I'm a regular at Publico and absolutely love it. I almost know the menu by heart at this point. The service is always great and the food and drinks are always delicious. One of my favorite things about Publico are their deals that they have with tacos. You can get two tacos with one side for $10 or five tacos with two sides for $20. The sweet belly pork, gochujang shrimp and classic tacos are some of my favorites plus the edamame and Mexican street corn are great sides. Two of my other favorite menu items are the chilaquiles bowl and the southwest bowl. My brother usually gets a burger every time we go and they are always delicious especially the farmhouse burger. Publico also has soooo many beers on tap so there is something for everyone. If you're not a beer drinker, there are multiple types of margaritas and cocktails to choose from. I personally love getting the margarita flight with 3 different types of margaritas and a sangria. Publico honestly has something for everyone, the atmosphere is so fun, the service is always great and the food is to die for! read more

Great food loved the atmosphere. Our server Nicolle was amazing! Will definitely be back!

Went to this restaurant while visiting a friend. The food was very tasty and the service was great! A computer glitch caused my card to be charged twice. I spoke to Kelly after I left Columbia, and it was resolved in 15 minutes. Thanks so much! I'll be back. There are other restaurants who could learn from you! read more

Ordered a burger with no bun and a side of kimchi. Burger came with a bun which is no big deal but the toppings were completely wrong (no cheese or pork) and came with a side of fries and no kimchi despite the extra charges. Burger was small and overcooked. Go to Rockaways or Henry's if you're downtown and want a decent burger. read more

Was in a hurry looking for a quick bite and a refreshing beer. The place looked inviting so I took a chance. I told my waitress Sarah Be I was in a hurry. Food came out quick and food was delicious. I'll be back when I don't gave to inhale my food. Good environment and friendly staff. read more

We ordered a vegetarian ramen (our mistake) and the mushrooms were inedible, still had dirt on them and were not cut on the ends. It was room temperature noodles with raw onion and bad mushrooms. We were understanding about it not being the best ramen, it's not a restaurant specialty. However, their managers response to us was insulting and their customer service is subpar. We were on a road trip north and had to stop very quickly to eat so we chose something w out meat or fried items. She said she'd refund our mushrooms - just the mushrooms. I told her that's unacceptable and we really don't need the two dollars, she brought back the same check..... our server was kind. Pecan beer was good. Place sucks. read more

I haven't been in ages, but I'm upping my previous review/rating from 3 to 4 stars solely because they now have an entire vegan menu! And if it blows me away, I may soon be updating my review again! read more

Came in tonight with a group to celebrate my friends 21st birthday. The margaritas were amazing, but the service was even better. Bryce was our server and he did an amazing job! we've sat with him the past two taco Monday's and the next time we come back I'll definitely be requesting him as our server. hopefully next time we come it wont be raining so we'll be able to sit on the back patio. good job to the restaurant and to Bryce, keep it up! read more

Everything about this place is amazing!! The atmosphere, food, drinks, specials, etc. Everyone is super nice and welcoming as well!!

Enjoyed another great dinner out at Publico! Payton was knowledgeable with the menu and especially the beer menu and the season drafts!

This place is SO good. We got the 5 tacos for $20, and it was amazing. The only thing that would make it better is of they would heat up/cook their tortillas. Next time we come here o think we will order to go and take the tortillas home and heat them up ourselves. The pork belly taco is the thing to get. 100% would recommend. read more

Caroline, is the STAR of this place. Even if the food was awful, which it's not, I would come back. The food was great, service was better. Sticky ribs and gyoza were great for appetizers. Shrimp and grits and Diablo chicken sandwhich were great! read more

