"Happy hour" has such a nice ring to it, doesn't it? And while most people think of cheap drinks when they think of happy hour, the truth is that this is when many restaurants and bars break out their best food specials, giving you the chance to try some tasty menu items at a fraction of their normal price.

Here are some great places to go for great happy hour eats:

1. Rock and Rye Oyster House, 1145 N State St., Bellingham

This charming Bellingham seafood spot has specials almost every day of the week, including $2 street tacos on Tuesdays. But during their twice-daily happy hours (3-6 and 9-close), you can get $11 oysters, $7 mussels and $8 beef carpaccio, which is quite a deal. And on Sundays, you can enjoy happy hour all night long.

2. Starlight Lounge, 402 N Pearl St., Ellensburg

Starlight Lounge is an Ellensburg icon, and the best time to go is definitely during their daily 3-6 PM happy hour. Most of their delicious appetizers, which include their famous quesadillas and Irish Nachos, are 50% off. They also have a daily drink special every day of the week on top of the happy hour drink specials.

3. Bastille Cafe & Bar, 5307 Ballard Ave NW., Seattle

Seattle is a happy hour mecca, and you'll find incredible deals on delicacies all over the city. But Bastille, which is known for its elegant space and tasty but expensive French fare, is tough to top. Their happy hour is daily from 4:30-6, and they offer specials on some of their best menu items, like Croque Madame, Taylor Shellfish mussels and their savory lamb burger.

4. Safari Room Fresh Grill and Bar, 111 S Post St., Spokane

Located inside the luxurious Davenport Tower, the Safari Room is known for their amazing cocktails and flatbreads... and those delicious flatbreads happen to be $5 during their daily 4-6 PM happy hour.

5. Marcy’s Bar & Lounge, 35 S Colville St., Walla Walla

Marcy's has a daily happy hour from 3-6, and from Sunday - Thursday, you can also enjoy a late night happy hour at 9 PM. The food specials include $4 beef sliders, $6 mac & cheese and the bang bang cauliflower for $7, among other tasty bites.

6. Creekside West Bar and Grille, 4000 Creekside Lp, Yakima

You'll have to sit in the bar to enjoy the happy hour at Creekside West, but luckily it's a great bar (and a great deal). Enjoy daily specials from 4-6 PM that include sliders, potstickers, flatbread, street tacos and even Thai nachos. And on Wednesdays, happy hour is all day.

7. Stick + Stone Wood-Fired Pizza, 3027 Duportail St., Richland

There's never a bad time to enjoy some wood-fired pizza at this Richland gem. But during happy hour, which is daily from 3-6 PM and then again from 8:30 - close, you can get $6 flatbreads, a $6,99 mini pizza, salads for $4.50 and the "Quezone," a tempting calzone / quesadilla hybrid, for $7.

8. Pacific Grill, 1502 Pacific Ave., Tacoma

Eating in the bar at Pacific Grill can save you some serious money. Happy hour is pretty much all day, every day there, and it includes 50% off select appetizers, plus great deals on house beer and wine. In addition, they've got a special bar menu that isn't discounted for happy hour but is still cheaper than the restaurant ($27 steak frites, anyone?).

9. Elliott’s Oyster House, 1201 Alaskan Way, Pier 56, Seattle

This Seattle waterfront icon is popular with tourists, and for good reason. Their happy hour, which is Monday-Friday from 3-5 PM, includes fresh oysters for as cheap as $1.50 (they go up to $2 from 4-5). Not an oyster fan? Enjoy some $4 fish tacos, $4 tequila lime mussels or $4 salmon sliders.

10. Frontier Public House, 4909 NE Hazel Dell Ave., Vancouver

At Frontier Public House, they keep it simple: From 3-6 PM every day, all menu items are $2 off. And you can wash it down with $3.50 wine and $2 Rainier beer, too.

11. Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar, 222 Capitol Way N., Ste 114, Olympia

At Chelsea Farms, the goal is always sustainable seafood and sustainable living. Happy hour at this trendy oyster bat, which is daily from 3 -5 PM and 9-10 (10-11 on weekends), includes $2 oyster specials, $8 fresh clam chowder and even $10 frog legs.

12. Sula Vita, 931 Front St., Leavenworth

Discounted beer and $5 wood-fired pizzas await you at this Leavenworth gem, which has happy hour Monday - Friday from 4 -6.

13. Salt & Iron, 321 Main St., Edmonds

This is one happy hour where you'll be able to eat a hearty meal for a great price (in the bar only). Every day from 3-6 and 9-close (10-close one weekends), you can enjoy $7 wings, $3 herb fries and this large steak salad for $11, just to name a few. Salt & Iron also has a progressive oyster happy hour- they start out at just 75 cents at 3 PM, increasing to $1.50. So at times, it's possible to get a dozen fresh oysters for only $9.

If you enjoy a good happy hour, you also probably love a good bloody Mary. Here are a few great places to get one.