Julio's

With two Metro locations (123rd & West Center and 510 S. 13th Street) Julio’s offers Tex-Mex cuisine with homemade touches. Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 3 pm - 6 pm with a Reverse 9 pm to 12 midnight option on Friday and Saturday. Specials include $2 soft tacos, $3 house margaritas, $6 nachos and more. The interior of Julio’s West Omaha location is welcoming with a large bar area and Tex-Mex decor. They have a small patio area, service is prompt and the wait staff is helpful.

I started with the peach margarita ($4) which was very refreshing. It came in a nice glass but was a bit smaller than I expected. Wasn’t super strong but the waitress only charged me $3 for it.

I ordered the queso dipsters ($3: house queso dip and chips) which I really enjoyed. Finally a queso that doesn’t taste like Velveeta and doesn’t turn into a rubbery blob when cold. I love Julio’s homemade tortilla chips, but this visit half the plate had regular store-bought type chips.

My soft taco ($2: ground beef, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and guacamole) was a nice size and had lots of filling. I was surprised they included guacamole inside but it was a good choice for me as I love guac. You may want to ask for it to be left off if you feel differently, they don’t ask if you want it beforehand.

Finally I had a small order of the Works nachos ($8: ground beef, refried beans, homemade chips, jalapenos, cheddar cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, guacamole and black olives). This thing was not small, but literally a mound of gooey cheese and chips. It’s almost impossible to tear apart by hand as the cheese causes everything to stick together. It . Is . DELICIOUS. The chips are just the right thickness to support everything on the plate. For $8 you can even split this between a meal and snack for later. And they don’t skimp on the other ingredients in favor of lots of chips and cheese.

I give Julio’s 4.5 smiles. All of the food was delicious but I was a little disappointed with the margarita. Great HH prices for the amount of food you get.

Leadbelly (Lincoln)

Leadbelly, located in Lincoln’s Haymarket (301 N. 8th Street), offers Contemporary American Cuisine. Happy Hour is Monday - Friday from 3p-6p, Friday and Saturday 10p-close and Sunday until 5p. Theirs is a drinks only HH with $1 off tap beer, $3 Rumplemintz and Fireball shots, $1 off wells and $4 Jameson.

The interior of Leadbelly is nice. A lot of wood and a large bar with open seating. Although it has a “hipster” reputation because of their food offerings and the wait staff, every time I visit the place is filled with older couples/friends and families. It’s a little dark in here which seems to be a restaurant trend currently. The patio is nice and wraps around two sides of the restaurant.

I tried both my usual Jameson and Ginger here as well as a Jameson Pineapple. Both great drinks for $4 and they didn’t skimp on the booze so you don’t have to order more than two or three if you’re looking for a buzz.

Even though it wasn’t on special I also got an order of guacamole and chips ($5.49: includes housemade salsa and white cheddar; choice of crisp corn or flour tortillas). The chips had a nice crunch to them and tasted homemade. The white cheddar was an interesting addition, didn’t think I’d care for it at first (I’m a bit of a guacamole purist) but it was a nice, mellow addition to the flavor profile. Their appetizers are reasonably priced so I recommend trying them out, even without any discount.

I give Leadbelly 5 smiles. I’m a bit biased since I love Jameson, but their other specials cater to most bar-goers as well. Their HH is straight to the point, perfect for those days where you just need a drink or two.

Fleming's Steakhouse

Flemings Steakhouse Happy Hour Review

Fleming's Steakhouse is located at 140 Regency Pkwy in Omaha, NE. Happy Hour is every day! Yes, happy people every day from 5 to 7pm and 8 to 10pm (Monday thru Saturday). From 5 to 7pm (aka 5 $5 till 7,) offers 5 selections of wine, cocktails, bar plates and desserts. From 8 to 10pm (aka 8 $8 till 10) offers 8 selections of wine, cocktails, and bar plates. Happy Hour is located at the bar only.

Fleming's Steakhouse is a fine dining restaurant in the Regency Omaha area. Upon entering the establishment, I was taken aback of how dark the dining area is. Each table had candlelight, and a dim spotlight for you to see your meal. Perfect for the “romantic date night” or simple solo meal to refresh your mind with a glass of wine. I so happen to do the solo meal. It was my favorite one to date.

I attended the 8 for $8 till 10 Happy Hour. I loved how they have Happy Hour every day and offers it twice a day. To start, I had the Peach Harvest Mule (Svedka peach vodka, Fever Tree ginger beer, lush tropical aromas balanced with bright stone fruit, and ginger spice). I loved how the drink came in an actual mule cup and the taste…. amazing. First you get a splash of peach then boom the ginger! The ginger did not empower the drink.

For food, I started with the Ahi Tuna Tacos (3 pieces). Absolutely delicious. Every single bite you get tons of flavor. My favorite was the shell. It reminded me of a cantina shell and it had lime and other citrus flavors baked in. The tuna was fresh and the daikon root vegetable was the perfect topping. What I didn’t like was the fact that the lime they left for garnish was stone dry. Took tons of pressure to release the juice.

Secondly, was the Short Rib Empanadas paired with poblano cream sauce. Unfortunately, it reminded me of a southwestern egg roll.  Also, the outer crust was a little hard for my liking.

Last but not least, Warm Cinamon-Dusted Donuts paired with homemade lemon curd and blueberries. A great way to end my experience at Flemings. The donuts were hot and fresh. I do wish it had a little bit more cinnamon. The donuts with the fruit curds were divine. I actually ate the blueberry one by itself.

Overall, I give Flemings SteakHouse 4 Smiles. Great food and awesome selections!

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill (VillagePoint)

Located in VillagePoint, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill (17415 Chicago Street, Omaha) offers Rustic American food to enjoy while catching up with friends or colleagues. Happy Hour is from 4 pm to 6:30 pm Monday through Friday in the FIREBAR and on their impressive patio. Specials include bar bites such as crispy mahi tacos and tenderloin sliders, $2 off draft beer, $4 well drinks and $5 FIREBAR signature martinis, margaritas, cocktails and select glasses of wine. Some of their signature drinks are seasonal so expect great, fresh flavors.

The FIREBAR’s interior is a little dark. Lots of wood paneling, a pretty sturdy fully stocked bar and impressive fireplace make it feel cozy and warm. The patio is very open, perfect for the summertime as it faces away from the freeway. Worth the jaunt out to VillagePoint.

I ordered a Blood Orange Negroni ($5: Bluecoat American Gin, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Aperol and Carpano Sweet Vermouth) which the bartender warned was very strong (more accurately he skeptically asked if I liked strong drinks, because 5’3 140lb women can’t possibly want strong drinks. Insert side eye). Again this signature drink was a seasonal selection, so the blood orange liqueur was a great addition to this negroni (pretend we are in California). I’m more of a whiskey/bourbon girl but this drink slightly converted my stance on gin. Would have liked a touch more Aperol but overall, a great choice.

For my first bar bite I ordered the pretzels and Samuel Adams beer cheese ($5). I’m not crazy about pretzels in general but I love beer cheese. This particular dish inspired the opposite feelings. I really liked how soft these pretzels were and they were a good size. They also weren't drowned in salt. I didn't really like the beer cheese. It gave me a weird aftertaste, but I’m also not crazy about Sam Adams as a standalone beer.

Next were the Cajun BBQ shrimp ($6). These were huge and you get six of them so definitely worth the price. Super juicy as well. The BBQ sauce had a bit of kick to it, would have liked a bit more as it was “Cajun” BBQ. The toast that accompanies it was so delicious by itself, I almost wanted to ask for more.

I give Firebirds 5 smiles. They had a great variety of drinks and I love the seasonal component to many of them. The shrimp were delicious and I love their patio. I excuse the beer cheese since I’m not a Sam Adams lover, someone else may find this delicious. Next time you get off a bit early during the week, consider heading out West for a phenomenal happy hour.

Nite Owl Omaha

Located in Omaha’s Blackstone District, Nite Owl (3902 Farnam Street) is the perfect haunt for after work drinks or late night eats (their kitchen is open until 2 am). Happy Hour is from 3pm to 6pm Monday through Friday. Specials include sliders, fries and tots, $1 off tap beer and both classic cocktails and rotating house cocktails.

The interior of Nite Owl is a hybrid of updated dive bar and speakeasy. Lots of wood throughout with a focus on their rather large bar. All ordering is done there which may throw you off a bit if you don’t read the menu on your table first (Thank you for ordering at the bar is mentioned everywhere). It was rather dark inside, but they are working on an outside patio which I’m excited for (yay more dog friendly patios at restaurants/bars). They put a lot of care into your drink order and the bar setup allows you to see every step. Food came out hot and pretty promptly.

I went with the Toronto ($6: rye whiskey, fernet branca, demerara) on this first visit which is one of their Classics. Again, it’s apparent that a lot of time went into perfecting these cocktail recipes. The fernet wasn’t overpowering and the finish was perfect. A few of these would definitely get the job done.

I LOVE that Nite Owl offers tots ($3: includes house aioli). I totally expected a small side order of tater tots similar to fast food drive thrus but that wouldn’t cut it at this joint. You literally get a tray full (think high school lunch trays) of hot and fresh tater tots. Just the right amount of salt and the aioli is delicious. Even my friend who prefers french fries liked my tots better. There were so many I got to take some with me and give them the microwave reheat test (they passed).

