I’m a big fan of happy hours- there’s something (probably the cheap alcohol) that makes me feel really warm and fuzzy inside ending a hard day of work with a relaxing drink with friends. Sadly, finding a GOOD happy hour can prove to be way more challenging than it should be- I find it really hard to laugh and gossip when I’m paying full price for a cocktail. So, in true yay-today spirit, we’re going to start highlighting some of most deal-tastic Happy Hours in Seattle. Today, we focus on Pintxo in Belltown.
Update: Since we first ran this post, Pintxo has downsized their Happy Hour menu a bit- now they feature a rotating selection of half-prize dishes. However, their menu has grown exponentially to include even more delicious food, and they still have those delicious bacon-wrapped dates, so they’re definitely still worthy of our deep and abiding love.
Pintxo is a tiny little tapas joint that you may not be familiar with. It took over the space formerly housed by Txori, which, if you are slightly food-obsessed, like myself, you probably have heard of. Pintxo may not have a famous chef calling the shots, but it does have good food, stiff drinks and a particularly amazing happy hour, which is why I’m telling you about it right now.
Every day- even on weekends- from 4:00 – 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm to close, Pintxo offers a Happy Hour that doesn’t just offer some pretty sweet drink specials ($3 draft beers and Estrella; $3.50 glasses of sangria and well drinks)- they go ahead and offer 50% off every single item on the menu, which honestly, is really well-priced compared to your average tapas place. You’ve got to love a restaurant that believes in equality like that. Also, big props to the fact that this is the least-pretentious tapas place I’ve been to in recent memory- you will be served by hipsters when you eat here, but they’re nice hipsters. The kind that don’t judge when you ask for a wine by the glass recommendation. The kind that bring you generous samples so you can pick your favorite. Love.
And speaking of food, their menu offers more than a few items that you really shouldn’t miss. In typical tapas fashion, everything is tiny, but at these prices, who’s complaining? Pictured above is the Quail Eggs on Toast, which was so good that I couldn’t even grab a picture before two out of three of them disappeared. (Quail eggs are totally the mini-cupcake of the egg world by the way- extra delicious because they are tiny.) My husband, an avowed eggplant-hater, said that the Tosta de Berenjena (eggplant, roasted garlic, manchego & red pepper coulis on toast) was his favorite item of the night.
And then there are the real stars of the menu, the bacon-wrapped dates. Need I say more? They’re dates, stuffed with goat cheese, wrapped in bacon. I was kind of angry that I had to share, even when we ordered a second plate.
So if you’re looking for a happy hour that will get you tipsy without breaking the bank, check out Pintxo asap. I’m definitely going back- in fact, send me a tweet and I just might meet you over a plate of bacon wrapped dates. Nom.
Mac and manchego cheese? A pound of patatas bravas? for half price? I need to get myself there post haste.