I really wanted to like this place. It's in a cool part of town. The ambiance is excellent and the food is quite good. We had pizza and salads and they were both delicious. The reason it doesn't get a better rating was due to our service and the beer selection. We were there on a weekday lunch and the service was pretty bad. Not rude. Not gross. We just didn't get attention despite the place not being that busy. We were traveling with children and have a limited time to sit still. Thus, waiting to pay, or for plates, or for refills is extra aggravating. Also, the beer selection is a little too eclectic. I like odd beers. I like to try new beers and local beers, but Public's draft selection left me confused. The beers were almost all too crazy with no purpose. I'd expect some of those beers on a draft line with 20 taps when the other 12 taps are good, solid performers. But only 8 taps and they're almost all fringe beers? It's too much. Throw in a Sam Adams. Don't make me choose between cherry porter or peach Belgian. Perhaps we caught the line up in transition. But it was a disappointment to me. With that said, if we're going through Wichita again, we will stop here. The food is delicious and I will give it another shot.
(3)
Bill T.
Food was very good and it was definitely the trendy place to be but I found the ambiance to be quite loud which made it difficult to carry on a conversation with our dining guests.
(3)
Jennifer A.
Food was excellent but the service was iffy.
(4)
Jeff H.
The food was very good! The restaurant is really unique as well. In the basement of the Brickyard. The Banh Mi and brisket tacos were both excellent!
(4)
Gabe C.
I'm from St. Louis, spent 2 years in a dining club that visited and rated locally owned, fresh, innovative and bizarre ideas in the culinary industry. First off, I am always looking for fresh, local fare. I love new places and especially enjoyed the atmosphere at Public. I normally don't like corn tortilla tacos but the flavor of their brisket tacos was amazing. I sub'd the black beans for the sweet potato fries and they were awesome. Great beers on tap and the bartender made me a fantastic margarita as I was craving something besides beer when I arrived. The Royals should have been on every TV though.
(4)
Jc R.
Both of the dishes I have had were excellent. It's a great place to go on the weekend with live music. Service is also great.
(5)
Jessica L.
Cool atmosphere. Nice having a farm to table option when visiting Wichita. I had a good salad with an appetizer. The dinner specials all sounded good though. Neat warehouse area.
(4)
Cory S.
Solid place to grab a bite to eat, but it was dead (it was a Tuesday I believe). The bartender and GM were super friendly and chatted with me while I had a couple beers and drank. They had a happy hour beer special that went until 7pm and was I believe $2 draft of something. Regardless, it was a good beer for a good price. I had the brisket tacos and they hit the spot. The meet had good flavor and was cooked well. They had some hot sauce to toss on them if you wanted a bit of spice, which I did. Definitely a spot I'll add to my go-to dinner list when I'm in town.
Great food from local farms. We love the bison burger sliders and their drinks are delish. I also love the feel of this place. Definitely one of Wichita's hidden gems!
(5)
Mazen S.
Best place in wichita hands down Went to my wife bday were party of 10 and all of us were extremely impressed . Food amazing and wonderful staff . For sure will be back and very soon :)
(5)
Long B.
One of my favorite spots in Oldtown..... PUBLIC! This place is built in and next door to the Brickyard and is located in the basement area when you walk in. Inside is something you wouldn't expect as there isn't much to look at from the outside. Actually it's very easy to walk past and never see it. Inside has a modern and chill environment to it. They use the space which is very rectangular to begin with very well. I just came here with a friend for a few brews and some good dinner. TIP if you're reading this on your mobile phone, buy the $10 for $20 voucher. It'll save you some moola, while being able to not restrict yourself of what's on the menu to try. Their menu is best described as diverse. There is a different range of foods that are American, Tex-Mex, Vietnamese and a few other fusions. The menu itself is very small and has a few choice. Which ever one you do get, you'll be in for a treat. I had their Cuban sandwich which was damn! So flavorful with large pieces of pork in melted cheese with a homemade Ciabatta bread bun. Served with sliced crispy potato chips. All this food for under $10. Their beer menu is excellent, so if you're a beer snob, you will like the choices they offer. Only complaint is they are a bit pricey but delicious. Come here a few times and try their different menu items they have to offer. I promise you will like it.
(5)
Michael G.
Great beer selection and prairie sliders for the win!!
(5)
Jimmy P.
This place is really nice. Prob one of downtown Wichita's best kept secrets. Really good crew, nice underground environment. This place is perfect for a date or a night out. Good food, great service, and very clean.
(4)
Jack D.
Hipster paradise but no hipsters to be found. I had the brisket tacos. Awesome. I gave 3 stars mainly for service. Awesome food. Awesome beer. Awesome decor. Wait staff not so happy. I thought I was a nascar driver because they were rushing us. One wait staff member came into work crying. Use a personal day next time. I will go back for food but I will sit at the bar. Boo hoo
(3)
Jenny H.
LOVE this place at night, but I have to admit the brunch could use some TLC. NIGHT-TIME REVIEW: Service is always down-to-earth, knowledgeable, and friendly. Great selections and great inside atmosphere. If you're wanting to get the old town vibe and people watch, but not be shoulder-to-shoulder in a loud atmosphere, this is the perfect place to be. Enjoyed many nights chatting over wine or whiskey with friends, enjoying some calmer music in the background. Highly recommend! But skip the brunch--for now. BRUNCH REVIEW: The bacon was overcooked, grits were bland (as a Southern girl, I'm probably a bit more of a stickler on this), and eggs were okay. It wasn't terrible, but I def could've whipped up better food in my kitchen. Nothing to write home about.
(4)
Evan J.
Great food and great drinks. I had the brisket tacos and she had chicken and waffles. The food was so good we stopped talking and just enjoyed.
(5)
Christy O.
I've only been to Public for their brunch and only three or four times, but every experience was a good one. The food has a simplicity to it, but every bite is delicious since you can tell they go out of their way to use fresh, quality ingredients. The last time I was there, I had an egg scramble with goat cheese and they catered to the fact that I didn't want carbs and gave me a decent amount of fruit instead of bread. They didn't skimp on anything. It was perfect especially for how demanding I felt I was being with changing a special. The customer service is friendly, the atmosphere is charming, and the prices are fair. Tip your servers well!
(5)
Flight C.
Great food and good service. Loved the "wooden nickel Sunday" deal. Definitely a place to visit and come back. The wings were amazing having been smoked before fried and tossed in a delicious BBQ sauce. The house salad was also delicious with the mixed greens, dried cherries, walnuts, and goat cheese.
(5)
Huckleberry F.
My wife and I stopped in here on a weeknight and we were pleasantly surprised. I had a Cuban sandwich, and though they seemed to take some liberties with the ingredients, it was tasty. The Yoder salami was a interesting addition. My wife had the brisket tacos and they were even better. Service was friendly and prompt, and atmosphere was great. I can see it getting awfully loud on a weekend night.
(4)
Emry W.
There are two sides to every story, and two sides to this review. The atmosphere was absolutely breathtaking. It is a fantastic mix of modern and rustic. It's the ultimate bar with open space, couches and a large selection of grade A beer. The downfall you ask? The food. It is absolutely bland. I ordered the special of the day- fish tacos. There were 3 beer battered cod strips that tasted like air and grease. My boyfriend ordered the brisket tacos that didn't have much flavor. Luckily I got a side of sweet potato fries that saved my meal (you can't really mess those up). Lastly, the prices were way to high for the quality and quantity of food. While it was presented beautifully, Public should definitely focus on being a pub and not a restaurant. I bought the 10$ for 20$ deal, I only wish I would have spent it on alcohol instead.
(2)
miguel l.
No. Go elsewhere. Yet another Wichita attempt at being one with the crowd. Tasteless. The servers were nice though. Wichita patrons downtown always yell at each other across the table - why?
(1)
Brian G.
This place has the best brunch in Wichita that you've never heard of. The good thing is that is changing. I'm an Old Town local so I can and do walk down. But I would drive miles to get here for their brunch menu. Here's my faves from the last five weeks. The chicken leek biscuits and gravy is outstanding. Travis the owner and chef says he makes a mean biscuit and he's right. If they are offering the corned beef hash you have to try it. They throw in Brussels, potatoes, and other goodness. The asparagus and goat cheese scramble. Yes please. The pancakes with the banana topping. Don't even think about not getting one. Farm to fork is rare in ICT -- and Public has it nailed down. Guarantee you'll love it.
(5)
Mike B.
I literally loved everything about this place. The decor, music, staff, and food were all very appealing. Bison sliders... Holy balls those are good. And I never get dessert anywhere, however my co worker ordered bananas foster over a lightly fried angel cake and it was AMAZING!
(5)
Sarah K.
Glad to have a new place to stop at while traveling through Wichita that has both a solid menu and craft beer selection. At the waitress' recommendation, we tried all the local favorites. Between four of us we had the house fries, brisket tacos, sliders, shrimp and grits (on special) and a house salad. All the food was great and in my opinion the fries and tacos stole the show. Seriously, how do you get fries to taste like that? The texture was perfect (sturdy outside soft in the middle) and the seasoning coupled with the moreish dipping sauces gave them a gourmet complexity. I know, they're just fries...but they are seriously some of the best I've ever had. The brisket on the tacos was cooked perfectly (which is not easy to do, as those of us BBQ-ers know). Less is more with these tacos. They're simple on their own but the salsa-ish sauce and fresh sour cream really set them off. We had the chance to speak with the owners and the man behind the beers. It's clear they like making people happy and are passionate about food, as well as about supporting Wichita's local scene and sourcing quality beers. Looking forward to stopping back through Wichita again for more!
(5)
Stephanie K.
3 star is based off the food. Everything I've had here is extemly bland, but I've only ever had their dinner service. The staff is friendly, I love the location and interior, just there dinner menu is nothing special. Worst restaurant I've eaten at downtown.
(3)
King S.
Fantastic! Great food, fun metro atmosphere. We liked the off-the-menu fare. Nice, man-sized ribs. We will be back.
(4)
Kate B.
When I first moved here a year ago from Atlanta, I was pleasantly surprised to find a place like Public. You can tell that they make a big effort to use locally sourced ingredients for their dishes. The house fries with garlic and rosemary are genius! If you go for dinner- you MUST get the salmon with turnip fries. They are known for their pickles so give those a try too. The only thing is- it's kind of hard to find... but it's worth the hunt.
(5)
Mark W.
Very neat place on old town. Wife had scallops, they were very good. My sliders were just ok, fries were soggy. Cauliflower appetizer was excellent, chicken wings were bland Would go back next time I am in Wichita.
Not impressed. We were one of 3 tables when we came in and it took far too long to get our food. Then, they left out one meal, did not check on our table, and did not even offer a discount for the horrible service. I had to chase down our server to get the final plate of food, by that time everyone else was almost finished eating. I had high school girls with me and they complained the portions were too small. We will not be returning.
(1)
K R.
Our first time here was a Friday night. Good food and service. Unique style and location. I loved the mason jar glasses for water and the beer selection was diverse. We had the pickle appetizer platter. It was really good but would have benefitted from a stoneground mustard relish and an extra slice of cheese to have one for each baguette slice. My husband had the pasta special with shrimp and a pesto cream sauce. He said it was good but could have had a little more kick. I had the chicken alfredo and vegetable pizza special. It was really big and I have leftovers. It was very good, but the crust reminded me of Pizza Hut breadsticks, which was odd. Our dessert was the apple crumble with vanilla ice cream. It was awesome. With the Yelp deal, our total was $25. We will definitely be coming back. --- Don't forget to play shuffleboard in the back!
(5)
Tom C.
This place is great for craft beer and tasty pub food. They take "pub food" to the next level with fresh ingredients that is prepared well. The beer menu has a great selection of quality crafts at a price that is better than almost any other spot I've been to. The ambiance is open and laid back. When I come back to Witchita I will be sure to stop in for a brew
(4)
Sidney H.
The food and the service didn't match the decor and the atmosphere. The two beef sliders were okay. Three would've been better. My friend had the Cuban sandwich with the three smallish medallions of pork. He wasn't impressed with the sandwich. He also didn't like the way the servers were dressed. The server gave us our lunch totals and never came back. So we had to go up to the counter to pay for our meals. The place looked very cool with it's modern/rustic decor. But the food was underwhelming.
(2)
Laurel S.
I'd really like to give this about 3.5 stars. It is a funky little place in a neat part of Wichita and the food is pretty good. The downside is a very limited menu. I had the Uncle Jessy pizza and I thought it was really good. My daughters had the brisket tacos (which were only so-so) and the bahn mi which was pretty good. The fries were pretty weak, not crispy at all.
(3)
Jessica M.
Wonderful restaurant with a wide array of options. My favorite drink is the Lavender Lemonata and I love the Prarie Sliders and the Brisket Tacos. This place has a great atmosphere and is close to a lot of great places in Old town. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Caitlyn S.
This place is such a nice surprise for Wichita. The menu isn't too expansive, but it's filled with yummy recipes using local ingredients. The beer selection is great, and when we last visited, we got some awesome local-ish craft brews for $2. Our first visit was on New Year's Eve with a rather large party. The service was slowwww, which was to be expected. I got sufficiently buzzed before my meal came due to an empty stomach! I shared the pickle plate with some friends, and although they were delicious, it was a pretty small amount of appetizer. I also had the brie-nini which was AMAZING. Like, so good. I can't even tell you. The next visit was on Valentine's Day. V Day is notoriously a bad time to go out to dinner, but we got right in and were waited on immediately. This was the night we got the $2 brews. They had a nice little special with a few courses, but we chose right off the menu instead. We shared the fries, which are awesome, and I had the veggie pizza. The pizza had a wonderful flavor, and huge pieces of veggies all over it. Veggie pizza can get a bit tired after having it so many places, but this one was such a nice change. I'm writing this review months after having it, but I think it says a lot that I can remember exactly how it tasted! Wichita needs more places like this!
(5)
Hannah H.
This is probably one of my favorite places to eat in Wichita. When the parents come to town, we always go here. Something for everyone! The sliders are little bison balls of magic and don't leave without trying the sweet potato fries with a side of honey mustard dressing! Good service, good drinks, great atmosphere. The patio is gorgeous!
(5)
Brad S.
