Scottsdale Happy Hour

Scottsdale Happy Hour Thanksgiving Giveaway Winner Announcement

I am pleased to announce the confirmed Scottsdale Happy Hour Thanksgiving Giveaway Winner. Congratulations to N. Bilik of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Scottsdale Happy Hour is in the process of contacting the winner and forwarding the $35 Chili's Grill & Bar Gift Card.

The Scottsdale Happy Hour "Thanksgiving Giveaway" contest was the first giveaway offered on the Scottsdale Happy Hour blog. I do need to state that 31 entries were disqualified due to participants not following the contest directions properly. A separate email will be sent to these subscribers stating why they were disqualified. If you have any suggestions on how I can improve future giveaways please feel free to leave a comment. I would desire that all subscribers have an opportunity to win the great prizes that will be presented in the near future. I also look forward to attracting more major restaurants/establishments to offer prizes to Scottsdale Happy Hour readers. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

For details on how the winner was drawn click on the following link: 
http://www.random.org/draws/details/?draw=1078

Thank you again for visiting Scottsdale Happy Hour. If you didn't win this time perhaps you will win Scottsdale Happy Hour's Christmas Giveaway! If you are subscribed to this blog and entered into the previous giveaway correctly then you are already entered into the contest being announced on December 1, 2009. If you haven't already done so, subscribe by email to the blog to be instantly notified via email when new blog posts are published and look for the latest contest directions.

I look forward to receiving your comments and suggestions and best of luck in Scottsdale Happy Hour's Christmas Giveaway!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Scottsdale Happy Hour at Grand Lux Cafe

Well, here we are again with the latest and greatest Scottsdale Happy Hour posting. Last night Scottsdale Happy Hour stopped at Grand Lux Cafe. Their website states that the idea for this restaurant came to life when The Venetian Resort, Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas asked David Overton (founder of The Cheesecake Factory Restaurants) to create an upscale casual restaurant concept for their property. So, if you have ever wondered why the two restaurants look similar you now are aware of the reason why. With this proposal and the "Venetian Theme", Overton traveled to Europe to study Italian trattorias, French bistros, and the grand cafes and pastry shops of Vienna. The end result - Grand Lux Cafe. Grand Lux Cafe proudly boasts locations in numerous cities throughout the United States.

The only Grand Lux Cafe in Arizona is located at 7014 E. Camelback Road, Ste. 102, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 at the Fashion Square Mall. Tel: 480-949-7800.

Happy Hour Details: 
Everyday 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Only in the bar area (bar seating, booths and high tables)

MENU

All appetizers are discounted by 50% and the portions are plentiful. My one main complaint is that the menu online does not match the menu you receive in the restaurant. The Crispy Ahi Sushi Roll, Crabcakes, Fried Calamari, Seared Rare Ahi and The Grand Appetizer Platter were not listed. This was somewhat frustrating because I had my mind already set on trying the sushi and calamari, but I settled with the Chicken Lettuce Wraps....

As you can see the portions are quite substantial and the server even made sure I got bibb lettuce. I do have to admit I was somewhat surprised at the size for some reason I was just expecting a smaller serving. I also saw and tasted the Buffalo Chicken Rolls and the Cheese Steak Spring Rolls. The servings were quite large and the food was tasty as well. The overall quality of food has always been excellent and I was unaware that Grand Lux Cafe even had Happy Hour until it was mentioned to me just the other day (I normally visit for dessert and order the creme brulee). In summary, you can expect to get above average food at a great price and ultimately that meets the goal of our wallet here at Scottsdale Happy Hour.

The Happy Hour drink specials are priced as follows: 

Selected Well Drinks - $5.00
Selected Wine by the Glass - $5.00
Selected Draft Beer (16oz) - $5.00 

Grand Lux Cafe also has a Happy Hour "Special of the Day" drink. They are $5.00 each and listed as follows:

Monday -  Blood Orange Margarita
Tuesday - Mango Sling
Wednesday - Raspberry Cosmopolitan
Thursday - Passion Fruit Margarita
Friday - Typhoon
Saturday - Ginger Margarita
Sunday - Scarlet Orange

The atmosphere is going to place you in a dimly lit and well decorated setting. The bar has only two televisions and they're not that great, but it does fit the setting because this is not a sports bar - we're talking upscale casual here. If you like Smooth Jazz then you'll love the music they play in the background. Perhaps 95.5 KYOT should take lessons from Grand Lux Cafe because the selection of music they play puts them to shame. It's not the so-called watered down Kenny "G" - Dave Koz junk you typically hear...trust me on this one! It's very obvious that Grand Lux Cafe has put quite a sum of money into making the ambiance different from many other establishments and yes it does have the "Scottsdale" crowd and feel.

