The Federal

So delicious! The burger is a 5-star staple. If the Brussels sprouts are on the menu, order them! And tonight we had a divine French-inspired fish dish, lightly fried and served with a white wine sauce with tomatoes and capers. Great wine list including a super Tuscan and a couple of Orin Swift selections available by the glass. Highly recommend. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Secret gem in Atlanta! This place is exceptional. The food is amazing, very seasonal and comfort classics dishes, wine and whiskey list is extensive yet approachable, service spot on and the perfect place for a date, dinner with friends or a client/ business dinner. Brunch is awesome too!

The Federal, named for the nearby Federal Reserve, has no connection to that institution -- except that, when the bill arrives at The Federal you may wish you had a key to the cash vault across the street. We stopped by just six nights after opening night. Midtown residents will recall this spot used to be a "Bantam and Biddy" chicken and veggies joint -- and, despite the brown paint on the walls, the white table cloths on the tables, and the low lights, this still looks a bit like a Bantam and Biddy (which, at this price range, probably isn't a good thing). We weren't impressed with our bland chicken liver appetizer. I ordered a medium 16-ounce rare steak, which arrived hard-seared on the outside and tough on the inside. We also sampled the smoked trout, which we wouldn't order again due to its strong, pungent taste. One drink, one appetizer, and two strictly average entrees later, we received our bill for $100. If the food here had been outstanding, that'd be one thing. But at this price point, in this neighborhood, The Federal is going to have to offer better ambiance and much improved food. If you're on a business trip with a rich expense account, by all means, give it a go. If you're local and must dine in, consider the fixed price menu ($30.00, and you must dine at the bar) or the hamburger and make the best of things. But in a neighborhood with so many reliable, incredible, affordable options -- why would you?

We had a pleasant time and the staff was all really great. However, none of our food was remarkable. My cocktail was not really to my liking, which comes down to preference but still weighs on my opinion here. We had a flatbread that was not really a doughy bread so much as a cracker. Our sides and honestly I've made better brussel sprouts myself with about 5 minutes of prep and an oven. Our steaks were cooked exceptionally and were nearly tender enough to cut with a fork, but I've had better tasting pieces of meat for a fourth of the price.

Top-notch. Steakhouse at its core but plenty of good options. Meat-forward. Steak tartare excellent. Rib-eye (carpetbagger) was my choice. Good wine and classic cocktails.

The crabcake appetizer was great, very little breading. Skate wing was cooked perfectly. The thick cut Bentons bacon app was too much for one person, better to share. KC strip steak was great too.

Excellent brunch spot. Very relaxed , easy going atmosphere. Joey provided some of the best customer service I’ve experienced at any restaurant.

Great service and good portions. It is a little tight and the tables are a bit small. The steak frites I had were cooked perfectly and the fries were very good.