click to enlarge Hector Aizon photo Indulge in Barnwood's mac and cheese egg rolls.

"Beers, burgers, good times" is the tagline of Barnwood Social Kitchen & Tavern, the newest restaurant and bar from local restaurateurs Matt Goodwin and Jordan Tampien.

The spacious pub on a busy stretch of Market Street in East Spokane opened earlier this month, serving — as its motto suggests — laid back neighborhood vibes, drinks and eats similar to Goodwin's Backyard Public House in West Central Spokane. (And yes, there's barnwood on the walls.)

"The idea came from the Backyard project, where we found an underutilized space in an up-and-coming, emerging area," Goodwin explains. "[Barnwood] has a lot of the same qualities as Backyard in layout and design, and in kitchen and menu development. We thought we could strike lightning in a bottle twice, and help do in Hillyard what we did in West Central."

The building most recently was home of the Thirsty Dog Saloon, and before had a long run as Whiskey Dick's Pub. The new ownership duo did some light renovations, added more TVs for watching sports and plan to add a patio come spring. While the former establishments were 21-and-up, Barnwood's main dining room is family-friendly until 9 pm. A rail separates the original horseshoe-shaped bar from all-ages seating.

"In talking to people in the neighborhood, [the bar] was their favorite part of the place and so we kept that the same, and it's been a big hit," Goodwin says.

Barnwood's menu offers several burgers, along with sandwiches and wraps. Shareable appetizers, a few desserts, a kids menu, salads and the "Big Eats" entree section — mac and cheese, steak, lentil chili, fish and chips, and more — make up the rest of the menu.

Among its five burgers, the restaurant is making its own lentil patty for the vegetarian No Moo burger ($12.50). Diners abstaining from meat can swap that in for $4 extra onto any other burger, like the eponymous Barnwood Burner ($15.25), a one-third-pound beef patty topped with crispy onion strings, pepper jack, bacon, jalapenos and house-made garlic aioli.

Other handhelds include the grilled steak wrap ($13.25), fish tacos (three for $13.25), Philly cheesesteak ($13.25) and more. From the "snacks" section there's pretzel bites ($9.25), finger steaks ($10.25) — breaded steak strips with horseradish aioli and balsamic reduction for dipping — and the indulgently delicious mac and cheese egg rolls ($7.25), served with a side of Sriracha ranch. Go all out and order deep-fried Oreos ($8.25) for dessert.

While similar in menu structure to sister restaurant the Backyard, Goodwin says the team collaborated to give Barnwood a culinary identity separate from the other eateries in his restaurant group. Those other restaurants, which he either owns solely or with partners, include Press, Remedy, Fast Eddies, Brick West Brewing Co., Volstead Act and Backyard.

Starting in February, Barnwood is kicking off its weekly social events: trivia on Wednesdays and bingo on Thursdays. Taco Tuesday and a Monday night burger special, similar to Backyard's and running from 5 pm to close, are also part of the weekly rotation. Weekend brunch service is set to start in March.

Barnwood is also participating in Inlander Restaurant Week, Feb. 20-29, offering three courses for $22, including some of its regular menu staples.

"We're really excited to be a part of the [Hillyard] neighborhood, with the North-South Freeway and other businesses moving in, all playing a part in helping the neighborhood become bigger and better than it already is," Goodwin says. ♦

cheys@inlander.com

Barnwood Social Kitchen & Tavern • 3027 E. Liberty Ave. • Open Sun-Wed 11 am-midnight, Thu-Sat 11 am-1 am • facebook.com/barnwoodsocial • 315-9855