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Interior - The Federal Grill - Shepherd, Houston, TX

The Federal Grill - Shepherd

4.6 (2569)
$30 and under
American
510 Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77007

Make a booking

A photo of The Federal Grill - Shepherd restaurant

The Federal Grill - Shepherd

4.6
$30 and under
American
Heights / Washington

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Great for happy hour
Dress Up or Dress Down. A Bourbon or a Beer. A Ribeye or a Burger. Where precision cooking meets quality ingredients in a tribute to classic American cuisine. Dining experiences are complemented by an exceptional whiskey and cocktail list—the essence of the Federal Experience. This location also will serve lunch, happy hour, and dinner, as well as weekend brunch.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Comfort Food, Contemporary American
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat 11:00–15:00 Sun 10:00–15:00 Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00–16:00 Happy Hour Daily 15:00–19:00 Dinner Mon–Thu 16:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 16:00–23:00 Sun 16:00–21:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Matt Brice
  • Private party facilities
    We are pleased to offer a personalized private dining experience. Our elegant private dining room accommodates groups up to forty eight guests for a luxurious dinner party, while our bar & lounge is the perfect place for a corporate, commemorative happy hour, or cocktail party.
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Experiences

  • But first...BRUNCH!

    1 - 20 people

    Multiple dates available
    Work Hard, Brunch Harder. Come celebrate the weekend with Cajun Bloody Mary's, Crème Brulee French Toast, Mimosa Carafes & more! Not to mention our SWEET 80's playlist that keeps the juices flowing (into the mimosas, that is). Stop by & brunch your heart out with us, we promise it's a party.
    But first...BRUNCH! photo
  • Thanksgiving at Federal!

    US$68.00 per person

    1 - 20 people

    26 Nov 2026 only
    Gather around our table this Thanksgiving and let us do the cooking. Join us at Federal American Grill for a special three-course Thanksgiving meal featuring holiday favorites with the Federal touch. Whether you’re celebrating with family, friends, or simply looking to skip the cooking and cleanup, we’re ready to make your Thanksgiving feel special. Thanksgiving Day | 11 AM–9 PM Three-Course Prix Fixe Menu for $68/person + tax & gratuity Come hungry, raise a glass, and spend Thanksgiving enjoying the people around your table. Reservations are highly recommended.

Offers

  • Social Hour 3 - 7pm!

    1 - 20 people

    Multiple dates available
    Mon - Fri - 15:00 - 19:00
    From 3 pm - 7 pm every EVERY DAY, experience elevated service at a bargain price! Enjoy $8 Happy Hour Specialty Cocktails along with $6 Liquors including Jack Daniels, Makers Mark, Flor De Cana Rum, Henricks Gin & many more! Delight in our lively social hour fueled by whiskey, wine, & good times. Stop in for an Old Fashioned, Socialite, or one of our Perfect Margaritas before dinner and you'll realize why we just can't limit these deals to one hour!

    Social Hour 3 - 7pm! photo

Concierge
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Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at The Federal Grill - Shepherd.

4.6

4.6
(2569)
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Federal Grill - Shepherd is a warm and inviting spot known for its "consistently great service" and "best menu in Houston." Perfect for business lunches or special occasions, patrons rave about dishes like sticky ribs and meatloaf. While some experiences vary, the "friendly staff" and "great food" ensure many return visits.
2,569 Reviews
  1. Derrell

    Dallas - Fort Worth4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 11 October 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Would have easily been 5 stars except for a table of diners that thought they were the only ones there. I could not have a conversation with my wife and we were sitting 18 inches apart. When the rowdies finally left the noise suddenly became normal.
    The Federal Grill - ShepherdResponded on 15 October 2026
    Thank you so much for the honest feedback. We are very sorry to hear about the noise level during your visit. We will pass along your feedback to our team. Thank you for your support and we hope you join us again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Jay

    New York City5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 10 October 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Eh…. Ok, nothing memorable. It was simply ok. Best thing was the sticky ribs. Pork chop was a bit salty and the truffle Mac and cheese was underwhelming.
    The Federal Grill - ShepherdResponded on 12 October 2026
    Thank you for your feedback! We’re sorry we didn’t exceed your expectations. Please reach out to our General Manager, Frank, so we can make things right and provide you with a better experience on your next visit.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Robert

    Houston2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 4 October 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    They didn't have my first three choices for beer which was disappointing. The meat loaf is great as usual. The bread pudding dessert is exceptional!
    The Federal Grill - ShepherdResponded on 6 October 2026
    Thank you for the feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the meatloaf and especially loved the bread pudding. We’re sorry we didn’t have your first beer choices available, and we appreciate your understanding. We hope to see you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Lauren Gold

    Houston11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 19 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Consistently great service at all their locations. A Houston favorite for me.
    The Federal Grill - ShepherdResponded on 21 September 2026
    Thank you so much! We’re thrilled to be a Houston favorite and truly appreciate your continued support. We look forward to seeing you again!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Eric Gold

    Houston27 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 17 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great place for business lunches. I wide variety of delicious Apps, Salads, main courses, and sandwiches. I go here often.
    The Federal Grill - ShepherdResponded on 18 September 2026
    Thank you for making us a regular part of your business lunches! We’re so glad you enjoy the variety and quality of our menu. We truly appreciate your continued support and look forward to your next visit!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Timothy

