The Federal

i forgot the waiter's name 😥...well whoever u are ❤️😇 thank u for the service and hospitality...we loved it...we might come back again for the next florida panthers game and the food? awesome we loved it...including my boyfriend 😥❤️😇🪽🕯❤️ (my emotional support bear...he passed away march 14th 2025..i miss him dearly every day 😥😣😞) so i shared my food with him because he likes ceaser salad ❤️🥹...thank u for everything! please tell me whats the waiters name? 😥 for the next time i see him and he knows my story... p.s. also my bf a huge of panthers fan! im doing everything for us together...so we had fun 💫

We went to The Federal during a Panthers game, it was packed. Props to our server for getting all of our orders right without writing anything down and keeping our cups filled amongst the crowds of people. 3/5 stars for the food. The Lobster roll, was yummy but low on aioli so I asked for a side of habenero and it stepped it up. The fries were nice and crispy. The Spinach dip was not good at all- my friends left half of the dip and couldn’t finish it. They said it was edible but not good. No cheese pull, tasted like cream cheese was blended with spinach, but it was bitter. Jerk chicken sandwich- looks like a grilled chicken sandwich no “jerk” coloring. I would compare it to a grilled McChicken, a lot of mayo. Not spicy or “Jerk” Wagyu burger- for the price a bit too much, it was good but not something I would go back and order. It did not taste like quality Wagyu. Overall we felt Like the food was overpriced for the quality. I ordered a side salad but never got it, I feel like this worked out for the best, something tells me the dressing would have been store bought rather than homemade. Atmosphere was great to watch the game but several people at our table complained about how hot it was inside the restaurant. The drinks were all good and cold!

The service was clearly a bit wonky for us (attentive but wrong drinks, forgotten drinks, delayed food - a long evening) but we all still really enjoyed this relatively new FL option. The food was pretty good and the drinks during happy hour were very cheap! We sat at the bar which was very pleasant and comfortable. The restaurant is smallish but there are some outdoor tables that look over the pickle ball courts that will be great when the weather turns. It is located upstairs in the new (and excellent) ice arena facility next to the War Memorial. It was fun to watch the hockey games and practices also. We will definitely be back.

I have been here several times and each time has been consistent. The cocktail drinks are good and the food is good. I didn’t personally like the cheesesteak this go around but I would definitely come back again. If you like hockey and never been to the iceplex, go check this place out either way.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at the new restaurant inside the hockey arena, and I must say, it exceeded all expectations! The restaurant offers stunning views of the ice and pickle ball courts, creating a lively and unique ambiance. Despite being in a sportsplex, the food was anything but typical concessions fare—it was elevated and truly delicious. I came with a group of friends, so I was able to get pics of a ton of their offerings. They were super accommodating to our large party. Service was warm and friendly- it felt like we were in their home! The drink selection was equally impressive, with a variety of amazing options to choose from. What really impressed me was the abundance of TVs throughout the restaurant, making it the perfect spot to catch a game. However, even if you're not a sports fan, this place is still worth a visit for its fantastic food, drinks, and atmosphere. I highly recommend checking it out!

My friend took me here for lunch. Love the idea Panthers train at the ice rink here. Very cool. Our waiter was Donald he was very professional and friendly made some great suggestions. I had the federal burger which was delicious I told Donald I want my fries Hot and Fresh sure enough they were just the way I like them. My coke was running low so I turned around to look for Donald and there he was heading to me with another glass of Coke. That's first class 5 Star service! He got a refill ready before I even asked. That has never happened to me. Thanks Donald for your Excellent service. We will be back! I highly recommend this restaurant!

This was our third visit there and it seems to be getting better and better each time. We have sat at the bar and have gotten excellent service and twice on the outdoor patio overlooking the pickleball courts. Amazingly cool location. Food has been consistently good (took this pic about 4 bites in, humans had to eat before the camera 😂). Staff is always welcoming and our servers/bartender has always been pretty quick and super friendly. Plenty of TVs inside and out for sports. Quickly becoming our new favorite walkable spot. 🥂Cheers till next time!

