4. Restaurants

The Federal Food Drink & Provisions

5132 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL, 33137
  • (305) 758-9559
  • Store is closed

The Federal Food Drink & Provisions Menu

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  • Kyla S.

    We had a wonderful meal at The Federal. We went because of a Gilt City offer and truly found a gem. After a long weekend of dining this was probably my favorite! Everything just fit. Fun atmosphere, cool customers, engaged and friendly staff, plus great food! We had the Gilroy Shrimp, Oysters, Clam bake and the Blueberry coffee cake. Yum!

    (5)

  • Chanel P.

    I really like this place! It's super cute and yummy! Food comes out kind of randomly but it makes it nice for sharing. Came with my boyfriend on a Saturday around noon and it wasn't too crowded. We got crawfish/grits, the ginormous biscuit (soooo good!), pork and waffles and the jar o duck. I wasn't a huge fan or the duck thing. It was salty/sweet. But everything else was delish! Really cute decor.

    (5)

  • Zola P.

    Our party of 6, including one toddler, came from Brunch and we were not disappointed. We had to wait a few minutes for a table, but the staff brought out a picture of water and glasses for everyone. The service was wonderful from beginning to end. The food was amazing - everyone had something different and love it all! Even the toddler loved the Pot of Duck, although the toasts served with it were so crunchy I was afraid she would break a tooth! Probably the least favorite was the lobster roll.

    (5)

  • Nouba D.

    Came for dinner this past week and every dish was amazing. Service was absolutely IMPECCABLE!!!! Pork wing, biscuit, clams and beet salad were perfect. Definitely going back fr brunch! Can't wait! Great job!!!!

    (5)

  • S R.

    Our server Emily was the bomb.com . Also, the food was really good and the banana foster foie gras was to die for.

    (5)

  • Miami L.

    My first time at at The Federal, and I loved it! The "Jar 'o Duck" was a great way to start and the Cab-Franc blend wine was delicious along with it. Had the lobster couscous and mac 'n cheese. Dessert was the apple struddel. Each item I chose was one one of the best I've ever had in that category. Our waiter, Misty, was outstanding!

    (4)

  • Gabriel C.

    Claudio, our server, was wonderful and very attentive. Unfortunately, we did not live the food. The Oreo cookie French Toast lacked flavor even with all the toppings. Also, the kale frittata was very bland.

    (2)

  • Marra C.

    The place was very quaint, and I was definitely unprepared for it's location in a strip mall but the fare was unique and tasty. I didn't particularly care for the pot pie I ordered (it lacked meat and filling in general), but the cheese biscuits and Jar O' Duck were delicious, as was my boyfriend's meal. We went with another couple and they all had terrific meals. I will say the service was terrific, and I'm glad I went to finally try the food, which I've always read was so great. I probably won't go back though. I've had better meals a lot closer to home.

    (3)

  • Nathalie B.

    Let me start by saying that I asked to speak the manager and he/she never came to our table. Guess he/she didn't want to hear what a terrible experience our group was having. I came here for a friends "boozy birthday brunch" last Sunday. Here's the breakdown of my review: WAIT TIME: We had 11:30 am reservations and were all told to pay in advance for a pre-set menu, which we all did. Some of the group arrived late and were seated (after a 45 minute wait) separately. Can't complain too much about that part because we were in fact 20 minutes late to our reservation. However, being that it was a large party and the fact that we had ALL already paid, they should have saved our table and not given it up to the next party. PRE-MENU: This portion is for the pre-set menu ONLY as we were not given an option to choose from the regular menu. The pre-set menu was rather lame (see pic). Our table consisted of 6 adults and 1 child who had all paid $31+ (some got the bottomless mimosas). The pre-set menu contained the "Bakers Basket" and "Morning Skinny Dip" for starters. Then the "Family Style Mains" which came with Steak & eggs, Chicken & Waffles, Crawfish & Grits, Biskits & Gravy. Lastly we had the Cookies & Creme French Toast from the Sweets section. They brought us ONE plate of each thing. ONE!!! This is supposed to be FAMILY STYLE DINING. How are you going to feed SIX ADULTS with ONE plate of each entree??? Oh, and the preset menu price was the exact price of the regular menu? Why weren't we given the same options as everyone else??? That made absolutely no sense to us. SERVICE: This place was a packed house. It was so full and the spaces were so tight that I'm pretty certain many ADA violations were happening. When a place is this full, you're bound to have a few slip-ups with service but this place took it to a whole new level. We didn't see a waiter for the first 10 minutes we were sitting there. Finally our waiter greeted us and brought us all water. Our waiter was new and completely lost. When we asked for syrup he had the audacity to say what for? none of your dishes require syrup." The 3 people at the table that paid for the "bottomless mimosas" were empty most of the time. It wasn't until they each put their glasses in the air (yes, it had to be done) that the waiter realized they had been on empty for a while. After that he was much better about filling their glasses. I requested to order off the menu for my daughter and they were accommodating in that regard (miracle!) FOOD: We were pretty upset about the menu selections we were given. The first thing that came to our table were the starters. The "Morning Skinny Dip" was pretty good. I didn't try the black bean dip but the smoked fish one was decent. The "Bakers Basket" was basically a basket of different breads. The chocolate croissant was good, not the best I've had but it was decent...especially since we were all starving and it had now been well over an hour since we were waiting for our food. Next they brought the grits. This was the best thing we had from the entire menu and it would have never been my first choice (had I been given the choice). Next was the Chicken & Waffles. This plate is SMOTHERED in buffalo sauce. Not so appetizing if you ask me and everyone at the table agreed. Next were the Steak & Eggs. The steak was burnt. I tried a small piece and was putoff by the burnt smell and flavor. But the WORST plate was the Biskits & Gravy. Holy hell this was a disgusting looking plate. The eggs were poached and basically raw. My friend said that they looked like eyeballs sitting on the plate. The white portion was still oozing and pretty gross. Nobody touched that plate. Next was the french toast. This was pretty good but nothing spectacular. Overall I had a miserable time and felt that I wasted my time on a Sunday and my money. I have no intentions of going back to this place again.

    (1)

  • Denise M.

    Service was great. Biscuit sampler was amazing. Rotisserie chicken was great! We had the smores dessert which was light and tasty.

    (4)

  • Bel B.

    I was really excited to go here after reading a lot of positive reviews but my experience was not so exciting. I went here with my boyfriend and his friend who were put off by the small portion sizes exclaiming that brunch is supposed to be filling and homey, not small and dainty. I told them that the food was probably flavorful so we stayed. Our waiters took forever and didn't set our table properly, as in there were three of us yet we were given only two sets of utensils. We ordered the crayfish and grits, steak and eggs, lobster and biscuits, chicken and waffles, jar of duck, crab toast, and salmon scrambled eggs. The first thing to come out was the chips and dips and pastries. You are given three dips and NOT enough chips, I mean really there were probably 20 on our slab. The bean dip was so bland, the fish dip was okay (the girl at our table next to us told us to go try the fish dip at Garcia's and exclaimed it was 100% better) and the ricotta dip was lacking in flavor. The pastries were good, I was disappointed that the croissant was over cooked, and the jam again was far too little for three people. Our main food just wasn't packed with flavor, overall just super bland and boring food. The steak and eggs was really brisket with eggs which made me mad, brisket is not steak. Also the biscuit was SO dry and burned on the edges. The salmon with eggs was not enough for three people to split and was lacking in salmon, the lobster biscuit was forgettable because we couldn't find the lobster, the crab toast was okay but tasted similar to the fish dip, the chicken and waffles was also good but dry (gimme some syrup), and we all around enjoyed the crayfish and grits. The jar of duck was just okay, I don't think it was anything out of this world and I think people just enjoy it because it's different since you eat it with a mound of marshmallow fluff and sliced sweet potato. None of us liked the dessert which was oreo french toast, it had a weird after taste. We live right down the street, walking distance, and love supporting our community and wanted to love this place, but we didn't. We left hungry and decided we won't return here but will continue going up north to the diner for brunch. The food wasn't bad but we have had way better up the street.

    (2)

  • Lourdes P.

    After watching the Bravo show "Beat New Restaurant" I couldn't wait to try this place out. We made reservations for brunch on a Sunday and when we got there were sat down right away, that was the only thing that happened in a timely manner. The rest of the meal the service was rather slow, I felt like we were just being forgotten a few times. The jar of duck is amazing, I just wish it came with edible bread, I understand that ciabatta bread is toasty but you couldn't bite into this bread without chipping a tooth, when the waitress finally came around and I said something her response was "that kind of bread is hard". The menu does not describe the the dishes very well and the server did not care to let us know that the steak and eggs was actually a skillet of under seasoned potatoes with a few shreds of beef. Sadly I was very disappointed and I probably won't be returning which is a shame because that jar of duck was delicious.

    (3)

  • Tina P.

    Overrated. I had my hopes set so high so maybe that's why I'm so disappointed. I get it, it's Miami, it's going to be pricey but most the time it's been worth it. Not here. The two stars are for the very nice staff, our waiter and other employees were attentive and friendly. Also, the jar of duck was excellent. I ordered the green eggs and ham, it was missing ingredients and had to be sent back from eggs that weren't cooked at all. This is the second time in my life I've ever sent anything back. My boyfriends steak was rare, he ordered it medium. First time we tried The Federal, it was a 2 hour wait (we left) so this time we made a reservation. We were there on time and after an awkward "who do I ask, where do I stand, what do I do" kind of entrance, we were told it'll be a few minutes. Few minutes turned into 35 minutes. We were offered a mimosa during the hostess' apology. Only to see it on our bill later. So $70 for a long wait, two drinks we didn't even really want and food that had to be sent back and wasn't even great the final time.

    (2)

  • Professor W.

    Along with "amazeballs," I hope my fellow reader will agree with me that we also should do all we can to immediately abolish "New American Tapas" from our lexicon. Both terms are demeaning to our language, but whereas using the former only makes you sound like an imbecile, experiencing the latter causes harm both to one's psyche and wallet. This frightening euphemism is printed on The Federal's menu, and the waiter further explains this sinister "dining concept" by stating that the portions are meant to be "shared" and that the dishes will come out of the kitchen "as they are ready." We all know what he really means: you will spend a lot of money, likely leave hungry, and you will have to watch others eat their dishes as yours has not left the kitchen. The Federal specializes in maximizing your dining indignities. Take the $6 biscuit. Folks, it's a biscuit--under no circumstances should it cost more than $0.60, yet here there appear to be no qualms about serving a single solitary buttermilk biscuit for such an obscene sum. The deviled eggs with pulled pork were serviceable but nothing special. When my $29 pork shank arrived, however, I felt embarrassment and anger like never before--the shank had been in the smoker for too long, and had that acidic taste that you will be tasting for days. The collards that came with the pork had absolutely no taste. At this point I got up from the table and began to pace around the parking lot so that I would not lose it. My only consolation was that I surreptitiously was able to warn a young couple by telling them that they were better off leaving and saving their money rather than dining at the restaurant. Perhaps they took my warning to heart, or perhaps it was because of my clearly distraught demeanor, but they left. And so did my wife and I, down $80, hungry, and psychologically scarred. Professor Woland

    (1)

  • Brian C.

    Another overrated, overpriced "new age" yet somehow "old style" spot, much like Blue Collar which is just a short drive away. They do tapas style, which basically means you'll spend the whole meal wondering when your next dish will come. We spent the first 30 minutes just trying to get chips with dip and some ready made bread in a basket for brunch. Only a few solid dishes but nothing I'd ever come back for. I tried to like this place, but the super long wait for food just does not make it worth it for me. I guess you really have to be plastered on mimosas at 11AM on a Sunday to make it enjoyable or to at least cloud your judgement.

    (2)

  • Adam L.

    What a waste of time. Got there after lunch for Sunday brunch for 2 which they don't take reservations for. Fair enough. Arrived with about 4 persons waiting for a table. The host told us to have a seat he would be back to get our info. LITERALLY two minutes later and a couple walks up and the host writes theor name in. I go up and remind him he was supposed to take my name. He asks "when did you get here?" I reminded him about the history of 2 mins ago..."I'm sorry. I see a lot of faces here." After he took my name and number for a 45 min wait, I immedietly called Michael's Genuine who said that they were busy but could make space for us at the bar where I am currently enjoying food. The difference between a world class spot like MGFD and a fly by night like the Fed is clear.

    (1)

  • David G.

    What a disaster!!! We hadn't gone back in about 2 years, when the food and service WAS actually very good. Now, this place has gone so down hill they should just close and take the money they have made and retire. To start, we had reservations at 230 -and they took 45+ minutes seat us. Then they impose appetizers for the table. Then everyone in the table gets food at least with 15-20 minute intervals, my cousin ordered the same meal as i did and received it an hour later!!?? Really one hour. I understand tapas, and that everyone wants to use "tapas" style as an excuse for small overpriced plates with no expeditor to control your kitchen service, but C'MON this is ridiculous. Ive been to Spain, and had real tapas service, it isnt shitty. My wife got her mediocre tacos 30 mins after i got my "wings and waffles" no one should care that it is tapas style 30 minutes between plates is absurd. In addition to all this, the service is so poor, no manners, the bus people just reaching over and grabbing plates without an "excuse me,"or "are you finished with that," the water server spilling water pouring over my aunts shoulder wetting her, who cares that it is in the "design district" area, hipsters have manners, at least some of them do, but none of the ones working here. So lets talk about the food, the 9$ deviled eggs are blah but one of the better items that we ate, the 6$ biscuit sucks, go to KFC instead, my wife's tacos were falling apart on the old tortilla they were served on and tasted awful, my cousins brisket chili and potatoes were decent, the sammich with pork and fried egg was served on that horrible biscuit with an amateur hollandaise that should be removed from the menu. Lastly, for our wait they sent out desserts on the house, because after the table was cleaned out my cousin finally received his wings and waffles. The desserts were SOOO incredibly bad that i would have rather they just said sorry and give me free water. The "smore" in mason jar had a spicy kick to it that made it taste like chili con mango gone wrong, the pancakes with mascarpone were so "un fluffy" that they were like unsweetened cold old pita bread with blueberries and a poorly whipped honey mascarpone. Not like in Italy mr server, and the only one that i can say saved itself was the coconut dessert, i didn't like it but i didn't dislike it, so for this visit i would take that as a win. All in all, i am so sad to see this place go down hill so badly. Please either close down, or do a better job.

    (1)

  • Kristin P.

    We went here during a vacation because they got good reviews. We arrived before they were open, we didn't have a reservation but we were seated quickly. Food: amazing. Definitely some dishes that are not your normal food choices, but they were good combinations and rations none the less. Service: the waiter was extremely nice and knowledgable, along with the entire wait staff being well kept and courteous. BUT the food was delivered at inappropriate times. We(my husband and I) arrived and were seated, AND put in our orders before a group of 4, yet they received their food WAY before us. Usually the food for the entire table comes out at once. I got my food first, and it was another 20 MINUTES until my husband got his food. My husband ordered the wings and waffles plate, and the waiter apologized for the wait, stating that they were having issues with the waffle maker. Meanwhile, the group of 4 received their entire order, 2 out of the 4 ordered the same wings and waffles plate. It also took another 20 minutes just for the check after we were done eating. Overall: I will likely return next time we are in miami because the food was that delicious. They would have gotten a full 5 stars if the food and check were delivered in a reasonable and timely manner.

    (3)

  • Dominique C.

    From all of the things we got to try on the chef's tasting menu, I'd have to say that the fried chicken and biscuits stood out the most - to no surprise. I wish they just combined the two as one large dish! The venison fries were my other fav of the night too - flavors were perfect. Drinks were on point! The Arnold Palmer cocktail was delicious. We also had the pleasure of trying a tasty Sauv Blanc recommended by the nicest bartender girl/ staff member. Dessert was great too! I really enjoyed the key lime pie and my friend - the birthday girl loved the tiramisu. Honestly, both were delightful. We all really loved the experience! The service and ambiance were lovely. Till next time.

    (5)

  • Lynn L.

    Don't bother going to the federal unless you have a reservation. They will put you on the list but you can spend an hour or more waiting because if someone walks in who has a reservation they will come before you. I'm not sure the food is worth that kind of system or treatment.

    (1)

  • Javi S.

    Very unique selection on the menu. I had the opportunity to attend brunch with my friends and family and here is my synopsis: Baked egg skillet is what i ordered... No big deal. Compare this to Spanish omelette. Steak and eggs... Phenomenal choice. Wings and waffle... Best dish i tried. Very unique sounding but definitely tastes better than what it sounds... give this dish a try because it will not disappoint.

    (4)

  • Laura G.

    Unimpressed. Overpriced, small portions and ok food. I was very disappointed l. I really don't understand all the hype. People need to leave more realistic reviews. Even while sitting I felt uncomfortable, I couldn't even cross my legs.

    (1)

  • Damian M.

    We came upon the Federal as a last-minute dining option after a change in plans led to a scramble to find somewhere for eight people, of whom three were of the kid variety. For those living in Miami Shores, that usually means heading to Soyka or Andiamo etc. but I found the reviews of Federal to be strikingly polarized between love/hate and thought it worthwhile to find out the truth, and try something totally new in the process. They had no problem giving us a reservation for a sensible time, and a little while later we were having a ball in this funky little gem. The food was great, as is well-detailed by other reviewers (although the fried chicken was particularly outstanding), but this is really about the service because as parents we often feel we're at the mercy of mercurial restaurant staff, and as such the Federal deserves kudos for being accommodating, welcoming, and understanding. As the largest group in the joint that night, we might have expected delays in the service, or some eyeball rolling as we all tried to assess our choices, pose questions, and corral the kids to focus on their menus. But the waitress was calm and kind, and the staff kept us well-stocked with drinks and our orders throughout. However, the real gold ribbon seal of approval was warranted for the reaction of all staff to one little girl in our group who fell ill and (very demurely) barfed before she could make it to the ladies room. In some restaurants, this can trigger a response akin to the cops busting a speakeasy in the thirties, complete with screaming and frantic men pushing past their dates to get to the door. In this case, no-one batted an eye, and all was dealt with quickly, calmly, and humanely so we could recover, console our little diner, and resume our meal (they were that quick at the cleanup that even our appetites were saved). In short, everyone was friendly from the moment we stepped in until departure, and we enjoyed both the food and the service enormously, simply because of a little understanding and heart.

    (4)

  • Sobe S.

    Absolutely terrible!!! Do not bother coming to this establishment! Who makes rules that you can't order drinks from the bar while your waiting for a table!!! To top it all off, my 3 friends received all their ordered food and I waited for 35 minutes after expressing disappointment to the waiter. For flipping Belgian Waffles!! Will never return! Will definitely spread the word to NOT dine here. You've been warned.

    (1)

  • Daryl M.

    Terrible dining experience. Mediocre food for a hefty price tag. They claim to be an American restaurant but charge for still water like you're a tourist in Europe. They do have a great short term business model though. Charge $160 for two people, provide no service, serve tiny portions of underwhelming food and hope that you somehow forget the experience and return to get shafted again. Valentines day special or not, you don't screw your loyal customers. Do yourself the favor and look elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Roberto B.

    Well first, I have to go back! Loved the ambiance, loved the vibe, loved my handsome waiter Johnnie and his superb attentiveness - didn't hover but was always there to keep the wine glass filled. So first complainits: Would love it if their after dinner drinks extended past vermouth into port and possibly pernod? Also a lot of popular places, and I get it - they can command it - seem to have their wine list starting in the less than liberal @ $40 range (i.e., $38). Surely a nice establishment can have a few " house wines" on tap for $22-30 a bottle so a person can feel like their "splurging" to buy more than 1 bottle (there are alcoholics amongst us after all!). That off my chest - what great food! My companion treated me to the house fries that were divine (complete with homeade ketchup and a fried egg on top - yum!); the deviled eggs that come with candied pieces of bacon/pork belly (decadent and delish) and the Federal version of chicken mcnuggets - if not for the prices, McDonalds would be in serious trouble! Lastly we had the mussels which appeared as if each and every dainty shell was bedecked with another piece of flavored chorizo/heavenly pork fat in all its crunchy sublime delight and a sliver of garlic - the pool of food liquor that gathered in the bowl simply commanded us to wipe it up with more bread - and we did - smiling with every bite. If I could, I would eat here every night. Just an update after partaking of their Spice Menu - wow does this place ever stop pushing the culinary bar towards fantastic?! That biscuit - morsels of moistness meant for the Gods; the Brussel Sprouts would make any child reject ice cream sundaes and 3 layered chocolate cake in favor of veggies and a mac and cheese that means business! My companion and I each had the fried chicken which was more buffalo style and not my first choice but still tasty as only the Federal can do. Service is also always so on point; you never have to ask for a refill and yet they are never "in your face." This place does Miami proud!!

    (5)

  • Francesca M.

    I was looking forward to eating at the Federal for a while. I saw them listed on Miami Spice so I wanted to check it out. The food was very mediocre, the servings are a joke and the service was subpar. I had the mint julep drink and it was terrible, it literally came from a juice machine and they just pour in wine. Overpriced and not worth it. I won't be coming back here for dinner.

    (1)

  • Carolina R.

    My husband and I went for brunch, and we didn't have a reservation, and even though they were packed we were attended in a timely matter. The cookies n cream French toast is to die for. Misty was our server and she was Excellent with a capital E. Thank you Misty for great service and friendly vibe.

    (5)

  • Lauren T.

    My only complaint about this place is the location. A bum was knocking on our window of the car, to ask for money. But for $25 AYCD and $25 for two appetizers, two entrees and desert to share. Come with a big appetite and friends who aren't picky eaters. The decor is very home-y, the staff is very friendly, and the food is so fresh and so Devine. Everything looks great! Everything was clean-your-plate good. Small menu, big food.

    (5)

  • Kristi V.

    My boyfriend and I have read countless reviews about this place and after seeing a gilt city.com deal for dinner we decided hey why not! The deal was for 4 plates, to share, and bottomless drinks. For a random little date night it seemed too good to be true. We show up and get seated immediately which was the only positive part of the night. After waiting for 10-15 minutes the waitress finally comes to the table, gives us two wine glasses and tells us that our first meal will arrive shortly and then disappears. Did not give us her name or say more than 25 words to us the entire night. Even if we had the gilt city deal she should have given us a menu....we most likely would have ordered an appetizer or something from it. The first "meal" comes and it literally was the size of my hand...after four of these we were starving. The only thing to look forward to was the bottomless drinks which in turn ended up being a massive let down with our glasses being refilled only three times each. We were lucky if she even passed by to fill our water glasses. After pretty much sitting there, since that's what it feels like we went there to do, we decided that we would drive all the way to the beach just for dessert because we preferred to give business elsewhere. We asked for the check (which was only supposed to be tax and gratuity, $20 max), we get a bill for almost $50 with a large party fee.....large party? My boyfriend and I are tall and skinny people, I don't believe we would be considered "large" or a party of 6....after we told the waitress that there must be a mistake because after having such a wonderfullllllll experience this bill had to be wrong, she got upset and said "don't worry about it I'll pay for it with my own money" in a very rude manner. I don't know if it was because we are young and they expected us to give them a bad tip but my boyfriend and I are very good tippers and always eat at the best places. If we can afford it then we do it. Didn't know that because we bought an online deal that we would be treated so poorly. Rather go to Zuma and pay $300 for dinner than come eat at this place ever again. Definitely not recommending it to friends and family.

    (1)

  • Hilton G.

    The food was horrible. There is only hype here. From the steak that came with more fat than steak, to the frittata which smelled more like undercooked greasy egg. Bad bad bad. The place is nice, music is good, but that is not the main dish.

    (1)

  • Laura S.

    Had brunch on a Sunday. Unlimited mimosas, and they refill your glass as soon as you take your last sip. Duck of jar is a must! IT is so rich in flavor. The banana fosters french toast was delicious. The Federal is great restaurant!

    (5)

  • Tommaso M.

    Great dinner! New winter menu with lot of gourmet choices. I loved the lamb and the calamari. Nice service. Will return for brunch!

    (5)

  • Jimmy M.

    I have been frequenting this place since it opened and I believe it is one of the more creative dining options you'll find in Miami. Have always loved their staples, in particular, jar of duck and the pig wing. Brunch is also excellent. Would love it more if hey had a full bar as my only complaint would be that their cocktails could use more of a kick.

    (4)

  • JennyLee M.

    I was thoroughly impressed with my 1st visit to The Federal as well as my 2nd, 3rd and 4th visits and so on... the place has yet to disappoint! This carnivore slice of heave is located in a a tiny strip mall, ironically next to another fav, The Honey Tree, a vegetarian spot. Balance is indeed everything. I have to say, even when they are at capacity, the service is on point with their delicious "supper" to match. The Jar-O-Duck (sweet-savory duck paté, candied sweet potato, and charred marshmallow fluff on top of crusty bread) is a favorite. I also happen to HATE duck as well as paté but I LOVE this dish which is meant to be shared, perfect appetizer. Unless you like to start off with bread and by bread I mean the delicious lightly-honey-glazed cheese "biskits" (biscuits) - but if you're thinking cheesy, they really aren't cheesy in the melty, stretchy way so don't be disappointed. I was dissapointed the first time, until I changed my expectations on what they were supposed to taste like. Another one to try is the Pig Wings. If pigs could fly, they'd want to die and come back as this. These buffalo-style "Pig Wings" are so tender, the meat just falls apart. You've never had a pot pie like this, the Short Rib "Wellington" is rich blend of braised short rib, specks of bacon, pearl onions, mushrooms in dome of delicate and crunchy puff pastry. The Federal Salad is also a favorite, mixed greens, crispy fried onions, in a whiskey-barrel vinaigrette. Great salad! Although they don't have a full-liquor license, The Federal boasts half a dozen pints of craft draught beers and a great wine selection solely from family estate producers as well. Not bad for a prohibition-themed restaurant! Finish of with a Sweet'Uns which is their ever-changing selection of baked goods. I'm not big on dessert (I'm more into savory than sweet) but I did like the S'mores in a Jar, semi-sweet chocolate pudding topped with marshmallow and a graham cracker for dipping. If you have a sweet tooth, this is a definite win. For brunch, I would hands-down recommend the Jackalope Eggs Benedict - rabbit and venison sausage, biscuit, two poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce. Another one to try is the Shroom and Grits, traditional grits with sausage, corn and sautéed mushrooms. On the sweet side, the French Toast Bananas Foster, is delicious. Challah, spiced-rum custard, bananas and maple syrup. But wait there's more... brunch isn't complete without the pecan sticky buns! Anyone else hungry, now?

    (5)

  • Lici S.

    Great food, great service, and great atmosphere! I had ab awesome brunch there!! Jar-o-duck was my favorite, but it was a close tie with the Brussels sprout! Seriously, order the Brussels sprout! The best one ever!!! All you can drink mimosas for just $18! I am definitely going back!!!

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    I don't understand all the negative reviews below. I have been dining here for over a year now and I love this place! My girlfriend and I stopped in for brunch on Saturday morning, and we had a great time, as usual. We started with the fish dip then I ordered the Breakfast BLT and she had the Wings and Waffles. Both were fantastic. We each had a mimosa, and they are not shy with the champagne. We will be back soon!

    (5)

  • Jessica A.

    (3.7 if we want to get technical). I came in for brunch with some friends for my birthday and I gotta say it's a love/hate situation. Service: Come on guys. I don't need to feel like I should be lucky I'm getting service. I had made a reservation for 8 and even though I know they don't seat incomplete parties I don't think it should have been such a big deal to seat us while we waited for one more person. The host was bordering between being really sweet and then really snarky, eh. After standing around (obviously looked awful, because this place isn't huge and it was 6 of us doing nothing) for 15 minutes they finally decided to seat us, but not before letting us know we could only sit for an hour and a half since they had another party. Really? If you were gonna seat us anyway why not do it when I go there? Our waitress however was a joy although I feel like they stretched their servers thin, because I could never find her and when I did she was behind the bar. Food: B-. It was pretty tasty. We ordered a couple of things. The biscuits are AMAZING, really good. Crawfish & Grits, nommy. Burrata, it was alright. Pastrami hash had awesome flavor, it was definitely a favorite. Wings & Waffles was alright, but really overpriced. Jar-o-duck though was off the charts, hands down my favorite dish. I had two grown up slushies and those were something else, A++ on those. Price: Meh, pretty pricey, but I got out of this one for the most part since it was my birthday ;D All in all, the food is great, but the service and price produce some eye rolls. I'd consider going back although I don't I can swallow the service to continuously come here. It was a little bit better than alright.

    (3)

  • Jack B.

    Food was ok. The fried chicken, the bacon and the watermelon feta salad were the highlights of the night. Everything else was mediocre. Biggest issue was the service. First we had a reservation and they made us wait almost an hour to be seated (with no explanation as to the delay) and then they brought out the food out of order (main courses before appetizers). No real reason to go to this restaurant unless you're in the area and craving fried gastro-like food.

    (3)

  • Monica A.

    Food was good and the price fair. Drinks (including coffee) were overpriced. Parking is fine. Space is small, but that's to be expected. Service was average. Probably won't be returning.

    (3)

  • Maikel M.

    Don't bother with this place... Food sounds creative but it's poorly executed, not horrible but mediocre... Service was good though.

    (2)

  • Leo C.

    Went for brunch they had plenty of interesting options and everything I had was good.

    (4)

  • Kristal C.

    Returning back to the fed. And let me say one of the best hot spots in Miami. Steak tartare yummy. But one of my favorite new menu item was the venison chili with grit fries. Amazing! Brunch is still my favorite time at the fed. Grabbing a nice supper with the fam nice place to go. Very casual and laid back but with an upscale touch. When I'm in Miami , I always make one stop here.

    (5)

  • Malika B.

    I would give this place zero stars if it were an option. The worst service I have received in a long time. I went there for my birthday dinner and it was a disaster. Had a 9:15 reservation where I was told to make sure my entire party was there or our table would be given up. After rushing everyone to get there on time, we wound up waiting over an hour and a half to be seated, then waited another 20 minutes for our drinks (after I had to go up to the bar and ask where they were). By the time we were able to order they were out of half the items on the menu. The manager had little to offer in terms of an explanation, just kept telling us it would only be a little while longer. Our only compensation was one free drink and two burnt biscuits they brought to the table for a party of 12. I wound up with a small piece of yellowtail I had to filet myself for $19 with a side of BBQ sauce. I had heard good things about this place but it was one of the worst experiences I have ever had in my 30+ years living in Miami. I will never go to this restaurant again. Do yourself a favor and save your money!

    (1)

  • Carolina S.

    I just came here for the first time over the weekend for Sunday brunch and it was pretty good! We made a reservation ahead of time and waited about 10 min to be seated. We had the $18 bottomless mimosas, which were fantastic, our waitress made sure that our glasses were always full (& mostly champagne). I tried their award winning biscuit and let me tell you that was the BEST biscuit I've ever had in my life! I also had the Smoked Floribbean Fish & Dip as an appetizer, it was absolutely delicious. My boyfriend ordered the chicken and waffles, the chicken was ok and I think its hard to screw up waffles, they were ok too. For my entrée I ordered the Crab Hash and it was also ok, nothing special. Total bill was $85 plus tip so basically $100 for brunch. It was a bit on the expensive side, but hey at least we tried it out! I still recommend this place but I will probably order the Cookies & Cream French Toast next time.

    (4)

  • Mike W.

    Came here for brunch for a friends birthday and was more than pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere and decor are great. It's a relaxing environment and the staff are very friendly. But most importantly the food was "smack yo momma" good. The two best dishes I had (for my first of many visits) was the crab hash and the cookies and cream French toast. Not to mention the chicken and waffles and bacon were amazing too. Everything was unbelievably good. It's great to know that there are local business that provide superior quality food and are passionate about what they do. If you are looking for great comfort food, great service, and great value without all of the pretentious b.s. you have to deal with in south beach, come to the Federal. Yardbird was...repeat WAS..one of my favorite places to eat in Miami, but I will no longer be going there now that I know The Federal is around.

    (5)

  • Clauie V.

    weird easter sunday brunch. very small plates. one check for 8 people, really !!!???? we waited for 45 mins for our tables. i made the reservations a week before and we still had to wait? horrible place . don't go there ! overrated reviews from the people that like the place.

    (1)

  • Glenn G.

    Never heard anything negative about the Federal; as matter of fact, have only heard good things. My only hesitation has been traveling from the 561 down to the 305 is quite a haul, so I don't want to be disappointed and frankly was under the impression this was an pretentious and overly expensive sort of place. When I'm wrong, I admit it; and boy was I wrong. Good use of wood planks (shelving and wrapped around bar) give the Federal a rustic feel while mounted jack-o-lopes, bottles of pickled veggies, an indoor pergola over the bar, distressed wood tables and other accents modernize the Federal. Great tunes from yesteryear play in the background and the food is the icing on the cake. Love the vibe; upscale casual dining and an entire dining room free of ostentatious guests. Took our table with another couple for dinner. A quick scan over the menu and passed the honor of picking dishes to share to our friends that have been here before. ROUND ONE: *** Bavarian Bretzel *** pretzel bites with spicy yellow mustard... just a tease to get us started... very good ROUND TWO: *** Jar-O-Duck *** duck with sweet potato and marshmallow fluff all prepared in a glass jar and served with crackers on a cutting board... excellent *** Townpark Fries *** handcut fries with a fried egg and seasoned ketchup... very good) *** Pot-O-Mussels *** normal sized mussel shells but the actual mussels were plumped up like they were on steroids... superb *** Foie Gras Shots *** shot glass with foie gras, fluff and graham cracker crumbs... too sweet to appreciate the foie gras... nothing special ROUND THREE: *** Crispy Duck Leg *** never been much of a duck eater, but wow was that tender and delicious... included white asparagus and sauteed mushrooms... excellent *** Crispy Brussel Sprouts *** cooked perfect with a hint of balsamic vinegar and included pickled onions (or at least I think those were onions)... outstanding ROUND FOUR: *** Pan Roasted Whole Hogfish *** although the chef prepared a perfectly cooked and seasoned fish, it was not deboned... i'd order it again but I would be sure to request the deboning next time FINAL ROUND: *** Desserts *** devil's food cake and lemon tart accompanied with coffee (french press with panther coffee, cappuccino and espresso)... all just fine... I was way too full to really enjoy this round; but I made room when the manager offered us a sweet dessert wine Though the dishes were on the small side (most meant to be shared), all the dishes were fairly priced. An interesting thing I have noticed recently about the Federal is they hold special events, beyond Miami Spice. Recent events include Julia Child's 100th Birthday Celebration (french Miami Spice menu), Doonsday (5 course dinner with Bonny Doon Vineyards), Brews and Bellies (beer and food pairings), Women Who Wine (girls only gathering to drink and learn about wine and have some small bites), Smoking It Up (a father's day pig roast with unlimited food and libations) and Susie Homemaker (5 course dinner presented as a walk thru common foods and drinks of the 1950s). One of the few places that I would recommend without any hesitation.

    (5)

  • Orlando C.

    Was there on Thursday. Not bad. Had the pig wings and fried chicken. I have to say the food was excellent. Great flavor and presentation. The location itself does no justice to the restaurant. I'll say that for being in a rink-a-dink shopping center, you can easily miss it and keep driving past it on Biscayne. This place should be in a shops of midtown with a larger terrace and a small at outside. The hip-hop on the little blue tooth stereo didn't help. Again, for the type of restaurant I would have liked a little lounge music instead. The service was excellent. Nicole was hands down great. Daniel was always on top of his game. So I give it a 3 out if 5. It's a new place so I give it some time and YES......I will be back.

    (3)

  • Montserrat A.

    Meh. The food, although delicious, was overpriced and undersized. The unlimited drink brunch is complete bs. You are lucky if you actually manage to get 3 mimosas (or shall I say orange juice with a splash of cheap sparkling wine). The place has a very Brooklyn vibe, which is nice if you don't mind eating out of recycled plates and being served out of garbage. All in all, mediocre. Won't come back.

    (2)

  • Jessica A.

    Yum! Yum! Yum!!!!!!! Is what I have to say about this place. I picked the Federal for my birthday celebration this year with my family. I couldn't have been happier with my decision. I loved everything about this place. The service and food are beyond words. Truthfully I was a little hesitant about coming here cause I had a group of 9 and I had read from a fellow Yelper this place didn't handle large groups that well. Thanks goodness that was not the case on my bday . I was a little disappointed that a couple of things I wanted to order were not available.. Booooo!! Anyways, it'll be a good excuse to come back maybe 2, 3, or 4 times more hehehe. We ordered the pigs wings, biscuits, briskets, and so many other things. Not one dish disappointed anyone what hit!! The service was incredible. Can't wait to try brunch!

    (5)

  • Jainiz S.

    This place was a joke. Food portions are minimal. Service SUCKS. Food quality is ehhhh. Love the decor....

    (1)

  • Jessica B.

    Decided to check this place out for brunch after hearing so much hype about it, and boy it did not disappoint. The resturant is cozy and gets really packed. Sat at the bar since it was so full. The service and staff were amazing and super nice. We started we the brussel sprouts which were awesome then my hubby had the cookies and cream french toast with scrambled eggs and i had the blt, it was all delish. Cant wait to go back and try other dishes.

    (4)

  • Sherif A.

    As a ten year resident of Miami I had grown accustomed to overpriced food and terrible service, but over the last 3 years I witnessed a refreshing revolution in the restaurant industry here. New places had opened with great food and fantastic service and Miami had begun experiencing a renaissance in terms of good restaurants. The Federal is a throwback to everything wrong with the Miami restaurant industry. Overpriced food, abysmal service, and terrible management. I had the unfortunate experience of attending brunch here with my girlfriend and it was a disaster. The ironic part was that we laughed at the two tables next to us who did nothing but complain about the experience. Little did we know, we would soon be joining them. First of all, the waitress took 25 minutes to ask us what we wanted after we ordered our appetizer. In fact the appetizer actually came out before we had a chance to finalize our order. Second, our bus boy spilled both drinks on the table, which we let go. Third, after finishing our 100 dollar meal we were informed that our bottomless mimosas had expired because we were no longer consuming food. I told the waitress to bring the menu so I can order to dessert, and she responded by taking my glass away and clearing the table to bring the check. The check had an 8% sales tax charge even though Miami restaurants are only required to pay 7 (sketch much?). At this point I was furious with her extremely rude approach to the situation. The manager came out and asked how he can fix things and I said I'm not looking for any perks or anything extra. He said he would bring us another round of mimosas anyway. Of course the round never materialized and I left. An absolute nightmare experience in an industry that i thought had turned the corner in a city that i truly love. A real shame. The only positive is that they are located in a bad neighborhood that no tourist would visit.

    (1)

  • Vanessa B.

    Decided to come back with my husband! Awesome food! It was busy service was average we had to keep telling them about refills on Mimosas.. We ordered an additional side of maple bacon cure in house that was delicious.. Parking is a mission but overall greatt brunch..

    (4)

  • Yesenia S.

    I really thought I was going to adore The Federal, but no. I mean, it's OK. I wouldn't tell anyone to steer clear, but I was not blown away. And for those prices I'd better be blown away! First I'd like to just get out of the way that their staff is incredibly polite and conscientious. They're incredibly knowledgeable on the menu (as they should be, but you'd be surprised at the staff of other places) and it seems they truly want to help you craft a great meal you'd truly enjoy. Love the colonial, down-home decorations. Also the location in the strip-mall which makes it easily accessible especially with valet up front. On to the food...the jar o' duck was not as magically delicious as I'd hoped. Maybe it wasn't the duck as much as the bread that accompanied it. It was much harder than a crouton. It scraped the roof of my mouth. Maybe it would go better with biscuits? The lamb sliders were pretty darn good, but again, not particularly drool-inducing. The mac and cheese tasted like regular ol' mac and cheese. Nothing special there. Good but not for the price! A friend absolutely adored their brunch and she is my food soul mate so I totally trust her judgment. Maybe I'll give it another whirl but probably not anytime soon given all the incredible restaurants sprouting all over the city that I've flagged to try.

    (3)

  • Danielle B.

    The bf and I came here intending to do Miami spice. I have been drooling over the Miami spice menus for some time and finally decided to go for it. We made reservations for a Saturday night at The Federal. When we arrived, the place was pretty empty, but apparently we just eat dinner early because by the time we left this place had come alive. We were seated promptly and from that moment received very attentive and friendly service. Our waters were constantly refilled. Our waitress checked in with us numerous times. On to the menu. Unfortunately the menu listed on ilovemiamispice.com wasn't what was being featured the night we were in. Instead, they were featuring a special Oktoberfest menu which had mostly German, pork-centric items to choose from (ie: mini pork shank, pork sausage, pretzel rolls, and more). The cool thing is that this menu is available for an extended period until Oct 6. We decided to order off the regular menu. I like that the food is served family style. Their dishes are so unique that it was nice to get to try as much as possible. We went with the mac n cheese, jar o duck, and brisket. Each dish was so good, but also very rich. I don't think anyone can eat the jar o duck or mac n cheese alone, these dishes are definitely meant to be shared. The presentation was on point and the flavor combinations were well thought out. The mac n cheese was topped with roasted poblanos and chipotle crumbs, which gave it a kick of spice. The jar o duck tasted like a pate and came with a side of sweet potatoes and marshmallow fluff all over buttered crostinis. What a sharp flavor explosion of salty and sweet. We were so busy indulging in this dish that our waitress noticed and offered more crostinis.. yes please! Our brisket I would say was average. The fatty parts were yum yum, but the rest was a little dry. This is the only dish I would skip. We topped off the meal with a cookies and cream bread pudding. I didn't taste the cookies and cream very much, but the bread pudding was still delicious. It came with a condensed milk/rum sauce for topping. So much sweetness in this dessert, but still a winner with me. Minus one star for having to valet my car for $3 in a strip mall. I mean, really man, you went and parked my car in front of the Dunkin Donuts next door.. so unnecessary. Although I guess you did run to retrieve my car, good hustle. They have a very small sign saying that there is additional parking behind the restaurant with a back entrance next to the graffiti truck. We did drive around back and saw available parking, but didn't know about this entrance. It was raining and we didn't want to have to walk all the way around. We gave into the valet, dammit. Anyway, lesson learned about parking. This would be a fun place to bring some visitors and share food. There are a few more dishes on the menu I'm interested in trying (seafood stewwww!) and I wouldn't mind doing $16 bottomless mimosas!

    (4)

  • Tamara T.

    My partner and I tried this place out when they first opened. One or two times. It was good but nothing to write home about. But we really wanted to like it since it so close to our house. In the last three weeks we've been twice and I think we are in love. Their new menu is absolutely delicious, well conceived and affordable. We especially like the pig wing. It is completely original, the flavors are perfectly blended and the execution is nearly flawless. The St. Louis style pork ribs are awesome too. It's a great medium budget option for a yummy meal. Service could use a bit of improvement ;-)

    (4)

  • Jeanne C.

    Definitely a 5 star, must try place! Delish to say the least, and great ambience for a quaint place. Menu is original and very creative. I can see that the chefs n owners are well traveled. My hubby loved their biscuits, it can be the dessert almost. Must try the smoky steak tartare ... So good! I will definitely return for brunch and I highly recommend this place to all my friends. Great job guys!

    (5)

  • Ana O.

    Went with my BBF for Saturday Brunch. Had a great time. The food was awesome! Small plates but great for sharing. You can't go wrong with the food. The endless mimosas were fabulous BUT the 3 stars are more based on the overall service... They took forever to refill the mimosas. I had to ask 4 times for the check... Granted the place was busy and it seemed under staff that day. Reservations are a must for Sunday Brunch or you might be waiting even longer for a table than I did for my mimosa!

    (3)

  • Lester M.

    Been dying to come to this place for some time now, and finally made it. The place is very cool with a nice rustic feel to it inside and the outside feels like a backyard party even though you are facing the Biscayne Blvd. Their beer selection is very good although that day they were out of Michael's Home Brew. The food was just great. My order was as follows: 1-Jumbo Cheese Biskit. Huge, soft, warm, delicious. 2-Buffalo Style Pig wing Tender, spicy, perfect. 3-Townpark Fries On its own, very good. But I used as a bed for the juices from my lamb, ridiculously good 4-Braised Lamb Shank Very tender, fall of the bone. One big piece of awesomeness. Yes, all of it for me. My girlfriend had the Federal Steak and I was able to try some of the Jar O' Duck and cornbread from my friends.Everything was delicious. Can't wait to come back.

    (4)

  • alvaro r.

    By far one of my favorite restaurants in Miami. Great vibe, great service and amazing food. I could write a lond review here but I won't. Try this place if you haven't yet, you will no be dissapointed!

    (5)

  • Lyda S.

    Went with daughter& son in law. Ordered the deviled eggs -yummy, the pig wing - good the biscuit - good but burnt on top (daughter sez it was the sugar) ordered corn cakes but didn't get them. They both ordered the fried chicken some of the pieces were cut in 1/2 they shared w/me. My chicken thigh was raw next to bone chef said it was just a vein! I took left over chicken home w/me - all 4 thighs were raw! I ordered the octopus - enjoyable. Because of the raw chicken we received a free crispy cream bread pudding. Too much donut - not good! Sorry Gordon & Tom

    (2)

  • Christophe S.

    Excellent atmosphere. Superb service (Emily), Beautiful food! Made reservations for brunch, we only waited 10 minutes to get a table! Had an amazing Mimosa at the bar while we waited. We couldn't ask for a better introduction to a Miami Brunch. Service, food, friendliness and the overall feel was spot on! They have made me a regular. They deserve it. Cheers, Christophe Took pictures at Instagram.com/chris7ophe

    (5)

  • Gus M.

    Man, what can I say about this brunch spot? Heavenly. Just heavenly. Went for brunch a few weeks ago. Maybe the best in the area. Say, have you ever had eggs benedict? Well, the eggs benedict here include cheesy biscuits (instead of english muffins) and... wait for it... FRIED. PORK. BELLY (in place of the Canadian bacon). It was so beautiful, I almost cried. The blend of flavors is just so wonderful, it is truly difficult to explain. So, I'd say you're better off heading on over when you have the chance. My significant other ordered the Buffalo Pig Wings (sorta like pork ribs) and waffles. A funky combination, but pretty damn tasty. The service was fast and friendly. I don't know the deal with the parking. They offer valet, but I just self parked in the lot and walked over.

    (5)

  • JoAnna L.

    This is one of those restaurants that I will return to even after Miami Spice. My husband and I went for the spice menu and to FINALLY try out the popular restaurant not to far from where we live. We were not disappointed. For apps we had Brussels sprouts, deviled eggs, coleslaw, and southwest Mac and cheese. My favorite was the deviled eggs, they were amazing! From now on when I make them at home I will always add horseradish. My least favorite was the Mac and cheese, which was actually my husband's favorite. But I am picky when it comes to eating carbs, if it doesn't blow my mind then I'm not a fan (why eat something that's going to make you fat?). For entrees we had the brisket and seafood stew. The brisket was delicious, but such a small portion compared to the abundance of the delicious seafood stew! It had a large scallop, half a lobster, and several mussels, clams and shrimp. I was in seafood heaven! For dessert we had Oreo bread pudding. Meh, again the carb thing. My husband happily enjoyed both of our desserts. Service was excellent and extra kudos to our waitress who didn't give us the sad face when we ordered off the spice menu :-)

    (4)

  • Jeremy M.

    Underwhelming and uninspired. 2 items were good and 2 items were bland at best. Your money is better spent other places in Miami.

    (3)

  • Ashley Y.

    Food was ok, nothing special or unique. We had a brunch reservation for 12:30 and we never received a seat. My husband and I happen to grab 2 seats at the bar when 2 guys left at 1:40, then the host came up and said our table was paying their bill! We might visit again but will not wait for 1 hour for a table. Service was just ok.

    (3)

  • Dennis M.

    Interesting experimental menu. Food was OK. Turnoffs: Valet in a strip mall. Completely unnecessary. FREE parking behind the place. Watch your drink prices. Computer "glitches" supposedly responsible for prices changing when you get your bill. Of course, the change is an increase.

    (2)

  • Courtney N.

    Food was very good with some nice out of the box dishes. The server kept the unlimited mimosas flowing and was a real expert at making them lol. Great brunch spot.

    (4)

  • Mariela E.

    Is ok no big deal. The plates don't impress me. The pork wing tastes like cardboard. The chilly fries terrible... I think this place is only for brunch not for dinner. I don't recommend this place

    (2)

  • Vanessa P.

    I'm torn on the 3-4 rating but maybe it's because I sort of wish they had a few more menu choices. I will say everything I have had is quite delicious but when we've dined here it's usually more of a tapas style, rather than digging into one of their entrees. I love sitting outside because even though it's in a strip-mall next to a DD, they somehow manage to make it feel comfy and cozy. I'll credit the strung lights and sunflower plants. The truth is I still have yet to try their Jar 'O Duck and dine during brunch, so I'm thinking those items should maybe be on my New Year's Resolution list.

    (3)

  • Krys P.

    This has been one of our favorite restaurants in Miami. They have a small but interesting menu, and the staff is simply the best I've seen in Miami for a while. They remember us from a visit a whole month ago, always attentive to our needs without being obnoxious, all in all very friendly and pleasant. The pig wing is excellent, we've tried other items on their special menus which are divine. However, on our last visit, we were a bit disappointed. The brussel sprouts were burnt - not caramelized - but burnt to a bitter char. And overly salty. We looked forward to the pork belly, but it was too dry. Come to think of it, it's not often to get dry pork belly... with all that fat going on, but somehow they managed to do that. Maybe they are too busy with the new bakery? Anyway, I hope they get back to their standard on my next visit, else I'll be dropping another star!

    (4)

  • Lissette S.

    I was so excited about going to the federal on Valentine's day 2014, unfortunately I found myself regretting the decision, besides the fact the our rations were so so small that we left the restaurant hungry. The food wasnt good and the whole thing was insanely overpriced. Due to this I won't be going back.

    (1)

  • Krystian M.

    Spent $80 left hungry. Lamb burger was dry and tasteless, Elote was ok, Pig wings were decent but for $7 EACH a terrible value (used to be 2 or 3 to an order) and the Short Ribs were tasty but again $16 for a few pieces of short rib thrown on a plate with no presentation or side dishes...no. This place used to be good...scratch that, Great. I have been coming here for years, to the opening, to brunch even to the wine tastings...They had fun, friendly service and interesting, tasty fare. I dont know what is happening here, but enough is enough, if I wanted mediocre service, tiny portions and bland uninspired food, I can spend a lot less than $40 a person to get that. Won't be going back.

    (2)

  • Lana B.

    Another great experience at this restaurant. Delicious food from beginning to end, immaculate service and great atmosphere. We've been here a few times and it's consistent and never disappointing. I'm glad we found this place and will keep coming back. The ever changing menu is quite interesting and makes you want to taste every dish. I've read other reviews and was surprised to see some negative comments. I also saw responses to some of those from the Federal. I believe that it is the type of place that listens to their customers and genuinely wants them to have a great experience, improving on those points that were not up to par. For those who think that this place is overpriced, you may be at the wrong restaurant. You definitely get what you pay for here.

    (4)

  • Ligia M.

    First the place is freaking adorable, to the last detail & even the restroom. I went for Sunday Brunch, highly recommend you make reservations. The food was amazing I had the pig wing & waffles, delicious. As an appetizer we had the burrata it was also delicious. My friend had the steak & eggs, I am going to order that next time. The service was great & very friendly. Better than Yardbird.

    (5)

  • Chris C.

    federal/fed()rl: Having or relating to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs. The United States of Our Meal was broken down in to several independent states such as: Basket of fries: our mission here in BOF is to fry ourselves to a golden brown perfection. This will ensure supreme crunchiness and the ability to retain our salty demeanor throughout the course of the meal. We will not become soggy immediately after being brought to the table. Jar O Duck (best item): our mission is to unite our the bureau's in to one. Slow cooked Hudson Valley duck will be at the core of our union. It will provide the foundation for our taste. On one end we have the very conservative sweet potatoes, candied for your pleasure. Then we have the liberal charred fluff (marshmallow cream) that will provide a new perspective on this seemingly simple dish. KC Glazed Pig Wings: in this state pigs can fly, but when they do we barbecue 'em! Our meat is made to fall off the bones in order to provide for those less fortunate or as we call them, the forkless. Brisket: I was created to close the deals and to have the final verdict on any and all barbecue related ideas. Ladies and gentleman, this is the kind of federal system that works!

    (5)

  • Lincoln B.

    Went to the federal this past weekend for brunch and thought it was an okay experience. The food was great; however, it left me hungry. The portions are small and for $25 I expect more. Also, I was disappointed that we had to pay an extra $25 for bottomless drinks. I know this still sounds cheap but I'd much rather pay $45 for Toro Toro's brunch. At least there it's bottomless and a buffet style. The food was great though.

    (3)

  • Paul S.

    One of the worst meals I have ever had in Miami. I wish I could give less than one star. I've been twice to make sure it wasn't just a bad night. Its a lousy kitchen. Don't believe the hype.

    (1)

  • Max M.

    Really enjoyed my experience at The Federal. The rosemary brussel sprouts were perfectly seasoned and were gone in seconds. The fried chicken had the right amount of crunch on the outside and was cooked to perfection. We then tried the polenta which was decent but didn't stand out as much as the other dishes. The meal was quickly revived by the southwest mac and cheese with the buttermilk biscuit. It had the perfect combination of rich and smoky flavors. The buttermilk biscuit was not your average dry biscuit and actually was complimented nicely by the honey apple glaze. Lastly we finished off everything by getting the signature dish, Jar O Duck. It is a must get and the candied sweet potato is a perfect pairing with the duck rillette. Make sure to get one of their frozen cocktails as well. Overall, I'd highly recommend The Federal. The food is excellent and the price is more than reasonable, one of the true finds in Miami.

    (5)

  • Brian A.

    My wife and i went here for the first time last night and the service was great. we tried a little bit of everything. we had the Burrata salad, Beet salad, Steak Tar Tar, Biscuit ( which was huge ), Venison Chili, and we drank the Home made Sangria. Overall the service was good and the food was great.

    (5)

  • Antonio L.

    I stopped here by myself for a quiet Friday night dinner at the bar. It was the 2nd stop on my Biscayne Boulevard restaurant tour. The bartender was very friendly and recommended both Shiner and Namaste beers which I thought were both amazing. I chose the Pig wings, due to the high number of recommendations, and have never had anything like it in my life. The meat falls right off the bone and the sauce is sooo tasty. To balance the wings, I had a beet salad which was also very good. I have recommended this place to several friends because I feel I had a great meal and outstanding service. I have been dying to try both the Sunday Brunch and Sunday BBQ.

    (5)

  • Cynthia L.

    Came for brunch and oh my!! First it's a really cute place, small so make sure to make reservations if you don't want to wait. The service wad very attentive and nice. The food was delicious. We went in a group and shared everything and it was all amazing. No complaints on anything. Must haves: brisket and cookies and cream French toast. Won't disappoint!

    (5)

  • Christian W.

    I stumbled upon this place during a late night run to Baskin Robbins. It was too late for dinner on that occasion, but I remembered it when it came to deciding where to eat the following week. This unassuming, mini-mall restaurant is a lovely little Southern Oasis in the heart of busy Midtown Miami. I am a Texan with a great love for food made with love. These guys nailed it, From the crawfish & grits, to the flaky biscuits, to soooo creamy creamed kale, this place is like a big comfort food hug. Reasonable prices, BIG flavor, and friendly service. Thank god I'm an ice cream addict, it helped me to discover my new favorite restaurant.

    (5)

  • Vanessa M.

    Brunch was very good here. I was pleasantly surprised. Had been for dinner and I wasn't as impressed. Their biscuit is perfection combination of sweet salty and savory with a perfect texture

    (4)

  • Tony A.

    Aniece Meinhold has done it again. While she had me at Blue Piano, I have been a big fan of Aniece's projects (such as Phuc Yea), which I think greatly enhance Miami's food scene. People like Aniece, the Pub Belly/Barceloneta guys, and Cory Finot (Buena Vista Deli) have been pivotal in advancing Miami as a food city. Having lived in Miami since 1988 or so, it's really exciting to see as a food lover. I am remarkably late on the uptake here, but last night was my first trip to the Federal. It was a wonderful experience. The menu was very creative and all the dishes were very well executed. Moreover, the atmosphere and the ambiance of the restaurant were really spot on. It was a real pleasure to dine here. Our meal started with crispy beef bits (fried beef trip which taste remarkably like Funyons, and I think that's a tremendous compliment), and the famous house pig "wings." The "wing" comes from one of the most delectable places on the pig (the back of the trotter I believe), and is tender, delightfully porky, and really sumptuous. It's prepared in the traditional buffalo wing preparation. Really creative and really delicious. I couldn't resist the fried chicken for my entree. It was really good. The chicken was first lightly smoked and the fried and lightly drizzled in a kumquat syrup. The chicken was savory, smoky, and just a bit sweet. It was very delicious, and again it was a very creative dish. My wife had the venison sausage, which was remarkably rich for venison, and the whipped potatoes were light and buttery. What really capped the meal off was Aniece's wine pairing. After talking with us about our preferences, she paired our meal with a beautiful minerally Spanish red wine that was precisely what we like to drink. Really made my day after a rough week. This place is SO good, and already among my favorite places.

    (5)

  • Stephany M.

    I came with my husband for date night on a Saturday and everything was amazing! We got a table immediately.. surprisingly not packed. They have a vegetarian friendly menu and for pescatarians too! I had the biskit and the truffled eggs with buttered dumplings. AMAZING. The biskits are huge and the truffled eggs was probably the best vegetarian meal I've eaten. My husband is a meat lover and had the fried chicken and according to him, the best fried chicken he's ever eaten. We will be back again and soon.

    (5)

  • Maggie P.

    Came here for brunch. I'm a sucker for brunch. I had the eggs benedict with rabbit and venison meat...and while i'm sure there are people there that go cuckoo for rabbit and venison meat puffs, I think I wasn't the biggest fan. However, everything else was delicious. Including my eggs b. It just so happens I discovered I'm a fan of traditional eggs benedict. The place has cute decor, delicious food, and overall good vibe. I am excited to go back and check it out for more deliciousness.

    (4)

  • Stephanie N.

    I really, really wanted to like the The Federal. It's positive reviews on yelp is why I chose it for my birthday dinner when my parents asked me where I wanted to go. I didn't know what to expect, only that I knew everyone on yelp loved it. First of all, we had a reservation. The place was packed! When we walked in, they had a table reserved for us(kudos for that), except it was like a picnic table and the only one of its kind in the restaurant. As soon as we sat down, we had made our first mistake. We should have asked to have been moved because for the remainder of the dinner, we suffered from back pains and had to stand up for a little while to stretch our backs. This sucks since this place is pretty pricey. If you're coming here, whatever you do, DO NOT SIT IN THE PICNIC TABLE! I recommend they remove this table all together, since it is also RIGHT next to the bar (which was crowded) and we had patrons rubbing up against our backs all night from standing at the crowded bar. Very uncomfortable. Ok, on to the food and service. The service, was ok. The server disappeared on us a couple of times, but for the most part, he was nice, he just looked really busy. We first ordered some appetizers. We went with a special they had that day (fried mac & cheese balls), pork buffalo wings, pot-o-duck and the cheese biscuits. I ordered these because I had read about them on yelp, I read that the pot-o-duck was a must order. Well, I don't know what all the fuss is about. It is cute and creative, sure, but does it taste good? I don't understand what's so great about it. It doesn't taste bad, but not good either. The cheese biscuits were good, not great, they were a bit dry, I like mine moist. The pork buffalo wings and fried mac & cheese were very good, though. For our entrees, I ordered the shrimp and grits, my brother and bf ordered the lamb shank, my mom ordered a salmon dish and my dad ordered the lobster roll. My shrimp and grits were not good. The grits were hard, unflavorful and the whole dish just had a strange taste to it. My brothers and bf's lamb shank was very smoky. They both said it was ok, not great. It came on top of black eyed peas which were straight up hard. I didn't try my mom's salmon, but she said it was very good. My dad's lobster roll, again had a strange taste to it, I don't know why, it didnot taste like crab. For some reason the roll tasted like orange. I know it's weird, but we all tasted it and said the same thing. It tasted like an orange muffin. For dessert, we ordered a coconut layered cake they had on display. This was hands down the best part of the whole meal. It was buttery, moist and SO delicious. But it looked like it may have been purchased AKA not made there. The meal was expensive, which is fine for a special occasion, but when it's expensive and NOT worth the price, there's a problem. We were also EXTREMELY uncomfortable the whole night bc of our seats.

    (3)

  • Elle H.

    The food and atmosphere this spot are phenomenal. We ate here at their opening 3 years ago, and the bar has been raised. Service, food (corn cakes!!), wine list and attentive owner - amazing!

    (5)

  • Linda S.

    This post is purely on service because the seating system is ridiculous. I called ahead to see how long the wait was and the host told me about 30 minutes. My friends and I decided we could wait out 30 minutes for some good food, but when we arrived he told us 45 minutes and didn't even bother to take our name down. There was a large empty table by the door so we decided to sit there, but then we were asked to wait outside in the blazing south florida sun for 45 minutes. After 15 minutes or so I decided to check if he accounted for us and put our name down somewhere when I overheard a party of four complaining about how they were told to wait 30 minutes and now it's almost an hour. After hearing that, I promptly turned around and left. Beware, this place is not a walk in friendly place!

    (1)

  • Vanessa M.

    Brunch is perfection and on my short list of Miami's best brunches. The Challah Banana's Foster French toast and "Wabbit" and Waffles are a must-try--the rabbit was not at all gamey and tasted incredible. The best thing about brunch at The Fed? The $15 bottomless mimosas. Huzzah!

    (5)

  • Yari B.

    Went for brunch... Crab hash had much less crab than you would expect but potatoes were very good, would not order again. Waffle and pigs was very good. Biskit was a big hit at the table. Brussel sprouts never came :(

    (4)

  • Caro D.

    As only the best of Catholics would, we decided to indulge on Good Friday. (You only live once, right? JK, Jesus lived twice). I would refer you to Camila N's review for a play-by-play, but I will leave you with this: Do NOT miss: The Jar O' Duck (served with burnt Fluff and caramelized sweet potatoes), in fact, go ahead and order two. You'll thank me later. I have had an insatiable craving for all things pate/duck ever since, so you bet I will be showing my face at the Federal again soon. The Butter-Brown Squash side. Oh. My. God. The cheesecake - Rumor has it they use the orignal recipe from the Fountainbleau's heyday. So super yum. Creamy, but not overwhelming, perfectly sweet. Great cap to a great meal.

    (4)

  • Eric N.

    Pretty nice locavore joint in a sea of mediocrity. Took the family here, and had a really nice meal. Kid friendly, clean, very nice staff, and decent prices. Really nice selection, and all of our meals were very good.

    (4)

  • Ana M.

    Went here for brunch. I was going to give it 4 stars but then I realized the best thing about it were the bottomless mimosas, which you can get anywhere pretty much. We had a little bit of everything. The Jar-O-Duck was amazing. That's the one thing that I would go back for. The biscuit was okay. A friend had the flapjack which came with Cinnamon Toast Crunch on it. Yeah, the cereal. Anyway, I had the Buffalo Wings and Waffles. The pig wing was terrific. The waffles not so much. It was kind of crunchy all the way through. Not burned by any means, but just harder than I would expect. I'll definitely keep getting my chicken and waffles fix from Morgan's. The service was great. They kept those mimosas coming, even before brunch officially started, which if you're wondering is 11:30 am. So by brunch, they really just mean lunch.

    (3)

  • Mercedes G.

    I was excited to take my husband to The Federal for Father's Day Brunch. We made reservations for 12:00 noon and were there on time. We were greeted and sat immediately. We sat for 20 minutes before anyone came with menus or to take our drink order. Finally, the waitress came and took our order, which was from a set menu. She left without taking our drink order, again. After about 20 more minutes I had to called her to our table and ask for a menu to order drinks. After about 30 more minutes the food came out, THEN came the appetizers. Yes, we were done with our lunch when the waitress came with our last appetizer! Right before desert my son realized his Side O' Taters never arrived. When we asked the waitress we saw her place the order and we got it with the desert! We tried to make the best of it and we enjoyed having the salty spicy treat with our sweet dessert. Nonetheless, it was a bit annoying, especially becasue I wanted this to be a special brunch for my husband. One thing I must say, all the food was very good ( the only reason they got two stars), especially the crayfish and grits. Drinks? I ordered a frozen watermelon mojito and then saw how they poured it from a pre-made batch, not very impressive. Overall, food was okay, service and drinks were horrible. There are too many excellent restaurants in Miami to risk going to The Federal again.

    (2)

  • Jose E.

    Im still sitting here wondering how a place like this could have such good reviews , ok the food is good but by far... I mean BY FAR THE WORST SERVICE. And when we get our coffe after 20 min is ice cold... They bring the eggs than 10 min later the home fries BAD BAD BAD BAD SERVICE

    (1)

  • Kelly W.

    I had to update my review on this find, I foget how much I love this place. Foodie alert, this is one place you have to visit. The menu is updated reguarly so this is why I always go back. But last night was a rare find. My Friend ordered Seafood Soup, and out comes this vast array of lobster, clams, muscles, shrimp and an amazing broth. I hate we both left our phones at home, or I would post amazing colorful pictures. I chocked on all the options and ordered the steak. out come a most most watering and wonderfully presented 3 piece NY Strip, with the most amazing Onion Rings I have ever had, and a egg (Guys can you back me up here on the good part on Eggs) At first I looked for salt/pepper on the table and was shocked to see none. But I dived in. Now get me here, Salty Onion Rings, perfect soft and succulent steak, perfecty seared onions and the taste just jumps alive in your mouth. Between me stealing bits of the lobster (ummm....Lobster) and her stealing pieces of my steak it was a great night. Umm Lobster!

    (4)

  • Savy A.

    Yelp has not steered me wrong yet... But as previously stated "don't believe the hype". Made a reservation and arrived on time but was told my party of two would still had to wait 15 minutes ... Then why make a reservation? We opted to sit outside just to get to a table quicker and realized sitting outside was the better option. With the breezy weather the outside was cooler then the inside of the place. If your looking for a "cosy" (bc it is tinny) place to have drinks with friends along with some ok food then this is for you.

    (2)

  • Rachel S.

    Don't let the strip mall location throw you off; they are serving some seriously good eats here. Every restaurant in Miami needs to take a lesson in service from the Federal! Efficient, knowledgeable and friendly staff can make or break a meal. 5 stars for service and 5 stars for food! On to the food: Jar O' Duck: Delicious and a must try Biskit: Ditto McNuggets: Ditto Pig Wing: BF had to try this as wings and pigs are two of his most favorite things in the world. He was very, very happy with this unorthodox hybrid. Peaches and Cream salad (or whatever fresh fruit and cheese combo they're using): Amazing Fries: Good Lamb Burger: First time I had it, it was overcooked. (I asked for med-rare.) Needless to say it was dry. On a subsequent visit, I was encouraged to try it again by the super-apologetic staff (not their fault!) and it came out juicy and delicious. Carbonara: Tasty Mac and Cheese: Not my cup of tea...way too spicy for my taste. We had a few other specials over the visits and all were good. I am really looking forward to trying the Thursday Q!!

    (5)

  • Manny F.

    Went for Sunday brunch and it was awesome! Best brunch I've had in a longtime. We had breakfast nachos, green eggs & ham, wing & waffle, the award winning biscuit was to die for. The mimosas kept flowing, my flute was never empty. Finishing it off with the Oreo french toast, omg! Our waitress Brittany was awesome also.

    (5)

  • Bertha G.

    This was an amazing experience! We were received at the door by Aneise, she is always such a great hostess! This was an early night out with old friends and it worked out perfectly as the food is meant to be shared. We ordered so many things (probably too much) but we were just curious to experience it all! I learned that Pigs to have "Wings" lol the blue cheese mouse the "wings" sat on was heavenly garnished by delicious pickled vegetables. The Jar O Duck was my favorite part of the meal! We shared a buttermilk biscuit with bourbon butter that was heaven, I would love to have that for breakfast with a cup of coffee. My friends shared the BBQ deviled eggs that were really pretty, I don't eat egg. The Crawfish and Grits, BBQ Pork Shank, SW Mac & Cheese and the Brussels Sprouts were all delicious and cooked perfectly. We shared a beautiful bottle of Ramspeck Pinot Noir which was lovely. We planned to skip dessert but Aneise sent out two samplings that we devoured! The flour-less chocolate cookie and the key lime pie were beautiful and delicious!

    (5)

  • Ashley P.

    Horrendous service, and horrible food. Will never ever visit again. 4 strikes you're out Federal.

    (1)

  • Hollis K.

    Refreshingly non-presumptious with wonderful new taste treats.....and reasonably priced too......damn isn't that nice......pork chop with brussel sprouts...awesome.......pig wings.....highest recommend.......lamb burger kills.......fritters fabulous...... all good....highest recommend.

    (5)

  • Eve C.

    I've had the pleasure of dining at The Federal several times now, but have not yet had the opportunity to indulge in the oft-lauded, seldom-available pineapple upside-down cake. I'm reserving that fifth star for when my dreams become reality and that pineapple upside-down cake is mine! But The Federal serves up plenty of other mouth-watering options that are sure to get your tongue a-waggin! For example, the cheese biscuits - a classier version of Red Lobster's cheddar bay biscuits, but more addictive. Awesome, huge biscuits topped with melted cheese, with just a touch of sweetness - these are truly addictive! The "pig wings" are another awesome starter - yes it's pork, and no it's not the end of the world (yet). These "wings" are done buffalo-style so they don't only look like a wing (chicken, that is), they taste like 'em too! Definitely worth ordering whether you're a Federal first-timer or veteran. The beet salad is a nice, light, and refreshing option to off-set some of your caloric intake from the cheese biscuits and pig-wings. Whether you love beets or not, this salad is worth a try! The biscuits and gravy, topped with sweetbreads is another tasty dish. If you like sweetbreads, you'll totally love this dish. If you don't know what sweetbreads are, don't bother looking it up, just come to The Federal and order this - you'll like it (and then won't care). The duck "confee" is the only entree I've tried so far - the duck is cooked perfectly, and accompanied by some greens (arugula, maybe?). As a main dish, it's not too heavy, and is great if you're sharing dishes. I've sampled a few of the desserts - the cobbler was a little too soupy for my tastes, but the cheesecake in a jar topped with berries was simple and delicious. I'm still holding out for that pineapple upside-down cake though. But even more so that the food, what I love about The Federal is that it's the perfect place for a meal, no matter the occasion. Whether you're looking for that "special occasion" place or a casual meal with friends over a bottle (or two) of wine, The Federal fits the bill. There's tons of tables - both inside and out, a free parking lot (!), and probably most importantly - an awesome staff who are eager to make sure you have a great dining experience (and remember you from one visit to the next)! The prices are on point - whether you go the appetizer-entree route, or share some plates with friends, with a drink or two, it'll run you roughly $50 a person (with tip). I know I'll be a frequent customer, whether or not I ever get to try that pineapple upside-down cake!

    (4)

  • Cristina M.

    Ok so the biscuits are delicious! I mean a little piece of heavenly deliciousness! The bus boy came by and gave us some pretty awesome advice that we gladly took. (BTW this said bus boy has the coolest personality and I'd hire him ASAP!) Moving on to his advice - trying something different that you've never had...well that was pretty much the menu but we got the point...everything was tasty! We got the duck pate and yum - note to chef can we get a bit more of the sweet potato?? We also got the lamb appetizer that came right off the bone it was - ever so perfectly cooked! After that we only Ordered three entrees the meat & potatoes which was good, the lamb burger - perfect condiments no ketchup necessary and the sausage dish (which ain't my cup of tea so I didn't try heard it was good). Last but certainly not least the dessert - bread pudding with chocolate chips oh my! We didn't roll out of there by shear miracle cause it's heavy dining! We were 4 and it was plenty of food! Great place to have a feast or just good ol' comfort food!

    (4)

  • Gina P.

    I'm going to come right out and say that the place is pricey and the fact that there was no menu online with pricing to be found made me a bit irate when I first sat down and was handed a menu finally revealing what I most dreaded after reading previous posts. But, alas, it's a nice place with good service and good, out of the ordinary food options. We started off with the Biskits. $6 for two biskits but they were pretty freaking big, tasty and definitely filling. The water is served at room temp which I prefer but note in case you like yours ice cold. Ordered up a Pot Pie along with Wild boar sausage for dinner along with a red ale on draft. The beer came way before the food (which took a bit but we were told the pot pie takes 15-20minutes to bake up and we didn't mind. I'm never in a rush when I dine) but along with the biskits. This might not sound like such a bad thing but when you are hungry and you mix yeast with yeast and then wait, well, by the time you start eating you meal you feel too full to appreciate the whole experience. I would highly suggest you ask for your libations to be brought with your meal if you are going in the bread, entree route as we did. Wings or cheese as an app are a whole different ball game of course. The pot pie was a bit smaller than was expected with a $22 price tag but it was good and since we were full from the aforementioned situation, ended up doggy bagging some of it. The sausage was tasty but the best part was the sauce that made its way down the plate and managed to soak up all the fries. The plate comes with whipped potatoes but I have an aversion to mashed/smashed/whipped vegetables and they were kind enough to substitute and I am so glad they did! I might have only given the meal 3 stars had it not been for the deliciousness that occurred from the combo. We, unfortunately, did not have room for dessert. Hoping to head back with a few other people in order to get several items off the menu at once and perhaps have room for dessert. P.S. We went along with our two year and, although it's not a kid type place, we were never made to feel like he was not welcomed. On the contrary, all the servers were attentive and kind.

    (4)

  • K B.

    How does a restaurant that prides itself on making its own butter have no cream available for coffee? Isn't cream what butter is made of? Coffee with milk makes it watery and lacking in the smoothness of cream. The bisquit was good. The lack of pork for the waffle combo on the menu was disappointing. Replacing it with rabbit meat was not appetizing for breakfast. I got the "steak" and eggs. It was actually brisket in a bowl on top of tasteless potato hunks with an egg on top. It was boring and left me thinking I hadn't eaten when I ate as much as I could.

    (2)

  • A. H.

    The Federal is trendy and crowded. The staff is friendly but overwhelmed. My seating with a reservation took 45 minutes. Drinks at the table came 15 minutes after they were ordered. I ordered at smoked pork shank. It was marvelous! It sat on a bed of black eye peas which were under cooked. The bred pudding was impressive as were the sea scallops. The prices are reasonable. The wine list is limited. This is a work in progress and I support it. I will be back.

    (4)

  • Jeff G.

    I have to preface this review with this: I am not a big fan of overpriced food. Yes, I will be going into a bit of a rant here, sorry! The food here is good, worthy of more stars than I am giving it, but pricing here will keep me from becoming a frequent customer here. Since we came here in a farily large group of fellow Yelper and food enthusiasts I was able to sample quite a few items from the menu. For myself, I ordered the Lamb Burger which was tasty but at $16 I have had _much_ better at B&B Joint for LESS. There were a few things I had that were quite good, some were just good on the outside like the Pig Wing; which lacked flavor once you got past the first few bites. I did enjoy my outing with everyone here, but I think there needs to be a voice of dissent when it comes to overpriced eateries. Go to any other big city and I can eat better there for half to almost a third less money. I'm talking about so-called "expensive" cities like New York or San Fran. It's no surprise that entrepeneurs of Phuc Yea are now serving up overpriced fare in this new establishment. At least over there it was sort of justifiable because they were trying to build enough capital to open this place but if they plan on keeping this from being another 6 month pop-up, price it so us muggles can frequent it. PS- I drink my water at room temp, I didn't know it was the hip cool thing to do though?

    (3)

  • Betty M.

    Not sure how I feel... Some of the food was good not spectacular. But my better half & I ordered pork chops for dinner. My pork chop came out first & it was beyond overcooked & I'm a well done kinda girl. 45 minutes later, his pork chop arrived also overcooked. Several of us ordered the mac & cheese. They were all cold as in frozen. They all were sent back. When cooked, the mac & cheese is really good. The deserts were excellent. Service was good. But they do charge for water without asking. Overall, I can now say... Been there, done that, won't be back. So NOT worth it for the price.

    (2)

  • Peter V.

    I checked this place out on Easter Sunday for brunch. The staff and the food was great. In addition, cannot go wrong with bottomless Mimosas for $19 and bottomless bar for $25. The French Toast was amazing. Check it out!

    (5)

  • V. A.

    I went about a year ago and need to remind myself to go back. Really interesting menu, great service, and nice ambiance. I remember going crazy over the honey-cheese biscuits and something they call the jar o'duck which is duck with sweet potato and marshmallow.

    (5)

  • David Z.

    So I been hearing about this place for months and I finally got a chance to check it out . It was one of the greatest dining experiences I've ever had from the quirky writing on the bar to the music and the writing on the way to the bathroom this place is all about American culture . It was a great experience the food was great one bite from the chicken pot pie and I was instantly transported back to my childhood and also made new memories. The pig wings are also great as is the rest of the menu items . This was one of the most memorable experiences I've had will definitely be coming back

    (5)

  • Shandi B.

    I had an improtu meal at The Federal... but not being too hungry and not knowing what to order, I hopped on yelp and we decided to split the two most raved about dishes - the Honey Glazed Cheddar Biscuits and Pig Wings. Yes, the biscuits were good. I don't know if something on my tongue is wired differently, but they tasted like Cheez-Its. Not exactly my favorite flavor, but the biscuit itself was fluffy and buttery, and the bit of sweetness from the honey was yummy. And the Pig Wings... what is a pig wing? It's an interesting cut of pork, and really delicious on the outside. I don't know if we got a bad batch, but once we made it past the crunchy, buffalo-y nom nom exterior, the inside tasted like - well, pig. I think the correct culinary term would be "gamey"? I'm not a fan of unseasoned meat, and the pig wing was too thick of a cut to be seasoned just on the outside. I was able to sample a couple of other things floating around the table - the lamb burger was good, as was the cauliflower. I really wanted to try the pineapple upside down cake, but they were out (is this thing a myth or something?). Service was nice, albeit slow... but that could be because we were a larger party. The tap water here is served room temperature, which I found odd. Overall I thought The Federal was ok - I don't think I'd make a trip back unless I could be ASSURED a pineapple upside-down cake.

    (3)

  • Bella S.

    We will keep coming back and back . We love this place , attention , food , incredible neighborhood restaurant

    (5)

  • Mit P.

    Had a meal here with a friend. We had the Bay Scallops with Bacon and mushrooms, the Townhouse Egg Fries, the Short Rib Wellignton Pot Pie, and the Seafood Chowder. What I liked: 1) The Service here is outstanding. Our waitress was really superb - very attentive, very good at explaining the menu, drinks came quickly and kept flowing, and she always there when you needed her. One of the best service experiences. 2) Food is good. It is not wow - I have had similar scallops, and quality of pot pies at many places - and there was nothing special about these recipes - but I could think of many ways to improve them. The food is not the caliber of a Gigi or Pubbelly although the restaurant is at a slightly higher price point than those. 3) Cute unpretentious environment. The place is nice, but not casual like a bistro. You can go here for almost any occasion. 4) Convenient parking. What they could do better: 1) Continue working on the recipes. Nothing we ate was stellar. The pie lacked a gravy base which meant the stuff inside tasted a bit bland with a watery broth. Also the whole pot pie concept was nothing like a Wellington. They should have made it more like a wellington-pie hybrid with a fully encased pastry, with a gravy based broth and some bacon lining.

    (3)

  • Hnedel M.

    Can't say enough good things about this place. Our waitress Emily who was quite the wine nerd kept referring to us as "My Darlings" & "My Loves". Every thing we had was great. We loved their 'pig wing' & their duck rillette w/ marshmallow fluff. This place is a definite must when you visit Miami.

    (5)

  • Stacy S.

    Let's keep it real people. I am rounding up for The Federal. The service was efficient. They really made an effort last night. My friend and I had a pleasant dinner here. I have nothing but good things to write about the service. They were very sweet and attentive. I found the decor charming, both inside and out. Let's move on to specifics about the food... For starters we chose the fries and the scallop special. The fries were hand cut infused with rosemary. A sunny side egg was served on top. A runny egg with fries does not work for me, especially as the fries were still glistening with oil (a bit greasy). Had they been drained for ten seconds longer, that probably would have done the trick. The house made "catsup" lacked salt. It tasted more of cocktail sauce than ketchup. The scallop appetizer was tasty. It was presented to be seared yet came out medium well (no worries for me as that's how I prefer my scallops). Very well done bacon and exotic mushrooms were served with it, in a shallow broth. Overall I liked the dish. I don't see how one is able to get all the flavors of the dish in one bite as the sauce doesn't transfer to the scallops, mushrooms, or bacon. But I managed to put all three ingredients on my fork and liked it. My friend didn't like it. He didn't say why. At $18 the cost is outrageous. I'm in a bloody strip mall. There were two scallops for f's sake. It's not Gorden Ramsey in the kitchen. My main was the "New England Chowder". What do you think of with a chowder from that part of the country? I think of a white, creamy chowder. This dish was in essence a bouillabaisse. It was a few mussels, one or two scallops, and some fish in a very shallow broth. It was served with potatoes and corn. The seafood tasted pretty fresh. It was all and all bland. It was a small portion. My recommendation to the establishment is, if you are going to keep this dish (which is ok, not great by the way) change the name or change the dish. It's not what anyone ordering it is going to expect. And was it reasonably priced? At $24, no. My friend had the short rib pot pie ($22). He generally liked it however did have a few complaints. I am sure he will Yelp about it at some point. Is the wine reasonable? No. It's a bit on the (all together now) pricey side. So here is my recap: Cute decor Wonderful Service Ok to good food Overpriced for what you get (and as you can read in my other reviews I am not one to complain about prices. This should tell you something.) Enjoy.

    (3)

  • Sherry R.

    Was really excited to try this place and it is really mediocre. Watered down Lillet, decent beer list. Had the Jar O Duck...really, what is the big deal? Lamb burger-oh I have had so much better-should be served with a tzaziki sauce,not mustard & ketchup. Charred on the outside, tasteless on the inside-no lamb flavor at all. Mac and cheese is ok. Smoked tongue dish, the meat was dried out and tasteless. Chesecake was very good. Outside patio is nice but tables are ooddly shaped and you are far from your partner. Go elsewhere...better burgers at Bulldog (though not lamb)

    (1)

  • Charlie B.

    great new foodie spot in Miami. Down home bistro style cooking brings comfort food to a whole new level...everything is über yummy...Aniece is a darling at the front of the house

    (5)

  • Ms. C.

    I'm talking about the brunch. First let me say I am a strong supporter of fact that this restaurant derived from a pop up and I love the concept of the food, the presentation and the freshness they have but I must be completely honest when I tell you, my reason for writing this review is that it is really overpriced. Mind you, if the food is good I am the first one who doesn't mind paying a pretty penny for some good eats but "come on," $5 for a biscuit! Albeit a good biscuit but they don't even serve it with jam! I'm sorry but if I am going to pay $5 for a biscuit it better come with some jelly, you know what I'm saying??! IN my experiences I have found that the food has one common flavor throughout. The theme is a play between southern sweet and salty, strong flavors and heavy food but there is no real culinary flair. I would have liked for them to have taken more risks or had more fun with the offerings. Its a really cute place, the decor is country style and so far I've had good experiences with the service staff. All in all its a good outing but its not a place to go eat all the time. That's one of my issues with our city. There are not enough places with good food, good service and fair prices. This is why the Federal scores 2 stars for their brunch. BTW who ever built the benches inside wasn't planning for people to sit in them and the acoustics in there are really bad, if you are planning on a nice relaxed reasonably priced Sunday brunch where you can actually hear your partner, I'd opt to go elsewhere. Cheers!

    (2)

  • Alyssa C.

    Stay away! No one acknowledges your arrival. After 10 mins of waiting for a hostess I went to look for one. She clearly, is in the wrong business. Me and my girlfriends arrived to celebrate a birthday, and left pissed. We had to ask a few times if we could put our name down, or how long the wait was she said an hr. We would of waited by the bar (making the restaurant money) if she didn't clearly tell us to leave. Take advise from the "hostess/manager" and try another brunch. Do not waste your beautiful brunch with such a sour business.

    (1)

  • Taylor P.

    The federal is nothing short of amazing! The brunch was delicious with bottomless mimosas and excellent service. The Bloody Mary was good but packs a spicy punch so make sure you have a glass of water... The crawfish and grits and the breakfast nachos are a must!!! (Not to shadow anything else thought because it all was amazing) and for the price and quality of this food you cannot beat it!

    (5)

  • Fahad A.

    Love the food and the owner is really nice. They work in restaurant. A mixture of comfort food no Mater where your from you'll love it.

    (5)

  • Jesus R.

    Needles to say this place needs no introduction...it's absolutely amazing. Be patient some dishes are still in process of cooking when opening at 6pm so may not be available right away. If you eat well and take pride in the places you eat at, then this is just for you.

    (5)

  • Sam H.

    Went here the other week expecting a fun, interesting, good meal...... It was definitely interesting when I received the bill. Food was good, beer selection was good. But was very confused when I looked in the bill and saw that I was charged $2 for my tap water. Our server offered tap/sparkling water at the beginning of the meal like like usual, but never told us we would be charged for it. I'm one of those people that if you try to upsell me a nice bottle of water for $5, I'll buy it. But no one told us we would be charged for out tap water. So when the bill came and I asked about the barge, the server acted like I should have known about it. Not very pleasant. And the other thing that bothered me about it, was there was a table next to us that also got a bottle of tap water but it was split between 6 people. So they charge each person $1 for their tap water and don't tell you about it until the bill comes and you ask about it.

    (2)

  • David D.

    Food was okay. Bottomless mimosas are not really bottomless. Waiter was cool, but the manager not so much. Probably a dozen places around with better food, better prices, and better management.

    (1)

  • Roxana T.

    This is the worst service I have ever experienced! Super rude! Foods okay. Nothing to rave about.

    (1)

  • sandra i.

    It looks like it is run by new, untrained personnel that even they're trying to do their best, I had to return the beet roasted salad.....it was extremely salty and, also ridiculously small (for $12.00 ) sad that I gave this place two chances already.

    (1)

  • M S.

    wonderful restaurant, clearly they care about the ingredients and how they compliment each other, as well as the presentation. definitely recommend !!

    (5)

  • Naylet A.

    The food is pretty good but there are much better brunch places in Miami. Now the service... is HORRIBLE. Rudest waitress I've had in quite some time.

    (1)

  • Lisa G.

    I have now gone here twice- once for brunch and once for dinner. The food is delicious. I love that they focus on local items, often with herbs they grow in their own garden. It is a great spot to go with experimental eaters and just order multiple small dishes to share around. My favorites so far have been the chicken and waffles for brunch and the brussel sprouts with dinner. I was a little disappointed with a "favorite" item- the peaches and cream- but the mac and cheese totally made up for it.

    (4)

  • Alissa W.

    Ok so I admit I never had any desire to eat here even though it is in the neighborhood of restaurants I usually eat at. So we came on Saturday night I was not thrilled to eat here, but figured I may as well try it so I know I don't like it instead of assume. If you are a meat lover this is your place ! I am not and the seafood is limited. Although, they have veggie plates listed they are more sides to go along or salads not entrees. I tried to seafood bouillabaisse and asked for no sausage. the food came out 1/2 a lobster tail and 1/2 a scallop. I was confused I flagged down the waitress. HMMMM this can't be $28 of food ! I have no clue what the kitchen did but they grabbed my plate and brought of a complimentary buratta with frisse lettuce. Frisse lettuce to be should be a garnish it is tough and not easy to eat. I hate the consistency but Iwas hungry so I hate the buarrata with grapes and nuts. My lobster came back and was not cooked properly I could hardly get it out of the shell. Also it said there was shrimp there were none. Tiny pieces of cray fish were added not my thing ! Sorry Federal I know officially concluded NEVER again.

    (2)

  • Elisabeth C.

    This little gem of a restaurant is tucked away in a small mall and I was originally reluctant to go. That was a mistake that cost me at least a year of great food. And I have never had better service in Miami. We grazed on the whole menu by ordering the chefs plate-the Brisket was to out of this world as was the pate. But given the reputation this restaurant has for barbeque and meat-meat-meat, I was pleasantly surprised by the vegies, especially the Brussel sprouts. This is a great romantic date night restaurant-great food, atmosphere and service.

    (5)

  • Tats D.

    My boyfriend & I tried this place out for the first time- we purchased the Gilt City deal. Lucky for us, they were serving for the first time their "Pressed brisket 2.0" with their "Charcoal mashed potatoes". All we could say over & over again was WOW. Words cannot describe how delicious & flavorful it was. We were sad when we finished. Please put that on the menu again!! That brisket is literally Heaven on earth! Not only was the brisket amazing, the service was great. The hostess was very friendly & inviting & our waitress was awesome! She was so informative, accommodating & very friendly. All in all, this place is just great & we are definitely coming back!

    (5)

  • Daniel M.

    Tried peaches and pistachio, gizpacho, the biscuit which was incredible, mcnuggets, pig wing, and lamb burger. Finished off with chocolate moonpie with bourbon milk. Yum. Will be back again.

    (5)

  • Josh M.

    Unlimited Mimosas on Saturday and Sunday Brunch! sign me up ! Incredible food in a great area, cookies and cream french toast? yes please, chicken and waffles ? incredible, i can't wait to try more meals here...

    (4)

  • Veronica G.

    Cookies and cream french toast ... Need I say more? It was hard to pick with all the amazing things on the menu but we went with the biscuits and gravy and a jumbo biscuit and paired it up with bottomless mimosas. Yes, you read right bottomless! I will be back and I cannot wait.

    (4)

  • Vienna F.

    I am still in search of the spot to call my favorite. As I eat my way through Miami, I discovered The Federal. I finally found a place that was worthy of a Yelp! At first, I wasn't sure what to expect driving up to a little strip mall. Where I come from you don't find a quality resturant in a strip mall, but the food reviews were a big draw. Once we walked in I was totally impressed! It reminded me of a restaurant in downtown L.A. It's an adorable, hip spot with cool decor. While rock'n to 80's classics, we were greeted by our server, Barbara. Every server in Miami needs to take lessons from Barbara! Getting excellent customer service from a server a bit rare. She was friendly, attentive, personable and knowledgeable of the restaurant 's food and drink. Every server should hold all of these qualities. Service makes a huge difference in your dining experience. We started with the buttermilk biscuit that melts in your mouth like a little taste of heaven and the charred octopus made my toes curl! Our favorite was the Jar O' Duck. It was freak'n deeeeelish! The only thumbs down would be the brussel sprouts. Overall, it was a great experience and I will make it part of my food whore rotation.

    (4)

  • Dan F.

    Wow! I finally made it to this spot and I'm glad I made the trip. Perfect experience all around not sure how u can rate this below 4 stars. I will be back for sure and I can't wait to hit brunch b/c if they do as good as dinner I'm ready!!!

    (5)

  • Andrew K.

    I came here for a Sunday brunch was pleasantly surprised. The food had an amazing home cooked rustic smoked quality that is delicious and rare in Miami. I had the biscuits and gravy eggs Benedict along with some home cut bacon. YUM! My only critique was that they need to do something to dampen the noise level inside. It was tremendously loud making it impossible to have a conversation without out screaming to the person sitting next to you. Granted they were busy, it seems like something could be done to help this aspect of the dining experience out. I will certainly be coming back again soon but with some ear plugs in tow.

    (4)

  • Daniel G.

    What can I say, if your looking for a cozy place for a date, or a laid back atmosphere for a small group of friends, this is the place to be... Great staff, awesome specialty beer and spectacular dishes; especially the smoked pork ribs! I will definitely return with an bigger appetite for food, beer and spend a memorable time with great company! SN: service was a bit awkward at first, seemed like they did not know how to make us feel welcomed when we walked through the door, but soon, our server made things right, as he explained some dishes with much detail and answered all of our questions...once the food was served, it made up for the initial awkwardness.

    (5)

  • Sean E.

    Pig Wings are delicious! Tried couple items on the menu. All items were great! Service all around was perfect. I recommend this spot to anyone looking for good food service, and nice atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Ming P.

    The staff were amazing. Food were delicious even though I'm not a big fan of corn. I plan on going back to try more delicious food from the menu.

    (4)

  • Jana C.

    The Federal reminds me of Sunday brunch culture in NYC. I've missed that since moving down to Miami from the Big Apple. This place is a gem tucked away in a little strip mall, but if you know about it, it adds to your cool factor. The staff is friendly and accommodating, and it gets busy for weekend brunch, which is not a bad thing at all, but you should definitely call ahead to reserve a table even though that sounds kinda ridiculous for brunch (never had to do that in NYC, even in the tiniest most popular places). We didn't reserve or call ahead but the friendly host and servers let us have a table. I like the "game-y" look of the place, cute knick-knacks, wood, and a fake deer head...The food is a reflection of that culture, with selections such as "Jar-O-Duck" and "Venison Sausage" but everything is so tasty. We had the: "French Toast Bananas Foster," "Skillet Eggs," and "Federal Steak & Eggs" and BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS for $16/person (totally worth it). Loved The Federal, love the brunch!

    (5)

  • Jessi L.

    Had Sunday brunch here with a friend. The place is a really nice hangout and the food was very good. The service was good and the staff was very friendly. I tried the breakfast nachos and the waffles and pork. Both were good. The cookies and cream toast they gave at the end was just ok.

    (4)

  • Cristi D.

    I stand corrected! I'm so happy I gave this place another try... Went back for brunch and noticed that they changed the menu. The Buffalo Chicken and Waffles was delicious!

    (4)

  • Nutty A.

    I came for dinner for the first time with my friends(5 of us) . We had amazing food, 4 stars for the food ... BUT wow service was very bad! And there are tip included 5 or more ..... My waiter name is Michael (tall guy with glasses) came to table like 3 or 4 times for entire meal, and I ordered something Togo with separated check with our dinner. Check came out with tip included on my Togo check , I asked him nicely that why my Togo had tip included he said it because of it s same party but i dnt think it s right to included tip on Togo order.... So I talked to manager and she took the tip off from my check .....BUT HE CAME AND THROWN THE CHANGE AT ME... 5 of us saw the same thing!!!!! Wow!!! Never experienced it in my life!!!!! Great food !!! Horrible SERVICE ... Never go back!!! Bye!!!

    (1)

  • Meegan's M.

    Had a great experience at The Federal. To read all about it visit the link below. meegansminute.com

    (5)

  • Ramiro A.

    Hard to find anything wrong with my meal. Had an octopus cocktail appetizer that was something like a salsa with octopus and avocado. Don't remember all the ingredients but it came with homemade chips and was very flavorful. As an entree I had the creole crawfish and grits, which I quickly devoured. I ate some glazed doughnut bread pudding for dessert which was very good even if it didn't live up to the quality of the other food I'd enjoyed. The service was excellent and the waiter made great recommendations. The owner was friendly and took care to ensure that my meal was going well. I guess the only thing I disliked about the place was the parking. I couldn't park the car myself, but had to pay $3 for someone to park it less than 20ft away. Don't really see the point of this.

    (5)

  • Yohana G.

    I drove from Boca Raton to check out this place, to top it off it was my birthday. To start we had reservations and we ended up waiting 15 mins in the rain to be seated. There was no hostess stand so when we got there we were very lost. The serves wear normal clothes so you never know who is working there. After we finally sat, we waited so long to get our menus that I had to get up and get them. After that the "waitress" told us about their family style in which we finally realized that their family style type of dinning was that the food is not sent to the tables together. We ordered the mimosas but they only came when our food was out. Drink menus were not provided, we had to ask. By the time the server came to the table we were already furious. Finally when 3 out of 4 of us had our plates we realized that the biscuit which was placed on our table was an incorrect order that was confused with the biscuits and gravy. Food was not special, I had the crab hash which barely had crab. The prices are very high and the food quality is very low.The owner came to the table and sent us a few plates on the house but the damage was done, our experience was not good. I still cannot understand how this place was rated so high.

    (1)

  • Andreana J.

    Feel short of expectations.

    (3)

  • Grace M.

    The service was okay. The food was okay. The best plate I had here for Sunday brunch was a side of brussels sprouts. I like going to brunch on Sundays and trying new places but I was disappointed with this option. The food wasn't great and the price was too high for the portion and quality of the food. Segafredo's brunch is much better.

    (2)

  • Eric B.

    I have thought about going to The Federal several times before. Now I am upset with myself for waiting this long. Every single thing we tried was out of this world amazing. There's not a bad dish on the menu. From the Pig Wings and Waffles to the Crab Hash it was spectacular. Even the brussel sprouts are delicious.My wife never gets excited about food. However, she couldn't stop raving about The Federal. We are already planning a return.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth B.

    Great food. The chicken and waffles are amazing. Still dreaming about the crab hash. Unlimited Mimosas are really unlimited. The service was exceptional. Emily was very knowledgeable. The capuccino dessert was sick! Loved it.

    (5)

  • Courtney M.

    I've been to the Federal three times now. Twice for dinner and once for brunch. Every time was nothing short of amazing. They have innovative dishes that are such a tastebud experience you will leave satisfied and ready to plan you next trip. I wish I could remember the details of my last two experiences but they were a while ago and are a bit fuzzy. I do remember bottomless mimosas at brunch that got me quite buzzed and while loving my everything else I tried not really appreciating their jar o duck signature dish but them again duck isn't really my thing. But this time I can give you details. I went with three friends for Miami spice but we didn't end up ordering off the spice menu because they said the chef preferred either the whole table order off it or not so we chose not so we could try more things. Also note that the menu on the Miami spice website is different than what they actually offer. The online menu has more options but the actual menu allows you to choose four out of eight each. Which would be fine for couples cause you could try all of them but doesn't really work for bigger groups because it would be really duplicative. We decided to pick two dishes each and share. They were offering $20 unlimited prosecco which we skipped since it was a work night. I have a love of brussel sprouts and theirs did not disappoint. They were crispy and yet there was something sweet about them. I think it actually may have been baby pickled onions. They had a chilled watermelon dish with chipotle spices that I'm still thinking about. So much so I'm determined to try and make it at home. The burrata was deliciously creamy but I was not in love with the salad that accompanied it. We ordered the smoked chicken and the mussels which were pretty standard. The Mac and cheese on the other hand was orgasmic. I try to shy away from such unhealthy dishes but this is a must order dish. The deviled eggs were also awesome. Not much like traditional deviled eggs but with pulled pork and a jalapeño for spice and still the creaminess of regular deviled eggs is quite a delicious surprise. I am not one to normally order crawfish and grits but the grits were creamy and overall the entire dish hit the spot. I highly recommend this place. The menu offers something for everyone and I consider it a Miami staple. Definitely on my list of favorite restaurants.

    (5)

  • Greg A.

    The Federal is a nice, cozy little spot off Biscayne just south of 54th street. Everything about the restaurant, from the interior decor to the menu, is designed to give a sort of "down home" rustic feel. Unfortunately, it doesn't come at a very "down home" price. I thought the food was decent, but the menu is very limited. At $60 (including tax and tip) I didn't find it to be good value for the money when we got a fried crab po boy sandwich (with a very small serving of fries), 2 drinks, a small salad, and a couple of pretzel rolls. I'm not saying I left the place starving, but I didn't feel all that full after the meal, either. There are other restaurants I've been to where you pay a lot for not much food, but they, at least, make up for it by providing food that tastes outstanding. The Federal fell short of the mark. Service was friendly, but slow. I didn't think the time I waited for my sandwich was reasonable, and the waiter even apologized for the time it took. While I didn't think the place was terrible and I wouldn't say I had a bad experience, I think it would take a Miami Spice or some special event to get me to go back.

    (2)

  • jen r.

    i liked the federal, but i had high hopes of loving it. we made reservations for the same night, and thankfully we did bc it was a full house on a saturday night at 9pm. kinda hidden on biscayne in a strip mall next to a dunkin donuts. it is a really nice restaurant, while nothing fancy it is very homey and trendy. the service was spot on. but the food left me, eh, unimpressed. we had: cheese biscuits which we loved! pig wings which just didnt live up to the hype for me. maybe it was the blue cheese sauce or the extra spice they had going on. but i just didnt enjoy it. lamb burger was good but i wasnt blown away the fries had a peculiar taste - an herb, maybe rosemary!? i wasnt digging that either. bananas foster cream pie was out of this world! they have a great beer and wine list. and again the service and ambiance were exceptionally good. i would probably check it out again, but i sadly wont be running back.

    (3)

  • Amanda G.

    SO delicious! And the service was great as well. We ordered a bunch of dishes, perfect for sharing, and were completely satisfied. What was ordered: the brussel sprouts, mac n cheese (not too overbearing at all, as many restaurants like to do it), burger, nuggets, truffle "dumplings" (more like a spaetzle), lobster couscous, pork steak (WHICH WAS ONE OF THE BEST I'VE EVER TASTED as it was almost like the texture of a tender brisket, not to mention it came with delicious mashed potatoes that had a smoky flavor, great pairing), smokey fried chicken Everything was absolutely delicious and had so much flavor. The place was charming and rustic in a hip way. Our waitress, Emily, was beyond charming. She was extremely kind and patient. Not to mention, she was set on making sure it was a great dining experience for us, especially since it was our first time. And, the final bill was very fair (hard to get when a family of six is out eating good food). Definitely will be returning!

    (5)

  • Nicholas M.

    At this point, I've been to this restaurant a few times and it never disappoints. Most recently I took an entire group of people there that had never been before and they all loved it!! The food is amazing and filling and the service was delightful. Brunch is stellar here as well. I can't wait to return....Absolute stand outs are the jar o' duck, the mac n' cheese and the hamburger.

    (5)

  • A P.

    A friend I sent was there last week (not a Sunday) and it seems they messed things up. The lamb burger was not up to snuff and the pork wing was dry and precooked. Com'on guys, don't embarrass me....

    (2)

  • Seth R.

    Phenominal!! Buffalo pig, beets, steak tartar, barrato, brussel sprouts, mac n cheese, fried chicken, bizkit....all world class. Ordered 10 dishes for four people and it was more than enough. Sangria was great. Waitress fantastic. Chef is michellin class. Must go!!!!!

    (5)

  • Carlos C.

    Adventurous? Like biscuits? Duck? Game? If so, get your butt to The Federal. The menu changes frequently and I would certainly suggest listening to the server's suggestion (Johnny has never steered me wrong!). As far as starters are concerned you can't go wrong with the cheese biscuits and the Jar of Duck. These are staples and for good reason, they're awesome. Both items are on the brunch and dinner menu. As far as entrees are concerned I have to say go for the Spare Rib Pot Pie. The pastry was perfect and the meat, vegetables, and gravy were PERFECT. One of my companions had the Duck Confit which looked amazing (it must have been, the SOB didn't offer to share!) The menu is a bit eclectic but there are items there for the less adventurous. Brunch? Ha! Order lots of plates. The Federal has the best take on Banana's Foster French Toast I have ever had. Another revelation was the Jackalope Benedict, basically eggs Benedict with Rabbit & Venison Sausage instead of Ham. Wow. Make sure to save room for dessert. The only item I've tried is the S'mores and it is great so long as you are a chocolate lover. I saw someone here complain about the price and service. I have to strongly disagree. When compared to other area restaurants the food and service compare very favorably. In fact, The Federal seems to have hit the head on combining a casual atmosphere and young staff with friendly and attentive service. This is currently my favorite spot in Miami. As a professional fat-ass it says a lot about this place. Try it!

    (5)

  • Silvana G.

    Its not only that the food is amazing but the staff is even better ! Loved the place and the service made it so much better ! Thanks Misty :)

    (5)

  • Hung D.

    Great little neighborhood spot if you're lucky enough to live close by. The happy hour is a great time to try things on a budget. Great deals and the staff is super friendly and informative. If you are in to mixed drinks, the Drink Fairy will put you in an alcoholic coma. The grille is fired up on the weekends to expand the menu even further. Do yourself a favor and get the Buffalo Pig Wing, Federal Bacon and Biskit. You will not regret it, unless you don't eat pork. Even so, shame on you.

    (5)

  • James B.

    Fantastic spot, peaceful weekday dinner or their weekend all you can drink brunch. I wish I lived within walking distance, but this place is worth any drive. Great cocktails, draft beers and of course the food! Innovative menu with lots of complex flavors to satisfy any craving.

    (5)

  • R G.

    Very cozy place close to downtown. Service was excellent. The menu is very limited but full flavor and creativity. The BBQ deviled eggs with pulled pork were to die for. Mac and cheese, creamy and incredible. Pig wings caught me by surprise, just didn't know what to expect. They were delicious. The dirt cup dessert was so full of flavor that I had to ask what was in it. Plenty of craft beer and extensive wine list. Excellent little place.

    (5)

  • Jessica A.

    This place was recommended by a friend so we went in today for brunch. The menu works like tapas style each person picks a starter, 2 of the entrees and 1 sweet. This is perfect for friends and sharing. The menu was very good and everything was delicious. I will be back!

    (4)

  • Dre B.

    My meal here was great. Very large portions at my outdoor table of this very homely-feeling restaurant. The staff were all warm and smiling, with very attentive bus boys (too) ready to clear plates off the table. What grabbed my attention for The Federal was the brunch, however; haven't been in to try that yet.

    (5)

  • Danielle G.

    This was so worth the drive. Chill atmosphere, great music, wonderful cocktails . Jar 'o Duck - omg, if you don't love this then you are out of my circle of trust. Just had the best meal I've had out in so long.... Pig wings heaven on earth. I wish this was closer I'd be in here at least once a week. A great find.

    (4)

  • Melissa Ann H.

    Love this place! The service is always great and so is the food. Sunday brunch is the best! You have to try the "Wings & Waffles" and "Adult Slurpees" yum!

    (5)

  • Erin C.

    On a recent trip to Miami, my husband and I were very excited to try The Federal. It definitely lived up to my expectations! Aside from being located in a strip-mall on a busy road, the atmosphere inside is cool and cozy. We started with the Buffalo Pig Wing and the BBQ'd Deviled Eggs. I could have eaten an entire plate of the eggs myself, à la Ron Swanson. We also had the Beer Braised Florida Clams which were generous in size and really tasty, the South West Mac and Cheese, Brussels Sprouts, and "Chili & Fries." While everything was good, I was totally blown away by the deviled eggs and pig wing. Service was friendly and helpful, and we got everything we ordered in a very timely manner. I would definitely recommend to anyone living in or visiting the Miami area!

    (5)

  • Nicole R.

    Second time at the federal and Misty was awesome! The food amazing crab hash and Brussels sprouts yummmmm it's our weekend brunch spot $16 bottomless mimosas can't bet that!!! Love this spot Thanks everyone

    (5)

  • Aline C.

    Me and a friend decided to try the chef's tasting menu. It was good.. but not wow good. The dishes we tried were the mac and cheese, brussel sprouts, pig wing, jar o duck (meh), biscuit, fried chicken, key lime.. and one more pork dish I can't remember the name. By the time we got to the key lime pie I could not put anything else in my mouth. Oh boy, I so wished we had started with desert because it was delicious! My favorites were the fried chicken, the pig wing and key lime pie. I didn't care for the rest of the dishes. It was a lot of food for us, we only had a small taste of the last 3 dishes. The service was excellent, everyone very nice and attentive. I will go back and choose my own food next time. Oh and my cocktail was very good! It was a suggestion of the waiter, so I can't remember the name but I know it had ginger in it, refreshing.

    (4)

  • Michelle C.

    This place is pretty amazing! The food was delicious! On the special menu for st Patricks day, I had the green eggs and ham. Basically is was a croque Madame, with some greens on it! But none the less it was on point! The beer, the service, the atmosphere was great. My only complaint was the portion. There is nothing better than large portions after a night of drinking, and I just didn't get it. My boyfriend had the chicken and waffles, which of course was awesome as well. The portion just wasn't enough for his appetite! Will go back though!

    (4)

  • David P.

    Reserved here for a friends birthday and the whole time we were there it was like they were rushing our group of 15 out the door and we had to continuously ask for our mimosas to be refilled. One of our people didn't even get her food till everyone finished and it was an item like that which people had ordered in our group. Wasn't impressed. Not sure if I would recommend this to others with this experience.

    (2)

  • Brittney B.

    Decided to plan a ladies brunch here (party of 10) and it was a delicious success! Bottomless mimosas really never kept us waiting for a refill (bringing us more drinks even as we were closing our tabs) and complimentary snacks were varied and delicious (bean dip with chips and assorted pastries). Menu items are meant to be shared, which allows you try a variety of offerings. Favorites: lobster & biscuit, waffle with pork, and a sweeter waffle pairing that involved Nutella and/or chocolate & banana. Overall a tasty morning though we were left to figure out who ordered what once the food started coming out. Could've been helpful to plate separate items that were ordered on far ends of the table so we didn't have to divide it ourselves as each dish was brought out. Wouldn't have been an issue with a smaller party, but just an observation if you're thinking of planning a big group outing here. I would come back again :)

    (4)

  • russell k.

    Food was ok at best. The prices are obscene- expensive even for the beach, NYC or trendy LA. They measure your 1/2 carafe of wine like the airport bar, even though they are charging you a crazy premium. The place that was at this location (canellas ) before the food was just as good, the service was bad but equal to this and at least when you left you didn't feel like you were pick pocketed. If you are looking for pseudo trend, look no further. This place will be empty and gone in not too long as people will start to realize they are selling the emperors not so new clothes, and at Neiman Marcus prices. I would give the food 3 stars out of 5, limited drink menu and prices equal a 2, service with an attitude maybe a 1.5 so I feel like I am a bit generous with a 2 stars, there are for sure worse places in miami for sure- has the makings for a good place just overpriced and trying to be trendy

    (2)

  • Paul W.

    I came here on a recent Sunday for brunch; Pulling into the parking lot in front of this restaurant, one will notice right away that parking options here are limited. Most spaces on this small lot are marked as being reserved for patrons of other businesses in this building, the lot next door is marked for patrons of that particular plaza and warn that violators will be towed (though every store in that plaza next door is closed on Sundays). There is a valet available for $3, but personally I try and avoid valet when possible. It's not that I mind paying for it, but I'd rather be able to walk to my vehicle and leave when I'm ready, vs. waiting for 10 minutes or more for someone to fetch it for me. I'm told there is a lot in back that is used for both the valets and also for patrons to self-park if they wish to. There is seating available both inside and on the patio area out front. Inside, this place is a bit rustic, and it reminds me of one of my favorite cafe/restaurants that I used to visit often in Alaska: The cabinets along the back wall all have different old knobs on the doors and drawers, the wall length mirror on one wall has wooden shakes around it, as does the front of the bar on the other side of the dining area. There are stuffed and mounted deer and "jackelope" heads on the walls, giving this place a even more of a rustic feel. As was the case on the other visit I've made to this restaurant, we had a "pre-fixe" brunch menu that was arranged beforehand. We were able to go to The Federal's website, find the listing for this event and reserve a spot to attend, and pre-pay the $20 price + $3 tip via Pay Pal. Unlimited mimosas were available for $16. The meal was served family style, and included their Grits & 'Schrooms, Graceland's French Toast, Pumpkin Flapjack, Cheese Biskit and their Jar-O-Duck. They also served a few different items for desert. Everything was very good, I left here full and satisfied but not stuffed, which is a good thing, and after having been here for brunch on a few occasions, I definitely plan to return here for lunch or dinner sometime soon, as I'd like to try some of the offerings on their regular menu. That being said, as other reviewers have mentioned, their menu does appear to be a bit limited, and I hope the taste and quality of the food will be worthy of the prices listed.

    (3)

  • Nicole W.

    First--the waitstaff at this restaurant was extremely friendly. My boyfriend and I were first timers to Miami from New York, so we asked the waitress for some recs in the neighborhood. She then wrote down a list of local go-to spots, and consulted with another waiter who greeted us and added to our already perfect list. Attentive, friendly, and knowledgable. Second---the food. Had chicken and waffles, steak and eggs, and a giant biscuit. Portions were pretty huge, but delicious. If I lived in Miami, I'd make this a regular brunch spot.

    (4)

  • William O.

    The Federal now offers brunch on Sundays, and if I loved this place before, I'm freaking nuts about it now. This last Sunday --- 3/18/2012 --- was the brunch's first time being served, so had I walked out of there with a complaint or two, it wouldn't be a real knock on the Federal. I mean, there's really no way to prepare for every contingency. That being said, I want to say that, except for a shortage of orange juice, the entire meal was a success. First thing of note is that you can have unlimited mimosas for fourteen bucks. UNLIMITED. I really don't have to expound on the awesomeness of this offering. I of course started my meal with the cheese biscuits, which were absolutely spectacular and even had a little kick to them. (The kick wasn't present last time.) I think they may have added some pepper to the batter. It was a very welcome surprise. As a main dish, I ordered the Federal's version of Eggs Benedict, and, at the risk of sounding hyperbolic, I want to say that these were the best Eggs Benedict I've ever had. Ever. The egg was perfectly poached, (Which is a FEAT in and of itself. I mean, a poached egg is just a sexy thing.) and it sat atop rabbit & venison sausage (instead of a piece of ham) and a cheese biscuit (instead of the usual English muffin). The sausage is what made this dish unlike any other. It was RIDICULOUS. Friends, I'm telling you... get over to the Federal next Sunday and treat yourselves to what I mentioned above. You won't regret it. At all. And, last but not least, the service was, once again, spectacular. Beth is one of the coolest waitresses I've ever had serve me. I'm asking to be seated in her section again next time. No way am I leaving that up to chance.

    (5)

  • Ing C.

    Everyone was telling us to go to the Federal. We finally went and the service was absolutely awful. We had to wait a while just for our water, and even longer for our food which we got at different times. My boyfriend had to watch me eat my food. After eating, we (naturally) wanted to leave... But we couldnt... Because there was no waiter in sight. After what seemed like 20 minutes, I asked one of the bus staff (the only one around) to give us our check he said "I'm not your server" I said "yea I know could you let our server know that we would like the check?" He said "sure, let me finish doing what I'm doing"....he proceeded to place forks on the napkins of all the surrounding EMPTY tables, which only further frustrated me because I just wanted to leave and had already spent too much time sitting and waiting. We were finally able to ask our waiter for the check. He left, then returned to our table and said "I'll get you more water"....I seriously thought it was all a joke. I waited for someone to pop out of the bushes and exclaim that i was on a hidden camera show! But nothing....It was like the waiter wanted us to stay all day... Sitting there, abducted....Which was weird. I made a comment to my boyfriend (probably something snarky and fueled with rage) and a table nearby who had been sitting there waiting a while ALSO, heard me. The girl turned to us and asked about our experience and we told them. They didn't even want to be there any more after waiting so long just for the water that never arrived, so they ran away. Wish I had been able to do that too. Ridiculous. Never going back there again.

    (1)

  • Johnny T.

    I wasn't at all fair to The Federal. Everyone I knew was singing its praises. It was tucked in a strip mall in the Mimo district. There was valet parking. All three of these elements gave me some pause and I hesitated to rush here as soon as I could. That was a mistake on my part. A big mistake. The Federal is doing most everything right. I can't quite figure out its point of view. Is it rustic? Is it traditional? Is it Southern? Who knows. What I *do* know? It's good. It's really good. Let's stop beating around the bush: duck in a jar. People, you can order duck in a freaking JAR! Game over. Yes, there are high wood beams. Yes, there are good beer pours. Yes, it's good for groups. But all these things pale in the face of duck in a jar. Duck is my favorite of fowl. It's dark, rich, fatty meat is always a welcome change to the tired chicken and oft-too-dry turkey. All this delectable meat to a jar and add in sweet potatoes and marshmallows? I'm ready to put a ring on it. I rued my delay of eating here as soon as I scooped the good stuff on to some bread. Usually, it's a wise move to be like me. In this case, don't be like me. Come here as soon as you can. The southern comfort doesn't end there. The honey biscuits and shrimp & grits are as welcome here as they are in most any Nashville establishment in which you'd find yourself. I was shocked at how good I found these down home delights. Who knew? Only a whole bunch of y'all. I didn't stop at the usual suspects. Big plates of ribs (with bacon, onions and mushrooms; I don't eat beef and I was fending off others at my table who dared try to eat some of this beefy goodness), chicken and fish (served that night with black beans) got in my belly as ruby red grapefruit beer washed everything down. The longer my butt was on that wooden seat the more I wondered why my head has previously taken up residence there. The menu changes often but the quality of food does not (I am sure). Undoubtedly, you've heard good things. These are all for a reason. Come here. Come here now.

    (4)

  • Sergio S.

    Wow, what a disaster. From the parking to the bill we had problems at every possible corner... We went on Tuesday for Crawfish night. My Wife and I were very excited and drove up from South Miami just for the Crawfish... We should have stayed in, because this was by far one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had in this city. The service was terrible. I mean TERRIBLE. Now, living in Miami all my life I do not have high expectations for service, but I have NEVER been treated like this before! Highlights: - Parking is a disaster - Service is horrendous... after being seated for 10 minutes without our waiter coming by we had to flag down the hostess to order a drink. This was the theme of the night. Anytime we wanted ANYTHING (water, drinks, food) we had to flag someone down. - No Crawfish... they were out of crawfish by 8pm! Mind you they open at 6pm and this is CRAWFISH NIGHT! - No Entree.... after we finished the appetizers the waiter cleaned our table and handed us the dessert menu, now this was only odd b/c we still hadn't received our entree..!! We cancelled the entree and asked for the bill. - Bill was wrong... when it finally came they overcharged us on our drinks by 20%!! We had to have the bill corrected. Waiter never tried to apologize for anything. - The food?? It was decent but overshadowed by the poor, poor service.

    (1)

  • Patrick L.

    I have had the famous, perhaps now even mythical, pineapple upside down cake. It's phenomenal. The brains and talent behind this operation, Aniece and Cesar, share my dislike of overly sweet, uncomplicated desserts, and that mindset is in evidence with the Federal's sweets. On a subsequent visit, I tried a plum cobbler, and it was still satisfying, even if it wasn't on quite the same level as that pineapple cake. Yes, this is the first time I've started a restaurant review with dessert - think I'll just do this one from end to start. I hate to hype up the pineapple upside down cake even more, because now whenever they do have it, everyone and their grandmother is going to rush over and order it. Oops, changed my mind. The pineapple upside down cake sucks. It's horrible. In fact, I'm still washing that filth from my mouth over a month later. Do not order! Please? Beyond dessert, I've had a few things, most notably the lamb shank, and roasted Cornish game hen from the "Big 'Uns" section of the menu. The delectable, juicy lamb fell off the bone nicely, and it was served on a bed of rutabaga mash. The highlight of the Cornish hen entree was the cornbread-fennel stuffing - indeed, with the tart compote and mini-hen with the perfectly caramelized skin, this whole dish tasted like a very rustic Thanksgiving dinner, maybe something along the lines of how I'd imagine a Thanksgiving in Roanoke, VA, circa 1865 was. For starters, I find the mussel pot tough to beat. The mussels are steamed in a broth using a stout-style beer, which gives the broth (to me) a more interesting earthy dimension than if it had used some generic fizzy yellow lager. I only wish the bread provided with the dish had been a little more effective at sopping up the broth; it was a tad on the crusty side throughout. The Jar-O-Duck is, quite literally, a jar of duck. It comes with candied sweet potato and lightly burnt marshmallow - spread, mix, match. And, oh yeah - lest you thought Ani & Cesar were ignoring the pork, the Crispy Pig Ears, a signature dish from both Phuc Yea and the Blue Pig (errr, Piano) make an appearance at the Fed in somewhat more hearty form alongside a duck egg and pumpkin mash. Although I haven't yet had them, I also hear the "pig wings" are excellent. I've not yet seen the new beer and wine menus, but I trust they are well-cultivated. I think I'm really looking forward to plopping down in "my spot" at the bar, near the old-school Bayer and "Heroin" ads, and raising a classic Prohibition-era cocktail or two in silent thanks to the bootleggers and speakeasies that kept this most basic, elemental human pleasure alive during the Dark Days. Death to the Anti-Saloon League, bathtub gin and moonshine for everyone!

    (5)

  • Jess W.

    4.5 stars! If you're looking for a casual restaurant in Miami serving up sharable comfort food, The Federal is your spot! What went in my belly: Jumbo Cheese Biskits - Vermont butter, honey apple cider glaze ($5 each). Pricey yes, but they were light, fluffy, moist and a great way to start off the meal. I wish they were a little cheesier since they are called "cheese" biskits but nevertheless still delicious. Jar O' Duck - with charred fluff, candied sweet potato ($12): Spread over a crostini and paired with a bit of charred marshmallow fluff for some sweetness, it was a delightful bite. Buffalo Style Pig Wing - with blue cheese mousse, pickled carrots & celery ($6): came with one meaty "wing". I believe it was braised shank meat which was moist, tender and crisp on the exterior resembling a fried buffalo wing. While good, it wasn't my favourite dish of the evening. A little pricey too. Steak Tartare - chipotle, honey jalapeno, quail egg, crispy onions ($12). It wasn't a boring steak tartare at all. The flavour was on the sweet side from the honey and had just the right amount of kick to it. With a bit of the crisp onions, it was a perfect little bite. I've got nothing but love for this steak tartare! South West Mac & Cheese - three cheeses, roasted pablanos, chipotle biskit crumbs ($9). Still dreaming about this! Very cheesy and had the perfect bit of kick. Mac & cheese for grown ups. Wet Fries - with smoked chicken, bbq, Monterey jack cheese & cilantro ranch ($12): They were ridiculous! The bbq sauce was sweet, tangy and simply perfection. From now on, I want all my fries served "wet" Federal Lamb Burger - Monterey jack, grilled pickled onions, pretzel bun and fries ($17): We added a duck egg for an extra $2.50 cause why not, right? It was a damn good burger. Crispy Brussels Sprouts - molasses vinaigrette, sweet and sour apples ($7): Ridiculously addictive. Jar O'Smore - dark chocolate pudding, graham crackers and charred marshmallow fluff ($8). A great way to end the meal! Great vibe, awesome servers and most importantly, fantastic food!

    (4)

  • Paul M.

    The mad scientists from Phuc Yea have done it again. We came here on a Saturday night and this place was slammed - every table inside and out taken and people 2 deep at the bar. The only place to park was valet and he generously offered to park my car up front for $20 (no thanks). We hit the bar for a bit while we waited for a table. The bartender/host was very friendly and they have a pretty good selection of beers and wine. He steered us away from the vermouth cocktails as he agreed they were pretty weak. The wait time was incredibly long - they were unable to sit us despite some tables being open since the kitchen was swamped. Once we were seated and the food started coming we quickly forgot our wait time. The jar of duck is amazing - an absolutely decadent sweet/savory spread of duck and sweet potato. Definitely order extra bread as you want to lick this jar clean. As amazing as this was, even better was the sweetbread biscuits and gravy. ARE YOU PHUC-ING KIDDING? Even non-sweetbread lovers will think this dish is awesome - each bit of sweetbread bringing tender incredible flavor with each bite. The pig wings were also good but the biscuits were the star of the show. For mains they were out of the pot pie so we had the duck confit and lamb burger. The duck confit was very good, but having just had the most amazing duck confit ever at DB Bistro Moderne a couple of weeks before as a benchmark did not help. The lamb burger was huge, juicy, and delicious. Overall: Pros: THE FOOD!! Pretty good Beer & Wine selection Very friendly service Casual atmosphere Oh GOD THE FOOD!! Cons: No full bar- vermouth cocktails only Service a little slow (it was packed though) Kitchen - unable to seat full restaurant A/C - venue is kind of hot inside No reservations - long wait time If they can get the seating situation taken care of this would easily be a 5 star joint! I would highly suggest going here early or during the week as this place gets nuts.

    (4)

  • Megan M.

    My friend and I came to The Federal on a Saturday afternoon for brunch. I had been here twice in the past but my friend had never been. She really wanted to try this restaurant and thought it was fabulous that they offered bottomless mimosa's for $18 so obviously that is what we started with. I loved that our waiter made the mimosa's to taste because I don't like too much orange juice in mine. We sat outside and were able to enjoy the weather. For food, we opted to share a couple of things- the buttermilk biscuit (HUGE!), the breakfast BLT and the crab roll. The buttermilk biscuit is just as amazing as everyone describes it with honey butter on top. The breakfast BLT was probably the best of the 3 in my opinion- fresh vegetables and a huge slab of REAL (not Oscar Mayer) bacon! The crab roll was good... but I guess we thought would be different- this one comes out like more like a ' crab salad' on a buttered bun as a traditional lobster roll would. For dessert we shared the frozen key lime pie that was flambe-ed to perfection at the table. All in all, I loved the meal and MUST come back and try dinner- they started the smoker as we were leaving to 'start cooking supper' and it smelled phenomenal. You all must check out The Federal!

    (5)

  • Gabriella A.

    I went this past Sunday for brunch, and I must day from all the "great" rumors I've heard about this place it was ok. The service was the biggest turn off. My party ordered way before the one next to us, and well they got served and left before we could finish our main meal. Our main course was served before our appetizers.....that's a big no no, and I know plenty would agree. A couple times we saw the food runner with our order, walk by us as lost as can be with our food...he'd walk outside and return to us. The food was tasty, and I did like the set menu options.On another note, if you do plan to go, I recommend (I hope you don't receive the same service I did) the Wild Mushroom Ragu accompanied with a toast and poached egg, was great, and the bottomless mimosas

    (3)

  • Grant R.

    Unfortunately, this place gets worse and worse. Regardless of the $19 bottomless mimosas, you could not drink enough to disregard the horrible service we had. Do not bother making a reservation because we had to wait 40 minutes after our scheduled reservation to sit. When we finally sat down, the waiter came to the table 20 minutes later. The order was incorrect but they did compensate with a free appetizer. The food is good but the service is poor.

    (1)

  • MICHELLE C.

    What is not to love about "The Federal"? After reading Tom and Vanessa's amazing reviews I could not wait to check it out. Also, I was told Aniece was part of it, and let me tell you anything she touches is magical. She thrives with perfection for Customer Service, and then creates a menu that is unique in it's own. It is hard for me to give five star's unless I really think every part of my meal is properly executed, and it was. I bought my own wine in which they chilled for me. From the moment we sat down the service was impeccable. Starters: Mussels and cheese biscuits with a side of creamy soft butter. Hubby devoured the mussels so quickly I barely got to taste one, but I did and they were very good. The broth had great flavor, I would have preferred some white wine in it but it was still great. Hubby used the shell to scoop up every last drop and of course wore a bit on his shirt. The biscuits were huge, hot and oh my I am not usually a biscuit person but wow these were excellent. Disclaimer, no way could you eat more than one, they are quite filling. Two come per order. Next I ordered the special for the night that was a pot pie with short ribs carrots, etc... hubby chose a sausage that was delicious on top of mashed potatoes puree with such a fabulous taste from all the seasonings combined. Both of our dishes were fantastic. The best way to describe it is pure COMFORT food at it's best! Feeling a bit of a chill in our otherwise perfect paradise, feeling blue, heck come here and eat. I guarantee this place can make anyone happy, with options to please from meat, fish, etc.. They were out of the famous pineapple upside down cake in which I am still dreaming about. Thanks Tom W. ha ha Seriously! Oh I will be back again and again, it is comfortable, great simple tropical decor, low lights, outside seating, excellent service and food. Congrats Aniece and the two very nice owner's that we met on our way out. You will do great and we look forward to supporting you. See you soon, please have my pineapple upside cake. :)

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    Another big hit from Cesar Zapata and company. I was a huge fan of their pop up, Phuc Yeah, and I was excited to try this place when I learned that I would be returning to Miami. So this place has been on my radar for awhile now, and I figured I would give it a shot as my birthday dinner. I'm glad I did because the food is superb. We started out by having the Mac and cheese. It had smoked poblanos, and three cheeses and was covered with a delicious crunchy tipping of bread crumbs. It was a great Mac and cheese. I believe they used goat cheese which gave it a really unique, nice flavor. For my entree, I had the pork chop which was smoked and served with Brussels sprouts, sweet potato hash and a little bit of sausage. It was a very good dish. The chop had a great smokey flavor. Almost like something you'd get in a good BBQ spot. I also had more than a few bites of the lamb burger which was topped with a duck egg and served on a pretzel bun with some of the most delicious mustard I have ever tried. Fantastic. Finished off the meal with their peanut butter and jelly dessert which was also very good. It was served in a glass jar and at first I wasn't 100% clear as to how to eat it, but I just dug in and things worked out nicely. Also worth noting, they serve this delicious food on Shoneys plates which I thought was really funny. It was less than $75 for all this great stuff too which is a deal. Hats off again to the folks behind this place. You've got a winner here...

    (5)

  • Ingrid R.

    I went for brunch. Luckily, I snagged one of the few parking spots in the plaza so I didn't have to pay the $3 for valet, which would have been a turn off for me. My friends and I ordered several plates to share so here's my take on all of them: Jar 'O Duck - delicious and worth the visit! Challah banana's foster french toast - the sauce and toppings were good but the actual bread was pretty dry inside. Definitely no where near being considered bad ass french toast. Eggs Benedict with pork belly - severely underwhelming and the pork belly was inedible. Pretzel bread - I'm not a fan of pretzels but they were decent and the mustard sauce it comes with is SPICY! I loved the mustard but if you're considering ordering some, taste it before smothering it on the bread. Chorizo and sweet potato hash - FIRE! A really good side to order if you like the main ingredients. Some fried egg dish that I can't recall the name of - boring. All in all, the experience was nice, the service was great but I don't think I'll be rushing back to The Federal anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Andres U.

    Don't know why we keep trying... Real fatty (as in barely any actual meat in bacon) food. Sloooooooow service. Don't believe the hype I guess. Weird, since yelp is not usually wrong.

    (1)

  • Alex M.

    This place is a scam. I've never been so dissatisfied with a brunch for $90 in my life. (Two people). The service is the absolute worst. Beginning with the manager who is dying to kick you right out after your last bite. Advertises $18 a piece bottomless mimosas but serves just two throughout your whole meal. Acts as if she's is "hooking you up" by giving you one more after saying something. The food was just "alright". Other places around town have the same cuisine for a lot less and with a better atmosphere. Don't be fooled.

    (1)

  • Rich H.

    Hospitality issues: Upon arrival at the half-empty restaurant the slow, unfriendly hostess kept us standing at the door for a long time, preferring to visit with seated guests. When I asked her if there was a convenient place to park without using the restaurant's valet service (which had blocked nearby parking spaces!), she replied "valet is not expensive," and this neighborhood is not very "kosher" for parking. TIP: Later we learned there is abundant free parking in the lot right behind the restaurant. Why didn't the hostess deign to tell us that? Happily service provided by the waiter at our patio table was super-friendly and professional. He thoroughly made up for the off-putting attitude of his colleague, which made us consider leaving. Seeing the great reviews, we tried "jar o duck." It didn't work for us. The duck itself was a stringy mash with a seasoning that competed with the duck's own flavor. The accompanying blob of sweet marshmallow made matters worse, though my companion thought it could be saved for a decent desert. Three quarter-sized slices of sweet potato and dry, tastless toasted baguette pieces were a waste of time. Bottom line: this is a gimmicky dish that doesn't deliver. Crispy brussels sprouts were the highlight of the meal. They were fried to crispy perfection and unexpectedly but brilliantly accompanied by pickled pearl onions. And the portion was huge, too! Sadly the charred octopus was another enticing menu option that, in reality, failed. The marinated octopus was soggy and lacked the crispness it should have had off the grill. Accompanying chopped peanuts, spelt and cranberries made the dish a ridiculous mish-mash of misfit ingredients. Bottom line: Federal has an innovative-looking menu that creates expectations, but at least the items we tried were a disappointing let-down. Plus the hostess needs to take the Hospitality 101 course.

    (2)

  • Netty D.

    I wanted to LOVE this place but I'm sad to say that I didn't. I am really just chocking this up to an "off" night because it consistently gets great reviews. This restaurant is in an unassuming location - a strip mall on Biscayne blvd and 51st street. The parking lot holds maybe, 40 cars max and the neighboring Dunkin Donuts commands 50% of those spots. There is no self parking option - valet is a must. It's only $3, but the valet literally takes your car and parks it in the spot you're already standing in - it's that silly. The restaurant itself has a vintagey garage sale feel; it's a small space with low lighting and mason jars with candles on the tables. There is an optional outdoor eating area but because they're working with space constraints, you're basically sitting on the parking lot, with a view of the parking lot if you choose to eat here. I give them credit for a very efficient use of "working w/ what you've got." The best part about this place is the waitstaff and management. By far, the friendliest, most engaging and attentive restaurant employees in Miami. Every single person was so nice and attentive. It's disappointing that the meal was not equally as inviting :( We started off our meal with the Jar O Duck which the waiter said was "amazing." The menu describes it as "candied sweet potato, charred fluff, slow cooked Hudson Valley duck." I guess the description leaves a lot to the imagination, but I thought we were going to get actual pieces of duck. The dish is actually a ramekin (not jar) sized portion of duck paste served with crunchy slices of bread, and marshmallow fluff that you can spread over your bread. Not what I had in mind. The duck was not really an appealing texture or temperature, it was served at room temp. Second item we ordered was the crab dip. I generally love crab in whatever shape or form; not this one. Served in the same ramekin that the duck comes in, this was served at room temp also and with the same crunchy bread. It is served on a cutting board that had slices of celery, radish and carrot for dipping. The crab tasted rancid/sour to me. Perhaps this is the "bourbon redux"? Third item - cheese biscuits. These hold true to their fame - delicious and large, herby and doughy. Favorite item on the menu. 2 large rolls to an order. Still wanting to love our meal, we ordered the Pan Roasted Airline Chicken Breast and the Clams. The chicken was served on some tasty greens mixed with cornbread. The cornbread itself was soggy in some instances and hard/chewy in others - gross! It tasted as if it was old and out of a box. The chicken tasted good with a good bacony flavor. I thought it was well seasoned. The clams had good flavor and the broth was tasty. I'm told that the menu options change often, so we may have just not ordered the great items - or not had the chance to get the right dishes because they weren't offered on Saturday night. Also, NO MIAMI SPICE menu on Saturday night.

    (2)

  • Faby P.

    I've been here twice and that's only because I'm a Kendallian and the drive kinda sucks, but man is it worth it! First time was for dinner: We looked through the menu and were a bit bamboozled - so much to choose from! We decided to start with the Cheese Biskits, the Shrimp & Grits and the Jar-O-Duck. The Biskits were huge. Big, fluffy, soft, doughy delicousness covered in melted cheese, honey and coarse salt bits. The dough had a rich buttermilky taste, and the melted cheese added to the indulgence. It came with a side of Vermont butter which added the perfect touch of silky moisture and hint of buttery flavor. The Shirmp & Grits were out of control. Chunky, thick meaty pieces of Creole style shrimp laid upon a fluffy yet very crisp bed of cheesy grits. The greens on the side were awesome - and I hate greens. They were leafy but perfectly wilted and seasoned delicately. It came in a hot skillet which made the bottom crisp the grits giving it nice texture. Now - the star of the show. A nice guy who works here said "get the duck, it changed my life." I am all for trying new things, however myhusband isn't as daring and shot me a "you're on your own" look. The Jar-O-Duck is accompanied by crisp slices of toast, caramelized sweet potato and a dash of perfectly charred marshmallow fluff. I layered on the duck, a bit of sweet potato, and smothered it with the fluff as instructed by the lady (chef?) who brought it out. Holy Moses. This eclectic mix of flavors - all so different but so perfect together - sent my tastebuds and all senses over the edge. The duck was so tasty, the sweet potato and marshmallow brought everything together so perfectly, and the toast added a nice crisp touch even though it's purpose is to serve as a vessel for the masterpiece that is the combination of these items. After nagging enough, I finally got my husband try it and before I knew it, he was spreading duck like a mad man saying "look what you got me doing." He loved it so much he said "this could be dessert," to which I quickly replied "yes, it could.... but it's not." If the food is this good I didn't want to even fathom the thought of skipping dessert here. After much consideration we decided to skip the main course and go straight for dessert. My heart ached as I grieved the desire of devouring their lamb burger, but I was so full I knew I would'nt enjoy dessert if I had another savory morsel. We decided to shoot for the Banana Bread Pudding. This dessert was excellent - not too sweet, not mushy, good firm texture drenched in a creamy sauce and caramel. It came topped with chocolate chips which melted in my mouth and chunks of fresh, sweet banana. Awesomeness at it's best. Second time around I went for a beer pairing event which was equally awesome. This time I had the jar of rabbit (that's not what it's called, but ask and you shall receive) which was also pretty amazing. We also had crispy beef which is tripe - sounds crazy, but it was crazy good. We had the pork shank which was amazingly tender and juicy and sat on top of a little bean salad that was pure madness. Speaking of madness, red velvet bread pudding sent this meal out with a bang. The pairings were on point. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Sabrina L.

    Came here for a beer tasting hosted by our very own Patrick L. Even though I am a newbie at this, I really did enjoy trying different beers. The staff was great, very polite and accommodating. Since I was hungry, I decided to order the Shrimp cocktail and the cheese platter. Those shrimps were huge! and the cheese platter came with whole wheat raisin bread that was so tasty. Loved the ambiance...expect for those creepy rabbit heads on the wall....but hey....to each its own.

    (4)

  • Brian L.

    15 words or less: If the founding fathers cooked like this, the whole world would be eating "American" cuisine. 15 words or more: This casual comfort food mecca located in a strip mall is just splendid. While it seems to go for a northern pro-union feel, the cooking seems to lean more toward southern. Who cares. It is fantastic and you would be crazy to not be stocking up on the tasty provisions here. If I had to have two gripes it would be the fact that we called to get a reservations, were told reservations were not accepted, and then showed up and asked if we had a reservation. Apparently the place now takes reservations so the staff answering the phones need to iron out this issue. The other gripe would be a liquor license. The place only offers wine and beer. This place just screams to me as a place that would would offer whiskey, bourbon, and old school cocktails or punches. And I just am not a fan of paying $10 for a bottle of beer or $25 for a pint of beer. But these are minor trifles as the food is just great and the service was pleasant and attentive. For our meal, we had a number of the small plates, shared two big plates, had a few sides, and two desserts. Pig wings: Two Buffalo-style "chicken" wings made out of pork. The pork pulled clean off the bone and was delicious. The buffalo sauce is spicy so those with spice issues should beware There are shavings of vegetables that come on top of the wings. They are not just garnish and should not be ignored. Cheese biskits: Flakey, warm, cheesy, salty, smokey. It is an umami experience and just great to share (2 large biscuits come to an order). Jar o duck: My favorite of the starters. A jar of cold duck and fat served with warm toasted bread, a fluff, and candied sweet potatoes. The sides that go with the duck are great, but totally unnecessary because the duck and fat spread on the toast is just so good on its own. Make sure to immediately order more toast as you will need a few more pieces. Lamb burger: The lamb was tender and full of lamb flavor. There was no hiding anything and that is the way it should be. I would certainly have been happy just to eat the burger by myself if I was not sharing. Yellow tail special: We had a fish special that was simply prepared. The skin was crispy on what ended up being a surprisingly large piece of fish. The dish was good, albeit plain, and offers a nice balance of feeling like you are eating something a little healthy. French fries with egg: You need to break up the yolk and get it all over the fries. It adds a real element of flavor that that provided a real twist on what is standard fare. I enjoyed the dish overall but did find some of the fries were overcooked to the point that they were tough to eat. Creamed collard greens: I am not a fan in general of collard greens so I can't tell you if they are good or bad. Banana bread pudding: I did not try this dessert but those eating with me raved of how good it was. It did look good, particularly as it did not appear to be a big lump on a plate or overly heavy as some bread puddings can get. Jar o smores: A small jar of what seemed to be chocolate pudding with marsh mellow on top and three graham crackers. A pass for me. The dish was cold and I just think needs to come warm. Plus, the marsh mellow was not nearly warm or crispy or gooey enough. Overall, I really like this place, its vibe, and its food. I will certainly return. If you go, don't work a plaid shirt. You may get confused as one of the staff.

    (5)

  • Shoshana K.

    I am surprised to be reading that people enjoyed the service and waitstaff at this restaurant. We just got back from dining there today and had ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE SERVICE. The food was good, but we were treated so terribly - ignored sometimes even - that I would not go back. I could get food I liked just as much as what I had here at someplace like Yardbird on South Beach or even Pub Belly has better service (different food, but similar style restaurant). But this review is not about those restaurants.... When we showed up they were not crowded. It appeared several tables were reserved but there were some open spots so they told us they would be able to accomodate us. We were asked if we would like a beverage which came about 5 minutes after we sat down, fine, and then when we were ready to order, it wasn't until 15 minutes after we were siting there that they came by. After asking a runner to get our waiter, we noticed they took several orders IN FRONT OF US for parties that were seated AFTER WE ARRIVED. This was extremely rude. Our food came out hot which was good. The eggs benedict was the best dish by far. The pumpkin pancake was good too. Don't get the baked eggs - these were bad. I think the feeling we left with was stunned at how slow and exclusive the service was. Several parties who came in after we did were served before us and got their bills before ours. When I go out to eat at a restaurant like this, I except to have decent service and this was not what we paid for.

    (2)

  • Jay H.

    An unexpected disappointment from start to finish. Things got off to a shaky start when we arrived. They politely explained that there was an event scheduled inside, but we were welcomed to sit on the patio. Not a problem, especially given the lovely weather that evening. They should have also told us then and there that the menu was extra limited due to said event, but that wasn't mentioned until after we were seated and served water. Sure they were friendly, but I found that a little deceitful. We thought about returning on another night, but just decided to stick it out considering everything on the menu was regularly available, thus we could get an accurate representation of the food. We opted for the roasted beet salad to start; this was mistake number one. The Federal's take on a beet salad was surprisingly amateur. When you order a beet salad, it should be mainly comprised of (surprise, surprise), beets. This is especially true considering the $12 price tag for a small, tapas style portion. We were served a bunch of lettuce with just a few beets and pecans hiding here and there. It wasn't bad, just stupidly misleading, and for lack of a better word, beet-less. For "main courses" we went for the lamb burger (add quail egg for $2) and the chicken with spinach and sausage. The burger was decent, the chicken dish was cooked well, but unremarkable in taste. The main problem here is just that the prices don't match up in any way what-so-ever. This is a $20 burger, folks. Twenty bucks gets you a burger with what may as well be a shot glass full of french fries. In the end, our tab for two was over $60, and that's without ordering any drinks or dessert. I really am surprised with all this hype. It was by no means a disaster, but they could definitely use a lot of work in and out of the kitchen.

    (2)

  • Camila N.

    I finally was able to go to the Federal last night, and it definitely did NOT disappoint. Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall, my group sat outside and got to enjoy a breezy April Miami night. We arrived around 8:30PM and were expecting the restaurant to be full, which was not the case. Chalk it up to Good Friday. There were a lot of things on the menu that we wanted to try, so we decided to order a lot of things, tapas-style, so we would get to taste everything. First up, the cheese biskits are, in the words of our waiter, "life changing". Actually, though. Huge flaky biscuits with melted cheddar cheese and sweet butter - just doesn't get any better than that. We also got the much talked about jar o'duck, which comes with toast, duck pate, marshmallow fluff and sweet potato. This stuff shouldn't taste good together, but does. We also had the townpark fries, which come with an egg on top. Fries + egg always works, and was one of my favorites. The 3 tomato salad and mussels we had were also good. We sampled the short rib wellington pot pie special which had lots of vegetables and was topped off with a delicious croissant-style crust. To finish off our meal, we tried the s'mores and the strawberry cheesecake, rumored to be the original cheesecake recipe from the Fountainbleau hotel. I usually gravitate towards chocolate desserts, but in this case, I really really liked the cheesecake. Overall, the ambiance was really nice. Our waiter(s) were super attentive and nice and the owner came over and checked up on us, and she is great. My group commented more than once that it was not a typical Miami scene, which was appreciated. Will definitely be frequenting this place in the future!

    (4)

  • Natascha O.

    Should have written this review during opening week but wanted to give myself couple of more tries just to see if it would hold to 5-star WOW status! ... YES, it did! The Federal is like a drug ... you wish you could have it all the time and dream about the delish plates when you are awake and when you are asleep - "Foodgasm, anyone?" The atmosphere and the food experience is amazing! You feel like you are in a South Carolina cabin, eating with your family a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner every single time! Yes, definitely go with a group and share - best way to experience the diverse comfort food menu! Do I start with the pig ears or the pork rillette - both excellent! Continue with the Short-Rib Wellington Pot Pie and the Wild Boar Sausage - sharing portions indeed! Pace yourself / you would want to have space for dessert and definitely ask Aniece for the wine selection - she is the best to give you advice on what to have with dinner! Congrats to The Federal team of "Federalists" - You are in my dreams all the time ;)

    (5)

  • Nicol S.

    This is a pretty cool little place. I loved the ambiance and the lamb burger was outrageously good. The duck in jar was on the money too. Unfortunately, their cheese biscuits were awful. I had a Southern Granny and consider myself an authority on good biscuits. These were the opposite. Huge dry rocks of dough with a square of cheese melted on top. Usually cheese biscuits have cheese baked into them not melted on top. I enjoyed the ambiance and space of the restaurant. My wife and I went with a couple of friends and we were able to converse and enjoy each other's company without yelling. The waiter was great and really helpful. I will certainly go back soon.

    (4)

  • Seth W.

    I've been to The Federal twice. We had great service both times. The first time we ordered from the Tasting Menu. We expected a broad and varied sampling of menu offerings, but that's not how it worked. We simply ordered from the menu and shared the standard-sized dishes, which we would've done anyway. The ONLY difference is that by mentioning "Tasting Menu", we paid about 50% more than we would have. I don't know if it was a mis-understanding on the part of the server or the mgt, but I wouldn't recommend that strategy to anyone. The Crawfish and Grits was outstanding. We enjoyed Brussel Sprout and Mac & Cheese. We were underwhelmed by the Lobster CousCous. On my second visit, I ordered Clams, which were ridiculously large, tough and un-appetizing. In fact, the size of those clams alone was enough for me to drop a star from my review. I will go back, but I doubt I'll ever order from the Tasting Menu again, and the next time I see a fist-sized clam, I'll leave it alone!

    (3)

  • Matt H.

    I went here not really knowing what to expect. Normally I do my homework prior, but I had no idea that this was a BBQ place.... which did not upset me in the slightest. The only not positive was the Hamachi was a bit of a stretch. The deviled eggs were awesome. Pig wing was awesome. The duck was really good. And it was the best fried chicken I've had in my life. The brussel sprouts blew my mind. Even their by the glass Sauvignon Blanc was fantastic as well. On top of that, we found out their episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives was airing that night which was super cool. The atmosphere was right on point and the service was very good. I think the best compliment a restaurant can get is, "we'll be back"....... and I mean it. Great spot.

    (5)

  • Monica C.

    I finally had the chance to stop by The Federal on Easter on the way back from the beach AND let me tell you I walked out very full and impressed. Disclaimer: It is comfort food!! This is the go to place when you want to eat, drink and be merry. NOT if you are on a diet. I want to start with the service because this place can write a book on customer service. The minute I walked in, I felt like a queen. Although, the place had other customers, I would have never noticed by the way I was treated. I was with the hubby and my son. My 3 year old was treated great!! They actually got him to eat the LAMB burger!!! I was impressed. The food: One word: HEAVEN. The egg and fries was delish. I had the steak which was absolutely amazing. I tried my son's lamb burger and it was flavorful!! MUST TRY: Red Velvet Cake. I am picky with my red velvet cake because it is my favorite. This one was above my standards. The decor: Honestly, while in the restaurant I felt like I was somewhere up North NOT in South Florida. The WINE: The selection is great. I went with the waitress suggestion and loved it. The BILL: When it arrived my hubby looked at me and said $200. We had appetizers, meals, dessert and drinks. To our surprise it was half that!! Federal I will be back!!!!

    (5)

  • Christopher Z.

    It took me way too long to finally get to this wonderful restaurant. It was so easy to find and plenty of parking. Super friendly Emily greeted us at the door and seated us with ease and grace. Love the menu and the concept. Food comes "a la minute" meaning as prepared and fit for sharing. Two of us so we each had a Buffalo Style Pig Wing (basically a leg of pig) in the spicy house coating with blue cheese and a special slaw. Taking a little bit longer was the new style Conch Salad, very delicate and ceviche-like. Next we ordered the slow cooked venison chili with crispy grits. Again lots of nice spice, rich game flavors without being gamey, and perhaps not enough of the delicate crispy large crouton-size grits, which were perfect to absorb the sauce. The Grilled Pord Shoulder was a perfect slice with a nice crust and super tender meat. So much crativity and new daring side dihed like pickeled watermelon rind and charred orange slices. Super food and service. Unusual, off the beaten path wine choices and a great selection of beers. Can't wait to go back ad try more of this creative menu. Excellent!

    (4)

  • Steve S.

    Delicious brunch. We had somewhat of a Thanksgiving feast - fish dip, chicken and waffles, crab hash, and chorizo fritatta. All were amazing; highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Yuliya S.

    This was a very fun place for brunch, but don't believe what they say on the website. Make reservations! We had to wait for a while, not aided by the fact that it down-poured (what can I say, rainy season has arrived) and some of the outdoors tables were not available. I love a restaurants that makes offal and somewhat weird meats the center of the menu. The whimsical touches on the menu were very cute and I like that the waiter warned us that some of the items don't really exist (what, the unicorn bacon isn't real?). Also, I have to apologize to the same server for almost stabbing him with a fork when he tried to take away the almost finished Jar-O-Duck, but he was really taking his life into his own hands. There was still a smudge of duck deliciousness and by gum, we were going to dig it out, even if all the accouterments were done. I can't wait to come for dinner.

    (4)

  • Jenna M.

    Oh yeah! I just love dining in new and different places where the menu is exciting and makes you feel adventurous. The Federal is new, different and exciting. We had a variety of goodies for dinner but by far the best thing we had was the lobster rolls. They were very different.. buttery, tangy and decadent! Besides delicious food, the Federal offers a good selection of craft beers on draft and in the bottle and a considerably long wine list. I can't wait to return. The Miami Spice menu is looking extra tempting with the Jar of Duck we've been eager to try. My only qualm... the smell of my clothes after the fact. Next time I will sit outside :)

    (4)

  • Cliff F.

    PHENOMENAL. MUST TRY. GO RIGHT NOW. Okay, now that I've said my peace, here are the details: We arrived with no reservations and were seated immediately. Our waitress was engaging and helpful and the servers were attentive and prompt. We started with the Jar O'Duck. A small flip-top jar of slow-cooked duck served with burnt Fluff and delicious sweet potatoes in a sauce that personifies Christmas. All together, on a long piece of toasted bread, it was so uniquely satisfying. Dare I say, flawless? Next came the mains. My dining companion ordered a lamb burger--perfectly cooked, seasoned, and presented. Another flawless execution. The fries were some of the best I've had in Miami. We also got a side of creamed collard greens, a great addition to the meal. I'm always up for greens, but only satisfied when they're made with the requisite love and attention. These are. I ordered the short rib pot pie...and I'll keep this next part short, because I could gush forever. One of the best entrees being served in South Florida, hands down. My mind reels when I try to quantify exactly how good this dish is...I hope its on the menu forever. And ever. I hope I leave Earth before it does. Just order it. We finished with a lemon meringue--very nice, clean citrusy taste. Probably not the most interesting item on the dessert menu, but it was a nice finish to a great, great meal. Do yourself a favor and go. Put the diet on pause, put the kids away, and put on your eating pants. ...don't forget to get the short rib pot pie. Seriously. Don't.

    (5)

  • Diego S.

    Found this place out of luck... I have been in this strip mall at least three times a week for the past three years and never noticed it. The food is to die for and the service is great or at least our waitress was amazing... If you like food that is hearty and sophisticated, both filling and refined ... this is the place to go.... better yet don't go... I want to get a table all the time! HAHAH! Barbara... thank you for great service!

    (5)

  • Julia K.

    Love this spot. Really nice, knowledgeable staff. Duck in a jar was such an amazing little surprise. My seven year old devoured it. We had the chicken -- small serving, but tasty. The beet salad was also good. The steak was fantastic. And I look forward to returning to try a few other things on the menu. The staff seems very well trained and this is a really quaint spot -- Different for Miami.

    (4)

  • Franky A.

    AMAZING FOOD! I just had dinner here tonight and was blown away with my meal. The lamb burger is out of this world. Delicious french fries too. I highly recommend ordering the Fountainbleu cheesecake for dessert. I will say that the service was pretty slow tonight and it killed the experience early on but the food was so strong that I overlooked that important detail to my dinning experience. I will go back again but I'm seriously hoping that service will be WAY much better next time.

    (4)

  • Rob C.

    a fairly popular place. valet parking in the small lot. problem overall is that they were taking a lot of savory things and adding too much sweet to it. we shared: the jar of duck which combined crostini with duck chunky pate and toasted marshmellow (sweet) also had charred octopus with farro salad and cranberries (making it sweet also) roasted beet salad with candied striped beats orange and pecans (soft) -- sweet then the crispy brussel sprouts were too salty and not that thin crispy. was looking for more savory and spice. we added the pretzel rolls, supersoft and nice but the spiced duck fat spice didn't have much flavor. the pig wing was the best dish, cooked well with light mousse and a good play on buffalo wings.

    (3)

  • Pierre K.

    Upon a friend's glowing recommendation (Elizabeth D. whose review of this restaurant is spot on), I decided to give The Federal a try. I knew the location of the as it is where Canela used to be so I knew you would be able to eat outside in a nice setting. I was with great company so my evaluation of the meal might be a little exaggerated ;) We ordered the following small plates: Jar-O-Duck, Pig Wings, Roasted Beat Salad and they were all delicious. We accompanied these dishes with some very tasty beers, so the my overall review is very positive! I highly recommend it! Oh and did I mention that the service was excellent as well???

    (4)

  • Vanessa S.

    A la High Fidelity youtube.com/watch?v=9uIm… Top 5 reasons why I love The Federal! You all can take a look and choose which ones are most important to you. 1. The Federal is one of the most thought out spaces I've had the pleasure to be seated in, in a while. From the walls to the silverware, the theme in this space is definitely coherent and so inviting! 2. The menu: order an entree or don't order an entree, either way leaving here anything but satisfied will be tough. We sampled the following items and had a hard time pin pointing which was the best of the evening. Jar o duck Pork wings Cheese biscuits Beet salad Biscuits and gravy Pineapple upside down cake Lemon curd with blueberry compote Try any of these dishes and tell me one is not just as, or more delicious than the other. 3. The staff: everyone who works at The Federal is friendly, informed about the menu and on point with their service. 4. The fact that it's not a pop up! How happy am I that I can frequent The Federal over and over and not have to worry about an expiration date?!? Woo hoo! 5. The versatility: come alone and sit at the bar or come with a group and sit up against a wall lined with oh so many conversation starting items. Either way, please do your tummy a favor and come to The Federal, it really is amazing!

    (5)

  • Vanessa P.

    Great food, service, atmosphere, staff.. Recommend 100%.... Had the blt waffles & eggs & biscuit & gravy... Amazing!!!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth D.

    Southern Comfort seems to be a hot theme among restaurants these days, and I, for one, welcome my bacon overlords. The Federal has a unique twist on Southern with a menu that will surprise you when you think you'll instantly recognize "Mac n cheese" and "meatloaf". Nope, none of that. When I saw "pig wings", "jar o duck", I knew this was going to be an interesting experience. - Pig Wings: You must absolutely order this. These are among the tastiest morsels of meat I've had the pleasure of trying. - Cheesy Biscuits: Die-hard fans of Red Lobster's cheesy rolls would bow down to these, tears streaming down their face. I want to cry tears of joy just thinking about them. - French Fries - Comes with a duck egg on top and homemade ketchup. Really disappointed, as I love a fried egg on just about anything. Our entire table agreed the fries themselves tasted off (fries???) and the homemade ketchup was too much like marinara and didn't go well with the fries. Unfortunately, we had to send this back and was met with a backhanded "Yeah... It's not Heinz" from the server when we commented on the ketchup. Ouch. - Roasted Cauliflower: Yum. It's cauliflower. Nothing mind-blowing but still a solid dish. - Lamb burger: Two of us ordered this and consensus was: OK. The burger was better when we took off the top bun, the bread was a little too thick. - Pecan Sticky Bun - A delicious dessert to order if you have time as it takes 15-20 min to make. - German Chocolate Cake - Yes!!! Not a huge chocolate fan but I liked this more than the sticky buns. Ambiance was very nice (we sat outside) and our servers were friendly and attentive (always a full glass of water, sufficient check-ins, etc.) I was teetering between 3 and 4 stars but going with 4 simply because it's not every day that you fall in love with a dish at a restaurant, even when all other things are okay. I can see myself coming back solely for a round of cheesy biscuits and Pig Wings.

    (4)

  • Megan G.

    AMAZING! I was so sad to see Phuc Yeah go but The Federal is even better! It's located in a small strip mall and doesn't look like much when you are driving by but I guarantee, they are going to be a huge success. The atmosphere is very much country style Americana, from the plaid shirt wearing employees to the mounted deer heads on the walls and wooden tables and chairs. The food is 5 stars all the way. Creative and perfectly executed. Jar o Duck - 4 wedges of toasted bread which you top with a jar of duck pate, toasted MARSHMELLOW and sweet potato, i think. Who would have thought of combining duck and marshmellow, but it was perfect! The Pork Wings were OUTSTANDING as well! I'm pretty sure they were the best wings I've ever had. You only get two per order but they were very plump and filling. I wanted to lick all of the sauce up. They're served on a bone that sticks out and were very easy to eat without making a mess of yourself. The meat just melts in your mouth. The Biscuits and Gravy topped with sweetbreads had a great consistency. Very flavorful and not overly heavy. The mussels were good as well, but not the stand out of the night by any means. They are open till 1:30 on weekends, perfect for late night eaters like myself! Also, they are awaiting their liquour license so it's BYOB for now. There was a $5 corking fee per person. I wil not only be coming back but I'll be recommending The Federal to all of my friends! Love, love, love it!

    (5)

  • Jami-Lyn B.

    Ok, so it was my first time at this joint. I always pass by it, so I figured I would give it a try. Here is the list of things I did like: 1. food was very good, scrumptious and DELICIOUS. I had the jar o duck (which is just duck pate served in a small jar) for my main meal. Its listed as a starter but it was big enough for one. 2. The service was very friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to serve. 3. The atmosphere inside is very cool. Its set up almost like a tavern lodge. Things I didn't like: 1. They serve you water, like any other restaurant would. That doesn't seem bad though yet does it? Well they actually charge you $1 at the end of the bill for the water. Apparently they put it through some filtration machine, even the sparkling water. That really bothers me. You cannot charge me for something I did not order. I am more then happy with tap water, if you want to put it through a filtration device then that's on you. I know it is "only" a buck - but times are tough and its the principle of the thing - DON'T CHARGE ME FOR SOMETHING I DIDN'T ORDER or AT LEAST WARN ME OF THE CHARGE PRIOR TO POURING ME A GLASS. That is like if you went to a bar and they put a bowl of nuts in front of you, but then they charge you at the end for them... wasn't that complimentary though? It was just very, very frustrating to see as someone who is on a tight budget. 2. I know they have a valet. Luckily I went on a night when the valet wasn't out. This place seats maybe 45 people. There is no need to have a valet. You are not a fancy-schmancy restaurant. 3. The menu is INCREDIBLY limited. If you like duck - this is your place. But everything just seemed so expensive. It really bothered me on how little they had to offer. There are only 5 main entree courses and they are all in the higher teens to twenties. This doesn't take away from how delicious they might be. I may have only gotten a starter, but I did get a wiff of the entrees and the aroma was wonderful. All in all, it wasn't bad. I would recommend going there to try the food. I dont plan on going unless it is a special occasion or anything simply based on the food variety and price.

    (2)

  • Jaime S.

    It's funny how life changes... I use to make the recommendations to go to restaurants... but my son who is now 20 made this one... unbelievable brunch menu and the taste of the food delicious... if you like Mimosas you pay $20 for unlimited... you have to try this place out, casual atmosphere, great service, great food, great location, enough parking

    (5)

  • Claudia A.

    Very interesting place. I need to try it again before giving it 4 stars. It's a nice date place or dinner with friends to do something different. The menu is unique so you have to be open-minded, but everything I tried was very well executed.

    (3)

  • Johan S.

    The Federal is as good as it gets if you are a foodie looking for a great experience. This place welcomes you with open arms, and you will be delighted with vast choices of amazing food. Service is impeccable, decor is cozy and warm, and just plain cool. Try it. Plenty of parking also!

    (5)

  • AshleyMarie O.

    The address listed here is wrong- its 5132 Biscayne Blvd, on the West Side of Biscayne and between Honeybees & Dunkin Doughnuts (actually a great location b/c you can use Dunkin Doughnuts wireless) The decor is so great, I just loved it! Everything was so cute- if you're in a large group they take your order on an ipad, AN IPAD. Awesome. The food was awesome, only beer & wine but thats ok for me :0) We actually asked out server to decide what we were going to eat and she (MEL) did a great job! We had duck in a jar.. or something to start and as gross as it looks, it IS SO GOOD Duck pate, kind of I guess, with marshmallowwwww and potato I think it was and OMG. so good. Mussels were AMA-zing, I actually wanted to drink the juice but restrained myself, we also had a dish, I forget the name, but home style potatoes? OMG I was transported to a little mamas house in the south it was so good. We finished off with the lamb burger YUM YUM YUM For dessert we had Lemon Curd... yeh yuck.. but it tasted like key lime pie and came with a sugar cookie so YAY I'll be back very soon I'm sure

    (5)

  • D. G.

    I've been twice. Inventive, creative, and very tasty food. Reasonable prices. The service is good...for the most part. One of the owners we've met could not be nicer, or more professional. Another example of the improving food scene in Miami.

    (4)

  • Danny D.

    Well, well, well. Where do I begin? It was a Saturday, but not just any Saturday, mind you. This was my birthday. I had heard about the Federal from various top-secret sources. To say the menu looked rare would be an understatement. Jar O Duck. Pig Wings, Short Rib Beef Wellington Pot Pie. Danny! You don't want no part of this shit! But I did. I ordered the Jar O Duck and the Bay Scallops and both were top notch. The portions were small, but that's kind of the point of this kind of a restaurant so its more of a positive than a minus. My friends ordered a variety of other foods and everyone was happy. I'm not going to give you a full description of all the foods, instead may I suggest that you head over to The Federal's Facebook page and let the pictures do the talking, since they can do a much better job of describing the deliciousness that awaits you than I ever could. Now for why I subtracted a star. There was no A/C. There was also no ice in the water. The water was also room temperature. In short, it was hot as fuck in there. I'm gonna chalk this up to the fact that they just recently opened and not that they're trying to make some kind of statement. Also our waitress made a joke about her vibrator. I didn't take away a star because of that though, it's just an interesting side note. Overall, I would highly recommend The Federal. Save up some money, get a group of friends together, grab that pic-nic table in the middle, and go to town.

    (4)

  • Jocelyn T.

    Absolutely marvelous, the food was simply unbelievable! The most unique little restaurant in all of Miami, guaranteed. We ordered pretty much one of everything on the menu, I highly recommend the: biscuits pot-o-duck pot-o-mussels pork wings lamb burger! I can easily put money down and say you have never tried anything so phenomenal! The atmosphere is like stepping into the "Old Americana", I heard a wide range of songs from Jimi Hendrix to CSN to the Beatles. You can either sit on a potato sack covered bench, a picnic table, or right at the bar next to the fake burning fireplace. (*Guys, don't forget to visit the bathroom, there's a small treat for you there.) This place is also perfect to just come in and order a bottle of wine and chat with friends, even though the atmosphere looks like "old americana", I also felt like I was in a quaint little underground pub somewhere in Europe. Beer lovers, the beer selection is AMAZING too!

    (5)

  • Patricia K.

    This review is for BRUNCH, but overall, eating at The Federal was not a good experience. We ordered several things on the menu and everything except the jar o' duck was disappointing. The "sweet potato chorizo hash" came with 3 pieces of chorizo that you could barely taste, and it was mostly white potato, not sweet potato... The "wings and waffles" were barely OK, because the waffle was soggy and tasteless...The cornbread and biscuits were both super dry- yuck! The nachos were quite unedible and didn't come with most of the ingredients mentioned on the menu (beans, chilie, etc.). The "famous" Federal burger was burned and so was the "pretzel" bread it comes on; not to mention the fries were extremely greasy and soggy! Disgusting! And lastly, and worst of all, was the service. The manager was stressed out and never came by to apologize nor did he seem to care for that matter, even when the waiter made him aware of the "food issues" we were having. The manager was plain rude! And the waiter disappeared for like an hour during our meal which was quite weird too... Don't plan on ever going back, and I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT.

    (1)

  • Yly M.

    Fantastic gastropub. Interesting tasty menu, great ambiance, and I enjoyed the decor. Would highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Mimi S.

    Great place, great food. Nice decor, lighting and atmosphere. Must try the pig wings and cheese biscuits. We also had the beet salad and lamb burger which were delicious. The only issues encountered was the jar 'o duck because the bread seemed stale, too tough to chew. They also didn't have any wine or beer yet so we ran next door and bought a bottle and accepted the $10 corkage fee. The alcohol issue should be remedied soon.

    (4)

  • Lisette V.

    Sunday Brunch at The Federal was fantastic, but make sure you have a reservation or you"ll be waiting for a long time. We started with the bottomless mimosas for $16.00. You really can't beat that. Had the Jar o'Duck (duck pate with sweet yams and marshmellow fluff), yum!!! So delicious. The Graceland French Toast, Wow! chocolate syrup, bacon & caramalized rum bananas...need I say more? The Buffalo Wings & Waffles have a kick, but were tasty and the Wet Fries were yummy. Our server was great. Despite being busy we never had an empty glass or plate at the table. Overall a great experience. Can't wait to have dinner at The Federal.

    (4)

  • Sasha B.

    Came here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon. The food was fantastic but to me the service (screwed up our order a few times) and the ambiance was lacking. I love the bottomless mimosa idea and not too many Miami restaurants have this but I wish they had some liquor options as well....isn't a bloody mary a brunch staple?!? The federal is located in a strip mall next to a dunkin donuts with no parking and $3 valet parking in the front....don't be silly just go to the back and park for free. I hate when they are just trying to make a quick buck by taking advantage of the situation. I do like the wooden tables with outdoor seating and there is a good young crowd for brunch but my favorite part was the food! Buffalo wings and waffles were the best! they use pork instead of your usual chicken and buffalo sauce which is a nice contrast to the maple syrup. The corn bread and green eggs and ham were also excellent! The fish dip was nothing to write home about wouldn't recommend. Very well priced we were shocked when the bill came!

    (3)

  • Chris A.

    Brunch was awesome... bet they regretted offering us bottomless mimosas!

    (4)

  • Andrea M.

    Incredibly unprofessional service. Came in for brunch today and were asked to sit at the bar while they changed over some tables. Half of the tables in the restaurant were open and didn't make much sense. We sat at the bar along with another couple that came in at the same time. We proceeded to wait 15 minutes for no apparent reason. We were never offered a drink or anything at the bar. The other couple made a comment that maybe they were delaying us from sitting down until 3 which i assume is when brunch ends. Finally that couple was taken to a table and when the host came back to us I assumed he was going to sit us as well. He instead told us he needed to change some glasses and that it was going to be a few more minutes. 6 tables were open and ready for seating. I indicated he should have sat us, that this was ridiculous and that we're leaving. His comment was ok let me show you the door! Extremely unprofessional and for someone that eats out a lot, they just lost a repeat customer.

    (1)

  • Julia F.

    So! I'm right here and just finished up our last "American tapas". The food was very interesting indeed. We really really loved the Jar O' Duck: Marshmallow on a fresh bread with duck and fancy sweet potato? Yummy! The BBQ devil's egg were very original too. We also had the pig's wings (one wing actually) and the Steak tartare. The latest one wasn't really good, it was bland and boring. My biggest criticism is the relation between size and price. This place is extremely and unnecessarily pricey for what you actually get on the plate. Yes, they are fresh and original, chic and trendy, but they don't need to put $14 on a steak tartare that is so so petite, and just some chips on the side. Everything was just too small. you can still be cool, fun and chic without being that expensive really. We could have eaten two more tapas, but we would end up paying just too much for the small amount of food. The service was ok, but must say the other girl that brought us the food explained us better how to mix things together to create the perfect bite. Explanations were nice and enhanced the process of eating the tapas. In conclusion, loved the food, loved the look and feel, didn't love the price&size.

    (3)

  • Joanna R.

    Went there recently with the two besties and the joint was quite crowded for a Sunday around 8 p.m. which confirmed that indeed, this place was awesome. Our waiter was a doll. Literally (super cute guy). The décor was quite cozy with little yellow lights hanging on the outside terrace area. It's a busy day at work and so I won't go into details but this just didn't live up to the hype I've heard so much over the past few months. I was told that this was the sidekick to the other midtown restaurant Blue Collar but I felt that BC trampled this restaurant as far as taste and menu selection, even if décor wasn't as appealing. The crawfish fritters, the lamb burger, and the steak, all sounded delicious but were really just "okay." The crab cake was TASTY and TOP NOTCH, so I will give them that credit as it's definitely due. All in all though, I wouldn't return. But of course this is my personal opinion and that's what taste buds are for. Salud!

    (3)

  • Kai T.

    Wow !!! Rarely have I been this satisfied with a place. I really don't have a single thing to complain about. The food was out of this world ! All items on the menu were delicious and new creations (I at least haven't seen them anywhere else before). Truly a Foody's heaven ! The atmosphere was great, the decorations unique, and the staff very nice and attentive. Whether you're coming for a full meal or just drinks and an appetizer, I guarantee it will be a memorable experience and you will consider the Fed one of Miami's hidden treasures. Can't wait to go back next week once their extensive craft beer selection will be available.

    (5)

  • Ferinelys C.

    An interest concept but i'm a little disappointed with the food. Nothing special. Definitely not one of my favorites. The service is excellent. Nice ambient.

    (3)

  • Barbara I.

    Horrible service. I understand it's a small location, so we made a reservation to make sure we do not wait to long. I had put down for 5 ppl and it ended up being 6 of us. If I would of known they would of been so useless because of one more person I would of never gone. I understand it's a bit of an inconvenience but a table that can sit 5 can sit 6. But what really put me over the edge was the attitude of the owner as well of host. There are several ways you can say something and how they were saying it was all wrong. If it was my restaurant I would try to sympathize be funny but, it's 95 degrees outside we've been waiting for an hour we have been here a couple of times before and the tone and overall stank face you are giving is just not appreciated. We left to Morgans got seated right away and they heard of our poor time at the Federal and gave us a cheese and fruit plate!! That's what I call service!! It's the little things that count.

    (1)

  • Shawn H.

    I like what his place could be. Great decor, lively atmosphere, and what should be a great food concept. Every dish was either par or below par. Crawfish and grits were particularly bad, no sense of flavor. Pig wing which I was excited to try was average. Pork was bland, needed a crispier exterior and even the hot sauce needed more garlic and vinegar. Duck nachos are a great idea but again execution is the problem. They do have a nice beer selection but who doesn't these days?

    (2)

  • Jackie S.

    After a good meal at the Federal, my mom and I came to the same conclusion--we are glad we tried it but don't know that it lived up to the hype. We started with the Jar o' Duck. The duck was delicious, had great flavor and nice spices. Beware of the marshmallow fluff--it is a nice compliment to the duck but a drop too much completely overpowers the duck and sweet potato. The Buffalo Pig Wing was up next, and it was fantastic. The pork was unbelievably tender, and the breading was crispy yet still light. The blue cheese mousse underneath was a perfect complement. The burrata dish was good; the burrata cheese was not the best I have had, and I think it could have used a touch more olive oil. The figs that accompanied the cheese were delicious, as was the savory granola-nut crumble. We split a lamb burger for our main course. The lamb had a smooth texture, and the burger was enjoyably greasy. We did find we needed to add a bit of salt. Overall, our experience at the Federal was good. We had a little trouble getting our waitress' attention at the end of the meal, but the service throughout was very attentive. Perhaps I had too high of expectations for the meal, as it has been highly regarded on the Miami "foodie" scene. I would love to go back and give it a try for brunch.

    (4)

  • John N.

    Definitely a restaurant I would revisit! I came here for a birthday dinner as a mere random choice by the birthday boy. The service mixed with a new age ambiance was excellent and food was A+. I'd say my favorite was the smoked chicken (tasted like I was eating bacon!). Hope to go back soon!

    (5)

  • david t.

    I tried Federal for brunch today after being a bit disappointed in dinner . It's not a bad restaurant , but my experience was mediocre food, high prices and today terrible service.... They forgot one dish and we had to chase waiter for refills for our drinks ...not great for a place that charges you for water ... A lot of other restaurants which are better for the money in town

    (3)

  • Lauren T.

    Great menu, great decor and ambiance. Love mason jar decorations and all the tables were unique, some picnic tables etc. A lot of things I wanted to try so ill def be back to try other things. Huge wine list. One complaint is with all the heavy dishes like pig ears and cheese biscuits I woulve liked to see a few more salads to get some greens. We did get the cheese cauliflower to get some veggies which was really good. My least favorite dish was the scallops, I didnt realize it was sashimi scallops which are not my favorite but was a nice balance from the heavier dishes. A negative was the parking situation, if I park my own car why should I have to pay the valet 5$ when i leave. I guess its not the restuarants fault cause the valet is shared with the whole lot but annoying. But I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Robbie M.

    I was really hoping this was going to be better after reading the reviews and the menu seemed interesting but I was not impressed. There were 4 in our party, while we were placing order for dishes that run between $14 to $25 a plate, it was suggested we order the Chef's Tasting Menu for $40 per person. We agreed assuming we would get a lot more choices and 3 courses would mean more food, right? WRONG! We were brought 4 individual plates brought 15 minutes apart from each other and each person at the table got 1 piece of fried chicken. So you got 1 to 3 bites from each plate then waited 15 minutes for the next 1 to 3 bites. Desert was one of the 3 courses but they don't mention that when you're ordering. We could have ordered individually and saved $15 to $25 per person. As for the food; The Pig Wing and the Grits were the best thing I tried and the Grown Up Slurpee was AWESOME. I really was hoping for better and don't think I will go back for anything other then the Slurpee. No matter what the reviews say about brunch.

    (2)

  • William E.

    I had been following this place prior to opening for some time. I loved the layout, and the food porn photo shoots on their facebook page were oh so tantalizing. Of course this also meant high expectations. The verdict? The came through stunningly. The one down side was that service was a bit slow, but we were told that a busser and a waiter had not been able to come in. Given that they were packed and understaffed, they managed to keep things tolerable. On to the food. We decided to open with some apps and see where the menu lead us. My wife is not a big meat eater and the main courses are definitely heavy on the carnivorous fare. We started with the mussels and the wild boar sausage. Both were absolutely delicious. Lots of flavor but subtle and delicately done. You'll definitely want more bread to sop up the mussel stock yumminess. We then ventured further along the appetizer menu with Jar o Duck and the pig wings. Wow! The duck was absolutely perfect; such a nice combo of sweet and savory. The pig wings were ok. Such a delicious piece of meat, somewhat cheapened by the all too familiar vinegary flavors of buffalo sauce. And that was it. We were stuffed. The wine list very solid. The atmosphere does well to hide you from the fact that you're in a strip mall along Biscayne Blvd. Overall, it was a real pleasure to venture out and find this place. Definitely worth a visit.

    (4)

  • James S.

    Food is excellent. Service sucks. They missed an entree order completely. They then tried to charge me for it. Completely unprofessional. Needs a lot of help in the front of the restaurant. Kitchen is amazing.

    (2)

  • Mark L.

    We went for brunch, it was simple and amazing food. Forget Collins and even Lincoln for brunch I had the jackalope Benedict. So good. Drive your hungover ass to this place for brunch, you won't regret it. Staff is great, and loved the music playlist. As a side note I couldn't help noticing that the entire operation appeared to be run on an iPad.

    (5)

  • Kolja P.

    We like The Federal for the food, ambiance and service. Everything has a little twist to it that takes it above the average. Both out visits (dinner and Sunday brunch) were enjoyable. The reason it's only 3 stars is that I'd say it's about 30% overpriced. We're still going back, just not as often...

    (3)

  • Jonny E.

    We went for Sunday brunch. We were very excited to try it as we'd heard good reviews. Unfortunately, it was not what we thought it would be. We were seated promptly at 1pm, at the time of our reservation. However, it took a good 10-15 minutes just to be greeted by a waiter. It appeared that only one guy was manning the entire outdoor patio area. If you're going to advertise brunch on Sunday, you need to have the servers to do it right! We tried the Green Eggs and Ham, The Oreo French Toast, and the Biscuits and Gravy. The Green Eggs and Ham was bland with very little spice or taste. It was 2 poached eggs on top of a dry biscuit with some green bland sauce on top. The Oreo French Toast was some dry bread with some oreo crumbs and whip cream, even the syrup tasted funny. Finally, the Biscuits and Gravy, which was supposed to have chorrizo was again just poached eggs on top of dry biscuits with maybe a teaspoon of small chorrizo pieces. We barely ate any of it. We didn't want to leave hungry so we decided to order the chicken nuggets thinking they HAVE TO BE GOOD! Of course they weren't. They were little pieces of bland chicken. Chic-Fil-A nuggets are better! Sadly, with the poor service and below average food there's no reason to go back to this place.

