Mustang Grill: the perfect neighborhood hangout

The ol’ neighborhood bar just a got a little bit cooler. Mustang Grill has all the elements of a small-town hangout: friendly, community-minded owners; good food and reasonably priced beer; and a prime location on Main Street. But there are two additional elements that put Mustang Grill a step above the rest — the hidden patio in the back and the neighboring arcade.

The owners and employees of Mustang Grill offer friendly service and conversations.

Mustang Grill is a relatively new addition to the Grimes dining scene, opening its doors in 2014. Since then, owner Joey Townsell has impressed customers with his neighborly appeal and tasty menus for lunch, dinner and even breakfast on the weekends. The small brick building meets a wide variety of needs in the Grimes community, acting as restaurant, sports bar, coffee shop and everything in between.

Now, with the patio open and the newly opened Old School Arcade next door, the Grill can appeal to an even wider audience. The fenced-in patio out back isn’t the largest or most intricate one around, but customers aren’t complaining while they’re sipping a cold beer with a cool summer breeze on their backs. With a full fence around the border, slight tree coverage and umbrellas for each table, there is optimal protection from the sun on a 90-degree day.

As for the arcade games, The Old School Arcade opened earlier this year, and while it doesn’t have its own kitchen, the owners of Mustang Grill are happy to send over their menus for patrons on both sides of the alley to order.

Grimes native Jason Shiffer opened the arcade in January as a way to share his love of pinball and give back to the community. Old School Arcade features more than 30 arcade games from the 1970s to the 2000s, including a number of pinball machines.

Between the two businesses, the owners have created a sweet setup for Grimes residents, both old and young. Both places are family-friendly, which suits the residential neighborhood of Grimes perfectly, but they still manage to bring a new fun element to the city.

Kids can play the games their parents grew up with while drinking shakes and malts from Old School. Parents can drink a beer or a glass of wine together while they wait for the kids to come over to eat dinner together. Then Mom and Dad can show the new generation just how a game of pinball is really played. It’s a fun-filled family night that won’t leave your kids begging to go home and play with their iPads.

Small-town bars often play several roles in order to fulfill the needs of the people in that community, and it’s obvious from the loyal customers that the owners of Mustang Grill and Old School Arcade have done just that. CV

MUSTANG GRILL
213 S.E. Main St., Grimes, 986-5009
Mon. 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., 5-9:30 p.m.
Tues. – Thurs. 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., 5-9:30 p.m.
Fri. 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., 5-10 p.m.
Sat. 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sun. 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
www.mustanggrillgrimes.com
OLD SCHOOL PINBALL & ARCADE
209 S.E. Main St., Grimes, 986-3317
Wed. 5-9 p.m.
Thurs. noon – 9 p.m.
Fri. noon – 11 p.m.
Sat. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sun. noon – 5 p.m.
www.theoldschoolarcade.com