I am a huge fan of happy hour. I am even more delighted when a restaurant/bar runs food specials as well. As drinks continue to become more and more expensive, I have made a goal of finding good happy hour deals and I am going to periodically share them with you on this page (in no particular order).

I’m always looking for a new watering hole, so please share your favorites in the Comment section. Tell us why the happy hour is so jolly and feel free to be honest about the pluses and minuses.

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Austin’s American Grill

100 W. Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado (Old Town)

2814 E. Harmony, Fort Collins, Colorado

Website: Austin’s All-American Grill

Happy Hour: M-F, 3 to 6 p.m.

Plus: locally owned, half-price appetizers, $4 martinis and specialty drinks, $3 well drinks, $3 draft beers, $1 off wines by the glass

Minus: Bar gets very crowded, sketchy service

Austin’s has two locations in Fort Collins, Colorado. I frequent the location on Harmony, though I have also been to the Old Town Austin’s a handful of times. The ambiance at the College Avenue address is best during summer when the patio offers a nice view of the busy, tree-lined streets of Old Town.

I enjoy the atmosphere inside the bar at the Harmony location. It has a stylish lodge-style environment; bright and airy with lots of Colorado flair. Happy hour is popular and only available at the bar, so if you arrive at 5:30 p.m. it will be difficult to find seating.

The best happy hour special at Austin’s are the $4 martinis and they don’t skimp by serving them in a miniature martinin glass.  My favorite appetizers are the sesame crusted artichoke hearts served with a creamy remoulade for dipping. These crunchy, salty little bites are absolutely scrumptious. There are many other good options, including spinach artichoke dip served with chips and veggies, coconut shrimp, calamari, crab cakes, spicy buffalo wings and chicken quesadilla.

The Med

Boulder, Colorado

I have already reviewed this restaurant. They have one of the best happy hours in Boulder, which includes tapas specials - refer to the Restaurant Review page of this site, or simply press here: The Med to go straight to my review.

Carino’s Italian Grill (formerly Johnny Carino’s)

           

Multiple Locations

Website: Corino’s Italian Grill

Plus: Cheap drinks and cheap appetizers

Minus: Chain Restaurant

My experience with Carino’s Italian Grill has been exclusively at the Loveland, Colorado location (1455 Rocky Mountain Avenue), where I have been a patron for almost 8 years.

Being a chain, I suppose most Carino’s restaurants are similar. The restaurant in the Loveland branch is always loud; screaming babies and out-of-control children are commonplace. However, the bar area is well-insulated from the restaurant and has a much different atmosphere. With only two tables, four booths, bar seating and soft old-fashion jazz playing, there is an intimate, cozy feel.

The bar staff is consistently friendly and efficient. During happy hour a glass of house wine will set you back only $2, well drinks and beer is $3.50.  Pair your drink with an order of a mini order of Italian nachos ($3.99), or a mini order of Sicilian Fire Sticks ($3.49) and complementary hot crusty bread and it is easy to fill up for under $10.

Having tried all the appetizers, I can honestly say the only one I do not care for is the calamari which always arrives rubbery and swimming in grease. However, the other appetizers are quite good.

So despite Corinos being a chain with a seriously annoying restaurant, you can’t beat the happy hour specials in the inviting bar (Loveland, Colorado location). 

Old Chicago & Rock Bottom

Multiple Locations

               

Website:  Old Chicago’s

Website:  Rock Bottom

Old C’s Plus: $2.99 mini pizzas and $2.69 mugs of Colorado brewed beer, huge beer selection, large beers for Beer Tour Club Members

Minus: Chain restaurant, servers at some locations have too much flair

Rock Bottom Plus: Consistantly great service, good “Mug Club” member card

Minus: Chain restaurant

If these two restaurants weren’t so close to my house they probably wouldn’t make this list. Both are owned by the same company (which, by the way, originated in Colorado). Both restaurants share many qualities, including a good beer list and competent staff.

I have been to both restaurants many times in many different locations – from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington, to Chicago, Illinois. Dining at either of these chain restaurants is predicable, not exciting, but also never disappointing. The exception are the Old Chicago pizzas – the Chicago Seven is my all-time favorite pizza (in the world). Both restaurants have a good happy hour menu. 

Old Chicago use to have an extensive happy hour appetizer menu, but now they only serve up one item, mini pizzas for $2.99. 

Rock Bottom has a similar, slightly more varied (and more expensive) happy hour menu. But who can pass up a full sized chicken quesadilla with mango salsa for $3.99 paried with a $2.99 glass of house wine?

On one particular visit to Rock Bottom (Loveland, Colorado), my husband and I ordered the wings, but they arrived cold. When we brought this to the attention of our server, she quickly took the wings away to get new ones. In the meantime, a manager came and apologized and then offered two free drinks for our trouble. We were impressed by this unexpected gesture.

Both restaurants offer club cards. At Old C’s the card accumulates points with every new beer the club member drinks (their beer list has over a hundred varieties). The club member receives prizes during their “beer tour.” Old C’s also has smaller goal-oriented drinking tours throughout the year. For instance, during Cinco de Mayo, the club member receives a t-shirt if they drink all eight beers on the “tour” during a several week period. This is the only beer tour I have managed to finish and have the bright orange t-shirt to prove it.

Rock Bottom has what I consider an even better deal because I often drink wine instead of beer. They give credit for each visit and as the visits accumulate the “Mug Club” member gets prizes. I know this is a marking gimmick, but who doesn’t love free stuff? And, as an additional bonus, at both restaurants, club members enjoy their beer in a slightly bigger mug than the non-club members, and who doesn’t love a bigger beer? 

Bent Fork Grill

Only 2 locations in Colorado

Website: Bent Fork

Plus: Colorado based restaurant. Great happy hour appetizer specials.

Minus: The dinner menu can get pricey.

When this restaurant first opened at the Promenade Shops at Centerra in Loveland, Colorado, I wasn’t impressed with happy hour. But before long they changed their happy hour specials for the better. All appetizers are now half off from 3 to 6  p.m. every day, even weekends (yipee!).

My favorites are the Southwestern Rolls ($4.25 during HH), the Artisian Cheese Plate ($5.50 during HH), and the mussels ($6 during HH). A glass of house wine is $3, martinis are $5 and beers vary depending on the style. 

The bar area at the Centerra location is bright with high ceilings and lots of front windows. Chrome dominates which gives the place a sort of Euro-Colorado feel. There is a also a great patio overlooking the Centerra fountains during the summer and the ice rink during the winter.

This is a great bar for happy hour with girlfriends or an after work business meeting.