FEDERAL Esmorzars i Cafè d'Especialitat - Poblenou — Restaurant in Barcelona

I recently had a brunch at this establishment, and I'd like to share my comprehensive review:

Ambiance: 4/5 The restaurant has a charming ambiance with tasteful decor and comfortable seating. However, it can get a bit noisy during peak hours, which might not suit those seeking a quieter brunch experience.

Service: 3/5 While the service was polite, it didn't quite meet our expectations. We experienced longer-than-anticipated wait times, even though the place wasn't particularly crowded. There was also a noticeable lack of enthusiasm from the staff, and they missed the opportunity to make us feel more welcome.

Appetizer: Babaganoush - 2/5 I had high hopes for the babaganoush, but I was left disappointed. The portion size was minuscule, and it felt like they were rationing the last gram of babaganoush on the planet. The flavor, though not terrible, didn't leave a lasting impression.

Pancakes: 3/5 This dish didn't truly stand out. While it satisfied our hunger, it lacked the wow factor that distinguishes a great brunch experience from an average one.

Value for Money: 2/5 Regrettably, the prices at this restaurant seemed disproportionately high given the quality of both the food and service. It's essential for patrons to feel that they're getting value for their money, and in this case, it fell short.

Cleanliness: 2/5 One significant drawback was the state of the restaurant's restroom facilities. They were disappointingly unclean, which detracted from the overall impression of the establishment.

In summary, our visit to this restaurant left us with mixed feelings. While the ambiance had its charm, issues with service, portion sizes, and value for money weighed down the overall experience. We had hoped for something more memorable, and unfortunately, we won't be rushing back...

I was writing a couple of emails sitting outside because my phone turned off, and I had to reply to some messages. It must have taken me at most 10 minutes, they managed to nag me twice about it because "you can't use your laptop outside" I told them that I wasn't working, I was sending some emails, what's the difference if I'm doing so with my phone or laptop? I hadn't even received what I ordered but they managed to come twice angrily telling me this. What a bunch of bs, rude and idiotic since all the outside tables were empty, and inside there was barely a third of the place occupied, so I was not disrupting anything with my 10 minutes of emails, which I would have done on my phone had it not turned off. You might have a rule but it's up to your common sense and intelligence (not much of it) to know when to inforce it or not, it was rude and stupid. Other than the fact that this place is just overpriced crap for tourists. The waiters were one young lady and a guy with long hair and ear dilators, who was particularly rude and gave me this nasty side eye as if I was doing something truly despicable, what an inept.

By the response it's clear this café doesn't care, if I had been using my phone or my laptop for those 10 minutes there would have been no difference for the other "customers" and my food had not even arrived yet. It's stupid and rules are made to promote a favorable enviroment, not to nag and annoy people when the rule will not benefit anyone, what an idiotic...

I live in Poblenou and have come here many many times. But today was my last. My husband and I came for breakfast and coffee. 1/2 way through our meal we were syncing up our business calendars and I had to look on my computer, so I opened it to see the calendar. One of the staff came over and showed me a little place card that said if you are going to study or co-work do it at the big table. I told him it was just for 5 minutes and he said we could move and that he had people waiting for a table. So I closed the computer and pulled it up on my phone and we ordered another coffee each. Meanwhile another guy at a table that was there before us, opens his computer - nobody said anything to him. And behind us there were a group of 3 and a kid with all their stuff on the table, no coffee or food and they were just hanging around (they were also there before us). There was nobody waiting for a table and 3 open inside. So, why single us out? We ordered food, ordered 2 coffees, we weren't there taking up space long after we finished, we weren't working. What's the different with me closing my computer and pulling it up on my phone or just sitting talking. Great way to treat a loyal customer. I...