    (2)

  • vanessa l.

    Cool decor, good service, food is okay. Several of the dishes sound interesting, but I didn't feel like there was a ton of variety on the menu. I went with a few people so we were able to sample a few things. Of what we tried, I recommend the biscuit (like a biscuit is ever bad), crawfish & grits, and deviled eggs. Their famous fried chicken seemed like a lot of breading without much meat. I've had much better at other places. It's a good spot for a quiet dinner, though, and not too pricey.

    (3)

  • Andrew H.

    Went here for brunch with my friends family. Our waiter was friendly enough but a little inattentive given there was hardly anyone in there. That said, I thought the food was unbelievably good and generously portioned. It's a little pricey but I think it's worth it. Despite being located in what is basically a strip-mall, this place has a great rustic feel inside, with good lighting. I'm going back to this one.

    (5)

  • Jessica E.

    Great food and good service. I didn't like the duck in a jar (my husband did), but I loved the pasta!!!!

    (4)

  • P T.

    Excellent service, decor, pricing I thought was right on target if the food had delivered. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. Perhaps the cause was my very recent trip to the competition (Blue Collar) or maybe it was an off night. I think we'll give it another shot for brunch. Great concept... Almost there.

    (3)

  • Cody C.

    the federal is adorable first of all. they make a weird sketchy stripmall look like a roof top terrace. and that's no easy feat. the jar of duck (as everyone else has said before me) was phenomenal. i'm not kidding when i say if i were to return - i would get two orders of this for my meal. wish they would serve with more toasts though. i love that they have small batch beers and independent vineyards all over their drinks list - i really respect that. the buffalo pig wing was very tasty - but very disappoitning to see that it only comes with one. it's a pig rib... it's not duck or jamon iberico - put 2 or 3 on the plate - it's $6. burrata and figs were very creamy and paired perfectly - we added chorizo to the plate and were happy with that decision. pretzel rolls were unique, but a little hard on the outside... and for some reason the duck fat dip just wasn't very flavorful. i know. it even feels weird to type that. lastly we got the soft shell crab roll. it was good... but nothing special. fries were tasty... but the homemade ketchup was missing something. overall we left reasonably satisfied... i would get the burrata & figs again... the jar of duck in a heart beat... and more pig wings if it was an option. but when the check came - we just didn't feel like the price tag matched our satisfaction level. for that price i'd rather be in pubbelly any night. i'd like to try one of the clam bakes or maybe breakfast... but i don't think we'll be back for dinner.

    (3)

  • Eric E.

    This food is comfortable and delicious. It's a somewhat eclectic menu for the pedestrian eater. I highly recommend the cheddar biscuit and federal steak. It was prepared exactly to my liking (extra rare). I stuck to a delightful red Sean Minoir 2009 from Napa. It was great. The service at the bar (I was eating alone) was lovely. N.B. I returned a second time and was overwhelmed by the wonderful staff and delightful food. The beer menu is up and running. It's not as wide as I had expected, but they have some great brews at great prices. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

    (5)

  • Yocelyn S.

    Spectacular service and great food. The Wings and waffles were the best, displaying a great balance between savory and sweet. The pork belly Benedict were great, not the best but definitely in the top 5.

    (5)

  • T M.

    Overall disappointed with food that wasn't cooked properly. Service was excellent and bottomless mimosas need no further description. However of the pumpkin flapjacks, French toast, duck grits, and shrimp po boy ordered - all subpar! Especially disappointing was the fact that the "foodies" here gave excellent reviews. The duck overcooked was like jerky, shrimp po boy was soggy and flavorless as well as limp fries. The French toast was simple. This place is pretentious but unable to support its pomp.

    (1)

  • Matthew G.

    This place is delicious! The staff is friendly and quick. The food is AMAZING. Definitely try the lamb pot-roast, even if for some reason it's not on the menu. It's amazing. This is a great place to go if you want a nice, delicious, filling, dinner.

    (5)

  • Kenny R.

    Was looking for a good brunch spot in Miami to celebrate my birthday and have some mimosa. I searched online and ran across the Federal in a list of best Brunch spots for Miami, and they were definitely right. The Federal provided not only a great spot to have some bottomless mimosas but some amazing food. The food is served "tapa" style, small plates for everyone to share. It was hard to decide on just a couple to share so we limited it to a suggestion from our waitress and then a couple personal picks. Cookies and Cream french toast. . . yeah, thats all i need to say! Ha, it was amazing, and our waitress knowing it was my birthday brought it out with a candle. . .true personal service at its best. We complimented that with waffle and wings, potatoes, and an amazing crab hash!! All great choices. But whats a breakfast without bacon!! This bacon was unlike any i've had before. Think cut and rich, the kind you had to eat with a knife and fork. The food was great, the vide was chill and down home, and the service was great without fault. Will definitely be coming back for dinner and brunch with friends when i'm looking for that great spot again.

    (5)

  • Kendall B.

    Love love love the down home comfort food. Ambiance is great. Staff is super friendly. Brunch is off da chain!

    (5)

  • Kris F.

    Okay, let me start off by saying that I will be giving The Federal another shot sometime in the near future, so I will be revising my original review. My wife and I went to The Federal on a random Tuesday night expecting what was to be amazing food. We had been told by numerous friends what we should try and how good everything was supposed to be. Not one person we spoke to had a bad meal there. We, unfortunately, did not get to experience the same greatness our friends had. Let me start by saying that the decor was extremely nice and it makes you completely forget that you're in a strip mall. By the way, I love little places like this, location's in obscure little parts of a neighborhood, or somewhere nice that usually wouldn't be at this type of location. These types of places always garner extra points in my book. The service was a bit slow for a Tuesday, but we weren't in a hurry so it didn't bother us too much. The bad part of my review comes in the form of my food review. They didn't have anything we wanted! The grill had apparently broken, so there was no steak available and no lamb burger available. These were two items we were told that were "must haves," and now we were not able to have them. We decided on ordering a bunch of apps and a dinner or two. As we go down the list of things we want to order, we were told of at least 3 other things they were out of. Frustration had set in. My first selection of beer was also tapped out, so I was forced to order something else (not a bad thing because their craft beer selection is pretty good, but just goes to show what else they were missing). As far as the food we ordered, it was good, not great. The duck was absolutely amazing, but everything else was just good. They only had two desserts and the waiter told us that one of them had a dry crust, so we ordered the other. We should've just skipped dessert because the one we ordered tasted like a dried up Debbie Cake. Like I said, I'm giving The Federal the benefit of the doubt, seeing that everyone I know totally loves this place. We went on a Tuesday that might have been a day that they just had some bad luck. I will go back and hopefully be able to revise my review.

    (2)

  • Linette P.

    Overall, I think it is a good place to come have dinner. I've only been to the Federal once and thought it was good but just good. I guess I love getting my socks knocked off with amazingness but is that something that will happen every time? Probably not. On Saturday a friend and I went for dinner, with high expectations from what other friends had told us. I was very impressed with the beer selection mainly because I love beer. Yup it's true, I love it. And at the Federal they have a great selection of beer on tap and bottles. Now on to the food that my friend and I shared. We started with the beet salad which was amazing, they used pink and gold beets which are a bit more delicate than the red earthy ones. We also ordered the blackened fish that was similar to salmon but I can not remember the kind of fish it was. It was served with a lentil salad which was tasty. My dining companion wished they would have grilled it a bit longer, she felt it was under cooked but I did not mind the mushy texture as much. Okay so on to the dish that was kind of bizarre to me, the grilled shrimp. It was under the dinner section so I thought it was going to be a dinner portion, but it wasn't. When it arrived at the table we actually thought they may have served us the wrong dish. Three grilled medium sized shrimp were served on a really small plate with no accompanying food or garnishes. My friend and I just looked at each other like "where is the rest of it?" It was just very plain and definitively not worth $12. I've read the other reviews and really, I can't wait to go back and try some of the other items but I stick to a meat free diet and am not sure if the really amazing dishes will be veggie or fish based. I am sure that I will never order the 3 shrimp meal $pecial. Pinky Swear.

    (3)

  • Solange K.

    Simply delicious, creative food. The pork shank special was amazing...braised, crispy, a little sweet and a tad bit of kick to it. Butternut squash was awesome and glazed a little sweet. Jar-o-duck was fantastic...who would have thunk it: duck, sweet potatoes and marshmallow.

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    I heard many great things about The Federal and I wasn't disappointed. The food was very tasty. The 2 of us shared everything and left very satisfied. The pig wing is a must order as well as the cheese biscuit. We did order dessert and that was probably the least favorite part of the meal but otherwise everything was flavorful and delicious. Will definitely return!

    (4)

  • Ting W.

    My friends and I went there to try the Miami Spice deal. 3 course meal for $30. I ordered the "Salad of Roasted Heirloom Beets" , which was fresh and light and drizzled with the perfect glaze and roasted pecan nuts. I can never go wrong with a salad! But, they ordered Jar-O-Duck was presented in a small jar with two sliced sweet potatoes, roasted marshmallow, and toasted bread for spreading. I thought it was very cute but the if you like duck pate..something to try. Pan Roasted Ariline Chicken Breasts was very dry and bland .The spinach cream sauce nor the sausage was a good compliment with the chicken for the dish. Federal steak was overcooked the way my friend wanted and was very tough and not tenderly soaked or marinated in brine. She's a steak person, and she said she's tried better! The BBQ ribs my friend ordered was extremely dry, and the side dishes were terrible. (coleslaw and baked beans). Very slow slow service on a weeknight.

    (3)

  • Marilyn R.

    Have been to The Federal for dinner many times but never to their Unlimited Mimosa Sunday brunch - YUM! Despite having a reservation for 5, initially we were seated at a four top - place was packed! BUT the lovely Barbara, our server & I believe possibly the mgr. did right by us with 2 complimentary appetizers. Then there was the accidental mimosa bath I received when someone bumped into Barbara as she was delivering our drinks. OOPs, accidents happen! I am still smiling as they could not do enough for us - including moving us to a larger table, keeping our mimosas glasses filled & then after way too much good grub, 2 desserts on the house! Will definitely be back. They know how to "do right" by their customers.

    (4)

  • Asim Z.

    Fantastic food and service! Love the lamb burger! Duck in a jar was great also =]

    (5)

  • Javier G.

    Worst place to eat in a long time. Went for brunch with my wife, baby and our best friends... Let's begin by saying the hostess (if you can call her that was the rudest person I have ever met) we ordered the French toast (horrendous and dry) the flap jacks (dry cornbread) my steak and eggs (eggs were overdone and beans cold as they could be),.. We also ordered a skillet which came out due to what they call technical difficulties after we all ate.... Not a sorry, manager would not even make eye contact... I was really looking forward to try this place, I will say you wouldn't catch me deaf there again... Overrated

    (1)

  • Rebecca S.

    On a fickle rainy Sunday afternoon we decided to give this place a try. We are welcomed by the unnecessary 3 dollar valet with one poor guy working it. Moving on the hostess was very sweet we sat outside to avoid the noisy hipsters inside, great choice! For brunch, I had the kale frittata and few glasses of their 5 dollar house white wine which I enjoyed very much. My brunch partner loathed his experience- he had the chorizo hash, which was absolutely terrible....actually AWFUL!!! And if it was me i would have sent it back without a doubt! It was reheated dry sweet and regular potatoes cubed mixed in with dried out bits of chorizo that resembled dog meat, topped with a poached egg and sour cream. Tasted and looked TERRIBLE! To top it off the French toast we ordered to share was super dry. They had mentioned they serve "family style" when dishes are ready they serve them- really? Get it together, get some organization and don't be lame serve our meal when we can enjoy it together. It looks like the only thing the federal has going on is all the hipsters sucking up the bottomless mimosas for 16 bucks on Sunday brunch. I enjoyed my meal but was disappointed with the chef and wont come back.

    (2)

  • Juan B.

    Well, went there for a wine tasting for the first time. Wine was good but being a noob don't really know if good or bad...so the price for the wine tasting was bit out of my comfort zone. The little wood spoonful for each of the side dishes was delish but not enough!. Meaning they were very small but great tasting. I don't think I'll go back for dinner but probably brunch. And def. Will not go back for wine tasting I guess is not our thing unless accompanied by regular size snacks/side dishes.

    (3)

  • Culinary G.

    This is a tough one.REALLY wanted to make this place my new fave, but after emailing the restaurant to let them know of our experience and receiving no repsonse (mistake number two even bigger than the wine incident which follows!) something must be said. We want them to continue to do well, and so hopefully this will reach the other two owners who shoud be aware of this. This type of stuff should never slip by the attention of all partners/front of house . Our first experience at the Federal started out great. We attended a Bonny Doon wine dinner and were warmly greeted and made to feel at home even though we were quite early . Ambience, decor spot on. Great start, great middle, great finish..Randall the wine maker was so engaging and the tastings were generous. In fact the whole night was really lovely(though the short ribs were a bit tough due to the smoking process-we enjoyed em anyway) and we were ready to leave with our glow on. Here is where the beautiful dream ended: As part of the dinner there was to be a bottle of Bonny Doon wine to take home for early online registrations. The site never specified that it was one bottle per "couple", Mind you, if we WERE a couple, who co- habitated, one bottle would have been just fine. However, two of us friends registered together for convenience. When the "manager" came around with the bottles, she plopped one between me and my friend even though we told her we were not a couple. She stated that the website was clear(it was not) that it was one per registration, and when we questioned her about that she stated that she felt we were" ganging up" on her . When asked if she was the manager she replied that she was( also an OWNER we found out later, which is even more reason this could have been handled better). and with that she hurried off. I understand that many other tables also took issue with the way it was handled so that by the time she got to us, she was probably feeling very tense-- all the more reason to handle it differently. If you see a situation mounting, especially as someone with the power to make decisions, then take action to make it right. Don't just walk away. 5 stars for rudeness. We all have stressful days, esp in the restaurant biz. The wine was not the issue. Big deal. There were over 50 of us in attendance who paid $75 each, plus tip(IN ADVANCE-how were we to know service would end on a sour note). It was the way it was handled. Had there been a gracious offer for a voucher for a dessert, or a glass of wine for NEXT VISIT(ahem, to bring us back for more and with a good feeling). some small gesture . something.Or have responded to the email that was sent. If business is so good that these things go unaddressed, then this is often the beginning of the end. Maaaaybe the email never got delivered...I give way too much leeway here me thinks. I have spoken to several close friends and associates who are in the Food and Beverage industry,restauranteurs and chefs in Miami, and seasoned diners-all of whom found this to be unacceptable. Yes it is one of the better places to eat in Miami, but there are others just as good, or better, where guests are treated with kindness and hospitality -even after they have paid. Even when situations get sticky.. I am not new to restaurants. Inside and out, I know food. I cut my teeth on server jobs, Ive cooked and prepped and hostessed(if that can be a verb). I now own a very food-centric business. People come to me for recommendations for restaurants, to find the best of this and that.. .I regret that I cannot fully stand with the Federal. Sad. I want them to continue their successful ventures . I hope that this gets read by the right people, and is taken constructively and addressed so this does not happen again. . Like I said, it wasn't about the wine.

    (2)

  • JAmerican G.

    The Federal was ok! We had an 11:30 a.m. reservation and arrived right on time. We were met at the door, by the manager or owner(not sure which), who blocked the door and asked if we could wait, since she was finishing up her staff meeting *crickets*. You would think that since the place does open at 11:30 a.m., that they would wrap it up and start the day. Instead, she sat us at a patio table and gave us menus. That was fine, I just didn't think that was professional. End your meeting. The customer is here on time. Chop chop! I had brunch there with a friend and we both enjoyed our meals. We both had the kale frittata, which was tasty. The service could have been better. We asked for ketchup and were brought a small dish, enough for one, so of course we had to ask for another one. We were charged $2 for water, since they took it upon themselves to serve us bottled water without asking our preference. I didn't bother to mention, since I didn't plan on visiting them again. We drove from Ft. Lauderdale, after seeing reviews on Yelp and decided to try it, but it wasn't really worth the drive.

    (2)

  • John B.

    Been here twice. The lambburger.is tremendous. In fact all the food was great. One big gripe is the beer prices. Don't mind paying for good craft beer, BUT WTF, don't call them 12 oz. pints. A pint of beer should be a pint. Don't charge $7 or $8 for a 12 oz. beer and don't call 12 oz. a pint. Service was nothing special. Overall food good, but, like the beer, overpriced. Will probably go back after I forget that it is overpriced.

    (3)

  • Sam J.

    Outstanding comfort food. The Cheezy Bites off the "snacks" menu are huge. The duck jam with Fluff (a New England classic) was meaty and sweet. The short ribs pot pie had a great crust and the meat inside was tender. And the cornish hen was also very sweet. The meal was a little rich but with better balance in your menu selection, you shouldn't have that problem.

    (5)

  • Yvonne R.

    Great service and food! Portions of the food are just right and the prices are very good.

    (5)

  • Frank E.

    Its southern comfort food, which is simple, made complicated, the result, not great... I don't understand why people have to complicate simple food, its popular and timeless because its delicious in its simplicity... simply adding a ton of ingredients does not make it better... and in this case, it did not... the food was "just ok", but not worth the prices they were asking...

    (3)

  • Edward B.

    Really enjoyed my experience here. Had dinner with a table of 6 so we got to order a good variety from the menu. I think our servers name was Johnnie who gave us killer recommendations, Lamb shank, pig wings, and a sweet potato with marshmallow something rather that was fantastic. Heard there serving brunch now too cant wait to go back.

    (5)

  • stephanie v.

    Finally went here for dinner with the hubbs last Saturday! We arrived a bit early (7 p.m.) but strategically so to avoid the rumored crowds. Not so sure it was necessary because wasn't full by time we left, but that should not a reflection of the food. The food was solid and I intend to go back and try more of the dishes since we had a very light dinner this time around. We had the famous pig wings, which I thought were good, but probably only because I adore wings and they were just like buffalo wings. I am not sure why they have recieved such praise, maybe bc of the name...I kinda think this was the least impressive dish I had. We also tried the duck in a jar, which was good. It seems like every freaking gastropub has this on their menu now, but I'm not complaining bc I love it. The last dish was the sweetbreads. I love sweetbreads, but my husband doesn't - he loved this dish! Which means the true flavor of sweetbreads was disguised very well by all of the other ingredients, lol. Still a good dish, I am sure they can replace the sweetbreads with anything and no one would notice. Skipped dessert, which is very unlike me, but they honestly didn't have anything tempting on the menu (none of the bread pudding or pineapple upside down cake I've been hearing about!). We went to Michy's for their bread pudding instead...yes, we are the kind of people who go to another restaurant just for dessert!

    (4)

  • Nicole W.

    I finally tried The Federal after reading the reviews on Yelp and I was very disappointed. I started out with the crab dip and cheese biscuits--both of which were not great. The crab dip was tasteless and was served with cold, hard bread. The cheese biscuits also lacked flavor, but were served with delicious honey butter. They were without a doubt not worth $8 for two biscuits. As my entree, I had the roasted little chicken dish. Little chicken? Try, no chicken! At a cost of $20, it was overpriced, as the four small pieces of chicken hardly had any meat on them. The chicken was served with vinegar-style cole slaw, which was mediocre at best. My boyfriend had the half-rack of St. Louis ribs. Although the meat was tasty, they were by no means fall-off-the-bone like any good baby back ribs should be...definitely do not recommend! As sides, I ordered the mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. Both sides arrived to the table cold and we had to send them back. By the time they came back to the table, the meal was almost over. However, the mashed potatoes were amazing (hard to screw up whipped potatoes and butter)...which was probably the only redeeming dish all evening. The fried brussel sprouts were ok...they were covered with a vinaigrette that was a bit too tangy. With our meal, we ordered the house sparkling water. Our bottle was incorrectly refilled by the bus boy with still water not once, but twice...even after we pointed out the error after the first time around! Although the food itself was disappointing, the service was very good (especially for Miami) and the restaurant also had a nice ambiance--it was cozy and unique. Although the brunch menu looks delicious, I do not plan on coming back to The Federal.

    (2)

  • Nick K.

    Fantastic! We came here for the first time after having visited Phuc Yea, (their previous temporary restaurant) several times. The owners remembered us and welcomed us home like family. The service and warmth was as good as it gets. The food was outstanding. I can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • rhett t.

    Pubbelly much? Ok, the decor and premise now seem kitschy, if not derivative. And the night we ate there the pacing of the meal (I am being generous) was glacial (they blamed it on slow Thursdays!). The interior is noisy and you are looking out on Biscayne Boulevard. All that said, the food rocks. There were a few gems on the wine list having just enough high end options to keep me interested. The beers seemed a tasty back-up. The service was disjointed at best, but caring. Oh, lordy, we waited for a salad that was well-composed, but the lamb burger was perfectly gamey and seasoned. It tasted like lamb should. The wild boar sausage elevated bangers-and-mash to new heights. We wanted to complain, but the food drowned out our complaints. I think the menu tries to outsmart itself but the chef clearly knows what the F$#%^ to do. Go here. Now.

    (4)

  • Jan P.

    My husband and I had been looking forward to eating at Federal for months. We went for Sunday brunch,which turned out to be a huge mistake. The menu was limited and overly chi-chi.we started with a peaches and cream "small share". The four slivers of peach were hard and surrounded by tasteless "burrata". I settled on green eggs and ham without the ham which was essentially eggs Benedict with creamed kale on top of a biscuit. The eggs were lukewarm and the biscuit was bone dry. My husband ordered a lamburger with a duck egg (strongly suggested by the waiter) cooked medium rare. The burger came out eggless and overcooked to medium. Both it and the slice of goat cheese on top . When we told the waiter about the missing egg,he actually wanted to inspect the burger! Needless to say that when the check came we were charged for the duck egg which we promptly asked to be removed from our check. We will not be coming back to Federal.....ever.

    (1)

  • Charlene O.

    I had been wanting to try this place for as long as it has been open, about 11 months. All of my foodie friends were telling me about the excellent beer selection and the yummy dishes so I had to try it! With friends visiting from Houston, Atlanta, and NYC we went to The Federal on the Friday night of Art Basel. While i was not expecting excellent service due to the increased amount of tourists in the city during this week, the service and food impressed us all! The host, the servers, the wine and beer list, they were all great. We had a series of small plates - the ones I enjoyed the most were the Burrata and Fig and the crispy Pork Belly special with a sage-infused syrup. So YUMMY! My friend has the Mahi-Mahi entree which was served with Israeli Couscous and it was excellent as well. I give this place thumbs up and 5 stars - it excels in service, ambiance, music, food and beer/wine selection.

    (5)

  • K L.

    Duck in a jar and pig wings! Amazing

    (5)

  • kevin b.

    When did it become cool to serve warm tap water and run the vent inside instead of the AC? Second week open was expecting big things from this place. The menu is unfocused and dull. It doesn't know what it wants to be at this state. The service took over two hours to get apps and entrees, still lacking in the Hollister shirts. With so many new places to try in the area, this was one I wished I would have just drove bye and waited till things got better. Total bill was 160.00 a bit too much for six plates and No AC.

    (2)

  • Sean E.

    Pig Wings were amazing and the Jar O' Duck tastes like fois gras, but dare I say, better! Lamb burger was also very good. The french fries were the only thing I didn't like. Great place to go on a date to share a bunch of different plates. Can't wait to go back for more!

    (5)

  • Karolina W.

    After securing 8pm dinner reservations on the Federal's outdoor patio, we were disappointed to find out that our "reserved" table was unavailable. My boyfriend and I were offered seats at the bar while we waited. After 30 minutes or so, the host offered us a table inside, only to see that 2 men that clearly arrived after us were offered a table outside. How disappointing. After my boyfriend commented to the host that the couple seated outside arrived after we did, we were finally seated outside at 9pm. We ordered our food, which came out relatively slow considering we only ordered the tapas dishes.. however, our waiter said the kitchen was "backed up." Overall it was a disappointing date night. Maybe the food would have been better if our dinner plans did not start out on such a sour note.

    (2)

  • Ron B.

    This restaurant came highly recommended by friends and was up to the challenge of meeting those expectations. We were a party of five on a fairly slow Wednesday night, which I'm sure contributed to the excellent, friendly, helpful service and quality and presentation of the food. It's a comfortable, attractive, but not ostentatious restaurant conveniently located on Biscayne Boulevard in a strip mall, so there's parking, including a handicapped space with a ramp right in front of the restaurant, if you need one. My only criticism is that while there were a few wines on a large list in the 32 - 50 range, the prices were generally higher. I think when a wine list has one Malbec and it costs $80, it's time to consider giving diners more choices of reasonably priced wines. Standout dishes included the Arctic char, a special, and the bread pudding. They showed us a very exciting Sunday brunch menu, as well as a barbecue menu for Sunday nights. This restaurant is a great addition to the wealth of fine eateries in Midtown; I wish them a long run!

    (4)

  • Joe G.

    Really good stuff. The location is a bit odd but once you're there and seated it actually works well. Whoever is in the kitchen has a great touch and fantastic passion. Everything we had was well put together and well presented. Prices were very fair and will become a regular spot for us. Our waitress, for the first hour, was one of the best I have ever had. She caught the small details of what we needed and was attentive without being overbearing. Later on though, two guys came in and sat at a table near us and it seemed to draw her attention away completely. Ended up putting my credit card on the edge of the table to try to spur the bill along. I would have been more inclined to give them the full 5 stars but that last little bit took the sharp edge off.

    (4)

  • Jose C.

    I had such high hopes for The Federal. But alas, it did not live up to my expectations. But, given the fact, we went on Father's Day for Brunch, I am willing to go back and give it another shot in the hopes that they were just overwhelmed. The food took a painstakingly long time to be delivered. I had the Jar-O-Duck, which was delicious, the combination of sweet potato, toasted fluff and seasoned duck was an unexpected delight sweet without being cloyingly so. We order some cheese biscuits, ($8 for 2, what??!!) which were more like hockey pucks, I expect that we were given the leftovers from the night before. Even our server commented that the biscuits looked smaller and that the kitchen was using a new recipe. Huh? I ordered the Jack-O-lope, a twist on Eggs Benedict using the aforementioned biscuits and a rabbit venison sausage. Everything was overdone, the biscuits were tough, the sausage was overcooked and dry and the poached eggs were poached hard, so the egg yolks were dry, unappealing, instead of unctuous and satisfying. ($17 for eggs, no sides, hash browns etc.) A companion, ordered the skillet eggs, which were bland and boring ($15. 2 eggs and baguette, again, no sides, hash browns, etc.). Another companion ordered the granola, which unlike the other entrees was extremely tasty and delicious. The service was nice and attentive, but could not make up for the mediocre food. Considering the food and lack of accompaniments, I would say the prices were high, something I am willing to overlook if the food was extraordinary, but it wasn't. A great attempt to add to the Miami food scene, but cannot hold its own if it were compared to similar places in NY, Chicago, San Francisco, Charleston, Austin, etc.) Again, I reiterate, the menu looked great and showed much promise, but the execution fell way short. I will certainly try it one more time, perhaps for dinner, in the hopes that I caught The Federal on an off day.

    (2)

  • Jenny Z.

    My first experience at The Federal was not a good one. My cousin and I had purchased the gilt city set menu for two, with Champagne included. Seemed like a good deal, and a good way of trying out a new place which I consider to be a bit of a drive. When we arrived the place was pretty empty, maybe four tables were occupied. The hostess (who we later learned was the owner) sat us down promptly - so far so good. After we were seated it took twenty minutes before we got any service, which we had to ask for. The owner came by and apologized, sent out an appetizer - which was one of their signature dishes. Our waiter came to bring us our Champagne, except it wasn't. They served us sparkling wine, when we told him Champagne was advertised - he alluded to them being the same; which they are not. Our food then started to come out in an odd order. We received the side dishes before the appetizer salad, and got the main entree at the very end. On top of that they forgot to bring us a dish, which the owner packed up for us to take home. The food was okay, there was nothing great about anything, except the biscuits which were delicious. I really wanted to like this place, but the experience was unpleasant. I will not be returning; my cousin, however, said she will be giving them another try. I rate this as 2.5 stars simply because the owner was very nice and tried her best to improve our experience. The staff was nice but unorganized.

    (2)

  • Lindsay G.

    I am torn but I agree with Stacy about rounding up. The food is three stars the service is a solid two. I have given the place two chances now once on a Tuesday and once on a Saturday. I don't mind if I have to wait for the homemade food but I literally had to flag my waiter down five times a few times having to ask for things from other waiters who weren't ours or the owner. I expect this sort of thing on South Beach but not if I venture to Biscayne. Also, I know you have "handmade ketchup" but frankly it tastes like cocktail sauce and makes you seem cheap. At least have some common ketchup for those of us who don't want to have to stalk the Dunkin Donuts (in the same plaza) staff for free ketchup. The food was good both times I have been here. The lamburger is nicely spiced although a pretzel bun seems out of place on the sandwich. The fries which are rosemary infused are incredible but please the ketchup again! My husband's summer chicken was excellent (better than the roasted hen I had at Yardbird the other day), the crab dip okay an the jumbo shrimp had a nice smoky unusual flavor. The desserts were also good (butterscotch pudding and flour less chocolate cake) although I really wanted the baked alaska my friend and I were turned off by the mango sauce on it. Call it what it is and its not traditional baked alaska with that. Also, I just want to comment that I love the uniforms of casual cowboy (my friend referred to it as brokeback mountain dress but I am not that unpc) and all the men here are good looking. And what is up with serving the food on old Shoney's plates? Did you get these at a yardsale? Is Shoney's financing your restaurant? These things make me nervous did you snatch them from a Shoney's and we are now eating off a non-regulated plate? I like the Federal but in order for me to drive off the beach I need them to fix their service. Overall, this place is a good place to go for something unusual and I like their wine list -where else can you get wine for Slovenia? But, I feel like the service feels like Europe.

    (3)

  • Logan S.

    Best to call ahead. Very thorough and attentive staff, on the verge of too attentive. Jar-o-duck must be had as an appetizer. Biscuits too. First time and can't wait to come back and try more of the dishes.

    (4)

  • Annie T.

    If great food and great service is what you are into, then The Federal is the place for you. The best way I can describe the food is: not only does it nourish the body, but more importantly, it feeds the soul. Starting with their biscuits (best I ever had) and finishing with dessert - smores and cheesecake, I never realized that simple could taste so great! By the way, everything in between - the warm arugula salad, pigs ears, jar o duck, shrimp and grits - were all as delicious. The service was superb, and the ambience warm and comforting. Really loved this place. Can't wait to come back for brunch.

    (5)

  • J B.

    Another nice meal at Federal. I actually enjoying my food more this time. I appreciate the farm fresh ingredients that they are using. Today we order two beet salads (love), a chowder special, which was thoughtfully prepared and so delicious. We also had the roasted hen and biscuits and gravy (now my favorite dish here). We finished our meal with the cobbler or the day (plum). Super yummy!

    (4)

  • Tito C.

    If you don't like back be careful. Need to ask before ordering since some foods like the cornbread has it in it but not listed on menu. Restaurant seems to do well with outside seating and tables inside were small. With 3 people on a table for 4, we were crowded. WE knew we were in for a less than perfect meal when we ordered the Jumbo Cheese Biskit at $5.00. The top was warmed as if put under the broiler but the center was FROZEN. Sent it back and the center was still cold. Hey, if you are doing Southern Cuisine, the first rule is to serve the Biskits hot. Even if you serve running butter to drizzle on the biskit, the Biskit needs to be hot. Tried the Roasted Beet Salad and for $12.00 very overpriced. Had to use the flashlight on my IPhone to find the beets which were cut in so small of cubes that could not taste the flavor so essentially got a plate of greens with smallish goat cheese medallion. Or was the cube of beet actually the piece of Florida orange. All 3 in the party ordered the Lamb Burger. The only one cooked as ordered was the medium well, the other was for medium with a pink center and one medium rare. Forget it, not even close! We all ordered the fries to be crispy and we all got limp, spicy fries that tasted as if they had been scooped directly out of the warming pan. Didn't have dessert. However, on the restaurant had clean restrooms.

    (2)

  • Giulia A.

    all i'm going to say is that i'm currently pig wing dreaming....and salivating.

    (5)

  • Chrysta D.

    The service was totally unacceptable, but the food was good! I rarely take the time to review restaurants on YELP, only when the food/service was exceptional or when it was an incredibly negative experience. Our meal took two hours to arrive (party of 4)- some appetizers came way after everyone else was served, and when I spoke to the "manager" (who turns out to be one of the owners- Aniece), she indicated there was nothing she could do for us. This is no way to start off a restaurant, especially in Miami. I don't know what school she studied at, but it clearly was not the school of customer service. I will never go back and will not encourage any of my friends to try.

    (1)

  • Patrick W.

    If you haven't eaten here you need to!! The french fries were ridiculous! The chicken tastes like it was birthed by a pig wrapped in bacon. The venison sausage had to be the most amazing sausage I've had in my life. Make it a point to go to this place and eat a ton! Great service as well, very friendly staff. When it was time to leave it was pouring down rain and one of the servers (Andres) walked us to our car with his umbrella. A fantastic evening thanks to The Federal.

    (5)

  • Megan T.

    Excellent service and excellent food. The $14 all you can drink mimosas are a must and they worked so hard to keep the glasses full! Biscuits were maybe the best I've ever had, absolutely ridiculous. It's $6 for 2 biscuits which seems like a lot, but they were huge and worth it! I had the jackalope benedict which was excellent and my bf had the steak and eggs which he loved. The grits were super yummy too! Highly recommend this place. Any place with service that great is worth returning to regularly from the hostess to the 3 servers who took care of us! Dying to try some of the baked goods, they looked great but we were stuffed! It is next to a Dunkin' Donuts, which may throw off your snobby friends, but after the first bite, you quickly forget you're ina strip mall. Pets were welcome outside and there were a few there which was fun. A little warm outside on a breezy day so we will probably sit inside from now on. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Holly B.

    Eagerly anticipated the opening of The Federal & finally made it here tonight. I LOVED it! It was buzzing, amazing vibe, full of energy & life. We grabbed a spot at the bar and chatted with the bar tender, really friendly cool guy & ordered up. We started w/ the federal salad-- really nice salad with organic local greens-- greens I had never eaten before (ferns maybe?), which were delightful. Our salad wasn't over dressed or over-salted which is a rare occurrence in this city-- it was light & flavorful-- the crispy onions gave it some depth and it was just as a salad should be. We then had the OMG amazing cheesy biscuits, which were ooey-gooey goodness. One of our biscuits was undercooked (I thought the dough was raw inside, my husband thought it was cheese... after we ate the second, I knew I was right)- nonetheless we still thoroughly enjoyed the biscuit. We proceeded to our next dish- the New England Chowder-- which consisted of a few mussels, one scallop, lots of potatoes, a few small pieces of fish in a bouillabaisse type of sauce-- had excellent flavor but I was hoping for more seafood- & less potatoes. Also the value of this dish was off ($24- whacha talkin about willis?) Finally to finish off our meal with a bang we had the lamb shank which was friggin fabulous! It was atop pureed rutabaga and small pieces of apple. It was rich, decadent, heavy and I loved every bite of it. Usually I veer more towards the light fish-seafood dishes but I have a soft-spot for lamb-shank and this one was out of this world. The red velvet cake looked amazing. Every time I saw it leave the kitchen, my eyes started screaming "yes", but my stomach said no-- so we passed on dessert. Don't think I am staying away. I am sure I will be back within the month to get a taste of some homemade decadent dessert. I would have given it 5 stars but subtracted 1 star for the half-baked biscuit & the price/quality of the chowder.

    (4)

  • Marc G.

    Sweet. Potato. Cheesecake. They have now conquered dessert too.

    (5)

  • jeremy d.

    Cool spot and very interesting menu. There were plenty of items I wanted to try, but just didnt have the room to. Two items which I did have - the jar o' duck and the buffalo style pig wings - were phenominal. The wings were huge, tasty and cooked perfectly! Service was a little slow and there was a mix-up with our order, but the manager came over to apologize and our server brought us two glasses of wine at the end. Very nice touch. Since the place recently opened, they still need to work out some kinks, but overall tasty food, creative menu, and good customer service. We will be back.

    (4)

  • natalia w.

    Amazing food! One of my favorite dishes I highly recommend are the pig wings the sauce is just perfect. The whole fish is a delight and perfect if u don't want to stuff your face with other delicious meals. My friend was a big fan of the duck patte appetizer very innovative and I was not expecting to like it as much. The homemade ketchup and mustard are to die for so much I n crave it for lunch and wished they packaged it. The ambience is perfect it reminds me of a place in Brooklyn or in Texas is just right! The food is not for those on a diet though they have sone tasty salads you will want to try the other dishes. I can't wait until they open for lunch!

    (5)

  • Stephanie Z.

    Recently went to "THE FED" for BRUNCH, it was just amazing! delightful, the place was well decorated and their staff as friendly as always. We started with bottomless mimosa's which are just the right touch, not too strong but not just orange juice. The cheese biscuits are a must! As an entree I had the Banana Toast with maple syrup, the combination of the toast, bananas and whip cream was great like dessert for breakfast. I've never had rabbit before, but I had the opportunity to venture and tried it. I'll be ordering the Wabbit and waffles next time I'm there, that's how yummi it was. I also tried the steak and eggs, free range eggs are always so much better and the steak was tasty, a perfect medium. Finally, I tried the pancakes, the apricots are wonderful and the texture of the pancake nice an fluffy! Can you tell I was stuffed?.. well it was worth it. Don't count your calories, just go to the Fed and let your taste-buds decide, they won't let you down. =) A MUST DO again!

    (5)

  • Regina H.

    Been to the federal twice now and both times have been great. Laid back atmosphere, excellent service, and amazing food. The way we go is with a group, that way you try a bit of everything and split costs. It's miami so you have to expect the pricing but it's really not horrible compared to other places. For the food, if you're a Brussels sprout aficionado like me you absolutely have to get them at the federal. That's my plate. No sharing the sprouts! So amazing I asked for the recipe and I'm not usually that type but they're SO GOOD! Also the max and cheese is the best I've had anywhere I'm obsessed. Crawfish grits were excellent and soooo rich had to take leftovers. Great place ! Love the federal!

    (5)

  • Joe A.

    Listen, before you even look at the menu, just know you'll be getting the Pig Wing. Easily the best piece of pork I've had in quite a while. After that, the options are open. Jar O' Duck is pretty good, Brussels sprouts are great, fried chicken is excellent. And the atmosphere is laid back -- a bonus for a spot that's in my neighborhood. This will easily be a go-to.

    (5)

  • Jose H.

    Let me start by saying that I am extremly surpised that this restaurant has a 3 1/2 star rating! It should have at least 4 stars! But on with my review; been here twice already and both times have been great! They put a lovely twist to traditional american food! last time I came with my sister and had the brunch! OMG! Everything was good, from the wings and waffles to the biscuits and gravy to the green eggs and ham, everything! Service is AMAZING!!! Great people and great atmosphere! The decor seems like a half antique shop, half country store! Lovely place!!! Highly recommend!!!

    (5)

  • Brett P.

    I had a another fantastic experience at the Federal! I went for Miami Spice and was very impressed. The food was fabulous and our waitress was great! I'll be back again soon!

    (5)

  • Lesley L.

    We had the best dinner here this past Sunday. We came in early in the evening after driving around looking for somewhere new to us. The service was prompt, very friendly, and our server made several suggestions that helped us make our decisions. I love the small plates because it's fun to try several different things. We had the jar o' duck, the biscuit basket, the charred plantains, the heirloom tomato salad, and the salmon steak special. There was more than enough food for two people, and everything was cooked and seasoned well. The tomato salad is refreshing and a great balance to the richness of the salmon. The jar o' duck was great! My partner discovered it's even tastier on one of the fluffy biscuits; the texture is much nicer than the toast. The charred plantains were the perfect texture and the combination of flavor son the plate were perfect. The atmosphere of the restaurant is quirky without being intrusive, and it's impressive what they've done with a space in a strip mall. Overall we spent just over $100 after the tip, and it's very reasonable considering everything that went in to our experience. We will be back soon, hopefully for the crawfish boil on Wednesdays!

    (5)

  • Ethan Y.

    I got sucked into it because of Miami Spice. But if you were to spend $30 or more, I would at least go for the fine dining options before here. There were lots of food. Nothing tasted great. I think the drink was pretty good and that is about it.

    (2)

  • Jasmine S.

    Traveled from Fort Lauderdale to dine for brunch on Saturday. Well worth the trip. The food is fit for a gourmand. The décor is quirky and inspired. And oh, the biscuits... incredible. And the whole experience was further enhanced by our server Adam. He was attentive, interactive, and swiftly catered to all of our needs. We can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Jairo P.

    Food is amazing unfortunately the service is horrific. Tried go make a reservation for sunday brunch multiple times with no luck. Got put on hold twice for over 20 minutes and then only a voice mail system after. Left multiple messages to no call back. Decided to walk in to be told over hour wait when they have six empty tables. Waited 30 minutes to still see six empty tables. Spoke to host and asked if we could take one, his reply being they are reserved. I understand reservation system but its ridiculous if you have empty tables and reservations arent there past 20 min you should give table away. Will unfortunately never return

    (1)

  • Francisca B.

    This place is pretty good, and I like the idea of growing their own herbs and using local ingredients. I don't like the attitude like I'm lucky to be dining there. Service works the other way around...without me (who came here from word of mouth), you would not be so popular. I get that you're busy, I get that the food comes out when it comes out, but don't be a jerk about it and act like I'm lucky to even be in your establishment. I understand being busy, but don't make it an intimidating process to even approach the hostess after waiting 15 minutes. I felt like I'd be punished if I went up to her sooner, like, "CAN'T YOU SEE HOW BUSY WE ARE?" The service is friendly enough but the place takes itself WAY too seriously. I enjoyed my brunch, the crab hash, but I was scared to ask for water. I was afraid they would tell me, "We pump our water from a non-fluoridated well where local peasants bathe their children, so you must be patient. It will be here when it's here". Obviously they didn't say that, but that's the general attitude. The food itself was very good, probably the only reason I'd return. It was a little heavy, but I'm not complaining...you do get your money's worth. I just feel like I have to follow some kind of secret cool code and I'll be "punished" if I don't oblige. Get rid of the attitude and stop acting like it' my honor to eat here, and I'd give it a 5.

    (3)

  • Viviane B.

    Ok Best New Restaurant brought me here!! It was on my yelp bookmarks but Tom Collicio gave me that push! I did not have high hopes for the atmosphere (specially after reading some of the reviews here) but it was great! The staff was friendly and really on top of their game. They did forget to bring us one of the items we ordered but once we reminded the waitress she got it to us fast! The biscuit is amazing. Simply amazing. My gosh!! Also their portions are sharing size. Although it was written big and bold on the menu, I wish the waitress had made that clear because then I wouldn't have ordered as much as I did. The food was good except for the avocado tortilla. Yeah just skip that. We spoke to Caesar (the chef) about seeing him on best new restaurant and he's not as friendly as the camera made him seem lol I would love to come back and probably will. Now I am the last person to say this about a restaurant but I think they are overpriced.

    (4)

  • Damon S.

    My first yelp review goes to the Federal. I absolutely love this place. The staff is great in person and on the phone. And the food...The food is delicious. Comfort food done right. I have been there 3 times always sharing plates and have only had 1 average plate while the other 10 or so have been tongue tickling. The Federal gets my recommendation to anyone who likes good comfort food.

    (4)

  • Alexa C.

    I will never recommend this place to anyone ever! The sad part is I was looking forward to coming here since the last two times were actually pretty good. We were given a 25 minute wait to seat us, and it took 45 minutes. Then we wanted to order the same thing we ordered last time, we couldn't. Well the menu was changed and I do understand that. HOWEVER, how is it normal that someone must get 4 plates from different categories that aren't appetizing in order to be served? They basically tried shoving French toast in my face instead of giving me an option to order 1 entree and two sides per person. The server literally told me (after an hour of being in the scorching sun) that he would serve us within "38 seconds"...he took 5 minutes and we didn't even have menus. On top if the fact that the food SUCKED, I was forced to keep receiving these half-ashed dishes. The chips for the fish dip were literally crumbs of corn tortilla drenched in grease. How did something so good get so bad so quick ?! I was told the drink of the day was a mint julep yet when I asked to try it, all of a sudden it became a guava lemonade ordeal with barely any alcohol. The crab toast; ehhh... Oversized breast with a mayonnaise rich crab salad on top (no brainer). Grits and mushrooms were whatever. Bring that they went from shrimp and grits to just grits & mushrooms is hard for me to accept, especially when the second rate item is actually pricier. The chia pudding: GROSS. It's even hard to look at. Gravy and egg thing tasted and looked like hell plus it was missing the promised sausage as mentioned in the menu. Water was served hot and without ice. When we asked for ice, we were given one bigger cup with Ice and a spoon? So weird.. Dude I'm at a restaurant, don't make me fetch my own ice?! This place is a disaster- avoid at all costs if you want to actually enjoy your meal !

    (1)

  • Jessica A.

    YUMMM! Finally made my stop here for dinner with a friend during the middle of the week. We walked inside and were instantly greeted and told we could choose where we'd like to be seated. My friend and I cozied up near the window, and within minutes our waitress was there to nab our drink orders. Extremely attentive and extra friendly service, especially after we explained we were first timers and knew nothing about the menu. She recommended her top selections and we went for it! Our meal included: Ceez's Smokey Fried Chicken, Mac n Cheese, the Buttermilk Biscuit and Crispy Brussels Sprouts. My god, the fried chicken was cooked to perfection! Bravo, The Federal! I had not had fried chicken that good in a long time! Everything was delicious! I even had leftovers that were pretty darn good the next day! So, The Federal is a total win! Now let's talk about the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding! If I ever had to imagine what heaven would taste like, this would be it. You can't go wrong with this order! If you have a sweet tooth, it'll satisfy every bit of it. Mmmm. Thinking about it now makes me want to go back! Overall, I had great service and the food was DELISH! Definitely coming back soon!

    (5)

  • Lindsay B.

    3.5 I finally paid a visit to this restaurant after hearing many good things on yelp. I joined them for brunch last Sunday and wasn't disappointed nor overjoyed with the experience. I began with the unlimited mimosas for $19 and my boyfriend had the bottomless bar for $25. Our waitress informed us the bottomless bar was unlimited bloody Mary's, mojitos, bellinis etc. After getting the first round of drinks we realize that they weren't using liquor for the bloody Mary's and mojitos. It was a bit of a disappointment and I felt like she should have informed him that before he ordered. He felt a little mislead and I understood his disappointment. In the mojito I watched her pour pabst blue ribbon beer... Yuck! If you are going here I would stick with the unlimited mimosas. They were strong and I was very very pleased with them. Now for the food, they serve you tapas style and bring out the dishes as they come. They are each small plates of American style food. Some of the options were great, and some were just ok. I enjoyed the wing and waffle and the crab toast the most out of everything. The green eggs and ham was pretty good as well and they thought it was an interesting take on eggs benedict. We will be returning here but it isn't at the top of my list as far as brunch goes..

    (3)

  • Raven L.

    Overall, i would say my experience was pretty good. I would visit again but not as a first choice. So we arrived early for our 2:30 rservation on easter sunday and waited maybe 10 minutes for our table which was fine. Once seated we had ths avocado tostado which was pretty tasty.. unlimited mimosas which have gone up in price from $19 unlimited to $24 unlimited with a 2 hour maximum. Ehhh i guess. So we ordered a biscuit which is definitely worth getting but after a few bites (if not sharing can be over powering ) but still really good.. The steak and eggs is packed with flavor definetly can't go wrong when choosing this dish.. The chicken and waffles everyone craves about is pretty good but i dont see what all the hype is about, maybe im just not a chicken and waffle person :/ Service was pretty decent.. the waiters dont know how to pour mimosas well.. i mean its not 5 star service but they definetly stayed on top of our refills. The service i will say has gotten better over time. It was a good meal but i dont think worth the $116 for 2 people.

    (3)

  • Claudia R.

    I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. We walked in around 2:30pm on a Sunday, we expected a wait. Upon arriving the hostess told us our wait would be 15-20 minutes, which was a lie. We ended up waiting 40 minutes to finally get seated. The 40 minute wait wasn't what upset me, what got to me was that bigger parties were arriving and they were seated right away. After complaining, we got offered a complimentary drink and got seated right away. Service when seated was fast. Our food was good and their craft beers are awesome. Everything was 4 star worthy except the terrible service upon arriving. I'll give this place another try but definitely not on a Sunday!

    (3)

  • Mrs. D M.

    Nice gastropub with eclectic vibe on Biscayne Blvd in an unassuming shopping plaza. Our mistake: found during Art Wynwood weekend without a reservation, so we waited forever...but the Lemongrass Sangria helped ease the pain. Ordered: Biscuits (delicious! Crunchy outside, soft inside), Lemon Pepper Calamari (good saltiness with citrus), Smoked Chicken (really good, tender meat, but a bit too much chutney) and Jambalaya (good flavor but not too memorable). Walk away: The service was great! The patient host was helpful and always smiling, our waiter was very personable and having one of the owners, Ani, come chat it up and tell us their story (genuinely interested), was great. Would like to go back for their brunch, too.

    (4)

  • Bowie S.

    Went here for brunch with my girlfriends. One of them called to make reservations but they said only after 1pm so we went around noon and it was half empty. We sat down near the deer head, anyways here's my review of the food: The menu works like this. You get two starters; chips with ricotta, a bean dip and smoked dolphins dip and a basket of pastries with chocolate croissant, and two other things I don't know what they are called but are really good with the jam they had. So for starters 5 stars! Then you get to choose two items per person. So we all choose diff things, I got the crab toast and waffle pork dish. Both weren't that great, the toast was too thick and the waffle pork thing was different and interesting. My friends got nachos and an egg cheese thing which were ok and the other got a sweet waffle dish that was good and steak and eggs that took an hour and half to come out. When we kept asking the servers they kept saying it's on it's way and we were there for a long time. Her steak and eggs came after the table was cleared for almost an hour already. And it was def not worth the wait we were full by then but portions here are good and they give you a good variety. Dessert also comes with the brunch. It finally came and we all took a bite, it was good and overall a good place for brunch but too slow and I don't plan on going back. We all tried it once because of the reviews but I don't think it lived up to expectations.

    (3)

  • Grace C.

    Pros: The food was good but small portions Cons: The service could use some work We went for an early dinner around during Miami Spice 2014 (unbeknownst to us) so our entire group ended up doing their prix-fixe meal. We could order a handful of things from a list to share. Since it was our first time, we thought it would be great to do. They make a variety of cocktails but when I asked if my underage brother had any mocktail options. I was told no. I thought that was weird since they have a full bar in the back and couldn't come up with anything? I felt that the message to me was that it wasn't a family-friendly establishment. In a place that was supposed to be creative, my brother ordered a sprite. Overall the meal was unique with both high points and low. We were encouraged at the time by our server to go this route but looking back I probably would have just ordered exactly what I wanted. The dessert was a throwaway rice pudding concoction that no one touched.

    (3)

  • Cessie C.

    I had been dying to try this place thanks to the endless #foodporn pics on my instagram feed! Finally went on a Sunday with my friend for brunch. Get there early. The place is super tiny even though we were there by noon, as the afternoon went on, it got busier & busier. We did not have reservations and there was a 30 minute wait that turned into 45. Luckily, they have bottomless mimosas, so we sat at the bar and got our drink on while we waited. I love the concept, decor & setting of the restaurant, its a sharing menu with a set price. So you get to try a little bit of everything and the portion sizes are perfect- they are not HUGE- so you don't roll out of there feeling a croqueta. The parking is kind of a mission, bc its in a tiny shopping center. Here's what we ate: Baker's Basket assorted mini pastries, jam & butter Morning Skinny Dip (the honey & cheese is what makes this dip FIRE) local ricotta 'n honey, smoked fish dip, spiced black bean, "secret spiced" homemade chips Lobster 'n Gravy- This was my FAV!!! AL thought, it could use a lil more lobster! butter poached maine lobster, creamed corn, buttermilk biskit, truffles Green Eggs 'n Ham (similar to eggs Benedict) federal biskit, creamed spinach, pork shoulder Breakfast Nachos (very similar to Mexican Chilaquiles- and soooo yummy) cowboy venison chili, cotija cheese, fried egg, fixins Chunky Monkey Waffle (i love bananas & chocolate so this was heaven) buttermilk waffle, banana, nutella, choco chips Cookies & Cream French Toast- this was DEATH and the perfect ending! oreo crumble, ricotta whipped cream, choco sauce, maple syrup The bottomless mimosas are only $19! The service was a little slow because they were so busy, but very good. I will def be going back!!

    (4)

  • Renee H.

    This is the best brunch I think we have ever had in Miami. The pig wings and waffles are amazing! Everything we tried was delicious. They had a great spice menu too. Service exceptional. We will be back to try dinner for sure.

    (5)

  • Raisa O.

    Cheers Ani! Don't just continue to troll the reviews but actually "learn" from them, most are about how you don't care about your customers & the ridiculous wait times all these people couldn't possibly be lying. God bless you

    (1)

  • Matt P.

    Another place posing for Miami Spice. The food is good, don't get me wrong, but I don't like being taking advantage of. They pull out this complicated way of doing Spice so you pay the same for their basic menu and the whole table has to participate. Service good, but come on....if your style is not set up for Spice, then DON'T DO IT.

    (2)

  • Maya L.

    Came here for a Sunday brunch during Art Basel. I love farm to table. The food was excellent and I would give 5 stars for food! I had the crawfish and grits which had a sous vide egg (slow poached egg at a low temp for 1hr+, yum), biscuit (packed full of flavor), heirloom tomato salad, and deviled eggs. Two others had the fried green tomato and pork shoulder and the meet was juicy and tender. They are known for the chicken and waffles . The waiter was very engaging and he tried his best but the kitchen and floor was managed terribly. The coffee machine broke in the middle of brunch and I saw them throw it away. There seemed to be a lot of workers and not a lot getting done. I saw runners walking around with food not knowing which table ordered what. I think the kitchen is very small because all of us ate our entrees at separate times because all four dishes came out at complete different times. We had to ask for salt, pepper, milk, hot sauce. Great food but experience was dampened by the poorly managed restaurant. Btw, no liquor license but they have some inventive champagne based drinks and a bottomless champagne deal for $18.

    (3)

  • michelle z.

    We were a group of 10 last night for Crawdaddy Wednesday. They were very accommodating. Everything we ordered was delish: Crawfish boil (I ate 3 lbs by myself) Crawfish po' boy (We kept re-ordering this it was great) Soft shell crab (yum) Deviled eggs (yum) Avocado Uni Tostada (WOW amazing) Maple Bisquits (OMG the most delicious biscuit I have ever had!!) Panna Cotta (to die for) Exception: Bread pudding was more like an overcooked popover (not good) Besides that one small item, the food was spot on!! I plan on on going there to eat again and again. Last but not least, Robert our server was truly a delight, very attentive and ready to please.

    (5)

  • Candice R.

    Excellent service and menu. I highly recommend Crawfish Wednesday and don't forget bottomless beer and bubbles.

    (5)

  • Nayra S.

    Why have I not gone to this place before? It's not a only a comfortable setting, but the food is SOOOO GOOOD! Very home grown and pleasing to the palate. I love going to restaurants and feeling like I'm not even in Miami. Between the decor and the food, I'll definitely be coming back! I'm not going to sit here and write an epic description like other Yelpers, so here's the deal: -Go for Brunch -Have the Bloody Maria (your mouth will thank you) -The Biscuit is beyond good (be careful it can be orgasmic) -Ask the server (Adam is the BOMB!) what he recommends and get it

    (5)

  • R S.

    Finally made it here for dinner. We had been for brunch. Brunch is good but it gets so packed you can carry a conversation. Dinner. Is. Great! The octopus, the crab dish, jar O duck.....oh so delicious! But you know we had to try the bizkit! Yep, best goddam biscuit ever! Will be back very soon.

    (5)

  • Stephanie G.

    I went to The Federal on Sunday for brunch with a friend of mine. To drink, I had the orange juice which was freshly squeezed and delicious. My friend had the sangria which I tried, and that too was really tasty. To start, we shared the avocado tostada which was good but not at all what I expected. I couldn't really taste the berries on it, but that may have been the point. I liked that they were generous with the avocado. We then shared the breakfast nachos. I wouldn't consider ordering this dish again. The chips themselves were good, but I felt like there was very little on them except for the fried egg. There was barely any bean salad, poblano, queso fresco, queso fundido, sour cream or salsa verde on the nachos. There were definitely no refried beans on the dish at all. I felt as though i'd bought a bag of chips, tossed in a fried egg and called it a day. I regret not getting the wings 'n waffle. I saw the dish on its way to another table and it looked delicious. Since we were still hungry after eating our chips and fried egg, we ordered the cookies and cream french toast. The french toast was the best part of our meal. I hadn't had french toast that good in a long time. Even though I wasn't blown away by the nachos, i'd still give The Federal another chance.

    (3)

  • Grecia P.

    I had tried to come to this place on three separate occassions and something always happened where Plans had to be postponed. Finally, after the Race for the Cure run today, WE MADE IT! And it was sooo worth it. The food was fantastic, the service was great, the drinks were delicious. WE had no complaints. We tried a bit of everything.. the favorite across the board was the Wild Mushroom Ragu and the Crawfish and grits... Although the Breakfast Nachos were DELICIOUS, the flavors were all on point... Now, as for the desserts, im not a big sweet eater so I wasnt a fan, but the rest of my party enjoyed the Pumpkin Spiced French Toast and the Chunky Monkey Waffle (which was supposed to be Nutella, but was actually chocolate). Now that we have tried the brunch, I will definitely return for dinner... im looking forward to it. As for the cocktails, we had no complaints either... they were delish... The Ani Palmer: Jasmin tea, lemon, ginger, and prosecco was very refreshing... The guava slurpee and the sangria were also very good. Go on... check it out. You wont be dissapointed. :)

    (4)

  • Michelle C.

    I don't know how they do it, but this place is consistently my favorite meal ever. If I could eat jar o duck and a biscuit every day, I would be a happy girl. The staff is so friendly, the food is amazing. You are really missing out if you don't go. Trust me. Eat here. Often.

    (5)

  • Lina T.

    The food was ok. The atmosphere was good and the service was great. I think I would have enjoyed brunch more.... Next time!

    (3)

  • Daniel A.

    Went on a Friday night this past week around 7 before it got busy. Ambience: 5* In a random strip mall (seems to be the trend in Florida) but great decor on the inside Service: 1* The waiter we had was very pushy, kept on trying to get us to order food by pairing it with multiple dishes. The main issue I had was I asked him which vegetables were good and he recommended the plantains and mushrooms. So I ordered the plantains but both came out. When I told him I only ordered the plantains, he kept on arguing with me that I ordered both but my table specifically heard only the plantains. After that incident, he was being rude and hasty, ruined the dining experience. The other thing, he said they only had bottled water but I saw other tables getting tap water which irked me a bit. Food: 3* Clams- very good but on the salty side Octopus- outstanding. Best dish of the night Plantains- good Biscuit- was okay, a bit dry, not as good as he hyped it up to be Pork Wing- ok, nothing to write home about Roasted chicken- very good, moist, nice smoke flavor Porchetta- Not crispy enough but was moist, flavorful Panna cotta- solid I definitely want to come back to try the other dishes but the service, or lack there off thinks I'll pass for now.

    (2)

  • Amber D.

    Found out about this place randomly from a friend liking a photo on Instagram- and boy am I glad I did! Came here for Saturday brunch and will definitely be back. The biscuits and gravy was amazing (and it's hard to find good biscuits and gravy without having to make it yourself), and the wing n waffle was incredible! Two appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert for $24- you can't beat it. I left sufficiently stuffed, without feeling sick from so much food. The restaurant is really cute too- feels like home. Service was great too- our server refilled our bottomless mimosas ($19) as soon as we finished each glass. Never had to ask for anything. Can't wait to return for a second helping!

    (5)

  • Peach B.

    Started with a biscuit which was cooked great and served hot. Followed it with a summer salad which we thought someone had already eaten out of. Served on a half of plate other half of plate was empty. Figs and ricotta were a good selection, with a nice presentation however loaded with salt. Every bite needed to be followed by water. Our last dish was the short ribs. Very good flavor however presented as side cut fatty pieces of a rib on the bone. Overall, not a choice in the future for dinner. Would try brunch as the other yelpers only showed pictures of brunch and now we know why.

    (2)

  • Rahul P.

    I was in Miami for work and a co-worker took me here. We arrived there for dinner to find a couple of TVs prop'd up at the bar. The hostess proceeded to explain that the chef and the restaurant had been part of a competition and the episode was being aired that night. As a special for the night, the chef could also cook the same dishes he cooked for the competition as 4 course meal in addition to their regular menu. The food was delicious, and the service was prompt. I would recommend stoping by this place.

    (4)

  • Randy L.

    The staff was very nice and knowledgable and they were quick to seat us. Our server Fernel (hope I spelled it right) was great and very attentive. The food was ok, at this price point however I expect a lot more. ***this place does NOT sell Liqour*** real bummer because I wanted a real Bloody Mary, not the wine based Bloody Mary they charge you a ridiculous $9 for when it doesn't even have Liqour in it. Also, $5 for regular drip coffee?! Seriously that's absurd. Had the Brisket Plate for brunch and there was a large chunk of fat in my bowl. Besides that it was ok. The Biscuit and Gravy we had to return because it was rock hard and cold. The next one we got was still hard but at least it wasn't cold. The Pork Wing and Waffle was probably the highlight of the meal. Very tasty waffle, just wish it was a crispy waffle and not a soft mushy waffle. The pork however was delicious and the breading was amazing. Overall, I'm glad I came and tried it but I won't be coming back or recommending friends to go here. There are MUCH better brunch spots in this price range in Miami.

    (2)

  • Monica L.

    Came for the Sunday brunch. The service was very friendly, nice an caring. Very tasty and good quality food. Good variety and quantity aswell. Homy atmosphere. The endless mimosas are totally worth it ($19 pp). My favorites were the Wings & Waffles and the Nachos. The Nutella waffles should have more nutella and the salmon bruschetta had something missing, maybe a poached egg. But definitely coming back!

    (4)

  • Kirsten L.

    We wanted to try something new and decided upon this place. We arrived around 730pm on a Friday night. Not too packed at This time. By 9pm the place was full! A friend was sitting at the bar for 10 minutes before someone asked to help him. Apparently strollers are not welcomed here and not kid friendly. We brought our kids and had to rearrange seating. The noise was loud so the kids fit in. The food- tapas style. Overpriced. Smaller portions. We ordered: the jumbo brisket- husband liked all the butter on it, octopus- 1 tentacle tasted good, drunken mussels- tasted really fishy, fried chicken- great, short ribs- great, Mac and Cheese- different, devils egg (4 pieces) - my fav, bread pudding- good. Dranks- ginger alcoholic drink was very gingery. $200 later it was time to pay the bill. Overall I think it's over priced for the food. Only in Miami I guess.

    (3)

  • Jennifer R.

    My boyfriend and I decided to check out Crawdaddy Wednesday. We started with the deviled eggs which was delicious. Next, we shares three pounds of the crawfish boil ($45). I have never been to New Orleans but hope to one day. I have nothing to compare the crawfish boil to, but it was delicious and spicy. The corn was sweet, the potatoes cooked perfectly, the sausage was delicious and we loved the crawfish. We ended our night with the crispy cream bread pudding which was covered in maple bacon glaze. it was crazy delicious. The perfect way to end the night. The beer was a little steep in price. We will be back for the crawfish boil. Epic

    (5)

  • Andressa C.

    Food was great but definitely overpriced for the portion that we get. Don't get me wrong I am not expecting a crazy size, but for the price, I think some items could definitely be improved. We started with the Biskit 'n gravy (12) which was really good, the bad thing I could barely get 2 bites of biscuit from the serving as it was tiny. So we ordered the jumbo biscuit (6 for 1), which as everyone raves is delicious. we then moved to the Jar o'Duck (12), which was also on point, the downside of this was the small portion of bread that came with, when we asked for extra of course it was and extra $1 :(. The duck was so good however so we did not mind. I think that if they are going to serve the amount of spread they did they should either 1) serve extra bread 2) increase the base price or 3) just serve less of it. I don't like it when restaurants charge extra for small things, i just rather pay extra upfront... just saying. Last me and my fiance shared the Wings 'n Waffle (20) which was crazy good, would definitely have it again, the pork shanks were super savory with a perfect crunchy outside. Another thing is that the service was really slow, I did go on a Sunday but they were not super "busy" and i would think they would be prepare for a crowd that day? I waited for 13 minutes for my coffee refill, and 15 minutes for our extra bread. Also what annoyed me was that while they have unlimited refills on coffee (5) since I asked to add ice to my coffee, they told me that there were no refills for the iced coffee... really? what is the difference between hot coffee and cold coffee outside of ice cubes? is that what I am getting an up charge for?. Regardless of that I still got charge the "unlimited coffee" price. tisk tisk. So while the food was great it was just the experience (or lack thereof) that took stars away from these place, when restaurants up charge for everything it really takes away from me enjoying my food. I am glad I was able to try their food but there is plenty of other places for brunch with great customer service that I will rather go for Sunday brunch... cheers.

    (3)

  • Indira A.

    Don't go hungry! It's tapas style and meant to share with the table. The sharing portion is great for 2 people, but not for 3 or more. It's a great idea to sample more plates but be wallet conscious because the total will creep up. The food concept is creative. Just know, that the plates come out as the kitchen prepares it. That includes dessert. I went on a busy Saturday night and service was great - the entire staff was friendly. I didn't have reservation, but we got sat outside, not a big deal. Highly recommend to make reservation! Go visit! It's an experience!

    (4)

  • Chrissy W.

    YUM!! We went yesterday after seeing it on Best New Restaurants and we were blown away. We had reservations so we were promptly seated at 6pm and ordered the biscuit, pig wing, the mushroom and noodle dish, and creamed corn with egg and porcinis. All dishes were outstanding. We LOVED the noodle and crimini mushrooms--if I wasn't in public I would've literally licked the bowl. Luckily we had the delicious biscuit to soak up the sauce with. We also had a vegetarian avocado tostada which was interesting and yummy. My husband loved the pig wing and said it had a nice kick. The service was excellent too--we had told our waiter that we were in a rush to make a flight and all our drinks and dishes came out quickly. We will definitely be back soon--I can't wait to try more of the menu and the desserts of course!

    (5)

  • Gaby B.

    The first and only time I've been to The Federal was for brunch. On the morning I went they had a menu for 25$ which included a bread basket,two dips with chips, your choice of two plates, and a french toast with Oreos as desert. There was also plates such as deviled eggs and bacon or hash browns you could order for a few extra bucks. I wasn't a fan of the bread basket, the only thing I ate from it (naturally) would be the chocolate croissant. If the whole basket would've been filled with those, I would've definitely been a fan. The dips that came after the bread basket were a black bean, and the other, I believe a smoked fish dip? These were both very good. I ordered the pulled pork deviled eggs with horseradish, but i did not like them at all! I don't think the horseradish went well with the pork (and I am a wasabi lover). I only ate 1 of the 6. As my main plates I ordered nachos & crab toast. The nachos were my favorite, although the crab toast was good I felt like it was a little heavy on the mayo. The french toast as a desert was good. All in all, I liked the concept of being able to try the different plates for 25$. However, I would like the option to just order the 1 single dish that I really like because the portions were pretty small. Even with all the food we got we still ordered a side of bacon because we were still hungry. The side of bacon we got is not like your usual bacon, it is thick cut, and reminded me of a pork chop. It was really good. Service was really good and the restaurant was decorated really cute. My favorite thing about my brunch was the 20$ unlimited mimosas, they also had an option which was 25$ and you can mix it up and order bloody marrys, beer, mojitos, or mimosas. I will be back for lunch or dinner and update my review :)

    (3)

  • Michael K.

    Somebody needs to bring reason to these glowing reviews. Looks like it has to be me. We were in Wynwood for the monthly art walk and wanted to try a nearby Miami Spice restaurant. Let's just say its promise was greater than its delivery. A mix of experimental and safe cuisine all somehow ruined. Duck in a Jar sounds brilliant and put together inventfully, but what amounted to, what I can only imagine was, a heavily salted purée of an entire duck smashed into a shot glass and served with marshmallow ala smore's, over-seasoned sweet potato and a crustini was the best thing we found on this tasters menu. The rest were similar but less inspired failures. Service was well-intentioned but equal parts chaotic and bungled. We received our dishes tapas style. An entrée coming before two or three appetizers, desert served 30 minutes after being told it would be right out...Oh well. Avoid.

    (1)

  • Angela G.

    I was really hopeful about The Fed, but was seriously letdown. Not many vegetarian options, unless you're cool with eating stale biscuits with a variety of spreads for brunch. It's pretty costly considering the quality (or lack thereof). Check the menu before committing to this place.

    (1)

  • Henry M.

    Alright, I honestly think this place deserves a 5 even though their food is pricey and even though portions are not too big. However their service was great. Waiters know their stuff and they're attentive and you can just trust them on the recommendations. The food tastes great. It's definitely worth giving a shot. Been here three times. The waitress sold us on the Chef's Table. We pretty much tried like six different plates between my friend and I. We were definitely full after that. Definitely try the Jar O'duck and the Beef Tartare. The duck has this awesome combination of marshmallow and yam. The tartare has this great smokey taste. We also had the wine flight. Sampled three different wines for a reasonable price. So again, if you like delectable food that may cost a pretty penny and you're ok with that, then this is the place to go.

    (5)

  • Savanna M.

    Friends of ours are obsessed (rightfully-so) with The Federal and invited us to do brunch with them there. Perfect, because this had been on our radar forever and we had never found quite the excuse to get there. Definitely make a reservation, at 11am when we arrived the place was fairly empty and we were even able to park without having to valet, but by 12pm there was quite a wait at the door. The brunch menu is rather extensive, not in the fact that it's pages long or anything, but in the fact that you get to try quite a lot of it without breaking the bank. $25 will get you the starters - pastries and dips, 2 entrees and 1 (pre-selected) dessert...which will definitely leave you quite full and feeling like you got your money's worth. For drinks there are 3 options - a) buy single drinks as you go b) do bottomless mimosas for $19 or c) bottomless mimosas/mojitos/slurpees/bloody marys etc for $25. It's important to note that they won't let you do a bottomless option without ordering food (hopefully to keep you somewhat sober) and they don't have a liquor license so all of these drinks are made with wine/beer, which works surprisingly well even in the bloody mary. Food: *The pastries - I think there were 3 or 4 options in the basket, all of which were tasty. *The dips - fish dip, bean dip and ricotta with honey. The fish dip was by far the winner. *Jar o duck - we ordered this extra and wow it was amazing. *Biscuit - also an extra order, a must share for the table! *Wing and waffle - I loved it. The pork was perfect and so was the waffle. *Steak and eggs - slightly too dry for me but Steven C. said it was his favorite. *Lobster and biscuit - loved the corn for crunch. I probably could have licked the plate. Steven C. said it wasn't his favorite. Strange what opposite perceptions we had here! *Crawfish and grits - my absolute favorite. If you know me, you know I'm slightly partial to grits and these didn't disappoint. I only wish I had licked the plate. *Cookies and Cream french toast - good flavor but maybe needed slightly thicker bread. By this point though I was probably too full to be enjoying food lol. Overall...I really enjoyed the meal and I really enjoyed the pricing structure. Our service was a bit spotty and I think our waitress may have been new so I'll keep this at 4 stars for now. I'm definitely anxious to go back and try dinner!

    (4)

  • Melissa S.

    We chose the Federal to check out on 4th of July weekend for obvious reasons. The reviews are generally good, particularly for a few signature dishes. So those are the ones we tried, the Jar'o Duck app and the $20 smoked and fried pork on waffles. It was all really dry. Pork was dry, duck was dry and even the waffle was dry. What a disappointment. Perhaps if we added the bottomless mimosas it would all have tasted better.

    (2)

  • Naty S.

    A seriously good Gastropub in the area. Great decor, service is fantastic and the location is off the grid but perfectly quiet and away from the noise of the near by design district. Must say hands down "The Biscuit" speechless... Specials are never disappointing... They pair these with seasonal beers! Make sure you leave room for dessert!!!

    (4)

  • Kathryn S.

    I absolutely hate organizing parties and dinners. Anything that forces me to think for a large group of people who have their own agenda is one of the most stressful things for me. People never arrive on time, they always bring more people, or someone doesn't show up. It gives me a headache just thinking about it. When I had to plan a dinner for about 15 people you can imagine the anxiety that I was going through. Many places wanted us to have a preset menu and they just weren't working out. But lo and behold, like a shining beacon of hope, The Federal would seat our party, and they'd seat us without all the mumbo jumbo that other restaurants wanted from us. After all the planning, the dinner was wonderful. The food was exceptional and everyone had a blast. As usual with this group, we got a bunch of different plates and everyone tried a bunch of everything. Some of the favorites were the Buttermilk Biskit, South West Mac & Cheese, Ceez's Smokey Fried Chicken, St. Louis Style Pork Ribs. I also have to say that the service was superb. Out waitress was great at very attentive to our table. We had a very large party and they got everything right. The reason I am giving this place 4 stars instead of 5 is the alcohol situation. They do not have hard liquor! All their drinks are made with wine, and when we asked for a specific drink, they were out. We all had to stick to wine, which did not bode very well with some of my party. Either way it was a great night and we had a lot of fun. I really liked The Federal and I plan on going back and trying their brunch.

    (4)

  • Elena G.

    this place is FANTASTIC and inexpensive. went for girls night out and they stayed open til almost 12 (we did the tasting menu) about 9 courses full portion for 33 dollars. simply unbeatable. cant wait to go again. warning- it is in a shopping center so no swanky brickell spot here, but its in buena vista, and you pay for your food, not their rent. OVERALL it sounds like a round 2 to me! ;) wine about 9 dollars for a BIG glass..

    (5)

  • Peter H.

    Great place. Loved the decor and the service, but the star here is the food. The much anticipated pig wings did not disappoint nor did anything else on the brunch menu. Other stand outs included the BBQ Brisket and Eggs and the crab toast. The house sangria was a little watery but had great flavor.

    (4)

  • Ari K.

    Had been craving to visit this place for awhile because of the rave reviews and finally took the tongue plunge for brunch but the food was really disappointing. Besides the food I actually love the spot ;) Stupendous affable service, a charming rustic comfy ambiance, an awesome soundtrack that played M83 and Moby and a beautiful commitment to the organic lifestyle which even included Dr. Bronner's healthy soap in the bathroom. To be fair I have also heard they have stupendous lunch and dinner cuisine and I also did not try the candified jar o duck that sounds sublime. Lets get to the food: Jumbo Federal Biskit- Was just good not great and I feel like biskits should always be great. It was slightly sweet and savory and nicely Crunchified but a tad dry. I added maple syrup to it and it really helped. Crawfish Grits n Egg- This dish was not good. It had a weird taste and lacked the refined smooth consistency that I appreciate in my grits. It also was heavily salted and had a confusing piecemeal texture. I got no crawfish flavor either. Chicken & Waffles- The chicken was the best thing I had at brunch. Nicely fried thick boneless chicken strips that possessed a solid crisp and tasty buffalo sauce on the side. The waffles though were a huge disappointment. It seemed like an Ego waffle that was super soft and soggy instead of that beautiful crisp I need in my waffle's life. Cookies & Cream French Toast- The mere name and notion inspires an expectation of a glorious dish but twas merely meh. I really enjoyed the whipped ricotta but the texas toast was overdone with crusts that were way too hard to eat. The toast also was a bit dry and the Oreo pieces a tad stale. Even though the food fell flat for me I will definitely come back to try their non brunch food and try to support this spot that exudes such positive love and energy.

    (3)

  • Liz L.

    First time we tried to do brunch at The Federal we could not get a table. So def make reservations, especially on Sunday or there may be an hour(s)wait. The seating is cozy and I liked the decor in the restaurant. The servers were knowledgeable about food on the menu and were prompt to refill water and more importantly to top off the endless mimosa glasses. The food was Uhhmaz!ng. Each order came out as they were ready and each dish was delicious. We had green eggs and ham, lobster biscuits, steak and eggs and the cookies and cream French toast. We decided to be adventurous and got the duck confit, and it was probably one of the tastiest dishes we ordered :)

    (5)

  • Taryn P.

    I am still tasting the clams and the tomato salad with their complex and satisfying flavors. This restaurant is authentic and so special. A must visit on anyone's trip to Miami.

    (4)

  • D B.

    The best fried chicken in the WORLD. #dassit #umadbro don't be come here and eat all the great food they have. Game over not 1 single place I need the southeast has fried chicken on this level.

    (5)

  • Michelle G.

    I really wanted to love The Federal, unfortunately I felt as if this restaurant has been over hyped and does not deliver. Their Ani Palmer and Krispy Creme Bread Pudding were the only good two things about my dinner. The because that they are supposedly famous for was almost an insult to other biscuits. The maple glaze that they brush on top of it is really strange because when you bite into the biscuit all you can taste is sugar with a ton of butter. I know this restaurant is supposed to be doing spins on comfort food and that comfort food is not healthy to begin with but surely they can make unique comfort food that flavors actually work. For my main, I had their Fried Chicken. When I scrapped passed the breaded, dunked in honey layer, the chicken was actually really tender and had a smokey flavor. However, I should not have to be scrapping off parts of an entree to make the dish edible. Everything about the dish along with the biscuit was basically diabetes on a fork. Dessert was wonderful, for the three bites I could handle. Between the biscuit and fried chicken, I was sugared out. It's humorous that you can "Buy a Beer for The Kitchen" and I wish that was just a joke but I did see kitchen crew grabbing a beer every now and then. Maybe if they stopped drinking and took their jobs a little more serious I would not have left feeling as if I needed to make a doctors appointment to check my sugar levels. Needless to say, I will not be returning.

    (2)

  • Kati E.

    Ehhhh.... Not impressed after watching best restaurant... Same problem as on the show. We made our full order and Everything came out at once. ....for a minute I thought I was getting attacked by food.... Pigwing was room temperature, wish it were right of the grill.. Sammich was delicious after we had it reheated since it was on our table forever... More then 20 minutes .. Again. Everyone was super nice and friendly but I wish service was a bit better. Would still come back 7 more time though...

    (4)

  • Amber L.

    HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND EFFORT. My partner and I showed up and were told we would be seated outside, since inside was fully reserved. There were 2 tables available outside at the time (4 top tables), prior, other patrons who had 2 in their party, were seated at 4 top tables. Yet WE WERE TREATED DIFFERENTLY and made to sit at an excruciatingly hot 2 top table, in direct sunlight, on a 95 + degree day. On top of that, the hostess was rude, and was completely disinterested in addressing the problem. I have never had such an awful restaurant experience. NEVER AGAIN.

    (1)

  • Kristina K.

    Gastropub with great dishes to choose from, if u are foodie - then this is the place to try. However, place is pretty small and located on the plaza. No liquer license, so no cocktail, only wine and beer.

    (4)

  • Lis P.

    Always delicious, fresh and innovative recipes! A great selection of craft beers. The ambiance is laid back and comfortable. Perfect for brunch! And lunch...and dinner :)

    (5)

  • Justen B.

    When we arrived it was a nice little restaurant nestled in a little less touristy part of town. Our server Everett was excellent, he explained the items they are known for how the meal is prepared and how specifically you should eat their signature dishes. We started with the buffalo style pig wing & the biskit. They were both phenomenal. The honey flavor and freshness of the biscuit and the excellent flavor on the pig wing. For dinner I had the smoked chicken and my wife got the duck confit. Both meals were cooked to perfection and would definitely get them again. We we're stuffed but Everett came over and explained the deserts and the less heavy deserts. We decided on the Banana Foster Foie Gras and man did we choose right! The banana was perfect the marshmallow and chocolate made it just right and not super filling. Next time we're back in Miami we will have to stop by again.

    (5)

  • Roy R.

    On a recent unplanned trip to Miami, my girlfriend suggested we stop here because it was on her list and had heard they had the best biscuits in America. Everything we ordered was incredible! From the Deviled Eggs to the Fried Chicken to the Jambalaya. The biscuits were like nothing I'd ever eaten! I wanted to order a six pack of them to take home. Dessert was equally delicious. I would highly recommend The Federal. They put a unique twist on southern comfort food that just can't be beat!

    (5)

  • Dianna R.

    It's just ok. The ambiance is nice, music is not too loud which is great. But, food coming out is very slow. Granted, it's tapa/family style but on a Tuesday night it was just slow. The chicken was good. The pork shank is pretty big. The tomato salad was fresh. The biscuit was yummy. The bread pudding tastes like a Krispy Kreme donut! Not sure if I'd go back...def not for dinner.

    (3)

  • Matthew T.

    The Federal has some of the best tasting food I've ever eaten. It is, admittedly, a bit pricey. Nevertheless, the food is delectable and truly unique, and the service is great, so it's worth the price. Service is extremely down-to-Earth and affable, yet highly professional, as evidenced by their attention to details; extensive knowledge of their menu items; and ability to clearly communicate how their fresh, high-quality ingredients are craft-fully fused to create awe-inspiring culinary creations.. I had the beef brisket, which, if I recall correctly had been cooking in the odor smoker for over four hours prior. It was one of the most intense, richest, and most delectable flavors I've ever savored. The so-called "Booze Fairy" makes some of the best sangria I've ever had. One MUST, ABSOLUTELY MUST order the biscuit! It will blow your mind! Awesome!

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    My boyfriend and I had dinner at The Federal last night and really enjoyed it. The ambiance is chill and relaxing. The service was impeccable and our server had a strong knowledge of wine and made great recommendations for food pairings. I also appreciate that I didn't feel rushed and no one tried to push more expensive food or drink, as some places tend to do. Definitely try the pork buffalo wing and the tomato salad. I'd recommend a group of 3 or more so you can buy many small plates to try. We probably over ordered for 2 people, but wanted to try it all!

    (5)

  • Luis E.

    "What a lovely room of death" My friend recommended The Federal to host my wife's Birthday brunch... and so we made a reservation for 9. I smiled when I walked into this lovely room of death... and with that I refer to all the stuffed animals on the wall... it all felt so Federal? The service is top-notch, the place gets packed.. so its good to reserve. 1 Mimosa for $9.99 or unlimited Mimosas for $19.99... I will let you do the math. The brunch menu is excellent and you will probably eat way more than you should... but.. that's why we brunch, isn't it? Anyway, who even bothers counting calories? All the appetizers were excellent... everyone was in love with Jar o' duck.. but it wasn't really my favorite. You get to pick 2 main dishes, and to be frank.. they are all excellent. I think the menu is meant to be shared so be smart... order different stuff and do share... because sharing is caring? I gotta come back for lunch/dinner... I didnt get the chance to try whatever it is they cook in that beautiful grill outside. Oh... its not cheap.. specially considering the location. But with that food and service... its worth the money.

    (5)

  • Candy D.

    We were really excited to try this place. The stars are based solely on the food. We didn't have a reservation and on Thursday night it was busy. We had to wait about 20 minutes but the hostess was able to get us a seat. Our waiter was also very friendly and seemed to love working there. To be honest all the workers just seems friendly and helpful. We went to The Federal for the buffalo wing. That was good but the blue cheese mousse that came with it is something I would buy if they sold it. The taste and texture is something I still remember. The best thing I tasted all night there. I would slather that stuff on everything: an everything bagel, sub it in any sandwich/burger, have it on a cheese platter as a it's own dip to have with fruit and crackers. Loved the stuff. We also had the duck confit which did taste like a thanksgiving dinner if you put all the the fixins on the bread. But why muddle up the time, deliciousness, and effort of confit duck with super sweet ingredients, stuffing, etc etc etc. We couldn't even finish it. We also got the clam dish. Unfortunately, the clams were over done. The only good thing about eating that was finding the nuggets of chorizo in the broth. The broth was not very good or well seasoned either. The last dish we got was the mushroom pasta. It definitely needed some salt, and I am not the kind of person that wants a lot of salt in any of my food. The pasta just lacked a little bit of flavor. Overall the environment was nice and friendly and definitely a place I would have wanted to revisit. But I do not see that happening again considering how much we spent, and how disappointed we were with the food. I'll definitely come back to buy the smear though if they ever sell it!

    (2)

  • erica b.

    There was an hour 15 min wait when I arrived but tables open. They haven't quite got down how to turn a table but the food was fantastic and well worth the wait. The biscuit was heavenly, but the deviled eggs were my favorite.

    (4)

  • Melissa W.

    3.5 Stars - Brunch Very good food, typical Miami service. We made a reservation for 9 people on a Saturday morning right after they opened for brunch and we were seated immediately. The menu was explained to us that it was for sharing. This menu is for sharing for maybe 2 people maximum, but unless you order multiples of each dish, they are WAY too small to be shared in a group. Most of us stuck to our two options and were quite satisfied. I had the crab toast which was supposed to be on brioche. They were out so it was on a waffle. This didn't seem to change much, if anything. The second dish, I forget the name but it involved a poached egg, biscuit, and a very small amount of lobster. Both very tasty. At the end, everyone gets to share "dessert' which is cookies and cream french toast. This felt like a total throwaway dish. It was okay. I'm not 100% sure if I'd come back for dinner.

    (3)

  • Sandra M.

    Last Sunday I went to The Federal for brunch with two of my girlfriends, we took advantage of the $19 dollar endless mimosa deal! The food and service was great. The place is small and very "hip", it has an outside eating area as well. We had brunch inside, it was three of us and we were there for a couple of hours, drinking our mimosas which are conveniently made at the table. We had the steak and eggs which was delicious, the wings and waffles, and to top it all off the pumpkin spiced French toast! The food was perfectly cooked, and very presentable. Make sure to make reservations because this places gets really busy for Sunday brunch. We had a great time and I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • German M.

    Oh Em Gee! I came here for Sunday brunch and had an orgasmic meal. Their methodology is that you get two appetizers to share, 2 entrees of your choice, and dessert. All for $25. Say what!? I left completely satisfied because of the portion sizes, the variety and the flavors. This place provided a twist on classic dishes which was innovative and fun... I can't wait to come back here for dinner (or back for brunch). I made a reservation online for 11:30am on Sunday but there were empty tables inside and outside. Parking could have been a mission but I got lucky as someone was leaving as I was arriving.

    (5)

  • Miriam H.

    I have forgiven so much about this restaurant, from plastic in my breakfast to outdoor tables so grimy that pieces of many previous diners' dinners could be found in between the slats. But on the last two occasions I visited, I had to leave because what the restaurant put forth on its website was, without apology, not offered in reality. First, it was the happy hour that suddenly disappeared. Most recently and more significantly, it was the vegetarian items on the menu. The Federal has promised a twice-weekly vegetarian prix fixe lunch, and I applaud more vegetarian options. But vegetarians -- or anyone with different dietary needs -- shouldn't be relegated to a particular meal. A vegetarian should be able to eat at dinner as well, particularly if the online menu implies they can (I was told the menu hadn't been changed online after certain items had been removed and that the kitchen couldn't put together another vegetarian entree). Every time I try to go to the Federal, I feel like I'm presented with the excuse that it's still defining and redefining itself. Three years is too long.

    (1)

  • MG G.

    I first heard about this from Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. We went for dinner at around 7:30 on a Saturday night, not crowded at that point but there were more people coming in as we were close to leaving. My bf and I had excellent service. Unfortunately I forgot the server's name but he was helpful, attentive with the drinks, really couldn't have done a better job. The food: we tried the Jar O' Duck and the New England Style Lobster Sliders. Everything tasted delicious but the lobster sliders were my favorite, so soft, fresh and buttery!! We also shared the Ceez's Smokey Fried Chicken and the SW Mac & Cheese. I wish I could perfectly fry a chicken like that... I ate everything but the bones and licked my fingers... The BBQ flavor and the spicy sauce on the side really worked well so the chicken was my favorite. My bf's favorite was the Mac & cheese which I highly recommend that as a side if you're having the chicken. The portions I had were not big enough for my bf but we both had a really great night with awesome food.

    (5)

  • juanita s.

    I have been here before and I have to say I was left unimpressed. The biscuits were hard and bland and portions were super small and had me running to the bathroom bc the gravy was so rich! Service was o.k. And if you serve bottomless mimosas then you should expect people to drink alot. I just can't see myself coming back here and not for $90 bucks for brunch.

    (2)

  • Jeff H.

    I really wanted to like this place. My wife and I had seen the restaurant on Bravo's Best New Restaurant and were super excited. Unfortunately it was a huge disappointment. Here are the pros and cons: Pros: 1. Best deviled eggs I have ever had. 2. Wait staff were very attentive. Cons: 1. Famous Biscuit was hard as a rock! :( 2. Wife had BBQ fish and it was awful! Not sure what kind of fish it was but if not for the BBQ sauce would have been even worse! 3. I had the crispy porchetta which is low & slow, collard greens, brisket ends, andouille, house made bacon, smoked grapes. This was basically a big piece of non seasoned fat wrapped with a hard as a rock pork rind! The collard greens were not seasoned and under cooked. 4. Owner (wife) walked by the table at least ten times and did not even acknowledge any customers. Maybe her head is a little big due to the show? She was more worried about the bum in the parking lot than she was her customers! 5. Menu is very limited! 6. Not in the best neighborhood in Miami! Bottom line is that the food was not seasoned! If you are not going to properly season the food, then put salt and pepper on the table! There is a reason this place is not full on a Saturday night! I would never go back here and eat. Please correct your food and season it! Very disappointing!

    (2)

  • Dan M.

    My wife is a big "Lets try something new" girl! The federal was near by and something she had been wanting to taste. I like the decor and the menu. But once again like many things in Miami, they have hired a crafty creative writer who creates these awesome illusions for all the OTHER senses minus the taste! Bottom line, you can snazzy up a place, decorate your words like a ginger bread house, but if your food is eeehhh just alright, I'm gonna throw the BS flag! Call it what it is.

    (3)

  • Anquanette G.

    Oh, The Federal... I wanted to give you a better rating, I truly did but the overall experience fell short in a number of areas that I cannot overlook. I love my birthday month because it always falls during Miami Spice month. For my birthday this year, I did more extensive research than usual & settled on The Federal after drooling over their Miami Spice menu. In addition, my fellow Yelpers fully endorsed this establishment & they rarely steer me wrong so I knew I'd be set! From the onset of the preparation of my birthday dinner, I was already apprehensive about whether or not The Federal lived up to the hype. I called on Tuesday to make reservations for Friday night. I had a party of 10-11 people so I knew reservations was a must due to the fact that the restaurant was on the smaller scale. It took about 10 minutes to make the reservation. because the gentleman on the phone spoke very little English & by little, I mean none so I had to spell out EVERYTHING I said: First & last name, email address, & telephone number. My first name is Anquanette. It took a while... Not too bad right? No big deal. Move on. That's what I told myself. The next day, I was called by the manager to confirm the reservation for a larger party & was informed that everyone HAD to order from the Miami Spice menu & that it would be served family style. I advised the manager that there were people in my party who were vegetarians & had certain food requirements so some would have to order off the regular menu. She advised me that this was not an option. This put such a horrible taste in my mouth. It spelled out to me that they were more concerned about making it easy for them instead of enjoyable for their guests. After much hemming & hawing, I decided to still go. My friends knew how much I wanted to try it out and said it was MY birthday (I have awesome friends). We arrived for our 8:30 reservation on Friday night. The restaurant is a little hard to spot so you may have to circle around once because it's very likely that you'll pass it. It's located in a small strip mall so keep an eye out! The seating for a large party was terrible. They placed against the mirrored wall that has a bench as the seating. The bench was extremely short where I was forced to sit sideways for the entire meal in order to sit somewhat comfortably. This restaurant is not for large parties. I think 4-6 should be the max in a group. Anything over that is just uncomfortable. Let me start out by saying that the food at the Federal is phenomenal. Hands down, the executive chef put together an amazing menu that blends together a wide array of flavors that satisfies the palette. As previously mentioned, the Miami Spice menu was served family style but they decided which items to bring out and the quantity of each. We were never asked what items we wanted from the menu. There were 8 appetizers to choose from and we were given 4 out of the 8 apps in a party of 9 people: deviled eggs, beet salad, mac & cheese, & the brussels sprouts. If you came into the restaurant in a regular group, you got to choose 2 apps per person. We clearly did not get that option. They brought out 2 deviled eggs per person. The eggs had pork in it so 4 of the people in my party didn't eat them so 8 deviled eggs went back to the kitchen. The brussels sprouts were tasty with a flavor of green apple and a pleasant crunch. Again, more than half of the party didn't eat them because really and truly who likes brussels sprouts? 2 bowls of brussels sprouts went back to the kitchen. The beet salad was surprisingly good and everyone liked that app. The mac and cheese was super heavy and just way too much. Something was missing and I consider myself a connoisseur of sorts of mac & cheese. This one fell short. There were 4 entrees on the menu. They served 3 of the 4: seafood stew, crawfish and grits, and smokey fried chicken, leaving out the St. Louis Ribs. I guess large parties can't get ribs. It would cost the restaurant too much so we were given the cheaper things. Have you ever tried sharing soup with 2 other people? It doesn't work out very well especially when there's only one bowl and one spoon. We had to ask for extra spoons in order for everyone to taste the seafood stew and we were all dipping into the same bowl. Spread the love, spread the germs.... Dessert was a espresso mousse. Everyone enjoyed that immensely. It was the only item that everyone agreed was spot on in flavor. Again, the food was extremely good but half of my party left hungry because more than half of the items served contained meat which they do not eat. The amount of food given for a party of that size was not sufficient. Would I return to The Federal? Probably not. I know there are other restaurants in Miami that cater to their customers rather than finding ways to reduce the workload in the kitchen.

    (2)

  • Matt W.

    Like everyone else, we saw these guys on TV. When Tom Colichio says "This is really good" you develop expectations. The Federal did not disappoint. We decided to have some cocktails, because they looked interesting. The Southern Belle and Lemongrass Sangria were great. As was the Beer for the Kitchen - a great idea I wish more places would copy. First out was Jar o'Duck. A very good duck rillette. Perfect bread - thick, crunchy, a little charred, delicious. Little coins of candied sweet potato. But the kicker is the charred marshmallow fluff - takes the dish from really good to "I can't stop eating this. Really. I can't. Please help me." Then came the famous Biskit. A cat head biscuit, basically fried on the outside. Tender and moist on the inside. Sweet and salty and buttery and gone too fast. As Callie Speer said, that's a pretty f****n' good biscuit. Next up was the Buffalo Style Pig Wing. I've seen other reviewers say it wasn't hot, and this is true. But both ribs and chicken wings are meant to be served warm (you're holding them in your hands), so that's OK. The sauce was delicious. The blue cheese mousse was perfect when eaten with the pork, but tasted a little off on its own. The meat wasn't fall off the bone tender, which was disappointing. This was a good dish, but not a great one. Finished off with the Spicy Clams. My only complaint is it didn't come with a straw. The tomato broth is nuts. The clams were sweet and tender. The chorizo complimented them perfectly. More great bread. I could eat this all day. The service was fantastic. The hostess was friendly and pleasant. Our waiter managed our table, but everyone in the restaurant was taking care of us. Food came out when it was ready, not when our waiter was able to get to it. Servings were timed well. Whoever was passing by when our water glasses got low stopped and filled them, whoever was passing by when our plates were empty picked them up. While I had my face buried in the clams, I heard A.'s fork hit the floor. Maybe a second later I heard "Thank you". The owner was standing and talking to friends at the next table. Picked up an unused fork from there and handed it over faster than I would have believed possible, went and got another to replace it. That was impressive. The AC wasn't on, probably out, so it was pretty warm by the time we were done. And the Pig Wing could have been better (and I expect it will be the next time we go). So this is a 4, but I have every expectation that I'll be changing that to a 5 soon.

    (4)

  • Katherine S.

    Happy hour is great, go for the fish dip and the jumbo biscuit you won't be disappointed! They get creative with prosecco and bubbly cocktails too :)

    (5)

  • Roselin S.

    I went to The Federal for brunch with a group of friends and it was absolutely delicious! We each had a taste of our entrees which included steak and eggs, frittata, green eggs and ham, and deviled eggs. The ultimate satisfying treat for my sweet tooth was the cookies and cream French toast. Each of our picks were spot on! I'm definitely returning to The Federal for brunch and then some:)

    (5)

  • Ute L.

    Oh Federal I had such high expectations after all the great reviews. Late Sunday brunch. The place was super noisy, we literally couldn't hear each other inside, due to some very loud "ladies" at surrounding tables, who, from the sound of it, had either too much coffee, too many mimosas, or both. We managed to use sign language agreeing on sitting outside instead, which turned out to be much more relaxing. As for the menu, considering strip mall location and portion sizes, prices are pretty high. Not very veg friendly, with pretty much the only options the starter beet salad and French toast. No pancakes? Not even a veggie omelet. Beet salad and French toast it was. The beet salad wasn't great and definitely overpriced. Tiny and the frisee lettuce was difficult to eat. Would have been better with just good old romaine. Morgan's beet salad is way better and five times the size. The French toast equally disappointing. Very dry. The bread was either really old or hadn't been soaked in the batter enough, probably a combination of both. I felt like I was eating a thick slice of dry toast drizzled with chocolate syrup. Not impressed. How do you mess up French toast? One of the easiest dishes in the world. The corn meal waffles tasted just like cornbread. Cool idea but I prefer regular waffles. The eggs benedict with creamed spinach and poblano hollandaise looked like the best dish at our table. My dad really liked the biscuits on the bottom. Chicken and waffles were a small portion and the BF didn't seem too impressed with either. Even the desserts were not impressive. The pot de crème, as they called it, was just Oreo crumbs topped with vanilla ice cream and an espresso mousse on top. The mousse wasn't set all the way, tasted like flavored whipped egg whites. The apple strudel looked more like a pecan strudel. That could be a good thing if you expect really rich, really sweet and really caloric but that's not what apple strudel should be. It should be light and flaky, at least if you're German. Sorry, not getting on the Yelp band wagon with this one. No repeat.

    (2)

  • Ali M.

    Pretty meh if you ask me. Went here because it was awarded best new restaurant, but I didn't love the options. What we got was good, not amazing. The service was the worst service I've ever experienced. I think there was one waiter for the whole restaurant. He had no knowledge of the wines and failed to explain the specials. We ended up getting the clams - good but very chewy and salty, the jambalaya - not like jambalaya seemed like rice with sauce and other things, the porchetta - good but I had nothing to compare it to, and the pork wing- probably the best thing we got. In general it was too fatty for me and the food was okay. I probably wouldn't go back - especially with that service.

    (3)

  • L K.

    Our first night on vacation was made perfect. Our car rental experience at Miami airport made us very late. That's another post and zero stars would be appropriate for hertz. They couldn't be nicer with our repeated calls to delay our reservation. We finally got there and The vibe was relax and fun. They were full of people enjoying themselves on a Wednesday. We ordered too much food and loved it all. Go on Wednesdays for the crawfish and then dunk the bisket in it to soak up the goodness. Our server mike, manager d j and bus boy were outstanding. The duck is genius, you really appreciate the thought that goes into putting the components together to make an amazing bite. We will have to find our way back before we go home.

    (5)

  • Ryan F.

    We feasted on the $40 prix fixe menu, which included 8 total courses. It was some of the best two hours of eating I've ever had. I felt like I was in a Munchies, Vice episode - food just kept coming out...we were already full, but couldn't stop eating because everything was so good. We just so happened to be there on Friday, May 30th (my birthday) which was the premiere of their Diners, Drive-ins and Dives episode. They threw up a screen to air the episode, which featured their smoky fried chicken. Service was great and very accommodating as our party arrived pretty late and less a few people. Some of the standouts of the night were: -jar of duck -crab sliders -smoky fried chicken -cowboy steak, cooked medium rare -3 cheese mac n cheese with poblano peppers The Federal is executing southern comfort food quite well and deserve the recognition.

    (4)

  • Natalie I.

    So we hit this place on a friday its in a strip mall and hobo was running around doing something to the cars and my guy was like lets try some place else. But i insisted. The huge BBQ grill right out front was smoking and smelling just fabulous. We are both glad i insisted. So it wasn't that late but they were out of a lot of things on the menu. That was a bit of a bummer. I also think the menu changes based on what is fresh because a lot of things yelpers were posting about where not on the menu. Im taking a star of for not planning for a friday night that is a basic management thing. But what was left was delicious the duck in a jar was good, my guy devoured it. I am a bit of a duck snob ever since I returned from china. So I passed however the Marshmallow that came with it was so good, a sweet with a bit of salt is so Devine. We had the pork ribs was very yummy with a sweet spicy flavor. The octopus was out however they had half a portion left and they gave it to my guy on the house he said it was amazing. The southwest mac and cheese was a bit disappointing. We didn't get a sweet because what was offered did not seem appealing. They have to step that up as well. We tend to like to try a bunch of new places only the spectacular ones keep us coming back this may just fall into the later category. Im not a much of bbq fan but I do enjoy it once in awhile and i know a few BBQ fends who i need to bring here. Also I want to try their brunch I just love brunch.

    (3)

  • Heather V.

    Disappointed for sure. Had crawfish and grits and the pork wing and waffles as well as their famous biscuit. Everything was just lack luster. Biscuit was burnt. Crawfish grits had very little crawfish..like 5 pieces too little and zero flavor. Service was good when we saw the server...which wasn't nearly enough. Just left feeling let down. Hope they get a handle on it ... It could be great.

    (2)

  • Addy R.

    Deliciousness! The Limeaid and sangria are to die for and the platano waffles are heavenly! The breakfast samich (yes saMMich) is hearty and the biscuit is amazing!

    (5)

  • P H.

    The Federal has been on my radar for a while and after reading all the recent nasty reviews I must admit I got even more intrigued. Some of these reviews are just so mean-spirited that I almost had to LOL (hey I don't use that shorthand lightly) upon reading them.. I had to come check this place out for myself! In fact, I was actually kind of looking forward to being treated like crap at the restaurant and then feeling compelled to write something funny about it. And who knows? Maybe I too can get 'trolled' by the alleged female manager/monster who apparently guards the gateway to hell! Yeah! Armed with my eagerness to receive poor service and unimaginative/substandard food, I finally dined at the Federal. For the palms-rubbing, popcorn-crunching, train wreck-watching lot enthusiastically anticipating an awful experience filled with disappointment, sadness, and anguish from me, I have to say I've let you down. From the moment I set foot into the establishment, all service staff including one bartender, two waiters, and one hostess were nothing but friendly and courteous. I had the biscuit, shrimp and grits, and the 'wings' and waffles, and they were all solid dishes- tasty and well-executed with good balance of flavors. The waffles can use a prettier plating presentation with maybe more colors, but at the end of the day it's a waffle dish and flavor and creativity are really the strong suits of this dish. I did not do the bottomless drinks option but instead had a cocktail and coffee. The cocktail was good, and you almost had to like your drink even more knowing that it was prepared carefully by such a nice, friendly man. The Panther coffee was a little sour for my taste, but I have noticed that it's perhaps one of the new Miami favorites. Can I put in a recommendation for Stumptown? That would make me so happy. All in all, sorry folks I had a great time at the restaurant and I got nothing to add to the ongoing rant chant. I do however need to help set the record straight- the food and drinks at the Federal were delicious and the service was great. The Federal is not a big restaurant so limited seating capacity honestly is to be expected. All restaurants need to operate on some rules in order to function properly. Think about our places of work or home... when do we ever have no rules that we need to stick to just so that the whole place doesn't fall apart? Now I can't speak for the dinner slot, but if it were true that people have to wait for 15+ minutes for a table even with a reservation, then the fault lies with the scheduling system and/or table management, and that needs to be addressed appropriately. But for the brunch crowd agonized over waiting to taste the sweet and savory provisions, might I suggest arriving early within the first half hour of opening time? Early rising has its merits... Walk right in and ascend to your thrones, breakfast kings!

    (5)

  • Sally R.

    Sunday brunch was delicious! Every dish was nicely cooked and very tasty. Steak and eggs is very good (18$) and the homemade biscuit is to die for. Green eggs and ham is also delicious!! (14$) Bottomless mimosas is a big plus (18$) and they make them so good :) enough champagne in your glass Excellent service from hostess to waiters. We had Teddy and he was very attentive and helpful It was a great experience. This is a great spot for brunch. It may get too busy so calling ahead or making online reservations is a good idea A must try :)

    (5)

  • Greg A.

    We were on a cruise and live in Texas and I specifically wanted to come to this restaurant after seeing it on bravo, it's very much a Southern restaurant but they must not really know about Southern cooking, and I find it hard to believe this was voted best biscuit in the US it was extremely salty and tasted like it was made out of Jiffy mix, The owners are not there so if you're looking to meet them you'll be disappointed, we had all the recommended specials and they were okay but just not what you would think it would be considering they were on one of the 10 best new restaurants in the US, I mean it's good food but it doesn't live up to the hype unfortunately, I was extremely embarrassed with my friends because I had gone on and on about how good this was going to be and we all agreed it was fair ?The staff is amazing very knowledgeable very helpful and very friendly!

    (3)

  • caro b.

    Brunch was OK...the cookies and creme french toast was much lighter than one would think. The heirloom tomato ceviche was nice and refreshing. The wing and waffle was...too much- too sweet or something- definitely not my favorite. The breakfast nachos were pretty good. Our waiter poured a nice mimosa, but overall this place is just OK and not worth the hype. Oh and that famous biscuit? I've had better.

    (3)

  • German B.

    Without a doubt a proud member of my personal "MIAMI's TOP 5 BEST RESTAURANTS". I loved every aspect from this place: concept, food, service & place. This is how a Upscale Southern Table should be. A nice place that invites customers to share and have a good time! We ordered 10 different dishes to share (for 4) and each one was better than the other, nd not regulat good, I mean really amazingly goooood! Don't worry about what to order... everything is good, but don't miss the biscuits! All employees are friendly and excellent servers, I know, because we got served by all of them at some point in our meal (i think so). Its important to go in a group of at least (and mumy advise is to keep it like that) 4 people, that way you get to try a lot and good portions of it. Miami needs more places like this, I really hope you guys keep doing what you're doing and you will be an Icon in Miami. Thanks

    (5)

  • Carine A.

    Complicated, but good food. Made reservations for two at 7pm (very early for Miami), they wanted to seat us outside and it was chilly. When we made reservation we didn't have the choice on where to sit. We had to wait for our inside table but could not get a drink from the bar. Overall complicated. Food was good. Service was great!

    (3)

  • Ben A.

    LOVE this gastropub. Hope Michael is my waiter EVERYtime also. Must tries: EVERYTHING. So, I've been there a number of times for dinner... always a pleasure. Occasionally I'll go with a friend to grab a glass of wine & some dessert. However, I must tell you all... I finally had brunch here. It was off the hook, and this coming from a guy who is a brunch-aholic & hails from San Francisco/Bay Area for a number of years. Most noteworthy: the wild mushroom ragu with poached egg. Total foodgasm. Ok, I'll clean up with review after I stop drooling, but now I'm so hungry just thinking about it all.

    (5)

  • Jo W.

    Off the beaten path, but I headed there for the Bottomless Happy Hour figuring if all else fails, at least I got some booze. My beverage of choice for the night, Rosé. The also had beers, other wines and a Frozen Blackberry Bellini that was quite good in the bottomless options. We were only really there for drinking and no so much for food, so we started out easy with the Cajun-Spiced Popcorn. I mean it's popcorn, but it has a nice spice if anything could be said about it. The we had some delicious Buffalo Style Pig Wings. This was by far the best and only really good thing we has that night. After that, we decided to try the Texas BBQ Brisket Sliders. Even with the egg on top, it was still only okay, more effort could have been made with these. As the night progress we were HUNGRY and ended up also ordering the Smoked Fish Dip. It needed more spice and flavor and I regretted not ordering the recommended Jar-O-Duck instead (but my friend doesn't eat duck). I had heard about this place before so I was surprised that it didn't live up to expectations, but maybe it was the fact that I ate off their happy hour menu and not the main menu, but regardless, a good restaurant would not skimp on the happy hour offerings. Service was great, the drinks were flowing, and it was a nice atmosphere, but the food was kind of disappointing.

    (3)

  • Matthew S.

    Worth a diet cheat! Try the Biskit! Nice food and atmosphere. Good friendly service.

    (5)

  • Nato S.

    This place is so lame. Went once for dinner a few months ago and was unimpressed. Used to enjoy brunch on a semi-regular basis until we were served a cold jumbo biscuit and took a break. Tried it again this weekend and were annoyed and shocked by a pre-fixed brunch menu with itty bitty food portions that are supposed to be "shared." Please explain how a quarter of a waffle is to be shared? Maybe by mice. The brunch starters (which you are forced to take) are some stale wannabe pita chips served with disgusting bland dips. Also, a "basket of fresh pastries" which ultimately means one small sweet bread and a super thin slice of some berry swirl bread. Sad. Total let down. Service leaves a lot to be desired. A LOT. Waiter was too busy serving alcohol to the table behind us to realize we needed more water - on more than one occasion. Had to flag someone down to point out the fact that we had no water. Zero. Not worth the money, effort, experience. Go up Biscayne and get brunch somewhere better. It's probably worth noting that this restaurant, like a few others in Miami, used to be a great hidden gem with fresh flavors, great portion sizes and amazing service. They were features on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, and since then have never been the same. I guess they let the fame get to their heads and think that being on that show will excuse the fact that they redid their menu and lowered their quality of service. NOPE.

    (1)

  • Laura R.

    Food and service are SUPERB. Done. Came here for Sunday brunch, and just my surprise the brunch was St. Patricks day themed! Between three of us girls we got the green eggs and ham, the veggie fritatta, and the cookies and cream french toast. They were all BIG enough of us to leave some some leftovers, AND incredibly delicious. So much flavor!! I recommend you get the PBR margaritas, simply amazing. I never even knew you could have margaritas made from PBR and not hard liquor! Being a brunch advocate, I will be coming back to this place!

    (5)

  • Ryan G.

    This is my first time on yelp... I had an experience yesterday that warranted me taking the time to do this. The wait staff was great, there service was genuine. The Manager on Duty yesterday though was different story. He was heavyset portly man. He did not seem very happy that I was walking into the restaurant. As I walked into the door, the manager happens to be standing there. I smiled and said hello, there was no response of hello and welcome or how can I help you, or will you be dinning in or taking out... Nothing... He looked at me with a sour grimace and waited for me to tell him I was there to make a to-go order. He then points me towards to the bar and says "over there"... So, already feeling the "energy" if you know what I mean. I went "over there" and my mother and I stood there for about two minutes without so much as someone looking at us. I finally asked for a menu. Once I made the order with one of the wait staff, I saw the other side if you will... The waiters and servers themselves were what you would expect from a place that will run you about $28 for a hearty breakfast, high quality and attentive. So I wait the 15mins for the food. So other than the horrible treatment I received from the Manager on Duty for the Mid-day shift yesterday 8\8, here is the next and final whammy... All told with the tip, my breakfast was $30.00. I had the biscuits and gravy and the lemon pancakes. So when the waiter hands me the bag I ask about napkins and eating utensils. She tells me "WE DONT PROVIDE EATING UTENSILS TO GO" WHAT?!??! So my first thought was to leave the food and get my money back. Now I wish I had... My mother and I were on the way to the beach and we thought we would try the place out. I ended up having to stop at Publix to get something to eat with. Not a good look. The food... Mediocre at best. Pancakes were thin (and not in a good way) and the batter they use is far from light and airy and fluffy as you might expect, they were flat and grainy in texture and consistency. The Federal is supposed to be known for their Biscuits... Why? My experience is that they are no better that what comes from the can at the supermarket. Overall, the Federal is a small dark little place in a nondescript shopping plaza flanked by a Dunkin Donuts and a Health Food store and parking is a major challenge. It not worth your time or money. If you're driving on Biscayne Boulevard and you pass 51st Street, and you see "The Federal"... KEEP DRIVING!!!

    (2)

  • Emma S.

    I was extremely excited to try this place. I'm a fan of food shows and was pumped to try such a finely reviewed spot. That being said. I was disappointed. They didn't serve honey with the biscuits and the green eggs and ham that I were not that good. The ham was dry and the eggs were not as seasoned as I thought they'd be. Oh well. I'll try it again some other time.

    (3)

  • Adri G.

    I went recently with a large party of 9 and had an overall amazing experience. The service was absolutely perfect! The tapas style is perfect for large groups, everyone got to try every dish. The biscuit was perfect. I am only deducting one star because some of the descriptions for the food weren't clear and some dishes were lack luster.

    (4)

  • Adam P.

    This place is just awful. I came here for brunch with three other people. Two people ordered the green eggs and ham which was a tiny portion. The other person got the egg sandwich which consists of mostly biscuit with very little egg or ham. The biscuit was dry and over baked. I had the pumpkin French toast which was basically a dessert. It was way too sweet with lots of whip cream and sauce. They charge you a different price if you want refills of your coffee. Give me a break! Three dollars if you want one cup of coffee versus five dollars if you want to have bottomless coffee . The place was quite full which I think is due to the fact that they have bottomless mimosas which we did not order. I would definitely steer clear of this place

    (1)

  • Michelle L.

    I'm really writing this review in the hopes that's they can bring back the magic. I've been going to the Federal for years and they've had their our ups and downs, but it's always been a trusted go-to. Miami restaurants really suffer from consistency and thankfully the Federal always ends up finding their way. But this last brunch was really a let down, especially considering we had a knock-out brunch 9 months ago. I'll start with the positives.. Their service is always good and attentive. Our glasses of bottomless mimosas were always full. And the food came out very quickly, but that turns out to bleed into the negatives. This time around, aside from noticing that there wasn't a full liquor bar to serve out adult slushies and other of the usual bottomless brunch drinks, the also really lacked "fresh" foods; something like a light salad, for example their delicious beet and goat cheese salad, which I really missed. Instead everything else on the menu was comfort food with an egg on top, and drowned in some sort of gravy or sauce. And everything we ordered was salty and room temp. The dish the waiter recommended, which was fried grits with a mushroom ragout was the least favorite. It didn't really taste like much, just different salty textures. The best thing we ordered was the lemon ricotta pancakes, which brought a welcomed sweetness. The lightest option on the menu was a tostada with guacamole, covered with black beans and corn. It was tasty enough, but really not as refreshing as a salad could be.

    (2)

  • Amanda G.

    Such a horrible experience!! They were incredibly unaccommodating to our group. We added one additional person to our group, making it 6. All of a sudden our wait time was pushed back to an hour and when we tried to get drinks while we waited they said we were blocking the way for their waiters. So rude and they really seemed to not care at all for our service. I'm really disappointed cause I've been to The Federal before and was really looking forward to the food. We went to Morgan's (5 min away) instead and were seated immediately. They treated us amazing!

    (1)

  • Stephanie A.

    Pig wing was delish my favorite!

    (3)

  • Michelle M.

    Went here on a double date Sunday evening after the heat game. It was a nice atmosphere--we basically had the place to ourselves. We ordered the pork something or the other, mac n cheese, biscuits, pig wings, deviled eggs, and fried chicken. Everything came out separately which was okay, we were talking and enjoying ourselves. The food was great. Cons: -we each had 2-3 blackberry mint juleps (at at least $10 each) and they were verrrry weak. They ran out of blackberries and had to use blueberries, but still. Super weak and too expensive. -the place was practically empty and our server (who seemed to be the only one working) forgot to place the order for the fried chicken. It was disappointing because we had been talking about it the entire night. Since the food all came out separately we just thought it was taking a really long time to come out. Granted, she offered to make it once we let her know, but by then everyone was finished eating. Overall good food, weak drinks, and ok service. I wonder if Sunday brunch would have better service. Would check out again/10

    (4)

  • Abigail B.

    My girlfriend and I went to The Federal this past Wednesday for dinner. She was going to have her dog with her, so I made sure the restaurant was ok with that before we went. The girl on the phone said that dogs are welcome at the outside seating. Perfect! There is a small outside area, which worked perfect for us. I think the best part of our experience was the service. Everyone was very nice! We ordered several tapas dishes and shared everything. Our favorite was the lobster sliders. Two came per order- VERY yummy! I could have had 4 of them myself. The octopus was my least favorite. I didn't like it at all. It had a mushy texture instead of firm. I'm not sure if it was just that piece, or if they are all like that, but I wouldn't give it another try. We also had the fried chicken. It was cooked perfectly- juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside. The actual flavor of the coating was ok. We did have one other dish, but I forget what it was. I did go into the restaurant, and the inside is very nice. Bathroom was impeccably clean. Bottom line- the servings were pretty tiny for the price. Very friendly staff, and very clean establishment. If I go back, I'd just get 2 orders of the lobster sliders for myself.

    (3)

  • Crystal B.

    The customer service was superb! Our waiter explained the menu thoroughly and made great recommendations. We had the biscuit which was tasty and the green eggs and ham. The collard greens were seasoned well and delicious add well as the, pork. The only problem was the portions were extremely small.

    (4)

  • Yanyn S.

    This is by far my favorite place for brunch. They have a family style concept which allows for lots of sharing. I'd recommend coming in a group. Make sure to make a reservation before hand to secure a spot. Loved their "wing and waffle"! Also, for special events like Valentine's Day they get creative with their set menu- it was by far the best Vday dinner I've had. The service is wonderful and the environment is awesome.

    (5)

  • Ilissa W.

    My husband and I have been eating at The Federal since its inception almost 3 years ago. Tonight's dinner was the nudge that I needed to actually sit down and write this review. We were seated right away and greeted by Ani (the owner), who suggested that we order from the Miami Spice menu. Most of the time when I dine at an establishment during Miami Spice Month, we don't even get the Spice menu without having to ask for it and possibly receiving a glaring look from the waitstaff. We had the good fortune to sample 4 appetizers and 4 mains (this was the Miami Spice offering......amazing) from their menu along with 2 desserts! For starters, we tried the crudo, famous pig wing with blue cheese (yummy!), a fig, blueberry & ricotta dish and the biscuit. Then we had venison with chili fries, which was the highlight of the meal, short ribs, fish (I think it was trout) with black beans and a corn that was off the chain. For dessert we had a wild rice pudding, which was brimming with fruit and creamy deliciousness (and I don't even like wild rice.....)! Pair this with a bottle of red (Ani brought three to suggest since my husband is somewhat of a wine enthusiast) and attentive, friendly waitstaff, and you have a Saturday evening meal to remember. In summary, this is a local gem run by people who pour their heart and soul into the business. Something very rare and special in Miami.......we are very lucky indeed!

    (5)

  • Thien H.

    I'm gonna get some hate for this, but I thought The Federal was just okay. I've read quite a few reviews and yelp talk hyping up this lovely little restaurant. But I think I expected too much. I don't know if my taste buds were off that day or the next day when I ate the leftovers, but the jar o' duck could've been a chicken mash. Seriously, if someone told me it was a jar o' chicken thighs I would've believed them. It didn't have that rich, deep flavor of duck I was hoping for. The duck sandwich from Sakaya is still my favorite duck dish in Miami. In short, the duckiness from the jar o' duck was missing. The marshmallow was cute and the herbs on the sweet potato were nice accompaniments. The pig wing was the highlight because the blue cheese cream/quenelle was strange but delicious. It was a fun take on blue cheese. My husband liked the pig wing because the bite he got was hot and crispy. I ended up with the soggy skin of the pig wing. The pace of our meal was rushed...and then super slow to the point where we had to finally flag the server down for the dessert menu and bill. We wanted the jar o' duck for our appetizer and were going to share the rest of the dishes for our entrees. Sadly, we only had 50 seconds of the jar o' duck before our piping hot entrees arrived at our table.

    (3)

  • NunYa B.

    Service was definitely on point. ...that's about it... The food was quiet forgettable and strangely disappointing. I watched the marketing of this restaurant on the "Best New Restaurant" with Tom Coliccio and couldn't wait to try it out. I tried their classic "dishes" that they features on the show: Pig Wing, and the big loaf of bread (aka biscuit). Neither stood out. I've had tastier bbq chicken wings at Chilis! The biscuit...what a waste of carbs/calories that's all I gotta say. Their take on their sangria was different and for me it just didn't work. Some things should just stay classic.

    (2)

  • June K.

    Fun, good, down home funkiness. Liked it!

    (4)

  • Meg O.

    We tried this spot based on Guy Fieri's visit on the show, Diners Drive-In's and Dives. If you ever want seating inside you have to make a reservation. When we initially arrived the restaurant wasn't open - they had closed for lunch and were reopening shortly. The owner was busy rearranging stuff on the shelf in the dining room and couldn't be bothered to say hello when we walked in. When we spoke up she curtly informed us they were closed until 6pm. The wait was only 30 minutes so we decided to wait it out. When we came back the hostess, cute as a button, informed us diners with out reservations are to be seated outside. Gong number two on the "Friendly Service" expectation. I immediately felt like I was being punished and sent to the dog house. She explained there is only one server working on the patio and we had to wait to be seated so he could "catch up." There was only one other table seated on a patio of 7 tables. So after standing in the middle of the patio for about 15 minutes we were finally asked to sit. Our server was welcoming and genuine thank goodness because our opinion was already colored by how we were greeted the first two times. We tried the Pig Wing, Biscuit, and Deviled Eggs. All good but it was meh at best. I may be willing to try again if in the area and a reservation was made. Oh here was the kicker - so no reservations means we are exiled to the patio. There was at best a 20% occupancy at the tables inside the hour and a half we were there.

    (2)

  • Henry A.

    NPS = 9 Definitely recommend this place. Came here today for the brunch and it did not disappoint. We ate the buffalo chicken and waffles, the fish dip, the crab lump mix-a-something, and the chorizo frittata. Awesome. I've also come here on different occasions (dinner, lunch, and whatnot) and had the ham shank which I TOTALLY recommend. Also try the pork wings...the purest of fire. Never have gotten the bottomless mimosas, but for drinking or to finish off your meal you should order the coffee. It is spectacular. You can not go wrong with the Federal. Make sure not to leave this place without checking in on Yelp. Last time I checked in, I got a free beer offer.

    (4)

  • Ben S.

    Food was great overall. Service was friendly and attentive. The wine was good... a Bordeaux. But, it was not cellared properly so it was hot. The duck in a jar and the biscuit were great as usual. The calamari was nice but not salted like the breading and therefore off. The Uni avocado tostada sounded like a good idea. But the guacamole completely overpowered good quality uni. The Porchetta was awesome. The pasta with porcini was also excellent. I recommend this place as they are taking risks and should be rewarded for trying to live outside the box.

    (4)

  • Donna S.

    Eight of us ate there last night and although the biscuits and hog wings were great, the rest of the meal was over priced and not all that good. We will never go there again

    (3)

  • Anna H.

    Great drinks and lovely inventive dishes. Loved the outdoor seating area. Their Krispy Kreme bread pudding is to die for if you like sweet desserts! Will definitely go back!

    (4)

  • Rebecca B.

    We came to try brunch but walked out because the service was terrible. Cmon Miami this is a hot new restaurant, in one of the hottest "new" neighborhoods of Miami, the Mimo (Miami modern) right on biscayne blvd featured on tv on a restaurant contest. You can and you must do better. It's cute and homey inside with small outdoor patio if you want to bring your furry friend. Patio is mostly shaded but a few seats out in the sun which is a bit much during the day. We are going to come back with friends for dinner and give it another shot but bad first impression. No one would put our name on the wait list, I asked 5 times. Each time I asked the server went off to shine plates or chat w other customers. The 5 th time I asked her she said she's too busy because she is doing bussing duties and she would eventually get to me. Then she completely forgot again. I don't get it. Please have your wait staff act more professionally we really want to give this place one more try.

    (2)

  • C G.

    Great food and outstanding service. Ordered one biscuit and it was so good that we ordered another! Buffalo pig wing was delicious, bbq deviled eggs were even better. Entree was the smoked chicken and then banana s'mores for dessert. Had 2 glasses of wine with dinner. Coupled with very friendly service, the best meal I've had in Miami

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    This is an excellent choice for Sunday brunch !! Adam was our server & made our experience so comfortable & enjoyable.. I went with my boyfriend & we enjoyed the bottomless mimosas & had a blast!! I don't eat meat so the avocado tostada was an excellent choice!! Perfect way to start my Sunday!! Wonderful experience !!! Will be back soon !! Great place for locals to enjoy!!

    (5)

  • Olga Z.

    Eat, Drink and Be Merry! With 161 reviews already written about this restaurant, and an average of 4 yelp stars, what could I possibly write about? Brunch at the bar! (Seems to be a theme with me) Brunch at the bar here was by choice, not because the restaurant was too small or too busy to accommodate guests with no reservations. Wait time = 3 minutes. The bar area has one of the best vibes in town (pun totally intended). It's an indoor pergola where you are surrounded by mounted faux game, old wine bottles covered in melted wax, and the oh so cheeky exciting and stimulating announcements that cover the bar top. ;) I wanted to try everything on the menu (Note to self: Come back with 3 people next time so I CAN try much more on the menu), but decided on the Green Eggs and Ham. Yes! It's a crispy pork belly, creamed kale, a poached egg and hollandaise sauce on a country-style "biskit". The biskit balanced out the pork belly flavor. And, the price ($12) was pretty much on par with other places that offer eggs benedict, or similar variations. I also tasted the Crispy Brussels Sprouts made in a molasses vinaigrette with sweet and sour apples ($7). Yes! As far as drinks go, I hear the cappuccino is a must try, but I had already ordered some coffee. If it's a mimosa you want, it's mimosa you'll get with their bottomless deal for brunch ($16). Yes! All in all, a nice spot for brunch. It's casual and offers a twist on some classic comfort food. Left satisfied. Three and a half Yelp stars. I'm a fan. :)

    (4)

  • Lawrence P.

    We've dined here several times... and never had a bad meal. I really like the ambiance and décor of this restaurant. Rustic, relaxed. It reminds me of one of my favorite New York restaurants, ABC Kitchen. Great food and great service! This place is perfect for groups. Sharing your dishes is probably the best way to go. As for the food, this is a solid menu! The bavarian bretzel (pretzel bites with spicy mustard) were just perfect. The jar-o-duck (duck, sweet potato, and marshmallow in a glass jar) is always a crowd favorite. The shots of foie gras (with marshmallow fluff) was sweet and perfect. The federal fries (with an egg on top) were good as well. This place has great mussels and I know my mussels! The crispy duck is a favorite of ours as is the desserts. The Devil's cake is just that... devilishly (is that even a word?) good!!! I also like their lemon tart. As for wine, they have a nice list. I however always take my own for a corkage fee of $25. The Federal is one of those restaurants. Go with another couple or a group and stay 2-3 hours. We always do.

    (5)

  • Karla V.

    We had a great time and the food was delicious!! Favorites that we ordered were THE JUMBO BISCUIT, the short rib, and the fig/ricotta. And did I forget to say THE JUMBO BISCUIT?! Of course I didn't - that shit was too legit to ever leave my memory. Sometimes I wake up and think "JUMBO BISCUIT". Real talk. The service was great and the ambiance of the place was cozy.

    (4)

  • Lissa B.

    Saturday. Brunch. First time. I had been wanting to try this place out for a while after a few recommendations. Upon arriving, it looks quaint and unassuming from the outside. I wasn't expecting this but, it is actually in a little shopping plaza. We were greeted right away by a very friendly host. The place was packed and we were informed that it would be around 45-60 minute wait. So we hopped a seat at the bar and got a head start on the bottomless mimosas. The bar was pretty cool looking. The actual bartop was wrapped in old controversial vintage ads that were definately conversation starters. Some drop like bottles caught my eye and the bartender was more than happy to explain to me how they are like flavor essence drops to balance sweetness and infuse a hint of flavor in drinks. The gracious host approached us several times amd kept us updated on our wait time. We actually sat around 30 minutes into our wait. The server was a sweetheart. She asked if it was our first time and explained the concept in detail. Basically it is a multicourse family style brunch for a flat rate. You get starters automatically to share and then each person picks 2 main courses, small plates, served as ready. At the end you get dessert french toast. The food was pretty good, and I thought the plates looked small but since everyone shares and picks off plates, you actually get full pretty quickly. I realized there was plenty of food. All in all, the service was very friendly from the host, to bartender, to server, to even food runners. The food was good and a good value for everything. $24 for the food, $19 for bottomless mimosas. This place gets a solid 4 stars. The only reason im not giving 5 is because the prefix is limiting. We had a friend join late who just wanted a few eggs or something. We had already eaten the starters for the table so she would have had to order the prefix and then eat all that herself which was way too much. If they had just a few a la carte items outside of the prefix it would have been a bit more accomodating. But otherwise this place is super cool and I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Sadie A.

    Yum! Is the best word to describe this place! Love the tapas style of servings the food. We had the corn cake with caviar and it was probably the best thing we had all night. We obviously had to try the massive biscuit and it was delicious! The jar o'duck was ok but not my favorite. We also ordered the fried chicken- perfection, heirloom tomato salad was delicious but spicy which we didn't expect. We saved room for dessert and had the krispy Kreme bread pudding which was heavenly! They did mess up our order a little bit but the food was so amazing and totally made up for it. Will definitely be going back to try more! The prices are so reasonable for the quality of the food. Definitely a great place.

    (4)

  • Alex S.

    Went here for fathers day dinner after hearing about it on Diners, Drive ins and dives. Boy what a mistake. The place is in a dumpy and tiny strip mall. Service and wait staff were slow and the food was really disappointing. We ordered the Octopus which was $16 and it was a SINGLE plainly grilled tentacle about the size of my middle finger. How appropriate for the way i felt. Duck leg braised in coke was the same price and about the size of a chicken wing. Nothing special. BBQ Brisket was woefully tasteless and poorly cooked. Literally the worst i've had anywhere, and i've had plenty of brisket. Worst part it was served to me COLD even though the grill was less than 30 feet away outdoors. Only decent thing were the pig wings, but even that was overhyped by Guy Fieri. I'd take a dozen regular chicken wings for that price any day. At these prices i'd expect to be blown away by scenery, ambiance, service and food quality - or at least one of these areas. Instead we left feeling hungry and ripped off. This experience has shown me that having a high rating and being profiled on tv doesn't isn't a guarantee of great food. Will not repeat.

    (1)

  • neal s.

    Clearly being featured on food network tv show has gone to their heads. I made my reservation for Valentines Day two weeks ago and just received a call, three days beforehand that the only choice was going to be a 5 course special dinner. Why didn't they let people know they wanted to have a fixed price dinner when they accepted my reservation? My wife is a small eater, I would have made other arrangements if I knew.. Now I have to find another place on a Saturday night and it is Valentine's Day Very disappointing

    (1)

  • CG V.

    Go for Miami Spice! If they have the Cornish Hens, get it!!! The most delicious meal I've had in a while. Also, never pass on the beets salad. So fresh and amazing!

    (4)

  • Tony N.

    I didn't enjoy the deviled eggs or the calamari but the steak and chicken were quite good. The desserts we're stupendous. While having decent choices for wine, I felt they were overpriced in that area. If you are going to charge those prices, have a better selection. Service was very good. They were very accommodating. Came in with a friend that has a special diet and they did all they could for her.

    (3)

  • Leilani D.

    Don't get me wrong...the food here is still on point. And the service, by the servers, is still delightful. But I have no idea what's happened to management. So the Federal advertises bottomless mimosas for brunch (now $18, actually increased from $15 before), however if you actually go and have brunch there you'll find that the second your food plates are cleared a certain older blondish manager is trying to get you out of there as soon as possible. I really don't understand this. If you say that the mimosas are bottomless, you should be ready to commit, especially to a party that has clearly eaten plenty of food. Not only is it false advertising, but it also makes people who came there to spend their morning having a fun brunch feel really awkward when their waiter is telling them "look, since they took your food away she told me I can't give you any more mimosas". I always felt that one of the best things about the Federal was the laid back attitude, and the idea that you could kind of spend an evening or an afternoon there...but apparently at this point all their management cares about is turning tables and getting people in and out. I don't know that this will keep me away completely, because they do have some amazing breakfast type offerings, but I will definitely not be ordering "bottomless" (not!) mimosas ever again.

    (3)

  • Sarah S.

    Do yourself a favor and order the Pig wing (buffalo chicken wing style pork) and for dessert the Krispy Kreme bread pudding with bourbon cream. You're welcome.

    (4)

  • Steve N.

    I'm a New Yorker who has visited The Federal every time I'm in Florida over the last three years. I've only been there for dinner, so can't make any comments about Sunday brunch. But dinners are uniformly excellent. The diverse menu has some really creative offerings, as well as old-fashioned comfort food. I was happy to try some new items, including the corncake and caviar appetizer and the smokey fried chicken... both incredibly good and different. Service has always been top-notch, and the owner Ani is always there with a friendly greeting and help with any questions or comments. The option to eat inside or outside is also really nice. Can't wait for my next visit...

    (5)

  • Steven J.

    A follow up, this is hands down my favorite restaurant in Miami. My favorite sever has since mixed on to greener pastures, it is still my go to, for when I have a special event, or guests. It's small it's cramped at times, still love it. Now some of my peers that frequent there, are idiots and a bother to be around, the food helps me get over that.

    (4)

  • Laura F.

    Typical crappy Miami service.... Invisible waitress left us sitting out side setting begging for more water and drinks.

    (3)

  • Sandy T.

    THIS PLACE IS DELICIOUS!!! le beau took me here with his nursing cohorts for brunch. We almost ordered everything on the menu and everything was just amazing. I got the green eggs and ham, the holliandaise sauce is the best I have ever had. have ham and the poached egg on top of a homemade biscuit and NOT an english muffin. le beau ordered the cookies and cream french toast. My first thought is that the portion is HUGE. It is literally a loaf of bread! The outside is very crunchy and the center (my fav part) is soft creamy and very tasty. We ordered extra biscuits on the side and OMG this was my favorite dish/side. The buscuit was cheesy, sweet, salty, creamy all in the same bite.. MMMMmmm... melts in your mouth good. They also brought us complimentary deviled eggs and a duck confit. I didnt fancy the deviled eggs too much but they are good. I'm not a fan of deviled eggs. On the other hand the duck confit was AMAZING. They served it with toasted bread like a crouton almost, marshmallow fluff, and an apricot thing that you can spread on the crouton. His other cohort ordered the crab cake hash, which was very good just not what I am used to for crab cakes (I am from Maryland). One ordered the steak and eggs, which took the longest to come out of the kitchen. BUT SO WORTH IT. The steak was cooked to perfection, a little on the rare side if you aren't a fan of rare. It was smokey, sweet, and oh so good steak. I would recommend anyone to go here unlimited mimosas for 18$ and they do not skimp on the champagne it was always filled too. On a side note: anyone who had went to the pop up vietnamese restaurant last year called phuc yea. These are the same owners!! and they are going to open a PERNAMENT phuc yea!! I am so excited!!

    (5)

  • J Scott C.

    The biskit is fantastic. I got the chicken. Debated between broiled and fried, and went for fried. Thank goodness - the fried chicken with sweet potatoes and cranberries is awesome! Definitely would come back!

    (5)

  • Melissa D.

    We stopped by in a Friday Night! The food was good. They only serve beer and wine which kinda stinks but they do make an "adult slurpee" out of wine that is good. The service was friendly but a little slow on getting food out. Not sure yet if we will go back. The biscuits are amazing for sure!!!

    (4)

  • Samantha G.

    We had an amazing meal here! The staff were very accommodating to our large group, including working around dietary restrictions. The food was served family-style, and there was a lot of it. The clams, mac 'n' cheese, deviled eggs, and fried chicken were particular standouts. The Mac 'n' cheese was spicy, cheesy, and had a wonderful crispness on top. The deviled eggs were oh-so-fab as they were topped with pulled BBQ meat - a wonderfully tasty combo. The fried chicken was crispy outside and moist inside, and had a delightful citrus taste. And all the other food we partook in was good too. Nothing was less than 3 stars, and most was at least 4 stars. And the service was attentive and patient. All in all, a wonderful meal was enjoyed.

    (4)

  • Michael N.

    I've been a few times to the federal, the recent being this Sunday for brunch with friends. The decor is decent but the place is really small. Kind of on top of each other. We had a 5 person table and my knees were rubbing against my friends. The guy who greeted us and sat us was very polite and welcoming. The food: the food is good but just not great or memorable to want you to come back. We all tried different things from the brunch side. Nothing was bad but again nothing special for the prices you pay. I get that now all the restaurants in Miami serve small overpriced dishes but if it's not a great dish that you feel is unique or different to the place then it's just not worth it. The best (or worst) part: The menu says Panther coffee for $5. My friend ordered the Panther coffee and had it during his meal. We sat at the end of the Bankhead by the coffee machines. We noticed that they were using Dunkin Donuts coffee instead of Panther. We asked a busser if it was DD coffee and he said yes. We wanted to see if our server would admit it so when he came to give the bill and ask how everything was, my friend said the Panther coffee is really good. The server smiled and said yea it is, then walked away. When he came back we asked him straight up of it was DD and he said embarrassingly oh yea it's a blend of Panther and DD because our coffee machines broke today. Idk what that has to do with using s diff coffee, I think they just didn't have any Panther coffee. When your menu says a brand name and you don't have it you should be straight up and tell the customer when you order that they don't have it but they can serve something else instead of having you over pay for a name brand and switch it behind your back. We thought he might take it off the bill or reduce the price of the $5 coffee for not having what was advertised ( it even said Panther coffee on the receipt) but he didn't make an attempt and we didn't make an issue out of it. In short the food is not bad but not great and for the price there is a lot of other places to try.

    (2)

  • Alex B.

    Was there today for Saturday Brunch. Had a great time. The food was awesome!!! The endless mimosas were great and never stopped coming.. A+ Will recommend and defiantly be back soon.

    (5)

  • Mariana C.

    Terrible service....actually no service at all. Everyone there, including the owner seemed to hate what they do. Walked in with two friends and no one acknowledged us for 10 minutes so we decided to leave. Food looked good but won't be giving it another try!

    (1)

  • Priscilla R.

    We went for brunch on Sunday afternoon. Food was very unique and tasty! The pumpkin french toast was ridiculous!!! Should've taken a picture. Service was good too despite the long wait. Definitely recommend. :o)

    (4)

  • Anjali R.

    I've been here for dinner in the past and I was very impressed by the service and the food. I went here for brunch, however, for the first time 2 weeks ago and let me tell you, it was one of the best brunches I've ever had. We were able to pick 5 or so items off the menu, plus pastries and dessert for 2 for a fixed price. Every single item was so delicious. We had no complaints at all. If you're feeling extra thirsty you can also do bottomless mimosas for $19 per person. I can't wait to dine here again!

    (5)

  • Abbey G.

    Look no further, a decent Sunday brunch spot has arrived in Miami, finally! After moving back from NYC, I have been on the hunt for a place like this. They have a bottomless drink option, we all know us (former) Manhattanies love a "boozy bunch". I am not quite the "breakfast" person and this is why I love this place, they have both savory and sweet options. The brunch menu is a set menu and has fantastic tapas style portioned options, which is prefect for diners like myself that want one of everything. The starter breads and spreads are delicious. I had the chicken and waffles which were some of the best chicken and waffles I've ever had. The green eggs and ham were also delicious and they have a small smoker on site so that the meat is cooked to perfection. By the final course, I was stuffed, overly satisfied, and taking it home for later. You need to have a reservation in advance for brunch as they only have it on Sunday's. It is worth the future planning to dine here. I will be back soon. Delish!!

    (5)

  • Alejandra C.

    As you can tell I haven't written many reviews but I'm writing this one in hopes that someone can tell me what was wrong with my biscuit. It was my first time at The Federal. My husband and I were looking to sit at the bar and have a few nibbles and drinks but the hostess said they didn't have a bar. Anyhow we sat outside cuz it was full inside but the weather was perfect, sun was setting. So we decided to share a few plates. We ordered the avocado tostada, the craw fish n grits and their famous jumbo biscuit. The tostada was nice and light and flavorful. I liked the combination of the avocado and the dehydrated strawberries. The craw fish and grits was also very tasty and flavorful. Now we get to the famous biscuit. At first bite it was good, tasted the honey part of it. Now comes the second bite, hmmmm I was thinking "is this cheddar?", I took another bite "what the heck is that flavor? It taste like perfume, no wait like soap? OMG! What is that?!" Definitely not a honey apple cider flavor, which the menu had the biscuit description as honey apple cider glaze. The odd thing about it is that the outside crusty part of the biscuit tasted just fine, it was the inside of the biscuit which was way off, just simply odd flavor, not in a good way :(. Something definitely went wrong. We even asked the waiter what the biscuit had, but we never mentioned it was an odd taste we just told him it was a " different" flavor, which we definitely did not like. I'm wondering if the staff new something was wrong because they didn't charge us for the beer. By the way I must mention staff was very good and nice . Anyhow, I'm really curious if that's the way the biscuit is supposed to taste and if so I don't get it why it's so popular. I might have to go back just for the biscuit and hopefully it will redeem itself

    (3)

  • Bonnie F.

    Came a long way! Well worth it. Loved the octopus and of course the biscuit. We tried many things and loved them all. The heirloom tomato salad had a surprising bite to it.

    (5)

  • Brenda P.

    Review Update: Last time I was in I was enamored with Federal but still had some small peeves. This time around all of those peeves were gone. Why? well, because they took care of them! There was valet parking available. Last time parking was a complete PITA! This time it was $3 but worth it. The AC was not a problem. Yes, it was cold on this night and actually a lot of people were dining outside. Maybe that was it? Whatever it was, I dined comfortable and not hot! I was able to make reservations online. That was a plus and reading that they did not before kept me away for a long time. We were a party of 4. We decided to order a bunch of different things and share it all. That was great! - Pretzel bread- piping hot served with oil and mustard. So good. - Shots of Foie Gras- our waitress was right, it tasted just like dessert because of the marshmallow fluff they add to it. - Jar O Duck- make your own, served on a tray of mix and match items. Delicious. - Federal Fries- with an egg on top- Probably the only "just OK" dish. Sounded better than it tasted. If you let the egg sit too long it makes the fries soggy. - Mussels- divine - Crispy duck- delicate and just right! - Whole hog fish- very good but it's not deboned since it's whole so be careful! - Lemon tart- just enough sweet and tang - Devil's food cake- crack - Panther French press- crack plus I think we were there for almost 4 hours! No, don't shake your head, there was plenty of seating inside since a lot of Miamians were enjoying the faux winter weather outside. Service was wonderful. Everyone was just so friendly and eager to serve. We really had a delightful meal. To end, they brought out 4 glasses of their Tokaji Aszu dessert wine. It's not something I would usually order but it was truly a sweet ending to an already incredible night. Thanks Federal! I look forward to visiting again and again!

    (5)

  • Amelie B.

    Brunch with my hubby. Had to wait a hour and a half (they told us 30/45mn waiting), and they seated us at a table inside that was free for at least 30mn... Nice place, nice people but way too noisy. Food ok but nothing spectacular. Will not recommend.

    (2)

  • Juan S.

    3 to 3.5 stars here. This place is pretty cool. You would never know you're in a strip mall but you actually are. Nothing cookie cutter about this place...a very nice homey feel and nice front patio as well. Food is pretty good...modern American comfort food I think is what they call it. This is a tapas style restaurant (I'm not a fan of that) but I didn't know that til I got here. They do have some bigger dishes though. The biscuit was definitely a highlight. The peaches were good as well. The pork was good...the rainbow trout was just ok. Tried a couple of desserts (the key lime pie and mango mousse...both were ok but didn't wow me. Nice beer selection. I would probably come back.

    (3)

  • Marian S.

    Things to order - pig wings, deviled eggs and the Biskits. Fried chicken was good. Jambalaya was to die for. "Fresh" fish of the day was fishy and we sent it back. Wanted to like this place more but hard to do when we had to send back food. Fish was taken off the bill but no substitute was offered. Service was great in the beginning but as the place got more crowded, service was incredibly slow.

    (3)

  • Pablo M.

    What can I say... I was extremely disappointed in this place. I came with high expectations. Maybe that was my mistake. The place is pretty hipster/trendy, and the decor is nice, but nothing spectacular either. I showed up for brunch with my girlfriend. I ordered a plain coffee which I had to send back because it was bitter, almost sour coffee. Then I ordered a cappuccino, and that wasn't any better at all! I ordered an eggs Benedict with some pork side. This has to be the smallest, and most expensive plate I've ever had to taste some of the plainest food I've had. It is very overpriced for no reason. Plain and simple, I couldn't help but feel like I was ripped off. Plain food, small portions, high price point. Go somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Laure M.

    Busy place on saturday night, we sat outside on the "picnic" table since every table was taken inside. The food was delicious, we started with chicken tenders and the heirloom tomato salad. Both were good and the right size for an appetizer. Then I got the braised short ribs, with mashed potatoes. It was really good and a good portion. My friends got the the lamb burger with fries and the pork chop. All the dishes looked appetizing and everyone was satisfied. No dessert as we had to go to a party. The service was fine but could have been faster. I don't like that they charge for water.I like the decor and the wood picnic table totally matches the rustic theme of the restaurant. I'm glad we sat outside because it was packed and very loud inside!

    (4)

  • Sergio F.

    At least for their Desserts, even the staunchest Tea Partier would love The Federal! I stayed away from most of the savory stuff because I just can't fathom eating poor little Aflac (ie duck). However, their sticky buns - pillowy, soft, sweet and sticky pieces of bread - and honeyish and butterish (and creatively misspelled) biskits. I'm holding off on a star because as I've read in a couple other reviews there was none of the (in)famous pineapple upside down cake, though the staff made up nicely with key lime pie shots, and because the valet Parker had a slight issue with my car's alarm and I had to get my car myself. The small mishap does not take away from the friendly treatment the restaurant's staff gave us during the meal itself.

    (4)

  • Ciara G.

    First time at the Federal for our 2 year anniversary brunch and it was out of this world! The service was great and the biscuit was even better! It was voted best biscuit in the US for a reason! Everything we ate was delicious! Highly recommend coming here!

    (5)

  • Floyd P.

    The Federal is AMAZING! The brunch is to die for and you get to try so many awesome things with the tapas style. The staff is so attentive and was quick to refill our mimosas every time they got even a little low (Damien was out waiter- so good!). The chunky monkey waffle is so great we got another to go- this is a must see in Miami!

    (5)

  • Sara G.

    We waited over an hour and did not get food, biscuits are great but service not so much #notbestrestaurant

    (2)

  • Jan N.

    Ah, The Federal. So unassuming in a tiny strip mall located next to a Dunkin' Donuts. Valet service (Friday night - poor kid looked like he should've been at the movies like every other teenager), modest, yet classy decor, and small bustling crowd all made for a nice evening out - nice and expensive. The quality of the food was an A+; hence, the high prices. If you aren't on a budget and don't mind paying $8 a piece for beer (the amber beer was absolutely delicious- I'll give them that!), and you're in the mood for something different and fresh, then this is the place you should come to. Cheesy biscuit is a MUST! It's like a giant KFC biscuit, only it's not (does that make sense?). It's fluffy, soft, and light - it doesn't leave you feeling like you just had a pound of carbs and butter (and speaking of butter, their butter is delicious!). The top layer is a bit crispy, and that's where you taste the majority of the cheese. The only thing that was missing was the honey and salt that I've read comes with it. I guess those ingredients weren't available that day. For dinner, my husband had the lamb burger while I opted for the chicken dish. If you have a taste for the lamb (which I don't, but I tried it anyway), then I would say to go for the burger. Putting aside my non-lamby palate, I can't deny props where they are deserved. The patty meat was fresh, tender and juicy, cooked perfectly! And my chicken dish was great! Fresh white chicken meat on a bed of spinach, corn, cheese and something else that, apparently, was good because I enjoyed my dinner and had no complaints! For dessert we shared a graham cracker pie (I don't remember the exact name, but it definitely had "graham" somewhere in there!) with raspberry compote - and it had a sublte coffee after taste, too. Verdict: very good, fresh (have you noticed this word keeps popping up?), and unique! The service was awesome! Our waitress was on her game, and she knew that menu in and out ; very helpful and amiable. The only downfall with this place is that the menu changes, so you really don't know what you're going to get... which is what happens with these types of restaurants. It's like their strength is also their weakness. My friend had been there the night before and already one of the dishes she ordered wasn't on the menu when I went. I was also looking forward to some foods that I saw in the pictures on Yelp, but, unfortunately, those weren't being served (like the sticky buns, shrimp and grits, and the pulled pork pot pie). I know it's all about the freshness and availability of the ingredients for that day/week, but man, can it get frustrating! All in all, we had a great dinner, but it was pricey. My husband and I ended up spending $90 (tip included) on an appetizer, 2 entrees, a dessert, and 3 beers. I'm by no means a cheapo, but I think it's a lot of money for a Friday night dinner at a strip mall. Then again, I paid for a solid quality of food and service - so I suppose I shouldn't complain. Touche, The Federal... touche!

    (4)

  • Felicia R.

    Food is just amazing. as a group of 8, very difficult for seating during sunday brunch, but they accommodated us quite well because we arrived early. I am not a fan of the limited parking spaces and the forced valet option. I did enjoy the food very much, the pork wings & waffles, the steak and eggs, and the wet fries were delish! I do recommend it to anyone who wants to try something different.

    (4)

  • Dennis M.

    Pretty good for it's location (in a crappy plaza with a Dunkin Doughnuts). They only care beer and wine and the cocktails were not anything to come back for. I would say get a bottle of red/white to share. Food is alright, the brussel sprouts were super disappointing. 9$ for a a cereal bowl full of pretty much skins and maybe 8 brussel sprouts cut in half, don't bother. Mac and cheese was good, not amazing. Crawfish and Fried Chicken were alright as well. Basically $100 for a meh meal. Service is really good. Very accommodating and they go out of their way to check on you and make you happy. This was a needed a place to kill time and eat restaurant, don't need to come back.

    (3)

  • Michael M.

    This spot was a win. The only disappointment was that they ran out of crab for the crab dish. But as sad as I was about that it only pointed out how good and popular the dish was.. So that's a good sign and it give me so something to look forward to... If you are not a pork & red meat person, there will be very few things to enjoy so keep that in mind. The service is friendly and polite. The crowd, hipster-esq. The owner lady is cute as a button and I will def be going back with friends and family!

    (5)

  • Joann C.

    Cool place with some interesting takes on southern comfort classics... Buffalo Pig Wings - Guess this means pigs can fly? Sorry, I just had to throw that in there. Get this! Juicy pork shank that doesnt feel fatty or greasy at all and served alongside a blue cheese mousse. MMMMhhhhmmm Duck in a Jar - like having mini bites of Thanksgiving. Ground duck (again not fatty or greasy at all so thats a definite plus) in a jar served with sweet potatoes, charcoaled marshmallow fluff and crostinis.....double mmmmmm St. Louis Ribs - fall off the bone meat thats just the perfect amount of sauce and dryness...this gives Swine a run for their money Fried Chicken - this was good but not Yardbird good. BBQ Deviled Eggs - nice small bites with a twist on the normal deviled egg recipe. Its good to try - you won't be disappointed. Cowboy Steak - Skip this. This was not worth it as the dish was really small considering the price. I know it says 18oz but 18oz never appeared that small to me...was more like 6oz. Our group was quite disappointed in this dish just because we thought it was misleading in the description. Dessert of the day was Bread Pudding and Rocky Road Moon Pie --- get them both but for me the bread pudding wins! Beware of the giant amber ale that is $46!!

    (4)

  • Kyle V.

    A very well known brunch spot tucked into a strip mall, this place did not disappoint. We skipped the bottomless brunch and decided to go with the crab and onion dip, Plantain Waffles, and crawfish and grits. Fantastic all around, would recommend this spot to anyone.

    (5)

  • Honza C.

    There seems to be a lot of hype about this place, but when I ate there for dinner, I wasn't too impressed. Nothing I could really put my finger on, but the food was average-tasting/inspired. The staff were lovely, even gave me a little treat at the end, but food-wise, I expected more.

    (3)

  • Ashley B.

    We arrived at The Federal right when it opened. We decided to sit outside since it was a beautiful day and didn't wait more than a minute to meet our server. She was really friendly and helpful in ordering. She recommended the special of the day, which was the pastrami hash. It was good, not great. The coffee on the other hand is delicious. I think I had about 4 cups! We placed our orders and went in on our coffee. The appetizer came out within 15 minutes and a few minutes after we were told the BLT entree would take a bit longer because they didn't have avocados and had to run to the store to get some. I think we should've been told about that issue sooner than later especially since we had to be somewhere within an hour, but we went ahead with the green eggs and ham. It was amazing! The prices are a bit steep for breakfast/brunch and I wish my service could've been better, but the food was good. I'll probably go back.

    (3)

  • K T.

    I loved the quaint setting and family style brunch. The staff slowly brought out each dish, thus allowing me and my family to taste and converse. It was a truly delectable experience and I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Peter B.

    I went to the Federal today for a late brunch after reading the various reviews in blogs about the best food spots in Miami. Here goes the review. The food; The biscuits are great. No doubt about it. But biscuits alone could not save my experience today. The food was all well seasoned and executed if but a little expected. Nothing surprised me or elevated my thinking on contemporary American comfort food. Net-net, it's a decent value with good execution. The environment: The restaurant suffers from being sandwiched in a strip mall adjacent to a Dunkin Donuts. It's unfortunate because sufficient consideration has been given to the interior experience. It's got all the cues of hipster-fresh with taxidermy, salvaged wood, and vintage pin-up girl photos in the interior. It's dialed in with a tight palette and considered finishings. Too bad it can't be lifted and placed in a more exciting location. The service: This is their greatest fail. The service started off with enthusiasm and excitement - and all the rhetoric on contemporary American dining. We were advised to order "nibbles" with each guest getting one to two to share for the table. The nibbles concept can and should work, but maybe not at brunch when you have four people and four orders. Run them at the same time and don't auction off my food. The meal could have been saved except for the waffle incident. After running three out of the four dishes, we waited and waited and waited. We inquired about our waffles to be told they were just being plated. Five minutes later, the server told us our waffles had been the first dish to be delivered. We never got the waffles or we wouldn't have asked. Get it together with your staff. Also, the "bottomless Panther coffee" was everything I expect of Panther coffee, but nothing of bottomless. We saw no refills. The servers attitude and demeanor took a steady decline over the course of the meal. Not cool. Would I go back? Probably not.

    (3)

  • Thomas B.

    AN EVENING WITH HIP, POLITICALLY CORRECT, FOODIE VERSION OF PAULA DEEN! Hospitality driven, great food, knowledgeable, and winecentric! Decided to spend the evening discovering great food and drink and stumbled across The Federal. Lucky for me, it is Miami Spice and The Federal doesn't hold anything back! I was greeted by a very friendly manager who wasted no time in seating me right in the front. Within minutes I was greeted by the sommelier, who also served as my waiter for the evening. THIS IS PERFECT, as there is nothing better than a waiter who knows good wine. After walking me though the menu, which is a modern take on Southern traditional dishes, he convinced me to go with the four-course Miami Spice menu as it includes all of their famous apps and entrees. The best part is that you get about six apps, including their famous deviled eggs! Smoked pulled pork shoulder, pickled Serrano, and creamy horseradish! As the sommelier says, just like mom used to make... (My mom never made them that way, but I wish she had!) Along with the menu, they offer a delicious flight of wine for $15 that includes a Soellner Toni (white), Parker Station (Pinot Noir) and Artadu Vinedos de EMK Seque (Monastrel, Syrah). Hefty pours and all delicious! Each wine is perfectly paired with each course... Unfortunately even with a half serving pour, I managed to drink them all with the first course! Whoops! My fav was the Parker Station! First course, deviled eggs, pineapple steak, and FL Heirloom tomato salad, Buffalo Style Pig Wing ($5 more), tomato and grits, and roasted jumbo asparagus! TONS OF FOOD! All really great... Pineapple stake was a little too flavorly ambitious for me, but still good nonetheless. As you probably figured out by now, the Deviled Eggs were my favorite! Second course, I decided to try their famous fried chicken! First bite, tasted like the perfect combination of a corn dog and chicken! This is prob because it is smoked for two hour over maple wood before being fried! Includes a breast and a leg paired with buttermilk ranch and pickled watermelon! Third course, layered coconut with coconut cookies, pudding and shaved coconut! Not as sweet as I expected. The sommelier offered a delicious lemongrass liquor/dessert wine for the finish. Very aromatic and delicious. Highlight of the night was certainly the food, but the sommelier was by far a rockstar! Highly recommend The Federal for a good time and good food! ALL REVIEWS ARE WRITTEN IN REAL TIME

    (4)

  • Adri E.

    Bad service. They served us super late and the food was not what we expected. They do not have alcohol licensed either.

    (2)

  • Joelle G.

    A super cute restaurant. It's very rustic and comfortable, located in a outside shopping mall-esque area in downtown Miami. I opted for their tasting menu which was amazing, hello? Easily would have been triple the price back home. An artisan inspired menu. Healthy, yet filling & delicious. But...it took too long to get the check. Like 25 min too long -_- And it wasn't busy. Food and service go together. 4.5 stars for the food, 2 for the service. Median: 3.25 stars, so 3 total.

    (3)

  • David G.

    I just recently went here for dinner... Heard great things about the brunch but still have never been. So this review is strictly based on my dinner experience. There were 3 of us and the other 2 were set on doing Miami spice. I wasn't really thrilled about the spice menu so I wanted to order off the menu. Well this is a No No... In order to do Spice, everyone in the party must do spice. I found this to be ridiculous. But I was outnumbered so I agreed to do it as well. So the food was coming out a good pace. Nothing crazy. We started off with deviled eggs. You only get 1 each. Next course was a tomato salad. Nothing fancy. Next was 3 thin slices of pineapple with a 2 small pieces of pork on each slice. Again nothing fancy. After that they brought us grits which was actually pretty good. Except they added tomatoes in it which I thought didn't go well and especially since you have a tomato salad in one of the courses. Here is where I go my very upset. Now keep in mind everything so far was very small portions. So this next was supposed to be the main course. We decided to get the fried chicken. Now I hope I can get this point across. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture and I really wish I did because I wouldn't have to explain this part. Well everyone gets 1 piece of chicken. So they brought out the plate and at first I thought they forgot about the 3rd piece. Meanwhile, the 2 we saw were TINY!!! And for a main course I was shocked. Then we preceded to nice to 2 and found the 3rd that I am not even joking when I say it was the size of a chicken wing!!! I was very upset so I asked the waiter why would they bring a piece this small when it is supposed to be a main course... He explained to me that not all pie da of chicken were the same!!! Thanks for letting me know this. I thought they were!!!!!!!! No, my point was why in the world would we get served this??? Any other restaurant chef in my opinion would never send a plate out like that. But he did. So instead of explaining to me makeup of chickens, just go get a comparable size piece of chicken and call it a day. He didn't and the people I was with just wanted to go. Needless to say I will never be back. Even if the brunch is as good as u heard...

    (1)

  • Michael B.

    I checked out The Federal when visiting my former University as I am an alumnus of the U. I went for brunch on a Sunday and my experience was amazing. I can definitely see why there is so much hype behind The Federal. First they have endless mimosas, which is a great deal for only $19. I had the Waffle and Plantaines. The spicy vanilla whipped cream went perfectly with the dulce de leche and the maple syrup. Unfortunately I don't live in Miami anymore, but I highly recommend to anyone in the area.

    (5)

  • Nicole T.

    This place, although located in a strip mall (I detest that)!, wins me over because of its quirky Midwest-lodge feel. The brunch has changed for the worse over time, but I'm still a fan of the food and interior. Plus, I'm the nostalgic type. Take me back to my roots for a few hours, and I'm yours.

    (4)

  • Carmen F.

    Fantastic Service, Booze and Food! Their Happy Hour prices and offerings are amazing. You must GO!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth R.

    THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO IT. Miami Spice, that is. We rushed to the Federal on Day 1 of Miami Spice after reading about it here tinyurl.com/pqvwykq and I'm so glad we did. We tried a bunch of dishes we wouldn't ordinarily have ordered and we loved every bit of it. We also enjoyed some great wine, real hospitality, and the cozy atmosphere. It was love at first bite when I popped the BBQ deviled egg in my mouth- a perfectly spicy, smokey, creamy little flavor bomb. And the courses kept coming. Each one was carefully engineered for maximum deliciousness. I kept reading the descriptions and thinking, "Oh, no, that's too much," and then sighing like Goldilocks, "That's just right," after tasting. Take the Peaches & Straciatella appetizer, for example. I was thinking, "This is going to be way too heavy and sweet for 2nd course. What is this- a dessert..." And then I had to stop talking because my mouth was full of unbelievably fresh summer peach and creamy artisanal cheese and crunchy grilled bread. It literally left me speechless. Don't know why it works, and frankly, I don't care. I just know it was perfect. For a main course, we had the Daily Meat Special, New York Strip with Bourbon Dijon Sauce- a very simple, classic dish. It was served family style, sliced on a platter for 2 with the the sauce poured over. The only way to do this dish is if you start with a perfect cut of meat, grill it to exactly medium rare, rest it just right, and serve it up right away with the made-to-order sauce. It was executed perfectly. Have to hand it to the team at the Federal. They designed an ambitious Spice menu that includes 4 small plates, one shared main dish, and a shared dessert. It's clever, original, and impressively executed. We tried it with a very reasonably priced Pinot Noir from Oregon's Willamette Valley, and had an absolutely fantastic meal. We'll be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Wendy S.

    So we came here after hearing a few buzzes about this place . First impression- we went inside and waited as servers busily waited their tables and glanced at us but no one actually acknowledged our presence ( this should have been our queue to leave )however we made ourselves over to the bar and asked the bartender if we needed to seat ourselves . He signaled for a girl in the corner who was more interested in her food than doing her job ( later found out she was the hostess of some sorts ) If you stumble upon this place , please do not order the Sangria as it tastes like rotten oranges , food took forever to come out and was average nothing to rave about. Best part was our server

    (3)

  • Claudia L.

    The biscuit was delicious very dense but tasty buttery and sweet. I had the brisket and eggs it was cooked just right. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.

    (4)

  • Karen C.

    So, my 2nd time at The Federal was as good as my 1st time! Great tasting food, the pork wing is still a must have! Corn cake, steak and eggs were great. Attentive waiter, cool shaded porch seating...happy customer!

    (4)

  • Marc R.

    As a local Morningsider I was more disappointed in today's Miami Spice brunch will not make us return. Half portions for Miami Spice, frozen Edamame, and left hungry. A party of four next to us was worse off as they shared same appetizers with 4 people. Rip off in comparison with much better Miami Spice options.

    (2)

  • Kara T.

    If you're unfortunate enough to find yourself stuck here, get the avocado tostada and be done with it. It doesn't break any culinary bounds, but it has heaps of avocado and it's hard to go wrong with that. The deviled eggs looked appetizing, but were lacking in taste and texture. Mushy. We didn't finish them. The breakfast nachos were pretty basic. If you want cheesy chips as your brunch dish, this is for you. My friend's report on the Sammich was that it was very dry. The salmon appetizer- we actually couldn't even eat because it was so fishy... And the corn cake was so dry. The culinary experience was weak overall... so you might think the $19 mimosas could make up for it... After the hostess forgot to add us to the list and proceeded to seat several tables of people who had been waiting far less time, we were seated after 45 frustrating and unnecessary minutes to be told that they were out of champagne. (My friend told the waitress it's the third time she's come and they have been out of champagne.) They were substituting rosé, which is not delicious. Then, they ALSO ran out that. What about the IPA? Keg kicked. So, my friend got a Bloody Mary. I tried to order a gin and tonic only to find out that they don't have a liquor license.... Which means there's not actually vodka in the Bloody Mary. It was the pits.

    (1)

  • Damian D.

    Since my first review I've been to The Federal now at least 20 times. They are such nice people I just felt horrible to leave a 3 star review so I had to go back. So glad I did. The kitchen likes to stretch a bit so of course there will be fails, but that comes with the territory. Just go with it. I've had their BBQ menu (meh) the summer crawfish menu (very good) a beer pairing dinner for Oktoberfest (excellent) brunch (still don't like it) and of course regular dinner menu (very good). Through it all, the service has been very good by any standards, and superb by Miami standards. Especially when Ani is physically overseeing what goes on. There's a certain warmth that only a charming owner can imbue. Tip: parking is easiest at night when the small shopping center next door is closed.

    (4)

  • Katherine D.

    We came here because it was on Bravo. Portions aren't that large here but the food is very rich so they don't have to be. My friend and I split the Ceez's smokey fried chicken which was finger licking good! The meat was so soft and the skin was delicious. It was great to cut off pieces and cover them with the puréed sweet potato! We also had the Wild Mushroom noodles that have corn, a creamy cheese sauce with herbs, and oyster mushrooms. Again, this was very rich but had a lot of different flavors like the smokey mushroom. Noodles were thick which worked well with the sauce and I ate all the sauce that was leftover by itself. For dessert he got a banana dish with fluff and cooked fruit on it. Decor was interesting made me feel like I was in a cozy country steakhouse or somewhere after a long day of skiing. I didn't feel like I was in Miami at all which was interesting. They have outdoor seating as well which looks like any other outdoor area. We had a good experience and while the entrees aren't inexpensive, I understand why they cost what they do because they take the time to incorporate so many interesting ingredients.

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    This is the first time I've ever written a review WHILE in the middle of eating the meal. I don't know why either, given the amount of solo travel I've been doing for work. Maybe because typing on an iPhone is annoying? Anyways. Couldn't leave Miami without trying this newish place that's gotten lots of attention from both Eater and Bravo. Popped over right at 6pm when they opened and got one of the few available spots in the lot right in front. Niiiiice. They do have outdoors seating; they do not have anywhere to wait for a table indoors. They also got rid of their bar seating which really stinks. I wonder why they did that. It makes me sad. They seemed pretty disheveled when I arrived. I went in to use the bathroom and servers were getting yelled at to put things away, and the host had just realized he'd forgotten to switch out the lunch menus for dinner. He was very nice though. One weird thing - he kept telling everyone what table number he had them seated at, like we were supposed to know what it meant. Maybe he's new? I got a table along the windows and was promptly greeted by a super happy and friendly server. He had a very rehearsed shpiel about the restaurant and what they offered which I heard him repeat to a number of tables, but it was good information and well performed, so good for him. Since it was just me I couldn't really order a lot, although the whole menu looks amazing. I wish I could come back! I ordered what I knew I would - the biscuit, and the jar o' duck. The server said the latter dish is why he worked here (again, something he repeated to other tables), and I replied by saying anything with fluff on the plate would get ordered by me. The biscuit was really good - it didn't blow me away as it did Tom Colicchio, but it was solid. I think my only complaint was that the top was really the only place where the cider butter vinegar glaze was, and that's also where there were a bunch of little burnt bits, so I didn't prefer that flavor. The jar O' duck was freaking phenomenal. A great size for a small entree for one or an app for two or three to share (they call it an app). There could have been more squash (I ran out while I still had plenty of everything else), but the flavors were incredible. It really did taste like Thanksgiving. I did want to try the pig wing (their "signature" dish), but I couldn't resist the dessert menu. (at this point I put my phone away, ate dessert, and am now finishing writing from my hotel room). There were three dessert items - a deconstructed banana s'mores, a buttermilk panna cotta with strawberries, and a traditional bread pudding which the server pointed out was anything but traditional given that it was made with crispy creme doughnuts. As appealing as that last one sounded, I also thought it might make me feel disgusting, and I had previously said in the evening that I would order anything with fluff on the plate - so, the s'mores it was! I was actually quite skeptical as s'mores are one of my favorite desserts (the combination of the three ingredients, that is) and I was concerned that what they had to offer wouldn't impress. How incredibly unbelievably wrong was I! It was absolutely fantastic. I ate every single last bite, and I'm not ashamed to say so. I can't imagine how good that bread pudding is... So - that's the story. I think it's a fantastic place that I'd love to visit at least a few more times (although I probably won't get the chance), with a tiny bit of room to grow.

    (4)

  • Sabrina S.

    I really loved this place. Cabernet Sauvignon selections were delicious. Smoked Pork Shank and Buffalo Style Pig Wing are a must! AND, our server Justin was amazing.

    (5)

  • Sieu L.

    The place screams of southern comfort as far as decor is concerned. We were greeted promptly at the door and our waiter was quick to welcome us. The drink selection is a little limited but they have a strawberry infused beer, which was pretty good. On to the food, simply the Jar of Duck is a must have. It is a ground duck made into a spread that is accompanied by marshmallow and candied sweet potato and crostini to spread this deliciousness on. I would avoid the corn cake as it was dry and not a big fan of caviar. The spicy clam was pretty good and crab cakes were definitely worth it. To end the night their bread pudding with krispy creme doughnut is da bomb. Nice custard filling with the doughnut crispy texture was a great way to end the meal.

    (4)

  • Helena R.

    I went there for brunch and had such a pleasant experience. My waiter was extremely kind and helpful. The place was a little empty when arrived, so no need to wait long for tables. Portions were big for the entrees but quite small for the "nibbles". The bread they use is Zak the Baker, needles to say it was delicious! And coffee is Panther, which is also amazing. Overall I had a nice experience, the only down side is the street mall it is located in, other than that, no complaints whatsoever

    (3)

  • Michael U.

    Items Selected: Federal Jumbo 'Biskit' - buttermilk, honey apple cider glaze Carmeliz'd Onion & Crab Dip - lump crab, pickled radish, brown butter, crusty bread Punkin Spiced French Toast - gingersnap cookies, pumpkin butter, salted caramel, whip cream, maple Pig Wing and Waffles - country fried pork shank, cornmeal waffle, housemade 'hot' honey Jar o' Duck - duck confit rillete, charred fluff, candied sweet potato Knowingly overestimating the dining capacity of co-travelers, but attempting to make the most of limited time, second brunch on Saturday saw our trio seated at Buena Vista hipster hangout "The Federal Food, Drink & Provisions" where although the bottomless brunch bubbles seemed to be a hit with several loud surrounding tables the experience was average, at best, for those sober enough to know the difference. Strip-mall located with a tight interior decorated in taxidermy beleaguered by kitsch as servers parade around nonsensically offering anecdotes, without particularly accomplishing much as relates to presenting plates, it was from a recently retooled menu that our meal was crafted and having done away with the prix-fixe shared plates concept in favor of a la carte the five plate meal progressed quickly, an unadorned jumbo biscuit starting things off right with a tremendously flaky interior imbued in buttermilk beneath a golden tan ever so slightly sweet. Admittedly an interesting menu despite service and 'scene,' it was not long after the biscuit that the creamy crab as well as the crispy waffle arrived and although the bread served with the dip was nearly inedibly dry the spread itself was intensely flavorful, the same to be said for a lightly breaded pork shank that effortlessly shredded from the bone to outperform all but the finest fried chicken and waffles tasted to date. Served 'small plates style,' but still a touch out of the order that would be expected, it was in follow-up to the dip that thick slices of French Toast were delivered and although each a bit doughy the accoutrements of pumpkin puree, sticky caramel, and spiced whip each dazzled - the later strikingly similar to the toasted marshmallow fluff plated alongside caramelized sweet potatoes and a jar of confit duck - a signature dish, indeed, though again held back by poorly conceptualized bread.

    (3)

  • Mark W.

    After spending the late afternoon at Gulfstream Park watching a few races, my wife and took my Mother in Law to the Federal for her birthday dinner. I learned about the Federal from the Best New Restaurant Show on Bravo with Tom Collicio of TopChef fame. We were greeted by a nice young lady who helped us get a table. Service from the get go was Spot on. Chris informed us about the libations and we shared a pitcher of the Sangria. The Federal has the feel of sitting in someone's home. A dining room filled with knick knacks, animal heads, jars filled with all kinds of items. We started with the Duck Jar - a sous vie Duck served in a jar with well charred bread as well as an Avocado Tostada, both were really tasty and satisfying easy to share. We enjoyed the Dungeness crab special and their jambalaya - nicely prepared replacing simple rice with Israeli Couscous. Both dishes were flavorful and easy to share it was a lot of food. Again service was helpful bringing hot towels to the table to clean our hands from the crabs which we dug into. Dessert was a nice key lime pie flambé. Enjoyed by the 3 of us. I highly recommend friends to come and visit the Federal, this was one of my favorite meals in the last few years.

    (5)

  • Terry L.

    This place has and continues to get alot of hype, so much to the point that I made it a requirement to drive and dine on one Sunday night. To avoid any crazy crowds, I made sure to arrive at the time of opening, which was a great decision as the place started to fill up rather quickly. The decor has somewhat of a country cabin flavor to it with the option of covered outside seating. Upon entering, if you look to your right, you should notice a BBQ grill which I believe is used to grill certain items such as corn. The service was great as the waitress asked if it was my first time dining there and made great recommendations as to what i should try; she also continued to check on my table throughout the night. The food... Jumbo Biskit (this is the way they spell biscuit, lol) was a buttermilk biscuit that was gigantic with a honey apple glaze. The biscuit was delicious and soft and was worth every bite but take note that - because of the size - you can get full off this appetizer alone. Ceez's Smokey Fried Chicken had me feeling some kind of way, I just wish I knew if I was going the right or wrong way, let me explain. When I hear fried chicken, I think of a piece of chicken dipped in flour and placed into grease until golden brown... Huh? Not with Federal Food... the chicken is first smoked to perfection to develop a BBQ'ish flavor than is dipped into flour to develop a crispy outside skin. The thing is... as I was eating it, my mind kept bouncing from BBQ and wanting to know where I could add sauce to am I eating fried chicken (where's the ketchup?). The flavor surprisingly works but might have you going back in forth in terms of comparing what your palate is going through. Just a note that they do not have fountain drinks, so if you want juice or a soda, your paying for it by the bottle or can. Overall, I would return but probably to see how there brunch fares out!

    (3)

  • Wendy L.

    The food here is mediocre, portions are small, price is high relative to quality and quantity. The only thing I thought was remotely enjoyable was the cheese biscuit. All the other dishes I tried did not taste very appetizing and came out cold. Save yourself the trip and money and go somewhere else for brunch.

    (2)

  • Andre G.

    We had read all the good reviews, saw one of the famous food show (can't remember which one) mentioning them so we were eager to try. The space is nice, on a small strip mall next to a Dunkin Donut (filled with cop cars :-))) Everybody was raving about the duck rillettes so we ordered that and some other dishes (every restaurant is going for tapas style now...). I'm from the south west of France, anything duck my grandma would make it herself (think foie gras and magret every Sunday's for lunch). Those rilettes are terrible... I'm pretty sure there are mixed with pork, definitely not 100% duck. The rest of the food I thought wasn't great either and they didn't have some of the dishes we wanted. Trying too hard with ingredients associations, greasy, not what I was expecting. Maybe it was an off night.

    (2)

  • Sadie H.

    One word for you: FOODGASM. New to So.Flo. I was looking to plan a day long date in Miami on a Sunday. This place kept popping up under the "best brunch" category. I read some reviews of this place on other sites & decided to book on open table or some similar service. I honestly kind of expected to be let down after suffering through horrible and overpriced drinks on Ocean Ave. (that review is coming), but boy was I wrong. The Service: A+ Chris our server was fantastic. His recommendations were spot on and he put up with our goofy, less than politically correct sense of humor flawlessly. The manager also stopped by our table and was great to chat to. The Food: A+++ OMFG!*!*! I hate to sound like a school girl about this, but holy cow was brunch delicious. Our reservation was at 2 PM, and we had kind of hoped for a lunch menu because we'd already done breakfast at home that morning. The savory items on the brunch menu do not disappoint. The deviled eggs are the best I've ever had. HOLY SMOKES do they have this recipe down. I seriously need to befriend the chef because I want to make these for my family. We then ordered the breakfast nachos and finished with tostada (without egg). These plates were served tapas style and were perfect for 2 people. Size was shareable but not overkill and the tastes were very complementary. For drinks: at first it's a little bit of a bummer that they don't have a full liquor license, but the bottomless mimosas - thumbs up. (Try the Federal Mimosa - the added Guava is a nice touch!) The Bloody Maria is a meal in a cup. Served in a generous portion with a hearty smoky bbq flavor it was just a little too rich for us to finish even with two. So why not 5 stars??? I really want to give this place the 5th star BUT there is one small detail that is keeping me from doing so. In my online reservation I had made an fairly easy special request for a written note/clue to be left on the table. It wasn't particularly complicated and I think I was pretty clear about what I was hoping for. (Could have been on a napkin!) Having loads of experience in the restaurant industry, I know there is likely a good reason this request was not fulfilled, but it would have really sealed the deal if that piece had not been overlooked. :/

    (4)

  • Sam R.

