Fodor's Expert Review Birch & Barley

This Pullman spot has a loyal following of both local residents and out-of-towners, who come for the excellent bar and the Southern-inspired menu that also highlights WSU's locally produced cheese in such dishes as Cougar lobster mac and cheese and Pullman poutine. Gulf gumbo, Bayou catfish, shrimp/crab etouffe, and the "Rajin' Cajun Pasta" (which comes with chicken, shrimp, Andouille sausage, and a heat warning) give a decidedly Louisiana slant to the menu. The bar offers more than a dozen craft cocktails and groups them as "beginner," "intermediate," and "advanced" to reflect their sweetness and alcohol taste.