Public might be public enemy #1 for my waistline, but with truffle mac 'n' cheese that good, I'm willing to risk it. Oozing trendy loft style with a bit of ski château-chic, this swanky bar did nothing but impress from the moment we walked in. The exceptionally friendly staff, creative (and potent) cocktails, gorgeous fit out, and some really swoon-inducing menu items (think: Kentucky Fried Duck and the aforementioned truffle mac 'n' cheese) quickly proved that the substance matched the style. From the samplings I indulged in, I reckon I could have ordered page one of the gorgeous leather bound menu and been continually impressed - it's just a good thing that the menu items are all intended to share as the mysterious three letter menu descriptions piqued all of our foodie fetishes. Can't wait to see more from these guys! read more

Public - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Brisbane, QLD

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Their website handle is lovepublic and from the minute I noticed the Sharon Montrose prints adorning the walls of George Street's newest urban hotspot, Public, I knew I would indeed love Public and that soon we'd be firm friends. Public continued to woo me with their gin cocktails (try the Space Gin Smash or Public Nuisance) and no one should leave this inner-city dwelling without trying at least a mouthful of their truffle mac 'n' cheese. The space is part city loft, part English manor and to their credit you feel comfortable enough in the high-back wicker "thrones", as I'll call them, to potentially outstay your welcome (not that the wait staff would make you feel that way. To be honest for most of the evening it was list we were talking to an old friend each time the waiter came around.) The menu is designed to be shared and on the night we visited became quite the conversation point between the group. With only three word descriptions your imagination is given permission to run wild as you concoct images of the food you will receive. The KFD (Kentucky Fried Duck) won a lot of admiration as did the simple and rustic baked beans served in a tin. This is one new Brisbane venue that is testament to our city growing up and coming into its own. read more

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Yesterday someone asked what I was up to for the evening and I replied, "I'm losing my Public virginity tonight!", which didn't really sound like a sentence fit for public because sometimes it's hard to pronounce Capitals. I've been gunning for Public since I heard of its opening a couple of months ago. I haven't quite gotten comfortable with eating dinner alone yet, so I finally found some company in the form of a fellow indulgence enabler, and we locked in a date. The bad thing about reading reviews for a restaurant before you go is that sometimes you get really excited about a particular plate and then when you get there, that particular plate isn't on the menu. This happened to me last night at Public, because I was desperate to try two meals: 1. the scallop, pear puree and pork popcorn and 2. the duck egg french toast. The moment I realised they were nowhere to be found on the current menu, I fell into despondency. A Space Gin Smash cocktail helped to drag me back to hope, because the current menu was enticing enough to not leave me completely broken-hearted. The KFD (Kentucky Fried Duck) remained, as did the truffle mac & cheese, so we put those in our faces (along with some other delicious things) and lived happily ever after. But don't get your hopes up they'll still be there when YOU go. read more

Public - Public, inc. KFD, potato skins, beef tartare and truffle mac & cheese. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Brisbane, QLD

