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dining
around the d

Creamy Deviled Egg Trio

Public House

A

bove the bar, Mark Dancey’s
ster bun with fresh vegetables and anoth-
large black-and-white portrait
er recommendation, hazelnut-dusted
of Mick Jagger in a hoodie
cauliflower. The latter has Romesco
tipped me off that Public House would
spread (tomato-garlic-breadcrumbs),
be more interesting than its plain-Jane
broccoli pesto and Manchego cheese.
name suggests.
The house-made chips were brownish,
Indeed, the pub food is creative and
not golden. Dislike.
often surprising under the
An entree my friend rec-
direction of Executive Chef
ommended is Lake Superior
Brandon Zarb. The young chef
whitefish, accompanied by
also oversees Imperial, a thriv-
corn succotash, whipped beet
ing Mexican restaurant/bar on
remoulade, walnut pesto and
Woodward Avenue in Ferndale.
seared lemon. Smoked lamb
It’s a sister to Public House, a
ribs, a newer and popular
few blocks west of Woodward
entree, is accompanied by
on Nine Mile Road.
sweet chili. Many guests rave
Perry and Sharon LaVoisne,
about Public House’s hushpup-
and Jeff and Suzanne King are Esther Allweiss pies and beef kalbi (Korean
partners in both ventures.
short ribs).
Ingber
Public House opened in
I enjoyed eating the tangy,
Contributing
fall 2013, leaving little trace of
seasoned BBQ carrots,
Writer
Josephine Creperie & Bistro, the
although my dining buddy
former tenant. Today, street-level win-
suggested the dish with only carrots was
dows bring light and people-watching. too “one-note.” We loved our beautifully
Walls are white subway tiles or dark
plated marinated beets — a medley of
and rough-surfaced. A custom-made
golden and red Detroit beets, salt-roasted
black-painted bar with seating for 16
redskin potato chunks, curled baby car-
was distressed to look believably time- rot, fennel, herbed yogurt on the bottom
worn. More bar seats face the open
and toasted quinoa on top.
kitchen. Otherwise, there’s booth seat-
Waffles, hash, sandwiches and sides
ing on black lacquered benches.
are served at brunch, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Public House boasts a covered, heated weekends (Public House opens at noon
patio with communal picnic tables on a
on other days). Smoked brisket hash
black brick floor. Features include shades sounds yum. The “Toasts” served at
that lower for enclosure and a pull-down brunch feature main ingredients, such as
screen for showing movies. The coolest
smoked salmon or avocado.
inclusion is the “canned ham”-shaped,
Eclectic music played on a turntable
red-and-white, restored 1958 Shasta
adds to the room’s upscale hipster vibe.
camper. Twelve beer taps are inside it.
Guests share favorite records on Sunday’s
The specialty cocktails ($8) carry girls’ “Bring Your Own Vinyl Night.” For more
and boys’ names. My co-diner really
fun, there’s “Flavor of the Day” cotton
liked her “Rita,” consisting of blanco
candy or my preferred “Flavor of the
tequila, Cointreau, Coco Lopez and lime
Month” soft-serve ice cream. We enjoyed
with a cinnamon rim. “Ike,” including
a delicate, not-too-sweet green tea.
gin and rum, comes in a fierce tiki mug.
Menu Takeover Day happens on the
There are monthly drink specials and
first Wednesday of each month, alternat-
boozy milkshakes, too.
ing between Public House and Imperial.
With its “irregular rotating menu” of
Chef Brandon designs a special menu,
small plates, Public House has caught on available 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Having trav-
with area foodies and experienced “sub-
eled recently to Vietnam, he delighted
stantial growth in the last year,” accord-
guests Aug. 3 with Vietnamese-themed
ing to Dan Rico, the genial assistant
selections. Menu Takeover Day returns
general manager.
to Public House on Oct. 5.
In addition to the extensive bar selec-
tions, I’d credit the talented cooking
team headed by Chef Brandon and Chef
Public House
de Cuisine Cortez Frazier.
241 W. Nine Mile Road
Bestsellers are Nashville hot chicken,
Ferndale, MI 48220
creamy deviled egg trio and classic burg-
Phone: (248) 850-7420
er, whose toppings include aged cheddar
www.facebook.com/
and pickled red onion. The burger comes
publichouseferndale
on a slider-size roll, as did my tasty lob-
$$½ out of $$$$$

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44 August 4 • 2016