Hash Over: Fine Dining, Recession-Style, Texas Beer And (Gulp) Karaoke

Like Joe Biden, we had no clue how bad the economy was--saw repeated stories about unemployment, but that's it--until this: a pair of fine dining establishments have rolled out value meals (well, they don't exactly call them that) to keep even the most belt-tightening of customers from stooping to brown-bagging it (*shudder!*) or cooking at home (*gasp!*).

The Oceanaire's (13340 Dallas Parkway) new dinner menu, by the numbers: four courses, $20.10, select bottles for $20.10 apiece, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays until 2010 or Biden notices an upswing in the economy (whichever comes first), reservations at 972-759-2277.

Craft's (2440 Victory Park Lane, Suite 100) new Jeff Harris-prepared Power Lunch, by the numbers: three courses, $28, 60 minutes, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays, 214-397-4111 for reservations.

Other stuff:

Taco Mundo's Centreport location (4120 S.H. 360, Fort Worth) will have its grand opening Wednesday evening with a Boys & Girls Club benefit.

The Libertine Bar has declared each and every Wednesday evening to be Texas Beer Night. From 4 p.m. to closing time, all Texas beers--including Shiner, Rahr, Saint Arnold, Live Oak, Southern Star and Franconia--will be $2.50 apiece, bottle or draft. What, no Lone Star?

Catfish Blues (1011 Corinth Street) came up with the brilliant idea to combine two great (well, questionable) tastes that go great together: karaoke and happy hour. Every Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., the joint serves up $4 hurricanes, blue Hawaiians and margaritas along with do-it-yourself musical entertainment. We think we know one Girl Drinker who might have to do an encore Guns 'n' Roses interpretation.