The PublicanGreat place, great food!This was a fun place to go to. Felt like I was back in my dorms,. just an upscale one at that with very good food!6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMfantastic!!I've been meaning to try Publican for, what seems like, years. It really lived up to my expectations. Our meal was interesting, fresh and delicious. I was pleasantly surprised by all of the seafood and fish options, as my boyfriend is pescitarian. Our most outstanding course was the main- Turbot. It was a whole fish, sautéed in brown butter and herbs, and topped with toasted hazel nuts and mandrain orange slices. It was absolutely amazing!
The atmosphere was very comfortable and inviting. I especially liked the teak tables and chairs, with oversized brass sabots. I would definitely recommend requesting a booth. They looked really cozy.
The service was also excellent!! Everyone we interacted with was delightful.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMIt is a large noisy hall butIt is a large noisy hall but the food is uniformly delicious and the portions on the large side. I had the chicken and frites and it was excellent.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMPublican PleasesGreat food and excellent service. Perfect for a group that likes to share portions. Look forward to returning6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat FindPublican is a great find. The food is amazing and service is impeccable. My water glass was never empty and probably had 5 glasses. The best thing on the brunch menu is the smoked salmon ... done in house and the best I've ever had. I tasted other things from the group's plates and everything was excellent. If you don't like family style tables, then there are booths that seat 4. Enjoy!6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved everything!I only wished we had gone in earlier, some things I wanted was already sold out. But till loved everything. The banana bread pudding was excellent!6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAgain a must goAgain I was in Chicago for 2 weeks and wanted to try new restaurants as I am a bit of a foodie. Had to go back to Publican as it was outstanding the first time and again tremendous. This time sat at the long table shared with others and we made friends and had some laughs. That table is not for everybody but the food was outstanding as was the service.
Next year when back will ht new restaurants but have to go to Publican again as its a must-trust me its awesome.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMPublican, great brews and foodFood was unique and delicious! Timing was great. Our waitress made the experience especially great because she knew the drinks menu very well. We described what we liked and she selected a fitting drink. Loved the oysters, very fresh. The lamb was superb. The restaurant was too loud for us to visit with our friends whom we hadn't seen in 10 years. Otherwise, it was a memorable experience.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious FlavorsEvery dish we ordered was delicious and unique in flavor. The charcuterie plate, lamb, and blood sausage were excellent! A few beers were out that night we went and the Belgium beer list was not as large as we were expecting but it was still a decent list to choose from. The atmosphere is very unique but we would have loved it if the noise level wasn't so exceedingly loud. Yes it is a great place for a large group to hang out and it is a bar atmosphere but I didn't really like having to yell to talk to one another all night. Other than that, this place was perfect.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely stellarWe loved the energy, the architecture, the personality of the neighborhood, the ambiance - all of which made the whole dining experience unforgettable and distinctly 'Chicago'. The food was outstanding, from presentation down to the last fought-over morsel. Loved the fresh sea urchin, the sirloin, the scallops (what was on that salad?!), and that Belgian waffle - wow. Great service - totally engaging and friendly overall. Worth the price of the plane ticket to Chicago. Will definitely be back on our next visit.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible food, beersVery deserving of 3 James Beard awards, the communal dining tables isn't a problem, just different. The only warning is that it is very loud, which didn't bother me, but don't go to Publican if you are looking for a night of intimate conversation.6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWith the exception of theWith the exception of the not very attentive server (Amy), The Publican was outstanding. The food and ambience were excellent. Will definitely go back and hope for better service next round.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMService was not up to StandardsThis is a regular visit for me when I'm in Chicago. I love the small plate, share with friends concept and the food is always top notch. Their lamb is to die for. They have a limited wine selection, but a great beer list. This visit, however, the service was downright bad. I can endorse the restaurant as very, very good, but I hope their service is not starting to fail.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Absolute BestPublican has long stood as one of my favorite Chicago restaurants. I was so pleased by my first brunch at Publican that it wasn't until I had already returned for nearly 10 more brunch dates that my fiance that I actually had a Publican dinner. This was equally impressive. There is an emphasis placed on food quality (evident by the preparation) and service. The staff has always been outstanding. Reviews are often very subjective so the best recommendation would be to visit, visit soon, and make up your own mind. WIthout a doubt you'll have a fabulous experience.
Thanks6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food despite over cookedGreat food despite over cooked egg yolks; great service despite under cooked server. Everyone else was great--but our server was non-existent other than to stand at our table with nary a greeting, write down our order, then collect our money at the end of the meal. Off putting, when her assistants were stellar.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMFoodie ParadiseI would recommend this to anyone who is really into an eclectic brunch menu with a really interesting decor. I thought the pancakes were amazing and my mom's "Egg, Sourdough and Salad with Cheese" (simplified b/c don't recall the name) was unbelievable. Only comment was that the music was very loud and was sometimes hard to talk during the meal. The music choice was also very interesting, a mix of rap and electronica.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMLove shared seating experiencesWhile waiting for our table we made friends with some Blackhawks fans who had just left a game. When our reservation was ready I asked the host to add them to our table given they were on a waiting list. After sitting dow at a private booth rather than the communal seating, we were rewarded with a wonderful beef tartar for "embracing" the spirit of communal seating. Good was beautiful, but the our new friends truly made the whole experience memorable. Keep up the good work.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed the food - sucklingEnjoyed the food - suckling pig, mussels and asparagus - all outstanding. Too loud for me and my friend but did get somewhat used to the noise volume. Overall a really enjoyable experience.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMA real find!Being from Toronto, we have our share of amazing restaurants, but this was a highlight in our dining experiences. In particular, our server, Mary, made outstanding recommendations, was attentive and even suggested a terrific local champagne bar for after-dinner cocktails. The food was delicious as were the wines that were recommended. The inside was a but too loud for the kind of evening we had in mind so we asked for a patio table which was promptly set for us. It was perfect!!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMVibrant and tastySituated in what was probably a warehouse in meat packing district . Casual dress and9 court drive. Stanmore middx ha7 4qh lively atmosphere . Great tasting food, served in a tapas kind of way with different sized portions. Spanish Moroccan influence. Loved it6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat bacon!Had Saturday brunch at the Publican. Best bacon I've ever had. Ordered one heavy and one light dish and they balanced out well. Server could have been slightly more present but I'm glad he wasn't pestering.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGood Place For A Night OutGreat place to get together with a friend or friends to relax, eat good food and enjoy great beers. Food is creative and delicious. Excellent Beer Selection. Really vibrant atmosphere with friendly/knowledgeable servers.
Would Definitely recommend.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptional FoodThe Publican does everything that is right in the movement of fresh food to table. Most of the elements in each dish are locally sourced, which makes such a difference. We had the pork rinds, a half order of mussels and the roasted chicken with frites. The pork rinds were like pork flavored cheetos - in other words really good. The mussels were amazing, the broth that they were delivered in was so light, and came with really hot crusty bread baked onsite. But the winner of the night was the chicken. The layers of flavor that they got into that bird was quite simply amazing. And served on top of hot fresh fries that absorbed the juices from the chicken - there aren't enough adjectives in the English language to describe how good.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMReturn customer.Having been to The Publican before I knew the food was excellent but I really wanted my wife to experience it too. We ate like a king and queen, and meet some awesome ppl sitting next to us. Our waitress was very helpful and we were very grateful. We had reservations and had to wait a little bit, but boy did you they make amends.
