PUBLIC Kitchen & Bar

We have been looking for "Our spot" here in KW, and we have finally found it. Everything at Public Kitchen & Bar is spectacular, from the eye-catching interior design (get lost in the book titles on the bookshelf!), to the incredible service, wonderful music and ambiance...and oh yeah, the food is pretty amazing too! We highly recommend the Monday Night "Part Italian" feature, and their creative cocktails and mocktails. Aside from everything always being top-notch, perhaps the best thing I can share, is that we always leave Public in an amazing mood, with smiles on our faces.

One of my favourite restaurants in the city for years. The food is consistently great, the menu often changes so you always get to try something new, and the cocktails are top tier. The servers are also very welcoming and kind as well. My only feedback is that the beef tartare could be served with 3 charred focaccia pieces because the last two times we came in and ordered it, we were about one piece too short and had to order more.

Went for buck a shuck on a Wednesday. Also got some other dishes along with the oysters. Everything we ate was good. Fun atmosphere. Service was a bit slow, I imagine it’s cause of the buck a shuck night. Would/ will return!

This place was amazing! Do not judge a book by its cover…I wasn’t sure based on the outside, but it is a vibe! My husband and I went for date night and it did not disappoint! We love sharing plates and we were able to try many dishes. The food was well balanced and seasoned well. We loved the diversity of dishes. Joseph was an amazing waiter! There wasn’t any real problems and he took care of us. The drinks were so well balanced. My husband said the mocktails were the best he’s had. I had the blue martini and loved the hint of lavender! I did not have a drink that tasted like flowers. We were blown away with the service, food, and ambiance. If we are back in Kitchener, we would definitely come back!

I love all of public’s food, but the ghost kitchen they run called Gords Burgers might be my favourite. The attached photo does not do it justice. Available for seating at the bar or takeout only. It’s hard to say it’s the best burger I’ve ever had, but I can’t remember having a better one. The fries are also very good. You won’t have a bad experience if you are eating off their regular menu either. Staff is very friendly. 10/10 would recommend.

Everything about this restaurant is fabulous. The service is friendly and efficient with out feeling rushed (a difficult balance to strike in a tapas-style place!), the atmosphere is eclectic and cozy, the food is delicious and generously portioned, and the prices are very reasonable considering all of the above. We've enjoyed ordering off of their regular menu but I highly recommend the Part-Italian series on Mondays! We couldn't believe everything that we got for $37pp - we even got to go home with leftovers! The menus are all very creative but still approachable for a variety of palettes. A great gem in Kitchener!

Went here with my co-workers! We had a lot of food, and me and my daughter loved everything! Our favorites: Entree: Chicken Nuggets, Mussels, and Gnocchi! Appetizer: We didn’t have any. Dessert: Cheesecake and Chocolate Mocha Pave! We loved the service here, the workers were so sweet! They provided help when needed and were very kind. I will come back soon the food is definitely worth it!

My girlfriend (at the time) and I attended the first Anthony Bourdain Crush Thursday two years ago, and we still talk about that night. Fast forward to this past Thursday: my now fiancée and I were able to attend again, and it felt meant to be — our first date night since our son was born. I can’t say enough good things about the entire experience. The menu was phenomenal: early dishes set the tone perfectly, while the rest took us through nostalgia, umami bombs, and fresh, balanced flavours, all curated with so much intention. (I could have easily eaten ten plates of the sisig & roasted bone marrow) There were a few returning dishes from last time, in the best way. I was so happy to see Public bring back the “Ripper” dog — whoever complained about it last time should get off their high horse and appreciate how brilliantly it celebrates a legend. Ben, our server, made sure we were taken care of from start to finish. At the end of the night — since my fiancée hadn’t been able to have oysters (one of our favourite foods) for the last nine months — I asked Jack if there was any way to get just two oysters to cap off our meal. Without hesitation, there were two waiting on our table before I even sat back down. We left completely stuffed and somehow still wanting more. Thank you to the entire team at Public for an unforgettable evening and for continuing to honour a true culinary legend.

Beautiful environment, loved the bartender! Decent tapas, scallops were my favourite, but I enjoyed the tuna and salmon as well

Our new favorite spot when visiting Kitchener! Our daughter and son-in-law just moved from the states and we were here visiting them. We came here two nights in a row because it was so so good! The first night we had the tapas small plates...olives, chicken nuggets, pork belly, scallops ....all were excellent! Service from Jack was top notch as well. Second night we went back for the burgers and more chicken nuggets, and it was one of the best bacon cheeseburgers I have ever eaten! So full of flavor, it melted in your mouth, ah so good. My wife loved the lavender drink as well. They were very accommodating with gluten-free options... Their attention to detail was fantastic. The ambience and the staff are all very welcoming. Just what you want in a local restaurant. I'm a huge fan.

This place was amazing! Do not judge a book by its cover...I wasn't sure based on the outside, but it is a vibe! My husband and I went for date night and it did not disappoint! We love sharing plates and we were able to try many dishes. The food was well balanced and seasoned well. We loved the diversity of dishes. Joseph was an amazing waiter! There wasn't any real problems and he took care of us. The drinks were so well balanced. My husband said the mocktails were the best he's had. I had the blue martini and loved the hint of lavender! I did not have a drink that tasted like flowers. We were blown away with the service, food, and ambiance. If we are back in Kitchener, we would definitely come back!

I had dinner with my husband at Public in October 2024 and we had the best time! The vibe is very cozy but sophisticated. We love the small/shared plate style of dining, and this menu had a great variety of dishes to try. Our waiter was very helpful in recommending a red wine and his favourite plates, including the mushroom toast which was absolutely to die for. The unique presentation of the beef tartare was also one of our favourites. We finished off with an incredible basque cheesecake. We will definitely be back!

We enjoyed an amazing evening at Public with 2 other couples. The food and service was top notch. With good guidance from the helpful staff, we worked through an array of dishes to share with each seeming to be even better than the last. A beautiful restaurant with a great relaxing vib for an evening with friends!

Public never disappoints; it's a frequent favourite of ours--particularly the smoked salmon and potato bravas. Value is good and portions just right. For a couple, get 2-3 per person and explore the menu.

Always amazing place to eat. I keep coming back for tapas and bring my staff for nice dinner outings. This business pulls all the stops. It's an amazing place to play "host" for out of town guests as food is always on point and they have an amazing variety of plates. All my staff loved this place and I have picky eaters in my group. There is something for very one.

Public has to be by far one of the best restaurants in KW. The atmosphere was fantastic, very cozy and inviting all while maintaining the appropriate COVID protocols. We ordered 6 dishes between the two of us and they were all delicious. Our server was kind enough to let us know which ones "travelled well" when she realized (way before us) that our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. Do not skip these dishes (if available!) - Smoked Salmon Rosti - Pot de Foie - Brava Potatoes - Beef Meatballs - Confit Duck Crêpes - Crispy Fried Chicken We will definitely be dining here again and are excited to try their Gord's Burgers lunch menu. Thank you to the staff that made our experience and meal so great! We appreciate all their hard work especially in times like these.

I really loved the tapa style, perfect for sharing between me and my husband. A lot of different varieties of dishes on the menu. My favourite was definitely the scallop dish (sauce was super creamy and delicious) and beef carpaccio(well seasoned, the fried potatoes gives it a really nice crunch) I would've given 5 stars if not for the lamb. It was dry and over cooked, pesto had a strange dirt taste to it.. not my favourite, although the waitress did say it was made from carrot stems(?). Overall I would definitely come back to give some of the other dishes a try!

Best oysters , great service , inventive food and great cocktail program . Easily one of the best in the entire area .

Another business that slams another business for its choices and does it in public is not one I want to associate with or give my money to.When all the small businesses in the region should be supporting each other and banding together does not need to leave mean negative comments on their social media. I no longer choose a place that does not have good business ethics.

Don't let the outside fool you. Walk into an oasis with great ambience and food. Chef is outstanding.

I knew I was in the right place when the only place to sit on a rainy Wednesday night was at the bar. Sat down to order a drink, flipped open the drink menu and saw "Nutella old fashioned". Sold. And just drank that all night. Great version of an old fashioned for a Nutella lover. The food was every bit as good and as creative as the beverages. We had fresh oysters with a delicious mignonette. We had a cheese board with unique cheese and accruements plus the aged manchengo, awesome. But the star of the night was the polenta. We ordered a second round. So good. Everything was great, can't wait to be back.

