Food is unreal, service and drink selection is also great! I love coming here and recommend to everyone.

Public kitchen is one of our favorite places to grab a quick lunch or dinner. Great food and service.

Delicious and lovely setting, with an attentive staff. It's a regular haunt for us for lunch! And did I mention delicious?!

Great atmosphere, drinks, food is delicious! Passionate owners, great service. We'll be back for sure!

Food is always consistently good. It's a fun vibe as long as you don't get stuck in the back room. It's a fair price and I always leave content. read more

The worst salad that had at any restaurant Tomato the knife could not ci tomatoes the were green For the price it was robbery Sal read more

Good pub food. Nice big bar area if you are like me and enjoy sitting at the bar. Reading location has a parking lot. Staff is very friendly and attentive . read more

I don't know if it's the "el diablo" talking but this food is awesome. My wife got the crispy chicken sandwich and it was delicious and moist, her words. I got the fish tacos that come with fries and I was like a kid in a China shop. I made a big mess of it but it was fun! Definitely coming back here for other dishes. read more

I got the short ribs based on other reviews of this dish...and it did not disappoint! read more

Public Kitchen - Short ribs!! FANTASTIC! veggies had a nice crunch to them, meat melted in your mouth! - Gastropubs Near Me - Wakefield, Massachusetts

The staff are fantastic! They are friendly, quick, and available to meet you at the door. The food is fresh and prepared with care. We will be back for sure! read more

I love local restaurants and bars. Public Kitchen qualifies. This place has a very good beer list with beers, ales, meads, porters and stouts. And the food, you ask? Amazing!!!! I had the swordfish with chickpea curry, imaginative and perfectly prepared. She had lamb chops that were amazing. Served with lots of veggies, just the way she likes it. Polished it off with rich dark coffee. For the food alone we will be back. Servers were pleasant. Shout out to Keisla who served us, who was just a lovely lady. No place is without its issues and I saw three here. First, it was incredibly noisy, despite acoustic ceilings and wAll stuff. Ok, so we plan to go again when less crowded than a Saturday night. Second, the hostess gave us a 45 minute wait time, despite the presence of several empty tables. We were seated in 10 minutes. This is a get a clue message to the hostess, as I even questioned her about it. Erring on the side of caution is one thing, but asking that expectations be realistic. Third, dessert choices are ordinary and expensive for what is offered. So we enjoyed coffee and have ice cream when we get home. Bottom line, go here. You won't be disappointed. read more

Good food and beer selection is quite solid. Pretty loud but a good atmosphere. Good size back room with a bigger group

Loved the wording on the menu and the location, but that's all it was eye candy, I felt they could have done way better. From a food blogger standpoint the menu was great the way the dishes were described made my mouth water but the flavors fell short on all the entrees. Gastropub usually refers to sophisticated drinks and food. Ordered my steak med-rare got well done and cold, my friends pork chop was cold too. I wanted to sub the mashed potatoes for veggies and got a plate of partially steamed veggies I think? I felt like it was a frozen medley some one heated in the microwave. Partially steamed veggies let's go with that. The drinks were phenomenal; presentation, taste, excellent! But the entrees were not gastropub standards. However as random as this was the mussels here were the best I've ever had. So I definitely would reccomend coming here for mussels and drinks! read more

Consistently great food in this casual Wakefield restaurant. The place can get a bit noisy at times, but the staff and the menu make up for it. Some of the "must haves" on their menu are the mussels drenched in lemongrass/butter, the sliced turkey sandwich with pickled, sweet relish, and definitely their truffle fries. They've also got a solid bar with a great selection of mixed drinks and rotating local craft brews. This is definitely one of our best finds recently. You'll be very happy you dined here. UPDATE (Feb 1, 2019): While the food is consistently great here, I can't say the same for the waitstaff. Some of the waitstaff are phenomenal, but others should not be working in a cafeteria. The waitress we had tonight on the high tables (I believe her name is Amber) took our plates without asking first if we were done. In fact, I was still holding my fork. In addition, she kept on referring to each of us a "Honey." C'mon now... She is young enough to be my daughter and even if she were an older woman, there is absolutely no need to refer to guests as Honey. Can you imagine the looks I would get if I, a middle-aged man, called my server Honey?? Management has got to speak to her about this behavior. For this, I am deducting a star. read more

