Founding Farmers Reston Station

We had an excellent breakfast at this restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. The farm-to-table concept was fantastic, with each dish made from locally grown, fresh, perfectly cooked ingredients. The coffee was also great, and the service was excellent. The ambiance was perfect and added to our overall unique dining experience. We highly recommend this restaurant for a family breakfast, and we plan on trying the weekend brunch buffet next time.

This chain continues to set the bar for prime dining out experience. Having been here before for a quick drink this was my first time sitting down to eat. Victoria was an amazing waitperson and was super attentive and incredibly friendly. The food, as always was incredible and the alcohol menu had my favorite mixed drink (which I've never seen offered anywhere else). The dessert here is so good that, even as stuffed as I was, I just had to order a slice of pie. I really can't sing this place's praises enough. If you're in Reston come here, if you see one somewhere else, go there.

So I have been there two time before my last visit today, and I don’t think I’ll do it again ! I took my wife for the first time for her because I really did enjoy the couple times I was there, the food was good and the service was great but today it was really disappointing! My wife food arrived first my food was late, I ordered steak medium but came well done and dry, I also added a crab cake with my order which never came and when I asked the server about it he said will be here any minute , but the surprise when I asked to cancel the side order because I almost finished my food which got cold waiting, the server with long hair( I think his name was Justin ) his cold response was “ok” without even apologizing, his attitude was not so professional about it and his looks to me were very strange and clearly he was treating me different I don’t understand why. Regardless my two stars review is mainly for the bad experience especially when I had high expectations after my first couple visits.

We’ve gone here many, many times. Multiples birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations. We’re blessed to live in Reston with so many fantastic restaurants right here, and Founding Farmers Reston Station is our favorite of them all. For the atmosphere, menu, food quality, and service, it’s been an excellent experience every time.

We went for Easter Brunch but it’s worth mentioning that they have the same brunch every Sunday. We had a reservation (essential for holidays) and were seated within 5 minutes of checking in. The waiter poured water, left a bottle of water for the table, took drink orders and explained the buffet system as soon as we were seated. We all ordered speciality coffees but the cocktail menu was very tempting. Prices for both are roughly the same as elsewhere in the area. The buffet line was long but moved quickly. The food is simply excellent. Standouts were the pancakes with bananas foster topping, the crispy juicy fried chicken, the candied bacon skewers, the perfectly crispy hash browns and the ham. Dessert favorites were the freshly made mini donuts and the array of cookies. It’s all you can eat, but with the line we noticed quite a few people filling up 2 plates at once to save lining up again. It’s a very large space with high ceilings and plenty of seating. Cute fantasy farm theme with laundry on a line, a giant pink gopher (we think), walls of sculptural flowers and butterflies. There’s also a large outdoor patio with even more seating and a long bar area separated from the dining area by a partition. Waitstaff were very friendly and our waiter checked up on us several times, bringing fresh water and condiments. This is definitely one of the best values locally as far as brunch buffets go. There is valet parking (pull up to the airstream trailer that’s the valet stand). There is also garage parking, 3 hours free for diners. Don’t forget to get your ticket validated. Same parking garage as for the Metro. Overall great experience. Highly recommend.

An absolute must go for delicious food. This unique restaurant offers hand crafted sodas, with almost 90% of the menu is house-made. We received wonderful service from our very informative and friendly server. Don't feel overwhelmed by the many options offered, Just politely ask, and servers would be more than happy to provide suggestions. My hot-honey crispy chicken was delicious came with cheddar grits. I finished my meal with the all-American dessert apple pie and ice cream.

A must try for fresh, delicious food. From the moment we walked in, we knew it would be a different experience. We were greeted with a warm welcome and our server was excellent and attentive. She gave recommendations when asked and can't overlook the fact that everything is made fresh in house. Even the sweet tea was different. My only issue was the coldslaw lacked flavor but everything else made up for it. I highly recommend visiting anytime as they are open everyday.

Had a positive experience at this location in Reston! Food is fresh and drinks are prepared well, biggedt downside is it's pretty expensive (mixed drinks were minimum $14+, cheapest beers were $6-7) If you drive make sure to get parking validated.

We went for Easter Brunch but it's worth mentioning that they have the same brunch every Sunday. We had a reservation (essential for holidays) and were seated within 5 minutes of checking in. The waiter poured water, left a bottle of water for the table, took drink orders and explained the buffet system as soon as we were seated. We all ordered speciality coffees but the cocktail menu was very tempting. Prices for both are roughly the same as elsewhere in the area. The buffet line was long but moved quickly. The food is simply excellent. Standouts were the pancakes with bananas foster topping, the crispy juicy fried chicken, the candied bacon skewers, the perfectly crispy hash browns and the ham. Dessert favorites were the freshly made mini donuts and the array of cookies. It's all you can eat, but with the line we noticed quite a few people filling up 2 plates at once to save lining up again. It's a very large space with high ceilings and plenty of seating. Cute fantasy farm theme with laundry on a line, a giant pink gopher (we think), walls of sculptural flowers and butterflies. There's also a large outdoor patio with even more seating and a long bar area separated from the dining area by a partition. Waitstaff were very friendly and our waiter checked up on us several times, bringing fresh water and condiments. This is definitely one of the best values locally as far as brunch buffets go. There is valet parking (pull up to the airstream trailer that's the valet stand). There is also garage parking, 3 hours free for diners. Don't forget to get your ticket validated. Same parking garage as for the Metro. Overall great experience. Highly recommend.

