BLUE CUE BAR & RESTAURANT
1004 28th St.
THE DEAL: On Mondays, the Cue offers an amazing deal: a burger and a beer for $6. This midsized burger comes with a heap of fries and a nice surprise: You get your choice of draft beer. (I had Blue Moon.)
WHEN: Monday 4 p.m.– 1 a.m.
THE TAKE-AWAY: Unusually fresh-tasting burger, with a perfectly seasoned patty and crunchy produce. But bring your earplugs: The Cue can get loud, with a lively crowd and a gaggle of TVs blaring.
THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY
1771 Arden Way; 1127 Galleria Blvd., Roseville
THE DEAL: A double-patty cheeseburger with grilled onions and Thousand-Island-style special sauce is only $5.50 during happy hour. Add $1 for a side of fries.
WHEN: Monday–Friday 4–6 p.m.
THE TAKE-AWAY: The twin patties make this a doubly special burger, and the produce (lettuce, tomato, pickle) comes on the side, providing a fun build-your-own moment. Cheesecake? Who needs cheesecake?
FOUNDATION RESTAURANT & BAR
400 L St.
THE DEAL: The Foundation Burger drops to $6 (from $9) during happy hour. It’s a stand-alone deal—no fries—but worth it, with a sturdy ciabatta bun and a hint of char-grill on the plump, flavorful patty.
WHEN: Monday–Friday 3–6:30 p.m., Saturday 4–6:30 p.m.
THE TAKE-AWAY: Not only is the burger great, but Foundation’s happy hour flat-out rocks, with a three-tier price point ($3, $6 and $8) and an enticing menu offering everything from flatbread pizza to fish tacos and baby back ribs. Superb service, too.
MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S
1194 Roseville Parkway, Roseville
THE DEAL: At $5, McCormick’s cheeseburger is a steal during daily happy hour. Impressive in both size and quality, the perfectly prepared patty comes on a toasted sesame bun, with fixin’s on the side and a decent pile of fries, too.
WHEN: Monday–Friday 3–7 p.m., Saturday– Sunday 3–5 p.m.
THE TAKE-AWAY: Bargainwise, this was probably the best deal of the bunch: At lunch, the same burger is $11.50. Other happy-hour highlights: tender calamari ($7) and, on Tuesdays, $2 fish tacos.
RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE
501 Pavilions Lane; 1184 Galleria Blvd., Roseville
THE DEAL: Leave it to Ruth’s Chris to boast the granddaddy of them all, a massive USDA Prime burger with a choice of cheese (cheddar, Swiss, blue) on a beautifully grilled brioche bun. Sensational fries, too—all for just $8 during happy hour.
WHEN: Monday–Friday 4–7 p.m.
THE TAKE-AWAY: Burgers don’t get much better than this. And since Ruth’s Chris’ regular prices are rather, ahem, precious, happy hour affords an opportunity for the budget-minded to live large. But get there early: This is one hoppin’ happy hour.
For more Eat & Drink stories and a listing of local restaurants, pick up the June issue, on sale now at local newsstands.