Very noisy. Entrees were served 2 minutes after the appetizers. The nachos were soggy, not much cheese and the pork was sausage not pulled pork as the waiter had informed me. The drinks were good but not worth the $11 charge. The NY strip was fatty and was served very rare not medium rare as ordered (we did not send it back) the fries with the steak were greasy & soggy. Wish we had ordered the burgers, they looked good. read more

Just picked up the strawberry feta salad with salmon and OMG I feel like I died and went to heaven. This salad was so delicious, it'll be my go to for the next couple of months. Sweet, tangy, filling, all of it. read more

Public Kitchen - Prosciutto, pistachios, arugula, strawberries, feta, and added salmon - Gastropubs Near Me - Wakefield, Massachusetts

Love PK so much. Been coming here for a couple years now and I've never left disappointed. The nachos and buffalo cauliflower are a fan favorite. The entrees are always so amazing. Kudos to the chef and kitchen staff who always execute great tasty dishes. The fried chicken sandwich and meatloaf are some of our favorites right now! Also have to shout out the staff. Always have great service at the bar and recently I've been grabbing a table with my family and Danielle has been my server. She is so kind and helpful, always suggesting great choices. read more

Public Kitchen was FUN! It was packed on the night we went, but they cheerfully accommodated (which is so crazy rare these days). The food was good & the server was great. Parking was a wee bit rough - so patience is a needed there. read more

I've been to Public Kitchen twice for dinner. Both times, I've experienced great food served by friendly and attentive staff. Yesterday would have been my third trip in and first time there for lunch. I say would have because our server/host was so discourteous we walked out before even sitting at our table. Just having come from the playground with my two nieces and best friend, I thought it'd be nice to enjoy some afternoon lunch whilst downtown. Because it was a lunch shift our server appeared to also be the acting host. He was a tall young fellow with short wavy hair, early twenties. Visibly taking care of something at the back of house - we graciously awaited for him to greet us. As he neared the hostess stand his attitude abruptly changed. His eye rolled as he took in an unmistakably deep sigh. Apparently adults with children were not the patrons he had hoped to serve- on this warm sunny afternoon. Already feeling unwelcomed he began to walk us to our table (which conveniently was at the back of the establishment out of sight) directly across from another couple. We asked to be moved one more table over so to accommodate for our 3 month old- who was sleeping in her stroller. As I wheeled the stroller up beside my chair he became flustered. He proceeded to explain that the stroller being in the aisle was not what he had in mind, rather it should be off to the side so as not to block the walkway. Mind you there is more than one walkway. I informed him there was a child in the stroller so naturally it couldn't be parked away from everyone. He scoffed aloud which was enough for us to walk out. Wakefield is a family oriented suburb that should be well versed in serving children of all ages. I can only assume these same families represent 50% of all business for downtown establishments. Perhaps, it would be in the best interest for upper management to adjust the attitudes of these young millenials and teach them some valuable life skills. Unfortunately, this Public Kitchen seemed to be a Private Kitchen. read more

Great food, location, and decor. So why only 3 stars? Noise level is off the charts when it's crowded. Hard to hear waitress and must raise voice for table conversation, which everyone in the place does, which makes it crazy loud. Otherwise a great new spot in Downtown Wakefield. Some strategically placed sound dampening panels would make this a 5 star spot. read more

Always incredible food!!!! Amber is an awesome server, very personable and provides a welcoming experience that parallels with the food perfectly! I have been several times with my boyfriend and we love the crab cakes, buffalo cauliflower and for dinner the burger pizza, tuna (salad and dinner) pb burger and fried chicken. The flavor profile is impeccable. The atmosphere is definitely a big reason we come here for our date nights. We can be out to dinner 5 mins from home and feel like we are in the city. It also doesn't break the bank- 4 drinks, an app, 2 meals and dessert for under $100?! Of course we will be back. read more

