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The Publick House
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants American (Traditional) Restaurants Belgian Pubs, American (Traditional), Belgian [Edit]
1648 Beacon StBrookline, MA 02445
(617) 277-2880
- Nearest Transit:
-
Washington St @ Beacon St (65)
Washington Sq - Outbound (Green Line)
Washington Sq - Inbound (Green Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 2 am
Sat-Sun 4 pm - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Tue, Wed
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
655 reviews for The Publick House
Review Highlights
"The mac and cheese was sinfully delicious comfort food."
(in 154 reviews)
"The staff is friendly and the beer selection is superb."
(in 191 reviews)
"The fish and chips are also near perfect."
(in 46 reviews)
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655 reviews in English
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Review from Anthony L.
Cambridge, MA
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
1. Amazing beer menu... AMAZING
2. Veggie burgers are OUT OF THIS WORLD! Go get one, now.
3. Awesome service
4. Great setting
GREAT GREAT GREAT -
Review from Wendy L.
Boston, MA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm not a big fan of this place...after reading reviews about their amazing mac n cheese and garlicky mussels I decided to give it a shot. Meh...nothing special and I didn't enjoy the atmosphere much. The portions were generous and the price was reasonable but nothing really stood out to lure me for another visit.
If I'm in the mood for some Belgian beers and frites I may stop by... but I don't think this place lives up to its hype. -
Review from Abbey C.
Boston, MA
1/11/2012
I love the Publik House for their food & beer. I hate the Publik House for its overly crowded and super loud atmosphere, and occasionally rude staff.
If you are looking for a casual night out with a few friends, delicious food, and an overload of niche Belgian style beers (and more!) look no further. Order the Mac & Cheese with the gamut of additions of your choice with a Wachusett Larry and you have yourself a wonderful evening. Their burgers are great, and the monk fries are a must order for all! The cheese plate is pricey but wonderful. Don't go on Friday or Saturday nights after 6pm unless you want to wait for more than an hour and not socialize because you can't hear the person sitting next to you. All that said, the crowd is usually very nice and definitely tohlerable. My boyfriend and I go regularly and have not had a bad experience yet, but we do wish we could order to go (not an option unless you've been sitting at the bar having a few drinks). -
Review from Lauren F.
Boston, MA
2/8/2012
I've been to Publick House twice now, both on Friday nights. It's just "ok". Not a place I'm dying to go back to. Both times it's been super crowded and noisey and you are fighting the crowd to get to the bar. Once you do get to the bar the bartenders are kind of surley and rude. But I will say they do have a pretty extensive beer list.
We usually waited 45min-1 hour for a table. But their food was decent. I had the waterzooi aux poissons (no idea how to pronounce this). But it's a seafood stew in a tomato broth. I would order it again if I ever go back. -
Review from Monica R.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I think my husband got the stomach flu from his pulled pork sandwich. Very disappointing. This place has a great list of beers (and extensive).
I got meatballs and gravy and that was grosssss. -
Review from Leanne C.
12/30/2011 6 Check-ins Here
This is probably one of my top places to head to when in a "going out" mood. Excellent Belgian drafts, satisfying and fresh chips, and mostly awesome staff.
If you want a table, opt to go to Publick House for dinner and drinks (bar stools are hard to snag). On the weekends it can get awfully crowded too-- but its a nice crowd. 20-40-something beer appreciators and generally nice folks.
Service has always been spot on. The only bad I have taken away from this place is like Cinderella, when the clock strikes two, the magic ends. The hired help become a lot less friendly. A general warning of "oh hey, its two so finish your drinks please" is alright but a "its 2:04. You need to leave now." is unacceptable. It leaves you with a negative end of an otherwise positive evening. -
Review from Whytnee B.
Boston, MA
1/3/2012
I used to be a big fan of this place, but with their consistent popularity and loyal customers comes complacency.
My last visit was on a weekend, so the long wait was expected - no qualms there. But my burger was undercooked, the special Belgian app frites (which are some of my FAVORITE) tasted like they were sitting out for 30 mins (cold and wilty), and service was overall piss poor. In addition to the food mishaps, one of our beer orders was simply forgotten.
