Restaurant Dive

Restaurants strengthen employee communication to react quickly during coronavirus

Operators that maintained close relationships with working and furloughed staff during the pandemic are benefiting from better retention and smoother operations.

National Restaurant Association

Restaurants take action to assure customers it’s safe to dine in

Visible safety measures and transparent communications are just two ways operators are showing their commitment to protecting guests when they return to dining in.

Washington City Paper

When Every Dollar Counts After COVID-19, D.C. Chefs May Kiss Food Waste Goodbye

We are entitled going into restaurants, expecting them to have everything.

National Restaurant Association

Founding Farmers co-founder provides grocery-conversion playbook

Company averages about $125,000 a day in grocery sales from five units, helping it to rehire staff and keep up health coverage.

WTOP

DC restaurant owners: How can we social distance the bar?

D.C.-area restaurants are scrambling to come up with social distancing plans for when restrictions allow them to reopen.

National Restaurant Association

Perfecting the Pivot: Pandemic 'Survivors'

Menu items that travel well, aggressive tech adoption and the ability to transform business models have been secrets to success.

DCIST

Here Are The Local Restaurants Nominated At This Year’s RAMMY Awards

As local restaurants near their second month without dine-in service, some are celebrating being nominated for a RAMMY, a food honor from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.

Eater DC

Here Are the 2020 Rammy Awards Finalists

Washington’s local dining association on Monday announced the finalists for its 38th annual Rammy Awards, highlighting some of the best participating restaurants, bars, and chefs across the D.C. area.

National Restaurant Association

Mother’s Day is still an opportunity for restaurant sales

That’s what the Founding Farmers casual-dining chain is doing at its stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The restaurants are offering brunch meal kits during the Mother’s Day weekend, and each one will include a thank-you note from the restaurant to its guests.

Washingtonian Magazine

Restaurants Are Using a Virus-Killing Fogging Agent as an Extra Precaution Against Covid-19

The group behind Founding Farmers sprayed its restaurants with a virucide known as MAPS-1 RTU before converting them into markets, and owner Dan Simons says they’ll also use it to disinfect their spaces if an employee comes down with symptoms or tests positive for Covid-19.

WJLA

Local restaurants turn into grocery stores to stay in business amid COVID-19

When you walk inside of Founding Farmers, the restaurant is usually packed with people. However, with the new restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, restaurants were forced to close dining rooms and rely on to-go orders.

WUSA9

This DC grocery chain launches delivery to cover all 8 wards

Founding Farmers brings back 265 employees and sets them to work delivering fresh food citywide

WUSA9

Founding Farmers is rehiring over 250 employees, will deliver groceries to all 8 DC Wards

On Thursday, members of the Farmers Restaurant Group -- which owns popular spots like Founding Farmers and Farmers & Distillers -- launched Founding Farmers Market & Grocery in D.C., an initiative aimed at providing high-quality food and groceries to be delivered to all eight of D.C.'s wards.

The Washington Times

US restaurants expect big changes when their doors reopen

“The pivot with my restaurants doesn’t anticipate a return to exactly what was,” said Dan Simons, the owner of Farmers Restaurant Group, which owns six restaurants, a bakery and a distillery in the Washington area and a restaurant in Pennsylvania.

Washingtonian

100 Ways To Virtually Experience DC During the Coronavirus Pandemic

A giant guide to museums, theater, food, fitness, kids, movies, and much more.

WTOP

Farmers Restaurant Group morphs into full-fledged e-commerce market and grocer

Farmers Restaurant Group, which opened its first restaurant Founding Farmers on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House in 2008, has gone one step further than takeout, delivery and selling on-site staples.

Washingtonian Magazine

Where to Find DC-Made Hand-Sanitizer

Local distilleries—and one roastery—are selling and donating bottles

Washingtonian

Where To Find Easter Dinner For Carryout And Delivery Around DC

Multiple locations in DC, MD, VA The Potomac and Reston locations are offering an a la carte Easter to-go and a family-style dinner (price depends on entree). Both menus offer comfort food like skillet cornbread, cheesy macaroni, and baked ham. Place your order by 3 PM on Tuesday, April 7.

Washingtonian

Need Eggs, Booze, and Toilet Paper? DC-Area Restaurants Are Doubling as Grocery Stores

Where to order dinner with a side of sanitizer.

WTOP

During coronavirus pandemic, popular local restaurants pivot to groceries

Founding Farmers has turned its attention to a grocery store-style business model in addition to offering its usual menu items through deliver and carryout services.

Washingtonian

Restaurants Suddenly Need to Go Contact-Free. This Arlington Tech Firm Is Helping.

GoTab, once popular with bars and breweries, is now the go-to for José Andrés and Founding Farmers

Washington.org

DC Restaurant Delivery Guide

You can still support DC's restaurants! Take your dining experience into your home by ordering pick-up or delivery from these eateries across the city. No contact deliveries are available; make sure to specify your preference in your order details, including a drop-off location for the driver. Check out our list below and make sure to check restaurant websites for the latest updates.

The List Are You On It?

Sustainability in the Back & the Front

On this episode, of Industry Night: Dan Simons and his partner, Mike Vucurevich, created Farmers Restaurant Group, which includes Founding Farmers, Farmers Fishers Bakers, Farmers & Distillers, and Founding Spirits Distillery. Recently named one of DC’s Best Places to Work the company is run like a big family operation.

University Chronicle

Bloomberg Pledges to Serve More Planet-Saving, Healthy Plant-based Foods

Bloomberg has committed to serve more climate-friendly foods through the Cool Food Pledge, a growing movement of workplaces, hotels, hospitals and restaurants aiming to slash food-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% by 2030. Groups serving a combined 800+ million meals annually have already signed on to this new initiative.

Washington Business Journal

Founding Farmers, Timber Pizza and more coming to Reagan National

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on Wednesday announced the restaurant and retail slate for its new 14-gate northern concourse, which is expected to open in 2021.

Market Watch

Farm to Glass

Washington, D.C.-based Farmer's Restaurant Group takes a homegrown approach to its craft cocktails.

Moxie Awards

Moxie 2019 Winner

Farmers Restaurant Group won a Moxie Award for Consumer Services in 2019

Washington Exec

2019 Moxie Award Celebration Honors 14 Winners for Boldness in Business

"The event, held Nov. 5 at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner, announced 14 winners chosen from over 130 finalists for making a difference in the marketplace with their bold initiatives, strategic market moves and moxie."

OpenTable

Road to Extraordinary: Bringing People to the Table with Dan Simons of Farmers Restaurant Group

"Our conversation continues here with Dan sharing how he built the huge success that is Farmers Restaurant Group, what qualities he looks for in his team, and what it takes to create an authentic experience for diners. "

Washingtonian

Your Brunch Guide for Indigenous Peoples’ Day Around DC

"The DC Council just passed emergency legislation to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the District (at least for this year). Per usual, restaurants across Washington will commemorate the federal holiday with extended Monday brunches. Here’s where to find all-you-can-eat feasts, bottomless drinks—or, on the flip side, a simple but delicious breakfast plate."

Vacation Idea

25 Best Breakfast & Weekend Brunch Spots

"Sizzling eggs, the aroma of bacon, and steaming hot, freshly brewed coffee - breakfast could arguably be the best meal of the day, and Washington, DC has a plethora of fantastic spots for such morning bites. "

Washingtonian

Your Guide to the Best Labor Day Brunches Around DC

"All Farmers Restaurant Group eateries will serve brunch on Labor Day. If you’re hanging in DC, Farmers & Distillers near Chinatown, Farmers Fishers Bakers in Georgetown, and the downtown Founding Farmers are your best bets."

Today

These are the best kid-friendly restaurants in America, according to OpenTable

"From casual family restaurants to luxury establishments, these are the places to bring the kids out to eat."

OpenTable

50 Most Kid-Friendly Restaurants in America 2019

"Whether families are celebrating something special or just looking for a delicious everyday meal, OpenTable's list of the most kid-friendly restaurants in America for 2019 helps you find quality experiences in family-friendly environments."

WTOP

Here are the top independent D.C.-area restaurants by sales

"Three locations of the Founding Farmers received recognition. Restaurants on Pennsylvania Avenue NW and in Tysons were ranked No. 43 and No. 92, respectively, while affiliate Farmers, Fishers, Bakers in Georgetown closed out the list at No. 100."

Agri-Pulse

Alt-meat sales rise on new flavors, profiles, ingredients

"As grills across the country are fired up for Independence Day celebrations tomorrow, a growing number of patties being cooked will be of the plant-based variety."

Brietbart

The Last Straw: D.C. Bans Plastic Straws, Fines Up to $800

“According to Dan Simons, founder of Our Last Straw and Farmers Restaurant Group, next on their docket is all single-use plastic items, which include utensils, cups, bottles, and the like,” the DCist reported."

Washingtonian

Where to Brunch on July 4th and Independence Day Weekend Around DC

"All Farmers Restaurant Group eateries will serve brunch on Independence Day. If you’re heading to the fireworks in DC, Farmers & Distillers near Chinatown, Farmers Fishers Bakers in Georgetown, and the downtown Founding Farmers are your best bets."

KOAT

Feeding College Students

"Students are struggling not just to pay for tuition, board, and books, but also for day-to-day meals. This as a new report shows 36 percent are "food-insecure. Matt Prichard spoke with a new start-up that's looking to take some of the pressure off of students."

WAMU

Why Some Restaurants Call Food Delivery Apps A ‘Necessary Evil’

"A co-owner of Farmers Restaurant Group, Simons operates seven food and beverage establishments in the D.C. area, including four Founding Farmers restaurants. His businesses have used DoorDash, Caviar and GrubHub for about a year, he says, and so far, they’ve been a plus."

Washingtonian

Great Spots for Memorial Day Brunch Around DC

This local restaurant group, which includes Founding Farmers, Farmers & Distillers, and Farmers Fishers Bakers, serves an extensive brunch on holiday weekends. Menus and formats vary by location (including buffets at Farmers & Distillers and Farmers Fishers). Expect an eclectic, crowd-pleasing mix of dishes, cocktails, and fresh juices at all.

OpenTable

100 Best Restaurants in America for a Big Night Out for 2019

"The 2019 list of the 100 Best Restaurants in America for a Big Night Out highlights restaurants that not only feature delicious food and drink, but also vibrant bar scenes and lively atmospheres. The list of honorees is based on an analysis of 12,000,000+ reviews, canvassing more than 30,000 restaurants across the country — all submitted by verified diners."

Forbes

America's 100 Best Restaurants for a Big Night Out: OpenTable Releases Its 2019 List

"...OpenTable—the restaurant reservations system—is simplifying all that with its latest list: America’s 100 Best Restaurants for a Big Night Out. And what’s particularly ingenious about it is the fact that it’s a list for real people, generated by real people."

Washington City Paper

Best in DC 2019

Farmers Restaurant Group took home a few wins in this year's Best in DC 2019: Founding Farmers named Best Bloody Mary (1st place) & Best Fried Chicken (2nd place) Farmers Fishers Bakers named Best Brunch (2nd place) & Best Craft Beer Selection (2nd place) Farmers & Distillers named Best Cocktail Bar (runner-up) & Best Downtown Lunch (2nd place)

OpenTable

Get Ready for Mother’s Day: OpenTable Reveals the 100 Best Brunch Restaurants in America 2019 #OpenTable100

“Featuring restaurants coast-to-coast, across 24 states and Washington, D.C., the list is a comprehensive look at the best brunch spots in the country.”

Forbes

100 Best Brunch Restaurants in America: OpenTable Releases Its 2019 List

"OpenTable, the restaurant reservations system, just released one of its more popular user–generated lists: The 100 Best Brunch Restaurants in America."

