Review Federal Store - New Plymouth

As good as it gets IMHO. From the kitchen staff thoughtfully giving us 2 menus, to the fantastic food and atmosphere. Nothing wrong here! The caramel brownie was insane.

Delicious food, coffee and great service. We stopped off for breakfast a couple of times during our stay in the area and were really impressed. It’s clearly popular with the locals which is always a good sign. We also got some cakes and items from the deli to take away; all delicious! I’d definitely recommend a visit here if you’re in the area.

I always enjoy calling in at The Federal Store for breakfast when in New Plymouth lymouth. Things haven't changed much, still a warm, we're pleased to see you, friendly staff, GR8 service and most delicious, scrumptious kai. Today, I had the mince on toast, with an extra egg and rosti. You know you've enjoyed it when you get to the end, and all you want to do is lick the plate .... I really felt like that. Kai was excellent, kāwhe perfect, only thing missing was my smoothie which was not placed on my order, however all ka pai, quite understandable with the huge influx of people that came in just after I did. The place was humming, with people chatting, enjoying kāwhe's and looking forward to their kai arriving. Definitely recommend you go when in New Plymouth, and unless you walk in right on opening, I highly recommend you book.

Busy place on a Monday morning as they were short of staff. Coffee was ok food was good portion size with perfect seasoning. Service could have been better but totally understandable. Well done guys 👍

This placed came highly recommended and was a nice experience for our family of 3 while on holiday. Owner(?) showed us to our seats & we ordered 3 different breakfasts (Eggs Benedict, Avo Toast & French Toast). Was a lovely touch he checked cup size for hubby’s coffee. We voted Avo Toast the best of all (French Toast very very sweet but delicious while eggs bene was as expected). Only negative came at the end. The whole store was packed with people leaving before ordering as no tables. We wanted takeaway coffees & cabinet food to go so gave up our table for another group & waited (& waited) for our takeaway items. Barista was rude & snappy towards us multiple times (store is small & nowhere to wait for coffees inside when pouring with rain except by the barista). Also had to remind them for our almond crossiant (but they were lovely about this). Overall would go back (before 9am or with an early booking) to try other menu items & more cabinet food (Pinky bar slice is moorish).

Vibey, nostalgically decorated cafe that is quite popular with the locals. We were welcomed as soon as we walked through the door and was told to grab a seat where our order was taken. Friendly, bubbly staff and there were plenty of staff so everyone was well looked after. Our meals were decent-sized and well-presented. Our surprise was the pot of tea we each ordered had 2 teabags in each pot!! Lovely hot strong tea without having to wait ages. We would definitely visit again when we're next in New Plymouth.

What a great find! Delicious coffee and food. Wonderful service and something interesting to look at everywhere.

Really cool place. The salmon benedict was delicious, and the drinks were very good. The strawberry milkshake was one of the best we've had in NZ.

Our reaction on receiving "eggs bene" was WOW! They've knocked it out of the park. Simply outstanding.

Amazing food, not sure if it was really worth the price but relatively good. Very busy place… Atmosphere was pretty nice as well.

I concur, really cool place. Food choices were abundant from the cabinet, both savory and sweet. We had breakfast on Thursday and it was busy. Service at the counter was friendly and efficient. Unfortunately, did not get around to tasting the sweets as we had no more capacity.

The best coffee in Taranaki so make sure you order a large. The food is delicious and the service is the cherry on top. It was busy but still a delightful meal.

Highly recommend this place. Try the mince on toast. 5 stars all the way. Great atmosphere. Friendly staff. Had to grab some cake for the roadtrip. Delicious. Thank for you the local knowledge also. Thanks for your hospitality.

Fabulous place. So much atmosphere and memorabilia on the walls. We 4 loved it. The food was amazing. Burgers are....next level to excellent. Staff went beyond excellence for us. They were caring and very kind. They were happy and smiling. We will definitely return. Thankyou from us Pam & Mike Rabone

The rates didn't lie! The interior decoration was dainty and cute. The staff were heartwarming. And the food was great. Haven't tried the desserts yet so I am looking forward to visiting the place again.

The best mince/with added slow cooked beef cheek on toast I've ever eaten. Seriously! Plus very very good coffee and super friendly service 👌

Our delicious breakfast at The Federal Store was food for everyone's taste. I had ordered the smashed avocado with grainy bread, mushrooms and tomatoes, while my husband had chosen to order the big breakfast, while our kiddo enjoyed some fried chicken. The place was busy as always, full with people enjoying themselves. I loved the grains and nuts bread for avocado smash dish and also the eggs benedict dish from the menu is second to none!

Great place, great food- including dairy and gluten free, cabinet and off the menu, great staff - friendly and helpful, always busy but never have to wait very long for service. Love it

The Federal Store is my happy place. I love the vibe, customer service is excellent......AND they make the best vanilla slices in town. They so deserve this award!

It was our first time to this lovely cafe over the weekend - we are from Wellington so naturally love amazing cafe's. The food was delicious & the presentation of the cafe is on point - we really enjoyed it! Loved how there are a lot of gluten free options. One thing to note would be the girls behind the counter could smile a bit more :)

Struggling to find a decent gluten free or dairy free or both option in the sweet department??? Find things often dry or tasteless??? Well I went to the right place today And I reckon the federal store was amazing!!

Funky wee place - great menu , great venue and lovely staff

Wh a bunch of legends... epic coffee, great food and the best people.

Absolutely delicious food. I had salmon n potato mash with a perfectly cooked egg on top with hollandaise sauce. My daughter had eggs bene on rosti - the best she has ever had. The service was fantastic too. We will definitely be back for more.

Great atmosphere friendly attentive staff and fantastic food. The best BLT I've ever had. Will have to come back again next time I'm in the area.

I love the federal store, they have great coffee and beautiful food but.... they use take away cups to serve kids fluffies in? These cups are non recyclable and go straight to landfill :( Come on Federal you can do so much better than that!

Sensational! Vibrant, great food, great coffee, super, super busy on WOMAD weekend and still the staff glide around like angels

Loved this place - great coffee and the food was delicious! Friendly staff too

Funky atmosphere, fabulous food from around the globe. Good coffee. Sunday brunch extraordinaire.

Great food wonderful service very friendly atmosphere highly recommend eating here

Had lunch Friday, so impressed went back for breakfast on Saturday!!! Food and service is spot on!!! A real gem!!

We have found the best brekkie spot in Taranaki. Our Monday morning brunch was amazing. 10/10 hotcakes - that banana fritter!!!! 10/10 eggs benny - eggs perfect, not too much holly and my favourite the potato rosti! We had two caramel lattes which proved there is still hope when it comes to getting a decent coffee in NP.

Great big brekky at Federal Store (only comment would be is I'm not so keen on the kidney beans), great service and love the decor! Would highly recommend :) Thanks

Great coffee, good food in huge portions, retro decor, staff dressed up bright and cheery, what's there not to like about this place? It also gets pretty crowded at lunch. Need I say more? :)

Best coffee, great food and atmosphere and excellent service from gorgeous people.

Great vibe. Good coffee and tasty breakfast �

One of our favourite cafes in Taranaki - a special place to relax for sure

Wonderful brunch! Loved everything about this place!

My favourite cafe in town hands down! Always take my family there whenever they are here! Love the fact that it's dog friendly too!

My fa favourite!! I love the banter (abuse) I get from your staff and how your chef gives me as much mince as I please - love love love you guys �

It was ok, nothing special. Food was a little bland. Good selection but the taste didn't live up to the description.

Best Breakfast in Town and awesome cabinet for lunch

Great Lime Milkshakes!

I love the retro atmosphere, coffees + delicious clean food. Customer service is very cool! Thank you x

Wow. Good food. Good wait staff. Can't wait to go back

Came into the federal today with baby Dominic for a catch up with staff and a decent coffee, well done miss Lauren coffee was the exact hit I was needing. See you all in a few weeks x x

Funky little space tucked away from the main town. Service was great and the food was quick and delicious. The decor is pretty unique and set it apart from other cafes in the area. Pop in if you are in town!

Busy cafe with friendly staff and plenty of good food. My Rueben Sandwich was jam packed with pastrami and sauerkraut. Delicious!<br/><br/>Highly recommend!

Great portion sizes for the price of the meals. Fries are huge and delicious. Salads are fresh and healthy. Coffee is great! All in all a really good cafe. Probably my favourite in New Plymouth.

Our breakfast at The Federal Store was food for everyone's taste. I had the smashed avocado with grainy bread, mushrooms and tomatoes, while my husband had chosen to order the big breakfast, while our kiddo enjoyed some fried chicken. The place was busy as always, full with people enjoying themselves. I loved the grains and nuts bread for avocado smash dish and also the eggs benedict dish from the menu is second to none!

