Eat Out. The Arsenal [Thirsty Thursdays!].

After a long day at work, finishing that studied-too-much-for exam or maybe just for meeting up with friends, everyone needs that go-to spot for happy hour. For the Westside, that spot should be The Arsenal.

Located on Pico right off the 10, this dark bar is a little confusing at first--the unexpectedly large red-lit space is split up into three random rooms, there are rifles and guns lined up against the walls alongside flat-screen TVs showing the game, a DJ booth sits across from the bar, and the sign on the door just thanked you for not wearing jerseys or baggy clothes. Identity crisis? Maybe, but somehow things stay pretty unpretentious and chill, and after you take a seat in a booth, you'll find the place charmingly cozy.

Plus you'll probably be too distracted by the great happy hour deals you'll be getting. From 5pm-7pm Mon.-Fri. and 6pm-8pm on Sat., The Arsenal offers beers on tap for $3, well cocktails and wines by the glass for $4, and appetizers like skewers for $4-$5. A nice basket of fries (even of the sweet potato variety, if you so wish!) comes for a whopping $2. There are also daily specials, like $1 sliders on Tuesdays and a full burger-fries-beer meal for $10 on another day (Thursdays, I believe).

There's a full-blown kitchen offering burgers and sandwiches, and the bar has a cocktail menu, but I honestly wouldn't bother. Stick to the plan of a nice cold beer, greasy snacks and a cozy corner for relaxing, and The Arsenal will indeed deliver a happy hour.

The Arsenal is located at 12012 W. Pico Blvd. in West L.A.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: theBEAT