They took the fries off the bill, but I was still sorely disappointed. I went to have what I thought for certain would be a delicious meal, and it came off as the Publik House not even trying. I would guess this lack of effort would occur even during a quieter weekday, from what I could tell.
I will definitely be back, but it will be awhile. -
Review from Marieke V.
Boston, MA
1/28/2012
There are four pages worth of quality beer options and wonderful Flemish food. For this Belgian gal, you can't beat it.
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Review from Rachel L.
Boston, MA
12/31/2011
I see the charm and appeal of Publick House, but don't think that it is worth all of the hype. The service was good. The food was okay. The beer list was okay (if you know a lot about Belgian or German beers, it could be good - I was just hoping for more options).
All in all, I had a nice first experience at Publick House. Few complaints. -
Review from Leah G.
Brighton, MA
12/17/2011
I am having a really hard time finding anything wrong with this place, so.... 5 stars it is!
I'm not a "regular" beer drinker, but The Publick House has the potential to turn me into one. I've always been a fan of Belgian brews, and this is what they specialize in, so that was what initially brought me here. Here's what will bring me back:
*Friendly, knowledgable, prompt service
*Comfortable and authentic atmosphere/decor
*Great clientele...I make it a point to steer clear of all things college-y if at all possible! ahem. no offense.
*Delicious food...We got Mussels as an app (they give you 4 different broth options - cool!) and a burger with cheddar, carmelized onions, bacon, and chipotle mayo. Cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious.
I love finding new spots in my area that I know I will continue to frequent because they instantly make me feel comfortable. The Publick House will be getting my business again and again and again! I'm just sad it took me so long to discover it! -
Review from Joshua D.
Billerica, MA
11/28/2011
Knowing that 'm a huge Belgian beer fan, several of my coworkers had been telling me for quite a while that I needed to check out The Publick House in Brookline. Thinking it was another overrated Boston bar, I never took their advice seriously and instead opted to explore places closer to home.
What a mistake. This IS the best beer bar in the Boston area. Make no mistake about it.
I went during a tasting recently and loved everything I tried. There was so much I wanted to try on the menu that I didn't even know where to begin. And best of all, after grilling the bartender on what they have coming and going throughout the year, I learned that they sometimes carry Fantome. Yes, Fantome Saison. Or, as I like to call it, the Best Beer in the World.
No, not on tap, because that's all but impossible to find in the States, but available nonetheless. It's hard enough to find liquor/beer stores that stock up on such rare beers, nevermind a bar that actually serves it.
As far as the food...
I've only had the House Burger and that was phenominal. Several other items folks around me were eating looked fantastic as well - a couple next to me were devouring the Mac and Cheese and it was pretty easy to see why.
Lastly, I found that The Publick House seems to attract a certain crowd. Everyone was friendly and sociable, which really made me love the place that much more.
This is a MUST TRY in Boston, especially if you're a craft beer fan. -
Review from Shannon J.
Brookline, MA
11/14/2011
If I could give five stars for the beer list and four stars for the food, I would.
First, the beer. I spent my high school years in Belgium, and needless to say I am more than familiar with Belgian beers; whenever I have a craving for a taste of my high school home, I come straight here. They have the single best selection of Belgian beers I have seen in the greater Boston area, and their specialty/reserve beers are great. If you're looking for a low key place where you can drink some fantastic beers, come here; take note of the "no shots, no pitchers" sign above the bar.
The food is good. I always get the frites as a starter -- closest thing I've found to true Belgian fries in the U.S. I recommend the chipotle mayo to go with them, but all the sauces are good. As far as main courses, the mac and cheese is my staple. It's a giant dish of ooey gooey-ness, with whatever add-ins you have chosen mixed right in. No, it's not the best mac and cheese you will ever eat. But if you're like me and just want a laid back evening with good beer and comforting food while you're here, the mac and cheese may be just what the doctor ordered. The moules frites are also good, and my husband likes both the burger and the fish and chips. It has also been our experience that the nightly specials are quite good. -
Review from Julia M.
Brookline, MA
12/15/2011
Great beer, staff are very friendly and the food is excellent! I had the famous mac&cheese (delicious!) and also worth of noting is the combo board ( great cheese!) to share with friends who wish to split
a starter before ordering the food. -
Review from Michael C.
Tampa, FL
10/26/2011
For my first night in Boston/Brookline, my hosts wanted to take me to their favorite neighborhood spot - a juxtaposition of Belgian and American in both cuisine and beer. As a huge craft beer fan and foodie, I was intrigued and honestly up for anything.
As got there on a Thursday night, the place was already packed. We put our names down in the main room and went to the bar room. Now this needs to be noted because of the difference in atmosphere and ambiance. The main room feels like a main drinking and eating room with wood tables, floor and ceiling; while the back room feels more like you're in a Belgian abbey, what with the plastered walls and the stained glass window against one wall.
We ordered some great beers at the bar while we waited and were quickly given a seat. The menu is large and diverse, but I was feeling anxious about trying as much as I could so my friend and I split an order of the Mussels, Thai style, and the mac and cheese with prosciutto.
While I know this is an odd blend of flavors, it went well. The garlic and chilies of the muscles was fantastic and I had to stop myself from just lifting the pot and chugging down the broth after we were done. The slight saltiness of the prosciutto was a nice contrast to the cheese. As well, the Mac and Cheese is a bit thick, so it was a nice change to split rather than try to wolf it all down.
I had a great experience here and would gladly go again for both drinks and food. -
Review from Abbey L.
Boston, MA
1/30/2012
The Publick House is a great find! It's worth the trip to Washington Square anytime. The food is excellent, especially the mussels steamed in beer . They are a meal in and of themselves and are really unbeatable. The charcuterie boards are great, too. And everything else I've eaten here has been excellent. It definitely gets pretty busy so you have to be prepared to wait for a table, but the fun, old world atmosphere that makes the wait enjoyable.
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Review from Kim V.
Santa Barbara, CA
Although I'm not a regular beer drinker, my friends who are love the variety of beers Publick House offers. The good thing about this is that the bartenders and servers are very knowledgeable and can make good suggestions.
Since it's fall, there are a lot of pumpkin flavored beers out there. If I drink a beer, my preferences are the fruity beers (Wachusett Blueberry, Watermelon ales...). I also generally like ciders and lambics.
When I went there on Sunday, I was debating between the Original Sin Cider and the Pumpkin beer. I asked the bartender his opinion and he gave me samples of both. That was awesome! I was leaning towards the pumpkin beer, until I tried it. I would have been miserable if I chose that one instead of the cider.
We had a big party (of 10) and asked if we could take the back table on the bar side. Even though the hostess said that there wasn't wait staff, we mentioned this to the bartender, and he made an extra effort to help us out. The service was great! He made sure we were taken care of, even though he was also working the bar (yes, we tipped accordingly.)
I shared the fish n chips and the mussel appetizer with the bf. The fish was really tasty: flaky and delicious. The batter was ok, though. The fries are yummy... The mussel appetizer is a great deal. It was a HUGE portion and awesome! -
Review from Tess G.
Brookline, MA
1/9/2012
A go-to spot in Washington Square for the locals. I'm a fan of La Fin Du Monde and as far as food goes, you have to get the pomme frites with the garlic dipping sauce. They come in a big cone and can easily be shared by four or more people if you're just looking for a little nosh but not a full meal. Sometimes the place is packed and other times it isn't, but I haven't been able to quite pinpoint the pattern.
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Review from Vinny M.
Boston, MA
11/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome beer bar. Too many Belgiums and unique craft beers to explore! This would probably be my favorite bar if it were closer to home. Only have tried the burger with the Dogfish BBQ sauce; very tasty. My friend had the Belgian Onion Soup... twice, so I'm guessing that was pretty delicious as well.
Bar staff is friendly; a lot of places like this that specialize in craft bar tend to have surly bar-staff (see: Bukowski's), but The Publick House is a welcome exception. -
Review from Cherie L.
Orange, CA
11/11/2011
3 1/2 stars
This place is what a west coaster would call a "gastropub". Huge selection of beers and great pub / comfort food.
I'm not a huge beer drinker, so I opted for the hard cider AKA scrumpy. We also tried the strawberry fruit tasting beer. Although our waitress didn't seem to have any objections we ordered it and it was DISGUSTING. It tasted like minimally carbonated vinegar water with strawberry flavoring.
The mac and cheese was to-die-for. You get to select your own toppings (such as bacon, proscuitto, peas, etc) or order have it plain.
The grape salad with goat cheese was impressive as well. I had to eat every last piece of goat cheese from that salad.
It's rather loud in there so don't come here expecting to have a nice quiet evening. It was difficult carrying a conversation at times due to the noise level. -
Review from shannon c.
Somerville, MA
Updated - 10/15/2011
I thought it was just about time for me to revisit my review of the Publick House in Brookline, I've grown even more fond of this place in the past few years than I ever intended!
I have a rehearsal in Brookline once a week and I discovered that the PHouse is a great way to kill my time between work and before rehearsal.
The staff is lovely to say the least. They have made a concerted effort to get to know me, my tastes, and make a lady sitting at the bar by herself warm and welcomed. I feel very lucky to have these people serve me, they are kind professional and friendly - seriously you can't beat the service here.
The food is simply wonderful. I often tell people that the veggie burger is the best you are going to get in town, and it's true. I order it so often that I'm sure the staff think's that I'm a hard core vegetarian - not at all true. Their regular burger is great too, but there is just something about that veggie burger. Yum-O.
As you can read the Mac & Cheese is also to die for. When I get it after work it's like crawling into bed with a warm blanket.
I love the Publick House, trust me - you will too.
Oh! In response to a poor review - the Publick House is not only a bar, but a restaurant as well.
*It is in no way an inappropriate place to bring children.*
Late night? Maybe, but that goes for any establishment. When meeting my director before rehearsal for dinner she often brings her two children - both under the age of 10. They have an excellent children's menu and a staff that loves kids. So, sorry. You're wrong on that one.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/2/2010
I love this place. For a few weeks now I've stopped in after work because I have a rehearsal right… Read more »
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Review from Christina Z.
Winthrop, MA
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Most expansive beer menu in all the land! Delicious, delicious variety. I opted for the Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale and Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. The Pumpkin was much less sweet than Shipyard's and a touch bitter, but all-around yummy. The BBCS was bitter as all hell. Frankly, a Guinness goes down smoother. I am just so happy to have unlimited options that I didn't even bat an eyelash and gulped it down.
FRITES. Classy french fries, with a variety of sauces: garlicky mayo, asiago something, beer-mustard, and chipotle mayo (our least favorite - the unsavory combination of spicy and creamy)
The Mac & Cheese I've gotten a few times, and I find myself incapable of NOT finishing the plate. And torn between bittersweet regret and unabashed happiness.
Love this joint. Always packed, even on a Tuesday! -
Review from Elmer S.
Brookline, MA
1/2/2012
I love this place! I've always liked the food at the Publick House, but my love for the restaurant has only grown now that my wife and I live in Washington Sq. The Publick House has become our local haunt. The beer list is excellent, and the food is great.
My favorites are the mac and cheese and the french fries. You can customize your mac and cheese with a ton of different options, I usually get mine with pesto, bacon and mushrooms. -
Review from Patty J.
Canton, MA
11/18/2011
It's really hard to review restaurants! Because obviously the ones that are more expensive are in a category by themselves. I went here last night with my two sons! They are college students; we went to go to Vinny Testa's because we wanted Italian and they were no longer there. It was a long day and searched my GPS for restaurants near by.
I have to say that although I am a gourmet dish person, I felt like a burger...and got one that was great! One of my sons got the Marinated Steak Tips...he doesn't eat much, but I was amazed by how much was eaten off his plate! The other one got the Meatloaf dish to my surprise; because he would have never ordered something like this before. I guess he really craves the home cooked meal that he no longer has going to college.
I also ordered the Crab and Shrimp Fritta Appetizer; which was my favorite! The only thing that bothered me was that you could not read the menu because it was so dark. Fortunately, my son had an app on his phone that was a light and then I could see.
I call it comfort food and comfort atmosphere...if I was in college and could drink a lot of beer, the selection was amazing! -
Review from E. O.
Boston, MA
11/2/2011
A bible of beer, home-made food and awesome people, how could you go wrong?
If you drink beer with drinkability i.e. Bud Light, if you buy beer in racks instead of packs this is not the place for you. If you actually enjoy beer, fear not you will be in good company. We went on a Saturday night which was relatively packed for the smallish restaurant and waited about ~20 min since we did not have a reservation. We all got a different beer at the bar. I asked the bartender an incredibly stupid beer question that I will not repeat here. Instead of a pretentious response I got an educated but thoughtful response without it being pretentious. Moving on now, I had Duvell with an amazing burger. The Home-made french fries and slaw were freshly made on site. I am most definitely going back when I have the chance!
Need a great pub with world-class beer and great food? Look no further than The Publick House -
Review from Shannon F.
Portland, OR
10/6/2011
The beer selection here is great, hands down that's not a question but when you go to dinner at 8 pm on a Saturday night and then wait an hour at the bar for dinner I'd kind of like the waitress to acknowledge the table a bit more. She was attentive at first but then once we had ordered she just left us alone, we had empty glasses for awhile which was a bit surprising since people know this place for their beer and I asked for water three times before I got a refill.
The Mac and Cheese that they are known for is only as good as what you choose to add to it. I didn't add anything salty and it was definitely lacking salt but other than that it was good. The meatloaf was excellent and the fish stew was great.
Overall, if you don't mind a wait and are a beer fan I'd give it a try. I'm hoping our waitress was just busy and not blowing us off but I'd definitely give them the benefit of the doubt and go back for a second, or was it third chance. -
Review from Reza H.
Boston, MA
10/1/2011
Best beer collection in Brookline, maybe even in the greater Boston area. It also has a casual atmosphere with decent food.
Now you're asking yourself, why did this guy give it two stars then? Well, I've been going to The Publick House for years. I remember the time when when the bartenders here were friendly, knowledgeable and always helpful. I remember when the lobster mac 'n cheese (no longer on the menu) was so good, I used to have friends come from out of state and the only place they would want to go is here.
Last few times however has been nothing but disappointments (mostly with the service). On my birthday, I invited a whole bunch of friends here. The lady serving our table was nonchalant at best. Last time I was there, I was blatantly blown off by the bartender. How blatantly you ask? Picture him coming down the bar asking everyone if they were all set with their drinks. Comes to the end of the bar. I smile and say hi. He makes eye contact and then walks away.
I know it's hard work and anyone can have a bad day. I wouldn't have written this review if I didn't see a pattern of behavior over time.
I'm just hoping I ran into a few bad apples and things will go back to the good old days soon. -
Review from Kelsey F.
10/14/2011
Publick House is a great neighborhood bar/restaurant which has the best of both worlds.....huge beer selection (and tons on tap) and great food!
Came here with my friend tonight for a few beers and dinner. There was a 45 minute wait for a table for 2 but we ended up scoring some bar seats....sweet! The bartenders were nice and very attentive. We got the veggie board for an app. It comes with an enormous amount of hummus, 3 other dips, and some pita chips and pickled veggies. A bit large for just 2 people.
For a meal I got the stuffed peppers. I can honestly say I don't think I have ever seen a stuffed pepper on a menu so I was pretty intrigued. I went for it and was so happy I did. It was delicious!! Stuffed with some type of bread stuffing mixed with mushrooms, corn, cheese, and a tomato sauce....all over spinach. Yum!! My firend got the burger which she really liked.
Publick House is a great place to go for a low key night. It's a friendly place that makes you feel like you are right at home! -
Review from Phill M.