Washington Business Journal

These are the Best Places to Work in Greater Washington for 2019

The Washington Business Journal named Farmers Restaurant Group — Founding Farmers, Farmers Fishers Bakers, Farmers & Distillers — one of the BEST PLACES TO WORK across the D.C. metro area.

OpenTable

To Celebrate Earth Day, OpenTable Reveals the Best Eco-Friendly Restaurants Across the U.S.A.

"This Earth Day, we’re pleased to honor the most sustainable spots on OpenTable with our list of the Best Eco-Friendly Restaurants in America. The restaurants featured are working to have a positive impact on the environment, ranging from reducing food waste and sourcing responsibly to supporting local farmers and more"

The Washington Post

On patrol with the enforcer of D.C.’s plastic-straw ban

On patrol with the enforcer of D.C.'s plastic-straw ban ... has been pushed along by Dan Simons, co-owner of the Farmers Restaurant Group.

DC Refined

16 super-satisfying ways to celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day

“…here’s a slideshow featuring a ridiculous number of gooey, melty versions of the ubiquitous American classic found around the DMV.”

Washingtonian

The Best DC-Area Restaurants for Brunch with a Big Group

"All of the restaurants within the Farmers family—Founding Farmers, Farmers & Distillers, Farmers Fishers Bakers—excel at catering to large parties. Giant menus and weekend brunch buffets take the something-for-everyone approach, and there’s ample seating and large booths at all branches. An added bonus: you can make large-party bookings online for big parties (say 10 to 12) at most locales."

OpenTable

15 Restaurants with Private Wine Labels for a Wine Lover’s Night Out

“The restaurant’s Virginia Vines Rosé is a collabo with Early Mountain Vineyards in nearby Madison, Virginia. The winery was chosen due to their commitment to sustainable agriculture, which mirrors Founding Farmers’ mission. Refreshing, light, and balanced, the resulting rosé was designed to either be paired or simply sipped solo.”

The Hoya

DC Law Banning Single-Use Plastic Straws Takes Effect

“Farmers Restaurant Group has always held sustainability and thoughtful sourcing at the forefront of our mission and goals,” Sharkey wrote in an email to The Hoya. “The hospitality industry is one of the largest purveyors of single-use plastic straws, and so it was a natural next step to spearhead this cause.”

Washingtonian

9 New Year’s Day Brunches to Kick Off 2019

Farmers Restaurant Group, Multiple locations in DC, MD, VA A la carte and buffet brunches are available at all locations of this local American restaurant group. Put a sweet spin on the new year between fresh-baked cinnamon rolls, biscuits, and doughnuts. Hours: Vary by location.

Eater

Garbage Pop-Up Gives Shaw an Excuse to Order Sex on the Beach Cocktails

Drinkers inside the 50-person space will use DC9’s remaining stock of plastic straws, which they can then add to a giant “Stop Sucking” wall installation inspired by the Our Last Straw campaign that Farmers Restaurant Group started this year. The pop-up will send people home with eco-friendly straws — made of hay, paper, or metal — that have been donated by liquor companies as well as well as the Ocean Conservancy and biodegradable straw seller Hay!.

Eater

Where and How to Enjoy Free Corkage in D.C.

Farmers Restaurant Group. All locations — including Farmers Fishers Bakers and Founding Farmers — offer no corkage fee for the first bottle, and $25 for each bottle after (as long as the wine isn’t available for sale at the restaurant).

BizBash

Seriously Sustainable: Hotels and Restaurants Making Real Commitments to Eco-Friendly Design and Operations

"At the GrizForm-designed, LEED-certified Farmers Restaurant Group restaurants in the Washington area, sustainability is addressed from all fronts—from heat recovery units to daylight sensors that adjust the lights inside accordingly."

Sproule Farms

From DC to ND, Founding Farmers take on their Roots

"Thank you North Dakota Farmer’s Union for the opportunity to host your Founding Farmer’s Restaurant group at our field & shop! The Restaurant group visited North Dakota to get a better understanding of what all North Dakota as to offer and to take a closer look at our Ag industry. "

Washington City Paper

Not All Restaurateurs Shun Yelp. Some Are Obsessed With The Free Advice.

"“I love Yelp,” says Farmers Restaurant Group co-owner Dan Simons. He has six full-service restaurants in the region, including Founding Farmers in Foggy Bottom. When the restaurant hit 10,000 reviews earlier this year, it became the most Yelped restaurant in D.C. "

Eater Boston

Farmer-Owned Restaurant Group Contemplates Boston Expansion

"A farmer-owned group of restaurants based near Washington, D.C., could one day expand north to the Boston area. Founding Farmers, a company that is majority-owned by more than 47,000 farmers, is looking for real estate in Boston, confirms Meaghan O’Shea, the company’s vice president of marketing."

OpenTable

Restaurant Research and Development Trips Help Operators Innovate

"His objective isn’t just to try dishes, see aesthetic elements, and watch service in action, though those are all a part of it. “I’m trying to see through the eyes of the people who live there,” he says. “I’m trying to get inside their heads. I want someone from a different place to teach me how to do things differently, so I’m expanding my ability to think creatively or do things differently.”

OpenTable

Restaurants Offer Primo Employee Perks to Reward + Retain Staff

"Managers score a meal benefit card, which can be used when dining out with friends and family at any location of Founding Farmers, as well as sister concepts Farmers Fishers Bakers and Farmers and Distillers. Perhaps best of all, any staffer can book an appointment any time with the restaurant’s massage therapist."

Washington Business Journal

Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Mid-Atlantic Consumer Services Category Winner: Dan Simons

"A lifelong restaurateur, Dan Simons is an effective and inspiring team leader with a knack for creative management and staff development, while delivering profitability and innovative branding. "

Washington Business Journal

Founding Farmers owner Dan Simons looks to build restaurant coalition to ban plastic straws

"Simons’ effort, dubbed Our Last Straw, aims to eliminate all straws or replace plastic straws with biodegradable or reusable straws."

