On the continuum of bars in Pcola, Mustangs is a solid three...maybe four stars. It depends on…read morewhat you enjoy and expect. In the set of bars in Cantonment, I would surmise that Mustangs is an easy five stars. But I don't know that, because I've never been to another bar in Cantonment. I'm not certain that there _is_ another bar in Cantonment.
The joint looks like a dive. The joint kind of is a dive. I might not have had fun if I had darkened the door solo, instead of being there with 13 other folks that I know, but I'm pretty certain that I could have found somebody to talk to. The patrons were young, old, preppy (not many), redneck, dooshes, polite...you name it, you'd probably find it up in here. I didn't see any fights, so there's that.
It wasn't "elbow to the kidneys" crowded, but it was what I would consider a full house. It was quick and easy to get a beer (all that I saw were cans...Miller Light was $2.50/per, small mixed drinks were $3). Seating is fairly chaotic, with people (us, for sure) combining tables and moving chairs into positions that presented hazards to safe navigation. I didn't trip and I didn't break anything, but I squinted in mostly futile attempts to see WTH I needed to avoid every time that I left my chair. It's dark, unless you factor in the strobes and flashing lights, which I couldn't synchronize with my eyes by blinking them quickly. Be safe and use your hands to make sure that you don't upset applecarts (screw you, spell check, that is too a word) or break a leg.
The feature of the evening was the Highway 95A Band, named, presumably, after the two-lane road upon which Mustangs (the lack of an apostrophe confounds me) is situated. Seriously, if you like country and classic rock, you must go here when they are playing. The acoustics are surprisingly great...and not tympanic membrane-shattering loud. Plus there's a steel guitar, which every great band has. Yes, it does, even if you won't admit it.
A large-enough dance floor had people on it every song. If you like dancing, go here. If you like slam dancing, you might get a can of whoop-ass popped on you, so don't do that here. I saw Texas Two-Stepping and white men convulsing as if they were in the throes of grand mal seizures, but everybody was having fun.
Bathrooms weren't the dirtiest that I've seen in Pcola, but I wouldn't lick the wall for $1,000. A million clams would probably be enough, but I'd have to trust you. The parking lot is well-lighted and there are security cams around the building (and inside, too). I never felt endangered, although I am 6'4", 290 pounds, and cranky-looking at times. Your mileage may vary.
I would absolutely recommend Mustangs to anybody looking to have a good time. I should probably rate it four stars, but I'll wait until next time and see if I still have a good time. Some of my friends come here regularly and love it, but I never considered Cantonment a destination. I'm more of a beach bar kind of guy. But I still enjoyed my time here. Give it a try and share your experience.
