Rachel Kim
January 15, 2026
Pilsen's Living Room Gets a Gastropub Upgrade
Pilsen Public House is what happens when a neighborhood bar decides to take food seriously without losing its soul. The burger — ground daily from a custom chuck-and-short-rib blend — is messy, beefy, and satisfying in a way that fancier burgers often aren't.
The pierogi change weekly. My favorite so far: butternut squash with brown butter and sage. But the potato-and-cheddar classic is also excellent, pan-fried until the edges get golden and crispy.
The beer list is exclusively Midwest breweries — Half Acre, Revolution, 3 Floyds, Toppling Goliath — and the bartenders know their stuff. The mural-covered patio is one of Pilsen's best-kept secrets in summer.
This is a neighborhood joint in the best sense: it belongs to the community, it feeds the community, and it makes the community better.
The pierogi change weekly. My favorite so far: butternut squash with brown butter and sage. But the potato-and-cheddar classic is also excellent, pan-fried until the edges get golden and crispy.
The beer list is exclusively Midwest breweries — Half Acre, Revolution, 3 Floyds, Toppling Goliath — and the bartenders know their stuff. The mural-covered patio is one of Pilsen's best-kept secrets in summer.
This is a neighborhood joint in the best sense: it belongs to the community, it feeds the community, and it makes the community better.