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Categories: Pubs, American (New)
Neighborhoods: Near West Side, West Loop, Fulton MarketGrand (Blue O'Hare)
Clinton (Pink, Green)
Mon-Thu. 3:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 3:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Don't Just Wish Someone A Good Holiday, Give Them One With Chili's.
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Husband & I made a point of getting a reservation while visiting Chicago over Thanksgiving weekend from the Bay Area.
Since we visited on Sunday, we had the set-menu Sunday Dinner, which at $45/person, was priced pretty accurately, even if the portions were on the small side. It's a bit misleading in that each dish that was brought to us (minus the dessert) was served in a shared for-2 fashion, instead of separate dishes for each person. Might have been more accurate to price it as $90 dinner-for-2.
Anyway, on to the dishes themselves:
baby greens salad - It was the first menu item we'd seen in Chicago that even had avocado, so that was noteworthy. It also had grapefruit supremes, and a tasty dressing. (Husband is allergic to grapefruit, so they brought that out in a separate small bowl) This was good, but I had to refer to the iPhone photo that I took of the menu to remember what was in this salad, and the meal wasn't even a week ago.
loup de mer - This was some type of small fish served whole, we weren't sure what kind. Perfectly roasted, super tender and juicy, but lots of small pinbones.
choueroute: basically a big pan full of porky goodness. smoked pork chop (OMG tender and delicious), pork belly (a little more fatty than necessary, but also tasty, but WAY too small a portion for 2 people) & knackwurst on sauerkraut. I'm not a big sauerkraut fan, but it was pretty mild and enjoyable. The knackwurst was also smoky and delicious.
apple tarte tatin: Again, tiny portion, and the pastry was much closer to a puff pastry texture than a tarte. Only 3 thin slices of (very tart, yay!) apple on top. The kicker with this was that it was topped with a vanilla ice cream studded with whole mustard seeds. WOW. It took us a minute to figure out where they'd hidden the mustard, but that flavor really enhanced the dessert. I also had a (very small) glass of an ice cider with dessert, which was delicious and didn't taste nearly as strong as it was. This was also served in a very boring small juice-glass type of vessel that reminded me of my college cafeteria's glassware, so that was odd.
Vibe:
Service was great, very attentive to refilling your water and such, but really, could they put some lemon in the glass if they're going to serve tap water? No offense, but Chicago tap water just doesn't taste that good by itself.
But... the whole vibe of the place was a bit precious. [And look, we've eaten at just about every gastro-pubby eatery on the west coast, so what does this tell you?]
What's with the double doors on the booths? It's not like they afford any real privacy, since they're so low...yet they're just high enough that the waitstaff has to keep opening them to reach over to clear plates and deliver dishes, so they're just kinda silly.
The whole place seemed to be trying to straddle a line between upscale/sustainable/artisanal and salt-of-the-earth-workingman's cafe (which would match the neighborhood), and not doing either one especially well.
The much-vaunted beer list was, disappointingly, mostly comprised of imports rather than regional micros. I really wanted to be bowled over by the Publican, but I just wasn't.
I knew dinner at The Publican was great, but brunch is just as good! I started with a mimosa and to be honest, I didn't love it. It tasted weird to me. Me thinks they accidentally served me the Publican mimosa made of beer instead of champagne. Now that was the bad part of brunch, everything else was delicious.
When it was time to order I had a hard time deciding between the grilled pork shoulder sandwich with bacon, fried egg and cabbage slaw served on ciabatta or the braised chicken with grits. For some reason, I just couldn't shake my sudden craving for grits. I just had a feeling the Publican would make amazing grits, so I went with the chicken entree. Best decision ever (in regards to Sunday brunching). The grits were spectacular and I really wanted to order an extra serving since the meal itself only came with about two tablespoons worth. The chicken was so moist and flavorful with just a little bit of crispy skin. Don't lie, you love the crispy chicken skin. I also foolishly ordered a side of Publican bacon which is really just a thick slab of pork belly and not typical bacon at all. One bite and I felt my cholesterol skyrocket....but it was worth it.
I spent two hours in the gym after this brunch but I also didn't eat for the rest of the day since I was still so full. The price was very reasonable and lower than I expected. I highly recommend the Publican for Sunday brunch. Just skip the mimosa or be clear that you want a regular mimosa and not their special one.
If the thought of people consuming mass amounts of pork offends and disgusts you then you should not… Read more »
Ok, so I'm from a state shaped like a pig, and I grew up on a farm. This means several things, including but not limited to the fact that the "in's and out's" (sorry, bad pun) of reproduction were old hat to me by the time I was, like, eight. I have a plethora of scars resulting from run-ins with rusty old metal, i.e. barbed wire, nails, and the sharp ends of fence posts (sidenote: I once skewered my brother with a fencing rod... through the ass cheek... during an unfortunate sledding accident... in the middle of summer). But I digress! I actually have a point... and it involves pork. Lots and lots of pork. Pork from my home state. Actually, from Dyersville (ya know, the "Field of Dreams" place?).
From my background you may have gathered that I likely ate more bacon, pork chops, and pork ribs before the age of ten than most people consume in a lifetime. Now, fast forward a few years to adulthood. A new restaurant opens in my neighborhood. Huzzah!
Oh, but it's not just any old game in town. No, no. It's the sexiest new hussy to walk the block. And it's about to come crashing into my life, like a drunken Lindsey Lohan trying to run down the latest director to axe her from a role.
There are people that will tell you that this place just isn't that great. There are only two possible reasons on god's green earth that this could happen. 1. They're trying to curb the insanely huge number of reservations for this place during prime dinner hours. Because, holy hell, this place gets insanely packed. And we're talkin' every damn day of the week here! Around 8 o'clock I start to feel like I've stepped into a Bavarian Brew Hall straight out of the Middle Ages. Well, aside from all those pesky modern amenities.
Or 2. They just didn't order the right stuff. Actually, it's not that they ordered the wrong stuff; it's more that they didn't order the right combination of stuff. And I am extremely embarrassed to say that this happened to my dining companions and me the first time we visisted last winter. Of course, we were already three bottles of wine into the evening and extremely distracted by the fact that Adrian Grenier seated us and Edgar Alan Poe was our waiter. Again, I digress.
So, the latter... it must be the latter for most people that don't like this place. Because there is no space in my diminutive little mind for an understanding of why anyone could--or for that matter, would even try to--dislike Publican. So, without further adieu, I'm putting a foolproof combination out into the Yelp universe to help all those willing to give it a go.
First of all... stick with the 750 mL bottles of beer. You really can't go wrong. Ask the server or better yet ask the beer dude, Michael McAvena. Don't be afraid; he's always eager to help! Ok, so now you have beer. What's next? I have one word, and while it strikes fear into the hearts of the ill-suited, you will be prepared, because you have read this review. That word is: oysters.
People say they hate oysters. Probably for the same reason that people hate Publican... a lack of knowledge. Amazing oysters are not slimy or gritty. And most importantly, oysters should not taste like anything more than pure, unadulterated seawater. Have a dozen, maybe two. Slurp 'em down and add some of their amazing mignonette.
Now, pork rinds and frites with a fried egg. WITH THE FRIED EGG, PEOPLE! Egg yolk is the new ketchup! You're already clogging those arteries, what's an egg on top of it all? To top it all off, have a plate of the three types of ham. And, if you're feeling up to it, maybe the cassoulet, which has come off the menu recently, but will make a return soon, I'm sure. Oh, and the weiswurst is on there now. It made a summer appearance on the Sunday brunch menu, and has now come to the winter dinner menu. And that's it -- for dinner anyway -- I won't even start on brunch, because you're tired of reading this by now.
Of course, you're probably asking yourself why the hell you'd listen to this raving lunatic anyway. And it's an excellent question. With an even better answer, I mean, other than the fact that I'm a pork connoisseur... and that's because I am a regular here. I would estimate between dinner and Sunday brunch, I've been here 25 times since May. We're so regular that I'm now FB friends with the manager and the hostess table has memorized by boyfriend's cell number. Yeah, my boyfriend and I had an unfortunate time during the summer where we were coming twice a week for oysters and Sunday for brunch. It was a dark time, and should probably never be mentioned again.
Ok, I'll stop writing now... for sure this time...
I had been wanting to eat at the publican forever...
last night, i had that opportunity, and my expectations we blown out of the water.
here is a running list of what we had at the table:
pork rinds
oysters
fried perch
little gem salad
country ribs
suckling pig
potee (sausage, pork tenderloin, pork shoulder)
waffle dessert
chocolate panna cotta
french pressed coffee
Everything, even down to the coffee, was the best version of that dish I have ever had. the only negative about the menu was that they were out of the crab. they only had 6 to start the evening and they sold out. i guess that is also a testament to the dish.
The pork rinds were warm and fluffy, and the seasoning on them is amazing. My friend actually and accidentally figured out that the vinaigrette served with the oyter is fantastic on the pork rinds.
The oyster was smooth and soft and slightly creamy and sweet. No fishy taste or smell. We only had one oyster each because we are inexperienced with oysters. but, the publican made me a fan.
the friend perch was flaky and light, but the flavor was amazing...with the battered and fried lemon slices and the homemade tartar sauce, you can't go wrong with this dish. the waiter advertised it as an appetizer, but there is enough food for it to be an entree, as my wife has it that way.
the fries and eggs...the fries were the best fries i've ever had, and when mixed with eggs sunnyside up, it is such an outstanding side dish. easy to split this side dish between 4...there is a lot of food on the plate.
country ribs were nice and smoky, and it was refreshing to be able to actually taste the ribs. not slathered in bbq sauce and over flavored, the ribs really stand out with the grapfruit salad it comes with.
the suckling pig is soft and tender enough to make into pulled pork, but, once again, it was nice to taste the pork.
the potee was the best dish on the table as it offered a nice sampling of the pig...the animal that is practically worshipped there.
the pork tenderloin was cooked perfectly: soft, tender, and so full of flavor. the pork shoulder was buttery when you got a nice bite of the pork fat. and the sausage was good. i'm not a big fan of sausage dishes, so that was the one thing didn't care too much to eat, but it was still fantastic.
the waffle was great, but i am allergic to honey so i couldn;t have the butter.
and my wife literally danced in her seat as she ate the chocolate panna cotta.
even the french pressed coffee was the best coffee we have ever had.
strong, and bold, but not a punch in the face.
oh, a final word on the atmosphere...
the waiters are extremely nice and informative.most importantly, they are not pretentious and are very willing offer their opinions. there are things on the menu that you may not know what they are, but the waiters wont judge if you ask them.
the host and hostesses where so nice and took care of our coats while another hostess walked us to a freestanding tiable near the bar to familiarize ourselves with the beer list and have a round before the dinner.
it is a modest place, with a lot of wood. the only thing about the place that is to be disliked, overall, is the noise. it is quite loud, but i think that is part of the experience.
next time i'm hoping to sit in one of the enclosed booths that resembles an animal pen.
I've already got my next meal planned for when we go back, (oysters, ham plate, charcuterie plate, beef cheeks) and the truth is...i'd give up all of my christmas presents to go back again tonight.
How super random that like Melissa V, I too was at Publican on Sunday while visiting from the Bay area for the Thanksgiving weekend. So please see her review on the food as I agree - FISH was fab, but we' liked everything.
Unlike Melissa, we only ordered 1 prix-fixed menu and then ordered other stuff like the pork rinds and oysters. Well worth it as they both were tasty add ons. The guy from our food tour said their menu was limited on Sundays so beware.
Other randomness - apparently it's getting rave reviews on the food front in Chi-town, I tried to Open Table a reservation and only got 2:30pm on Sunday which I ended up cancelling only to get our concierge to call them and get a 8pm reservation that same night. They were open at 7 and 7:30 as well. When we got there, the place was 1/2 empty, was it superficial hype to limit the reservations?
Things to know - if you are going by cab, the place is not walking distance to any hotel. Ambiance is great with all the pictures of Wilburs around, and the tables on the side that look like pig pens. Bathroom rocks and service is good!
This place is so unique! My bf brought me here for my birthday, and it was awesome. It's supposed to resemble the family style eating of communal dining halls, but there are private smaller tables on the periphery. Also, the menu changes each week with fresh food (they tell you where everything comes from)! They have an extensive list of beers as well.
I really liked the decor in this place. The bathrooms have a big communal sink with nicely scented soap from C.O. Bigelow (+lotion!). The staff were all very helpful with recommendations (both food and drink), and the prices are actually quite reasonable for the amount of food you get.
We ordered the fish stew, frites topped with eggs from georgia, and fresh radishes with butter and sea salt, and it filled us to the brim. The beers were great as well, and we definitely did not have any more room for dessert. We did take a peek at the dessert menu and they have cheeses along with the more traditional sweets.
We're definitely coming back here again to try out brunch! A great venue for a casual outing with friends :o].
Oh my God. I've been wanting to go to Publican since it opened; nay, even before it opened. I had heard all of the superlatives about the beer list, the pork-related foodstuffs, the trendy dining experience and all that. But mostly I had heard about the beer list. And the pork rinds.
So a dozen of us trucked on over there for our 11pm(!) reservation last night, and let me tell you, we were not disappointed. They told us that they were waiting for our table to clear out, and offered to take our coats and start us with a drink at the bar. Excellent, friendly service. Everyone got something different and they came quickly and efficiently. I was an idiot and went cheap with a Gumballhead, but later went back for a kriek lambic that was out of this world. Several folks in our party also downed the French cider that was on top, which was to die for.
After about 15 minutes, when it became clear that the party hogging our table was taking their good sweet time, they came over with some complimentary pork rinds and fries. DEAR GOD. I am not one for raving about things that are so simple, but the pork rinds really were as amazing as advertised. Light, airy, spicy, and crispy. The fries, fried up in duck fat, were smoky and delicious. I could've eaten a few orders of them.
We went a little overboard with the food (not that there is such a thing?). We tried a wide swath of the menu, including some oysters, the fish stew, the ham plate, the country rib, sweetbreads, the apple salad, and the half chicken. All were great. The oysters were extremely, just-pulled-out-of-the-ocean fresh. Our table's oyster aficionados were very impressed and gobbled them down quickly. I had never had sweetbreads before, but I knew that I wanted them long ago, and I was impressed. Very lightly breaded and had a great texture to them. The country rib was another standout; so many rich complementary flavors and they melted in your mouth.
We got one order of each dessert item and the waffle was the clear favorite, with its light, crispy texture and generous dollop of honey butter. The apple cider doughnuts were also great, but the sour cream ice cream they came with outshined them.
This place was amazing, and totally worth the hype. I dreamed of pork rinds last night and have now given three people an extensive, detailed rundown of my dining experience punctuated with a lot of "oh my God!"s and "AMAZING"s. Get thee to Publican.
The food here was very good, you have to get the pork rinds if you decide to go, They were melt in your mouth fantastic. Other items that were delicious were the muscles, radishes,and the daily pickles.
Our server was nice, very attentive and seemed to know a lot about the menu, he was helpful. I also enjoyed the space it's huge, with large pictures on the wall of fat pigs and so many hanging lights I lost count.
The reason I gave this restaurant a three star is because of the horrible busers. They were in our face every moment to clear just one glass, or one fork. me and my party did not enjoy our meal because of them, they were always in our face interrupting our conversation it was horrible. It was like they were trying to hurry us out but there were no parties waiting to be seated. One of the women that I was eating with was still eating a piece of bread and one of the busers took the plate from right underneath her. I work in the industry and I understand being efficient but this was just rude. I would not go back just in fear that I would get as angry as I was that night. My meal was ruined. Good luck!
SHORT VERSION: liked it, loved the BEETS, good experience.
FOOD
Freebies: the bread and butter that come out right away are very good. It is that rustic bread that's really hearty. The water is great b/c it's cold with no ice. It's constantly refilled, and if you're just too fast for them, you have your own bottle of water at your table.
Hamachi: so good, loved the delicate flavors. So light, but not stingy with the serving. This is served sashimi-ish, so it's raw. Delish. Great flavor combinations, especially with the fennel.
Mussels: I've never had them like this, all broth-y with celery. A little on the tame side, but the peasant bread that comes with it that you can dip in the broth is very good. I usually love mussels but wasn't blown away. I will, however, say that these were some of the best quality of mussels I've ever had. Plump, healthy, flavorful. I might just be used to spicy sauces and garlics that usually accompany many mussel dishes. I think this dish tries to simply feature the mussel, which is fine, and appropriate considering, as I said before, these are really great quality mussels.
Beets: AMAZING. Really. And not just b/c I love beets in general. It was so earthy and it came with a savory flavored sour cream (I would guess it was flavored with chive and truffle oil) that went perfectly with the vinaigrette (guessing balsamic) and sweetness of the beets. I've never had beets THIS good. Dwight Shrute couldn't love these beets more.
Country Ribs: Very tasty, but it really reminded me of Korean ribs: kalbi. Not in cut/meat, but in flavor/marinade. I'd rather go for Korean if I want this flavor. But it IS pretty delicious, nevertheless.
SERVICE
Great! Water was constantly filled. Table constantly cleared when different courses came out. Friendly staff. We were 10 minutes late to our reservation and they were great accommodating us.
ATMOSPHERE
Pretty loud, shared tables which adds to the shared style eating experience. Warm colors, woods throughout. Large pictures of pigs on the wall. It's a combination of classy, hearty, country, contemporary. Long wood tables, different chinas (but I think only 2).
OVERALL
Really great quality ingredients. I had a very nice experience. I would go back, and will. I want to try the oysters, pork rinds and sweetbreads. Oh, and those heavenly BEETS...
The food here is great! They have a nice variety of oysters served with mignonette (which is my favorite way for oysters to be served). All the oysters we had were delicious and very fresh.
The Hamachi Crudo was to die for. It was seasoned perfectly and the pistachios added a nice butteriness to the fish without overwhelming the delicate nature.
We also tried the Veal Sweetbreads, which almost tasted like foie. The preparation was perfect (similiar to MK's early fall preparation of foie). It was so delicious and the best part was that they didn't cook the poor sweetbreads to death, which many places tend to do.
Our larger plate selections included the Walleye Fry and the Pork Belly. We loved both. The Pork Belly was perfectly crisped and the ragout was delightful. The belly was so tender and I appreciated that they rendered a lot of the fat off which resulted in a nice chunk of pork belly that melted in your mouth. The walleye fry was also very delicious. The remoulade-like sauce was a nice touch and the sweet potato sticks were awesome.
The food was served rather quick here. Great beer selection and a nice alternative to going to a fancy wine-dinner. Best of all everything was reasonably priced.
Publican = F'ing delicious.
Menu at Publican = Diverse, lots of meat options, lots of beer. Enough options that even my super picky vegetarian mother was happy, weird right.
Service at Publican = Friendly, helpful, great beer pairing reccos.
The Design at Publican = I love everything down to the pink gingham checked shirts of female food runners and the wedgewood china.
The Chairs at Publican = Ungodly painful. Like some sort of medieval torture device. The ladder back chair has been around a long time, why did you have to make one so painful?
This is a review based on a wonderful brunch experience.
Our server was a delight, walking us thru the menu and giving great recommendations- he was busy, you could tell, but very attentive and helpful. I am allergic to orange/grapefruit/pineapple/citrus juice so he brought me a mimosa made with cranberry juice and I was very greatful-- he knew his beers and knew what to pair with which entree which means either he is really good at his job, Publican has a wonderful training program, or both. He was a great upseller too, as after our group ordered he said "I noticed no one ordered the publican bacon?" to which we responded "ok send us two".. and by bacon he meant maple cured PORK BELLY (way too thick for normal bacon!) and to which my heart melted and my tastebuds did a jig.
Um, and then my breakfast? Pancakes with foie gras and cherry compote and sausage? Holy hell, what a way to end a month-long vegan detox. The foie was mixed with rice crispies, and on the hot pancakes the foie melted, leaving behind the crispies and a beautiful flavour absorbed into the cakes. fucking unbelievable. Did not entirely care for the sausage that came with it, it was full of seeds and herbs that made it almost crunchy, but it was delicious tho texturally overwhelming. I also got the onion tartine, which was f-ckin fab.
Now the food was great, and I am a fan of the communal tables which easily accommodated my larger group, i enjoyed the waiting area which wasn't so much a lounge or a bar but allowed you to stand, lean on a table and get a drink, i enjoyed the condiments on the table like garlic butter and raw sugar cubes. There was a lot of little detail that impressed me, from the art on the walls (prize winning pigs) to the soaps and lotions available at the communal sink out side of the beautiful bathrooms-- I am a believer in the Publican.
The Publican is a great place to splurge on exceptional food and elite beer but there are some drawbacks.
I ate dinner here on Tuesday 20-November-2009. I had a seat at the bar and immediately felt like there should be more room. The bar is only about 12 deep so the plates and glasses really have no where to go. Also, they pack you really close to the people next to you. Its a bit of an uncomfortable position. The gentlemen next to me had the sardines and I waited for them to finish their dish so the odor wouldn't ruin my tuna crudo experience. The place is an audible disaster. I like a buzzing restaurant but it sounded like the old RCA dome in Indianapolis where extra sound is being piped in during Colts games. I never thought a place could be this loud. The noise level was actually painful and distracting at time and I am not exaggerating one bit. Go there on a busy night and you'll completely agree.
Now on to the food. I had the tuna crudo. I usually hate using superlatives but it was the best piece of fish I have ever eaten. The tuna was a translucent and creamy pink with a consistent texture and divine flavor. The pistachios and pickled lemon were an excellent compliment to the fish. I could have eaten 3 orders of the tuna crudo.
The pork rillettes could have been much better. I know a rillette is supposed to have lots of salt but this dish had a mouth puckering amount. It was definately more than other rillettes I have had. The cherries seemed to be a separate component of the dish. I would have like to have seen the cherries chopped to make a kind of relish to use on the toast so you can get the pork and cherry on each bite. Otherwise it was just an OK dish.
This was the first time I had sweetbreads so I really have no comparison. I found there to be a great amount of flavor and texture in the hearty serving of sweetbreads themself. I felt the outer coating should have been crisiper to contrast the gooeyness of the actual sweetbreads. The mushrooms were a great savory compliment. It was an overall good dish.
The service was very good but not without criticism. My server Paul, had an exceptional amount of knowledge of the food and beer. He claimed to be working in the industry for 25 years and it showed. He did however bring me a different beer than what I ordered. I don't know if it was his fault or the result of the audible tsunami behind him. He did try to steer me to the tubot and other side items to increase my bill. I know its their job to do that but it get annoying especially when i was already dropping a good amount of money. Paul did give me a few extra tastings of beers and a beautiful fortified malbec that was like a good desert port. I was pretty happy with his service.
The Publican is a high quality restaurant, there is no doubt of that. However, there are a few things that need to be improved to make it exceptional. I may or may not go back.
Have been to The Publican several times now over the past month so I feel qualified to review it.
I absolutely love The Publican for brunch and dinner, it's generally quite busy but they run such a smooth operation that you're never waiting very long for a table. Two weeks ago I had an incredibly delicious onion and ricotta tart. I've had a couple beers here based on the very knowledgeable recommendations from the servers which were great, and everyone I've been with that drinks bloody mary's won't shut up about how good they are. The food is delicious and the service is impeccable so I think The Publican is my favorite place in my neighborhood now!
So 6 hours later I was having palpitations, chewing on baby aspirin and fighting for air as my heart rate raced trying to sustain my body.
I still had a smile as the smokiness of the pig I ingested coursed through my arteries and as a last meal it was damn fun.
Is wonderful to see how creative one can be with good beer and horny tummy and big slabs of pork to cut, to carve, to smoke, to marinate, to prepare, to honor, to celebrate, to enjoy.
This is a pub to satisfy the carnal primal voices, to share with the world, to share with the friends, to weed out the tightly wound "foodies", to bring together the enlightened and hungry.
so I write a song to make the whole world sing...
