These Monmouth Co. Restaurants Expanded Happy Hour This December

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The holiday season is always a great time to meet friends old and new for a few cocktails and snacks.

And you might not know that all nine of David Burke’s restaurants in New Jersey now offer a happy hour: Some like Red Horse have beer on tap as low as $4, premium wines as low as $7, plus happy hour sushi. Not only that, but Salt Creek Grill in Rumson just expanded their happy hour: It's Monday - Friday 4 - 6 p.m. and now also Sundays (new) 4-7 p.m.

"In the last two decades a couple of things happened: People don’t go out to lunch as much and they no longer stay out as late," explained Burke this December. "We don’t get 9:30 reservations anymore. In New York City we do, but not in the suburbs. So why wait until 6 to start our service? I have staff in place, I may as well find a way to be busy from 4-6."

“Happy Hour is now an important element in my restaurants,” he continued. “You need smart, small seasonal plates and creative drinks. Happy Hour works for friends meeting after work, and it's also a good way to impress new customers. It works for us.”

So if you normally pass on high-end restaurants like Red Horse in Rumson and Drifthouse in Sea Bright, consider happy hour an easy-on-the-wallet way to try them out.

The deals: (Menus and prices subject to change.)

Happy hour at Salt Creek Grill:

Thankfully, the stunning river views haven't changed. But the prices just got even better, as co-owner Steve Bidgood and general manager Mark Shopene expanded the happy hour in the bar and lounge, and added new happenings with discounted prices available throughout the entire restaurant all night.

Happy hour is now Monday – Friday 4 – 6 p.m. and Sunday 4 – 7 p.m. Select house wines by the glass are $3 off; J. Lohr wine by the glass, $2 off. $2 off all draft beers including local artisan beers. Well drinks are $8 or $9. Specialty cocktails for $11 during Happy Hour include White Pear Cosmo, SCG Margarita, “The Original” Old Fashioned, Frontier Manhattan, SCG Classic Martini, with Ketel One or Tanqueray.

All new: Mondays ALL Wine Bottles ½ off; Tuesday & Wednesday 1/2 Off ALL Wines By the Glass; and Thirsty Thursdays 1/2 Off ALL Draft Beer, available throughout the restaurant.

The deals are now in effect and will continue into the New Year. You can also save on gift cards — a holiday gift even the fussiest person on your list will love. Ask Salt Creek Grill about their promotion.

Happy hour at DRIFTHOUSE by David Burke, 1485 Ocean Ave., Sea Bright, NJ

Happy Hour Tuesday – Friday & Sunday 4-10 p.m. Saturday 4-6 p.m. at bar and bar tables only.

Drinks: Selected Spirits, Titos Vodka, Bacardi Rum, Tres Agave Tequila, Four Roses Bourbon, Prairie Gin $10; Wines, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet, Pinot Noir $10; Draft Beer $5.

Bar bites each $11 Fried Shishitos; Eggplant Zucchini Chips, parmesan, spiced yogurt, tomato jam; Fontina & Tomato Flatbread; Hipster Fries, bacon, shishito peppers, pecorino, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, horseradish cream. Each $14, Bar Mussels, nduja, tomato, basil, orecchiette; Oysters (6pc) or Clams (6pc); Chips and Guacamole; Market Salad, granny smith apples, goat cheese, toasted almond, roasted lemon vinaigrette; Tuna Tartare, chili, avocado mousse, wontons. $16 each, DB Cheese Burger, LTO, B1 Mayo, english muffin; Bar Rigatoni, sausage, peas, pecorino; Grilled Chicken BLT, B1 mayo, english muffin; Crispy Calamari, shishitos spicy tomato sauce. Each $22, Pretzel Crusted Crab Cake, tomato jam, chipotle aioli; Lobster Dumplings, candied lemon, spicy tomato sauce; Brazilian Pub Chicken, bacon fat vinaigrette, sweet pepper aioli; Market Fish Tacos 2pc pico de gallo, shredded lettuce; Steak Frites, pan seared 7 oz prime ny strip, seasonal vegetable, garlic dijon demi. ($26)

www.drifthousedb.com (732) 530-9760 info@drifthousedb.com @drifthousedb

Happy Hour at Red Horse by David Burke, 26 Ridge Road, Rumson, NJ. Winner of numerous awards including NJ Monthly’s “30 Best Restaurants in NJ 2022 & 2023.”

Happy Hour in Bar Area: Tuesday & Sunday All Night Wednesday – Saturday 4-7 p.m.

Drinks - Beers $6 Harp lager, Ommegang neon rainbow juicy haze Sapporo lager, Ommegang Witte beer, Guinness; Wines pinot grigio sauvignon blanc malbec pinot noir $7.

Bar Bites: DB Cheeseburger, lettuce, tomato, onion, B1 sauce $13 *add bacon $2 *add fries $4; Angry Tempura Vegetables spicy aioli $9; Red Horse Spinach & Artichoke Dip, wonton chips $12; Tuna Tartare Taco (2pc) crispy wonton, cucumber, & white soy $12; Truffle Fries, truffle aioli, parmesan cheese $8; Short Rib Tartine swiss cheese & mushrooms $12; Lobster Dumplings (2pc) chili oil, tomato miso, basil, preserved lemon $12; Sushi Rolls Spicy Tuna Roll cucumber, spicy mayo $7; California Roll crab, avocado, cucumber $7

www.redhorsebydb.com (732) 576-3400 @redhorsebydb

Happy hour at THE GOAT by David Burke, 1411 NJ-36, Union Beach, NJ 07735

Happy Hour Tuesday – Friday 4-6 p.m. Friday & Saturday 4 – close Sunday 4-close

Drinks - Domestic Bottle Beers $4 Gen $5: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc 7.00; Select Spirits 9

Bar Menu: Romaine Caesar Salad, crouton, classic dressing $10; Clothesline Bacon, maple black pepper glazed 2pc/add 1 +8 $14; Crispy Eggplant Chips (GF) marinara, parm, basil, herb whipped ricotta 8; Angry Wagyu Meatballs, ricotta di capra, polenta $10; DB Cheese Burger, english muffin, B-1 aioli $12; Winter Squash Soup, roasted chicken & corn dumpling, basil oil $12; Margherita Pizza, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil $10; Truffle Fries, parmesan $10; Hipster Fries, parmesan, DB bacon, shishito peppers, parsley, chili oil $10.

www.thegoatbydb.com (732) 264-5222 hello@thegoatbydb.com @thegoatbydb

Also, don’t forget all of Chef Burke’s New Jersey restaurants have special mid-week bargain nights, such as Burger Tuesdays at Drifthouse and The Goat, and Burger Thursdays at Red Horse in Rumson.

And if you're online dating and looking for the perfect spot for your first meet-up, look no further than happy hour at one of David Burke's three Monmouth County restaurants. Especially during the winter holidays, the restaurants are decorated with romantic twinkling lights ... and magic is in the air.

Offerings, serving hours and prices vary.