The Blind Goat
More and more people are eating out earlier. And, no, it’s not just your grandparents.
Restaurants currently seat 10 percent of diners between 2 and 5 p.m., according to Yelp data cited by The Wall Street Journal. That’s double the 2019 rate.
Since the pandemic, workers have had more flexibility in their schedules, which can explain some of the increase.
And, while “early-bird special” isn’t a term we see popping up on restaurant social media pages, “happy hour” sure is, offering diners not only drink deals but also discounts on food.
In the Spring Branch Management District, eating early at locally owned restaurants has its benefits. Smaller or even regular-sized portions of popular menu items at lower prices offer the opportunity to keep spending in check while also trying more menu items. Maybe you’ll even be able to visit more restaurants with those savings.
Here are just a few area restaurants offering food specials in addition to drink discounts on their happy hour menus:
The Blind Goat
At Chef Christine Ha’s The Blind Goat, 8145 Long Point Rd., the happy hour menu featuring a variety of shareable bites and drink specials is available all day Monday and also from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. The restaurant also hosts a “reverse happy hour” for night owls from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On a recent Tuesday, my husband and I bellied up to the bar and ordered one of each of the happy hour food specials, including Saigon Street Corn for $5, Pork Belly Skewers for $7, Chef Ha’s childhood favorite Mom’s Eggrolls for $7 and — our favorite — Sticky Wings for $9.
We saved $2-$3 per item by eating early, and we paired our appetizers (which served as our dinner) with $9 Japanese whisky highballs. Not bad for a Tuesday!
The Blind Goat
Not only did Eater Houston recommend Feges BBQ (and the above-mentioned The Blind Goat) as among the best happy hours in Houston, but so did a random guy I met while partaking in another special deal at The Blind Goat’s sister restaurant, Stuffed Belly.
If I was enjoying my BOGO sandwich, the guy said, I would love the $10 smoked chicken wing special during happy hour at Feges, 8217 Long Point Rd. He said: “That comes out to only $1 a wing!”
Also on the Feges BBQ special menu offered from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday are chopped brisket and pulled pork sandwiches and half-sized whole hog platters served with charred coleslaw and hog fat cornbread for just $10 each.
Eater Houston also recommends Feges BBQ Board Nights.
“On Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., customize a BBQ Board with brisket, ribs, turkey, sausage, a choice of three sides and dessert for $50 (that’s enough food to feed a family of four, folks).”
Warehouse 72
At Warehouse 72 at the Marq’E Entertainment Center, grab a cocktail and some delicious and discounted bites at the bar Tuesday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The “social hour” menu at Warehouse 72 includes truffle fries, mozzarella bites, beef meatballs, crispy pork belly bites, prosciutto and cheese and margherita pizza for between $7 and $12.
The Blind Goat
Hando’s happy hour menu is titled, “Relaxing Times at Hando,” and you’ll be feeling really relaxed with $7 cocktails and a long list of food items to choose from for only $5 each!
From the Curry Croquette to Geso Karaage (fried squid) to Vegetable Bao to Spiced Chicken Tsukune (meatballs) and Takoyaki (octopus), there is something for everyone’s food preference, whether vegetarian, meat-lover or pescatarian.
Hando is located at 8211 Long Point Rd., in the same strip as Feges BBQ and The Blind Goat.
Early-bird food crawl, anyone?
— Dorothy Puch Lillig
