Here's a place that's actually a few different places, depending on who you're hanging with and the time of day. That's the beauty of Avenue Ale House. It's a pub, a sports bar, an intimate rooftop garden, a family place, a great spot for live music or an after-the-movie drink.

This is a handsome space. Exposed brick. Wide-wood beams. Stone walls. And it's spacious – you don't have to listen to another couple's conversation here. The booths are generous. The TVs are flat and wide. Even the restrooms are interesting.

The extensive menu has you covered from the appetizers – the loaded potato skins are really loaded and really house-made – to dessert – yep, the bread pudding is house-made, too. So's the spinach and artichoke fondue. No ready-made, heat-and-serve mixes here.

The Ale House Burger is the biggest in Oak Park. At 10 ounces, it ought to be. This and any beef burger patty here can be switched out for a veggie or turkey patty. If a smaller, subtler sandwich is more your style, there's the Oak Parker: country ham, Swiss and Dijon on multigrain bread.

Of course, an ale house has a dizzying selection of beers, microbrews and other libations. Beer cocktails? You bet.

The only place in town for waffle fries has another creative use of carbs: an upsized, barbecue-rubbed, baked sweet potato. Upsizing gets to supersizing for the birthday dessert: The Brownie Extravaganza is everything you'd imagine. Only bigger. Everyone grab their spoons.