This is definitely my go to when I'm in NP.Excellent consistent coffee, food and courteous staff.The place has always got a nice little hum of people,the food not only looks great but is delicious and staff always seem to vibe together!My advice: if your in need of a consistent great coffee in New Plymouth, be sure to find this place!

Came here on a busy Saturday morning. Got the last table which was in the middle of a busy thoroughfare but couldn’t be avoided. I love how they do half portions because I can’t eat much. Eggs benny was nice enough but the hollandaise kinda tasted like a weird bearnaise so probably wouldn’t get that again. Awesome bacon though. Service was a bit lacking as our waitress was terribly distracted and got mr 5 year old’s order wrong but it was fixable. May come back to try some other things.

Awesome food and great atmosphere. They do serve really large portions for breakfast but I found out they do half portions which I'd get next time! The eggs bene on the potato rosti was amazing and equally so was the French toast. As others have said, it is on the more pricey side but the quality makes it worth it.

Discovered this place today, fantastic breakfast and great coffee. Had the federal breakfast which was big, but managed to get through it. Best part was the bacon and potato hash, bacon was amazing. Service good, quick and efficient.

I really enjoyed my breakfast here, the atmosphere was welcoming and I felt like I was in an old school diner. The breakfast I had was the Bircher muesli recommended by the very friendly staff. It was delicious and just what I was looking for. The coffee was just as good and very fast. And the cost was reasonable for the generous portion size, VERY HAPPY!

Service with a smile, incredibly generous portions, simple but fresh food - well executed! The decor is retro and relaxed with some quirky kiwiana dotted through. <br/><br/>They made a wee mistake with my daughters order which was fixed in record time without a fuss - we'll happily go back.

Breakfast at 08:00 on Monday morning. Greeted with smiles and friendly attitude which was consistent throughout our stay. Coffee excellent and the portions generous. Their Big Breakfast was very enjoyable. The Federal Store decor is retro to the 50s / 60s and the atmosphere congenial. The food is all freshly prepared and beautifully displayed with an open kitchen. From this experience I highly recommend it.

Amazing fresh healthy salads here with great variety! Coffee depends who makes it as to if it is good. Good service, food and atmosphere but bit pricey.

We haven't eaten in a place that ticks all the boxes in a long time - this place far exceeded our expectations.<br/>As soon as we walked through the the door we were greeted and given menus, told to take a seat and somebody would look after us. We chose to order at the counter and were greeted again by a very friendly girl, the team look like they were hand picked from a Hollister catalogue.<br/>The food options were ideal, well written and matched the funky feel perfectly.<br/>The chicken ceased salad was incredible, we were food checked by the friendly lady who took our order and we left feeling satisfied on all accounts.<br/>If your looking for amazing food with incredible service this place is a winner.<br/>We will most certainly be coming here often.<br/>

Good feel in the place and the typical modern rustic but done quite well. The avo on toast is the A-bomb!  And need I say, a mighty fine coffee to boot. Only disappointment is it that its some 4000km away from me.

Went here as an out-of-towner this weekend and was blown away. The style of the cafe is a beautifully done shabby chic with a splash of kiwiana memorabilia. The service was attentive and friendly. Coffee was so delicious we were quick to order a second one. I ordered the hotcakes which were delicious and was offered more coulis and maple syrup when I had used all of it up! My partner had eggs bene with bacon and the eggs were perfect with delicious home made hollandaise!! Reasonable price and very enjoyable. Totally recommend.

This place blew me away, insanely good food!! The price is just a little demanding but its well worth the dosh, you definitely get what you pay for and more. Service was good nothing to complain about there, but to be fair I wouldn't have cared if it was bad as my cheese burger was honestly one of the best I have ever had, I was in love! Cant wait to return to try some of the delectable sweet treats and cold snacks on offer which were well presented in an awesome trendy hip setting. Make sure you have your glad rags on for this establishment folks!

Beautiful food, we had the chicken, brie and cranberry pie, plus a side of energy salad, it was a yum.  The coffee was great too.<br/><br/>Friendly staff inspite of the fact they were run off their feet.

