Date Visited:  February 26, 2020

We visited the new Hedwig Village location of The Federal Grill on its second night since  opening.  High praise goes to the staff and team as they opened with a bang.

The layout and staff are very welcoming.  As you enter, the bar is in front of you, with seating at the bar and high-top tables.  There is a great mix of high-tops and standard seating in the dining area.  While this is a business casual dining experience, there are ample TVs throughout the entire space so you can catch the game while enjoying a nice dinner.

We arrived 30 minutes before our reservation time and were promptly seated at a high-top table near the bar.  We started with cocktails from their ample, bourbon-rich cocktail menu.  Pam ordered The Smoking Gun Old Fashion, which is a traditional old fashion with a unique delivery in a smoked glass case.  Jeff ordered the Barrel Aged Manhattan, which is a Knob Creek Rye that has been aged in oak barrels for 3 months.

As a starter, we enjoyed the Federal Fried Oysters.  Served on the half shell and topped with brussel slaw, the oysters had a crisp fried layer and were perfectly cooked.

Time for the Entrees!  Pam ordered the Bacon Wrapped Diver Scallops with Bacon and Mushroom Risotto.  The bacon was slightly crispy and the scallops were perfectly cooked, slightly caramelized on the outside.  The risotto was creamy with hints of bacon and mushroom to perfectly highlight the scallops.

Jeff ordered the Braised Short Ribs with the same Bacon and Mushroom Risotto, sautéed spinach and topped with a reduction.  The short ribs were fall apart tender with great flavor,highlighted with the rich reduction.  The perfectly cooked risotto added a nice creamy contrast to the bold short rib flavor.  We enhanced our meal with the Crispy Brussels Sprouts which were good but would have been better with some bacon.

Our meal was complemented by wines from an ample wine list with selections ranging from economical to the range-topping Penfolds “Grange”.

We were treated to a great Bread Pudding with bourbon sauce, Godiva chocolate and vanilla ice cream as a thank you for dining with them during their first days.

We paired the dessert with a tawny port and a Bourbon Flip, which is a combination of bourbon, heavy cream, demerara syrup, egg and nutmeg.  The closest similarity is milk punch, which we have had many times at the Houston Rodeo.

Matt Brice and his team were very welcoming – so much so, Jeff revisited the next day for a business dinner!

The Federal Grill

The Federal Grill – Hedwig Village

8731 Katy Freeway near Brogden (between Bingle/Voss & Campbell Road)

The Federal Grill – original location

510 Shepherd Drive @ Gibson (between Memorial Drive & Washington Avenue)