Even with new name, and in new location, Tavern keeps its spirit

The name, Tavern Off the Fox, may ring a bell to suburban bar goers who recall the downtown Aurora staple, Tavern On the Fox. Nowadays, Tavern On the Fox, which overlooked the Fox River, is no more and that "on" has been changed to an "off" with a brand-new location overlooking Eola Road.

Motif: Entering Tavern Off the Fox, I was taken aback by how large and open the bar was. The high ceiling also probably made the bar feel even bigger than it already was. It's no surprise that owner Sean Gorman chose this building for a new location. "With the location on Eola Road, I saw an opportunity and jumped at it," Gorman said. The large room has obviously afforded Tavern Off the Fox some distinct opportunities as bags sets were present and Nintendo Wii was being played on a large projection screen on the back wall. Speaking of games, darts, Golden Tee and arcade poker were all available. Tavern Off the Fox's bar stretches along the front wall, with televisions and a projector screen hanging above it.

Service: The service was extremely friendly during my visit. How many bars ask you if there are any songs you care to hear and then actually oblige - even if the request is ridiculous? Thanks for playing "Sunglasses at Night" by Corey Hart, Tavern Off the Fox. I'm sure you made my friend's night.

Crowd: During my trip at Tavern Off the Fox, most of the clientele was made up of males in their mid- to late 20s (besides the one in my group). Yeah, I wasn't necessarily at the bar during its peak hours, but any place that has plenty of televisions and sets of bags is going to attract the sports bar crowd.

Food: Tavern Off the Fox's menu does not stray from the usual offerings you're bound to find at bars. Some items listed include sandwiches (Italian beef, buffalo fried chicken and apple-flavored pork tenderloin), burgers, pizza, fried chicken, wings, quesadillas, pasta, soup and salads. If you were a fan of Tavern On the Fox's food, you are in luck as Gorman informed me that two of his best cooks have relocated to the new digs.

Liquid consumption: Tavern Off the Fox has about what you would expect when it comes to alcohol, not that there's anything wrong with that. Some beer choices are Bud Light, Guinness, Stella Artois, Newcastle, Fosters and Rolling Rock. If beer isn't your thing, no worries: There's a full bar selection and wine to boot.

Sounds: Besides the eclectic musical mix present at Tavern Off the Fox, live bands appear at the bar on Friday nights and eventually Saturdays. One upcoming band is The Mr. Moms. I couldn't find anything about the group, but any band named after the classic 1983 Michael Keaton movie has to be top notch. It just has to.

Parking: Tavern Off the Fox has its own large parking lot.

Overall: Tavern On the Fox may be gone after a 17-year run, but Tavern Off the Fox keeps the bar's original spirit alive on a grander scale. "At Tavern Off the Fox, we are replicating the traditions of Tavern On the Fox. A lot of the pictures are from the old bar. The brass rail below the bar is from Tavern On the Fox and the tin ceiling resembles the bar's old ceiling," said Gorman.

If you're like me and you never had a chance to visit Tavern On the Fox, don't worry. It's clear that Gorman knows what he's doing and has a list of at least "200 things" he wants to do with the bar. New and old customers alike will enjoy Tavern Off the Fox, one of the more exciting new bars to hit the suburban scene.

<p class="factboxheadblack">Tavern Off the Fox</p> <p class="News">2340 S. Eola Road, Aurora, (630) 236-6667</p> <p class="News"><b>Hours: </b>11:30 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday</p>