Such a vibe! Delicious food and cocktails, excellent service, fantastic setting and mood. Perfect for date night or night out with friends.

Maybe it was due to the super high expectations I had before coming, but I was not overly impressed with Public's food. Don't get me wrong, the food was good, but for the price of the tapas, I was expecting more. The restaurant itself is a small and unassuming from the outside. The inside is a bit tight, but it was cute and I felt quite cozy. The only stand-out dish that we had of our four tapas was the PEI mussels in ciopino broth with serrano ham. The meal was good, but I probably wouldn't return. It wasn't anything special.

One of my favourite spots for celebrating. It IS expensive, but it is worth every penny. Always so many great options but patatas bravas remains my favourite! Also the TJs smoked salmon plate is amazing. We used to come here often for buck a shuck oysters on Wednesdays but I'm not sure if they are doing that anymore.

I was told that the food was amazing. It was ok, very pricy for what you got to share. I am not trying to be unreasonable with this write up, just have had much better for the price and experience. Maybe the problem is when someone suggest that you need to go to a place and it delivers less than the hype.

The current scallop dish with potato and cream base is so good and same as their endive salad.

Hard to find but worth the effort! Have had dinner here twice, and both times been impressed with the food. The tapas are all pretty good, esp. the pork belly sliders and fried chicken. The first time I was here, the patatas bravas were cold and undercooked, but my second visit proved more positive in this regard, and the patatas were crisp and delicious. I highly recommend getting their drink specials, as they're often a very good deal. The first time it was the vodka-based Public Punch, and then on the second visit had the cava special ($6/flute). We hit up the Wednesday oyster special ($2.50 each or $2 after 7 p.m.), adding a line-caught tuna special and those yummy sliders as well. The oysters were all shucked perfectly, no grit, and came with mignonette/hot sauce/cocktail sauce. The tuna was lovely, cooked extra-rare as I'd asked, on a bed of edamame and pickled hot peppers. Service is efficient and friendly, and our waitress was happy to tell us about an upcoming food event in KW. She even brought us an extra little treat, as well, which was an unexpected and welcome surprise. Will definitely keep coming here, as I'm getting tired of similar places in uptown Waterloo.

You could drive by this place never knowing you're missing out. Reservations recommended. It is small with a cozy and fresh atmosphere. Candles are lit and water is constantly being topped up in adorable fish jugs. We had to wait a few minutes for our table but were immediately given drink menus. This was the beginning of the excellent service. The cocktails were debatably the best thing I had. My favourite was the Creme L'Orange, which had a nice froth on top. The three of us were seated. There was a decent sized group of maybe six people in the back, if you're worried about numbers. The menu was paper because they're always changing it. There was no menu online. This was exciting and annoying. You have no idea what to expect. We had five plates and dessert. Each plate comes out separate, so you don't feel rushed. Most portions are for four. We had beef tartare crostinis, scallops in beurre blanc*, eggplant in tahini sauce on crostinis*, Cornish hen confit, and Serrano ham and sausage with apple slaw*. The desserts weren't as exciting as dinner, but we ordered apple sliders with shaved cheese. (* Favourites) It is expensive and the portions are small to medium sized. The salad dishes are oddly massive. The scallops, the most expensive dish we had, were $17 for four petite ones. It was worth it in a 'treat yourself' way. The service was awesome. The staff is never idle. Our server was friendly and helpful when we weren't certain about dessert or what patatas bravas meant. The food, service and prices are upscale. The interior doesn't match it, but makes up for it in a charming and warm atmosphere. ALSO: they recently started serving brunch from 10-2. Will have to come back for this.

Went here for lunch; by far the strangest experience of my life. Felt like I was in the Twilight Zone for the visit.

I've had this place on my list for a few years now and finally got to try it on one of their Thursday Crush nights in December. Service - our waitress was great. Patient, friendly, happy, detailed and checked in ya frequently. Food - this one is tough since the 13 course meal was preset. I didn't love everything we had, but feel this was circumstantial to the type of menu it was (Thursday's constantly are changing 13 course menus) is be interested in trying something from their regular menu. Also I think because of the courses coming out so frequently they should have been hot but they often were not. Price - it was $39 for the tasting menu. More than I would typically want to spend but I get it. Cocktail prices were what I'd expect ($12-14) Ambiance - warm and cozy, slightly intimate. We were in the front by the fire place and front door. It looked like there was a back room as well. The decor didn't stand out to me really, but it also didn't offend lol. Parking - was also annoying - it's a huge lot and yet I had to park down the street - I think the brewery across the street patrons take it all.

First experience with their smash night and was fortunate to hit 'French' night. They smashed it out of the park. Great value, excellent execution.

This has been our go-to place for a few years now. However, we've been for dinner two times in the last two weeks (once on a weekend and once on a weekday) and the service has taken a nose dive. The food is still good...although the menu isn't changing as much as it used to. Tonight we ordered three dishes and we have still not been able to pay our bill after 80 minutes. We have loved this place but until the service gets back to what it was, I think we need to take a break. :-(

I used to be a regular, food remains consistently great but from my last visit the service is not nearly what it used to be and if I were rating the drinks themselves I'd unfortunately give a much lower rating. The old bartender was very personable and did the classics (whiskey sour, dark and stormy, margaritas etc) SO well. I ordered my usual, a whiskey sour and it was terrible - all lemon and way too sweet, same with the rest of my table. Unsure this will be a go to spot for me in KW anymore.

This has got to be the most well kept restaurant secret in Waterloo, a classic case of 'don't judge a book by its cover'. They serve tapas and I also believe their menu changes with whatever is in season or with the next thing coming out of their pantry. Most of the things they do in house (smoking, pickling, etc) and the taste is there to prove it. They like to play around with the ingredients and you can be sure that the plate in front of you went through a few variations before it made it on the menu. We tried the smoked trout salad (a definite must try as it is truly out of this world), the arugula salad, foie gras and smoked salmon. I felt like I was treated to an orgy of flavours, such was the experience.

Simply fantastic! KW has another new Gem. Some may find it pricey, but I've never regretted paying for top quality food and service. Wheelchair/walker friendly

The food was not very good for how expensive it was. I was looking forward to supporting local restaurants but this one really fell short. Staff wasn't great, didn't get my water, the dishes, well... it seems someone is having a difficult time making a good menu there. Such a mix matched bunch of sauces and odd combinations I think a pregnant women put together lol

This was the best meal I've had yet in KW, bar none. High-quality food, comfortable atmosphere, and attentive service. The place was full and we were lucky that another reservation cancelled right before we called, or I doubt we would have gotten a spot. The address listed is correct, but we drove right past initially without noticing - it's in a fairly nondescript spot near a strip mall with little signage to see at night. We ate: Arugula salad with walnuts and house-made bacon Duck confit crepes Crab and shrimp melt on toast *Scallops with Serrano ham and cauliflower puree (our favourite dish) There was also a wide selection of beer (I had Galt Knife from Grand River brewery) and cocktails, including one which we saw being made and topped with gold leaf. My only regret was that I wasn't hungrier, since everything we tried was great and the rest of the menu looked just as good. Can't wait to come back.

Plan on getting a bunch of shared plates. The cocktails are excellent.

I'm impressed by unassuming exteriors with cool insides: Gene Hackman, VW Golf R, the Beatles' White Album, and Public Kitchen & Bar (corner Lancaster and nowhere). Public's front facade has all the charm of an H&R Block office, but don't let that fool ya. For hardcore foodies and trendy wannabes, this place is a find. Carnivores have a hard time finding decent raw flesh in this town (We carpaccio- and tartar-lovers prefer our Sushi to be made outta cow). Public's beef tartar ($15) is a puckish delight, delicately seasoned, served with skinny blonde house-made crostini, and garnished with caperberries (aristocratic cousins to the neighbourhood caper) and a Jackson Pollack of oil and balsamic. The world is as it should be. The donuts ($8) are to Timbits what Lamborghini is to Camry. PK&B serves them sensuously warm, with a drizzle of whisky caramel and an iniquity of whipped cream. I've had sex that's not as good as these donuts (er... long ago, I love you, Dear). If you hate red lights, you'll love this place: no waitin'. I don't know what kind of wizardry Mama and Papa have got back in that [Public] Kitchen, but every round of tapas seemed to arrive, freshly made to order, precisely 15 seconds after this Muggle ordered it. Public's stools were designed by a frugal Swedish architect who's never actually seen a human being. They're a visual match with the Hipster Fusion interior (IKEA meets well-curated thrift shop), but also cruel and unusual punishment for any posterior aged more than four decades. But hey, if torturous seating is your only beef about a joint, you know you've found a great one. Just like Momma always said. it's what's on the inside that counts.

