The Public House

Super friendly/excellent service. New to area,been moving all day and picked the right place to eat.Only patrons and end of operating hours, usually when people are short and rush you out, NOT here. Treated as if you're meal and experience are most important. Highly recommend for anyone. This is a local joint that you can be known at.

I attended a work event at Public House and was warmly greeted by the hostess, Kira, upon arrival. I grabbed a seat at the bar and took advantage of the happy hour menu, ordering a glass of white wine and the fried lasagna rolls. When they arrived, they looked delicious, though I doubted I’d finish them all. However, after just one bite, I was hooked. The pasta, lightly coated in breadcrumbs, filled with cheese, and served with marinara dipping sauce, was absolutely delightful—I’d definitely order it again. Our work event took place in one of the private rooms, and our server, Nick, was professional, attentive, and friendly throughout. The atmosphere was a bit on the darker side but still had a cozy, inviting feel.

Booked our command Christmas party here. We had the back room with our own personal bartender. The food was amazing, the drinks were on point and the room was perfect for us. Our bartender went above and beyond and took everything in stride when we switched things up on her the last minute. Dave communicated with us every step of the way and made sure we had everything we needed. He let us view the space before we made the final decision and even let us come in early before they opened to let set up the day of the party. Will definitely be back.

Well on Thursday they have a fantastic burger special with fries and the burger is off the hook. Also the mac and cheese is fantastic. And they also have a pool table which is cool. And a lot of different craft beers it looks like as well. I was so darn hungry that I from traveling that I forgot to take pictures of the food but it was well presented in delicious.

We had our command holiday party here and it was a huge hit! Dave was very helpful and was willing to go above and beyond to make our party amazing! We had the back room which seemed to fit our party size perfectly! He allowed us to come in early before opening to set up and make the space ours which we really appreciated not only that they provided clean up afterwards! Definitely recommend this place any group type functions!

Great atmosphere. If you like your bars and restaurants a bit more low key, this is your place. And if you like Fish and Chips, this is some of the best I've ever had, and I lived in England for four years!

(Early Review) Cara is an amazing server. The lights are a little low, but look at this amazing double patty burger. $10 on burger night. And they run a happy hour. Makes for a great Thursday. This burger is crazy good. I know a place that does $6, but this is worth every penny. Not super greasy. Bun isn't soggy. Fries are perfect. No notes! And if you read my other stuff I usually try to add some things that could be done better. Staff was great. Food was great. Prices were great. Selection of beer is great. Timing was great. (6 mo later) is there a ghost haunting the food? Is every dish margahritta style?! What in the holly name of salt is going on?! Is my blood pressuring rising because or the terrible food or the dead sea water this food is cooked in. I DO NOT enjoy giving bad reviews. But I have spoken to every server and chef who would listen. This is almost inedible. Everything I've ordered is like eating a bag of extra salt pretzels. That feeling on your lips where it's just too much salt. Ya, from garlic parm wings. The dissolved delicious garlic in... butter? Olive oil? Should be on bread or something that will absorb. It doesnt stick to the wing. I've added a picture. The wings were sloppy and too juicy. The dish needed to be cooked just a little longer, and that's all fine. Not terrible. Not great, but way, WAY too much salt. And this was the same way with the burgers. I sent a burger back 2 months ago and asked that they put zero salt on it. Came back horribly salty. They apparently let the last chef go. I really wanted to like this place, but it has just gotten awful. 180 degrees from my review a year ago. The staff is generally friendly. Just don't stay 1 minute after closing. They will scream at you.

*Pictures taken about halfway through eating because I forgot to take them before.* My husband and I ordered takeout about an hour before closing. First, the atmosphere in the restaurant was appealing (even though we didn’t stay) and the employees we encountered were all really nice. That said, we were not totally pleased with the food itself. My husband ordered the tikka masala and I got the PH Dip sandwich with fries. We also got some bourbon bbq wings to share and some cheesecake and bread pudding for dessert. Unfortunately, I did not receive the au jus that was supposed to come with my sandwich. The restaurant was closed by the time we got home and realized it, so I had to power through lol. The overall experience ending up being a bit dry and bland. That said, the aioli on it was delicious and I really think the au jus would have tied everything together. I also loved the fries, they were well seasoned and stayed crispy even after they cooled down. We were less than impressed with the tikka masala and found it lacking in flavor. The wings were okay, but could have been crispier. The desserts were also decent, but I think they were overpriced (12.99 each) for the size and quality given (see pictures). Overall, we may be willing to come back and try certain things, but we’d avoid some others.

Recently met with some friends & our newborn for a night out! The staff was very accommodating to sit us wherever was easiest with our baby. The waitress we had was really friendly & provided efficient service. The beer list is extensive and there's also plenty of mixed drinks and liquor as well. The menu is filled with a lot of different options. There's something for everyone for sure. A lot of casual but elevated bar foods. I went with the chicken tender platter and I'd get it every time I go back. Perfectly cooked tenders, fresh cut fries, a bowl of their homemade Mac and cheese & coleslaw. All for think $19? That's a steal, and ended up taking half of it home. This is definitely a place that we will continue to come back to. There's another bar & pool tables in the back as well I believe!

Came in on a Tuesday (Trivia Night). Atmosphere was great. Workers did a great job accommodating the crowd. Ordered the chicken tender platter and it didn't disappoint. Fries were delicious, tenders were crispy on the outside yet juicy on the inside. Star of the show was the Mac n cheese, 1000% will get the Mac n cheese again.

I've been here a a couple times. I like the pool tables and the space in the back. Trivia nights can be fun. The mushroom burger is great. The mac and cheese is not. The cocktails are also very hit or miss. The lavender 75 was wonderful and the aperol spritz tasted disgusting and had a rotten peanut aftertaste... it's an okay local pub.

So let's start with the fact that the service was excellent. The waitress was very attentive and nice. The food and the drinks though were nothing special. EVERYTHING was really salty. The lemon pepper wings were so salty they were nearly inedible. The cocktails were overly sweet. Reminded me of the kind of thing you might drink at a college party. The place is so very dark. Not sure how it would be if they were busy as the place was nearly empty when we went through. Plenty of other good places within walking distance.

The muscles were so good and a generous portion. The beer selection was awesome. There were several I wanted to try. The service was perfect. The ambiance is a tad loud but energetic in all the right ways.

The food hit the spot for a late-night meal. The pretzel starter came out warm and the accompanying stone-ground mustard and sausage gravy-like sauce to dip it in were tasty. The brussel sprouts were just how I love them - fried to a crispy-crunchy texture. I enjoyed the pork belly BLT; a more substantial take on the traditional BLT. The service was decent; the food arrival was timed well. I think the staff was helping each other out bc we basically interacted with 3 different people. Overall, it's slightly elevated pub food; I'd come back to enjoy the entertainment side of the house, along with a beer.

We stumbled upon this awesome restaurant while in the Ghent area and I am so glad we did. Since I don't live anywhere near Ghent, I absolutely love going to the area to try new restaurants. As soon as we walked in, we noticed all the Christmas decorations which were beautiful and the hostess was very welcoming and seated us right away. Since we arrived around 8:30pm on a Friday night, we thought it would be packed but it wasn't busy at all. We started with some of their special cocktails. I chose the "Summer of Love" while my boyfriend decided on the "Part Time Lover". Both were very refreshing but he mentioned that his wasn't very sweet probably due to the grapefruit and lime that was mixed in it. For our entree, we ordered the PH Reuben Sandwich and the wings with PH sauce. The food came out pretty fast, which is always nice. The Reuben Sandwich was a little dry unfortunately. The pastrami looked as if it were freshly cut which was a nice touch but it didn't have much sauerkraut or Thousand Island dressing so we had to hunt down the waiter to ask for more. I ordered the wings with extra sauce and they were definitely saucy but delicious. The wings are served with their homemade ranch dressing which was very good. The flavor of the PH sauce was very tasty, a little tangy and sweet but very flavorful. Our waiter suggested we try the bread pudding made with pretzel bread and let me tell you, it was phenomenal!!!! The pretzel bread gave it a slightly unique taste but it was very delicious!!! Overall, I would definitely return to try some of their burgers and other popular items on the menu. They do have a large room across from the pool table (which is also a super cool touch) to house bigger parties. The staff was very friendly and the food was pretty good!

Public house is so good! Everything we got was delicious including a burger, chicken tenders, Mac and cheese, and fried pickles (though be warned, the spicy ones are really spicy). Our server was super friendly and they were fast. The inside definitely had a pub vibe but we sat outside which was nice. We will definitely be coming back!

this was our first time visiting the restaurant. the food was amazing. I had fish and chips that were lightly battered and crispy. yum. I had a side of the white collar Mac. delish. the service was great. Let me not forget that great pretzel appetizer. cannot go wrong eating at this house. it really is for the public

Great place to grab some classic bar food and hang out with friends! Came here for their weekly trivia night & it was lots of fun! Make sure to get here early - the place was packed by the time trivia started. We didn't know this until we got there but you can actually reserve tables too. They have a pretty good cocktail menu and a decently sized menu. Two words: Fried. Goodness. Of note, I really enjoyed my onion rings & we got a couple servings of fried pickles to share among the table - they were a crowd favorite! Totally recommend this place for a casual night out in the Ghent area!

Attended a reception for a friend's retirement and the ambiance and service was impeccable. The drinks I had, blood orange sangria, sunny squeeze (my fav! I ordered 2 more), and dreaming in pink were amazing. I highly recommend this place for an after hours drink and food spot!

The service was speedy and effortless. Food was presented well with a good variety of choices complimented with a great atmosphere! Highly recommended and good parking

The barria smash burger is good but make sure you're hungry. It's a nice portion size. My waitress was courteous and cute. I think her name is Ellie. I would definitely go again.

Our group ate at The Public House this past week in the back room. Shane was our bartender/server and he did a great job for a big group. I ordered the fried pickles and Cuban sandwich. The fried pickles were pretty good and had a great kick to them. The Cuban was okay. Not the best Cuban I've had, it could have had a little more mustard and pickles to counter the meat. Final thing, the room was very dark and made the place look dingy. Nice ceiling though.

This place is such a nice local bar. I've ordered take out from them before and just recently tried them in person and it was great. The food is beyond phenomenal. We got the pork belly appetizer which was probably my favorite, and the burger with pulled pork on it. So delicious. And all of the staff were really nice. I'd recommend this place for anyone looking for drinks and good food down colley.

Laid back, service is great the bar tender is friendly and attentive, the hot wings is good and the ambiance is very warm, highly recommended!

The food was excellent and the service was top tier! Tabarak our server was so sweet and did such a great job!

My husband and I stopped by for a beer after dinner and couldn't pass up the chocolate pie with the cranberry almond crust. The beer selection was pretty good with local and National beers; a good variety of IPAs, lagers, dark beers and sours.

Visited on Wednesday night for a private event, and was extremely satisfied with the food, drinks and atmosphere. The happy hour drink selections were amazing. I highly recommend this venue for dinner or any special events.

If you have 2 extra people in your party for trivia, the servers will ignore your group and your food will come out 1 hr and 15 mins after you ordered it. Our server last Tuesday snapped at us when we asked for water. Super inattentive all evening. I know the reservation was for 8, but one of our friends showed up and just sat next to us on the booth and literally ordered nothing all night. Not even water. The other friend who showed up and made the party 10 ppl, I believe she just ordered a drink or two. Only 4 of us ordered food. There was one order of bruschetta (which looked mediocre,) one order of fries, one sandwich with fries and one plate of chicken tenders. Nothing that should take an hour and 15 mins. I feel our party was entirely singled out. If we weren't taking up any more space, I don't understand the issue. The server spoke with the table next to ours (some of them we are friends with,) and they said the server told them he was deliberately ignoring our table cause they were mad we made a reservation for 8 and 10 showed up. Not sure the issue if we're not taking up any extra space though. ‍ I used to really enjoy coming to trivia and I went every week. The whole group has decided not to go back. At one point the server was like, "You guys need anything else?" One of us was like, "Yeah, our food." This was after an hour of waiting with no food updates from the server. It was like he had never put it in. I understand trivia night is super busy, but this was different. Then, he asked us what everyone ordered at the end of the night. "What did you guys have?" Like what? The whole thing was really unprofessional and uncomfortable. Super bad vibes. I am giving this review 2 stars instead of 1 because I do like the food and drinks. Some of it is kinda pricey though, and not exactly worth it for pub food. The atmosphere is pretty chill. Fun Fact: The trivia host causally said "cunt," like it was no big deal. We were like ... he is clearly having a midlife crisis and trying to be cool/I don't give a shit. The line between that and complete asshole is pretty thin.

After a 4 year hiatus, I returned to this gastropub (fancier, more creative pub food) for lunch. Upon entry, we were greeted warmly and guided to a booth in an empty, dimly lit restaurant - pub feeling achieved!! He took our drink orders and left to put in for the spicy fried pickles appetizer before he returned to get entree selections; I opted for a bunless "beyond burger" featuring a roasted beet and root vegetable patty customized with toppings of tomato and white Mac n cheese with a side of sautéed spinach. As a chimichurri fanboy, I requested a sample on the side. Sadly our host/server, Jake, whose name I learned through my own inquiry, failed to deliver despite appearing to write it down. Being the only guests in a restaurant is the dual edged sword of having the whole place to yourself while simultaneously wondering "why?" Exclusivity makes for unapologetic Yelping, yes. BUT, waiting ~20 minutes for a simple app and 35+ min for a burger indicts your kitchen's organizational efficiency. Still, the pickles were a good synergy of warm, crispy batter with a hint of spice surrounding a cool, crunchy pickle; the dipping sauce was also decent. In truth, my burger was beyond my expectations; a warm, moist center with a beautifully charred exterior that exuded a fresh off the grill taste, not to be outdone by the creamy aaldente white Mac n cheese. It's the closest veggie burger option I've had that could pass for beef. I wasn't a fan of the spinach as it was a tad soggy with a slight floral aftertaste. Pass! Although I didn't partake since I was returning to work, the bar appeared well stocked and offered a large menu of adult beverages in both popular and unique craft varieties. Overall, I'd say the service is friendly and prices are average but expect the wait for food to extend beyond the normal 30-60 min lunch break. Of course, the food quality was noticeably better than my previous visit 4 years ago.

Great customer service, a ton of drink possibilities. Salad was fresh and delicious. Would go to again.

So this spot isn't my favorite in Ghent, and I know I'm one of the few who feel this way. It's just not my "cup of tea." I don't really care for the people who work there- they all seem to be bothered by our presence, which I think very poorly of. This includes the hostesses (when there is one), the bartenders, and the servers. I've legitimately never had good service here at all. I know it's Ghent, but I feel like no other restaurant has such poor service. Their food is good- it's not as different as you would think a "Gastro-Pub" would be, but I usually get the blue collar Mac & cheese with the buffalo chicken on top. It's really good, but the service of this establishment makes me give it two stars. I feel like when I go out, I want to be treated in a nice way, where they are happy I'm there. Instead, I feel like they are annoyed they have to stop doing whatever it is that they were doing before we arrived. I never go here unless everyone else is, then obviously I go with- God forbid I stay at home when the crew is out and about. I guess I should say I never choose to go here, and I always roll my eyes when that's where the crew is meeting up at.

This was our local pub when we lived in Ghent, the place we visited most frequently, ourselves and with friends. It is conveniently located on Colley and has an extensive draught list with local and imported brews. They do trivia nights weekly that we would participate in, but it gets really crowded so make sure you're there early to get a seat. Also a fun place to watch sports, depending what/who is playing. I like the vibes of the pub, dimly lit and classically furnished, making for a fairly authentic pub experience. The only reason I won't give it 5 stars is because on multiple occasions of our many visits, we were received with less than great service. Bartenders ignoring us as we stood at the bar for ages, trying not to be rude and yell them over but obviously trying to get their eyes, or being told we couldn't sit at a table if we weren't ordering food when the whole bar and all the high tops were full and there were empty tables without anyone else waiting to be seated at a table for food. Would still go back if we were in the area again, potentially, but definitely a cool place to go if you're a local looking for a dependable watering hole.

Came in for brunch, which I have heard is decent here. I ordered the breakfast Mac n cheese which was really good! But the entire meal was ruined by the fact that neither of the two servers or the female bartender were to be seen. There were four or five couples dining. A couple came in to eat, and waited at the front door for 3/4 minutes without any of the staff coming out, and they left. I needed some salt/pepper and had to wait 10 minutes to get their attention (food was in need of some salt, and was cold when I finally received it). It seemed like they spent a minute in the dining area/bar for every 5 minutes in the back (or smoking?) When I wanted my check I went to the bar by the kitchen door and waited about 5 minutes for someone to come, nobody came so I called the restaurants phone number and the bartender came out so I could pay, who said she would get my server....waited and waited...I still left a tip but this was just terrible. Decent food, horrible (HORRIBLE) service.

Monday's have 1/2 off Mac and cheese options... How did I not know about this before? Add the in house breaded chicken tenders to the mix, and it is Mecca. I met up with a friend here tonight and for two whiskey indulgers... it is a candy store. It had a laid back feel that was comfortable for two ladies to hang out and catch up. Ask for Aaron at the bar... he makes a great Sazerac from the boozy cocktail list. He was very helpful and so agreeable as we asked for substitutions and/or grilled chicken versus fried chicken. I still feel there has to be more variety on the menu regarding light fare options. If your pub means to truly capture the date night scene, give us something to eat that won't live a years on our hips. The offer.. off the menu... grilled chicken instead of breaded is a good start but some of us wouldn't ask especially on a date not wanting to seem overly picky or demanding. Let me spend my calories on fine spirits instead of a heavy meal which will put me to sleep in a hour. It will cause me to bypass your place for another despite your massive expanse of whisky options. Exclude me or include me to turn me from infrequent to regular.

I'd been waiting to come here for a long time. I showed up at brunch with 20 friends for a Meetup event. We sat at a colmmunal table in a private room in the rear of the restaurant. The room had old school lights that were lit very dimly, it really was a dark feel. There was only one waiter to take care of our party, so I have to say he probably did his best to handle all of us being on separate checks and taking our orders. The one thing I didn't like was that the menu that we were given for brunch was quite a bit smaller than the menu that was posted on the restaurant's website. For instance, we had four appetizers to choose from, but the online menu has eight. I ordered the flat bread breakfast wrap and it was filled with scrambled eggs with a little bit of cheese, bacon, and aioli. The eggs were cooked very well and were seasoned nicely. I was barely able to taste the bacon however, in fact, I opened up the wrap just make sure the bacon was actually included. On the other hand, I had a little bit better time after the meal. I was pretty impressed with their bar and their beer selection. They have a great variety of beers on draft that are both local and from across the country. I definitely would not return for brunch, but if I'm in the area and craving a bite and unique beer, I would consider stopping in again.

Haven't had a bad meal yet. The fish tacos are really good and don't sleep on the chocolate pie. The PH mule is always a good go to as well.

If you are just looking for a decent meal at a place that's not too fancy then this is the place for you. The menu is not too advanced. They mainly just have the basics such as sandwiches, burgers, wings, and of course noodle dishes. Their selection of drinks is quite wide though so you can really find something that suits you. The environment is great and very friendly and the employees are very sociable. I would recommend this restaurant for a couple of drinks and a meal. However if your looking for something too fancy keep looking.

The place is very comfortable and the decore is nice. 8/10 Food was okay, very classic bar food. I got a house salad with balsamic dressing, tots and blue collar mac and cheese. The mac n cheese felt like it was missing something. 7.5/10 we were seated quickly but time from ordering to food arriving was a bit slow. overall a pleasant experience.

I must be all chips in on The Public House. I had not read one review, looked at one pic and had only seen frequent checks from friends on yelp. So when I say that I had no idea what to expect that is exactly what I mean. I had only been to a few of these type of upscale pubs. The phenomenon of Gastropubs hit the U.S. in the 90's, but originated in the UK in the late 20th century. With an emphasis on not only providing food, but elevating pub menus Located on South end of the Ghent Business District on Colley a few blocks East of Fairgrounds you will find the last corner of commercial real estate on the strip. There is a decent lot beside them which is a huge bonus. All other parking is street and FREE! The business is on the ground level of the building and takes up a quarter of the block. There is another business beside it and apartments above. There is a patio off the sidewalk, but exposed to the elements. So on a night in Norfolk hitting mid 30's no one braved the chilly air. I saw no debris at the entrance as I entered. I am guessing the structure dates to at least the 40's, but could be older. When I pulled open the big wooden door I was downright giddy. This is the place I have been looking for, but has eluded me for years. A an upscale pub that had a mix of sophistication, but unpretentious patrons enjoying a good time. Beautiful wood floors (not original) with drop lighting that you would find in an old drug store, a long wooden bar with tons of chrome pulls for tap beer, exposed brick behind the bar, deep Hunter Green painted walls, ceiling with ornate tin work (do not think original). There seemed to be wood every where you look. Wood tables and chairs in the center with comfy booths on the exterior. I avoided the hostess stand and went right for the bar. Since I was there around 6 PM the crowd was not bad, but there was little to no dining room seating. I found a stool and pulled it up beside a couple of attractive females. The whole place seemed to be filled with well dressed, good looking middle aged professionals which suited me fine. The bartender wasted little time in getting my drink order, however I needed a few minutes to look over the 30 some tap beers. The list was impressive, great stuff that you can't find else where. After settling on a New Belguim Chocolate Salted which tasted crazy good I was ready for food. The bar menu is extensive and chock full of unique items. My friend behind the bar made a recommendation of bacon wrapped tater totters... dam, how could I go wrong. I also elected to get a NY Strip Steak & Arugula Salad. I absolutely loved the people watching and enjoyed my conversation with the women at the bar who turned out to be nurses. A few others joined in around and made for a nice, relaxing discussion about what else BEER and my new friend the "Untapped" app. I was not the only one that was new around me, so I do believe this has a mix of regulars, locals and even those from out of town that I encountered. The food arrived within 15 minutes and without a doubt the tatter tots where a smash. As a matter of fact they got a few other orders around me when new friends saw them. The salad with very feeling and the steak was prepared correctly. A sweet dressing comes to the side the was delicious. The bartender kept up on refills of water, clearing plates and had time to chat a bit even though by the time I was preparing to leave at 7:30 they were slammed. He smiled and seemed to really enjoy his job which is refreshing. I made a stop to the restroom and planned on looking around a little more before departing. The facilities had white subway tile on the floor and what else...wood behind the urinals. The floor needed mopping, but no debris on the floor. The trash can was at the brim with paper towels, but not over flowing. What is always disappointing, even more so with a nice place is graffiti that was scratched into the wood. Why do people do this? I really do not get the attraction of it. I looked around and found another room with a single pool table that surprisingly was not being used. Just beyond was the smoking bar. I opened the heavy door that appeared to have a nice seal for sheltering smoke from the dining room. I guess that I took one for the team as I noticed there were no really good shots of this area. It was indeed smokey even with a great ventilation system. The smell of cigar smoke was pungent, but tolerable. I found the decor continued on throughout this area. The bar is much smaller with seating for around ten. Cigars and cigarettes are sold here. There are also a few tables on the floor and two pool tables. A few TV's were in the area too. There is a separate exit outside. I loved everything about this experience. In my opinion this is close to a one of a kind type of bar for Norfolk. You better believe I'll be back!

This is my second update of this restaurant, and I am hereby reinstating a star that I took away during my first update of last September. My reason for removing that star is that I found their Jumbo Shrimp Diablo, which I had enjoyed during previous visits, to be a little subpar when I ordered it last September. This time I am reinstating that star for an entirely different reason. Since my last update, I have found that the Public House serves my favorite hamburger in the entire Ghent area. I am not necessarily saying that it's the best. I don't feel qualified to make that judgment, as I have not yet tried all of the hamburgers available in the Ghent area. But I've tried most of them, and I can honestly say it's my favorite of all the ones I have tried so far. This includes the ones I have tried at the place on 21st Street, which rank as a close second on my list. The one deciding factor that puts the Public House Burger on top for me is the meat, which consists of a half-pound blend of Wagyu beef and ground chuck. I can honestly taste the difference, and have not found a blended Wagyu beef burger anywhere else in Ghent. My Public House Burger has never been served to me too greasy for my tastes, which is something I cannot say for some of the other burgers I have tried in Ghent. A word of praise is also due for their servers for putting up with my pickiness when I order it. I always specify that it be cooked medium rare, without cheese, with the bacon slices cooked crispy and crunchy, and with fresh (not pickled) jalapeno slices. It has only fallen short one time, when the bacon came wilted instead of crispy. When I called this to the attention of my server, he apologized and brought me some bacon slices to the level of crispness that I liked and comped me a free drink as well. Most of the servers there now have my specifications memorized. I especially enjoyed their Public House Burger during two of our snowstorms this past winter. There is something about a snowstorm that makes me crave a burger, and I feel blessed to be able to live only about a fifteen minute walk away. Walking through Ghent during an evening snowstorm can be a beautiful experience, one which is nicely climaxed by their Public House Burger and a few drinks. I also order their fries with my burger, and they are always served the way I like them, crispy and crunchy. Apple slices are also available for those who prefer them. When coming here, I always eat at the bar and order my favorite Hendricks Gin martini. In the past, I did encounter an occasional inconsistency with how they were prepared, depending upon the particular bartender who was serving me. One evening, for example, my martini came to me only half full. Fortunately, this has not happened lately. My martinis have been excellent during my last few visits. At 64 years of age, I often feel like the oldest customer when I come here. This restaurant definitely draws a younger clientele. Yet, I refuse to feel out of place. You're only as old as you feel, and coming here helps to keep me feeling young.. Although my latest review now renders the Public House as a personal one trick pony, it has become my number one Ghent dining spot whenever I find myself craving a delicious burger.

We've been wanting to try this place for awhile and finally made it in for Saturday lunch. First, the service from Logan, the bartender was awesome! No hostess was around so he created us from the bar. They were pretty busy, so Logan came around to seat us and did let us know they had a big party in one of the dining rooms and the kitchen was a little backed up, in case we were in a hurry. MUCH appreciated, but since we weren't in a rush, we decided to give it a try. We were seated in the bar area and Logan got our drinks. He let the server who was working the section know we were there and the guy told the bartender he was too busy. He had FIVE tables, I counted, and didn't look to be in the weeds. What a jerk. But no worries, Logan took great care of us. The pretzel stick appetizer was amazing! I could have drank a mug of that wonderful beer cheese. Hubby had the NY Strip and eggs, while I went with a burger. Yes, the wait was long, but we knew that coming in. Unfortunately, the entrees weren't really worth it. Hubby's steak was overcooked, and my burger was literally raw in the middle. Granted, I always order mid-rare to medium, but this was raw. We're chalking it up to the kitchen being overwhelmed. We're planning to give The Public House another try, for dinner next time. And if Logan is working, we're sitting in his section, even if that means eating dinner at the bar!

Feedback from 12/13/2019 1pm to 3pm 1) Slow service for a holiday lunch party of 20+ people. 2) 1 waitress for the 2 hour period. 3) Had to get my own drink 4) Very limited lunch menu. 5) Straws are like coffee stirs. Lots of our party could not get the waitress attention. Could not pay me to come back to this place.

Went in for a 2nd date. Enjoyed the ambiance, but the bartender wasn't attentive. I would recommend for drinks and appetizers.

I love the food !! the bartenders are always nice and they have the best mac and cheese!

Garbage restaurant. Food sucks. Service sucks. Spend your money elsewhere...you'll thank me later.

I was served expired ketchup was made multiple family members sick. Also, the mac and cheese was not very good!!!!

Public House is our go-to for a chicken sandwich. We typically get it to go with a side of their fried pickles. Everytime I think of trying something else on their menu I just remember how crunchy and juicy the chicken sandwich is and just get that. I always recommend this sandwich to friends and coworkers, especially over fast food places like Chick-fil-A. It's just so good.

So, I have to update this review having gone last night to meet friends. I arrived a little earlier than they did and I sat in the back room, smoking section. There are two pool tables and food music. I was initially helped by two lovely ladies and later that evening by Matt, whom I assume is a manager. He is awesome, charismatic, intelligent, passionate about his job, patient and just overall great, he really made the experience. I didn't know how fun Public House is. Will def be backs.

This place really pissed me off when they somehow "lost" my reservation. Booked it for a big party for over a week only to be denied at the door. My friends and I waited over an hour for a table. This establishment just opened, so I understand things happen, but when the woman I'm talking to on the phone takes time to ask me how to spell my surname, then reads back my reservation to me, the newness of the establishment ceases to be a viable reason for losing a reservation. When we were finally seated the service was decent - our waiter was a nice guy and very personable. The food was excellent and that was supported by a return visit a few months later. I hesitate to give it a higher rating because of that poor first impression, but if I return they can earn back those two stars. JV

If you're a Parks and Recreation fan, you might remember Ben's reaction to 'Lil' Sebastian' - that is pretty dead on to my opinion of Public House. For those who have never seen Parks and Rec, Ben turns to the camera and says, "I don't get it," when discussing something that is hyped and loved by all the other characters. Before moving to the Hampton Roads area, I heard so many great things about Public House. When I did move here, it was often selected as a meeting spot for drinks or a casual dinner. Thus, I've been to Public House numerous times, and every time I'm left just thinking, "meh." The areas where this restaurant/bar shine: 1. Whitty menu quips: Their menu is downright funny. The names of their dishes and some of the jokes the menu features are a great icebreaker if you're having dinner with someone you don't know too well (first date, meetups, etc.) 2. Tons of drink options: It is a restaurant and bar, so they have a lot of drink options, tons of local beers, and pretty good drink specials. My husband's favorite is the shot and PBR for $5 that is offered during their happy hour. On the flip side, there are some areas where this place just doesn't live up to expectations. The biggest ones for me are the food, it is always so-so and the atmosphere. I've had a lot of weird situations at Public House from a guy hammered out of his mind trying to steal money from our table to being crammed into a booth with little wiggle room. I wasn't living in Hampton Roads when Public House opened, so I guess that when it opened, it stood out as a trendy spot for young professionals living in downtown and Ghent. However, over the years (I've lived in Hampton Roads for four years now), there have been tons of new and hips spots opening all over the area so Public House fails to stand out as the shining star it once was.

