In October, I tried out Founding Farmers and had a less than stellar visit. After my write up, I was contacted by the restaurant and they invited me back–on them–for a return trip. Now, I am a woman who can be bought, but it takes more than a free dinner and a tour of a kitchen. After some back and forth we agreed that they would send me a gift card so I could visit anonymously. Also, I made it abundantly clear I would be 100% honest in my write up. A few days before Christmas I headed to take the restaurant for another spin to celebrate Cindarella’s birthday. Nothing says “I love you and value your friendship” more than bringing your friend for a dinner that you know could potentially suck.
Some good news for Founding Farmers: This trip was much better. Our server was friendly and attentive. Our glasses were always full and her menu advice was helpful and appreciated. I ordered the short ribs, my favorite food ever, and I was not disappointed. They certainly were not the best I have ever had, but they were pretty darn good. Cindarella ordered the chicken and waffles which were also quite tasty. The chicken was crispy and flavorful and the potatoes delicious. I ordered a piece of carrot cake, the ultimate test, and was quite pleased with it. The cake was moist and the cream cheese frosting was perfectly sweet.
And now to the bad news… Cindarella and I arrived separately and the host was rude and dismissive to both of us. While the server was friendly, she seemed to struggle a bit. She had an impossible go at opening our bottle of wine; it took an uncomfortably long period of time and we damn near offered to do it for her. Also, we ordered a cheese plate and she could not identify the cheeses on the board. She joked that “we all (the waitstaff) kid around that we can never name them. We even had a class and I forget”. That isn’t acceptable; I want to know what I am eating. While Cindarella’s chicken and waffles were good, there was an unsightly and unnecessary golf ball sized glob on butter on her plate, but barely enough syrup to cover one waffle. Separately, these shortcomings are not a huge deal, but together they sullied the trip.
I am glad I went back to Founding Farmers, but I was disheartned to see it still needs some improvement. It does look like they are working out some of the kinks and I hope a trip back, maybe in a year or so, will prove that they figured it all out. I raise their grade to about a B (from a C) but they need to make some changes to get a spot on the honor roll.
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{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
So disappointing. I’m sorry you didn’t have a great trip. Mine was decent but not great as well: They were out of the Cranberry Cucumber Cooler when I went, and I found the fried chicken salad to be a little blah – way more lardons than actual fried chicken. Chef had the chicken and waffles as well and it was quite tasty. As were the blue cheese stuffed bacon-wrapped dates. The hostess was a bit snotty, indeed. Where, exactly, do they think they’re working?
I totally hear you on working the kinks out. The good news was that the prices were reasonable, so I didn’t feel completely ripped off!
The host just needs to say hello and smile to make me happy…I am not asking much here.
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Thanks for reviewing this – I hadn’t even heard of it (and I guess I missed your first pass). Sometimes I wonder if people aren’t so busy patting themselves on the back for being organic and green that they forget that the food still needs to taste good. And maybe they need to be reminded that providing good service doesn’t increase their carbon footprint.
Yes, green can be awesome. They COULD be awesome. Just need more work. It was better, though.
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Weren’t you glad you weren’t paying for uninformed wait staff and golf balls of butter? The price was definitely right. And I’ll bet Cinderella was charmed by the company, if not the food.
Yes, the price was definitely right.
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The moral of the story?
1. Women should arrive at a restaurant like they go to the restroom – together.
2. Never order cheese for dessert. Dessert is for that I know I shouldn’t but it tastes so good stuff.
3. Eat more butter and less syrup.
Follow these simple rules and you will be much happier on your return trip. If you take me I will even remind you.
We ordered the cheese to start–is that better?
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Unacceptable. She should not only known what the cheeses were but be able to tell you something interesting about them. Wine service is a crucial element to the job. Hostess is about one step up from bus person although they are generally somewhat attractive. Am I ranting….is this thing on…
Being a host/hostess is harder than it looks, but a requirement is to be friendly. They are the first face the patron sees.
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Hopefully those things can be ironed out after their 6 month grace period of being new… I just really want them to work out, since I work SO damn close to them now!
I feel like it should be ironed out by now…
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I actually took a bottle away from a server once in Austin and opened it because I was seriously concerned she was going to hurt herself.
Not knowing the cheeses is unacceptable. Theatrics is half the journey at restaurants today.
I know…learn a mnemonic device or some such. There are only three plates to remember.
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Couldn’t open the bottle of wine? Don’t you learn how to do that in high school?
I can open a bottle of wine WITH MY TEETH.
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Wow, just want to say that you are REALLY GOOD at restaurant reviews in that from your words I can picture exactly what went down, which is rare. One question, though — what is the cost of some of this stuff? Does it justify some of the shoddy service?
Thanks, Marissa. I have been trying to work on them. The cost is varied…a bit on the higher end but not astronomical. My short ribs were $26, the cake $9, I think…
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i used to wait tables and had the hardest time with the wine bottle.
(now i can open them in record time…hmm.)
but i KNEW i had issues with it, so id have someone else bring it over. it’s excruciating to be sitting there, waiting for your wine, and just have to bite your tongue not to offer to do the damn thing for them.
good of you to try it out again. hopefully it will only go up from here.
Oh man, it was BRUTAL. Cindarella and I were painfully glancing at each other and then the table to not make her more nervous.
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“Now, I am a woman who can be bought, but it takes more than a free dinner and a tour of a kitchen”
How about dinner and 2 fist fulls of whiskey…Does it for me every time!
And, why would anyone order chicken and waffles anywhere other than Roscoe’s????
I have never been to Roscoe’s…there is so much in life I have yet to experience.
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With a waiter’s friend, there’s also a chance they could chip or break the top edge of the bottle if not careful.
That is not good for anyone.
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I ordered a piece of carrot cake, the ultimate test
Carrot cake is evil.
Peter
Peter, I don’t think we are ever going to see eye to eye on this.
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Can you trash a good place now, so that we can get a free meal there? I hear Rays the Steaks sucks hard.
I think you are on to something.
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I’m not sure if you’ve mentioned this before, but I need to know: have you ever been a server?
I have worked as a hostess and in food service for the New England Patriots, but I never waited tables. My father has been in the biz for 35 years so I have a pretty reasonable set of expectations, I think.
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Chicken and waffles? I live in the south and I’ve yet to try this. There is so much life to be lived!
Also I’m sad to hear the the fried chicken salad wasn’t as delicious as it sounds. However my mouth is still watering and I may have to experiment with that this weekend.
There is a whole lotta fried goodness out there.
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I wish there were places to order cheese plates in South Dakota. Hrmph. You write good reviews, my friend. You write them like a normal person.
Weird, because I am totally not normal.
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The carrot cake test is key. I love that you use it.
And good to know your thoughts on this place. My friend actually suggested it the last time I was in DC, but we didn’t end up making it there. Now, I’m kind of glad we didn’t…
I am too… and the carrot cake test will live forever.
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I will NEVER eat there!
Unless they, too, bribe me.
It was not bribing! It was a second shot.
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Oooh, I have to go to a birthday there next week that I was already “meh” about. Now I’m full of trepidation.
Sorry to break the news.
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I really like the idea of that place. I went there right before I moved away from DC, and was so excited. That must have been November. I really enjoyed my meal, but it was way more about the company and the atmosphere than the food. I’m pretty sure I had a sandwich for dinner, so I probably didn’t stretch their capabilities too much. I love the review. Thanks.
Company goes a long way and mine was great that night.
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Is this the place with the bacon lolipops? Because the idea of that made me cringe.
It is indeed.
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I have a feeling I won’t be eating there.
I am doing you a favor.
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Yours is like the fifth bad/less than stellar review I’ve read about FF. I think it may be a long time before they get any of my cash. I’m willing to forgive a lot if the service is friendly and prompt.
I want them to do well, dammit…get it together, FF.
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The funny thing about this review is how I’m beginning to run into organic foods/restaurants that, well, suck. It used to be that the organic cooks/farmers/ranchers were a fringe group, people that obsessed about their cuisine or food. Now, it’s business, baby!!
To whit: I grilled some organic grass fed, humanely corn finished beef over the holidays. The butcher regaled me with stories of happy cows frolicing in fields of clover. Loved and gentle sent off to the great pasture in the sky. I grilled the steaks perfectly: Deep ruby center, warm to the touch. They were tough. Apparantly happy cows make tough cows.
Are they shocked with a cruelty free taser?
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“Now, I am a woman who can be bought”
*makes note to self*
For the curious, You can get Chicken and Waffles @ Gladys Knights in MD and @ Ooh’s and Aahs’ on U-Street.
A trip to MD for chicken and waffles…they better be good. Also, welcome to the party, Anonymous Richie.
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bh — try nora’s. it’s awesome.
It is…I concur.
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I visited FF in December and I think part of their problem stems from the menu having too many selections. They should use this early period of the business to see which of the 10 million options they offer work best and eliminate the chaff. As an aside, the tomato on my burger was pulpy and gross. If they’re going to be all rah-rah produce, I expect them to realize that a tomato in December may be an unnecessary and unrealistic feat. It’s all in the details, alas.
I remember reading your review and thinking it was spot on. I agree—there is too much going on with that menu.
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I met a friend for brunch there in early December. It was a good – not great – experience. The food was decent, the menu ginormous but the server completely disappeared on us once the food arrived. I think we waited about 30 minutes for the chance to ask for our check. Which is funny since the end of the meal is often when absentee servers become super attentive.
Jman: “2. Never order cheese for dessert. Dessert is for that I know I shouldn’t but it tastes so good stuff.”
Gotta disagree. Cheese tastes so very good and I really know I shouldn’t. It’s an ideal dessert.
Man, it is hot and cold across the board it seems.
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I’m glad your second pass was better, if not perfect. Was it still super loud?
Huh? What?! I didn’t hear your question…
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I still haven’t tried it, even though I work SO damn close to them too… Heard good things about the food, always awful about the service…
I think if you wanted desert it would be good.
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CS would your mother object to your eating cheese? Would she serve it and call it dessert (unless she is from France or possibly Italy) like mine did with fresh fruit (no wonder I was always looking to eat elsewhere)? Not disputing that cheese can be good to eat, but decadent or sinful or guilt inducing? One and two, never, three only if you are lactose intolerant. Cheese is not part of the true dessert spectrum, merely a substitute for those seeking to be healthy or some other noble pursuit.
But there is nothing healthy about cheese!
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Cheese and fresh fruit sound like a perfect dessert to me.
Decadent and at times guilt-inducing, even, for those prone to that sort of thing.
Welcome melissa. And you are right–cheese and fruit are where it is at.
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Menu is a complete Southern cocktease. At least it’s got a Johnny Rockets across the street.
No one likes a cocktease.
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For some reason every time my eye scans justjp it reads “just the tip”. Am I the only one?
Dirty bird.
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Three friends and I went on Monday. Sounds like a similar meh experience…
Re the cheese plate: Our server (male) also didn’t know what was what. Plus, there wasn’t enough bread and seriously, what’s a cheese plate without some sort of crakerish material???
Re the service: server was MIA for long periods of time. Frustrating.
Re the salads: Yummy.
Re the Farmer John: Yummy. Ordered two.
Re the smears plate thing: Green goddess in overabundance. Not nearly enough pimento spread.
Re going with two vegetarians: they had plenty of culinary options, which we all appreciated.
Yes, they do have good veggie options which is super important.
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I’ve always wanted to do restaurant reviews, but I’m basically the least picky person ever so I would suck at them.
keep yours coming though– they’re really fun to read!
I will, I will. Thanks Maxie.
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Hi! Wonderful concept, but can this actually perform?
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Whats up! Fantastic thought, but can this actually do the job?
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