Soooo, I've held off coming here due to the bad reviews, but I feel like a moron for doing that. My friend and I had a late lunch here today. I used to go to Garibaldi's fairly frequently. Publico has made great use of the former space. It's beautifully decorated and very chic. It feels urban,clean,fun and modern inside. Publico has a great wine list, tons of beers, and some nice cocktails. My friend and I split some pork belly spring rolls to start. They were so good! They are served cold with a fantastic peanut sauce. Delicious enough that I'd come back just for those. For lunch, we did the 5 tacos and 2 sides for 20 dollars. I ordered a Tuna Poke taco, a Gochujang Shrimp taco and Mexican street corn. My friend got a Gochujang shrimp taco, a puffy taco, and a carnitas tacos. The tacos were some of the best either of us have ever had (she's Mexican American and grew up in California). The service was amazing and the atmosphere was very cool! I can't wait to go back! read more

Being back in Columbia for only a week, I was meeting a friend at Drip when I drove by the adorable exterior of Publico. New restaurant in my beloved hometown? I had to go immediately! I went with two girlfriends the next day and it was packed. We got a drink at the bar while we were waiting, and the bartender said she had just created the cocktail menu. I loved that she asked us our opinions about our drinks, and took our suggestions (rave reviews!) to heart. Says a lot about the restaurant if they are adding new drinks to the menu based on the whims (talents) of the bartender. We got the sangria and it was pretty darn good. After being seated (and in much less time than the hostess said it would be, by the way), the owner of the place came by our table to ask how we were enjoying our meal. Our answer was quite a bit. He didn't stop there, however. He wanted to know exactly what we thought of it ("the good and the bad"). I love when owners are interested in the details of the diner's opinion. It shows that they are interested in improving what can be improved and enhancing what is already good. His name was Mike and he was extremely personable. I got the grilled chicken salad and my two friends got tacos. We also split the salsa/guacamole/queso sampler, and I'd recommend that everyone do the same. The salsa was made in house, and it was more "bang for your buck" than typical chain salsas. There were lots of different ingredients and spices in it, and wasn't too too spicy. All in all, we really enjoyed our time there. It's a very new restaurant, so if you go once and aren't impressed, go back in a couple of weeks and it'll be even better! read more

The food was decent. The bartender was extremely friendly. I will give it another try. I had the shrimp poke bowl but I wasn't impressed. It was poor choosing on my part, however. They have a great menu selection so I will choose better next time. read more

Publico was very tasty. I enjoyed my drink more than I did my tacos. I got a jalapeño margarita to drink and damn it was amazing. It was definitely made fresh and was just the right temperature of hot/spicy. We also started with an appetizer of chips/guacamole which was also great! Now on to the tacos, I got the classic chorizo and guchujang (which had shrimp). The chorizo didn't taste that great. It was okay. The shrimp in my other taco was great, as was everything inside, but there were only 3 little shrimp total inside. I also had the Mexican corn as a my side (2 tacos and one side for $10 deal) which was delicious. The service was great, our waitress Savannah was very attentive and kind. All in all, id say it's a good drinks and appetizers place but the tacos didn't impress. read more

Publico - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Great location in five points, friendly servers, very wide menu, awesome back porch with corn hole and jumbo connect 4 and other games. Their taco menu is extremely varied, and everyone ive had has ranged from good to great. Bar staff is friendly and knowledgeable, i have been here several times and gotten recommendations on food and drinks. I usually go with what I like beer-wise, but was directed to the Cooper River Orange Golden Ale with great satisfaction. In short, Publico exceeds expectations and is a great place to eat. read more

Went here today for the first time. The atmosphere & the service was excellent. They were out of the Baja fish tacos. I ordered the carnitas & the short rib taco. When they arrived, my plate was covered with meat juice and my tortillas were soggy. The tortillas weren't warmed or grilled & the meat was cold. Ordered the kids cheeseburger and my son wouldn't touch it. It was completely charred and even had caked on grill scraps. Also, they sprinkle the fries with a chili seasoning which was spicy..not sure why they would do this on a kids meal. The ketchup was watery. The overall flavors of the tacos were good, but the execution was lacking. I will try this place one more time to see if it was just an off day. read more