Drinks are usually good and food is what you would expect from the pub vibe. Unfortunately over last few years their burgers haven't been as good, but still better than some other options close by. People like to get the white collar Mac but again it's a little more than average. Overall one of better spots In Ghent. Very good whiskey selection, but not very appealing prices. Very popular place and on some days you cannot get in because of their trivia nights, etc.

I think I had unreasonably high expectations for Public House, just based on word of mouth from several family and friends. I also will preface this review with the knowledge that we apparently came at a particularly busy time as they had a 40-top table they were serving from a graduation. That being said, my rating does not reflect the service which started fine but waned as they became busier and our server had to stay behind the bar to make drinks. My rating is based on the food. We ordered the hummus as an appetizer and it was bland. No real flavor at all. My wife ordered the white color mac with chicken tenders. For some reason, this go around the mac wasn't as good as even the day old leftovers I've had from when my wife has gone without me. Her chicken tenders were juicy though and well cooked. I had the "chicken and waffles" which was a waffle battered chicken fried and crusted with almonds and a syrup. It wasn't bad, but it was overfried and therefore the batter was burnt over around half the chicken. I had it with the garlic broccoli which, again, wasn't very flavorful. Overall, I was a bit disappointed but will visit them again when they're (hopefully) not as overwhelmed by such a large party.

Great staff and fare! Cheap too. Bubba was the man and was very attentive, friendly, and has a scary good memory. They even let me leave my car there overnight to play it safe. Will be back here again and again while I'm in Norfolk!

Very open & modern spot with a classic feel. Our waiter was very attentive & sweet (i said a Moscow mule had tequila & he replied "well technically it's vodka" nice way to correct me w|o making me feel like a total dumb ass) my mule kick was delicious & well priced! my friend had the chicken meatballs (it comes with 3 which always kind makes me think, damn u can't just give me 4 to make it even?) he enjoyed them. My other friend ordered some fancy single barrel bourbon he says you really can't get many other places. Also found out you can have a burger and a pint of beer (not sure which kind) for $10 on Mondays very pleased with my visit will come back soon :)

I had my rehearsal dinner here since it's one of the few places that doesn't charge to use their private room. The private room holds approximately 40 guest comfortably with a mixture of tables and booths. It's a decorated with dark wood and dark wood floors. It's also dimmed with very low lights. So it can seem a little gloomy. I worked with Joe who was one of the managers and he did very well with meeting my need of the menu items I wanted to serve to my guest. I did it Buffett style, it's more convenient that way and able to control the expense. The food was great! Very delicious. The set up of the food was in a Chaffer dish hot and ready for us to dive in. They did exceptional and was attentive to my guest. Will definitely come here again for any other party functions and for date nights!

Haven't been here in a couple of years b/c it had deteriorated so much. Pleasantly surprised that tonight's food, drinks, and service were stellar. I asked for s blood orange martini, not s menu item, and the waitress made it happen! My dish was the Cuban and this beats every other Cuban sandwich in Ghent. Check out the fish tacos ordered by a friend-divine! Tried the sangria (white) and will order it next time! So glad this Colley Avenue gastropub is back on track and back on my list as we approach summer 2019.

I visited here around the 4th of July weekend, visiting a friend of a friend. I believe we came on the afternoon after the 4th, on a Tuesday. At the time, our group was pretty much the only ones in there. However, the space was typical of any gastropub. The food was surprisingly very good. I ordered the Lamb Burger. I tend to steer clear of beef and pork but gamey meats are my weakness. So when I saw the Lamb Burger, I went for it. I definitely don't regret it. Delicious! It came a top with tons of feta, taziki sauce, cucumber, and arugula. A pretty simple burger that has a lot of flavor. I also tried the asparagus fries. The fries and the dip that came with them were delicious! I was surprised as I tend not to like any vegetable based appetizers at gastropubs unless you are speaking about potato skins (because, face it, you really can't go wrong with anything topped wth bacon and cheese). If I ever am in the area again, I would definitely go back and get the lamb burger again.