"I ::fart sound:: ate this
I ::fart sound:: ate that
I ::fart sound:: : and had a heart attack
I ::fart sound:: had fun
I ::fart sound:: even for a party of one
I ::fart sound:: love the pig
I ::fart sound:: I see in me
I ::fart sound:: yay me! ""
;p
yay Mary, the most awesome server!
Outstanding food by the same folks who brought us Blackbird, and fantastic beer and wine pairings with affordable prices make this a great restaurant. A standing prix-fixe tasting menu for $45 every Sunday night make this a neighborhood gem.
Signature dishes like the freshly fried pork rinds, sweetbreads, and a general love of all things pig make Publican the talk of the town.
However, hard surfaces and communal dining make for a noise level that's over the top. It is impossible to carry on a conversation with the person across the table.
The noise problem is a BIG problem. It makes it impossible to have conversations, and it kills any opportunity to take advantage of the communal dining by striking up a conversation with the strangers down the table. For a place that's basically a high-end pub, the inability to communicate is a deal-breaker.
If they could knock down the noise a few notches, this place would easily be a 5 star worthy restaurant. A shame that it's ruined by the noise.
_Am
What an offal restaurant!
I just had to get that sweet one liner out before I forgot. In reality, it must be a great restaurant as it was still packed at 10 pm on Tuesday.
In honor of Ryan L.'s birthday, the lovely Brett D. planned a celebration at The Publican. According to Facebook, Ryan's birthday isn't until February, but I didn't want to hurt Brett's feelings, so I decided to run with it.
Due to a prior engagement (sorry you suckas didn't get into the Elite event, but you would have gone too), I arrived an hour late, with man date Nikki C. in tow. While there was no way Nikki and I could physically sit anywhere near the table, the hostess kindly offered us the table directly behind the friends. This worked perfectly because I was about 2 feet and 140 degrees away from Erin P., who likes to trade food.
Oh wait, did I say perfectly? I meant offally (never gets old). Over the course of dinner, we traded some of our fried-egg-topped french fries and pork rinds for pig ear, tripe, and chicken. Nikki and I also romantically shared large plates of sweetbreads and country ribs, some of which we traded for a bite of sorbet. I think we all came out ahead from the barter system.
Almost everything was excellent. The pork rinds were unremarkable and I'm sorry, but I just can't get down with tripe, no matter where I'm dining. Anything that looks like a honeycomb, chews like an octopus, tastes like beans, and is a cow's reticulum is just kind of unappetizing to me. The sweetbreads and ribs, however, are must-orders. The fries are amazing too. I think they're cooked in baby dolphin fat or something.
Overall, I would highly recommend this place for slightly adventurous meat eaters. I can't speak to the fish or veggies, since those seem kind of pointless when you can just eat meat, right?
I apologize for all the name dropping in this review. If you feel left out and would like me to add your name, I'll figure out a way to squeeze you in, even if you weren't there.
"How long has Vinnie Chase been working the door?" That was my first thought as an absolute dead ringer for Adrien Grenier greeted me as I walked into The Publican last night. Turns out he's 1) not only a hottie, but very nice and 2) apparently gets the whole Entourage look-alike thing all the time. I'm not original.
Second thoughts? "What a huge, gorgeous space!" "Is that a big communal table in the middle?" "Dang, its loud as hell in here." "Look at the pig paintings on the wall!" "I'm in for a dining experience!"
Moving on to the food. Man, oh man did I pick the wrong place to go on a diet. The menu is a veritable playground of fried treats (sweetbreads, pork rinds and frites), carbs (seafood fettuccini and the amazing bread sitting on our table) and fat (steak and lamb galore) However, I was able to try some pretty awesome menu items while still keeping the calories relatively low. Here's the rundown:
* Little Gem Salad - Basil, fennel, pig's ear & buttermilk-Muscatel vinaigrette. Pretty f-ing great. The vinaigrette was amazing, but I couldn't bring myself to eat a fried pig ear.
* Apple Salad - Treviso, celery root, pumpkin seeds & aged gouda. The apples were crisp and tart and the celery root had just the right bite.
* Smoked trout - Served over bread spread with what I thought was goat cheese, field greens, red onion and apples. I'm not usually a smoked fish gal, but this was tasty, and cooked to perfection.
* Farm chicken - Whole chicken from the Slagel family farm with frites. Giddy up! Hands down the best chicken I've ever had. Moist, tender, juicy, spiced perfectly... oh my God. I'm still drooling. And fantasizing about it. I tried one, lone frite not only because I miss fried food but because they looked so amazing. And they were. Crunchy and flavorful. Mmm....
The only place The Publican loses a star for me was the service. While our server was incredibly knowledgeable, he seemed really busy and was often hard to flag down to get refills on water and cocktails. And while I'm sure it's because they had a whole chicken to cook, it seemed like the timing on the dishes was a little off. The chicken came well after we'd finished everything else on the table.
As mentioned above, The Publican is all about communal dining, so if that's not your thing, be sure to request a private table. Our party of 7 had a great table off the main communal table making conversation much, much easier. It's loud in The Publican. You want to actually be able to hear your dining companions, you know?
All in all, EXCELLENT. I can't wait to go back!
I ate pig's ears! Freshly deep fried and still warm, lusciously fatty and crunchy, wonderful pig ears. (Wow- can I use any more adjectives?)
The setting: Publican 7:30-10:30, non communal table for seven plus two stragglers who were seated adjacent to the table.
The Cast:
-Chef's selection of oysters + an extra round of West Coast ones- (West Coast is the best coast)
-Little gem salad- pig ears!
-Apple salad
-Smoked trout
-Roasted chicken
-Sweetbreads- pan friend and heavenly!
-Lamb and tripe stew
-Kobe beef sirloin
-Concord grape sorbet- with house made pinenut crumble
(and from the adjacent table)
-Spicy pork rinds
-Frites with poached egg
The consensus:
YUM!
I enjoyed every dish (although I nothinged the lamb and trip stew). My favorites were the Barron Point oysters, Little Gem Salad, Smoked Trout, Sweetbreads and Sorbet. Tripe is not as bad at Matt said it was. I really liked pork rinds and did not think they were overrated. They are a relatively cheap appetizer so I would recommend trying them so that you can come to your own conclusion.