Boston, MA
9/23/2011
My fella took me here for my Birthday this past Wednesday. I have a love of mussels paired with Belgian beer so this sounded like a great spot. 4 different pots of mussels and an extensive beer list.
The atmosphere was great! A nice cozy feel. However I was immediately put off when we were sat at a four top in the bar next to the bathrooms on stools with no backs. I looked at the dining room which had plenty of open tables and asked to be re sat. The hostess did so with only a twinge of an eye roll. Sorry but stocky gay men like to have romantic dinners too.
Now with such a massive beer list I was a bit put off by how anxious our waitress was to take our beer order. I sent her away twice before I was ready. When the beer arrived, it was the wrong beer, sent to the wrong table. Quickly fixed.
We wanted to try a couple flavors of mussels and they offer an entree size and a appetizer size. So we ordered two different appetizer size mussels and an aristanal cheese board. We also ordered a side of fries.
The cheese board was great! 3 different cheeses. Each excellent and very generous portions.
When our mussels came out we discovered that they also came with sides of fries. I was immediately annoyed because we also had ordered a basket of fries. So we wasted $6 on fries we never ate.
The waitress was pretty awful. She never came back over after taking our order. We waited about 10 minutes on the bill. When she came over to ask us if we wanted anything else, she laughed and said, I guess I should have told you that the mussels came with fries. Well, we decided her mistake meant that the now cold fries would be her tip.
Once we actually received the check we waited another 10 minutes before she came to pick it up!
Truthfully I may go back here again, the food and beer was good. This one waitress though, awful. -
Review from Sean W.
Brookline, MA
10/14/2011
I have been to The Publick House and American Craft at least a doen times since moving to Brookline and I absolutely love it (and not only because I love beer and I can walk to it).
The beer list is top notch and includes the best Belgium has to offer, as well as a number of rare and special american craft brews. The restaurant has great decor - it's like the common room in a small european watering hole. Before I even ate anything, I could see why this place is so popular. It's a really relaxed and cool place to hang out, and we hang out for quite each time we go.
The menu is not huge (certainly not as large as the beer menu), but there is a good amount of variety. Lots of traditional pub foods have a slight spin to them, upping their quality. I can't wait to go back and try some more! -
Review from Jason A.
Boston, MA
10/15/2011
I've been going to this establishment since it was called Anam Cara, seen the break of out the Monk's Cell and have seen them evolve into of the best beer bars / Belgian eateries in the US.
Staff is knowledgeable of nearly every beer that is on and if they don't know they'll find out. They are great on giving recommendations if you don't know what you are looking for. The food is amazing, mussels kick some major ass. Frites, can't go there without ordering them.
Heavy Belgian focus for the beer list, you can order any beer on the list no matter where you are. The rest of the selection keeps up with a smattering of seasonals, new releases and solid stand-bys. Proper glassware really makes this place shine with a proper pour to boot.
If you are in the Boston area it is a must visit, if you live in the area and never have been you have been missing out. -
Review from Allison R.
Somerville, MA
9/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Review #600? No one's gonna read this.
I love beer. Especially from Belgium. I also like ribeye steaks. I like dark cozy bars. I like the Publick House. A whole lot.Listed in: it's better in the dark
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Review from Eric L.
Watertown, MA
1/8/2012
If it were only slightly bigger and could accommodate more people it would be getting five stars. You won't find a better beer list in the northeast. Guaranteed.
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Review from Keith A.
Wilmette, IL
9/26/2011
And wow. The beer selection here was just tremendous. It was 95% belgian both from the actual country and in various styles from domestic brewers.
The draft selection was just loaded with great belgian beer across teh board, but that wasn't what really made the publick house. The atmosphere, food, and service was what really made the place.
It was nice so I sat outside and made sure to order myself some frites. They have a variety of mayos to choose from and the chipolte mayo was great with the fries. Even better, the fries were done in duckfat.
I also had to get a pot of mussels. There were 4 different broths to chose from and I went with the second choice. This one had prosciutto and roasted garlic with it. My eyes ended up being bigger than my stomach as I tried hard to finish it all, but fell short. Still, these were damn good mussels.
