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NVLife_JulyAug_2012

by LENORE HIRScH I drinks—getting a little buzz ont used to be that Happy Hourmeant sixty minutes of cheap before heading home after work. But now, in Many local hour has become something to please yourthe days of $12 glasses of wine and dinner fortwo running at least seventy-five bucks, happy restaurants or four. Plus, after eating specials at the bar of your wallet. The cheap drinks areandpalatestill there, but the “hour” lasts more like three show the love dinner?At Tarla, Bounty Hunter, and Grace’sone of these fine establishments, who needs during 6:00. Some restaurants offer special prices forTable, Happy Hour starts at 3:00 p.m., at Brixand Carpe Diem at 4:00. Most end around Happy Hour • TARLA’s happy hour appetizers anddrinks only. The places I’ll return to are thosethat feature a happy hour food menu as well. selected drinks and wine are all $5. A friend and I shared four plates: flaming cheese with preserved lemons, stuffed mussels, zucchini cakes, and meatballs. We washed it down with refreshing ginger beer mojitos. What a great way to enjoy a tasting menu. Dinner with drinks for $20! • BounTy HunTeR offers beer on tap and house wines, two for one. The menu includes a BBQ sampler of brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and cole slaw ($10) with three kinds of sauce. It’s big enough to share with friends – or a filling meal for one. I tried the appetizer of three ribs on some slaw ($5). I’m not usually a fan of ribs, but the meat falling off the bone and that sweet-sharp chipotle sauce won me over. for $3.50! That’s a step back in time. Their F O O Dserves wellAiRegLLe ATnRAoTRis • drinks (gin and tonic, vodka and cranberry) weekday Happy Hour starts at 5:00, but from Friday to Sunday it runs from noon until 6:00. A Kobe burger and fries ($8) were a steal and, I tasted the fresh and delicious spaghetti, I N calamari, and bruschetta (all $5). onion rings ($3), artichoke fritters with N A P A, I tried the semolinaeABLce’s TgRAAt • romesco ($5), and frickles—fried house-made pickles ($4)—with a Napa Smith draft beer ($4). These may be the best onion rings ever. and head upvalley for other treats not yet V A L L E YThese are my favorites so far. I still wantLenore Hirsch writes blogs about Napa food to check out Eiko’s oysters, Bank’s tapas, discovered. Many Happy Hours lie ahead! and her dog, humorous essays and a newspaper column. Find it all at www.lenorehirsch.com. J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 2 17


NVLife_JulyAug_2012
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