Being stranded on a deserted island doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. At least that’s the viewpoint of Fred Ingrim, owner of the newly opened Castaway’s Bar & Grill, located at 220 W. Main St., in the space formerly occupied by the Rotten Apple, in Grafton, Ill.
Castaway’s gets its name from the 2000 movie of the same name starring Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland, a FedEx executive whose ill-fated plane crash leaves him stranded on a remote island. At Castaway’s, a playful island theme is apparent both on the menu and the walls. There’s the one-pound Wilson burger, in reference to Noland’s sole island “companion,” a Wilson volleyball; as well as a Wilson shot, a drink that Ingrim described as “a cross between a rum runner and a hurricane.” Among décor, Ingrim expects to add island-themed “crazy things” that he’s collected over the years; watch for spear guns hanging from the ceiling and coconut heads lining the walls. Ingrim has also added a massive deck along the side of the building, which doubles the grill’s square footage. For a cool and relaxing seat overlooking the ocean – er, Mississippi – the deck will be shaded with a pergola within the next couple of weeks.
Since there are still a few tasks to be completed, Castaway’s opened with limited service on August 1. With the kitchen undergoing remodeling, only the bar is open, though food should be available within the next two weeks, according to Ingrim. In addition to burgers, the menu will include pizzas, sandwiches, salads and appetizers. Imbibers will encounter a full bar, including eight beers on draft and another 15 in bottles.
Castaway’s is open daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and until 2 a.m. on Saturdays. A website and Facebook page are currently under construction.
This article appears in August 2012.