Food: Yard House

Yard House is a California-based chain of restaurants that offers sorta-upscale American-style cuisine, a huge selection of beers, and an ambiance firmly grounded in classic rock. It's also ruinously expensive, unless you go at a magic time known as happy hour.

During happy hour, most of the appetizers, which are otherwise ridiculously overpriced, come down to something at or below what other sports bars charge. A Hawaiian poke stack or ahi sashimi platter just tastes better when you're paying $6 a plate instead of $12.

The drinks are (relatively) cheaper, too, so you can enjoy a pint of Rogue Shakespeare stout for $4.50 instead of whatever the heck it is normally. Throw in some classic rock (I distinctly remember "Carry On Wayward Son" playing during my meal) and you have a half-decent place to unwind after work.

2/4 stars (as long as you go during happy hour)