Founding Farmers DC — Restaurant in Washington

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Founding Farmers Restaurant in Washington DC, and I must say, it was an outstanding experience from start to finish. From the warm welcome at the entrance to the exceptional service provided by our server, Dwayne, every aspect of our visit was impeccable.

The atmosphere at Founding Farmers is inviting and cozy, with a rustic yet modern charm that sets the stage for a memorable meal. The menu is a delightful blend of farm-to-table ingredients, and it's evident that the culinary team takes great care in sourcing their ingredients locally.

Now, let me turn your attention to Dwayne, our server, who truly elevated our dining experience. From the moment he greeted us with a friendly smile, he demonstrated a deep knowledge of the menu and made excellent recommendations based on our preferences. He was attentive without being intrusive, ensuring that our glasses were never empty and that every course was served at the perfect pace.

One highlight of our meal was the delectable dishes that Dwayne suggested. The food was not only beautifully presented but also bursting with flavor as well as the drinks. I highly recommend trying the bourbon mule, skillet cornbread, and ham, Apple & Peas Macaroni & Cheese all were exceptional.

What truly made our evening unforgettable, however, was Dwayne's thoughtful gesture in helping us celebrate our friend's birthday. As the dessert menu arrived, Dwayne appeared with a scrumptious birthday dessert, complete with a lit candle and a heartfelt birthday wish. Our friend was overjoyed, and it added a special touch to the evening.

Throughout the evening, Dwayne anticipated our needs and provided top-notch service. His passion for his work and dedication to ensuring our satisfaction were truly remarkable. It's evident that he takes pride in his role as a server, and it made our dining experience all the more enjoyable.

In addition to the fantastic food and service, Founding Farmers Restaurant also impressed us with its commitment to sustainability and supporting local farmers. This added depth to our overall experience, knowing that we were supporting a restaurant with such a commendable ethos.

In conclusion, our visit to Founding Farmers Restaurant in Washington DC, with Dwayne as our server, was a culinary journey filled with flavors, warmth, and hospitality. I wholeheartedly recommend this establishment to anyone seeking an exceptional dining experience in the nation's capital. We left with full stomachs, smiles on our faces, and beautiful memories of a birthday celebration made truly special.

Thank you, Founding Farmers, and thank you, Dwayne, for making our evening and our friend's birthday celebration...

Everyone’s experience is different but when the food is mediocre and pricy, people should know. Perhaps the food is better for brunch because dinner is not it. I came to this restaurant because it was mentioned in a few videos on YouTube when I was researching where to eat as a first time visitor in Washington DC. After walking 17,000 steps on Saturday, I was looking for something good to eat right away at 5p that will hold me through the night. After looking at the menu and seeing a review that said dinner was great I had my mindset to go. Ordered a platter and a fish combo to share, nothing came hot. The portions were very small for $30 each and nooo real taste. Platter had, 2 bone ribs, 1 fried chicken, street corn, 2 hamburger slider, coleslaw. Ribs were extremely cold, not even warm. Chicken had no flavor- it was a deboned chicken thighs or something could not make it out. the slider had hopes but bread was dry and the cheese non existing. Street corn and coleslaw was fine, where I had to add these to the slider for taste. For the real disappointing part the fish combo. 1 whitening fish, 1 crab cake, fries, 4 shrimp, coleslaw. The fish was a small piece that I’ve seen at a buffet line on a cruise, half the size of a palm. The fish had no flavor nor did the coating, not even salt. Fried shrimp was soo overcooked it was sooo white, seems like they took cocktail shrimp and fried it. The crab cake taste like hushpuppies had no flavor neither did the batter which was very crisp making it hard to know it was a crab cake. The fries were the only hot and decent thing but got cold very quickly. If everything was a fried, the batter should at least have flavor. Even the tarter sauce lacked taste for the fish, I had to add the coleslaw. I thought it was just a small portion on my plate but the customer next to me plate looked the same. It’s the food quality for me, the lack of flavor. By the pictures you can see that things were just thrown on the plate. The only reason I give it 2 star was it gave me a chance to eat different things but I would not order them separately if that was how it taste. I’m very disappointed in the taste and the hype that was on the internet, I was better off at a whole in the wall spot. I had to eat it because i was low on energy. Since I didn’t know the Washington DC standards of food taste I paid my bill and left. If anything, please do something about those 2 entrees. I will not recommend this entrees. Perhaps other customers will find...

Full honest review!

Can I tell you… of all the places we’ve gone to, on a whim or scheduled, this place was the best food I’ve EVER consumed. Our hotel front desk ladies gave us a list of places we had to try, and circled this one first. Looking at the menu, I was sold. I love what they stand for and how creative they are with their recipes.

“Breads, chips, crisps” - holy moly, the flavors were everything! Felt like I’d never tasted something so enjoyable. I’d say they give too many chips and not enough bread and crisps, which just went better with the spreads. But who cares, we still ate it all!

“Chicken bolognese and bucatini” - wow, wow, wow! The flavors were the best bolognese we’ve ever tried, but the freshness of the pasta was life-changing. Every bite was savored immensely.

“Goat cheese ravioli and chicken cutlet” - THE BEST DISH I’VE EVER HAD! This was my choice, and though I’ve generally had good luck choosing a great dish, this one tops them ALL. The goat cheese was smooth and creamy, the pasta perfectly al dente, the sweetness of the pecan praline butter with the richness of the goat cheese and the warmth of the butternut squash purée, all of it came together to make such a vibrant dish. My tastebuds were in absolute bliss. ultimate chefs kiss SERIOUSLY this is the dish to get.

And don’t be fooled by my photos! The portions were incredible! Designed to be savored, and I tell ya, IT WAS SAVORED. Thank you for being a great place to dine, especially only being in the area for the evening.

Okay… so… we ate at the bar, and the only small negative was that the bartenders didn’t really pay us much attention. We couldn’t figure out if we had a single bartender or if we could ask something from any of them. We were ready to order for a bit, but felt passed over. Had to personally request a food menu, but couldn’t snag a bartender! Lol!

Felt a little less personal and personable than places of similar caliber. No single bartender said their names, and when I ordered a drink with light or white rum, NO dark rum as my preference, it arrived and tasted “off” to me. My hubby tried it and said it was definitely dark rum. Had him finish it since I hate the taste. But mistakes happen. It was a fairly busy evening at the bar. Won’t hold it against ya 😉

Would ABSOLUTELY return for the spectacular food. I’d spend every penny I earn at this restaurant if there was one near me at home...