Located right in the business district, it's the perfect after-work location for a drink and some tapas. Unfortunately, the three of us that decided to go here for a dinner date don't drink often, so we didn't try any of their drinks... I had seen pictures of Public from blogs and reviews, but because of its dimly lit atmosphere, I didn't really know what to expect. Public's interior is sleek and stylish, with leather seating and spacious seating, and has a loung-y feel, but honestly, I found their interior decor a bit random and un-themed. They had a few nice pieces, and the overall feel didn't bother me too much, except for the fact that they kept dimming and readjusting the lighting. Their drink menu is elaborate and tempting, and course menu innovative, which includes the Kentucky Fried Duck (KFD), which we tried. I was all hyped-up for the KFD (26), but was quite underwhelmed. The batter on the duck was tasty, but fell right off the meat as we tried to cut through the meat. On top of that, it seemed over-fried, and the duck meat was bland and plain and not marinated. I love duck meat, but I actually wouldn't suggest it... We also had the Wagyu Tataki (26), which was delicious on its own and had a perfect texture - seared on the outside and just rare enough to not be overly sinew|chewy. My only complaint was that the horseradish that it supposedly came with could have had a stronger horseradish flavor. We also had a side of Potato Skins, which were not bad, though the aioli|sour cream that it came with was a bit thick. The Truffle Macaroni and Cheese (12) was not bad, and the ramekins or whatever it came in gave the sides a little burn crust, which I liked. Overall, the dishes were just mediocre, with the Wagyu beef being the best of the night, and so we decided that we had had enough and decided to end the night with just four items. I was rather disappointed, as I had never really experienced a Tapas place that I wasn't satisfied with, but I think Public will be my first. Maybe I'll give their drinks their try one day, but for now, I unfortunately won't be returning for their food. // EDIT // I never thought I'd give Public another try after the disappointing dinner I had here a few months ago, but since they were doing a nice little promo, I couldn't pass it up! Me and Jo arrived to a different ambience than the last. The sun through the windows brightened up the place, but because there weren't any visible customers, we thought they hadn't opened yet, despite our reservation. The first thing I noticed was the taxidermy of the peacock hanging near the bar, which is a bit creepy, but kinda cool (if it's not real?). I didn't really notice a lot of things last time, including their bar set-up, which looks nice and spacious. To the point! I ordered a cappuccino for a change, and it was just alright. It wasn't anything special and wasn't hot by the time it got to me. The food was much better than their coffe, though! I had the Truffle Duck Egg, Mushroom, and Spinach (15) on toast, which was apparently a "good choice." I thought so too, as the truffle added flavor to everything else. I'm such a mycophile, so the truffle and mushroom combination was perfect for me! The duck egg hidden inside the toast was runny and so delicious with the crisp toast, and while the presentation and flavors weren't lacking one bit - the dish was overall a bit too oily for me. Too much butter for my taste, and I think the dish would have tasted just as good to anyone if it had a little less butter. I also had a bite of the Slow Poached Egg, Salmon, and Hollandaise (16), which was well presented and reminded me of a sunset! I also really liked how this tasted, especially with the salmon caviar. It added interest and flavor to the dish, and I was quite impressed, since my last experience here was subpar. The hollandaise sauce looked a bit overwhelming, but I suppose it was part of the presentation... The ambience is different from a cafe, as it is more of a night-time place, with a bar and everything, and the service was decent (better than last time too). I don't know if I would ever return for dinner again, but for breakfast or maybe a drink, I just might! read more

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It can be easy to not even notice Public unless you've heard of it before, tucked away on the first floor of an office building on George Street in a quiet corner of the city. Once inside though, you feel like you've discovered a hidden gem for first time. Public is a cross between a cocktail and wine bar and a fine dining tapas-style restaurant. It has the vibe of a classy jazz club throughout with dark timber furnishings, dim lighting and a scattering of mounted taxidermy, a full size peacock is perched above the main bar. This carried through to the drinks menu which was a quaint leather-wrapped booklet. The food menu was actually a bit of a surprise with its creative dishes not expected from a bar-style venue. It is designed around sharing with the bulk of the menu consisting of small plates, there are a few big plates of pork belly, lamb shoulder and char siu chicken. On this visit I ordered the salmon, soft shell crab, Kentucky Fried Duck and the Texas brisket. These were chosen with assistance from the waitstaff due to the amount of choices on offer, as was the serving order. The salmon was a bit of a "why not" moment. Smoked salmon with apple slices, apple foam and black ants. Actual ants. The ants had a short back story which the staff detailed, sourced from a specific location and fed on a mostly citrus diet. It's hard to describe exactly how the ants tasted, especially over the feeling of looking at them on your fork before taking a bite. The flavours are probably described as a rich citrus, slightly sour bite. They are soft in texture and so not overly noticeable, combining well with the deep smoked salmon. It is quite an experience. Next up was the soft shell crab, served with a spicy tomato and peanut sauce. The crab was lightly battered and full of flavour, going well with the actually quite spicy sauce. This was followed by the Kentucky Fried Duck, a bit of a "dirty food" indulgence. Served in brown paper bags on a plate and complimented by a side of mellow-flavoured (less dressing, more carrot and possibly added almond) coleslaw. It felt a bit like a classier KFC, probably the intention, but with the increased texture from the duck. The final savoury dish was the Texas beef brisket with soft tortillas, coleslaw (more typical coleslaw than that with the duck) and chili sauce, arranged in a do-it-yourself taco affair. The brisket had that succulent melt-in-your-mouth texture and went well with the spicy sauce, which was a sweeter spice than that of the sauce with the crab. Finally, dessert was the Goat's Cheesecake with basil and pistachio. This was presented in the form of a deconstructed cheesecake with the goats cheese and the basil combining in a somewhat sweet and sour, yet refreshing, flavour mix. This completed an excellent, unexpected, casual fine dining experience in a great secluded yet welcoming location. If anything, the prices were a little on the high side given the portion sizes, however it is clear how Public has maintained its Good Food Guide one hat award since opening. read more

