Food Review: Haru's Hottest Holiday Libations & All Day Black Friday Happy Hour

Earlier this month I was able to sample Haru's 'Happy Hour' menu where every item (food or cocktail) is between $4-$8! The best part (drum roll please) the 'Happy Hour' menu ALL day on Black Friday (11/29) at all of their six locations throughout Manhattan. I know what you thinking, can you actually get something good for such a low cost and in the city? Yes, you can! Everything that I sampled including appetizers & cocktails off the menu were truly exquisite. My favs were the fish tacos (so fresh & I was surprised at how tasty they were) and the Elderflower-Cucumber Crush (refreshing and delicious)! On or off the happy hour menu I didn't try anything that I wouldn't want to eat or drink more of. 

Happy Hour Menu Highlights:

String Bean Tempura (w/ curried salt --$4); Flash-Fried Shishito Peppers ($5); Lobster Gyoza ($8); Short Rib Buns ($8); Chicken Wings (w/ spicy garlic or teriyaki sauce -- $8); Fish Tacos ($7); Chicken Yakitori ($5); Filet Mignon Yakitori ($6); and the Haru Wasabi Roll ($8). Edamame ($4), California Roll ($4), Spicy Tuna Roll ($5), Crunchy Spicy Salmon Roll ($5) and Vegetable Spring Rolls ($5).

Happy Hour’s $8 Cocktail Lineup:

Saketini, Lycheetini, Green Tea Margarita, Elderflower-Cucumber Crush and Premium Mojito.

Happy Haru’s Beverage Menu:

Hitachino White Ale ($6), Ommegang ‘Hennepin’ craft beer ($6), SeaGlass Pinot Noir ($8), Kinsen Plum Wine ($4) and Koshu Masamune Sake ($4). 

                                     

All Haru locations throughout Manhattan: Gramercy Park, Sake Bar, Wall Street, Third Ave, Amsterdam and Broadway. Please visit http://www.harusushi.com/ for complete location listings.                   

Left: Fish Tacos ($7)    Right: Spicy Tuna Roll ($5)

Elderflower-Cucumber Crush beefeater 24 gin or don q rum, st-germain elderflower liqueur and fresh cucumber

Short Rib Buns ($8)

Lobster Gyoza ($8)

Komodo Dragon absolut vanilla, cruzan coconut rum, pineapple juice and blue curacao

Strawberry Fin Roll crunchy spicy yellowtail, jalapeño peppers and mango, topped with scallops, wasabi tobiko and fresh strawberries.

Kiss Of Fire Roll super white tuna, salmon, jalapeño peppers and wasabi tobiko, wrapped around crunchy spicy tuna and more jalapeños.

Chicken Katsu

Saketini

Enjoy the upcoming holidays from Haru with DIY cocktail recipes to entertain guest or just to enjoy after a long day! Click here for recipes.

Left: Naughty and Nice

1.5 oz Inocente tequila

1.0 oz Srawberry Puree

1.0 oz Club soda

0.5 oz Sour mix

5 pieces sliced jalapenos

3 lime wedges

Muddle jalapenos with lime, add all contents over ice, shake vigorously. Served over ice in a pilsner glass, garnish with strawberry.

Top Right: Aomori Cider

1.5 oz Absolut Orient Apple Vodka

0.5 oz Licor 43

0.5 oz Hana Fuji Apple Sake

1.0 oz Mott’s Apple Juice

0.5 oz Ponthier Lemon Juice

0.4 oz Simple Syrup

2 Dash McCormick’s Ground Cinnamon

Rim glass with cinnamon sugar. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and add ice. Shake for 8-10 seconds and pour into glass. Add Fuji apple slice for garnish.

Bottom Right: Scorpion Punch

2.0 oz Amore Amaretto

2.0 oz Jim Beam Red Stag

2.0 oz Vodka

2.0 oz ShoChikuiBai Sake

1.0 oz Grenadine

1.0 oz Lime Juice

Fill a punch bowl with ice. Fill drink shaker with equal parts; pineapple and orange juice. Pour into punch bowl, garnish with 2 lemons, 2 limes and 2 cherries.