Grand Lux Cafe is another restaurant that I give my recommendation to try. If you're familiar with The Cheesecake Factory it won't surprise you and it won't disappoint you. If you're new to this style of restaurant I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Have you visited Grand Lux Cafe recently? Feel free to comment and share your experience....

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Scottsdale Happy Hour on Applebee's Veteran's Day Freebie

 

This posting is not about Happy Hour at Applebee's, but the deal is just too good not to mention and it's free (and that's even better than a cheap Happy Hour). After all, Scottsdale Happy Hour is about getting the best deal for your spending and going easy on the wallet at the same time.

Here's the deal....Veteran's and Active Duty Military EAT FREE on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2009. At any participating location during all hours of operation you can choose the Oriental Chicken Salad, Fiesta Lime Chicken, 7 oz. House Sirloin, Three-Cheese Chicken Penne, Chicken Tenders Platter, or the Fire Pit Bacon Burger. Valid Veteran and Active Duty Identification is required to obtain the free entree and tax and gratuity are not included.

This offer is valid only on November 11, 2009.

Applebee's location in Scottsdale, AZ:

10460 N. 90th Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Tel: 480-391-3535

Do you have a comments about Applebee's? Please feel free to share them....

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Scottsdale Happy Hour is giving away $35.00 to Chili's Grill & Bar......FREE!!

 

The 2009 holiday season is finally upon us. With the Thanksgiving holiday rapidly approaching I thought it would be an excellent time to start a free monthly giveaway here at Scottsdale Happy Hour.

This blog was started as a way to provide information to you on where to find the best Happy Hour with the best food for the best price. So, I figure if you're taking the time out of your busy schedule to stop here and read my suggestions the very least I could do is say Thank You.

As I mentioned, I'm going to start a monthly giveaway and this particular one will last until November 20, 2009 with 1 winner. I do apologize but this giveaway is for US mailing addresses only. I will be giving away 1 Chili's Grill & Bar gift card valued at $35.00. This gift card can also be used at Romano's Macaroni Grill, On the Border Mexican Bar & Cantina, Maggiano's Little Italy and is valid for use in the entire US. The winner will be announced November 21, 2009 and contacted the following day.

Here's how to enter-

• You must subscribe to this blog using a valid email address and use the link provided at the end of this post to subscribe. The deadline for subscribing is Midnight PST on November 20, 2009.
• Only one entry per person. Please send an email to me at scottsdaleazhappyhour@gmail.com with your name in the SUBJECT line and your mailing address in the BODY after you subscribe.
• Sorry, no international entries.
• If you have already subscribed to this blog you are automatically entered in the contest by default and will be contacted to provide a mailing address. 

SPAM DISCLAIMER: Scottsdale Happy Hour despises SPAM. Information will never be sold, leased or rented at any time. Scottsdale Happy Hour values their subscriber information and all information is treated as personal and confidential.

So there you have it. Click on the link below, subscribe and email me your information. That's pretty easy for shot at $35.00 for free.

Subscribe to Scottsdale Happy Hour for Thanksgiving Giveaway by Email

Scottsdale Happy Hour at Sonic America's Drive-In

 

I know what you're thinking....Sonic Drive-In? Happy Hour? Yes, it's true! Although it's only for certain drinks it's still Happy Hour and a bargain worth making a comment about.

In 1953 the prototype of the first Sonic Drive-In (founded by Troy Smith, Sr.) opened in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Sonic currently has the highest customer frequency rate in the fast food industry. Sonic currently has 3,600 drive-ins in 42 states

Sonic in Scottsdale can be found at 2870 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257.

Happy Hour Details:
Everyday 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

As I stated previously, Sonic only offers certain drinks for Happy Hour. All drinks and slushes are 50% off of their regular price. First, there are your standard soft drinks featuring Coca-Cola products (sorry Pepsi fans), Sprite, Barq's Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, Lemonade, POWERade, Hi-C and Ocean Water (blue water with a hint of coconut). Second, the iced tea comes sweet and unsweetened as well as flavored featuring raspberry, peach and cranberry as available choices. Third, there are three types of Classic Slushes available for you to choose from. These are the Famous Slushes (Cherry, Grape Watermelon, Orange, Blue Coconut and POWERade), Juice Slushes (Minute Maid Apple and Minute Maid Cranberry) and Real Fruit Slushes (Lemon, Lemon Berry, Strawberry and Lime). Finally, and my personal favorite, the Signature Limeades (Cherry, Strawberry, Apple, Lime, Cranberry, Low-Cal Diet Cherry and Low-Cal Diet Lime) with fresh limes. 

