Happy Hour: Let's talk patio dining, even though it's fall, at Seattle's Maggie Bluffs

HAPPY HOUR |

Here comes fall. We're in "sun break" forecast territory now. Here's where you should be when the rays make a cameo among the clouds: Maggie Bluffs at Elliott Bay Marina, with a pound of shrimp.

Squeeze some lemon wedges onto that bucket of poached shrimp ($10). There's plenty of tangy cocktail sauce to dunk and dunk again. Some beer ought to wash that down nicely.

Maggie Bluffs is all about bar grub: onion rings, wings and nachos. It left the $49 lobster and other fancy fare to Palisade restaurant, next door. Same owner. Different attitude. Palisade gets date night and special occasions. Maggie Bluffs holds no expectations. No one cares that there's cocktail sauce smeared on your cheek or shrimp shells stuck to your fingers.

Server might ask if you want more shrimp. Correct answer is yes. This time, get the 15 shrimp on skewers, with that open flame caramelizing the sweet Thai chili-glazed shrimp to a smoky finish. Grab some garlic fries.

Maggie Bluffs offers outdoor seating, even during winter, because it's eternally optimistic. Or grab a table inside by the floor-to-ceiling windows, facing the water, reminiscing about that short Seattle summer.

Maggie Bluffs, 2601 W. Marina Place, offers happy hour 3-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays with half off on appetizers ($2-$10), and $4 beer and wine and $5 well drinks (206-283-8322 or maggiebluffs.com).

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com