Restaurant
Unclaimed profilePullman Bar & Diner
Iowa City, IA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Pullman Bar & Diner runs a beverage program with unusual range for a diner: 16 named house cocktails, a 10-tap draft list heavy on Iowa breweries, and a wine list that moves from Cava to Barolo. Cocktails are the core, with recipes that name base spirits and modifiers—Monkey's Paw (bourbon, banana, allspice, brown sugar) and Costa Salada (olive oil washed vodka, brine, lustau papirusa). Beer leans local and national craft. A Sober Sips section covers non-alcoholic drinking with four named drinks, and a brown butter whiskey luge add-on ($2) nods to spirits. Prices are moderate: cocktails $10–$16, drafts $6–$10, wine by the glass $13–$17.
- What should I order?
- Start with a house cocktail: Monkey's Paw (bourbon, banana, allspice, brown sugar, $13) or Costa Salada (olive oil washed vodka, brine, lustau papirusa, $16). For beer, Big Grove Easy Eddy hazy IPA ($8) or Firetrucker Union kolsch ($8). Wine by the glass: Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc ($16) or Au Bon Climat Chardonnay ($17). Non-alcoholic: Brazilian Limeade ($7) or Potosi NA Ale ($6).
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Guests who want a full bar program with a diner meal—cocktail drinkers, local-beer fans, and wine drinkers who care about by-the-glass range. Also useful for non-drinkers: the Sober Sips section gives four named non-alcoholic cocktails, plus Potosi NA Ale.
- When should I go?
- Brunch includes a Mimosa Time heading and directs guests to the drink menu for brunch cocktails. Dinner is when the brown butter whiskey luge add-on is available with roasted marrow bones.
- What should I expect to spend?
- House cocktails $10–$16. Draft beer $6–$10; packaged beer $5–$10. Wine by the glass $13–$17; by the bottle $32–$72. Sober Sips non-alcoholic cocktails $7–$8; Potosi NA Ale $6. The brown butter whiskey luge add-on is $2 with roasted marrow bones.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The combination of a 16-drink house cocktail list, a 10-tap draft program emphasizing Iowa breweries (Big Grove, Firetrucker, Jefferson Co Cider), and a four-drink non-alcoholic Sober Sips section is unusual for a diner.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
16 named house cocktails spanning classics and originals, with recipes that specify base spirits and modifiers. Range covers bourbon, vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and mezcal-style builds. Brunch cocktails are directed from the brunch menu. A reviewer enjoyed two cocktails during happy hour.
Menu strengths
- — 16 named cocktails including Monkey's Paw, Costa Salada, Green Thumb, Agave Radler, Tamarindo, Hibiscus Kiss, Negroni, Tom Collins, Fitzgerald, Smash, The Bronx, Penicillin, Espresso Martini, Pullman G&T, Margarita, Rosemary Gin Fizz, and Old Fashioned
- — Recipes specify base spirits and modifiers, e.g., Monkey's Paw (bourbon, banana, allspice, brown sugar) and Costa Salada (olive oil washed vodka, brine, lustau papirusa)
- — House cocktails range from $10 (Pullman G&T) to $16 (Old Fashioned, Costa Salada)
Standout selections
- — Monkey's Paw — bourbon, banana, allspice, brown sugar, $13
- — Costa Salada — olive oil washed vodka, brine, lustau papirusa, $16
- — Green Thumb — rum, cucumber, green apple, fernet, egg white, $13
- — The Bronx — smoked brown butter bourbon, vermouth, luxardo, angostura, luxardo cherry, $13
Pricing: $10–$16
Wine
Wine list spans Bubbles, Whites, Rosé, and Reds with international selections from California, Spain, South Africa, France, New Zealand, and Slovenia. By-the-glass range is $13 (Rosé) to $17 (Chardonnay, Barolo). Bottles run $32 (Wycliff sparkling) to $72 (La Cuadrilla red blend).
