Happy-hour countdown

Houston transitions from work to happy hour, when liquid goodness soothes parched throats as early as 3 p.m. Happy times are afoot until the dinner bell strikes at 6:30 p.m. or so. Not to worry, reverse happy hour kicks into gear soon enough. Late-night socials are trending, thanks to the likes of 8-9-10 at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, which has 8 appetizers – most for $9 each – until 10 p.m. Clever marketing, even tastier filet mignon flatbread.

Here, we start the happy-hour countdown to toast bargain bites and drinks.

3 p.m. – Saltillo Mexican Kitchen (5427 Bissonnet) has half-off enchiladas and appetizers 3-5 p.m. Between 4 and 6 p.m., diners sip on 2-for-1 house cocktails along with $7 wines and $3 beers. Critic’s choice: trio of tacos and chicken enchiladas verde.

4 p.m. – Etoile (1101-11 Uptown Park Blvd.) lets you eat and drink like a king on a pauper’s budget. Chef-owner Philippe Verpiand’s fine touches extend to his “Green Hour” menu 4:30-6:30 pm. Sunday-Friday. It’s called the “Green Hour” because of the $12 absinthe and top-notch, hand-crafted $7 cocktails. Critic’s choice: house-ground burger with pomme frites, 10-ounce angus ribeye, sautéed shrimp with fingerling potatoes and imported cheese plate with dried fruits and jam.

Next door at Songkran Thai Kitchen (1101-8 Uptown Park) chef-owner Junnajet Jett Hurapan composed a $5 appetizer menu along with $3 beers and $5 wines. Critic’s choice: $18 tasting plate with a choice of four appetizers, including tamarind meatballs, Thai sausage and chicken lettuce wrap.

5 p.m. – Kata Robata (3600 Kirby) has a selection of sushi rolls and appetizers between $4 and $9. Like Uchi (904 Westheimer), happy hour is only for an hour and a half, ending at 6:30 p.m. But it picks up Saturday, and on Sunday, happy hour specials are noon-5 p.m. with $3 mimosas. Critic’s choice: tuna tartare, salmon and soft shell crab roll and the Longhorn roll with fried shrimp, fresh water eel and avocado.

6 p.m. – Latin Bites (5709 Woodway) slashes prices for its signature cocktails and hot bites by half 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Critic’s choice: crispy beef empanadas and anticuchos, or grilled heart with roasted potatoes.

Seasons 52 (4410 Westheimer Road and 842 W. Sam Houston Parkway North) locations features a “sunset” menu 4-6:30 p.m. with $5 small plates, $6 wines and $8 specialty cocktails. Critic’s choice: Hawaiian Cosmopolitan with pineapple vodka, seared ahi tuna and lollipop lamb chops with balsamic.

7 p.m. – Caracol’s (2200 Post Oak Blvd.) 3-7 p.m menu is impressive with $7 appetizers and $6 wines and cocktails. The main attraction is half a dozen raw oysters with a glass of white wine for $13.50, or go for the gold medal with a bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne and a half dozen wood-roasted oysters for $65. Critic’s choice: braised pork taquitos, fried oyster tacos and crab fritters.

9 p.m. – Guad Texas Chef-Mex (2925 Southwest Freeway) rises like a phoenix after a fire two years ago, garnering fans with its tasty botanas ($3-$8) and $5 house margaritas. Happy hour is 3-6:30 p.m. But on Friday and Saturday, it starts again 9-11 p.m. Critic’s picks: bacon-wrapped quail and ceviche tacos

10 p.m. – Morton’s Steakhouse (1001 McKinney Street and 5000 Westheimer) discounts some beers and wines 4-6:30 p.m., but the $7 bar bites are available until closing. Critic’s choice: crab-cake BLT, mini cheeseburgers, filet mignon sandwiches, steak tacos, shrimp cocktail and crab-spinach dip.

11 p.m. – Aka Sushi House (2390 W. Alabama) buzzes with reverse happy hour 9 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday. Last call is 15 minutes before closing at 10:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday. A successful business model here, happy hour starts at 3 p.m. weekdays and all day Sundays. Nibble and drink specials are $4-9. Critic’s choice: baked mussels, gyoza and spicy crunch tuna roll.