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3 lovely hours of drinking and dining: $213 Ticking 'have a real life Sex and the City moment' off your bucket list: Priceless. This place is for sharing. Share the food, share the drinks, share your conversation. Share! Share! Share! Public was my very first suggestion when I was asked to give a list of options for a friends birthday dinner for us four girls. I am so very glad that it was because this place is no joke. We moved from having cocktails at stools by the bar to sharing some of the most divine food at a table in the back and very well could have been in two separate places. But thats the appeal of Public. When you're in the front you're looking out of the floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking Brisbane streets where everyone is milling together and when you're in the back it's mood lighting and candles and intimacy and seating. And so in one vast space Public gives you...well the Public and the Private. The staff here are one of a kind. The bar tender we had I could barely communicate with short of staring open mouthed in awe. He was friendly, witty, chatty, attentive but still distant and knowledgable to the point where I'm fairly certain he could have recited the menu to me from memory, ingredient by ingredient. So in other words, everything he needed to be. And the drinks are fantastic. When it comes time to order the food we are given a quick rundown of the purpose of Public. You guessed it. To share! And so we had plate after plate delivered to our table. Famous for their KFD and anyone can see why. Perfectly cooked with a coating that would make the Colonel weep! The truffle mac and cheese was a standout and this is coming from someone who loathes mac and cheese. The texas brisket is brought to the table after being slow cooked for 16 hours and the waitress took the liberty of cutting the meat with a spoon. WITH A SPOON! Once you add the crunchy homemade coleslaw to the meat on a soft tortilla with homemade chilli sauce then you have all the reason you need to get in to Public as soon as you can. The waitstaff stagger the plates so you're never overladen with dishes, they are happy to explain the flavours and/or cooking method of any dish they bring to your table, our water glasses were never empty and we were never disturbed by anyone. We sat there for hours talking (hence the sex and the city moment) and the waitress never pushed us to settle the bill. She just kept our drinks topped up and made sure we were okay without having to say even two words. Maybe to work here you have to be psychic. Either way, she is incredible. They all are. 8 share plates, 4 cocktails and a dessert later and we've paid a very reasonable and I would go as far as to say, cheap $213, we're too stuffed to walk, we're vowing to return and it's a very happy birthday indeed. read more

Only 3 stars you say? Well from our experience there on the weekend, I must say I am a bit underwhelmed. The restaurant is incredibly cool and you may be fooled into thinking you are in New York for the evening. Our 51 martini and Space Gin Smash cocktails definitely added to this effect. Having heard about many of the dishes there we wanted to order several that we had heard were amazing. Unfortunately this meant a bit of a meat overload. Kentucky Fried Duck was amusingly presented, and definitely tasty with its spiced batter and the little potato and gravy was definitely a requirement to add a bit of moisture, as unfortunately the duck meat was a little dry. We encountered more meaty dryness with the Brisket - presented with tortillas, coleslaw and a not very spicy sauce as a DIY dish to wrap yourself - this was a bit of a letdown, although the concept of the dish was solid. Saltbush lamb was our other meaty choice, and this was a winner. We chose the Truffled mac n cheese as our "side" (even though this is on the menu as a small plate and not a side dish), and this was definitely another winner. To their credit, the service was great (even though a little in your face - such as the waiter sitting next to me on the benchseat "you are in my bubble!") and once they heard we didn't have a great experience with the brisket, they removed this from our total bill - we were intending to pay for it and didn't expect this, so it was quite nice of them. We are fully intending on returning, but maybe giving the other dishes a go, the ones that aren't so hyped over, because just maybe we will like them more. read more

