Mount Prospect's new Finn McCool's Irish sports pub inviting, comfortable

Driving by the blast of green and gold signage, Finn McCool's new Mount Prospect spot at first looks like it could be a Green Bay Packers' bar on steroids. But this eye-catching Irish sports pub on River Road, home to different bars over the years, offers more than just a place to watch your team of choice.

Motif: You enter by passing under an inviting sign of green shamrocks and big white letters that says, "Let the healing begin." On the inside, the wooden Irish pub décor stretches from the rectangular bar to the chairs and tables in the dining area. Well, maybe the vintage Pac-Man video game and other '80s-era throwbacks next to the bar don't exactly conjure up images of leprechauns, but they definitely add to Finn McCool's eclectic fun.

Food: Comfort food abounds at Finn McCool's, where the menu features a build-your-own burger as well as a variety of salads, soups, sandwiches, tacos, fish and chips and even an anytime breakfast section featuring steak and eggs.

It had been a long time since I had seen beer nuggets on an appetizer list. A late-night studying staple on college campuses, beer nuggets are tiny pillows of pizza dough goodness and I couldn't resist an order. A hot, heaping basket of nuggets arrived at our table with dunking cups on each side of the handle - one for tomato sauce and another with a garlic butter-like spread that was equally rib-sticking scrumptious.

Other featured appeti include </a><![CDATA[Killer Shrimp, Wisconsin Cheese Curds, Finn's Famous Chicken Fingers and something called a "Pretzilla" - a giant pretzel served with cheddar cheese sauce.

Liquid consumption: You won't find an extensive beer list, but the typical domestic favorites and Irish imports such as Harp and Guinness are on tap. The drink menu also features a few selected craft beers. I went with a cold Anti-Hero IPA, a local product of Chicago's Revolution Brewery. It was nice to see that Finn's is showcasing local craft beers and this one - a smooth yet bold brew - hit the spot.

Service: During our weeknight visit, there was no problem getting a table and our server was very friendly as she multitasked tables, checks and orders. Food seemed to arrive promptly for everyone and the place also has an upstairs area where private parties can be held.

Crowd: Although this was a quiet night, you can imagine large crowds filling tables and watching sports on several flat screen monitors hanging on the walls. There are plenty of tables, bar stools and open space to comfortably handle a crowd of more than a hundred on the ground floor. Plus, the menu makes the spot family-friendly.

Music: Finn McCool's plays a variety of tunes, from the 1980s through the present day. And as far as I'm concerned, any place featuring '80s classics always gets a few Brownie points.

Parking: Parking could use a bit of improvement. There are plenty of spots in its parking lot, but it's very dark.

Overall: Finn McCool's is a good place for watching sports and enjoying hearty comfort food.