The Public House - Machias, Maine

Rail F.

Just went for lunch for the first time. I ordered the lobster grilled cheese sandwich. It was very good and filling . Also the bread was homemade. We also got a complimentary homemade hummus and chips. It was a lot to eat so I took the rest home including the hummus. Service was very good and received our orders in a reasonable amount of time. We went early to avoid crowds. It does get very crowded on the weekend but this was during the week. They are expanding the dining hall into another building which will be for lunch and dinner (Public House) and the main section will be for breakfast.

Jim H.

This is definitely one of Downeast Maine’s hidden gems. The lunch we had was great. Jake our server was superb. The food was truly delicious. The Lobster Bisque had more lobster in it than many lobster rolls. It tasted most excellent and its creaminess was excellent. The Bang Bang Shrimp was delicious and the portion was generous. Both the WBF burger and the Fish and Chips were quite tasty. We splurged and had the Creme Brûlée and the Apple Oatmeal Crisp for dessert. They were both delicious and rounded out a nice Saturday afternoon lunch. We definitely will be back. The dinner menu has wetted our appetite for an evening visit.

Griff W.

My wife and I were looking for a place for a light but good snack midafternoon (no lunch). Nothing in Machias looked good. Saw this place on the web and, although it was confusing as to what it actually was, we decided to try it. Bit of a drive to it, but it is absolutely beautiful and a brilliant try. We got there just as they opened for dinner, 4 pm, and had a shrimp app and a really lovely salad with strawberries and feta. Service was relaxed, friendly, and intelligent, the interior is beautiful -- this is a very fine place.

And I suspect that ultimately they have in mind creating a dining destination like the French auberges that often have nationally celebrated food -- the food here was that good.

sila

Beautiful place to enjoy coffee or lunch! They have a market with great treats and gifts. I was admiring the view while I ordered coffee and dessert to go. The drinks were delicious and pretty. The only issue was asking the pot de creme dessert to go. When I received the dessert, it appeared to be scooped out and missing its garnish. Still tasty!

UPDATE: My family and I stopped here for brunch. Highly recommend their harvest salad, the crispy fried haddock, and their artichoke dip. It's definitely a place to keep on your places to visit as the quality, price, atmosphere, and service are exceptional compared to everywhere else I've been.

Teresa L.

Very friendly waitresses, polite construction crew (building an addition that will accommodate over 100 people for year round, indoor seating), beautiful views and the food was top notch quality! Black Angus steak cooked to perfection, homemade sausage patties with a fine tuned balance of sweet/heat/herb, homemade sourdough toast with choice of 4 homemade jams, homefries were walnut sized pieces of real potato golden brown and not loaded with onion or strong seasoning that can cause digestive issues for some people. The coffee was AWESOME...strong, fresh and cold water served in a glass decanter! We took home blueberry orange muffins to our family and they said they were the best they'd ever tasted. Thank you for bringing a farm to table type quality meal option to Washington County! WE WILL BE BACK!

Chris S.

The food here was very disappointing. I ordered the fish and chips. The fish was overcooked, dry, crumbly, and inedible on the outside. The center third was edible but the fish and breading were both flavorless. The breading was quite hard, presumably from overcooking. The slaw was just wet shredded vegetables, no sauce noticeable and no flavor. The fries were average, bland, and served under the fish for some reason, which left quite a few of them soggy or covered in dry fish crumbles. The food very overpriced for what I got. Service was quite amateur but friendly. The interior design was nice but the lamp on the table was dead. The live music was a poor quality and too loud even being in the adjoining room. I would have had gotten a better entree at the local diner for 1/2 the price.

Mo M.

First- what a delight to have this restaurant and farm complex so close!
Our waitress Abby was flawless. Cheerful, polite, efficient and thoughtful. A true professional at her craft.
Our lunch was delicious- fresh haddock sandwich with rings was excellent- perfect. The portobello burger was a nice find, yummy and crispy fries. Everything made to order, fresh and hot.

The staff were all very friendly and helpful. Definitely returning to this cozy restaurant.

Thank you for opening this place up, wishing you nothing but the best.

Jeremy M.

Enjoyed the Best Dinner with my wife.
Delicious wine and most comfortable atmosphere. Everything was amazing including the great service Abi J provided.
Gotta make it for Breakfast we hear 🙂