Public Kitchen and Bar

this is my first time coming to this restaurant. my friend told me it's the best restaurant in the town so I came and have a try. Thanks to Molly she explain the menu to us very carefully. She was very considerate and tidied up the empty plates for us, brought us paper towels, and in general, the service was very good. The dishes in the restaurant are also very delicious. We have been in Queenstown for three days, and this restaurant is indeed the best we have eaten so far.

We had an amazing experience at Public Kitchen and Bar! Eli was incredibly attentive and supportive all night, making sure we were well taken care of. His recommendations were spot on — everything was amazing but the scallops, carbonara, and ragu were absolutely delicious. We loved every single bite! Highly recommend both the restaurant and Eli’s exceptional service.

We love the ambience! The food was good, but the service is what really stood out to us. Although when it gets crowded, they tend to pay a little less attention, it was still nice overall. The location is great, and I enjoyed their rib eye steak and fresh oysters. However, one of the heaters wasn’t working, which was a bit of a downer, but it didn’t ruin the experience. I recommend booking in advance to avoid waiting during peak times.

Spectacular location to enjoy a delicious meal! We had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday here for dinner. The carbonara was the best we’ve ever had! Very tasty home made pasta and generous serving of bacon :) They even wrote me a birthday card. What a lovely touch. Thank you!

Great ambiance - sitting outside (with heated lamps and blankets) enjoying the sunset. The lamb was excellent- cooked and seasoned perfectly. The edamame and peas were also very flavorful. The carrots were a bit too sweet for my liking.

My husband and I had an amazing time celebrating his birthday over dinner. The service was fast, efficient and the team were super friendly. The food was incredible, we loved every bite. We really enjoyed the extra special treatment my husband got for it being his birthday, too. Thanks team!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Public Kitchen & Bar, and it was an exceptional experience! We indulged in a variety of dishes including lamb, pasta, ceviche, salmon, ribeye, and delightful desserts. Each dish was expertly prepared, bursting with flavors that highlighted the freshness of the ingredients. The highlight of our evening, besides the delicious food, was the outstanding service provided by our waitress, Molly. Her attentiveness and friendly demeanor truly enhanced our dining experience. Overall, I would rate Public Kitchen & Bar a solid 5 stars. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a memorable meal coupled with fantastic service. Checkout the pictures associated with this review and follow on IG @ifooditravel

Ru was an amazing server, he was attentive and positive, serving up some killer vibes. Pasta was a 10/10 after skiing all day and the views were unbeatable. Would absolutely go again!!

Nice location by the water. Had fettuccini with seafood and the lamb. Both excellent. Our server Nitz was great! Friendly with great sense of humor.

There were many great options and I had a hard time picking what to order. I ordered the oysters tempura which were delicious. I thought the lamb rack could use more seasoning and was a bit too bland for my taste. Love the outdoors and the lake scenery which made my experience more enjoyable.

Fantastic location right on the boardwalk. The food was great and the wait staff superb. Highly recommended.

Service less than adequate. Good food. Feeling patient? Enjoy. Looking for wait staff to engage, go any other location on the wharf

We had dinner here on NYE. Everything was tasty, especially the rack of lamb and the oysters. Our waitress Bela was excellent, very knowledgeable about the menu and great service.

4.4/5 We found this restaurant from First Table (which basically gives you 50% off the bill if you reserve the first table for lunch or dinner which is such an awesome deal!) But even without this, their prices are really reasonable. We got a table seated inside by the window with a nice view of the lake, but there is also outdoor seating right by the lake (opted for inside as it was a bit chilly that day). The customer service was good and food was brought out promptly. Pork belly [3/5]: The pork belly was not tender and the crackling had a really hard inedible texture. I would not recommend this dish. Lamb backstrap [4.7/5]: I usually don't eat lamb but this was cooked so perfectly and paired so well with the minted mashed peas and labne. Akaroa Salmon [3.5/5]: this was better than the pork belly but nothing too memorable about this dish. The portion was really big which was nice. Whole baked sole [4.4/5]: This dish was a favorite among the group. It was huge and cooked really well. Liked the crispy skin and baked cloves of garlic. Would definitely recommend this place if you're in downtown Queenstown!

