LowLife Staff Reviews

"A Fine Happy Hour"

Review by Heidi Knapp RInella of the Las Vegas-Review Journal

Bargain Hunting: McCormick & Schmick's happy hour offers diners discount prices

"A half-pound cheeseburger and fries for $2.95? We can't even get that at a fast-food place these days, and here it is at a white-tablecloth restaurant.
*
Happy hour? In a restaurant review? Yup. In case you haven't noticed, the national economy is in the tank and the Las Vegas version is right down there in the toilet. To bring in customers -- to stay afloat in all of that swirling water -- a raft of local restaurants have staggered onto the happy-hour bandwagon. Qualities (and even quantities) are wildly divergent, as you might imagine, but the dining-out consumer looking for a bargain usually can find one at happy hour.
*
McCormick & Schmick's happy-hour menu isn't the same daily, though there do appear to be some constants. The half-pound cheeseburger ($2.95) was a good solid burger (which is not to say too solid), the cheese reasonably sharp, the bun pillowy without being mushy. And the fries were in ample supply.

Cod sliders were slightly pricier ($4.95), but still an impressive bargain. Little fillets of the mild fish had been battered, fried until crisp and served on tender little potato rolls with lightly dressed shredded cabbage and a pretty good tartar sauce (which really can be good, as long as you're not getting it out of a jar) that had a tendency to drip out when we ate. Lots of fries with this one, too.

As far as consumers are concerned, it's about eating for less. Here are a few other examples from our McCormick & Schmick's happy-hour excursion: Cajun fries with lemon aioli ($1.95), grilled corn on the cob with chipotle butter ($1.95), Prince Edward Island black mussels in tomato-white wine broth ($3.95), Asian popcorn chicken ($3.95), blackened fish tacos ($3.95), Blue Point oysters ($4.95 for three) and black bean nachos ($4.95).

Yes, there are dining bargains to be had out there. Just be sure to leave the office early."

Read entire review