Mystery Diner: Good food, atmosphere make Public House of Woodstock stand out

A restaurant’s atmosphere can sometimes make or break a dining experience. A visit to the Public House of Woodstock reveals plenty of ambience and stories waiting to be told.

Public House is in the Old McHenry County Courthouse on the Historic Square in downtown Woodstock, a dramatic 1857 building on the National Register of Historic Places. The structure was designed by John Van Osdel, considered the first Chicago architect. The adjoining McHenry County Sheriff’s House and Jail was built in 1887. And until 1973, McHenry County government offices were in the Old Courthouse.

The classic comedy “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray was filmed in downtown Woodstock in 1992. A scene from the movie takes place at the Public House’s bar area.

Today, diners are greeted by a large groundhog with its face cut out so visitors can take their photo. It’s corny, but, heck, it fits the movie motif.

We were seated in one of several dining rooms. The menu offers a nice mix of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and entrees. Our group of three decided to sample two appetizers, a cup of soup, a sandwich and two weekly featured entrees.

The Loaded Baked Potato soup is a nice mix of tender potato, cheddar cheese, chives and bacon.

The Spinach Dip includes artichoke hearts and is paired with fried pita chips.

The appetizers we selected were Shrimp & Mushrooms ($13.50) and Spinach Dip ($12), joined by a cup of Loaded Baked Potato soup ($4.50). The creamy broth of the soup embraced tender chunks of potato, cheddar cheese, bacon and chives. It was a nice way to start a meal on a cold night.

The restaurant is known for appealing dishes such as the Shrimp & Mushrooms appetizer over toasted bread.

The Shrimp & Mushrooms could suffice as a full meal. The shrimp was complemented by porcini mushrooms in a garlic cream sauce over thinly sliced toasted bread. This appetizer would have made a wonderful entree over a bed of pasta. The Spinach Dip with artichoke hearts was a savory mix to accompany the fried pita puffs, but could have used a dash of spice with heat.

The Chicken Prosciutto Melt includes your choice of a side. We picked sweet potato fries.

The sandwich we chose was the Chicken Prosciutto Melt ($13). Requiring a knife and fork, it arrived on focaccia bread with basil pine nut pesto, roasted tomato, prosciutto, mozzarella and spinach, paired with tasty Parmesan-crusted chicken.

The Short Rib Mac & Cheese is a hearty dish with tender short ribs.

Short Rib Mac & Cheese ($24) was a delight, and a surprise on the menu. The braised short ribs cut with a fork, and the mac and cheese was a mix of cavatappi pasta and Gouda and Jack cheese with arugula. The flavors melded well together.

Our final entree was Pot Roast ($22), a slow-braised chuck roast with celery, carrots and onion over whipped potatoes, topped with onion straws. Like the Short Rib Mac & Cheese, the chuck roast was very tender and flavorful, and the gravy was delicious. This was a comforting dish.

The service at the Public House is attentive and inviting, and the atmosphere welcoming. It was a great experience, and we left full, carrying home a few goodie bags.

The Public House has a couple outdoor seating areas. When the weather warms and the snow melts, we will be back for more.

The Public House is a keeper on our list of local favorites.

• The Mystery Diner is an employee at the Northwest Herald. The diner’s identity is not revealed to the restaurant staff before or during the meal. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a story.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Public House of Woodstock

WHERE: 101 N. Johnson St., Woodstock

PHONE: 815-337-6060

INFORMATION: publichouseofwoodstock.com