Algonquin's Bad Monkey shows off its good side with sports, music and drinks

The three-year-old Bad Monkey in Algonquin is the kind of place where anyone can feel at home. Sports games, live music, DJ nights and cheap drinks all bring in a big and diverse crowd.

Motif: The space features exposed piping and metal siding on the bar. Flat-screen TVs throughout the spot are typically tuned to sports, with the ones above the stage used for occasional karaoke nights. Walls are mostly bare, decorated with a few electric beer signs. Metal fans with lamps hang from the ceiling and dancing rainbow lights stream around the bar when music's playing.

Seating takes the form of small tables with black leather stools. Tucked in the corner are electronic dart boards and a crane machine filled with stuffed toys. A motorcycle is prominently on display inside, and you'll see plenty more during Thursday bike nights, where locals come to show off their rides. The bar also regularly hosts charity bike runs during the summer.

Crowd: The place was standing-room-only when we came in a little after 9:30 p.m. on a recent Saturday. Bad Monkey draws in a wide age range, from just 21 to 50-plus. Big groups of people in jerseys and T-shirts sit alongside couples who look like they've just come from dressier dinners. The space also gets hopping on Bears, Cubs and White Sox game days, when Bad Monkey always offers food and drink specials. As bike night indicates, this place draws an eclectic crowd.

Service: Despite the crowd a server still came over to take our order as soon as we grabbed a bit of counter space and brought us our drinks shortly after.

Liquid consumption: You can order up most classic cocktails and bottles of beer or drafts served by the pitcher or in frosted mugs. Jell-O shots, doled out on trays by attractive waitresses, are also a hit on busy nights. The bar offers drink specials every day, which typically change monthly. For the best deal, stop in on Thursdays for $1 drafts.

Food: Bad Monkey has a small menu featuring half-pound burgers and popular specials like pot roast on Wednesdays and fish fry Fridays. The bar is family-friendly during dinner, changing over to 21 and older after 9 p.m.

Music: There's a sizable stage for live bands, which play every Saturday night. The sound is loud, but the cover group that was performing when we were there was quite good, belting out tunes to a very enthusiastic audience that was singing along. Fridays are Club Night, with DJ Johnny D spinning requests. He brings out typically younger crowds who like to move along with the Bad Monkey dancers, who perform on the bar tops.

Cover: Admission is $2 to $5 on Saturdays depending on how popular the band is.

Parking: When Bad Monkey is hopping, it can be tough to find a spot in the free strip-mall lot.

Overall: Bad Monkey is a lively place for anyone to rock all night.

<b>Bad Monkey</b>

1030 E. Algonquin Road, Algonquin, (847) 458-6902

<b>Hours: </b>4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday