Beloved local bar claims its happy hour is the best in Canada so we put it to the test
I love a happy hour. My siren songs are splitting appies amongst friends, dishing with co-workers over a cold drink, or enjoying a cool cocktail on the patio. And saving money in the process? Yes, please.
But, as the cost of living rises, so do the price tags on my beloved happy hour menus. Or worse, the available offerings are narrowed down to the things I don’t even want in the first place (sorry, house wine, it’s not you — it’s me). A hefty bill for small portions doesn’t feel like much of a reward after a long day.
So, when I heard that El Furniture Warehouse claims to be the only Canadian restaurant doing happy hour “the right way,” I knew I had to try it for myself.
Making happy hour great again
El Furniture Warehouse has a reputation for being an affordable night out without sacrificing fun or taste. Open late in prime locations, it’s also a hotspot for service industry workers looking for a true post-shift hangout.
I’ve been known to swing by from time to time on my nights out — because really, where else can you get a cocktail for $8?
To be honest, this was my first time visiting El Furniture Warehouse in broad daylight. I was greeted by a friendly bartender who brought me water and a large menu. When I asked for the happy hour menu, he said, “Everything is available for happy hour.”
Turns out, from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, all food on the menu is just $6.95. Not just appetizers or a select few bar snacks. Everything.
Expectations vs. reality
Kendall Bistretzan (Daily Hive)
I figured I’d start with the spinach dip and yam fries before settling on a main dish. What can I say — I’m a sucker for a good appetizer. When my food was brought out, I realized I may have been in a bit over my head. I was expecting the sizes to reflect the price, but that was not the case. Both plates had enough food to share, and I was just feeding myself!
Both were delicious and tasted just like the spinach dip and yam fries I’ve eaten at other bars, but at those bars, I’d be paying roughly twice as much. I happily munched away on my dip and yam fries, reading my book and sipping an Aperol Spritz.
Eventually, a server walked by carrying a steaming dish that looked like bacon mac and cheese, and I realized with disappointment that I was too full to order it for myself! It, like everything else on the food menu, would’ve only been $6.95. Same with the mushroom melt burger, Baja fish tacos, and poke bowl. All fulfilling meals that cost less than an oatmilk latte.
Safe to say, El Furniture Warehouse delivered on its promise of a true happy hour. In their words, “Happy hour used to mean something,” and they’re looking to make Canadians believe in it once more.
Visit Tuesday through Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. for happy hour pricing, and I might just see you there — I gotta go back to try that mac and cheese, after all.
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