Rick's Rollin Smoke BBQ & Tavern Happy Hour. Downtown

The smoke hits you before the menu does at Rick's, where brisket and ribs sit on the smoker for hours instead of getting a splash of liquid smoke and called a day. It lives in Pawn Plaza in Downtown, the same complex next to the famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, so foot traffic is heavy and parking is easy in the shared lot.

Happy hour runs Sunday through Thursday, 3 to 6pm, with a second late-night window those same nights from 9pm to close. The best move is to anchor your order around food and let the drinks ride along. Well drinks and house wine are both $4, craft beers are $5, and signature cocktails sit at $8. A whiskey-based well next to a plate of bark-heavy brisket is the pairing that makes the most sense here, and the $5 craft pour gives you something with more backbone than a domestic light.

Locals get a standing 20% off all day, so if you live nearby this is an easy regular stop. Communal seating, sports on the TVs, paper towels on the table. Show up closer to 3pm on a weekday for a quieter room, or roll in after 9pm to catch the second deal. Don't skip the mac and cheese or the beans. Confirm hours with the venue, since posted times can shift around events at the plaza.