If you’re looking for a morning fix to start your day, this is the place to be. Starting with their bottomless coffee hot or iced is a great way to start everything. Also their sandwiches are superb and large serving. Their staff are very accomodating.
We love eating here. The atmosphere, the great service, the reasonable cost, the lovely dishes. We always manage to get a seat. 10/10
Wow! Like stepping back into a 50's New York hash house. And that's what I had. Mish mash with a fried egg on top. Nothing special but there was plenty of it. Crazy dining experience and the place was packed out
Thoroughly enjoyable..
I love Fed Deli when I'm craving solid diner food and friendly service.
The milk fed veal schnitzel is an unexpected favourite, crispy and lightly crumbed outside and juicy inside with sage crisps and the acidity of lemon cutting through.
The fennel and Apple salad was fun and different, with coriander and almonds blending together beautifully with the fennel to create a refreshing and crisp combo in the mouth.
You can also never go wrong with the hearty sandwiches here.
The dish nobody leaves without having though is the poutine, which has some of the best gravy in Auckland. I wouldn't mind more curds, but for those who don't like curds then this is perfect.
Last but not least, leave some room in your stomach for the sweets. The New York cheesecake is classic light heaven, the banana and toffee pie perfectly accompanied by caramel popcorn and the lemon meringue is just like it's home made. If you can't choose, get a slice of them all.
Came here for dinner. Chicken was juicy and cooked perfectly. Lemon meringue pie was amazing.
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
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Nice hearty diner food with a bit of sophistication! Loved the poutine (fries with cheese and gravy). Eat it while it’s still hot so the fries don’t get soggy and the cheese remains stringy. The toasted Rueben with sauerkraut was interesting, nice thick amount of pastrami that tasted well when added with the coleslaw. The dog was nice, didn’t really like the spiciness of the mustard, put a bit too much on but it paired well with the caramelised onion. The 3 way was good value ($20 for 3 slices), absolutely loved the cheesecake, really dense and melt in your mouth. The banana and toffee pie was alright, toffee jelly coated around slices of banana with whipped cream and caramel popcorn on the top, wasn’t a big fan of the wobbly texture of the pie, would’ve been better with sponge, but interesting gingerbread biscuit base. Really disliked the choc cherry pie, far too rich and bitter (topped with powdered cacao) really a cringe tasting pie. Got the sweetened ice tea which was alright but loved the idea of it being bottomless! All in all, everything costed $71 so not too bad. We were very full by the third pie! Definitely would love to come back to try the dinner selections.
Come to dinner with my friend . There is still half of the space available at 5:30. When I finished eating, there was already a line outside.
Milk-fed veal schnitzel is very simple with two cutlets. The taste is ok but it's really too simple. 3/5
Iceberg wedge is a refreshing salad dish. I like it . 5/5. Toasted Reuben a lot of beef , with sauerkraut. It tastes so-so. 3.5/5
Fries w cheese curd & gravey This is delicious. The sauce is slightly salty. 4.5/5
The 3- ways. A combination of three cakes. We choice NY cheesecake & Banana & Toffee pie & Lemon Meringue pie. All fresh and delicious! recommend! 5/5
We were only going to order the 3-way combo but the poutine seems really delicious and it did not disappoint us. The Poutine was covered in thick gravy and the melted cheese and the fries was just the perfect combo. the lemon meringue was amazing, also the NY cheesecake was not over sweetened at all. a really creamy and dense texture and the strawberries which comes with the NY cheesecake was surprisingly good.
cant go wrong here, abit loud but food is amazing with great atmosphere
Rating 3.5 Casual 50’s American diner set up. The menu read pretty much was one would expect too. Pastrami, bagel, reuben, hot dogs. I got the Cloudy Bay Clams steamed & a side of Montreal Poutine. The clams were quite tasty, and so was the very generously spreaded baguette. The poutine was somewhat weird, lumps of random cheese curd. The gravy wasn’t rich nor generous enough, chips themselves were not the best either. The service was friendly & it great to hang out with friends here.
unique in nz... felt like i was back in the states except the food sizes. For the chicken size is small but yum. Sodas were nothing special and bland.
Absolutely love the deserts at this place, especially the pies. The drinks are also really good. There isn’t a lot on the menu that caters to vegetarians, and the food that there is isn’t amazing. Always get great, friendly service.
Delicious food and great service especially mr. manager at the day shift.
The Best Ugly Salmon Bagel with an extra poached egg...Yum!!!! Such a chilled atmosphere & a variety of things to eat. Brunch is such a good idea here & in the heart of city. The hotdog was overpowered with acidic onions though - so that was a tiny let down but other than that - would definitely be visiting again! Want to the Chelsea Girl Cinnabon!
Came here last week on a super hot friday after work. Feds was packed and luckily we got seats outside Was greeted and served by a friendly waiter and the food came out on time. FEDS DELI does not disappoint when it comes to flavour. Portion sizes for some of the dishes may be small but man it packs a punch on the flavours. Kudos to the chef/cook
But if you wanna go to a place just to relax, have a drink and maybe some dessert then Feds deli is your place. We ordered the lemon meringue pie and the classic popular cheesecake (didnt take a pic) but my lord was is it divine. Definitely coming back here for those desserts.
Love this place always have a incredible meal everytime I have been here, the pancakes are a must try for breakfast 😜
The pies are so good I would definitely go eat them again. Personal favourite is the banoffee pie. Amazing. Love. Love. I think the Duck liver is not bad too, but my boyfriend thought it was yuck.
Dusty. So dusty. Looking forward to a breakfast here is one thing that will help ease the pains of a late night. Ordered the salmon latkes and mimosa. Can highly recommend both to ease into the day.
I just love this place!!! I wish there were more american style diners around. I love their filter coffee, delicious latkis, cakes and it's usually good service but they can be difficult about swapping things in a dish. If you haven't tried latkis please do. Also the last time I had them they were quite burned and I'm someone who doesn't feel comfortable saying anything. They definitely shouldn't be burned.
Awesome vibe and food here is amazing. Had the poutine and the cheesecake trio combo. The american style cheesecake and the banoffee pie is a must try. Will definitely be back.
Always enjoy coming here! The three cake deal is the go to and satisfies your sweet tooth
Really liked the poutine, i heard it was nicer if you "make it dirty" which means having patrami added to it, so I'd like to try it next time i visit. I also fell in love with their banoffee pie, it was one of the best dessert I've had in a while. The caramel popcorn topping was so nice, so I once even bought a whole jar of it. It was a little too sweet to finish it at the movies though😂
Wouldn’t have normally picked the fed deli as a place for breakfast, I’d heard about their epic desserts, but we were looking for a breakfast spot close to aotea square for breakfast and this was our find. Loved the Americana vibes and the bottomless coffee was an awesome touch. Even had half and half milk. The potato rostis were delish. I had the green breakfast salad and it was really surprisingly yum. The poutine fries prob the best I’ve had! Will be back!
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We came here as a group of three and got a few dishes to share: Matzo Ball Soup, Truffle Cauliflower Cheese, Turkey on Rye, Toasted Reuben, Poutine w/ Pastrami, and New York Cheesecake.
The soup was rich and aromatic but the bagel dumplings had absolutely no flavour whatsoever. The truffle cauliflower cheese was amazing, creamy and soft. The turkey sandwich was rather disappointing as I expected actual turkey pieces rather than three thin slices of deli meat. The bread also felt stale and was difficult to eat. The reuben was perfect, a thick stuffing of sliced pastrami, melted cheese and perfectly grilled bread. The gravy on top of the poutine was flavourful, but the fries weren’t crispy which was strange considering some weren’t even drenched in the gravy. I would have preferred the cheese curds to be slightly melted. The cheesecake was on another level, perfectly rich, dense and smooth.
Friendly, efficient service, however portion sizes were quite small. We paid over $30pp but was still not full from this meal.
I have been here for few times. Its always packed as. It must mean that the food is good right. Absolutely right. The food and bottomless coffee(you can choose either supreme or havana filter coffee). Tried their cocktail as well. So far everything is so good. Next time i will def try their desserts!!
The only thing you need to know is that they serve the best New York Baked cheesecake. Having been to many restaurants/cafes, even the “popular” Cheesecake Factory in the U.S.
The Fed’s cheesecake has the perfect balance of creaminess/sweetness without being overly sugary, and it’s so beautifully dense unlike other places that just fall apart. Also, the biscuit base is yum!!
Banana toffee slice is also super nice 8/10
Lemon meringue is a little bit tarte 6.5/10
They always have amazing food here. I recommend the poutine and the fish, the flavors and textures are delicious! If you have room for dessert, try their New York cheese cake is amazing!
Sheena (Code SHEE7152H For Zomato Gold)
+4
We all agreed that we love their CHEESECAKE! It is one of the best NY cheesecakes that I’ve tried in my whole life. I would definitely go back for it and for the unlimited coffee. We also got their famous banoffee pie with popcorn and it’s quite good as well (but not my cup of tea). It would have been 5/5 stars if they do serve the wine infront of you. The wine that my friends ordered were already in the glass when served on the table and they find the taste quite bland.
Nice food, friendly staffs and reasonable price!
We had Salmon letkes and hoagies and they were just extra awesome!
My most frequent visit place in Auckland ♥️
Been a while since last visit. This place never disappointed me. Service was warm and welcoming; my favorite “The best ugly bagel” still as delicious; and the ambience remains nice and cosy. Will definitely come back more!
Came a while back - They serve great coffee and their cheesecake was amazing! Staffs were really attentive and friendly! Nice environment and clean shop!
This place has a diner style feel with booths for four, and couple tables. There aren't as many big group tables, so maybe more ideal for smaller groups unless you want to sit outside. It also gets quite busy around 8-9PM time as people also head here for desserts. The 3 pies combo also includes the NY cheesecake as an option, and it was pretty good albeit it gets a bit sweet after a while. Overall, I definitely reccomend this place!
I usually pop into Fed Deli whenever i'm in the area mainly for their Best Ugly Bagels and Poutine, which i would say are one of their best dishes.. Staff are very friendly and the atmosphere of an old school american Deli looks pretty cool. I always takeaway since i work near by but would like to dine in here next time im with a few work friends.. Definatly try the Banofee Pie, it is Amazing!
One of those must go places at least once. The poutine is amazing, the whole lemon sole is cooked to perfection every time and the veal schnitzel is amazing too
Overall the restaurant was nice. I would 100% come back again and try other foods too.
A nice fun place to hang out with your friends, the atmosphere was cute and just gave off good vibes. The waiters were so polite as well. The waiting for food was decent so no complaints there.
The pricing is little expensive but the food was good and everyone I went with enjoyed the food - especially the poutine highly recommend.
Fantastic! Great service, lovely wait staff and water always being refilled. Cinnamon scroll was to die for. I wish I’d been able to eat two. Bagels also delicious. Highly recommended!
Passed this place a zillion times before finally going here for an evening snack. The ambiance is great with a typical 'deli' feel to it. We ordered the Ruben and mussels. Both the dishes were tasty and full of flavor. Service was good too.
The Ruben was tasty with nice and with generous amount of succulent beef in there. The pickles and cheese added the right amount of tang to it. Would highly recommend it
Pros -
1. Right in the city center
2. Food was tasty
3. Have quite a lot of items to choose from
4. Beer options were nice as well
Cons -
1. Slightly pricey
2. Not sure what to find for the health conscious people.
Delicious!!! First of all. Secondly😬😬kinda pricey but its worth a try. If you’re coming here for a first time i would recommend coming during the evening so you have a menu of drinks and lovely food BUT THE BEST CAKES FOR DESSERT! Preferably the bannofee is the best but the cake slices at the Federal are to die for.
It is a little pricey though :/
Would recommend if you could afford it, if its out of the budget just come for the cakes!
(I seem too hyper but thats just because the cakes are that good)
4/5 stars because of the price :)
Yummy pies and friendly service, best combination and perfect place for dessert in this cold weather. The restaurant has very diner vibes, everything on the menu is simple yet New York City quirky.
The banoffee pie is amazing! Topped with crunchy popcorn and whipped cream, even the base is divine. I usually also get their sandwiches, great for a quick lunch or to share.
The foods were amazing, cheese cakes were also really amazing!!!! I think it’s 3 slices for $20 or something, pancake!!! OMG!! Everyone should try this, the reason it’s not 5🖤, because the service were not so good.
We told them that we were sharing so the dishes came out like one at a time which was a bit frustrating because we were hungry but other than that the waiters are attentive and the place was aesthetically pleasing. There was also a clear view of the chefs and how they make the food which was very entertaining for me.
Forgot to keep the album updated because we were busy eating :/. That was how tasty it was. We had the poutine, the strip steak, and the spit toast chicken. All were very delicious but the portion is a little small, so we needed to keep ordering to fill us up.
In short, good service and good food!
Place lives up to the hype, being from NY it's not a pure deli, but certainly nails the deli 'fusion' - 1/2 NY 1/2 NZ, like many places in Auckland - fusion is the thing. Great breakfast of poached eggs and bacon, was vey busy, excellent service...
Our go to place all the time! Amazing poutine and chicken whether it be spit roast or chicken sandwich we are always thoroughly satisfied! Definitely recommend!
Home of the best cheesecake in NZ! Not exaggerating the NY baked cheesecake is pretty amazing. We had the salmon latkes, Kahawai Hoagie, hot dog and chicken salad sandwich. Simple ingredients combined to create delicious meals. Great location and impeccable service, friendly staff and food came out fast. Delicious sandwiches and desserts on point. Bottomless coffee - yes please!
The food is so nice and the staffs here are so friendly. The chicken is so tender and the gravy for the chicken and fries are so nice! Everything here is awesome!
Very nice and a fun atmosphere. The cheesecake is very delicious but can sometimes be a bit much after a big meal. I have never tried poutine before but thoroughly enjoyed it
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I have been wanting to come here for over a year now after hearing such good reviews about this place.
Service: 8/10
There are no bookings allowed here so it’s a great walk in option.
The waitresses were super nice and quickly cleared up a table as soon as we entered.
The waitresses have impeccable memory and didn’t even need to write down our order, and made zero mistakes.
The food did take over a hour to be completely served and we were often left with waiting for long periods of time between dishes.
They would often change our dirty or used dishes so we had clean plates all the time which was quite nice.
Food: 9/10
We ordered the small mussel and pastrami chowder, salmon latkes, milk-fed veal schnitzel, turkey meatloaf, large poutine, kahawai hoagie and the three way.
The chowder had a deep seafood flavour filled with hearty vegetables and pastrami but it was also quite salty. The bread was super crispy and buttery.
The latkes were crispy and the smoked salmon was very fresh.
The milk fed veal schnitzel was fried and crunchy which meant it wasn’t very tender.
The turkey meatloaf was my absolute favourite dish and I still think about it till this day. The meatloaf was filled with aromatic apples, nuts and spices which made the flavour POP.
The poutine was a greasy delicious mess filled with gravy and cheese curds.
The hoagie was a basic buttery bun filled with crunchy battered fish and delicious light mustard.
For the three way I got the ny cheesecake, lemon meringue pie and banana toffee pie.
The cheesecake was my favourite which consisted of a super creamy thick sweet base filled with cheese flavour. The biscuit base was a little too thin and I could barely even taste it.
The lemon meringue pie had a sweet base and meringue top which contrasted the super tart lemon syrup.
The banana toffee pie was super sweet and was topped with crunchy popcorn.
Ambiance: 10/10
This place has a super reminiscent American style which reminds me of the diners in New York.
There are old stamps and postcards displayed in the booths that boasts the old fashioned style.
The kitchen is open and the cakes are all on display. The workers and diners are all dressed in American diner style clothing.
The restaurant is quite dimly lit which creates a casual tone throughout the restaurant.
It can get noisy inside because of the amount of people and the chefs talking to each other, so it’s not great for a private conversation.
The theme may be seem quite old but the whole restaurant is unbelievably hygienic and clean.
This is the best American style restaurant in Auckland. Al Brown really knows how to create good restaurants.
Came here to see the hype!
Cute deco and very American vibe.
Cheesecakes are amazing but wasn’t personally a fan of the chicken sandwich (though I know a lot of people do love it!)
The Rueben is a must-try - probably the best sandwich I’ve ever had. And I love the retro vibe, a nice place to chat as well!! Would recommend if you’re in the CBD
Food : 4/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Federal Delicatessen is a very very popular diner. When I arrived, I Instantly liked the vibes. It was very relaxed, chill and unique for Auckland. I loved the uniforns the staff wore because it made me feel like I was away in the US!
The food was enjoyable. I tried the poutine for the first time ever here and its so good! Everything was good.
The only negative thing was that I felt like the waitress was trying to rush us near the end? I also asked for my Sandwich toasted and felt like the waitress was very impatient about it.
I'll definitely be back though mostly because of the overall feel of the place!
Apologies for the low quality photos- I was using an old phone.
“Dailee” 25% Off Zomato Gold
+4
Came here for brunch for the first time. Busy and hardly any space left. Luckily a couple left just as we arrived. We ordered their pancake (delicious), poutine (average), roast chicken (succulent, no spice so thank goodness for gravy). Their hot cocoa is creamy, homely and has the right amount sweetness. My husband loves their bottomless filter coffee. Price on the $20s/meal, friendly staff and casual ambiance.
Victoria (VICT6217 FOR 20% OFF FOR ZOMATO GOLD)
+4
This place was quite packed when we went during the weekends. Had the NY cheesecake and poutine. I really liked their cheesecake! The poutine was alright.
This New York cheesecake is so tasty!
The cake is well flavoured and not overly sweet. It’s a little zesty and creamy. I would imagine this is authentic because it’s super delicious.
Duck parfait was very nice. Toast was super crunchy and light.
Fries were great also. Could be a bit more crispy though.
Good service.
Would return
Federal Delicatessen is the place for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The only pity is it's so popular and always got crowded. I don't think there's a dish I don't like, definitely worth a try.
Went to there for lunch in the weekend. We have ordered Salmon Latkes; Toasted Reuben and Mish-Mush. Mish-Mush was very tasty but Salmon Latkes was a bit plain. Overall a satisfied experience for three of us.
Love the fed and have been here many times!
Food is great and so is the service. Wait staff are always topping up your water and checking up on you.
The dimmer lighting inside makes you feel relaxed and I love the open kitchen where you can see the chefs preparing your meal.
Highly recommend the Reuben Sandwich, Poutine, Hot Cakes and the 3way cake.
Bug fan of the turkey meatball. Not a fan of duck liver parfait. It’s kinda weird taste. Clams are ok. Staff is very very nice and friendly. Been big help too. Love the dining ambiance
Federal delicatessen is extremely charming. Walk in and you are immediately immersed in the old fashion classic American diner experience. Everything looks so authentic, from the smiles on the waitresses faces, to the menu to the decor. The food is good, coffee is American, take that comment how you will. Worth a visit.
Was recommended this place by a friend, loved the decor and overall ambience of the place. Big cup of ice cold water on arrival was a welcomed treat since Auckland cafes usually try to discourage free beverages. Ordered the Reuben sandwich and the duck liver parfait, my friend had the coffee walnut cheesecake. All the food was delicious and our cups were constantly being topped up with more Ice water! Only downside was our waitress forgot to order my Reuben sandwich so waited quite a while for it to finally come out after I checked on it’s whereabouts. Will be back to try more!
Came here on a dinner outing with my cousin. I love the interior decor, classic american diner with some booths, tables and chairs and bar seating arrangements. Prompt service we were seated quickly. It was early evening about 5.30ish so not too busy but was getting busier by the time we left. I had not been here before so we had food to share. We got the Toasted Rueben, Montreal Poutine Dirty(added Pastrami), Street Dog and Coleslaw. NYC Cheesecake for Dessert.
The portions are quite big so good for sharing. Absolutely loved the Rueben, couldn't recommend it more. Poutine was super filling, love that gravy. Coleslaw was delicious, goes really well with Poutine. Found the Street Dog to be average.
Would love to come back here for the Rueben definitely worth making a trip for.
The place is buzzing and its not even 8am. Staff are welcoming and friendly. Order promptly taken. While waiting we entertained ourselves with the decor, the kitchen staff and some yummy treats on the cabinet. The smell of cinnamon rolls and fresh coffee were divine! We cannot fault our food. They deserve this accolade.
My husband and I came here on date night. We ordered the poutine, street dog, veal schnitzel and potato latkes. Safe to say everything was super tasty and delicious!! Great atmosphere and our waiter was super friendly
Popped in to try their heavily raved about NY cheesecake! Had high expectations for food but was instead blown away firstly from the beautiful interior of the place! Beautiful seating and the best for those American diner vibes. (I’d love to have a milkshake here!)
Greeted by kind service (and the most refreshing iced water 😜) our cheesecake was delivered.
I recommend shoving a bit of everything onto your fork for the first bite-strawberry cheesecake and cream to experience and indulge in the thick rich creamy cheesecake with its own slight tartness balanced by the fresh unsweetened fluffy cream and sweet strawberries which were an excellent touch to counteract the creaminess of the cheesecake.
Definitely want to try more desserts next time (and other cheesecakes around the town to compare)!
8/10 taste
We ordered a hot dog, chicken sandwich, fries and cheese cake. It costed us 47NZD. The food was quite good and tasty, the cheescake is a must order. The quantity is quite a lot and two people can easily complete their dinner or lunch in these 4 dishes. We had to take the fries parcel !
Real courtious and prompt staff. The place is right next to sky tower, must visit !
Yum! Yum! Yum! Staff were great and accommodating. Food was delicious and unique, great place to stop for dinner! The ambience really makes it
Elizabethjansenvanrensb96
+5
OH MAN. How do I review this one and do it justice? Long story short- a friend and I decided to check it out and we found ourselves there every time we went to Auckland.
No fuss food. American diner style.
Incredible.
VERY good service, wait team are very attentive. Was there when it was very busy and still had a great experience and it didn't seem hectic and crazy as it can in other food places when its busy. GREAT iced tea! and poutine! food was slightly on the steeper side cost wise, but really enjoyed my time here.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Have been here before but only for a quick bite so couldnt really judge. Well, we went here for dinner the other night and were blown away!! We had the best ugly bagel, homemade fries, the toasted reuban and a sneaky NY cheesecake and everything was amazing! I will say one comment on the fries that they were quite dry and seemed to be on the burnt side but other than that we loved it all!!
Loved their 3-way that allowed you to have three pieces of cake/pie you want. My son and I and his mate ordered choc-cherry pie, banofee pie and lemon meringue pie and they were all fabulous. Choc pie was sooooo rich and thick. Lemon pie was very lemony and refreshing. We’d found that if you just focused on eating one pie then you would feel quite full quickly (like too chocolatey or too lemony) so banofee pie was good for a balance.
My boyf and I are here at least once a week because we keep coming back for more! Absolutely love the chicken salad sandwich, schticks, veal schnitzel & of course the three-way desserts!! Tip: a bowl of the yummy matzo ball soup is great on a rainy winter’s night. Hot choc in the mornings are to die for btw!!!
Always a great experience dining here. I especially love the 3-way pie, the NY cheesecake and lemon meringue is so good! Also the chicken sandwich and the turkey sandwich are delicious too! The whole vibe of the place is authentic and cool!
The reviews are true. This place is amazing. Grernpeace bagel was beautiful!!! And so filling! Awesome all American design, and the layout is so that you watch your food being prepared! Friendly staff and the they have old school American uniforms too which was very cool.
They don't take bookings so cross your fingers and hope they have a spot open. With the wait.
Came here for breakfast the other day. Service is friendly and attentive , and the decor is so interesting and unique. For what the food is, it was presented really nice and it was much more filling than it looks! We decided to get cheesecakes as well and those certainly went down a treat! Very generous slices and tastes so good. Can't wait to come back and try their brunch and dinner menu!
Nice place, service was fast however slightly pushy (waiters kept asking and asking if you wanted another drink or more food). I ordered the small poutine for $9. Kinda over priced but it was tasty. Probably won’t go back again as the price was pretty steep.
Great service and ambience. We ordered the Salmon Lox Bagel, Poutine and the Matzo Ball Soup. The bagel was decent and generous with the cream cheese.
I had never had Matzo ball soup before so I didn't know what to expect. It was fairly tasty. I liked the matzo balls themselves; they were soft and flavourful. The poutine was good with a fairly generous serving of gravy and cheese curds.
What impressed me most was the service and I will be back to try other things on the menu. My only nitpick would be that it gets busy so it's not the best place to hang around for too long as queues for other customers get long. Also, peak hours might not ensure seating places.
Four of us went in for just dessert one night, and we were having a hard time on selecting the cakes for our 3-way dessert. The waitress advised us we could do go FOUR-ways & it was reasonably priced! We picked that and had one of each cakes (NY Cheesecake: Cheesy but sweet and slightly creamy, Chocolate Pie: this one was way too sweet for me and very rich, Banoffee pie: Love the almost natural sweetness from the banana and caramel and popcorn, and Lemon Meringue Pie: delightful sour and sweet delicacy) along with their bottomless tea and a few beers. I'm giving the rating 4 stars this time as the banoffee pie and cheesecake slightly lacked something and didnt have the same flavor/texture as their usual, but they were all still sweet and nice.
There is always a buzzing vibe whenever you decide to go, and the staff are always friendly.
This diner is located on the federal street. I went for a breakfast to relive my fond American breakfast memories and it didn’t disappoint at all. I was in the mood for a sweet treat which led me to order the Griddle cakes which are blueberry buttermilk pancakes. By far, the best pancakes I have had. Soft, fluffy pancakes laden with blueberries and topped with cinnamon butter, which was definitely the hero of the dish for me. The strudel nut crunch provided that nutty crunchy texture to the whole dish. I will definitely go back just for that cinnamon butter. Simply delish!
I mean can you ever go wrong with visiting here. Excellent service and food that makes this lil American feel at home. I will never stop reccomending their pies to people. They are sooo good! If you cant decide on one then get the 3 way. Love this place!
Can’t fault Federal, everything is so darn good. I’ve been here more than a few times over the years. Best New York cheesecake in town hands down! I also like their matzo ball chicken soup...there’s just something so comforting about chicken soup and dumplings, I know you understand. The place is often buzzing, great decor and atmosphere if not a little bit on the small side - they pack you in. But the service is friendly and prompt, and once you settle in and tuck in to the food (especially the cheesecake), all your worries dissipate 😊👌🏼
Have been here for such a long time and there is a reason why I keep going back. This place is full of energy, good vibes and especially super good food. Their dessert is also no joke especially the banoffee!
Definitely my favourite spot to eat. When we can’t decide where to go while in the city this is always our trusted place, and it never fails! Service is quick and friendly, atmosphere is great and the food is consistently delicious. We’ve had breakfast, lunch and dinner here several times over the past year or so. Just can’t sing it’s praises enough. Thanks Fed St!
Amazing amazing amazing service!! Worth the experience just for that. The food came so prompt and was so tasty and simple. We got the Greenpeace bagel, chicken club sandwich and fried cauliflower. They were also running a promotion where each booth got randomly assigned a special cocktail made to order - we got the spring fling which was also delightful. Special thanks to our waitress who was so kind and friendly, we will definitely be back to devour everything else on the menu!
Came here for a birthday lunch with a group of seven on a Sunday and had to wait a little which was expected but only took about 15 minutes! the staff were all super nice and knowledgeable and the food was prompt without sacrificing quality! I loved the griddle cakes I got but the LATKES. This shit is AWESOME. I would honestly come back just for them! super super impressed and everyone loved their food!
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Loved their 3-way that allowed you to have three pieces of cake/pie you want. My friend and I ordered choc-cherry pie, banofee pie and lemon meringue pie and they were all fabulous. Choc pie was sooooo rich and thick. Lemon pie was very lemony and refreshing. We’d found that if you just focused on eating one pie then you would feel quite full quickly (like too chocolatey or too lemony) so banofee pie was good for a balance. Also loved the caramel popcorn (in fact I might love the popcorn more than the banofee pie🙈)
Definitely share this with a friend coz trust me you won’t be able to finish 3 cheesecake slices yourself. It was $20 for 3 slices and if just sharing between 2 people then each just pays $10
Everyone leaves with a satisfied tummy and wallet☺️
Waitress was really kind and recommended us which pie to order when we were stuck and she also helped us take Polaroid pictures (she picked the best angle also 😉😉) surprisingly we didn’t have to wait for seats
Next time definitely keen to try their dinner menu
Food:4.5/5
Service: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Get the chicken sandwich with crispy skin and gravy! Incredible. Bottomless filter coffee and delicious pies too...it’s a staple and I’d happily go there any day.
The Fed is my go to late night when I’m craving a good dessert or some poutine. The atmosphere of this old school American diner is awesome. Love the vibe, the food and the service
Great food and service. Love the fish dish, the bottomless supreme coffee, the 3-1 dessert, cheesecake is definitely the best. Been here so many times with colleague and friends. Can't get enough of the food and coffee
The service here was lovely, although it’s a bit confusing to not have bookings and make people wait for a seat.
The food was great, we were seated at the booth (because it was busy) right opposite the service, so we got to see all the different items that everyone was ordering (we definitely know what to get next time).
Highly recommend the Reuben, poutine and the Banana Toffee pie
One of the best dessert places in the locale, can't really seem to get over the tempting flavours of the cheesecake the memory of it is very fresh and the flavor still lingers on. Can't wait to get my hands on some more.
Came here for dessert. Love the dessert platter where you can try three of their signature cheesecakes.
Nicely resented on a wooden board. Decent sized slices. I think it's great for sharing and a great way to try various flavours. Definitely share it as its way too much for one person.
