Mount Prospect's Bar Louie boasts eclectic menu

There's something about the Bar Louie name that always made me think of New Orleans. So I was surprised to find out that the bar/restaurant chain started in Chicago. The newest location — along Rand Road in Mount Prospect — tips its hat to those Chicago roots on its menu and in its vast beer selection, while also embracing a range of influences far from the city and suburbs.

Motif: Bar Louie opened in Mount Prospect on Dec. 3; an adjacent Holiday Inn, now under renovation, will follow this spring.

No hotel bar, Bar Louie's look is sleek and contemporary with rich wood walls and amber-colored glass-tiled columns throughout, and striking photographic portraits claiming wall space in the dining area. The backlit bar itself is large and rectangular, with seats there and at nicely spaced high-topped tables all around. There are 18 flat-screen TVs, but at Bar Louie they're another attraction, not the main event. The overall effect is casual, yet classy.

Service: Our waitress approached our table quickly and returned often to check in on us. She was friendly and happy to make recommendations.

Crowd: On Saturday night, we found a mix of ages, all casually but nicely dressed. The dining area skewed toward families, while the weekday happy hour — with certain appetizers half-priced from 4 to 7 p.m. — should draw an after-work crowd.

Liquid consumption: Beer lovers will find plenty of options with 40 choices on tap and more available by the bottle. The list includes some national favorites like Sam Adams and Blue Moon as well as the locally brewed Two Brothers' Domain DuPage.

A great deal of thought goes into the vast selection of martinis and specialty cocktails. Manager D.J. Harrington says Bar Louie aims to put a different spin on traditional cocktails and mix things up with nontraditional selections like the Revive — made with acai berry liqueur, sugar-free syrup, fresh lime, mint and cucumber. Louie's Cosmo is the bar's version of this popular martini. Made with white cranberry juice, the drink tends toward the tart, our waitress warned, so we ordered the CEO, a strong but refreshing mix of vodka and olive juice generously garnished with three blue cheese-stuffed olives.

Food: The appetizer menu runs from typical bar favorites (chicken wings and sliders) to more globally inspired fare (bruschetta, pot stickers and adobe shrimp). We went with spinach artichoke dip. a pretty traditional but tasty rendition paired with tortilla chips.

The rest of the menu is wide-ranging as well, with 12 burger options alone. Tuesday is $1 burger night, a hard-to-pass-up special. Granted, the patty arrives a little bare, but you can pile on toppings like onions, mushrooms, bacon and cheese for an extra charge.

The Luigi is the restaurant's signature sandwich: Shaved rib-eye is paired with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and olive oil on a hoagie role. We shared the large fish po'boy: blackened tilapia, lettuce, tomatoes, olives and chipotle mayo on a roll. It was flavorful, with a slight kick, and came with nicely seasoned fries. There are a number of other creative sandwiches, as well as pasta, fish, tacos and salads.

Sounds: Classic rock played on the night we visited, with the volume loud enough so you could appreciate the music, but not so loud you had to shout to the person next to you. Harrington says tastes run from contemporary to classic rock, and Friday night patrons will find a DJ from 9 p.m. to close.

Parking: There is ample parking in the lot.

Overall: Whether you stop by for burgers with the family, or a cold martini at the bar, you should find Bar Louie a good place to unwind.

<b>Bar Louie</b>

200 E. Rand Road, Mount Prospect, (847) 394-3456, <a href="http://www.barlouieamerica.com" target="_blank">barlouieamerica.com</a>

<b>Hours:</b> 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday