Public Lounge Eatery

It’s amazing how one person can completely ruin an experience for an entire group.
It’s taken me several days to come down from the rage I felt after leaving this establishment. I didn’t want to write angry. So let’s get down to business…
Wanting to try something different on Main St. I suggested we check out Public. They had decent reviews, and I hadn’t been before. We enter, and see that there isn’t a ton of space but it’s only half busy, and the staff start making table space for us, and we say we are cool if we have to split up some of the group to sit at other tables. We sit, start ordering drinks, and a couple more from our group show up that I wasn’t really expecting. No matter, some sit at the bar.
Our server runs around getting drink orders and bringing out beers. She explained the specials, and while we realized the food wasn’t really pub food, there were some snacky things that seemed to suit our needs. She forgot a few orders, but no big deal, there were lots of us, and we told her it was fine, not to worry. Nobody made a deal of it, no one was rude, and no one blamed her. Absolute, honest truth. When she came back to get food orders she said they only had one cook on because she had sent the other home. She had already explained that they were out of a few things since they were busy earlier. No problem. I just wanted the charcuterie plate to share, which really doesn’t seem like that big of a deal to put together.
Aaron has addressed up what happened at the other end of the table, so I won’t repeat it. I’ll sum up. Food was ordered, waitress suddenly left in a hissy, we sat there stunned. Since it seemed they didn’t really want to serve us we decided to cancel the food that did manage to get ordered, finish our drinks, and get food elsewhere. Again, I stress, no one was rude. Even I, who can stare daggers and change the tone of my voice to suit an ice princess if provoked, was light, and happy, and pleasant. We told her a ton of times, «no worries», «it’s cool», «we know you’re busy». So, after being dismissed in such a rude way, one of the girls told her, at our behest, not to bother with the food. Forget it, we’ll just have our drinks. Apparently, she didn’t like the attitude. Excuse me? What fucking attitude? You mean the nice, calm, friendly demeanor we all had? Was there too much joking around and telling you not to worry, perhaps?
We tried to finish our drinks in relative peace, while trying to figure out what prompted this woman to treat us so rudely. Meanwhile, our former server (who has decided at this point she wants nothing to do with us) and the cook, stand at the bar, glaring at us, and talking about us. Nice. Very professional. That cook looks real bloody busy to me. We payed up with another server (who was nice), and got the hell out. Some others who had to pay with cards were still there when I left. I have been told that the former waitress decided to flick the lights to get our group to clear out. All the while with the smuggest look on her face, clearly pleased with her childish behaviour. Oh, and did I mention, there were other patrons there? Talk about bad attitude.
There were a ton of ways they could have dealt with our large group. We could have been invited to stay for drinks, but told that the kitchen couldn’t handle us. They could have made the food, while slow, we would have stayed. And had more drinks. But this was just ridiculous.
I hear they are moving up the street to take over Coppertank. Needless to say, we won’t be going there. I hope they don’t take that brunette server with them. Maybe she can get a job at the Elbow Room. I hear they like assholes there.

My new neighbourhood pub! I really like this place. It’s well-​designed but not pretentious, the menu is totally amazing, and it’s cozy. I’ve ordered their truffle oil popcorn without cheese and scarfed that down in no time. It’s a one-​server joint, so when it’s busy, expect to be served by the chef, as I was… no problem.
I totally recommend this place. Every experience I have is great! Of COURSE I wish they had more vegan meal options, but what else is new?

Our favorite date place! Good tapas and great drinks selection. The people are always friendly and it has a cool atmosphere, with local art exhibited on the walls. Only wish it had a few more veggie options, but still enough to keep us coming back!

A «veteran» establishment on Main Street, this little eatery continues to deliver the goods. Solid food and some great brew selections. Great for sitting outside on the patio section and people watching.

I have been here a few times, and always enjoy myself.
I love the feel in here — classy neighbourhood pub — where everyone is welcome in whatever they are wearing but you know they’ll have more than bud light and mozza sticks on the menu.
Great daily specials! The cocktail list features tasty treats named after their neighbouring businesses — cute! The patio is lovely for summertime beers.
The menu has a few veganish snacks — I had the hummus last week and it was pretty good and reasonably priced. My friend had the bruschetta which she enjoyed… and it looked amazing!
Service is good — sometimes a bit slow, but always friendly.

Sunday special: $ 3 pints of draft and $ 6 double Caesars. Woot. I not only have to return to drink on the cheap — but I was sitting near the back of this tiny lounge near the register and I noticed some strange photos.
Like I always do when I enter a room — I immediately scan the room for would-​be assassins and emergency exit points. Call me paranoid if you like, but I’ll be ready to Jason Bourne any suckers trying to garrote me (which in my estimation is inevitable). In my usual ‘ocular patdown’, I noticed there was some oddly misplaced 80’s glamour shots and a picture of an Asian infant sitting naked in a sink. My drinking companion regaled me with fascinating tales, but I could not avert my gaze from the odd photos. Was the infant the owner’s child? Was the child conceived because of the soft focus cheesecake photos? As much as I wanted to ask, I couldn’t bring myself to ask the friendly waitress about the photos. She was the sole server tending to the bar and entire eatery. I was sure she didn’t want to explain the deal with the photos while she was working her ass off — and I was convinced I could figure it out on my own. I didn’t.
Anyways, my buddy and I jumped on the 2 for 1 pizza Sunday special — 2 personal-​sized pizzas for $ 9. Good crust and toppings but it was bit oily for my liking. However, not a bad joint for some cheap-​ish drinks and some snacks on Main Street. But seriously — trying to figure out some of the photos will make your brain hurt.

Great ambiance, food, beer selection, and super friendly staff. My favorite pub in vancouver!

Was staying in the area during the Olympics. Would hardly even know this was a food pub place until seeing the sidewalk board. It was a nice, pleasant place to enjoy a drink and have some food stuffs with a friend or friends. I really liked the edamame which was mixed with sea salt and sesame seed oil. After that, I aways add sesame oil to my edamame!

Yesterday was my 3^rd visit to Public Lounge. Each visit have been pleasant, enjoyable and consistent. Love the food there and service is always great. I find prices a little on the high side, but I can accept that since the food is pretty good.
Great list of beers from local to import, had the Main Street Pilsner and was pleasantly surprised.
Nothing spectacular, but great hang out joint to catch up with friends over bevvies and treats.

Food at Public was good, and the servers were nice. I would have rated this much higher, but we had the most crazy experience here.
There was a group of middle aged patrons sitting at a table about 2 ft across from us. This one intoxicated man proceeded to pull up a chair at our table and put his hands into our food and eat our tapas. WITHOUT being invited. He actually grabbed our wine and took it to his table (we had to ask for it back from him) and then ate our edamame, spitting the husks onto our table. We did ask him to leave, but he did not. He also was completely loud, obnoxious and inappropriate. At one point we thought we must be on candid camera, as there was no way this could be a real scenario.
The servers, as nice as they were, didn’t do anything to help us or ask him to leave. Apparently this person stated he «knew the owner» and had been giving the servers a hard time so they didnt’ know what to do with him.
Our server did apologize profusely when the man had left and did offer to bring us new tapas (which we declined). But when the bill came, we were charged the full amount.
So, although the food was good, and the location is great, I think that in the end the inexperience of the servers and the fact that neither the server nor the bar tender asked this man to leave on our behalf reflects really poorly on this potentially great little joint!

I felt right in my element here, pleased to find some tapas options on the menu I could get excited about and also pleased they carried my favourite scotch, Laphroaig, even if they did only have one glass left. The place is chill and the servers attentive. It was a great place to meet my friends and start the night, though I probably should’ve eaten a full meal judging from the way things went overboard a bit later.