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Public
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
210 Elizabeth St(between Spring St & Prince St)
New York, NY 10012
Neighborhood: Nolita
(212) 343-7011
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bowery (J)
Spring St (4, 6, 6X)
Prince St (N, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 6 pm - 12 am
Sat-Sun 11 am - 3:30 pm
Sun 6 pm - 10:30 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
457 reviews for Public
Review Highlights
"We had the hokey pokey ice cream for dessert."
(in 9 reviews)
"Pan-seared foie gras on spiced french toast with pineapple..."
(in 8 reviews)
"The wasabi-yuzu dipping sauce totally made this dish work."
(in 5 reviews)
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457 reviews in English
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Review from Renee m.
1/29/2012
We came here on a rainy thursday evening for a nice girls night...
We didn't have reservations, but were seated right away...
We had:
1. Fried Oysters with Yuzu Wasabe dressing - Light and crunchy and the Yuzu sauce delivered just the right amount of kick
2. Lentil green salad - A citrus mix of fresh lentils, greens, and avocado
3. fois gras french toast w/ bacon - Enough said.... made my tummy smile
4. Oxtail & snail ravoli - rich, and satisfying
The decor was intimate, and rustic....
A great place to catch up with friends :) -
Review from Lulu S.
Santa Clara, CA
1/29/2012
I was in NY for a 'work' week that included dinners at places like Momofuko Ko and Per Se. By far the most fun and enjoyable dinner I had was at Public.
A group of 6 of us were there on a Tuesday night and we were treated so well and with such warmth and care it was truly memorable, not an ounce of pretentiousness . John and Jeff took care of suggesting dishes for us to share and amazing wines to go along with each dish.
We had the hama oysters, an amazing smoked salmon salad, the foie, kangaroo and the venison all were delectable and then for desert the sticky toffee pudding and a selection of sorbets and ice cream.
We asked if the chef and pastry chef could come out at the end of dinner so we could thank them and they were both super humble and extremely gracious. Great place and I would definitely go back. -
Review from Jenn E.
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is for brunch only but both times I've been here for brunch it's been a solid brunch experience.
They don't take reservations for weekend brunch but do have a large seating area so typically we wait 15-30 mins. When I came here a couple of weekends ago they had complimentary hot cider that we could sip on while we waited, which was a definite perk.
Must Have: venison burger. Amazingly delicious, the patty itself is well-seasoned, just a tiny bit sweet and not gamey at all. It sits on a fluffy brioche bun and ridiculously good tomato jam (thicker, more complex ketchup with a nice sweet-salty flavor) and is served with crispy, dense and salty cassava (aka yucca) fries. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The dish is served with dipping sauces of horseradish mayo (the least exciting), more tomato jam and saffron aioli, my favorite. If you get nothing else at Public, get this burger. It seems like a small portion but is incredibly rich and filling.
The bloody marys are strong but have a nice tomato and spicy kick to them; other brunch cocktails are decent but not memorable. Coconut pancakes are incredibly moist and delicious with a lot of coconut flavor and a yummy mango-based fruit salad. Not a giant portion but satisfying. The Fry Up is a great savory option - it sounds basic on the menu but the slow roasted tomatoes and buttered mushrooms really elevate the dish to beyond just standard fried eggs and toast.
Service is friendly if a bit slow. -
Review from Sandy S.
Chicago, IL
2/7/2012
Superb! Splendid! AWESOME! Beautiful!! I will never forget my evening at PUBLIC. From the Host to the Wait staff and Iron Chef Brad Farmery - treated me like Royalty. The presentations were more than delicious pieces of art work on a plate! I can't wait to visit again!!! This time I will bring my Hubby. ; ) - a great place when visiting New York! Put this on your list people. love from Chicago/Schaumburg.
ps. thank you for the great service, friendly faces and a great tour of PUBLIC. -
Review from Chester N.
