Rosemont's Rosie's strikes a chord with food, cocktails

Since opening in the Village of Rosemont municipal building on Aug. 7, Rosie's Rivers Edge Tavern has been drawing everyone from local government workers to business travelers. Suburban residents should swing by as well and check out the great food and service.

Motif: The two-level space features 30 HDTVs showing sports. The walls are covered with a mix of sports and beer signs and celebrity photos along with other kitsch such as antlers and guitars. Shelves are stocked with more oddities, including trophies, oversized bottles and beer steins. The space seats more than 200 between booths, the glowing blue bar and long tables good for hosting parties. Iron chandeliers hang overhead.

Food: The menu has already changed several times, with the owners adding and removing items based on what's popular to make it more interesting for regulars. Current favorites include the juicy, cooked-to-order steak skewers served atop a bed of sweet onion strings, and the excellent chicken strips, which are very hot and crispy on the outside, but give way to tender meat. Try them as part of a combo with the fall-off-the-bone ribs topped with a smoky chipotle barbecue sauce. They're served with thick Cajun fries and crunchy coleslaw spiced with hot peppers and garnished with wonton strips that make the side reminiscent of an Asian salad. The street tacos were less compelling. The meat and fish lacked flavor and every variety has the same toppings — a mix of slaw, cilantro, tomatoes and cheese. It's a missed opportunity to complement the fillings with different tastes.

Liquid consumption: Signature cocktails include the blueberry sangria, a sweet but not sugary sipper blended with plenty of blueberries, apple slices and strawberries, and the habanero mango margarita, which is best with a good taste of the spicy rim. Daily drink specials include $5 Absolut Bloody Marys on Sunday, $6 specialty cocktails on Thursday, and $3 Coors Light and Miller Lite bottles Saturday.

Crowd: The following at Rosie's has grown steadily. When we dined, there were plenty of sports fans loudly cheering the game around the bar while tables were dominated by groups of women and couples. Big groups also come in for Wednesday trivia, where teams of up to 10 people can compete.

Service: Our server rattled off the specials after greeting us and was happy to make recommendations. Water was refilled quickly, and she checked in regularly.

Music: Live Pete Show performs on Friday, with the lounge act playing songs from Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and other stars. Thursday karaoke has been growing in popularity.

Parking: There are plenty of spots in the bar's free lot.

Overall: Whether you're in the area for a show or just looking for somewhere new to eat, Rosie's Rivers Edge Tavern offers a fun atmosphere for dinner and drinks.

Rosie's Rivers Edge Tavern

9501 W. Devon Ave., Rosemont, (847) 685-3940, <a href="http://rosiesriversedge.com">rosiesriversedge.com</a>

<b>Hours:</b> 8 a.m. to midnight Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 a.m. to midnight Sunday