The Progressive Farmer

Delivering on Farm to Fork

"With a little bit of champagne, fresh-baked donuts and a tractor-trailer parked outside in downtown Washington, D.C., leaders from the Farmers Restaurant Group held a small, symbolic celebration of food deliveries, led by the National Farmers Union state affiliate in North Dakota."

Washingtonian

The Secret to Founding Farmers’ Popularity Includes a Staff Masseuse and House Vodka

"The decade-old comfort food spot is one of the most-booked, highest-grossing restaurants in the country."

Washingtonian

What Should Be DC's Next President-Themed Restaurant?

" Farmers & Distillers pays homage to George Washington with artwork of Mount Vernon and America’s first president as a hipster with a man-bun. The latest? Founding Farmers, opening in Reston on April 11, tributes Thomas Jefferson."

Washington Post

Right outside our nation's capital lies a county bursting with culture

"Taking the “farm-to-table” mantra extremely seriously, Founding Farmers in Potomac is supplied by family farms and owned by a union of more than 47,000 farmers."

Washington Business Journal

Startup fighting ‘sad desk lunch’ raises $650K

"Almost three years later, Plum Relish is now serving lunches from Mike Isabella Concepts, chef Ed Lee’s Succotash and the Founding Farmers restaurant group."

Eater DC

Local Chain Founding Farmers' New Reston Restaurant Arrives April 11

"The Founding Farmers currently taking shape in Reston, Virginia, is now scheduled to open on Wednesday, April 11, with management planning to pay homage to former President Thomas Jefferson — a founding father who also happened to be one of America’s earliest foodies."

Washingtonian

Founding Farmers Reston Is An Ode to Thomas Jefferson-With Fried Chicken and Doughnuts

"The Founding Fathers theme will continue at Founding Farmers’ forthcoming Reston restaurant. This time, though, it’s all about Thomas Jefferson (minus the man-bun, sorry)."

Restaurant Hospitality Magazine

When farmers own restaurants

“The mission of Farmers Restaurant Group is to pay family farmers more for the products,” Simons said. “Even if they don’t supply us product, farmers can partake in the profit sharing as investors. This model gives them a way to participate in the profitability of a food business that reflects their values."

Washington Business Journal

5 ways your lunchtime schmoozing will change

"Sarah Van Dell started Plum Relish, which delivers bento-box-style meals designed by chef-driven restaurant groups such Mike Isabella Concepts and Farmers Restaurant Group, with this demographic in mind. Since her launch, she’s tweaked the model, reducing the minimum number of meals required to accommodate the likes of board meetings."

Food Tank

Turning a Restaurant Into a Social Movement: A Conversation with Dan Simons of Founding Farmers

"Food Tank spoke with Simons about his work promoting sustainable, socially-conscious practices in the restaurant industry and his hopes for the future of American agriculture."

Huffington Post

What Makes Winners Win When Most Fail?

"According to Dan Simons — who coaches employees in professional and personal growth practices, time management, and the benefits of team work and transparency — aligning your work with what you are good at (and alternately, staying away from what you aren’t good at) is smart."

The Washington Post

Sixth ‘farmers’ restaurant’ to open in Pennsylvania

"Farmers Union President Mark Watne says the new restaurant is located in King of Prussia. It’s called Founding Farmers King of Prussia."

The Town Dish

An Evolution of Farm-to-Table: Founding Farmers Opens in King of Prussia

"'When your restaurant’s majority owners are more than 47,000 American family farmers, then we can promise that our purchasing dollars align with those values—which are our values, too,' said Dan Simons, Founding Farmers co-owner. Simons, along with co-owner Michael Vucurevich and King of Prussia managing partner Francis Lake, built the restaurant around a commitment to honor hardworking farmers."

Huffington Post

4 Ways to Build More Engagement In Your Online Community

"Many businesses use social media to share their news, including sales and special promotions. The restaurant group behind Founding Farmers uses social media to support company announcements and educate consumers."

OpenTable

Flower Power: 10 Top Cauliflower Dishes to Order Now

"No cows were harmed in the making of this steak. The cauli-filet is so tender you can cut it with a butter knife. Risotto fills out the plate."

The Washington Post

We tried meatless ‘Impossible Burger’ at two D.C. restaurants. Here’s what it tastes like.

"Farmers Restaurant Group — which owns Founding Farmers, Farmers & Distillers and Farmers Fishers Bakers — serves Impossible Burger at all three restaurants. We tried the F&D All American Burger at Farmers & Distillers, and although the burger's not juicy or plump enough to convert true meat lovers, the results are downright delicious."

Restaurant Business Online

Top 100 Grossing Restaurants

Founding Farmers D.C. comes in at #37, and Founding Farmers Tysons is ranked #92.

Influencive

Restaurateur Dan Simons Reveals Some of the Secrets to Their Success

"Talking with Co-Owner Dan Simons, it became abundantly clear, it is not one smart or special thing that makes these restaurants work, but thoughtful, wise and advised practices across all aspects of their business."

TF Daily

The Simple Yet Complicated Recipe for One Restaurant Group’s Success

"This high performing DC-based restaurant not only trains their employees well, they use a handful of integrated data systems, including robust function of OpenTable, to learn about their guests and manage the flow of guests in and out of their restaurants. “It isn’t about turning tables quickly, which was the old model of successful restaurant management for casual, high-volume restaurants. First and foremost, it’s about providing memorable service."

Washingtonian

Tips for Pulling Off a Successful Kid Birthday Party From the Manager of One of DC’s Busiest Restaurants

"On a busy weekend day, 1,800 patrons pass through Farmers Fishers Bakers on the Georgetown waterfront. It’s service manager Erich Stumpe‘s job to make sure the front of the house team works smoothly and diners have a good time, so he knows a thing or two about how to flawlessly execute guest experiences."

Today

8 Reasons Your Kids Should Work in Restaurants

"According to Simons, encouraging restaurant work, especially for teens and young adults, provides many important skills for future work life, and for building a happy, productive life."

The Drum

The Future of Restaurant Marketing From Founding Farmers’ Dan Simons

"According to Simons, for restaurants to be successful in current times, they need to embrace what is. Marketing is no longer a group of slick ad makers separate from the rest of restaurant operations. It is more all encompassing."

OpenTable

Burnt: PR Pros Weigh in on What To Do When You Get a Bad Restaurant Review

"Take a deep breath. 'Don’t get stressed about it, because being stressed is not an action step. It’s a waste of time,' counsels Meaghan O’Shea."

Inc. Magazine

How to Use Your Workspace to Ignite Your Culture

"Dan Simons, co-owner of Founding Farmers, the most booked restaurant in the US on OpenTable and most geo-tagged restaurant in DC on Instagram, says their restaurants are their offices. "That's where all the action is. It's pretty cool to be sitting at one of our tables at Founding Farmers having a meeting and looking over Pennsylvania Avenue just a few blocks from the White House," says Simons."

New York Times

Sheryl Sandberg and Elizabeth Alexander on Love, Loss and What Comes Next

"Over a breakfast of English muffins and cappuccinos (with a side of bacon for Ms. Sandberg) at Farmers Fishers Bakers in Georgetown, the women discussed the impulse to write about their struggles, the experience of parenting through grief, and the value in sharing our deepest stories."

Forbes

How Founding Farmers Became the Most Successful Restaurant in the U.S. for 5 Years Running

“We want our guests to feel that we are taking care of them...We meet them where they are, in the complexity of their lives and give them a comfortable seat, tasty food and drink, and good service. It’s that simple, regardless of how complex it might be to execute."

Entrepreneur

10 Personal Branding Experts to Follow This Year

"Simons is a champion for environmental protection and workers rights, and has successfully incorporated ethical operations into his marketing and organization, resulting in breakneck growth for his company."

Forbes

How To Make Corporate Responsibility A Driver In Your Business

“Our concern for the environment has always been paramount, and our talents and abilities to deliver on our vision are increasing as we grow,” says owner Dan Simons. “We are family-farmer-centric, people-centric, and these principles guide all of our decisions. Our menus emphasize food that is connected to people and the earth. Our sources are primarily family farms, and we make the vast majority of our food from scratch and in-house.”

Eater

Parking's a Breeze at These D.C. Area Restaurants

"The latest addition from the Founding Farmers crew is an enormous restaurant in downtown D.C. The food and drink harken back to America’s earliest days, and the parking, like our great nation, is free too. Be on the lookout for the PMI- Parking garage, located in the same building."

Lyft

The Lyftie Awards

Founding Farmers DC named the number 1 drop off spot for Lyft riders.

Washingtonian

20 Things to Look For at Farmers & Distillers

"Caviar? Cacio e pepe? Shrimp and grits? Steak? Pizza? Chinese dumplings? This menu covers it all—and then some. “You might look at this menu and think it’s all over the place,” co-owner Dan Simons says. 'But we can point at any menu item, and I can say, ‘Here’s how it connects.'"

USA Today

Instagram's most geo-tagged restaurant in each state

"Washington, D.C.'s most geo-tagged restaurant is Founding Farmers, located just three blocks from the White House."

Entrepreneur

5 Tips for Dealing With Explosive Growth

"One of the most popular restaurants in the country is a case study in how to make the mania of rapid growth a smooth process."

NY Magazine

Young George Washington Looks Like He Would Constantly Text ‘U Up?’

"Artist Nathan Loda was commissioned to create an oil painting of a 20-something George Washington for D.C. restaurant Farmers & Distillers and he delivered, man-bun and all."

Smithsonian Magazine

In This New Portrait, George Washington Trades His Curls for a Man Bun

"The first president turns hipster at a new D.C. restaurant."

Washingtonian

DC Restaurant Commissions Portrait of Hot George Washington With a Man Bun

"If George Washington was 25 years old today, he’d have a man bun, wear Wayfarer sunglasses, and drink whiskey from Founding Farmers. At least that’s the fantasy envisioned by the team at the new Farmers & Distillers. The owners commissioned an oil painting of America’s Founding Father as a millennial from local artist Nathan Loda to hang in the Washington-themed dining room of their Chinatown restaurant, bar, and distillery."

Washingtonian

Here Are Hot George Washington’s Best Pick-up Lines

"What would George Washington be like as a hot millennial with a man bun? Apparently, an internet sensation! After we posted a photo of the hipster George portrait commissioned by Farmers & Distillers yesterday, everyone seemed to have an opinion."

DC Refined

5 new brunches you need to try in 2017

"The Founding Farmers team moves into Mount Vernon Square with a vodka distillery and a history-rich menu inspired by George Washington and nearby Chinatown."

Brightest Young Things

First Look: Farmers & Distillers

"Farmers & Distillers knows its role. This is a good thing. For the nearby office workers and the commuters heading to the Chinatown or Convention Center Metro stations, stop in for a donut (they’re made in house and moist and what you want in a donut) and special-t0-Farmer’s Compass Coffee First Bake Blend. It’s hard to go wrong with fresh donuts and Compass Coffee."

Eater

Prime Picks For Prime Cuts of Steak in D.C.

"This Mt. Vernon Triangle spot debuted in December with a prime rib roast beef supper. The 10 oz. prime rib dish is served with creamed spinach, peas and lashings, whipped potatoes, glazed carrots, gravy, and Yorkshire pudding."

OpenTable

History, High-Level Hospitality + Housemade Hooch: Inside D.C.’s Farmers & Distillers

“The restaurant’s main menu is characteristically ambitious and contains no crossover from their other eateries. “The thought of replicating the same thing is so entirely boring to me and [co-owner] Mike Vucurevich,” says Simons. “And it’s boring to the kind of people we want to work with. Repetition doesn’t attract the coolest, most interesting talent.””

