The Fed Community

Came for date night Visiting from Grand Rapids before a concert at pine knob— the food was amazing, such great flavor combinations and really fresh. Tony was one of the best servers we’ve had in years, super personable with great recommendations. I also loved the decor and aesthetic- a renovated historic bank from the 1800’s! So cool. Even the ladies room decor was cute. Prices were a bit higher than our preference but it was a special occasion and everything was tasty. We’d come back when we’re in the Detroit area! Ps- it was a little difficult to find because the signage is minimal and street parking was a little tricky, but the food and every other aspect was 100%!

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this place the most. From the decor to the local singer while during our Sunday brunch! The drinks are amazing 👏 and the service too. Brought my friend here from out of town for their 30th and they enjoyed themselves. I got the ribhash it was definitely different than I anticipated but absolutely scrumptious reminded me more of a roast rather than hash. The bottom floor of the place is also really cool, it's an old bank and they kept a lot of the old bones which is just really exciting to see.

**Review of "The Fed" Restaurant, Clarkston, MI** The Fed, nestled in the heart of Clarkston, is a dining establishment that intertwines history and contemporary ambiance. One cannot help but admire the charm of the retained original vault, which adds a distinctive touch to the restaurant's aesthetic. This vintage element coupled with the modern décor crafts an inviting atmosphere, promising a memorable experience for diners. However, a restaurant is not solely about its ambiance; it's the culmination of service, food, and atmosphere. On this front, there were areas where The Fed faltered during our visit. Service, often the backbone of a dining experience, left much to be desired. Despite being first-timers eager to explore their offerings, our waitress checked on us a mere two times. Such infrequent attention does leave patrons, especially those new to the establishment, feeling somewhat neglected. The culinary journey was a mixed bag. On one hand, the shrimp alfredo was presented well, but the accompanying bread was a letdown. Burnt not once, but twice, it detracted from the overall enjoyment of the dish. This oversight raises concerns about the consistency in the kitchen. The salmon, though decently prepared, was overshadowed by sauces that didn't quite hit the mark on flavor. Further attention to detail was needed in the upkeep of the establishment itself. In a setting that markets itself as more upscale in the Clarkston dining scene, burnt-out light bulbs in multiple fixtures seemed out of place. Such a simple oversight can influence the overall perception of the venue. Considering the price point of $125 for our meal, the expectations were naturally elevated. While The Fed offers an intriguing atmosphere and shows potential, the dining experience was inconsistent. A little more attention to detail, both in service and culinary execution, would go a long way in elevating the establishment to its perceived stature. Would we return? Perhaps, in hopes of a more consistent experience. But for now, The Fed left us with mixed feelings.

This was our second time eating here (October 7th, 2023), and both times the service was on the slower side. Food and drinks should not have taken as much time as they did to come out. For an appetizer we got the mushroom crustini, and that was good, and then we got the hamachi, which was also good. For dinner I got the shrimp alfredo and my husband got the lamb chop that came with rice and a few small plantains. His was really good and he enjoyed it, but mine wasn't as good. The pasta itself was cooked fine, but it had a really strong taste of raw garlic and that was not enjoyable. It also came with a couple pieces of a nice bread, but the dark makings tasted like burned fat from other things. It wasn't a good taste. Throughout our time there, service was slow and it was taking longer than it should have to get our drinks and to get food. It could have been short staffed for all we knew. Oh, a word of warning, there was a cocktail that has cinnamon syrup in it that I DO NOT recommend, unless you really like that strong burning taste that my husband compared the drink to Fireball. I took a sip of his drink and it almost took my breath away. We talked with the sous chef at the end and shared our thoughts on my dish and our experience this last time. He was really cool and appreciated our constructive criticism.

Super cool atmosphere, solid service, good but not great food. I did enjoy my food but I feel like it was way overpriced for what it was. Everything was good but not great to explain the pricing. $37 for a piece of salmon that was good but not the best I’ve ever had was kind of a let down, $25 would be a bit more reasonable especially since it didn’t come with anything else. Truffle fries were tasty but seemed like bottom of the bag scraps, no full fries. The cauliflower was amazing and you get a lot of food for the price, that was on point. Salad was super good but again for two bites of food the price didn’t make sense. Not sure if I’d come back, probably would try a few more places and wait for a menu change.

Ordered the Michigan Chicken and the person I was with got the Fed Burger. The Michigan chicken dish is NOT worth the 29$ price it asks for. Extremely small portions for a large price. Highway robbery. Now The Fed Burger was amazing and the person I was with accounted for how great it was. 18$ for this burger is fair for what you get. A double patty burger smothered in cheese. But the Michigan Chicken portion to money ratio is terrible. Two small sized chicken breast, with a scoop of boring pasta and some extremely weird/slimy braised cabbage. An extremely overpriced dish. Which brings to my last point. The prices at this restaurant are very inflated. Most dishes here average $25-35$ PER meal. I don’t see myself returning to this restaurant due to the inflated prices alone.