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| - Over a year passed since I had last stopped by Houlihan's. A friend recommended coming here for happy hour. Based on my prior experiences, I knew to keep my expectations low. Instead, I had a great time. I came back a few days later and had another pleasant meal. As far as chain restaurants go, Houlihan's ranks well above average. I've skimmed the other reviews, and I can't be sure if I've just been lucky, but I certainly didn't suffer the problems of other customers (e.g., bland food, poor service).
Lunch options are generously portioned and reasonably priced. Complimentary soup or salad is served with entrees, sandwiches/wraps, and pizzas. I've tried the baked potato soup and chicken tortilla soup and have trouble picking a favorite; both are savory and very thick/hearty. If you're concerned about skimpy salads, each of the signature salads come with a healthy proportion of greens-to-"toppings" (candied pecans, Gorgonzola cheese, chicken, etc.).
The tapas-style menu really makes this a fun spot for happy hour. There are a LOT of options here (more than 40+), ranging in size from small to medium to entree-size. You'll find something, even if you're a picky eater (and Houlihan's takes special consideration if you mention being gluten-intolerant, vegetarian/vegan, etc.). I love being able to pick out a few things to share with friends, but I can also see this as a great option if you have a light appetite and want truly modest portions of rich mashed potatoes or filling pasta. (Or if you have a diverse appetite and just want to eat bites of a lot of different things!) You can get small, "appetizer"-sized portions of their mac-and-cheese (yum!), grilled skewers, asparagus salad, and white bean hummus (DELISH). I eat hummus as an appetizer at many places, and while they vary in success, I found Houlihan's hummus with grilled pita to be plate-lickingly GOOD (surprising especially for a chain!).
The other essential element for happy hour are drinks, and Houlihan's is stocked with a full bar, along with a menu of suggested cocktails. Some of these drinks are more sophisticated, compared to the corn-syrupy messes you get served at most chain restaurants. For women watching their weight, Houlihan's also serves a number of fruity drinks from the "Skinny Girl" brand (great for minimizing the damage that restaurants can do to your diet).
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