Some people think the role of a reviewer should be solely one of a champion, bringing attention to the good places, and letting the chaff fall away based on their own misgivings. And while I do not share that opinion (my review for El Rodeo should be proof of that), I'd still much rather give a positive review than a negative one. After my first review of Public, the owners messaged me, apologized for some of the sticking points from my first visit, and urged me to give them another chance. They handled the criticism properly, and I was happy to oblige... eventually. It turns out that one of my last reviews of 2013 was also one of my first. Over the past eleven months almost every sticking point in my original review has been addressed: -The beer selection has improved dramatically, offering a wider variety of big, interesting beers on tap and a curated bottle list. $8 for a 750ml bottle of Boulevard's Reverb pilsner is a steal, and they have all the recent Lips of Faith bottles from New Belgium. -Service was much nicer, but I also went for a table this time rather than taking my chances at the bar. I've never been under the impression that whatever issues I might have had last time were anything other than a fluke chalked up to the human condition, anyway. -Sweet baby Jesus, the golden fries are perfect in a way that I have come across maybe twice before in this city. Crispy exterior, fluffy interior, not too greasy, and seasoned very well with salt and a few other herbs and spices. You could stack them in a fancy paper cone, call them Belgian frites, and charge an extra dollar more. I could have eaten nothing but them for my entire meal, and next time I might very well consider doing that... -...because I still have an issue with the sandwiches. This time it was the Cuban. The pork tenderloin was browned well and had a decent amount of moisture; the Swiss cheese was brought to the party; the Yoder salami, while not always found on a Cuban, is still in the right wheelhouse, even if this particular brand was too mild to stand up to the other ingredients. The sandwich started to fall apart when you consider the other ingredients: sweet and sour pickles, chipotle aioli, and a Ciabatta roll. On their own, each of these ingredients were quite good. Put them together, and they so fundamentally change the flavor profile of the sandwich that to call it a Cuban sandwich is to misunderstand what makes that sandwich great. A cuban is all about the salty meats and melty cheese, sure, but as a means to play against the sour pickles and mustard. And it absolutely, positively needs to be pressed, whether on a plancha or panini press or with a heavy pan on the flat top. Attempting to swap out an ingredient here or there to make it your own is all well and good, but it's so altered here that it's not worth the nomenclature. Just call it a roast pork sandwich - everything doesn't need to be something. The bahn mi is another example. A "bahn mi" is a reserved term for a certain family of Vietnamese sandwiches. Putting smoked pork shoulder on there is a little departure, but I'd allow it. Put Yum Yum sauce - that pink sauce you find at hibachis - and miso aioli on it, however, and we've got a problem. Inviting no vegetation other than peppers and cilantro means that the sandwich has strayed so far from the concept of a bahn mi that the use of the term does not reflect on Public very well. More examples? The Margherita has capers on it. Hey, one ingredient - not such a big deal, except that the construction and ingredients of a pizza margherita is so strictly defined in Italy that the usage of the term has a protected status governing its use. It's a pizza that's notoriously traditional, so why bring attention to the fact that you're bucking tradition? And we end where we started, back at the prairie sliders. The menu still doesn't indicate that these are bison sliders, which would buy them so much extra slack from people who are not expecting their burgers to be so lean. I personally think it's a mistake to ever put bison on a regular restaurant menu, but it got them a spot on the Travel Channel, so we're stuck with it now. They do have beef burgers on special from time to time, and I'm excited to try one. Along with my Cuban and fries, I got an extra side order of haricot verts. The plentiful portion of nicely-organized thin green beans were cooked excellently and tossed with a little bit of truffle oil and balsamic vinegar. I would definitely eat them again, though I'm not giving up those fries, either. It comes back to the G-word: Is Public a gastropub? I'm certainly closer to thinking so, though it's taking into account the beer dinners, some interesting-looking specials, and those wonderful fries. Their day-to-day menu, on the other hand, takes some pretty big leaps that they haven't proven they can make. In the end it shouldn't matter if the food's good, and for the most part, it is, but it could be better.
(4)
Brian K.
We try our best to support local businesses and will give them way more chances to redeem themselves than we would a chain restaurant. I really had high hopes for this place. Unfortunately, over the last 6 months to a year the service and quality has dramatically decreased. The final straw, so to speak, was this past Friday. When we arrived we were told there would be a 20 minute wait despite the fact that less than half of available seating was occupied. True to their word we were seated in 20 minutes. Our waitress was friendly and took our drink order right away. After about 10 minutes we received our drinks and were able to order. This was about as good as it got and the rest of our visit was nothing short of suck-town. It took no less than 50 minutes for us to get our food and the entire time we waited the manager made sure to avoid any eye contact. Our friendly waitress returned once to see if we wanted another drink but sensing our annoyance she did not return until the food was ready. We were not the only ones with this problem as I overheard one group and a couple couples complaining none too quietly about the poor service. Perhaps the entire kitchen staff quit that afternoon, I don't know, but whatever the excuse it should have been communicated to us by the manager. We will not be returning to this business and at the rate they're going they will likely be closed down soon.
(1)
Adam R.
Their sliders have. An express rub that is can't miss. Good food and prices, with quite a few interesting beers on tap in an interesting venue leads to one of the best restaurants in town.
(5)
Reed N.
Absolutely my kind of place. Dive down a loading ramp in the old market district into a brick courtyard-like receiving area. Two empty stages greet you in the rain. You have to look HARD to know what door to use to get inside. Once inside it is loft-ish yet cozy. Good beers on tap... I had one of the Lips of Faith series from New Belgium... just awesome. I had wings with an otherworldly BBQ sauce... tender and delicious. And sliders that were pretty darn good. I will definitely be back here when it is warm and I can sit outside.
(4)
Lloyd G.
I visited this place tonight based on Yelp reviews and was not disappointed. I only had the burger and fries but it was the best I've had in Wichita after 30+ business trips here!
(5)
Jackie O.
Good food ! Great selection of beer and mixed drinks .... Friendly staff and awesome environment .... They put details in their dishes and bring it to a whole new level !
(4)
Rich W.
Best hummus plate I have ever had. Cuban sandwich had a really nice flavor but it would have been even nicer if the meat was more tender. The Banh Mi sandwich had a unique American style twist that wad enjoyable. But I give this place five stars because of two main reasons. The first reason is the service. We brought our 2 year old despite Yelp saying the place is not kid friendly. Ya, it's not a place you regularly hit up because of kid menu that they can draw on. But they have high chairs and they brought out some fruit for him with our appetizers. I don't know if they always do this, but bravo! Second reason, this is the type of place that you bring an out-of-town guest to experience something unique to Wichita. Forget the chain restaurants!
(5)
Torin A.
Great atmosphere. Great staff. Great concept. Local-vore (very much dislike that word) kinda thing going on. Pizza-pies, sliders, sandwiches, appetizers. Live music on the weekends and sometimes weeknights. Check out the smoked chicken pot pie if you see it on special. oh cool, I read the other reviews and found a new word I very much dislike...gastropub
(5)
Ryan C.
DA Bomb! Went and saw a bluegrass concert there after a perfect dinner, tasty good times. Our little entourage is still talking about that weekend.
(5)
Kirk C.
Great pub atmosphere. The sliders spot on fries need to be blanched but tasty. Could use a few more tap selections.
(4)
Diane M.
Great food, great beer, great service! We will definitely return. Brooke and Travis have a good thing here!
(5)
Andrew C.
The food here is great. They need to have another server at lunch - we waited a long time to get our food and then to get our checks.
(3)
Jessalynn S.
I'm not going to lie - Public was about the last place I expected to find in a town like Wichita. It was only half-full when we went for dinner on a Thursday night and I was shocked - in Cincinnati, a place like that would be packed all week long. I found the beer menu to be excellent, as were my sliders. The service was attentive, if a little rushed. But really, the prices here seal the deal on Public. You'd pay nearly twice as much for this food in a place like DC or NYC. Public is definite a diamond in the rough.
If you have not visited this unique venue, you're missing out. Public is located on Rock Island right next to the Brickyard. I love the sunken room, and the atmosphere it creates. Don't let the crowd or the location intimidate you. This place is not just for hipsters. The first time I visited was for a Tweet Up. They were more than willing to accommodate us. The service was rather slow, but I put if off to being newly opened. I tried a signature drink, the lavender lemonata, which I didn't actually care for much. I found the lavender to be very over powering, but I can't wait to try all the other drinks on the menu. They had an awesome happy special going on draft beer, with a nice selection of imports. Food is the number one reason I come here. I had the house pickles appetizer. This consisted of house made pickles, more sweet than dill, horseradish cheddar, thin sliced salami (not sure on the type of meat), and fresh, local bread. I also tried the slider, which were juicy, perfectly cooked, and flavorful. The rosemary garlic fries that came on the side were amazing, crispy, and topped with a plentiful heap of fresh garlic (spicy)! I've also been for a brunch service. The special of the day was corned beef hash with poached eggs. While I loved the hash, the eggs weren't poached very well. One was hard poached and one was semi hard, semi runny. Its paired with hearty wheat bread (from Delano Bread Company) and homemade jam (I think it was raspberry). We also enjoyed $5 mimosas, but I'll be trying the bloody mary very soon. This is one of my Top 5 restaurants in Wichita right now. Stop what you are doing right now, and go to Public. Support the local restaurants!
(5)
Big Baby Jesus C.
Down, and to the left. That's what you need to do once you order the building's front door to find the place. It's in a nice old building. The food was very good, but I can't comment on the drinks and such because my stomach was being a bitch.
(4)
Tiffany T.
Cool location. Was unhappy with my food. Service was slow. I'll probably give it one more chance..
(2)
Chris H.
Took an hour to get our food. We got an excuse when we complained. Would have worked better if we hadn't over heard the server say he forgot to turn in our order. The food is OK and I really wanted to like it. Servers are friendly. At 5:30 when everyone is piling into Morts or Heros, Publis was almost empty. That told us a lot. The owner never followed through with her promise to add more vegetarian dishes to the menu, in face they took off the grilled cheese and tomato soup that my wife had ordered a couple times. Really wanted to like the place, but after the last visit I'm done.
(2)
Ryan G.
I'm so happy to see a place like Public open in Old Town, it is exactly what the neighborhood needs. My wife and I had dinner there the other night before heading to an event at Intrust Arena and I was pleased to see the reviews online matched the quality and service of this great addition to Wichita. Our server was fantastic, the atmosphere is relaxed, the beers were crafty, and the food was delicious. We have already begun plotting our return and who we want to bring with us. I've given Public 4 stars which may beg the question what could it do to be 5 stars? To clarify I think it is 5 stars at what it is, a relaxed gastropub where you can get great food while supporting local businesses, not a 5 star restaurant with fine dinning. Though currently in its infant stages, Public is absolutely knocking it out of the park and in order to continue doing so needs Wichita to come down and try it out. Once you go you will want to come back again and again. Old Town is lucky to have a business like this and I can't wait to go back with friends and family for more delicious fun. I highly recommend. 5 stars service 5 stars atmosphere 5 stars food and specials
(4)
Mike M.
Great food, beer and service. We have been searching for a laid back restaurant with great food, and we've found one in Public. Perfectly cooked scallops, homemade pickles, and a really good craft beer selection. Can't wait to go back.
I love the location and the feel of the restaurant. A one page menu of great food makes it easy to choose what I want.
(5)
Spencer B.
Good luck finding the place! I discovered Public only after failing to find two other highly-rated yelp options but I was not disappointed. California portions of tasty morsels are complimented by a wide array of intelligently designed specialty cocktails, and all are very reasonably priced. I agree that "gastropub" is a misnomer by the true definition, but that's no reason to overlook this solid "A for effort" eatery. The restaurant desires to meld tastes and palates, a mission that they accomplish quite well, in fact. Find traditional Midwest comfort foods offered alongside the a more exotic curried vegetable stew, for example. Public is trying very hard to differentiate themselves ... maybe a tiny bit too hard ... but they'll appeal to an array of tastes. Decor is tasteful but the sexy low wattage bulbs in mason jars that imply an intimate, hipster setting conflict with the feeling that they pull the tables in at 10PM and turn the place into a traditional bar. I'd return for a second dinner any time. One word of caution for a visitor to Wichita, keep the drinking to a minimum. I learned from a local that the cops set up shop in this section of the city with DUI checkpoints.
(4)
Chris A.
Absolutely love this place. Great atmosphere and incredible food! Make sure you try the sweet potato fries, very good.
(5)
Kerry W.
This place is amazing. The environment and decor is wonderful, you can definitely tell how much work the owners have put into it. The food is beyond astounding. The ribs and chicken wings are my favorites. The cooks do a great job down to the finest detail. The butter should be on the side of everything. Strongly recommended!
(5)
Jonathan W.
Really enjoy the food and the atmosphere at Public. Good selection of beers and they make a good cocktail, too. Staff is friendly and knowledgable. Atmosphere is relaxed and contemporary in a cool subterranean space. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)
Shannon S.
This place has a great vibe. Super cool urban, retro, western feel. I like the mason jar lights. They have a shuffle board. House made pickles are great. Food isn't as amazing as other gastro places, but it's cheap and creative. We will definitely be back often. It's good for groups and couples.
(4)
Russell B.
Right away as you walk in (from the bitter cold) the ambiance is warm and inviting. I came in on a quiet Sunday morning for brunch and sat at the bar. Friendly service arrived promptly and started with drink specials. I ordered the beer-mimosa, which was a $4 shandy-type beverage made with OJ. It was refreshing and served at good temperature. The highlight of the experience was the "Steak & Eggs Sandwich." It was amazing. Most notable of the ingredients was a sauce made with chipotle aioli. Normally, I'm not a chipotle sauce kind-of-guy, but this was amazing. Even if everything else about my experience was awful, I would've still given them 5 stars based on this dish. The only caveat was that this was a special, unlisted on the menu. Request it, beg for it, or bribe the waiter because it's worth it.
(5)
Dan R.
This place is great. Good value! They usually have drink specials and lots of good meals. Clean, well lit. Wish they had a pool table. I can see this place becoming a real hit during summer. They have an outdoor patio that has huge potential. Staff is very friendly and owner Drew is frequently on site. Highly recommended. Oh yeah, I got the Yelp deal! Pay $10, get a $20 credit.
(4)
Pam B.
Amazing food, excellent service and fun atmosphere.
(5)
Ernesto C.
the cuban was amazing! the sweet potato fries were not too bad either
(4)
Greg W.
Brisket tacos were excellent. Not a huge portion but only 9 bucks. The $2 beer taps on special were also awesome. Great service and friendly atmosphere. Plus they had wifi!
(4)
Andrew J.
Great vibe and even greater sliders. It's like they slid down a golden slide from the hand of God himself. Drinks and desert are right on par as well. Awesome place and we would definitely return.
(5)
Daniel P.
Wichita needs more places like this. Everything is good and unique... Try the pickles and the bbq pizza.
(5)
Dean W.
