Its been quite sometime since I have been to Publican (probably 10 years) and it was about time I came back. I kinda showed up as a late edition add-on to some friend's reservation that I ran into. Communal seating here so the hostess was able to accommodate my resy hijacking. Once seated, we got a very good server by the name of Benny...very cool dude. We had been drinking at the Darling before so had to keep the party going with a harvest manhattan. It was an excellent drink so I decided to have 3 of em. We started with the Publican bread plate which was amazing. Actually I may have enjoyed it more than our actual meal and that is no disrespect to the food we eventually ordered, but it was that good. The seeded rye and honey oat porridge bread was awesome along with the sea salt butter and pimento cheese that came with it. We then moved onto a full charcuterie plate for our group of 4...very delicious! We then decided on the Porchetta which was pretty good...was dressed in parsley, puntarelle, ubriaco rosso and crouton. Had a great time and I promise not to stay away from this place for so long as the menu is full of goodies. read more

See all

I absolutely love this area in Chicago , so many options to eat at makes it difficult to make a choice , but I've been wanting to go here for some time and finally did after running a race that AM in city . Time to carb load with the biscuit and waffles . The waffle was so decadent I almost ordered another one but controlled myself . The biscuit is sized enough to share between two people . The other entree ordered was the piri chicken schnitzel and I never would have imaged the combination of ingredients being so delicious. We had the brunch as that is all that was available at time of our arrival , be advised orders come out when ready. We actually got the waffle and biscuit and were finishing it up when waitress asked if we needed anything else and we had to let her know we never got the 2nd entree . They did make it right by comping the chicken. there is indoor and outdoor area which is nice whenever able to sit outside when in city on a beautiful warm day. I'd love to return and try lunch/dinner menu . If ever in area check them out read more

The Publican - Waffle and biscuit - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Dined at the Publican with a group of girlfriends on a late summer evening, and the experience was fabulous! The service team could not have been more friendly - and the food was fresh, warm and served on an assortment of vintage/farmhouse-inspired plates. A must-visit next time your in the city! read more

Went here on a Friday evening with a reservation. The place was cute, and surprisingly empty for the time of day. I think most people were opting to sit outside, but we got one of their weird little animal pens inside. We got the porchetta, the pork belly, the pork rinds, and the strawberry cake. The porchetta as a dish was really good overall. The meat itself was a little dry, but it had a good sauce that helped. I didn't like the mushrooms, but my husband ate those so it was fine. The pork belly was great. Two big chunks of lean meat. My husband thought it was dry, but I didn't agree. I found it tender and quite juicy, and the sauce and veggie mix it came with was a deliciously bright contrast to the heaviness of the pork. I didn't love the pork rings. The flavor was interesting, it had a satisfying crunch, but I probably wouldn't order them again. Not necessarily bad, but I just didn't like it that much. It was a bit messy - big Cheeto finger vibes. The strawberry cake was tasty, if not particularly unique. The most interesting part of it was the malted vanilla icing. My husband didn't notice it, but I definitely felt like it had a little more depth than normal vanilla icing. Overall I'm going to give the place a 4. It was a little difficult to judge and some individual items were hovering closer to a 5, but overall I think 4 makes the most sense. I'd definitely go back and try some different items. read more

Mixed feelings about this place. We were told by two separate locals in two consecutive days that we needed to eat here, culminating in what my wife believed to be a "sign" (smh) thus rest is history. Will break down the good and not that good. Pros: fantastic attentive service. I challenge anyone to empty their water glass here for more than one minute, they are on prowl with that water. Low key one of most important attributes to restaurant. Atmosphere was a large dining hall, similar to a German beer hall feel. The espresso martini was to die for, was best I have ever had. Cons: I am conflicted about this. I mean it's a butcher shop that has restaurant, so of course the menu going to be meat heavy. Quality of meat was high, however, the nuance of flavors to the dishes were somewhat lacking. Again, conflicted as not a major meat conissuar. The sides though, tilted my confliction to a con here as the veggie sides, apps all left something to be desired. My wife left hungry and ate a handful of bites total as she did not care for any dishes. I ate as much as I could stomach, but where as some places I would eat way beyond full due to enjoyment of eating food, this was not case here where once hit that full there was not another bite. For a 200 dollar meal, just was not cup of tea. read more