Cheers from Toronto
Terry5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat brunch spotThe food was delicious and perfectly prepared. Sourdough pancake with chicken and sausage was amazing! Zucchini bread should not be missed. We will be back.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMgood Saturday brunchHad one of the private tables around the edge of the room, the rest are shared tables. Great cocktail, server was friendly and knowledgable about the food and the beer, really good entree. The serving dishes for a couple of the entrees at the table were large all-clad metal braising dishes sitting on a metal trivet in front of each guest. Little awkward to eat out of. The real thing to note is that this place is LOUD LOUD LOUD.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMBest brunch in ChicagoThis was my favorite brunch spot in Chicago. My husband had the fried egg and bone marrow hash. I had the sourdough pancake with bacon wrapped chicken thigh. Both were amazing. The tables are mostly one big table that you are sharing with multiple people that you do not know. Farm house style seating. This did not bother us but you should be aware of it if you are going. Food was out of this world.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMLots of EnergyAt first we were thrown off by the idea of a communal table, but we quickly let our guard down and were able to enjoy a nice meal while making friends. The mackerel entree was delicious and I would simply come back just to try it again.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMSocialFun beerhall-like atmosphere, good service & most importantly good food. Roasted chicken sounds pedestrian but here it was amazing.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible All AroundPublican is well known for its meats... and the ribs are simply out of this work and like nothing else you can get in the city. But they also have a great collection of seafood- from a variety of oysters, to a nicely prepared crab dish, and some scallops that hit the spot. And their veggies, like all other items, are sourced (mainly locally) and stand out on their own (eg beet salad) as well as when paired with the mains. While it is look at as adult place, we brought our teenage son and pre-teen daughter and while they initially were wary- the menu allowed us to order a lot of small dishes, let them try some new dishes, and they truly loved most of it (and we ate anything they didn't!)5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMService??The food was awesome as expected, even the management was great, Donnie stopped by and said hello.... I would come back for sure.... Everyone was great....5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMNeck MusclesThe noise level inside made me have to exercise my neck muscles in order to be heard. The loud noise of everyother conversation in the room made for competitive vocal volumizing and did not lend to a completely relaxing vibe.
The table side service was impeccable and appreciated. The food was exciting and a full on flavor adventure.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFun urban setting with greatFun urban setting with great energy level. The food ranged from fantastic to awesome, with an emphasis on charcuterie both house made and imported. Who would have expected great fresh oysters in the Mid-West? A great experience.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMBrunch can't be beat!A friend and I went to Sunday brunch and were very impressed by the food and service. We both ordered cocktails (mimosa and bloody mary), split the waffle as an appetizer, and then ordered the flatbread and foccacia as entrees. The waffle had a very airy and crispy consistency. My friend was in love with the house churned butter! Butter! We also had a side of bacon which is not the "normal" looking bacon we're all used to that's thin. It came drizzled in syrup and was out of this world!
The service provided was excellent by the entire team from hostess, to servers, to bussers. Both of us can't wait to return for lunch or dinner.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMalways enjoy coming-food innovativealways enjoy coming-food innovative and excellent. Have seen the service slide-all technical not hospitality.waitress not engaging at all......5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMBarry was our server. He wasBarry was our server. He was fantastic. We were in town for the NRA show and let the kitchen send us whatever they wanted. Everything was great. I recommend this to anyone going to Chicago. Thanks for a great and memorable meal.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst visit for this out of townerEnjoyed Sunday Brunch with friends and colleagues. Delicious specials and live the thick cut bacon served in maple syrup. I enjoyed the Chachouka and the Pimento Cheese with pretzel was great. Another friend had the Red Wine eggs and yet another had the Lox. Everything was awesome! Great service!5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGood trendyPopular, large and noisy place. . Food is good and also ambiance. This restaurant follows the trend to share plates with your friends. Good bistro food with a twist . Not as mediterranean as others ( that's very ok !) . Service was good and knowledgeable. We tried diffent wine when eating at the bar. Was the week-end of a Food Show.. Excellent fries as were the asparagus. . The "rib" is tasty when hot. Our first plate was not but promptly replaced not reheated. . Had reservation and upon arrival were offered the small table beside the buss boy corner. Why does that table exist in a Publican ?Then were offered the bar or 45 min wait..... Not our most memorable eatery. I think our best on 3 in Chicago including the P. Pig and the Goat.