The Matador

The Matador is a restaurant and tequila bar with 9 locations, 4 of which are located in Washington.

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We chose The Matador’s Redmond location, which is in the heart of downtown Redmond in a two-story brick structure that has its own unique history dating back to 1915 when it served as Redmond City Hall. The Matador is 21 years and older offering indoor and outdoor seating and daily happy hour from 4 PM to 6 PM and 10 PM to 1 AM.

These guys know tequila. If you want a little history about tequila or just want to try some different types, Matador is where you want to go. They even offer tequila flights.

Their happy hour menu is one of the best we’ve tried with a variety of menu items made from scratch with fresh all natural ingredients with prices ranging from $5 to $6.

The Matador is definitely a place we would recommend for a fun, educational and tasty happy hour. Enjoy!

Cami Says:

Atmosphere:

I think the Matador’s Service was good. I ended up with parking at the first parking spot right in the parking lot to come in so I would say parking is good for me anyway

Quality:

The food was good but the steak tacos used to be better and I had steak tacos I had a founders margarita and that was super yummy delicious and very strong $14 but definitely more than $14

Overall:

Matador is one of my absolute favorite restaurants to come to and I would absolutely recommend this and come again. I would give it a four out of five because I love this place even though the steak tacos could’ve been better but I love this place!

Teri Says:

Atmosphere:

Happy hour at The Matador was so much fun and there is a great atmosphere!

Quality:

The Matador has a happy hour daily and great food items. I had a skinny margarita and shrimp tacos. The shrimp tacos were so good and the margarita was excellent. All of us loved the nachos my sister ordered. The prices were affordable! Kind of bummed they didn’t have drinks on their happy hour special, but the food choices were good. The service was excellent.

Overall:

I definitely would go to The Matador for happy hour again. I would give them a four out of five.

Baron’s Xi’an Kitchen & Bar

425-625-2165

500 Bellevue Way NE

Bellevue, WA 98004

www.baronsbellevue.com

Happy Hour In The Bar

3pm-6pm Monday thru Friday

9pm-Close Nightly

3pm-5pm Weekends

Baron’s a traditional Chinese restaurant infusing local PNW ingredients and taste with a modern flare and upscale atmosphere. They are located in the South Lincoln Square Tower. They offer daily happy hour in their bigger then normal Chinese restaurant bar which boasts plenty of seating for large parties yet smaller table for a date night. We went here tonight to try it out. Rumor has it, Baron’s is already a Bellevue favorite.

Teri Says:

Food: 2.5

The happy hour menu looked good at first glance, although when I found out the clams and mussels are served cold, I went with the calamari off the happy hour menu and the soup, Golden Broth Consommé, off the dinner menu. They were ok, but Cami’s salted green beans and Passion Fruit Pawns were amazing

Drinks: 5

Great wine choices, great mixed drinks and beer choices.

Service: 2

Service was strange. We had a server when we first got here but then we had none. The bartender said he was our server because our first server left but we had to walk to the bar for our remaining drink orders and bill. No other server came to offer more food or drinks. Service was confusing. Just cause your in Bellevue doesn’t give you a free pass!

Pricing: 3.5

Decent and reasonable.

Atmosphere: 4

Large, modern, and they have two nice, crystal clear TVs to watch the games. I love Lincoln Square and Bellevue and the decor fits.

Overall: 2.5

2bstars

Cami Says:

Food: 3

There were no gluten free options. Also there were not a lot of gluten free choices on the regular menu but the passion fruit prawns were amazing and the sautéed green beens made me want to lick the plate!

Drinks: 4

Super weird, but so glad I tried them!

Service: 2

We had very attentive service when we sat down–super helpful with menu, cocktails etc. Our server left without a trace, and we had to ask for service from then on.

Pricing: 3

Very pricy for me as I have celiac and had to order off the regular menu. When presented our bill at 6:10 we were not given extended happy hour prices for our cocktails.

Atmosphere: 5

Very fun and interesting! Great people watching!

