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Posto Pubblico
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Address:
28 Elgin Street, SoHo
中環蘇豪伊利近街28號 - Telephone: 2577-7160
- District: SoHo / Mid-Levels
- Cuisine: Italian
- Website: View
Restaurant Info
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Credit Cards:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- American Express
- Opening Hours: 07:30-00:00
- Nearby Parking: Yes
- Valet Parking: No
- Reservations Accepted: Yes
- Delivery: No
- Takeaway: Yes
- Corkage Fee: 300
- Can accommodate large group: Yes
- Children Friendly: Yes
- Pet Friendly: No
- Private Room Available: No
- Dress Code: Casual
- Post 11pm order: Yes
- Al Fresco: No
Signature Dishes
Chicken Milanese, Arugula Salata, Mozzarella; Linguine Vongole
Articles
Restaurant Highlight - Posto Pubblico
13.01.2010
The first time I went to Posto Pubblico it was a hit-and-miss experience, featuring small portions, average service, and while some dishes were tasty one was so heavily seasoned I couldn't eat it. As a new opening I gave it a second try. It was an improvement on the first, the dish I found inedible was edible and the service was better. The portions were still small and the kitchen forgot our pasta, which when it did arrive was enjoyable. This inconsistency was the reason I went back for a third time.
Posto Pubblico's Healthy Pumpkin Pie
22.11.2011
Reviews
tasty organic food
to-the-point-reviewer | Sep 15 2010
Tasty organic food but you pay for it! A bit too much in fact.
Service can be snooty when busy too.
400 per person
OK
Hearty home made pastas
Heatblast | Aug 14 2010
A colleague had raved about this place and we finally dropped in one day for lunch for some home-made Sicilian cooking using organic fresh ingredients. The set lunch was of particularly good value considering all items are in the same size portion served outside lunch time. I would not have come here otherwise.
All dishes are full of home flavour and it is a sight to see a chef pour out freshly boiled spaghetti into the gaping crevasse of a huge block of parmesan, and tossing the spaghetti right inside the cheese. I truly enjoyed the oriechette with bacon, a hint of chilli and rappini (they source it from an organic farm in the New Territories).
One thing that I am not terribly fond of is the fact that the kitchen brings out each ordered item as and when it is ready – so often you will receive your main course before your appetizer. And the bay seating areas are rather uncomfortable, they remind me of the cha chan tengs. Desserts are very good, but not included in the set lunch, and generally overpriced.
200
OK
Good environment, but very bad service from the Manager
A C | Mar 17 2010
The restaurant has good vibe, with simple menu. Don't expect too much from the food, but the food overall is pretty ok.
The Manager's service really killed it all. He definitely should not belong to this service industry. Because of him, I will not go back again.
I booked the dinner for 4 ppl at 8pm and requested for a booth, and in advance I asked whether I could bring my own wine. The reply was "Yes, with corkage $350 or to order a bottle of wine from the restaurant where the corkage can be waived”
That evening arrived and we brought along a nice bottle of red to share; we asked the waitress to reconfirmed the corkage arrangement, she seems unsure at the time be seeked advice with her manager whom was nearby, our reply was “Yes, your corkage can be waived with ordering a bottle from us” so went ahead and ordered a bottle of white to start the evening.
Within five minutes of opening the bottle of white the following conversation was held between the Guest and the Manager:
(note* "M"=Manager "G"=Guest which is us)
M: I am sorry but cannot waive your corkage.
G: But I have called to confirm, and your waitress just came back and confirmed with us that we can bring a bottle with corkage free if we order a bottle of the wine list.
M: I am afraid the waitress has misunderstood your request.
G: What do you mean?? I even asked when I originally called for the reservations?
M: Oh, the receptionist takes 300 calls a day and it's not uncommon for her to have got it wrong.
G: She got our booking name right, the request for a booth right, time right, corkage right. So what went wrong?
M: SIR, I CANNOT waive your corkage (in a very unfriendly, unmannered tone)
G: So, what would you like us to do?
M: Sir, this is a high volume restaurant, I can buy out the bottle you have ordered from us, so you can give us back the table. There are other guests waiting who would easily spend $2000 on this table.
G: What was that! Don’t throw money at me! Sorry we are not leaving, we’ll eat here….
$500 per person
Bad
Could Be Better
JimmyQ | Mar 4 2010
Started by two NY Osteria veterans, Posto Publico claims on its webite to offer "Italian home-cooking with classically simple ingredients and a vibe reminiscent of old New York Italian that Sal and Carmelo would approve of" in a setting that "personifies casual chic ". An appealing if not presumptuous proposition. If only it were true...
Flanked by dozens of SOHO contenders, Posto Publico stands out with its high ceilings, monochromatic iron fittings and exposed brick walls that are overly reminiscent of a "Restoration Hardware" showroom in the far swankier SOHO quarters of New York. This place had been impossible to reserve for dinner for months due to an inexplicable burst of hype. Lunch was much easier to book. Or maybe "Sal and Carmelo" are suffering from a bit of mean reversion.
Food was average to good. One of my companions ordered a salad that belied the home-cooked label with wilted leaves. The fried home-made mozzarela was tasty and not too greasy, although it could have been cooked to a softer consistency. The meatball sandwich, on the other hand, oozed with mozzarela and was the most generous dish of our mains, although it lacked punch and could have used a good dash of salt to give it flavor. A pasta in cream sauce featured nicely prepared noodles with the springy texture of al dente home cooking, but the sauce too was flat. Our third dish was a slice of pizza topped with meatballs and sausage on a traditional thin crust, but which did not live up to the HKD200 bill in portions nor taste. For that price, I would have expected my own freshly baked pie, and not a re-heated leftover.
Diners should also take note of the no service charge policy - somewhat uncommon in HK, customers are encouraged to pay on the merits of the service, which was not notably different even with the added incentive.
250 for lunch
OK
Lunch review
andrewtcau | Feb 17 2010
Sausage pizza was excellent. Only had a slice as I went for the veal parm blackboard special for my main. Massive serving of veal. Cooked well but needed more cheese on top. Could have done with a smaller serving of veal parm and done with a side of pasta with the veal.
$415 for two people
Good
Hit and miss service
Seb | Feb 4 2010
Agree with Juice that the service is hit and miss. Forgo the mozz. balls and go for the pasta. Al dente and with just enough sauce to coat the pasta, unlike many places in Hong Kong that have the pasta swimming in the sauce. Maybe not for the local palette though.
Really good atmosphere, and would frequent more often if not for the service.
200 (lunch)
OK
You can feel the growing pains...
Juice | Feb 1 2010
Posto Pubblico has potential - the concept and the decor are on the right track. I like the "open" style layout and the neighbourhood feel. And the idea of locally source produce is also a good start....But, the food and service definitely needs work!
The manager was selling hard on their pizza when they went and so I order a half pie for my friends to share. The crust was chewy and heavy and the mozzarella was nothing special.
The tapas dishes were very small and completely overpriced. It didn't feel made to order but taste was ok. Our group end up having a second meal down the road.
Despite the 0% service charge policy (i.e. servers gotta work for their tips), service is still hit or miss. I would have expected them to be more attentive.
I will wait a while until they sort themselves out before I go back to eat, and in the meantime, I will treat it as an afternoon coffee place on the weekend if I want to catch up with someone and not go to a boring coffee chain...
$300 per person (with no alcohol)
OK
Sour, overpriced tomato-based dishes underlying the hype
Yang-Wahn Hew | Jan 25 2010
Good for those willing to pay through the nose for dishes using sour tomato sauce which tastes almost almost identical to that at Shakey's. If this is what local produce is like then there's probably a good reason most places don't use it. Anyone else (i.e. anyone with any commonsense or sense of taste) should go elsewhere. I would recommend going to Panevino instead. While it has gotten slightly more expensive since its move, at least the food and service there are still excellent and consistent.
300pp
Utter crap
foodieben | Jan 6 2010
I could fill up a book about how crap this place is but I will keep is short. My second visit worse than the first. Food is overpriced, servings are small, service is bad, and food is ordinary to awful.
600pp
So disappointing
cherrycake | Jan 6 2010
As a native New Yorker, I am really offended that people keep saying this place makes them feel like they are 'back in NYC'. The quality of the food, especially the pizzas would be considered below average by NYC standards. My "bucatini" was not bucatini (i.e. no hole running though the centre) - and this should be made with guanciale (the pork cheek) which I am sure it was not and even worse the pork was not fully cooked. If you're going to attempt the most simple, traditional dishes, please do it properly and with care. The beetroot salad was quite nice, but very overpriced and needed more attention on the dressing. Additionally, there are so many staff milling around this place, yet no one seems to really pay attention. My friends meal was brought nearly 10 minutes after others (by I think one of the founders) and there was no apology, no comment, not a word - as if it was totally normal for a person to be served after everyone else at the table. It's sad that more mediocrity keeps breeding in the food scene here.
250pp
Tasty but overpriced
foodieben | Dec 8 2009
I think this restaurant needs to work out the kinks otherwise it will only be popular for the first month while people check it out.
I thought the food was tasty on the whole, except for a couple of overseasoned dishes, but the portions are v small for the price.
While I admire the whole seasonal, organic, local vibe it seems more marketing ploy than fact. I want to know which dishes are organic...no mention on menu which dishes actually use organic produce...without that it is all talk no substance.
Also the tables are so small and so close together that my dining companion was trapped when a table for 4 was turned into a table for six and 2 tables are right near the bathroom.
Like the no service charge although the staff are only good when the rest is not busy, once busy had to ask repeatedly for things.
My dining companion said she would not give it a second try...I might but not in a hurry.
500pp
Worlds apart from other Soho eateries
gourmandizing | Dec 3 2009
At first glance, it is clear that Posto Pubblico is like no other restaurant within its vicinity, even just in terms of its decor and concept. The open entrance is welcoming, and the fact that it is always busy attracts other passer-bys. Soho was desperately in need of something new and different to the generic, commercialised large-chain restaurants.
I love that as far as possible, their produce is locally-sourced, sustainable and organic. Great way to keep in check with current market trends - there is no wonder that people are loving this place. Even on weekdays they are always hustling and bustling, already working up regular clientele, including those in the industry.
On top of this, there is no service charge, and customers are urged to tip at their own accord depending on how they felt their service was. This is clearly reflected in the impeccable service of the servers.
In short, the food is delicious. Hearty, homey comfort food, leaving you wanting more. There is no doubt that you will leave feeling stuffed, especially as the desserts are definitely must-haves.
The Limone/Lemon Lemon Lemon is irresistible, by far my favourite. Their homemade sorbetti and gelati are always in all sorts of innovative flavours.
Highly recommended, especially for those who frequent Soho and are dying for something new and different.
A nice new concept that Hong Kongers are clearly welcoming with open arms to.
Around $300 per person