Blackthorn Grille has a warm and welcoming Irish touch

Have you ever shown your face at a bar the morning after you've made a fool of yourself the previous night? And by show up, I mean arrive bright and early for breakfast with the whole family? No? Neither have I. Seriously. But realistically, at Blackthorn Grille in Lake Villa, you could.

Motif: Though Blackthorn Grille does not have the word "pub" in its name, it is very much a pub. You should know what to expect from a pub by now: wood furnishings, tan walls, Guinness signs and other artifacts to remind you of good ol' Ireland. To be more specific, Blackthorn is basically one large room. Toward the front is a large, four-sided, wooden bar. Around and behind the bar are tables; plaid-covered booths are in the back. The pub-standard fireplace is present. Murals invoking the charms of Ireland adorn the walls as well.

Crowd: Blackthorn is welcoming to folks of all ages. I could see families enjoying breakfast together on the weekends, and twenty-somethings mass-consuming Guinness into the wee hours on Friday and Saturday nights.

Service: The service at Blackthorn was extremely friendly, and dare I say, motherly? Upon arriving to the bar after walking from the nearby train station on a blistery cold day, my cheeks were red and my nose was running. The bartender saw this and she offered me some napkins to use as tissues. How many times has that ever happened to you at a bar?

Liquid consumption: Blackthorn has a full bar at its disposal, and you'd better believe it has Guinness on tap. Guinness was the perfect beer to consume after being outside in the cold. My only minor complaint: The bartender could work on perfecting the perfect pour for Guinness. Remember, pouring Guinness should take just under two minutes and the top foam should not contain bubbles.

Food: Since this is a pub with food, and I am a self-proclaimed Reuben sandwich connoisseur, I think it's fairly obvious what I got off Blackthorn's menu. And I must say, it was quite tasty. If you're not in the mood for a Reuben, Blackthorn has a lot more to offer: burgers, Italian beef, pulled-pork sandwiches, paninis, salmon, baby back ribs, strip steak, shepherd's pie, stir fry, a variety of pizzas and appetizers. And what better way to start your day than breakfast at a bar after a long night of drinking?

Sounds: Hear live music Fridays and Saturdays starting at 8:30. The current entertainment calendar shows a lot of acoustic acts, if you were wondering what you should be expecting. Karaoke starts at 9 p.m. Wednesdays.

Parking: Blackthorn has its very own lot, so parking should not be a problem.

Overall: Blackthorn touches on all the right points that are critical for a pub. The food is good, the beer (which could have been poured better) is still good, the environment is relaxing, the staff is excellent and everyone is more than welcome.

<p class="factboxheadblack">Blackthorn Grille </p> <p class="News">10 W. Grand, Lake Villa; (847) 356-4400; <a href="http://www.blackthorngrille.com" target="new">blackthorngrille.com</a></p> <p class="News"><b>Hours:</b> 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday</p>