A lot of old-timey saloons would just put out a lunch buffet and as long as you bought one drink you could take what you like. Pretty good food by some accounts.
I talked to my Dad and he claimed this was still a thing in a few places as late as the early-80s, there were places with "happy hour" where they would put out a small buffet like once a week. He said in college he'd go to them and buy one beer and fill up.
CW: seafood.
Old bay seasoning was developed to get Baltimore bar-goers thirsty after loading up on free crab, so they’d buy more beers :::
pffft, I can get free crabs at the bath house!
That was basically a similar thing in Wisconsin back in the day. But like, we kinda fished those lakes to death. Now the fish ain't so cheap.