Applebee's Happy Hour. Las Vegas

The smart order is the appetizers paired with a discounted well drink or domestic draft. The apps carry better value than the entrees, and the drinks are priced to move, so a sampler and a couple of rounds gets you fed and buzzed without much damage to your wallet.

What sets this chain apart in Vegas is that happy hour runs every day, 3 to 6pm, drinks and appetizers both on special. Seven days a week matters when most spots cut the deal on weekends. Exact promotions shift by location, and Applebee's has a long history of aggressive drink pricing, so it's worth a glance at the current board when you sit down.

There are several locations around the valley, including one in Henderson on South Eastern, all close to identical. The appeal is exactly that sameness. After a stretch of casino floors and Strip markups, a familiar booth and a cheap margarita is a reset. Nobody's judging your order and nobody's charging resort prices.

Manage expectations on the food. This is corporate American comfort fare, consistent rather than memorable, and the room has zero Vegas energy by design. That's the point. Go when you want predictable and cheap over an experience. Stick to simple drinks, grab whichever location is nearest, and check the app, which sometimes carries extra deals on top of the in-store specials.