Every time I come here I always leave full and happy. The staff are friendly, the food is fast, affordable and great quality; and it’s an enjoyable atmosphere to be in - a warm American deli feel. Always a nice experience
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Food 8/10
Drinks 8/10
Service 10/10
Ambience 8/10
Value for money 6/10
Came here last Thursday night with friends. We were a group of 6, greeted and seated outside and it was a cold night so we were also offered blankets. The service across the night was amazing as our waitress also assisted some of us with our choices on the menu. The menu for myself could have a few more options and in my view is a wee bit steep. The hot dogs were amazing and I highly recommend that and the poutine! My partner is French Canadian and she loves her poutine as she misses the genuine flavours from home and she said it’s the best closest thing she’s had since being in NZ and over the past 3 years she’s tried quite a few poutines. The Fish, Schnitzel & Chowder was all nice although I found over priced as with the Chicken Sandwich which unfortunately didn’t win me over. To be fair it wasn’t what I had in mind either. It’s wholemeal bread with minced chicken (reminded me of chicken you get out of a can) with a small piece of crispy skin and shredded lettuce and a side of gravy which is the same gravy used on the poutine so if you were to get poutine on the side it’s a gravy overload! All in all though I look forward to returning and I highly recommend the hot dogs and poutine, close to perfection and maybe the best value for money that I got to try from the menu.
This is one of our “happy places” for good food. Love their bottomless tea and coffee. As my hubby and I are creatures of habit, we have some must order every time we go there: street dog, NY cheesecake, chicken salad sandwich and turkey on rye. Everything is perfectly flavoured and nicely cooked. We love their NY cheesecake so much, once my hubby ordered a whole cheesecake 2-3 days in advance for his team morning tea.
Funky up-market American diner. Came here on 4th July & they were incidentally handing out free peanut butter & jelly icecream. Lovely bottomless supreme coffee & the best ruban toasted sandwich I've had in my life. Super friendly & accommodating staff
Came here for brunch - first time visiting. Felt like I had stepped straight into a New York diner!
Being English, my father jumped at the ' bottomless tea' option - however a new tea bag was not given after each refill after a couple of drinks he was drinking very weak tea, so maybe this could be looked at.
Both enjoyed our breakfast. Will return :)
Always like coming here for their poutine and chicken sandwich. Salmon latkes are also very good. The food they serve here are always of high standard, and service is good. Unfortunately they don’t take bookings so might have to wait a bit during busy hours.
Really loved the Smoked Hash. Couldn't finish all of it but it was a good price for such a generous serving!!! Tried a bit of my friend's pancakes & damn it was good. Will be coming back soon!
If you want to make a quick stop to the USA this is where you want to go.
The architecture, the service can bring you to any american driveway.
Very friendly and fast passed staff but always bringing only the best to their costumers.
And the food...well we can only speak for the best ugly and the griddle cakes but they were just perfect.
Highly recommended.
Went to dinner here last night and loved the whole experience! Service was quite quick and the food was AMAZING! I love diner food and the flavours really hit the target (had Greenpeace Bagel/Poutine). Definitely recommend the 3 way dessert - their lemon meringue is delicious!
A small and tidy cafe with excellent atmosphere here. Good coffee and food. Cheese cake is a must try. Staff are friendly, will come back again.
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If you wanna go to New York but don’t have the money then come here instead, the closest thing to an American style diner/delicatessen you can get in Auckland
Went here with my brother for lunch which pretty much became dinner as well as we were both stuffed right until nighttime 😅
The staff are kind and provide great service. Food didn’t take too long and prices are reasonable but can vary depending on what you order.
We got quite a lot of food just for 2 people but it was worth it 🤤
• Matzo Ball Soup (L): Since there was 2 of us they kindly split the soup into 2 bowls. It’s a light and comforting broth with matzo balls and chicken that make it a nice way to start the meal
• Latkes: Can’t go wrong with fried potatoes. Basically fried hash browns that were nice and crispy on the outside. Goes great with the apple sauce and creme fraiche (was my favourite thing tbh)
• Poutine (S): A Canadian staple. Fries were cooked well, cheese curds give it a nice texture, and the gravy gives it a bit more flavour without being too over powering.
• Reuben: The bread was toasted perfectly, nice meaty filling and some mustard & sauerkraut to counteract the fattyness of the pastrami. Unfortunately this sandwich is actually a bit underwhelming since I’ve had the ‘Pastrami on Rye’ and the Reuben from the legendary Katz’s BUT it’s still a good sandwich which I recommend.
• The 3-Way: we chose their Cheesecake, Banofee Pie & Lemon Meringue Pie. My favourite was the LMP even if I’m not a huge fan of lemon. Cheesecake is great but not that special. Never tried a banofee pie before but glad I did because it was yum and not too sweet which I like.
• Bro also got some black coffee ($4) which can be refilled as much as you want with no additional charge. They have an option between a lighter or darker roasted coffee which is great.
I would love to come back here again and maybe try their breakfast menu since their griddle cakes look super yummy. After visiting New York I’ve missed it a lot and this place is able to give me at least a bit of it 💕
Food is great and staff are awesome.
You have the option to tip them which is very American.
The bill cost me $80 without tip
I highly recommend coming here!
The desert platter is the stuff of dreams! The lemon meringue and banoffee pie are truly amazing. Love the retro diner vibe too. A good place to feel like it's low key and not too stuffy but high in quality.
Give me bottomless coffee or nothing. But really that is my favourite thing haha. I recently had brunch here with my friends and the service was wonderful. Best thing? My coffee cup was never empty! I had salmon latkes and poutine. Delicious~ my favourite thing at the fed is still the trio of cakes-not pictured but will be devoured next time I set foot in this place.
We have been here several times and it has now become a tradition when we are in Auckland. It is consistently good food. There was a wait for a table but they were kind enough to take our number and call us when there was an available table. The Reuben comes with raving reviews from our table members and the blueberry griddle cakes and chicken salad sandwich also a must try. Great diner with fab service and food. Worth a wait
Wow wow wow so delicious. Me and my partner ordered three salads, the greenpeace bagel, the poutine and the ny hot dog. We were blown away by how amazing the food was, could not fault anything, service was also great! Plus they stock my favourite beer (sawmill xpa), so will most definitely be coming back!
Two of us had a long lunch here yesterday
After a short wait we got a booth
Well done Fed staff
Great start
We shared everything
First up a jug of Hallertau Copper Tart beer
Then a bottle of Pegasus Bay Riesling
Both were delightful
Salmon Latzkes (on crispy shredded potato)
Schticks (Pea and Pastrami Croquettes)
House Pastrami
Lamb and Veal Meatballs on a bed of cauliflower cheese with truffle and porcini crumbs
Montreal Poutine & Creamy Slaw with peanuts
All top-notch and delicious
A magical dining experience in a New York style Deli
Everyone should try this at least once
And to top it all I have to mention the simply outstanding waitress we had
Chloe was just excelent
Friendly helpful professional and sincere
Best I have struck for a very long time
Well done and many thanks
We finished an excellent afternoon with drinks at firstly Depot next door then Bellota across the road
A great precinct Federal Street
Had a good time catching up with friends.
We ordered several dishes and the poutine was definitely our fave! So yummy..
The second best would be the iceberg salad, which was served with ranch and candied walnuts!
However, the roasted chicken and the pastrami were a disappointment. The chicken was flavorless even though the meat was pretty tender. And the pastrami was average.
We expected more!
We also had the dessert. A delicious NY cheesecake. We can never go wrong with cheesecake right?? It was not that sweet with a hint of lemon flavor which gives a nice balance. We had the banana and toffee pie as well. It was nice but nothing special.
Btw they have a good deal for the sweets!
3 cakes for only $20.
Where a single cake costs around $12.
What a great marketing 💕
Overall the place has a nice vibes. Packed and crowded deli even during the weekdays. Nice service, the server won't let our glass empty.
Food: 3.5/5
Ambience: 4/5
Service: 5/5
How do I put it. This place reminds me very much of Katz's Delicatessen in NYC. I've ever only seen it on TV, however I've always wanted to go and try somewhere like that in NZ, however I could never find it....until now. The restaurant boasts a nice 90's retro atmosphere (not to mention also having the option to sit outside near the skytower :00) and has friendly service. Food however although it's a very bias opinion, I'd definitely get the Toasted Reuben xOx as it has been a dish (made by proper chefs) I've wanted to try for a years. overall it's a nice restaurant which is suitable for a couple of friends (~4-5ish) and family.
One tick off the checklist of foods to try ^0^/
ps: If you want dessert, definite get the banana and toffee pie. You'll thank me later ;^)
It’s a must to try their dessert - pies and cheesecakes! My fav was the toffee banana pie. It was so so GOOD! I always come back for the pies
the poutine here is so good, also the chicken sandwich was really spot.on. 👌👌👌👌 pricey for a student like me but definitely worth it. ny cheesecake was also really good, personally didn't like the cherry choc cake but other people sitting on my table loved it. the lemon one was my second favourite. would love to try the banoffee pie next time. service was really good too, loved watching them make food from behind the counter :)
(fyi in the pic we swapped our food - they do not give 2 different sandwiches in 1 dish)
The service was great, good food. The pouteen was a tasty starter, while dessert being the Banoffee pie was a highlight. Would definitely go again.
Fed has always been my cousin’s favourite. So one evening we decided to visit Federal for a hearty American meal. This place is casual and fun. The service is friendly and quick. We started with drinks. We ordered an iced tea and a cocktail. To begin with we ordered a portion of chicken salad, poutine, veal and lamb meat balls. For the mains we got a chicken salad sandwich. We parceled a cheese cake and a banoffe. Everything was perfectly flavoured and well cooked.
Came in last year.
I love this place. Everything about it reminded me of New York. Street dogs were amazing. Fries were delicious. Would definitely come again to try their other items on the menu.
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On a busy Friday night, we decided to come here for a birthday dinner and luckily we got a table for 9 people as they don’t take bookings. The service was okay as they were attentive and filled our water.
Between us, we got the Schticks, all of the shared dishes which are house pastrami, spit roast chicken, veal schnitzel, meatballs, lemon sole, strip steak. We also got the iceberg wedge, pickled beetroots, creamy slaw, poutine, and a NY cheesecake for dessert.
The schticks, which are just mashed peas and pastrami croquette, were piping hot and crunchy and the inside is soft like cream.
The house pastrami and strip steak were succulent and had a decent smoked flavor. It wasn’t hard to chew and were seasoned very well.
The spit roast chicken was my favorite meat dish because the chicken was roasted to the point where a slight touch of fork and knife would separate the bone and the meat. It was soft and easy to cut, and the gravy, not too thick or watery, added a very traditional American touch to the flavor. I almost thought it was a roast turkey because the meat was so soft and the skin, although not crispy, was juicy.
The schnitzel was crunchy like the schticks, but had less flavor and served like chicken nugget pieces. It was still fried very well and tasted okay.
The meatballs were kind of flavorless and the mince was a bit hard to chew as if it’s a little over cooked. The creamy cauliflower that everyone thought were cheese balls, had a light milky flavor which was interesting, yet goes well with the flavor of the main dish.
The lemon sole was a little over fried but was seasoned pretty well. What made this fish stood out were the pickled raisins and parsley as they had a sweet and sour flavor which lifted the little saltiness of the fish. I would recommend this dish.
The salads were light and not that creamy. These would go well with the meaty dishes because the slaws would balance out the meat.
For dessert, the NY cheesecake made my experience end with a smile. The sweet and sour strawberries and cream on the sides made the already sweet cheesecake even better. Although the portion is not what you’d expect of a cheesecake, but it’s reasonable for the price.
All dishes were presented as if they were gorgeously home cooked by an American family. I’m not sure how American dishes taste, but this is probably near the authentic flavor.
Taste - 9/10
Size - 8/10
Price - 8/10
Service - 8/10
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One of my favourite places of all kinds of food in Auckland. The real diner.
Breakfast and brunch: bottomless black Supreme is just my kind of thing. Want something baked, get the cinnamon girl it's always beautifully done. Something bigger, order the pancakes or latkes, truly amazing American dishes.
Dinner: Savouries for dinner here I have to say cost a bit because the serving size is rather small, although taste is great and veggie items are all incredibly good.
Desserts + drinks: Dessert is certainly why anyone comes here. NY Cheesecake just no one does it better around here. Banoffee pie is to die for, caramel popcorn for the truly sweet tooth. Choc Cherry pie is just decadent and indulgent. Lemon meringue pie, the classic that can't go wrong with their preparing it.
Get any of the sodas if you want something refreshing, you'll be satisfied. Get any of the beers if you fancy, I personally dont drink beer but my mates like the selection they offer. A lot of selections for wine, too, though I tried the Sauvignon blanc on tap and not a huge fan.
this place is always the best I honestly would on and on about it. but the steak is to die for, also get the mush pea and ham schticks those are a great appetiser. but my favourite is the dessert although they took out the pumpkin pie that is my favourite pie and the main reason I keep coming back. PLEASE BRING BACK THE PUMPKIN PIE AHAAHAH
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Coming into Fed Deli, the layout is dramatically different to most New Zealand establishment and the layout is diner like with its close seating and open kitchen. We came in on a Thursday evening and surprise, surprise the place was absolutely packed, we were lucky to get seats thanks to some great forward thinking of booking ourselves in. Once you are seated I felt the bustling and energy of Fed Deli and it made for quite an enjoyable evening because the place felt so alive.
Serving up your classic New York diner meals, I was brought to Fed Deli by a friend of mine who was Jewish, I only point this fact out because they serve some fantastic kosher meals that you can only find in Auckland. Service here is top notch, our server was able to remember around 10 different orders without the use of a notebook. So full credit to this bloke and the team at Fed Deli, fantastically trained staff.
One of the only places in Auckland that does the Lemon Sole which is buttered fried fish, this was a highly recommended dish and one that I would also recommend to patrons. It’s a peculiar dish where the inside of the fish has a light citrusy flavor while being incredibly soft and the outside is has a nice butter fry taste which gives a crunchy texture. Something different and unique to Fed Deli. Hmm, the Rueben is beyond fantastic, just remembering it has me drooling because the sandwich has a perfect ratio of filling to rye bread. Accompanied with sauerkraut, the Rueben is a perfect lunch choice for one and is another dish that I would highly recommend. NY Strip steak is also an interesting dish, I didn’t personally think it was that amazing but everyone else that I ate with thought it was so as any democratic citizen I would say that the strip steak is also quite nice. Matzo soup a traditional Jewish soup was quite interesting and I would recommend this for those with more adventurous palates.
Would I come back, yes, of course, I’ve been back around 4 times since my first visit because of the fun atmosphere and quality food.
Showstopper: Reuben and Lemon Sole
Overall Grade: A
Popped into this funky place for breakfast today and was pleasantly surprised! Great atmosphere with staff dressed in cute outfits, many interesting decorations on the wall and excellent service. I ordered salmon latkes and it was delicious! My best friend had a halloumi salad which was nice but a bit too salty. Overall an awesome place!
This is one of the best restaurants that I have been to in my lifetime, everything was great! The setting is beautiful and the staffs are more friendly than the luxury restaurants such as the Fish and Imperial Palace.
Came here for dessert the other night.
We ordered the trio (banana & toffee, NY cheesecake and lemon meringue pie) for $20. My favourite had to be the NY cheesecake! The trio is a great deal for $20 especially if you are sharing.
The service here was nice but our order took a while to arrive.
I did enjoy my dessert but I do not think it was so spectacular that I would return again for it.
I love this place, the hotdogs here are my absolute favourite and the overall service and atmosphere is always kind and welcoming. 100% recommend
Lovely atmosphere and lovely customer service. Food is good but not for the price we have to pay for. Dessert was absolutely amazing - highly recommend the trio with cheesecake, choc cherry and banofee ☆
Yum! There’s so many things that I would like to try!! I had the cheesecake over the weekend.. it was well worth it. DELICIOUS. 5/5 will come back.
Yum! Is all I have to say about this place we had the chicken salad sandwich the toasted rueben & poutine the rueben was deelicious! the chicken sandwich even yummier with the crackling and gravy drizzled it all over and the poutine yum! can't wait to go back and have dessert and the wings cheers federal 🙌
When you have no idea what you want to eat in the Auckland city, federal deli is the best place to go!
Great service and staff always helpful and food always amazing!
On a busy Saturday morning, Federal's doors were open and an early lunch beckoned. Federal Delicatessen is what I imagine a New York diner to be: chaotically serving great food and coffee all day long and busy people go about their day. You can choose either Havana or Supreme coffee beans, something this Wellington coffee drinker appreciated. (Havana is the correct answer, of course ...) I took a tall seat at the counter and enjoyed watching the kitchen staff at work while sipping my bottomless coffee. They didn't stop moving for a second as orders came and went at great pace. I ordered the Chatham Island blue cod hoagie and watched as it was assembled in front of me. The fish was heavily battered and served on a creamy slaw in a long bun. The great food, coffee and service means I'll be back to check out other items on the menu and enjoy the dining experience.
Great service from Nayla. Recommend the lox latkes and treyf! Bottomless cold brew also was a perfect choice. We also got a table immediately and service was lightning fast even on a busy Saturday lunch time :)
BETTER THAN DENNYS ACROSS THE ROAD
My last review for this eatery was 2.5/5...
I have to say this time round I tried more dishes and it I was slightly more impressed.
It's what you expect, but no WOW factor, southern like American wholesome foods. But not too fancy. I personally still prefer Depot next door which is slightly better in quality and suitable for my taste buds. Denny's across the road is like the cheaper version of what Federal has to offer.
Service: 4/5
Environment: 3/5
Food Quality: 3.5/5
Food Quantity: 3.5/5
Presentation: 3/5
Price per person: $30-$50
Absolutely awesome!
Great food and everything in perfect keeping with the deli style. Couldn't fault the service, the Joe, the pie, the poutine or anything else.
Buzzing atmosphere and great service. I have been to this restaurant several times and have left happily full each time. My absolute favourite is the side of potato gravy - just delicious! I recommend trying the poutine, smoked kahawai cakes, duck liver parfait and side of chips. FYI they are quite generous with their portion of chips where it was too much for my partner and I to finish as a side so order with caution. If you’re into desserts then give the 3-way combo of cheesecake a try. This place will now become one of my go-to’s as they’re bound to have something on their menu to satisfy any craving. Don’t forget to order their potato gravy!
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A great little place tucked away near SKY City.
My Partner and I came here on a weekend after a long eventful day all we wanted was some good comfort food which is exactly what we got.
When we entered the Fed Deli the restaurant was pumping but not long after we walked through the door one of the friendly staff quickly found us a seat in a nice snug booth.
Now I have to say that I loved the atmosphere here, it really felt like an New York Diner from the layout of the kitchen to the wait staff dressed in the green uniforms.
Not long after we were seated our drinks orders were taken, 5 minutes later our drinks arrived. And we were given plenty of time to choose off the menu.
The menu was fantastic so much to choose from rostessiere chicken to sandwiches of all kinds as well as a few delicious looking sides.
I ordered the Reuben sandwich and a side of mashed potatoes and gravy, my partner ordered the Turkey and Cranberry on Rye with the House Slaw.
About 15 minutes later our order arrived and they looked fantastic, now the Reuben Sandwich tasted amazing. Flavours perfectly balanced Layered with mustard, corned silverside, saurkraat and gruyere cheese each bite was one of pure heaven.
My only criticism is that a Reuben sandwich is usually a really large sandwich but this one was quite small and $22.00 which in my opinion is a bit of a stretch.
My Partner sandwich was fresh simple and Delicious the true stars of the show were the sides the mash potatoes and gravy were perfectly seasoned and creamed till perfection topped with a rich flavors gravy.
The coleslaw was a perfect combination of crunchy greens in a delicious dressing.
Keep up the great work guys your restaurant is awesome.
Wow! What can I say about Federal Delicatessen? A whole new sensation for my taste. That chicken salad sandwich was so good I literally had to slow down while eating it because I don’t want it to end. It’s a busy place so expect long queues during peak hours but it’s gonna be worth it. Parking wise, I suggest to walk or take the bus instead. But what really interests me the most is the coffee, I can’t really put it into words but if I had to describe it, it’s comforting. I’m looking forward into coming back here, hungry for more. 🥪🥗☕️😁😋
Lovely atmosphere and decor, and amazing service.
A perfect rating is well deserved for Federal Delicatessen. Service was impeccable as the lady who served us was polite, efficient and nice.
A wide range of food (from entrée to dessert to drinks) was available to order and I would definitely revisit just to try more food. All the food ordered was enjoyed by everyone. Perhaps on the more expensive side, but reflects the great quality and taste of the food.
Recommendations: The goulash was topnotch.
USE HANSID FOR GOLD DISCOUNT
+5
Federal Delicatessen is such a cool spot! When you step inside you are transported to an old American diner! All the staff are dressed up too and it’s so cute. The food is super affordable and very delicious. My boyfriend and I ordered a large poutine, streetdog, chicken salad sandwich and banoffee pie to go. Everything was so tasty, filling and worth every cent. Only ended up paying $50. Would recommend and visiting again very soon!
The Fed forever ❤️❤️❤️ not a bad word to say about this place, at all. Incredible food, amazing drinks, fantastic service, coolest vibes (I need to get my hands on a Fed waitress uniform? They’re amazing!) Hands down one of my favourite places to eat in Auckland. The bar makes a mean Aperol Spritz, and I always come back for their chicken salad sandwich and a slice of banana & toffee pie ✅✅✅✅✅
Super handy location, quick and friendly staff. Ordered to takeaway. Great turnaround time, not too fast (so you know it hasn’t been pre-prepared), but no delay either. Rueben sandwich, potato and gravy and a piece of good ol’ NY cheesecake: absolutely delicious.
One of my absolute favourite places to go to! There is a dairy free and gluten free menu, the atmosphere, decor and outfits make you feel like you're no longer in Auckland. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the food is always good without fail. The black cherry soda and spit roast chicken you can't go wrong with!!
Situated close to busy Queen Street and right across from Casino Hotel, this cafe’ is a gem for both classic and modern reinventions.
Having a mixed menu, we chose the turkey sandwich, The Ruben, smoked fish bagel, side of poutine with a cup of hot cocoa.
Each dish we had was amazing. My personal favorite was the symphony told by the turkey sandwich. I mean let’s face it, turkey with cranberry and apple. You can’t go wrong!
My hot cocoa was stove warmed and didn’t have that furry taste you get from other hot chocolates.
Inside provides lots of space for catering and different seating options through out. I’m a fussy chair person myself so this was great as I chose the picnic styled seating outside to enjoy the sunny day.
Very quick service with seating, ordering, food delivery and paying. One other benefit of sitting outside, especially if you are a tourist, is watching the SkyDrop from Auckland tower (I recommend for the adventurous).
Left here with a smile and a satisfied belly.
Anna Maria Stringfellow
+5
This is my favourite restaurant in the whole of Auckland! You MUST try the poutine and the NY cheesecake! Everything else on the menu is amazing too , never had a bad experience here and also the service is great 😍
Came here with my partner for dinner!! We ordered poutine fries , chicken sandwich with crackling and a fish sandwich with dessert trio of three choices , food was good came out in a moderate time , atmosphere was buzzing a lot of people enjoying there drinks in food, the staff there were very friendly and helpful, thankyou had a great time
One of the places I like to eat at when i'm in town. The seating is really nice and cosy especially the booths. My favourite food items are the poutine fries and the New York style cheesecake as well as the bottomless coffees. A little bit on the pricey side but the food and interior are very nice. The staff are friendly and attentive.
Conveniently located next to SkyCity. Serves scrumptious breakfast. Mind you their portion is huge but you can ask for half portion.
Had the pastrami hash with potato, peas and fried egg. Very tasty local breakfast and generous portion too. The refillable filtered coffee was great too.
Kudos to the service staff. 5 star service. Friendly and helpful. Always ready to recommend the best seller on the menu. Really enjoyed my breakfast experience here.
Went here for dinner with a fairly large group (11 people). Service was really lovely and quick. The poutine was amazing with a good amount of sauce and cheese, tasted really fresh and crispy. I found the matzo ball soup average but my friend loved it. I really enjoyed the "schticks" as they had a really nice flavour and the dipping sauce went really well with it. We also ordered the hotdog and it was a decent hotdog, nothing too special but really good nonetheless. The "naughty egg cream" was really average and honestly not worth it at $14. The pies for dessert was great as per usual.
Food was really good, better than I expected, for the meat dishes you get to choose large or small. Portion of the food were big, for a really good price. The cheese cake was especially yummy.
We got the NY cheesecake and lemon meringue pie! The cheesecake was rich and flavourful but not overly rich that it was sickening and the base was crunchy and had a nice texture to it, it was almost like chewing on a little bit of sugar because the base had abit of crunchiness to it!the lemon meringue tasted refreshing with its tart flavour and the dried crumbled raspberry on top was added extra texture and made the pie even sweeter! The choc cherry was well balanced with rich and slightly creamy dark chocolate however I personally am not a fan of the taste of canned/syrup-y cherry’s so it wasn’t m favourite but still nice!
One of our fave brunch spots in Auckland! We love their smoked hash, and the whitefish sandwich - they accomodate to a lower carb option by serving in lettuce cups instead.
Menu has changed slightly since the last time we visited, the new addition with tobiko (flying fish roe) on the whitefish was surprisingly refreshing and complimented the flavours. Potato hash, cucumber etc is not served alongside anymore.
Service is usually friendly and attentive, go outside of normal busy periods if you want your coffee refilled without asking! 😊
Had a dinner gathering with a small group of friends on a busy Saturday night. Luckily we were given a table quite quickly and the staff were nice and helpful. Their mussel chowder was not the creamy style we expected, the pastrami in the soup was quite overpowering and overall the taste was not too good. The pastrami sandwich was quite delicious and filling and their signature 3 way combo was divine - a must try in this restaurant!
This place has a great vibe! Very friendly staff and amazing food.
We had the half roast chicken, veal schnitzel and some fish cakes for starters + ny cheesecake to finish off.
Everything tasted amazing and we came out absolutely stuffed. Highly recommended :)
Come here for poutine every now and then- always super amazing + good vibes but other menu items never quite live up to the sides. Overall always a nice time!
Definitely nice food but experience with service is mixed. Last Sunday we were greeted by a blonde girl at the entrance. We asked for a more comfortable seat (she offered a stool at the bar) bc of me being 7 month pregnant. Lady said 30 min waiting time as she doesn't have any tables available and I wouldn't fit in one of their booth seats - erm sorry but I'm still rather petite and would have been comfortable sitting there. Luckily a young waiter joined the conversation just in that moment and apologised and took us to the back of the restaurant where 4 tables were free. Had very good breakfast but not sure if we would go again.
Love their desserts, especially the caramel popcorn and their cheesecake! Poutine was a bit bland and too salty. Overall a great place to go to if you're a dessert fan.
Amazing food and service. They take pride in ensuring customers are well looked after. Staff are incredibly efficient and hard working.
Can't wait to visit again
Went on a Sunday and the place is packed. The griddle pancakes were fluffy but moist and dense. The cinnamon butter and strudel nut crunch complemented the blueberry pancakes very well. The street dog was average, it was a bit on the dry side and I had to keep pouring hot sauce for added taste.
The wee wait for a table was worth it. Truly felt like we were in a NY diner. The food delivered. Again and again, we kept asking for the menu to order more. Topped it off with all 3 cheesecakes, no words. Can't wait to go back.
Federal Delicatessen doesn't do bookings and I've been trying to go but has never been lucky enough to snag a table. On Sunday night, I finally was able to go and it was worth the wait.
The ambience and decor is amazing and we were served quickly. We tried the chicken and the poutine which was top notch! Words do not do justice just how much good it was.
To top it of, I had to try their NY Cheesecake which I have been hearing rave reviews about. They weren't wrong! Their cheesecake is no doubt the best I have ever had!
When you walk in, it's another world. It's busy but the staff are efficient and look cool with the retro uniform. The Ruben sandwich is delicious. The Montreal Poutine is a must. Good combination of carbs & gravy goodness.
The restaurant looks great, just like a 1950s New York deli might look, right down to the uniforms of the staff. Classic American deli menu, I had a very tasty Turkey cranberry walnut and rocket sandwich at the counter. The side order of fries were crispy and delicious. Highly enjoyable
The service was second to none. The waitresses were very kind and accommodating always making sure we were comfortable. Had the best ugly bagel which was really good and quite filling. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the whole American diner vibe. Will definitely be coming back.
Such a shame the well recommended pumpkin pie was taken off the menu some time ago.
Ordered combo three way including NY cheescake, banoffee & choc and berry. All taste great just the texture of banoffee was not as solid as I persumed, bit of void and gooey actually. Love the ambiance and service though.
Our family comes here as a treat and everything we have had has been absolutely scrumptious. The steak! The fish hoagie! The roast chicken! The salads! The poutine! The cheeeesecake! Our girls love the hotdogs. Lovely, lovely staff too.
Amazing amazing fries they have! Everyone in our group couldn't stop thinking about it after! Hands down the best fries in Auckland! I'm pretty sure it would have been amazing even without the Poutine works! Loved the cheesecake and lemon meringue too! Good place to go to late night after some fun at Skycity. Great service as well with our water cups always being topped up, plus lots of ice!
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Came here again looking for the best New York cheesecake in town, for my own taste.
The ambience is cool, have yourself a Seinfeld sitting with the hustle and bustle of the diner/open kitchen in the "background". The decor is all American right down to the uniforms, the waitress uniforms are reminiscent of the Roswell TV show ones minus the alien motif of course.
The place feels very cramped though with the tables very close together and that you're being "herded" in and out by the layout. I understand as a business you need to turn tables around fast and maximize space to maximize revenue but it leads to not so much of a nice experience.
The service is your usual good standard while being slightly more friendly than other comparative places.
We had the New York cheesecake which was smooth and slightly sweet with a base that was just right, excellent. We also grabbed a couple jars of popcorn on the way out which are also great.
I will also say do not attempt to dine at peak times unless you're willing to wait, it gets very busy there otherwise not a bad place.
Fantastic service followed up with great food. Was busy when we got there so we had to wait, was touch and go as it was our first time here , but glad we did. Staff was really good at keeping us updated and when we did order it came out really quickly . Can highly recommend the chicken sandwich, hot chocolate and the cinnamon bun was the best I have ever tasted.
Amazing, delicious food everytime deff my top for all restaurant. The staff are feiendky and always there when ya need them, your glass of water is neber empty which is on point. And its the home of the best desserts ever !!!!!!
One of my favourite places for drinks. Love to be here once or twice a month. Amazing ambience. Friendly and quick staff. Highly recommended.. 😊😊
My go to place for cheesecake. Their classic New York baked cheesecake is a must try! The biscuit base is lovely and crunchy and goes perfectly with the smooth cream cheese filling. It's matched with strawberries too!
Their poutine is delicious as well. A must eat too.
My number one stop in Auckland. Service is awesome and love the chicken and stuffing sandwich. The fries are so good with gravy and cubes of cheese slowing melting away. Love it! I've been to Federal Delicatessen four times while visiting Auckland and I can't fault it. If you're a tourist visting Auckland, I recommend visiting here.
Such a cool place! We went on a Tuesday afternoon at 11:30 pretty much perfect timing before the lunch rush happened. Really nice food. Love the decor makes it a unique spot. Thought the girls uniform was so cute too, makes me want to work there! Thank you to our waitress (had long brown hair in a bun/ponytail). Staff were calm and having fun with eachother, dancing to the music and joking around. Love to see that in a restaurant creates a relaxed and fun environment. Will definitely be back :)
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We have been eating here since it opened. Federal fills a big hole in the market for eateries that are consistently good but down to earth. We are creatures of habit & have eaten our way through the menu but have settled on favourites. We recommend the fish cakes, chicken, schnitzel, any of the salads & definitely the poutine. It all makes for a beautiful shared meal. If we are short on time we get the chicken or fish sandwiches to go & always with a side of poutine!
The slices of pie for dessert are hard to say no to. The banoffee with the caramel corn...makes me start salivating thinking about it.
Their breakfasts are impressive too. Shout out to the griddle cakes. They are the best i have tried in NZ. The flavours & textures in this dish are outstanding. Warning, they will play on your mind until you've tried them again, and again.
Our gripe, the poutine has been inconsistent for a while now. We'd love for the kitchen staff to make it the same way every time so its always good.
The staff are friendly, helpful & not intrusive. There always busy yet never to busy to interact with customers or help where they can.
If you want good, tasty honest food, eat here!
I've sat on this one a while in purpose. The concept is perfect. It's the only place in ANZ where they have got the concept right, a true deli style establishment and menu. But there are still things that aren't NYC pure - I had the Reuben - good portion size, nice tender meat but there was no bite to the sauerkraut nor the Russian dressing, it was a bit bland, the pickle was not an American doll however I can see they might want to use a local supply. The iceberg salad was ok, good sauce to lettuce combination, but iceberg wedges is what I expected. I'm not sure I would hurry back but can see the attraction
Traditional American street food. NY Cheese cake and spit roast chicken is a must try. Nice waitress with cute uniform. Would come back try some other food.
Love this cute little American styled diner. The chicken sandwich is a must but you have to get it toasted it's so much nicer!! Rueben sandwich is also really good too and I absolutely love their banoffee pie!
My friend recommend us to this place - didn't know such a fancy place in CBD. Just like you are in US when you get into the restaurant :)
Good service - all the waitress are nice!!!
We ordered the hot dog and house fries - both are delicious and in good portion, however we think it is a bit over price.
Who doesn't love the Fed Deli? It is what it is and it does it well. Staying wired on a the bottomless Havana $4 filter coffee always makes for a productive day. Their dessert trio deal also makes for a nice evening treat too.
Wonderful place to have a quality dinner! I love the cucumber cocktail, and the lamb goulash was extremely amazing, would love to visit again if they won't be that busy and waiting shorter.
Federal delicatessen is a very well know place by most of Aucklanders. It's located right in front of the sky tower on the CDB.
The place can be quite busy sometimes and car parking is not trivial, so plan in advance if you are driving.
We had turkey meatloaf, chicken and latkes potatoes followed by a Havana coffee, cheesecake and Banoffee. Food was good and service was fine as well. I would highlight the Latkes potatoes, the coffee and the Banoffee as my favourites. Very flavoured and with personality, specially the Banoffee.
I'll definitely get back again but will try choosing a less energetic time :)
Whenever we stay in the city we always come here for a late breakfast or lunch. My favorite is the crispy chicken sandwich , coffee goes down well , staff are always friendly and the service is quick.
Federal Delicatessen is a casual American style restaurant with a menu serving sliders to smoked meat. Be warned, this place does make you feel like a sardine in a tin when you are literally sitting next to your neighbours. Outdoor seats are available if you have children or dogs. . Look at the kitchen steaming away, the air was filled with scrumptious aroma.
Get their pie platter of three pies for just 18bucks instead of 9 bucks per piece! Pies were heavenly good and a must-try chicken sandwich as well as caramel popcorn! Holy gooooood!!
This is our favourite deli in town. Their chicken sandwich ugly bagel fries with gravy and cheese curd to die for. Always really busy but staff are really on to it and meals come out really fast. Always so fresh and tasty. A must if you are in town.
Been to this place with my friend and we got a booth to seat.
The atmosphere was like a typical American Diner with an open kitchen. And we could see their clean kitchen and how the food were made.
We ordered roast chicken, NY strip steak, poutine with pastrami and of course, their 3-way combo.
The chicken was succulent and the poutine was crispy although there was gravy on it. Their Pumpkin pie was the high light of the night to me, my friend enjoyed the Banana- toffee one more though.
The steak was a bit disappointing because it took forever to chew. And the portion was not generous enough compares to the price.
Searched pumpkin pie and wah-lah! Where else but a classic American eatery to find not just one but three! Their dessert trio is to die for. I'm a huge fan of sweet pies and baked cheesecakes 🌈
Walked in on a busy Saturday brunch hour, didn't get a table at first so was told to 'come back later' but the friendly lady called us up within 10 minutes and we were seated promptly. Service was attentive and friendly. Loved the classic American diner vibe!
We ordered the best ugly bagel, NY hotdog, cream cheese bagel, poutine, and yodi bagel. Poutine was okay. All the bagels were toasted perfectly with toppings that enhanced their overall texture and taste. Especially loooved the best ugly bagel. The NY hotdog tasted good but we were taken aback by how miniscule it was! Filtered coffee was bottomless. I'm not much of a sweet tooth, but found a new favourite in their banana toffee pie with caramel popcorns! Great stuff. I would pop by again even just for their dessert pies.
Very friendly welcoming service & a clean & tidy restaurant. Not so keen on the filter coffee but the food is always fresh & delicious and there are Tea options. On this visit had a bagel with butter & jam. Perfectly toasted & with a decent amount of spread.
Great service and atmosphere! Never disappointed with the food. Usually busy so you may need to wait for a table, although it's definitely worth the wait.
Delicious for takeaway or dine in. The desserts are the star items here. The only thing I've tried that hasn't been awesome is the poutine. Thin gravy and no other toppings on soggy fries. But the Rueben, lox, latkes, coffee are delicious. All 4 pies I've tried are to die for. Smaller portions and cleaner than a real American diner (for better or worse!). I love the decor. Service can feel a bit rushed but is attentive and professional.
First time we ate here we were blown away with the quality of food and service. Best place to eat if you are near Sky Tower. Everything was delicious and a great customer service, we felt we were welcomed in the place. Highly Recommend!
Delicious! Loved the smoked meat (or pastrami whatever u like to call it). Similar taste to the ones I had in Montreal a few years ago. Poutine is a must too, very filling meal, just wish I had some space for dessert!
PS I went there for breakfast last time and wish they serve the griddle cake at lunch too....
My first time at the Federal. Located just across from Sky Tower so as expected, it was packed. Great vibe and friendly staff. Tried the Best Ugly Bagel and NYC hotdog and it didn't disappoint. Would definitely come back to try their Pumpkin & Banofee pie.....wish I have a big appetite!
I'm yet to have a bad experience at The Fed. The staff are amazing -. always going above and beyond to make your experience a good one. Food never disappoints. Highly recommend the Poutine, Chicken sandwich and schticks. Soooo good!
Food 5
Service 5
Ambience 4
I absolutely love the food and cocktails in this place! I have been here for both dinner and breakfast. Staff are friendly and attentive, food is amazing, schticks and banana toffee pie is a must try! Didn't care much for the poutine though, the gravy tasted more like jus to me. Ambience lost a mark because seating is quite tight and congested. It can be hard to seat a large group if you haven't booked ahead.
Breakfasts are on priced on the high side, but the blueberry hot cakes, salmon with hash browns and breakfast bun were all very good. The place advertises in-house smoked salmon, but what came with our meal was oily and really let the dish down. They sell four bagels for $8, and I still can't work out how yeast, water and flour worth a couple of cents can sell for $2 apiece. Overall, it gets a recommendation but they should employ some expertise for in-house lox.
I loved this place. It's got all the friendly vibes of a classic American diner bar. The fries that comes with gravy and cheese block was so good. Overall I like all the dishes. Avoid rush hour otherwise you might end up waiting for a table forever. Cheesecake was lovely, I will try the pies in the future.
I've been here many times. Every time I've had great service & great meals. Today I had the fish sandwich washed down with a cola & lime soda. It was delicious. I'm yet to find something on Fed Deli's menu I don't like.
The atmosphere of this restaurant is amazing. American diner inspired and even the waitresses dressed the part! Prices were pretty affordable. Poutine and desserts here are highly recommended! The staff are also really friendly.
Updated review: had the buttermilk pancakes recently. Absolutely delicious and big portions too (3 full pancakes). Came with peanut butter and syrup. A must try!
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Unique setting and concept with very quirky waiter and waitresses (watch out for the cool moustaches). I had a salmon hash sort of thing and it was super yum (as per photo). Wouldn't mind having that again.
You can also order bottomless filtered coffee, in case u ever need a place to recharge.
Perfect restaurant size and atmosphere, caring yet not invading staff. Incredibly good tasting and sized food, for much more adequate pricing than a lot of Auckland offers. Easily beats much pricier dining options, including in food flavor and recipes sophistication. Feel safe to go there with your eyes closed, one of my highlights since I moved to Auckland 3 months ago
Visited this place with my boyfriend and I found it to be a neat place! The staff were all super friendly and helpful, and the thing I loved most about this place was the atmosphere- the place was moderately busy and the layout and decoration was super neat, it reminded me of an American diner! The food was very tasty also (the fries with the cheese was phenomenal), a little drawback would be that the portions seemed slightly small, but it didn't bother me greatly. Overall a great place for casual dinner and I would love to visit again and try out other things on the menu!
This place never disappoints! I always go back for their poutine which is always superb. It is good to go with more people so you can get lots of their food to share. I recommend their ny strip steak, the venison, spit roast chicken and house pastrami. If you got a sweet tooth you will love this place. Their cakes are delicious, especially the banana and toffee pie. It's very family friendly and the kids will definitely love their chimney sweep and ice cream floats.
Service is always good and the decor is very unique as they have a vintage American diner theme going on, the waitresses wear there adorable blue dresses too.
Went here last night for dinner with my best friend and we both loved it! I had the chicken salad sandwich and she had the turkey on rye. We shared a small poutine and of course had to get the 3 way combo of the lemon meringue pie, pumpkin pie & the banana + toffee which was soooooo amazing! Lemon meringue was my personal favourite out of the three but each of them was tasty in their own ways. The décor inside is really cool, like an old school American diner & I was super impressed with the service of the waitress's. You should come here if your ever in the city for dinner or lunch for sure!
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I love dessert pies, and having heard a lot about FedDel's sweet pies I knew I had to have a go. Stepping into the location was quite breathtaking, as the layout is unlike anywhere I've been before, but very much what my image of an American style deli to be. The cabinets, decor, and even the uniforms of the staff made for an incredibly vibrant atmosphere, which was both exciting but comforting at the same time.
I chose to go for the trio of pies, everything in the selection but the lemon meringue. They were delicious, the cheesecake was smooth and creamy with a slight and indescribable tanginess, and the banana toffee was surprisingly not as sweet as I'd thought it would be. I was most excited to try the pumpkin pie, but having never had it before I feel as if I can't comment on the quality of it, as it may not have been to my taste.
Regardless, it was an enjoyable experience to be dining in the deli, and if anyone with a sweet tooth were to crave something new or perhaps an Instagram-worthy meal I would definitely recommend FedDel for a sweet pie.
Hubby and I enjoyed this place very much! We were seated right away despite it being a busy Friday night by awesome staff. Our spot at the bar counter meant we were entertained by the theatrics of cocktail making while enjoying the turkey on rye and the decadent 3 pie dessert combo. Definitely worth a visit!
Warm, outgoing staff, delicious and bottomless coffee, unique and quality food. The salad with orange in it was a taste revelation to me. The food and service are high quality and the atmosphere is equal parts vibrant and humble.
This place is so cool! The atmosphere and vibe is exactly how a restaurant should be and everyone is friendly and in theme! A group of us shared the 3 way desert which was NY cheesecake, Banoffee Pie and Lemon meringue. I loved the lemon! Will definitely be found going back!
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Sometimes you just need a bit of Americana in your life. At times like this you either want to head off to a drive-in movie or plonk yourself down in a diner with pie served up by the slice and waitresses in 1950s retro outfits.
Luckily a place exactly like this exists in Auckland and is located on Federal Street. The brainchild of Al Brown, this Jewish inspired deli dishes up treats such as poutine, bottomless coffee and pastrami sandwiches.
Take a pew in one of the booths or at the counter where you can watch all the action and feel really amongst the hustle and bustle of the orders being prepared and sent out.
We started with a Fed classic – Chicken Salad Sandwich with chicken skin crackling, iceberg lettuce and dipping gravy. This dish is really popular as we saw lots of them going out to tables. The chicken is straight off the rotisserie grill and the crunch of the skin on top gives it an extra special touch. The gravy is rich, moreish and there’s nothing more satisfying than dipping that sandwich in!
We also ordered the Street Dog – an NYC style hotdog with cart relish. The relish really elevated this dish but if you’re hungry order something to accompany this as it was a lot smaller than we expected!
No visit to the Fed would be complete without sampling the Canadian staple of Montreal Poutine. We ordered the large portion to share and it was comfort food at its best! Smothered in the same gravy that came with the chicken sandwich and melting cheese curds we didn’t leave a single chip!
Don’t forget to leave room for a slice of pie, either take some home or eat in – either way don’t leave without one! Choose from NY Cheesecake, Pumpkin Pie, Banana & Toffee Pie or Lemon Meringue. There is even an option for a 3 way combo of any 3 pies.
So if you’ve been watching too much Grease and have a yearning for a milkshake and some pie in a typical American diner – the Fed’s your answer!
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+4.5
One word: POUTINE 😍
Seriously if everything else turned out to be gross (it didn't) my review would stay as is because of the amazing chips, gravy & melty cheese curds!
Fortunately it was an all round win and just what I felt like when I walked into Fed Deli, fresh pastrami on a toasted bagel with a big pickle 👌🏼 YUM.
Environment = awesome, service = even better. Recommend to anyone visiting the city who isn't afraid of a little carbs & fat 😉
This american themed diner speaks volumes with its attention to detail: the vintage interior, the waitress uniforms, the beautifully made food. The food is always packed with flavour and yet seemingly simplistic. Love The Best Ugly paired with coffee, a Lemon & Lime Rickey and a Banana & Toffee Pie. What a cool experience.
love the food here, fast service, great staff and yummy finger food. Quite cheap, fed the 3 of us for approx $80.The Cheesecake is very nice. overall a great experience 😀
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I think that everybody, foodie or otherwise, has an eatery which they feel really taps in to who they are as a diner. For some it may be the quick reliability of McDonalds, for others it's the sprawling decadence of a degustation and for me, it's the joyful ambiance of The Federal Delicatessen.
I've eaten at the Fed many times now and each visit has been for a very different social occasion. Be it a date with my partner, a get-to-know-you session with a new colleague, or brunch catch up with a group of friends, The Fed is going to ensure a good time is had.
While I don't have a particular soft spot for Americana, there's something about this Traditional Jewish-American style diner that really draws me in. It's bustling but not overly busy, it's casual without being cheap, it's cosy without being imposingly serious. The Fed has a presence that many other establishments wish they could emulate but are unable to pinpoint.
Al Brown has delivered a great thematic menu here that doubles down on the pastrami and caffeine to marvellous effect. I wouldn't so much recommend going for bagels here, as you'd might as well just visit Best Ugly if that's your thing. The Fed specialises in warm, hearty comfort food and yummy diner fare. Anything with pastrami is a must-try - especially their infamous Rueben, which I season with "Not too hot Sauce" for an extra element of deliciousness. The pies are fab and go well with a steaming hot of (your choice of either Havana or Supreme) filter coffee, which you can have refilled infinite times for the price of one cuppa. I also recently discovered the Matzo Ball soup which is a delicious blend of hearty and light- you've got to try it.
My main recommendation would be to find a few items you're interested in and share them between yourself and others - this communal style of eating is really the best way to 'do' The Fed.
To top it all off, you can get your parking validated for the Skycity lot opposite the diner, which means you only have to haul your dangerously stuffed self a few metres before getting on your way home to sleep off all the food.
Dined here Sunday night and the place is packed! We were fortunate enough to get a table for two. Nice vibe and ambiance, fast service and great staff. Really simple menu but done well and very happy with flavours, we ordered chicken (get the large one), NY steak, hot dogs, poutine (best ever) and NY cheesecake (so good!). For two people we managed to finish everything and spent $90 all together (not bad for a casual dinner date). Will definitely be back and keen to try other things on their menu and more desserts!
Only been here once but the meal is so so memorable. I had ordered roast chicken, potato salad and latke. All 3 dishes were cooked to perfection - especially the chicken! Service was quite fast considering the busy hour - overall highly recommend this place!
Traditional place in the heart of Auckland, Federal Deli was one of those places that could live out of its fame. But that's not the case.
Besides the cool retro decor and the great service (staff is very nice), the food is delicious. My salmon ugly bagel with capers was yummy and well served for a breakfast. They also have options of coffee that are not outstanding, but good enough, and staff is well informed about its flavour and notes.
Good food. Lorde came in and walked past, that was cool. Really helpful staff, even went as far as to suggest we not order the large portion of the Montreal routine as it's really decadent.
Really like the American theme of the place, the waitresses walking around refilling up your coffee really was a scene out of an American movie! Food was OK, I got a chicken dish which was tiny for $20ish, my mate bought the steak dish which was even smaller and cost more haha. However, the poutine made up for it, tasted good and cheap. Service was good too.
Would probably only comeback for the experience and not so much the food
When we arrived at the place it was full so we had to wait for 15-20minutes for a table. I ordered the root beer while I waited and it was amazing. I love root beer in generally anyway. Then I ordered the fish sandwich which I was really excited about. The poutine was good too. The place is very comfy and I would definitely hang out here with friends again. The only regret that I have is that I was too full to try the famous cheesecake but no worries. Will be back here next week for it. Overall, we all love the food and will come back for more!!!
Amazing! The fed delivers each time I dine here. Their poutine is the best in town, hands down the best gravy! The chicken is heavenly and also a must order every time!
We ordered a soup and a steak this time as well. Both well done but the chicken, potato and gravy definitely beats all.
Their pies are super yummy! But also super sweet and can be abit hard to finish if you are not a big sweet tooth!
Service is top notch but can get a bit chaotic at times as they get super busy real quick around peak dining hours. Very cute outfits and great smiles all around!
Price is not cheap just looking at the menu but always worth it in the end.
Great diner, will always come back for more poutine!
Went for the $25 "Restaurant of the month" special menu for 2 courses include chicken and dessert pie, chicken was cooked to professional and dessert was delightful, would be great if they can offer a bit more variety to the special menu. The place was extremely busy, and to be honest noisy as well, but still has a great atmosphere, recommended.
First time to visit this place and had one Auckland Restaurants Month special 2 course meal for $ 25.00 last night. Normally, the total price for 1/4 roasted chicken, gravy and a pumpkin pie is $ 24.00 in total. But in August, diner can pay $ 1.00 more to get extra potato and slaw.
Food was very tasty and raw materials were very fresh. Chicken was juicy. Pumpkin pie brought me a soft mouth-feel but without too much sugar. All those tasty items were for only $ 25.00 in total, what a big respect to diners in this August!
I had a seat beside to the kitchen, but there was no bad cooking smell or noises. I just got a good opportunity to see that how their staff made every elaborate dish.
Service was also very nice, waitress talked to me with a big smile. I like the Tiffany blue color of their uniform.
A really good place, want to visit again for other gourmet dishes soon.
Been here a few times and can't help but keep going back for more. Food is ALWAYS amazing, no matter what you order. Service is mostly good. You must try this place if you happen to be in Auckland! MUST!
Coming back to Auckland for a quick visit, I was dragged by my sister to check this place out. It was one of those cold nights but when did that ever stopped us from venturing out. Anyways, came here on Tuesday night and the place was busy but we were lucky to get seated straightaway. The staff were all so friendly. They were dressed up on those typical diner dresses which I find extremely adorable. I can only assumed that they were trying to go for the typical American diner look. Anyways, we came here for one purpose and that is to try their dessert. We decided to get the 3-way combo consisted of A slice of New York cheesecake, lemon meringue, and pumpkin pie. My favourite was the lemon meringue and the next one was the pumpkin pie. Unfortunately, I had better NY cheesecake. Overall, I was very pleased. If I do visit Auckland again I wouldn't mind coming back to check out the rest of the menu.
Good food. Good ambiance. I can highly recommend then Turkey Meatloaf. And the Pumpkin Pie with a Root Beer finish was just the perfect finish.
I come here pretty often for their poutine. Their poutine is better than other places I've tried.
NY cheesecake was delicious! Very good texture although the vanilla flavouring was a tad too strong for me. The strawberry compote was great! It wasn't too sweet or sour.
Food is OK, but the cheese cake is the best ever in the whole Pacific. It bring tears in my eyes from delightness.i never cry over food.that is the first time.so I have been ordering it so many times and every time is same effect..crying and crying ☺😀
I went here for lunch on a weekday and had the best sandwich ever (whitefish), love the endless coffee too, can't wait to come back and try more.
AMAZING!!! Toasted Reuben (pastrami) was fantastic!! Poutine was outstanding. Great service & adorable ambiance. Veal schnitzel was really good as was the pastrami bagel.
Love the idea of an american diner theme and how the staff dress up as well. Would definitely recommend their pies/cakes (really enjoyed the pumpkin pie) but their normal food is very average and overpriced for what they are but that is something to be expected for places in town.
Came here for dinner after work on a Thursday night. The place was very full, we had to wait for about 10 mins before we could go in. I ordered the NY strip steak, the steak is def a must try, a true delicacy. The chicken crackling and sauce was done just right. Dessert was so hard to choose, but I had the classic Bannofee. I also tried everyone else's dessert. Next I'm going there, definitely getting the 3-way-combo
Love the atmospherr, the food, the service, and the uniforms. I usually come down here for desserts (esp the banna&toffee pie). The only downside of this pl is their portion. American diners are known to give large servings but Federal Delicatessen's serving size doesn't really live up to American's sizing. Still, the food tastes better than most American diners I've been to.
I've always wanted to go to an American deli, with the huge stack of pancakes and the bottomless cups of coffee. So we finally went to Federal Delicatessen for breakfast. This place is quite quirky!
I naturally, ordered the blueberry pancakes, which didn't come in a huge stack (my waistline is thankful) but rather three thick pancakes. I thought they would be stodgy but they were light and fluffy.
My partner ordered the pork dish, he wasn't that crazy about it.
I'd be back for the pancakes and the filter coffee wasn't too bad either.
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If there is such thing as a food obsession mecca I have found it. Federal Street Deli is dangerous, and I'm hooked. Let me start with my favourite thing about The Fed, it's open late, and I mean really late. Not good for a food addict like me. This place evokes feelings of rapture, fantasy and nostalgia. Can you tell how much I like it? I'm seen in here after uni when I've been thinking about cheesecake all day. Or lemon meringue pie. Both of which I have no resistance to. In fact their desserts are the best in town. Their Deli style food is impeccable and true to form. I've eaten their famous chicken sandwich, salmon latkes, cheesecake and and pies, hotdog and if I had Oprah money I'd set up shop and eat all day. Al, feel free to reserve me a booth.
The Atmosphere is nostalgic, creative, and so authentic to the Jewish delis and diner style eateries you only see on tv. Think High end Dennys with more expensive furnishings. For me it's probably as close as I'll get to the real thing. The theme isn't naff. It's memorable and makes an impression. The booths are like gold and so comfortable and intimate if you're lucky enough to get one. The Isle seating can be awkward. The large mirror is distracting due to its mesmerising effect. Haha. I've never waited long for a table. Or been put off by overwhelming conditions. It is small though and narrow.
Room for improvement: the food is good but it's a little overpriced for the portion sizes. I would pay double If they were double the size. Simply put - larger sizes means happier for longer. However this is in terms of the sandwiches and other smaller plate items. I understand most everything else is generous and gluttonous. They also don't skimp on dessert. However I think some of the savoury dishes could have the volume turned up just a bit. As some people can seem underwhelmed by portion sizes.
Federal Street Deli is a great place for friends. Dates. And after drinks meals. Late night truck stops, a slice of pie and a pickle or a soda from the Jerk. It offers a fun experience and food that is creative and a discovery for tired Kiwi palates. Definitely try their Sandwiches and their desserts. The staff are incredible, friendly and it seems, pre-requisitely attractive. The price point is to be expected for a renowned chef and location. I'm a fan.
Delicious food, awesome atmosphere & friendly staff.. What more can I say? The poutine is amazing and so are the sandwiches. Cannot wait to go back!
When we got there, i was very busy but out of all of that we were looked after instantly. The food was so tasty and the service was 10/10... Always see how we are, filling up our drinks. Attention to detail was excellent. Also like the theme feel... Recommend!!!
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Great social place for lunch and not to mention it's really cute inside.
Service is always good here and I love the outfits or should I say uniform that the staff wear.
The foods right there cooked in front of you and there's even a jerk bar.
We always seem to get the chicken - small is only a quarter and large is half. We have also had the strip which I personally find so delish and love how it has fried chicken skin bits with it as well.
I recently tried their infamous pastrami and with and can definitely say it doesn't disappoint. I'm not obsessed but I get how someone could get that way.
It is pricey for the avg joe but I guess for a special one off thing it's not so bad. I would recommend sharing a few plates so you can try everything out and it can be a little cheaper ( although not that much haha).
Their chicken is a bit pink - my friend had to get his checked on and the waitress did advise that it's cooked but just because of the way it's cooked it can look pink but they were happy to replace it if he wasn't comfortable.
It's a cute spot but is pricey. The food is one of a kind in Auckland hence why it's so popular and the higher rating - I mean where else can you get this round here ?? The foods not amazing per se but it has its own finesse and niche here in Auckland and it tastes pretty damn good.
Would recommend for a date or catch up with a bunch of ppl ! There are seats outside as well if you wanted to enjoy the sun (which has now left Auckland)
Came here the other day for dessert with a friend. It was pouring outside and as soon as we stepped inside, a friendly waitress took our umbrellas for us and asked if we would like a high seat or a low seat. We ended up ordering the cake three ways and also black coffee. The cakes were sooo good, especially the banoffee! The cheesecake was my second favourite but the lemon meringue was also yum. Great atmosphere, service and food :)
Great atmosphere, fantastic service - all the staff seem genuinely thrilled to be working here. I cannot compare to authentic NYC delis, but we came here for the pie and thought it was pretty amazing. Two plates, Banana & Toffee Pie and Lemon Meringue Pie. We also tried their 'Chimney Sweep' drink which is a thick peanut butter and and chocolate mini shake. Needless to say, we left with diabetes.
First time at Federal Deli and upon entering, I was straight away acknowledged and give a set. The atmosphere within is an awesome, retro American style diner. I had heard great things about this place and I wasn't let down! The sandwich was amazing and poutine was out of this world! Highly recommended
This place rocks. I have been here twice now, once for dinner and once for breakfast. The food was magnificent, coffee divine and the service personal. I will be back, many times.
I had a rare free morning today so decided to head back to Federal Street and try out Al Brown’s other restaurant, Federal Delicatessen. It is described a “take on an old-school NYC Jewish delicatessen”. It was a nice place to have a morning coffee and some breakfast while doing some work.
My personal favorite in Auckland, everytime I come to NZ, this is a must. The Food is simply divine, Food orgasm like.
The pastrami left me speechless and the side - just yum.
Look and feel of the place is warm and welcoming. The service was friendly and very fast. Good stuff. Di yourself a favor and go there, I find it is very good value for money.
Keep up the good work and open a joint in Melbourne please.
We came here for dessert the other night. I couldn't make up my mind about what type of cake slice I wanted, as there were four choices to select from. I ended up choosing three: the pumpkin pie slice, banoffee slice and the NY cheese cake slice. We also ordered coffee- their filtered coffee was average.In order of my fave to least fave cake slice would be 1) banoffee, 2) NY cheese cake and 3) pumpkin pie. Customer service was really good.
