Murphy's of Arlington Heights is more friendly than flashy

Pubs in the suburbs seem to be getting more and more extravagant. Enter Murphy's of Arlington Heights into the picture, a stripped-down bar that combines a pub aesthetic with the atmosphere of a neighborhood gathering place.

Motif: Located inside a strip mall, Murphy's is a fairly simple bar. The interior is rectangular-shaped and somewhat narrow. Closest to the door are booths and tables for people to sit at; behind this is the raised bar area. The three-sided wooden bar itself is small with very little flash. Near the bar there are tall tables and chairs, too. On the wall behind the bar is a flat-screen television; another television also hangs from the same wall just a few feet further back in the bar. Be sure to take note of the board behind the bar, which states the daily specials. In addition, the green and tan walls are covered with alcohol memorabilia which proudly displays the Murphy name. In the very back of the bar, you can find darts as well as a bowling arcade game.

Crowd: On this particular night, a Monday, I was the youngest person at the bar. Most of the patrons seemed to know one another as they discussed their daily lives. I am sure that the age make-up of Murphy's skews a little younger on weekends; besides, responsible young adults should not be out drinking on Monday nights.

Service: In the short amount of time spent at Murphy's, I was treated to some extremely friendly service. The bartender was very happy to see me and shared their daily specials with me. Unfortunately, getting a bucket of beer for one person is a little extreme, but I appreciate the effort.

Liquid consumption: While Murphy's does have a full bar, beer here only comes in bottles. Some of the brews you can choose from are Miller Lite, Miller High Life, Bud Light, Heineken, Corona and Guinness. Prices vary for domestic and imports (check out the day's drink special on the board behind the bar, such as $3.50 Heineken and Corona on Tuesdays, $11 Miller Lite buckets on Fridays and $5 Jager bombs on Saturdays).

Food: Murphy's has a respectable menu for a bar its size. Some of the items that you will find include pizza, sandwiches, wraps and the usual assortment of appetizers found at bars. Take notice of the day's food specials, such as $1 burgers and 75-cent tacos on Saturdays and a half slab of ribs for $6.95 on Fridays, both between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. An even better deal: Murphy's puts out free pizza at 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Sounds: During my visit, the sounds I heard came from people talking around me and the televisions mounted on the walls. Come during the weekend though, and things are a little different sound-wise. On Friday you can expect a band from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. with no cover charge, and on Saturday check out karaoke from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. I also noticed an online jukebox.

Parking: Since Murphy's is located inside a strip mall, there are plenty of parking spots for patrons. No worries here.

Overall: Murphy's is what it is, a neighborhood joint disguised as a pub. It's one of those bars where everyone really does know one another, and are more than happy to welcome newcomers. This is the bar that you visit to relax, have a beer, maybe eat some food and converse with others. The HD televisions might be the most glamorous thing about Murphy's, but thankfully the bar more than makes up for it with its neighborhood charm.