Penn Ave | Washington, DC

Founding Farmers DC

Located just three blocks west of the White House, the award-winning Founding Farmers flagship restaurant has been a destination for locals and tourists alike since it opened in 2008. We are open every day, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

We Are Open!

Join Us For Thanksgiving

We’re serving up a special Thanksgiving feast with all your holiday favorites. Dine with us on Thanksgiving Day. Reservations are now open!

best place to get Thanksgiving dinner best place to get Thanksgiving dinner
Breakfast
Monday – Friday 7:00am – 11am
Lunch & Dinner
Monday - Thursday 11am - 10pm
Friday 11am – 11pm
Saturday 11am – 11pm
Sunday 11am – 10pm
Brunch
Saturday & Sunday 8:30am – 2pm
Most Weekday Holidays 7:00am - 2pm
Dessert
Available for lunch & dinner
Happy Hour at the Bar
Monday - Friday 3:30pm – 5:30pm

You’re invited to join us at Founding Farmers DC. We are a full-service restaurant and bar majority owned by American family farmers. Our menus feature American-inspired food & drink made from scratch with thoughtfully sourced ingredients from farmers we know and trust.

In our urban DC farmhouse, guests can gather around our handcrafted community farm dining tables or enjoy more intimate seating arrangements, including our popular silo-shaped booths. Our Founding Farmers DC restaurant showcases original artwork, including a large flying Pegasus from artist Darla Jackson and our lamb mascot (who changes outfits with the seasons) by Noella Cotnam. Our LEED Gold Certified design helps us continue to operate as a 3 Star Certified Green Restaurant®, which exemplifies our devotion to aesthetic beauty and sustainability.

We invite guests to make a reservation and come experience all that is Founding Farmers. We are located just three blocks west of the White House in the heart of Washington, DC on Pennsylvania Avenue.  We hope your visit to Founding Farmers DC will reveal why we are the most booked restaurant in the nation on OpenTable.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Amenities

How well can Founding Farmers DC accommodate someone with a disability?

All of our restaurants are well equipped to provide excellent hospitality for all of our guests. Please let us know if you have any access concerns or needs in dining with us. You can make note when making your online reservation, contact us in advance of your reservation, or let us know when you arrive.

Located on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of Washington, D.C., Founding Farmers DC has an elevator and stairs to access two floors of dining, with a full bar on the first floor. There are restrooms on both floors. Metered parking is available on the surrounding streets and a Colonial Parking garage is located directly across the street at 2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Multiple bus lines pass directly by the restaurant and two Metro stops, Farragut West and Foggy Bottom, are within three blocks.

Do you have an elevator?

Yes, we do have an elevator to our 2nd level and the restaurant is fully accessible. There is no bar located on the 2nd level.

Do you have WiFi?

Yes, we offer complimentary WiFi. Please check with your server or the host for the password.

Are there other Founding Farmers locations?

Yes, we hope you will visit all of the restaurants in our growing family. In making your plans, please note that each restaurant has different offerings, amenities, and operating times:

Are there TVs in the bar area?

We have small televisions located in our bar area. However, they are not easily viewed from all parts of the bar and are not advisable for viewing sporting events.

Are you currently hiring?

Yes, we are hiring for all of our locations. Check out all available positions here.

Do you have highchairs and/or booster seats?

Yes, we do have highchairs and booster seats available for your convenience.

Do you have outdoor/patio seating?

Yes, we now have patio seating at the DC location. Check out our detailed information on our patio dining available  in DC and across our restaurants.

Do you offer private event space?

Learn more about our Founding Farmers DC group dining options here. However, our Founding Farmers Reston Station restaurant has a 48-seat private dining space and our DC sibling restaurant, Founding Farmers & Distillers located in the Mt Vernon Square neighborhood, has the General’s Parlor, a 16-seat private dining room tucked away on the lower level for a truly special experience. Also, MoCo’s Founding Farmers in Potomac, MD and Founding Farmers Tysons both have mezzanine dining areas that can be used for private dining.

Do you offer valet parking?

We do not offer valet parking at our DC restaurant.