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMUpscale family-style diningWe would have liked to sit in a booth, but even though they were mostly empty when we arrived, we were informed they must be reserved ahead. Lesson learned. The long tables would be great for groups. The restaurant is noisy, but we were still able to talk. I really liked the fact that sharing is encouraged, as the food is all interesting. Service was slow because it was Mother's Day, but we were actually glad not to be rushed, and our waiter was terrific.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMBest brunch definitely warrantedIt is always tough to live up to the hype, but Publican's Sunday Brunch does just that! Wowed by every aspect - execution, variety, creativity, service, we could go on and on!!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMSolid brunch spotThe Publican is a great spot for brunch (and I'm sure other meals as well); the atmosphere is lively and cozy. The oysters were fantastic, and the Bloody Marys come with a small beer to chase which was quite interesting. The braised pork shoulder was so-so; the curry was not as flavorful as it could have been. I would recommend the maple-cured bacon (delicious) and the tartuffe eggs (so fluffy and perfect for brunch!). They are generous with coffee refills and all in all, a great experience.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFor those in the know, orderingFor those in the know, ordering is the key to getting the best experience at Publican. Order the largest dish first, as these take the longest and normally arrive after you are too full of the many smaller bites to fully appreciate them.
Also, the 3 hams is an amazing sampler of the extremely thin and pleasingly salty cured hams.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMDeliciousHusband and I went for a late-night dinner after going to the theater and loved it. Food was interesting and delicious, beer selection was fantastic, and service was really good. The only nitpicky problem we had was the inconsistency in the volume of the music and the overall noise level. It's a very open space, and the tables/seats are close together, which already lends itself to an above-average, but not intolerable, level of noise, but the fact that the music would go from soft to loud and back again without warning was kind of odd. Regardless, I would highly recommend Publican and would visit again next time we're in town.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMExquisite Food, Brusque serviceI always come here on my birthday and on special occasions. The kitchen staff clearly rocks, and the food is always, always perfect. Every server has passed a beer server credentialing program and they have a Cicerone on staff. The quality of everything is very good. I consider it a really special place. My one issue is that I think the service is slipping. While the waiter was surrounded with top-notch staff (the hostess, reservation folks, water folks didn't miss a beat) I felt like he was a little too-cool or something. He didn't let me even finish my sentence about what kind of beer I was wanting- he already apparently knew what was best. Pacing was slow, then fast. Still: excellent food.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ambiance and foodLoved the asparagus and the bread pudding. The ham entree was pretty good, but the rib-eye that the couple next to us ordered (and let us taste) was by far superior.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMWaaay too noisyHas the potential to be a really great restaurant, and retain community feel, but it's unpleasantly noisy.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMDinner and a ShowWe went to the publican for my boyfriend's birthday. He loves anything pork so when I surprised him with reservations he was elated. His favorite dish was the suckling pig and aged ham sampler. I really enjoyed the octopus. BUT what really made the experience special was the interactions. Our server and all of the serving staff were attentive, informative and friendly. Not to mention we found ourselves seated next to some real characters at the communal table. Like I said, dinner and a show. I would absolutely go back, but with the price point, it'll have to be another special occasion.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMBalance and ExecutionThe flavors in each dish were perfectly balanced and each element was well-executed.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMVery Good BrunchI took a friend to a pre-Cubs game birthday brunch. The gouda omelet with mushrooms and asparagus was outstanding. The veggies came with the omelet, as opposed to inside it, which was great and the cheese was in every bite! The bacon is to die for. The wine poached eggs are a little too strong of the wine flavor for my tastes. We also had the pretzel with pimiento cheese as a tasty appetizer. We took a sticky bun to the game to enjoy later - tasty. The waiter was great (sorry, I don't recall his name).5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went for lunch and it wasWe went for lunch and it was great! Delicious and original brunch options. It was a bit loud though, couldn't talk too much.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AM