Back in the good ol’ days of the late '90s and early Aughts, there were a number of restaurants that catered to a late crowd. They offered drinks and food for people who worked late or went out and wanted somewhere to refuel. Sunset Grill, The Bound’ry, and Rumba were among my favorite places to still get dinner well into the nighttime hours. Sadly, these after-8 establishments are no longer around, even though they were frequently busy, particularly when their late-night menu specials were in effect. Also, sadly, I’m almost never out past 10 p.m. any more.
But for those of you who are, the Oak Bar in the Hermitage Hotel has announced its Reverse Happy Hour. If you don’t get off work in time for traditional happy hours or are out downtown and looking for a great place to hang after a show at the Ryman, TPAC or the Schermerhorn, the Oak Bar is a new option.
Through the end of August, the Oak Bar’s reverse happy hour is Monday through Thursday from 9 to 11 p.m. and features $7 cocktails and glasses of Hermitage Hotel wine, and $4 draft beer as well as food specials. Among the menu items during reverse happy hour are the “FGT” (a sandwich of fried green tomato, pimento cheese and pepper jelly), Gulf shrimp, and truffled Parmesan frites, all for under $9 each, as well as a smoked bologna sandwich or Granny’s Deviled Eggs for $4 each.
The Oak Bar is also known for its elegant interior, extensive selection of bourbon, and, of course, the Art Deco men’s restroom that adjoins the bar and the restaurant, the Capitol Grille. So even if you can’t make it for the Reverse Happy Hour, it’s worth a visit, particularly if you have visitors in town whom you need to entertain.