Great location, slightly underground. Went with a full table of work colleagues, so we were able to try a variety of things. Service was friendly, but confused...drink orders mixed up and delayed, food orders given to the wrong people. And most annoying of all the servers would walk up to the table and interrupt someone telling a story, without waiting for the right moment to break in. This happened repeatedly. It doesn't help that several servers traded off working our table. The food was good, if not as "gastropub" as we expected. We walked in pretty jazzed up, but there was a definite lull and sense of "oh...." when we all looked at the menus. Think more bar food, not as creative or high end as you expect in a good gastropub. The bison sliders have a million things in them, including ground porcini and espresso, but you wouldn't know from the aioli and onion marmalade which obliterated any other flavors. And after the waitress made a big point about the sliders only being cooked pink, ours arrived well done. So much for that. The appetizers we shared were good, especially the homeade pickles with horseradish cheese and salami. Sweet potato fries on the side were greasy and limp, but obviously hand cut. Desserts were able, if not memorable. Good selection of craft beers on draft. Nice layout of the restaurant, and not too noisy. If the owners read this, please do something about the smell in the restrooms. Could be the basement location, but it was unpleasant.
(3)
Greg A.
On a wintry, dark Tuesday night, Public was a warm and comfortable spot with a good energy. I arrived in time for happy hour (2-7 tues-fri) and was treated to a $2 CRAFT draft. Each night they pick a $2 and $3 draft beer for their happy hour special! That never happens. The food was also great. I had the brisket tacos. All the smoke and texture of a quality brisket in a Mexican street-fare style taco. The rice and beans side was on point as well. Staff was attractive and warm. I understand the high marks that led me to this gem.
Awesome place. First restaurant we tried in Wichita and it hit a home run. We got the Pickle appetizer (pickles made in house) and salads. Everything was extremely fresh and very tasty. I was blown away by the cleanliness... I've never been to a place with beer on tap that didn't even smell remotely like stale beer. The beer selection was great, as well. I'm always into trying new, local(ish) beers and their selection was second to none. Highest recommendation!
(5)
Lyle S.
I have been to Wichita many times recently (and grew up in this area) and was not aware of Public. The on draft list is pretty good--had the Oktoberfest from Lefthand Brewing of Longmont CO--and the food was decent. Service was above average. Food was average, but it was great to have a few vegetarian options. Atmosphere is a solid B. Overall a positive experience.
(4)
Courtney C.
Foods ok. I think its a better place to hang out and drink with friends. Service was fast and friendly.
(3)
Patrick W.
This is a cool place to visit. Great beer selection, both tap and bottle. The menu was full of interesting items. Lots of smoked meat, which is always a plus. I had the brisket tacos, which were great. The rice and beans had no flavor however. Would return next time I am visiting Wichita.
(4)
H B.
Had the Cuban sandwich with sweet potato fries... ¡Que rico!
Almost 5 stars, the pickles were amazing and the house fries were as well! The only downfall were the beans and rice with the brisket tacos (the brisket was very good though).
(4)
RJ W.
My wife and I enjoyed our night at Public tonight. One year ago today we were married here in a very small get together. This place will always be special to us and I hope others can have similar memories! Maybe Brad S. will find someone and give up the relationship with the sound of his own voice :)
(5)
Adam E.
Really enjoyed my visit to Public. They have a nice collection of beers and cocktails and while their menu is same everything looked unique and delicious. I have the brisket tacos and we're very good. I will definitely be taking more trips to Public.
(4)
Wade D.
This is a very cool and intimate spot with great food. Definitely a recommend, and a welcome addition to the Old Town neighborhood.
(5)
Jessica C.
Great food and beer! I love craft beer and they have some great choices. The Bison sliders and pickle platter were great. We went for a Friday night and really enjoyed the atmosphere. These is not a bar like the outdoor part of the brickyard, this is a GREAT local restaurant!!!
(5)
Kevin P.
Public is everything you want out of a bar/gastropub - good food, several craft beers on tap and several more in bottles, friendly staff, and a casual/trendy vibe. I paid $7 total for two pints of local beer (one draft, one can) - a good deal to be sure. The duck breast I ordered was cooked well and came with sweet potatoes and asparagus, both of which were solid if unspectacular. I would definitely consider going back if I were in town again.
(4)
Theresa F.
I was pleasantly pleased by Public. We are from Northern California and spend a lot of time in San Francisco. I had low expectations for Wichita and it's restaurants. Public was cute and hipster. Loved the pickles. Service was friendly and attentive. The ribs were flavorful, and tender, but a little dry.
(4)
Megan K.
My husband and I were in the area and we decided to stop in for a late lunch and a beer. We loved the atmosphere, the food was great, beer even better and overall great service. The waitress bought me a few beer samples to try before I decided on one and she was very helpful with the menu. The sliders and tacos did not fail. We also had a deal from Yelp so we walked out there with a very small bill and a great experience. I would definitely go back next time we are in the area.
(4)
Brian S.
Awesome food...from the beer selection and appetizers to the main course. Awesome all the way around.
(5)
J C.
Brisket Tacos were very flavorful. Best meal I've had in Wichita. Service was outstanding.
(5)
Molly O.
I am really excited to have a place like this in Wichita. It's sorely needed. That being said-I need to go back to give them another shot. We went at a strange hour of the day on a Saturday. So no happy hour..Why don't places do a mid day happy hour on Saturdays? I'd go-obviously. Anyway, the place looks like it's half renovated, there's still that green glow of your uncles basement on the walls. Love the tea towels for napkins-mason jars. The brews on tap were good, could be better. Please get a beer list for people! I asked for one and the poor waiter had to rattle off things from the top of her head. They were also setting up for a holiday party so everyone was moving tables around, making lots of noise but it had to get done, I'm sure. We really wanted to stop it for an appetizer and beers so we ordered the rosemary fries. They were good, however jarred garlic tossed on top of undrained fries is not $7 worthy. There was fresh, lovely rosemary on the fries but topped with jarred garlic, WHY? I will go back to give it another try-like I said, Wichita needs a place like this.
(4)
Elsa P.
We just ate lunch here and it was great from start to finish! The staff are energetic and friendly and know their business, and the food was delicious. We split a Mediterranean plate (hummus, pita and tapenade with a small gathering of greens) and a pie/pizza starring beef brisket. Both dishes were tasty and well prepared. We recommend this place to old and young alike.
(5)
Shaina P.
Finally got to try Public today and it totally lived up to the hype! Loved the Cuban - the pickles were amazing! Enjoyed it so much I'm bringing 4 new people back this Friday.
(5)
jason m.
Legendary! Great atmosphere and food.
(5)
Jeff N.
Had dinner and drinks a couple of weeks ago and it's wonderful to have a Gastropub in Wichita. Great homemade pickles appetizer, amazing tacos and sliders, also. Very pleased with the draft menu. Atmosphere is great, decoration is clean, crisp, modern, and fun.
(5)
Tami J.
Like all of the other reviewers have said- I love this place! The beer selection is great and the atmosphere is perfect. They've also got a big tv if you'd like to catch a game. I recommend ordering the sliders, brisket tacos, or pickles! I also tried the chili on special and that had just the right amount of spice.
(5)
Vivian K.
Ate lunch here twice. LOVE the jalapeño corn bread! I slather their butter on them and it's heavenly!! Both times I've ordered what was on the lunch special. Turkey Panini with black beans and rice. Nice, light lunch. Next time I got the roast beef sandwich with garlic Rosemary fries. Delicious as well. They have a side called haricot vert which is fresh, string green beans which I devoured! Yum! I've recommended it to many of my coworkers for lunch.
(5)
Shay B.
For out-of-towners, Public is the perfect place for lunch or dinner. You're right across the street from the Museum of World Traasures and smack dab in the middle of Old Town. You really have to pay attention to find it though, because the restaurant itself is below street level and the entrance is down a hallway. Let me say I love the ambiance there. All of the old-timey things decorating the walls and booths were cute and they definitely were playing up their Old Town locale. Dining solo, I was tucked away into a tiny booth and promptly given beer and food menus. They have a lot of options: a few KS beers, a few CO beers, and for the out-of-towners from OK, a couple Prairie beers were on top as well! I settled for an octoberfest that was made in KS, but I can't remember the brewery. I do remember that the beer was very good, and I had 2. After a pleasant introduction by the waitress, I ordered my beer and a plate of a grilled cheese and home fries. Happy to have some time to sit after romping around Wichita for a few hours, I nestled in and read / played games / social media while I waited. But after a few minutes of hanging out and enjoying my time, the waitress comes up with some tattered books. She explains that they use these books to put the checks in, but she said she'd thought I'd like something to pass the time. This would've been a sweet gesture, had she not said it in this cloying, pitying tone. Dear waitstaff of the world: solo diners are not sad folks. Many of us, including myself, like to treat ourselves to a nice meal without necessarily having to talk to people. But the old books were fun though, so I brushed it off. My grilled cheese and home fries came. The home fries were excellent, seasoned with garlic and rosemary. The grilled cheese was just ok, and while the cheese itself was good, there was barely any cheese on it. I think I'd like to return though if I'm ever in Wichita again though. Ambiance is a biggie for me, and I definitely enjoyed the ambiance at Public. There were several other vegetarian options on the menu, which I appreciated, so the menu is definitely not lacking. Wichita apparently does vegetarian better than Oklahoma City. Who knew?
(3)
Charles C.
I have been here several times and every time it's the worst experience. An average dining experience consists of waiting 15 minutes for a table, another 30 minutes until the server comes to take food orders. After that it's an hour before the food comes. May god have mercy on your soul if you want another drink order any time after the initial because you may never get it. Public seems to pride themselves on their Bloody Mary but it is by far the worst I've ever had. They seem to always be out of what you want too. I wouldn't suggest this restaurant to an enemy.
(1)
Jared P.
Public is one of my favorite spots in Wichita. It has a speakeasy feeling, hidden under all the brick and mortar of Oldtown. You look around and just imagine the history and secrets the walls hold. But Public is no secret, in fact it was featured on the Travel Channel for their mouth-watering bison sliders. This time I decided to go with "The Uncle Jessy", I mean how can you go wrong with BBQ brisket ON A PIZZA?! It was delicious! The bits of bleu cheese added an extra dose of flavor to the pie. I'm not sure what they do to keep it from getting greasy, but the honey wheat dough crust is one of my favorite parts. I love greasy food just as much as the next guy, but it can get a bit overwhelming on a pizza. So many people typically just throw the crust away so you have to appreciate a place that makes it more than just a handle to hold your meal. I also couldn't resist ordering a side of sweet potato fries even though I knew the pizza would be plenty filling, and I don't regret it! Everything on the menu at Public is created with care. From their local ingredients to prep in the kitchen. They really do take it to the next level. Typically I find one thing on the menu at a place and stick with it but I can't wait to try it all at Public!
(5)
Allister D.
Eh.. Not impressed I love the design of the place and how it felt like an underground bar inside a basement. The seating is nice and there's plenty of space and TVs to show sports on. The food is alright. Nothing special. I had bison and beef sliders which was pretty good. They serve two sliders which are a fist size with golden fries. The meat itself has a good meaty texture, a bit dry and not much flavor/rub. I think they can add more spice of flavor to them. My gf ordered a Banh Mi which is their take of Vietnamese sandwich, mid west & American style. The pork was too sweet and the marinade was too much. Tiny slices of jalapeños, not much vegetables to compliment the flavors and traditional take. The portion was too small and it was just a take of a sweeter and lighter pulled pork sandwich; I didn't like it. Last time I'll be coming..
(2)
Katherine J.
Was walking around the area and stopped in. Service was pretty terrible. You'd think a Wichita restaurant wouldn't have attitude but I think this place is really trying to embody a hipster theme. Guess cranky and slow service goes along with it. I did think the menu had some interesting choices. I enjoyed the cauliflower. I rarely visit Wichita so I doubt I'll return and can't really recommend it. Maybe the bartenders are more friends than the waitresses?
(2)
Miss Missy G.
I have been to this restaurant many times, giving them numerous chances to improve. Every time is a worse experience than the previous. The service is horrible, although the wait staff is pleasant. It takes at least 15 minutes to get a drink after the 10 minutes you wait for the waitress to stop by for a drink order. The food of mediocre at best of they aren't out of what you originally ordered which happens more often than not. Save your money and time and go to Old Chicago's.
(1)
Jay W.
I decided to give Public one more chance... That was a mistake. Do not order the Gourmet burger. It was tiny, over cooked, very dry, and tasted like they used cheap taco seasoning in the meat. My dates salad was soggy and small. I will never go back.
(1)
Lance C.
Sandwich & burger menu plus dinner plate specials. Food is good, but it is the atmosphere that makes this restaurant special. It's "down under" with a "speak easy" vibe. You're likely to find sports, news, and even old-tymey b&w comedies like W.C. Fields or Laurel & Hardey. Wait staff is knowledgeable and super helpful. Be sure to try the rosemary fries!
If you're local to the Wichita area this place will likely be right down your alley. If you're not and travel for a living this place is very uninspiring. Food was mediocre at best and the drinks were weak and watered down. There are better places to eat.
(2)
Losh A.
Went for sunday brunch, had the french toast, really good. My kids had pancakes , hubby had corned beef hash. Food was good, healthy, and fair price. The setting is unusual, but my kids loved it, they were entertained with the table shuffleboard. Its underground entrance too so made us more curious to go and find it.
(4)
Nick B.
Went in the wrong door at first, made a loop and sat at the bar. Got the sliders, they were good! Beer was good that the bartender recommended. Good place to eat
(4)
Raymond O.
I come back because I like the Brickyard and a Public during bar hours, but I'm done coming back for brunch. Service is extremely slow for the size of their crowd. Bloodymary's are horrible here. Food is mediocre.
(1)
Alisa S.
A group of us went here to just hang out and have a few drinks. I like the decor of the place. It's kind of a hipster basement vibe. We ordered fries to eat which were a good snack, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for the Mediterranean Plate. I'm not a huge fan of curry powder and that's all I could taste in the hummus. Maybe it was an off day or something because another reviewer's picture of the hummus didn't look nearly as yellow as mine. I'll still come back again to try real food though. There's a shuffle board that you play for free, too, so that's a plus.
(3)
Liesl W.
Delicious food! I love the fact that they locally source ingredients and serve grass fed beef. Excellent waitstaff, especially Melissa. It's a small place with soft lighting, great date spot. They lose a star for sending takeout home in polystyrene containers.
(4)
Robert B.
I won't contend that Public has the best food in Wichita, or the best bar list, or the best service, or the most creative menu. It doesn't have any of these, really. They have rarely modified the menu in the last three years--another reason why you can't quite take it too seriously. You'd think something offered as a special for over a year would make it onto the permanent menu...but you'd be wrong: the specials are almost always the salmon, the chicken & waffles, the spare ribs, and the burger (they're listed as "dinner specials" online). The menu is unfocused and uneven. The beer list is significantly shorter than that of the Anchor, or even The Hill. It gets really loud in the low-ceiling basement space on date nights. But still. I like the place so much that it has become one of my favorites in the city. Let me see if I can list the reasons why: 1. I like its ambience, including that it will always be cool in the summer, and that even when crowded the shape of the space makes it feel a little less crowded than it really is. 2. The menu: --even though the sandwiches are non-traditional, they've tended to be very tasty regardless. --the brisket tacos are a strong standby; the prairie sliders are also excellent. --the pot pie on the lunch menu is excellent. --the Matterhorn is perhaps the best pizza combination, and it's very good. --the fries are as good as advertised. --THE CHICKEN & WAFFLES. The chicken in the chicken & waffles is not fried; rather, it's roasted in duck confit and served with a whole-grain waffle and cardamom butter, a totally creative spin on the dish. --Finally, the ribs....THE RIBS. This might be the best bbq in the city, right here. It's got an earthy, smoky sauce that is uniquely tasty and complements the well-prepared pork perfectly.. They re-use the sauce on some of the pizzas (less successfully, in my opinion). The spare ribs and the chicken & waffles are two of the better dishes in Wichita in terms of creativity and execution. 3. The beer and drink list tends to provide curveballs in a good way. This was the first place I had Tank 7 on draft, and the first place I had a Flemish sour on draft. I'm sure they didn't beat the Anchor to those, but they weren't far behind, and I saw much more of those items on other menus in ICT a few months after. We had so few places like this in Wichita even five years ago that I think we (maybe just I) tend to forgive the foul-ups, especially when we return and figure out what's good. Public has a few things they do really well. If you're going there for the first time, ask your server for recommendations-- I don't think you'll regret it. So nice to have some facsimile of a food scene, even if it's maybe just a facsimile. Well, we are only a half-million yet. Yes....a good & getting better half-million.
(4)
Brett S.
Came here about a week ago for the first time. Didn't have the kids for the weekend and decided to treat ourselves by trying out some new places downtown. Took a little bit of looking to actually find the place but once we did we were quite pleased with the underground/speakeasy atmosphere. It almost had the vibe that you would expect at the bar in "Cheers". Cool place. I don't remember exactly what we ordered but we were both very pleased. Menu is not very big but that can be nice at times. Narrowing down the options makes it easier to decide. Delicious food. The in-house made potato chips were seasoned perfectly. Some of the chips were not as crispy as I would've liked but the seasoning made up for it. Great food, good service, cool location. This place would be a great place to have supper or just relax and have a few cold ones. We'll definitely be back.
(5)
Naomi S.
Good food, good drinks, a good place to meet up with friends. Only drawbacks: single stall bathroom for ladies and it's LOUD.
(4)
Bill L.
Highly recommended the Cuban. Great pickles. A little noisey. Bananas foster quite good, interesting spin.
Husband and I came just for a snack in the middle of the day. We used the buy ten for five deal. We were not disappoint. It was a good snack and good prices. I would recommend it.
(5)
Jill L.
Sam is the man. .....great food, vibe, good joint! But now Aaron has arrived....game on....and he is rockin the danicin' pants!
(5)
John W.
Thanks to the friends I've never met on Yelp, I found this gem in downtown Wichita on my long drive home. A few things to mention first; awesome and unique setting, clean, amazing food, and great craft beer selection. I'll start with beer. They have a lot of Kansas beers there I've never heard of before and even cooler, they have matching brewery glasses too! If you're from out of Kansas and you stop at Public, please remember to drink local. Unique setting is an understatement. From the basement entrance, to the vintage books laying all over the bar; this spot will have you feeling like you stepped back 6 decades. I feel like any place that serves you water in a mason jar is doing more than one thing right! Haha Finally, the food. The most important thing I can tell you is this. I've never been anywhere where I was able to have 2 IPA beers, a main course, and TWO deserts! Holy cow is their dessert menu off the chain. I had a warm apple crumble with what appeared to be some home made or high quality ice cream, and then the chocolate mousse brownie. After my second dessert, I honestly considered having seconds on the apple crumble. I shouldn't forget, I had the mac and cheese for my main course, and it was a 10 out of 10. I would love to find a place in town that competes with Public. Eat here!
(5)
Bradley T.
This is probably the best steak I've ever had for $20 for $40 or for $60 my experience would've been five star if a manager had not met me out front and treated me like a prick over my to-go black coffee he literally got aggressive and took my coffee out of my hand and told me I couldn't take it out of the building - so if i cant take a coffee on the street how does a Starbucks survive? shame on you Old graybeard. You leave customer service and do your guest a favor if you have this small of a capacity to explain yourself to a paying customer - congratulations on single-handedly wrecking my experience at your restaurant. You have done every hard working member of your staff a disservice.
Let me preface this review by saying that if I could have picked 0 stars, i would have!!! This was by far the worst service I have EVER experienced during an evening out. We stood at the front door waiting to be seated in an empty restaurant for 5 minutes, all while being stared at by staff talking to each other. The hostess walked by twice without so much as an acknowledgment. Once she decided to acknowledge us, she gave my husband & I the dirtiest look. WTH, my husband was in a suit jacket & dark denim jeans & I in dress pants & a blouse. Yes, probably overdressed for that atmosphere, but we are in town for a convention. Once we were finally seated, we watched another staff member haul the trash & pick at a scab on his hands on the way back into the restaurant. The waiter was better, but then proceeded to tell me that they were out of ginger beer so they couldn't do a Moscow Mule. That way my last straw & we got up & left. I can't believe I was about to waste my money supporting an establishment such as this. It's too bad too, since my husband and I farm & were very interested in learning about their farm to table practices :-(.
(1)
Chris C.
Came in on a Tuesday night for our first visit and left unimpressed. The decor is nice. We didn't have anything to drink and didn't look at the beer & wine menu, so I can't speak to that. But I will say the food was not enough to bring me back. I had a side Caesar Salad with the Brisket tacos (with rice & beans) and my wife had the Cobb salad. The tacos were fine (bite for bite), but for the price, I expected more than 2 tacos on 5" tortillas. The $5 side Caesar salad was just sad. Packaged croutons, too much dressing, small bowl. It's what I'd expect at a poorly managed chain restaurant. If they had charged half that amount, I'd still feel cheated. For a restaurant with a pretty limited menu, they were out of ribs and could not make the banh mi sandwich. Who knows what else they were out of. The 1/2lb burger special was $13. It may be a nice place for drinks, but there's far better options in terms of value and menu selection at other Old Town locations and places like AVI Seabar & Chophouse.
(2)
Amy K.
I came here alone for a quick midday dinner. The house salad is pretty delicious, and the filet special was really flavorful. Although a tad oily, it was surprisingly tasty. My medium-rare steak was definitely medium on the outside parts, however. If you check in on Yelp, you receive a 50% dessert coupon, fyi! My moscow mule wasn't the best tasting I've had, but it was decently strong. Service was pleasant, but the waiter did make me wait quite a bit throughout my visit. He looked a bit flustered, as the crowd was growing by 7pm. I would come back again. There was also live music starting up around 7pm.
(4)
Michael C.
Food was nicely prepared but portions were under whelming. I had salmon BLT, it was quite good.
(4)
Nicole C.
Went in there one time and felt like we were inconveniencing the server. We immediately left and will not return. It's too bad because the Brickyard is awesome!
(2)
Lisa B.
I'm currently in the 35th minute of waiting for my food. We are seated next to the kitchen window. It's packed with dishes but none of the waitresses seem to be willing to pitch in and run the food out to the proper tables. So we wait. I like this place but the wait staff needs to be a bit more cooperative and speedy.
(2)
Rose R.
The food was lack luster and service was terrible. I ordered the special which was a beer Sausage pizza and it was probably the worst pizza I have ever had. Instead of a savory treat it tasted like a Mars bar. Overly sweet and cold when we got it. The server ignored us and stared at the ticket while we were righting out the tip?! When is that ever okay!!!! I liked the idea of getting your check in an old book but ours had some rather obscene pictures drawn inside. I am not usually bothered by that stuff but these were pretty graphic. They should probably check that stuff out before handing the ticket to a family. The other thing that kind of annoyed me was the server refused to speak to me and only spoke to my husband. She even asked him if I needed more water! I'm right here!!! She ignored any request I had until my husband brought it up. It was outright rude. Then I was coming back to the table from stepping to the ladies room when I saw her leaned across the table on her elbows talking to my husband about how much she liked his shirt. It was a plain white shirt!!! Are you flipping kidding me!!!! We won't be going back. The food sucked and the staff was unprofessional to say least!!!
(1)
Bob P.
Interesting downtown area and an even more interesting restaurant. Loved the old time look and the local crowd. Great service to boot. We both did the special lamb shanks. They were good but next time i'll do the salmon. Dinner and 2 drinks ran $50. ... it was good but not wow
(4)
James B.
Been a fan of Public since they opened, and just finally getting going on Yelp, so tie to catch up on some reviews. The place is great. A unique space with a unique vibe, it draws a mixed crowd of young and old with a great combination of craft beer and a diverse menu with a lot of local/regional focus. They also have a slim cocktail menu which has some great options, including one of my personal favorites in Wichita, the Public Smash. The go to recommendations are the Prairie Sliders, which utilize bison meat and are a wonderful change of pace from your standard garden variety burger sliders, and the Brisket Tacos. I am a fan of both and they are unique and stand out from other menus. The Cuban and banh mi are also delicious and with a tasting. Lately though, it has been their chicken and waffles. The maple glaze on the chicken is perfect, and they are so well cooked you can hardly pick up the leg bone without having the meat just fall right off. The waffles are a great compliment and just thinking about it has my mouth watering again. Add to the food a great staff, and cool cross section of Wichita clientele, a shuffleboard table, and a pinball machine and you have a great local spot in Wichita to enjoy great food, beers, and people.
(5)
Logan G.
Phenomenal brunch special; had the egg scramble. Friendly staff, comfortable and casual atmosphere. Love the locally sourced foods!
(5)
John S.
Cool place from the outside. The menu looks amazing and the waitstaff are friendly to bad the food is so average. Portions are small and the food is bland. The fries were cold and by the end of the meal all we wanted was our check. The good news is much better restaurants are a short walk away.
(2)
Ryan B.
For those who claim Wichita has nothing to offer by way of good eats, I present to you: Public. When your best friend comes into town and you're looking for a few hotspots to show off, this should make the list. Here's why: Character. From the Old Town location to the underground (literally) speakeasy vibe, there are no other venues in town that can emulate Public's feel. It embodies the highlights of Kansas and captures the essence of the ICT from top to bottom. From the dim, unconventional lighting and prairie rustler-esque furnishings down to the ingredients and brews on the menu. Ah, menu. The other reason this is a can't miss. As I mentioned, Public incorporates Wichita flavor in many of its offerings. At play are the area's Mediterranean influences, inclusion meat-centric barbecue and comfort food staples. Even the very ingredients lend themselves to regional familiarity; bison, locally cured meats, and area-baked buns and breads populate a vast majority of the edible options. There are some oddities, but whatever you choose you're sure to get an honest tasting of the town. My recent order of Prairie Sliders certainly earned endorsement. A pair of mini brioche rolls, butter toasted, acted as bookends to a smear of house-prepped honey dijon, melty sharp cheddar, thick, bison blend patties, and an onion jam spread. The dynamic duo struck all the right chords. Bison tends to dry out easily, but here the meat was seared and cooked to a perfect medium after being crusted with a seasoned mix of salt, crushed black peppercorns, and roasted coffee beans for an earthy undertone. The accompanying zesty mustard and faintly sweet onion jam melded with the meat harmoniously, each offering an element of complexity and enjoying a moment in the spotlight while allowing the meat its rightful place at center stage. On second thought, perhaps center stage was a bit of an exaggeration. The fries, the fantastic, double fried, rosemary seasoned, parmesan dusted FRIES, are a spectacle worthy of an auditorium. If you've never had a deceptively ordinary looking, hand cut style french fry with an outstanding crispiness nearly all the way through, you've never had a french fry the way God intended them to be produced. This may very well be the best realization of potatoes in Kansas; stop what you're doing and get some. And bring me some. Not necessarily in that order. My point here, put quite simply, is that Public is a worthy allocation of your funds and appetite, and those of any who you care to impress. So show your true feelings and treat me to Public already. You can even bring that out of town friend if you want.
(5)
Matt S.
Very good! You must try the Public pickles...they were excellent with one person in our group grabbing the last pickle as the waitress took the platter away! I had the Banh Mi and it was very good. The others in our party had the Bison Sliders and Cuban sandwich and all enjoyed their meals. The garlic rosemary fries are good, but I think Dempsey's fries are still just a notch above these. Very good service also. Wide beer selection.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jonathan B.
I really wanted to like this place. It's in a cool part of town. The ambiance is excellent and the food is quite good. We had pizza and salads and they were both delicious. The reason it doesn't get a better rating was due to our service and the beer selection. We were there on a weekday lunch and the service was pretty bad. Not rude. Not gross. We just didn't get attention despite the place not being that busy. We were traveling with children and have a limited time to sit still. Thus, waiting to pay, or for plates, or for refills is extra aggravating. Also, the beer selection is a little too eclectic. I like odd beers. I like to try new beers and local beers, but Public's draft selection left me confused. The beers were almost all too crazy with no purpose. I'd expect some of those beers on a draft line with 20 taps when the other 12 taps are good, solid performers. But only 8 taps and they're almost all fringe beers? It's too much. Throw in a Sam Adams. Don't make me choose between cherry porter or peach Belgian. Perhaps we caught the line up in transition. But it was a disappointment to me. With that said, if we're going through Wichita again, we will stop here. The food is delicious and I will give it another shot.
(3)Bill T.
Food was very good and it was definitely the trendy place to be but I found the ambiance to be quite loud which made it difficult to carry on a conversation with our dining guests.
(3)Jennifer A.
Food was excellent but the service was iffy.
(4)Jeff H.
The food was very good! The restaurant is really unique as well. In the basement of the Brickyard. The Banh Mi and brisket tacos were both excellent!
(4)Gabe C.
I'm from St. Louis, spent 2 years in a dining club that visited and rated locally owned, fresh, innovative and bizarre ideas in the culinary industry. First off, I am always looking for fresh, local fare. I love new places and especially enjoyed the atmosphere at Public. I normally don't like corn tortilla tacos but the flavor of their brisket tacos was amazing. I sub'd the black beans for the sweet potato fries and they were awesome. Great beers on tap and the bartender made me a fantastic margarita as I was craving something besides beer when I arrived. The Royals should have been on every TV though.
(4)Jc R.
Both of the dishes I have had were excellent. It's a great place to go on the weekend with live music. Service is also great.
(5)Jessica L.
Cool atmosphere. Nice having a farm to table option when visiting Wichita. I had a good salad with an appetizer. The dinner specials all sounded good though. Neat warehouse area.
