Another day, another lunch. I know I just did a luncheon post yesterday, but we’re doing another one today as it’s that time of the month for another Contributors Lunch where I pay off the weekend warriors who contribute words and pictures to this blog on Saturdays and Sundays. We’re meeting at Jimmy’s Bar this month and I just realized that I’ve only ever eaten Butch’s pizza at Jimmy’s, so it’s time to sample something else off the menu today. Let's hit the road.
And here we go on this long and winding road. I have to pick up Contributing Writer Paul O'Connor as his car is in a bit of a flux.
And here's Paul opening the door to the MBIP mobile.
We're here at our destination, Jimmy's Bar. Hey that guy in the blue shirt looks familiar...
Saints and begorrah, it's Contributing Writer and good Irishman, Michael O'Foster!
Okay, we've made our way into the bar and now we're waiting for the other members of the party to arrive.
While we wait, Tara the pretty and friendly bartender serves up an iced tea. I have to work later, so no beer for me. Sob.
And yes I'm jealous of Mike's mug of Guinness which is resting and waiting to be served.
Mike pointed out this vintage Peoria Journal Star article that was published when he was teaching my cousin Danny Seitz at Spalding, all those years ago.
And here's the next addition to the luncheon, Scott Turley, who's a contributing commenter here at MBIP. And look, he brought me a belated birthday gift and he's flipping me off at the same time. Love it!
Check it out, it's a quarter pounder with cheese! Ha ha ha! Thanks, Scott, it'll get a place of honor at the MBIP headquarters!
And last but not least, Contributing Writer and Photographer, Bob Gordon joins the party as we settle into a table in the back of the bar.
And here's the Usual Gang of Idiots gathered together again. Cheers from us to "Boris", Gene and Jaws the Cabbie who couldn't make the lunch.
Okay, time for a quick tour of Jimmy's Bar. If this bar could talk, I'd probably be in jail right now, so I'm glad it's silent.
The walls are loaded with pictures in here and you could spend a lifetime gazing at them.
Here's a picture that Paul pointed out that was published in the Chicago Tribune. It was taken when Walter Payton set the all time NFL rushing career mark on this run and Jimmy can be seen in the upper right hand corner of the photo along with his brothers Bill and Bob.
There's not only pictures on the walls in here, they extend to sports jerseys and more photos on the ceiling.
There's a beer garden in the back of the bar which gets pretty lively in the summertime.
Paul also pointed out this photo of Jimmy's sister bar in Ireland, Carey's Bar.
Here's the deck at Jimmy's Bar that looks out on to Farmington Road.
Back inside it's time for an obligatory Guinness mirror shot.
A longshot of the bar which I've hoisted many a beer from.
Meanwhile back at the Contributors table, I made it back just in time to place my order with Tara.
We had a lively conversation while waiting for our food with topics ranging from Pete Vonachen, The Barn, Paul Revere and the Raiders, We Five, Channel 47, Jan and Dean, Cable TV, burning down a lawn and not one, but two stories about Bo Diddley.
And right before lunch was served, Jimmy's pretty daughter Alice stopped by our table to say hi. I told her that her dad was one of the few bar owners that had never thrown me out of their bar and she said that she'd correct that when she takes over the bar in the future!
And lunch is served! Here's Tara serving me up the "Mr. Spears Package" which is a corn dog and chips and it's named after Jimmy's dad.
Scott got the Italian Sausage sandwich which looks really good, I'll have to get that the next time I'm here.
Paul got the Pub Burger, I need to do a Saturday Night Cheeseburger from here one of these weeks!
Bob and Mike both got the tenderloin sandwich...
And then both of them proceeded to cover their tenderloins in ketchup. Blasphemy! Only mustard belongs on a tenderloin!
And I end up in a bit of a pickle, as I have so many times in the past at Jimmy's Bar! Thanks to Tara, the MBIP Contributors and Jimmy, who telephonically picked up a round for our table. Cheers and we'll see you all tomorrow!
Jimmy’s Bar
2801 W. Farmington Rd.
West Peoria
309-676-4021
Further reading: 365 Bars, Trip Advisor and Peoria Journal Star.
