Founding Farmers DC Slammed by Post Food Critic; Restaurant Fires Back

The popular downtown Washington eatery Founding Farmers DC is on the defensive after a Washington Post food critic ripped the restaurant in a zero-star review.

Founding Farmers DC currently enjoys a four-star rating out of five out of nearly 8,000 reviews on Yelp, but Tom Sietsema of the Washington Post wasn't impressed in his latest review of the restaurant on June 8, ripping on virtually every dish he came across and wondering why locals held it in such high regard.

The eatery has a sister restaurant in the Rockville area, 12505 Park Potomac Ave. in Potomac.

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Sietsema complimented the drinks and the decor of the restaurant, but he found the food underwhelming to say the least, eventually deciding that the only reason locals liked it was because of its excellent location just blocks from the White House.

One bad review -- even from the Post -- is certainly not going to devastate a restaurant as popular as Founding Farmers, which served 575,000 guests last year and is often packed to the gills with diners waiting for a seat. But the review prompted a response from the restaurant on its Facebook page.

"In regards to the Washington Post review, everyone is entitled to their own opinion," the statement reads. "We’re proudly owned by American Family Farmers, and we work hard to deliver quality, affordable, delicious food and drink to every guest that joins us."

The statement goes on to note that they have "learned a lot" in the eight years since opening, and that 95 percent of guests have said they would recommend the restaurant to a friend.

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"We welcome you to form your own opinion and join us for breakfast, lunch, dinner or weekend brunch; we’ll be doing our absolute best to give you a restaurant you can love and return to again and again," the statement continues. "To all of our guests, partners, management, employees and fellow industry friends who appreciate what we do, we’re grateful for you and thank you again for your support."

Image via Founding Farmers DC