Mike L.
Yelp
Even though I've only visited Public Market a handful of times over the years, it has always had far more to do with location (and the fact that I don't make it to this side of the bay as often as I used to) than anything else. Really, I've always been rather fond of this place and how they're home to so many distinct eateries. Sure, the concept isn't exactly novel, nor that far off from a mall food court, but considering how this was built back in the 80's, you could argue this was one of first food halls around, before food halls even became a thing!
In the years since they first opened, it seems like Public Market has gone through a couple of updates and renovations, which has changed their fabric to some degree. Early on, the vast majority of the purveyors seemed to be true, mom-and-pop establishments. Now, some of the eateries include a couple of larger, semi-chains in KoJa Kitchen and Super Duper (which I love), though most still seem to be smaller owned establishments. Perhaps more importantly, the fare they offer is still just as diverse and varied, including Japanese, Peruvian, Asian Fusion, Mexican, Southern, Caribbean, Indonesian, Korean, American BBQ, Chinese, pizzas, and more.
Beyond just the dining options though, the other appealing thing about Public Market is that it doesn't necessarily have to be just a place where you eat and leave. A couple of the eateries have bars with TV's going, so you can relax and catch a game, there are some table games for adults and kids alike (they have a shuffleboard!), and they have a variety of community events every so often (live music, craft events, etc.). Plus, with so many tables available throughout the place, you can sit and dine at your leisure without having to worry about folks stalking your table.
The one thing about Public Market that I'm not a huge fan of is how their parking lot is configured. While it's a decently large lot, spaces can fill up fast during peak weekend hours. What's more, it's connected to the Hyatt's lot next door, so it was unclear if part of the lot was reserved for the hotel's guests or not. That said, the lot seems to thin out as the day wears on, so if you're stopping by for dinner, you're probably not going to have a problem on most nights. At the very least, it shouldn't deter you from stopping in and checking out Public Market if you're in the area for a quick and casual bite!