happy times

Nothing’s better than cheap food and drink, especially when the economy’s in the tank. Maybe that’s why more and more upscale lounges continue to add happy hours and other similar events to their schedules – they’re trying

to attract those of us who love to eat good food, but can’t afford to drop a Benjamin for a night out with friends.

It’s a beautiful side effect of necessity: Places like Wild Sage American Bistro, Cavallino Lounge and Rain want to continue bringing in new customers – after all, if you’re feeling the financial pain, they are, too – so they offer jaw-dropping gastronomical goodies for dirt-cheap prices, in turn making life easier for us hand-to-mouthers.

That’s teamwork.

To do my part, I rounded up some of the area’s killer happy hours, with great food and prices so cheap you may never feel the need to drive-thru for a Fourth Meal ever again.

Consider this the nightlife equivalent of going to Costco on free sample day:

Azteca

245 W. Spokane Falls Blvd., (509) 456-0350

Happy hours: All day Sundays and Mondays; Tuesdays-Saturdays, 3-7 p.m., 9 p.m.-close. Taco Tuesdays and Taco Thursdays, 4-9 p.m.

Smokin’ deals: Three tacos, three taquitos or an order of cheese nachos for $3 (meat nachos are $1 extra). On Taco Tuesday and Taco Thursday, snag all-you-can-eat tacos for $5. House margaritas are $3.50 for any flavor. Gold margaritas - with 5/8 shot of Jose Cuervo mixed with the well tequila - are $4.50. Draft beer is 50 to 75 cents off; wells are $2.75.

Baby Bar

827 W. First Ave., (509) 847-1234

Happy hours: Last week, Baby Bar started a new Thursday night special called Happy Minutes. For 15 minutes starting at 6, 8 and 10 p.m., the bar sells 8-ounce pours of Pabst Blue Ribbon for $.50.

“It’s like, ‘And, GO! Happy 15 minutes,’ ” co-owner Tim Lannigan said. “But there’s rules. It’s only for 15 minutes. You can’t come up and order, like, nine. Each person can only get one beer at a time, and they have to finish it before they can order another one. And there’s no slamming. You can’t stand there and slam one, order another, one right after another.”

Along with Thursday’s Happy Minutes, Baby Bar offers $1 PBR and grilled cheese on Wednesdays and cheap well drinks ($3) on Silly Sundays.

bin98twenty

9820 N. Nevada St. (509) 468-9820

Happy hours: Daily, 3-6 p.m. and 9 p.m.-close

Smokin’ deals: The Bin knocks a few bucks off of some of the restaurant’s signature entrees, as well as offering $1 off martinis, mojitos, sparkling cocktails, poured wine by the glass and draft beers. Check the discounted appetizer menu for truffle fries, meatball sliders, tempura asparagus and more ranging from $4 to $6.

Bluefish

830 W. Sprague Ave., (509) 747-2111

Happy hours: Mondays-Saturdays, 3-5 p.m. and 10 p.m.-close

Smokin’ deals: Bluefish does its happy hour “Portland style,” with discounts on food only (full-size portions of select items are available for about half-off, ranging from $3-$6).

Catacombs Pub

110 S. Monroe St., (509) 838-4610

Happy hours: Daily, 5-6 p.m. and 9 p.m.-close

Smokin’ deals: Catacombs is the only joint on this list where the happy hour is just that: an hour. That’s a brief window for snagging one of Catacombs’ fantastic brick-oven-fired, cracker-thin-crust pizzas, but at $6 for a small three-topping pie, you should definitely pencil in a visit. Make sure to wash it down with one of the pub’s half-price happy hour cocktails.

Cavallino Lounge

1 N. Post St., (509) 747-9750

Happy hours: All evening on Mondays and Tuesdays; Wednesdays-Saturdays 4-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m.

Smokin’ deals: Appetizers are half-off, some of the most affordable upscale grub in the entire area. Think large portions of Calamari, Mediterranean Bruschetta or Beef Lettuce Wraps for $5 an order. Cavallino also offers a varying daily martini special for $6.

Cyrus O’Leary’s

516 W. Main Ave., (509) 624-9000

Happy hours: Mondays-Thursdays, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.-close; Fridays, 4:30-6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m.-close.

Smokin’ deals: Half-price appetizers and 20-cent hot wings. Free all-you-can-eat wing buffet on Fridays (yeah, you read that right). Wells and draft brews are $1 off, too.

Europa Restaurant and Bakery

125 S. Wall St., (509) 455-4051

Happy hours: Mondays-Saturdays, 4-6 p.m. and 10 p.m.-midnight; all day on Sundays.

Smokin’ deals: Discounted Italian-influenced appetizers, calzones, salads and tasty, tasty pizza. Well drinks for $2.95, draft micros for $3.25 and house wines for $3.50.

The Globe Bar and Grille

204 N. Division St. (509) 744-0438

Happy hours: Sundays-Thursdays, 4-7

Smokin’ deals: Deals on domestic drafts ($2.25) and wells ($3.25) match a discounted appetizer menu, with The Globe’s outstanding hot wings available for $4.50 per order (try the Afterburners if you’re feeling randy) and $5 for a heap of the bar’s popular Irish Nachos.

Hangar 57

2911 E. 57th Ave. (509) 448-5707

Happy hours: Daily, 2-6 p.m.

Smokin’ deals: $2.50 wells, $1 PBR, and food specials, including Italian grinder sandwiches, Hangar 57 burgers, French dips and more for $4.95 each. Go on Tuesday for $2 drafts all day, including all micros and, yes, even Guinness.

Hooters

16208 E. Indiana Ave., (509) 924-9464

Happy hours: Mondays-Fridays, 3-6 p.m.

Smokin’ deals: All appetizers, including Hooters most famous offering – the wings – are half off. $2.50 brews and wells in the Owl Casino section only. Merchandise is 20 percent off during happy hour.

The Melting Pot

707 W. Main Ave., (509) 926-8000

Happy hour: Daily, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. and 9 p.m.-close in the lounge. All evening on Tuesdays.

Smokin’ deals: Two for $22 (one cheese or chocolate fondue plus two drinks) makes The Melting Pot an affordable stop for those who don’t want to break the bank on a full-meal deal.

Northern Lights Brewing Co. & Pub

1003 E. Trent Ave., (509) 242-2739

Happy hours: Daily, 4-6 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 9 p.m.-close

Smokin’ deals: Scorch your palate with $2 Brewer’s Wings (and all appetizers), then wash it down with $4 wells and $3 pints (good on everything but the Blueberry Ale).

Rain

1009 W. First Ave., (509) 456-5656

Happy hours: Mondays-Thursdays, 4-6 p.m. and 10 p.m.-midnight; Fridays and Saturdays, 4-6 p.m. and 10 p.m.-2 a.m.

Smokin’ deals: Top-shelf wells for $5, house wine for $4, taps for $3 and select bottles for $2 (Rain currently carries more than 60 bottled brews). Rain’s fantastic appetizers and select entrees are discounted, too, ranging from $6-$10.

The Safari Room

111 S. Post St., (509) 789-6800

Happy hours: Daily, 4-6 p.m.

Smokin’ deals: All flatbreads – topped with a variety of tasty bits, such as Cougar Gold cheese, Thai Chicken and more – are half-off at $4. Wash it down with a 20-ounce mug of draft suds for $5.

Steelhead Bar and Grille

218 N. Howard St., (509) 747-1303

Happy hours: Mondays-Thursdays, 3-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m.; Fridays, 3-6 p.m.; all day on Sunday

Smokin’ deals: All appetizers are $5.55. Top-shelf liquors (Grey Goose, Bacardi, 1800, Bulleit Bourbon and Dewar’s) are $5. Select taps are $2.50/pint, with 32-ounce schooners for $5.

Vin Rouge

3029 E. 29th Ave., (509) 535-8800

Happy hours: Daily, 3-5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.-close

Smokin’ deals: Sure, Vin Rouge calls it “Social Hour,” but no one’s going to hold it against you if you just sit there, silently smiling while you grub on discounted Crab Cakes, Thai Chicken Satays, Lamb Pitas, burgers and more for around $6 (less in many cases). Drink specials vary.

Wild Sage American Bistro

916 W. Second Ave., (509) 456-7575

Happy hours: Fridays and Saturdays, 9 p.m.-midnight

Smokin’ deals: Billing its new happy hour as a “Moonlight Menu,” Wild Sage plans to attract new customers with American and Spanish-style tapas plates – Grilled Lamb Chops, Garlic Prawns, Charred Ahi, Sockeye Lox – ranging from $2-$7. On the fluid side, bottled wines are discounted 30 percent, drafts are $3 and select wines are $4/glass.