OpenTable

House-Made Spirits, Shaobing & Unique Dining Spaces: Dan Simons Talks Farmers & Distillers

"After two and a half years in the making, Dan Simons — the restaurateur behind the wildly popular Founding Farmers — is finally opening his brand new concept, Farmers & Distillers, in Washington, D.C.’s Mount Vernon Square neighborhood. It’s the fifth restaurant from the Farmers Restaurant Group, which owns three locations of Founding Farmers and Farmers Fishers Bakers."

OpenTable

Cocoa Confections: 6 Hot Chocolate Desserts

"Maryland’s state dessert – yes, that’s a thing – is Smith Island Cake. It was born on its namesake island in the Chesapeake Bay, some time after the Civil War. One version of its origin story is that wives would send it out with watermen going oystering in the winter because the layers of icing would help keep it fresh. This fancified version sits in a bowl of hot chocolate, which soaks into the cake to add a deeper cocoa flavor."

Eater

Ignore the Cold Weather at These Festive Winter Patios

"Guests who can’t find an enviable spot near the fire pit can still stay warm at Farmers Fishers Bakers year-round waterfront patio. The Georgetown restaurant has blankets, several heaters and comfy couches."

Washingtonian

Washingtonian Readers Pick Their Favorite Bars and Restaurants

Founding Farmers voted one of the best brunches in D.C. by Washingtonian readers.

All Top Start Ups

Founding Farmers Founder Dan Simons Talks Labor Abuse and Climate Change

“As with anything involving ethics, it’s easier to just not look and let the blame fall to someone else, but as a consumer, you have the choice to punish those firms that turn a blind eye to abuses,” said Simons. “Founding Farmers is based around the idea that sustainability is more than a goal, it’s a requirement."

Huffington Post

How to Respond To Bad Reviews, and Come Back Stronger

“We’re transparent about who we are and what we do. When we make a mistake, I want to know about it, take responsibility for it, and correct it. I acknowledge that with the wide range of difficult things our team tries to accomplish every day, and in our refusal to use chain-restaurant methodology to simplify and dumb things down, that we’ll fall short sometimes. I’m proud of our people who do the detailed, complex work that it takes to serve our guests every day.”

Eater

Best DC Cafes With Free Wifi

Weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., enjoy a self-service breakfast with a side of free wifi access in a cozy communal setting they call First Bake. Surfing the web is also free at sister spot Founding Farmers.

Full-Service Restaurant Magazine

Lessons In Leftovers

"The three Founding Farmers restaurants in and around Washington, D.C., also pride themselves on cross-utilization. “It’s rare when we have something that has a one-time use,” says managing partner Mary Carter. 'It’s about making sure your menu has a lot of options for what you’re doing, and being as creative as you can.'"

restaurant development + design magazine

Restaurant Reclamation

"People said we were crazy — we’re on the backside of an office building, the entrance is strange, and two restaurants have failed there."

OpenTable

Restaurant Evolution: When to Change & When to Expand

“Deciding we were ready to expand was a combination of believing we had developed the managerial talent to still execute well, combined with the demand for reservations,” says Dan Simons, co-owner of Founding Farmers. “We had more demand than we had seats. There was a line out the door.” Once you’ve made that decision, though, the details matter.

Engadget

Service with a Smile and Some Very Sophisticated Software: How Farmers Restaurant Group Uses Big Data to Better Serve Their Guests

Farmers Restaurant Group really gets it," said OpenTable CEO Christa Quarles. "They've been dedicated to learning our systems and figuring out how best they can be used in conjunction with their smarts and their staff. They are making the software work for them to provide a better experience for all of their guests.

Huffington Post

Cooking Up a Storm: Dan Simons Shows What It Takes to be a Successful Restaurateur

In some ways, Dan and his team have revolutionized the industry with their coaching and mentoring strategies. In conversation after conversation with his team, Dan reminds them to never look up at anyone, but instead, to look across the table, eye to eye, with the confidence that all people are equal.

Corporate Responsibility Magazine

How a Group of Farmer-Owner Restaurants Uses the Family Farm as a Business Model for Sustainability

It’s often assumed that it’s not possible to maintain high-level sustainability practices while still remaining profitable, especially in the restaurant business. But Farmers Restaurant Group (FRG), which operates a handful of popular restaurants in and around the nation’s capital, is doing just that.

Huffington Post

A New Deal For Farmers - How Founding Farmers Is Changing the Game

Farming represents the backbone of America’s food machine. There are 3.2 million farmers in the United States, and this aging group has been getting a raw deal for some time. It’s all down to the way farmers do their business. But Founding Farmers is one startup looking to change that.

Eater

D.C. Coffee Shops and Restaurants with Free Wifi — and Good Food

"Weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., enjoy a self-service breakfast with a side of free wifi access in a cozy communal setting they call First Bake. Surfing the web is also free at sister spot Founding Farmers."

Eater

D.C.'s Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings, Fall 2016

"The restaurant group behind Founding Farmers and its affiliated restaurant tackles its most ambitious place to date, which has its own on-site distillery."

Zagat

9 Most Anticipated Fall Openings in DC

"The folks behind Founding Farmers and Farmers Fishers Bakers are at it again, this time with a nod to George Washington and his Mount Vernon farm and distillery."

Washingtonian

Restaurants Are Now Being Designed with Instagram in Mind

"Interior designer Brooke Loewen of Grizform Design Architects points to the host stand at Founding Farmers Tysons. It’s a part of a restaurant that typically goes unnoticed, but there it depicts the bottom half of a horse, and its centaur-like effect makes it a desirable shot for customers: 'Anytime a restaurant can get guests to interact with their brand—which interior design is a part of—and the guests post it, that’s the biggest endorsement.'"

Eater

Go Fish -- Find Super-Trendy Poke at These Places in DC

"Poke finds its way onto this menu through a spicy ahi tuna poke salad, served with avocado, cabbage, onion, mint, basil, and peppers."

Business Insider

The 20 best US cities to live in if you love to try new food

DC Modern Luxury

April Food + Drink Guide

"The modern American menu of this eco-chic eatery on the Georgetown waterfront has something for everyone (including a sushi bar!)."

Bethesda Magazine

Bethesda Magazine Announced MoCo's Founding Farmers as "Best Restaurant in Potomac"

"Best Restaurant in Potomac (Readers' Pick)"

Brightest Young Things

Happy Hour Hotline: Tiki Edition

"The tiki and tropical cocktail selection at Farmers Fishers Bakers is very extensive. Order the Suffering Georgetowner (with botanist gin, high west, rendezvous rye, lime, ginger, bitters, and seltzer) and think about what the implications of its name are. Or if you want to keep the mood light try the Islay Swizzle or Bahama Mama. Cheers!"

Washington City Paper

Reader Poll: Farmers Fishers Bakers Voted Runner-Up Best Alcoholic Punch

Farmers Fishers Bakers voted runner- up for Best Alocholic Punch by Washington City Paper.

Washington City Paper

Reader Poll: Founding Farmers DC Voted Runner-Up Best Brunch

Founding Farmers voted runner-up for Best Brunch by Washington City Paper.

Washington City Paper

Reader Poll: Founding Farmers DC Voted Runner-Up Best Downtown Lunch

Founding Farmers voted runner-up for Best Downtown Lunch by Washington City Paper.

Washington City Paper

Reader Poll: Founding Farmers DC Voted Runner-Up Best Bloody Mary

Founding Farmers voted runner-up for Best Bloody Mary by Washington City Paper.

Washingtonian

The 6 Tiki Drinks You Need to Try at These Washington Bars

"Zombie Circa 1946 Scorpion Bowl Jon Arroyo of Farmers Fishers Bakers has built one of the largest tiki-bar menus in Washington, exploring classics such as this midcentury scorpion with rum, gin, pisco, and citrus. "

Huffington Post

10 Most Sustainable Restaurants in America

“From using recycled paper-composite countertops to using recycled paper menus with soy-based inks, Founding Farmers gets an A+ for all that they do to help Mother Earth.”

Spoon University

The Best Waffles in Every State in America

"The waffles at Founding Farmers are made from scratch everyday, and can be topped with either fresh strawberries and cream, maple cinnamon sugar, bananas foster, or fried chicken."

Washington Business Journal

Founding Farmers to open first locations outside of the D.C. area

"The group will open a Founding Farmers restaurant in the new King of Prussia Town Center, a 260,000-square-foot development from The JBG Cos. being built about 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia and within walking distance of the massive King of Prussia mall."

Arlington Magazine

Innovative Arlington Area Restaurants

"Venturing deeper into the space, one finds a barn-style bar with exposed rafters, a “sun tea room,” a carpeted main dining room (designed to feel like a living room) and “bedroom booths” that mimic the shape of four-poster beds with flowing drapery."

DCist

Cocktailist - Tiki Town Edition

"Farmers Fishers Bakers is perhaps the D.C. restaurant most steeped in tiki tradition, with Zombie recipes dating back to the thirties."

D.C. Modern Luxe

The 50 Finest

All eyes on Founding Farmers Tysons and their Diplomat Crepe Cake! "Stunning 17-layer cake is worthy of an Instagram before you take your first bite. Between each crepe is a generous slather of fluffy vanilla pastry cream. The towering wedge can be served plain or topped with strawberry-blueberry compote or hot fudge."

Eater

Get Brain Freeze With These DC Frozen Cocktails

"There’s a tiki-themed menu at Farmers Fishers Bakers and many of the drinks are topped with tropical garnishes. The banana daiquiri and lava flow, a rum and coconut-based concoction, are house specialties."

The Washington Post

8 of the Best Tiki Drinks in D.C.

"In spite of all the crushed ice, the Zombie Circa 1934 is a booze bomb, with a punch of bittering absinthe powering through the tang of the citrus, the spice of falernum and the funk of multiple rums. "

Travel & Leisure

Best Farm-To-Table Restaurant in Every State"

“Profits go directly back to the producers, from the flourmill to the fruit orchard, making a meal here as much about feeding your soul as satisfying your appetite.”

Thrillist

Best Brunches Worth Leaving D.C. For

"Somehow, Founding Farmers manages to keep the farm-to-table concept alive and kicking, even when that idea may feel passe to some. It's expanded both north and south these days, but is staying true to its origin, serving delicious food using ingredients that come straight from the farm."

OpenTable

100 Best Brunches in America 2016

Founding Farmers DC, MoCo's Founding Farmers, Founding Farmers Tysons, and Farmers Fishers Bakers were named among the top 100 Best Brunch spots in America.

FSR Magazine

Getting to the Source of Local Supply

“Mary Carter, the managing partner of the Founding Farmers flagship Washington, D.C. location agrees that finding a capable partner is key. She says the four-unit group, which also has locations in Maryland and Virginia, and is owned by the more than 40,000 members of the North Dakota Farmers Union, pays as much attention to how its product is grown and harvested as it does the zip code it came from”

U.S.A. Today

Where to eat over Easter weekend

"At Washington, D.C. favorite Founding Farmers, start with a board of Devil-ish Eggs."

Washington City Paper

Chair Necessities: A Lot of Thought Went Into Your Restaurant Seat

"At the new Founding Farmers in Tysons Corner, all of the furniture is custom-made. To complete the “modern farmhouse” look, Loewen worked with fabricators to build furniture that looked residential, but could endure thousands of diners a week."

DCist

Best of All You Can Eat Deals

"If your ultimate brunch dreams involve an all-you-can-eat buffet, look no further than Farmers Fishers Bakers. The expansive Georgetown restaurant is routinely mobbed on the weekend as diners load up their plates with everything from traditional brunch items to fried chicken, tacos, and sushi."

