SMALL TOWN. BIG EATS

MUGSY’S GRUBHOUSE / YALE, OK Small Town. Big Eats.

by ALLISON ELDREDGE

Tulsa and Oklahoma City contain a lot of great food choices. But what if you don’t want to travel to the big city? Well, several small towns throughout the Corridor have some great choices.

Let me introduce you to one in Yale. That’s right Yale. I know you thought…where is Yale? Or, is Yale really big enough for something that amazing? I know my first thought when I saw their Facebook post in 2017 was, “isn’t Yale that small town up north a ways?” Yes…yes, it is. But remember, we don’t judge books by their cover here along The Corridor. The pictures posted made the place look interesting and unique. Facebook promised that it would be a great new spot and so, I kept an eye out for future notices.

Yale, OK is right on Highway 51 between Mannford and Stillwater, not far off Highway 18, which connects Cushing to Pawnee. It’s not a very big town; Yale’s population is only around 1,100. There aren’t very many restaurant (or eating out) options in town. Chavas, Dairy Hut and Mugsy’s Grubhouse are the only results you will find in a Google search.

Mugsy’s Grubhouse opened in 2017 after several “soft” openings. When they first posted that they were gearing up for opening, I started stalking their Facebook page. A few mishaps in their “soft” openings lead to a very honest and brave post. I was impressed that Mugsy’s took responsibility for the errors that happened, and they promised to learn from their mistakes and get better. So, I kept them on my radar.

When they stated that they were officially opening, I immediately asked for a date night with my honey. However, it took us at least three months, maybe six, before we made our way to Yale for a meal. We went on a Sunday, after church.

When we pulled up to the restaurant, we found the parking lot full. A full lot usually means you’re in for a good experience. The exterior was beautiful. The wood that covered the outside and the inside walls is well cut and constructed in a visually appealing manner. We entered the door on the left side of the building. It lead to a hallway that is lined with pictures from Yale and Quay history. These pictures are a wonderful glimpse into the history of the area. They are artfully arranged and large enough to make you feel like you are looking through a clear window into the past.

The next thing, I noticed was the deer. It is the full animal, not just the head and antlers. It begs to be petted and if you aren’t careful, ridden. When you have a little kid in your party, the deer gets ridden. I’m sorry if that was against the rules.

Back before COVID changed our normal routines, Mugsy’s had a Sunday Lunch Buffet in The Backroom. The décor of the The Backroom made me catch my breath. There is an enormous photo series capturing the beauty of the longhorn, the furniture was dark wood and the food was delicious!

Every visit we have had at Mugsy’s included a visit with the owner, Darrell. He makes you feel like you are the most important person visiting his Grubhouse at that moment. If he doesn’t know you, you still feel like he does. He knows how to talk to each person and get a smile out of even the toughest customer (even shy little three year olds). He checks on your order and brings refilled drinks, as needed. He is hands on, he is involved and he is a delight to have a conversation with. The stories that he tells leave you laughing and waiting for more. The staff have always been friendly, quick, and responsive to every need we had have; including lots of refills, extra plates, extra napkins and silverware. We usually have our daughter with us and messes tend to happen and items tend to drop on the floor.

The main dining room has options to accommodate a dinner party of 2 to 10. We have visited as a party of two for an anniversary and a party of 8 for a birthday party and several times as a party of 4. They have always gotten us seated as quickly as humanly possible and apologized for any wait that we have had.

The menu is full of amazing choices. Starters such as calf fries and fried mushrooms are favorites of the masses. From the Garden options are delicious. BBQ is smoked daily. Their Grilled to Perfection menu has multiple options. My date night go to meal is the Chicken with White Wine Sauce. The chicken is cooked perfectly and the herbed rice makes my mouth water.

If you like trying new things, keep an eye out for their specials. Most are not available on the main menu and they are not on a weekly rotation. Some restaurants have the same specials week after week, but Mugsy’s has a great variety of specials. Some of the ones that I want to try are the WooHoo Burger, the Jacked Up Burger, Kickin’ BBQ Mac and Cheese and the Pickled Pig Sandwich.

Once you make the journey to Mugsy’s, you will be hooked on the food and you will need to stock up on their merchandise so you can share the good news of Mugsy’s with others. Hats, hoodies, and t-shirts will be worn with pride and memories of great food.

Mugsy’s Grubhouse is located at 215 W Chicago Ave. They are open Wednesday thru Saturday 11am to 8pm and Sunday 11am to 2pm. There are two banquet rooms that are available for booking. Parties can be booked in The Backroom. They can accommodate parties up to 75. Catering can be scheduled by emailing mugsycatering@yahoo.com or calling 918-285-6250.

Mugsy’s was featured on Discover Oklahoma in 2019. If you need a video visual of the food and atmosphere, go check out their segment.

Besides Facebook, check out their other social network accounts on Twitter, Pinterest, and Linkedin. n

WooHoo Burger BIG O BURRITO filled with BBQ Pulled Pork