Happy hours are a steal. Looking at lists of half-priced cocktails, cheap bar snacks, and discounted burgers, my heart beats a little bit faster. Most of Seattle’s top restaurants offer afternoon happy hours, where I order one of everything off the menu and walk away feeling like a thief with pockets full of diamonds. One of Seattle’s best seafood restaurants, Etta’s, offers a view of bustling Pike Place Market and a whole crab for only $25 during their unbeatable “Crabby Hour” (Monday-Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
But the delights of happy hour do come at a price. The main problem is that happy hour tends to leave me tipsy and uncomfortably full of cheap, gourmet food at only 6 p.m.— still too early for bed. There’s little hope of accomplishing anything worthwhile (like going to the gym) after happy hour, so my choices are: a) continue drinking and eating for the rest of the evening until bedtime, or b) watch TV and wait for the tipsiness to subside while wiling away the hours until bedtime.
Recently, however, I noticed that many of Seattle’s best bars and restaurants are offering late night happy hours. This trend is the answer to my prayers. I encourage everyone to sample a five-dollar cocktail after a long day of soberly touring the city, or a trio of prime rib sliders after a night out at the bars.
Bastille Café and Bar in Ballard serves generous glasses of wine, ample bowls of steamed mussels, impeccably-crisp fries, croque monsier, and other French delicacies for around $6 apiece, from 10 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday. Poquitos on Capitol Hill has top-notch Mexican fare like grilled pork tacos, ceviche tostadas with avocado, and margaritas for $5. At Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse downtown, late night revelers can enjoy items like seared Ahi Tuna and flatbread Margherita pizza for $6 during “Prime Hour” from 9-11 p.m. This is how I experience the white-linen sophistication of a real steakhouse without spending $60 on one piece of meat. Not to mention, Ruth’s Chris serves terrific martinis for the bargain price of $5 during “Prime Hour,” and when it’s over I can go straight home to bed.
If you’d rather cook your own meal, Jen Reviews has some awesome recipe ideas, including this one for a steak burrito, which is an awesome late-night snack.
Photo courtesy of sunliquor.blogspot.com
