Games and Grub brings gaming leases and restaurant to West Pensacola

Super Smash Burgers, Pika! Pika! grilled cheese sandwiches and Rainbow Road cocktails await at Pensacola’s new online game restaurant, Games and Grub at 1000 Gulf Beach Highway.

Owners and spouses Ashley Borg and Tyler Borg have been busy this 12 months reworking the previous Malibu Lounge and Package Store into a brand new sport rental area and restaurant to attach with mates over shared gaming experiences, a tower of board video games and meals and drinks so good that they benefit a visit of their very own. After months of preparation, the gaming restaurant welcomed its first company on Nov. 28.

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The new West Pensacola restaurant is split into two distinctive rooms, the Level Up Lounge and the Guild Hall, the place company can each sport and order meals and drinks, in addition to a full bar space serving specialty cocktails, beer and wine.

The venture is near the Borgs’ hearts, as gaming has been constructed into their relationship because the starting, with Ashley initially being extra of a PlayStation particular person and Tyler leaning towards Xbox, which he ultimately transformed her to.

Their favourite nights embody Minecraft world-building with their kids, DND nights with mates which were assembly for years, or spending a pair’s trip at Sandbox VR in Atlanta, providing immersive digital actuality experiences. Now, they’ve a spot to flee to proper right here in Pensacola.

“If we wanted to go out on a date somewhere, we’re not a big bar scene people. We love video games and this kind of went from an idea sitting around smoking cigars with our friends to…’I think we could actually do something like this here in Pensacola,’” Ashley stated. “It just started as a small, fun idea and through a lot of blood, sweat and tears, we kind of made it into a reality.”

Now, they hope they’ve created a spot that seems like enjoying video games at residence with out the trouble of internet hosting.

“I think for like a traditional household, (ours) might look a little crazy, because we literally have Xboxes in every room,” Ashley stated. “It’s such a cool thing to be able to load into Minecraft with your kids and go on an adventure together. If it’s just me and my husband, we like doing a lot of campaign co-ops….it’s an easy way for us to be able to spend time together as a family without having to spend a ton of money.”

Ashley says that it’s one of many few locations the place online game expertise is a requirement to be employed, as a “game expert” greets you once you stroll in, providing steerage on which sport most closely fits you, whether or not you’re trying to play solo on a PC or in a aggressive group sport of Mario Kart.

“They (game experts) can also make an assessment of what you’re here for, and make recommendations based on your party size or the games that you’re interested in,” Ashley stated. “They’re all very, very knowledgeable.”

Console video games are rented by machine, with 9 stations becoming anyplace from one to 6 individuals, beginning at $20 per hour, together with Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, PC video games, DND and extra.

“You can keep extending. You can take a break, go eat some food and go back to it,” Tyler stated

In addition to the digital stations, they’ve about 85 board video games. Whatever board video games they don’t have obtainable, you’re capable of carry your individual alongside to play.

Designed to present a lounge really feel with leather-based couches and eating room tables for spreading out your favourite sport, Games and Grub was created to hold a Millennial-nostalgic aptitude the place “adults can feel like a kid again.”

“If you’re looking for a game to play when you’re out with your friends, I would say 90% of the time we’re going to have it. And if we don’t have it, that’s something we certainly want to know, because we can go get it,” Ashley stated.

During the day, the area is family-friendly for even the youngest players, corresponding to her personal kids, however switches to an 18-and-older service beginning at 8 p.m. However, all kids underneath 16 should be accompanied by an grownup always.

“They (children) have to read through the dialogue. They have to use critical thinking. They have to solve puzzles. They have to use math. There are so many things that people don’t realize how much you use your brain when you’re playing video games,” Ashley stated. “Not only is it like a fun, creative outlet for our family, but our kids, they do learn so much.”

In addition to the gaming memorabilia on the partitions, the food and drinks menu was rigorously curated to suit the theme. This is why you’ll see a Super Smash burger with their top-secret recipe, a Pikachu-stamp grilled cheese, or a cocktail with a Pac-Man-shaped lemon topper chasing maraschino cherry polka dots.

Ashley’s private favourite menu merchandise, although, must be the Final Fantasy Flatbread, which is “crafted by culinary mages in the kitchens of Midgar” with a thin-crust, sundried tomatoes, feta and balsamic glaze.

The menu is cut up up into Side Missions (appetizers,) Main Quests (entrees,) Rated “E” for Everyone (youngsters menu,) Bonus Loot (desserts) and extra.

“We know that most people are going to be coming here for the games, but we want you to leave being surprised with how good the food is. The the food is all like, really good, solid comfort food and I feel very confident saying that,” Ashley stated.

While they do provide an intensive choice of craft cocktails, additionally they carry each as a mocktail, tying into the inclusivity of making a spot that gives one thing for everybody.

“It feels really natural because it’s something it’s a part of (us) that we love and we want to share in. The community has been super receptive of us. To me, that has been the most unexpected part, because we really weren’t sure, like, how we were going to be perceived,” Ashley stated.

Games and Grub is now open to the general public, however there’s nonetheless lots extra thrilling updates to return, together with the debut of a Dungeons and Dragons-inspired non-public room subsequent 12 months, in addition to tournaments and free-play signature occasions happening within the public areas.

Games and Grub is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday via Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Follow Games and Grub on social media for real-time updates and data.

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