McCormick & Schmick's Happy Hour $1.95 Bar Menu

Meeting some colleagues there tomorrow after work. Anyone have any experiences with the $1.95 bar menu? In particular, I'm wondering about the baja fish tacos.
http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/media/Bar_Menu.pdf

What are the hours for this special? Their food is typically high quality, relatively low-frills.

Santander wrote:Their food is typically high quality...

The last two times I was there for lunch, the fish I had (which was different each time) was overcooked and dry. You'd think a place that served practically nothing but fish wouldn't do that! Anyway, the story might be different at dinner--it's been a while since I've had dinner there--but that was the story at lunch. (Which is why it'll be a while longer before I'm back.)

Edited to add this is the Rush St. location I'm talking about. Might be different elsewhere.

Santander wrote:What are the hours for this special? Their food is typically high quality, relatively low-frills.

At both locations below, the bar menu is served from 3:30-6:00 and then again starting at 9:30. On Chestnut, it's 9:30p-12, M-Th and until 1am when they're open later. I think the Wacker location closes earlier, so I don't know how late the bar menu is served there.

41 East Chestnut Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611
(312) 397-9500

One East Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 923-7226

Going to the new Oak Brook location. I should add that we are not eating a regular dinner. Just hanging out in the bar. I just know I'll get hungry though.

Eric wrote:Meeting some colleagues there tomorrow after work. Anyone have any experiences with the $1.95 bar menu? In particular, I'm wondering about the baja fish tacos.
http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/media/Bar_Menu.pdf

I've never had them in Chicago, but I've done it 3-4 times when I lived in DC. My general reaction was you get what you pay for- it ain't terrible but it's not going to wow you or even think this is really good.

Eric wrote:Going to the new Oak Brook location. I should add that we are not eating a regular dinner. Just hanging out in the bar. I just know I'll get hungry though.

I have not been to the new Oak Brook location, but may give it a try in the near future. The $1.95 Bar Menu on the website looks like a "sample" menu -- complete with disclaimer stating that it may not reflect the actual happy hour bar menu. However, some of the items listed look to be a steal at $1.95. At that price point, you practically could sample everything on the menu on that particular day.

I ate at M&S during happy hour a couple months ago before a show. I agree with jpschust. It's a nice spot to hit for a few drinks and to get a good amount of food cheaply. I had half a cheeseburger, some fish tacos, and some wings. They were all decent. I would go back if I was in the area and looking for a snack and some cocktails but I wouldn't go out of my way to get there. It was very lively. They had a band playing on the patio and people were up and dancing. That was during the height of summer, though. I am not sure what the scene would be like now.

i've been to the MS Happy Hour quite a few times. The sentiment that "you get what you pay for" is quite true. However, the 1/2lb burger and fries is a lot more than what you pay for. It's an incredible deal. Keep in mind that you have to order a minimum of 2 drinks to be able to take advantage of the cheap menu.

You know...i thought it was a pretty good deal, actually. I wasn't buying so free food is free food but the burgers were okay...and the quesadillas were actually tasty. Didn't have the fish tacos. I don't particularly like McCormick and Schmick -- I think it's food with no imagination or zing. But it's not horrible.

Adam and I visited M&S a few months ago. He liked the burger more than I did...I wouldn't waste the calories, personally.

http://chicagoburgerproject.blogspot.co ... micks.html

riddlemay wrote:You'd think a place that served practically nothing but fish wouldn't do that!

I've given them (M&S) two tries.
The shrimp in the shrimp cocktail
were wet and rubbery. The fish
entrée was just "eh" bland. Those
were just the first of a list of negatives
that came to mind.
So, yeah, fool me once...

I think it's food with no imagination or zing

That, I agree with, but at least at the Oak Brook location (I was at a bachelor party and then a wedding rehearsal dinner there), I think the basic quality of the ingredients was good for the pricepoint, certainly better than some of the other "high-end" chains. But both times I went with turf over surf, and so have only experienced the appetizery seafood items, which were competent but basic.

SCUBAchef wrote:

riddlemay wrote:You'd think a place that served practically nothing but fish wouldn't do that!

I've given them (M&S) two tries.
The shrimp in the shrimp cocktail
were wet and rubbery. The fish
entrée was just "eh" bland. Those
were just the first of a list of negatives
that came to mind.
So, yeah, fool me once...

Rush street location, the specials are ONLY valid with a 2 drink min.

2 way overpriced drinks.

Used to be just 1 drink requirement. The cajun burger was decent w/a $3 coke. Now you are looking at a $12 check for your $2 special.

Actually, that burger was no more worthy than a Bennigan's type---and they used to give you a hard time if you ordered it anything but medium well. Between that, the smoky bar, and the fact that you are sitting around with the Rush street mafiosa, a Big and Tasty is a faster $2 fix---that actually -costs- $2.

I'm a beer guy, so I had a couple Bass Ales. The beers were not priced that bad for a restaurant at $4.75 for a pint.

Had the cajun burger for $1.95 and it was pretty good for what it was, a no frills burger. It's advertised as 1/2 pound and I believe it actually was. The fries were not that bad either. We split an order of blackened fish tacos. Although they were not on the $1.95 menu, but rather $3.95, they were still pretty good.

I'd go back for an after work bar thing.