Weekends expect it to be crowded, I don't mind this seeing as I'm always satisfied when I leave. Great mixed drinks!

My husband and I went for dinner recently. It is a tight space, but they've done it pretty well. The fireplace is a nice touch. The salads were ok, but the steaks were really excellent. Prices were nothing out of the ordinary and the martinis were made to perfection. One thing I didn't appreciate was the scantily clad hostess. In the words of my husband "Why did she even bother putting on a shirt?" read more

very good vibe drinks are very food but food menu needs to expand because not much especially for kids

Neighborhood Gem ..... I have been enjoying the Public House since moving to Westfield, NJ over a year ago. I find the atmosphere in this upscale restaurant and bar very comfortable, relaxing, friendly and warm. Relaxing with a glass of wine near their fireplace will definitely make you feel welcome, especially during the cold-weather months. Although I probably wouldn't place a family classification on this restaurant, well-behaved children are often found dining with parents, especially at the early dinner hour. It's great to be able to enjoy a conversation without obnoxious background noise. During summer months, they often open large windows that provide an "outdoor cafe" feeling. The Public House service is always excellent. The wait staff is well trained, knowledgeable and very professional. The prime steaks are outstanding. The fish and chips are the best. Great food. They have a respectable full service bar with many fine wines by the glass and great beers. Their newest draft Racer 5 IPA from Bear Republic Brewing is A+ rated. With an ABV 7.0 it is a very impressive brew. The place is always packed on weekends and many weeknights. Plan to arrive early if you want a table without waiting. Don't be surprised if the owner manager visits your table. It is very clear that 100% customer satisfaction is their goal. read more

What a great date night! We started off with ginger drinks from the bar. Mine was called the Mediteranean and my fiances was Tito's they were served in these cute tin cups. The only thing I would change was the alcohol content they were weak drinks for the price, but still tasty. We started off with the shrimp and grits appetizer. It was delicious! The grits were perfectly cooked, the shrimp was tender and the small pieces of ham complimented the dish. For my main course I had the blackened salmon, and I customized my dish with garlic mashed potatoes and garlic spinach. I left a clean plate! My dish was superb. My fiance had the ribeye with corn. His issue with his dish was that because ribeye is a bit fatty, the fact that it was such a thin slice, you got fatty meat in each bite. Other than that, the dish was great! For dessert we had the brownie a la mode. Not so good. The brownie tasted microwaved. It was a bit disappointing especially with such great first course and entree. Our server Dylan was very friendly, attentive, and provided service with a smile. Being in the food industry I did notice a few things that I would improve. Our hightop table needed something to even out the leg. Everytime we cut into our entrées the table shook a lot but we laughed about it because were not uptight. When our first course came out, we waited about 5 minutes for our plates, utensils and napkins to come out. That should have come out as soon as we ordered. Also, when my fiance recieved his steak, a steak knife wasnt provided right away. He should have been provided with the knife as soon as we were done with our first course. Otherwise, a great experience, great ambiance, and great food! We will definitely come back. read more

Ate lunch here and was surprised to find the restaurant almost empty at 12:30 on a weekday. I was afraid that this was a bad sign, but we ended up having a very enjoyable lunch; maybe there just aren't that many businesses close by that would drive people to this establishment for lunch. In any event, we each had appetizers - Caesar salad that my colleague found to be fresh and delicious and an avocado/cucumber/crab salad for me, which was refreshing although I'm still not sure whether the pumpernickel breadcrumbs added to or detracted from the salad. We almost didn't need our entrees after the starters, but I managed to finish all my fish 'n chips. The fish was fried to perfection and not at all greasy, but it was served with tartar sauce instead of the traditional malt vinegar. The chips were so, so good I was swooning - tossed with sauteed onions, rosemary and truffle salt, they were just wonderful. My friend had the shepherd's pie and said that it was tasty but more mashed potatoes than filling. Now that we've found this place I'm sure we'll be back. read more

get the deviled eggs. 3 per order, so you won't want to share. everything else was pretty ok. tried the wings, hubby got the burger and i ordered fish & chips. ended with chocolate gelato and chocolate mousse cake. read more