We were walking around the lake and found this restaurant/bar which has great views if you stay outside. The food was sooo good. Everything we got was tasty and nice cocktails. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Queenstown.

The food is pretty darn good here, unfortunately the staff seems to be constantly changing and the poor manager had to console us as we were about to leave after waiting for our order for over 45 minutes and seeing others seated after us get drinks, food, pay the bill and leave. Because she was so sweet it gets a 3 and not a 1

Not exactly a fine dining restaurant but still quite fancy, what's special is that they have an option called "chef's selection" that only serves groups of 2 or more guests. With $81 per person, you can have three starters, a main course, two sides and a dessert. You will not make any selections since the chef will decide what to serve based on what ingredients the kitchen has prepared on that day, more or less like a surprise box. We decided to go for it since we didn't know what was good to eat, the results were beyond expectations. For the starters, we were served roasted cauliflower, thinly sliced beef tartare and chilled squid. The main course was a whole baked sole along with green peas and feta cheese and baked potatoes as side dishes. For dessert there was a huge plate of caramelized flan, everything tasted great, the huge jug of shared cocktails also added a highlight to the meal.

Amazing place to eat, great service. Amazing drinks with a great view and the staff while extremely busy were always helpful

This waterfront restaurant is POPPIN'. My parents and I came at the recommendation of a Queenstown shopkeeper who described this place by "kiwi fare", "tapas-style", and "thoroughly impressed". Intrigued, we set off and found ourselves in a colorful, retro-themed building complete with a front door posing as a phone booth and boho water pitchers. It gets real busy from happy hour onwards, and you'll be lucky to get a coveted shaded deck spot (they do have heaters when the sun starts to go down). Reservations are encouraged for parties of 4+ during peak season. Through the madness, the waiters remained cheerful and efficient, going through the share-if-you-like style of ordering and making sure to mention that each plate is as described on the menu, without side veggies. The "Snack" label is very deceiving since the portions for these items are actually quite large, while the meat plates were smaller than expected. I couldn't get enough of the Kumara, Leek, Pear, and Rocket Salad. The Homemade Garlic Bread was toasty, a little too burnt, but perfect for spreading some Potted Rabbit on. The rabbit was very dry, but the flavor actually worked pretty well with the accompanying Plum Compote. The Short Rib was not as tender as expected, but Public's Fried Chicken was unique as far as fried chicken goes. The breading is lighter and crumblier than American counterparts, and I could taste some coconut mixed into it! My cultural expectations also shifted when we got our Cider Roasted Pork Belly. My imagined dish was thick blocks of fatty pork belly, but the dish seemed more like thick-cut bacon - although just as hearty and oily. Public shares 3 unisex bathrooms with Finnz next door, each equipped with its own sink so you're never awkwardly waiting to wash your hands before digging in again. It can get pretty noisy regardless of whether you're sitting inside or outside. Ultimately, I was more impressed with the decor and vibe than the food itself, but it's a nice place to unwind at the end of the day and support local farmers.

Great airy atmosphere and excellent sharing menu! Service was very good and we enjoyed the view also.

Location ***** This restaurant has a prime location right on the pier and has a good view of the lake or boats. You would think that a restaurant with this kind of premier location would not have good food. They probably would not need it, but they do. Whitebait appetizer ***1/2 This was a seasonal dish. Tiny white fish fried and paired with buttered toasts and chili oil. The Whitebait was over seasoned with salt, but other than that, it was tasty. Steamed Green Lip Mussels & Southern Clams **** Wifey's most anticipated dish in NZ. It did not disappoint. I liked the mussels more than the clams, but they were both delicious. Rack of Lamb ***** My first lamb in NZ. OMG. It was so delicious, juicy and tender. Was not gamey at all. Just wow! There was a pile of rough "pesto" with pine nuts, but that was quickly forgotten as the lamb was truly the star. Seasonal Tap: ginger beer ***1/2 The alcoholic ginger beer was sweet and tasty, but it did not stand out. That's okay. I really cared more about the food than drink at this place.

Just landed in Queenstown, dropped our stuff off at the hotel and jumped on our Yelp app to look for someplace to eat dinner. Decided to check out Public Kitchen. Loved the located, beautiful walk along the lakefront of Queenstown. I loved the layout of their menu, very straight forward and figure out what we wanted to order. The Grub. Potted rabbit $21. This was a bigger 'snack' then we expected. It was very good and tasty. Came with a plum compote and grilled bread. Venison Osso Bucco $33. Out of everything we ordered, this was my least favorite. The meat was super dry and not very tasty. I don't think this item was worth the price either. The pumpkin puree was yummy, wish they gave more. Lamb Rump $29. This lamb was delicious! The sauce you drizzle on the lamb complemented it perfectly. The description said it came with cabbage bacon with peas, honestly, they barely put pieces of bacon on it so that was a little disappointing. Duck fat potatoes with roasted shallots $10.50. This was so yummy. Highly recommend ordering this as a side to share with the table. Overall most the food we got was good, the prices are a bit high. But I feel like a lot of restaurants in Queenstown are on the pricey side.

Wow, that was a really good meal and they have a great view of the lake! The menu was so tasty we actually had two dinners here while in Queenstown. I would seriously recommend the salmon and the chicken. We also had a lot of veggie dishes (perhaps some carrots, cauliflower and beets in three different dishes) that were great, but the salmon and Nana Marg's chicken are still really memorable a month after our visit. My husband has even asked, do you think we can make that lemon chicken like public kitchen? To which, I regrettably respond, I haven't a clue how to replicate it's deliciousness. I really hope some day to return for a meal here!

We walked along the beautiful lakefront of Queenstown in the evening and decided to have dinner at Public Kitchen Bar. It looked very inviting with the soft decor, plush booth seats, and a buzz from the patrons already inside. The noise level wasn't too bad at all here on a Sunday evening so that made it more pleasant for us. They offer lakeside dining (if you choose to sit outside) and local kiwi fare (which is definitely sprinkled in there). We were planning on eat a little healthier tonight and the menu did offer a lot on that end. We started by ordering two salads to share: 1. cous cous salad 2. beetroot, baby spinach, cheese, and candied walnuts salad Both delivered as advertised. The candied walnuts were especially good. For our main, we decided to go with the Nana Marg's lemon and thyme chicken. The portion was quite enough for two hungry people. The chicken itself was very tender and moist with the lemon and thyme having perfumed it well. The service staff are super friendly and make sure you get taken care of while you are there. Overall, this was a great spot in Queenstown for dinner should you be at the lakefront.

Had a nice dinner at Public, a large restaurant on the water, which had 2 sister restaurants: Finz (pricey seafood) and Bella Cucina (small Italian). We tried to go to Bella but the place was at capacity on Sunday at 7:30pm, make sure to make a reservation. It was chilly and windy when we arrived at Public, but we sat outside since there was no wait. I appreciated the complimentary fleece blankets provides since the heat lamps wouldn't stay on. Overall, had a nice meal at Public - a tapas style restaurant, though the serving sizes were a bit small. * Irish Coffee - 3 stars: Beautiful but not very strong. * Kumara Salad - 4.5 stars: Fresh with a delicious dressing and chunks of roasted veggies. * Cod

A good test of an eatery is by their vegetarian food. And so I ordered the beetroot risotto.....which was an expensive fail. A bland offering which the chef had tried to mask by smashing it full of salt. But that didn't hide some underlying chalkiness once I'd gotten halfway. I think this place is really just for getting some cocktails in with a view of the alpine scenery.

We had an all-around fantastic meal here on our last night in Queenstown in terms of food, service and atmosphere! We sat outside to enjoy the waterside views on a fall night and Fabien was kind enough to bring us blankets to keep us comfortable. All our dishes were excellent - we had the pork belly, pea salad, potatoes and camembert. The live music was a nice bonus touch!

We just love this place and it's best in class at the wharf. Sitting outside on the pier, it's already wonderful. The menu makes sharing a few items with friends very easy but don't think they are all smallish portions. The green lipped mussels were rock'n. The lamb was super but pass on the gyoza.