What's the atmosphere like at Sonic? Sonic has a unique use of curbside speakers to allow their customers to place food orders without leaving their cars. Customers also have the option of using the drive-thru window or just walking up to the front to place an order.

My favorite drink at Sonic is a Cherry Limeade with extra cherries. Try one!

On a sad note, Scottsdale Happy Hour offers our condolences to the Smith family and the Sonic Corporation. Sonic company founder Troy Smith, Sr. passed away on October 26, 2009.

Have you visited Sonic lately? Please feel free to comment and share your experience.

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Scottsdale Happy Hour at Yard House

The Yard House found its roots in an earlier rendition named the Boiler Room in Denver, Colorado and opened their doors in 1996 in Long Beach, California. This was a result of the operation founder Steele Platt selling the Boiler Room and heading west. Here, along with a collaborative effort he expanded upon the Boiler Room concept and hence the Yard House. Yard House derives the name from a 3-foot tall glass originally designed in England to hand to stagecoach drivers. The Yard House refers to itself as an upscale-casual eatery with locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois and Kansas. They have an extensive menu of what they call American cuisine and 100-250 (depending on location) beers on tap.

The location I visited for Happy Hour review can be found at 7014 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 at the Fashion Square Mall. Tel: 480-675-9273.

photo courtesy of http://www.yardhouse.com

Happy Hour Details:
Monday-Friday 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Daily 10:00 p.m. - Close

SPECIAL NOTE: MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL - HAPPY HOUR OFFERED FROM KICKOFF TO FINAL PLAY
Available September 14 - December 18

Well, I finally have made the trip to Yard House. I've seen the restaurant in a few locations across the country, but I've never had the opportunity to dine at one. The menu states select half-priced appetizers, sliders and half-priced pizzas so that means no item costs more than $6.50 (not bad at all). I really don't know where to begin, but let me say that Yard House is just AWESOME when it comes to the quality and quantity of food for the price. I can already tell that this restaurant is going to be very very tough to beat. After going here two nights in a row I've had a chance to try and see a variety of things. To sum it up, the appetizers are so large they should state they have select half-priced entrees for Happy Hour. I've tried the California Roll (and it has REAL crab!), the Chinese Garlic Noodles, the Grilled Jamaican Wings, the Chilled Edamame and the Sliders. Everything I have ordered has been presented in a professional manner and the taste has been immaculate. My only complaint is the rice on the California Roll is a little harder than the norm, but after having it two nights in a row at the same consistency it is probably just how the Yard House prepares it. Another point to be mentioned is that they don't prepare the sushi rolls in the traditional fashion, but the way they do tastes just the same if not even better. Also, I did make a note to walk around and glance at other tables to see how their food appeared and it was consistent everywhere...professional and plentiful. Below are a few pictures I have taken of the food showing the presentation and the quantity I've seen the past couple of days.

 

Happy Hour drink prices are as follows: Domestic Pints $3.50, Import Pints $4.00, $2 off Wine by the glass, Goblets $4.50, Well Drinks $4.25 and House Martinis $5.75.

This particular location has an outdoor patio (with heaters for cooler temperatures) and always appears to have a relatively decent amount of people. It's right near the Fashion Square Mall valet parking so car exhaust may present somewhat of a breathing challenge to some. Indoors is a large bar area (113 out of 130 taps of beer) with table and booth dining surrounding the entire restaurant. The lights are somewhat dim with over 20 overhead flat screen televisions dispersed everywhere as well as Yard House classic rock music playing in the background.

What's my take on Yard House? This place deserves serious consideration and I give a full recommendation to stop here for Happy Hour in Scottsdale, Arizona, whether you live here or just passing through.

Have you visited Yard House lately? Please comment and share your experience.....

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Scottsdale Happy Hour at Humble Pie

Friday evening presented the opportunity to hit the town due to a good friend wanting to visit Scottsdale for the first time in his life. We had a couple of other friends joining and I didn't want to force Happy Hour on the group so I let them choose where we would dine. Humble Pie was the final concensus and since I'd never been there, I decided to view their website to see what was offered. To my surprise the only thing listed for Happy Hour were drinks so that was my expectation. But, upon arrival I was amazed to find out this was not the case. Unfortunately, when we arrived it was much later than the designated Happy Hour so I was unable to make an evaluation. However, being a Philadelphia Eagles fan and last night being Monday night football I was able to return at 4:30 p.m. to participate in Happy Hour and watch the game.