I'm keen to try other things from their menu in the future and I'll definitely be back for that banoffee slice!
Pastrami heaven! Myself and my partner started with the schtix before moving on to the Montreal poutine and the toasted Reuben. The meal filled us up both very quick and the service was fantastic. I've never had pastrami taste quite like that before. It was made to perfection!
They say American diner though, as far as the music was concerned, a spliff and rasta hat would go down well in there.
Food was good, staff were attentful and pleasant and facilities clean though, didn't feel like there was very much life here or that it was particularly special.
I'd definitely go back, just not in a hurry!
Been a couple of times now so thought I'd write a short review. The coffee although made from Havana isn't anything spectacular. The food however was scrumptious and the bagels remind you of BUB.
After our visit on Sunday afternoon I'm kicking myself for not coming here sooner. We had to wait about 20-30 minutes for a table but they took a number and gave us a call when it was ready. Service was really friendly and efficient.
Bottomless coffee is pretty much my ideal situation. Between the 4 of us we ordered a large poutine, mish mash, the griddle cakes, a ruben sandwich and treyf. It was way too much food, should have got the small poutine, but it was so delicious it was hard to stop eating. I was really looking forward to trying some of the dessert pies but we were al too full.
It's a really nice atmosphere inside and I can't wait to go back.
Wonderful place to grab a bite and drink with friends.
Lovely selection of beers and cocktails. My friends thoroughly enjoyed their fries and fish cakes. My personal favourite were the desserts - for under $20 you could try 3 of their cakes. The New York baked cheesecake, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie were delightful :)
Keen to visit again and try their bagel and lemon meringue pie.
Got here for breakfast with friends. The pan cakes is soft and tasty, blueberries are fresh. I love the beef one more than the fish. But everything is great!! Love the choco that is really American style. The waiters are so nice. We all have a very happy time there.
The food was very tasty one of the best I had in Aukland. The price was reasonable and the service was very good. Everything come very quickly. The people there was very friendly it was a great place to eat with family and friends. Highly recommended
Food was amazing. Chicken sandwiches all round with the poutine. We loved every bite. The wait staff were a bit over the top, not sure if someone was in training or what but we had two people checking on us every couple of bites. Why do they always ask if everything is ok when you have a mouthful!! We had to have the banoffee pie which was devine 😍😍😍
The poutine was really good and it was my favourite that night. I also had the best ugly bagel, street dog & roast chicken. I didn't really like the bagel and the street dog & roast chicken were just ok for me. Would come back for the poutine and maybe try some of the other dishes.
This place is close to work so very convenient. I have been here on numerous occasions and service is always great. Their selection of smoothies is great. Menu is pretty good for breakfast and portion sizes are pretty good. Love the atmosphere but can get a bit too loud for private meetings.
First time going to The Fed and it was amazing, nothing could be faulted! We were seated straight away (although was prepared to have to wait as they don't do bookings and was quite busy), our waitress was amazing, very friendly and helpful giving us great recommendations! They have achieved the essence of a classic American dinner perfectly from the dècor to the uniforms it's very cool. The food was very comforting the rich brown gravy with the moist spit roast chicken not to be missed, the Montreal Poutine oh so good (when they say "trust us on this one", they really do mean it). The pumpkin salad was delicious especially with those cranberries and the Greenpeace bagel with fennel and dukkah working perfectly together and the sweetness of the skordalia balancing out the flavours! Highly recommend and can't wait to go back.
Best sandwiches in the world!!! I love everything about this place... the stylish decor, fantastic service and amazing food. Definitely order the chicken sandwich with gravy. You won't regret it!
Judging from the times I've been here - fed deli can do no wrong! Food is great, people are nice.
We were sitting up on the bench and could see how the kitchen staff work, was so interesting.
Sandwiches are great and I could eat the poutine three times a day for the rest of my life.
What a little treat this place is! The American Diner interior and theme is very cool, keeping it nice but casual. My only time eating here was at 11pm one night after dinner at The Pullman hotel, where I paid $38 for 3 Prawns. So I was starving! A girl has got to eat. We went in and opted for cheesy, gravy fries ( like I said, I was starving.) A couple of vodka bitters went down a treat with the tastiest fries I've had to date. We then hit up the dessert menu where I chose 3 sweet pies. Lemon Meringue, Banana and Toffee and NY Cheesecake. Oh the delight! Absolute mouthfuls of heaven. I did not finish all of them as they were very sweet and I ordered three... but highly recommend the Lemon Meringue especially. Price was great, food is substantial and tasty and service is super quick. We'll be going back to try more of the main menu!
A classic American setting. Good comfort food. I particularly love sitting on the bench and watching chefs preparing the food. Do try their trio dessert plate if you love cakes as much as I do.
My go to place :) we went to Federal Delicatessen to grab a bite, again it didn't disappoint.
This time we ordered the roast chicken in addition to our usual as we hadn't tired it before. That chicken was so tendered and well seasoned! The skin had a beautiful colour to it and the fat was well rendered.
I also enjoy coming here for breakfast. Nothing beats the unlimited refilled coffee!
Fed Deli is somewhere that I have been to many a time as it is one of the few places that offers late night food that isn't Chinese or fast food. The food here is good with some combination of either the Late night pastrami sandwich, Hot dog, Poutine and/or a Lemon Meringue Pie usually being eaten at some point. The service here is also good with it always being welcoming and friendly even at 12AM.
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I really cannot find anything to fault about this place, hence the rating! I was so excited to visit the Fed after trying their chicken hoagie at Auckland City Limits and it did not disappoint. Right from the get go the experience is amazing, the staff are friendly, welcoming and offer the perfect amount of attentiveness. They are neither in your face nor do they make you feel left out or unwelcome.
I ordered the chicken sandwich and my husband the Reuben. Both were absolutely amazing, a classic home style lunch but enhanced exponentially. The chicken cracklin inside my sandwich was definitely something to write home about (multiple times). It adds that extra dimension of texture amongst the chicken and mayo and the flavour is to die for! Sean's Reuben was equally great, the sauerkraut and Swiss put together with the pastrami are matches made in heaven and create an exceptional sandwhich.
We also ordered the poutine which are packed full of flavour with curds and gravy, I'm feeling like all fries should be served this way and that's from someone who is not a fan of gravy.
Service is efficient even when the place is bustling with customers! Al Brown has set this restaurant up extremely well and has it running like a well oiled machine, from the staff who run like clock work, the food which speaks for itself and the atmosphere which is comforting with a touch of retro/vintage and I have never seen something in NZ which has pulled off all aspects of dining out so well!!
Loved our experience will definitely be back again!
Visiting from Melbourne and wanted to try this food establishment that sounded quite hipster.
Cafe was quite busy on a Thursday afternoon but service was quick and the turnaround time was pretty fast.
I tired the "best ugly" salmon lox bagel- which I was seriously impressed with! I'm usually not a bagel fan (I don't understand boiled bread!) but the bagel here was soft, with crisp sesame seeds with an overall decadent texture where the bagel stick to your teeth a little. I'm not sure if that is a good description. But I loved it! The salmon lox was deliciously salty, with creamy cream cheese (probably not the best use of adjective there). The addition of capers was a great flavour burst.
Also tried the poutine, and wasn't super impressive as I didn't think it was really very special, but it was still tasty.
Highly recommended for visitors of Auckland!
Oh my giddy aunt 😍💕 I have a sneaking suspicion my life has been changed forever from coming here... Decided to finally try this place out since the weather was calling for warm food (four seasons in one day, Auckland please??? 💁🏼) The staff are adorably dressed and so kind. I've been to a fair few diners in the states and this place really hit the head on the nail with the 'diner' look. I would say there is definitely something for everyone on the menu (who isn't health conscious 🍉🍇🍍). Every item we tried was of the highest quality and worth the price tag! I've heard that the poutine is the best thing on the menu but have you ever tried Matzo Ball Soup?? Get on ittttt ✌🏻️. Everything was perfect, I'm blown away 💨
Ashlene Cheryl Cardoza
+3.5
I'm new to the city and after having heard so much about this place, I had to go see for my self what the fuss was all about. I really like the small and cozy diner feel. I love the open kitchen where I can see my food being made. We ordered the house Pastrami and the small poutine. The Pastrami was a real winner. Amazing meat treated with respect. The poutine on the other hand was a let down (don't gasp). They were a bit miserly with the gravy. The poutine game was definitely not on point that day.
But the real stars of Fed Deli are the desserts. Oh those gorgeous pies! My favourite is the banana and toffee. Served with caramel popcorn for extra crunch, I guarantee you can't just stop at one. Try the 3 way combo to sample everything. I'd go here just to eat those pies again.
Their poutine and NY cheesecake are the things that make me keep going back to this place. The atmosphere is like a traditional diner. It is a great place to go with someone to chat for a long time and enjoy the atmosphere without being uncomfortable. It is relaxing and their food is great. So far all the things I have ordered on a whim were all decent. Their cup of joes are really great too. Their staff can be excellent or kind of meh depending on the day, but the atmosphere lets that slide off a bit. I recommend.
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I went to the Federal Delicatessen when I was entertaining a Canadian friend. She heard that they made poutine, so we had to try it out. Naturally.
We went there during brunch on the weekend, so the place was incredibly busy. However, they were very accommodating and we got to sit at the bar. This is something I really enjoyed because we got to watch them make food before our very eyes.
Despite it being so busy, the staff were very attentive and made sure we were happy while we were there. I feel like the Federal Delicatessen is a place that is always busy, but never feels like you're too close to another table or person. (I say this because we visited the place twice and were seated at a table the second time.)
On the first visit, we grabbed a large poutine to share. Well, it was AMAZING. I've had chips and gravy before, but this was out of this world. I am converted to poutine and I love it. So much. On the second visit, I fuelled my bagel addiction and had the Yodi Bagel, which consisted of house pastrami, swiss, habanero mustard and pickles. It was delicious. In fact, I think I've been converted to savoury bagels.
All in all, it is a great place to eat. I love the food. I love the vibe of the restaurant. I also feel like the food is decently priced. I will definitely be back (sooner rather than later) and I will be bringing more people with me next time!
Delicious food and reasonably priced! Poutine and pumpkin pie are divine and I definitely recommend! The atmosphere is cute too, a really nice place to go for date night 😊
We come here regularly and the staff are always friendly and attentive. They constantly fill up our water and we never have to wait long for service even when the place is packed.
The food is always great, especially the chicken and gravy, although we sometimes get carried away and end up with a huge bill.
The Federal Deli is one of my favourite late night hangout spots. Located right outside skycity gives you a nice view of the skytower and the mesmerising street lights hanging over federal street. As always the bottomless coffee is awesome if you're a coffee addict like me. The poutine is perfect for anyone who likes chips and cheese drizzles all over with gravy. Great to share among a few people. The staff are amazing. Friendly and always ready to serve you while keeping it casual.
Yum yum and double yum.
Bustling and full of American diner style with swanky pizzazz.
The service was friendly and attentive to detail with that refill coffee flowing freely.Our table was looked after (without being annoying) with a great view of the snappy trendy open kitchen being awesome entertainment.
The food was expensive and worth every cent especially the cheese truffle melted sandwich AKA heart attack on a plate.
The pastrami is an incredible mix of smokey succulent heaven and salmon gravalax equally so with that authentic made on site flavor.
We had the desert sampler plate and the NY cheesecake was the death of me but I soldiered on and tried the pumpkin pie and lemon meringue. The banoffee was fab by all reports but I can't stomach cooked banana.
Great ambience with heaps of city bustle and fantastic food. Definitely worth the price.
Amazing atmosphere and friendly service. Obviously popular because they were really packed lol. Had the NY strip steak and the lemon meringue pie...both meals came out on time and were delicious.. Would definitely be back for more
With.over Three hundred plus reviews written about this place,with most people goin "ga ga" about the food and products,with most reviews written about federal street deli been on the mark...a unique style of restaurant here..... we were here on a fairly busy Sunday lunch service with people coming and going all the time ,the quality of food here a,A+ and very good service to boot,maybe one or two of the servings been on the small side for the price,but hay you also pay a premium for the location of this place....as for most outlets in the C,B,D...
Located opposite the sky city hotel. This unique restaurant is set up like an 80's American diner, even the waiter and waitress are dressed the part.
Food variety is limited. I ordered the smoked salmon bagel with cream cheese and capers. Really yum with a generous serving of salmon. My friend ordered the chicken schitzel and iceberg salad. Meal portion is small and bit pricey but taking into the location and quality of food it is worth trying out. There's even a queue outside but unfortunately they don't do table bookings...first in first serve kind of thing. Place is a bit small but cozy setting. Nothing fancy about the place.
For the drinks we ordered the house pinot noir which they pour in normal glass cups not wine glasses but that's because the ambience is set up to be a diner.
Fast and friendly service. However they did get my friends salad order wrong so they had to replace it. Overall lovely experience.
Stopped by since a friend was hankering for some poutine. We came by around 1300 but we didn't have to wait long for a table. lots of interesting items on the menu but went with the street dog washed down with creaming soda. The street dog was simple but tasty, toasted roll with onions and mustard. I thought that creaming soda would've been nice if it had a stronger flavour. The kitchen is open so you can watch them cook if you have the right table. Nice food and service.
Every 3 or so months I have to go into Fed for lunch - the reuben and poutine are just too good to resist ! The service is great and the beer cold:)
LOVE LOVE LOVE this Auckland joint and always try to go when in town.
I have never had a dud menu item and there is something for all appetites and ages.
Poutine is compulsory!
Laktes are lovely!
Pies are divine!
Sandwiches satisfying!
Coffee Bottomless!
Do yourself a favour - pop in and enjoy.
Cute place, love the atmosphere and vibe. The decor is nice and how the waitors/waitresses dress is awesome.
Food is always good, service is quick and speedy. The lemon meringue pie is to die for!
As the brainchild of Al Brown it comes as no surprise that this place is excellent. I have never had a bad experience here, the staff are always friendly and organised, and the food is always of a high standard and delectable to boot. Similarly as someone who suffers from coeliacs disease I was overjoyed to find they have a special dietary requirements menu on request with lots of gluten free and dairy free options available. Would definitely recommend this place, whether it be day or night it always hits the spot.
Have been here for both late night dinner and early morning breakfast and while both experiences were different, they were both fantastic. Get the clam soup (forgot the name but it has pernod in it), is a memorable meal! Large portions and extremely satisfying!
The American diner inspired restaurant is always packed, so make sure your friends get there on time, lest you get kicked out for overstaying your welcome. I wouldn't suggest the poutine but their reuben sandwiches are delicious and my friend M absolutely loves their NY cheesecakes. . Worth an experience. Give their soups a try!
I would definitely recommend this place for dinner. Fantastic food. Located right opposite sky city casino. We had the fried cauliflower, veal schnitzel, pastrami, poutine and the cheesecake. The pastrami was out of this world good and the schnitzel was tender and crunchy. I think the poutine gravy could have been a bit stronger but that's just personal preference. The cheesecake was rich but a little on the small size. We got it for takeout and we were sure they downsized compared to eating in.
When I conjure up some "friends", we come to this establishment and eat the food here because they have food here and it's pretty good.
My personal favourite is their "poutine" dish. "Poutine" is a dish mostly comprised of potato and thaumaturgy (I used a thesaurus to write this review). Poutine is delicious. As is the Turkey Meatloaf.
I know everyone talks about the pie here, so I will too. It's good. Here's the pie hierarchy. Or pierarchy, rather:
1. Banoffee
2. Lemon Meringue
3. Pumpkin
4. Cheesecake
They're all good, but not every pie can be the best.
Okay so, the service is awesome, apart from the fact that every time I go, someone asks me if I've been there before and I'm like, "No never," and they tell me how to order for the 5th time that day. Because I once went there 5 times in one day. OF COURSE IM JOKING.
All in all, 5 stars. Eat everything here. The cocktails will get you wasties too.
YUM, YUM, YUM! Stunning meals. We popped in there yesterday felt like some lunch! I had the Chicken Sandwich, which is something i would never order, but WOW, i am so glad i did, i cant stop thinking about it! Sofe rye bread, the chicken was mixed with mayo, chives and also had crispy skin inside which gave it a lovely crunch salty flavour! Service was great and even saw Paul Henry there! :) You must go!
Dinner at the Fed Deli last night was wonderful. The ambience was lovely with many American touches. The menu was extensive and had plenty of choices. Our group of 5 chose the large poutine, grilled cheese, chicken sandwich, fennel and cauliflower salad. To end we had the 3 combo pies - pumpkin, banoffee and NY cheesecake. Food was delicious overall but would recommend the salad and the sandwich for a lighter meal. The pies were really, really delicious and would come back just for that.
I've been here twice and have chosen a variety of dishes, both from the brunch and dinner menu. The decor and atmosphere is relaxed, authentic and customer service is good. The taste of each of the dishes that I've tried were pleasant and they also have a healthy desert menu.
Really yum food although a little expensive for what you get. The Reuben is delicious and the pies for dessert are delicious!! Definitely a great place for lunch if you are in the city
Great service, very friendly staff, have been looking forward to coming here for a very long time and I have to say our sweet tooth picks were just ok...a little underwhelming for me. Nevertheless, the service was awesome! Loved the bottomless cup of joes and the fact that you had more than 1 coffee option to choose from. The service made this a great experience for me so I will be back for more, thanks guys
First time at Federal Delicatessen. The place is very busy as we went there around 12ish. The restaurant have a very retro and vintage feeling to it as it look alike with American cafés. The food roughly took about 10-15 minutes and the staffs there are such sweethearts as they often come around to fill up our cup with iced water. It's a very nice place for meet up and hangouts with either a large group of people or just two of us. Delicious food with some lovely postcards to take for free, I would definitely recommend this place to people who love to try out different food and at the same time the prices are at a decent amount 😁
Food ordered :
Small fries with cheese curd and gravy ($9)
Latkes Appetiser ($18)
White Fish sandwich ($14.5)
Federal St Deli never fails to impress, awesome good food and the cheesecake has to the best in Auckland. Has a great buzz and the staff are all friendly and efficient and it is great to see the chefs at work.
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My quest is to find the best cheesecake in Auckland, so I've been researching and eating but I've only just started today.... Anyway, I went to order Federal's 'Famous on Fed NY cheesecake' ($11) and pumpkin pie ($10). I ordered these as a take-away meal for dessert and found out that there was a 10% discount that applies with all take-away food. The staff were very helpful and I felt I was treated very kindly. Living in Mt.Eden, I go to Frasers quite often so I thought Federal's NY cheesecake was just above average. Frasers NY cheesecake has a thicker and sweeter base with a lemony, thicker and more vibrant filling with a choice of Greek yoghurt or whipped cream. (I just can't get over how good the Greek yoghurt is that comes with the cake! My rating: 9/10) Federal's had a thinner, cakier base with a lighter, more neutral tasting filling with preserved strawberries on top. (My rating: 7/10) I liked the creamy-ness of the pumpkin pies filling with little hints of spices at times. There were pecans on top with a maple syrup on top of the creamy pumpkin filling and pastry base. (My rating: 8/10)
When you walk in, from the cosy NY diner atmosphere and busy workers with their cute uniforms it is really a unique dining experience in Auckland. I love their poutine and chocolate milk shake.
Sandwiches are okay but I feel as though they can be easily made at home and is a tad over priced.
It's really cool to see the exposed kitchen
Recommended !
The toasted reuben, chicken salad sandwich (for dinner no-less), and the Montreal poutine were all pretty good. I think however the highlight was the grilled asparagus salad on the side and the banana & toffee pie to finish off.
One of my favourite places in the CBD for lunch or dinner. I always try to order an old favourite and something I haven't tried before, very rarely disappointed.
Finally got a chance to go for breakfast and it didn't disappoint. The mish-mash is great and they were really accommodating as most of my group created their own dishes. I want to return to try the breakfast salad.
This one had to be a 5/5. Perfect experience. We were attended by a friendly waitress (a good start). We ordered a chicken roast gravy, turkey loaf , a jug of cider, a side salad and poutine. The service was prompt and with a smile. I really enjoyed the chicken roast and the poutine. The turkey loaf was good too along with granny smiths. Was too full, else would have ordered the cheesecake as well. Even though they weren't that busy, the ambience was quite lively. A Job well done 👍👍👍
This place is themed like an American diner. All the women are dressed as if they were transported back into that era. Nice and clean and definitely hip and trendy. We were lucky we went when it opened cause 15 minutes later it was fully packed. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich and the iceberg salad and the sandwich was exactly what it should taste like. I've been missing those since I left the states and glad to find one that could compare. Hubby got the Reuben sandwich. Really pricey at $22 a sandwich, but the way he says it is that it could be worse, he could spend that much and not like it at least he did. Very expensive place though for a sandwich, especially with no sides to it. A real American diner would have included either fries or potato chips at least. All in all the food was great but wish it wasn't so costly.
I fell in love at The Fed and his name is Chicken Salad Sandwich..he was a mouthful but I could take it!! Generous portions of crispy skin chicken and layers of fresh lettuce with gravy for dunking just made it super good! My friend had the turkey on rye which she couldn't put down after the first bite. We also ordered the Montreal poutine which my friend loved but I thought was just okay. By the time we got to our 3-way combo dessert - we were completely stuffed but it didn't stop us from trying it. Loved the NY cheesecake - velvety rich and smooth! The lemon meringue pie was delish too and the banana and toffee pie was good but that NY cheesecake is definitely the fave of the desserts. What will keep me coming back is that sandwich! :)
Now officially one of my favorite European (American) restaurants! The staff are friendly and know what they are doing, the set-up is beautiful and really reminds you of 50s America. I recommend the lime cola because it was amazing and actually tasted like a natural cola, my date had a cherry cola which was nice too. The salad we had for starters was delicious and I hate greens so if I like a salad it's a damn good one. For the mains I recommend the lemon sole. It was a juicy flavorful fish with chopped almonds and cress all over it. Just heavenly! Five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
An amazing selection of unique foods, great for breakfasts! Some of their specialities, like breakfast griddle cakes are well worth the visit!
Have been wanting to go here for a while now and made my way after a gig last Friday night. By the time we got there they were only serving the late menu so between four of us we almost tried everything! The most standout was the street dog - that cart relish is insanely good! Also, you have got to get a chimney sweep if you're a peanut butter fan. So bloody good. But too bloody small. Lemon meringue pie was the perfect finisher. Can't wait to go and try more off the full menu.
Angela (A Style Collector)
+4.5
If you live in Auckland and haven’t heard of this place, you may want to check it out. Federal Delicatessen is in front of SkyCity and besides another famous food place, Depot Eatery. I’ve been here a couple of times and the last was for a late lunch with my sister after we watched the Aloha movie in Gold Class. Thanks BloggersClub!
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I came here for my brother's birthday dinner on a Wednesday night around 6:45pm and it was buzzing. The restaurant doesn't take booking unless for groups over 8 people so I would advise to either come early or be prepare to wait. Luckily that night they were able to get us a table for 4 within 5 minutes.
The decor of the restaurant like others say is really cool. Very american inspired with the waitresses have a typical american cafe uniform. It really sets the mood.
Firstly when ordering we were strongly recommended to get 2 meats and 2 salads as this would be plenty for 4 people. Being very hesitant and quite strongly persuaded by the waitress that we did not need another dish we went with her words.
Unfortunately we had to get another dish as it was not enough! Slightly annoying.
We order the NY Steak strip. It was amazing. Medium rare cooked and full of flavour, it was definitely the best of the main dishes.
We had the turkey meatloaf which was also full of flavor and delicious.
Milk fed veal - Worst of the mains, personally just thought it was super chewy the flavors were really strange and not quite enjoyable.
Montreal Poutine, i personally really enjoyed it. The gravy was so tasty, the cheese was a bit random to be honest as it wasn't really melted but in chunks. I do have to say the others found the dish a little bit to salty.
Shaved fennel and apple salad was the more preferred salad for me. It was light and fresh to have. The hummus really made the dish for me.
Grilled asparagus salad was nice. However it was nothing too special of a dish.
Lastly we had the three way combo dessert.
NY Cheesecake - personally this was my least favorite of the the 3 nevertheless it was delicious. The others on my table loved it and though it was the more favorable one as it was a traditional and light, tasty cheesecake.
Lemon Meringue pie - I love it! Super light and fluffy meringue which perfectly balanced the citrus from the lemon. The lemon curd wasn't too sour which was good.
Banana & toffee pie - Super delicious! I love banoffee pie so this was a perfect for me. Had a great banana flavor and with cream it was perfect. The popcorn was yum however being a sweet tooth, i can see that it could be too much for others.
Overall a lovely dinner for a reasonable price.
Fantastic customer service. Had ordered pastrami, salmon bagel and turkey sandwich. Excellent flavor of their pastrami. The turkey sandwich very good at summer!! Strong recommend this place to someone who would like to eat!!
Breakfast was a treat. Griddle cakes with berries, crumble and cinnamon butter! Yep - that's a good start to the day. The rhubarb and muesli with yoghurt was also good if you are into that sort of thing.
Came here for dessert as Depot had a 1.5 hour wait, couldn't decide which dessert - thank goodness for the choice of three. The banana toffee pie was my fav, lemon meringue next and by the time I ate the caramel popcorn and started on the NY cheesecake I was feeling icky, best shared with 3-4 of your besties or a small army.
Best New York cheesecake (with strawberries) in Auckland city! Do try it if you love a rich cake.
Ambience is amazing!!!! Diner style where staff has such cute uniforms. Best music too!!
Food wise, they do a good selection of unique items and all taste fresh. Best part is you can watch them make your dish too if you sit by the bar. Drinks are also good with yummy milkshakes.
Also they do buffalo wings. It used to be my favourite when they first started it but somehow the sauce given kept reducing and now it is too dry for my liking.
They also do a great banoffee pie too but the last time I had it, it was served sloppy and the flavours didn't come together instead felt like I was eating multiple parts of something. It does come with some amazing caramel popcorn though.
Good place to hang out for brunch, lunch, dinner or supper! Definitely must try if you haven't :)
Packed with hearty flavour which the bread stick soaked up. The clams and fish was cooked well and not overcooked which I often worry about. Nice bowl of warm goodness that sets you right on a cold day. Fast and efficient service
We had such a good time eating here! The food was delicious and the crockery was funky and very clean. I enjoyed the taste of Montreal with the style of San Francisco.
The only critique would have been the table sizes - and the fact that outside didn't seen to have the same vibe as inside, even though we would have rather sat there.. (music very quiet and a little awkward to sit there).
I ate the Toasted Ruben which was fantastic - and this was the first time I had found Poutine in NZ, and they absolutely nailed it..
I will definitely be recommending and attending again.
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Intended to visit for breakfast a few weekends back but ended up doing lunch in this beautiful restaurant/diner with a few friends. Deco is interesting and hip with an 80-90's American diner vibe and although quite busy, the staff were friendly and attentive.
Table availability for a walk in can be a hit or miss but we managed to get one for the 7 of us; however because a few of us were late, we were directed to the counter/bar area until the full party arrived before we could be seated. Didn't mind, took the time to admire the open kitchen and restaurant hustle
so on to the food- I ordered the all you can drink coffee (please don't drink more than 10 cups like I did because you'll be in for a trippy ride and not in a good way) and small poutine which, although not amazing, was excellent both in taste and portion. Didn't get to try their dessert selections unfortunately as I was pretty full (surprisingly).
This little place is a bit of a gem and would definitely revisit to try other items when I'm in their neck of the woods.
Friendly staff and we got the famous strawberry cheesecake and banofee pie with caramel popcorn which was very yummy ! We were at the federal street festival and just missed the dessert offering by fed at deli so we went in the restaurant instead for the real thing which was worth it and also managed to get the booth for the experience as it was our fifth time back. The cocktails were also an additional bonus and very well made , highly recommended
Six of us went to Federal delicatessen for breakfast before we go on hiking today. The restaurant is nicely decorated and the staff are extremely friendly. We all felt strong warm welcome. Food is excellent and we are all enjoyed it. Strongly recommended to people who enjoy delicious food and comfortable environment. Definitely a good start for the day!👍
Have dinner with my friends here. Fantastic atomesphere and service. Ordered salmon latkes, cured salmon is very nice but the potato is a little bit salty. Chowder is amazing but the Turkey meatloaf is kind of creepy. The bottom is over golden brown and goes to black, maybe it will be a redo in the cookery school. Salad is nice.
It’s 10.30 am, you have a lunch time restaurant reservation at 12.30pm but you’re feeling hungry after staying up during the red-eye from Melbourne to Auckland. Question: what do you do? I suppose the sensible option would have been to wait it out or grab something small in the meantime. But if you’re us and have very little time to spend in Auckland, you opt to squeeze in an entire meal and cross your fingers that you will digest in time for lunch… Which is how we found ourselves at Federal Delicatessen.
This restaurant have been on my watchlist for a while and was definitely worth the trip. For appetizers we got the duck liver parfait, it had a very strong taste which i quite enjoyed. We also ordered the house pastrami and turkey meatloaf, the pastrami was very tender and i really liked the texture of the meatloaf, the best thing about it was that everything on the specialities menu can be shared. The best ugly bagel was delicious just as expected. For deserts the 3-way combo would definitely be the best choice if you are visiting with a large group. The one i would recommend is the banana&toffee pie. It could have been a 5 star experience if they got the deserts order correctly(didnt get a chance to try the pumkin pie) and the place was a bit more quite. service was good would recommend if you have a small appetite.
One of my favourite places to eat in Auckland, food is sensational!!!!!! LA DINNER in Aucks plus more - Al Brown you've done it again. Go in and soak up the energy in this place and get balls deep in good food!
What a great concept! We went here for breakfast and in typical al brown style found a menu packed full of originality while staying simple. The eggs with horseradish were fantastic, as were the blueberry pancakes with brown sugar.
I don't know what it is about them, but I love NY Delicatessens. And the Federal Deli has brought that whole vibe into Auckland.
Friendly staff, quick service and great food!
For this visit we were just after a late night dessert, and there are four awesome sounding choices available... Which is where the only issue occurred -- There is an option to have a tasting plate of three of the desserts, but that means choosing which one you don't want.
But hindsight is a great thing and here is what I recommend... A slice of the NY Cheesecake (with a beautiful citrus hit), with a glass of the Late Harvest Riesling. Fantastic way to finish an evening!
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I love The Fed so so so much!!! the atmosphere is amazing, they have done amazing in recreating an American Diner!! They can get very very busy at times, so you normally have to time your visits, but if you are eating alone there is room for you on the kitchen counter which is actually an awesome place to sit because you can see all the chefs making your food!!!
I have come here a lot and and heres a little rundown of each meal ive tried (which isn't actually a lot because i tend to order what i know i love)
The chicken Salad Sandwich (which comes with gravy), this is an amazing sandwich, all the flavours are amazing and for an added bonus theres even crispy chicken skin in it!! another great option for this is to try the sandwich toasted, It adds more texture to the sandwich, and i actually think i prefer it toasted!
The Spit-Roast Chicken, Omg i can not get over this chicken, it is tender and juicy inside and the gravy they give you on the side gives it that added flavour it needs!
Montreal Poutine, This poutine has got to be my all time favourite poutine!!! It is incredible, the chips are the perfect crispyness, they are not stingy on the gravy or the cheese curb and every bite trumps the last! I always always order the poutine when i come here and i recommend trying it before everything else!
Mish-Mash, only served on their brunch menu, it comes with a lot of potato, pastrami and one fried egg, while nice i think i was a little too excited to try it so my expectations may have been a little too high.
Griddle Cakes, again only served for brunch. While these pancakes are amazing and everything you need in pancakes, it can be a little sickening towards the end because it can be very very sweet (you definitely do not need to add any maple syrup to this dish!) but i recommend trying it!!
For brunch and lunch i would recommend ordering any of the bottomless drinks!!! i myself got bottomless english breakfast tea and loved it!! i also love how our waiter heard I loved milk and provided us with the bigger milk cup-holder, my sisters all got he bottomless coffee, there are two kinds the Hivanna which is i think the strongest coffee they have and the supreme which is the weaker kind, i have head that the Hivanna is a lot better, so if you're a coffee person i'd recommend that.
The Matzo-ball soup, i was actually very disappointed with this dish, everyone told me it was amazing but i personally didnt enjoy it, the matzo balls were a little too dense and chewy for me and the soup while nice, could have had more flavour to it!!
The desserts are incredible!!!! I have tried all four desserts and i still struggle when asked what my favourite is, and its always between the Lemon Meringue or the NY Cheesecake! Both of these are incredible!! The lemon meringue is the best ive ever had, the lemon curd is insanely lemony, which is perfect!!!! the cheesecake is amazing but some have told me that its a little too dense and creamy for them after a while (but im cheesecake obsessed so ive never experienced this problem). The Banana and Toffee pie is ok, definitely not my favourite, i think i would love it so much more if the banana flavours were a lot more prominent, but i do enjoy that it comes with caramel popcorn (which is incredible, you can even buy jars of their caramel popcorn!) and last is the pumpkin pie! its one of the best pumpkin pies ive ever had, but! if you ever order the 3-way-combo with a pumpkin pie, i strongly recommend eating the pumpkin pie first because i found after eating my lemon meringue or cheesecake and then going back to the pumpkin pie, it was very disappointing and a lot more savoury tasting than when i first tried it (if that makes sense).
The service at The Fed is great!! i have had some great customer service experiences here (though a few times i have been let down). Overall, The Fed is a place everyone needs to try!!
This place is a little on the expensive side of average pricing but the menu is super good! The times I have been here, I always order the poutine! which is made even better by the chefs using two different types of gravy! This was also the place where I tried the NY cheesecake for the first time and holy moly it is good! I also love the bannoffee pie and the street dog.
BEST CHEESECAKE EVER'!!!
I think apart from the price. Everything else is perfect. A lil bit overpriced for like mains etc. I had the potato salad (9) , really good! The New York cheesecake was so good I'm not even kidding like holy moly so smooth and it legit melts in your mouth. I had a cocktail, didn't really like tho. Will def return for cheesecake fuuuuuua so good!!!
Excellent food and coffee, and great looking little place, you can very easily imagine you are somewhere in NYC instead of the middle of Auckland!
The only issue I had was a very surly waiter who hurled our cups and glasses onto the table and couldnt seem to manage eye contact or a smile! The rest of the staff were great though and the uniforms are super cute. Highly recommended
I have been here for brunch and lunch a number of times and will continue to return! While the menu isn't that exciting I always find the food to be tasty, fresh and reasonably well priced. The staff and service are usually pretty good and the atmosphere is SUPER cute! My standard lunch pick is a street dog or the best ugly bagel (sometimes I branch out and get a turkey on rye or chicken salad sandwich) always joined by a portion of fries (you'll definitely only need 1 between 2 or 3 people). For breakfast I love the griddle cakes, the chelsea buns or the grapefruit if I'm feeling in need of something refreshing. Definitely recommend!
Funky, hip, classic American styled diner. Have been here a few times and always am satisfied. Chicken sandwhich with crispy skin and a gravy dunking dip and the trio pie taster are must tries!
Worth a detour or special trip. Recommended
The staff a very attentive. The food was really good I think it's great but not 10 out of 10 but still 9 out of 10 for perfection that is big. Ask.. But still good all The same. Enjoy
I was very impressed with federal delicatessen. They have tried to create an American diner style eatery and got it right with the filter coffee (best filter coffee I have ever had), booth tables and bar stools. Even the staff were dressed in modern 'diner girl' outfits. It's a busy and funky atmosphere but it also doesn't make you feel rushed.
The menu is so well priced, not too big and has fantastic options for lots of appetites. I ordered the "morning glory" which is a breakfast salad with halloumi, portobello mushrooms and a poached egg - absolutely delicious and not too over whelming. The others ordered larger potato hash dishes and bagels which they thoroughly enjoyed as well. Next time I would like to try one of their sandwiches. Would definitely like to come again!
Been here with my long time no see friend. It's a nice place to stay and chat for long time, really. Last time I order 3 way combo, with cheese cake, banana toffee, and lemon meringue. My friend said the cheese cake is amazing, but my favorite is the banana toffee, it's light, not so sweet, and delicious!
The fed sets out to provide a specific archetypal dining experience and it delivers on point. It smacks of careful consideration and the finer details here an there highlight this.
The fed is smart enough to know when you supply coffee it has to be from Wellington. They have Havana coffee and it is some of the best you will experience in NZ. The food ingredients are of the highest quality and the execution is close to flawless. I mean, don't expect to come here and get something spectacular and experimental. But that's not what this place is about. The fed is about a vision and delivering that as accurately as possible. The staff provided faultless service and said all the right things at the right times but did seem a little insincere. One of the staff was a little warmer so that was nice. But hey, it's totally functional.
Came here for lunch with my friend yesterday, the atmosphere here is very American and relax. We ordered salmon latkes, a chicken sandwich, a street dog, and a 3-way combo as desserts. the latkes were so delicious, very crispy but not greasy at all. The 3-way combo including a NY cheesecake, a pumpkin pie, and a banana&toffee pie was so amazing, the banana one in particular, serving with popcorn, not too sweet but flavourful.
Went here for a work lunch yesterday and I must say it was really good! The atmosphere is really cool though it is extremely loud inside so we sat outside. We ordered a chicken sandwich two street dogs and some home fries. A New York cheesecake was dessert, so yummy! We thought the street dogs were a bit small but tasty! The service was good and attentive only thing was she wasn't very happy. I will definitely be back with other friends and family!
Walking in you can immediately feel the cool American diner vibe and the staff are friendly and super attentive! I got the gridle cakes (blueberry pancakes) and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Bottomless filter coffee was perfect I'd recommend Havana over Supreme. Timing is key if you want a table.
Bronwen Anne Wilkinson
+5
What a refreshing difference to the same old same old. The atmosphere is certainly addictive and the customer service out of this world. And of course the food was scrumptious.
Located two doors down from the Depot, this American diner style cafe is hit for breakfasts and a quick bite to eat. I didn't expect much when i went in the first time one morning, but was pleasantly surprised with the decor, the seating booths, the bar stools and the waiters with rolled-up short sleeves, not to mention the bottomless filter coffee.. So American! I ordered a pickled pork dish with poached eggs on rye, basically a different spin on an eggs bene but it was delicious and the flavours were interesting enough.. The coffee was nice too but it is just filter coffee, I ordered it for the nostalgia and it almost inspired me enough to start writing my own novel!
The american diner vibe and service was excellent but the hotdog was too small for the price. The banana toffee dessert was delicious though. Would love to come back but maybe just for desserts!
Came here for dinner the other night! I got told that you can't make reservations for less than 8 people so I was worried it was going to be full. Luckily it wasn't and we got a decent seat straight away! We ordered the large chicken, potato and gravy, chips and coleslaw with peanuts! The food was great! I particularly liked the chicken and potato and gravy! We also ordered cocktails which I thought was really light, it almost tastes like plain soda. Afterwards we ordered dessert, we got the 3 combo for $18 which I thought was a good deal. We opted for two slices of the NY cheesecake and a slice of the banofie and toffee pie. I loved the cheesecake, definitely one of the best i've tried! I thought the banofie pie had a tad too much cream, but i liked the idea of adding caramel popcorn. Overall I was very satisfied with the taste and service, and the prices were reasonable too. I do want to go back to try the breakfast menu next time!
GideonMarisa MasterchefNz2015
+4.5
Al Brown has done a great job with this place and I totally loved the pastrami sandwiches with mustard! great vibe and ambience about the place and would recommend it to anyone visiting Aucks #g1
Sunny evening, ordered Smoked Kahawai Cakes with red wine. The best feeling. Friendly staff, fantastic environment and quality service. Not surprising! Would love to dine in anyday.
I had heard a lot of hype about Federal Deli and so was skeptical that it would deliver, but I was completely wrong. The service was friendly and efficient, the food was excellent, we had the pastrami on rye, the poutine, turkey sandwich and chocolate cheesecake. These are not the massive plates that you get served in a New York deli but still plentiful and filling. It's a bussling place so don't go for quiet chat and try to get a booth.
Good service. Food was good too nice to share with a group of people. Got the hot dog, roasted chicken with gravy and the steak. Prices are quite reasonable which is pretty good too
Super impressed by old mate Brown's get up here. American/deli style food is a well documented favourite of mine and I felt these guys hit the nail on the head in all aspects!
First, the bearded lad that was servicing us was the man. Friendly, not over bearing and patient. I really like single service and we lucked in with him. The ambience gives off that true diner feel, with everything and everyone looking the part.
The Cocktails wore great, not too sweet not too bitter and really basic staple flavours to avoid ridiculous decisions. Food wise, man you can really tell this joint takes serious pride in what they do and I love that, the kitchen was buzzing!
We stuck with the sammy's and some poutine to share. I had the turkey on rye, such a classic! Thing is just too tasty to describe and I loved the crisp apple.
Wish Al Brown did more work down in Welly, he holds it down!
The poutine... Keeps me coming back, amazing every time! This place has attitude--it's a time-warp, quite true to a classic New York-style deli. The staff are very professional and friendly, there are cute little booths and lots of foodie action to watch if you sit at the 'bar'. A bit noisy in there on busy nights, but hey--I'm not there to talk when there's baked cheesecake THAT good.
Sarah Forsyth #g4
WWW.KINGOFCHEATMEALS.COM
+4
Another spot with a cool selection of food on the menu. I liked the Reuben sandwich and poutine. Really enjoyed the 3 slices of pie 🍰 Always has a good atmosphere being busy, haven't had to wait too long for a table each time I've been. 👍
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NEW YORK.
This place is NY style/themed which is a nice change from the usual cafes around. I came here over a year ago and tried their most famous dish - Poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curds). I didn't really like it back then but decided I'd give this place a go again. It was actually alright the second time! :)
NY style hotdogs:
My parents really liked the hotdog but it was average to me. The bread was crisp but soft, buut it wasn't anything that special. The sausage was a normal frankfurter you can get from the supermarket paired with some caramelised onions & mustard.
3 cheesecakes:
NY cheesecake - favourite. Rich and creamy in the mouth and not too overpowering.
Banana & Toffee - dislike this one but it was nice to see there was real banana used at the base of the cake.
Lemon Meringue - i really liked this one! it was really light with a lemoney tang that makes you want to keep stuffing your mouth! xD
Also ordered the beef brisket and lemon cole but these weren't that great - pretty plain and average.
Overall this place was pretty average to me and I don't think I'd go again but you should go try the cheesecakes and poutine if you haven't already! :)
Came here for a late dinner with the work mates as we had heard good things about the place. The food didn't disappoint, bit pricey for the amount you get but I guess its expected nowadays.
We ordered some plates of meats including the pastrami, chicken & gravy and veal schnitzel. Chicken was nothing amazing - very average don't order it. The pastrami served with pickles was the highlight. We also ordered some salads, all very tasty especially the fried cauliflower yum!!
However the desserts were the top highlight for me - the pumpkin pie, NY cheesecake and banofee pie were sooooo soo good! The plate of 3 pies to share is the best!! Overall a nice experience and would go back.
I came here a few weeks ago on a weekday for breakfast. I had heard a lot of good things about this place and I definitely wasn't disappointed!
My first impressions were very good, the place is set up like an old fashioned American style diner with all the tables. The waiters and waitresses were also dressed like it too which I thought was a nice touch.
I ordered the Griddle Cakes which I thought was fantastic and some of the best pancakes I have had. The cinnamon butter and strudle crunch was a good addition and added some crunch to a usually savory dish. The food was also well priced for the area we were in. The filter coffee was also very good and I enjoyed the high level of service with the staff constantly refilling my cup!
I was a bit gutted that it was too early for the cheesecake but I will be back at some point in the future.
This place is really strange: it's not like a genuine Canadian (or US) deli, more like a movie set or like somebody's imagination of what a deli used to be like in the 1950s. We had the Reuben and were disappointed - compared to a Reuben at a real Montreal deli like Schwartz's, the brisket was pretty much tasteless. The drinks were dull too. I wouldn't bother again.
First time here. I think it's a really good place to relax and have a desserts. Really love the atmosphere. The staff here are very welcoming. However , NY cheesecake is too small. It's good. So damn good but too small to satisfy me :(
Quirky place to eat in SkyCity- traditional American dinner with great friendly wait staff, bottomless coffee with 2 choices and great classic food! Have eaten breakfast and lunch here and there is a variety of choices... Recommend the griddle cakes for breakfast but it is a sugary treat! Great to eat lunch in the sun on a nice day too!
I'd been wanting to go here for so long and o boy it did not disappoint eh. It was a tues but still so busy ??? Definition of goin up on a tuesday I tell u. So much to choose from but went for schnitzel for the meat, fried cauliflower salad and small poutine to share and was perfect amount for 2 people. First time ever having poutine and was such a fan I ended up having it twice that week lmao. Washed it all down w the house Riesling. Fine drop. The staff are really attentive and I get the whole diner aesthetic but the costumes they wear unnecessary imo. Anyway shout outs to al brown
Food was delicious! Service was pretty good we just had to wait a bit for our food as it was busy but well worth it as it was yummy. The desserts were amazing!
We went here on a busy Sunday morning for brunch, and since they don't take bookings the wait time was supposed to be 45 mins. We were pleasantly surprised when they found us a table just 5 minutes later!
I love the decor of the place, like an old fashioned American diner. I had the "Treyf", poached eggs with pickled pork and horseradish hollandaise on rye, which was delicious. My accompanying creaming soda was good too, however a little too syrupy and sweet.
Overall, great atmosphere and service and I would like to return to try some of the famous poutine and the Reuben sandwich!
I really enjoy the theme here. It has an American diner setting, which is a new look to the Auckland restaurant scene (or so I think). It is hard to walk past and not go in!
The staff are all friendly and always doing their best to keep you happy. I am yet to try everything on the menu but I thoroughly enjoy 'The Best Ugly Bagel'.
They have outdoor seating too on the better weather days, with heaters available to keep you warm :)
Quite a cool restaurant and always busy! I would recommend booking in advance due to its popularity.
Dined with a friend and elected to sit outside. Although it was a chilly evening, the benefit of the overhead heating was a very welcome addition.
Service was very attentive. Great suggestions from the cocktail menu. Sadly the choice is rather limited for my taste buds but I chose the gin which was very refreshing. My friend chose the chicken sandwich and I chose the Montreal dish...fries with gravy and cubes of cheese. Very moreish.
I'm looking forward to returning and choosing to eat inside next time:)
This is a pretty cool & unique place, like an American diner. I heard the poutine is a must try so we ordered it, but it was really salty. I'm keen to go back and try their desserts!
I love the experience of dining at The Fed. The waiters and waitresses are always presenters well and nothing is too hard. They go the extra mile to make sure the table is always clean and water is always full.
I had the NY strip steak and potatoes and gravy. We shared a poutine. All top notch, the steak was probably a little over cooked for my personal preference but still very palatable.
The pie is (as always) to die for, pumpkin, banana and toffee and lemon meringue. The favourite this evening was the banana and toffee, which is saying something as I am very much a citrus man.
Overall a wonderful experience. Only .5 deducted as a couple of waitresses discussing another customer within earshot of our table as the chef just kept requesting service until they had finished their conversation. It was not an unpleasant moment, just slightly less professional than usual.
Why not grab a seat in deli to have breakfast in weekend morning. Nice supreme coffee, sandwiched with pickle or have ny cheesecake.
Vintage American decor, feel flash back to 1920s
Wish I could have fit more in!
The Rubén was fantastic, but managed to get my spoon in my husbands Motza Ball soup a few times too - give the desserts a miss and just eat more savoury.. We would have enjoyed that more than a nice slice of cheesecake and Lemon Meringue, which we got to go.. They were nice, but standard.
It took me much longer to get to the Fed than I would have liked. It really does remind me of a traditional deli.
The sandwiches are delicious, full of smoky meat. But I think the high point is the selection of pies...pumpkin, lemon meringue and more.
The only average thing is the coffee...it's bottomless deli style, so isn't great. I'd rather just have one good long black.
Every time I have come here the staff have gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure we had a good time. They are always willing to move tables and be accommodating to our often large groups. The food is good! Thumbs up for the poutine for sure.
The home of Filter coffee only! Lucky that it is very good and a great start to the day. If you are looking for something different for breakfast this is the place. I started with 1/2 a grapefruit & the Montreal Poutine (hangover cure..). Can be busy, but the service is very quick.
Hunt this place out.
Winning dish - poutine.
The chicken was also a delight.
Full review here: https://withapinchofsarcasm.wordpress.com/2015/09/01/fdn-delicious/
Fed St Deli as we call it, has become our regular especially for "The late shift" - Fridays and Saturdays the kitchen stays open til 1am. Perfect for those nights when you're not quite full after dinner in town or craving something sweet. My go to is the Chicken Hoagie, something about the chicken covered in gravy and with crispy skin makes my mouth water at the mention. Poutine is always a must, again, gravy, on fries!? Who doesn't like fries. To satisfy the sweet tooth, there's four sweet pies by the slice to choose from, my favourite being the New York cheesecake closely followed by the classic lemon meringue pie.
Consistently good. Two words that ensure that the Fed remains in my sure fire goodness eating list. Curds and gravy on fries? Yes, am a convert. Poutine me anytime! Sammy more to your liking? Choose from pastrami laden Reuben, Thanksgiving turkey, or chicken salad with crunchy chicken skin and more of that more-ish gravy. I love their hot dogs but you need two to fill up. Leave room for a slice of pie and wash it all down with a bottomless cup of joe or a cherry soda. You can't go wrong either way!
This is one of new and absolute favourite places in the city :) Went lunching last time and shared a large poutine between two and two other dishes. The poutine is so so good and hella filling! The atmosphere is so busy, lively and vibrant and the customer service is also great! I love the old school American vibes you feel as soon as you walk in. Overall, id highly recommend it! :)
Checked into the Rydges this afternoon on our "Facestuffing tour of Auckland" and wandered down Federal st looking for the Deli. Only a hop,skip and a jump. Seated straight away(bonus! It was pretty busy)and we ordered a couple of sandwiches and a drink. Within a few minutes our lunch arrived, 2 decent sized offerings. My chicken salad had a small pot of dipping gravy which was solidly flavoured, very tasty. The Turkey sandwich was said to be good too, served with a small ramekin of coleslaw.
Would visit again :)
So I wanted to try this place out after reading reviews online.
I dragged my partner here one day for dessert because I wanted to try the cheesecake. The cheesecake was lovely!
I ordered a chicken sandwich because I was still hungry which I thought was pretty average considering the price. I took it home and my brother ate it and said it was the best chicken sandwich he'd had.
I came here again the week after to try the three pies for dessert with my cousin this time - We had the banana, cheesecake and the lemon meringue. I'm not a lemon meringue fan but this one was pretty good!
The atmosphere is pretty cool and the staff are always nice. I'd recommend the dessert! Have yet to try other things on the menu. Maybe next time.
Potato on potato?
Everytime we go here I order fries and mashed potato with gravy we dip the fries in the mash and eat em might sound a bit werid but it tastes good!
Service is A+
There late night menu has some good options
My friend and I went along to The Fed after, what shall we say, a "big" night out after the rugby. We shared a plate of poutine, I had the white fish sandwich and she had the breakfast salad. I'm just going to say it - the poutine is amazing! Fries drenched in gravy and cheese, just divine for potato lovers. My sandwich was delicious - kahawai (with crispy skin on - yum) paired with a spicy mayo and crunchy lettuce. I still had half left over so they bagged the other half, lucky for me and my Monday work lunch! My friend's breakfast salad was good and she really enjoyed the flavour of the dukkah throughout. We were both far too full to try any of the pies afterward so that will definitely be on the menu next time. A great little spot and service was fast and attentive.
Bannofee pie is crack! Everytime I feel like having dessert, I always think about that lovely slice of banana and toffee pie or the lovely cheesecake they have. I love sitting at the bar just watching the chefs working through service, makes me want to be one. Can't get over their poutine as well, and the hash.
Came here for my 21st food crawl😁 we had a half chicken and poutine. It was like heaven in my mouth....almost had a heart attack. The staff were so friendly, a very busy place and i love the open ish kitchen!
Came here once for dinner and dessert and the other time for breakfast.
Both so impressed with the restaurant!
REALLY reminded me of new york!
Loved the skirt steak and the cheesecake, and for breakfast a must have is the white fish sandwich! It's so fresh and delicious!
Love it here. Took my sisters who was so excited to go to an Al Brown restaurant. They had breakfast salad morning glory. I ordered off sides. Good service. Great food.
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A nice American style diner right by Skycity
We decided to dine here for my birthday and we left quite satisfied. It was a busy Thursday night and we arrived just after 6pm so it wasn't busy yet. We were seated right by the entrance which was slightly annoying with people coming in the door and the cold air coming through but that can't be helped when the place is so popular! The atmosphere was hectic and very upbeat. The waitresses were all lovely and full of energy. We decided to order the NY strip steak and turkey meatloaf with a side of fries. We were meant to get the gravy fries but we couldn't find it on the menu. It was about 20 mins for the food to arrive which wasn't as quick as we thought it would be as we pictured diner food to be fast but it was high quality! The NY strip steak was really good and turkey meatloaf was above average (I wouldn't order it again though). The portions were really small for the price you pay but again, it is by Skycity so high quality and fries are just fries.. Nothing special. For dessert, we chose the famous 3 way combo of NY cheesecake, banana and toffee pie and lemon meringue pie. It was definitely the highlight of the night. I particularly like the banana toffee pie with the popcorn.
Pictures:
- Diner area where the chefs prepare the food and where you can also be seated
- Normal fries ($8)
- Turkey Meatloaf (small - $14) and NY strip steak ($26)
- Lemon Meringue, Banana Toffee and Cheesecake ($18)
Overall, a lovely experience and we will definitely go back to try other meals :)
As soon I walked in, I was speechless at how amazing the restaurant looked. I havent been to America before, but it looked just like the classic American diner seen in movies. We were seated straight away from our waiter. He had excellent customer service and was our waiter from the beginning right to the end. I went with 2 other friends and ordered the Pastrami bagel, White fish sandwhich, best ugly and the famous trio cheesecakes.
My favourite was the white fish sandwhich. Although looking like an ordinary sandwhich on the plate, i was blown away how good it tasted. The fish tasted so fresh and tasty. The cheesecakes were absolutely heaven in my mouth. Creamy and not sickly sweet, just yum yum! If going with friends, I recommend getting once dish each and share amongst yourselves! :)
Amazing food and service, with the exception of the pumpkin pie, which is rather bland. Seems common that the pumpkin pie is a bit of a disappointment for NZ pallets,
A fantastic place for a quick bite to have in a very New York style sitting. The hot dog was delicious, but comparing it to the price was expecting something a little larger. We also order the large roast chicken but again were disappointed with the size that came out expecting it to be much, much larger than what came. However, the dessert is definitely hit the ball out of the park. The 3 way dessert is definitely the way to go and was phenomenal both in taste and presentation and worth the cost. Possibly will be back here again mainly for the dessert.
- Very cool theme (NY Jewish Deli inspired)
- Every dish was delicious
- Highly rec the cauliflower salad and pastrami
- Must try the lemon meringue pie
- Dangerously good cocktails
- Genuinely friendliest staff you'll ever come across
- No negatives
I seriously love this place!
We ordered:
- fried cauliflower
- poutine
- NY street dogs
- iceberg wedge salad
I honestly could sit here singing the praises of all the dishes, but the real surprise and winner was the fried cauliflower. I can't even accurately explain what goes on in this dish but it seriously works!
Service is always flawless and can be guaranteed to come with a big smile.
The cocktails are on point too!
This was an amazing find! The American theme - decor, uniforms and menu really works. Great service, ambience and food. This is a popular place and I'll be going back for more.Highly recommended!
They have best desert so far I had.
Best customer service and amazing vibe. enjoy having food there.
If you looking for American food it's a best place to go.
Pastrami is unbelievably good. Better than NY! Big call i know, but... So good.
All this place needs is an espresso machine to make it the ultimate. But then it wouldn't fit with the American vibe i guess.
Been here twice. Really great service. Food is bit pricey but totally worth it. I would recommend to plan well ahead as this place is always busy. The best cheesecake ever!
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Federal Delicatessen is one of my absolute favourite places to go to for dinner ( as you can see from the photos, I've tried almost everything there).
Lets start with the service. 10/10 every single time! The waitresses and waiters are extremely friendly and consistently patient with you even when taking years to order haha, I swear my cup was never below the half way point even when it was a full house.
Ambience: Love it! The setting looks similar to an old school american diner with waitresses in cute blue dresses, im surprised they havent brought the rollerbaldes out yet.
Food: what we all wanna hear. DELICIOUS!! Among all the dishes I have tried, the stand out for me still remains to be the turkey meatloaf. This loaf is seriously out of this world, packed filled with flavour and served alongside the nicest little apple saw with walnuts and wholegrain mustard, it's one of my favourite dishes in Auckland. Have also tried their veal schnitzel which I was actually quite disappointed about as it wasnt anything special, however the rotisserie chicken is beautiful and has come out moist and perfectly cooked 5/5 times Ive orderd it. The gravy it comes with is so tasty too, highly recommend this dish too ( my dads favourite). The infamous reuben didnt meet my expectations either, but that may be because im not a sandwhich kinda girl. (note: if you love cheese and a good toastie, i'd reccomend the reuben)
The poutineee mmmmmmm yesss this is a must at the Fed, I'd reccomend the large size EVEN if you're one person because this dish is just divine! The salmon served in three ways was nice too but I probably wouldnt get that again as it wasnt that wow for me. okay now for the vegetable sides ( the best part). The menu has changed over the times I have eaten there, but my favourite side would have to go to the candied yams I ordered once ( not served anymore unfortunately). This would probably be followed closely by the fried cauliflower ( HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED). The only disappointing vege side Ive ever experienced would be the beetroot as it literally tasted like they opened a can of sliced beetroot, chucked it on a plate and added some microherbs onto for garnish. But I'll let this one slip.
Dessert: Being a major sweet tooth, ive tried all four of their cakes here and my favourite still remains to be the pumpkin pie ( although the cheesecake is pretty good too). This is probably the best pumpkin pie, no scratch that, the best pie in general, in my books. It wasnt sickeningly sweet like other pumpkin pies and the crust was to die for.
Overall, The Fed never fails to deliver and has consistently kept its standards up even when filled to the brim with hungry customers. One of my person favourites here in Auckland city to grab a bite, would highly reccommend to any and everyone!
UPDATE: Tried the chicken sandwhich ( asked it to be toasted too), THIS IS ONE OF MY NEW FAVS!! defs try it guys :)
I've been to Fed Deli a few times. I really love the atmosphere; the staff are so friendly, the place is warm and comfy. The food is really worth the money. Very filling and definitely tasty. I always get a pie for dessert, and my fave would be the lemon meringue. Sooooo good!
Today I went on my own and the staff members immediately got me a seat. I was carrying a large instrument with me and they kindly popped it by their counter for me. I didn't even have to ask someone to take my order; they came just as I had decided. Today I had the chicken sandwich and a lemon meringue (which came after I finished my sandwich)
The sandwich is so filling... I had to wait a bit before eating the pie.
Both were, as everything at Fed Deli is, fast and delicious~
Went in for a late lunch early dinner and experienced great customer service from the minute I walked in all the way through. Honestly the best customer service I have ever received. We had the poutine and the 3 pie combo both of which were amazing. The lemon pie was defiantly my favourite and I would defiantly come back to try more of their menu.
Loving the vibe here! Really liked the overall combination of warm yellow lighting, bubbly waitresses and cute seaters on the side! Entree: Didn't know what a latke is, tried it and it was absolutely smashing! It's similar to a savoury pancake with potato chips in the middle. I ordered the Salmon one, and the flavours worked out so fine! The lemon drops also makes it less oily and more refreshing. Then I ordered the veal schnitzel and iceberg salad. The schnitzel was tender and crispy on the outside. It had a really good texture and I couldn't have enough! However, I thought the iceberg salad was a bit small for its price and was quite plain. Overall, I would go there again for their dessert combo!
Really enjoyed every experience so far. Sat inside for the first time and the booth was quite tight for 4 people. Luckily the wait staff let us put our bags at by the cashier. Delicious food and dessert, friendly staff and American diner vibe to the place and can be seen by the wait staff are dressed. Very creative and fresh. Their dessert, especially the 3 way dessert, is definitely worth trying out.
Great food and great atmosphere.
I found the food a tad salty though but overall very good.
The service was good and staff was very friendly and helpful.
I ate went in a fried chicken crawl with my sister o her birthday and decide to try this place. We lived the vibe you get in the restaurant. The food we thought was great, they didn't have fried chicken but we just got a roast and some poutine. Loved it!
OH MY GAWD. Hands down one of the best desserts I've ever tried. Customer service is excellent and staff are friendly! Affordable food prices. Not rich people affordable, I'm talking average-joe affordable. Go and in and try. You won't be disappointed! :D
It was ok, we came here for a late night bite. Tried the hot dog and a slice of pumpkin pie. Nothing extraordinary, hot dog was small but relative to its low cost - we didn't realise it would be that small though! Would come back to try the rest of the menu, like the atmosphere and service.
Angela (A Style Collector)
+4.5
I've been here a few times one for brunch and the last time was for a late lunch.
I love the diner theme of this place. From the decor to the server's uniforms, it feels like you've travelled to the US. The food also reflects the American theme.
I've tried the chicken salad sandwich and it was good. There is so much filling that I struggled to eat the whole thing. I like having the gravy on the side too.
You also have to get the poutine if you're here. I don't know where else you can get poutine in Auckland but this is the one to try. Their menu says 'trust us on this' and you should. You can get the poutine in small and large size. For two people with another dish, the small size was definitely more than what we could handle. The fries are thick and drizzled with cheese curd and gravy. It's a good combination. The Street Dog was also pretty tasty.
As for dessert, I had the banoffie pie and it was a nice end to our meal. It had a great balance of flavour and it wasn't too rich. The salted caramel popcorn was a nice addition. I wish I had room to order the 3-Way combo which is basically three of their desserts but I will definitely order it next time.
This place is great for sharing and it's quite affordable too.
I
Tried convincing friends to come to the fed many many times but because of what the menu says they were a bit iffy....
HOWEVER
Once they saw what was brought to the tables their minds were made up that fed deli is our new go to!
Fanciful diner food, craft beers and great desserts! Nothing could go wrong! Great vibe and great service fed!
Ps please put more curd and gravy in the poutine it's so good om nom nom! Thanks for putting up with our requests jack!
Amazing setup, awesome customer service and yummy food. Ordered poutine and a hot dog...so delicious! Was a bit disappointed with the size of the hot dog though. Overall an awesome place would go again.
Can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. I have been here nearly once a week. I always get great service and the booths would be my favourite spot. Not a place if you feel like somewhere quiet. Always hustle and bustle going on to stimulate your senses. The bottomless cup of coffee is a goer and the food is always great. Dessert is a whole other world. Recommend the lemon merigue and cheesecake. Yumm feel like some now!
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The back story: I first went to "The Fed" with a friend who was keen for bagels and milkshakes. Indeed a salmom bagel and a peanut butter chocolate shake were what we got. And the rest, as they say, is history. Captivated by its very "New Yorkesque " interior, the green aproned wait staff, and the smells of pastrami - it's now a special place I go to whenever I was a fun night out and yummy (but probably slightly unhealthy) food. It's the kind of place you'd go on Friday night after a hard week at work...or when you want to spoil yourself silly with chips...gravy...cheese - the "poutine" - who wouldn't be happy with that ?
Setting : Bouncy. FUN. Retro. Those are the kind of words that come to mind when I think of The Fed. With their vinyl booths along the side and swivel wooden stools along the centre table - you feel like you're back in retro 1950s New York complete with music, sodas, shakes and pastrami cheese sandwiches. The place is super busy especially on Fridays but if you pop your name early on the list, the wait isn't too bad. In fact, we walked in at 7pm on a Friday and managed to nab a seat just as a couple left!
Food: I have trouble everytime trying to limit myself to a few choices. Everything is delicious. Think triple cheese melt sandwiches, American hot dogs, salmon lox and cream cheese on hot crispy Ugly bagel, pumpkin feta dukkah and cranberry salads. See what I mean ? The pastrami cheese sandwich is a classic and if you're after something that you can't usually get elsewhere, try this first. The pastrami is made on site ( we saw it being taken out of a wooden barrel and cut for us) and isn't too salty. The melted cheese on toasty bread finishes it off perfectly along with the must-have gherkins on the side. I had a side of pea and bacon croquettes too and these were refreshingly different to potato croquettes - less rich and starchy but with added flavour from the peas. And I have to mention the desserts. Always save room for these. I have always gone for the triple pie combo so you can taste everything. Lemon meringue pie, new York cheesecake, banoffe pie, pumpkin pie. They were all just as good. My personal favourite was the banoffe purely as I love bananas and caramel - with caramelised popcorn on the side, I was in heaven. If you're after some more American and different - go for the NY cheesecake or the pumpkin pie.
Occasion : Friday night date nights...or any other occasions for a fun upbeat night out. Probably best for groups of 2-4 due to table sizes.
Revisit potential : 10/10
Super place. Food is great and it is matched by the ambience. Staff is full of energy and accommodative. Been here a number of times. Will go again in the future.
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I have always wanted to eat here but didn't realize that I've walked passed it everyday for the pass year on my way to Uni; it's right opposite the Sky Tower. As soon as you approach The Fed you know you're going to have a different experience. The music is lively and so typical with big vocal based songs. The staff are abundant and approachable; wearing mint green uniform to tie into the classic American diner theme. From the flooring, seating, wall sconces, tables, cutlery, and lightning you feel so comfortable and like you're actually at an American diner. The atmosphere is buoyant and soulful.
A friend and I ordered the House Pastrami and NY Cheesecake to share. The pastrami was so tender and juicy, with this delicious salsa on top. I would definitely recommend that to any first time diners. The cheesecake was lighter than the typical NY style, with less richness from the cream cheese. But it was still tasty with a strawberry compote and cream on the side; but there just wasn't enough strawberries. My only fault is that they get really busy and it's had to find a table and the meals are pricey.
We had a fantastic experience at Federal Delicatessen!
The atmosphere of the place was buzzing and lively, and our staff was very friendly and attentive.
We ordered the Toasted Reuben, Yogi Bagel and the Poutine. They were warm, hearty and absolutely delicious.
Lastly we had to try their cheesecake, which was lovely, but not as 'cheesey' as I personally preferred.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable experience, would definitely be back for more!
Delicious food, good service and pleasant atmosphere. The chicken sandwich has included cartilage last couple of times though...
Pickles are delicious.
Next level Reuben Sandwich and authentic Poutine. This place has been one of my highlights of my NZ trip! Will definitely be coming back again every time I'm in Auckland.
One of the best restaurants in town. Great service, interior design and very cool American theme. The food is also really good. Especially love the poutine and the cakes.
To be frank, it was quite a delightful experience. In saying so however, for those who loathe loud and busy environments, dining here may be a poor decision. In saying so once again however, its lively ambience will be unsurprising once you begin eating.They provide a great range of dishes and each are priced quite reasonably. More importantly, these dishes were scrumptious; well, at least the dishes we selected were.The customer service was also commendable. Although an amount of time was required before being seated, the queuing system that was installed was quite efficient and managed to maintain a level of convenience for us.
We like the place the decor is very New York deli .
good pastrami and very good rye bread.
The lemon meringue pie is a winner .
Definitely we will go back.
Good service and good food, portion sizes are good. Only dish that was not a standout was the Turkey Meatloaf. The Bloody Mary's here are awesome!
Never heard of this place until my friend took place and it was great! Really nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Highly recommend the turkey rye sandwich!
Their dessert and fries are recommended. Other dishes are average. Quiter environment than depot. Dont need to make reservation. Average $30-40 pp.
The service here is exceptional, staff are so friendly and attentive
We had the 3 pie combo and it was mind blowing
Highly recommend
Plus they can validate your parking 👍🏻
Amazing ambience, friendly staff! Must try the Chicken Sandwich and the super awesome pan cakes! Top it off with the Filter coffee (Havana)
Had the griddle cakes and the supreme bottomless coffee. Very delicious and filling! Service took a while but it was peak time. A few vegetarian options for those vegos brave enough to try Jewish deli inspired cuisine. Lemon meringue pie is to die for.
Nice brunch at federal delicatessen! We arrived at almost 1:15 and we thought we had already avoided the crush, however to our surprise, we still had to wait about 15mins to have a seat to sit on. The fries left a deep expression on me. It was sooo good. It was our first time having American food and we enjoyed ourselves!
Hope to come to have another try!
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Whilst in Auckland for the weekend, I had far too much choice when it came to where to eat. For brunch with some blogger friends on Sunday morning, I chose Fed Deli.
Even on a busy Sunday morning, we were seated immediately, and taken care of very attentively by our waitress who took our drink orders very quickly and returned with our coffee and hot cocoa at the same speed. Spoiled for meal choices, I eventually settled on the blueberry pancakes and got some fries to fill my savoury craving. The blueberry pancakes came with cinnamon butter and strudel crunch, making this already yummy brunch staple even more delicious. The pancakes were perfectly fluffy, the toppings were the perfect accompaniment.
My friends ordered the best ugly bagel, the Greenpeace bagel and the morning glory breakfast salad, with a side of poutine. All three were extremely satisfied with their choices, and I have no doubt that these three native Aucklanders will be returning to the Fed.
All in all, the Fed was the perfect brunch choice for a sunny morning in Auckland. Delicious food and cocoa; lovely, friendly staff and nice heated outside seating, I'll be back next time in Auckland!
My partner and I both agreed these were the best cooked meals we'd ever had, the meats melted in the mouth and neither required more than the accompanying garlic butter or lemon. The almond slaw was crunchy and fresh, the cocktails were flavourful and strong, the lemon meringue pie was fluffy and couldn't be faulted. The croquettes came out no more than 2 minutes after we'd ordered (which was almost immediately), all 3 courses had been delivered within half an hour on a hectic Saturday night. I couldn't recommend this place enough, the service was top notch and every dish was absolutely perfect. As a bonus it was affordable too!
Excellent customer service
Yummy food
We ordered a lot of dishes including dessert between 3 people and ended up only paying 25$ ea. So defs worth it, yummy and not too expensive.
I love American Food - I have been meaning to come here forever - well, since it opened, so this was the perfect opportunity - the pre-movie dinner, before the Deli-man movie.... There are some quintessential American favourites here, and we chose all of them - or - actually they were chosen for us, as a special menu that Fed were doing in honour of the movie..... the only heads-up I would give you when you come here - is come when you are hungry - very hungry!!!!
matzo ball soup
spit-roast chicken - with gravy
creamy slaw - with peanuts
mash - with gravy
poutine - with cheese and gravy
Pastrami with pickles and mustard
NY Cheesecake
cuppa joe
Love The Experience, Love The Brand.
+4.5
Really great experience. Love the food and the busyness of the room. I had the Reuben which filled me easy! Great flavour and loved the bottomless coffee. Left buzzing. Thumbs up for a lunch!
Genie @ BunnyEatsDesign
+4.5
A group of us enjoyed the Deli Man Dinner before heading to the Deli Man screening on Saturday night.
The Fed is a popular place and it’s all hustle and bustle. I’ve tried (unsuccessfully) to eat here before (the wait was too long) and now I see why they are so popular. The food is delicious. It reminds me of rustic home cooking which is the essence of the delicatessen. The dishes are not over complicated and it’s a cool NY deli experience with a kiwi twist.
I love the diner-inspired interior and the framed prints near where we were sitting kept attracting my attention. Extra points for hooks under the table for handbags.
For $25 per head we enjoyed Matzo ball soup, pastrami with pickles and mustard, spit roast chicken and gravy, poutine, creamy slaw with peanuts, mash and gravy finished with coffee and NY cheesecake.
I wouldn’t normally order chicken but this was juicy and well seasoned. There was plenty of gravy dishes which suited me just fine as I love gravy. The poutine was very good with stretchy cheese which was funny to eat.
There was slightly more food than we could fit and everything was comforting and delicious. I’d never tried Matzo ball soup before but it was everything I imagined it would be. Delicious, comforting and easy to eat. This chicken soup is not so different from chicken soups from other cuisines.
I enjoyed my Old Nut cocktail which was a rum version of an Old Fashioned. If you like a strong, tasty drink, you’ll like this too.
The service was pretty good on this busy night. I paid $41.50 for a cocktail and a very full belly which I felt was very good value.
I’d love to come back to try a few more items on the menu. Bring a few friends and be prepared to share so you can try a range of dishes. Sharing seems to be the norm here and it’s a fun way to eat and avoids food envy.
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I have been wanting to go to The Fed for so many years now, particularly after being told about the 3-way combo of pies. I grew up with true American Southern pies as a child, thanks to a brilliant next-door neighbour from Kentucky. Somehow, even during University, I managed to miss out on heading over until yesterday but it was worth the wait and it was definitely a delight in the most part, I have to say!
The food and drink itself was mostly good: I started with a Cola Nut, which was sweeter than I imagined. The lime managed to cut that a little, which was ace. I followed that up with a small starter of the Clam Cioppino. We shared this between two of us but, despite the waitress advising us to go for the smaller option, I still feel as if the larger one would have sufficed. We also shared between two of us a White Fish Sandwhich, which was really good! The crispy fish skin was unusual at first but I think it worked for me, different to what I'm used to. Between three/four of us, we also had the large Poutine (I knew I would love this as I could probably have one large plate to myself!) and that really made the meal come together. I finished up with, of course, the 3-Way Pie Combo while some of the rest of us chose a combination of single/3-way options. I chose the Lemon Meringue, Pumpkin and Banoffee for myself. Much to my dismay, I was incredibly disappointed with was the pumpkin pie! Myself and the rest of us were looking forward to this one, particularly as pumpkin pie isn't readily served in New Zealand. It sadly tasted little, if anything, of pumpkin and tasted more earthy. Those who had this as part of our group all felt the same way and it was such a shame, but the lemon meringue and the banoffee were brill!
I was hoping to end this there, but we did encounter another shame: The VERY rushed service. Now I understand, being someone who is quite a bit of a foodie and familiar with how many eateries/restaurants work, that speed of service is important and so too being able to increase business by seating as many people as you are able to over the course of a night, but I have never felt so rushed to eat a dinner out in a very long time. While the waitresses were very much attentive throughout, one particular waitress seemed like she did not want to be there; seemed really bored; and kept interrupting us as we were trying to give us our menu and also completely making our conversations come to a standstill with absolutely no care in the world that she had been so rude. I appreciate that you guys are giving us advice on portion size and all, so that we don't go too overboard, but it would be nice to at least be heard and not come off so boistrous and loud when we're a mere few centimetres away.
I honestly don't wish to come off too prudish. I would like to focus on the actual food in the most part which was actually very delicious, par the Pumpkin pie. However, combined with the waiting service coming off rushed and such, these two particular negatives bring down what would've been a 4.5-5/5 to a 3.5 for me. I do like to dine out with friends/family while being able to experience the surroundings and the people, as opposed to not feeling anything at all - otherwise I'd just nosh up a meal at home!
In saying all this, I will certainly be back! I want to try out more of the appetisers and head in for another helping of pies, thoughI think I'll definitely be switching my Pumpkin Pie for the NY Cheesecake next time. :)
Definitely a cool place for the young crowd! I can see why it's popular... The soup was very tasty... But we probably picked the most plain thing as a main... Chicken with gravy ... It wasn't anything amazing ... Service was good and I'm glad to have tried this place... But I do prefer next door so we went there again the next day!!
I've heard nothing but good about this place, so finally ventured into the cold to check it out. We went in for coffee, and ended up getting a couple of salad dishes instead - perfect for snacking on. Waitress was absolutely amazing, lovely British girl from Birmingham, kept my mug of coffee consistently topped up which definitely helped with the cold weather!
Finally someone had opened up an American diner styled restaurant!!
Their poutine is sooo good!!
The fries are crispy yet soft in the middle. The gravy is to die for!! And the cheese curds are delicious!
I would also recommend their meatloaf. The side sad of celery apple and walnuts is such an exciting combination.
For dessert you have to try their cheese cake!! Soo good!
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We went to "Singin' in the Rain" last Thursday and had decided on post-theatre supper at Federal Deli (after checking out a few places online) as it has a great reputation, was open to 0100 hrs and had an appetising late night menu. We ordered a couple of beers which were delivered promptly, and went down well, while we looked at the menu.
Unfortunately there was no late night menu available (because of a kitchen fire about a month ago) and the main kitchen closed at 10:30. Only 1 of our planned mains selections was available, so rapid rethink! We ordered the schticks as appetiser & the street hotdog (both as originally planned), and the Reuben sandwich and fries. The schticks with habanero sauce were tasty and moreish, and the Reuben large, well toasted and delicious. The fries were very ordinary. It was lucky we were sharing as the Street dogs did not appear, and by that time the kitchen was closed. The staff were very apologetic, and gave us our drinks free, but we left still feeling hungry and somewhat disillusioned. A flag on their Zomato website advising changed hours and menu availability would have been appreciated.
My wife and I went to the Federal Delicatessen late last night (9.30). The place was humming but they found us a table immediately. We shared a parfait, a yodi bagel, truffle and cheese toasty and cheesecake. The food was great but very very filling so be warned. My wife had a couple of glasses of champagne and I had a beer and one of the lemonade cocktails. The cocktail was a bit watery. The service was excellent but the music was a tad loud. No evidence of the recent fire. all in all a good night and we will be back but we won't order so much! Total cost $110.
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Fed Deli is a bit of a no brainer. The drinks, the staff, the food – no trouble. It’s so good to have a place to fall back on for consistency. It seems like others in Auckland feel the same because it’s always buzzing along with its neighbour Depot.
We ordered the NY Strip Steak with dil butter, green salad and chicken crackling. Perfect to share with the steak conveniently pre-cut to show off the beautiful medium rare colours. The butter is essential. It’s a bit small for $25 but it fits the lunch appetite otherwise.
Next up was the Greenpeace bagel with skordalia, crisp fennel, rocket sauce and dukkah, which wasn’t as green as it looks or sounds. Ohh how I’ve missed the chewy and satisfying Ugly Bagels. Once you’ve tasted one, you’ll never go back. It was definitely piled high with fennel but the simplicity and freshness wins.
After two shared dishes, we couldn’t resist ordering the NYC style hotdog. Hands down, the soft bun and generous relish made something simple so delicious, like a comforting home cooked hotdog where you’d eat it standing up in the kitchen before it even hit the plate.
A bit bold for lunch, we finished off holding our stomachs with the 3 way combo dessert platter. More restaurants should have this option with their desserts! The banana and toffee pie has always been my favourite but now having tried the pumpkin pie and NY cheesecake, it has some competition!
It’s a fun place – you feel like you stepped into an American diner with booths and the open style deli – made complete with waitresses with cute retro uniforms and red lipstick. Don’t go with your health conscious friends who’ll only turn their noses at the deliciousness on the menu. My only gripe is the lack of windows which means going in the afternoon makes you feel like you’ve walked into a dim shut out place. Apart from this week, it’s lucky Auckland has been blessed with beautiful Autumn sunshine, so pop dem sunnies on and enjoy the beautiful feeling of the sun on your neck!
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Definitely one to save for your cheat day, federal deli is somewhere you simply cannot go easy. The food is absolutely delicious. Casual, yet completely different from anywhere else.
From what I've tried so far on the menu, the toasted Rubén and poutine come out on top. The Rubén is mouth watering. Pastrami perfectly cooked between two pieces of crispy toast. The sauces in it are something I couldn't even imagine being able to replicate. The poutine is also awesome, you really can't go wrong with fries lathered in gravy and melted cheese. It tastes as good as it sounds.
If possible, save some room for dessert cause you won't regret it. The menu has an option to select 3 slices which is particularly good if you're indecisive. I've had the pleasure of trying all 4 slices (NY cheesecake, pumpkin pie, banoffee pie, and lemon meringue pie) and I can vouch for each one. BUT KEEP ROOM AVAILABLE if you choose the 3 slice option otherwise you risk the inability to walk afterwards.
Love love love will keep coming back!
Ordered clam soup, chips with gravy and cheese and the turkey sandwich. The soup could've used less onion. The chips were tasty with the creamy cheese melting all over. I ordered the turkey meatloaf sandwich which was tasty tho the meatloaf was a little dry. The place has american charm without being too cheesy.
I love the trio of pie! That and the milkshake are excellent. I'm so glad they've reopened. The waitresses are really lovely and friendly too.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Came here for the famous trio of cakes! We had NY baked cheesecake, pumpkin pie & banoffee pie with popcorn. It was $18 for the 3 which is an amazing price for wonderful cakes! The interior and service is amazing! It seems to be very busy at night though. We had 2 sodas at $5 each which were delish! Would love to come here for the amazing cakes again! ?
Was here last night for a business dinner. Service is excellent. Food comes out in good time. The dessert ? of banana n toffee pie was the best ever. The fish cakes are really good. Who would've thought kawhai could be so good. The veal schnitzel though was disappointing. Very dry no sauce with it at all. The turkey loaf was good. Could be better again all a bit dry.
This place was amazing. The food, the atmosphere and the service. I really liked the style they had going on there, me and my party were very impressed
This is the perfect place for when you want something tasty but don't want to go anywhere too fancy. I love how simple and honest the food is and the atmosphere is very funky. The first time I went there it was pretty crowded so we sat in front of the kitchen which was actually really fascinating. So cool to watch the chefs at work. My friend and I ordered 3 smaller plates to share which I think is the best strategy to go for seeing as the menu is a little non-traditional. This is my go-to fun place to eat especially when friends and family are visiting!
Very nice environment and lovely staff. I had the poutine and would recommend one. Is not as good as the original Montreal poutine, but almost there!
Johnine @ HaloHaloAtbp
+5
The Fed opened at 5pm last Saturday serving the all-day menu on reduced hours as construction continues. I trust the Late Shift and weekend brunch menu will come soon for us nocturnal folks and those who love starting off their weekends by brunching out.
Federal Delicatessen is one of Al Brown’s Auckland eateries. The ambiance and the menu takes inspiration from a typical American Jewish deli, it’s a place where you’d see Don Draper grab lunch or have coffee. Every detail is spot-on – bar seating, the waitress’ uniforms, single glass and wooden doors, even the sign outside screams ‘American Diner.’
It’s easy to navigate the menu, expect to pay around $25 – $30 per head. After our lovely waitress reminded us that sharing is the rule at The Fed, we settled with Schticks ($9) and Salmon Latkes ($17) to start.
The clear favourite at the table was the Montreal Poutine (large, $12). My fiancé wanted to try a different restaurant but when he saw that The Fed was serving poutine he stopped thinking twice. Poutine originated in Canada, it is the ultimate fries lovers’ dream – crunchy fries, salty gravy and creamy cheese curds. I’d gladly eat my weight with poutine, don’t dare miss this when dining at The Fed.
I opted for the NY strip steak ($25) which came with a salad, a small sprinkling of chicken crackling, and lovely dill butter. My companions ordered the famous House Pastrami ($25) which comes with pickles and a tangy mustard that gave a nice kick.
The Fed doesn’t take bookings, we went on Easter Monday and had to wait 30 minutes to get seated. It’s typical and understandable given that Al Brown is one of New Zealand’s celebrity chefs. Value-for-money wise I’d say you’re gonna get a bang for your buck seeing we paid just $22 each for five plates. It’s not exactly cheap but for a few bucks more from what you’d normally pay for cheap takeaway you are definitely getting value which makes The Fed easily my favourite restaurant in the CBD.
The Fed is a staple weekend and late night eatery. I've been here countless times. Everything is great but you can't go wrong with lox or any sandwich. Ask for your sandwich toasted and I recommend ordering a side of gravy with your sandwich. Toasted chicken sandwich with gravy - yes.
This place is amaze-its a shame it's closed due to fire- on a big night out or before going to events in town this is a wonderful place to start or finish- there chips and gravy are to die for! We always had a soda as they do six barrel soda and it's pretty good the kola nut ( from memory was the name of it)
Hopefully it opens up soon as this was a treat
Have been here twice now and have really enjoyed the atmosphere, thought it might have been a tad try hardish but it was actually really cosey like a true American diner, love the bottomless coffee and the food was consistently good both times. Really reasonably priced also
A good breakfast with a nice cocktail.
A chef name PJ made a lip smacking sandwich for me and my brother.
Nice ambience and the staff....!
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In search for dessert, I had heard along the grapevine that I would not be disappointed by this place.
We took a seat outside, near the fairy lights and under the Sky Tower- great atmosphere. The easy decision was the trio of pies: lemon meringue with cream, banana and toffee with salted caramel popcorn and the New York cheesecake. Each one was just how you wanted it to taste, and all together it was just the sweetest sensation. There's not much to say- we wanted dessert, and we got it.
The service was great: friendly and fun. We had been turned away for dessert at another place, but were warmly welcomed at The Fed. Our waitress was happy to share her favourites as we decided on which dessert to forgo. When the waiter came and cleared our platter he even got us to finish the last few bits we thought we couldn't fit in! It was great to be in a place where you could tell had a great team atmosphere and the staff loved what they did and served.
It was "pretty damn good!" Can't wait to go back and eat the rest of the menu! Next time we will go for a meal, and then dessert.
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Myself and my partner were in Auckland for the day to attend a meeting - We used the Zomato app to find a good place to have lunch. Federal stood out as a potential place.
This is not a review of the food, as we didn't eat here in the end, but I feel it deserves a review for the staff.
My partner is on a trial intolerance diet. This does make eating out very difficult due to the strictness of this diet.
We assumed there might be some standard dishes like eggs and bacon - but the menu available when we arrived (10.45am) didn't have any of these options and the menu didn't change till 11.30am.
The menu itself had some interesting dishes, not your usual fare, and I was keen to try some. We asked the waitress which were gluten free and several other questions about ingredients. She was able to tell us which ones met our detailed criteria on the entire menu, which was impressive. Also, we did ask several times and it wasn't a problem and our questions were answered each time.
It's not that we didn't want to eat there, we couldn't, which was a shame.
We stayed for a drink. I asked for a flat white but they only do the filter coffee, American diner style. That was fine, especially when I was asked if I wanted the normal or strong coffee. Nice to have the option and know what you’re getting.
We had a coffee and a green tea and it cost $7.00
Personally, I loved the modern-retro design of the interior. They’ve done it very well.
Next time we're in Auckland, we’ll definitely come back.
Tasty tasty food. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for simple yummy meal. If you thought chips and gravy couldn't get any better, try the poutine :) Chips, gravy & curd for extra tasty goodness!
This place blew me away. I honestly felt like I'd walked in to a 60's diner in New York. The decor was authentic, the music was exceptional (totally added to the ambience), the service was fantastic, and the menu even better. I honestly couldn't fault this cafe. I ordered the griddle cakes which were to die for (for those of you that have a sweet tooth I would definitely recommend ordering them) and my partner had the Reuben which was equally delicious. To finish off our dining experience we shared a slice of the pumpkin pie (the first time I'd ever had it) and I wasn't disappointed. Smooth and creamy.. I savoured every mouthful. An extremely big call but I would say this is the best cafe I've been to in Auckland. I will definitely be back and look forward to trying the evening menu.
Best cafe in Auckland!. Amazing food.. We went here twice during our 3 day stay in Auckland.. I wish there was a restaurant like this in Brisbane!
The food was delicious. The staff were friendly and super helpful, and the entire menu looks so enticing!
Hope to return again soon!
A decent crack at a New York deli concept. Popped in for a late night meal after arriving in Auckland. The server was very nice and let us know we had just scraped in for the last take-out order from a somewhat limited menu. We ordered the hot dog and the ruben to go.The quality of the food was good and the portions small to average (don't expect the opulent NY portions here). Not the best ruben I have had, but far from the worst and the pickles were a nice addition.
Federal is a cool spot for a somewhat watered down deli experience, but probably the best late casual eating option on the area.
Well executed concept. They've spent some coin and it delivers serious restaurant quality deli food. Not cheap but the quality is there. One of the better Ruebens I've had in Australasia.
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Loved my brunch at Federal Deli! As it was a beautiful sunny day, my partner and I chose a table in the outdoor seating. To begin, we had salmon latkes - crispy potato with lox, creme fraiche & dill. This was a very delicious entree - the soft texture of the salmon complemented the crispy potato, and the creme fraiche and lemon were a nice touch.
Our mains were spit roast chicken and NY strip steak, which were accompanied with poutine - fries with cheese curd & gravy. I enjoyed the chicken; it was succulent and tender and complemented well by the gravy. The fries were served in a generous portion and was unique and tasty - I especially enjoyed the cheese! As for the NY strip steak, I enjoyed the salad but my partner seemed to enjoy the steak more than I did. I had one slice, and personally found it too heavy for brunch. He thought it could've been cooked more while I thought it could've been cooked less (to be more chewy and tender).
However, my favourite was our dessert - the Banana & Toffee Pie. One of my favourite desserts to date, it was perfectly made and incredibly delicious - a lovely pastry base with real bananas in the filling, and the cream and caramel popcorn was an amazing combination!
Overall, a great first experience at Federal Deli. Good food, friendly customer service and a pleasant setting. I also liked the creative old-school New York Jewish deli inspired theme, from the decor and menu to the cute retro uniforms.
Salmon latkes $17
Spit Roast Chicken $14
NY Strip Steak $25
Poutine - $9
Banoffee Pie - $11.50
It's always good to have a place that is consistently good
It's very cool to step in the door and you already feel like you're in an American diner with booths and the deli along the wall and everyone in uniform
The servings are big and filling.
Awesome place for a casual catch up dinner with mates. We got a bit greedy and managed to get the waiter to order us a 4 way dessert platter from the kitchen - the salted caramel popcorn is to die for!
Seriously good pies. The lemon meringue is damn good. The pumpkin pie requires a particular set of taste buds...
I recommend the poutine. Crisp fries with hot gravy and cheese! It's pretty filling, so a small plate between two is more than enough.
Price is appropriate. We had 6 dishes, including the pies and it was approximately $40 per person.
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The Federal Delicatessen
This is the place you go to when you’ve done bad on a test or had a horrible day, it’ll never fail to lift your spirits and make your day.
The favourite go to here is the chicken salad sandwich, for us; we add cheese and toast it.
The combination of shredded chicken, salad medley and mayo is so simple yet so well put together, you could make it at home, but they manage to make blow it out the park. For a recipe that hasn’t changed for how many years now, it’s still an amazing go to, so much that you’ll find yourself ordering it even after reading through their various other delicious items.
Paired with gravy, your best choice is to fully dig into it with your hands, pouring it all over your sandwich and making a mess ( the best way to enjoy it, in my opinion). Trust me, you’ll find yourself smiling like an idiot with gravy dripping everywhere, but it’s worth all the mess.
Of the many other sandwiches in the menu, I ordered the turkey on rye; a combination of walnuts, apple and cranberry and a fresh salad medley. Unfortunately does not compare to the chicken salad sandwich but still delicious nonetheless, I would recommend to eat this fresh rather than toasted due to the components of the sandwich as it brings out the flavours much better. Paired with a potato salad, its sharp taste compliments the sweet flavours of the turkey and helps to clean the plate for another bite!
I grew up ordering tuck shop American hotdogs and Bunnings snags so I can safely say that the street dog does not skimp and deter from an authentic tasting hotdog, and like I said before it is best when you fully dig into it. With sweet caramelised onions and mustard on top of sweet bun and a good ol sausage who could say no.
The 2nd best side to all this food would have to be potato and gravy, easily goes well with the poutine, the sandwiches and anything else you order on the menu. I would highly recommend this as your side every time.
As for the number 1 side to compliment any food on the menu, I would most definitely have to say, it is the poutine, so much to the point that we ordered 2. I cannot stress this enough that this is the best poutine you can get in Auckland, possibly even New Zealand. I can never get enough of it, that I’d be happy to jump into a bathtub of it and eat my way out. Gravy cheese curds and hand cut chips are a yes in my book any day.
I can safely say, Fed deli never fails to put a massive smile on my face and gravy all over my shirt and I will never decline a trip there even if my bank account or anyone says otherwise.
Great place to eat. Loved the food! All of it! We will definitely be back - the service was friendly and not too pushy. Would love to take more colleagues here in future.
This place never dissapoints. Food is always good, no matter what you get. Tho, I do prefer the full menu compared to the break menu, both are good in their own ways. My only complaint is that on occasions I've found the food served to not be hot, not even warm, but quite cold. So sometimes the cheese rather than being gooey is quite solid.
I love how they're quite forgiving on people who forget to book. We made the mistake of going to skycity today without making reservations. Fed deli was happy to sit us down and serve without a booking. This is my go to place if it's a busy weekend night and I can't find a decent place to eat.
Love the American feel to this place the atmosphere is great and even the outside seating is great the food is so good defiantly American :) I've only been here once but it defiantly won't be my last :)
Awesome theme and awesome food! The Reuben sandwich is always a go to for first timers here with a side of the poutine:-) the grilled cheese with truffle oil is another favorite! Great homely American food with no downsides- Al Brown always puts up a nice menu selection.
Went and had lunch here on Weds. Great experience and an excellent choice available. We had the fries with gravy and cheese, a salad and the turkey meatloaf. Great value, good service. Thanks Al Brown.
Candy Boy Food Journey
+4
I've tried this place 3 times and yesterday was the first time I was a bit disappointed (first time tried it for dinner). My schnitzel just didn't taste right and portion was extremely small for $26 - came with 2 small pieces of meat and no sides. Breakfast is great but wouldn't recommend for dinner.
Been here a few months ago for a late night treat.
Great service, funky atmosphere. You will feel like you have been transported to an American diner as soon as you walk through.
Had the great opportunity of trying their popular New York cheesecake, the banana and toffee pie and the pumpkin pie. Loved the NY cheesecake! It was my first time trying a pumpkin pie, and I really liked that. Although I am not a big fan of banana, my boyfriend really enjoyed it.
excellent food. Great ambiance. Loved it!
Reasonably priced and great setting. specially enjoyed the cakes there. If you want to visit a busy place this is it.
I have been to the Fed five times now and each time has been an absolute delight. The staff are always amazing - perfectly attentive and a little bit cheeky - and the food is some of the best in Auckland.I can't go past the poutine (gravy, cheese curd & fries) or their chicken (which makes me an awful vegetarian) and everything else I've had on their menu has always been brilliant.I have taken a pretty wide range of people here, from my closest friends, to a foodie date, to my meat-and-three-veg parents and everyone has loved it. Al Brown has captured the perfect way to make people feel comfortable and at home without compromising the level of service, food or cocktails in the slightest.
Heard so much about the place that we decided to give it a go.
The food was yummy despite being disappointed with an all-day brunch menu- (we went on a Sunday morning).
I greatly enjoyed my Treyf as my wife enjoyed her Latkes. Not a big fan though of drip coffee.
We thought it was a reasonably priced brunch and will be taking the kids soon.
I'm a big deli fan and was hugely disappointed with this pastiche. We dropped in for lunch during the week. The home-made pastrami in my Reubens sandwich had little taste, the pickles weren't great - tried the Potine fries ?? don't get it - chunks of unmelted cheese with gravy over fries isn't my idea of heaven, even the coffee wasn't anything to write home for. Staff weren't engaged with the customers and the display cabinets, empty and uninviting. Stacks of shop bought bread in their plastic wrappers didn't engender confidence in this kitchen.
My husband and me came here one night before we went to a comedy Event at the sky city,We hadn't eaten all day and thought we might have dissolved if we hadnt eaten before the show, Any who!!!It was a busy night around 630pm and told the staff we were short on time so they insured we got a table ASAP, food arrived fast- ordered the Chips-Gravey and cheese.... I am not a big fan on greesy fatty items but OMG those chips and cheese where to die for, Husband Had the chicken and Gravey sandwhich and again delish, could not fault, I got the fish and it was ohkk,,, flavour was great but I am fussy and was note expecting a plate of bones, which was a shock to me, other then that was soo flavour and yum :-)
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Loved it the minute we walked in. We had an aisle table near the counter and could see everything being made fresh and it was great. I went with the idea of having something light but the words-blueberry griddle cakes came out of my mouth.
Mr went for the half grapefruit and a hot dog. We both had the coffee and went for Havana, it could have been stronger. It was a fair bit weaker than I would make at home. It was good to get it topped up.
The food was enjoyed by both of us. Mr actually got a whole grapefruit and enjoyed it all. He also enjoyed the hot dog.
My griddle cakes were the best pancake/hotcake/griddlecake thing I have ever had, they were perfect. I didn't get a photo as I was busy helping them to vanish. All the components served with them helped make them so wonderful. I would certainly order these again. I wish they would open in Wellington.
My one gripe would be the dreaded plate being removed while someone else was still eating. All of Mr's side was cleared while I was still half way though mine.
Came here for brunch alone and the atmosphere is fantastic. The waitresses and waiters are friendly and aptly dressed. It's quite busy around 12 so food might take a bit longer but it is worth it. Had the NY strip steak, it looks small but quite filling! Definitely would recommend this place for a place to eat with your mates or even alone.
Can't even put into words how bad ass this place is, the decor , the theme , the service , the food! Omg the food! 10/10! I'm drooling thinking of the place. I recommend the toasted Ruben with latkes with Apple sauce and a cherry cola, to good for words! Best cafe in aux so far!
Not offering espresso in my book is not a go these days but there very busy which is a good sign....the staff are friendly. Great atmosphere and nice menu options and the food much much better in reality than on the menu. I ordered surprise surprise, smoked salmon 'The best ugly 'with the usual additions and it didn't disappoint, I did think $14 was a lil steep but I have to remember this is the big smoke. Close to sky tower and a nice spot to sit out front if you enjoy watching the city go by.
i love the whole retro american diner theme of fed deli. everything is super interesting to look at and the whole concept flows through the place, from the menus to the decor - even the uniforms of the staff follow the theme. its refreshing to see a place like this in auckland rather than your standard restaurants.
the pies here are absolutely delicious. my favourite would definitely have to be the new york baked cheesecake - it was so lovely and rich and creamy yet still had a nice lemon sharpness to it that made the whole thing divine. definitely as good as everyone says.
the banoffee pie was also delicious and i loved the salted caramel popcorn chunks served with it - except i wish the pie tasted a little more toffee than banana.
the lemon meringue pie was also pretty good but i was expecting the top to be nice and crunchy rather than soft and fluffy - which was still nice but a little disappointing.
new york baked cheesecake 9.5/10
banoffee pie 8.5/10
lemon meringue pie 7/10
Excellent breakfast menu, think I've tried them all at least twice.
Enjoy the coffee, Havana :-). Good service friendly staff and a great price
If you in Auckland on business skip the hotel breakfast and come here instead, much cheaper and far better quality
Came here for breakfast last week and as usual was not disappointed. This is our favourite spot for Sunday brekkie. Thoroughly enjoyed the morning glory breakfast salad which was generous in serving size and very tasty. If you are looking for a treat to go with your bottomless cup of jo, look no further than the cinnamon girl ,my personal favourite. Price is adequate considering the friendly service,tasty food and great atmosphere. A central city gem.
Yum yum, such a cool restaurant, you instantly feel relaxed when u walk in and the staff are so lovely, the food is just as relaxed but packed with flavor. They lost half a point cause some of the food was too salty (and I like alot of salt!). Great drink selection. Also kid friendly with the booths and the very American menu! Another one of Al Brown's champions
I dined at the Fed on a late afternoon and was seated promptly by friendly staff. The waitress was very accommodating when my companion and I wanted to move to the booths.
The poutine was a guilty pleasure and the hot gravy was light and thin. The pumpkin pie was delicious and was fabulously topped with maple and pecans.
I would definitely come back to this establishment to try their other dishes.
This place is great and a favourite for a lunchtime eat. The Poutine and Ruben are great to share. We always have one of each between two and a soda which keeps us happy for the afternoon. The diner feel and décor are great. The services is very good and menu selection can't be faulted. If you do want to try a few things, the only criticism I have is that it does get a little pricey. Highly recommended.
If you want that "American/NYC feel" while dining, go to this place. It's full most of the time but we were able to get a seat right away. We had brunch here so I tried their bagel with salmon and cream and it was the best bagel i've ever had! The people working here are so nice as well.
Love the atmosphere, love the crowd, love the food. I will come back! :)
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I think I've visited Federal Delicatessen before, like few years ago I forgot now, upon my partner's recommendation, since he loved the Poutine and thought I should try it too. It's interesting to have the gravy with the chips or French fries, but where I come from, I sometimes have gravy from KFC Chicken with the French fries. Yes, gravy from popular fast food KFC, which sadly New Zealand KFC doesn't have. It's nice, but the KFC gravy is much better to be paired with fries though, in my opinion.
This restaurant happened to have a food stand at the first ever Federal Street Food Festival outside of SkyCity or SkyTower, where I got to try the NY cheesecake slice for $7. According to the stand's exterior, it's a baked cheesecake with strawberries on top. It was really yummy and creamy, but decided to bring the rest home to my partner because I'd like him to try it too and also I can't consume it all. When he got to taste it, however, it was too rich for him and so only had few bites while I had the rest of it.
Would definitely go to the restaurant at some stage. For now, I'm satisfied I get to try one of their desserts
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I have never been to an 'old-school NYC Jewish delicatessen' before, but if they are anything like Federal Delicatessen ("The Fed"), then I am absolutely sold.
The menu is fabulous, seriously never tried 'schticks', 'milk-fed schnitzel', 'salmon latkes' or 'Montreal Poutine' before and the sweet desserts (pumpkin pie, NY cheesecake, banoffee pie, lemon meringue pie and choc cherry pie) are all absolutely delicious.
Also love the décor! Art on the walls, 'Federal' bottomless mugs filled with filter coffee, the waitresses' pastel outfits, the odd knick knacks when you look up (which I only noticed on my second visit to The Fed), the red lined chef's hats and one of the coolest bar back walls I have seen around Auckland.
Highly recommend ordering the 'Montreal Poutine'. It is a Canadian dish of fries with cheese curd (melt in your mouth!) and gravy. We shared this between two of us, but it was filling nonetheless. We also tried the 'schticks', which are croquettes filled with peas and pastrami - such a beautiful green colour inside! These were also delicious and we could have easily eaten two more plates!
As for the dessert, well, all I have to say is... BANOFFEE PIE! How is their cream so perfectly wavy? And how do they get their banana looking so fresh? Plus, the caramel popcorn on top is sooooooo good! I recommend you get to The Fed as soon as possible just so you can devour this slice of heaven!
Recently I was at a conference in Auckland and took the opportunity to sample the Federal Delicatessen. I was impressed on my several breakfast visits and one afternoon for drinks.
The decor was a designer evocation of what they imagined an American diner to be, maybe it is; but it does not accord with my memories of traditional Jewish delis on the Lower East Side. However, the design is effective and provides a pleasant ambiance. For me this decor and style is more appealing than that of the sister outlet, The Depot, next door.
Naturally I had to try the lox and bagel. I was not disappointed, see my photo. The bagel was particularly good. Another day I had the excellent pastrami hash.
The waitress service was excellent. I was impressed by my waitress remembering my coffee preference two days later.
I am very happy to recommend this place for breakfast. I look forward to trying this place for lunch and dinner on future Auckland visits.
A crowd favourite, Fed Deli has got to be one of the trendiest locations in Auckland's CBD. The service is impeccable and very friendly, making a welcoming, fun, American-esque environment. The poutine is a particular highlight, there is practically a war at the table over who will get to finish it. The dessert was a bit lacklustre however and the prices seemed a tad too high for the portion sizes overall. Nevertheless, would not mind coming here again.
Overrated. It seems like from the moment you arrive, their job is to extract as much money from you as they can, and get you in and out the door as fast as they can.
I like that you can turn up to this deli at any hour of the day, and there will always be something there to delight you. Yesterday we went at 3.30pm when they were in change-over mode between lunch/dinner menus. The staff didn't batt an eyelid when we ordered bottomless coffee, the classic poutine, and a cinnamon girl (of which they gave us two, on the house). A local favourite, for sure.
I have had their poutine a few times, a really yummy side dish. Besides that, I have tried their lemon sole and chicken mains,really enjoyed the lemon sole fish! I have tried their pastrami sandwhich too, it was goood. Furthermore, I have tried their house pastrami, it comes with pickles@ which compliments really well. Their turkey meatloaf taste good too, just that it is a little small.
Today, it was my first time trying out their brunch menu as they only serve brunch on weekends. I tried the treyf dish, really loved the pickle pork and poached eggs. My friends ordered the latkes, smoked hash and griddle cake. Griddle cake was normal, nothing extra ordinary. Latkes was good and their smoked hash was good but nothing amusing. If you ask me to rate from the best to okay, ill go for treyf, smoked hash, latkes and griddle cake. One great thing about their brunch menu is the meals are not the usual brunch meals that we see in other brunch places.
Pleasant surprise to find it lives up to it's reviews! Great Smoked salmon ugly bagel and Latkes, bottomless coffee and a tart lemon meringue pie made for a great Sunday brunch. There were a few people ahead in the queue but we were seated within 5 mins by a friendly guy.
Really cool place and theme throughout, service calibre very high as well. I would suggest this to local people wanting to get an idea of Montreal or New York style deli but having been to those places you get the feeling the flavours of a number of the items are taken down a notch for NZ palate. Plenty of quality items to enjoy however, bagels are great, poutine as good as anywhere else it's done in NZ, and there are some solid cocktails to enjoy as well. Great for lunch and a more than acceptable option if Depot has too long a wait
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Updated review: 4.5O Ok, I got it wrong, kind of! Since my last review, I have been to Federal Street Deli two more times and have now given my rating a decent nudge. The first time I went back we ordered the salmon latkes (AMAZING!) and the house pastrami. The pastrami was full of flavor and came with mustard and pickles (YUM!) The atmosphere was as delightful as it was the first time I went and the service was excellent. The staff are very attentive. The serving of pastrami was ginormous so my brother took more than half of it away with him (it was enough to feed about ten people, honestly). The most recent time I went to "The Fed" was Sunday just been for brunch. I had the blueberry griddle cakes which were delicious and just what I felt like at 1pm on a Sunday :p I have to say, the first time I went, I wasn't very impressed. The chicken was dry and the lake of gravy wasn't good. However, upon returning again, and again, I really have grown very fond of this place. Lucky for me, it's about a three minute walk from where I live. Previous review: 3.5Went to Federal Delicatessen on a Saturday night and was pleasantly surprised when we got a table without having to wait. We ordered the salmon latkes, fries with cheese curd and gravy and the roast chicken. The portions were pretty decent but the fries were cold, I had to ask for a new batch as I wanted to have the proper federal deli experience and cold fries just don't cut it. These things happen but you would think a place like this wouldn't have such issues. The chicken was good and was also served with gravy. It was a bit of a gravy overload and the gravy wasn't that nice, i was quite disappointed. The latkes were beautiful. I wish I had just ordered three plates of them. Absolutely amazing! For dessert we had the lemon meringue pie which was pretty good. The meringue was perfect and the lemon centre was tangy but not tangy enough to satisfy the lemon queen! The service was good and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Watching the chefs cook was fascinating. I would go back here but to be honest, I feel this place is slightly over-rated.
Went here for lunch with friends
Place looked great nicely decorated .I had the greenpeace bagel it was very nice good flavours.
Service was a little slow and portion could have been bigger ,but overall nice experience.
This place is an absolute gem. First time here and everything was on point. I ordered the mish mash which had fried potatoes peas corn beef and a fried egg. Potatoes were crispy and corn beef was soft and tender, the mustard was a very nice touch too. My son had the griddle cake with berries, that was epic so soft and fluffy like pillows. My dining partner had and cured pork on toast and hollandaise sauce, really just a eggs Benedict but it was executed well and hollandaise hugged the eggs as it should be.
They offer filter coffee with milk or black. It was actually nice not having a espresso for once.
Overall I would definitely go back as it was a great place to visit. Park at skycity and get your ticket validated.
Ps remember where you parked and the number too because you may get lost like I did.
Give this place a go, highly recommended
It's not Thai or Indian that's the latest craze, but Americana, with a number of new places transplanting American style diners and restaurants here. This one is perfect, from the booths, the menu, the signage, the waitresses outfits, to the busy character filled interior. For my light lunch I had the chicken salad sandwich, which was full and delicimo, including chicken crackling and gravy :-) Very tasty indeed! Atmosphere was great, definitely will be coming back....
food, service and environment are perfect inside! food is awesome! love the caramel banana pie, the hot dog and the chips! very nice place! will go back again!
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I finally popped into Federal Delicatessen for breakfast on Saturday morning (along with the rest of Auckland). I wasn’t initially planning on eating there but it shot into my mind that I have actually been wanting to go to Federal Delicatessen for some time and kept mentioning it but never really felt in the mood to eat “crazy Jewish food”…how wrong was I?? This place is amazing!!!
It was instant sensory overload walking through the front door, we were met by a wall of welcoming heat, a hustle and bustle of people talking, noises of dishes clanging, chefs calling out orders and coffee machines steaming. We were greeted by one of the friendly 1950’s pin up girl waitresses and ushered past cute date tables and booth style seating to the only empty seats in this classic classic New York diner style restaurant.
I opted to continue the full American experience and started my breakfast with a cherry float, something I haven’t had since I was a kid and sipping at creamy fizzy cherry soda through a straw made me feel like a kid again. We then ordered the breakfast salad, latkes (salmon on crispy potato) and of course a huge plate of Poutine. Pouti-what you ask?? FRIES, GRAVY, CHEESE and OMG!! The best food created by man and basically a food group in itself! Do yourself a favour and try it ASAP. The Fed is the only place in Auckland I have seen poutine on the menu and they pull off a superb version.
Our well presented and delicious order arrived super fast, which surprised me considering how busy the place was. The dishes were simple but effectively displayed with care taken in the finer details, such as small tongs for the gravy covered fries and dishes neatly plated on retro style dishes. I thought I was going to explode due to the amount of food I had ingested but every bite was so amazing that I was talked into finishing with a classic lemon meringue pie (how could I leave a diner without having pie?). Yum!!! Another excellent decision. I should of got a takeaway slice for later too but thought better of it.
The well presented staff were professional and offered great service, we were seated fast, provided with menu’s and offered drinks and given time to ponder over what delights we wanted to order. Water was placed on the table and topped up literally every time a sip was taken from the cup, definitely worthy of a tip as I left.
Overall I was 100% impressed with Federal Delicatessen and don’t know why I didn’t get there sooner. The food was well priced and tasted amazing, the staff were professional and the whole place had a wonderful atmosphere. My only gripe is they serve a bottomless cup of coffee but I am not drinking coffee at the moment!!!!
Courtney @ A Food Awakening
+4
The Federal Deli is one of Al Browns delicious eateries in Auckland. It's a take on an old school NYC Jewish Deli open early and closed late. We came here for a late night dinner after a show in the city.
For dinner the dishes are designed for sharing, however in this case we actually had our own meals and shared the buffalo wings and a large portion of the fries with cheese curds and gravy (my absolute fav). I actually had the matzo ball soup - oops forget to take a pic but it includes bagel dumplings. The broth itself was full of flavour and clear however I thought the rest was good, but maybe not quite exciting enough for a menu item. Although it was nice I probably wouldn't order it again only purely because there are better items on the extensive menu.
Both the veal schnitzel and NY strip was good, nothing to complain about, well cooked and delicious. The house pastrami was good but yes it is definitely made for sharing more than the other dishes on the menu. There's just a plate with a lot of pastrami and not much else - so just a bit odd and a bit much for a strong flavoured meat. I had been told to try the sweet pies, so we had the three way combo takeaway. So delicious but they were too squished in the one box, as it was pretty difficult to remove them cleanly to eat. You must try the banoffe pie with caramel popcorn on top. Sounds fatty I know but so good.
I think overall the food and service is good but the size of the meals are a bit expensive for the value for money.
Rating
Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Value for Money: Average
86 Federal Street, Auckland Central
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 7am-Late
Most amazing bagels that i have ever had. ????
Al Brown certainly knows how to do it. Fed Deli is always a favourite, especially for late night foodie adventures, open until 1am Thurs-Sat. Never once have we left the Fed disappointment. The food always hits the right spots, being well balanced and well seasoned. I have never once seen a bad review for this place or any of ALs other establishments, and always recommend to Auckland visitors.
We usually come in on a Thursday night after a night shift at work and have a poutine which always satisfies, I like to add the Huffmans hot sauce. The salmon latkes are also a favourite, being simple and well balanced. Desserts are also something not to be missed, our favourite is the banoffee pie.
Well worth the half hour drive!
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Every joint that Al Brown has opened has been embraced with fervent adoration and it’s no surprise why. Dining is casual but with a certain flair of style that elevates it from typical to gourmet, yet not so much that it turns into a fancy-schmancy eatery. Exactly what New Zealanders love.
The staff walk the floor with such confidence and smooth efficiency like a well oiled machine, it felt like this diner has really been around for tens of years rather than only a year. Sitting at the Kitchen provided us the marvelous opportunity to gaze at the way the food was being prepared. The salad chef in particular constructed the salads with such loving care, it was like an art. Pumpkin, spinach and cranberries are a beautiful combination.
Of course, Poutine was ordered too. They were good, and very reminiscent of KFC chips that you dip into their potato gravy. Definitely order the large size because well, chips. It’s nice how he kept it exactly as it should be. Would it be blasphemy to consider making the fries thick cut? Normal/ string fries sadly do not retain that lovely crunch, especially when gravy and cheese curd is cascading through the pile. However, I'm not too convinced about the rest of the menu as they seem like normal sandwiches for my taste buds.
We all agreed that the desserts were honestly the best we had devoured in a long time. The NY Cheesecake was very rich- definitely one to share. Not many people are a fan of baked cheesecakes but this is definitely one to try. The Banana and Toffee Pie was a great combination with the addictive crunch of the caramel popcorn. Lemon Meringue Pie had to be my favourite- the meringue was so fluffy yet smooth (none of that bubbly, aerated texture), and the lemon was a lovely slightly-still-wobbly consistency.
Came here on a weekday for brunch, but they didn't seem to have their usual brunch menu for some reason.Service was good, albeit a bit slow even without too many other customers.We had the roast chicken and poutine, and both were really tasty. I was quite surprised with how big the portions were as well.Well stuffed by the end of the meal.They certainly have value for money compared to many other brunch spots in the city. I'll definitely make another trip down here in the not-so-distant future!
service 3/5 ( one of waitress was rude for us. And she forgot my order)environment 4/5food 4/5cost performance 4/5drink 5/5My order : clam cioppino small size $15, cup of joe $3.5, cheese cake $10.5Recommend: coffee bottomless cup $3.5I went to there sseveral time. There is a good place to spend break time. ( Many cafes close around 3pm)You can have a nIce cup of coffee & cakes. If you are hungry a bit , you can have snacks and soup.
Been there twice. The decor reminds you of an American deli. Service is fun and friendly. Food there might not be the healthiest but it's so good! Bottomless coffee are the best. Love the brioche there.
I have been to Fed Deli many times for drinks and dessert but tonight was my first time for dinner. I am always so impressed with this place, from the decorations to the cool uniforms.
I ordered the Greenpeace bagel which came with dukkah and perfectly toasted. It was nice to have a bagel that was brimming with topping. We also ordered the pumpkin, spinach and feta salad, and although it was really nice, it was quite small for the price.
The fries that came out were very crispy and fresh. Also ordered was the chicken salad sandwich which was massive! We also ordered a couple of cocktails which were extremely tasty (despite the price). The chimney sweep is a firm favourite of mine which we shared. It's a small chocolate and peanut butter milkshake -very moreish.
Overall, a really great experience. Some of the drinks can be a bit pricey, but I think it's worth it considering the great quality and time involved.
Food was excellent. I had the pancakes and they were delicious. Too much for me so a friend polished off the third one.
We had to wait for a table, which was fine, but when they got us inside there were loads of empty tables and still other people outside waiting to be seated. Bit disorganised. Service was a bit slow.
My only real gripe is this .... this place is marketed as an American style deli. I'm not able to drink alcohol at the moment and I don't drink any hot drinks. After all the hype about this place I was really looking forward to a great milkshake. The only one they had to offer was Chocolate Peanut Butter - I asked if I could just have Chocolate but they said it was pre-mixed. So I missed out on the one thing I was dying for which I would have expected from a deli of this kind.
We visit Federal Deli every time we go up to Auckland and will be visiting again this weekend coming.
We love the vibe, the service, the delicious food and there is something to suit everyone in the family. We especially love the poutine, skordalia and the baked cheesecake - yum!
Went for dinner. Then went for dinner the next night. Wanted to go for breakfast next day.
My One True Love is USA born and our other dining companion has lived in NYC for several years.
We all L O V E D it. All of it.
Al Brown was waiting tables. Nice guy. Helluva nice guy.
Helluva concept. Cool. Fun. Not even a bit up itself.
Brilliant staff, food, music, ambience, did I say food?
GO THERE SOON.
Too good to miss.
Came here in a whim when we didn't quite know what we were in the mood for, and we weren't disappointed.
We had the reuben sandwich and the turkey meatloaf sandwich, both really tasty, generously filled and with a delicious side of poutine.
The highpoint was the dessert- we couldn't choose so opted for the combo which was one of the best desserts I've ever eaten. Baked new york cheesecake with marinated strawberries, banana toffee pie with caramel popcorn, and chocolate cherry pie with cream- all faultless and worth coming back for just for itself!
Very efficient service and nice 50s style diner decor. Will be back!
I went for dinner/date there last night we sat in a booth and I could talk easily unlike Food truck… it was cold and rainy outside the welcome was great (loads of staff) surpasses humming bird by 100%
The staff attentive… water, booze, jacket hanging etc and cool uniforms on the girls, the set up is stylish and warm, and I guess just like being in NYC but not it made me feel relaxed and in no hurry to leave (I'm definitely going back).