I feel like any restaurant in Fulton Market is a hit. This was the PERFECT spot to be at for a nice Father's Day dinner with the family. They specialize in beer, meats, and oysters. The streets were filled with people with majority of people eating outside. The vibe inside had long wooden tables and chairs, portraits of pigs on the walls, and these cute lamps on the ceiling. Publican bread plate: There's no better way to start a meal off than with fresh bread and some spreads. Comes with nice thick bread and 2 spreads - pimento cheese & tuna. We asked the waiter for more bread because we were a party of 5 and what they first provided wasn't enough. I believe they give both sourdough and rye bread. Both spreads were delicious. The cheese spread had a thicker consistency. Charcuterie plate: This was your typical meat plate. Different meats, pickles, peppers, etc. and more bread. Nothing special to me. I would describe this plate as a more simple charcuterie rather than those fancy ones you see else where. Barbecued carrots: These were some of the best carrots I've ever had. Nice thick pieces flavored to perfection. Nicely charred. Carrots were the perfect amount of soft. My favorite part... the pecan toppings! Any dish that contains a nut garnish is automatically just more delicious in my opinion. Oysters: These were not bad. I'm not a huge fan of raw oysters but I'll still eat it. We ordered the 12 pc chef's selection. They come in a nice presentation with a little label naming each kind. Top with some lemon and hot sauce and you're good to go. Pork belly: The meat was so so tender. Mostly fat though. Comes with pesto and a nice side salad composed of arugula. We got 2 orders of this for our party of 5 because they mentioned it's not a big portion. Porchetta: More pork! Strips of soft pork put on top of grits with some pickled red onions. I don't think I've ever had grits in my life but they were pretty good. The grits had a Parmesan taste to it. I liked this dish because it was something different. Farm chicken: By the time this came out, I was so full already but I had to keep going. It's a huge plate of fries, chicken, and sausage. We took it to-go. The chicken however was very tender. The fries are soaked in some sort of gravy-like sauce at the bottom. Mussels: Tons of mussels that came in a big pan soaked in a yummy garlic butter and.... more bread! The waiter said it best to dip the bread in the garlic butter straight from the pan. Dessert: Dessert is always my favorite part but these were just ok. They were good don't get me wrong but there was no wow-factor. But I'm not surprised because dessert isn't there specialty. read more

See all

My brother in law was in town from California and he wanted to go here. We had reservations on a Saturday which I recommend pretty much anytime for any place you can in Fulton Market area. It was not too busy at all and we were seated quickly. The host was friendly. The room had mostly communal tables with really high back chairs. I disliked the chairs personally. We were seated with only our group. It was not too loud as it was not busy at all. On Saturdays they have a limited brunch menu to order from. It is different from here Monday thru Friday version. Our group tried various items and we mostly shared tastes. I tried the chicken schnitzel. It was nice and crispy but unfortunately it was bland. It came with spatzel which if not really flavor packed and tastes like whatever sauce is on it. My wife tried the shakshuka. It had too much cumin or something similar and a very tart feta that overwhelmed the dish. It was not pleasant. My son had the waffles which were delicious. We also tried the bacon and the sausage both of which were house made. They were excellent. My father in law tried the salmon gravlax and he really enjoyed it. The best thing besides the bacon were the crispy potatoes. They were absolutely delicious. Not likely I would ever go back for the brunch but maybe for regular lunch or dinner. read more

We originally went here for Restaurant Week, but decided to order from their regular menu. Totally recommend their RW menu as well! Expect it to be packed, a bit loud, and have a bit of a wait, but it'll be worth it. The servers are friendly and offer their faves from the menu. Cocktails here are amazing. Especially recommend the Oaxacan Cafe. We had the roasted carrots to start and they were perfection. Creamy, nutty, toasty, and delicious. The fresh dill was a nice pop. I had the scallops for my main and my oh my. The flavors were unexpected compared to scallops I've had in the past, but they pair them with a cauliflower purée and parsnips. Dessert is a must for us so we ordered the Toasted Marshmallow even though we were stuffed. It's to die for. Hazelnut, toasted marshmallow, crunchy graham cookies, and a smooth chocolate bed underneath it all. My fave! We'll be back for sure - thank you for a great experience and enjoy Restaurant Week 2023! read more

See all

Quality bread. LOVE the almond croissants; they're my favorite in the city. Happy, helpful employees. Recommend buying day old bread; just as delicious and only $4! read more

