Restaurant in Old Town, Wichita

Serving Local Flavors and Eclectic Ambiance

See Our Menu
Public Old Town Wichita Restaurant
Reserve

Reservations

Are you interested in dining at Public’s indoor dining room or outdoor patio? We encourage you to make a reservation online to ensure your party is accurately accommodated. If there are no time slots available for your desired reservation, call us at (316) 263-4044 to discuss additional availabilities.

 

 

 

Reserve a Table at Public >

Click the link above find a table in our dining room or on our patio. Please call for larger tables or submit the event inquiry form for groups of 25 or more. We look forward to hosting you!

“Such a cool, eclectic place with lots of seating. The place is huge! I ordered the fried chicken sandwich, which was the special of the day, and a salad. Very good! It looks like it would be a fun place to visit at night for a concert or happy hour.”

- Katie K.

“One of the coolest restaurants in town! Great food, wonderful service, and farm-to-table! I love this place and will be going back!”

- Laura P.

“Great venue for a relaxing evening of live music, drinks, and dinner. They have a very good menu of items. I highly recommend the seafood or eggplant with lentils, very flavorful. The cocktails are awesome as well!”

- Cheryl C.

“Very charming. The outdoor area is versatile for sunny brunches or intimate live music. Their menu is rustic, and they have a lovely selection of seasonal cocktails.”

- Drew D.

"Great menu and a good selection of beer. The atmosphere is fun, and the staff is really nice.”

- Brian S.

“This hidden gem in Old Town has amazing food and delicious cocktails. They use local ingredients to support the local economy! The atmosphere is definitely unique; this is one of the coolest places to eat in town.”

- Christine S.

“One of the best restaurants in Wichita. Public has a great atmosphere and fabulous service. Their food is local and seasonal and always cooked to perfection. On top of it all, the prices are great!”

- Kristin S.

“‘Awesomest' pub in Old Town! Comfortable, relaxing, creative. The hummus platter is a healthy meal alternative—lots of interesting items on the menu. I'm looking forward to coming back for more!”

- Gordon B.

“I have been a fan since their inception. They have a cozy environment with an awesome, eclectic menu. They are always featuring something new on the taps, and they make one of my favorite cocktails in city limits, the ‘Public Smash’.”

- James B.

“One of my favorite restaurants in Wichita! Great atmosphere, intriguing menu, and awesome service.”

- Danielle R.

“One of Wichita's premier restaurants. Great ambiance, interesting menu, and quality bar. In the heart of Old Town, you will always see someone you know.”

- Ted A.
Public

Live Music & Events

Enjoy your favorite Public dishes and tasty cocktails while experiencing a concert at Wichita’s finest outdoor music venue. Explore the upcoming events calendar or follow Brickyard on Facebook to stay up to date with all of your favorite bands and artists. 

For More on Upcoming Live Music

Backyard Boogie

4 PM

Backyard Boogie

4 PM
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
DETAILS
Backyard Boogie is back with a special Father’s Day event on Sunday, June 15th! Hosted by Tommy Billions, enjoy a curated lineup of local and regional DJ talent paired with a full BBQ menu, drink specials, and hookah at your table. The Backyard Boogie is always a vibe, grab your tickets and we’ll see you outside!

Anna Brinker

6 PM

Anna Brinker

6 PM
Admission:
FREE
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
DETAILS
Enjoy a free performance from Arkansas-based country singer/songwriter Anna Brinker on stage with acoustic covers and originals from 6pm to 8pm. The kitchen will be serving food and drinks to the patio all evening, all ages welcome!
Anna is a 3-time Arkansas Country Music Award Winner, with 9 nominations since 2018.
She was born in Illinois and moved around quite a bit as a kid until her family found roots in Arkansas in 2002.
She has loved singing from an early age and was always surrounded by the sound of her momma and daddy singing while her daddy played guitar.
She sang in church with her momma and learned to play guitar on a pawn shop Abilene, gifted to her by her daddy with a set of strings in 2008.

The Barlow

9 PM

The Barlow

9 PM
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
Details:

Colorado Country. That’s the sound The Barlow has been making since 2017, combining Red Dirt, Americana, outlaw country and guitar-heavy Southern rock into songs that are as rugged as the band’s Denver home. Come enjoy them now at the Brickyard stage!

