Note: When we called the restaurant in February 2020, pizza prices had gone up to $10 and happy hour is now from 3 to 5 p.m. daily.

I love pizza, and Brick Fire Tavern is dangerously close to my workplace. So when I found out they have a happy hour with discounted pizzas, I was right there.

The scene

Brick Fire is Oahu's only restaurant serving certified Neapolitan pizza — a certification by Italy's Associazone Verace Pizza Napoletana. The pizzas are hand-crafted from scratch and cooked in a 900-degree wood-fire brick oven. It's always fun to watch the pies being made right before your eyes.

Happy hour here runs 3 to 6 p.m. daily. And it's not crowded — at least during my visit. It's peaceful, actually, with just two other tables occupied and a few counter seats taken. But then, Brick Fire has just extended its happy hour from the previous one hour daily. We'll see how long it stays quiet.

What you can get for $15

The happy hour menu’s not extensive, but it’s quality. It includes beer and wine specials, $5 cocktails, three individual-sized pizzas, a salad, breadsticks and a meatball (yes, singular).

The pizzas are 8 inches compared to the full-size 12-inch pies. But the full-size pizzas also cost $15 to $20. The 8-inch ones are just the right size to satisfy a craving without leaving you stuffed or starving.

Mini Funghi pizza ($8) with house white wine ($6).

The three pizzas on the happy hour menu are the more basic ones compared to “Da Shrimp Truck,” “Sal’s Carbonara” and some of the other full-sized pizzas with fun names, but basic doesn't mean bad. Funghi (regular price $18) is one of my favorites, so I’m thrilled with this smaller $8 portion. This no-tomato option is topped with besciamella (the Italian version of béchamel), mozzarella, fontina, parsley, thyme and a mushroom medley. It’s ooey, gooey and over-the-top cheesy, but the mushrooms make me feel somewhat healthy.

Mini Margherita pizza ($7) with the Classic Manhattan cocktail ($5).

The Classic Manhattan is made with rye, sweet vermouth and angostura bitters and is one of the the restaurant's most popular cocktails. You also can’t go wrong with a classic margherita pizza (regular price $15), complete with mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, pecorino romano, basil and olive oil. The $7 price makes it taste even better.

Mini Margherita pizza ($7), Hotel Street Negroni cocktail ($5) and single meatball ($3).

You might think $3 for a meatball is pricy, but the regular appetizer has three for $12. The tender meatballs are made in-house, served in a pool of housemade marinara and finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan. They can be easily eaten in two bites (three if you're refined), but the flavor and texture are on point.

Plus tip

Did you know October was National Pizza month? Here’s an excuse to celebrate Halloween with a pie — without breaking your budget.

Brick Fire Tavern

16 N. Hotel St.

Downtown

369-2444

https://www.brickfiretavern.com/

Happy hour daily 3-6 p.m.

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