The Snacking Hour
New happy hours up the haute bar-snack ante
You know what makes any happy hour even happier? Cheap--or free--bar snacks. But we don't mean dry pretzels or jalapeño poppers; the food alone is worth the visit.
Sit at the Andaz Hotel's RH Bar between 5 and 7 p.m., and get bites from chef Sebastien Archambault like citrusy shrimp ceviche, Spanish tortilla, tapenade crostini, and tomato and prosciutto on ciabatta (pictured). You won't find special drink prices, but when the food is free--and just keeps on coming until you say stop--who cares?
Half-off wine and beer is one reason to check out Barbrix's happy hour (Monday through Wednesday, 6 to 7 p.m.), and chef Don Dickman's duck-fat popcorn is another. Sprinkled with sea salt and fennel pollen, the richly flavored snack is wildly addictive---and only $1 a bowl. Got there after 7 p.m? Just ask the bartender if there's any left.
For the cocktail-and-food-pairing crowd, there's the Four menu at the newly renovated Checkers Downtown every Thursday (4 to 8 p.m.). New executive chef Todd Allison creates four tapas-size dishes to match four drinks each week, and all are just $4 each. Think: golden chanterelle risotto or spicy curry beef stew with Oxley gin cocktails. Watch Facebook for this week's menu.