Do you validate parking?

We are not able to validate parking at our DC location.

How may I purchase gift cards?

Founding Farmers gift cards go beyond enjoying a great meal. Our gift cards make the perfect gift for anyone in your life who loves getting together with friends and family over a delicious food & drink.

Purchase a Founding Farmers gift card for your loved ones today.

Our gift cards CAN be used for:

  • Dining in all of our restaurants
  • Purchasing our merchandise in person, such as The Founding Farmers Cookbook, our Founding Farmers Coffee, and our Founding Farmers Chocolate. You can also use our gift cards in person to purchase Founding Spirits from our DC distillery.

Our gift cards CANNOT be used for:

  • Online ordering from order.farmersrestaurantgroup.com
  • Ordering from third party platforms, such as UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub.
  • Purchasing our merchandise online to ship, including The Founding Farmers Cookbook or Founding Spirits.
  • Our special holidays at home programs (meals that can pre-ordered for reheating at home), such as: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Passover, Easter, and Mother’s Day.

Is there a dress code?

We like to think of ourselves as smart casual. We are what you want to make us… casual, sporty, pre-Kennedy Center show – we love it all!

Do you cater?

Yes. Founding Farmers Co. Catering & Events can provide full service catering, delivery and pick up catering that can be ordered directly online, private chef diners, and event planning. With years of experience rooted in restaurant hospitality, we have the expertise and bandwidth to help you create events that are easy, frictionless, and fun to plan from start to finish. Our catering menus are not limited to our restaurant food & drink but can be tailored to your event and your budget. As with our restaurants, everything  is made from scratch with ingredients thoughtfully sourced from farmers and suppliers we know and trust.

Complete details on our catering services and how to collaborate with us for your next event can be found at Founding Farmers Co. Catering & Events.

Bar & Beverage

Are there TVs in the bar area?

We have small televisions located in our bar area. However, they are not easily viewed from all parts of the bar and are not advisable for viewing sporting events.

Do you have happy hour?

All of our DC-area restaurants will now be serving Happy Hour.

Every Monday through Friday, join us for Happy Hour from at any of our DMV locations.

Happy Hour is available during the following times:

Founding Farmers DC: 3:30pm-5:30pm (bar area only)
Founding Farmers Tysons: 3:30pm-6pm
MoCo’s Founding Farmers: 3:30pm-6pm
Founding Farmers Reston Station: 3:30pm-6pm (bar area only)
Founding Farmers Fishers & Bakers: 3:30pm-5:30pm
Founding Farmers & Distillers: 3:30pm-6pm (bar area only)

Our Happy Hour menus vary slightly by location, but include craft cocktails, Highballs, beer, and wine, plus a generous range of our guest favorite snacks. For more details, check out our happy hour menus.

Do you have bar seating?

Yes, we do.

What is your corkage fee?

Guests may bring in one bottle of wine per party without a corkage fee. A $25 fee for each additional bottle applies after that and any wines brought into the restaurant may not be included on our current wine list.

Brunch

Do you have bottomless brunch drinks?

We do not offer bottomless drinks for brunch, but we have amazing pre-prohibition style eye-opener libations that are sure to please!

Is brunch buffet or a la carte?

Our brunch at our DC location is ordered and priced a la carte. Check out the full breakfast and brunch menu.

Desserts & Celebrations

Can I bring in my own cake?

Yes, we love celebrations! Cakes, cupcakes, or pies may be brought into the restaurant, however there is a $2 per person dessert fee for every person in your party when doing so, regardless of who is having or not having dessert.

Can I order a whole cake?

We wish you would! Yes, you can order one of our original recipe, made-from-scratch, whole cakes & pies online here. When ordering whole pies, cakes, and cheesecakes, please allow 36 hour advance notice. If you’re within that window, call us to see if we can accommodate. Whole desserts are not available through third party online platforms.

Do you offer a free dessert for a birthday or some other type of celebration?

We are not able to provide a free dessert for celebrations but when making a reservation, you can pre-order a special dessert from the menu for the guest of honor and we can provide an acknowledgement of the celebration.

How may I purchase gift cards?

