Happy Hour | Mini-burger paradise at ART Lounge

Happy Hour |

Those famous sliders may have a new name, but happy-hour revelers who spot them — and revel in them — know them only as Cascadia mini-burgers.

Cascadia closed last year, but those burgers are back, relocated to the ART Lounge inside the Four Seasons downtown. When chef Kerry Sear closed Belltown's Cascadia to work for the luxury hotel chain, he broke the hearts of foodies everywhere, people who'd made those mini-burgers part of their after-work ritual.

Sear's ground hanger steak mini-burgers were originally conceived in 1999 for the children's menu, but arguably became the most influential bar food in Seattle, with Cascadia's bar packed every evening because of them. Bars around the area started rolling out mini-burgers and sliders soon after.

ART Lounge hasn't tinkered with those juicy mini-burgers, which come three per order, best served medium-rare. Top them off with sauteed mushrooms or Beecher's Cheddar cheese for an additional 50 cents. And though it's not on the happy-hour menu, you can add truffle butter or pancetta for $1.

The ART Lounge, 99 Union St., inside the Four Seasons Hotel, has happy hour 5-7 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, when the "mini-burgers trio" and other bar food, beer, selected wine and cocktails all cost $5 (206-749-7070 or www.artrestaurantseattle.com).

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com