TWIS Happy Hour Guide: Selva Grill

WARNING: Season is just around the corner. Soon the snowbirds will be back, so it’s time to grab a seat at your favorite restaurant before they take all the parking spots and crank up the wait times.

For me, one of those favorites is Selva. It can be hard to find a spot at the bar here during season., so I hopped on over Wednesday night for happy hour to take advantage of the epic food at low prices while I still easily can.

The atmosphere: Happy hour at Selva is served only at the bar, every day from 5 to 7 p.m. Even though it's still summer, the bar was crowded. When we arrived at 6:15 p.m., we got the last two seats, so get there earlier, if you can. The bar area of Selva has a slightly more relaxed atmosphere than the dining room, but it's still sexy and sophisticated. It's safe to attribute some of the good vibes here to the talented and friendly people behind the bar.

The drinks: Normally $10, select signature drinks are just $5 at happy hour – and Selva makes some of the best in town. My favorites are the Selva mojito (muddled orange, simple syrup, mint, a splash of pineapple juice and champagne) and the El Santo (Svedka orange vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur and champagne). Glasses of house wine and sangria are also $5, and drafts of Yuengling, Ephemere and Harpoon IPA are $4.

The food: “Happy hour bites” range from $4 to $8. Delicious staples are the skirt steak (with sweet plantains, beet relish and chimichurri, $7) and pescado (fresh white fish, lime, cilantro, onions, cusco corn and rocotto pepper, served in a martini glass, $7). I’m pretty sure Selva is the only spot in town where you’ll find lamb on the happy-hour menu. At $8, cordero andino is the biggest splurge item on the menu, but it’s worth it. Seared New Zealand lamb chops topped with Andean herb pesto are served with a roasted pepper salad. Yum. My favorite items on the menu though are the bolitas de pescado. These Chilean sea bass croquettes with mango salsa and curry aioli are piping hot fried bites of happiness, and they're only $5.

The splurge: When you’ve inevitably stayed at the bar past happy hour’s end, treat yourself and venture to the real menu. If you’ve never had a pisco sour, Selva is a great place for your first. If you have, and you understand my obsession with the traditional Peruvian drink, try one of Selva’s unique variations. The blackberry pisco is the perfect balance of sweet and sour.

The bottom line: Selva’s food and drinks are epic, but pricey. Their happy hour cuts those prices in half. It’s one of the best deals in town, so get in there and take advantage before the snowbirds beat you to it!