Where to eat before Texas Rangers’ World Series games, and where to park for a shuttle
The world is coming to Arlington this weekend, and maybe coming back after Halloween.
Baseball’s World Series will fill restaurants in and around Globe Life Field twice — maybe four times. It’s like hosting from two to four Super Bowls.
It’s easy to forget the Dallas Cowboys. But they play a noon Sunday game against the Los Angeles Rams.
There’s an way to park and dine cheaper than at the ballpark or stadium. More about that later.
But to see the Texas Rangers’ playoff impact, just look at the long lines at ballpark favorite Hurtado Barbecue and recent ballpark hit Prince Lebanese Grill.
“Last night was insane!” Prince’s Facebook page declared after a Rangers playoff game last week: “We sold out not once but twice!”
The stadium crew had gone back to the restaurant to restock gyros, “shawarma tacos” and “Mediterranean nachos” — pita topped with gyro, feta, pickle and tzatziki.
The restaurant, 2 miles west of the stadium at 502 W. Randol Mill Road, also has been “slammed,” Azis Kobty said. His family’s restaurant is in its 35th year.
It opens at 11 a.m. daily including Sundays.
Stadium concession favorite Hurtado Barbecue also has served long lines, both at the stadium and at its downtown location 1½ miles away at 205 E. Front St.
Hurtado is selling Series T-shirts and caps along with barbecue online or in person.
It’ll be serving all weekend at the games and at the restaurant, and also at a special $100 tailgate party for all fans beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday in neighboring Choctaw Stadium. It opens at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Here’s a rundown on other nearby favorites:
▪ J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill, 400 E. Abram St., hosts the biggest off-site party every Cowboys or Rangers game.
Two reasons: (1) free parking, and (2) a $15 shuttle to the stadium.
Gilligan’s, a sprawling bar and patio known for burgers and as the original home of potato-skin “Irish nachos,” welcomes anyone downtown to take the shuttle vans.
More than 15 shuttle vans will run this weekend, starting at 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday.
Besides Irish nachos ($9.49), Gilligan’s is also known for inexpensive burgers starting at $7.49 with fries, plus chicken-fried steaks and lunch or dinner plates; 817-274-8561, jgilligans.com.
The shuttle is also available to patrons of nearby restaurants such as Flying Fish, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Twisted Root Burger Co. and NAMOO Koreanbowl.
▪ Zack’s Bistro, 900 E. Copeland Road, is a cozy prime steakhouse and wine bar 2 miles north of the ballpark. It’s one of the closest nice restaurants besides those in the stadiums and hotels.
Zack’s, a culinary cousin to Mercury Chophouse and Keller Chophouse, will offer a $39.95 dinner with salad, filet mignon or chicken cordon bleu and dessert.
If $39.95 sounds like a lot for dinner, wait until what you see what the ballpark charges for a hotdog, fries and a beer.
Zack’s opens for lunch daily except Sundays and at 4:30 p.m. for dinner nightly except Sundays; 682-323-8789, zackbistro.com.
▪ Cut & Bourbon and the Arlington Clover Club, the restaurant and bar in the Live! By Loews hotel, 1600 E. Randol Mill Road, will keep longer hours and offer the regular menus plus a barbecue on the patio Friday and Saturday.
On Saturday and Sunday, Cut & Bourbon will serve a buffet brunch; steakhouse 682-277-4950, cutandbourbon.com; bar 682-277-4958, arlingtoncloverclub.com.
▪ Ella B’s, 1004 N. Collins St., may be in the stadium for some games, serving smoked turkey nachos and wings.
Either way, Ella B’s will open at 4 p.m. both nights for dinner and at 11 a.m. Sunday for brunch. But parking isn’t always available, so plan accordingly.
