This Arlington restaurant’s birthday party includes burger and nacho deals all week
The 41st birthday of J. Gilligan’s Bar and Grill was not like the rest.
But Randy Ford’s downtown Arlington landmark is still celebrating.
Gilligan’s, a bar famous for potato-skin “Irish nachos,” is selling them for $6 through July 19, either in the dining room, on the new dining patio or as takeout.
There’s also a $6 cheeseburger combo, just to say thanks for a year that promised so much before a pandemic and recession.
Instead of celebrating the opening of a new baseball stadium, Ford said, summer “brings us to a whole new ballgame.”
“We were poised to have our strongest year,” he wrote in a message.
Downtown Arlington’s Urban Union district is drawing new residents and diners, and J. Gilligan’s, 400 E. Abram St., is the dependable standby serving Arlington since 1979.
“And then, boom! COVID-19 hits,” Ford wrote.
“No St. Patrick’s Day street party. The next day, we are adapting to take-out only.”
J. Gilligan’s has adapted much better than most older restaurants.
Ford added a drive-thru, reshaped a bar into a patio dining area, and added bargain family takeout dinners to keep the burger and Irish nacho sales strong.
“And we have cleaned, cleaned, cleaned more after each customer,” he said.
The upside: J. Gilligan’s takeout customers seem to be ordering more full dinners, not just burgers and nachos.
“Chad’s” spinach or lettuce salad with grilled chicken is a new favorite, Ford said, along with a Philly cheesesteak.
J. Gilligan’s also now serves cheese, beef and chicken enchiladas on Fridays.
The family dinner deals feed four people a choice of burgers and fries ($19.99) or grilled or fried chicken breast, chicken-fried steak or chopped steak ($40).
There’s also a Tuesday four-tacos-and-four-quesadillas dinner for $40, and a Friday special with eight enchiladas and sides for $40.
The nachos and burger specials are available at lunch and dinner through Sunday; 817-274-8561, .jgilligans.com.
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