I really want to like this place. It has a lot of potential. But like many restaurants in Columbia, the execution is, well, off in some very basic ways. FTR I have only tried the tacos; there are other things on the menu, like burgers and ramen, that may not be as meh as the tacos but I'm skeptical. The taco fillings range from traditional (e.g., carnitas) to more unconventional (e.g., bahn mi pork belly) and they're perfectly edible but not exactly mind-blowing. Mostly, I take issue with the tortillas. They insist on using FLOUR tortillas. Gross. They seem to have good specials, like Taco Mondays ($2 tacos, $4 margs), and some less good specials (2 tacos and a side for $10) but it's a space that's good for groups and it has a decent bar and wine/beer list so there's that. But the service is kind of slow and the food isn't the most flavorful and (again) they serve their tacos on flour tortillas so don't say you weren't warned. read more

The service is incredible!! Met at the entrance by the owner. Super nice guy!! The ambiance is amazing!! Nice sunny day, garage doors open and was able to enjoy the beautiful day!! Great beer selection!! Great taco selection and I hear the burgers are best in town!! Can't wait to try them next time!! read more

John and Katie, BEST BARTENDERS EVER! Fast service, excellent customer service! Me and my husband will be back so soon!!!

Not bad! I lived in Texas so I set my expectations low since they have the best street tacos in San Antonio, but I enjoyed my meal! It's def worth a try. Wayyyy better than the tacos I had at Cantina 76. read more

Publico - Gochujang Shrimp, Tuna Poke, and sticky rice - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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1. Guac appetizer needs more chips. 2. Tacos are small for the price, but well seasoned and balanced. 3. Nachos are huge, very good. 4. There is a gluten/allergen free menu at the back of the regular menu, before the drinks. I think they should offer this as a separate menu for those who ask. The items on it are exactly the same as the regular menu (with burgers minus the buns, though). 5. The atmosphere is fun, with lots of tall tables and some booths. The bar looks nice as well. Huge selection of beer. Good for after work drinks and social time, pretty loud music. Overall, slightly overpriced ($4-5 for a taco is a bit steep, with El Burrito right down the street), but a good neighborhood hangout. read more

So proud of this wonderful and impressive restaurant for wisely choosing to shut down during the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. I hope this very smart decision catches on to other businesses in five points who are also overwhelmed with numbers of people who are hard to ensure are keeping patrons and staff safe. On a food note, the tacos here and bulgulgi beef are amaze. Thanks Publico! read more

I loved the bartenders Liz and Carly! They were especially friendly and informative of the products they were selling. They even surprised me with a sparkler on my dessert for my birthday! read more

We just moved to South Carolina from Georgia & have been looking for some really good places to share with friends & family when they come visit and this is definitely on that list! The atmosphere is beautiful & everyone was so nice. The food was delicious! I got the shrimp & chorizo quesadillas that I HIGHLY recommend! The appetizer & our food came out at the same time & our waitress was so apologetic that it happened as such but we didn't mind or notice until she brought it up. Super sweet & attentive. We'll definitely be back!! :) read more

Great selection of beer. If I had only gone with beer this place would be 5 stars. Sadly the food was lacking, nothing terrible, just not phenomenal. read more

I'm a long time customer of Publico and every visit is always such a positive experience. With Covid, excellent service has been hard to come by. I understand many places are understaffed and the employees are doing the best they can. That being said, my experience at brunch today was absolutely top tier which was such a breath of fresh air. The servers were extremely attentive and many of the staff stopped by just to converse and make sure we were happy. Keep up the good work!! read more

Very creative and delish food! Tried several tacos, the burger and several appetizers. Love it! read more

Publico - Ramen of the day! - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

