Boston Happy Hours

One of the things that I love about leaving Boston is finding a good happy hour deal. For some reason, back in the day, someone decided that outlawing discounted drinks would keep Bostonians proper (they also made parties hosted by a household of women illegal-too much like a brothel and banned Native Americans from entering the city until a few years ago, but I digress). Anyone who been around Fenway after a good Red Sox game probably noticed that that idea didn't pan out...but the law remains in place.

To make up for the lack in drink specials, restaurants offer cheap eats daily, ranging from deep-fried pub food to freshly shucked oysters. As a graduate student I need to take advantage of the deals, because let's face it, ramen just doesn't cut it anymore. It is also a good way for a family to go out for dinner without having to dip into their 401ks (it can get pricey eating out in Boston). The following list is just the beginning-several deals will be added daily, but I wanted to start with some favorites...check back for updates!

Estragon
700 Harrison Avenue (Washington St. at E. Brookline, Silver Line)
Boston, MA 02118-2631
(617) 266-0443

Estragon offers $1 tapas at the bar from 5:30-7pm Monday-Thursday. I am in love with their braised beef cheeks in Pedro Jimenez...they are falling apart tender..mmm.

KO Prime
90 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02108-4101
(617) 772-0202

KO Prime has $5 dollar glasses of wine and martinis from 5-7pm and 9-11pm! During those times bar bites are priced at $2 or $5. They also offer $29.95 all-you-can-eat prime rib on Tuesdays and Wednesdays! Now, I don't eat enough to take advantage of this deal, but for those who do, hot damn that's a great deal for steak!

Lineage
242 Harvard Street (Coolidge Corner, or Harvard at Beacon St. on the 66)
Brookline, MA 02446-2904
(617) 232-0065

Lineage has $1 oysters at their bar from 5-7pm Monday-Friday. I believe that the owner's brother is a fisherman-you cannot get much fresher seafood than that! Take your significant oyster-loving other to Lineage for a dozen (or two)!


Minibar
51 Huntington Avenue (Copley)
Boston, MA 02116
Tel: (617) 424 - 8500

Minibar offers $2 mini Kobe burgers from 5-7pm Monday-Thursday.

Noir
1 Bennett Street
Cambridge, MA 02138-5707
(617) 661-8010

Noir's 5-4-3-2-1 happy hour menu runs from 5-7pm Monday-Thursday. Flatbreads, salads, sandwiches, snacks and sweets compromise this tasty deal.

Small Plates
JFK Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 441-0056

Sundays and Mondays from 5-6pm and Tuesdays-Saturdays from 4-6pm Small Plates offers a delectable selection of tapas, wines and wine cocktails for $5 each!

Tapeo
268 Newbury Street (Copley T stop)
Boston, MA 02116-2424
(617) 267-4799

Tapeo offers $5 tapas at their bar-a steal for items such as duck confit in a berry sauce or scallops in a saffron cream sauce.

Tremont 647
647 Tremont Street (Arlington T stop)
Boston, MA 02118-1201
(617) 266-4600

$2 tacos are offered Tuesday evenings, the selection changes weekly. The cheap tacos provide the perfect excuse to consume plenty of libations such as their pepper-infused XXX margaritas! (Just be sure to take the T or have a DD-lined up, they can pack a punch!)

Union Bar and Grill
1357 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 423-0555

Free bar bites weekdays 5:30-7 pm, $29.95 for 3 courses with a glass of wine from 5:30-6:30pm daily, a $9.95 prix fixe brunch all day Saturdays and 10-11 a.m. Sundays includes coffee, fresh squeezed juice, coffee cake and your choice of B52 French Toast, Smoked Salmon Scramble of Chef's Choice Omelet. Great deal, great food, great (or okay but very amusing) service. 'Nuff said.