This was on of our favorite meals during our 2 week vacation. The quality of the food was unbelievable. My boyfriend and I live in NYC, a restaurant mecca, and we found this restaurant up to par with some of the great places to eat in the city. The meats were delicious, every component of the dish was added with care, and the flavors were scrumdiddlyumptious! I would highly recommend the duck pancakes to start, the roasted root veggies w/ yogurt, the pork shoulder, and the clams and mussels. All were noteworthy good. I saw so many dishes coming out to the tables next to us that also looked delectable. It didn't look like you could go wrong at all! This is must in Queenstown. Great beer and wine lists as well.

Fantastic surprise in Queenstown! We came across Public Kitchen and Bar our first day in Queenstown, and ended up stopping in a few more times during our 4 day stay! The atmosphere is quaint and has great energy. The people are amazing! Lucy and Kalum and others took great care of us! Even when they were packed on Christmas Day, Lucy got us great seats with a view of the harbor within a few minutes, Kalum made sure we had everything we needed or could ask for. The food is great as well! The wings are tasty and you MUST have the baked camembert appetizer! I had the lamb t-bone dinner the 2nd night and it was top notch. If you are in Queenstown, The Public Kitchen and Bar should be your first stop

This was our favorite restaurant in New Zealand. If I ever come back to New Zealand, you'll definitely find me eating here. You cannot beat the food and the view. Located along the pier, we chose to sit outside to enjoy the wonderful view while eating dinner. Our waitress was super nice and friendly. We really enjoyed all of her recommendations, which helped me discover one of my favorite new wines, 2018 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. I highly recommend ordering the duck fat potatoes, bowl of mussels and clams and lamb. The duck fat potatoes were surprisingly very crispy and well seasoned. We couldn't get enough of it. The mussels were huge, and that white wine sauce was addictive. I would lick the bowl clean if I could've. That's how good it was. I usually hate the gamey taste of lamb, but their lamb was surprisingly delightful. I actually ate it without giving it back to my husband. By the way, we saw a lot of lamb while driving from the Divide, so we knew we had to try it. What I also love about this restaurant is that they have blankets! It got chilly during dinner and the waitress offered us two blankets, which made our experience even more pleasurable. If you're staying in Queenstown, don't forget to pay the Public Kitchen and Bar a visit. I hope you love it as much as we did!

Delicious dinner. Meals to share and a wonderful selection. The only piece that wasn't fantastic was the wedges- no real flavor despite having good reviews. I had the green lipped mussels and clams dish. These mussels are huuuuuge! So fresh and tasty. I don't eat mussels often so this was a stretch for me and it paid off. I paired it with garlic bread (huge serving) and the fresh greens as a side. Beers and cocktails also fabulous. The lady of the lake is very sweet, but a fun cocktail starter.

We had our best meal in Queenstown at Public Kitchen & Bar. To start we ordered the cheeserolls, which is a flattened grilled cheese sandwich rolled up, battered and fried. Needless to say, they were incredible. For mains, we ordered the chicken schnitzel and roasted vegetable tart. For our side, we got the duck fat fried potatoes. We had to order the pavlova for dessert, since they were first created in New Zealand. Everything was flavorful and well executed. My 23 month old son devoured everything we gave him. The service was great. We have no complaints.

What a picture perfect view & meal! We tried sooooo much and left stuffed! We started with the chickpea fries w truffle - delicious! The cheese sticks tasted a little like corn flakes?! But ooey & gooey cheesy good! The carrot salad was refreshing & the chicken was sooooooo good & juicy! I was warned but the pork belly was a little fatty for my taste but that goes with the territory with pork belly. The staff was spot on and so helpful with our touristy questions. Definitely eat here when I'm Queenstown!

We decided to try their espresso martini for happy hour. It was exceptional! We decided to stay for the food because the entire staff was friendly and exceptional. As an overview, the salmon was amazing. The lamb pasta (stew) was good but there wasn't a lot of meat. Additionally, a couple pieces were fatty. But the flavor was exceptional. Basically, it was noodles with five pieces of stewed lamb. We also shared a beat salad. I enjoyed it with my wife but it was my birthday and I chose. The waitress was also kind enough to give us a complimentary champagne for my birthday. In summary, if you're looking for locally sourced food with excellent service, give it a try. Don't forget to try their espresso martini!

