BUZZon - Happy for an Hour

I’m a big fan of happy hour on Fridays. The end of the week comes and I almost always make my way out for a couple of pints after work. For me, it’s a great way to finish the week, and a great way to wind down. Most Fridays I see the same guys at the same place. But a couple of times over the last two months, I’ve ditched the boys for happy hour with the wife. And since I was doing happy hour with Jinny I ditched the usual haunt too, and in the process, found a couple of great happy hour specials.

The happy hour special is nothing new, granted. It’s been a mainstay at bars and pubs forever. They call it a loss leader; you lose money on in the hope that people come, buy other items and make up the difference, if not a little bit more. But humans are creatures of habit. If your routine dictates Fridays at a particular location, it’s rare to darken the door of another pub. And it’s a shame. On both occasions, we pigged out, had a couple of drinks, and did it super cheap.

The first happy hour was at St. James’ Gate on Kent Street. From 4 to 6 pm they have two-for-one appetizers. The Gate offers up many of the usual selections like wings, mussels and sweet potato fries, as well as a few surprises like saganaki, Japanese pot stickers, and ginger beef. We decide on four; the feta bruscetta, mussels, spinach and artichoke dip and spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce. Like I said we pigged out. I really liked the bruscetta, and the rest was pretty good too. We had a $20 gift certificate, so on top of the cheap prices on apps, we walked out after three drinks each just $40 dollars poorer. That’s great value.

Another place where the drinks can be cheap is Globe World Flavours on Victoria Row. Until 6 pm the globe offers $4 drinks. That includes bottles of beer, pints of draft, shots and house wine. Now, I know that’s not a really cheap price, but in a typical restaurant, drinks range from $5 for beer and shots, right up to $8 for premium wine, liquor and draught. In this case Globe offers not only one wine, but any draft, beer or shot including martinis for $4. It’s a good deal. The food is pretty good too and all over the map, as you’d expect from the name of the restaurant. We decide on the Globe platter which includes bruscetta, honey barbeque wings, a generous portion of nachos and the Globe’s delicious calamari. We were stuffed and sporting a healthy glow by the time we settled the very reasonable $40 tab.

My all-nighters are few and far between these days. I only go out late on certain special occasions. Otherwise it just doesn’t appeal to me. But I’m still a social animal. So, I’ve found a comfortable nook on my Friday happy hours. I get to have a couple of pints, fire abuse at my friends, like my friends do, and get the social time I need to avoid insanity. I’m home by seven, in bed by ten and as happy as a clam. If that appeals to you the way it does to me, find yourself a good happy hour special and enjoy the benefits the loss leader can provide.

Without Prejudice ←		Charles and Myrtle →

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I’m Dining Out Hereby Andrew Sprague

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I’m Dining Out Here
by Andrew Sprague