Branch Bar

Nicest bar in Hattiesburg. I had the lamb small plate with truffle fries for $7. Awesome. And it was delicious.

Hattiesburg is blessed to have this new little gem.  They've renovated the front side of the old Purple Parrot, and segregated the old lounge into a new Cocktail and Small Plates establishment that beats the tails off of a number of similar places in cities far more metropolitan than li'l' Hattiesburg!  

The cocktail list is really nice and inventive, taking notes from a number of recent publications in the burgeoning field, and varying recipes in a time-tested fashion to reveal new wonders in their ingredients.  The bartenders are very educated about what they're working with too, and mercifully not so busy they can't draw you up something new, or re-create a favorite from someone else's recipe.  Beer and Wine selections are great too, but this place is a real treat for folks who like exclusive spirits.  They have a whiskey collection, for one, that beats all but the top 2-3 bars in Nashville, for example.  

The kitchen is equally great, and even better for the price.  I got three plates for a grand total of $13 that not only made a great dinner, but were each amazing tastes, and would have cost double most anywhere else I ever travel.  Food is inventive, fresh, fun, and incredibly tasty.  A very generous lamb taco; a watercress and pea salad with blue cheese and bacon; and . . . crap . . . something else delicious . . . made up my meal, and I couldn't have been happier at any of the similar Nashville establishments that have been winning national awards as of late.  

The staff is friendly and I'm sure would provide a very warm welcome to people venturing into this great world of tastes for the first time.  They're the type of folk who'll hang out with you after work next door even, and trade notes about bars to visit in other cities.  

I've honestly never been to another cocktail bar that's any better.  They all have their quirks, but Branch is as good as any place you'll find in much much larger cities, only at about 60% of the price.  Enjoy it, folks, and count yourself lucky if you're within a short hop to this great new place.