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Categories: Pubs, American (Traditional), Belgian [Edit]
1648 Beacon StWashington Square (Green)
Mon-Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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So I've had the chance to try this place a couple times.
First of all, I will say that some of the reviews for this place are kind of misplaced. There are people giving lower amounts of stars because they don't like beer. That's like giving a JP Licks a low rating because you don't like ice cream. How about logic. Why would you take a HUGE group to an intimate dinner bar that is KNOWN to be crowded every weekend. Before you go out anywhere, think twice before you decide if where you're going is appropriate for your situation.
That rant being said:
The food here is great! Absolutely delicious french fries. Warm and gooey on the inside, crispy and tasty on the outside. You get to choose two sauces to go with your fries. One of the choices is Rogue Ale Chipotle sauce, which, is easily one of the best french fry sauces I've had.
I've had the Mac&Cheese here, both with spicy habenero tuna, and without. It's delicious both ways. 5 cheeses, and some of the finer cheeses really come through.
I've also had the salmon burger, which was easily one of the best fish burgers I've ever had. It's topped with a guacamole and cilantro topping which is so savory, you'll need to choose one of the hundreds of beers to cool your savory taste buds down.
As long as I am in Boston, I'll be taking as many trips to Publick House as possible.
Amazing beer selection. Decent prices. That is all you need.
2.5 years later, and I felt the need to write another review.
I've been back a few times (as stated, I really don't get out on the green line very often), and every time I just want to bring a pillow and sleep on the bar and never leave.
Mac & cheese - yum
Beer selection - continues to bring me surprises. LOVE YOU PUBLICK HOUSE!
I dig it.
Rarely do I hop on the green line, period, and even rarer are the chances that I'm headed…
Read more »
Quick Drink Review
I don't really understand the fascination that I've heard of people having with this place. It's like a dive bar, but with beer snobs for patrons. Maybe I just don't get it because, well, I don't like beer. I lived in Germany, the land of beer for 7 months, and I rarely drank beer there... and only found a few I could tolerate. Yes, I said it, I don't even really like German beer!
So, because of that, this place is just A-OK. The stoli razz and sprite was in a small glass, the sex on the beach was in a larger "big girl" glass... and I don't really understand why they differentiated so drastically in size... but whatever.
The drinks were under $10, which was good, but nothing really swaying me one way or the other to come here. I def wouldn't venture here from Dot just for the experience, that's for sure. Oh... and no shots, and no pitchers.
awesome service
amazing beer selection..
worth every penny..
I have come here for drinks and for food.
I enjoyed my fried artichoke hearts very much but they did leave some of the tougher leaves on. The steamed mussels in beer were alright - it was hard to work with all the shells and get at the broth. The best part of that was the thick cut bacon and corn, I could have had that and crusty bread to dip in the broth only. I have had the fish and chips, which were pretty good but not the best.
They have lovely beers here. I had a ginger beer and it was quite light. You can also play the game of "let's get the cheapest beer with the highest amount of alcohol" like my husband and his friend - they got drunk and had the worst hangovers the next day. I laughed.
The service has generally been good here but it is very dark! Let's turn the lights on a bit in the dining room so I don't set the menu on fire from using the light from the candle to read it. Hipsters frequent this place it seems but I never feel like I don't fit in. Bottom line, drink lots of beer and then eat so you can't tell it isn't that delicious.
Recently, the company I work for rewarded a few of us with the reimbursement of a meal at a restaurant of our choosing. The first place that popped into my head was Publick House, which I normally reserve for birthdays, anniversaries, or other special occasions since it is a little pricey. Almost immediately, I made the executive decision that free food does indeed qualify as a special occasion, and with the company buying, I felt no reservations about bringing my lady friend out for $9 Belgian beers. (In case you were wondering, $9 beers are even more delicious when they're on the company.)
The other problem is getting a table. You can't make reservations, so either show up early or be prepared for a wait. I do have to say in its defense that waiting at a place with a beer menu spanning several pages isn't exactly the worst thing in the world.
