Have been here three times since January '13 and each time I look forward to going.
Love the setting, good feel, good atmosphere.
Food's been good quality. Â I like how they change up the menu fairly frequently. Â There are some staples each time I've been, but it's never been EXACTLY the same on each visit.
I'm not big into mixed cocktails, but the options on the menu all seem good. Â I have had the Gin & Ginger-- it was good, but I did learn/decide I'm not a huge fan of ginger in my drinks. Â Good bottled beer selection (note, they don't have beer on tap-- not necessarily a bad thing).
We don't get out to Zeeland much, but honestly when we do, we make it a point to stop for a bite to eat at Public.
It is hard to find something not to like to eat at Public. Everything anyone I know has ever had at Public has been amazing. Â Such a great little surprise in downtown Zeeland (which is not know for its food).
Only thing -- Not a fan of their version of "happy hour", but love the food and location. Â Really is a "Must Try" venue.
There's no reason for me not to give Public 5 stars.
We had read a review in the Grand Rapids magazine about Public, recommending it. As we were going to see a show in Holland, we thought it would be the perfect excuse to dine at Public before we headed to the show in Holland.
I've never been in Zeeland before. Its main street is quaint. It was a cold Thursday evening with not much pedestrian traffic. There's obviously a big push to promote Zeeland, along every lamppost there was a red poster with a white circle with a giant red Z on it. As quaint as the street is with the posters I thought I had arrived in some fascist propaganda town! I was expecting to have to  "kneel before Zod" or something with all the red Z posters!
Public is on the main street. A very warm atmosphere greets you as you enter, a lovely restaurant/tavern feel. Brick walls, a little dark and airy. We're sat at the back on high chairs and a table.
The menu consists of snacks, small plates, large plates, pastas, sandwiches, "pots" which are their specialty (pot pies and such) and salads. As is becoming the standard in Michigan, their menu is mainly local craft beers. I fully tip my hat to the production of craft beers and the support of them, they're tasty alternatives to Bud and Coors light, but I'm not a huge beer fan. Thankfully they also have a wonderful hard cider, we got a bottle. Delicious, delicious, delicious!! After thinking we wouldn't drink the bottle, we heartily drank ever drop!
The menu is very appealing and interesting, real Neu American. Instead of both getting mains, we decide to share a selection of small plates, much to the absolute approval and joy of our waitress.
Now keep up! We order the angels on horseback, avocado egg rolls, jalapeno corn dogs, baked crab dip, the Public mac and cheese and creole chicken Alfredo. The waitress asks do we want them to come out all at once or just whenever they're ready. We think whenever they're ready is fine. She gets very happy about this and suggests she'll organize it in a progression, bringing out dishes that complement each other.
The angels on horseback (oysters wrapped in bacon) and the avocado egg rolls appear first. Whatever bacon they use is magnificent, a very tasty little bite. And the aroma from the bacon as well is just mouth watering. Yum. A good start. The avocado is lightly battered and very tasty. The avocado is no way over cooked; it's fresh and light for a battered dish.
The crab dip arrives with toasted pitta bread. It's the first time I've ever had a dip where the bread you use to pick up the dip complements the dish. There's a lot of thought and attention put into these dishes.
Being a non-American, corn dogs and mac and cheese hold no nostalgia for me, they make no appearance in an Irish diet or household, so I've never been a huge fan. Â Having tried both previously, I'm still nonplussed by both. I may have found exceptions here. The coating of the corn dog has a nice crunch to it to reveal a nicely boiled sausage underneath all tied together with some beautiful grainy mustard. The mac and cheese is highlighted by a touch of lemon. Â The cheese is also slightly burnt revealing some wonderful flavor. Â The Kraft boxed stuffs got nothing on this!
We've been spoilt, and decide there's only one way to round the meal off, dessert, and for me, dessert and coffee! We decide to share the bread and butter pudding. I pop off to the loo. Again, there's a beautiful old beach desk in the bathroom, once aquamarine, now worn giving a very rustic, homey, holiday feel.
I come back to find as a "thank you" for trying different dishes on the menu, we've been given a complimentary dessert in the carrot cake, they're prize dessert. The bread and butter pudding is supreme, but hands down, it is the best carrot cake I've ever eaten. The coffee is hot and flavorful.
There is no reason I shouldn't give this restaurant 5 stars. Public is what I adore when I eat out; it's warm, hearty comfort food, full of flavor, tasting like it was made in the kitchen of  'that neighbor who cook's kitchen." It has a local and neighborhood friendly atmosphere, reflected in its décor, it's staff and it's food. There's love in the food I tasted. I left full but not heavy. I look forward to many visits.
There's no reason I shouldn't give Public 5 stars. So I did! 5 stars
We love Public. Â The food is really, really good- we haven't had a bad meal yet! Â They are the first restaurant to get my 8 year old son to eat a salad... Â :) Â We also love the avocado egg rolls, and I loved the pot pie and mac 'n cheese.
Portion size is not as large as other restaurants, but I get that- it's not a bad thing, and they're not that bad aside from a few cases- my wife had the Pumpkin ravioli once, and I think she had 5 of them or so- that's a little light for the price.
Another thing we like is the punch- it's a special concoction that they make there, and it's really good. Â But, just order glasses. Â We did the pitcher for an upcharge, and honestly- it's within 2-3 oz. of the same amount. Â Save your money...
Overall, we love Public, although I wonder once the novelty runs out, if the prices will keep packing people in, especially since they're off the beaten restaurant path in Zeeland. Â We can't afford to be regular diners, as much as we'd like to!
Public is a great addition to downtown Zeeland. Â The service is good and the food is amazing. Â Try the tomato soup--you won't regret it. Â The design and decor are done well, and they have a nice variety of microbrews in bottles. Â The outdoor seating in the summer is awesome. Â Great place!
Review Source:Wow! Do I like this place! Great menu and a nice small wine list. Very tiny but cozy as there are only about 15 tables and a few seats at the bar. My wife and I have driven from Grand Rapids three times because we enjoy it so much. The large community table in the center is kind of funky but we sat next to some nice people on two ocassions. The other visit we had our own table in a corner. The chef owner is on site and greets his patrons. If you arrive around 7:30 or 8:00 PM chances of a wait are much less as there are no reservations. Seating outside in the warm weather adds quite a few tables to the place which really helps.
Review Source:Arrived around 6pm and it was moderately busy but not too crowded. Â Got a bit busier as the night went on.
I tried to order the avocado egg rolls but they were out.  They were also out of several beers and I believe one entrée, which was really annoying.
Ended up getting the Mozzarella Sticks and Lettuce Wraps. Â I liked the lettuce wraps a lot and thought the sticks were ok, other people at my table thought otherwise.
The appetizers came out quickly, within 5 minutes of ordering and we placed our dinner orders while we ate. Â Salads came out shortly thereafter. Â Then we waited, and waited, and waited some more. Â No one came by to say anything about why it was taking so long and when we inquired the waitress just told us it was coming. Â About 15 minutes after that our food came out, about an hour after placing our order. Â
I'm not against a nice slow meal but things have to keep coming out slowly so you aren't just left sitting there wondering. Â We had our apps and salads finished within 20 minutes and the meal in total took 2 hours without desert.
I had the meatloaf which I would definitely recommend if anyone does try this place out.
I may try going back again but not on a work night.
Very good service, nice setting, and a good menu selection. Â I have only eaten there for lunch but always gone away full and pleased with the experience. Â They have great lunch specials to compliment the full bar and slightly upscale style in a small quaint village like Zeeland. Â I will try dinner and a cocktail in the very near future!
Review Source:My fiancé and I ate lunch here a few Saturdays ago.  We both came away very impressed.
We started our meal with the avocado egg rolls. Â They were nice and crunchy. I really enjoyed the horseradish sauce that accompanied it.
My fiancé had the Cobb salad, and it was huge! Â
I had the olive burger, and it was delicious. Â The olive sauce gave it that extra kick, and the meat was cooked perfectly. Â It is not served on the typical, generic bun. Â Instead, the bun seems to be made like an artisinal bread and hold up against the contents of the burger. This is a good thing, because the patty is huge!
We ended the meal with a delicious dessert. Â It was like a pecan pie, but in cake form.
I will definitely come back here again.
I ate here a few Saturdays ago with some friends.
My first impression of Public after walking in was great. The design is cool and modern with a relaxed feel. For the smaller size of the place the  layout is well utilized and has lots of seating.
There was a short wait so we headed over to the bar and grabbed a drink. They had a great selection of microbrews by the bottle.
After we were seated we ordered the avocado egg rolls and pub cheese. The egg rolls were my favorite and could have been even better if they came with some more of the sauce that was spread on the board.
I tried to order the special but it had already sold out so we all ended up ordering a burger. I had the black and blue burger and it was one of the best I have ever had. It was the quality of the meat that made it great.
Can't wait to go back and eat outside.
Their service is getting better and better, but they still need to work on taking orders quicker at lunch, and bringing the check in a timely fashion. Â That being said, the food is getting more consistent for sure. Â Try the turkey reuben! Â Would still like to see draft beer as a more expanded option, but they do have a GREAT selection of MI craft beer in bottles.
Review Source:All I can say is AMAZING! This place is a much needed change in this area. All handcrafted food and all fantastically made. I had the flat iron steak perfectly medium rare on an out of this world sweet potato hash and my wife had the primavera. The homemade pasta was great. All of this is priced amazingly for the quality and painstaking process of handcrafting everything. Would definitely recommend as we are planning our next trip to try more of the menu.
Review Source:I went here for lunch during opening week. The restaurant was certainly crowded, and by the time we left, there was a wait for tables -- practically unheard of in Zeeland!
My friends and I all ordered sandwiches, which were all really delicious and plated nicely! These were quite a step up from anything I've had in the area -- way, way better than Panera. I'm not sure where they get their bread from, but it was delicious!
The decor was attractive, with a mostly dark theme with contrasting walls. It was cozy and slightly upscale, so it would be a good place for a date. It looked to have a full bar, though I didn't see the drink selection.
I only have two minor complaints. One, the service was a bit slow -- it took us over an hour to complete our meal, and we just had soup and sandwiches. I attribute this to the fact that it was opening week. Two, it was a little on the expensive side. Given the ambiance, food quality, and lack of options in Zeeland, it's probably worth it, but I was hoping for a little bit more food for the price.
Overall, I like the place, but I'll probably only use it for special occasions.
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