Dino's Grill and Sports Lounge nurtures a laid-back feel

Some bars lay on the whole theme thing a little thick. I've seen sports bars whose walls are covered in so much sports memorabilia that the look reminds me of a kid's poster-covered bedroom.

Dino's Grill and Sports Lounge in Glendale Heights is nothing like that. The place keeps things fairly simple with great results.

Motif: Dino's is a laid-back bar, and it shows in its one-room layout. "It's a smaller, more personal bar," says owner Dino Kalomiris. "Dino's is a neighborhood bar with a relaxed atmosphere."

The walls are painted burgundy and HD televisions hang on them. The bar itself is long with plenty of space for patrons. There are tables and chairs throughout the room, but there is not an overabundance of them, making the layout fairly open. A small lounge-like couch area sits in a corner and further supports the relaxed atmosphere. A Golden Tee machine is near the entrance, and there is a small patio for when it gets warmer.

Crowd: The crowd at Dino's can easily vary throughout the week. During my trip, the guys at the bar looked like they had just gotten off work and were looking to have a drink, eat and relax with friends. During the weekend, the crowd can become more diverse when DJs spin top 40 hits.

Service: One of the best parts of Dino's is that during your visit there is a good chance that Dino himself will be serving you your drinks. While I sat at the bar sipping beer and eating some tasty quesadillas, I chatted with Kalomiris who was very welcoming and proud of his bar. You could tell that he truly appreciated his customers and knows how to treat them.

Liquid consumption: While Dino's does not have any beer on tap, the bar still has an impressive list of bottles and excellent specials throughout the week. Some of the bottles available include Sierra Nevada, Fat Tire, Sam Adams, Rolling Rock, Beck's, Purple Haze, Blue Moon, Labatt Blue and more. Some of the specials throughout the week are $1 U-Call-Its on Monday, $2.50 margaritas on Tuesday, most beers are half-price on Wednesday, $2.50 Miller products on Friday, $3.50 Amstel and Heineken bottles on Saturday and $2.50 Bloody Marys on Sunday.

Food: The food menu embraces the bar standards that we are all accustomed to, but it still manages to put a twist on the genre. For instance, the Matt's Armed Services Burger contains four ¾-pound patties with cheese. This burger is a beast, and if you manage to finish the thing in under an hour, you'll be immortalized with your name on the menu. Other non-challenge foods at Dino's include pork tenderloin, grilled chicken breast, wings, quesadillas, chicken Marsala sandwich, strip steak and breakfast items served all day. Some of Dino's food specials include 50 cent wings on Monday and Sunday, $5 burgers on Tuesday (not including the gargantuan Matt's Armed Services Burger) and $5 quesadillas on Wednesday.

Sounds: On the night I visited, Dino was queuing up some songs in the bar's jukebox. It was an eclectic mix to say the least, featuring lounge music, rock, pop and everything in between. On the weekends, look for a DJ every other Friday to be spinning dance music, top 40 hits and pop. And do not worry, a DJ does not constitute a cover charge. Also, Kalomiris plans on installing a stage at Dino's for open mic nights and the occasional musical act.

Parking: Dino's is located in a small strip mall off Army Trail Road, so securing a parking spot is not going to be a problem.

Overall: Dino's is not trying to be overly flashy, and it certainly does not need to be. This is a bar where you can go have a drink, eat some food and catch some sporting events. Kalomiris has been working in the service industry for years, and it's clear he knows what works. You're going to visit Dino's for its specials, service and relaxed atmosphere; it's as simple as that.