Irish sports bar in Elgin keeps the Guinness flowing
The name above the door has changed, but Dublin Mule carries on with the Irish sports bar theme embodied by McGruder's, the previous tenant to occupy the strip-mall space on the east side of Elgin. At the new arrival, owned by Jimmy Spratt, Guinness flows from the taps, Jameson's whiskey is readily available and customers might even find some Irish stew on the menu.
Motif: Dublin Mule has a casual, neighborhood vibe. It offers seating for about 50 (including 16 at a sprawling communal table). Another 24 can park themselves in chairs that wrap around three quarters of the bar.
A half-dozen wall-mounted TVs, including two in the immediate bar area, are tuned to sports channels. Some team jerseys are on display, and there's an oversized flag of Ireland hung from one of the windows.
Food: Burgers — 8-ounce Black Angus patties — are a big draw, but diners also can pick from among Cobb or Caesar salads, Guinness stew, and chicken breast, grilled cheese and Reuben sandwiches as well as standard-issue nachos and kebabs. On Friday, North Atlantic cod stars in an all-you-can-eat fish fry. The sole dessert listed involves deep-fried cinnamon-flavored dough accompanied by three dipping sauces: chocolate, caramel and strawberry.
The $6 lunch special is a bargain: a half sandwich with a small side of coleslaw and either fries or a cup of soup. The chicken tortilla soup with corn was delicious. Try the tasty DLT — Duck bacon lettuce and tomato on toasted bread — or the Cuban with pork, ham, cheese and a pickle.
A late-night menu served from 9 p.m. to midnight joined the menu in early fall. It includes 12-inch frozen pizzas with traditional toppings, chicken or beef tacos, mozzarella sticks and nachos.
Liquid consumption: A changing selection of eight beers — Irish, microbrew and mainstream — are dispensed on tap, and many more varieties can be had in bottles or in cans. The bar is well-stocked with all the makings for popular cocktails, including the namesake Dublin Mule, a popular specialty cocktail made with ginger beer and Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey topped with a fresh mint leaf and served warm in a copper mug — perfect for when there's a chill in the air.
Crowd: Dublin Mule keeps its clientele engaged by offering two pool tables and various video games and a dart board. Five licensed gaming devices also were recently installed on the premises. Expect sizable crowds at night, especially when the home teams are in the fray. The age varies but most are in the 25-to-50-year-old bracket.
Service: Water and a bowl of peanuts in their shells came promptly, and to help decide which brew to order, generous samples of two contenders were presented. High marks overall to the staff.
Music: Blaring recorded heavy metal music was filling the air during our visit. Check out the venue's website for updates on when live music or other events such as karaoke night are scheduled.
Parking: Not an issue.
Overall: The unpretentious Dublin Mule has proved itself a reliable gathering place where area sports fans can find food and drink while keeping tabs on their favorite teams.
Dublin Mule Irish Sports Pub
1350 E. Chicago, Elgin, (224) 281-4163, <a href="http://facebook.com/dublinmule">facebook.com/dublinmule</a>
<b>Hours:</b> 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday