Federal
| Address: | 914 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701, USA |
| Phone: | +1 919-680-8611 |
| Site: | thefederal.net |
| Rating: | 4.2 |
| Working: | 5PM–2AM 11:30AM–2AM 11:30AM–2AM 11:30AM–2AM 11:30AM–2AM 11:30AM–2AM 11:30AM–2AM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 15
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Trevor Chenoweth
The best feature is its food. It also typically has good beers, but they have a habit of running out. Not typically a bar for a big "scene," probably due to a limited number of TVs, no bar games, and not much space. The food, though. The food is real good. One of your best options on Main street. Their standby pub fare is great. Awesome fries and nachos. The duck meat they put on their poutine is tender and delicious and probably bad for you. The specials menu has some real gems. The chef here is making moves. For unbelievably reasonable prices you can get stuff like wild boar and venison. Some dishes are dressed with fancy stuff like pomegranate seeds. They have some dishes that are creative and interesting. I recall on one visit ordering a "reuben" that was actually composed entirely of vegetarian materials. Of course, every once in a while they miss the mark, but that is the nature of creating new, experimental dishes. Especially when you are doing it for less than $20 a plate. Often closer to $15. Drop in, order something off the specials menu and pair it with one of the local beers on tap. Its unlikely you will be disappointed.
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Marty Ragusky
Ive been going there for more than 10 years. Great food! Normally, very good beer. Great atmosphere. However....... Very bad experience this day with a take out salad (and the only reason Im doing this review is based on the rudeness of the server).. Stopped on my way from Ft. Bragg to GSO. Ordered food to go. Got home and the salad (beet) was the worst Ive ever seen in my life (53 years). Cost was $9. Perhaps worth $3. Too bad one cant post a photo. Contacted the Federal and spoke to my server, Aeljandro, who was terse, rude, and non-accommodating (perhaps the 20% tip wasnt enough?). Recommend you not deal with this person as by all accounts while he seems to be a very good server, doesnt understand anything about the meaning of customer service or satisfaction. Caveat de Emptor btw. I have never written anything like this. The conversation, and product, warrants this. Major disappointment in that I (and my friends and family) LOVE the Federal.
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Beth Mandel
Best pub in Durham these days - when one considers atmosphere, service and food quality all in one. Excellent burger with a different spin (au poivre - deliciously peppered!), great garlic fries, interesting grilled cheese (with avocado - yum!), risottos (which rotate regularly) are ALWAYS delicious, and of course a full slate of beer options. And free wifi. Its definitely one of my regular spots to eat lunch and hangout while working on my laptop. Its also a favorite for nightime get-togethers with friends, particularly at their outdoor tables in summer. It was one of my first favorite spots in Durham and has never been displaced.
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lori james
Really surprised by this place. My friend picked it while in town for business and we walked in and I was like... oh no he picked a crappy bar for lunch... person who waited on us was Nate. Cool guy. Boy was I wrong. Bar atmosphere but they take food seriously. Friend had the burger and fries which I tried and it was on point. I had the avocado sandwich with salad and it was one of the best I have ever had. They have lots of beers on top and the service was good. This place is not what it seems and there is something cool about that or for me surprising in a good way! #EnjoySurprises #Enjoyfood #EnjoyLife
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A Private User
I enjoy the food at the Federal. Ive been working right across the street for 3 years and have frequented the Federal for lunch and dinner. However - its service is horrible. The wait staff take forever and seem very incompetent when it comes to serving you food. Almost every time I go I have to ask for a refill on my drink as well as the check - otherwise you will be left waiting at the table for hours on end without ever seeing your waiter/waitress again. Its got good food - sure - but the service sucks major time.
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Taylor Gibson
One of my favorite spots in Durham to grab a beer and a plate of great bar food or dinner. They have the usual burger, nachos, fries, etc, but they also have hummus, carnitas, and other non-typical pub grub. The tap list is always changing with local and seasonal beers. Not a great place to go with a large group, as the front room only has booths that seat four. You can sit in the back room, but you lose some of the ambiance that I love about the place. The patio out front is also a big plus for the warmer weather.
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A Private User
Worst service ever in Durham, which is well known otherwise to have excellent services. My partner is vegan, she said it several times to the waitress but was ignored. Even worse when the food came with tzatziki, the waitress said that my partner didnt say anything. Moreover I ordered their famous burger with their famous fries and salad. The burger came with the salad but no fries. Then, I ordered again the fries... which never came except on the bill. So good food but exceptionally lousy waitering.
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Sarah Green
The food never fails me, the atmosphere is fantastic, and I dont feel like Im being ripped off when I see the bill. This little (its literally small) hole-in-the-wall with outdoor seating (yay!) is more than Ive ever expected it to be. The beer list is far from disappointing, and the menu is always changing. My Federal tradition: ALWAYS order the garlic fries. If you see cheesecake with espresso reduction, order it. I almost died and went to heaven, and I dont even believe in that place.
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Andy Bechtel
Fun vibe and good selection of beers from NC and beyond. Food is fantastic. My favorite is the salad with fried oysters. Downside: The past two times I have gone, the place had several houseflies buzzing around, and I had to wave them away from my plate. (This was inside the restaurant, not in the outside seating.) Otherwise, Ive enjoyed Federal.
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Rachel Antonio
The Federal is not your average bar. They are a gastro pub that serves really good food! The problem is the service. All of the food is served at once meaning if you get a salad, entree, appetizer, and dessert, itll be one big buffet. They dont space out your meal. Also, no substitutions. Swallow your qualms with beer.
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Patrick Charbonneau
Gastro-pub local avec un menu du jour diversifié et plaisant. Le hamburgers sont aussi solides. Bon coin pour croiser les habitués du quartier.
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Moif
Always a nice experience in here. The atmosphere is very unique to the area. Nothing else like it. They have a muddled cucumber cocktail that I would highly recommend. Also one of the best beer selections in the area here. Youre more likely to find a rare beer here than any other bar in the area.
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Carlos Russo
A great pub to grab a bite or enjoy some time with friends at the bar. I was thoroughly surprised by the food, because it was honestly much better than expected. Would highly recommend the garlic fries! Service was decent as well, considering it was late on a Saturday night.
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A Private User
Ridiculously slow service. We went to the federal to get dinner before going to a play. We werent in a huge rush, but it ended up taking them 50 minutes to get us 2 sandwiches. So then we were in a rush. If youre going to the federal make sure you have a lot of time.
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Abby Clobridge
Fun, funky, hole-in-the-wall sort of bar with food thats much better than I expect from standard pub fare. The burgers and fries (smothered in garlic, mmmm) are delicious, and Ive had a number of unusual meals from their daily specials. Good beer selections. Wifi.
