Alcazar on the Mesa is a nice hole-in-the-wall – only labeled as such due to its small size and odd location (in that strange shopping center on the southeast corner of the Meigs/Cliff Dr. intersection).

They specialize in Spanish tapas, and a handful are discounted each day during happy hour (which goes on all night Monday through Wednesday).

I found the servers friendly, the food delicious, and the sangria ($5 during happy hour) is the best I’ve had in town.  It has a solid cinnamon bite that keeps it from tasting too juicy, and enough alcohol to make it a worthy aperitif.

For food, the best thing to do is go with a group of friends and order a bunch to share (duh, its tapas).  I recommend the French Connection (flat bread topped w/ prosciutto, brie, Roma tomato & basil) and the Ahi in the Raw (w/ onion, lemon, ginger & jalapeno), to start.

A nice idea for a date: Alcazar for drinks and food during happy hour, then go down Cliff Drive to Arroyo Burro Beach Park (or past it into Hope Ranch) to catch the sunset.

She’ll love you for it!