The Publican - Almond croissant of your dreams. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely divine! The food was exceptional and the service is unbeatable. They were attentive and quick to bring fresh plates between courses. My husband and I tried a variety of dishes including the raw oysters, carrots, corn salad, tomatoes, scallops, and pork belly. All were perfectly prepared and full of flavor (the corn salad and pork belly were my personal favorites; my husband especially liked the corn salad and carrots). The cocktails were also spot-on. The atmosphere is vibrant - It's loud but we loved it. We will absolutely come back again the next time we're in Chicago. Make sure you come with an appetite - very filling! read more

See all

Beautiful weather today to we decided to go for brunch last minute. We managed to get a table here without a reservation. Food was good in general. Our server was slow and sauntered around not in a particular hurry. Our food came out quickly once our order was finally put in. My side plate had 3 chips on it so I asked for a new one. The restaurant has booths which have doors on them. This creates a nice intimate vibe. They charge 3% surcharge for staff benefits. read more

See all

We went to The Publican on Friday evening. While the food was good the service was very slow. Making things worse, there was no air conditioning. Our group was extremely uncomfortable for the almost 3 hours we were there. There was no warning when we arrived and no apology. It is doubtful we will go again. read more

A friend recommended The Publican as a good place to meet for dinner with a good variety of food options, especially because some of us have dietary restrictions. The menu looked good online, so we made a reservation. The large dining area is bright and loud. We were led to our table past some booths, with doors, along the wall. When we made the reservation a few days before, we didn't realize that the dining table is basically one continuous table parallel to the wall and the booths. So, you could very well be sitting next to a complete stranger. There are also some large tables near the bar, but I'm not sure they were shared tables where you'd be sitting next to other diners. That type of set up is not what we were expecting, especially to meet with old friends whom we hadn't seen in years and with whom we wanted to catch up. It made it very awkward when our friends showed up, and we had to get up and walk around the large table to shake hands and exchange hugs. If you're in the middle of that long table and want to hug your friend hello or good-bye, you'd have to walk 50 feet to the end of the table. As mentioned above, the room is loud, even more so when they turned up the music. Shouting across the table at our friends so we could hear each other was not pleasant for anyone. We also had a hard time hearing the servers. I didn't see any noise dampening panels on the ceiling or anywhere else, so the noise just reverberates across the room. This is not the kind of place where you want to have intimate conversations. The menu was very meat heavy--some of us don't eat red meat or pork--but there were enough other types of food that we could all enjoy. The server said the plates are meant to be family-style for sharing. We didn't order any of the charcuterie plates because they all contained pork. We couldn't order the fries because they were fried in beef fat. Rather disappointing. The items we did order were fantastic. A good variety of oysters were served on a bowl of already-melting ice, so some of the bivalves had ice water inside them, but they tasted fresh and briny. The asparagus salad, featuring tahini vinaigrette, lentils and avocado was really good. The burrata with the boquerones (anchovies) was refreshing and just a good mix of flavors and textures. We also tried the scallops with tikka masala, something I hadn't seen before. They were cooked to perfection. The sirloin for one of our friends was grilled medium rare, just as ordered and looked delicious (I'm a former steak lover, but I can't eat red meat anymore). Finally, the half chicken was probably some of the best I've had. I tried the breast, which was smoky and moist and full of flavor. The platter came with a pile of fries, which I couldn't eat, but others in our party enjoyed. Summer sausage--which I can't eat, either--came with the chicken platter. I was told it was very good. The service was uneven, maybe because it was a busy Saturday night. When we were done with the oysters, they took the ice bowl away but left the pedestal sitting in the middle of the table, so when other dishes came, we had to make room for them with the pedestal still sitting there. I'm not sure why they didn't take it away when they retrieved the bowl. Overall, if it hadn't been for the food, I would have given our experience two stars. It was too loud, and the music just made it worse. The service was a little lacking, especially considering the prices. The Publican seems like pricey, casual dining. I don't think I would return. read more

See all

We came for happy hour drinks and stayed through dinner. Amazing food options -- highly recommend ordering the pork loin. My partner still can't stop talking about how well seasoned and moist it was. My favorite was the mushroom fondue! Everything else we ate was pretty sub-par compared to other restaurants in Chicago and nothing to write home about. The cocktails from the happy hour menu were not tasty so don't recommend. Overall, the service was fine, the front staff were very kind. The ambience was ok, very spot on German/Polish style hall from my experience traveling. I do think everything is overpriced though. read more

See all

This is restaurant has the feel of a large food hall inside with interesting pictures of giant pigs on the walls. Be prepared to have the saltiest meal of your life but not notice it at the time. The only item that was decidedly mid was the pimento cheese dip. Imagine a block of aged cheddar with some pimento flecks in it. Add a star back for the waiter accidentally spiking my gluwhein and not charging me for the brandy (it comes in both spiked and unspiked options), but I would have preferred no brandy TBH. I appreciated the attempted sass when I asked for ketchup with my beef fat fries (served with aoli) but sir, no. ***Chairbacks were high so that jackets don't drag on the floor, and the corners had enough shape to hang purse with a strap. There only purse hooks were at the bar. read more

I am not sure the publican needs a review. I had such a good time there. Ambiance It was a really nice place. It was very open and and there was no feeling of being bunched up. I sat at a table of 6 so I do not have any experience with sitting at what looked to be a communal table in the center of the restaurants. There were a lot of outside seating and also had some enclosed side booths. To me the aesthetic was comfortable with the wooden tables. Service The service was great. The server was helpful with the menu. I have to say that my water cup very rarely empty. Food came out in a timely matter. We never felt rushed. Food We ordered quite a bit of food. So let's start with the appetizers: Pickles The pickles were great. It came with pickles, picked red onions and cauliflower. The would have to pick say the pickled cauliflower wasn't really my jam but other than that, each had a burst of flavor when eating them and also help cleanse your palate after trying different dishes. Asparagus dish I think there were micro greens on top of the asparagus, but by the time they got around to me, I just had some asparagus left. It was seasoned and cooked very well. I would definitely recommend this dish. Pork belly I really enjoyed this dish. The meat was very well seasoned. It came with a mushroom spinach medley which helped balance it out. Overall, I thought it was a good dish. Peaches n burrata I did not really enjoy this dish as much as I should have. I don't think the peaches were in season so they were not sweet. I think this dish would have been good with some bread, but I guess you need to order it separately. For me it just did not hit the mark. The burrata was good but again, probably would have been better with some bread. Main dishes Country ribs This was a dish that I had some problem with. The country rib is served with shishito peppers. These peppers gave a subtle sourness to the dish which was nice. The meat itself was tough. I had some difficulty cutting the meat with the knife. I even had difficulty chewing the meat. It had a lot of fat and just was unpleasant to eat... the peppers were good though BBQ carrots What in the world... these carrots a phenomenal. There is a nice smokiness to them while having a slight cumin and fruity taste. The texture, for me, was just right where they were soft but not baby food mush. A really delicious dish and I can see why a lot of people recommend this dish. Bavette steak I did not know what a bavette steak was. It is a flanks steak. The publican does a really great job with cooking this steak. It was so soft and juicy.... Very well seasoned. The plate came with some potatoes which were delicious also. I would recommend this dish if you were eating by yourself. I think it would be just enough to satisfy a single customer. Chicken The chicken was very well cooked. The breast meat was very moist and the flavor was really good. It came with fries and some sausages. Personally I wish we had more sausages, but with the amount of food that we ordered, I am not really heartbroken about it. The fries were soaking up all the goodness, the gravy from the chicken. A really good dish to order while in group. Overall My trip to the publican was a great experience. Is it pricey... kind of, but most of the food is definitely worth it. The service was fantastic and most of the food was delicious. There was some missteps with 2 of the dishes we ordered but other than that, it is definitely a restaurant worth going back to. Disclaimer: I am not a professional chef or foodie (whatever that is supposed to mean). I like food. Every body is different and likes different things. This is just my opinion and hope that I can try different foods and write about my experiences from different restaurants. read more

See all

Happy hour deals are fantastic!! Not sure about the main menu but happy hour is 100% worth it. Service was impeccable! read more

The Publican - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

How is this a four star place??? Maybe it's an off day, but I was completely disappointed with the food and service we received while having lunch here. Today was their last day of restaurant week, so we decided to all get the restaurant week lunch. According to the menu, the whole party had to order it, so we did. The restaurant week menu ($25/person) shows there are two courses: 1st course was a smoked salmon rillette (aka smoked salmon on well done hash brown) 2nd course was pork belly hash OR publican scramble My brother and I both orders the pork belly hash and my sister in law ordered the publican scramble. 5 minutes goes by after we ordered and two plates of smoked salmon rillette come out. We thought the 3rd plate would be coming out after... we waited about another 20 minutes, without anyone checking in on us, until we got our 2nd courses. I asked about the 3rd smoked salmon rillette plate, but they said it was two plates for three people. (Nowhere on the menu, did it state that!!!) Anyhow, the food and service was mediocre. One of our smoked salmon rillette was overcooked (burnt), our pork belly hash was overly salty. The menu wasn't clear about the 1st course and what we received definitely wasn't worth $25/person. The servers were not helpful nor attentive at all. The man clearing the tables was more attentive than the servers. read more

See all

We came in for dinner at 4 pm on a Sunday. We ordered a variety of dishes, but quickly realized it was leftovers from brunch. Best thing was the salad but the pork skin crunchy was inedible because it was so hard it couldn't be chewed. I don't know who's managing this place but if this is Michelin quality, count me out read more

I honestly wanted to love this place so badly but I just did not enjoy the brunch. Not sure if we just ordered wrong or if they're better known for their dinner? Anyways came here on a Saturday and I will say the restaurant does look very beautiful and unique. Service was pretty quick but they did forget one of our orders which we had to remind our server about. Now the food, this is where I was disappointed. We ordered the waffle and the shakshuka. The waffle was extremely dry and just super crispy. I actually ended up choking on my waffle due to the dryness which was kind of embarrassing. The Shakshuka was ok but it only came with 2 half slices of toast. Overall, I wasn't too impressed with the brunch. Maybe one day we'll come back and try the dinner the restaurant is known for. read more

The Publican - Waffle - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Although you can order your own entrees I highly recommend that you experience as family style in order to try a variety of plates. We ordered from each of the categories and splurged on the butchers cut which was fantastic. It might be a little challenging for vegans but plenty of vegetable and seafood choices if meat is not your thing. If part of your group does not like sharing this place might not be a good option. We will go back! read more

We ordered the take home Thanksgiving turkey and sides through Table22. It was all good quality but the instructions for preparing the turkey were a little too vague. When ordering the turkey the website said you should brine the turkey so we bought the wet brine kit. However, the instructions given with the turkey which, apparently came from the butcher, said he doesn't brine the turkey. We ended up doing a dry brine with some of the salt in the brine kit but we should probably have done the wet brine as originally directed. The white meat definitely was not juicy or tender. read more

Came here for the first time for some apps during happy hour. Pork rinds were like Lays potato chips. You cant eat just one. The duck/pork rillet was amazing as well. Had the famous carrots too, though the portion size was more than necessary for 2. read more

See all

Unfortunately, the publican no longer lives up to the expectations it once had.- below is a star ranking of the items we ordered We ordered oysters (****) fries with aioli (*****) carrots (***) Squash (**) Pork chop (*) Mussels (*) We did have to send the pork chop and muscles back due to errors within the kitchen, however after waiting 45 minutes in between each course of shared plates we were completely over it and didn't care to stay any longer. The patio however is heated and perfect for the mild chilly evenings in Chicago. The staff did take care of the items that were not made to standards. Unfortunately we will not be dining back. read more

See all

Okay, for airport food this place was amazing! It was quick service and delicious food. The breakfast sandwich was great with crispy potatoes. There was ample seating space at 8am! read more

The Publican - Breakfast sandwich - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of my favorite Chicago restaurants! The seating situation is truly unique and amazing at the same time. In addition, the food is great - definitely recommend the Publican Bread Plate! When I went, I finished my meal with ice cream and when I say it was the BEST ice cream I've ever had, I'm not even lying. Cannot wait to go back + cannot recommend enough! read more

Food excellent Service excellent Speed excellent Wait excellent (bar seat) I went for restaurant week. Started off with the broccoli Romanesco which has crispy broccoli crowns and a very good cheese at the bottom. Each vegetable had its own distinct flavor that accentuated the dish. Oysters were a welcome surprise and had a very strong soup base that's cooked with beer and not wine. Bartender said it's Norwegian style. Steak with the sauce was excellent. With perfectly baked potatoes and crispy watercress that depth to the dish and extended its stay. Dessert was a simple home made marshmallow which they added chocolate and caramel with Graham cracker crumbs to make a thick gooey s'more that wasn't too sweet. Each dish came at the perfect time. And I never felt like I was rushed through each dish, but you could tell they were busy. Good value $80 after tip. read more

