Reader's Choice Awards - Reader's Choice Activities

POSTED: Monday, Dec. 08, 2008

Best happy hour: Poppe's Bistro and Lounge

FIRST PLACE

POPPE'S BISTRO AND LOUNGE

Location: Best Western Lakeway Inn, 714 Lakeway Drive, 392-6520 during bar business hours, 671-1011 main hotel line, hours: 2 p.m. to midnight Monday- Thursday, 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 4 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday

Web site: www.thelakewayinn.com

From the boss: "It's an upscale environment, it's nice, you can come in dressy. It works for a lot of ages groups." Steve Brenk, general manager

Reader rave: "The food's excellent, it's cheap, it's good." Nicole Schierberl, Bellingham

Highlights: With its swanky décor and energetic vibe, Poppe's lush lounge is a favorite gathering place for Bellingham's happy-hour hounds. Could be the easy-on-the-wallet well drinks - $2 during happy hour. Or the killer combination of budget-friendly booze and inventive but reasonabaly priced nosh specials such as piping-hot calamari made fresh when you order or Dungeness crab cakes. Creative cocktails, like the Gummi cq Bear martini (garnished with the real thing, natch) or a Dirty Martini dressed up with a blue cheese-stuffed olive attract the after-work crowd. Fans cluster on the outdoor terrace even in winter, thanks to awnings that boast heat lamps.