$2.95 dinner & haggis

When I can break out of work early enough on a week night, we head for Bravo for its weekday Happy Hour specials in the bar. It’s right around the corner from The News-Herald on Route 306 in Mentor, so even if if I leave here at 5:45 p.m. it’s possible to get there before 6 when the deals are the best. Small plate appetizers, just $2.95 from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, are enough for my dinner. Last night I had the Chicken Spinach and Bacon flatbread…complete with green onions, mozzarella and provolone cheese. The flatbread was cracker like, but flavorful and perfect washed down with a Dortmunder. I also am partial to the artichoke and spinach formaggio, a warm dip served with Parmesan flatbread. There are four other flatbread specials, plus house-made meatball sliders, crab cake bites with horseradish dressing, zucchini fritti, and calamari fritti. Most are regularly priced in the bar at $4.99 to $5.99, so even at full price they don’t break the bank. But dinner for $2.95 is really something special.

Haggis is the subject for my Wednesday Food story tomorrow. It will be served at Saturday’s Robert Burns Dinner, piped in by bagpipers dressed in kilts. It’s the 250th birthday of the Scottish folk hero Bobbie Burns, who is best known for writing Auld Lang Syne but also devoted his talents to writing an Ode to a Haggis, which will, of course, be read. Catch the story or reserve a place at the event, which still has seats available. My colleague at The News-Herald, reporter Jenny May, will bring an award winning group of highland dancers, a troupe called the Heather Belles, to the dinner hosted by the Scottish Heritage Association. See Wednesday’s story for ticket details.