THE PUBLICAN (CHICAGO, IL)

The Publican
837 W Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607
www.thepublicanrestaurant.com
Tel: 312.733.9555
$$$ ($30-$45)
Cuisine: American
Sun, 10/04/2015, 11:00am reservation
     (4.5 Piglets)

I'm a piggy. Anytime there is a restaurant that glorifies the pork, I'm usually there. The Publican is no exception. It glorifies the pork in the utmost delightful way, including its beer and seafood. My main focus at this place is the pork though. Rich, luscious meat that somehow retains its moist texture.

All their James Beard awards

Executive Chef Paul Kahan and Chef de Cuisine Cosmo Goss manage to present dishes that satisfy your every pork needs. Everything from their house-made terrines to their charcuteries, you can't go wrong at this place.

I personally am in love with their brunch and décor at The Publican. Large art pieces that beautify the piglet sit on the walls of the restaurant. The place is rustic with selective seats that create a feeling that you're in a pig pen. Somehow we are transported back to the 16th century to a European banquet hall. And the food...

The interior

Another view of the interior

MY FAVORITE DISH. CRAB SCRAMBLE ($18.00): Pickled shallot, creme fraiche, espelette, dill and toast. At first glance, you think nothing of this dish. But then your world changes when you take that first bite. The crab was fresh and the scramble was buttery with a creamy and rich texture.  I'm pretty sure they used a crap load of butter, but who the freak cares? The toast was good and complemented the crab scramble well but seriously, the main star was that scramble. I could eat this every morning! One of the best brunch dishes I've had by far. 

PUBLICAN BACON ($7.00): Burton's maple syrup braised bacon. Look at this. Have you seen anything more beautiful? I seriously love this bacon. Forget that thin piece of flimsy bacon that's served in most diners. This is how bacon should be served. It's thick, it's porky, its fatty, it's sweet and it's salty. Everything a bacon should be. 

SPICY PORK RINDS ($6.00): These little crispy bad boys were delicious. They were light and airy with a little kick. I could eat these as a snack all day!

HASH BROWNS ($5.00): This is probably the best hash brown pancake I've ever had. It's not your typical hash brown that you normally find at the diner. It's super crispy on the outside and rich and smooth on the inside. It's definitely soaked in butter and I don't care one bit how much is used, cause it's delicious! Definitely a must order.

RED WINE POACHED EGGS ($13.00): La quercia prosciutto, sourdough and béarnaise. This is the first time that I've ever had red wine poached eggs. The red wine flavor definitely comes out in this dish and the eggs were poached perfectly. The prosciutto went well with the dish creating a nice salty flavor to it. And the arugula added a nice freshness.

SMOKED PORK SHOULDER ($16.00): This is a good dish. The egg yolk was runny and coated the pork shoulder well. The cornbread was a bit spicy and moist. This is a good mash up of flavors.

Overall, the food is pretty darn amazing at the Publican. If you like pork and lots of flavor and butter, this is the ideal place for you. I appreciate the simplicity of the dishes as well as some of the modern flair the restaurant seems to offer. The James Beard awards the restaurant holds reigns true to the Publican. When in Chicago, be sure not to pass up giving this place a try. You won't regret it.