Eater

Outstanding Breakfast Tacos in D.C.

"Taco lovers can rejoice thanks to Farmers Fishers Bakers, who not only serves tacos at their popular brunch, but now serves them daily during “First Bake” breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., as well as weekend brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m."

WASHINGTONIAN

Best of Washington

Readers chose Founding Farmers DC as a popular brunch spot in Washingtonian’s Best of Washington feature

OpenTable

Delicious Holiday Cocktails to Get You in the Spirit of the Season

"Health and wellness are a priority at Founding Farmers, so it’s no surprise that the winter beverage menu (offered through the end of February) spotlights fresh-pressed juices. Beverage Director John Arroyo’s Winter Pie features cold-pressed apple juice, vodka, lemon, and cinnamon syrup, garnished with fruit."

OpenTable

Hot Dog Day: A Dozen Delicious Must-Try Haute Dogs

"You know what they say about little hot dogs? Little buns. You can choose big flavored mini franks sassed up with tomato chow-chow, blue cheese and bacon, or our favorite, chili with shredded cheddar."

The Washington Post

Why more and more people are making plans to dine out alone

"Founding Farmers also placed in the site's nationwide list of the top 25 restaurants for solo diners in 2015, based on the number of one-person reservations, user ratings and recommendations from the site's restaurant experts."

US Green Building Council

USGBC loves DC: Greenbuild comes home—Restaurant feature

"We can’t make a list of top restaurants to visit while in DC attending Greenbuild without mentioning the obvious pick: Founding Farmers! Not only is this downtown restaurant LEED Gold, it also has some truly delicious food and drinks. Our pick: the grilled cheese and tomato soup!"

Thrillist

The 16 Most Important Restaurants in DC

"Before the tidal wave of the “farm-to-table” movement swept DC, there was Founding Farmers. The restaurant was committed to working directly with farmers before it was a buzz-generating line to put on a menu. In fact, American family farmers from across the country collectively own it."

CBS DC

D.C.’s Food Court: Fine Dining, Food Trucks and Everything in Between

"If there’s one thing residents in the DMV know best, it’s how to brunch. So it’s no surprise several D.C.-area restaurants made OpenTable’s list of the Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in America."

Immersion Travel

Ten Sustainable Restaurants in DC

"Whether patrons flock to the locations on Pennsylvania Ave. or suburban streets in Maryland and Virginia, they know they will have to wait for a while to be seated; time is a price to pay for dining at of the most popular restaurants in the area. Not only is the food sustainable, but the spaces themselves are LEED certified, which ensures that the construction and décor of the restaurants have minimal ecological impact."

Business Insider

The 25 best restaurants in America to eat at by yourself when you are single and alone

"After analyzing data on its customers, OpenTable realized that reservations “for one” had grown 62 percent in the past two years. This means that “single” tables are OpenTable’s fastest growing party size."

Washingtonian

8 Dark and Stormy Cocktails You Should Be Drinking Now

"Barman Jon Arroyo covers the classics, including a Dark and Stormy made the old fashioned way: Goslings black seal rum, ginger beer, and lime."

The New York Times

All-Gender Restrooms, the Signs Reflect the Times

"There is no mistaking who can go where at the Founding Farmers restaurant in Washington, D.C.; its restroom doors read Men, Women and the Rest of Us. “I realized that for some people this is a stressful topic,” he added, “and I thought: ‘Why don’t I make it clear? We need a label that says no label.’ "

Washingtonian

Here Are Locals’ Favorite Places to Eat Around DC

"Stacks of extra-fluffy buttermilk pancakes practically demand that you factor in nap time."

FOOD NETWORK

50 States, 50 Breakfasts

"Talk about politically correct: This D.C. hot spot, just blocks from the White House, serves a breakfast that's as eco-friendly as it is delicious. The chef coats free-range chicken in whole-wheat flour before frying it, then he pairs it with organic eggs, a waffle, and a creamy pepper gravy made from whole-wheat flour and antibiotic-free cream and butter."

Restaurant Business Online

4 Ways to Keep Recycling Costs in Check

"To keep compost and recyclables out of costly landfill garbage, the bins are color-coded and placed in strategic spots—for example, a bin for wine bottles sits by the doorway to the dining room. By contrast, there are no trash cans in sight."

Besthesda Magazine

Best of Bethesda 2015: Full Results

"Best Restaurant in Montgomery County (Readers' Pick): MoCo’s Founding Farmers"

Eater

Iconic College Restaurants

Founding Farmers and Farmers Fishers Bakers are picks for iconic college restaurants (Georgetown University)

Viva Tysons

Breakfast in Tysons Corner

"Sip on a coffee or espresso, try one of their cold-pressed juice blends, or even a breakfast cocktail while you're devouring the best stuffed French toast or Farmhouse waffles you've ever had. How about some made-to-order beignets with raspberry coulis or chocolate?"

WTOP

No More Labels on Meat? What the Change in the Law Means for your Food

"'At this point, we’ve just taken the ability for a consumer to be able to make a choice for them and their family,' says Mary Carter, managing partner at D.C.’s Founding Farmers, a restaurant that espoused farm-to-table, long before it was a buzzword. 'We’ve basically taken education away from people who want it. So now, consumers have no chance to make a choice, unless they absolutely have a relationship like we do with our vendors.'”

Eater

Vital Power Breakfast Spots to Know in D.C.

"A stone's throw from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, this restaurant draws tourists and deal makers to its well-regarded breakfasts and brunches."

Capitol File

5 Mac and Cheese Dishes in DC Worth Indulging In

"Lobster mac & cheese at Founding Farmers: A masterful blend of Gouda, yellow cheddar, white cheddar, Gruyère, Grana Padano, and muenster, this hearty mac and cheese bowl from Founding Farmers is textured with breadcrumbs and topped off with an actual lobster tail."

The Washington Post

D.C.’s hottest destinations, according to Uber

Founding Farmers is recognized as a top dining destination in Downtown DC.