Happy Hour Reviews
Acorn Eatery
9041 Holman Road
Seattle, WA 98117
2062970700
4pm thru 6pm daily
score:
On this hot, sunny Wednesday evening there was plenty of spots available inside and on the outdoor deck. The bartender says they do get busy, but "you never can tell". Billed as Northern Italian inspired crusine, the food is terrific and there is all kinds of seating, with an outdoor deck, lounge and back room and happy hour is available throughout. They have even more happy hour menu than are listed here.
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Appetizers
- Roasted Garlic Bulb
- Ravioli
- Cheese Tortillini
- Pizza
- $4.00
- $7.00
- $8.00
- $8.00
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Drinks
- Wells
- Martinis
- Margaritas
- House Wines
- $2.50
- $3.25
- $3.50
- $2.50
Reviewed Jul 20th, 2005
Azteca
2319 NW Market Street
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 709-9551
3:30-6:30pm, Daily
score:
Ya gotta love a Mexican restaurant where you hear Norwegian conversations. The happy hours specials are only available at the bar, but are food items are really generous. The bar only seats nine, and the tables twelve, so it is not a great place to bring an after work crowd. But is a great place to bring your girl, eat some tacos, have margaritas and pretend your listening to her as you watch the baseball game. In addition to the regular Seattle happy hour food listed here, they have a daily "Bolana" which is a FREE appetizer. You can't beat that price, even if your girlfriend does beat you for not listening.
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Appetizers
- Nachos
- Tacos
- Tostadas
- Tequito Rancheros
- $3.50
- $3.50
- $3.50
- $3.50
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Drinks
- Bud & Bud Light drafts
- Wells
- Magaritas
- Gold Magaritas
- $1.75
- $2.50
- $3.50
- $4.00
Reviewed Apr 7th, 2004
Bad Albert's
5100 Ballard Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98107
2067829623
3pm to 6pm daily
All day Monday
score:
Nestled at the south end of Ballard Ave. lies Bad Albert's--not to be confused with the cartoon, Fat Albert. Open eleven years this month, Bad Albert's has become one of the Ballard's mainstays. While the rest of Ballard Ave. becomes more gentrified, Bad Albert's has been growing a fun, regular crowd by serving great food and drinks at decent prices. The employees can't say enough about how great their owner boss is, which is worth patronage for that reason alone. A great guy deserves a great crowd. This rainy, Wednesday there was space available both at tables and the bar.
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Appetizers
- Quesadilla
- Fried oysters and slaw
- Greek pizza
- Nachos
- $3.00
- $4.00
- $3.00
- $3.00
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Drinks
- Micro drafts
- Import drafts
- Domestic drafts
- $2.75
- $3.25
- $2.00
Reviewed Jan 25th, 2006
Bal/Mar
5449 Ballard Ave N.
Seattle, WA
5pm to 7pm daily
score:
Located at the exact stop where Ballard Ave. and Market St. meet, Bal/Mar has only been open since Nov. 2005. The happy hour is still a bit on the mellow, so there is plenty of space for the whole crowd. Follow the beautiful-eyed bartedners advice and get the happy clams. Yum-o-la!
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Drinks
- Wells
- House wines
- Micro drafts
- $4.00
- $5.00
- $4.00
Reviewed Jun 28th, 2006
Conor Byrnes
5140 Ballard Avenue
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 784-3640
3-7pm, Daily
score:
Conor Byrnes sold his namesake bar four years ago, but the tradition goes on. The great Irish writer, James Joyce still watches you drink your Guinness, from his portrait on the wall, non-judgmentally of course. He would approve of the 1903 original Bruinswick bar. Sports fans shouldn't despair when they don't see a TV, there is one hidden around the corner of the bar. The crowd was sparse this Wednesday evening, and the dart board was screaming to be played, but then again maybe that was the Harp screaming to be drunk. You make the call.
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Drinks
- Rainier pints
- Rainier pitchers
- Micro pints
- Micro pitchers
- 20 oz. Guinness
- $1.75
- $7.00
- $2.50
- $10.5
- $4.00
Reviewed Apr 7th, 2004
Hattie's Hat
5231 Ballard Avenue
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 784-0175
3-7pm, Daily
score:
If you know Ballard, you know Hattie's Hat. It is a great place to sneak a drink before a show on Ballard Ave. And let's face it, this is the most uncomplicated Seattle Happy Hour anywhere. Only four other people were in the bar this Wednesday night. No TV to zone out on, but you can contemplate how they got the beautiful bar here in 1897 from Illinois, and wonder where the other 30 of it's kind are now, and if they are seeing as much action as this one.
