A sports bar just opened in the most smokiest of places: inside a BBQ shop in Arlington. Called Black Sheep Sports Bar, it's at 601 E. Main St. Arlington, in a shared space with 225 BBQ, the family-owned restaurant doing Texas-style BBQ with a Mexican twist.
Black Sheep opened February 6 with beer, craft cocktails, and of course easy access to the birria tacos for which 225 BBQ is known.
Black Sheep Sports Bar is from Onofre Gil, who's been in the service industry for 20 years, most recently as bar manager and bartender at Dirty Mule Bar for nine years. This is his first bar he can call his own. (It's no relation to the Black Sheep coffee chain from London which recently opened a location in Dallas.)
It's a very nice space with a marble-topped bar and comfortable stools. Gil has outfitted the space with 15 TVs, each broadcasting a different sports channel, plus four pool tables and a jukebox with TouchTunes.
“We definitely want to give it more of the sports bar vibe that people who want to watch the PGA Tour at 3 pm on a Saturday, they know where to come,” Gil says. "I’ve always told my family I’ve wanted to have a bar. These last eight years have been working toward that."
Drinks range from classic cocktails to bottled and draft beers. Popular options include Long Island tea and margaritas, which come frozen or on the rocks. Prices are cheap, ranging from $5 to $6, plus a weekday happy hour Monday-Friday featuring $2 wells.
At Black Sheep, you can order a spread from 225 BBQ.225 BBQ
The collaboration with 225 BBQ, which previously operated as a food truck, came about when restaurant owner Rene Ramirez reached out to Gil about the idea of operating as symbiotic businesses. Customers at the sports bar can order from 225 BBQ's menu, while BBQ fans can order a drink from Black Sheep.
"He’s doing his BBQ, we’re doing our beer and cocktails," Gil says. "The place became available and he took over the lease on it in October. He called me at the end of October and asked me if I was still looking for a bar, so when he asked if I’d be interested, it was a must."
While Black Sheep is open daily, 225 BBQ up until now has been open Thursday-Sunday only, with a full menu of brisket burritos, birria ramen, chicken wings, meat platters, burgers, and beef ribs. The restaurant is staffing up to eventually add a Monday-Wednesday menu of finger foods like tacos, nachos, burgers, and wings.
"We’re not a fancy bar, we’re not a big whiskey bourbon bar where you can get an old fashioned for $20," Gil says. "We’re vodka tonics and beers."
