Downers Grove mainstay Ballydoyle now bigger and better

Downtown Aurora has a new addition, and it's not another casino. Instead, it is Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant, a follow-up to the downtown Downers Grove mainstay.

Motif: If you've been to Ballydoyle in Downers Grove, you'll immediately recognize this new incarnation. Ballydoyle Aurora is a super-sized version of Ballydoyle Downers Grove. You enter the bar to face the same recognizable wall lined with bouncers who may or may not be charging you cover for the night.

Past the entryway, the main room of Ballydoyle is large, open and pub-style, featuring plenty of tables and chairs and a large stage where bands perform. The large bar also has seating. The burgundy walls are adorned with old photos to give off an authentic pub mystique. Another bar in a smaller room overlooks the Fox River, with seating also available in other adjoining rooms.

One room with a chapel theme has pewlike benches and a supersecret passageway (but I didn't just tell you that). And while it was not open during my visit, Ballydoyle is going to have quite the outdoor patio, which is going to merit a second visit from me.

Service: Even though Ballydoyle had only been open for a few weeks, the service was particularly sharp. As at its predecessor, Ballydoyle's waitresses are clad in black shirts, plaid skirts/kilts and black socks. Like most Ballydoyle traditions, this one gets no complaints from me.

Food: If you've come here looking for classic Irish food, you're in luck. If you just want normal bar food, hey, Ballydoyle has you covered, too. On the Irish side, look for corned beef and cabbage, boxty, fish and chips, shepherds pie, beef and Guinness stew and bangers and mash (with mashed potatoes). Other items on the menu include burgers, salmon, rib-eye steak, chicken, tilapia, soups, salads and appetizers.

Liquid consumption: Expect the pub mainstays on tap - Guinness, Harp, Bass, Smithwicks, Beamish and Magners Irish Cider. Other available brews include Konig Ludwig, Berghoff Sundown Dark, 312, Boddingtons, Hoegaarden, Bud Light and Miller Light. I would highly recommend visiting Ballydoyle on Thursdays, as you get to keep your Guinness pint glass after ordering a round. Sadly, it's only one glass per customer.

Sounds: Similar to Ballydoyle Downers Grove, this new site hosts live music on the weekend. Thursday through Saturday is dedicated to a variety of rock bands, from cover groups and Celtic rock to country rock and good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll. Bands tend to start around 9 p.m., and when they are playing on Fridays and Saturdays, expect a cover. Fortunately, there will be no cover charges on Thursdays. If three days a week is not enough of a music fix for you, Ballydoyle also has open mic on Tuesdays from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Crowd: I expected the crowd at Ballydoyle to mirror its Downers Grove sibling - 20-somethings and older who are looking to enjoy a drink and possibly whatever band is playing. But I definitely noted some casino patrons stopping by to either celebrate or mourn their respective wins or losses.

Parking: You have a couple of options when it comes to parking at Ballydoyle. Depending on the time of day, you could park somewhere on the nearby streets for free, but be prepared to walk a little bit. During my visit, I was able to find a spot on Broadway, and I did not have to pay the parking meter. There is a parking garage on Stolp Avenue that can be accessed from West Galena Boulevard, but be prepared to pay to park.

Overall: Compared to the original Ballydoyle, everything in this new location is bigger, from the bar to the stage to the patio. If you've been to the original Ballydoyle, you pretty much know what to expect and might just experience a little déjà vu. But thankfully, Ballydoyle is staying true to what has worked for it in the past. Thanks to Ballydoyle, gamblers and nongamblers alike now have a new reason to stick around downtown Aurora.