Bertrand at Mister A’s
2550 Fifth Ave. (Bankers Hill)
619-239-1377
Happy Hour: 2:30 to 6 p.m., Sunday through Friday
Come On Get Happy! | Dr. Ink
Invite me to a wedding with good music and an open bar and I’ll be the first to RSVP with an enthusiastic “yes.” The splashier the bash, the longer I’ll dance. Except if it’s my own.
The notion of exchanging intimate vows and then consuming a love dinner with hundreds of eyes looking on would be no less unnerving than giving a speech in my underwear. Fortunately, my darling soul mate of many years felt more or less the same as we conducted our momentous occasion with a low-key ceremony followed by food and drinks on the sunny 12th-floor patio of Bertrand at Mister A’s.
It was the happiest of happy hours while gazing out to the skyline and airport runways with our inner circle of friends. Tables along the railings were aplenty, and with a cushy lounge section also available at the patio’s north end. As far as impromptu, midday wedding receptions go, it was among the cheapest considering that beer, wine and cocktails run between $3 and $10 from 2:30 to 6 p.m., Sunday through Friday. In addition, all dishes such as ahi sliders, tempura vegetables and poutine with chicken confit are only $7 each.
My freshly ringed spouse launched immediately into a few “royal tea” cocktails priced at $10 apiece. Sporting bright hues from honey and lemon, they contained fair measures of clear gin infused invisibly with black tea.
“A good, medicinal drink to keep in mind for when the flu season hits,” I said after making a toast while keeping in mind “in sickness and in health,” though with the addition of booze poured in.
A friend in our group chose gin and tonic ($5) but it was flat due to problems with the CO2 cartridges, which ruled out drinking any sparkling well drinks that afternoon. The rest of us gravitated to beer, which included a sweet $8 deal on 22-ounce bottles of Alesmith IPA and $4 drafts of Ballast Point Amber Ale and a couple Stone varieties. Wine lovers will find French rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, cabernet and chardonnay priced at $6 a glass.
From the food list, addicting truffle fries are served generously in big metal chalices. A pair of seared ahi sliders also proves a dandy deal, as they’re plated with avocado and a small cluster of tempura vegetables. Conversely, the croque monsieur featuring bubbly Swiss cheese over ham and French bread amounted to two individual bites that were better suited for newlyweds on Jenny Craig diets. They were smaller than the sliders, but awfully tasty.
For a wedding celebrated without pomp, we were fortunately dressed in acceptable threads that adhere to the restaurant’s policy of “no sandals, shorts or jerseys.” I’m not sure how strictly the code is enforced considering that we spotted patrons showing toes and legs. But even if we had not ended up on this coveted rooftop for our special day, the beachwear would have stayed at home.
RATINGS
Drinks: 4
The happy-hour list covers all bases, with a few crafty cocktails leading into several beer and wine choices.
Food: 5
Plate presentations and the quality of ingredients are upscale, though portions run the gamut between scant and substantial.
Value: 5
Given the restaurant’s spacious outdoor patio with killer views, prices on drinks and food during happy hour are remarkably affordable.
Service: 4
Servers are professionally attired, relatively fast and start appearing in large numbers as the day progresses.
Duration: 5
You can save money for a good chunk of the afternoon on this sky perch six days a week.
