The Publick House

dauss

Colorado

4.7/5  rDev +6.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

Atmosphere: Really nice. Dimly lit with lots of wood furniture. The establishment is a bit small. It was on a Saturday night and it was packed. The bad thing about the crowd is that there was no one seating the employees, just people queing themselves and sitting down when a table frees up. The wait wasn't too bad, but they had a very nice beer list with a ton of beer paraphenelia all over the walls. I never had a chance to see the bar because the crowd was blocking the way.

Quality: Amazing, all their beers were in excellent condition. Everything was served in as proper glassware as possible, and the food was great.

Service: considering how crowded it was, the beers were served within reasonable time, but the food did take a bit longer, but thats ok.

Selection: I've never seen such a varied beer menu. They concentrate on quality no quantity. All the beers I wanted to try, but just didn't have the time, money, or the alcohol metabolizing abilities. Cantillon on tap, I've never seen it anywhere else. Everything on the beer menu they said they had....they had.

Food: Absolutely wonderful. I had the scallops and they just melted in your mouth. I also had the mussels steamed with IPA. Mussels were very fresh, but I think they might have used a little too much IPA. The soup left in the bottom that I soaked with the bread was a little too overpowering. A changing menu with what I hope is the freshest ingredients they can get.

Value: this place is pretty expensive, but the quality you get is well worth it. Wonderful selection of beers in proper glassware, good food and atmosphere. This place was so good, I had to visit twice. Dinner one night and brunch the very next morning.

03-25-2006 03:36:13 | More by dauss

rjp217

Massachusetts

4.89/5  rDev +10.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$$

Absolutely my favorite bar/eatery in the Boston area. You get an absolutely amazing selection at this place, rare beers you won't typically find in this area. I went the other night and on draft they have several offerings from The Bruery, Three Floyd's Angel Dust, and Founders Doom. You're just not going to find this stuff anywhere else in New England. Their bottle selection is amazing as well. These guys do it right at the Publick House.

It can get jammed on a Friday or Saturday night so you'll have to get their early to land a table but it's a fairly large place. The food is awesome. I had the Steak Frites and for $21 you won't find a better steak in the area.

Although the overall draft, bottle, and food menu is a tad pricey, you get what you pay for and that's great quality. If i were to recommend any BA person to a spot in the Boston area, this would be it, well done!

05-09-2013 12:50:17 | More by rjp217

HerdNo1

West Virginia

4.8/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.25 | $$$

Well, you do get what you pay for. If you want world class beers, especially in a major city, you're not going to get it at $4 a pint. Considering that I recently spent about six buck for a bottle of St. Bernardus abt 12, I don't feel terribly bad about spend $10 for a big frothy chalice of the stuff on tap. And oh what taps.

If what you want is a bar with 175 taps, most of it standard stuff, this isn't it. Instead, they have opted for quality brews and fewer taps. That's not to say the selection is insufficient. They have about 20 or so beers on tap and another 20 or so in bottles. The difference is that all of the beers are top of the line. I had The Bruery Mischief, a Celebrator Dopplebock, and an abt 12. Accompanying those was a chicken sandwich with avacado and bacon. I still dropped less than 50 bucks with tip so that wasn't too bad.

Great place to have an excellent beer or three.

04-14-2013 02:30:38 | More by HerdNo1

GiantCogs

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -10.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

I feel very fortunate to have this restaurant down the street from my apartment. I feel like a lot of beer pubs try and try, but this is the gold standard. Almost the gold the standard.

The food is delicious. I usually get the meatloaf or the fish and chips because is my usual go to. Cheese platter is worth it.

The beer selection is why the place is famous. I always ask for what's new and different, cause I'm not rolling into this place to drink Duvel. Nah, man. I want your freaky deeky stuff. I exclusively order from the belgian and german menues, but they represent with good selection of american brews too. But that's not why you're coming here.

My warning (instead of criticism), it's on the pricey side. You get what you pay for.

My criticism is the service. I have twice been forgotten, left waiting in plain sight. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, well, shucks, the beer is too good.

I don't even know why I posted this review. I feel dirty. Nothing is worse then yelp reviewers. Nit picky, whiney, little jerks. I look forward to your reviews of the different quadrants and corners of hell. Have I become one of them? I need to shower.

04-06-2013 11:33:32 | More by GiantCogs

shigg85

Japan

4.71/5  rDev +6.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$$

Outstanding, outstanding bar for both food and drinks. The mac & cheese and the frites are beyond delicious -- out of the galaxy good! The drinks are always amazing with a wonderful Belgian selection, always stocked with Allagash on tap, and a few other options including some good ciders for your non-beering friends. Big bottle selection, too, with some rarities on there if you're willing to pay for it. Pretty convenient parking with meters outside although they are always full (and you can occasionally snag some free street parking). One of the best bars i've ever been to (minus the often crazy-crowded and loud conditions -- get there by 5pm for any decent chance at getting a seat!)

03-28-2013 21:49:52 | More by shigg85

PatriotsRule

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -27.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 1.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$$

Pretty nice looking establishment, and I was excited to hear how highly reviewed The Publick House is. With two friends on a Saturday night, we were able to get a table in a dimly lit back section of the dining area relatively quickly. The bars looked beautiful, and a pretty waitress gave us menus and let us know that the nitro taps were out of order early on in the meal. We perused the beer menus and food menus, and there is quite an extensive Belgian beer selection. My only qualm with the beers available are the lacking local craft brews, but Pretty Things was represented and a Berkshire was on the menu. Service was okay. Our waitress seemed to be struggling with juggling tables, and checked sparsely up on us. Another waiter delivered us our beers, decently poured in nice glassware, but he had a sour attitude. My good friend and love of my life found him to be extremely rude. The bar was not too loud, and I do like the lack of television screens in the diner section we sat down in. Food took its time in coming, although my Ommegang Hennepin Saison entertained me in the mean time... I ordered a chicken sandwich, with avocado and bacon and lettuce. It was good. Fish and chips were alright as well. The food was all quite expensive, and I know the beers are rare in many cases here, but they too ran quite a bill. Ended up getting an eight dollar brew. I was not crazy disappointed here, but my beautiful lady friend was appalled with the service. This being said, since it is so convenient in the haht of the brook, I will probably give it anotha try.

12-24-2012 16:21:48 | More by PatriotsRule

weonfire

Kentucky

4.88/5  rDev +10.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$$

I lived in Cleveland Circle and made the half mile walk many many times. If you like beer, amazing beer - you have found your haven. Wide selection of Belgians. Servers are very knowledgable. I always appreciate matching beers with exact glasses. They are money. Food is excellent and fair priced- as far as Boston standards I would even say it is underpriced. Beer may be a bit expensive - but if you think you're gonna find standard beers here, no need to stop in...the quality is WELL worth every penny. One of the top places to go in all of Boston. FACT.

12-06-2012 00:53:49 | More by weonfire

freeboson

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +12.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5 | $$

This place is absolutely fantastic. I have lived in washington square for a few years, and my girlfriend and I have come here for dinner hundreds of times. The beer selection is large, and of a very high quality. Not nearly as large as say, Sunset in Allston, but this place is so much better. Specifically, if you cannot find a beer that you truly love and enjoy here, then you lead a very sad life (assuming you wanted to drink beer). The food here is really quite fantastic. They have excellent fish and chips since they changed the batter a year or two ago. The burger is also very good. Also, you have got to try the wings they offer as a starter. They are baked, not deep-fried, and truly fantastic.

05-25-2012 19:59:38 | More by freeboson

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $$

simply put, phenomenal beer bar - easily among the region's royalty when it comes to beer locales - especially if you're into belgians as the selection is heavy into belgian / belgian-styled beers, trappistes through belgian blondes and saisons. and while the belgian angle is up my alley they also have a wide range of american craft - imperial stouts; IPAs/DIPAs; porters; brown, scottish and pale ales, etc., etc.; both on the well-appointed bottle list and from their rotating tap offerings. there are a few from the local scene and a couple obligatory (actually called on their menu) lawnmower beers. a relaxed, chill vibe makes for a nice atmosphere.

last night had a malheur 12, uthel samaranth, and rochefort 10 (bottles), all served in appropriate glassware. a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for; this is, after all, good beer we're talking about. our bartender was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. (disclaimer: can't speak much for the food as i've only ever only noshed on fries, which do have a really tastey dipping sauce.) bottom line: publick house is a definite must-try for any craft beer fan; for out-of-towners/tourists, it's worth the short trip from downtown boston (i'd recommend jumping on the green line/C line - washington sq stop).

original review on: 07-19-2010

05-16-2012 16:46:10 | More by BostonHops

brureview

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +4.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$$

Yes- this is one of the best places to drink craft beer in Boston. It has an extensive beer list with great selection: Belgians, tripels, quads, et al.

The staff is very informative- they know beer, and it's interesting to compare notes about what they think of different beers on the menu.

I only ate an appetizer, which was cut fries with excellent side sauces.

The vibe was good- but the Publick house doesn't have the funk factor of bars in Somerville and Cambridge.

The beer selection rules: this is one of best places in the Boston area for craft beer drinkers.

04-18-2012 12:55:45 | More by brureview