Founding Farmers gift cards go beyond enjoying a great meal. Our gift cards make the perfect gift for anyone in your life who loves getting together with friends and family over a delicious food & drink.

Purchase a Founding Farmers gift card for your loved ones today.

Our gift cards CAN be used for:

  • Dining in all of our restaurants
  • Purchasing our merchandise in person, such as The Founding Farmers Cookbook, our Founding Farmers Coffee, and our Founding Farmers Chocolate. You can also use our gift cards in person to purchase Founding Spirits from our DC distillery.

Our gift cards CANNOT be used for:

  • Online ordering from order.farmersrestaurantgroup.com
  • Ordering from third party platforms, such as UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub.
  • Purchasing our merchandise online to ship, including The Founding Farmers Cookbook or Founding Spirits.
  • Our special holidays at home programs (meals that can pre-ordered for reheating at home), such as: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Passover, Easter, and Mother’s Day.

Do you cater?

Yes. Founding Farmers Co. Catering & Events can provide full service catering, delivery and pick up catering that can be ordered directly online, private chef diners, and event planning. With years of experience rooted in restaurant hospitality, we have the expertise and bandwidth to help you create events that are easy, frictionless, and fun to plan from start to finish. Our catering menus are not limited to our restaurant food & drink but can be tailored to your event and your budget. As with our restaurants, everything  is made from scratch with ingredients thoughtfully sourced from farmers and suppliers we know and trust.

Complete details on our catering services and how to collaborate with us for your next event can be found at Founding Farmers Co. Catering & Events.

Food

Can you accommodate specific food allergies (nuts, dairy, gluten, seafood, etc.)?

Yes, in most cases. Our servers and chefs are trained to address food allergies and can offer menu variations. However, if you have a life-threatening food allergy which can be triggered by cross-contact, our restaurant may not be right for you—we cook almost everything from scratch and therefore the avoidance of cross-contact is not something we can guarantee with 100% certainty. If you have an allergy of this severity, please call ahead to discuss with us, as we may determine it is safest you dine elsewhere. For non-cross contact allergies, we kindly request that you provide your server with any allergy or dietary concerns before you order, and your server will help you select an item that does not contain your allergen; we will not remove an allergen from dish as that can lead to errors, but we will absolutely help you select the best dish for you.

Do you have a kids menu?

One of the best things about our menu is that we try to offer a little something for every taste bud out there. We have many “kid-approved” items on our regular menus, and our service team is happy to help you choose the best item for the children in your party.

Do you offer vegan and vegetarian options?

Our menus feature many vegetarian options, and our servers can recommend options for our vegan guests, making modifications whenever possible. Please note: modifications are not as available for our Farmers Market Buffet Brunch. You can see all of our most current menus here: https://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/menus/

Please be sure to mention any dietary concerns to your server.

Is brunch buffet or a la carte?

Our brunch at our DC location is ordered and priced a la carte. Check out the full breakfast and brunch menu.

What kind of food do you serve?

Founding Farmers is owned by more than 50,000 American family farmers of the North Dakota Farmers Union and is supplied daily by hundreds of family farms everywhere. We offer our versions of all-American and farmhouse classics with modern interpretations and preparations. Our focus is to provide our guests with the freshest, highest quality ingredients that have been grown and harvested, and then expertly prepared by our talented chefs from scratch every day. View our menus.

What time do you start serving lunch?

Lunch service begins at 11am every day, and runs through the late afternoon; the lunch and dinner menu are the same.

Do you cater?

Yes. Founding Farmers Co. Catering & Events can provide full service catering, delivery and pick up catering that can be ordered directly online, private chef diners, and event planning. With years of experience rooted in restaurant hospitality, we have the expertise and bandwidth to help you create events that are easy, frictionless, and fun to plan from start to finish. Our catering menus are not limited to our restaurant food & drink but can be tailored to your event and your budget. As with our restaurants, everything  is made from scratch with ingredients thoughtfully sourced from farmers and suppliers we know and trust.

Complete details on our catering services and how to collaborate with us for your next event can be found at Founding Farmers Co. Catering & Events.

