When you arrive at a restaurant packed with people at 9am, wait in line for fifteen minutes and then are informed that there is a forty five minute additional wait... you ask yourself what the heck is this place all about?
Known for being the best breakfast you can have in Washington, the Founding Farmers is one place you would want to discover while visiting the American capital. I waited... then decided to come back the next morning.
Even though we were given a reservation for 08:30am, the restaurant was not ready yet and fifty persons were already waiting outside. Music played to entertain us, while the waiters were setting up the restaurant. Three concepts around Washington by Founding Farmers have built a lunch menu, seafood items and breakfast that bring food direct from farm to consumer. It's about "true" food and drinks.
One after the other we walked in and waited inside for another 15 minutes to be seated. I was expecting to eat nothing less than magic after having spent so much time attempting to get a table during the last 24 hours.
I loved the menu! Sharing plates, peanut butter banana toast and another section of chicken waffles and breakfast meats. Yogurt and French toast to start, stuffed French toast, three kinds of waffles, buttermilk pancakes. Eggs: scrambled; Benedict and poached. The farmer's formula includes a choice of several things.
Breakfast was served:
- Eggs Benedict and fresh crab... two English muffins topped with shredded crab and a poached egg each prepared in a mould, covered with Hollandaise. Good quality and soft French toast, but cooking the eggs in a mould is not too appetizing and not beautiful to see, the Hollandaise is lemony and well prepared. Crunchy hash browns accompanied the plate. It's a good plate but not super exceptional enough to make me want to wait another 45 minutes to have it again.
- Fried chicken and waffles: their buttermilk waffles are very airy and very fluffy but lacked the real waffle crunch. The chicken on the other hand was good, like the ones at KFC with some garlic which I found unnecessary. Scrambled eggs on the side and a little tiny portion of gravy. The plate is not appetizing and could have been presented differently, the waffles could have been crunchier and sauce portion more generous. A good plate but again not super exceptional for the hype created around it.
This part is interesting:
- Three large rounded squares one on top of the other with a powdered sugar decoration. This red velvet pancake was really spot on. Soft, fluffy, flavorful and tasty. Add a bit of maple syrup and enjoy! I loved the color, the texture and the taste combined.
- Yogurt, berries and granola, a healthy bowl of crunchy bran, fresh red fruits and creamy and flavorful yogurt. It offers rich aromas that stay around your mouth for a good long time.
PS: never come without a reservation and make sure not to take a table next to the kitchen.
A pleasant ambiance, a happy place and unique service. I enjoyed my time and now understand why this restaurant is so famous around here.
