Mimi's Cafe: Happy Hour Report Card

By Amanda Kehrberg Tue., Feb. 7 2012 at 3:00 PM

Categories: Happy Hour Deals

Bistro Bites are down to $5 during Mimi's "Happiest Hour." We ordered the Chicken Tenders ($5) with a side of fries ($1).

The Spot: Mimi's Cafe, 4901 E. Ray Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044, (480) 705-4811. Other valley locations include Scottsdale, Glendale, and Mesa. mimiscafe.com

The Hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 4 to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday

The Details: Domestic drafts and bottles are down to $3, with well drinks at $4, select wines by the glass (with five whites and five reds to choose from) at $5, and Bistro Wine Flights (red, white, or sparkling) for only $5. Select Bistro Bites - including the Crispy Zucchini Parmesan, Crab Fritters, and Beef Sliders - are also only $5.

Mimi's Cafe's new happy hour scheme - debuting this past fall and dubbed the "Happiest Hour" - may seem at first glance inconsistent with the chain's brand: frilly curtains, big breakfasts - the kind of place you'd take your grandmother at around 4 p.m. for tea, not a tea-tini.

The BBQ Pork Sliders ($5) were messy but not short on flavor.

But this is also the same restaurant that serves to-get-out-of-bed-for Mimosas alongside those overflowing plates of French toast and salutes La Vie en French New Orleans in its signature kitschy decor and kicky Jambalaya.

From the six choices on the $5 Bistro Bites menu, we went with the Chicken Tenders (plus a side of fries, added for $1 to any selection), BBQ Pork Sliders, and Signature Cheese & Fruit Plate. The sliders - topped with red onions and a pickle slice - took their name literally as the ingredients spilled over the sides of the bun. Though they were better eaten with a knife and fork (and cooled too quickly), the BBQ sauce was sweet and tangy. The tenders and fries were both pleasantly crispy: always a good go-to for the whiney 5-year-old in your life (or your stomach). The cheese and fruit plate was a good value at $5, including walnuts, dried cranberries, brie, apple slices, and a couple strawberries. Note to Mimi: It wouldn't cost too much to add a couple crackers or a wedge of bread here, would it?