    Everett our server was great. He went above and beyond to ensure our dinning experience was great. Food was very good as well..

    (5)

  • Sabrina L.

    Came here for a beer tasting hosted by our very own Patrick L. Even though I am a newbie at this, I really did enjoy trying different beers. The staff was great, very polite and accommodating. Since I was hungry, I decided to order the Shrimp cocktail and the cheese platter. Those shrimps were huge! and the cheese platter came with whole wheat raisin bread that was so tasty. Loved the ambiance...expect for those creepy rabbit heads on the wall....but hey....to each its own.

    (4)

  • A P.

    A friend I sent was there last week (not a Sunday) and it seems they messed things up. The lamb burger was not up to snuff and the pork wing was dry and precooked. Com'on guys, don't embarrass me....

    (2)

  • Vanessa M.

    Brunch was very good here. I was pleasantly surprised. Had been for dinner and I wasn't as impressed. Their biscuit is perfection combination of sweet salty and savory with a perfect texture

    (4)

  • Kyla S.

    We had a wonderful meal at The Federal. We went because of a Gilt City offer and truly found a gem. After a long weekend of dining this was probably my favorite! Everything just fit. Fun atmosphere, cool customers, engaged and friendly staff, plus great food! We had the Gilroy Shrimp, Oysters, Clam bake and the Blueberry coffee cake. Yum!

    (5)

  • Seth R.

    Phenominal!! Buffalo pig, beets, steak tartar, barrato, brussel sprouts, mac n cheese, fried chicken, bizkit....all world class. Ordered 10 dishes for four people and it was more than enough. Sangria was great. Waitress fantastic. Chef is michellin class. Must go!!!!!

    (5)

  • R G.

    Very cozy place close to downtown. Service was excellent. The menu is very limited but full flavor and creativity. The BBQ deviled eggs with pulled pork were to die for. Mac and cheese, creamy and incredible. Pig wings caught me by surprise, just didn't know what to expect. They were delicious. The dirt cup dessert was so full of flavor that I had to ask what was in it. Plenty of craft beer and extensive wine list. Excellent little place.

    (5)

  • Christian W.

    I stumbled upon this place during a late night run to Baskin Robbins. It was too late for dinner on that occasion, but I remembered it when it came to deciding where to eat the following week. This unassuming, mini-mall restaurant is a lovely little Southern Oasis in the heart of busy Midtown Miami. I am a Texan with a great love for food made with love. These guys nailed it, From the crawfish & grits, to the flaky biscuits, to soooo creamy creamed kale, this place is like a big comfort food hug. Reasonable prices, BIG flavor, and friendly service. Thank god I'm an ice cream addict, it helped me to discover my new favorite restaurant.

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    15 words or less: If the founding fathers cooked like this, the whole world would be eating "American" cuisine. 15 words or more: This casual comfort food mecca located in a strip mall is just splendid. While it seems to go for a northern pro-union feel, the cooking seems to lean more toward southern. Who cares. It is fantastic and you would be crazy to not be stocking up on the tasty provisions here. If I had to have two gripes it would be the fact that we called to get a reservations, were told reservations were not accepted, and then showed up and asked if we had a reservation. Apparently the place now takes reservations so the staff answering the phones need to iron out this issue. The other gripe would be a liquor license. The place only offers wine and beer. This place just screams to me as a place that would would offer whiskey, bourbon, and old school cocktails or punches. And I just am not a fan of paying $10 for a bottle of beer or $25 for a pint of beer. But these are minor trifles as the food is just great and the service was pleasant and attentive. For our meal, we had a number of the small plates, shared two big plates, had a few sides, and two desserts. Pig wings: Two Buffalo-style "chicken" wings made out of pork. The pork pulled clean off the bone and was delicious. The buffalo sauce is spicy so those with spice issues should beware There are shavings of vegetables that come on top of the wings. They are not just garnish and should not be ignored. Cheese biskits: Flakey, warm, cheesy, salty, smokey. It is an umami experience and just great to share (2 large biscuits come to an order). Jar o duck: My favorite of the starters. A jar of cold duck and fat served with warm toasted bread, a fluff, and candied sweet potatoes. The sides that go with the duck are great, but totally unnecessary because the duck and fat spread on the toast is just so good on its own. Make sure to immediately order more toast as you will need a few more pieces. Lamb burger: The lamb was tender and full of lamb flavor. There was no hiding anything and that is the way it should be. I would certainly have been happy just to eat the burger by myself if I was not sharing. Yellow tail special: We had a fish special that was simply prepared. The skin was crispy on what ended up being a surprisingly large piece of fish. The dish was good, albeit plain, and offers a nice balance of feeling like you are eating something a little healthy. French fries with egg: You need to break up the yolk and get it all over the fries. It adds a real element of flavor that that provided a real twist on what is standard fare. I enjoyed the dish overall but did find some of the fries were overcooked to the point that they were tough to eat. Creamed collard greens: I am not a fan in general of collard greens so I can't tell you if they are good or bad. Banana bread pudding: I did not try this dessert but those eating with me raved of how good it was. It did look good, particularly as it did not appear to be a big lump on a plate or overly heavy as some bread puddings can get. Jar o smores: A small jar of what seemed to be chocolate pudding with marsh mellow on top and three graham crackers. A pass for me. The dish was cold and I just think needs to come warm. Plus, the marsh mellow was not nearly warm or crispy or gooey enough. Overall, I really like this place, its vibe, and its food. I will certainly return. If you go, don't work a plaid shirt. You may get confused as one of the staff.

    (5)

  • Netty D.

    I wanted to LOVE this place but I'm sad to say that I didn't. I am really just chocking this up to an "off" night because it consistently gets great reviews. This restaurant is in an unassuming location - a strip mall on Biscayne blvd and 51st street. The parking lot holds maybe, 40 cars max and the neighboring Dunkin Donuts commands 50% of those spots. There is no self parking option - valet is a must. It's only $3, but the valet literally takes your car and parks it in the spot you're already standing in - it's that silly. The restaurant itself has a vintagey garage sale feel; it's a small space with low lighting and mason jars with candles on the tables. There is an optional outdoor eating area but because they're working with space constraints, you're basically sitting on the parking lot, with a view of the parking lot if you choose to eat here. I give them credit for a very efficient use of "working w/ what you've got." The best part about this place is the waitstaff and management. By far, the friendliest, most engaging and attentive restaurant employees in Miami. Every single person was so nice and attentive. It's disappointing that the meal was not equally as inviting :( We started off our meal with the Jar O Duck which the waiter said was "amazing." The menu describes it as "candied sweet potato, charred fluff, slow cooked Hudson Valley duck." I guess the description leaves a lot to the imagination, but I thought we were going to get actual pieces of duck. The dish is actually a ramekin (not jar) sized portion of duck paste served with crunchy slices of bread, and marshmallow fluff that you can spread over your bread. Not what I had in mind. The duck was not really an appealing texture or temperature, it was served at room temp. Second item we ordered was the crab dip. I generally love crab in whatever shape or form; not this one. Served in the same ramekin that the duck comes in, this was served at room temp also and with the same crunchy bread. It is served on a cutting board that had slices of celery, radish and carrot for dipping. The crab tasted rancid/sour to me. Perhaps this is the "bourbon redux"? Third item - cheese biscuits. These hold true to their fame - delicious and large, herby and doughy. Favorite item on the menu. 2 large rolls to an order. Still wanting to love our meal, we ordered the Pan Roasted Airline Chicken Breast and the Clams. The chicken was served on some tasty greens mixed with cornbread. The cornbread itself was soggy in some instances and hard/chewy in others - gross! It tasted as if it was old and out of a box. The chicken tasted good with a good bacony flavor. I thought it was well seasoned. The clams had good flavor and the broth was tasty. I'm told that the menu options change often, so we may have just not ordered the great items - or not had the chance to get the right dishes because they weren't offered on Saturday night. Also, NO MIAMI SPICE menu on Saturday night.

    (2)

  • Faby P.

    I've been here twice and that's only because I'm a Kendallian and the drive kinda sucks, but man is it worth it! First time was for dinner: We looked through the menu and were a bit bamboozled - so much to choose from! We decided to start with the Cheese Biskits, the Shrimp & Grits and the Jar-O-Duck. The Biskits were huge. Big, fluffy, soft, doughy delicousness covered in melted cheese, honey and coarse salt bits. The dough had a rich buttermilky taste, and the melted cheese added to the indulgence. It came with a side of Vermont butter which added the perfect touch of silky moisture and hint of buttery flavor. The Shirmp & Grits were out of control. Chunky, thick meaty pieces of Creole style shrimp laid upon a fluffy yet very crisp bed of cheesy grits. The greens on the side were awesome - and I hate greens. They were leafy but perfectly wilted and seasoned delicately. It came in a hot skillet which made the bottom crisp the grits giving it nice texture. Now - the star of the show. A nice guy who works here said "get the duck, it changed my life." I am all for trying new things, however myhusband isn't as daring and shot me a "you're on your own" look. The Jar-O-Duck is accompanied by crisp slices of toast, caramelized sweet potato and a dash of perfectly charred marshmallow fluff. I layered on the duck, a bit of sweet potato, and smothered it with the fluff as instructed by the lady (chef?) who brought it out. Holy Moses. This eclectic mix of flavors - all so different but so perfect together - sent my tastebuds and all senses over the edge. The duck was so tasty, the sweet potato and marshmallow brought everything together so perfectly, and the toast added a nice crisp touch even though it's purpose is to serve as a vessel for the masterpiece that is the combination of these items. After nagging enough, I finally got my husband try it and before I knew it, he was spreading duck like a mad man saying "look what you got me doing." He loved it so much he said "this could be dessert," to which I quickly replied "yes, it could.... but it's not." If the food is this good I didn't want to even fathom the thought of skipping dessert here. After much consideration we decided to skip the main course and go straight for dessert. My heart ached as I grieved the desire of devouring their lamb burger, but I was so full I knew I would'nt enjoy dessert if I had another savory morsel. We decided to shoot for the Banana Bread Pudding. This dessert was excellent - not too sweet, not mushy, good firm texture drenched in a creamy sauce and caramel. It came topped with chocolate chips which melted in my mouth and chunks of fresh, sweet banana. Awesomeness at it's best. Second time around I went for a beer pairing event which was equally awesome. This time I had the jar of rabbit (that's not what it's called, but ask and you shall receive) which was also pretty amazing. We also had crispy beef which is tripe - sounds crazy, but it was crazy good. We had the pork shank which was amazingly tender and juicy and sat on top of a little bean salad that was pure madness. Speaking of madness, red velvet bread pudding sent this meal out with a bang. The pairings were on point. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Jan P.

    My husband and I had been looking forward to eating at Federal for months. We went for Sunday brunch,which turned out to be a huge mistake. The menu was limited and overly chi-chi.we started with a peaches and cream "small share". The four slivers of peach were hard and surrounded by tasteless "burrata". I settled on green eggs and ham without the ham which was essentially eggs Benedict with creamed kale on top of a biscuit. The eggs were lukewarm and the biscuit was bone dry. My husband ordered a lamburger with a duck egg (strongly suggested by the waiter) cooked medium rare. The burger came out eggless and overcooked to medium. Both it and the slice of goat cheese on top . When we told the waiter about the missing egg,he actually wanted to inspect the burger! Needless to say that when the check came we were charged for the duck egg which we promptly asked to be removed from our check. We will not be coming back to Federal.....ever.

    (1)

  • Charlene O.

    I had been wanting to try this place for as long as it has been open, about 11 months. All of my foodie friends were telling me about the excellent beer selection and the yummy dishes so I had to try it! With friends visiting from Houston, Atlanta, and NYC we went to The Federal on the Friday night of Art Basel. While i was not expecting excellent service due to the increased amount of tourists in the city during this week, the service and food impressed us all! The host, the servers, the wine and beer list, they were all great. We had a series of small plates - the ones I enjoyed the most were the Burrata and Fig and the crispy Pork Belly special with a sage-infused syrup. So YUMMY! My friend has the Mahi-Mahi entree which was served with Israeli Couscous and it was excellent as well. I give this place thumbs up and 5 stars - it excels in service, ambiance, music, food and beer/wine selection.

    (5)

  • Daryl M.

    Terrible dining experience. Mediocre food for a hefty price tag. They claim to be an American restaurant but charge for still water like you're a tourist in Europe. They do have a great short term business model though. Charge $160 for two people, provide no service, serve tiny portions of underwhelming food and hope that you somehow forget the experience and return to get shafted again. Valentines day special or not, you don't screw your loyal customers. Do yourself the favor and look elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Regina H.

    Been to the federal twice now and both times have been great. Laid back atmosphere, excellent service, and amazing food. The way we go is with a group, that way you try a bit of everything and split costs. It's miami so you have to expect the pricing but it's really not horrible compared to other places. For the food, if you're a Brussels sprout aficionado like me you absolutely have to get them at the federal. That's my plate. No sharing the sprouts! So amazing I asked for the recipe and I'm not usually that type but they're SO GOOD! Also the max and cheese is the best I've had anywhere I'm obsessed. Crawfish grits were excellent and soooo rich had to take leftovers. Great place ! Love the federal!

    (5)

  • Henry M.

    Alright, I honestly think this place deserves a 5 even though their food is pricey and even though portions are not too big. However their service was great. Waiters know their stuff and they're attentive and you can just trust them on the recommendations. The food tastes great. It's definitely worth giving a shot. Been here three times. The waitress sold us on the Chef's Table. We pretty much tried like six different plates between my friend and I. We were definitely full after that. Definitely try the Jar O'duck and the Beef Tartare. The duck has this awesome combination of marshmallow and yam. The tartare has this great smokey taste. We also had the wine flight. Sampled three different wines for a reasonable price. So again, if you like delectable food that may cost a pretty penny and you're ok with that, then this is the place to go.

    (5)

  • Savanna M.

    Friends of ours are obsessed (rightfully-so) with The Federal and invited us to do brunch with them there. Perfect, because this had been on our radar forever and we had never found quite the excuse to get there. Definitely make a reservation, at 11am when we arrived the place was fairly empty and we were even able to park without having to valet, but by 12pm there was quite a wait at the door. The brunch menu is rather extensive, not in the fact that it's pages long or anything, but in the fact that you get to try quite a lot of it without breaking the bank. $25 will get you the starters - pastries and dips, 2 entrees and 1 (pre-selected) dessert...which will definitely leave you quite full and feeling like you got your money's worth. For drinks there are 3 options - a) buy single drinks as you go b) do bottomless mimosas for $19 or c) bottomless mimosas/mojitos/slurpees/bloody marys etc for $25. It's important to note that they won't let you do a bottomless option without ordering food (hopefully to keep you somewhat sober) and they don't have a liquor license so all of these drinks are made with wine/beer, which works surprisingly well even in the bloody mary. Food: *The pastries - I think there were 3 or 4 options in the basket, all of which were tasty. *The dips - fish dip, bean dip and ricotta with honey. The fish dip was by far the winner. *Jar o duck - we ordered this extra and wow it was amazing. *Biscuit - also an extra order, a must share for the table! *Wing and waffle - I loved it. The pork was perfect and so was the waffle. *Steak and eggs - slightly too dry for me but Steven C. said it was his favorite. *Lobster and biscuit - loved the corn for crunch. I probably could have licked the plate. Steven C. said it wasn't his favorite. Strange what opposite perceptions we had here! *Crawfish and grits - my absolute favorite. If you know me, you know I'm slightly partial to grits and these didn't disappoint. I only wish I had licked the plate. *Cookies and Cream french toast - good flavor but maybe needed slightly thicker bread. By this point though I was probably too full to be enjoying food lol. Overall...I really enjoyed the meal and I really enjoyed the pricing structure. Our service was a bit spotty and I think our waitress may have been new so I'll keep this at 4 stars for now. I'm definitely anxious to go back and try dinner!

    (4)

  • Indira A.

    Don't go hungry! It's tapas style and meant to share with the table. The sharing portion is great for 2 people, but not for 3 or more. It's a great idea to sample more plates but be wallet conscious because the total will creep up. The food concept is creative. Just know, that the plates come out as the kitchen prepares it. That includes dessert. I went on a busy Saturday night and service was great - the entire staff was friendly. I didn't have reservation, but we got sat outside, not a big deal. Highly recommend to make reservation! Go visit! It's an experience!

    (4)

  • Chrissy W.

    YUM!! We went yesterday after seeing it on Best New Restaurants and we were blown away. We had reservations so we were promptly seated at 6pm and ordered the biscuit, pig wing, the mushroom and noodle dish, and creamed corn with egg and porcinis. All dishes were outstanding. We LOVED the noodle and crimini mushrooms--if I wasn't in public I would've literally licked the bowl. Luckily we had the delicious biscuit to soak up the sauce with. We also had a vegetarian avocado tostada which was interesting and yummy. My husband loved the pig wing and said it had a nice kick. The service was excellent too--we had told our waiter that we were in a rush to make a flight and all our drinks and dishes came out quickly. We will definitely be back soon--I can't wait to try more of the menu and the desserts of course!

    (5)

  • Melissa S.

    We chose the Federal to check out on 4th of July weekend for obvious reasons. The reviews are generally good, particularly for a few signature dishes. So those are the ones we tried, the Jar'o Duck app and the $20 smoked and fried pork on waffles. It was all really dry. Pork was dry, duck was dry and even the waffle was dry. What a disappointment. Perhaps if we added the bottomless mimosas it would all have tasted better.

    (2)

  • Naty S.

    A seriously good Gastropub in the area. Great decor, service is fantastic and the location is off the grid but perfectly quiet and away from the noise of the near by design district. Must say hands down "The Biscuit" speechless... Specials are never disappointing... They pair these with seasonal beers! Make sure you leave room for dessert!!!

    (4)

  • Nicole W.

    I finally tried The Federal after reading the reviews on Yelp and I was very disappointed. I started out with the crab dip and cheese biscuits--both of which were not great. The crab dip was tasteless and was served with cold, hard bread. The cheese biscuits also lacked flavor, but were served with delicious honey butter. They were without a doubt not worth $8 for two biscuits. As my entree, I had the roasted little chicken dish. Little chicken? Try, no chicken! At a cost of $20, it was overpriced, as the four small pieces of chicken hardly had any meat on them. The chicken was served with vinegar-style cole slaw, which was mediocre at best. My boyfriend had the half-rack of St. Louis ribs. Although the meat was tasty, they were by no means fall-off-the-bone like any good baby back ribs should be...definitely do not recommend! As sides, I ordered the mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. Both sides arrived to the table cold and we had to send them back. By the time they came back to the table, the meal was almost over. However, the mashed potatoes were amazing (hard to screw up whipped potatoes and butter)...which was probably the only redeeming dish all evening. The fried brussel sprouts were ok...they were covered with a vinaigrette that was a bit too tangy. With our meal, we ordered the house sparkling water. Our bottle was incorrectly refilled by the bus boy with still water not once, but twice...even after we pointed out the error after the first time around! Although the food itself was disappointing, the service was very good (especially for Miami) and the restaurant also had a nice ambiance--it was cozy and unique. Although the brunch menu looks delicious, I do not plan on coming back to The Federal.

    (2)

  • Nick K.

    Fantastic! We came here for the first time after having visited Phuc Yea, (their previous temporary restaurant) several times. The owners remembered us and welcomed us home like family. The service and warmth was as good as it gets. The food was outstanding. I can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • rhett t.

    Pubbelly much? Ok, the decor and premise now seem kitschy, if not derivative. And the night we ate there the pacing of the meal (I am being generous) was glacial (they blamed it on slow Thursdays!). The interior is noisy and you are looking out on Biscayne Boulevard. All that said, the food rocks. There were a few gems on the wine list having just enough high end options to keep me interested. The beers seemed a tasty back-up. The service was disjointed at best, but caring. Oh, lordy, we waited for a salad that was well-composed, but the lamb burger was perfectly gamey and seasoned. It tasted like lamb should. The wild boar sausage elevated bangers-and-mash to new heights. We wanted to complain, but the food drowned out our complaints. I think the menu tries to outsmart itself but the chef clearly knows what the F$#%^ to do. Go here. Now.

    (4)

  • Kathryn S.

    I absolutely hate organizing parties and dinners. Anything that forces me to think for a large group of people who have their own agenda is one of the most stressful things for me. People never arrive on time, they always bring more people, or someone doesn't show up. It gives me a headache just thinking about it. When I had to plan a dinner for about 15 people you can imagine the anxiety that I was going through. Many places wanted us to have a preset menu and they just weren't working out. But lo and behold, like a shining beacon of hope, The Federal would seat our party, and they'd seat us without all the mumbo jumbo that other restaurants wanted from us. After all the planning, the dinner was wonderful. The food was exceptional and everyone had a blast. As usual with this group, we got a bunch of different plates and everyone tried a bunch of everything. Some of the favorites were the Buttermilk Biskit, South West Mac & Cheese, Ceez's Smokey Fried Chicken, St. Louis Style Pork Ribs. I also have to say that the service was superb. Out waitress was great at very attentive to our table. We had a very large party and they got everything right. The reason I am giving this place 4 stars instead of 5 is the alcohol situation. They do not have hard liquor! All their drinks are made with wine, and when we asked for a specific drink, they were out. We all had to stick to wine, which did not bode very well with some of my party. Either way it was a great night and we had a lot of fun. I really liked The Federal and I plan on going back and trying their brunch.

    (4)

  • Ari K.

    Had been craving to visit this place for awhile because of the rave reviews and finally took the tongue plunge for brunch but the food was really disappointing. Besides the food I actually love the spot ;) Stupendous affable service, a charming rustic comfy ambiance, an awesome soundtrack that played M83 and Moby and a beautiful commitment to the organic lifestyle which even included Dr. Bronner's healthy soap in the bathroom. To be fair I have also heard they have stupendous lunch and dinner cuisine and I also did not try the candified jar o duck that sounds sublime. Lets get to the food: Jumbo Federal Biskit- Was just good not great and I feel like biskits should always be great. It was slightly sweet and savory and nicely Crunchified but a tad dry. I added maple syrup to it and it really helped. Crawfish Grits n Egg- This dish was not good. It had a weird taste and lacked the refined smooth consistency that I appreciate in my grits. It also was heavily salted and had a confusing piecemeal texture. I got no crawfish flavor either. Chicken & Waffles- The chicken was the best thing I had at brunch. Nicely fried thick boneless chicken strips that possessed a solid crisp and tasty buffalo sauce on the side. The waffles though were a huge disappointment. It seemed like an Ego waffle that was super soft and soggy instead of that beautiful crisp I need in my waffle's life. Cookies & Cream French Toast- The mere name and notion inspires an expectation of a glorious dish but twas merely meh. I really enjoyed the whipped ricotta but the texas toast was overdone with crusts that were way too hard to eat. The toast also was a bit dry and the Oreo pieces a tad stale. Even though the food fell flat for me I will definitely come back to try their non brunch food and try to support this spot that exudes such positive love and energy.

    (3)

  • Liz L.

    First time we tried to do brunch at The Federal we could not get a table. So def make reservations, especially on Sunday or there may be an hour(s)wait. The seating is cozy and I liked the decor in the restaurant. The servers were knowledgeable about food on the menu and were prompt to refill water and more importantly to top off the endless mimosa glasses. The food was Uhhmaz!ng. Each order came out as they were ready and each dish was delicious. We had green eggs and ham, lobster biscuits, steak and eggs and the cookies and cream French toast. We decided to be adventurous and got the duck confit, and it was probably one of the tastiest dishes we ordered :)

    (5)

  • Michelle G.

    I really wanted to love The Federal, unfortunately I felt as if this restaurant has been over hyped and does not deliver. Their Ani Palmer and Krispy Creme Bread Pudding were the only good two things about my dinner. The because that they are supposedly famous for was almost an insult to other biscuits. The maple glaze that they brush on top of it is really strange because when you bite into the biscuit all you can taste is sugar with a ton of butter. I know this restaurant is supposed to be doing spins on comfort food and that comfort food is not healthy to begin with but surely they can make unique comfort food that flavors actually work. For my main, I had their Fried Chicken. When I scrapped passed the breaded, dunked in honey layer, the chicken was actually really tender and had a smokey flavor. However, I should not have to be scrapping off parts of an entree to make the dish edible. Everything about the dish along with the biscuit was basically diabetes on a fork. Dessert was wonderful, for the three bites I could handle. Between the biscuit and fried chicken, I was sugared out. It's humorous that you can "Buy a Beer for The Kitchen" and I wish that was just a joke but I did see kitchen crew grabbing a beer every now and then. Maybe if they stopped drinking and took their jobs a little more serious I would not have left feeling as if I needed to make a doctors appointment to check my sugar levels. Needless to say, I will not be returning.

    (2)

  • Greg A.

    We were on a cruise and live in Texas and I specifically wanted to come to this restaurant after seeing it on bravo, it's very much a Southern restaurant but they must not really know about Southern cooking, and I find it hard to believe this was voted best biscuit in the US it was extremely salty and tasted like it was made out of Jiffy mix, The owners are not there so if you're looking to meet them you'll be disappointed, we had all the recommended specials and they were okay but just not what you would think it would be considering they were on one of the 10 best new restaurants in the US, I mean it's good food but it doesn't live up to the hype unfortunately, I was extremely embarrassed with my friends because I had gone on and on about how good this was going to be and we all agreed it was fair ?The staff is amazing very knowledgeable very helpful and very friendly!

    (3)

  • caro b.

    Brunch was OK...the cookies and creme french toast was much lighter than one would think. The heirloom tomato ceviche was nice and refreshing. The wing and waffle was...too much- too sweet or something- definitely not my favorite. The breakfast nachos were pretty good. Our waiter poured a nice mimosa, but overall this place is just OK and not worth the hype. Oh and that famous biscuit? I've had better.

    (3)

  • Ryan F.

    We feasted on the $40 prix fixe menu, which included 8 total courses. It was some of the best two hours of eating I've ever had. I felt like I was in a Munchies, Vice episode - food just kept coming out...we were already full, but couldn't stop eating because everything was so good. We just so happened to be there on Friday, May 30th (my birthday) which was the premiere of their Diners, Drive-ins and Dives episode. They threw up a screen to air the episode, which featured their smoky fried chicken. Service was great and very accommodating as our party arrived pretty late and less a few people. Some of the standouts of the night were: -jar of duck -crab sliders -smoky fried chicken -cowboy steak, cooked medium rare -3 cheese mac n cheese with poblano peppers The Federal is executing southern comfort food quite well and deserve the recognition.

    (4)

  • P H.

    The Federal has been on my radar for a while and after reading all the recent nasty reviews I must admit I got even more intrigued. Some of these reviews are just so mean-spirited that I almost had to LOL (hey I don't use that shorthand lightly) upon reading them.. I had to come check this place out for myself! In fact, I was actually kind of looking forward to being treated like crap at the restaurant and then feeling compelled to write something funny about it. And who knows? Maybe I too can get 'trolled' by the alleged female manager/monster who apparently guards the gateway to hell! Yeah! Armed with my eagerness to receive poor service and unimaginative/substandard food, I finally dined at the Federal. For the palms-rubbing, popcorn-crunching, train wreck-watching lot enthusiastically anticipating an awful experience filled with disappointment, sadness, and anguish from me, I have to say I've let you down. From the moment I set foot into the establishment, all service staff including one bartender, two waiters, and one hostess were nothing but friendly and courteous. I had the biscuit, shrimp and grits, and the 'wings' and waffles, and they were all solid dishes- tasty and well-executed with good balance of flavors. The waffles can use a prettier plating presentation with maybe more colors, but at the end of the day it's a waffle dish and flavor and creativity are really the strong suits of this dish. I did not do the bottomless drinks option but instead had a cocktail and coffee. The cocktail was good, and you almost had to like your drink even more knowing that it was prepared carefully by such a nice, friendly man. The Panther coffee was a little sour for my taste, but I have noticed that it's perhaps one of the new Miami favorites. Can I put in a recommendation for Stumptown? That would make me so happy. All in all, sorry folks I had a great time at the restaurant and I got nothing to add to the ongoing rant chant. I do however need to help set the record straight- the food and drinks at the Federal were delicious and the service was great. The Federal is not a big restaurant so limited seating capacity honestly is to be expected. All restaurants need to operate on some rules in order to function properly. Think about our places of work or home... when do we ever have no rules that we need to stick to just so that the whole place doesn't fall apart? Now I can't speak for the dinner slot, but if it were true that people have to wait for 15+ minutes for a table even with a reservation, then the fault lies with the scheduling system and/or table management, and that needs to be addressed appropriately. But for the brunch crowd agonized over waiting to taste the sweet and savory provisions, might I suggest arriving early within the first half hour of opening time? Early rising has its merits... Walk right in and ascend to your thrones, breakfast kings!

    (5)

  • Natalie I.

    So we hit this place on a friday its in a strip mall and hobo was running around doing something to the cars and my guy was like lets try some place else. But i insisted. The huge BBQ grill right out front was smoking and smelling just fabulous. We are both glad i insisted. So it wasn't that late but they were out of a lot of things on the menu. That was a bit of a bummer. I also think the menu changes based on what is fresh because a lot of things yelpers were posting about where not on the menu. Im taking a star of for not planning for a friday night that is a basic management thing. But what was left was delicious the duck in a jar was good, my guy devoured it. I am a bit of a duck snob ever since I returned from china. So I passed however the Marshmallow that came with it was so good, a sweet with a bit of salt is so Devine. We had the pork ribs was very yummy with a sweet spicy flavor. The octopus was out however they had half a portion left and they gave it to my guy on the house he said it was amazing. The southwest mac and cheese was a bit disappointing. We didn't get a sweet because what was offered did not seem appealing. They have to step that up as well. We tend to like to try a bunch of new places only the spectacular ones keep us coming back this may just fall into the later category. Im not a much of bbq fan but I do enjoy it once in awhile and i know a few BBQ fends who i need to bring here. Also I want to try their brunch I just love brunch.

    (3)

  • Heather V.

    Disappointed for sure. Had crawfish and grits and the pork wing and waffles as well as their famous biscuit. Everything was just lack luster. Biscuit was burnt. Crawfish grits had very little crawfish..like 5 pieces too little and zero flavor. Service was good when we saw the server...which wasn't nearly enough. Just left feeling let down. Hope they get a handle on it ... It could be great.

    (2)

  • Addy R.

    Deliciousness! The Limeaid and sangria are to die for and the platano waffles are heavenly! The breakfast samich (yes saMMich) is hearty and the biscuit is amazing!

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    My boyfriend and I had dinner at The Federal last night and really enjoyed it. The ambiance is chill and relaxing. The service was impeccable and our server had a strong knowledge of wine and made great recommendations for food pairings. I also appreciate that I didn't feel rushed and no one tried to push more expensive food or drink, as some places tend to do. Definitely try the pork buffalo wing and the tomato salad. I'd recommend a group of 3 or more so you can buy many small plates to try. We probably over ordered for 2 people, but wanted to try it all!

    (5)

  • L K.

    Our first night on vacation was made perfect. Our car rental experience at Miami airport made us very late. That's another post and zero stars would be appropriate for hertz. They couldn't be nicer with our repeated calls to delay our reservation. We finally got there and The vibe was relax and fun. They were full of people enjoying themselves on a Wednesday. We ordered too much food and loved it all. Go on Wednesdays for the crawfish and then dunk the bisket in it to soak up the goodness. Our server mike, manager d j and bus boy were outstanding. The duck is genius, you really appreciate the thought that goes into putting the components together to make an amazing bite. We will have to find our way back before we go home.

    (5)

  • erica b.

    There was an hour 15 min wait when I arrived but tables open. They haven't quite got down how to turn a table but the food was fantastic and well worth the wait. The biscuit was heavenly, but the deviled eggs were my favorite.

    (4)

  • Danielle G.

    This was so worth the drive. Chill atmosphere, great music, wonderful cocktails . Jar 'o Duck - omg, if you don't love this then you are out of my circle of trust. Just had the best meal I've had out in so long.... Pig wings heaven on earth. I wish this was closer I'd be in here at least once a week. A great find.

    (4)

  • Veronica G.

    Cookies and cream french toast ... Need I say more? It was hard to pick with all the amazing things on the menu but we went with the biscuits and gravy and a jumbo biscuit and paired it up with bottomless mimosas. Yes, you read right bottomless! I will be back and I cannot wait.

    (4)

  • Jesus R.

    Needles to say this place needs no introduction...it's absolutely amazing. Be patient some dishes are still in process of cooking when opening at 6pm so may not be available right away. If you eat well and take pride in the places you eat at, then this is just for you.

    (5)

  • Vienna F.

    I am still in search of the spot to call my favorite. As I eat my way through Miami, I discovered The Federal. I finally found a place that was worthy of a Yelp! At first, I wasn't sure what to expect driving up to a little strip mall. Where I come from you don't find a quality resturant in a strip mall, but the food reviews were a big draw. Once we walked in I was totally impressed! It reminded me of a restaurant in downtown L.A. It's an adorable, hip spot with cool decor. While rock'n to 80's classics, we were greeted by our server, Barbara. Every server in Miami needs to take lessons from Barbara! Getting excellent customer service from a server a bit rare. She was friendly, attentive, personable and knowledgeable of the restaurant 's food and drink. Every server should hold all of these qualities. Service makes a huge difference in your dining experience. We started with the buttermilk biscuit that melts in your mouth like a little taste of heaven and the charred octopus made my toes curl! Our favorite was the Jar O' Duck. It was freak'n deeeeelish! The only thumbs down would be the brussel sprouts. Overall, it was a great experience and I will make it part of my food whore rotation.

    (4)

  • Dan F.

    Wow! I finally made it to this spot and I'm glad I made the trip. Perfect experience all around not sure how u can rate this below 4 stars. I will be back for sure and I can't wait to hit brunch b/c if they do as good as dinner I'm ready!!!

    (5)

  • Andrew K.

    I came here for a Sunday brunch was pleasantly surprised. The food had an amazing home cooked rustic smoked quality that is delicious and rare in Miami. I had the biscuits and gravy eggs Benedict along with some home cut bacon. YUM! My only critique was that they need to do something to dampen the noise level inside. It was tremendously loud making it impossible to have a conversation without out screaming to the person sitting next to you. Granted they were busy, it seems like something could be done to help this aspect of the dining experience out. I will certainly be coming back again soon but with some ear plugs in tow.

    (4)

  • Daniel G.

    What can I say, if your looking for a cozy place for a date, or a laid back atmosphere for a small group of friends, this is the place to be... Great staff, awesome specialty beer and spectacular dishes; especially the smoked pork ribs! I will definitely return with an bigger appetite for food, beer and spend a memorable time with great company! SN: service was a bit awkward at first, seemed like they did not know how to make us feel welcomed when we walked through the door, but soon, our server made things right, as he explained some dishes with much detail and answered all of our questions...once the food was served, it made up for the initial awkwardness.

    (5)

  • Sean E.

    Pig Wings are delicious! Tried couple items on the menu. All items were great! Service all around was perfect. I recommend this spot to anyone looking for good food service, and nice atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Ming P.

    The staff were amazing. Food were delicious even though I'm not a big fan of corn. I plan on going back to try more delicious food from the menu.

    (4)

  • Jana C.

    The Federal reminds me of Sunday brunch culture in NYC. I've missed that since moving down to Miami from the Big Apple. This place is a gem tucked away in a little strip mall, but if you know about it, it adds to your cool factor. The staff is friendly and accommodating, and it gets busy for weekend brunch, which is not a bad thing at all, but you should definitely call ahead to reserve a table even though that sounds kinda ridiculous for brunch (never had to do that in NYC, even in the tiniest most popular places). We didn't reserve or call ahead but the friendly host and servers let us have a table. I like the "game-y" look of the place, cute knick-knacks, wood, and a fake deer head...The food is a reflection of that culture, with selections such as "Jar-O-Duck" and "Venison Sausage" but everything is so tasty. We had the: "French Toast Bananas Foster," "Skillet Eggs," and "Federal Steak & Eggs" and BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS for $16/person (totally worth it). Loved The Federal, love the brunch!

    (5)

  • Jessi L.

    Had Sunday brunch here with a friend. The place is a really nice hangout and the food was very good. The service was good and the staff was very friendly. I tried the breakfast nachos and the waffles and pork. Both were good. The cookies and cream toast they gave at the end was just ok.

    (4)

  • Thomas B.

    AN EVENING WITH HIP, POLITICALLY CORRECT, FOODIE VERSION OF PAULA DEEN! Hospitality driven, great food, knowledgeable, and winecentric! Decided to spend the evening discovering great food and drink and stumbled across The Federal. Lucky for me, it is Miami Spice and The Federal doesn't hold anything back! I was greeted by a very friendly manager who wasted no time in seating me right in the front. Within minutes I was greeted by the sommelier, who also served as my waiter for the evening. THIS IS PERFECT, as there is nothing better than a waiter who knows good wine. After walking me though the menu, which is a modern take on Southern traditional dishes, he convinced me to go with the four-course Miami Spice menu as it includes all of their famous apps and entrees. The best part is that you get about six apps, including their famous deviled eggs! Smoked pulled pork shoulder, pickled Serrano, and creamy horseradish! As the sommelier says, just like mom used to make... (My mom never made them that way, but I wish she had!) Along with the menu, they offer a delicious flight of wine for $15 that includes a Soellner Toni (white), Parker Station (Pinot Noir) and Artadu Vinedos de EMK Seque (Monastrel, Syrah). Hefty pours and all delicious! Each wine is perfectly paired with each course... Unfortunately even with a half serving pour, I managed to drink them all with the first course! Whoops! My fav was the Parker Station! First course, deviled eggs, pineapple steak, and FL Heirloom tomato salad, Buffalo Style Pig Wing ($5 more), tomato and grits, and roasted jumbo asparagus! TONS OF FOOD! All really great... Pineapple stake was a little too flavorly ambitious for me, but still good nonetheless. As you probably figured out by now, the Deviled Eggs were my favorite! Second course, I decided to try their famous fried chicken! First bite, tasted like the perfect combination of a corn dog and chicken! This is prob because it is smoked for two hour over maple wood before being fried! Includes a breast and a leg paired with buttermilk ranch and pickled watermelon! Third course, layered coconut with coconut cookies, pudding and shaved coconut! Not as sweet as I expected. The sommelier offered a delicious lemongrass liquor/dessert wine for the finish. Very aromatic and delicious. Highlight of the night was certainly the food, but the sommelier was by far a rockstar! Highly recommend The Federal for a good time and good food! ALL REVIEWS ARE WRITTEN IN REAL TIME

    (4)

  • Mike W.

    Came here for brunch for a friends birthday and was more than pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere and decor are great. It's a relaxing environment and the staff are very friendly. But most importantly the food was "smack yo momma" good. The two best dishes I had (for my first of many visits) was the crab hash and the cookies and cream French toast. Not to mention the chicken and waffles and bacon were amazing too. Everything was unbelievably good. It's great to know that there are local business that provide superior quality food and are passionate about what they do. If you are looking for great comfort food, great service, and great value without all of the pretentious b.s. you have to deal with in south beach, come to the Federal. Yardbird was...repeat WAS..one of my favorite places to eat in Miami, but I will no longer be going there now that I know The Federal is around.

    (5)

  • Clauie V.

    weird easter sunday brunch. very small plates. one check for 8 people, really !!!???? we waited for 45 mins for our tables. i made the reservations a week before and we still had to wait? horrible place . don't go there ! overrated reviews from the people that like the place.

    (1)

  • Orlando C.

    Was there on Thursday. Not bad. Had the pig wings and fried chicken. I have to say the food was excellent. Great flavor and presentation. The location itself does no justice to the restaurant. I'll say that for being in a rink-a-dink shopping center, you can easily miss it and keep driving past it on Biscayne. This place should be in a shops of midtown with a larger terrace and a small at outside. The hip-hop on the little blue tooth stereo didn't help. Again, for the type of restaurant I would have liked a little lounge music instead. The service was excellent. Nicole was hands down great. Daniel was always on top of his game. So I give it a 3 out if 5. It's a new place so I give it some time and YES......I will be back.

    (3)

  • Montserrat A.

    Meh. The food, although delicious, was overpriced and undersized. The unlimited drink brunch is complete bs. You are lucky if you actually manage to get 3 mimosas (or shall I say orange juice with a splash of cheap sparkling wine). The place has a very Brooklyn vibe, which is nice if you don't mind eating out of recycled plates and being served out of garbage. All in all, mediocre. Won't come back.

    (2)

  • Jessica A.

    Yum! Yum! Yum!!!!!!! Is what I have to say about this place. I picked the Federal for my birthday celebration this year with my family. I couldn't have been happier with my decision. I loved everything about this place. The service and food are beyond words. Truthfully I was a little hesitant about coming here cause I had a group of 9 and I had read from a fellow Yelper this place didn't handle large groups that well. Thanks goodness that was not the case on my bday . I was a little disappointed that a couple of things I wanted to order were not available.. Booooo!! Anyways, it'll be a good excuse to come back maybe 2, 3, or 4 times more hehehe. We ordered the pigs wings, biscuits, briskets, and so many other things. Not one dish disappointed anyone what hit!! The service was incredible. Can't wait to try brunch!

    (5)

  • Jainiz S.

    This place was a joke. Food portions are minimal. Service SUCKS. Food quality is ehhhh. Love the decor....

    (1)

  • Jessica B.

    Decided to check this place out for brunch after hearing so much hype about it, and boy it did not disappoint. The resturant is cozy and gets really packed. Sat at the bar since it was so full. The service and staff were amazing and super nice. We started we the brussel sprouts which were awesome then my hubby had the cookies and cream french toast with scrambled eggs and i had the blt, it was all delish. Cant wait to go back and try other dishes.

    (4)

  • Sherif A.

    As a ten year resident of Miami I had grown accustomed to overpriced food and terrible service, but over the last 3 years I witnessed a refreshing revolution in the restaurant industry here. New places had opened with great food and fantastic service and Miami had begun experiencing a renaissance in terms of good restaurants. The Federal is a throwback to everything wrong with the Miami restaurant industry. Overpriced food, abysmal service, and terrible management. I had the unfortunate experience of attending brunch here with my girlfriend and it was a disaster. The ironic part was that we laughed at the two tables next to us who did nothing but complain about the experience. Little did we know, we would soon be joining them. First of all, the waitress took 25 minutes to ask us what we wanted after we ordered our appetizer. In fact the appetizer actually came out before we had a chance to finalize our order. Second, our bus boy spilled both drinks on the table, which we let go. Third, after finishing our 100 dollar meal we were informed that our bottomless mimosas had expired because we were no longer consuming food. I told the waitress to bring the menu so I can order to dessert, and she responded by taking my glass away and clearing the table to bring the check. The check had an 8% sales tax charge even though Miami restaurants are only required to pay 7 (sketch much?). At this point I was furious with her extremely rude approach to the situation. The manager came out and asked how he can fix things and I said I'm not looking for any perks or anything extra. He said he would bring us another round of mimosas anyway. Of course the round never materialized and I left. An absolute nightmare experience in an industry that i thought had turned the corner in a city that i truly love. A real shame. The only positive is that they are located in a bad neighborhood that no tourist would visit.

    (1)

  • Vanessa B.

    Decided to come back with my husband! Awesome food! It was busy service was average we had to keep telling them about refills on Mimosas.. We ordered an additional side of maple bacon cure in house that was delicious.. Parking is a mission but overall greatt brunch..

    (4)

  • Yesenia S.

    I really thought I was going to adore The Federal, but no. I mean, it's OK. I wouldn't tell anyone to steer clear, but I was not blown away. And for those prices I'd better be blown away! First I'd like to just get out of the way that their staff is incredibly polite and conscientious. They're incredibly knowledgeable on the menu (as they should be, but you'd be surprised at the staff of other places) and it seems they truly want to help you craft a great meal you'd truly enjoy. Love the colonial, down-home decorations. Also the location in the strip-mall which makes it easily accessible especially with valet up front. On to the food...the jar o' duck was not as magically delicious as I'd hoped. Maybe it wasn't the duck as much as the bread that accompanied it. It was much harder than a crouton. It scraped the roof of my mouth. Maybe it would go better with biscuits? The lamb sliders were pretty darn good, but again, not particularly drool-inducing. The mac and cheese tasted like regular ol' mac and cheese. Nothing special there. Good but not for the price! A friend absolutely adored their brunch and she is my food soul mate so I totally trust her judgment. Maybe I'll give it another whirl but probably not anytime soon given all the incredible restaurants sprouting all over the city that I've flagged to try.

    (3)

  • Mark W.

    After spending the late afternoon at Gulfstream Park watching a few races, my wife and took my Mother in Law to the Federal for her birthday dinner. I learned about the Federal from the Best New Restaurant Show on Bravo with Tom Collicio of TopChef fame. We were greeted by a nice young lady who helped us get a table. Service from the get go was Spot on. Chris informed us about the libations and we shared a pitcher of the Sangria. The Federal has the feel of sitting in someone's home. A dining room filled with knick knacks, animal heads, jars filled with all kinds of items. We started with the Duck Jar - a sous vie Duck served in a jar with well charred bread as well as an Avocado Tostada, both were really tasty and satisfying easy to share. We enjoyed the Dungeness crab special and their jambalaya - nicely prepared replacing simple rice with Israeli Couscous. Both dishes were flavorful and easy to share it was a lot of food. Again service was helpful bringing hot towels to the table to clean our hands from the crabs which we dug into. Dessert was a nice key lime pie flambé. Enjoyed by the 3 of us. I highly recommend friends to come and visit the Federal, this was one of my favorite meals in the last few years.

    (5)

  • Helena R.

    I went there for brunch and had such a pleasant experience. My waiter was extremely kind and helpful. The place was a little empty when arrived, so no need to wait long for tables. Portions were big for the entrees but quite small for the "nibbles". The bread they use is Zak the Baker, needles to say it was delicious! And coffee is Panther, which is also amazing. Overall I had a nice experience, the only down side is the street mall it is located in, other than that, no complaints whatsoever

    (3)

  • Sadie H.

    One word for you: FOODGASM. New to So.Flo. I was looking to plan a day long date in Miami on a Sunday. This place kept popping up under the "best brunch" category. I read some reviews of this place on other sites & decided to book on open table or some similar service. I honestly kind of expected to be let down after suffering through horrible and overpriced drinks on Ocean Ave. (that review is coming), but boy was I wrong. The Service: A+ Chris our server was fantastic. His recommendations were spot on and he put up with our goofy, less than politically correct sense of humor flawlessly. The manager also stopped by our table and was great to chat to. The Food: A+++ OMFG!*!*! I hate to sound like a school girl about this, but holy cow was brunch delicious. Our reservation was at 2 PM, and we had kind of hoped for a lunch menu because we'd already done breakfast at home that morning. The savory items on the brunch menu do not disappoint. The deviled eggs are the best I've ever had. HOLY SMOKES do they have this recipe down. I seriously need to befriend the chef because I want to make these for my family. We then ordered the breakfast nachos and finished with tostada (without egg). These plates were served tapas style and were perfect for 2 people. Size was shareable but not overkill and the tastes were very complementary. For drinks: at first it's a little bit of a bummer that they don't have a full liquor license, but the bottomless mimosas - thumbs up. (Try the Federal Mimosa - the added Guava is a nice touch!) The Bloody Maria is a meal in a cup. Served in a generous portion with a hearty smoky bbq flavor it was just a little too rich for us to finish even with two. So why not 5 stars??? I really want to give this place the 5th star BUT there is one small detail that is keeping me from doing so. In my online reservation I had made an fairly easy special request for a written note/clue to be left on the table. It wasn't particularly complicated and I think I was pretty clear about what I was hoping for. (Could have been on a napkin!) Having loads of experience in the restaurant industry, I know there is likely a good reason this request was not fulfilled, but it would have really sealed the deal if that piece had not been overlooked. :/

    (4)

  • Sam R.

    Everett our server was great. He went above and beyond to ensure our dinning experience was great. Food was very good as well..

    (5)

  • Michael U.

    Items Selected: Federal Jumbo 'Biskit' - buttermilk, honey apple cider glaze Carmeliz'd Onion & Crab Dip - lump crab, pickled radish, brown butter, crusty bread Punkin Spiced French Toast - gingersnap cookies, pumpkin butter, salted caramel, whip cream, maple Pig Wing and Waffles - country fried pork shank, cornmeal waffle, housemade 'hot' honey Jar o' Duck - duck confit rillete, charred fluff, candied sweet potato Knowingly overestimating the dining capacity of co-travelers, but attempting to make the most of limited time, second brunch on Saturday saw our trio seated at Buena Vista hipster hangout "The Federal Food, Drink & Provisions" where although the bottomless brunch bubbles seemed to be a hit with several loud surrounding tables the experience was average, at best, for those sober enough to know the difference. Strip-mall located with a tight interior decorated in taxidermy beleaguered by kitsch as servers parade around nonsensically offering anecdotes, without particularly accomplishing much as relates to presenting plates, it was from a recently retooled menu that our meal was crafted and having done away with the prix-fixe shared plates concept in favor of a la carte the five plate meal progressed quickly, an unadorned jumbo biscuit starting things off right with a tremendously flaky interior imbued in buttermilk beneath a golden tan ever so slightly sweet. Admittedly an interesting menu despite service and 'scene,' it was not long after the biscuit that the creamy crab as well as the crispy waffle arrived and although the bread served with the dip was nearly inedibly dry the spread itself was intensely flavorful, the same to be said for a lightly breaded pork shank that effortlessly shredded from the bone to outperform all but the finest fried chicken and waffles tasted to date. Served 'small plates style,' but still a touch out of the order that would be expected, it was in follow-up to the dip that thick slices of French Toast were delivered and although each a bit doughy the accoutrements of pumpkin puree, sticky caramel, and spiced whip each dazzled - the later strikingly similar to the toasted marshmallow fluff plated alongside caramelized sweet potatoes and a jar of confit duck - a signature dish, indeed, though again held back by poorly conceptualized bread.

    (3)

  • Adri E.

    Bad service. They served us super late and the food was not what we expected. They do not have alcohol licensed either.

    (2)

  • Terry L.

    This place has and continues to get alot of hype, so much to the point that I made it a requirement to drive and dine on one Sunday night. To avoid any crazy crowds, I made sure to arrive at the time of opening, which was a great decision as the place started to fill up rather quickly. The decor has somewhat of a country cabin flavor to it with the option of covered outside seating. Upon entering, if you look to your right, you should notice a BBQ grill which I believe is used to grill certain items such as corn. The service was great as the waitress asked if it was my first time dining there and made great recommendations as to what i should try; she also continued to check on my table throughout the night. The food... Jumbo Biskit (this is the way they spell biscuit, lol) was a buttermilk biscuit that was gigantic with a honey apple glaze. The biscuit was delicious and soft and was worth every bite but take note that - because of the size - you can get full off this appetizer alone. Ceez's Smokey Fried Chicken had me feeling some kind of way, I just wish I knew if I was going the right or wrong way, let me explain. When I hear fried chicken, I think of a piece of chicken dipped in flour and placed into grease until golden brown... Huh? Not with Federal Food... the chicken is first smoked to perfection to develop a BBQ'ish flavor than is dipped into flour to develop a crispy outside skin. The thing is... as I was eating it, my mind kept bouncing from BBQ and wanting to know where I could add sauce to am I eating fried chicken (where's the ketchup?). The flavor surprisingly works but might have you going back in forth in terms of comparing what your palate is going through. Just a note that they do not have fountain drinks, so if you want juice or a soda, your paying for it by the bottle or can. Overall, I would return but probably to see how there brunch fares out!

    (3)

  • Wendy L.

    The food here is mediocre, portions are small, price is high relative to quality and quantity. The only thing I thought was remotely enjoyable was the cheese biscuit. All the other dishes I tried did not taste very appetizing and came out cold. Save yourself the trip and money and go somewhere else for brunch.

    (2)

  • Andre G.

    We had read all the good reviews, saw one of the famous food show (can't remember which one) mentioning them so we were eager to try. The space is nice, on a small strip mall next to a Dunkin Donut (filled with cop cars :-))) Everybody was raving about the duck rillettes so we ordered that and some other dishes (every restaurant is going for tapas style now...). I'm from the south west of France, anything duck my grandma would make it herself (think foie gras and magret every Sunday's for lunch). Those rilettes are terrible... I'm pretty sure there are mixed with pork, definitely not 100% duck. The rest of the food I thought wasn't great either and they didn't have some of the dishes we wanted. Trying too hard with ingredients associations, greasy, not what I was expecting. Maybe it was an off night.

    (2)

  • Sieu L.

    The place screams of southern comfort as far as decor is concerned. We were greeted promptly at the door and our waiter was quick to welcome us. The drink selection is a little limited but they have a strawberry infused beer, which was pretty good. On to the food, simply the Jar of Duck is a must have. It is a ground duck made into a spread that is accompanied by marshmallow and candied sweet potato and crostini to spread this deliciousness on. I would avoid the corn cake as it was dry and not a big fan of caviar. The spicy clam was pretty good and crab cakes were definitely worth it. To end the night their bread pudding with krispy creme doughnut is da bomb. Nice custard filling with the doughnut crispy texture was a great way to end the meal.

    (4)

  • Cristi D.

    I stand corrected! I'm so happy I gave this place another try... Went back for brunch and noticed that they changed the menu. The Buffalo Chicken and Waffles was delicious!

    (4)

  • Nutty A.

    I came for dinner for the first time with my friends(5 of us) . We had amazing food, 4 stars for the food ... BUT wow service was very bad! And there are tip included 5 or more ..... My waiter name is Michael (tall guy with glasses) came to table like 3 or 4 times for entire meal, and I ordered something Togo with separated check with our dinner. Check came out with tip included on my Togo check , I asked him nicely that why my Togo had tip included he said it because of it s same party but i dnt think it s right to included tip on Togo order.... So I talked to manager and she took the tip off from my check .....BUT HE CAME AND THROWN THE CHANGE AT ME... 5 of us saw the same thing!!!!! Wow!!! Never experienced it in my life!!!!! Great food !!! Horrible SERVICE ... Never go back!!! Bye!!!

    (1)

  • Meegan's M.

    Had a great experience at The Federal. To read all about it visit the link below. meegansminute.com

    (5)

  • Ramiro A.

    Hard to find anything wrong with my meal. Had an octopus cocktail appetizer that was something like a salsa with octopus and avocado. Don't remember all the ingredients but it came with homemade chips and was very flavorful. As an entree I had the creole crawfish and grits, which I quickly devoured. I ate some glazed doughnut bread pudding for dessert which was very good even if it didn't live up to the quality of the other food I'd enjoyed. The service was excellent and the waiter made great recommendations. The owner was friendly and took care to ensure that my meal was going well. I guess the only thing I disliked about the place was the parking. I couldn't park the car myself, but had to pay $3 for someone to park it less than 20ft away. Don't really see the point of this.

    (5)

  • Yohana G.

    I drove from Boca Raton to check out this place, to top it off it was my birthday. To start we had reservations and we ended up waiting 15 mins in the rain to be seated. There was no hostess stand so when we got there we were very lost. The serves wear normal clothes so you never know who is working there. After we finally sat, we waited so long to get our menus that I had to get up and get them. After that the "waitress" told us about their family style in which we finally realized that their family style type of dinning was that the food is not sent to the tables together. We ordered the mimosas but they only came when our food was out. Drink menus were not provided, we had to ask. By the time the server came to the table we were already furious. Finally when 3 out of 4 of us had our plates we realized that the biscuit which was placed on our table was an incorrect order that was confused with the biscuits and gravy. Food was not special, I had the crab hash which barely had crab. The prices are very high and the food quality is very low.The owner came to the table and sent us a few plates on the house but the damage was done, our experience was not good. I still cannot understand how this place was rated so high.

    (1)

  • Mariela E.

    Is ok no big deal. The plates don't impress me. The pork wing tastes like cardboard. The chilly fries terrible... I think this place is only for brunch not for dinner. I don't recommend this place

    (2)

  • Vanessa P.

    I'm torn on the 3-4 rating but maybe it's because I sort of wish they had a few more menu choices. I will say everything I have had is quite delicious but when we've dined here it's usually more of a tapas style, rather than digging into one of their entrees. I love sitting outside because even though it's in a strip-mall next to a DD, they somehow manage to make it feel comfy and cozy. I'll credit the strung lights and sunflower plants. The truth is I still have yet to try their Jar 'O Duck and dine during brunch, so I'm thinking those items should maybe be on my New Year's Resolution list.

    (3)

  • Krys P.

    This has been one of our favorite restaurants in Miami. They have a small but interesting menu, and the staff is simply the best I've seen in Miami for a while. They remember us from a visit a whole month ago, always attentive to our needs without being obnoxious, all in all very friendly and pleasant. The pig wing is excellent, we've tried other items on their special menus which are divine. However, on our last visit, we were a bit disappointed. The brussel sprouts were burnt - not caramelized - but burnt to a bitter char. And overly salty. We looked forward to the pork belly, but it was too dry. Come to think of it, it's not often to get dry pork belly... with all that fat going on, but somehow they managed to do that. Maybe they are too busy with the new bakery? Anyway, I hope they get back to their standard on my next visit, else I'll be dropping another star!

    (4)

  • Lissette S.

    I was so excited about going to the federal on Valentine's day 2014, unfortunately I found myself regretting the decision, besides the fact the our rations were so so small that we left the restaurant hungry. The food wasnt good and the whole thing was insanely overpriced. Due to this I won't be going back.

    (1)

  • Krystian M.

    Spent $80 left hungry. Lamb burger was dry and tasteless, Elote was ok, Pig wings were decent but for $7 EACH a terrible value (used to be 2 or 3 to an order) and the Short Ribs were tasty but again $16 for a few pieces of short rib thrown on a plate with no presentation or side dishes...no. This place used to be good...scratch that, Great. I have been coming here for years, to the opening, to brunch even to the wine tastings...They had fun, friendly service and interesting, tasty fare. I dont know what is happening here, but enough is enough, if I wanted mediocre service, tiny portions and bland uninspired food, I can spend a lot less than $40 a person to get that. Won't be going back.

    (2)

  • Lana B.

    Another great experience at this restaurant. Delicious food from beginning to end, immaculate service and great atmosphere. We've been here a few times and it's consistent and never disappointing. I'm glad we found this place and will keep coming back. The ever changing menu is quite interesting and makes you want to taste every dish. I've read other reviews and was surprised to see some negative comments. I also saw responses to some of those from the Federal. I believe that it is the type of place that listens to their customers and genuinely wants them to have a great experience, improving on those points that were not up to par. For those who think that this place is overpriced, you may be at the wrong restaurant. You definitely get what you pay for here.

    (4)

  • Ligia M.

    First the place is freaking adorable, to the last detail & even the restroom. I went for Sunday Brunch, highly recommend you make reservations. The food was amazing I had the pig wing & waffles, delicious. As an appetizer we had the burrata it was also delicious. My friend had the steak & eggs, I am going to order that next time. The service was great & very friendly. Better than Yardbird.

    (5)

  • Chris C.

    federal/fed()rl: Having or relating to a system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs. The United States of Our Meal was broken down in to several independent states such as: Basket of fries: our mission here in BOF is to fry ourselves to a golden brown perfection. This will ensure supreme crunchiness and the ability to retain our salty demeanor throughout the course of the meal. We will not become soggy immediately after being brought to the table. Jar O Duck (best item): our mission is to unite our the bureau's in to one. Slow cooked Hudson Valley duck will be at the core of our union. It will provide the foundation for our taste. On one end we have the very conservative sweet potatoes, candied for your pleasure. Then we have the liberal charred fluff (marshmallow cream) that will provide a new perspective on this seemingly simple dish. KC Glazed Pig Wings: in this state pigs can fly, but when they do we barbecue 'em! Our meat is made to fall off the bones in order to provide for those less fortunate or as we call them, the forkless. Brisket: I was created to close the deals and to have the final verdict on any and all barbecue related ideas. Ladies and gentleman, this is the kind of federal system that works!

    (5)

  • Lincoln B.

    Went to the federal this past weekend for brunch and thought it was an okay experience. The food was great; however, it left me hungry. The portions are small and for $25 I expect more. Also, I was disappointed that we had to pay an extra $25 for bottomless drinks. I know this still sounds cheap but I'd much rather pay $45 for Toro Toro's brunch. At least there it's bottomless and a buffet style. The food was great though.

    (3)

  • Paul S.

    One of the worst meals I have ever had in Miami. I wish I could give less than one star. I've been twice to make sure it wasn't just a bad night. Its a lousy kitchen. Don't believe the hype.

    (1)

  • Andreana J.

    Feel short of expectations.

    (3)

  • Grace M.

    The service was okay. The food was okay. The best plate I had here for Sunday brunch was a side of brussels sprouts. I like going to brunch on Sundays and trying new places but I was disappointed with this option. The food wasn't great and the price was too high for the portion and quality of the food. Segafredo's brunch is much better.

    (2)

  • Eric B.

    I have thought about going to The Federal several times before. Now I am upset with myself for waiting this long. Every single thing we tried was out of this world amazing. There's not a bad dish on the menu. From the Pig Wings and Waffles to the Crab Hash it was spectacular. Even the brussel sprouts are delicious.My wife never gets excited about food. However, she couldn't stop raving about The Federal. We are already planning a return.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth B.

    Great food. The chicken and waffles are amazing. Still dreaming about the crab hash. Unlimited Mimosas are really unlimited. The service was exceptional. Emily was very knowledgeable. The capuccino dessert was sick! Loved it.

    (5)

  • Courtney M.

    I've been to the Federal three times now. Twice for dinner and once for brunch. Every time was nothing short of amazing. They have innovative dishes that are such a tastebud experience you will leave satisfied and ready to plan you next trip. I wish I could remember the details of my last two experiences but they were a while ago and are a bit fuzzy. I do remember bottomless mimosas at brunch that got me quite buzzed and while loving my everything else I tried not really appreciating their jar o duck signature dish but them again duck isn't really my thing. But this time I can give you details. I went with three friends for Miami spice but we didn't end up ordering off the spice menu because they said the chef preferred either the whole table order off it or not so we chose not so we could try more things. Also note that the menu on the Miami spice website is different than what they actually offer. The online menu has more options but the actual menu allows you to choose four out of eight each. Which would be fine for couples cause you could try all of them but doesn't really work for bigger groups because it would be really duplicative. We decided to pick two dishes each and share. They were offering $20 unlimited prosecco which we skipped since it was a work night. I have a love of brussel sprouts and theirs did not disappoint. They were crispy and yet there was something sweet about them. I think it actually may have been baby pickled onions. They had a chilled watermelon dish with chipotle spices that I'm still thinking about. So much so I'm determined to try and make it at home. The burrata was deliciously creamy but I was not in love with the salad that accompanied it. We ordered the smoked chicken and the mussels which were pretty standard. The Mac and cheese on the other hand was orgasmic. I try to shy away from such unhealthy dishes but this is a must order dish. The deviled eggs were also awesome. Not much like traditional deviled eggs but with pulled pork and a jalapeño for spice and still the creaminess of regular deviled eggs is quite a delicious surprise. I am not one to normally order crawfish and grits but the grits were creamy and overall the entire dish hit the spot. I highly recommend this place. The menu offers something for everyone and I consider it a Miami staple. Definitely on my list of favorite restaurants.

    (5)

  • AshleyMarie O.

    The address listed here is wrong- its 5132 Biscayne Blvd, on the West Side of Biscayne and between Honeybees & Dunkin Doughnuts (actually a great location b/c you can use Dunkin Doughnuts wireless) The decor is so great, I just loved it! Everything was so cute- if you're in a large group they take your order on an ipad, AN IPAD. Awesome. The food was awesome, only beer & wine but thats ok for me :0) We actually asked out server to decide what we were going to eat and she (MEL) did a great job! We had duck in a jar.. or something to start and as gross as it looks, it IS SO GOOD Duck pate, kind of I guess, with marshmallowwwww and potato I think it was and OMG. so good. Mussels were AMA-zing, I actually wanted to drink the juice but restrained myself, we also had a dish, I forget the name, but home style potatoes? OMG I was transported to a little mamas house in the south it was so good. We finished off with the lamb burger YUM YUM YUM For dessert we had Lemon Curd... yeh yuck.. but it tasted like key lime pie and came with a sugar cookie so YAY I'll be back very soon I'm sure

    (5)

  • D. G.

    I've been twice. Inventive, creative, and very tasty food. Reasonable prices. The service is good...for the most part. One of the owners we've met could not be nicer, or more professional. Another example of the improving food scene in Miami.

    (4)

  • Vanessa P.

    Great food, service, atmosphere, staff.. Recommend 100%.... Had the blt waffles & eggs & biscuit & gravy... Amazing!!!

    (5)

  • Zola P.

    Our party of 6, including one toddler, came from Brunch and we were not disappointed. We had to wait a few minutes for a table, but the staff brought out a picture of water and glasses for everyone. The service was wonderful from beginning to end. The food was amazing - everyone had something different and love it all! Even the toddler loved the Pot of Duck, although the toasts served with it were so crunchy I was afraid she would break a tooth! Probably the least favorite was the lobster roll.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth D.

    Southern Comfort seems to be a hot theme among restaurants these days, and I, for one, welcome my bacon overlords. The Federal has a unique twist on Southern with a menu that will surprise you when you think you'll instantly recognize "Mac n cheese" and "meatloaf". Nope, none of that. When I saw "pig wings", "jar o duck", I knew this was going to be an interesting experience. - Pig Wings: You must absolutely order this. These are among the tastiest morsels of meat I've had the pleasure of trying. - Cheesy Biscuits: Die-hard fans of Red Lobster's cheesy rolls would bow down to these, tears streaming down their face. I want to cry tears of joy just thinking about them. - French Fries - Comes with a duck egg on top and homemade ketchup. Really disappointed, as I love a fried egg on just about anything. Our entire table agreed the fries themselves tasted off (fries???) and the homemade ketchup was too much like marinara and didn't go well with the fries. Unfortunately, we had to send this back and was met with a backhanded "Yeah... It's not Heinz" from the server when we commented on the ketchup. Ouch. - Roasted Cauliflower: Yum. It's cauliflower. Nothing mind-blowing but still a solid dish. - Lamb burger: Two of us ordered this and consensus was: OK. The burger was better when we took off the top bun, the bread was a little too thick. - Pecan Sticky Bun - A delicious dessert to order if you have time as it takes 15-20 min to make. - German Chocolate Cake - Yes!!! Not a huge chocolate fan but I liked this more than the sticky buns. Ambiance was very nice (we sat outside) and our servers were friendly and attentive (always a full glass of water, sufficient check-ins, etc.) I was teetering between 3 and 4 stars but going with 4 simply because it's not every day that you fall in love with a dish at a restaurant, even when all other things are okay. I can see myself coming back solely for a round of cheesy biscuits and Pig Wings.

    (4)

  • Jaime S.

    It's funny how life changes... I use to make the recommendations to go to restaurants... but my son who is now 20 made this one... unbelievable brunch menu and the taste of the food delicious... if you like Mimosas you pay $20 for unlimited... you have to try this place out, casual atmosphere, great service, great food, great location, enough parking

    (5)

  • Megan G.

    AMAZING! I was so sad to see Phuc Yeah go but The Federal is even better! It's located in a small strip mall and doesn't look like much when you are driving by but I guarantee, they are going to be a huge success. The atmosphere is very much country style Americana, from the plaid shirt wearing employees to the mounted deer heads on the walls and wooden tables and chairs. The food is 5 stars all the way. Creative and perfectly executed. Jar o Duck - 4 wedges of toasted bread which you top with a jar of duck pate, toasted MARSHMELLOW and sweet potato, i think. Who would have thought of combining duck and marshmellow, but it was perfect! The Pork Wings were OUTSTANDING as well! I'm pretty sure they were the best wings I've ever had. You only get two per order but they were very plump and filling. I wanted to lick all of the sauce up. They're served on a bone that sticks out and were very easy to eat without making a mess of yourself. The meat just melts in your mouth. The Biscuits and Gravy topped with sweetbreads had a great consistency. Very flavorful and not overly heavy. The mussels were good as well, but not the stand out of the night by any means. They are open till 1:30 on weekends, perfect for late night eaters like myself! Also, they are awaiting their liquour license so it's BYOB for now. There was a $5 corking fee per person. I wil not only be coming back but I'll be recommending The Federal to all of my friends! Love, love, love it!

    (5)

  • Jami-Lyn B.

    Ok, so it was my first time at this joint. I always pass by it, so I figured I would give it a try. Here is the list of things I did like: 1. food was very good, scrumptious and DELICIOUS. I had the jar o duck (which is just duck pate served in a small jar) for my main meal. Its listed as a starter but it was big enough for one. 2. The service was very friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to serve. 3. The atmosphere inside is very cool. Its set up almost like a tavern lodge. Things I didn't like: 1. They serve you water, like any other restaurant would. That doesn't seem bad though yet does it? Well they actually charge you $1 at the end of the bill for the water. Apparently they put it through some filtration machine, even the sparkling water. That really bothers me. You cannot charge me for something I did not order. I am more then happy with tap water, if you want to put it through a filtration device then that's on you. I know it is "only" a buck - but times are tough and its the principle of the thing - DON'T CHARGE ME FOR SOMETHING I DIDN'T ORDER or AT LEAST WARN ME OF THE CHARGE PRIOR TO POURING ME A GLASS. That is like if you went to a bar and they put a bowl of nuts in front of you, but then they charge you at the end for them... wasn't that complimentary though? It was just very, very frustrating to see as someone who is on a tight budget. 2. I know they have a valet. Luckily I went on a night when the valet wasn't out. This place seats maybe 45 people. There is no need to have a valet. You are not a fancy-schmancy restaurant. 3. The menu is INCREDIBLY limited. If you like duck - this is your place. But everything just seemed so expensive. It really bothered me on how little they had to offer. There are only 5 main entree courses and they are all in the higher teens to twenties. This doesn't take away from how delicious they might be. I may have only gotten a starter, but I did get a wiff of the entrees and the aroma was wonderful. All in all, it wasn't bad. I would recommend going there to try the food. I dont plan on going unless it is a special occasion or anything simply based on the food variety and price.

    (2)

  • Jeanne C.

    Definitely a 5 star, must try place! Delish to say the least, and great ambience for a quaint place. Menu is original and very creative. I can see that the chefs n owners are well traveled. My hubby loved their biscuits, it can be the dessert almost. Must try the smoky steak tartare ... So good! I will definitely return for brunch and I highly recommend this place to all my friends. Great job guys!

    (5)

  • Elena G.

    this place is FANTASTIC and inexpensive. went for girls night out and they stayed open til almost 12 (we did the tasting menu) about 9 courses full portion for 33 dollars. simply unbeatable. cant wait to go again. warning- it is in a shopping center so no swanky brickell spot here, but its in buena vista, and you pay for your food, not their rent. OVERALL it sounds like a round 2 to me! ;) wine about 9 dollars for a BIG glass..

    (5)

  • Peter H.

    Great place. Loved the decor and the service, but the star here is the food. The much anticipated pig wings did not disappoint nor did anything else on the brunch menu. Other stand outs included the BBQ Brisket and Eggs and the crab toast. The house sangria was a little watery but had great flavor.

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    My wife is a big "Lets try something new" girl! The federal was near by and something she had been wanting to taste. I like the decor and the menu. But once again like many things in Miami, they have hired a crafty creative writer who creates these awesome illusions for all the OTHER senses minus the taste! Bottom line, you can snazzy up a place, decorate your words like a ginger bread house, but if your food is eeehhh just alright, I'm gonna throw the BS flag! Call it what it is.

    (3)

  • Anquanette G.

    Oh, The Federal... I wanted to give you a better rating, I truly did but the overall experience fell short in a number of areas that I cannot overlook. I love my birthday month because it always falls during Miami Spice month. For my birthday this year, I did more extensive research than usual & settled on The Federal after drooling over their Miami Spice menu. In addition, my fellow Yelpers fully endorsed this establishment & they rarely steer me wrong so I knew I'd be set! From the onset of the preparation of my birthday dinner, I was already apprehensive about whether or not The Federal lived up to the hype. I called on Tuesday to make reservations for Friday night. I had a party of 10-11 people so I knew reservations was a must due to the fact that the restaurant was on the smaller scale. It took about 10 minutes to make the reservation. because the gentleman on the phone spoke very little English & by little, I mean none so I had to spell out EVERYTHING I said: First & last name, email address, & telephone number. My first name is Anquanette. It took a while... Not too bad right? No big deal. Move on. That's what I told myself. The next day, I was called by the manager to confirm the reservation for a larger party & was informed that everyone HAD to order from the Miami Spice menu & that it would be served family style. I advised the manager that there were people in my party who were vegetarians & had certain food requirements so some would have to order off the regular menu. She advised me that this was not an option. This put such a horrible taste in my mouth. It spelled out to me that they were more concerned about making it easy for them instead of enjoyable for their guests. After much hemming & hawing, I decided to still go. My friends knew how much I wanted to try it out and said it was MY birthday (I have awesome friends). We arrived for our 8:30 reservation on Friday night. The restaurant is a little hard to spot so you may have to circle around once because it's very likely that you'll pass it. It's located in a small strip mall so keep an eye out! The seating for a large party was terrible. They placed against the mirrored wall that has a bench as the seating. The bench was extremely short where I was forced to sit sideways for the entire meal in order to sit somewhat comfortably. This restaurant is not for large parties. I think 4-6 should be the max in a group. Anything over that is just uncomfortable. Let me start out by saying that the food at the Federal is phenomenal. Hands down, the executive chef put together an amazing menu that blends together a wide array of flavors that satisfies the palette. As previously mentioned, the Miami Spice menu was served family style but they decided which items to bring out and the quantity of each. We were never asked what items we wanted from the menu. There were 8 appetizers to choose from and we were given 4 out of the 8 apps in a party of 9 people: deviled eggs, beet salad, mac & cheese, & the brussels sprouts. If you came into the restaurant in a regular group, you got to choose 2 apps per person. We clearly did not get that option. They brought out 2 deviled eggs per person. The eggs had pork in it so 4 of the people in my party didn't eat them so 8 deviled eggs went back to the kitchen. The brussels sprouts were tasty with a flavor of green apple and a pleasant crunch. Again, more than half of the party didn't eat them because really and truly who likes brussels sprouts? 2 bowls of brussels sprouts went back to the kitchen. The beet salad was surprisingly good and everyone liked that app. The mac and cheese was super heavy and just way too much. Something was missing and I consider myself a connoisseur of sorts of mac & cheese. This one fell short. There were 4 entrees on the menu. They served 3 of the 4: seafood stew, crawfish and grits, and smokey fried chicken, leaving out the St. Louis Ribs. I guess large parties can't get ribs. It would cost the restaurant too much so we were given the cheaper things. Have you ever tried sharing soup with 2 other people? It doesn't work out very well especially when there's only one bowl and one spoon. We had to ask for extra spoons in order for everyone to taste the seafood stew and we were all dipping into the same bowl. Spread the love, spread the germs.... Dessert was a espresso mousse. Everyone enjoyed that immensely. It was the only item that everyone agreed was spot on in flavor. Again, the food was extremely good but half of my party left hungry because more than half of the items served contained meat which they do not eat. The amount of food given for a party of that size was not sufficient. Would I return to The Federal? Probably not. I know there are other restaurants in Miami that cater to their customers rather than finding ways to reduce the workload in the kitchen.

    (2)

  • Kristina K.

    Gastropub with great dishes to choose from, if u are foodie - then this is the place to try. However, place is pretty small and located on the plaza. No liquer license, so no cocktail, only wine and beer.

    (4)

  • Lis P.

    Always delicious, fresh and innovative recipes! A great selection of craft beers. The ambiance is laid back and comfortable. Perfect for brunch! And lunch...and dinner :)

    (5)

  • Danielle B.

    The bf and I came here intending to do Miami spice. I have been drooling over the Miami spice menus for some time and finally decided to go for it. We made reservations for a Saturday night at The Federal. When we arrived, the place was pretty empty, but apparently we just eat dinner early because by the time we left this place had come alive. We were seated promptly and from that moment received very attentive and friendly service. Our waters were constantly refilled. Our waitress checked in with us numerous times. On to the menu. Unfortunately the menu listed on ilovemiamispice.com wasn't what was being featured the night we were in. Instead, they were featuring a special Oktoberfest menu which had mostly German, pork-centric items to choose from (ie: mini pork shank, pork sausage, pretzel rolls, and more). The cool thing is that this menu is available for an extended period until Oct 6. We decided to order off the regular menu. I like that the food is served family style. Their dishes are so unique that it was nice to get to try as much as possible. We went with the mac n cheese, jar o duck, and brisket. Each dish was so good, but also very rich. I don't think anyone can eat the jar o duck or mac n cheese alone, these dishes are definitely meant to be shared. The presentation was on point and the flavor combinations were well thought out. The mac n cheese was topped with roasted poblanos and chipotle crumbs, which gave it a kick of spice. The jar o duck tasted like a pate and came with a side of sweet potatoes and marshmallow fluff all over buttered crostinis. What a sharp flavor explosion of salty and sweet. We were so busy indulging in this dish that our waitress noticed and offered more crostinis.. yes please! Our brisket I would say was average. The fatty parts were yum yum, but the rest was a little dry. This is the only dish I would skip. We topped off the meal with a cookies and cream bread pudding. I didn't taste the cookies and cream very much, but the bread pudding was still delicious. It came with a condensed milk/rum sauce for topping. So much sweetness in this dessert, but still a winner with me. Minus one star for having to valet my car for $3 in a strip mall. I mean, really man, you went and parked my car in front of the Dunkin Donuts next door.. so unnecessary. Although I guess you did run to retrieve my car, good hustle. They have a very small sign saying that there is additional parking behind the restaurant with a back entrance next to the graffiti truck. We did drive around back and saw available parking, but didn't know about this entrance. It was raining and we didn't want to have to walk all the way around. We gave into the valet, dammit. Anyway, lesson learned about parking. This would be a fun place to bring some visitors and share food. There are a few more dishes on the menu I'm interested in trying (seafood stewwww!) and I wouldn't mind doing $16 bottomless mimosas!

    (4)

  • Tamara T.

    My partner and I tried this place out when they first opened. One or two times. It was good but nothing to write home about. But we really wanted to like it since it so close to our house. In the last three weeks we've been twice and I think we are in love. Their new menu is absolutely delicious, well conceived and affordable. We especially like the pig wing. It is completely original, the flavors are perfectly blended and the execution is nearly flawless. The St. Louis style pork ribs are awesome too. It's a great medium budget option for a yummy meal. Service could use a bit of improvement ;-)

    (4)

  • Ana O.

    Went with my BBF for Saturday Brunch. Had a great time. The food was awesome! Small plates but great for sharing. You can't go wrong with the food. The endless mimosas were fabulous BUT the 3 stars are more based on the overall service... They took forever to refill the mimosas. I had to ask 4 times for the check... Granted the place was busy and it seemed under staff that day. Reservations are a must for Sunday Brunch or you might be waiting even longer for a table than I did for my mimosa!

    (3)

  • Adam P.

    This place is just awful. I came here for brunch with three other people. Two people ordered the green eggs and ham which was a tiny portion. The other person got the egg sandwich which consists of mostly biscuit with very little egg or ham. The biscuit was dry and over baked. I had the pumpkin French toast which was basically a dessert. It was way too sweet with lots of whip cream and sauce. They charge you a different price if you want refills of your coffee. Give me a break! Three dollars if you want one cup of coffee versus five dollars if you want to have bottomless coffee . The place was quite full which I think is due to the fact that they have bottomless mimosas which we did not order. I would definitely steer clear of this place

    (1)

  • Michelle L.

    I'm really writing this review in the hopes that's they can bring back the magic. I've been going to the Federal for years and they've had their our ups and downs, but it's always been a trusted go-to. Miami restaurants really suffer from consistency and thankfully the Federal always ends up finding their way. But this last brunch was really a let down, especially considering we had a knock-out brunch 9 months ago. I'll start with the positives.. Their service is always good and attentive. Our glasses of bottomless mimosas were always full. And the food came out very quickly, but that turns out to bleed into the negatives. This time around, aside from noticing that there wasn't a full liquor bar to serve out adult slushies and other of the usual bottomless brunch drinks, the also really lacked "fresh" foods; something like a light salad, for example their delicious beet and goat cheese salad, which I really missed. Instead everything else on the menu was comfort food with an egg on top, and drowned in some sort of gravy or sauce. And everything we ordered was salty and room temp. The dish the waiter recommended, which was fried grits with a mushroom ragout was the least favorite. It didn't really taste like much, just different salty textures. The best thing we ordered was the lemon ricotta pancakes, which brought a welcomed sweetness. The lightest option on the menu was a tostada with guacamole, covered with black beans and corn. It was tasty enough, but really not as refreshing as a salad could be.

    (2)

  • Amanda G.

    Such a horrible experience!! They were incredibly unaccommodating to our group. We added one additional person to our group, making it 6. All of a sudden our wait time was pushed back to an hour and when we tried to get drinks while we waited they said we were blocking the way for their waiters. So rude and they really seemed to not care at all for our service. I'm really disappointed cause I've been to The Federal before and was really looking forward to the food. We went to Morgan's (5 min away) instead and were seated immediately. They treated us amazing!

    (1)

  • Stephanie A.

    Pig wing was delish my favorite!

    (3)

  • Ben A.

    LOVE this gastropub. Hope Michael is my waiter EVERYtime also. Must tries: EVERYTHING. So, I've been there a number of times for dinner... always a pleasure. Occasionally I'll go with a friend to grab a glass of wine & some dessert. However, I must tell you all... I finally had brunch here. It was off the hook, and this coming from a guy who is a brunch-aholic & hails from San Francisco/Bay Area for a number of years. Most noteworthy: the wild mushroom ragu with poached egg. Total foodgasm. Ok, I'll clean up with review after I stop drooling, but now I'm so hungry just thinking about it all.

    (5)

  • Adri G.

    I went recently with a large party of 9 and had an overall amazing experience. The service was absolutely perfect! The tapas style is perfect for large groups, everyone got to try every dish. The biscuit was perfect. I am only deducting one star because some of the descriptions for the food weren't clear and some dishes were lack luster.

    (4)

  • Michelle M.

    Went here on a double date Sunday evening after the heat game. It was a nice atmosphere--we basically had the place to ourselves. We ordered the pork something or the other, mac n cheese, biscuits, pig wings, deviled eggs, and fried chicken. Everything came out separately which was okay, we were talking and enjoying ourselves. The food was great. Cons: -we each had 2-3 blackberry mint juleps (at at least $10 each) and they were verrrry weak. They ran out of blackberries and had to use blueberries, but still. Super weak and too expensive. -the place was practically empty and our server (who seemed to be the only one working) forgot to place the order for the fried chicken. It was disappointing because we had been talking about it the entire night. Since the food all came out separately we just thought it was taking a really long time to come out. Granted, she offered to make it once we let her know, but by then everyone was finished eating. Overall good food, weak drinks, and ok service. I wonder if Sunday brunch would have better service. Would check out again/10

    (4)

  • Abigail B.

    My girlfriend and I went to The Federal this past Wednesday for dinner. She was going to have her dog with her, so I made sure the restaurant was ok with that before we went. The girl on the phone said that dogs are welcome at the outside seating. Perfect! There is a small outside area, which worked perfect for us. I think the best part of our experience was the service. Everyone was very nice! We ordered several tapas dishes and shared everything. Our favorite was the lobster sliders. Two came per order- VERY yummy! I could have had 4 of them myself. The octopus was my least favorite. I didn't like it at all. It had a mushy texture instead of firm. I'm not sure if it was just that piece, or if they are all like that, but I wouldn't give it another try. We also had the fried chicken. It was cooked perfectly- juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside. The actual flavor of the coating was ok. We did have one other dish, but I forget what it was. I did go into the restaurant, and the inside is very nice. Bathroom was impeccably clean. Bottom line- the servings were pretty tiny for the price. Very friendly staff, and very clean establishment. If I go back, I'd just get 2 orders of the lobster sliders for myself.

    (3)

  • Crystal B.

    The customer service was superb! Our waiter explained the menu thoroughly and made great recommendations. We had the biscuit which was tasty and the green eggs and ham. The collard greens were seasoned well and delicious add well as the, pork. The only problem was the portions were extremely small.

    (4)

  • Nicole T.

    This place, although located in a strip mall (I detest that)!, wins me over because of its quirky Midwest-lodge feel. The brunch has changed for the worse over time, but I'm still a fan of the food and interior. Plus, I'm the nostalgic type. Take me back to my roots for a few hours, and I'm yours.

    (4)

  • Carmen F.

    Fantastic Service, Booze and Food! Their Happy Hour prices and offerings are amazing. You must GO!

    (5)

  • Karen C.

    So, my 2nd time at The Federal was as good as my 1st time! Great tasting food, the pork wing is still a must have! Corn cake, steak and eggs were great. Attentive waiter, cool shaded porch seating...happy customer!

    (4)

  • Damon S.

    My first yelp review goes to the Federal. I absolutely love this place. The staff is great in person and on the phone. And the food...The food is delicious. Comfort food done right. I have been there 3 times always sharing plates and have only had 1 average plate while the other 10 or so have been tongue tickling. The Federal gets my recommendation to anyone who likes good comfort food.

    (4)

  • Alexa C.

    I will never recommend this place to anyone ever! The sad part is I was looking forward to coming here since the last two times were actually pretty good. We were given a 25 minute wait to seat us, and it took 45 minutes. Then we wanted to order the same thing we ordered last time, we couldn't. Well the menu was changed and I do understand that. HOWEVER, how is it normal that someone must get 4 plates from different categories that aren't appetizing in order to be served? They basically tried shoving French toast in my face instead of giving me an option to order 1 entree and two sides per person. The server literally told me (after an hour of being in the scorching sun) that he would serve us within "38 seconds"...he took 5 minutes and we didn't even have menus. On top if the fact that the food SUCKED, I was forced to keep receiving these half-ashed dishes. The chips for the fish dip were literally crumbs of corn tortilla drenched in grease. How did something so good get so bad so quick ?! I was told the drink of the day was a mint julep yet when I asked to try it, all of a sudden it became a guava lemonade ordeal with barely any alcohol. The crab toast; ehhh... Oversized breast with a mayonnaise rich crab salad on top (no brainer). Grits and mushrooms were whatever. Bring that they went from shrimp and grits to just grits & mushrooms is hard for me to accept, especially when the second rate item is actually pricier. The chia pudding: GROSS. It's even hard to look at. Gravy and egg thing tasted and looked like hell plus it was missing the promised sausage as mentioned in the menu. Water was served hot and without ice. When we asked for ice, we were given one bigger cup with Ice and a spoon? So weird.. Dude I'm at a restaurant, don't make me fetch my own ice?! This place is a disaster- avoid at all costs if you want to actually enjoy your meal !

    (1)

  • Joelle G.

    A super cute restaurant. It's very rustic and comfortable, located in a outside shopping mall-esque area in downtown Miami. I opted for their tasting menu which was amazing, hello? Easily would have been triple the price back home. An artisan inspired menu. Healthy, yet filling & delicious. But...it took too long to get the check. Like 25 min too long -_- And it wasn't busy. Food and service go together. 4.5 stars for the food, 2 for the service. Median: 3.25 stars, so 3 total.

    (3)

  • Jessica A.

    YUMMM! Finally made my stop here for dinner with a friend during the middle of the week. We walked inside and were instantly greeted and told we could choose where we'd like to be seated. My friend and I cozied up near the window, and within minutes our waitress was there to nab our drink orders. Extremely attentive and extra friendly service, especially after we explained we were first timers and knew nothing about the menu. She recommended her top selections and we went for it! Our meal included: Ceez's Smokey Fried Chicken, Mac n Cheese, the Buttermilk Biscuit and Crispy Brussels Sprouts. My god, the fried chicken was cooked to perfection! Bravo, The Federal! I had not had fried chicken that good in a long time! Everything was delicious! I even had leftovers that were pretty darn good the next day! So, The Federal is a total win! Now let's talk about the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding! If I ever had to imagine what heaven would taste like, this would be it. You can't go wrong with this order! If you have a sweet tooth, it'll satisfy every bit of it. Mmmm. Thinking about it now makes me want to go back! Overall, I had great service and the food was DELISH! Definitely coming back soon!

    (5)

  • Lindsay B.

    3.5 I finally paid a visit to this restaurant after hearing many good things on yelp. I joined them for brunch last Sunday and wasn't disappointed nor overjoyed with the experience. I began with the unlimited mimosas for $19 and my boyfriend had the bottomless bar for $25. Our waitress informed us the bottomless bar was unlimited bloody Mary's, mojitos, bellinis etc. After getting the first round of drinks we realize that they weren't using liquor for the bloody Mary's and mojitos. It was a bit of a disappointment and I felt like she should have informed him that before he ordered. He felt a little mislead and I understood his disappointment. In the mojito I watched her pour pabst blue ribbon beer... Yuck! If you are going here I would stick with the unlimited mimosas. They were strong and I was very very pleased with them. Now for the food, they serve you tapas style and bring out the dishes as they come. They are each small plates of American style food. Some of the options were great, and some were just ok. I enjoyed the wing and waffle and the crab toast the most out of everything. The green eggs and ham was pretty good as well and they thought it was an interesting take on eggs benedict. We will be returning here but it isn't at the top of my list as far as brunch goes..

    (3)

  • Raven L.

    Overall, i would say my experience was pretty good. I would visit again but not as a first choice. So we arrived early for our 2:30 rservation on easter sunday and waited maybe 10 minutes for our table which was fine. Once seated we had ths avocado tostado which was pretty tasty.. unlimited mimosas which have gone up in price from $19 unlimited to $24 unlimited with a 2 hour maximum. Ehhh i guess. So we ordered a biscuit which is definitely worth getting but after a few bites (if not sharing can be over powering ) but still really good.. The steak and eggs is packed with flavor definetly can't go wrong when choosing this dish.. The chicken and waffles everyone craves about is pretty good but i dont see what all the hype is about, maybe im just not a chicken and waffle person :/ Service was pretty decent.. the waiters dont know how to pour mimosas well.. i mean its not 5 star service but they definetly stayed on top of our refills. The service i will say has gotten better over time. It was a good meal but i dont think worth the $116 for 2 people.

    (3)

  • Viviane B.

    Ok Best New Restaurant brought me here!! It was on my yelp bookmarks but Tom Collicio gave me that push! I did not have high hopes for the atmosphere (specially after reading some of the reviews here) but it was great! The staff was friendly and really on top of their game. They did forget to bring us one of the items we ordered but once we reminded the waitress she got it to us fast! The biscuit is amazing. Simply amazing. My gosh!! Also their portions are sharing size. Although it was written big and bold on the menu, I wish the waitress had made that clear because then I wouldn't have ordered as much as I did. The food was good except for the avocado tortilla. Yeah just skip that. We spoke to Caesar (the chef) about seeing him on best new restaurant and he's not as friendly as the camera made him seem lol I would love to come back and probably will. Now I am the last person to say this about a restaurant but I think they are overpriced.

    (4)

  • Pierre K.

    Upon a friend's glowing recommendation (Elizabeth D. whose review of this restaurant is spot on), I decided to give The Federal a try. I knew the location of the as it is where Canela used to be so I knew you would be able to eat outside in a nice setting. I was with great company so my evaluation of the meal might be a little exaggerated ;) We ordered the following small plates: Jar-O-Duck, Pig Wings, Roasted Beat Salad and they were all delicious. We accompanied these dishes with some very tasty beers, so the my overall review is very positive! I highly recommend it! Oh and did I mention that the service was excellent as well???

    (4)

  • Vanessa S.

    A la High Fidelity youtube.com/watch?v=9uIm… Top 5 reasons why I love The Federal! You all can take a look and choose which ones are most important to you. 1. The Federal is one of the most thought out spaces I've had the pleasure to be seated in, in a while. From the walls to the silverware, the theme in this space is definitely coherent and so inviting! 2. The menu: order an entree or don't order an entree, either way leaving here anything but satisfied will be tough. We sampled the following items and had a hard time pin pointing which was the best of the evening. Jar o duck Pork wings Cheese biscuits Beet salad Biscuits and gravy Pineapple upside down cake Lemon curd with blueberry compote Try any of these dishes and tell me one is not just as, or more delicious than the other. 3. The staff: everyone who works at The Federal is friendly, informed about the menu and on point with their service. 4. The fact that it's not a pop up! How happy am I that I can frequent The Federal over and over and not have to worry about an expiration date?!? Woo hoo! 5. The versatility: come alone and sit at the bar or come with a group and sit up against a wall lined with oh so many conversation starting items. Either way, please do your tummy a favor and come to The Federal, it really is amazing!

    (5)

  • Javier G.

    Worst place to eat in a long time. Went for brunch with my wife, baby and our best friends... Let's begin by saying the hostess (if you can call her that was the rudest person I have ever met) we ordered the French toast (horrendous and dry) the flap jacks (dry cornbread) my steak and eggs (eggs were overdone and beans cold as they could be),.. We also ordered a skillet which came out due to what they call technical difficulties after we all ate.... Not a sorry, manager would not even make eye contact... I was really looking forward to try this place, I will say you wouldn't catch me deaf there again... Overrated

    (1)

  • Rebecca S.

    On a fickle rainy Sunday afternoon we decided to give this place a try. We are welcomed by the unnecessary 3 dollar valet with one poor guy working it. Moving on the hostess was very sweet we sat outside to avoid the noisy hipsters inside, great choice! For brunch, I had the kale frittata and few glasses of their 5 dollar house white wine which I enjoyed very much. My brunch partner loathed his experience- he had the chorizo hash, which was absolutely terrible....actually AWFUL!!! And if it was me i would have sent it back without a doubt! It was reheated dry sweet and regular potatoes cubed mixed in with dried out bits of chorizo that resembled dog meat, topped with a poached egg and sour cream. Tasted and looked TERRIBLE! To top it off the French toast we ordered to share was super dry. They had mentioned they serve "family style" when dishes are ready they serve them- really? Get it together, get some organization and don't be lame serve our meal when we can enjoy it together. It looks like the only thing the federal has going on is all the hipsters sucking up the bottomless mimosas for 16 bucks on Sunday brunch. I enjoyed my meal but was disappointed with the chef and wont come back.

    (2)

  • John B.

    Been here twice. The lambburger.is tremendous. In fact all the food was great. One big gripe is the beer prices. Don't mind paying for good craft beer, BUT WTF, don't call them 12 oz. pints. A pint of beer should be a pint. Don't charge $7 or $8 for a 12 oz. beer and don't call 12 oz. a pint. Service was nothing special. Overall food good, but, like the beer, overpriced. Will probably go back after I forget that it is overpriced.

    (3)

  • Juan B.

    Well, went there for a wine tasting for the first time. Wine was good but being a noob don't really know if good or bad...so the price for the wine tasting was bit out of my comfort zone. The little wood spoonful for each of the side dishes was delish but not enough!. Meaning they were very small but great tasting. I don't think I'll go back for dinner but probably brunch. And def. Will not go back for wine tasting I guess is not our thing unless accompanied by regular size snacks/side dishes.

    (3)

  • Culinary G.

    This is a tough one.REALLY wanted to make this place my new fave, but after emailing the restaurant to let them know of our experience and receiving no repsonse (mistake number two even bigger than the wine incident which follows!) something must be said. We want them to continue to do well, and so hopefully this will reach the other two owners who shoud be aware of this. This type of stuff should never slip by the attention of all partners/front of house . Our first experience at the Federal started out great. We attended a Bonny Doon wine dinner and were warmly greeted and made to feel at home even though we were quite early . Ambience, decor spot on. Great start, great middle, great finish..Randall the wine maker was so engaging and the tastings were generous. In fact the whole night was really lovely(though the short ribs were a bit tough due to the smoking process-we enjoyed em anyway) and we were ready to leave with our glow on. Here is where the beautiful dream ended: As part of the dinner there was to be a bottle of Bonny Doon wine to take home for early online registrations. The site never specified that it was one bottle per "couple", Mind you, if we WERE a couple, who co- habitated, one bottle would have been just fine. However, two of us friends registered together for convenience. When the "manager" came around with the bottles, she plopped one between me and my friend even though we told her we were not a couple. She stated that the website was clear(it was not) that it was one per registration, and when we questioned her about that she stated that she felt we were" ganging up" on her . When asked if she was the manager she replied that she was( also an OWNER we found out later, which is even more reason this could have been handled better). and with that she hurried off. I understand that many other tables also took issue with the way it was handled so that by the time she got to us, she was probably feeling very tense-- all the more reason to handle it differently. If you see a situation mounting, especially as someone with the power to make decisions, then take action to make it right. Don't just walk away. 5 stars for rudeness. We all have stressful days, esp in the restaurant biz. The wine was not the issue. Big deal. There were over 50 of us in attendance who paid $75 each, plus tip(IN ADVANCE-how were we to know service would end on a sour note). It was the way it was handled. Had there been a gracious offer for a voucher for a dessert, or a glass of wine for NEXT VISIT(ahem, to bring us back for more and with a good feeling). some small gesture . something.Or have responded to the email that was sent. If business is so good that these things go unaddressed, then this is often the beginning of the end. Maaaaybe the email never got delivered...I give way too much leeway here me thinks. I have spoken to several close friends and associates who are in the Food and Beverage industry,restauranteurs and chefs in Miami, and seasoned diners-all of whom found this to be unacceptable. Yes it is one of the better places to eat in Miami, but there are others just as good, or better, where guests are treated with kindness and hospitality -even after they have paid. Even when situations get sticky.. I am not new to restaurants. Inside and out, I know food. I cut my teeth on server jobs, Ive cooked and prepped and hostessed(if that can be a verb). I now own a very food-centric business. People come to me for recommendations for restaurants, to find the best of this and that.. .I regret that I cannot fully stand with the Federal. Sad. I want them to continue their successful ventures . I hope that this gets read by the right people, and is taken constructively and addressed so this does not happen again. . Like I said, it wasn't about the wine.

    (2)

  • David Z.

    So I been hearing about this place for months and I finally got a chance to check it out . It was one of the greatest dining experiences I've ever had from the quirky writing on the bar to the music and the writing on the way to the bathroom this place is all about American culture . It was a great experience the food was great one bite from the chicken pot pie and I was instantly transported back to my childhood and also made new memories. The pig wings are also great as is the rest of the menu items . This was one of the most memorable experiences I've had will definitely be coming back

    (5)

  • Sherry R.

    Was really excited to try this place and it is really mediocre. Watered down Lillet, decent beer list. Had the Jar O Duck...really, what is the big deal? Lamb burger-oh I have had so much better-should be served with a tzaziki sauce,not mustard & ketchup. Charred on the outside, tasteless on the inside-no lamb flavor at all. Mac and cheese is ok. Smoked tongue dish, the meat was dried out and tasteless. Chesecake was very good. Outside patio is nice but tables are ooddly shaped and you are far from your partner. Go elsewhere...better burgers at Bulldog (though not lamb)

    (1)

  • Charlie B.

    great new foodie spot in Miami. Down home bistro style cooking brings comfort food to a whole new level...everything is über yummy...Aniece is a darling at the front of the house

    (5)

  • A. H.

    The Federal is trendy and crowded. The staff is friendly but overwhelmed. My seating with a reservation took 45 minutes. Drinks at the table came 15 minutes after they were ordered. I ordered at smoked pork shank. It was marvelous! It sat on a bed of black eye peas which were under cooked. The bred pudding was impressive as were the sea scallops. The prices are reasonable. The wine list is limited. This is a work in progress and I support it. I will be back.

    (4)

  • JAmerican G.

    The Federal was ok! We had an 11:30 a.m. reservation and arrived right on time. We were met at the door, by the manager or owner(not sure which), who blocked the door and asked if we could wait, since she was finishing up her staff meeting *crickets*. You would think that since the place does open at 11:30 a.m., that they would wrap it up and start the day. Instead, she sat us at a patio table and gave us menus. That was fine, I just didn't think that was professional. End your meeting. The customer is here on time. Chop chop! I had brunch there with a friend and we both enjoyed our meals. We both had the kale frittata, which was tasty. The service could have been better. We asked for ketchup and were brought a small dish, enough for one, so of course we had to ask for another one. We were charged $2 for water, since they took it upon themselves to serve us bottled water without asking our preference. I didn't bother to mention, since I didn't plan on visiting them again. We drove from Ft. Lauderdale, after seeing reviews on Yelp and decided to try it, but it wasn't really worth the drive.

    (2)

  • Nathalie B.

    Let me start by saying that I asked to speak the manager and he/she never came to our table. Guess he/she didn't want to hear what a terrible experience our group was having. I came here for a friends "boozy birthday brunch" last Sunday. Here's the breakdown of my review: WAIT TIME: We had 11:30 am reservations and were all told to pay in advance for a pre-set menu, which we all did. Some of the group arrived late and were seated (after a 45 minute wait) separately. Can't complain too much about that part because we were in fact 20 minutes late to our reservation. However, being that it was a large party and the fact that we had ALL already paid, they should have saved our table and not given it up to the next party. PRE-MENU: This portion is for the pre-set menu ONLY as we were not given an option to choose from the regular menu. The pre-set menu was rather lame (see pic). Our table consisted of 6 adults and 1 child who had all paid $31+ (some got the bottomless mimosas). The pre-set menu contained the "Bakers Basket" and "Morning Skinny Dip" for starters. Then the "Family Style Mains" which came with Steak & eggs, Chicken & Waffles, Crawfish & Grits, Biskits & Gravy. Lastly we had the Cookies & Creme French Toast from the Sweets section. They brought us ONE plate of each thing. ONE!!! This is supposed to be FAMILY STYLE DINING. How are you going to feed SIX ADULTS with ONE plate of each entree??? Oh, and the preset menu price was the exact price of the regular menu? Why weren't we given the same options as everyone else??? That made absolutely no sense to us. SERVICE: This place was a packed house. It was so full and the spaces were so tight that I'm pretty certain many ADA violations were happening. When a place is this full, you're bound to have a few slip-ups with service but this place took it to a whole new level. We didn't see a waiter for the first 10 minutes we were sitting there. Finally our waiter greeted us and brought us all water. Our waiter was new and completely lost. When we asked for syrup he had the audacity to say what for? none of your dishes require syrup." The 3 people at the table that paid for the "bottomless mimosas" were empty most of the time. It wasn't until they each put their glasses in the air (yes, it had to be done) that the waiter realized they had been on empty for a while. After that he was much better about filling their glasses. I requested to order off the menu for my daughter and they were accommodating in that regard (miracle!) FOOD: We were pretty upset about the menu selections we were given. The first thing that came to our table were the starters. The "Morning Skinny Dip" was pretty good. I didn't try the black bean dip but the smoked fish one was decent. The "Bakers Basket" was basically a basket of different breads. The chocolate croissant was good, not the best I've had but it was decent...especially since we were all starving and it had now been well over an hour since we were waiting for our food. Next they brought the grits. This was the best thing we had from the entire menu and it would have never been my first choice (had I been given the choice). Next was the Chicken & Waffles. This plate is SMOTHERED in buffalo sauce. Not so appetizing if you ask me and everyone at the table agreed. Next were the Steak & Eggs. The steak was burnt. I tried a small piece and was putoff by the burnt smell and flavor. But the WORST plate was the Biskits & Gravy. Holy hell this was a disgusting looking plate. The eggs were poached and basically raw. My friend said that they looked like eyeballs sitting on the plate. The white portion was still oozing and pretty gross. Nobody touched that plate. Next was the french toast. This was pretty good but nothing spectacular. Overall I had a miserable time and felt that I wasted my time on a Sunday and my money. I have no intentions of going back to this place again.

    (1)

  • Denise M.

    Service was great. Biscuit sampler was amazing. Rotisserie chicken was great! We had the smores dessert which was light and tasty.

    (4)

  • Jo W.

    Off the beaten path, but I headed there for the Bottomless Happy Hour figuring if all else fails, at least I got some booze. My beverage of choice for the night, Rosé. The also had beers, other wines and a Frozen Blackberry Bellini that was quite good in the bottomless options. We were only really there for drinking and no so much for food, so we started out easy with the Cajun-Spiced Popcorn. I mean it's popcorn, but it has a nice spice if anything could be said about it. The we had some delicious Buffalo Style Pig Wings. This was by far the best and only really good thing we has that night. After that, we decided to try the Texas BBQ Brisket Sliders. Even with the egg on top, it was still only okay, more effort could have been made with these. As the night progress we were HUNGRY and ended up also ordering the Smoked Fish Dip. It needed more spice and flavor and I regretted not ordering the recommended Jar-O-Duck instead (but my friend doesn't eat duck). I had heard about this place before so I was surprised that it didn't live up to expectations, but maybe it was the fact that I ate off their happy hour menu and not the main menu, but regardless, a good restaurant would not skimp on the happy hour offerings. Service was great, the drinks were flowing, and it was a nice atmosphere, but the food was kind of disappointing.

    (3)

  • Matthew S.

    Worth a diet cheat! Try the Biskit! Nice food and atmosphere. Good friendly service.

    (5)

  • Nato S.

    This place is so lame. Went once for dinner a few months ago and was unimpressed. Used to enjoy brunch on a semi-regular basis until we were served a cold jumbo biscuit and took a break. Tried it again this weekend and were annoyed and shocked by a pre-fixed brunch menu with itty bitty food portions that are supposed to be "shared." Please explain how a quarter of a waffle is to be shared? Maybe by mice. The brunch starters (which you are forced to take) are some stale wannabe pita chips served with disgusting bland dips. Also, a "basket of fresh pastries" which ultimately means one small sweet bread and a super thin slice of some berry swirl bread. Sad. Total let down. Service leaves a lot to be desired. A LOT. Waiter was too busy serving alcohol to the table behind us to realize we needed more water - on more than one occasion. Had to flag someone down to point out the fact that we had no water. Zero. Not worth the money, effort, experience. Go up Biscayne and get brunch somewhere better. It's probably worth noting that this restaurant, like a few others in Miami, used to be a great hidden gem with fresh flavors, great portion sizes and amazing service. They were features on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, and since then have never been the same. I guess they let the fame get to their heads and think that being on that show will excuse the fact that they redid their menu and lowered their quality of service. NOPE.

    (1)

  • Laura R.

    Food and service are SUPERB. Done. Came here for Sunday brunch, and just my surprise the brunch was St. Patricks day themed! Between three of us girls we got the green eggs and ham, the veggie fritatta, and the cookies and cream french toast. They were all BIG enough of us to leave some some leftovers, AND incredibly delicious. So much flavor!! I recommend you get the PBR margaritas, simply amazing. I never even knew you could have margaritas made from PBR and not hard liquor! Being a brunch advocate, I will be coming back to this place!

    (5)

  • Ryan G.

    This is my first time on yelp... I had an experience yesterday that warranted me taking the time to do this. The wait staff was great, there service was genuine. The Manager on Duty yesterday though was different story. He was heavyset portly man. He did not seem very happy that I was walking into the restaurant. As I walked into the door, the manager happens to be standing there. I smiled and said hello, there was no response of hello and welcome or how can I help you, or will you be dinning in or taking out... Nothing... He looked at me with a sour grimace and waited for me to tell him I was there to make a to-go order. He then points me towards to the bar and says "over there"... So, already feeling the "energy" if you know what I mean. I went "over there" and my mother and I stood there for about two minutes without so much as someone looking at us. I finally asked for a menu. Once I made the order with one of the wait staff, I saw the other side if you will... The waiters and servers themselves were what you would expect from a place that will run you about $28 for a hearty breakfast, high quality and attentive. So I wait the 15mins for the food. So other than the horrible treatment I received from the Manager on Duty for the Mid-day shift yesterday 8\8, here is the next and final whammy... All told with the tip, my breakfast was $30.00. I had the biscuits and gravy and the lemon pancakes. So when the waiter hands me the bag I ask about napkins and eating utensils. She tells me "WE DONT PROVIDE EATING UTENSILS TO GO" WHAT?!??! So my first thought was to leave the food and get my money back. Now I wish I had... My mother and I were on the way to the beach and we thought we would try the place out. I ended up having to stop at Publix to get something to eat with. Not a good look. The food... Mediocre at best. Pancakes were thin (and not in a good way) and the batter they use is far from light and airy and fluffy as you might expect, they were flat and grainy in texture and consistency. The Federal is supposed to be known for their Biscuits... Why? My experience is that they are no better that what comes from the can at the supermarket. Overall, the Federal is a small dark little place in a nondescript shopping plaza flanked by a Dunkin Donuts and a Health Food store and parking is a major challenge. It not worth your time or money. If you're driving on Biscayne Boulevard and you pass 51st Street, and you see "The Federal"... KEEP DRIVING!!!

    (2)

  • Emma S.

    I was extremely excited to try this place. I'm a fan of food shows and was pumped to try such a finely reviewed spot. That being said. I was disappointed. They didn't serve honey with the biscuits and the green eggs and ham that I were not that good. The ham was dry and the eggs were not as seasoned as I thought they'd be. Oh well. I'll try it again some other time.

    (3)

  • German B.

    Without a doubt a proud member of my personal "MIAMI's TOP 5 BEST RESTAURANTS". I loved every aspect from this place: concept, food, service & place. This is how a Upscale Southern Table should be. A nice place that invites customers to share and have a good time! We ordered 10 different dishes to share (for 4) and each one was better than the other, nd not regulat good, I mean really amazingly goooood! Don't worry about what to order... everything is good, but don't miss the biscuits! All employees are friendly and excellent servers, I know, because we got served by all of them at some point in our meal (i think so). Its important to go in a group of at least (and mumy advise is to keep it like that) 4 people, that way you get to try a lot and good portions of it. Miami needs more places like this, I really hope you guys keep doing what you're doing and you will be an Icon in Miami. Thanks

    (5)

  • Carine A.

    Complicated, but good food. Made reservations for two at 7pm (very early for Miami), they wanted to seat us outside and it was chilly. When we made reservation we didn't have the choice on where to sit. We had to wait for our inside table but could not get a drink from the bar. Overall complicated. Food was good. Service was great!

    (3)

  • Bel B.

    I was really excited to go here after reading a lot of positive reviews but my experience was not so exciting. I went here with my boyfriend and his friend who were put off by the small portion sizes exclaiming that brunch is supposed to be filling and homey, not small and dainty. I told them that the food was probably flavorful so we stayed. Our waiters took forever and didn't set our table properly, as in there were three of us yet we were given only two sets of utensils. We ordered the crayfish and grits, steak and eggs, lobster and biscuits, chicken and waffles, jar of duck, crab toast, and salmon scrambled eggs. The first thing to come out was the chips and dips and pastries. You are given three dips and NOT enough chips, I mean really there were probably 20 on our slab. The bean dip was so bland, the fish dip was okay (the girl at our table next to us told us to go try the fish dip at Garcia's and exclaimed it was 100% better) and the ricotta dip was lacking in flavor. The pastries were good, I was disappointed that the croissant was over cooked, and the jam again was far too little for three people. Our main food just wasn't packed with flavor, overall just super bland and boring food. The steak and eggs was really brisket with eggs which made me mad, brisket is not steak. Also the biscuit was SO dry and burned on the edges. The salmon with eggs was not enough for three people to split and was lacking in salmon, the lobster biscuit was forgettable because we couldn't find the lobster, the crab toast was okay but tasted similar to the fish dip, the chicken and waffles was also good but dry (gimme some syrup), and we all around enjoyed the crayfish and grits. The jar of duck was just okay, I don't think it was anything out of this world and I think people just enjoy it because it's different since you eat it with a mound of marshmallow fluff and sliced sweet potato. None of us liked the dessert which was oreo french toast, it had a weird after taste. We live right down the street, walking distance, and love supporting our community and wanted to love this place, but we didn't. We left hungry and decided we won't return here but will continue going up north to the diner for brunch. The food wasn't bad but we have had way better up the street.

    (2)

  • Lourdes P.

    After watching the Bravo show "Beat New Restaurant" I couldn't wait to try this place out. We made reservations for brunch on a Sunday and when we got there were sat down right away, that was the only thing that happened in a timely manner. The rest of the meal the service was rather slow, I felt like we were just being forgotten a few times. The jar of duck is amazing, I just wish it came with edible bread, I understand that ciabatta bread is toasty but you couldn't bite into this bread without chipping a tooth, when the waitress finally came around and I said something her response was "that kind of bread is hard". The menu does not describe the the dishes very well and the server did not care to let us know that the steak and eggs was actually a skillet of under seasoned potatoes with a few shreds of beef. Sadly I was very disappointed and I probably won't be returning which is a shame because that jar of duck was delicious.

    (3)

  • Tina P.

    Overrated. I had my hopes set so high so maybe that's why I'm so disappointed. I get it, it's Miami, it's going to be pricey but most the time it's been worth it. Not here. The two stars are for the very nice staff, our waiter and other employees were attentive and friendly. Also, the jar of duck was excellent. I ordered the green eggs and ham, it was missing ingredients and had to be sent back from eggs that weren't cooked at all. This is the second time in my life I've ever sent anything back. My boyfriends steak was rare, he ordered it medium. First time we tried The Federal, it was a 2 hour wait (we left) so this time we made a reservation. We were there on time and after an awkward "who do I ask, where do I stand, what do I do" kind of entrance, we were told it'll be a few minutes. Few minutes turned into 35 minutes. We were offered a mimosa during the hostess' apology. Only to see it on our bill later. So $70 for a long wait, two drinks we didn't even really want and food that had to be sent back and wasn't even great the final time.

    (2)

  • Professor W.

    Along with "amazeballs," I hope my fellow reader will agree with me that we also should do all we can to immediately abolish "New American Tapas" from our lexicon. Both terms are demeaning to our language, but whereas using the former only makes you sound like an imbecile, experiencing the latter causes harm both to one's psyche and wallet. This frightening euphemism is printed on The Federal's menu, and the waiter further explains this sinister "dining concept" by stating that the portions are meant to be "shared" and that the dishes will come out of the kitchen "as they are ready." We all know what he really means: you will spend a lot of money, likely leave hungry, and you will have to watch others eat their dishes as yours has not left the kitchen. The Federal specializes in maximizing your dining indignities. Take the $6 biscuit. Folks, it's a biscuit--under no circumstances should it cost more than $0.60, yet here there appear to be no qualms about serving a single solitary buttermilk biscuit for such an obscene sum. The deviled eggs with pulled pork were serviceable but nothing special. When my $29 pork shank arrived, however, I felt embarrassment and anger like never before--the shank had been in the smoker for too long, and had that acidic taste that you will be tasting for days. The collards that came with the pork had absolutely no taste. At this point I got up from the table and began to pace around the parking lot so that I would not lose it. My only consolation was that I surreptitiously was able to warn a young couple by telling them that they were better off leaving and saving their money rather than dining at the restaurant. Perhaps they took my warning to heart, or perhaps it was because of my clearly distraught demeanor, but they left. And so did my wife and I, down $80, hungry, and psychologically scarred. Professor Woland

    (1)

  • Adam L.

    What a waste of time. Got there after lunch for Sunday brunch for 2 which they don't take reservations for. Fair enough. Arrived with about 4 persons waiting for a table. The host told us to have a seat he would be back to get our info. LITERALLY two minutes later and a couple walks up and the host writes theor name in. I go up and remind him he was supposed to take my name. He asks "when did you get here?" I reminded him about the history of 2 mins ago..."I'm sorry. I see a lot of faces here." After he took my name and number for a 45 min wait, I immedietly called Michael's Genuine who said that they were busy but could make space for us at the bar where I am currently enjoying food. The difference between a world class spot like MGFD and a fly by night like the Fed is clear.

    (1)

  • David G.

    What a disaster!!! We hadn't gone back in about 2 years, when the food and service WAS actually very good. Now, this place has gone so down hill they should just close and take the money they have made and retire. To start, we had reservations at 230 -and they took 45+ minutes seat us. Then they impose appetizers for the table. Then everyone in the table gets food at least with 15-20 minute intervals, my cousin ordered the same meal as i did and received it an hour later!!?? Really one hour. I understand tapas, and that everyone wants to use "tapas" style as an excuse for small overpriced plates with no expeditor to control your kitchen service, but C'MON this is ridiculous. Ive been to Spain, and had real tapas service, it isnt shitty. My wife got her mediocre tacos 30 mins after i got my "wings and waffles" no one should care that it is tapas style 30 minutes between plates is absurd. In addition to all this, the service is so poor, no manners, the bus people just reaching over and grabbing plates without an "excuse me,"or "are you finished with that," the water server spilling water pouring over my aunts shoulder wetting her, who cares that it is in the "design district" area, hipsters have manners, at least some of them do, but none of the ones working here. So lets talk about the food, the 9$ deviled eggs are blah but one of the better items that we ate, the 6$ biscuit sucks, go to KFC instead, my wife's tacos were falling apart on the old tortilla they were served on and tasted awful, my cousins brisket chili and potatoes were decent, the sammich with pork and fried egg was served on that horrible biscuit with an amateur hollandaise that should be removed from the menu. Lastly, for our wait they sent out desserts on the house, because after the table was cleaned out my cousin finally received his wings and waffles. The desserts were SOOO incredibly bad that i would have rather they just said sorry and give me free water. The "smore" in mason jar had a spicy kick to it that made it taste like chili con mango gone wrong, the pancakes with mascarpone were so "un fluffy" that they were like unsweetened cold old pita bread with blueberries and a poorly whipped honey mascarpone. Not like in Italy mr server, and the only one that i can say saved itself was the coconut dessert, i didn't like it but i didn't dislike it, so for this visit i would take that as a win. All in all, i am so sad to see this place go down hill so badly. Please either close down, or do a better job.

    (1)

  • Kristin P.

    We went here during a vacation because they got good reviews. We arrived before they were open, we didn't have a reservation but we were seated quickly. Food: amazing. Definitely some dishes that are not your normal food choices, but they were good combinations and rations none the less. Service: the waiter was extremely nice and knowledgable, along with the entire wait staff being well kept and courteous. BUT the food was delivered at inappropriate times. We(my husband and I) arrived and were seated, AND put in our orders before a group of 4, yet they received their food WAY before us. Usually the food for the entire table comes out at once. I got my food first, and it was another 20 MINUTES until my husband got his food. My husband ordered the wings and waffles plate, and the waiter apologized for the wait, stating that they were having issues with the waffle maker. Meanwhile, the group of 4 received their entire order, 2 out of the 4 ordered the same wings and waffles plate. It also took another 20 minutes just for the check after we were done eating. Overall: I will likely return next time we are in miami because the food was that delicious. They would have gotten a full 5 stars if the food and check were delivered in a reasonable and timely manner.

    (3)

  • Dominique C.

    From all of the things we got to try on the chef's tasting menu, I'd have to say that the fried chicken and biscuits stood out the most - to no surprise. I wish they just combined the two as one large dish! The venison fries were my other fav of the night too - flavors were perfect. Drinks were on point! The Arnold Palmer cocktail was delicious. We also had the pleasure of trying a tasty Sauv Blanc recommended by the nicest bartender girl/ staff member. Dessert was great too! I really enjoyed the key lime pie and my friend - the birthday girl loved the tiramisu. Honestly, both were delightful. We all really loved the experience! The service and ambiance were lovely. Till next time.

    (5)

  • Damian M.

    We came upon the Federal as a last-minute dining option after a change in plans led to a scramble to find somewhere for eight people, of whom three were of the kid variety. For those living in Miami Shores, that usually means heading to Soyka or Andiamo etc. but I found the reviews of Federal to be strikingly polarized between love/hate and thought it worthwhile to find out the truth, and try something totally new in the process. They had no problem giving us a reservation for a sensible time, and a little while later we were having a ball in this funky little gem. The food was great, as is well-detailed by other reviewers (although the fried chicken was particularly outstanding), but this is really about the service because as parents we often feel we're at the mercy of mercurial restaurant staff, and as such the Federal deserves kudos for being accommodating, welcoming, and understanding. As the largest group in the joint that night, we might have expected delays in the service, or some eyeball rolling as we all tried to assess our choices, pose questions, and corral the kids to focus on their menus. But the waitress was calm and kind, and the staff kept us well-stocked with drinks and our orders throughout. However, the real gold ribbon seal of approval was warranted for the reaction of all staff to one little girl in our group who fell ill and (very demurely) barfed before she could make it to the ladies room. In some restaurants, this can trigger a response akin to the cops busting a speakeasy in the thirties, complete with screaming and frantic men pushing past their dates to get to the door. In this case, no-one batted an eye, and all was dealt with quickly, calmly, and humanely so we could recover, console our little diner, and resume our meal (they were that quick at the cleanup that even our appetites were saved). In short, everyone was friendly from the moment we stepped in until departure, and we enjoyed both the food and the service enormously, simply because of a little understanding and heart.

    (4)

  • Sobe S.

    Absolutely terrible!!! Do not bother coming to this establishment! Who makes rules that you can't order drinks from the bar while your waiting for a table!!! To top it all off, my 3 friends received all their ordered food and I waited for 35 minutes after expressing disappointment to the waiter. For flipping Belgian Waffles!! Will never return! Will definitely spread the word to NOT dine here. You've been warned.

    (1)

  • Patrick W.

    If you haven't eaten here you need to!! The french fries were ridiculous! The chicken tastes like it was birthed by a pig wrapped in bacon. The venison sausage had to be the most amazing sausage I've had in my life. Make it a point to go to this place and eat a ton! Great service as well, very friendly staff. When it was time to leave it was pouring down rain and one of the servers (Andres) walked us to our car with his umbrella. A fantastic evening thanks to The Federal.

    (5)

  • Megan T.

    Excellent service and excellent food. The $14 all you can drink mimosas are a must and they worked so hard to keep the glasses full! Biscuits were maybe the best I've ever had, absolutely ridiculous. It's $6 for 2 biscuits which seems like a lot, but they were huge and worth it! I had the jackalope benedict which was excellent and my bf had the steak and eggs which he loved. The grits were super yummy too! Highly recommend this place. Any place with service that great is worth returning to regularly from the hostess to the 3 servers who took care of us! Dying to try some of the baked goods, they looked great but we were stuffed! It is next to a Dunkin' Donuts, which may throw off your snobby friends, but after the first bite, you quickly forget you're ina strip mall. Pets were welcome outside and there were a few there which was fun. A little warm outside on a breezy day so we will probably sit inside from now on. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Holly B.

    Eagerly anticipated the opening of The Federal & finally made it here tonight. I LOVED it! It was buzzing, amazing vibe, full of energy & life. We grabbed a spot at the bar and chatted with the bar tender, really friendly cool guy & ordered up. We started w/ the federal salad-- really nice salad with organic local greens-- greens I had never eaten before (ferns maybe?), which were delightful. Our salad wasn't over dressed or over-salted which is a rare occurrence in this city-- it was light & flavorful-- the crispy onions gave it some depth and it was just as a salad should be. We then had the OMG amazing cheesy biscuits, which were ooey-gooey goodness. One of our biscuits was undercooked (I thought the dough was raw inside, my husband thought it was cheese... after we ate the second, I knew I was right)- nonetheless we still thoroughly enjoyed the biscuit. We proceeded to our next dish- the New England Chowder-- which consisted of a few mussels, one scallop, lots of potatoes, a few small pieces of fish in a bouillabaisse type of sauce-- had excellent flavor but I was hoping for more seafood- & less potatoes. Also the value of this dish was off ($24- whacha talkin about willis?) Finally to finish off our meal with a bang we had the lamb shank which was friggin fabulous! It was atop pureed rutabaga and small pieces of apple. It was rich, decadent, heavy and I loved every bite of it. Usually I veer more towards the light fish-seafood dishes but I have a soft-spot for lamb-shank and this one was out of this world. The red velvet cake looked amazing. Every time I saw it leave the kitchen, my eyes started screaming "yes", but my stomach said no-- so we passed on dessert. Don't think I am staying away. I am sure I will be back within the month to get a taste of some homemade decadent dessert. I would have given it 5 stars but subtracted 1 star for the half-baked biscuit & the price/quality of the chowder.

    (4)

  • Marc G.

    Sweet. Potato. Cheesecake. They have now conquered dessert too.

    (5)

  • Annie T.

    If great food and great service is what you are into, then The Federal is the place for you. The best way I can describe the food is: not only does it nourish the body, but more importantly, it feeds the soul. Starting with their biscuits (best I ever had) and finishing with dessert - smores and cheesecake, I never realized that simple could taste so great! By the way, everything in between - the warm arugula salad, pigs ears, jar o duck, shrimp and grits - were all as delicious. The service was superb, and the ambience warm and comforting. Really loved this place. Can't wait to come back for brunch.

    (5)

  • J B.

    Another nice meal at Federal. I actually enjoying my food more this time. I appreciate the farm fresh ingredients that they are using. Today we order two beet salads (love), a chowder special, which was thoughtfully prepared and so delicious. We also had the roasted hen and biscuits and gravy (now my favorite dish here). We finished our meal with the cobbler or the day (plum). Super yummy!

    (4)

  • jeremy d.

    Cool spot and very interesting menu. There were plenty of items I wanted to try, but just didnt have the room to. Two items which I did have - the jar o' duck and the buffalo style pig wings - were phenominal. The wings were huge, tasty and cooked perfectly! Service was a little slow and there was a mix-up with our order, but the manager came over to apologize and our server brought us two glasses of wine at the end. Very nice touch. Since the place recently opened, they still need to work out some kinks, but overall tasty food, creative menu, and good customer service. We will be back.

    (4)

  • Kris F.

    Okay, let me start off by saying that I will be giving The Federal another shot sometime in the near future, so I will be revising my original review. My wife and I went to The Federal on a random Tuesday night expecting what was to be amazing food. We had been told by numerous friends what we should try and how good everything was supposed to be. Not one person we spoke to had a bad meal there. We, unfortunately, did not get to experience the same greatness our friends had. Let me start by saying that the decor was extremely nice and it makes you completely forget that you're in a strip mall. By the way, I love little places like this, location's in obscure little parts of a neighborhood, or somewhere nice that usually wouldn't be at this type of location. These types of places always garner extra points in my book. The service was a bit slow for a Tuesday, but we weren't in a hurry so it didn't bother us too much. The bad part of my review comes in the form of my food review. They didn't have anything we wanted! The grill had apparently broken, so there was no steak available and no lamb burger available. These were two items we were told that were "must haves," and now we were not able to have them. We decided on ordering a bunch of apps and a dinner or two. As we go down the list of things we want to order, we were told of at least 3 other things they were out of. Frustration had set in. My first selection of beer was also tapped out, so I was forced to order something else (not a bad thing because their craft beer selection is pretty good, but just goes to show what else they were missing). As far as the food we ordered, it was good, not great. The duck was absolutely amazing, but everything else was just good. They only had two desserts and the waiter told us that one of them had a dry crust, so we ordered the other. We should've just skipped dessert because the one we ordered tasted like a dried up Debbie Cake. Like I said, I'm giving The Federal the benefit of the doubt, seeing that everyone I know totally loves this place. We went on a Tuesday that might have been a day that they just had some bad luck. I will go back and hopefully be able to revise my review.

    (2)

  • Cody C.

    the federal is adorable first of all. they make a weird sketchy stripmall look like a roof top terrace. and that's no easy feat. the jar of duck (as everyone else has said before me) was phenomenal. i'm not kidding when i say if i were to return - i would get two orders of this for my meal. wish they would serve with more toasts though. i love that they have small batch beers and independent vineyards all over their drinks list - i really respect that. the buffalo pig wing was very tasty - but very disappoitning to see that it only comes with one. it's a pig rib... it's not duck or jamon iberico - put 2 or 3 on the plate - it's $6. burrata and figs were very creamy and paired perfectly - we added chorizo to the plate and were happy with that decision. pretzel rolls were unique, but a little hard on the outside... and for some reason the duck fat dip just wasn't very flavorful. i know. it even feels weird to type that. lastly we got the soft shell crab roll. it was good... but nothing special. fries were tasty... but the homemade ketchup was missing something. overall we left reasonably satisfied... i would get the burrata & figs again... the jar of duck in a heart beat... and more pig wings if it was an option. but when the check came - we just didn't feel like the price tag matched our satisfaction level. for that price i'd rather be in pubbelly any night. i'd like to try one of the clam bakes or maybe breakfast... but i don't think we'll be back for dinner.

    (3)

  • Yocelyn S.

    Spectacular service and great food. The Wings and waffles were the best, displaying a great balance between savory and sweet. The pork belly Benedict were great, not the best but definitely in the top 5.

    (5)

  • T M.

    Overall disappointed with food that wasn't cooked properly. Service was excellent and bottomless mimosas need no further description. However of the pumpkin flapjacks, French toast, duck grits, and shrimp po boy ordered - all subpar! Especially disappointing was the fact that the "foodies" here gave excellent reviews. The duck overcooked was like jerky, shrimp po boy was soggy and flavorless as well as limp fries. The French toast was simple. This place is pretentious but unable to support its pomp.

    (1)

  • Matthew G.

    This place is delicious! The staff is friendly and quick. The food is AMAZING. Definitely try the lamb pot-roast, even if for some reason it's not on the menu. It's amazing. This is a great place to go if you want a nice, delicious, filling, dinner.

    (5)

  • Kenny R.

    Was looking for a good brunch spot in Miami to celebrate my birthday and have some mimosa. I searched online and ran across the Federal in a list of best Brunch spots for Miami, and they were definitely right. The Federal provided not only a great spot to have some bottomless mimosas but some amazing food. The food is served "tapa" style, small plates for everyone to share. It was hard to decide on just a couple to share so we limited it to a suggestion from our waitress and then a couple personal picks. Cookies and Cream french toast. . . yeah, thats all i need to say! Ha, it was amazing, and our waitress knowing it was my birthday brought it out with a candle. . .true personal service at its best. We complimented that with waffle and wings, potatoes, and an amazing crab hash!! All great choices. But whats a breakfast without bacon!! This bacon was unlike any i've had before. Think cut and rich, the kind you had to eat with a knife and fork. The food was great, the vide was chill and down home, and the service was great without fault. Will definitely be coming back for dinner and brunch with friends when i'm looking for that great spot again.

    (5)

  • Jessica E.

    Great food and good service. I didn't like the duck in a jar (my husband did), but I loved the pasta!!!!

    (4)

  • P T.

    Excellent service, decor, pricing I thought was right on target if the food had delivered. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. Perhaps the cause was my very recent trip to the competition (Blue Collar) or maybe it was an off night. I think we'll give it another shot for brunch. Great concept... Almost there.

    (3)

  • S R.

    Our server Emily was the bomb.com . Also, the food was really good and the banana foster foie gras was to die for.

    (5)

  • Lisette V.

    Sunday Brunch at The Federal was fantastic, but make sure you have a reservation or you"ll be waiting for a long time. We started with the bottomless mimosas for $16.00. You really can't beat that. Had the Jar o'Duck (duck pate with sweet yams and marshmellow fluff), yum!!! So delicious. The Graceland French Toast, Wow! chocolate syrup, bacon & caramalized rum bananas...need I say more? The Buffalo Wings & Waffles have a kick, but were tasty and the Wet Fries were yummy. Our server was great. Despite being busy we never had an empty glass or plate at the table. Overall a great experience. Can't wait to have dinner at The Federal.

    (4)

  • Nouba D.

    Came for dinner this past week and every dish was amazing. Service was absolutely IMPECCABLE!!!! Pork wing, biscuit, clams and beet salad were perfect. Definitely going back fr brunch! Can't wait! Great job!!!!

    (5)

  • Sasha B.

    Came here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon. The food was fantastic but to me the service (screwed up our order a few times) and the ambiance was lacking. I love the bottomless mimosa idea and not too many Miami restaurants have this but I wish they had some liquor options as well....isn't a bloody mary a brunch staple?!? The federal is located in a strip mall next to a dunkin donuts with no parking and $3 valet parking in the front....don't be silly just go to the back and park for free. I hate when they are just trying to make a quick buck by taking advantage of the situation. I do like the wooden tables with outdoor seating and there is a good young crowd for brunch but my favorite part was the food! Buffalo wings and waffles were the best! they use pork instead of your usual chicken and buffalo sauce which is a nice contrast to the maple syrup. The corn bread and green eggs and ham were also excellent! The fish dip was nothing to write home about wouldn't recommend. Very well priced we were shocked when the bill came!

    (3)

  • Chris A.

    Brunch was awesome... bet they regretted offering us bottomless mimosas!

    (4)

  • Yly M.

    Fantastic gastropub. Interesting tasty menu, great ambiance, and I enjoyed the decor. Would highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Mimi S.

    Great place, great food. Nice decor, lighting and atmosphere. Must try the pig wings and cheese biscuits. We also had the beet salad and lamb burger which were delicious. The only issues encountered was the jar 'o duck because the bread seemed stale, too tough to chew. They also didn't have any wine or beer yet so we ran next door and bought a bottle and accepted the $10 corkage fee. The alcohol issue should be remedied soon.

    (4)

  • Danny D.

    Well, well, well. Where do I begin? It was a Saturday, but not just any Saturday, mind you. This was my birthday. I had heard about the Federal from various top-secret sources. To say the menu looked rare would be an understatement. Jar O Duck. Pig Wings, Short Rib Beef Wellington Pot Pie. Danny! You don't want no part of this shit! But I did. I ordered the Jar O Duck and the Bay Scallops and both were top notch. The portions were small, but that's kind of the point of this kind of a restaurant so its more of a positive than a minus. My friends ordered a variety of other foods and everyone was happy. I'm not going to give you a full description of all the foods, instead may I suggest that you head over to The Federal's Facebook page and let the pictures do the talking, since they can do a much better job of describing the deliciousness that awaits you than I ever could. Now for why I subtracted a star. There was no A/C. There was also no ice in the water. The water was also room temperature. In short, it was hot as fuck in there. I'm gonna chalk this up to the fact that they just recently opened and not that they're trying to make some kind of statement. Also our waitress made a joke about her vibrator. I didn't take away a star because of that though, it's just an interesting side note. Overall, I would highly recommend The Federal. Save up some money, get a group of friends together, grab that pic-nic table in the middle, and go to town.

    (4)

  • Jocelyn T.

    Absolutely marvelous, the food was simply unbelievable! The most unique little restaurant in all of Miami, guaranteed. We ordered pretty much one of everything on the menu, I highly recommend the: biscuits pot-o-duck pot-o-mussels pork wings lamb burger! I can easily put money down and say you have never tried anything so phenomenal! The atmosphere is like stepping into the "Old Americana", I heard a wide range of songs from Jimi Hendrix to CSN to the Beatles. You can either sit on a potato sack covered bench, a picnic table, or right at the bar next to the fake burning fireplace. (*Guys, don't forget to visit the bathroom, there's a small treat for you there.) This place is also perfect to just come in and order a bottle of wine and chat with friends, even though the atmosphere looks like "old americana", I also felt like I was in a quaint little underground pub somewhere in Europe. Beer lovers, the beer selection is AMAZING too!

    (5)

  • Patricia K.

    This review is for BRUNCH, but overall, eating at The Federal was not a good experience. We ordered several things on the menu and everything except the jar o' duck was disappointing. The "sweet potato chorizo hash" came with 3 pieces of chorizo that you could barely taste, and it was mostly white potato, not sweet potato... The "wings and waffles" were barely OK, because the waffle was soggy and tasteless...The cornbread and biscuits were both super dry- yuck! The nachos were quite unedible and didn't come with most of the ingredients mentioned on the menu (beans, chilie, etc.). The "famous" Federal burger was burned and so was the "pretzel" bread it comes on; not to mention the fries were extremely greasy and soggy! Disgusting! And lastly, and worst of all, was the service. The manager was stressed out and never came by to apologize nor did he seem to care for that matter, even when the waiter made him aware of the "food issues" we were having. The manager was plain rude! And the waiter disappeared for like an hour during our meal which was quite weird too... Don't plan on ever going back, and I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT.

    (1)

  • natalia w.

    Amazing food! One of my favorite dishes I highly recommend are the pig wings the sauce is just perfect. The whole fish is a delight and perfect if u don't want to stuff your face with other delicious meals. My friend was a big fan of the duck patte appetizer very innovative and I was not expecting to like it as much. The homemade ketchup and mustard are to die for so much I n crave it for lunch and wished they packaged it. The ambience is perfect it reminds me of a place in Brooklyn or in Texas is just right! The food is not for those on a diet though they have sone tasty salads you will want to try the other dishes. I can't wait until they open for lunch!

    (5)

  • Stephanie Z.

    Recently went to "THE FED" for BRUNCH, it was just amazing! delightful, the place was well decorated and their staff as friendly as always. We started with bottomless mimosa's which are just the right touch, not too strong but not just orange juice. The cheese biscuits are a must! As an entree I had the Banana Toast with maple syrup, the combination of the toast, bananas and whip cream was great like dessert for breakfast. I've never had rabbit before, but I had the opportunity to venture and tried it. I'll be ordering the Wabbit and waffles next time I'm there, that's how yummi it was. I also tried the steak and eggs, free range eggs are always so much better and the steak was tasty, a perfect medium. Finally, I tried the pancakes, the apricots are wonderful and the texture of the pancake nice an fluffy! Can you tell I was stuffed?.. well it was worth it. Don't count your calories, just go to the Fed and let your taste-buds decide, they won't let you down. =) A MUST DO again!

    (5)

  • Juan S.

    3 to 3.5 stars here. This place is pretty cool. You would never know you're in a strip mall but you actually are. Nothing cookie cutter about this place...a very nice homey feel and nice front patio as well. Food is pretty good...modern American comfort food I think is what they call it. This is a tapas style restaurant (I'm not a fan of that) but I didn't know that til I got here. They do have some bigger dishes though. The biscuit was definitely a highlight. The peaches were good as well. The pork was good...the rainbow trout was just ok. Tried a couple of desserts (the key lime pie and mango mousse...both were ok but didn't wow me. Nice beer selection. I would probably come back.

    (3)

  • Marian S.

    Things to order - pig wings, deviled eggs and the Biskits. Fried chicken was good. Jambalaya was to die for. "Fresh" fish of the day was fishy and we sent it back. Wanted to like this place more but hard to do when we had to send back food. Fish was taken off the bill but no substitute was offered. Service was great in the beginning but as the place got more crowded, service was incredibly slow.

    (3)

  • Pablo M.

    What can I say... I was extremely disappointed in this place. I came with high expectations. Maybe that was my mistake. The place is pretty hipster/trendy, and the decor is nice, but nothing spectacular either. I showed up for brunch with my girlfriend. I ordered a plain coffee which I had to send back because it was bitter, almost sour coffee. Then I ordered a cappuccino, and that wasn't any better at all! I ordered an eggs Benedict with some pork side. This has to be the smallest, and most expensive plate I've ever had to taste some of the plainest food I've had. It is very overpriced for no reason. Plain and simple, I couldn't help but feel like I was ripped off. Plain food, small portions, high price point. Go somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Laure M.

    Busy place on saturday night, we sat outside on the "picnic" table since every table was taken inside. The food was delicious, we started with chicken tenders and the heirloom tomato salad. Both were good and the right size for an appetizer. Then I got the braised short ribs, with mashed potatoes. It was really good and a good portion. My friends got the the lamb burger with fries and the pork chop. All the dishes looked appetizing and everyone was satisfied. No dessert as we had to go to a party. The service was fine but could have been faster. I don't like that they charge for water.I like the decor and the wood picnic table totally matches the rustic theme of the restaurant. I'm glad we sat outside because it was packed and very loud inside!

    (4)

  • Sergio F.

    At least for their Desserts, even the staunchest Tea Partier would love The Federal! I stayed away from most of the savory stuff because I just can't fathom eating poor little Aflac (ie duck). However, their sticky buns - pillowy, soft, sweet and sticky pieces of bread - and honeyish and butterish (and creatively misspelled) biskits. I'm holding off on a star because as I've read in a couple other reviews there was none of the (in)famous pineapple upside down cake, though the staff made up nicely with key lime pie shots, and because the valet Parker had a slight issue with my car's alarm and I had to get my car myself. The small mishap does not take away from the friendly treatment the restaurant's staff gave us during the meal itself.

    (4)

  • Ciara G.

    First time at the Federal for our 2 year anniversary brunch and it was out of this world! The service was great and the biscuit was even better! It was voted best biscuit in the US for a reason! Everything we ate was delicious! Highly recommend coming here!

    (5)

  • Floyd P.

    The Federal is AMAZING! The brunch is to die for and you get to try so many awesome things with the tapas style. The staff is so attentive and was quick to refill our mimosas every time they got even a little low (Damien was out waiter- so good!). The chunky monkey waffle is so great we got another to go- this is a must see in Miami!

    (5)

  • Sara G.

    We waited over an hour and did not get food, biscuits are great but service not so much #notbestrestaurant

    (2)

  • Alex S.

    Went here for fathers day dinner after hearing about it on Diners, Drive ins and dives. Boy what a mistake. The place is in a dumpy and tiny strip mall. Service and wait staff were slow and the food was really disappointing. We ordered the Octopus which was $16 and it was a SINGLE plainly grilled tentacle about the size of my middle finger. How appropriate for the way i felt. Duck leg braised in coke was the same price and about the size of a chicken wing. Nothing special. BBQ Brisket was woefully tasteless and poorly cooked. Literally the worst i've had anywhere, and i've had plenty of brisket. Worst part it was served to me COLD even though the grill was less than 30 feet away outdoors. Only decent thing were the pig wings, but even that was overhyped by Guy Fieri. I'd take a dozen regular chicken wings for that price any day. At these prices i'd expect to be blown away by scenery, ambiance, service and food quality - or at least one of these areas. Instead we left feeling hungry and ripped off. This experience has shown me that having a high rating and being profiled on tv doesn't isn't a guarantee of great food. Will not repeat.

    (1)

  • neal s.

    Clearly being featured on food network tv show has gone to their heads. I made my reservation for Valentines Day two weeks ago and just received a call, three days beforehand that the only choice was going to be a 5 course special dinner. Why didn't they let people know they wanted to have a fixed price dinner when they accepted my reservation? My wife is a small eater, I would have made other arrangements if I knew.. Now I have to find another place on a Saturday night and it is Valentine's Day Very disappointing

    (1)

  • CG V.

    Go for Miami Spice! If they have the Cornish Hens, get it!!! The most delicious meal I've had in a while. Also, never pass on the beets salad. So fresh and amazing!

    (4)

  • Tony N.

    I didn't enjoy the deviled eggs or the calamari but the steak and chicken were quite good. The desserts we're stupendous. While having decent choices for wine, I felt they were overpriced in that area. If you are going to charge those prices, have a better selection. Service was very good. They were very accommodating. Came in with a friend that has a special diet and they did all they could for her.

    (3)

  • Leilani D.

    Don't get me wrong...the food here is still on point. And the service, by the servers, is still delightful. But I have no idea what's happened to management. So the Federal advertises bottomless mimosas for brunch (now $18, actually increased from $15 before), however if you actually go and have brunch there you'll find that the second your food plates are cleared a certain older blondish manager is trying to get you out of there as soon as possible. I really don't understand this. If you say that the mimosas are bottomless, you should be ready to commit, especially to a party that has clearly eaten plenty of food. Not only is it false advertising, but it also makes people who came there to spend their morning having a fun brunch feel really awkward when their waiter is telling them "look, since they took your food away she told me I can't give you any more mimosas". I always felt that one of the best things about the Federal was the laid back attitude, and the idea that you could kind of spend an evening or an afternoon there...but apparently at this point all their management cares about is turning tables and getting people in and out. I don't know that this will keep me away completely, because they do have some amazing breakfast type offerings, but I will definitely not be ordering "bottomless" (not!) mimosas ever again.

    (3)

  • Sarah S.

    Do yourself a favor and order the Pig wing (buffalo chicken wing style pork) and for dessert the Krispy Kreme bread pudding with bourbon cream. You're welcome.

    (4)

  • Steve N.

    I'm a New Yorker who has visited The Federal every time I'm in Florida over the last three years. I've only been there for dinner, so can't make any comments about Sunday brunch. But dinners are uniformly excellent. The diverse menu has some really creative offerings, as well as old-fashioned comfort food. I was happy to try some new items, including the corncake and caviar appetizer and the smokey fried chicken... both incredibly good and different. Service has always been top-notch, and the owner Ani is always there with a friendly greeting and help with any questions or comments. The option to eat inside or outside is also really nice. Can't wait for my next visit...

    (5)

  • Sandy T.

    THIS PLACE IS DELICIOUS!!! le beau took me here with his nursing cohorts for brunch. We almost ordered everything on the menu and everything was just amazing. I got the green eggs and ham, the holliandaise sauce is the best I have ever had. have ham and the poached egg on top of a homemade biscuit and NOT an english muffin. le beau ordered the cookies and cream french toast. My first thought is that the portion is HUGE. It is literally a loaf of bread! The outside is very crunchy and the center (my fav part) is soft creamy and very tasty. We ordered extra biscuits on the side and OMG this was my favorite dish/side. The buscuit was cheesy, sweet, salty, creamy all in the same bite.. MMMMmmm... melts in your mouth good. They also brought us complimentary deviled eggs and a duck confit. I didnt fancy the deviled eggs too much but they are good. I'm not a fan of deviled eggs. On the other hand the duck confit was AMAZING. They served it with toasted bread like a crouton almost, marshmallow fluff, and an apricot thing that you can spread on the crouton. His other cohort ordered the crab cake hash, which was very good just not what I am used to for crab cakes (I am from Maryland). One ordered the steak and eggs, which took the longest to come out of the kitchen. BUT SO WORTH IT. The steak was cooked to perfection, a little on the rare side if you aren't a fan of rare. It was smokey, sweet, and oh so good steak. I would recommend anyone to go here unlimited mimosas for 18$ and they do not skimp on the champagne it was always filled too. On a side note: anyone who had went to the pop up vietnamese restaurant last year called phuc yea. These are the same owners!! and they are going to open a PERNAMENT phuc yea!! I am so excited!!

    (5)

  • John N.

    Definitely a restaurant I would revisit! I came here for a birthday dinner as a mere random choice by the birthday boy. The service mixed with a new age ambiance was excellent and food was A+. I'd say my favorite was the smoked chicken (tasted like I was eating bacon!). Hope to go back soon!

    (5)

  • david t.

    I tried Federal for brunch today after being a bit disappointed in dinner . It's not a bad restaurant , but my experience was mediocre food, high prices and today terrible service.... They forgot one dish and we had to chase waiter for refills for our drinks ...not great for a place that charges you for water ... A lot of other restaurants which are better for the money in town

    (3)

  • Lauren T.

    Great menu, great decor and ambiance. Love mason jar decorations and all the tables were unique, some picnic tables etc. A lot of things I wanted to try so ill def be back to try other things. Huge wine list. One complaint is with all the heavy dishes like pig ears and cheese biscuits I woulve liked to see a few more salads to get some greens. We did get the cheese cauliflower to get some veggies which was really good. My least favorite dish was the scallops, I didnt realize it was sashimi scallops which are not my favorite but was a nice balance from the heavier dishes. A negative was the parking situation, if I park my own car why should I have to pay the valet 5$ when i leave. I guess its not the restuarants fault cause the valet is shared with the whole lot but annoying. But I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Michael N.

    I've been a few times to the federal, the recent being this Sunday for brunch with friends. The decor is decent but the place is really small. Kind of on top of each other. We had a 5 person table and my knees were rubbing against my friends. The guy who greeted us and sat us was very polite and welcoming. The food: the food is good but just not great or memorable to want you to come back. We all tried different things from the brunch side. Nothing was bad but again nothing special for the prices you pay. I get that now all the restaurants in Miami serve small overpriced dishes but if it's not a great dish that you feel is unique or different to the place then it's just not worth it. The best (or worst) part: The menu says Panther coffee for $5. My friend ordered the Panther coffee and had it during his meal. We sat at the end of the Bankhead by the coffee machines. We noticed that they were using Dunkin Donuts coffee instead of Panther. We asked a busser if it was DD coffee and he said yes. We wanted to see if our server would admit it so when he came to give the bill and ask how everything was, my friend said the Panther coffee is really good. The server smiled and said yea it is, then walked away. When he came back we asked him straight up of it was DD and he said embarrassingly oh yea it's a blend of Panther and DD because our coffee machines broke today. Idk what that has to do with using s diff coffee, I think they just didn't have any Panther coffee. When your menu says a brand name and you don't have it you should be straight up and tell the customer when you order that they don't have it but they can serve something else instead of having you over pay for a name brand and switch it behind your back. We thought he might take it off the bill or reduce the price of the $5 coffee for not having what was advertised ( it even said Panther coffee on the receipt) but he didn't make an attempt and we didn't make an issue out of it. In short the food is not bad but not great and for the price there is a lot of other places to try.

    (2)

  • Alex B.

    Was there today for Saturday Brunch. Had a great time. The food was awesome!!! The endless mimosas were great and never stopped coming.. A+ Will recommend and defiantly be back soon.

    (5)

  • Jackie S.

    After a good meal at the Federal, my mom and I came to the same conclusion--we are glad we tried it but don't know that it lived up to the hype. We started with the Jar o' Duck. The duck was delicious, had great flavor and nice spices. Beware of the marshmallow fluff--it is a nice compliment to the duck but a drop too much completely overpowers the duck and sweet potato. The Buffalo Pig Wing was up next, and it was fantastic. The pork was unbelievably tender, and the breading was crispy yet still light. The blue cheese mousse underneath was a perfect complement. The burrata dish was good; the burrata cheese was not the best I have had, and I think it could have used a touch more olive oil. The figs that accompanied the cheese were delicious, as was the savory granola-nut crumble. We split a lamb burger for our main course. The lamb had a smooth texture, and the burger was enjoyably greasy. We did find we needed to add a bit of salt. Overall, our experience at the Federal was good. We had a little trouble getting our waitress' attention at the end of the meal, but the service throughout was very attentive. Perhaps I had too high of expectations for the meal, as it has been highly regarded on the Miami "foodie" scene. I would love to go back and give it a try for brunch.

    (4)

  • Robbie M.

    I was really hoping this was going to be better after reading the reviews and the menu seemed interesting but I was not impressed. There were 4 in our party, while we were placing order for dishes that run between $14 to $25 a plate, it was suggested we order the Chef's Tasting Menu for $40 per person. We agreed assuming we would get a lot more choices and 3 courses would mean more food, right? WRONG! We were brought 4 individual plates brought 15 minutes apart from each other and each person at the table got 1 piece of fried chicken. So you got 1 to 3 bites from each plate then waited 15 minutes for the next 1 to 3 bites. Desert was one of the 3 courses but they don't mention that when you're ordering. We could have ordered individually and saved $15 to $25 per person. As for the food; The Pig Wing and the Grits were the best thing I tried and the Grown Up Slurpee was AWESOME. I really was hoping for better and don't think I will go back for anything other then the Slurpee. No matter what the reviews say about brunch.

    (2)

  • stephanie v.

    Finally went here for dinner with the hubbs last Saturday! We arrived a bit early (7 p.m.) but strategically so to avoid the rumored crowds. Not so sure it was necessary because wasn't full by time we left, but that should not a reflection of the food. The food was solid and I intend to go back and try more of the dishes since we had a very light dinner this time around. We had the famous pig wings, which I thought were good, but probably only because I adore wings and they were just like buffalo wings. I am not sure why they have recieved such praise, maybe bc of the name...I kinda think this was the least impressive dish I had. We also tried the duck in a jar, which was good. It seems like every freaking gastropub has this on their menu now, but I'm not complaining bc I love it. The last dish was the sweetbreads. I love sweetbreads, but my husband doesn't - he loved this dish! Which means the true flavor of sweetbreads was disguised very well by all of the other ingredients, lol. Still a good dish, I am sure they can replace the sweetbreads with anything and no one would notice. Skipped dessert, which is very unlike me, but they honestly didn't have anything tempting on the menu (none of the bread pudding or pineapple upside down cake I've been hearing about!). We went to Michy's for their bread pudding instead...yes, we are the kind of people who go to another restaurant just for dessert!

    (4)

  • Sam J.

    Outstanding comfort food. The Cheezy Bites off the "snacks" menu are huge. The duck jam with Fluff (a New England classic) was meaty and sweet. The short ribs pot pie had a great crust and the meat inside was tender. And the cornish hen was also very sweet. The meal was a little rich but with better balance in your menu selection, you shouldn't have that problem.

    (5)

  • Yvonne R.

    Great service and food! Portions of the food are just right and the prices are very good.

    (5)

  • Frank E.

    Its southern comfort food, which is simple, made complicated, the result, not great... I don't understand why people have to complicate simple food, its popular and timeless because its delicious in its simplicity... simply adding a ton of ingredients does not make it better... and in this case, it did not... the food was "just ok", but not worth the prices they were asking...

    (3)

  • Edward B.

    Really enjoyed my experience here. Had dinner with a table of 6 so we got to order a good variety from the menu. I think our servers name was Johnnie who gave us killer recommendations, Lamb shank, pig wings, and a sweet potato with marshmallow something rather that was fantastic. Heard there serving brunch now too cant wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Nicole W.

    First--the waitstaff at this restaurant was extremely friendly. My boyfriend and I were first timers to Miami from New York, so we asked the waitress for some recs in the neighborhood. She then wrote down a list of local go-to spots, and consulted with another waiter who greeted us and added to our already perfect list. Attentive, friendly, and knowledgable. Second---the food. Had chicken and waffles, steak and eggs, and a giant biscuit. Portions were pretty huge, but delicious. If I lived in Miami, I'd make this a regular brunch spot.

    (4)

  • Sean E.

    Pig Wings were amazing and the Jar O' Duck tastes like fois gras, but dare I say, better! Lamb burger was also very good. The french fries were the only thing I didn't like. Great place to go on a date to share a bunch of different plates. Can't wait to go back for more!

    (5)

  • Karolina W.

    After securing 8pm dinner reservations on the Federal's outdoor patio, we were disappointed to find out that our "reserved" table was unavailable. My boyfriend and I were offered seats at the bar while we waited. After 30 minutes or so, the host offered us a table inside, only to see that 2 men that clearly arrived after us were offered a table outside. How disappointing. After my boyfriend commented to the host that the couple seated outside arrived after we did, we were finally seated outside at 9pm. We ordered our food, which came out relatively slow considering we only ordered the tapas dishes.. however, our waiter said the kitchen was "backed up." Overall it was a disappointing date night. Maybe the food would have been better if our dinner plans did not start out on such a sour note.

    (2)

  • Jan N.

    Ah, The Federal. So unassuming in a tiny strip mall located next to a Dunkin' Donuts. Valet service (Friday night - poor kid looked like he should've been at the movies like every other teenager), modest, yet classy decor, and small bustling crowd all made for a nice evening out - nice and expensive. The quality of the food was an A+; hence, the high prices. If you aren't on a budget and don't mind paying $8 a piece for beer (the amber beer was absolutely delicious- I'll give them that!), and you're in the mood for something different and fresh, then this is the place you should come to. Cheesy biscuit is a MUST! It's like a giant KFC biscuit, only it's not (does that make sense?). It's fluffy, soft, and light - it doesn't leave you feeling like you just had a pound of carbs and butter (and speaking of butter, their butter is delicious!). The top layer is a bit crispy, and that's where you taste the majority of the cheese. The only thing that was missing was the honey and salt that I've read comes with it. I guess those ingredients weren't available that day. For dinner, my husband had the lamb burger while I opted for the chicken dish. If you have a taste for the lamb (which I don't, but I tried it anyway), then I would say to go for the burger. Putting aside my non-lamby palate, I can't deny props where they are deserved. The patty meat was fresh, tender and juicy, cooked perfectly! And my chicken dish was great! Fresh white chicken meat on a bed of spinach, corn, cheese and something else that, apparently, was good because I enjoyed my dinner and had no complaints! For dessert we shared a graham cracker pie (I don't remember the exact name, but it definitely had "graham" somewhere in there!) with raspberry compote - and it had a sublte coffee after taste, too. Verdict: very good, fresh (have you noticed this word keeps popping up?), and unique! The service was awesome! Our waitress was on her game, and she knew that menu in and out ; very helpful and amiable. The only downfall with this place is that the menu changes, so you really don't know what you're going to get... which is what happens with these types of restaurants. It's like their strength is also their weakness. My friend had been there the night before and already one of the dishes she ordered wasn't on the menu when I went. I was also looking forward to some foods that I saw in the pictures on Yelp, but, unfortunately, those weren't being served (like the sticky buns, shrimp and grits, and the pulled pork pot pie). I know it's all about the freshness and availability of the ingredients for that day/week, but man, can it get frustrating! All in all, we had a great dinner, but it was pricey. My husband and I ended up spending $90 (tip included) on an appetizer, 2 entrees, a dessert, and 3 beers. I'm by no means a cheapo, but I think it's a lot of money for a Friday night dinner at a strip mall. Then again, I paid for a solid quality of food and service - so I suppose I shouldn't complain. Touche, The Federal... touche!

    (4)

  • Felicia R.

    Food is just amazing. as a group of 8, very difficult for seating during sunday brunch, but they accommodated us quite well because we arrived early. I am not a fan of the limited parking spaces and the forced valet option. I did enjoy the food very much, the pork wings & waffles, the steak and eggs, and the wet fries were delish! I do recommend it to anyone who wants to try something different.

    (4)

  • michelle z.

    We were a group of 10 last night for Crawdaddy Wednesday. They were very accommodating. Everything we ordered was delish: Crawfish boil (I ate 3 lbs by myself) Crawfish po' boy (We kept re-ordering this it was great) Soft shell crab (yum) Deviled eggs (yum) Avocado Uni Tostada (WOW amazing) Maple Bisquits (OMG the most delicious biscuit I have ever had!!) Panna Cotta (to die for) Exception: Bread pudding was more like an overcooked popover (not good) Besides that one small item, the food was spot on!! I plan on on going there to eat again and again. Last but not least, Robert our server was truly a delight, very attentive and ready to please.

    (5)

  • Candice R.

    Excellent service and menu. I highly recommend Crawfish Wednesday and don't forget bottomless beer and bubbles.

    (5)

  • Stephanie G.

    I went to The Federal on Sunday for brunch with a friend of mine. To drink, I had the orange juice which was freshly squeezed and delicious. My friend had the sangria which I tried, and that too was really tasty. To start, we shared the avocado tostada which was good but not at all what I expected. I couldn't really taste the berries on it, but that may have been the point. I liked that they were generous with the avocado. We then shared the breakfast nachos. I wouldn't consider ordering this dish again. The chips themselves were good, but I felt like there was very little on them except for the fried egg. There was barely any bean salad, poblano, queso fresco, queso fundido, sour cream or salsa verde on the nachos. There were definitely no refried beans on the dish at all. I felt as though i'd bought a bag of chips, tossed in a fried egg and called it a day. I regret not getting the wings 'n waffle. I saw the dish on its way to another table and it looked delicious. Since we were still hungry after eating our chips and fried egg, we ordered the cookies and cream french toast. The french toast was the best part of our meal. I hadn't had french toast that good in a long time. Even though I wasn't blown away by the nachos, i'd still give The Federal another chance.

    (3)

  • Grecia P.

    I had tried to come to this place on three separate occassions and something always happened where Plans had to be postponed. Finally, after the Race for the Cure run today, WE MADE IT! And it was sooo worth it. The food was fantastic, the service was great, the drinks were delicious. WE had no complaints. We tried a bit of everything.. the favorite across the board was the Wild Mushroom Ragu and the Crawfish and grits... Although the Breakfast Nachos were DELICIOUS, the flavors were all on point... Now, as for the desserts, im not a big sweet eater so I wasnt a fan, but the rest of my party enjoyed the Pumpkin Spiced French Toast and the Chunky Monkey Waffle (which was supposed to be Nutella, but was actually chocolate). Now that we have tried the brunch, I will definitely return for dinner... im looking forward to it. As for the cocktails, we had no complaints either... they were delish... The Ani Palmer: Jasmin tea, lemon, ginger, and prosecco was very refreshing... The guava slurpee and the sangria were also very good. Go on... check it out. You wont be dissapointed. :)

    (4)

  • Michelle C.

    I don't know how they do it, but this place is consistently my favorite meal ever. If I could eat jar o duck and a biscuit every day, I would be a happy girl. The staff is so friendly, the food is amazing. You are really missing out if you don't go. Trust me. Eat here. Often.

    (5)

  • Lina T.

    The food was ok. The atmosphere was good and the service was great. I think I would have enjoyed brunch more.... Next time!

    (3)

  • Daniel A.

    Went on a Friday night this past week around 7 before it got busy. Ambience: 5* In a random strip mall (seems to be the trend in Florida) but great decor on the inside Service: 1* The waiter we had was very pushy, kept on trying to get us to order food by pairing it with multiple dishes. The main issue I had was I asked him which vegetables were good and he recommended the plantains and mushrooms. So I ordered the plantains but both came out. When I told him I only ordered the plantains, he kept on arguing with me that I ordered both but my table specifically heard only the plantains. After that incident, he was being rude and hasty, ruined the dining experience. The other thing, he said they only had bottled water but I saw other tables getting tap water which irked me a bit. Food: 3* Clams- very good but on the salty side Octopus- outstanding. Best dish of the night Plantains- good Biscuit- was okay, a bit dry, not as good as he hyped it up to be Pork Wing- ok, nothing to write home about Roasted chicken- very good, moist, nice smoke flavor Porchetta- Not crispy enough but was moist, flavorful Panna cotta- solid I definitely want to come back to try the other dishes but the service, or lack there off thinks I'll pass for now.

    (2)

  • Amber D.

    Found out about this place randomly from a friend liking a photo on Instagram- and boy am I glad I did! Came here for Saturday brunch and will definitely be back. The biscuits and gravy was amazing (and it's hard to find good biscuits and gravy without having to make it yourself), and the wing n waffle was incredible! Two appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert for $24- you can't beat it. I left sufficiently stuffed, without feeling sick from so much food. The restaurant is really cute too- feels like home. Service was great too- our server refilled our bottomless mimosas ($19) as soon as we finished each glass. Never had to ask for anything. Can't wait to return for a second helping!

    (5)

  • Peach B.

    Started with a biscuit which was cooked great and served hot. Followed it with a summer salad which we thought someone had already eaten out of. Served on a half of plate other half of plate was empty. Figs and ricotta were a good selection, with a nice presentation however loaded with salt. Every bite needed to be followed by water. Our last dish was the short ribs. Very good flavor however presented as side cut fatty pieces of a rib on the bone. Overall, not a choice in the future for dinner. Would try brunch as the other yelpers only showed pictures of brunch and now we know why.

    (2)

  • Randy L.

    The staff was very nice and knowledgable and they were quick to seat us. Our server Fernel (hope I spelled it right) was great and very attentive. The food was ok, at this price point however I expect a lot more. ***this place does NOT sell Liqour*** real bummer because I wanted a real Bloody Mary, not the wine based Bloody Mary they charge you a ridiculous $9 for when it doesn't even have Liqour in it. Also, $5 for regular drip coffee?! Seriously that's absurd. Had the Brisket Plate for brunch and there was a large chunk of fat in my bowl. Besides that it was ok. The Biscuit and Gravy we had to return because it was rock hard and cold. The next one we got was still hard but at least it wasn't cold. The Pork Wing and Waffle was probably the highlight of the meal. Very tasty waffle, just wish it was a crispy waffle and not a soft mushy waffle. The pork however was delicious and the breading was amazing. Overall, I'm glad I came and tried it but I won't be coming back or recommending friends to go here. There are MUCH better brunch spots in this price range in Miami.

    (2)

  • sandra i.

    It looks like it is run by new, untrained personnel that even they're trying to do their best, I had to return the beet roasted salad.....it was extremely salty and, also ridiculously small (for $12.00 ) sad that I gave this place two chances already.

    (1)

  • M S.

    wonderful restaurant, clearly they care about the ingredients and how they compliment each other, as well as the presentation. definitely recommend !!

    (5)

  • Roxana T.

    This is the worst service I have ever experienced! Super rude! Foods okay. Nothing to rave about.

    (1)

  • Naylet A.

    The food is pretty good but there are much better brunch places in Miami. Now the service... is HORRIBLE. Rudest waitress I've had in quite some time.

    (1)

  • Lisa G.

    I have now gone here twice- once for brunch and once for dinner. The food is delicious. I love that they focus on local items, often with herbs they grow in their own garden. It is a great spot to go with experimental eaters and just order multiple small dishes to share around. My favorites so far have been the chicken and waffles for brunch and the brussel sprouts with dinner. I was a little disappointed with a "favorite" item- the peaches and cream- but the mac and cheese totally made up for it.

    (4)

  • Alissa W.

    Ok so I admit I never had any desire to eat here even though it is in the neighborhood of restaurants I usually eat at. So we came on Saturday night I was not thrilled to eat here, but figured I may as well try it so I know I don't like it instead of assume. If you are a meat lover this is your place ! I am not and the seafood is limited. Although, they have veggie plates listed they are more sides to go along or salads not entrees. I tried to seafood bouillabaisse and asked for no sausage. the food came out 1/2 a lobster tail and 1/2 a scallop. I was confused I flagged down the waitress. HMMMM this can't be $28 of food ! I have no clue what the kitchen did but they grabbed my plate and brought of a complimentary buratta with frisse lettuce. Frisse lettuce to be should be a garnish it is tough and not easy to eat. I hate the consistency but Iwas hungry so I hate the buarrata with grapes and nuts. My lobster came back and was not cooked properly I could hardly get it out of the shell. Also it said there was shrimp there were none. Tiny pieces of cray fish were added not my thing ! Sorry Federal I know officially concluded NEVER again.

    (2)

  • Elisabeth C.

    This little gem of a restaurant is tucked away in a small mall and I was originally reluctant to go. That was a mistake that cost me at least a year of great food. And I have never had better service in Miami. We grazed on the whole menu by ordering the chefs plate-the Brisket was to out of this world as was the pate. But given the reputation this restaurant has for barbeque and meat-meat-meat, I was pleasantly surprised by the vegies, especially the Brussel sprouts. This is a great romantic date night restaurant-great food, atmosphere and service.

    (5)

  • Tats D.

    My boyfriend & I tried this place out for the first time- we purchased the Gilt City deal. Lucky for us, they were serving for the first time their "Pressed brisket 2.0" with their "Charcoal mashed potatoes". All we could say over & over again was WOW. Words cannot describe how delicious & flavorful it was. We were sad when we finished. Please put that on the menu again!! That brisket is literally Heaven on earth! Not only was the brisket amazing, the service was great. The hostess was very friendly & inviting & our waitress was awesome! She was so informative, accommodating & very friendly. All in all, this place is just great & we are definitely coming back!

    (5)

  • Daniel M.

    Tried peaches and pistachio, gizpacho, the biscuit which was incredible, mcnuggets, pig wing, and lamb burger. Finished off with chocolate moonpie with bourbon milk. Yum. Will be back again.

    (5)

  • Josh M.

    Unlimited Mimosas on Saturday and Sunday Brunch! sign me up ! Incredible food in a great area, cookies and cream french toast? yes please, chicken and waffles ? incredible, i can't wait to try more meals here...

    (4)

  • Ilissa W.

    My husband and I have been eating at The Federal since its inception almost 3 years ago. Tonight's dinner was the nudge that I needed to actually sit down and write this review. We were seated right away and greeted by Ani (the owner), who suggested that we order from the Miami Spice menu. Most of the time when I dine at an establishment during Miami Spice Month, we don't even get the Spice menu without having to ask for it and possibly receiving a glaring look from the waitstaff. We had the good fortune to sample 4 appetizers and 4 mains (this was the Miami Spice offering......amazing) from their menu along with 2 desserts! For starters, we tried the crudo, famous pig wing with blue cheese (yummy!), a fig, blueberry & ricotta dish and the biscuit. Then we had venison with chili fries, which was the highlight of the meal, short ribs, fish (I think it was trout) with black beans and a corn that was off the chain. For dessert we had a wild rice pudding, which was brimming with fruit and creamy deliciousness (and I don't even like wild rice.....)! Pair this with a bottle of red (Ani brought three to suggest since my husband is somewhat of a wine enthusiast) and attentive, friendly waitstaff, and you have a Saturday evening meal to remember. In summary, this is a local gem run by people who pour their heart and soul into the business. Something very rare and special in Miami.......we are very lucky indeed!

    (5)

  • Thien H.

    I'm gonna get some hate for this, but I thought The Federal was just okay. I've read quite a few reviews and yelp talk hyping up this lovely little restaurant. But I think I expected too much. I don't know if my taste buds were off that day or the next day when I ate the leftovers, but the jar o' duck could've been a chicken mash. Seriously, if someone told me it was a jar o' chicken thighs I would've believed them. It didn't have that rich, deep flavor of duck I was hoping for. The duck sandwich from Sakaya is still my favorite duck dish in Miami. In short, the duckiness from the jar o' duck was missing. The marshmallow was cute and the herbs on the sweet potato were nice accompaniments. The pig wing was the highlight because the blue cheese cream/quenelle was strange but delicious. It was a fun take on blue cheese. My husband liked the pig wing because the bite he got was hot and crispy. I ended up with the soggy skin of the pig wing. The pace of our meal was rushed...and then super slow to the point where we had to finally flag the server down for the dessert menu and bill. We wanted the jar o' duck for our appetizer and were going to share the rest of the dishes for our entrees. Sadly, we only had 50 seconds of the jar o' duck before our piping hot entrees arrived at our table.

    (3)

  • NunYa B.

    Service was definitely on point. ...that's about it... The food was quiet forgettable and strangely disappointing. I watched the marketing of this restaurant on the "Best New Restaurant" with Tom Coliccio and couldn't wait to try it out. I tried their classic "dishes" that they features on the show: Pig Wing, and the big loaf of bread (aka biscuit). Neither stood out. I've had tastier bbq chicken wings at Chilis! The biscuit...what a waste of carbs/calories that's all I gotta say. Their take on their sangria was different and for me it just didn't work. Some things should just stay classic.

    (2)

  • June K.

    Fun, good, down home funkiness. Liked it!

    (4)

  • Meg O.

    We tried this spot based on Guy Fieri's visit on the show, Diners Drive-In's and Dives. If you ever want seating inside you have to make a reservation. When we initially arrived the restaurant wasn't open - they had closed for lunch and were reopening shortly. The owner was busy rearranging stuff on the shelf in the dining room and couldn't be bothered to say hello when we walked in. When we spoke up she curtly informed us they were closed until 6pm. The wait was only 30 minutes so we decided to wait it out. When we came back the hostess, cute as a button, informed us diners with out reservations are to be seated outside. Gong number two on the "Friendly Service" expectation. I immediately felt like I was being punished and sent to the dog house. She explained there is only one server working on the patio and we had to wait to be seated so he could "catch up." There was only one other table seated on a patio of 7 tables. So after standing in the middle of the patio for about 15 minutes we were finally asked to sit. Our server was welcoming and genuine thank goodness because our opinion was already colored by how we were greeted the first two times. We tried the Pig Wing, Biscuit, and Deviled Eggs. All good but it was meh at best. I may be willing to try again if in the area and a reservation was made. Oh here was the kicker - so no reservations means we are exiled to the patio. There was at best a 20% occupancy at the tables inside the hour and a half we were there.

    (2)

  • Henry A.

    NPS = 9 Definitely recommend this place. Came here today for the brunch and it did not disappoint. We ate the buffalo chicken and waffles, the fish dip, the crab lump mix-a-something, and the chorizo frittata. Awesome. I've also come here on different occasions (dinner, lunch, and whatnot) and had the ham shank which I TOTALLY recommend. Also try the pork wings...the purest of fire. Never have gotten the bottomless mimosas, but for drinking or to finish off your meal you should order the coffee. It is spectacular. You can not go wrong with the Federal. Make sure not to leave this place without checking in on Yelp. Last time I checked in, I got a free beer offer.

    (4)

  • James B.

    Fantastic spot, peaceful weekday dinner or their weekend all you can drink brunch. I wish I lived within walking distance, but this place is worth any drive. Great cocktails, draft beers and of course the food! Innovative menu with lots of complex flavors to satisfy any craving.

    (5)

  • Rich H.

    Hospitality issues: Upon arrival at the half-empty restaurant the slow, unfriendly hostess kept us standing at the door for a long time, preferring to visit with seated guests. When I asked her if there was a convenient place to park without using the restaurant's valet service (which had blocked nearby parking spaces!), she replied "valet is not expensive," and this neighborhood is not very "kosher" for parking. TIP: Later we learned there is abundant free parking in the lot right behind the restaurant. Why didn't the hostess deign to tell us that? Happily service provided by the waiter at our patio table was super-friendly and professional. He thoroughly made up for the off-putting attitude of his colleague, which made us consider leaving. Seeing the great reviews, we tried "jar o duck." It didn't work for us. The duck itself was a stringy mash with a seasoning that competed with the duck's own flavor. The accompanying blob of sweet marshmallow made matters worse, though my companion thought it could be saved for a decent desert. Three quarter-sized slices of sweet potato and dry, tastless toasted baguette pieces were a waste of time. Bottom line: this is a gimmicky dish that doesn't deliver. Crispy brussels sprouts were the highlight of the meal. They were fried to crispy perfection and unexpectedly but brilliantly accompanied by pickled pearl onions. And the portion was huge, too! Sadly the charred octopus was another enticing menu option that, in reality, failed. The marinated octopus was soggy and lacked the crispness it should have had off the grill. Accompanying chopped peanuts, spelt and cranberries made the dish a ridiculous mish-mash of misfit ingredients. Bottom line: Federal has an innovative-looking menu that creates expectations, but at least the items we tried were a disappointing let-down. Plus the hostess needs to take the Hospitality 101 course.

    (2)

  • jen r.

    i liked the federal, but i had high hopes of loving it. we made reservations for the same night, and thankfully we did bc it was a full house on a saturday night at 9pm. kinda hidden on biscayne in a strip mall next to a dunkin donuts. it is a really nice restaurant, while nothing fancy it is very homey and trendy. the service was spot on. but the food left me, eh, unimpressed. we had: cheese biscuits which we loved! pig wings which just didnt live up to the hype for me. maybe it was the blue cheese sauce or the extra spice they had going on. but i just didnt enjoy it. lamb burger was good but i wasnt blown away the fries had a peculiar taste - an herb, maybe rosemary!? i wasnt digging that either. bananas foster cream pie was out of this world! they have a great beer and wine list. and again the service and ambiance were exceptionally good. i would probably check it out again, but i sadly wont be running back.

    (3)

  • Hung D.

    Great little neighborhood spot if you're lucky enough to live close by. The happy hour is a great time to try things on a budget. Great deals and the staff is super friendly and informative. If you are in to mixed drinks, the Drink Fairy will put you in an alcoholic coma. The grille is fired up on the weekends to expand the menu even further. Do yourself a favor and get the Buffalo Pig Wing, Federal Bacon and Biskit. You will not regret it, unless you don't eat pork. Even so, shame on you.

    (5)

  • Amanda G.

    SO delicious! And the service was great as well. We ordered a bunch of dishes, perfect for sharing, and were completely satisfied. What was ordered: the brussel sprouts, mac n cheese (not too overbearing at all, as many restaurants like to do it), burger, nuggets, truffle "dumplings" (more like a spaetzle), lobster couscous, pork steak (WHICH WAS ONE OF THE BEST I'VE EVER TASTED as it was almost like the texture of a tender brisket, not to mention it came with delicious mashed potatoes that had a smoky flavor, great pairing), smokey fried chicken Everything was absolutely delicious and had so much flavor. The place was charming and rustic in a hip way. Our waitress, Emily, was beyond charming. She was extremely kind and patient. Not to mention, she was set on making sure it was a great dining experience for us, especially since it was our first time. And, the final bill was very fair (hard to get when a family of six is out eating good food). Definitely will be returning!

    (5)

  • Nicholas M.

    At this point, I've been to this restaurant a few times and it never disappoints. Most recently I took an entire group of people there that had never been before and they all loved it!! The food is amazing and filling and the service was delightful. Brunch is stellar here as well. I can't wait to return....Absolute stand outs are the jar o' duck, the mac n' cheese and the hamburger.

    (5)

  • Carlos C.

    Adventurous? Like biscuits? Duck? Game? If so, get your butt to The Federal. The menu changes frequently and I would certainly suggest listening to the server's suggestion (Johnny has never steered me wrong!). As far as starters are concerned you can't go wrong with the cheese biscuits and the Jar of Duck. These are staples and for good reason, they're awesome. Both items are on the brunch and dinner menu. As far as entrees are concerned I have to say go for the Spare Rib Pot Pie. The pastry was perfect and the meat, vegetables, and gravy were PERFECT. One of my companions had the Duck Confit which looked amazing (it must have been, the SOB didn't offer to share!) The menu is a bit eclectic but there are items there for the less adventurous. Brunch? Ha! Order lots of plates. The Federal has the best take on Banana's Foster French Toast I have ever had. Another revelation was the Jackalope Benedict, basically eggs Benedict with Rabbit & Venison Sausage instead of Ham. Wow. Make sure to save room for dessert. The only item I've tried is the S'mores and it is great so long as you are a chocolate lover. I saw someone here complain about the price and service. I have to strongly disagree. When compared to other area restaurants the food and service compare very favorably. In fact, The Federal seems to have hit the head on combining a casual atmosphere and young staff with friendly and attentive service. This is currently my favorite spot in Miami. As a professional fat-ass it says a lot about this place. Try it!

    (5)

  • Silvana G.

    Its not only that the food is amazing but the staff is even better ! Loved the place and the service made it so much better ! Thanks Misty :)

    (5)

  • Ben S.

    Food was great overall. Service was friendly and attentive. The wine was good... a Bordeaux. But, it was not cellared properly so it was hot. The duck in a jar and the biscuit were great as usual. The calamari was nice but not salted like the breading and therefore off. The Uni avocado tostada sounded like a good idea. But the guacamole completely overpowered good quality uni. The Porchetta was awesome. The pasta with porcini was also excellent. I recommend this place as they are taking risks and should be rewarded for trying to live outside the box.

    (4)

  • Rebecca B.

    We came to try brunch but walked out because the service was terrible. Cmon Miami this is a hot new restaurant, in one of the hottest "new" neighborhoods of Miami, the Mimo (Miami modern) right on biscayne blvd featured on tv on a restaurant contest. You can and you must do better. It's cute and homey inside with small outdoor patio if you want to bring your furry friend. Patio is mostly shaded but a few seats out in the sun which is a bit much during the day. We are going to come back with friends for dinner and give it another shot but bad first impression. No one would put our name on the wait list, I asked 5 times. Each time I asked the server went off to shine plates or chat w other customers. The 5 th time I asked her she said she's too busy because she is doing bussing duties and she would eventually get to me. Then she completely forgot again. I don't get it. Please have your wait staff act more professionally we really want to give this place one more try.

    (2)

  • C G.

    Great food and outstanding service. Ordered one biscuit and it was so good that we ordered another! Buffalo pig wing was delicious, bbq deviled eggs were even better. Entree was the smoked chicken and then banana s'mores for dessert. Had 2 glasses of wine with dinner. Coupled with very friendly service, the best meal I've had in Miami

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    This is an excellent choice for Sunday brunch !! Adam was our server & made our experience so comfortable & enjoyable.. I went with my boyfriend & we enjoyed the bottomless mimosas & had a blast!! I don't eat meat so the avocado tostada was an excellent choice!! Perfect way to start my Sunday!! Wonderful experience !!! Will be back soon !! Great place for locals to enjoy!!

    (5)

  • Greg A.

    The Federal is a nice, cozy little spot off Biscayne just south of 54th street. Everything about the restaurant, from the interior decor to the menu, is designed to give a sort of "down home" rustic feel. Unfortunately, it doesn't come at a very "down home" price. I thought the food was decent, but the menu is very limited. At $60 (including tax and tip) I didn't find it to be good value for the money when we got a fried crab po boy sandwich (with a very small serving of fries), 2 drinks, a small salad, and a couple of pretzel rolls. I'm not saying I left the place starving, but I didn't feel all that full after the meal, either. There are other restaurants I've been to where you pay a lot for not much food, but they, at least, make up for it by providing food that tastes outstanding. The Federal fell short of the mark. Service was friendly, but slow. I didn't think the time I waited for my sandwich was reasonable, and the waiter even apologized for the time it took. While I didn't think the place was terrible and I wouldn't say I had a bad experience, I think it would take a Miami Spice or some special event to get me to go back.

    (2)

  • Hnedel M.

    Can't say enough good things about this place. Our waitress Emily who was quite the wine nerd kept referring to us as "My Darlings" & "My Loves". Every thing we had was great. We loved their 'pig wing' & their duck rillette w/ marshmallow fluff. This place is a definite must when you visit Miami.

    (5)

  • K B.

    How does a restaurant that prides itself on making its own butter have no cream available for coffee? Isn't cream what butter is made of? Coffee with milk makes it watery and lacking in the smoothness of cream. The bisquit was good. The lack of pork for the waffle combo on the menu was disappointing. Replacing it with rabbit meat was not appetizing for breakfast. I got the "steak" and eggs. It was actually brisket in a bowl on top of tasteless potato hunks with an egg on top. It was boring and left me thinking I hadn't eaten when I ate as much as I could.

    (2)

  • Jeff G.

    I have to preface this review with this: I am not a big fan of overpriced food. Yes, I will be going into a bit of a rant here, sorry! The food here is good, worthy of more stars than I am giving it, but pricing here will keep me from becoming a frequent customer here. Since we came here in a farily large group of fellow Yelper and food enthusiasts I was able to sample quite a few items from the menu. For myself, I ordered the Lamb Burger which was tasty but at $16 I have had _much_ better at B&B Joint for LESS. There were a few things I had that were quite good, some were just good on the outside like the Pig Wing; which lacked flavor once you got past the first few bites. I did enjoy my outing with everyone here, but I think there needs to be a voice of dissent when it comes to overpriced eateries. Go to any other big city and I can eat better there for half to almost a third less money. I'm talking about so-called "expensive" cities like New York or San Fran. It's no surprise that entrepeneurs of Phuc Yea are now serving up overpriced fare in this new establishment. At least over there it was sort of justifiable because they were trying to build enough capital to open this place but if they plan on keeping this from being another 6 month pop-up, price it so us muggles can frequent it. PS- I drink my water at room temp, I didn't know it was the hip cool thing to do though?

    (3)

  • Betty M.

    Not sure how I feel... Some of the food was good not spectacular. But my better half & I ordered pork chops for dinner. My pork chop came out first & it was beyond overcooked & I'm a well done kinda girl. 45 minutes later, his pork chop arrived also overcooked. Several of us ordered the mac & cheese. They were all cold as in frozen. They all were sent back. When cooked, the mac & cheese is really good. The deserts were excellent. Service was good. But they do charge for water without asking. Overall, I can now say... Been there, done that, won't be back. So NOT worth it for the price.

    (2)

  • Peter V.

    I checked this place out on Easter Sunday for brunch. The staff and the food was great. In addition, cannot go wrong with bottomless Mimosas for $19 and bottomless bar for $25. The French Toast was amazing. Check it out!

    (5)

  • V. A.

    I went about a year ago and need to remind myself to go back. Really interesting menu, great service, and nice ambiance. I remember going crazy over the honey-cheese biscuits and something they call the jar o'duck which is duck with sweet potato and marshmallow.

    (5)

  • Julia K.

    Love this spot. Really nice, knowledgeable staff. Duck in a jar was such an amazing little surprise. My seven year old devoured it. We had the chicken -- small serving, but tasty. The beet salad was also good. The steak was fantastic. And I look forward to returning to try a few other things on the menu. The staff seems very well trained and this is a really quaint spot -- Different for Miami.

    (4)

  • Franky A.

    AMAZING FOOD! I just had dinner here tonight and was blown away with my meal. The lamb burger is out of this world. Delicious french fries too. I highly recommend ordering the Fountainbleu cheesecake for dessert. I will say that the service was pretty slow tonight and it killed the experience early on but the food was so strong that I overlooked that important detail to my dinning experience. I will go back again but I'm seriously hoping that service will be WAY much better next time.

    (4)

  • Jenna M.

    Oh yeah! I just love dining in new and different places where the menu is exciting and makes you feel adventurous. The Federal is new, different and exciting. We had a variety of goodies for dinner but by far the best thing we had was the lobster rolls. They were very different.. buttery, tangy and decadent! Besides delicious food, the Federal offers a good selection of craft beers on draft and in the bottle and a considerably long wine list. I can't wait to return. The Miami Spice menu is looking extra tempting with the Jar of Duck we've been eager to try. My only qualm... the smell of my clothes after the fact. Next time I will sit outside :)

    (4)

  • Maggie P.

    Came here for brunch. I'm a sucker for brunch. I had the eggs benedict with rabbit and venison meat...and while i'm sure there are people there that go cuckoo for rabbit and venison meat puffs, I think I wasn't the biggest fan. However, everything else was delicious. Including my eggs b. It just so happens I discovered I'm a fan of traditional eggs benedict. The place has cute decor, delicious food, and overall good vibe. I am excited to go back and check it out for more deliciousness.

    (4)

  • Rob C.

    a fairly popular place. valet parking in the small lot. problem overall is that they were taking a lot of savory things and adding too much sweet to it. we shared: the jar of duck which combined crostini with duck chunky pate and toasted marshmellow (sweet) also had charred octopus with farro salad and cranberries (making it sweet also) roasted beet salad with candied striped beats orange and pecans (soft) -- sweet then the crispy brussel sprouts were too salty and not that thin crispy. was looking for more savory and spice. we added the pretzel rolls, supersoft and nice but the spiced duck fat spice didn't have much flavor. the pig wing was the best dish, cooked well with light mousse and a good play on buffalo wings.

    (3)

  • Yuliya S.

    This was a very fun place for brunch, but don't believe what they say on the website. Make reservations! We had to wait for a while, not aided by the fact that it down-poured (what can I say, rainy season has arrived) and some of the outdoors tables were not available. I love a restaurants that makes offal and somewhat weird meats the center of the menu. The whimsical touches on the menu were very cute and I like that the waiter warned us that some of the items don't really exist (what, the unicorn bacon isn't real?). Also, I have to apologize to the same server for almost stabbing him with a fork when he tried to take away the almost finished Jar-O-Duck, but he was really taking his life into his own hands. There was still a smudge of duck deliciousness and by gum, we were going to dig it out, even if all the accouterments were done. I can't wait to come for dinner.

    (4)

  • Cliff F.

    PHENOMENAL. MUST TRY. GO RIGHT NOW. Okay, now that I've said my peace, here are the details: We arrived with no reservations and were seated immediately. Our waitress was engaging and helpful and the servers were attentive and prompt. We started with the Jar O'Duck. A small flip-top jar of slow-cooked duck served with burnt Fluff and delicious sweet potatoes in a sauce that personifies Christmas. All together, on a long piece of toasted bread, it was so uniquely satisfying. Dare I say, flawless? Next came the mains. My dining companion ordered a lamb burger--perfectly cooked, seasoned, and presented. Another flawless execution. The fries were some of the best I've had in Miami. We also got a side of creamed collard greens, a great addition to the meal. I'm always up for greens, but only satisfied when they're made with the requisite love and attention. These are. I ordered the short rib pot pie...and I'll keep this next part short, because I could gush forever. One of the best entrees being served in South Florida, hands down. My mind reels when I try to quantify exactly how good this dish is...I hope its on the menu forever. And ever. I hope I leave Earth before it does. Just order it. We finished with a lemon meringue--very nice, clean citrusy taste. Probably not the most interesting item on the dessert menu, but it was a nice finish to a great, great meal. Do yourself a favor and go. Put the diet on pause, put the kids away, and put on your eating pants. ...don't forget to get the short rib pot pie. Seriously. Don't.

    (5)

  • Diego S.

    Found this place out of luck... I have been in this strip mall at least three times a week for the past three years and never noticed it. The food is to die for and the service is great or at least our waitress was amazing... If you like food that is hearty and sophisticated, both filling and refined ... this is the place to go.... better yet don't go... I want to get a table all the time! HAHAH! Barbara... thank you for great service!

    (5)

  • Christopher Z.

    It took me way too long to finally get to this wonderful restaurant. It was so easy to find and plenty of parking. Super friendly Emily greeted us at the door and seated us with ease and grace. Love the menu and the concept. Food comes "a la minute" meaning as prepared and fit for sharing. Two of us so we each had a Buffalo Style Pig Wing (basically a leg of pig) in the spicy house coating with blue cheese and a special slaw. Taking a little bit longer was the new style Conch Salad, very delicate and ceviche-like. Next we ordered the slow cooked venison chili with crispy grits. Again lots of nice spice, rich game flavors without being gamey, and perhaps not enough of the delicate crispy large crouton-size grits, which were perfect to absorb the sauce. The Grilled Pord Shoulder was a perfect slice with a nice crust and super tender meat. So much crativity and new daring side dihed like pickeled watermelon rind and charred orange slices. Super food and service. Unusual, off the beaten path wine choices and a great selection of beers. Can't wait to go back ad try more of this creative menu. Excellent!

    (4)

  • Steve S.

    Delicious brunch. We had somewhat of a Thanksgiving feast - fish dip, chicken and waffles, crab hash, and chorizo fritatta. All were amazing; highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Jack B.

    Food was ok. The fried chicken, the bacon and the watermelon feta salad were the highlights of the night. Everything else was mediocre. Biggest issue was the service. First we had a reservation and they made us wait almost an hour to be seated (with no explanation as to the delay) and then they brought out the food out of order (main courses before appetizers). No real reason to go to this restaurant unless you're in the area and craving fried gastro-like food.

    (3)

  • Monica A.

    Food was good and the price fair. Drinks (including coffee) were overpriced. Parking is fine. Space is small, but that's to be expected. Service was average. Probably won't be returning.

    (3)

  • Melissa Ann H.

    Love this place! The service is always great and so is the food. Sunday brunch is the best! You have to try the "Wings & Waffles" and "Adult Slurpees" yum!

    (5)

  • Erin C.

    On a recent trip to Miami, my husband and I were very excited to try The Federal. It definitely lived up to my expectations! Aside from being located in a strip-mall on a busy road, the atmosphere inside is cool and cozy. We started with the Buffalo Pig Wing and the BBQ'd Deviled Eggs. I could have eaten an entire plate of the eggs myself, à la Ron Swanson. We also had the Beer Braised Florida Clams which were generous in size and really tasty, the South West Mac and Cheese, Brussels Sprouts, and "Chili & Fries." While everything was good, I was totally blown away by the deviled eggs and pig wing. Service was friendly and helpful, and we got everything we ordered in a very timely manner. I would definitely recommend to anyone living in or visiting the Miami area!

    (5)

  • Roberto B.

    Well first, I have to go back! Loved the ambiance, loved the vibe, loved my handsome waiter Johnnie and his superb attentiveness - didn't hover but was always there to keep the wine glass filled. So first complainits: Would love it if their after dinner drinks extended past vermouth into port and possibly pernod? Also a lot of popular places, and I get it - they can command it - seem to have their wine list starting in the less than liberal @ $40 range (i.e., $38). Surely a nice establishment can have a few " house wines" on tap for $22-30 a bottle so a person can feel like their "splurging" to buy more than 1 bottle (there are alcoholics amongst us after all!). That off my chest - what great food! My companion treated me to the house fries that were divine (complete with homeade ketchup and a fried egg on top - yum!); the deviled eggs that come with candied pieces of bacon/pork belly (decadent and delish) and the Federal version of chicken mcnuggets - if not for the prices, McDonalds would be in serious trouble! Lastly we had the mussels which appeared as if each and every dainty shell was bedecked with another piece of flavored chorizo/heavenly pork fat in all its crunchy sublime delight and a sliver of garlic - the pool of food liquor that gathered in the bowl simply commanded us to wipe it up with more bread - and we did - smiling with every bite. If I could, I would eat here every night. Just an update after partaking of their Spice Menu - wow does this place ever stop pushing the culinary bar towards fantastic?! That biscuit - morsels of moistness meant for the Gods; the Brussel Sprouts would make any child reject ice cream sundaes and 3 layered chocolate cake in favor of veggies and a mac and cheese that means business! My companion and I each had the fried chicken which was more buffalo style and not my first choice but still tasty as only the Federal can do. Service is also always so on point; you never have to ask for a refill and yet they are never "in your face." This place does Miami proud!!

    (5)

  • Francesca M.

    I was looking forward to eating at the Federal for a while. I saw them listed on Miami Spice so I wanted to check it out. The food was very mediocre, the servings are a joke and the service was subpar. I had the mint julep drink and it was terrible, it literally came from a juice machine and they just pour in wine. Overpriced and not worth it. I won't be coming back here for dinner.

    (1)

  • Carolina R.

    My husband and I went for brunch, and we didn't have a reservation, and even though they were packed we were attended in a timely matter. The cookies n cream French toast is to die for. Misty was our server and she was Excellent with a capital E. Thank you Misty for great service and friendly vibe.

    (5)

  • Lauren T.

    My only complaint about this place is the location. A bum was knocking on our window of the car, to ask for money. But for $25 AYCD and $25 for two appetizers, two entrees and desert to share. Come with a big appetite and friends who aren't picky eaters. The decor is very home-y, the staff is very friendly, and the food is so fresh and so Devine. Everything looks great! Everything was clean-your-plate good. Small menu, big food.

    (5)

  • Kristi V.

    My boyfriend and I have read countless reviews about this place and after seeing a gilt city.com deal for dinner we decided hey why not! The deal was for 4 plates, to share, and bottomless drinks. For a random little date night it seemed too good to be true. We show up and get seated immediately which was the only positive part of the night. After waiting for 10-15 minutes the waitress finally comes to the table, gives us two wine glasses and tells us that our first meal will arrive shortly and then disappears. Did not give us her name or say more than 25 words to us the entire night. Even if we had the gilt city deal she should have given us a menu....we most likely would have ordered an appetizer or something from it. The first "meal" comes and it literally was the size of my hand...after four of these we were starving. The only thing to look forward to was the bottomless drinks which in turn ended up being a massive let down with our glasses being refilled only three times each. We were lucky if she even passed by to fill our water glasses. After pretty much sitting there, since that's what it feels like we went there to do, we decided that we would drive all the way to the beach just for dessert because we preferred to give business elsewhere. We asked for the check (which was only supposed to be tax and gratuity, $20 max), we get a bill for almost $50 with a large party fee.....large party? My boyfriend and I are tall and skinny people, I don't believe we would be considered "large" or a party of 6....after we told the waitress that there must be a mistake because after having such a wonderfullllllll experience this bill had to be wrong, she got upset and said "don't worry about it I'll pay for it with my own money" in a very rude manner. I don't know if it was because we are young and they expected us to give them a bad tip but my boyfriend and I are very good tippers and always eat at the best places. If we can afford it then we do it. Didn't know that because we bought an online deal that we would be treated so poorly. Rather go to Zuma and pay $300 for dinner than come eat at this place ever again. Definitely not recommending it to friends and family.

    (1)

  • Hilton G.

    The food was horrible. There is only hype here. From the steak that came with more fat than steak, to the frittata which smelled more like undercooked greasy egg. Bad bad bad. The place is nice, music is good, but that is not the main dish.

    (1)

  • Laura S.

    Had brunch on a Sunday. Unlimited mimosas, and they refill your glass as soon as you take your last sip. Duck of jar is a must! IT is so rich in flavor. The banana fosters french toast was delicious. The Federal is great restaurant!

    (5)

  • Tommaso M.

    Great dinner! New winter menu with lot of gourmet choices. I loved the lamb and the calamari. Nice service. Will return for brunch!

    (5)

  • Nicole R.

    Second time at the federal and Misty was awesome! The food amazing crab hash and Brussels sprouts yummmmm it's our weekend brunch spot $16 bottomless mimosas can't bet that!!! Love this spot Thanks everyone

    (5)

  • Aline C.

    Me and a friend decided to try the chef's tasting menu. It was good.. but not wow good. The dishes we tried were the mac and cheese, brussel sprouts, pig wing, jar o duck (meh), biscuit, fried chicken, key lime.. and one more pork dish I can't remember the name. By the time we got to the key lime pie I could not put anything else in my mouth. Oh boy, I so wished we had started with desert because it was delicious! My favorites were the fried chicken, the pig wing and key lime pie. I didn't care for the rest of the dishes. It was a lot of food for us, we only had a small taste of the last 3 dishes. The service was excellent, everyone very nice and attentive. I will go back and choose my own food next time. Oh and my cocktail was very good! It was a suggestion of the waiter, so I can't remember the name but I know it had ginger in it, refreshing.

    (4)

  • Michelle C.

    This place is pretty amazing! The food was delicious! On the special menu for st Patricks day, I had the green eggs and ham. Basically is was a croque Madame, with some greens on it! But none the less it was on point! The beer, the service, the atmosphere was great. My only complaint was the portion. There is nothing better than large portions after a night of drinking, and I just didn't get it. My boyfriend had the chicken and waffles, which of course was awesome as well. The portion just wasn't enough for his appetite! Will go back though!

    (4)

  • David P.

    Reserved here for a friends birthday and the whole time we were there it was like they were rushing our group of 15 out the door and we had to continuously ask for our mimosas to be refilled. One of our people didn't even get her food till everyone finished and it was an item like that which people had ordered in our group. Wasn't impressed. Not sure if I would recommend this to others with this experience.

    (2)

  • Brittney B.

    Decided to plan a ladies brunch here (party of 10) and it was a delicious success! Bottomless mimosas really never kept us waiting for a refill (bringing us more drinks even as we were closing our tabs) and complimentary snacks were varied and delicious (bean dip with chips and assorted pastries). Menu items are meant to be shared, which allows you try a variety of offerings. Favorites: lobster & biscuit, waffle with pork, and a sweeter waffle pairing that involved Nutella and/or chocolate & banana. Overall a tasty morning though we were left to figure out who ordered what once the food started coming out. Could've been helpful to plate separate items that were ordered on far ends of the table so we didn't have to divide it ourselves as each dish was brought out. Wouldn't have been an issue with a smaller party, but just an observation if you're thinking of planning a big group outing here. I would come back again :)

    (4)

  • russell k.

    Food was ok at best. The prices are obscene- expensive even for the beach, NYC or trendy LA. They measure your 1/2 carafe of wine like the airport bar, even though they are charging you a crazy premium. The place that was at this location (canellas ) before the food was just as good, the service was bad but equal to this and at least when you left you didn't feel like you were pick pocketed. If you are looking for pseudo trend, look no further. This place will be empty and gone in not too long as people will start to realize they are selling the emperors not so new clothes, and at Neiman Marcus prices. I would give the food 3 stars out of 5, limited drink menu and prices equal a 2, service with an attitude maybe a 1.5 so I feel like I am a bit generous with a 2 stars, there are for sure worse places in miami for sure- has the makings for a good place just overpriced and trying to be trendy

    (2)

  • Paul W.

    I came here on a recent Sunday for brunch; Pulling into the parking lot in front of this restaurant, one will notice right away that parking options here are limited. Most spaces on this small lot are marked as being reserved for patrons of other businesses in this building, the lot next door is marked for patrons of that particular plaza and warn that violators will be towed (though every store in that plaza next door is closed on Sundays). There is a valet available for $3, but personally I try and avoid valet when possible. It's not that I mind paying for it, but I'd rather be able to walk to my vehicle and leave when I'm ready, vs. waiting for 10 minutes or more for someone to fetch it for me. I'm told there is a lot in back that is used for both the valets and also for patrons to self-park if they wish to. There is seating available both inside and on the patio area out front. Inside, this place is a bit rustic, and it reminds me of one of my favorite cafe/restaurants that I used to visit often in Alaska: The cabinets along the back wall all have different old knobs on the doors and drawers, the wall length mirror on one wall has wooden shakes around it, as does the front of the bar on the other side of the dining area. There are stuffed and mounted deer and "jackelope" heads on the walls, giving this place a even more of a rustic feel. As was the case on the other visit I've made to this restaurant, we had a "pre-fixe" brunch menu that was arranged beforehand. We were able to go to The Federal's website, find the listing for this event and reserve a spot to attend, and pre-pay the $20 price + $3 tip via Pay Pal. Unlimited mimosas were available for $16. The meal was served family style, and included their Grits & 'Schrooms, Graceland's French Toast, Pumpkin Flapjack, Cheese Biskit and their Jar-O-Duck. They also served a few different items for desert. Everything was very good, I left here full and satisfied but not stuffed, which is a good thing, and after having been here for brunch on a few occasions, I definitely plan to return here for lunch or dinner sometime soon, as I'd like to try some of the offerings on their regular menu. That being said, as other reviewers have mentioned, their menu does appear to be a bit limited, and I hope the taste and quality of the food will be worthy of the prices listed.

    (3)

  • Roy R.

    On a recent unplanned trip to Miami, my girlfriend suggested we stop here because it was on her list and had heard they had the best biscuits in America. Everything we ordered was incredible! From the Deviled Eggs to the Fried Chicken to the Jambalaya. The biscuits were like nothing I'd ever eaten! I wanted to order a six pack of them to take home. Dessert was equally delicious. I would highly recommend The Federal. They put a unique twist on southern comfort food that just can't be beat!

    (5)

  • Dianna R.

    It's just ok. The ambiance is nice, music is not too loud which is great. But, food coming out is very slow. Granted, it's tapa/family style but on a Tuesday night it was just slow. The chicken was good. The pork shank is pretty big. The tomato salad was fresh. The biscuit was yummy. The bread pudding tastes like a Krispy Kreme donut! Not sure if I'd go back...def not for dinner.

    (3)

  • Matthew T.

    The Federal has some of the best tasting food I've ever eaten. It is, admittedly, a bit pricey. Nevertheless, the food is delectable and truly unique, and the service is great, so it's worth the price. Service is extremely down-to-Earth and affable, yet highly professional, as evidenced by their attention to details; extensive knowledge of their menu items; and ability to clearly communicate how their fresh, high-quality ingredients are craft-fully fused to create awe-inspiring culinary creations.. I had the beef brisket, which, if I recall correctly had been cooking in the odor smoker for over four hours prior. It was one of the most intense, richest, and most delectable flavors I've ever savored. The so-called "Booze Fairy" makes some of the best sangria I've ever had. One MUST, ABSOLUTELY MUST order the biscuit! It will blow your mind! Awesome!

    (5)

  • Luis E.

    "What a lovely room of death" My friend recommended The Federal to host my wife's Birthday brunch... and so we made a reservation for 9. I smiled when I walked into this lovely room of death... and with that I refer to all the stuffed animals on the wall... it all felt so Federal? The service is top-notch, the place gets packed.. so its good to reserve. 1 Mimosa for $9.99 or unlimited Mimosas for $19.99... I will let you do the math. The brunch menu is excellent and you will probably eat way more than you should... but.. that's why we brunch, isn't it? Anyway, who even bothers counting calories? All the appetizers were excellent... everyone was in love with Jar o' duck.. but it wasn't really my favorite. You get to pick 2 main dishes, and to be frank.. they are all excellent. I think the menu is meant to be shared so be smart... order different stuff and do share... because sharing is caring? I gotta come back for lunch/dinner... I didnt get the chance to try whatever it is they cook in that beautiful grill outside. Oh... its not cheap.. specially considering the location. But with that food and service... its worth the money.

    (5)

  • Candy D.

    We were really excited to try this place. The stars are based solely on the food. We didn't have a reservation and on Thursday night it was busy. We had to wait about 20 minutes but the hostess was able to get us a seat. Our waiter was also very friendly and seemed to love working there. To be honest all the workers just seems friendly and helpful. We went to The Federal for the buffalo wing. That was good but the blue cheese mousse that came with it is something I would buy if they sold it. The taste and texture is something I still remember. The best thing I tasted all night there. I would slather that stuff on everything: an everything bagel, sub it in any sandwich/burger, have it on a cheese platter as a it's own dip to have with fruit and crackers. Loved the stuff. We also had the duck confit which did taste like a thanksgiving dinner if you put all the the fixins on the bread. But why muddle up the time, deliciousness, and effort of confit duck with super sweet ingredients, stuffing, etc etc etc. We couldn't even finish it. We also got the clam dish. Unfortunately, the clams were over done. The only good thing about eating that was finding the nuggets of chorizo in the broth. The broth was not very good or well seasoned either. The last dish we got was the mushroom pasta. It definitely needed some salt, and I am not the kind of person that wants a lot of salt in any of my food. The pasta just lacked a little bit of flavor. Overall the environment was nice and friendly and definitely a place I would have wanted to revisit. But I do not see that happening again considering how much we spent, and how disappointed we were with the food. I'll definitely come back to buy the smear though if they ever sell it!

    (2)

  • Melissa W.

    3.5 Stars - Brunch Very good food, typical Miami service. We made a reservation for 9 people on a Saturday morning right after they opened for brunch and we were seated immediately. The menu was explained to us that it was for sharing. This menu is for sharing for maybe 2 people maximum, but unless you order multiples of each dish, they are WAY too small to be shared in a group. Most of us stuck to our two options and were quite satisfied. I had the crab toast which was supposed to be on brioche. They were out so it was on a waffle. This didn't seem to change much, if anything. The second dish, I forget the name but it involved a poached egg, biscuit, and a very small amount of lobster. Both very tasty. At the end, everyone gets to share "dessert' which is cookies and cream french toast. This felt like a total throwaway dish. It was okay. I'm not 100% sure if I'd come back for dinner.

    (3)

  • Kati E.

    Ehhhh.... Not impressed after watching best restaurant... Same problem as on the show. We made our full order and Everything came out at once. ....for a minute I thought I was getting attacked by food.... Pigwing was room temperature, wish it were right of the grill.. Sammich was delicious after we had it reheated since it was on our table forever... More then 20 minutes .. Again. Everyone was super nice and friendly but I wish service was a bit better. Would still come back 7 more time though...

    (4)

  • Amber L.

    HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND EFFORT. My partner and I showed up and were told we would be seated outside, since inside was fully reserved. There were 2 tables available outside at the time (4 top tables), prior, other patrons who had 2 in their party, were seated at 4 top tables. Yet WE WERE TREATED DIFFERENTLY and made to sit at an excruciatingly hot 2 top table, in direct sunlight, on a 95 + degree day. On top of that, the hostess was rude, and was completely disinterested in addressing the problem. I have never had such an awful restaurant experience. NEVER AGAIN.

    (1)

  • Justen B.

    When we arrived it was a nice little restaurant nestled in a little less touristy part of town. Our server Everett was excellent, he explained the items they are known for how the meal is prepared and how specifically you should eat their signature dishes. We started with the buffalo style pig wing & the biskit. They were both phenomenal. The honey flavor and freshness of the biscuit and the excellent flavor on the pig wing. For dinner I had the smoked chicken and my wife got the duck confit. Both meals were cooked to perfection and would definitely get them again. We we're stuffed but Everett came over and explained the deserts and the less heavy deserts. We decided on the Banana Foster Foie Gras and man did we choose right! The banana was perfect the marshmallow and chocolate made it just right and not super filling. Next time we're back in Miami we will have to stop by again.

    (5)

  • R S.

    Finally made it here for dinner. We had been for brunch. Brunch is good but it gets so packed you can carry a conversation. Dinner. Is. Great! The octopus, the crab dish, jar O duck.....oh so delicious! But you know we had to try the bizkit! Yep, best goddam biscuit ever! Will be back very soon.

    (5)

  • Rahul P.

    I was in Miami for work and a co-worker took me here. We arrived there for dinner to find a couple of TVs prop'd up at the bar. The hostess proceeded to explain that the chef and the restaurant had been part of a competition and the episode was being aired that night. As a special for the night, the chef could also cook the same dishes he cooked for the competition as 4 course meal in addition to their regular menu. The food was delicious, and the service was prompt. I would recommend stoping by this place.

    (4)

  • Jennifer R.

    My boyfriend and I decided to check out Crawdaddy Wednesday. We started with the deviled eggs which was delicious. Next, we shares three pounds of the crawfish boil ($45). I have never been to New Orleans but hope to one day. I have nothing to compare the crawfish boil to, but it was delicious and spicy. The corn was sweet, the potatoes cooked perfectly, the sausage was delicious and we loved the crawfish. We ended our night with the crispy cream bread pudding which was covered in maple bacon glaze. it was crazy delicious. The perfect way to end the night. The beer was a little steep in price. We will be back for the crawfish boil. Epic

    (5)

  • Andressa C.

    Food was great but definitely overpriced for the portion that we get. Don't get me wrong I am not expecting a crazy size, but for the price, I think some items could definitely be improved. We started with the Biskit 'n gravy (12) which was really good, the bad thing I could barely get 2 bites of biscuit from the serving as it was tiny. So we ordered the jumbo biscuit (6 for 1), which as everyone raves is delicious. we then moved to the Jar o'Duck (12), which was also on point, the downside of this was the small portion of bread that came with, when we asked for extra of course it was and extra $1 :(. The duck was so good however so we did not mind. I think that if they are going to serve the amount of spread they did they should either 1) serve extra bread 2) increase the base price or 3) just serve less of it. I don't like it when restaurants charge extra for small things, i just rather pay extra upfront... just saying. Last me and my fiance shared the Wings 'n Waffle (20) which was crazy good, would definitely have it again, the pork shanks were super savory with a perfect crunchy outside. Another thing is that the service was really slow, I did go on a Sunday but they were not super "busy" and i would think they would be prepare for a crowd that day? I waited for 13 minutes for my coffee refill, and 15 minutes for our extra bread. Also what annoyed me was that while they have unlimited refills on coffee (5) since I asked to add ice to my coffee, they told me that there were no refills for the iced coffee... really? what is the difference between hot coffee and cold coffee outside of ice cubes? is that what I am getting an up charge for?. Regardless of that I still got charge the "unlimited coffee" price. tisk tisk. So while the food was great it was just the experience (or lack thereof) that took stars away from these place, when restaurants up charge for everything it really takes away from me enjoying my food. I am glad I was able to try their food but there is plenty of other places for brunch with great customer service that I will rather go for Sunday brunch... cheers.

    (3)

  • Gaby B.

    The first and only time I've been to The Federal was for brunch. On the morning I went they had a menu for 25$ which included a bread basket,two dips with chips, your choice of two plates, and a french toast with Oreos as desert. There was also plates such as deviled eggs and bacon or hash browns you could order for a few extra bucks. I wasn't a fan of the bread basket, the only thing I ate from it (naturally) would be the chocolate croissant. If the whole basket would've been filled with those, I would've definitely been a fan. The dips that came after the bread basket were a black bean, and the other, I believe a smoked fish dip? These were both very good. I ordered the pulled pork deviled eggs with horseradish, but i did not like them at all! I don't think the horseradish went well with the pork (and I am a wasabi lover). I only ate 1 of the 6. As my main plates I ordered nachos & crab toast. The nachos were my favorite, although the crab toast was good I felt like it was a little heavy on the mayo. The french toast as a desert was good. All in all, I liked the concept of being able to try the different plates for 25$. However, I would like the option to just order the 1 single dish that I really like because the portions were pretty small. Even with all the food we got we still ordered a side of bacon because we were still hungry. The side of bacon we got is not like your usual bacon, it is thick cut, and reminded me of a pork chop. It was really good. Service was really good and the restaurant was decorated really cute. My favorite thing about my brunch was the 20$ unlimited mimosas, they also had an option which was 25$ and you can mix it up and order bloody marrys, beer, mojitos, or mimosas. I will be back for lunch or dinner and update my review :)

    (3)

  • Michael K.

    Somebody needs to bring reason to these glowing reviews. Looks like it has to be me. We were in Wynwood for the monthly art walk and wanted to try a nearby Miami Spice restaurant. Let's just say its promise was greater than its delivery. A mix of experimental and safe cuisine all somehow ruined. Duck in a Jar sounds brilliant and put together inventfully, but what amounted to, what I can only imagine was, a heavily salted purée of an entire duck smashed into a shot glass and served with marshmallow ala smore's, over-seasoned sweet potato and a crustini was the best thing we found on this tasters menu. The rest were similar but less inspired failures. Service was well-intentioned but equal parts chaotic and bungled. We received our dishes tapas style. An entrée coming before two or three appetizers, desert served 30 minutes after being told it would be right out...Oh well. Avoid.

    (1)

  • Angela G.

    I was really hopeful about The Fed, but was seriously letdown. Not many vegetarian options, unless you're cool with eating stale biscuits with a variety of spreads for brunch. It's pretty costly considering the quality (or lack thereof). Check the menu before committing to this place.

    (1)

  • Nayra S.

    Why have I not gone to this place before? It's not a only a comfortable setting, but the food is SOOOO GOOOD! Very home grown and pleasing to the palate. I love going to restaurants and feeling like I'm not even in Miami. Between the decor and the food, I'll definitely be coming back! I'm not going to sit here and write an epic description like other Yelpers, so here's the deal: -Go for Brunch -Have the Bloody Maria (your mouth will thank you) -The Biscuit is beyond good (be careful it can be orgasmic) -Ask the server (Adam is the BOMB!) what he recommends and get it

    (5)

  • William E.

    I had been following this place prior to opening for some time. I loved the layout, and the food porn photo shoots on their facebook page were oh so tantalizing. Of course this also meant high expectations. The verdict? The came through stunningly. The one down side was that service was a bit slow, but we were told that a busser and a waiter had not been able to come in. Given that they were packed and understaffed, they managed to keep things tolerable. On to the food. We decided to open with some apps and see where the menu lead us. My wife is not a big meat eater and the main courses are definitely heavy on the carnivorous fare. We started with the mussels and the wild boar sausage. Both were absolutely delicious. Lots of flavor but subtle and delicately done. You'll definitely want more bread to sop up the mussel stock yumminess. We then ventured further along the appetizer menu with Jar o Duck and the pig wings. Wow! The duck was absolutely perfect; such a nice combo of sweet and savory. The pig wings were ok. Such a delicious piece of meat, somewhat cheapened by the all too familiar vinegary flavors of buffalo sauce. And that was it. We were stuffed. The wine list very solid. The atmosphere does well to hide you from the fact that you're in a strip mall along Biscayne Blvd. Overall, it was a real pleasure to venture out and find this place. Definitely worth a visit.

    (4)

  • James S.

    Food is excellent. Service sucks. They missed an entree order completely. They then tried to charge me for it. Completely unprofessional. Needs a lot of help in the front of the restaurant. Kitchen is amazing.

    (2)

  • Jonny E.

    We went for Sunday brunch. We were very excited to try it as we'd heard good reviews. Unfortunately, it was not what we thought it would be. We were seated promptly at 1pm, at the time of our reservation. However, it took a good 10-15 minutes just to be greeted by a waiter. It appeared that only one guy was manning the entire outdoor patio area. If you're going to advertise brunch on Sunday, you need to have the servers to do it right! We tried the Green Eggs and Ham, The Oreo French Toast, and the Biscuits and Gravy. The Green Eggs and Ham was bland with very little spice or taste. It was 2 poached eggs on top of a dry biscuit with some green bland sauce on top. The Oreo French Toast was some dry bread with some oreo crumbs and whip cream, even the syrup tasted funny. Finally, the Biscuits and Gravy, which was supposed to have chorrizo was again just poached eggs on top of dry biscuits with maybe a teaspoon of small chorrizo pieces. We barely ate any of it. We didn't want to leave hungry so we decided to order the chicken nuggets thinking they HAVE TO BE GOOD! Of course they weren't. They were little pieces of bland chicken. Chic-Fil-A nuggets are better! Sadly, with the poor service and below average food there's no reason to go back to this place.

    (2)

  • vanessa l.

    Cool decor, good service, food is okay. Several of the dishes sound interesting, but I didn't feel like there was a ton of variety on the menu. I went with a few people so we were able to sample a few things. Of what we tried, I recommend the biscuit (like a biscuit is ever bad), crawfish & grits, and deviled eggs. Their famous fried chicken seemed like a lot of breading without much meat. I've had much better at other places. It's a good spot for a quiet dinner, though, and not too pricey.

    (3)

  • Andrew H.

    Went here for brunch with my friends family. Our waiter was friendly enough but a little inattentive given there was hardly anyone in there. That said, I thought the food was unbelievably good and generously portioned. It's a little pricey but I think it's worth it. Despite being located in what is basically a strip-mall, this place has a great rustic feel inside, with good lighting. I'm going back to this one.

    (5)

  • Courtney N.

    Food was very good with some nice out of the box dishes. The server kept the unlimited mimosas flowing and was a real expert at making them lol. Great brunch spot.

    (4)

  • Jeremy M.

    Underwhelming and uninspired. 2 items were good and 2 items were bland at best. Your money is better spent other places in Miami.

    (3)

  • Ashley Y.

    Food was ok, nothing special or unique. We had a brunch reservation for 12:30 and we never received a seat. My husband and I happen to grab 2 seats at the bar when 2 guys left at 1:40, then the host came up and said our table was paying their bill! We might visit again but will not wait for 1 hour for a table. Service was just ok.

    (3)

  • Dennis M.

    Interesting experimental menu. Food was OK. Turnoffs: Valet in a strip mall. Completely unnecessary. FREE parking behind the place. Watch your drink prices. Computer "glitches" supposedly responsible for prices changing when you get your bill. Of course, the change is an increase.

    (2)

  • JoAnna L.

    This is one of those restaurants that I will return to even after Miami Spice. My husband and I went for the spice menu and to FINALLY try out the popular restaurant not to far from where we live. We were not disappointed. For apps we had Brussels sprouts, deviled eggs, coleslaw, and southwest Mac and cheese. My favorite was the deviled eggs, they were amazing! From now on when I make them at home I will always add horseradish. My least favorite was the Mac and cheese, which was actually my husband's favorite. But I am picky when it comes to eating carbs, if it doesn't blow my mind then I'm not a fan (why eat something that's going to make you fat?). For entrees we had the brisket and seafood stew. The brisket was delicious, but such a small portion compared to the abundance of the delicious seafood stew! It had a large scallop, half a lobster, and several mussels, clams and shrimp. I was in seafood heaven! For dessert we had Oreo bread pudding. Meh, again the carb thing. My husband happily enjoyed both of our desserts. Service was excellent and extra kudos to our waitress who didn't give us the sad face when we ordered off the spice menu :-)

    (4)

  • Kendall B.

    Love love love the down home comfort food. Ambiance is great. Staff is super friendly. Brunch is off da chain!

    (5)

  • Eric E.

    This food is comfortable and delicious. It's a somewhat eclectic menu for the pedestrian eater. I highly recommend the cheddar biscuit and federal steak. It was prepared exactly to my liking (extra rare). I stuck to a delightful red Sean Minoir 2009 from Napa. It was great. The service at the bar (I was eating alone) was lovely. N.B. I returned a second time and was overwhelmed by the wonderful staff and delightful food. The beer menu is up and running. It's not as wide as I had expected, but they have some great brews at great prices. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

    (5)

  • David G.

    I just recently went here for dinner... Heard great things about the brunch but still have never been. So this review is strictly based on my dinner experience. There were 3 of us and the other 2 were set on doing Miami spice. I wasn't really thrilled about the spice menu so I wanted to order off the menu. Well this is a No No... In order to do Spice, everyone in the party must do spice. I found this to be ridiculous. But I was outnumbered so I agreed to do it as well. So the food was coming out a good pace. Nothing crazy. We started off with deviled eggs. You only get 1 each. Next course was a tomato salad. Nothing fancy. Next was 3 thin slices of pineapple with a 2 small pieces of pork on each slice. Again nothing fancy. After that they brought us grits which was actually pretty good. Except they added tomatoes in it which I thought didn't go well and especially since you have a tomato salad in one of the courses. Here is where I go my very upset. Now keep in mind everything so far was very small portions. So this next was supposed to be the main course. We decided to get the fried chicken. Now I hope I can get this point across. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture and I really wish I did because I wouldn't have to explain this part. Well everyone gets 1 piece of chicken. So they brought out the plate and at first I thought they forgot about the 3rd piece. Meanwhile, the 2 we saw were TINY!!! And for a main course I was shocked. Then we preceded to nice to 2 and found the 3rd that I am not even joking when I say it was the size of a chicken wing!!! I was very upset so I asked the waiter why would they bring a piece this small when it is supposed to be a main course... He explained to me that not all pie da of chicken were the same!!! Thanks for letting me know this. I thought they were!!!!!!!! No, my point was why in the world would we get served this??? Any other restaurant chef in my opinion would never send a plate out like that. But he did. So instead of explaining to me makeup of chickens, just go get a comparable size piece of chicken and call it a day. He didn't and the people I was with just wanted to go. Needless to say I will never be back. Even if the brunch is as good as u heard...

    (1)

  • Michael B.

    I checked out The Federal when visiting my former University as I am an alumnus of the U. I went for brunch on a Sunday and my experience was amazing. I can definitely see why there is so much hype behind The Federal. First they have endless mimosas, which is a great deal for only $19. I had the Waffle and Plantaines. The spicy vanilla whipped cream went perfectly with the dulce de leche and the maple syrup. Unfortunately I don't live in Miami anymore, but I highly recommend to anyone in the area.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth R.

    THAT'S THE WAY YOU DO IT. Miami Spice, that is. We rushed to the Federal on Day 1 of Miami Spice after reading about it here tinyurl.com/pqvwykq and I'm so glad we did. We tried a bunch of dishes we wouldn't ordinarily have ordered and we loved every bit of it. We also enjoyed some great wine, real hospitality, and the cozy atmosphere. It was love at first bite when I popped the BBQ deviled egg in my mouth- a perfectly spicy, smokey, creamy little flavor bomb. And the courses kept coming. Each one was carefully engineered for maximum deliciousness. I kept reading the descriptions and thinking, "Oh, no, that's too much," and then sighing like Goldilocks, "That's just right," after tasting. Take the Peaches & Straciatella appetizer, for example. I was thinking, "This is going to be way too heavy and sweet for 2nd course. What is this- a dessert..." And then I had to stop talking because my mouth was full of unbelievably fresh summer peach and creamy artisanal cheese and crunchy grilled bread. It literally left me speechless. Don't know why it works, and frankly, I don't care. I just know it was perfect. For a main course, we had the Daily Meat Special, New York Strip with Bourbon Dijon Sauce- a very simple, classic dish. It was served family style, sliced on a platter for 2 with the the sauce poured over. The only way to do this dish is if you start with a perfect cut of meat, grill it to exactly medium rare, rest it just right, and serve it up right away with the made-to-order sauce. It was executed perfectly. Have to hand it to the team at the Federal. They designed an ambitious Spice menu that includes 4 small plates, one shared main dish, and a shared dessert. It's clever, original, and impressively executed. We tried it with a very reasonably priced Pinot Noir from Oregon's Willamette Valley, and had an absolutely fantastic meal. We'll be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Wendy S.

    So we came here after hearing a few buzzes about this place . First impression- we went inside and waited as servers busily waited their tables and glanced at us but no one actually acknowledged our presence ( this should have been our queue to leave )however we made ourselves over to the bar and asked the bartender if we needed to seat ourselves . He signaled for a girl in the corner who was more interested in her food than doing her job ( later found out she was the hostess of some sorts ) If you stumble upon this place , please do not order the Sangria as it tastes like rotten oranges , food took forever to come out and was average nothing to rave about. Best part was our server

    (3)

  • Claudia L.

    The biscuit was delicious very dense but tasty buttery and sweet. I had the brisket and eggs it was cooked just right. Will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.

    (4)

  • Kara T.

    If you're unfortunate enough to find yourself stuck here, get the avocado tostada and be done with it. It doesn't break any culinary bounds, but it has heaps of avocado and it's hard to go wrong with that. The deviled eggs looked appetizing, but were lacking in taste and texture. Mushy. We didn't finish them. The breakfast nachos were pretty basic. If you want cheesy chips as your brunch dish, this is for you. My friend's report on the Sammich was that it was very dry. The salmon appetizer- we actually couldn't even eat because it was so fishy... And the corn cake was so dry. The culinary experience was weak overall... so you might think the $19 mimosas could make up for it... After the hostess forgot to add us to the list and proceeded to seat several tables of people who had been waiting far less time, we were seated after 45 frustrating and unnecessary minutes to be told that they were out of champagne. (My friend told the waitress it's the third time she's come and they have been out of champagne.) They were substituting rosé, which is not delicious. Then, they ALSO ran out that. What about the IPA? Keg kicked. So, my friend got a Bloody Mary. I tried to order a gin and tonic only to find out that they don't have a liquor license.... Which means there's not actually vodka in the Bloody Mary. It was the pits.

    (1)

  • Damian D.

    Since my first review I've been to The Federal now at least 20 times. They are such nice people I just felt horrible to leave a 3 star review so I had to go back. So glad I did. The kitchen likes to stretch a bit so of course there will be fails, but that comes with the territory. Just go with it. I've had their BBQ menu (meh) the summer crawfish menu (very good) a beer pairing dinner for Oktoberfest (excellent) brunch (still don't like it) and of course regular dinner menu (very good). Through it all, the service has been very good by any standards, and superb by Miami standards. Especially when Ani is physically overseeing what goes on. There's a certain warmth that only a charming owner can imbue. Tip: parking is easiest at night when the small shopping center next door is closed.

    (4)

  • Katherine D.

    We came here because it was on Bravo. Portions aren't that large here but the food is very rich so they don't have to be. My friend and I split the Ceez's smokey fried chicken which was finger licking good! The meat was so soft and the skin was delicious. It was great to cut off pieces and cover them with the puréed sweet potato! We also had the Wild Mushroom noodles that have corn, a creamy cheese sauce with herbs, and oyster mushrooms. Again, this was very rich but had a lot of different flavors like the smokey mushroom. Noodles were thick which worked well with the sauce and I ate all the sauce that was leftover by itself. For dessert he got a banana dish with fluff and cooked fruit on it. Decor was interesting made me feel like I was in a cozy country steakhouse or somewhere after a long day of skiing. I didn't feel like I was in Miami at all which was interesting. They have outdoor seating as well which looks like any other outdoor area. We had a good experience and while the entrees aren't inexpensive, I understand why they cost what they do because they take the time to incorporate so many interesting ingredients.

    (5)

  • Sarah C.

    This is the first time I've ever written a review WHILE in the middle of eating the meal. I don't know why either, given the amount of solo travel I've been doing for work. Maybe because typing on an iPhone is annoying? Anyways. Couldn't leave Miami without trying this newish place that's gotten lots of attention from both Eater and Bravo. Popped over right at 6pm when they opened and got one of the few available spots in the lot right in front. Niiiiice. They do have outdoors seating; they do not have anywhere to wait for a table indoors. They also got rid of their bar seating which really stinks. I wonder why they did that. It makes me sad. They seemed pretty disheveled when I arrived. I went in to use the bathroom and servers were getting yelled at to put things away, and the host had just realized he'd forgotten to switch out the lunch menus for dinner. He was very nice though. One weird thing - he kept telling everyone what table number he had them seated at, like we were supposed to know what it meant. Maybe he's new? I got a table along the windows and was promptly greeted by a super happy and friendly server. He had a very rehearsed shpiel about the restaurant and what they offered which I heard him repeat to a number of tables, but it was good information and well performed, so good for him. Since it was just me I couldn't really order a lot, although the whole menu looks amazing. I wish I could come back! I ordered what I knew I would - the biscuit, and the jar o' duck. The server said the latter dish is why he worked here (again, something he repeated to other tables), and I replied by saying anything with fluff on the plate would get ordered by me. The biscuit was really good - it didn't blow me away as it did Tom Colicchio, but it was solid. I think my only complaint was that the top was really the only place where the cider butter vinegar glaze was, and that's also where there were a bunch of little burnt bits, so I didn't prefer that flavor. The jar O' duck was freaking phenomenal. A great size for a small entree for one or an app for two or three to share (they call it an app). There could have been more squash (I ran out while I still had plenty of everything else), but the flavors were incredible. It really did taste like Thanksgiving. I did want to try the pig wing (their "signature" dish), but I couldn't resist the dessert menu. (at this point I put my phone away, ate dessert, and am now finishing writing from my hotel room). There were three dessert items - a deconstructed banana s'mores, a buttermilk panna cotta with strawberries, and a traditional bread pudding which the server pointed out was anything but traditional given that it was made with crispy creme doughnuts. As appealing as that last one sounded, I also thought it might make me feel disgusting, and I had previously said in the evening that I would order anything with fluff on the plate - so, the s'mores it was! I was actually quite skeptical as s'mores are one of my favorite desserts (the combination of the three ingredients, that is) and I was concerned that what they had to offer wouldn't impress. How incredibly unbelievably wrong was I! It was absolutely fantastic. I ate every single last bite, and I'm not ashamed to say so. I can't imagine how good that bread pudding is... So - that's the story. I think it's a fantastic place that I'd love to visit at least a few more times (although I probably won't get the chance), with a tiny bit of room to grow.

    (4)

  • Sabrina S.

    I really loved this place. Cabernet Sauvignon selections were delicious. Smoked Pork Shank and Buffalo Style Pig Wing are a must! AND, our server Justin was amazing.

    (5)

  • Sally R.

    Sunday brunch was delicious! Every dish was nicely cooked and very tasty. Steak and eggs is very good (18$) and the homemade biscuit is to die for. Green eggs and ham is also delicious!! (14$) Bottomless mimosas is a big plus (18$) and they make them so good :) enough champagne in your glass Excellent service from hostess to waiters. We had Teddy and he was very attentive and helpful It was a great experience. This is a great spot for brunch. It may get too busy so calling ahead or making online reservations is a good idea A must try :)

    (5)

  • Ms. C.

    I'm talking about the brunch. First let me say I am a strong supporter of fact that this restaurant derived from a pop up and I love the concept of the food, the presentation and the freshness they have but I must be completely honest when I tell you, my reason for writing this review is that it is really overpriced. Mind you, if the food is good I am the first one who doesn't mind paying a pretty penny for some good eats but "come on," $5 for a biscuit! Albeit a good biscuit but they don't even serve it with jam! I'm sorry but if I am going to pay $5 for a biscuit it better come with some jelly, you know what I'm saying??! IN my experiences I have found that the food has one common flavor throughout. The theme is a play between southern sweet and salty, strong flavors and heavy food but there is no real culinary flair. I would have liked for them to have taken more risks or had more fun with the offerings. Its a really cute place, the decor is country style and so far I've had good experiences with the service staff. All in all its a good outing but its not a place to go eat all the time. That's one of my issues with our city. There are not enough places with good food, good service and fair prices. This is why the Federal scores 2 stars for their brunch. BTW who ever built the benches inside wasn't planning for people to sit in them and the acoustics in there are really bad, if you are planning on a nice relaxed reasonably priced Sunday brunch where you can actually hear your partner, I'd opt to go elsewhere. Cheers!

    (2)

  • Alyssa C.

    Stay away! No one acknowledges your arrival. After 10 mins of waiting for a hostess I went to look for one. She clearly, is in the wrong business. Me and my girlfriends arrived to celebrate a birthday, and left pissed. We had to ask a few times if we could put our name down, or how long the wait was she said an hr. We would of waited by the bar (making the restaurant money) if she didn't clearly tell us to leave. Take advise from the "hostess/manager" and try another brunch. Do not waste your beautiful brunch with such a sour business.

    (1)

  • Taylor P.

    The federal is nothing short of amazing! The brunch was delicious with bottomless mimosas and excellent service. The Bloody Mary was good but packs a spicy punch so make sure you have a glass of water... The crawfish and grits and the breakfast nachos are a must!!! (Not to shadow anything else thought because it all was amazing) and for the price and quality of this food you cannot beat it!

    (5)

  • Fahad A.

    Love the food and the owner is really nice. They work in restaurant. A mixture of comfort food no Mater where your from you'll love it.

    (5)

  • Anna H.

    Great drinks and lovely inventive dishes. Loved the outdoor seating area. Their Krispy Kreme bread pudding is to die for if you like sweet desserts! Will definitely go back!

    (4)

  • Sam H.

    Went here the other week expecting a fun, interesting, good meal...... It was definitely interesting when I received the bill. Food was good, beer selection was good. But was very confused when I looked in the bill and saw that I was charged $2 for my tap water. Our server offered tap/sparkling water at the beginning of the meal like like usual, but never told us we would be charged for it. I'm one of those people that if you try to upsell me a nice bottle of water for $5, I'll buy it. But no one told us we would be charged for out tap water. So when the bill came and I asked about the barge, the server acted like I should have known about it. Not very pleasant. And the other thing that bothered me about it, was there was a table next to us that also got a bottle of tap water but it was split between 6 people. So they charge each person $1 for their tap water and don't tell you about it until the bill comes and you ask about it.

    (2)

  • David D.

    Food was okay. Bottomless mimosas are not really bottomless. Waiter was cool, but the manager not so much. Probably a dozen places around with better food, better prices, and better management.

    (1)

  • Shandi B.

    I had an improtu meal at The Federal... but not being too hungry and not knowing what to order, I hopped on yelp and we decided to split the two most raved about dishes - the Honey Glazed Cheddar Biscuits and Pig Wings. Yes, the biscuits were good. I don't know if something on my tongue is wired differently, but they tasted like Cheez-Its. Not exactly my favorite flavor, but the biscuit itself was fluffy and buttery, and the bit of sweetness from the honey was yummy. And the Pig Wings... what is a pig wing? It's an interesting cut of pork, and really delicious on the outside. I don't know if we got a bad batch, but once we made it past the crunchy, buffalo-y nom nom exterior, the inside tasted like - well, pig. I think the correct culinary term would be "gamey"? I'm not a fan of unseasoned meat, and the pig wing was too thick of a cut to be seasoned just on the outside. I was able to sample a couple of other things floating around the table - the lamb burger was good, as was the cauliflower. I really wanted to try the pineapple upside down cake, but they were out (is this thing a myth or something?). Service was nice, albeit slow... but that could be because we were a larger party. The tap water here is served room temperature, which I found odd. Overall I thought The Federal was ok - I don't think I'd make a trip back unless I could be ASSURED a pineapple upside-down cake.

    (3)

  • Bella S.

    We will keep coming back and back . We love this place , attention , food , incredible neighborhood restaurant

    (5)

  • Mit P.

    Had a meal here with a friend. We had the Bay Scallops with Bacon and mushrooms, the Townhouse Egg Fries, the Short Rib Wellignton Pot Pie, and the Seafood Chowder. What I liked: 1) The Service here is outstanding. Our waitress was really superb - very attentive, very good at explaining the menu, drinks came quickly and kept flowing, and she always there when you needed her. One of the best service experiences. 2) Food is good. It is not wow - I have had similar scallops, and quality of pot pies at many places - and there was nothing special about these recipes - but I could think of many ways to improve them. The food is not the caliber of a Gigi or Pubbelly although the restaurant is at a slightly higher price point than those. 3) Cute unpretentious environment. The place is nice, but not casual like a bistro. You can go here for almost any occasion. 4) Convenient parking. What they could do better: 1) Continue working on the recipes. Nothing we ate was stellar. The pie lacked a gravy base which meant the stuff inside tasted a bit bland with a watery broth. Also the whole pot pie concept was nothing like a Wellington. They should have made it more like a wellington-pie hybrid with a fully encased pastry, with a gravy based broth and some bacon lining.

    (3)

  • Sandra M.

    Last Sunday I went to The Federal for brunch with two of my girlfriends, we took advantage of the $19 dollar endless mimosa deal! The food and service was great. The place is small and very "hip", it has an outside eating area as well. We had brunch inside, it was three of us and we were there for a couple of hours, drinking our mimosas which are conveniently made at the table. We had the steak and eggs which was delicious, the wings and waffles, and to top it all off the pumpkin spiced French toast! The food was perfectly cooked, and very presentable. Make sure to make reservations because this places gets really busy for Sunday brunch. We had a great time and I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Manny F.

    Went for Sunday brunch and it was awesome! Best brunch I've had in a longtime. We had breakfast nachos, green eggs & ham, wing & waffle, the award winning biscuit was to die for. The mimosas kept flowing, my flute was never empty. Finishing it off with the Oreo french toast, omg! Our waitress Brittany was awesome also.

    (5)

  • Eve C.

    I've had the pleasure of dining at The Federal several times now, but have not yet had the opportunity to indulge in the oft-lauded, seldom-available pineapple upside-down cake. I'm reserving that fifth star for when my dreams become reality and that pineapple upside-down cake is mine! But The Federal serves up plenty of other mouth-watering options that are sure to get your tongue a-waggin! For example, the cheese biscuits - a classier version of Red Lobster's cheddar bay biscuits, but more addictive. Awesome, huge biscuits topped with melted cheese, with just a touch of sweetness - these are truly addictive! The "pig wings" are another awesome starter - yes it's pork, and no it's not the end of the world (yet). These "wings" are done buffalo-style so they don't only look like a wing (chicken, that is), they taste like 'em too! Definitely worth ordering whether you're a Federal first-timer or veteran. The beet salad is a nice, light, and refreshing option to off-set some of your caloric intake from the cheese biscuits and pig-wings. Whether you love beets or not, this salad is worth a try! The biscuits and gravy, topped with sweetbreads is another tasty dish. If you like sweetbreads, you'll totally love this dish. If you don't know what sweetbreads are, don't bother looking it up, just come to The Federal and order this - you'll like it (and then won't care). The duck "confee" is the only entree I've tried so far - the duck is cooked perfectly, and accompanied by some greens (arugula, maybe?). As a main dish, it's not too heavy, and is great if you're sharing dishes. I've sampled a few of the desserts - the cobbler was a little too soupy for my tastes, but the cheesecake in a jar topped with berries was simple and delicious. I'm still holding out for that pineapple upside-down cake though. But even more so that the food, what I love about The Federal is that it's the perfect place for a meal, no matter the occasion. Whether you're looking for that "special occasion" place or a casual meal with friends over a bottle (or two) of wine, The Federal fits the bill. There's tons of tables - both inside and out, a free parking lot (!), and probably most importantly - an awesome staff who are eager to make sure you have a great dining experience (and remember you from one visit to the next)! The prices are on point - whether you go the appetizer-entree route, or share some plates with friends, with a drink or two, it'll run you roughly $50 a person (with tip). I know I'll be a frequent customer, whether or not I ever get to try that pineapple upside-down cake!

    (4)

  • Eric N.

    Pretty nice locavore joint in a sea of mediocrity. Took the family here, and had a really nice meal. Kid friendly, clean, very nice staff, and decent prices. Really nice selection, and all of our meals were very good.

    (4)

  • Ana M.

    Went here for brunch. I was going to give it 4 stars but then I realized the best thing about it were the bottomless mimosas, which you can get anywhere pretty much. We had a little bit of everything. The Jar-O-Duck was amazing. That's the one thing that I would go back for. The biscuit was okay. A friend had the flapjack which came with Cinnamon Toast Crunch on it. Yeah, the cereal. Anyway, I had the Buffalo Wings and Waffles. The pig wing was terrific. The waffles not so much. It was kind of crunchy all the way through. Not burned by any means, but just harder than I would expect. I'll definitely keep getting my chicken and waffles fix from Morgan's. The service was great. They kept those mimosas coming, even before brunch officially started, which if you're wondering is 11:30 am. So by brunch, they really just mean lunch.

    (3)

  • Mercedes G.

    I was excited to take my husband to The Federal for Father's Day Brunch. We made reservations for 12:00 noon and were there on time. We were greeted and sat immediately. We sat for 20 minutes before anyone came with menus or to take our drink order. Finally, the waitress came and took our order, which was from a set menu. She left without taking our drink order, again. After about 20 more minutes I had to called her to our table and ask for a menu to order drinks. After about 30 more minutes the food came out, THEN came the appetizers. Yes, we were done with our lunch when the waitress came with our last appetizer! Right before desert my son realized his Side O' Taters never arrived. When we asked the waitress we saw her place the order and we got it with the desert! We tried to make the best of it and we enjoyed having the salty spicy treat with our sweet dessert. Nonetheless, it was a bit annoying, especially becasue I wanted this to be a special brunch for my husband. One thing I must say, all the food was very good ( the only reason they got two stars), especially the crayfish and grits. Drinks? I ordered a frozen watermelon mojito and then saw how they poured it from a pre-made batch, not very impressive. Overall, food was okay, service and drinks were horrible. There are too many excellent restaurants in Miami to risk going to The Federal again.

    (2)

  • Jose E.

    Im still sitting here wondering how a place like this could have such good reviews , ok the food is good but by far... I mean BY FAR THE WORST SERVICE. And when we get our coffe after 20 min is ice cold... They bring the eggs than 10 min later the home fries BAD BAD BAD BAD SERVICE

    (1)

  • Kelly W.

    I had to update my review on this find, I foget how much I love this place. Foodie alert, this is one place you have to visit. The menu is updated reguarly so this is why I always go back. But last night was a rare find. My Friend ordered Seafood Soup, and out comes this vast array of lobster, clams, muscles, shrimp and an amazing broth. I hate we both left our phones at home, or I would post amazing colorful pictures. I chocked on all the options and ordered the steak. out come a most most watering and wonderfully presented 3 piece NY Strip, with the most amazing Onion Rings I have ever had, and a egg (Guys can you back me up here on the good part on Eggs) At first I looked for salt/pepper on the table and was shocked to see none. But I dived in. Now get me here, Salty Onion Rings, perfect soft and succulent steak, perfecty seared onions and the taste just jumps alive in your mouth. Between me stealing bits of the lobster (ummm....Lobster) and her stealing pieces of my steak it was a great night. Umm Lobster!

    (4)

  • Rachel S.

    Don't let the strip mall location throw you off; they are serving some seriously good eats here. Every restaurant in Miami needs to take a lesson in service from the Federal! Efficient, knowledgeable and friendly staff can make or break a meal. 5 stars for service and 5 stars for food! On to the food: Jar O' Duck: Delicious and a must try Biskit: Ditto McNuggets: Ditto Pig Wing: BF had to try this as wings and pigs are two of his most favorite things in the world. He was very, very happy with this unorthodox hybrid. Peaches and Cream salad (or whatever fresh fruit and cheese combo they're using): Amazing Fries: Good Lamb Burger: First time I had it, it was overcooked. (I asked for med-rare.) Needless to say it was dry. On a subsequent visit, I was encouraged to try it again by the super-apologetic staff (not their fault!) and it came out juicy and delicious. Carbonara: Tasty Mac and Cheese: Not my cup of tea...way too spicy for my taste. We had a few other specials over the visits and all were good. I am really looking forward to trying the Thursday Q!!

    (5)

  • Yari B.

    Went for brunch... Crab hash had much less crab than you would expect but potatoes were very good, would not order again. Waffle and pigs was very good. Biskit was a big hit at the table. Brussel sprouts never came :(

    (4)

  • Caro D.

    As only the best of Catholics would, we decided to indulge on Good Friday. (You only live once, right? JK, Jesus lived twice). I would refer you to Camila N's review for a play-by-play, but I will leave you with this: Do NOT miss: The Jar O' Duck (served with burnt Fluff and caramelized sweet potatoes), in fact, go ahead and order two. You'll thank me later. I have had an insatiable craving for all things pate/duck ever since, so you bet I will be showing my face at the Federal again soon. The Butter-Brown Squash side. Oh. My. God. The cheesecake - Rumor has it they use the orignal recipe from the Fountainbleau's heyday. So super yum. Creamy, but not overwhelming, perfectly sweet. Great cap to a great meal.

    (4)

  • Cristina M.

    Ok so the biscuits are delicious! I mean a little piece of heavenly deliciousness! The bus boy came by and gave us some pretty awesome advice that we gladly took. (BTW this said bus boy has the coolest personality and I'd hire him ASAP!) Moving on to his advice - trying something different that you've never had...well that was pretty much the menu but we got the point...everything was tasty! We got the duck pate and yum - note to chef can we get a bit more of the sweet potato?? We also got the lamb appetizer that came right off the bone it was - ever so perfectly cooked! After that we only Ordered three entrees the meat & potatoes which was good, the lamb burger - perfect condiments no ketchup necessary and the sausage dish (which ain't my cup of tea so I didn't try heard it was good). Last but certainly not least the dessert - bread pudding with chocolate chips oh my! We didn't roll out of there by shear miracle cause it's heavy dining! We were 4 and it was plenty of food! Great place to have a feast or just good ol' comfort food!

    (4)

  • Bertha G.

    This was an amazing experience! We were received at the door by Aneise, she is always such a great hostess! This was an early night out with old friends and it worked out perfectly as the food is meant to be shared. We ordered so many things (probably too much) but we were just curious to experience it all! I learned that Pigs to have "Wings" lol the blue cheese mouse the "wings" sat on was heavenly garnished by delicious pickled vegetables. The Jar O Duck was my favorite part of the meal! We shared a buttermilk biscuit with bourbon butter that was heaven, I would love to have that for breakfast with a cup of coffee. My friends shared the BBQ deviled eggs that were really pretty, I don't eat egg. The Crawfish and Grits, BBQ Pork Shank, SW Mac & Cheese and the Brussels Sprouts were all delicious and cooked perfectly. We shared a beautiful bottle of Ramspeck Pinot Noir which was lovely. We planned to skip dessert but Aneise sent out two samplings that we devoured! The flour-less chocolate cookie and the key lime pie were beautiful and delicious!

    (5)

  • Ashley P.

    Horrendous service, and horrible food. Will never ever visit again. 4 strikes you're out Federal.

    (1)

  • Hollis K.

    Refreshingly non-presumptious with wonderful new taste treats.....and reasonably priced too......damn isn't that nice......pork chop with brussel sprouts...awesome.......pig wings.....highest recommend.......lamb burger kills.......fritters fabulous...... all good....highest recommend.

    (5)

  • Gina P.

    I'm going to come right out and say that the place is pricey and the fact that there was no menu online with pricing to be found made me a bit irate when I first sat down and was handed a menu finally revealing what I most dreaded after reading previous posts. But, alas, it's a nice place with good service and good, out of the ordinary food options. We started off with the Biskits. $6 for two biskits but they were pretty freaking big, tasty and definitely filling. The water is served at room temp which I prefer but note in case you like yours ice cold. Ordered up a Pot Pie along with Wild boar sausage for dinner along with a red ale on draft. The beer came way before the food (which took a bit but we were told the pot pie takes 15-20minutes to bake up and we didn't mind. I'm never in a rush when I dine) but along with the biskits. This might not sound like such a bad thing but when you are hungry and you mix yeast with yeast and then wait, well, by the time you start eating you meal you feel too full to appreciate the whole experience. I would highly suggest you ask for your libations to be brought with your meal if you are going in the bread, entree route as we did. Wings or cheese as an app are a whole different ball game of course. The pot pie was a bit smaller than was expected with a $22 price tag but it was good and since we were full from the aforementioned situation, ended up doggy bagging some of it. The sausage was tasty but the best part was the sauce that made its way down the plate and managed to soak up all the fries. The plate comes with whipped potatoes but I have an aversion to mashed/smashed/whipped vegetables and they were kind enough to substitute and I am so glad they did! I might have only given the meal 3 stars had it not been for the deliciousness that occurred from the combo. We, unfortunately, did not have room for dessert. Hoping to head back with a few other people in order to get several items off the menu at once and perhaps have room for dessert. P.S. We went along with our two year and, although it's not a kid type place, we were never made to feel like he was not welcomed. On the contrary, all the servers were attentive and kind.

    (4)

  • Jose H.

    Let me start by saying that I am extremly surpised that this restaurant has a 3 1/2 star rating! It should have at least 4 stars! But on with my review; been here twice already and both times have been great! They put a lovely twist to traditional american food! last time I came with my sister and had the brunch! OMG! Everything was good, from the wings and waffles to the biscuits and gravy to the green eggs and ham, everything! Service is AMAZING!!! Great people and great atmosphere! The decor seems like a half antique shop, half country store! Lovely place!!! Highly recommend!!!

    (5)

  • K L.

    Duck in a jar and pig wings! Amazing

    (5)

  • kevin b.

    When did it become cool to serve warm tap water and run the vent inside instead of the AC? Second week open was expecting big things from this place. The menu is unfocused and dull. It doesn't know what it wants to be at this state. The service took over two hours to get apps and entrees, still lacking in the Hollister shirts. With so many new places to try in the area, this was one I wished I would have just drove bye and waited till things got better. Total bill was 160.00 a bit too much for six plates and No AC.

    (2)

  • William O.

    The Federal now offers brunch on Sundays, and if I loved this place before, I'm freaking nuts about it now. This last Sunday --- 3/18/2012 --- was the brunch's first time being served, so had I walked out of there with a complaint or two, it wouldn't be a real knock on the Federal. I mean, there's really no way to prepare for every contingency. That being said, I want to say that, except for a shortage of orange juice, the entire meal was a success. First thing of note is that you can have unlimited mimosas for fourteen bucks. UNLIMITED. I really don't have to expound on the awesomeness of this offering. I of course started my meal with the cheese biscuits, which were absolutely spectacular and even had a little kick to them. (The kick wasn't present last time.) I think they may have added some pepper to the batter. It was a very welcome surprise. As a main dish, I ordered the Federal's version of Eggs Benedict, and, at the risk of sounding hyperbolic, I want to say that these were the best Eggs Benedict I've ever had. Ever. The egg was perfectly poached, (Which is a FEAT in and of itself. I mean, a poached egg is just a sexy thing.) and it sat atop rabbit & venison sausage (instead of a piece of ham) and a cheese biscuit (instead of the usual English muffin). The sausage is what made this dish unlike any other. It was RIDICULOUS. Friends, I'm telling you... get over to the Federal next Sunday and treat yourselves to what I mentioned above. You won't regret it. At all. And, last but not least, the service was, once again, spectacular. Beth is one of the coolest waitresses I've ever had serve me. I'm asking to be seated in her section again next time. No way am I leaving that up to chance.

    (5)

  • Ing C.

    Everyone was telling us to go to the Federal. We finally went and the service was absolutely awful. We had to wait a while just for our water, and even longer for our food which we got at different times. My boyfriend had to watch me eat my food. After eating, we (naturally) wanted to leave... But we couldnt... Because there was no waiter in sight. After what seemed like 20 minutes, I asked one of the bus staff (the only one around) to give us our check he said "I'm not your server" I said "yea I know could you let our server know that we would like the check?" He said "sure, let me finish doing what I'm doing"....he proceeded to place forks on the napkins of all the surrounding EMPTY tables, which only further frustrated me because I just wanted to leave and had already spent too much time sitting and waiting. We were finally able to ask our waiter for the check. He left, then returned to our table and said "I'll get you more water"....I seriously thought it was all a joke. I waited for someone to pop out of the bushes and exclaim that i was on a hidden camera show! But nothing....It was like the waiter wanted us to stay all day... Sitting there, abducted....Which was weird. I made a comment to my boyfriend (probably something snarky and fueled with rage) and a table nearby who had been sitting there waiting a while ALSO, heard me. The girl turned to us and asked about our experience and we told them. They didn't even want to be there any more after waiting so long just for the water that never arrived, so they ran away. Wish I had been able to do that too. Ridiculous. Never going back there again.

    (1)

  • Johnny T.

    I wasn't at all fair to The Federal. Everyone I knew was singing its praises. It was tucked in a strip mall in the Mimo district. There was valet parking. All three of these elements gave me some pause and I hesitated to rush here as soon as I could. That was a mistake on my part. A big mistake. The Federal is doing most everything right. I can't quite figure out its point of view. Is it rustic? Is it traditional? Is it Southern? Who knows. What I *do* know? It's good. It's really good. Let's stop beating around the bush: duck in a jar. People, you can order duck in a freaking JAR! Game over. Yes, there are high wood beams. Yes, there are good beer pours. Yes, it's good for groups. But all these things pale in the face of duck in a jar. Duck is my favorite of fowl. It's dark, rich, fatty meat is always a welcome change to the tired chicken and oft-too-dry turkey. All this delectable meat to a jar and add in sweet potatoes and marshmallows? I'm ready to put a ring on it. I rued my delay of eating here as soon as I scooped the good stuff on to some bread. Usually, it's a wise move to be like me. In this case, don't be like me. Come here as soon as you can. The southern comfort doesn't end there. The honey biscuits and shrimp & grits are as welcome here as they are in most any Nashville establishment in which you'd find yourself. I was shocked at how good I found these down home delights. Who knew? Only a whole bunch of y'all. I didn't stop at the usual suspects. Big plates of ribs (with bacon, onions and mushrooms; I don't eat beef and I was fending off others at my table who dared try to eat some of this beefy goodness), chicken and fish (served that night with black beans) got in my belly as ruby red grapefruit beer washed everything down. The longer my butt was on that wooden seat the more I wondered why my head has previously taken up residence there. The menu changes often but the quality of food does not (I am sure). Undoubtedly, you've heard good things. These are all for a reason. Come here. Come here now.

    (4)

  • Sergio S.

    Wow, what a disaster. From the parking to the bill we had problems at every possible corner... We went on Tuesday for Crawfish night. My Wife and I were very excited and drove up from South Miami just for the Crawfish... We should have stayed in, because this was by far one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had in this city. The service was terrible. I mean TERRIBLE. Now, living in Miami all my life I do not have high expectations for service, but I have NEVER been treated like this before! Highlights: - Parking is a disaster - Service is horrendous... after being seated for 10 minutes without our waiter coming by we had to flag down the hostess to order a drink. This was the theme of the night. Anytime we wanted ANYTHING (water, drinks, food) we had to flag someone down. - No Crawfish... they were out of crawfish by 8pm! Mind you they open at 6pm and this is CRAWFISH NIGHT! - No Entree.... after we finished the appetizers the waiter cleaned our table and handed us the dessert menu, now this was only odd b/c we still hadn't received our entree..!! We cancelled the entree and asked for the bill. - Bill was wrong... when it finally came they overcharged us on our drinks by 20%!! We had to have the bill corrected. Waiter never tried to apologize for anything. - The food?? It was decent but overshadowed by the poor, poor service.

    (1)

  • Patrick L.

    I have had the famous, perhaps now even mythical, pineapple upside down cake. It's phenomenal. The brains and talent behind this operation, Aniece and Cesar, share my dislike of overly sweet, uncomplicated desserts, and that mindset is in evidence with the Federal's sweets. On a subsequent visit, I tried a plum cobbler, and it was still satisfying, even if it wasn't on quite the same level as that pineapple cake. Yes, this is the first time I've started a restaurant review with dessert - think I'll just do this one from end to start. I hate to hype up the pineapple upside down cake even more, because now whenever they do have it, everyone and their grandmother is going to rush over and order it. Oops, changed my mind. The pineapple upside down cake sucks. It's horrible. In fact, I'm still washing that filth from my mouth over a month later. Do not order! Please? Beyond dessert, I've had a few things, most notably the lamb shank, and roasted Cornish game hen from the "Big 'Uns" section of the menu. The delectable, juicy lamb fell off the bone nicely, and it was served on a bed of rutabaga mash. The highlight of the Cornish hen entree was the cornbread-fennel stuffing - indeed, with the tart compote and mini-hen with the perfectly caramelized skin, this whole dish tasted like a very rustic Thanksgiving dinner, maybe something along the lines of how I'd imagine a Thanksgiving in Roanoke, VA, circa 1865 was. For starters, I find the mussel pot tough to beat. The mussels are steamed in a broth using a stout-style beer, which gives the broth (to me) a more interesting earthy dimension than if it had used some generic fizzy yellow lager. I only wish the bread provided with the dish had been a little more effective at sopping up the broth; it was a tad on the crusty side throughout. The Jar-O-Duck is, quite literally, a jar of duck. It comes with candied sweet potato and lightly burnt marshmallow - spread, mix, match. And, oh yeah - lest you thought Ani & Cesar were ignoring the pork, the Crispy Pig Ears, a signature dish from both Phuc Yea and the Blue Pig (errr, Piano) make an appearance at the Fed in somewhat more hearty form alongside a duck egg and pumpkin mash. Although I haven't yet had them, I also hear the "pig wings" are excellent. I've not yet seen the new beer and wine menus, but I trust they are well-cultivated. I think I'm really looking forward to plopping down in "my spot" at the bar, near the old-school Bayer and "Heroin" ads, and raising a classic Prohibition-era cocktail or two in silent thanks to the bootleggers and speakeasies that kept this most basic, elemental human pleasure alive during the Dark Days. Death to the Anti-Saloon League, bathtub gin and moonshine for everyone!

    (5)

  • Dre B.

    My meal here was great. Very large portions at my outdoor table of this very homely-feeling restaurant. The staff were all warm and smiling, with very attentive bus boys (too) ready to clear plates off the table. What grabbed my attention for The Federal was the brunch, however; haven't been in to try that yet.

    (5)

  • Brett P.

    I had a another fantastic experience at the Federal! I went for Miami Spice and was very impressed. The food was fabulous and our waitress was great! I'll be back again soon!

    (5)

  • Jess W.

    4.5 stars! If you're looking for a casual restaurant in Miami serving up sharable comfort food, The Federal is your spot! What went in my belly: Jumbo Cheese Biskits - Vermont butter, honey apple cider glaze ($5 each). Pricey yes, but they were light, fluffy, moist and a great way to start off the meal. I wish they were a little cheesier since they are called "cheese" biskits but nevertheless still delicious. Jar O' Duck - with charred fluff, candied sweet potato ($12): Spread over a crostini and paired with a bit of charred marshmallow fluff for some sweetness, it was a delightful bite. Buffalo Style Pig Wing - with blue cheese mousse, pickled carrots & celery ($6): came with one meaty "wing". I believe it was braised shank meat which was moist, tender and crisp on the exterior resembling a fried buffalo wing. While good, it wasn't my favourite dish of the evening. A little pricey too. Steak Tartare - chipotle, honey jalapeno, quail egg, crispy onions ($12). It wasn't a boring steak tartare at all. The flavour was on the sweet side from the honey and had just the right amount of kick to it. With a bit of the crisp onions, it was a perfect little bite. I've got nothing but love for this steak tartare! South West Mac & Cheese - three cheeses, roasted pablanos, chipotle biskit crumbs ($9). Still dreaming about this! Very cheesy and had the perfect bit of kick. Mac & cheese for grown ups. Wet Fries - with smoked chicken, bbq, Monterey jack cheese & cilantro ranch ($12): They were ridiculous! The bbq sauce was sweet, tangy and simply perfection. From now on, I want all my fries served "wet" Federal Lamb Burger - Monterey jack, grilled pickled onions, pretzel bun and fries ($17): We added a duck egg for an extra $2.50 cause why not, right? It was a damn good burger. Crispy Brussels Sprouts - molasses vinaigrette, sweet and sour apples ($7): Ridiculously addictive. Jar O'Smore - dark chocolate pudding, graham crackers and charred marshmallow fluff ($8). A great way to end the meal! Great vibe, awesome servers and most importantly, fantastic food!

    (4)

  • Paul M.

    The mad scientists from Phuc Yea have done it again. We came here on a Saturday night and this place was slammed - every table inside and out taken and people 2 deep at the bar. The only place to park was valet and he generously offered to park my car up front for $20 (no thanks). We hit the bar for a bit while we waited for a table. The bartender/host was very friendly and they have a pretty good selection of beers and wine. He steered us away from the vermouth cocktails as he agreed they were pretty weak. The wait time was incredibly long - they were unable to sit us despite some tables being open since the kitchen was swamped. Once we were seated and the food started coming we quickly forgot our wait time. The jar of duck is amazing - an absolutely decadent sweet/savory spread of duck and sweet potato. Definitely order extra bread as you want to lick this jar clean. As amazing as this was, even better was the sweetbread biscuits and gravy. ARE YOU PHUC-ING KIDDING? Even non-sweetbread lovers will think this dish is awesome - each bit of sweetbread bringing tender incredible flavor with each bite. The pig wings were also good but the biscuits were the star of the show. For mains they were out of the pot pie so we had the duck confit and lamb burger. The duck confit was very good, but having just had the most amazing duck confit ever at DB Bistro Moderne a couple of weeks before as a benchmark did not help. The lamb burger was huge, juicy, and delicious. Overall: Pros: THE FOOD!! Pretty good Beer & Wine selection Very friendly service Casual atmosphere Oh GOD THE FOOD!! Cons: No full bar- vermouth cocktails only Service a little slow (it was packed though) Kitchen - unable to seat full restaurant A/C - venue is kind of hot inside No reservations - long wait time If they can get the seating situation taken care of this would easily be a 5 star joint! I would highly suggest going here early or during the week as this place gets nuts.

    (4)

  • Megan M.

    My friend and I came to The Federal on a Saturday afternoon for brunch. I had been here twice in the past but my friend had never been. She really wanted to try this restaurant and thought it was fabulous that they offered bottomless mimosa's for $18 so obviously that is what we started with. I loved that our waiter made the mimosa's to taste because I don't like too much orange juice in mine. We sat outside and were able to enjoy the weather. For food, we opted to share a couple of things- the buttermilk biscuit (HUGE!), the breakfast BLT and the crab roll. The buttermilk biscuit is just as amazing as everyone describes it with honey butter on top. The breakfast BLT was probably the best of the 3 in my opinion- fresh vegetables and a huge slab of REAL (not Oscar Mayer) bacon! The crab roll was good... but I guess we thought would be different- this one comes out like more like a ' crab salad' on a buttered bun as a traditional lobster roll would. For dessert we shared the frozen key lime pie that was flambe-ed to perfection at the table. All in all, I loved the meal and MUST come back and try dinner- they started the smoker as we were leaving to 'start cooking supper' and it smelled phenomenal. You all must check out The Federal!

    (5)

  • Gabriella A.

    I went this past Sunday for brunch, and I must day from all the "great" rumors I've heard about this place it was ok. The service was the biggest turn off. My party ordered way before the one next to us, and well they got served and left before we could finish our main meal. Our main course was served before our appetizers.....that's a big no no, and I know plenty would agree. A couple times we saw the food runner with our order, walk by us as lost as can be with our food...he'd walk outside and return to us. The food was tasty, and I did like the set menu options.On another note, if you do plan to go, I recommend (I hope you don't receive the same service I did) the Wild Mushroom Ragu accompanied with a toast and poached egg, was great, and the bottomless mimosas

    (3)

  • Jessica A.

    This place was recommended by a friend so we went in today for brunch. The menu works like tapas style each person picks a starter, 2 of the entrees and 1 sweet. This is perfect for friends and sharing. The menu was very good and everything was delicious. I will be back!

    (4)

  • Lesley L.

    We had the best dinner here this past Sunday. We came in early in the evening after driving around looking for somewhere new to us. The service was prompt, very friendly, and our server made several suggestions that helped us make our decisions. I love the small plates because it's fun to try several different things. We had the jar o' duck, the biscuit basket, the charred plantains, the heirloom tomato salad, and the salmon steak special. There was more than enough food for two people, and everything was cooked and seasoned well. The tomato salad is refreshing and a great balance to the richness of the salmon. The jar o' duck was great! My partner discovered it's even tastier on one of the fluffy biscuits; the texture is much nicer than the toast. The charred plantains were the perfect texture and the combination of flavor son the plate were perfect. The atmosphere of the restaurant is quirky without being intrusive, and it's impressive what they've done with a space in a strip mall. Overall we spent just over $100 after the tip, and it's very reasonable considering everything that went in to our experience. We will be back soon, hopefully for the crawfish boil on Wednesdays!

    (5)

  • Ethan Y.

    I got sucked into it because of Miami Spice. But if you were to spend $30 or more, I would at least go for the fine dining options before here. There were lots of food. Nothing tasted great. I think the drink was pretty good and that is about it.

    (2)

  • Jasmine S.

    Traveled from Fort Lauderdale to dine for brunch on Saturday. Well worth the trip. The food is fit for a gourmand. The décor is quirky and inspired. And oh, the biscuits... incredible. And the whole experience was further enhanced by our server Adam. He was attentive, interactive, and swiftly catered to all of our needs. We can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Jairo P.

    Food is amazing unfortunately the service is horrific. Tried go make a reservation for sunday brunch multiple times with no luck. Got put on hold twice for over 20 minutes and then only a voice mail system after. Left multiple messages to no call back. Decided to walk in to be told over hour wait when they have six empty tables. Waited 30 minutes to still see six empty tables. Spoke to host and asked if we could take one, his reply being they are reserved. I understand reservation system but its ridiculous if you have empty tables and reservations arent there past 20 min you should give table away. Will unfortunately never return

    (1)

  • Francisca B.

    This place is pretty good, and I like the idea of growing their own herbs and using local ingredients. I don't like the attitude like I'm lucky to be dining there. Service works the other way around...without me (who came here from word of mouth), you would not be so popular. I get that you're busy, I get that the food comes out when it comes out, but don't be a jerk about it and act like I'm lucky to even be in your establishment. I understand being busy, but don't make it an intimidating process to even approach the hostess after waiting 15 minutes. I felt like I'd be punished if I went up to her sooner, like, "CAN'T YOU SEE HOW BUSY WE ARE?" The service is friendly enough but the place takes itself WAY too seriously. I enjoyed my brunch, the crab hash, but I was scared to ask for water. I was afraid they would tell me, "We pump our water from a non-fluoridated well where local peasants bathe their children, so you must be patient. It will be here when it's here". Obviously they didn't say that, but that's the general attitude. The food itself was very good, probably the only reason I'd return. It was a little heavy, but I'm not complaining...you do get your money's worth. I just feel like I have to follow some kind of secret cool code and I'll be "punished" if I don't oblige. Get rid of the attitude and stop acting like it' my honor to eat here, and I'd give it a 5.

    (3)

  • Joe A.

    Listen, before you even look at the menu, just know you'll be getting the Pig Wing. Easily the best piece of pork I've had in quite a while. After that, the options are open. Jar O' Duck is pretty good, Brussels sprouts are great, fried chicken is excellent. And the atmosphere is laid back -- a bonus for a spot that's in my neighborhood. This will easily be a go-to.

    (5)

  • Ron B.

