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- Categories:
- Restaurants, Bars & Clubs, Bars & Pubs, Irish Pubs, Lounges, Neighborhood Bars, Taverns
- Cuisine:
- Traditional American
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At a Glance
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92% ambiance
“Antique gothic decor w/ interesting brewery art on the walls mostly from Belgium, Germany & England.”
89% drinks
“Go across the street to the GT for a much better meal and great drinks.”
85% food quality
“Both dishes were very tasty, well seasoned and in great quantities.”
88% menu variety
“Food is very nice (try the jerk ribs) and each menu item is accompanied by a suggested beer to match.”
100% overall
“This bar is a great place for meeting a bunch of friends or on a date.”
100% return potential
“have never had a bad meal here and although I have experienced some waiting, it is nothing that wouldn't make me go back again and again as long as I live here.”
53% service
“Good food, beer selection, thoughtless service”
100% value
“I've never been impressed with the staff, who are less than attentive and often arrogant, but I had two experiences recently that are worth highlighting.”
25% wait time
“However, the service has been slipping there are a few servers that are constantly top notch but Ive been getting frustrated with some of the slow and indifferent servers.”
Write a Tip for
The Publick House
Tips for The Publick House
December 07, 2010
I used to love this bar.... That being said I had a horrible experience last week. Saturday night a small group of friends and I went to Publick House for drinks to see a friend who had recently moved back to the Boston area. Feeling generous, I offered to buy drinks for our group of 6. About a while later after about 12 drinks total had been split amongst us, I went to the bar to order another beer for myself, my 3rd beer in several hours, and much to my surprise, the bartender refused to serve me. I explained that I had been buying drinks for my whole party, and that each of us had only had 2 beers, but he refused to do anything but close my tab for me and suggest I leave, saying the Brookline Police are very strict and that is why they have to monitor this. Unbelievable that our entire party was cut off after only 2 beers.
0
Heart
August 19, 2010
Worst Meal I've had in years. Went here last night. Menu was very limited and the main courses over-priced. I ordered the veggie burger - could not finish it. It was moist and paste-like - nothing like a burger. I would describe it as a fat potato pancake, undercooked. When put between white bread it was horrible. It was a paste with a horrible combination of spices. I like my veggie burgers to have texture. The fries were horrible too - sodden with oil, that I suspected was overused due to the fact that the fries were very dark. I had a stomach ache for hours afterwards. And the waitress was very off-hand. She plopped everything down in the middle of the table on top of the wine menu that she couldn't be bothered to remove. She kept trying to remove our plates before we had finished. The place was not crowded (Wednesday fairly early in the evening) so there was no reason to hustle us out. The place was shabby - no maintenance in years. It probably looks good in the dark but needs a serious overhaul.
0
Heart
July 15, 2010
The Worst Restaurant Management Experience Ever.
This past Saturday (July 10, 2010) my fiancé and some of our friends experienced the worst experience at the restaurant ever.
After a long day of work, I was meeting my fiancé there who was having dinner with our friends. They must have been there for hour and a half when I got there. Every one of them had just finished a full meal and were still having drinks AND were planning to have another round. While I was looking at the food and beer menu, a hostess came by and told us that there are people waiting on the list for that exact table, and I will not be served any food. Basically, we were told to leave. When we asked to speak with manager, Mike Murphy, he explained that it is business and he can’t have people sitting there for few hours and enjoy only their drinks (even though at the table right next to us, there was a party of six having only drinks). At least to my friends, fiancé and I, the approach taken was extremely disrespectful. If exactly that table was needed for a larger party (and it was 6 of us), the manager could have offered a smaller table we could sit at. We are very easy going people and would have not had a problem with that at all. Instead, without “I’m sorry” or any other explanation, we were asked to pay our bill and leave.
I have never been disrespected like this in my life. Manager, Mike Murphy, definitely does not possess the right skills to be an effective manager for the business. My friends, fiancé and I have always enjoyed and recommended the Publick House to others, but it has become a place that does not deserve a second chance, and we would never come back or suggest it to other people again.
0
Heart
May 07, 2010
Everyone loves the Publick House. Seriously, everyone loves the Publick House. This is a fantastic place for drinks and dinner year-round. It has tons of beer on tap and the food is delicious. They have cheese plates, fresh salads, and a bunch of entree and sandwich options. My personal favorite dinner option is the veggie burger, made in-house (yum), but I also really love getting a cheese plate and sitting in their outside seating. They have some of the only outdoor seating in Brookline--and not much, at that. It is picnic table-style (only outside, not inside!), but so nice on a spring/summer day. Because it is such a popular spot, it gets crowded, so if you like your space get there on the early side.
0
Heart
January 11, 2010
Make it My House.
The Publick House often gets derided for its food and waitstaff, and yet, I've never had a bad meal there. The mac and cheese, with a plethora of add-ons like bacon(!), is decadent, hearty, and just what you need to get through the long Boston winter. The top is crispy, all browned from the over, and the orecchiette pasta underneath are coated in the creamy, gooey cheese. Yum! And the veggie burger might just be the best one in the world - it actually tastes like vegetables (I know, crazy!).
The beer selection is, of course, amazing, but if you're interested in the food, try visiting early to beat the mad rush.
0
Heart
December 19, 2009
I love this place.
One of my favorite places to have dinner in the neighborhood. I am hard-pressed to find another beer menu that compares to the Publick House, both in scale and variety. I'm surprised to read bad reviews of the food here, but to each his own. I've been eating here pretty often for several years, and I can't think of any bad meals ever. The mac and cheese in particular, is great.
My only advice to anyone who wants to try this place, don't waste your time on a weekend night. It's crowded, and loud, and not nearly as pleasant. And good luck getting a table. Go for dinner on a weeknight. You'll be much happier.
0
Heart
November 26, 2009
Bad service, Food was out of date, Still had to pay!.
Last night we ordered the whole evening different kind o Belgian beers, until we got 3 of them which obviously weren't fresh anymore. Even though I asked gently, the bar tender didn't want to give us a new beer and started a pointless discussion with us about taste. He insulted us by saying we had no experience. I can tell you I'am from Belgium, I know the taste of beer since I was a kid.
Finally we got the bill of 140 USD including the 3 beers we refused. Bastards. 2 thumps down for this bar/restaurant!!
0
Heart
June 11, 2009
Great Food. You totally need to try it out.
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
Great Food. You totally need to try it out
0
Heart
June 10, 2009
HORRIBLE!!!!!!!.
went for a simple bite to eat on 6/9/09. The beef stew was overly salty and cold. The mashed potatoes were also cold and very salty. The waitress could have cared less.
I should have sent the food back and not paid.
Horrible dining experience. thank God there are other restaurants in the area.
0
Heart
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The Publick House
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Best of Citysearch
Won for:
Beer List
(2009)Beer List (2006)
Nominated for:
Beer List
(2010)
Budget Date Spot (2008)
No-Cover Nightspot (2008)
Off-The-Wall Date Spot (2008)
Rainy-Day Date Spot (2008)
Beer List (2007)
Irish Pub (2007)
Outdoor Bar (2007)
Bar Food (2005)
Beer List (2005)
Conversation Bar (2005)
First Date Spot (2005)
Irish Pub (2005)
Outdoor Bar (2005)
Budget Date Spot (2008)
No-Cover Nightspot (2008)
Off-The-Wall Date Spot (2008)
Rainy-Day Date Spot (2008)
Beer List (2007)
Irish Pub (2007)
Outdoor Bar (2007)
Bar Food (2005)
Beer List (2005)
Conversation Bar (2005)
First Date Spot (2005)
Irish Pub (2005)
Outdoor Bar (2005)