Darn Pharrell for planting that silly “Happy” song in our collective psyche. The mere mention of the word and folks break out in unison — “Because I’m happy / Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof” — and everyone starts smiling.
Frankly, if you want to see us smile, tack on the word “hour” at the end and we’ll give you our favorite happy dance.
Yep, it’s time for the first Caliente Madness of the year: Happy hour.
We asked you to nominate your favorite place for happy hour — the two or three hours stretching between late lunch and early dinner when restaurants and bars offer discounted cocktails, beer or wine, and nibbles — everything from small plates and appetizers to burgers.
Bargain-savvy readers came up with restaurants and bars across the greater Tucson area.
They discount drinks and dish up a free buffet at one of the oldest establishments on the list — Kon Tiki on East Broadway — and five bucks will get you the insanely addictive bacon popcorn or a rich cup of gumbo at The Parish on North Oracle Road. Complement it with a $4 glass of house wine or $3 draft beer.
Some places like Harvest Restaurant in Oro Valley offer half-price appetizers to go with half-priced cocktails and discounted wine and beer, while others such as McMahon’s Prime Steakhouse serve a $6 burger that will fill you up like a meal.
We sorted through the nominees — from laid-back newcomers (Jackson Tavern) to fancy-pants destination dining (Five Palms Steak & Seafood Restaurant); a plethora of Mexican favorites (including Casa Molina and Calle Tepa Mexican Street Grill & Bar) and a barn full of steak houses (Sullivan’s Steakhouse, The Keg Steakhouse and Bar, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse); to a gastropub (Union Public House); and a brewery (Thunder Canyon Brewery) and just about everything in between — to determine the brackets.
Now it’s up to you to vote for your favorite happy hour on Facebook or your mobile device at tucson.com/mobilemadness
Voting starts next Thursday, March 12.
