Pickleball and hockey on menu at Florida Panthers’ new downtown Fort Lauderdale restaurant, The Federal

There are plenty of restaurants in South Florida that are prized for their special view — ocean, Intracoastal, sunset or city skyline.

But how about a table overlooking ice? Or the region’s hottest craze, pickleball?

The Florida Panthers can put you in the catbird seat for both at downtown Fort Lauderdale’s newest restaurant, The Federal, inside the Cats’ new Baptist Health IcePlex practice facility in Holiday Park .

A burgers-and-beers eatery with a sports bent and elevated culinary ambitions, The Federal is set to open on Wednesday, April 24. The next night, the restaurant will take part in watch-party events when the Panthers play their first road game in the NHL playoffs against rival Tampa Bay Lightning.

A collaboration with Knallhart Management Group, which operates a half-dozen downtown hot spots, the Panthers’ first venture into the restaurant business is part of the team’s plan to make the facility a complete entertainment destination.

Adjoining the IcePlex, the historic War Memorial Auditorium is being renovated into a 3,500-capacity concert hall that is expected to open by year’s end.

“Having a full-service restaurant in this area, with this project, really makes it a true entertainment venue,” said Bryce Hollweg, chief operating officer for the Florida Panthers. “So you have the ice rinks, the soon-to-be concert venue, a flagship team store and a restaurant.”

Hollweg noted that The Federal will operate independently of the IcePlex. The restaurant may be accessed through the IcePlex, but patrons also can use a separate entrance on the opposite side of the building. The Federal will have its own hours of operation.

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Warm and relaxing, with brick-lined walls, multiple TVs, butcher-block tables and leather banquettes the color of toasted caramel, The Federal is a nearly 200-seat venue on the second floor.

The Federal has three unique spaces that should be especially popular. A room they are calling Free Skate is bordered by a glass wall that offers a view of the indoor public skating rink, the perfect spot for a parent to refresh while the kids do their thing on the ice. On the other side of the restaurant, a space called the Panthers room overlooks the ice sheet where the team practices. During a recent visit, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart and other players could be seen skating below.

But, arguably, the most prized tables will be in the back of the restaurant in a sunny space called the Terrace, with a large bar and light pouring in through floor-to-ceiling windows. On the other side of those windows, patio tables overlook Holiday Park’s six bustling pickleball courts, the hypnotic thwock-thwock a familiar metronome of modern life.

It was important to the Panthers that the IcePlex be integrated into Holiday Park and celebrate that environment, Hollweg said.

“This view, and the aperture that you get, is just a really cool spot,” he said, standing on the Terrace. “It would be a huge failure not to have a patio where you can sit, especially in our weather, our climate, and oversee what is a beautiful recreational area and park.”

Steps away from the pickleball courts, under a large sign for The Federal on the back of the IcePlex, is the door that leads to a dedicated flight of stairs up to the restaurant.

“That’s great that it’s finally opening. We’ve been watching it go in,” said Liz Farmer, 32, of Fort Lauderdale, while standing near the courts on Saturday. “We would definitely go up to the bar after playing. … We’re not that serious [about pickleball], so we might go before we play!”

The Federal is the latest project from local hospitality veteran David Cardaci’s Knallhart Management Group, which also operates popular local spots including Rhythm & Vine, The Wilder, Holly Blue , Roxanne’s and Palm Room, which opened a year ago on Las Olas Boulevard .

Knallhart soon will open The Shorely, a lounge and entertainment venue created on a retired 500-person ferry boat, a centerpiece of Marina Village at Bahia Mar on Fort Lauderdale beach.

But The Federal seems to have a special place in the heart of Cardaci, whose 7-year-old son plays soccer at Holiday Park. He hopes to attract not just pickleballers and ice skaters to The Federal, but families from the entire park.

“For every season, whether it be baseball, soccer, football, there’s probably thousands of families with children out here. It’s an incredible facility. All those families go meet somewhere after the game or after practice. This is perfect for every family,” Cardaci said.

Due to The Federal’s proximity to the pickleballers, that audience is already getting special attention from Cardaci. He’s hoping to rig some kind of delivery system between the restaurant and the pickleball courts.

“Of course we want the pickleballers here before and after games, but I’m going to do my best to find a way to get food and/or beverage down to the pickleballers, at the court, in a pretty efficient, interesting way,” he said with a smile. “I’m not sure if it’ll happen, but that’s my intent. We’re working on ideas.”

The Federal will be open daily, beginning with a full breakfast and a grab-and-go menu called The Federal Express. Representative lunch and dinner starters include fish dip, guacamole and poutine (all $10). Among the handhelds are The Federal Burger ($14, with fries), lobster roll ($20) and fish tacos ($16), while main entrees include salmon ($24), ribs (half-rack $22) and a New York strip steak ($32).

Like its sister properties, the menu of cocktails and wine is thoughtful and filled with moments of serendipity (see the Dulce de Leche Espresso Martini, $16). The draft beer list includes Graphic IPA ($7) from nearby Gulf Stream Brewing, which says all you need to know.

There is a kids’ menu for those 10 and younger, and a dessert menu starting with Fireman Derek’s award-winning Key lime pie ($12).

Brunch (of course) will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. And Happy Hour will offer half-off select beer, wine, spirits and dips from 3 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Wednesdays will be Burger Night, with $10 Federal Burger and fries (with purchase of a drink).

The chef is Brian Rivera, most recently of The Wilder. The general manager is Cindy Chaviano, formerly of Flagler Village restaurant Holly Blue, before that Boatyard.

Chaviano wants The Federal to be considered a sporty gastropub where families feel comfortable.

“That’s what really attracted me to the project, is that it is more family friendly. That’s something that I’ve been dealing with for a long time and I really enjoy doing, having the kids around,” she said.

The Federal is in Holiday Park, at 800 NE Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale. Visit TheFederalFTL.com .

Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com . Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and Twitter @BenCrandell .