This lovely cafe has an awesome rustic, almost carnival atmosphere with miss-matched cups and reclaimed wooden tables.<br/>God where to start with the food, the menu is full of amazing sounding food and not to mention their cabinets were completely stocked full of gluten free goodies – I think I was drooling just looking at them. The coffee holds it own compared to my high wellington standard, it was very good!<br/><br/>AVOCADO... Okay anytime avocado is anywhere on a menu I am drawn to it, it's like a magnet. So naturally I ordered the dish called The Federal Toast, which was avocado and tomato on (gluten free) toast with pesto and hummus, plus some salad. I think these guys undersell the dish, it was amazing! Other than a gluten free bread mishap that was quickly resolved!<br/><br/>We also got takeaway treats for dessert and I can honestly say the polenta cake is out if this world, followed closely by the passion cake

I wish you could give multiple star ratings but because the service is very hit and miss it brings down the star rating to average instead of good or very good. The food is delicious, we've had breakfast and lunch here a few times but the salads need a bit of work as sometimes they are slightly uninspired. I love the cake display they always look lovely and there are always gluten free options which I think is great and the two cakes I've tried are seriously amazing. The coffee dine in is good but I've had two very average take away coffees on separate occasions. I love the decor and think its definitely a must for anyone living or just passing by New Plymouth to stop in for lunch or afternoon tea.

This is normally one of my favourite places for coffee and lunch, however today's wait of 25 minutes for sit down coffee was unacceptable - the place wasn't busy, my friend had her coffee and I had to ask for mine twice with the counter lady saying 'she is making it now' - whilst other people were being brought their coffees. In the end we had to go and I had to wait at the counter and ask for it in a take way cup; no apology from the barista, just 'there you go'.

This is our favourite cafe in town. The only issue is how to decide what to have! There are so many delicious options on the breakfast and lunch menu - the cabinet food is delish and plenty of Gluten Free options too. <br/><br/>Can't wait to go back and try something else here!

Went for brunch with friends after going for a run with them.<br/>Very disappointed with our meals. 3 of us had scrambled eggs on soggy toast. These were the most anemic tasteless eggs I have ever had the displeasure of eating. Watery, cold and unseasoned. I suspect they were actually powdered egg mixture. I hope they take the hint when 3 plates were cleared and we had eaten maybe one portion between us. For the price and how much we ate we should have gone to McD's. Doubt I will eat there again willingly.

Ive been coming here once a month for about a year now to get breakfast. I come here because it's easy and close to where I stay. Over this time the service has been slowly been getter worse and worst. The counter food is always pretty good but the service has hit a total low. Takes a lot for me to give up on a place but I wont be back here.

Disgusting, cold, chicken inedible. 2 glasses of Sauvignon Blanc available, waitress said sorry the Chardonnay is nice. Will never return, makes Kentucky fried chicken seem gourmet.

Consistently excellent coffee. The variety of food is fantastic and helpings very generous. I love the salads and the steak sandwich was delicious. It is always very busy, but have never waited very long.Tables were cleared very promptly and staff all very friendly.<br/>I will continue to travel from the other side of NP as long as the coffee is this good.

We are fairly new to New Plymouth. We've been trying a lot of the cafés, and The Federal store officially has the best thick shake in town! Lovely cakes and friendly service, we'll definitely be going back.

We ordered a meal rather than the cabinet food. When it came my husbands chips were cold and the foccacia bread was not toasted. My chicken was not cooked properly parts of it I couldn't eat. We told a member of the staff she seemed to ignore the problem. On another occasion we were invited by some friends to meet up there but this time we only ordered the cabinet food and coffee which were very nice but I will never choose to have a cooked meal there again.

Having sampled the Federal Stores predecessor Zanzibar we were expecting something along the same lines. Unfortunately Federal Store doesn't even come close. The bottled water was warm not chilled. The menu was scruffy, it had obviously been screwed up and one corner was missing, black felt pen was used to cross out menu items no longer available. 2 new menu items were typed and attached to the scruffy menu via a staple, the chair I sat in was in need of some carpentry attention. The food when it arrived was ok although cold fries with the BLT was not acceptable. This cafe is obviously popular with the locals as it was pretty busy. Maybe the Taranaki locals are prepared to overlook all of the above. As far as we are concerned we won't go back. Taranaki has some excellent cafes and restaurants. This one has a way to go to match them.

Already one of the best in town - food, coffee, surroundings and opening hours all good. We visited several times during our holiday. The only thing that lets the place down is that the service is a bit average - we didn't feel particularly welcome at several points, and the tables can be slow to be cleared. But to be fair, it is early days yet, and we hope that when we are next in New Plymouth, the Federal Store Cafe will be that bit friendlier.