Getting Here

How well can Founding Farmers DC accommodate someone with a disability?

All of our restaurants are well equipped to provide excellent hospitality for all of our guests. Please let us know if you have any access concerns or needs in dining with us. You can make note when making your online reservation, contact us in advance of your reservation, or let us know when you arrive.

Located on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of Washington, D.C., Founding Farmers DC has an elevator and stairs to access two floors of dining, with a full bar on the first floor. There are restrooms on both floors. Metered parking is available on the surrounding streets and a Colonial Parking garage is located directly across the street at 2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Multiple bus lines pass directly by the restaurant and two Metro stops, Farragut West and Foggy Bottom, are within three blocks.

Are there other Founding Farmers locations?

Yes, we hope you will visit all of the restaurants in our growing family. In making your plans, please note that each restaurant has different offerings, amenities, and operating times:

Do you offer valet parking?

We do not offer valet parking at our DC restaurant.

Do you validate parking?

We are not able to validate parking at our DC location.

Is there a dress code?

We like to think of ourselves as smart casual. We are what you want to make us… casual, sporty, pre-Kennedy Center show – we love it all!

Is there street parking?

Yes, there is metered street parking available on nearby blocks of Pennsylvania, I Street and H Street, NW.

What is the closest stop from the metro?

On the Orange/Blue/Silver Lines, the closest stops are Foggy Bottom (at 21st & Eye St. NW) or Farragut West (head toward 18th St.). On the Red Line, the closest stop is Farragut North.

Where is the restaurant located?

Founding Farmers DC is located at 1924 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20006 on the ground floor of the contemporary-looking International Monetary Fund (IMF) HQ2 building. The entrance is on Pennsylvania Ave. and the restaurant takes up the entire corner of 20th St and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, just three blocks west of the White House.

Large Parties

Do you offer private event space?

Learn more about our Founding Farmers DC group dining options here. However, our Founding Farmers Reston Station restaurant has a 48-seat private dining space and our DC sibling restaurant, Founding Farmers & Distillers located in the Mt Vernon Square neighborhood, has the General’s Parlor, a 16-seat private dining room tucked away on the lower level for a truly special experience. Also, MoCo’s Founding Farmers in Potomac, MD and Founding Farmers Tysons both have mezzanine dining areas that can be used for private dining.

Who do I contact if I want to make a reservation for a large party (more than 12 guests)?

For parties over the size of 12, simply fill out this form with information on exact party size, date, and time of your request.

Do you cater?

Yes. Founding Farmers Co. Catering & Events can provide full service catering, delivery and pick up catering that can be ordered directly online, private chef diners, and event planning. With years of experience rooted in restaurant hospitality, we have the expertise and bandwidth to help you create events that are easy, frictionless, and fun to plan from start to finish. Our catering menus are not limited to our restaurant food & drink but can be tailored to your event and your budget. As with our restaurants, everything  is made from scratch with ingredients thoughtfully sourced from farmers and suppliers we know and trust.

Complete details on our catering services and how to collaborate with us for your next event can be found at Founding Farmers Co. Catering & Events.

Reservations

Can I just arrive for a meal or do I need to make a reservation?

Reserve your table or come on in. Our full menus are available for weekday breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

How well can Founding Farmers DC accommodate someone with a disability?

All of our restaurants are well equipped to provide excellent hospitality for all of our guests. Please let us know if you have any access concerns or needs in dining with us. You can make note when making your online reservation, contact us in advance of your reservation, or let us know when you arrive.

Located on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of Washington, D.C., Founding Farmers DC has an elevator and stairs to access two floors of dining, with a full bar on the first floor. There are restrooms on both floors. Metered parking is available on the surrounding streets and a Colonial Parking garage is located directly across the street at 2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Multiple bus lines pass directly by the restaurant and two Metro stops, Farragut West and Foggy Bottom, are within three blocks.

Are there other Founding Farmers locations?

Yes, we hope you will visit all of the restaurants in our growing family. In making your plans, please note that each restaurant has different offerings, amenities, and operating times:

Can I add my name to the wait list over the phone?

