but nothing very special. I recommend the plank salmon which is always tasty. My friend's rockfish was prepared well as was the ahi tuna salad which is always a winner. The fourth person in my party had ordered the very veggie salad and had asked for avocado and tomatoes. Of course it arrived without either of those ingredients, but the waiter retrieved a bowl of them from the kitchen and brought them to her. Everyone in my party had been to the restaurant several times and had dealt with similar experiences in the past. It's a shame that this restaurant can't get it's act together. It's as if the management just doesn't care to make things better. The location in DC is a class act, but the Potomac location gets second class treatment. Unfortunately, everyone in my party said they wouldn't be returning any time soon and that's a real shame for a restaurant that had such incredible potential and an awesome location in a high end demographic area.
(3)S C.
Came here for dinner on the 13th. I made reservations...but we still had to wait about 5 minutes or so. I'm glad this place take reservations. I'll start with the food. I ordered the chicken and waffles. The waffles were good. I liked the maple syrup. The chicken was flavored nicely. A little on the dry side. The buttermilk sauce that it came with didn't really do anything for me. It was pretty bland. The bf ordered the "Lemon Meunière Diver Scallops". It was actually quite tasty. The scallops were cooked well. For dessert we ordered the apple cider sorbet. They had desserts that were out...which was a little disappointing. They also had red velvet cake and carrot cake. The slices were huge!!!! I would of gotten it but we wouldn't have been able to finish it. The service here was okay. The waitresses wasn't very attentive. I would come back and try other items on the menu. Their prices are fair. Hopefully next time I go back I can give them 4 stars.
(3)Joe I.
My comments are along the lines of everyone else who gave this place 2 or less stars. I brought my wife here for her birthday and also invited some friends. It was very disappointing. Everything from the drinks to the food took a long time to reach our table. When we did finally get our food it was luke warm, as if it was sitting out for a while. The waitress didn't notice that we ran out of water and never bothered to ask if we wanted anymore drinks. What a missed opportunity to make more money. When we asked to take our leftovers home we were given boxes but noticed that everyone around us had their leftovers boxed for them (inconsistent service). The waitress was inattentive and her tip reflected her quality of service. I drove all the way from Columbia expecting to have a memorable experience but instead I left very disappointed. This restaurant is not new to the game and having just opened is not an excuse. The atmosphere was crowded and the wait staff seemed to be all over the place. People from the bar and waiting area seemed to spill over to the dining area. Founding Farmers for me did not live up to the hype. You can add this to the sentiments that all the others have expressed. Two stars just for the food.
(2)Sondra S.
We dined at the Potomac location 3 times, the last time just Saturday night. The place was packed and we arrived without a reservation so we were advised there would be a two hour wait. What were we thinking. We live in the neighborhood, and are repeats. Bingo, the very gracious manager offered us the bar counter with plenty of space or the sunny side of the new veranda, which we agreed was uncomfortably hot. At the bar we were seated on high wooden chairs, their basic furnishings throughout, therefore a bit noisy. The bar staff is agreeable and though busy with drink orders, is helpful in describling the menu. I ordered the Rockfish with the caramelized onion garnish, and two sides. The fresh asparagus was green and generous the house salad very country served in a bowl. My husband ordered the wild caught glazed salmon and coleslaw. the slaw was unusally strong. There's many sides to choose from including mac and cheese and fresh greenbeans. I'm not a sweets person but we shared the devilsfood all out chocolate layer cake. My husband thought it could be more flavorful. The chocolate cake was offered with strawberry ice cream,but we were served vanilla. On our previous visit during an off time of about four p.m. seating was plentiful and I enjoyed the huge portion of carrot cake and ice cream. The wine list is interesting as is the local beer. On our next visit we will definitely arrive on the "off hour". We like the staff and of course we can't beat the convenience and really fresh garden menu and creative approach to home cooking with a flare.
(4)Elizabeth W.
We sat at the bar and the service was excellent. The bartenders shouldn't even be called bartenders, they are most certainly master mixologists. Our drinks that the bartender, Devin, recommended were all fantastic. We ordered the bacon lollipops and the deviled eggs for appetizers. Both of those were superb! I ordered a spice strip steak that was delicious and the sweet potatoes that came with it were out of this world! We also ordered the diver scallops with risotto and they were mind numbingly good! Even after all that food we were told we had to have dessert and try the beignets....and I am sooooooo glad that we did! They were moist, airy and just absolutely perfect! I will be back and would recommend this restaurant to everyone I know!!
(5)Sarah C.
My mommy friends and I are having a post mother's day brunch at Founding Farmers on Sunday and we are SO excited. Most of us have been there before and LOVE it. I have been dreaming about the bacon lollies and wings- they are so good. Everytime I have been the service has been great and the staff very knowledgable and friendly! I also can't wait to try some of the yummy drinks on the menu!!!
(5)Arkadiy N.
Ate there last night. The waiter we had was terrible. And I mean terrible. We were asking him to bring us another glass of the beer we had at the bar while waiting for the table. When we ordered it before dinner, bar tender described it as a dark porter--- one of the specials they had on tap. When describing this to the waiter, he brought a different beer instead in a completely different style glass. We told him that it was clearly not the same beer. In answer to this, he said "knowing the different beers was not in his job description". What!?!? Also, we had to ask for waters 2 times. We were forced to eat our appetizers without anything to drink with them! Later on in the evening, we had to ask him twice to bring another dark and stormy we had ordered. When the drink came, it was missing the garnish (candied ginger) that we received in the prior drink ordered at the bar. I also forgot to mention that I had difficulty getting the waiter's attention in the first place. He came to the table and took my fiancé's drink order, then disappeared before getting mine, even though my glass was empty. The deviled eggs were good. The popcorn of the day (ranch) was salty, which made it really hard to eat since we had no drinks with it. I should have seen the popcorn foreshadowing the nature of the rest of the meal, which went sharply downhill from there. A harbinger of bad things to come! Even the container it was served in was stupid. It was a really tall narrow metal container. Probably about 4 or 5 inches in diameter, and about 10 or 12 inches tall. How are 3 people meant to share popcorn from a container like that??? We ended up just passing it around to dump on our plates, because it was just an impossible serving container. Now, to the main course. My friend and I had the chicken and waffles, and my fiancé had one of the fish preparations. I've had this dish at the DC location a few years ago, so I knew what to expect. However, the dishes we received last night were SOOO SALTY, they were basically inedible. The chicken, while moist and cooked nicely, had the saltiest breading I have ever tasted. The Mac and cheese side, was also extremely salty, though not as bad as the breading on the chicken. The biggest shocker was the green beans. The three of us dining each got the green beans. Of the three portions, mine was the most offensively salty. My friend's beans were also too salty, but not as bad as the portion I received. My fiancé tried all three and said that his were not so bad compared to ours. My tongue was burning with the sharpness of the salty food. Even after pulling the breading off the chicken, I was still struggling to eat because of all the salt. Now, to the disaster of the dessert. First, when we were presented with the dessert menu, we were told that they were out of the apple pie, and something else. We decided to share 2 plates of the warm cookies between the three of us. The waiter came back and said that they were now also out of the cobbler, the cookies, and something else in addition to the first 2 items. Basically, most of the menu was out. My fiancé and I ordered cappuccinos. Those were the worst, ever. My cappuccino was so hot, I had to dig an ice cube out of my friends water glass to put in it. (mine had all melted). The frothed milk was scalded and burned. It tasted as if it had boiled for a while on high heat... Steamed milk should not be steamed to that hot! My fiancés cappuccino was not as bad as mine. His was not too hot to touch and tasted better. My friend ordered regular coffee, which she says was ok. I am not surprised it took so long for the cappuccinos to come out... It needed a really long time to burn that milk! Finally, to the cleanliness. Or lack thereof, that is. The floor under and next to our table was so greasy, we thought that we were going to slip and fall while getting up to go to the restroom. Why was it so filthy? It was as if butter had been smeared all over the wood. It is a real shame that this place has gone downhill so quickly. Clearly there is not the emphasis on quality ingredients that they advertise. I've been to this location before without an issue. We've had good service in the past. Just not this time. I don't think I'll be back here again any time soon. Unless I hear that the chef has been fired, or that the place is under new management. YUCK!
(1)Honey B.
I did not realize that reservations would be needed for a suburb brunch place, but we still got to sit at the 'group' table. I felt like an outcast at first, but I soon forgot about being banished to the group table after I got my food. The fruit bowl that I ordered for my toddler was great. I full normal bowl of fruit. I got the benedict and my husband got the french toast...both AMAZING! The french toast was more like a rectangular donut, but still great. And best of all...the coffee there is INTELLEGENTSIA! which I hadn't had since the last time I was in Chicago. I really do like this place. I deducted one star for the hostess who said "I'm sorry, we're fully committed, but you can sit there" as she pointed to the loser table. On the bright side, I'll now know to make reservations.
(4)Soliya S.
good food,,, bad bar service.
(3)Rob T.
I give this place 4 stars. After reading the reviews I was nervous about the service, but our waiter was great. He checked back every so often to clear plates and refill our drinks. He had great suggestions for dinner items and we were all happy with what we got. I had the Southern Fried chicken which was pretty good but not the best I've had. The white gravy was a nice touch and the mashed potatoes were decent. As for dessert, the beignets were amazing. This is a cool place to go and get drinks and eat small plates and appetizers like the bacon lollis which are insane and the Brie and onion Jane flatbread. I'll be back for sure
(4)The C.
I was as planning a 20 guest event and was told that I had to talk to the event person, i called twice and left my contact information and never received a response. I even called a 3rd time and asked to speak to a manager twice and was placed on hold for a long period of time with no answer. I guess this restaurant does not care for my business.
(1)Lisa H.
We went for brunch and I was happy to see that they had a great menu. I wanted lunch and something light so I got a fried chicken salad. The salad was weak for $14 and the chicken was over fried. My husband got the egg white omelet with hash browns and loved it. He's Italian so it tends to be hard to please him. We'll go back because there aren't many brunch places near us but I have to say I won't be excited.
(3)Richard P.
Ok, first time I think a dishwasher filled in as our cook on our initial Monday Jan 2 breakfast trial. Management appreciated my feedback and this time knocked our socks off. The beignets were so delicious and warm. Pastrami hash was very hearty and tasty and our biscuits this time were not greasy but flaky and hot. Trace our server was courteous and fast and very attentive to keeping our table stocked and clean. The highlight of the meal were the jumbo sweet blueberry pancakes. The taste of these trumped any of the local chains. It was a meal and dessert all in one. I don't think I have had better pancakes even in a 5 star hotel. I felt like the pastry chef personally made these pancakes as well as the beignets. We will be back for dinner. WOW!!
(5)Winifred D.
I have been there 10 times and have had a wonderful experience each time! We have had servers; such as, Andy and Shayna, who were personable and knowledgeable regarding the menu. The menu has many "comfort" foods that you just don't find anywhere. Pot Roast and Meatloaf and excellent. Their version of a "Mint Julep" is the closest to really "down South" I have found. The beignets for dessert (that you must order early) are excellent. I can't wait to go back! You MUST make a reservation. People flock to this place.
(5)greg g.
Wonderful dinner...Fried chicken was excellent...appetizers were inventive and tasty...Beignets for desert were wonderful. Downstairs is a bit loud but upstairs is more comfortable, less crowded and conversation is easier.
(4)Laura J.
FF was OK, but expensive! We were seated right away at 7:00 (made a reservation), but seated in the crowded bar area. The wings were very good - tangy terriaki grill. The Farmers salad was very delicious with alot of interesting toppings like dates. The prime rib was not very tender and the scallops were gritty. The disappointment was later when the disturbing stomach aches started...we did not feel well....so, I guess that says it all...not sure if we'll go back. Too bad, the menu and atmophere looked promising....
(2)Cynthia J.
Let me begin by saying that I wish there were a "zero star" rating option. There's not, so 1 star will have to do. My husband and I stopped by the bar to have a drink last night around 6:30. After finding 2 open bar stools, we sat down and about 6-7 minutes later a bartender asked us if we'd ordered anything yet. We hadn't so she took our drink order. I did not like the beer I ordered so I gave it to my husband to drink instead of being "that customer" and returning it. We were going to order food but after about 20 minutes of sitting with no drink in front of me and nobody asking if we would like to order anything, we decided to leave. Let me tell you that my husband ordered a $12 drink and would have very well ordered another if someone had asked him. Instead, we sat at the bar watching the bartenders run around talking about how they were "going to lose it" because it's so busy. Now let me remind you that if you are "that busy" on a Tuesday night, you either need to hire more experienced bartenders to handle the volume and their stress level or simplify your labor intensive, muddled and mashed drink menu so that your bartenders can give attention to the people actually making them money.......bar guests, not service bar. Apparently the bartender was so "stressed" that she needed a shot in the middle of her shift to calm her down. My husband and I have been in the industry (bartending) for 10+ years. Believe me, I know what sometimes goes on during bar shifts....you take shots, I get it. But, if you're going to do a shot (very non-discretely) might I add, you may want to make sure all of your bar guests have drinks first. I will finish by saying that I called and spoke to a manager who offered us to come in and have a night out on her. We have no desire to return, therefore I declined her offer. I hope this place gets it's stuff together before Sugo opens next door otherwise they'll be out of business.
(1)John S.
I wasnt sure what to expect.one of the things I did not like was a lack of handycapped parkin.2 parking spaces for handycapped people are you kidding me.But when I walked in was not bad.I just wish it had a kids menu because there were a lot of kids there and the menu didnt seem to have enough kid friendly items.Also the chairs were way too high to sit in and uncomfortable.Another thing was that when the group was getting there we had to wait for a good amount of us to be seated,there were plenty of empty tables we could have already sat down,most places do that.Now for the menu it is a decent sized menu.The waitress we had was very good and patient with our group.Exlpained the specials and offered selections that my mom asked.She decided on the plank salmon.That was perfectly done,and the glaze sauce was just the right amount,not overpowering the fish.I chose the chicken n waffles.I had never had it and wanted to try something different.It came as half a chicken,which was done perfectly,waffles were good size,but wasnt sure if it came with syrup,if it did it was forgotten.The chefs veges were cooked good,squash,peas n zuchinnin for that night.All in all not bad,but needs imrovement.
(4)Lisey W.
A group of us went for dinner recently and started out with their skillet of corn bread which was good and made with actual kernels of corn. Half of us ordered the pot roast and another ordered the fried chicken and waffles. The pot roast came with carrots and a few green beans over mashed potatoes. It wasn't bad but it contained an ingredient that I didn't care for - not sure if it was rosemary or cinnamon. I like my pot roast to taste homemade and not try to be upscale in any way. The fried chicken and waffles dish was served almost 15 minutes after they brought out the first entree -and it didn't look that impressive. The restaurant should have offered a complimentary dessert or something to make up for having to wait so long for this last entree, but they didn't. Service overall was just okay - you'd expect better service from a restaurant of this caliber. Overall the food was good but not great. We will come back and give it a second try though.
(3)Fantome S.
Went this AM for brunch and like many reviews here had positives and negatives. The sandwich with roasted veggies and goat cheese was very good although the fries that came with it were practically cold. I did receive new fries pretty quickly though after complaining. The salads are overpriced, especially the green salad that runs 14 w/o any chicken. Not filling at all. The biggest ripoff overall is the $5 sodas. Mine had 8 huge ice cubes leaving me with about 3 sips of soda (no kidding). I think the waiter was also surprised since he barely turned his back and saw my soda glass empty and full of ice cubes. He immediately asked me if I wanted a glass of water. Also a side order of string beans with 9 string beans cost $6. Service was fair at best. Generally inattentive but not horrible. The restaurant is visually appealing, but improvements need to be made to both the service and food to deserve a return trip.
(2)J. T.
I've been here twice, the second time being about 2 months ago. I was thrilled to go back as the first time was outstanding but I was disappointed. This place is a little on the pricer side for my budget, and the food was just okay. Here's the real issue: my boyfriend and I both got food poisoning after eating here and we were sick for nearly 2 days. I will never go back, because of that. A restaurant like this that takes so much care in where there food comes from needs to put some focus on the food safety and how the food is handled.
(2)Leslie S.
I have been meaning to write a review for FF for quite some time now ~ my last visit prompted me to accomplish my mission. I went there last weekend for brunch with a dear friend, who happens to be the "mayor" of the FF in DC - but she loves both locations equally. We started out with the beignets - melt in your mouth little puffs of pure gold bliss - best I have ever had - nice trio accompanied to dress them up - raspberry coulis, chocolate and caramel sauces. After trying the sauces - I decided that I preferred the beignets naked - so delicious themselves with just a whisper of powdered sugar. Try them. They are a must! I believe my friend had the Farm Fresh Eggs and I went with my beloved Benedict. The sauce did not fail - one of the best hollandaise sauces that I have ever had - perfectly creamy and savory. Her plate came with the thick cut bacon, naturally, once I saw her side I ordered one for myself - and it was so worth it! Full of flavor nice seasoning and perfect amount of pepper. The food quality here most certainly shines brightly - it is very obvious that they are on top of their game. And they have Chicken and Waffles on the menu?!? Are you kidding me?!? We were non-alcoholic this particular day as we both had to go to work, but I am sure that I will enjoy the brunch cocktails on my next visit. I wish I could remember my server's name - she was super pleasant, knowledgable, and totally on top of my 3 or 4 or 5 tea refills I had - I was very thirsty ;) Manager Eun stopped by to say hello - she is always such a pleasant breath of fresh air :) I cannot say enough nice things about this restaurant - and what I will say is that I cannot wait to return! Shining stars of pervious visits include the homemade ginger ale, the oven roasted wings, the flatbreads, oh and the bacon lollis :)
(5)Patrick S.
Food was good with a decent variety. OVERPRICED, though. Good service. Atmosphere in the restaurant had a lot to be desired. VERY LOUD and I felt very claustrophobic because everyone was bunched up together. I will not return there.
(2)Barbara P.
It has been a few weeks since I've visited this location, but I wanted to wait until I've visited their DC location that I've heard such great things. The service and the food pales in comparison to the FF in DC. First of all, the oven-roasted cracked black pepper wings are delicious, not counting the fact that the wings were literally CHARRED BLACK. I do not mean small specks of charred on the wings, but the entire surface of the wings were covered in charred crisp. Granted, the wings were still juicy, but that is obviously not how it's supposed to be served considering the amount of carcinogens on there. Sure, restaurants overcook food all the time, but the waiter actually told us "That's how it's supposed to look!" and never bothers to check back. Seems rather snotty if you ask me! The rest of the stuff we ordered-- the FF cheeseburger, prime rib, and rotisserie chicken-- were delicious. Go for a side of the glazed green beans, only if our mothers would make it like that everyday for dinner. I can't say the same of the angry pasta with chicken as the wheat pasta is unsavory and the chicken was dry. The skillet honey butter cornbread is not as good as it sounds either, go to Whole Foods for some tastier cornbread. It's great to have a restaurant that is mindful of where they get their food from and all the sustainable practices and what not, but this location needs some improvement. Perhaps another visit is in order to see if the restaurant has gotten on track since their first few months of opening.
(2)Ina C.
The food is so-so and the service? Terrible when it's busy, awesome when it's not. Let's talk about food first. I ordered the honey-thyme roasted chicken, and like they said, it was moist and the skin was crunchy crisp - great. But it was way overseasoned. The chicken was drowning in the sauce, and it was cloyingly sweet. My second visit I stuck with chicken and got their cast-iron southern fried chicken that came with mashed potatoes and collared greens. It wasn't that great. The dark meat was certainly moist, but the breast was unbelievably dry. I also had an egg cream, which I loved, but I finished it in about four long sips. Delicious, but way overpriced at $4. Now the service. When I went on a weekday afternoon, the service was fantastic. We were brought everything we needed the moment we needed it, and it was great. But at 7:30 on a Wednesday night, the quality of service was fine, but everything just took FOR-EVER. First of all, when I got to the front desk at the time of our reservation, the host held up his hand and said, "Sorry - we're still trying to seat our 7:00 reservations. It'll be a few moments." Javi was our server. He brought us our teas and egg creams first, and then about 10 minutes later brought our waters. Our food came about an hour after we ordered it. We had an issue with the Shrimp Louie, and after about 10 minutes of looking around for Javi, we flagged down another waiter who walked by and told him about it. He was gracious about it, but there was still a mistake on our bill when it arrived. There were other issues, but overall, it seems like there's a problem with the service. Yes, it's a big and busy restaurant, but you're still responsible for providing timely service to every customer. So I do recommend this restaurant - the food is pretty good, and I buy into the whole seasonal/local thing. That's important for me to support. But if you do go and you're hoping to eat within a reasonable time frame, go at off-peak hours - lunch, or a 6:30pm dinner.
(3)Hu H.
Never had a bad experience here! The food is delicious, fresh and the the service is always top notch! The steak and eggs are favorites for brunch, and their cocktails may very well be the best in the DMV!
(5)M M.
Came in for brunch one Sunday while my dad was in town. I originally planned to go to the DC location but when I called at 9AM to book reservations they informed me that they didn't have anything available until 3PM, so we decided to come to MoCo location which was better and closer for us. Food was great!! I had the Pan Scramble with eggs, spinach, mushrooms and sausage, a side of grits and biscuits and my dad had the Banana Foster waffles and bacon. It was packed!! There were no tables available until 1PM but we were able to sit at the bar and eat. The service wasn't the best, not sure if it was due to the busy restaurant
(4)Kim W.
Not impressed- bar service was very slow, food was ok, ordered medium rare flat iron -received well done:( they did replace correctly but of course that was after everyone else finished eating. They happily did comp my meal... Finally the restaurant is so loud it is difficult to have a conversation... Good concept bad execution.
(3)Adam L.
Screw this place! The service couldn't be any worse. It's a damn shame because the food here is quite good. I've been here twice and both times the waitstaff disappeared for 15-20 minutes at a time. On this visit, we put our name in for a table for 2 and decided to wait at the bar. Unfortunately, it took _20_ minutes to get our first drink. The bartender did the whole "If we don't make eye contact, I can ignore you" dance. 5 minutes, fine... but 20 minutes is ridiculous. Once seated, we saw the waitress only three times. She took our appetizer order then disappeared for about 30 minutes. We had finished the app and waited before she bothered to return to take our order. Once she took our order we waited a bit and the food was brought out by someone else. She walked by our table to drop off a condiment then we never saw her again. We finished our meal and waited about 30 minutes before another waiter recognized that we'd been sitting there for ages. He offered to bring us our check, which we paid... without ever seeing our waitress again. Again, the food here is fantastic! I feel really bad for the chef. The fact that this place has a 3-star review with food this good says a lot about how bad the service is.
(1)Eunice K.
Had the Southern Fried Chicken-- I'm a sucker for fried chicken, sigh. I would've liked to have a more crispy skin on my chicken, the collard greens & mashed potatoes are pretty standard (nothing special), but my biscuit was so yummy. It was so crumbly on the outside but so fluffy on the inside... I mean, I know it's just a biscuit, but damn! the texture was to-die-for. Tried my sister's Crazy Corn Salad. She apparently liked the idea of having caramel popcorn in her salad, I thought would be a little weird, but strangely it worked. The tangy dressing made all the ingredients dance in my mouth (is that corny?). The boyfriend had the chicken pot pie. I'm not a big fan of chicken pot pies, but he loves it. Every time we have came here, this is all he eats. So why 4 stars? Look, I would give the food 3 stars. The reason why I'm giving it an extra star are for two reasons: 1. Service. Both times I've came here, I've had great service. 2. Blood orange soda. The perfect balance between sweet & tangy... this has to be my favorite drink, ever.
(4)Kate C.
Founding Farmers is great for lunch. I love the fried green tomatoes. As a vegetarian, there are lots of options on the menu to choose from. Recently, I had the tomato soup and grilled cheese. A perfect combination on a cold winter day. My fiancé chose the fried chicken with potato latke. He ate the whole thing! Hope to be back soon for brunch!
(4)Jules W.
The food and ambience were great. The service was clueless and the plating/preparation was terrible. Portion looked very small (and not particularly attractive), but my brunch was great, and just the right amount. Great waffles and syrup!
(3)Jennifer T.
chicken and waffles, and the biscuits!
(4)Abigail R.
I really love their philosophy. You can read about how they are doing their part as a "Green Restaurant" here: wearefoundingfarmers.com… Five of us went for Sunday brunch on 7/07/12. Our server, Benjamin, was really helpful and friendly. 2 or 3 other servers come around to refill our coffee and water. We never felt the need to flag someone down for a request or refill. Our orders: - Hot Sauce Bacon: Just get this! I'm not much of a meat-eater, but that was surprisingly good. - "Stuffed New Orleans Style French Toast": This flopped a bit in my opinion. It was a huge portion, beautifully presented, but just a lot of bread and pastry filling. However, I'm also not much on sweets for brunch, and the friend who ordered this loved it. - "Sausage, Mushroom, and Spinach", "Dragged Through the Garden", and "Chicken and Sweet Potato Benedict": These are more my speed for breakfast. Although I didn't get much of the sweet potato or chicken in the benedict, the flavors were wonderfully combined. I will probably have dreams about it. We asked for no cheese in the Sausage, Mushroom and Spinach omelet. It was good but nothing to write home about. Maybe try it with the cheese, as that might be a key element. If you're a veggie fan, you'll probably really like Dragged Through the Garden. I did not try this one, but my friend thought it was the ideal omelet of veggies and eggs. - "Blueberry Pancake with Whipped Blueberry Butter" Definitely having dreams of this! After having said I'm not much for sweets in the morning... I'm glad we only ordered 1 pancake and not three. It's large but I could have eaten a stack of them. They must make these with magic. It's that good. - "Shredded Leek Hashbrowns" - as a choice of a side dish It was mostly potato. If you're expecting a more "leeky" flavor, as I was, you just won't find that in this dish. - "Farmer's Salad" - also a choice of side dish I asked for the recipe to their champagne dressing. This was a great addition to the meal. They are protective about their recipes (and make everything from scratch, in-house), so I'm just going to have to try my best at home to replicate this amazing dressing. - Biscuits: These come with each dish. They're so light and fluffy. I'm not sure how they make them but it's just right. - Bloody Mary: If you like that Old Bay taste for your Bloody Mary, you will probably love this one. I do not and asked they not put the rim on mine. However, the seasoning was in the drink. Thankfully it was not overpowering and I enjoyed it very much. - French Press Coffee: If you have a larger group, or just really like coffee, go for this option over a cup of coffee. The French Press is a better coffee and you get the little carafe at the table. Atmosphere: My friend preferred this atmosphere over the DC location, but I felt it was a bit noisier. The space is lovely with tons of natural light. It's like a converted warehouse with great hanging artwork (3 or 4 all white geese? and 1 red one!), and shelves full of honey and what looked like pickled vegetables, all in large mason jars. I suspect it goes with their "Pre-Prohibition Bar" theme; turn-of-the-century/industrial & such. But because it was just an open space, no dividers or taller booths to break up the sections, the sound resonated so we were kind of shouting to talk with each other. All in all, this restaurant is tops on my list. Even though I prefer the feel and quieter atmosphere of the DC location, I look forward to coming back to both.
(4)Sarah S.
It takes a lot of work to earn a five star experience at a sit down restaurant in my book, as I tend to judge every little thing sometimes. However, my dinner yesterday evening at Founding Farmers was beyond superb. We got a nice booth and were given a comfortable amount of time to digest the extensive drink menu. They have a huge selection of cocktails and I can't wait to try some! We chose a great white wine for dinner and enjoyed a beautiful pithfork containing perfectly cooked sweet mapley bacon and crunchy gooey tater tots with a spicy mustard sauce to dip. The mussels were buttery and delicious with two hefty toasted baguettes for the soaking. I got to try the chicken (crisp n' juicy) and waffles (crisp n' fluffy) and holly moly! the Mac and cheese that came with it was something I'm definitely coming back for. Apparently they do specialty Mac n cheeses??? Our server was on point and made our experience seamless. Not to mention all that great local sustainable awesomeness. Great job FF, you have another fan!
(5)Kelley D.
CONS: I won't really go back for the fish. The price was hefty ($28 for a small fillet of salmon?) and it wasn't that much better than what we could make at home. I wasn't a huge fan of their drinks that they make inhouse. I appreciated the novelty but not really worth the price in MHO. The little mailbox with the check was probably a bit much though. The whole flag system wasn't that great. PROS: WINGS. WINGS. WINGS. WINGS. Still dreaming of those wings. Perfectly flavored, cooked just right without being overly crunchy. YUM. The brie, onion, and apple flatbread. The flavors and textures were a winning combination: a little bit salty and sweet from the onion jam, the slight crunch of the bread, the softness of the brie, and touch of the tartness and crunch of the apple. The decors are a bit understated, love the big windows and natural lighting. I need to go and try their brunch.
(4)Mary E.
There is so much to like about Founding Farmers -- the amazing service, the handmade sodas, the clever appetizers -- but as a vegetarian, I've been a little disappointed. It looks like they changed their menu to indicate that their fries and potato chips are no longer vegetarian, and along with that, it looks like their fried green tomatoes, which were listed as vegetarian for a long time, are not either because apparently they fry all of them in oil that contains beef fat. It was really disappointing, considering that I have not been dazzled by their meatless menu and preferred to order from the main one. The rest of our party really enjoyed their meals, for what it's worth, but considering that I'm the decision-maker in our household, it will probably reduce the number of visits that we make there.
(2)K. David M.
No longer a new establishment working out the kinks, Founding Farmers needs to improve its breakfast service during the week. Although it opens early, the restaurant's morning staff consistently misses the mark. It takes too long for the host to recognize and seat guests despite very few patrons before 8am. There is never salt and pepper or sugar on the tables. And orders are rarely correct - it's the wrong type of bread or eggs done incorrectly or a green salad rather than fruit salad (which this morning was obviously prepared the day before) or menu items are merely not available. It's as if the staff are still asleep. And the food is only mediocre, not much better than the local diners with few healthy choices (don't even attempt if watching carbs). After a dozen or so attempts at utilizing Founding Farmers for business breakfasts, I will not be returning. Too bad as there are very few sophisticated breakfast venues north of Bethesda. UPDATE 9/12: The store manager contacted me to discuss my post. I have been a few more times for business breakfasts. The terrible waiter is long gone and salt & pepper are always on the tables now. However, service remains spotty and the food continues to be mediocre. Brooklyn's Deli around the corner gets more of my breakfast business now.
(2)Samir D.
Went for weekend brunch. took a little while to get seated, but once seated the service and food was great.
(4)Pape T.
Good food... the waitress could've been more attentive, the coffee stronger. Overall, the I liked the atmosphere, the greeters were fantastic and I liked the chicken and waffles!
(4)Andra N.
I had to update my review. I recently went back and gave it a second shot and I actually was not disappointed! The key is to get simple meals/item, that is what they do best. Before I was messing with too many flavor I was not comfortable with. I got the fried chicken salad and it was the greatest experience of my life. The chicken was so moist and crispy and their honey mustard sauce was wonderful. The only improvement is that we were sitting right on top the the people next to us. They were literally 10 inches away. There was no privacy for conversation or anything. --------------------------------------------------Â--- This place is alright. It took too long for our waiter to first attend to us and take our drink orders and then later on we got a new server mid-way through. The food was a big miss. I got wild mushroom ravioli, which just was all over the place, the flavors were just off. My friend got their chicken pot pie, which tasted too bland. (no salt or pepper?!) I would stick to the classics like burgers or sandwich. Their soda from scratch was delicious though! (I got ginger). I do want to come back and try something else, I'm willing to give it another try one day... but it's just not on the top of my list of things to do.
(4)Katherine L.
Still sitting here, waiting.... might as well draft my review. I am really disappointed bc I was looking forward to trying this place out. Read mostly positive reviews but let me tell you, the negative reviews are on point. The food was sub par. Didn't even finish. The service was slow and barely present. When Ashley (I think that was her name) came over and introduced herself and asked if this was our first visit we told her yes. You would think they would try to impress on anyone's first visit- guess not. Had appetizers, and entrees, would have had dessert but I was afraid I would be waiting another hour to get that. Had to pass and get the check as soon as possible while there was a chance. As I spent much of my first time here waiting... I don't think I will be returning. Overall very unimpressed and mostly embarrassed, as I dragged my husband to try this place and they did nothing but disappoint. Never again.
(1)Doug S.
Had the fried chicken and waffles. The concept was awesome. I have never had these two before together. The problem was the execution. Waffles were burnt. Chicken old/over-cooked. My daughter said I need to try Roscoe's ( roscoeschickenandwaffles… ) where they do it right. Ok next I visit her in LA that is on my todo list.
(3)Joey D.
Having been to both the Georgetown spot (before the flood), and the one in DC we knew what to expect. The decor is great, the staff is friendly, and the food is amazing. We got the fried green tomato app as well as the skillet cornbread - both were amazing! Our entrees were the almond crusted salmon with mashed potatoes and chefs veggies (very good!) and the meatless meatloaf with mashed potatoes and succotash (not as good, did not taste like meatloaf and was very tomato based). We got a slice of red velvet cake for desert and it was great too. I am sure you can make bad decisions concerning food you may or may not like, but that someone else would. We had hoped the vegan meatloaf would deliver a wow meal and it did not, but that does not mean another pallet would not enjoy it. This location is a bit of a hike for us, but we will be back sometime.
(4)Ginger W.
I really do understand why the reviews for this place are sort of schizophrenic - some awesome, some terrible. I can't always say that when I see yelp's perspective, but in this case, I really do. I go here quite often, and sometimes it is great and other times it's... well above edible, but not great. If a "meh" day were my only experience, I'd think this place were terrible and affected. That said, I've had some great meals here. First of all, the whole place is a little hilarious. Maybe that's just because I come from Fredneck and when you're that far north or into PA or WV and you go to a country place, it doesn't have plaid napkins or people walking around in gingham shirts and jeans because they're going for a look. They're wearing that because they.. you know, might be killing the chicken you're about to eat or something. They're wearing that because that's just just what they wear, not because its the uniform. This place is to farmhouse cooking what Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Dining in Germany experience is to German country cooking. Its not. It's fake. But in this case, I am sort of OK with it. I like Busch Gardens, and I appreciate that the place does a lot of farm-to-table cooking. I support that lifestyle. So they're doing a good thing, but they're doing it with an armful of PBR drinking hipsters with creepy facial hair, and you need to know that when you're coming in. If its a deal-breaker, you've been warned, but you'll miss out on some good eats. Brace yourself: They're going to violate nearly rule in this video and still get a tip, because they're doing it on purpose, and it's incredibly obvious. youtube.com/watch?v=1bR1… The servers squat down at the table or turn a chair around and plop down in their jeans and gingham shirts. Sometimes the chef makes classic things really differently. They clear plates for one person when everyone isn't done. They disappear when you're done -- this particular thing happens almost every time for me here. I like the fish of the day on a salt block, the deviled eggs, the fried green tomatoes, the beignets. They have some very nice cocktails as well. The food is very solid and delicious. It is undeniably fresh while still being comforting. Overall, I am pro-this place. It's just a funny sight. Kind of like Rainforest Cafe, except I get the impression not everyone knows its fake here when they come in.
(4)Jack K.
Much improved service experience..the lady was very professional and helpful. We had the chicken and waffles. Excellent all around.
(4)Prem S.
Reservation for 7 people made 3 weeks in advance. Seated at 6 top with a chair crammed on the end. Took 30 min to get drinks. Entrees arrived barely warm. This place is riding on the suburban kid-in-tow crowd that won't venture into a real restaurant.
(2)Samantha B.
I have never been to a Founding Farmers. I went to this location for a group dinner on a Friday night. There is great parking (which is FREE) and the restaurant is large. Myself and those I went with sat outside (the patio is heated for cooler months). I think this restaurant is over-priced on some items and not over-priced on others. There is a large menu, but I feel like it lacks some American classic foods. I felt like the appetizers were over priced. The service was not the greatest. We at down at 7 and left at 10:30 and we didn't sit there, it just took us that long to get squared away and leave. It took the waiter 10 minutes to bring water, 20 minutes (which felt like 30) to bring our drinks. He always seemed to disappear. He did separate the checks for the big group which I thought was nice, a lot of places wouldn't do that, but it took a while to get our checks. The food was decent, but not the best. I had the chicken pot pie which was good but I thought it was too doughy, didn't have enough potatoes or chicken or carrots or other vegetables. It did have big pieces of celery which I always appreciate. The drinks were good, but not the best. I would be interested to try the house sodas, they looked interesting. I would like to try other Founding Farmers locations before I write off the entire chain of places.
(4)lori w.
The manager did invite me back to "make it the right experience" but I have not been back since. Just wanted to update my review.
(4)Karim B.
I like this place because they take their drinks seriously. I like this place because they take their food serious. Most of all, i LOVE this place because they take their drinks SERIOUSLY. Each beverage is crafted with the skill of an artisan and has a unique personality. You'll want to meet each and every one of them, I assure you. My main attraction to this fine establishment are the Dark n Stormy's. It will make you slap the person next to you, then immediately kiss them right after. I had become accustomed to the basic ginger beer and Goslings mixture of a traditional Dark n Stormy, but Founding Farmers puts a delightful twist on this antique cocktail. A drink this good makes me easily spend $100 on cocktails (which I have about twice so far). The food there is beyond amazing. Complete, flavorful, and full bodied meals that will have you worshiping your sense of taste. I like to call it, 'Barnyard Chic'. Food that you'd find gracing a farmhouse table, but also, modern enough for city-dwellin' folks. Lucky for me, everytime I've gone to FF, the wait hasnt been too long. I've always lucked out and gotten a seat at the bar. Screw waiting for a table, belly up to the bar! I giggle at the line of people waiting for tables, when all I do is snatch a stool at the bar! Great opportunity to have the bartender whip up something random or engage in some banter with the other guests or the bartender. Im not sure if you've figured it out, but I adore this place and I HIGHLY suggest dining at any of their locations. Both of them are simply devine. Founding Farmers has earned the right to be my Last Supper.
(5)Steven S.
Really fun place with great food. We had a Sunday breakfast reservation at the Potomac location. I had a typical breakfast of hash browns, eggs, bacon & sausage; everything was fine but the bacon was outstanding. I ordered the Black Pepper Maple bacon & I was so glad I did. Amazing flavors; as I described to my girlfriend; that it tasted the way a brick oven pizzeria place smells lol SO GOOD! Others in my party ordered french toast, hash & pan scrambles, which were all very good. For the table, we ordered Beignets that came with 3 different dipping sauces; what a treat! Coffee, juices & tea were all fine & prices are reasonable. The feel of the restaurant is very cool too, with quirky things throughout the dining area & the bathrooms are neat too & very clean. I was pushing towards a 5 of 5, but it is more of a 4 1/2 because the food didn't blow me away as I had anticipated. Don't get me wrong, it is very good (for breakfast) & I would recommend to anyone. Stop in & taste for yourself!
(4)Jessie K.
Good food, great service, good prices. My husband and I go here several times a month. If you want to go on a Friday or Saturday night - make reservations early. I love their brunch. Red Flannel Hash and the Eggs Florentine Benedict are my favorites. Everything I've had here is very flavorful. We usually get the popcorn of the day. The nuts and deviled eggs (not at the same time) are tasty starters too. I really love that they have a vegetarian and vegan section of the menu. I love the vegan bacon burger. I recently tried the white bean cutlets - so, so good and flavorful. The beignets are a great ending - the sauces taste fresh. I am not really a soda drinker, but I like to order a phosphate or a ricky. Parking hint: If things are a little crazy with the outside parking - go to the underground garage. FF validates for the first 3 hours -- and usually, the entire garage is open. If you are there with a person you don't mind being cozy with and the wait is long - there are a few double chairs at the bar.
(5)I O.
Slow service, mediocre food. I have better eggs at ihop.
(1)Maureen E.
One of our favorite places for brunch. We've been to the Potomac location for both dinner and brunch and to the DC one for brunch as well. Both locations, our food was excellent. My husband has ordered the southern fried chicken and I've been lame and just got a burger with avocado. But it was a damn good burger. For brunch, I've ordered the crab benedict and it's by far my favorite. My son and husband love the grits and the biscuits are the best I've ever tasted. I keep wanting to try the red velvet pancakes but the crab lures me away. Oh and the potato leek mixture that comes as a side with eggs is amazing. Love the concept of the place and the atmosphere is great. The food just tastes so fresh and flavorful. My son loves looking at all the artwork hanging from the ceiling (at Potomac). It is a bit pricey for kids ($5 orange juice?) and they don't have a kids menu which is slightly annoying. Usually, we just pick and choose form the sides in order to piece together a meal for a 5 year-old. On our first visit to the DC location, when I asked for a booster seat, the host looked at me as if I had asked for a shotgun. 10 minutes later, she returned with one as if it was the hugest hassle in the world. Other than that little incident, our service and food has been great. It's become a regular family brunch staple and we always book ahead on Open Table.
(4)Anita W.
I went here based on the vegan menu for the DC restaurant on the website. I didn't realize that the Potomac restaurant has a different menu. As someone allergic to milk, there was very little I could eat in this restaurant. Even the pasta is homemade with cream in the noodles. I ended up with a salad, roast chicken and undercooked green beans. They messed up my order the first time, but fully made it up to me. My husband LOVED his southern fried chicken. I won't go back, but I can see why some love this place. I did have the hibiscus soda, and it was good.
(2)Trevor M.
Founding Farmers still needs to learn something from our Founding Fathers. Since, my initial review I have come back several times....sometimes, you really want to, you need to give a place a second or third chance....here's what I've found. There's the good, there's the bad...then there's the Holy S**t!...did they really do that? The good: The bar is the best thing about this location. The bartenders here are taking their time and taking names and doing it right. The drinks and their house made tonics, syrups and blends are amazing. Do some orders still get wrong. Sure, sometimes eggs don't come out right or someone doesn't get the waffles that they ordered...even asking two different people. But, I have to give the appropriate Laurel and Hardy handshake to Julia working at the bar doing a phenomenal job and helping to create a great drink: The Light & Stormy. Sea Wynde Rum with their house made ginger beer. The bad: The food still seems to be the biggest issue...it used to be the service, but with bartenders/servers like Julia and Andrew...it's gotten a lot better. The food is the issue here which is an unfortunate mixed bag and/or a hit or miss mission of laziness or ignorance, but easily fixable. Fried foods seems to be the ultimate culprit here. The beignets are served on the weekends and usually take 20 minutes for it to be fresh, light, airy and properly fried. In order to fill the mass market cravings for them, they are rolled out like an assembly line and we received ours within 5 minutes. So, the issue with assembly line cooking with fried foods is that consistency goes out the window. 1: You don't have enough friers at the right temperature and everything comes out incredibly greasy and undercooked or... 2: The kitchen staff is so overworked and not paying attention to the temperature and tossing things in till they become overcooked on the outside, but still raw and greasy on the inside. The beignets were the darkest looking dough balls ever. Beignets should be light in color and not looking like a hush puppy after a bad all night binger. The dough was still undercooked and incredibly greasy. On a different day, decided to get the fish and chips. Incredible presentation. See the before picture. The flavor of the batter was great with the use of the Old Bay seasoning giving it a rich mid-atlantic flavor. The fresh house made tartar sauce was rich and creamy with fresh onions and parsley that was not macerated, but allowed to give it texture and life. But the batter was so heavy and with a lower cooking temperature it was undercooked. There was a bag of chips and hand cut fries. The fries were not crisp, but limp and the additional grease was left to soak the hand cut chips so it was overflowing with oil making both sides inedible. Now, see the after picture. Now, I did talk with the manager on hand and he said that he's never seen that batter that thick and raw. He said that he would offer me a new one, but since we were leaving he said it would be comped. It never was. Now, I have a grease pit in my stomach. This was disappointing, not so much that it wasn't comped, but as management, there was still a lack of consistency in service that doesn't match what is seen on the floor by the other staff. The Holy S**t, did they do that?!: Writers note: there's good and bad in this part: The spicy ahi tuna poke made napa cabbage with avocados sexy. The spice was not too overpowering. The blackened pepper wings with soy sauce was a salty, sweet delight. The pickled veggies....spicy carrots. Isn't it supposed to be plural? Just carrots? With the local produce and the ability to pickle...all that there is just carrots. Yummy, but more variety, please. Waffle and Fried chicken. Waffle part good. Fried part, not so much good. The Prime rib sandwich..rich thick au jus, nice rare prime rib, but the bread is too hard and crusty. Great counter point, but makes eating this sandwich is a chore. Bottom line: Go to the bar, get a good drink on....but, be really picky with what you order, just know that there doesn't seem to be any more hair in the food issues. The foundation still needs some work before the Fathers can really come here. These are simple easy fixes...let's hope that they can make it.
(3)Shantice J.
YUMMY! I have nothing but praises for this restaurant. We had a party of 8 for Mother's Day and the menu has something for everyone. I ordered the Arnold Palmer with sweet tea and lemonade and it was purely delicious. The majority of us ordered the Chicken and Waffles which was a massive platter. My niece and I shared this dish and I am so happy that we did. My mom ordered one of the specialty burgers and she was thoroughly impressed. This was our first visit and it will not be our last.
(5)Sean F.
Excellent food and service - brunch is very good , try the pastrami hash or a Benedict dish
(4)Elise W.
LOVE the GCS burger. Goat cheese, pickled veggies, and sustainably-raised meat... doesn't get any better than that. I love this restaurant so much that I actually went twice in one day once. Yum!
(5)Rafael S.
Down home country style cooking. We had the fried green tomatoes (1/2 inch thick ok) with a crazy good panko batter, the brown sugar and hickory smoked bacon, and Asian wings for appetizers. The four fried green tomatoes come with a tartar like sauce and garlic butter and are very savory. The eight bits of bacon - on upright skewers, and it is tender and smoky. The wings had a taste of hoisin, star anise, and ginger. For entrees, we had to try the chicken and waffles. The chicken was tender, boneless (I dont know how they do that), and juicy. The waffles - very light weight - come with a light maple syrup on the side. Green beans and seven cheese mac and cheese complete the dish. Others had the mahi on a salt block - a little salty, but if that's what you like... For drinks, the The Chelsea Handler was unique - almost as good as the vodka-black tea-ginger concotion at Culinary Dropout in Scottsdale. The CH has prosecco, vodka, OJ, and calvados for a smooth, smoky, and just sweet enough taste. I thought the apple slice with cinammon sprinkles garnish was pretty sharp too. Interior atmosphere was a twist on Pottery Barn and modern with downplayed lighting and high chairs and wooden tables. Not too loud, either.
(4)Nioleeo A.
The waffles were horrible and I was not impressed with their brunch. Go somewhere else for brunch.
(2)Jalpa P.
ATMOSPHERE: Posh farmy experience. The decor is very fitting and I love how the servers are all wearing cute outfits that make them looked like they just stepped off the farm. SERVICE: Our waitress was lovely and very informative. The water isn't iced though (is this supposed to add to the farm fresh experience?). I thought the way they present the check to you in a mail box was incredibly adorable. FOOD: Appetizers - Farmer's Pitchfork (Bacon lollipops) were amazing and I highly recommend getting these if you come. Bread with apple, brie, and onion jam was good but not amazing. Ranch popcorn was pretty interesting and they give you a lot. The "Devilish Eggs" were really good here. Entrees - I got the fresh catch salmon prepared with balsamic red onion and this was really tasty. The roasted green beans were crisp and very tasty. The mashed potatoes were amazing too. I tried my friends' entrees as well such as the mushroom ravioli (I think that's what it was) and these were okay. I tried my friend's gnocchi with sausage - the sausage was amazing but the gnocchi was very very dense. One of my friends got one of the meatless items such as the cauliflower steak (meatless) and I personally didn't like it...it just tasted like unflavored baked cauliflower. It came with butternut squash risotto and this was okay. I heard the chicken and waffles were supposed to be out of this world so I was really excited to try this...is it just me or is this supposed to be a salty sweet dish? The chicken wasn't salty enough and the waffle wasn't sweet enough (even after adding the syrup) but It wasn't bad...but it wasn't amazing either. This also came with a side of mac n' cheese which was mehhh...which is interesting because I have never had "meh" mac n' cheese at any restaurant before. I was really thrown off by the corn bread- it's awesome that there was fresh corn in it but it wasn't dense enough for corn bread and it wasn't sweet enough either...I've had better corn bread at hospitals. I'm really disappointed because I cheated on my diet for nothing amazing (except for the awesome Samoa cupcakes that my friend made for the birthday girl). I'm not sure if this place is just overrated because of raters placing more weight on creativity over their flavor palate or if we just got the short end of the stick by ending up at MoCo's FF as opposed to the one in DC (which we originally wanted to go to but was unfortunately booked up). I don't think I'd make a trip back up to this particular location but I certainly am interested in trying the one in DC. And I was certainly more excited about having brunch here and am still interested in finding out if it's as good as it sounds :)
(3)Pam W.
Needed a good restaurant near the Glenstone Museum and found this online. having had great food experiences at their other locations, I immediately booked this.Sat outside. Large portions. One had the bean soup which was loaded with pork, one had the spicy ahi tuna poke, my husband and I shared a great messy crab cake sandwich with terrific fries. Nice beer selection. Fabulous...could have stayed all day.
(5)Anne N.
Been wanting to try this place for a while. The food was really good! The farm breads and fried green tomatoes were my favorites but everyone in my party said the fried chicken (northern and southern style) was great. But most of all the service was fantastic! The waitress was so nice and knew all the answers to everything thing we asked. There were substitutions on at least one order and everything was correct and speedy. Totally forgot her name but she was awesome!
(5)Shelby H.
Been here twice for weekend brunch, and while it's certainly a busy place that could use another server or three, I haven't suffered any of the service indignities that have dragged the ratings down. Instead we've enjoyed some pretty ambitious breakfast fare that kept us bloated and happy. I mean, seriously, the stuffed french toast is about as gloriously close to having gigantic fried Twinkies for breakfast as you can get without being disgusting. The pork sausage is like a mild, delicate meatball. The chicken and waffles isn't quite as amazing as Gladys & Ron's in Atlanta, but it was delicious enough for me to bilk the dog out of her share of the leftovers. The coffee, unfortunately, is on the weak side, and the biscuits don't come with enough butter & preserves to cover them all until you ask for more. Frankly, you're gonna get so stuffed, you might want to skip ordering the biscuits for the table till you figure out what you want. They aren't all that, anyway. Just get the freaking stuffed french toast megatwinkies.
(4)Helen A.
Yummy and inventive food & drinks! Awesome decor and vibe! Loved the homemade sodas! BUT Make a reservation and don't expect awesome service. The place has the vibe of upscale service when you walk in, but our waitress was clearly gassed by the end of our dinner. Food and drinks never came out together.
(4)Helen C.
Southern fried chicken was great! And their passion fruit soda was amazing - it wasn't on the menu, but you should ask the waiter what sodas they have that day. The fried chicken meal is huge, so it's nice to come home with leftovers (next day's lunch!).
(5)Tochi K.
I expected a lot more from Founding Farmers and it didn't live up it. However, I'd give them another chance if I were in the neighborhood. I wouldn't go out of my way for them and it would most likely be for drinks, coffee, and food at the bar. In sum, the decor is nice, menu is interesting, and food isn't bad. Drinks are yummy, prices are a little higher (but not too high), and service needs a little improvement. The Food. Skip the veggie burger; it is ok but not worth ordering: it tastes just ok and is too soggy, so it falls apart in splatters with each attempted lift. Their fries aren't great. Mine also came cold and the waiter offered to replace them. The next set were hot but I could tell they were just re-fried fries--they were very oily so I didn't bother to eat them (and I my love fries!). On the other hand my husband's Gnocchi was fresh and pretty good. The Service. Our waiter wasn't the best (but perhaps it is a little forgivable because he, like many of the other servers, looked like young high school kinds that didn't know better). He wasn't very knowledgeable about their drinks, but went and asked the bar tender. He also wasn't very attentive. Actually, he disappeared after our food was served and we had to flag other waiters for service after that--even the check was handled by another waiter. This shouldn't happen when you are paying a little extra for food. I don't think Founding Farmers lives up to it's image or hype, but it doesn't completely fall flat either.
(3)Foster C.
we had heard about this restaurant and decided to give it a try. First reservation does not mean a thing. You can make a reservation for 8 PM and get seated at 8:30 pm. I told the young lady the reason I made the reservation was so I do not have to wait. I was told "they have no control when the people gets up". Yes you do, DO NOT OVER BOOK! Corn bread was great so as the soup. Salad was ok and it was served room temp on a hot plate. Salad suppose to have figs, but did not see any figs or a fig. entrees were good. My ribs was very nice but my wife,s Fried Chix was dry and the biscuit was not eatable. Dessert was awesome and so as our service. Our server was pleasant and very much hospitable. Overall nothing special.
(3)Susan G.
I actually like the food here, when cooked correctly. It would be great if there was a consistency to their food and service. On more than one occasion, key ingredients have been missing from dishes - and we were not notified, silverware was an afterthought, and you have to ask for water. What restaurant requires you to ask for water?! When done right, this restaurant has all the makings to be very, very good. Not just sometimes very good. I hope they improve the staff training and bring some uniformity and consistency to both the preparation of food and the service. I'm giving FF 3 stars because the food has potential.
(3)Aisha S.
I've had great and average meals with Founding Farmers, but the great outweighs the average in my opinion. Among the great are the plank salmon with maple syrup-apricot glaze, skirt steak, skillet honey butter cornbread, and beignets. Among the average are the butternut squash mascarpone ravioli (which could have been great if it wasn't swimming in so much oil) and the fried green tomatoes (again way too oily and too bready). I'm also a fan of their housemade sodas and the general atmosphere at this location. It can get pretty crowded here just like the DC location, but the silver lining is that I will always remember to make a reservation and get my Open Table dining points. I almost have enough for a $20 gift certificate!
(4)Jeanine S.
I've been to this location twice and it's consistent food and drink wise, but the service bugs me enough to drop a star. 4 stars on food and beverages, 3 stars for service. I ALWAYS get the organic cucumber delight and the chicken and waffles because it's the best "cheat meal" ever.
(3)Mindy M.
Sustainably caught/harvested/prepared; how could it get any better? Founding Farmers is doing things right: in and outside of the kitchen. From carefully selected and art-form cocktails on to a take-you-back-home-comfort skillet cornbread and table biscuits to artisanal breads, burgers, fried chicken, "bacon lolli's", be prepared to be "wowed." I personally was interested in their dessert menu that night after glancing at their visible bread & bakery kitchen. I was not at all disappointed! Chocolate mousse was my choice. It was dense, rich, and dreamy! A bonus when I got to experience it again the next evening (leftovers!) My whole dinner experience was accented by their professional and well trained staff. The server we had mentioned he was especially hip to what happens behind the bar which was great for my table of cocktail lovers. He was so knowledgeable about their menu. What I tried that evening: Skillet cornbread with house made honey butter - to die for! Table Biscuits- cakey and moist- so good. Candy Corn Bread- radishes, apple chutney and marscipone on house made bread was my favorite! Bacon Lolli's which are is good as they sound! Pickled veggies- their epic approach to sustainably prepared produce. Delish! Chocolate Mousse- see above! With a bite of my better half's salmon and potatoes here and there, from start to finish, Moco's Founding Farmers provided an ethical, globally conscious, fantastic experience.
(5)robert H.
Carmen was an awesome waitress she really knows the menu and really cares about her customers it was obvious ! We had a little question about the bland deviled eggs and Carmen was really disappointed that we did not enjoy them. Carmen told the manager Christian G who visited our table with genuine concern. They still serve great food here and I highly recommend this place. Thanks Carmen and Christian G.
(5)Melissa R.
Founding Farmers went above and beyond to make amends for a less than stellar previous experience. Drinks were fantastic, appetizers were delicious, staff was great. Thank you for the fun night out! We will definitely be back.
(5)Ashley B.
Love this place! I haven't been as excited about a restaurant meal in a long time. I've been there for lunch and weekend brunch, and I'll definitely drop by for a dinner there soon. The dining area, at least on the lower level, has a cool "organic farm meets industrial warehouse" decor. There's a lot of energy in there, with lots of people chatting at the bar and waiters and other staff moving around. I've enjoyed the attentive service, even during peak hours. As everyone has already noted, the chicken and waffles is such a great choice! The portion is very generous...it became lunch, then dinner for me. The chicken is crispy and very well seasoned. The mac and cheese is super tasty - very cheesy - and I'm always a fan of breadcrumbs. My favorite side though, are the green beans! They are bright green, crunchy, buttery and salty! One its own,the waffle was meh at best. But once I added the butter and the syrup, I was happy with the waffle too. For brunch, I've had their beignets (love the caramel sauce) and the standard scrambled eggs/bacon/hash browns. The highlight of that meal was the fresh squeezed lemonade and my waiter made to sure to keep the glass filled. I'm excited to try other menu items, but I have the feeling that I'll have a hard time skipping another round of the chicken and waffles!
(5)Rita C.
We visited for an early-ish breakfast (for a Saturday) at 9:30 am. We made a reservation since we were a party of 6 and our table was ready when we arrived. It was very busy, so the reservation was a good move. The service was excellent from the moment we walked in. We ordered beignets and biscuits for the table and both were excellent. The dipping sauces that came with the beignets were particularly fantastic (especially the bourbon caramel one). The food was excellent. My favorite was the red flannel hash (two poached eggs over a potato hash prepared with beets and goat cheese). We also took advantage of the bacon upgrade options on the breakfast combo and were not disappointed. Honestly, the only reason I gave this place 4 instead of 5 stars is for their coffee.The americano and french press coffee were decent, but the cortado that I ordered tasted like it was 50% sugar, 45% milk, and only 5% coffee. I couldn't drink more than a few sips - worse than Starbucks! That said, we will be back. This place was a breath of fresh air. Delicious food, great service, and a cute location.
(4)Kelsey O.
I read the reviews online so for a Saturday I called in advance and scheduled a reservation for 7pm and was asked if I had a seating preference, so I requested a booth for two. We showed up 10mins early and informed the hostess of our reservation she found our name and said it would be a few mins. We waited till 7:05 and asked again about our table the hostess said "who are you?" We said our name and reservation time again, she said once again it would be a few more mins and while people who came in after us were seated before us. We were then seated at 7:10 but at a very small table, I informed the man who was seating us of my reservation for a booth, he told me it would be a half hour wait for a booth and apologized, then sat us at the table. Not even five mins later a booth across from the table we were sitting at opened up. I went to the hostess and asked if we could switch to the booth, since we had just been seated and had originally reserved a booth. I was told "no we don't take seating requests when we take reservations," (I was asked originally by one of their employees on the phone when I made the reservation if I had a seating preference) and she then told me the booth was "going to a party larger than two people," even though the booth next to the one I was requesting had a pair of ladies seated in it and one across also had a couple seated in it. As I was asking the hostess for the booth our server arrived at the table, my boyfriend informed her of the situation and she got us a booth in under ten mins. We placed a drink order with her while we waited. Our drinks arrived and the manager came over and apologized for the seating mishap and said our booth would be available very shortly, she then helped our server clear and clean the booth and our server moved us too it. Our server was Shannon and she was fantastic, really went above and beyond to make sure we had a good experience. The manager as well was accommodating and did come back a few other times throughout our meal to make sure we were enjoying everything as well. The food was delectable. We got the corn bread very tasty. The bacon lollies were slightly sweet and very smokey, not very greasy with was a pleasant surprise for bacon! We also got the devil-ish eggs a classic taste, with the perfect amount of chives and very fresh. For my Entree I got the Northern Fried Chicken with latkes and beets. The chicken was moist, tender and came with two breast pieces, one was boneless, the skin was crispy, salty and had just the right amount of pepper. One of the Latkes had classic applesauce on top and the other had a tangy tzatziki sauce on top it was amazing. The beets were tender and full of flavor. The drinks were also very good and the bar had a very large selection. I got a Potomac Park Swizzle and a Fraise Fling. The Fling was vodka based, refreshing, light and playful. The Swizzle was boozy, citrusy and full of sugar I loved it. Over all I will give this a second chance because the food and drinks are worth going back for and because of the very nice manager and our exceptional server Shannon who went above and beyond and did not only her job but the hostess job as well. Everything was perfect except the hostess.
(4)Connie L.
This is my default brunch place in MoCo, for many reasons. I like the overall ambience of the restaurant, with the huge windows allowing a ton of natural light to flow into the place creating a nice brunch atmosphere. In front of the restaurant is also a nice mini garden and fountain area which is perfect for taking pictures if the meal was a special occasion such as a birthday or going away The service here is phenomenal as well. Every time I've come I've been met with friendly servers that are both helpful and personable. Some times the wait here can be long depending on the day and time so I would recommend making reservations just in case. The actual food itself is good, but nothing amazing (especially for the price). I recommend the pork roast, which was sweet, juicy and succulent. Getting the platter with the extra sides is well worth it.
(4)Fred K.
Still as good as ever. Came here tonight on a Monday evening and this place jamming (feels like a Saturday night). Service was just great too. For any vegetarian eaters, this place must have the most vegetarian selections. The cauliflower steak was one of my colleagues favorite vegetarian entrees she's eaten. They have one of the best cocktail menus around the area and the cucumber vodka and their old fashion really hit the spot. My ribeye was so big I had to take half home. It was cooked a perfect medium rare with lots of juices from the blood. Yum! The red velvet cakes was just divine. Tasted like it just came out of the oven. Time to work this off tomorrow morning!
(4)Ching C.
4.5 stars. Came here previously for dinner, and most recently for brunch with friends for bf's birthday. Their cornbread appetizer was gigantic- so worth it for $5. It comes in a cast iron pan, and has corn kernels in it, as well as being sweet, hot, moist, and just delicious. Dinner: I got the steak and enchiladas, and it was pretty good. Steak was cooked well, enchiladas were decent and loved the avocado on top! You also got a corn on the cob with that mexican cheese (queso blanco?) but I was too full to eat it. Pretty large portion. Boyfriend got the farmhouse platter, which was good to try a little bit of everything. everything on the platter was really good. We really liked the chili dog - they had special bread, and the sliders, and the ribs fell off the bone. Entrees are kind of expensive, but they're large and def worth it. We were really full. Brunch: I got the sausage, mushroom, and spinach egg scramble and it was pretty good. I always add ketchup/hot sauce or something on it for a kick (since they don't usually season eggs and stuff, but i like it that way - i like eating my eggs with ketchup.) Also a generous portion of food. Boyfriend got the hangover hash - wow - the chili is SOO GOOD. Absolutely love this dish! Highly recommend it! One of my friends got the banana's fosters french toast and it looked really really good. It was also big. Personally, I don't think I could eat that much sweets so I'd need to share that with someone and have something savory too. After eating chicken and waffles at 2 other places, although I didn't try it at Founding Farmers, it looked kind of underwhelming compared to the ones I've tried. Giant waffle with small chunks of fried chicken. Looked a bit disproportionate. I really liked the chicken and the mini waffles at Miss Shirley's Cafe in Baltimore, so I'm probably a little biased. But the other chicken and waffles I had both had really good sauces too. Compared to the hashes here, I just feel like it's not as worth it. Beignets are pretty good here! Eat them while they're hot! Got some beignets comped for boyfriend's birthday and they sang for him :]
(4)Coco B.
It was really average. The ambiance was pretty interesting but the food was kinda meh. The only thing that I did enjoy was their scratch soda! We had chicken pot pie, chicken & waffle and for starters we ordered some biscuits. Food took forever to come. And after waiting 20 min waitress appeared to just casually informed us that the entree I ordered could not be made. I ended up ordering chicken & waffle because everyone talks how great that is. I thought it was just a confusing hodgepodge of fried chicken, waffle, beans and some mac & cheese.
(2)Y. K.
From the get go, it's location is great--easy to find, Harris Teeter nearby, easy parking, spacious. When we get in, the host is usually really friendly, which is, sad to say, rare for most customer service employees. Anyway, wait isn't too long usually, but i still recommend using open table for reservations. Food is expensive but good quality, although I got their spicy pasta once and had a stomachache. I enjoyed their slow cooked ribs very much, and their artisanal breads are crazy expensive but really delicious. I also came for breakfast once and enjoyed their compote French toast, but it is deep fried so if you can't handle it you have been warned. The interior design is very hipster, earthy?; they have flying geese, mason jars of fake? Pickled foods, bookcases with books, and lots of wooden furniture. The seats are comfortable enough, water is service in a mason jug type thing? My boyfriend loves this place. I do recommend !
(4)Trish J.
Okay, everyone told me "go for brunch, go for brunch" but I didn't quite believe them or focus on finding the time. Family was in town and they are big fans of breakfast food, so finally took the plunge. Revise my previous 4 star to a solid 5. Oh. My. Goodness. Seriously, go for brunch! The stuffed french toast was to die for. It was one of the most delicious pieces of food I have ever put in my mouth. Huge portion though. Way more than one person should ever eat, but darn good. I had the banana fosters version, but can't imagine the others are that much different. The bloody Mary was also tasty. Very spicy, but they seem to make it fresh so if you don't like lots of pepper I think they could scale back. Fam had the waffles and also seemed to really like them.
(5)Michelle G.
This is one of my favorite places hands down. I've been here for various meals from brunch to late night dinner and dessert. Everything was great. I've sat upstairs and downstairs in regular seating, and at the bar. The staff is friendly and I've only had wonderful experiences here. Would highly recommend for a date night or a large group. Love that it's open late for the suburbs.
(5)Adam G.
I recommended to my coworkers as I have been to DC location many times. Did not disappoint. Server was friendly and informative. Relaxed atmosphere and much less crowded than city. Bunch of apps to share. Cornbread and wings were especially good. I had the BBQ pork entree which is probably my least favorite thing I've ever gotten here so I had to give a four instead of five. BBQ sauce was nothing special and the collared greens were bland. Overall tho this place is great. Reasonably priced. Casual but gourmet. Good service and very diverse menu. Drinks are great too but because they are handcrafted they are a little pricey.
(4)Atiya Y.
This was my second visit to this location and I still love this place! Drinks: home made mango soda. I could taste a slight mango flavor, my friend only tasted lime( there was a slice of lime as a garnish inside the drink). As pretty as it was, I would have to say that we were both a little disappointed, but happy that we tried something new! Ended up resorting to my usual: arnold palmer. yummm! Apps: 1. Tried the procuitto, balsamic farm bread. Wished that the procuitto was sliced a little bit thinner. It was a little tough to bite into, but I enjoyed it just the same. 2. classic deviled eggs: with a sprinkle of salt and a few cracks of pepper, these really hit the spot Dinner: 1. Clam chowder soup with a crostini: soup was very flavorful and I didn't have to hunt to find the actual pieces of clam! It was nice and creamy without being too thick or thin. #win 2. Fried chicken and waffles: waffles have a nice light crisp on the outside, but soft and warm on the inside. How do they do it?! Chicken was seasoned and fried to perfection. (this is the third time that we've had this...taste has been consistent!) Service: Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. Random: Love the fact that the food is down home "make you wanna slap your momma" good, but presented very beautifully and the vibe of the restaurant isn't pretentious. That combination is so hard to find!
(5)Emily T.
I'm surprised by the mixed reviews here. I recently went for dinner with a group. There is a lot of street parking, but valet is available too. We ate outside. They have some interesting drink choices. We enjoyed the bacon lollipops, fried green tomatoes, kettle corn, and deviled eggs. Then, I had the chicken and waffles which comes with green beans AND Mac and cheese. It was so much food, but very delicious. Finally, we got a couple scoops of ice cream for the table. Everything was cooked perfectly, and the waitress was very attentive.
(5)Connie L.
Mm why does service always suck here? Our server only came a total of 3 times. Coffee only got refilled once because I had to track her down for one. The table next to us got continuous awesome service. Got beignets which were good. Crisp on outside and soft on inside. Steak and eggs. Good except eggs were way underdone. The whites were completely still raw. Steak was actually way less than medium rare. Still bloody. Last time I went the steak was overdone. Can't they get it right? Would've told the server but first she was nowhere to be seen. Second she was kind of unpleasant so I didn't want her to possibly mess with my food. Positive: the biscuit was freaking delicious and awesome with the honey&butter and jam... Best part of the meal Again, took forever to get the check. Service can definitely make or break a meal and today was another unpleasant experience.
(2)Bent B.
FOUR DAYS!!!! TO EAT ONE SLICE OF CHOCOLATE CAKE!!!!! The Chocolate cake, sized for a family of twelve... was so pure, it started to melt on my counter, I placed it in the fridge. Here are the details that I think you should know: 1. It took me four days to eat this cake, its that big, It was a complete CAKE in the shape of a slice. 2. It tasted like virgin chocolate or a fluffy new born cake. If cakes could be born, this one was one hour old it tasted that smooth and completely lacking of any chemicals, it was the cleanest cake I've ever had. 3. I couldn't throw it out. I never eat this crap (cake) I'm slim, rarely do I eat friggen take home anything.. I get bored of it fast, this time I felt like a criminal, I kept eating it and it took me DAYS People! You better get in there and order this cake, GOD DAMN THAT CAKE WAS HUGE!!
(5)Victoria L.
*************Make reservations!!!!************ ---------------------------------------- I made reservations for 1:30 on a Sunday for brunch. At 1:30, they were still seating 1:15 reservations. Luckily, we didn't have to wait too long. We were seated by 1:40, which is not bad. I love the decor and layout! There's also seating upstairs, which is where we were seated. Service: Friendly! Our waitress checked up on us several times. Our coffees were refilled when asked. Our plates were cleared. New silverware was given to us after our appetizers. Great service! Food: Uncle Bucks Beignets [$8]: Comes with 6 pieces - they're like fried dough/doughnuts with powdered sugar. Served warm with 3 different sauces - raspberry, chocolate, and caramel. Definitely very sweet. The chocolate was my favorite sauce, but the beignets were even more delicious on its own! Yummy! I would definitely recommend if you have a sweet tooth! Or even at the end as dessert! Went wonderfully with coffee! Green Fried Tomatoes [$8]: Comes with 4 pieces - crispy; 2 types of sauces - pretty good Hangover Hash [$12]: potatoes with chili, pimento cheese, cheddar, 2 poached eggs, and a choice of bread - pretty tasty.. I just wish there was a bit of a kick/spice to it. But it was still good! Coffee [$4]: free refills: delicious! Others ordered chicken & waffles and beef pastrami poached egg hash. They both loved their dishes! Portions are generous. We all brought home leftovers and left soooo full & satisfied! Restroom: Downstairs, clean, and cute
(4)Beatriz K.
My husband an I had an excellent dining experience here. The waiting staff was uber friendly and considerate, making sure our water glasses were full and constantly asking if we needed anything all the while displaying a genuine friendly smile. Our pickled veggie starter was a nice appetizer to our center cut steak and surf and turf dish. We ordered our steaks medium and I must say they were seasoned and cooked to PERFECTION! No need for salt, pepper or steak sauce. The side green beans were also cooked to perfection, no need for added seasoning. The desserts were to DIE for. I am very picky when it comes to red velvet cake (best I've ever had was Cakeman Raven's), however, this red velvet cake is worthy enough to be classified as a TRUE red velvet cake. My husband broke down and had the carrot cake and he said it was pretty amazing especially with the apples in it. Everything here tasted fresh and made with a passion. I am sad that there isn't a location in NYC. :(
(5)Najy S.
Ok I love almost everything here... but every once in a while there's miss. YES: cornbread, chicken wings, bacon, farmer's salad.... ok almost everything. Meh: veggie burger. some of the basic fish options. some of the cocktails. The service is also good about 80% of the time. Just a protip: always make a reservation. ALWAYS. Day or night.
(4)Ryan P.
Came here for a friend's birthday dinner, and she had made reservations for 830, but we ended up showing up at 850ish. I would give this place a 5 star but the greeter was kind of rude on how she attended to us. She laughed at my friend when she heard we had reservations for 830 and it was 850, which she didn't have to. But we still were there obviously to be seated, and didn't have to roll her eyes at my friend, who was being polite in this situation and just wanted to get checked in. That turned me off from the get go, so we waited at the bar and ordered some Moscow mules. We were then seated by Sydney, and she was very attentive and gave us the run down of the place. We ordered the chicken and waffles, prime rib, and the short rib. It was all delicious! I personally had the prime rib, and it was salted a little more than what I am used to, but I have a high tolerance for salt and prefer my dishes salty. The sides I got were the spinach and fries, both on point! This place is really nice, have a nice farm to table appeal, and the dishes were great!
(4)Preet M.
Service: I had an evening reservation here last Wednesday and I walked in about half an hour early expecting to be turned down until my reservation time. Instead, I was offered a seat at the bar and was even given the benefit of effortlessly transferring my bar tab to my table when I was seated. My friend and I ordered a couple of drinks at the bar and were seated after what seemed like only seconds after finishing our drinks. We were even allowed to carry our newly filled glasses to our table with us. Our server, who was also a bartender for the night told us he would be waiting on us. At first I was slightly turned off thinking that he would be too preoccupied with the bar patrons to pay mind to us. I was thankfully proven wrong and received stellar service throughout the evening. Food: I decided to be budget friendly and split a pot pie and some burger sliders with a friend. We received the six sliders and the decently large pie and dug in. The food was delicious and definitely plentiful. We left with enough left over for a meal. The best part was that after ordering four cocktails, an appetizer (with enough quantity to be a full meal) and an entree, our bill came out to about $60, which is what I expected to pay for the drinks alone! Environment: I came in as the sun was setting, which in combination with the dim lighting made the restaurant seem almost like a real barn lodge! The contemporary decor adds the necessary touch in order to keep the building "with the times" as some would say. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience here and will definitely be coming back with my family. I'm just mad I forgot my camera at home!
(5)John H.
I have never had a bad meal at FF. Great drinks, excellent food, and the desserts are just supercalafragalistic. The chicken and waffles are my go-to dish. I have it with Mac n cheese and mashed potatoes. The sides are sooooo good, the chicken so tender and juicy. The waffles are average but the other stuff is so good it's not anything to worry about. The desserts are the best I've had in the area. The best cheesecake I've EVER had. Beignets will make you wonder where they have been your whole life. Cakes are insane too, although the ice cream they serve with it isn't great. The cons- parking sucks, wait time sucks, a bit expensive, service is hit or miss. You must try FF.
(4)Amaresh S.
This place definitely seems to be one on the rise. While I've heard some more average reviews in the past, eating here a couple days ago showed me FF is trying to improve and really take care of its patrons. If you're coming here, you have to realize that you're going to be spending some money. Don't come and try to get the cheapest entree w/ no app and no dessert, because while you're food will be good you probably won't be getting much of the experience. Get an appetizer (they're good) and split a dessert, enjoy the atmosphere, and don't worry about the cost of your meal. If you're really worried about spending too much, I'd say go somewhere else because you're not going to enjoy yourself here. Came here with my brother, started with the deviled eggs and the pesto bread. The eggs were great, the yolk was nice, light, and fluffy. The bread (it was basically bruschetta) was also pretty good, it had pesto, tomato, pine nuts, and cheese. For the main dish I got the cranberry veggie burger w/ brie. Now, I like my veggie burgers a little firmer (this includes the bread as well) but this one was on the softer side. But besides that, the actual taste was pretty good. I just don't really like when things start falling apart as I'm eating them. It came with a salad, which had some dressing that was slightly too salty, but otherwise okay. For dessert, we split the beignets. Now, I only know what these are (and how to pronounce them) from the movie Chef w/ John Favreau. Definitely get them here - they're made from scratch for every order (had to wait about 20 minutes for 'em, if you're in a rush tell your waiter early) and they are so worth it. Also, when I was there they ran out of the first entree I ordered. But I was impressed with their communication about it, I overheard someone coming by to double check with our waiter to make sure we were informed asap about it. Really goes to show they're taking the extra step to make sure I'm able to order something else sooner rather than later, which I appreciated.
(4)Ashley W.
Where do I begin? I can't actually believe I got an RSVP! Everyone knows Founding Farmers is like an exclusive food club that requires patience and stealth like stalking to grab a seat for brunch or any other time of the day. Suprisingly, I snagged one right after church! (miracle or what?) We were seated promptly and ordered the table biscuits. With a distressed look, these sea salt biscuits would make you slap you momma! They literally, are the best tasting biscuits I've EVER had. And when you top it with the jelly and honey butter, the gates of heaven opens up and angles sing. It is THAT serious. So serious, we ate 2 a piece and I ordered more to bring home and share with my boyfriend b/c I couldn't allow him to go another day on this earth without tasting these damn biscuits! Now that a whole paragraph about biscuits are out of the way, we ordered the classic chicken and waffles and my own al'carte meal. The chicken and waffles were delish. The chicken was well seasoned, waffle was airy and the syrup taste like it was hand churned out back. My custom meal consisted of some chicken-apple sausge (tastes the way it sounds), hot sauce bacon, eggs and burbon french toast. The bacon itself, needs an entire platter of all the various flavors/sauces it comes in. It's as if they have a pig out back just slicing away and I don't even like/eat pork! But I devoured it! Eggs were well seasoned, and the burbon could be tasted in the french toast which was crispy on the edges and moist in the midde (no need for syrup) I'm so in love, I will be stalking to book a table for my birthday. Lettuce pray it works.
(5)Sara H.
3.5/5 I wish I could say that the food is the same as the DC FF but it just isn't the same. Been to each location more than a handful of times now and I'd say that the MoCo location leaves me a bit disappointed. The night started off strong as we scarfed down the skillet cornbread. Definitely try this! The cornbread has whole kernels of corn and comes with yummy honey butter. Definitely an appetizer we regularly order when we come here. Then as we received our entrees, things started missing the mark. Chicken bolognase bucatini - usually one of my favorite pasta dishes to get! BUT the pasta was a bit dry and were stuck together in a clump this time. Maybe the pasta dried out a little while the other dishes were being made? But was really disappointed. Chicken and waffles - the chicken was really salty. We ate most of it without the skin because of it. I will add, however, that the C+W has always been solid in the past. Farmers slaw reuben - probably the best dish we ordered tonight. Unique reuben in that it does not use a typical coleslaw but more of vegan slaw (includes apple and semi-dried grapes in thousand island dressing). Sounds weird, but it gives a nice subtle sweetness to every bite. My husband is a reuben fanatic and he says he enjoys the reubens here when he is up for having an "unconventional" reuben. Not sure if this was just an off-night but tonight just missed the mark. The only thing that makes this place better than the DC FF is the flying ducks in the ceiling (and maybe the cute little mailbox that delivers your check).
(3)Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Multiple service errors from the start. We checked in and it was crowded with people waiting to be seated. Chaotic. Ordered drinks. Waiting patiently for drinks. Ordered food. Two people on table receive their food. We wait. We ask. We get a soup. Finally we get our food. We wait. We order a drink. We wait. Waiting patiently again. Receive drink. We wait. We ask for a dessert menu. We have a simple request. Maybe not. No answer. We receive our dessert. We leave hopefully to not return. Aloha Oe'
(2)Angela W.
I'm not sure what everybody is raving about because this place isn't that amazing. I went here for my birthday dinner and was hoping for a great meal, but I'm sad to report that I was disappointed. For starters, the waiter talked incessantly and wouldn't stop describing every little thing on the menu - giving us barely any time to look it over and decide what we wanted to order. He boasted how the crab cakes are made fresh at another location and sent over - but I was extremely underwhelmed by them. They cost $30 and were so soaked through with lemon juice that they were soggy. I didn't know crabcakes could be soggy until I started eating them. The sides I chose for my crabcakes were green beans (I questioned if they were even cooked through) and cole slaw (which isn't on the menu but I asked for a substitution). The cole slaw was terribly bitter and not what I had expected. It's apparently the slaw they use on a burger. I asked to switch to french fries because they were a more palatable go-to option. The french fries were actually quite oily but I still had the bitter taste of slaw in my mouth so I just ate them. The only pros to my experience here were the table biscuits and the beignets - which come with many dipping sauces and, though oily, were a guilty pleasure. The homemade soda is worth a try as well. Overall, I was very dissatisfied with my main course, but the appetizer (biscuits) and dessert (beignets) allowed this location to remain at a rating of three stars. I will be trying the DC location because I believe it will be much better than what I experienced at the MoCo location. Again, very underwhelmed. Don't understand the hype.
(3)Janeene S.
We made brunch plans thinking they had the buffet, but they didn't! We were all a bit sad until we saw the menu and ordered the chicken & waffles. I've never had chicken & waffles before, but 3 out of the 6 of us ended up ordering it. Very good! The first time I came here I ordered the bean & rice burger. It was very flavorful and not heavy on the bean. I've been here several times and each dish is better than the last. We plan to head to the other location to check that one out as well. Great place to meet up with friends and eat a very good meal.
(5)Jessica S.
Had a great lunch experience. ... food was very good as usual and the server was excellent.
(5)Jeremy D.
So I went here for brunch for a friends birthday...had heard a lot about this place and it had a lot of positive hype. First of all the interior decor was well...discordant. Weird flying geese overhead, cowboy themed silverware... Just didn't really get it. The actual seating area is very open and was super crowded...we were at a big table right by the revolving doors and wasn't a great relaxed setting. Service was pretty terrible...just ridiculously slow. Food took close to a half an hour to arrive after we ordered. While the waitress was nice enough, you could tell she was just trying to get us in and out as fast as possible. It was hard to get her attention after we ordered our food. And as soon as we paid, we stopped getting refills on our beverages even though it was obvious we were staying for a while. I ordered the generic breakfast. The porters bringing the food were very confused about who ordered what, and didn't even know what was on some of the plates. My food was ...meh...very bland toast, burnt bacon, OK eggs, and decent hash browns. Honestly have had better breakfast (and still locally sourced) at Silver Diner. I think what most pissed me off is that they charge FOUR freakin dollars for a cup of coffee. Which is just absurd in my opinion and a sign of yuppie price gouging. Won't be going here again, you can get much better brunch food, with !much more friendly and personable staff elsewhere.
(2)Arly J.
We enjoyed our visit. Everything is made from scratch and it's so hard to decide what you want to get some of our highlights were the Garlic Black pepper wings, fried green tomatoes and blue cheese bacon dates. we would pass on the breads, ships and crisp. so many other things to choose from. for dinner we enjoyed our blue cheese wedge, Yankee pot roast was so tender with mash and the chicken and waffles was spectacular. Don't forget to order desert you will not be disappointed. Would suggest reservations seems like it is always full.
(5)Kate H.
As fans of the D.C. location, a colleague and I were delighted to come across this outbound location during a recent visit to Rockville. Sad to say that this FF doesn't light a candle to the original. Seating was no problem during the height of the rush hour. Our server was odd -- no other word for it. He never once looked at us (he looked out the window behind me every time), rolled his eyes and said "I can't eat that meatless stuff" when my colleague asked about a vegetarian burger, and brought me a completely wrong order (claimed he hadn't written it down when he actually had). My corrected order took about 12 minutes, and he questioned if we were in a hurry when he had to refire both my dish and my colleague's. Luckily the food was delicious. Start off with a great basket of bread and chips that comes with four dips and spreads ($10). My colleague decided on the way out to speak with the manager, who was aware of my incorrect order but surprised by our other information. To his credit, he gave us both incentive to return and give them another shot. That was unnecessary but appreciated and certainly gives me reason to try them again next time I'm in the area.
(3)Kassie E.
After 6 unsuccessful weeks of trying to make it to brunch at the DC location, I caved in and made reservation at the MoCo location. Not a bad idea considering theres a nice parking lot outside (still a fight to get a spot tho). But essence of city life is lost amongst the new burby developments in the borderline gaithersburg/rockville/potomac area. Anyway to the service. I booked my reservation a week in advance--yes its that serious--youll wanna do the same for Sat/Sun brunch. Walked in and was immediately sat (a luxury in the DC FF as even with a rez theres still a wait) I ordered the beignets AMAZING. Omg it was like a light an airy tasted dark Krispy Kreme doughnut minus the kreme. You get three sauces to dip em in...mm mm mmm Ive been craving these beignets for a year. And finally it satisfied my deepest fried desires. I had the eggs red velvet pancake and chicken apple sausage. The eggs were lacking something (maybe seasonings), the leek hashbrowns were good and the chicken apple sausage was good too. I took away one star because of the price of the mimosa. I love mimosa but have never paid more than 8 dollars for it. IDK if its because the orange juice is freshly squeezed but $12 bucks for a mimosa is ridic. Ill be back for the beignets and to try their lunch--but in the DC location.
(4)Jon L.
I visited once, but it was more than enough for me to decide never again! Our waiter was not attentive, I constantly had to ask and re-ask for just a refill of water. I originally ordered a pasta that sounded quite good to only be informed 15 minutes later that they did not have the ingredients to make it. I proceeded to order another dish that came out absolutely gross. I've never seen a restaurant mess up an alfredo sauce. They made store bought cans of alfredo seem like an exquisite dish. Oh, and did I mention that this place is quite pricey??? Maybe I caught them on a bad night, but I will not be visiting again. My money would be spent more wisely elsewhere.
(2)Sarah C.
Food was good. Service not so much. Waited 30 minutes for a table which we had a reservation for and waitress made no effort to make us feel welcome.
(3)Rui Z.
What I liked: We were seated within 10 minutes of showing up for Saturday brunch and ordered some beignets as a starter- these were tasty and fresh and were paired with raspberry, chocolate and caramel dipping sauce. The Founding Farmers breakfast sets here are very filling, too, and well-proportioned for the price point. Founding Farmers, being a farm-to-table restaurant, might take a bit longer to cook your food. Having said that, it seemed well worth the wait. Other Notes: Our waiter was courteous but took a little while to get back to us, which is somewhat understandable given that this place is packed for weekend brunch. The lighting indoors is a bit dim. If your party is okay with this and the weather is nice, I would say to opt for patio seating.
(4)Eddie K.
I have to say after dining here several more times for breakfast and lunch, the food and service has vastly improved since my last review. Breakfast has been really solid. Kids love the blueberry pancakes- it does taste really good. The traditional Benedict is good as well as the chicken and waffles. For lunch/dinner the only items we order are southern fried chicken, Yankee pot roast, and prime rib dip. Save room for dessert!
(4)Sam L.
Terrible food, tasted absolutely disgusting. The service is quite terrible. The food took way too long, I had to go and ask them many times where it is. And ice cream doesnt take an hour to arrive. This is the worst restaraunt and worst experience in one I have ever had. I wish I could give them no stars.
(1)Jessica S.
Yay! We found a great restaurant we loved! The food here is delicious. The husband and I had gazpacho soup, the northern fried chicken but with the southern fried chicken's sides, and the veggie meatloaf. The food was all great and tasty. The food is made from scratch and on site. The collard greens that came with the chicken meal weren't spectacular, but that's OK. We also tried two cocktails - the constitution and the blackberry sour - both were outstanding. The cocktails are old-timey, which is a nice change. Our server Andrew was very kind, friendly, and knowledgeable. He definitely knew the menu and gave great recommendations. All the food here is great, and even better, reasonably priced for the DC area. The vibe here is much more laid-back and not pretentious like the majority of restaurants in DC. We'll definitely be back!!
(5)Ana L.
We missed the brunch. The food item names are fancy but the food is not much to be wow-ed. I had shrimp and grits which tasted good. Also ordered a coffee concoction looks amazing... Too bad the taste didn't impress as much.
(3)Priscilla Y.
I've been here a couple of times and the food has always been superb. Their crab cake sandwich was pretty outstanding. They give a generous amount of crab meat. Do note that with the sauce on the bun, it is a pretty messy sandwich to eat. Juice kept dripping and the crab meat kept falling out. It was still delicious and very tasty, but not a good choice if you're eating with your boss and co-workers. I tried a bite of the spicy ahi tuna poke salad, which was a mixture of raw ahi tuna, avocado, and vinaigrette. It is a light, healthy option for lunch or a shared appetizer. I love fish and avocado so I'll probably order this again next time. The chicken pot pie is not a pie, but a dish of pot pie filling topped with two biscuits. This is comfort food. The portion is pretty huge and filling. You get plenty of pulled roasted chicken. The biscuits are not too bad. For dessert, we went with the Triple Layer Chocolate Mousse Cake with Strawberry Ice Cream. The moist chocolate cake paired with the strawberry ice cream was heavenly. This is definitely worth getting. We also went with the Seasonal Fruit Crisp, which tasted like an apple turnover. I am not a fan of fruity desserts so I thought this was alright. I have also come here for breakfast. I usually go with the Founding Farmers Breakfast with Bacon. It is bacon, eggs, and optional leek hash brown breakfast so nothing too outstanding, but still a hearty breakfast. I've never tried it, but they make their own house sodas. Every person I came here with who has ordered a soda was impressed with it. The service is usually pretty good, but this most recent visit, it kind of sucked. The server was so slow and inattentive. What could have been an hour lunch turned to two hours. Food coma is about to get at me. All in all, my experiences at Founding Farmers has been pretty positive. The prices are decent and the ingredients are fresh. They have a cute setup going on to give diners that rural atmosphere. It is best to make reservations. This place gets pretty packed.
(4)Timothy C.
I had heard great things about Founding Farmers, and Yelp seemed to agree, so I chose it for my wife's birthday. We aren't super fancy people, but we love trying new and creative things, so we got a reservation and settled in to a small two person table on a Saturday night. The staff had a rough start, juggling us between a few people and bringing us the wrong appetizer before finally settling into a groove. We ordered some appetizers and sodas to start before perusing the menu and settling on some entrees and dessert. Top Dog: Fried Chicken and Waffles with Mac N Cheese - Some people talk about fried chicken like it is amazing, but I've never had the piece of fried chicken that convinced me. Maybe this is sacrilege, but FF's fried chicken was the closest I've come. I don't like the crunch coating on most fried chicken, and this chicken was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and had a light, fluffy coating that was perfect by itself, or mixed with some equally fluffy waffle and syrup. With 50+ things on the menu to try, I would likely get this again if I returned. Contendor: Lemon Scallops over Risotto, Chocolate Mousse - In my opinion, a good scallop is made by a good sear and whatever you flavor it with. The savory risotto/lemon combo was a great one, and the crispy sear bound the flavors together with texture. The decadent mousse was topped with fresh whipped cream, drizzled with caramel, scatter with baby malt balls, and served in a gigantic bowl. Wowsers. Surprising: Tots, Grapefruit soda, Fried Green Tomatoes - I had never had fried green tomatoes, and I figured this was the place to try them. While not my favorite, I did enjoy them more than expected. My wife love grapefruit drinks, and she quite enjoyed her mixologist-made soda (we could see the dude tossing shakers around his torso at the bar) The tater tots were great, best tots I've had, so flaky and fresh, and I didn't expect them to outshine the bacon Lolli's Disappointing: Chocolate soda, Bacon Lollis - OK, chocolate and soda do not mix well, and this is where my "if it's good, try it here" theory failed. IT IS NOT GOOD! And as for the bacon lollis, you really have to try hard to mess up bacon. Try hard they did. It was floppy, not crispy at all, and slathered in a sauce, poked through a stick. Bacon doesn't need sauce or a stick if it is cooked right! Bacon, your reputation is being ruined here. Get out of that sauce, stay on the griddle a tad longer, and let your true self shine! Overall, happy we went, more pros than cons, and I'd be back in a jiffy for the right occasion. A part of me thinks they try too hard, but since I get on places all the time for not trying hard enough, I'll let it slide.
(4)Kimberly T.
Founding Farmers is AMAZING. I try to take as many people here as I can, especially if they are coming form out of town. It is a bit pricey, but I feel like it is worth it. It is a self-sustaining restaurant that makes everything from scratch with mostly locally grown food. They even have a herb garden right outside of the restaurant. It is great for vegans and vegetarians and anyone that is picky about their food, since it is all from scratch they can change it for any dietary needs. Make sure that for brunch or the evening you make a reservation, you can even do it on open table they get crowded and it is always the best option for here. Drinks: They make their own sodas. The alcoholic drinks are absolutely delicious, they do everything right there and it is made by them. superb. Appetizers: I will say that the Farmer's pitchfork (just bacon and tots) is overrated and overpriced and I don't recommend that. I recommend: wings, deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes. I also recommend the flatbread, especially the prosciutto, fig, and mascarpone or the brie onion jam and apple slices for you vegetarians. The tomato soup is delicious it is tangy and spicy at the same time, if you love tomato soup you will love this. I don't even like tomato soup that much and I try to have this as much as possible during the winter time. Entrees: I honestly don't think you can go wrong with anything on here. The pasta is handmade and really delicious. The chicken and waffles is banging. I love getting the steak and enchiladas, but the skirt steak is very delicious as well. Breakfast: Get the beignets, they are amazing, like out of Princess & The Frog almost. They look exactly like Tiana's. They are famous for their Red Velvet panckes, which I also found to be great, but HUGE. Share this with the table it might be too much for one person.
(5)Heather M.
There is a reason why Founding Farmers has been on the Food Network (1. The Best Thing I Ever Ate and 2. Meat & Potatoes)- this place knows how to pack in the flavor with every single bite in every single item on their menu! In terms of their decor, they add in a modern flare to the farm to table concept. Only downside is that it gets really loud and packed inside- but that's because everyone knows where it's at so you gotta be understanding. Service was good- seems like all the servers knew what they were doing since they were able to handle the crowd so well! Food was presented beautifully and in a timely fashion. It's great to come on a Saturday for a late lunch because they offer both the brunch and lunch menu! Honestly, their stuffed french toast is my absolute favorite. Hot & crispy on the outside with vanilla cream from the inside just oozing out~ I've also tried their chicken and waffles before- not bad but being from down South, it wasn't the best I've had. Their red velvet cake was sweet alright and a tad bit dry. But hey, at least you know you're eating dessert...? Overall, I love coming here for homey/semi-country/American food but it's not an intimate setting and you may sacrifice some of your hearing by the end of your meal.
(5)Ana P.
BP and I came for dinner on a whim on a Saturday night and needless to say the place was bursting at the seams. There was an hour wait for a table for two so we tried our luck at the bar which was self-seating. We were pretty close to getting seated, at least we thought so! We just ordered Beignets to go, waited about 20 mins to get order and ended up leaving. A few minutes later in the car I ripped open the container and found the heavenly dessert covered in powdered donuts and surrounded by dipping sauces. I think there were about eight Beignets in the container and the total came out to $8.40. BP described the Beignets as flaky desserts, sort of a mix between funnel cake and donuts. I agreed, but they also reminded me of a cronut. The dipping sauces were smooth dark chocolate, creamy salted caramel, and tart raspberry. I think the caramel was my favorite and BP enjoyed the dark chocolate, but we both agreed the Beignets tasted fabulous on their own. The main reason I am currently giving Founding Farmers 3 Stars is because how greasy the Beignets became when they cooled down. They became heavy and so oily that it made me a bit sick. We would be excited to come again and update this review, but next time I'll make sure we make a reservation!
(4)Mike M.
Went for Sunday brunch. Very busy ...expected. Nice server. Eggs Benedict...came dry no hollandaise, and an over cooked egg...big letdown
(2)Mimi V.
Great brunch. Nice biscuits, corn muffins, shrimp and grits. I'll definitely be back when returning to MD
(4)Allen S.
This is one the best restaurants I have gone to in a longtime. I absolutely crave great tasting high quality food. If you decide you want to hop on the Founding Farmers bandwagon, I strongly suggest for you to make a reservation as space is limited and it constantly crowded. The first time I went, it was on a Saturday night around 7pm. The place was packed and usually common-sense would dictate that a packed restaurant means the food must be pretty good. For starters, I ordered the cheeseburger sliders. Much to my surprise, they came out with a small order of french fries where I was totally unaware that french fries accompanied the sliders. The sliders were amazing. They were filled with lots of flavor and I could immediately taste the freshness in every bite. What I like about this restaurant is how this place makes everything from scratch. For my entree, I couldn't decide on what I wanted because everything looked so delicious, so I settled for the country fried chicken with mashed potatoes and veggies. The fried chicken was amazing!! They cooked it to perfection where it came out with a nice light brown texture. I didn't have to fight through any bones and they make sure they serve you a pretty decent portion. The pieces of chicken were very juicy and tender. Once again, the quality of taste and the freshness was present in that dish. To quickly brief the service, the server was very attentive to my table and he didn't allow the busy atmosphere to mess up his groove. On my second visit, I came for breakfast on Saturday morning. Much to my surprise, it was still crowded and patrons started showing up to the door fast. I ended up getting an order of the hearty oatmeal as a starter. My own review has me thinking about that oatmeal. They serve the oatmeal in a nice sized bowl and it comes with a side of raisins, pecans, brown sugar, strawberries, and warm cream. Add all of the ingredients or whatever you prefer and you will be blown away. For my entree, I got the 'Make Your Breakfast' and I got the pork sausage, scrambled eggs, potatoes, and baguette. The entree was pretty good, but maybe I should have gotten the pancakes instead. Be aware that you cannot select the pancakes in the 'Make Your Breakfast'. It must be ordered seperately. I will definitely return and I will make sure to tell all of my friends to make a reservation.
(5)Cat L.
5 stars for lunch/dinner menu, 3-4 stars for brunch/breakfast. This is a beautiful restaurant that plays up its emphasis on home cooking and local farming. I like taking visitors from out of town here because it's not a chain, is reasonably priced, and has an expansive menu with a lot of options. Although a lot of people enjoy coming here for brunch, I actually prefer coming here for lunch/dinner because the menu options are better. Some of the dishes I've tried during brunch are the florentine eggs benedict, chicken and waffles, and beignets. All were okay, but nothing spectacular and nothing to set Founding Farmers apart from normal brunch places. On the other hand, the lunch/dinner menu has some options that are out of this world. The fried green tomatoes are the BEST that I've had. It comes with two amazing sauces, and the best I can describe it is that one is green and the other is white and made out of some type of goat cheese. They're pricey ($7 for 4 slices of tomatoes) but are absolutely delicious. I was also blown away by the pot roast and the brie, onion, and sliced apples farm bread. I've tried the popcorn of the day once and thought it made for a really cheap but delicious starter. The only thing that I've had on the dinner menu that I would not recommend is the hot dogs - I ordered them once because I thought they would taste different, but they just taste like hot dogs from any hot dog stand. If you aren't stuffed full after your meal, I highly recommend trying the red velvet cake. At $8, be prepared for a gigantic slice. A group of 8 of us ordered 2 slices to share and there was more than enough cake for all of us. The place gets really busy during rush hour, so try and make reservations beforehand if you can. Also, parking in the shopping center is extremely limited.
(5)Michael Y.
Oh, Founding Farmers. We go way back, you and I. And although you have gotten rid of some of my wife's favorite dishes (which we definitely need to talk about), you still have my heart. Here's the deal: the food is great. I have been to both this and the DC location, and MoCo by far has the better menu and service. I'll make the drive. Let me tell you why: The Meals: - Kettle Corn is a classic treat, and it comes in a HUGE tin, fresh out of the...popper? Anyways, delicious. - The Biscuits can be hit or miss, being too dry about 30% of the time. During brunch, these come with a delicious jam. Otherwise, you get their honey-butter. Either way, ask for extra! - The Cornbread served fresh in the skillet, however, is a dream with some smooth honey-butter slathered on it. It is the real deal, with actual corn. In cornbread? Preposterous! - For entree, go with the hot dogs for an All-American meal. One bite and you can hear the snap of the skin as you bite into the dog. - Poultry, you say? Chow on the Chicken Pot Pie! It is creamy, flavorful, and comes "top-down" with a biscuit for you to disperse as needed. You may need a little salt. - My latest fave is the French Dip with mashed potatoes. This dish has by far been the most consistently delicious meal I've gotten here. And frankly, I'm afraid to stray. - All of their desserts are amazing and HUGE! Uncle Buck's Beignets are well worth the wait, fluffy and warm. I got the Blue Ribbon Apple Pie last time, and it was perfection! Served with an amazing vanilla ice cream that just blended with the warm apple filling perfectly. The Feels: The lost star is for the service. It's not bad service, but can be inconsistent. Here's the deal: If you're coming during a busy time, make sure you grab a cocktail and just RELAX. Don't be in a hurry. Use the time you're waiting to review your menu and save time for when the server is ready. They are very friendly, but can sometimes succumb to the fast pace. This shouldn't be acceptable, but just just like your husband's obnoxious laugh or your best friend's public profanity, you learn to accept it. The ambience more than makes up for it, so if you come with the mindset of hanging out with great food and drink in mind, you will have a great experience. TIPS: - Reservations! Make one. - If it comes with honey-butter, ask for an extra cup of it when you order. TRUST ME! - The sodas are handmade! You only get one fill-up per order. They do sell some brand-name sodas, but you're getting a one-off can and not saving much money. They are very good at preparing you for this, though.
(4)Jessica P.
Recently visited this Founding Farmers location for brunch. This was our second time trying out the brunch here- many people rave about it. For the second time, we left feeling pretty lack-luster about the meal. I had the Hangover Hash- I was starving and wanted something really hearty. The hash was their leek hashbrowns, it was smothered in pimento cheese and topped with beefy chili and two poached eggs. It was served with a buttermilk biscuit, which I would say was hands-down the best part! Mostly- this meal was just a little over the top and too much, even for my hearty appetite. I think it would have been worse if I had a hangover actually... My husband got the ham and eggs and did not care much for the ham. I think we are done with Founding Farmers' brunch. Its too expensive ($12 for a mimosa??) to not hit the mark every time.
(2)Michele K.
Not impressed. I was having brunch on a Sunday with a large group. We had a reservation but the party occupying the table we were to be at was sitting there texting for 30 minutes after the reservation time. Now if they were lingering over coffee I could see this, but clearly having finished their meal a tactful message from the manager or hostess would have been appreciated on our end to move along. That started things off poorly. Then a long wait for our server. By time we got coffee it was almost 45 minutes from being seated. Then our server didn't know if they have a GF menu. The person asking has been there for dinner and was given a GF menu. Saying you can help them out is t reassuring. It sounds as if the server doesn't appreciate the severity of accidental gluten contamination can be for someone. If a server doesn't know the answer the response is, let me check and get back to you. Not a fumbled I can help you with the menu. Anyone who must avoid gluten can usually interpret a menu. Bar drinks are ridiculously over priced. I know this is Rockville but $14 for most cocktails is nuts. I ordered the maple ham and eggs. Worst piece of ham ever. Mostly fat. I also presumed the maple portion would be that it was grilled with a maple glaze or similar. No. The piece of extremely fatty ham, which should have been rejected by the kitchen was served with a mountain of insanely sugary maple glaze that didn't taste hot or even warm. The eggs were also very very loose. Scrambled eggs should not have runny whites. The biscuit and has browns were decent and that was the best part. For a place that puts itself forth as being aware and food conscious, they are failing. I won't be back.
(1)Ashley C.
3.5 stars rounded up! Went for brunch on a Saturday at 9am. The hostess (who, in fact, turned out to be a manager) seemed a bit grouchy when we walked in and asked for a booth. However, after I found a strand of hair in my pancakes, she was friendly and offered a new plate. I was a bit grossed out by the hair, but it didn't ruin brunch for us. The blueberry pancakes, hash browns, and spinach-mushroom-sausage omelette are good. Also, be sure to ask for the honey butter to eat with your biscuit/English muffin! Servers were great, although service was very very slow. To my surprise, there was already a wait by 10am so be sure to arrive early! It's a cute restaurant with a great ambiance. I don't think the food is to die for (aka I would not wait 1-2 hrs) but I would definitely return occasionally for brunch with family or friends.
(4)Valerie S.
My family and I have come here to celebrate different events at least 3 or 4 times. We usually enjoy the food and service, but we probably won't be coming back for a while. (For clarification: we ordered off the spring 2015 menu, and I'm not one to dole our negative reviews. We had this meal 2 weeks ago, so my emotions aren't fresh.) Our server was very friendly, if not a little (read: VERY) talkative and enthusiastic about the menu. Everything he recommended was (of course) the most expensive things on the menu, and when we gave our orders he went off on tangents about each thing we had chosen. It was a little annoying, but I know he was just doing his job so the review doesn't really reflect on him personally - he was a great waiter otherwise. The appetizer we got was the candy corn bread, which was way better than described on the menu. Once we got our entrees, though.. Those were another story. I ordered the four corn salad, which the waiter told me about in detail, saying it had popcorn, corn bread, sweet corn, and another type of corn to make up the four corns. I probably should have listened to my gut, but got it anyway. If you're looking for an actual salad - DON'T ORDER THIS! I was give a sparing plate of greens with HUGE chunks of cornbread, soggy popcorn, and big squares of mango (which weren't on the menu or described to me.. I like mango, but these were BIG squares compared to everything else on the plate.) It was just way too much, and DEFINITELY not a salad in my opinion. The salad typically comes with chicken too, which I didn't get, but I can't imagine having another ingredient on that plate. My Mom got the Shrimp and Sundried Tomato Bucatini, which she liked except for the fact that it was chock full of so much rosemary, she could hardly taste anything else. My brother got the Northern Fried Chicken, and it was all tasty except for the beets. The only way I can describe them is that they tasted like a yankee candle - and not in a good way. I could smell them before I tried them, and immediately only tasted clove and cinnamon. I did let our waiter know that maybe he should tell the chefs that the beets were really overpowering, but who knows if he actually did. I don't know if the chefs in back were just heavy-handed with the herbs and spices that day, but either way it left all of us thinking we'd try somewhere else for our next family dinner.
(3)RaShonda R.
I'd been to the Founding Farmers in DC countless times so we decided to try this location since we were meeting up with a family member staying in Bethesda for a work trip. Same menu as the original. I was quite surprised to see the restaurant was just as packed as the downtown location. Glad we made reservations. Even with reservations, we were asked to have a seat at the bar for a few minutes while our table was prepared. The food was great as always but the service was a little slower than I've come to expect with the other location. The original is still my favorite.
(4)Odie O.
What a disappointment.... Honestly, I expected a lot more from this restaurant. It is an incredible chain so I expected the experience to be just as good as the one in DC. I was mistaken. When my food came it was pretty much cold as if it had been sitting for at least 10 minutes. The red velvet pancakes that are usually large & thick was very thin and it was burnt. I normally get one because of how big it is but I was disappointed at my very thin & small pancake. It might as well have been a crepe. My eggs were cold & the cheese wasn't melted. I had 4 others with me who also commented that their food wasn't very hot either. I won't be back to this location, I will just go somewhere else if there are no open reservations at the DC location.
(3)TereSita D.
Love love loveeeee this place!! Been here about a handful of times and each time I crave more. Simple, all american food done right! Appetizers: Sea food devil eggs and the bacon wrap dates. Oh man.... Its devine! They do not sheist on the seafood on those eggs. And the bacon wrap dates with the blue cheese.... It's always a must for us!!! Entree: Chicken and waffles: You cant go wrong with the chicken and waffles. Chicken is cooked to perfection, and beyond juicy. A bit salty... But i don't mind it. The waffle on the other hand.... It's the syrup that makes the waffle for me. The syrup of theirs is heavenly good. I can go on and on about their menu. This is definitely a Place to go again and again. You wont regret it!!!
(5)Bianca F.
I came here with some friends since we love Founding Farmers, but opted to try the Montgomery County location. We shared a bottle of white wine which was quite good (Fernland's Sauvignon Blanc). I was seriously craving seafood and chose the scallops and risotto. The scallops came with a butter sauce and I asked for that to be served light, with as little butter as possible. The risotto was a butternut squash and pea mix; not really how I imagined that risotto to taste. I should have substituted the risotto for mashed potatoes and spinach. You only get 4 scallops, so get an appetizer too. My friends had the salmon (with the onion topping and the cedar plank). One friend loved the onion topping while the other thought the salmon on the cedar plank was dry. My friend liked her cauliflower steak, just wished that it was served hot instead of room temperature. The Mac and cheese was good; tons of cheese ~ worth it! I like the location and after making some small adjustments with my order, I'll be back for sure.
(3)Meggie C.
Okay so this is my update to my previous review lol i LOVVVEEE their breakfast but my opinion on their dinner remains the same lol their breakfast omgggg is a must try. so filling. good sized portions. yummy!!! everytime i go i get their cinnamon stuffed french toast and their chicken apple sausage with a side of scrambled eggs! just to let you know, the french toast, its big. like i could only finish one with my mel. and i just tried their hibiscus soda and it tasted amazing! i loved it. their chicken and waffles and red velevt pancakes are pretty good too! i would deffintiley advise you to make reservations on weekends though especially for breakfast because it gets PACKED! both this location and the one in washingyon dc. they are opening a third location in tyson's area i beleive too.
(4)Ramon D.
We dined here after our daughter's commencement with one of her friend's and her family. It was easier to get reservations for a large party here than the DC location. Wonderful farm to table concept restaurant in a newly built complex. The place was easy to find. They have a full bar with some good values for wine and decent beer choices. We started with some freshly baked cornbread, brie and prosciutto farm breads. Sooo good. Dinner was equally amazing. We had a variety of dishes for dinner - Diver scallops with butternut risotto, shrimp and grit, slow-braised short ribs (so tender), southern fried chicken, cedar plank salmon and others. We must have ordered half the menu :) All were very good indeed. Excellent choice in Montgomery County. I would like to visit the DC location the next time I am in town.
(4)Angel T.
Really yummy food...all hand made. I ordered the meatloaf and every bite made me say ,"hmmm."
(4)kevin c.
Have been there for brunch/breakfast. We have tried a few things here and all were very good. Service is good and prices are as well. Chicken and waffles are very good and are the fav choice here. Biscuits are just ok. Would definitely visit again.
(4)Samantha S.
Visited for weekday lunch. We had clam chowder, roasted tomato soup, mixed green salads and fruit cobbler. Total $50. The decor is cute with many touches to continually remind you of the farm to table theme. The service was friendly and efficient. Everything we ordered was fresh and very good. Nothing really unique, but then we didn't try any signature items or the hand crafted old time sodas. The noise level is too high for easy conversation, most likely because of the aluminum and concrete decor. Overall, a good, quick lunch spot with fresh and tasty food.
(4)Dora P.
I love the brunch and fresh juices. The service was a little slow but it gave us time to enjoy the meal and relax. If it weren't so busy we'd go every weekend. But they're busy because it's good!
(4)Jiyea C.
I was expecting more from this place, as I had heard that it was a DC institution. The good: their house-made sodas! We tried the blood orange one and it was delicious! Their corn bread appetizer was also not to be missed! It's so moist and delicious, served in a cast iron pan and I honestly wanted to take an order to go to bring back on the plane to Boston. Their decor is also very cute, with random pickling jars and 'farmer' motifs. Dessert was a very generous and decadent slice of carrot cake. However, all the entrees we got were just so-so. We tried a salad, a pasta dish, and the grilled cheese+tomato soup, and they were all so mediocre that I don't even remember what they were called.
(3)Allison S.
I have been to Founding Farmers for breakfast over a dozen times and it is always a great experience. The service is great and the atmosphere is perfect for a casual business meeting. For dinner the Ahi Tuna Poke salad is to die for, a must order!
(5)Sierra T.
We went there for a New Year's Day brunch and were very happy. The food was good. Service was friendly and attentive. I highly recommend reserving a table since they were full. We've tried the Beignets per other reviewers suggestion and they were really well done. Fluffy and sweet. The chicken and waffle breakfast was good but nothing exceptional. I do not think I will order it again since they have other exciting sounding things on their menu to try. They are very baby/child friendly. This is great since you can't always find great food at the places you can go with an infant. We will definitely return.
(4)Julie H.
The food here is really good, the concept is cute and the ingredients are said to be locally sourced. All statements are true, and the food here is really good from their appetizers, entrees, and desserts. A few things I've tried from this restaurant are: 1. Oven-Roasted Cracked Black Pepper Wings: Great appetizer to order, very flavorful and enjoyable. The only thing is that the wings were semi burnt, but not to a point that it was difficult to eat. I enjoyed it very much, the oven roasted and black pepper gave the wings a lot of flavor. 2. Prime Rib Dip: Alright, nothing special from all of the other prime rib dips i've tried at other places. 3. Skirt Steak & Enchilada: Skirt steak was good, but nothing special in particular. The enchiladas were kind of plain and didn't have anything special. The dish overall was a good portion and everything together complimented the entirety of the dish. 4. Lemon Meuniere Diver Scallops: This dish was amazing. From the risotto to the diver scallops itself, the scallops were cooked to perfection and had a lot of flavor. However, there were only FOUR scallops in the whole dish. For the price, wish there were a few more scallops than that. The risotto was delicious! 5. Triple Layer Chocolate Mousse Cake: This was delicious and not bitter, because some chocolate cakes can be bitter. IT was very enjoyable and not too sweet or plain. 6. Table biscuits: very dense and filling. Comes with honey and butter spread, complimenting the biscuits very well. It is very filling. 7. Eggs Benedict: can't go wrong with eggs Benedict. However there's nothing distinguishing/special from their dish. The sweet iced tea here is amazing, tastes so refreshing. I love it. It was a great restaurant, but the food is a bit pricey here.
(4)Gayle H.
I went to brunch on Sunday I had the chicken and waffles it was okay. The Benet's were very light and good. Because my daughter suggested I have lunch I went there again on Monday. I ordered the devilish eggs, shrimp grits and andoullie sausage. My server was named Perry ( I think) she described the dish as being very spicy,asking, she described the devilish eggs as being sweet with pickles. The presentation was good but the eggs were bland no pickles needed salt, the greens had no flavor either again no salt. The shrimp and grits huge pieces of green peppers and onions no sausage. The lemonade (refillable) was very good and the manager immediately came over addressed the food offered to make another dish with the sausage for me I only paid for the eggs and lemonade. With that I CAN TRY THIS PLACE AGAIN.
(2)Steve L.
First time here so didn't know about the crowds and wait time for tables. Sat at the bar just in time for a great brunch. Had the upgraded peppercorn bacon and everything was full of flavor. Definitely interested in coming back again.
(5)Nicolle P.
My girlfriend and I came here on 12/23/14 off of a recommendation from a friend of hers. I arrived first around 15 mins before our reservation time of 1:30. I was seated immediately and this place was packed so I'm glad we had the reservation. I was seated on the lower level by the windows and kitchen was just off from us. Nice seats we could see the whole restaurant. As I waited from my friend our server was very nice. Got our water for the table and I ordered a peach bellini. It was really good but was it worth the 12 dollars I paid for it no. As my friend arrived and we looked the menu over we decided to try the seafood deviled eggs. Two salmon, two regular, two crab and two lobster. They were all under seasoned. The salmon was our least favorite and the crab and lobster we just okay I would not get these again. As for our entire. I had the slow braised beef rib with Mac and cheese and long string beans. I must say it was amazing AMAZING!!!! The seasoning was great a tad salt and pepper on my sides but it was so good and worth every bit of the 26 dollars it cost the portion was huge. The meat was so tender and the sauce was on point. My girlfriend got the chicken and waffles. She said it was ok her chicken was kind of dry and so was her mac and cheese. Her waffles were light and sweet she said. Not sure if she would have it again. She did rave about her mango soda which I did taste it was heavenly and I had and Arnold Palmer not so good. We'll the lemonade portion was not the tea and mixing it well didn't help. We did order dessert I have the triple layer chocolate cake and strawberry ice cream it was huge and very very good. The ganache on top was really sweet but it's devils food cake and a light chocolate mousse was so good. The homemade strawberry ice cream was a nice touch. I needed all the sugar from the food coma I was inn to drive back home. She had the apple crisp or pie with vanilla ice cream she enjoyed hers as well. Our server Daniel was great he was attentive and made recommendations when we asked and if we had any questions about anything he was so helpful. He let us enjoy our meal and wasn't to in your face. Great service I would ask for Daniel again I love great customer service. Overall I would come here again.
(4)Patti L.
When I made the reservation through Opentable for Sunday brunch on Saturday night, there so many times to choose from that I hesitated before securing one. When I arrived at Founding Farmers, I was glad I did because there were groups waiting to be seated as the restaurant was packed! It makes me wonder if people, like me, don't reserve a seat until last minute or if people don't enjoy placing reservations. My party of two was promptly seated and proceeded to have great service. It was Sunday brunch after all and they gave us just the right amount of time to eat and chat. I was torn between ordering the biscuits and gravy and the chicken and waffles. The server recommended the chicken and waffles saying that it was their best offering. I had heard of their offering the dish, so I assumed he was correct. I also ordered a phosphate to drink, curious how different it was from a typical hand-crafted soda. The phosphate was delicious and I felt that it was like a less sweet soda, though not to the territory of flavored seltzer, and comparable to Italian soda. The waffle was spot on and stayed crisp on the outside and soft on the inside throughout the meal. The chicken, however, was not crispy on the outside and the batter kept falling off. In the end, I felt like I was eating chicken tenders on top of a great waffle. All in all, I had a great time and would come back to try other options.
(4)Stuart W.
My wife and I visited here last night for dinner. We had a reservation and yet still had to stand around and wait for over 5 minutes before they could seat us. There were a lot of people standing around waiting for a table so this was not a comfortable start to our experience. When we were seated again it took at least 5 minutes before anyone even came to greet us. We ordered 2 cokes when one server finally came to greet us, and these took over 10 minutes to arrive - in fact we received our appetizer first! We were told twice that our sodas were coming but instead of just telling us that why not just get them? All they were was a standard can (which ridiculously cost $3!). For appetizers we ordered the deviled eggs for $5 and the biscuits for $5 and shared them between us. They were both very good but my wife said it would be better if the honey and the butter were separate. Also, we saw the server bring them out, take them to the table behind us, and then instead of bringing them to us, disappeared around the back and asked another server to bring them to us. We're not going to fall for that one! For our entrees my wife ordered the southern fried chicken which came with collared greens and mashed potatoes (and another biscuit which wasn't shown on the menu but was a nice surprise for her). I tasted the chicken and have to say it was amazing. It's added another star to this review alone! I ordered the sausage mushroom gnocchi. The sausage and gnocchi were both very good and it was a huge amount of food, however there were not enough mushrooms for my liking and the sauce was just too sweet. I couldn't quite pick out the flavors but I don't think the sauce fitted in to the rest of it. Overall the only reason we'd come back is for the fried chicken and to try the desserts. We'd probably come back at a less busy time too in the hope for better serivce - it was poor at best, very slow and unprofessional. The prices, apart from the $3 cokes, were reasonable for the amount of food. Sort your poor service out and maybe I'd recommend you to others but until that happens I will have to be honest with others about your need to have a better service system in place.
(3)Christina W.
I was invited by management to come back for a do-over, and they definitely improved. The food was good, per usual, but the service this time around was much, much better. We clearly had a seasoned waiter who was attentive but not pushy, and it made the experience much more pleasant. Thanks for making things right, Founding Farmers!
(4)Lindsey A.
Came in here once again for breakfast/brunch this past weekend and it did not disappoint, was every bit as good as my last meal here and I remain an enthusiastic fan of everything about this place. We were seated upstairs, which was nice, and got two breakfast cocktails (the Ramos Gin Fizz which was excellent and a very good Bellini) and then two of us had the Founding Farmers Breakfast, one person had the creme-filled french toast which looked incredible if you have a breakfast sweet tooth (I don't really) and then a basket of the beignets for the table. The beignets came out first and were just incredible, the perfect crispy fluffy fried texture and served with delicious caramel, chocolate and raspberry sauces on the side, dusted with powdered sugar. Afterwards our breakfasts came, including the aforementioned huge slices of creme-filled french toast, and then my breakfast which included two perfectly done over easy eggs, crispy leek hash browns, and a perfect fluffy hot biscuit with honey butter on the side, and one piece of delicious breakfast sausage. The service was great, friendly and just attentive without being annoying, as usual, our server was great about refilling coffees and waters and such, and we had a great time. We all left incredibly stuffed, as well. I really like this place and wish we had something like it in central NJ.
(5)Joodie T.
This was our first time here and wow, this will not be our last. We had Vince who was knowledgeable about the menu and gave us amazing pointers on the most popular dishes. -Bacon wrapped dates with blue cheese. Delicious play on sweet and savory. -Fried green tomatoes. Crispy coating with a juicy and sweet green tomato on the inside.That dish would make any southerner proud. -Crazy corn salad. Fresh romaine and baby greens with chunks of avocado, mango, thinly sliced peppers, lean chicken, corn bread, steamed corn off the Cobb, and caramel popcorn for added fun. -Beignets take approximately 15 min so order when you're halfway through your entree. Heavens to Betsy, it's worth the wait!!! And as a bonus, these clever folks make their own thirst quenching sodas from scratch including neato flavors such as vanilla, pear, and hibiscus. You can't go wrong here.
(5)Kasey L.
I feel like I must have visited somewhere different based on glowing reviews. It's rare that I struggle to think of positive things to say about a place, but this is definitely one of those occasions. We visited here on the recommendation of family. When we walked in, I was blown away by how loud it was. It was definitely not going to be possible for our grandfather to hear our conversation. Despite having a reservation, we had to wait around for awhile for "the right person" to get back to the hostess stand to find our table. We ended up upstairs, which was a little quieter. The first sign that something was weird was the menu. I know that it's trendy to minimally describe dishes (and hey, I don't need to know the recipe down to the very last herb), but there were things on the menu that actually didn't make sense and deserved way more explanation. We asked the waiter to explain several dishes and enjoyed the surprises of included side dishes that were mentioned nowhere on the menu. My favorite was the "Straw and Hay with Bacon", which turned out to be a pasta dish in a cream sauce with lots of veggies and bacon. The food we ended up with was mediocre at best. The best food of the entire meal was the cornbread appetizer, which arrived in a cute cast iron skillet with honey butter. It had lots of chunky corn in it and was a good size for four people. My husband was the only one to order a soda, and it came in a regular can (like a "Save $5 at Six Flags can). I found this cheesy and not particularly sustainable. I ordered the pot roast, a great choice based on Yelp reviews and one of the five things on the menu listed as a "specialty". It had a big chunk of roast (good, but pretty fatty) and lots of veggies (celery, sweet potatoes, carrots, and pleasantly well cooked) on top of a giant bowl of mashed potatoes. I hate to say it, but it kind of evoked the memory of the KFC bowl. It had a pretty salty gravy/sauce which arrived with a thin film on top, kind of like it had been sitting for too long. It had some crispy onion strings on top (usually one of my major favorites), but they were mostly burnt (and black). I ate most of it but had no desire to take home leftovers. My dining companions got other items and no one was particularly impressed. My mother-in-law barely touched her pulled pork, which was served plopped on a plate with beans, a giant portion of relish (?), and overcooked kale. We overheard the couple next to us saying to each other that they found the entire experience overrated as well. The prices were $12 and up. My particular dish was $16, which definitely doesn't describe its worth. My last gripe is with the "local" vibe. Walking into this place doesn't make you feel like it's local at all (huge, a million choices on the menu, etc.). It's decorated with pictures of farms that describe their products, and the farms are in places like Iowa, Washington, etc. There's no indication on the menu of where anything comes from either. I think our expectation was farm-to-fork, but I'm not sure that's an accurate way to describe the restaurant. I hate to say it, but I would not come back, nor would I recommend it to someone else.
(2)Ryan L.
Two stars may be generous after seeing the description "Meh. I've experienced better." A one star ("Eek! Methinks not.") is a much better fit, based on food alone, but the facilities were nice. My wife, mom, and grandpa decided to come here for dinner having heard good things. We were told it's a great restaurant with solid food. We were also told we had to order the fried green tomatoes and that they were amazing. We arrived at 6:44 for our 6:45 reservation and we were told they'd have to find a table for us (not really how reservations are supposed to work, but whatever). We were seated 10 minutes later, but not a huge deal. Restaurants can be busy and stuff like this happens, it's not the end of the world. We were seated upstairs which was a bit quieter than the first floor (which was incredibly noisy) and were handed our menus. The menu was a huge issue for me and everyone else in my party. None of their food items are described. They just have names. In some places this is fine and the name says it all. But when you have options like Straw and Hay under a pasta section with no description that's not particularly helpful. Or if you have three variants of chicken that all come with different sides that make up half the dish but it doesn't tell you what any of those are (or mention that at all) it's a little weird. We had to ask our server to explain any meal option that we thought we might be interested to find out what came with it (I just checked the menu online and it looks like they have descriptions there. I guess I should have pulled my cell phone out... I'm pretty convinced they were trying to fit their entire menu on a single page which is why they dropped the descriptions and that seems like poor judgement). We ended up ordering the fried green tomatoes, and pan fried corn bread to start. The fried green tomatoes had decent breading and came with a goat cheese spread. Nothing outstanding. The corn bread was decidedly the best part of our entire meal which says a lot about the rest of the food since corn bread is pretty much the same no matter where you get it and is pretty much impossible to mess up. For dinner we ordered the Yankee Pot Roast (listed as a signature and reviewed as the highlight of this restaurant, the best it has to offer), the Southern Fried Chicken, the Southern Carolina BBQ with Fixings and the Goat Cheese Ravioli with Chicken. The Pot Roast came with burned onion strings and veggies. I can make a much better pot roast than this in a crock pot at my house. The southern fried chicken was also dry, and came with overcooked greens. The goat cheese ravioli and chicken itself was okay, but the whole dish was slathered in a ridiculously sweet honey sauce that ruined it (not mentioned by the waiter when I asked what it came with, he just said squash). The BBQ meal was probably the worst. The pulled pork looked like it had been steamed. Not just steamed but steamed for about 10 hours too long. It was the consistency of a thick applesauce. It also came with overcooked greens, a heaping pile of relish (usually a garnish?), pickled cucumbers, and beans. The only part of the plate that was edible were the cucumbers (literally everything else was still there when the plate was cleared). I would not come back here again.
(2)Jared W.
Overrated for the price. Decent food w/ homestyle atmosphere. They do not have real sodas, just their homemade kind.
(3)Tippi M.
The food tastes great, but don't think you get to feel good about eating it b/c their entire concept is manufactured BS. Not one thing on the menu is organic - they don't even try - they actually bash organic food because it "doesn't make sense". Personally, it never makes sense to ingest hormones and antibiotics in my dairy. Fine if you're like every other restuarant, but don't portray yourself as a highbrow operation. They are owned by the ND Farmers Union: The North Dakota Farmers Union, which became involved in the business as a way to promote family farms, defines a family farm as one owned and operated by a family that makes its living off the land. That could include multimillion-dollar companies with national distribution and farms with thousands of acres. Such farms have come under fire for their intensive use of pesticides on fruits and vegetables. They are also criticized for excessive use of hormones and antibiotics in livestock, which often are housed in crowded conditions with little or no access to pasture.
(1)A A.
Came here with my siblings for a nice dinner out. The service and everything was great, but there were two problems that had occurred with our food: 1) My brother had giant pieces of egg shells in his macaroni and cheese. 2) My brother in-law bit into his burger from which a long strand of hair came out in his bite. I did give it 2 stars instead of 1 because the service was great. They did take care of us by having the waitress and manager coming up to apologize. They provided us with a $35 gift card, removed the price of the two dishes, and provided us with a round of free desserts. I probably would have given this place 4 stars because I understand that accidents do happen, but the fact that there were 2 dishes rather than just 1 that were messed up is pretty inexcusable. I probably won't be coming back here again. All of us lost our appetites and couldn't finish our food anymore after we saw him pull the hair out of his mouth. We did however enjoy the desserts.
(2)Adam D.
Consistently comeback for the farmers pitchfork (bacon and tots). I like that they use natural ingredients to make sodas in house. I recommend the chicken and waffles, Mac and cheese and chili cheese dogs. Only thing I can say this place is lacking is on the desserts ... They're very mediocre. Definitely don't come here if you're dieting lol.
(4)Gerry B.
Pretty good, I like the vintage drinks and the menu was good. Only complaint were the biscuits were really salty. The wait staff was very attentive and the manager came by and chatted with us for several minutes, very personable. A bit pricey, but a good once in a while place, would be good for a group.
(3)Chris J.
The food is as advertised. Farm fresh ingredients make for delicious meals. Decor was inviting and clearly the place is popular so be sure to get a reservation. Would have been five stars had the waiter not taken forever. Still a must try if you are in the area.
(4)Emily G.
Great service and great family atmosphere. We didn't have a reservation, but chose to take our chances at the bar and were successful. We were lucky enough to get 2 seats right away and were welcomed by the bartender immediately. We put our drink and food orders in right away and had them quickly. I would highly recommend the bananas foster pancakes, they're incredible!
(5)Charles M.
Brunch is amazing, we go at least once a month. Dinner has been more hit or miss.
(4)Mary Kate M.
I came here with my friend Olivia the other day for brunch. She lives in Rockville, and we went based on her recommendation because she said the last time she really enjoyed her visit. We waited about 15 minutes to get a table before being seated. Our server was very nonchalant about seeing us or any case, serving us too. She went over the menu and such, about 10 minutes later took our orders and went from there. We saw our server only a couple of times after that during the of meal and that includes her bringing out the food and the check... I ordered the banana foster waffle at first and my friend ordered the plain waffle with a $5 side of dry flavorless bacon which had three pieces. When both of our orders arrived, they looked absolutely nasty. Our dishes were cold for one, and the waffles looked extremely dry. My waffle had less than half of a banana cut up on it. When I order banana foster anything, I expect more fruit on there if I am paying $9 for it. There was a drizzle of something else on it which I think was supposed to be a type of glaze which was poorly done and presentation was a mess. No whip cream on the banana foster either. When our server put the plates in front of us, Olivia and I both did a double take on our dishes then looked at each other and thought what in the world is this? How can you mess up bacon too? I had to flag down a server to get them returned. Our server came back about 5 minutes after the fact to see what was wrong when we had our dishes returned, and we explained to her our sentiment. The GM then took the time to come by as well. She apologized for everything then asked us if we wanted different items. Olivia reordered her waffle and I changed my order to chicken and waffles. By this point, we had been here for about 45 minutes, I had not ate at all that day, and was hitting my tipping point. When they brought out our new orders I had the same feeling from before with this dish as well. Both waffles were warm, but still dry. My chicken was not that good, and luckily they didn't screw up the scrambled eggs. At the end of the day, I paid $18 for a meal and orange juice that was no better than something I could have made much better myself or gotten a better breakfast at 7/11. It was pretty offensive to have a place that takes so much pride into their farm to table concept only to have this happen. I will not be returning, unfortunately, and only hope that this doesn't happen to you. On a positive note, I do appreciate the manager coming out and switching our meals even though both pretty much sucked.
(2)Mike B.
This article is a Mike B. special STAR EDITION! A star next to each pun/farm joke! Capitalizing on the success of farm to table cuisine, Founding farmers is *raking it in. It's located in the new (extremely wealthy) potomac park community. This neighborhood was a great place for the restaurant to *plant itself. In such a young affluent neighborhood, the investment is on *firm ground Tonight for dinner we started off with the Poto macaroni and cheese. It was super cheesy though the macaroni was slightly overcooked. The flavor was a slam dunk though! Around us we saw tons of tables *shoveling in the "bacon lollis." Pieces of bacon are served on long skewers that are aligned on a pitchfork (thats not a pun - they're actually served on a pitchfork). For entree's we got the shrimp and grits and southern fried chicken. Yeah, we decided we wern't gonna *water down this meal with anything healthy. User Tip: The southern fried chicken is panko breaded. The northern fried chicken (as per our waitress' description is a smaller crumb) We got the southern fried chicken with mashed potatoes, collard greens, a biscuit, and white gravy. There also was some small non-tasty compote (it might as well been a small *weed in the garden; I got rid of it) **I know that one was a stretch** That being said, the white gravy was absolutely delicious. The collard green's were fairly flavorless. If only everyone knew about Aunt Angie's famous Collard Green recipe. ( Hint: there's smoked turkey necks involved) The biscuit was soft and delicate perfection- they must have *milled those grains themselves. It was so fresh and delicious! Shrimp and grits were wonderful perfection. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and were spicy in wonderful hearty brown sauce that included (what I think to be) andouille sausage and peppers. NOLA STYLE! All in all, the experience was great with minor issues. Glad we came early for dinner, it's almost if they let the *stable doors open. The *herd of people at the front door waiting *grew 200 percent from when we came in. Founding farmers is a great *fertilizer to the potomac park commercial area, that I'm sure will *grow and grow because of restaurants like this one.
(4)Rhonda R.
Farm to table indeed!!! Certainly a fulling very tasty meal! We had the biscuits with honey butter which are better than my mothers ! Fried green tomatoes were fried perfectly ! The red mashed potatoes were perfect!! And don't forget the vanilla bean cheesecake with a raspberry sauce!
(4)victoria j.
Ambiance - Great decor and awesome service! We sat in the upstairs loft area because we had a large party of 10. Being upstairs provided some privacy and it was less loud than the main downstairs dining area and bar. This is a great place for after-work appetizers and drinks or if you're on a date and you're not looking for something too intimate. Not that you can't, but I wouldn't recommend bringing kids during dinner hours. Food - Appetizers were tasty! The popcorn flavors are creative and surprisingly delicious. Biscuits were good but too filling for me as appetizers. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because I was disappointed in my main dish - crab cakes. They were WAY-overseasoned to the point I could barely taste the crab itself. However, the sides were really good. Especially, the brussel sprouts with bacon in maple syrup. Some people in my party ordered chicken and waffles and they said it was very good. I really recommend the beignets for dessert! Drinks - They offer a wide selection of premium draft beers. I liked all 3 that I tried (Raging Bitch is the only name I remember). Some people in my party ordered cocktails and were very happy with their orders.
(4)Mark K.
One of the most unique and wonderful places we have been in a longtime. The decor and especially the menu are truly one of a kind. The variety of Breads, biscuits, pancakes, French toasts in remarkably creative concoctions that are beyond anything we've encountered. High energy place. Very loud, so not a place for quiet conversation but amazingly innovative food in a nice location with friendly service. As many have written-definitely worth going WAY out of your way for. Also astoundingly inexpensive for quality.
(5)Karen M.
This is definitely my favorite American-style restaurant in the DMV! I've been here for brunch, dinner, and happy hour--all of which were great experiences. It is, needless to say, always busy and packed. Make a reservation if you're on a time restraint. Everything on the menu is delicious so choose wisely. My all time favs: veggie burger, mac & cheese, and sweet-potato fries!!! From the moment you walk in to the moment you get your check, I can definitely say is a unique experience. I love the fact that the waiters are dressed in flannel button ups and jeans--very country-like. All in all, this place deserves more credit than is shown on Yelp. Don't always believe what you read online.
(5)Ashley Z.
Chocolate mousse cake was kinda dry. The strawberry ice cream was delicious. Parking was lame. D.C. is better.
(2)Zach M.
I have always had amazing food here. I don't think I've ever had a bad dish. I take friends here as often as possible. I cut myself on one of their janky mini-mailboxes they use to deliver your check/take your payment. Otherwise one of my favorite restaurants in the area.
(5)Janelle J.
This is the second time that I've visited this location. Ordered the fork tender pork ribs with the kale and pears as a side. No fork needed for the ribs and the sauce compliments it well. Pear and kale, chef's veggie, is a good mix of tart and sweet As a cocktail, I ordered the dealers choice To start, our table ordered the bacon Lillie's and biscuits.
(4)Sylvia C.
Pitchfork with bacon lollis and tots. Get the lollis and forego the tots. That bacon was good. You don't need potatoes with that. Bacon 5/5 tots 1/5 Candied Corn, Mascarpone, Charred Apple Chutney-pretty good. 3/5 Butcher's Farmhouse Grill-everything here felt like a couple notches up from bar food. I enjoyed it because it's meat. But not foodie-worthy. 3/5 Black Pepper Gnocchi, Sausage & Amaretto Cream - the sauce was pretty delicious. The gnocchi was inconsistent. You can tell it was home made, but the problem was that they came in different size chunks. The larger chunks were a bad ratio to the sauce that it could hold. Having said that, the gnocchi itself was bland and is nothing without that sauce. 3/5 Cocktails are ok. Nice that this place is trying to be foodie, but they have a long way to go.
(3)Lindsay W.
Fantastic brunch! I had a standard Farmers Breakfast and a guava Rickey and both were extremely good. Bacon was cooked to order, buttermilk biscuit with orange marmalade was something I would happily eat every single day, and the Rickey had a really great ratio of tangy lime to sweet guava puree. My scrambled eggs were pretty runny, though, so if you like your eggs fully cooked make sure to specify that upon ordering. Fiance got pastrami hash and Cortado to drink--this coffee is extremely thick with sweetened condensed milk. Definitely would recommend this awesome place! Can't wait to go back and try the dinner menu.
(5)Mb B.
there was a big roach on the back of the seat of the booth. The staff offered no compensation we paid for our meal and left they came outside and said they sprayed three times a week. Shall not be returning.
(1)Chris C.
Great drinks (hand crafted cocktails) and amazing food. This is probably the best place to eat in Montgomery County. Their food and drink menus rotate with the seasons so you never get tired of it. It can be a bit pricey, but well worth it if you are a foodie.
(5)Melanie K.
We've been here several times. Founding Farmers is one of our favorite restaurants and it's one of the few places I've been where I almost always get something different and always L-O-V-E it. So it seemed fitting that we came in for Valentine's Day dinner. Frankly, the place should change its name to "Gluttony" because my hubby and I can't seem to leave without being completely and utterly stuffed to the gills. Last night we went in and tried to go a little lighter than the last time we came in for dinner. We got the Farmers Chips, Cheddar Crisps and Dips as a starter and it was OK. I'm not a huge fan of kettle cooked chips, but hubby liked them and the dips were really tasty. I got the Southern Fried Chicken Salad for my entree and it was phenomenal. I've never gotten the fried chicken here and honestly I'm not a huge fried chicken person, but this chicken. Wow. It was a little spicy and a lot juicy and tender. M-m-m! Hubby got the Chicken Salad Salad and although he said it was good, he was very jealous of my salad! We finished our night with an order of Uncle Buck's Beignets and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Those Beignets. Are. To. Die. For. A few of my other favorites entrees are: Chicken Pot Pie, Angry Pasta and Chicken Bolognese with Bucatini. If you're here for brunch, get the Florentine with Spinach and Tomato Eggs Benedict. My sister, dad and husband all swear by the Fried Chicken and Waffles. Also worth noting is our server: Kevin. This was the second time he was our server. He's super friendly and attentive, but not overbearing. If you're lucky, you'll end up in his section.
(5)Scott A.
This place is awesome for lunch or dinner. 1. The food is first rate. I've gone to Founding Farmers and had a couple of beers and appetizers - great mix of food and good beer. 2. I've been for dinner - friends and we had a blast. The place is a little loud if you are going for conversations but the food overcame the loud. 3. I've been for lunch and ate outside. Less noisy you can have a conversation and the food fantastic simply makes this place an incredible place to go. This is a great place to go. Food great. Beer is excellent (selection and quality) and the servers are engaging and fast. A little noisy if you are planning a conversation but overall its a great restaurant!!!
(5)Xtine C.
Come here to eat the appetizers like the flatbread or wings!!! They are delicious. Don't get the entree meals - for some reason they are terrible. My bf got the chicken pot pie which turned out to be a gravy soup and a biscuit on top and terribly lacked in flavor; it was a big mush. I had the fish of the day (smoked plank salmon) and they messed up my order and brought a diff salmon dish - which tasted bland as well. The drinks are good and really pricey but I would say it's a good hangout spot overall.
(4)Jessica N.
I want to love this place - my family and I have been here a few times for their weekend brunch. It's fairly easy to get a reservation, they have plenty of parking, and serve brunch on Saturdays - this makes it one of our go to places when family is in town for the weekend. This weekend we sat outside on their patio which was really nice - a great way to enjoy a mild summer morning. Service was okay - our waiter was very friendly, but everything was a little slow - could be because we were outside. But one thing that frustrates me is when the waiter drops off three out of four peoples food and then there is a pretty decent wait until the fourth person's comes out which is what happened to us. Also, I get frustrated when the waiter forgets to check on the waters and coffee to see if anyone needs refills - just make that part of your routine. Again this could be because we were outside. Now on to the food - the last couple of times I've been a bit disappointed with the food and it's hard to pinpoint what was wrong. This time I tried to figure it out - I ordered a pan scramble with sausage, mushrooms and spinach and it was just bland and under seasoned. It didn't taste like the kitchen used any salt or pepper and the sausage was sorely lacking in flavor. My husband had the ham steak and eggs, which he enjoyed. Our companions had the bananas foster pancakes and the maple cinnamon stuffed French toast. The pancakes were a little too sweet for me, but the stuffed French toast (also sweet) was excellent. For the table we had their biscuits which were served warm and with a delicious honey butter - yum! We will probably go back one weekend, but I'll just have to be more selective in my ordering.
(3)M T.
Excellent crabcakes - full of freshly cooked crab meat with little filling. Beer selection was good, southern fried chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, though a tad too salty. Cheerful environment with friendly servers. Will definitely come back!
(5)Randy P.
When I walk in a place and as I am placing my drink the waitress recognizes me, I guess I like this place. While it can be pricy (I consider myself lucky to escape on only two cocktails, they are so good) the food is great - and the staff is always friendly, even when you end up staying past closing. Any place that serves bacon lollipops has a special place in my heart.
(5)E M.
Dirty fork when I sat down. Dirty plate came out with the beignets which were both somehow over cooked while one had what appeared to be raw batter smeared on a side. Had to ask twice for water and had to ask for a refill of my coffee after it sat empty for 5-10 minutes. The main dishes were good but nothing special, certainly nothing worth $12-$14 per plate. Indifferent wait staff and over priced food. We won't be back.
(1)Rachel A.
Went there for brunch on 4th of July. We had a reservation, and they seated us pretty quickly. We were able to pick from the brunch menu and the regular menu, so that was nice, but I was disappointed that they didn't have any specials for the 4th. My aunt ordered a cappuccino and when it came out, the cup had a ring of lipstick around the front. GROSS. It then took about 20 minutes for them to come back with another one. I ordered brunch, which was done perfectly, and the grilled ciabatta was delicious, but for the fact that all my food was cold. My aunt ordered a salad, so there was no way they were trying to make the food come out at the same time. Also, the one sausage was kind of stingy as a portion. We also ordered a side of grits which was cold, and tasted very bland. We did not receive water refills, our waiter did not come check on us at all throughout the duration of the meal, and it took several attempts to get his attention to get the check. I've been to the Founding Farmers in DC, and was thrilled with the level of service and attention there. Needless to say, I will not be back of my own accord.
(1)Jasmine S.
I have dined here on many occasions for lunch. There are very few things are not good about this place. The fried chicken is delicious, and I've always enjoyed their pasta, although the portions are a bit small. Founding Farmers also makes their own Rickeys, seasonally which I have found to be either delicious or disgusting. Service is always excellent. I would definitely recommend this place to someone in the area.
(4)Crystal D.
Love this place. If going on the weekend it's best to make reservations because They are always crowded even in the snow. The food is always consistently delicious.
(5)Mike M.
See my previous reviews for opinions and past experiences. I'm focusing this update on today's experience and specifically on the way the popcorn appetizer was delivered to the table. If you haven't tried it, FF offers flavored popcorn as an appetizer (or I guess dessert if you preferred). It's a fun thing that my kids really like so we usually order it as soon as we sit down. As I recall, it was previously served in a box type of thing. Today we ordered the popcorn as soon as we sat down. Soon, our drink order was taken. Our drinks were soon delivered then later, our entree order was taken. We waited a while longer and finally my wife waved the waiter over and asked about the popcorn. He said they were preparing it a new way and it was slowing everything down but it would be out shortly. After a bit longer, the popcorn was delivered. (as a side note, it was delivered moments before our entrees were delivered. This seems to be a recurring issue at FF.) The popcorn was served in a large pot, about 8 quarts I'd guess. The waiter carefully placed it in the center of the table and said to be careful as he explained that this is the pot the corn is popped in and it's very hot. No kidding, this thing was blazing hot. Dangerously.hot. Absolutely stupid for a restaurant to put something like this on a table. Whoever came up with this should be immediately fired. So, first of all, the popcorn is down in the pot, so you have to reach down in this cauldron to reach the corn. Without exception, all 5 of us burned our wrists and arms on this thing. We resorted to trying to use a fork to get it out (no serving utensil is provided). That resulted in the kettle corn going all over the table and more burns as we pried the sticky corn apart and out of the pot. The highs? Well, it seems like it's a larger quantity of corn. My family thought it was better than usual. My take was that it was fresher than usual. Still only $2 so it's a great deal. But please, management, reconsider the way it's served. This is truly dangerous. I'd suggest transferring it to another bowl of some kind. Someone is going to get burned badly with these things.
(3)Ahmad S.
Stopped in here yesterday to place a pick up order. I placed the order on the phone and gave them a time I'd arrive to pick it up. Founding Farmers never fails to amaze me. I showed up early and they quickly placed the order in for me and apologize for it not being ready - which was silly since I was the one who showed up thirty minutes early. I sat at the bar - bartender was friendly and service was great. He asked me if I had placed my order - to which I responded affirmatively - at which point he pulled up my order and confirmed it with me. When my order was ready, he brought it to me at the bar along with the check. I got home and the food was hot, fresh, and packaged perfectly. I'm so glad they have a pick-up option, because nothing beats being able to bring such an amazing meal home! I love dining in here, but will definitely mark this place down as a good to-go option for future visits.
(5)Dee B.
After my initiative review I received a response. I decided to give them another shot today because the food really is fantastic and La Madeleine was torn down to make way for the new mall on Rockville Pike. FF must have taken my review to heart because not only were the staff more attentive (though it wasn't busy when I went) but the senior staff were also checking up to make sure everything was A-OK. As usual the food was fantastic. I got the tomato soup which was perfect and the consistently good fried chicken salad. Keep up the great work, FF.
(4)Jenna E.
My family and I ate here for the first time today. I ordered the goat cheese ravioli with chicken cutlet and both were delicious. My only issue was that it came on a large amount of buttered squash and only had six pieces of actual ravioli. Since there is no description for any of the foods, most of our plates came with something unexpected and I don't think that's great considering the amount of picky eaters and people with food allergies in the world. The "poto" mac and cheese was also easily the best I have ever eaten and came in quite a large portion. My brother's waffle took a bit too long to arrive, so the manager came to us and apologized and then took it off the final bill. There in house sodas put all others I have ever consumed to shame and I actually ended up ordering a second even though there weren't free refills. The cheesecake and carrot cake are enough to feed three or more people each and are EXCEPTIONAL. Over all, would and probably will go again.
(5)Gretchen P.
3.5 stars. I had a le terrible experience at the original Founding Farmers in DC a couple years ago, so when my friends invited me to dinner at this location I was a little hesistant, to say the least. I actually ended up having a very pleasant evening! We all shared a bunch of appetizers -- the green goddess dip was epic, as was the corn bread. I started with a farmer's salad, and then got the scallops with butternut squash risotto. The scallops were great, the butternut squash was only okay. And the service was about 1000x times better than when we ate at the DC location, but there were still a few hiccups (beer taking forever to come out for my boyfriend, one person's ordered getting messed up. I would say that this trip did help redeem FF for me, although it wasn't a perfect experience. But the food was good and the company was even better, so all in all I did have a great time.
(4)Megan Q.
Delicious! Our server was very attentive and sweet and our lunch was delicious. We were seated near the door and it was very loud but overall, I would return.
(4)J C.
I've been to the Founding Farmers in DC and have never had a complaint, but this is my first time in this location. I'll preface this by saying I was not a terribly big fan of the food I got, but that probably calls into question my choosing abilities, rather than their cooking. On the other hand, I feel a restaurant should only put on a menu dishes they know how to cook perfectly, so this is perfectly fair game. I'll start with the good. I got a Farmers' Sazerac, which used Remy Martin Cognac. As always, the cocktails are fantastic here, though perhaps this one was a bit too citrusy and not sweet enough. We got the seasonal picked vegetables as an appetizer. It was pickled green beans, which were just fine. For an entree, I got the lobster mac and cheese. In terms of volume, this was a massive meal and I was very full. The cheese sauce was creamy and cheesy, without tasting artificial like Kraft Mac and Cheese. The pasta may have been slightly dry. It was garnished with panko breadcrumbs My main complaint was with the lobster. First, there wasn't that many chunks of lobster. It felt like there was less lobster than in your standard lobster tail. For $28 I expected more. Second, the lobster was very chewy, which is indicative of overcooking. The lobster did have that characteristic sweetness though. That said, I'll be back again but I won't be getting the lobster mac and cheese. I trust the Founding Farmers brand due to my previous visits to the DC location. There's other stuff that's good on the menu.
(3)Dolph R.
Good God, we've got to rock down to Electric Avenue, then we'll get you higher. Tottenham Hot Spurs!!!!
(2)Candace C.
After reading the reviews I was excited to try the menu items others had recommended on here. We had the apple/onion and fig proscuitto breads. Both were good but the fig was definitely the better of the two and actually ended up being my favorite part of the whole meal. The fried green tomatoes were a disappointment with their lack of taste and bland coating. After much deliberation I settled on the Southern fried chicken, collard greens and mashed potatoes for my main course. When the waiter set the plate down I could tell the chicken was dry. I dug in anyway hoping it could still live up to its rave reviews. It didn't get better. On top of being dry the skin had no flavor and the dryness overtook any taste the actual meat may have had. The mashed potatoes would have been good if they hadn't been barely warm. The collard greens were the most flavorful, well-cooked item on the plate. Had I not been someone's guest for the meal I would've sent the whole meal back, something I very rarely do. All in all I would not go back or recommend this restaurant to others, especially given the prices charged.
(2)Ani J.
I had heard a lot about this place, and always wanted to try it. Last weekend we got a reservation and finally got the opportunity to try this place. The restaurant is spacious, with a cozy ambiance. We were seated promptly and the waiter took our drinks order. We ordered the following: - Table Biscuits: DELICIOUS!!! These were warm and perfectly flavored. So good. - Fried Green Tomatoes: DELICIOUS!!! So good. Never had green tomatoes that tasted so good. - Meatless Turkey Burger: This was ok. I asked them to bring it without cheese, they of course didn't listen and brought it with cheese. The burger tasted ok. I wish I had ordered something else instead. I want to go back and try some other things on their menu. Definitely a great place for vegetarians.
(4)Kat F.
So if I could give them an overall three and half stars I would. I've actually been here a bunch of times so let me break it up a bit: For BRUNCH four out of five stars: Whenever someone visits from out of town it's the perfect brunch spot. Whenever we forget to make a reservation we just grab a seat at the bar. I've never waited more that 10 minutes going that route. The bloody mary's are the absolute best. And all of the brunch options are fabulous. Although my favorites are definitely the hashes, especially with the chili on it. The bartenders are always excellent with service and just the right amount of chatty. The waiters are just as good but are spread a little thin, but I've never had a bad experience. For LUNCH three out of five stars: We've been here a few times for lunch too and the food just isn't as great. My friend got the veggie burger and she said it was quite dry. I got the turkey/gruyere sandwich and it was also dry and had wayy too much turkey on it so that it almost had no flavor. But the whole meal is saved by the farmers bread with brie and onion jam because it is BANGIN. Like seriously, get it. Okay and then here we come to my beef with this place. I went here for brunch with some friends who were visiting. We thought we had made a reservation but they didn't have us down. She suggested we sit at the bar but then came over to get us because they has a table for us within like five minutes which was SO great, we really appreciated that. One of my friends is vegan and they have a special vegan menu which they bring over to us and she orders the veggie scramble. We assumed that since it was off the vegan menu it would either be scrambled with tofu or just be the vegetables but when it came it was veggies with EGGS. My friend asked if it was eggs and the waiter said "Of course they are that's what SCRAMBLE means." We were all so confused because she had ordered off the VEGAN menu. After about 20 minutes and my friend ordering about 8 different variations of things only to be told that that item was in fact not vegan she ended up eating some sauteed squash and zucchini with a toasted hamburger bun. And to add insult to injury they still charged her the full price of the meal she had originally ordered. I understand that it is difficult to accommodate vegans, but if you say you have a menu dedicated to vegan food you should make sure all the things on that menu are in fact vegan. And if you mess up you should always apologize and not be rude to the patron. So! Come here for brunch but DON'T bring your vegetarian/vegan friends
(3)Yolit Y.
went over there 10pm yesterday with my wife and set on the bar,i have to say that they have amazing variety of great alcohol including isly whiskey !! a nice guy was in the bar and took care of us with great starters as fried green tomatoes 'pickled carrot and mini burger(yummmmi and juicy) even the whiskey was well served neath !! overall experience was more than great and i will definitely recommend this place for late evening!!one more import thing to mention is the great music
(5)Shannon O.
I came here with my family for my Grandfather's birthday lunch. Service was AWESOME! Food was AWESOME! Drinks were AWESOME! I will definitely be back here again and I would like to check out the DC location. We brought a cake for my grandfather and they were so accommodating by bringing the cake out for us when we were ready for dessert. They didn't charge us for a cake fee or anything.
(5)Aline K.
I have dined here for dinner on numerous occasions, and really enjoyed it. Must mention first above all, GREAT service. Every waiter/waitress I've experienced has been very pleaseant. Bacon lovers MUST TRY the Bacon lollis. Before I tried them the first time I didn't think they'd be anything special. Boy was I wrong! They are like a candied/sweet bacon. Absolutely delish, I try to savor every bite. I really also enjoy the Deviled eggs. It comes with 8 eggs, 2 traditional, 2 with crab meat, 2 with lobster, and I believe 2 with shrimp. I love how they are seasoned, and its a new twist on deviled eggs. Another of our favorites is the skirt steak enchilada (i've had it slightly over cooked before, but the last time It was cooked perfectly medium). The fish and ships is also a good order. I'm not really a fan of the fries though. For dessert, we've gotten sorbet (strawberry lemonade) and that's always been very good. But, if you love bacon, do yourself a favor and get the bacon lolli's! You won't regret it.
(4)Bek Z.
The food selection is good. Definitely start with the bread appetizers. They are great. I really like the sandwiches, especially the pastrami on rye. Beer and wine selection is also pretty good.
(4)Jin P.
I'm shocked a restaurant chain as nice as this one doesn't have better trained staff. Just left after a disappointing lunch and I'm done. My French fries were cold and stale and our server forgot to switch my cole slaw to green beans but she was literally nowhere to be found for at least 15 minutes. I was so hungry that I ate it anyways. When she finally appeared I asked for ketchup for my cold fries. By the time she brought it I was done eating. This isn't the worst lunch outing I've had but I expect more from a place of this caliber with the kind of reputation they have. Before ever trying Founding Farmers I always heard people raving about their food. But I haven't been impressed on any of my visits-dinner, brunch, and now lunch. There's better places to spend your money where they won't charge you for bread.
(1)Nina P.
I reviewed the DC location years ago and since then I've been there many times. After accompanying my friend with her wedding dress shopping, I was elated when I found out there was a Founding Farmers across the street. The Clementine is one of my favorite cocktails and was the perfect reward for having to drive all the way to Potomac, Maryland. My friend enjoyed the Bone which I've also had before, it's definitely strong, not girly, good choice for a dude, and a pork lover's drink being garnished with a delicious strip of bacon. Very consistent with the DC location. Great service, average food. I love the pickled vegetables - always order it. Was disappointed that they didn't have a mix like I've always gotten in the DC location. They only had green beans. The burgers are probably your best choice or perhaps an entree salad. Their other entrees just don't make the cut (i.e. talking about you, skirt steak/enchiladas). If you live in Maryland, don't bother with ever going to the DC location because we easily got a table and the bar had seats available as well around 430pm on a Sunday afternoon.
(3)P F.
I've been here twice so far. Once for lunch and the last time for dinner. Overall, good place. I had dinner reservations for 9PM. Arrived at 9PM and I was told it was going to a bit of a wait. We were seated at 9:30. That's a bit excessive, especially when one has reservations and the restaurant has pretty much cleared out at that time. At 9:15 I asked for an update and the host/hostess kind of gave the attitude of, "Don't complain. You are privileged to eat here/We are doing you a favor". As for the food: We had the fried green tomatoes for an appetizer. Good but not great. I guess I just had to try them because I've never had fried green tomatoes before. For the main course we had the pot roast and the hot dogs. The pot roast was the star of the night. Solid five course dish! It was pot roast served on top of mashed potatoes with fried onions on top along with vegetables and potatoes. Huge portion and filling. The hot dogs were also very good. The mustard and bacon one had too much mustard on it for my liking. Consider getting the mustard on the side. The sweet relish one was very good. Overall, good place. I would go back because the food is good. Waiting 1/2 hour when you already have reservations is not acceptable.
(4)Richard K.
If you're looking for good setting with food & service to match then this is the place to be. Ryan our server was a polite & informative without being overbearing. I'll be back!
(4)Lillian C.
I simply am not impressed with founding farmers. This would be my first visit to the MoCo, but second visit including my visit to the DC location (in the IMF building nevertheless. ) As much as I want to embrace the "farm to table" model, this food screams "safe" and "boring". One of their mainstays is fried chicken, so you'd think mmmm southern cooking. If you're going to make the sacrifice and consume the calories, it better be amazing right? Not this! With the entree option, you get a measly half waffle (what the heck!?!) so you can only have about two bites of "chicken and waffle" before you just eat straight up fried chicken. And this fried chicken is nothing like southern fried chicken- it's incredibly dry and the only spices to speak of is too much salt and pepper and too little of everything else. You're doing it wrong when Popeye's makes a much better piece of chicken than you for a third of the price. (BUT IT'S LOCAL...) Why I really disliked this dish was the mac and cheese! What a travesty! I am a mac and cheese junkie to the point of borderline honorary Canadian. I ate so much mac and cheese in college, I might be 50% mac and cheese. And mac and cheese is unfortunately one of those dishes 100% better with manufactured elbow macaroni. You need that springy semolina hollow shape to support a nice creamy, tangy sauce and here we have are sad little chunks of pasta with a quasi-al dente, mushy texture in a gooey bland cheese sauce. It pained me to eat it. And the "greens", I thought I was going to get some collards or kale but it was just a few cold green beans. Serve this dish in the south and you'd be laughed out of town! I'm so glad I didn't indulge in the steep 28$ lobster version!!! And the kicker- asked for hot sauce and the waitress disappeared and was nowhere to be found for the next half hour. We had to grab the bus boy as he was bussing my partner's dishes to get some. It just is mind boggling that any institution that wants to serve anything remotely southern doesn't want to put out a bottle of hot sauce and such a request was so difficult. It's obviously my fault for thinking that a smarmy place like this is capable of serving southern food even though we're technically in the south. I had better luck with southern food in Portland, Oregon thousands of miles away from the south than here!
(2)Allison W.
I've eaten here a few times and I had a great time! Most recently, I came this past Saturday for brunch. We made a reservation and were seated immediately upon arrival. Our server was fine, a little short (in manner, not stature :) but she had a large section of tables from what I could tell. The Frisco burger that I ordered was fantastic, grilled exactly as I asked. We also got an order of the beignets and they did not disappoint. Yet to have a bad experience at a Founding Farmers, so needless to say I'll be back soon :)
(4)Tawanna W.
First time diner, and I enjoyed the experience. My girlfriend and I met for brunch. I had a 1:00 reservation and arrived about 10 minutes early. I was told that my table would be ready closer to 1, which was fine, they were pretty busy and had an hour wait if you did not have a pending reservation. The hostess was very nice, and showed me to my table on time for my reservation. There were a lot of larger groups having brunch and overall it appeared to be a very comfortable, clean, friendly environment. While I waited for my girlfriend to arrive I ordered a bellini and the popcorn of the day which was ranch. The bellini was so so, nothing exciting and I definitely wouldn't order it again, and the popcorn although it was very fresh and smelled delicious, the ranch flavor was a little overbearing. I barely made a dent in my order. My girlfriend arrived and we ordered breakfast. I ordered the belgian waffle with applewood smoked bacon and a side of grits. The food was delicious. It looked appetizing, it was very flavorful, and the appropriate temperature when it arrived to the table. I ordered a mimosa to go with my breakfast, which was a lot better than the bellini I had earlier. My girlfriend enjoyed her breakfast as well. She had a hearty portion of blueberry pancakes,scrambled eggs and chicken apple sausage. The only part of my visit that I didn't enjoy was my service from Alyssa, she was very slow and not attentive. The best part of my visit was the delicious looking food not only at my table, but also at the tables around us. I can't wait to go back and try the southern fried chicken with mashed potatoes and collard greens. The guys next to us ordered the chicken and it looked as if it had been fried perfectly. So I'm definitely looking forward to my next visit....yes, there will be another visit!!! Oh, and the mailbox idea is really cute. The server brings you your check in a little mailbox. Once you are ready to pay, you place your form of payment into the mailbox and raise the red flag so the server knows that you are ready.
(4)Eric S.
Thank you to General Manager Ashley for being a strong leader and continuing to show why Founding Farmers has outstanding customer service. Your caring attitude towards customers is appreciated and makes dining a pleasure. I will continue to go back and recommend the restaurant highly
(5)b r.
I'm basing my review on experiences in May-June 2015. Today I called with the intent to order carryout - roasted veggie and avocado sandwich. I was initially put on hold twice (total of 7 minutes). After the second time, a person apologized and said she was going to transfer me over to the actual restaurant (I thought I had CALLED the actual restaurant, based on the MoCo number on the Founding Farmers webpage). I said okay and was put on hold a third time. Then a voicemail came on telling me the person was not available and to call back later. Excuse me? WHAT?! So much for ordering. I didn't call back and never will. A few weeks earlier, I had checked out MoCo Founding Farmers as a possible venue for a group celebration. They don't have a separate room, but rather an upper floor (luckily elevator accessible). That would have been fine, except that the lower and upper floors share the same ceiling, so potential echos. They told me to contact their event coordinator via email to "discuss" my plans for the group celebration. I asked if they had a phone number--they said no, the event coordinator only communicates via email. After I checked out the venue that day, I decided to order carry-out during dinner time to check out the food and the noise level. I had a hard time deciding on the few vegetarian dishes they offered. I'm mostly vegan, so I don't expect a lot from an American restaurant. The person on the phone (I actually reached someone on the phone this time) convinced me to get the seven-cheese macaroni. She said it would be ready in 20 minutes. I showed up 30 minutes later and then hung around the bar another 15 minutes while they prepared my order. It was so noisy around the bar (which echoes up to the second floor), that I had to yell into the bartender's ear so he could almost hear me. Obviously not a good venue for a party if you want to be able to have a conversation. If you're into loud, echoey, crowded restaurants, then this is the place for you. Finally, the macaroni really wasn't that good--kind of dry & clumpy. For a dish that's normally so decadent, I expected something really good--even if veggie cuisine is not their specialty. I understand why a restaurant this busy would have a more complex phone system that might result in poor communication/customer service, but what I don't understand is why this restaurant is so busy.
(1)Samuel C.
This place is could be better! Party for 5. The parking lot is small. Have only 2 hours parking. Don't have to wait long. The water is like warm water. The like no ice cube or anything. Recommend you not to drink it! But the drinks are really really good. The shrimp is pasta is nasty. Very salty. Not really good at all. The chicken salad is good, soup and sand which are good. The people are nice and friendly. Mostly every 10 minutes the come by check on us how the food was which that is so annoying.
(3)Mis H.
Went here for my bday dinner. I had the meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Good size portions and food tasted fresh. Will definitely be back...very very soon!
(4)nic b.
So good. So darn good. Had the Yankee pot roast and the portion was enormous. The meat was tender and perfectly cooked, the mash was delicious, parsnips, turnips(?), perfect. Girlfriend had the prime rib dip...it was unbelievably good. We screwed up our app order and the server was perfect, offered to take the item of the bill but i decided to keep it (girlfriend didn't see horseradish on the description)...Anyway this is all a way to say our server was fantastic and had lots of great recommendations. He was very attentive! We had a great time, enjoyed amazing food and it was all very reasonably priced! We will be back.
(5)Mil N.
I cant believe it took me so long to write up a review on this place. Me and my mom come here for brunch or lunch every weekend, mostly sundays, and its one of our favorite places to go. I just came home and had a truly exceptional experience that was outstanding to all other times I've been here which is what prompted me to write this review. What I love most about this place is that everything they make and serve (ingredients) are all made in house fresh and from amazing quality. The service is amazing and everyone there is extremely knowledgeable about the menu. I havnt had one server who didnt know how to answer any of my complicated questions yet. These guys are truly professional. I want to point out that the manager (which I didnt get his name) and the executive chef (Dan Dienemann) went above and beyond to ensure that I had the best experience imaginable and that my food didnt come out less than perfect. Great job guys, keep up the good work! Thanks for the gracious hospitality. -Milad
(5)Claire S.
Love their simple, tasty breakfasts. Servers are always friendly, and it has a good vibe. On weekends it's best to make a reservation as the line can get out the door!
(5)Zachary B.
I love Founding Farmers. The recipes are full of flavor and the service has always been attentive in my experience. I crave the chicken and waffles with Mac and cheese. FF makes some of the best Mac and cheese I've had out. The ambiance is light, bright and fresh. They've blended the fresh from the farm feel with modern uses of material. The drinks are often pricey, but I accept that going in. It's a restaurant first, so I go knowing alcohol will up the bill.
(5)Alicia G.
All the things you love about Founding Farmers DC but in MARYLAND! It's much less crowded and easier to get a table, feels more spacious and there's always super friendly service. The parking situation isn't my fav but it sure beats finding a street spot downtown! Yay Potomac!
(4)Sarah C.
Update: Tried again with a large brunch group. Had reservations and even brought a couple unexpected people -- still seated right away. Pleasant and prompt service, even for the late arrivers to make sure they didn't have to wait too long for their food after we were served. That's a plus, plus. Food was delish, and every one of us (9) was happy. The ginger and vanilla sodas are fresh, and I again tried the Pimms cup - amazing! Hands down this place knows what they're doing! Next dinner....
(4)Marianne Z.
I finally made a trip here with some old friends after hearing such good things about it. I ended up being a huge fan of everything, the food, the environment, and the service! We were there for almost 3 hours, and our server was so friendly! The sodas are so good, I tried the grapefruit. I ordered the salmon, it was delicious! And the chocolate mousse cake was so yummy, but so big! Luckily, 4 girls were able to finish it.
(5)Mary R.
I am a huge fan of the chicken n waffles. It tastes like homemade fried chicken....I don know how they do it but it's Devine. If u have room for dessert, get the red velvet cake...its a huge slice so u can definitely share. Priced very reasonably...can't wait to try the dc location.
(5)Rachel L.
I'd heard great things about the DC location, so I was excited to see Founding Farmers opening the Potomac location (which is close to Rockville, where I live). My husband and I had date night so I checked online at the last minute to see if there were reservations available. Surprisingly, at 7:30pm on a Wednesday I could have made a res for 7:45. I made it for 8 and we arrived right on time. Well, apparently their "reservations" on OpenTable are akin to putting your name on the waiting list; we ended up waiting a good 40 minutes for a table (according to the hostess there were "a few reservations ahead" of us). It's ok, the restaurant was packed and we just got some drinks at the bar. They were friendly about it. But, why accept a reservation for 8 when you're not going to have a table until at least 8:30? Almost immediately after we were seated, our waitress arrived, ready to take our appetizer order. Well, the menu here is quite large and we needed a couple minutes to review it, she seemed surprise that we weren't ready yet. Over the course of the night, her timing was a bit off and slow. It seems they are definitely getting the service kinks worked out. BUT the food was all excellent. We ordered the cornbread appetizer which was quite possibly the best cornbread I've ever eaten. It's sweet - so some may not be into that, my husband wasn't as much as I was - and it has corn kernels in it. Both things I like. The texture was right on - moist and crumbly. A little odd to serve it as an "appetizer", but excellent nonetheless. I had their "strawberry fizz" drink which was pretty to look at and yummy to drink. For an entree I had Southern Fried Chicken which was pretty awesome. Really tasty batter/breading, seasoned perfectly, with moist, juicy flavorful chicken inside. Awesome mashed potatoes with white gravy. Fluffy biscuit. Not really a fan of the collard greens but that's my taste, they were well prepared. Served with pickle relish on the side but I didn't try it. My husband had Lobster Mac and Cheese. He thought the house-made pasta was undercooked (I think he just likes his pasta extra soft.) and that the lobster tails being placed on top didn't allow the lobster flavor to blend with the pasta enough. However, I thought it rocked and kept stealing bites off his plate. I'm happy to have an American restaurant with this quality of food in our area, and will definitely be back. If they fix the service issues and the food is consistently as good over a few visits, I would upgrade this to 5 stars.
(4)Jennifer S.
I had the corn salad here. It was decent but not great. The bread is very good here. There is seating upstairs, and it is more private than downstairs. I recommend sitting upstairs. Service is friendly but is very slow to bring out your main course.
(3)austin b.
Woop Woop! Went to Founding Farmers Potomac last night and had an awesome experience. Yea yea, the space is dope and the drinks are awesome, but let's cut to the chase here. I bet you didn't know the best BBQ in MD was located in Potomac, eh? You HAVE to try the Carolina BBQ with Fixins platter. I'm a huge collard greens fan and the ones here did not disappoint. The baked beans had huge chunks of bacon in it and the pulled pork was pipin' hot and super delicious. It also came with this little side of cucumber and onion salad that was really refreshing. Oh yea, and don't forget the pitchfork combo and the brie with onion jam and apples flatbread. Those two are can't miss appetizers. So psyched we have a legit restaurant option in Potomac. Can't wait to try the brunch!
(5)Mike W.
This is my first Yelp review. I've had a profile for close to 3 years and never really been impressed enough to bother writing my thoughts down when so many other people have done it before me, but for a new restaurant that is this good I'll break the embargo happily. Let's cut right to the chase. It's Founding Farmers, of course the food is delicious! I've ordered more things off their menu (at the DC location) than I can count and not one single thing has ever been less than excellent. And from the 8 or so things my table ordered last night, it is the exact same situation with the Park Potomac location as well. Bacon Lollies, ridiculously good. Brie and onion jam flat bread, staggeringly tasty. Frisco Burger, I dare you to try and find a better one. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. Drinks were great. Bartenders are on point and drinks taste exactly the way they should. They are ready quickly, and the bar area is as nice as you'll find in the area. Great selection of beers and better cocktails than anything around for miles. Decor, like others have mentioned, is very well put together. Great look for an upscale feel, but not so high-end that you feel like you need a coat and tie. It's right in that perfect happy medium place. Seats are comfortable, tables have plenty of space, and even when it's busy it's not so loud that you have to shout. Excellent execution overall. Service is great as well. For servers that hadn't even had one full shift under their belts, every single one was friendly and very knowledgeable. The kitchen was obviously working out some opening night hiccups, but the servers were great about it and never disappeared for long stretches. Always there just in time for a drink refill. I highly recommend Founding Farmers Park Potomac to anyone. It's head and shoulders above every other restaurant in town. I know places in the area like Clyde's have their loyal following (trust me I'm one of them), but there's no denying Founding Farmers is the new king of the hill.
(5)Cinneah E.
Excellent service and delicious food, even for a late night, large group of 15+ hungry young adults! Service: A+++ The staff provided us with complimentary appetizers due to our long wait for a table (which was technically no real fault on their end). When we did arrive to our table, they quickly took our orders. They even threw in complimentary desserts for us after we paid our bills, which was a pleasant surprise as we were celebrating my birthday! Never once did we have to flag down our servers. They and others were quick to bring us utensils, more refills, condiments, napkins, and anything else we needed. We all know how refreshing it feels to eat with a group and still have fast, excellent servers. They were friendly and extremely courteous the entire evening. Food: A++ Start off like we did with the Farmers' Pitchfork with Bacon Lollis, Table Biscuits, the Popcorn of the Day, and the Oven-Roasted Cracked Black Pepper Wings. For dinner, try the Fried Chicken & Waffles, Crab Cakes, Frisco Burger, Plank Salmon or the Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke Salad. Finally, you can't go wrong for dessert with the Red Velvet Cake, the Carrot Cake or any of their milkshakes. Everything was simply amazing! Value: A++ For the amount of food you will receive, in addition to the fact that all the food is locally grown and is "true," the prices cannot be beat. I love how all the food tasted very fresh and home-cooked. If you're in the area or want to enjoy dinner without the DC rush, stop in! I will definitely be returning in the future!
(5)Amy W.
Beside the wait... Food was good and I will come back here anytime for their Bloody mary. Please speed up the serving!!!!! Over an hour wait for 4 ppl is not acceptable =( but we got the food for free =)
(3)Tri L.
Was disappointed to see the bad reviews on Yelp for the Potomac location, but decided to give it a try anyways. We had a party of 4 and had an excellent meal, and will be returning. Maybe they have gotten over whatever issues they had since opening. The wings are great, so just get them. Hot dog plate was good, but a little heavy (then again its a hot dog plate). Skirt steak was great, as was the cedar plank salmon. The southern style fried chicken was well done as well, although I don't know why restaurants insist on ruining the crunchy goodness of fried chicken by pouring gravy all over it (just ask for it on the side). Overall a great meal. They have a HUGE menu, which can be good and bad, depending on how you look at it.
(4)Susan R.
My husband and I ate at the bar. I had a phosphate of the day (blood orange) and my husband thought the selection of beers on tap were ok. We also ordered the fried green tomatoes and devil-ish eggs. The eggs were great with sriracha sauce and the fried green tomatoes were a too chewy for me but loved the green goddess sauce (avocado and olive oil) that came with it.
(3)Bill P.
This could be my GO TO spot driving back from Bethesda to Gaithersburg. Nope.....not a big Tower Oaks Clyde's fan. The only other option outside of Rockville Pike. Sat at the end of the bar and enjoyed great HUGE house salad $7.00 with all of the usual accoutrements......Tomatoes, Blue Cheese, Croutons, Ranch dressing. Slow-Simmered Chili.....$12.00 shrewn beef black beans challots......very tasty!!!!! UMD's Tim Brant was in the house!!!!! HE did not buy me my second glass of wine. Thanks barkeeps!!!!!! Tables tough to get here so make revs or join me at da bar!!!!
(5)Mike K.
Great drinks, nice flair, Potomac jet set families galore. Great for Brunch I hear. Local produce and meats, nice touch. Poor Zoe's next door, empty whild FF was jamming.
(3)Crystal Lynne C.
I haven't been this disappointed in a DC-based restaurant opening in Rockville since Matchbox. Harsh, I know, but I feel somewhat foolish for so highly anticipating the arrival of Founding Farmers. Cuong and I showed up for dinner on opening night, and were seated close to our reservation time. I was delighted to see that the industrial decor was similar to the DC location. Knowing that there would be certain differences and setbacks, I tried to stifle my high expectations. Pros: -First of all, Laura was an outstanding waitress. Patient, personable, and tended to us the best she could under the chaotic evening's circumstances. -The Devilish Eggs are just as good as the DC location. -The check came in a tiny mailbox. -The pumpkin cheesecake wasn't terrible, but the wait off-set the dessert. Cons: -The food came out slow. Not painstakingly slow, but long enough for Cuong to say something. And he's ridiculously patient. -My scallops were rubbery and slightly overcooked. I love scallops. I was given 4 and only ate three. Cuong had some sweet potato mash or something orange and gingery and it was DISGUSTING. It's the worst thing I've ever had in any restaurant. The flavors were so overpowering that it tasted like Pine-Sol. -I ordered an egg cream soda thing, and the waiter who brought it out to me didn't leave a straw. It went flat before I could drink it. -Cuong's short ribs were drenched in sauce and only had a little bit of meat on them. -The pumpkin cheesecake took forever to come to the table. I'll give this place another try someday. But I'm in no rush.
(2)Lynn Y.
I've been wanting to try this place for over a year but will not after the horrible experience I had with the person answering the phone. I called one Saturday evening to make a reservation and was told "Sure, no problem we can fit you in at 9:30". It was a couple hours away but I was willing to wait so I asked him to put me down for a table for two. He then proceeded to say with disappointment "Oh, only two? I thought you had a bigger party. We don't have room for only a party of two." How you can have room for a large party, but not for a party of two I will never understand. Obviously this place is only concerned with making money on large parties.
(1)Don R.
Went here on Sunday for brunch. Very crowded; had to wait even though we had a reservation. Loud downstairs, but not upstairs where we were seated. Our server was great; she really made an effort to listen and understand. The restaurant has a large menu. My son said, "like Cheesecake Factory" which is a decent comparison, except this food is more "homey." But like Cheesecake Factory, when you have an enormous menu you have some hits and some misses. Since it was our first time, we wanted to try lot of things. My wife had the eggs Benedict which she liked. My son had lobster mac and cheese which was just OK. I had a garden scramble which was ho-hum at best (and a really small serving) and a side of pork breakfast which was awful! (They cut it in half lengthwise before cooking -- why would anybody ever do that?!?!? -- and then burned it. The explanation is "That's how we cook it.") They make a big deal out of their coffee, and they should. It's by one of the best roasters in the World. Trouble is, they don't know how to make coffee. The flavor was (would have been) good, but it was as weak as Kool Aid. The popcorn, which is their big gimmick was disgusting -- stale, cold, no butter or salt and dry. The flavor was BBQ, which would have been OK but the rest was so bad that nothing could save it. The waitress took it off the bill. The cornbread is to die for and the beignets were great, though not New Orleans style; they were more like donuts. We paid a pretty hefty price, and it was definitely not worth going back.
(2)Rasha B.
its is a great place, great food, workers are very nice, i just loved it.. i went there with my baby husband and couple of friends.. we had a great time.. you feel the quality of the food.. it is awesome :)
(5)Alexandra S.
Service was great even though it was SUPER busy on a Sunday morning at 10AM. The food and drinks are DELICIOUS. One criticism would be of the grits. I suggested to the waitress that I only like grits when they're cheesy and she said "oh we can do that." The grits arrived with a huge slab of (cheddar?) cheese on top. It was totally unattractive, unlike the other delicious food we had. The homemade blueberry soda was SO good (though not sure it was worth $5) and freshly squeezed OJ is always a treat as few people do it anymore. I would definitely go back next time I'm down in that area.
(4)Scot W.
Went here for brunch today and had a solid meal. The quality of the food certainly matches the quality of their foggy bottom location. The ambience is not as good or lively, but of course what can you expect from rockville. The restaurant is still going through some growing pains...had trouble finding our reservation, our waiter brought out a pot of cold coffee instead of the tea my girlfriend ordered (which they fixed right away), and they were missing the ingredients for her first choice of entree, but the whole staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. We split biscuits and fried green tomatoes, both of which were excellent...I particularly liked the green dipping sauce that accompanied the tomatoes. I had the chicken and waffle; the waffle was good, light fluffy and crisp on the outside. The chicken was a little dry for my taste, and the skin/batter had all of the flavor and seasoning, leaving the meat kind of bland. The gravy and scrambled eggs that came along side were both very good... My girlfriend had the blueberry pancakes...a truly massive plate of pancakes that she thoroughly enjoyed. Great food, good friendly service, worth checking out.
(3)Diana M.
Really accommodating to food allergies. Food is OK, but not worth the prices or the hype. What is good is that they source local. Need some more creativity in the kitchen for the image that they are trying to create. Service is great.
(3)Michelle P.
very disappointed...where do i start. I ordered the Crispy Spatchcock Chicken because I saw it on Non-Stop Foodies. It looked really good on TV. Well was told that it would come with String Beans and Mashed Potatoes. Instead it came with Mashed potatoes and a side of Roasted Veggies that included more potatoes. it was laden with Salt, and looked like it was sitting under the heat lamp for awhile. My aunt got the same thing, and my mom has the Chicken and waffles, her fried chicken was so salty that i actually coughed more then a few times because it was so salt laden. the half of waffle was really soft...which wasn't all that great. It came with mac and cheese and salty roasted veggies. our waiter was super nice though, he comped our meal for the long wait which was more than 45 minutes, and he gave us a piece of red velvet. i wanted to tell him to keep it, it was super dry. We ended up tipping him well since he was really sweet and very helpful! It isn't worth the drive out to Potomac from DC. the only reason we drove to Potomac is because the Spatchcock Chicken isn't available at the DC Location. I personally think there is a lot of hype for this place but it's just not that great to me.
(2)Susan C.
I was very ready to give FF a try. Head lots of good things, and I think it has a great chance. But the service has to improve. Showed up at 12:45 today, told we would be seated in 30 minutes, at 25 minutes we were told it would be another 20 minutes, then at 15 more minutes the hostess said; I am working as hard as I can ( with a smile) But why not just be honest. Or, get an accurate host system. We walked over to the Wine Harvest and had a great lunch without any drama
(1)Charles P.
This place was God-awful! My partner and I put our names in for an hour wait (which is no big deal normally). Then we see people come in who are being sat down before us. When asked what the deal was, the host said these people had reservations for 10:00 and it was 8:30! Why would you sit someone at 8:30 when they had reserved for 10?! One star down! Next we are sat down at a communal table for 8. We are the only two people at this long table (very awkward). Our waitress comes after about 10 minutes of waiting and we order drinks. Twenty-five minutes go by with no drinks (not even water) and we had two different waitresses ask if we've been served already. The second waitress takes our food order. One star down! After waiting another hour we get our appetizers (one star down) followed by another 30 minutes of waiting for our entrees (one star down) both of which were either room temp or cold (one star down). That's zero stars! I have never been this poorly treated at any restaurant! I felt as if they knew we were a broke young couple who didn't live in this bourgeois area and we were treated as second class citizens and segregated because of it. I don't care how "upscale" the area is, you don't treat ANYONE like this! The only saving grace was the fried green tomatoes. Absolutely delicious, the only hot food we had, and amazing with those dips (one star up).
(1)Glenn F.
I had high hopes for this place. We had a 7pm reservation that we made 1.5 weeks in advance and ended up waiting until 7:30 to sit. Once we sat things looked good with our waiter coming right over and getting drink orders, explaining the specials, and being engaging. After that it took another 20 minutes to get our food ordered, and 50 minutes to get the food, which one was ice cold. While I thought the food was pretty good the place is not run very well. We sat on the top level and while we waited the 70 minutes total for food we watched waiter after waiter bring up food to the WRONG TABLES. It was actually laughable after about the 6th time. The place was in chaos. Too bad they are clueless because I did like the food. 0 stars on service 4 stars on food overall 2 stars
(2)Ryan C.
Had the dogs and rolls one visit and they were great! The crab cakes were ok, nothing special but I really enjoyed the mac and cheese and loaded potatoes that came with them. Its a little on the expensive side for some items so bring your parents or someone else who is willing to pay for those items.
(4)Sharon F.
Good food but long wait times even with a reservation. Would be helpful if they used buzzers.
(3)Juls K.
We go to FF periodically, almost every weekend. I find it best to book a reservation via open table, but very often when there are no spots available we seat at the bar. Peppered wings are very very delicious, highly recommend.
(4)Esther O.
Well, the vegan water was tasty.... But other than that ... seems really nice... but I'm posting mostly as a warning for the vegans out there, since I know that their vegan menu is a huge part of the draw to the restaurant. However - they currently do NOT have the vegan menu. I intend to go back (and update this review) when it returns (they say it will), but for now - avoid this location if you're looking for the vegan options. On the bright side, the bartender was incredibly friendly and helpful and apologetic, and a definite highlight to the location.
(2)Lynsey T.
Perfect for brunch on the patio! Amazing service and food!
(5)Mary L.
So I've been here a couple of times and every experience so far has been pretty good. I always get the bacon lollies because they're absolutely delicious and a must if you come here. They caramelize like brown sugar, maple and a hint of cinnamon on the bacon. It's sooo good. Kind of like candy bacon. Yummy. I came here for breakfast and had the chicken and waffles which were really good. The chicken is nice and moist and the syrup used isn't too thick and nice and sweet. When I came for dinner I had the southern fried chicken once. It was really good. The chicken was tender and juicy and it was accompanied by this green jalapeno sauce that paired with the chicken was a combination of sweet and salty. Really good. I also had the pot roast when I was here. It was really good. Very tender and not too dry or fatty. It comes with the vegetables or the day which were rhubarb, beets, and carrots. The carrots were slightly overcooked but the rhubarb was cooked perfectly. I've never liked beets. Ever. But the beets that came with the dish were really good. Also, try their soda flavor of the day. I've had the blueberry a couple of times and it's soo good. When you're finally done with all the main courses, be sure to make room for the beignets. They come with caramel, chocolate and raspberry sauce. Usually takes about 20 minutes or so to make fresh so order them halfway through eating your main course. The staff were friendly and attentive but not overly so. Overall: wonderful, addictive bacon pops+ yummy food+ good service= a go to spot while in Rockville.
(4)Bill S.
This place pissed me off. The first time we tried to go there we called. They said come in by six and we can seat you without reservations. we arrived at 5 5:45 and where told to get lost. Not quite but the host, could not have been more arrogant in telling us no reservation no seat, When we told him we had called he was an even bigger prick (did I say that) In any case after our rejection we did make a reservation, where seated in reasonable fashion and then got horrible service with lots of apologies. I won't go back unless forced. This place is too arrogant for may taste. (oh the food was OK but cold)
(1)Andrea B.
The waiter started out great...brought our food and never came back. Then we saw him leaving...so we tipped another waiter for bringing our check...food was great. Looking forward to going back and sitting at the bar. And they have popcorn of the day :o) Don't even think about getting in at normal lunch or dinner hours during a weekend! Just planned a lunch for Monday & after that I will update my review~
(3)Mary M.
We gave this place two tries. We won't be back, which is unfortunate because we support the concept. The execution is sub~par and the are no concessions for the shortcomings. We arrived 10 minutes early for our reservation. We were told we would be seated in 10 minutes. Every 10 minutes we checked in with the overwhelmed hostess and were told 10 more minutes. After a 30 minute wait we were seated. We ordered..and waited a good solid hour for our food to arrive. The food was fair and cold...cold eggs after waiting an hour... We were there about two and a half hours for a fair overpriced breakfast (70 bucks for eggs and pancakes with no coctails or specialty drinks). We had to ask repeatedly for the basics such as syrup for pancakes, sugar for coffee, etc. Inspite of the wait and the sporadic arrival of our meals and condements, the waiter offered no concessions. It would have been nice if they brought us exra coffee or comped something but they did not even offer. The waiter was nice and obviously embarassed by the whole thing but like I said, he did not offer anything to offset the problems. It would have been nice for the manager to stop by and apologize. As for the food, the farmers breakfast was cold and fair, the red velvet pancakes were regular pancakes with red food coloring, the red something hash was too filled with green peppers and onions for me (I was expecting more leeks) the eggs were good. The turkey sandwhich was excellent. Word of caution for vegetarians...items that one might assume are veggie are not so be sure to ask. For example the veeggie burger is made with beef stock and the home made ketchup has something non~veg (anchovie??) We were patient and forgiving because the place is new and we really wanted to have a new go to place but this is not going to be it. To top it off, we had to pay for free parking to get out of the lot... go figure.
(2)Adam S.
FF has lots of potential. But potential doesn't amount to jack when the wait staff is undertrained, unprepared and generally uninviting and the food is sub-par to say the least. Our party of three decided to try FF in its first week of operations at the Potomac location (apologies for the delayed review) and I hope for everybody's sake that they will work out the kinks. I ordered the egg salad sandwich with sweet potato. My GF ordered the turkey sandwich and fries and her friend ordered the grilled cheese and tomato soup. We all split the cornbread. First of all, if you remove an empty pitcher of water, please fill it and bring it back. Second, if I ask "Do you have a straw?", please don't reply with a simple "Yes". If I ASK for a straw, I most likely am in NEED of one and would GREATLY appreciate a straw. If you bring a pan of cornbread, please bring a few small plates as well so we don't need to eat with our hands. I just get the feeling that the staff that works at FF has never worked in the restaurant industry and became extremely flustered during opening week. By the sound of the latest Yelp reviews, it doesn't seem much has changed. After 45 minutes, the food hadn't arrived so our waitress offered to check on the order. Never saw her again. Then, one of the managers came over to check on the order and after another 20 mins, brought popcorn to the table to tie us over. A fine gesture, but I could care less about popcorn. Orville does a fine job at satisfying my popcorn needs thank you very much. While this is going on at our table I made some observations: the table behind us sent back their salad three times. The table next to us sent back their meal because it was cold. The table across the way (Party of four that came after us) received their chicken and waffles before we did (Which I guess solves the question of which came first: The chicken or the egg?) This should have been a clue. After almost two hours, the food arrived and to no surprise, the grilled cheese (which as lathered in mayo. Something I have never seen/heard of before), fries and tomato soup were cold. The turkey sandwich was all dark meat (which wasn't necessarily their fault, just not what we expected) was cold as well. For the record, my meal was great. Great egg salad and while the sweet potato was a bit oily, overall, it was pretty good. Well, we sent the meal back and they comped the entire meal which is the only reason I would even think to consider entertaining the idea of going back. The manager left us with this comment "Please come back when the kitchen isn't so busy" Call me when that day comes.
(1)Janis W.
Had to wait way too long to be seated, as well as other patrons that came in after me. Was not given a choice in type of bread for meal and there was no perserves..The waitress could be easily replaced. Very disappointed ...would not go back.
(1)MacKenzie W.
Went here on a Sunday for brunch and enjoyed it. Went pretty early and it wasn't crowded yet, but by the time we were leaving (around 11) it was PACKED, so def make a reservation. Service was good. Food was very good. Got the fresh grapefruit juice, awesome! The beignets are a must-have. The raspberry sauce is amazing. I got the chicken and waffles and the waffle was probably the best I've ever had, along with the white gravy. The chicken was average, a little dry. Someone in my party got the blueberry pancakes and they were amazing. Another person got the eggs benedict, and for someone who normally doesn't like ham, that was probably the best I've had. The only complaint that I really have is about the management...will be having a party there in a few weeks and we asked to speak to a manager while we were there about their accommodations for large groups. The woman gave us a hard time and said that we'd have to split up our party of 15 into 2 tables, that they couldn't give us seats together and that we'd have to do it at 5 PM...they don't host parties any other time. Seemed a little weird that they can't accomodate that for a large party they'll be making good money off of. Still planning on doing the party there...will report back as to the service we received.
(3)Rice L.
Very friendly service and great food...for the most part. I got the eggs benedict with leek hash and my partner got the french toast with blueberry compote. These were delicious. Before the meal we got the beignets, however,we got the beignets. Unfortunately these weren't very good. I expected soft, fluffy fresh doughnuts but instead I got CRUNCHY. Apparently I got the crunchiest ones in the bunch, so I was disappointed.
(4)Pravin C.
Good place for hungry people. The portions are really good and food tastes good. Its better to have reservations unless u wanna wait. Only negative thing is server doesn't come to check on u as much as u would like. Otherwise a good place for family or friends to go eat.
(4)Jared B.
Friendly hosts and knowledgeable wait staff. One of the best Bloody Mary's I've ever had ($8, in a tall glass). Variety of menu offerings, ask for the separate vegan menu if you're so inclined. Industrial casual meets farm to table. A little pricey for what it is, but I'm back for brunch every few months or so.
(4)Lauren M.
We really love this place. There is no gluten free menu but I have ordered more than just a salad and never gotten sick. I like the shrimp and grits and the ribs :) My husband ONLY ever orders the Mac and Cheese and looks forward to it in a way he has never cared about food. We often leave with leftovers and enjoy them the following day :) The Ranch Popcorn is surprisingly great :) Breakfast looks amazing if you can eat gluten. For those of us who cannot, breakfast is nothing special. Make reservations!
(5)L. F.
Went here yesterday with family and was very disappointed. I have eaten here before and been very impressed with the food. I agree with the poster who said it depends on what you order. In a nutshell, you should order the apps and desserts, some sandwiches are ok (grilled cheese, Rueben), but the meat in the hamburgers is underseasoned and has a strange, non-meat taste. Beware the entrees. I ordered the Northern Fried Chicken and was delighted to discover that they were boneless(they look like a boned piece of chicken on the plate). It was good but underseasoned. The potato latkes that came with it were overcooked outside and undercooked inside and left a pool of grease on the plate. This entrée also came with a bad tasting sauce that, I think, was gravy on the side. Also, ask the prices of sodas before you order. They make their own, which are delicious, but they cost $5 each. I blew $10 on drinks for my kids, who don't care about the taste of their sodas.
(2)Consumer W.
**Horrible for Vegans** After getting horrible service the first 3 times I went to FF, I posted a terrible review. The manager wrote me and told me to give it another shot. So I thought, why not. I went back with a friend and ordered a salad. It came with cheese even though it wasn't written on their menu. I also asked for it vegan but they put ranch dressing on it. When the waitress discovered the mistake, I don't think they remade the salad, I think they picked off the cheese and mixed it all together. I could distinctly taste cheese. FF is way too pricey for the service and food. I ate a few bites of the salad and threw it out at home. **I will never go back their and I will be warning all of my vegan friends.
(1)C Q.
Had lunch with coworkers around noon on a weekday. Our waitress was very friendly and took good care of us. I ordered Fried Chicken Salad. My coworkers ordered chicken pot pie and pick three rolls (chicken salad, shrimp and crab). I had a taste of their food. The "soup" in the chicken pot pie was really good, rich and creamy. The crab roll was delicious! My chicken salad was really good. The fried chicken was juicy and flavorful. The greens were fresh and tender. The salad came with ranch and honey mustard dressings (I asked for it on the side). It was surprising that both dressing tasted good separately and together. The food was delicious. The service was great. It was a very relaxing meal. I will definitely come back to get the crab roll and try something else.
(5)Angie C.
Writing this review left me befuddled. How do you rate a place that royally messed everything up but tried their best to make it right? I settled for one star with a possible update in the future. Our food came out in staggered bursts starting at the hour mark after being seated. Two of our entrees came out before anything else followed by a short burst of appetizers then another 30ish minute lull between food. Once all of us finally got our meals nothing tasted quite right and some of it was already cold. Also, I didn't even get the correct order of Mac and Cheese and we never got our Combo Deviled Eggs because the kitchen ran out of eggs. Management was apologetic and just took care of our whole check but I wanted eggs and would have paid for them too! Ultimately what I want out of a restaurant experience is great food and to not have to resort to killing my hunger pains with rounds of Cucumber Delight cocktails (no matter how delicious and refreshing they are). Although I am not jumping to return to this particular location, I will probably give it another shot waaaaay down the line. Once all the snafus of a new restaurant get worked out this place could be a great addition to the area.
(1)Wesley L.
AB.SO.LUTE.LY. PERFECT. We took a party of 7, six adults, one three year old, there, and the service and food were incredible. People in other reviews have complained about the service, maybe because they were new, but that apparently has been remedied. Service staff was prompt, friendly, knowledgeable and worked as a team. None of that, "I'm not your server" attitude at all. It was definitely collaborative. We asked to have the lobster mac and cheese as an appetizer, and our server Trace, who was incredible, was happy to oblige. The lobster was plentiful and cooked perfectly. We also had the devil-ish eggs combo and they were great. Four different varieties, 8 halves altogether. Total cost of starters: $42. Fed 7 people very well. My sister had the seasonal scratch soda, which was blueberry for the season, and I had the ginger. They were fantastic, light and very refreshing and fresh. I personally had the gnocchi with beef ragu. They were soft, pillowy, light and just like I imagine Fabio Viviani's must be like too. My father and brother-in-law had the Seafood Show Stopper which were loaded up with TONS of mussels, another split lobster tail cooked to perfection, shrimp and fried fish. My father even was able to substitute linguine for the bucatini it normally comes with. Again, our server Trace was happy to oblige. My mom had the crispy shrimp which were cooked perfectly and exceptionally crispy; one sister had the chicken pot pie which was amazing; and the other had the southern fried chicken, equally amazing. We did not save room for dessert, as we were celebrating birthdays at home afterward, but the peanut butter pie sounded amazing and I'm sure would not have disappointed. The check in total for 6 adults came to $200. Can't beat that! Bonus points to the restaurant - it is near the neighborhood that I grew up in, Potomac Springs. It's changed a ton! But it was nice to drive by my old house on Oakenshield and see that some things have stayed the same. Nostalgia, great food, wonderful family time, exceptional staff; what else does one need? PS - My parents are Taiwanese and generally critical of Western fare, but my father had nothing but raves for the food, which is a miracle in itself. Highly recommend it!
(5)Adam W.
Been to the DC branch several times, always good. First time to MoCo, good as well. Had Yankee pot roast for lunch, came hot, and not salty. Wife had some garlic bread with cheese, and salad something. She enjoyed the freshness of them. For desert we had the freshly made fried donuts. Looking forward to the opening of the Tysons branch during the summer. A plug for our waitress, Alex, good job.
(4)Kimberly M.
Very delicious! My husband and I split the bacon and home made tater tots (forget what the dish was called) as an app - those tots were fantastic. Hubby loved the bacon, which was coated in a smokey-sweet flavor. I had the chicken and waffles with the mac and cheese and greens for dinner. The waffle was cold, but it was still yummy. Chicken was great and the mac and cheese was AMAZING!!! Seriously. Amazing. My husband had the pot roast...eh. The flavor was there, but the potatoes and veggies were still crunchy. We shared the 2 cup french press coffee and the chocolate mouse cake for dessert. The coffee was nice and smooth and the cake was very rich and dense. I also had the Strawberry Lemon house made soda to drink. I simply loved it. Not too sweet at all - very refreshing. I love all the cool "crunchy" and "granola" things about this place, too - being a certified Green restaurant and all that. I definitely plan on returning!
(4)Bailey L.
Favorite restaurant in N. Bethesda/Rockville/Gaithersburg area. Consistently very good. Innovative cocktails, good draft beer and wine selection. Menu is large but the kitchen manages to put out some fresh, tasty food from appetizers all the way through dessert items. Spatchcock chicken and fried chicken are some stand outs. No hiccups in service. Only knock might be that it can get very loud in the open concept.
(4)Jennifer S.
Today was my first time going to Fouding Farmers. I have heard excellent reviews about the restaurant in DC so I decided to give the potomac restaurant a try. My friends and I went for their famour brunch! The food was fantastic! Full of flavor, fresh, and very innovative. We also got Bloody Marys which were spicy and tasty. They have a beautiful atmosphere and an extensive bar, The only thing that was missing is the service. Aside from a waiter who was not very accomodating (it may have been his frist time waiting so I am not going to pretend to know his story) the food took over an hour to come out, we were missing essential things like silverware, coffee, and we had to ask for certain things numerous times. All in all I will go back! The food was great and the prices were fair. This is a new restaurant and it takes awhile to go into the swing of things in terms of customer satisfaction and service!
(3)Perry H.
Came in for brunch Sunday while in town for a wedding. I definitely recommend a reservation as at 9:30 there was a wait. I think the design and decor is great, farmhouse chic with good light and high ceilings. I give the decor four maybe even five stars - I liked it a lot. You can definitely tell this branch just opened as the staff are definitely working out some kinks. I can't even tell you how many times I heard things hit the floor during my 45 minute breakfast. Just at our table alone we had three things dropped either coming out of the kitchen or bringing food out. I also overheard the table behind me complaining to the manager about their server, how slow and sloppy they were. Our server was fine, a bit awkward but fine. The food, which is what its all about, was pretty good. It was a very mixed bag for my table. My wife the "red flannel" hash which consisted of goat cheese and beets roasted with shredded leek hasbrowns and poached eggs. She really enjoyed this a lot and although I didn't try it, it looked attractive enough. I wasn't as impressed with my chicken and sweet potato benedict. There wasn't much chicken at all and the presentation wasn't what I was expecting. Basically they mixed small pieces of chicken with sweet potato puree and spices, served it on an english muffin topped with a poached egg and hollandaise. I was expecting a seared piece of chicken with sweet potato puree spread on the english muffin. Either way, its all about taste and I found it lacking. The french toast seemed a bit overcooked although I can speak highly of the leek hashbrowns and bacon (how can you mess up bacon?) There aren't a lot of brunch options in the area from what I found, so for that and the ingredient quality, its worth a try. Definitely give them a bit longer to work out some kinks and give it a try.
(3)Janelle K.
Inconsistent food- brunch was off and didn't taste good today. Always great service.
(2)Halley K.
One star down is because they got rid of the vegan menu The other star down is because my sandwich was soggy On the other hand, the service was super friendly and helpful and I love the idea of eating local and all. The rest of the family was happy with their food - ribs, skirt steak, pot roast, enchilada. The fries taste like McDonald's fries - but that's not a bad thing!
(3)Aa Foodie F.
I hate to write a review for this restaurant since it was one of my favorites for a while but they left me no options. I've been going to FF in Potomac, MD since they started. I was very excited when it opened given the DC location is a great restaurant. They had a good start but little by little the quality of service and management has gone downhill. The food is still good if they get their act together and serve you (but the food is not as great as the DC location though), specialty drinks (mainly Rick's Roy) can be hit and miss depending on the bartender. I think it is obvious from a simple comparison of the reviews for the Potomac location to the DC location that the Potomac location is not as good. Service has deranged over time and to me the manger(s) is to blame. Last 3 times (over the past 6 weeks) we went there service was consistently poor. Last night, the last occasion, my wife and I got there and it was not very busy given that it was a Tuesday and election night. The hostess was not very welcoming. In fact, she took her time to get to us and when she did her opening line was the weirdest I have ever heard from a hostess, she said "what can I do for you?". Who trained her?!! What do you think I';m there for a hair cut or an oil change?!!! Anyways, I took it as a bad anecdote and ignored the issue. Then we were seated and after 20 minutes ad multiple attempts to get the attention of waiters, I finally asked the hostess calmly and jokingly if she had forgotten about us and she apologized and said that we were going to be served immediately. After 10 minutes or so, we just got fed up called her up and told her how ridiculous it was, we walked out and before we do that asked to see the manager. The manager half apologetic and half defensive asked us to stay. Of course, we didn't tay since we didn't want any unwanted ingredients in our food! We're not going back. Great restaurant going down because of rookies. [we went next door to Suco and had a nice experience which is why FF Potomac needs to act things together cause there are other options in the neighborhood]
(2)Kristy H.
I was so pumped to finally eat at Founding Farmers. A few friends and I had reservations and they sat us right away. Once we were at our table, we waited about 15 minutes, and nobody came to the table. We had to ask the host about getting a server. So finally, we get someone to come take our drink and appetizer orders and she was super knowledgable and friendly. Unfortunately, we never saw her again. We got our drinks and appetizers without a problem but then waited a long time before they brought any of our meals out. When they did, they only had three of the four meals, and the prime rib sandwich we ordered with only meat and cheese and everything else on the side (this order was VERY specific and the waitress that took that order confirmed that she understood). We had to wave someone down and a third server took away the mistake and looked into the missing meal. The manager came over to apologize and offered a salad while the missing meal was made and the prime rib remade. Eventually, we got all of the food back correctly. They did offer us free dessert for the mix up. The food was amazing. We had the handcrafted sodas, biscuits, bacon and tots, chicken and waffles, prime rib dip, honey chicken, and my friend had some kind of fish. For dessert we had the red velvet cake and pumpkin cheesecake. Once we actually got our food, we were VERY happy. I will definitely try this place again. I hope that the shoddy service was just a result of this place being so new.
(3)Kelly K.
We ate here for the first time on Saturday 1/4. Parking was awful - the parking lot for was completely packed. Apparently there is a parking garage that they validate for, but I didn't know it was there until after we left. We ended up parking in the Harris Teeter lot, which is only 1 hour parking. Luckily we were finished within an hour so it wasn't a problem. Our server was friendly and very quick. She was really knowledgable about the menu, which was great since we'd never been before. I ordered The Clementine from the drink menu - its made with a spicy tequila so it tasted like a spicy clementine fruit. Sounds weird, but it was really good. Overall the food was great - I wasn't a big fan of the ranch popcorn that was their special for the day though. Other than facing the parking situation again, I'd be happy to come back and eat here.
(4)Lee G.
We ate dinner at Founding Farmers in Montgomery County earlier this week. Let me get this out of the way first; the food and service were excellent, as usual. But I was really disappointed to see that FF had lit a gas fired fire pit in the middle of their patio, burning natural gas and releasing unnecessary CO2 into the air. Every day we learn more about global warming and the damage that carbon does to our world, so to see a restaurant like Founding Farmers contributing to global warming in this unnecessary way was, to say the least, surprising. It is true that it was a chilly evening for July (itself evidence of climate change and the erratic nature of the jet stream) but the fire pit did little if anything to warm the patio. I was sitting at a table very close to the pit, and I didn't feel any warmth from the fire at all. There were only one or two tables that were closer, and maybe they felt some warmth, but most of the people sitting outside probably got no benefit at all from the fire. So I give FF 5 for food and service, 1 for environmental wastefulness, and an average grade of 3. Shame on you, FF, I would have expected better from you. Turn that polluter into a planter and I'll be happy to take down this review.
(3)Kim T.
My husband and I went for a relaxing Sunday dinner. We were not disappointed. The service was great and the food was fantastic.
(5)Etta H.
This was my 2nd visit to Founding Farmer's. My first visit was to the DC location. I need to check out the DC menu again, as I don't recall the vast menu options I had this time around. I frankly was not overly impressed with my first visit. A group of us went on Saturday to celebrate my sister's birthday. I was ho-hum about the choice of restaurant, but my daughter advised, this is where my sister requested. It was a little drive for me and others, but hey we weren't walking so it was all good. To sum it up, it was an excellent adventure. We were first seated outside, which seemed like a good idea: sunny, warm Saturday afternoon. We quickly decided to move indoors as several seats were in the direct path of Mr. Sunshine, even though the umbrellas were up. We were promptly re-seated to the upstairs dining room. There is a lift - elevator for us regular folk. :-) Shaun was our waiter. He was most excellent. There is nothing worse, (well there is, but humor me), than a waiter or waitress that has no idea of the food they are serving. There were 7 adults and a toddler. I think we all had questons except the toddler!! Shaun answered each and every question. He knew about the food, the toppings, entrees, condiments, everyting. Crab Cakes, Chicken & Waffles, Reuben Sandwich, BBQ Grill Platter, (something like that), Chile Cheeseburger, Crab Benedict and Fish & Chips were the entrees ordered. Everyone enjoyed their selection. The toddler had the mini cheeseburgers, and from the way she ate them, I'm going with a 2-thumbs up on those as well. I had burger with side of chile as everyone doesn't do good chile....then requested more as it was tasty. No beans....after some pondering, we decided it really tasted like sloppy joe...overkill? Sloppy joe topped burger....naw!!! Besides, it was good for dipping my fries. I also tasted the Reuben and Crab Cakes, both of which were pretty good and I'm a Native New Yorker aka - Reuben Snob. Chicken and Waffles looked good as did the platter: which I believe had a sausage/hot dog item, mini burger and portion of bbq ribs along with an ear of corn that looked very gourmet. Maybe fries as well, not sure. My cousin said the fish was thick, but that's been my experience with Fish & Chips. Also, the chips were a duo: homemade chips - large rounds of fresh potatos that were fried as well as french fries. Chips would have been great with some sort of seasoning. Oh yeah, we had a couple orders of the spicy wings. They were "ok". I do better wings but they were not all bad. Very dark, likely from the sugar or whatever is in the marinade, but not a burnt taste and not spicy as the name suggests. Once we were ready they brought out the cake we had left with mgt upon our arrival to the restarant. Candle was lit and appropriate knife to cut cake. Shaun was attentive to all our service needs right down to take out boxes the entire time being most pleasant. A great dining experience was had by all!!!
(5)Richard M.
Just had my office holiday party there on Wednesday night for 20 people. The plans got off to a slight rocky start when a few weeks earlier I had called both the Potomac and DC locations a few times and I couldn't get anyone to call me back. But once Cameron, their Hospitality Coordinator got involved, things couldn't have gone smoother. We sat upstairs and from 5-6, as promised, no one was seated up there but us so we had our own little private party for the first hour. The service from start to finish was great. Our servers, Charlie and Diego, couldn't have been more attentive and did a great job keeping the drinks and apps flowing. All of the apps were really good such as the flat breads and bacon wrapped dates but the combo deviled were more interesting than tasty. The wine drinkers were pleased with the selection and the specialty cocktails were good. I had some melon, cucumber and vodka drink and it was really good - sweet but good. Now I'm not going to go into all 20 entrees but my favorite was the Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke salad that my wife ordered. The people that ordered the pot roast and the fried chicken were really pleased as well and the rock fish that I ordered was really fresh. The only entree that people really didn't love was the lobster mac and cheese. Not that it was bad but it's just a really heavy dish and you have to be in the mood for heavy. The deserts? Oh my! really really good. We got a little bit of everything but the big winners were the Red Velvet Cake and the Peanut Butter Pie. The only thing I will ding them on is their lack of offerings for vegetarians. I specifically picked FF Potomac because I work with a few vegetarians and when I looked at the menu online, they seemed to have a decent selection of entrees that didn't have meat, chicken or seafood in them so I thought we were safe. It turns out that even the Four Cheese Wild Mushroom Ravioli was made with beef stock. So if you want vegetarian, i guess you have to go to their DC location which has a Vegan menu or stick to lettuce :) So in the end, I thought everything was really good and I look forward to going back again.
(4)Shauna G.
I went here with my family for breakfast last week and we were blown away by this place. We were throwing out superlatives like we were trying to make room for them in our overstuffed stomachs. 1) I got the Florentine egg's benedict. The hollandaise sauce was amazing - rich but subtle - and well balanced with the spinach, muffin, and perfectly poached egg. Best ever. 2) My sis got the Banana's Foster French toast, which she declared "best french toast ever". She let me try a bite (actually, I demanded several) and it really was exceptional. Very sweet, so don't get it unless you like desserty breakfasts, but not overwhelmingly so. 3) I actually forget what my dad got, but when he tried his maple-and-pepper-glazed bacon he stopped the conversation with an "Oh. My. God." Didn't try it because I'm vegetarian, but it's pretty clear that the bacon here is on an entirely different plane of existence from most bacon. It's cut in thick, long strips and is way more than one can actually eat - my dad took half of it home. 4) We got a serving of beignets for the table. They came hot and soft and lightly dusted with sugar, and with three sauces: raspberry, caramel, and chocolate. If I hadn't been so full by this point I probably would have licked the sauce bowls clean. Even the food that wasn't "best ever" (my mom's leek and goat cheese and roasted beet hash; whatever my dad got) was very very good. The drinks are a bit pricey but if you can afford it, the glasses of fresh squeezed juice are lovely. And they give you the bill in a little mailbox! This is our new go to place in the Potomac area.
(5)Mel B.
Food is pretty amazing, unfortunately ran into a very mean and rude bartender. Make sure you get a nice bartender :) It makes all the difference in your restaurant experience. Don't take a date there !
(3)Tiffany S.
Ok....this is my 6th or 7th time here and I have to Yelp about this issue because it's ticking me off....Can a sista get some hot food here EVER?!?! My God....my food has never been hot!!! What is the issue in the kitchen?! And tonight I ordered cookies which I could swear were advertised as "warm" and they are so hard and cold I could break a tooth! I'm literally on my way home now! C'mon FF - get it together! By the looks of past reviews I'm not the only person who experiences this!
(3)Taylor F.
delicious meal tonight! it was my first visit and I was not disappointed. very busy on a Tuesday night with a 30-40 minute wait for even one person. got a seat at the bar. very friendly bartender there. waiter wasn't the best but service was quick. ordered fish and chips. the price was good at $14 with decent portions. I was going to go for my birthday dinner but they couldn't accommodate our party at the time we wanted. I will definitely return!
(4)Taylor K.
After hiking the entire length of the Billy Goat trail in Great Falls Park (8.5 miles); the wife and I were famished and ready to eat a good meal. We had been to the FF in DC before; but had never been to this new location. It is in a new and very nice part of town and parking is free if you are dining there. We arrived at around 2pm on a Friday and it was busy, but we were able to get a table right away outside. If you go at any peak time though, I would highly recommend making a reservation a day or two in advance. It was a lovely day and the patio was a very nice place to eat. For an appetizer, we got the biscuits with the honey butter; simply amazing! We have also got the bacon lollies (kinda pricey for the portion) and popcorn of the day before; both are very good. FF has so many unique dishes that are so yummy. For my meal, I got the dogs and rolls; they have an assortment of flavors/types to choose from. These were very good and filling. The burger is good as well and have heard good things about the chicken and waffles, if that's your sort of thing. I can't wait to go back and try something new or even try their breakfast. This place is truly farm to table, utilizing meats and fruits/veggies from local farmers. Everything is so flavorful and fresh and the prices are decent. If you are in the Potomac, MD area, you should definitely give this place a try. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Pat S.
Real food cooked well at a great price with something for everyone. Party of six, grown children and grandma included. We all loved our cocktails, the biscuits and bacon wrapped dates were yummy, and not a single miss on our entrees: I ordered off the vegetarian menu (trumpet mushroom scallops), kids had fried chicken, husband had Yankee pot roast, grandma had roast chicken. Waiter was helpful and available. It's our new go-to place when friends come in to town or when we're with a group -- something different, reasonably priced, lively crowd, relaxed atmosphere. Big win for MoCo.
(5)JP W.
Review written by my 9 y.o. The food was SOOO good but it took forever to come out AND they forgot the cream to my moms coffee. I thought the mouse bowl 4 2 was extremely good you should order it if you come here!! ;)
(3)Alex M.
Disappointed yet again. Gave this place several tries. Overpriced and poorly executed dishes. Not so fresh squeezed lemonade; cloyingly sweet honey glazed chicken; oily, undercooked green beans with off flavor, lumpy mashed potatoes. My daughter's pasta was dry, shriveled and undercooked. Son's southern fried chicken bland... Also left uneaten.
(2)Megan A.
The Dark and Stormy cocktail was absolutely gorgeous and delicious. So were the bacon wrapped dates. Looking forward to going back for more than drinks and appetizers.
(5)Vinny T.
The food is really hit or miss here. Appetizers: Skillet Honey Butter Cornbread is light and fluffy and has kernels in it (4/5). Table Biscuits were extremely dry and the chow chow that came with it was overly sweet. I even like Popeyes biscuits over this... (1/5). Main Courses: Honey Thyme Glazed with Dakota Raw Honey Crispy Spatchcock Chicken had a nice crispy glazed skin that went well with the slightly dry meat. The vegetables (green beans, carrots, and mash potatoes) were very good and the portion of the entire entree was huge. (3/5) Poto Mac n Cheese was terrible even with the 7 cheeses in it. There was no flavor. Nothing. Absolutely no cream at all. (1/5) Dessert: Red Berry Port Sorbet was very tart and refreshing but nothing special. (3/5) Service can be slow due to the place being so packed. (3/5)
(3)Loesje T.
Saturday was our first foray into this much touted restaurant. It wasn't what it portends to be. Our service wasn't good at all, forgot the appetizer, brought the wrong drinks, no water, no silverware, no sugar, etc. We were constantly asking for something! The food was ok but something your grandmother would make and you should have learned to do yourself. But, alas, mothers don't cook much anymore so these recipes are lost in families. The ice-cream that was supposedly made daily had ice crystals on it, not fresh and not made that day. Restaurant was dirty. Food stuff on the floor, bits of paper, etc. No one had run a broom, etc. and it was late afternoon before the night rush of people. It was a cold atmosphere and rather dismal. I'll by-pass it but glad I tried it once. There are so many other organic restaurants that do a much better job.
(2)V P.
Like most of my fellow Yelpers, after visiting Founding Farmers in DC, I was excited to find that opened a location in Potomac, MD. I loved the location in DC & I was thrilled to see one nearby. We arrived around 8:30pm at the beautiful restaurant with the wait of about 45 minutes, so we decided to spend our time at the bar. The cucumber/melon drink was definitely amazing. For an appetizer, we decided on the fried green tomatoes. I thought they were heavily battered, but overall pretty good, especially with the dipping sauces. We chatted up the bartender for further recommendations & decided to stay at the bar, despite the hostess inviting us to our table. We ordered the Seafood Showstopper, the Rockfish (almond mushroom crusted), & the center cut filet. Can't say the three of us were overly exhilarated. The rockfish was a bit bland, the filet was dry & overcooked, but I enjoyed the showstopper. It literally stopped the show, as people stopped by to see what we ordered. The battered fish was over-salted, but nevertheless delicious. The mussels were very sandy (read: cracking between my teeth) and the pasta portion was not only an overload, but overcooked & plain. Overall, the ambiance is beautiful & full of good energy, but the food was ok and a bit pricey.
(3)M. K.
No idea why this place has only a 3-star average. I am very stingy with giving a place 5 stars but this one is definitely deserving of the rating. The hubs and I came here recently for a birthday dinner and didn't want to leave! The place was busy and noisy, especially for a Monday night, but I generally enjoy going to places with that kind of atmosphere. Who wants to be the only couple sitting in a dead silent restaurant? Not really my thing, anyway. It took the two of us about 15 minutes to get a seat, which was fine. We were immediately greeted by a friendly server and ordered up a round of beers. Their drink menu is extremely impressive because it uses all-natural ingredients - no run-of-the-mill sodas here. I got the double chocolate stout which was AMAZING. Highly recommended if you like stout, chocolate, or even just alcohol in general. It was seriously smooth. Bacon lolly and tot appetizer was very good (brown sugar bacon on a stick...mmmm) and burgers were cooked perfectly. The beef was fresh-ground and the sauce they put on their Frisco burger was perfect. The worst thing about this place was choosing from their giant menu. Will definitely be coming back to sample some of the other goodies.
(5)Alvin H.
I've been here a couple times now and decided to write a review. I've been here for dinner three times now. I give it three stars mainly because the food is honestly overpriced for the quality of taste and the service is a bit slow. Although we made reservations the first time, we still had to wait around 30 minutes after our reservations to be seated. The second time I was there, the same thing happened. The hostess was also giving free appetizers to groups ahead of us that had waited past their reservation time, which is nice, but seemed to have forgotten about my group. I had to ask if we were going to get the same treatment for waiting and this was promptly resolved. The wait staff was slow. I understand how busy a restaurant can get but don't take reservations if you consistently can't honor them. The ambiance is nice, and can get pretty noisy as its busy during dinner hours. The philosophy behind using local farm food is also very appealing. I've had the deviled eggs (ALL OF THEM), mussels, chicken pot pie, mac n cheese with lobster, and some other dishes I do not remember at this time. The chicken pot pie was not what we were expecting. It was the innards of the usual pie, with bread chunks thrown in. It was lukewarm and I honestly got sick of it halfway through the meal. I will have to say I was not thoroughly impressed with any of the dishes. They were either too salty, or tasted just okay. The food here is not something I would rave about. I've had a couple alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and these were very good. A bit pricey for how much you get but that's often the case with these kinds of hand-crafted drinks. Although I was not impressed with the food, my girlfriend loves their red velvet cake. Sometimes we stop by just to pick up a slice. I think the batter is a bit too dry/grainy but it is overall quite delicious. If you go to the bar area and order its usually faster because the bartenders are much more attentive. This restaurant has potential to be even greater, and I hope it improves in various manners.
(3)Bob L.
Founding Farmers has a lively and fun atmosphere. The food is creative, fresh, and tasty. The wait staff was eager and knowledgeable -- and even ready for our questions about what items were vegan and/or gluten free. They brought out the wrong dish for one of our guests, but quickly fixed the problem. The place is a quite a bit overpriced, but it is good for an occasional night out.
(4)linda B.
Food:Indelible! Had an egg thing for brunch and is was soooooo dried out and salty it could not be eaten. Service: Waitress seemed quite anxious for us to leave.
(1)Cynthia R.
Good food, good atmosphere. Seems to get pretty busy=little loud. I would definitely go back on "date night," but only with a reservation.
(3)Amanda B.
It's my second time there, and man, the service is just miserable. Our server Tristan was quite the jerk. I understand working during a lunch hour can be quite hectic and his delay to bring us a dessert menu wasn't a problem. That is, until he made it one, unapologetically stating that he just can't keep up the customer service when he has 8 tables. It's a freakin dessert menu; who cares. The least you can do is not be a jerk about it and make us sound like the bad guys. Rule of thumb in customer service: always let the customer thinks they know best. For how much you pay, you'd think it would cover a little more respect and less defensive tendencies in the staff. Food was fine, I had the scallops. Couldn't finish them because they were so salty, but was good all the while. Ice cream too was great. Service was just not up to par with other restaurants of its supposed caliber. I'm sure I'll go again, and hopefully get to write a much nicer review.
(1)Michelle D.
We visited today (Saturday) for my husband's birthday around 10:30am for brunch. We were seated immediately next to the bar. Bottom-line: Our waiter was terrible (his presence and service was sparse) but we will definitely be back b/c the food was outstanding esp. my husband's fried chicken, pancakes and eggs (he swapped waffles for pancakes). The pancakes were HEAVENLY... the stuff dreams were made of and that's just the regular ones (not the red velvet or others you can order). I ordered the Sausage, eggs, fresh fruit and homemade english muffins. The sausage was SO good and the fruit was so fresh, sweet and juicy but everything else was pretty ordinary. The butter and jam for english muffin did not arrive with my meal (which is not a big deal EXCEPT that our waiter was no where to be seen for long durations). I will definitely order what my husband ordered next time! His meal (or the pancakes alone) made our trip here worth it (and I am not a big pancake fan). More specifics about our service: It took him a while to greet us (and we're not too picky or intolerant about these things). And once he did come it would take another looooong wait before we could flag him down again. Our food took a long time to arrive (abnormally long). We were engaged in conversation for a long time and realized that we had sipped all of our pressed coffee and discussed many things and our food still was not there. Towards the end of the stay we just gave him our credit card for the bill b/c we knew once he left our sight it'd take him another lengthy duration before we'd see him again. If this place could make their service as good and consistent as their philosophy, their chefs and decor... they'd be hard to beat.
(4)Thomas B.
You're in Potomac. I get it. You feature an organic, farmer theme, but...come on. The food is overpriced and the drinks are OUTRAGEOUS. The food was just "eh". I ordered the salmon and my guest had the Spatchcock chicken. They are KNOWN for this chicken...well, his chicken was pretty bloody. He discovered it after he had eaten the first half and was pretty grossed out. The server took care of it and we were not charged, but still GROSS. YUCKY. My salmon was fine, but I was not overwhelmed. For the price, I would rather go elsewhere. Don't even ask about my mediocre $14 martini. There is no happy hour here, so they are missing out on their location close to offices. The place was loud and there were families with kids there, so if you are looking for a romantic place, I would not go here until after 8:00 PM. I was hoping this would be good, but I will not go back. Very disappointing. I hope they read Yelp because they also need to clean their dusty cloud off. If you go, look up and see the grey of the cloud. Gross, especially if it is hanging over your table!
(2)W T.
Over-rated I don't know what all the hype is about this place. Yes, I get that they use good wholesome local ingredients. But they need to make it taste good. The burger was just average and I did not like the chicken pot pie at all (too heavy). The pot roast was not bad but not spectacular. My husband tried the pulled pork sandwich at the DC location and he did not like it at all either. The only thing that may have been exceptional was the cornbread.it was moist and had real corn kernels. I don't plan to go back.
(2)Jeffrey T.
While I have frequented founding farmer's many times, I feel like there MoCo location goes down hill every time I visit and is a much different experience from that in DC. Classic that I have gotten there like the fried green tomatoes now come with a very thick bread crusting. The brunch items like the hashes lack flavor (almost like the Chef forgot the seasoning), and the last time I went there the waitress recommended the beignets ("best in the world"), well let me tell you, I had to set her straight. They were burnt (like the oil needed to be changed) and the inside was a Hole (like someone had carved out the inside) not airy and fluffy like they are suppose to be. Also they bring out caramel and chocolate sauce for them. Classic like beignets if done right don't need anything on the side. I still think there fresh fish cooked on sea salt block is good but expensive. So overall, while I used to be a fan of this place, waiting for one hour for a table (always people waiting out the door) is not something I will be adding to my list of things to do in the future. Especially considering all the restaurants in the area.
(2)Reena J.
I recently made a reservation for a large party I was put in touch with Rebecca who is AWESOME! She made it so easy even with all my changes. The other thing I really appreciated was being able to call ahead a preorder some appetizers for the party. All the staff who helped make this reservation were so nice and friendly over the phone. I would recommend Founding Farmers to anyone who is looking for a good spot for large parties. This was the only place we called that did not require us to sign a contract or put down a deposit or worse one place we tried required a ridicilious minimum amount for the bill. Thank You to everyone at Founding Farmers and espicially to Rebecca at the MoCo location.
(5)Michael L.
We had Sunday brunch a few weeks ago and loved it. Food was great with a slightly different spin on each of our dishes. Atmosphere was perfect in that the building resonates just enough to make it feel upbeat but not so loud that it's annoying. The service was spot-on, and we didn't have to wait long for our food despite the place being packed. the mason jars for your water and the mailbox for your check were nice touches. Also, the parking lot even has wide parking spaces (in MoCo!!).
(5)Dan H.
The managers did write us and offer to sponsor some app and a few drinks. I have to say that was very kind. I didn't write a review to troll for free bees but the thought was nice. I'll give them another try on my own dime.
(3)Rob K.
About 3.5 stars is where I'd put Founding Farmers. We've only gone for breakfast, and in fairness we do want to go for lunch or dinner, but we've had up and down experiences. I'll second what everybody has said about wait times. We've gone four times, each time with a reservation, and were seated promptly at our time. However, we've seen the waiting undergone by those without reservations and it doesn't look fun. Needless to say, I think reservations are very recommended. As for our food/dining experience, 2 times very good, and 2 times not so good. First time, 3 days after open: Good. Breakfast scramble with veggies and grits, huge bowl of grits, very good size of eggs/potatoes. Shared an order of beignets and dipping sauce which was amazing. Service a little slow, needed to ask for water, but no biggie, chalked it up to opening weekend. Second time: So-so. Ordered same breakfast scramble w/ grits. Small bowl of grits, sub-par scramble. (To the extent that if seemed like they only used one small egg for the whole dish....) The hangover special my partner got was very good though. Rasberry lime rickey, excellent. Slow service again, not so much for food, but as we finished our meal and awaited the check. It was 20+ minutes from finishing our order to getting our check. Third time: Great. Regular french toast for me, blueberry pancakes for partner, split side of eggs + sausage. Excellent breakfast. Attentive service, food brought quick. Great waitress. Fourth time: Bad. Same order as #3, but received blueberry topped french toast for both of us. I just scraped the blueberries off, disappointed. Partner wondered how 'blueberry pancakes' could be misconstrued as 'blueberry french toast'..... Worst part, we were charged for 3 french toasts (and the third was a plain!). Easy enough to fix, and the waiter apologized, but we were pretty disappointed overall with not getting our correct dishes and all. The food, at least breakfast, is very good when everything clicks. The prices for the food, we felt, were pretty fair for the portions, but the drinks (as one would expect) are pricey. (Try $5 for about 2 big sips of OJ...) It just felt to us that they're still going through some growing/just open pains. That being said, nearly every time we drive by the parking lot looks packed, so people seem to be interested/giving them a break. To us, the short falls seem more to be about service, which can hopefully be worked out over time.
(3)Once I.
This is a review of a brunch/lunch at the Founding Farmer's location in Potomac. We made reservations and showed up about 5 minutes early. After some initial confusion and a debate between the host and the wait staff we were seated in a booth upstairs. We sat down and were promptly moved to another table for reasons not explained. During brunch they offer both their brunch and lunch menu which is overwhelming to say the least. Two large oversized menus that our server couldn't keep straight. They offer a rotating tap of beers though our server didn't know what any of them were. We ordered a round of drinks and tea and the tea didn't arrive for 15 minutes because they "ran out of mugs". After that we ordered some cornbread and some popcorn for the table. The cornbread was warm and was definitely above average. The popcorn was inexplicably colder than room temperature, not even warm and stale. As the main course we ordered shrimp and grits, blueberry pancakes, waffles and fried chicken, and ribs, and fish and chips. Blueberry pancakes: They looked pretty good, sizable serving. Ribs: The person having these said they were quite good Chicken and Waffles: This looked good, but was pretty average. Additionally they have different sides according to if you order them for brunch of lunch (eggs vs. mac and cheese). The server did not point this out when it was ordered off the lunch menu, she received the breakfast version. Shrimp and Grits: This was the standout. It was quite well done. Fish and Chips: This was the biggest drawback to the meal. For $14 you receive two small strips of fish and a small paper bag of thin cuts fries with potato chips mixed into them for some reason. The small portion of fish was in a soggy batter and extremely salty, a huge disappointment. This dish comes with an 8oz tumbler of white beer which did not arrive with the dish. I had to remind the server of this and she brought the beer 10 minutes later. Overall this was a forgetful experience. The service was mediocre at best, tipping $20 off $110 check seemed a bit much for the server's overall lack of knowledge about the menu and lack of attention to the table. This is arguably the only place I've ever been , in the US or Europe, serving breakfast that has ever run out of coffee mugs during a brunch....strange. If you're going to go, I'd maybe hit the foggy bottom location.
(2)Gloria B.
I visited them a while back when they first opened and loved the food and decor, ever since then I have been dreaming of the shrimp and grits. I was very disappointed when I returned. The food took way too long. We had a 5:30 reservation and by the time we left there is was 7:30, and this was after rushing out with no dessert because that would have taken another hour. The food was not as good, and what was good was way over priced for the portion you receive.
(2)Devon N.
Our party of eight arrived for our 7:30pm reservation on a Friday. We were seated on time. It was busy & we finished eating at 9:30pm with no dessert. Homemade sodas were great. Do not recommend the very dry small plate table biscuits or cornbread. Chicken wings, bacon lollis, baby burgers, & brie flatbread were good. Milkshake was more milk & syrup than ice cream. 7-cheese mac&cheese, pulled pork & prime rib (salty) sandwiches, ribs, skirt steak enchilada, crispy shrimp, & spatchcock honey chicken, & meatless meatloaf were all tasty. The Italian wine was good but the Mai Tais were a lime concoction (we wanted the Hawaiian-style kind we had 2 yrs. ago at FF's DC location). Out the door with tax for $266 (tip extra). We've gone back for the high tea event and while the tea was great, the snacks were meh. We have gone again for dinner as well but found it very noisy, so we cannot carry on a conversation. These high ceilings in restaurants spoil any ambiance and make one feel as if you are eating in a mess hall or warehouse. Have not been back in a while.
(4)Patricia D.
Here in the DMV for a wedding, I immediately reached out to my local people for a good brunch spot with great food. The overwhelming reply was Founding Farmers. We were staying in Silver Spring so we first called the DC location and they had over an hour wait for 5 people buy suggested we try the Moco location. I walked in and asked for an outdoor table because it was a gorgeous day and it's a bit loud on the inside which I thought might bother my mother-in-law. I was told they would clean up a table for me so I was impressed it happened so fast... But then I waited, and waited and after about 10 minutes I asked about this alleged table and was told it was saved for a guest with a reservation. Hmmmm ok. We opted for inside seating and ended up in a nice corner booth so it worked out ok I guess. Our server shared the highlights of the restaurant after bringing us water. It's all farm fresh, mostly local and they even make their own sodas and some liquor from scratch. I had the strawberry-lime which was lightly sweetened and very refreshing so thumbs up for that recommendation. The table water is served lukewarm and it has a weird smell to it - maybe being from FL I'm just not used to their tap water but glad I had my soda. Now on to the food and why I gave this place a strong 4 stars. We started off with the mini burgers, beignets, garlic pepper wings and deviled eggs to share. The burgers were so tender and seasoned to perfection which onions, cheese and a light relish - and there are 6 of them on a plate! The beignets were light and served in a cute paper bag with powered sugar and 3 dipping sauces. Yum. They were a hit too. The eggs though simple but had great flavor, mixed with onion and other seasonings. And lastly the wings, sticky, strong garlic Sweet deliciousness. Another server came by and cleared our plates and took our forks. The problem is when our main meals came we had to wait for forks that they all of a sudden were short on. It took a few minutes for our server to track them down. For our main dishes we tried the dinner version of chicken and waffles - now let me say, I'm yet to have this combo and REALLY enjoy it. Either the waffle sucks or the chicken is bland. FF got this combo right. Well seasoned moist chicken, fluffy Belgium waffles but the star is their bourbon flavor syrup! I started putting it on everything. My beignets, my leek hashbrowns, my spoon. Their 7 cheese Mac is the real deal, in between baked mac and saucy Mac it was certainly cheesy. I tried the crab Benedict and my fave part was the homemade English muffins. They bake all their owns biscuits and breads there on site. There was a good portion of crab but the sauce it was in was a little over powering. I would have preferred less or none. Our server was very sweet and brought us to-go cups with tea and lemonade before we left. I can see why locals rave about this spot and I think even with a few missteps, it lives up to the hype.
(4)John M.
After dining here countless times, I have a few recommendations: 1. If it's an evening or weekend, make a reservation in advance. 2. Do try an appetizer even it's just the "popcorn of the day" AND save room for dessert. 3. Full bar available and for the non-drinkers, specialty sodas are worth a try. Appetizers to try: Popcorn (every specialty flavor is an excellent way to start the meal) Fried Green Tomatoes (amazing dipping sauces) Honey Butter Biscuits (again, incredible sauces) Entrees: Chickens and Waffles (best friend chicken, belgian waffle, mac n' cheese, and asparagus) Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke Salad (extremely different from any salad I've ever had; so many great flavors) Fried Chicken Salad (best fried chicken I've ever had) Chicken Pot Pie (a variation; chicken pot pie filling with 2 homemade biscuits on the side) Desserts: Carrot Cake Vanilla Bean Cheesecake Red Velvet Cake ***All HUGE portions; enough to share with another.
(5)Ijene L.
ALLLLRIGHTY.... So this is my 3rd Founding Farmers location after trying DC and Tysons corner. How does this sibling stack up? Uhhhhh...well. Id like to call this location, the bipolar half sibling annnnd I'll tell ya why. Walk with me... OK...so I made a 10 am reservation, figuring Ive done dinner, Ive done lunch but never my favorite meal. What the whaaa? Gotta cover all bases right? OK. So I get there and parking is easy breezy, lemon squeezy. AWESOME. Having said that, I walked through the door and couldve froze ice on the hostesses arce. She barely spoke and didnt crack a smile or ANYTHING. I was almost jarred by it. Rarely does that happen...uh anywhere! I was seated quickly at a nice spot in the center of this oddly decorated, post modern, industrial slash Old MacBoughie had a farm motif...it'll do I guess. LOL Here's where we go from sweet Mommy Dearest to NO MORE WIRE HANGERS!!! The waiter was an older gentleman, slow and deliberate moving, strolling from table to table like Andy Dufresne in the damn Shawshank prison yard. I mean...you dont have to fly over to me, but DAMN...10 mins before a drink order? Lame. He was knowledgeable but snotty and short with me and I just didnt care after about 3 sentences. It wasnt busy, so his demeanor was bizarre. SMH Anyway, I placed my order EVENTUALLY ...FOR THE DRINK ONLY!. Took another 11 minutes (I timed it) to get him to come back to my table for my food order...My food came about another 15 mins later and I was FINALLY eating... I just...siiiiighhhhhh...UNDERWHELMED with service. K...The food comes and bipolar MOCO FF turns into the best thing EVER! I honestly wanted to give this place 4 stars if it weren't for service, BUT,,,saving grace...the biscuits and gravy...OH MAH GAHHHHH... It was just SO good I needed a moment to readjust my attitude. LOL The waiter NEVER NOT ONCE came to ask me how the food was or anything until I finished eating and thats a real shame, because it wouldve been THE ONE thing I wouldve raved about. The biscuits and gravy came with two perfectly poached eggs and sausage layered like a Benedict and it was ...IMMACULATE. PERIOD. Black pepper maple bacon...IMMACULATE. PERIOD! Grits....IMMACULATE! EXCLAMATION POINT! :) I really enjoyed the food. That being the most important element, they DID NOT screw up. It is the only reason Id be back. Overall, I have to give hot and cold MOCO branch a rating of pretty good. I really think the food deserves 4 maybe even 5 stars, but the service was just so cold and slow and uninspired that I cant justify a fourth which is a pity because the food kicks all kinds of bootay... If they work on greeting customers, and employ waitstaff that cares about the brand they'll be on par with DC and ripe for awesomeness! Until next time... 3/5 tummy rubs.
(3)James M.
I've always had a satisfying meal at the DC location, and today I finally got around to trying the MoCo location for Breakfast/Brunch. Everything went smoothly as expected, and then some. We got the Chicken & Waffles ($12), Biscuits & Gravy ($10), Uncle Buck's Beignets ($8). OJ ($5), and Coffee ($4). Chicken - 5, Waffle - 3, Together - 4 Biscuits & Gravy - 3 (definitely will not be ordering again) Uncle Buck's Beignets - 4 (we only liked caramel out of the 3 sauces. next time I'll ask for 3 servings) OJ - 5 (small but DELICIOUS. definitely the best OJ I've had in quite some time. MUST TRY!) Coffee - 3 Downstairs seating was packed, so we sat at a booth upstairs, which was nice and spacious. Convenient location, free parking with validation, friendly service, Wi-Fi, fantastic food. Thanks for yet another great meal! We'll definitely be back to try your other delicious dishes.
(4)june k.
Chicken and waffle is a must!!!! Got the tuna salad. It tasted great but the random white chocolate flakes that were added was kinda random.
(4)Lexi Z.
Haven't gotten to the food yet, it's 7:40 and we are waiting for my 7:15 reservation! Don't take reservations if you can't honor them.
(2)Connie Y.
*Their customer service did a great job at responding to this complaint and this was definitely an isolated incident.* This was possibly the WORST SERVICE I've ever had at one of my favorite restaurants!! It began wonderfully with an Open Table reservation on Thursday night at 6:45pm that was kept on time, and a waiter that initially appeared welcoming. We even ordered the dishes he recommended because he seemed to offer his honest opinion and was deceivingly friendly enough. Our food arrived in a timely fashion and my two girlfriends and I were enjoying ourselves with food and conversation. Our waiter would even come periodically to ask how everything was. SUDDENLY, he came back and asked if were done with dinner even though we still had our forks in our hand. We even had food on our entree dishes, so we said no. He came back in about 10 minutes. Because he asked us again if were done eating AGAIN, we just said yes because it became frustrating. I still had food on my plate! He then began to clear our tables and said he'd return in a minute to give us our dessert menus. After we decided not to have any dessert, he proceeded to have our check ready in a minute even though we were talking amongst ourselves and didn't even ask for the check yet. He had it ready even though we had just one minute ago turned down dessert. What if I wanted coffee a minute later?!? This all happened within the span of 15 minutes. When we hadn't even put our credit cards down yet, he had already returned and asked if we were ready to pay!! My friends and I were so speechless, we couldn't even have a pleasant conversation because it kept getting interrupted. This restaurant needs quality control for their waiters. ON AN ENRAMPAGEMENT! (Yes, I know it's not a word)
(1)Natalie K.
This was some good dining. It started off with a great cocktail--something gin and fizzy with a lemon twist--and went from there. I could probably have eaten the whole platter of corn bread and washed it down with a housemade soda and called it a night, but I kept going with the fried green tomatoes, a salt-crusted ribeye, some Israeli couscous, and the ginger peach sorbet. My friend ate the pot roast, which caused me more than a little envy. She came across an unknown veggie in the pot roast that stumped us both, and within a few minutes someone from the kitchen was at our table to ID the veggie as a golden beet! Delicious! The only agonizing part about eating here is the decisions you will make. That said, it's hard to second-guess your choices when you're so busy with mouth-bliss. The atmosphere was bustling and had a fresh decor--nothing stuffy--and I could have easily enjoyed an evening at the bar if we hadn't thought to make reservations. I still get a little happiness thinking about this meal two weeks later, and can't wait to go back.
(5)Megan B.
Like every other Founding Farmers in the area, this place is great - delicious food and totally affordable. The hostess seated us right behind the hostess stand and I almost said something, but it turns out fine that I didn't. There's a big partition between the seat and the stand, and somehow you feel like you're part of the bar area and not three feet from the door. Food was amazing, per the photos. I've only ordered burgers at Founding Farmers, but I've enjoyed them every single time. I was pleasantly surprised by the side salad as well. They call it a "house" salad, but it's got avocado and grapes and I don't know what else, it was just so yummy. The happy hour looked happening too. Actually, by 5:30 the place was filling up, and every time I've gotten to a FF after 6, I've needed to wait. So make that reservation. You won't regret it. Parking at this location SUCKS. It's in a new shopping development with too many stores and not enough parking. Good luck.
(4)Carol F.
LOVED the food. Ordered chicken and waffles - pretty good. Honestly I didn't go too crazy for them. Had them with mac and cheese and lemony green beans for sides. Sounds silly, but the sides stood out more to me (I'm a little cheese-crazy...:D) BUT. The most amazing, mind-blowing part was appetizers. Omg. The pesto bread appetizer was downright amazing. Maybe I was really hungry that day. Because it was like the best thing I've ever eaten. Deserves it's own paragraph. Try it, gogogo! Fried green tomatoes were also amazing. Maybe next time I come here I'll just order all starters for my meal. 4 stars though, because our party had a reservation, we showed up early, and still waited about 30 minutes or so. Hosts didn't really seem too concerned. Sorry, but that pretty much defeats the purpose of a reservation? Nevertheless, will definitely be coming back to try more things on the menu. Maybe dc location next time?
(4)Tim H.
With food this good we had to give it another shot. Despite having a reservation and getting there on time we had to wait about 15 minutes. Grr. But other than that it was a much better experience. As luck would have it we got the exact same waiter, who was flawless this time, suggesting what happened last time was not the norm. I'll keep coming back, so more stars might be in order shortly. And of course, the food and drinks were tremendous. FF's menu (especially the drinks menu) is so extensive and so consistently good you could come back every week and have a new experience each time. Often at places with a bar this good I would recommend sitting at the bar itself, talking to the bartender, and getting a couple highly customized drinks. Unfortunately this particular location requires you to drive there, so that becomes less of a useful strategy. But if you've got a DD, that would likely be a cool evening.
(3)Mariella B.
Enjoy this place for the ambiance and the food is delicious. Boyfriend and I decided to come here for a date night after he got off work at 7:30. I was a bit hesitant since I know how crowded it gets and I saw on Open Table that all the 7:30-8:00 slots were unavailable. But from my experience Open Table reservations are less reliable and it's just better to go in person to the restaurant. When we arrived we saw a packed parking lot, a bunch of people standing outside and around the door so I figured there would be a wait, and the tables full. I said there we there was two people and we didn't have a reservation....how long would the wait be, the hostesses response "I'm going to seat you now." Hmmm....weird? So she takes up upstairs and there we find all this open sitting that they've been hoarding? I figure since it's a Saturday people came earlier in the day to eat like 5ish-6:00. So def glad we took our chance on coming here because the whole Open Table operation can throw some people off and may not want to come and take the risk. We start off OF COURSE with the combo pitchfork (bacon lollies & tators) I normally hate mustard but I love the ketchup/mustard seed sauce they give you. Also for drinks we decided to go with beer this time instead of the usual cucumber melon and some manly drink. I got the seasonal lager and he got the IPA, seasonal was good since it's summer time it's pretty sweet. For dinner he ordered the chicken pot pie, which comes with two pieces of biscuit on top in a pot versus an actual pie (I prefer a pie crust) but he liked this version. I ordered the meat loaf, instead of mashed potatoes I got fries and the vegetables I chose the snow pea and cucumbers (which come cold.) I really enjoyed the cold snow peas/cucumbers but the meat loaf was dry and the oregano and I think it was thyme or Italian seasoning that overpowered each bite. I ended up returning the dish for a grilled cheese and tomato soup, my sister got this last time and it looked delicious. When it came out the bread had barely been grilled, the cheese barely pulled apart, and the fries were still hard. I figured they were rushing to get the food out to me but the only edible item on the plate was the tomato soup. Randy our server asked if everything was okay and we explained to him. Amanda the manager came out and apologized and offered for us to take something home or a dessert, we opted for beignets since I filled up basically nibbling on the dishes. The beignets were on point like always. The nice gesture from the manager was great and added an extra star for this visit.
(4)Cathy K.
Came here for Saturday brunch, quite busy but there wasn't any wait. Friendly waitstaff got our large party with two little kids seated quickly. I haven't visited the world famous chicken and waffles places in NYC, namely Amy Ruth's, even after living here for 15 years, so there's no means of comparison. I had my first chicken and waffles experience EVER here and if I die having no other experience, I'll be fine because from the gravy, waffles, to the chicken - everything was slammin! Also, there was a side of eggs, I asked for scrambled and it was quite good, nothing out of this world but very solid and better seasoned than others I've had. Even with a larger than average appetite, I was stuffed and full for over half the day which is incredibly rare - an excellent value. Asked for GRAVY on the side in a small rammikin that ketchup comes in at other restaurants. Nice seasoning and spice, can't describe the flavor but it was definitely present without being overpowering. Went so perfectly with the chicken and waffles. Waffles - slightly crispy on the outside and perfectly soft on the inside. Slight cinnamon taste, just how I've heard it should be. CHICKEN - dios mio. So good!!!!! The best part. My aunt lives in the area, has had the C&W here before and told me it can be greasy. As you can see from the pics I included, no gleaming specks of grease, just crispy, flavorful perfection. In case you didn't know, it's boneless, so it's like chicken fingers - probably the best you'll ever have, at that! Red velvet cake with vanilla ice cream - the ice cream had a hand-spun texture and was so, so good. The red velvet cake was huge - even as a to-go order, it was almost the serving size of an average pasta dish at most restaurants. It took me three days to finish on my own and I didn't even eat it entirely but it started going bad... And the all-natural concept on top of it all? I wish I could find a place like Founding Farmers in NYC without having to pay $20 for a (small) plate. All you two-star givers are so ungrateful! :(
(5)Brian I.
Best American food I've ever had -- home-grown, made from scratch and fresh as can be.
(5)Anita C.
The two-star "Meh. I've experienced better" accurately sums up my experience at Founding Farmers. Contrary to many Yelp reviews, the service wasn't my concern with the restaurant. I had no problems with making a reservation for a Friday lunch, nor with getting seated. We got to the restaurant around 12:15pm and we were immediately seated. Our waiter was very pleasant, attentive, and helpful. Now for the food...we sampled: 1) Bacon lollis/tater tots combo ($8): the bacon lollis were actually my favorite item during lunch. It's literally a nice, thick chunk of bacon on a skewer. Be warned though, the bacon is very, very oily and greasy. However, the flavor truly impressed me. The bacon was salty and sweet, and the meat was cooked well. The tater tots were nothing special. 2) Devil-ish eggs (featured on the Food Network) ($4): they taste...like regular deviled eggs. A little too much mayo stuffed in them for my liking. 3) Crazy corn salad ($13): This was my entree, and one of my main issues with the dish was that the roasted chicken in my salad was ice cold. I had expected chunks of warm, flavorful chicken atop a bed of mixed greens and veggies. However, the chicken was cold, dry, and pretty flavorless. I enjoyed the chunks of mango (not listed in the item description) and caramel popcorn in the salad. 4) Chicken pot pie ($14): My friend's chicken pot pie came out very lukewarm in temperature, as opposed to steaming hot as we would've liked. We suspected that while eating our appetizers, our food had been sitting out for awhile. The pot pie was creamy and generous in portion, but its lukewarm temperature threw us off. He also added a generous amount of salt and pepper, stating that it was too bland. I think Founding Farmers has a lot of potential, especially because there are no restaurants of its kind in Montgomery County. I enjoy the idea of using fresh ingredients and locally sourced cooking, especially having just moved from San Francisco, the heart of this kind of cooking. However, I think they need to fine tune their flavors and ensure consistent dishes that come out hot and well-seasoned. I may be back, as my friends have recommended their fish dishes and skirt steak, but my first experience left me very underwhelmed.
(2)Sara K.
This is an update to my 08/22/2012 review. After writing the original review, a representative from Founding Farmers reached out to me addressing my concerns about the front staff. The rep was incredibly prompt and offered to remedy any issues we had with our original experience. I do appreciate the fact that management has an ear to the ground, and responded back to a Yelp review with such attentiveness. My overall impression of the restaurant, still, is that the front (host) staff just does not do as good of a job as the servers in the restaurant. I do not know whether this is a training issue, an issue with overall attitude, an issue with volume of the customers coming through the front doors, etc. But the bottom line is: while servers in the restaurant earn every penny of their wages and tips, I'm not sure that the front staff pulls their weight the same way. This observation is based on numerous visits to the restaurant. We did take up the management's offer of a free meal, and have since gone back several times with friends and family. We've always enjoyed our meal (brunches, especially), and the quality of the food and table service bring us back. Ultimately, I am very glad to have a Founding Farmers location in Montgomery County, as I think it's a great addition to the restaurant community here in the 'burbs. I'm even willing to deal with a little bit of annoyance for a few minutes at the front of the house to get to my table.
(4)Grace M.
Friendly, if not busy staff. Drinks are delicious. Food is meh at best, just not impressed. Bacon lollies and corn bread are the best items on the menu. This place is overhyped.
(2)Sarah S.
Blueberry stuffed French toast was good. The fluffer nutter butters (the appetizer with bananas and peanut butter) were not. Would go again for the French toast.
(3)Michael B.
My favorite restaurant in the Rockville area - and Rockville has good restaurants to begin with. I've never had a bad meal here - the pepper gnocci is excellent, the carolina bbq is excellent, the fish is excellent almost any way you prepare it (I recommend the meuniere or salt block preparations), the spatchcock chicken is excellent (the Brussels sprouts that come with it are AMAZING, and have forced me to look at Brussels sprouts in a whole different way). Their phosphate sodas are pretty unique if you like tart drinks. I also recommend the bacon lollies and their red onion flatbread.
(5)Jessica N.
**A final update after another ten visits or so** My friends and I enjoy eating here around 9am when they're still serving breakfast but the place is quieter and not too busy. More than half the time we go for breakfast we get the same server and he's very unpleasant and impersonal. We try extra hard to be nice or cheery but it's no use. And every time, I order my iced latte and ask for the cream to sweeten it. And every time, he asks me to repeat it like he's never heard this request before and I'm a pain in the ass. I really wish they had better service here. I can only think of one server that's memorable in a POSITIVE way. The food is what keeps us coming back. It's delicious! Wish the service put me and my friends in a better mood. Until their service is more reliable, this place will continue to be a 3 to 4 star experience. **I've edited this review after a great third visit this past weekend.** Overall, the food is great. The service fluctuates but our most recent experience (3/24/13) with Chris was fantastic. The brunch was delicious and the beignets that he recommended were exceptional. Management is very nice and quick to respond. We'll definitely be back for brunch again and again! **Original review below** Went here for brunch. They were PACKED so we sat at the bar. We ordered eggs benedict. Our eggs arrived with no silverware. We waited for forks/knives as our food cooled. Our friends arrived 20 mins later, ordered the same thing, and waited 4 or 5 mins for silverware. Seemed to be a pattern. Our ticket was brought to us before asking if we wanted drinks or dessert. We felt like an inconvenience to them from start to finish. Overall, poor service but great food, so we decided to return today, 12/26/12. It was about 40% occupied when we arrived. The hostess sat us at a tiny table pushed up against the staff register. The waiter had to tuck his elbows in to keep from hitting my husband in the head. We asked to move to one of the 7 or 8 wide open booths. They moved us. Our waitress took our drink order (bloody mary and sweet iced tea). Our drinks arrived and we asked if the burgers were good. "Which one?" she asked. ("Frisco.") "Oh, it's okay.. its good." is how she described the Frisco burger. She couldn't tell us the portion size of two of the meals so we gave up asking questions and ordered the "okay" burger. The burgers and fries were DELICIOUS. The waitress checked on us once, brought my husband a beer, and never offered to refill my iced tea or bring water. I finally caught her after I'd finished all my food and was really thirsty. She told me that she'd have to charge me for another sweet iced tea or I could have ONE free refill of unsweet tea. I asked for unsweet tea. She cleared our plates and later came back to see I still had no drink. She brought our check and asked if I still wanted a drink. Wth? "Yes!!! I'm thirsty!!" She brought it, I finished it in one gulp, and we paid the bill. The kicker was that stupid iced tea was $4 a glass! For iced tea?
(4)Andy W.
This is by far the best brunch spot in the area. Every time I go, I get the chicken and waffles. Great food, great service, overall a great experience.
(4)Amanda L.
Heard lots of reviews regarding this restaurant from friends and online comments. Finally decided to try the one in Potomac. We made a reservation and arrived on time. The parking is connected with Harris Teeter parking to the left which could be an issue during rush hours, and the restaurant is to your right. It's a new neighborhood in Potomac and some buildings are still being built. We got a table for two near the corner which is quiet nice as I put the request to be as private dinning experience as possible, apparently, they consider that when seating tables. The waiter is very knowledgeable about the food and make good recommendations for drinks. I chose the a soda something like today's vicky. Then the other party has ginger draft soda. The spicy and sweet wings are so good as it was cooked with honey and glazed on the wing skins. Chicken and waffle is a signature but we asked it to be cooked without cheese so it came out a little dry for the chicken meat. Mine is BBQ boneless ribeye. The portions for us are big and we end up pack half of the ribeye home. The entree came with two crop sides and broccolini is definitely my favorite. We ended the dinner with two ice creams: deep chocolate and Dulce de Leche (flavor of the season). You can tell it's greenly sourced and tasty. I saw lots of families dine out for special occasions, lots of businessmen came after work. So it's good for any kind of events. I would say they cooked the food in the right way with right ingredients that fit all foodies.
(4)Richard S.
If I've posted this before, I apologize. But still the worst bar service of any place I can recall. Now, you don't come here to hang out at the bar. But is it asking too much that, if you're sitting at the bar waiting for someone, prepared to order a drink, you at least get acknowledged within 5 minutes?
(2)Tara S.
I was (and am!) super-excited about a MoCo restaurant with a whole vegan menu. You mean my friends can chow down on delicious animal parts and I can order something other than french fries? Sign me up! But the vegan food at this location just seems...meeeh. I've had the bacon burger and the meatloaf (yes, I love me some faux meat), and they both seemed awfully bland. Not a dealbreaker, but for $14-$18 an entree, I'd like to have a reaction more positive than *shrug.* I was happy to suffer in silence since I assumed my friends were enjoying some really exceptional meaty cheesy deliciousness. But now that I see the MoCo location's 3-star Yelp consensus, I wonder if they were suffering in silence too, assuming I was enjoying my many vegan options... Meat-lovin' fiance agrees; not impressed. Bummer this place doesn't seem as good as the DC location. It sure is beautiful though! An aside to Dan, the Founding Farmers guy who answers all negative Yelp reviews with a defensive attitude: READING your business' Yelp reviews is a totally awesome way to identify problems you can fix going forward. ARGUING with your business' Yelp reviews just makes everyone reading these a little less impressed with the Founding Farmers Experience. You should probably stop.
(3)Jeremiah R.
I'm giving it four stars but I'm feeling like it was a 3 1/2 star experience. I've been to the location in DC before and had a wonderful meal. It was my birthday and I wanted to get the fried chicken and waffles. I went with my family of five (three kids) and we had a great meal. They don't have a kids menu and the prices are $10 and up - so it was more expensive than usual. All of us enjoyed the food we ate but the drinks all lacked to us. They make all of their food and drinks and get fresh ingredients from local farms so the quality is excellent. However, nobody in my family really cared for any of our drinks and spending $5.00 on a soda for a kid just doesn't feel right. The payoff is the food is excellent though. We had fried green tomatoes, bacon wrapped stuffed figs, fried chicken and waffles with mac and cheese, southern fried chicken and mashed potatoes, grilled cheese and tomato soup. Everybody really enjoyed the food they ordered and we would certainly come back again to eat. I'm thinking we would make it more of a date night for the wife and I since it gets too expensive with the kids. Loved sitting outside and the area that it is in is really starting to be a cool little spot. Overall, it's worth trying and this is a great addition to MoCo's dining options. I think this would be a great spot to bring family/friends that are from out of town. Trendy, upscale feeling, and quality food. All the things out-of-towners like.
(4)Christopher Galen D.
My first visit at this location in Montgomery County. This place has better parking than in Washington. I had a shrimp pasta and salad.
(5)Charles W.
The food was good. I tried their meatless dish with grilled cauliflower and risottos. it was not bad. the customer service was the best.
(4)M C.
Love this place! Food was great and service was attentive. Very busy, even for a monday night - which I guess is a good sign! Definitely recommend!
(4)Doo P.
This place is one of those Farm to Table theme restaurant. All the items did taste fresh from the farm, but the main entrees lack flavor. Said the Fried Chicken & Waffle was good here but had better elsewhere. This place is only really good for drinks & their small plates. The best thing here is their devilish eggs combo & flat bread spreads. So, if you are in the mood of just hanging out with friends for drinks & snacks... This is the place. Save your money for dinner somewhere else.
(3)Bren F.
Went on Mother's Day, and it was not the first time dining there. Rezzie was at 3 pm, they weren't particularly busy. I have ate dinner there a few times, lunch and breakfast. The food is okay, nothing fabulous. It is presented well, etc. So yesterday, for some reason our table of 5, was sat at a table for 10? 2 of the 5 were 6 and under. After we were sat, we waited about 10 minutes for a waiter to acknowledge us and give us a high chair for my 1 year old. I did specifically ask in the reservation for a high chair. Once the food was ordered everything came out fine, except for the fact that Founding Farmers REALLY DOESN'T LIKE KIDS. I mean really can't stand them and resents parents who bring them into their restaurant. For example, no kids menu ( if there is one, it was not presented)...for me this is not a dealbreaker, I rarely order off the kids menu for my kids, anyway. The waiter suggested that they could make noodles and Parmesan for the kids. The KIDS parm noodles came out with pepper flakes in them - BIG GIANT Pepper flakes. I personally like spice and eat Indian curries, wasabi on my sushi, thai food, etc. Find me a child who likes to actually see spice in their food at my kid's age?! My 6 year old barely touched them - 1 year old thought they were the best thing ever - she eats everything, anyway! The waitress made sure to say everything was made to order, so the kitchen thinks the KID's parm noodles (receipt said KIDS NOODLES) should have noticeable spice in them???? I am mostly vegetarian (eat some seafood/fish, no other meats), in the past I was excited to see their vegan/vegetarian menu. Well, meh, boring, and re-purposed is what that is! On a previous trip, my sister ordered one item off the veg menu, I ordered a different one - we realized they re-purposed the meat like lentil innards for each of our entrees. Wow, not what I was expecting at all. So this time, I told myself the grilled cheese/tomato soup combo will be fine and I will not venture out past that to be disappointed - it was fine, but the tomato soup was a little spicier than I recalled, which meant I couldn't share it with my spice-shy 6 year old - once again, 1 year old scarfed it down. I ordered brocollini instead of the beef lard fries/chips. Well, they put cayenne pepper on it, so there was no way I could offer it to either of my kids, and they love vegetables?! The morale of the story, is that I am done with this restaurant. They lack originality and most important they REALLY DON'T LIKE KIDS. Don't get me started that the french fries are made with beef lard. Since, I need to feed my kids and like to/have to take them with me when I eat - I am crossing this place off the list.
(2)John J.
Scratch ginger soda and Manhattan soda were great. Pork ribs was good but the fried chicken and waffles was average. I agree with some people that the fried chicken wasn't as crispy but the waffle was good. My wife and I would go back. I would definitely recommend making reservations.
(4)Deborah N.
Lotsa mistakes. So many that they comped my meal. But food was so good, I will be back. Seriously, though, even though I went on Day Two, the fact that my server did not know which salad dressings the restaurant had was irksome. It's not like they didn't give them a month of training. Actual exchange: Me: What kind of salad dressings do you have? (They were not printed on the menu.) Server: I, uh, I uh, Honey Mustard??? Uh, what would you prefer? Me: I would prefer to have a server who knew which salad dressings they served in his restaurant!
(3)SY Y.
I love their fried chicken and waffles, and I usually order that whenever I come here for brunch. It is just done so well. My husband loves their pancakes, especially their maple syrup. We came here recently for dinner, and I was happy to discover their dinner to be just as good. My husband ordered their Founding Farmers burger with louie dressing (Louie, Louie, Louie, Louie??), and he said it was delicious. You could definitely taste the freshness of the meat and it came out medium rare, just like what he ordered. Not almost well done medium rare, not blood-dripping rare, but a proper medium rare. My seven-cheese mac and cheese was heavenly, even though it was probably 1000 calories, but it was so worth it. If you have room for dessert, I recommend their red velvet cake. A gigantic slice of greatness at a very reasonable price.
(5)Raycal B.
This place is delightful. Tried the Chateau Julienne Moscato which was very light and sweet. Complimented the meal very well. As small plates, we got the Black Pepper Wings and the Cornbread and tried the Popcorn of the day, which was Cheddar popcorn, it was tasty. I got Farmers Tea to drink and my husband got the Arnold Palmers, both were very good. For our main course I got the Fried Chicken & Waffles which came with Green Beans and Mac & Cheese and my husband got the Honey Glazed Chicken which came with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans. The cornbread was so fresh and delicious. Tasted like my grandma went and got a ear of corn and shucked it herself. We got the Red Velvet Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for dessert. That cake was HUGE!!! Couldn't even dare to get through half of it. My favorite dish by far was the Macaroni & Cheese. Please, whatever you do...order it. You won't regret it. Best Mac&Cheese EVER IN LIFE! I can't wait to go back again. A Foodie's Delight. All Food is made fresh when you order it.
(5)Brandon B.
FF never disappoints! The food is great and the staff is even better. One of my fav restaurants in the area.
(5)Catherine K.
Definitely make a reservation! I made one for 5:45pm and was seated right away. I have heard wonderful things about this place, but I thought that it was just ok. For my main dish, I ordered the butternut squash mascarpone ravioli. The butternut squash was tasty, but the ravioli felt too heavy after only a couple of bites. I will not order this again if I ever come back. My family and I shared three rolls (chicken salad, shrimp, and crab). These were yummy and my favorite thing out of everything that I ate. I also ordered the popcorn of the day and was sorely disappointed with the taste of it. It tasted stale and poorly seasoned. The restaurant itself has a cool and modern vibe to it. But, it is very loud and I could hardly hear what my family members were saying. I really wish I could give this place better reviews but the food I ordered and the ambience leads me to give it three stars. If I come back, I will try the other menu items and hope that I will be more pleased with them.
(3)Mike C.
If this restaurant was a pet, it would be a pug dog. If it were a sports team, it would be the Mets, and if it were a movie, it would star Nic Cage. Once you experience it, you're keenly aware that things can and should be better. After a 15 minute wait to shown to our "reserved" table, we ordered a sort of devilied egg sampler platter, cornbread, and salmon done two different ways, along with a glass of wine and a beer. I will say right off the bat that that's some of the best cornbread I've ever had. Consistency light and fluffy, yet crusty and firm around the edges. Taste just sweet enough and just salty enough, and with a few of those hokey corn kernels hanging around inside. And our server was good: as attentive and friendly as he could be given the workload. The meal: the eggs completely lacked pep or zing and we had difficulty telling the lobster from the crab ones; the salmon, both plates, was overdone--dry and lacking any joy, especially my mustard sauced-almond-crusted version, which looked and tasted like a frozen dinner; and my date's wine looked like a 6 oz pour. My beer was great though, Brooklyn Winter Seasonal, but I can't really credit FF with its brewing. And all this for $100...hmm. There are so very many much better ways to spend a C-note. Metaphorically speaking here, get a shelter shepherd instead of the pug; see the roller derby instead of the Mets, and for gods sake pick up a half dozen Fringe tickets before seeing the 3D Nic Cage movie with all the popcorn and stuff. Sadly, I can't imagine the set of circumstances which would bring me back or recommend Founding Farmers. One star for terrific cornbread though!
(1)Marc H.
Thank. God. I can't believe there's finally a legitimate restaurant in Potomac proper. I came back in town this weekend to visit my parents and had the opportunity to check out the new restaurant. Wow. Loved the scene (it was packed!), and can't wait to come back. First off the space is gorgeous. Like the mainstay in DC, it gives off a modern rustic feel. The attention to detail here is clearly evident, I love all the small touches. When you walk through the revolving doors you're greeted by the host stand as well as the bar off to the left. The bar itself is great... there's seating all the way around, the selection is insane (unbelievable they have all this in Montgomery County!), and of course the cocktails themselves are delicious. The cucumber cocktail thing they have is the perfect summer drink. The food? Yea, it rocks. I've been to the DC location tons of times and I think it's great that the Potomac location has a slightly different menu than the one in DC. We had the pitchfork combo, with the bacon lollies and the tots. Yep, the bacon lollies are just as good here as they are in DC. The mini cheeseburgers are great for sharing and they were cooked perfectly. And if you've never had the brie and onion jam flatbread I'd argue you've never really eaten delicious food. For entrees, I had the spatchcocked chicken. Heh, spatchcock. Good times. But seriously, order it, you won't regret it. One of my friends got the Carolina BBQ with Fixings entree... holy moly! She loved it, I loved it, we loved it, you'll love it. Founding Farmers BBQ, get some. Overall, this is a MUCH NEEDED addition to the restaurant scene in MoCo. I think the Park Potomac area itself is going to do very well in general, and I'm thrilled to have a new go-to restaurant in my old hometown.
(5)U P.
Delicious food and great ambiance! Great alternative to the DC location because there's parking and it's not quite as busy :)
(5)Massiel G.
So this is our second time coming to try this place. The first time I don't even want to come back but after my fiancé talking to the owner we decided giving a second try. Our waiter was John and he was soooo amazing he recommended the wings and let me tell you this wings were a touch of heaven. Second he recommend it the chicken pot pie I just end up having breakfast traditional one. And my son had a hotdog with fries. The mimosa was sooo good and for desert we got the carrot cake that was sooooooo goood I'm so happy with John recommendation we had a great time and will be coming back again I'm glad we decide to give it another try.
(5)Matthew S.
Rolled into Founding Farmers on a last minute reservation opening for some brunch. This is a great place for kids as the noise level is loud and the portions are a good size so that you can share plates with them and not have to pay for a "kids meal". I ordered the gravy and biscuits with leek potatoe hash and my wife ordered the bourbon french toast. The biscuits and gravy were tasty but nothing to write home about. Instead of having pork sausage in the gravy they chose to have a patty on a biscuit with the gravy poured over it with poached eggs on top. The poached eggs were a little overdone but still provided some runny yolk to really help the dish. The leek potatoe hash had a mild flavor and needed more salt to really fine tune it. Personally, an addition of some spice would have helped this disk. The Bourbon French Toast was excellent as always (I had a piece of my wife's). Tastes like a fried doughnut as the batter had to have had some sugar in it to give it a crisp texture. Very delicious. I would highly recommend. The unfortunate thing that always seems to throw the servers off is the request for any syrup being warmed up. They have an adverse reaction at the request when instead they should be ready to serve. Just a thought. Overall, love the concept of Founding Farmers and the food. We will always be back for more.
(4)Rennie S.
We had a very special occasion (my in-laws' 35th wedding anniversary) and always celebrate after Thanksgiving. Guests come from as far as Scottsdale, AZ to attend; and we have a diverse group of foodies, some of whom are vegan. After reading a few negative reviews and a snotty exchange with a hostess over the phone, I was extremely concerned that I had made a bad choice and began looking for an alternative restaurant. I couldn't find another place on short notice that would meet all of our needs, so I kept the reservation. We arrived on time and were promptly seated at a big, comfortable booth. Our server came over shortly, and while she was obviously new (she did not know if the bar stocked Johnny Walker Black, or any scotch for that matter), she was very friendly and committed to doing a good job. The drinks came in a reasonable time frame (about 7-8 minutes for 5 cocktails on a busy Friday seemed acceptable) and were brought up by a bar runner. We ordered appetizers and soup; and the entrees were served directly after the appetizers were cleared. What we had: Squash Bisque: disappointed that they were out of tomato, but pleasantly surprised that the squash was so good; very creamy and not too sweet. Popcorn of the Day: (ranch) couldn't put it down - very good if you like popcorn. Fried Green Tomatoes: crisp and perfectly salted. Short Ribs: outstanding barbecue sauce and very tender but served with a bland and soggy side of steamed spinach. Plank Salmon: was very good and the sweet potato was lovely. Ham & Peas Mac & Cheese: very good but entirely too rich to be served in such a huge dish. Vegan Meatloaf: very good and hearty; the potatoes were incredible. Polenta with Roasted Red Pepper and Eggplant: crisp polenta and perfectly seasoned and sautéed topping with a very fresh salad on the side. Overall, we were pleased with the food, drinks and service. It was not too expensive (about $35 per person average) and would be a perfect fit for a large group with a diverse array of dietary concerns. We will certainly be back.
(5)Erica Y.
3 1/2 star I guess. Service has improved since the early days, but still not perfect. Food can be on the salty side, I love some, not so much others. First visit was busy lunch time back in December when all the holiday luncheons were happening so the service was SLOW. We had a reservation yet still waited 10 mins (not acceptable when people only have an hour for lunch). Then we waited forever to get our entrees and check. It was a two hour lunch. My beef ragu gnocchi was sooo salty I barely touched it. Do not recommend. Based on first visit, 2 stars. Second visit was workday lunch again but in January and on the early side )got there 11:40. Service was amazing, as the restaurant was relatively empty. We got seated rightaway, the waitress was efficient and not intrusive but filled out water glasses every time. I had chicken & waffle and I thought was better than DC's FF, less dry and more flavor. Based on second visit, 4 stars. Third visit was for dinner last night with the fam. Service was good except at the end our waitress never came back to get our payment, despite our mailbox red flag up for a long time. I was holding my 13 months old and he was ready to go! Finally another guy took our payment and was nice about it. We got cornbread (always a hit) and fig & prosciutto (sp) flatbread (overrated, all their flatbreads are ok and overrated IMO) to start. My mom's braised beef short rib was amazing! It's on the salty side but meat was falling off the born tender. My dad's pot roast is pot roast, it's a great value plus if you like pot roast go for it (I don't). I got the ahi tuna poke which I'm glad to have tried but I wouldn't order again. It's just ok, lots of raw tuna but taste just ok. Dessert we got the beignets and that's always yummy (it's hard to screw up fried dough). Based on this visit, 3 1/2 stars. They are crazy busy so I don't think any reviews here will matter much. There aren't many good restaurants in that area so FF will continue to be doing great business! Maybe the restaurant Cava owners going to open next door will give it some competition?
(3)Elena S.
Went here for birthday brunch with a friend and paid for the most expensive waffle ever. That being said, it was one of the most delicious waffles ever. And leek hash browns? Hell yea!
(3)Mike P.
This was my first time to Founding Farmers. After hearing from several friends about it, my wife and I decided to give it a try. The decor was unique as mentioned in other posts, though the pickling jars stacked on the cabinet shelves reminded me too much of the scene in The Walking Dead when the Governor was admiring his severed heads. I digress... We ordered the bacon-wrapped dates to start. Delicious! My wife ordered the chicken pot pie and I ordered the fried chicken and waffles. Again both we're amazing. When we finished our main course, we had already decided to get a dessert since we had heard they had an in-house dessert chef. Everyone around us seemed to like the red velvet cake, and as a big fan of red velvet this made my decision easy. Although good, the cake seemed dry inside, even hard in places, almost like it had been sitting out for a while. I was also surprised to learn that this restaurant uses artificial red food coloring, only because everything about their menu seems to push for locally-produced, all-natural ingredients. On a side note, we loved paying the bill via the mailbox. Cool idea Despite the disappointing dessert experience, everything else was amazing and we'll likely go back at some point.
(4)Amy Amy R.
This place is amazing. From the service on the phone to the drink to the food. 5 stars all around. There is nothing on the menu that will disappoint you. Spicy Tuna Poke if you are feeling healthy, chicken and waffles if you aren't. Best Mac and cheese ever. Drinks are delicious, try something new. The bartenders know what they are doing. Always busy but if you make a reservation you are good. Just a sign of a great restaurant and a hot spot. Service is usually very good, a few hiccups but go so often it's bound to happen. One of best restaurants in area. Enjoy!
(5)David W.
My father loves the shrimp and crab rolls here... And that is at least 1 1/2 or 2 of the 3 stars. The rolls are tiny, and filled with mayo (which is why he likes them) - to me they have too much mayo and are too small, and I thought the house made chips were a bit greasy and under salted... But dad is happy. I asked for a gluten free menu, they don't have one but assured me the waiter could help guide me. He could not. He had a cheat-sheet, but he only glanced at it to answer my questions, rather than let me see it. He told me any of the meat items would be gluten free. I asked if that included the ribs, and he assured me it did. He was in training, and his trainer also assured me the ribs were Gluten Free. 5 minutes later they came back to tell me the BBQ sauce on the ribs was NOT gluten free (I am happy the double checked - the other star they got from me), and asked me if I wanted the BBQ ribs minus the BBQ sauce? I said no, and they suggested the roast chicken. The chicken was ok, fairly tender and it came with green beans that were cooked perfectly (still slightly crisp) and mashed potatoes that were as dense as potatoes can be without becoming cement. I asked about dessert, and the response was "for you, not much.... maybe the ice cream". Overall hit or miss - but pretty good service despite the mistake on the ribs, and my dad was happy with his meal - so I am sure I'll be back again. EDIT: after posting this review I got a nice note from the manager offering to treat me to something gluten free on my next visit - and addressing my concerns about the waitstaff having information on the ingredients of menu items. Very helpful and friendly - and much appreciated! - worth an extra star.
(4)Pratik P.
Chicken and Waffles (3x). Joe's Chili Cheeseburger. Frisco Burger. Southern Fried Chicken. Skirt Steak and Enchilada. Mac and Cheese. Founding Farmers Breakfast with Bacon (2x). Sundried Tomato and Artichoke Cast Iron Skillet Eggs. Fried Chicken, Eggs, and Waffles. I tried to come up with the list of all the things I've eaten at MoCo's Founding Farmers over the last year -- what you see above is probably half of the damage I've done at the restaurant. These guys _consistently_ make farm fresh food and keep it new by periodically changing the menu. I work right in North Bethesda and my team love coming here for almost every occasion, whether it be business breakfast/lunches, going away celebrations, or just even a casual lunch. They rock in service, too. Bonus points for serving Intelligentsia coffee... it seems like they have fresh beans and new roasts on deck every time we order. (Oh by the way, these guys are coming out with a cookbook this October, so get ready. I don't think you can pre-order, but you know for damn sure I'm buying mine the first day it's available.)
(5)Charles K.
Went here for Sunday brunch hours and sat at the bar since the wait was for over 30 minutes. I liked the lay out and overal ambiance. One thing I noticed that I didn't care too much for was that a lot of the ingredients that would go into your mixed alcohol drinks are just sitting in front of you on the bar. The reason I don't really like this is because I could literally sneeze and get it all over that stuff. Not cool. The girl making drinks would touch stuff and then grab fruit with her bare hands and stuff - I'm not a big germaphobe but that doesn't seem sanitary.... On to the actual food experience: We split a banana fluffer nutter appeteaser and it was okay. There could def be more peanut butter and some more fluff (cleamy marshmellow spread). I ordered the chicken and waffles, and it was good but I would have liked some more chicken or at least bigger pieces. I got three pretty small sized tenders on top of a pretty flat waffle. It tasted good at least. You get a small portion of gravy as well. I would have rather ordered what my roommate ordered - which was the Benedict Arnold which was really good. The biscuits were good - the gravy was good - the sausage was good - just gooooood. We also ordered two sides of bacon. One order of the thick cut pepper maple and one order of the normal crispy bacon. I LOVE bacon and the thick cut was definitely flavorful and meaty. Not too fatty and was drenched in this pepper maple sauce. YUM. Cannot say the same for the regular bacon that looked way over cooked - one of the pieces was charred - how can they even serve that?! Overall the experience was fine and the food was good, but some of the things i mentioned above concerned me. I will go back again and try other things and see if it was just a bad day or not.
(3)Kevin H.
I wish i could have given this review a higher rating because the food here was really great, but we had a problem with the service. I ordered the chicken and waffles and was really pleased with both the quality and quantity of the serving. The macaroni is really outstanding and they also offer old fashioned custom sodas. I tried the mango soda and was definitely pleased with the real mango bits that were in the drink. My recommendation is to keep a close eye on your bill, though. Our check came to around $100, which did not include gratuity (I made sure to check). After we gave the waiter our four credit cards to split the check, he came back with over thirty dollars on each card. When we checked the math, exactly 18% of the original bill had been added. We asked him why this happened and he said it was an error. He re-ran our cards, but the amount was still higher than it should have been. Since it was a lunch hour, we left after signing off on the "revised" amount. I called the place back because I was still a bit miffed, and they took my information and promised to call me back. Five days later and I haven't heard anything yet. Pretty annoying. But like I said, the food is great...just be sure to bring your calculator with you if you venture out there...
(2)Logan M.
Went here for lunch last week and was definitely impressed by the food. I got a simple grilled cheese and tomato soup, it was out of this world! It is expensive though be prepared, but definitely will be back again. Only thing I didn't enjoy was how stuck up the girls at the hostess desk were.
(4)Donna Y.
I made a reservation here about a week in advanced for 4 people and apparently a reservation here is a must ... a wait here with no reservation is 1-2 hours! We were seated immediately even though we arrived 20mins early. For appetizer, we ordered the classic deviled eggs (4) and it was delicious with chunks of celery and onions (similar to the ones at the DC location). For my drink, I ordered the New York egg cream (4) which has chocolate syrup, whole milk and seltzer. I didn't like this combination very much ... too much seltzer and not enough chocolate. For my dinner entree, I ordered the chicken pot pie (14) which is served in a soup form and the flavors were wonderfully creamy and it comes with onions, carrots, potatoes, chicken and a biscuit. This dish has so much starch and carbs which made me sleepy half way through... don't get me wrong.. it tasted delicious just too heavy and rich for me. And lastly.... I never forget the dessert... I enjoyed the fresh churned pistachio Ice cream (3) yummo! The service was pretty good. We had to wave down our waitress a couple times to refill out water bottle. Good: Deviled eggs pistachio ice cream So-so: Chicken pot pie Bad: New York egg cream
(3)Amy L.
To die for deliver egg combo! And the fried green tomatoes... Amaze. From start to finish a mouth watering experience.
(5)Greg O.
This was my first time to a founding farmers, having never been to the DC location before either. First, I was glad to parking has changed to allow for free parking finally. The decor inside really stands out- so many little details everywhere, from the mousehole with the mouse cutout silhouette on the stairs, to the jars of pickled vegetables, the quotes on the revolving door and even the artwork on the ducts. Our server was great throughout, and dealt with a very tough situation extremely well, as did his manager. It turns out one of the dishes ordered by someone else in our party wasn't available, but our server didn't know until the meals were being served. He profusely apologized, as did the manager who promptly came over, and comped her whole meal, as well as gave the whole table free dessert. One of the steaks another person ordered was completely overdone as well, and was promptly replaced with another properly cooked steak and comped as well. It was nice to see actual customer service at work, something that seems dead at many other restaurants. As for the food- real sweet drink for a drink is a great start. The ranch popcorn as an appetizer was delicious, as were the deviled eggs, and I don't actually like eggs! For my entree I went with the dogs and rolls, where you can select three different rolls or hot dogs. I went with the bacon cheddar dog, chicken salad roll and a pastrami roll. The chicken salad roll was amazing- easily one of the best chicken salads I've ever had. The pastrami roll was a disappointment- simply pastrami on bread, and the pastrami was tasteless. But the bacon cheddar roll made up for that- a second amazing roll. Overall a great experience and I would definitely come back.
(4)Sarah A.
Came here a second time to give brunch a try...but again was not that impressed. First time I ordered the chicken and waffles, which was a waste of my money. The "chicken" were 3 lousy pieces of chicken strips that were very dry. My sister and I did not get greeted (by our server) for a good 7-10 mins) which is unprofessional and he did not check on our table that often. Probably would come back to grab brunch or something to catch up with an old friend, but nothing more than that. They do have a cute little mailbox for the check!
(2)Diana Z.
This place was hopping on a Sunday at lunch, but unfortunately that meant waiting 15 minutes for our table (despite our reservation) and it was so loud we could barely hear each other. I chose a vegetarian sandwich (grilled veggies) which was soggy and very disappointing. Fries were not worth eating, and since I usually can't resist fries, that says alot! I enjoyed the Founding Farmers in DC, although that was also very loud. I have recommended the DC restaurant, but would not go back to MoCo.
(2)Drew C.
These guys continue to go downhill Now when you call they won't even tell you if there is a line Clyde's has been in the area for decades - there is a reason. If you are looking for somewhere to go and you want a better choice - try Clyde's
(1)Jamie G.
This is my FAVORITE restaurant and I always insist on going here when I'm in town. I've been to both the DC and MD spots. Everything about this place rocks - the food, drinks, and atmosphere. I'm obsessed (and I live 150 miles away). Even the ice cubes are worth writing home about. My favorite is the plank salmon - incredible. I've also had the farmers meatloaf, not my typical go to (that would be salmon) but certainly worth the stray away from the usual because it was amazing. Definitely split a flatbread as an appetizer. You will not be disappointed. I'm still going with 5 stars but on my last visit we ordered a round drinks for our meal which we waited and waited for. Halfway through the meal the drinks had yet to arrive so we flagged down our waitress to cancel the order since at this point we were just about done eating. The waitress apologized for the significant delay and the manager even came over to apologize and gave us the drinks for free, can't beat that! Make a res because this place is ALWAYS packed. Absolutely be back on my next DC trip.
(5)Tracey C.
Tucked away in a far, far away land called Pahtoemac stands a wonderful restaurant named Founding Farmers. Here you will meet lovely people who serve you nice sized rations of delicious comfort food. Excellent service and excellent dishes will leave full and hyou appy. I took a friend here for a birthday brunch. Cornbread wasn't on the menu that morning but they still whipped us up a fresh skillet of the stuff. My Southern grandma would have been jealous (RIP). It was moist with a hint of sweet and tasted like something my family would make. Trust me that is a serious compliment. The french toast was my favorite. It tasted as if it was cooked in pure butter and every bite was enhanced by the crispy texture. It didn't need any extra toppings just syrup. The eggs were fluffy and they added just the right amount of spinach and cheese. The only disappointing element were the hash browns. The flavor was just ok. We will be back to try dinner. Hopefully, it will be just as good as breakfast and I may be ok with wasting gas in order to get back to this Pahtoemac.
(4)Desi W.
for some reason the food was better at the DC location. the food was still good but the fried green tomatoes had too much breading
(2)Aniket D.
Founding farmers is one of the best New American restaurants in the area. They feature a diverse menu with many good dishes. The farmers pitchfork is a great stater option. Although I appreciate the homemade pasta at founding farmers, the texture in the chicken bolognese was a bit chewy, similar to Asian noodles. The crab cake sandwich that my wife ordered was excellent as was the carrot cake desert which large enough for our party of four to share. I do wish they served organic meat, but overall, this place is really worth a visit.
(4)Kelsy S.
In another trip for brunch, we tried the beignets and bacon lollies. The beignets are very tasty and as close to NoLa style as one can expect, just a bit more dense. I liked the addition of sides of caramel, chocolate, and raspberry preserves. I like that the raspberry preserves taste like raspberries not SUGAR. The bacon lollies were SUPER tasty, highly recommend. I got the ginger drink, and it was very refreshing...my husband got the bloody mary...i kept stealing some of his bloody mary :)
(4)Luke H.
I've never had a bad meal in the 6 or so times that I have been to Founding Farmers-these meals including brunch, lunch, and dinner. Their sandwiches and salads are absolutely epic, and I can't say enough about how beautifully, gargantuanly tasty the reuben is. It's truly the best version of the sandwich I have ever had: thick-cut pastrami, red cabbage slaw, and a delicious house-made remoulade. The fried chicken is also outstanding, as is their ribeye steak. The bacon lollipop appetizer, however, is a show-stopper that must be had at any and every meal...you're making a massive mistake if you don't order it. While Founding Farmers definitely can do healthier options, I urge you to stop counting the calories and splurge while you're there. For example, at brunch, you COULD get the vegetable omelette, which is certainly solid; but if you want to be blown away, go for the bananas foster pancakes. You won't be disappointed. And lastly, make sure to get a drink while you're there-the wine and beer selections are well-curated and the cocktails are crazy good. Founding Farmers is definitely one of the best restaurants in the DMV.
(5)Evelyn N.
I met a friend here for lunch and had heard good things. I was not impressed. It was loud, crowded and I didn't think the food was that great. Not bad but nothing special. I have no desire to return.
(2)John N.
4.5 out of 5 Stars!!! This is not your typical all Natural fully sustainable restaurant. They take this concept to a whole new level. A lot of other reviews complain about service and to be fair I have seen my fair share of bad service. After working at Houston's Restaurant for the better part of a decade, I have come to realize that I will never receive the service I want unless I eat at Houston's. With that being said, the wait staff here are friendly and they do seem to try and work in a team inspired system. But there are little things that get annoying. Not automatically refilling drinks, or knowing that if I place my napkin and silverware on my plate that I am done with my food. Other than that the service was good. The food here is amazing, and ultimately this is what keeps people coming back for more. The first time I came here was actually at the DC location. The DC location is always jammed packed so I was surprised when I walked in to the Potomac location and got sat right away. To be fair this was New Years Day but still, I figured it to be at least a 30 minute wait. We got seated upstairs where I think the sucky Sunday staff has to work but we had pretty good service. Like I said before not the best but ok. We started out with an appetizer of the Flat Bread with Brie, sliced apples and an Onion Jam. Who ever thought of this combination of deliciousness needs a Nobel Prize. I actually thought the cheese was going to be melted but it came out at room temp and still was awesome. For entrees, I had a chili burger and the girlfriend had the Crazy Corn salad. When I picture a chili burger I picture a giant burger with chili oozing from the sides topped with shredded cheddar cheese and diced onions on top. What came out was slightly disappointing. The chili was more solid and it had sliced melted cheese on top which held everything together. All in all it was a good burger but not the best chili burger I have ever had. Now the crazy corn salad was interesting. It felt like a giant corn had eaten different types of corn and then shat out the mixture into a salad mixed with chicken. To be honest it still was tasty but I dont think I could eat more than a couple of bites before I got sick of it. I mean it had white and yellow corn, caramel corn with popcorn, and other unidentifiable corn. Truly Crazy corn. All in all great place I will return.
(4)Paola G.
Its true, service is on the slow side. Despite this I had a great time because I was in good company. Out of all the 7 dishes we ordered I believe my dish was the best one. I got the chicken and waffles, which at first I hesitated to order because the one thing I fear is ordering dry chicken. well to my surprise my chicken was delicious, and so was the mac and cheese and the waffles. (I think they should make a whole waffle for all the chicken they give you) We did have the green tomatoes and the Prosciutto, Fig, Mascarpone as apps which were both delicious. One of my friends ordered a Mahi mahi which was uncooked, pretty much raw on the inside. It was gummy and so they had to take it back, instead of cooking it for a while longer they took forever to bring her dinner back and so she took it home with her and it was comped. She was upset and so was I. Then I ordered a margarita and I never received it. After asking the server a bout a "signature* drink (Margarita) with a twist of orange peels and him not knowing a thing about it, I finally texted my friend to ask for the name. The server then told me it was Mandarine not orange, which is pretty much the same thing as he could of easily suggested that drink and saved me 15 minutes of wait time. Maybe I should of known the name but I never got the drink so I canceled it. The Tuna salad looks amaze in pictures but it looks like it lacks ingredients (to me at least). The skirt steaks were alright, they lacked flavor and the chimichuri didnt come with the steak so we had to ask for extra, eventhough he clearly said that it was already on it, maybe it was condimented with it..The Frisco burger also lacked flavor and was a bit on the un cooked side. It does have potential to be a good burger especially because you can tell the beef is farm raised. Everyone elses dish was okay, nothing to rave about really. My friend did tell me that she tried the pot roast the week before and that it was to die for. With that said, Ill be back for that pot roast & more chicken and waffles.
(3)J G.
I've been to this location more than a handful of times, and this review will cover my recent experience mostly. Appetizers: I've ordered the popcorn, bbq nuts, and the fried green tomato. All of which are surprisingly delicious, although the popcorn is now kettle corn which is more of a desert. Entrees: I've found the most satisfaction in ordering familiar items, but not expecting them to taste familiar. Whether it's the freshness or the way the cook makes the food, it's always surprisingly delicious. I've had the Southern Fried Chicken, which wasn't too greasy or salty. It's taste, mixed with the greens on the side, was new and refreshing (delicious). Last night I ordered the Pork Sandwich, and being a big BBQ pork fan I figured I wouldn't be impressed. The pork wasn't nearly as flavorful as the bun or the sliced cucumbers, but it was absolutely delicious. Deserts: I've made more trips to Founding Farmers for the deserts alone. I highly recommend the Chocolate Mousse or the Beignets. The Chocolate Mousse is extremely flavorful, and easily enough for 3-4 people. The Beignets take 10 minutes to come out, but are absolutely delicious. I've also had the chocolate cake (meh), the cookies (meh), and the apple pie (Very good). Service: You usually don't wait half as long as the hostess says. Also, the waiters I've had are extremely attentive and friendly. My best experience was at the bar. We were treated to great service from our bartender, Charlie, who made us try these awesome drinks (try the melon cocktail thing). She was fast, friendly, and went the extra mile to make sure we had a great time. The Bad: I think the food is too expensive for what it is. The food is great, but the price point they come in at makes me second guess choosing Founding Farmers on most nights.
(4)Shachi B.
I've had nothing but disappointing experiences here. They include eat-in and takeout meals. Here's my brief rundown: Eat-in: First time: I ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich. On paper, it sounded heavenly. In reality, it was terrible. It was so greasy that every time I picked it up, oil oozed from the bread. Terrible. Their sides were nothing spectacular either. Second Time: I ordered the straw and hay pasta. Not great either - the vegetables didn't taste very fresh, and the pasta was overly oily. Pass. Takeout: I've ordered the late harvest salad 3 times so far (clearly, I do not learn from my mistakes). All three times I've requested no bacon on the salad, and all three times they forgot. It wasn't until I returned to my office that I realized the error, and had to throw out the salads since they were inedible for a vegetarian like myself. When I called to point out the error, all they could offer the first two times was an "I'm so sorry". The third time the manager did offer to take the amount off of my credit card, which was appreciated. (As of 12/28, the amount hasn't refunded on my card though) The only saving grace about this place is their bar. The drinks are creative (for Potomac) and their appetizers are pretty tasty. Their tater tots are literally the only saving grace about this entire restaurant, I'd come for those alone. It's fine for Potomac, but please don't come out of your way for it.
(2)Liz F.
Rather average overall. Somewhat interesting decor with creative pieces such as clouds, ducks and industrial light fixtures hanging from the ceiling mixed with what was trying very hard to be a down home vibe. All in all, it left me kind of cold and made for challenging acoustics and we were there after 930p when it wasn't terribly crowded. Must be quite a din when it's packed - and that's not a good thing... Service was adequate. Waitress was friendly but not terribly interested in our party of four. Felt like she was just waiting to finish up so she could get going to her evening plans. Bartender was okay - again, not bad but not great either. As to the food, just okay. I ordered crispy shrimp which was served moderately hot but had obviously sat under a heat lamp. The shrimp were served over a bed of cold French fries. Cole slaw had an interesting flavor - almost like a touch of curry had been added. Didn't hate it but definitely different. Corn bread was inedible. Cold, hard and flavorless (as opposed to the delicious mini corn muffins I just had at B Smith's restaurant in Union Station in DC!). Tried my sister's fried chicken which was hot and quite good and my brother-in-law raved about his BBQ ribs. I wouldn't rush to this spot but its serviceable if you're in the area.
(3)Chris M.
The lively atmosphere and active bar scene are awesome! Came here on a Friday night for dinner at 7:30pm with a large group and it was not what I thought it'd be. It was better! The restaurant has 2 floors, with the 1st floor containing the bar. It was dimly lit around the bar, but the outer edges of the restaurant was well lit for those dining. The crowd was very trendy with many looking like they were there to have after work Friday night drinks, but there was the occasional family sitting around as well. The party I was in made reservations a few hours before we were planning on dining. Once we started to get there, they walked us to our table & our waitress come promptly over. She had great recommendations on entrees, along with the beer and wine selection. The courses were timed perfectly and even though we had a large group on a Friday night, we didn't have to wait long. For appetizers, we enjoyed fried green tomatoes, bacon-wrapped dates, and an assortment of deviled eggs stuffed with crab, salmon, and other tasty things. Everything was flavorful and devoured quickly! As for dinner, I had the chicken pot pie--which I thought was an unique menu item. The meal was at the right temperature with a lot of vegetables and the right amount of crust. However, I thought it would be more flavorful because of the mixture of vegetables and cream sauce. After we were all done eating, we enjoyed each others company for about an hour. No one from the restaurant pressured us to leave so they could fill the table. Overall, I think Founding Farmers does live up to the hype. I would certainly go back and try other unique entrees.
(4)Lina B.
I came at a rather slow lunch hour, so the service was very good (not like what other people have been saying). We were seated upstairs. There was 1 other table seated when we got there and by the time we left there was a party of about 10 and another table of 4 upstairs and downstairs was packed. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful and provided us with recommendations. I got the southern fried chicken with collard greens and mac & cheese substituted for the mashed potatoes. Another friend got the same thing but with mashed potatoes, another got the pot roast, another the french dip. Friend that got french dip said it was the best one he had ever had. I got a little taste, it was pretty good. Pot roast sits on top of mashed potatoes. They don't put the veggies in til the very end of cooking it, so theyre still rather crisp...its so delicious. I took more than a few spoonfuls of this friend's lunch. Southern fried chicken was SO DELICIOUS. I love greens and I absolutely loved the gravy on top. The chicken was very juicy on the outside and I don't think I left one centimeter of skin remaining...it was so crunchy and mmmmm. I am definitely returning sometime soon, and probably for lunch. My friend also got one of the flavored sodas, Hibiscus, which I didn't think was that great but it was ok. I would want to try one of their cocktails next time as well.
(5)Wayne F.
Just discovered this place. I wish I had discovered it sooner. Holy cow. Largest menu in town. Best quality considering variety. Food was delicious. Bread is baked fresh daily and you can taste the freshness. French fries are best I have ever had. My fish was delicious - but I wish I had ordered some comfort food as that seems to be the specialty. Like the fish and waffles. Considering the quality of the food - the prices are actually very reasonable. I cant say enough about this food. Probably best value in DC.
(5)Ryan G.
Went here a couple weeks ago for dinner with family to celebrate our engagement with my finance and her family. We have had brunch here on numerous occasions and have always found that they did a great job with the food and cocktails. Since on this evening we were celebrating we decided to go big on wine. That didn't happen, not for the lack of effort, but for the fact that they don't have a wine list other than wines in the $30-$40 range. I don't think this place realizes the opportunity they are missing out on by not having any wines priced more than forty or so dollars. Do they realize what the avg mortgage is right across the street? We asked if they had a reserve list, turns out they had two bottles, one white and one red, a Stags Leap Cab and a Cake bread Sauv blanc. We ordered them, keeping in mind we were a party of six. The server took our order and did not return for about 20 minutes to fetch them. We finally looked around and she came back to pour the wine and take our orders. When halfway through our appetizers she said "this was our last bottle of the red", I asked how about the white? She said that was the last bottle too. So not only did she take our order for their most expensive wines, two bottles for a group of six, but she didn't tell us they were also her last bottles of each! This was such an amateur mistake, I hope the restaurant works on improving their beverage program. Nothing like starting out with a nice bottle of wine then to finish with a cheap one...The bar seems nice, and the cocktails are good, but wine service totally lacks, as well as having a wine list in general. On to the food. The dinner menu was completely disappointing compared to the brunch menu. The entrees are boring. In the "Signature" dishes section on the menu was included a Yankee pot roast and Chicken Pot Pie, really? Is the Chef on vacation? Chili cheese dogs on the menu? For what almost seems like a serious restaurant this place is trying to be too many things for too many people. And what is up with the organization of the menu? You don't know where to look, way too many sections and categories. I'll stick to brunch with this place. I hope they completely remake the dinner menu, and spend some time on service and their wine program.
(2)N D.
Since my review, I've returned to Founding Farmers a couple of times, and the service hasn't been as good as before. The servers have seemed rushed and/or overwhelmed by allergy information. I've also made reservations where the information that I've provided on the phone hasn't been provided to server regarding special occasions. The food remains as good as before, and I've still enjoyed my meals at Founding Farmers, but I am disappointed the experience of dining here hasn't remained as stellar.
(2)Larry B.
Farm to table restaurants just tug at my heart strings. I like the idea of locally grown seasonal foods being featured and the menu being designed to make good ol' fashioned All America fare the focus. A little bit pricey. A little bit underwhelming in terms of service. However, I really like the atmosphere and the style. You'll know you're in store for a treat as soon as you enter the building. Go, enjoy!
(4)Eva W.
I've been here three times so I feel like I can fairly review this restaurant now. Plus: The food. Lots of good stuff. I had a hot dog that was the best hot dog I've ever eaten, and I've eaten hot dogs in Paris. Terrific homemade tater tot/bacon appetizer. Good chili. Terrific cake for dessert. Well-labeled menu for those looking for vegetarian/vegan/pork-free options. Minus: I think it's overpriced. This is mitigated by portion size, but I'd rather have fewer leftovers and a cheaper check. I wish they had a bigger selection of small plates or even a children's menu. Service leaves a lot to be desired. The waitress consistently forgot to bring my son's GF her wine when we went there for a birthday. She was reminded more than once, it didn't help. And it's a bit slow--understandable when it's busy, annoying when it's not. It was like pulling teeth to get the bartender's attention to get change for a $20 so I could leave a tip. There's not a lot of handicapped parking. They should fix that. I like it but I'd rather go to Silver Diner instead. At least you can get what you ordered without nagging.
(3)Marla L.
Service excellent. Food great. Like the fresh ingredients and local sustainable preparations. Got the ribs. Fall off the none tender and delicious. The Brussels sprouts were amazing. I would order them all by themselves.
(5)Janelle M.
I have to say, I was really underwhelmed. I went here with the girls from my office. The decor and ambiance were nice - and if one could eat the decor, they'd probably get 4 stars. But... The food is edible - I'll give it that. It's southern food that is trying to be ostentatious. Cracker Barrel is southern food, but you know, I'd rather go there. It's less expensive, and there's no pretense. Founding Farmers is for people who secretly like fried everything, but don't want to be "seen" slumming it. Over-inflated prices don't make food better. I ordered their macaroni and cheese, and one rail drink, at 5:30pm. I don't know on what planet that should cost $23, but it did. The coworker next to me ordered one glass of wine. When the check came, they had charged her for a full bottle. The food wasn't even really GOOD. The macaroni was soggy, and the sauce so rich and heavy that my arteries were begging for an overdose of Lipitor, and my stomach for Prevacid. I left thinking that the food is WAY over priced for what it is, and that there is no reason under the sun that I would want to pay a premium to eat my southern food in an establishment that is socially acceptable to the upper-scale denizens. I have no problem paying through the nose for good food (Hello, Table 21 and Komi). Unfortunately, Founding Farmers wants you to pay through the nose for only barely mediocre food. Service was incredibly slow - we had to flag down other servers to beg for more water for the table, and once we asked for our checks, it was nearly 40 minutes before they arrived, and then another 40 before the cards were all run. Founding Farmers needs to go back to the drawing board, and try again.
(2)Katie B.
Great food - (similar to DC location) My boyfriend and I took a couple visiting for dinner last night and we had a great time at a reasonable price (we got 3 drinks, 2 apps, 4 entrees and 2 desserts for $140 plus tip). The atmosphere at FF is casual, with excellent service, solid dishes and just a bit of quirk to keep it interesting. We started with bacon wrapped dates and cornbread. I can not explain to you the delicious smokiness of this app, you'll have to order and learn for yourself! The cornbread was solid. Then I moved onto the Scallops with butternut squash risotto. This was a solid and full-filling dish, but it somehow lacked that extra umph that I expected from FF. HOWEVER, my boyfriends pulled pork BBQ was AMAZING. Similar to the dates appetizer, there was so much flavor and love in his pork that brought you back for more again and again. For dessert our table shared the carrot cake and fruit crisp. It took quite a while for these to come out of the kitchen, the portion size was very large and they were also delicious. I was also quite happy to see the wide variety on the dessert menu and would have been happy with almost all the selections. My only negatives for this place was, 1) we were given a dirty plate, 2) I don't really like the lighting, 3) they put dining checks in a corny mailbox thing That being said, we will def come back as we live in the area and parking is available (unlike in the DC location).
(4)Patrick S.
went in for lunch, was bustling and a great atmosphere had an amazing Sazerac to start the lunch, followed by the Crab Gazpacho, which was a nice starter before my meatless Bacon Burger, the "Bacon" being smoked tofu, i was floored, the best veggie burger i have ever had full disclosure, it took a little while for my burger to come out, I am a patient guy and didn't mind, but the servers realizing it was taking too long offered a free dessert, told them that was ok, so instead they didn't charge me for my burger, was wowed by the gesture, i am planning to go back as often as i can to explore this menu
(5)Diana D.
What a disappointment! I love your DC location and suggested to a group of my friends that we catch a late dinner after the twilight run on Saturday night. I made a 10:30pm reservation and we came hungry. They set us up by the bakery kitchen as we ogled at the red velvet cake all night. We sat around waiting for the waiter to take our drink orders and set us up with utensils, etc. 20 minutes later we see our waiter Nadine. Oh Nadine, you started out well and just ended so badly. Why? What happened? After you took our order we barely even saw you. We had to give our selves utensils, we had to keep reminding you to refill our drinks, we had to go get our own dessert after we saw it sitting on the counter begging to be eaten. I know it's late, but it's Saturday night and the restaurant took our reservation and seated us. The worst part of the night was when I had to ask you for a dessert menu. When we were ready to order the beignets and the red velvet cake, you then warn us that it would be another 20 minutes for the beignets. Nadine, here is a tip for you. If a dessert is going to take some time to prepare, a good time to let people know about it would be when you present us with the dessert menu. Just like if you are out of an entree. You do not tell people when you are about to take the order. Another tip for you, if the table orders a few dessert and one is going to take a while to prepare, why don't you offer us to bring out the other desserts first? These are simple things to make people happy and not waiting around. All in all, I had a disappointing experience on Saturday night. I am embarrassed to have brought my friends here and have such bad service. Having good service is the other half of a good dining experience and although the food was good, I left with a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)Kimie K.
Just to make it easy to picture this restaurant, I'm going to make this real simple for you:) Atmosphere: great! Not too loud, not too awkwardly quiet Decor: great! I like how they stick up to their "farmers" theme by having mailbox to give me the check. Also their water is in a milk-jar which I thought was very cute and that way you don't have to ask your server to fill up the water. Food: my husband had steak with corn on a cob and enchilada. And I had devilish eggs with combo(seafood). For drinks, we had freshly squeezed pineapple juice. For desert, we had fried donut thing(can't remember what it was called but it started with B). To sum up, everything was amazing except devlish eggs(I could smell that unpleasant fishy scent). But the rest of food made up all that. I would give 5 stars to the rest of these food:) Service: the best I've ever had. I still remember her name. Her name was Shanon and she was extremely nice and kind when we were asking her bunch questions of what certain dishes were about. She recommended good foods and kept her smiles on her face the whole time. She is probably the part of reason why we would return to taste more dishes!
(5)Jenn B.
I've been here so many times since I have discovered this place I've lost count. I usually come with a few friends and we all love it. Among us we have ordered and tried most of the menu and we never seem to be disapointed. My favorite entree is definitely the spatchcock chichen with the maple mustard glaze, the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, and chicken and waffles. I know a lot if people complain about the Mac and cheese but I love it. The flavor is great and it's a nice rich side. I also feel like the food is perfectly seasoned. Never too salty or undersalted. The beignets are well worth the wait. My favorite Resturant in Mont Co.
(5)Kathryn L.
My husband suggested this place for Sunday brunch, and since I'm trying to encourage him to make more restaurant suggestions, I agreed to it even though the Yelp reviews looked a little underwhelming. The food was OK--we started out with biscuits for the table, and they were fantastic--the highlight of the meal, which may tell you something. The strawberry jam they served with the biscuits was runny (and there wasn't enough of it!). The server brought out a second tray with different jams after we'd finished all the biscuits. My husband opted for the chicken and waffle, and I ordered the chicken/corn tart. After about 10 minutes the server came out to say they were out of that tart and so I switched over to the spicy BBQ shrimp tart. Husband liked his meal, but he's easy to please. My tart was OK, but it felt like it scrimped on the shrimp--4 small overcooked shrimp without much flavor. It was accompanied by a supposedly mesclun (but really mostly romaine) salad that had one of several ingredients--1 grape, 1 cherry tomato, 1 date, 1 small bit of avocado--and no real identity. I also had the Rickey of the day, which I think was mango or guava supposedly, but it tasted more of grapefruit juice than anything else. Fortunately we were able to be seated outside, because the place was packed inside and incredibly, incredibly loud. If there hadn't been outside seating I think we would have left and tried someplace else; there was no way we could have had a pleasant meal with all that racket. I could barely stand to wait by the hostess stand while we waited to be seated, it was so uncomfortably loud. I would give this place another star if the prices were lower, and from what I saw of the lunch entrees they may have been better than the brunch offerings. But based on our experience, it was not good value for the money.
(2)Tammy K.
Not sure why this place has so many negative reviews. I had a Friday night reservation. Unfortunately, a surprise downpour caused all the outside diners to move inside, so we were about 15 minutes late getting seated. The hosts were extremely gracious and even gave a $15 credit to the meal. The prices here are not low, but they seem to be on the mark for the high quality of the food. The beignets are to die for.
(5)William B.
I've been here a couple of times for various family get together's. I think it's a solid place. Nothing overly wonderful, but very solid. They do have some different menu items that you don't see every day, which is nice. I'd definitely go back, but I'm not dying to!
(3)Stephanie W.
The beignets are heavenly and the New Orleans French toast and Pastrami Hash were awesome dishes. Not to much the Benedict Arnold, but I came back and had the amazing pancakes! This place is a carb-lover's heaven.
(4)A C.
Took a party of 7 to this restaurant on Sunday 8/27/12 for my Dad's 75th Birthday. Hostess: We had a reservation for 1:30 pm. We arrived on time. Our table was not ready and we were not seated for 25 minutes, which was very upsetting to me given that my parents are aging and there is no seating in the waiting area. We were finally seated upstairs after quite a long wait and my mothers was in pain from standing. . Waiter: Excellent. Once we were finally seated, the waiter provided very good service. Because the wait for our table was so long, the waiter gave us $22 in appetizers for free. I left a generous cash tip. Food: Good We ordered the popcorn, bacon lollis and hashbrowns, The popcorn was covered in a barbeque flavoring that made it wet and it was cold. I didn't like cold wetness on the popcorn. The bacon lollis were very good and the hash browns were just ok. I would have like the hash browns better if they were crustier on the outside and creamier on the inside. I ordered the Ahi Poke which was fantastic. Others ordered chicken and waffles and mussels. Everyone loved the entrees. For dessert, I ordered a whole carrot cake in advance. The cake was delicious. Pricing: Reasonable, except I was overcharged $15 A girl named "Victoria" took my cake order and she told me the cake would cost $35, but I was charged $50, so I was charged $15 more than I expected. I didnt mention it to the waiter because I didnt have time to wait for a correct bill. Our meal for 7 people was reasonably priced at $30/pp not including the tip. Atmosphere: The restaurant is clean and nice, but it is very loud and it is hard to hear a person speaking right across the table. Recommendations: 1) Either honor reservations, or don't take reservations at all. It is not fair to have patrons waiting 25 minutes to be seated, especially given there is nowhere to sit in the lobby. 2) Don't put anything wet on the popcorn 3) Make sure the staff knows the pricing so patrons are not overcharged
(3)Alanna S.
The food was fantastic- can't deny it. HOWEVER, the service was atrocious and if you enjoy being treated as a human being I recommend eating at a different restaurant. What is the point of making a reservation if you are seated 30 min later? And after you complain that parties that arrived later than you were seated first, your request of being sat downstairs was not honored. Killing it so far, Founding Farmers! The manager, Amanda, tells us how sorry she is and gives us two appetizers on the house. But once we open the silverware, food all over our forks and knives. Nothing like a true eating experience to be able to see what the person before you ate. Of course when Amanda came back to check on us (45 min later....), she did the typical "would you like another cocktail?!" thing that restaurants do, but each drink was $12 so thank you for that slimy trick after giving us dirty utensils. IT WAS REALLY APPRECIATED AMANDA!!! Basically, if you like to instagram your food this is the place to go. If you want to eat in a respectable restaurant, avoid Founding Farmers.
(2)Theresa A.
I came here twice for dinner with some friends. I usually go to the DC location because its closer to me from the VA side. Maybe I am biased, but I like the DC location more, the food was more flavorful and tasty. I had the ahi tuna salad, which I usually get from the DC FF and loved it, but this salad was not as satisfying in MOCO FF. Something was different, like less avocado and tuna or something. I wasn't impressed as I was for DC location.
(3)Ajay A.
This is the first one star that I have given a restaurant. Generally I like to give restaurants the benefit of doubt for a dish gone bad, or if an employee has an attitude I figure everyone has a bad day now and then. The one star is for the following: 1. Hostess with an attitude 2. Fish that was raw (really raw) 3. Inconsistent explanations for not seating us outside on the patio 4. Inconsistent explanations for empty tables inside the restaurant 5. We were told that it was restaurant policy that everyone in a group had to be present in order for our name to be put on the list. Usually restaurants request that everyone in a group be present in order for a group to be seated, which makes much more sense. Six of us had gone for dinner this evening (sunday), and things started unraveling from the start. We asked to be seated on the patio, and were told by the hostess with an attitude that the last table had been taken, and there was an hour wait for a table. On seeing that there were at least four 8-seat tables that were empty on the patio, I asked one of the servers why we could not have one of those. She first said that there were no umbrellas for those tables. It was dusk, and I told her we did not need umbrellas. She then said that they did not have any servers for the extra tables outside. That was a plausible explanation, so we did not say anything more. We then asked about an area that had empty tables, and the same hostess said that the area was closed. One member of our group pointed out that there had been patrons there an hour back (when she had tried unsuccessfully to give a name give the hour-long wait). Miss attitude then said that those tables were reserved. Our server was very friendly and most of the food was good. Unfortunately, the dish that I ordered, rockfish with almond and mushroom crust and with mustard sauce, green onions and parmesan, was raw. Not just slightly raw, but mostly raw. I did not expect that for a $28 entree. The server took it back right away, but by the time it arrived, most of the others in the group had finished their meal.
(1)Aelisa D.
After hearing so many of my friends brag about the Farm-to-Table American inspired food, I was so excited when my lucky day finally arrived. I made reservations since we had a big group, and when we arrived at 6pm we were seated immediately. A friendly face and large picnic style table with high bar stools greeting us when we arrived. We were then presented with the eclectic drinks and dinner menu. I had heard great things about their fried chicken and waffles (two choices in how your chicken is prepared). For some odd reason though, I decided to go for a the cheeseburger. It was served on a brioche bun with a side of fries. I ALWAYS bring home a doggy bag for my fur child, but my burger was so good I ate the entire thing. I didn't even feel guilty...until I arrived home empty handed. The drinks are a little pricey but definitely worth it. I had the Fraise Fling ($12) which consisted of: prairie Organic Vodka, prosecco, strawberries, lychees, and agave. It did not disappoint. I loved the food, the theme, and the atmosphere. It is a fun place to go with a group and I'd also recommend it for date night.
(4)Nami C.
Good food is worth the wait, and remember to save room for the dessert. Not only the cake is good, but the ice-cream is surprisingly excellent and their drinks menu are awesome too. Because of its popularity RESERVATION IS A MUST, luckily OpenTable is very convenient.
(5)Amy G.
Brunch only review... This is probably the best brunch around. Always a good time with good pricing and wonderful fresh food. Don't miss out on panakes and beignets. You won't regret it!
(5)Kevin G.
this place was the worst dinning experience I have had in a very long time. I only wish the people had been rude because if I sense rude in the beginning I leave rather than support an establishment otherwise. They where kind of nice so I stayed only to be subjected to flavorless food and lousy cocktails. Starting with the foe fusion interior to the foe top shelf bar that doesn't have one bottle of rye out of the ten different kinds that's older than 10 years. Why have so many and charge so much if they are all the same? They had no beer, the coolers had been broken for a week or so said the bartender. So instead I had a sazerac made with cheap rye. we had the cornbread but all you could taste was all of the Pam they had sprayed in the pan that it comes in so it tasted like asparagus rather than cornbread. FAIL My wife ordered the polenta and it was inedible as it had been spiced beyond recognition. I had the straw, The only resemblance to this typically made dish called straw and hay made of cream, pasta, pancetta, peas etc. straw might have had more taste. It really could have been anything. I didn't right this review for a month after eating there because I didn't want to be overly negative as it is not my thing but to pay a hundred bucks to eat a meal that could have been made by vocational school students really left a mark.I was amazed by how many people lined up to get in this place but its trendy and I guess that matters to some, not me. what it really tells me is that this part of town needs some more good restaurants as apparently you can serve mediocre and align it with a farmer and sell it pretty successfully. Do you self a favor, cook at home before you waste your money on this gimmick rich establishment
(1)Cynthia L.
4 drinks, appetizer, 2 entrees, and $120 later...my friend & I left feeling so unsatisfied. We were going to aim for their salads but they had some very "unique" mixtures, none of which sounded appetizing (i'm not a fan of fruit and nuts in my salad). So initially, we had ordered Mushroom Ravioli. Really, who can go wrong with mushroom ravioli? It's carbs stuffed with mushrooms....we just didn't pay attention to the "four cheese" printed before it. The dish was pasta made in a mini-muffin tin, stuffed with goat cheese, surrounded by blue cheese crumble, and 2 other cheese with chunky mushrooms on the side. We both were resigned to forcing it down, but our super nice waitress saw my reaction and so generously replaced our dishes...so this is what we ordered: -Mixed drinks - delicious...although I can't remember the name of mine (it was a sweet tequila mix drink), the other was a mojito (nicely done with a hint of spice...nutmeg or cinnamon) -Salami, pesto & goat cheese flatbread - It was very tasty but we had to add so much salt and pepper to it. - Lobster Max & Cheese - Tasty but as I suspected, only had 2 tiny pieces of lobster on top rather than mixed into the mac & cheese and at $28 for this dish, it didn't feel worth it at all. - 3 Hot Dogs - My friend enjoyed the crab roll (I was personally disgusted with the mayo-wasabi tasting mushy roll). I enjoyed the chili dog (minus the onion), and the bacon dog. No dessert. It's not the farm to table concept that I don't like, it's the high price and mediocre tasting food that I mind.
(2)Joris M.
Just like their DC location, the MoCo version has an entertaining cocktail menu, very well executed, and a diverse menu. I had the spatchcocked chicken with maple glaze and it was excellent. Half a chicken, so too much for one sitting plus the mashed potatoes. That was on top of the Fried Green Tomatoes appetizer. We went on a Thursday night at 7:30, party of 6, and with a reservation we waited about 10 minutes for a table. The place was packed then, but emptied out by 8:30 or so. I'd recommend making a reservation if you go during prime time.
(5)D. K.
WARNING: PHOTOS ARE DONE BY OWNER, NOT CUSTOMERS. I WAS BRIBED TO COME BACK SO I CAN CHANGE MY REVIEW (why bother if I'm living in North Carolina?). DON'T BE FOOLED. This place was crap. I went for a friend's birthday (who is a head chef of a different restaurant) and trusted his judgement. The only positives about this place is that the drinks were good and the service was good. My biggest complaint is the price for drinks and food. I could get the same drinks at a club in DC for the same price. This isn't even a fancy restaurant. Sure this restaurant supposedly makes food from the "local farms," but so does the Silver Diner off of 355/Rockville Pike too. The food quality was awful. I ordered a bread (forget what it was). When it was delivered to my table, it was a hard as a rock. I couldn't even eat it. I asked another friend about what he thought of the restaurant since he has been here three times (a server at an upscale Italian restaurant in DC). He says the food at Founding Farmers is a hit or miss. We both agreed that FF has a lot of room for improvement. 2 stars because hey... drinks were good and the quality is a "hit or miss" based on a second person's experience here. I could get cheaper drinks elsewhere though (i.e. Rockville Alehouse... $10 for a Sangria pitcher FTW).
(2)Seulki K.
I wonder why this place only received 3 stars overall...because I loved this place so much. The food felt fresh, healthy, and delicious. When they say they only use organic, local farm ingredients, I usually am a skeptic, but I really believed it with this restaurant because you can really taste the difference. I had the crab benedict with grits, and my friends had the roasted chicken dish and the egg scrambled omelette. All of them I thought had a fresh taste because the chicken and the eggs did not have that stinky, fishy aftertaste that is usually found in store bought chicken and eggs. I also had the fried green tomatoes and pickled vegetables, which were both very delicious. The price is a tad expensive, but I felt like the price points were very respectable since they ARE using organic ingredients after all. The only downside I had with the experience was the service. When we paid our bill, we decided to do half and half with cash and credit card. The waitress lost one of the 20 dollar bills, and I ended up paying little bit more on the credit card. The waitress fixed our bill without finding our lost 20 dollar bill, but it was still.. an unusual situation for us to be in.
(4)Matt P.
A perfect place for a night out. Started out at the bar where they have a huge variety of different mixed drinks. They hand squeeze all of their mixers. Wife had the el presendente. She said it was really good. Strayed off with bacon Lollies. Was real good. I had pot roast. I could not finish it but it was yummy. Wife had scallops and she said they were cooked perfect. Service was the best. An energetic waiter and I wish I remember his name. Will for sure go back.
(5)Justine S.
I was so disappointed in my meal here. I really don't want to write a 'mean' review but I have to tell the truth. I ordered the Arnold Benedict - supposedly their take on sausage and gravy for brunch. It was so bland when it came out that I asked for another plate. It came back exactly the same. And I thought I was being smart for ordering something classicly country/southern at this place. Nope, I was wrong. It literally tasted like watered down milk. And the english muffin was stale! STALE. Our waiter was nice about it but he didn't even offer to take it off of our check. I didn't even eat any of my second dish. My boyfriend loved his pastrami hash and I loved the place and the coffee but it wasn't enough. Now that I think about it, I wish they offered to change my order to something else. I just couldn't believe that it was awful!
(2)Meredith G.
Alright. So Valerie, a manager at FF contacted me following my first review and offered us a chance to try the restaurant again, on the house. We considered and took her up on the chance. I have to say the difference between this time and last was dramatic. The service was 100xs better, making the entire experience so much more satisfying. It made me realize how much that factor alone can make a difference. This time, i tried the chicken and waffles, and the $5 orange juice. My husband ordered the blueberry pancakes, pepper bacon, a bloody mary, and we shared the french pressed coffee. In our view, the coffee and the pancakes really shine at Founding Farmers. I'd never had chicken and waffles before and found it ok - i liked the yeasty waffle best, as did our 2 year old who drank most of my orange juice. We were tempted by the beignets but thought it would be too much. I would go back again for pancakes and would like to try out fare at other times of day like lunch and dinner. Thanks Valerie for the opportunity.
(4)Kendra Z.
This is easily my favorite restaurant in MoCo. The food is phenomenal. The service is genuine. I could easily eat here everyday. I highly recommend the bread appetizers - the fig and cheese as well as the basil and tomato. Entree wise...I love everything I've tried. The gnocchi is OUT OF THIS WORLD. If you're looking for an awesome find without having to travel into DC - this is it
(5)Angelica C.
Excellent food and excellent service! A reservation is a must if you don't want to wait a long time!
(5)Ellen J.
Absolutely delicious! Hands down the best Mac & cheese I've ever had at a restaurant. It's very rich so I substituted it as one of my sides so I could have a small portion. Very broad menu; there is something suitable for everyone! They make their own sodas. I have only tried the passion fruit one, but I can't wait to try others.
(5)allen w.
First time visit after driving by several times. Stopped by for lunch with my wife. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable. Our server "Gabby" was awesome. We had the shrimp & grits and the goat cheese burger. Both dishes were fantastic. We usually don't get dessert but Gabby couldn't say enough good things about the cheesecake, so we gave it a try along with the carrot cake. Neither dessert disappointed the cheesecake was light and delicious. Never tasted a cheesecake like this before it was very good. The carrot cake was also very good but the cheesecake was the hit. We will definitely return to the Founding Farmer.
(4)C P.
This is one of the most interesting reviewed places on Yelp. People either love it or hate it. It is the Napolean Dynamite on Yelp in that it's so polarizing. I think I figured out why. Unfortunately for the restaurant, the people who hate it really seem to go out of their way to slam it. I was tempted to do just that but I showed real restraint it giving it another visit before I reviewed it. HERE IS THE PROBLEM: IT'S TOO AMBITIOUS GIVEN ITS ABILITY. The menu is one that would appeal to foodies like myself. The problem is it can't deliver. For example, whenever I go to a decent restaurant and see Fried Chicken as an entree, I always order it because usually it means it's something special. The problem here is that while it's OK, it's nothing to get excited over. Same goes for the Devil-ish eggs. Compare theirs to Ray's the Classic's and it's no contest. When I saw their custom sodas, I was really anxious to try them with my kids. We ordered 3 and only one of them were even close to pleasant. To the restaurant's credit, they took it back. This is going to sound very food snobbish but what I have found is that people with unsophisticated restaurant food palettes love this places. For example, my 13 year old niece's idea of Italian Restaurants is Olive Garden and pasta with red sauce and she thinks this is the best restaurant in the world and always hounds me to take her here when she visits. The sad thing is the area really needs a restaurant like this as you have a lot of affluent foodies living in the area who are not going to be satisfied by the options in Rockville. I hate to say it but they need to get a new higher caliber chef. They could probably keep the entire menu, but just need to execute a little better even if it means upping the prices.
(3)Yuri I.
Founding farmers has a industrial farm theme thing going on with their interior design. However, their service is big city efficient. The staff has their roles down pat. Decent wine and drink list. My "El Presidente" was made for this peon to feel like a big shot with just the right amount of froth from a proper shaking. The fried green tomatoes were truly the worst I have ever had, tasting of vegetable oil. North Carolina barbecue was average but Luke warm. It came with pickled onions on top which were really tasty. The green beans on the side clearly came straight from the farm but were somehow dry? I really can't say they were bad but dry was a new sensation for a veggie and not appealing. Desert was a apple berry crisp with vanilla ice cream on top. It was average but yes, it's sugar and hit the sweet spot. The accompanying coffee was "Intelligencia" brand and delicious. 2.5 stars Yuri
(4)Maryam B.
I ate at founding farmers a while back but that Mac n cheese was memorable. It's 9 in the morning and that's what I'm craving. And have been for the past week
(4)S L.
Been coming here for over a year. This is our go to place for a nice night out. We're very aware of what we eat, and where we eat comes from, which is why we prefer going here. Fried chicken is great. The girlfriend always gets the diver scallops with the butternut squash risotto. I don't think I've seen her order anything else here. It's one of her favorite things to eat. She also raves about the fried green tomatoes, and gets them every time. The herb crusted prime rib is hit or miss in my experience. I think it gets reheated, so some times it comes out kind of cold/warm and not juicy at all. I think I'll be passing on ordering this in the future. Their mashed potatoes are so damned good. They have a light flavor, not overwhelming. Arguably the best I've ever had. The hand made sodas are great. I prefer water, but I will on occasion get a soda if it doesn't have high fructose corn syrup. The vanilla soda is wonderful. It's a slightly carbonated, vanilla flavored water. I had my girlfriends mother try it when we took them out to dinner and she loved it (she despises soda!). I've had the seasonal strawberry soda which was great as well. This is a very good restaurant with high quality ingredients. When they're busy, it gets extremely loud. I've also noticed they'll try and rush you out if there are a number of people idling by the front door waiting on a seat. Overall, great place and great food!
(5)C.L. M.
Huge fan of this Farm to Table restaurant. Even though it can be packed, the food has always been fantastic. We have tried a lot on the menu and never been disappointed. Just wish the restaurant was larger to accommodate more people!
(4)Scott S.
A good brunch choice in the DC area. We had fried chicken and a veggie scramble with a biscuit... the biscuit was crazily the best part! The meal was overall very well made and looked as healthy as a fried chicken could. We also had the espresso/soda speciality drink for a change; not a big fan of soda myself, but it was good none the less. There are not many "brunch" places in the area besides bagels, Eggspectations and maybe a handful of French places. You can get more of an American mix here than I've seen anywhere else. If I'm missing something, please feel free to let me know. I'm a big fan of trying out new breakfast/brunch restaurants (keep in mind, I'm talking about restaurants and not bagel/coffee joints).
(3)E. F.
Oh yes, I'm updating again! Last time we were at FF for dinner (Valentine's Day), we were inconvenienced by a menu that had hidden meat (my boyfriend is vegetarian). Luckily, our waitress knew the menu backwards and forward! :-) I had tweeted @foundingfarmers and they assured us a new menu was in the works and we experienced that today. YES, YES, YES. There is a whole Meatless section, including a meatless Bacon Burger. My boyfriend got that and I stole a bite. It was really good!! Not only were there vegetarian and vegan entrees in the Meatless section, the rest of the menu had "v" and "vg" for other items suitable for non-carnivores. I got the Many Vegetables Salad, which lived up to its name. Everything was so fresh, including corn that was clearly cut from a cob. Yum. Thank you so much, Founding Farmers! We're always happy with everything we've eaten here.
(5)Al C.
I have one main line of advice for you foodies: sit at the bar. I have never seen the bar so full that I couldn't get a seat In five minutes. Usually Fri night around happy hour there's plenty of space. The bartenders are totally unpretentious and they make the BEST cocktails! Perfectly balanced and good to the last drop. They listen to you and make something based on your description of what you want. They will give you a sample taste of anything and are great conversationalists, too. It's twice the class and quality of a top bar with none of the haughtiness. That said, the only reason I can stomach the $12 drink prices is that I lived in Manhattan for two years. This is a once-every-two-months kinda place for me. The food that everyone raves about I find to be hit or miss, personally. The hash browns are laughable. Might as well steam them for how un-crunchy they are. Do not go to brunch expecting fast service. Veggie meatloaf is pretty hearty but way too salty. Shrimp and grits were good but a bit greasy. What never fails is the appetizer section! The breads and spreads are amaaaazing, esp the onion jam with Brie!
(4)Raven M.
I work in a hospital and the cafeteria food was just not cutting it. So immediately afterwork we go check out this Founding Farmers restaurant everyone has been talking about. Since it's home grown, organic, fresh, blah blah all the good stuff food should be, we didn't feel so bad about completely stuffing our faces like we would never have another meal again. Even after our feast, we stayed and enjoyed delicious cocktails, not because our food-babies were impairing our movement, but because the drinks were good. The food: the asian black pepper wings- I don't usually order chicken but the waitress insisted they were amazing. I wanted to hug her after I tasted them. The fried green tomatoes were so good, as was the guacamole like sauce that came with. The staff unfortunately could not share the recipe with us. I'll just have to go back....The entrees, were all great as well but if i keep thinking about it i'll abandon this review and get in my car. But the beignets, so good. They weren't the same as actually Louisiana beignets, but their creation made me for get what a real one was supposed to taste like.
(4)Anthony O.
first time i tried this place my burger was cooked RAW! i had asked for med well. thought I give this a second chance and try the southern Fried Chicken well..the chicken was the saltiest chicken i have ever had! I will never order take out from there ever again.
(1)Don L.
Dinner was excellent. I had the polenta which was so more elaborate than the menu promised. Overdelivery! My only quibbles (although I'm still giving it 5 stars) were minor: - We ordered a flatbread after the waiter described it, but it was much smaller than he described. We didn't realize this until after we had eaten most of it and were going "Is that it?" so it seemed too late to complain. Actually, it wasn't even flat so the description on the menu was misleading too! (But it was soooo tasty.) - The homemade ginger soda had ice in it. Seemed excellent for awhile but by the time I got to the bottom, the melt had diluted the soda so the flavor was disappointingly weak. Bear in mind that this was in the middle of the winter so ice was not needed. Indeed, the water glasses had no ice in them so clearly someone recognized ice was inappropriate. Very odd.
(5)Karena J.
I really like Founding Farmers in DC so was excited to find out that they had opened one closer to me in Potomac. I've been to this location twice. The first time, the service and organization was atrocious. It was so bad, that the manager apologized and comped our whole $300 meal for our party of six. But the food was good, especially the bacon lolli's - slow roasted and so soft that it melts in your mouth. Due to the manager's apology and my craving for the bacon, we decided to give it another try. I'm so sorry to be disappointed again. The bacon was a far cry from what we had the first time - it was now tough and chewy. I'd rather have bacon from Denny's. I ordered a $15 salad that consisted of a sliced 1/3 head of lettuce under shredded cheddar cheese and topped with a slab of dry turkey, a tiny amount of prime rib that was cold with fat edging that congealed, and 3 slices of deli ham. What was this? It looked like left overs from a neighbor's trash. So odd that this salad was ever conceptualized by Founding Farmers. My husband did enjoy his wings and the fried green tomato appetizer had a hearty crisp breading. The service was better the second visit although I'm not sure why they do not have tables ready... when we arrived, the restaurant was half full and it took 5 minutes for the hostess to leave her stand, set up the table and come back to finally lead us to it. Odd. Disappointing. Don't waste your time. Go to Sugo next door if you read this as you are driving to Founding Farmers.
(2)Breezy Q.
We waited forever to be seated, despite the fact that we had a reservation, and then we waited forever for our food -- which, when it finally came, was unimpressive and clearly overpriced. Meh.
(2)Helene M.
The service was great. The noise level was awful. Couldn't hear yourself talk. The food was okay. I've had better.
(3)Matt M.
I wish Yelp allowed half stars! This place was not "meh!" enough for a two star, but not three star, either. Although I really appreciate their focus on local sourcing and in-house preparation, the end result was okay, but not fabulous. Starters were not great, but not awful...the descriptor that comes to mind is uninspired. Entree portions were massive and more interesting than the starters, but also didn't overly impress. My biggest complaints were with the overly complicated menu (two menus, actually) and overly ambitious drink menu. Thankfully, the staff was quite nice and very helpful, but I have to say I won't likely be going back.
(3)Tim V.
I've eaten here about a dozen times. I seriously recommend the flat breads, the New Oreans style french toast, and the french press coffee. Oh, and the red velvet cake... OMG, so freakin awesome! It does get a little noisy in here. I often just eat at the bar. Ask for Eric or Jackie.... and sit in their section at the bar. They are both absolutely amazing!
(4)Matt L.
This is usually a once a month brunch spot for us, so figured it was time to break it down Yelp style. Sunday at 10 AM, the 1st floor seating of the restaurant was pretty much to the brim, which was surprising, but nice to see so many people up and alive. The hostess team does a great job of keeping the patrons informed, and at ease. Those with reservations are treated as such, which you cannot say for other establishments. The wait staff is prompt, friendly, and has an obvious passion and work ethic. It appears that each server is loaded with 6-7 tables, which can be a daunting task. We started our brunch of fun with two Pimm's Cups, which is a gin-based drink, and a throwback to the late 1800/early 1900s. The mixology team at FF is innovative, and very talented. The perfect drink for a Sunday morning and the Cucumber garnish was a nice touch. Instead of a normal biscuit bread service (which you do have to pay for), we went with the Banana Fluffer Nutter. This tasty treat is a honey-wheat toast, topped with peanut butter, banana, and marshmallow fluff. It was topped with chocolate candies, and roasted peanuts. The peanuts had a bit of a heat kick to them, which I enjoyed, but didn't really fit the dish. A generous serving of 6 fluffer strips is what is plated. If only Elvis was still alive, and a Montgomery County resident... In continuing my healthy breakfast, I went for the Red Velvet Pancakes. These pancakes cover a fairly big plate, and were perfectly cooked. The problem was they were essentially buttermilk pancakes with red food coloring. The cocoa taste of the Red Velvet ceased to exist, although the cream cheese frosting/topping was very tasty. My mate went with a standard bacon/eggs combo, although the grits were served in a giant bowl, and tasted amazing with a tad of butter. The eggs were well-executed, and the bacon was cooked properly. The crown jewel of our meal was the side of Black Pepper Maple Glazed Bacon. This bacon is thick, and a visual delight. They leave a fair amount of chew, which is so important to a good piece of thick bacon. The glaze is a bit on the sweet side, but has such great flavor, you may not even notice. The menu is so fun and complex that the ordering/decision process is no easy feat. We look forward to returning for many months to come.
(4)Len W.
Watch out when in party six or more! They add tip to bill without mentioning it, it was not obvious on the menu. Server screwed us and knew it.
(1)Kellie D.
This place is cool and I love the idea....however the food was very meh. The table biscuits would have been ok but they forgot the honey so it was pretty lame until we for that...then it was yummy. We asked for the smoked salmon deviled eggs....they put nothing but chopped smoked salmon in the filling no yoke at all....they had to fix it lol, then they were just ok...very lackluster I prolly could have whipped up something better at home. The dinners and desserts were not memorable. The homemade sodas are a waste of money, I make better sodas at home with my soda stream with Monin syrups.
(2)Kim A.
The food was mostly great, and pretty much lived up to the rave reviews I keep hearing. Unfortunately, they seemed a bit unprepared for New Year's Eve. They weren't able to make the Manhattan soda (the espresso machine was down all day), and were out of the first 3 or 4 cuts of steak we tried to order. The prime rib was one of the available pieces, but was a little tough. We got the "devil-ish eggs" to start. They were pretty good, but a little bland. Onto the positive: The "phosphate", blood orange soda, was amazing! I usually stick with water, but tried a sip and had to order my own. They make these sodas in-house, and it was the perfect blend of sweet, sour and fizz; so good!! I really am intrigued by the coffee infused soda now, and will definitely be trying it next time. I had the plank salmon (no plank, they were also out of those, but I hear it's just a wooden block anyway) with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. The salmon was cooked really well, and had just the right blend of seasonings. I took it as it came with the "plank" order, but there are several other ways to choose from. The brussel sprouts were a little on the sweet side, which is new for me, but surprisingly I liked them a lot. The mashed potatoes were great (could have been warmer actually), and the flavor and texture was perfect. I loved how a little bit of the red potato peel was left in. The decor was a mix of cute, rustic and modern. The checks some in a tiny mailbox, and you put the flag up when you're ready for them to take it. There were lots of nice little touches all around the restaurant.
(3)Tay S.
The food was amazing, the service was great, and we got there a little after 9 and there was no wait! I will most certainly go back here!! Oh and the $12 mimosas are worth every penny!
(5)Carmen S.
Birthday brunch with my hubby did not disappoint. We each started with a bloody mary - which were wonderfully spicy and complex, topped with fresh lime slices, pickled asparagus (nice touch) and fresh parsley. My husband ordered the biscuits and gravy and loved the perfectly cooked eggs and biscuits, but got VERY little gravy on his dish. I ordered the chicken and waffles, and they were delicious, but again... skimpy on the gravy. Overall delicious food in a loud but original environment. Next time I plan to order the Crab Benedict!
(5)Kaye N.
we went to founding farmers for the first time and since this is a location close to where we live we chose to go here. we went on a sunday around 1pm and the place is packed. its a good thing we made reservations and our wait time was less than 10mins. the server was very nice. she asked if it was our first time and when we said it was, she started telling us a little but about the history of the restaurant. we got classic devil-ish eggs and it was delicious. i will say its nothing special but it was well made. the coffee press was lovely and we loved the coffee(one of my favorite there) both my boyfriend and i ordered the "land & sea"(steak and crab meat or lobster). i had the 8oz. steak with lobster with salad and red potatoes- i love the salad,and lobster with the butter sauce. the steak was ok. nothing special really. my boyfriend got the steak and crab cake with mac and cheese and fries. and he loved everything:) we will definitely go back to try the breakfast menu. make a reservation before heading out there.
(4)Semra E.
I came here for brunch with some friends on a Sunday morning. I'd heard great things about the place so I was really excited to try it out myself...unfortunately it wasn't as smashing as I'd hoped. On top of that in my Bellini there was a piece of floating plastic (that I seriously thought was some type of ice that they hand cut because it's known for doing everything from the bottom up, it was also semi submerged that's why I drank the entire thing and THEN realized that it was plastic AFTER the fact)....smooth. I didn't feel like it was worth wasting the servers time with explaining that because they also brought out the wrong dish to one of my friends 2 times already. We were patient and honestly didn't complain while there because if you can't get it right the first time I most likely won't come back. It's like when you date someone, sometimes you just have to read the red flags and keep it moving. I'm sure others have had better experiences than the one I had since I've read lots of reviews on this place, but I don't even live close enough to this place to try it out again and there's plenty of spots in DC for brunch, so I'll stick to those.
(2)Colin H.
Depending on when you go, your experience will differ. Recently had brunch there and had a delicious meal, but the server was young, unprofessional, slow, and unfriendly. Dampened what could have been a really great brunch experience. I ordered the chicken (actually tenders) and waffles (that comes with eggs-your-way, and a side of gravy) along with a Manhattan Soda (Iced-Espresso with Seltzer Water, and Whipped Cream). Food was very tasty! Wife ordered the Traditional Eggs-Benedict along with a Leek & Potato Hash along with a Bellini (Fruity, alcoholic beverage) she says the food was ok and has had better elsewhere. Our dinner experience was slightly better in that our server was professional, personable, knowledgeable, and efficient. I ordered the Traditional Pot Roast that was ok, nothing special but I know I won't order that again. I did like the Farmer's Smash (Whiskey based drink) and has become one of my all-time favorite drinks! Wife ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli and she liked it, tried some and I think it is one of their better dinner items. She also ordered the Egg-Cream Drink (Chocolate Syrup, Seltzer Water, and Whipped Cream) and it sounded better than it actually tasted. Overall, the restaurant has potential to be great but the inconsistency in service really hinders them. I want to go several more times and order some other items on their brunch, and dinner menu to get a better sense of their food.
(3)Adrian A.
I rarely post reviews but I felt was important to post this one. I enjoyed a late lunch at the Potomac founding farmers. I witnessed to very very heavyset stocky women sitting in the corner of the bar. They were visibly angry and I overheard them complaining to one of the bartenders, I think her name was Charlie. They were ranting and raving about the other bartender who I've witnessed give them nothing but good service. I don't know why these two were so angry but I heard them continue to say that want to write complaints etc. try and ruin the reputation of this restaurant. They were treated respectfully and kindly in a way that even I as a former restaurant professional not have done. This place is good when everything is going great. The test of a really good restaurant is when things go wrong. I never could've thought you could train or represent that type of patients and class under those circumstances. Top marks on top work to the bar staff. I will return again The other bartender, Jackie hit things with stride and continue to give everyone else at the bar a great time. And by the way I'm real and I don't work for this place. I'm just shocked when I see people treated.
(5)Bella B.
Overall: Good, wholesome food. Really wish there were more of these types of places around. Must request "no salt", unless that's your thing. Also, every time I go there the cups smell like eggs, something in their dishwashing process doesn't get rid of the smell. But if that is the cost of eating organic and having locally sourced food, then I would gladly plug my nose while drinking water. Have been going for dinner for a few years now but just tried the brunch. Eggs florentine: bread to egg ratio is off, too much bread; eggs cooked just right (nice and runny); too much salt Banana foster waffles: pretty goo; too little bananas but otherwise no complaints here This place is a must, don't hesitate going!
(4)Meg S.
Though I vowed I would never go back after my dining experience here, a friend who had a much more positive first experience at Founding Farmers convinced me to try again. Disclaimer - the manager did offer me a free meal after reading my first review, but I didn't take her up on it. So this review is based on me paying my own way, and them not knowing I was there. This time I went for brunch. The kitchen served it all up at a good pace and our waitress was responsive. Unfortunately, the waitress cleared my coffee cup when it was empty rather than refilled it, so I guess you have to pay-per-cup there. Too bad, because it is really fantastic coffee. Also, the waitress never put in our beignet order. Instead, she brought us biscuits ahead of our entrees, which we thought was her just thoughtfully serving us our sides first so we wouldn't go hungry. Because there's such a delay on the beignets, by the time we realized this was an error rather than our side dish, it was too late to order the beignets. And then she charged us for the biscuits, even though both of our entrees were supposed to come with biscuits on the side for free. And finally, she served us ketchup with the biscuits, instead of jam (it wasn't until our main courses came, with more biscuits and jam, that we realized none of this was deliberate). So that's a four-part error on the starter. A bit of a head scratcher, and I'm actually quite disappointed that I never got to try the beignets, since they're so well liked by other diners. The other oddity was that my companion and I both ordered egg dishes - mine was a scramble and hers came in a skillet. The peculiar thing is how different the portion sizes were - mine looked like it consisted of a scant two eggs scrambled with one large mushroom and four slices of sausage (with lots of white space left on the plate), but hers was substantially larger. Normally, restaurants have fairly consistent portion sizes from dish to dish, so this was strange. So how do I assign stars to this review? Technically the first time was worse - I nearly cried from embarassment at the disparity between our service and the tables around us. This time our waitress was much more welcoming, but our order and our bill were incorrect, and the waitress told us she couldn't make it up to us (because the beignets take 20 minutes, so we'd be having them long after we finished our entrees; also we *did* eat the first biscuits she served us, and those were the ones that cost $5, so she said it would make sense for us to pay for them... I guess I should have asked her to bring us a menu so I could show her they should have been free, and her serving us two sets of biscuits is not our fault, but I simply don't argue with wait staff in public and can't bring myself to do such a thing). I think it all washes out to another two-star review. Very good food, but I come away feeling a bit like I'm never really going to actually ENJOY a meal there. It always feels like more of a breadline where you get the treatment and the food that they decide to give you. I hope they treat enough people well that they stay open, because the *idea* of Founding Farmers is such a nice one.
(2)Lisa B.
Valerie the manager invited me and a guest to try the restaurant again and we were very pleased with the new experience. The other bonus was that the hosts and servers seemed to have no clue we were going to get the meal comped, which was good (or else they were good actors). Our server was very knowledgable about the menu and gave us lots of recommendations. We ordered the asian black pepper wings and mussels which were both delicious. The wings were seasoned perfectly and had just the right amount of lime. The mussels came with some delicious bread, too. For the entrees my husband got the surf and turf (which he got the last time, too) and I got the lemon meuniere scallops. I just took a bite of the risotto, but everything was great. For dessert we shared the chocolate mousse bowl - and rolled out of there. Founding Farmers did exactly what they should - allowed us to try them out again on the house and converted us to fans and people that will re-visit the restaurant in the future. Thank you! The other thing I'll mention is the excellent service, you don't realize how much service matters until you get bad service. Our server this time was enthusiastic, attentive and seemed to recommend the right dishes for us. We'll be back.
(5)Sheri Y.
I have a vegan meatloaf and it was delicious. This is my first time here for dinner.
(4)Vah G.
A friend of mine took me here for lunch one day after we got back from DC. It's a pretty busy place. The interior decor of the restaurant is very eclectic. I ordered a cocktail called the El Presidente and to my surprise came with a small glass of beer. The chef salad was ok. I had the Fish and Chips for my entree. The fish servings were large but very breaded. I probably would come back.
(4)Al E.
The food & drink menus are great - but they have limited bar space. My wife and I like to pop in for a drink but have to wait 30 mins for space at the bar - usually because some middle aged woman has reserved a seat with her coat/bag and decided to get 4 or 5 cocktails in before the person she is waiting for arrives! this has happened 3 times now! they really need to expand the bar space to the front of the restaurant and be willing to tell people to move their stuff when others are waiting! this place had HUGE potential but are not taking advantage of it.
(2)Elliott K.
I had breakfast here, the food was excellent. My father had the traditional eggs Benedict, and I had the fried chicken and waffles. I thoroughly enjoyed my dish. The chicken was breaded well and the skin didn't fall off the meat, it stuck with it. The waffles were nice and fluffy, but still had a good chew to them. The beignets were also very tasty. They came with 3 sauces, chocolate, honey and syrup. They were fresh and served in a little paper bag. All in all, a good experience and delicious food.
(5)Brett M.
loved founding farmers. Everything we tried was really good and seems very fresh. I'm now a regular.
(4)Tina N.
As much as I want to give Park Potomac Founding Farmers 4-5 stars...I just can't. This location just isn't the same as the one in DC. I always get the fried chicken and waffles ---and its different between the two location. The DC one is much much better. I understand Park Potomac location just opened a few months ago...but I was hoping for the food taste the same as the DC location. Park Potomac is in a more accessible area--easy parking and right off of I270. But I would drive the extra 20 mins to go to the DC location. Hibiscus Handcrafted soda is delicious at both location. They taste the same. The cornbread tasted the same at both the location. Service: good service, your check comes in a cute little mailboxes.
(3)Raven J.
Food is good, but overpriced. The reason for the low rating is that I was on extended hospital bed rest and requested that my family bring dinner from this restaurant to change up the hospital food. Founding farmers refused to provide any type of carryout service even when my parents offered to bring Tupperware so they could bring me dinner. This is atrocious customer service, I will not be returning to this restaurant, and encourage others to do the same.
(1)Ashley R.
I had heard so many good things about this place so I gave it a shot. My wife and I started with the deviled eggs. They were just so so nothing special. Our server suggested the pot roast so I tried it. Once again nothing special. I really wish I liked this place better because I really am a supporter of their farm to table concept, but in the end I was just not impressed with the end product. I also felt like it was way overpriced for the quality.
(2)Trista W.
Came here for brunch on a Sunday. We (party of 2) were seated right away at 10:15 on a Sunday morning. We had the beignets which were a delicious starter and we each ordered the pancakes. Regular and blueberry. The pancakes were HUGE but soo tasty. I also added a side of the black pepper and maple bacon which was amazing. I will definitely come back and work my way through the breakfast menu!!
(4)Martica C.
Hands down, the best pancakes I've ever had. My mom and I both ordered the blueberry pancakes and absolutley loved them. Of course we both had leftovers since they're the size of dinner plates! Service was friendly and pleasant. I've only been here for brunch thus far, but I've heard nothing but great things about their general menu, so I'm definitely looking foward to going back for lunch/dinner....or more pancakes ;-) Reservations are HIGHLY recommended as this place is always packed.
(4)callie h.
After moving out of DC to the burbs to raise a family, we were hoping that FF would be a place we could go for an occasional date night that might be close to what we had in DC. Despite some previously good reviews, this place really rates below even other MoCo restaurants. We had made a reservation 2 weeks in advance and were still seated in the bar. When we asked to be moved because it was incredibly loud, we were moved upstairs. The upstairs looks like a Denny's. Terrible decor and lighting. The drink of the day was overly sweet and syrupy, the popcorn (ranch??) was salty and just plain bad. My food (the mac and cheese) was cold and consequently chewy and disgusting. My husband's chicken was overly salty and just not good. We were some of the first customers at the DC Founding Farmers (even under its previous name), and this was just beyond disappointing.
(2)Lilian Y.
I came here with a couple girlfriends and it was alright. The deviled eggs were delicious! Chunks of celery and onions with egg yolk! The best I've ever had! I ordered the fish and chips. The fish was alright. I think I've had better. But it was lightly fried and was light to the touch. I think there was something else in the tartar sauce. I couldn't pin point it but it was definitely different. For dessert, I got the Raspberry Sorbet. OMG SO DELICIOUS! My friend got the pistachio ice cream and I had a bite. That was also delicious!! It's home made so it's fresh each time.
(3)Nick F.
Great place to eat! I had the beef short ribs. They were cooked to perfection! Also had a appetizer called the pitch fork or something like that. It had bacon stripes and tater tots with dipping sauce. It was awesome!!
(4)Mike D.
The scrambled eggs with gravy is delish, the waffles and fried chicken also very good. My waitress was very pleasant and professional. Every need seemed to be met quickly by all the patrons .
(3)Roy S.
The meatloaf was really good!!! The pulled pork BBQ sandwich was not at all a classic BBQ meal. Pickles and onions in the sandwich? Mustard? Once I pushed the onions off it was a really good meal. I also really liked the lemonade.
(5)Janny D.
I want to like this place, but it pales in comparison to Silver Diner. If you pay extra for the special bacon, you still only get like 2 slices. Last time we ate here, getting the check in a reasonable time was difficult. The hostess definitely seemed displeased that I didn't include my 1 year old in the reservation. We had to wait for a little while to ask for some butter for our bread since the wait staff wasn't communicating and nobody was really checking on us. I would have loved a second cup of coffee, but we just didn't have the time.
(2)Justine K.
I love the water carafe that is left at the table. Everything the waiter recommended was great from the cucumber cocktail to the red velvet cake. To start the cornbread was super good with the honey butter. Chicken and waffles is a must try when coming to Founding Farmers! The fried chicken was perfectly tender inside and the skin super crispy. It came with a side of Mac and cheese and green beans. OMG! The Mac and cheese was delicious. The red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting is the best ever and it's so huge it could feed three. The previous times I've been here I've had the fried chicken salad and burgers. All are good!
(5)Raven T.
Had brunch with a friend here last month. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, especially when there perfectly delicious brunch options closer to me, but if you're in the area definitely check it out. I'd recommend making reservations, particularly for Sunday brunch. The atmosphere and decor, for that matter, are a lot like Eggspectation. Although I did not partake in the spirits they seem to have an excellent selection with house made juices, bitters, etc. I ordered the beef pastrami hash. If you've read any of my other reviews you know I am a potato connoisseur, so I was disappointed that they use shredded potatoes instead of diced or cubed home fries. Even if they shred the potatoes in house, home fries just make for a heartier hash. It was topped with peppers, onions, and pastrami that were tasty and a good balance of flavors. It was served with a fresh biscuit that was absolutely delectable, especially with syrup. Other than the biscuit, the meal was pretty basic; something I could have made at home. I may be missing out having not been to dinner here (according to my fellow yelpers) so maybe I'll try that next time I'm in the area.
(3)Dee B.
A tale of two different restaurants. Food gets five stars, and service (or lack-there-of) ONE STAR. The steak and eggs were AMAZING, the service was just terrible. We'd been seated at our table for at least 10 minutes, might have been 15, when I finally flagged down an employee wiping down another table and asked if she knew who are server was. Five minutes later he runs over, sweaty and all. Although he was initially apologetic, he was a bit stand-offish the rest of the time, and everything just took too long and too many mistakes were made made (my gluten-free plate had a biscuit on it, no butter or jam was brought for the folks who did have biscuits, beignets were ordered but never materialized). I do wish the service would match or even come close to being as good as the food is.
(3)Francesca C.
Great service. Decent parking. Friendly atmosphere. They put your check "in the mail" aka in a little mini mailbox which they place on your table. The food was good - I ordered eggs Benedict and my friend ordered the beet hash - but I have to say it wasn't anything mind blowing or super special. Good consistent food but I like a little something special with my brunch.
(3)Bruce C.
VERY DISAPPOINTING SECOND TIME AROUND!! I consider myself to be a fried chicken expert and lover. Dined here in Bethesda and the chicken had zero flavor! What's strange is that I had the chicken earlier in the week in DC and it was the same thing....no flavor. Did something change??? I eat this dish at least once every 10 days or so because it is usually the absolute best I've had including in the south!! Something has changed, not sure what it is. I traded in my meal for the fish and chips. Service was great, but I guess I will have to find another place for great fried chicken.
(2)Eric P.
My girlfriend and I came here tonight after the gym because we were in the mood for some founding farmers. This is our 4th time coming and we love it. The place is always nice and clean and their staff is always polite. One of our favorites is the the Brie Bread Starter, it is to die for. Literally, this is one of those things that mixes in your mouth and creates a whole mix of flavors. I suggest everyone get that. Today, I got the Salted Prime Rib which is only available for dinner and it was great. Although, I asked for well done and it was still red in the middle, it was still delicious and juicy. Be careful though the use rock salt so it come out salty which I love so I had no problem, the steak is wrapped with a thin layer of fat so it has a greattt flavor. My girlfriend had the Spinach Blue Bacon Salad and it was really good too. Lots of bacon!. and they use the real thick bacon bits and not the tiny fake ones. For dessert, you need to try the Red Velvet Cake! enough said. Its huge enough to share with your SO, it is honestly so good. For Breakfast the Crab Egg Benedict and Beignets are my go to. You cant go wrong with anything though. Also look online and make a reservation if you can, it is easy and saves you alot time!
(4)L W.
We have eaten here several times and in general we are always satisified. I bring my friends from home and they are always flabbergasted by the chicken and waffles and the beignets. I came here with my family in the middle of May and the egg chef was off his or her game. This would be the only time I ever had a complaint with this location. Today we had Allyson and her trainee as waitstaff and they were very friendly - in direct contrast to one of the hostesses.
(4)Marjorie M.
It wasn't anything special. First time going there and I don't think I'll be running back. The food was good but nothing outrageously amazing. The food took awhile to come out. I got the steak&legs. Which was okay, however the steak was more on the fatty side. For the price it was just alright
(3)Connie M.
I am still a fan of Founding Farmers and it hurts me to drop my review down a star. This is a tough review to write... I always like to start with something positive before I write something negative...bear with me as things will be out of sequence. It was MY birthday dinner so I picked my favorite restaurant in Rockville. I used "open table" for the first time to make reservations and that was super simple! Best part of the night: Great Server! We had Chris T. who had a smile on his face and was very attentive! When the entrees came out before the appetizers, he told me he took them off the bill because we were not having dessert (had to head home for bday cake!) and all they did for birthdays was put a candle in the dessert. He knew how disappointed I was that we had already started eating our entrees and almost sent the appetizers back. I did not ask him to comp anything because we ended up eating and really enjoying the bread with mascarpone, figs and prosciutto as well as the bacon lollipops. He really went above and beyond...and he had no idea that I was bummed about the service from the other staff. (5 stars) Food: Appetizers were the bomb! Sister who doesn't even like figs was chowing down on this yummy combo! We also had the Smear with green goddess, pimento cheese and romesco toppings. (5 stars) Hands down the best entree was the Yankee Pot Roast. Tender beef, root veggies, mashed taters and a boatload of onion straws! My youngest sister was kind enough to trade her dish for my shrimp and grits. She really enjoyed the sauce. I thought there were a lot of shrimps...i lost count after 6. Mom had the goat cheese ravioli with chicken cutlet. We all agreed that was probably the best chicken cutlet we ever had. Mom really enjoyed the ginger squash puree. The other sister chose the macaroni and cheese which comes with sliced apples and ham. Maybe my nose was off that night. I love cajun sauces but wasn't loving mine. Plus, I thought my sister's mac and cheese smelled a little off but she didn't think anything was wrong. I was disappointed the goat cheese raviolis were cold...but after thinking about it, hot goat cheese might not hold it's integrity. (3.5 stars) My disappointment: Before I started using Yelp, I would write a stellar note to an outstanding server or give the manager a disappointed note about sub-par service. I don't think it is fair to post grievances online without giving management a chance to fix things. However, I think the behavior I am about to describe is typical of MOST restaurant. Because I have had outstanding service from Founding Farmers in the past, I expect it to be the norm rather than the exception. I walked in at 7pm and was greeted by a smiling hostess. After she told me I was the first to arrive and to let her know when the rest of my party arrived, she instantly turned away from me. I felt she could have spent another 30 seconds explaining that their policy was to seat the entire party and I should have a drink at the bar while waiting for everyone else. Especially since there was no one behind me. Feeling a little slighted, I take 5 steps to the bar and sit down. Bar is 75% full with many getting ready to leave. I was almost directly in front of the bartender who was making an elaborate drink and he had no choice but to notice that I sat down to his left. He refused to make eye contact with me. Was I expecting too much for a smile? An acknowledgment that I sat down and someone would be with me in a minute? Feeling slighted a second time in less than 5 minutes. (2 stars) The second bartender notices me and was very attentive. Answers my questions and even puts a glass of water in front of me before he makes my Blood Orange Phosphate. I try to order a couple more drinks but now 2 attractive ladies have sat down to my right and I am not having luck catching the attention of either bartender. I am frustrated and half tempted to leave and go somewhere else. By now my family has already found me and been seated. If they were not waiting for me, I definitely would have just left. (2 stars) How do you complain about this? The behavior of the hostess and bartenders are typical of what you find at many restaurants. They are doing what they are paid to do. Sad how eye contact or a smile was all I needed. Sadder that I am not the only one who feels this way. At least the Servers ROCK!
(4)Timmy L.
We stopped by here last Saturday for brunch during a road/holiday trip to Maryland. A friend made reservations so we were seated pretty quickly (about a 5-8 minute wait). The place was pretty crowded and I was glad we were seated on the upper level where it was much quieter. There were 6 of us so we started out with the Beignuts... they were awesome. Very soft and rich. A couple of my friends have been there before so they knew what to order. It was pretty difficult figuring out what to order as a main dish. I really wanted to try the Crab Benedict but I was hearing some mixed opinions on the dish. I was in Maryland so I had to have a crab dish, so I settled on the crab cakes. The crab cakes themselves were really good. A lot of crab meat and not so much filler (breadcrumbs, etc). I was struggling between giving this restaurant 4 or 5 stars but I settled on 4 because of the sides (that come with the entree) and... this is weird... the water. The house water was... salty. The hell? We were drinking salt water. The sides... it wasn't that they were horrible, they were decent (I decided on the kale and the mashed potatoes), but it was because I really didn't have any options. I was given the choice of two sides with the entree, but only three options... which were the kale, mashed potatoes and a carrot or something. I found this a bit weird given how extensive (looking) the menu is. However, it was worth the trip here. Get the Beignuts (another friend ordered a separate order for dessert, they were that good). Let me know how the house water is.
(4)Parvinder H.
Heeding the advice of fellow yelpers we made reservations. We were glad of it when we turned up on a busy Saturday at noon and saw a line of people waiting for a table. We were seated straight away. We ordered breakfasts from the brunch menu and we all enjoyed our meals. Our particular favourites were the leek hash browns and the fried chicken. My only complaint of the food would be of the presentation and in particular the fruit and salad that came with the breakfasts. They looked like they had been made up hours in advance and put In the fridge as they had a brownish tinge to them. On a positive note our waitress was beyond friendly. She came by to refill the coffee cups frequently, she checked in on us twice to see if the food was to our liking but all the while not making us feel rushed. She offered a to-go-cup for my unfinished milkshake. The milkshake was amazing by the way, they had used real vanilla beans. The decors pretty fab with clouds and birds suspended from the ceiling. The bill comes in a cute little mailbox. Overall it was a good experience.
(4)Eunice K.
i think i went around the first weekend of january for dinner with my sisters and some other friends that have never been to founding farmers. i was hoping it would be better but oh my.. :( service usually always starts off really well. but somehow they have a hard time keeping that good service throughout the meal. i just don't understand. anyways. the wings were really good like always cornbread was not good. it tasted like it was made with old gross oil. i don't know. it had a really bad taste and i was so annoyed but brushed it off. it also tasted like cardboard. red velvet cake was dry and tasted old :( i've had the red velvet cake but this did not taste the same and it may be my taste buds but i was not pleased they also change the things in the dishes so it's kind of annoying. the ahi tuna salad did not have white chocolate in it but now it does? like what?! i think that if you are changing things in your menu then you need to write that in the menu and not tell customers it's the same as it always was. also something like the crazy corn salad i think or now called something else has caramel popcorn in it but it is not listed in the ingredients like that's a game changer for me cus i like the salad without caramel popcorn. i asked the server if it has popcorn and he told me it does and said they revamped the menu but everything is still the same... we ordered some other dishes and it just was not as good as it should have been D: i don't know but the quality of the place seems to have gone down :( at least the wings did not disappoint! someone was walking around that night and asked us how our meal was and i told them it was not good and they asked why and i told them and she apologized and she said she would be back but never came back so we just paid and left.
(2)Mary T.
This is based on my experience with a large group. They are not large group friendly. They have great food, but if you have a large (10 plus people) look elsewhere as they seem very bothered by a large group and are not set up to handle a large party
(2)Alexis B.
Great food! The servers are really nice and knowledgeable. Our bartender, Joseph, answered our questions before we even asked. I had the Goat Cheese Ravioli and Chicken cutlet. Everything was delicious! Nice size portion as well for a great price.
(5)Megan H.
In a way, Founding Farmers reminds me a bit of Cheesecake Factory. There's something there for everyone and you can expect the food to be decent. I've never had a bad meal here, yet nothing really keeps me coming back for more. The fried chicken is a massive portion! It's all white meat - I'm a dark meat fan, so I was very skeptical of this being potentially dry as sand, but it happened to be the best white meat fried chicken I've ever had. It comes de-boned, with the exception of one bone in the wing area. The waffles were light and fluffy and came with a little pat of butter between the two waffle wedges. Mango soda was also a hit! Unfortunately, no such thing as free refills on that elixir. Service was a bit slow, but that may have been because we had a party of 8. The front desk area gets majorly crowded when it's peak time. It's hard to figure out where to situate yourself when you get called for your table, and it's that 30 second window where the hostess is getting the menus and figuring out which table to bring you to, while other people are coming through the rotating door to put their name down, and they look at you like why are you in my way can you move please so I can talk to the hostess, but you're still waiting for the hostess, but you don't want to move from where the hostess last saw you cus then she might think you dipped out, oh goodness the anxiety before your meal, now all I want to do is just go home and eat takeout instead.
(3)Ellen L.
Great service, awesome food, I love the decor and how easily comfortable you feel coming in here. I love coming here for brunch - I am always willing to drive 25 minutes from silver spring to come here for brunch. Its THAT good. I do recommend that you make a reservation either online or calling in. I made the mistake of just walking in and the wait was an hour+ (granted this was lunch time on a saturday). Its a cute place for a girls get together, a cute lunch/dinner with the babe or even a family breakfast/lunch. I love their concept too!
(5)Chow N.
This is a nice restaurant on the ground level of an office complex. There are many other restaurants in this general area. I ordered the fish n' chips and they were great. The cod was really flaky, and the entrée comes with a beer, which I think was a white Belgian beer. The chips consist of home made fries and chips. I also ordered the devil'ish eggs and the black pepper and soy wings. Both were very good and tasty. The bloody mary was pretty good also, but lacked kick. I prefer a spicy bloody mary.
(4)Lilli M.
Food is definitely well-prepared and tasty here. As other Yelpers mention also though, it's the service that adds a darker color to the overall dining experience. We had a reservation for eight. Upon arrival, we were told that we couldn't be seated until all eight people were uniformly present. So we busy ourselves at the bar but once everyone was present, there was still a wait. No matter, I figure. But when we're finally all seated, the wrong drinks were delivered, and an appetizer for popcorn we never ordered also came to us. AND that same popcorn appetizer still wound up on our bill (thank goodness an astute friend picked up on that). We all enjoyed the table biscuits, which were very light, and the honey+butter that came with the skillet cornbread was spot on. My chicken pot pie was also creamy and hearty. They do have gluten-free options, as other Yelpers have pointed out. Unfortunately, they don't offer you the gluten-free menu until you specifically ask for it. The chocolate mousse was delightful, though in retrospect they accidentally served us the mousse bowl instead of the mousse cake. You get the idea about the service. The food is great but you do have to keep a hawk's eye on what you're receiving and getting billed for, otherwise you'll end up paying and eating for someone else's food.
(4)ny w.
This place is pretty popular, so you may have to wait for a seat or get a reservation. We visited on a busy afternoon in December and opted to sit at the community table, which was fine. Elijah our host was training a new hire and both were very charming, fun and attentive. We even got information on places to visit in DC! About the food: we ordered classic devil eggs, candied bacon, Bloody Mary's, chicken and waffles, chicken and collard greens. The chicken was perfectly seasoned, moist and crispy on the outside. In a nutshell everything we ordered was delicious. We will definitely be returning when we visit MD this summer.
(5)Lena W.
I held my breakfast brunch here over the summer (yeah, I know I'm late posting) but I was very pleasantly surprised. I will say I experienced some frustration with getting reservations because they couldn't/wouldn't confirm that a party of 12 could be seated together and that they'd only know once we arrived, not even earlier in the morning. Needless to say, that wasn't optimal. However, once we got there, they had seated us together in a nook toward the front of the restaurant that worked perfectly. Kudos to them for that because it made my day. The food was delicious. Everyone had a wide variety of dishes and none were disappointed. I was partial to the beignets - the raspberry sauce was heavenly! The service met expectations and the prices were reasonable. This will likely be my preferred location over the DC one. The biggest downside is the parking situation. When we were here, there was construction on part of what I believed was a parking garage, so we ended up having to circle the lot to find a spot. We ended up parking near the market, worried that we'd get towed. Clearer signage about parking would be appreciated.
(4)Priyanka S.
A real discovery in rockville! Hustling bustling ambience, quick&smart service and awesomely delicious food set this place apart... --highly suggest prebooking table for Sunday brunch or try the bar area for full service --try out house blend coffee and blueberry french toast..Yummilicious! Definitely deserves another round:) Chk out the cool new bill box!
(5)Yasmin M.
My family and I went to Founding Farmers for Brunch last Saturday June 6, 2015. We were 100% satisfied. Our waiter was Andy he was just amazing. He had excellent Customer Service. We didnt had to ask for anything he had it ready for us. My daughter ordered this appetizer it was like tiny dognuts. It was so yummy. Each entrees we ordered was very delicious. We were fortunate enough to meet one of the managers Ms. Rizza. She was very kind to us. All in all my family and I had an enjoyable Brunch. Food delicious. Nice restaurant.
(5)Lo L.
From the beginning it was just chaos! Had reservations at 12. Had to tell the hostess twice that we were there. Both times she asked if we wanted to sit inside or out and which both times we stated whatever is available. Once we got seated, we placed our drink orders. The server brought out my drink plus a drink that I cancelled when I initially ordered and didn't bring my friends drink. He asked her again what she ordered and she repeated her order. Her drink came out about a minute before our food came out. About 3 minutes after our food was delivered, our server came back asking how everything is. If he didn't place our food and run away, he would've noticed that we had no utensils or condiments. Definitely not worth going back. The food was subpar. The grits looked like mashed potatoes. Not impressed at all. I've had better service at a chain restaurant where the in house staff is more organized.
(2)Amber F.
I've been to the FF at Dupont several times, but this is my first time at Moco FF. We came to celebrate a birthday and had a reservation at 8pm. We arrived 10 minutes early and didn't get seated until about 8:45. THAT, is not a great start of a celebration meal. The whole time we were waiting, staff at FF didn't seem to care at all. They just kind of ignored us until we went to ask about our reservation and when we might be able to get seated. The food itself was good. Big portion and delicious as always. I always get the fried green tomatoes (the green sauce is so freaking good!). Green tomatoes are a must whenever I visit FF. I also had their pesto bread, which is delicious and refreshing. Some friends at my table ordered their famous chicken and waffles and loved it. Their ribeye seemed to be on the salty side, but still yummy. I had the platter, and I have to mention that their corn on the cob is absolutely amazing. Our server was also attentive and friendly. It would have been a pretty good experience (except for the waiting) if I didn't get food poisoning later that night. I can't confidently say that I'll be back for the Moco FF, sorry.
(3)Lan N.
From the mixed reviews, I was almost expected long waits for food and service. But despite coming in on the tail end of Sunday brunch, I was seated immediately since I had made reservations. The entire experience was pretty painless. The food was great. I was not hungry, so I tried the cornbread appetizer and a portion of baked beans. Both were among the top that I've had, though the price was quite steep for what it was ($6 for a few spoonfuls of baked beans). My friend had a proper portion and ordered the goat cheese and beet hash. The eggs were poached perfectly and she said that her dish was delicious. I can see myself returning here if someone else wanted to go.
(3)Tahira R.
Very cute and rustic ambience, a nice medium between laid back and classy. The food was yummy and healthy. I got the pasta side and pesto flatbread. Both were delicious but could've used a bit more flavor. The staff is very kind and our waiter knew the menu inside and out. Overall, a super cute place with great food and decently priced!
(4)Elizabeth C.
A solid 3.5 starts. I've been to this location and the DC Founding Farmers location a couple times, and while the food is just as great in this location as many other Yelpers have mentioned the service is just not that great. This location was packed on an early Sunday for brunch and although you have a reservation, you can end up waiting to get seated. Thankfully the wait wasn't too long and as we were seated our waiter stopped by to introduce himself and fill our water glasses. After that we rarely saw him at all until the very end when he delivered and picked up the check. We ordered bellinis to drink and for our meal we ordered the crab benedict, spinach and tomato benedict, and the blueberry compote stuffed french toast. After ordering it took about 30 minutes for our bellinis to come out and then another 20 or so for our food to come out. The bellinis were delicious and the champagne cocktail glasses they were served in were so adorable! The benedicts had perfectly poached eggs, and my crab benedict was heavy on the crab meat and that was awesome! I loved the leek potato hash browns that I opted for my side. The blueberry stuffed french toast was gorgeous to look at and yummy as well. The food here is definitely awesome and worth the wait, however the service has generally declined over the past year since I've come regularly and could definitely use some improvement.
(3)Steph S.
Recently revisited this awesome place for brunch and it was delicious. The biscuits are to die for! I think all the people in my party got the basic breakfast and everyone enjoyed their meals. I will definitely be going back for breakfast or any other meal soon!
(4)Bell A.
I've always heard great things about Founding Farmers but this experience was lack luster to say the least. Made a reservation and was seated immediately which was great. Good location, parking is tight but that's expected for a Saturday morning. Ordered the red velvet pancakes. Meh. I've had better. My friend had the original buttermilk pancakes which she didn't care for either. My other friend had the stuffed french toast. Another fail. I got orange juice as my drink. Thinking the Orange juice was refillable, I got more. And more. And then another one. Turns out, they charge per glass. WTH. Five dollars per orange juice because they're freshly squeezed. I was not told I would be paying per glass. It's not like this is a mimosa or wine. It's ORANGE JUICE! I paid more money for juice than my nasty pancakes. The place is cute. The beignets are the bomb. Service is good. The food & prices of orange juice suck.
(2)Stephanie S W.
The biscuits and honey are to die for! My husband and I eat here a lot (at both the MoCo and downtown DC locations) and everything is consistently good on the menu. For winter, I would recommend their grilled cheese and tomato soup combo. Reminds me of home and is warming during these chilly months. The ambiance is eclectic farm-ville (with white geese flying across the restaurant) and a wooden barn frame lining the stairs to get to the upper dining level. Good parking in the surrounding area.
(4)Puneet M.
Founding Farmers... well so glad I found you! This was my first first to the MoCo location, I have been to the PA avenue one several times. Before I start, lets just say this... Founding Farmers is a busy busy place... make sure you have reservations or you will be waiting for hours... not a single hour, but hours. Once inside, you have to love the decor, modern farm meets modern lines and lighting. Really neat place. So points for decor.. but you are NOT here for the decor, you are here for the food!! The food... oh man the food... it is so good you want to buy one of those expandable pants and just eat!! Founding Farmers, as the name says, is a farm to table type of place, where everything is locally sourced and has a great fresh taste!. So far I have tasted the chicken and waffles... darn good... nice crispy chicken with a great waffle. They also pair it with some fresh gravy which makes everything fantastic... you get the sweetness of the waffle with syrup and then the saltiness of the gravy and chicken... and boom one of the better meals you will have!! My knock against the chick and waffles is the size of the chicken. If you are getting a breakfast portion then its 3 chicken strips... the lunch portion is actually a bone in piece, so which ever your preference. The other items are good are their french toast... it is stuff french toast and the different toppings are amazing! The fried green tomatoes are great as well, great breading and crispiness with a semi-juicy tomato. While we ate all of this great food we also sipped on some french press coffee which had a great nutty taste to it. The last two items, were biscuits which are made in house daily actually basically when you order. The other item is their beignets, which are great!! Semi-crispy on the outside and almost gooey on the inside... they come with either chocolate, strawberry or peanut butter preserve... all of which are amazing!! So as you can see tons of different food and drink items, each better than the last. Lastly, the service is always spot on, very knowledgeable and friendly with questions or alterations. Would I go back to Founding Farmers... heck yes... and already have so grab your flannel shirt and head on down the MoCo Founding farmers!
(4)Desiree T.
Great food, great ambiance, great service! My family and I went to Founding Farmers for Father's Day and really enjoyed our experience. We were early for our reservation and had time to enjoy the cocktail menu at the bar. I loved my Clementine and my Dad loved his El Presidente. The bartender was knowledgeable and made solid recommendations. Side Note: Bar stools are wide and comfy. I hate a narrow stool. Dinner was delicious. Make sure to get the biscuits with whipped butter and honey. The fries that came with my shrimp and fries were great and my Dad really enjoyed his steak (8 oz). The only thing I didn't care for is that my shrimp were not completely deveined - which is a rookie mistake for sure. Dessert was tasty - blueberry crumble and carrot cake. The restaurant was easy to find and parking was available. I'll definitely return!
(4)Michelle L.
Usually I'm not keen on writing a review as I'm still sitting here but our experience has been disappointing. My boyfriend and I were excited to try out the brunch after hearing about all the hype. We both got lattes and the founding farmers breakfast. First of all, my latte looked and tasted very different than my boyfriend's latte, it simply tasted burnt . I had to ask and waited 10 minutes for a replacement. Then my toasts came burnt, without the preserve mentioned on the menu. Again, had to ask for replacement. My boyfriend struggled to eat anything from his plate, everything was lukewarm and looked unappealing. It's never ideal when a dining experience ends up with a conversion with the restaurant manager.
(1)Daniel B.
Bacon lollipops. Just imagine. It is literally bacon on a stick. Bacon that is cooked to the perfect texture (not too crispy and not too chewy) and it is glazed in brown sugar and cinnamon and DID I MENTION THEYRE LOLLIPOPS?!?! Literally amazing overwhelmed by how delicious it is praise God I give up everyone go home. Also their Southern chicken is fantastic. Zesty, flavorful, but not too spicy. It's classic comfort food. They've also got bacon wrapped dates. I just really love bacon ok don't judge me!
(5)Val V.
Weekend Brunch is a busy time and making a reservation a day before was plain common sense. No issues with Parking either outdoors, near the Harris Teeter or garage (they validate). Not sure why others complained about this. Got us seated right away but no server came by to check on us for a good 7 minutes. Had to flag somebody who was helpful enough to look for our server Lisa to take our order. Some observations: 1. A six inch crack was on the water drinking glass and was served to us. 2. Something inside the water bottle that appears to be seaweed. Asked Lisa to replace it. 3. Uncle Bucks Beignet (ben-yay in French) aka French donuts with Rasberry, caramel & choco dipping is a must. 4. The serving size is good for two people unless you have a big appetite. 5.Waffles, pancakes, founding farmers breakfast with eggs bacon and chix sausage were ok. 6. Decor and ambiance is very nice and our server was pleasant to take care of every request. 7. $74 for brunch for 4 pax is a bit on the steep side but once in a while is not bad.
(3)Matt M.
An amazing Sunday brunch!!! Despite it being very busy, the wait time was less than 10 minutes. The servers (we got 3), were very friendly and vigilant at keeping drinks full. Drinks: Pimm's Cup - limey, refreshing, and strong! Bellini - flavorful, a bit bitter, and strong! House coffee - delicious, rich, soothing Jasmine tea - tasteless, boring, forgettable Food: Yeast balls - light, fluffy, and absolutely amazing. Came with raspberry, chocolate, and caramel dipping sauces Brown sugar bacon - sweet, savory, and fresh Chicken and Waffles - yummy Belgian waffle, moist strips of fried chicken, and white gravy on the side. I drizzled a little maple syrup on it Sausage spinach pan scramble - very light egg, savory sausage, and fresh flavor Pancake - they got this thing mastered. Fluffy, light, big, and delicious! Total cost of an amazing brunch for two (stuffed completely to brim for the rest of the day): $83.74 FF is not just a restaurant. It was an experience. I will be rushing back.
(4)Tracie D.
Always great customer service and happy to accommodate any needs. Food is fresh and seasonal and the servers are friendly and attentive.
(5)Nicole R.
Fantastic food, service and vibe. Arrived during the busy lunch rush and the waiter was right on point. Knowledgable, professional and patient (the group had a bill mis-hap at the end). Ordered the veggie sandwich with side salad - AMAZING. 5+ stars. Located near Harris Teeter, right off exit 4 towards Potomac. Lots of free parking. Highly recommend Founding Farmers.
(5)Papa W.
Mother's Day brunch with the family...interesting but I pass. The concept of local farmers to table, although impressive not really a draw for me. I had the stuffed french toast after an order of beignets with sauce. The food was very flavorful and filling but too much emphasis on "fresh" supplied food as a route to charge a higher price. The restaurant was VERY busy, thus VERY noisy so not a peaceful meal. Couldn't really talk over the clatter of dishes and conversations at other tables. Not one of my favorite spots in DC area.
(3)Margaret Z.
While the food here is still amazing, the service has gotten consistently more mediocre over this year. I come here at least a few times a month, always with reservations, yet I have been waiting longer and longer to be seated once I check-in with the hostess. It took almost a half hour for us to get our brunch order this morning and I even saw the food runner set our dishes on the wrong table before realizing his own mistake. Then he went back to the kitchen and did not return for several minutes. Our waiter was not to be seen for the rest of the meal and it wasn't until another waiter saw us impatiently looking around for our original one that he asked if he could charge our card... it would have been nice to at least SEE the check first before being asked to pay for it. At a place like this and as a loyal diner for so long, I expect better.
(3)Eric U.
Excellent ham and eggs. The pancakes are also well worth having, several great varieties including carrot cake!
(4)Professor P.
I think the main issue with this restaurant is service. I'm sure they have great food. But when the service is this slow, what's the point of making reservations? A week ago, we decided (me and my gf) to go to the dc location around 6 or 7pm. The place was packed and the wait was over an hour and forty five minutes. So tough luck.. This week we came back with kids and made sure we had a reservation ready but this time around, we decided it was best to book one near the hotel we were staying in Rockville, MD. We thought 6:15 was good enough - came in at 5:59 and was told we'd be seated close to 6:15. That time passed, still waiting. Was told another 10 minutes. At this point I'm asking myself, whats the point of the reservations when you have guest waiting anyways. Usually these are reserved seating but not at this chain of restaurants. It's basically first come first served still! It's really annoying. We were finally seated when I mentioned that I had a reservation at 6:15 and it is now 6:25 and were still waiting. We've been waiting for nearly a half hour now. We were told that, they were working on getting the tables ready. We see people pass us with 5 or more and they were seated first. Finally, at around 6:40, 40 minutes later, we were finally seated upstairs. I don't think the restaurant knows about what goes on their front of the house. There seems to be some sort of miscommunication somewhere. I still don't believe that this restaurant actually honors their own reservation system. It's like, "oh, yeah, we like you, you'll be seated in 5." One of the most annoying experiences at any restaurants I've ever had. Their food, on the other hand, was delicious. I wish I could go back and get some more. But I will not after this visit.
(1)Hs T.
Best fried chicken and waffle in MoCo. Also love their house made scratch sodas if you are the designated driver for the night. We always get the chocolate mouse for two that feeds four easily to finish the meal. Wings are pretty delicious too.
(5)Sakeeeennnnaaa H.
I really really really like this place. I like the way it looks. I like that all of the seating is fat friendly. I like that the decor makes me feel like I should be sitting on a stool and milking something. Or maybe I watch too much tv? So far everything I've gotten has been baller. I think I'm obsessed with the braised Short ribs. My mouth is legit watering as I'm typing this. The sauce is so amazing. The meat is fork tender and soft and chewy and awesome. And I am here for this. I had this beautiful perfect meal for my friends birthday and kind of went into this zone. It was just me, my braised Short Rib my mashed potatoes ( seasoned beautifully) and my spinach. My friend is talking and I am having this mouth orgasm. I don't know how to explain it better than that. I finished it off with the beignet which came with different sauces. It was beautiful and I'll be back.
(5)susan o.
Wow. Really awful. Decent cornbread and honey butter. Everything else was poorly executed. Disappointing!
(1)Anika G.
This is a good spot to go with a group of friends or for a more trendy date. It's in a nice spot in Potomac with convenient parking (not true of comparable places in the city!) and it's got a great ambiance. The food, while not cheap, is unusual and tasty. Their selection of bar snacks could be better (at least, that was the case last time I went there, which was several months ago) but the ahi tuna salad was spectacular and incredibly filling. Their drinks are also really good - their cocktails and mixed drinks, while not cheap, are creative and delicious. I haven't tried the brunch, but I could see that being excellent.
(4)S V.
Great brunch spot. Good place to grab your typical brunch food like eggs benedict, grits, etc.
(5)Elizabeth W.
I've heard such mixed reviews about this place that I was skeptical and it has taken me a long time to finally come here. But you cannot keep me from breakfast, never in a million years! We were a table of six, and made a reservation just to make sure we wouldn't have to wait. It turns out there were plenty of tables but we were glad to have the reservation anyway. Our server was pretty awesome. Her name was Kimberly and she was friendly, attentive and kept the water plentiful! My number 1 rule is keep the water coming!!! She was also knowledgeable about the menu and very enthusiastic about the sodas. I quite enjoyed having her as a server. The food was delicious too! The french toast were humongous! More like building block size than food sized! All the food looked delicious. I got the chicken, egg and waffle. The waffle was huge and the portions filled me up and kept me full for a while with out being bloated. My friends got the pan scramble and the ham and eggs. It was all delicious! The only complaint we had was the coffee one of my friends got was $4 and it was the size of a thimble. I exaggerate of course, but it was extremely tiny. I know people have gotten bad food and bad service here, but the breakfast is alright in my book! And service always depends on the server.
(4)Ruth C.
Not bad. I wouldn't mind getting drunk and nibbling off their kale plant outside. Tried their Chelsea's Manhattan and Corpse Reviver cocktails, which were reasonably tasty and skewed slightly towards sweet and tart, respectively. The former warranted less recommendation than the latter, but neither impressed me enough to repeat. Fried chicken and waffles were okay. The single golden waffle was large and airy, and decadent after application of honey butter and syrup. The two accompanying pan scrambled eggs were fluffy and gently seasoned. Had I realized that the protein would be offered in tender form instead of bone-on, I probably would have picked a different menu item... moist meat but the batter didn't adhere well to its surface. Beignets were decent on the merit of their dipping sauces, and at least it didn't take more than the disclaimered 20 minutes. Slightly tacky surface under the powdered sugar-- touch of honey? and a plush interior beneath the shell. I preferred to pair my share with caramel, but the chocolate also won out over the raspberry. Red velvet cake was similarly excellent, with many even layers of frosting and a well-balanced sweetness. Service was super friendly but a bit too overwhelmed to keep up with all the details. I appreciated our server's integrity for proactively admitting that my cocktail delay stemmed from him briefly forgetting that I'd placed a drink order. Water refills were infrequent. Our plates were cleared but we were never offered dessert menus, which we ended up asking another server to provide. After our dessert arrived, we ended up flagging down a different staff member to acquire silverware. Mailbox cheque holder was a cute detail, though having the same "raise the flag for service" feature might have been useful during the meal. Bathroom is tucked in the back but clean. Parking is a beast of a challenge, I ended up finding a spot on the back side of the building. FF has been in my bookmarks since I saw their branding on Bones, but I'll probably go to the other location for my hit list: shrimp and grits; diver scallops & butternut risotto, squash; raviolis; gnocchi & sausage; braised short rib.
(3)Erin O.
Great place! Finally went here after it being recommended by a friend. The wait for two persons was about an hour and 15, so we waited by the bar to see if we could grab seats, but our table was available sooner than expected. I believe we waited about 30-45 minutes. Anyways on to the good stuff, we ordered the $5 biscuits which came super quick, but they could have been warmer, otherwise they were good. They serve it with honey poured in a dish with a scoop of butter dumped in the honey, which made the biscuits amazing. So instead of mixing the butter and honey it was separated, can't believe I haven't thought of doing this at home. I ordered the goat cheese ravioli with cutlet chicken, AMAZING! Many blends of different flavors. I didn't care too much for the butternut squash that was on top of the ravioli but nonetheless is was still good. My friend ordered the mushroom meatloaf I believe it was and I tried it and it was really good. My other friend ordered the lobster mac and cheese, he didn't seem too happy about it because it was $28 for a huge bowl, but I thought it tasted delicious. Probably one of the best lobster mac and cheese's that I've tried, it was seasoned extremely well. And that dish isn't cheap period. So based everything that I had and sampled was delicious! I definitely would come back! Heard the beignets were amazing but I didn't try those. Our waiter was really good and I love the décor of the place. It's nice and big so I think the wait is always less than they say due to the large amount of seating they have. Definitely a must try
(5)Christina D.
Oh the regret. With the awful weather, I had decided to actually put on real clothes (read: not sweatpants) to go to dinner here on a Friday night. BIG MISTAKE. The menu is comfort food. Comfort food and real (fitted) clothes DO NOT GO TOGETHER. Portions are huge; so large in fact that I'd believe my grandmother was back there in charge of plating. Libation offerings are impressive. They make their own booze so they have a number of signature cocktails using those. I got the Farmer Smash and the bf got the Farmers sazerac. He was a little disappointed in his, but essentially it's all booze so there's only so much you can do to please the palette here. I highly recommend the Smash though--it's strong and has a citrus ginger flavor. We split the pot roast and the short rib entrees. Sides change regularly depending on what's in season, but standards like mashed potatoes and green beans are generally not an issue. The pot roast was savory and flavorful and unfortunately set down in front of the bf and not myself. I got first dibs at the short rib, which I was hoping was braised in a tomato-based sauce. But it was not. Instead it was smothered with BBQ sauce that, albeit good, is not my favorite. The mashed potatoes were excellent though. I still wish I had the pot roast but stealing dishes from people is frowned upon I guess. We barely managed to polish off the food between the two of us, and due to an alarming lack of self control we even split the apple pie for dessert. It's made in house because duh grandma's working in the kitchen. Even though it was pretty damn good, I found it to be a little too sweet for my taste. We then hobbled down the stairs and went home to complain about how full we were until we forfeited to a food coma. The end.
(4)Ade A.
What's there to say that hasn't been said?? Great food and good atmosphere. If you're looking for great comfort food and a bit of uniqueness to traditional American cuisine, this is the spot!
(5)Eric F.
I go here with my girlfriend whenever I stay with her family in Potomac (I've been here four or five times at this point), and I always enjoy it. The first few times, I ordered the vegetarian bacon burger with a side of jalapeños -- the jalapeños gave it a nice kick, and the burger is one of the more complex vegetarian dishes I've tried. It was also pretty filling -- I typically found myself pretty stuffed by the end of the meal, especially when I had a bowl of tomato soup to start. For a change of pace, I ordered the mushroom reuben the last time I went. I enjoyed it thoroughly, although I can't say it was anything more than I would have expected (I don't think a mushroom reuben is the type of dish that will ever blow you out of the water). Nevertheless, it was a very solid vegetarian sandwich. The drinks are great as well -- they make a mean Bloody Mary, and I've enjoyed the non-alcoholic drinks I've tried as well, especially the Manhattan soda (coffee and espresso soda). It's a nice alternative to the typical cup of coffee, especially if you're going for a later lunch.
(4)Sally Y.
Good service, nice atmosphere. Definitely spacious enough for families. The staff seems to deal with children a lot so don't be too embarrassed if your child is crying or spilling things. Large portions, offers dishes that represent the best of American breakfast/brunch. I would say that although Founding Farmers offers the variety we all seek in a brunch place, the food isn't mind blowing. It's alright. Food Highlights: -Beignets: who doesn't like a nice piece of fried dough dusted with powdered sugar? Definitely order it as soon as your waiter starts talking because it takes a little longer to make and you won't be disappointed. Really, it's hard to mess up fried food like this. -Pancakes: okay, I wouldn't say these pancakes are the best, but they're definitely huge and worth eating if you have a craving. I can't really compare the Rockville location and the DC location because I've only had brunch in Rockville and dinner in DC. I'll say that I think the dinner menu offers much more and the drinks are delicious. Founding Farmers is probably the only true brunch location in the Montgomery County area (I say this because I truly dislike Busboys and Poets). Parking: There's parking reserved for the restaurant, but you usually won't get towed if you park in the Harris Teeter lot (not in my experience).
(3)Jackie S.
Definitely one of my favorite places to eat in Montgomery County. I have been here on multiple occasions for breakfast, lunch and dinner! I went here most recently for breakfast with my girls and had the beignets, which are amazing! They were perfect for sharing between all 6 of us and the dipping sauces they gave all tasted wonderful. I had the red flannel hash because I love beets, and it was very good. All of the ingredients blended so well together and the portion size was perfect - the biscuit on the side was also amazing, and the honey butter that they give is my favorite. Love everything about this place and how fresh all of the food/drinks taste :)
(5)Diane B.
I was really unimpressed with my trip here. I'm sure it's in large part due to our waiter, but the waiter is part of the experience, and Founding Farmers would do well to let this one go. My party had 3 adults and 3 children. Despite asking for water for the children multiple times, it never materialized. My husband gave my son his water and never was given a drink. Midway through dinner my friend asked for a menu so she could order more food because her tomato soup tasted weird, but the waiter never came back to take her order. He also told us all our food was on the table, but he clearly forgot our beignets. I asked about them and he said they take a little longer, but they took so much longer, it was obvious he never placed the order. The food was also a disappointment. Our hard boiled eggs were so overdone it was like they came from a gas station convenience mart. My husband ordered the pulled pork, but they had run out, so instead he got a burger that came out well done rather than medium rare. My children's biscuits were so greasy that they coated my fingers. My blue cheese burger and the deviled eggs were the lone decent food items, but it hardly made up for our otherwise unstellar experience. None of this could be rectified because the waiter was busy flirting with the girl at the next table over. Too bad for him that he didn't get a tip.
(1)Kirk W.
Came there with my fiancé on a Sunday early afternoon. Hostess told us it was a 45 min wait or sit at the bar. Def didn't mind that option! Food was given in good portions and tasted as delicious as it looked! Everything is fresh from the farm as said :)
(5)Chandani C.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Maryland! I have been to this location twice and to the DC location once. We had reservations for each of the visits and each time were seated just a little after our reservation time. Everyone from the front desk staff to the servers are extremely polite and pleasant. Their fried green tomatoes are amazing! (Vegetarians, watch out - even tho this appetizer does not have meat, it is fried in the same oil as their fish and so is not entirely vegetarian.) I also love their popcorn! They have a few different flavors available (I believe they change the flavor on a daily basis). I had the ranch flavored popcorn on my first two visits and cannot even begin to tell you how much I love it! On my last visit, I had their caramel popcorn which was also pretty good, but the ranch popcorn is still my favorite. My favorite entree at Founding Farmers is their Sausage Gnocchi. It is delicious and also quite filling! Another favorite of mine at this place are their house made sodas. I usually get the ginger soda (don't get this if you are not generally a ginger fan, very strong flavor!). On my last visit my friend got their mango lime soda which was also very good (and a better pairing with most of their entrees than the ginger soda).
(5)Joanne K.
Awesome restaurant! Not too crowded, very kind waitresses, and of course amazing food! Had a wonderful birthday celebration here for a friend this past March 2015. Highly recommend the 3 hot dogs dish which I was able to pack 2 home and eat the next day. Husband loved the Mac 'n Cheese side as well as his chicken and waffle. We sampled a variety of appetizers and dishes and everything on the menu was great!
(5)Nicole S.
Great food and variety but lousy service! We waited 45 minutes just to get bread on the table with three hungry kids.
(4)Sharon L.
Came here for a 1pm Saturday brunch w/ group of 6. Had a reservation beforehand but still had to wait ~10min. Ambience/decor: very modern & bright! I love that there are large booths too - more cozy/comfy experience. Service: - I told the host/waiter to take my card first before we sat down and not any others (didn't want to have to fight for check later) - and they kept it under wraps until the end! I definitely appreciated this. - Waiter was friendly, but at this busy time it was hard to flag him down to ask for more stuff. He seemed rushed and missed my ask for coffee/other things a few times. Food: - Coffee: $4 a cup which I found kind of expensive, but it was good & free refills. Milk also comes in a cute metal 'milk carton'! - Glazed Bacon Lollis: Really cool presentation - came in a pitchfork-like thing w/ the bacon pieces on little skewers. Bacon itself was the right chewy/crunchiness level, though I found it a bit too sweet for me. - Peanut Butter Banana Toast: Bread was actually soft, not toasted, which I wished it was. Little chocolate balls on top. I expected this to be sweet/creamy but it actually tasted pretty light. - Traditional Ham Benedict: Delicious! Eggs were poached perfectly and ham was the thin type which I actually prefer to thick-cut - Hash browns: Not a lot of seasoning but the outside was crunchy and the insides were warm and soft. Yummmm - Chicken & Waffles: Liked the breading, which was crunchy and a bit spicy. The chicken itself felt a little dry to me though. Waffles were light and fluffy but kind of flavorless - Sausage, Mushroom, Spinach Scramble: Well seasoned and lots of ingredients. The sausage was delicious. - Chicken Pot Pie: Creamy sauce was good but seemed like it was 90% potatoes, 10% chicken. The crust/topping was biscuit-y instead of the regular pie topping, but Iuckily their biscuits are yum - Original Pancakes: solid - fluffy but not too airy. A bit too much powdered sugar on top but could easily brush it off - Cinnamon Maple Syrup, Strawberry Jam + Honey Butter: all amazing. You must try all of these! Especially w/ their biscuits. Overall a good meal and was fairly priced (6 entrees, 2 apps, 1 side, 2 coffees & 1 cocktail came out to be $139 (incl. tax/tip). And the portions are huge! Would come here again but will want to try some of their other entrees.
(4)Sandy A.
This place was amazing had a family dinner here for 6 they sat us with no problem the server was great the bartender made the best margarita I have had in a long time and the food was fantastic it was fresh seasoned well it was awesome ! I will be returning
(5)Vincent I.
I definitely recommend sitting at the bar for brunch. The service was great, and I'm looking forward to coming back. I got the steak and eggs with a biscuit, hash browns, and a spiced tomato. The sunny-side up egg was perfectly cooked. The tomato was juicy and delicious. The biscuit was warm, tasty, and not too dry. The hash browns were nicely browned. Everything was great!
(5)Matars Z.
This review has nothing to do with the food. The food is solid, and on some occasions, even exceptional. We have gone back a number of times for the beer selection and the later night hours allowing us to have a nice place to relax later in the area..... It doesn't matter if its late, or early, full or empty, the staff and waiters here, with the exception of two EXCELLENT hardworking managers, are all HUGE FAILS. We have had every experience - we have had reservations and then been told to stand waiting for a good 45 min, we have shown up to find out the kitchen closed 30 min before posted closing on official website.... those problems have not reoccurred--but the wait staff--that never, ever changes: Its a running joke when we arrive, as we assume we will have bad service -- delays, cold food, errors, no service at all (they forget to show up). Its the kind of staff that when you try to get their attention, they pretend to look away. It would be funny, if it wasn't sad. Half the time the manager has to fix the situation. And the managers are great. We've had them serve us on a number of occasions, because the waiter forgot. Most recently we watched the waiter battle his electronic entry system for 12-15 minutes a go, or stand chatting...while his tables waved-or customers got up to get his attention. How it is that this place cannot manage to hire competent wait staff is beyond us. Too bad, as we enjoy the food, especially the balsamic onion blue cheese burger, the flat breads, the chicken bucatini and the beers.....
(1)Suzanne T.
The food was great, but the service staff dropped the ball. We called ahead, made a reservation and told founding farmers it was a birthday. We should of done ourselves a favor and called another restaurant. We arrived on time but were informed that still had to wait twenty minutes for a table. It happens, no big deal. There were 3 people at the host stand: they were all rude, they all had attitudes. We made a reservation and we were not making any demands, so I don't know what rudeness was about. A yellow card was placed on our table, I imagine that was to indicate a birthday, but maybe I'm wrong because no birthday was acknowledged by the staff. Our food was great and came out promptly. They are really doing great work in the kitchen for everything to come out so delicious and in a timely manner. Our waitress also had an attitude. If we dared to ask a question about the menu: she was annoyed and acted as if we were stupid. I paid the bill and I intended to give her all the change left from breaking $200 as a 25% tip (to be polite, not because the service warranted it), but she never came back with the money and more importantly THE RECEIPT. We waited for another twenty minutes and asked the hostess, but our waitress could not be found. After an expensive evening of paying to be treated rudely, we gave up waiting and went to the wine bar across the plaza. After all that poor service, we needed another drink lol.
(2)Jazmin L.
Came wit my family who were in town from NYC. Customer service was outstanding. Staff were very attentive to our needs. Waiters checked in on us several times throughout the experience. There were plenty of kids there, who were treated just as well as the adults. The food was outstanding; ingredients were very fresh and of the highest quality. I HIGHLY recommend for any celebration and will definitely be returning when family comes to visit again. Parking is right outside so it's super convenient. Love, love, LOVE this place.
(5)Nicole B.
My family and I went here last night to celebrate a birthday. The atmosphere is very cozy and warm, for one--we were seated in a booth upstairs, in a decidedly quieter area than the rest of the restaurant, which was quite pleasant. The service is thorough, friendly, and helpful, which was great... if not a little overwhelming. The food itself is creative (though unconventional--I've never had sliders with relish and diced onions standing in for mayo and lettuce before) and very, very rich (both taste-wise and money-wise, haha). I had some deliciously harsh lemonade and a slice of red velvet cake so huge I had to take it home and finish it the next morning. All said, I'm not exactly sure where I stand on this place. I suppose if you're willing to pay top dollar for new spins on old "American cuisine" classics, provided you can handle dense and filling food (not necessarily something most people can handle!), then Founding Farmers is for you.
(3)Josh G.
Good but a bit over priced and we checked out Sugo next door and that was just as good and not such a zoo. I like it more when I drank.... still solid
(4)Dan J.
Definitely not living up to the name or reputation. First off, don't expect to actually sit any time near your reservation time. Our 8:30pm reservation didn't get us a table until 9:20pm. And that was happening to everyone, the entrance was packed with people waiting for their tables. Second, the food was all over the spectrum. Burnt enchiladas, under cooked steak (medium rare shouldn't be mooing), cold mac and cheese, just not great. The only thing we had and enjoyed was the pork lentil stew. Third, don't use the parking garage below the restaurant. They validate parking, but only for a couple hours, so if you stay beyond the limit (for example, waiting close to an hour for a table), you'll still end up paying for the free parking. The server was on the ball though, and was very attentive. Oh and the table biscuits were delicious. Overall based on this service, it's worth it to just head in to the DC location.
(2)Cat L.
Came here on a Saturday for brunch, had the chicken and waffles and Pastrami Hash & Bloody Mary. The pastrami was very light and fresh - lightly sauteed with potatoes. The waffles were very light and crispy, very pleasant. One of the better brunches I've had, comparable to NYC! My bf wanted to return again the next day! Great atmosphere as well.
(5)Chantel E.
I love Founding Farmers, in fact, I have been to both locations several times. However, I must say that I visited on Christmas Day and I was highly disappointed. First, we had a party of 8 so the only time we could make reservations was for 8pm, which is silly because the restaurant closed at 8pm that day. Why would you make a reservation for a large party at the same time the place closes?? Second, by time we got there, they were out of everything; cornbread, short ribs, desserts, and the fish of the day. I'm pretty sure they had an idea of the amount of people being served that day because they were fully booked for the day, why not make sure you have enough food for your guest? My family was highly disappointed because they were out of your signature items. When we sat down, one of the first things our server asked us was do we want to order drinks because the bar is closing at 8:30. We barely got our coats off and settled in and then we find out the bar is closing?? Third, you could tell that the kitchen staff was ready to close up and go home because the quality of our food. My uncle asked for the slider burgers to be WELL DONE and they came out medium. Our server took them back only to have them be medium. It looks as though they put the burgers in the microwave because the bite my uncle took was still in the bread. THEN, my pregnant cousin ordered the shrimp and grits only for it to be served with a long black hair in it. How disgusting! My grandmother ordered the southern style fried chicken but it looked like the northern style because it had panko breadcrumbs. I ordered my usual, the spatchcock chicken only to be highly disappointed. It tasted like it was some leftover chicken thrown on my plate. I've had this dish several times (it's usually my go to) and I know what it is supposed to taste like. I ended up throwing away the leftovers because the dish just wasn't good. Last but not least, the server asked us if we wanted to order dessert but since we could only choose one thing, because that's all that was left, we declined. Overall, we were SUPER disappointed in our meal. Usually the food is cooked with such love, but this time it was prepared with haste...and hair! I felt so bad because I was the one who recommended the place and my family had waited all day to eat here only to be very disappointed and let down by their meal. Thanks for letting my family down on Christmas Day...of all days. I am usually quick to recommend FF to family and friends, but after this experience, I might have to think twice. Also, I sent this compliant directly to FF back in January and I have yet to receive a response from management or any staff member.
(1)Ashley W.
this place totally lives up to its reputation! -- defintely make a reservation for weekend brunch-- the wait can be crazy... but well worth it... This is where comfort food meets local/organic farm fresh! I've tried everything from their french toast, to chicken and waffles to the macaroni and cheese -- no complaints... so delicious and affordable for the quality! The cocktail list is extensive here and well worth a try -- the waitstaff here is great and helpful for providing a few pointers if you are indecisive.. This is a great location in addition to the original on Penn Ave in the district -- easier parking.. and easier to get a sought after reservation! Enjoy -- definitely a good place to take out of town guests to show them some of the great food this area has to offer!
(4)Joseph W.
This restaurant would have gotten 5 stars but, I called to make a reservation at the restaurant in Potomac and they told me they had no reservations. I called the DC location and they made me a reservation in Potomac. Go figure right! My Reservation was at 7:45 pm, I didn't get seated till a little after 8:00pm. My family and me sat upstairs, loved the atmosphere. My waiter was on point, would come around every so often to check on us. I was impressed that they had a elevator for my mother in law who had a walker. Love the biscuits, they were great. I had a drink that had a little spice to it, shameful to say I felt it the next day. I ordered the chicken pot pie, needless to say that I will never get a chicken pot pie from KFC or the Safeway again. Portions were big!!!! Fried Chicken was on point. For dessert we got Carrot cake, and the double chocolate cake, I was really impressed buy the size portion, since other places that I went to were kind of small. I would definitely come back here.
(4)Nick S.
I love this place. The decor gives the whole restaurant a sense of ADHD; it can't decide what single style it wants to emulate, so it picks a handful and goes with it! The food. Oh, the food. You need 30 minutes just to read the menu. Not to mention the countless Q&A's with the staff on the specials, their craft and sometimes simply exclamations of OMG HOW MUST I CHOOSE. I finally settled on the crab cakes, which at a market price of $30 (learned after) is no small amount to sneeze at, but holy jeebus these were amazing. Like, some of the best crab cakes I've ever had in my life. No regrets. They also have a rotating selection of beers which are outstanding. I sampled both IPAs they had available (Raging B*tch and another I forget) and loved 'em. Although the menu lists quite a few expensive items, you can get out with a main and a drink for $20 a person. On the high end, you'd be hard-pressed to exceed $50 a person unless everyone got market-priced dinners and desserts and lots of booze. You better believe I'll be back to try brunch next!
(5)Li S.
This is best Valentines present for me and my husband.I seldom write reviews on yelp.But this place made me do this.If you have never been here trust me you need to!The food is awesome and the service is very good!
(5)Melissa C.
I love Founding Farmers. Love it. I've been going to the DC location since it opened and this was my 2nd visit to the Potomac Park site. It was New Years Day. Lots of folks feeling the effects of their reveling the night before. No one had black-eyed peas at home, so the place was PACKED. Packed, I say! Not that this is a surprise; I've never been to Founding Farmers when it wasn't. *TIP: If you don't have a reservation, no matter the location, you will not--WILL NOT--get a table. Save yourself the trouble and go sit at the bar. My friend and I stopped in, snagged two spots at the bar (avoiding the crush of people waiting for tables) and were immediately served coffee and had our appetizer (beignets ... YUM!) and cocktail orders (bellinis ... SUPER YUM!) taken. The bar staff was fun, interactive, charming, and Johnny-on-the-spot with everything we needed. The coffee was piping hot. Score! The beignets were perfectly puffed, fried to perfection, and not at all oily. Our bellinis were magnificent. Slightly sweet, but not cloying; perfectly refreshing. My friend ordered Red Flannel Hash: leek hash browns with beets, goat cheese, and poached eggs (with a practically-as-good-as-the-south buttermilk biscuit), and it was deeeeeeeeee-licious. I had steak and eggs: a rib eye cooked exactly how I wanted it (pretty much still mooing), fluffy, creamy scrambled eggs, fab leek hash browns, and a biscuit that came along with locally made preserves. Not that I ever would have expected anything different, but it was one of the best breakfasts I'd had in ages. The perfect way to start the new year. This is one of those places that just never disappoints. Not only that, it always goes way beyond what I was expecting.
(4)Elizabeth D.
Very very good food. Love the local feel of the menu and all the options. It gets CRAZY crowded on the weekends, so be prepared to wait if you show up at a peak time without a reservation. Cocktails are great and there's a nice selection of beer and wine as well. I loved the blue cheese, bacon and balsamic burger. Incredible flavor. Biscuits are a good start too! Prices are a tad high in my opinion, so be prepared to spend. Service was very good, but parking is a nightmare (construction at time of review, but still bad!) If you're there with kids, they have high chairs, but no changing table that I could find in the bathrooms (although the handicap stall has a cabinet that can work).
(4)Bonnie W.
Pluses: great place for brunch, young and old at home here. Beignets to die for, better than Nola's Cafe du Soleil! Egg dishes excellent, awesome bacon. Water on tables is handy. Mixed: very loud, very crowded. Open Tabe reservations got us right in and upstairs considerably quieter. $12 Bloody Mary was good, but not to die for. Bad: parking below is Not free. Asked if validated and server said no, it's free, but had to pay $4.50, peeving dear husband.
(4)Vicki T.
I am very disappointed that they no longer have a good selection of vegan items on the menu. My choices for dinner were quite limited. I must say the service was great and the server tried to find vegan options for me, b ut overall my meal was just OK.
(2)Ronie N.
The morning after a very pleasant early dinner at FF, I had a huge moment pf panic when I discovered that my wallet was missing from my purse. I hoped that it was at FF and that the good staff there would have discovered it and placed it safely under lock and key. To my immense relief, my best scenario came to pass. The restaurant manager, Rizza, confirmed that my wallet (floral with leather trim, three credit catds, drivers licence, etc) was in their safe, having been found under the table by our waiter Mike. Kudos to the integrity and professionalism of these great staff st FF!
(5)Elyssa J.
My mom claimed to have an awesome meal here when she was in town. I mentioned this to my friend and she made brunch reservations right away for this location. The downtown spot fills up very quickly so if you have the ability to get to this one, I'm sure they are similar. The seating and space is very open and full of light. The place was hoping at 11am. The booths here are great. I hate sitting in unpadded wooden chairs so I was happy to see booths for two. FOor food, we ordered the beignets to share, apple-cinnamon waffles and bacon for me. The beignets were super yummy. The only downside was that they came with our food so we didn't have too much time to enjoy them before our main's came. However, they do keep nicely and we had them for dessert later that afternoon! The waffle was cooked a bit hard - I'm more into fluffier waffles but it all still tasted fresh. This location offers soy and almond milk which is awesome. I rarely find a place with non-milk subs. The milk (or milk variation) comes in a cute metal carton. When you get the bill, your server brings it in a little mail box and exclaims "your check is in the mail". A cute touch. Overall, I'd happily come back to try some other menu items. It's super affordable and yummy!
(4)Jennifer D.
We were there 7/11/15, having made a reservation through Open Table (never will again!), I had to call the restaurant to let them know we were running a few minutes late (we got there about 5 min past our reservation time). Open Table sends me an email about why I missed my reservation. Grrrr. Anyhow, about the restaurant experience: Excellent appetizer, amazing blackberry sour and arnold palmer, super awesome entrees, dessert to go, and a great waitress, who I think we have had wait on us at another restaurant in the past. Glad to see her again, she was awesome! We are anxiously awaiting another day that we can head down and have another amazing meal.
(5)Chloe S.
Visited twice for breakfast. This place is always crowded (30+ minutes wait for weekend breakfast/brunch) so definitely make a reservation if you can. Stuffed French toast was awesome!!! I also ordered chicken sausage, fried eggs, and hash brown - all tasted great. Hash brown was super crispy and I loved it. Red velvet pancake was stacked high (at least 4-5) but it was too sweet for me. Omelet was just okay, nothing special. Also the regular coffee was over-priced. The serving staff was very friendly every time.
(4)Tina H.
I really like F.F, but 3 stars for their unpredictable service. When they're full staffed, service is awesome. When they're short-staffed, everything is double the wait. Food wise - you can't go wrong with their chicken & waffles! Their leek hashbrown is delicious as well! Their espresso is a bit on the stronger side for me, but food is always good!
(3)Rita S.
I was feeling very nauseous when i arrived because I was in my first trimester at the time. I ordered the home style chicken noodle soup and it was DELICIOUS! I felt good and it tasted so good!
(4)Eric L.
Food is great and the price I feel is comparable to the taste and the amount they give you. We had really great service even when it was busy and our waiter was very cheery. They were even accomodating when they messed up the order during busy times and dind't make a deal about it. For appetizer we ordered fig,apple and cameralized onion bread. It was tastey but I felt that there was more bread then toppings. Also ordered the bacon lollipops... which I highly recommend. It's fun to eat and very tastey if you like bacon. I ordered the ribeye based on my servers recommendation. The ribeye was very good it had some kind of dry rub on it... and I wish they put more of the dry rub on it. Had a nice little spicy kick but I didn't think it had enough. The date ordered the cast iron stove chicken and had the peruvian style one. Personally... I thought the chicken was very dry. We ordered veggies... and came with beans and brussel sprouts. I admit the beans were boring but the brussel sprouts were very tastey to eat. To finish it off we had Applie Pie. Now... I'm going to sound cliche but it literally tasted like home baked cinnamon and sugar heavy apple pied. Which I totally recommend getting if that's the way you like it. I recommend this place for pretty much any dining experience.
(4)Elizabeth C.
First off, amazing food and drinks. I no longer even entertain the idea of buying a cocktail with syrup that isn't made right there from fruit. Their food and drinks are fresh and mostly house-made. One thing that bothers me is that I've requested via Open Table to get certain areas of seating for special occasions. For my father's birthday, they sat us behind the bar right next to the bathrooms. I was disheartened because I had requested to be in the main area. They're always busy, but I made this reservation over a week in advance. Service is about as fast as it could be in such an always-packed place. I've yet to find a time when it's not packed. I'd like to figure out when that might be so I can only go then! I'll miss FF after I move to SoCal. I'll be eating there at least once more before our move in October. Oh, and try the goat cheese ravioli and the apple/brie/onion jam app. To. Die. For.
(4)Kesha T.
I enjoyed the atmosphere and the courteous staff. They were very friendly and helpful. The server I had was knowledgeable of the menu and was spot on with all recommendations. I had the combo Devil-ish eggs with the Maine lobster, crab and smokes salmon... I'd pay for a dozen of them...they were really good. The yolks were a great consistency and the flavors were well balanced. I had the chicken and waffles...the most memorable chicken and waffles I've had was at the original Roscoes in LA...these here measure up quite well! The chicken was warm, crispy and seasoned decently. It was well balanced with the waffles; their syrup is made in house and was not overly sweet nor bland. The drinks were refreshing...not meant to have you clear your throat upon the first sips. Parking was a breeze, in the back.
(5)Emile H.
I like founding farmers, but have to say that they have gone a bit down hill since they first opened. I've found some of their dishes (for example the candied green beans side) to be quite inconstant, and sometimes too salty and overcooked while very good other times. Their dragged through the garden omelette is my favorite brunch dish. There are plenty of vegetarian options and a few very solid vegan options. Both of their veggie burgers are some of the best in the rockville area. It can get pretty loud on a Friday/Saturday and you might be waiting a while even if you have a reservation.
(4)Phi N.
Gave this place another chance because maybe last time was just a fluke. Started with the Cracked Black Pepper Wings. They were really good (I thought I took a pic of the wings but I can't seem to find it... sorry). Got the fried chicken and waffles again for my main meal. Unlike the last time that I was here, it came out hot. Still doesn't compare to fast food fried chicken in taste though... And instead of serving it with eggs, it now comes with greens and mac & cheese. My friend got the Butternut Squash Mascarpone Ravioli. I'm not a fan, but well, girls seem to like it. Oh, and on a cold day, the hot chocolate is not bad! I would prefer a little sweeter, but it was still worth the order. Service and ambiance were on point as expected. **I don't feel like adding another update with a lot of the same info... so I'll just edit this one** -Wouldn't order the fried chicken here again -The deviled eggs are well worth the order -Mahi mahi fish on a salt block was delectable but tiny... I can't get full of this! -Apple pie dessert was awesome
(4)Kimber S.
Although I have been sick since eating here this past weekend (not their fault...but mine and my stupid food sensitivities) I really like it here. Way less crowded then the one in DC and they have parking. This time I had the mushroom reuben...delicious. We also tried the little donuts (the name escapes me at the moment) and my friend had a pancake and some pasta dish that looked good. Next time I will have to get something else...bummer:( oh our waitress was nice too.
(4)Tara B.
MoCo's Founding Farmers (Potomac, MD) was the worse restaurant experience I have ever had. Service from our waitress was horrible. She went missing on three different occasions. I ordered my food, Eggs Benedict, with came out cold, tasted bland and wasn't cooked all the way. My husband ordered coffee twice, and still wasn't brought out to him until we requested the manager. I would not recommend going to this location for brunch. :ater that day, I suffered from food poisoning. Since the restaurant manager gave us a $25 gift card for the horrible experience, I may try the one in DC. I have my fingers crossed and hope the food and service is better! Maybe lunch or dinner is better as well.
(1)B L.
The decor is really cool!!! The menu looks amazing but the food was really disappointing. The fried chicken was dry and super greasy and the bacon lollipops were sickly sweet. Our server seemed forced and very uncomfortable and overwhelmed with way too many tables. I certainly won't be rushing back.
(2)Farah K.
I went to Founding Farmers for my birthday brunch this weekend. Like everyone suggested, I made sure to have a reservation. And thank gosh for that, because when we walked in it was PACKED. My dad said it was like a fish market back in Bangladesh during a weekend. Odd comparison but true. But luckily we were seated within five minutes of arrival. The servers here are dressed like hipster farmers, but that added to the charm I think. Had to get the table biscuits and it did NOT disappoint. They were warm and flaky and delicious with the honey butter. My dad and I both got the chicken and waffles 25.media.tumblr.com/3367… (providing links because Yelp's tiny photos don't do the food justice) My mom got fish and chips 25.media.tumblr.com/216b… and my brother got the steak and eggs 25.media.tumblr.com/1063… The food was good. I will say the waffles and chicken were delicious. The scrambled eggs were slightly... underwhelming for me though. The whole bill came out to about $60 for four people which isn't too bad. However I'd highly recommend this place. I wish Yelp allowed for half stars, because right now I'd give it a 4.5/5. I do think they should just serve a plate of the biscuits on the house as a nice gesture of customer appreciation. But that's maybe me just being greedy about the biscuits.
(4)Vishal S.
We are big fans of Founding Farmers in DC, so we were thrilled to discover there is a Founding Farmers very close to our new home. We stopped by the other day for brunch and we were not disappointed. Knowing from past experience, we had reserved tables for our party and were seated a few minutes after arriving at our designated time. The place is like the other location - loud, packed, and just as good :) Our usual order of beignets did not disappoint! This time we ordered the Skirt Steak and Enchilada and Shrimp Bucatini. Both dishes were excellent with the shrimp being the winner of our meal - the sauce was what set the dish apart. As always, we had enough leftovers to make another meal for us. Service here is good too that makes the dining experience that much better!
(4)Wilbur M.
I'd like to be more positive about this place because the food is everything it claims to be, but the service is consistently bad. I don't know whether they're understaffed, under-motivated, or just disorganized, but there's always an excessive wait at every stage. We routinely have to start asking for our server before we even order because it's always 10-15 minutes before anybody deigns to come by. It says something about the food that we keep coming back, but we do it less and less often than we otherwise would because of the aggravation the poor service creates. And it's not just sometimes, it's every. single. time., whether they're crowded or not. It's too bad, because the southern fried chicken is about as good as it gets, the biscuits are great, and the breakfast items very high quality.
(3)Arthita G.
The place looks nice and clean. The lighting and ambience are good. It's spacious and they can accommodate huge groups of 20 people as well. Food was reasonably good. Portion sizes were large and things looked fresh. Carrot cake I ordered was way too huge for someone to finish and so was the red velvet cake. The only reason I took off a star is that all the foods were very oily to my taste. Even though I was having farm fresh food, it was disturbingly oily and unhealthy looking.
(4)Shira S.
We came in here looking for dessert and drinks after seeing a show. Unfortunately, choices for dessert type drinks are slim in MoCo. Either way, we sat at the bar and where a bartender promptly came over. After learning that they don't have any dessert drinks (insert sad face here), we made our own by ordering a hot chocolate with a shot of baileys. We also attempted to order the plate of warm cookies to go with it because how awesome does that sound?? I mean hot adult chocolate and cookies?!?! Oh yes! But, after learning that the cookies are pre-plated and you have to have all five, even if you don't like those five, we decided not to share that. Interestingly, the bartender shared that they used to allow people to pick the cookies they wanted and most everyone ordered snickerdoodles and chocolate chip rather than the other kinds. Well...if that is what everyone is ordering (along with a peanut butter) why are you bothering with shortbread and macaroon cookies? Oh well.... Either way, the hot chocolate was delicious, especially with the baileys added to it. I do think their prices are on the high side so between prices and lack of cookie choice, they got knocked down a couple stars.
(3)Melanie M.
Disappointing birthday dinner here tonight. We gathered from DC, MD and VA to celebrate my daughter's birthday, arriving on time with reservations for our party of six. We had to wait a while to be seated which was fine. The food is incredible and comes out fast. A little too fast because we still had our appetizers and had no room on the table for our entrees. They are really rushing people through here. I think the founding farmer theme has to do with rushing folks through like cattle or something. We didn't dawdle or linger over our food at all, yet the server was asking to box up my husband's food while he still had the fork in his hand and food in his mouth. The focus is all on turning over tables. The rush was so comical we were laughing. When we made it outside to the sidewalk a guy was chewing his food, I kid you not. We were like, Wow, they didn't even let him finish eating! The food is really very good, but don't expect to have a family celebration here. Just eat and moooove along.
(3)Xen N.
Been there 3 times. Consistently good service, great food and pleasant staff. Love this place! Will be back!
(5)Mariella V.
Founding Farmers is a staple for me. Whenever someone is visiting the area I take them here to impress them and it works! There is something for everyone here: from meat lovers to vegans. I especially love their breakfast, it's a great price and their cortadito is quite indulgent. I once waited 2 hours for a table, but I wasn't even that mad once I got my food. It gets very crowded, so I would get a reservation if possible. I have had their vegan meatloaf three times already, I really should try something new but its delicious and huge so I can't really help myself. Their mac and cheese, vegan reuben, veggie burger, ravioli is amazing too. I never drink sodas but I do when their home made. They don't have an abundance of desserts but their beignets are the bomb. It's worth the wait. OH and you have to try the cornbread! It's the best cornbread I have ever had. This is exactly how my southern grammie makes it, if I had one... The atmosphere is formal and casual. You can show up here in a prom dress or shorts. Doesn't matter. Service is always amazing, and the servers know everything. Menus items don't have descriptions on them so you have to ask what it is. Some booths are very dimly lit to provide an romantic feel but it really just makes it hard to read the small font of the menu. Anyways, I love it here. Support local green business and local farmers.
(5)Shawn H.
Excited to try after some strong recommendations. This is two visits in. Friday night just me and my wife Sept 2014 then again with our two kids on a Saturday night in November 2014. Everything is fine. Which is probably the only issue I have with the place. If I didn't have to drive 25 minutes to get there and it was a decent neighborhood restaurant to go out occasionally when we didn't want to cook, that'd probably help. It's not that though, they want to be a destination, and for us it wasn't. Details Apps: Glazed bacon Lollis, Devil-Ish Eggs, Blue Cheese Bacon Dates - over two visits, we haven't found an app that was special. They were all fine however, just easily duplicated at home. Entrees Chicken and Waffles. This is a pretty serious plate of food, the first time we ordered it they mistakenly served tea instead of syrup (total fluke). I had it again the second time and it was much better with actual syrup, I enjoyed the meal, the chicken was crispy and good, it's served with Mac n cheese, gravy, syrup, and waffles, it was all pretty savory. We tried the farmers platter, nothing memorable here, I'd go with something else. Mac & Seven Cheese - same that comes with the chicken and waffles. Pretty savory, not a flavor overload like I expected, but good. Boneless Ribeye - I didn't try this, but mediocre enough for my wife to get half of it taken home. The overwhelming sentiment is that it can all be done at home, for some if they don't cook much this place will be fine. If you live with or are a pretty good cook, you'll be underwhelmed. Summary: not bad prices on the food, nice environment but not romantic, you're definitely amongst everyone else there, the servers are all nice enough, drinks are a little pricey. Not worth the reservation it takes to get seated for me on a Friday or Saturday night.
(3)Rose V.
The most delicious meal! We went as a group of seven, and everyone raved about their meal. Favorites were the Mac and cheese and the chicken and waffles. The cocktails were also fabulous, although it took a while to get them. The interior is funky and comfortable, and our server was very friendly. Overall a great experience, I want to go back soon!
(5)Rhex X.
Good ambiance, good food and very friendly staff. Over all... Great place to have brunch!
(4)Caroline L.
I've been to the D.C. Founding Farmers once which I gave 2 stars- however this was years ago (and looking back it looked like I was a bit too tough on them). So I finally tried to give this location a try. It's definitely loud in this restaurant but I think it gives a trendy, buzzworthy type of vibe. I liked how the bar area looked but sat in the dining room w/ my family. Our server was fine- he wasn't as attentive as I would've liked (took me about 10 mins to flag him down) but he was nice and didn't mess up anything. I was a bit hesitant about the champagne vinaigrette dressing but he assured me it was delicious- and it was. I said in my last review that I wouldn't buy the shmears again but I did- hey, gotta try it twice, right? This one sealed the deal that I shouldn't (again). The bread was toasted beautifully but it's just nothing special. My dad got the crabcake entree and I got the crabcake sandwich. Two huge mistakes. If I can compare- I like to eat a ton of salty salty salty ranch flavored sunflower seeds while on my computer. I am not shy to salty foods but the crabcakes were nasty. I'm too passive to send food back but I almost did. When I got the bill, I started laughing b/c the crabcake entree was $30 (mp). I have absolutely no problems paying $30 for crabcakes- but do not make it salty, burnt on both sides, and look like it came out of the frozen foods section! Major props goes to Coastal Flats and Coco Pub's who does it right. Btw my dad is a 200 lb man and he ate one crabcake and said "maybe your mom can do something w/ the other one at home" and didn't finish his meal. Ok, enough w/ the crabcake-- my mom said her salmon was dry and my grandma's egg salad was also... ugh, salty. But oddly enough the fries were crispy and seasoned right. I'm hesitating that 2 stars is a bit harsh but for the price I expect more. Plus my family told me "hey, dinner was great!" but their half eaten entrees told me otherwise.
(2)Matt B.
I've eaten here three times, having the diver scallops meunierie, pork and lentil stew and the shrimp & grits. Everything was excellent including the service. I really enjoyed the diverse ingredients in the stew, including avocado and a poached egg.
(4)Chih-Jung C.
It's good, really good. However, you have to call for reservation before you go there. There are lots of people. I waited over 40 mins to get a table, and enjoy my lunch! So, if you want go, make RESERVATION before you on the road.
(5)Jethro T.
Believe the hype- the whole dining experience here was great! I went twice this past weekend- once Saturday morning for breakfast and again on Sunday for early dinner. Saturday morning my friends and I split beignets (which at 6 per serving are easily enough for 3 people) and washed them down with Intelligentsia coffee. The special house blend was superb. I had the yogurt with berries/granola and my friends had the eggs Benedict and chicken and waffles. We all left satisfied. For dinner Sunday I ordered the chicken and waffles (because it looked so good the previous day) and my friend got shrimp and grits with andouille. We washed this down with beer flights. To top the meal off we ordered cookies and decaf coffee. I felt truly pampered eating such good food in such a cozy atmosphere. I want to come back and try everything on the menu!
(5)Jason F.
Love FF. Love the wait staff. Love the food! If you can manage to get in here, you will most likely have a good experience. Recently, I tried to make a reservation for my family for brunch. Coming from a large family, this was a large reservation. 12 adults and 6 children. Here were the options presented to me: A) Gauranteed $100 minimum per person (adults and children) which does not include tax or gratuity. So, most likely a total of around $2300 for 12 adults and 6 children....for brunch. B) My party could be split into two tables that would not be seated next to each other due to the "floor layout and volume of the restaurant". Since my family rarely gets everyone together like this, not a good option for us. C) Come in for brunch Monday - Thursday. So...when we're all working. Since no options presented made sense for our party, we will be going elsewhere.
(2)Sarah P.
I've visited Founding Farmers about three times now, and every time, I've left happy. The service is always pretty fast, despite it ALWAYS (not exaggerating here) being busy. I do recommend making reservations beforehand, or you'll have a wait. The last time I went, I got the goat cheese burger. I looove goat cheese, and they definitely did not skimp on the cheese. It was delicious! The fries are pretty good too. I've also gotten the fish & chips, and despite what some other reviews said, I found it absolutely delicious. The portions of fish were huge, plus it was perfectly breaded - the breading was light and crispy, and was seasoned well. You also get a mix of fries and chips, which are both good, plus it comes with a little glass of white beer. The beer was really good (kind of tasted like blue moon) and compliments the fish well. Also, I love that this place has their own "made-from-scratch" sodas. Their bartenders make a mean cocktail, and I love their variety in drinks on the bar menu. All in all, this place is awesome. It's no wonder why it's always packed, even on a Tuesday night.
(4)Allison S.
Today was the second time my husband and I have eaten at Founding Farmers. The food was amazing! We ordered 2 appetizers, the seafood devil-ish eggs and glazed bacon. The bacon wasn't burnt the way I like it, but my husband loved both. I ordered the Mac & Seven Cheese. I am a very picky Mac & Cheese critic and this is probably THE BEST Mac & Cheese I have ever had! My husband ordered the Land & Sea (8 oz. steak and lobster tail). He said it was very good - the meat was very tender and juicy and everything was seasoned well. He said the dressing on his side salad was also really good. For desert, we both ordered milkshakes. I got the deep chocolate shake and he got he bananas foster shake. The banana shake has a little bit of a cinnamon taste to it and is just like the ones my mother in law makes, very good. I was not as impressed with my chocolate shake. It tasted a bit powdery/dry, but the great service made up for any disappointment. We will definitely be returning to this restaurant. If you go there try the MAC & CHEESE
(5)Mistery M.
OK good job you improved hostessing and service. I am proud of you. Your servers actually pay attention to the tables and you did away with the stupid pooled service system. Good drinks. More vegan options. I know you can do it. People grow shit on farms other than "meat". That said your veggie loaf is nice. The cauliflower steak is meh. Try harder.
(4)Eduardo B.
Crab cakes with mac & cheese! everything is incredibly fresh here and it definitely has the perfect atmosphere. You feel like you're sitting in the kitchen of a farm. The service is excellent, they actually know about the food and how it's made. Our servers recommendations were perfect. This is definitely added to my favorites list!
(5)Edwin O.
Nice ambiance, decent food, somewhat slow service. We'll be back due to large menu and location.
(3)Anthony C.
My fiance and I eat here at least once a week. This is by far our favorite restaurant and it deserves every one of the 5 stars. Their drinks are top notch and they make all of their mixers in-house. The bartenders are amazing and the servers are excellent. The food being locally grown and made fresh daily truly shows. From the Chicken Bolognese Bucatini to the Cedar Plank Salmon, Prime Rib, Butternut Squash Mascarpone Ravioli, and many other great entrees you really can't go wrong with any selection. If you haven't tried it yet, you definitely should.
(5)Hugo T.
Customer service was great real attentive but the food wasn't to my liking. I got the chicken and waffles and chicken was plain but the waffles were good. My wife got the farmer plate and it was just awful, but the reason I'm giving it 4 stars is for the customer service. The manger asked for feed back and didn't charge us for any of the entree.
(4)Charlie R.
This place is very good. We eat there all the time. Wish they'd expand the menu but you can't go wrong. Steak is a bit iffy but everything else is a 5. We always eat at the bar.
(4)J T.
Founding Farmers will always satisfy, however, this location is noticeably worse than the DC location. The prices are the same, but the portions are significantly smaller. The food is still very good, but the quality is not the same. Head to DC.
(3)S M.
This place used to be one my favs, but is going down fast. Managerial oversight does bot exist anymore. A party of 8 went there tonight and food was very average. The muscle was half the usual size in portion and 1/5 in quality. Waiter spilled an entire beer flight on my guest and instead of an apology graciously said that don't worry I make you another one. I don't think I go there again.
(2)Sarah M.
Waited well over an hour for a reservation that we already made... Even though the point of a reservation is so you don't have to wait. But once we finally got seated the food was delicious! (Don't order a coke. Super expensive and no refills). Brie flatbread was tasty. Fried green tomatoes were tasty. But my favorite by far was the breads and spreads appetizer. Oh man! So good! Everything here is tasty!
(3)Michael G.
It was a perfect plan I thought. What more politically incorrect thing could I do on the day before Columbus Day than go to Founding Farmers (a group of people who helped to steal Native American land as much as anyone)? But, as usual, reality got in the way of my preconceptions. I'm not saying that the original inhabitants of the United States would completely approve of Founding Farmers, but it did have a certain lefty ethos that I quite enjoyed. First of all, I loved that their produce comes from a group of non-factory, and local, farmers. And I could almost taste it in the food. I got a skillet and, amazingly, the eggs tasted like eggs (and it was thick and filling, almost a souffle made of breakfast stuffs) and not like chemicals. The hash browns on the side actually tasted like potatoes (though richly fried to meet a modern palette). The biscuit actually tasted like bread. And what amazed me most about the meal was that it cost less than a lot of comparable inorganic brunch places. I also expected this place to be quite inegalitarian (read stuffy). But it wasn't. The wait times for tables were insane on a Sunday, but we were sat at the bar right away with a group of wide-ranging individuals who were glued to the Redskins game (I watched it too to be even more politically incorrect on Columbus Day weekend). The bartender was friendly and fast. What put this place over the top was the aesthetic though. Every little place that it could have kitschy decor, it was modern. Every place they could post twee sayings, they were educational. About the only thing missing was a diversity in whose ideology they chose to represent. But, hey, I had to find something a little offensive if I was looking for it, right?
(5)Sherry R.
Came here for the first time for my birthday. My daughter suggested I have the chicken and waffles and her fiancé ordered amazing flatbread (prosciuttos, fig, and mascarpone). The chicken and waffles came with green beans and mac and cheese. It was real homemade comfort food. The cornbread is also great with small pieces of corn inside.
(4)Jane S.
Last night, I went to this restaurant with three other people. I had a reservation for four for 7:15. We were not seated until 7:45. The place was very noisy. We could hardly hear ourselves think let alone converse. I had the skirt steak, which was far inferior to the skirt steak I get at the Nordstrom;s Café. My husband had a burger which he said was full of gristle. Two members of the party were vegetarians and that was one of the reasons we chose this place. They said that the vegetarian "meat loaf" was very good. No one commented on the vegetarian Reuben sandwich which the other vegetarian ordered. In short, I will not be returning to this restaurant because of the noise, mediocre food and failure to honor reservations in a timely manner. I can't imagine why such crowds come to this restaurant. I get better food in fast food places like Noodles & Company and Popeyes.
(2)Maddie M.
Great breakfast options! However, make a reservation!!
(4)Sari S.
Went for breakfast this morning because we wanted to find a new spot. IHOP has been very lacking lately. The food here was different from what we are used to. The taste wasn't bad but my grits were not creamy which is how I like them. My daughter got the yogurt and granola which seemed good but a little pricey. Overall it was a good experience.
(4)Nicole L.
I took my gf to dinner to congratulate her for her engagement it was a nice restaurant for the area. I was disappointed they did not have better selections of sparkling wine. There was only one choice when we were there it was not that good. We had it anyway it was $30 a bottle. I had the steak it was ok. Nothing really stood out. The server was attentive and prompt with service.
(3)Jennifer L.
The atmosphere is pretty casual and they have cool decorations. Good service. The wait staff are friendly and experienced. I've been here a couple of times and I definitely recommend chicken and waffles. I thought it was a weird combo at first but they actually go together really well. The check comes in a little mailbox!!! So adorable!!!!!
(4)Alisa O.
Founding Farmers proves that DC suburbanites are ready for better fare than the chains that reheat manufactured food. Make reservations if you go during peak hours.
(5)A. W.
Excellent follow-up from manager; will update when I revisit!
(2)Coqui B.
I've been a few times and have always had great service and an incredible meal. The brunch is the best! One of the best in the area in my opinion.
(5)Rachel R.
After reviewing on yelp, I booked a table for 4 the same day for Sunday brunch. Our table was ready upon our arrival. Everything we ordered was fantastic, corn bread, mixed salad, squash soup of the day, lobster mac n cheese, chicken and waffles, biscuits with bacon, risotto and then desserts, vanilla ice cream was so good and not to miss the beignets. Everything was fresh and we didn't wait long for the dishes to get to our table. We were on the second floor, less noise than the first and the service was great. Will definitely be back to try other dishes.
(4)Margo S.
My husband and I frequent Founding Farmers in Tyson's Corner about 2-3 times a week. We have also visited the Georgetown Farmers Fishers Bakers a few times. The service is always excellent at both places as well as the quality and taste of the food. We have brunch every Sunday in Tyson's. I was very surprised and disappointed at our experience at MoCo's Founding Farmers. We were greater promptly and seated promptly, however, It went down hill from there. I was surprised there was not brunch buffet like in Tyson's and Georgetown. This was okay, as I eat the regular breakfast through the week. However, I was very surprised the waiter NEVER, came back to check on us once our food arrived. My food was cold, I had to snag someone else to take it back to the kitchen as the waiter disappeared.The food was then brought back with a better presentation and hot. My husband basically ate his breakfast by himself, as it took a while to receive my second plate. Again, we had to flag down the waiter to get our check. This is not what I expected at all. I have never had bad service at any of the other Founding Farmers. This establishment could take lesson's from the Tyson's or Georgetown location, in customer service and hospitality. So disappointed on Mother's Day...:(
(2)Meghan M.
First visit for brunch and it was great. The red flannel hash (beet and goat cheese hash) was delish. Chicken and waffles looked and smelled good, but friend said the biscuit and sausage gravy was lacking- small portion and not as expected. Brunch drinks were good and made with real egg, not some mix. Biscuits were good and seemed hand formed as they were not uniform in size. Just wish they were more generous with the butter and jam considering it was four large biscuits.
