Happy Hour or Bust

Most of the time a chair is just a chair and a table is just a table.  It's there.  You sit in it.  You eat at it.  You don't really think about it all that much.  But when you are in a club or a bar setting a chair is not just a chair and a table is not just a table.  It's turf.  And the competition to control them is fierce.

When the husband told me he wanted to go to Truluck's Seafood, Steaks & Crab House for his Birthday dinner my first thought was damn!  That place is really expensive and he wants to go there again?  They don't even have a parking lot so right off the top that's $8 for valet.  My second thought was if that's what my sweet husband wants then that's what he will get.  My third thought was that we had better make happy hour.   Happy hour is from 5-7 and we got there at 6pm.  I had a back up reservation for 7:15pm if the unthinkable happened and we didn't get a seat in the bar area but I was determined not to need it.  When I walked in I was on a mission.  Happy hour or bust.

It was Friday so the bar area was jam packed.  We joined the ranks of the lost souls floating around without tables.  On my way back from the bathroom I saw 3 people swoop in and grab seats on Mj's watch.  Mj, you gottta be on the look out!  So I'm standing there cutting my eyes left and right looking to see if anyone was wrapping up their meal or if a waitress was bringing anyone their bill.  Another couple happened to be standing near a table where people were leaving and they swooped in and stole that one.  Darn.

A girl walks in glued to her cell phone.  She stalks around scouting for a spot.  She was in the right place at the right time and even though we were there before her she snags two seats at the bar.  Timing  and location is everything when you are competing for bar real estate.  We stand around some more.  By this time it's 6:35pm.

We were standing behind this couple at the bar that looked like they'd been there for a while but she looked a little too cozy and he had barely made a dent in his beer.  They weren't going anywhere.  Another couple wearing black walked in and started trolling the bar.  I'm not the pushy type but I  couldn't let them snatch the next table from us.  My wallet was depending on it.  The couple behind us seemed to be wrapping it up so even though I could see the guy in the black suit pretty close to the table with the same idea I spoke up before he could and asked if they were leaving.  Black suit didn't go away so the girl pointed at us and said she thought we were there first.  His wife did not look happy that they didn't get the table but I told him.  Sorry, we've been looking for a spot since 6.  That table was ours.  And just in time because we had 25 minutes left of happy hour.  The waitress has seen physical fights break out over tables.  I believe it.  I've seen similar situations at other places and my friends and I have been known to be very possessive of "our" chairs.  I'm so glad I didn't have to fight.  Not that I would have.

I cancelled my 7:15 pm reservation on Open Table and ordered sliders, sweet potato fries and two glasses of champagne at 50% off bar menu happy hour prices.  Those are literally the only things I even liked on the whole menu.  Everything else was seafood.  Mj can have his $39 seafood trio in Bearnaise sauce off the dinner menu.  I'm a cheap date.  He's not.  His taste is expensive.  He claims he just likes "good" food and I guess I don't.  I have the palate of a 10 year old.  I don't need a $25 fillet when I'm just as happy with bar food, a simple grilled chicken or a good Cobb salad.  I enjoy eating out I just don't need anything fancy which usually means expensive.  But I don't like chain restaurants either.  The prices are good there are just too many other fun restaurants to explore in our city.

Once we got settled into prime real estate we had a really nice dinner.  I love the ambiance at this place.  When I'm not stalking people for their table that is.  The mouthwash dispenser in the bathroom is pretty cool but they also have a live singer and really great decor.  And they have the best sliders AND sweet potato fries I've ever had.   I took my husband out on a date.  He got his "good" food, I got my budget friendly eats and a good time was had by all.

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15 comments

  1. I am glad you achieved your mission and MJ had a good birthday meal!

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  2. I love Truluck's! Glad you got your happy hour prices, that place is super expensive! I try to get the happy hour items too!

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  3. You and I have the same taste in food, I would never want anything fancy when I could have a grilled cheese or a good salad!

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  4. sounds fun and good that you both got to eat what you like. I always get annoyed when i'm stalking for a table too. thanks for stopping by my blog - following yours now!
    -- jackiejade.blogspot.com

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  5. I was waiting for you to break out with 'and then I smacked a b*tch...' haha. :)
    I'm the same way when we go out for happy hour, though nothing around here really gets that busy.

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  6. I am not a big fan of fancy food....especially when I know it's totally overpriced!

    And if I can't make a reservation somewhere I usually refuse to go. I hate hovering around for a table!

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  7. Haha! This post cracks me up. I'm a cheap date too...my hubby likes expensive stuff too :)

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  8. I love how you describe the scene perfectly! Totally been there

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  10. Girl! You sound just like me! My clothes, shoes, and dinner can all come from Target for all I care, but not boyfriend. He's ALL champagne taste! Nothing is as exhilarating as a deal, and I live for it. That happy hour would have excited me, too :) Sounds like your hubby had a great birthday out!

    Adrienne
    www.abtakesca.blogspot.com

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  11. Turluck's stone crab is so yummy. I went there once while traveling for work in Houston. I had a couple glasses of wine, a stone crab, and a steak. I think it was almost $100, but luckily I could expense it. Ruth Chris has a great late night happy hour from 9 to midnight. Half off all cocktails and their appetizer menu. It's work waiting until later to go if you want some yummy eats on a budget.

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  12. Oh man just reading this stressed me out, but I've totally done the same thing! haha. I am glad you said something and got it!!

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  13. Man - I know what you mean about stalking people for seats. It was always the same scene for us at Cheesecake Factory when we would try to catch something quick in the bar area before our weekend movie.

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  14. Way to be persistent!!! I confess, sometimes I get a bit lazy and will take the reservation before fighting it out. Props to you! Glad you had a nice evening out. :)

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  15. Haha I completely know what you mean about stalking seating at the bar. It's horrible! I'm usually pretty quick with it though. I'm pushy when it comes to finding seating.

    The restaurant sounds pretty awesome. Glad you both had a good time.

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