Paragon Restaurant – New Happy Hour
701 2nd Street
San Francisco , CA
(415) 537.9020
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VdV Rating: 4
Food: Ca/american
What’s wackier than a Vatican Sex Scandal? Chef Spencer O’Meara’s (AKA the most congenial chef in SF) brand spankin’ new happy hour, bitches! That’s right, with a little input from yours truly (O’Meara will never admit this) he’s knocked the ball outta the park (slight nod to the upcoming Giants season). (OK, enough parenthesis FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST). What’s even zanier? It’s not a Happy Hour, it’s a Happy 2 Hours. So they rolled this bad boy out a couple weeks ago, and it’s awesome. So, what is ‘it’? Here it is:
There’s 7 appys, all either $3 or $5 dolla. Holla! They should call this recession hour. And it delivers big time. Ya got yer Pulled Pork Quesadilla ($5) with Fontina Cheese, awesome Spicy Chipotle Aioli and Pickled Jalepenos. Inspired (we feel) by VdV, the Deep Fried Mac & Cheese Balls ($5), 5 ping-pong sized balls that sit in a Roasted Tomato Sauce bath. Yum! The Buttermilk Onion Rings ($5) are the way they are meant to be: Big, fat rings, with lotsa onion, a nice crunch and just a little sweetness from the milk. Nice. Plus, the onion doesn’t sneak out of the coating when you take a bite. Feel me? You know, when you take one bite, and the entire onion slips right out of the coating? That pisses me off. Anyhoo, doesn’t happen here and they come with a zippy little Kansas City Style BBQ sauce.
Other notables: Deviled Eggs ($3), two eggs (no not one egg cut in two, you actually get 4 pieces), with a nice smooth glob of devil inside. Not too much mustard like many deviled eggs have. Nice and simple with a dash of Smoked Paprika. Jerk Chicken Skewers ($5) with a nice cool Cucumber Salad, Popcorn ($3) with Bacon and Chedda seasoning. Mmm mmm. And last but not least the trusty Corn Nuts ($3) with Habanero Lime Powder.
So ya think were done, don’t ya? Not so fast, kittens. What’s a Happy Hour without bevvie specials? Not very happy, that’s what. So master mixologist Peter Kedas whipped up 1/2 dozen killer drink specials, all $5 a pop. Woo Hoo! Some of our faves? the Juan Collins, with Tequila, Cilantro Syrup, Sweet & Sour and Soda Water. This puppy has a dayglo green hue, and the cilantro syrup really kicks it up a notch. The other J’s go-to is the Brooklyn Bridge, with Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, Bitters and…wait for it…Sparkling Wine. Like a Manhattan with bubbly attitude. Also try the What’s Kraken? with Kraken Black Spiced Rum, Fat Tire Amber Ale with a Cinnamon Sugar Rim. We wanted to call it Phil My Fat Kraken but were vetoed. Oh well. There’s also the Ginger Snap, Lavender Lemon Drop, and the Obligatory, with Gin, Pomegranate Liquer, Muddled Cucumber, Grapefruit Juice and 7-Up. Try ‘em all! Then call a taxi.
VdV proclaims this the Best Happy Hour in ‘Da Hood.
Happy Hour hours:
Mon-Fri 4p-6p (not during Pac Bell Park events)