Speaking of the gigantic beer menu... don't be overwhelmed, just have fun and go with the flow. The servers are more than happy to help you make a selection if you don't feel like rolling the dice and letting fate decide. Also, every time I've asked, I've learned something. They don't just push a beer on you, they give you a little information about it, which makes for a fun experience if you're into exotic beers. The menu is mostly comprised of Belgian and Belgian-style ales, but you'll also find some fancy Porters, Pilsners, Stouts, IPAs, or whatever else might float your boat.
I wish I could tell you more about the appetizers, but I end up getting the Monk's Frites every single time I go. They're basically just French fries, but with your choice of two delicious dipping sauces. I recommend the McChouffe garlic mayo and the creamy Wostyntje beer mustard. Yes, garlic makes your breath stink, but if your date is worth hanging out with at all, they'll risk a stinky make out later if it means indescribable deliciousness now. Oh, and unless you want to consume a month's worth of potatoes in one sitting, remember to order the cole slaw, salad, or veggies as a side with your meal. You've been warned!
The food can best be described as really well made comfort food. I think a lot of its pricey reputation comes from the fact that you might end up paying $15 for some Mac & Cheese, but it's entirely worth it since there's a chance that that Mac & Cheese will haunt your thoughts for the rest of your life if you choose your toppings wisely. (Think Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart.)
I guess it was a special since it's not on the regular menu, but if they have it when you go in, the meatloaf is also pretty delicious. I would even say it's just like mom used to make. That is, if mom was a culinary school trained chef competing in a prestigious contest rather than just a tired homemaker who couldn't find the energy to make something good that night.
Comfort food happens to be one of my favorites and how often do you really get to see it done with an artisan's touch? Not often. So, pay up already!
Stellar selection of craft beer and "craft" food as well, and I love the beer snobbery. If the door man is wearing something with a message that slams Bud/Miller/Coors then this is my kind of place.
Proper glassware is used for all beers, many with brewerly logo on the glass itself. Impeccable choice of quality here, and the prices show it.
At first I thought it was too pricey but then remembered the Boston prices in general, and these beers are normally not more than a couple bucks cheaper in other cities. So.... it's not so bad.
Major negative- not open during the day for those of us who are daytime drinkers.
It is very clear that this place has good beer. Great. The previous 50 reviews go over this in fine detail.
My stars are based on the food - I've eaten here a couple times and each time it's underwhelming. I went with a sizable group of friends a few weeks ago and everyone had ordered something different. I was able to try a couple bites of many menu items.
The salmon was dry, but had good flavor.
The mac n' cheese was OK - I tried it plain and with truffle cream, asparagus, and mushrooms (the additions made it an $18 plate of mac n' cheese). The presentation is exciting and the first couple bites are good, but after that it is just kind of bland.
The tuna melt was AMAZING. Everyone loved it.
The red snapper was good, however the most excitingly flavored part of that meal was actually the basmati rice.
The moules frites also got rave reviews, but mussels aren't my thing so I did not personally partake.
So, overall OK food at best. It all has such delicious potential but doesn't quite fulfill it, which is sad.
In theory, I absolutely adore this place both as a bar and as a restaurant. In reality, it gets just a bit too crowded and you need to be patient/wiley to either get a table or even just a spot to stand (it's already packed with a 20 min wait time for a table at 5:45 PM on a Friday). But given that this place basically rocks, it's understandable, just be prepared.
Beer selection is fantastic, all the greatest hits of tasty rare-ish non-lawnmower beers complete with listed alcohol percentages and the proper serving glass (both of which I appreciate very much). I was fortunate enough to have been exposed to a lot of different beer styles/brands/flavors back in the day (thank you, Knights of Gunnungagap) and was stoked to find some of my favorites when I first started coming here a few years ago. Nice to see there's a niche for those of us who know there is life after Bud Light (*shudder*).
Food is excellent, it's some of the tastiest gastropub food around... the belgian frites with your choice of 3 dipping sauces are crave-able, the chicken sandwich slathered with beer mojo is delicious, the mussles are extra beer-y, and the veggie burger is made in-house and is one of the best I've had. The interior is causal, cozy, (crowded), and all around a great spot for everything from happy hours with coworkers to dates to dinner/drinks with friends. One of my usual haunts, highly recommended.
They should call the mac n cheese "crack n cheese". It's like that. There are a couple dozen ingredients you can add. Sausage and onion is a nice place to start. Don't bother eating it, just freebase it.
The Bruschetta w/ pesto and fresh mozzarella is no joke at all.
I am not a beer aficionado, but I do enjoy the suds, and their menu is deep. I'm sure a serious beer-o-phile would be pleased.
Give ye Publick House a whirl.
Publick House is my favorite bar in Boston. They get an easy 5 stars for Green Flash IPA on tap, amazing mac and cheese (it's seriously artisan), and a great relaxing vibe.
The beer list is extensive to say the least. Publick House definitely has a good beer option for you no matter what style you're into. The bartenders are all really nice people and can throw a good recommendation your way if you're feeling overwhelmed. I recommend Green Flash IPA if you like strong, hearty beers. It's the only place in Boston where you can get it. If you're feeling hungry you can also get a table and dinner here. As with the beer, the dinner menu is extensive but no matter what your choice the food is sure to be delicious. The mac and cheese is my easy favorite and if you're feeling ambitious you can even get it with lobster!
I just can't say enough good things about Publick House. It's just a fun, well run, and all around amazing establishment where you're sure to have a good time.
beer connoisseur's paradise. You'll need to wait for your monthly pay check before going in for a few pints.
The regular food menu together with the daily specials are pretty good.
The wait staff can be hit or miss. At times we've had the most friendly wait staff, other times it's Godzilla making you feel like you are bothering them.
Overall well worth the visit. Be prepared for a packed house Thursday onwards.
Bar staff for the most part are great and will gladly assist in getting you a beer to suit your palate.
I adore the Publick House, I won't lie.
I have been probably a dozen or more times, and have been satisfied every time. Generally there is a wait, even for two, but we lucked out last night (around 7:15 on a Wednesday) and scooped up the last table before there was a wait. We were pleased with the warm atmosphere created by the candles.
We tried the soup special, a "Spiced Squash Soup." BOY was it spicy! Although the level of spice was a bit too much for me, I still found it absolutely delicious. A great combination of squash, cinnamon, nutmeg and cream, the habanero addition could have given it the nice kick it needed if there was about half as much.
I love the tuna melt, accompanied with the hand cut fries and a side of chipotle mayo. Yum, always perfect.
As for the amazing beer selection, previous reviews say it well. Huge list of both beers on tap and in bottles. Allagash White is my good standby, although I usually try one or two new ones since there are so many to choose from. I have found that asking the bartender or waitress questions about a beer before choosing it usually steers me in the right direction. They are knowledgeable and friendly.
Overall, love love love it.
This place has the best Belgian beer selection outside of say, Belgium. In addition to the fantastic beer selection, which includes beers from all over, a robust Belgian beer selection, they have the appropriate glassware to boot!
It can get crowded, I seem to luck out most of the times I go by being able to score a table or a stool at the bar, but I can see how not having a corner to stand in would dilute the otherwise great beer drinking experience.
Overall it can be pricey, but the beers are absolutely worth it (and about equivalent of what you would pay in Europe anyways), the food is pretty darn tasty and I think that totally makes up for the crowd/wait.
Beer selection is awesome, though everytime I go I get my Unibroue Apple-Ephemere. Yum. The vibe here is great - everyone just kickin' back and relaxing. No too-tight tube-tops or hair extensions in this place.
The food isn't exactly my favorite. I've had the fish and chips, which are relatively tasty in comparison with other restaurants. The mac'n'cheese is too ... cheesy. I wouldn't have thought that would be a possibility, but if you take a bunch of really sharp cheese and don't insert some mild flavors to take the edge off...you just get a big bowl of steamy, chunky, smelly cheese. Way too strong.
The last time I was here for dinner...the electricity went out and we ate in the dark for about 10-15 minutes. It was kinda funny...but trying to dip french fries into ketchup you cannot see gets old pretty fast. The waitstaff came around quickly to assure us that power would kick back in shortly (which it did). I just drank some more Apple-Ephemere and moved on.
Great bar if you enjoy imported beer, a laid back atmosphere, and good food. A little pricey, but from their massive selection of imported beer and delicious food, it is worth every penny.
If you appreciate the art of beer, the bartenders are knowledgable professors.
The beer selection here is great! Only 2 places I know around here that come close to publicks selection...deep ellum and sunset cantina... I
only wish they had a mixed drink menu...they have hard liquor but it dosent seem like they know how to use it...I ask for a manhattan once and the guy looked at me confused huh...umm...why would you want that? I guess all they can do is pour a tap...So if beer is your thing and that's the mood your in then this is a great spot for you!
Cheers!
Mmm....beer.
Just when you thought you tastes great beers in this world, the Publick House comes along and slaps you hard across the face. Yowch! I didn't even begin to scratch the surface of their vast list of beers, including mysterious micro brews from across the country and from around the world. Don't expect to find anything common here, it seems that Publick House serves you the strangest yet bestest soul satisfying frothy brews.
I had to order the '[something] De Silly' (which didn't taste silly at all) because of its strange name. And at 6.2 abv, it didn't mess me up! The latter, however, my fave find: the Local 2 by Brooklyn Brewery: is a whole other story (doesn't help that it comes to you in a 750 ml sexy champagne corked bottle).
My only qualm was the $9 per drink price tag. Ouch! Will do a tasting next time around AND eat their food, which I hear is quite tasty.
Must. Re. Turn.
I will never come back here.
Why? Because this past Thursday evening was ruined by the Publick House.
1. We were coming with a large group of people, during dinner time. That is guaranteed money. We were with a beer drinking "club," so lots of beer would be purchased and a majority of our people would be eating. So several days before event we ask for reservations for 30. They told our "leader" to stop by. He goes, they tell him they won't reserve, but that we should just "show up" and it'll be fine.
2. We show up at 7:15 on a Thursday to prep for the event and find a good location. They are already almost at capacity with a wait for an hour for even a table for two. She then tells us that since they are getting close to capacity, they will probably have to have a line outside and we'll see if our friends get in. ("She" is a curly blonde haired hostess without a name tage or way to identify her, other than her putrid personality. Even the asian hostess next to her seemed taken aback at her brazen rudeness. What poor customer service at first sight!)
3. About twelve of us were there and after being literally nudged, bumped into and mowed down by several servers we decided to go into the back left bar, all the way in the corner. Now all people who were coming in couldn't even see the coordinators to recognize that they were in the right location. We were two to three people back from the bar and practically had our butts on the tables against the wall.
4. Then we notice that there is a large, completely empty room toward the back with seating for 20 and room to walk around. We wonder if maybe they had reserved us an area. NO. THIS WAS RESERVED FOR A PARTY OF 16. Hmm, we had more people and yet that party did get a reserved spot. This is where the evening turned from unfair to blatantly offensive from the host/reservation staff.
5. We check out the area after a few of their members sit down. They ordered waters and some light beers and were just basically sitting in silence. No food, no apps, no awesome beers from their list. All together probably ran up a bill under $150, when we were spending that per couple/per trio in our party. Also they didn't even have their full rservation, there were only about ten or twelve of them.
So, what's up with that, Publick house? A manager there saw our list and our group and seemed very interested in having us back, but I assure you, I will never step into that awful place again. This is one of the top ten customer service issues I've ever experienced in Boston area.
Food:
The lobster mac and cheese was too fishy and didn't have enough cheese. It was mostly overcooked shells and bread crumbs.
The citrus chicken breast wasn't spicy at all as the description promised and seemed to have more of a smoky mayo than anything citrusy. The fries were burnt and dripping with grease.
Again, I won't be back and I urge you to stay away.
The only reason I wrote the review, rather than just leaving them with the ZERO stars they deserve is the kindness of our attentive bartender, once we could actually get close enough to him and then swap out seats so each of our group could eat, one or two at a time. The beer selection was pretty good and had we not been verbally lashed at arrival by the hostess, perhaps we could have enjoyed ourselves.
PH has been reviewed to death, but I'll throw mine on top. I'm just adding another gluten free note here (I know, I know, but when you eat/drink out and are allergic, it's all you can talk about!): Publick House now carries Green's GF beers (I like the Discovery) and they always carry several GF ciders: sometimes Original Sin (yes, please!), but also an organic sweetsy one, and a really dry French one: Cider Dupont (I believe).
Have gotten sick from the fries twice (gluten, nothing bad for most of you!)...and need to stop testing my luck. But they smell...so...good!
This place has a good selection of beer, although they have the irritating quality of pretending that it's really laid back, when it's actually uptight.
I have been there 4 times and literally every time I've been told by one of the staff that I'm standing in the wrong place. (No, I don't always stand in the same place ;) ) One night I was there with a friend visiting from England and we were moved by the staff at least 3 times. We then sat down (it was past 10pm) and we were told that we couldn't sit down if we weren't eating.
What a pain in the neck.
Publick House, will you marry me??? YES!! YAY! Now let's get hitched and move to Cambridge!
I absolutely loved Publick House...clearly. What did I love exactly you may ask? The beer selection!! I happen to really, really love beer. And they offer many different varieties.
The food was also excellent. I had the beef stew and it was HUGE...it was enough for 4 people and should have come with a laddle for dishing out a serving to your neighbor. I brought the leftovers home and look forward to noshing on that tonight. My boyfie got the turkey tips and they were delicious! They come with a mango glaze that I worried you wouldn't be able to taste...but you could!!
Terrific!
My only gripe....our server brought me the wrong beer the second time around (I asked for the same beer I had the first time cause it was delicious) but I didn't complain cause the second beer was good too.
Now just move to Cambridge so I can visit you all the time.
The Publick House is one of my favorite places in the Boston area. I've been going to Publick House for a few years now, and I have honestly never been anything but 100% satisfied here. I've gone for drinks, Sunday night trivia, friends' birthdays, going away dinners, and just regular old nights out. I always love it.
Highlights:
-- Beers. All of them. Seriously. The bartenders are really helpful when it comes to describing all the beers and giving recommendations. They have an incredible selection of Belgian style brews along with a pretty extensive menu of other styles (including hops in a can!). True to the Belgian brewing tradition, their beers tend to be kind of kickyourbuttstrong. But I tend to think that adds to the experience (with moderation).
-- Frites with any/all of the sauces.
-- Mussels. Any style pot.
-- Mac and cheese.
The place is almost always busy and the bar area gets pretty crowded. But, I think one thing that makes the place great is that, it's not a place that you go to just "grab food" or "get a quick bite" -- the atmosphere just really encourages the enjoyment of beers with friends and conversations and really just a whole enjoyable evening out. I also appreciate that they call your cell phone instead of giving you one of the pocketexplosionbuzzingpagers when your table is ready.
One final note -- I took a trip to Belgium over the summer, largely inspired by my love for this place, and with few exceptions, I found that The Publick House had a better selection of Belgian beer than the pubs I visited in Belgium.
Beer 5 stars...excellent selection and staff helpful with recommendations
Food 3 stars...a little greasy and lacking flavor. The lobster mac and cheese was underwhelming. The frites never disappoint though!
I admit I can be something of a beer snob so I was super excited to find that the Publik House has an amazing selection of foreign and regional beer on tap or in the cooler. The staff was great at giving recommendations; I loved the Belgium beer I ended up with and my only disappointment was that I couldn't hear the bartender telling me what he was giving me. They also have all the right glasses to go with the different beers, which of course is always fun.
I haven't tried the food yet but plan to my next time in town. The only downside was that the space was a little crowded. On nice nights though you could sit outside and not even notice the crowd.
I went to The Publick House for the first time several years ago. The food was fantastic - I got the veggie burger and some squash appetizer that I don't think they serve anymore. What I've found over the years is that this excellent experience really depends on what you decide to order from the menu.
Last night I went with three friends. Among us, two ordered the fish and chips, one the homemade sausages, and one a burger with bacon and cheese. Everything was delicious except the sausages - they come with onion rings on top (awesome!) with salad stuffed in between the rings (what?) and swimming in a pool of gravy (seriously?). The burger was excellent, as were the fish and chips.
The beer (Blue Hills IPA) was watery and the Coke (apparently generic) was terrible. You cannot get iced tea or coffee here. It's a pub, so I get it.
It was too hot and too loud for 7pm on a Monday night, which really took away from the experience.
It's a great place, but it used to be better.
Walked in around 8pm on a Friday night. Packed wall to wall. Had to fight my way to the bar. Once I got there, the beer selection was good. About a dozen belgians (not my thing) and about a dozen "others" on draught. The "others" tended to be high alcohol beers as well, I recall at least 2 double IPAs - Victory Hop Wallop and Southern Tier Unearthly. I think I ended up drinking a Victory Prima Pils and 2 Hop Wallops.
After waiting an hour, we got seated. For dinner we started with the cheese plate. The cheese and the bread were forgettable, but the mustard was interesting. More mustard seed than mustard mustard.
I had the cuban sandwich. It was good except the bread was all wrong. Not sure if the chef has ever actually seen cuban bread. Tasty, if not traditional. My friends had the fish and chips and the mac 'n cheese. I had a taste of each and would definitely go back for mac 'n cheese. The fish was good, but you can get fish and chips anywhere.
Iove the Monks Cell,which is part of the Publick House. The BEST
selection of Belgium brews and a staff that knows their beer. i have not tried the food yet but will soon. From what i see and smell it must be just as great as the beer list. Beer dinners are also offered througout the year.
Not cheap, but the beer selection is illy. and my roomie was there recently and I guess there's a store attatched to it where you can build your own sixxer of exotic libations. Me likey.
This is a great Washington Square bar. it's young professionals, good looking people and delicious beer. I usually just tell the bar tender what I like and he comes up with something for me to try. They will even give you samples, which is great.
Good date spot, but this place gets rockin, even during the week in summer. You'll wait for a table, but the food is good and in the mean time, try something new. This place is fun shit.
I've been to the Publick House about 5 times now both when it's crowded and when it's empty and I must say it's very consistent. However that's not always a good thing in some respects. While the beer selection is always impressive and unique and a haven for people who crave quality-the service is another story.
I don't know if the owners simply don't care or actually encourage it, but the bartenders here are frustratingly indifferent and uninterested in their work. It's that whole "I'll get to you when I feel like it and when I do I'll be sure to appear bored and impatient". Every time. You can attempt to meet this with a smile and be friendly, you can even try large tips, but nope it's no use. It's starting to wear on me at this point.
The food service is another sore point for me. No matter what you order, how simple it is, or how empty the restaurant is-it's going to be a long wait. I recently tried them for a burger when they were dead on a weekend afternoon and surprise surprise it arrive about 50 minutes later. Dare to order when they're crowded and you'll be lucky to get something within an hour as I made the mistake of doing once. I'm guessing the chef has the same attitude as the bartenders- "I'll get around to it when I feel like it".
So what to do with a place like this? Nice beer selection, the food is fine when it eventually comes, and the place has an interesting decor, but the service grates on me tremendously. I'll also point out the beer prices are a but too high for certain brews (yes I know what good beer costs). Worth a visit but I think I'll pass for a while. I pray they someday get bartenders who are passionate about what they serve, make some type of effort, and actually try to make the experience pleasant.
I can't even handle it. This place is delicious all around.
