Bottoms up: Harper’s

Since 1990, Harper’s restaurant has had a birds-eye view of the magic and mayhem that defines Five Points. Perched at the busy intersection of Harden and Devine streets, the location has borne witness to 26 years of growth and development, all the while playing host to graduation celebrations, wedding festivities and overall good vibes.

“We’re not a Five Points bar,” said Chris Ahlberg, the restaurant’s manager. “We close at 10 o’clock on weeknights, 11 o’clock on Friday and Saturday nights. So we’re not one of those late-night spots to come and party. We’ll accept those people, but earlier in the evening.”

And as they say, the early bird gets the worm – or in this case, the discounted drinks. Harper’s happy hour specials include house liquors, wines and pints, and run Monday through Sunday. And although that may not entice college students, Harper’s has found a way to capture their attention and repeat business.

“We’re one of the few places around here that accepts Carolina Cards,” said Ahlberg. “We get a fair share of students who pick up food to go. They love the (six-cheese) penne pasta and the (Harper’s ‘original’) chicken supremes.”

Young adults also love to try their luck at trivia on Thursday nights. Ahlberg admits that was one of the places you might have found him during his days at Carolina.

“It’s the one night we kind of become a bar,” said Ahlberg. “That’s the busiest night for bar sales with us. We offer good deals on food and alcohol. Everybody has fun.”

Margaritas made with Juarez gold tequila are a popular choice on trivia nights and during happy hour, but those sales are but a fraction of the restaurant’s wine business.

“Fifty percent of our alcohol sales are from wine, and the other half is equal parts beer and liquor,” said Ahlberg. He notes that popular choices are Ecco Domani’s pinot grigio and Underwood’s pinot noir. Partnerships with wine companies let Harper’s offer discounted prices.

“It works out for us and the guest,” said Ahlberg. “We can offer it a little cheaper because they sell it to us for a cheaper price.”

The Harper’s cocktail menu is refreshed seasonally with mixed drinks that become popular with each turnover.

“Our biggest seller is the blackberry smash,” said Ahlberg. “It’s fresh muddled blackberries, Bombay sapphire gin and Pama pomegranate, a cordial you don’t see too much. It’s got a good citrus flavor to go with the sweetness of the blackberries. It’s very popular.”

Another popular drink is one part alcohol, one part charity. “The tequila orange peel” has Omega Altos Reposado tequila, Campari and three fresh juices – lime, orange and lemon – topped with agave nectar. And for every drink sold, one dollar goes to the No Kid Hungry campaign.

The blueberry granita cosmo is a classic cocktail featured on a previous drink menu that regulars order by name. Ahlberg says it may come back for the spring and summer, but as long as Harper’s has the ingredients on hand and people request it, the bar is open to making it.

So it would seem the casual eatery has managed to carve out a niche for itself on both the food and beverage end. Whether you go there with your parents or with your friends as part of a trivia team, stop by the bar. You won’t be disappointed.

Dwaun Sellers, dsellers@thestate.com

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 10:40 AM with the headline "Bottoms up: Harper’s."