See all

Back for more! I really wanted more sunchoke but wasn't on the menu this time, so we went for the artichokes. They reminded me exactly of the fried artichokes I've had in Italy. Also ordered the sirloin with feta, balsamic, mint, and strawberry. Barbecued carrots with dill (and a spicy oil, maybe harissa?). Bread, lime lager, and the cherry dessert. Everything was SOOOOO wonderful. Pro tip: If you aren't mopping up your plates with some of their sourdough bread you are missing out! All the staff were just lovely as well. The Publican is an experience you'll savor. read more

The Publican - Barbecued Carrots - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I went here for brunch with two friends. We were initially going to go to a restaurant across the street but the wait time was too long so we decided to just come here, as outdoor seating was packed, so we assumed the food must have been good. We decided to get seated indoors since it was a pretty hot day. To start, we were seated in booths, which seemed very counterintuitive to good service as the waiters couldn't see if our cups were empty or full, and unfortunately for the staff, I was quite parched so I drank a lot of water, only for it not to be refilled until they came back around. Even so, I had to ask several times until they had finally refilled it. On top of that, when we ordered or when the food came out, they had to open and close the booths which I felt must get very annoying at a certain point. We ordered the crispy potatoes with spicy aioli, shakshuka, waffles, and a thick-cut bacon. The crispy potatoes were the first dish to come out and it impressed us, as the serving size was huge and the potatoes were very flavorful. However, it was one of those foods where you take a few bites and get sick of it. The potatoes were a side dish but I felt that it was honestly enough to feed two people. Moving onto the shakshuka, I am a shakshuka lover so I enjoyed it quite a bit. However, there were lots of huge chunks of onion in the dish which I wasn't too fond of, but given that I am not the biggest fan of non-caramelized onions, it might have just been a personal bias. Outside of that, however, this dish was good. The waffles and bacon were very standard, with the waffles being quite delicious and light, with some palatable sauces, so there are no complaints on that end. I feel that I was very full from the potatoes, which were very heavy, so the light waffles complemented that very well. I do, however, have a few complaints about the bacon. I, myself, hadn't eaten it because I was feeling very full, but my friend said that it was just a standard thick-cut bacon with nothing much special about it. One half of the bacon was also just fat, so he ended up having to cut out and throw away half of the bacon because though he tried to eat it, he said it was just not that appetizing. Overall, the food wasn't the worst, but it was also pretty substandard in my opinion, as all of the dishes I had ordered are foods that I normally love, but I wasn't feeling any cravings on this particular day. I am giving a 3-star review as opposed to a 2-star, as I am giving them the benefit of the doubt as I started feeling a bit sick halfway through the meal, and I am unsure of whether it was due to the food, but I am assuming that I had started feeling unwell prior to the meal. read more

Outdoor seating with translucent pods is a thing and it looks cool. This block of Fulton St is lined with them and you need to have your selfie taken here. The publican does comfort food right. By it self the dishes were fine taken as a whole, they take it up a notch. The farm chicken with au jus on a bed of French fries is having not only a savory and well seasoned bird but is like having poutine at the same time. The side sausage is good counter to the richness of the bird. By the way the dark meat is absolutely delicious. The BBQ carrot tasted like meat carrot. It did not taste like a vegetable. Our server suggested the mussels which my wife and son really liked. The bread it came with was excellent. Fulton is now bougie - that comes with prices to match just be aware of that when you dine here. read more

See all

I came here a little less than a decade ago and I remember being blown away. Either I have changed or this place has. The food was good. Though the charcuterie board was a miss to me, the pork was tasty as was the squash side. But they weren't worth the hype this place still seems to get. It was just good food not great. But what really took it down was the volume level. The place is loud which is maybe to be expected with the seating style, fair enough. The music volume in the other hand was ridiculous. My ears were ringing at the end of the evening as if I had been at a concert not a meal with my wife. We could barely hear each other. I really wanted to like this place as much as I remembered but it was a miss this time. read more

Love this place. They make their own cold cuts, head cheese, pate, and mortadella are not to be missed. Also great meats and breads. And they put of with my elderly and sometimes difficult/demanding parents who are on their 80s read more

