Q Sports Bar & Grill makes for a fun night out

The Darien-based Q Sports Bar & Grill took over 63rd Street Billiards & Bar in February, though you wouldn't know it from the outside signage and menus, which still use the old name. While the focus remains on pool, the food and service make Q a fine choice for a night out even if you're not looking to play.

Motif: The spot was originally a pool hall, with the full bar in the back added about a year and a half ago. The bar area features a bank of flat screen TVs tuned to sports with the sound turned on. Walls are lined with neon beer signs and a selection of pool cues are displayed behind glass. There are stools and counters near the pool tables, so you can grab a seat and rest your drink between shots. If you want to test your skills with a different bar game, there are electronic darts and bags in the back.

Crowd: While most of the patrons come for billiards, the bar also draws in sports fans just looking for a place to chill and watch the game. The Saturday night crowd included a wide age range from late 20s on up. Dress is totally casual, with baseball caps welcome.

Service: Our bartender, Audrey, was amazing. She was working alone on Saturday night. Yet, she ably juggled pouring drinks and serving food for everyone at the bar. Plus, she was incredibly helpful and cheerful. She was happy to talk about the bar, food and drinks, and she made great recommendations.

Liquid consumption: The bar offers a solid selection of beers on draft and by the bottle including the German brew Franziskaner Weissbier, Stella Artois and Blue Moon. The bartender was very conscious of how each beer should be served, using special glasses to measure out the right amount of head and serving them with a slice of fruit when appropriate. She also was happy to whip up cocktails according to your tastes or what you're eating, blending solid drinks like Bacardi O with pineapple juice and Bacardi Dragonberry with cranberry juice and Sprite. The bar offers plenty of daily drink specials including $5 bombs Thursday and Friday, $3.50 Bacardi cocktails Saturday and $3 import pints Sunday.

Food: Q Sports Bar's small menu features a mix of dishes prepared in house and Mexican fare brought in from a neighboring restaurant. Unfortunately the Mexican restaurant keeps different hours, so their food isn't available after 7 p.m. Saturday or anytime Sunday. The bar doesn't have a deep fryer so you get baked versions of bar classics. The potato skins and quesadillas were both highly praised and quite good. The fluffy potatoes are topped with cheese and big chunks of bacon and the quesadillas had a crispy shell and a pleasant kick from the pepper jack cheese and Cajun chicken. A new menu is in the works, so look for more options soon.

Parking: There are plenty of free spots in the strip mall lot.

Overall: Q Sports Bar's service makes it really stand out as a great place for an evening of food, drinks and games.

<b>Q Sports Bar & Grill</b>

<b>2145 63rd St., Downers Grove, (630) 971-0003, <a href="http://qsportsbarandgrill.com">qsportsbarandgrill.com</a></b>

<b>Hours:</b> 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday