Happiest Hour in Glover Park
- Chris Jones
- Jul 23
- 4 min read
Are you weary of paying $50-$100 per person to go out for a nice meal in the evening? Are you frustrated by those service charges added to your bill these days? Did you know that five of Glover Park’s restaurants offer great happy hour or daily specials, so that you can dine out as often as you wish?
Yes, inflation has hit the restaurant industry (and their customers) hard, through higher rent, food prices, and labor costs. In addition, the delivery trend, crime and lingering pandemic effects continue to negatively impact restaurant profitability. On top of that, DC’s Initiative 82 has added to the difficulties. As is often the case of well-intentioned DC legislation, unintended consequences emerge if the impact is not fully evaluated. I-82 became law in 2022 with 74% direct voter support as a ballot measure, and phases out the tip credit incrementally each year by raising the minimum wage from $5.05 to be on par with non-tipped at $15.20 in 2027 (though the minimum already stands at $17.95). The tip credit currently brings the base wage up to at least the minimum wage while allowing the tipped employees to earn more. The minimum tipped employee wage currently sits at $12.00.
In theory, the intention was to level the playing field by having one minimum wage for everyone. Sounds noble, though it is having a devastating effect on DC restaurants. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington stated in May that, “Our latest industry survey found that 44% of full-service casual restaurants in D.C. expect to close by the end of 2025.” Restaurants have had no choice but to raise prices and hope their customers don’t fade away. It is now common to see “service charges” of 1-5% added to restaurant bills covering the increased labor costs. Some restaurants add a high fixed mandatory fee called a “hospitality charge” in lieu of an optional tip to ensure they cover the increase.
So, it’s clear that restaurant owners and customers don’t like I-82, but has it helped the employees it intended to help – those tipped wage earners? Yes and no. The Employment Policy Institute estimates that 4,000 restaurant jobs already have been lost as a result. The forecast is for even greater losses if I-82 remains in place. In an EPI survey of restaurant employees, they say on average they are worse off than before. Yet, that means a portion of tipped employees are better off now. DCist wrote an article in 2023 where they interviewed employees both better off and worse off as a result of I-82. Many servers and bartenders say their total wages have dropped because their tips have been negatively impacted by more than the increase in their base wage. Patrons are confused or put off by the service charges and are tipping less, there are fewer customers, smaller checks, and employees are forced to accept shorter shifts so restaurants can save money. The effect has been so alarming that Mayor Muriel Bowser now opposes it and seeks its repeal. In June the Council voted to freeze the wage increases until they can further evaluate the law and proposals for change. The Council does have the power to repeal voter-approved ballot measures that have become law through the popular vote.
Whew, that was a long-winded way of getting to the good stuff – the great deals at Glover Park restaurants! No need to worry about inflation or I-82. Here is the run-down where you can have a happy hour at a different Glover Park restaurant five days a week (then take a couple of days off to exercise). Menu specials are attached below as PDF’s or posted as photos.
A staple in the neighborhood for 17 years, Breadsoda has Happy Hour every day from 4-6 and all day on Wednesday with specials on beer, wine and spirits. Tuesday is taco night from 4-11, and Wednesday is nacho night from 4-11.
Happy Hour people in-the-know come to this little-known daily event at the outdoor bar at Divino. They have an excellent Happy Hour menu from 4-6 daily. Name me another place where you can get an Old Fashioned or a martini for $7. You can sample their meatballs, pasta, pizza, calamari and more for only $8 a pop. Plus fi’-dolla beer.
The Japanese restaurant that replaced Sushi-Keiko has an excellent Happy Hour $5 and $8 menu from 3:00-6:00 on weekdays. $5 yellowtail roll, $8 sashimi or octopus fritters, $5 beer, wine or spirits, $8 sake or lychee cosmo, and much more. Bar seating is available.
Rocklands doesn’t have a “Happy Hour” per se, because every hour is happy at Rocklands. Instead they have daily specials with a twist – buy a beer and get free food! Every day of the week has a special. For example: buy a beer on Monday and get a free chopped pork slider. Buy a beer on Wednesday and get three free wings. And don’t miss the fi’-dolla wine and Right Proper days.
Inflation has pushed chicken prices through the coop roof. Yet, Wingo's still offers their $1 wings daily – Sat/Sun from 12-4 and Mon-Fri 4-7. It’s a loss leader, and it keeps the customers in napkins. The $1 wings are flying away almost everywhere else. Fi’ dolla wine on Wednesdays, regular and rotating beer, mixed drink and food specials – check their social media on day of visit.
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