A term that’s beginning to build momentum, “reverse happy hour” refers to a late-night version of the typical happy hour discounts on drinks and bar food. As the workforce becomes more flexible and steers away from a typical 9-to-5 schedule, more restaurants and bars are adding after-dark deals. Most reverse happy hours happen during the week and typically begin around 9 pm. Others might land on a weekend or even carry over from the early afternoon specials. Here are five top Fort Worth go-to’s for the burgeoning reverse happy hour — because saving money will always bring happiness, no matter what time of day.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
The family-friendly chain stays busy after dark, especially Sunday through Thursday, from 9-11 pm, during reverse happy hour. Specials include $3 domestic bottled beer, $3 chips and dips, $5 BJ’s signature beers and select wines by the glass, and $6 margaritas, select spirits, and select appetizers. (Faves include deep-fried chicken pot stickers.) Mini deep-dish pizzas are also half-off. There are four BJ’s locations in Tarrant County, all situated in busy shopping districts near Hulen Mall, Northeast Mall, Alliance Town Center, and Arlington Highlands. Important note: the specials are only available in the bar and patio area. Also good to know ahead of fall sports watch parties, the specials are available during all pro football games.

Game Theory Restaurant + Bar
Fuel up for a little friendly competition at this hot spot for board games (more than 500 of them) and gastropub-style food and drink. Located on South Main Street, Game Theory offers late-night happy hour Monday through Thursday from 9-11 pm. Patrons can choose from several $5 craft cocktails, including favorites like the Brown Derby, shaken with bourbon, orange juice, and house-made honey syrup; and the tropical Blue Hawaiian, which combines vodka, coconut rum, and Blue Curacao. Highlights from the happy hour food menu include $6 rosemary truffle fries, $6.50 crispy Brussels sprouts with sweet Thai glaze, $8 barbecue chicken flatbread, and $8 Cajun lump crab dip. Eat, drink, and get your game on.

Lazy Dog
This late-night happy hour is for the dogs, literally. Canine friends are always welcome on the patio at Lazy Dog, which has locations in Euless and Arlington and features actual menu items for furry friends. The reverse happy hour here — offered Sunday through Thursday — runs later than most establishments, lasting from 9 pm until midnight. Among the many specials are select $3 domestic drafts, $4 well drinks and select wines, and $6 Orange Tang margaritas and Pink Lemon Drop martinis. Or, try the house beer tasting flight for only $6 or share a pitcher of house-made sangria for $15. Diners can stay well-fed with more than 21 happy hour dishes, too, including street corn fries, chicken lettuce wraps, and Buffalo chicken nuggets, each $6, and wok-fried calamari and chipotle chicken quesadillas for $7. Need a late-night pick-me-up? Stay perky with a $7 coffee martini.

The Lazy Moose
This lodge-like West Magnolia Avenue bar is not stingy with its weeknight happy hour, which lasts from 4 pm all the way until 11 pm, Tuesday through Thursday. Patrons can find deals like $2 off all draft beer, $5 premium wells and margaritas, and $6 house wine and house-made sangria. Nosh on Lazy Nachos piled with house-made tortilla chips for $7, loaded cheese fries for $7.50, and fried dill pickle spears for $6.50. With happy hour lasting much more than an hour here, pass the time with a game of pool or shuffleboard or grab a booth and get cozy.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub
Most happy hours, whether early or late, skip the weekend. But not at this American gastropub chain. Here, reverse happy hour is only on Friday and Saturday nights, available from 9:30-11:30 pm. Folks get $1 off all draft pints and can choose from classic cocktails ranging from $7.95 to $9.95. (Think Moscow Mule, Old Fashioned, and the Mojito.) Late-night bites range from garlic sesame edamame and Caesar salad for $6.95 to grilled salmon cakes and bacon-wrapped barbecue prawns for $8.95. Located in Euless’ Glade Parks development, the lively restaurant draws crowds for its big screens, big portions, and massive menu.

Happy hour takes place Friday and Saturday nights at Thirsty Lion.

Facebook/Thirsty Lion Gastropub

Happy hour takes place Friday and Saturday nights at Thirsty Lion.

Like sweltering summer temperatures, prices for everything are on the rise. Thank goodness for happy hour deals, which make dining and imbibing a little more affordable, which means more fun, too. Cheers to these eight current Fort Worth deals on drinks and eats during happy hour — possibly the happiest (and cheapest) time of day.

Blue Mesa Grill
Fill up on $2 tacos and wash them down with $5 large blue margaritas during happy hour at this favorite for Southwestern and New Mexican cuisine. The covered patio is kept cool with misters and fans or find an air-conditioned spot in the spacious bar area. The happy hour taco menu includes ground beef-chorizo, grilled chicken, red hot chicken, and pulled barbecue pork. Drink specials also include $5 mojitos and house wines. Visit Tuesday through Friday from 3-6:30 pm.

Trinity College Irish Pub & Beer Garden
The specials go on and on at this Ireland native-owned pub and grill near West 7th Street, where a tented patio provides respite from the sun’s rays and there is plenty of table seating inside. Happy hour here is Monday through Friday from 3-7 pm and features Shiner Bock and Manhattan Project Irish Red pints for $4.50 and Irish Mule craft cocktails for $6. Also on the drink menu are $5 house wines and Irish car bombs. Don’t miss the drunken mussels ($6 for a half-pound), which are steamed in creamy beer broth and served with toasted garlic crostini. Other stand-out happy hour dishes (all only $6) include the corned beef and cabbage rolls, Irish nachos, and spicy cheese curds. Even more, fish & chips are buy-one-get-one with the purchase of two drinks on Mondays, and whiskeys over $12 are half-off on Wednesdays.

The Bearded Lady
The funky South Main restaurant is worth an afternoon hang for well-crafted cocktails at budget-friendly prices. The Bearded Rita, shaken with fresh lemon and lime juice and topped with a splash of club soda, is only $5. So is the popular Southside Mule and the Orange Highball made with whiskey and ginger beer. Local craft beer fans will appreciate the lengthy list of cans on special for $3.50. Also local are the ingredients in the Best Maid Martin House beer-infused dill queso with house-made kettle chips and the Best Maid Salty Lady fried pickles with homemade ranch, both on the happy hour bites menu for $6 each. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3-6 pm.

Buffalo Bros.
The frugal feast well at this TCU hangout that’s popular for pizza, wings, and beer. There’s also a sprawling location in Sundance Square, and both always broadcast every major live sporting event on multiple TVs. Domestic draft beers here are super cheap during happy hour — only $2.50 for Bud Light, Coors Light, and Miller Lite on weekdays from 3-6 pm. Even more, well liquors are only $3. Stay nourished with 75-cent boneless wings in any flavor (try the Cajun or garlic parmesan) and half-price pizza by the slice.

Grace
The sophisticated downtown fine dining establishment is where folks go to get fancy, but that doesn’t mean the bill has to be through the roof. Visit Grace’s chic bar area and patio during “bubble hour,” when all wines that sparkle and fizz are sold for half-price — both by the bottle and the glass. This means Italian prosecco can be as low as $3.50 a flute, and bottles are as inexpensive as $13.50. Bubble hour is from 4-6 pm every day of the week. Don’t miss chef Blaine Staniford’s chorizo-stuffed dates ($12) or the house-ground tenderloin burger with fries for only $16.

Cru Food & Wine Bar
Relax and “un-wine” at this modern but approachable Clearfork wine bar, where happy hour is Monday through Friday from 3-6:30 pm. Get $3 off all wines by the glass or wine flights, and pair them with fancy happy hour dishes like ahi tuna tartare, margherita pizza, and steamed Prince Edward mussels, all only $8 each. Don’t miss Pizza Mondays when customers can get a free pizza with the purchase of any wine bottle, or Champagne Social on Thursdays when every bottle of champagne is half-off after 4 pm.

Branch & Bird
Take happy hour to new heights at this sky-high downtown bar and restaurant. Branch & Bird is located on the 12th floor of the Frost Tower, where skyline views are paired with good deals on cocktails and bites. Grab a table on the breezy terrace for High-Rise Happy Hour, held Tuesday-Friday from 4-6 pm. Margaritas and the day’s featured cocktail are only $5, domestic beers are $3, and all cocktails with house liquors are $6. Or get a glass of happy hour wine for $5. Happy hour bites range from savory spiced peanuts for $3 to Buffalo chicken flatbread for $10. On Wednesdays there’s live music from 5-8 pm, along with half-priced bottles of wine.

The Post at River East
Every day features a different, budget-friendly drink special at this Race Street bar, restaurant, and live music venue. Here’s the lineup: Lone Star beers are $2 on Tuesdays; house wines and house-made sangrias are $5 on Wednesdays; classic cocktails (think gin Fitzgerald, French 75, and old fashioned) are $5 on Thursdays; craft beer cans are $5 on Fridays; and brunch cocktails including mimosas, bloody Marys, and micheladas are only $3 on Saturdays and Sundays. Enjoy live music in the open-air courtyard with patio seating under umbrellas, or sit inside the Trinity Room where live shows are held. All drink specials run all day long.

Fish & chips are buy-one-get-one with the purchase of two drinks on Mondays at Trinity College Irish Pub.

Photo courtesy of Trinity College Irish Pub

Fish & chips are buy-one-get-one with the purchase of two drinks on Mondays at Trinity College Irish Pub.