(4)Cory S.
Solid place to grab a bite to eat, but it was dead (it was a Tuesday I believe). The bartender and GM were super friendly and chatted with me while I had a couple beers and drank. They had a happy hour beer special that went until 7pm and was I believe $2 draft of something. Regardless, it was a good beer for a good price. I had the brisket tacos and they hit the spot. The meet had good flavor and was cooked well. They had some hot sauce to toss on them if you wanted a bit of spice, which I did. Definitely a spot I'll add to my go-to dinner list when I'm in town.
(4)Cass K.
I wish the food were better so that I could give a better rating, because I really wanted to like Public. I would go back again, and I would recommend eating here to others. First the décor and ambience work really well. The restaurant is slightly below street level. Walls are exposed brick. Above each booth are old wood-framed windows. The check is presented in an old book. Our service was good and our waitress had a great personality. The house salad was satisfactory. Lightly dressed and good quality mixed greens. The margherita pizza was a great attempt, but was undercooked and the dough still raw in places. The tomato sauce was richly spiced, but I did not detect any rosemary in the crust as described in the menu. I think cooking two to three more minutes would have finished cooking the crust and would have greatly improved our impression of the food.
(3)Taylor B.
Great food from local farms. We love the bison burger sliders and their drinks are delish. I also love the feel of this place. Definitely one of Wichita's hidden gems!
(5)Mazen S.
Best place in wichita hands down Went to my wife bday were party of 10 and all of us were extremely impressed . Food amazing and wonderful staff . For sure will be back and very soon :)
(5)Long B.
One of my favorite spots in Oldtown..... PUBLIC! This place is built in and next door to the Brickyard and is located in the basement area when you walk in. Inside is something you wouldn't expect as there isn't much to look at from the outside. Actually it's very easy to walk past and never see it. Inside has a modern and chill environment to it. They use the space which is very rectangular to begin with very well. I just came here with a friend for a few brews and some good dinner. TIP if you're reading this on your mobile phone, buy the $10 for $20 voucher. It'll save you some moola, while being able to not restrict yourself of what's on the menu to try. Their menu is best described as diverse. There is a different range of foods that are American, Tex-Mex, Vietnamese and a few other fusions. The menu itself is very small and has a few choice. Which ever one you do get, you'll be in for a treat. I had their Cuban sandwich which was damn! So flavorful with large pieces of pork in melted cheese with a homemade Ciabatta bread bun. Served with sliced crispy potato chips. All this food for under $10. Their beer menu is excellent, so if you're a beer snob, you will like the choices they offer. Only complaint is they are a bit pricey but delicious. Come here a few times and try their different menu items they have to offer. I promise you will like it.
(5)Michael G.
Great beer selection and prairie sliders for the win!!
(5)Jimmy P.
This place is really nice. Prob one of downtown Wichita's best kept secrets. Really good crew, nice underground environment. This place is perfect for a date or a night out. Good food, great service, and very clean.
(4)Jack D.
Hipster paradise but no hipsters to be found. I had the brisket tacos. Awesome. I gave 3 stars mainly for service. Awesome food. Awesome beer. Awesome decor. Wait staff not so happy. I thought I was a nascar driver because they were rushing us. One wait staff member came into work crying. Use a personal day next time. I will go back for food but I will sit at the bar. Boo hoo
(3)Jenny H.
LOVE this place at night, but I have to admit the brunch could use some TLC. NIGHT-TIME REVIEW: Service is always down-to-earth, knowledgeable, and friendly. Great selections and great inside atmosphere. If you're wanting to get the old town vibe and people watch, but not be shoulder-to-shoulder in a loud atmosphere, this is the perfect place to be. Enjoyed many nights chatting over wine or whiskey with friends, enjoying some calmer music in the background. Highly recommend! But skip the brunch--for now. BRUNCH REVIEW: The bacon was overcooked, grits were bland (as a Southern girl, I'm probably a bit more of a stickler on this), and eggs were okay. It wasn't terrible, but I def could've whipped up better food in my kitchen. Nothing to write home about.
(4)Evan J.
Great food and great drinks. I had the brisket tacos and she had chicken and waffles. The food was so good we stopped talking and just enjoyed.
(5)Christy O.
I've only been to Public for their brunch and only three or four times, but every experience was a good one. The food has a simplicity to it, but every bite is delicious since you can tell they go out of their way to use fresh, quality ingredients. The last time I was there, I had an egg scramble with goat cheese and they catered to the fact that I didn't want carbs and gave me a decent amount of fruit instead of bread. They didn't skimp on anything. It was perfect especially for how demanding I felt I was being with changing a special. The customer service is friendly, the atmosphere is charming, and the prices are fair. Tip your servers well!
(5)Flight C.
Great food and good service. Loved the "wooden nickel Sunday" deal. Definitely a place to visit and come back. The wings were amazing having been smoked before fried and tossed in a delicious BBQ sauce. The house salad was also delicious with the mixed greens, dried cherries, walnuts, and goat cheese.
(5)Huckleberry F.
My wife and I stopped in here on a weeknight and we were pleasantly surprised. I had a Cuban sandwich, and though they seemed to take some liberties with the ingredients, it was tasty. The Yoder salami was a interesting addition. My wife had the brisket tacos and they were even better. Service was friendly and prompt, and atmosphere was great. I can see it getting awfully loud on a weekend night.
(4)Emry W.
There are two sides to every story, and two sides to this review. The atmosphere was absolutely breathtaking. It is a fantastic mix of modern and rustic. It's the ultimate bar with open space, couches and a large selection of grade A beer. The downfall you ask? The food. It is absolutely bland. I ordered the special of the day- fish tacos. There were 3 beer battered cod strips that tasted like air and grease. My boyfriend ordered the brisket tacos that didn't have much flavor. Luckily I got a side of sweet potato fries that saved my meal (you can't really mess those up). Lastly, the prices were way to high for the quality and quantity of food. While it was presented beautifully, Public should definitely focus on being a pub and not a restaurant. I bought the 10$ for 20$ deal, I only wish I would have spent it on alcohol instead.
(2)miguel l.
No. Go elsewhere. Yet another Wichita attempt at being one with the crowd. Tasteless. The servers were nice though. Wichita patrons downtown always yell at each other across the table - why?
(1)Brian G.
This place has the best brunch in Wichita that you've never heard of. The good thing is that is changing. I'm an Old Town local so I can and do walk down. But I would drive miles to get here for their brunch menu. Here's my faves from the last five weeks. The chicken leek biscuits and gravy is outstanding. Travis the owner and chef says he makes a mean biscuit and he's right. If they are offering the corned beef hash you have to try it. They throw in Brussels, potatoes, and other goodness. The asparagus and goat cheese scramble. Yes please. The pancakes with the banana topping. Don't even think about not getting one. Farm to fork is rare in ICT -- and Public has it nailed down. Guarantee you'll love it.
(5)Mike B.
I literally loved everything about this place. The decor, music, staff, and food were all very appealing. Bison sliders... Holy balls those are good. And I never get dessert anywhere, however my co worker ordered bananas foster over a lightly fried angel cake and it was AMAZING!
(5)Sarah K.
Glad to have a new place to stop at while traveling through Wichita that has both a solid menu and craft beer selection. At the waitress' recommendation, we tried all the local favorites. Between four of us we had the house fries, brisket tacos, sliders, shrimp and grits (on special) and a house salad. All the food was great and in my opinion the fries and tacos stole the show. Seriously, how do you get fries to taste like that? The texture was perfect (sturdy outside soft in the middle) and the seasoning coupled with the moreish dipping sauces gave them a gourmet complexity. I know, they're just fries...but they are seriously some of the best I've ever had. The brisket on the tacos was cooked perfectly (which is not easy to do, as those of us BBQ-ers know). Less is more with these tacos. They're simple on their own but the salsa-ish sauce and fresh sour cream really set them off. We had the chance to speak with the owners and the man behind the beers. It's clear they like making people happy and are passionate about food, as well as about supporting Wichita's local scene and sourcing quality beers. Looking forward to stopping back through Wichita again for more!
(5)Stephanie K.
3 star is based off the food. Everything I've had here is extemly bland, but I've only ever had their dinner service. The staff is friendly, I love the location and interior, just there dinner menu is nothing special. Worst restaurant I've eaten at downtown.
(3)King S.
Fantastic! Great food, fun metro atmosphere. We liked the off-the-menu fare. Nice, man-sized ribs. We will be back.
(4)Kate B.
When I first moved here a year ago from Atlanta, I was pleasantly surprised to find a place like Public. You can tell that they make a big effort to use locally sourced ingredients for their dishes. The house fries with garlic and rosemary are genius! If you go for dinner- you MUST get the salmon with turnip fries. They are known for their pickles so give those a try too. The only thing is- it's kind of hard to find... but it's worth the hunt.
(5)Mark W.
Very neat place on old town. Wife had scallops, they were very good. My sliders were just ok, fries were soggy. Cauliflower appetizer was excellent, chicken wings were bland Would go back next time I am in Wichita.
(4)Timirie S.
My husband and I love this place ... it's cozy and comfortable, gives you the feeling you are in a much larger metropolitan city ... the menu is quite creative and unique, the 2 times we've been the service has been excellent! We don't drink much alcohol, but if we did, we'd probably never leave! The dish I have been dreaming about since leaving the establishment 18 hrs ago is BUFFALO CAULIFLOWER!! Crazy delicious, and better nutritionally than buffalo wings by a mile. And the Mint Chocolate Brûlée was so creamy, not too chocolatey, not too minty, and totally creamy and delicious! Anyone visiting Wichita should consider themselves lucky if they find this gem nestled in the heart of Old Town.
(5)Stacy L.
Not impressed. We were one of 3 tables when we came in and it took far too long to get our food. Then, they left out one meal, did not check on our table, and did not even offer a discount for the horrible service. I had to chase down our server to get the final plate of food, by that time everyone else was almost finished eating. I had high school girls with me and they complained the portions were too small. We will not be returning.
(1)K R.
Our first time here was a Friday night. Good food and service. Unique style and location. I loved the mason jar glasses for water and the beer selection was diverse. We had the pickle appetizer platter. It was really good but would have benefitted from a stoneground mustard relish and an extra slice of cheese to have one for each baguette slice. My husband had the pasta special with shrimp and a pesto cream sauce. He said it was good but could have had a little more kick. I had the chicken alfredo and vegetable pizza special. It was really big and I have leftovers. It was very good, but the crust reminded me of Pizza Hut breadsticks, which was odd. Our dessert was the apple crumble with vanilla ice cream. It was awesome. With the Yelp deal, our total was $25. We will definitely be coming back. --- Don't forget to play shuffleboard in the back!
(5)Tom C.
This place is great for craft beer and tasty pub food. They take "pub food" to the next level with fresh ingredients that is prepared well. The beer menu has a great selection of quality crafts at a price that is better than almost any other spot I've been to. The ambiance is open and laid back. When I come back to Witchita I will be sure to stop in for a brew
(4)Sidney H.
The food and the service didn't match the decor and the atmosphere. The two beef sliders were okay. Three would've been better. My friend had the Cuban sandwich with the three smallish medallions of pork. He wasn't impressed with the sandwich. He also didn't like the way the servers were dressed. The server gave us our lunch totals and never came back. So we had to go up to the counter to pay for our meals. The place looked very cool with it's modern/rustic decor. But the food was underwhelming.
(2)Laurel S.
I'd really like to give this about 3.5 stars. It is a funky little place in a neat part of Wichita and the food is pretty good. The downside is a very limited menu. I had the Uncle Jessy pizza and I thought it was really good. My daughters had the brisket tacos (which were only so-so) and the bahn mi which was pretty good. The fries were pretty weak, not crispy at all.
(3)Jessica M.
Wonderful restaurant with a wide array of options. My favorite drink is the Lavender Lemonata and I love the Prarie Sliders and the Brisket Tacos. This place has a great atmosphere and is close to a lot of great places in Old town. I highly recommend it!
(5)Caitlyn S.
This place is such a nice surprise for Wichita. The menu isn't too expansive, but it's filled with yummy recipes using local ingredients. The beer selection is great, and when we last visited, we got some awesome local-ish craft brews for $2. Our first visit was on New Year's Eve with a rather large party. The service was slowwww, which was to be expected. I got sufficiently buzzed before my meal came due to an empty stomach! I shared the pickle plate with some friends, and although they were delicious, it was a pretty small amount of appetizer. I also had the brie-nini which was AMAZING. Like, so good. I can't even tell you. The next visit was on Valentine's Day. V Day is notoriously a bad time to go out to dinner, but we got right in and were waited on immediately. This was the night we got the $2 brews. They had a nice little special with a few courses, but we chose right off the menu instead. We shared the fries, which are awesome, and I had the veggie pizza. The pizza had a wonderful flavor, and huge pieces of veggies all over it. Veggie pizza can get a bit tired after having it so many places, but this one was such a nice change. I'm writing this review months after having it, but I think it says a lot that I can remember exactly how it tasted! Wichita needs more places like this!
(5)Hannah H.
This is probably one of my favorite places to eat in Wichita. When the parents come to town, we always go here. Something for everyone! The sliders are little bison balls of magic and don't leave without trying the sweet potato fries with a side of honey mustard dressing! Good service, good drinks, great atmosphere. The patio is gorgeous!
(5)Brad S.
Some people think the role of a reviewer should be solely one of a champion, bringing attention to the good places, and letting the chaff fall away based on their own misgivings. And while I do not share that opinion (my review for El Rodeo should be proof of that), I'd still much rather give a positive review than a negative one. After my first review of Public, the owners messaged me, apologized for some of the sticking points from my first visit, and urged me to give them another chance. They handled the criticism properly, and I was happy to oblige... eventually. It turns out that one of my last reviews of 2013 was also one of my first. Over the past eleven months almost every sticking point in my original review has been addressed: -The beer selection has improved dramatically, offering a wider variety of big, interesting beers on tap and a curated bottle list. $8 for a 750ml bottle of Boulevard's Reverb pilsner is a steal, and they have all the recent Lips of Faith bottles from New Belgium. -Service was much nicer, but I also went for a table this time rather than taking my chances at the bar. I've never been under the impression that whatever issues I might have had last time were anything other than a fluke chalked up to the human condition, anyway. -Sweet baby Jesus, the golden fries are perfect in a way that I have come across maybe twice before in this city. Crispy exterior, fluffy interior, not too greasy, and seasoned very well with salt and a few other herbs and spices. You could stack them in a fancy paper cone, call them Belgian frites, and charge an extra dollar more. I could have eaten nothing but them for my entire meal, and next time I might very well consider doing that... -...because I still have an issue with the sandwiches. This time it was the Cuban. The pork tenderloin was browned well and had a decent amount of moisture; the Swiss cheese was brought to the party; the Yoder salami, while not always found on a Cuban, is still in the right wheelhouse, even if this particular brand was too mild to stand up to the other ingredients. The sandwich started to fall apart when you consider the other ingredients: sweet and sour pickles, chipotle aioli, and a Ciabatta roll. On their own, each of these ingredients were quite good. Put them together, and they so fundamentally change the flavor profile of the sandwich that to call it a Cuban sandwich is to misunderstand what makes that sandwich great. A cuban is all about the salty meats and melty cheese, sure, but as a means to play against the sour pickles and mustard. And it absolutely, positively needs to be pressed, whether on a plancha or panini press or with a heavy pan on the flat top. Attempting to swap out an ingredient here or there to make it your own is all well and good, but it's so altered here that it's not worth the nomenclature. Just call it a roast pork sandwich - everything doesn't need to be something. The bahn mi is another example. A "bahn mi" is a reserved term for a certain family of Vietnamese sandwiches. Putting smoked pork shoulder on there is a little departure, but I'd allow it. Put Yum Yum sauce - that pink sauce you find at hibachis - and miso aioli on it, however, and we've got a problem. Inviting no vegetation other than peppers and cilantro means that the sandwich has strayed so far from the concept of a bahn mi that the use of the term does not reflect on Public very well. More examples? The Margherita has capers on it. Hey, one ingredient - not such a big deal, except that the construction and ingredients of a pizza margherita is so strictly defined in Italy that the usage of the term has a protected status governing its use. It's a pizza that's notoriously traditional, so why bring attention to the fact that you're bucking tradition? And we end where we started, back at the prairie sliders. The menu still doesn't indicate that these are bison sliders, which would buy them so much extra slack from people who are not expecting their burgers to be so lean. I personally think it's a mistake to ever put bison on a regular restaurant menu, but it got them a spot on the Travel Channel, so we're stuck with it now. They do have beef burgers on special from time to time, and I'm excited to try one. Along with my Cuban and fries, I got an extra side order of haricot verts. The plentiful portion of nicely-organized thin green beans were cooked excellently and tossed with a little bit of truffle oil and balsamic vinegar. I would definitely eat them again, though I'm not giving up those fries, either. It comes back to the G-word: Is Public a gastropub? I'm certainly closer to thinking so, though it's taking into account the beer dinners, some interesting-looking specials, and those wonderful fries. Their day-to-day menu, on the other hand, takes some pretty big leaps that they haven't proven they can make. In the end it shouldn't matter if the food's good, and for the most part, it is, but it could be better.
(4)Brian K.
We try our best to support local businesses and will give them way more chances to redeem themselves than we would a chain restaurant. I really had high hopes for this place. Unfortunately, over the last 6 months to a year the service and quality has dramatically decreased. The final straw, so to speak, was this past Friday. When we arrived we were told there would be a 20 minute wait despite the fact that less than half of available seating was occupied. True to their word we were seated in 20 minutes. Our waitress was friendly and took our drink order right away. After about 10 minutes we received our drinks and were able to order. This was about as good as it got and the rest of our visit was nothing short of suck-town. It took no less than 50 minutes for us to get our food and the entire time we waited the manager made sure to avoid any eye contact. Our friendly waitress returned once to see if we wanted another drink but sensing our annoyance she did not return until the food was ready. We were not the only ones with this problem as I overheard one group and a couple couples complaining none too quietly about the poor service. Perhaps the entire kitchen staff quit that afternoon, I don't know, but whatever the excuse it should have been communicated to us by the manager. We will not be returning to this business and at the rate they're going they will likely be closed down soon.
(1)Adam R.
Their sliders have. An express rub that is can't miss. Good food and prices, with quite a few interesting beers on tap in an interesting venue leads to one of the best restaurants in town.
(5)Reed N.
Absolutely my kind of place. Dive down a loading ramp in the old market district into a brick courtyard-like receiving area. Two empty stages greet you in the rain. You have to look HARD to know what door to use to get inside. Once inside it is loft-ish yet cozy. Good beers on tap... I had one of the Lips of Faith series from New Belgium... just awesome. I had wings with an otherworldly BBQ sauce... tender and delicious. And sliders that were pretty darn good. I will definitely be back here when it is warm and I can sit outside.
(4)Lloyd G.
I visited this place tonight based on Yelp reviews and was not disappointed. I only had the burger and fries but it was the best I've had in Wichita after 30+ business trips here!
(5)Jackie O.
Good food ! Great selection of beer and mixed drinks .... Friendly staff and awesome environment .... They put details in their dishes and bring it to a whole new level !
(4)Rich W.
Best hummus plate I have ever had. Cuban sandwich had a really nice flavor but it would have been even nicer if the meat was more tender. The Banh Mi sandwich had a unique American style twist that wad enjoyable. But I give this place five stars because of two main reasons. The first reason is the service. We brought our 2 year old despite Yelp saying the place is not kid friendly. Ya, it's not a place you regularly hit up because of kid menu that they can draw on. But they have high chairs and they brought out some fruit for him with our appetizers. I don't know if they always do this, but bravo! Second reason, this is the type of place that you bring an out-of-town guest to experience something unique to Wichita. Forget the chain restaurants!
(5)Torin A.
Great atmosphere. Great staff. Great concept. Local-vore (very much dislike that word) kinda thing going on. Pizza-pies, sliders, sandwiches, appetizers. Live music on the weekends and sometimes weeknights. Check out the smoked chicken pot pie if you see it on special. oh cool, I read the other reviews and found a new word I very much dislike...gastropub
(5)Ryan C.
DA Bomb! Went and saw a bluegrass concert there after a perfect dinner, tasty good times. Our little entourage is still talking about that weekend.
(5)Kirk C.
Great pub atmosphere. The sliders spot on fries need to be blanched but tasty. Could use a few more tap selections.
(4)Diane M.
Great food, great beer, great service! We will definitely return. Brooke and Travis have a good thing here!
(5)Andrew C.
The food here is great. They need to have another server at lunch - we waited a long time to get our food and then to get our checks.
(3)Jessalynn S.
I'm not going to lie - Public was about the last place I expected to find in a town like Wichita. It was only half-full when we went for dinner on a Thursday night and I was shocked - in Cincinnati, a place like that would be packed all week long. I found the beer menu to be excellent, as were my sliders. The service was attentive, if a little rushed. But really, the prices here seal the deal on Public. You'd pay nearly twice as much for this food in a place like DC or NYC. Public is definite a diamond in the rough.
(5)David C.
Awesome food, great beer selection, cool staff, knowledgeable owner (beer guru).
(5)Samantha B.
If you have not visited this unique venue, you're missing out. Public is located on Rock Island right next to the Brickyard. I love the sunken room, and the atmosphere it creates. Don't let the crowd or the location intimidate you. This place is not just for hipsters. The first time I visited was for a Tweet Up. They were more than willing to accommodate us. The service was rather slow, but I put if off to being newly opened. I tried a signature drink, the lavender lemonata, which I didn't actually care for much. I found the lavender to be very over powering, but I can't wait to try all the other drinks on the menu. They had an awesome happy special going on draft beer, with a nice selection of imports. Food is the number one reason I come here. I had the house pickles appetizer. This consisted of house made pickles, more sweet than dill, horseradish cheddar, thin sliced salami (not sure on the type of meat), and fresh, local bread. I also tried the slider, which were juicy, perfectly cooked, and flavorful. The rosemary garlic fries that came on the side were amazing, crispy, and topped with a plentiful heap of fresh garlic (spicy)! I've also been for a brunch service. The special of the day was corned beef hash with poached eggs. While I loved the hash, the eggs weren't poached very well. One was hard poached and one was semi hard, semi runny. Its paired with hearty wheat bread (from Delano Bread Company) and homemade jam (I think it was raspberry). We also enjoyed $5 mimosas, but I'll be trying the bloody mary very soon. This is one of my Top 5 restaurants in Wichita right now. Stop what you are doing right now, and go to Public. Support the local restaurants!
(5)Big Baby Jesus C.
Down, and to the left. That's what you need to do once you order the building's front door to find the place. It's in a nice old building. The food was very good, but I can't comment on the drinks and such because my stomach was being a bitch.
(4)Tiffany T.
Cool location. Was unhappy with my food. Service was slow. I'll probably give it one more chance..
(2)Chris H.
Took an hour to get our food. We got an excuse when we complained. Would have worked better if we hadn't over heard the server say he forgot to turn in our order. The food is OK and I really wanted to like it. Servers are friendly. At 5:30 when everyone is piling into Morts or Heros, Publis was almost empty. That told us a lot. The owner never followed through with her promise to add more vegetarian dishes to the menu, in face they took off the grilled cheese and tomato soup that my wife had ordered a couple times. Really wanted to like the place, but after the last visit I'm done.
(2)Ryan G.
I'm so happy to see a place like Public open in Old Town, it is exactly what the neighborhood needs. My wife and I had dinner there the other night before heading to an event at Intrust Arena and I was pleased to see the reviews online matched the quality and service of this great addition to Wichita. Our server was fantastic, the atmosphere is relaxed, the beers were crafty, and the food was delicious. We have already begun plotting our return and who we want to bring with us. I've given Public 4 stars which may beg the question what could it do to be 5 stars? To clarify I think it is 5 stars at what it is, a relaxed gastropub where you can get great food while supporting local businesses, not a 5 star restaurant with fine dinning. Though currently in its infant stages, Public is absolutely knocking it out of the park and in order to continue doing so needs Wichita to come down and try it out. Once you go you will want to come back again and again. Old Town is lucky to have a business like this and I can't wait to go back with friends and family for more delicious fun. I highly recommend. 5 stars service 5 stars atmosphere 5 stars food and specials
(4)Mike M.
Great food, beer and service. We have been searching for a laid back restaurant with great food, and we've found one in Public. Perfectly cooked scallops, homemade pickles, and a really good craft beer selection. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Jessica R.
I loved this places décor more than anything. The beer selection was also great. The food was good. I got the prairie sliders with regular fries and it was plenty of food and under $10. The reason we went was to see someone play an acoustic show so the fact that the location was so awesome was just icing on the cake. I used the Yelp voucher (only 1 per table) however I wouldn't have minded paying full price. Will definitely be back!...Good service too! :)
(5)Cooper H.
I love the location and the feel of the restaurant. A one page menu of great food makes it easy to choose what I want.
(5)Spencer B.
Good luck finding the place! I discovered Public only after failing to find two other highly-rated yelp options but I was not disappointed. California portions of tasty morsels are complimented by a wide array of intelligently designed specialty cocktails, and all are very reasonably priced. I agree that "gastropub" is a misnomer by the true definition, but that's no reason to overlook this solid "A for effort" eatery. The restaurant desires to meld tastes and palates, a mission that they accomplish quite well, in fact. Find traditional Midwest comfort foods offered alongside the a more exotic curried vegetable stew, for example. Public is trying very hard to differentiate themselves ... maybe a tiny bit too hard ... but they'll appeal to an array of tastes. Decor is tasteful but the sexy low wattage bulbs in mason jars that imply an intimate, hipster setting conflict with the feeling that they pull the tables in at 10PM and turn the place into a traditional bar. I'd return for a second dinner any time. One word of caution for a visitor to Wichita, keep the drinking to a minimum. I learned from a local that the cops set up shop in this section of the city with DUI checkpoints.
(4)Chris A.
Absolutely love this place. Great atmosphere and incredible food! Make sure you try the sweet potato fries, very good.
(5)Kerry W.
This place is amazing. The environment and decor is wonderful, you can definitely tell how much work the owners have put into it. The food is beyond astounding. The ribs and chicken wings are my favorites. The cooks do a great job down to the finest detail. The butter should be on the side of everything. Strongly recommended!
(5)Jonathan W.
Really enjoy the food and the atmosphere at Public. Good selection of beers and they make a good cocktail, too. Staff is friendly and knowledgable. Atmosphere is relaxed and contemporary in a cool subterranean space. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)Shannon S.
This place has a great vibe. Super cool urban, retro, western feel. I like the mason jar lights. They have a shuffle board. House made pickles are great. Food isn't as amazing as other gastro places, but it's cheap and creative. We will definitely be back often. It's good for groups and couples.
(4)Russell B.
Right away as you walk in (from the bitter cold) the ambiance is warm and inviting. I came in on a quiet Sunday morning for brunch and sat at the bar. Friendly service arrived promptly and started with drink specials. I ordered the beer-mimosa, which was a $4 shandy-type beverage made with OJ. It was refreshing and served at good temperature. The highlight of the experience was the "Steak & Eggs Sandwich." It was amazing. Most notable of the ingredients was a sauce made with chipotle aioli. Normally, I'm not a chipotle sauce kind-of-guy, but this was amazing. Even if everything else about my experience was awful, I would've still given them 5 stars based on this dish. The only caveat was that this was a special, unlisted on the menu. Request it, beg for it, or bribe the waiter because it's worth it.
(5)Dan R.
This place is great. Good value! They usually have drink specials and lots of good meals. Clean, well lit. Wish they had a pool table. I can see this place becoming a real hit during summer. They have an outdoor patio that has huge potential. Staff is very friendly and owner Drew is frequently on site. Highly recommended. Oh yeah, I got the Yelp deal! Pay $10, get a $20 credit.
(4)Pam B.
Amazing food, excellent service and fun atmosphere.
(5)Ernesto C.
the cuban was amazing! the sweet potato fries were not too bad either
(4)Greg W.
Brisket tacos were excellent. Not a huge portion but only 9 bucks. The $2 beer taps on special were also awesome. Great service and friendly atmosphere. Plus they had wifi!
(4)Andrew J.
Great vibe and even greater sliders. It's like they slid down a golden slide from the hand of God himself. Drinks and desert are right on par as well. Awesome place and we would definitely return.
(5)Daniel P.
Wichita needs more places like this. Everything is good and unique... Try the pickles and the bbq pizza.
(5)Dean W.
Great location, slightly underground. Went with a full table of work colleagues, so we were able to try a variety of things. Service was friendly, but confused...drink orders mixed up and delayed, food orders given to the wrong people. And most annoying of all the servers would walk up to the table and interrupt someone telling a story, without waiting for the right moment to break in. This happened repeatedly. It doesn't help that several servers traded off working our table. The food was good, if not as "gastropub" as we expected. We walked in pretty jazzed up, but there was a definite lull and sense of "oh...." when we all looked at the menus. Think more bar food, not as creative or high end as you expect in a good gastropub. The bison sliders have a million things in them, including ground porcini and espresso, but you wouldn't know from the aioli and onion marmalade which obliterated any other flavors. And after the waitress made a big point about the sliders only being cooked pink, ours arrived well done. So much for that. The appetizers we shared were good, especially the homeade pickles with horseradish cheese and salami. Sweet potato fries on the side were greasy and limp, but obviously hand cut. Desserts were able, if not memorable. Good selection of craft beers on draft. Nice layout of the restaurant, and not too noisy. If the owners read this, please do something about the smell in the restrooms. Could be the basement location, but it was unpleasant.
(3)Greg A.
On a wintry, dark Tuesday night, Public was a warm and comfortable spot with a good energy. I arrived in time for happy hour (2-7 tues-fri) and was treated to a $2 CRAFT draft. Each night they pick a $2 and $3 draft beer for their happy hour special! That never happens. The food was also great. I had the brisket tacos. All the smoke and texture of a quality brisket in a Mexican street-fare style taco. The rice and beans side was on point as well. Staff was attractive and warm. I understand the high marks that led me to this gem.
(5)Kristine K.
Only in Wichita for one night and after reading yelp reviews my fiancée and I decided to try Public. It. Was. Ah mazing! I love the fact that they use local meat and dairy. We had the fries for a beginner and they were so good! For the main dish My fiancé had the sliders and I had the blue cheese burger...again both delish! The atmosphere was laid back and just right. Def a cool spot and one worth visiting when we return
(4)Luke C.
Awesome place. First restaurant we tried in Wichita and it hit a home run. We got the Pickle appetizer (pickles made in house) and salads. Everything was extremely fresh and very tasty. I was blown away by the cleanliness... I've never been to a place with beer on tap that didn't even smell remotely like stale beer. The beer selection was great, as well. I'm always into trying new, local(ish) beers and their selection was second to none. Highest recommendation!
(5)Lyle S.
I have been to Wichita many times recently (and grew up in this area) and was not aware of Public. The on draft list is pretty good--had the Oktoberfest from Lefthand Brewing of Longmont CO--and the food was decent. Service was above average. Food was average, but it was great to have a few vegetarian options. Atmosphere is a solid B. Overall a positive experience.
(4)Courtney C.
Foods ok. I think its a better place to hang out and drink with friends. Service was fast and friendly.
(3)Patrick W.
This is a cool place to visit. Great beer selection, both tap and bottle. The menu was full of interesting items. Lots of smoked meat, which is always a plus. I had the brisket tacos, which were great. The rice and beans had no flavor however. Would return next time I am visiting Wichita.
(4)H B.
Had the Cuban sandwich with sweet potato fries... ¡Que rico!
(4)P G.
Traveling to Wichita for the first time and perhaps it's my naïveté in mid-western food, but this is definitely not a "gastropub" as I know it in NY, Denver, San Fran, LA, Southern California or even Australia. I really wanted to like the food, based on the nice beer selection, but it just horribly failed. The salad was swimming in dressing and the "pie" (pizza) was a fat loaded, gut bomb. Given it was the Brisket Pie, the brisket was tasty. However, it was all just swimming in way too much sauce and mozzarella cheese. The thin crust was a attempt, but it was cardboard in texture and tasteless. Aside from the beer, it's one and only saving grace was the dessert... A tangy, tasty lemon tart which was topped off with fresh berries. Overall, this is a pub rather than a gastropub. Savor the beer and the dessert.
(2)Justin B.
Almost 5 stars, the pickles were amazing and the house fries were as well! The only downfall were the beans and rice with the brisket tacos (the brisket was very good though).
(4)RJ W.
My wife and I enjoyed our night at Public tonight. One year ago today we were married here in a very small get together. This place will always be special to us and I hope others can have similar memories! Maybe Brad S. will find someone and give up the relationship with the sound of his own voice :)
(5)Adam E.
Really enjoyed my visit to Public. They have a nice collection of beers and cocktails and while their menu is same everything looked unique and delicious. I have the brisket tacos and we're very good. I will definitely be taking more trips to Public.
(4)Wade D.
This is a very cool and intimate spot with great food. Definitely a recommend, and a welcome addition to the Old Town neighborhood.
(5)Jessica C.
Great food and beer! I love craft beer and they have some great choices. The Bison sliders and pickle platter were great. We went for a Friday night and really enjoyed the atmosphere. These is not a bar like the outdoor part of the brickyard, this is a GREAT local restaurant!!!
(5)Kevin P.
Public is everything you want out of a bar/gastropub - good food, several craft beers on tap and several more in bottles, friendly staff, and a casual/trendy vibe. I paid $7 total for two pints of local beer (one draft, one can) - a good deal to be sure. The duck breast I ordered was cooked well and came with sweet potatoes and asparagus, both of which were solid if unspectacular. I would definitely consider going back if I were in town again.
(4)Theresa F.
I was pleasantly pleased by Public. We are from Northern California and spend a lot of time in San Francisco. I had low expectations for Wichita and it's restaurants. Public was cute and hipster. Loved the pickles. Service was friendly and attentive. The ribs were flavorful, and tender, but a little dry.
(4)Megan K.
My husband and I were in the area and we decided to stop in for a late lunch and a beer. We loved the atmosphere, the food was great, beer even better and overall great service. The waitress bought me a few beer samples to try before I decided on one and she was very helpful with the menu. The sliders and tacos did not fail. We also had a deal from Yelp so we walked out there with a very small bill and a great experience. I would definitely go back next time we are in the area.
(4)Brian S.
Awesome food...from the beer selection and appetizers to the main course. Awesome all the way around.
(5)J C.
Brisket Tacos were very flavorful. Best meal I've had in Wichita. Service was outstanding.
(5)Molly O.
I am really excited to have a place like this in Wichita. It's sorely needed. That being said-I need to go back to give them another shot. We went at a strange hour of the day on a Saturday. So no happy hour..Why don't places do a mid day happy hour on Saturdays? I'd go-obviously. Anyway, the place looks like it's half renovated, there's still that green glow of your uncles basement on the walls. Love the tea towels for napkins-mason jars. The brews on tap were good, could be better. Please get a beer list for people! I asked for one and the poor waiter had to rattle off things from the top of her head. They were also setting up for a holiday party so everyone was moving tables around, making lots of noise but it had to get done, I'm sure. We really wanted to stop it for an appetizer and beers so we ordered the rosemary fries. They were good, however jarred garlic tossed on top of undrained fries is not $7 worthy. There was fresh, lovely rosemary on the fries but topped with jarred garlic, WHY? I will go back to give it another try-like I said, Wichita needs a place like this.
(4)Elsa P.
We just ate lunch here and it was great from start to finish! The staff are energetic and friendly and know their business, and the food was delicious. We split a Mediterranean plate (hummus, pita and tapenade with a small gathering of greens) and a pie/pizza starring beef brisket. Both dishes were tasty and well prepared. We recommend this place to old and young alike.
(5)Shaina P.
Finally got to try Public today and it totally lived up to the hype! Loved the Cuban - the pickles were amazing! Enjoyed it so much I'm bringing 4 new people back this Friday.
(5)jason m.
Legendary! Great atmosphere and food.
(5)Jeff N.
Had dinner and drinks a couple of weeks ago and it's wonderful to have a Gastropub in Wichita. Great homemade pickles appetizer, amazing tacos and sliders, also. Very pleased with the draft menu. Atmosphere is great, decoration is clean, crisp, modern, and fun.
(5)Tami J.
Like all of the other reviewers have said- I love this place! The beer selection is great and the atmosphere is perfect. They've also got a big tv if you'd like to catch a game. I recommend ordering the sliders, brisket tacos, or pickles! I also tried the chili on special and that had just the right amount of spice.
(5)Vivian K.
Ate lunch here twice. LOVE the jalapeño corn bread! I slather their butter on them and it's heavenly!! Both times I've ordered what was on the lunch special. Turkey Panini with black beans and rice. Nice, light lunch. Next time I got the roast beef sandwich with garlic Rosemary fries. Delicious as well. They have a side called haricot vert which is fresh, string green beans which I devoured! Yum! I've recommended it to many of my coworkers for lunch.
(5)Shay B.
For out-of-towners, Public is the perfect place for lunch or dinner. You're right across the street from the Museum of World Traasures and smack dab in the middle of Old Town. You really have to pay attention to find it though, because the restaurant itself is below street level and the entrance is down a hallway. Let me say I love the ambiance there. All of the old-timey things decorating the walls and booths were cute and they definitely were playing up their Old Town locale. Dining solo, I was tucked away into a tiny booth and promptly given beer and food menus. They have a lot of options: a few KS beers, a few CO beers, and for the out-of-towners from OK, a couple Prairie beers were on top as well! I settled for an octoberfest that was made in KS, but I can't remember the brewery. I do remember that the beer was very good, and I had 2. After a pleasant introduction by the waitress, I ordered my beer and a plate of a grilled cheese and home fries. Happy to have some time to sit after romping around Wichita for a few hours, I nestled in and read / played games / social media while I waited. But after a few minutes of hanging out and enjoying my time, the waitress comes up with some tattered books. She explains that they use these books to put the checks in, but she said she'd thought I'd like something to pass the time. This would've been a sweet gesture, had she not said it in this cloying, pitying tone. Dear waitstaff of the world: solo diners are not sad folks. Many of us, including myself, like to treat ourselves to a nice meal without necessarily having to talk to people. But the old books were fun though, so I brushed it off. My grilled cheese and home fries came. The home fries were excellent, seasoned with garlic and rosemary. The grilled cheese was just ok, and while the cheese itself was good, there was barely any cheese on it. I think I'd like to return though if I'm ever in Wichita again though. Ambiance is a biggie for me, and I definitely enjoyed the ambiance at Public. There were several other vegetarian options on the menu, which I appreciated, so the menu is definitely not lacking. Wichita apparently does vegetarian better than Oklahoma City. Who knew?
(3)Charles C.
I have been here several times and every time it's the worst experience. An average dining experience consists of waiting 15 minutes for a table, another 30 minutes until the server comes to take food orders. After that it's an hour before the food comes. May god have mercy on your soul if you want another drink order any time after the initial because you may never get it. Public seems to pride themselves on their Bloody Mary but it is by far the worst I've ever had. They seem to always be out of what you want too. I wouldn't suggest this restaurant to an enemy.
(1)Jared P.
Public is one of my favorite spots in Wichita. It has a speakeasy feeling, hidden under all the brick and mortar of Oldtown. You look around and just imagine the history and secrets the walls hold. But Public is no secret, in fact it was featured on the Travel Channel for their mouth-watering bison sliders. This time I decided to go with "The Uncle Jessy", I mean how can you go wrong with BBQ brisket ON A PIZZA?! It was delicious! The bits of bleu cheese added an extra dose of flavor to the pie. I'm not sure what they do to keep it from getting greasy, but the honey wheat dough crust is one of my favorite parts. I love greasy food just as much as the next guy, but it can get a bit overwhelming on a pizza. So many people typically just throw the crust away so you have to appreciate a place that makes it more than just a handle to hold your meal. I also couldn't resist ordering a side of sweet potato fries even though I knew the pizza would be plenty filling, and I don't regret it! Everything on the menu at Public is created with care. From their local ingredients to prep in the kitchen. They really do take it to the next level. Typically I find one thing on the menu at a place and stick with it but I can't wait to try it all at Public!
(5)Allister D.
Eh.. Not impressed I love the design of the place and how it felt like an underground bar inside a basement. The seating is nice and there's plenty of space and TVs to show sports on. The food is alright. Nothing special. I had bison and beef sliders which was pretty good. They serve two sliders which are a fist size with golden fries. The meat itself has a good meaty texture, a bit dry and not much flavor/rub. I think they can add more spice of flavor to them. My gf ordered a Banh Mi which is their take of Vietnamese sandwich, mid west & American style. The pork was too sweet and the marinade was too much. Tiny slices of jalapeños, not much vegetables to compliment the flavors and traditional take. The portion was too small and it was just a take of a sweeter and lighter pulled pork sandwich; I didn't like it. Last time I'll be coming..
(2)Katherine J.
Was walking around the area and stopped in. Service was pretty terrible. You'd think a Wichita restaurant wouldn't have attitude but I think this place is really trying to embody a hipster theme. Guess cranky and slow service goes along with it. I did think the menu had some interesting choices. I enjoyed the cauliflower. I rarely visit Wichita so I doubt I'll return and can't really recommend it. Maybe the bartenders are more friends than the waitresses?
(2)Miss Missy G.
I have been to this restaurant many times, giving them numerous chances to improve. Every time is a worse experience than the previous. The service is horrible, although the wait staff is pleasant. It takes at least 15 minutes to get a drink after the 10 minutes you wait for the waitress to stop by for a drink order. The food of mediocre at best of they aren't out of what you originally ordered which happens more often than not. Save your money and time and go to Old Chicago's.
(1)Jay W.
I decided to give Public one more chance... That was a mistake. Do not order the Gourmet burger. It was tiny, over cooked, very dry, and tasted like they used cheap taco seasoning in the meat. My dates salad was soggy and small. I will never go back.
(1)Lance C.
Sandwich & burger menu plus dinner plate specials. Food is good, but it is the atmosphere that makes this restaurant special. It's "down under" with a "speak easy" vibe. You're likely to find sports, news, and even old-tymey b&w comedies like W.C. Fields or Laurel & Hardey. Wait staff is knowledgeable and super helpful. Be sure to try the rosemary fries!
(4)Sepi D.
This place is semi hard to locate. It's in the downtown district which is streets of bars and eateries. The sign is on one of the side allies in which you aren't sure where the door of entrance is located.. You actually walk down a set of a few steps and there is another door to the small but cozy restaurant / bar.. The menu consists of only several items per food category, and you can only pick based on lunch, or dinner time. This is the only reason it gets 4 stars.. Chris the awesome waiter? 5 stars The beef brisket tacos on corn tortillas? 5 stars The Nutella creme brûlée ? 5 stars! The menu prices are good. The meal portion is small however. I did get a small spring mix salad prior instead of my sides , but the tacos were TINY. The photos make the food look larger than it really is.. I didn't touch the beans and rice, but did the dessert instead! Couldn't resist. The ambiance was very cozy! I want to return and check out the grilled cheese lunch option. Overall a fun experience, plus I loved the flowers on the table and the book they put your bill in!
(4)Kyle D.
If you're local to the Wichita area this place will likely be right down your alley. If you're not and travel for a living this place is very uninspiring. Food was mediocre at best and the drinks were weak and watered down. There are better places to eat.
(2)Losh A.
Went for sunday brunch, had the french toast, really good. My kids had pancakes , hubby had corned beef hash. Food was good, healthy, and fair price. The setting is unusual, but my kids loved it, they were entertained with the table shuffleboard. Its underground entrance too so made us more curious to go and find it.
(4)Nick B.
