Come on get happy! | By Dr. Ink

Parque Norte de Wang
3029 University Ave. (North Park)
619-291-7500
Happy Hour: 5 to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 4 to 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays; 4 to 8 p.m., on Sundays.

When restaurants designate happy hour to their cramped bar areas only, it oftentimes means jostling for a stool or hightop while sloshing your precious martini over the knees of other patrons. The exact opposite holds true at Wang’s North Park, where an enormous bar and lounge area easily prevents customers from ever crossing the line into the dining section.

The 15,000-square-foot Pan-Asian restaurant was once home to JC Penney before Fashion Valley Mall was built. Today it serves as one of the most exquisitely renovated spaces in North Park, featuring giant pendant lights floating over a calming expanse of earthy textures accented with vivid wall art. Separating the bar and dining room is a metal bonsai tree perched atop an illuminated light box that looks like an aquarium at first glance. Whoever the interior designer, a good dose of feng shui was applied.

On “Social Sundays,” happy hour runs until 8 p.m., an hour later than normal. Arriving with a touch of Daylight Savings Time blues, we discovered the good fortune of paying only $6 for well martinis that included lemon drops and appletinis. In their premium form, they’re priced normally at $10. Both cocktails were bright and fruity without being overly sweet. More importantly, the booze in them wasn’t hidden.

The drink deals extend also to traditional well drinks, domestic bottled beer, select drafts and wines by the glass, all for $4. Import brews cost $5.

Certain munchies are even cheaper. A bowl of warm, spicy edamame or a pair of vegetable spring rolls cost only $3 each. If there was ever a snack that distracts from drink intake, it’s edamame, as we learned after feverishly popping the meaty beans from their pods in non-stop motion while our martini glasses quickly emptied.

We also ordered a trio of lamb-rosemary dumplings ($4.50) that paired to our tart martinis like red wine does to steak. Yet as the drinks slid down and the appetizers whetted our palates, we eventually reached for the regular dinner menu for sobering quantities of Thai basil noodles and honey-lemon chicken. In the end, we barely noticed the darkness that descended so stinking early.

CALIFICACIONES:

Bebidas: 4

The lemon drops and appletinis using well-brand liquor were large and tasted as good as any.

Comida: 4

The discounted steamed dumplings were a favorite at our table. They’re available in lamb, pork, chicken, shrimp or vegetable. Also, the seasoned edamame in their pods are as booze-friendly as pretzels.

Valor: 5

Compared to the regular prices, you’ll save between 30 and 40 percent on food and cocktails.

Servicio: 5

Full wait service is provided in the bar lounge, and the staff was fast and attentive in delivering the goods and refilling water glasses.

Duration: 5

Happy hour is offered daily, although on Friday through Sunday it caters to the weekend spirit by running a little longer.