Overall: 3

Flo

Flo Japanese Restaurant and Sake Bar is arguably one of Bellevue’s finest Japanese restaurants. In addition to a full bar, Flo offers fresh sushi, sashimi, and teriyaki. Their delicious meals are served in a traditional style, though some dishes are infused with a modern flare. The decor is both fashionable and upscale. Those who have been to Flo will likely

agree that they are a go-to place for those in search of high-quality sushi.

Flo’s happy hour is among the best. Driving up, it looks like a small hole in the wall kind of place. It is small, but don’t let that fool you–Flo also has an upscale/fancy vibe. It’s a fantastic place if you’re searching for some delicious, quality sushi at a decent price.

TERI’S THOUGHTS:
Overall Experience

Atmosphere

The decor is fashionable and the atmosphere is quaint and intimate.

Food

There were a lot of items to choose from ranging from $5 to $11. This is one of the few restaurants where I ordered exclusively off the happy hour menu. The food was delicious–high-quality, fresh, and served beautifully.

Drinks

They had wines for $6 and a good variety to choose from.

Pricing

The happy hour prices were good, especially considering their dinners are more pricey. The happy hour pricing ranges allow you to try a variety of what they have to offer.

Service

We were greeted immediately by a friendly host. Our server was very professional and nice. I couldn’t decide on my wine, so the waiter let me try different kinds.

CAMI’S CORNER:
Overall Experience

Atmosphere

A cute, quaint restaurant with a comfortable and welcoming feel.

Food

Super fresh and well-made food with a beautiful presentation. I ordered a spicy tuna roll and edamame. They even had gluten free soy sauce.

Drinks

They had two white wines (a bit on the sweet side for me) and two reds plus a choice of craft cocktails.

Pricing

Great value, especially for sushi. Good portions at a great price. I definitely had more than enough to eat.
Service

Very attentive and knowledgeable about gluten free choices.

Click here to read our full Happy Hour Seekers profile on Flo

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks

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McCormick & Schmick’s is a chain restaurant serving fresh seafood, steaks, poultry, and pasta. They have been around since the 1970s, and are committed to freshness. McCormick & Schmick’s is well-known for their famous happy hours, which places emphasis on their hand-crafted, blender-free cocktails, which consist of freshly squeezed juices.

Happy hours are Monday through Wednesday (4 PM through 6 PM), Thursday through Friday (4 PM through 6 PM and 9:30 PM through 11 PM), Saturdays (3 PM through 5 PM and 9:30 PM through 11 PM), and Sundays (3 PM through 5 PM).

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What we love about their menu is that their food items range from $3 to $9, including such items as the seared ahi tuna, coconut shrimp, buffalo wings, ahi tuna poke, calamari, truffle fries, and hummus. It’s nice that they have such a large variety available for customers to choose from.

Their alcoholic items include domestic drafts starting at $3.50. They also offer well drinks for $4, wines and specialty cocktails for $6 dollars, and martinis (our favorite!) for $7. They have so many choices, making McCormick & Schmick’s a great option for happy hours.

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TERI’S THOUGHTS:
Overall Experience

Atmosphere

Inviting, classic, and comfortable!

Food

They had an excellent selection of food at an affordable price point. The food was eclectic and included some great seafood options. We had seared ahi and fish tacos which were huge! The seared ahi was great!

Drinks

I wish the martini was chilled a bit more!

Pricing

Good prices, large portions!

Service

Our server was nice, informative and helpful.

CAMI’S CORNER:
Overall Experience

Atmosphere

I love the decor! It was a very modern look–warm and inviting with a lot of eye-catching designs!

Food

There was tons of food. I ordered the fish tacos and ahi poke (both gluten free) and they were very tasty. The tacos usually come fried but due to my allergy, they made them gluten free. The fish was a bit rubbery but still tasted good. The tacos were huge!

Drinks

I tried really hard to only order from the happy hour menu. I got a gin martini which was a classic, nothing too special.

Pricing

Very good. Great value for the amount of food and the tasty, fresh selections that were offered.
Service

Our server Mackenzie was very attentive and knew the menu well. She was polite, friendly, and we never had to ask for anything. Top-notch service!

Final thoughts: McCormick & Schmick’s has a fantastic happy hour. Something that might add an extra touch and enhance the atmosphere would be some music. Overall though, we were pleased by the great portions, delicious food, and decent prices!

Click here to read our full Happy Hour Seekers profile on McCormick & Schmick’s

Joey

Originating in Vancouver, BC, Joey is a restaurant chain that has spread across Canada and the United States. In Bellevue, Joey is located in the Hyatt Hotel, boasting a spectacular view and a trendy, upscale atmosphere.

When you walk into Joey, there is an array of sleek tables and booths. Most of the restaurant goers were well-dressed in business casual clothing, contributing to the classy vibe of the restaurant.

Happy Hour is everyday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to close. The Happy Hour Menu is small but fulfilling. The drink options are gin and tonic, sangria, pale ale, and beer for $4, and red wine or chardonnay for $5. For food, there are three options: tuna taco, sushi cone, sliders royale for $3.5.

The tuna taco is tiny and adorable but absolutely delicious. The sushi cones are absolutely unique and delicious. Even though the portions are small, they are filling, so we didn’t have enough room for the sliders royale!

Our server was friendly and attentive, making it an overall great experience at Joey!

Click here to read our full Happy Hour Seekers profile on Joey!

Black Bottle

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Hi everyone! The Happy Hour Seekers are back! Tonight we went to Black Bottle, a trendy 21+ gastropub located in Downtown Bellevue between NE 8th and NE 10th Street running parallel with Bellevue Way. 18175932_10213300031477146_1239444765_o

You might be asking yourself what in the world is a gastropub? Unlike an ordinary pub, a gastropub often serves higher quality food. At Black Bottle, they offer a variety of champagnes, wines, beers, and cocktails. There is also an array of food to choose from, 18195561_10213300030757128_1203381335_o ranging from meats to seafood to veggies.

Black Bottle has a rustic, casual vibe. Small plates can easily be shared. Their small Happy Hour menu has a very reasonable average price of around $5 for food and drinks.

We really enjoyed Black Bottle’s interesting selection and great service! Be sure to check out our comments below to find out more!

Click here to read our full Happy Hour Seekers profile on Black Bottle!

TERI’S THOUGHTS:
Parking

I had no idea where to park so I parked behind a building in another store’s lot. The server said there is parking in the Avalon garage which they will validate for two hours.

Atmosphere

Definitely had an adult, clubby feel featuring popular music and industrial look.

Food

Drinks

Pricing

screen-shot-2016-11-09-at-11-41-23-pm — They offered $5 happy hour items but too few of choices. I ordered off of the small plates menu. My martini was $7 which I thought was a good price.

Service

Overall Experience

CAMI’S CORNER:
Parking

Atmosphere

The contemporary, open style is really fun. This is one of the few places where I enjoy sitting at the bar,.

Food

Drinks

Pricing

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Service

Our server, Kinsey, was very attentive and patient with all of our quirky/needy questions!

Overall Experience

Purple

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Purple is a classy cafe and wine bar with locations in Bellevue, Kirkland, Seattle, and Woodinville. We must admit, we did not know much about Purple prior to our visit. We had driven by their Downtown Bellevue location so many times that we decided it was finally time to check it out for ourselves.

Purple is located at the Bellevue Towers on the corner of NE 4th Street and 106th Ave.

17571870_10212975553685404_5664437_o — Happy Hour Seeker Cami

They offer a daily Happy Hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m during weekdays and their menu includes a variety of American food as well as wine, beer, and cocktails.

We went to Purple on Sunday night, but didn’t realize that Happy Hour is not offered on the weekends. Even though we had food and drinks at their regular price, it still turned out to be a great evening with delicious food and drinks with a trendy, modern atmosphere. Purple offers an eclectic Northwest food menu and a wonderful wine list. The seating is comfortable and inviting and the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. They have a selection of food which includes calamari, salads, burgers, fish and chips, and ahi. It’s a great place to try different wines to find out which wines pair with different kinds of food.

Click here to read our full Happy Hour Seekers profile on Purple!

TERI’S THOUGHTS:
Parking

There are a couple of different garages you can choose from so parking was a bit confusing. Once I navigated to the correct garage, it was easy to find the restaurant. Some additional direction signs would help.

Atmosphere

I loved the interior and design of Purple. It was modern, industrial, and comfortable. We sat next to a wall of windows facing south.

Food

I ordered the ahi and tartare and it was very good. I also ordered the beet salad and it was probably the best beet dish I have ever tasted. There was an eclectic selection.

Drinks

Their wine list is extensive. I ordered a Malbec for $11 and it was excellent. Our waitress let us all try a taste of champagne and it was also excellent. They even have champagne flights, wine flights, and some awesome cocktails and beers to choose from.

Pricing

Service

Our waitress was one of the best waitresses I’ve had so far since I’ve been writing happy hour reviews. She was friendly, professional, and really knew the menus for both food and drinks.

Overall Experience

I loved the atmosphere, service, and drinks menu. It seems like a perfect place for lunch, meeting friends, dates, and special occasions. I’m so glad I tried it!

CAMI’S CORNER:
Parking

Atmosphere

The decor is so beautiful and amazing. I love the spiral staircases, iron work, and modern open space. I could go here everyday!

Food

There were a few gluten free choices, although they were not designated on the menu. I ordered a half of the chicken cranberry salad. It was very fresh and tasty with a beautiful presentation. Even the half-order was a lot for me!

Drinks

I ordered the French Champagne–yum!!! (It’s not just for breakfast!)

Pricing

My salad was $12 but my champagne was more expensive. I chose my libation knowing the price in advance.

Service

Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and adorable with super cool hair!!!

Overall Experience

Even though we messed up and didn’t actually make it to Purple for happy hour (although their website says “happy hour daily”), I would highly recommend Purple cafe in Bellevue.

Paddy Coyne’s on St. Patrick’s Day

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Today is St. Patrick’s Day and the Happy Hour Seekers celebrated by heading to Bellevue’s Irish pub, Paddy Coyne’s.

Paddy Coyne’s is not just a great place to visit on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s also the perfect place to go for happy hour or meeting friends. It’s like a taste of Ireland located in downtown Bellevue, complete with traditional Irish foods like shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, Guinness-braised Irish beef stew, corn beef and cabbage, bangers and mash, and macaroni and cheese with spicy chicken sausage.

Their happy hour menu ranges from four dollars to nine dollars. They also offer a full bar with Irish whiskey drinks and more. Happy hours are 3 to 6 PM and 10 PM to 1 AM. If you like Irish food, Paddy Coyne’s is a must stop.

Before we go, here are a few fun facts about Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day:

St. Patrick (according to legend) banished all of the snakes from Ireland after they attacked him during a fast.
St. Patrick was actually an Englishman. He was kidnapped by pirates and was sold into slavery in Ireland
The official state color of Ireland is not green, but St. Patrick’s blue.

We hope you all have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day!!!

Click here to read our full Happy Hour Seekers profile on Paddy Coyne’s!

TERI’S THOUGHTS:
Parking

Atmosphere

Beautiful bar. There was definitely an Irish Pub vibe. For today, the wait staff wore St. Patrick’s Day uniforms–super cute! Big screen TVs are visible. One drawback was that all drinks were being served in plastic cups for St. Paddy’s Day!

Food

3bstars — I ordered fish and chips and it was really good! Unfortunately, the menu didn’t offer that many choices. If I were Irish, I would have probably loved the traditional food they offered!

Drinks

Pricing

Service

They were friendly but not overly friendly. The waiters were helpful and knowledgeable–they seemed to like their jobs!

Overall Experience

CAMI’S CORNER:
Parking

Atmosphere

Food

Drinks

I got a gin and tonic. Well, the gin was nasty but the drink was as strong as lighter fluid so I only needed one!!!

Pricing

Service

It was a crazy zoo in there so the servers were not super attentive but our waitresses did a great job under the circumstances!!!

