Nightlife in Westmont

Q Sports Bar & Grill couldn't fit all its pub attractions under one roof. There were too many beanbags, not enough room for the pool tables, and nowhere for the darts to hide. So, guests can get their Q fix at locations in both Darien and Downers Grove. An Internet jukebox plays convivial tunes as waiters take food orders, describing, if asked, the kitchen's bounty of housemade chicken wings, turkey clubs, Angus-beef burgers (Darien), and burrito and taco entrees (Downers Grove).

Both restaurants invite patrons to wend through a sea of green-felt pool tables and keep in touch with sports via high-definition TVs. Additionally, Q's Darien location boasts a large projection screen and in-booth models in addition to the regular wall-mounted TVs. The Darien spot is also the place to catch performances by local and nationally touring musicians or soak up vitamin D on an outdoor patio.

On any given day at DJ's Sports Bar, 11 flat-screen televisions light up with sports broadcast by the Big Ten Network, ESPN GamePlan, and NFL Sunday Ticket. Customers digging into their half-pound, char-grilled 100% beef burgers can peruse fantasy-football stats via free WiFi before league meetings. Bartenders sling frosty brews, glasses of wine, and specialty cocktails from the full bar to fuel patrons playing games of Golden Tee, darts, or "throw darts at the Golden Tee machine."

For 20 years , friends have convened to sip suds and share bites between the knotted-wood walls of this casual eatery. Groups gather at booths and tables or lounge at the bar to chat, while the glow of neon Bulls and Wrigleyville signs illuminates 25 different types of half-pound burgers topped with red onions, fried eggs, or taco fixings.

Visitors can also drink in live music on the weekends or take the stage themselves during open-mic nights. WiFi keeps Internet surfers connected, while darts occupy those seeking the classic pub gaming experience. A Golden Tee kiosk blends golf with video games to satisfy players unable to book Pac Man as their caddy.

The LBGT-friendly Velvet Rope invites revelers with open minds and refined tastes to enhance their evenings with the lounge's slate of fine wines, international cuisine, and elaborate entertainment in the form of go-go dancers and drag shows. Beneath the suffuse lighting of tulip chandeliers, the bustling main floor hosts a full bar, where 35 specialty martinis brim with creative ingredients—such as cookie-dough vodka and absinthe—while the private VIP loft accommodates dozens with a dedicated server, a private television, and plush furnishings for late-night pillow forts. Food and drink packages deck out special events, and the nightclub's calendar overflows with karaoke nights, drink specials, and live performances.

Off Broadway Pub's owner, Rick Dahms, always knew his hot wings were something special. What he didn't realize, was that everyone else knew it as well. This became evident when his jumbo hot wings won 670 The Score's listener's best wing award in 2010, taking the top slot largely due to the heaping portions he serves and the amount of meat on the bone. His kitchen doesn't skimp on the restaurant's other entrees either, which range from hearty hamburgers and half racks of ribs to build-your-own pizzas. Two flat screen televisions play the city's game over Off Broadway's lengthy bar, where bartenders pour shots of Jaegermeister, draft beers, and mixed drinks.

Real Time Sports strives to take the idea of a sports bar to the next level with more than 40 TVs broadcasting sports and a menu of atypical bar food. Unusual dishes include smoked shrimp quesadillas, Thai peanut chicken satay, salads topped with grilled Atlantic salmon, and French dip sandwiches made with slow roasted prime rib. In addition, they offer a variety of party packages to accommodate groups of 15 and more.