Food was delicious simple and real tasty also presented well and the share thing makes the food interactive!… The total dinning experience was remarkable only grouch we waited slightly to long for the food other than that well done SkyCity
I love this place. The Mish Mash Hash is a regular treat for us on the weekends, along with a great Bloody MAry. My only complaint is that the pastrami should be shaved thin on the reuben, but it's a small thing and it tastes amazing. A little bit of home right here in Auckland. #CaliforniaGirl
Had an early dinner here on Friday, and it gets five stars easily from me. Lovely friendly staff, huge ambiance, a great menu, what's not to love? In these times of huge competition for your dining dollar it is the innovative who claim your attention. And The Fed certainly does that, with their groovy NY Deli fit out, complete with waitresses in polyester uniforms and retro sounds. The menu is pure NY and has plenty to offer for all types of hunger. The cooking is all on show with most of the kitchen visible behind the counter, and what a streamlined process it is - no fuss, just a very capable team calmly putting up order after order. And the food? Sublime. Well done, Mr Brown, you certainly know your stuff.
I love this place, have been there three times and I'd definitely keep going.
The pancakes are delicious, thick with a yummy topping. The atmosphere is cool and not like any other dining I've been to in Auckland.
It's a little bit loud and squished so not the greatest place to catch up easily, but the food is great and you can park in Sky city and get your parking validated for discounted parking which is good
It's hard to rate something a 5. I have to for this place though, because after several visits, I can't fault them on anything.
Food was well priced. Drinks are well priced.
Tried the poutine, and after living in Canada for several years I can safely say that this is good poutine!
Have the chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, slaw, beef and salmon lakes.
Tried the cheesecake and pie for desert, Al Brown served us at one point which was pretty cool.
Everything was well prepared and tasted amazing. I recommend this place to all my friends on a weekly basis :)
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I would give this place a strong 4.
Atmosphere: 5/5 - Everyone eating here are happy, casual and enjoying their meals.
Food/menu: 4/5 - Personally I'm impressed how they have free range chicken. However the menu is indeed quite limited. Vegetarians would maybe have one option (a salad) which isn't acceptable today as more and more people are becoming vegetarian. I had the chicken, it was juicy and just fell off the bone. Delicious.
Price and costs: 3/5 - yeah, it is a little costly I'll admit that. However the good is cooked to perfection, and the quality of it is great. The fish cakes were so tasty, but it was like $12 for just two fish cakes, which seemed a little over priced.
Service and staff: 4/5 - when we asked for more time when deciding, the waiter let out a little sigh. Despite that, other staff were very friendly and service, waiting times were very prompt.
Location: 5/5 - location is ideal. Just opposit sky city. If your at sky city and don't want to pay hundreds, then their is this option for a more affordable meal.
Additional notes: I would recommend the chicken as it was cooked to perfection, the non alcoholic creaming soda for drink and the potato salad if your having a side. The nicest cheese cake was the NY cheesecake, followed by the choc berry one.
This place is more of a casual dinner place, for a casual friend catch up, casual family meal. Wouldn't say romantic oe special. Not for celebrations.
While The Fed seems to be part of the "American diner theme" fad, it does it damn well.
The waitstaff, dressed in 1950s(esque) atire, add character and authenticity to the rib-sticking delights of an NYC Jewish deli. The service is exceptional (in our case, very accommodating of a birthday surprise for my wife) and we were even served by the chaming man himself, Mr Al Brown.
We've tried a range of the dishes over three visits and have not been disappointed by anything. I'd recommend the Schticks, the ox tongue and the Reubens. The deliciously tender schnitzel is awesome and the Matzo Ball soup is bursting with flavour. The dessert pies are fantastic and took me right back to a certain belt-busting trip around the US.
Don't forget to ask for a pickle with your meal to make for an authentic diner experience.
Lovely, tasty, quick-serving meals. Attentive, friendly waitresses - all in all - perfect service! Highly recommended to all as a place to get your food fix without having to wait in line (they do not take reservations - good on ya!)...
We love this place so much we often pop by just for the dessert pies (and bring our friends too!) :)
Really enjoyed the lunch experience with my mates today, had the pastrami sandwich, great decor and ambience, really busy - first day opened I believe after their Christmas break.
We were placed at a table on the main floor area which was fairly tight for movement around us, however not a major - will return to check out other items on the menu that sound appetizing...
I came here for the first time and was really impressed. We ordered the veal schnitzel, fries with cheese curd and gravy and the slaw which were all very delicious. We started with the street dogs which were by far the best hot dogs I have tasted. For dessert I opted for the cherry chocolate pie after being told by the apologetic waitress that there were problems with heating the apple pie which was my first preference. The cherry chocolate pie was delicious and I was also given a chocolate and peanut butter mini shake to make up for the apple pie not being available which was a very nice gesture. Service was also very good, waiter was very attentive. The fed has a very cool layout and I look forward to returning.
I love this place!
The service was excellent and friendly, and showed us to a seat after only a 5 min wait on a busy Saturday lunch time period.
The food was delicious and you can't beat the Reuben and poutine fries.
A little slice of NYC in Auckland. Just charming!
The Fed - A reason to wake up for breakfast/brunch on a Saturday! :)
You'll love their:
1. Old-school NYC deli style concept/atmosphere.
2. Bottomless cup of Joe (Havana filter coffee). Cocoa is equally as good, but sadly no refills for Cocoa :(
http://www.menumania.co.nz/restaurants/al-browns-federal-deli-auckland/media/67515
3. Every single dish on their menu (you'll just have the feeling of ordering everything on their menu..haha)
(I had their Latkes
http://www.menumania.co.nz/restaurants/al-browns-federal-deli-auckland/media/67516
and a friend had their Best Ugly
http://www.menumania.co.nz/restaurants/al-browns-federal-deli-auckland/media/67517 )
4. Friendly and fantastic service.
5. Uniform
6. One-way traffic doors...haha..
Ambiance: 5/5
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Price: 3/5
I have never had poutine fries before so a can't compare but as far as The Feds fries go these are DELISH!
Spit Roast chicken nice and moist.
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I've wanted a real Reuben sandwich ever since I heard of their existence. I wasn't disappointed. Homemade pastrami and plenty of it, (think smoky, tender corned beef not the thin leathery stuff you buy at the supermarket), sauer kraut, swiss cheese, mustard, Russian sauce, toasted light rye bread. The flavour combination was perfect, incredible. I am not over blowing it when I say it is the best sandwich I have ever eaten. Yum. Mr Brown may have saddened many Wellingtonians like myself by moving to Auckland and THEN opening my dream restaurant but hey, at least it's in New Zealand still!
Bottomless coffee is tasty, service was efficient and friendly - a well oiled machine. My partner loved the vegetarian bagel, delicious she said. Booth seating is great, there was much more seating then I expected. Also the wait staff handled reseating three adults and three young children with patience even though they were very busy, we were very pleased with the service.
Next time I'll try the poutine and desserts but I really can't recommend the Reuben Sammie enough! Yum.
Totally authentic New York deli feel. Really interesting food options. My latkes were beautiful. The coffee is very good and bottomless! But best of all the service is very attentive and considerate. I had my two year old with me and the waitress was absolutely wonderful. To the dark haired waitress with glasses working on a Tuesday morning (8 Oct) - thank you for settling my toddler down and being so very thoughtful and kind. My boy loved the cocoa and we had a really great morning - can't wait to come again and try another dish!
Nice ! good food, and nice ambient . Just like the name delicatessen. Will definitely go again ..
Delicious reuben sandwiches, amazing desserts, spectacular service. A really great experience and after having just been to the famous Katz's Deli in New York, we really appreciated having a taste of NYC with a slight Kiwi twist in our own city. Loved this place! Recommend the Banana and Toffee pie, poutin and peanut butter and chocolate shake.
Went a few days after opening. A welcome addition to the Akl dining scene. Only gripes - Pastrami was great but would have been good if more thinly sliced (shaved) like you get in many deli's in the US. Also, a choice of different types of bread would have been good ie Light rye, dark rye etc
Well done. Pretty much perfect. Excellent environment, great service, well needed concept in Auckland. Food, well what can I say, excellent choice and predictably good to boot. Well done Mr Brown.
I have been hanging out for the Fed Deli to open - and the first visit on opening day did not dissapoint :-)
The hardest thing was to decide what to order - the salmon on display looks amazing, the Rueben sandwich at the table next to us to die for...
In the end we ordered the Kawhai fishcakes and Cheese cake to share..... The fishcakes were exactly what one expects from Al Brown and team - fabulous flavors, and enough kawhai that just work well together.
The cheesecake is exactly what a NY style cheesecake should be - awesome!!
And then there is the coffee - the team and Havana has come up with a lovely smooth blend that is easy to drink black with no sugar - and it is bottomless :-)
Soooo..... I might have to go back on day two for some of the Banoffee pie and a Reubens.
Turkey anyone? Probably the only place in New Zealand that offers turkey meat sandwich. This place has the feel of an authentic diner that you would expect in a small town in USA, loving the costumes and old school diner cups. You can't get anymore American than this!
Came here on opening day with seriously high expectations: as a devotee of Schwartz's in Montreal I knew The Fed would have big shoes to fill.
Ordered the poutine and a pastrami on rye and I was instantly transported back to that deli on St Laurent. The meat was deliciously smoked and falling apart, as it should be, and the poutine is the only authentic poutine that I've managed to find in NZ so far.
Service was super fast and friendly, especially impressive considering it was the middle of the very first lunch rush and the deli was completely packed.
The dessert pies looked amazeballs but I unfortunately ran out of time on my lunch break. Can't wait to bring my friends back here!
Great place if you want to sit and chill and have great dessert. Does have the best banoffee pie and all cakes are to die for!!!
Would go everyday for banoffee if I can.... Love the chimney sweep!
I could come back to Federal Deli every day if I was the type of person who could eat the same thing over and over. The food is so good. My favourite is the Street dog the poutine and the latkes, they are my must haves when I visit. This is one of the places that you look at the menu and want to try everything all at once. Admittedly it is quite expensive but I personally think paying a little more for good food is worth it. The atmosphere is really cool, it's been designed to looks like an American deli and I have to say it's pretty amazing. The wait staff are super friendly and attentive. I love their bottomless cup of joe. It's so well brewed. I initially thought the roast chicken would be average but man was I wrong it was so moist, soft and full of flavour. I would definitely recommend this as a place to go
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The very first time I visited The Fed, it was to catch up with an old colleague from work. I was so impressed. The service was great - we were greeted at the door (with big smiles) and told we could hang our bags/belonging on the little hooks they have available. The setting was so typical of the American style diners, and the waiters/waitresses were even all dressed in uniforms.
The atmosphere was awesome, there was the sounds of cooking from the kitchen, loud chatter and laughter and a busy but homey feel about the place. It was cosy in a fabulous way.
The food and drinks were amazing. Their potato salad is seriously second to none - the amount of attention to detail in their setting and overall appearance was apparent in their food too. The care and obvious pride that the place takes in presenting quality diner style food can't be faulted. It was an evening that we thoroughly enjoyed.
In fact it was so brilliant that I took my husband back there for date night. The service and food were just as great as the first time and I loved that this place could be the perfect setting for a catch up with friends and be just as perfect for a cosy dinner for two.
Really love their hot dog too - a definite must try if you're there.
Highly recommend and one of my new favourite places to eat!
Wandered up to Fed Deli for dessert one night fueled by a craving for pie & a promise from my colleague of Mad Men atmosphere. The deli did live up to expectations - Don Draper perched up on the nearby bar stool would've been a natural fit. The staff were very warm and friendly & kept topping up my cup of tea. I had the trio of pies - Banoffee, lemon meringue and chocolate cherry as well as a cup of green tea. All three pies were beautifully done - pastry was great & caramel topped popcorn on the banoffee provided a good break of texture. Highly recommended for dessert in the city!
There are so many American inspired restos at the moment. One of my faves is definitely Fed Deli which has that fun American diner feel to it. This is a great spot for a casual, low key catch up with friends or to grab a bite to eat before a show. The food is great - very fresh and tasty. Their turkey meatloaf is yum and the poutine and hot dogs are a must-try. But the best thing about Fed Deli are the desserts! Definitely leave room to try the banoffee pie, choc cherry tart and NY baked cheesecake. You can try all 3 for $18 - perfect for sharing so you don't get dessert envy! Also try the chimney sweep - a chocolate & peanut butter milkshake that is just pure deliciousness.
Andre Cesar Botelho Vidoto
+5
I'm a frequent dinner in Fed, love the bottomless Coffee, the best Cinnamon Rolls in town, very good Chips with Gravy. I was surprised when I saw wine on tap, first time was dubious about it, tried and is not too bad, at the end it is Pin-up concept with a great touch of informality, Fed should be your "must to do" list in Auckland.
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Came here for brunch with one other (12pm, Sat) and were seated quickly (phew). We got one of the free standing table in the middle, which felt a bit tight or in people's way - if you could get a booth that would be a lot better, or even by the counter to see into the kitchen.
So came here especially for the reuben sandwich and the poutine. I had also wanted to try the matzo ball soup, but that is only for dinner.My friend ordered the Morning Glory, a halloumi salad with poached egg, portobello mushroom and dukkah. Plus a chimney sweep (peanut butter & chocolate shake) each to start - looked pretty and can make a good dessert by itself.
Lucky we got a small poutine because it was huge and we couldn't finish it. I was really unsure about this one, cos I'm not a huge fries fan like most people, and gravy?? But it worked, and the cheese curd added to the flavour - it was just a mess of umami pleasure!
The reuben sandwich was awesome, it didn't quite came as expected, for some reason I thought it'd a be a longer sandwich, but that gorgeous colour & flavour pastrami was the top and worked so well with the rye bread, sauerkraut and dressing. The side salad and pickle didn't quite work cos combined they were too sour. My friend's salad tasted really good too - all the components were well made and chosen.
Fairly friendly service and they were fast to serve. Unfortunately they were a fire alarm, after some plastic burning smell, just when we were about to leave, so had to wait until we went back in to pay. The bad burning smell was still there and actually stronger, I definitely wouldn't have been able to stay in there for too much longer. I would be interested to go back, for dinner or late night to sample their other dishes.
Good food with such a great service , nice ambience , late night open on weekends .
Must visit once .
This is a cozy restaurant just across Sky City. I asked my friend to go here for a catch up because I knew that they serve NY cheesecake and I was craving for it a long time ago at that moment. I expected the cheesecake to be very yummy but it tasted just an average cheesecake you can buy from regular cafe. We've also tried the Montreal Poutine, fries with cheese curd and gravy that turned out to be a nice choice, it's quite unique for a fries served with a gravy sauce and cheese, that's why I like it. Another unique thing they have is the Chimney Sweep, thick peanut butter and chocolate shake, it comes in mini size though but it's pretty good as well.
One little thing I noticed was, their tables have hooks on the side as handles for bag or any other stuff that will fit in it. It was a smart idea.
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What can I say? The nuts and bolts of this great new addition to Auckland's dining scene have been very well outlined by previous reviewers. I ate with my mother yesterday before she cruises off to spend my inheritance and had a brilliant lunch. We shared the latkes, kahawhai cakes, ox tongue and matzo ball soup - topped up with the grilled zucchini. The whole diner thing is adhered to as and when; the ox tongue was a picture of shaved meat, tuna mayo, caper berries, witloof, caramelised onions and a balsamic glaze; beautiful, delicious and good value but not very NY deli. The matzo ball soup however was as good as any NY Jewish deli; the latkes were OK but the lox was outstanding. The fishcakes were good but put into the shade by the other dishes. Despite the groovy menu's exhortation, we couldn't bring ourselves to stomach the fries with curd and gravy - I suspect the late night, post pub groovers will find that combo useful to soak up the booze before the night-bus home. The casual nature of the place means the diners see trays of prep walking through the restaurant to the front line and the bustle generally is quite attractive and authentic; as is the hokey music. As in a busy NY gaff, the staff are keen on turning tables (see http://thebitchywaiter.com/ for an insight into the need to process punters quickly - time is money) but having turned up early to secure a table/two seats, I felt uncomfortable til we were united - as if I was wasting their time 'til we ordered. I wonder how real NY attitude would go down here..... We had tap savvy which was warm (apparently the first pour of the day) which was replaced.
Fed Deli's desserts are to die for. Go for the triple cake combo where you can choose a selection of 3.
This place does consistently good food, and the service has always been friendly too. It's also quite a good place to people watch - maybe it's the deli/diner vibe.
The food (chicken sandwich, NY strip steak, spit roast chicken) is all good - but it's the desserts and bottomless coffee that are the real treats here. The peanut butter chocolate shake is also delicious, be warned it does come in a really small glass. It'll be gone in second!
I have wanted to try out Federal Delicatessen for awhile and headed along there this morning with a friend from brunch.
It is an Al brown restaurant and is themed to a American deli with the waitresses in 1950s style smocks and endless filter coffee and tea on the menu.
We both had chocolate/peanut butter smoothies (on the kids menu but couldn't resist) and I had the blueberry griddle pancakes and my friend had a breakfast salad. Both were delicious!
I want to go back and try the Reuben sandwish, it looked amazing!
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This centrally located eatery opposite the Sky Tower never looks as busy as Depot next door, but behind the closed double doors lies a hive of activity.
The theme is that of an American diner, and everything works to this image, from the interior decor, to the uniforms the staff wear, to the menu options. The soft drinks (or jerk sodas) are as sweet as you might expect, and you can have bottomless cups of joe; the main thing they have not copied is the portion sizing.
What's good to eat? We enjoyed the pastrami, the latkes, the duck liver parfait, and the veal schnitzel. Oh, and you can't leave without trying the poutine, that Montreal dish of gravy and cheese curds over hot chips. Get the individual vegie dishes as well, rather than the 3-way combo, because they have a much better portion-size-to-price ratio.
In terms of dessert, the small glass of chimney sweep (basically a Snickers bar in liquid form) was great. The sweet pies looked amazing but we would have preferred the sugar pie from Depot.
A fun place to eat, or get sandwiches to take away for lunch. It might be hard to fit a large group in though.
"The Fed" is a great place for the classic American diner food with a kiwi twist. I recommend this place for a late night feed and/or dessert date.
As the hubby and I were famished, we ordered the Toasted Reuben, large Montreal poutine and the NY strip steak.
The steak: tender and reasonably priced at $25. Medium rare that melted in the mouth.
The poutine: had just the right amount of cheese and pulled apart nicely. Gravy was salted and smothered the fries well.
The Reuben: It was my first ever Reuben so I couldn't compare but it was beautifully stacked and the tangy side salad was a necessary balance.
Special mention to the groovy decor. I particularly loved the diner uniformed waitresses buzzing around with pots of filtered coffee, even at 10pm!
Federal Delicatessen is a charming little diner in the Auckland CBD. interior is stylish with the 1950's touch it gives a great feel to your experience.
We ordered the poutine to share which is a dish everyone needs to try. it may look a little off putting and different but it tastes great!
The Best ugly was a delight with the smoked salmon and cream cheese on a NY bagel.
Being with the American boy I went with, we also ordered the chicken salad sandwich. Crackling chicken skin and dipping gravy! What's not to love right?
Meals are what you would hope to expect from an American diner, they're meant to taste great and leave you feeling satisfied. Which is exactly what Federal delicatessen did for us.
A great place for a little catch up with friends for breakfast or lunch.
My current favourite. It probably should have a 5 but that means there can never be an improvement even if I have no idea what it could be.
Went here for the breakfast and fell in love. It actually exceeded in every area that matters.
Atmosphere - quirky retro but done so very well, it does not feel cheesy but rather comfortable and welcoming. I have to sit at the prep station to watch the crew hard at work.
Staff - just wow, they are always there and happy and helpful with fast and friendly service
Food - so nice to get something different for a change. They are not afraid to mix it up and stay well away from the conservative and it is quite simply bloody good. They work so hard to make the attention to taste and presentation appear homely and simple. The taste is the star on the plate. Oh and I think I am becoming a filter coffee fan again and don't forget the soda fountain and its many derivatives.
Just go there and try not to smile as you walk out - I cant.
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Federal Delicatessen is an American style diner restaurant. I almost felt as though I was in the diner in Twin Peaks, the waitresses outfits are almost identical and super cute, can I work here? With bottomless filter coffee and a fine selection of pies (including choc cherry pie with pretzel crunch) it has everything a good diner needs. I went for brunch on a Saturday with a large group of friends and the wait wasn’t as long as I thought it would be, only about 15 minutes, however they wouldn’t seat us until everyone had arrived (fair enough). The bottomless coffee is Havana and I thoroughly enjoyed it, maybe a little too much as I had about 3 cups and therefore didn’t have room to try any of the pies. I had the Best Ugly salmon bagel with cream cheese, dill, capers and red onion, delicious. The Griddle Cakes were very popular and very tasty. My friends who ordered them almost had to stab people with a fork to protect their pancakes. I’ve never had Poutine before (fries with curd cheese & gravy), but it was a fantastic experience. So, so good. I thought the Treyf (pickled pork, poached eggs and horseradish hollandaise on rye) was just OK, but this isn’t a dish I would normally order so maybe it was me. The Morning Glory looked impressive (and healthy). There are many more things I can’t wait to go back to try. I wish I worked closer so it could become one of my regular lunch places.
More restaurant than diner, Al Brown has come up with another winner on Federal Street. Go for breakfast or lunch if you are eating on a budget. Try the authentic French Canadian poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curd) and the smoked pastrami for a taste of Montreal fare. To see a full review go to http://cheapeats.co.nz/federal-delicatessen/
Carmella @ Easy Food Hacks
+4
Al Brown is the Midas of the re-invent in the Auckland restaurant scene; everything he touches turns into gold. Depot has set the standard for casual bistro dining since it opened. Ugly Bagels has divided the bagel-loving crowd, but it’s taken over as my bagel of choice. And now, we have Federal Deli or ‘The Fed', Al’s take on the traditional NYC Jewish diner. Even though it’s only a few months young (opened 4th Sept), the place looks like it’s been here for decades, and takes you right back into 30’s. The furniture and wall are aged and the staff are appropriately attired in diner uniforms.
There is a good choice of seating, - at the counter, cubicle, usual tables, or high chairs. The high chairs at the back was great to people watch. One thing which struck me about Federal Deli is that the crowd consisted of people across all age groups, there were elderly diners, families with young children, people dining alone. It certainly had a wide appeal, and it feels so familiar.
Since it was brunch, I went for the latkes (shredded potato cakes) with crème fraiche, smoked salmon and dill ($18). I prefer latkes to hash browns, - the thin shreds seem to crisp up better. This was good, though I tend to cook latkes longer, and brown them more. The excellent smoked salmon is from The Salmon Man (salmon comes from Stewart Island), who cures to a special recipe for Federal Deli. Hands down THE best smoked salmon in NZ, - great texture and flavour. I had the bottomless cup of ‘joe’ ($3.50) to go with this. The coolest part? Wait til you see what’s on the base of the mug.
My dining companion had the griddle cakes ($17.50) which are blueberry buttermilk pancakes with cinnamon butter and strudel crunch. The crunchy strudel is a genius addition, I love crumble, and this was like having some nutty, buttery, crumble on your pancakes. Plus I’m enamoured with the syrup pourer (Amazon.com has my order on the way).
For more photos and the rest of the review, see: http://easyfoodhacks.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/brunch-at-federal-delicatessen-cbd.html#more
If you thought you'd need to buy an expensive plane ticket to visit Katz Deli in New York in order to recreate 'When Harry Met Sally' then think again. Al Brown's latest venture Federal Delicatessen (aka. The Fed) channels 1950s Jewish delis, with the addition of a Canadian icon (poutine). The Fed is the only one of its kind in New Zealand, and as such everything here is refreshingly different. They offer comforting Jewish mama food such as Matzo ball soup, as well as classics such as latkes and Reuben sandwiches; the latter is so big it can be (and should be) shared between two . They also do old fashioned jerk sodas (which describes tap it comes from, not the guy that serves them) and pies; my personal favourite is the banana toffee pie with caramel popcorn, which is a lighter take on your standard banoffee pie.
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Stepping into Federal Delicatessen was akin to stepping back in time. Although it doesn't take bookings, the wait isn't long as there is plenty of seating - try to get a leather booth if you can. Our waiter was very attentive and knowledgable about the menu.
We started off with the Matzo Ball Soup and Smoked Kahawai Cakes. The kitchen was kind enough to divide the soup into three bowls to share and it was very light and flavoursome. The soft matzo balls were perfectly paired with the intense chicken and herb flavour of the broth.
For the mains, we had the spit roast chicken and veal schnitzel. The chicken was succulent and paired with a creamy gravy while the veal schnitzel was very juicy. This came with grilled zucchini which was drizzled in a generous helping of pesto and goats cheese -yum!
We ended our meal with a slice of NY cheesecake and Banana Toffee Pie. While the NY cheesecake was nice, my favourite had to be the Banoffee Pie -the thin base added just the right amount of crunch to the soft filling while the caramel popcorn was a very cute twist.
To read my full review with more pictures, please visit: http://lucyeats.blogspot. co.nz/2013/12/federal-delicatessen.html
Amy @ My Dining Journey
+3.5
Stepping into Al Brown's latest culinary venture - Federal Delicatessen - is not quite like walking into any other restaurants in Auckland. Designed like an old school New York Jewish deli, this eatery with an open plan kitchen is welcoming and we managed to get a table with a nice comfortable leather booth before the dinner rush hour started.
We ordered a scrummy Mahurangi oyster soup as well as a spit roast chicken and a large portion of fries with cheese curd and gravy. Although the portion of the soup was rather small, this thick soup with pieces of meaty oysters and crispy croutons was amazing. The oyster flavours was intense and we have already decided that next time, we will order a portion each rather than share ;)
We were eyeing the display of rotisserie chicken since walking inside, so we decided to order one to share. The chicken was well cooked and lightly seasoned but it lacked the distinctive chicken taste and the much needed moisture. We had high expectations, so sadly, we were disappointed. The fries on the other hand, is a MUST TRY! The crispy chunky fries, covered with a homey gravy and topped with cheese was divine.
We ended our meal with an average slice of New York cheesecake which was slightly too dense for my liking. This was accompanied by a tart berry sauce.
As we were about to leave, the place started to fill up and it was nice to see the staff so cheerful despite the rush of people. Price wise, it is slightly above average, but still very reasonable. If you are a huge coffee fan, they serve an excellent bottomless mug of Havana filtered coffee which they happily top up throughout your meal.
Have been there twice for lunch. Pickled pork tastes fantastic and special! With a crispy crust and tender texture of pork. Hot dog is very delicious! And very sizable, can shared with two if eat other dishes. Tuna Melt is good! Very dishes are good! The staff are warm and hospitable to guests. The cheese cake was sold out and he saw my disappointment. And several minutes later came back to tell me that chef is making a new one. Very sweet! They have brunch menu and dinner menu. Will come back to try dinner. Love the place. ❤️
Service & the atmosphere is great. The food is nice enough but they are tiny and a bit overpriced. The NY strip steak is nicely cooked (medium rare) but chewy. Matzo ball soup was quite salty but with an interesting taste (recommended), chicken salad sandwich was quite tasty.
This restaurant was very enjoyable. The servers were friendly, the food was delicious and the vibe was very eclectic. We had a tuna melt, a bagel with lox and a large fries. There was a short line waiting to be seated but it cleared fairly quickly.
Fed Deli is my go-to for poutine in Auckland. I always order a small plate and a sandwich (either the reuben or the chicken salad sandwich). The chicken sandwich is delicious with cheese and toasted - it has crispy chicken skin and the crunch is sooo good. Tried the tuna melt for the first time today and it was so yum!! I literally had to close my eyes to savor the flavours 🤭 The NY cheesecake is a must try, and if you like desserts, get The 3-way and taste 3 of the pies!
Great menu options here. We're a fan of the fish option, when will Al bring a seafood restaurant to Tamaki diners? The quality of produce is excellent, what you expect from a smack bang central Kiwi food experience.
I noticed a great attitude and mana from the kitchen team. The wait staff, like most local institutions, need to understand service with a smile. At least Mccas gets that right every now and then.
We will eat here again , it's passion on a plate!
Auckland's Katz Deli. Nearly the same ambient as in NY's famous deli. Well, the Pastrami sandwich is way smaller but a bit more delicious. I had to visits here for a small dinner and a breakfast and both were delicious. Full recommendation.
Perfectly located next to our hotel, Federal provided a perfect stop for quick bite before exploring the city. An open kitchen gives a great view of the delicious deli food being prepared. I went for the fish sandwich and was very happy with the choice. Perfectly toasted buns!
Best cheesecake in town unmatched by any other place! Ordered two full cakes for an event and everyone agreed that the cakes were the highlight of the night. So dense and creamy, and great value for $85 per cake as they went a long way (one cake served a party of 25 so we had one whole cake left over).
American diner vibes with a nice selection of food. Food portions are slightly smaller compared to elsewhere, but otherwise normal sized for Asian appetites. Prices are at AKL CBD restaurant rates going at mid twenties to thirties for mains. The open kitchen concept is great to just gaze at if you’re seated at the counter. Wait staff are really professional and friendly.
Visiting Singaporeans, be sure to spot my $2 note at one of the booths :>
Love this place would defs go back. Different food then what you would usually find in Auckland. An American vibe and staff are great. We loved the veal schnitzel! The wine and chips with gravey were yum and traditional. You can’t make a booking they only take walk ins!
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