Overview: After a decline during the pandemic, many restaurants in the Bay Area are now bringing back happy hour deals. The new wave of promotions offers everything from $2 oysters to $6 sushi and creative menus beyond traditional favorites.
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The trend is not just about saving money but also creating a fun and social atmosphere for diners, according to owners who have added or revamped their happy hour offerings. Bay Area chefs are eager to make dining out more accessible in an expensive market.
Sirene in Oakland was one of the first restaurants to offer happy hour when it started shucking oysters at 5 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays for just $2 each, along with other deals like $7 coyote cocktails and a mini cheeseburger.
Other notable spots include:
* Reem’s: Offers falafel bites, batata hara (fries slashed with harissa yogurt), and discounted drinks
* Precita Social: Serves an unusual happy hour menu featuring crudo, uni-caviar hand rolls, $35 wagyu steak frites and $12 bubbles.
* Turtle Tower has various daily deals including crab chips for $2
* Holbrook House offers a “Mini Meal” deal with a mini cheeseburger, fancy tater tots and full-size martini
The return of happy hour is not limited to lunch or early evening hours; it’s now available throughout the day. According to Adriano Paganini from Back of the House Group which owns 43 restaurants in Bay Area all offering happy hour – “Thursday is the new Friday” with more interest in Happy Hour than ever before.
Even fine dining spots like Angler and Mägo are getting into Happy Hours by slinging fried smelts for $15 at one place, knocking off a few bucks from dishes as well. With this explosion of creative menus some people are calling it an era of “vibes” rather than making big profits – even if the business isn’t turning much profit.
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