I mean, there was great beer on tap for Dan, too! We ate at the bar on a Thursday night and it wasn't crowded and the bar tender (with the fox tattoo) was helpful in an IPA flight selection. Did I mention a jalapeño margarita was on tap? Yes, there was! And it was so good. I hope that someday they make a beer-arita cocktail with that margarita. Really appreciated the veg options and enjoyed the avo toast and tofu tacos. Dan liked the yellow tail taco but missed the horseradish/wasabi in the description... very warm. Easy to find on street or lot parking. read more

Service was good, food was not great but besides the point. I was disgusted with how the manager on duty, I believe Kaylee or Kylee was her name, was treating the staff. I heard her yell at this poor server for not prebussing our table when we told our server we didn't want them to take the plates yet. We told our server, who was almost in tears that she did a good job but I felt so bad for her to have to work like that. read more

I went on Yelp to see what restaurants were in the area, after deciding what I wanted to eat, I chose this place. I didn't know it was brunch, because I came for something else. Nevertheless, I ordered the shrimp n grits, it turned out to be good, along with my BOGO free Sangria. When, I'm in the area again, this will be a first choice read more

See all

The food here is amazing! It can get a little bit busy but the atmosphere is great. I love the outdoor seating area in the back. Staff is also super nice and the service was great. I always take my parents here when they come visit. read more

The food was reasonably priced but ultimately a let down. Just not what was described on the menu. For example, I love Korean food so I tried the Gochujang Shrimp Tacos and the Bulgogi Tostada. The tacos had no hint of gochujang, which is a spicy red pepper paste, so I was disappointed. I was looking for a kick. The bulgogi was not a traditional marinade and was served over marinated Napa cabbage, which was not close to any Korean dish that I know of. We also sat outside and were constantly waiting on our server. Also, there were seven of us and one of our entrees came out 8 minutes before the rest. We all felt bad for the person because despite our insisting, they waited until all the food was served to eat. I will try it again one day because it is a good atmosphere and very popular among the community. But, I will definitely order something different. read more

Publico - Gochujang tacos and corn. - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

See all

Ordered short rib bowl. Meat was dry and difficult to cut. Very disappointing. First and last time going to this restaurant.

It is truly sad that an owner will go so low to try and paint a customer as this black angry character. I shared my family and I experience at your restaurant and you carrying this lie on social media because you don't like my review so unprofessional. I never yelled at anyone and I wasn't rude. I asked waitress two questions then asked her for the manager. Manager came out I asked her two questions. She responded I told her we will not be dining here and passed her the menus and we left. Nothing was said to make anyone one cry it's a lie from start. I'm always level head with my daughters I handle the situation in an appropriate manner, so my daughters would know how to handle situations like this in the future. How can you start with an apology then become victim your apology wasn't sincere at all and you made it personal by adding your mother statement. Unprofessional indeed I pray no one else experience what my family and I experienced. read more

5 star experience as always. Anytime we visit family in SC we absolutely have to come here. The Christmas vibe is so fun and the food is always a 10/10 no matter what you order. Love the themed drinks too! Amazing experience and great service even on a slam packed Saturday night! They knocked it out of the park read more

Heading to Georgia from Bristol Tennessee we decided to take a detour into SC and came across this restaurant (discovered on Yelp) my family and I had such a blast! Walked in & it happened to be Monday- taco & Margarita specials!! Food was absolutely AMAZING!!! $2 taco $4 Marg's We had such an adorable server- she was fantastic! So happy we stopped in the cute town of Columbia! read more

See all

OMG, I LOVE THIS PLACE! Great specials, really welcoming staff, friendly customers...I always hit up Publico when I visit, miss it when I'm away! Definitely worth a visit! read more

Yum yum and more yum! Excellent Vegan options and options for the carnivore humans as well.

We went to Publico for brunch this past Sunday. We sat on the back patio and were able to bring our dog. They even brought a bowl of water for her. The food was amazing, I had the churro crusted French toast with the blueberry Purée and my girlfriend had the plantain pancakes. We weren't drinking so we did not take advantage of the beverage specials. The only reason you did not get a five stars was for the coffee. DO NOT ORDER COFFEE! I was charged 2.99 for 8 ounces of medium hot black coffee and when I asked for a refill was charged another 2.99. Six dollars for 16 ounces of medium quality restaurant black coffee. I was in charge of coffee at my office so I know it cost about $.40 to make 64 ounces of standard restaurant coffee. Don't get me wrong I understand businesses are in business to make money and I do not begrudge them that opportunity one bit, but six dollars for $.10 worth of coffee is a hell of a markup, especially on something that most restaurants consider a loss leader. It's the reason why diners and cafés charge a buck and a quarter or so with free refills. If I had known I was going to pay six dollars for coffee I would've walked across the street to Starbucks before I sat down for brunch. Go for the food it was wonderful, have the drink specials they looked pretty good, don't order coffee (OR BRING your own)! I paid $20 for two meals that I thought were wonderful and and excellent value for the price and 6.00 for 2 cups of tepid medium grade restaurant quality coffee. Publico- you would've gotten five stars otherwise!! read more

First timers at Publico. Thought that the menu was a little to big, but the shrimp and chorizo quesadilla was amazing. It was all due to our server Alexis for recommending the dish. The atmosphere was low key and very relaxing. And the attention to detail was also one of the pluses that will bring us back. Also we will be asking for Alexis to wait on us, so we know we'll have a great experience! read more

Actually FIVE stars would be warranted because the staff are GREAT, the vibe is LIVELY/FUN but my tacos were meh. Food didn't match the great energy and warmth of the staff. Cauliflower was Devine, but my tacos were cold, not luke warm but cold. The flavors just weren't there. Ordered the shrimp taco (cold) along with one with pork (very cold), cilantro cream sauce, pineapple+...literally lifeless even with all of the fixings listed on the menu. Filled up on the cauliflower. I would visit again because of the staff and the vibe. Great place to have a drink, watch the game read more

Our waitress on Saturday was Payton and she was amazing! She made sure that our experience was great!

I would give this place 0 stars if I could. I have been here multiple times and every time it gets worse and worse. Today was the final straw when I walked in and saw their C rating on the door. I was concerned but still entered and it is one of my biggest regrets. The egg on my sandwich was not cooked at all and the food was not at all worth the price. Me and the group I was with decided we will never be coming back here after our experience today. read more

Publico - Uncooked egg on the BALT sandwich - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Ordered the flash bang shrimp taco. Be aware you will only get two shrimps per taco but it was good. Blueberry margarita was also good.

On Friday February 3rd my daughter and I were visiting the University of South Carolina and were walking the area looking for a place to eat lunch. We came upon Publico and decided to give it a try. We had the pleasure of having Dylan Lane as our server. Dylan was very attentive, personable, and accommodating, especially concerning my daughters allergies. In addition, when he heard we were here visiting the college he offered lots of great input about the school, and surrounding area. It was a great dining experience and because of Dylan we returned again the following evening with some friends for dinner. The burger and tacos we had were tasty and they also had some fun drinks. We will definitely visit again. read more

Mary Grace made this the most enjoyable brunch experience I've ever had. There's a good chance I'll never have brunch again because I know nothing will ever measure up to what I had at Publico. I'll be here every Sunday for the rest of my life. read more

Great taco specials and their burrito and banh mi sandwich are very tasty! Also loved their drink specials and margarita flight for only $10!! read more

Publico - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

See all

Came in at 9:30, they close at 11. They had already threw out all of the chips so we weren't able to order a trio or nachos. Went to order gyoza instead - they were out of that too. Overall the menu is too diverse and the tacos were just not good :/ I understand we came in late, but as someone who works in service industry you are to serve your last table as if it's your first table. Anyways...i've given this restaurant many chances to redeem itself, I guess it's time to give up! read more

Absolutely love going to Publico! One of the best restaurant atmosphere's in all of Columbia. On nice, warm days, they open all the windows and it feels like dining at the beach. Their back patio is well decorated and has a fun feel. The food here is very fairly priced, however the drinks are a bit more than most college kids are used to. That being said, they have delicious cocktails and more than 30 beers on tap to choose from. The eclectic menu features all different types of food- standard Mexican, Japanese style burritos, Korean beef and rice, and they even have French fries! My one complaint about Publico is that some of the dishes are hit or miss. I have a number of favorite things to order- the shrimp burger, the queso, avocado toast, a number of tacos- but then there are some that lack the flavor. For example, their home made guacamole could use work and their quesadillas are quite small. Amazing specials every day of the week. Saturday's special is a Cola favorite and features a cocktail served in a pineapple! Uploading a picture from last night- Monday is $2 taco night so my friend and I went a bit crazy! read more

See all

This place has a vast beer and wine selection. At the recommendation of our waiter, I was able to try a new pear cider that I've never had and it was amazing. I tried the fried pimento cheese balls as an appetizer and it came with a sweet picked relish that really tied the entire dish together. My meal was the stuffed shrimp and chorizo quesadilla. I was really yummy and spicy. read more

So far everything I had here is excellent! The Trio of salsa, cheese, and gauc was a good start. The second App we had was the Pozole fries which has pulled pork on top. This appetizer was out of this world. It was also large for 2 people. I wanted to order practically everything off the menu but we settled for tacos. Oh ya the tacos were very good and there is a special so they weren't expensive. We were offered a side and I picked plantains. No usually something to talk about but they were some of the best I have ever had. Nice sauce of top too. Excellent service and a great beer menu. It was a little crowded ( on a Sunday) so just remember that if you are trying to social distance. read more

By far the best brunch in Columbia! Love the drink specials, and the food is the most delicious! Fabulous service! Planning on making this our Sunday Funday Brunch spot! We had the steak and egg tacos and jalapeño biscuits. Love Love Love! read more

Been there a few times and each time the food was just ok. But! If you want a delicious margarita flight this is the spot! This place knows how to make a margarita! The jalapeño margarita was my favorite! There's a reason they caught you off after one of their flights! read more

See all

My first time at Publico. I will say the igloo was cool and nice and private and the service was awesome. However the food was terrible. Most of it was cold and the tacos were watery and soggy. Can't say I would come back. read more

Had the best time at brunch at Publico! Katie our server was wonderful and provided great service! 10/10 would recommend!