Atmosphere: This restaurant is located in a strange neighborhood, but don't let the neighborhood scare you off! Inside this quaint and intimate restaurant lies seats and tables to fit roughly about 40-50 people max. The decor is unique and full of personality, yet still very charming. Drinks: I love their cocktails. They're unique and full of different flavours. Meal: Tapas, family-style dining. Typically, you want to order about 3 dishes between 2 people. We dined with 4, so we tried 6 different dishes, plus 2 desserts. Amazing! It was fresh, nicely presented, and tasty. Price: For all 4 people, we spent about $240 for everything, including tip and tax. I felt the price was very reasonable for the amount of food we ate. Service: I loved it. Nothing to complain about. Overall experience: I would love to go back and I've been telling people about it ever since I've dined here!

Public's chill vibe is perfect for any occasion. The music selection is eclectic (often funky), service is friendly and the food delicious. The tapas menu is inventive and dishes are presented thoughtfully. You'll love the extensive wine list and healthy selection of unique cocktails. A reservation is advised as tables are in demand. If you go unannounced, you might get lucky and snag one of few seats at the bar. I recommend buck-a-shuck oysters on Wednesday with a bottle of Gruner and warm olives to start.

Food was super mediocre, very disappointed after such glowing reviews. Beef tartare was bad; ground beef, not chopped, with far too much 'pickled' flavour and a SPAM like consistency. Everything else was okay T best. Extremely overpriced, as the cheapest glass of wine was $10 and mixed drink $12. Would not come back.

Such a great find in an unexpected location! I went with a friend and we split 4 plates and a dessert between the two of us, but we probably would have been fine with one less plate. Although I wouldn't have wanted to cut down on one plate because they were all so good! This is what we had: - Lentils and mushrooms with a fried egg (lentils had surprisingly great flavour) - Crostini with eggplant, feta, tahini sauce (overpowering feta flavour in the best way possible) - Smoked salmon on crispy potato (the salmon was so soft and fresh!) - Confit and roasted Cornish hen (this dish is how all chicken should taste) - Apple profiterole "sliders" with caramel sauce and cheese (wasn't sold on the profiteroles, but the apple compote inside was heaven) The wine list had really helpful descriptions to assist in choosing a wine. I ended up going with a really nice and reasonably priced Cabernet Sauvignon. I'm really looking forward to going back again soon!

WOW were we surprised this restaurant exists in KW! We walked in and were super pleasantly surprised by the cute and friendly and inviting decor and music. It's not too loud here either. It's very cozy. We made reservations on the day of and were supposed to sit at the bar but surprisingly got a table. The menu looked great and the service was excellent. The food was also good! We came on a wings night and their wings aren't like the sketchy wings at a traditional wings place it's like a classier version of it but super good too (we got the cranberry chilli one). The wine list is also extensive and the servers and bartender seem all happy and excited to be here. All in all excellent place!

Quaint and full of character, our taste buds fell in love with this place. We have been looking for a small intimate restaurant in Kitchener and stumbled across Public. It was perfect. It was small but not cramped, the wait staff were professional and charming, the food was fantastic. We had a dinner of oysters, a collection of their buck-a-shuck picks and some fancier selections. They were done perfectly. The plates we shared were interesting in taste, presentation, and composition. If you want a place to bring a date, this is it. Prices were decent but worth it in comparison to what else is out there. We are going back, and more than a few times.