Menu strengths
- — Drink menu includes a wine section with Bubbles, Whites, Rosé, and Reds categories
- — Sparkling options from California, Spain, South Africa, and France
- — White wines include Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand), Chardonnay (California), and Albariño (Spain)
Standout selections
- — Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc — 2024, mineral, citrus, grassy, New Zealand, $16 | $62
- — Au Bon Climat Chardonnay — 2023, oak, tree fruit, citrus, California, $17 | $68
- — Pazo Cilleiro Albariño — 2023, citrus, white fruit, floral, Spain, $16 | $62
- — Inédito Red Blend — 2025, dark berry, oak, earthy, Rioja, Spain, $14 | $52
Pricing: $13–$17 by the glass; $32–$72 by the bottle
Beer
10 draft taps emphasize Iowa breweries Big Grove, Firetrucker, and Jefferson Co Cider alongside regional and national craft. Packaged beer covers domestic and craft cans and bottles, including a non-alcoholic Potosi NA Ale. Drafts range $6 (Yuengling) to $10 (Full Fledged Hibiscus Beauty); packaged $5 (High Life) to $10 (Ayinger Brau-Weisse).
Menu strengths
- — 10 draft taps, including Iowa breweries Big Grove, Firetrucker, and Jefferson Co Cider
- — Packaged beer includes domestic and craft cans and bottles such as High Life, Ayinger Brau-Weisse, Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout, Bell's Two Hearted, and 3 Floyds Zombie Dust
- — Packaged beer includes a non-alcoholic option, Potosi NA Ale
Standout selections
- — Big Grove Easy Eddy — Hazy IPA, IA, 6%, juicy, tropical, hops, 16oz, $8
- — Big Grove Turtle Hunter — Double IPA, IA, 7.8%, smooth, hoppy, sweet, 13oz, $7
- — Firetrucker Union — Kolsch, Ankeny, IA, 4.6%, light, crisp, fruity, 13oz, $8
- — Boulevard Tank 7 — Saison, Kansas City, MO, 8.5%, grapefruit, spiced hops, pepper, 9oz, $8
Pricing: Draft $6–$10; packaged $5–$10
Nonalcoholic
A dedicated Sober Sips section lists four non-alcoholic cocktails: Brazilian Limeade, Mango Tango, Pullman Punch, and Strawberry Hibiscus Iced Tea. A broader beverages section covers sodas and juices. Potosi NA Ale is the non-alcoholic beer option. Sober Sips drinks are $7–$8; Potosi NA Ale is $6.
Menu strengths
- — Drink menu includes a 'Sober Sips' section with non-alcoholic beverages: Brazilian Limeade, Mango Tango, Pullman Punch, and Strawberry Hibiscus Iced Tea
- — Beverages section lists Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Starry, Dr Pepper, lemonade, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, and fresh squeezed juice
- — Packaged beer list includes Potosi NA Ale, a non-alcoholic ale
Standout selections
- — Brazilian Limeade — sweetened condensed milk, lime, vanilla, $7
- — Mango Tango — mango, bell pepper, tamarindo, $8
- — Pullman Punch — strawberry rhubarb, mango, orange, $7
- — Potosi NA Ale — non-alcoholic ale, 12oz, $6
Pricing: $6–$8
Spirits
The dinner menu history states ownership is committed to showcasing the region's finest distillers.; Dinner menu offers a brown butter whiskey luge add-on for $2 with roasted marrow bones
Menu strengths
- — Dinner menu offers a brown butter whiskey luge add-on for $2 with roasted marrow bones
- — Dinner menu history states ownership is committed to showcasing the region's finest distillers
Standout selections
- — Brown butter whiskey luge — add-on to roasted marrow bones, $2
Pricing: $2 add-on
How it sits with the food
Dinner menu offers a brown butter whiskey luge add-on for $2 with roasted marrow bones. Brunch menu includes a Mimosa Time heading and directs guests to the drink menu for brunch cocktails.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
Community reviews
Anyone with a free Inebrious account can rate the drinks here. Community ratings are kept entirely separate from the Inebrious editorial score above.
No community reviews yet. Be the first to write one.