Our waitress was great and we were never without attention. I only wish I was in the area more often -
Review from Jes. C.
Albany, NY
9/1/2011
The last time I was in Brookline, my friends and I wanted to go here, but they were so busy that there was no room, so we went somewhere else. This time around, I was thrilled to find that we were early enough to get decent seats in a relatively private area.
Their beer list is amazing and extensive. There is absolutely something on the menu for everyone, but it's a little daunting to try to choose from such a long list. That said, the descriptions are very well-written and, from my experience, very accurate and helpful in choosing your pint. I only sampled a few of their offerings, but I was happy with everything I tried.
I wish that I had been more hungry, since the menu looked amazing. If the mussels are any indication of the rest of their menu, anyone would be pleased with the end result.
Definitely on my list of places to go back to. -
Review from Chad C.
9/13/2011
Did I get the wrong thing in my mac'n'cheese? I think I got the wrong thing in my mac'n'cheese. I went carmelized onion, peas, and brocolli. It was pretty bland and I was really disappointed after seeing this show on one of those Travel/Food Network segments.
On the other hand, my ladyfriend's mac'n'cheese tasted better than mine. She went garlic and bacon. Still... the add-ins on the mac'n'cheese are pretty expensive when the base price is $15... so I don't think either was worth it. Service was okay... kinda felt "forgotten" during this visit.
On the positive side, it's a nice dark place (I like dark restaurants and bars) with one of the best beer lists you're ever going to see. They're known for the mac'n'cheese, though... and they didn't pull it off. Wish I would've eaten a third lobster roll that day instead. -
Review from David C.
8/29/2011
I'm not a beer drinker, so I can't really review what The Publick House is most famous for, but I can tell you they have a damn good mac & cheese. For $13 (without add-ons) it's a little expensive, but totally worth it if you want to indulge in cheesy goodness.
Now let me tell you a story. Like I said, I don't really drink beer, but I've been known to enjoy a good cocktail or two. The Publick House doesn't even have a cocktail menu, but they were willing to accommodate me when I (somewhat sheepishly) asked for a lemon drop martini. A few minutes later, I saw the bartender heading towards our table, a beer in one hand, my martini in the other.
"Quick!" I said. "How much do you want to bet he gives me the beer and you the martini?"
Before my lovely female roommate had a chance to respond, the bartender was at our table handing me her beer. I thanked him and waited until he left to switch our drinks. -
Review from snow g.
Boston, MA
10/14/2011
My husband and his best friend really like(d) Publick House, so when they wanted to go there tonight, I agreed, despite not really liking the place.
On being seated for our table, after a long wait, I perused the menu and was disappointed to find that the vegetarian entree was still Stuffed Bell Pepper. I've had the stuffed pepper before, and didn't care for it. I tweeted, "@thepublickhouse Please get rid of the stuffed pepper as the vegetarian entree, it sucks. Bring back pumpkin ravioli."
My table had a conversation about how inappropriate we thought it was that children were allowed into a bar, after a pair of -10 year olds ran past our table in a race to the bathroom, unsupervised. I opened my Twitter client and tweeted, "@thepublickhouse Also children should never, ever be allowed."
At that point, I realized that the @thepublickhouse Twitter had replied to my first tweet, saying, "@snowgray or just get rid of u?" Almost immediately after my second tweet, the one about kids, @thepublickhouse replied to it as well, saying, "@snowgray where u sitting so we can toss ur ass?"
I replied to the first tweet, "@thepublickhouse Wow. Whoever runs your Twitter is an asshole. And I was just considering changing my opinion of your service." I was surprised by his second tweet, but I was also sitting in the restaurant at the time, so I replied: "@thepublickhouse Table of four by the ATM, stairs. Are we gonna fight?" After several minutes, @thepublickhouse replied, "@snowgray imagine if u were even here." I was irritated, because I'd expected a staff person to actually come talk to me, since I'd said exactly where I was sitting. So I replied, "@thepublickhouse Bitch I *am* here, though only b/c husband likes it. And I am so serious about fighting. Scared of a girl, are you?"
At this point, there were no more replies to my tweets. My table received our food. I noticed a person who was obviously staff, but not a waiter, walking from the kitchen to the room behind the bathrooms several times. At one point, he pulled out an iPhone and appeared to be attempting to take a picture of my table. I stared at his camera to indicate that I saw him, and he instead took a picture of the general bar area.
After we finished eating, and paid our bill, I went up to the bar and asked the bartender who ran the Twitter account for the Publick House. He replied that it was the owner. I asked if he were here, and could I speak with him, assuming that whoever came to talk to me would say that he'd been trying to look tough on Twitter, and was sorry, or something to that effect. The bartender left and returned with the owner, the same staff person who had been taking iPhone pictures. I shook his hand and said, "Hello, I'm the person you've been fighting with on Twitter."
He replied, "Our Twitter only posts the specials of the day."
I said, "Oh? Then who has been replying to my tweets?"
He said, "You told a million people that something fucking sucked."
I replied, "It does. It-"
The owner cut me off and said, "And you said we shouldn't allow kids."
I replied, "You're a bar!"
He interjected again, "Why are you even here?"
I said, "My husband likes it here. I don't."
He said, "Get the fuck out." I called him an asshole. He told me to get the fuck out again. I turned around and left to meet my friends who were outside.
My husband had been behind me during this conversation, though I hadn't realized. He said to the owner, "That behavior is not necessary. I think you owe her an apology." The owner replied angrily, and told him to get the fuck out, too.
Once outside, my husband and I were standing far away from the door, talking to our friends. The owner came out and pointed out myself and my husband to the bartender, yelling, "Don't ever let them in again, they are the biggest fucking cunts I've ever met." There was a small crowd of people milling about outside the bar, and it was obvious from their responses that they heard the owner.
I'm sure that hardcore Publick House fans aren't going to care about this, but I can't really understand how any rational businessperson could think that it would be a good idea to treat patrons this way, even patrons who criticized something about the business. I didn't start the swearing on Twitter, and I certainly didn't intend to cuss him out in person, though that did happen. I'm also quite mad that, though he threatened to "toss ur ass," he didn't bother to actually throw us out, so we did, in fact, pay our bill and tip the waitress. I mean, if he'd thrown us out when he'd threatened to, we could've left and had a lovely dinner somewhere else.
Screencaps of the Twitter conversation: Tweet #1 and responses (my reply to this tweet came after @thepublickhouse's second tweet): http://farm7.static.fl... Tweet #2 and responses: http://farm7.static.fl... -
Review from Jonathan K.
Quincy, MA
11/21/2011
I've been denied entry because I had "been drinking". This was at 1030 on a Saturday, btw. Typical attitude of this type of place. They'll give you a great beer list if you're willing to put up with the snobby staff.
I'll take Sunset instead, please. -
Review from San D.
San Diego, CA
12/5/2011
This is a vegetarian review, so sorry, meat eaters.
Really like the beer, ambiance and service.
The soup of the day was really good, I think it was gruyere. The fries were soggy. The stuff bell pepper was actually pretty bad. I'm not really a picky eater, having slim pickings on menus for most of my life, but this dish was exceptionally bland. It's pretty obvious that someone who is not vegetarian made the dish.
My friends said the meatloaf and the seafood soup dish was really good. -
Review from Chelsea P.
Boston, MA
9/28/2011
There are so many reviews here, it's insane....here's my two cents.
They didn't get 5 stars because of our seating arrangements (a large picnic table for my boyfriend and I and then another couple were seated wtih us, it was just strange).
They got 4 stars because: we were sitting outside, which was nice. They are pet friendly, outside, which is awesome. Their mac & cheese and their mussels (which we heard are why you go there) were delicious and the waitress and wait staff were all really nice.
Oh and they call your cell when your table is ready, which is so much better than yelling your name out or having stupid buzzers to carry around. My beer and purse are enough to have in my hands :)
I will be returning!!
