Bobby’s Restaurant And Jazz Lounge: A Happy Hour Hot Spot

It’s always a challenge to stay motivated at work the week after the holidays. The cure: mid-week happy hour! To help me through my hump-day blues, I joined a friend at Bobby’s Restaurant and Jazz Lounge at Kierland Commons for a drink and a few appetizers.

At first thought, the perception of Bobby’s would be that it would be a bit pricey for a quick drink after work. However, its happy hour menu offers a great variety of food with even better pricing.

Available only in the lounge, the appetizers range from $3.50 to $8, and cocktails start at $4. In addition to the food and spirits, there is also live entertainment every night of the week.

When I entered into the restaurant and headed up the ornate staircase, I was slightly concerned that I was underdressed, but I was wrong. Once I entered the lounge, I immediately felt like I was in a local jazz bar — but with much better décor. The service was friendly and prompt; the lounge was almost full, and the live jazz music was about to start.

We surveyed the menu and decided on the following:

Kalamata Olive Hummus

Served with cucumbers and gluten-free rice and seed crackers, the portion was large, and the hummus had just the right amount of kalamata to make it unique. However, the rice and seed crackers had such a strong flavor that it almost overpowered the taste of the hummus. When we received the bread served with the dinner, I was able to enjoy the hummus with the more mild bread. I would order it again but ask for a different choice of cracker.

Butternut Squash Ravioli

Served with a light tomato sauce, tomatoes, butter, parmesan and sage, this appetizer is amazing. The mix of the squash and sage was more unique than any butternut squash recipe I have tasted. I would order this dish over and over.

Bruschetta

Bobby’s version is served with a large portion of diced tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic and Italian bread. Like all of the other dishes, the bruschetta portion was large enough to share with more than two people. The tomatoes were full of flavor, and the basil was fresh. The bread was drizzled with just enough balsamic to compliment the rest of the ingredients. Although it was a simple dish, it was done well.

Mac and Cheese

I wanted to sample something more traditional and ordered mac and cheese — my trusty comfort food of choice. It was what you would expect in a mac and cheese dish. It had a great, sharp cheese flavor and was served with spiral pasta. It was a great accompaniment to the rest of our order.

From start to finish, Bobby’s was a great choice for happy hour. It is a perfect location to start off a date or meet your significant other after work. The elegant décor and live music gave it a classy feel without going overboard. The bartenders are friendly, and the service was great. Aside from their weekly happy hour, they also do a Ladies Night every Tuesday in the lounge offering discounted cocktails.

If you need a little mid-week fun, Bobby’s could be the right spot for your next outing.

Bobby’s rating:

Food: 5 out of 5
Service: 5 out of 5
Atmosphere: 5 out of 5