What a great place! Unfortunately I did not get the name of the hostess and servers that assisted us. I'm giving the date and time with hopes that management will see this and give them kudos! Tuesday July 25th around 6:30 or so. We walked in the door, myself, pregnant daughter and Son in law. The hostess immediately greeted us and without verbally acknowledging that my daughter was pregnant asked if she wanted to sit at a high top now or wait 20. How sweet. We sat at the high top. The server came over within seconds. She was pleasant and had a great smile! We were waiting quite a bit for our meal and when it was brought to our table the guy acknowledged that it took longer than usual and apologized! The food was yummy!! I had the chicken sandwich and they had the short ribs. One a sandwich and the other on tacos. There wasn't a morsel to be found! Lol So you may be asking yourself why such basic Customer service standards are being raved about. Because you just don't find them any more and when I do I rave! I am out to eat at least twice a week. I am a people person and silently take it all in. When I have such a great experience I shout from the rooftop! Keep up the great work! Great service people are so hard to find. You hit the jackpot! Treat them well! I want to have this experience over and over again. I'll be back real soon! read more

Public Kitchen is probably my favorite restaurant in the area. Pre-Covid, we'd visit here for a delicious dinner and beers on weekends. And now during Covid, we've gotten takeout on a couple occasions. Everything is amazing, I've yet to try a dish that I didn't think was at least an 8 of 10. The duck poutine is a must every time, their burgers are always amazing and cooked to the desired temperature (medium or medium-rare depending on my mood), and the Fungus Amongus pizza (with an egg on top) has so many great flavors and textures in perfect harmony. read more

New added location in Reading. Great place to stop and socialize. The owners are a pleasant and engaging couple. Great drinks and food.

Great fresh food and wonderful staff. Food delivered quickly. Plan to head back soon with good friends.

PK is the Fun & Refreshing Spot that Wakefield NEEDED ! Décor is Rustic Warm & Welcoming, with Huge Windows that can open the entire restaurant when the weather is beautiful out. Nice Long Bar with Super Friendly and (know what they are doing) Bartenders. First time there all I got was drinks at the bar, Purple Rain; hands down one of the best drinks I have ever had; I really hope the owners make that a staple on the drink menu ! Came back to try the food, and it was nothing short of delicious. Appetizers: Deviled Eggs & Poutine Deviled Eggs with the Crispy Bacon on top was the right amount of salt needed. (you get 4) Poutine, hand cut duck fat shoestrings, cheddar curds, duck confit, demi glace, pickled red onions; do I really need to say more? PK's fries I could literally eat morning, noon, and night so so so yummy !! Entrée: Crab Cake Po Boy & Pulled Pork Mac n Cheese CCPB - massive crab cake on a buttered roll with lettuce, tomato, pickles and a delectable aioli. PPMnC - baked to perfection, I meant to ask what cheese they use because it was mouthwatering and not your normal mac n cheese; the cheese really hit the spot. I will be back for sure to try more things, and I highly recommend others to give this place a try ! read more

This is the second time I have been here. The first time was in 2020 during the pandemic when restaurants were finally allowed to reopen for indoor dining in Massachusetts. I got the same meal both times, the Asian short ribs, and both times they have been fantastic! Highly recommend this place! So good! Will definitely be coming back yet again! Our waitress, Taeya, was also extremely attentive and welcoming! read more

I tried Public Kitchen recently and wasn't blown away. I'm glad to have another option in the area. The drinks weren't the most well balanced. For example, I don't know why there would be a prosecco float in a drink with egg white. To me the point of adding egg white to a cocktail is to make it slightly creamier with a froth which will be taken away by the bubbly. We had a burger and a crab cake sandwich. My dining companion didn't love the burger because it was too greasy. My sandwich was okay but very little crab in the crab cake. The fries were delicious! They also did a great job with decor and service was very nice. Also, no fault to the restaurant but there were SO many children in the restaurant. Normally this wouldn't bother me but they were freely roaming the restaurant. Again, not the establishment's fault and I feel bad as I'm guessing this was not the vibe they were going for. Another plus - the place is EXTREMELY cheap. I'll give the place another shot. Suggestion - brunch! They already offer a bucket of bubbly. Edit: I forgot to mention - leaving the silverware on the table in a jar was a turn off. Based on other reviews it seems like this is a common complaint and something that would be easy to fix! read more

Decided to Try this place with a friend after a late work meeting in the area. The cocktails were awesome and the food was delicious! The fried pickles were done quickly, lightly breaded and delicious. The cheeseburger pizza was delicious but I feel like could have used a bit more topping, it seemed pretty sparse. The churros were also really delicious. Would definitely come back if I'm in the area. read more

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This past Saturday evening, I had what I will call one of my worst all time restaurant experiences at Public Kitchen. I am still amazed that a restaurant of this caliber would let what happened to us, happen. As a baseline for this review, it's important to know that I live locally and have eaten at Public Kitchen well over a dozen times. Each time the experience has been great and the food really tasty. One of the pros for me has been how kid friendly Public Kitchen USED to be. I have eaten here many times with my wife and family and other friends (often very large parties) and it's always been a hit with everyone. This brings me back to this past Saturday. Another dad friend of mine and I were on dad duty for the day with our four combined boys. We asked the kids where they wanted to go and they all said "Public Kitchen". A nice endorsement from the little dudes. We were leaving Melrose and given it was a Saturday evening, we opted to call first about the wait. The girl that answered the phone said "Yes, we are kind of busy but can get you in. Should be about 20 to 25 minutes tops". I then asked if they would take a name in advance or a reservation and was told "we don't take reservations." I had literally called from my truck so we barreled over to Wakefield to avoid any delays. I walked up to the hostess stand literally about 11 minutes after calling and was now told "It's going to be 2 to 2 and a half hours". Obviously I'm frustrated at this point, but continue to politely ask the girl behind the counter how things changed so quickly. At that moment, I spy the waiting list and it's 6 tables long with 2-3 of the tables being small parties. When I ask about the list, the hostess informs me "this isn't the total list" at which point she lifts a menu and reveals a 'secret list' of sorts that has names, party sizes and times! "Wait, I thought you don't take reservations?" I say. The girl then responds and says "we don't". I am now pretty frustrated knowing I am being lied to. Over the next hour and 45 minutes, my friend checks in with the girl to a) see how we are progressing and b) make sure she knows we have kids with us. I realize people reading this will wonder why we didn't leave right away. The fact of the matter was the restaurant, although busy, was not packed and we were trying to remain optimistic that this girl was just a ding dong and really didn't know how to gauge the wait. At many intervals during our wait, there were also large tables open for 15-20 minutes at a time with nobody being seated which further reinforced the secret reservation list. The icing on the cake was that after our hour and 45 minute wait, a four top table gets up next to a clear two top table. My friend is in the bathroom at this point and I can't muscle over to the stand and leave our kids outside where we were forced to wait. What happens next disqualifies the hostess from wrapping sticks of gum, never mind the logistics of a running a restaurant. At just that moment that the four top opens up, a young couple struts in, approaches the hostess and is seated IMMEDIATELY at the two top which blows any chance the two tables can be combined for us. When asked about the oversight in combined tables by my friend, the hostess replies "I didn't think of that". By this time, our kids who have been awesome, start complaining so we are forced to leave and scramble to feed four hungry kids at almost 8 pm. To the young girl working the hostess stand, I can only hope you have kids some day and are treated to the same rudeness and torture at a restaurant. You likely won't remember what you did to us, but you certainly deserve the same treatment. As we all know these days, reviews and word of mouth is everything. I've already told 6-10 local friends and family about the awful experience we had in the hopes I can steer others from this place. Good luck Public Kitchen, you are going to need it operating like this. read more

I had lunch there with a friend on a Sunday, arriving just as they opened. Friendly waitress, good gastropub menu. Nice décor with a modern, open vibe. I found my meal to be less impressive than it read on paper (ordered deviled eggs and salad with steak tips). They were both fine, just nothing special. My friend had French onion soup and the beet salad and enjoyed both. I was most surprised by the number of small children and babies there. A table behind us had two moms and about eight 4-year olds (served drinks in plastic cups with silly straws). Another table to our side had two infants in car seats. Several groups waiting for tables had toddlers and young children in their parties. Definitely gave the place a Friendly's vibe, which is sort of mystifying to me. I'm not a Wakefield native but I'm guessing there aren't many local options for going out to dine with your young kids if a gastropub is your Sunday lunch pick. Many reviewers mentioned the silverware on a jar on the table which didn't bother me considering they are stored business end down. So even if some kid puts their germy hands on a knife handle, it's no less germy than the door knob you've both just touched. read more

Great food, beer and drinks. Service was excellent. Had burger and mac n cheese with added pulled pork. Both were really good. read more

I want so badly for there to be a staple in Wakefield. With restaurants coming and going, I was hoping Public Kitchen would be it. I know it's still early, but the the first experience was a let down. Service was fine, noise level was high, and high tops were so close I was part of three different conversations. Nachos - I love nachos. The pictures here show clearly they don't care about nachos. I too paid extra for pulled pork and I could barely find any. Plenty of beans, lettuce, and sour cream to distract from that. Has the cook ever had good nachos? Flat Breads - there seems to be confusion on a Flat Breads because these are round 10in pizzas and pretty bland. Burger - Again, eh. It was okay but it's missing something. Not to mention the bottom of the burger was too hot to pick up at first and then soggy from waiting to pick it up. Fries were good, but again straight from the frier and mouth burning temp. The bacon was also rough and brittle, unsure of the freshness. Beers - Very good selection but overpriced by about $2 for their craft. It's the price point where I'll order 1 to get through the meal, but $16 for two pints? Adds to the bill pretty quickly. Still, points given for the selection with Sip of Sunshine and Zero Gravity from VT being on the first order. Other - they kept silverware on the table in a glass jar. That was... gross? Takes up room on the table and I had to pick up a few different knives before I found a fork. During flu season and with little kids at the tables, not my first suggestion in where to keep the utensils. I honestly hope to come back for a better experience and improved taste. read more

The American Gastropub finally comes of age at the Public Kitchen, amidst the dowdy and homey storefronts of Wakefield, Mass.! With dozens of casual joints within a small radius, the Public Kitchen succeeds at being a sports bar/pub while serving daily specials like seared truffled scallops with pork belly. The decòr is neutral, unassuming and relaxing: the wall-mounted TVs are there, just not in your face; the staff is well trained and genuinely sincere. It's the food that separates Public Kitchen from the pack. It has the look and feel of a modern American restaurant with the same standard selections yet the menu is creative and inviting. They try and for the most part succeed. This is one of the the new directions for American casual dining. Notice the subtle international influences that are incorporated into the American culinary framework. Instead of having plain ol' pizza, we have "Flatbread." Under burgers (several intriguing types), we also have "Asian Short Ribs" (deeply flavorful)! Where else can you get Duck Confit ? Some tips: Don't go even if you suspect they'll be busy - long waits mean lower quality and spotty service. This place is too good to give it just a quick look-over. Parking is an issue in crowded Wakefield Center. Have fun. read more

We love the ambiance food is good but seriously took us 45 minutes to order our food- I understand there is need for help but do not seat people- we were so hungry by the time food came did not enjoy it - food was good Brad horrible. read more

Having just moved into Wakefield this was our 2nd restaurant to try. What we ordered Bbq Burger Asian short rib Review BBQ burger - pickled jalapeños , terrible addition to a relatively good burger. Overall the bread was solid, the bacon was over cooked. Asian short rib - it was pretty delicious , the rice was cooked right but the veggies were an odd mix. Overall it's a decent place nothing crazy but worth another go around. Truly 3.5 but We usually do take out read more

Why bother with the hassle of Boston traffic, parking, etc. when this hip new spot is so close and convenient? Delicious food at reasonable prices? Check Unique cocktails and extensive whiskey selection? Check Rotating selection of craft beer? Check Friendly and attentive staff? Check So glad this place landed in Wakefield. read more

I was very pleasantly surprised by my recent visit. I moved to Stoneham a couple years ago and am never super impressed with the suburban restaurants, but this was a real winner! My friend and I came in on a Friday night and sat at the bar. The bartender was super knowledgeable and an absolute delight. Service was on point. I ordered the veggie burger with steamed veggies on the side. Both were great. I never expect much from a random vegetable side dish, but the veggie side was amazing! Good beer list, fun cocktail menu and the atmosphere was bumpin' on a Friday night (which you don't always see in the suburbs). I will definitely be back! read more

Great place! Excellent Local craft beer selection! I really like the menu, its small and well thought out. Short Ribs were great!!! read more

Great location and they decor is cute and friendly very up to date. The place was pretty busy at lunch . Had the cob salad which was good but dressing was a little light . The natchos were just ok We ordered the chili for an extra few but you could barely find it and they had very little real cheese but more like a cheese wiz on them. They were also small for the price. The waitress was nice but not overly attentive read more

Public Kitchen - Cute place but was hoping for more - Gastropubs Near Me - Wakefield, Massachusetts

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