Publico

Ill start with the bad. Service was horrible. It felt like never never land. A bunch of college kids of course but no one to lead them. We walked in and there was no hostess. Walked to the back area to sit and was told to speak with the hostess. Well we walked in and were seen by at least 5 staff who just looked at us and kept doing what they were already doing (huddled at the bar near the kitchen talking) Sat at the bar and the initial service was decent , but then the beers ran dry. After about 5 minutes I held my glass in the air and made eye contact with the 4 or 5 staff near the kitchen who seemed annoyed to have to do their job. Was greeted by a snobby young girl who seemed perturbed that she had to serve people. We were not checked on one time and their were two girls working the bar. A total of 5 people including my friend and I at the bar. Probably 20 patrons here at this point not crowded at all. Ordered to go food and stepped out to make a phone call. Walked in to find my food ready but not sure if it was mine. Had to walk back over and ask if that was mine and every time I approached them they seemed bothered with my presence. Like not one friendly encounter. Additionally for my to go order None of the extra sauces I requested were in the bag. On top of that I got some poor souls food added into my bag that I didn't pay for. Cool I guess but punctuated the incompetence of the staff IMO. I won't be visiting this location again for sure. Let me add the food is amazing. Apparently all the effort is in the back of the house. I understand these are younger people, but I've been to chic fil a. Their staff are even younger. Do better Publico and train your staff to be kind and assertive for your patrons sake. Wish I could have back the 30% I tipped but I understand people need to make a living. End of rant

The young ladies we were greeted by are awesome! We sat outside and the young lady who sat us came out and checked on us and chatted for a while. Our server Cassie is the best! She gave my dog Gucci some ice water. Cassie is attentive, kind, and prompt. When it came to her describing Sunday Brunch and Thursday night Nashville Hot fried chicken, and even musical bingo, we were sold. Myself and my son, daughter in law, and two granddaughters were treated like they knew us for years. A very chill and laid back vibe! Super cool staff and amazing food! I will be a regular!

Love this place. Prices are steep but it’s 5-Points, all the prices are steep here. Love the bar and the atmosphere is always chill. Food is always tasty but the drinks are a little weak. All told, come here when I’m Tue area so yeah, kinda like it here! Tue classic taco meat s amazing🥰

Abby and Ray did an amazing job with apps and drinks for us!! They recommend and made the best drinks. The dip trip was very tasty and was exactly what was needed after the fire fly game. Thanks for the amazing service you guys, we will be back!!

My co workers decided on this place for the first time, for our monthly get together. We chose several appetizer's, and a few drinks. The sticky ribs, were our favorite. Several of the other items didn't meet our expectations. The Nacho Fries didn't have any queso, and the Crab Ragoon was cold. Our waitress was exceptional, and met all of our needs! The atmosphere was awesome for a Thursday, especially with the music bingo!

Super cute place. Service was slow, but server was upfront that they were short staffed. Tacos were incredible and only $2 on Monday! Great spot for good food and good vibes

Loved this place and the location. We chose the $45 10 tacos and 5 sides and a beer flight. The tacos are very large so this was an awesome deal. The atmosphere is a real vibe, especially outside. It’s a place we will take family to when they’re in town.

We came to celebrate my daughter's birthday. The food was served hot and fast. Nice clean environment. Our server was Drayton. She was excellent. She was very attentive and thoughtful. She knew the menu well and was able to give nice suggestions. I asked for cucumber in my water which is a unusual ask. She stated she will make it happen 😊. She made our dinner a wonderful experience. Thanks Drayton🎉

Had a great time at Publico! The staff was festive and friendly, and it was nicely decorated for Christmas. I really enjoyed my meal, which was the Ube bubble waffle with fried chicken. It also had plantains and kimchi - an interesting mix of menu items! This was part of their brunch menu. overall, everything was delicious! I also got the pineapple mimosa which came with a rubber ducky on top. All in all, everyone enjoyed their meal. My only issue was that the kimchi came on top of the waffle which made it extremely soggy and kimchi flavored. So I couldn't eat the whole waffle. It also had some of the sauce from the plantains on the waffle as well. So I would say to serve the waffle on a different plate in the future.

Great atmosphere! Next, the food we had today tasted wonderful! Finally, Mia was a WONDERFUL server which was helpful since we stopped by today for our first ever visit to Publico. She made sure to explain all of the food and drink options to us, had a great attitude, and made sure we had everything we needed. Here is a picture of the Nacho Fries next to a lovely Santa mug. The picture doesn't do justice. I was dipping jalepeños in the base because it was so tasty!

This was the first time I came back to publico in over a year and I had a great experience! There was a 30-45 minute wait on a Sunday night when we came, but it went faster than I thought. I honestly forgot about how wide of a range the menu is, there really is something for everyone here. I had the trio and tostada salad. The salad was amazing, super filling and I loved the salsa. However, I do think there is better queso in town, so next time I'd love to try a new appetizer. All in all I think this is definitely a great place to come to with a group of friends, especially this time of year since they are all decked out with christmas decorations and have fun christmas cocktails!!

Fantastic college atmosphere next to USC. Great selection of beers on top with an endless amounts of taco varieties to choose from. If you're looking for a great time Publico is your place.

Great spot in 5 Points. Large outdoor area with some games like Jenga and Connect 4. Service was great- friendly and fast. On Thursdays, they have pitchers of beer for $15. You get about 4 beers out of it. Food was good. Not amazing but good. They have some fun tacos. Salad and cauliflower bites were lacking in flavor. Could have used more dressing or seasoning on the salad. But lots of outdoor seating and a great spot to spend a nice afternoon or evening.

Love when the Christmas Pop Up gets set up at Publico! This year, the theme was Santa's Pub and it was a hit! Absolutely loved the Christmas decor and couldn't get over how good the drinks were. 10/10 for sure and the service was great considering how crowded it was! I've been to Publico a bunch since I've moved here in 2023 and definitely feel like they're really becoming known for this event around the Holidays. I highly recommending coming and stopping by because the vibes are always spot on. It was buzzing, even on a Tuesday so make sure to come early!

Had great service here from Ms. Mary Ann but the food was mid to say the least. The menu is like Tex mex meets American Korean food. The fried shrimp burrito was interesting cause the shrimp wasn't fried the entire burrito was... I had a very bland quesadilla. It's supposedly a corn tortilla (as you can see it's not) with shredded chicken and a small amount of cheese inside. If you smother it in some of their hot sauce options it's mid at best.

This was a delicious dining experience. Let me just say I had their special tacos and the bartender was wonderful talking me into the special taco. She was attentive and polite. I also ordered the pork quesadilla with the au jous to go for a much later late night snack. It was perfect. It was not too loud but a fun atmosphere for this out of town girl! I'll be back when I'm back in Columbia!

We had a huge party of ten but the waitress did a great job of keeping our orders straight. No one had any complaints and we had a huge variety of dishes. The burgers were huge, chicken and puffle was so different, and all the different tacos were yummy. Warning, the bao buns were super spicy. The kids had a great time playing cornhole underneath the lights!

Any place that has a server that is super aware of what is gluten free is a win for me. I love the atmosphere here. The tacos I had were good especially the birria. The margarita was also great. My friend really enjoyed her ramen but not the seltzer she chose.

We were thrilled when we stopped into to Publico to check it out for dinner. The decor and ambience is awesome. We were greeted and sat right away. Everyone we encountered was so friendly and welcoming. Our server was fantastic. We ordered a couple of tacos and a burrito. Delicious! The menu is full of drink specials and lots of yummy options. We will definitely be back!

Wow, it's a sports bar. Lot's of unique menu items. When my Mexican Cornbread came out I was disappointed by the size but it turned out to be filling and just enough. Everyone else's food looked really good too.

Publico is a staple in Columbia and I always love when I get to go! The service is always consistent along with the food quality. One of my favorite things to get is their waterline margarita. It's super cute casual spot in Five Points. There's mainly street parking but I've never had an issue finding any on a Saturday. I highly recommending coming especially if you have a group friends that can't decide on what kind of food they want. Publico is very diverse!

Coming from the Southwest, I was not expecting much from a South Carolina craft taco establishment, but came in on the strength of the reviews, and was not disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed both the Shrimp Tapajo and Beef Short Rib. While initially skeptical of the addition of an aioli to my side of plaintains, I came to enjoy it after a few bites. Of anywhere I ate in town, Publico also had the most welcoming bar staff. I'll be back here if I end up in town again.

Great atmosphere! Our waitress was Maria and she took good care of us. Service was prompt, and she offered us all the specials upfront, as well as the drink specials, which all sounded wonderful. Loved our tacos, queso & guac. We will definitely come again when we're visiting the University of South Carolina in the future.

This was a great find. They have a very good selection of tacos and other dishes. Each of us in our group tried different tacos and loved them. The service was also good. They were in dinner rush when we went but our wait time was short. We went on a rainy Tuesday night but the vibes were still good. I'm sure the weekends are great specially with their patio. Parking was limited to street parking which wasn't an issue on a Tuesday night. Not sure about weekends.

The service is absolute TRASH. We came in on a dead afternoon as a 10 top which should be a slam dunk for our server. She fumbled severely as she was rarely seen by us. The table had to request drinks at the bar among other things. The staff appeared bothered that we approached asking for the bill after being neglected for an hour. The food is very terrible. No compliments to the chef. The local Moe's is guaranteed more authentic Mexican. Please avoid at all costs if you want an enjoyable evening. Nice Christmas decor, but at what cost?? Avoid!!

What went well? Everything! I was a regular patron until recently! The entire staff are exceptional & on top of their game! A shout out to Jill one of the bartenders! The food is yummmy! I like the Macrobiotic bowl. Just right for vegan appetites! Service excellent. Vibe is quiet weekdays but very loud on weekends! You guys get 5 and beyond stars into the galaxy for exceptional everything!! Yayy!

Tacos were great. The drink I had the Yippie Ki yay M...fr was the best! Nothing like a good meal and good drink!

Good portion and great atmosphere/service. Food's a tad salty for me but overall, we enjoyed the good.

This is my go to place for a good margarita and snack. Can't go wrong with these tacos and some chips, salsa, and queso! Great atmosphere, friendly staff

Service was very good. Our server was very friendly. Cute outdoor area, tables are all tilted to one side so being conscious that drinks and silverware will slide. Food was very okay. We tried the restaurant week menu Cauliflower bites - so heavy in breading and oil Yuzu chicken tacos - heavy on cabbage they were in desperate need of sauce and chicken. Dessert Chicken boa bun - good very plain and a very small app.

beautifully decorated Christmas themed. Decided to go here because the menu instant for a variety of foods and pairings of elements, looked great. Three people ordered three different dishes. never got the drink bc it was the friday before xmas and they had office parties in house slamming the bar. Other than the Reuben, in which the corned beef comes already salted, there was not a drop of salt in our three meals. I've never had a cheeseburger with no salt before. Odd, because I saw another review that said the food was TOO salty two days after I went.College kids can serve beer all day, but somebody has hired someone whose knows how to cook back there.

We waited two hours to eat. We waited another hour to get our food and then when the food was delivered, it was explained to us that several people had walked out that night from the kitchen, so the food was delayed and not only was the food delayed it was cold and not worthy of eating so we sent it back and walked out. My recommendation would be make sure they're fully staffed before you enter this place and wait that long and waste your evening for nothing.

Went here for brunch with my spouse and dog. The patio was a great size and very cute. Looks like a great place to come to on a nice summer night for fun and drinks. My spouse got the Huevos Rancheros which was very good. I got the Chicken & Puffles which was unique and yummy. I've never been some where with a dog menu which was really cool! Good quality and cheaper than just ordering a side of plain chicken. Loved that. Service was good. My only complaint would be about how the Tempting Turkey for the dog was mostly just sweet potatoes cubes and just a little bit of ground turkey. I was hoping to see the bok choy and strawberries but we didn't see any in the bowl.

I gave this place a second chance to give them a fair review. It is just okay for me. I had high hopes being new to the area many people have recommended Público. The inside is really welcoming and well decorated. The food is just not that good. I feel like it is very bland. It's a good place to go to for drinks but that's about it. The service is good but it's the good for me.

Nice spot! We dropped in while waiting for the stadium opened to go look at lights and got some drinks. The vibe was fun and there were games all over the tables. The drinks were unique and tasty and we tried all the festive ones. I liked there sugar cookie martini best. Price: reasonable Parking: street and parking garage Service: fast and good

Bartenders were mean and pretentious. Would not come here if I were you. Hostesses were extremely nice, which was the only highlight of this experience. You could find better food at any other authentic Mexican restaurant in Columbia.

It was a fun afternoon. The staff was very friendly and kept us hydrated and fed. The menu is fun and offered choices for all. The he drink menu is plentiful. Had a great special with the tropical twist and in a pineapple. It was our 30th reunion and a great way to start the weekend.

2nd time here. Once again underwhelmed. Burrito was large and very filling however my meal came with 3 shrimp. Rice and beans inside were not flavorful. Service was a bit slow. Love the aesthetic of the restaurant. Very nice for pictures and open airy chill vibe.

I went to Publico over a year ago with disastrous service, my wife and myself. This time, I thought I waiter long enough to go back...I brought friends from out-of State. We ordered tap beer, one they were out of, ordered a different tap beer, they were out of that. The waitress was nice, but appeared inexperienced. Food was decent, but this place for having good reviews, has been unwarranted both times. How do you not have certain beers available?

Their taco deal was fantastic!! I loved the variety and I loved the Asian inspired ingredients! They have great cocktails too!! I would definitely go back here!!

The Publicó Burger and the brisket Bao bun was so good. Also the churro ice cream dessert. Amazing!

Date night Mexican Food in Five Points is always a good thing. The tacos are great. The chips and salsa are great. They have my favorite cheese dip in the city. In terms of ambiance for a Mexican restaurant Publico is unmatched in Columbia. The bar is huge and I think they have more outdoor seating than any restaurant in Columbia in general. The service is inconsistent because 90% of the wait staff are college kids. But it's still really worthwhile.

We dropped into Publico Kitchen and Tap on a Saturday afternoon (after a morning of shopping at Soap City). The place was bustling and we had a bit of a wait. Once we were seated and had an opportunity to look over the menu, we found it full of fresh, local, organically grown offerings. There were loads of vegetarian and vegan options in the selections. We were spoiled for choice with all the customizable tacos, Ramen Bowls, burgers, salads, poke & sandwiches. I ultimately ordered the Shrimp Tataki Salad accompanied by the Saturday special Pineapple margarita. Publico Kitchen & Tap is a Five Points restaurant that is both cozy and inviting. Lots of hipsters came with their dogs during our outing; the patio is a dog-friendly space. There's even a neat games area for kids (and those who have chosen not to grow up). I was really tickled to see an Airstream trailer on the terrace. Publico is a great little place to visit and I'm sure you'll find something to your liking there.

Publico has brunch options in the weekend. They had good drinks and good service also.

I love that the restaurant has two huge day windows that roll up allowing plenty of fresh air to circulate. They are also a dog friendly place, so bring your best furry friend! I went on Saturday and the place was pretty packed, so I just sat at a bar. I decided to try a few things from the menu: Spicy Turkey Gyoza. It was ok, but not spicy at all. The gyoza were fried so the were crunchy on the edges but the crunch was kind of ruined by the tons of soy sauce they poured over it. It made the bottom of the gyoza soggy. I suggested they serve the sauce on the side and let the customer decide how much sauce they wanted. The Grasshopper taco. But I decided to be brave and try one. Just one. And it really does have fried grasshoppers in it. They were small ones and very crunchy. They didn't really have much flavor so it really just a texture to the other tasty taco ingredients. If you're not a fan of crunchy you probably won't like this but it reminded me of chicharones. I haven't decided if I will ever order it again. Peruvian surf and turf. This was marinated and grilled chicken and shrimp. The shrimp were large and juicy. The chicken was a bit dry though. The rice could have had more flavor but it was tasty. The black beans were good and the avocado sauce were quite tasty. They have their own branded hot sauces. A pineapple hot sauce, a coconut habanero, a serrano garlic, and a cuban lime sauce. I loved the cuban lime hot sauce and the serrano garlic.

Publico is a true gem! We got in Saturday and wanted a spot for Sunday brunch and found our way here. Arriving around noon, we found it bustling but we're fortunate to get a table for four with no wait. To start, they have an incredible brunch cocktail menu. They offer pitchers of mimosas but my friend and I went for the 2 for 1 cocktail deal. You order one cocktail and they give you a token to get another one for free! I tried a few but my favorite was the s'mores one that is pictured. For my main meal, I ordered the shrimp and grits. These were divine. The flavoring was explosively yummy. It also came with a generous portion of shrimp. When down south, you have to get shrimp and grits.

We ordered the 10 tacos with 5 sides but swapped the sides for the Cuban Nachos appetizer, everything was very good! Our waitress, I believe her name was Gabby, was super friendly and helpful. We went on a Wednesday night and had no wait time for a table, and the food took about 30 minutes.

The food is always fantastic! Amazing atmosphere, clean bathrooms, and wonderful service. Our waitress, Lauryn, was super polite and respectful of us and our time. Our food came out in a timely manner and looked amazing!!!

We had a fun date night! During the winter months, they offer private igloos! I had to jump on the chance to eat in an igloo. We had to make reservations, which were easy, you clicked on their website and chose the date and time you wanted. Our igloo was awesome, it was a fun way to eat outside in the winter. It was nice and private, We could hold a conversation and hear each other. Inside the dome was a picnic table with benches and a mini fireplace heater. Our food was great; came out hot and delicious, for our appetizer we had avocado toast and short ribs. I had a burger and my husband had shrimp and grits. The food was great. Our server, Talia was great, She brought our food and checked on us just enough to know she was observant. During our evening, the rain was really coming down and we asked to go inside, there was no problem and they made the move quickly. Overall we had a great experience and hope to come back again soon.

Came on a Friday afternoon. Menu has a wide variety and kids menu options as well. Large choice of beer and drink options. Overall food was good with slight room for improvement. Burritos are a good portion but shrimp burrito comes in a bowl of sauce and makes it almost impossible to eat with your hands, also doesn't come with chips compared to the chicken or beef. There are weekly specials offer so be sure to check on which day you are coming in. We were the only guest so I can't speak much to the ambience or the service.

Came in for brunch and the vibes were so hip and chill. Thanks Xan Happy Sunday Funday

Some of the best drinks in downtown Columbia. I love going here for lunch during the work week with friends. The brussel sprouts are so good! The service is great. The waiters are friendly and attentive.

I love the vibe in here. Not only was their Valentine's Day cocktail I got a while back the best thing I have ever drank, but the ramen is absolutely phenomenal. Shoutout to my server Emily for being extremely kind and knowledgeable! She is the best!!

Just okay. Not great, not terrible. There are better tacos elsewhere. I mean, it's really not bad but nothing to write home about.

First time visiting today. We went around 2:30. There was no wait and we still hit the brunch menu. We sat outside. The atmosphere here is awesome. The staff is super friendly. Would I go back? Absolutely! If you haven't tried it yet, you need to add it to your list.

This place is so magical- amazing food and service. We sat outside and the weather was absolutely perfect. Super charming atmosphere, good music, and lots of laughter

The bartenders were friendly and had great recommendations. I personally loved the music that was playing too. It was taco Monday which meant certain tacos were $2 each (huge tacos), there was also specials on drinks too. I wish I lived around here just so I could eat here every day.