    Unspecified1 review

    1.0

    Dined on 12 September 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    We ended up leaving. Wait 30+ minutes at our table and haven’t even been served drinks yet. Waiter never came back to check on us. Very disappointed. They had a party going in the back but otherwise they weren’t that busy.
    The Federal Grill - ShepherdResponded on 18 September 2026
    We’re very sorry for the long wait and lack of attention during your visit. This is not the level of service we strive to provide, and we understand your frustration. Thank you for bringing this to our attention—we’ll be addressing it with our team.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Ashley

    Unspecified1 review

    1.0

    Dined on 5 September 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Unfortunately, our brunch experience at Federal American was extremely disappointing. My friend and I visited during Restaurant Weeks and, while the bang bang shrimp was very good, the remainder of our experience raised concerns about both food quality and cleanliness. Our drinks arrived in glassware that was visibly unclean. My glass had red lipstick on it that was not mine, and my friend had brown particles floating in her ice. This alone was concerning and not something we expected at a restaurant of this caliber. We also had multiple issues with our meals. My order was incorrect, as I received breakfast potatoes instead of the French toast that was supposed to come with my meal. My friend ordered the crème brûlée French toast, which was not properly prepared. Our waiter kindly allowed her to replace it with pancakes, but unfortunately, the pancakes were also improperly cooked. When we cut into them, there was visibly wet, gooey batter inside. Service compounded the experience. At one point, we could not locate our waiter for an extended period of time, and I eventually had to find another server to assist us. We understand that an occasional mistake can happen, and we appreciated our waiter allowing my friend to order a replacement entrée. However, this was not one isolated issue. Between the visibly dirty glassware, debris in a drink, an incorrect order, and two dishes that were not properly prepared, there were simply too many problems to overlook. Given the extent of the issues, we were also surprised that there was no adjustment to our bill. We chose Federal American for Restaurant Weeks because we were looking forward to trying the restaurant, but unfortunately, the overall experience fell far below our expectations and made it difficult to recommend.
    The Federal Grill - ShepherdResponded on 18 September 2026
    Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. We sincerely apologize that your experience fell short, especially regarding the glassware, food preparation, order accuracy, and service. These are not the standards we strive for, and we appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention. We will be sharing your feedback with our team so we can address these issues.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Joe Gold

    New Mexico4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 4 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I tried the pork chop and found it to be excellent. I really like this restaurant.
    The Federal Grill - ShepherdResponded on 18 September 2026
    Thank you so much for the kind words! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the pork chop and truly appreciate your support. We look forward to having you back!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Scott Gold

    Houston107 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 4 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always incredible!!! Best menu in Houston! The wine was also a perfect pairing
    The Federal Grill - ShepherdResponded on 18 September 2026
    Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled you enjoyed your meal and wine pairing. We truly appreciate your continued support and look forward to seeing you again!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Darlene Gold

    Dallas - Fort Worth5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 23 August 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My favorite Sunday brunch spot. Great service, great food, great location.
    The Federal Grill - ShepherdResponded on 18 September 2026
    Thank you so much for making us your Sunday brunch spot! We truly appreciate your support and are always happy to have you join us. See you again soon!

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Comfort Food, Contemporary American
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat 11:00–15:00 Sun 10:00–15:00 Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00–16:00 Happy Hour Daily 15:00–19:00 Dinner Mon–Thu 16:00–22:00 Fri, Sat 16:00–23:00 Sun 16:00–21:00
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Matt Brice
  • Private party facilities
    We are pleased to offer a personalized private dining experience. Our elegant private dining room accommodates groups up to forty eight guests for a luxurious dinner party, while our bar & lounge is the perfect place for a corporate, commemorative happy hour, or cocktail party.
Gift card

Gift card

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FAQs

Yes, The Federal Grill - Shepherd welcomes private parties and events; guests note they can reserve rooms for larger groups and that private-room options are available.

The Federal Grill - Shepherd tends to buzz during its daily happy hour and around the bar, while some guests have reported quieter visits, for example, a few found Friday nights and certain Saturday visits only lightly packed.

The Federal Grill - Shepherd feels casually elegant with a stylish, welcoming interior, a lively bar and strong whiskey-and-cocktail focus, and a cozy, dimly lit dining room for evenings.

Sunday brunch (Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm) is a popular pick, guests report enjoyable Sunday brunch visits and call out standouts like the French toast.

Smart casual, the house guide is relaxed but polished (the owner even says “Dress Up or Dress Down”), so neat, comfortable attire fits right in.

Yes, The Federal Grill - Shepherd offers outdoor patio seating; guests mention dining on the patio and enjoying the outdoor space on warm days.

Yes, The Federal Grill - Shepherd welcomes families: guests report bringing children (one party came for Father’s Day with four kids) and reviewers describe the spot as family-friendly for brunch and gatherings.

For lively, value-friendly drinks head to The Federal Grill - Shepherd during its daily Happy Hour (listed 3:00–7:00 pm); if you need a business-friendly, sit-down lunch, weekday lunch is a popular time for meetings.

Yes, the menu includes half-portion options, and guests praise those 1/2 servings while also noting generous salads and filling lunch plates.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Houston
  4. Houston
  5. Heights / Washington

Make a booking

A photo of The Federal Grill - Shepherd restaurant

The Federal Grill - Shepherd

4.6
$30 and under
American
Heights / Washington

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.
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