Dawn's Beach Hut awash in personality

In the past, I have referred to bars that were on the smaller side as being "cozy," and that was before I visited Dawn's Beach Hut in St. Charles. I dare you to find a "cozier" bar than Dawn's.

Motif: Dawn's Beach Hut has to be the smallest bar I've been in. Or to put it a different way, Dawn's is the coziest bar I have visited on my suburban travels.

The tiny spot goes with a tropical, Florida Keys theme and the small bar is shaped like a hut, complete with a large fish resting on top. There is seating at the bar and throughout the room in the form of stools. Just be prepared: If you came to Dawn's to have a private conversation with a friend in a quiet, secluded corner, you've picked the wrong bar.

Near the entrance is a small refrigerator with a window in the front, like the kind that you'd see at a grocery store. Just another reason Dawn's isn't your average bar.

Service: Service here during my visit was a one-woman operation, and that woman was Dawn Humer. She handled all of the bar's roles: bouncer, bartender, waitress and cook. It's her place through and through, and Dawn is the hostess with the mostest. At one point, she made and then poured out free shots for all eight people at the bar. Now that's grade A service.

Crowd: The funny thing about Dawn's is, with a bar this small, realistically, the crowd could vary each time you go. Throw a few middle-aged couples in there, and they have become the majority. Next time, for all you know, the place will be packed with rowdy twentysomethings. How many bars can be that spontaneous in this day and age?

Liquid consumption: Did you for a second doubt that Dawn's Beach Hut would be awash in tropical-themed drinks? Banana seems to be the flavor of choice for Dawn's mixed drinks. So, if you are a big fan of bananas in liquid form, you are in luck. Even the beer follows the tropical theme with Jimmy Buffett's Landshark Lager being prominently featured as well as Red Stripe, Corona and Sam Adams.

Food: Somehow, a bar as small as Dawn's manages to serve food. The tropical theme is still maintained, somewhat, with items such as jambalaya, shrimp cocktail, brats and pizza. Of course I associate jambalaya with Louisiana, but it is definitely more tropical than a cheeseburger.

Sounds: I feel like I may be overusing the word, but the music at Dawn's could also be described as tropical. Artists like Bob Marley and the Beach Boys were overheard at Dawn's, both promoting their own versions of good vibrations.

Parking: If you're looking for somewhere to park, I would recommend the lot located a short walk away from Dawn's at the corner of Cedar Street and Route 31. There are other lots throughout St. Charles, as well as some street parking, but the aforementioned lot is your best bet.

Overall: What Dawn's lacks in size, it more than makes up for with its personality. Going to Dawn's is like hanging out in a friend's rec room. You relax, you have a drink or two, you enjoy the tropical theme with others there for friendly conversation.

Sounds like a winning recipe to me.

Dawn's Beach Hut

8 N. Third St., St. Charles, (630) 513-0204

Hours: 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday