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The Federal, Waltham, MA

The Federal

4.6
4.6
969 Reviews
$50 and over
Steakhouse

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 11 times today
  • Good for business meals
  • Good for groups
  • Good for special occasions
The Federal is an exciting seafood and chophouse with scratch-made, chef driven modern Italian inspired food. The restaurant is upscale, affordable, comfortable, and relaxed.

Come and explore our wine list where new age and old world meet. Our wine list is curated by co-owner/managing partner David Alphonse and features wines from around the world with a focus on Italian and old world selections. We have a great selection of new world wines as well.

We feature two adjoining private dining rooms and a seasonal covered patio.

Located in Waltham, MA in the Market Basket Plaza, we look forward to serving you soon.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Fri 11:30–16:00 Dinner Tue–Thu 16:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 16:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (781) 373-1245
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Joel Portillo
  • Private party facilities
    Please contact Erika@the-federalrestaurant.com regarding any private events! We have plenty of versatile indoor and outdoor space available for parties of all sizes.
  • Area
    Waltham
  • Cross Street
    Main Street
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    Bus Route 70, Main Shopping Center @ Marshall's stop
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 969 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Federal offers a diverse and extensive menu, "great food and service," and an inviting atmosphere. Known for "delicious steaks" and a variety of seafood options, it's perfect for special occasions. While the temperature can sometimes be a concern, the attentive staff and excellent cocktails create a memorable dining experience.

969 Reviews
  1. Arto

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    great drinks chill setting perfect food easy parking super staff

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  2. Jen

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 13 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was phenomenal and our server anticipated our every need!!! The best!

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  3. Susan

    Greater Boston

    38 reviews

    5.0

    38 reviews

    Dined on 11 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had dinner out to catch up with a friend. Nice vibe- there was Christmas music playing. Our first time dining here- beautiful restaurant. Decorated Christmas tree near the hostess stand. Energetic bar area. The server and other staff we interacted with were friendly and attentive- lots of refills on our waters without having to ask. We always appreciate that. My friend had a beautiful beet salad and grilled shrimp skewers that she said were excellent. The rainy weather had me ordering onion au gratin soup and then the bolognese. Both were very good and I’d order again. We enjoyed lemon sorbet and cannoli (4 per serving) for dessert. Will definitely be back. Looking forward to trying Stazione (sister restaurant).

    1 person found this helpful

  4. Anthony

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 8 December 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    First time dining here and was excited to try it for some time now. Overall definitely let down. Food was good but everything else was sub par. Waiter dropped off our warm martinis and didn’t check back with us for at least 15 minutes for us to tell him that we needed a side of ice or just re shaken. Not a huge deal but was never asked if we dined there before, if we were celebrating an occasion, or anything else. Definitely felt a little rushed ordering, then when I did order they were out of New York strips at 7:15 on a Saturday night which is kind of wild. Overall attentiveness wasn’t there from the waitstaff and a table behind us was super loud and aggressive with profanity, which again, is whatever but definitely hindered our overall experience.

    1 person found this helpful

  5. Karen

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 30 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was delicious…steaks on point! Our server Amanda was amazing! She was informative, offered suggestions without being pushy, was very attentive without being overbearing….she was awesome!!!! Our first time there to celebrate my husband’s birthday and will absolutely return….

    1 person found this helpful

  6. Rita

    Greater Boston

    251 reviews

    5.0

    251 reviews

    Dined on 28 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious! The steak tartare was perfect! Superb escargot. Loved my veal tortelloni. Jeff, our server was so happy to be there, enthusiastic about the menu and very helpful. A tad pricey but worth it. Meal was flawless

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  7. Karim

    VIP

    Cleveland

    20 reviews

    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on 28 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Our traditional place for Thanksgiving dinner. Outstanding food. Fun and tasty cocktails. My daughter and I especially love their steaks that are always the highest quality and cooked to perfection. My wife had their Thanksgiving special and really enjoyed it (again)- a very large plate of good traditional Thanksgiving fare to satisfy anyone’s Thanksgiving appetite. Historically the service has been excellent - this year’s server was less enthusiastic and a bit slow to follow-up with the table. Still a great meal and experience. Looking forward to next year’s meal!

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  8. Kymberley

    New Orleans

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 28 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really enjoy the Federal and very happy with my experience on Thanksgiving the food was excellent!

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  9. Heather

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 28 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Went for Thanksgiving and they were wonderful. Huge dinner and the food was amazing.

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  10. Alyson

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 27 November 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Service and food are usually top notch. We did go right before Thanksgiving and it was a slow night at the restaurant. Our server was not responsive enough. Usually the portions are quite large. However, my son’s bolognese was not. In addition, the ratio of pasta to sauce was not right. When the pasta was gone, he still had half a bowl of sauce. The cheese plate was nicely presented. However, it was expensive for the size of the appetizer. The cheese portions were skimpy. Everything else we ordered was very good and the greeting by staff when we arrived and left was very welcoming.

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FAQs

The Federal offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (781) 373-1245.

The Federal is rated 4.6 stars by 969 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 11 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Federal

74 Tower Rd, Waltham, MA 02451-1022

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Main Street
  • Area
    Waltham
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Fri 11:30–16:00 Dinner Tue–Thu 16:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 16:00–22:00
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    Bus Route 70, Main Shopping Center @ Marshall's stop
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Joel Portillo
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (781) 373-1245
  • Private party facilities
    Please contact Erika@the-federalrestaurant.com regarding any private events! We have plenty of versatile indoor and outdoor space available for parties of all sizes.
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  • Terms of Use
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