Overall Experience

I had a great time and met a lot of new, fun people. I would definitely go back again–especially on March 17th!!!

13 Coins

If you are a native of Seattle, it’s very likely that you have frequented or heard of 13 Coins. Everyone who has been there can probably recount a special memory or perhaps has even memorized their favorite menu item.

13 Coins is a Seattle institution in the restaurant scene that has been around since 1967. Best known for their traditional cuisine, upscale bar and dimly lit, classy atmosphere, 13 Coins has roomy interior with high-back leather booths, which offers some privacy while you eat.

17121584_10212736237422647_1145099391_o — Happy Hour Seeker Cami!

The full bar, with seats that overlook the kitchen, has a 24 hour menu. They frequently have live music performances on the weekends.

There is a story behind 13 Coins’ unique name originating in Peru, one of love, care, and concern. Once, a young man wished to marry a wealthy man’s daughter. When the father of the daughter asked the young man what he had to offer for his daughter’s hand in marriage, the young man reached into his pocket and handed the father the only change he had: 13 Coins.

17121879_10212736237582651_1128805774_o Eastsiders were thrilled with the opening of 13 Coins in Downtown Bellevue at the Hyatt Regency. Happy hours are 7 days a week, 4:00 to 6:00 pm & 10:00 pm to last call, and Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to last call.

We had a great experience at 13 Coins the other night (as we always do!) and are thrilled to share it with you!

Click here to read our full Happy Hour Seekers profile on 13 Coins!

TERI’S THOUGHTS:
Parking

Atmosphere

There was classy, dimly lit, and comfortable seating in the bar and throughout the restaurant. I love the leather high-back booths and chairs, as well as the couches and the lounge!

Food

Drinks

Pricing

The prices are high for happy hour, even with the $2 reduction.

Service

Overall Experience

CAMI’S CORNER:
Parking

At 4:45 on a normal weekday, the parking is really easy before the Bellevue dinner crowd arrives!

Atmosphere

The decor is so nice and the couches are so comfy–more so than what we normally see in the lounge when we go to watch bands.

Food

Drinks

Pricing

Service

Overall Experience

A Night at Suite

Hello, Happy Hour Seekers! It’s been awhile but we’re back and tonight we went out to Suite–a trendy restaurant located at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Downtown Bellevue. It’s a sleek and hip lounge that becomes somewhat of a nightclub on the weekends.
Walking into Suite, we were wowed by the vibrant lighting and unique decor. Soft, neon lights created an intriguing, fun, and energetic atmosphere. There is even a small dance floor and Suite regularly showcases a variety of music and entertainment.

One of the most unique aspects of Suite is that every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., there are live performances by members of Seattle Aerial Arts. We don’t know of any other place in Bellevue where you can enjoy some food and drinks while also watching a fascinating acrobatic show!

Suite definitely offers great happy hours, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Monday through Friday and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The food was reasonably priced and really demonstrated the variety they have to offer!

Click here to read our full Happy Hour Seekers profile on Suite!

TERI’S THOUGHTS:
Parking

Atmosphere

Beautiful, sexy, and modern. There were very pretty colors, patterns, and lighting!

Food

Drinks

Pricing

Service

Overall Experience

CAMI’S CORNER:
Parking

It’s by the Bellevue Collection so there’s tons of parking and tons of cars. I forgot to get my parking ticket validated but they were able to use my receipt so plus 1/2 martini glass for the parking 🙂

Atmosphere

I think the decor is very attractive. Suite has an upbeat feel that makes you want to have fun. I love that they have a place where you can watch aerial performers in Bellevue–and it’s complimentary!

Food

Very limited Gluten Free choices but they were able to make my shrimp tacos with corn–they were worth it! (Though three tacos was a bit too much for me!)

Drinks

I had the Suite 75 which looked like a glass of champagne. It was made from gin, St. Germain, lemon, and champagne on the top. It’s my favorite cocktail!

Pricing

Service

Overall Experience

The Suite is definitely going to become part of my regular HH rotation! I was surprised at how bright and beautiful the decor is, as I usually hit this place around 11 for dancing!