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    Public Kitchen

    3.9 (330 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Public Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

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    PUBLIC KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Public Kitchen

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    Reviews With Photos

    Fried Chicken sandwich
    Rachel M.

    Lovely place to visit when it's warm and the windows are open! Staff was knowledgeable about the menu and so nice. Drinks were good and the chicken burger was delicious. A little pricey for a bar but the big portions helped

    Shrimp tacos
    Amy M.

    Food was excellent. The buffalo cauliflower was some of the best I ever had. The beet citrus salad I had was so fresh and the shrimp that I put on it had Smokey taste to it which was incredible. My husband loved his truffle fries and shrimp tacos. We will definitely be back. Service was on point. Our only issue is that the tables are really close. So if you are looking for privacy this is not the place to go to. It was hard to hear because of the noise level. I would go back on a weeknight when it's not so loud.

    Potato croquette
    Angel P.

    We first tried Public Kitchen several years ago and we were a fan so decided to go back. The timing on food was not good. They brought out the appetizer of potato croquettes, and entrees came 30-40 minutes after we finished one appetizer between three people. I got the Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, others got a salad, fries, and tenders, so not sure why it took so long for our entrees to come out. The potato croquettes were good, and reminded me of a stuffed baked potato. The Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad was decent, but the chicken was dry, and the apples could have been sliced smaller. I tried the tender (forgot the sauce flavor), and I wasn't a fan: it was soggy from being drenched in sauce, and was not a fan of the sauce. Fries were lukewarm, and soggy.

    Burger with Egg and Fries (good fries)
    Wendy L.

    I was in the area for a business trip and stopped by Public Kitchen in Wakefield with some coworkers. The menu offerings are typical to other gastropubs from lighter foods like salads, shareable appetizers like chicken wings, or heartier items like burgers or dinner entrees. I'd compare it to a leaner YardHouse menu because they share similar Asian-fusion menu items. I ordered a burger with a fried egg, and it was satisfying - especially on a cold evening. I liked the side of pickles it came with and the fries were really good! Crispy on the outside and ''mashed potato-ey" inside. My kind of fries! Our server recommended the Fried Pickles with Spicy Aioli and we enjoyed this as well. The service was great and our server was attentive. I liked the chill atmosphere. And my coworkers enjoyed watching a football game while devouring their food. Overall, we left satiated and enjoyed each other's company. The service made for a great dining experience.

    Side #1
    Bob G.

    Shame... shame!!! My favorite local place served some lousy food tonight which was a shock! First, as always great greeting and seating. Next, MacKenzie arrived to take our beverage order. Quick response and things are looking good as usual. Ordered an appetizer, their corn mix with fajitas chips. Delicious. Mail course order: My wife loves a great burger when not having Filet Mignon. I ordered their infamous "meat loaf wrapped in bacon, sitting on top of home made mashed potatoes and asparagus. To die for. True comfort food at its best. Then the BOMBSHELL... My wife's burger arrived with their cool little fry basket... But... luke warm, soggy and obviously dunked into to Fry A Lator one too many times. Yuck !! Greasy, floppy and not worthy. ( as a young man, I did work in the most famous east coast fry joint ever seen so I do know a few things about proper cooking) Waitress came over. I spoke up for my wife about the reheated fries. She said I'll put in a fresh order. Just a few minutes... Meanwhile I'm thoroughly enjoying my meatloaf, she's eating her burger only. New fries showed up... but. They batched up some new fries with the old soggy fries trying to unload them?!! Shame on you!! The GM was apparently not watching the meal service and sub par crap was served again!! Hence, my two star rating tonight. I call a spade a spade!! It's usually always a 4 or 5 star. Not this night!!! Bob G

    Fish Tacos
    Bella T.

    Again, Super yummy! Great sized portions and the food presentation was awesome, and our server was so nice I wish I could remember her name.

    Steak tips
    Kelly Z.

    Great vibes! I love the open front layout. It gives inside the restaurant a nice atmosphere and fresh air. Lots of indoor seating and outdoor seating. We sat indoor and it was super casual. The tuna poke nachos for appetizer was loaded!!! Lots of toppings and super saucy and spicy! I really like the sliced avocados and I recommend removing the jalepenos if you can't handle spice. I didn't like the chip itself, it was a bit thicker than a tortilla chip. The steak tips as a main dish was good. Lots and lots of mashed potato and four pieces of steak tips. I definitely wished there was more steak and there was just too much potato. Not a good ratio. But the steak tips and the sauce on top were super flavorful very yummy. The asparagus on the steak tips and the mahi mahi dish were unchewable kind of wilty and rubbery. Service was very nice and food came at a good time. Overall I enjoyed the ambiance. Super causal and refreshing. The food could use a little touch up.

    Burger.....which was delicious! - Two cheeseburgers with toasted buns and beef patties are placed on a white square plate. One burger has a visible slice of cheese, and a fork is inserted into the other burger. A small cup of ketchup is also on the plate. In the background, there is a basket of fried food, a glass with a cartoon character, and a wooden table surface.
    Ed M.

    Had a visit on a very busy Tuesday evening. It was a busy time and the restaurant was buzzing. We had an easy time finding parking on Main St, Wakefield, MA. We were seated rather quickly and set up. Our wait for someone to come over was reasonable. We ordered the bavarian Pretzel and some drinks. The water was busy but stayed on-time with us. The Pretzel arrived rather quickly and was delicious. It was much bigger than I had seen. We placed our entree order after the pretzel was delivered and things went pretty seamless. I had a burger, which was delicious. looked like a 10oz instead of the cheap 4 and 6 oz that I have seen at other places. We ordered a caesar salad with chicken and the "fungus amongus" which was a pizza with arugala, honey and mushrooms. Both dishes were fine (see pics). It was a nice stop. I was not knocked over by the food or the experience, but it is a nice addition to a downtown. It was crowded, clean and well-staffed. Originally, we were hoping to sit outside but there were no seats available. I am thinking that maybe more outside seating would be a good thing? 4-stars for good!

    Fish tacos and Chicken Sandwich
    Madison N.

    Came here last week. Was super excited to try as this has been on my list. Server was super friendly and pushed sales, which is fine. I got the fish tacos and my partner got the chicken sandwich. Very disappointing, probably our worst meal of the week of being here. Fish was good and crispy but the tacos were soaked with soggy old cabbage. The softshell ripped and was so wet. Couldn't even eat them like a taco because of the soggy shell and bad cabbage. I ended up picking at the fish and pineapple, disappointed. My partner said the sandwich was mid and could have gone to McDonald's for the same thing. Server noticed me picking and dissatisfied but kept walking. Sad about the experience, don't recommend.

    A meal featuring two tacos filled with shredded meat, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and cilantro, served on a white plate. A lemon wedge is placed beside the tacos, and a small basket of French fries with a paper liner is also on the plate. In the background, there are glasses of water and a tray of fried food with dipping sauce.
    david L.

    Public Kitchen was a pleasant surprise. The food was good, we ordered fried pickles, fish tacos, and braised beef tacos. The tacos were really good, you get two tacos, which are really loaded. Definitely a casual vibe, plenty of tables and good size bar. I'm planning to go back again to try some additional menu items.

    Bestest OF evarrrrrr! - A clear glass contains an iced beverage with ice cubes visible inside, topped with a cherry on a small skewer and a black straw. The drink is placed on a dark wooden table with a textured surface, and the background shows a dimly lit environment, possibly a bar or restaurant.

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    7 months ago

    Lovely meal in a great space! The service was wonderful, kind and welcoming! We had a late dinner and it was perfect!

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    3 years ago

    Unfortunately I can only advise this restaurant is truly no more than average in all respects, service, ambiance and certainly the food.

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    2 years ago

    Service was amazing . Spicy margarita was phenomenal. Food was above average but definitely not the best around. Will be back.

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    Ask the Community - Public Kitchen

    Do they take reservations?

    We do not take reservations.

    When does micaela work? She's the best! #fav

    Hi!!! She is here Wednesdays 4-close and 11:30 - 4 on Sunday's

    View All 3 Questions

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    Public Kitchen - gastropubs - Updated May 2026

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