Public Fish & Oyster — Restaurant in Charlottesville

The food is amazing and people are friendly but the service unfortunately was not good. We walk in and promptly was greeted by the hosts, she told us she will accommodate us outside, while we wait for the table was this young lady (a server) taking a order of oysters to a table and all her hair was touching the oysters, was really gross to see it. With my luck she was our server, when she was taking our order her hair was almost touching my cup and I get really nervous and anxious, hair and my food or drink sound not so fun. I ask if someone else can be our server and the manager was so nice, polite and professional , he give us another server, unfortunately the new server almost never come to check ours needs he bring the food at 8:45 and never come back to check if we need something, I have to ask to another server for ketchup and she brings just a little but because she seems bothered for my request I didn’t ask for more, we ended ours fries with not condiments. Then another server come to pickup the plates, I think she saw our faces with dissatisfaction with all the situation, our server finally show up at 9:15 we ask for check and leave. May we will back because the food was delicious, but I will think twice because of the service. The first server was nice and polite but I don’t understand how someone who is handling food will have all hair over her face that is not sanitary or professional at all, I don’t think anyone want to experience other people hair in food. The second server was nice and polite too, but never come back to check on us, and sometimes patrons need something extra and if it’s not someone available to server your needs what is the point to have a server? better put a self...

Quickly becoming the one of the Charlottesville favorites for seafood, this awesome little spot on West Main has it all. While the indoor seating can be a little cramped, the beautiful high ceilings make the room feel more open than it is. The patio area is beautiful and shaded and can accommodate on even the hottest of Virginia evenings.

My first experience at Public came amongst the hustle and bustle of Cville Restaurant week, and still I was politely and promptly greeted at the door by either and owner or manager. I wish I had gotten his name because for the next hour or two he treated my date and I like family. He wasn't our waiter, and yet he was very attentive and happy to help throughout the night. Additionally, the wait staff were very pleasant and timely.

The first course came out in a flash and was all piping hot, delicious, and wonderfully presented. We devoured calamari, shrimp, and the yummiest brussel sprouts I've ever tasted.

The mussels came in a heaping pile with a friendly serving of frites and aioli, and the flavor was out of this world. My girlfriend had the haddock which was served with tomato and grilled zucchini, which was mild, buttery, and perfectly flaky.

The selection of wine was reasonably priced considering many were from Germany, France, and Portugal. And also delicious.

Finally, for the third course I chose the key lime, and I think it may have been the most amazing key lime pote that I have ever had.

Wonderful across the board and I would gladly recommend this place to any friend with a taste for seafood. And yes, we will be back for oysters and happy...

I came here last night with a reservation for my birthday dinner. The food was incredible but I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever had worse service. It took twenty minutes to even be greeted, and our waitress just poured our water and then left for another five minutes. The food and drinks didn’t take long which was nice. But right when our entree arrived we had a friend join us, and instead of bringing him a menu our waitress gave him a place setting as if he was supposed to just share with us? Weird. She came back over twenty minutes later and didn’t even try to take his food order, just asked if we needed anymore drinks. We just asked for the check. It was honestly bizarre how nonchalantly we were given terrible service. I’ve worked in restaurants the last seven years and I’ve never seen a server ignore a table like this, and then smile in the customer’s faces as if half of their experience with wasn't spent waiting on them.

Later that night I talked with some friends about it and heard from two different people that the servers here profile their guests and you won’t get good service if you don’t “look” like you’ll leave a big tip. That completely makes sense because my husband and I were dressed super casually and the table of dressed up guys behind us were greeted and served promptly.

All of THAT being said, our drinks were delicious and the seafood was amazing. I had oysters Rockefeller and crab legs. They both were fresh, and high quality. I would still come back, I’d just probably sit at the bar instead of playing my luck with...