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    Publican Tavern

    3.4 (520 reviews)
    Closed 5:30 am - 8:30 pm

    Publican Tavern Photos

    PUBLICAN TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Publican Tavern

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    Soup
    Justine B.

    $15 Paloma, was alright. $10 soup, also fine but I wouldn't order again. One piece of sausage and felt like from a can. $18 wings, crispy and salty. At first it was good, but the bones kept breaking. I have not had that issue before with wings before. It was weird. The dill sauce with it was good. Service was solid! I was sat and served everything within 15 minutes. And got attention given how busy it was. I am impressed with how quick they are since it's an airport. Overall nice place to chill and grab a beer during a layover but not the spot to eat food or cocktail. At least not for these prices. I know I would get a better experience at the Chillis down the hall.

    QR code menu/system that didn't work
    Sara C.

    I visited Publican Tavern on a layover in Chicago because it was right near my gate and was one of the only eateries that were open. (Well, partially open, but I will get to that). I came up to the host at the entrance and she sat me, but said they only have the Pub Burger right now until 10:00am (it was about 15 minutes before that, so I could wait). The table I was seated at had the QR code on the table for looking at the menu/paying, etc - but it was not working and just brought up an error page. I was seated and the server gave me a paper menu, so they were aware the QR codes didn't work, and had a workaround. I ordered a beer (yes, I ordered a beer at 9:45am, I had been traveling since 3am - I earned it!). I got the 805 Blonde Ale. It was light and tasty, but maybe a bit too heavy on the carbonation and gave me a little indigestion. So I waited until 10am, when the regular menu opened up. The server didn't come back to my table for quite a while (knowing I was waiting for the fuller menu to open). When they did come back, I tried to order the Pimento Dip starter, and was shot down again and told the fries were the only available "starter" right now. What the heckkkk. Then I tried to just skip the starter and order a salad, and they said there were no salads right now either, only the burger and sandwiches. So I ended up getting the Pub burger that was availble earlier anyway and the one side that was available, the fries. Burger and fries, what a new concept to try! *eye roll* The fries were pretty tasty, but the burger was absolutely COVERED in onions - like, onion was the main flavor of their staple burger, which would turn many people off (including me). So I basically paid $40 for a beer and fries. Even for airport prices, that is not acceptable. And I also noticed there were a LOT of gnats either right by where I was seated or in the restaurant itself - one even landed in my beer, so I was done with that, too, before finishing it! The whole menu-slowly-opening-up situation was so odd, the food was semi-okay but very overpriced, and the service was lacking. I would just basically skip this spot next time I'm at O'Hare, based on this experience.

    Jared F.

    If you are in Terminal 3 at ORD I suggest giving this place a try if you have a layover and needed a bite to eat. It's pricey, but what isn't at the airport? Service was great, the place was pretty clean and the food was great. Loved the beer selection.

    Chicken sandwich
    Sho R.

    This place had the best ambiance near Terminal 3. I stopped by to have a quick lunch. I got a seat right away. Everything should be ordered from phone, by scanning a qr code on the table. Payment was the same way. Food came quickly. I went for a chicken sandwich with frites. It was an ok sandwich. It wish it had a bit more flavor. If having a drink before flight, I think this should be the best place around.

    Bees knees gin and honey
    April C.

    I came here because they supposedly have soup but they don't have any. I ordered a bees knees. It was OK, but not as sweet as I like. They close at 8:30. I won't try to order a sandwich at 8:15. I mostly just wanted soup.

    Jamie O.

    Oh boy. Well. The service was typical airport service. Burger was stroke level salty. Fries were very good. 2 burgers and 2 beers after government theft came to $75. I know. You live and you learn. Hopefully I just taught you something too. I recommend just eating some trail mix.

    Turkey Sandwich and Fries
    John H.

    Oy...after a number of pretty good experiences, we had a really bad one tonight. We were seated and they were pretty busy, but it was getting close to quitting time, so we used the app to place our order. I got a glass of wine that arrived after about 5 minutes, and then we waited. And waited, and waited. If this were a restaurant NOT in an airport it would have been a long wait, but in an airport??? - Speed is a necessary component. My sandwich arrived after more than 25 minutes. I got the chicken sandwich. It was very dry and had good lettuce and tomato, but the other toppings were scant. My wife's burger showed up after more than 30 minutes, and it was ok, but there wasn't much to the burger part. We both just opted for chips, but they gave us the up-charge fries; I guess as a peace offering? Our server was very good and actually went to the manager and had them take the burger off our check as a concession. Good job by her. They do use fresh ingredients here, and those are good, but they have some issues with the process flow or management of the employees. We got there around 7 when business was dying down, so this experience was even more surprising, Don't think I'll be back until they fix things.

    Ice tea
    Adam S.

