Second Helpings: Happy Hour Buffets

Second Helpings

Dallas Nightclub

Tuesday-Friday, 5:30-7:30pm

This country-themed stalwart provides a superior complimentary happy hour dinner buffet Tuesday through Friday. The food changes daily (and goes quickly), but recent offerings include substantial fare such as fajitas, catfish, fried chicken, meatloaf, and hamburgers. Check out the daily menu by calling 459-9009. Best of all, if you have an office party at Dallas on Monday through Thursday, they’ll comp one drink for you and everyone in your party (on Fridays, you get 50-cent drink coupons). Even if you can’t stand Garth Brooks and his ilk, this is still one heck of a deal for the frugal-minded.

Cedar Street Courtyard

Friday, 5-7:30pm (or until food is gone)

In addition to plying the inhibitions of Austin’s busy professionals with top shelf martinis and cigars, Cedar Street Courtyard now offers free sushi rolls at happy hour on Fridays along with live jazz and drink specials. But get there early before all the transplanted Californians beat you to the punch.

Chuy’s

Monday-Friday, 4-6:30pm

This cute, cheeky chain provides a great nacho bar featuring their addictive queso, but you’ll have to fight for it late in the week, when it gets pretty crowded. Drinks are enticing and moderately priced, but take it easy on the margaritas if you have to drive.

Draught Horse

Wednesday, 5-7pm (or until food is gone)

Packed with regulars and for good reason! Plentiful pizza made before your eyes with a variety of toppings, accompanied by moderately priced beer in a nice setting. Play darts, lounge outside, and tip the cooks!

Hole in the Wall

Friday, 5-7pm-ish

Every Friday, the Hole commandeers a pool table to present a small spread anchored by items like chicken quesadillas. To their credit, they do leave it out for the latecomers. Cheap beer and dysfunctional-family atmosphere make this a popular Friday spot for regulars.

La Feria

Monday-Friday, 5-7pm

Hard to make a meal of quesadillas alone (La Feria’s only happy-hour offering), but for a light snack the fun, family atmosphere and $2.25 margaritas make La Feria a wise destination for a nice afternoon in South Austin.

Ninfa’s

Monday-Friday, 5-7pm

Small bar area may cramp your style, and the varying food offerings (Ninfa’s amazing green salsa is the highlight) can be a little sparse, but moderately priced drinks from the well-stocked, high-quality bar can go a long way to making a memorable happy hour if you can spare the cash.

Midnight Rodeo

Friday, 5-9pm

This Texas-sized country hall on Ben White near the airport offers a free buffet every Friday along with $2 drinks from 5pm onward. A recent Friday found them offering an ample spread of fajitas with all the fixin’s. To locate Midnight Rodeo, look for their giant, 75-foot information sign in the sky.

Oilcan Harry’s

Monday, Thursday-Friday, 5-8pm

Regulars note that instead of the food, it’s the spiritual nourishment, lively environment, and moderately priced drinks that keep them coming back. That said, Mondays and Thursdays are serve-yourself days, while Fridays feature a more formal buffet with a server to dole out items such as fajitas and grilled sandwiches. Oilcan Harry’s also frequently has barbecue on Saturdays.

Serrano’s

Monday-Friday, 5-6:30pm

Select locations of this locally run Tex-Mex chain serve complimentary appetizers such as nachos, quesadillas, and flaquitos during happy hour along with the ubiquitous chips and salsa.

Tangerine’s

Wednesday-Friday, 4-7pm

Never underestimate the ability of a hotel discotheque to give good happy hour buffet. Tangerine’s is an upscale spot geared toward the white collar crowd that offers free hors d’oeuvres such as empanadas, chicken fingers, and Swedish meatballs on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, Tangerine’s brings out the big guns with a beef and chicken fajita buffet. Combined with decent drink specials (for a hotel bar, anyway), you’ll almost wish you were an anonymous business traveler on the prowl.

Warehouse Saloon

Monday-Friday, 5-7pm

Nice catered buffet with a wide variety of main courses and sides — a hearty, complete meal. Play pool, watch sports, and enjoy moderately priced drinks ($1.75 domestic beer, $2.75 frozen margaritas) but leave your bandanas, cutoff shirts, and freight shorts at home: The dress code is strictly enforced!