What began as a wine-tasting plot, quickly bloomed into a five-star award-winning gourmet bistro and wine bar.

Flanagan's has been a part of downtown Appleton for over 50 years. Started by Jim and Rose Flanagan, Party Port was their first venture into the beer, wine, and liquor business. The family business quickly grew and relocated to its current home on College Avenue, taking om the name Stop and Shop. The Flanagan's had taken over four different businesses on the Avenue, merging them into one and giving the Stop and Shop the retail floor space needed to accommodate the volume of product they had begun to sell. The family business passed down to their son Patrick, who continues to own and run Flanagan's Stop and Shop.

In early 2000, increased demand for wine from his ever-growing customer base was obvious. “There was a time when we only carried a handful of labels (of wine)” said Patrick Flanagan, “and over the years, the selection had grown to nearly 1,000 different wines.” Today, Flanagan's sells more than 2,000 different varieties in their now 10,000 square foot store. Wanting to offer a way to have customers taste the wines before purchasing them, but with only a class A off-premise liquor license, Pat thought of a solution. The idea was to take a section out of the liquor store and make it as licensed tasting room.

On January 2, 2001, the hammer swung and Flanagan's tasting room began construction. Armed only with a small budget and a vision, Pat and his crew began to tear out walls, pull down olde ceilings, and rip up old floorboards. Construction continued through the remainder of 2001 with the help of an architect, construction crew, and a team of designers. Pat's vision was to create a cozy, comfortable “tasting room” with a European feel where his customers would be able to come in, relax, and sample the different wines that they were interested in purchasing at Stop and Shop. A kitchen was build during the process with the idea of serving small palate-cleansing appetizers. The word “Wine Bar” quickly spread around town and the buzz grew. Pat and his team spent the summer of 2001 visiting wine bars all over the Midwest and California, sometimes visiting five to ten different wine bars in one day. All the ideas for the Flanagan wine bar, from the glassware, the music, even the paint on the walls, came from things seen along the way.

When the doors opened to the public on February 1, 2002, Flanagan's Wine Review was an instant success. Serving 10 different wines by the glass, six tap beers, a full liquor selection, and later, adding a small menu with cheese and appetizers, the customers were not only from the Stop and Shop like originally hoped, but from all over the valley, because they had heard of the opportunity to get a great glass of wine in a great, non-smoking bar.

With five years of experience under his belt, Pat wanted to expand his restaurant to accommodate more patron. In October 2006, work began on a very aggressive expansion project that would double the size of the Wine Review to seat 100 customers. Once completed, the new addition reflected all the charm and style of the original bistro, even featuring a tin ceiling and antique wood floors.

The food at Flanagan's Wine Review is a culinary delight normally reserved for big city residence. The wine list boasts over 1,000 bottles of wine and 20 by-the-glass pours. There are always six tap beers flowing and 50 different imported and domestic micro beers by the bottle. The innovative chefs, all hand picked by Pat himself, work on classic dishes like Garlic Butter Escargot or Maryland Crab Cakes. An Italian influence can be seen in appetizers like Tomato Mozzarella Salad, Tenderloin Carpaccio, and Trio of Bruschetta, featuring wild mushrooms & roasted garlic, spinach & artichoke, and tomato & basil. Pat is a hands-on owner who regularly works in the kitchen and behind the bar, seeing to it that everything is made to his high standards. It is not unusual to have seafood on the menu that is so fresh that it had been swimming the previous day. Chilean Sea Bass comes directly from South America three times a week; Mahi-Mahi and Blue-Fin Ahi from the Pacific area in the kitchen the day after being caught. Flanagan's has been known for Certified Angus Beef on all their steaks, because Pat knows quality meats better than anyone.

New to the menu this year is the addition of Angus Prime Rib. Served every Thursday, patrons can get a 16oz cut of king cut prime rib with horseradish crème sauce, served with a glass of Napa Ridge Winery, Napa Valley Old Vine Zinfandel for only $22. Flanagan's features a daily happy hour from 5-6pm, where all glasses of wine and tap beer are ½ price. In addition, all appetizers are buy one get a second different one free. Visit on Tuesday, and the appetizer special runs all night long. Wednesdays are 1/2-price bottle night, as every bottle of wine on the wine list is offered at half the menu price listed. Friday, you can be served two jumbo prawns and your choice of martini from te extensive list for only $10. Not enough specials to choose from? Come back after 9 p.m. any night and order the famous 25-piece shrimp cocktail for only $10, and happy hour returns with ½ price tap beers and ½ price glasses of wine.

This list of awards Flanagan's Wine Review has won over the years is too long to list. Highlights include “Best Wine List,” “Best Chef Team,” and “Most Romantic Restaurant” - Golden Fork Awards. The Wine Review has also been chosen by the Appleton Post-Crescent's Reader's poll five years running for “Best place to take a date” and “Best Wine List.”

Flanagan's Wine Review is one restaurant worth the trip. Make a reservation at (920)749-WINE, because demand is very high. If your dining during warmer weather, be sure to check out their outdoor wine garden or dine curbside on College Avenue. Parking is not a problem due to their 100-car parking lot, located right behind the restaurant.

So stop on down to Flanagan's Wine Review at 524 W. College Avenue for great food, a great atmosphere, and mostly, for a great wine experience!