    This restaurant came highly recommended by friends and was up to the challenge of meeting those expectations. We were a party of five on a fairly slow Wednesday night, which I'm sure contributed to the excellent, friendly, helpful service and quality and presentation of the food. It's a comfortable, attractive, but not ostentatious restaurant conveniently located on Biscayne Boulevard in a strip mall, so there's parking, including a handicapped space with a ramp right in front of the restaurant, if you need one. My only criticism is that while there were a few wines on a large list in the 32 - 50 range, the prices were generally higher. I think when a wine list has one Malbec and it costs $80, it's time to consider giving diners more choices of reasonably priced wines. Standout dishes included the Arctic char, a special, and the bread pudding. They showed us a very exciting Sunday brunch menu, as well as a barbecue menu for Sunday nights. This restaurant is a great addition to the wealth of fine eateries in Midtown; I wish them a long run!

    (4)

  • Joe G.

    Really good stuff. The location is a bit odd but once you're there and seated it actually works well. Whoever is in the kitchen has a great touch and fantastic passion. Everything we had was well put together and well presented. Prices were very fair and will become a regular spot for us. Our waitress, for the first hour, was one of the best I have ever had. She caught the small details of what we needed and was attentive without being overbearing. Later on though, two guys came in and sat at a table near us and it seemed to draw her attention away completely. Ended up putting my credit card on the edge of the table to try to spur the bill along. I would have been more inclined to give them the full 5 stars but that last little bit took the sharp edge off.

    (4)

  • Jose C.

    I had such high hopes for The Federal. But alas, it did not live up to my expectations. But, given the fact, we went on Father's Day for Brunch, I am willing to go back and give it another shot in the hopes that they were just overwhelmed. The food took a painstakingly long time to be delivered. I had the Jar-O-Duck, which was delicious, the combination of sweet potato, toasted fluff and seasoned duck was an unexpected delight sweet without being cloyingly so. We order some cheese biscuits, ($8 for 2, what??!!) which were more like hockey pucks, I expect that we were given the leftovers from the night before. Even our server commented that the biscuits looked smaller and that the kitchen was using a new recipe. Huh? I ordered the Jack-O-lope, a twist on Eggs Benedict using the aforementioned biscuits and a rabbit venison sausage. Everything was overdone, the biscuits were tough, the sausage was overcooked and dry and the poached eggs were poached hard, so the egg yolks were dry, unappealing, instead of unctuous and satisfying. ($17 for eggs, no sides, hash browns etc.) A companion, ordered the skillet eggs, which were bland and boring ($15. 2 eggs and baguette, again, no sides, hash browns, etc.). Another companion ordered the granola, which unlike the other entrees was extremely tasty and delicious. The service was nice and attentive, but could not make up for the mediocre food. Considering the food and lack of accompaniments, I would say the prices were high, something I am willing to overlook if the food was extraordinary, but it wasn't. A great attempt to add to the Miami food scene, but cannot hold its own if it were compared to similar places in NY, Chicago, San Francisco, Charleston, Austin, etc.) Again, I reiterate, the menu looked great and showed much promise, but the execution fell way short. I will certainly try it one more time, perhaps for dinner, in the hopes that I caught The Federal on an off day.

    (2)

  • Jenny Z.

    My first experience at The Federal was not a good one. My cousin and I had purchased the gilt city set menu for two, with Champagne included. Seemed like a good deal, and a good way of trying out a new place which I consider to be a bit of a drive. When we arrived the place was pretty empty, maybe four tables were occupied. The hostess (who we later learned was the owner) sat us down promptly - so far so good. After we were seated it took twenty minutes before we got any service, which we had to ask for. The owner came by and apologized, sent out an appetizer - which was one of their signature dishes. Our waiter came to bring us our Champagne, except it wasn't. They served us sparkling wine, when we told him Champagne was advertised - he alluded to them being the same; which they are not. Our food then started to come out in an odd order. We received the side dishes before the appetizer salad, and got the main entree at the very end. On top of that they forgot to bring us a dish, which the owner packed up for us to take home. The food was okay, there was nothing great about anything, except the biscuits which were delicious. I really wanted to like this place, but the experience was unpleasant. I will not be returning; my cousin, however, said she will be giving them another try. I rate this as 2.5 stars simply because the owner was very nice and tried her best to improve our experience. The staff was nice but unorganized.

    (2)

  • Lindsay G.

    I am torn but I agree with Stacy about rounding up. The food is three stars the service is a solid two. I have given the place two chances now once on a Tuesday and once on a Saturday. I don't mind if I have to wait for the homemade food but I literally had to flag my waiter down five times a few times having to ask for things from other waiters who weren't ours or the owner. I expect this sort of thing on South Beach but not if I venture to Biscayne. Also, I know you have "handmade ketchup" but frankly it tastes like cocktail sauce and makes you seem cheap. At least have some common ketchup for those of us who don't want to have to stalk the Dunkin Donuts (in the same plaza) staff for free ketchup. The food was good both times I have been here. The lamburger is nicely spiced although a pretzel bun seems out of place on the sandwich. The fries which are rosemary infused are incredible but please the ketchup again! My husband's summer chicken was excellent (better than the roasted hen I had at Yardbird the other day), the crab dip okay an the jumbo shrimp had a nice smoky unusual flavor. The desserts were also good (butterscotch pudding and flour less chocolate cake) although I really wanted the baked alaska my friend and I were turned off by the mango sauce on it. Call it what it is and its not traditional baked alaska with that. Also, I just want to comment that I love the uniforms of casual cowboy (my friend referred to it as brokeback mountain dress but I am not that unpc) and all the men here are good looking. And what is up with serving the food on old Shoney's plates? Did you get these at a yardsale? Is Shoney's financing your restaurant? These things make me nervous did you snatch them from a Shoney's and we are now eating off a non-regulated plate? I like the Federal but in order for me to drive off the beach I need them to fix their service. Overall, this place is a good place to go for something unusual and I like their wine list -where else can you get wine for Slovenia? But, I feel like the service feels like Europe.

    (3)

  • Logan S.

    Best to call ahead. Very thorough and attentive staff, on the verge of too attentive. Jar-o-duck must be had as an appetizer. Biscuits too. First time and can't wait to come back and try more of the dishes.

    (4)

  • Maikel M.

    Don't bother with this place... Food sounds creative but it's poorly executed, not horrible but mediocre... Service was good though.

    (2)

  • Leo C.

    Went for brunch they had plenty of interesting options and everything I had was good.

    (4)

  • Kristal C.

    Returning back to the fed. And let me say one of the best hot spots in Miami. Steak tartare yummy. But one of my favorite new menu item was the venison chili with grit fries. Amazing! Brunch is still my favorite time at the fed. Grabbing a nice supper with the fam nice place to go. Very casual and laid back but with an upscale touch. When I'm in Miami , I always make one stop here.

    (5)

  • Javi S.

    Very unique selection on the menu. I had the opportunity to attend brunch with my friends and family and here is my synopsis: Baked egg skillet is what i ordered... No big deal. Compare this to Spanish omelette. Steak and eggs... Phenomenal choice. Wings and waffle... Best dish i tried. Very unique sounding but definitely tastes better than what it sounds... give this dish a try because it will not disappoint.

    (4)

  • Laura G.

    Unimpressed. Overpriced, small portions and ok food. I was very disappointed l. I really don't understand all the hype. People need to leave more realistic reviews. Even while sitting I felt uncomfortable, I couldn't even cross my legs.

    (1)

  • Malika B.

    I would give this place zero stars if it were an option. The worst service I have received in a long time. I went there for my birthday dinner and it was a disaster. Had a 9:15 reservation where I was told to make sure my entire party was there or our table would be given up. After rushing everyone to get there on time, we wound up waiting over an hour and a half to be seated, then waited another 20 minutes for our drinks (after I had to go up to the bar and ask where they were). By the time we were able to order they were out of half the items on the menu. The manager had little to offer in terms of an explanation, just kept telling us it would only be a little while longer. Our only compensation was one free drink and two burnt biscuits they brought to the table for a party of 12. I wound up with a small piece of yellowtail I had to filet myself for $19 with a side of BBQ sauce. I had heard good things about this place but it was one of the worst experiences I have ever had in my 30+ years living in Miami. I will never go to this restaurant again. Do yourself a favor and save your money!

    (1)

  • Glenn G.

    Never heard anything negative about the Federal; as matter of fact, have only heard good things. My only hesitation has been traveling from the 561 down to the 305 is quite a haul, so I don't want to be disappointed and frankly was under the impression this was an pretentious and overly expensive sort of place. When I'm wrong, I admit it; and boy was I wrong. Good use of wood planks (shelving and wrapped around bar) give the Federal a rustic feel while mounted jack-o-lopes, bottles of pickled veggies, an indoor pergola over the bar, distressed wood tables and other accents modernize the Federal. Great tunes from yesteryear play in the background and the food is the icing on the cake. Love the vibe; upscale casual dining and an entire dining room free of ostentatious guests. Took our table with another couple for dinner. A quick scan over the menu and passed the honor of picking dishes to share to our friends that have been here before. ROUND ONE: *** Bavarian Bretzel *** pretzel bites with spicy yellow mustard... just a tease to get us started... very good ROUND TWO: *** Jar-O-Duck *** duck with sweet potato and marshmallow fluff all prepared in a glass jar and served with crackers on a cutting board... excellent *** Townpark Fries *** handcut fries with a fried egg and seasoned ketchup... very good) *** Pot-O-Mussels *** normal sized mussel shells but the actual mussels were plumped up like they were on steroids... superb *** Foie Gras Shots *** shot glass with foie gras, fluff and graham cracker crumbs... too sweet to appreciate the foie gras... nothing special ROUND THREE: *** Crispy Duck Leg *** never been much of a duck eater, but wow was that tender and delicious... included white asparagus and sauteed mushrooms... excellent *** Crispy Brussel Sprouts *** cooked perfect with a hint of balsamic vinegar and included pickled onions (or at least I think those were onions)... outstanding ROUND FOUR: *** Pan Roasted Whole Hogfish *** although the chef prepared a perfectly cooked and seasoned fish, it was not deboned... i'd order it again but I would be sure to request the deboning next time FINAL ROUND: *** Desserts *** devil's food cake and lemon tart accompanied with coffee (french press with panther coffee, cappuccino and espresso)... all just fine... I was way too full to really enjoy this round; but I made room when the manager offered us a sweet dessert wine Though the dishes were on the small side (most meant to be shared), all the dishes were fairly priced. An interesting thing I have noticed recently about the Federal is they hold special events, beyond Miami Spice. Recent events include Julia Child's 100th Birthday Celebration (french Miami Spice menu), Doonsday (5 course dinner with Bonny Doon Vineyards), Brews and Bellies (beer and food pairings), Women Who Wine (girls only gathering to drink and learn about wine and have some small bites), Smoking It Up (a father's day pig roast with unlimited food and libations) and Susie Homemaker (5 course dinner presented as a walk thru common foods and drinks of the 1950s). One of the few places that I would recommend without any hesitation.

    (5)

  • Carolina S.

    I just came here for the first time over the weekend for Sunday brunch and it was pretty good! We made a reservation ahead of time and waited about 10 min to be seated. We had the $18 bottomless mimosas, which were fantastic, our waitress made sure that our glasses were always full (& mostly champagne). I tried their award winning biscuit and let me tell you that was the BEST biscuit I've ever had in my life! I also had the Smoked Floribbean Fish & Dip as an appetizer, it was absolutely delicious. My boyfriend ordered the chicken and waffles, the chicken was ok and I think its hard to screw up waffles, they were ok too. For my entrée I ordered the Crab Hash and it was also ok, nothing special. Total bill was $85 plus tip so basically $100 for brunch. It was a bit on the expensive side, but hey at least we tried it out! I still recommend this place but I will probably order the Cookies & Cream French Toast next time.

    (4)

  • Steven J.

    A follow up, this is hands down my favorite restaurant in Miami. My favorite sever has since mixed on to greener pastures, it is still my go to, for when I have a special event, or guests. It's small it's cramped at times, still love it. Now some of my peers that frequent there, are idiots and a bother to be around, the food helps me get over that.

    (4)

  • Laura F.

    Typical crappy Miami service.... Invisible waitress left us sitting out side setting begging for more water and drinks.

    (3)

  • Dennis M.

    Pretty good for it's location (in a crappy plaza with a Dunkin Doughnuts). They only care beer and wine and the cocktails were not anything to come back for. I would say get a bottle of red/white to share. Food is alright, the brussel sprouts were super disappointing. 9$ for a a cereal bowl full of pretty much skins and maybe 8 brussel sprouts cut in half, don't bother. Mac and cheese was good, not amazing. Crawfish and Fried Chicken were alright as well. Basically $100 for a meh meal. Service is really good. Very accommodating and they go out of their way to check on you and make you happy. This was a needed a place to kill time and eat restaurant, don't need to come back.

    (3)

  • Michael M.

    This spot was a win. The only disappointment was that they ran out of crab for the crab dish. But as sad as I was about that it only pointed out how good and popular the dish was.. So that's a good sign and it give me so something to look forward to... If you are not a pork & red meat person, there will be very few things to enjoy so keep that in mind. The service is friendly and polite. The crowd, hipster-esq. The owner lady is cute as a button and I will def be going back with friends and family!

    (5)

  • Joann C.

    Cool place with some interesting takes on southern comfort classics... Buffalo Pig Wings - Guess this means pigs can fly? Sorry, I just had to throw that in there. Get this! Juicy pork shank that doesnt feel fatty or greasy at all and served alongside a blue cheese mousse. MMMMhhhhmmm Duck in a Jar - like having mini bites of Thanksgiving. Ground duck (again not fatty or greasy at all so thats a definite plus) in a jar served with sweet potatoes, charcoaled marshmallow fluff and crostinis.....double mmmmmm St. Louis Ribs - fall off the bone meat thats just the perfect amount of sauce and dryness...this gives Swine a run for their money Fried Chicken - this was good but not Yardbird good. BBQ Deviled Eggs - nice small bites with a twist on the normal deviled egg recipe. Its good to try - you won't be disappointed. Cowboy Steak - Skip this. This was not worth it as the dish was really small considering the price. I know it says 18oz but 18oz never appeared that small to me...was more like 6oz. Our group was quite disappointed in this dish just because we thought it was misleading in the description. Dessert of the day was Bread Pudding and Rocky Road Moon Pie --- get them both but for me the bread pudding wins! Beware of the giant amber ale that is $46!!

    (4)

  • Kyle V.

    A very well known brunch spot tucked into a strip mall, this place did not disappoint. We skipped the bottomless brunch and decided to go with the crab and onion dip, Plantain Waffles, and crawfish and grits. Fantastic all around, would recommend this spot to anyone.

    (5)

  • Honza C.

    There seems to be a lot of hype about this place, but when I ate there for dinner, I wasn't too impressed. Nothing I could really put my finger on, but the food was average-tasting/inspired. The staff were lovely, even gave me a little treat at the end, but food-wise, I expected more.

    (3)

  • Ashley B.

    We arrived at The Federal right when it opened. We decided to sit outside since it was a beautiful day and didn't wait more than a minute to meet our server. She was really friendly and helpful in ordering. She recommended the special of the day, which was the pastrami hash. It was good, not great. The coffee on the other hand is delicious. I think I had about 4 cups! We placed our orders and went in on our coffee. The appetizer came out within 15 minutes and a few minutes after we were told the BLT entree would take a bit longer because they didn't have avocados and had to run to the store to get some. I think we should've been told about that issue sooner than later especially since we had to be somewhere within an hour, but we went ahead with the green eggs and ham. It was amazing! The prices are a bit steep for breakfast/brunch and I wish my service could've been better, but the food was good. I'll probably go back.

    (3)

  • K T.

    I loved the quaint setting and family style brunch. The staff slowly brought out each dish, thus allowing me and my family to taste and converse. It was a truly delectable experience and I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Peter B.

    I went to the Federal today for a late brunch after reading the various reviews in blogs about the best food spots in Miami. Here goes the review. The food; The biscuits are great. No doubt about it. But biscuits alone could not save my experience today. The food was all well seasoned and executed if but a little expected. Nothing surprised me or elevated my thinking on contemporary American comfort food. Net-net, it's a decent value with good execution. The environment: The restaurant suffers from being sandwiched in a strip mall adjacent to a Dunkin Donuts. It's unfortunate because sufficient consideration has been given to the interior experience. It's got all the cues of hipster-fresh with taxidermy, salvaged wood, and vintage pin-up girl photos in the interior. It's dialed in with a tight palette and considered finishings. Too bad it can't be lifted and placed in a more exciting location. The service: This is their greatest fail. The service started off with enthusiasm and excitement - and all the rhetoric on contemporary American dining. We were advised to order "nibbles" with each guest getting one to two to share for the table. The nibbles concept can and should work, but maybe not at brunch when you have four people and four orders. Run them at the same time and don't auction off my food. The meal could have been saved except for the waffle incident. After running three out of the four dishes, we waited and waited and waited. We inquired about our waffles to be told they were just being plated. Five minutes later, the server told us our waffles had been the first dish to be delivered. We never got the waffles or we wouldn't have asked. Get it together with your staff. Also, the "bottomless Panther coffee" was everything I expect of Panther coffee, but nothing of bottomless. We saw no refills. The servers attitude and demeanor took a steady decline over the course of the meal. Not cool. Would I go back? Probably not.

    (3)

  • JennyLee M.

    I was thoroughly impressed with my 1st visit to The Federal as well as my 2nd, 3rd and 4th visits and so on... the place has yet to disappoint! This carnivore slice of heave is located in a a tiny strip mall, ironically next to another fav, The Honey Tree, a vegetarian spot. Balance is indeed everything. I have to say, even when they are at capacity, the service is on point with their delicious "supper" to match. The Jar-O-Duck (sweet-savory duck paté, candied sweet potato, and charred marshmallow fluff on top of crusty bread) is a favorite. I also happen to HATE duck as well as paté but I LOVE this dish which is meant to be shared, perfect appetizer. Unless you like to start off with bread and by bread I mean the delicious lightly-honey-glazed cheese "biskits" (biscuits) - but if you're thinking cheesy, they really aren't cheesy in the melty, stretchy way so don't be disappointed. I was dissapointed the first time, until I changed my expectations on what they were supposed to taste like. Another one to try is the Pig Wings. If pigs could fly, they'd want to die and come back as this. These buffalo-style "Pig Wings" are so tender, the meat just falls apart. You've never had a pot pie like this, the Short Rib "Wellington" is rich blend of braised short rib, specks of bacon, pearl onions, mushrooms in dome of delicate and crunchy puff pastry. The Federal Salad is also a favorite, mixed greens, crispy fried onions, in a whiskey-barrel vinaigrette. Great salad! Although they don't have a full-liquor license, The Federal boasts half a dozen pints of craft draught beers and a great wine selection solely from family estate producers as well. Not bad for a prohibition-themed restaurant! Finish of with a Sweet'Uns which is their ever-changing selection of baked goods. I'm not big on dessert (I'm more into savory than sweet) but I did like the S'mores in a Jar, semi-sweet chocolate pudding topped with marshmallow and a graham cracker for dipping. If you have a sweet tooth, this is a definite win. For brunch, I would hands-down recommend the Jackalope Eggs Benedict - rabbit and venison sausage, biscuit, two poached eggs, Hollandaise sauce. Another one to try is the Shroom and Grits, traditional grits with sausage, corn and sautéed mushrooms. On the sweet side, the French Toast Bananas Foster, is delicious. Challah, spiced-rum custard, bananas and maple syrup. But wait there's more... brunch isn't complete without the pecan sticky buns! Anyone else hungry, now?

    (5)

  • Lici S.

    Great food, great service, and great atmosphere! I had ab awesome brunch there!! Jar-o-duck was my favorite, but it was a close tie with the Brussels sprout! Seriously, order the Brussels sprout! The best one ever!!! All you can drink mimosas for just $18! I am definitely going back!!!

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    I don't understand all the negative reviews below. I have been dining here for over a year now and I love this place! My girlfriend and I stopped in for brunch on Saturday morning, and we had a great time, as usual. We started with the fish dip then I ordered the Breakfast BLT and she had the Wings and Waffles. Both were fantastic. We each had a mimosa, and they are not shy with the champagne. We will be back soon!

    (5)

  • Lynn L.

    Don't bother going to the federal unless you have a reservation. They will put you on the list but you can spend an hour or more waiting because if someone walks in who has a reservation they will come before you. I'm not sure the food is worth that kind of system or treatment.

    (1)

  • Jessica A.

    (3.7 if we want to get technical). I came in for brunch with some friends for my birthday and I gotta say it's a love/hate situation. Service: Come on guys. I don't need to feel like I should be lucky I'm getting service. I had made a reservation for 8 and even though I know they don't seat incomplete parties I don't think it should have been such a big deal to seat us while we waited for one more person. The host was bordering between being really sweet and then really snarky, eh. After standing around (obviously looked awful, because this place isn't huge and it was 6 of us doing nothing) for 15 minutes they finally decided to seat us, but not before letting us know we could only sit for an hour and a half since they had another party. Really? If you were gonna seat us anyway why not do it when I go there? Our waitress however was a joy although I feel like they stretched their servers thin, because I could never find her and when I did she was behind the bar. Food: B-. It was pretty tasty. We ordered a couple of things. The biscuits are AMAZING, really good. Crawfish & Grits, nommy. Burrata, it was alright. Pastrami hash had awesome flavor, it was definitely a favorite. Wings & Waffles was alright, but really overpriced. Jar-o-duck though was off the charts, hands down my favorite dish. I had two grown up slushies and those were something else, A++ on those. Price: Meh, pretty pricey, but I got out of this one for the most part since it was my birthday ;D All in all, the food is great, but the service and price produce some eye rolls. I'd consider going back although I don't I can swallow the service to continuously come here. It was a little bit better than alright.

    (3)

  • Linda S.

    This post is purely on service because the seating system is ridiculous. I called ahead to see how long the wait was and the host told me about 30 minutes. My friends and I decided we could wait out 30 minutes for some good food, but when we arrived he told us 45 minutes and didn't even bother to take our name down. There was a large empty table by the door so we decided to sit there, but then we were asked to wait outside in the blazing south florida sun for 45 minutes. After 15 minutes or so I decided to check if he accounted for us and put our name down somewhere when I overheard a party of four complaining about how they were told to wait 30 minutes and now it's almost an hour. After hearing that, I promptly turned around and left. Beware, this place is not a walk in friendly place!

    (1)

  • Vanessa M.

    Brunch is perfection and on my short list of Miami's best brunches. The Challah Banana's Foster French toast and "Wabbit" and Waffles are a must-try--the rabbit was not at all gamey and tasted incredible. The best thing about brunch at The Fed? The $15 bottomless mimosas. Huzzah!

    (5)

  • Antonio L.

    I stopped here by myself for a quiet Friday night dinner at the bar. It was the 2nd stop on my Biscayne Boulevard restaurant tour. The bartender was very friendly and recommended both Shiner and Namaste beers which I thought were both amazing. I chose the Pig wings, due to the high number of recommendations, and have never had anything like it in my life. The meat falls right off the bone and the sauce is sooo tasty. To balance the wings, I had a beet salad which was also very good. I have recommended this place to several friends because I feel I had a great meal and outstanding service. I have been dying to try both the Sunday Brunch and Sunday BBQ.

    (5)

  • Cynthia L.

    Came for brunch and oh my!! First it's a really cute place, small so make sure to make reservations if you don't want to wait. The service wad very attentive and nice. The food was delicious. We went in a group and shared everything and it was all amazing. No complaints on anything. Must haves: brisket and cookies and cream French toast. Won't disappoint!

    (5)

  • Tony A.

    Aniece Meinhold has done it again. While she had me at Blue Piano, I have been a big fan of Aniece's projects (such as Phuc Yea), which I think greatly enhance Miami's food scene. People like Aniece, the Pub Belly/Barceloneta guys, and Cory Finot (Buena Vista Deli) have been pivotal in advancing Miami as a food city. Having lived in Miami since 1988 or so, it's really exciting to see as a food lover. I am remarkably late on the uptake here, but last night was my first trip to the Federal. It was a wonderful experience. The menu was very creative and all the dishes were very well executed. Moreover, the atmosphere and the ambiance of the restaurant were really spot on. It was a real pleasure to dine here. Our meal started with crispy beef bits (fried beef trip which taste remarkably like Funyons, and I think that's a tremendous compliment), and the famous house pig "wings." The "wing" comes from one of the most delectable places on the pig (the back of the trotter I believe), and is tender, delightfully porky, and really sumptuous. It's prepared in the traditional buffalo wing preparation. Really creative and really delicious. I couldn't resist the fried chicken for my entree. It was really good. The chicken was first lightly smoked and the fried and lightly drizzled in a kumquat syrup. The chicken was savory, smoky, and just a bit sweet. It was very delicious, and again it was a very creative dish. My wife had the venison sausage, which was remarkably rich for venison, and the whipped potatoes were light and buttery. What really capped the meal off was Aniece's wine pairing. After talking with us about our preferences, she paired our meal with a beautiful minerally Spanish red wine that was precisely what we like to drink. Really made my day after a rough week. This place is SO good, and already among my favorite places.

    (5)

  • Stephany M.

    I came with my husband for date night on a Saturday and everything was amazing! We got a table immediately.. surprisingly not packed. They have a vegetarian friendly menu and for pescatarians too! I had the biskit and the truffled eggs with buttered dumplings. AMAZING. The biskits are huge and the truffled eggs was probably the best vegetarian meal I've eaten. My husband is a meat lover and had the fried chicken and according to him, the best fried chicken he's ever eaten. We will be back again and soon.

    (5)

  • Matt P.

    Another place posing for Miami Spice. The food is good, don't get me wrong, but I don't like being taking advantage of. They pull out this complicated way of doing Spice so you pay the same for their basic menu and the whole table has to participate. Service good, but come on....if your style is not set up for Spice, then DON'T DO IT.

    (2)

  • Stephanie N.

    I really, really wanted to like the The Federal. It's positive reviews on yelp is why I chose it for my birthday dinner when my parents asked me where I wanted to go. I didn't know what to expect, only that I knew everyone on yelp loved it. First of all, we had a reservation. The place was packed! When we walked in, they had a table reserved for us(kudos for that), except it was like a picnic table and the only one of its kind in the restaurant. As soon as we sat down, we had made our first mistake. We should have asked to have been moved because for the remainder of the dinner, we suffered from back pains and had to stand up for a little while to stretch our backs. This sucks since this place is pretty pricey. If you're coming here, whatever you do, DO NOT SIT IN THE PICNIC TABLE! I recommend they remove this table all together, since it is also RIGHT next to the bar (which was crowded) and we had patrons rubbing up against our backs all night from standing at the crowded bar. Very uncomfortable. Ok, on to the food and service. The service, was ok. The server disappeared on us a couple of times, but for the most part, he was nice, he just looked really busy. We first ordered some appetizers. We went with a special they had that day (fried mac & cheese balls), pork buffalo wings, pot-o-duck and the cheese biscuits. I ordered these because I had read about them on yelp, I read that the pot-o-duck was a must order. Well, I don't know what all the fuss is about. It is cute and creative, sure, but does it taste good? I don't understand what's so great about it. It doesn't taste bad, but not good either. The cheese biscuits were good, not great, they were a bit dry, I like mine moist. The pork buffalo wings and fried mac & cheese were very good, though. For our entrees, I ordered the shrimp and grits, my brother and bf ordered the lamb shank, my mom ordered a salmon dish and my dad ordered the lobster roll. My shrimp and grits were not good. The grits were hard, unflavorful and the whole dish just had a strange taste to it. My brothers and bf's lamb shank was very smoky. They both said it was ok, not great. It came on top of black eyed peas which were straight up hard. I didn't try my mom's salmon, but she said it was very good. My dad's lobster roll, again had a strange taste to it, I don't know why, it didnot taste like crab. For some reason the roll tasted like orange. I know it's weird, but we all tasted it and said the same thing. It tasted like an orange muffin. For dessert, we ordered a coconut layered cake they had on display. This was hands down the best part of the whole meal. It was buttery, moist and SO delicious. But it looked like it may have been purchased AKA not made there. The meal was expensive, which is fine for a special occasion, but when it's expensive and NOT worth the price, there's a problem. We were also EXTREMELY uncomfortable the whole night bc of our seats.

    (3)

  • Elle H.

    The food and atmosphere this spot are phenomenal. We ate here at their opening 3 years ago, and the bar has been raised. Service, food (corn cakes!!), wine list and attentive owner - amazing!

    (5)

  • Max M.

    Really enjoyed my experience at The Federal. The rosemary brussel sprouts were perfectly seasoned and were gone in seconds. The fried chicken had the right amount of crunch on the outside and was cooked to perfection. We then tried the polenta which was decent but didn't stand out as much as the other dishes. The meal was quickly revived by the southwest mac and cheese with the buttermilk biscuit. It had the perfect combination of rich and smoky flavors. The buttermilk biscuit was not your average dry biscuit and actually was complimented nicely by the honey apple glaze. Lastly we finished off everything by getting the signature dish, Jar O Duck. It is a must get and the candied sweet potato is a perfect pairing with the duck rillette. Make sure to get one of their frozen cocktails as well. Overall, I'd highly recommend The Federal. The food is excellent and the price is more than reasonable, one of the true finds in Miami.

    (5)

  • Brian A.

    My wife and i went here for the first time last night and the service was great. we tried a little bit of everything. we had the Burrata salad, Beet salad, Steak Tar Tar, Biscuit ( which was huge ), Venison Chili, and we drank the Home made Sangria. Overall the service was good and the food was great.

    (5)

  • Mrs. D M.

    Nice gastropub with eclectic vibe on Biscayne Blvd in an unassuming shopping plaza. Our mistake: found during Art Wynwood weekend without a reservation, so we waited forever...but the Lemongrass Sangria helped ease the pain. Ordered: Biscuits (delicious! Crunchy outside, soft inside), Lemon Pepper Calamari (good saltiness with citrus), Smoked Chicken (really good, tender meat, but a bit too much chutney) and Jambalaya (good flavor but not too memorable). Walk away: The service was great! The patient host was helpful and always smiling, our waiter was very personable and having one of the owners, Ani, come chat it up and tell us their story (genuinely interested), was great. Would like to go back for their brunch, too.

    (4)

  • Bowie S.

    Went here for brunch with my girlfriends. One of them called to make reservations but they said only after 1pm so we went around noon and it was half empty. We sat down near the deer head, anyways here's my review of the food: The menu works like this. You get two starters; chips with ricotta, a bean dip and smoked dolphins dip and a basket of pastries with chocolate croissant, and two other things I don't know what they are called but are really good with the jam they had. So for starters 5 stars! Then you get to choose two items per person. So we all choose diff things, I got the crab toast and waffle pork dish. Both weren't that great, the toast was too thick and the waffle pork thing was different and interesting. My friends got nachos and an egg cheese thing which were ok and the other got a sweet waffle dish that was good and steak and eggs that took an hour and half to come out. When we kept asking the servers they kept saying it's on it's way and we were there for a long time. Her steak and eggs came after the table was cleared for almost an hour already. And it was def not worth the wait we were full by then but portions here are good and they give you a good variety. Dessert also comes with the brunch. It finally came and we all took a bite, it was good and overall a good place for brunch but too slow and I don't plan on going back. We all tried it once because of the reviews but I don't think it lived up to expectations.

    (3)

  • Grace C.

    Pros: The food was good but small portions Cons: The service could use some work We went for an early dinner around during Miami Spice 2014 (unbeknownst to us) so our entire group ended up doing their prix-fixe meal. We could order a handful of things from a list to share. Since it was our first time, we thought it would be great to do. They make a variety of cocktails but when I asked if my underage brother had any mocktail options. I was told no. I thought that was weird since they have a full bar in the back and couldn't come up with anything? I felt that the message to me was that it wasn't a family-friendly establishment. In a place that was supposed to be creative, my brother ordered a sprite. Overall the meal was unique with both high points and low. We were encouraged at the time by our server to go this route but looking back I probably would have just ordered exactly what I wanted. The dessert was a throwaway rice pudding concoction that no one touched.

    (3)

  • Cessie C.

    I had been dying to try this place thanks to the endless #foodporn pics on my instagram feed! Finally went on a Sunday with my friend for brunch. Get there early. The place is super tiny even though we were there by noon, as the afternoon went on, it got busier & busier. We did not have reservations and there was a 30 minute wait that turned into 45. Luckily, they have bottomless mimosas, so we sat at the bar and got our drink on while we waited. I love the concept, decor & setting of the restaurant, its a sharing menu with a set price. So you get to try a little bit of everything and the portion sizes are perfect- they are not HUGE- so you don't roll out of there feeling a croqueta. The parking is kind of a mission, bc its in a tiny shopping center. Here's what we ate: Baker's Basket assorted mini pastries, jam & butter Morning Skinny Dip (the honey & cheese is what makes this dip FIRE) local ricotta 'n honey, smoked fish dip, spiced black bean, "secret spiced" homemade chips Lobster 'n Gravy- This was my FAV!!! AL thought, it could use a lil more lobster! butter poached maine lobster, creamed corn, buttermilk biskit, truffles Green Eggs 'n Ham (similar to eggs Benedict) federal biskit, creamed spinach, pork shoulder Breakfast Nachos (very similar to Mexican Chilaquiles- and soooo yummy) cowboy venison chili, cotija cheese, fried egg, fixins Chunky Monkey Waffle (i love bananas & chocolate so this was heaven) buttermilk waffle, banana, nutella, choco chips Cookies & Cream French Toast- this was DEATH and the perfect ending! oreo crumble, ricotta whipped cream, choco sauce, maple syrup The bottomless mimosas are only $19! The service was a little slow because they were so busy, but very good. I will def be going back!!

    (4)

  • Renee H.

    This is the best brunch I think we have ever had in Miami. The pig wings and waffles are amazing! Everything we tried was delicious. They had a great spice menu too. Service exceptional. We will be back to try dinner for sure.

    (5)

  • Raisa O.

    Cheers Ani! Don't just continue to troll the reviews but actually "learn" from them, most are about how you don't care about your customers & the ridiculous wait times all these people couldn't possibly be lying. God bless you

    (1)

  • Marc R.

    As a local Morningsider I was more disappointed in today's Miami Spice brunch will not make us return. Half portions for Miami Spice, frozen Edamame, and left hungry. A party of four next to us was worse off as they shared same appetizers with 4 people. Rip off in comparison with much better Miami Spice options.

    (2)

  • Claudia R.

    I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. We walked in around 2:30pm on a Sunday, we expected a wait. Upon arriving the hostess told us our wait would be 15-20 minutes, which was a lie. We ended up waiting 40 minutes to finally get seated. The 40 minute wait wasn't what upset me, what got to me was that bigger parties were arriving and they were seated right away. After complaining, we got offered a complimentary drink and got seated right away. Service when seated was fast. Our food was good and their craft beers are awesome. Everything was 4 star worthy except the terrible service upon arriving. I'll give this place another try but definitely not on a Sunday!

    (3)

  • Yanyn S.

    This is by far my favorite place for brunch. They have a family style concept which allows for lots of sharing. I'd recommend coming in a group. Make sure to make a reservation before hand to secure a spot. Loved their "wing and waffle"! Also, for special events like Valentine's Day they get creative with their set menu- it was by far the best Vday dinner I've had. The service is wonderful and the environment is awesome.

    (5)

  • Amelie B.

    Brunch with my hubby. Had to wait a hour and a half (they told us 30/45mn waiting), and they seated us at a table inside that was free for at least 30mn... Nice place, nice people but way too noisy. Food ok but nothing spectacular. Will not recommend.

    (2)

  • Maya L.

    Came here for a Sunday brunch during Art Basel. I love farm to table. The food was excellent and I would give 5 stars for food! I had the crawfish and grits which had a sous vide egg (slow poached egg at a low temp for 1hr+, yum), biscuit (packed full of flavor), heirloom tomato salad, and deviled eggs. Two others had the fried green tomato and pork shoulder and the meet was juicy and tender. They are known for the chicken and waffles . The waiter was very engaging and he tried his best but the kitchen and floor was managed terribly. The coffee machine broke in the middle of brunch and I saw them throw it away. There seemed to be a lot of workers and not a lot getting done. I saw runners walking around with food not knowing which table ordered what. I think the kitchen is very small because all of us ate our entrees at separate times because all four dishes came out at complete different times. We had to ask for salt, pepper, milk, hot sauce. Great food but experience was dampened by the poorly managed restaurant. Btw, no liquor license but they have some inventive champagne based drinks and a bottomless champagne deal for $18.

    (3)

  • Ute L.

    Oh Federal I had such high expectations after all the great reviews. Late Sunday brunch. The place was super noisy, we literally couldn't hear each other inside, due to some very loud "ladies" at surrounding tables, who, from the sound of it, had either too much coffee, too many mimosas, or both. We managed to use sign language agreeing on sitting outside instead, which turned out to be much more relaxing. As for the menu, considering strip mall location and portion sizes, prices are pretty high. Not very veg friendly, with pretty much the only options the starter beet salad and French toast. No pancakes? Not even a veggie omelet. Beet salad and French toast it was. The beet salad wasn't great and definitely overpriced. Tiny and the frisee lettuce was difficult to eat. Would have been better with just good old romaine. Morgan's beet salad is way better and five times the size. The French toast equally disappointing. Very dry. The bread was either really old or hadn't been soaked in the batter enough, probably a combination of both. I felt like I was eating a thick slice of dry toast drizzled with chocolate syrup. Not impressed. How do you mess up French toast? One of the easiest dishes in the world. The corn meal waffles tasted just like cornbread. Cool idea but I prefer regular waffles. The eggs benedict with creamed spinach and poblano hollandaise looked like the best dish at our table. My dad really liked the biscuits on the bottom. Chicken and waffles were a small portion and the BF didn't seem too impressed with either. Even the desserts were not impressive. The pot de crème, as they called it, was just Oreo crumbs topped with vanilla ice cream and an espresso mousse on top. The mousse wasn't set all the way, tasted like flavored whipped egg whites. The apple strudel looked more like a pecan strudel. That could be a good thing if you expect really rich, really sweet and really caloric but that's not what apple strudel should be. It should be light and flaky, at least if you're German. Sorry, not getting on the Yelp band wagon with this one. No repeat.

    (2)

  • Ali M.

    Pretty meh if you ask me. Went here because it was awarded best new restaurant, but I didn't love the options. What we got was good, not amazing. The service was the worst service I've ever experienced. I think there was one waiter for the whole restaurant. He had no knowledge of the wines and failed to explain the specials. We ended up getting the clams - good but very chewy and salty, the jambalaya - not like jambalaya seemed like rice with sauce and other things, the porchetta - good but I had nothing to compare it to, and the pork wing- probably the best thing we got. In general it was too fatty for me and the food was okay. I probably wouldn't go back - especially with that service.

    (3)

  • MG G.

    I first heard about this from Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. We went for dinner at around 7:30 on a Saturday night, not crowded at that point but there were more people coming in as we were close to leaving. My bf and I had excellent service. Unfortunately I forgot the server's name but he was helpful, attentive with the drinks, really couldn't have done a better job. The food: we tried the Jar O' Duck and the New England Style Lobster Sliders. Everything tasted delicious but the lobster sliders were my favorite, so soft, fresh and buttery!! We also shared the Ceez's Smokey Fried Chicken and the SW Mac & Cheese. I wish I could perfectly fry a chicken like that... I ate everything but the bones and licked my fingers... The BBQ flavor and the spicy sauce on the side really worked well so the chicken was my favorite. My bf's favorite was the Mac & cheese which I highly recommend that as a side if you're having the chicken. The portions I had were not big enough for my bf but we both had a really great night with awesome food.

    (5)

  • juanita s.

    I have been here before and I have to say I was left unimpressed. The biscuits were hard and bland and portions were super small and had me running to the bathroom bc the gravy was so rich! Service was o.k. And if you serve bottomless mimosas then you should expect people to drink alot. I just can't see myself coming back here and not for $90 bucks for brunch.

    (2)

  • Jeff H.

    I really wanted to like this place. My wife and I had seen the restaurant on Bravo's Best New Restaurant and were super excited. Unfortunately it was a huge disappointment. Here are the pros and cons: Pros: 1. Best deviled eggs I have ever had. 2. Wait staff were very attentive. Cons: 1. Famous Biscuit was hard as a rock! :( 2. Wife had BBQ fish and it was awful! Not sure what kind of fish it was but if not for the BBQ sauce would have been even worse! 3. I had the crispy porchetta which is low & slow, collard greens, brisket ends, andouille, house made bacon, smoked grapes. This was basically a big piece of non seasoned fat wrapped with a hard as a rock pork rind! The collard greens were not seasoned and under cooked. 4. Owner (wife) walked by the table at least ten times and did not even acknowledge any customers. Maybe her head is a little big due to the show? She was more worried about the bum in the parking lot than she was her customers! 5. Menu is very limited! 6. Not in the best neighborhood in Miami! Bottom line is that the food was not seasoned! If you are not going to properly season the food, then put salt and pepper on the table! There is a reason this place is not full on a Saturday night! I would never go back here and eat. Please correct your food and season it! Very disappointing!

    (2)

  • Matt W.

    Like everyone else, we saw these guys on TV. When Tom Colichio says "This is really good" you develop expectations. The Federal did not disappoint. We decided to have some cocktails, because they looked interesting. The Southern Belle and Lemongrass Sangria were great. As was the Beer for the Kitchen - a great idea I wish more places would copy. First out was Jar o'Duck. A very good duck rillette. Perfect bread - thick, crunchy, a little charred, delicious. Little coins of candied sweet potato. But the kicker is the charred marshmallow fluff - takes the dish from really good to "I can't stop eating this. Really. I can't. Please help me." Then came the famous Biskit. A cat head biscuit, basically fried on the outside. Tender and moist on the inside. Sweet and salty and buttery and gone too fast. As Callie Speer said, that's a pretty f****n' good biscuit. Next up was the Buffalo Style Pig Wing. I've seen other reviewers say it wasn't hot, and this is true. But both ribs and chicken wings are meant to be served warm (you're holding them in your hands), so that's OK. The sauce was delicious. The blue cheese mousse was perfect when eaten with the pork, but tasted a little off on its own. The meat wasn't fall off the bone tender, which was disappointing. This was a good dish, but not a great one. Finished off with the Spicy Clams. My only complaint is it didn't come with a straw. The tomato broth is nuts. The clams were sweet and tender. The chorizo complimented them perfectly. More great bread. I could eat this all day. The service was fantastic. The hostess was friendly and pleasant. Our waiter managed our table, but everyone in the restaurant was taking care of us. Food came out when it was ready, not when our waiter was able to get to it. Servings were timed well. Whoever was passing by when our water glasses got low stopped and filled them, whoever was passing by when our plates were empty picked them up. While I had my face buried in the clams, I heard A.'s fork hit the floor. Maybe a second later I heard "Thank you". The owner was standing and talking to friends at the next table. Picked up an unused fork from there and handed it over faster than I would have believed possible, went and got another to replace it. That was impressive. The AC wasn't on, probably out, so it was pretty warm by the time we were done. And the Pig Wing could have been better (and I expect it will be the next time we go). So this is a 4, but I have every expectation that I'll be changing that to a 5 soon.

    (4)

  • Katherine S.

    Happy hour is great, go for the fish dip and the jumbo biscuit you won't be disappointed! They get creative with prosecco and bubbly cocktails too :)

    (5)

  • Roselin S.

    I went to The Federal for brunch with a group of friends and it was absolutely delicious! We each had a taste of our entrees which included steak and eggs, frittata, green eggs and ham, and deviled eggs. The ultimate satisfying treat for my sweet tooth was the cookies and cream French toast. Each of our picks were spot on! I'm definitely returning to The Federal for brunch and then some:)

    (5)

  • German M.

    Oh Em Gee! I came here for Sunday brunch and had an orgasmic meal. Their methodology is that you get two appetizers to share, 2 entrees of your choice, and dessert. All for $25. Say what!? I left completely satisfied because of the portion sizes, the variety and the flavors. This place provided a twist on classic dishes which was innovative and fun... I can't wait to come back here for dinner (or back for brunch). I made a reservation online for 11:30am on Sunday but there were empty tables inside and outside. Parking could have been a mission but I got lucky as someone was leaving as I was arriving.

    (5)

  • Miriam H.

    I have forgiven so much about this restaurant, from plastic in my breakfast to outdoor tables so grimy that pieces of many previous diners' dinners could be found in between the slats. But on the last two occasions I visited, I had to leave because what the restaurant put forth on its website was, without apology, not offered in reality. First, it was the happy hour that suddenly disappeared. Most recently and more significantly, it was the vegetarian items on the menu. The Federal has promised a twice-weekly vegetarian prix fixe lunch, and I applaud more vegetarian options. But vegetarians -- or anyone with different dietary needs -- shouldn't be relegated to a particular meal. A vegetarian should be able to eat at dinner as well, particularly if the online menu implies they can (I was told the menu hadn't been changed online after certain items had been removed and that the kitchen couldn't put together another vegetarian entree). Every time I try to go to the Federal, I feel like I'm presented with the excuse that it's still defining and redefining itself. Three years is too long.

    (1)

  • Shawn H.

    I like what his place could be. Great decor, lively atmosphere, and what should be a great food concept. Every dish was either par or below par. Crawfish and grits were particularly bad, no sense of flavor. Pig wing which I was excited to try was average. Pork was bland, needed a crispier exterior and even the hot sauce needed more garlic and vinegar. Duck nachos are a great idea but again execution is the problem. They do have a nice beer selection but who doesn't these days?

    (2)

  • Savy A.

    Yelp has not steered me wrong yet... But as previously stated "don't believe the hype". Made a reservation and arrived on time but was told my party of two would still had to wait 15 minutes ... Then why make a reservation? We opted to sit outside just to get to a table quicker and realized sitting outside was the better option. With the breezy weather the outside was cooler then the inside of the place. If your looking for a "cosy" (bc it is tinny) place to have drinks with friends along with some ok food then this is for you.

    (2)

  • Gabriel C.

    Claudio, our server, was wonderful and very attentive. Unfortunately, we did not live the food. The Oreo cookie French Toast lacked flavor even with all the toppings. Also, the kale frittata was very bland.

    (2)

  • Marra C.

    The place was very quaint, and I was definitely unprepared for it's location in a strip mall but the fare was unique and tasty. I didn't particularly care for the pot pie I ordered (it lacked meat and filling in general), but the cheese biscuits and Jar O' Duck were delicious, as was my boyfriend's meal. We went with another couple and they all had terrific meals. I will say the service was terrific, and I'm glad I went to finally try the food, which I've always read was so great. I probably won't go back though. I've had better meals a lot closer to home.

    (3)

  • Joanna R.

    Went there recently with the two besties and the joint was quite crowded for a Sunday around 8 p.m. which confirmed that indeed, this place was awesome. Our waiter was a doll. Literally (super cute guy). The décor was quite cozy with little yellow lights hanging on the outside terrace area. It's a busy day at work and so I won't go into details but this just didn't live up to the hype I've heard so much over the past few months. I was told that this was the sidekick to the other midtown restaurant Blue Collar but I felt that BC trampled this restaurant as far as taste and menu selection, even if décor wasn't as appealing. The crawfish fritters, the lamb burger, and the steak, all sounded delicious but were really just "okay." The crab cake was TASTY and TOP NOTCH, so I will give them that credit as it's definitely due. All in all though, I wouldn't return. But of course this is my personal opinion and that's what taste buds are for. Salud!

    (3)

  • Kai T.

    Wow !!! Rarely have I been this satisfied with a place. I really don't have a single thing to complain about. The food was out of this world ! All items on the menu were delicious and new creations (I at least haven't seen them anywhere else before). Truly a Foody's heaven ! The atmosphere was great, the decorations unique, and the staff very nice and attentive. Whether you're coming for a full meal or just drinks and an appetizer, I guarantee it will be a memorable experience and you will consider the Fed one of Miami's hidden treasures. Can't wait to go back next week once their extensive craft beer selection will be available.

    (5)

  • Ferinelys C.

    An interest concept but i'm a little disappointed with the food. Nothing special. Definitely not one of my favorites. The service is excellent. Nice ambient.

    (3)

  • Barbara I.

    Horrible service. I understand it's a small location, so we made a reservation to make sure we do not wait to long. I had put down for 5 ppl and it ended up being 6 of us. If I would of known they would of been so useless because of one more person I would of never gone. I understand it's a bit of an inconvenience but a table that can sit 5 can sit 6. But what really put me over the edge was the attitude of the owner as well of host. There are several ways you can say something and how they were saying it was all wrong. If it was my restaurant I would try to sympathize be funny but, it's 95 degrees outside we've been waiting for an hour we have been here a couple of times before and the tone and overall stank face you are giving is just not appreciated. We left to Morgans got seated right away and they heard of our poor time at the Federal and gave us a cheese and fruit plate!! That's what I call service!! It's the little things that count.

    (1)

  • Andrea M.

    Incredibly unprofessional service. Came in for brunch today and were asked to sit at the bar while they changed over some tables. Half of the tables in the restaurant were open and didn't make much sense. We sat at the bar along with another couple that came in at the same time. We proceeded to wait 15 minutes for no apparent reason. We were never offered a drink or anything at the bar. The other couple made a comment that maybe they were delaying us from sitting down until 3 which i assume is when brunch ends. Finally that couple was taken to a table and when the host came back to us I assumed he was going to sit us as well. He instead told us he needed to change some glasses and that it was going to be a few more minutes. 6 tables were open and ready for seating. I indicated he should have sat us, that this was ridiculous and that we're leaving. His comment was ok let me show you the door! Extremely unprofessional and for someone that eats out a lot, they just lost a repeat customer.

    (1)

  • Julia F.

    So! I'm right here and just finished up our last "American tapas". The food was very interesting indeed. We really really loved the Jar O' Duck: Marshmallow on a fresh bread with duck and fancy sweet potato? Yummy! The BBQ devil's egg were very original too. We also had the pig's wings (one wing actually) and the Steak tartare. The latest one wasn't really good, it was bland and boring. My biggest criticism is the relation between size and price. This place is extremely and unnecessarily pricey for what you actually get on the plate. Yes, they are fresh and original, chic and trendy, but they don't need to put $14 on a steak tartare that is so so petite, and just some chips on the side. Everything was just too small. you can still be cool, fun and chic without being that expensive really. We could have eaten two more tapas, but we would end up paying just too much for the small amount of food. The service was ok, but must say the other girl that brought us the food explained us better how to mix things together to create the perfect bite. Explanations were nice and enhanced the process of eating the tapas. In conclusion, loved the food, loved the look and feel, didn't love the price&size.

    (3)

  • Lyda S.

    Went with daughter& son in law. Ordered the deviled eggs -yummy, the pig wing - good the biscuit - good but burnt on top (daughter sez it was the sugar) ordered corn cakes but didn't get them. They both ordered the fried chicken some of the pieces were cut in 1/2 they shared w/me. My chicken thigh was raw next to bone chef said it was just a vein! I took left over chicken home w/me - all 4 thighs were raw! I ordered the octopus - enjoyable. Because of the raw chicken we received a free crispy cream bread pudding. Too much donut - not good! Sorry Gordon & Tom

    (2)

  • Lester M.

    Been dying to come to this place for some time now, and finally made it. The place is very cool with a nice rustic feel to it inside and the outside feels like a backyard party even though you are facing the Biscayne Blvd. Their beer selection is very good although that day they were out of Michael's Home Brew. The food was just great. My order was as follows: 1-Jumbo Cheese Biskit. Huge, soft, warm, delicious. 2-Buffalo Style Pig wing Tender, spicy, perfect. 3-Townpark Fries On its own, very good. But I used as a bed for the juices from my lamb, ridiculously good 4-Braised Lamb Shank Very tender, fall of the bone. One big piece of awesomeness. Yes, all of it for me. My girlfriend had the Federal Steak and I was able to try some of the Jar O' Duck and cornbread from my friends.Everything was delicious. Can't wait to come back.

    (4)

  • alvaro r.

    By far one of my favorite restaurants in Miami. Great vibe, great service and amazing food. I could write a lond review here but I won't. Try this place if you haven't yet, you will no be dissapointed!

    (5)

  • Christophe S.

    Excellent atmosphere. Superb service (Emily), Beautiful food! Made reservations for brunch, we only waited 10 minutes to get a table! Had an amazing Mimosa at the bar while we waited. We couldn't ask for a better introduction to a Miami Brunch. Service, food, friendliness and the overall feel was spot on! They have made me a regular. They deserve it. Cheers, Christophe Took pictures at Instagram.com/chris7ophe

    (5)

  • Gus M.

    Man, what can I say about this brunch spot? Heavenly. Just heavenly. Went for brunch a few weeks ago. Maybe the best in the area. Say, have you ever had eggs benedict? Well, the eggs benedict here include cheesy biscuits (instead of english muffins) and... wait for it... FRIED. PORK. BELLY (in place of the Canadian bacon). It was so beautiful, I almost cried. The blend of flavors is just so wonderful, it is truly difficult to explain. So, I'd say you're better off heading on over when you have the chance. My significant other ordered the Buffalo Pig Wings (sorta like pork ribs) and waffles. A funky combination, but pretty damn tasty. The service was fast and friendly. I don't know the deal with the parking. They offer valet, but I just self parked in the lot and walked over.

    (5)

  • Chanel P.

    I really like this place! It's super cute and yummy! Food comes out kind of randomly but it makes it nice for sharing. Came with my boyfriend on a Saturday around noon and it wasn't too crowded. We got crawfish/grits, the ginormous biscuit (soooo good!), pork and waffles and the jar o duck. I wasn't a huge fan or the duck thing. It was salty/sweet. But everything else was delish! Really cute decor.

    (5)

  • Shoshana K.

    I am surprised to be reading that people enjoyed the service and waitstaff at this restaurant. We just got back from dining there today and had ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE SERVICE. The food was good, but we were treated so terribly - ignored sometimes even - that I would not go back. I could get food I liked just as much as what I had here at someplace like Yardbird on South Beach or even Pub Belly has better service (different food, but similar style restaurant). But this review is not about those restaurants.... When we showed up they were not crowded. It appeared several tables were reserved but there were some open spots so they told us they would be able to accomodate us. We were asked if we would like a beverage which came about 5 minutes after we sat down, fine, and then when we were ready to order, it wasn't until 15 minutes after we were siting there that they came by. After asking a runner to get our waiter, we noticed they took several orders IN FRONT OF US for parties that were seated AFTER WE ARRIVED. This was extremely rude. Our food came out hot which was good. The eggs benedict was the best dish by far. The pumpkin pancake was good too. Don't get the baked eggs - these were bad. I think the feeling we left with was stunned at how slow and exclusive the service was. Several parties who came in after we did were served before us and got their bills before ours. When I go out to eat at a restaurant like this, I except to have decent service and this was not what we paid for.

    (2)

  • Jay H.

    An unexpected disappointment from start to finish. Things got off to a shaky start when we arrived. They politely explained that there was an event scheduled inside, but we were welcomed to sit on the patio. Not a problem, especially given the lovely weather that evening. They should have also told us then and there that the menu was extra limited due to said event, but that wasn't mentioned until after we were seated and served water. Sure they were friendly, but I found that a little deceitful. We thought about returning on another night, but just decided to stick it out considering everything on the menu was regularly available, thus we could get an accurate representation of the food. We opted for the roasted beet salad to start; this was mistake number one. The Federal's take on a beet salad was surprisingly amateur. When you order a beet salad, it should be mainly comprised of (surprise, surprise), beets. This is especially true considering the $12 price tag for a small, tapas style portion. We were served a bunch of lettuce with just a few beets and pecans hiding here and there. It wasn't bad, just stupidly misleading, and for lack of a better word, beet-less. For "main courses" we went for the lamb burger (add quail egg for $2) and the chicken with spinach and sausage. The burger was decent, the chicken dish was cooked well, but unremarkable in taste. The main problem here is just that the prices don't match up in any way what-so-ever. This is a $20 burger, folks. Twenty bucks gets you a burger with what may as well be a shot glass full of french fries. In the end, our tab for two was over $60, and that's without ordering any drinks or dessert. I really am surprised with all this hype. It was by no means a disaster, but they could definitely use a lot of work in and out of the kitchen.

    (2)

  • Camila N.

    I finally was able to go to the Federal last night, and it definitely did NOT disappoint. Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall, my group sat outside and got to enjoy a breezy April Miami night. We arrived around 8:30PM and were expecting the restaurant to be full, which was not the case. Chalk it up to Good Friday. There were a lot of things on the menu that we wanted to try, so we decided to order a lot of things, tapas-style, so we would get to taste everything. First up, the cheese biskits are, in the words of our waiter, "life changing". Actually, though. Huge flaky biscuits with melted cheddar cheese and sweet butter - just doesn't get any better than that. We also got the much talked about jar o'duck, which comes with toast, duck pate, marshmallow fluff and sweet potato. This stuff shouldn't taste good together, but does. We also had the townpark fries, which come with an egg on top. Fries + egg always works, and was one of my favorites. The 3 tomato salad and mussels we had were also good. We sampled the short rib wellington pot pie special which had lots of vegetables and was topped off with a delicious croissant-style crust. To finish off our meal, we tried the s'mores and the strawberry cheesecake, rumored to be the original cheesecake recipe from the Fountainbleau hotel. I usually gravitate towards chocolate desserts, but in this case, I really really liked the cheesecake. Overall, the ambiance was really nice. Our waiter(s) were super attentive and nice and the owner came over and checked up on us, and she is great. My group commented more than once that it was not a typical Miami scene, which was appreciated. Will definitely be frequenting this place in the future!

    (4)

  • Natascha O.

    Should have written this review during opening week but wanted to give myself couple of more tries just to see if it would hold to 5-star WOW status! ... YES, it did! The Federal is like a drug ... you wish you could have it all the time and dream about the delish plates when you are awake and when you are asleep - "Foodgasm, anyone?" The atmosphere and the food experience is amazing! You feel like you are in a South Carolina cabin, eating with your family a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner every single time! Yes, definitely go with a group and share - best way to experience the diverse comfort food menu! Do I start with the pig ears or the pork rillette - both excellent! Continue with the Short-Rib Wellington Pot Pie and the Wild Boar Sausage - sharing portions indeed! Pace yourself / you would want to have space for dessert and definitely ask Aniece for the wine selection - she is the best to give you advice on what to have with dinner! Congrats to The Federal team of "Federalists" - You are in my dreams all the time ;)

    (5)

  • Nicol S.

    This is a pretty cool little place. I loved the ambiance and the lamb burger was outrageously good. The duck in jar was on the money too. Unfortunately, their cheese biscuits were awful. I had a Southern Granny and consider myself an authority on good biscuits. These were the opposite. Huge dry rocks of dough with a square of cheese melted on top. Usually cheese biscuits have cheese baked into them not melted on top. I enjoyed the ambiance and space of the restaurant. My wife and I went with a couple of friends and we were able to converse and enjoy each other's company without yelling. The waiter was great and really helpful. I will certainly go back soon.

    (4)

  • Miami L.

    My first time at at The Federal, and I loved it! The "Jar 'o Duck" was a great way to start and the Cab-Franc blend wine was delicious along with it. Had the lobster couscous and mac 'n cheese. Dessert was the apple struddel. Each item I chose was one one of the best I've ever had in that category. Our waiter, Misty, was outstanding!

    (4)

  • Seth W.

    I've been to The Federal twice. We had great service both times. The first time we ordered from the Tasting Menu. We expected a broad and varied sampling of menu offerings, but that's not how it worked. We simply ordered from the menu and shared the standard-sized dishes, which we would've done anyway. The ONLY difference is that by mentioning "Tasting Menu", we paid about 50% more than we would have. I don't know if it was a mis-understanding on the part of the server or the mgt, but I wouldn't recommend that strategy to anyone. The Crawfish and Grits was outstanding. We enjoyed Brussel Sprout and Mac & Cheese. We were underwhelmed by the Lobster CousCous. On my second visit, I ordered Clams, which were ridiculously large, tough and un-appetizing. In fact, the size of those clams alone was enough for me to drop a star from my review. I will go back, but I doubt I'll ever order from the Tasting Menu again, and the next time I see a fist-sized clam, I'll leave it alone!

    (3)

  • Matt H.

    I went here not really knowing what to expect. Normally I do my homework prior, but I had no idea that this was a BBQ place.... which did not upset me in the slightest. The only not positive was the Hamachi was a bit of a stretch. The deviled eggs were awesome. Pig wing was awesome. The duck was really good. And it was the best fried chicken I've had in my life. The brussel sprouts blew my mind. Even their by the glass Sauvignon Blanc was fantastic as well. On top of that, we found out their episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives was airing that night which was super cool. The atmosphere was right on point and the service was very good. I think the best compliment a restaurant can get is, "we'll be back"....... and I mean it. Great spot.

    (5)

  • Monica C.

    I finally had the chance to stop by The Federal on Easter on the way back from the beach AND let me tell you I walked out very full and impressed. Disclaimer: It is comfort food!! This is the go to place when you want to eat, drink and be merry. NOT if you are on a diet. I want to start with the service because this place can write a book on customer service. The minute I walked in, I felt like a queen. Although, the place had other customers, I would have never noticed by the way I was treated. I was with the hubby and my son. My 3 year old was treated great!! They actually got him to eat the LAMB burger!!! I was impressed. The food: One word: HEAVEN. The egg and fries was delish. I had the steak which was absolutely amazing. I tried my son's lamb burger and it was flavorful!! MUST TRY: Red Velvet Cake. I am picky with my red velvet cake because it is my favorite. This one was above my standards. The decor: Honestly, while in the restaurant I felt like I was somewhere up North NOT in South Florida. The WINE: The selection is great. I went with the waitress suggestion and loved it. The BILL: When it arrived my hubby looked at me and said $200. We had appetizers, meals, dessert and drinks. To our surprise it was half that!! Federal I will be back!!!!

    (5)

  • Jimmy M.

    I have been frequenting this place since it opened and I believe it is one of the more creative dining options you'll find in Miami. Have always loved their staples, in particular, jar of duck and the pig wing. Brunch is also excellent. Would love it more if hey had a full bar as my only complaint would be that their cocktails could use more of a kick.

    (4)

  • Brian C.

    Another overrated, overpriced "new age" yet somehow "old style" spot, much like Blue Collar which is just a short drive away. They do tapas style, which basically means you'll spend the whole meal wondering when your next dish will come. We spent the first 30 minutes just trying to get chips with dip and some ready made bread in a basket for brunch. Only a few solid dishes but nothing I'd ever come back for. I tried to like this place, but the super long wait for food just does not make it worth it for me. I guess you really have to be plastered on mimosas at 11AM on a Sunday to make it enjoyable or to at least cloud your judgement.

    (2)

  • Bonnie F.

    Came a long way! Well worth it. Loved the octopus and of course the biscuit. We tried many things and loved them all. The heirloom tomato salad had a surprising bite to it.

    (5)

  • Grant R.

    Unfortunately, this place gets worse and worse. Regardless of the $19 bottomless mimosas, you could not drink enough to disregard the horrible service we had. Do not bother making a reservation because we had to wait 40 minutes after our scheduled reservation to sit. When we finally sat down, the waiter came to the table 20 minutes later. The order was incorrect but they did compensate with a free appetizer. The food is good but the service is poor.

    (1)

  • MICHELLE C.

    What is not to love about "The Federal"? After reading Tom and Vanessa's amazing reviews I could not wait to check it out. Also, I was told Aniece was part of it, and let me tell you anything she touches is magical. She thrives with perfection for Customer Service, and then creates a menu that is unique in it's own. It is hard for me to give five star's unless I really think every part of my meal is properly executed, and it was. I bought my own wine in which they chilled for me. From the moment we sat down the service was impeccable. Starters: Mussels and cheese biscuits with a side of creamy soft butter. Hubby devoured the mussels so quickly I barely got to taste one, but I did and they were very good. The broth had great flavor, I would have preferred some white wine in it but it was still great. Hubby used the shell to scoop up every last drop and of course wore a bit on his shirt. The biscuits were huge, hot and oh my I am not usually a biscuit person but wow these were excellent. Disclaimer, no way could you eat more than one, they are quite filling. Two come per order. Next I ordered the special for the night that was a pot pie with short ribs carrots, etc... hubby chose a sausage that was delicious on top of mashed potatoes puree with such a fabulous taste from all the seasonings combined. Both of our dishes were fantastic. The best way to describe it is pure COMFORT food at it's best! Feeling a bit of a chill in our otherwise perfect paradise, feeling blue, heck come here and eat. I guarantee this place can make anyone happy, with options to please from meat, fish, etc.. They were out of the famous pineapple upside down cake in which I am still dreaming about. Thanks Tom W. ha ha Seriously! Oh I will be back again and again, it is comfortable, great simple tropical decor, low lights, outside seating, excellent service and food. Congrats Aniece and the two very nice owner's that we met on our way out. You will do great and we look forward to supporting you. See you soon, please have my pineapple upside cake. :)

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    Another big hit from Cesar Zapata and company. I was a huge fan of their pop up, Phuc Yeah, and I was excited to try this place when I learned that I would be returning to Miami. So this place has been on my radar for awhile now, and I figured I would give it a shot as my birthday dinner. I'm glad I did because the food is superb. We started out by having the Mac and cheese. It had smoked poblanos, and three cheeses and was covered with a delicious crunchy tipping of bread crumbs. It was a great Mac and cheese. I believe they used goat cheese which gave it a really unique, nice flavor. For my entree, I had the pork chop which was smoked and served with Brussels sprouts, sweet potato hash and a little bit of sausage. It was a very good dish. The chop had a great smokey flavor. Almost like something you'd get in a good BBQ spot. I also had more than a few bites of the lamb burger which was topped with a duck egg and served on a pretzel bun with some of the most delicious mustard I have ever tried. Fantastic. Finished off the meal with their peanut butter and jelly dessert which was also very good. It was served in a glass jar and at first I wasn't 100% clear as to how to eat it, but I just dug in and things worked out nicely. Also worth noting, they serve this delicious food on Shoneys plates which I thought was really funny. It was less than $75 for all this great stuff too which is a deal. Hats off again to the folks behind this place. You've got a winner here...

    (5)

  • Ingrid R.

    I went for brunch. Luckily, I snagged one of the few parking spots in the plaza so I didn't have to pay the $3 for valet, which would have been a turn off for me. My friends and I ordered several plates to share so here's my take on all of them: Jar 'O Duck - delicious and worth the visit! Challah banana's foster french toast - the sauce and toppings were good but the actual bread was pretty dry inside. Definitely no where near being considered bad ass french toast. Eggs Benedict with pork belly - severely underwhelming and the pork belly was inedible. Pretzel bread - I'm not a fan of pretzels but they were decent and the mustard sauce it comes with is SPICY! I loved the mustard but if you're considering ordering some, taste it before smothering it on the bread. Chorizo and sweet potato hash - FIRE! A really good side to order if you like the main ingredients. Some fried egg dish that I can't recall the name of - boring. All in all, the experience was nice, the service was great but I don't think I'll be rushing back to The Federal anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Andres U.

    Don't know why we keep trying... Real fatty (as in barely any actual meat in bacon) food. Sloooooooow service. Don't believe the hype I guess. Weird, since yelp is not usually wrong.

    (1)

  • Alex M.

    This place is a scam. I've never been so dissatisfied with a brunch for $90 in my life. (Two people). The service is the absolute worst. Beginning with the manager who is dying to kick you right out after your last bite. Advertises $18 a piece bottomless mimosas but serves just two throughout your whole meal. Acts as if she's is "hooking you up" by giving you one more after saying something. The food was just "alright". Other places around town have the same cuisine for a lot less and with a better atmosphere. Don't be fooled.

    (1)

  • Priscilla R.

    We went for brunch on Sunday afternoon. Food was very unique and tasty! The pumpkin french toast was ridiculous!!! Should've taken a picture. Service was good too despite the long wait. Definitely recommend. :o)

    (4)

  • Anjali R.

    I've been here for dinner in the past and I was very impressed by the service and the food. I went here for brunch, however, for the first time 2 weeks ago and let me tell you, it was one of the best brunches I've ever had. We were able to pick 5 or so items off the menu, plus pastries and dessert for 2 for a fixed price. Every single item was so delicious. We had no complaints at all. If you're feeling extra thirsty you can also do bottomless mimosas for $19 per person. I can't wait to dine here again!

    (5)

  • J Scott C.

    The biskit is fantastic. I got the chicken. Debated between broiled and fried, and went for fried. Thank goodness - the fried chicken with sweet potatoes and cranberries is awesome! Definitely would come back!

    (5)

  • Melissa D.

    We stopped by in a Friday Night! The food was good. They only serve beer and wine which kinda stinks but they do make an "adult slurpee" out of wine that is good. The service was friendly but a little slow on getting food out. Not sure yet if we will go back. The biscuits are amazing for sure!!!

    (4)

  • Samantha G.

    We had an amazing meal here! The staff were very accommodating to our large group, including working around dietary restrictions. The food was served family-style, and there was a lot of it. The clams, mac 'n' cheese, deviled eggs, and fried chicken were particular standouts. The Mac 'n' cheese was spicy, cheesy, and had a wonderful crispness on top. The deviled eggs were oh-so-fab as they were topped with pulled BBQ meat - a wonderfully tasty combo. The fried chicken was crispy outside and moist inside, and had a delightful citrus taste. And all the other food we partook in was good too. Nothing was less than 3 stars, and most was at least 4 stars. And the service was attentive and patient. All in all, a wonderful meal was enjoyed.

    (4)

  • Abbey G.

    Look no further, a decent Sunday brunch spot has arrived in Miami, finally! After moving back from NYC, I have been on the hunt for a place like this. They have a bottomless drink option, we all know us (former) Manhattanies love a "boozy bunch". I am not quite the "breakfast" person and this is why I love this place, they have both savory and sweet options. The brunch menu is a set menu and has fantastic tapas style portioned options, which is prefect for diners like myself that want one of everything. The starter breads and spreads are delicious. I had the chicken and waffles which were some of the best chicken and waffles I've ever had. The green eggs and ham were also delicious and they have a small smoker on site so that the meat is cooked to perfection. By the final course, I was stuffed, overly satisfied, and taking it home for later. You need to have a reservation in advance for brunch as they only have it on Sunday's. It is worth the future planning to dine here. I will be back soon. Delish!!

    (5)

  • Alejandra C.

    As you can tell I haven't written many reviews but I'm writing this one in hopes that someone can tell me what was wrong with my biscuit. It was my first time at The Federal. My husband and I were looking to sit at the bar and have a few nibbles and drinks but the hostess said they didn't have a bar. Anyhow we sat outside cuz it was full inside but the weather was perfect, sun was setting. So we decided to share a few plates. We ordered the avocado tostada, the craw fish n grits and their famous jumbo biscuit. The tostada was nice and light and flavorful. I liked the combination of the avocado and the dehydrated strawberries. The craw fish and grits was also very tasty and flavorful. Now we get to the famous biscuit. At first bite it was good, tasted the honey part of it. Now comes the second bite, hmmmm I was thinking "is this cheddar?", I took another bite "what the heck is that flavor? It taste like perfume, no wait like soap? OMG! What is that?!" Definitely not a honey apple cider flavor, which the menu had the biscuit description as honey apple cider glaze. The odd thing about it is that the outside crusty part of the biscuit tasted just fine, it was the inside of the biscuit which was way off, just simply odd flavor, not in a good way :(. Something definitely went wrong. We even asked the waiter what the biscuit had, but we never mentioned it was an odd taste we just told him it was a " different" flavor, which we definitely did not like. I'm wondering if the staff new something was wrong because they didn't charge us for the beer. By the way I must mention staff was very good and nice . Anyhow, I'm really curious if that's the way the biscuit is supposed to taste and if so I don't get it why it's so popular. I might have to go back just for the biscuit and hopefully it will redeem itself

    (3)

  • Brenda P.

    Review Update: Last time I was in I was enamored with Federal but still had some small peeves. This time around all of those peeves were gone. Why? well, because they took care of them! There was valet parking available. Last time parking was a complete PITA! This time it was $3 but worth it. The AC was not a problem. Yes, it was cold on this night and actually a lot of people were dining outside. Maybe that was it? Whatever it was, I dined comfortable and not hot! I was able to make reservations online. That was a plus and reading that they did not before kept me away for a long time. We were a party of 4. We decided to order a bunch of different things and share it all. That was great! - Pretzel bread- piping hot served with oil and mustard. So good. - Shots of Foie Gras- our waitress was right, it tasted just like dessert because of the marshmallow fluff they add to it. - Jar O Duck- make your own, served on a tray of mix and match items. Delicious. - Federal Fries- with an egg on top- Probably the only "just OK" dish. Sounded better than it tasted. If you let the egg sit too long it makes the fries soggy. - Mussels- divine - Crispy duck- delicate and just right! - Whole hog fish- very good but it's not deboned since it's whole so be careful! - Lemon tart- just enough sweet and tang - Devil's food cake- crack - Panther French press- crack plus I think we were there for almost 4 hours! No, don't shake your head, there was plenty of seating inside since a lot of Miamians were enjoying the faux winter weather outside. Service was wonderful. Everyone was just so friendly and eager to serve. We really had a delightful meal. To end, they brought out 4 glasses of their Tokaji Aszu dessert wine. It's not something I would usually order but it was truly a sweet ending to an already incredible night. Thanks Federal! I look forward to visiting again and again!

    (5)

  • Mariana C.

    Terrible service....actually no service at all. Everyone there, including the owner seemed to hate what they do. Walked in with two friends and no one acknowledged us for 10 minutes so we decided to leave. Food looked good but won't be giving it another try!

    (1)

  • Stacy S.

    Let's keep it real people. I am rounding up for The Federal. The service was efficient. They really made an effort last night. My friend and I had a pleasant dinner here. I have nothing but good things to write about the service. They were very sweet and attentive. I found the decor charming, both inside and out. Let's move on to specifics about the food... For starters we chose the fries and the scallop special. The fries were hand cut infused with rosemary. A sunny side egg was served on top. A runny egg with fries does not work for me, especially as the fries were still glistening with oil (a bit greasy). Had they been drained for ten seconds longer, that probably would have done the trick. The house made "catsup" lacked salt. It tasted more of cocktail sauce than ketchup. The scallop appetizer was tasty. It was presented to be seared yet came out medium well (no worries for me as that's how I prefer my scallops). Very well done bacon and exotic mushrooms were served with it, in a shallow broth. Overall I liked the dish. I don't see how one is able to get all the flavors of the dish in one bite as the sauce doesn't transfer to the scallops, mushrooms, or bacon. But I managed to put all three ingredients on my fork and liked it. My friend didn't like it. He didn't say why. At $18 the cost is outrageous. I'm in a bloody strip mall. There were two scallops for f's sake. It's not Gorden Ramsey in the kitchen. My main was the "New England Chowder". What do you think of with a chowder from that part of the country? I think of a white, creamy chowder. This dish was in essence a bouillabaisse. It was a few mussels, one or two scallops, and some fish in a very shallow broth. It was served with potatoes and corn. The seafood tasted pretty fresh. It was all and all bland. It was a small portion. My recommendation to the establishment is, if you are going to keep this dish (which is ok, not great by the way) change the name or change the dish. It's not what anyone ordering it is going to expect. And was it reasonably priced? At $24, no. My friend had the short rib pot pie ($22). He generally liked it however did have a few complaints. I am sure he will Yelp about it at some point. Is the wine reasonable? No. It's a bit on the (all together now) pricey side. So here is my recap: Cute decor Wonderful Service Ok to good food Overpriced for what you get (and as you can read in my other reviews I am not one to complain about prices. This should tell you something.) Enjoy.

    (3)

  • Olga Z.

    Eat, Drink and Be Merry! With 161 reviews already written about this restaurant, and an average of 4 yelp stars, what could I possibly write about? Brunch at the bar! (Seems to be a theme with me) Brunch at the bar here was by choice, not because the restaurant was too small or too busy to accommodate guests with no reservations. Wait time = 3 minutes. The bar area has one of the best vibes in town (pun totally intended). It's an indoor pergola where you are surrounded by mounted faux game, old wine bottles covered in melted wax, and the oh so cheeky exciting and stimulating announcements that cover the bar top. ;) I wanted to try everything on the menu (Note to self: Come back with 3 people next time so I CAN try much more on the menu), but decided on the Green Eggs and Ham. Yes! It's a crispy pork belly, creamed kale, a poached egg and hollandaise sauce on a country-style "biskit". The biskit balanced out the pork belly flavor. And, the price ($12) was pretty much on par with other places that offer eggs benedict, or similar variations. I also tasted the Crispy Brussels Sprouts made in a molasses vinaigrette with sweet and sour apples ($7). Yes! As far as drinks go, I hear the cappuccino is a must try, but I had already ordered some coffee. If it's a mimosa you want, it's mimosa you'll get with their bottomless deal for brunch ($16). Yes! All in all, a nice spot for brunch. It's casual and offers a twist on some classic comfort food. Left satisfied. Three and a half Yelp stars. I'm a fan. :)

    (4)

  • Donna S.

    Eight of us ate there last night and although the biscuits and hog wings were great, the rest of the meal was over priced and not all that good. We will never go there again

    (3)

  • Taryn P.

    I am still tasting the clams and the tomato salad with their complex and satisfying flavors. This restaurant is authentic and so special. A must visit on anyone's trip to Miami.

    (4)

  • D B.

    The best fried chicken in the WORLD. #dassit #umadbro don't be come here and eat all the great food they have. Game over not 1 single place I need the southeast has fried chicken on this level.

    (5)

  • Lawrence P.

    We've dined here several times... and never had a bad meal. I really like the ambiance and décor of this restaurant. Rustic, relaxed. It reminds me of one of my favorite New York restaurants, ABC Kitchen. Great food and great service! This place is perfect for groups. Sharing your dishes is probably the best way to go. As for the food, this is a solid menu! The bavarian bretzel (pretzel bites with spicy mustard) were just perfect. The jar-o-duck (duck, sweet potato, and marshmallow in a glass jar) is always a crowd favorite. The shots of foie gras (with marshmallow fluff) was sweet and perfect. The federal fries (with an egg on top) were good as well. This place has great mussels and I know my mussels! The crispy duck is a favorite of ours as is the desserts. The Devil's cake is just that... devilishly (is that even a word?) good!!! I also like their lemon tart. As for wine, they have a nice list. I however always take my own for a corkage fee of $25. The Federal is one of those restaurants. Go with another couple or a group and stay 2-3 hours. We always do.

    (5)

  • Karla V.

    We had a great time and the food was delicious!! Favorites that we ordered were THE JUMBO BISCUIT, the short rib, and the fig/ricotta. And did I forget to say THE JUMBO BISCUIT?! Of course I didn't - that shit was too legit to ever leave my memory. Sometimes I wake up and think "JUMBO BISCUIT". Real talk. The service was great and the ambiance of the place was cozy.

    (4)

  • Lissa B.

    Saturday. Brunch. First time. I had been wanting to try this place out for a while after a few recommendations. Upon arriving, it looks quaint and unassuming from the outside. I wasn't expecting this but, it is actually in a little shopping plaza. We were greeted right away by a very friendly host. The place was packed and we were informed that it would be around 45-60 minute wait. So we hopped a seat at the bar and got a head start on the bottomless mimosas. The bar was pretty cool looking. The actual bartop was wrapped in old controversial vintage ads that were definately conversation starters. Some drop like bottles caught my eye and the bartender was more than happy to explain to me how they are like flavor essence drops to balance sweetness and infuse a hint of flavor in drinks. The gracious host approached us several times amd kept us updated on our wait time. We actually sat around 30 minutes into our wait. The server was a sweetheart. She asked if it was our first time and explained the concept in detail. Basically it is a multicourse family style brunch for a flat rate. You get starters automatically to share and then each person picks 2 main courses, small plates, served as ready. At the end you get dessert french toast. The food was pretty good, and I thought the plates looked small but since everyone shares and picks off plates, you actually get full pretty quickly. I realized there was plenty of food. All in all, the service was very friendly from the host, to bartender, to server, to even food runners. The food was good and a good value for everything. $24 for the food, $19 for bottomless mimosas. This place gets a solid 4 stars. The only reason im not giving 5 is because the prefix is limiting. We had a friend join late who just wanted a few eggs or something. We had already eaten the starters for the table so she would have had to order the prefix and then eat all that herself which was way too much. If they had just a few a la carte items outside of the prefix it would have been a bit more accomodating. But otherwise this place is super cool and I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Sadie A.

    Yum! Is the best word to describe this place! Love the tapas style of servings the food. We had the corn cake with caviar and it was probably the best thing we had all night. We obviously had to try the massive biscuit and it was delicious! The jar o'duck was ok but not my favorite. We also ordered the fried chicken- perfection, heirloom tomato salad was delicious but spicy which we didn't expect. We saved room for dessert and had the krispy Kreme bread pudding which was heavenly! They did mess up our order a little bit but the food was so amazing and totally made up for it. Will definitely be going back to try more! The prices are so reasonable for the quality of the food. Definitely a great place.

    (4)

  • Mark L.

    We went for brunch, it was simple and amazing food. Forget Collins and even Lincoln for brunch I had the jackalope Benedict. So good. Drive your hungover ass to this place for brunch, you won't regret it. Staff is great, and loved the music playlist. As a side note I couldn't help noticing that the entire operation appeared to be run on an iPad.

    (5)

  • Kolja P.

    We like The Federal for the food, ambiance and service. Everything has a little twist to it that takes it above the average. Both out visits (dinner and Sunday brunch) were enjoyable. The reason it's only 3 stars is that I'd say it's about 30% overpriced. We're still going back, just not as often...

    (3)

  • Claudia A.

    Very interesting place. I need to try it again before giving it 4 stars. It's a nice date place or dinner with friends to do something different. The menu is unique so you have to be open-minded, but everything I tried was very well executed.

    (3)

  • Johan S.

    The Federal is as good as it gets if you are a foodie looking for a great experience. This place welcomes you with open arms, and you will be delighted with vast choices of amazing food. Service is impeccable, decor is cozy and warm, and just plain cool. Try it. Plenty of parking also!

    (5)

  • Linette P.

    Overall, I think it is a good place to come have dinner. I've only been to the Federal once and thought it was good but just good. I guess I love getting my socks knocked off with amazingness but is that something that will happen every time? Probably not. On Saturday a friend and I went for dinner, with high expectations from what other friends had told us. I was very impressed with the beer selection mainly because I love beer. Yup it's true, I love it. And at the Federal they have a great selection of beer on tap and bottles. Now on to the food that my friend and I shared. We started with the beet salad which was amazing, they used pink and gold beets which are a bit more delicate than the red earthy ones. We also ordered the blackened fish that was similar to salmon but I can not remember the kind of fish it was. It was served with a lentil salad which was tasty. My dining companion wished they would have grilled it a bit longer, she felt it was under cooked but I did not mind the mushy texture as much. Okay so on to the dish that was kind of bizarre to me, the grilled shrimp. It was under the dinner section so I thought it was going to be a dinner portion, but it wasn't. When it arrived at the table we actually thought they may have served us the wrong dish. Three grilled medium sized shrimp were served on a really small plate with no accompanying food or garnishes. My friend and I just looked at each other like "where is the rest of it?" It was just very plain and definitively not worth $12. I've read the other reviews and really, I can't wait to go back and try some of the other items but I stick to a meat free diet and am not sure if the really amazing dishes will be veggie or fish based. I am sure that I will never order the 3 shrimp meal $pecial. Pinky Swear.

    (3)

  • Solange K.

    Simply delicious, creative food. The pork shank special was amazing...braised, crispy, a little sweet and a tad bit of kick to it. Butternut squash was awesome and glazed a little sweet. Jar-o-duck was fantastic...who would have thunk it: duck, sweet potatoes and marshmallow.

    (5)

  • Jennifer S.

    I heard many great things about The Federal and I wasn't disappointed. The food was very tasty. The 2 of us shared everything and left very satisfied. The pig wing is a must order as well as the cheese biscuit. We did order dessert and that was probably the least favorite part of the meal but otherwise everything was flavorful and delicious. Will definitely return!

    (4)

  • Ting W.

    My friends and I went there to try the Miami Spice deal. 3 course meal for $30. I ordered the "Salad of Roasted Heirloom Beets" , which was fresh and light and drizzled with the perfect glaze and roasted pecan nuts. I can never go wrong with a salad! But, they ordered Jar-O-Duck was presented in a small jar with two sliced sweet potatoes, roasted marshmallow, and toasted bread for spreading. I thought it was very cute but the if you like duck pate..something to try. Pan Roasted Ariline Chicken Breasts was very dry and bland .The spinach cream sauce nor the sausage was a good compliment with the chicken for the dish. Federal steak was overcooked the way my friend wanted and was very tough and not tenderly soaked or marinated in brine. She's a steak person, and she said she's tried better! The BBQ ribs my friend ordered was extremely dry, and the side dishes were terrible. (coleslaw and baked beans). Very slow slow service on a weeknight.

    (3)

  • Marilyn R.

    Have been to The Federal for dinner many times but never to their Unlimited Mimosa Sunday brunch - YUM! Despite having a reservation for 5, initially we were seated at a four top - place was packed! BUT the lovely Barbara, our server & I believe possibly the mgr. did right by us with 2 complimentary appetizers. Then there was the accidental mimosa bath I received when someone bumped into Barbara as she was delivering our drinks. OOPs, accidents happen! I am still smiling as they could not do enough for us - including moving us to a larger table, keeping our mimosas glasses filled & then after way too much good grub, 2 desserts on the house! Will definitely be back. They know how to "do right" by their customers.

    (4)

  • Asim Z.

    Fantastic food and service! Love the lamb burger! Duck in a jar was great also =]

    (5)

  • Tito C.

    If you don't like back be careful. Need to ask before ordering since some foods like the cornbread has it in it but not listed on menu. Restaurant seems to do well with outside seating and tables inside were small. With 3 people on a table for 4, we were crowded. WE knew we were in for a less than perfect meal when we ordered the Jumbo Cheese Biskit at $5.00. The top was warmed as if put under the broiler but the center was FROZEN. Sent it back and the center was still cold. Hey, if you are doing Southern Cuisine, the first rule is to serve the Biskits hot. Even if you serve running butter to drizzle on the biskit, the Biskit needs to be hot. Tried the Roasted Beet Salad and for $12.00 very overpriced. Had to use the flashlight on my IPhone to find the beets which were cut in so small of cubes that could not taste the flavor so essentially got a plate of greens with smallish goat cheese medallion. Or was the cube of beet actually the piece of Florida orange. All 3 in the party ordered the Lamb Burger. The only one cooked as ordered was the medium well, the other was for medium with a pink center and one medium rare. Forget it, not even close! We all ordered the fries to be crispy and we all got limp, spicy fries that tasted as if they had been scooped directly out of the warming pan. Didn't have dessert. However, on the restaurant had clean restrooms.

    (2)

  • Giulia A.

    all i'm going to say is that i'm currently pig wing dreaming....and salivating.

    (5)

  • Chrysta D.

    The service was totally unacceptable, but the food was good! I rarely take the time to review restaurants on YELP, only when the food/service was exceptional or when it was an incredibly negative experience. Our meal took two hours to arrive (party of 4)- some appetizers came way after everyone else was served, and when I spoke to the "manager" (who turns out to be one of the owners- Aniece), she indicated there was nothing she could do for us. This is no way to start off a restaurant, especially in Miami. I don't know what school she studied at, but it clearly was not the school of customer service. I will never go back and will not encourage any of my friends to try.

    (1)

  • Monica L.

    Came for the Sunday brunch. The service was very friendly, nice an caring. Very tasty and good quality food. Good variety and quantity aswell. Homy atmosphere. The endless mimosas are totally worth it ($19 pp). My favorites were the Wings & Waffles and the Nachos. The Nutella waffles should have more nutella and the salmon bruschetta had something missing, maybe a poached egg. But definitely coming back!

    (4)

  • Kirsten L.

    We wanted to try something new and decided upon this place. We arrived around 730pm on a Friday night. Not too packed at This time. By 9pm the place was full! A friend was sitting at the bar for 10 minutes before someone asked to help him. Apparently strollers are not welcomed here and not kid friendly. We brought our kids and had to rearrange seating. The noise was loud so the kids fit in. The food- tapas style. Overpriced. Smaller portions. We ordered: the jumbo brisket- husband liked all the butter on it, octopus- 1 tentacle tasted good, drunken mussels- tasted really fishy, fried chicken- great, short ribs- great, Mac and Cheese- different, devils egg (4 pieces) - my fav, bread pudding- good. Dranks- ginger alcoholic drink was very gingery. $200 later it was time to pay the bill. Overall I think it's over priced for the food. Only in Miami I guess.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Brunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

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