For our most recent DOD, we decided to switch up our lunch routine a bit and give happy hour a chance! Our inspiration for our selection this month actually came from our experience at TASTE Chandler a few weeks ago. There we were, wandering around the VIP tent during a torrential downpour, when we noticed a sample table that was staffed by some seriously hot dudes. We grabbed a business card and vowed to make an appearance for the great happy hour these gentlemen were boasting.

Fast-forward to a few weeks later: We finally met up for our “date” at The Living Room in Chandler. As we approached the building in the waning light of the late-afternoon sun, the bright-orange curtains made the funky joint look as though it was on fire. Inside, we were greeted by comfy-looking couches, a shelf stocked with board games, and other homey touches that made us feel as if all of our driving was for naught, and we were back at home—that is, if a bunch of unfamiliar people just happened to show up in our homes with martinis and glasses of wine.

The lively crowd noshed on snacks and enjoyed the crisp, November breeze that was blowing in through the huge, open doorways (we realized later these were actually garage doors! Pretty cool, huh?) It also happened to be a friendly crowd, because as soon as we sat down and busted out our sweaters, a man approached our table offering us jackets from the other guys in his party. We politely declined because we weren’t sure if he was being chivalrous or creepy.  Either way, that’s an offer you don’t get every day!

Always looking for a deal, we did a little research on The Living Room’s happy hour before actually making our way out to the farms and fields of Chandler. A brief search on the trusty internet revealed $5 martinis and very affordable appetizers, so we knew it would be worth the travel-time.  The ever-adventurous Julie, ordered the root beer martini, which tasted like a grown-up root beer float–YUM! Emily went for the new/old standard, a pomegranate martini which was refreshing and delivered her daily dose of antioxidants.

After a few sips of our martinis, we were ready for some snacks, so we decided on the antipasto board, which came with sliced prosciutto, salami, coppa ham, white cheddar, goat cheese, parmagiano-reggiano, roasted olives, and sliced Ciabatta bread. In addition to the antipasto, we ordered a couple of bruschetta plates to share. While all of the combinations looked tasty, there were two that we found particularly enticing: The first order was topped with apples, brie, fig jam, honey, and an Agave drizzle,   while the second batch consisted of Prosciutto, figs, Mascarpone cheese, and tomato jam.  As we stuffed our faces with our delicious appetizers, sipped our martinis, and chatted away, we completely lost track of time. Before we knew it, we had been there for about two hours!  I guess you could say it was a happy “couple of hours” for us, but we were definitely not alone. The traffic in the living room never seemed to slow-down. Clearly, this is Chandler’s “it” spot—a place to see, be seen, and maybe play some “Scene It” on those comfy couches.