I came here with my boyfriend's family, to celebrate his mom's birthday, last night. The booking had to be changed because I only found out I could go at the last minute and they were nice enough about it. I had never been anywhere so fancy and I was a bit nervous about dress codes at first, but generally smart-casual seems to be acceptable. Anyway, our hostess was very friendly and our waitress was incredibly helpful. With one vegan and another with severe dairy allergy in our group, they really tried to make things perfect for us. In the end, fossilized carrots, salads, and quinoa were offered as vegan options and my boyfriend could have the pork belly with green curry, which he finished all by himself. We also had the kingfish, wagyu, chicken, and brisket. Sadly nobody was interested in the salmon-served-with-black-ants (I might go back and try that myself) but everything was perfect! The kingfish was creamy, wagyu tender and perfectly cooked, chicken was lovely and had interesting flavors, and the brisket was just wonderful. It came with tortillas and coleslaw to make your own brisket wraps! We also had salt n vinegar chips, for which I'm already looking up for recipes online because it was so amazing. Anyway: be prepared for lots of fanciness, sharing food, and offers for yummy cocktails. Make sure you book ahead, too. read more

A catch up drink after work with a couple of my more refined, ladylike friends called for a more refined drinking establishment. Enter Public....and boy did it exceed my expectations. The first word that I would use to describe Public, is Lush, with a pretty impressive cocktail menu (NOT LIST - MENU) which is not cheap, plenty of seating and the friendliest and most knowledgeable wait staff that I've met in a long time. Public is NOT your average pub or bar around the corner, it's a place to go if you want to enjoy your tipple, indulge in some delicious tasty food and then head home basking in the glow of a refined night out. Yes this is on my #50shadesofgastronomy and we all had the KFD - Kentucky Fried Duck. It was crisp, with the duck tender and divine inside the crisp outer shell. While the KFD was nice for me the stand out were the cocktails, the staff know how to make cocktails and truly turn it into an art form. They are mixed to perfection and even if you don't want to try one of the MANY on offer even your standard Dark and Stormy is made the classic way. The food is awesome but PUBLIC wins for their drinks. read more

Love the relaxed yet classy vibes of this restaurant/wine bar. I was drawn to this place because of their neon escalators but what I discovered inside was even more trendy. The high ceiling, friendly staff and chilled atmosphere was exactly what I needed after my flight. The dishes are clearly made for sharing and they offer quite a unique selection - I even ate ants! Nonetheless, it was a great find and I would most likely revisit if I happen to be in Brisbane again. read more

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Had a really good Christmas lunch with some friends. The staff really looked after us really well and the food is worth the trip. If you're a carnivore, the KFD (kentucky fried duck) and the Texas Brisket are really good. The surprise for me was the Hawaiian Potato Curry, seriously tasty (it is a sweeter curry). But loved it. read more

Why, oh why was this my first visit to public? Even the waitress said "where have you been!?!" If you're looking for a restaurant in Brisbane that serves delicious food, has friendly and attentive service, unique meals with a changing menu, great cocktails and a cosy bar - go here. I love the concept of share plates and often over order, but with the help of our waitress, we ordered just enough to be well and truly satisfied. It was great that the meals were timed to come out one after the other, with a little rest in between - rather than all at once. They were also served light to heavy, with the prawn dish first, KFD (amazing!) second and brisket last - 16 hours slow cooked and every mouthful delicious!! No room for dessert, but Public surely left a great taste in my mouth and I can't wait to go back and try their next menu. read more

I made a quick stop in to this trendy new bar Public, based in the relatively new '400 George' food precinct. I only had time for a quick glass of champagne and unfortunately wasn't able to try any food. The service was reasonable and bar staff were quite friendly - I was in a group of about 6-10 standing/sitting near the bar. I am keen to make a trip back to try out the menu as I believe Public is a sister-bar/restaurant to the popular Canvas in the Wolloongabba area. read more

So glad that my wife and I tried this fantastic restaurant. The scallops were absolutely delicious. The KFD was perfect and the wagyu melted in our mouths. If you're from out of town and want an exceptional meal, make sure stop in here. read more

Just try to resist ordering everything on the menu! Delicious food and cocktails. Great addition to the top end of the CBD. read more

Public - Public. New tapas bar in the CBD. Open only 2 weeks. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Brisbane, QLD

This bar has gorgeous premises ideally situated for people watching in the courts precinct on a Friday afternoon. You can see everyone coming and going from North Quay and Inns of Court - and might catch some barristers hotly engaged in last minute discussions over a drink. The staff here are attentive to table service and were quite helpful... Until it came time to pay! We elected to pay our $160 on the basis of what each person consumed. I was pretty unimpressed with Jazz, the surly punk girl commanding the register - She was rude, unapologetic and unwilling to accept fault. She soured my otherwise very pleasant experience. read more

