Amilinda
315 E. Wisconsin Ave. | TUES-FRI 4-6 P.M.
Grab a seat at the chef ’s counter and pretend you’re in a bar in Costa Blanca, Spain. (After enough $5 glasses of red sangria, that vision could feel real.) The bite-sized apps – shrimp escabeche, mini cheese board, marinated tomato salad and others ($2-$6) – are delicious snack fare.
The Bar at Saint Kate
139 E. Kilbourn Ave. | MON-THURS 4-7 P.M.
The artsy hotel gathering spot mixes things up with a couple of chewy, savory-good pies (margherita, pepper- oni) from on-site Neapolitan-style pizza place Proof, a few antipasto and a host of $5 wines, beers and cocktails to wash them all down.
Birch + Butcher
459 E. Pleasant St. | MON-FRI 4-6 P.M.
HH only served at the bar, which has its advantages in that you’re seated closer to the warm, open kitchen and that incredible hearth, which is the source of the tender loaves of cornbread ($3). HH is also when you can get an amazing $5 burger.
Char’d
222 E. Erie St. | MON-FRI 4:30-6 P.M.
The plant-based apps are the antithesis of heavy, greasy stereotypical HH food. Munch on white kimchi salad, grilled avocado, bok choy stir-fry, shishito cauliflower and more ($3 and up). And select drinks – beer, wine, ’tails – are $4-$6.
Hacienda Beer Co.
2018 E. North Ave. | MON-THURS 4-6 P.M.
All tap beers are $1 o . The solid, satisfying food options include $2 tacos (try the al pastor or corn-black bean) on corn tortillas, $5 house-fried flour tortilla chips and salsa verde, and $4 elote (corn dipped in chipotle honey aioli).
Hotel Madrid
600 S. Sixth St. | TUES-SAT 5-6 P.M.; SUN 5 P.M.-CLOSE
Any food item under $15 is half-price, and that includes a lot of menu items, ranging from the rich and flavorful (Spanish blood sausage, ham croquetas with bechamel sauce) to lively street food (shrimp noodles with Thai chile sauce). Drinks run half-price as well.
Oak & Oyster
724 N. Milwaukee St. | MON-FRI 4-6 P.M.
The lower level of Third Coast Provisions is irrefutably the spot for seafood-ophiles. Oysters run $1.50 during happy hour, and there’s a $5 po’boy. A holiday pop-up is in place right now that offers a special $5 cocktail.
