Thirsty Whale hoping to make a splash in Algonquin

Everyone asks owner Niko Kanakaris whether the new Thirsty Whale Bar & Grill in Algonquin is related to the famous River Grove rock club of the 1980s and '90s.

It's not. But that doesn't mean he's not enjoying the name recognition.

Motif: The new Thirsty Whale opened in December in the space formerly occupied by Red Star Tavern. Kanakaris is a bar and restaurant veteran, the guy behind Niko's Grill & Pub in Huntley, Red Ox in Hampshire and Niko's Lodge in St. Charles.

Despite the name, the Thirsty Whale has no nautical decor. Rather, it has the look of a sports bar with beer signs and framed jerseys on the walls and flat-screen TVs everywhere you turn.

The bar itself is massive and winds around for maximum seating. There are plenty of booths and tables nearby, with a separate dining area for families who show up for dinner.

Crowd: Dinner time draws a family crowd, but things heat up as the night goes on. Kanakaris says the bar area brings in a mix of customers who come to hear bands or watch their favorite sports teams on TV.

Service: From where we were sitting, we could hear the friendly bartenders chatting with patrons. The host and our server were warm as well.

Still, we had trouble getting our server's attention when we wanted to add to our order, even though the place was fairly quiet on the night we went.

Liquid consumption: You'll find a selection of beers on tap, including Newcastle, Stella Artois, Blue Moon and Guinness. You also can get your beer by the bottle - and your bottles by the bucket - as well as choose from mixed drinks and martinis.

Food: The menu is large, offering everything from fish to wraps to pasta. Burgers, stuffed or simple, are the specialty of the house, and if you've got a big enough appetite you might want to try the Whaler. It features three half-pound patties, bacon, cheese, mushrooms and fried onions. If you finish it, you get a T-shirt.

Feeling a bit less carnivorous? There are plenty of appetizers to get you in the bar mood. We enjoyed the spicy Cajun onion petals and the creamy spinach artichoke dip. The latter came with loads of spinach, a nice version of the popular bar dish. Chicken wings are available with a variety of sauces, but I'd recommend the garlic - assuming you're not worried about scaring off your date.

Sounds: DJs appear on Wednesdays and Thursdays, while the bar hosts live acts on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, you watch whatever sport you're into on the wall-to-wall TVs - more than 30 of them.

Parking: Thirsty Whale is in the Algonquin Commons shopping center so there is plenty of parking.

Overall: With a name like Thirsty Whale, you may harbor certain expectations walking through the door - especially if you're hoping to recreate your old rock-venue days in River Grove. This Whale is a whole different species, but one that could be a nice place to dock for a cold beer and garlicky chicken wings.

<p class="factboxheadblack">Thirsty Whale Bar & Grill</p>

<p class="News">1700 S. Randall Road, Algonquin, (847) 458-8555, <a href="http://www.thirstywhalebar.com" target="new">www.thirstywhalebar.com</a></p>

<p class="News"><b>Hours:</b> 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday</p>