Love, love, love public from the peacock chairs to the rosalita cocktail. The Texas brisket is without a doubt my fav plate but I beg you... Please bring back the KFD!!! read more

Some of the best food in the city - especially the truffle mac'n'cheese, KFD and the goats cheese/honey thing. I've been twice, once with a work function, and the service was generally great. Nice vibe too. read more

Worst birthday ever :( we ordered a lot of food and an hour and forty five minutes later we are still waiting for parts of our meal. I don't come to a shared plate restaurant to have the restaurant dictate what plates will be shared at what time. Overall it was a disappointing evening - especially for a birthday- and the service left a lot to be desired. Food was excellent but most definitely not worth the exuberant wait and cost. read more

'Fine dining' (good overpriced food) in a relaxed, inner city atmosphere. The food is designed to share (i.e. non-Spanish tapas), so it is more convenient to eat here with a friend or two. However, the portion size is small (though expensive) so dining alone will present no problems. The food and the wine are both very good, and the service is both friendly and attentive. When I last went, they had a couple of slightly avant-garde items on the menu (containing insects and similar), which, given the quality of the more predictable fare, might be worth trying. read more

We were a group of 4 and were looking forward to a great meal based on the glowing reviews. Unfortunately inexcusable service prevented us from getting anything from Public other than an apology. We arrived about 8:30pm past peak service - the restaurant was still relatively full but not bursting - and were advised of 30 minute wait for a table. We happily took a seat in the bar area but did not get a menu. Various staff walked by our table several times without acknowledging us, but after 10 minutes of trying to make eye contact with anyone on staff we stepped up to directly to ask for a menu ourselves. We continued to get ignored - we were able to debate going to a different restaurant, researched and decided on a new destination and finally left our table after not receiving a second of attention after nearly 25 minutes. We spoke with the manager who explained that they were short staffed - we understand that would explain the wait for a table, but to go for that long with no attention at all despite having a number of staff pass by and even clean neighbouring tables is inexcusable. The manager apologized and offered to have us seated shortly, but our group was pretty committed to our alternate choice after having spent that much time discussing and debating it uninterrupted. Public may be half-decent if you're able to look at a menu and speak to a server - unfortunately we were barely able to do either. read more

Staff was friendly, answering several questions, recommended great dishes, it was clean and nicely decorated for a pub. A place I wouldn't mind bring my kids too. Wide variety of food and freshly cooked. TVs available for the sports lover (tonight it's AFL & NRL). Music also playing but not overly loud. Conversations can still be had without repeating yourself. Drinks are well made and affordable. Would definitely eat here again. read more

Public - 200 gr grass fed beef. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Brisbane, QLD

I have to say the tapas was very expensive and extremely disappointing. They will need to pull socks up if they do not want to follow the path of previous tenant. Just down the road is tank which is gastronomical heaven. read more

I'm not sure what is better at Public, the food or service. Both are fantastic with very friendly and attentive staff and some amazing food. The emu tarter was the standout, closely followed by the brisket and KFD. Great atmosphere too! read more

EDIT: After reviewing a problem we encountered with a staff member from Public, we have since been contacted by Public and the situation has now been discussed together and happily settled. We are grateful for the time and attention Bonnie paid to our situation, and are happy to give the establishment a good rating due to her valuable effort to amend things for us. Thank you Bonnie for such a polite and easy experience with your restaurant. read more

Been here a few times and is always top notch! Beautiful food and wine. Service is always fantastic

The food here was some of the best I have eaten in Brisbane. Only come here if you are wanting to share. Each plate is unlike anything I have seen anywhere else in Brisbane. Each dish we ordered was amazing and there was nothing that I was disappointed with here. My favourite dishes would have to have been the KFD (Kentucky fried duck), beef brisket tortillas, peas with feta and mint and the baked beetroot - of course it is actually much more exciting than how I am describing above. The wait staff were knowledgable and attentive ensuring that we had just the right amount of food for the group. The overall atmosphere of the place was also great - nice and classy crowd. The only reason I am not giving this place a five is due to the fact that even though we booked a table and showed up on time, we still had to wait over 45 mins to be seated which was a bit disappointing although everything else was certainly excellent! read more

Attended a corporate function at Public. The food was amazing, the service staff were very attentive. Will definitely come back with friends. read more