Phenomenal Experience Thanks to Donald! My boyfriend and I came to The Federal in Fort Lauderdale to catch the Panthers game, and we ended up having one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in a long time—thanks to Donald, our waiter. From the moment we sat down, Donald was warm, attentive, and genuinely enthusiastic about making our night great. Not only did he provide top-tier service throughout the evening, but his food recommendations were absolutely spot-on. You can tell he knows the menu inside and out—and takes pride in matching guests with dishes they’ll love. Between the energy of the game, the great food, and Donald’s incredible hospitality, it was a 10/10 night. If you’re heading to The Federal, ask for Donald—you’ll be in excellent hands. We’ll definitely be back! I wish I came with someone else though.

If I could give 6 stars I would! This spot is going toe to toe with the big brunch spots in FTL. First of all, name a brunch spot you can plan a cute pickleball date or ice skating outing at the same time. I'll wait! But let's start with the bottomless options, multiple flavors of Aperol splits plus mimosas for $30. I had the steak sandwich and the fries were for crisp to perfection. Everyone's dish came out picture perfect. Whoever is in the kitchen, kudos to you because that food was made with love! Don't miss the guava pancakes.

Love the facility and the atmosphere. My boyfriend plays in a men's league games during the week, usually the games are later after 9pm sometimes 10pm, and The Federal advertises that their hours until 11pm during the week...but the kitchen closes at 10pm. It would help if The Federal posted that their kitchen does not stay open until close like their bar does. The concession stands are closed at 10pm as well. It really sucks not being able to a bite anywhere at the Baptist Ice Plex at this time although they are hosting later games.

Came here for my birthday and was really excited to try it. I'm a HUGE Florida Panthers fan and was excited to see the new practice facility, Pantherland, and the Federal. 2 out of 3 were great but The Federal wasn't one of them. It was myself, my sister and our parents. We ordered 3 beers and my sister got the fancy pink drink in the photo. Can't really mess those up. The prices were what I'd expect being close to Las Olas. We got the poutine for an appetizer. It was good but nothing amazing. My parents got fish tacos, my dad said his were really fishy tasting, my mom said hers were cold. My sister's bowl was also cold. Of note, there were 4 people at the bar and we were the only table. My Jamaican jerk chicken sandwich was an abomination. It was completely burnt. As in they left it cooking for a week while they went to Jamaica burnt. I was so angry. First, how can the cook think that it was ok to put that charred to death piece of chicken on a bun and second how did the waiter think it was ok too because when it came to me the top bun was on the side, revealing all of the burnt mess. Just terrible. I salvaged ONE bite from the middle of the chicken. I didn't bother to return it or get something else because I worked in food service a while when I was younger and no thank you. I just will never go back to The Federal, case closed..

Stopped in for a quick lunch. Sat at the bar and was attended to immediately. Service and food were as good as last time I was here and I would highly recommend this place to anyone living in or visiting Fort Lauderdale.

Located in the War Memorial Ice Plex, this American bar is AMAZING. It is about time us hockey families are provided with a great dining option while we drop a fortune on our kids at the rink. Thank you Foundry for your delicious food and beverages. The lobster roll, ceaser salad, nachos, pasta, burgers, and chicken milinase are great. The ambiance is upscale sports bar with tvs, views, and outdoor seating. The staff are attentive. The only thing we don't like is the tap water (tastes funny). Enjoy!

The food was great the service was fast and polite the ginger beer was definitely healthy so if you know you know but all in all everything was great

I had a cesar salad and the guac and chips, the food was tasty and the price was not too bad. The service was good our serve was friendly, it did take us some time to get their attention but overall service was good. The view of the courts was nice, i enjoy playing pickleball so it was fun watching some games down below. Place was clean and well kept.

Was hungry after a concert at the Parker and noticed that this place was walking distance, on the second floor of the Ice Plex. Never knew any of this was here but loved walking by the ice skating rink to get to the bar. They have both indoor and outdoor seating facing the pickleball courts. Tried their steak sandwich recommended by the amazing Danielle. It was delicious. Enjoyed it with a glass of Prosecco while just taking in this very cool spot. Will definitely come back to try more of their food and drinks.

The federal is located inside the iceplex. Typical sports bar atmosphere, great for watching games. They have a nice outside area that overlooks the pickleball courts as well. The food is average when sticking to the right items. The location is great. The service was a bit on the slower side but could have just been an off night.

Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and let me tell you this is THE spot! We enjoyed the spinach dip as an appetizer which came out at the perfect time and bubbling hot. I ordered the Cobb salad which had the perfect amount of toppings. My husband got the steak sandwich with no complaints on his side! We both got the espresso martini which hit the spot and the churro was a nice touch. The patio was perfect seating as we had my 1 year old daughter with us. The ambiance is chill and easy going. The staff was very friendly and attended to any of our needs. I will defiantly be back to check out the specials during the week! Great spot to stop in after a day at the park or pickle ball courts!

I was excited to come here and see the new ice skating rink where the Panthers practice in Fort Lauderdale. The restaurant looks like a very typical bar with some tables and high top seating. The menu includes appetizers, salads, burgers and large entrees. We started with BBQ wings, which were ok, a little pricey for just 6 wings. My friend had the mahi tacos which is an order of two tacos and he said they were very good. I had the Poke bowl , which I enjoyed, it had a lot of avocado. The only thing that was surprising was all the cherry tomatoes that were in there. Service was good.

There is plenty of parking and bathrooms available. There are elevators but there is a security set up so I do not believe pets are allowed. It's the training facility for the panthers, which I didn't know. It's a huge complex you walk through all of that and go to the back (on the second floor) and get to the restaurant. It looks over four large pickle ball courts (which I've been told is free to walk on and walk off), and a huge outdoor roller skating rink. Both are not covered by any shade. There is a large park, I went with a big group of girls for an event called "pretty girls walk." We walked around the whole facility and it was really nice and ample shade coverings. Loads of basketball courts and playgrounds etc. I had the Prosecco and it was actually super tasty. Like crisp and refreshing. THERE IS NO GLUTEN FREE MENU. And limited substitutions the potatoes are fried in the same oil as other things so be wary of that if you have celiacs. I ended up just getting bacon and two eggs. Great bacon and great eggs. I was starving so I didn't get any pictures of anyone's food unfortunately. My friends got the huevos rancheros, they loved them, and the avocado toast and poached egg (she hates poached eggs but forgot to tell them as much) but you can change the way the egg is cooked for the record. My other friend has the skillet breakfast and she loved it. The potatoes are fingerling whole potatoes fried, and the sourdough toast looked incredible. Food was decent, disappointed at the gluten free options available but it's a pretty cool complex that offers a lot. Overall pretty cool venue. I want to go to check out the pickle ball courts.

Came here to say with a friend to check out the new panther ice rink such a beauty they also have confession and restaurant such as this one. I got their steak and eggs, which is super delicious and I had to get there to coffee martini. Staff was friendly, place was clean.

Best place to watch a Florida Panthers game. You can ice skate while you watch. I love the Federal because you can sit inside and watch practices or sit outside and watch pickleball. The prices aren't great for what you get which is why I didn't give it 5 stars. The food is mediocre. You're really there for the atmosphere. Happy hour prices are great though. The beers were only 3.50. We had the buffalo chicken dip which was really good. Our friends had the spinach dip which was awful. They used to do food specials during happy hour but stopped that for some reason.

I stopped in here for a bite to eat following an event at the complex. For starters, I never knew this complex existed so you can imagine my surprise when I entered the building. The Federal is new having recently open I am told. It's giving sports bar and restaurant vibes with a variety of seatings options to include a view of the ice rink. My drink was comp due to the event I went for, a tequila and pineapple with a lot of punch. For food I ordered off their brunch menu Huevos rancheros. Though delicious, it was more of an appetizer than an actual breakfast entree and I left feeling peckish afterwards. Service was great considering our large party size and our male server was very attentive as he often checked in on us. I enjoyed my time here and would definitely return if I am in the area to drink out more food and drink options. You should too.

For being a new restaurant, my wife and I really enjoyed everything and experienced little to no issues. We had the smoked fish dip to start. For dinner I had their federal burger and my wife had the lobster roll. Everything was very, very good. Was a beautiful portion had great flavor. Smoke flavor wasn't overpowering, and the fish dip had a great texture. My burger was delicious super moist and their federal sauce is excellent on it . My wife's lobster roll was full lobster and had great taste. The service was very attentive, although there was a little bit of confusion with the device they were using to take your order, Everything was very good. The restaurant is beautiful in side and has a great atmosphere overlooks Park pickle courts. It's a fun place to go to. Their drinks were delicious. We had their drink called the fed up and it was excellent my wife had the mule which great also. Definitely a return spot and we're actually going back again on Saturday.

A great neighborhood sports bar. This is a new addition and they had only been open for four nights and they did a great job for a new operation. Typical sports bar food, but maybe a notch above? Our food was quickly served. I would add that one of our guest is a little bit "difficult" and our very professional server took care of even this demanding customer quickly and gracefully. My "Cali burger" was made with turkey and delicious fresh avocado. Everyone was pleased with their food, and especially the service. only one criticism: when we came in the sound was literally earsplitting and painful. We nearly left. Fortunately, the sound was turned down, and it became a pleasant place to hang out. Especially pleasant was the outdoor terrace, overlooking the new Pickleball courts!

Latest and greatest entertaining, enjoyable and fun dining experience in Fort Lauderdale! Loved The Fed! So new and so on point! Fabulous drink menu...kudos to beverage director, Tamara for always going above and beyond with outstanding and creative drink menus!! The servers were extremely friendly and knowledgeable! Another great one from Knallhart Group!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at the new restaurant inside the hockey arena, and I must say, it exceeded all expectations! The restaurant offers stunning views of the ice and pickle ball courts, creating a lively and unique ambiance. Despite being in a sportsplex, the food was anything but typical concessions fare--it was elevated and truly delicious. I came with a group of friends, so I was able to get pics of a ton of their offerings. They were super accommodating to our large party. Service was warm and friendly- it felt like we were in their home! The drink selection was equally impressive, with a variety of amazing options to choose from. What really impressed me was the abundance of TVs throughout the restaurant, making it the perfect spot to catch a game. However, even if you're not a sports fan, this place is still worth a visit for its fantastic food, drinks, and atmosphere. I highly recommend checking it out!

Good food. So clean. Great air conditioning! Watch the pickleball players while you eat. Lobster roll was good!

My friends and I came to watch the Panthers game and it was packed!! Such a cool concept that you can ice skate while watching or sit in the bleachers. I got a Moscow mule that was $12, but apparently the doubles are $20 which seemed a little pricey to me. I would love to try the food next time and try ice skating!

Interesting menu...excellent service in a cozy environment. Food on the healthy side with fresh ingredients.

Came here after playing pickleball. Had a reservation but it wasnt super busy. Didnt have any expectations really other than it would be a cool spot to grab a drink and watch people play pickleball (you can also watch the panters practice inside) but was pleasantly surprised. We ordered the buffalo chicken dip to start and it was really good- not too heavy and def good to share. I ordered the turkey club after asking the waitresss which one i should order (jerk chicken or turkey club) - and it was definitely not your ordinary club. Must try. Super cute fun spot cant wait to come back.

Great new bar and place for food! The food looked really good we only had drinks. Everything spice mocktail is so good! Lots of seating

Went after my hot girl walk. Service wasn't great. I think they were overwhelmed with a packed bar. The food was amazing! Never had Cinnamon Toast Crunch French toast. Really taste like the real thing! Would definitely go back. Free parking is a plus! Lots of TVs.

Stopped by to try the Federal and found it to be a great experience all around. We were met by an enthusiastic hostess and continued with our waitress. The food was good and I will return again.

Update: The general manager Cindy gave me her information to contact her. She was AMAZING. I did not think anyone would reach out after the horrible service I received from the manager and bartender. I was very hesitant about going back here however I was still in the vicinity when she reached out. I ordered the poke bowl. It was good. I added a picture of it in my review. She also gave my children cookies which I thought was very thoughtful. Thank you Cindy for your kindness! Side note: there was ALOT of cherry tomatoes I gave half to my toddler and the picture still shows plenty. I updated to three stars, although Cindy was amazing.. the way I was treated before, while having my kids with me (they were being so patient ) was such a bad experience I cannot give 5 stars.

Great bar food! Burger was delicious and the nacho platter was huge. Server Jimmy was very friendly and efficient. Good family atmosphere

They charged us $13 for a soda water and claimed it was a mocktail. Have to say I am disappointed in The Federal. My friend and I sat at the bar tonight (Sunday) after playing a few rounds of pickleball. My friend was recently diagnosed with MS. It has been hard on her. She has had to make a complete life change on what she drinks and eats. She cannot drink alcohol or have any kind of sugar. She is very limited on what she can eat and drink. She ordered a soda water with a lime wedge and asked if they could throw in a mint leaf. $13 dollars! Yet my actual mocktail was only $8. It's terrible enough my friend has MS, but to charge her $13 for a soda water is just unethical. The Federal took advantage of her health condition. We won't be back.

The Federal is a decent bar inside Holiday Park, and specifically, overlooking pickleball courts and the Panthers training ice rink. If you're here on a regular night, where there is no Panthers training, it's a typical bar. Their happy hour is pretty good, and they have a $10 Wednesday burger special that I'd recommend. I live close by, so I'd come back to enjoy happy hour after playing some pickleball. Next year, I look forward to being able to watch a Panthers practice while enjoying a few drinks.

First off, WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN, we live across the street in The Edge apartments and have been in the area for many years. One of our friends said, let's check out The Federal, we walk in, through security, now I'm intrigued... I asked why the security, she explained Our Stanley Cup Champions were practicing. Very cool, going through the megaplex of at least 2 full size skating rinks, pickles all along with other activities, super cool!!! The Federal was pretty busy but extremely accommodating. We tried the fish delish tacos, my name for them. So, great food, cool (literally) place. Check it out, I have a feeling you will be amazed and happy as I was and now the Home of The Stanley Cup! Whatch got???

Bring a jacket because when you step into the facility you will be super cold. Make your way to the restaurant by choosing either the stairs or elevator and be prepared for a hot experience. Our server Lauren was friendly and each time we picked something off the menu, her response was, "Oh, that's so good!" At first, I thought she was ice cold lying, but we didn't have any dissatisfaction. When the Panthers aren't practicing, you won't wait for a table. There is indoor and outdoor seating with plenty to see. If you are an Old Fashioned drinker, get The Patriot for a different kind of bourbon experience. It's one of Lauren's favorites. Poutine feeds the beast while you wait for the entree. My Lobster Roll was ok. It let you know you weren't in Maine anymore, but good enough for a first try. My slam "puck" was the dessert. It's supposed to be shared, but I left Max in the ice dust and ate the whole darn thing by myself. Don't touch the skillet because it isn't for show. It's burning hot. They have a game pleaser happy hour and brunch specials. For sure we will be back for another game of food and drink.

Found it! We heard great things about The Federal but it's in a weird location if you don't know that part of town. So cool. The ice rinks are beautiful and our outside table was shaded and we could watch pickleball while we ate. Nicole made great suggestions and was really attentive. We got the burger and the spicy chicken sandwich. Plenty to share. Drinks were great and it's very clean. Would be a great place to see a game because the tvs are everywhere. Maybe a suggestion have one on HGTV! Very fun and worth finding!!

What a wonderful surprise. It's located in the hockey arena but the federal is a great space with the outdoor area overlooking the pickleball courts. Our server Nicole was so nice and extremely competent. She made suggestions when asked and provided impeccable service. Will definitely go back.

Happy Hour before a concert at The Parker Theater: VERY convenient, the Fed and Parker pretty much share a parking lot. Half price happy hour on select beer, wine, spirits and dips. I was happy that the entire selection of draft beers was included, especially this very nice and hoppy local Gulfstream Graphic "hybrid" IPA ($3.50 pint half price.) Other taps were Modelo, Funky Buddha Floridian, Fat Tire, another draft from Funky Buddha, a pineapple cider, and the standards Coors Light and Yuengling, I got a tasty buffalo chicken dip/corn chips, served hot, half price was $5. Other patrons sitting near me at the bar were having burgers, steak, chicken Milanese, and they all said their dishes were good. It was cool (and strange to me) to have this great bar with views to 2 ice rinks, outside seating overlooking pickleball courts, and other concession areas where families could hang out, but it really works well. Great staff, too. Funnier still, this whole complex is sponsored by Baptist Health, makes me feel good about drinking draft beers, LOL.

