Ivan S.
Yelp
OK, after all the hullabaloo I recently posted about visiting a place multiple times before reviewing, I'm reviewing the Pullman after just one visit. There are two reasons for this, really. One, I enjoyed myself so the review's going to be positive and two, seeing as how this makes my first trip into Kirkwood in two years, the Pullman might as well be located in a lost city, covered in Amazonian vines. Hell, I've been to New York City more often than Kirkwood these past few years.
On a positive note, it really felt like our foursome was in a whole new city when we were out for dinner. (Man, we're pathetic.)
With a name like the Pullman, I imagined more of a train theme of which there wasn't, but that's more my fault than the bar's. The bar, itself, is appointed nicely, if not a little utilitarian. (I will give props to the bookcase full of old volumes, including a thumbworn copy of The Watchmen.) There's a nice seating area upon entry to the right which you'll need on busier nights. I'm not sure if there's a host or hostess or if you should just flag down a server. We flagged down a server who told us to have a seat and we were 3 parties back in the queue. It was kind of confusing, though thankfully civility amongst those waiting won out in the end.
The Pullman also seemed fairly kid-friendly, owing itself to 1) the 3 kids I saw there and 2) the relatively early dinner we staked out because my friends and I are old as dirt, angrily refuse to text, and wear onions on our belt. I'm guessing since I saw kids, smoking is verboten. (I'm guessing, though.)
I liked the food. The wings were nice. The spicy wings were, indeed, spicy. I know that sounds redundant, but I've been served too many "spicy" wings that are no more spicy than a chicken mcnugget. No lie, I once ate a bar's "nuclear" wings and when asked about it by the server, I told her to call her cook "a candyass" for me.
I also ordered the pork sandwich. The menu description made me expect sliced pork (again, I don't know why), so I was a little surprised when it came out on the pulled side. I thought the flavors were nice and the coleslaw, if not original, a good textual addition. I will tell you my friend thought her pork sandwich simultaneously "needed sauce," but "tasted wet." I said that didn't make any sense and I still say it doesn't make any sense and if she wants to challenge me, I know she reads my Yelp reviews so g'head, Woman! Write your review! Unfortunately there's not a "crazy-ass observation" button alongside the "Useful," "Funny," and "Cool" that Yelpers can click.
My other friend ordered the jumbalaya special which he thought was just "okay," but he's also a New Orleans snob who gets all judgey when a bar doesn't have Abita on tap. The wife appreciated the gluten-free demarcations on the menu which automatically earns The Pullman a gluten-free bump in starage.
Four stars to you, Pullman. Oh, and I loved you in Independence Day by the way.