Thirsty AF: The Public House

I do have an actual list of places to write about and a schedule for when to discuss them, but I scrapped that all for this blog because my heart told me to. As they say, the heart wants what it wants, and mine wants a hot dog real bad. Stay with me.

We all know that the Old City is my vibe, and one of the earliest and biggest reasons is The Public House. Even before I moved to Knoxville, I would come here on weekends with friends to order cocktails and popcorn. It was the way to end our nights, and these nights right now - with the temperatures subtly dropping - make me want to spend more time on the back patio with the smell of honeysuckle and all the options of The Public House.

Beverage wise, this place has everything. In a wine mood? I’ll go for a glass that is cheaper than most other places that carry wine. Need a craft cocktail? It’s the Bee’s Knees for me - that frosty glass of lemon and gin always hits the right way. Their Negroni, while not on the menu, is one of my favorites in town. They can also do a batch cocktail, beer, sodas, and mocktails (zero-proof bevies on their menu).

They recently amped up their hot dog game, which is really saying something as I think they held the bar before, by getting their buns from Paysan. I could get the GOAT all day long or the Banh Mi for variety. My friends are addicted to the white truffle popcorn. The snack game here is on point.

As I said, it’s the summertime vibe on their back patio for me. This place can be chill AF or poppin’ if there’s an event at Mill & Mine. It’s been my go-to spot for first dates as well as the spot I go to with friends to chat about these failed first dates. We’ve gone to celebrate special occasions or to mourn our losses. The earlier you arrive, the better the chance of finding good seats. Keep The Public House in mind come winter, too: They’ll do mulled wine as a special on cold nights. Pro tip: It’s also a great spot for a drink while awaiting a reservation at A Dopo.

Have you been to The Public House before? Tell me about your favorite libation or salty snack in the comments. Their cocktail menu changes throughout the year, and some bangers have come and gone.

In case you missed the reference: