After centuries of experimenting with Slappy Hour, Mopey Hour, and Witching Hour, the world's bars and restaurants stumbled upon Happy Hour—and have never looked back. Today’s Groupon takes you to a place where every hour is happy hour. For $25, you get $50 worth of creative American cuisine and drinks at Restaurant Aura and Bar, located at Calhoun Square in Uptown Minneapolis.

To keep up with Calhoun Square's much-needed revitalization after being squashed by Mothra, Aura has revamped itself from the inside out. Along with a new interior comes a new chef with an entirely re-invented menu that features American cuisine with numerous international twists. Aura's vast selection of original pasta dishes are its centerpiece with such notables as: asparagus truffle pasta ($8.95), tequila chicken pasta ($9.95), beef-tip gorgonzola ($12.95), and avocado pasta ($10.95). Traveling tongues, meanwhile, can take a stroll around the parts of America that are in Europe with entrees such as baked Bulgarian feta ($8.95), mustard thyme-glazed salmon ($12.95), and shrimp and mushroom risotto ($12.95). Aura's small plates are all under $7, but do not skimp on delectable originality or syllables. Passing around a few plates of tabasco-dipped calamari ($6.95) and goat-cheese chicken quesadilla ($6.95) will ensure that your conversation suffers no uncomfortable lulls no matter how often your friend brings up his rash.

Despite the renovations, Aura has kept what ain't broke unfixed. Its original whitewall tires are still there, and so is its “Happy Aura,” which runs from open to close. The restaurant will have you radiating your own happy aura with a full range of drinks. Pass the world's longest hour with a pint of Guinness from the tap ($4), a mojito ($7.95), a berrytini ($7.95), or a late-night shot of Patron or Jagermeister (both $6 after midnight). If you're feeling romantic, you can order a decanter for two filled with three glasses of wine. Between rounds, small plates of hummus with roasted pine nuts and pizza bread ($5) and polenta fries with garlic butter ($5) will help keep you alert and unwobbly. One Groupon can be used per table, so bring your entire RPG fellowship with you and enjoy a night out that, for once, doesn't involve fighting the same three bandersnatches over and over again.

Reviews

Nearly every hour is happy hour at Restaurant Aura and Bar, which gets a positive write-up from Mpls.St.Paul magazine. Yelpers agree, giving the restaurant 4.5 stars, while 74% of 50 Urbanspooners recommend it:

• The beauty of Aura? Happy hour means happy afternoon, evening, and night. – Mpls.St.Paul
• Aura is the secret of the Twin Cities. Happy Hour runs from opening to close. – Michael K, Yelp