Founding Farmers

Founding Farmers is an American upscale-casual restaurant owned by North Dakota Farmers Union and Farmers Restaurant Group. The restaurant was founded in 2008 when Farmers Restaurant Group owners Dan Simons and Michael Vucurevich partnered up with North Dakota Farmers Union to open Founding Farmers on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Founding Farmers is the first Leed Gold Designed restaurant in Washington, D.C. The restaurant is headquartered in Kensington, MD and has locations in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Founding Farmers also has two sister restaurants, Farmers Fishers Bakers and Farmers & Distillers, both located in Washington, D.C.
History.
In 2005, members of North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) were interested in developing a restaurant where guests could have access to, and benefit from, food grown, raised, and harvested on American family farms. NDFU first started a restaurant called Agraria, which failed due to numerous factors. North Dakota Farmers Union soon partnered with restaurateurs, Dan Simons and Michael Vucurevich, and opened the first of their restaurants, Founding Farmers DC, in 2008.
Menu.
The menu varies slightly by location, each incorporating local tastes and trends. All of the food prepared in Founding Farmers kitchens is made in-house daily, and all locations are part of the Certified Green Restaurant® association. All bread is baked at their in-house bakery, with approximately 118,000 loaves baked per year. Their most popular items include: cornbread, chicken and waffles, grilled cheese with tomato soup, and bacon lollies. In 2013, Founding Farmers published a cookbook with 100 of their menu items. Their bar has gained recognition for their pre-prohibition style cocktails, wine, and craft beer.
Reviews.
Travel and Leisure Magazine named Founding Farmers “The Best Farm-To-Table” in Washington, D.C. In 2015, Founding Farmers gained recognition in the New York Times for their gender-neutral restrooms. In early 2011, Chef Robert Irvine discusses Founding Farmers’ Devilish-Eggs on Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”. In June 2016, popular food critic Tom Sietsema reviewed Founding Farmers in The Washington Post, Founding Farmers review, Zero stars for the mega-popular D.C. eatery. Founding Farmers Sets DC Record For Number of Yelp Reviews
Locations.
In 2019, Founding Farmers has five locations throughout the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area and King of Prussia, PA. Founding Farmers also has two sister restaurants, Farmers Fishers Bakers and Farmers & Distillers, both located in Washington, D.C.