November 9, 2024 | It was a splendid Saturday in early November—73 degrees outside, a bright and sunny afternoon without a cloud in the sky. It could have easily been spring or early summer instead of six weeks before Christmas.

Mac’s Bar & Grill

I decided on Mac’s Bar & Grill for lunch after remembering that they have a gumbo I liked. I arrived at Mac’s to find the place fairly busy. Taking a seat at the bar, I recognized Aly, who was the bartender I had when I visited for the first time 15 months ago. I’ve seen her several times since. She remembered me, as she always does, and asked if I wanted a Guinness and a California. It took me a second to realize she met the California Chicken Sandwich, something I’ve ordered a few times from her. I said yes to the Guinness but no to the California and stuck with my original plan for the gumbo.

Guinness on draft is delightful, and Mac’s does it better than anyone in Arlington. They do the traditional (and proper) two-step pour, which takes longer, but is worth the wait. I began sipping the stout, and shortly after, one of the servers presented me with a large bowl of gumbo and a package of oyster crackers. If I wasn’t hungry before, I was now. The aroma was heavenly.

Mac’s filé gumbo is flavorful with just the right amount of spice. It has rice, vegetables, shrimp, and, I believe, chicken. (I can’t even pretend to discern everything that’s in it; besides, the menu only describes it as “homemade daily.”) Whatever is in it, it’s dark, mysterious, and damn good. It definitely tastes like it’s homemade daily. It pairs well with the Guinness, with both complementing and enhancing the flavors of the other. It was a satisfying and hearty lunch.

I contently left Mac’s and headed back out into the sunny afternoon.

Guinness and gumbo may become my go-to on Saturday afternoons, especially as the weather gets colder. Everything that I’ve had at Mac’s, though, has been delicious, and there are lots of options that I still need to try.

Mac’s usually has an older demographic, and it’s more like a pub than a sports bar. It’s a distinguished place with charm and class. It’s not quite a neighborhood pub, as it’s about 5 miles from home, but it’s one of my favorite places in Arlington. The food, drink, service, and atmosphere are hard to beat.

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 11-09-24