Secret's out: Half-price happy hour at Pintxo in Belltown

Happy Hour |

Friday evening in Belltown, and the crowd is large and ready to unwind. It's happy hour, after all, and the 5 o'clock stampede into bars and restaurants begins, and the parking spaces are scarce.

Here's where to be while it's still sort of a secret: The new happy hour at Pintxo, where every nosh, from spicy lamb meatballs to Tortilla Española, is half-off.

Pintxo is where Txori used to be. The latter featured San Sebastián fare before it closed in April. Pintxo is kinda Basque-influenced and kinda traditional-tapas-influenced. An outdoor sidewalk seating area has been added.

There's a plate of three quail eggs, served sunny-side up, atop some sweet, 18-month-aged serrano ham and sausage on toast. Ignore the cry from nearby tables of how cute these miniature fried eggs look, and gobble them up, a rich and porky delight.

Lots of good sausage to be had, like the seared Catalan sausage with a peppery sauce. Or the blood sausage with chocolate shavings. Ignore the wilted popcorn with it.

The juicy and garlicky prawns are a good call. The herbaceous-but-dry pork in the slider is not.

About 20 items to choose from, and most range from $2 to $4 during happy hour. Bring three friends, and you can cover the entire menu for less than $20 each.

Pintxo, 2207 Second Ave., Seattle, offers happy hour daily from 4-6 p.m. and again from 10 p.m.-midnight, with everything on the menu (bite-sized snacks, small plates and sandwiches) half-off ($1-$4.50) and drink specials including beer, well drinks and sangria from $2-$4.50 (206-441-4042 or www.pintxoseattle.com).

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