Live, from Peoria, Illinois, it’s Saturday Night starring this week’s host, Jimmy’s Bar and featuring special guest stars, Annie, Samantha, the other Annie, Earl, Isabel, Emily, Gina and extra special guest star, Jimmy Spears!
Now please welcome this week’s host, who’s celebrating 37 years of boozy business on Farmington Road in West Peoria, Jimmy’s Bar!
Last week was the 37th anniversary of Jimmy’s Bar, so I decided to go and celebrate the anniversary by having my weekly MBIP Saturday Night Dinner there. But I needed an anniversary present to take along with me, so I stopped in at Urban Artifacts and looked around for something appropriate to take to my anniversary dinner at Jimmy’s.
Inside I found an entire section devoted to my friend, Chelsie Tamms, who has moved to Chicago, but her presence is still here in Peoria, via her original and wonderful art on stickers, postcards, key chains, magnets and all kinds of cool items from her Lettering Works business.
I found the perfect gift for Jimmy Spears and you can find out what I got by scrolling on down this post!
Through the magic of these here interwebs, it’s now Saturday night and we’re here at Jimmy’s Bar!
Let’s go in and start this Saturday celebration!
As usual, business is booming in here and the bar is pretty well filled up. But I spy a trio of empty seats at the far end of the bar, so let’s go snag one of those and get settled in for the evening!
I see some familiar faces behind the bar and they are from left: Annie, Samantha and the other Annie! Just after I took that shot, my friend Larry “Earl” Burdette came over and said hi. The evening is off to a wonderful start already!
And here’s the man of honor, Jimmy Spears with my 37th anniversary gift with Samantha at his side!
I got him one of Chelsie’s Peoria shot glasses! Cheers and happy anniversary Jimmy! Thanks for all the fun times in your legendary bar and grill on Farmington Road!
And now in honor of this 37 year anniversary, here’s 37 photos of some of the fun and interesting items on the walls and behind the bar at Jimmy’s Bar!
37 Photos for 37 Years!
This is just a sampling of some of the fun photos, signs and various knick-knacks that have been collected over the last 37 years! Lots of memories on these walls!
The last photo is a bobble-head Jimmy!
Happy Anniversary to Jimmy’s Bar, a legendary Peoria tavern on Farmington Road!
Cheers to Jimmy, the Spears family and everyone who has poured or downed a drink in the fabulous West Peoria bar!
Now it’s time to get back to my seat at the bar before someone steals it!
I ran into the third Spears sister on my way back to my seat, Isabel!
Seated next to me is Emily and Gina. I thought Emily looked familiar and it turns out she works at the Fish House, so we’ve seen each other on my many visits to that restaurant.
Check it out, looks like it’s just about time for this week’s Saturday night dinner!
And here it is, served up by Samantha behind the bar!
I got the Guinness Battered Cod sandwich because it’s one of the only items on the menu I’ve never tried in the 37 years Jimmy’s has been in business!
I’m not a big eater of fish and that’s why I’ve never ordered this sandwich and I was wondering if I’d like it. Well it was quite a pleasant surprise! I garnished it with malt vinegar and pepper and it was a delicious sandwich.
The Guinness batter was crisp and somewhat salty and the cod was flaky and had a light and pleasant taste to it. And the bun was bakery fresh!
It was a wonderful sandwich for a summer evening! I’m glad I tried it after 37 years of ignoring it!
Now for dessert…
I was looking at the bartender’s favorite drinks and I noticed Jimmy’s daughter Alice’s selection. It’s a Pecan Pie drink made with Revel Stock Pecan Whiskey and Irish Cream. That sounds perfect, so I ordered it, Annie whipped it up and it was a sweet drink to end yet another fantastic meal and Saturday night at Jimmy’s Bar!
On the way out I snapped a photo of all three Spears sisters together outside of the bar, from left: Samantha, Isabel and Annie!
They told me that their father, Bobby was home playing Monopoly and drinking shots with his flock of pet chickens. What the cluck?
Happy Anniversary to Jimmy’s Bar! Here’s to the next 37 years!
I can now say with great pride that I’ve had everything on the menu at Jimmy’s Bar except for the Fried Pickles, Breaded Green Beans and the Sardines & Crackers.
Looks like that might have to be my next Saturday night meal in here!
SN Rating
Three and three quarters Galloping Gourmets—That cod sandwich was a pleasant treat and something I’ll definitely order again at Jimmy’s Bar. But first I have to have that above mentioned trio to complete the entire tasting of Jimmy’s menu! Stay tuned for that!
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2801 W. Farmington Road
West Peoria
309-676-4021
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Related Posts: Saturday Night @: The Ivy Club, Friendly Valley Tavern and 12 Bar Lounge.