    Given the traffic O'Hare sees, it's kind of shocking how few options there really are in certain parts of the airport... well really most of the airport. I was somewhat fortunate to find this spot as I needed to settle in for some work after touching down in Chicago. Not their fault, but the WiFi doesn't work too well throughout the airport so the work part was a struggle. I got sat and fortunately had a server who brought a real menu (not really a fan of this new, distance QR code order/pay combo I've seen around). Aiming to stay healthy on the road, I got roasted vegetables having no idea what veggies this included, and added chicken breast. It was surprisingly tasty, with loads of carrots, some potatoes, broccoli, and a flavorful chicken breast on top. I have to say that I was still hungry after this, but your mileage may vary. The only real problem? With tip this was over $30! High even for airport prices, but c'est la vie. I think I would recommend anyone bring a protein bar or something to snack on instead of relying on food at O'Hare, but if you find yourself needing something, this is a decent option.

    Pub Burger w/Bacon
    Mike N.

    Chicago O'Hare, Il. I was surprised how good the food tasted here, considering it is airport fare. There are not a lot of choices at Terminal 3 for sit down dining. We did not have to wait for a table and our very courteous server was prompt and friendly. Our order came quickly. I had the Pub Burger. Compared to the premium burgers out there it ranked average or even below average. But compared to any fast food burger it was excellent. The meat had good flavor and the sauce had just a hint of fire. The added bacon was perfect, both in flavor and how it was cooked. The bun was decent and held up throughout the entire consumption process. Stephanie had a Tartine open face sandwich which may have been added recently to the menu. It was a winner. Shaved ham on greens atop avocado toast is what it basically looked like to me. She reported that it was delicious. The staff here is fully conscious that people have planes to board and expedite all aspects of their service.

    Dinner for 2
    Matt W.

    Spectacular burger...WOW!!!! Exceptional Patty, delicious bacon & unbelievable cheese served on a great brioche bun!!! Super busy location in terminal 3 just outside TSA PRE checkpoint. But service is wonderful. Great beer selection & my wife had chicken sand w side salad - she describes it as "wonderful" w excellent bread. Absolutely worth a visit - NOT airport food

    What the Salmon used to be
    Joshua M.

    A great location in terminal 3 of O'Hare right after you clear TSA precheck. I have eaten here so many times because it is convenient and I like to people watch while sitting at the long bar. They were closed for a long time during and after the pandemic and they have only started to get their full menu back. Before the pandemic they had a King Ora Salmon with white polenta that was one of my favorite meals ever. I have included a photo of it. Now that their menu is back I ate there again on my way out of town and got their new salmon with lentils. The salmon was good as it is a quality ingredient. However the preparation is terrible. It is coated with mustard on both sides and baked. The mustard seeds really get in your teeth and it's not my favorite. However the worst part was the lentils, they were absolutely inedible and I left them out untouched. They also look unappetizing. I have included a photo of what the salmon used to be and am making a pitiful plea to the universe to bring that dish back exactly as it was. If so, I'll have to make up trips just to go and eat at the airport. Oh, and it's an airport restaurant so that's the service you get. That's never changed...

    Great food, drinks,  & Service!

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    2 months ago

    Pretty mediocre food and less than friendly staff. You'll have to ask for everything... refils, ketchup and your check.

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Publican Tavern

    Does Public Tavern serve Bloody Marys?

    They have a full bar so I would certainly assume so.

    Publican Tavern or Tortas Frontera while in Terminal 3? Which would you choose?

    Publican tavern has more places to sit and food it’s OK, Frontera has amazing tortas that is difficult to find elsewhere, so I guess it all depends on how long you are going to be there for, a short time I would rather eat at Fronterra

    View All 4 Questions

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    A little something about me: If you have a mahi sandwich on your menu, I'm ordering it! It's a done…read moredeal. And blackened mahi? Fugitaboudit. There are a few select items in life which, if offered to me, I'd eat every single day. That tasty list is short, but mahi is definitely on there. Served on a brioche bun with lettuce, pickle, tomato, red onion and something called fat boy sauce (Hey! I resemble that remark!). This sandwich was an excellent pair to my hazy, Belgian wheat beer (I know Joe. I mean, I DO know a Joe, but that's the name of the beverage if you also like unfiltered wheat ales, like me). Crust is a solid offering for a night out, especially if you just got into O'Hare, and you're looking for something to eat that's close, quick and better than most. A pretty chill place to sit and relax. It was busy that evening, being a weekend night, but still felt approachable and a nice refuge. Was this is best mahi sandwich I've had? Of course not. Was it the best mahi I've had that's 1,000 miles from the nearest salt water? Yes, I'd say it was. Pro tip: Spend the extra $2 and spring for the sweet potato tots as your side. Many of the dishes come with Parmesan ranch fries. Sound delicious, don't they? Well, you'll be sorely disappointed. This advice came straight from our server who I genuinely believe was not trying to upscale me to get the extra $0.20 tip. He literally brought out a comparison plate to help me decide. (Great server!) Go look at my photos. It's not even close. Would I go back to Crust for the mahi? Maybe. Would I return solely for the sweet potato tots. Fo' sure! I also had the opportunity to taste the fish tacos. Solid. Crust Brewing has a nice selection of beers, as you'd expect from a brewing company. I also appreciated how the menu is short and to the point, offering solid American fare, but not overwhelming to the senses. They have a couple taco options, salads, sandwiches and wings. They also have pizza. I actually think they are known for their pizza, but I can't speak to that because, well, mahi! Seriously, once I get a taste for something, I need to put it in my mouth any chance I can get.

