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Discover Delicious Eats at these Timeless Restaurants

Dining in a historic building can be a rather transcending experience. In restaurants around Appleton, ambiance is highlighted by the charm of beautiful, centuries-old architecture and walls whisper stories of the past. The food is even more grand; and each morsel that lines the menu is a flavor-filled journey of its own. No matter the meal or occasion, take in the history while exploring these iconic Fox Cities eats – just think, with each bite, you’ll be a part of their history, too!

Fratellos, Appleton

Known for its calming views, L-shaped brick structure and upscale chef-crafted dishes, Fratellos Riverfront Restaurant offers more than just a top-notch meal. Sitting on the southern bank of a power channel on the Fox River, the spillway attracts waterfowl and eagles which can be seen from the patio, pathway or tables. The restaurant itself is housed in the former Vulcan Hydroelectric Power Plant next to the Atlas Mill. 

Built in 1909, the Vulcan Hydroelectric Power Plant was constructed on the original foundation of the Vulcan and Tioga Paper Mills from the 1880s and was owned by Kimberly Clark Corporation. The mill had been used to manufacture book paper and was wired to receive electricity from a Thomas Edison dynamo generator connected to the water wheel of the Appleton Paper and Pulp Mill. During its years of operation, generating capacity at the plant varied between 1,350 and 1,450 kW and was used to power Atlas Mill next door in addition to several others.
In 1974, it was shut down due to the rising costs in upkeeping old equipment which ended its run as a mill.

The Vulcan building then sat vacant until 2003 when it was purchased by The Supple Restaurant Group. After a strategic, year-long renovation project, Fratellos officially opened in January 2004.

“The original bedrock is still visible underneath the bar windows on the south side of the building,” said CFO Heidi Supple.
Most impressively, the former turbine room received a major refresh, too. Supple said that the east annex where the bar is now once contained four original electric generating devices with wooden gears. Now, it has walls lined with cable shelving units instead. “The main dining rooms offer main floor seating with expansive views across the restaurant out over the water, and the lower dining room boasts floor to ceiling windows that place you right next to the river,” said Supple.

Along with its history, guests often admire the 42 eighteen foot tall windows that overlook the dam and the art. The glass art was designed by theTrellage-Ferrill firm.

“The restaurant itself is one of the most beautiful and unique settings in the state,” said Supple.

Good Company, Appleton

It is easy to spot Good Company on the corner as you make your way downtown! The building is lined with cream colored bricks and greenery that welcomes patrons in with its casual atmosphere, refreshing drinks and filling food. Throughout time, the restaurant has hosted many gatherings and continues to bring in both locals and visitors alike for a classic Wisconsin Friday Fish Fry.

The building, constructed in 1901, was originally Marshall Paper Company, giving a second nod to Appleton’s rich papermaking history. Though it has been many things since, including Baxter’s Pizza, Good Company has maintained much of the original building details.

“Our beautiful building has lots of nooks and crannies, reminiscent of architecture from the early 1900s,” said Good Company Marketing Director Dana Reader, “the original windows, brick exterior, wood floors, and tin ceilings are still showcased at Good Company.”

In 2002, the company completed the French Quarter and Bourbon Street additions. Despite these upgrades, several items including a vault and elevator were preserved.

“The old freight elevator is still used to access our beer coolers in the basement and storage on the upper floors,” Reader said, “there is also an old walk-in vault in the basement with brick walls surrounding it that has a huge steel door.”

While there is no surviving documentation for the origin of its use, Reader said the vault likely served as a walk-in safe for accounting and payroll which was paid in cash back in the day.

Reader says the restaurant has seen over 40 years of memories. From first dates, family dinners, anniversary parties to weekly lunches or other celebrations – many stop by for an excellent meal. Reader said the memories are what make Good Company historical but some of its history is rather unexplainable.

“Good Company’s building is rumored to be haunted,” said Reader, “many employees over the past 40 years have given account to paranormal activity; some people hear their name whispered in a certain nook near the bar, while another has seen an ice scoop fly across the room.”

Spats, Appleton

Coined as the tav on the ave, Spats has been a longstanding spot for dinner for nearly half a century. The Spatio, an outdoor patio, has also become a favorite for guests to enjoy a drink and watch a summer sunset. 

Forty years before it became Spats, the building that was built in 1922 held a place on the map as various other businesses.

“It was many different establishments with all of them being in the hospitality service,” said owner Nick Kapheim, “Little George’s was in this building which was a one off of George’s Steakhouse!”

Over the last 100 years, Kapheim said the space has evolved and now includes a dining room addition. Apart from fresh paint, the true Spats characteristics remain.

“Some unique aspects are the original basement and the foundation that was poured in 1922!” said Kapheim.

Kapheim also joked about otherworldly Spats visitors.

“I spend a lot of time in the building being the owner and chef and I am greeted daily by our guests who live downstairs,” he said, “it’s always friendly encounters; I think they are just trying to tell me their beer is empty!”

Each day, Kapheim strives to keep the history alive and put his own spin on the restaurant.

“We try to build on the history of the menu’s past and bring a new image and life to the food we serve,” he said.

He promises their Friday Fish offerings will remain as well as their Reuben sandwich. “That being said, we have so much to offer!” Kapheim said.

Bowl Ninety-One, Appleton

It’s no surprise that the first building built in downtown Appleton is now home to one of the most unique eateries around. Bowl Ninety-One is a casual space dazzled by bold Asian flair with every noodle slurp. 

