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Kona Grill: Not really our cup of vodka

Happy Place: Kona Grill, 3000 East First Avenue, 720-974-1300. The Hours: Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 9 to 11 p.m. The Deals: $3-$4 beer speials; $4-$5 cocktail specials; $5 wines by the glass; $7.50 sake bombers; $4-$6 food specials. Were we happy?...
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Happy Place: Kona Grill, 3000 East First Avenue, 720-974-1300.

The Hours: Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. and Monday through Thursday from 9 to 11 p.m.

The Deals: $3-$4 beer speials; $4-$5 cocktail specials; $5 wines by the glass; $7.50 sake bombers; $4-$6 food specials.

Were we happy? Flip the page to find out.

See also:

- A stellar happy hour experience awaits at Bones - Getting sauced with spicy snacks at Phat Thai

The Digs:Kona Grill is a stalwart in the Cherry Creek Mall, a large restaurant with a heated patio and a bar that offers seating on the patio side as well as inside. A gigantic saltwater fish tank separates the bar from the main dining area and provides a soothing backdrop for catching a couple of cocktails after a spending spree. The only downfall to the location is that parking is limited and involves a trek -- even from the garage. Then again, you can always valet. But is it really worth it?

The Verdict: The best part about happy hour at Kona Grill is the food. It's nothing miraculous, but the Asian-fusion eats are a welcome departure from typical bar fare. The pork pot stickers are a savory and filling starter if you're looking to pour some booze into your belly, and the avocado rolls -- egg rolls loaded with guacamole -- are surprisingly delicious. Unfortunately, that's where our enthusiasm ends. The cosmo is syrupy sweet, the beer selection nothing short of boring, and the service borders on subpar. However, our biggest issue with Kona Grill is the crowd, a horde of obnoxious twenty-something dudes boasting about snowboarding and who they hooked up with last night, catty women singing Katy Perry songs into their martini glasses, and scorned lovers everywhere...it's all just a bit much for our tastes.


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