EVANSVILLE – As of July 1, it once again became legal for Indiana bars and restaurants to offer drink specials for only part of the day, in an effort to bring customers in during traditionally slower times.
“Happy hour” is often held in the afternoon or early evening, to welcome diners on their way home from work in for a responsible sip and a snack.
Evansville area businesses have jumped back into the "happy hour" concept enthusiastically, although many still are feeling out the best way to benefit both the business and customers. Some are simply knocking down the prices of domestic beers and well drinks for a few hours, while others are offering varied and changing food and drink specials.
The Half Moon Saloon, 231 W. Second St., Mount Vernon, Indiana
At the Half Moon Saloon in Mount Vernon, selected drinks and munchies are offered at special prices Monday through Thursday from 3-5 p.m.
Depending on the day, they include reduced prices on showier specialties such as colorful margarita flights and a beer tower − a cylindrical container with nearly a gallon of beer, a spigot for dispensing and an icy core to keep it cold. That one's for sharing.
“We just started offering the specials last week, and we’re going to give it a month and see how it goes,” said General Manager Christi Gross. “There’s been a lot of buzz about it. We’ll give it some time to see when the shift workers from SABIC come in and maybe change the times if we need to."
Each day brings a different happy hour special at the Half Moon.
- Monday - $10 margarita flights with four flavors, $5 chicken and cheese quesadillas with a margarita flight, $2 Jose Cuervo shots.
- Tuesday - $20 beer towers (100 ounces of beer in an ice-cooled dispenser), $1 wings for dine-in, $1 wells.
- Wednesday - $10 cocktail buckets (large size for sharing), $2 off any appetizer, $3 Vodka and Red Bull.
- Thursday - $3 32-ounce domestic drafts, $5 mini pepperoni pizza, $2 Fireball shots.
The Half Moon Saloon also is jumping on the new opportunity to sell alcoholic drinks to go at any time. Any of the house cocktails may be taken to go in a sealed plastic cup (similar to a regular lidded plastic cup but without an opening for a straw), and $5 Daiquiris are freshly made and sealed in a to-go pouch accompanied by a pointy-tipped straw for stabbing, like a kid's juice pouch.
More happy hour specials
Here are a few more happy hour specials worth checking out.
The Brass Ring, 321 S. Main St., Haubstadt, Indiana
The Brass Ring Bar and Grill at is announcing various happy hour specials on the Facebook page. Some offerings have included $1 margaritas, $.50 draft beer and $1 hot dogs, $5 buckets of Busch Light, and $.25 draft Bud or Bud Light. Days and hours vary.
Froggy's Restaurant and Sports Bar, 7247 Main St., Wadesville, Indiana
Froggy’s Restaurant and Sports Bar is offering $2 domestic bottles, cans and well mixed drinks from 4-6 p.m. Monday – Thursday.
Frontier Restaurant and Bar, 12945 Indiana 57 in Daylight
Frontier Restaurant and Bar has jumped on happy hour with food and beverage specials. On weekdays from 4-6 p.m. diners may enjoy $3.75 domestic tall boys, $5 draft craft beer, and $3 frozen margaritas. During the same hours on Monday – Thursday, fried mushrooms, onion rings, fried pickles and bottle caps (jalafenos) are half off. For an earlier “happy hour” on Saturdays, bloody marys and mimosas are only $2 from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Hacienda Mexican Restaurants, numerous locations
Hacienda Mexican restaurants, unsurprisingly, are offering Margarita specials – a glass is a mere $2 on weekdays from 2-4 p.m. The restaurant’s popular fruity drinks may also now be taken to go in sealed containers.
Leroy's Tavern, 2659 Mount Vernon Ave.
At Leroy’s Tavern on the West Side, frozen drinks including strawberry daiquiris and strawberry pina coladas are only $1 from 2-4 p.m. every single day through Labor day and all day on Tuesday.
Myriad Brewing Company, 101 SE First St.; 8245 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh
Myriad Brewing Company is serving $3 draft pints during the first hour of business every weekday at both locations. That’s from 3-4 p.m. at the Newburgh tap room, and 4-5 p.m. at the Downtown Brewery.
Prime Time Pub & Grill Newburgh, 8177 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh
The Prime Time Pub & Grill in Newburgh will be serving all domestic drafts, house wines and wells half price from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Prime Time North, 12301 U.S. 41 North
At Prime Time Pub & Grill North on North 41, all domestic drafts, house wines and wellsa are half price and domestic pitchers are $10 from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Rick's Sports Bar, 1531 S. Green River Road
At Rick’s Sports Bar on South Green River, happy hour is from 5-7 p.m. and the specials, which always include a discounted drink and free food, change daily. Recent offerings include $10 domestic buckets and free nachos, $4 imports and free sloppy joe sandwiches, $4 wine or wine spritzers and free meatballs and cocktail weiners, and others. The specials are announced daily on the Facebook page.
The Wheel House, 16 W. Main St., Poseyville, Indiana
The Wheel House in Poseyville is offering $2 domestic pints and $2 well drinks from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.
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