I liked The Federal and even though at Brunch they ran out of several items I was okay with that and it's understandable as the restaurant is new. Also we arrived late and the restaurant was busy so the absence of items makes sense. The restaurant is a casual and comfortable sports bar with food that is better than many other places in that category. The waitress Sam was excellent and is really an asset to the company and the food runners were friendly. Pancakes were nicely burnt on the edges and an Egg White Omelette was fine but the side of fingerling potatoes were the best item and these were superior to most places. We also tried other items from the dinner menu and these were okay. I tried the Date Cake for dessert which I never had before so I have nothing to base a comparison on but though it was a little heavy it was pretty good.

We went during the first week of opening. The staff really tried hard to please us. They were friendly and on top of things. The food was good, not great for the value. We ordered chicken wings, chicken milanese, and ribs. Plus several cocktails from their menu (can't remember what they are, but I took picture of one of them). Great view of the pickle ball courts, and they show iced hockey games on the big screens. We'll come back for the atmosphere!

We were recommended to try by a friend. They did not disappoint! The food and service were excellent and well priced!! It's also a great place to catch a game on their TVs or watch hockey games on the rinks or pickleball outside from their viewing areas! We will def be back. This is our new favorite sports bar!

Genuinely confused. My boyfriend and I came here, excited to patronage a new spot in downtown Fort Lauderdale. While the service was great, I did not expect such tiny portions. Attached below you will see the teeny tiniest fish tacos for $16! You only get 2 in an order. My boyfriend's steak sandwich came in a hot dog roll ala a lobster roll and again for $20, we were shocked as to how small the portions are. Afterwards, our server presented us with a coupon for a free appetizer, which was a gesture of good faith. I'm curious to see what tweaks they make to their menu in the future, however I'm not sure if I'll be returning for anything more than drinks.

Great food and the best spot to watch Panthers hockey. The service at Federal is second to none. We will definitely be back!

I went to to the Federal and purchase wings and fries. The bartender who toke my order name was Nicole. She was more focusing on gossiping with her friend instead of paying attention to my order and when the order was finished it sit on the counter for over 15 minutes on the back counter, the bar back saw me standing there waiting and handed me the food. I ask for the wings to get toss it came out dry, I ask for ranch cheese, they put blue cheese. The so soft and oily, it appears that they redrop it in the oil just to make it hot. This is outrageous. Service is terrible and they focus on gossiping with friends instead of taking care of customer that is there to eat and provide tips based on customer service. How this place expect for customers to come back, when we don't even feel welcome.

The entire concept is awesome. Food and drinks and able to watch hockey! We were not super hungry...split a lobster roll which was great. The lobster roll was also $10 cheaper than the "famous" places in town.

Service was very good but avoid the over-priced steak sandwich. Go to piranha pats in pompano beach.

Great New Place.... Service was outstanding and food was really good. my wife had mexican salad, I had poke bowl was real good and tuna was fresh... If you are in the area its a great place to visit and see the new Iceflex....I give it a five stars....

This place is great for drinks and to watch the games! Has a nice view of the pickleball courts which is cool to secretly root for the people playing when you're out just people watching with your friend/date/partner, the service can be a little slow when it comes to the food but I will say the drinks are absolutely fantastic!!! During happy hour they are decently priced and the outside bartender, Lupita, is THE BESTTTTT bartender ever!! She's super sweet super cool and knows how to make great drinks but the only thing killing this place are the food portions -- they are TINY!!!! And for the price being charged, it simply just does not justify. A cheesesteak was about $24 and it was the size of my palm, tacos are like $22 and it's two small tacos. Other than that, the place is super cute great concept. They just need to stop being stingy with the portions

Great place! Food was good, server was efficient and super friendly, place was clean, and enjoyed overlooking the PB courts. Will definitely return. Bloody Mary was delicious! Club sandwich and Steak sandwich both very good!

Ordered the shrimp salad and I found a metal bristle from the grill brush in my food. The staff was very apologetic and offered a free dessert however, it will probably be my first and last visit to the Federal. I hope that they find a better and safer solution for cleaning.

Food and service is great. HOWEVER, this is a bar and restaurant located in a premier hockey training facility for an NHL team and yet it refuses to play the sound to an NHL playoff game that has implications on who the Panthers are playing in the next round. Spoke witb management as was told the "Ice Plex only wants Panthers game or championship games played with sound". Kind of surprised that a hockey bar refuses to play a hockey game with sound.

Burgers here are delicious. It is nice to have all the food options at a hockey rink rather than the simple finger food generally available. Couple food with skating for a great date.