As far as Humble Pie history is concerned, I really have not been able to find that much due to limited information on their website. I did find out that they serve the Valley with two locations. Here you can enjoy 'wood fired' pizza (Humble Pie), wine and spirits seven days a week.

The Humble Pie I visited is located at 6149 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250 in Hilton Village. Tel: 480-556-9900.

Happy Hour Details:              
Everyday 3 - 6 p.m.

Happy Hour Menu - View this photo

There are specials on selected items from their menu for Happy Hour and nothing is over $5. The big special is select 8-inch pizzas (Cheese, Margherita and Pepperoni) are $5 and extra toppings are $1. The Crispy French Fries are $3 and the waitress guaranteed I'd like them or she would give me $3 from her pocket to pay for them. $5 for select glasses of wine, $2-$2.50 beers and $3 well cocktails and specialty drinks. I ordered a pepperoni pizza along with the fries and it was more than enough to fill me up. Both were very tasty and I would definitely call it "a delicious experience". It would be nice to see some other variety of pizza types offered, but you don't throw away a Rolls Royce because it has a dent in it do you? A friend of mine ordered the Spicy Chicken Drumettes and they are definitely a bargain at $3.

Humble Pie has seating outdoors (see the welcome page on their website - this is the Hilton Village location) and indoors presents itself with bar seating and various types of table/tabletop dining. The lights are lower than normal and it gives the restaurant a very cozy type of feeling. To my surprise there was not much of a crowd during the period of Happy Hour and this may be due to people just not being aware of what Humble Pie has to offer. No complaints here though....we had the big flat screen in the back all to ourselves. The overall atmosphere was very laid back and the service was more than adequate with a very attentive and personable staff.

Humble Pie is another Happy Hour in Scottsdale that I recommend making a visit to. I really don't think anyone could make a mistake coming here on any night. 

If you've visited Humble Pie lately I'd like you to comment and share your experience.

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Scottsdale Happy Hour at Frasher's Steakhouse and Lounge

 

This past Thursday evening, after passing this restaurant for over 2 years...I (along with a friend) finally decided to stop into Frasher's Steakhouse & Lounge for Happy Hour. Frasher's recently requested a friendship via Facebook and this also furthered my curiosity into what they had to offer. If I can recall correctly, the menu stated that Frasher's was established in 1999. Their website states that the restaurant is the brainchild of George Frasher, Kevin Grojean, Patrick Malloy, Tim Sciortino, and Chef Jim Kelly. They headed out West from St.Louis, MO and wanted a unique place to remind them of home.

Frasher's Steakhouse & Lounge is located at 2122 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257. Tel: 480-429-9544

Happy Hour Details:
Monday-Friday 3 - 7 p.m.

            
 

In order to minimize confusion, let me start off by pointing out that the current Happy Hour menu does not match the menu given on their website. Also, the current Happy Hour times do match what is given on their website. Fortunately, my BlackBerry Tour has a camera and I was able to grab somewhat decent pictures of the correct Happy Hour menu. I've attached four (4) files that show what's being offered. For our meal we ordered the Toasted Ravioli, Hummus, Pizza Balls, Frasher's Sliders and a glass of wine. Hot Bread & Butter was served in the interim while we waited for our food to arrive. As for the appetizers, the portions were plentiful and the food was excellent! In fact, I'm sure that no matter what I ordered I would have enjoyed it completely. I would also like to make a note that the Pizza Balls are spectacular!!!!

Frasher's offers indoor and outdoor seating and we opted for the indoors since it was our first visit and not a soul was outside at the time. Once inside we found the environment to have a very warm and homey type of setting. The lights are turned down low, there's St. Louis memorabilia on the walls and a lounge with couches along with a giant flat screen in the dining area (yes, the lounge is in the dining area). The staff was friendly and everyone appeared to be having a nice time whether they were watching the game or just plain socializing. 

In summary, the prices were great and the service was more than adequate and I'll be returning. So, I recommend you give Frasher's Steakhouse & Lounge a try. Perhaps it's somewhere you would like to add to your Scottsdale Happy Hour rotation.

If you've been to Frasher's Steakhouse & Lounge recently I'd like to hear your comments.

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Scottsdale Happy Hour - What is "Happy Hour" ?

If you are reading this post then you along with a majority of your co-workers, family and friends probably participate in this activity called Happy Hour. It then occurred to me that a majority of us don't even know the exact definition or the history of this global event that we all eagerly participate in. 

According to Wikipedia, the term Happy Hour originated in the 1920s in the United States Navy. The word Happy Hour itself was slang for a scheduled entertainment  period on a ship where boxing and wrestling matches took place. This afforded sailors the opportunity to let off the stress accumulated during long periods at sea.

As we know it, Happy Hour is a marketing term for a period of time where discounts are offered on alcoholic drinks. The typical time period is somewhere between 4 PM and 7 PM and is used to boost business during their slow hours. In the 1980s, establishments started pushing free hors d'oeuvres in an attempt to lower blood alcohol content from excessive drinking. Happy Hour is banned in Massachusetts and in U.S. Military clubs. Many other cities and states are advocating banning Happy Hour as well in order to curtail drunk driving and alcohol abuse.

If you didn't know what Happy Hour is about, now you do......

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Scottsdale Happy Hour at Pearl Sushi Lounge & Bomber Bar

Pearl Sushi Lounge opened a few years ago and is one that I frequent on a regular basis. The owner is Tammy Carlin and she works behind the bar daily and was also the original owner of the original Blue Wasabi in DC Ranch.

Pearl Sushi Lounge is located at 4254 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251. Tel: 480-94-PEARL.

Happy Hour Details:
24/7 - Pearl Sushi Lounge has a separate Happy Hour menu and can be enjoyed from open to close, seven days a week.

I will start by saying that I have tried sushi all over the world (nationally and internationally) and I have a pretty good take on what the best and what the worst is. What you have here is what I call good MOR (Middle of the road) sushi. It's not the creme de la creme, but it's not the worst on the block either. If you keep all of this in mind you'll have a great experience. Nothing on the Happy Hour menu is priced over $6 and that's a good thing since we're trying to be easy on the bank. My only complaint (and I see this almost everywhere i go) is that they use imitation crab and I like real crab meat. The portion of food you receive is decent and in addition to what's on the Happy Hour menu, there is always a weekly special on a "selected" martini and it goes for $5. The Bomber menu has everything priced at $4 and they are unique and quite tasty....try one!

As for Pearl Sushi Lounge itself, there is no separating wall between the patio and dining room so it creates a very interesting atmosphere. The temperature can vary from hot to cold depending on where you sit and what time of the year it is so be prepared. I normally sit at the indoor section of the bar and always have a great time meeting new people and chatting with Tammy. Tammy and her staff are all very personable, welcoming and will go beyond the call of duty if you're not happy. The big screens are well-placed so sports enthusiasts will find satisfaction in keeping up with current games and trends. I do suggest avoiding the use of valet parking that is provided if you visit in the evening hours. If you look nearby you'll find suitable parking available for all makes and models of vehicles and save a few additional dollars.

My thought? Give Pearl Sushi Lounge a visit for Happy Hour. It's not a bad place at all and the prices aren't bad either. If you have visited Pearl Sushi Lounge & Bomber Bar recently please feel free to comment and share your experience. 

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Scottsdale Happy Hour at Z'Tejas Southwestern Grill

According to the their website, in 1989 the first restaurant was born in an old Victorian house in Austin, Texas on historic 6th Street. The menu, which has a southern influence, is characteristic of the flavors of Arizona, California, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas. There are 10 locations in the Western United States.

Z'Tejas is located at 7014 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 at the Fashion Square Mall. Tel: 480-946-4171.

Happy Hour Details:
Monday 3:30 p.m. - Close (**NOTE: All day on Monday)
Tuesday-Friday 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 3 - 5 p.m.

All appetizers (which are outstanding) are discounted by 50%, 50 cents off beer, and $1 off Margaritas (which are awesome), mixed drinks and house wines. Now what makes all of this so special is that you receive an endless supply of cornbread served with honey butter. To be honest, and I'm not giving the appetizers any less weight, I can dine at Z'Tejas just on the cornbread alone!! It's baked fresh every 30 minutes and ranks with some of the best I've ever tasted....period. This coupled along with an appetizer and beverage will leave you stuffed full. Ultimately, the great part is when you get your bill you'll swear that you're being undercharged.  

Z'Tejas has seating indoors and outdoors, but my personal preference here is outside. I would avoid sitting at the table under the television because of people constantly passing by and it's just too close to the screen itself. My personal preference is in the back near the big screen and Z'Tejas logo on the back wall. The atmosphere here is great and has the typical "Scottsdale" feel. If you live in the area you understand what I mean by this and if you don't, you will by the time you leave. Regardless, I've always had a great time here and can always count on it. As I stated before, the appetizers are outstanding so just take your pick. Also, try the Chambord Margarita....

I give a full recommendation to go to Z'Tejas for Happy Hour in Scottsdale. You won't be disappointed at all!! Another suggestion I might add is to become a follower of Z'Tejas on Twitter. Their username is ZTejas.

Have you visited Z'Tejas lately? Please comment and share your experience.

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