Publico Ristorante completes the trio of dining concepts from Publico at The Quayside, in a first-class Italian establishment that marries fine dining and a casual, contemporary setting. In a setup that looks straight out of a Martha Stewart cooking show—what with the “open kitchen” housing twin pizza ovens—steel masonry and potted greens give the place a modern but homey feel.
Like what you’d expect from an Italian establishment, pizzas and pastas are the reigning mains at Publico. Live in front of diners, the Martha Stewart ovens whip up tasty wood-fired pizzas like the Baci e Ricotto ($26) and the Tartufata ($24), an expertly done pie of porcini mushrooms and smoked scamorza drenched in truffle. The “La fiorentina” T-bone steak, house-aged and cut generously in thick juicy slabs, is also worth trying.
To pair with your meal, there’s an extensive list of wines, cocktails, beers and even tea. A gelato cart serving locally sourced scoops is typically on standby throughout the night, but if you fancy an even sweeter affair, pop next door to sister bistro Publico Deli—which after dark transforms into a dessert parlor dishing Italian sweets. The in-house neighbourhood bar Marcello serves Italian craft cocktails perfect to end the night with.