(5)Irena N.
A very solid 3 stars. Reservations were easy to make on short notice, which I appreciated. I was running late, but my family was seated right away. This location of Founding Farmers faces the highway. Not exactly cheerful and I probably wouldn't recommend sitting outside due to the noise. Inside, though, it's very open and comfortable, much like the DC location. Parking was a little tough, and we ended up parking in the Harris Teeter lot after circling the restaurant a couple of times. But hey, we live in DC, we're grateful for ANY parking. The food was solid, and everything was reasonably priced. My family's breakfast entrees were tasty, and I had delicious eggs benedict that were done just right; but my S.O.'s chicken and waffles were less than impressive. The waffle part was just fine, but the "fried chicken" were really a few dry, overseasoned chicken tenders. Not tasty. I think most people are expecting a piece of fried chicken and not a small tender... Drinks were great, except for the part where one of the servers dropped my mimosa, spilling it all over the table, and then forgot to bring me another one. To the restaurant's credit, once our waiter realized what happened, he not only brought me a replacement mimosa, but also comped it. I realize these things happen, and we still tipped well. But honestly, someone should have caught it. The drinks were rather loudly dropped, the whole table (and my sister's lap) had to be wiped down, and still I sat there with no drink for about 15 minutes. I would return.
(3)Jéssica N.
Love this place! Come here for brunch very often and it never disappoints. One thing that makes me sad is that the fresh orange juice and mimosas are soooooo pricey! :(
(5)Neil E.
This is always my go to whenever someone from out of town wants a good meal. The wide variety of options creates a challenge to find a something you don't like. That said my most recent trip on a Tuesday at 5pm left something to be desired with respect to the level of service being provided. The food way great, but we were never checked on by our waitress once the meal was delivered. We had all finished our meals for at least 10 minutes before she returned. ( There were not many people at all in the entire place.) I assumed there was a shift change and she was gone for the evening. Nope. Not so lucky. If the service matched the food I'd give it a five star every time.
(3)Virgus D.
This was my first visit to the restaurant and it was amazing.The waiter was outstanding.He was very engaging and provided suggestions that were helpful. I selected the veggie omelet that included a variety of fresh veggies.The reservations were timely and we were seated immediately.In summary this is one of the best healthy food restaurants in the Washington Metro area.Highly Recommended !
(5)Yinka A.
I've been to the DC location numerous times, but had not eaten dinner there since it opened as I would often go for their delicious Sunday brunch. I decided to take a friend to the Potomac location in celebration of his new job, hoping that it would be just as good as the DC location. We were not disappointed! We loved it! The food was excellent. We had the deviled egg appetizers and share our main meals consisting of crab cakes with mixed veggies and salmon with the most delicious mashed sweet potatoes and the best Brussels sprouts I've ever had. I was so glad he enjoyed the food. Additionally, the waiter was very friendly and helpful when it came to recommending a dish. Definitely plan to dine at the Potomac location again.
(5)Patrick M.
Food was 4.5 star plus and well priced- too. Good portion size and quality ingredients. The knocks IMHO was the general service. Service was very poor- we were sat over 30 minutes late with a resevation... probably closer to 45 minutes. Water glasses were empty and we had to ask for refills. One entree didn't show-up and 5 minutes later I had to track down a Mgr to make them aware. Chef did apologize and brought it out herself and apologized. No comps or credits for any issues and miscues. Also they were sold out of the wings- we specifically went to try. -1 star for poor service. Another knock for a restaurant of this quality was the wine list and offerings. Very mediocre entry level wines... not to be a snob... but it seems that they are afraid to put some higher quality/priced wines on the list. -.5 star This could be a 4.5-5 star restaurant with some minor tweaks... service and a better wine list. Was visiting from out of town.
(3)Richard W.
I previous gave a review that was a 3 from Thanksgiving, 2013 which got an email from their marketing department seeking more information. Great they are listening for feedback. I responded and got a post commitment with thanks and that I would get a complimentary dessert - that didn't happen but did go back. Party of 7 with reservations (really needed here) and was promptly seated - thank you! All entrees delicious - raves from everyone. Big wish is that restaurant management would teach their servers to serve drinks appropriately - meaning serve a beverage holding the bottom of the glass, not the lip as our server initially did. and servers do not adjust your hair and continue serving! Two major yuck factors by our Waitress.
(4)Amber K.
Love this place. Get the table biscuits with the honey butter! Make reservations if you're going for brunch.
(4)Audrey K.
This place is awesome! I came here with a friend for Sunday brunch and we made a reservation for noon and we were seated by 12:10 on what appeared to be a very very busy Sunday afternoon. We had the uncle buck's benigets, breakfast chicken and waffles and lunch chicken and waffles. Everything we had was great and we'll definitely be returning!
(5)Sydney L.
I thought this Mo-Co outpost of Founding Farmers was just okay. I've been to the DC location for dinner and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to try brunch here. The restaurant was very busy, but we were seated on time for our reservation. The server was friendly and on top of things even though all tables were full. The food though, was just okay. I was expecting it to be more tasty, but no one at our table of five was impressed much. I feel like they are trying too hard to be local and farm-fresh, that they missed out on flavor. Won't be going back.
(2)Missy K.
I came here for the first time last Saturday night. I'd never heard of it but was pleasantly surprised. The service was fine (although my friend tried like 3 times to get coffee from our server, to no avail) but the food was great. We shared the blue-cheese stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates and fried green tomatoes for appetizers and as soon as we'd finished, we wished we'd ordered more dates. They were awesome! I had the spicy ahi tuna poke, which in a restaurant that mostly had classic American food was a little odd, but I wasn't disappointed. It was pretty fantastic. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)Bloss C.
Beignets (served with Raspberry, chocolate and caramel sauces). The beignets here are perfectly fried on the outside and soooooo warm/moist/gooey on the inside. They give you a bag of them for $8. $8 is a little pricey for some fried dough, but they are very good, so I'll go for it. Everything else I had here was either ok or not very good. The biscuit was too dry. My artichoke skillet dish (basically a frittata) wasn't very tasty. The grits that came with it were abhorrent. They had very good grits flavor, but with the texture of porridge. The hash browns were good. I would come back, but I would order the simpler items on the menu. Also my cup of coffee was $4 which I'm not feeling. Service was very very good.
(4)Samantha K.
I LOVE Founding Farmers. The service here is always wonderful with bright, spirited, and happy employees. I'd recommend everything on the menu but my personal favorites have always been the Brie with Onion Jam Farmer Bread, Cornbread, Green Tomatoes, Crispy Shrimp, and the Apple Pie However, four stars because the only thing I'd advise staying away from are the salads. It's very over priced and not very satisfactory. But, totally go. It's worth it.
(4)Nick B.
We had a party of about 15 people for a birthday dinner. Everything was good until they brought the check and told us they couldn't separate because they weren't previously told that the checks would need to be separate at the time of the reservation. We had family travel a long distance to come to this place and were met with no help on this matter. We spent a large amount of money with this party and would have praised the restaurant if they hadn't been so unwilling to correct the mistake that should have been caught early on by their staff. We will NEVER recommend this place to anyone.
(1)David H.
I ordered the fried green tomatoes for starters then the flat iron steak, mashed potatoes, and blue cheese slaw. My wife let me taste her shrimp and grits ratatouille. The food is unbelievably spot on. This is a must go to restaurant. The steak was almost tenderloin tender-juicy! The $ is reasonable! Great drink selection as well.
(5)Dette T.
We've been to the one in DC and it was our first time to try this location.. We were expecting about the same experience but boy! This place just went over the top! Our waiter, was so nice and patient.. The manager, Maribel, was aaawesooome!!!! She came to our table few times to check if we're doing great and corrected some mishaps during our dinner.. Honestly, they really didn't have to cuz we were happy as it was but they were so nice and kind to actually make it a better experience for us... As a diner, I always expect good customer service but man! They were GREAT! I'm definitely going to rave about them for the rest of the week (or two) to my coworkers and make sure everybody tries FFMoCo! Great food + great service + affordable price! Nothing more you can ask for!!
(5)M Z.
Despite the website's claim that they are veg-friendly, there are no vegetarian options other than oatmeal for breakfast, which seems strange coming from a place with "farmers" in the name. The server suggested I get the farmer's breakfast and said it could be vegan without eggs or meat. But it ended up consisting of two small slices of tomato, a tiny fruitcup made mostly of grapes, and a slab of cold hashbrowns. They included a biscuit too but she wasn't sure if it had butter or milk in it or not. Honestly, this place was a big disappointment and bummed me out on what was supposed to my birthday brunch. I left hungry!
(1)Indeara T.
Excellent food and Customer service. Joseph was our server and he served us well, very attentive and friendly. My husband highly recommend this restaurant, and we give this place 5 stars. Perfect for date night and perfect for families as well.
(5)Eric N.
One of my favorite locavore joints. Great service. Clean, inviting interior. Too far from Balty, or I would be here weekly. I have had had the fish on numerous occasions, and it has always been fresh and delicious. The portions are more than adequate, and the prices are reasonable.
(5)Alex G.
Amazing service, we forgot our food and our server came out to our car to give it to us
(5)Tracia D.
Red Velvet pancakes.... Good. Carrot cake pancakes.... Good. Egg white omelette with veggies.... Good Wine.... Good Bellini.... Good Coffee.... Good Check in the "mailbox", which is an actual mini mailbox.... Ãœber cute! Loved that.
(5)Robin B.
Great atmosphere and great food. Customer service was good but the drinks (cocktails) could have been better. The decor was beautifully appointed and the seating comfortable. I would recommend this place to friends and family. However, a bit on the expensive side.
(4)Karen K.
Dinner at Founding Farmers was ok as the three stars indicate. One major problem - understanding the waiter. He spoke so quickly and had a slight accent. We had to ask him to repeat the specials and then just gas up as no one understood. The food is fine but nothing special. One exception, the corn bread with honey butter. Delicious. After the waiter described the differences in the fried chicken, one friend ordered the Southern fried chicken with collard greens and mashed potatoes. She hardly ate anything and was very disappointed in all of it. The other thee of us had salads that were fine. The ahi tuna poke was the best of the bunch and a very generous portion. Would I come back? Yes, because the location is convenient to meet up with friends. But, it would not be my suggested place.
(3)A. D.
Worst service!!! My husband and I sat at the bar for dinner and drinks and had a horrible experience. The bartender (his name is Tim) was so full of himself made our drinks. We each had one drink which is why this review is getting one star because it was tasty, but since it follows a recipe, I'd prefer anyone else but this guy to make it. So we ordered food, and then sat there for a good 15 minutes while our empty dirty dishes and glasses sat in front of us. We tried to wave down a bartender to order more food and drinks, to no avail. The bartender stood at the other end of the bar scrolling through his phone laughing and showing his colleagues pictures or something. The point is, he was doing this in the middle of a horseshoe bar where all of the customers could see how little he cared about them and doing his job. We planned on ordering more drinks, if we could get this guy's attention away from his phone, but then got fed up with trying. At $12 dollars a drink, and ZERO service, we didn't see the point of staying. We went next door to Sugo's where they actually care to have customers, and we continued our dinner over there. I'd much rather give my hard-earned money to a person who actually does his job. I will never go back there. By the way, my husband mentioned this to the floor manager, who also didn't seem to care about the bartender and his blatant disregard to customers or his job. Don't waste your money on this place, it's just not worth it.
(1)Sisley C.
***EDIT 1/27/13 -- YOU MUST TRY THE CONSTITUTION (A DRINK) AND THE SKIRT STEAK AND ENCHILADAS (TO DIE FOR)!*** I cannot say any bad things about this place! It is absolutely delicious. I've been here twice and was literally blown away by the food. The service is always top notch as well. For appetizers, I've had the oven-roasted cracked black pepper wings. Let me tell you... THIS IS UNLIKE ANY WINGS YOU'LL EVER HAVE. Oh my goodness - I got this both times I came. They give you a lime that you're supposed to squeeze over the wings. Mmm... you can't not get these wings! I've also had the popcorn (just okay... regular popcorn), mussels with sausage and pesto (pretty good and flavorful; must have bread to dip into the sauce!), and the proscioutto, fig, and marscapone flatbread (very good as well!). Entree wise - THE CRAB CAKES. Pure lump crabmeat. The seasoning is delicious. It has this "mustard" sauce that the crab cakes are placed on top of. It's good - not like regular mustard because I HATE MUSTARD. So don't worry, you mustard haters! I've also had the prime rib (so tender and juicy - would definitely get again!). I've had a taste of the skirt steak and enchiladas. The skirt steak seemed tough at first, but it was actually really good. Now desserts... the seasonal pomegranate vanilla sorbet is to die for. It's so yummy and unlike any sorbet you've ever had. I'm not sure when they stop serving it but it is seasonal so get it quick! Founding Farmers is known for their drinks as well. I really recommend the hibiscus scratch soda. It is so yummy and home made in the house! (This has no alcohol). As for alcoholic drinks, I've had a taste of the organic cucumber delight (very refreshing), Dark N Stormy (not really my style.. very gingery and rum-my), and the Victory Golden Monkey beer (very strong and "hoppy;" has 9.5% alcohol so you already know what it must taste like compared to a normal 4.5% alcohol content beer). The presentation of everything, including drinks, was perfection. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Michael O.
I've been here at Founding Farmers for a couple of years. The food has been consistently good until of late. I have noticed the decline in taste an/ord volume of fish and chips, hamburgers, and bacon lolli appetizers. Anyhow, let's start with the positives. The restaurant is located in a business/residential area right outside of I-270 and it shares the same building with an italian restaurant. Needless to say, it's in a great neighborhood. Another positive is the consistency of the mixed drinks mixed by Chu. My go to drink is the Southside and Chu is excellent at making it. The bar scene is mixed, but seems like workers from the NIH and locals from the ritzy Potomac neighborhood congregate here since you need a car to get here. Anyhow, the food as mentioned before is at best average and I would definitely not spend time for formal dining here. Founding Farmers has a good bar and mixed drink selection, but their food is just okay.
(3)Wing C.
3.5 stars - love the concept and service. I was impressed by FF's brunch last summer so I decided to host my mini high school reunion here tonight and to try out their dinner menu. We arrived promptly for our 7:30 reservation and they had a table for us right away. Our waitress was extremely sweet and welcoming. She explained the menu through and through and allowed us to substitute any of the sides - in which she had to repeat so many times cuz my friends and I are terrible listeners. Two of my friends ordered their signature chicken and waffles (1 with a side of mac and cheese + sauteed summer squash and zucchini, 1 with a side of watermelon mint salad + mashed potato), One friend ordered the ahi tuna salad and another ordered the rotisserie chicken dinner with broccoli and mashed potato. I decided to go meatless by ordering their fake turkey burger and swapping in the watermelon mint salad and out the lemon arugula salad. We also ordered the home made chips with the 3 dips to share as an appetizers and all 4 members of my group decided to try their mango soda. The drinks came out almost immediately and the appetizer came out shortly after. Still on my post-Asia diet, I decided to skip the appetizer and drinks altogether so I didn't have any taste of the chips (not a chip fan in general to start with). My 4 friends enjoyed the chips very much - the serving of chips was extremely generous but the dips were not - a spoonful of each at most - felt a little ripped off since the chips although homemade are still ordinary chips. For the price, we were expecting a little more home made dips! After the appetizer, our main entrees took almost 30 mins to arrive. Not quite sure what took so long but our waitress did come by to tell us the entrees were coming soon. When they were passing out our entrees, I was immediately impressed by the portion size of each - especially the dinner with the sides and ahi tuna salad. All my friends' entrees tasted awesome but for mine. I guess that's on me for not ordering one of their more known dishes. My turkey patty was slimely and had a texture of something close to the center of a crab cake. The buns were overloaded with cranberry compote - wayyyy too sweet and totally ruined the burger. And the caramelized onion and shoestring fried onion overwhelmed the taste of everything else - i couldn't even tell I had brie in my burger. Everything was mushy, slimely, onion-y and sweet. And I regret swapping for watermelon mint salad. I couldn't taste a single hint of mint in my dish. It was pretty much cubes of sweetened watermelons. Overall, definitely not a fan of my dinner. Still a very successful reunion dinner. My food wasn't awesome but would love to return for more of their signature dishes and perhaps after my post-Asia diet where I'm a little less plumpy.
(3)Regina C.
I can't tell you how much I am in love with HANDS DOWN the best crab cakes I've EVER had in my whole entire life. I'm visiting Texas and I'm completely mortified that I can't bring these crab cakes back home. Your crab cakes will be one of the reasons why i'm coming back to Maryland! Succulent, not too much breading, EXCELLENT seasoning and you even topped it off with lightly buttered green beans. Jesus was that a beyond satisfying meal!
(5)Mike M.
how anyone can give this place less than five stars is beyond me. I've been coming here for years. the place is the true meaning of value. locally sourced ethically raised meats, delicious flavors and textures, specialty cocktails worth writing home about, excellent and friendly servers, a cool atmosphere, I mean, if you don't like this place, what is wrong with you? they have a fantastic brunch, too. this is the best restaurant in MoCo in my opinion. for the value you can't beat it! trust me, get the black pepper soy wings each visit. they are that good. every. time. mmmmmmmm
(5)Emily P.
Took dad here for Father's Day, and he was a huge fan, as was I. (And, mind you, he is a tough critic!) I requested to have us seated in the booths, and we were swiftly brought to the second floor (why, thank you). Impressed with everything (see photos). Of note: Fried green tomatoes, crispy and scrumptious; skirt steak, very juicy; little on the salty side, would have been nice to have the chimichurri on the side, sweet squash and yummy mashed potatoes; carrot cake, is massive; liked the seasonal crisp (peach and blueberry) better. Be prepared for leftovers! And of course make a reservation beforehand.
(4)Libby F.
Finally made it for breakfast (brunch). It was Easter Sunday, and with a 10:30 am reservation we had no wait for our booth. My friends had never been and were excited to check this place out. We almost had whiplash from watching all the tasty dishes whiz by our spot. We contemplated ordering the beignets. Our waitress said that there would be no 20 minute wait like the menu states because they were expecting mass orders and were consistently frying them up. My one friend got the crab benedict, just to compare it to our usual breakfast treat from Clyde's. While she enjoyed it, I think Clyde's won out mainly due to their accompaniment of delicious home fries. I had the red velvet pancakes. While the stack of three is a bit odd looking, they were very delicious; not chocolaty, but the server did say there was some cocoa in them. Mine had butter on top, not cream cheese like another reviewer mentioned. My other friend opted for something from the lunch menu even though it wasn't really available, they made it for her anyways. It was the grilled cheese and tomato soup combo. Simple, but satisfying. Our server was awesome. She checked in with us regularly, chatted with us, and didn't rush off. Service has definitely improved as I knew it would since November. I will be back. Free and easy parking is a plus. I can't wait to try so many other dishes from their enticing menu.
(5)kara h.
Lunch and Breakfast are great!
(4)Krystle T.
I had high hopes for this place, but honestly, it wasn't anything special. First off, I'm bummed I missed the breakfast! I heard they're known for their breakfast menu, but I can only vouch for their lunch. Came here on a Thursday afternoon at about 11:15 and it wasn't crowded. It got a lot more crowded at around noon because of all the people in the nearby offices going on lunch breaks. I wanted to try something different so I ordered the crazy corn salad ($13). It was not bad. I would eat it, but it wouldn't be something I would look forward to and order again. My friend ordered their mac and cheese which had 2 kinds of cheese, peas, and apples. The waitress spoke up about this dish, but it was kind of bland for mac and cheese. Another friend got the turkey sandwich and added avocado. He would give it a 3.5/5. It needed tomatoes! They also had popcorn of the day for $2, but the flavor that day, Butter sage, didn't sound very good so we didn't order it. The waitress wasn't the best. She left before we finished ordering. Overall, I would go again to try their breakfast, but this wouldn't be my go to place.
(3)Ed M.
The first time I went here I wasn't sure what to expect since it was described to me as "an acquired taste." Let me tell you, that description is inaccurate, this place is amazing, and has become my favorite restaurant. I would recommend their bacon lollies, fish and chips (best I've ever had), and mousse bowl for two (which is really for 4 or 5).
(5)Roland Q.
I love the drinks here. They're made from organic grains so whenever I get a drink it goes down SMOOTH. Anyhow other then going down smooth i also feel the effects but do not get a headache which is great. There vegetarian selection here is pretty impressive. Oh yeahhh Love there Mac and Cheese WOOO
(4)M. G.
As a follow up, one of the managers was gracious enough to respond to my yelp review below, promising to follow up with me about my experience via private message but hasn't yet. I was so looking for a reason to return to this establishment:(
(1)Joseph B.
First visit to this restaurant. Very disappointed in myself that I never visited this place when I lived in Arlington, VA. Went for brunch/breakfast this past Saturday. Awesome meal. Great atmosphere. Will definitely be back. Will definitely recommend to everyone I know.
(5)Audrey M.
I got the Founders Farmers Breakfast and it was ok. The multi grain toast was awesome and chicken apple sausage. My eggs scrambled with cheese and hash browns were salty, I couldn't finish it. Our waiter took forever getting our payment but my coconut green tea was great.
(3)Sherrie H.
Server was client-focused and checked back with me often. She went to ask the chef specific questions when she didn't have an answer for me. I really appreciated her attention to details. For less noise, consider sitting upstairs. Their chicken was top notch and freshly cooked to order.
(4)Samantha L.
Both of my trips to Founding Farmers in Park Potomac have been for brunch. The first trip was shortly after they first opened. The food was decent, but the service was terrible. We must have waited 45 minutes for out food after placing our order. We then had to flag down the waitress to get our check, and she didnt come back to get it for another 20 minutes. Since it was so close to when it opened I decided to give it another shot a few months ago for brunch with some friends. While the service had improved slightly, there were still lots of issues. One person in our party was gluten-free. She ordered something and asked for no bread... her plate came with the bread on it. My egg scramble was *very* overcooked... and because they had to re-make my friend's dish that came incorrectly, she ended up getting her food about 15 minutes after the rest of us were finished eating. My very first trip to the original Founding Farmers back in 2011 was fantastic. I was excited when this one opened in Montgomery County since i live in Bethesda, but I can honestly say after these two experiences I probably would not go back.
(2)Chris T.
Pretty good homestyle cooked foods, great atmosphere.
(4)Mike Y.
Like my friend Ina said, the food here is so-so. I was not here at a time when it was terrible busy, so my service was pretty good. Table for three Saturday around 1-2PM. The restaurant was buzzing but we were able to sit immediately. We sat upstairs, the bar looked nice but the restaurants design felt very chipotle-esque. i appreciated the farms painted and dated on the walls. It was comfortable. Our server was very upbeat and friendly. We ordered the chips and dips. The cast iron fried chicken southern style. crispy spatchcok chicken with aji sauce. apple pie. chocolate ice cream. The chips and dip was solid. cheesy dips, crunchy chips. guacamole was a little sweet. thought that was weird. two cheesy dips were good. i like cheese. The southern style fried chicken was meh. It definitely felt like...i dont know, healthy fried chicken? the chicken was a tad dry. the skin not crispy enough. the batter not substantive. just...meh. the collards that came with it, also a little sweet. i prefer my collards to be porky. i think its Pie's N Thighs fault. The mashed potatoes that came with it were the best part of that plate. The gravy could have been thicker a little better seasoned. The crispy spatchcok chicken with the aji sauce? Meh as well. definitely not crispy. the aji sauce tasted like avocado with worcester? i dont know what that was a little sweet too. and green. The orange soda was good. The strawberry soda was better. The apple pie was the highlight of the meal. The ice cream was superb (of course we got the apple pie a la mode!). The chocolate ice cream was exceptional. It tasted like...chocolate + ice cream. not...chocolate-flavored ice cream. not chocolate syrup made into ice cream. but chocolate, real chocolate but in ice cream form. real great for ice cream and chocolate lovers. The bill comes to you in a little cute mailbox. i liked that. i think you're overpaying for what you're getting. i appreciate the organic, fresh made movement but for the money you're spending here you can definitely get tastier. maybe we just chose lackluster dishes but there is definitely some room to tighten up on the entrees. appetizers and desserts are all good and a plus but not enough to take me into being a fan.
(3)Lisa N.
1. Make Reservations 2. Order the Chicken and Waffles. And try the Bacon Lollipops. 3. Leave happy and satisfied =) I've never been to the DC location, but Founding Farmers lived up to the hype. Service is friendly, the portions are generous, and there's a ton of variety. It was difficult to choose what to eat, but you can't go wrong with the chicken and waffles and bacon lollis. We also tried the Fried Green Tomatoes which were good and the Chicken Wings which are definitely a safe and bang-for-your buck appetizer. I will be back for sure!
(5)Maria C.
I've been here at least 5 times so I figure it's time to write a review. I've had a variety of foods, from the lollipop bacon to the cauliflower steak, and I can safely say that this is definitely a staple farm-to-table restaurant in Potomac. The service is always gracious and friendly and the ambiance is good as well - tall ceilings on the first floor, and good mixture of booths and tables. The food is always very fresh - favorites include the eggs florentine, chicken pot pie, and fried green tomatoes. I've had a few of the scratch sodas before, which do taste very good but the glass typically comes out with 20% juice and 80% ice, so I now ask for it with little to no ice :) As it is a pretty popular restaurant, I recommend making a reservation.
(4)Kimberly T.
I love the atmosphere at Founding Farmers! Definitely need to make reservations. I've been to both locations, the one in MD and DC and I like the MD location more because it seems more open and bigger. The first time I came here it was for a friend's birthday, she ordered a large amount of items to share: popcorn, deviled eggs, and bacon-wrapped dates. Seems silly to order popcorn at a restaurant but for $2, the restaurant gave a movie sized portion and there was plenty to share of the ranch flavored popcorn! I've had their eggs benedict and chicken and waffles for brunch, they were definitely great choices. For dinner, I've had the skirt steak which was average. There wasn't anything special about it. If you have a sweet tooth and are craving dessert, be warned.. their cakes are huge! I'm sure all the desserts taste good, but the red velvet definitely hit the spot. I will continue to come back, definitely want to try the pot roast next!
(4)Christine O.
What makes Founding Farmers so great is in it's name - farmers = real farmers' grown food. If you're on the fence like me to whether go or not, just try it so you'll know what the talk is all about and how REAL food taste like! The prices are what you'll pay if you went to any organic market. Everything seems fresh and made with care. Went during dinner time so I'll have to come back again during brunch (my favorite meal of the day!). + place is easy to get to + plenty of parking + great service team (hosts, waiter/waitress, and even runners clearing tables etc) + plenty of options + everything comes out smelling delicious and hot! + delicious foods Appetizer: Party ordered the bacon and tots pitchforks (tots were good; party said bacon was out of this world), ranch popcorn (party had kids so they enjoyed this, biscuits and the farmer salad. All were good. I think my party was anxious for the food and think the delivery of the food is slow... I thought it was a good time to talk! Dinner: Crab cake (came with two) with mashed potatoes and green beans (chef's vegetable of the day) was delicious! I couldn't finish my plate and had to take one of the crab cake home. The mashed potatoes was heavenly and I love green beans! The crab cake didn't have a lot of fillers. The rest of the party enjoyed their dishes (mac and cheese; fish and chips was a popular; bacon and avocado burger and steak). I was tempted to order the free range chicken ... I will do that next time! Dessert: Red Velvet cake + ice cream: delicious. We all had to split the cake since we were all so full! But the cake is definitely homemade, rich, and the ice cream is perfect with it! Wasn't too sweet and wasn't too plain - just right! Check came out in a mailbox -- so cute. Why 4 out of 5 stars? As an avid shopper/diner at Whole Foods Market, I feel like their freshly prepared foods that come out hot are similar to Founding Farmers. But great to know there's a place my party can go to without the grocery market feel :)
(4)Michael R.
First Founding Farmers tonight. Food Was Fantastic, Server was horrible. Will definitely be returning to give the service one more shot.
(3)Norman G.
The food at this restaurant is varied and excellent, and the beer selection, while not extensive, is also very good. HOWEVER, unless you are planning to lunch alone at the bar, be aware that the noise level is very high when the restaurant is crowded. It may be difficult to have a conversation at a table for four and close to impossible with a larger group.
(4)Sloan S.
I obsess over Founding Farmers. It is just one of those places that is consistently good, which really means a lot to me... I know I will always go in, have dinner, and leave totally full and happy. Here are a few of my favorites: - Table Biscuits - Smears, Dips, and Table Bread - Sweet and Sour Tomatoes with Horseradish Pimento Cheese Flatbread - Cedar Plank Salmon - Low Country Shrimp and Grits - Lobster Macaroni and Cheese I'm also enamored with the Organic Cucumber Delight cocktail. It is so refreshing... pretty sure I order it every time I visit. The bar also has a great selection of bourbon. The restaurant has a very cool concept and I love that the food is locally-sourced. One of my favorites in Montgomery County!
(4)Casey K.
Loved! I had the Red Flannel Hash and my friend had the Benedict Arnold (story to ensue). We were halfway through our meal when a waiter came over with a plate and said, "How's the food?" My friend answered its really good, and the waiter said,"It's not what you ordered" He was standing there with my friends actual food order which they gave to us on the house! My friend had received the traditional benedict with house cured ham instead of the sausage on the arnold. We laughed that he was not able to notice the difference. He said, "honestly, this is so delicious I didn't even notice that it was sausage and not ham". Since we got to try both eggs benedict, I will say I like the sausage better, my friend liked the ham, I say you cannot go wrong with either choice, they both were delicious. My hash was very good, it was simple, but all the flavors worked nicely with each other, and as a beet lover, I would definitely recommend this dish. We also ordered the beignets when we first sat down b/c they are made to order and take a little bit of time to get to your table. They are so worth the wait. They are served with a berry compote, and chocolate sauce, and a caramel sauce. My favorite was mixing the berry compote with the chocolate sauce...amazing. On a separate occasion, I have also had the meatloaf and the chicken pot pie, both of which are great comfort food and delicious. In the chicken pot pie, there is a massive biscuit submerged at the bottom...ah so good! Bottom Line: This place is great because it just has really good comfort food and a place that even the most pickiest eater in your party can find to eat. In essence, it's "A Down Home Southern Meal in the middle of Potomac, MD" You will not be disappointed.
(4)Nik K.
We got the Reuben sandwich and the blue cheese bacon balsamic onion burger with Brussels sprouts and beans. The Reuben was very juicy and the burger was very flavorful as well. Definitely recommend the Brussels sprouts. Overall there was a touch of sweetness to each item. The Beignets, of which there were 6, were very delicious with 3 dipping sauces.
(5)Maria M.
Cornbread cornbread cornbread! Get it! for the appetizer, though you may want to share it if you don't want to be full before your real entree. Delish! Sweet with savory, cooked to perfection. Loved it. We also got the fried greed tomatoes as an appetizer. Which wasn't bad at all. A little too much fried batter for me, but hey, not really too much to complain about I guess. We also ordered the chicken and waffles. The chicken was great! Fried but not dry and definitely meaty. The waffles were ok. It also came with green beans and mac and cheese which I wasn't too crazy about buy hey, you can't win them all. My friend had the gnocci... which was also very tasty, but I was too full to really even get a good gist of how it tasted. Overall, it was a great experience. We went on a Tuesday night around 7:15 but since they said we had about 20 min to wait, we just sat at the bar which had the full menu too. So no big. The atmosphere was nice and homey. I'd definitely take my husband here since he likes hearty meals. Recommended yes! =)
(4)Sa N.
Sometimes the food can be oversalted... But generally you should Just get the chicken and waffles... The other food is good, but the chicken and waffles is really delicious! Been there for brunch and dinner both are very good. The beer flights are fun.
(4)Lina T.
This location is always super busy on the weekends. The food is great and reasonably priced. The drinks however are overpriced and not that great.
(4)Nathalie V.
The entire meal left me speechless!! From our waiter, to the ambiance, to the food and drinks...I am very impressed with Founding Farmers. I love trying new places and can't say enough about the service we received. I normally don't write reviews but Founding Farmers deserves one! Our waiter was Kevin and we looved him!! Very knowledgable about the food AND drinks! He has a great personality and a natural at what he does. We had the Organic Cucumber Delight as our drink...the most refreshing drink I've ever had. The mix of cucumber and cantaloup reminded of the much needed summer's arrival! Not too strong, not too sweet, not to tart...the perfect balance of flavor! I had to order a second round! The first course we had was the Table Biscuits and also a butternut squash soup. I have never had such a great soup! My family has our own traditional butternut squash soup we eat on the first day of the new year and this brought me back to that! Such a wonderful flavor and texture. Forget about dipping those biscuits in the soup. The biscuits were served with "Chow Chow", a green tomato jam (if I remember correctly) and it was. A. Mazing! Perfect balance with the softness of the biscuit! YUM! For my main course, I ordered the Fried Chicken and Biscuits! The crust on that chicken was well seasoned and as crunchy as you'd want a piece of fried chicken. While being crunchy, the chicken was soft and moist...it hit the spot! The waffles were crispy, buttery and just the right texture to compliment the chicken. My meal was served with green beans and a non-traditional Mac & Cheese (so full of flavor and just the right amount of cheese)!! My son ordered the Shrimp Bucatini and Oh My Shrimp!! They were huge! The homemade pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauce just clung to the noodles perfectly! The fresh sprigs of dill added so much color and flavor; my son just ate his leftovers for breakfast!! My sister ordered the Shrimp and Grits; I would have thought we were down south! Again, OH MY SHRIMP...the filled the bowl! The grits were perfectly soft and creamy, covered by that delicious sauce and those jumbo shrimp and smoked beef sausage! OMG!! I could have died! Could that be my last meal? I hate to keep going but I must...I made sure to save some room for dessert. Those beignets, those beignets! What do you say about those beignets? Crispy on the outside, those soft nooks and crannies on the inside. Thank you Lord for those beignets! All three sauces were a great compliment to the fried delights but my favorite was the raspberry coulis. Like a fresher, better, tastier jelly donut. I can say that I am thoroughly pleased with everything we ate and drank...we are still talking about the food. I'm ready to come back again for round two. Scratch made, FARM FRESH american style comfort food is what you'll find here and I am certain, you will not be disappointed!!
(5)Lorena B.
Oh man, my mouth is watering just thinking about the food and drinks. Two snaps for FF, hunty! We had a 7:15 res but arrived about 30 minutes early so we headed to the bar for liquid appetizers. I tried the Cono Sur chardonnay from Argentina and loved it; the drier the better for me. The date got some blood orange beer (sorry don't remember the name) that smelled really nice, like a Jo Malone fragrance, and the taste wasn't bad either. Later, during dinner, I ordered the caipiroska which is Tito's, lime, and sugar, and it was so refreshing! I guess it's like a handcrafted take on a vodka tonic. Then it was time to leave the bar and check in for our table. The smiling young host who walked us upstairs and the server were both friendly and chatty without being overbearing, and the server gave us plenty of time to look over the menus. Deviled eggs are the trend these days so we go those to start. They were actually kind of bland, like what you're forced to eat at some office potluck. But whatever, they were forgotten as soon as the entrees came. My shrimp and grits were awesome! Loaded with plump shrimp, spicy sausage, creamy grits, and juicy tomatoes... so good. Nonetheless, I was super jelly of the fried chicken and waffles he ordered. There was so much food! Crisp fried chicken, gooey mac n cheese, fresh green beans, and homemade waffles with maple syrup, and it was all delicious! Insert Homer drool here! I wanted the red velvet cake but since it was his celebratory dinner, we got the vanilla bean cheesecake for dessert. I'm not a fan of cheesecake but I have to say it was pretty good. The vanilla kept the cheesecake from being too rich and it had a nice texture, plus it came with apple compote. FF was good y'all. Anyone wanna sneak out of work early and meet me there?
(4)Kathy B.
I had to think about this review for a little bit. A part of me feels this place is overly hyped. I hear about it so often and I'm partial to small, mom-pop type restaurants rather than larger, well-known chains. With that said, this place serves good food. The staff is nice and the atmosphere is also enjoyable. I love the biscuits for the table. They are probably the best biscuits I have had in this area. I will say, I wish their pancakes came with something on the side (as opposed to ordering an extra side of bacon) because that is a lot of grain for one entree and it's huge! To some people this is a perk so I won't complain about it too much. I like a little more variety in my meals and after awhile, the pancake can become a little too much by itself if you do not get sides. The coffee is good as well. Nice and strong.
(4)Sarah M.
Founding Farmers... Fantastic. I have been to the Washington, DC location on several occasions, and it's become one of my favorite spots for brunch in the city. The location in Potomac, MD, is just as impressive. We had a little bit of a wait last night for dinner, so my two friends and I sat at the bar and ordered drinks while we waited for our table. The bartender was personable, and he made our wait enjoyable. When we got to our table, I ordered the popcorn of the day as an appetizer. It wasn't impressive, but for two dollars, it was worth it. Our waiter was exceptional. He recommended items from every list on the menu, and gave us his honest opinion on what he liked/didn't like. I ordered the Plank Salmon with mac & cheese and chef's vegetables. One word: superb. One of my friends ordered the Northern Fried Chicken and my other friend ordered the Bacon Burger. The fried chicken was delicious, but the bacon burger was a bit too burnt. For dessert, we all shared beignets. They were divine. Note: if you want the beignets be sure to order them when you order your main entrees because they take a while to make.
(4)Susan M.
Excellent cocktails and service; however, I wasn't impressed with the food (options, quality), compared to the DC location. Recommended (but I'm not in a hurry to go back).
(3)Jessica A.
I've been here way too many times, it's possible my husband and I can single-handedly keep it afloat. We LOVE this place. LOVE. I mean, can you be in love with a place? Because we are. Their food is AMAZING. EVERY. SINGLE. THING. At least, everything we have tried is so incredibly amazing. Look, we love food. No, we love GOOD food...and this place has some GOOD food. I promise. If you go and hate it, I give you permission to send me some hateful messages.
(5)Muriel H.
I love this place. I have been there twice so far. This time I went for a friend's birthday lunch and ordered the fried green tomatoes, Farmer's Daughter Burger, and their macaroni and cheese! Simply delish! I am a fan of this place...100%!
(5)Domonique W.
I'm a huge fan of Founding Farmer's. I've been to this location twice and the one in DC a handful of times. I find everything I order from them to be delicious and I can't believe this is my first time reviewing this place! I made a reservation earlier in the week for a party of 5 at 10am with no problem. Received a call from one of their hostesses confirming my reservation two days prior to my visit. When I arrived for my reservation all went well and my party and I were seated promptly. I normally order the bananas fosters stuffed french toast (soooooo sooooo soooo amazingly good! I cannot rave enough about how seriously good it is!) when I go here for breakfast, but I really wanted to try my brunch fave, crab benedict. I also ordered biscuits and beignets for the table to share. Biscuits were average...but the beignets were superb! Crispy and sweet on the outside, warm and flaky soft on the inside...yum! Came with three dipping sauces as well, chocolate, raspberry, and caramel. My faves being chocolate and raspberry mixed together. My entree was fantastic as well!! Seasoned just right, poached eggs not too runny like I prefer, english muffins toasted nicely, and the crab was all real (no filling!). Once again, Founding Farmers proves why it is one of my favorite restaurants in the DMV. Amazing food and great service! I do recommend a reservation though...it tends to get backed at both locations.
(5)John K.
Bottom Line: Salty and Dry. Went for lunch. Ordered crispy spatchcock chicken with maple mustard glaze. Side dishes were sauteed kale and mac and cheese. Tasted my wife's chicken pot pie as well. The good: chicken was cooked well and the skin actually was crispy! Very good glaze...not too sweet. Just right. And excellent whiskey selections as I constantly stared at their bar. Service was amazing to the point of excessive as the waiter reached over my table to grab the water bottle to pour into our glasses. Minus the lack of etiquette he provided quality service. The bad: DONT EVER ORDER THE SAUTEED KALE!!! Extremely salty. Couldnt eat past one bite of it. The mac and cheese was dry and not cheesy. If I wanted day old elbow noodles cooked with kraft cheese I would have gone to a cheap diner. And the chicken pot pie was just average. Chicken was dry or tough. The biscuit was flavorless and very dry. The cream moght have been the saving grace. Im not sure how they plan on keeping these options. They should take them off the menu and keep the quality dishes. I asked the waiter to replace the kale with a side salad which was good with baby tomatoes, avocadoes, and an italian style dressing. Conclusion: would go again but try something new with whiskey.
(2)Tina B.
Today I went here for lunch with my sister, but they were really busy so I had a choice to wait 20 minutes for a table or sit at the bar. Both me and my sister decided sitting at the bar look fun. Instead of barstools they had a bar bench! I like going here to eat. They have a good atmosphere. Our server was the bartender. His name was "Santchai" and he was very nice and helpful. We didn't know what to eat, so we asked him what he would recommend. Since it was my sisters first time here, he gave us the whole run down on where the food came from and when we had questions he answered it very nicely. I like sitting at the bar sometimes because you get to have a good conversation with the bartenders more than if u were to sit at a regular table. It's just more fun. For appetizers we had some biscuits that are made everyday. My sister had "The Seafood Show Stopper" and I got "The Butchers Farm House Grill!" For dessert we had a "Fruit Crisp" and the "Blue Ribbon Apple Pie!" (All the desserts are made everyday fresh). The food was great and they came out in pretty good portions. I would definitely recommend it to people.
(5)Bryony B.
I love that Founding Farmers has given Maryland a much more convenient location! I come here quite often actually and its often really busy. The food is never disappointing. I would recommend the mushroom/asparagus/goat cheese tart or the pot roast. My husband loves the chicken pot pie. Also would recommend their red velvet cake - their pieces are HUGE! The soda Pharmacy is also such a cool concept with all the different fresh drinks. However, keep in mind that a lot of them are not as sweet as you might expect. There is a nice outside eating area with herbs growing on the walls - I haven't been able to eat out there yet due to rain or snow, but its on my list to do next time I get a chance. Be aware that they start running out of food items on Sundays - apparently they get shipments on Monday..... We had a party of 10 for dinner on a Sunday night and they were out of SO MUCH stuff it was crazy. However, the manager did offer us a bunch of free desserts to try and make up for it.
(4)laz b.
Great grilled cheese, mousse, omelets, and donuts. I forget what the donuts are called but they are from Louisiana. Great place for comfort food. Prices are reasonable.
(5)C.M B.
I was excited to try this place, met some friends here. We had reservations for 8pm and were not seated until about 8:45. That's a bit much when you have reservations.... although reading other reviews it seems like it may be a common occurrence at this place! I had halibut which was over cooked and not good, the accompanying sides a cucumber salad and watermelon were good. My dining friends had the ahi tuna salad which pretty much filled up the entire plate but neither raved about it. Another had fried green tomatoes and deviled eggs which she said was good. Our waitress had the personalty of a door knob. Never asked how the food was, not attentive and certainly didn't deserve the tip she received. Although the place seems popular, I'm in no rush to return, especially with the wait and the personality of the wait staff, it's not worth the trip or money!
(2)sherri s.
We've been here several times both for dinner and brunch. Each time we've left happy and full. We love the variety on the menu. We have to keep going back because we want to try almost everything on the menu (twice)! This place is always busy when we go but even if you don't have reservations, the food is worth the wait and the bar can certainly keep you happy while you wait.
(5)Allison L.
I came here for an early dinner last weekend with my mom and sister when a 5 pm reservation popped up on OpenTable. I'd been wanting to come here for a while but between living an hour away and reservations not always being easy to come by, it just hadn't happened yet. Luckily, it wasn't disappointing and our complaints were very minimal. We wanted to start with the goat cheese flatbread since my mom is lactose intolerant, but, unfortunately when they get their goat cheese at the restaurant, they mix it with cream... therefore taking a lactose intolerant ok cheese, and making it not ok at all. This also ruled out the goat cheese ravioli my mom was going to get for an entree. Instead, we started with the farmers chips, cheddar crisps, and dip, which was really good, and looked really large. I thought there was no way we could possibly finish it, but, nope, gone in 15 minutes. There were only a few cheddar crisps, which tasted like giant softer cheez-its. The dips were good but there was no more than like 2 tablespoons of each. I got the dogs and rolls dinner with a crab roll, chicken salad roll, and bacon cheddar dog. I assumed I'd like the crab roll the most but was actually not a fan as it was too sauce-y and not enough crab-y. The chicken salad was good and the bacon cheddar dog was good as well, probably my favorite. My mom got the Northern fried chicken, with really awesome apple sauce. My sister got the Southern fried chicken, with the best macaroni and cheese I have ever had, ever ever ever. Next time I go back I'm just getting a giant bowl of this and going to go into a cheese coma. We got the beignets for dessert, and while they were good (can't really screw up fried dough and sugar) they were not really at all like New Orleans beignets and more like popovers as they were more airy than doughy and very greasy. The dipping sauces were nice compliments. Parking was easy, and our server was nice and attentive (although he had a very over-the-top happy attitude that maybe was real but most likely not). Overall, a good experience.
(4)Andrea K.
We were seated quickly(we had a reservation for a Sat night). And our waiter came over pretty quickly. The food was good and the desserts are huge. However, here are my complaints(which may or may not be important for you). It is very noisy(and yes, I am older). Second, I asked the waiter about the fried green tomatoes- were they vegetarian? he said yes and we ordered them. When they came, the server said is anyone a vegetarian - these are cooked in beef fat.(!?!). Then the manager- came over to apologize (sort of) " her apology " well, these are vegetarian but they are cooked in beef tallow". SERIOUSLY- how does a major restaurant have a manager who would say that?? I understand that a member of the public might not get it but the manager???. And don't order that "Cauliflower steak"- which I ordered a different time- it is a hunk of roasted cauliflower served with a little risotto and brocolli rabe- not worth $16. Get the veggie "meatloaf".
(3)Mari S.
I am sorry to bring up what happened today to us especially for those who are big fan of this place. We were also the ones who've been pretty happy with what they serve thought how they do gave us a little concern in the past. But what happened in the past were acceptable level -- a pot of tea was leaking because of a crack, which was quickly replaced but the original tea bug was used, making tea very diluted, etc. But the problem we experienced today made us decide it'll be very hard for us to come back to this place. We ordered 3 dishes, blueberry pancake, egg-sausage, and a crazy corn salad. They were for two of us. We meant to share the salad. The waiter who brought the dishes asked us if we need small plates to split the salad. I said, "Yes, please." Two stacked dishes were brought to us right away. When I picked up the first dish, I felt grease. Then, I realized these dishes were not clean! The 2nd dish clearly had some foods/source left on it. Then, I looked at the first dish and realized there is butter everywhere. Yuck! I quickly report this to a waitress near-by and the dirty dishes were quickly removed from our table. And our waitress came back with new plates and apologize. We accepted her apology. But we feel it is a serious mistake that the waiter could bring dirty dished to the customer's table like that. It's not only the person's mistake, but I just wonder how their kitchen look like, blending dirty and new dishes on the same area? I hope it is a very isolated mistake. I feel Health Department should do a good inspection to their kitchen.
(1)Vaidehi M.
Very good for Brunch! Reservations are must if you plan to visit on weekends. I liked downstairs seating more. The beignets donuts are delicious ( if you don't like sweet then fyi: donuts are too sweet). Also, this place is very popular so parking is hard to find. Overall I loved this place.
(4)Angel H.
All I can say is that you can't go wrong at FF. From salads, to wings, ribs or just a grilled cheese sandwich, everything is awesome. Breakfast at FF is one of the best in the area.
(5)Wade E.
We've eaten here twice. The place is beautifully designed, nice dining room, bar and the bathrooms were neat. We went during dinner time and both times we were seated quickly without a reservation. (not sure if this is always the case, we might have gotten lucky) We started with the fried green tomatoes, which were great! They were fresh, crunchy and the goat cheese spread was a nice unique touch. We've had them twice and we'd probably get them again. Both times we ordered the Spatchcock Chicken with Honey Thyme Glaze, and this was amazing. Some of the best chicken I've ever had. The chicken was perfectly cooked and the skin was nice and crispy. I had a side of the brussels sprouts and bacon and they were the best brussels sprouts I've had so far. The fried chicken on the other hand was just okay, the skin was crispy, but the chicken was a little dry and not as flavorful. The chicken pot pie is not a traditional chicken pot pie, which is cool (it has 2 biscuits overtop of the traditional fillings in a bowl. It was a bit salty, and the vegetables were not evenly cooked. I sent it back and the server was very nice and removed it from our bill and offered me some other options. My dad ordered the meatloaf both times he went. He said it was too salty the first time, but hoping it was just a fluke he ordered it again, but again it came out dry and too salty. The mashed potatoes on the other hand, were fantastic! Overall, I enjoyed both visits. They have a great variety and I'm still curious to go back and try some of their other dishes.
(3)Kathy D.
I've been here before for dinner and heard great things about their brunch, so gave it a try today. Make reservations! This place is packed all hours of the day. -Beignets ($8): We started off with the beignets, which were light and airy with the perfect crunch. They come with 3 sauces - I especially liked the raspberry coulis and semi-sweet chocolate sauce. The caramel sauce was too sweet for me, especially since the beignets already have powdered sugar on them. Delicious! -Bloody Mary ($8): I usually hate Bloody Marys, but Founding Farmers was ranked as having the #1 Blood Mary in DC this past November, so it was a must try. YUM. It was fresh with a great spicy kick. I'm converted. -Pastrami Hash ($12): Average. As with all dishes at Founding Farmers, the ingredients were obviously fresh and high-quality, but this dish was on the bland side and begged for seasoning. -Founding Farmers Breakfast with Sausage ($9): This is what my boyfriend got. I tried the chicken-apple sausage, which was solid. The eggs were standard and he said the grits were too thick and needed salt and butter. The ciabatta bread, slathered in their butter and honey mixture makes me weak at the knees. Overall, I might pass on brunch next time, but will definitely go again for dinner! Prices are reasonable, the menu offers an extensive selection, and there's lots of classic comfort foods, with the volume turned up. :)
(4)Jason C.
A couple weeks back I had the chance to call Valerie (the manager), who offered up to assist me whenever I go to the Founding Farmers. That day, I had a very important business contact who I was treating for lunch. I had exquisite service.....it was truly remarkable and it was very clear preparations were made before I arrived. At least 2-3 staff were tending to our needs at every given moment. I must say this was the best service that I have received in the DMV area to date. Servers were not bothersome nor were they intrusive, but got things done when need be. That was the day that I decided to bring all important business lunches/dinners to Founding Farmers. Sometimes you just absolutely need that high level of service on a given day or with a particular person and Founding Farmers delivered. I have yet to meet a manager like Valerie in this area who pays so close attention to detail and puts such a sincere effort into making customers happy. Founding Farmers, you should be very fortunate to have someone like Valerie work for you. From this point onwards, Moco Founding Farmers is the spot if I need "that" level of service. If God forbid, you ever have an unpleasant experience, shoot Valerie an email and see what she does for you the next time you're here.
(5)John H.
This is technically a fancy ihop with nice ambience closer to bar. I had the chicken and waffle and it is just too dry. Would never come back again.
(3)Candace T.
If you skip the entrees and fill up on appetizers and dessert, FF is amazing! Ambiance: I went with my boyfriend and his mother, for her birthday. FF is great for that kind of meal: it's upscale enough to be the tiniest bit fancy, but the prices are not outrageous. I'm not a fan of the hipster-y decor, but overall, it's a nice feel. Boyfriend's mom thought it was too loud; I'm not sure if the upstairs would be quieter. Food: The starter flatbread with brie, apple, and onion jam was out of this world good. It was also HUGE; easily a meal in itself, and even quite a bit when split 3 ways. We also had the fresh, soft, steaming hot, crisp-outside beignets for dessert, and holy crap, were they good! Seriously, just get some starters and the beignets, and you'll have a delicious dinner. All of our entress were underwhelming, though. My grilled cheese was too much bread, not enough cheese, my boyfriend said Popeye's had better fried chicken, and his mom didn't love her roast beef sandwich. None were awful, but none were worth the price. Wheelchair accessibility review: There is a door beside the front revolving door that is accessible. My boyfriend opened it from the inside, but I believe it was unlocked. No push button that I remember. Inside is room and easy to maneuver. I didn't use the restroom, or upstairs seating, so I don't know how accessible either of those are.
(4)Debbie R.
I am not in agreement with most of these reviews. I thought it was exactly OK. The prices were good and the many interesting-sounding menu choices had me very excited. I wanted to try everything! But the food itself was average. I got the flat iron steak special. The steak tasted like nothing and the sauce they put on it was cloyingly sweet. My husbands fried chicken (and waffles) was very dry and also very bland. The cornbread appetizer tasted dynamite but I don't know if I'd order it as an appetizer again because it was very cake-y and sweet and really more like dessert. I doubt I'll go back mainly because of the noise. That place is LOUD. We were a party of 5 for a birthday gathering and had to yell across the table to have a prayer of being heard. My poor 83 year old dad just could not participate in the conversation at all. He couldn't hear what anyone was saying. We were sitting upstairs, too, which seemed slightly less loud than the downstairs. We had made a reservation on the early side hoping to avoid this (although we still had to wait about 15 min past our reservation to be seated) but I guess the place is just that nutty all the time. Just not worth it to me. I think Olney Ale House does a slightly better job at this genre of food w/o the stressful atmosphere. Edit: I forgot to mention that if I do return, it will be for the ice cream. The strawberry ice cream may be the best I've ever had.
(3)Mel T.
Wonderful service. My friends and I had a wonderful time here and the waitresses there had everything right! I would highly recommend!
(5)Sam W.
Nothing better than brunch on Sunday with friends and family. We've been here a couple of times and I'm not sure how to compare the two experiences. Service was terrific on both occasions, so well done! I can't quite explain it, but I felt more satisfied on my first visit a couple of months ago. The food was still quite good this time around, but some "umph" was missing. I hit the pastrami hash the first time around and it was awesome; this time I had the sausage, mushroom and spinach pan scramble and came away pleased, but not wow'ed. I did have a nibble of the fried chicken waffle and will have to try it the next time down I'm in Potomac! For beignets outside of Nola, Uncle Buck's version were tasty and could have used a bit more powdered sugar. Not too bad this far up North. 4 stars because of service, farm to table concept and good food, especially the hash and the high potential for the fried chicken waffle.
(4)THRIFT m.
Littered with all the current buzz words "green" "carbon credits" "sustainable" "stewardship of natural resources" "energy efficient light bulbs" If you eat meat and animal products there is no such thing as sustainable ect. Bartender Timothy made my cocktails (I asked for not very sweet) and they were very tasty. All said and done this isn't really a restaurant for me as I prefer light meals with lots of raw, fresh and green. Everything looked really brown & super heavy on the fats, cream, cheese and animal. I do love fresh french fries though. They were okay (cold) but beware they are fried in LARD! And its not mentioned on the menu. Yikes. I suspect everything is fried in lard. Assured that the faux meatloaf was vegan I went ahead with the meal. It tasted like stuffing and was very well seasoned and I love stuffing. It was really good. My only gripe is the salt. Holy moly the salt! I think, people that don't eat animals & their secretions taste salt, fat and sugar more intensely? or at least I do. My husband ordered the salmon and said it was very good but too much salt in the meal too. He said some appetizer bacon thing was overkill too. Mom said her pot pie was good but too salty. We eat quite healthy so I think the food was far to rich for us. The other 2 people with us seemed to enjoy their food very much and made no mention of salt or richness of food. I'd go back for drinks definitely. I would have to think about ordering food just for the salt and lack of lighter fresher veggie options. I wish "farm to table" meant a celebration of tomato, beet, garlic, leek, watermelon, or strawberry season but I dream.
(3)Nari L.
Came here for brunch with a few friends. I got the chicken and waffles which was good. Not amazing but I liked it. I really enjoyed the beignets with all the different sauces. I highly recommend them! Their outdoor patio is dog friendly which is always a plus!
(4)Liza X.
Beautiful restaurant! I used to frequent the one in foggy bottom because I worked very close to it. I chose this location this time since my friend lived in MD and I live in VA and it was the perfect middle spot to meet. Firstly i'd like to say that this place is always sooooooooooo busy so you MUST MUST MUST make a reservation to save yourself a headache especially if you are going during peak eating hours like 12/1, 6/7 etc. When i arrived, it was almost impossible to find parking. They are doing some construction here and there. I drove around and finally got a spot, the friend I was meeting said that there is also side parking a little ways away. Once we got inside around 730ish ( which is when our reservations were) it was super packed. I asked the hostess for my reservation and she said that they were running behind schedule so it'd be a 15 min wait. I didn't mind and slightly expected it so we grabbed a seat at the bar and ordered a few drinks. I ordered the cucumber delight which is vodka based. It tasted a little sweet and fresh and came with cucumber and cantaloupe. I thoroughly enjoyed this drink. For appetizers we order the spicy mussels. They were good only because I don't mind the taste of sausage...but it's a strong taste. The bread on top was little salty but went well with the mussels. For entrees I order the friend chicken and waffles-which is a special they have and also my favorite. It was delish. It comes with mac and cheese which isn't your typical mac and cheese. The pasta is flat and bigger and the cheese is thick not watery. Also came with string beans which were crispy. The chicken was crunchy and moist on the inside and the waffles were crispy and buttery. My friend ordered the crab cake sandwich which I was able to eat a little of. The crab meat was fresh and large and chunky, the bread very soft. The sandwich was served with a bed of fries. Overall it was a great experience, almost similar to the foggy bottom location just in the middle of nowhere. the good thing is that the area seemed to be developing so it's sure to be more popular spot later on. Go try it!
(4)Blanche N.
My husband and I went here for brunch. We loved the sister restaurant in DC so we wanted to try this one out. Overall, we enjoyed the atmosphere and food. The service was great. I liked the chicken sausage better at this location but we liked the banana nutter appetizer better at the DC restaurant. I would definitely go again if I was in the area.
(4)Courtney H.
I love this place! Get the beignets!!! Today my group tried the chicken pot pie, chicken and waffles, and the prime rib sandwich. Everyone thought their dishes were amazing!! Ive always been impressed with everything ive had
(5)Jennifer A.
Had brunch here and it was a great choice by my friend who lives in the area. First of all, this place was PACKED! Definitely make a reservation, you won't regret it. I ordered the ahi tuna salad and it was delicious. The presentation was also a huge plus because it's always great when your food looks pretty. Since it was brunch we naturally had a beverage! My friend got a mimosa and I a bloody mary. You can't really go wrong with a mimosa but I must say the bloody mary was perfectly made....a bit spicy but with a lot of flavor. Our server was exceptional and everyone on the staff was so friendly. I accidentally spilled my water right as soon as one of the managers Rebecca walked by. She jumped right to the rescue and brought napkins to help...thank you Rebecca!
(5)Kelly P.
I just love the cocktail menu, even if they are way too expensive for outside of DC.
(4)Jackie T.
I cant say enough great things about this place. Ive been here so many times, every time has been great!!! Well when you make a reservation. Always make a reservation, this place is packed on weekends and for lunch! My favorite is the breakfast. Tip - try the popcorn, its great! Stay away from soda if your looking for typical syrup based soda.
(5)Joe C.
There's a bunch of things about Founding Farmers that just don't match up. That's not necessarily a bad thing - just not what I would have expected. Based on reviews talking about how busy it usually is for brunch on the weekends, we were sure to make a reservation ahead of time - for Saturday morning at 11am. The restaurant was less than half full when we arrived. Even by the time we left, the place was at 2/3 capacity at best. It's a restaurant that is all about sustainability and fresh, local ingredients (take note of the herb garden in the front of the building as you walk in). But the place has a very modern and trendy look about it - it's nothing like most of the restaurants we've been to with similar mission statements and concepts. Similarly, the staff here is much nicer than those at similar restaurants. There's none of that condescension or snootiness. Our waiter was incredibly friendly and attentive - possibly a little too attentive for my taste. We were seated next to the employee ticket station and he was watching me check in on Yelp over my shoulder and suggested that I write a review later. We ordered the "Drag Through The Garden" scramble and the "Founding Farmers Breakfast With Pork Sausage" - with eggs over medium. We were awfully tempted by the beignets, but decided to try them next time instead. Everything we got was great. The eggs were perfectly cooked. The sausage was delicious. The leek hash browns were nice and crispy. Most things needed just a little extra seasoning, but were very close to my preference right out of the gate. Possibly better than any of the other cooked foods, however, were their biscuits with honey and whipped butter, and the strawberry jam. I could almost eat a plate of those instead of a regular breakfast and still be happy. The waiter warned my wife about the Bloody Mary being very spicy when she ordered it; that's exactly how she likes hers - and she loved it. The big surprise for me, however, was the fact that they offer Egg Cream Sodas - and unlike most places that offer them, they make them just how I remember them growing up in New York. The only real problem with Founding Farmer's is how badly they're overpriced. Everything we had was at least a dollar more expensive than it felt like it should be. There are plenty of places in the area where you can get a decent - and cheaper breakfast or brunch. We'll definitely be back again, but I highly doubt that they'll be our first choice.
(4)Jeff H.
Brunch Review: Everyone told me multiple times how great the brunch was here so I was very excited to try it. I think maybe I set my expectations too high since I left just a little disappointed. So the fried chicken/waffle/eggs had great tasting chicken tenders with a heavy creamy white gravy. They were out of the regular fried chicken, so they substituted chicken tenders. The waffles were crispy on the outside, but a little undercooked/doughy on the inside. So it tasted pretty good, but I couldn't eat it because it was too raw. The scrambled eggs were not bad, but tasted like a scoop from an all you can eat buffet. At least they were cooked completely (I personally hate runny scrambled eggs, but I understand how some people like it). The French toast was very tasty and if you closed your eyes, tasted like a doughnut. The syrup was on the watery side, but not because it was watered down, I think it may be real high quality maple syrup (I didn't check to confirm). This was kind of what I was expecting when I came here...tasty food for a great price. I didn't really like sitting upstairs here. The worst part are the large bright orange lights. These were annoying, and almost made me feel hung over (like many other people that were here). We moved to the booth seating against the wall that didn't have the overhead lights, and I felt much more relaxed. The other thing I didn't like about the upstairs seating were the low ceilings. I'm over 6 foot and I just felt more cramped than I did downstairs where the nice 30 foot ceilings were overhead. Since the brunch food is tasty and the price is good, I actually really want to go back and give it another try. I had to take away a star for undercooked food and the annoying orange lights. I feel this place could possibly win me over in the future. I'll just have to request to sit down stairs.
(3)Irene F.
The Potomac branch of FF is laid out better than the DC location, with the bar off on the side instead of in the center. The windows all around make it bright and airy, and the level of noise was not bad despite it being pretty busy at lunch time. I went there to scope it out for our company holiday party, and I was impressed that the manager Kathy made a point to stop by and say hi and give me a tour of the restaurant. She was very friendly and thoughtful with her suggestions of how we could host the event. She said the cost to get the whole restaurant for a private event is $10k which includes the cost of food and drinks. There are 2 levels, although the top level is much smaller and more intimate than the lower level. Let's talk about the food: Strawberry sodas were a little sweet for my taste, but once I added a little water to it I did enjoy it. I hope in the future they will have more seasonal fruit soda options. The popcorn needed some salt, but I appreciate it being under salted rather than overly salted. You get a bunch for $2- and it was fun to munch on it while we waited for our food. We had the mahi mahi special and the chicken and waffles. The onion topping on the fish was fabulous. But the fish was a little over done. Overall though it was a tasty dish with a nice size portion of fish. Cost $25. My chicken and waffles came with 2 pieces of waffles, 2 pieces of fried chicken, collard greens, Mac n cheese, and a white sauce. The waffles were good, I wish I had more because they were all gone with just the 1st piece of chicken. The chicken was a little dry, but tasted good when combined with the waffles and sauce. I wish I had known the dish came with collard greens because I detest collard greens- that being said they were pretty good- so if you LIKE collard greens you might love it. Finally the Mac n cheese was extremely different than the version they served at the DC FF location. Where the DC one was way too soggy and mushy, this location the noodles were cooked well, but overall it was a little dry. Keeping in mind that today was their very first day and they we working the kinks out, I think they had a very successful showing. If they improve from here, they will be great. I give them an A for effort, and I look forward to trying them out for breakfast soon! Update: Interestingly this food blogger was part of the soft opening and posted their pictures--- the blogger had 4 pieces of waffles, 3 pieces of chicken and did NOT have collard greens (bleh) on his/her chicken & waffles plate...hmmm...check it out: forkingdc.com/2011/11/03…
(3)Eunice M.
I loved this place. I went for dinner, and the food was amazing. We got a couple appetizers, and I got the bbq pork sandwich. I absolutely loved everything I ate. Plus the service was impeccable. Our waiter was so friendly and super helpful with any questions we had. All in all, it was a great experience!
(5)LJ T.
Owner/ manager, I hope you're reading this. FF is one of my favorite restaurants but I was sorely disappointed today when my partner's pastrami hash came with out an egg yolk or a biscuit. He instead asked for grilled cheese to replace the disappointing pastrami hash. Once I had finished my meal and it seemed like the grilled cheese want coming out shortly, we decided to cancel it. The manager came over and told us she was sorry and that we wouldn't be charged for the grilled cheese. This seemed like a no brainer - would you really charge is for it at that point?? They really should have comped our meal. Not sure that we will return.
(1)Rebecca S.
Had lunch at 1PM with a friend - nice atmosphere. Blueberry soda: never had it before. Taste and texture was a pleasant surprise. Shrimp and grits: very flavorful, generous with the shrimp, never had grits with that kind of consistency and texture (it was interesting, but delicious nevertheless) Chicken and waffles: chicken was deliciously fried, crispy and not oily. Waffles were a bit cold. Mac n cheese were so good. String beans were fine, nothing magical. Seasonal crisp (dessert): clearly made from scratch, baked apples were not as soft, berries inside were a bit too tart for me, vanilla ice cream on top was the saving grace of this dish. Final bill was $50 more or less. I wouldn't mind going back and exploring their menu some more.
(4)Chris G.
Love the food here, but seriously don't take reservations for parties of 20 for the regular tables. Limit the party size to 8-10 unless you have a special, separate banquet room. The party of 20 was supposed to be gone by 8pm. At 8:30, we're still waiting to be seated for our 8:00 reservation. Totally unacceptable. Okay, update. They gave us our first round of drinks and a dessert to make up for the wait. They took care of us. Still love Founding Farmers!
(4)Mark N.
Founding farmers...Oh how I thought you would be much better. I was ecstatic to go to Founding Farmers because so many of my friends had amazing pics and said great things about it. We ordered Mimosas when we first got there because there was a short wait. After waiting 10 mins for the table, I was excited to see how the food was. We sat down at our table and started out with beignets and pitchfork appetizer. The beignets was not what I was expecting after trying scrumptous ones in New Orleans. There was no mouthwatering taste when you first bit into it and you definitely didn't want a second bite. I decided to try the dips that it came with because the beignet felt like something was missing. There was chocolate, caramel, and raspberry. All of which did not complement the beignet well. The pitchfork was pretty good (probably the best thing that we ordered) compared to every thing else. The tater tots were cooked well and the bacon was tastety. We ordered crab benedict with hashbrowns, breakfast dish w/sausage and fried Chicken with waffles. There was not anything special about the dishes. The hash browns were too oily and not crispy.The has browns didn't look like it was cooked thoroughly because the other hashbrowns ordered were crispy and looked better. The Eggs were ok, but the crab was a bit salty. The flavor was not special and the english muffing was not separated evenly. I had a small piece of english muffin with crab on one side, while the other side had a thick slice of english muffin. The breakfast dish with sausage was mediocre at best and the sausage was very bland. I was excited to see how the fried chicken and waffles w/scramble eggs would turn out. I was not impressed with the chicken pieces. Instead of chicken wings as I anticipated, strips of chicken pieces were layered over the waffles. The chicken strips or tenders were smaller than the ones offered at most sporting events. To make matters worst, the scramble eggs were extremely salty. The waiter took the replaced the en and brought out new ones. The scramble eggs came out worst than the first time. The new eggs were UNDERCOOKED! I decided that I had given up on Founding Farmers. The only good part of the meal were the Tater tots that we ordered as an appetizer. Although the service was great and splendid, I WAS EXPECTING MORE. This place seems ok for happy hour but is not a place for great food. I was expecting delicious food after hearing the rants and reviews, but little to be expected I was greeted with plates of salty undercooked eggs and soggy hash browns.
(1)Jenn C.
Food is amazing. Flank Salmon is exquisite! I like the cornbread....I mean you can't really go wrong with the food. The servers are really good with great service. If you don't like something, they will take it back without a beat. The hosts are another story....We got there 30 minutes before our reservation and we ended up waiting an hour. This wasn't because it was running it slow, it was because we were forgotten about! I saw this we a few people. The hosts were rude and squirrelish. PS - breakfast is really good too!
(4)Andrea K.
Seriously amazing!!! I will remember that bacon for a long time... So good! Even the coffee is awesome! OK I probably just ate more real butter than I have in a year, but such a treat! This place is really inexpensive considering the type of food, and the service. A breakfast I will remember!
(5)Victoria L.
I drove down to MoCo's Founding Farmers to send off a friend who was moving out of the area. As she is a foodie, I completely trusted her judgement, and boy - I'm glad I did. From the array of scotches displayed at the bar to the amazing scents coming out of that kitchen, my mouth was watering within seconds of stepping into the place. The decor is warm and welcoming and the bar is inviting for sitting down to have a drink while waiting for your parties. I've never seen anyone shake a dark & stormy before, but whatever the bartender did while shaking it made it one of the best I've ever had. Also, this place had me at fried chicken with mac and cheese. My inner fat kid was singing and dancing when she wasn't busy stuffing her face. And the beignets? Oh, the beignets. I could only manage 1 and a half because I was so full, but they were worth every extra calorie. Go here. Go Now.
(5)E Y.
Delicious food but why no happy hour???
(4)Christine G.
Be sure you make a reservation, as it seemed like there was a long wait at 7pm on a Saturday. We loved our experience here, yummy food and delicious drinks. We started the meal with a bread topped with tomatoes and pesto, and it was just amazing. The bread was freshly made and the toppings complemented it perfectly. I also ordered the Constitution as my beverage, and I loved it. I also ordered a Blood Orange soda later during the meal, I wasn't too impressed with that, but you got to give things a try so I didn't ding them for that. I'm sure someone would be a fan of it. Chicken and Waffles 10/10 - so yummy. I prefer dark meat so one of the fried pieces was slightly better than the other :) (you are served one dark and one white piece of chicken). I wish I could get extra fried pieces of the batter on the side, it was that good! The waffles were so fluffy and super delicious. Mac n cheese on the side = mom's home cooking. Others at our table ordered a burger and the steak and enchiladas. They were both good too, but I was told the chicken and waffles won. The portions of everyone's entrees were plentiful. I always get annoyed when you pay a good amount for a meal and still leave hungry - that was not the case here. We got dessert too. FYI, if you order the warm cookies (that's what I got and they were delic) finish them there, as they aren't nearly as good the next day (they got stale pretty quick). Service was great - the server gave us as much time as we needed to make our meal picks and she stopped in several times to make sure things were still OK. The restaurant gives you your own milk jug (cute!) of water so you never have to wait for a refill - although a few times several other servers saw that some of our waters were empty so they stopped by to refill our glasses. All restaurants should have a team-like atmosphere like this one. While it is a good bit of a drive for us, we look forward to going back.
(5)LaToya M.
Have had friends rave about thus place, but to be quite honest I don't understand why. The service was good. The food didn't impress me. It wasn't nasty, just nothing I'd go back for.
(3)Beth H.
Just about the best food I've ever had. I didn't think there could genuinely be a new and seriously delicious twist on something as simple as Mac and Cheese, but the Poto Mac and Cheese is outrageous. So was the weirdly-named "turkey less burger" (it has no meat, not just "not turkey"). I'm very eager to go back and try more.
(5)Natasha K.
I eat at Founding Farmers regularly and really love this place! The drinks are really good... even if you get a non-alcoholic drink like a soda (made to order). My favorite item is the banana foster stuffed french toast during brunch, but the salads are also amazing! The only cons include noise and the wait. You need to make reservations... it gets a bit busy. The desserts are "okay," but I am a bit of a dessert snob.
(4)Mackenzie H.
I love Founding Farmers. Super good food, super good decor. Not to mention, locally grown foods, which it always good for the conscience. If you come for brunch, definitely consider getting chicken and waffles because, let's be honest, always a cool dish and not very prominent in our area. All the food in great though, so whatever you decide to eat, I'm sure it will be awesome.
(4)Meaghan M.
I've been here a few times, now - twice for brunch and once for dinner. My experiences have overall been great, with a few minor hiccups. I can't seem to escape the chicken and waffles/chicken,eggs, and waffles - they are delicious, and the gravy (not initially appealing to me, as I'm always 'eh' on it) is delicious. I got a roasted chicken dish when the boo and I came here for dinner, which was delicious. He got a steak and lobster tail - the lobster tail came out pretty foul looking (and tasting) - way overcooked, shriveled up -- but the manager on duty that night (a woman, I wish I remembered her name!) quickly amended the situation, got him a crab cake (as he no longer wanted lobster), apologized, and comp'd our desserts and coffee, which was great. We had delicious, strong drinks as well. A lot of people seem pretty disappointed with the food and/or service, but both have been exceptional every time I've been here. Yes, you'll wait if you come to brunch at noon on a weekend - but if there isn't a crowd at a brunch spot at that time, I'm a little concerned about eating there!
(4)Stan W.
Ordered the exact same dish as the other Founding Farmers: chicken & waffles. Waffles here were too crunch and chicken was over-fried. Nice service, but stick to the location in DC.
(3)Karen R.
Food, drinks, & atmosphere make this a great place to go any day. The prime rib is delicious and I can't get enough of their beignets!
(5)Sara S.
My husband and I had our first experience here for my 30th birthday. We made reservations for an early dinner in hopes of beating some incoming bad weather. So glad we made reservations because despite the early time (4:45) it was absolutely packed in there. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about both the menu and the overall farm to table concept. We had the brie, onion jam and apple farm bread as an appetizer. It was delicious. It was the perfect mix of sweet, sour and savory. The bread itself was a great consistency - crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I got the chicken and waffles and my husband got the lemon meuniere diver scallops. Both were great. The chicken was crispy and well seasoned and the combination with the sweet waffle and syrup was perfect. The diver scallops were perfectly cooked. They came with a butternut squash risotto that was creamy and delicious but didn't have very much of a butternut squash taste to it honestly. We are already planning a return trip to try more items off the exciting menu here.
(5)Jim G.
Overpriced, way too noisy, untrained wait staff gives poor service. On a Friday night, it's so noisy that it is hard to hold a conversation. When I asked for pepper, I received a pepper mill that was empty. The food was only okay and a poor value for the money charged. This is not a restaurant that I will return to nor will I recommend it to a friend.
(1)Bill M.
Somebody needs to send me the recipe for the Aji spiced spatchcocked chicken. It is so tender and savory. The biscuits are great, farmer's pitchfork is good, and my wife loves both the roasted turkey and french dip sandwiches. I need to try the skirt steak next time. Red velvet cake and shakes are great to share, probably 3 people can share either of them.
(5)Nada A.
this place serve a good food but not as much as Washington DC branch. I tried their macaroni and cheese and i am not happy with it. it was dry and overcooked. actually you cant see the shape of the macaroni, it seems that because it was overcooked it stucked to the bottom of the pan and the chef scratched the pan and served it to us!! on our table 6 of us had the macaroni and cheese dish and we all had the same horrible thing. for the chicken and waffles it is very delicious.
(3)Tracy K.
So I wanted to update my review. We ended up waiting about 40 minutes for our table, which was a big disappointment, but thankfully the disappointment ended there. We had a great server who was very quick to take our orders and prompt with delivery of drinks, apps, dinner and dessert. We all had a little something different for dinner - steak, chicken pot pie, scallops and grits and shrimp. Dinner was really amazing. We couldn't have been happier with our meals. We ordered desserts and because it was my birthday my cake was comped, which was a nice gesture. Afterwards, Emily, the manager, came over to greet us and make sure our evening went smoothly after the earlier delay. She was very friendly and made our visit that much better. We will be back and hope the reservation times and actual seating times will be in sync.
(4)Lizzy B.
Food is excellent but don't bother coming here without a reservation. You'll die of hunger waiting to be seated!
(3)Mahesh R.
This has quickly become our favorite restaurant due to ambience, affordability, and creativity. Every ordering moment is a stressful situation as its always difficult to choose between all of the fantastic dishes. To date, I have yet to have a dish that didn't amaze me. As a result its 1 of 2 places that we insist on going to when we have out id town guests (repeat guests quickly begin to insist as well). Go to favorites are the chicken pot pie, yankee pot roast, sausage gnocchi, and the prime rib dip. However, there is something to be said about the equity of awesomeness across the menu when your "go to" list is 4 dishes and counting. Love this place, its always in the running when deciding where to go for dinner.
(5)A J.
Went in today for brunch and it was good, not amazing or mind blowing for the cost. Got the fluffernutter app to start, for our 1 1/2 yr old, and it had spicy peanuts crumbled over the top. I thought it was too spicy for a toddler but she just ate around them. Would have liked a heads up from the waitress first. Husband had chicken and waffles , I had Benedict. Both good but not great. Price was steep for the quality of good we received. Probably won't be going back.
(3)Melanie Y.
Hubby brought me here for my bday dinner recently and it was our first time to Founding Farmers. The first time we checked in was a fluke though, since we didn't call in for a reservation and the wait would've been too long. Since we've heard plenty of good things of the place, we wanted to come back when it was less busy and try it. The whole concept about Founding Farmers is that they bring in fresh ingredients from local farmers from the area. They make their bread, even soda on location. I ordered the land and sea and hubby ordered the chicken pot pie. Both were simply delicious and fresh. The service was great as well; attentive. We sat outside and although the view wasn't the best, we were still able to enjoy our dinner there. I would definitely come back again and try out some more dishes on the menu.
(4)Rob B.
Make a reservation! I am glad we did, it was packed for Sunday brunch. A great time of day to try something new, both the lunch and the brunch menu are options and the wonderful biscuits are served on the weekend. Do not miss the beignets! They say allow 20 minutes but the cook them all day on the weekend, so we were served in 10 minutes and lasted less than two minutes on the table. A trip to NOLA and back! The raspberry sauce on the side guild-ed the Lilly. Pastrami hash, my poached eggs and Hollandaise was perfect. I would have appreciated more pastrami in my hash. Service is friendly but also leisurely.
(4)Dave V.
it was my first time going to founding farmers and lucky that its just 10 minutes away from my place. I took my parents with. From the moment you enter the place, you can smell the food right and it was really good! the place look very nice and clean. A young nice host took us to our table and asked us how our day so far... he was very nice and laid back which really good. Our server is very lovely as well, for starter, we ordered beignet and it was sooooooo amazing! fresh, warm, delicious! I also ordered a latte and I am also very satisfied!! creamy and foamy which I always prefer! I ordered the red velvet pancake and the traditional ham benedicts. The pancake was good but I didnt really take the red velvet flavor (which is one of my favorite cake) but I still give it a thumbs up, but my suggestion is probably order a regular pancake instead. The benedicts was also good but a bit dry for me. I have gritz on the side, which is kinda different, I am use to eating grits that has the soup base consistency but their's are more of a dryish texture that it doesnt require a bowl coz it will not spill or splatter everywhere, more like a gelatinous texture which still good but I prefer more soup based grits. Overall, I am happy with their service, food and the ambience! will go back again to try another food from their menu!
(4)Aaron G.
I'm seriously jealous of people living near this place... Stunning fresh food. Freshly made kettle corn appetizer for $2. Northern fried chicken is incredible.
(5)Cat W.
Their brunch is pretty close to perfect. I actually had the worst waiter last time I was there but the food was great and service is usually great so I'm letting it slide. Aside from the fact that our juices and appetizer nuts came 40 minutes after we sat down, they were freshly squeezed and the nuts were surprisingly so delicious (sweet and spicy) and still hot. My friends got the chicken and waffle, a goat cheese and mushroom tart, and steak and eggs, while I got the red flannel hash. Another time, we got the banana fluffer nutter which was really just to die for. Portions are extremely generous in the morning as they are at night. Everyone loved their entrees and other than my beets being a little burnt the rest of it was great. Overall, I love their lobster mac and cheese more than anything in the world but the brunch here is really great.
(4)Joseph Y.
Get their oatmeal for brunch and the pot roast for dinner!
(5)Tre F.
Don't eat here, just drive on by. I don't want you to develop a habit of eating here everyday, cause it's that good. We basically drove from Philadelphia just to eat here.....again. Huge fan of the location in DC, but the parking makes this location a winner. The atmosphere is great, the service is awesome, and oh yeah...the food. The black pepper wings are really really good. The chicken and waffles are amazing. I consider myself an aficionado when it comes to chicken AND waffles. The combination, I'm your guy. This is by far one of the best on the planet. I could also mention the goodness of the popcorn. It's not just popcorn or I could talk about the amazing red velvet cake. Or better speak on the beverage options. No coke or Pepsi here, but they are amazing. Here's the gist, I love this place and you will too. It could probably change your outlook on life. Yeah one meal can do that. Go there. I'm looking for investors to open a Philadelphia location. Seriously, let's take up a collection.
(5)Sajid S.
Good place for those living in MoCo. Friendly staff. Everything on menu is good. Try Chicken and Waffles. You can't go wrong on that.
(4)Annie C.
I've been here a couple times over the past year or two. I love their lunch and dinner but I'm not a fan of their brunch. Lets start with BRUNCH, if you order chicken and waffles expect chicken TENDERS and bland waffles. The stuffed french toast is really yummy but is sooooo much to eat, i recommend sharing the dish. The table biscuits are very moist and to die for with their honey butter. And you can't have brunch without MIMOSAS! which are good here also. On to the lunch and dinner. Honey Glazed chicken, LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE! Their steak (forgive me for not remembering the name of the dish) is so/so nothing very special about it. The mac and cheese is my favorite! The plank salmon is very delicious and a must try! and no body hates the bacon lollis, the tator lolls however, not so yummy. The atmosphere is very creative and the staff here are very nice. If you don't make a reservation expect a pretty long wait depending on the time.
(4)Jen C.
I appreciate that the manager of FF contacted me to give the restaurant a try again. The first time we went, it was a couple weeks after opening (refresher: hour to receive food, barely attended; subpar entrees). This time around, there were still issues with the kitchen and wait-times, but the difference today was that their attentiveness made up for it. *********Looking at today as if it were our very first visit, they do deserve 4 stars. However, I want to note something. We were an exception to the norm, as we were invited back to give FF another try to do better. When I looked around the room, none of the other tables were receiving nearly as much attention. Others only got a visit to take orders, receive food, and receive check. A random sampling of them got a stop-by the visiting DC manager. WE received at least 6 checkups by both the waiter and manager. What will be telling of their strides to better service is if they can keep up today's 4 star experience when we visit again again, on a normal occasion without being singled out. And to everyone else.************ Seating: We arrived to a crowded FF at 1pm (RSVP'd). We were seated at 1:45pm. They were apologetic about the wait and confusion (we had a table downstairs but it was never cleared for us, so once we walked towards and he noticed, we were detoured upstairs). Understandably, it was packed, so there was no need for me to be too hypersensitive about it this time. Service: A waiter came by our table and mentioned that our actual waiter was experiencing "difficulties in the kitchen" -- which was also what happened our first visit.. Again, assuming this was our first visit, this is very forgiving as he was friendly, helpful, and appeared often -- no one came by last time. (Amidst all this, ensue clanging and dropped plates echoing from the kitchen.) He ended up becoming our permanent waiter, and stopped by after the apps and entrees to ask if we needed anything. The manager came by both times too, to check if the food was good. Drinks: Seasonal beer has switched to a lemonade+white now...my favorite drink. Try this citrusy winner. The Manhattan was definitely a pick me up in that it was unexpected; it was seltzer coffee. It's tasty after taking a few adjustment swigs, but I don't want to have to down a third in one go to like a drink. Appetizers: Butternut squash soup with bacon was large enough for two and deliciously memorable. Small plate salad was standard fare. Pesto sausage mussels were good, enough for 4 to munch on...garlicy bread that came with it was amazing. Muffins tasted exactly like Popeyes', sans butter. All together, very tasty combo of small plates. Entrees: Chicken pot pie is heartier and different, but not worth ordering; don't expect a crust on top. It's simply a soft, thicker soup of pot pie ingredients, with a muffin on top. The gnocchi with braised beef was good in flavor but unmemorable, and way too chunky to follow up a first course on. Had they made the gnocchi pieces much smaller, it would have been a more successful dish. Prime rib dip was an EXCELLENT sandwich. Worth $17 not so sure, but I would say that is my favorite and only item on the entrees list that I would order. Bottom line: I stand by my conclusion the first review. Come with a group for the great ambiance, order some alcoholic drinks, split small plates/flatbreads, skip the entrees, and you'll have yourself a great meal. Assuming the special service I got today sticks, too, and FF has the potential to win your heart over.
(4)Sonia C.
I love this place! The food is so good and the people that work there are so friendly and love the atmosphere of the restaurant. You need to make a reservation as this place is so busy. The few items I have had as I keep going back to them because they are too good are: Drag thru the garden - breakfast item and so healthy egg whites and veggies in a scramble style which crispy hash browns - YUM The bloody Mary's are my favorite but beware they have a slow burn after your first sip, I love the heat they have to it. The deviled egg sample so good - only issue I had was that the wood board they presented them on did make it unappealing as the wood board was cracked and that is not healthy as bacteria builds up on those wood boards especially with those deep cracks. Meatloaf dinner was so good, has mushrooms which they do not tell you on the menu so make sure you love mushrooms, the mashed potatoes are so creamy and then the green beans are still crunchy and delicious. Now for the salad people, the Tuna Poke is a sushi lovers dream and the presentation of the salad is very impressive and everyone will be looking at your dish at the table when it arrives. So to sum it up I love this place and would have given 5 stars but as my friends and I did mention the cutting board with the deviled eggs was a turnoff for sanitary reasons I hope they correct that as I did mention that.
(4)Cherie M.
Great fun to sit at the bar and order cocktails. Makes date night fun to choose the bench stool too! The bartenders are attentive and make terrific vodka cocktails. We sampled many small plates on the menu and especially enjoyed all of the items with corn.
(4)K Two's Mom N.
I wanted to love this place. Loved the idea and concept. The food was very good. The service was horrible. Came in with a party of 14 people. The bartenders were snotty and the waitress was clueless. We asked several questions about the menu: what is in the green goddess dip. Her answer was pimento cheese and pimentos. Really? Don't you mean avocados? Asked for French dressing. Brought ranch. Asked if bacon was in something...no idea. Asked what the side dish was with a meal-again no idea. The poor either untrained or just clueless girl. She easily could have uphold our table on a ton of stuff and wouldn't know where to begin. I would come here again, but first serious training needs to happen. Oh and the bathrooms were trashed.
(3)M C.
I only had one Brunch at this place about a month ago, and it was absolutely horrible. The omelette I ordered was very bland. The worst thing is that it was full of egg shells in the omelette. The shells were in such extensive amount and in big pieces that I couldn't even finish 1/4 of the plate. I told the server about it. He took the food away and said he was sending it back to the kitchen. Then no ending. When I asked him about the results, he didn't say anything but just pretending to be busy. It was a big group of us so I didn't follow up extensively. But that was absolutely horrible experience with no service recovery. I will never go back to that place ever again!!!!!
(1)FoodGrade H.
Favorite restaurant hands down! Cornbread is AMAZING! Fried chicken is YUM! Mac and cheese is my favorite and they make the best around! I wish I could fine out every night cause of probably go here. Haven't tried the bar yet, don't want to end up getting drunk and ordering everything on the menu but I'll try the bar and let you know! Love love love! Yum!
(5)Alison M.
So, I have to say I had my first experience at this place on Fri. Nov 22 and I really enjoyed it! The drinks were great, the service was great and the food was amazing. I truly appreciate the enthusiasm from the staff. You can tell they enjoy being there and love the products that are being produced by the restaurant. I plan to come back as much as possible! Forgot to mention, I made my reservation on open table. The place was pretty packed at 9:30pm when I arrived so I definitely recommend making reservations if you have the opportunity to do so!
(5)Den F.
Came here for breakfast/brunch twice now. Service is always great - very friendly. I've had their spinach/mushroom/sausage scramble and florentine benedict. You can taste that the ingredients are fresh and the food is not soaked in grease like a lot of other breakfast places. They have great drinks - bloody mary's have with a kick! Strong coffee too! It's a bit pricier so its not for every day breakfast, but definitely good for a nice brunch out.
(4)Jenn S.
Awesome! Food is great, drinks are great. Love this places' kitchy cool atmosphere, sophisticated and laid back. Yum!
(5)paul l.
What the hells is up with all this Founding Farmers Hype? This place is the paragon of the DC-style food scene. They are trying soooo hard to be hip and out of the box. But the end up falling on their face. Why not just try to make good food with no pretense? If you look at their menu, they give unusual names for things that already exist... simply to try to make it sound cooler. That's like calling a fat person heavy. It's the same thing... just a new name. The SUBSTANCE doesn't change. They just try to make it appear that it does by giving it a new name. For instance. They call their sandwiches (Tartines, actually) Farmer Bread or something ridiculous like that. What not just call it what it already is? Also, the tarts... it's just a freakin quiche in a skillet! See, from my experience. In the DC Food Scene, the local chefs try to pretend they are in NYC or SF and they say "let's be creative with the menu". Well... if it means adding dill to bucatini pasta, then you've failed. I went to some place similar in Baltimore... they were trying to be so freakin hip... all the waiters had to where a flannel shirt. like they were freakin lumberjacks... i guess that's the "theme" they wanted. But they added MINT to their mac and cheese! Look fellas, creative doesn't mean you can slop things together that have conflicting flavor profiles and call it fusion. Try to produce good food with good ingredients... without having to resort to some lame marketing concept.... and then i'll give you a five star. I've had great food in many countries around the world and all around this country. And I hate when people pull this shiz. Also... these guys are big into the whole locally sourced bs. Look. locally sourced is awesome only IF the local products are a cut above. There is a reason people import lobster from Maine. It's good stuff! and you have it shipped because it is! the local stuff near DC aint that great. This is not Chez Panisse! What's worse is that they charge double for the locally source garbage. If you don't know what good food is, you will most likely be impressed with this place and its utter fakeness. If not, then it's just a place to eat. It's probably at the same level as a seasons 52 or another upper middle class type chain.
(3)Phil C.
Went down- county today for the first time in a while. Revisited our favorite breakfast place, Mo Co's, but this time we went for a late lunch. My friend has been talking about their skirt steak for quite a while. Continuing our trend of trying to eat healthy, we went for the side salad with fresh greens, fruit and veggies... Healthy and tasty. A great day for fresh lemonade, and it was really tangy and refreshing. Now time for the main course, Skirt Steak with Enchilada and fresh corn on the cob with blue cheese...Perfection. Our server, Jon, was outstanding and kept the lemonade coming. He made good recommendations and provided great service. While in the parking lot, after a great meal, who do I see at the car window, but Jon. I forgot my cell phone and left it on the table. It was really cool that he brought it out to me. This is what you call REALLY great service...thanks again Jon.
(5)Allison C.
3.5 stars: Love the concept, love the cocktails, love the desserts, jury's still out on the food. I would say that this place is over-hyped considering the actual tastiness of the food, and especially given the steep prices. I have been here twice and both times I loved the cocktails (Moscow Mule, Dark N' Stormy to name a few that I've tried). I also appreciated that they brew their own beer and offer beer flights. I have a slight bone to pick with the actual menu offerings. Although the menu is extensive, with several options for vegetarians and vegans, most of the food seems to be rather unhealthy. It appears the majority of items on the menu appeared to be meaty, cheesy, deep fried, sugary, or otherwise caloric. Now you'd think that an establishment that prides itself on being environmentally and socially conscientious would also consider that a clientele that cares about where their food comes from will also care about the overall healthfulness of their food? I guess those people would end up doing what I did and order something along the lines of a salad or the cauliflower steak (which was just mediocre). Before I've had the chicken pot pie, which had a very biscuit-y thick crust that was a little too heavy and over-the-top for me, I also didn't care for the way the filling was seasoned. I tried the meatloaf (savory and delicious), and the swordfish prepared with the onion crust (?), which was meaty and flavorful with very delicious creamy mashed potatoes, which I will admit were damn good. The highlight of the meal on both occasions was dessert. The first time around it was a warm, gooey fruit cobbler with a crunchy crust and fresh scoop of ice cream. This past time it was a fluffy Chocolate Mousse topped with smooth, sweet whipped cream. We got a serving for 2 in a big bowl that actually served 3-4, it was divine! Looking at other reviews, it appears the dessert was often a favorite part of the meal. The service both times was attentive (although this wavered toward the end of the meal), but overall it felt very corporate.
(3)Fabio L.
This place is expensive and not as good as I expected from the ratings and hype. In all honesty, I would get more from my money by going somewhere else to eat dinner. I got the flank steak and I thought it was rather boring and small for the price. In short, the food was extremely overpriced. The service was terrible even when it wasn't even that busy. I appreciate it being eco-friendly and all but that is not enough to win my business again. Don't get me wrong, the food at the Founding Farmers was not terrible (it was just okay) but it is not worth the money. I go to restaurants to enjoy the food and the experience so I will not be returning.
(3)Desiree r.
Thoght it was just decent.
(3)Renee L.
The mac-and-seven-cheese is to die for. All other macaroni and cheese you have for the rest of your LIFE will taste like boxed junk compared to this! And the cheesecake... OK, I don't even normally LIKE cheesecake and it was amazing. My dining companion ordered it... I had the intention of taking one bite just to try it. Well, I ended up eating over half of it (and the only reason it wasn't the entire thing is because I had that pesky other person who actually ORDERED the thing for himself eating it with me) and seriously considered ordering a second piece to have all to myself. If you're going to pick one place to blow your diet... make this it. Service was great. We actually had to sit at the bar because it was Christmas Day and super-packed (next year = remember to get reservations!) and the service was spectacular. The bartenders were all very polite and courteous and even though they were so busy, they were serving everyone with a smile. And because it WAS so crazy crowded, I fully expected our food to take a while and was totally fine with that... but it was out in about 10-15 minutes! I have heard others complain that it's a bit pricey but I'm going to be straight up honest: I actually don't know how it compares to other restaurants because I never really pay much attention to prices when eating out. Just one benefit of being a dual-income-no-kids household, I guess.
(5)JiaJia T.
The location is convenient to where we usually stay and I like the ambiance of the restaurant. I've been here twice and have always ordered the exact same thing and have enjoyed it. Nothing amazing but it has been consistently good. The drag through the garden is a tasty and probably healthier scramble with egg whites, cheddar cheese and veggies. I like the quantity of veggies in the scramble and my side of farmers salad is great with greens, dates, avocado, grapes, parmesan, etc. Their latte is strong but good. I always enjoy this dish; however, other dishes that others have ordered such as the pastrami hash consisted of mostly potatoes and few paltry strips of pastrami. Service can be a hit or miss as well.
(3)Natalie N.
I think Founding Farmers has a good thing going for it. I came here for brunch on a Saturday and it was buzzing with people. What a great atmosphere! I loved the sign in the bathroom "Employees must wash hands. All people should" or something to that effect. They had subtle humor here and there, which I thought was cute. The food was pretty good. I enjoyed the chicken and waffles the most. I shared that and crab cakes benedict and the chicken was much tastier. The highlight of the meal was my coffee drink. The Manhattan Soda, made with Intelligentsia coffee and espresso, agave nectar, sparkling water and whipped cream! It was a specialty drink and to die for. Highlight of the meal! (see my pic of it!) The service was very friendly and fast. Even though she was busy she took care of us and checked on us.
(4)Zi-Heng Z.
Went on Saturday night with a group of 5; the restaurant was extremely busy. Was seated on time with reservation. Here is what we got: Cider plank salmon, braised short ribs, prime rib and rib eye. I really love this restaurant, however, this time both the service and the quality of the food was not up to what I expect (hence the 3 stars as opposed to 2 or 1). Let me start by saying that the food was still really good, and would def hold a light to a lot of other top notch restaurants in the are, however, not as good as I expect from a Founding Farmers. The GOOD: Cider Plank Salmon, amazing, well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The OK: Prime rib was pretty good, cooked a little more than a medium-rare should, but no complaints & the short ribs were cooked perfectly, however, it was seasoned too salty (I love salty things, and this was too salty for me). The Bad: The Ribeye - this was not good, a horrible cut that came highly recommended over the filet, tones of grissle, fat and about 60% inedible to be honest, and not really seasoned well. Finally, the service was very slow, after taking our orders nearly 10 min passed before a manager of some kind walked over with some water (note: we didn't order any complex cocktails, there were ice teas and a coffee). The waiter also recommended the ribeye over the filet (which made it seem they just wanted to get rid of it, as opposed to a real recommendation). disappointed.
(3)Jess N.
Since Founding Farmers is apparently a "must-do" DC restaurant, I went for the first time with a few girlfriends that were in town visiting. Perhaps the food at the DC location is better, but I was very disappointed in the quality of the food at the location in MD. I ordered macaroni and cheese (with ham and peas) as an lunch entree. It was not your typical mac & cheese.. in fact, it was mostly mac, and not much cheese. The pasta itself was undercooked and the the ham and peas didn't add anything special to the dish. Perhaps I'm being hypercritical, but my friends all tried a bite and agreed that it wasn't quite the macaroni and cheese you'd expect. It was an uninspiring, bland pasta dish. Two of my friends got the fried chicken salad and the fried chicken on both plates was over-fried and too dry to eat. One of my friends got a salad, but the kitchen forgot to put the dressing on the side. She sent it back, and they ended up taking the charge off of the bill. My last friend ordered chicken pot pie, which was actually quite tasty. I definitely didn't order the "right thing" which I'm bummed about. This, coupled with the other lackluster dishes at my table, has left me little desire to go back and try anything else.
(1)Amani A.
Over-rated!!! First of all I have been trying to check this place out for some time now and finally made my way in for Sunday Brunch. I made a reservation through open table because I was told through friends it is really busy. I came with a group of 5 we got both the brunch menu and lunch menu. The menu is really over whelming since we had so much to choose from.. End up getting the Beignets, Wings, Red Velvet pancakes to share for the table. My favorite app was the beignets but they were pretty greasy. I ordered the seven cheese Mac & Cheese and Crispy Shrimp both were good but nothing special. The Mac & Cheese is really heavy and greasy more then I think it should be or expect. The crispy shrimp was surprisingly the better dish. It's a unique place to dine but I don't think I'll be coming back I prefer Sugo for brunch/dinner/lunch right next door. The service at Founding Farmer is also really really slow it took our server several reminder to get us drinks, and utensils. The restaurant is busy they can use a few more servers to help out it's managements fault at the end of the day for giving them way to many tables at once. Overall it was an ok dinning experience like I said early I don't see myself coming back. I tried a good portion of their menu and it was ehhhhhhhh!
(2)Kim D.
I loved the amount of selections they had on the menu. There is truly something for everyone. I really love the farm to table concept where everything is made from scratch. Great ambiance, cocktail and wine list.
(5)Antoine B.
Ill say this. If you want to be able to have a fair shot of trying Founding Farmers then this is the location to come to because you will have to make a reservation a week in advance to get seated at the downtown location. I prefer coming to this location because its much easier to walk in and get seated. Same food as downtown location but I would prefer brunch over dinner here anyday
(4)L F.
I've been to the DC location and liked it. Took my mom and wife here on 7/12. Wife's first steak ordered med and was past well. Next one was blue. Staff not exactly rude, but their behavior (the way the wait-staff and hostesses avoided our gaze when the first steak was overdone) seemed to indicate that kitchen mistakes are maybe not unexpected. If you go out a lot you know what I am referring to. My short rib was mush. Sides were decent. Desert was good (mom's b-day or I would have walked). Food didn't seem cooked to order and tasted more caf-style where the steak and short rib was just waiting to be served up already cooked. I think they just did not have a med one in the oven and when they had to cook one to order they just didn't know how to do it bcs they were not used to cooking to order... just seemed that way to me in my opinion. If you are used to Olive Garden and Fridays, this will be a step up and you will be happy. If you are looking to a decent place to add to your rotation: AVOID! Its not even the money; just I could have gone somewhere decent and now the occasion is wasted. LAME!!!
(1)Solace C.
At first, I was gonna to turn around and leave because the hostess was sooo snobby! I know this is Potomac but really save the Mean Girls attitude for Ms. Lohan. Service: Can improve, Im not sure if they are ADD and cant focus or what. But no matter what server you get you have to remind them over and over what you need! Carryout orders: Lets say you have a to go meal. They dont pack utensils or napkins!! What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How the heck am I to eat this if Im not going home? The food is good here!!! Real good and real expensive sort of!!! First of they make their own sodas... I had the lemon lime.. but it was a bit sour for me. Their house salad is delish!!! Fresh fresh lettuce!! Their house dressing is not too light or heavy. Its just right! I had their 7 cheese mac and cheese and its soooooooo heavenly delish!!! Swimming in butter and lightly toasted breadcrumbs on top! Similar to Patty Labelles recipe. Red Velvet Cake is heavenly delish! Manhattan drink is ommmmmmmmmmmmmy that good!!! I could order everything off the menu but the service here needs to improve.
(4)Melissa A.
First, place was mobbed for breakfast. Service was good, waiter terrific. Food flavors fine but execution was pretty poor. Crab Eggs Benedict, good flavors but poached eggs were cold and not really poached, more like soft boiled. Cooked almost solid. Hash browns were cold. Chicken and waffle- waffle cold but the chicken was great. Eggs were cold as well. Perhaps the plates wait to be finished in the kitchen for too long. Again flavors are fine but noone wants to eat cold eggs.
(2)Seth D.
I call this place, "Find My Waiter." Food is pretty good, but service is awful.
(3)Steven D.
Founding Farmers fresh tasting food was amazing. It does get really busy, so I highly recommend making reservations. Great friendly and polite staff. I love the fun and unique way they give you the check.
(4)Tu-van L.
As spacious yet loud as the District's Founding Farmers. While the menu selection varies some, overall the theme and quality of food is just what you expect for FF. My breakfast dogs were delicious and hearty (be mindful that it's mostly scrambled eggs, chopped up hog dogs, and whatever toppings are included in the mix). Of course the (non-)alcoholic beverages are refreshing and were perfect for brunch. Food was great, however service can be spotty. Parking in paid garage, though I don't think they charge on the weekends...
(3)Jonathan K.
One of my favorite restaurants in the area, never disappoints. Quality ingredients, prepared well, and great service. For brunch the scrambles and benedicts are excellent.
(5)Robbie N.
Get the Mac and Cheese! Or brunch! Definitely try the cornbread! Great restaurant that is inexpensive and has local, organic and natural food!
(5)Sarah G.
Dinner was delicious and the service was great. I had the Chicken Pot Pie, which was absolutely scrumptious. My friends had the Shrimp and Grits and the Yankee Pot Roast. They really enjoyed both.
(5)A W.
New Orleans style French Toast is AMAZING - try it stuffed and add blueberry compote:) Best breakfast in the area the lunch/dinner menu is very good as well but nothing beats red velvet or carrot cake pancakes for breakfast! For lunch I've had the rolls n dogs and chicken n waffles. Fried green tomatoes are a good appetizer along with the salt n pepper cracked wings. Pastas from here leave a lot to be desired but everything else is superb!
(5)Roberto I.
Really good
(5)MJ ..
I came here last night for dinner with my boyfriend and I really enjoyed it. I love the decor of the restaurant, what the servers wear, it gives this homey vibe of being at a farm, I really like that. We stared off with the chicken wings and the chickpea and garlic yogurt bread. Both were very delicious. The wings were cooked perfectly, had excellent flavor, a little crunch from the charr, and the sauce was delicious. The bread was perfect, not too hard or soft, and the chickpea yogurt spread was so flavorful. However, it was a lot of bread. Probably a better choice for a group of 3-4 people. For the entreés, he ordered the pick 3 hot dogs, and I ordered the goat cheese ravioli with squash and chicken. I have to say, very, very yummy! The chicken was cooked perfectly, the breading was nice and crisp. The squash puree was smooth and flavorful, and the ravioli was perfect as well, right amount of filling. I do think there was a little too much of the squash pureé on the plate, it just wasn't the right ravioli-to-squash ratio but, it was still a wonderful dish, I would definitely get it again. I didn't try my boyfriends hot dogs, but he said they were wonderful. The only thing he didn't like was the chips that it came with. They were a bland and a bit greasy, so he got fries instead and they were a lot better, but a little too soft. Great seasoning though. I do think their specialty cocktails are a bit overpriced, I mean, I pay less for drinks at a club in DC. But overall, I really enjoyed this place and I will definitely be back for more! :)
(4)Connie M.
What an awesome gastro pub! Our waiter was excellent providing quick service and had a thorough knowledge of everything on the menu, including all the craft beers. I ordered the truffle oil popcorn for starters and was quite impressed. It was not greasy as I have experienced at other venues and the popcorn was very crispy. For my entree, I ordered the fried chicken which was crispy and flavorful! Loved it! My table ordered desert and we were surprised when we received a huge serving that was more than enough for the three of us.
(5)Lenny C.
This is probably the first time that I've ever started a restaurant review by addressing the staff service: This is the best group of hardworking group of restaurantistas that I have ever met. They are friendly, helpful, and seemingly everywhere at once. Our evening started with being assisted to our table by Maribel... A special set of kudos to her... Nothing like a super friendly, smiling face to greet a hungry family. The place was packed to the gills just before 5 pm... That's always a good sign... My wife had been here before and had raved about it... And she's a tough customer. She ordered mussels to start with and I had the fresh baked ciabatta bread with smoked salmon and goat cheese... Accompanied by a glass of hard cider... Nice! I then had one of their signature burgers while my wife had the Farmer's Salad; both were delicious, and the burger came with various choices of sides... I had sauté squash... First time ever for that combo for me and it kicked ass. Some of the dishes being brought to our neighbors also showcased the art of presenting food... Something that this outstanding restaurant seems to be very proud of... I give these guys my highest possible recommendation!
(5)Maria L.
I can't say enough about this place! My BFFs and I sat outside on the patio and had the most enjoyable experience. The waitstaff were attentive and friendly and answered all of our questions. We started with the most amazing deviled eggs and a cheese and bread plate. The bread was incredible. We asked if we could buy it by the loaf, it was so good! (You can't.) I can't pinpoint just what it was about the bread that made it so incredible- it had a chewy/soft texture that was divine. I had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and greens. The fried chicken was boneless and perfectly crunchy and the greens were nicely seasoned. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Amber M.
I am not from the Maryland area and was brought here by some friends. We had a reservation for 1:15 and it was packed. The lady kept telling us it would be 5 more min over and over. Well it ended up being 45 min later. So we sat down and the whole meal it took the waitress forever to bring us drinks anything. The food came and I will say it was amazing. We all enjoyed the food until we found a very large hair in it. I am giving it 4 stars just because the food was good and fresh. I think the main problem at this restaurant is they over book and don't have enough help. I would go back for sure.
(4)Nicholas C.
We returned with friends to Founding Farmers for our Christmas Day meal. The restaurant as one might expect on Christmas Day was full but in spite of the stress that you would think the staff was under we were greeted in a friendly manner at the hostess's desk. Our reservation time was missed by just a few minutes. Our waitress was with us soon after we were seated. She bubbled over with friendliness! From the moment we gave our drinks order up until we paid the entire process went smoothly. Our drinks came out in a timely manner as did the appetizers, main course and dessert. Throughout the meal we were checked upon not just by our waitress but also other staff members. It was impressive. Our food was all good. Among us we had the meatloaf (four stars), vegetarian meatloaf (five stars), fried chicken and waffles (five stars, and a cheeseburger (four stars). For dessert we shared a huge slice of carrot cake. My previous visits were only worthy of 3-4 stars but I left the restaurant much more impressed!
(5)C K.
We went there on Sunday morning around 9:30. The place was about half packed. No one was sitting outside yet when we were walking in (but it was packed when we left). We were seated promptly. Ordered chicken and waffle and stuffed French toast with blueberry on top. Chicken and waffle was so so. It was good but nothing special. Personally, I like chicken and waffle at American Tap Room better. Sunny side up eggs were a lot runnier than other places. Make sure to tell them about it if you don't like yours too runny. Stuffed French toast was really really good. One of the best I've had. I'm definitely ordering this again next time. Overall, we liked the place. Little pricey for breakfast food but nice to have decent brunch places to go to. Can't wait for them to open one near Tyson's corner in 2014!
(4)Tim D.
This is the lesser-known location of one of my favorite restaurants in the DC area. Like their sister location, they focus on "farm-to-table" food and offer a wide variety of thoughtful dishes (and cocktails!). Although there are a ton of cocktail choices, I also suggest putting your trust in the skills of the bartender. Tell them what you like, or a great drink you've had before, and they do a rendition of it. This location is usually packed, so make a reservation. The major positive about this location is the parking.
(4)Andrew K.
I've been here 3 times so far and it's not a bad option for brunch or lunch. The wait is long for brunch so try to call ahead and make reservations or you can get seats on the patio area. Service is a hit or miss with the first two times being bad but the last time I was there, service was great. Beignets, fish and chips, chicken and waffles, pancakes were good. The home made sodas, burgers and toast was ok. The restaurant is nice and upscale, prices are ok, and I keep bring friends here and they seem to like it but I don't consider it amazing or worth waiting over 30 minutes.
(3)Karen G.
Great restaurant in Montgomery County! Food was great - American style Nice selection of beers Fun cocktail list Nice atmosphere - I like the decor I had a nice dining experience and will definitely be back!
(4)Donis M.
They really are trying with the staff at this location. It's so busy for breakfast. Even with a reservation your going wait a while. And the food is cooked to order. Coffee not as good as it used to be.
(3)Kelly O.
I enjoyed my mixed drink but the food was unremarkable. The most bizarre part of the evening was when the server returned my dirty flatware from my appetizer to me. Passed it off my dirty plate, back into my hand. Then my husband said no, please take our flatware and bring us clean utensils. The attitude of 2 staff members was that new flatware was not something that they provided and they made a big deal over finding clean forks and knives. We eat out frequently and there are many wonderful, unique choices nearby. We will not be back.
(2)TJ B.
FF has great cocktails. Unique creations that most of the bartenders take pride in constructing just right! Bloody Mary's were good. We went early one evening and our bartender was a bit inattentive, but the drinks were good. Drinks very expensive, though. The food is excellent. The wait staff knows the food well so ask them about what you are ordering if you are concerned about portion size or what other guests thought of it. As others said, the buffalo wings were really good. The hot dogs looked great. I got the big bowl of seafood bouillabaisse, or whatever they called it. It was very good. Had a lobster tail on top. Deserts are excellent. All in all, nice to see a creative twist on everything they serve....from the casual food to the fancy food. All unique.
(5)Eric L.
This is a place you must try. I went there for a birthday. And all the food is very good. I stuck with fried chicken and waffles and you really can't mess up their specialties. I substitued fries for mashed potatoes because their mashed potatoes are awesome and actually taste like they took a fresh potato and mashed it. The girls got a raw tuna poke salad which looked really good, and the butternut squash ravioli which was alright because it was slightly sour. I got a fruity drink for the birthday girl and she loved it, she probly wanted another one. I came early and told them to bring out the cake I bought (from shilla's bakery). And I was kind of bummed that it was $2 per person to plate the cakes (if you bring your own cake). But there were only 3 of us, so it wasn't that bad. When we finished eating, I gave our waiter that look, and later a guy came out with the cake and a lit candle, and he let us take pictures and blow out the candle. It was great, he was friendly and did a good job at cutting the cake for us. It is quite expensive compared to other places, but it's great not to worry about getting something bad. The atmosphere was quite busy and noisy. The line was out the door on the friday night. Good thing I had a reservation.
(5)Cesar P.
We took our daughter there for breakfast on President's Day, and it was a fine dining experience. The food is extremely fresh, the beignets are to die for, and the service top notch. My wife and daughter had the pancakes and the Farmers Breakfast. The biscuits were really good, and they make a perfect scrambled egg. I had the hash with pastrami, which wasn't bad; my complaint was that it needed more meat and less peppers. But it was a fine breakfast, a little pricey, but nice for a once in a while treat. I would love to come back to try lunch or dinner.
(4)Ash S.
Ok so for the sequel my friend and I went back here for lunch at the management's request. Everything seemed very different from my last visit, the place wasn't packed and crazy, the waiter was very cool and knowledgeable, and the food came out in reasonable times. We started off with the Chicken wings (I think it was a special of the day). This sexy little number comes glazed in a soy-maple sauce with garlic and green onions. It is sticky, salty, tender, and really delicious. This is a perfect dish to highlight their general concept of farm-fresh ingredients, the freshness of the chicken comes out in both the texture and the flavor of the meat. The seasoning elevates, rather than disguises, the chicken flavor. We also got the Fried Green Tomatoes, which are battered and deep fried tomato slices served up with a Green Goddess dip and a chive herb butter (I think). It's nice and crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside without too much acidity (a real problem with green tomatoes generally). The Green Goddess dip was the favorite, kind of like a classed-up salad dressing. For our mains we each got the surf and turf - 8oz center cut fillet and the jumbo lump crab cake. The steak was cooked perfectly and again showed off how never-frozen natural-raised cows produce a superior steak. There was none of the slight tang that corn-fed beef has, and it definitely had a melt-in-your-mouth buttery feel to it. As good as the steak was, I feel that the crab cake stole the show. It was basically a generous ice-cream-scoop sized serving of large chunks of crab meat. Just enough breading and seasoning to taste great, but we both got huge hits of crab with every bite. Despite growing up in Maryland, I've never really had much crab, certainly not any 'good' crab before this. It combined the lightness of fish with a kind of meatiness you don't normally get from fish, the crab cake I had today definitely makes me want to go out and eat more crab from now onl The sides were good, and showed some careful execution - my green beans were a nice crunchy texture and my friend's mashed potatoes were nice and creamy. We both enjoyed our special of the day mini salads, consisting of cucumber, mint, and snap peas with a light vinaigrette-style dressing. For dessert, there were a lot of choices that looked incredibly tempting, but in the end my friend went for the Lemon-lavender sorbet. It had a nice, light, and very unusual flavor that was the perfect end to a heavy meal (the mashed potatoes kind of gave him a carb overload). Of course, I am a semi-professional foodie, an eating machine, if you will, and I went with the slightly heavier option of the Beignets. These are a deep-south favorite, consisting of a deep fried 'shoe' pastry dusted with powdered sugar and served with various yummy dipping sauces. We apparently got a batch that had been freshly made because they had both the satisfying crunch on the outside and the heavenly softness on the inside. To me a Beignet basically covers all the good points of a doughnut, without being as heavy. I particularly enjoyed the caramel sauce that came with mine, it also came with a chocolate sauce and a raspberry coulis that were both solid. As far as cocktails, I had the Farmer's Fizz - essentially a mix of gin and champagne with a few liquers. This is a deceptively powerful little number, it looks and tastes like a glass of champagne. Once I'd drank 3/4 of it, the flavor changed, the sugar lump on the bottom and the lemon twist became more pronounced and it developed into a nice Tom-Collins-esque drink. I also had the Beer and a shot option - a 3 beer tasting (8 oz portions) and a single shot of whisky. I opted for an IPA, a lager, and a very very good organic brown Ale, as well as the Bulleit Rye (which may be a local thing, but if you like bourbon or whiskey, give it a shot). And to finish things off, I had one of their special bourbons served over a single, ginormous ice cube, which my friend (and at this point, sober driver) said had less of a surface to volume ratio than smaller ice cubes, allowing for a less diluted, but equally chilled drink. I just thought it looked cool ;) So my overall impression is that the higher end items are where this place shines, thinks like steak, crab cakes, ribs, etc. You can really taste a difference with regards to the high quality farm-fresh ingredients. The burgers, hot dogs, pasta, etc are by no means bad but lack that clear distinction of flavor.
(5)Lou K.
I always want to love this place but I just can't quite get there. Something's they do incredibly well, like bloody Mary's for example. Other things leave me cold, like the crispy shrimp. On the upside the fried green tomatoes are good and the bacon lollies are as tasty as they look. The atmosphere is lively but the service is always the final nail. It is SO freaking slow especially with drinks. So sad.
(3)Rachel S.
This place reignited the fire within me to learn how to pickle things. Always get the pickled veggie of the day, just do it. When we went, it was carrots. Best carrots I've ever had. I wanted to bathe in the brine. The rest of the meal was fantastic too. I had the pot roast, as it was our waitress' favorite. Shit was tastyyyy, fried onions, delicious gravy, tender-amazing huge portion of meat, and I'll give it up for the mashed potatoes too. My gal pal had the chicken n waffles which I can honestly say were the BEST fried chicken I've ever experienced. It was juicy, crunchy, and beautifully cooked. We also got some deviled eggs and corn bread, Oh the corn bread. It's served with honey butter, which is amazing on its own. Cocktail wise they have a massive menu of delicious and creative sounding drinks. We opted for some champagne and wine, but if I make it back, I will definitely try a few. The restaurant itself is also just really great. There's a really chill vibe to it. It's not trying too hard, yet everything is locally sourced. You won't find a mason jar here, unless it's hold pickled vegetables. Every single person on staff we encountered were friendly and so excited for us to try the food. It was a lovely dining experience and I'd reccomend it to anyone in DC / Bethesda.
(5)Nik D.
I have heard so much about this place from friends and family who are in the area! In terms of service, decor, ambiance, I thought that it was great. I went with family and we are all vegetarian. though they have a meatless menu, which I know I appreciate to make it easy, we didn't order a single thing from it. It didn't really appeal to any of us. Meatless meatloaf? Cauliflower steak? Eh. Might be a matter of just describing the things in a more tasty way, but none of them perked any of our ears. We ordered the vegetarian items that were on the main menu: farmer's bread with chickpea spread and yogurt, biscuits, a standard veggies salad, and the butternut squash and mascarpone ravioli with brown butter sauce. The farmer's bread was really yummy! They cut it up nicely to make it easy to share the four slices of the ciabatta bread amongst the group. The biscuits were great. I really liked the honey butter combo on them more than the spicier pepper spread, but still the pepper spread was nice. The salad was good, but kinda over priced for the size. At $18 with no meat, I didn't think it was really worth the money. That being said, the mix of veggies was good as was the champagne vinaigrette dressing. The ravioli was also good. I'm not a huge fan of brown butter sauce as I find it can be a little much after awhile, but the ravioli went nicely with that and the Brussel sprouts in the dish. It's not something I'd want a whole plate of by myself, but was great to share with a group. I will say, it was a bit of a bummer to learn that the fried items were all non-veg as they have beef in the oil. I was looking forward to some fresh cut french fries. We also got the red velvet cake that was WONDERFUL. So moist, fluffy, and not overly sweet. Two of us tried the blood orange soda and the mango soda, and I didn't think it was that great. It might be for someone who is more tolerant of sourness, but I found it to be a little cloying. Overall, it was a nice place and I'm glad that it exists with its local sourcing and no preservatives. I think the DC area could use more places like this with new american fare that is quite vegetarian friendly. I think with a few updates to the vegetarian menu, it could be a big hit for me. Looking forward to trying the brunch next time :)
(4)Jennifer G.
Consistently good food and attentive service. Sometimes the pasta sauces hit me the wrong way, but I haven't gone wrong with the salads and sandwiches. It can be a little noisy, so ask for the upstairs seating if you'd like to get out of the melee.
(4)Debbie D.
4th time is the charm? I'm not ready to give them five stars yet but I'm close. Great menu and fantastic food and service. This time I finally ordered something other than the breakfast menu. The northern fried chicken is fantastic! Seriously I didn't even know it was a thing until I tried it but it is so good. Grits remain fantastic as well. My biggest problem now is wondering what to order because I really want to eat everything on the menu.
(4)Sanjay C.
Had brunch here on a Saturday morning. It was fairly busy, but were were able to get a table very quickly at the bar. The atmosphere is clean, bright, and organic (that's the idea)! Weekend wait can be long so I recommend reservations on the weekends. My wife, a friend, and I ordered an entree and a drink each. Bill came to around $60. Watch our YouTube review of our meal here: youtube.com/watch?v=6yPa… . I ordered the farmer's breakfast: eggs, hash browns, and chicken sausage. It was excellent. Sausage was the highlight. My first batch of hash browns was a little dry so they brought me a fresh plate which was great. Also had a killer Bloody Mary. My wife ordered the chicken and waffles. Looked like chicken tenders, but tasted really good. Waffle was light and crisp on the outside. My friend ordered the Pastrami Hash which was my favorite. Good quantity food, excellent service. Watch our YouTube review of our meal here: youtube.com/watch?v=6yPa… . I've been to Founding Farmers on multiple occasions - both in DC and MD. My favorite items have been the Lunch/Dinner version of the Chicken and Waffles, the macaroni and cheese, the Yankee Pot Roast, and the chilli burger.
(4)Ruth R.
I don't want to start off my review negatively. There should really be a 3 1/2 star option but ill still with 4. It was a little more than ok but I am still not a fan of this place. I went to dinner last night (Wednesday) with a friend. We made reservations a couple of days ago and there were (at the time) a lot of open reservations for the evening. We both ended up getting off of work early so we strolled to Founding farmers 1 hour early to see if they'd take us earlier. The hostess kindly told us they were getting busy but she will see what she can do to sit us down a little sooner. We waited and waited. The hostess didn't even bother to acknowledge us or come over an mention that it would be impossible to sit us earlier. We were totally ok with that and didn't expect otherwise. I finally walked over to her about 5-10 mins before our actual reservation time and said, "Sooo, I'm assuming we wont be sitting down any sooner?" She said, "Yeah doesnt look like it." So, we ended up waiting an hour. Like I said I wasnt expecting to be seated an hour before our actual reservation time but a little acknowledgement goes a long way! So, once we were seated, the waitress we had was AMAZING! She changed that whole experience around. She was enjoyable and apologized for the minimalist of things. The food was a lot better than I remember last time we were there. I started off with the deviled eggs combo which were delicious. I got the Salmon cooked with garlic, lemon and shallots, a side of mashed potato and kale cooked with pear and garlic for dinner. Everything was really tasty and I enjoyed it a lot more. I know it isn't all about customer service most of the time so to that I would recommend the food here. Their dinner menu is really good. I will have to try it out again but this time I will come exactly on time for my reservation, no earlier!
(4)Erin L.
Food was great, definitely get the biscuits. We showed up a bit early for the reservation and didn't have to wait till our reservation time, but I'd still make sure to get a reservation. Our waiter was decent, but acted a little like he was trying to get us to hurry up (we took awhile deciding what to eat) and I felt it was a little rude.
(4)Johnson H.
I'm giving it 3.5 stars. I was part of a table of 8 and so we were seated upstairs for the evening. We rsvp'd a table for just before the dinner rush crowd. Food was definitely better than most around MoCo, The service started off really well. Our server was friendly, informative about the menu, and attentive early on. Then our server was difficult to track down to get a wrong entree corrected and getting our drinks refilled after we got our meals. I would return if I lived closer to MoCo or if a group of friends wanted to go, but nothing really WoW'd me enough to make me drive up to MD too often.
(3)David M.
Good food, but strange special occasion practice. Despite being asked and telling the person taking the reservation we were celebrating a special occasion; at the end of the meal we were presented with an empty plate with a lit candle. It wasn't just my table, the table next to us had the same treatment. Apparently they have stopped providing the traditional special occasion dessert. I've never had this happen in a restaurant of this caliber; seems cheap. A disappointing end to an otherwise fine meal. Unfortunately the disappointment lingers longer than the memory of the meal.
(2)J S.
Great spot. Nice atmosphere, manages the big crowd well and really good food. Dinner was better than lunch the next day ( yes, two visits in 18 hours) but worth the visit.
(4)Michele T.
The food isn't always hot and the portion sizes are getting smaller....but the atmosphere and food are great. I normally get the crab cakes but decided to try the Planck Salmon. I was not disappointed.
(4)Jess Y.
Came here on recommendation of a friend and was impressed. I love the concept of fresh farm-to-table foods and mixing it with hand-crafted cocktails. Even at 1 PM on a weekday it was still crowded. We had to wait a few minutes to get seated. I also love the atmosphere--cool open-air design with a trendy wooden down-to-earth like-I-am-eating-in-the-most-fashionista-barn-ever flavor. Love the lightbulbs. I know it's a small added touch, but they are pretty awesome. It is a bit loud so it helps you to work on your selective hearing skills. They offer an interesting selection of beverages. I would love to come back to try some of their hand-crafted cocktails with fresh ingredients--but I couldn't convince myself on a Monday lunch to already start the alcohol flow. They do also specialize in italian sodas. My friend got the phosphate of the day and I tried the Manhattan Soda (coffee, espresso, agave, whipped cream, and sparkling seltzer). The Manhattan was like mixing coffee with soda--definitely a new experience. They do brew Intelligentsia coffee, which is also a huge plus for me. We started off with the Black Pepper Chicken Wings, as recommended by other Yelpers. They were delicious! They come with about 8-9 heavenly-roasted chicken wings smothered with sweet black pepper flavor. It's served with a lime which I highly recommend that you squeeze generously over the wings--it adds a nice tartness and rounds out the flavor. My friend ordered the Brie/Onion Jam/Sliced Apples flatbread. We weren't sure what to expect: whether they would be baked into the flatbread like a pizza or just layed on top. When it came out, he had three generous slices of toasted sourdough bread topped with the delicious combo. The onion jam added the perfect sweetness to the munchie. Great combination of flavors. And I definitely want to try the prosciutto/fig/marscapone flatbread some time too! I ordered the grilled cheese (with ham!) and tomato soup. The grilled cheese comes with gruyere, chedder, and muenster and trust me, you can taste all three. I was really surprised by how much ham they gave me--it was chockful. Also, the ham had a great flavor--almost tasted like bacon. It was really delicious. My only complaint was that it was a bit greasy--even for a grilled cheese sandwich! Maybe it's from all of the cheese in it, but it seemed like overkill. The tomato soup was flavorful, rich and a little creamy. It paired perfectly with the grilled cheese sandwich. Service was a little slow but nothing that would deter me from visiting again. Check comes in a little mailbox--quite literally. Cute touch but seems a bit cumbersome also. Overall, great dining experience and they have one of those menus where you look at it and start making lists of all the things you want to try next time.
(4)Hossein N.
Everything about this place says A-OK other than the service which is actually quite good and attentive. I have gone three times and never been wowed by any of the dishes. The last time I went, I got the tuna poke salad. It was great except the tuna was a bit fishy. Am I being picky? Yes. But at these prices, they need to deliver a high grade tuna in my opinion. The place itself can get quite loud. It doesn't bother me but I think it needs to be mentioned.
(4)Maggie Maria T.
So after FF contacted me due to the review I posted, they apologized and offered free dessert on my next visit. They staff went above and beyond and provided great service. I wish I could remember the name of our waitress because she was so nice! I ordered the roasted vegetable sandwich which was so delicious! The farm bread and the hot chocolate great as usual. I ordered our complimentary dessert to go and the check and I was surprised when the whole meal was already covered. I was only expecting free dessert but our waitress said that the manager had already taken care of that. :)
(5)John H.
Must try: chicken wings and squash with bacon soup. This is a very unique restaurant that is all about organic seasonal food. Flavors are excellent with some dishes like the soup and wings, however, the other items like salads and french fries are unimpressive. The food is basically good. There is nothing to write home about except the service which was excellent. The food is not different in taste to a million other "theme" organic restaurants. I will still go here again.
(4)Justin C.
Before we were sat our server said he couldn't sit a party of five... I inquired more and said he would seat us if we leave by 11. I understand business but the wording could have been better.
(1)Jeff R.
We've had some outstanding meals at Founding Farmers, but this wasn't one of them. I'm going to start AVOIDING Saturday nights. The kitchen just appears to be overwhelmed. Here were some of the issues (and positives) we ran into. We end ed up having to stand right behind some people who were eating, which couldn't have been the experience they wanted. 1. Took 20 minutes to be seated even though we arrived at our OpenTable reserved time. Dozens of people crowded into the small lobby area. 2. Waiter was great, they do hire excellent waiters. 3. People next to us had to send back their Salmon as being raw on the inside. A preview for us. 4. Butternut squash with bacon soup is amazing! 5. Dinner showed up and it wasn't our dinner! Waiter ran off before I realized it since it was also a steak. Took us a while to flag down the waiter. 6. Dinner arrived and my wife's medium steak was cold and raw on the inside. Barely cooked on the outside. I thought nice restaurants did sous vide on the steaks these days? 7. A random side of green beans arrived and was sent back. 8. The waiter poured my wife a 1/4 bottle of wine in her refill which was very nice, though extra food is not one of the things we needed. I always leave very stuffed. 9. Bill showed up with the random extra green beans still on bill. Took forever to flag down waiter to have it removed. He was very apologetic.
(2)Justin M.
i was actually pretty upset :( .. my surf and turf was MKT priced rediculously high. crabcake was kinda mushy and undercooked, however my MEDIUM RARE filet was well the hell done. my green beans couldve used 10 more minutes of cooking.. and my greens were way too salty. cmon guys i heard the food here was amazing thats why i spent 50 bucks on a meal. the service however was great, which earned it two stars in my book. ill probably go back sometime and give it another shot.
(2)Elizabeth D.
I've been here for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, etc. - you name the time and the meal. The menu is spot on, and the service isn't far behind. The bacon lollies (cinnamon coated bacon on pitchforks) are a juxtaposition of flavors in your mouth. One of my favorite appetizers ever. For brunch, I highly recommend the beignets. And as a southern gal, I love my chicken and waffles. Their pastrami hash is very good (albeit a tad on the bland side, but nothing a little pepper can't handle!). Regardless of the date or time, I highly recommend that a reservation be made well in advance. The wait itself is a (positive) testament of how wonderful Founding Farmers is.
(4)Andria D.
Crowded and expensive. The food was okay. Our server was good, though maybe a bit too personal. There were a couple of vegan options, which was nice... but I was under the mistaken impression there would be more to choose from.
(3)Redskin F.
Christoper Peterson(my server) and Cameron(the manager) are the main reasons I am a fan, don't get me wrong, the food has always been fabulous but the one negative is the policy about refills. For a place that is so on top of things, refills are a major hassle and big disappointment. I am here at least once a week if not more. I know a lot of the waiters and they know me even Cameron the manager knows me and what like. It's just the refill policy that nags at me, first I thought it was just the soda because of the soda can but I came to find out it's all drinks. If you only drink water this place is for you but watch out they get you on the refill policy and don't even tell you. The food, decor, service are 5 star but it's that refill policy, that brought this down. If you don't mind paying almost $3.50 per can of soda, go for it.
(3)Sarah W.
Came back here for a late dinner last night with hubby. We arrived at 8:30pm, got sat immediately. Not many people there late on a sunday evening. Homemade chips & schmears - loved this! I love homemade potato chips, and the 3 dips were amazing. perfect for sharing - although, I think for the amount of chips you get, more dip would be preferable (can probably ask waiter for more) Waldorf Salad(?) - spinach, crispy onion, egg, bleu cheese, apple - delicious!!!! perfect for sharing. Fried Chicken & Waffles - hubby's dish. tasty fried chicken, perfect drizzled with maple syrup and eating with belgian waffles. The mac n cheese isn't as good as I remember the one in DC with lobster. Maybe its an off night? Hubby couldn't finish this. Loaded Baked Potato Ravioli - yummmmmmmm. its like periogies, but BETTER, more cheese & bacon! I could only eat half my dish. very filling, could probably split this and a salad/appy with somebody and walk away satisfied. The Bone - drink isn't on the menu in Potomac, but it is in DC - Hubby loves it - it comes with a bacon lolli. Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse for 2 - HUGE bowl of mousse - not sure why we ordered this since we were both soooooooooo full....but its delicious and we took it home with us :) Hubby and I will def come back again. Hopefully for our anniversary in Oct.
(4)Linda F.
Brunch tastes great; table service is also great. Drinks taste great; bar service is not so great... Unless the guy with the awesome mustache is helping you. I felt ignored, even when it wasn't so busy. I would recommend this restaurant, just as long as it's at a table.
(3)Chontelle M.
My experiences at the Founding Farmers in DC are super slow and although the food is good, I vowed never to return. They don't have a large waiting area, because they don't need it. It seemed the parties waiting the longest are the ones that did not make a reservation and even then, I think they got seated pretty quickly. It was a completely different experience here. In order to make sure you aren't caught up in the traffic of waiting and racing for bar stools, you should make a reservation. I made a brunch reservation for 11:30 at this place and was surprised by being seated within 10 minutes of the reservation time. The service was great. We had a baby with us so there were lots of special requests and our waitress fulfilled them all with a smile. I highly recommend the chicken and waffles. They are soo great! The chicken is perfectly seasoned, the syrup is pure maple syrup and the eggs aren't too bad either.
(5)Paul D.
Very disappointed with Founding Farmers. Went with my family to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday with a brunch. I ordered an egg white and veggies scramble with their leek-hash browns. When the other six members of my party were served, our server asked "can I get you all anything else?" I replied, "Just my entree" and he looked shocked. Well, it took a couple of minutes, but my entree finally showed up. It looked like they forgot about it under the heat lamps. The hash browns were dry and crunchy and the egg scramble was lukewarm in some places and down right cold in others. My wife ordered the same entree and she said her's was the same. The other members of my party seemed to like their dishes, so they have that going for them. The room was too loud for conversation, but the price was more reasonable than I was expecting. The beignets were excellent! Next time I'll stick to an order of beignets and OJ.
(2)Neelo S.
I had brunch here for the very first time in the middle of the week. First of all, I love that there's a nice place to have brunch on a Wednesday. Second, our waiter was so friendly and helpful, I love a restaurant with a lovely service. Finally, the food was exactly what I expected, simple and delicious. I had the hash with eggs and hollandaise sauce-sooo good! My friend had blueberry French toast-so fluffy, it melted in my mouth. A little pricey for brunch, but it was worth the mid-week celebration!
(5)A B.
I like the food here, and often recommend it to people when they leave my office (I work around the corner)...but lately I have started to change my mind. All of their seafood is farm raised (yea.. i know farmers is in the name...but farmed raised fish is not a good choice). There are a lot of inconsistencies with their food (I tend to order the same items) and inconsistencies with their service. Their take-out items are often missing an ingredient which is frustrating since it is take out (and in house too, today's my husband's sandwich was missing a key ingredient). Acoustics are also very poor. I used to like the place and frequent it but I rather go around the corner to Clyde's.
(3)Michele S.
We picked this restaurant based on the good reviews for an early Mother's Day. The appetizers (bread plate and fried green tomato) took forever to arrive. The bread was - well bread...nothing special. The tomatoes were thick cut and heavily battered and passable. The burger was ordered as medium well but served rare. The accompanying fries were not hot. The fried chicken salad was not cold and crisp but instead warm and missing 1/2 of the ingredients including the avocado and the cheese. It was basically warm iceberg lettuce with half spoiled tomatoes on a plate with overcooked (burnt in places) dried out chicken. After spending $105, 2 of us had to go to Subway to get something to eat! UPDATE: 5/17/14: I received an email from this restaurant stating, "I'm mortified! I'm SO sorry to hear that we failed you on so many levels - leaving you hungry upon your departure on top of bad service, and poorly executed food. Our Vice President, Dawn Vileno, would very much like to speak to you one on one." They NEVER called me. Apparently, they really didn't care.
(1)Carol D.
This was our fourth time here. We love this place, with one exception. The menu offers fresh, from scratch ingredients from local farms, as well as traditional style recipes for VA cuisine. The sodas were all bar-made, such as the hibiscus, and they offer egg creams and phosphates! We've had friend chicken, pot roast, chicken and waffles, salmon, crabcake - all fantastic. The sides of collards, mac and cheese - outstanding. Beignets are absolutely delicious. Staff is friendly and efficient. Our only exception, we found them not very kid-friendly. They sat us with a 10 month infant at a bar hightop with a broken child table seat - broken straps and hooks, so they had to move us so they could find a table that a high chair could go up to. They do not have a kid's menu, but will make a pasta, grilled cheese, or burger selection - so we ended up ordering several sides to serve our 10 month old. They did not have a changing table in the men's room, so when we tried to go into the ladies room (asking the auntie to take the infant in), she couldn't find one there either (maybe one was in the handicapped stall, but someone was in there for a long time), so we had to change the baby in the car/parking lot.
(4)Simone J.
I have only eaten here for breakfast. I love it every time. Everyone I've ever taken here loves it. I wish I lived near by as I miss it. The coffee is good as well as everything else I've ever had.
(5)Troy H.
Some of the best food I've ever had. Organic, locally sourced, American comfort food. The service is great. Occasionally the servers are weeded. My most recent servers Brian Bates, Thea Goldstein, and Katie Kamman have made my dinners, brunches and lunches unforgettable. Northern friend chicken and the potomac cheese are the go-tos here. Highly recommended. Request the aforementioned servers I raved about fit the best time.
(5)Michael P.
Most most sit down restaurants, your experience and value you get is enhanced by good servers. I think our server was very good, knew the menu well and his beers, had recommendations, etc. I thought the deviled eggs were really good, as well as the steak and chicken we had ordered.
(5)Fatima A.
Yummy breakfast! Great coffee! Hash browns, chicken sausage, carrot cake pancakes, yum! The stuffed French toast was a little too sweet for me, but very well done and fresh. The cranberry nice was not good. Don't get it. Too sweet.
(4)Katherine S.
The food is excellent and it has a fun, vibrant atmosphere. Would recommend reservations because it is typically packed in the evenings.
(4)Kim C.
I brought my mother for dinner on a Thursday. It was quite busy. My mother has some recent diet restrictions so I was apprehensive about ordering something she could have and exhausting the patience of our server with these restrictions. Natalie was AMAZING in every facet of our experience. She was extremely friendly (something sometimes hard to find in MoCo), patient, and really cared about the our experience at the restaurant. And her recommendations were SPOT ON. When dinner came it only got better. The cornbread was moist and fresh. The fried chicken was juicy and the crust flavorful. My mother barely spoke while she devoured her salmon and fall succotash. The crowning jewel was the red velvet cake. I'm southern and a pain in the rear about my red velvet. It was moist, the icing the perfect amount of tang from the cream cheese, and it wasn't too cocoa-y. The best red velvet, hands down, I've ever had. My mouth is salivating as I type this review. Cannot wait to go back.
(5)Amy O.
Super impressed with this place. The ambiance was comfortable...the menu expansive. I had a great salad (smaller portion) and a bowl of the tomato soup. It was a perfect lunch and tasted excellent. My colleague ordered the reuben and loved it. He also had their homemade ginger ale and was delighted. Ordered another one (they don't refill on their sodas). Service was great. The only note is that their menu is super expansive. I recommend checking it out online first and have some ideas in mind.
(5)Brett H.
Amazing place. Met with a new client of mine. The restaurant is clean and I love their open plan feel. We had a couple of drinks and was sold on the Skirt Steak Enchilada. My client had the Prime Rib and Gazpachio....... For dessert we had the cookies and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Our waiter was friendly, informed and entertaining I would definitely be back.
(5)Louis G.
Sadly not as good as the original. The pot roast in particular wasn't up to snuff. I'll be sticking to DC from now on.
(3)Arthur K.
Good food. Slow service. Got the hot dog dish. Not bad I have to say. Bacon cheese hot dog was the least favorite. House-made pastrami hot dog was delicious. Apple Gorgonzola flat bread was delicious. Flat bread name is a bit misleading, its more like sliced toasted bread. The service was slow. Like real slow. And that's the general consensus between several friends that have gone in the last few weeks. Drinks took a long time. Orders took a long time. Food-to-table took a long time. I'm thinking they are just getting up to speed though.
(3)Jerry E.
I ordered prime rib for dinner and it was not "melt in my mouth" as I had expected, notwithstanding the fact I ordered medium rare. So, I was disappointed. Also, the halibut was mediocre, too, when comparing with those that we had in Anchorage, Alaska. The establishment deserves between two and three stars, and I gave it two because they refused to seat us for a table of five when only four were present, and one was trying to find a parking space. Service wise, was topnotch. Oh, be prepared to wait when you visit the place, not sure what all the hype is all about, other than their proclaimed freshness of their foods, organic, being friendly to our environment, etc.
(2)Candice H.
I came on a Sunday night and it wasn't too packed. My friend and I shared the biscuits (chow chow is great...I want a jar of that stuff in my house!). I had the maple glazed chicken which was really good. We got our food before we got our drinks which was a little annoying. All else, we had great service, good food, and a nice ambiance.
(4)Julie K.
We were able to get a reservation on line. Food was good. Nice variety of different foods. All staff we encountered were very friendly. We never felt rushed during or after our meal even on a Friday night. I know there was an hour wait for non-reservations. I would go back again.
(4)Caroline G.
The service at this place was awful, and serious points are mega deducted for this. This was my second visit, first for brunch. Our server was slow, and while she was nice and smiled, did not remember anything we wanted. We asked twice for ketchup, jam and syrup. She brought only syrup and asked us if she forgot anything. UHHHHH...YEA YOU FORGOT THE OTHER 2/3rds of what we wanted. In the meantime, while we were waiting for our ketchup and jam, our eggs and biscuits were getting cold. We saw her visit the table near us TWO times, without giving us another glance. In the end we had to flag down another server, who then promptly brought us what we needed. Second, we requested that our poached eggs be extra runny. It came well done. Since our server never came back to our table, we had to ask another server to have the eggs re-made. AND when the bill came, we were actually CHARGED for the two eggs. RIDICULOUS. Just saying, don't get your hopes up. It's nice to have a classier dining place in Rockville/Potomac, but they still have a ways to go to nail down the whole dining experience.
(2)Grace L.
I've been to the DC location and was disappointed by the food... but at the new Potomac location, I was disappointed by the service. I understand that it recently opened, so they are probably still working out the kinks. I made a reservation on Open Table for three people, and when my party arrived (right on time), the hostess said they were running 30 minutes behind and didn't seem to apologetic about it. When we did get seated, our server wasn't very good at recommending menu items. Someone I was dining with ordered soup, and when it came, it was the wrong kind of soup! He asked the server to bring him the right one, and the kitchen sent out the SAME one! Twice they got it wrong. It was very frustrating. I ordered the Rockfish, which was pretty good. I would perhaps try this place again once they figure out how to improve on their service.
(2)Lawrence H.
We've been here a few times and we'll be coming back. We haven't had anything on the menu that we haven't liked. That being said, it only gets 4 stars because there are some things we would like to see on the menu that they do not have. Try the bacon lollies, the shrimp & grits, and the milkshakes. You also can't go wrong with any of the burgers.
(4)Shelly N.
I love a good breakfast place and am glad to have made the trek to MD for breakfast. I checked Open Table for a reservation and was disappointed to only find one for 1:15pm --which meant we'd have to wait for more than an hour if it was full. I made the reservation and crossed my fingers we could squeeze in earlier since we were past the brunch crowd. When we arrived, it was busy but had a few empty tables so we lucked out and got a table right away. The staff were fantastic--very warm and friendly even though they were swamped with people at various stages of their meal. Our server even took extra time pointing out various items. The food was plentiful and tasty. I'll definitely be back since the menu had too many temptations to pick from. The presentation of each dish kept everyone's eyes staring at each others plates...it's always good to keep an eye out for what we'll try next time. I highly recommend the beignets and their dipping sauces. They didn't last long between the two of us. The restaurant was packed and quite noisy...not really a great place for a group to be able to carry on a conversation from one end of the table to the other.
(4)Tuesday's S.
Food is terrific. Just terrific. But the service really needs to be improved (and given the consistent sentiment in these reviews), it's a common occurrence. First visit, we both had the chicken & waffles, as well as the cornbread. The chicken was moist, delicious, just great. Waffles were great. Mac & cheese is the side and it's also terrific. I don't think the cornbread was worth it -- it was just OK, and not necessary with the volume of other food (except that the main dish took a while to arrive). Second visit, he had a chili cheese hot dog and a pastrami dog with fries. He enjoyed it (rolls were excellent), but would do the chicken and waffles again. I did the plank salmon, and it was really really good. But I would do the chicken and waffles again, too. So many other things look delicious on the menu as well - eager to try those. Service - We have gone mid-Saturday afternoon twice -- there were lots of other diners, but no line. On first visit, a woman who appeared to be the hostess said hi and then walked off without asking us anything further. We stood there a little confused when a second hostess came by about 3 minutes later. On both visits, the server was friendly and helpful, but disappeared for long stretches. It takes a while to get appetizers, drinks, entrees, bill. It's not a quick experience, and you won't see your server for a while. Ration your beverage - or get a water, too - because you might wait a long time for a refill. Is it because it takes so long to turn out the food, and the servers don't want to have to field questions about how long the food will take? There seem to be enough staff, and yet it's far from a well-oiled machine. I can't imagine going at a peak dining time. The food is fantastic, and we'll keep going back, but having a service overhaul or better systems in place would really help.
(4)