The decades-long popularity of the Patachou brand has largely been about the consistency of its standards. Regulars hardly need a menu to order the Hippie with a Benz omelet or broken-yolk sandwich. By contrast, what has been most fun about Public Greens, in the 15 months since it opened in late 2014, is how Patachou, Inc.’s most conscientious, improvisational offering is always changing to follow the seasons—or with chef Tyler Herald’s creative whim. Sure, you can count on his comforting buttermilk fried chicken or the smoky farm greens with bits of salty pork. But you have to work hard to keep up with all the ways he tosses grains, roots, legumes, and just-plucked fruits into some the tastiest bowls of nutrition in the city. And now that the initial kinks with ordering have been ironed out, there is something especially chic about standing in the queue at lunchtime or whiling away an afternoon by one of the windows overlooking the Monon.
TIP: Order out: The spacious patio overlooking the restaurant’s tidy garden makes dining in fair weather a must.
DON’T MISS: The Simple Steak—grilled tri-tip seasoned with salt and pepper, which pairs nicely with any of the dipped-up salads.
PREVIOUS MENTIONS: Best New Restaurants 2015
900 E. 64th St., 964-0865, publicgreensurbankitchen.com
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