What does Amarillo have to offer in terms of upscale dining? I was visiting Amarillo for about a…read moreweek to spend time with my girlfriend and her family in her hometown, and I wanted to treat her to a nice dinner. She suggested a few places, but she heavily emphasized Public House as the restaurant to take her to.
We had a reservation at 7:15 pm on a Friday and arrived just a few minutes early. They were very busy and we had to wait an additional 15 minutes to get seated. The waitstaff was super apologetic, but it was also college graduation night for some, so it was simply very busy.
We were seated in their main dining room, though the reservation had options for their lounge and their bar as well. Our waitress came by with a carafe of water and gave us their drink menu. For starters, I ordered a Blue Bumble Bee and my girlfriend ordered the Harvest Martini. It was very fruity and herbal. Their cocktails ranged between $11 and $15. They also had an extensive draft list available on Untappd and plenty of wine options.
As an appetizer, my girlfriend really wanted their Fried Cheese Curds, which she described as amazing. They were served with ranch and a raspberry habanero jelly that was very good. The fruity sweetness hits first, with the habanero flavor coming in on the back end and sneaking up on you. The curds themselves were excellent. They were perfect to share for two, but I think they would be unsatisfying for more than three.
We both ordered a side Caesar salad made with their house Caesar dressing, parmesan chips, croutons, and parmesan cheese. You can always taste a fresh salad and this was proof of that. I liked it a lot and ate the entire thing.
For our main entrees, my girlfriend ordered the Lamb Lollipop Chops. They are listed as an appetizer, but the four lamb chops were filling enough for her. I ordered the special of the day, a Beef Wellington served with seasonal vegetables of chopped sweet potatoes and asparagus. The Wellington also came with mashed potatoes. It was recommended medium rare, which is how I ordered it. I thought it was really delicious. I am still thinking about how doughy and flavorful it was, especially with the prosciutto. Our waitress mentioned they had sold out of it every night for the past few nights.
Both the Lamb Chops and the Beef Wellington were market price. Everyone acts gangster until those MKT prices turn into $45 for an entrée. I am usually the one ordering something cheaper than my girlfriend so I can jokingly say she is expensive, but when her entrée was $29 and mine was $45, I could only clown myself.
All of this still came in under $180 before tip, and there were plenty of more affordable options on the menu. Two standard entrees, two salads, an appetizer, and two drinks could easily keep your bill under $100 before tip, which makes Public House approachable for a nice night out.
If you thought we were done, you would be surprised. For dessert, we debated between their crème brûlée special with strawberries and their Ooey Gooey Butter Cake. When we asked our waitress, she immediately recommended the Ooey Gooey Butter Cake with no hesitation, so that is what we ordered. I had never had one before and was impressed by its flavor. It was served with plenty of whipped cream and reminded me of fried cheesecake in terms of texture.
Side note, my girlfriend told me the ooey gooey part of its name refers to the type of butter cake and is not just a silly name, so I will continue to refer to it by its full name out of respect.
We also ordered dessert cocktails, with both of us choosing the Kevin McAllister, which was described as an adult apple juice. It was made with a house made caramel infused vodka that was excellent. It truly lived up to the description and paired well with the dessert.
I would definitely return to Public House the next time I am back in Amarillo. It was a fantastic dinner to share with someone I love. The staff were attentive and on point, and once we were seated everything moved efficiently despite the short wait.
As we walked out of the restaurant, I took a picture of my beautiful girlfriend in front of the Public House sign. A couple asked if we wanted our picture taken. I said, "No, I just wanted to admire her for a moment." After a good meal with the one you love, that is sometimes all you need.
RIYL: treating that someone special to a good meal in Amarillo, Texas
