10 Tips to get the most from Happy Hour

by Jason Glaspey on Wed Aug 01 11:08:00 -0700 2007

1. Tip like it's full price, or better.

This is the most important take-away from the list, so it's all the way at the top. Just because you're saving some money on the bill, does not mean you should be saving money on the tip. The waitress and bartender and working as hard or harder because of your thriftiness, and they should be rewarded. Keep in mind that a $2 tip on a $2 drink is still cheaper than a $1 tip on a $4 drink. Also, if you make sure your servers are happy, they'll make sure your happy hour is all it can be.

2. Know the specials.

Many places have a special happy hour menu or a table tent listing the options. Some places don't advertise it at all, or just have it on a chalkboard above the bar. Ideally, you'll know the special before you arrive, but if not, don't be afraid to ask. Be direct, ask what the specials are, and if there are any requirements. Sometimes you have to pay full price for a drink to get half-price appetizers, sometimes, you have to order your food in the bar, and the patio is off-limits. Know the rules so you can play them, and asking directly is the best way to know them. BONUS: Being prepared to order right away will give you that much more time to enjoy the special, as well as shows respect for the wait-staff's time.

3. Know the cocktail waiter/waitress.

The difference between a good waitress and a bad waitress can really be the difference at a happy hour. A good waitress is the one that comes by 10 minutes before happy hour ends and asks if you want something else. She sees your almost-empty glass and is bringing over a fresh one before you notice it yourself. If you have this waitress, you can rest, relax, and enjoy (but don't forget to tip). However, if you are at a happy hour with a flighty or busy waitress, you may not see her for 30-minute intervals. In order to take advantage of the specials you'll need to make sure that you know who you're dealing with, and to get your orders in when you can. Do not pass on an ordering opportunity thinking 1/3 of a drink left is plenty when you may not see this woman again for 25 minutes.

4. Know what time it is.

One of the worst moments in happy hour-dom is right after a very nice and engrossing conversation about the texture and qualitative differences between brands of bacon, when you suddenly notice you missed getting an order in and it's now 10 minutes too late. It's a sad day when you're forced to pay $2 more than you had to for that last beer/order of chicken wings than you had to. That's wasteful living. So, be aware of the clock, know when the specials end, and how often your waitress comes by. Do not miss out because you were chatting.

5. Don't be afraid to approach the bartender.

If you failed to recognize what type of server you have, and almost lost track of time, this tip is your last resort. When you last saw your waitress 15 minutes ago, you had a half pint of beer. Now it's 2 minutes to 6, you're parched and on empty. Now is the time to skip the niceties and get your ass to the bartender where you can get that last-minute order in before “happy” turns to “sad.” Bypassing waitresses can be received differently at different establishments, so be careful and make sure you tip generously to make up for oversights.

6. All specials are not created equal.

A $4 burger with fries is a much better deal than a $3 burger without. A $3.50 well drink that only uses juice for color is far superior than a $2.50 drink where the bartender uses a jigger for exact pours. One of my favorites has great prices on food and beer, but their drinks are not worth the price, even though they're really cheap. It's all about knowing what you get when you order, and to not let price alone dictate how good a special is. Once you make a discovery like this, make sure you share it by commenting here at Unthirsty.

7. Be mindful of seating capacity.

It's a huge pet-peeve of mine when I'm invited to a happy hour with 12 other friends, and we're being invited to a place with 4-person booths only, no standing room, and line to get seated. If you've got a crowd, go to crowd friendly places, and don't try and take all your friends to that one, cozy little place with great martinis.

8. Be prepared with cash.

Happy hours often turn into a game of musical chairs with people rotating in and out of the group over the course of an hour or two, often with wildly different purchases. Nothing is more annoying that trying to figure out a bill split between 11 people, who've been there any length of time, drinking and eating at different intervals. It annoys the waitress, which will definitely impact service, and it's a pain to leave early making them split checks mid-party. Also, the bonus is if you have cash, you're almost never left as the one who has to figure out the bill and what everyone owes, a dreadful position to be in. Let someone else do that as you throw down your $20 bill to cover your $16 order, and cool like a cucumber walk out the door.

9. Go at off times.

Everyone knows you get better prices if you fly on a Tuesday, but you get a better experience if you Happy Hour at off-times as well. Pick nights that are going to be less crowded, or times when most people aren't at the bars. Sunday nights can be a fantastic time to go out and have a fun night with friends, and a lot of places have 3pm-close happy hours on Sunday nights, meaning there isn't a huge crush of people trying to take advantage of that one blissful 5-6 hour. Service is better, it's quieter, and often the drinks are stiffer because the bartender is in a better mood. They're also looking to maximize their tips, so they're going to be extra nice.

10. If you're sitting down, you should be ordering.

There's nothing wrong with getting to a place early to grab a table before happy hour starts, especially if it gets busy quickly. But it's only fair to at least order something while you're taking up space at a waitress's table. Otherwise, you'll come off as cheap, which usually means a bad tip, and next thing you know, you're getting terrible service and she's walking right past your table instead of bringing you those tasty wings. It's also polite to tell her you're there for the happy hour, but that you'd like to start with a drink now while you wait for the special to start. It's just courteous.

Obviously, the goal is to have fun and take advantage of a little cash-savings. However, remember that the wait-staff are people, that nobody 'owes' you anything, and that tips cover a multitude of sins.

With that in mind, go enjoy; and when you hear of a great special, let us know about it.

* Unthirsty does not condone nor promote over-serving customers, drinking in excess, or driving under the influence of alcohol. Nor do we condone the serving of minors. Please drink responsibly, and drive only when sober.