Came here on a Friday night around 7:30 for a girls' night with friends. We had a very nice time. Wait staff hustle and there are plenty of bus boys to clear empty glasses and plates which is lovely and an aspect of a dining experience so many restaurants overlook these days. We sat in the lounge area at the back while we waited for a table. The experience of the entire place (which was extremely busy) was that it is very loud. There are no sound absorbing surfaces such as carpet or curtains. There was music playing loudly but that results in people talking even louder so it was still drowned out. When I was able to make out a bass line I recognized Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones and I approve of both. The waitress who helped us back in the lounge area was pleasant enough and did a good job. It was very busy and she had to find creative ways to get to us because of the way the lounge area is set up (you can get blocked in by others who come to that seating area after you). We had glasses of wine and a lemon drop martini all of which were good and we also shared the garlic shrimp appetizer which was just okay. Our waiter once we were seated at a table was outstanding. His name is Mike. He is witty and attentive without being a pest. It's a delicate balance and he got it just right. One of my friends is a vegetarian and had a salad and the squash risotto and reported that both were good. Two of my friends got the scallops and said they were good but not great. Two of us had the burger and fries which was outstanding. One friend who got the scallops also got a side of truffle fries and she reported they didn't have much truffle flavor at all. For desert I just had a cup of coffee (which had definitely been sitting on a burner and was stale) but my friends had brownie sundaes and the mixed berries with whipped cream and reported both were good. It was a good experience and I'll be back. Because it is a small space that was packed and very loud, they don't take reservations, and the food missed a few marks, this restaurant gets four stars from me rather than five. Still a solid experience and worth a visit. read more

Unique/relaxing atmosphere for dinner, a drink, or both. Menu is creative and constantly changing. Has some Irish classics and other American gastropub dishes. I get something different to eat every time I go and it never disappoints. They pour a proper guiness. read more

This place was great in every regard. The service was top notch, the wine/beer/scotch selection is impeccable, and the food was excellent. It's a tad pricey but you get what you pay for and it really is worth it. I would recommend this to anyone in the area looking for something different and cozy. read more

Food more miss than hit. Drinks too expensive. Staff is very nice. Just wish they would focus on having good food. Kilkenny House in Cranford, and Darby Road in Scotch Plains much better. read more

This was my first visit to Publick House. It was about 95 degrees outside and about 90 degrees inside, it seemed like only the bar area got any air conditioning. We had appetizers, burrata and salad, which everyone enjoyed. The entrees were mostly good but my shepherd's pie was about 80 percent mashed potatoes and a few tiny pieces of lamb and vegetables. The staff was friendly and helpful but if I go back it will be when the weather is cooler. read more

They used to have the best wings in NJ! Was my go-to wing spot. They changed up their wing recipe and now they have a whole new flavor and they're kinda wet. Hopefully they switch back, or at least offer the old ones on the menu too as "classic" or something. Until then, I gotta find a new spot. read more

If you're not familiar with the area, this restaurant is easy to miss. All they have in front of their building is one tiny flag-like sign in the front. Coming from Route 22, they have a decent sign on the side of the building. But if you're going toward Route 22, there's nothing except the little "flag." By the time we got in after we finally found it, the wait was too long, so our tryout of this restaurant will have to wait until another time. read more

First time for this out-of-towner couple... a very, very mediocre meal. Expectations were in check (it's a pub) and we ordered a total of 5 dishes. Not a hint of anchovy (claimed by the menu) in the Caesar salad, the broccoli rabe was not cleaned properly and still had their tough woody stems, the mussels had a very weak broth with virtually no seasoning, and several of the mussels had started to turn. The panzanella salad was flat. The burrata was fairly good, but the fried green tomatoes lacked salt. The service was prompt and attentive, but no bowl was offered for the mussel shells so I stacked them on the broccoli rabe, which rendered that dish useless. In summary, a lively place that seems to attract professionals at the bar and families and couples who don't feel like cooking in the rest of the space. The kitchen is the definitely the weakest link... including gratuity, the worst $90 meal I can remember. read more

Was exited to try this popular neighborhood restaurant. Nice decor, popular, solid looking menu. Unfortunately, my wife and I had a very disappointing meal. First the beer. I ordered an Allagash and received a warm and rancid beer that may or may not have been Allagash. the beer should not have been served and the server seemed not surprised by the problem and offered something else. crab and avocado salad contained a microscopic amount of crab. Potato croquettes were bland. My main was duck confit. Decent flavor but this was the smallest duck leg I have ever seen- appetizer size. A joke. My wife's rigatoni with pork ragu was bland and not properly braised- too tough, flavors undeveloped due to shortcut preparation. Prices are high- NYC level for average food. Poor value which is unfortunate because the area lacks good options read more

Surprisingly good just about every time. Don;t be fooled by the pub atmosphere. While the bar and beers are good, the food is up there with upscale local restaurants read more

