5 Characteristics to Identify When Evaluating a Happy HourPosted by Hutchison Vazquez on January 26th, 2021 According to several sources the term 'happy hour' originated on board U. S. Navy ships in the 1920's. It was used to describe the scheduled entertainment period for boxing and wrestling bouts that took place on board to relieve stress. dunkin happy hour of drinking before dinner began in the Prohibition Era. People would host 'cocktail hours' at their homes or attend 'happy hours' at speakeasy's before they would go to dinner where no alcohol could be served. The term wasn't widely used by the public until it appeared in a 1959 Saturday Evening Post article about military life. Food was added to happy hours in the 1980s to help deter the increase in drinking and driving. Happy hours are almost universally expected by any establishment's patrons to be part of its daily offering. Some happy hours are better than others. Here are 5 characteristics to identify when evaluating an establishment's offerings. 1. Ambience - Examine your surroundings. Is this place for you? Do you feel comfortable there? Does it have a blue collar or white collar feel and clientele? Is the lighting right? Does the bar look nice? Can you access it easily? Does it feel too crowded? What kind of music is playing? Essentially, this characteristic has to do with the feelings or vibe you get from the establishment. This also can determine what friends of yours may or may not like it. 2. Bartender/Service - This one could be split into two separate categories but for the purpose of this article it will go hand in hand. Is the bartender attentive to the customers? Do they make eye contact? Are they courteous? Do they offer information about the happy hour specials? Are they appreciative of your business? When your beverage is almost empty, do they notice and offer you a new one? No matter how crowded an establishment gets during happy hour the bartender should always be aware of their service. The good ones do because this is when they can make the most money. 3. Food - As previously mentioned, food has been offered during happy hour as a way to slow down the amount of alcohol consumed and the speed at which it is consumed. Is the food offered a cold buffet, hot buffet, specials from the bar or ordered straight from the menu. Are the offerings mini versions of the main menu to give you a taste of their menu to entice you to stay for dinner? Are the special portions fair? Does the food taste good? If it is a buffet, does the buffet stay filled the entire time? Are there any special dishes offered? 4. Signature Drink - Many restaurants and bars offer specialty drinks or house favorites to entice patrons. Does your favorite establishment have a specialty drink that keeps you coming back? Is it a drink you want to tell your friends about? That's a good sign if they do. 5. Value - This characteristic many times can be the overriding factor in the happy hour decision making process. How long do the specials last, what are they and how much do they cost? This information can be the most widely disseminated facts when determining where to go after work with some friends. The big question is where can this information be found in one place quickly and used to your advantage? How and what is the best way to spread this information to your friends and your community? There are many more considerations that can go into making a decision on evaluating a happy hour. What are yours?Like it? Share it! More by this author |