The Publick House

Cool vibe, beer/spirits knowledgeable waitstaff and a nice menu. We had eaten but needed a snack with our drinks so we had an appetizer (Monk's Frites) which was (way more than) big enough for our table of three. And a dessert - a special - strawberry shortcake which was the size of a dinner plate (picture doesn't do it justice), homemade flakey biscuits, whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Ken, our server, even knew of our passion for Belgian beer and was able to advise, great guy!

Great place. Parking is a bit tight so perhaps grab a Lyft. Food was superb and the portion sizes were massive. Great value. So many great beers as well. Cozy atmosphere too. Take a chance in this place you will be happy you did.

Another great meal at public house after waiting an hour for a table nearby. Walked right in and were seated, service was friendly and prompt as always, food was delicious and reasonably priced also as always. Love this spot!

Method: Dine inItem(s) ordered: frites, mushroom risotto, Fiddlehead IPAThe short answer: a great place for drinks, not a bad food option but there are certainly better places nearby.The long answer: Gave Publick House another shot. I had a Fiddlehead IPA (highly recommend, in general). I also had the mushroom risotto, which felt wholesome and nutritious but low on flavor. The frites were barely crunchy and most were floppy/not crunchy. I ate them anyway because they tasted good and I was hungry. Overall the vibes were pretty nice and the staff was so welcoming, patient, and kind. Perhaps food-wise it's not incredible, but the (nicer than usual) pub experience is there.

We went here on a Fri night at about 6:45, they were too crowded with a 45 min. wait as is typical in the area. They do take reservations, but we just got into town for a visit and did not have time to make one. We returned the next day for lunch between 11:30-12:30. They had good business, but there was no wait and we got seated immediately. There is street parking in the area. Some days and hours are free (check the meters and posted signs). At other times, download the "Passport" parking app and get the zone and space number from the meter for the easiest payment method.Some of the seating in the restaurant is ridiculously too close. They initially tried to sit us at an open table between two other tables. The chairs were so close together that we couldn't even pull them out to get in. We immediately asked to be seated elsewhere and the hostess moved us with no problem. Although they were very nice about it, they should have had the common sense to know that no one could get in there without asking the people at the other tables to move their whole tables over.We were helped by three people on our visit. Two of them were very nice and the third, only became nicer after the tip was received. That third person did not check back on us and did not offer to refill our drinks--we repeatedly had to ask. Further, this third person messed up part of our order. We did not complain and just ate what we were served. We got several menu items with various levels of quality. The rubbed wings (also came with siracha wings mixed in and the wrong sauces, apparently because the server or kitchen messed up) were excellent. The side dish of broccolini was very good. The chicken sandwich was pretty dry and just ok, but the fries that came with it were excellent. The beef stroganoff was really bad. The sauce flavor was awful, the noodles cooked poorly, and the meat quality poor. The frozen dinner version of beef stroganoff at the market is better. Due to our mixed experience, the 4-star average on Yelp is probably about right. Unfortunately, we did not get to try their selection of ales, etc. on this visit and this may raise their rating. We would give these guys another try and would recommend you at least give them a try one time too.

Full disclosure, I did not eat here. That said, this is one of the best beer menus in the country. Not county - country. I suppose it leans Belgian, and therefore I may be a bit partial, to be fair. However, there were beers on their menu that I haven't seen since I was in Bruges.

The Publick house is a classic, really good bar food spot in Brookline. Incredible drink menu and such a fun place to eat either inside or out. I used to order the Brendoni 2.0 and that was my favorite, but they haven't had it on the menu in years. The moules frites are fantastic, the spice rub chicken wings are to die for, and the burgers and sandwiches are good. I also really like the fish n chips. This spot honestly leans more 4.5 to me, but it's a great local place with good drinks, eats, and service running the show.

After an eventful Saturday afternoon, I decided to wind down at The Publick House for early dinner. Arriving at 5 pm, I initially encountered a small line, which was for table seating. Since I arrived alone, I bypassed the line and took a seat directly at the bar. For food, I decided on the fish & chips ($24). The fish itself seemed flaky, neither dry nor overdone. The breading seemed a touch firm, but I chalked that up to personal preference. The accompanying coleslaw arrived lightly dressed, allowing the crisp freshness of the vegetables to carry the palate. The dressing still carried a light tang, but without the acerbic finish or obscene oily finish found in prototypically American coleslaws.Fries seemed of the traditional cut, not shoestring or steak. They seemed liberally seasoned with salt and were not over-crisped. Overall, I was satisfied with this meal. While $24 is not cheap, I think it is an acceptable price point given the area and execution.

Great place with an extensive menu. Variety and atmosphere is wonderful. I highly recommend and can't wait to go back

The beer list is super interesting and the food and service were very good. I'd definitely go back.