    I came in expecting a typical sports bar experience, but things went wrong in several ways…read morethroughout the evening. I rarely give one-star reviews, but Crust Brewing earned it. To skip to the end, 2-3 of our party of ten spent the night with upset stomachs or vomiting, and not from drinking to excess. The staff seemed overwhelmed and behind even though the restaurant was not full. We waited 20 min after seating for drink orders to be taken. Several of the drinks lagged long behind the others. There was not enough water for everyone to have a glass, and then the empty pitchers were collected without being refilled. Requests for refills brought one refilled pitchers when 3-4 were needed. Half of the food ordered arrived in a reasonable time. But the other items were delivered to the table around 25 minutes later, making for an awkward time while half of us watched the others eat. Those who got their food first were completely done eating by the time the rest of our food arrived. The regular pizzas and boneless wings were actually pretty good! But when the two tavern pizzas were delivered, they were so overcooked and dry they were basically inedible. (See my uploaded photos.) There was no acknowledgement by the waitstaff or attempts to correct the order. We had somewhere to be after dinner, so we opted to just choke them down rather than wait another 45 min for replacement pizzas. It was difficult to get waitstaff attention to get our checks and to go boxes. And when they came, they brought fewer boxes than we asked for. I walked up to the bar and asked for a to-go box, and was met with an eyeroll and a huff, and the box slammed on the bar with a curt "anything else?" Like I mentioned before, I was up part of the night with a sour stomach. And I found out the next morning that our friends were camped out on the bathroom floor with food poisoning. We will ne'er darken the door of this establishment again, and I suggest you don't either.

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    Pepperoni pizza

    Crust Brewing - Pepperoni pizza

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    Short Fuse Brewing

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    A short fuse and a close call…read more After Emily and I checked in to our hotel room, we wanted to stretch our legs and see if there was anything nearby for some beer and some food. Turns out, Short Fuse was right up the road and a 5 minute walk got us there. For a Sunday, it wasn't too busy but not dead, so we got seated right away. We ordered some beer and took a look at the menu. While nothing really struck our fancy, our waitress made a comment that if we did want any food, it might be slim pickings as they were running out of stuff. Turns out, this day was the last day they were open. Talk about timing! After she mentioned that, I started to notice that people were buying bar signs and various other things. Emily started off with a Guava Gose and I grabbed a Krankshaft kolsch. We sampled each other beers and we both really liked what the other ordered. I don't really know what a gose is but, damn, was that good! I've had Krankshaft before so I knew what I was getting myself in to. We ended up ordering a second round of the same beers and let each other sample the other's beer a little more liberally this time. While we were kind of hungry, nothing on the menu really struck our fancy, especially considering they might've been out of it. Room service took care of those hunger pangs later after a few more beers in the hotel bar. Online reviews for this place seemed hit and miss but I really enjoyed my time there and really enjoyed the artwork on the walls and the vibe of the place. We did contemplate buying some bar signs on our way out but declined as we don't know what we would exactly do with them. It sucks to see a small business close but they did say they may try to open up a new place in a new location in the future.

    Enjoyed the wide variety of beer options. The food was okay, but it's definitely worth coming for…read morethe beers! I loved their Bear-ie White and Loosey Juicy. The waitress was friendly and gave great recommendations. I also loved the huge space with its superhero vibes. Parking was limited, but it's totally worth checking out.

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    Goose Island Brewpub

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    I had an exceptionally long layover and wanted to grab something to eat. I picked Goose Island…read morebased on the proximity to my gate, found a seat at the bar, and settled in. Ambiance was indeed fairly typical of most airport restaurants. There was the bar and then a bunch of low tables arranged in rows. Very basic. The television showed a soccer game that most people earnestly watched. Fellow patrons were polite and conversational. Luis, the bartender, was superb. He was super attentive and very personable. I realized then that it had been many months since I have seen an airport employee smile. As this thought occurred to me I observed the other employees and noticed how each seemed genuinely pleased. Even a waiter who was called in on his day off was engaging and very friendly. From my vantage I could see the kitchen operations and after seeing the third cheeseburger I couldn't resist further and ordered one. The burger was delicious - good bun to meat ratio, cheesy, savory deliciousity. The fries weren't anything worth noting. They were basic fries - a bit dry. I really had a great time here!

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    Publican Tavern - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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