The name PublicUs may not scream great new downtown restaurant/coffee shop/best sourdough bakery in Vegas that doubles as a hipster hangout, but this freshly renovated space on the corner of Fremont and Maryland is full of surprises. Read through the lunch menu, which caught my attention with its impressive Peruvian fusion: the pork belly sandwich is clearly a riff on the traditional pan con chicharrĂ³n. I haven't seen the dinner menu, but I've been assured that breakfast is not to be missed.
My shaken almond latte was prepared in a cocktail shaker by an award-winning barista while I contemplated ordering some eye-catching plated desserts and checked out the unique decor with its steampunk influences. I also selected a fantastic sourdough boule and a "brookie" (brownie-textured cookie sandwich filled with caramel) created by the talented bakery team and look forward to trying additional culinary creations.
Final thought: March 16, 2015 was a great day for delicious new business openings!