Happy Hour deals

Logan Tavern
Last week we needed a place with happy hour specials starting from 3:00 p.m. since we got off work early due to the long weekend, and in addition we wanted to find a new place rather than Buffalo Billiards in Dupont or neighboring areas. After extensive research, we found that Logan Tavern (http://www.logantavern.com/) opposite the Whole Foods on P street, fulfilled both criteria with its 3-6:30 p.m. happy hour with its half price drinks and appetizer menu offered at the bar. Owned by the same people as Grillfish and Merkado, Logan Tavern has a similar but yet unique feel with the huge big framed pictures of Logan circle on the walls. The waiter was attentive as it was just our group and a few other people at the bar. The Stella Artois, normally $7 at St. Ex and other places was being served at a very reasonable $3, along with Skyy vodka, rail drinks and other beers and “Stoly Dolly” for the same price. I would have liked the “Stoly Dolly” or pineapple infused vodka martini a little sweeter but others seemed to like its tartness. The group was happiest when our bartender put out rustic bread with extra virgin oil to go with the baked greek cheese dish which tasted a bit like ricotta cheese but solid with marinara sauce. LDJ got the scallops which came on a bed of steamed spinach also from the happy hour menu. The Bottom line is, Logan is not the most happening place for happy hour, but a quiet place with good deals is great if you already have a group of people or just want to catch up with a friend.

Beacon Bar and Grill
The best part about Beacon Bar and Grill is the $4 rail martinis (http://capitalhotelswdc.com/BBGWDC_com/specials.htm) available all the time and offered in a wide array of flavors from peach and watermelon to apple and chocolate. In addition the half price pitchers of sangria are quite popular. Located in the Beacon Hotel on 17th and Rhode Island, Beacon has a nice outdoor patio. The outside gets pretty busy but there is hardly ever anyone inside the restaurant area. The flat screen TVs mounted on the walls in the bathrooms are an interesting touch. The puffed pita chips served with the spinach artichoke dip are a must have. While Beacon has a pretty decent happy hour menu the service can be pretty slow (read "service can suck big time") so be prepared to be patient.

FoodBar DC
If you’re looking to do happy hour in a place in Dupont with a nice outdoor patio, then FoodBar (http://www.foodbardc.com/) is the place. Its situated at 17th and R and so a good place to people watch. Although the website suggests that the happy hour specials are only served at the bar, you can get it even in the outdoor patio between 5 & 8 p.m. The $5martinis and cosmos, $2 miller light & bud light and $3 wine are a decent deal. The nachos come with a bowl of melted cheese spiced with jalapenos and the quesadillas are pretty good too. Their brunch menu looks pretty good but I have yet to try it. The inside of FBDC looks a little dark and uninviting for during happy hour. However, the website boasts it was voted as “best trendy restaurant” in the Washington Blade, so I suspect it does attract a certain crowd later at night.