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Drinks
- All drinks
- -$1
Reviewed Apr 2nd, 2004
Lock and Keel
5144 Ballard Avenue
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 781-8023
4-7pm, Daily
score:
HELLO SAILOR! The Lock and Keel with its maritime themes, is the Ballardest of pubs. What with all the paddles and boats hanging from the walls and ceiling, makes you long for the sea. Lock and Keel was more full than not on this cloudy Monday night. The Lock and Keel often has live music on the weekends, and would be a great place to go before a show on Ballard Ave. Especially if you're in the mood for BBQ and micros. And! On Monday nights they have pool tournaments.
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Drinks
- Wells
- Wine
- Drafts (12 Taps)
- 20 oz. pint Guinness
- $3.00
- $3.00
- $2.50
- $3.00
Reviewed Apr 2nd, 2004
Lockspot Cafe
3005 NW 54th Street
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 789-4865
5-7pm 12am to Close, Daily
score:
For over 80 years the Lockspot has been a Seattle Happy Hour hang-out and neighborhood bar. Clientele was a regular crowd that filled the bar, but there was room at tables and around the pool table. The bar is the original portion and the house with the front porch, where local and tourists alike enjoy fish and chips while visiting the Locks. The crowd is friendly, as is the staff. My favorite part? The fresh smelling potpourri in the Ladies. No food specials are offered during happy hour, but it is very reasonably prices at all the time.
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Drinks
- Wells
- PBR, Coors Lite, Bud draft pints
- Pitcher
- $2.25
- $1.75
- $5.50
Reviewed May 5th, 2004
Louie's Crusine of China
5100 15th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
206-782-8855
4pm thru 6pm Monday thru Friday
score:
With the baseball game on in the corner, just the right amount of sunlight coming in through the windows and some lively conversation at the bar, Louie's is a great happy hour spot. They have more menu items than are listed here. On this sunny Thursday afternoon there was room both at the bar and at the table. If conversation lags ask Norma, the bartender, about the collisions the place has survived with semi trucks. So come on down to Louie's, the natives are friendly. Happy hour is only available in the lounge and there is plenty of free parking.
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Appetizers
- BBQ Pork
- Egg rolls
- Garlic Chicken Wings
- Pork Stickers
- Moo Shu Pork
- Appetizer Plate
- $2.25
- $2.00
- $2.50
- $2.50
- $4.25
- $5.25
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Drinks
- Wells
- $2.75
Reviewed Aug 25th, 2005
Market Street Grill
1744 NW Market St.
Seattle, WA 98107
2067896766
5pm to 7pm daily
score:
Not much of wine drinker, am I, but! This sunny Friday afternoon had me swigging it down like a, well, wino. Market Street Grill offers 10, count'em 10, fine wines by the glass that regularly go for $7 to $9. And hey, $2 is cheap of micro drafts! And the appetizers are not incredibly cheap, but are incredibly delectable. Greg, the bartender, is friendly and attentive and gives a personal last call at the end of happy hour, and stops the specials at real time not bar time. Love that!
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Appetizers
- Mac and Cheese
- Shrimp Scampi
- Baby Back Ribs
- $4.00
- $6.00
- $6.00
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Drinks
- Wines
- Wells
- Micro drafts
- $4.00
- $3.00
- $2.00
Reviewed Jun 9th, 2006
Matador
2221 NW Market Street
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 297-2855
4-6pm, 10pm - 1am, Daily
score:
The Matador is the new kid on the Ballard block. Since late January of this year, the Matador has sat in the triangle made by meeting of Market and Ballard streets, which makes it a great place to people watch. The food is wonderful, with Latino flair, and cheap. On this rainy Monday evening is was three quarters full. So go early, go hungry and maybe you'll be lucky and get a place by the fire. The $4 menu items are: Chicken or shrimp quesadilla, Nachos, Spicy fried calamari, the Matador chili, Matador Romaine Salad, roasted tomato and chicken soup, chicken or steak tacos, fire jumbo prawns, Tex-mex spring rolls, Ancho-chipotle wings, Baja shrimp tacos and blackened fish tacos.
