More room on tap at Emerson's Ale House

Emerson's Ale House opened in October, but it's still a work in progress, with a dining room and banquet area set to open by May. Luckily, you don't have to wait until then to enjoy the bar's food and beer menu.

Motif: Emerson's took about a year to open as owner Nonda Karvelas did all the construction work himself, from the bar to the booths. The walls are a mix of tile and wood covered in beer ads. You can grab a seat on a cushioned and backed barstool or at one of the candlelit booths.

Plans are under way to knock out a wall to connect it to an adjoining space, which will offer a quieter dining area and a place for private parties. Thirteen HDTVs show soccer, hockey and football games and 15 more will be added when the expansion is complete, along with a projector for corporate meetings. Look for outdoor seating in front come summer.

Crowd: The space gets packed Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, bringing in a primarily 35 to 55 crowd. Seniors come in from 3 to 5 p.m., giving way to families for dinner and a wave of commuters from the nearby Metra station.

Service: Our server was very knowledgeable, able to offer descriptions of the beers we asked about and help us choose what to order by assessing our appetite. He wasn't afraid to steer us away from something we were considering in favor of a dish he thought was better, and his recommendations proved spot on.

Food: Everything on the menu is made in house. The Angus beef burgers, served on pretzel rolls delivered fresh daily, are a big hit along with the pizza, deep dish pies with plenty of great cheese and a sweet sauce on top of a crust that's fluffy on the bottom and caramelized to be crispy on the edges.

Entrees come with one of their homemade soups, with options including a rich cream of broccoli and a thick, almost salsalike tortilla soup served covered in crushed chips.

Portion sizes are quite large, so be prepared to share or bring home leftovers. The pot roast proved to be a massive pile of tender sliced meat served over mashed potatoes and covered in a tomato-based sauce, and the fish and chips featured large pieces of Alaskan cod covered in a crispy handmade batter and served with a side of perfectly cooked steak fries. If you're just looking for a little something to munch while you drink, the bar serves complimentary crispy bacon strips as a snack.

Liquid consumption: More than 20 crafts beers are available by the bottle, including some unusual selections like the fruity Pyramid Audacious Apricot Ale. Three Floyds beers have been so well-received that Emerson's plans to offer the local brewery's entire line. Drafts are also popular, with Stella Artois and Goose Island Matilda served ice cold.

Parking: Plenty of free street parking is available nearby.

Overall: Emerson's Ale House is a perfect place to grab dinner and then spend the night enjoying some beer and sports.

Emerson's Ale House

113 S. Emerson St., Mount Prospect, (847) 870-1996; emersonsale

house.com

<b>Hours: </b>11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday