Founding Farmers Alexandria

We made it to the grand opening of this Alexandria location at 7am and it was incredible! The place is very beautiful and the food of course was absolutely delicious. We love Founding Farmers in DC and are so excited there is now one here in Alexandria close to our home. The staff was wonderful, full of smiles, and positive and it was really nice to see how excited everyone was for the grand opening. I was very happy to see the line was wrapped around the block. I was hoping we could get the 1-year free coffee deal for being among the first 100 people here but I think that was for people waiting in line and not those who made a reservation like we did...oh well :/. Regardless, we had an amazing relaxing breakfast and that's all that matters. I wish this place the best of luck and I know they will be bringing lots of life and joy to the neighborhood. Thank you so much for coming to Alexandria. And a special shout-out to our wonderful waitress, Asia. What an incredibly kind and sweet person to greet you early in the morning :) One more great thing about this place are the bathrooms. They are set up exactly in the way all bathrooms should be, a common room full of individually fully closed stalls just like they do in Europe. The stupid cultural battles around bathrooms in this country are ridiculous and Founding Farmers was smart to design their bathrooms in a way that accommodates ALL its customers. Good job FF!

Having enjoyed numerous meals at other Founding Farmers restaurants, we had high hopes for the Alexandria location. Regrettably, our experience fell short. The service was notably slow, and we encountered significant issues with menu availability; none of our chosen appetizers were available, and we were steered towards sushi, which didn't align with our dining intentions. The extended 45-minute wait for our entrees was exacerbated by the staff's persistent attempts to upsell drinks. While the brisket, falafel burger, and onion rings offered the expected Founding Farmers flavor, other dishes were underwhelming. The coleslaw was bland, and the salad with unseasoned shrimp on iceberg lettuce was overpriced and tasteless. Furthermore, we observed inconsistencies in portion sizes for the same signature platter ordered by our group. And the donuts were good

First and last time here!! I ordered fisher fried combo, for crispy shrimp i got only fried batter but the shrimp inside was raw I tried to tell the manager and he argued with me like I didn't know the food, saying it was fried shrimp.Yes i know what i ordered!!! but i m telling you that the shrimp inside is undercooked, the batter coating outside is crispy and hard!! The restaurant is beautiful, the staffs seem friendly and enthusiastic I was a little impressed, but the food was so terrible!!

I visited a few days before opening for brunch with a small group of friends. This is a beautiful location! The menu is extensive and appealing. Service was quick, especially given that the entire team was technically still in training. The waiters who served us were extremely warm, knowledgeable and attentive and food arrived from the kitchen in a timely manner. My Good All Green salad was very tasty although it was a bit more minty than I would have liked. The portions were HUGE so I had enough for lunch the next day! One thing that really impressed me was how on the ball the wait staff was -- dishes arrived at the table piping hot. A manager also stopped by to make sure we were having a good experience. I look forward to dining here again!

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 are ironed out.

I am a long time Founding Farmers fan enjoying its sites in DC, truly relishing the opening of the Founding Farmers in Alexandria Virginia, just over the Arlington line in northern Virginia. The location is perfectly located on a street corner, that has street parking along with parking under the restaurant, accessible just off the #1. The location as ample seating- inside and out. The entry door is located convenient to the pastry and other items order to carry out. The Concierge stand is straight ahead to the right. All the way to the right is the bar which offers seating too. Intimate seating is straight ahead as are the bathrooms which is one for all (just pick the seats up guys for the dolls.) There is an eagle flying above patrons heads. Hang a left heading towards the main street, there is the sunroom which features an amazing handmade table from the Ukraine, with flowers embedded in it, a wonder to behold. The pastries are OUT OF THIS WORLD. The staff are the nicest people you want to spend time in your day with. All photos are copyrighted me only to be used if I grant handwritten permission. Have an amazing visit. By the way, I ordered the almond croissant. What an incredible way to spend calories in. Grin......

Had the lemon pasta, tequila shrimp, brisket sandwich and steak and enchiladas. Everything was delicious and big portions! We were full so took dessert to go and the churro and smores donuts were amazing. Can’t wait to try the cookie dough croissant!

Opening night at founding farmers really turned out to be a success. Our server Ari was attentive, professional and personable. The food was fresh and delicious as always. The ambiance was so beautiful. So happy they are so close to home now. We will most definitely be coming back on a regular basis!

We checked out the new founding farmers in Alexandria today for brunch. Gorgeous restaurant, they've added sushi & ceviche offerings to the menu. The ahi tuna & avacado ceviche was amazing. Crab cake Sandwich was deep fried, nothing a bit of old bay couldn't fix. Fries were good. The espresso martini flight was yum. Drinks were great. It'd be great if they can add a la carte side options to the menu. Restaurant was packed. There's free 2 hour parking in the garage adjacent, with validation. Definitely need a reservation. I'll be back soon.

Excited for the opening. Unimpressed with the result. Been to the Georgetown location several times so went for Sunday Brunch. No buffet. Guess that disappointment was on me. I failed to see the 'a la cart' fine print. Had the Eggs Benedict. Eggs were overcooked (might have been good when plated but left under a heat lamp got hard and the hollandaise developed a skin). Side of grits. Do not recommend. I've had course found grits but these were the texture of oatmeal. Not very flavorful. Waiter said he's had other people make the same comment. Son in Law wanted steak and eggs but the server said they were out. This is 30 minutes after they opened and they are out of breakfast steak?? He had chicken and waffles. Said the gravy wasn't good at all. Grandkids had pancakes. They were good and a plentiful. A kids menu would be nice. Or be able to order just one pancake. Way too much food for kids. Crowded. Took us an hour to order and get our food. Better to go to the Georgetown location.

This is a great addition to Alexandria. The vibe is great. I recommend you make a reservation if you want to sit for dinner. We went on a Friday night. The bar was full and the restaurant was filling up. We had a party of four in a booth. We were able to order our drinks right away. The server was patient with us. We had a little catching up to do. It took a bit to order our food but we finally decided. The cornbread skillet was delicious and moist. The fried green tomatoes with green goddess sauce were tasty. I ordered the skirt steak and it was amazing. It had that grill taste and was cooked just like I asked. My friends enjoyed their meals of fried chicken, gnocchi and the half chicken. With one drink a piece it came to $200 for the four of us. I thought that was pretty reasonable since going out to eat is getting more expensive. Overall, wonderful experience with attentive service and delicious food. I would love to try their cafe dessert choice the next time I'm there. They also validate parking for the garage.

It's so nice to have a founding farmers location in Alexandria! I was excited to try it out. The restaurant is so bright and airy and the decor is beautiful. There's parking in the garage around the corner as well as street parking. The staff were extremely friendly but it was clear that the training among them was inconsistent. It seems they are still working out the kinks. Our server was sweet but she was not able to answer any of our questions and didn't seem knowledgeable about the menu. She shared that they "didn't have" certain things and then would come back and let us know that they did in fact have that item. They were also "out" of man items including pancakes, onion rings, and cinnamon rolls. Maybe it was just a particular busy weekend but it seemed strange to be out of pancakes completely! The food itself was decent. I loved the mimosa flights! Great value. We started out with the spinach dip which was very good and the devilish eggs which were just ok. I ordered basic farmers breakfast which was good but wished I had 1 more piece of bacon (I only got 2) for the price paid. One of my friends had the Chicken and waffles dinner platter and enjoyed her food. The Mac and cheese was great. Another friend had the smash burger and said it was delicious! Overall I had an ok experience. I'd like to come back once they've been here for a little longer and have gotten a better handle on the demand.

Welcome to Alexandria, FF! Founding Farmers is known for being farmer-owned and for their scratch-made items. Their menu includes breakfast/lunch, lunch, dinner, weekday HH, and desserts! We ordered some items from their bakery section: +a ham & cheese croissant - too much bread with minced-like ham inside; could have had the bechamel and the cheese spread more evenly throughout +a cinnamon roll - this was moist and had the perfect amount of icing +strawberry cheesecake donut - could have had a bit more filling of the cheesecake +churro donut - this was filled with chocolate, which was just okay +glazed donut with sprinkles - a bit too plain for me +s'mores donut - really enjoyed this one; satisfies your chocolate cravings! +a maple donut - this was just okay +and, a Founding Farmers Friendship Blend coffee - piping hot, which I appreciated, but could be a bit stronger The management were friendly, but they should have had better control and be more firm - there were people waiting in line, but there were some individuals who felt entitled to just cut in at the front, thinking they could just order 'quickly' (which they didn't), and still took advantage of opening day. All staff behind the bakery case should be required to wear gloves, which should be a non-negotiable - one chose not to, which was gross, and not sure why she was not reprimanded. Probably opening kinks, but checking out took too much time, and the line moved painstakingly slow. Located off of Swann, there's a retail garage and limited street parking available. +PLEASE USE GLOVES! +s'mores donut +cinnamon roll

9pm- Well, that was a bad opening night. (In 12 hours this went from 5 stars to two!) Recommend the bar & bakery, and the appetizers, which were very good. Drinks including the red wine & my gin martini were excellent. Main entrées were a total disaster. Here are the details... it is a roller coaster ride. Came in with a 7:30 dinner reservation & told it would be 15 minutes late. At 8pm a confused host took us to an occupied table. So we ended up in a loud area where the waitress seemed to be overbooked. We had long waits between visits in a very loud area, that while decorated well... We walked away disappointed. I had a martini (up), spouse had a glass of the founders wine, & teen had Arnold Palmer iced tea - all of which were good, well flavored and the tea came with free refills. Yay. We ordered our entrées and appetizers - the shrimp avocado sushi roll appetizer was extremely good that had fresh sliced avocado and fried shrimp, nori - with cucumber & very nice sauces. Very nice flavor to it. Good sauces to go along with it and nicely presented. Then we got to the entrées, which were so bad- I can't even describe it accurately. The fried chicken in the farmer's platter was tasteless. The barbecue ribs were essentially steamed with some BBQ sauce thrown over it. The brisket was like a bad beef pot roast . And my jambalaya was so overcooked- it was pathetic. The shrimp were the only edible part of the entree. The rice & chicken were like a congee, and the andoiulle was burned black & just thrown on top with some pickled hot peppers. I'll avoid that until the chef brings me a replacement & an apology. I really don't know what the cooks were thinking, but that mains part of the meal with the replacement fettuccine carbonara (which was a mis-delivery at first, and probably was someone else's red sauce dish) was just so horrid - that I can't recommend the mains at all. So we had miscues on all three of the main entree items that were delivered. No manager check in. No ask if the food was good. Overall table service was acceptable, given a opening night, but there were very long periods of waiting for a waitress to come back and check on us. And we had to wait for things that were reasonable asks. Just sort of surprised and disappointed by the way the night ended. Was asked on exiting how it went, and I had to say it was bad- and there was no attempt by anyone to comp anything. Or ask for details. I got the impression they knew there were opening night problems. As we left, I had to apologize to my family for the evening. Feeling so let down. They were patient & understanding... but I am so saddened by the extreme drop from my first night expectations. ------ 7am-Highly Recommended! (5 stars) 7th in line this morning for grand opening at 7am! Staff were very polite & glad to see well over 200 patrons in line! Got coffee, a maple bourbon doughnut (very yummy!) and 4 chocolate croissants for the fam. (They loved them!) All great, and reasonably priced. (Plus the first 100 got free coffee for a year with food purchase & we got a free tote! - FYSA: Those at the bakery used gloves & had their hair up... so...‍ ;) Interior was bright, spacious and well decorated with many interesting features- including a fully stocked bar near the entrance. Definitely lively yet relaxing. Noise level was reasonable, and outside seating on the sidewalk patio was ample. (bit noisy as its next to US Rt 1) Returning tonight for dinner... so more soon!

Had lunch today at Founding Farmers Alexandria with my mother, and let me just say--it was an absolute delight from start to finish. This was our first time at this location since it opened earlier this month, and they have truly hit the ground running. From the moment we walked in (after making a reservation), everything was seamless. They were ready to receive us, and we were seated at a great table right away. Service? Impeccable. And a special shoutout to Amber, our amazing server, who was on top of everything! She was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed without missing a beat. Honestly, the longest part of our visit was us trying to decide what to order--because the menu is massive (in the best way). When we finally made up our minds, the food came out quickly and was absolutely delicious. I went for the Southern Fried Chicken with mac & cheese and string beans (chef's kiss), while my mom had the crabcake with onion rings (she hasn't stopped raving about it). The best part? Our total bill came in under $60--which is a steal for the portions and quality. And because we have zero willpower around good food, we walked out with $25 worth of pastries (totally worth it). This was our first visit, but definitely not our last. Huge props to the team, especially Amber, for an excellent experience. We'll be back!

This is their 2nd week opening and I like it more than the one in DC. We had brunch with sparkling flight and espresso martini flight and everything was awesome. Service is 5/5. The vibe is nicer than the one in DC and Georgetown. Totally will be back.

I love how Founding Farmers continues to expand!!! I've been to all of their other locations in VA, DC and MD and was excited to try the new Alexandria location today for brunch with my mom and sister. Upon arrival, we checked in with the hostess and our reservations were honored quickly. We were seated in a nice booth and our waiter came soon after to greet us. We started with onion rings and their crab and artichoke dip. Both were delicious. For entrees we enjoyed the breakfast street tacos with hash browns, shrimp and grits and a side of pancakes ( not pictured) for the table. The dishes were all great. The only thing I wish this location had was the brunch buffet. The locations in Georgetown and Tyson's Corner do! Here are some additional perks, the decor is fabulous, staff are very friendly, great location, and there is street and garage parking. You can't beat that!! Can't wait to return to try lunch and dinner!!

Founding Farmers is a wonderful recent addition to the Potomac Yard neighborhood and this area of Alexandria. While aesthetically impressive, the restaurant suffers from excessive noise levels near the windows, impacting the overall ambiance. An alternative, and noticeably quieter seating area is in the interior section, directly behind the host stand. The service was lackluster at best, but once the opening kinks are ironed out, it should be fantastic. To provide a timely review, the kitchen, waitstaff, and bakery must improve their coordination and timing. A biscuit for a fried chicken dinner should not arrive before the appetizers are served. Food expeditors must learn table numbers to avoid aimless wandering within the restaurant. Main course for one person came out ahead of the rest, and that item circled the restaurant a couple times because waitstaff did not know where it was to go. We figured it was ours as we watched the parade. The temperature of the food was suboptimal. The spinach dip was lukewarm, far from bubbling out of the oven. The fried chicken was served in small portions and lacked sufficient temperature. The Chicken Milanese was excessively oily.

I've given this establishment 2 visits this week and unfortunately, it doesn't measure up to basic standards. I recently stopped by for a quick bite at the bar and waited 30 minutes for a cold chili dog and onion rings. In addition, the barista didn't acknowledge that my food had been ready for several minutes. It was obviously cold and not prepared well. The manager did nothing and made me feel like I was inconveniencing her, meanwhile I completely wasted my lunch break. My order two days prior was also cold and made incorrectly. The banana crème pie was by far the worst I've ever had. Poor food and bad service. I'll likely never pay this restaurant another visit. Total awfulness.

I love that this place is huge, gigantic and full of open space! It is decorated strategically where you can have as though you're in an open cafe or having an intimate bite to eat. It literally serves the perfect aesthetic for any time of the day and any occasion. My server was absolutely a pleasure. She was so sweet and helpful which goes a longggg way! I think she told me her name was Asia and if that's not right, it's something along the lines. I'll definitely be back to this location.

Had the best time during brunch with my family! Food, service and ambiance were all spot on. Loved all of the options available during brunch - we got the cinnamon rolls and a ceviche to start. Really something for everyone! We are looking forward to going back for lunch or dinner soon, and will DEFINITELY be leaving with muffins and donuts again. Oh and the espresso martini is a 10/10.

Definitely try the peanut butter mousse pie, it's stellar! The interior feels fantastic, lots of fun elements to find - knit animals, felt eagles and great lighting.

Pleased to have Founding Farmers in Alexandria. The upscale casual ambience is welcoming and our server, Gaby, was very nice. The food is tasty and priced in line with other establishments in the area. The cornbread appetizer is delicious. Street parking is limited but validation is provided for an under ground lot around the corner.

I want to start by saying the wait staff was super sweet. However, I ordered the Fried Chicken and Roasted Corn Salad, and when the salad arrived, it had caramel popcorn and no fried chicken. I thought I might have missed that ingredient when I was reading the menu, but alas, no caramel popcorn to be found. When I asked our waiter about it, he also seemed confused. He took my salad back, but returned with fried chicken and said, "the caramel popcorn is supposed to be on there". I cannot shake the fact that this cannot be true. The salad has a chipotle drizzle with cotija cheese, neither of which taste great with caramel popcorn. I honestly just felt gaslit by the whole situation and would love to know if that is a real ingredient on this salad or not.

Excited to try the newest Founding Farmers in Alexandria. A super convenient location for a beautiful new series of apartment developments near downtown. Had to take a late reservation cuz it appeared other folks had the same idea. We were used to the reliability of the food and service at the multiple locations around DC. We were seated immediate for our reserved time. The restaurant was bright with a few country touches. The bar near the front door appeared to be well utilized. Not a seat available. Otherwise nothing over the top... I was kinda hoping for a memorable punch of "something" to make the location memorable... Ah well.... Maybe the food would do it. Waiter was nice. Brought water, reasonably attentive. Appeared to still be learning the menu, but hey, it's new for everybody... started with the garlic chicken wings. Nice portion, about 10 wing drummetts.... NO FLATS.... BoOoO... cooked pretty dark.... Actually OVERCOOKED.... dry.... Thank goodness for the lime on the side to help enhance the flavors and get past the lack of sauce or flavor....not what I was hoping for..... Left a few on the plate with hopes the entrees would be better. The Hubs ordered the Farmers platter, NOPE, fresh out.... Meat loaf, DURN.... Another big ZERO.... Finally settled on the Beef Tenderloin.... Nothing remarkable. Average portion.... Looked a little burnt.... Hubs assures me it was "pretty good". I got the Shrimp and Walnut Pesto Linguini.... I wanted the corn bread, but once again, the big NADA... durn.... The Linguini was a nice portion. Couple of shrimp, not many. Better eat it quick tho. Linguini pesto sauce and pasta seized up pretty fast. Pasta was definitely overcooked. Meh.... Stopped to the counter to make up for the less than stellar meal to pick up a couple of cookies. Good, but kinda small. Better at Panera... bigger. Average or less, meal and we both expected much, much better....I hope, as this location seasons, the food will IMPROVE and make sure they don't run out of their popular dishes... maybe next time.... IF we go back....

Love this new location! I've gone a few times since opening and every time it's better and better. Loved the sushi wonton tacos and the herb roasted chicken salad with the blueberry croutons, next level! 10/10

The food was excellent, the staff was super friendly and helpful and the cocktails were delicious! We had a wonderful dining experience at Founding Farmers Alexandria and will be back soon!

Since opening, I've gone to Founding Farmers for brunch and dinner, and it's great every time! Service and food were fabulous. So excited to have a Founding Farmers closer to home!

I had an amazing meal at the new Founding Farmers location in Alexandria! The interior is gorgeous and was so thoughtfully designed. We visited for lunch and started off with some delicious sushi rolls and some sushi wonton tacos. For my main meal I had the Warm Rotisserie Chicken & Herbs Salad - the blueberry muffin croutons are to die for!!! Had the a great experience here with friendly, attentive service. You have to visit their Bakery before you leave - the chocolate is amazing. Can't wait to go back and try their brunch & new brunch drinks!!!

The food is sooooo good. Especially love the ceviche, the biscuits, the espresso martini flight, the lattes, the cakes, the pies, the candy to go ( yes, I have a sweet tooth). Wait staff and hosts were excellent. It's been incredibly busy since it opened, and we can see why.

Leilani is new to the Farm and did a wonderful job. She was friendly and a great server. Welcome to the DMV and keep up the good work.