Drink in the cool atmosphere on the patio or inside at Fox's on the River

It's the season for beer gardens and patios, and the patio at Batavia's Fox's on the River is a doozy.

Motif: Fox's on the River has one of the coolest outdoor patios in the Western suburbs. The patio is large, open and right up against the Fox River. Very few beer gardens or patios have as enjoyable a view as the one here.

If you find yourself more occupied with the interior of the bar, you're in for a treat there as well. It is quite apparent that the owners of Fox's on the River overhauled and renovated the building. In comparison to other Fox's restaurants (this is the third), the Batavia location is "bigger and one of the nicest," according to manager Shannon Wright.

The medium-sized, wooden bar is one of the first things you see upon entering the building. Seats are lined up at the bar while tables and chairs are scattered about the bar area. Televisions hang from the walls and a game room sits near the bar with video games for adults and kids. Behind the bar is a dining area with many tables and booths where patrons can sit and enjoy a meal and a drink. There is also an upstairs, which was closed off during my visit, but I was told by Wright that this area is mainly used for banquets.

Crowd: The crowd at Fox's on the River can be fairly diverse. While the bar takes up the front of the building, the rest is more restaurant-oriented. With this separation, you could easily have younger folk sitting at the bar watching a game while families eat dinner just around the corner.

Service: The service was extremely friendly and attentive during my visit. Even though the bar was fairly busy for the weeknight that I visited, the staff still noticed my arrival and were more than happy to come over and take my drink order.

Food: Fox's on the River is well-known for their pizza. Their unique brand of South Side Chicago thin crust draws patrons from around the suburbs. Your standard pizzas are available, but there are also more offbeat choices such as taco pizza and buffalo chicken pizza. In addition, Fox's on the River has burgers, pasta, a variety of sandwiches, steak, fish, ribs and more. The weekly food specials include $10 large cheese pizzas on Sunday and Monday, half-price pizza on Tuesday, an all-you-can-eat buffet on Friday and more.

Liquid consumption: Some of the beers featured on Fox's on the River's tap list included Labatt Blue, Miller Lite, Stella Artois and the perfect summer brew, Bell's Oberon. Throughout the week you can choose from half-price drafts on Monday and Saturday, $2.50 import bottles on Tuesday, $2.50 house wines on Wednesday, $2 domestic bottles on Thursday, $3 margaritas on Friday and $3 Bloody Mary's on Sunday. The half-price draft deal on Saturday is an offer too good to refuse.

Sounds: Expect live music on the weekends. The bar's website lists the acts, which range from singer/guitarists to cover bands. During my trip, I overheard Top 40 contemporary music playing over Fox's on the River's sound system.

Parking: Finding a spot to park is not the simplest task. I secured a nearby location on the street, but expect to drive around for a little bit before you find somewhere to park. If the situation gets to feel like it's hopeless, Fox's on the River offers valet parking on Friday and Saturday.

Overall: After seeing countless beer gardens and patios throughout the suburbs, it's always a thrill when I come upon one that manages to excite me. Just hanging outside around beautiful downtown Batavia would be enough, but having a front-row seat next to the peaceful Fox River with a beer in hand sweetens the deal that much more. With renowned pizza, excellent specials and a gorgeous building, Fox's on the River is an excellent addition to the suburbs.