Laurel

Another favorite happy hour spot is Laurel. It had always been a great special occasion dinner place but a few years ago, Laurel was bought by the same group that also owns Chive and Kensington Grill. It’s still an upscale place but the new owner has given the decor a hip, swanky look and the bar is a comfy place for drinks or snacks with friends. Their ‘7 before seven’ happy hour is a great opportunity to try some of Laurel’s menu and enjoy the atmosphere without paying premium prices. The happy hour, which is offered every night of the week, offers a list of 7 drinks and 7 appetizers, all priced at $7. A friend and I stopped in the other night to catch up over some delicious bar bites. Above is my friend’s Mango Martini and my Dragon’s Blood Sangria. The sangria was the best version I’ve had in a while - sweetened with port and calvados, an apple brandy. Here are a couple of selections from the $7 food menu. My favorites were the little sandwiches on the left, Laurel’s version of sloppy joes called ‘lamby joes’, made with ground lamb seasoned with garam masala and topped with caramelized fennel. These were finger-licking good. Our flatbread appetizer was dressed with salty bits of ham and blue cheese and drizzled with a sweet sauce. Also pictured are the addictive edamame which are complimentary. I’ve also tried the short rib spring rolls and the mini escargot ‘poppers’. All portions are pretty generous so it’s easy to put together a decent meal. The ‘7 before seven’ menu makes it easy to treat yourself to a stylish experience without a huge expense!