A short but by no means inclusive primer to a few Happy Hour haunts
When you ask about the best happy hour on Capitol Hill, a name springs from many people's lips, and that name is The Deluxe Bar & Grill, at 635 Broadway E. Whether that is because the Deluxe actually has the best happy hour, or because my polling took place at a coffee shop around the corner from the Deluxe, is hard to say.
But the Deluxe, a Broadway fixture since 1962, offers not only reduced drink prices ($1 off microbrews and well drinks) but about half-price from its extensive (15 items) appetizer menu. For between $3.50 and $4.50 you can have the Deluxe Sliders or Meatloaf Sliders (three mini-hamburgers, onion rings, "Make 'Em Sweat" spicy chicken wings and more.
"I recommend the prawns, and macaroni and cheese and both kinds of sliders," said Crystal Sturm, North Broadway's legendary service expert. "Oooh, the nacho loco fries!"
Also available are $4 house wines, $5.50 Bloody Marys and $2 off hamburgers after 10 p.m.
The Deluxe happy hour is daily 3 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Just a few blocks down Broadway is the Broadway Grill,, 314 Broadway E., where happy hour is 2 to 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to last call daily. Well drinks are $2.50 and draft microbrews are $3.
"The best deal, I think, is that all of our wines are $4," said Spencer Fairbanks, Broadway Grill manager.
Quesadillas are available for $8.95 and nachos are $8.75.
"I honestly think our nachos are the best on the Hill," Fairbanks said. "They are just huge and we make them from scratch."
If your beat is 15th Avenue, then consider the 22 Doors, at 405 15th Ave. E. Happy hour runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and after 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. $5 well martinis and variations, $3 microbrews and $1 PBRs (Pabst Blue Ribbon, if you have to ask) are the featured beverages. The $4 appetizers include sliders, a humus platter, or tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich. Or you can have 22 Doors' famous string fries with specialty dipping sauce.
"If you like hamburgers, start with some sliders and a PBR and see where you go after that," suggested Mark Edmison, general manager. He said that is a pretty good start for $5.
Should you make your way over to the Pike-Pine corridor, the Satellite Lounge,, 1118 E. Pike St, offers $2.50 draft beers, $3 Stella Artois, $2.50 well drinks and $1.25 PBRs. The food discount is $1 off appetizers.
Mike O'Meara, Satellite manager, is the man to ask for a recommendation.
"Either the hot wings or nachos," O'Meara said. "They are large orders and probably our best sellers for happy hour food."
Happy hour at the Satellite Lounge is 4 to 7 p.m. daily.
Heading west on Pike, at the southwest corner of Capitol Hill, is the Six Arms,, 300 E. Pike St., a brew pub that specializes in McMenamin Brewery products.
The Six Arms happy hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. daily and 10 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday. It features McMenamin pints for $3.60, pitchers for $10.85, 50 cents off wine and house liquor, $3.50 for well shots.
Four $6 appetizers are quesadillas, hummus, chicken tenders and tater tots and Black Dip with fresh tortilla chips.
"I prefer the humus and the quesadillas," said Leslie Garno, Six Arms manager. "Those are very popular."
Back up Pine Street, the Capitol Club,, 414 E. Pine St., offers four different kinds of mini-pizzas for $3 to $5, and several small plates of snacks for $2 to $6.
Happy hour is from 5 to 7 p.m. daily, 11 p.m. to closing Monday through Thursday and all day Sunday.
Drink specials are $2.50 draft beer, $3 well drinks, $6 specialty cocktails and $5 house wine.
Your choice of pizzas is cheese, ham and herb, mushroom or Morrocan lamb and goat cheese.
Snack dishes are olives, pommes frites, roasted beets, humus and smoke house almonds. There is also a Masa platter with everything but the fries.
With apologies to the many establishments not mentioned in this article. Wait 'til next time!
Freelance writer Korte Brueckmann lives on Capitol Hill and can be reached at editor@capitol hilltimes.com.
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