T'afia

Local happy hours offer luxury for less

Top three weekday hot spots feature discounts on dining, drinks

By: Lauren Weiner and Amber Chemam

Posted: 12/4/07

Being a college student has certain financial drawbacks. It is rare that students have the disposable income to visit four-star restaurants or pricey lounges. However, the smart and savvy college consumer can enjoy the city's finest by taking advantage of the three- to four-hour weekday phenomenon known as happy hour.

T'afia, Zake Japanese Cuisine and Mi Luna Tapas Restaurant and Bar are all swanky yet affordable (during the work week only) and offer an opportunity to get dressed up and sample the good life.

Patrons who visit chef Monica Pope's latest venture, T'afia, Tuesday-Thursday nights will enjoy free appetizers from the restaurant's "lounge" menu with the purchase of one of the swanky lounge's creative cocktails. The drinks are not inexpensive, running anywhere from $7-11, but they are well worth the price. One warning: dining etiquette generally requires that patrons tip as though they had paid full price for the food, but even 20 percent of $100 is a small price to pay for an outstanding dinner for five people. Expect to pay approximately $20 per person for two drinks each and all the food you can eat.

The house drink specialties, called "ratafias," are a blend of white wine, vodka, vanilla beans, sugar and organic produce from the on-site farmer's market and are a safe bet for sangria fans. The "West Indian Ratafia Punch," made with pineapple and rum, is one of the menu's more expensive (and stronger) mixed drinks and is a more adventurous suggestion. Other good choices are the "Blo-jito," basically a blood-orange-flavored, vodka-based mojito, and the "Come to Daddy," which is fruity and fun to attempt ordering without giggling. For those under 21, equally innovative "mocktails" are a delicious and less-expensive alternative. Just be sure to bring an of-age friend because appetizers are only complimentary in conjunction with alcoholic beverages.

And you will want to be dining as the food is almost more enticing than the drinks. Feel free to sample everything on the menu, as the edibles are unlimited. The mini-burgers are delicious and the chickpea fries are addictive. The sushi has an unexpected but delightful crunch, and the pimento macaroni and cheese brings a touch of class to an old favorite.

Low lighting, sleek tables and booths and eclectic music give T'afia an industrial, trendy atmosphere perfect for a girls' night out or a weeknight date.

Another choice for a night-out is Zake for an excellent sushi hour. At Zake, happy hour is Monday- Friday from 5-7 p.m. The drinks are tasty and marked-down, but the real incentive is the sushi special. At $1.50 per piece and $3.95 per roll, no one will have to leave hungry.

Lightly salted edamame is excellent to munch on while you wait for your food to arrive and is discounted to $3, along with a list of other tempting appetizers. The sushi list includes individual pieces starting at $1.25 and eight-piece rolls for $3.95. Typical sushi favorites like California rolls and spicy tuna are available in addition to house favorites.

Even more palatable than the fish are the drinks. Girly favorites such as cosmopolitans and apple martinis are delicious, as are the trademark sake bombs, which are hard to pass by at $1.95. Beer and house wines are also inexpensive and add the perfect complement to a traditional Japanese meal.

Perhaps Zake's most interesting element is the stylish, lounge-like atmosphere. Soft downtempo and electronica music drifts through the speakers and fiber-optic lights hang like curtains. Tall booths give patrons the feeling of privacy and exclusivity. Zake makes a great meeting place for groups and duos and definitely will not empty guests' wallets.

For more creative food, check out Mi Luna in Rice Village for $3 tapas and tostas. The Spanish-influenced restaurant only serves appetizer-sized portions, and the happy hour menu offers a limited but alluring selection Monday-Friday from 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays are the night to go, however, as the special prices run all night long.

The menu offers a diverse selection of hot and cold tapas (traditional Spanish appetizers) as well as tostas, which are toasted bread slices with a variety of toppings. The smoked salmon dish from the cold menu is served over light greens with cheese, pear and pecans, and is absolutely delicious. From the hot menu, try the perfectly flakey beef and potato empanadas. The seafood tostas are also a house favorite.

Of course, Mi Luna also offers discounts on beverages. Sangria or draft beer for $3 and margaritas and mojitos for $5 are great complements to the light meal. The sangria is flavorful and pleasantly sweet, and the margarita is up there with Houston's best.