Founding Farmers Alexandria — Restaurant in Alexandria

This was my first time at a Founding Farmers.

The good: We arrived at 645 for a 715 reservation and were seated almost immediately. The host was really nice. The decor is lovely and comfortable. The cafe area is very inviting, though we did not try it out, and all of the pastries looked amazing. Also parking was super easy, and free (on Sunday).

The bad (and not so bad): We were seated and given menus. After several minutes a server came over, introduced herself, apologized for the wait and offered to get our drinks. We ordered two iced teas, a soda and a water. The soda came out quickly. The other drinks came minutes later. Several more minutes go by. Our biscuit appetizer comes and it was delicious. Several more minutes go by. Finally a waiter comes over and tells us that he is our actual server but he is waiting on another table to pay their bill and once they do he will come back and take our order. He comes back a few minutes later to take our order. At this point probably 30 mins has passed. We order, or attempt to they were out of rotisserie chicken and chicken pot pies. They actually said they just ran out of pot pies, which was disappointing because we had been waiting to order for probably 15 minutes. We go to plan B and order, then we wait, and wait, and wait. Another 30 mins passes. We see food go to a table that was seated probably 20 minutes after us. Our waiter notices us and says our food is coming. Finally our food comes, but only 3 of our 4 orders arrives. We got the lemon shrimp pasta- it was good but a very small portion, the chicken salad sandwich- also good and a huge portion, and a steak- it was supposed to be medium well but came out medium rare. It was for a 12 year old, and he just couldn’t eat it, though he tried. The fried chicken still hadn’t come another 5 mins later. A manager stops by and apologizes. He was very nice, a little frazzled, and he said he would check on it. We told him that at this point we had been there for over an hour. Several more minutes go by and finally the chicken comes. It was delicious. Honestly, it was really good. Our server was again apologetic. I ended up getting a free donut because I asked for the donut instead of the waffle and ended up getting both, and the donut was awesome (or so the 12 year old said).

Takeaways- The long wait and not so amazing service seemed like growing pains. They are new and learning and they handled all of the problems with our table really well. The food was tasty. The menu has so many options that we all had a hard time choosing. We will definitely return…in a few months when all the wrinkles...

I recently visited the Founding Farmers location in Alexandria, VA, and unfortunately, it did not live up to the standard I’ve come to expect from the brand. I’ve dined at both D.C. locations and was genuinely excited to have a new one open in my city. We decided to celebrate my husband’s birthday there on a Tuesday evening—when the restaurant wasn’t overly busy and the pace seemed manageable.

After being seated for about 15 minutes, our server took both our drink and food orders. We ordered the steak frites, onion rings, the Founders Salad (if I recall the name correctly), and the Southern Carbonara without bacon.

When the food arrived, I thanked the server, but once she walked away, I found myself staring at the plates in disbelief, trying not to ruin the moment for my husband. The steak frites—priced at nearly $30—consisted of three small, tough pieces of meat that didn’t resemble steak in texture or quality. The salad was fresh and well-prepared, and the onion rings were probably the most accurate and enjoyable item we received.

The Southern Carbonara, however, was a major letdown. It arrived in a small bowl, and the pasta had clearly been sitting out for some time. When I inserted my fork, the entire clump lifted as one solid mass. The sauce had curdled, and the taste was overwhelmingly oily with Parmesan—more reminiscent of a failed Alfredo than a proper carbonara. It appeared the egg component, which gives carbonara its signature texture, was completely missing.

For a $130 meal, this experience was deeply disappointing and certainly not reflective of the quality I’ve had at the other Founding Farmers locations. I hope this is just a misstep for a new location still finding its footing, but unfortunately, it left a poor impression on what was supposed to be a...

Absolutely Outstanding Service from Danny N at Founding Farmers Alexandria!

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Founding Farmers Alexandria at 461 Swann Avenue, and while they were unfortunately out of the specific meal I had come in to place a takeout order for, the incredible service I received from an employee named Danny N more than made up for it.

From the moment I arrived, Danny N made me feel incredibly welcome. His hospitality was truly exceptional – he was so friendly and warm, creating a genuinely inviting atmosphere. Even though the item I wanted for takeout wasn't available, he was incredibly apologetic and helpful in suggesting alternatives. He went above and beyond to ensure I still found something I liked and was so accommodating with my revised order. The food I ended up with was absolutely delicious!

What truly impressed me was an unexpected gesture of kindness. Even though they were out of my initial order (which can happen!), Danny N proactively offered me a complimentary drink without me even having to mention anything. This level of thoughtfulness and genuine care is rare and truly made my experience memorable, especially considering the initial disappointment.

Danny N is an absolute asset to the Founding Farmers Alexandria team. He is an amazing host, incredibly friendly, and provided a warm welcome that made me feel like a valued guest, even when my initial request couldn't be fulfilled. His attention to detail and proactive approach to customer satisfaction are truly commendable.

I will definitely be returning to Founding Farmers Alexandria, and I will be sure to look for Danny N. Thank you for such a positive experience. Oh also make sure you get the mini smash burgers and eat them when they land in front of you they’re amazing!!!!!...