Astoria, NY
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I must say, it is always a delight to have a good meal and think to yourself that it was Michelin worthy. Of course, I'm not on the star committee and quite frankly, what do I know about class and elegance? However, I do know what I like and what I am impressed with. So it was to my surprise that after a friend's birthday dinner at Public, I found out it was a Michelin star.
I love going to restaurants with an unbiased premonition so I can judge with my own tastes and opinions. Public's decor was stunning and that alone I was impressed with. The course did take a while to prepare, which I have no problems with (as long as it's within a reasonable frame) because greatness takes time. Regrettably, I can't comment on my food because it's been 2 months since I went and quite honestly, I don't remember what I got. I do remember how I felt, and I can say I felt satisfied with the quality.
I would not be opposed to coming again for a celebration of a friend's name day. -
Review from Samuel M.
New York, NY
1/12/2012
This type of restaurant is the same everywhere: Global mediocrity and a pretentious mess.They are in a nice location, the interiors are stunning, the menu is sophisticated. But the food is so mediocre.
I dressed great and was excited by this 1 michelin star restaurant, after that a concert in the Bowery Ballroom across the street.
Couldn't be a better plan. The reality was the opposite, all was a mess.
When we arrived the hostess gave us the worst table, i was looking at the exit door against a wall (and we had a reservation). I had to ask her to change us, and the table was much better.
The waitress was very attentive but the food was bad: the mushroom carpaccio, the duck. But the worst was my beet gnudi (kind of a gnocchi). The tanzanian wine was nothing special.
This place is nothing but look, a waste of money and waking up like a ballon the morning after, i rather eat a hot dog in the street. Terrible. -
Review from Janet L.
Colonia, NJ
2/3/2012
Two words - BIG DISAPPOINTMENT! We wanted to take advantage of the $50 5-course Sunday Supper but when we got there at 8pm, it was not offered. The waiter told us they ran out of food! Can you believe that of a Michelin star restaurant? The couple who sat next to us was offered the 5-course deal but not us! When they didn't want the prix-fix, the waiter didn't even bother to offer it to us!
On top of that, the seating was tight and we had to use restrain our voices from being heard by our neighbors. Our entrees were below average and our shared dessert was not memorable.
All in all, I felt the Sunday Supper deal was a gimmick just to get ppl to go there. How could you run out of food at 8pm especially when it's offered till 10pm? If anything, they should have told ppl before they got seated down! -
Review from Massive T.
Brooklyn, NY
1/23/2012
In a world where Michelin stars seem to be still recognized.. comes Public restaurant.
The small portions will suit the good looking and overly skinny part time models who frequent this dimly lit, cool space.
Service is snobby and pretentious. Perhaps this would be the perfect establishment for imenus, so as we as guests, dont have to interact with the servers at all.
If you love a scene and dont care too much about food or wine, you should come to Public once a week for the rest of your life.
In my travels I have found restaurants that covert Michelin stars care greatly about maintaining status quo and are scared to innovate. With a stagnant menu and crappy wine list, I wish you all the best Public. -
Review from Cecilia F.
Manhattan, NY
2/8/2012
Fun bar to meet up with friends, the menu choices seemed a bit complex but you will be happy with any of the choices. On good weather they open the side windows and it feels like a terrace.
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Review from dan naomi w.
New York, NY
Updated - 12/30/2011
I planned my organization's holiday dinner and PUBLIC and could not have been more happy with the service from start to finish.
The event planner, Kimberly, is warm, understanding, organized and incredibly helpful. The service at the dinner was equally incredible - just the right pace!
Everyone (even uber food snobs!) had an absolute blast and adored the food.
Thank you so much, PUBLIC! I highly recommend for planning events!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/30/2011
fantastic brunch!
we loved the ambiance and decor (and the detail-oriented commitment to the decor… Read more »
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Review from Miles H.
Stamford, CT
1/31/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Very Solid Michelin star place. Very creative dishes, good cocktails!
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Review from Valerie G.
New York, NY
1/9/2012
I can attest that at opening time (11 AM) there is no wait.
But my brunch buddy was an hour late...
So I can also attest that at 12 noon, there is no wait as well (:
Michelin star, rated best brunch in NYC, James Beard award. And these are just a smattering of the type of food that awaits you at Public! You start off with a little plate of scones that match the number of people in your party, a welcome change from the bread basket norm. Definitely go for the $22 brunch prix fixe w. your choice of entrée + 1 cocktail + coffee or tea. Can you really get any better than that?
I went with the tea-smoked salmon (hollandaise sauce was a bit too heavy for me - and eggs benedicts are my brunch staple) & my friend had the black pudding waffle w. whipped fois gras butter (divine). Out of the two dishes, I would highly recommend the waffle and this is coming from a girl who always chooses savory over sweet for brunch. I had the rosemary thyme prosecco with my meal and it was delicious with just the right hint of thyme.
The atmosphere at Public is airy and carefree. The waiters breeze by but also keep an eye on you to make sure you're completely satisfied. The restaurant is decently large but mainly made up of tables for 2 so those are your best bet.
P.S. No ressies for brunch but they do take for dinner and that $55 tasting course looks mighty tasty. -
Review from Monica R.
I came back to Public a few months later to give its brunch another try. I was very happy to see that their public safety was no longer 'pending' but an A!
This time I tried something a little different. I ordered the fry-up, and my husband ordered the salmon. While we were waiting for our order we got our drinks. I'd just like to say that the bourbon rooibos ice tea is worth it enough to come back to this place. I was pleasantly surprised. When we received our dishes I came across my only complaint. The food was somewhat luke-warm. I'm not sure if it had sat too long before it came out. My food was almost cold by the time I finished it. But I finished it, because it was awesome. My husband loved his also! Our waitress was great, and overall it was definitely a redeeming experience. I would recommend this place for brunch.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/22/2011
I get this place is trying to be unique with their brunch options, but I wasn't too impressed with… Read more »
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Review from Tony T.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for NYE and they had a 6 course prix fixe menu for $120 per person.
There was no amuse bouche.
For the soup course, it was curried celeriac soup with raisins and a truffle vinaigrette. The soup was served in an espresso cup and was creamy. The golden raisins added a nice sweetness that was necessary to fully enjoy the flavor of the soup. Unfortunately, my raisins were all at the bottom of the cup.
The second course was butternut squash flan with pickled mushroom and brown butter-miso vinaigrette. The flan had flan-like texture along with the sweetness of the butternut squash but there was too much salt. Also tried the dashi custard with lobster, lime and caviar. The custard was creamy and the lobster was topped with caviar. There was a hint of lime and the lobster was fresh. However, this dish was also pretty salty.
The third course was sea trout tartar with truffle yuzu dressing, shaved daikon and a soft boiled quail's egg. The tartar was very salty, but the fish was fresh and tasted a little like salmon but was Tasmanian sea trout. Also tried the cured wild boar with Garrotxa cheese, olives, caper berries and crostini. The crostini was perfect, the olives were salty, and the wild boar was a little oily.
The fourth course was fried Ham-Hama oysters with shiso, sansho pepper, and wasabi-yuzu sauce. The batter was light and the oysters were good. The wasabi-yuzu sauce on top was perfect for this dish. Also tried the foie gras torchon with kumquat marmalade, garam masala spiced cashews, and a frisée salad with mustard vinaigrette. The dish was a little sweet and a little sour,but the foie gras was only OK.
The fifth dish was pan seared snapper with roasted spaghetti squash, smoked coconut laksa, and roasted mushrooms. The fish was cooked well but was a little too well done. The spaghetti squash was a background component and was mixed into sauce which was a little sour and salty. Also tried the New Zealand venison loin with Cabrales dumplings, oyster mushrooms and salsa verde. The salsa verde was a little out of place on the venison which was cooked a perfect medium rare. The chef was able to avoid the gaminess usually associated with venison.
The dessert course was the homemade mascarpone with cranberry-kumquat sauce and ginger tuile. The cheese was a little thick, and the sauce was good with it. Also tried the chocolate whiskey cake with espresso panna cotta and cocoa merengue. The merengue was chalky and chewy, and the cake was thick and a little hard to eat.
Overall the food was over salted for almost every dish. From the time we sat until the time we finished the meal it was one hour. That is not a lot of time for a 6 course meal. It felt rushed. The space is very nice and they have skylights on the roof for you to see what the night looks like. -
Review from Catherine J.
New York, NY
12/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Kangaroo served like dessert
An omniscient server with perfect liquid eyeliner
Skylights
Soundtrack that made my way hip friend email himself the playlist
All these easily excused the [very poor] Public 75 cocktail.
Venison over cabrales dumplings was fucking awesome. Only a touch gamy.
Beautiful. Delicious. Top notch a-grade michelin star magic. -
Review from Scarlett S.
Cupertino, CA
1/1/2012
I think Public is one of those solid 4-star restaurants. Quality, but nothing mind blowing.
So my friend and I ordered:
Appetizer: Fried Hama Hama oysters with the wasabi-yuzu dipping sauce
- Amazing! Probably my favorite dish of the night, highly recommended. The fried oysters are wrapped with some kind of leaf and then dipped in to the sauce which all just works so well together.
Mains: Venison over dumplings and salsa, and duck breast with a sesame soy dressing
- Venison and duck breast were both super tender, but the overall dish was okay. The complements to the dishes (like the dumplings with the venison and the chips with the duck breast) were good.
Dessert: Chocolate hazelnut panna cotta
- Really standard, wouldn't really recommend it, kind of regretted not going for the Hokey Pokey ice cream
My main takeaway for the restaurant: appetizer and cocktails were my favorite part, mains could have been done better, loved the ambiance, and would try here again for brunch.
Cheers :) -
Review from Emma L.
12/4/2011
Wow. Extremely well cooked food.
I was here last night for a private birthday dinner and the prefix menu was flawless. Everything was cooked perfectly. I am always impressed when cooking for a large group, my dish comes out perfect and piping hot fresh. The service was spot on. We started with champagne toasts in the back room and the service staff checked our coats seamlessly for such a large group. I would definitely recommend Public for a large private dinner again, it was great! -
Review from Victor A.
1/24/2012
I was there for about ten minutes maybe. Great bar selection. Great ambience. Looking forward to coming back and actually staying a while.
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Review from Kelley C.
Manhattan, NY
12/20/2011
I really enjoyed my experience at public.
Started off the evening in The Monday Room - the wine bar attached to the restaurant. The atmosphere in The Monday Room was totally my style, comfy leather chairs, dark wood and candlelight. The wine by the glass list is great here (much more than is offered in the restaurant).
Then we headed off to the restaurant. Only really complaint was it was a bit tough to hear the conversation because it was a bit loud, but nothing too bad. We started with the scallops, which were excellent. Then, I had the duck breast as the main course. It was great! Perfect blend of asian flavors. We ended with the pumpkin cheesecake which was a great way to end and not too big.
Service was great and perfectly timed. I look forward to coming back to Public! -
Review from Rhonda W.
11/21/2011
This awesome spacious Publically eco-friendly place gets 5 stars from me, for the fabulous service from every single person that worked here and for the awesome flavors that danced in my mouth from appetizer to entree to dessert.
They also had pencils, pens and little bars of soap in the bathroom that you could take as parting gifts if you wanted. I didn't take any but, I think if I wanted to, they were available for use. It was also fun to see street lamps, hotel room keys, old school library cataloging and post office boxes as the decor of this Public restaurant (get it...)
The grilled scallops were really delicious, especially the sweet chili sauce that they were served over. I really like the venison, served over yummy polenta and garnished with basil and the duck was yummy, but I wasn't into the fancy bed of fries that they were on. I was hoping for more bok choy and less fried yumminess, espeically since duck is already doing a good job of having delicious fatty skin on it.
I was a little nervous to go out on a limb when ordering dessert, but I did it and I wasn't disappointed. I had the pear crumble with miso cheddar ice cream. Huh? yeah, i didn't know you could mix american favs with Japanese favs but, it works.
Overall, it was an awesome meal; food, atmosphere and wait staff. I'd like to come back again, sit at the bar and just have dessert and a cocktail. hmmm... -
Review from Jess L.
Updated - 11/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
While I love the space and the uniqueness of the menu, this time around, I was not nearly as impressed. My salmon was definitely overcooked, and half of my poached eggs were over-poached. The dish didn't move me in any fantastic way, and it occurs to me that for $14, this dish should have done so.
Service was a little slow on the uptake, but our water glasses were always filled.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/27/2011
...and I hereby crown you my new favorite place for brunch in NYC.
The ambiance is so friggin'… Read more »
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Review from Gina F.
New York, NY
1/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
We have been trying to get a reservation here for months, now i get it , I. Really do. Romantic lighting, wonderful play list and yes the food. Asian influences and modern elegance paired with impeccable and attentive service. Be sure to have Jeff create a flight to go with your meal. His recommendations for wine go all the way to dessert. The only down side of the meal were the crispy fried Brussels sprouts, oily! Must try: dashi custard and the sticky toffee pudding cake. If you are up for it play food lover trivia in the monday room while you eat Union square cafe, watch out.. There's a new game in town.
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Review from Julie P.
1/8/2012
Wandered in here by chance one night after meaning to try this place for a long time. I had been warned it was nothing special, but I was pleasantly surprised! I loved the ambiance and decor - trendy but totally comfortable. We were put in the back lounge with a fireplace and plenty of space. My friend and I made ourselves at home on the sofas with a couple glasses of wine and water and took our sweet time. The server was super accommodating and so nice. We had the scallops, anchovy croquettes, brussel sprouts, and sweet potato miso mash. I thought all of it was delicious and well-done. Really happy with everything. We just had tea for dessert, but it was done just right - each of us received our own tea pot that was steaming a little basket of loose tea leaves. Perfect evening at a very good restaurant.
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Review from Jan Y.
Long Island City, NY
11/8/2011
Pretty place, not so good food.
Not really sure why it has a Michelin star?
The food:
-Fried oysters - mediocre, have had better exterior not as crispy as I'd like, too soft. I was told to eat it with the leaf, but it didn't make it taste much better.
-Grilled kobe beef tongue - meh.. mediocre
-Foie gra on french toast w/mango & bacon - Good, not mind blowing
-Polenta and aleppo crusted cod with a smoked corn and barley risotto, and truffle-huitlacoche vinaigrette - Dry, not much flavor
-Roasted duck breast with sesame soy dressing, cassava chips, bok choy and pickled chilies - I would have enjoyed duck from Big Wong more than this dish and for $27 for few slices of duck, you can get 2 whole ducks at BW's :)
Don't expect to be WoWed here by the food, but by all means, go for a sexy drink with your date. -
Review from Alaine H.
New York, NY
11/29/2011
3.5 Stars
My friend took me here for my Birthday Brunch. She chose the location - my requirements for her on choosing a location for brunch 1) Interesting/Creative take on Brunch menu items 2) Reasonably priced
Public fit those requirements. I chose the Brunch set and ordered the Black Pudding waffles washed down with Vanilla & Fig Bellini and sobered up with a pot of English Breakfast tea. Lamingtons were self serve in the middle of the restaurant.
Best Lamingtons in New York ever! Moist cake and the coconut shavings were not overpowering or falling apart. I would come back for the Lamingtons!
The waffles were delicious and served with a generous helping of foie gras butter - holy richness! I could barely eat more than half of my plate because it was so rich! -
Review from Stephanie C.
New York, NY
10/9/2011
Love the space. It's as described, a giant loft- with outdoor, indoor space and a great bar. Sexy, Soho/ambiance...reminded me of Buddakhan a bit.
My cousin was in town, visiting and suggested we come here. It was easy to make a reservation online for 7:15 but there wasn't a lot of availability after 8, or around that time, even for Sunday. Apparently this place is really hot for brunch. They also offer a Sunday Supper deal for $50- 3 course (I think). We opted out of this because my cousin's a vegan.
Since she's a vegan, the waitress recommended the mushroom ceviche (didn't try this), the brussel sprouts (very good, great texture, crispy), and another veg dish...asparagus? I can't remember what the last one was.
I was recommended out of the fish dishes, to get the trout. Which I did. It tasted a lot like salmon.. but not as flavoful. Same meaty texture, though. And very good, because I liked the crispy skin. I liked the carrot cardamom puree (very carrot-y), and the chick peas. Very clean and simple dish but good and light too (but filling).
My waitress recommended the duck but it seemed like the usual Asian bok choy preparation for me and I wanted something more "Australian...?" I thought that was what this place was all about. But I didn't see any kangaroo or anything too unique.. guess it's the wrong season.
Service was great; refilled waters nicely and the waitress wasn't pushy and was sincere.
They gave great starting bread-- I got the capers foccacia. The foccacia wasn't as oily and dough-y as some of those you'd see at an Italian place, but the capers were different and gave it a nice salty touch. Yum!
Come back factor.. not sure. Maybe, but I have yet to try so many different places.
We didn't go for the desserts, because we were really full. Entrees are mid 20s and above. -
Review from charle m.
New York, NY
10/17/2011
Enticed as I was by the twinkle twinkle of the little Michelin star, I came here over the weekend for brunch.
There was not very much twinkling going on. At least not from the kitchen.
While the decor was impressive in a well executed garage-turned-into-an-indoor-garden-kind-of-way, I was more enamored with the surrounding aesthetics and my cute waiter than I was with the food on my plate. Our table had the grilled venison burger, the "fry-up", and a side of chorizo. The chorizo was quite tasty, the other items were not. Nor was my bloody mary.
Trendy and alluring, yes. Amazing food, no. There were several cocktails on the drink list that looked interesting; I wouldn't mind coming back to try, say, the Guava and Red Chili Margarita or something from their international wine menu but I will definitely be venturing elsewhere for dinner. -
Review from Byron C.
10/19/2011
Good American style food with a little asian fusion. Nothing mind blowing but good. Bonus points for having a really cool space with very good cocktails.
Enjoy! -
Review from Max F.
Brooklyn, NY
1/11/2012
One of NYC's best restaurants. Friendly service, incredibly knowledgeable waitstaff, beautiful atmosphere. Not too noisy. Try the tasting menus....always a sure thing!
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Review from Nas L.
New York, NY
11/2/2011
Came here for our anniversary dinner. Read the reviews on the spotty service, but good food so we took the risk. Long story short, we had over the top service not only from our waitress Ali, but the hostess, servers, the lady that brought our bread and the gentlemen that brought us to our seats.
Food was almost excellent. I'll tell you why I only say ALMOST and not great later. Had the side salad and it was huge! It's a meal itself. Everything from appetizer to dessert and drinks were delicious!
Now the food part is why I ranked them 4 stars and not 5. I really want to minus a half star for this. Anyway, food was delicious for sure, but our entree was served warm. It wasn't hot, it was warm. I felt like we need to eat it fast before it got cold. -
Review from Justin L.
Brooklyn, NY
11/7/2011
The
Place looks
Great and the
Food is worthy
Of its star. Makes for an excellent brunch. -
Review from steven h.
Greenville, SC
12/13/2011
Ok, so I would love to give Public more stars.....but.....will explain in a moment.
The interior is cozy and warm. Excellent interior. Had the Beet Gundi as my main course and it was fabulous. Definitely 5 stars. The service of the wait staff was exceptional.
