Founding Farmers, First Bake Cafe to open soon

UPPER MERION » What is arguably the crowning jewel of the King of Prussia Town Center dining scene will open its doors on Nov. 1.

But before Founding Farmers welcomes customers to its first location outside of the Washington D.C. area, the restaurant founded by cutting-edge farmers and savvy restaurateurs will unveil the unique First Bake Café & Creamery on Oct. 25.

The first level café, anchored by a small diner-style counter below where the fullservice restaurant and bar will operate for breakfast, lunch and dinner, introduces a new model for the Farmers Restaurant Group’s chain of restaurants: a neighborhood spot for house-made doughnuts, hand-rolled bagels, coffee, milkshakes and ice cream that will open at 6 a.m daily.

“What I love about the counter is the neighborhood feel it will have and my hope is that it will be a very democratic place, where a firefighter and an investment banker can both feel at home and gather over real food and real conversation,” said owner Dan Simons, who launched the first Founding Farmers nine years ago in Washington D.C. with his partner Mike Vucurevich. “And your server is right there keeping your coffee cup filled.”

With more than two weeks to go before the 284-seat, second-level restaurant opens, diners eager to sample chef Joe Goetze’s spins on American comfort food such as Farmhouse Waffles; Pennsylvania Pot Roast; Spicy Fried Chicken and Donut; Fisherman’s Stew and Roasted Prime Rib Sandwich had already been booking their ta-

GARY PULEO — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Founding Farmers managing partner Fran Lake and owner Dan Simons expect the restaurant’s General’s Parlor room, featuring a refurbished antique mantle and hidden behind a faux library wall, to be a popular spot for private gatherings.