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Appetizers
- Food Menu
- $4.00
Reviewed Feb 13th, 2004
Molly Maguire's
610 NW 65th
Seattle, WA 98117
206-789-9643
3pm to 7pm Monday thru Friday
score:
Molly Maguire's is a very charming Irish bar named after a secret society of Irish immigrant miners in Pennsylvania who fought for labor unions. On this hot, sunny Wednesday afternoon, the place had plenty of seats available.
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Drinks
- Domestic Drafts
- Wells
- Import Drafts
- $3.50
- $3.50
- $4.00
Reviewed Jul 20th, 2005
Peoples Pub
5429 Ballard Avenue
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 783-6521
4-7pm, Daily
score:
You can find people at the People's Pub, but not so many that you can't find a place at the bar. The tables were filled with after work (co-)workers. The bar as a beautiful view of the bay. The People's Pub is known for German food and beer in fact most of the beers have those funny vowels. You can vote for the your favorite draft beer. Try the fried pickles, they taste way better than they sound. The appetizer selection is half off Mon thru Thurs only and offers great food.
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Appetizers
- Half off Monday thru Thursday
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Drinks
- Wells & Drafts
- House Wine
- $2.50
- $3.00
Reviewed Feb 13th, 2004
Ray's Cafe at the Boathouse
6049 Seaview Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98107
206-789-3770
4pm thru 6pm Daily
10pm to Close Daily
score:
Ray’s has one of the best happy hours in town. They offer great food, but that’s nothing compared to the view. Their patio practically sits on the water, and all in a smoke free environment, indoor and out. Halfway through happy hour on this cloudy Friday, the bar was full, but there were a couple of tables available on the deck. This may have something to do with the bus staff starting to pass out blankets.
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Appetizers
- Buffalo Wings
- Cheeseburger and fries
- Cheeseburger and fries
- Steamers
- Quesadilla
- $5.00
- $4
- $4.75
- $5.00
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Drinks
- Henry's Draft
- Wines
- Wells
- Driftwood Ale
- $2.25
- $1.00
- $3.00
- $3.00
Reviewed May 6th, 2005
Thaiku
5410 Ballard Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98107
2067067807
5pm to 7pm daily
score:
Thaiku not only offers wells and appetizers for Happy Hour, but "herbal elixirs". Don't get excited, the legal kind of herbal. For $5 you can try a "Radiant Flower: which will aid digestion, circulation and "quiets the spirit and calms the heart". According to Perryn, the bartender, the place gets back to the rafters on Friday and Saturday night happy hours. But this rainy, Wednesday there was plenty of space between the rafters.
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Appetizers
- Satay
- Spring Rolls
- Fried Tofu
- $3.00
- $3.00
- $3.00
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Drinks
- Radiant Flower
- Wells
- Speciality Cocktails
- $5.00
- $4.00
- $5.00
Reviewed Jan 25th, 2006
Tin Hat
512 NW 65th
Seattle, WA 98117
206-782-2770
4pm thru 7pm daily
All day Sunday
score:
The Tin Hat was originally a tavern catering to war vets, but it has evolved to a full bar playing horror movies. This sunny Wednesday night it was “Evil Dead Two”, bartender Jethro’s all time favorite. The busiest nights are taco Tuesdays and Sundays. Occasionally Tin Hat has live music, but it means moving the pinball machines.
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Drinks
- PBR
- Wells
- Micro drafts
- $1.50
- $3.00
- $3.00
Reviewed May 4th, 2005
Wingmasters
5811 24th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107
206-706-9999
4pm thru 7pm Monday thru Friday
score:
Until last fall, Wingmasters was Ebb's, a favorite Ballard dive. Now it is remodeled and drawing a regular working class crowd. The bar was happening on this Tuesday evening, and has lots of specials on, what else, chicken wings. If you are lucky, you may get one of the sidewalk tables.
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Appetizers
- Mozzarella Sticks
- Fries
- $2.50
- $2.00
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Drinks
- Wells
- Domestic Drafts
- $2.00
- $1.75