Go-On Get Happy for an Hour

Since becoming an empty nester, I’ve discovered some great places for happy hour. Now with times tough, money tighter, and the holidays on their way, I thought I would share with you three of my favorite spots.

McCormick and Schmick’s:
During happy hour (Monday – Friday: 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 – 11:00 p.m.) you can enjoy a very good glass of wine for $4.00 and a full-sized cheeseburger with fries for $1.95. It’s a great deal. If cheeseburgers are not your thing they also offer a blackened chicken sandwich, chipotle potato tacos, garlic fries, tomato bruschetta, cheese quesadilla or chips and salsa all for only $1.95.

If you wish to go a little up-market, for $4.95 you have your choice of chicken and pesto bruschetta, blackened fish tacos, oyster shooters, salmon cakes or buffalo chicken drumettes.

A few provisos, anything extra (ie: ranch dressing or barbecue sauce) will cost an additional fifty cents. Regular condiments like mustard, catsup and mayonnaise are not charged. The bar gets really full, but there is an outside patio if the evening is not too cool. These offers are only good in the bar area.

Bodega Wine Bar:
Happy hour is until 7:00 p.m. Wine is $5.00 a glass or $15.00 a carafe and they don’t just offer one vintner. Be sure to ask your waiter what’s available. With the wine they serve nibbles like: bruschetta and olive tapenade, pepperoni and cheese plate and hummus with warm pita each for $4.00. For $7.00 you can order a pepperoni and mushroom pizza or a margherita pizza.

If wine is not you thing they also offer beer and sake at special happy hour prices. Seating is indoor and outdoor and again, it’s a popular place so go early.

Islands:
Happy hour is Monday – Friday 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the bar area only. All appetizers are half price and chips and salsa are free. The drinks are not that great of a bargain ($1.00 off all alcoholic beverages) but they serve great passion fruit iced tea, so I’m a happy camper.

Some of the better appetizers are the tiki tenders which are plump chicken strips, served with your choice of dipping sauce (I like the honey mustard). Also good are the Buffalo wings and the Quesadilla. More choices are: nachos, spinach artichoke dip, mini hamburgers, cheddar fries and onion rings – all half price!

So next time you and your spouse or friends are hungry, don’t want to cook and don’t want to spend much money, try some of these great happy hours deals and just: “Don’t worry be HAPPY!”

McCormick and Schmicks is located at 111 N. Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena in the Westin Hotel Plaza. For more information call (626) 405-0064 or go to www.mccormickandschmicks.com.

Bodega Wine Bar is located in the Paseo Colorado on the second floor at 260 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena. For more information call (626) 793-4300 or log onto www.bodegawinebar.com.

Island’s has two locations in Pasadena: in the Paseo Colorado on the second floor at 330 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 240 and Hastings Ranch at 3533 East Foothill Boulevard. For more information call the Paseo location at (626) 304-9050 or the Hastings Ranch location at (626) 351-6543. The website address is www.islandsrestaurants.com.