Drink Early and Skip the Squid at Ibiza Dinner Club

The two daily happy hours aren't created equal.

Don’t let the curtains fool you; this place is not as cozy as it looks. Ibiza Dinner Club advertises happy hour Tuesday–Friday 4–6 p.m. and 9 p.m.–close. But be warned: Drink specials are only available during the earlier of those periods. Late-night, in the clubby abyss, straggly-haired hippies crowd Ibiza’s couches, waiting for a hip-swinging flamenco dancer to appear, while at the bar, a gaggle of buxom, highly tanned women look as if they might have been imported from L.A. The food, too, seems to be from some other locale: The squid was an unimpressive tangle of fried-ness, served with what tasted like Thousand Island and Tabasco. Stuffed pimentos fritos—described as fried piquillo peppers with herb goat cheese filling—were glorified poppers, and the beef skewers arrived cold, with a dark smear of inarticulate sauce. Straying from the $3.95 tapas menu, we enjoyed a fine plate of clams decorated with chorizo. This was easily the best dish, though we had to ask…and ask…and ask again for some bread to sop up the delicious juices. “My favorite things about this place,” said my friend, “are the waitress and my drink.” Our waitress was far more easygoing that her compatriots, while the drink in question was a stiff, tasty caipirinha, made with rum, lime, and sugar. Had the website been clear, we’d have made it in earlier for the drink specials: $2.95 well drinks, house wine, and draft beers, including Mac & Jacks, Stella Artois, and Red Hook ESB. 528 Second Ave, 381-9090, www.ibizadinnerclub.com. PIONEER SQUARE