Bacaro, II

Despite the bad service, Rex and I went back to Bacaro because I can't resist $3 champagne at happy hour. To our great surprise, we had good service! I have never seen that particular waitress before, but it was like dining at a regular restaurant where your server occasionally stops by the table. As always, the food was great (the pear and arugula pizza is my absolute favorite), and we were able to have two rounds of food and drinks in the remaining 1/2 hour of happy hour. If you go, pray you get the cute petite new blonde waitress.

Bacaro happy hour: 7 days until 6:30.

Aji

Yesterday, Rex and I went to Aji (on Pearl, east of the pedestrian mall) for happy hour. We are, quite obviously, happy hour junkies. We went for the mojitos and empanadas, which we know to be consistently good. The same bartender is always there for the 7-days-a-week happy hour from 3-6, and we really like him. He mixes up a great $4 mojito (two and I wasn't sure I could walk back to the car yesterday), and they come in flavors like strawberry and occasionally madras. The empanadas are $3.50 for two small ones, and they have shrimp, poblano, and beef varieties. All three are my favorite. Happy hour also offers discounted ceviche, the whitefish being the recommended selection (I've had it, it's tasty). Aji also offers a more comprehensive non-discounted menu if you're too hungry for just the empanadas. All-in-all, I love Aji and keep going back for more.

Cantina Laredo

Cantina Laredo is a relatively new upscale Mexican restaurant in the 29th Street shopping center. Rex and I went for happy hour, to see if any good deals were to be had. We were seated in the bar area, with menus promising happy hour deals from 4-7, but no indication was given as to what the deals might be. After waiting 5+ minutes, someone dressed like a manager finally came over (realizing that we had been overlooked) and we asked what the happy hour consisted of. He told us that is was margaritas and wine. That's all he said. We asked for prices, and he had to go ask the bartender. Not off to such a good start. Anyway, we ordered $5 house margaritas (discounted from $8), and some queso (no food discounts for happy hour). Both were pretty good, but the service was not great (not great at all), and the regular menu was quite pricey. I think it will have been our last, as well as our first, visit. We can get far better Mexican at cheaper prices at Casa Alvarez or Efrain's.

The Med

The Med is a local favorite for happy hour in Boulder, and with good reason. The tapas range in price from $1 to $5 or $6, and are double delicious. It's a mix of Spanish, Italian, and Greek food (hence the name). My favorite is the baba gannoush, served with warm flatbread. Yesterday, Rex and I tried the lamb meatballs (yummy) and the shrimp cocktail (with wasabi pesto!), much to our delight. We also had the fried polenta, which is relatively new to the menu and also very tasty. I've yet to have a bad experience at The Med, and I'm there nearly every week. The cheap, small tapas mean you can try nearly everything.

Drinks are discounted only a little for happy hour. House wine is $4, Sangria is $4 ($4.50 for white), beers are about $3.50, and I don't think cocktails are discounted at all. The service is always good.

Happy hour at The Med is 7 days a week from 3-6:30, and they have an awesome patio.

Mad Greens

An attorney from EPA took me to lunch at Mad Greens today. I'd been wanting to try the gourmet salad place, and was thrilled with it. They have tons of delicious, creative salads to choose from, or you can build your own. They also serve panini and soups for those who avoid veggies like many folks I know. I had an Edgar Allen Poe salad, which consists of baby greens with walnuts, blue cheese, and pears and apples. I had the Mad Vinaigrette instead of the recommended port vinaigrette. The salad is tossed for you, and is SUPER delicious. Plus, in downtown Denver at lunch hour, it was fast (and that's worth something!). We went to the 16th Street Mall location, and I know there's one at 29th Street in Boulder. Check out the website for other locations, because it's a chain and you might be lucky enough to have a Mad Greens near you!

Mountain Sun

The original location of this brewery, located on Pearl Street, was bustling at 9:30 last night when I went to meet a friend (who works 7 days a week from 8am to 9pm for what equals roughly $5 per hour). I've never been a big fan of Southern Sun, the South Boulder sister to this establishment, but it was convenient for all of us to go to Mountain Sun, so there we were. I was pleased with the experience, overall. My biggest complaint is that the place (both locations) is a huge draw for pretentious hippies, and I hate pretentious hippies. But, the beer is good and the food is good. The team service system never seems to work at the south location, which means we never really get service there. At the Pearl Street location, however, service was great. Since I'd eaten, I had just a cup of their vegetarian black bean chili, and it was pretty darn good. Rex had a grilled cheese with bacon, I believe (he was pretty tanked), and gobbled it down in a hurry. All in all, I'd give it a positive review.

Note: Mountain Sun and Southern Sun do not accept credit cards, so come armed with cash.