I also ordered the birdhouse slider ($3: fried chicken, honey-sriracha sauce, southern bacon slaw) which came out on a cool little glass dish. The chicken was crispy on the outside even with the sauce and slaw on top and juicy on the inside. I love the honey-sriracha, not too spicy and reminded me of the hot honey trend I’ve been seeing. Plus how can you hate sriracha on chicken. I am not really a slaw person but it made sense on this sandwich. I would have liked a slightly less rough chop on the lettuce, the slider size just made the slaw pieces seem to be too much.

I give Nite Owl 5 smiles. I will be back to try some more cocktails and for another slider and tot order. I’m also excited to try their regular menu items and spend a warm summer day on their patio with a boozy slushie (coming soon) and my dog.

Horsemen's Park

Horsemen’s Park is located on 6306 Q Street, West of 72nd. Horsemen’s Park is a unique Horse Racing Track and simulcast facility. With live racing 3 days a week and live simulcast coast to coast 7 days a week Horsemen’s has a lot to offer. Horsemen is not only known for its critically acclaimed horse racing, but the inexpensive delicious food. Happy Hour is Monday-Wednesday from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, $2 16 oz draws, $2 domestic beers, and my favorite $2 well drinks.  Along with the Happy Hour specials, there's also nightly dinner deals after 5pm. Tuesday is .40 cent wings, Wednesdays $6.95 flat iron steak, Thursdays $1 tacos (or 3 for $2.75), S4.95 nachos, $2 margaritas, and 2 coronas. Fridays are $8.95 prime rib dinner

Walking into Horsemen's all I saw at first was numerous tv's and mini cubicles. Men and women watching the latest races and betting money and people walking around with wads of cash in their hand. I knew this was the place to be. Most of the crowd was middle-age to senior. But I was diggin it.

I so happened to visit Horsemen’s Park on a Thursday. The first thing I tried was the $2 Margarita. I had the option of having it on the rocks or frozen. I chose frozen of course! The plus side they had multiple flavors. If you know me you know I love Strawberry. This margarita, of course, came from a mix, but I couldn’t complain because it was only $2. I would prefer for it to have more tequila but again…its $2 not much room for complaints.

Next we decided to get the tacos. You can either get them hard or soft. We chose both with chicken and beef. The soft chicken taco was a little plain. It would’ve been better if the chicken had a bit more seasoning to it.All I could really taste was the lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes.  The hard shell beef taco was plain as well, had to add some salsa to get some taste. We also had the nachos. The nachos came with shredded cheese, beef, and pile high toppings. Overall I give Horsemen’s 3 smiles. I adore the atmosphere and $2 margaritas! But the meat needs much need flavor.

RA Sushi (Leawood, KS)

With various locations in nine states RA Sushi • Bar • Grill is a Japanese fusion sushi bar. Their menu includes signature sushi rolls, a full grill menu and bar. I reviewed the Leawood, Kansas location (11638 Ash Street) during a recent weekend trip. Happy Hour is Monday - Friday 3pm to 7pm and Sunday 8pm to close with a reverse option Monday - Saturday 10pm to close. Discounts include select sushi and appetizers like pineapple cheese wontons and the Viva Las Vegas roll as well as drink specials.

I liked the exterior of RA as well as the location (it was conveniently right next to the hotel I was staying in) immediately. You could see the sushi bar as soon as you walked in which was nice and there was tons of seating. We went during reverse HH on a Saturday so much of the bar seating was taken already. We ended up at an awkward railing type of seat that forced us to spread out, causing us to not really talk as it was harder to hear each other. The interior was nicely designed, but a bit too dark lighting wise. Our waitress took our order promptly and the wait time wasn't too bad.

I started with the white peach sake sangria ($7: cordials, cold sake, fruit juice) which was pretty good. Not terribly strong, which was helpful after Power & Light the night before, and fresh. Would have liked a few pieces of peach in the sangria.

My first roll was the shrimp tempura roll ($6.89: shrimp tempura, spicy crab mix and cucumber) which arrived in 5 pieces. Really liked the crab mix, hated the tempura batter. The bits of cucumber on the end pieces were a bit too big to eat in one piece so I ended up taking them out. Gagged a little when I discovered the shrimp tail on the end piece still had its shell.

Next was the crunchy calamari roll ($5.89: calamari tempura, crab mix and cream cheese rolled and topped with spinach tempura bits; served with sweet eel sauce). I didn't get much of the tempura batter in this one, which could be a good thing (because I hated it) or a bad thing (did that mean i didn't get much actual calamari). Was expecting this roll to be a bit more flavorful, which it wasn't. The spinach tempura pieces looked fun, but you don’t really taste them at all.

I give RA 3 smiles. Overall I didn't love this place, but they had quite a few HH appetizers that I’d be interested in trying. I’d also try a few of their non-HH rolls. The drink was good and the service/atmosphere helped tip the scales a bit as well.