Jamie Quick

6 PM

Jamie Quick

6 PM
Admission:
FREE
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
DETAILS

Enjoy a free performance from local artist Jamie Quick playing acoustic covers and originals in the courtyard from 6pm to 8pm. The kitchen will be serving food and drinks to the patio all evening.

The Lough Brothers

6 PM

The Lough Brothers

6 PM
Admission:
FREE
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
DETAILS
It’s finally Friday! Let’s celebrate and unwind together with After-Work Party food and drink specials and a free performance from the Lough Brothers. These 3 brothers sing and play covers and originals together from 6pm to 8pm!
All ages welcome.

Tumbao Salsa Night

8 PM

Tumbao Salsa Night

8 PM
Admission:
$10 Before 10 PM, $15 After 10 PM
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
DETAILS
Wichita’s hottest live salsa band TUMBÁO hits the Brickyard stage on Friday June 20th! Dance under the stars to all of your favorite salsa and bachata songs from 9pm until last call.
21+ to enter
Come early if you want a table!

Them Spicy Boys

6 PM

Them Spicy Boys

6 PM
Admission:
FREE
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
DETAILS

Come out early for dinner and drinks on the patio and enjoy a free performance from Them Spicy Boys! This energetic acoustic duo offers their own take on popular covers from across the eras. You may recognize them from their other full band projects, Aether and Thunderbird Hotel. Them Spicy Boys play 6pm to 8pm, all ages welcome!

Monterey Jack

8 PM

Monterey Jack

8 PM
Admission:
$10 Before 10 PM, $15 After 10 PM
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
DETAILS
Wichita’s cheesiest (and most popular) cover band Monterey Jack returns to the Brickyard on Saturday June 21st! Sing along to all your favorite rock and pop anthems from across the generations from 9pm until last call. These guys know how to throw a party!
21+ to enter

Indigo Sol

6 PM

Indigo Sol

6 PM
Admission:
FREE
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
DETAILS

Celebrate PRIDE at the Brickyard with food and drink specials and a FREE music performance from acoustic duo Indigo Sol from 5:30pm to 7:30pm!

All ages welcome.

Pride Drag Show

10 PM

Pride Drag Show

10 PM
Admission:
$10
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
DETAILS

Celebrate Pride with us with a drag show hosted by Lorelei Stephens! Full Lineup TBA.

21+ | $10

Steffanie Moore

6 PM

Steffanie Moore

6 PM
Admission:
FREE
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
DETAILS

Enjoy a free performance from local singer/songwriter Steffanie Moore playing acoustic covers and originals from 6pm to 8pm. The kitchen will be serving food and drinks to the patio all evening. All ages welcome!

Lucky People

8 PM

Lucky People

8 PM
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
DETAILS
Come on out for some Saturday night dance floor fun with Lucky People! These guys have been around since 2007 but keep updating their song list to ensure every crowd has a great time. Doors open at 8pm, the band kicks off around 9pm and plays until last call!
21+ to enter

Orie's Garlic Fest

11 AM to 3 PM

Orie's Garlic Fest

11 AM to 3 PM
Admission:
FREE
Venue:
Brickyard
129 N. Rock Island Road
Wichita, KS 67202
Details:
Enjoy walking the brick-lined streets of Wichita’s historic Old Town district while taking in the aroma of the city’s best garlicky fare. It’s here you’ll find dozens of local vendor businesses, including farms, ranches, food artisans and handmade artists, as well as garlicky products galore and our popular complimentary garlic shots.
Fest is from 11 to 4
🎶 Music Lineup on the Brickyard Stage 🎶
‣ Harrison Steele 12 pm to 2 pm
‣ Molly Neeley 2 pm to 4 pm
Check out the event discussion for vendor spotlights and sneak peeks 💯
Attendees: Free admission!
About Us

Our Story

About Public

Public is an all-inclusive farm-to-table eatery for the whole family! Adjacent to Brickyard, Old Town’s premier outdoor music venue, we first opened our doors in 2012 for dinner service with the goal of serving fresh and regionally sustainable ingredients to create our take on the flavors of local cuisine. We achieved this by partnering with various local vendors and designing an eclectic menu transcending the old and the new. Our original menu derived much of its inspiration from the nostalgia associated with our historical location and Travis’ experience growing up in that space, combined with the culinary influence of the current trends originating in St. Louis at that time. From our nationally recognized food to our laid-back atmosphere, there is something for everyone at Public!

A Nod to History

If you catch yourself enjoying a craft cocktail or Wichita-style pizza at Public, make sure to stay and enjoy our unique ambiance! Our decor remains a nod to our family’s history and connection with the Brickyard building. Our style is constantly changing, as we are always searching for new and old artifacts to display and uncommon items to repurpose! With light fixtures made of mason jars from Travis’ great aunt’s farm, tables constructed from floorboards extracted from the Lemp Brewery in St. Louis, church pews from Saint Joe’s church in the early 1900s, and decorative bathroom tiles from the bank that John Dillinger robbed, you’ll find many historical and local details incorporated throughout the restaurant. Not to mention the assortment of old newspaper articles and some of our favorite concert posters. We challenge you to find them all!

Meet Our Team

Travis Russell

Owner / Executive Chef

Travis Russell

Owner / Executive Chef

If you know me, you know I’m always cooking or listening to a podcast about cooking. Well, that, or Wichita Public Radio (KMUW). I received my master’s degree in printmaking from Washington University in St. Louis before moving back to Wichita to create flavorful and fresh dishes at Public. I believe that cooking is a technical art—much like printmaking. There is nothing I love more than cooking, except for gardening, watching KU football, and hanging with my two boys and wife.

Brooke Russell

Owner

Brooke Russell

Owner

If you find yourself at Public, halfway through one of our signature Wichita-style pizzas, you might see me corralling my two boys around the restaurant. They love to hang out in the kitchen and behind the bar— go figure! I initially started my career as a reporter working in the television industry in St. Louis before eventually moving back to Wichita with my husband, Travis, to open Public. It has been one wild ride! Like all true love stories, Travis and I first met while working at a Lawrence restaurant called Pachamamas, and I, of course, trained him. But, if you were to ask me about my greatest love? Trash television, specifically on Bravo.

Ambyr Caster

Sous Chef

Ambyr Caster

Sous Chef

Jake Martin

Kitchen Manager

Jake Martin

Kitchen Manager

Whitney Goldberg

Front of House & Events Manager

Whitney Goldberg

Front of House & Events Manager

In my free time, I like to relax by antiquing with my mom at all of our favorite spots around town and cultivating my green thumb in my home garden. Working at Public has made me enjoy working in the restaurant industry more than I’ve ever experienced anywhere else. The food is so delicious, and I appreciate being a part of so many special moments with our awesome guests. Not to mention my coworkers are all pretty rad!

Dallas Welch

Bar Manager

Dallas Welch

Bar Manager

I am originally from Wichita and love so much about this city. I am also a double alumnus of Wichita State University with a passion for functional fitness, the development of people, and the growth of my community. My love for Public runs so deep — from the people, farm-to-table food, craft beer, cocktails, and setting to the experience we create through the art of service.

Autumn Haverkamp

Assistant Manager

Autumn Haverkamp

Assistant Manager

My greatest passion in life is studying botany and collecting plants. Working at Public is great because I get to meet and interact with all sorts of people, and there’s no time to be bored! I stay busy with various hobbies and am constantly getting distracted by the next thing. I also am, like, really good at carrying a lot of things in my hands at once.

Terry Johnson

Facilities

Terry Johnson

Facilities

Terry started working at Public in its first year of operation. You can always count on Terry to bring positive energy and style to the kitchen. And if the Sooners are on TV, you might see him cheering on his team in the dining room.

Public

Visit Us

Public is a family-owned, farm-to-table eatery adjacent to Old Town’s premier outdoor music venue. Come see us today to try our wide variety of craft beers and enjoy our outdoor live music events, or bring the entire family for Sunday brunch. From our eclectic menu to our unique restored-warehouse ambiance, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Public!

Hours:

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday : 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
  • Thursday: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
  • Friday: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
  • Saturday: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
  • Sunday: Open for Special Events

Contact Us Online

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