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Had breakfast this morning here. The Publican is definitely one of the better airport foods you can get. The miss on a few things. Prices are a bit high here. They kinda claim to be an elevated , nicer airport eating experience but they hand you salt and pepper packets lol. Breakfast was pretty good this morning. One of my medium eggs was more cooked but oh well. I like the sourdough bread. Sweetened butter and jam came with it. The potatoes are very crispy. Just wish they made them to order as they were not hot. Decent coffee.
Airport location. Ordered a burger, beet salad and soup. Airport prices. Service was quick for ordering. Burger patty a bit small bust side salad decent. Beet salad ok. It was a quick meal but I think there are better, tastier options in the airport
My flight arrived so late and I needed dinner. I happened to pass by and it was still open. Great airport restaurant. I really liked the fish sandwich. The cod was lightly breaded, there was a good amount of cod, and had a yummy sweeter tartar sauce with yellow pickles and fresh romaine lettuce with a fresh bun. The fries were pretty good as well. My server Thomas was friendly and gave me a good recommendation since I wasn't sure what i wanted. I ate while watching some of the World Cup Mexico game. Prices are very reasonable. Will definitely dine here again if I'm in this terminal.
I had a great experience at this restaurant! Especially considering other airport food I've had this was delicious! I had the fish sandwich which was a good size, super crisp and flakey, and the toppings (gribiche aioli, pickles, onion, arugula) gave it some awesome acid and freshness to brighten it up. I chose to get fries on the side which was an up charge from kettle chips but they came out hot and fresh. Honestly for the quality of food and venue provided I definitely think it is a good value - not only by airport standards. Thomas was my server and he did a phenomenal job! There was an option to use a QR code menu but he saw me struggling with it and gave me a physical menu. He gave me good recommendations and also helped me move tables so I could charge my laptop.
$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.
This is a real find! We tried a place almost at the opposite end of the airport but the line was too long. We passed many that were crowded since it was prime lunch time. Finally decided to try this place and we were seated right away. Didn't have a ton of time so tried to order through their QR code, mistake! After adding our order, the link didn't work. That's ok, the server came soon after and took our order. The real menus had more options. It had some delicious sounding food and I picked the grilled chicken sandwich on whole wheat bread. I don't know what they put in their sandwich but it was so delicious. The bread nicely toasted and tasted fresh. The chicken was grilled and bacon was the way I like it. I choose fries and they were good too. The beer selection was pretty good but I made a wrong choice. The restaurant feels comfortable and darker wood. I would come here again when flying through O'Hare!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
12 days ago
As far as airport dining goes, this isn't a bad spot for a meal in lovely ORD Terminal 3. If you sit at the counter facing the hall, you can get in some terrific people-watching. September 2026 - my fish sandwich was delicious. Perfectly battered and fried as well as beautifully garnished. The side of in-house chips were also really good - super thick and crunchy. They were so thick, in fact, that dressing them up with ketchup elevated them. The turkey sandwich was also a great choice - the turkey had a unique seasoning that took it up a notch. This establishment also has a good drink selection, if you happen to have sorrows that need drowning, which can often be the case at ORD. read more
4 months ago
Our server Rosie was great. The food on the other hand, nothing to discuss there. I will share the highlights. - Sister ordered a glass of Cabernet, it was rancid - BIL ordered Bee's Knees - Sister ordered beet salad with arugula. Arugula was old and slimy - BIL ordered chicken sandwich with fries, it was 3.5/5 Rosie was wonderful about everything. I understand we are in the airport, but Publican is known for quality, so this was disappointing. read more
I was fooled by some good reviews and some food photos that I should have realized are many years old. Perhaps this place was once good. The only word I could use to describe it today would be pathetic. I take no pleasure in trashing on a business, but when nothing you order matches the description on the menu, when nothing from the kitchen looks like it did in the past, when you send something back then after 25 minutes get the replacement and it has a plastic food package label in it, and when the explanation from the waiter is "well, this is an airport..." That's one star. read more
Had breakfast this morning here. The Publican is definitely one of the better airport foods you can get. The miss on a few things. Prices are a bit high here. They kinda claim to be an elevated , nicer airport eating experience but they hand you salt and pepper packets lol. Breakfast was pretty good this morning. One of my medium eggs was more cooked but oh well. I like the sourdough bread. Sweetened butter and jam came with it. The potatoes are very crispy. Just wish they made them to order as they were not hot. Decent coffee. read more
Airport location. Ordered a burger, beet salad and soup. Airport prices. Service was quick for ordering. Burger patty a bit small bust side salad decent. Beet salad ok. It was a quick meal but I think there are better, tastier options in the airport read more
My flight arrived so late and I needed dinner. I happened to pass by and it was still open. Great airport restaurant. I really liked the fish sandwich. The cod was lightly breaded, there was a good amount of cod, and had a yummy sweeter tartar sauce with yellow pickles and fresh romaine lettuce with a fresh bun. The fries were pretty good as well. My server Thomas was friendly and gave me a good recommendation since I wasn't sure what i wanted. I ate while watching some of the World Cup Mexico game. Prices are very reasonable. Will definitely dine here again if I'm in this terminal. read more
9 months ago
I had a great experience at this restaurant! Especially considering other airport food I've had this was delicious! I had the fish sandwich which was a good size, super crisp and flakey, and the toppings (gribiche aioli, pickles, onion, arugula) gave it some awesome acid and freshness to brighten it up. I chose to get fries on the side which was an up charge from kettle chips but they came out hot and fresh. Honestly for the quality of food and venue provided I definitely think it is a good value - not only by airport standards. Thomas was my server and he did a phenomenal job! There was an option to use a QR code menu but he saw me struggling with it and gave me a physical menu. He gave me good recommendations and also helped me move tables so I could charge my laptop. read more
9 months ago
$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. read more
This is a real find! We tried a place almost at the opposite end of the airport but the line was too long. We passed many that were crowded since it was prime lunch time. Finally decided to try this place and we were seated right away. Didn't have a ton of time so tried to order through their QR code, mistake! After adding our order, the link didn't work. That's ok, the server came soon after and took our order. The real menus had more options. It had some delicious sounding food and I picked the grilled chicken sandwich on whole wheat bread. I don't know what they put in their sandwich but it was so delicious. The bread nicely toasted and tasted fresh. The chicken was grilled and bacon was the way I like it. I choose fries and they were good too. The beer selection was pretty good but I made a wrong choice. The restaurant feels comfortable and darker wood. I would come here again when flying through O'Hare! read more
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. read more
1 year ago
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. read more
1 year ago
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. read more
4 months ago
1 month ago
5 months ago
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. read more
10 months ago
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
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 read more
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. read more
Walking through terminal 3 at O'Hare and decided to stop at Publican for lunch. It was pretty busy so I had a short wait for a seat. Once seated, you can use a QR code to browse the menu and order. They have some of the staples from their restaurant and great beers on tap. I opted for the Krombacher draft, which was certainly airport priced. It did come out as a pint which pleasantly surprised me. Fish sandwich and salad were on point. Only downside was the higher prices, which is standard at the airport! read more
3 years ago
I arrived in Chicago after just under 24 long hrs of traveling and I needed food (and a week to sleep, but that would have to wait until later!). I opted for Publican because they had the most appealing meal with protein that was not deep fried and a salad in the immediate terminal area. They were fairly busy but I was seated quickly at a high counter table with a stool. They didn't have printed menus at the table--you had to scan a QR code and also place the order on your phone. The online menu had enough info for me to choose the chicken sandwich with side salad, but I was disappointed I didn't have a chance to talk over the menu with a server. I would have preferred the dressing on my salad to be on the side, but the online menu didn't have any way to add notes or modifications. A live person did stop by, but only to confirm I had placed the order online. The food was brought out quickly, and while the chicken was fine, the bacon on it was pretty burnt. Also, the side salad was mostly arugula and raw onions. It tasted a little too biting on the palate, but worse, it was WAY over dressed and soggy. The entire meal with tax and tip was nearly $30, which I think is a bit much for a sandwich and side salad with just water to drink, but I fully understand prices at the airport are always going to be high. read more
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... read more
5 months ago
5 months ago
Not the biggest menu and pretty pricey but the fish sandwich was pretty good. Fish wasn't over fried, fresh bun and I liked the arugula. I did have to pay an additional $2 for fries instead of potato chips. But for an airport restaurant, I think they do a good job. And I guess $20 for an airport meal isn't the worst... The service was quick, friendly and attentive. Pleasant surprise, again, for an airport restaurant. I would go back if I'm at O'hare again in terminal 3. read more
1 year ago
Food was great, service was even better! Ordered the fish Sandwich Strahil Vatev was our bartender/server & after what I'm sure was a long day (it was rainy & our flight had gotten cancelled so I'm sure everyone was grim o& miserable). Even after they closed, he still served us with a friendly attitude & great energy. Thankful for his kindness! read more
4 years ago
The airport publican was below average. I mean, every restaurant that has chicken wings on their menu should know how to master the simple art of preparing them, but not this place. The flavor was sour and just overall very unappetizing. I only finished 1. Not worth the $20 price tag for 6 wings. read more
11 months ago
This was in the salad I ordered. Be careful! Salad tasted good until I came across this bug read more
6 months ago
As far as airport food goes, we normally grab something quick to eat before we board. However, we got to the airport a little too early this time, so we had time to stop by here for a sit down meal. I order the publican breakfast. It comes with eggs, sausage/bacon, and potatoes with toast. The sausage is soooo good! It's savory, yet has a hint of sweetness. The potatoes are seasoned so it complemented everything so well. It was definitely a good breakfast before a flight. My husband has the yogurt parfait thing. He said it was good for what it is, he also wanted something light before the flight. read more
2 years ago
This roasted vegetable salad just rocked my world. Full of substance, flavor, and nutrition. I added sliced Turkey and it was still under $20. Definitely a good choice. read more
1 year ago
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More info about Publican Tavern
10000 W O'Hare Ave
Chicago, IL 60666
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(773) 377-7838
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https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/eatshopmore/eat/Pages/default.aspx?filteramenityid=96&filterlocation=K1
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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
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