Recommendation:
Go with a group so that you have the ability to try as many items as you can! Yes I will be back, although my arteries will not appreciate a second visit.
The Publican was such a great brunch experience that I definitely want to come back for dinner or drinks. My friends and I came on a Sunday morning and, unlike most brunch spots on a Sunday, there wasn't a line out the door. The food was heavenly! I had the scrapple and fried eggs. Now, this wasn't normal scrapple (i.e. the kind you find in a greasy diner), it was practically gourmet - finer cuts of pork with corn meal. The eggs were perfect. Even my side of hash browns were just right. All for a mere $12 or so. You can't find a more reasonable brunch with food this good.
I couldn't complain about the food, but the seating is a bit weird. I would've preferred to sit in one of their strange-looking box booths, but instead we were sat at one long communal table, which meant I had to get cozy with another group of people next to me.
Awkward seating arrangements, but fantastic food. Can't wait to come back.
My series of exceptional Publican dining experiences continues!
We went last night to celebrate my birthday/Halloween. We made reservations for fourteen, and the Publican seamlessly increased the reservation to fifteen when we got an extra the morning of the meal.
Our waiter was very helpful in assisting us order for the entire group. I mean, we pretty much ordered everything from the meat side of the menu. The meal, as always was exceptional.
But, really, the reason for the update is just to mention that The Publican gracefully and easily accommodated our large party. The service did not suffer for the size of the party--it was as doting and friendly as usual.
And, in spite of leaving stuffed to the gills and filled with enough drinks, the bill still came to right around $50 per person.
Honestly, The Publican is making a really strong push for my favorite Chicago restaurant...
We went to the Publican last night for their Brew Masters Series dinner--where the featured brewery… Read more »
I had a great meal at Publican over the weekend. I can understand some of the misgivings people have, but to me, the menu is unique enough to make this place worth visiting.
We started off with the chef's tasting of the oysters. 6 different types of oysters, all fresh and delicious. I was very impressed by the freshness and diversity of the oysters. It's hard to find great oysters outside of high-end restaurants and I haven't seen this much variety anywhere not on the coast, so for me this is a huge draw.
Another highlight was the sweetbreads which were lightly breaded and served with a very light, vinegary sauce. They were so good that we were able to convince a very picky eater at the table to try them (before we told her what sweetbreads are). She loved them, but refused to eat more when we spilled the beans. Also the squid ink pasta had excellent texture and deep flavor that complemented the shrimp it was served with perfectly. And of course the excellent pork rinds have been well documented. The fries (which I think are fried in duck fat) were very rich but the egg on top didn't add much for me. If I were to order fries again, it would be without the egg and preferably with a side of aioli.
The only miss for me was the sturgeon which was rather flavorless, though I suspect this may be more a product of my preference for stronger tasting fish.
Also I have to mention the top notch beer selection. I started off with a bottle of De Ranke XX which I had never seen before. It was a very hoppy Belgian IPA that seemed a little over-hopped, but I was glad I was able to try a different beer in one of my favorite styles. The second beer I had, which was on tap, was something that ended in Urbock (I forget the full name). I was expecting a nice malty German bock, but instead got the best rauchbier (smoke beer) I've ever had. It was creamy and only slightly smokey but enough to add tremendous character to the beer. The fact that Publican has a beer of this quality and rarity on tap is a huge selling point in my eyes.
Publican specializes in fish, pork, and beer and I think they deal with all three in a way few other restaurants do.
I took my husband here for his birthday.
The seating is a bit...odd, I guess. There's quite a bit of communal seating, and some of the booths are walled in, and you have to kind of open a door to get out of your booth. We went on a Saturday night (with a reservation, of course) and the place was packed.
We started with the market salad and the frites with a fried egg on top. The frites were good, but I would have appreciated more seasoning. One fried egg on top of a bounty of fries only goes so far. The market salad was quite delicious. My husband got homemade pork rinds, which he really enjoyed.
For our main courses, I got a fish fry with fried with lemons, artichoke hearts and eggplant. It all had a light breading on it and it was served with a delicious, tangy tarter sauce. My husband got the pork belly, which he really enjoyed.
The highlight of the night for me was the dessert. It was a waffle with honey butter and blueberries. It was light, so it wasn't super rich and didn't weigh us down, yet it was so satisfying.
It was hard to tell how much we should order on a menu like this, the layout was a bit odd. But, we left happy and had a great time.
Returned to the Publican several weeks ago and was blown away. The beer list is truly amazing--and that compliment is coming from a self-professed beer snob. Menu highlights for me were the Boudin Blanc (extraordinarily delicious), Potee, and (believe it or not) a walleye fish special. I love fish but have gravitated away from most fresh water fish--this was a welcome surprise!
I am increasing my rating from 3/5 to 4/5 stars. Highly Recommended.
Walking into The Publican feels like entering an old German beer hall or possibly a medieval dinner… Read more »
The Publican is definitely a treat. I enjoyed everything from the decor to the service and most importantly, the food.
My friend pointed out that the booths look like pig trofs...which is fitting for the menu. It's not that it's all pork items...but you definitely have your choice of some meaty dishes. The rest of the seating is community style - and we ended up having a lot of fun talking with some visitors to Chicago. Oh! And there is padding underneath the tables which is such a nice touch. There is definitely a barn-like vibe going on overall, but it's the kind of barn that you can wear heels to.
The food was great. We had the beet salad with ricotta cheese, sashimi tuna with minced celery (a great combo that I'm already craving), white sausage with apples and truffles, and suckling pig with artichoke and sweet potatoes. I can't wait to go back and try more dishes.
The service was very attentive. My water glass was never empty.
I'm already planning my next visit and it will probably be for a Sunday beer dinner. Did I mention it was still crowded on a Tuesday night at 9;15? Yum city.
Went here for brunch and after dining at Blackbird and Avec, I expected more from the food. The atmosphere was unique (set up like a German beer hall) so it felt as if you were back at your college cafeteria. Very loud but that's the point I think. We decided to dine outside (small area but cozy). The famous pretzel was tasty but very salty and it came with mustard sauce that my husband loved and could probably have eaten that by itself. We ordered an omlette which once again, was good but not excellent. I think we were just spoiled with Avec and Blackbird and then thought, "this place must be just as good" and it was not. Very friendly staff though. :)
If you want to try it out, just because it has a good name behind it, go for it. You will enjoy your meal, just not be blown away. Great place for a large group inside.
Too loud. Too much togetherness - no privacy. Too expensive.
We couldn't hear the waitress regarding the specials.
We won't be back.
The service was OK, the food was OK, the decor was OK.
But nothing could overcome the horrible noise and din---no one could hear and everyone was shouting.
The bathrooms are very pretty & it is obvious that a lot of thought went into the interior design.
However, nothing was done to help people hear one another when the room is full.
We didn't enjoy sitting at the refectory style table and having neighbors talking to us when we couldn't hear each other.
I went with the friends I wanted to visit with & not to meet strangers.
We went to The Publican for brunch and it was A-mazing. The spicy pork rinds had to start off our meal. The entrees were delicious. The decor was cool. The drinks were delicious.
Read more on my blog at http://wannabeafoodcri...
This is a great place to go with a group. It's noisy and fun and lively. (If you don't like that description, you probably won't like the atmosphere.) The communal seating was neat and didn't take away from my experience at all--we hardly even noticed! the decor is minimalist and very home-y, with random canvases of pigs.
Now on to the food. The dishes are very similar to tapas, but there are some larger dishes that could be entrees. But I recommend sharing everything! It was a great way to experience all of the menu and really appreciate the restaurant's specialities!
We ordered a bunch, so it was almost like a food parade. Here's what I can recall:
Starters:
-Chef's selection of oysters [**Fave**]
-Chef's selection of three hams **Fave**]
-Pork Rinds
-Ahi tuna something (it was like sashimi) [**Fave**]
Dishes:
-Bouchot mussels [**Fave**]
-Shrimp w/ fettuccine
-Kobe sirloin
-Country ribs
Veggies
-Brussel sprouts [**Fave**]
-Beets [**Fave**]
Dessert:
-Waffle [**Fave**]
-Sweet potato panna cotta
-Chestnut cake
Everything really was outstanding, but I marked my faves. Everything was very simply presented, no crazy sauces, just amazing combinations of flavor.
Now, their beer menu is what everyone talks about...and they certainly should. I had a Framboise, which they later ran out of. I asked our waiter to suggest something that might be comparable, but without fruit flavor. He brought me this beer (Monk's Ale) and proceeded to give me a tutorial on Flemish beer. It was uh-mayyy-zing. I'm hooked!
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because I thought the portions were a bit meager in relation to the prices.
Overall, a great place! It's definitely an experience to have.
It's difficult to review a restaurant without judging it in terms of past reviews and expectations. If I am going to a place that I don't expect to be phenomenal and then it turns out to be really great, I will probably rate it very highly.
My expectations were set so high for the Publican based on all the great reviews and press it has received, as well as the reputation of the chef himself. And although the restaurant was very good, it did not "wow" me like many past reviewers seem to have experienced.
Admittedly I am not a meat eater; however, there was plenty on the menu to engage my interest. I started out with the chef's pick for oysters, and they were delicious. I prefer the east coast oysters; briny and meaty, with the full taste of the sea, as opposed to the delicate west coast oysters.
We shared a couple of entrees, including the farm chicken, the perch (they were out of the striped bass that I wanted), the shrimp, and the pork ribs. The pickle plate that we started our meal with was delicious and fresh. I like the fact that everything is locally grown and raised, and was excited to see one of my local favorites at our farmer's market as a provider!
But the actual preparation, although really good, was not phenomenal. The portions sizes were small, but that was perfect for me, as anything more would have been overkill. I liked some of the unique pairings of food as well.
We sat outside on the front patio, definitely a good thing as it's really loud inside. We were meeting friends and it would have been difficult to keep a conversation going inside the raucous, communal atmosphere.
All in all, it's definitely a great place to try, and it was a good experience, but not quite memorable enough to warrant going back.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Publican for a good beer and a fabulous pretzel. I loved the selection of Flemish reds, and the homemade pretzel was divine. However, for dinner, it was pretty disappointing.
The seafood I found excellent, but the meat was disappointing. Also disappointing were the "spicy" pork rinds. They didn't taste like much at all. Most upsetting was the fact that we ordered one dish, but were brought another because they had run out of the first. We weren't told that they had run out, or asked if we'd like something else instead. Rather, they just brought us something else.
I think this is a great place to go to drink a rare beer and feel trendy, but spend your money on dinner somewhere else.
Ok, I'm downgrading you. Your gem salad as tasty as it was was WAY oversalted last night. I still love the textures and the flavors of this but I love salt and I found this much too saline.
Your boudin blanc - was boudin bland!! It needed some sort of fancy mustard to go with it.
BBQ Pork - still very tasty but came out medium well - whereas last time, it was medium and it was superb!
Rind - ate them before - love them - this time, not so much!
Service was soooo slow...and for some reason, I think it must have been a very off night. I heard dishes and glasses crashing to the ground at least three times!!
I'm going to give this place a 3.5 because I wasn't blown away. When I spend $75 per person and we… Read more »
The "goods" were excellent. The "bads" were not good at all.
Service - excellent. Our waiter was very friendly, made great beer suggestions for our table, and was very knowledgeable regarding the menu.
The room - good. I liked the set-up, but then again we got to sit in one of the stalls as opposed to a communal table. Not sure I would have been as amped to sit with a bunch of strangers.
Food - mixed. The mussels, the clam and walleye fry, the ham plate and the pork belly were all outstanding. The pork belly was positively transcedent. The tomato salad was OK. The frites were tasty, but were clearly frozen french fries, and the egg was overcooked and didn't melt over the fries as promised.
I had the "after-pork" digestif which is very herbal and not for everyone, but I loved it. It definitely cut some of the fat swimming in my tummy after the meal.