Unfortunately, we cannot take names over the phone for the wait list. To be fair to all guests, if you are unable to make a reservation, then you must arrive in person to put your name on the wait list.

Do you have a cancellation policy?

No, we do not have a cancellation policy. We take all reservations in good faith, that our guests will inform us at the earliest possible convenience if a cancellation or change in party size is necessary. So, if you have a change, please let us know!

How can I make a reservation?

We love reservations! Grab a reservation here at any time. This tool reflects the availability of tables and seating times with 100% accuracy. It is the fastest and easiest way to book with us. You may also call us at 202-822-8783.

How long is the grace period if I’m running late for my reservation?

We get it, stuff happens. We offer a grace period of 15 minutes. If you arrive after the 15-minute grace period, even with a phone call, you may be subjected to the wait list simply to be fair to all of our guests.

Is there a dress code?

We like to think of ourselves as smart casual. We are what you want to make us… casual, sporty, pre-Kennedy Center show – we love it all!

Who do I contact if I want to make a reservation for a large party (more than 12 guests)?

For parties over the size of 12, simply fill out this form with information on exact party size, date, and time of your request.

What if I have an outdoor reservation, and/or it is raining or there is a forecast for inclement weather?

Learn more about each locations’ patios here. If you make a reservation on one of our patios – with or without a cover – please check the forecast (for rain or cold temperatures) for your reserved time and contact us if you need to change your reservation. To serve you safely on our patios and inside our restaurants, we are continuing to follow government regulations for reduced capacity and social distancing.

Will I be required to wear a mask?

Masks are currently optional for our guests, as well as our team members, at all of our locations. We are following local government regulations and CDC guidelines.

What guests should know prior to dining with us regarding COVID-19 operations?

Your health and well-being are the utmost important to us. We are following local government regulations and CDC guidelines. We appreciate your support in helping to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Masks are currently optional for our guests and our team members at all of our locations.

We will continue encourage vaccination, educate our team members, and track COVID cases.

Reserve A Table

Join Us For A Meal

Our dining rooms and patios are open. Reserve your table or come on in. Our full menus are available for weekday breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Directions & Parking

BY CAR
There are three hourly, self-park garages within one block of the restaurant. Numerous metered spaces are also available on Pennsylvania Ave. and the streets just north of the restaurant.

BY METRO

On the Orange/Blue/Silver Lines, the closest stops are Foggy Bottom (at 21st & Eye St. NW) or Farragut West (head toward 18th St.). On the Red Line, the closest stop is Farragut North.

FARRAGUT WEST
900 18th St. NW: Exit onto I St. NW and walk toward 18th St. NW for about .1 miles, turn left on 18th St. NW
Walk about 410 feet, turn right at H St. NW and walk about 0.1 miles, and take a slight right onto Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Continue on Pennsylvania Ave. for about 230 feet and Founding Farmers will be on your left

FOGGY BOTTOM

23rd St. NW & I St. NW at The George Washington University Hospital: Exit the station
Walk on I St. NW east about 0.3 miles toward 22nd St. NW, take a slight right at Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Founding Farmers will be on your right after about 270 feet

BY CIRCULATOR

The red DC Circulator stops at three nearby locations: 19th St. NW & K St NW, 20th St. NW & K St. NW, and 21st St. NW & Pennsylvania Ave. NW.

ACCESSIBILITY
All of our restaurants are well equipped to provide excellent hospitality for all of our guests. Please let us know if you have any access concerns or needs in dining with us. You can make note when making your online reservation, contact us in advance of your reservation, or let us know when you arrive.

Located on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of Washington, D.C., Founding Farmers DC has an elevator and stairs to access two floors of dining, with a full bar on the first floor. There are restrooms on both floors. Metered parking is available on the surrounding streets and a Colonial Parking garage is located directly across the street at 2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Multiple bus lines pass directly by the restaurant and two Metro stops, Farragut West and Foggy Bottom, are within three blocks.

We serve award-winning fried chicken and waffles.

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Join us for a meal

Reserve a Table

Reserve your table or come on in. Our full menus are available for weekday breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.