A real happy meal

I once heard a professor say that tuition and textbook prices are so high because, he reasoned, if college kids had extra spending money, they’d waste it all on drugs and booze.

Sure, there are some students who can’t be trusted with extra cash, but those of us responsible enough to balance a checkbook would appreciate a budget that allows for dining at Huber’s or Higgins on a regular basis. Sadly, $20 entrees for most college students are a delicacy, a rare break from the food carts and Chipotle.

However, college kids can afford fancy eats with some good timing. Here is a guide to some of the best happy hours near campus, places that will break the college cuisine tedium without breaking the bank.

Portland City Grill

111 SW Fifth Ave. (30th floor)
$2 to $6 per item
4 out of 5 stars

Happy hour
Mon–Sat, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., 10 p.m. to midnight (until 1 a.m. Sat)
Sun, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

This is one of the classiest restaurants in town, and their happy hour menu boasts a wide range of delicious vegetarian, fish and meat options. The beef tenderloin satay is superb, as is the papaya-avocado stacked salad. Don’t forget to try the flatiron-grilled tombo tuna, a seared dish that packs some stellar flavor. Their service can be spotty when it’s packed in the bar, so arrive early or go after the dinner rush on Sunday for the shortest wait times and keenest attention. During rush hours, a pianist provides a soft score for diners to enjoy as they overlook the cityscape from 30 stories up.

RingSide Steakhouse

2165 W Burnside St.
$2.25 for all items
4.5 out of 5 stars

Happy hour
Mon–Sun, 9:45 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sun, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For under $7, you can enjoy a stripped-down version of a three-course meal: Order the oyster shooters, buffalo wings or jalapeño poppers as an appetizer, followed by a Caesar salad and a prime rib sandwich or a ground beef burger—better yet, some fish or steak bites—and boom, you’ve had three plates of tasty, filling food at $2.25 apiece. A single barkeep and a handful of servers, each with a friendly, attentive demeanor, tend the small barroom with limited space—get in when happy hour starts to avoid a long wait for seats.

Jake’s Famous Crawfish

401 SW 12th Ave.
$2 to $5 per item
5 out of 5 stars

Happy hour
Every day, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 9 p.m. to close (starts at 10 p.m. Fri and Sat)

If you’re hankering for some inexpensive-yet-delicious salmon cakes, steamed mussels or spinach-artichoke dip, Jake’s is the place to go. Their $3 half-pound cheeseburger is another great way to fill up on the cheap, and the calamari is made with just the right amount of flour (not too crunchy, not too soggy). The ambiance is classy and old-school Portland, the bartenders have great personalities and craft top-notch drinks while the servers take care of diners promptly and politely. 

Mama Mia Trattoria

439 SW Second Ave.
$3 all items
4 out of 5 stars

Happy hour
Every day, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (until 9 p.m. Sun)

This is a great place to enjoy a variety of Italian goodness without spending $30 or $40. The tastiest dish on their happy hour menu is a tossup between the manicotti and the pasta filetto di pomodoro, which includes a plum tomato-basil sauce. The bar fills up fast, so be sure to arrive when happy hour starts to ensure seating. The service staff and bartenders are friendly and very knowledgeable about what wines pair well with each dish, so be sure to ask their advice.