Dvine Bistro & Wine Bar in Mesa: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Dvine Bistro & Wine Bar 
2837 North Power Road, Mesa 
www.dvinebistromesa.com 

The Hours: Happy hour at Dvine runs 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. 

Perfect for: A spring day after hiking when you're craving comfort food and your friend wants veggies.

The Interior: We stepped inside Dvine briefly before heading out to the patio. The inside seemed a little drab, with a decent-sized bar in the corner, but the restaurant has a covered patio with plenty of seating to make up for the uninspiring indoor space. It was well-suited for a spring afternoon, with comfy padded chairs. 
The Food: A pessimist might say Dvine's happy hour menu lacks focus, but an optimist would say it offers a lot of variety. Dishes ran the gamut from an ancho popcorn ($3), a pork buttermilk biscuit sandwich with Gruyere cheese ($6), and sesame-seared tuna with a wasabi aioli ($7).   

A caprese salad ($6) came out quickly, drizzled with balsamic. The tomatoes were perfectly juicy and fresh, and the kitchen didn't skimp on the basil. The mozzarella was a little chewy, but the balsamic gave each component of the salad a nice flavor. 

And despite its cheesy name, the "Pigs in a Blankey" were actually nice, with a spicy andouille sausage link wrapped and baked in puff pastry. The sausage had a decent snap and spice to it, and thankfully didn't set our mouths on fire. It came with what the menu called a "Creole mustard dipping sauce," though it kind of tasted like plain mustard. Still, it was pretty satisfying comfort food.  
The Drink: Dvine offered an interesting craft cocktail list, but none were covered in happy hour. Instead, the spot offered $5 house-made sangria and a discount on beer and wine. All of the restaurant's draft beers are $1 off during happy hour, which include Four Peaks' Kilt Lifter and White Ale. Domestic long-neck bottles (Bud Light, Coors Light, Michelob Ultra, and Beck's Non-Alcoholic) are also discounted by $2. Dvine's wine-by-the-glass list has about 25 different red and white wines, including a few different whites from Germany and four different cabernet sauvignons. Select glasses are $5, and others are $2 off during happy hour. 

We went for the sangria, which is infused with peach schnapps and triple sec, and ended up being way too sweet and too strong. 

Conclusion: Dvine is a pleasant neighborhood spot in a quiet area of Mesa, right off loop 202 and close to Usery Mountain Regional Park. It might not be worth a trek if you don't live nearby, but if you're in the area and yearning for comfort food and a nice patio, Dvine makes a smart choice.

Don't Miss: The really fresh caprese salad. 
Skip This:  Dvine's house sangria

Grade: C