Paladar Happy Hour

Finally I ventured to the East side and was able to Paladar at Eton.  I went in for happy around 6:15pm and was able to sit at the bar.  I was served rather quickly which was nice.  However, the bartender making the drinks for the bar and restaurant was very messy.  She would just spray water in to glass sloshing it around, when making mojitos she would fill them with the soda water and some would splash out.  It was messy and actually gross how she was making the drinks and had water/soda water everywhere behind the bar.  The service was also not that great.  There were two people behind the bar, the messy drink maker and another bar tender.  The other bar tender took some orders and poured some simple drinks or got water or pop for customers.  He took my food order and I also asked for a glass of water.  He said ok and never came back to check on me or bring my glass of water.  So I spent the time sipping on my mojito, eating, my food, paid and left.  No one was very attentive to myself or really anyone at the bar.  Even when the runners would come over with the food no one behind the bar knew who ordered what and the customers had to speak up.

Ok...enough negativity...the food was excellent.  They have a happy hour menu with many $5 drinks, discounted beer and wine and a nice variety of food items under $5 many to share.  I ordered the chorizo and cheese papusa's.  They were cooked perfectly, great sauce, great filling to dough ration and served hot.  I would definitely order these again.  Two women next to me ordered the two taco items off the menu and they also looked great.  Each order had 2 tacos and there was a nice balance of meat and vegetables on the tacos.  The mojito was ok, but it was definitely more club soda then anything else.  The majority of the flavor came from me squeezing the lime and muddling the mint leaves myself- they were actually pristine and had not been muddled at all. 

I definitely would go back again with a group and share some items.  They had guacamole, salsa trio and queso fundido that would have been great for sharing and based on what others at the bar ordered it all looked good, fresh, and enough to share as a meal.  My entire tab with tax and tip was $13.00 for the drink and the meal. 

This was a great place for happy hour and if I went again I would try to go with a group and sit at a table so I did not have to watch the messy bartender. 

Flying Fig

So I am about a month late...but hey it has been a busy month.  So the Flying Fig in Ohio City has a great happy hour menu with a selection of food and cocktails.  They also have a happy hour that goes until 7 pm....I hate when happy hour ends at 6- I work until 6 some nights.

On this particular day the $5 cocktail was a Moscow mule- delicious!  They also offered $7 martinis and $2-3 beers.   All of the meal offerings are under $7 and one item is enough for a meal.  My personal favorite for the night was the $6 beef burger topped with cheddar, grilled onions, bacon and mustard aioli.  Happy hour burgers and happy hour wings are probably my favorite items.  This burger was great- perfect meat to topping to bun ratio.  Friends along that night ordered the $6 braised pork shoulder nachos- great for sharing or eating as your own meal if you are so inclined. The one item I am not a fan of are the empanadas for $5.50.  Now it is a great looking bite, looks to be cooked perfectly....but it is filled with turkey confit, raisins and pinenuts- I detest raisins in my food so the poor empanada had no change with me. 

For those who are vegetarian- they had a nice selection as well- which is not typical for a happy hour menu unless all you want are fries or pizza.  Flying Fig offers a beet burger with black beans and quinoa, a cheese plate and roasted shisito peppers that are amazing! 

All in all I would highly recommend Flying Fig for an affordable and yummy happy hour.  Its great for a group- large or small and the outdoor seating is perfect for the coming weather.  For you foodies who like interesting items, stop next door at the Flying Fig Market and see the fun stuff they have available.  And for those who enjoy brunch- they have a menu of breakfast and lunch options as well as a kids item for those who want to peruse the market and then stop by for some fresh local and well prepared food. 

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