2 beers 1 16 ounce steak , scollops and shrimp for 99 dollars plus tip. 5 shrimp 2 scollops 16 ounce steak sliced 3 dishes all well prepared and spiced with trimmings. Really good well presented good service public house has been doing it right for awhile now. Not big servings but 3 or 4 dishes for two people seems about right. I will be back

Best tapa place is the region. I highly recommend you to make a reservation a day prior to make sure you have a spot. Also, the restaurant can only seatt 8-9 tables of 4, so make sure its not a big group. That being said, prepare to make your wallet bleed. They have oyster and wings night, both are my favorites. Also try their wine listing if you don't have to drive.

The tapas were all served hot and fresh and what is most memorable are the scallops and green beans. Don't let the street setting fool you, Public serves up quality dishes.

There was such hype around this place when we went and weren't too impressed. For the price I was expecting more and the food wasn't even that great. We ordered 4 dishes. I wouldn't go back.

The food is excellent, and the service is excellent. It is basically like eating a variety of tapas for dinner. It is more expensive than your typical restaurant, but well worth it for the quality of the cuisine. They know how to pair wine (I mean really pair it...not from a chart or book but someone there knows what goes with their unique meals. someone must taste them and has enough knowledge to actually pair the food) They are the definition of "fine dining." Unique meals you don't find anywhere else. Only drawback: Its on Lancaster Dr. in Kitchener. Its a kind of run down area..and pretty shady after dark. The only other point...call ahead. They book up far ahead at certain times. (Friday evenings, etc.) Like way ahead..a couple weeks is safe.

I had a reservation for 8:00 and waited 30 minutes to be seated. I walked out after the 30 minutes. Very little communication and why we were not being given our table for when we reserved it. Very dissapointed.

My sister randomly selected Public Kitchen and Bar for Father's Day dinner with my family this year. How could such a random selection lead to such a perfect meal? I've since been one more time, but would love to arrange all occasions I celebrate in Kitchener here. It is sooo good. Both times I went were on Sundays where they do a four course family style set menu. It is $35 a person and basically all you can eat. The meal starts with a surprise amuse bouche. For Father's Day, it was a huge, perfectly cooked shrimp with a home-made seafood sauce and micro greens. This was followed by a big bowl of salad and a plate of warm, chewy fresh baked focaccia (my favourite part of the meal). Next was a platter of chicken and ribs with sides of roasted potatoes and vegetables. The roasted vegetables were anything but ordinary - among others, beets, zucchinis, cabbage, heirloom carrots, that were perfectly cooked and seasoned. After we ate the full platter of meat, the server came around to ask us if we wanted more. We asked for one serving of ribs and he ended up bringing out an order of chicken too. Dessert was an icecream Sunday with chocolate sauce, peanuts and fresh berries. At my second visit, the amuse was a tart filled with a creamy mussel filling. It was interesting, but probably best left as a tiny amuse (I probably wouldn't have eaten a second). This meal came with a similar salad, bread, potatoes and those amazing roasted vegetables. The main this time was fried chicken with sausage gravy. The fried chicken was better than most barbeque places that specialize in fried chicken! The gravy was thick and flavourful with the odd chunk of sausage. Crème brulee for dessert was perfect. Disclaimer - when you walk in, this place looks like a total hipster hangout. Vintage furniture, bearded servers and a mix of clientele. However, both times the servers were friendly and genuinely excited about the food and the night's menu. The location is a bit odd, in a small plaza on Lancaster. However this place is definitely worth checking out.

This restaurant was the substitute choice for my partner's bday, and I'm so glad we ended up there!!! The service is excellent, the food exciting and delicious, as well the space being a lovely spot to spend time with friends. Good beer and wine selections too. I was there on tapas & oyster night and we really enjoyed the oysters. I don't believe that they serve espresso though... Not entirely sure.

Friendly staff, small food portions and not a very great variety of menu items. It was actually pretty hard for me to find something I wanted to eat, and felt the price justified the meal.

What a great place for dinner. Love the food. Never tried tapas before but will definitely be back here. Great service and food was awesome.

Ate here last night. Food was excellent, service was great and it was reasonably priced for how much we got. Highly recommend.

The food was flavourful and presented beautifully. The cocktail special that night (French Connection) was delicious. Service was on point, too - genuine and attentive.