Came around noon on a Saturday and we were seated immediately. The booths are cozy and the ambience overall is really warm and bright. The brunch dishes are meant to share but are really quite large. 3 dishes were enough to feed 2 people easily. Service was prompt and friendly. Would definitely go back again! read more

See all

Went for Sunday brunch on 11/22 in the igloos. Great staff, I mean stellar, excellent people. They provided recommendations, knew the menu (super important), and were honest - just down right awesome service. I was not a fan of the hash browns though. The menu literally says "hash browns" but they are deep fried in butter and they were very crispy like hard(maybe some people like that). The domes are not heated I would suggest dressing warm, and there is metered parking in walking distance. I loved the new branada toast (it's not avocado toast although it looks like it on Instagram). The chicken and dumplings were good, skillet looked good really can't go wrong. read more

The Publican - Toast - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was in town a couple weekends ago from LA and fell in love with this place! I love the location of it; great place to sit outside and people watch on a weekend night. Also the food was amazing as well! I did not expect the bbq carrots to be that delicious and could have easily eaten the whole plate by myself. Also ordered the sirloin steak which took awhile but was well worth it! The bouchot mussels, scallops and the yellow tail crudo were to die for as well. We topped it off with a bottle of rosé which completed my hearty dinner. This is easily one of my top fav sports in Chicago now, especially in the summer time! read more

See all

Came by on Saturday for brunch. The restaurant has cozy rustic vibes. Got the side of crispy potatoes, aged cheddar biscuit, and chicken schnitzel! Loved the crispy potatoes, portion size was huge, we had plenty to take home. Definitely a must get. read more

The Publican - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Vegetarian's need not apply here. This is for people who love to eat what was alive at one point. Period. That said, they do have some delicious veggies in the bbq carrots & beet salad. But come on, let's get to the point and that's the meat! Just do yourself a favor and get the short rib, country ribs, Publican Bacon and half chicken and then thank me later with a thumbs up here if you're so inclined. read more

I've waited since June to post this review in hopes that the Publican would be able to remedy the upsetting and violating situation that I experienced at this restaurant. I write this post as a warning for future patrons to reconsider hosting an event here, as the Publican treats their patrons with little respect and has completely shattered my trust. My friend and I were wedding guests at the Publican in early June. When we got to the Publican we asked the hostess and Publican events planner, Danielle, where the card box was to put our cards in. Danielle responded "I am the card box!" And so we handed our cards over to her as she told us that they would all be given to the bride and groom. I was a bit nervous to hand the cards over, as they contained more than $500 cash, but I unfortunately trusted Danielle. Fast forward, the day after the wedding, I asked the bride if Danielle had given our wedding cards to them. She told us that Danielle hadn't given them any cards, but that she'd follow up with the Publican to make sure that she got them. Several weeks later I again asked the bride if she'd received our cards and she told us that Danielle hadn't given them any cards still. Danielle even told us at one point she gave everything to the groom, but the groom confirmed that he had not received any cards at all. We contacted the restaurant right away to discuss the situation in hopes that they would be willing to work with us to remedy the situation: simply put, we wanted the bride and groom to receive their wedding gift. We spoke with the GM, Oscar, that took the situation seriously and was deeply upset that this occurred. He had us try to work with Danielle to rectify the issue. Upon countless attempts to contact Danielle via phone calls and text messages, she finally called several weeks later and acted like she had no idea what we were talking about, even though she knew all about the situation. She told us that it was "ridiculous" for us to expect that she would be able to do something about our stolen cards & cash that were in her possession. At first, we were hopeful that it was just a mistake. However, the Publican and Danielle continually dodged our calls and messages, leading us to believe that they had something to hide, which they clearly do. This should've been and could've been a very simple situation to find a solution for. Unfortunately, for the past 5 months, we've seen quite the opposite. We have not been unreasonable and in fact, we have offered multiple options for The Publican to make this situation right for us, but most importantly, the bride and groom. read more

We ate at the Publican in the O'Hare airport and it was some of the best airport food we've ever had. Highly recommend! read more

The Publican - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Happy Hour specials that actually delight, for example a beer+shot+burger for $19. What more do you need? These plates are made for sharing, though some of the mains are ample to satisfy a serious appetite. Consider a bread plate or charcuterie, perhaps paired with wine? You can class it up or do it dirt cheap. read more