I’ve been to the new Wild Salsa place downtown a couple of times and haven’t had any complaints (save for the dance music that drove me nervous). A friend of mine, though, relays some details from a recent meal there that I find disturbing. He went during happy hour to have dinner with his family and to avail himself of the aforementioned hour of happiness. He ordered a well bourbon and was informed by the waiter that happy-hour pricing did not extend into the dining room. Only those seated in the bar area are allowed to be happy. STRIKE ONE. Happy hour is not like a City Council district. It is not meant to be gerrymandered. It’s more of an “at large” situation in my book. Happy hour extends from the front door to the back door and includes the restrooms and kitchen, should you find yourself needing to visit either.
Fine. My friend rushes through dinner so that he can relocate his family to the bar area and order a drink. He orders the well bourbon, Jim Beam, on the rocks. Well drinks are $4 during happy hour. Guess what he finds on his bill, though. He finds that his drink cost him not $4 but, instead, $5. Reason being: he was charged $1 for the ice. STRIKE TWO. We do not live in France. We live in America. And here in America, ice is like suffrage. You don’t get charged for it. Maybe if you’re serving Scotch with those special ice balls made with water drawn from the same spring that feeds Loch Ness, THEN you can charge $1 for it. Otherwise, ice must be free.
Wild Salsa, you’re on notice.