Dessert was not good. We ordered the waffle and a cheese (Marisa) The waffle came with a maple-whiskey sauce that was quite good on its own, but tasted like turpetine when poured over the waffle (not sure why). The waffle was also burned on the bottom. The cheese was the biggest disappointment. A very lovely soft cheese was served ice cold. Yuck. Who wants to eat cold cheese? Considering cheese is half of the dessert menu, you would think they would have a proper cheese storage.
Our waiter was really gracious and comped the cheese and waffle. He also brought us a slab of Gouda, which was considerably warmer, as a little treat.
All in all, I would definitely go back - if for nothing else but that delicious pork belly , some mussels and a Allagash White Ale. Order your cheese at the beginning of the meal so it's at the correct temp when you want to eat it. Prices were not bad - for a ham plate, mussels, tomato salad, pork belly, clam and walleye fry, 6 beers and a cocktail it came to about $40 per person with tax and tip.
finally made it here and overall liked it.
you can tell they really take a lot of pride in everything they serve and do. the beer list is pretty awesome; a diverse menu at pretty decent prices. and the food was pretty good; interesting preparations and flavors that i was anxious to try out.
out of everything i tried (pork rinds, frites, charcuterie, hamachi, suckling pig, artichoke, oysters, sweetbreads, boudin blanc) i thought everything was great but nothing quite blew me away. i definitely want to try out everything else though.
the service was very friendly and helpful, proactive about educating us on some of the more unfamiliar items on the menu. the only knock is that we got our orders pretty sporadically; a few dishes at one time, a longer wait than wanted, then the rest of our plates. kinda screwed the flow a little bit, but easily overlooked
ultimately, i'd definitely be happy to go back. at least to try absolutely everything else
Called the day before and asked if they could squeeze in two for a saturday night despite open table saying they were full. Was able to get a reservation for 5:45, yay!
The place quickly filled up, but we were at a table by the window and didn't think it was too loud at all. If you are concerned about this, request a side table.
We kind of went crazy, and basically ordered a tasting menu. It was awesome. We loved the family style platters- you're definitely going to want to sample everything that comes to your table, anyway! Highlights for me was the pork belly, the sweetbreads, and the waffle desert. Sooo good. This to me is real cooking-. It's not just dishes you've heard of served in a standard way; it's perfectly cooked meat with unique sides and flavors that come together to make a plate that's just amazing.
Special note on the service, it doesn't get much better than this. Our waitress got the food to our table at a wonderful pace, and was great at beers and wine pairing suggestions. This place has a great beer list, it was a lot of fun. A different gentleman was extremely prompt at keeping our water full and brushing off the table between courses. Loved it.
After all the fuss getting a reservation, my expectations were a bit too high. We went for brunch, and that may have been a mistake. $11 for two tiny red-wine poached eggs on sourdough toast with a smattering of prosciutto? The ingredients were fresh enough, but I wasn't wowed enough to order it ever again--and I was still starving after I ate it.
I was particularly bummed that they were out of my first choice: Fried Chicken with Grits. (One would think they might make more of an effort to stock enough ingredients for the one dish on their menu that isn't pork?)
One saving grace may have been the Concord Grape Coffee Cake, which was moist and divine.
I wish I had enjoyed the food more, as the atmosphere (minus the odd, out-of-place sweatbands sported by some of the waitstaff) is fantastic. Specifically, the little individual dark wood bathroom stalls may be the cutest things I have ever seen. And the hosts and waiters really have their game down--efficient and polite without being snooty or annoying.
I may go back for dinner/drinks, but I can't say that my brunch experience allows me to recommend Publican (yet)...
REVISED: decided to give Publican another try, and this time they had the Fried Chicken & Grits. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth the wait...greasy, fatty chicken in a batter that was light & falling off the chicken, as well as way too heavy on the sage. The grits were good, but seriously, who could mess up grits? My friend had the gigantic pot of mussels, which were lovely...moral of the review: stick to the pork and seafood!
Great decor. Endless drink list. Interesting food options, and surprisingly delish. Had sweet breads for first time. REALLY GOOD. Who would have thought?
My sister-in-law and I stopped in here for a drink last night around 5:30, just to kill some time before our evening started. There are stand-up bar tables, where you can hang your things on a hook under the table and order drinks and appetizers. The tables are in the traffic pattern for the servers, but I didn't feel too much like I was being run over--but then again, it was early.
Service was really excellent--friendly, charming and attentive--and the beer list is completely astonishing. This is one list I feel absolutely justifies its pricing (which was high, for sure, but worthwhile). So many unusual bottles, from both the US and overseas! A full selection of lambics and Flemish reds! I was in heaven.
The room was already a bit noisy, even as early as it was, but it seemed pretty congenial. This isn't hush-hush fine dining. This is a place to roll up your sleeves and enjoy.
Great for appetizers and beers
Wow, there was some serious hype around this place so I had to go. I was disappointed. Here is why.
1) The Food was expensive. Portions were small and the prices were high. I dined with 3 other people and the tab ended up being $230 before tip. We had 3 glasses of wine and two cocktails. Thats pricey if u ask me.
2) The waiter was rather pompous. Most of the staff was good, but when you get a shitty waiter it sucks the life right out of the table.
3) We were told the dishes were served family style. They were not. The only thing family style about the dishes was that they were set in the middle of the table. Many of the dishes had one bite for each of us leaving us hungry for more (you always need a second bite to really savor the taste).
4) We had a booth, and the booth had doors on it that made us feel like penned in cattle. It was a novelty for about 5 mins and then it wore off when we had to get out of the booth. Stupid idea.
5) The place was very loud. I was straining to hear my friends across the table from me. That just kills an evening when you have to use your rusty sign language to communicate.
6) Dishes were not very imaginative. Nothing jumped out as us. The food sounded good, but i don't think there was a dish that would bring me back or rush to tell my friends to come and try it.
All that being said, the food was ok, as were the cocktails. If someone else was paying I would go back. In the meantime, Chicago has a lot of great restaurants and i would prefer to try new places then go back to the Publican.
American Table Menu
Neighborhood: West Loop
Weekend Brunch
Neighborhood: The Loop
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: French
Neighborhood: Fulton Market
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Fulton Market
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: American (New)
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