Happy Hour: Healthy(ish) Edition
Oysters and champagne How is it that champagne and oysters are the most decadently delicious combo on the planet and yet they don’t make you fat? They do tend to be pricey, but you can buck that rule by attending Power Hour at Anchovies and Olives (5 to 6pm daily and 10-midnight. $1 oysters; $2 Peroni; $5 prosecco and some wines).
Another excellent option is HH at Frank’s Oysterhouse over there in Ravenna.
Mistralkitchen, meanwhile, has HH from 5 to 6:30pm daily, and it includes $1.50 oysters on the half shell.
Vegetarian Meatless HHs are great because you almost feel virtuous, sitting there munching on your veggies, laughing at the sweaty joggers as they chug by. Slide your stool up to the ever-so-natural wooden bar at Cafe Flora from 2 to 6pm on weekdays and your specialty cocktail or wine will cost you $5; draught beer is $2.50. White bean hummus with foccacia will run you $6, as will my favorite app, the "pate" board, featuring a heaping pile of pecan lentil pate (it tastes a lot better than it sounds).
Vegan refuge Plum Bistro hosts HH weekdays from 3 to 6 pm. Wines and specialty cocktails cost $5.
Food specials will run you between $2 (for a tofu or quinoa slider) and $7.
Mediterranean Hummus,tabouli, tomato salad, pita: these things are all pretty good for you and they offer interesting flavors that can be hard to come by on your typical HH menu.
The Alibi Room has a white bean hummus and pita platter that comes with cucumber and tomato, that’s $5. Try it with the roasted garlic bulb, also $5 and served with foccacia. Sadly, no wine specials: Draft beers are $3, wells are $4. HH is Monday through Thursday 3pm-6pm and Friday through Sunday 12pm to 6pm.
Cafe Paloma also has excellent Medi-style dips, see my advice on happy houring there here.
Japanese Sushi bar HH fare excels in the healthy-but-tasty department. I like the clean simplicity of steamed shrimp shumai and seaweed salad at Wann Isakaya washed down with a little sake. Dragonfish Asian Cafe has the most famous sushi happy hour in town—$1.95 to $5.95 half rolls and small plates and all kinds of crazy drink specials. Lighter options include tofu veggie rolls and of course edamame ($1.95) and the Dragonfish salad, with cucumbers and miso dressing.
Vietnamese The happy hour at Long Provincial’s Jelly Bar contains no shortage of fried somethings, but healthier options include chicken satay and tangy salads; all apps are priced from $1.50 to $7.50.