Caleb was the best server i've ever had. Food was amazing. He made sure we had everything we wanted and we're never low on drinks! Request him next time you come in! read more

Food is amazing!! Try their ramen and jalapeño margaritas! On Tuesdays ramen is $10 so it's a great deal! So delicious!! read more

Publico - Ramen - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Publico has a great low-key environment that is perfect for brunch or an outdoor lunch when the weather is nice. I've been to this location several times and have never been disappointed. However, I felt compelled to leave a review after seeing the extent of their efforts to make guests comfortable during Covid. Specifically, they have outdoor "igloos" which act as semi-private rooms (each with a space heater) for small parties. While I was eating my meal the nearby igloo's party left and I got to observe all of their precautionary measures in action! Specifically, they are changing tablecloths behind each guest in addition to wiping down the tables. (I may be mistaken, but I do not remember outdoor tablecloths being used before Covid). Also, they used this machine (pictured) which I assumed was spraying a sanitizer into the air and on the surfaces of the igloo after the guests left. I thought this was really impressive as it adds another level of sanitation, and definitely gave me more peace of mind. This would be perfect if someone wanted to dine out, but has been uneasy about the safety of indoor dining, or too uncomfortable outdoors in the elements. You should definitely go to see it for yourself! read more

See all

Fun atmosphere for all ages! Food, TVs, beer, wine and delish housemade sangria! Tacos, burgers, salads and more. Something unique for foodies and solid standards for the die hards. The cocktails are original, handcrafted and very tasty. I look forward to coming back during my my next trip to Cola! read more

Publico - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Amazing drinks, love their margs and sangria. They also have a huge chalkboard on which a wide variety of craft beers are artfully scrawled. Love their fusion tacos, sweet pork belly is the best. Avocado crunch is a bit bland. Shrimp is good, but you only get a couple. Great sides, fries and corn and fried plantains. They have like a $10 meal deal that includes 2 tacos and a side. Really crowded, really loud. No lot, just street parking and not a lot of it on weekend nights especially. read more

Publico - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Place seems like it would be nice but honestly kinda sucks. First off good luck finding parking. There combos as far as tacos go is two tacos and one side or 5 tacos and two sides for $24. I decided to do the two tacos and one side but add an additional taco because two didn't sound like enough. My GF did two tacos one side. Tacos were okay nothing special at all but they are portioned so small. Literally left out of there feeling like I hadn't eaten at all and was $60 poorer. Will not return. Go to somewhere else for tacos at least. read more

I visited publico after great reviews from friends and after hearing about $2 taco and $4 margarita Monday's. Surprise surprise, I went on a Monday. Not every taco is $2, not surprisingly, but a good amount are. Only 1 if you're vegetarian - there are only 2 vegetarian tacos in general. I got both, the tofu ($2) and the avocado ($4). I really liked the tofu taco, and really didn't like the avocado taco. Not sure if it was just personal preference, but it really did not sit well with me. As an appetizer, we got the nachos. They sounded really good, but weren't. Very expensive ($7) for a plate full of chips with almost no toppings. Got margaritas and they were great! Worth $4 easily. I tried the blueberry (after learning the jalapeño was considered a cocktail and therefore couldn't qualify for the deal) and loved it. read more

Publico - Underwhelming tacos. Not enough cheese or toppings. - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Great bunch, plenty of food choices. Great drink specials. Good for everyone in your party.

We loved our food. I had the flash bang shrimp taco (great with mango hot sauce) and a bbq chicken taco. The fries were moderately salted and crispy. My boyfriend had the Sambal burger, which was well done. I'd say it could've been less well done because it was a bit dry. The drinks were on point too! The Mule and the Raspberry Paloma. Our waitress Sally was very informative of specials. So we got the bang for our buck! Only downside is we waited for our food for 10 minutes. If only we were suggested to get an appetizer. read more

The service here was terrible. That alone, I will not be coming back. We were sat and not greeted for 20 minutes. Our drinks took forever, our server didn't know what we ordered by the end of the night. The manager also cut my dad off after his third beer and their reasons were unjustified. I came here for my friends birthday and it was a huge let down. If I could 0 stars, I would. I work at a restaurant, I understand how things work and this was plain terrible. read more

Delicious flavor, unique food offerings and friendly staff. Outdoor "backyard" dining option works great to stay COVID-careful. The menu has good variety but I love to go there and enjoy a margarita, chips with salsa, queso, and guacamole or some yummy tacos. read more

In addition to the great food choices and some of the best tacos we've had, the atmosphere and service was fantastic. Highly recommended! And, Carly is a phenomenal server . read more