(Just ignore. For class assignment. Unless you want to read.) Not too long ago, my family and I went to go try out Publico Kitchen and Tap. We were looking for a place to eat for lunch and it being one of many places in Columbia we haven't been to yet might as well give it a try. Publico is located in Five Points which is only a few minutes away the University of South Carolina campus. They label themselves as a Latin-American-Asian fusion restaurant which definitely gives their menu many unique options but it is very limited. They do have a very extensive bar as well; I am not old enough to drink, but I did notice that they have a very large selection of craft beers and various other drinks. I would have to say will the food is unique there is much room for improvement. This is also not just with the food; the service, layout, and accessibility could be improved as well. Aside everything that could be improved, Publico is an interesting and flavorful place to eat. Publico labels their food as Latin-American-Asian fusion which is a very unique mix of cuisines in general but even more for the Columbia area. The menu varied from your typical American sandwiches and burgers, to tacos, to ramen, and etc. With its various options it had plenty to choose from if you did not know what type of food you were in the mood for. Also, all the food is received fresh from local South Carolina farms. During my visit there, I got two tacos, the pork belly and the carne chimichurri. The flavors from the tacos were amazing and very different than any regular taco but they were cold. I did look over the whole menu and noticed that at the bottom it says that all food is prepared only after you order it. Which means that the food that is put on the plate is not made until the server from the front of the house calls it out to the cooks in the back of the house. I do not believe that it was the fault of the back of the house on why my food was cold. The service at Publico can definitely be improved. When we first walked up to the hostess stand, we were asked how many of us there was and then asked to wait while they cleaned off a table; So my family and I waited. It was fairly busy considering we went for lunch during the prime lunch hours. During the wait, I started to look around the restaurant. The front of the house is very cramped with these small high top tables with very little space in between each one and the bar taking up about half of the entire front of the restaurant. After about five minutes, we were finally seated at one of the small high top tables. Instantly the server came up to the table and greeted us. It was a woman who looked to be of upperclassmen in college age. She took our drinks, brought them to us, and asked us if we were ready to order. After we asked for a few minutes she disappeared. It took the server about ten to fifteen minutes to finally come back to the table and take our order. Then after taking our order she disappeared until bringing it out to the table which doesn't reflect good service. While on the surface Publico doesn't look like it has more impact on local area other than just another bar in five points; it does. The food and produce they receive is all fresh from South Carolina farms which keeps business in South Carolina and the ingredients fresher because they don't have to travel long distances. The food that the restaurant serves also impacts the local area. It provides another type of cuisine. A type that is not very commonly found in the downtown Columbia area. It also is very accessible to the college students at USC with being only a few minutes away. But it isn't for those who have to drive to it. There is little parking in five points and there is no specific Publico parking. At the end my experience at Publico Kitchen and Tap, it is a restaurant that I will re visit multiple times. I like how they receive all the produce and meat from SC farms. The atmosphere of the restaurant might be cramped and have you feel boxed in but in a way it makes you feel open because you are so close to others guests. The menu is very interesting, unique, and offers many options many being things you wouldn't get anywhere else. While there are things that could be improved, it still is a place everyone should visit at least one. read more

I can honestly say that I've yet to be disappointed on a visit to Publico. The food is great, the deals are on point, and the service is exceptional. I have become a regular of sorts ever since finding out that my favorite bartender, Kelsey, had relocated here after the closing of Boku (their sister restaurant in the Vista). What I really appreciate is that Kelsey always goes out of her way to make sure I have a fun, specialty mocktail each time I come in. I've found that a few places just like to throw a few juices together and call it a drink, and to me, that's just lazy. It's things like that that make an experience go from good to great. Speaking of great: the food is fantastic. I am a big fan of the shrimp quesadillas and the barbacoa bao bun sliders. I went in this past Sunday and had the chilaquiles which were awesome. Plus, they had music bingo! I was told that it was only going on that day for Valentine's, but that they have it at the Bull Street location weekly. I had a lot of fun, and I bet it would be a big hit if it occurred regularly at the 5 Points location (hint, hint) I highly recommend Publico and make sure you ask to sit at the bar if Kelsey is working. She is awesome and will make your experience great! read more

Best brunch in town by far. Not the typical eggs, meat, carbs that you can get at every other brunch spot, their menu is diverse and the dishes have a great flare of creativity. I've been here more times than I can count and have yet to be disappointed. My fiancé and I have tried pretty much every brunch spot in Cola and continue to return to Publico. The drink special for brunch is unbeatable, I usually go for the Bloody Mary (the spicy one has a lot of kick to it), she goes for the mimosas which are always on point. Steak and egg tacos are my go to as well as the French toast with strawberry compote, food always comes out hot and delicious. Craft beer for days as well as a full bar of liquor and wine. Service is awesome, we have always had a great experience and have been impressed with the staff even on a slammed Sunday morning. Also very dog friendly porch outside, they even have a menu just for dogs with REAL food that is actually healthy, safe and appropriately portioned for different size dogs. Crowd is very diverse (for five points), mix of college kids, young adults, families. Publico is great on all fronts. read more

I had such a great experience at Publico, and a huge part of that was thanks to our waiter, Colin. From the moment we sat down, he brought such a warm, welcoming energy to the table that immediately made us feel comfortable. He was attentive without being overbearing, always seeming to show up at just the right moment. Colin really knew the menu inside and out. He gave thoughtful recommendations, answered every question with confidence, and even suggested a few things we wouldn't have thought to try--but ended up loving. It was clear he genuinely cared about making sure we had the best possible experience. What stood out most was his attitude. He was friendly, personable, and had a great sense of humor that made the whole meal more enjoyable. It didn't feel like just another night out--it felt like we were being taken care of by someone who truly enjoys what they do. Service like that is rare, and Colin absolutely elevated our entire visit. If you get the chance, definitely ask for him--you won't be disappointed. read more

AWESOME!!AWESOME!AWESOME! I am hyper-critical of most restaurant experiences. Being in the service business myself I expect excellence, or at least a striving for excellence. That being said I could not be more complimentary of my overall Publico experience. I was blown away! Vibrant atmosphere. The hostess was friendly and very accommodating to our 5 party walk-in. The bartenders were attentive and most helpful. Our meal service was spot on - perfect combination of friendly recommendations and check backs. The owner ( Mike) circulated and made sure all was well with our food and experience. From appetizers to desert, everything I put in my mouth was delicious, and the rest of our group concurred. Do yourself a favor and go! I sure will next time I'm rolling through Columbia, SC. read more

Upon arrival I was sat in the quickest manor possible, with 2 parties ahead of us we were sat in a matter of 10 minutes tops, by a friendly and welcoming host. We were greeted by the same positive and uppity energy at our table, the food was delicious. Liv was high energy and very sweet, you could tell she enjoyed working. We got the bacon wrapped jalapeños and spring rolls to start- great, we got a round of tacos and had nothing bad to say about any (* carne astada, green chile chicken, gochujang shrimp, sweet pork belly, and sambal fish to be exact) The bar staff was vibrant and attentive, ask for Chandler and Vicky! Great place, and will be back! Not to mention the place is not yet a week old, I am pleased with the turn out at such an early stage of business read more

Publico is fantastic. I started coming here during the Halloween seasons when the decorated the whole place for Spooky Season, and the whole restaurant is line with slasher icons and an atmosphere to get even the most enthusiastic horror fans into the feel of the season. During Christmas, they continued to push the festive feel as you're engulfed in the Christmas season with lights, music and themed drinks to give you the cheer we all desire at that time of year. The food is amazing and their $3 beer of the day is my absolute favorite. Evan is a wonderful bartender and is always attentive to my needs, as well as the great management of Sarah. It's a great place with great food and I highly recommend you stop in and have a drink. read more

If you are ever in Columbia, SC you HAVE to go here! Hands down - best tacos we've ever had! My husband and I love a good taco and these were literally the best! We had the Baja fish taco and shrimp taco! We also tried the Cuban nachos, Pazole fries, and pollo de fuego sandwich! We love a good spicy fried chicken sandwich and this one was amazing! Restaurant was super cool - we loved the patio!! Great for families too! Our kids would have loved it! Claire was our server and she took great care of us! You also have to try the spicy margarita - SO good!! The cool atmosphere combined with the amazing food gives this place a 10/10 from us! Everything was amazing! We can't wait to come back! read more

We had the pleasure of visiting Publico while in South Carolina for my sister's Army basic training graduation, and it was an absolute delight! Mikayla and the rest of the staff was incredibly attentive, making us feel welcome and cared for from the moment we arrived. The atmosphere was vibrant and fun, perfect for a celebratory outing. The highlight of our meal was Buddy's Spaghetti Special, inspired by the iconic recipe from the movie Elf. It was festive, creative, and surprisingly delicious--a true homage to the holiday spirit! Publico offers more than just great food; it's an experience. We'll definitely return whenever we're in town. Highly recommend! read more

We recently visited this restaurant for brunch and overall the food was quite good. I ordered the sweet potato mash, and my daughter had a burger and fries. Everything was flavorful and well prepared. However, the portion of fries with the burger was very small. When my daughter politely asked for a few more fries, we were told the kitchen did not want to cook any additional fries during brunch. While I understand kitchen policies, this left a disappointing impression. Our waitress was kind and attentive, so this was not her fault. I simply feel the chef or management could have shown better customer service in this situation. We will not be back read more

The music is a bit too loud for the daytime and very few people, but otherwise it's fine. The Cuban nachos were great and so was the Tofu Ramen. We also sampled their Habanero hot honey and ghost pepper hot sauce, both very good.​​ The table pieces needed a good wipe down, but it did not affect the food. Miss Jordyn was an incredible server, very attentive and efficient, and she was training Noah, who we watched improve in the time we ate, which isn't an easy task for anyone to do, and less easy for a trainer to help with. Both were great servers and met your eyes when they interacted. Great people and we enjoyed it a lot. read more

I decided to try this place the other day when I had some friends visit from out of town, I had the Bombazo sandwich with a side of fries the flavors worked so well together, my friend had the Gochujang Shrimp taco and the Sweet Belly pork. We all had the Mead that's on tap (a fermented honey drink) and the staff all gets along so well and they're super friendly this will definitely be our tradition to come back to this place when they come visit again. They will also start having a desert of the day soon and ramen of the day which I'm super excited about! Victoria was our bartender and makes a killer margarita! read more

My husband and I walk in and the hostesses are very nice and friendly, we are seated and we order the jalapeño poppers. First off, they were not bacon wrapped as described on the menu and it was a very small portion. My husband orders a draft beer which was $6.50. Just my opinion but I think that is very pricey seeing he just got the same beer on tap at another restaurant in Columbia for $4 and that's not even on special. Second off, we ordered the chicken puffy taco which had shredded chicken on it. The chicken was so dry and tasteless. This place has very small portions and is too overpriced for what you get. read more

Came into Publico's and had a really great experience. The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, but what truly stood out was the service. Our waiter, Colin, was attentive, friendly, and made sure everything flowed smoothly from start to finish. He checked in at the right times, gave helpful suggestions, and had such a great energy that it honestly elevated the whole experience. It's not often you come across service that feels both professional and genuinely personable. Definitely looking forward to coming back--great food, great vibe, and even better service. Ask for Colin if you can! read more

The food was absolutely outstanding, but the tacos really stole the show. They were packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and clearly made with fresh ingredients. Every bite was better than the last--easily some of the best tacos I've had in a long time. On top of that, the service made the experience even better. Jackson was awesome as our waiter--attentive without being overbearing, quick with anything we needed, and just genuinely friendly. He made sure everything came out right and kept the whole table taken care of. Great food and great service--hard to beat that combination. read more

Olivia our server was amazing. We had my daughters 15th birthday (9 teenage girls) in early December on a busy Saturday evening. Everything was set up and ready for our party in a "home alone" themed Igloo. There was great energy and service from the entire staff from the moment we walked in. The quality food, fantastic drinks, Christmas decor, a special visit from the Grinch and snow falling from above as we exited really made the evening very memorable. Publico on Greene Street over the holidays is a must do and one of our favorite family traditions every year. Mitch read more

Publico is my girlfriend and I's favorite place to eat in the city! We go every other date night. Tonight however we were pretty much ignored by our waiter Jack, who failed to order the appetizer we asked for and who did not check on us until after we were finished our food. The taco's were amazing as always but the fries were terrible compared to how they usually are. We hope that isn't a permanent replacement on the menu. After leaving my girlfriend agreed that publico was good, not great. We still recommend you dining here and we hope our next time there will be better! read more

Saturday morning Publico brunch is always the best way to kick off the weekend, especially because you can't beat the $20 mimosa and margarita pitchers paired with perfect cuisine. I always like to bring a big group of friends with me to enjoy the start of our Saturday which can certainly be overwhelming for wait staff. My waitress this past Saturday, Kylie, worked tirelessly to assist our large group and brought everything out in a timely manner, was helpful and kind, and even split our checks down to the split items we had. Can't wait to come back! read more

Love the atmosphere - colorful and upbeat. All of the staff was friendly from the moment I walked in the door - the hostesses were smiling and I was seated immediately. My waitress, Finn, arrived at my table with water - perfect on this hot day - and again, the friendly, smiling service continued! I had the FAF (Fresh As Farm) drink special - she shared how the FAF is the Publico Friday special and always changing so you need to come back to try others. I had the shrimp poke bowl for my meal, so fresh and tasty. Definitely a place I'll come back to! read more