My family and I stumbled upon Publico while driving back from our annual beach trip and the experience ended up being a nice break during our six hour drive home. We visited around 1 pm on a Saturday for a late lunch. Although the place was extremely busy, the service was very fast and there was some great live music. However, I will admit that this place is NOISY!! At times the combination of the constant chatter and loud music was a bit overwhelming. To begin our meal we all split some chips, queso and delicious salsa. My parents ended up splitting a few tacos along with some sides, my brother got the BBQ chicken quesadilla, and I got the low country ramen bowl. Everything was really tasty and flavorful, but VERY spicy. Publico is a VERY lively place. The atmosphere is welcoming, but isn't ideal for a relaxing night out. All in all the food was good, the service was fast, and the space itself was clean and welcoming. Not worthy of five stars, but not too shabby! read more

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The service was great but the food was really disappointing. We ordered the spring rolls, which were not rolled fresh. The wrapper was hard and tough and the meat in the filling was cold. Also ordered a burger and a couple of tacos. The burger was average - nothing special. The tacos could have been decent had the filling been hot. Nice beer selection and cool space. read more

Had a great time and enjoyed the environment. The food was good. I absolutely loved the cauliflower bites. I got the tofu tacos as well but the tofu lacked flavor. Overall though I had a great experience! Lenae, our waitress, took such good care of us and made sure we enjoyed our experience! :) read more

Our waitress, Lenae, was really accomodating, and she answered all of our questions. When we had a problem with our order, she looked into it promptly and came back with a solution we were happy with. The tacos were pretty good, and the drink selection was really big. read more

I really enjoyed my latest visit to Publico. I visited on a Monday and they were having $2 taco specials and $4 margaritas. My friend and I shared the fried plantain appetizer and it was amazing. It was my first time trying a plantain and I am a fan now. Especially when it's topped with pulled pork and a pineapple jalapeño pico. The tacos I tried were the carnitos, the pork belly and the green chili chicken. They were all good but the carnitos was my favorite. We also enjoyed the margaritas, the variety of house made hot sauces, and our friendly server. I give 5 stars because I can't wait to go back. read more

Publico - New American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

The place was pretty good in terms of food. I had the chilaquilas, which were absolutely phenomenal. The hot sauces were a nice addition, as there are many to choose from. If you are not into spicy, I would not recommend trying them. The problem I had with my visit, was my drink. I ordered a vodka cranberry and paid $6. It literally tasted like they added water to cranberry juice and served it up. There was no hint of buzz to persuade me that they did give me vodka. My friend got a jalapeño margarita, which was delicious. I could actually taste alcohol in that, but I couldn't in mine. It was a sad time to pay $6 for watered down cranberry juice. At least give me regular juice if you're going to leave out alcohol! I'll give this place another try, because the food was absolutely great. I'm just really disappointed to have that money taken away. Shame. read more

Cassidy was the best server -- go see her! Food is good and very dog friendly out back.

My friends and I love coming here for Sunday brunch. They have buy 1 get 1 free drink specials and their steak and eggs tacos are amazing!!! I would highly recommend those for brunch. I went there last time for the first time for dinner. The service was great, but my food could have definitely been better. I asked for corn tortillas instead of flour. Most places will grill the corn tortillas so they are a little crispy and will hold the filling in the tacos. My tortillas were not at all grilled and it was hard for me to eat my tacos. I ended up just eating the inside, which was great!!! Overall, a great place for a quick bite to eat and drinks! read more

Great tacos. Not sure why the haterade from some folks. Place is cool inside. Great beers on tap. Good taco deal, 2 tacos and a drink for $10. Had the shrimp taco and sambal. Friend had carne asada and the shrimp. All tasted great and were good sizes. I got the Mexican corn for a side. Came out hot with cheese and butter on it. Delicious. Service was attentive. Will definitely go back! read more

Great casual place with a tremendous beer menu. The taco deals are tasty and affordable. Though in Five Pointsit doesn't solely cater to the college crowd. It's one of the few places that finds a balanced mix to offer both the students and non-student crowd. read more

Great tacos. Decent atmosphere. Good prices. Would go again.