When the Whistle Blows

the tablehopper | 11:28 am | August 12, 2008 | Foodie 411

A variety of happy hour and wine deals around town will keep you well lubricated this summer. Down in SoMa, XYZ’s annual wine offer has returned. Have lunch or dinner in XYZ and receive 50% off every bottle from their multiple Wine Spectator award-winning list. Named 2007 Rising Star Sommelier by StarChefs.com, Michael Garcia provides diners with an extensive selection of domestic and international wines, plus organic and biodynamic wines (over 200 bottles!). Want to learn more? You can read all about organic and biodynamic wines in this month’s issue of 944 Magazine written by Michael Garcia. He’ll be happy to suggest pairings with chef Paul Piscopo’s dishes of innovative, seasonal cuisine, featuring local, and organic
ingredients

• 181 3rd St. at Howard St., San Francisco, 415-817-7836

Starting Wednesday, August 13th, Jack Falstaff is launching “Happy Jack Hour” featuring $5 cocktails and $5 nibbles, including Dungeness jalapeno crab cakes, spiced lamb meatballs, house-cut fries with shaved cheddar, and more. Mingle with friends and coworkers while cocktailing al fresco on their enclosed patio or in the lounge.
Happy Jack Hour is every Wednesday–Friday from 5pm–7pm.

• 598 Second St. at Brannan, San Francisco, 415-836-9239

Palio d’Asti is celebrating their eighteenth year in business, which means for the month of August all bottles of wine at dinner with dinner will be half off. Start with some of their delicious free happy hour pizza, sit down for dinner and enjoy half-off wine—and if you’re into cigars, you might want to know they’ve found a source for pre-embargo Cuban cigars (that’s right, they’re old, and legal!), some of which have been aged in sherry casks for 40 years.

• 640 Sacramento St. at Montgomery, San Francisco, 415-395-9800

Don’t forget the Spanish outpost of Laiola in the Marina is celebrating its one-year anniversary with no corkage on Mondays.

• 2031 Chestnut St. at Fillmore, San Francisco, 415-346-5641

The intimate candybar in the Western Addition/NoPa neighborhood launched a tasty happy hour, with $3 Peroni and Fat Tire beers, $4 sangria, $5 select wines, and daily snack specials from chef Boris Portnoy. Some delicious small bites include potatoes confit with romesco sauce ($2), stuffed zucchini blossoms with shrimp mousse ($3), stuffed piquillo peppers with beef cheeks ($3), and a grilled cheese sandwich of Mimolette cheese on brioche. A few sweets on offer will be milk chocolate finger cake ($2), and pistachio nougat chocolate bars ($2). You can also order off the main menu for more substantial plates if you want to stay for dinner, or do a dessert tasting.
Regular hours are Sun–Thu 6pm–10pm
(closed Tue), and Fri–Sat 6pm–12am.

• 1335 Fulton St. at Divisadero, San Francisco, 415-673-7078

The folks at BAR 888 at the InterContinental Hotel in SoMa were inspired by the date of 08/08/08, and so from August 8th–August 31st, you can take your pick from eight grappa drinks for $8.88 each, including two new ones that will be added to the menu.

• InterContinental Hotel San Francisco, 888 Howard St. at Fifth St., San Francisco, 415-616-6566.

Marcia Gagliardi writes a popular weekly e-column about the SF dining scene, “the tablehopper.” Subscribe for free at www.tablehopper.com and get it in your inbox every Tuesday. Got news? Email Marcia at taste@sanfrancisco.travel.