Hugh and I went out with a couple new friends last weekend. They asked us for restaurant recommendations and were blown away we had tried so many! Pretty much every place we described was followed by a “we’ve only been to their happy hour.” I think both Hugh and I would say our ideal date night is restaurant hopping to several restaurants to sample drinks and small plates or new dishes.
Going out to eat (especially with drinks!) can be expensive. Happy hours make this plan so much more realistic! Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Troy have some great restaurants with some excellent happy hour deals. I would guess your area does, too!
Why Happy Hours are the greatest
You may already be well-aware of the perks of happy hour deals, but just so we’re on the same page…
- Saves you money or get you more bang for your buck!
- Narrows down overwhelmingly expansive menus to a smaller selection of happy hour deals
- Leads you to try drinks or dishes you may not have tried otherwise
- Typically less crowded than the dinner rush
- Allows you to get home early
Happy Hour Hacks
Happy hour deals aren’t always easily found. Lists on Google are often out of date and restaurant websites don’t always advertise the hours or menus. I’m here to help! I have four tips for taking advantage of these fun deals.
Search reviews like Yelp
This is also applicable for choosing a restaurant anytime, but happy hour details are often shared in reviews (or Tips on Yelp). They can also be buried in the menu photos if only printed on a physical menu.
Check the menu section on the restaurant’s website
If the happy hour(s) isn’t listed with the restaurant’s hours, the next place I always look is the menus section. Sometimes the happy hour deals or times are included on the bar menu!
Keep them organized with lists
Yes, this is nerdy, but I love lists and spreadsheets. When we first moved to the area, I started to save places on a Google Maps list. However, I would have to look up what was included and what the hours/days of the week were. I upgraded to a spreadsheet so I could keep track of the hours and specials so it was easy to pick a place! You can even add more notes like what sounded good on the menu, something that interested you based on the reviews, and whether or not there is a patio.
Coordinate a couple back-to-back
We love to restaurant hop and try several places in one evening! Choosing places that are walking distance (or a short drive) from one another makes this easy. It’s a bonus if the times are different (for example 4-6 at one and 5-7 at another)! We do this a lot in Royal Oak or Ferndale.
Royal Oak Area Happy Hours
For those of you near Royal Oak, I have a spreadsheet of favorite happy hours to share with you! The majority of the list is in Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Troy, with a few Downtown Detroit or near Cass Ave. You can use the form below to provide your email and I’ll share the document with you!
I would love for this to be a living and growing document, so please send me recommendations I missed or your favorites in the area! I’m always looking for new restaurants to check out.
Do you take advantage of happy hours?
I’d love to hear about your favorite deals or happy hour drinks and dishes! Comment below!
