If you came to make trouble, make me a double.
Join the Happy Hour Club at Burger Bar
Ever wished you could decide when Happy Hour starts and ends? As of this week, your wish has been granted at Burger Bar. Take the elevator to the 6th floor of Macy's in Union Square and trade your email address for a free membership to the Burger Bar Happy Hour Club, which allows you to make your own happy hour schedule twice a week. On days that begin with the letter "T," Happy Hour Club members can enjoy select draft beers for $2, plus well drinks and select glasses of wine for $3, whenever they choose. Membership privileges also include half off select appetizers, such as wings, poblano poppers, and beer-battered fried pickles. Burger Bar's regular Happy Hour will continue daily from 5pm to 7pm, offering half off all appetizers and alcoholic drinks for everyone. 251 Geary (at Powell)
Wine Happy Hour at Klyde Cafe & Wine Bar
Speaking of Happy Hour in Union Square, Klyde Cafe and Wine Bar hosts a daily happy hour from 3 to 7 pm, featuring wine... and wine only. Reds, whites, and rosés for $5 a glass and $25 a bottle, hand-chosen from the American bistro's impressive collection of more than 60 local and international wines. To accompany the vino party, you can create your own artisan cheese and cold cut board for a pre-dinner snack, tuck into such tapas offerings as grilled octopus and chorizo prawns, or commit to a full meal of upscale comfort food, ranging from pulled pork sandwiches to macaroni gratin to grilled pork chops with sauteed kale and creamy polenta. Klyde is open daily from 6:30 am to midnight, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 386 Geary (at Mason)
Plin Brings Spuntino to the Mission
When it comes to pre-dinner snacks and and drinks, no one does it better than the Italians who, by and large, prefer to meet up with friends for a "spuntino" to discuss the events of the day. This light after-work snack is a time-honored tradition that Plin is bringing to the Mission as part of Aperitivo Happy Hour, every Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 6:30 pm. Chef Alexander Alioto's "Bites" menu features Sicilian-inspired spuntino bites for $4 each, including Panelle (chickpea fritters) and eggplant caponata, brussels sprouts, potato chips with fennel, as well as a choice of olives—stuffed and fried, spicy or marinated. The bites are available at the bar and tables during Aperitivo Hour, which also includes draft beers for $5; well drinks, bottled beer and wines by the glass for $6, and a special $8 cocktail menu from bar manager Adam Mardigras. 280 Valencia (at 14th Street)
Amoura Brings Arak to South San Francisco
Rare is the Mediterranean culture that doesn't have a licorice-flavored liqueur. The French have Pastis, the Greeks have Ouzo, the Italians have Anesone, and in the Middle East they drink Arak. Amoura Restaurant, which recently opened in South San Francisco, offers a wide variety of Arak options. Made with anise in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Turkey and Iran, it is a clear, colorless, unsweetened distilled spirit that's typically mixed with two parts water in a traditional vessel called a "barik," then poured over ice into small cups. Like Absinthe and Pernod, it takes on a translucent, milky-white hue when the water is introduced, due to the "ouzo effect." If you prefer your Arak diluted with something stronger than water, try Amoura's $9 Smoke & Anise, made with arak, mezcal, basil and rose water. In addition to the Levantine liquor, Amoura curates an impressive collection of wines from Lebanon, Greece, Croatia, Spain and California to complement a full menu of modern Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare. 713 Linden Avenue, South San Francisco
Lucky You Cocktail Outlasts St. Patty's Day
Missed out on Irish coffee yesterday? Fret no more as the W San Francisco is keeping the "Lucky You" cocktail (their version of the popular coffee-spiked boozy treat) around all month long. This creative spin on the traditional Irish Coffee was created specially for St. Patrick's Day, melding the familiar flavors of fresh mint, whisky, and coffee in a fresh presentation. The Lucky You features house-made espresso foam floating atop an emerald-green layer of whisky, mint and vanilla syrups, and a dash of Crème de Menthe. Lucky You is available for $12 at both the Living Room Bar (first floor) and the Upstairs Drink Boutique (second floor), inside the W San Francisco. 181 3rd Street
Send drinking suggestions to renee@grassrootspr.com.