I usually try to avoid places that are cookie cutter, especially when they are considered upper tier. Why, you ask? Because there is an expectancy of premium prices but a hidden implication of barely mediocre to terrible food. I suppose if you don't eat out often, you might be wowed by the presentation of such places; but from a learned and more experienced palette, I can assure you you are usually setting yourself up for failure. Being the open-minded person I am, however, I decided to forgo my natural instincts and give this place a chance. I suppose it would be fitting to say I was disappointed, but could I be disappointed if it was what I expected? Grades are relative and open to many metrics, but sadly we must judge upon the merits as presented. This is a restaurant which garners a lot of acclaim and is often opened up in expensive, popular, high traffic areas; to wit you would expect a great deal of success and ostensible quality. This is why you have people like me, who are not only not afraid to tell it like it is but have a fair and vast wealth of experience from which to offer comparison. Sadly, it is very difficult to afford this establishment any points at all. To begin, while the staff is well trained and courteous, the establishment as a whole is disorganized. Having parking validation changes which one cannot know until one pulls up to the gate, at which point one is stuck and invested in this endeavor, is as much a fault of this restaurant as the property management's. Additionally, as I placed a to-go order, I was quite perplexed when I entered the restaurant and proceeded to the front desk, only to be directed further back to a secondary carryout area. Perhaps this has been done for worker and kitchen efficiency and to avoid theft of mobile orders, but other solutions exist; which would not be too much of a hindrance on the company's bottom line, I might add. Further, despite arriving a few minutes early compared to my estimated food completion and hand off time, my food was not only already ready, but had already become bone cold. Nary an ounce of warmth was to be discerned anywhere. Should or could I perhaps have arrived earlier? Perhaps. It was, however, Friday evening; and at peak time. Ascertaining and anticipating an early preparation time was unforeseeable; or a lack of sustained heating for the warm dishes (food). Likewise, the food items were not in a separate bag from the desserts (cold). The prices are not impressive though I suppose some may venture here for the Happy Hour or the takeout deals. But to be a deal, that which is interpreted in kind must have comparative, respective, and absolute delineable value. While this establishment receives much acclaim, recognition, and sales, I cannot see a single rational reason why. Therein lies the question: how can there be value where there is no quality of product? The fried chicken sandwich is bland; unseasoned; lacking moisture, marinade, and sauce; sightly overcooked; and uninspired. The pastrami melt is barely passable but nothing new nor noteworthy, invoking the most exhuberant "meh" an angsty undergraduate art student could muster. The street corn and falafel side dishes, while better, are still cold and lacking "something". Ironically enough, the skillet corncake-- seemingly the afterthought of the meal, the red-headed stepchild, as it were-- is the star by far. While it would be better if it was warm, less sweet, had fluffier insides and crispier edges, and perhaps a spicy, flavored, or tart undertone to lend some gravitas, it is the best tasting, best cooked, and most unique dish I consumed on this occasion. There are actual corn bits cooked into the cornbread, which I quite fancied. I decided to add some raw organic white blossom honey and vanilla extract for a finishing touch. Star anise would likely go well, but I wasn't looking to channel my inner Rachel Ray this evening, friends. Unfortunately the desserts all vary from pedestrian to slightly passable, but still poor as an economic choice ("why" would I eat this). The devil's food chocolate cake is very bland and lacks flavor; and is nowhere near rich enough. The thing I have heard so much about for so long-- the Jefferson donut with creme brulee filling and crystallized sugar top-- is ok. Not enough custard filling; would have been better if warm; and lacking other notes, e.g. cherry tart or vanilla. It is distinctive enough to try once. To eat it regularly or become hooked on it is about as likely as DC and other major liberal cities becoming safe and peaceful.

Founding Farmers has excellent service and an upscale atmosphere, making it a wonderful place for a date or to meet up with friends you haven't seen in a while. Unfortunately, if you plan on eating food you might be underwhelmed. Founding Farmers is kind of like a trendy Cheesesteak factory in that they do everything, but nothing in particular really stood out. The Farmer's Platter, for instance, is a case study in how to present the most mediocre barbecue, fried chicken, and brisket you can with a straight face. At first I thought I was just dead inside, but then I realized someone actually prepared this food and served it up. It just tasted bland and uninteresting, like they forgot to season it. I think next time I will just get the meatloaf, which tasted pretty good. On a more positive note, the beignets here are tremendous! That warm berry compote they serve them with... truly delicious and I would not hesitate to get those again.

Went there tonight for my son's 18th birthday. Service took forever, asked for barbecue sauce that never came. Restaurant was only 1/3 full and they couldn't take care of us in a simple manner. I've been her many many times and tonight was a complete disaster.

We visited this location for New Year's Eve. Good news we were able to get a reservation. We have visited before and had both hits and misses. So our expectations were neutral. First with all the construction it's not easy finding the right parking lot to enter so be careful and remember to get your ticket validated before u leave. We arrived on time and within minutes were seated. We asked for a booth and passed 3-4 that were ready for sitting (no reserved sign) and parked at the back. We have been there before and its dark so next time we will request being seated in the main restaurant. Daniel was sour server and attentive. One request..hold on bringing the bill until we have finished our meal. Also with the receipt, provide the menu list as I have to now go to the website to complete the review. No appetizer and I had a glass of the 1+1=3 Cava Rosé | Cava, Spain pear & peach, juicy, refreshing finish Thinking it would be sweet as they had no Moscato. Nope its dry. For main course we had the Shrimp and Crab Risotto . Overpriced as only 4-5 shrimps and numerous mushrooms. Add peas, carrots etc. Overall good but overpriced. I had the chicken pot pie which was really good. We were in 2 minds for dessert and decided on the apple cranberry pie with ice cream. Disappointed as little to no cranberry and pie could have been warmed. An average visit but glad we had a reservation for the evening.

I was so excited to try Founding Farmers, given that DC people rave and the menu looks amazing. I ordered the fried green tomatoes, the blue cheese steak salad, and the bananas foster cheesecake. Unfortunately, the steak was mostly fat and gristle and I'm not sure where the blue cheese actually was. The fried green tomatoes were very thickcut and hard, though the sauce it came with was good. The bananas foster cheesecake was good, though there were actually no bananas, just caramel sauce. I'm disappointed I spent $50 on meal that was 2/3 inedible and wouldn't go back.

Disappointed with buffet today... it's New Year's Day and I didn't check before we decided to go last minute for a late lunch. If I had know they were doing a buffet we wouldn't have gone... but since we were there we decided to make a go of it! Lots of people which usually signals nice turn over of items... sadly it appeared kitchen wasn't keep... items were either not bring restocked or what they brought out wasn't sufficient. Also holding temps weren't great. Most items were room temp. I checked multiple times to find no roast beef or what was there looked dried out... no pastas... empty platters ... empty displays! What we did try was lacking in flavor, not kept hot enough, just sub par. I'm usually a fan of their buffets we have gone in the past... but we usually go first thing so items freshly stocked, hot, ready. But what really is kicking down this review today is the continual lack of hot water in the washroom! The water is ice cold! I complained last time we were there thanksgiving... I got a response then and now a continual issue... I'm thinking this is a major health issue! I haven't knocked them off my list of places near me to visit as long it's not a buffet offering... so note to self that I need to check if a holiday or weekend. Plus check to see if they have hot water for washing one's hands

Came in on a random Sunday brunch without a reservation. We were seated right away and was provided the brunch lowdown. Obviously we opted for the buffet. Service was amazing. Since it was our first time, she gave us all the information upon seating and even went over it a second time with us so it was reeeeally embedded. We appreciated it! Food was really really good! It was like partaking in a 5* wedding buffet with copious amounts of appetizers, entrees and desserts piled high on each serving table. Everything I tasted was tasty! I just wished I had room for ice cream. The coffee drinks here are amazing. I wish cappuccinos and iced coffee were endless too--legit so tasty.

I really like the founding farmers brand - lots of great options. My favorite burger isn't on the menu at the Reston location, so I usually grab a southern chicken salad! Phenomenal, flavorful salad! The donuts are delicious as well. $4.95 for a can of Diet Coke is pretty pricey. I would prefer a refillable fountain soda at that price. Next time I will be sticking with water!

Really 3.5 stars but I'll round up. Re-reviewing the restaurant with an in person visit after a poor door dash experience a few years back. Weather was great and we were interested in the plentiful outdoor seating. Ambiance is 10/10. Special rosh Hahahah menu had gf/v marked, really wished they could make those markings on their regular menu. As a gluten free diner, it is a challenge on a menu with the size and breadth of FF to get to the root of what I can actually eat. My husband eats gluten, so he started with the challah bread basket. He said it was great and the leftovers were enjoyed at breakfast. We split a farmers salad which was very tasty and better than the average appetizer salad. I had the shrimp and crab risotto for my main. They did not skimp on the protein. Risotto was cooked very nicely and I really enjoyed it. My husband had the Rosh Hashanah special with honey glazed salmon and some traditional sides. He was very happy with his meal. Dessert was a flourless chocolate cake and it was ok. They could stand to elevate it with some whipped cream, berries, etc. The kitchen was SO SLOW. Our server was really great about communicating, but dinner for 2 took 2 hours 10 minutes all in. No problems here because it was so nice outside, but if you're hangry or in a hurry it might not be ideal.

When I worked downtown near the GW campus and the State Department, the original Founding Farmer's location off of Penn Ave was a semi-regular haunt for folks in my office for HH's or work lunches. Founding Farmers opened in 2008, and their concept of striving for LEED certified buildings, producing most of their food from scratch in-house, and more importantly, sourcing ingredients from local farmers was still a novelty in the industry. While the term "farm to table," had actually been around for a while, it could be argued that Founding Farmers really popularized that concept in the DC area. TBH, I haven't stepped foot into a Founding Farmer's restaurant since 2018. My family was hosting a birthday party for about 11 people, and the Reston location was the only FF which could accommodate our large group for Sunday Brunch. It's also been a while since I've been to Reston, and especially around the area where the new Wiehle-Reston Metro station was built. To say there is massive development in and around the Metro station would be an understatement. As we were driving to the restaurant, there are nothing but construction cranes, townhomes/condos, and office parks being built. TIP: when you enter the underground parking garage for Founding Farmer, immediately turn RIGHT. There is not good signage. Founding Farmers at Reston Station is tastefully decorated like all the other locations. Darker color schemes are brightened by floor to ceiling windows providing lots of natural light. There are displays of pickled veggies to give off that rustic farm stand vibe, while hardwood and tile flooring with exposed ductwork ventilation add touches of modernity. If I'm being COMPLETELY honest, I was not overly impressed with the food options. At first glance, the buffet area doesn't look that extensive, but there is plenty to choose from. There are various breads, dips/spreads, salads, and of course, plenty of "breakfasty" type of offerings such as eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes/French toast, etc. My biggest issue is while everything tasted okay, nothing really stood out or was a memorable dish. The crab and artichoke dip was heavy on the cream cheese, but barely discernable with any crab meat. The pancakes tasted very doughy to me, and the French toast was soggy after sitting under heat lamps for too long. I assume the steam tray of scrambled eggs were made fresh, but were a bit watery. But my two biggest gripes with the food were: 1). The meats at the carving station were very subpar. The beef brisket looked juicy when the staff was slicing it, but was dry. It needed a good dousing of the BBQ and horseradish sauce for much needed moisture. The ham was also on the dry side, but at least had some flavor...albeit if the main flavor profile was salt. 2). Some of the more popular items, such as the fried shrimp and the salmon, were perpetually out of stock. Whenever the kitchen staff would come out with a new plate, hordes of people would descend upon it and scoop most of it onto their plates. I did manage to get 6 of the shrimps (which were nicely fried), but I had to make 3 trips, before I was able to finally secure some of this coveted dish. I understand trying to reduce food waste, but either have a runner do a better job of monitoring the levels of food; or better yet, do what they do in Vegas and have a staff member portioning out some of the dishes. Not everything was mediocre. As expected, the made to order Eggs Benedicts were very good. The Hollandaise sauce a nice topping for the poached eggs and fried ham. The tuna bites were very good. Sushi grade tuna was scooped into small pastry shells with a light sauce. Desserts were also pretty good. I had a scoop of the house made vanilla and coffee ice cream. Delicious and on par with anything you'd order at a artisan ice cream stand. Choco chip and peanut butter cookies were also specialty bakery quality. Another minor annoyance is that coffee is extra at this buffet. I ordered it, of course, since I don't function until I've had my one...two...three cups of coffee in the morning. But still, that's an extra $4.75. Service was attentive without being intrusive and Alba was always there to refill water glasses and remove dirty plates, even though she had a few large groups in her section. When you factor in the price of the buffet, cost of beverage, and the 5% Wellness charge (which we were happy to pay, having once worked in retail and in food service), the bill came out to roughly $42/person (before tip). Not terrible, but I'm not sure I'd do their brunch again. It was nice decor, good ambiance, and superior service. But IMHO, the food quality was one step above a hotel level breakfast buffet; but that's just my opinion. The place was super packed from the time we walked in...so what do I know?

Mother's Day was terrible. Food crumbs and dust all over the tables Food wasn't fresh on buffets. Plates arrived dirty when ordered eggs Benedict Manager didn't come to rectify issues brought to server Worst experience for the wife

I ordered on Doordash... It's sad to say but I never really expect to be wowed when I order from a delivery service. I'm glad to say that this time I was wrong! I ordered the Vodka Pesto Shrimp & Crab fettuccine and it was amazing!!! There was plenty of shrimp. The crab was good. And the sauce was perfect! My only complaint was the loaded baked potato that I ordered came not so loaded. But that pasta was top tier. I plan on visiting the restaurant so I can get the full experience of this dish!

The food was delicious, but the portions were on the smaller side. Had I gone again, I would have ordered more food. The mimosas were not worth it. The atmosphere was very nice and perfect for a brunch. The service was also great.

I really enjoyed all the brunch options I bought from here. I did a door-dash order so I didn't dine in. I forgot to take pictures because I was starving, but the breakfast burritos are like $5 and BANGIN ! You might need two to feel full. We ordered an egg, bacon and cheese burrito. The hot sauce was JUICYYYY and made the burrito fireeeee I ordered the biscuit and omelet. The omelet was alright nothing to brag about but the homemade jelly and biscuit was BANGIN!

This was an average restaurant experience if not even a little disappointing. We came here the Saturday before Mother's Day for dinner at 8pm and were underwhelmed. The table they sat us at was open the whole time from when we checked in and it still took 25 mins to get a table with our reservation. The drinks were pretty good. I ordered a Manhattan and it was definitely strong. My mom ordered a lemon drop and liked it. And my brother ordered beer that was good. The food was very hit or miss. The spinach dip was warm but the tortillas were half stale and half fresh...on the same tortilla! I still don't know how it happened. The pimento cheddar biscuits were served cold. We had to request the second order to be warmed up. The entrees also came out either cold or piping hot. Many people at the table ordered pastas and they were very hot and had a lot of chili pepper flakes in it to the point that it dominated the dish. My brother's mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese were both cold while his steak was warm. My filet was cooked great and my baked potato was warm. But my green beans were very very crunchy. I don't mind crunch but it didn't seem like they were even cooked. The desserts were also a mixed bag. The pastries were served cold and hard. We had to request them to be heated up. The carrot cake was delicious though! The service was good. Our waiter was very attentive and helpful in any issues we had. He told the manager about some of the cold food and the manager took care of getting fresh ones out. Everything came out in a reasonable amount of time as well. The ambiance is slightly casual and slightly upscale. There's no dress code but people typically wear collared shirts and nice dresses here. It's a chain restaurant so it's got it's own farmhouse style which is a little different. This place is alright. Not amazing for food but drinks were good! It's also a scratch kitchen so everything is cooked from scratch so it's food allergy friendly! There's definitely better in Reston so I wouldn't say this is a must stop place.

My second time at this location and I really love the decor. Staff are really nice, but service tends to fall off after we receive entrees. A lot of different options to choose from. This time I got the pappardelle bolognese which was okay. Hubby enjoyed his shrimp pesto. The coupla biscuits could have been warmer as they came out but the jam really saved this app. Overall it's a good go to dinner spot. Lots of seating indoor and outdoor, and they validate parking.