Went in the wrong door at first, made a loop and sat at the bar. Got the sliders, they were good! Beer was good that the bartender recommended. Good place to eat
(4)Raymond O.
I come back because I like the Brickyard and a Public during bar hours, but I'm done coming back for brunch. Service is extremely slow for the size of their crowd. Bloodymary's are horrible here. Food is mediocre.
(1)Alisa S.
A group of us went here to just hang out and have a few drinks. I like the decor of the place. It's kind of a hipster basement vibe. We ordered fries to eat which were a good snack, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for the Mediterranean Plate. I'm not a huge fan of curry powder and that's all I could taste in the hummus. Maybe it was an off day or something because another reviewer's picture of the hummus didn't look nearly as yellow as mine. I'll still come back again to try real food though. There's a shuffle board that you play for free, too, so that's a plus.
(3)Liesl W.
Delicious food! I love the fact that they locally source ingredients and serve grass fed beef. Excellent waitstaff, especially Melissa. It's a small place with soft lighting, great date spot. They lose a star for sending takeout home in polystyrene containers.
(4)Robert B.
I won't contend that Public has the best food in Wichita, or the best bar list, or the best service, or the most creative menu. It doesn't have any of these, really. They have rarely modified the menu in the last three years--another reason why you can't quite take it too seriously. You'd think something offered as a special for over a year would make it onto the permanent menu...but you'd be wrong: the specials are almost always the salmon, the chicken & waffles, the spare ribs, and the burger (they're listed as "dinner specials" online). The menu is unfocused and uneven. The beer list is significantly shorter than that of the Anchor, or even The Hill. It gets really loud in the low-ceiling basement space on date nights. But still. I like the place so much that it has become one of my favorites in the city. Let me see if I can list the reasons why: 1. I like its ambience, including that it will always be cool in the summer, and that even when crowded the shape of the space makes it feel a little less crowded than it really is. 2. The menu: --even though the sandwiches are non-traditional, they've tended to be very tasty regardless. --the brisket tacos are a strong standby; the prairie sliders are also excellent. --the pot pie on the lunch menu is excellent. --the Matterhorn is perhaps the best pizza combination, and it's very good. --the fries are as good as advertised. --THE CHICKEN & WAFFLES. The chicken in the chicken & waffles is not fried; rather, it's roasted in duck confit and served with a whole-grain waffle and cardamom butter, a totally creative spin on the dish. --Finally, the ribs....THE RIBS. This might be the best bbq in the city, right here. It's got an earthy, smoky sauce that is uniquely tasty and complements the well-prepared pork perfectly.. They re-use the sauce on some of the pizzas (less successfully, in my opinion). The spare ribs and the chicken & waffles are two of the better dishes in Wichita in terms of creativity and execution. 3. The beer and drink list tends to provide curveballs in a good way. This was the first place I had Tank 7 on draft, and the first place I had a Flemish sour on draft. I'm sure they didn't beat the Anchor to those, but they weren't far behind, and I saw much more of those items on other menus in ICT a few months after. We had so few places like this in Wichita even five years ago that I think we (maybe just I) tend to forgive the foul-ups, especially when we return and figure out what's good. Public has a few things they do really well. If you're going there for the first time, ask your server for recommendations-- I don't think you'll regret it. So nice to have some facsimile of a food scene, even if it's maybe just a facsimile. Well, we are only a half-million yet. Yes....a good & getting better half-million.
(4)Brett S.
Came here about a week ago for the first time. Didn't have the kids for the weekend and decided to treat ourselves by trying out some new places downtown. Took a little bit of looking to actually find the place but once we did we were quite pleased with the underground/speakeasy atmosphere. It almost had the vibe that you would expect at the bar in "Cheers". Cool place. I don't remember exactly what we ordered but we were both very pleased. Menu is not very big but that can be nice at times. Narrowing down the options makes it easier to decide. Delicious food. The in-house made potato chips were seasoned perfectly. Some of the chips were not as crispy as I would've liked but the seasoning made up for it. Great food, good service, cool location. This place would be a great place to have supper or just relax and have a few cold ones. We'll definitely be back.
(5)Naomi S.
Good food, good drinks, a good place to meet up with friends. Only drawbacks: single stall bathroom for ladies and it's LOUD.
(4)Bill L.
Highly recommended the Cuban. Great pickles. A little noisey. Bananas foster quite good, interesting spin.
(5)Renée R.
Husband and I came just for a snack in the middle of the day. We used the buy ten for five deal. We were not disappoint. It was a good snack and good prices. I would recommend it.
(5)Jill L.
Sam is the man. .....great food, vibe, good joint! But now Aaron has arrived....game on....and he is rockin the danicin' pants!
(5)John W.
Thanks to the friends I've never met on Yelp, I found this gem in downtown Wichita on my long drive home. A few things to mention first; awesome and unique setting, clean, amazing food, and great craft beer selection. I'll start with beer. They have a lot of Kansas beers there I've never heard of before and even cooler, they have matching brewery glasses too! If you're from out of Kansas and you stop at Public, please remember to drink local. Unique setting is an understatement. From the basement entrance, to the vintage books laying all over the bar; this spot will have you feeling like you stepped back 6 decades. I feel like any place that serves you water in a mason jar is doing more than one thing right! Haha Finally, the food. The most important thing I can tell you is this. I've never been anywhere where I was able to have 2 IPA beers, a main course, and TWO deserts! Holy cow is their dessert menu off the chain. I had a warm apple crumble with what appeared to be some home made or high quality ice cream, and then the chocolate mousse brownie. After my second dessert, I honestly considered having seconds on the apple crumble. I shouldn't forget, I had the mac and cheese for my main course, and it was a 10 out of 10. I would love to find a place in town that competes with Public. Eat here!
(5)Bradley T.
This is probably the best steak I've ever had for $20 for $40 or for $60 my experience would've been five star if a manager had not met me out front and treated me like a prick over my to-go black coffee he literally got aggressive and took my coffee out of my hand and told me I couldn't take it out of the building - so if i cant take a coffee on the street how does a Starbucks survive? shame on you Old graybeard. You leave customer service and do your guest a favor if you have this small of a capacity to explain yourself to a paying customer - congratulations on single-handedly wrecking my experience at your restaurant. You have done every hard working member of your staff a disservice.
(1)Kylie A.
I didn't think Wichita had much, but Public is all you need. As soon as we walked in I was sold on the decor and the vibes. It's in a basement so lots of exposed brick, low lighting. Love it. The menu is small but almost everything sounded delicious. They use all local ingredients. I had the prairie sliders with potato salad and my hubs had the Cuban with golden fries. We demolished our plates in less than 20 minutes. I though the portions were spot on, we had room for dessert. Baileys creme brulée. Yes. If I'm in Wichita I will come back here no question.
(5)Jennifer D.
Let me preface this review by saying that if I could have picked 0 stars, i would have!!! This was by far the worst service I have EVER experienced during an evening out. We stood at the front door waiting to be seated in an empty restaurant for 5 minutes, all while being stared at by staff talking to each other. The hostess walked by twice without so much as an acknowledgment. Once she decided to acknowledge us, she gave my husband & I the dirtiest look. WTH, my husband was in a suit jacket & dark denim jeans & I in dress pants & a blouse. Yes, probably overdressed for that atmosphere, but we are in town for a convention. Once we were finally seated, we watched another staff member haul the trash & pick at a scab on his hands on the way back into the restaurant. The waiter was better, but then proceeded to tell me that they were out of ginger beer so they couldn't do a Moscow Mule. That way my last straw & we got up & left. I can't believe I was about to waste my money supporting an establishment such as this. It's too bad too, since my husband and I farm & were very interested in learning about their farm to table practices :-(.
(1)Chris C.
Came in on a Tuesday night for our first visit and left unimpressed. The decor is nice. We didn't have anything to drink and didn't look at the beer & wine menu, so I can't speak to that. But I will say the food was not enough to bring me back. I had a side Caesar Salad with the Brisket tacos (with rice & beans) and my wife had the Cobb salad. The tacos were fine (bite for bite), but for the price, I expected more than 2 tacos on 5" tortillas. The $5 side Caesar salad was just sad. Packaged croutons, too much dressing, small bowl. It's what I'd expect at a poorly managed chain restaurant. If they had charged half that amount, I'd still feel cheated. For a restaurant with a pretty limited menu, they were out of ribs and could not make the banh mi sandwich. Who knows what else they were out of. The 1/2lb burger special was $13. It may be a nice place for drinks, but there's far better options in terms of value and menu selection at other Old Town locations and places like AVI Seabar & Chophouse.
(2)Amy K.
I came here alone for a quick midday dinner. The house salad is pretty delicious, and the filet special was really flavorful. Although a tad oily, it was surprisingly tasty. My medium-rare steak was definitely medium on the outside parts, however. If you check in on Yelp, you receive a 50% dessert coupon, fyi! My moscow mule wasn't the best tasting I've had, but it was decently strong. Service was pleasant, but the waiter did make me wait quite a bit throughout my visit. He looked a bit flustered, as the crowd was growing by 7pm. I would come back again. There was also live music starting up around 7pm.
(4)Michael C.
Food was nicely prepared but portions were under whelming. I had salmon BLT, it was quite good.
(4)Nicole C.
Went in there one time and felt like we were inconveniencing the server. We immediately left and will not return. It's too bad because the Brickyard is awesome!
(2)Lisa B.
I'm currently in the 35th minute of waiting for my food. We are seated next to the kitchen window. It's packed with dishes but none of the waitresses seem to be willing to pitch in and run the food out to the proper tables. So we wait. I like this place but the wait staff needs to be a bit more cooperative and speedy.
(2)Rose R.
The food was lack luster and service was terrible. I ordered the special which was a beer Sausage pizza and it was probably the worst pizza I have ever had. Instead of a savory treat it tasted like a Mars bar. Overly sweet and cold when we got it. The server ignored us and stared at the ticket while we were righting out the tip?! When is that ever okay!!!! I liked the idea of getting your check in an old book but ours had some rather obscene pictures drawn inside. I am not usually bothered by that stuff but these were pretty graphic. They should probably check that stuff out before handing the ticket to a family. The other thing that kind of annoyed me was the server refused to speak to me and only spoke to my husband. She even asked him if I needed more water! I'm right here!!! She ignored any request I had until my husband brought it up. It was outright rude. Then I was coming back to the table from stepping to the ladies room when I saw her leaned across the table on her elbows talking to my husband about how much she liked his shirt. It was a plain white shirt!!! Are you flipping kidding me!!!! We won't be going back. The food sucked and the staff was unprofessional to say least!!!
(1)Bob P.
Interesting downtown area and an even more interesting restaurant. Loved the old time look and the local crowd. Great service to boot. We both did the special lamb shanks. They were good but next time i'll do the salmon. Dinner and 2 drinks ran $50. ... it was good but not wow
(4)James B.
Been a fan of Public since they opened, and just finally getting going on Yelp, so tie to catch up on some reviews. The place is great. A unique space with a unique vibe, it draws a mixed crowd of young and old with a great combination of craft beer and a diverse menu with a lot of local/regional focus. They also have a slim cocktail menu which has some great options, including one of my personal favorites in Wichita, the Public Smash. The go to recommendations are the Prairie Sliders, which utilize bison meat and are a wonderful change of pace from your standard garden variety burger sliders, and the Brisket Tacos. I am a fan of both and they are unique and stand out from other menus. The Cuban and banh mi are also delicious and with a tasting. Lately though, it has been their chicken and waffles. The maple glaze on the chicken is perfect, and they are so well cooked you can hardly pick up the leg bone without having the meat just fall right off. The waffles are a great compliment and just thinking about it has my mouth watering again. Add to the food a great staff, and cool cross section of Wichita clientele, a shuffleboard table, and a pinball machine and you have a great local spot in Wichita to enjoy great food, beers, and people.
(5)Logan G.
Phenomenal brunch special; had the egg scramble. Friendly staff, comfortable and casual atmosphere. Love the locally sourced foods!
(5)John S.
Cool place from the outside. The menu looks amazing and the waitstaff are friendly to bad the food is so average. Portions are small and the food is bland. The fries were cold and by the end of the meal all we wanted was our check. The good news is much better restaurants are a short walk away.
(2)Ryan B.
For those who claim Wichita has nothing to offer by way of good eats, I present to you: Public. When your best friend comes into town and you're looking for a few hotspots to show off, this should make the list. Here's why: Character. From the Old Town location to the underground (literally) speakeasy vibe, there are no other venues in town that can emulate Public's feel. It embodies the highlights of Kansas and captures the essence of the ICT from top to bottom. From the dim, unconventional lighting and prairie rustler-esque furnishings down to the ingredients and brews on the menu. Ah, menu. The other reason this is a can't miss. As I mentioned, Public incorporates Wichita flavor in many of its offerings. At play are the area's Mediterranean influences, inclusion meat-centric barbecue and comfort food staples. Even the very ingredients lend themselves to regional familiarity; bison, locally cured meats, and area-baked buns and breads populate a vast majority of the edible options. There are some oddities, but whatever you choose you're sure to get an honest tasting of the town. My recent order of Prairie Sliders certainly earned endorsement. A pair of mini brioche rolls, butter toasted, acted as bookends to a smear of house-prepped honey dijon, melty sharp cheddar, thick, bison blend patties, and an onion jam spread. The dynamic duo struck all the right chords. Bison tends to dry out easily, but here the meat was seared and cooked to a perfect medium after being crusted with a seasoned mix of salt, crushed black peppercorns, and roasted coffee beans for an earthy undertone. The accompanying zesty mustard and faintly sweet onion jam melded with the meat harmoniously, each offering an element of complexity and enjoying a moment in the spotlight while allowing the meat its rightful place at center stage. On second thought, perhaps center stage was a bit of an exaggeration. The fries, the fantastic, double fried, rosemary seasoned, parmesan dusted FRIES, are a spectacle worthy of an auditorium. If you've never had a deceptively ordinary looking, hand cut style french fry with an outstanding crispiness nearly all the way through, you've never had a french fry the way God intended them to be produced. This may very well be the best realization of potatoes in Kansas; stop what you're doing and get some. And bring me some. Not necessarily in that order. My point here, put quite simply, is that Public is a worthy allocation of your funds and appetite, and those of any who you care to impress. So show your true feelings and treat me to Public already. You can even bring that out of town friend if you want.
(5)Matt S.
Very good! You must try the Public pickles...they were excellent with one person in our group grabbing the last pickle as the waitress took the platter away! I had the Banh Mi and it was very good. The others in our party had the Bison Sliders and Cuban sandwich and all enjoyed their meals. The garlic rosemary fries are good, but I think Dempsey's fries are still just a notch above these. Very good service also. Wide beer selection.
(5)