Public House in Ferndale Reopens This Month

Under new ownership, the restaurant will debut a new name, look, menu, and more
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vegan burger - public house
The vegan burger features a house-made patty and can be topped with tempeh bacon. // Photograph courtesy of Public House

Public House will reopen to the public the week of Dec. 21. Going by Public House & Garden now, the downtown Ferndale restaurant will feature a new menu of high-quality comfort food — with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options — as well as a revamped look. 

 

The restaurant, located at 241 W. Nine Mile Road, will offer vegan items such as hot n ’sweet crispy cauliflower, barbecued carrots, beet salad, and a vegan burger featuring vegan American cheese, vegan dijonnaise, and a patty made from barley, carrots, beets, and potatoes. Crispy house-made tempeh bacon can be ordered on its own or added to the vegan burger. 

 

Other menu items will include sharable plates such as ratatouille and crispy seitan chicken and waffles, and vegan and non-vegan salad and appetizers, like fresh-cut fries, candied bacon, and a Caesar salad. Meat eaters can also enjoy a traditional pub house burger featuring seasoned ground short rib, chuck, and brisket that’s prepared daily. A “single” burger features two quarter-pound patties on a toasted bun, American cheese, house-made pickles, dijonnaise, and a sunny-side-up egg. 

 

To avoid cross-contamination, the restaurant’s open kitchen, which is adjacent to the main bar, will be used for carnivore dishes. A second kitchen space will be dedicated to vegan offerings. 

 

Guests will notice new signage on the front of the Public House building as well as updates to the interior of the restaurant. The eatery’s four-season patio has also been redesigned by Birmingham architecture firm Ron & Roman to include a second bar featuring an onyx countertop. At 1,000 square feet now, the space offers seats for 82 people and includes two Wisteria trees, a floral wall, and an indoor canopy created using live plants and floral accents.  

 

From 2013 to 2020, Public House was operated by the Working Class Outlaws restaurant group. According to news reports at the time, WCO closed its restaurants Imperial, Public House, and Antihero in the summer of 2020 amid the pandemic and allegations of a toxic work culture at the company’s businesses.  

 

After a restructuring, WCO reopened Imperial, but Public House and Antihero were sold to Hometown Restaurant Group. The company, which includes Pop’s for Italian and One-Eyed Betty’s in its portfolio, is owned and operated by Brian Kramer. He says he purchased both restaurants to invest “in local food and culture.” 

 

“Ferndale just feels like home,” says Kramer in a press release. “It’s a community, and Public House is a staple in the community, and I didn’t want to see it closed.”

 

Public House will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Brunch will be available from 10 am. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. 

 

For more information, visit publichouseferndale.com