Loved this place! My husband and I shared the Publick burger, fish and chips, and side of string beans. I'm not usually a burger person, but the Publick burger was out of this world, it was one of the best burgers I've ever had (my husband who is a burger guy, agrees 100%). The fish was fresh and flaky, and not over battered, which I appreciated. The string beans were roasted, also very good. Service was great, everyone was very friendly. We will definitely be going back, we had a wonderful time, and cannot stop talking about that burger! read more

I used to love this place. Close to home good food and fun atmosphere. But with the new Chef the quality of food has really gone down- over cooked salmon, soggy salads weird appetizers.A real disappointment! read more

We used to love coming here. The burger was extraordinary and the truffle fries were perfect. A new chef has been brought on and the burger is far from good. It's smaller and can't even compete with the old one. Service is always good and staff is always kind. Bring back the old menu please!!!!! read more

. The food and service are the best. Upscale food at great prices. The best steak I ever had. The seafood is out of this world. Great place to meet your friends from Westfield, Scotch Plains and Mountainside. Very warm friendly atmosphere. The specials are fantastic and try the Tuna Pizza, Scallops, Wings (the best anywhere), Sheppard's Pie and all the delicious sandwiches. Don't forget the great salads!!! Also, tremendous selection of draft beer and Irish Whiskey. Must try the Irish Coffee!!! read more

We just moved to Mountainside and this quickly became our favorite spot. A little on the expensive side but food quality and taste are right up there with 3 star NYC restaurants. We have yet to have a single bad thing!! read more

We had a nice meal here. Something different than the typical Irish pub. Nice atmosphere, ample parking in back and decent food and drink selection. The only reason I give this place 4 stars is because I wasn't a huge fan of my entree - Shepherd's Pie (which was really a Cottage Pie) - it was just different than I expected - ground beef with a few peas under a thick mashed potato layer. Meh. Nonetheless, I'm willing to give this place another try because everyone else seemed to like their meals, and I just could have ordered the wrong thing (for me). read more

Had a light dinner here on Friday night with my husband. Arrived about 7:30 p.m. Got the last parking spot on the lot. As always, love the atmosphere. Band playing was called Dr. Brian's Friends and was great. In the past I have loved the food but tonight it left a little to be desired. My vegetable pizza was just okay, too much cheese and not very crisp. My husband's special was penne with spinach and mozzarella in a wine sauce. The dish was so watery it looked like soup and the broth tasted just like chicken broth. Not up to par for sure. Would go back, however, since I love the atmosphere, the beer is nice and cold, the staff is very courteous and friendly and the entertainment is usually very good (Jessie Villa is wonderful when she sings there). read more

Great food and drink selection. We had a private party here and everyone enjoyed themselves. The owner is passionate about the business and it shows. read more

The restaurant has a nice atmosphere. It tends to get loud.. My family has been going there for years but they recently have taken some of the key favorite items off the menu. The garlic shrimp appetizer was a BIG favorite and the seared scallops we're great but have been taken off the menu. They have a small menu and taking 2 key items off makes a big difference.also they don't take reservations. read more

Went for late lunch so very few people were there. I had the fish and chips which were so-so. The beer battered cod fish didn't seem to taste very fresh. The batter had no taste to it. The fries however were excellent. My buddy had the shepherd's pie. He said that yes, the meat was lamb but they were chunks of lamb and not the usual ground lamb. He also commented that there were no veggies in the pie. The service although it was a late lunch was not terrific. The waitress was more interested in chatting with buddies, read more

Went to dinner here about 6:00 PM on 2/13/16 and was seated right away. I had the scallops and my friend had the salmon. Both were delicious!! The ambiance was great with soft lighting and the fire place burning. The best part of the experience was the service. Our server, Tina, was very attentive, efficient, and friendly!! A great asset to the restaurant! I will continue to come here and will always recommend it! read more

Stopped here after a movie at the Mountainside AMC, so this was most convenient, but we are SO glad we did! Couldn't wait to quench our thirst, as the movie had us a little jangled (saw Dunkirk - wow) so we selected the Summer Spritz cocktail (most refreshing) and a draft selection made in Rahway! Both hit the spot! Food wise, we started with 2 marvelous appetizers: 1-Burrata on toasted polenta, with seasonal heritage tomatoes, red onion and a light champagne dressing with a touch of bacon and 2-Pork belly served on a cabbage/fennel slaw. We shared a salad of spinach and beet, with hard boiled egg, bacon lardons, blue- cheese and walnuts. Our 2 entrees were specials: Veal chop over white asparagus and rutabaga, and Scottish trout over zucchini and summer squash with a lemon-thyme sauce. BOTH OUTSTANDING. Accompanying our dinners we had another draft (Wet Ticket, Kolsch style) with the chop and a Sancerre with the trout...nice pairings, both! We shared the gelato collection for dessert (chocolate, graham cracker and vanilla). The ambiance was perfect, not too noisy, with 80's music overhead. Our server, Michael, knew his stuff, making recommendations that were spot on when we asked. The owner, Bernie, is visible and welcoming. Our review is from a fairly knowledgeable foodie/home cooking couple point of view. We appreciate well prepared fresh and thoughtful menu selections... if you do as well, you will not be disappointed! Give it a go! (And P.S...we were told that their original chef is back, so everyone was appreciative of his return!) read more

Wow! I rarely leave a restaurant so completely delighted by the food, the service and the experience. I had, at my friend's suggestion, the world's best hamburger, and some great beer from a really good selection of taps. And our waitress was ridiculously nice. She was delighted to bring us two rounds of tastings to try before we ordered drinks. The place is deceptive: You walk into what at first looks like a local hangout: guys at the bar watching sports on TV. But the decor is better than the average pub (bathrooms were really quite nice!) and the food is amazing. The front of the rest. was open to the street with some shutters, which would have been nice if two Jersey girls hadn't been smoking on the sidewalk bench. But wow! I don't often rave about a place, but I wish I lived closer (my friend is in Westfield). But this will absolutely be the go-to place next time I'm visiting. And I highly recommend it for "woohoo! As good as it gets!" read more

Visited the Publick House because friends of mine are always crazy about it. Went on a Saturday night and the place was packed. Great atmosphere when you first walk in. Waited a little to be seated but from what I hear that is the normal. Ordered some appetizers and they were all delicious. (Tuna Pizza is a must!!) Main course was just as good as the appetizers. I had the Hanger Steak and its was phenomenal! Cooked exactly how I asked for and the sides were delicious as well. The beer selection at the Publick House is another highlight! So many choices and the prices aren't ridiculous. The last thing that made my experience great was the staff. Very professional staff from the servers to the bussers. Our server was very well educated of the menu and helped us with any questions we had. We spilt drinks twice (we might have had one too many!) and both times a very nice young boy came to our table and cleaned the mess straight away. We had jokes with him and he continued his business. Overall, outstanding experience at the Publick House, and I for sure will be coming back for as long as I can. read more

a cute restuarant but very loud. servers are nice but owner and manager are two of the rudest people i have ever met. not very nice and do not make you feel comfortable when you are around them. definitely a reason not to go back. read more

We were very disappointed with this place when I went with a small group. I called a few days in advance to make a reservation and was told they don't take them anymore, but to call ahead they evening we were coming and we'd get our name on the list. OK. I called back a couple hours before we were supposed to meet there and was told they DONT take names, you just have to show up. Um, OK. So a couple of us went a little earlier than planned and the hostess said it would be 30 minutes. OK. We kept seeing them seat other smaller groups that arrived after us, leaving them without a big enough table for us. We also saw the hostess on the phone and writing people's names down -- apparently taking reservations. After an HOUR and no updates from the hostess, we just left. Too bad -- some of us had been there before and had a great time. But unless they change that policy, I doubt we'll be going back. read more

Small place with a lot going on but in a good way! There is a cozy fireplace area that is called the lounge built for a couple of people to enjoy drinks and appetizers by the fireplace. There is a mahogany bar with a flat screen tv and then there is a regular dining area with tables and chairs wherever they can be fit. The atmosphere is lively. Not to loud that you can't talk to your table mates but loud enough for laughing and not disturbing some other table's conversation. The food here is reasonably priced-$10-$25 depending on appetizer or entree and everything was delicious. We were a party of 12 people so we tried it all-filet mignon, Shepard's pie, short rib croquettes, truffle fries, chicken wings, fried calamari, garlic shrimp, ahi tuna toast, corn beef sandwich-tried it all and it's hard to decide what was the best! It's a gastropub and the menu of unique beers is enough for one night-menu included about 35 different beers. The real gem is the wait staff. Our waiter, Michael, never faltered at a party our size. He was personable, funny, accommodating (tables had to be moved together in a tight space for a party of 12) and got our entire order of drinks and food correct. We never waited for another round and he seemed to be tending to his other tables just as precisely. This was my first time at Publick House and I was celebrating my birthday. It was a Thursday at 6 pm and a mixed crowd-mothers with children-couples, young and not young LOL. Great place and I will definitely be back! read more