Founding Farmers Restaurant Chain Considering Boston Expansion | Eater Boston

"Based near Washington, D.C., Founding Farmers is a farmer-owned restaurant brand majority-owned by more than 47,000 farmers and part of Farmers Restaurant Group (which also includes Farmers Fishers Bakers, Farmers & Distillers, and the Founding Spirits distillery). Its origin began in 2005 when the North Dakota Farmers Union mobilized to bring produce directly to consumers, and union president Mark Watne — a fourth‑generation farmer — partnered with restaurant veterans Mike Vucurevich and Dan Simons to launch the concept and source ingredients through the farmers’ network. Menus include soups and salads, house-made breads and spreads, pasta, burgers (including an Impossible Burger version), sandwiches, steak, seafood, and chicken, and the King of Prussia location even has an adjoining café and creamery. The DC locations have a strong fanbase — Eater DC called the five‑year‑old spot “one of the toughest” reservations in town — though Washington Post critic Tom Sietsema gave harsh reviews (a half‑star in 2012 and zero stars in 2016) while praising the “homey” mashed potatoes; the restaurant publicly thanked customers, cited strong OpenTable reviews, and vowed to continuously strive for improvement, and customer reviews across online platforms remain overwhelmingly positive. The company is currently exploring Boston‑area real estate (Meaghan O’Shea confirmed the search, aided by Needham-based broker Bialow Real Estate), but any Boston opening is in early stages and not expected for at least a couple of years." - Dana Hatic