Are These America's 5 Best Happy Hours?
Fleming's
Fleming's
The "5 for $6 'Til 7" happy hour is a total steal, with five top-shelf cocktails, five wines by the glass, and five appetizers (including pan-crisped pork belly, sweet chile calamari, beef carpaccio, and barbecue shrimp) all available for just $6 until 7 p.m., seven nights a week. Some locations even offer two Blue Moon seasonals for just six bucks as well. Score.
Ruby Tuesday
Flickr/Mike Mozart
Starting 4 p.m. at all locations except for those in Manhattan and at airports, Ruby Tuesday offers $5 appetizers and, where permitted, $5 Absolut cocktails, seven nights a week. At the Paramus, N.J. location, for example, food and drink specials are available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with food items including crabcakes, wings, spinach and artichoke dip, and shrimp fondue available for five bucks each.
Red Lobster
Facebook/Red Lobster
At most Red Lobster locations, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, select beers are $3, wines are $4, and appetizers, including chili ginger shrimp, shrimp tacos and Southwest chicken pizza, are $5.
PF Chang's
Flickr/kate hannon
This classy chain of Chinese restaurants offers a true bargain of a happy hour. While prices and hours vary according to location, that information is available if you search for your local outpost online. At the location in White Plains, N.Y., for example, the deal runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Beer starts at just $2.75, wines cost $5, and cocktails $6, and a wide assortment of dim sum and "street fare" sells for as low as $3 a portion. The most expensive item, crispy Dynamite shrimp, costs just $7.
McCormick and Schmick's
Flickr/willscrlt
Most outposts of McCormick and Schmick's, the chain best known for its steaks and seafood, offer one of the country's best happy hour menus. At the location in New York City, for example, happy hour runs from 3:30 p.m. all the way until 7 p.m., Monday to Friday at the bar area. Beer starts at $4 for domestic drafts, well drinks are also just $4, select wine and cocktails are $6, and flavored martinis are $7. And if that's not enough to lure you through the door, check out the food menu: bruschetta, hummus, and fries are each just $2.95; a cheeseburger and fries is only $3.95; fried calamari, mussels, and spinach dip are $4.95; and fish tacos, peel-and-eat and firecracker shrimp, and wings are just $5.95. Now that's a happy hour we can love.