Happy Hour Suggestions?

[rebcamuse.livejournal.com]

I apologize if this has been covered before (I did do a cursory look through the dining and restaurants tags), but are there places in Davis Sq that offer a good happy hour with discounted DRINKS?  I know Sagra does 1/2 off appetizers.  Cambridge suggestions welcome too.  Thank you!

Comments

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

I believe this is illegal in Massachusetts. It's one of those blue laws or whatever. You'll never find any discounted drinks during Happy Hour in MA.

[skate97.livejournal.com]

Well, not technically. There are ways around it, lots of bars (and companies, and radio stations, etc) do promos. My brother got one for a bar in Faneuil Hall for his birthday, I think from his work, where he got a bracelet and drank for free for 2 or 3 hours, and everyone he brought drank for $3/drink (beer, wine, and mixed drinks, just not top shelf). By the end of the last hour, they were giving us 2 drinks for $3. It's how they do happy hour without calling it happy hour--they're common on Friday nights. I bet if you (or, well, the OP) googles around for Boston bar promos, they'll find something.

[library-sexy.livejournal.com]

Happy Hour is not legal in MA.

No discount drinks....sorry.

[ifotismeni]

wtf, wow, i never knew this, but i guess it figures! damn our lame laws.

[library-sexy.livejournal.com]

Google "Happy Hour MA" and the 1st link is a PDF to a MA Memo on the laws.

Establishments can have sales or discounts but they must be for time periods of a week or longer, thus no "happy hour".

[lttlredcorvette.livejournal.com]

yeah, when i first moved there, my coworker said, 'oh sure, there are happy hours everywhere!' and i was like, 'oh, which one has the best drink specials?' and his response was, 'there is no drink special; happy hour means we are done with work for the weekend, and therefore, we are happy. why would we need a drink special??' kind of makes me appreciate the buy-one-get-one specials on top-shelf tequila at the grocery stores here in LA :)

[ron_newman]

I think it was banned in the 1980s or early 90s because of concerns that it encouraged drunk driving. That makes sense in Billerica, maybe, but not in Somerville; the state should have been more selective in applying this.

THANK YOU!

[rebcamuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all your responses...interesting info (I'm from CA, so I'm totally new to the MA laws).

You guys rock!

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Everyone is right about the blue laws, however this is why so many bars offer majorly discounted appetizers after work -- they want to lure you in for a drink. Sniff around that, at least you can get snacks with your drinks. Note Johnny D's half-price dinners Tues-Friday 4:30-6:30pm....

[georgy.livejournal.com]

They have half-price dinners Tue-Fri?!?!?!?

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

Yes! Check the sandwich board out front during the week. They have done this for years. Nothing like a tasty $7 salmon plate....(desserts not included, unfortunately, though in the old days they were).

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I never knew that. Thanks! I'm craving brisket now. :-)

[hauntmeister.livejournal.com]

You'll find brisket at Redbones, not Johnny D's! ;-)

Not to worry ... did you know about Redbones' all-you-can-eat lunch special?

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Since you can't get cheap drinks at happy hours, I'll suggest a place where you can get cheap food with your drinks: Phoenix Landing in Central Square. The service is pretty sucky and the atmosphere is very Irish Sports Pub at that time of the evening, but all their appetizers are $3.50 during happy hour (5-7, I think), and they do a damn good (and big) plate of nachos that could easily make a big dinner. Their food is generally pretty tasty.

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

Have a look at:

http://www.chow.com/topics/404228
http://www.chow.com/topics/303458
http://www.chow.com/topics/361973

[takeapicaresque.livejournal.com]

the "week or longer" discount is the key. mike's has month-long special beers for $2.50 a bottle, usually imports. best deal I've found in the square (though I usually just pay a bit more to go somewhere I actually like to hang out).

[elements.livejournal.com]

Grendel's Den in Harvard Sq has very tasty appetizers that are half price during happy hour.

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

The 'no happy hours' law was passed sometme in the 70's or 80's, because it did indeed encourage people to drink to excess. It is not part of the 'blue laws' which are actually laws which go back to colonial days and were called such because they were originally written on blue paper (MA History 101). I don't know about the promos mentioned above, but most restaurants moved to offering free appetizers in order to entice customers to come in after work.
(and as an aside to Ron Newman, I think that drunk driving is a problem everywhere, not just 'in Billerica'. Just because you live or work in the city does not mean that you didn't drive to get there!).