Public Italian Kitchen — Restaurant in South Island

Was craving some Italian. I saw this place when I arrived and tonight I checked it out. I had a wonderful experience. The food was delicious, wasn't go viral famous but I also don't like to follow the trends. I follow the locals. My server Ed made the recommendation and I am glad I listened. The Ragu was a great choice! The pasta is made in house fresh! Ed was responsive and understanding. I am a picky wine drinker, he offered for me to try a few samples and even when I made a selection and later decided it was not right for me. He picked up on my dislike. Ed was focused on making my experience memorable. As I dine alone and travel the world I often observe the atmosphere. Ed gave all his tables excellent service, and , I must admit the entire staff I saw working as a team which is always refreshing. I would rather dine at place with good food and exceptional service than the other way around. Because when the service is good the food tastes better. I don't usually get a dessert, however, I splurged and I ordered the lemon sponge. Public Italian, please make this a signature and never take it off menu. I want to come back in 5 yrs and be able to remember through food the memories Of tonight. Highly recommend for others to check this place out. Arrive early so you can get the patio. It's right on the lake and stunning. But even inside where I was sitting was lovely. I appreciated that it wasn't loud, it was cozy like you're eating...

I recently visited Public Kitchen and Bar in Queenstown and had an amazing experience thanks to our server, Dan.

From the moment we walked in, Dan greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel welcome. He seated us at a great table with a stunning view of the lake. Throughout our meal, he was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu, making excellent recommendations and ensuring our drinks were always topped up.

Not only was Dan efficient and professional, but he also had a great sense of humour and made our dining experience even more enjoyable. He interacted with us and other customers in a friendly and genuine manner, creating a welcoming and lively atmosphere in the restaurant.

Dan's attention to detail was also impressive. He remembered our names and checked in on us regularly to ensure we were happy with our food and drinks. He even went out of his way to accommodate a special dietary request from one of our group members.

Overall, Dan's exceptional service made our visit to Public Kitchen and Bar a memorable one. He truly went above and beyond to make sure we had a fantastic dining experience. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Queenstown, and I hope to have Dan as our server again in the future. Thank you, Dan, for making our evening so enjoyable.

@Dan you're doing a great job ! Keep it up.

10/10 would...

We walked along the beautiful lakefront of Queenstown in the evening and decided to have dinner at Public Kitchen Bar.

It looked very inviting with the soft decor, plush booth seats, and a buzz from the patrons already inside.

The noise level wasn’t too bad at all here on a Sunday evening so that made it more pleasant for us.

They offer lakeside dining (if you choose to sit outside) and local kiwi fare (which is definitely sprinkled in there).

We were planning on eat a little healthier tonight and the menu did offer a lot on that end.

We started by ordering two salads to share:

cous cous salad

beetroot, baby spinach, cheese, and candied walnuts salad

Both delivered as advertised. The candied walnuts were especially good.

For our main, we decided to go with the Nana Marg’s lemon and thyme chicken. The portion was quite enough for two hungry people. The chicken itself was very tender and moist with the lemon and thyme having perfumed it well.

The service staff are super friendly and make sure you get taken care of while you are there.

Overall, this was a great spot in Queenstown for dinner should you be at...