Night Out in Fort Worth: 2 drinks, loaded pretzel bites and hammock seats all for under $20

Before making my way over to Little Woodrow’s, the first Fort Worth franchise located in the West 7th entertainment district, I looked up the menu. I liked what I saw: $5 shots and well drinks for happy hour from 4-7 p.m.? Count me in!

The (mostly) outdoor bar in the heart of the city’s rapidly expanding business district perfectly fits the bill for my first try at sharing with you what $20 can buy in our fair town.

Besides, it was a pleasant 85 degrees on a recent Friday afternoon. What’s not to like?

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Even when the 100-degree days of summer arrive — and the heat will get here, believe me — this spot will make a lovely retreat just after sundown.

I arrived in the area with my boyfriend at 5 p.m. We quickly realized that 2 hours of metered street parking daily is free from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. There are parking lots around Little Woodrow’s, but check the signs. Many lots can cost up to $15.

Getting there as early as we did meant we missed the crowds. But sitting at Little Woodrow’s as happy hour began, we watched the crowd grow.

My boyfriend and I sauntered into the yellow, red, and green patio. The first thing you notice is the 400-inch screen against the back wall of the patio. Trust me, you will not miss the monster screen. I did a double take, “Was I inside Dickies Arena?” It blew me away.

Finding a place to sit was not a problem. The place had many options. We could sit in Adirondack chairs front-and-center to the screen, hop on swinging hammocks, grab a picnic table, or sit at high bar tables under a covered patio.

We chose the shady patio with a good view of a smaller, yet still large, TV. The patio was a nice wood deck with walls covered in field turf. To me, it felt like I was in someone’s backyard.

All well drinks were $3 — $5 if they had special ingredients like ginger beer or mint. I ordered a $5 Moscow mule. For my second round, I went with a $3 well ranch water , with extra lime.

I had spent $10. So far, so good.

I turned my attention to the food choices. Little Woodrow’s does not have happy hour prices for food. I could have settled to having only the cocktails, but I wanted to taste their food.

I opted for the affordable side of the menu, which included loaded pretzel bites for $8. Let me tell you, if you like baked potatoes, you want to order these .

As a fan of bacon, cheese, and pretzel, I couldn’t go wrong. The pretzels were soft and buttery with a cheese sauce that was mild but delicious. The topping was green onions and bacon — although the bacon could have been cooked a little more (I asked for extra crispy bacon).

Other options on their menu include flatbreads, sandwiches, and 14-inch pizzas. All food prices range from $10-$20.

After two drinks, loaded pretzel bites, and great conversation, I was ready for the bill.

• Free parking

• $5 Moscow mule

• $3 ranch water

• $8 loaded pretzel bites

• Tax: $1

• Total: $17

• Left the remaining $3 for tip

I used every last penny, but I would say it was worth it. How can you beat a $20-excursion in Fort Worth? Next time I may skip the food and enjoy a few more drinks, but Little Woodrow’s will be seeing me again. Most likely to watch a good game on that monster screen.