The Spot: Last Drop Bar 5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley 602-955-7878 www.hermosainn.com
The Hours: Happy Hour is offered Monday through Friday from 4 until 7 p.m.
The Interior: Somewhere between a plush resort and a Southwestern lodge, Last Drop's elegantly rustic bar and lounge area is the staycation of happy hour hot spots in town. The surrounding mountains and ambiently lit patio area make for a great escape after a long day at work. The menu specializes in a different happy hour every day, like Mixology Mondays, Wine Wednesdays and Street Taco Thursdays, making each day unique and worth the post-shift drop-in.
The Food: We stopped into Last Drop on a Friday, and the happy hour feature was the house specialty burger and your choice of local draft beer for $16. The burger is pretty much everything you could ask for--with a big, juicy meaty patty, a soft, but sturdy bun and luxe toppings like locally-made goat cheese, bacon and a chipotle aoli. You also get your choice of a greens salad or fries. Though the fries, in our opinion, were a bit underseasoned, the salad was a nice, light option that was dressed to perfection.
If burgers aren't your thing, try out the "Tree-O" menu, where you select three appetizers (normally priced between $8 and $14) and get a tree of half orders for $15. While the tree presentation is a little kitschy, it's a great way to try out a bunch of different items on Last Drop's tasty menu. The crispy truffle ricotta croquettes and duck confit empanadas with mole are some of our favorites.
The Drink: Regardless of if it's a Mixology Monday, when the unique and delicious specialty cocktails that LDB are known for are only $8, or a Wine Wednesday, when select glasses are half-priced, Last Drop's happy hour always offers $6 local drafts, well drinks and glasses of wine. While this is certainly not the best deal on craft pints, wine or wells in town, you're basically paying for the ambiance, which is worth it if you need a break from the hustle and bustle of living in the city.
The Conclusion: While we weren't blown away by the drink prices for happy hour, the quality and selection on the food menu is worth the visit to Last Drop Bar. If they made the drink pricing more competitive with other happy hours in town, we're sure this spot would be packed every evening. Until then, we'll drop in occasionally for cocktails on Monday, burgers and beer on Friday and a selection of tasty appetizers anytime.
Grade: A-