I won't even do the place justice talking about their beer selection. You have to see it to believe it. I love that everyone who work there has always recommended great beers for me, without fail. I always get crushes on guys who know about good beer.... Side note, I find it embarrassing when people go in there and order a gin and tonic. REALLY? You're at an amazing beer bar and THAT'S what you order, idiot?
I would die happy if I could eat their mac and cheese every day. FACT: yesterday I had it with sausage and asparagus. GET IT.
Best beer selection in the area and awesome food too!
Mac & Cheese is amazing, but be warned that you will have to wait longer for that (meaning your whole table will wait for their food too)! So if you're starving, nix the M&C. Kind of bummed they updated their menu recently and no longer serve meatloaf! Sandwiches are OK, I mean it's pub food so it's great, but the entrees are so much better, so if you're looking for something interesting with good quality I would spend the extra money and skip the tuna melt or cuban press.
Only problems I've had is the wait. Wait for a table, and wait for service...it's a busy place and the wait staff and bartenders are always bustling around serving people.
Mac N' Cheese Heaven! That's what comes to mind when I think of Publick House. Yes, they have quite the beer selection, which is definitely a PLUS, and I'm sure the rest of their menu is pretty good...but their House Mac N' Cheese is what brings me back. Not that large of a space, it gets crowded pretty quickly and there is usually a wait if you come after 8....but get here around 6 or 7, grab a table and a couple of drinks and stay awhile. It's a very laid back and relaxed atmosphere.
Their mac n'cheese menu is incredible. I wish other restaurants in Boston did this. How many times have you ordered mac n' cheese and said, it would be even better if there were _____? Well, at Publick House, you can do exactly that by designing your own Mac N'Cheese. For $11, you get the basic House Mac N' Cheese. Then they have a list of add-on's for $1, $2, and $3. For example, peas and broccoli are $1, bacon is $2, and truffle oil is $3. And they are pretty large portions too, I had enough for 2 meals. It's right off the C-line so pretty convenient.
NICK'S VITALS THROUGHOUT VISIT TO PUBLICK HOUSE:
First few sips of Saison Dupont (6.5%) from draft:
Heart Rate EKG: ,__,|,__,|,__,|,__,|,__,|,__,|,__,|,__,
Pulse: 70 Beats per Minute (BPM) [60-100 Normal Range]
Respiratory Rate: 16 breaths per minute [12-20 Normal Range]
After glass of Achel Brune (8%), rare to find in the US, one of the six great trappiste ales:
Heart Rate EKG ,_,|,_,|,_:-)_,|,_,|,_*,_,*_,|,_,|,_,!,_,|,_,|,_,| ,
Pulse: 90 BPM
Respiratory Rate: 20 breaths per minute
After glass of Sint Bernardus Quadrupel (10%)
Heart Rate EKG ,|,|,|,|,|,|,__________________________
Pulse: 30BPM
Respiratory Rate: 5 breaths per minute
When they revived me and I came to, I proclaimed Publick House the best bar for beer lovers in Boston. Then I had another Belgian brew.
Although happily living in New York now, this is one of they places I miss most in Boston. Still crave their Mac & Cheese and great beer selection.
Friends report that the Sunday night trivia is not more. Not surprising and it wasn't needed to bring in the crowds.
The best bear bar in America. And the food is great too. Love their Sunday night trivia.
Pretty darn good!
Beer selection is pretty amazing. Side rant. Although I love a lot of beers, I am not a fan of a lot of the Belgium beers, and I think "beer experts" need to realize that not all beer lovers love Belgium beers. Ok, side rant done.
Service was a bit slow, and we have seen the place a bit more packed then when we were eating, so it did not look super hectic. We even received help from another server than our original one. He was much more attentive and much more helpful. Just wish he could have gotten some of the tip.
Fries were great but want a bit more heat out of a habanero mayo. My burger was unbelievable. One of the best I have had in a while, and cooked perfectly. The mac and cheese was pretty darn good too.
Not much I can add to the over-300 reviews of Publick House, except for this:
If you're looking for American craft beer, this is NOT the place for you.
While they do offer up some (ex: milk stout by Left Hand), the bulk of the beer here is imported - namely from Belgium. That's not really my complain; just an observation. However, if you're in the mood for some amazing micro-brewed beer form the great U.S. of A, you might want to mosey to another bar. Yet, if you want to partake in an amazing selection if imports in a place that takes extreme pride in bringing these select brews to the US, then this is the place to come.
They bring the appropriate glassware with the beer and pour it for you right at your table. That's cool. And they have such a huge selection of imports, you'll eyes will criss-cross.
Word to the wise: Be in the mood for some loud chatter from the hundred of other folks vying for some import beer. And don't dress too warm, either. If you want a table, yes, as the others said, be ready to wait.
I sampled a little bit of the food and wasn't impressed. Definitely go for the beer. I skipped actual food to drink my dinner. A wise choice, indeed.
Bud Light drinkers need not apply. you will be disappointed that the only 'Light' is Sam in this place. And that can be uncomfortable if you get sat next to the guys who bitch about having to order a Hoegaarden because they don't carry Natty Light, old school. true, Brookline isn't big on bars, but this my friends is not a bar.
what they do carry is every Belgian and Belgian-inspired beer that they can get their hands on - and one that they can't - Westvleteren - (they at least pay homage to by putting it on their menu with a disclaimer that it's "very rare - probably unavailable" - for any of you lucky enough to have tried Westvletern, you know that IF they get their hands on some, they are NOT dumb enough to sell it to us pleebs - that sh*t is getting shared by the insiders, and I can't say that I blame them, frankly. OK, diversion over)
The bar is awesome - warm, dark wood tables and bars - though it gets packed, the addition of the 3 Monks bar on the left helps thin out the crowd a bit. The food was good, and while 'Belgian' in style, having spent a chunk of my teenage years living just outside of Brussels, I can't say anything on the food list had me flashing back much to those younger years. But don't let that dissuade you, because what was ordered was damn good
the service was decent, given the amount of customers it needed to support.
if it didn't take 93 minutes to drive from Cambridge to Brookline, I would probably be on my way of becoming a regular.
We went here for dinner/drinks with friends last night. They have been raving about this place to us re: the food and the extensive beer selection. I love the decor of this place - dark wood, big bar that has 2 sides and lots of beer-related decor on the walls - serving trays, tin signs...very vintage looking. Their beer selection is amazing - I guess they have a rule that if they suggest a beer to you and you don't like it, you don't have to pay.
The food was also amazing - after reading so much about the mac and cheese I knew what I was going to order! For starters we had the mussels and frites. The mussels were likely the best I have ever had - so plump and loaded with flavor as we had the ones in a garlic broth. I love all of the add-ons you can have with your mac and cheese - YUM.
I love that the beer and glass it is served in match!
We all had something different and everyone had a great meal. Can't wait to go again...although I do hope the hostess who was SOOO... rude to us isn't there again....how could someone be in that much of a bad mood at 6:15 on a Wednesday night?! The PH management should potentially re-think who they have stationed as the first face/impression you might have of their place as she was quite unpleasant.
I'm going to go out on a limb here--I really don't love this place anymore.
I should probably preface this by saying that I'm not a huge beer drinker, so the biggest draw of this place is something I'm rather indifferent to.
I've had some great times here and used to love it when I was at BC, but I came out here a few days ago and I have to say I was underwhelmed. The burgers weren't great, the service was mediocre, we felt like we were being rushed out, etc.
My big annoyance with this place sounds kind of stupid, but it's actually a nice bar, the food and drinks are priced as such, and the bathrooms are kind of a mess. That's fine at Herrell's or some hipster dive bar, and I get that it's a really busy establishment, but every time I'm here I'm just like really? Still gross? Ugh.
Anyway, I know that The Publick House is like *the* place to talk about and love right now, and it certainly has it's upsides, but in the future I don't think I'll be making the trip to Brookline just to get a drink here. More room for you guys though!
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Newton Center, MA
Brookline, MA
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
Category: Bars
Brookline, MA
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Brookline Village
Category: Pubs
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