Ok, here is my rub. As a serious drinker, I expect timely cocktails and a quality bartender. Drinks at Public took FOREVER. From our first round we ordered at the bar while waiting to be seated to the additional cocktails ordered throughout dinner, we had to wait and wait and wait some more. I think someone was in the back picking the juniper berries and making the gin on site. They seriously need to look at their bar staff and step up their game in this area. -
Review from MoMo B.
Brooklyn, NY
9/11/2011
I came here for brunch after reading some great reviews. I was not disappointed.
First of all, the space is great... some kind of cross between an old warehouse and a garage. I'm a total sucker for exposed brick and skylights, which this place had plenty of.
Service was friendly and quick. I had the Coconut Pancakes which were delicious and a side of the Quinoa Hash Browns. I was a fan of both, but not together. One was sweet, the other savory. I'll come back and order the hash browns with a meal that includes some form of bacon.
I also had a taste of the scones and preserves... also delicious.
The coffee and mimosa was yummy too.
I was here early enough and there was already a line forming to get seated. I imagine this place fills up pretty quickly.
All in all, I was a very happy brunch-er. -
Review from Dimitrios D.
New York, NY
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Quinoa hash browns.
Sour dough bread, scrambled eggs, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms.
Bourbon in iced tea with some kind of fruit juice (I forget, but maybe apricot?).
A very aesthetically pleasing place. Brick walls painted and remodeled. Trendy and chic. Large skylights. Old warehouse?
Lots of good looking people inside as well as people who think they look good. All wearing seemingly expensive and trendy clothing.
Whatevs, brody. It's a nice place, but I won't rush back. -
Review from Hank C.
8/26/2011
With the Michelin star... I would've expected better.
Their waitstaff is attentive, but the food really was a shame... we were a large group of 22, so they set down a price fixe menu for us with three courses for $60 a head. Now, the $50 5-course tasting menu is on the menu that's posted outside, so immediately I was disappointed at being only served 3 dishes. Our host for the night had argued not to take multiple credit cards, too, but fortunately they capitulated and took as many as we would have for the night.
So they gave us a large group space and would be taking their time to serve us...right? Certainly, the waitstaff pushed the drinks (like any good staff should), and came back with water on a regular interval. Bread was a bit more sporadic. But they were busy that night... I suppose as an intimate date out, being uninterrupted for a while isn't a bad thing.
Looking at the table cloth I was amazed how many holes there were and how crammed they had to make the table in order to do it... plus the dirt streak that was hidden under my bread plate. Placement of the seating was crowded due to the size of the group and the fact the tables were really meant for one person to a side...
Overall... the food was salty. For every course, I had to put down a glass or two of water. The breads were the starter, one or two pieces to start. The focaccia was salty and the sourdough wasn't sour... They'd be better off just setting down the bread on the table instead of serving it, in my opinion. This was a bunch of Europeans at the table, used to having as much bread at dinner as they liked, and they expressed surprise at having only a tiny slab of butter and bread basket that was served to them instead of just openly on the table to share. At least the bread basket came back around in the middle of the dinner course.
I had kangaroo for a starting dish. Interesting texture, cooked exactly like a loin... seared on the outside, and rare on the inside. Sliced well, but the portions from one plate to another were fairly inconsistent. The dish beside mine was twice as much meat (we put them side by side)! Still, with the slightly salty sauce, it ended up being decent (almost like slightly pounded steak). The scallop appetizer was better - with a savory sauce on greens, most of the people who chose that were happy with their choice, but again, salty.
The main course - I had a New Zealand trout. Or was it a Australian trout? Or something else? The waitstaff had a few names for it. It has the skin like rainbow trout but the flesh of a salmon. Interesting, although a bit overburned and dry at the thin side but done very well at the thick side of the meat.
The loin of lamb... reminded me of the kangaroo. Very much like it, same cooking style, again, a bit too salty for me. Also was not served hot... it was cool by the time it reached us. Can't tell if that was intended, but I would've loved to have it hot. An aftereffect of being in a large group? The roasted grain beside the lamb was a good touch.. for a bite or two. Portion was overdone; they were too chewy to eat much of. Much of it was left on every plate. The carrots pickled were a good touch, though.
Dessert.. I'm not sure what it was, but the sorbet I had tasted somewhere between bubble gum and sugar... and why salt the strawberries?? They didn't impress with the toffee pudding (it was a bit too dark and earthy for my taste, but others liked it). The lime tart is really sour. Really. Be warned if you don't like sour.
Overall, watch your hypertension for those afraid of salt. I've heard great things about this restaurant - from much smaller, intimate groups at brunch. People liked the dark, warehouse-like atmosphere by the wine room clear glass and other decor. The staff was casually pleasant. But they did seem a bit overwhelmed with our group, and the servings, though pretty, didn't quite satisfy the hunger without overdosing on the bread.
Come in a smaller group, I suspect you'll have a better experience! -
Review from Gerri M.
Pittsburgh, PA
1/18/2012
The fried oysters are simply scrumptious. I was impressed by the dishes put in front of us: foie gras, kangaroo, venison, and the sticky toffee pudding. Plus, our group had a really fun time.
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Review from K D.
New York, NY
12/13/2011
Nice place. Good atmosphere, though space is a little tight. I had the venison with pesto and it was pretty good. The brussel sprouts were great, I'd definitely order those again. I wasn't amazed by the food, but the nice atmosphere, quick service, and decent prices made for an overall solid dinner.
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Review from Alyssa Y.
New York, NY
8/11/2011
What I gained from Public:
20 mosquito bites and a discontent, though admittedly full stomach.
I haven't been this eaten alive since I was in rural Thailand and at least then the gorgeous view of ricefields was worth the itching. In contrast, Public offers an only decent, "industrial chic" ambiance, unimpressive, occasionally overly salty food, and less than mediocre service. We had to wave down the waiter on numerous occasions, our cocktails came AFTER the first course, and though I said on Opentable that we were celebrating my birthday, oops they forgot.
Seriously, if Public deserves one Michelin star, Del Posto most definitely deserves its second star back. Granted, there was a private party going on which might explain the sub par food and service but I won't be returning to see if that was the source... -
Review from Doug S.
Manhattan, NY
8/9/2011
This place has a cool, industrial vibe on the inside, an old bakery with concrete floors and a metal skylight ceiling, with a large garage door opening to the outside. It's a good look that tells you the food's going to be modern.
And they are borderline experimental, with ingredients like ostrich meat on the menu. It's decent enough but over salted and the interesting ingredients often as not are covered in pungent sauces, so you can't really taste anything more than the sauce. I suppose that would be OK if the sauces were amazing. They're decent enough but no more.
Service was very attentive; our waitress was very sweet and helpful. -
Review from deanna l.
7/25/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Came here for a team dinner, and realized that I had never been here for dinner. Looked it up, and found out it was a 1 Michelin star place!
I'm usually here for brunch on the weekends because I love the ambiance, they have plenty of seats for crowds that pile up for a taste of their menu, and they always seem to have fresh organic vegetables to pair with their savory fatty entrees. I usually leave content, and slightly buzzed off cocktails which leave any customer satisfied.
But boy oh boy, did the dinner menu knock me off my feet. An out of town co-worker wanted to do a team dinner, so I suggested this place as my go-to recommendation for friends visiting -- good food without emptying out your pockets.
This is what we ordered --
Pan-seared foie gras on roasted corn cake with blueberry and black vinegar relish
Polenta and aleppo crusted cod with a smoked corn and barley risotto, and truffle-huitlacoche vinaigrette
New Zealand venison loin, Cabrales dumplings, oyster mushrooms and salsa verde
And then, I decided to finally write a Yelp review for it, 4.5 stars.
