j. gilligan's bar & grill

another return visit. ok, so i wasn't a big fan of the instant potatoes that i ordered with my cfs. fortunately my wife and son ordered the irish nachos and a burger so i had some of their fried potatoes. yes, they were kind enough to share a couple of nachos.
i know they don't make their own onion rings here, but they picked a good supplier because i really like them.
tragically, they were out of killians irish red so i had to settle for a pitcher of shiner bock this visit. no big deal.


-----31 mar, 2011-----

j gilligan's where its always cool. it wouldn't be arlington with out it. i can't say anything about the irish nachos that hasn't already been said. they are wonderful; i drive a gauntlet to get there from where i live, and it's always worth it. locals love it here, if you have ever gone to uta no question you have been here, and have been back numerous times. and if you have moved away, you probably miss the place.

i don't know what it is about j.gilligans for me it just feels like the heart of arlington, and it's what makes arlington a community.

bar food, comfort food call it what you want its always good, the service is friendly and i guess they just figure you're a regular by the way they make you feel at home even if you cant get there but a few times a year. and with the draft house next door, is there a beer they don't serve? i just love a place that you can order a pitcher of beer.
you know? if this place was in ireland they would call it a pub. and just like in ireland, it would be just as much a part of the community as the church. and that's pretty cool in my book.

great number of choices in beer. the ambiance is lively and gets you excited. had been here for new year's and it was pretty fun. hope to visit again soon. a must visit place with your gang of friends.

irish nachos. also, the service and the other food was great! atmosphere was very inviting. we felt like we had been there a million times! we are only in town a few days and like to try new things, but will probably go back before we leave town!

irish nachos. irish nachos

i've been going here for lunch for years. love the veggie quesadillas. it's bar food, in a very casual atmosphere. service is decent. great place for a quick weekday lunch.

bad service!. i was invited by some other teachers to hang out and eat after we got off work and had never been to this place but wanted to try it. so when i got in, i had a veggie burger, which was decently priced but not too impressive. at the end of the meal, when the lady was ready to grab our tickets, she asked if we wanted them separately. everyone nodded, and i just turned around and told her that i wanted it separately, and she gave me this crude look as if i was an idiot that i didn't hear her already ask that question, then she immediately walked off after giving me that look. i can't describe it, but you should have seen that look she gave me! even the other teachers were telling me that it looked like she was making me out to sound like an idiot. why would a waitress treat the customers like that?

if you're eating here for the first time.... try the irish nachos. as many have mentioned, this restaurant is an arlington landmark, and arlington wouldn't be the community it is without it.

this was one of the first restaurants i ate at while attending uta, and to this day, i still regard it as one of the best. i was scouring the web for a good first place to try near campus, and the novel idea that j gilligan's famous irish nachos were featured on the travel channel immediately got me hooked. be warned, it's not for the faint of heart: it's a hearty combination of bacon, chives, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos and a copious amount of melted cheddar. i shared the half order with my family, had to use a fork to eat it, and barely had enough room for my entree, so be prepared. but listen to the other reviewers, it's beyond awesome.

for my entree, i had the catfish with a side of fries and onion rings. the catfish was fried just right, the fries are fried potatoes cut into discs, sprinkled with a generous amount of salt, and the onion rings weren't too greasy. the catfish, my 32 oz. lemonade and the two sides came out to a little over $10.

the service was pretty good. i ate here again today, and even the peak lunch hour of 12-1, and sitting a fair distance away from the main dining area, my server was attentive and refilled my drink when necessary. though, be warned, if you're coming during lunchtime on a weekday, you may encounter the rowdy college crowd. though, aside from that, the ambience is very welcoming, and i'm sure you'll feel right with the community.

two words. awe. some!!!!

had the best time!! started with the restaurant & irish nachos are good! my husband said wings and burger were great! then went to bar side, great! nicole was our server & she was so fun! we are from alabama & are here for football and met super fun people!

we love the irish nachos! tonight the batenders even made up for a mistake and gave us a big shot! thanks! love this place. great mysic and great bar food!

bad lunch service. i sat for 25 minutes with my menu closed. was ignored by staff. i'll take my money else where

needs remodel!!! irish nachos have been awesome for the 20 years ive enjoyed them however, nothing has changed in the dining areas. filthy, disgusting and down right dirty. i won't be back unless they clean that joint!!

not a landmark, more like an institution, i've killed more brain cells there than i want to admit. many of my friends worked there over the years and every beer and every meal has been worth stopping by for.

i don't particularily enjoy the atmosphere at j gilligans, but i understand it's somewhat of an arlington landmark. obviously you need to try the famous irish nachos, but i love their chicken quesadilla. the chicken is very tender and flavorful. it comes with very spicy beans but i'm not a big fan, i'd suggest substituting for something else. never had anything bad here by any means, but the quesadilla is wonderful!

fun sports bar. irish nachos a must. atmosphere is grubby. hang out for ut of a students. great for an occasional experience, after game at the cowboy stadium or ranger games. friendly and moderately priced.