Sampan's cool lights change from blue to yellow to red
A downtown date for happy hour may seem convenient and economical, but it can also be majorly hit or miss. Overcrowding, poor selection, long waits for service, and lack of food can turn what should have been a happy hour (or two) into a date disaster. Luckily, my date recently introduced me to the perfect center city happy hour spot: Sampan.
Located at 124 S.13th street, Sampan is a contemporary-Asian bar/restaurant that’s sophisticated and modern without being snobby or trying too hard – a good balance for a post-work date. It’s large enough to accommodate a sizeable crowd without feeling cramped, yet the cool lights that saturate the walls cast an intimate and almost sensual glow.
There’s also a giant wraparound bar in the center where you can watch the chefs hard at work expertly slicing Satay and garnishing dumplings as fast as the orders come in. And ordering is a must. The happy hour selections are a great value for the money, and everything is delicious.
There’s a lot to choose from on the happy hour menu, which has everything from Satay to Banh Mi to Potstickers and everything is either $2 or $4. There are also featured beers, wine, cocktails and sake for $4.
My date and I shared the Kim Chee Fried Rice, as well as the Crispy Brussel Sprouts. Both came in large bowls, and were easy to share. The delicate and aromatic Edamame Dumplings with truffle, pea shoot, and sake broth were a standout, so much so that we put in a second order. The portions are not the tiny crudités you might find at other happy hours, but truly generous. We happily snacked and sipped our way through happy hour, and felt completely stuffed by the time we made it to the bottom of our bowls and glasses. All the while, the restaurant was abuzz with activity, without overwhelming us with noise or people. It’s a decidedly downtown crowd, but the restaurant is large and open enough to make the happy hour rush seem less rushed.
We exited through their backyard “Graffiti Bar,” which surprised us with its completely different decor and ambiance. Equipped with TVs behind the bar, and covered in the bright spray-painted tags of local graffiti artists, this all-weather patio has a much more casual vibe, while still serving the same menu. The crowd out back was also different, a bit louder and maybe more of the rowdy happy hour crowd we had successfully avoided indoors. The Graffiti Bar really couldn’t be more different from the main restaurant, but I liked that the same place could accommodate two very different moods, both of them very “downtown” in their own way.
How cheap we talkin’?: It depends how hungry you are. The happy hour menu has $4 drinks, and a lot of the items on the menu are only $2, including Satay, the Kobe slider, and duck egg roll. Other items are $4. Happy hour is Monday-Friday, 5-7pm.
The Graffiti Bar
Why this will impress your date: Great food, affordable drinks, and a sophisticated atmosphere in one happy hour. And if the restaurant is too moderne, there’s also the gritty Graffiti Bar out back. Everybody wins.
Score extra points: By planning a post-happy hour excursion nearby like taking your date to see the Macy’s light show! (now through Christmas)
The inside game: Make sure you take a trip to the restroom. However random, I was thoroughly entertained by the movie quotes pumped in over the speakers. I identified everything from American Pie to Back to the Future.
Next date: Any weekday, 5-7pm.
