5 LA restaurants where it pays to eat at the bar
Have you ever found yourself hungry at “Linner time?” That magic hour when it’s too late for lunch and too early for dinner? When this happens to you consider eating your meal at the bar, where you’ll get the same great food, possibly better service, and a much cheaper bill!
1. Cecconi’s
This has been a West Hollywood staple for great Venetian Italian food since 2009, and usually you can enjoy a celebrity sighting with your Bellini. They are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner-and offer a terrific happy hour from 4-7 pm that includes weekends! Everything is priced at 4-7 dollars, with the exception of the pasta-which was 13, but worth the extra!
2. Fleming’s
While it’s not Maestro’s, they make a good piece of meat, and the Beverly Hills location offers that broody ambiance you long for in a steakhouse. Head over to their bar seating where you can enjoy not one but TWO happy hours! The early bird specials feature 5 items for $6 until 7 including many $5 dollar cocktails and wine specials. While the late seating offers 8 dishes for $9 until 10 pm including items like Lobster Lettuce Wraps and Filet Mignon Flatbread. I think we can both agree that the best plan of attack would be to stick to liquids until 8 pm…
Warning. This should only be tried after you’ve had the proper night out. Dinner at Scarpetta when the clock strikes 9 PM is usually the signature LA experience for tourists and residents alike who choose to visit the Montage Hotel before their drive in to Hollywood. So when you’re done being hip and trendy, try eating dinner when the sun is out, and enjoy signature cocktails for $9 dollars instead of $16 even on the weekend! There is plenty of table seating in the bar area, so you can actually face the people you came with while you gently twirl thick pieces of the best spaghetti of your life on to your forks.
4. Katsuya
Katsuya in Glendale is offering a new happy hour Monday through Friday from 3-7pm, which is perfect if you’re unemployed…but then again you probably shouldn’t be spending your last dollar on a tuna roll. If you do decide that you prefer ramen over rent, then you can enjoy the crispy rice original roll for $8 dollars, and a signature Katsuya Fresh Cocktail for $7 along with many other menu items. All kidding aside, a happy hour past 6 PM is something all walks of life can smile about.
This Gastropub on West 3rd street has one-upped Katsuya by offering the same happy hour from 3-7 PM, but every day of the week! Their menu offers $4 well drinks, featured beers and wines, and a selection of lower priced bar bites hovering around $8 instead of $12.
Although I’m not sure if The Churchill was named for Winston, these words sometimes attributed to him best sum up my idea of bar dining: “Gentlemen, we’ve run out of money, now we have to think”. That is to say, don’t ever let a lack of funds keep you from having a fabulous night out!