Almost knocked off 1 star for the extremely bad start, but place is so good, I couldn't. Went to check in and the young hostess could not had cared less, matter of fact, never said a word. I think a grunt, but that's about it. Server, Kerry, was great, very outgoing and happy to make suggestions. Fantastic variety of both drinks and food. Great decor, ambiance, and background music at the perfect volume level. I had their fried chicken, which is what they are known for, my wife had the yankee pot roast. Neither of us were disappointed or left hungry. Great dessert options, we were too full, but did get a couple of incredible donuts to go.

Yelpers!! Can you help me make this make sense? Went to Founding Farmers Reston for a business lunch with coworkers. Reservation was honored on time and we were seated in a lovely booth. It goes downhill from here. My coworker and I ordered the Grilled Cheese with tomato and lentil soups. When our orders came out, the chef put 2 slices of cheese between bread, and it was not grilled yet cold. I asked for lentil soup and instead got a salad. Both orders had to go back. We waited and waited and the food finally comes out. Guess what? We couldn't enjoy the lunch because we had to return to work. Therefore we asked for to-go boxes. We also realized that the tomato soup was from a can. Shocking Founding Farmers!!! Let's gather ourselves and do better. Restaurant was not crowded and staff were plentiful. But charged a wellness fee for a cold grilled cheese.

Food, service and ambience were all average at best. With so many good restaurants in the area, we do not plan a return visit.

Sadly, a 2 STAR RATING coming from someone who USED TO BE a biiiiiiiiiig fan of this place. Okay, so if you read my previous (much more glowing) reviews of FF, I have always had a bit of an issue with the high prices and the value of what you get for what you pay BUT........nowwwwwww, with pretty much all restaurants (including fast food joints!) raising prices, reducing quality and skimping on portion sizes (and most times alllll at the same time!), you now have to think twice about how far your money goes and this place is just not worth the visit anymore. And LET'S ADDRESS THE BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM REGARDING PRICE: the 5% automatic tack-on of their "optional" "Wellness Charge"! 5% ADDED TO YOUR CHECK. wt?!!!! FF claims they want to be transparent about the charge but the server never mentions it when handing you the check and, while the charge is explained on their menu on the top right corner, it is in teeeeeeeeny tiiiiiiiiiny print that you hardly even notice. So - yeh, transparent my foot. (Their website does have a lengthy section rationalizing the surcharge lol - there's even an FAQ with a q "why not just raise prices by 5% instead?" with an answer that is basically business-speak where you have to be a finance or econ major to get it. It's supposed to make you feel better about the 5% tack on. It doesn't.) I will be fair and say that I still love the interior decor and ambience of the restaurant. Beautiful. Beautifully appointed. Open and on trend. A fancy high end feel (which I guess matches the sky high prices). We went on a Sunday night around 7PM (prime weekend dinner time) and the place was almost empty. Good for us I guess because we could walk right in and get a window table. No reservation needed like back in the day when hour long waits were par for the course. Though the menu is relatively extensive, my companion and I quipped about all the items we have tried in the past and not liked and would not order again....which, then in the end, left for very little to choose from. * Steaks - terrible, tough and over cooked oftentimes. Early on, learned to stay away from anything steak related at FF - this is no steak place. * Butternut Squash Ravioli - used to be sooo good - had it recently and it was swimming in oil!!! * Chicken Pot Pie - basically unseasoned. And because salt and pepper aren't set on the table, be sure to ask your server to bring a set because you will need it! Very underwhelming and tasteless. * Their signature Southern Fried Chicken has been more a miss than a hit over the past few years! Many times the chicken will come skimpy with not a lot of meat on the bone and/or tough and hard because it's been over-deep fried. Also VERY salty. Having said this, I will say that I did like the Spicy Fried Chicken entree salad that I had. Good flavor mix, honey mustard and champagne vinaigrette was delicious and the salad not over-dressed - but for $20.50, it was tiny and the amount of chicken you get is laughable (compare this FF entree salad to Sweetwater's Monterey Fried Chicken Salad - and how much salad and how much fried chicken you get for $18 - NO COMPARISON, enough to take leftovers home for another meal (!!) and that salad ROCKS!!!) * Short Rib Ragu Macaroni - Super heavy and rich, flavors don't really go well together AND as I mentioned FF falls down when it comes to steaks and red meat. Hard pass. Pretty much every entree, unless you want hot dogs (and even those are pricey for "just a dog"), is $20+. Drinks are pricey (and btw sodas are served in cans so NO UNLIMITED REFILLS!) so I would never come here for a happy hour even though the bar area is trendy and spacious. Then wrap that all up with that 5% Wellness Charge... 2 of us for dinner - 1 entree salad, 1 pasta entree add chicken, 1 soda, 2 draft beers = $75 (including 5% Wellness Charge) then we gave the server $20 tip for excellent service. TOTAL FOR 2 PPL: $95!!!!!!!!!! Obscene. Something imho needs to change at FF. That or maybe the next restaurant concept that comes in will find that secret for success in such a tough market and economy. For now, I'll sit this place out for a bit and continue to hunt for those value plays that can still serve up quality fare, decent portion sizes at reasonable prices.

Amazing atmosphere and Sunday Brunch for huge eaters. Pricey, but all you can eat. You. An even order add-ons from the menu for the same price.

Had another amazing dinner here. The food is always great here. Surprisingly busy for a Tuesday night. Fortunately, we are early diners, and had reservations for 6:15. Drinks followed by cauliflower humus arrived quickly. Both were delicious. Entrees served were the butternut ravioli and scallops meunière. A birthday celebration meant we had to share the Sinful Devil's Chocolate Cake. The restaurant still gave us a complimentary donut to take home. The only complaint I have is the waiting period for check. The restaurant allows me to view the check and watch it grow on Open Table. They should add a Pay Bill option. Or something that takes advantage of all of us having smart phones. PS Just to be clear, April, our server was wonderful. She was super busy but we never felt like we waited too long for the food, drinks, and dessert. April was perfect.

Buffet brunch...what more do i need to say?!? First off, the complex this restaurant is in is really nice and modern. There's a parking garage so don't forget to get your parking ticket validated. This was my first time going to a brunch buffet (being from New York this isn't really a "thing"). There were a lot of really good options. Our waitress was just attentive enough, bringing us drinks and then making sure our tables were cleared away but not hovering. I definitely want to check out some more of the Founding buffets in the DC area.

I left this place shocked and confused beyond belief. As any classy restaurant goer knows, the Shirley Temple is the benchmark to determine how good a restaurant is. The quality of a restaurant is directly tied to the quality of its Shirley Temple. Founding Farmers does not have grenadine and therefore has no Shirley Temple. I just don't understand how a "restaurant" doesn't keep grenadine? Does it also not keep bread, pasta, and water? How are you going to ignore an essential ingredient to an essential beverage and then call yourself a restaurant? If anyone is the wiser, they can explain because this "no grenadine" policy is very foreign to me. Our server was very nice about explaining this predicament but boy was I in shock, I didn't even know how to respond. Zero Shirley Temple makes a zero star restaurant. A zero star restaurant IS NOT a restaurant. However, our server really was great and did the best he could to salvage the night (+5). Let this be a five star "place with food and some beverages" rather than a five star "restaurant." However, maybe with a quick trip to the nearby grocery store, Founding Farmers can buy grenadine and maraschino cherries to achieve restaurant status.

Founding Farmers in DC is my all time favorite brunch spot - so when I saw they had one across the freeway in Reston while at a conference, I *had* to go :-) Per FF form, food was delicious! We had the crab and artichoke dip for an appetizer and the fried chicken with glazed donut for our entree. I loved the artsy farmhouse decor and the space - much more room compared to Pennsylvania Ave location. Host and Hostess were very pleasant and gracious. And the server, while nice, must've been new or something because he didn't know anything about the menu and took forever to bring our food, check in on us and check us out. That's my only reason for 4 stars - couldn't fairly give it 5 since my other 5-star ratings include impeccable service. You won't go wrong heading to Founding Farmers - ever!! Food is *always* fresh and fabulous!

First we ordered sparkling soda water which normally is a fountain staple. We were offered their custom soda which was a citrus based rancid orange oil water which made my lips swell. I have allergies and ordered a filet after noting that anything fried is in canola oil which is not a healthy oil. It was not available. The options are limited and really tasteless. I ordered a burger which was nothing special . My husband ordered crab cakes which were full of filler and fries that were limp. I gave this one star because the service was good. Otherwise don't bother a waste of money also parking is a maze of signage and not easy to navigate.

Recently ordered the Chicken Pot Pie at Founding Farmers in Reston at the suggestion of our server, Susan. It was delicious and so was the service as well as the ambiance! Can't wait to visit again as a matter of fact we quickly booked a table for the President's Day buffet on Monday, 2/19! Yummy!!

Stanley was our server for a work lunch group and was professional and attentive. He was efficient and all smiles while taking care of our group! Our food came in a timely manner and was fresh and delicious.

My review is based solely on the Sunday Breakfast Buffet. I can't speak to any other items on the menu. I've been to the Tyson's Location and was super impressed. I tried to book a reservation but they were already booked so I decided to just come to this location. Same place, same vibe, right? No. Nope. Heck no. The appearance? Stellar. It is really nice and beautifully fitted. The service? Solid. Our server was super nice and courteous. Everyone who worked there was very professional and cool. The food? My goodness...no. Nothing was made with love. Lol. It was like eating on an out-of-commission cruise liner who was sailing towards retirement. Nothing was warm. Eggs? Cold. The crab dip? Cold; and it looked like it wasn't even fresh. I was concerned about holding temperatures and food-borne illness the whole time. I really couldn't enjoy the mediocre-prepared dishes. Thankfully, no sickness. *Knocks on wood. Cold dishes were warm. Warm dishes were cold. I would sort of understand if we arrived near the end of the brunch period, however, our reservation was at 10:45. It just seemed like they prepared the stuff in bulk without attention to detail in a rush--but without urgency (if that makes sense). I wish there was one thing I could mention that was delicious. But there was nothing. Not one. My friends just took the L and walked to Starbucks for a beverage that kinda restored a hint of hope in our day. Maybe we came on an off day? Maybe the kitchen staff had a day that day? Idk. I just know I'll stick to the Tyson's Location.

If you want to come here solely for beignets, be my guest, because they're the only things on the menu that are worth their salt (or, well, sugar, I guess). And they're the only reason this place is getting 2 stars. Soft, crispy on the outside, warm. Delightful. The corn chowder was also acceptable. Nothing special, but edible, which is more than you can ask for sometimes. Everything else was disappointing. The chicken risotto was bad. Dry chicken, soupy risotto, sour. Why was it sour? Inedible. Awful. Gross. Grotesque. I'm cracking open the thesaurus for this one just to emphasize how disgusting this was. Whoever cooked this should apologize to the stove for wasting its gas. Cracker-crusted shrimp were gummy with no flavor. It came with the driest cornbread and the most mediocre of fries. Steak and enchiladas had dry chicken, too thin steak (medium rare impossible), not trimmed (too much gristle). The butternut squash ravioli was swimming in a pool of oil. It would have tasted acceptable if it weren't for the United States government invading my plate for the oil. Also, attached below is a picture of what this restaurant calls a single scoop of ice cream. This is the laughing stock of scoops. It got bullied in high school for being small. It never got picked for kickball. Sad :( (Also it was 5.50. We was robbed.) Our waitress, Anna, was polite. No complaints about her. Someone tell her the way she does her blush is pretty. This place has just gotten... depressing as of late. We've come here many times, and it just gets... worse? For some reason? RIP, I guess.

Checked out founding farmers on a Saturday morning for their brunch buffet. We were able to get right in and they offer both brunch and lunch menus. The presentation of this place is very nice and has a very clean and upscale feel to the place. The parking at this place is through a parking garage but they do offer validation so you won't have to worry about paying to park. We all opted in for the brunch buffet the price can be quite steep at $32.99 and depending on how hungry you are I wouldn't order the buffet. There are a lot of items on the buffet. From traditional items like bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes etc. To southern cooking like fried chicken, Mac and cheese, brisket, and ham. Also an area for dessert offering doughnuts, cheesecake, and key lime tarts. They also had a whole dipping station. The meat and brisket tasted a little dry but everything was great. Service was great and our server was friendly and gave us a great run down on the menu and buffet. This place is a solid brunch option and there are many locations in the DMV.

Overall, this visit was a disappointment. It was saved from being considered a travesty, solely due to the dessert. But let's talk about things in order, shall we? Starter. We had the Brie Farm Bread. It was passable, nothing inherently wrong in taste. The size of the Brie compared to the overall size of the slice of bread was laughable. Overall, all I could taste was the bread, the apple, and the caramel. Brie? I barely knew ye. Entree. I had the special of the day - the Swordfish. This dish was the true travesty of the evening. The dish contained swordfish, mashed potatoes, and succotash. First, the swordfish tasted like burning rubber and had an unpleasant wet taste. It was far beyond the mild, slightly sweet taste a swordfish should have. The sauce covering the swordfish only compounded the error and made the swordfish inedible. Second, the mashed potatoes were edible and bland. Let's just day that salt goes a long way. Third, the succotash was bright and brought a visual appeal to the dish. It also brought an oily sheen and a second type of potatoes - diced potatoes. Finally, the concept of this dish was confusing. Why potatoes two ways? It is best to make a simpler dish well, then a complex dish badly. This was not a dish made well. Dessert. I had death by chocolate. Chocolate ice cream, chocolate fudge, and brownie crumbles. It was a delight. This dish elevated the meal from an absolute travesty to just a strong disappointment. Service: Better wait times, but slightly lackluster service. Our server also forgot a component of my companion's meal. However, he was new, so I'm sure service will improve in the future. Also, the front of house aspect is lacking in that our server did not seem to understand the concept of the dish when I asked. When I asked if he could ask the chef, he offered the manager instead. Note for the manager: Make sure the servers are told the concepts behind the specials.

We've gone to this location several times and more and more we are dissatisfied with the food. After today's visit I doubt we'll be back. The wait staff was fine, attentive, no complaints. Being a Sunday we were hoping to enjoy the brunch buffet. But the buffet food was a huge disappointment. Many items were cold, the French toast "cubes" were fried rock hard, the bacon was raw. I also ordered a Bloody Mary. It came with a wilted piece of unedible parsley and a dried slice of lime. The salt that rimmed the glass dripped so far down, I couldn't even pick up the glass without getting it on my hands. No celery stalk, no olive, no straw to even sip the drink. I requested a few olive and they came out rolling around on a plate, what.. the bartender couldn't skewer them on to a toothpick?! This place is fast losing customers.

This is one place my wife loves to go to. We both agree the food and atmosphere are great. I also love that parking is validated. Servers are attentive and welcoming, making for a great experience. I look to try different things so I can share, and find favorites. This last trip I had the French dip and my wife had the Reuben; both were great.

When something is really good, it should really be known (even if that means two reviews)... and the crew at Founding Farmers Reston is so good. My boyfriend and I enjoyed Sunday brunch outside this weekend. The food, of course, is delicious (love that the brunch options include both kinds of bacon and the brûléed grapefruit). The patio was sunny, and our server, John, made the slightly chilly day 100% enjoyable by keeping the hot tea and lattes coming! Thank you too to Nick for the attentive customer service. Coming to Founding Farmers Reston is always a treat. Pro tip: Sunday only has the brunch buffet. It was a surprise to us, but we didn't mind. It's definitely a good "know before you go" piece of info though.

Our server was Jennie and she did an outstanding job. Jennie was always making sure we were doing good. Can't wait to come back.

Hands down, one of the worst restaurant experiences I have had in my entire life. It was for a carryout Christmas dinner where the meals were $50+. We ordered 8 meals with a pick up time of 4:30 PM for over $500. My daughter arrived and was not able to get the meals until 5:45 PM. The real problem was when my daughter asked to speak with the Manager, she refused and ignored the significant delay. The food was borderline inedible. The restaurant gave plenty of food, but not one of the meals was good (cold, thrown together, gluten free notations ignored, and many more other issues). I have enjoyed Founding Farmers in DC, but I would NEVER patronize any of their restaurants again.

We arrived at lunch time, the place was not busy. Ordered hot dog fries and a side of coleslaw. Well the hot dog was $14.50 and was served with cold fries, I requested new ones and received them. Much better. My wife had the brisket, another room temperature meal. The food took approximately 20 min to arrive. The biggest shock was the side of Coleslaw was $9.99. Terrible value, oh yea they also add a "wellness" fee of 5%. It is explained that it pays for mental health and regular insurance. Our meal cost $80. My daughter did order shrimp and grits which she said was good. No value or taste here, it is the place to go if you want to spend money with little return.

Wonderful atmosphere for a Friday night, the food came out wonderful and quickly. Employees are great and friendly and have wonderful conversations. Thank you Kate, Nick, and Brienne for a wonderful evening! I would recommend this place for a great date night or a food stop on your way from the metro or to the Dulles airport

First time dining at the Reston location. Sat outside because the weather was nice (cloudy overcast), and also because of the endemic. Good service and delicious food. Started off with the cornbread, which has whole kernels, and washed it down with the Rosella herbal decaf iced tea. For the main course I chose the purple and black kale salad with grilled herb chicken. The salad was a bit dry, so I asked for extra dressing. My lady ordered the vodka pesto shrimp and crab fettuccine. That was mmm mmm good! Can't wait to come back!

Great food. Bad service.. Although, bad service may be an epidemic these days When you arrive on time do you let the staff know and they respond with ...

Food was delicious and innovative. Our server Ali was charming and attentive. I love the ambiance - interesting and fun art throughout.

Visited this morning for the first time. Great atmosphere and location. The two of us ordered the Saturday buffet. The selections on the buffet were very nice but not hot. There were no warmers under the food items. Each item was good but would have been better if hot. The salad selections were awesome. Enjoyed the fried chicken and pasta selections. The breakfast scramble and French toast, pancakes were excellent. Will return in the future and may try the lunch or dinner.

I've been here many times because my husband loves founding farmers. Whereas I'm pretty neutral - I think it's a great restaurant for drinks and brunch and would recommend only for those reasons. They excel in service and always provide a great customer experience - for example; there have been a couple times where a dish we ordered at our table was subpar and they were always able to accommodate by remaking it or providing another option. One thing we recently learned from our many times dining here is that they have slings available! So if you are dining with a newborn/infant, you can place baby in the carseat on top of the sling!

I typically am a fan of this place...however I have never ordered take out from them...WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! I received my order & not only was an item missing, but they gave me the most pathetic amount of salsa that comes in the "trio dip & corn chips". Lesson to all, FF deceives and exploits their take out customers... Would definitely not recommend.

This year we decided to have Thanksgiving dinner at this Founding Farmers. Of course, we dithered when it came to making a reservation and ended up eating dinner at 8 p.m. The downside to this was their desert pie selection was limited at that time. Otherwise, we enjoyed the meal. It started out with a selection of their breads. We especially like their cornbread as it is always tasty and flavorful. We both chose butternut squash soup for our starter. Dinner was a plate of white and dark meat turkey with gravy, stuffing and sweet potatoes plus mashed potatoes and green beans. It was very filling and we liked everything on the plate. Dessert was a limited selection of pies. I had pecan pie which was topped with whipped cream while my husband had apple pie. again with whipped cream. Service was great---very efficient, prompt and friendly. In fact, we would definitely consider having Thanksgiving dinner here next year. They validate parking, which is a big help. Then, since we liked our Thanksgiving dinner, we decided to reserve a table for their Christmas dinner. This time we didn't dither and were able to get a reservation at 5 p.m. Christmas dinner was different as it was served as a buffet with all you can eat. The food selection was excellent---in addition to ham, there were crab cakes, regular fried chicken, turkey and spicy chicken. At another station, they had prime rib as well as bacon lollipops and thickly sliced glazed maple bacon. There was more than one type of salad available as well as some appetizers such as bite sized ahi tuna on a cracker plus a small portion of crab louie. The dessert selection was huge---so huge that I can't remember some of the things. There was something for everybody---even a coconut-chia seed dessert. We sampled cinnamon rolls, butterscotch cheesecake as well as a lemon one, bite sized donuts both glazed and sugared. I have mixed feelings about buffets. On one hand, they offer up an opportunity to sample many different items. On the other hand, the temptation to eat too much is always there. We managed okay as neither of us felt like we were going to explode. Again, service was great. The waitstaff did a great job clearing away used plates and making sure we had enough water. Both the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners weren't cheap. Each one cost $43 per person plus tip. We certainly would consider going back next Christmas.

5 stars for the service. Kids food arrived super fast which we appreciated so much! Vegan options were very decent - main reason we chose this restaurant. 3 stars for the bathroom cleanliness. There were one hand dryer and no paper towel.

You can't go wrong with Founding Farmers. The food is always good, and it is my go to for taking out of town visitors. The best time to visit is for the buffet brunch. They started doing the buffets on Saturdays and Sunday (before was just Sunday). The brunch selection is always the same, but the food is so so good. Service here has not been the best, but the food keeps us going back.

Susan was absolutely fantastic! Perfect on the recommendations and gave amazing service. Food was cooked perfectly and was very delicious. Thank you for a wonderful experience!