Lamb ribs were excellent, soft and nicely seasoned. Black curly hair found in salad was gross, waitress said she'd tell the manager but otherwise they seem unconcerned. Water glass had some kind of milky residue inside.

NZ green lip mussels and chips (NZ$17) and a Macs Green Beret IPA (NZ$10) makes for a great lunch. Typical pub-like atmosphere inside with seating outside as well. Service is friendly (but this is NZ, so what else would it be?) and fast. Prices are a little high. But considering you are in the centre of Qtown, it's all good.

Lovely dinner here on the pier! I went a bit early before it got busy with the dinner rush and had the venison and the potatoes in duck fat. Really tasty. The portions are small, so make sure to get a side dish to go with your entree. The service staff were great. I happened to be in a bit of a rush, and they really tried to accommodate me. I'd go here again.

Yep, Public gets the vote for a variety of reasons: great ambience loosely divided into a bar area, bench area and a dinning area. We had no trouble grabbing a seat even though it was quite busy (nearly full). Service was top notch, quick and attentive without being overbearing. Food wise, the confit duck pancakes was a nicely done, different take on the traditional peeking duck pancakes. The lamb belly was special, very tender and not fat at all. Portions were generous and really not very expensive (not compared to Sydney anyway...) The only minor quibble was the cocktail I had was a tad too sweet for my taste but really, that was my fault for ordering a ginger syrup Man-hattan. I've only touched on a few dishes, the menu is nicely laid out into pork, bird, beef, salad etc. Of the more "fancy" restaurants i've visited in Queenstown this one ticks all the boxes nicely, it's great food, more upmarket yet very easy going and not pretentious. Will I go back again? Oh yes.

We had drinks and appetizers and were thoroughly pleased with everything. The service was terrific and the outdoor seating with views of the lake and mountains was breathtaking. The sticky pork belly sticks were out of this world good. I would go back just for those! Recommend!

Totally OK. Friendly service, nice ambiance and mediocre food. Tried cheese roll, crispy cauliflower, wilted spring greens, and nana Margs chicken. All were decent, but nothing to write home about. If staying for awhile in town, would probably try again. If you eat here get coupon card from most tourist sales sights for free house drink.

We had a lot of meals at some pretty swanky places but public house remains my favorite meal from our trip. We had the pork belly and rack of lamb. The lamb was perfect. The pork belly made me wish I had a large enough stomach to have it as the entree and the main. They also had the best Old Fashioned I found in this hemisphere. We also drank a ridiculous pimms cocktail for two that was actually really delicious and had a healthy amount of booze. The staff was attentive without hovering. The sides were also excellent.

Decent food. A bit overpriced but nice atmosphere and lots to look at. Very busy so suggest making a reservation. Staff was speedy and helpful with selections.

Comfort food with a capital "C"! I was looking for a place to get some well prepared, locally sourced, simple food, and Public kitchen came through with flying colors in terms of food, location and the always important, service. Located on the wharf, I got a great table right on the water. My recco is to make a reservation on line or call ahead as this place gets busy and you want to be able to enjoy the spectacular views. And the great part is that they offer blankets to cover up with as the temps begin to fall along with the sun so if you forget your jacket, they've got you covered! The menu is really set up to be able to share with plenty of smaller plates on one side and the larger "mains" on the other. Know before you go that the starters are also quite large. We probably ordered way too much food but no problem as it gave us a chance to taste a range of the menu. First up- we had a couple of thier specialty cocktails along with the lamb meatballs and the pork belly skewers. The lamb meatballs (probably 10 or so) came with lettuce leaves and cucumber sauce to wrap them in (a really delicious way to serve them) and the pork belly skewers (3) were equally delicious. For my main I had the 1/2 chicken with lemon and thyme and my friend had the skirt steak and we split the duck fat potatoes which were crispy decadence. Both were very good (did I say we had WAY too much food?) but we probably should have only ordered one main to split given the first course was so large. Oh well! Not really that big of a problem to have too much good food! Service was spot on (thanks Hannah, you were great!) and I felt warmly welcomed by the host as well. Dinner for two with drinks was about $135 which was cheap given all the food we ate! And if there was a down side, it's that the bar next door plays its music pretty loudly so be prepared to hear heavy rock during portions of your evening! Next time you are in Queenstown and want food that's fit for a queen, check out Public Kitchen. Your stomach can thank me later!

We ate twice here while in Queenstown and have zero regrets. Really great service and delicious food with a view for the gods! There is quite an array of different things on the menu and we tried quite a few. The churrasco (skirt steak) was delicious. The cous cous absolutely phenomenal. Their fried chicken is also pretty tasty as well as their potato hash with corned beef. Nice beers and wine at reasonable prices. This place is awesome! We will miss it dearly when back home.

Best lunch deal! Burger and bevvie (NZ craft beer, wine, or pop) for $12 NZ. We had the beef burger and pork belly burger. I had coffee (flat black) and hubby had a beer (lager). Both meals were great! Love the pickled veggies on the burgers. Our waitress, Gracie, was amazing; friendly with lots of great recommendations for things to do, see, and where to eat! We liked it so much, we came back twice during our short time in Queenstown.

Such a great spot in Queenstown! Wonderful service, views, and food!! A must while visiting!!!

After dining here nightly the last four nights, I must post how thrilled I am with this restaurant. Lucy sorted us out each night brilliantly!!!! We have a tremendous list of food allergies and everyone served us perfectly. If you want excellent food, or if you want excellent service, or if you want people fanatical about food allergies, come here!!!!!

Based on earlier reviews and a personal recommendation, we made Public our choice for a casual dinner on our first night in town. I love tapas and wine, so it wasn't a difficult decision. Everything about our experience was perfect. The waterfront location and cozy, casual ambiance is spot on. The service was top-notch, thanks to Lucy, who took amazing care of us. The food, and we tried a lot of it (garlic bread, fried chicken, short ribs. chicken spätzle, fried fish. carrots & parsnips, duck fat potatoes, etc.) was all, without exception, delicious! Nice wine selection, too!

We went here because the dishes looked good on the menu and the place got good reviews. But the food was a bit bland and underwhelming. The meatballs were woefully underseasoned. The venison was just ok. I don't think I would have been able to tell the difference between that and a slow cooked goat dish. The service was excellent though.

The food is really really good! The view on the lake is amazing ! I had a really good lunch! It is maybe a little bit expensive, but still the food is good!

My husband and I had dinner here during our honeymoon, and it was our favorite meal in Queenstown! Everything here is tasty, so you really can't go wrong. We loved the duck fat potatoes, the short rib (the BEST!), the duck confit pancakes, and the lamb. You should definitely make a reservation, as the space is a bit small and fills up fast. Public Kitchen was much better and even cheaper than Botswana Butchery, which we were disappointed with.

Had the salmon and beet root salad. Salmon preparation was adequate, but was lacking seasoning. A little salt and pepper would have helped tremendously. The aioli with capers was unremarkable, and flavorless. The salad was fresh and beets were good and walnuts were fine. However, the dressing was sparse and added nothing to the salad. Our waitress was singularity unhelpful and unseen for long stretches. Tell me about the calamari I asked, well it's calamari she replied. Indeed it was and also unremarkable. Many better options are available in the area. I will not return.

The food is designed for sharing and every single dish we ordered was delicious, we were 6 people, ordered 5 starters and 4 mains and was just perfect. I recommend the baked Camembert and the short rib, both amazing. Also great drinks and good service, nice people attending.

Perfect setting on the water and terrific service. We ordered the duck, pork loin, strip steak, chicken schnitzel, and braised pork ribs to share along with a few starters. Everything was delicious, but don't expect your entrees to be any larger than a typical appetizer. In fact, most of our starters were just as tasty and just as large as our entrees for half the price. So don't come here hungry, and if you are, double down on the starters and skip the entrees. And plan on spending much closer to $$$ than $$.

Fabulous hidden spot right on the wharf. The food is outstanding & you can't beat the view! Portions are huge & meant to be shared. The staff was very attentive & friendly making great recommendations on the meal selections. Everything we tried was delicious! We definitely had to take some home though because the portions were huge. Consider sharing a protein & splitting a couple sides.

Slow food service but great food. A bit too rich but a great place to finish the day in Queenstown. Definitely pricy but a nice place on the waterfront