Standing in the middle of Avenue Mall is the oldest recorded building in town. Built in 1856 by J. W. Woodward, the three-story structure partially made from riverbed limestone is a beacon of diversity and resilience. It began as a general store and offices. It was later run by Woodward’s daughter and her husband, Byron Douglas, Appleton’s first dentist. In later historical photos from the 1930s, it was Grace’s, a department store.

Many can recall Burger King being in the spot before nearby buildings were torn down to make room for the mall. Luckily, the building where Bowl Ninety-One is was spared and the mall secured its continued existence.

“The building has been a canvas for dreams both big and small,” said Bowl-Ninety One owner Yee Lee.

Lee named Bowl Ninety-One after the year her family arrived to the United States as refugees. The food she serves, which includes Japanese Ramen, was inspired by her own childhood and travels.

Lee has since utilized the space for her restaurant by giving it her own style but still celebrates the building’s past.

“The exterior bricks are original and the third floor has never been remodeled,” she said, “it’s an unfinished open space.”

Author’s Kitchen and Bar, Appleton

Located in the heart of downtown, Author’s Kitchen and Bar is all about creative flavors and their unique space. It is safe to say the building’s history is just as vibrant as the dishes prepared in the kitchen! 

Renowned architect William Waters built the stunning space in 1890. It features an Italianate structural style and was registered as being on the Smith Block. Given its accessible location, it held a place for various types of shops over the years.

“We have had people say they remember getting their shoe repaired there,” said manager Kalen Whittingslow, “it was also once a candy store.”

An old newspaper coupon shows the building was home to Bowlby’s Candies, where shoppers could pick up a pound of silver foil wrapped milk chocolate kisses on Mondays for $0.79/pound.

While it was seemingly a shop for many of its years, records begin to show a change into restaurants as well as wall areas that divide the space.

“You can see where a door was filled in with bricks when they split the building to our left to make them separate,” said Whittingslow, “then someone had a vision for food when they added the kitchen and the prep kitchen below.”

The space has been Peggy’s, Subway, San Rocco’s and Cena before Author’s moved in. The building has left many tokens of their existence, too.

“We do have a Peggy’s and Cena menu that we have found,” said Whittingslow. 

The history is also in the details as the hardwood floors are original, as is the tin ceiling and exposed bricks.

“We have radiator heat and the radiators have a cool look that goes with the rest of the building feel,” Whittingslow shared.

Stone Arch Brewpub, Appleton

Head between the locks and you’ll instantly be greeted by a familiar facade – the Stone Arch Brewpub. While it is a great spot to socialize, it is even better for grabbing German-inspired cuisine and legendary pizzas.

The walls of the dining room and pub were made from stones harvested from the High Cliff region in 1858. It became the first brewery in Outagamie County.

“Our dining room originally served as the beer cellar because at that time, there was no refrigeration,” said owner Steve Lonsway.

Lonsway said the building served as a brewery until turning to malted products during the prohibition. For many years, the iconic Adler Brau was the most popular brew. Between the 1930s and 1960s, the building had many uses, inducing one very surprising function.

“There were many things in the building from warehousing space and one time a coffin/casket sales display area,” said Lonsway.
By the late 1970’s, the building went through a rehabilitation phase and was converted into a mall concept with offices, a Mexican restaurant, stores and a dance club. In 1989, a brew pub was started and Lonsway acquired it in 2004.

Outside and in, there are many reminders of the pub’s history.

“Our back dining room showcases a bricked area which was originally the “garage door” where they would back in the horse and dray wagon to load for the day’s deliveries,” Lonsway said.

Like many historic buildings, Lonsway said the building’s age has drawn in ghost hunters, which got the pub featured on television.
“We have had numerous “unexplainable” things happen in our 20+ years,’ he said, “we have had a few ghost hunter groups in to investigate and all found evidence of hauntings.”

Weathervane Restaurant, Menasha 

Just outside Appleton, WeatherVane is located in downtown Menasha. Not only do they offer diner fare like juicy burgers and fluffy omelets, but they carry on a remarkable history for their customers.

Going back in time, before the building was WeatherVane in 2011 or even Muncheez Pizza before that, it was booming with business as City Meat Market and later, Beck’s Meat Market. The National Register of Historic Places described it as a two-story yellow brick commercial building.

Unfortunately, fire would destroy the original abattoir – an animal professing area, and the store. The building we know now was its replacement, built between 1893 and 1895. Many features still showcase the restaurant.

“The storefront and store are altered, but the second floor used to retain much of the Beck family apartments,” said Melanie DuFrane, WeatherVane’s co-owner.

The exposed brick is all original. The bar in the waiting area has also been carefully restored.

There are many recorded mentions of the building from history. They include a former residents recollection of Mr. Beck as well as notations from 1963 when the zinc steer head from the building’s peak went missing. The ox gargoyle was found the following day in the city landfill near Brighton Beach.

Patty & Pablo’s, Kaukauna

Located downtown Kaukauna, this airy eatery packs just as much flavor as it did heat. Surrounded by vintage walls and high ceilings, Patty & Pablo’s provides the best balance for inquisitive minds and taste buds. 

In true Wisconsin fashion, the building began as a saloon though its official build year is unconfirmed, some sources say 1890-1894. Interestingly, while this building is now both 145 and 147 separately, numbered addresses didn’t exist during its construction. According to the Kaukauna Historical Society, the second floor has features common to many brick commercial buildings constructed in Kaukauna during the 1880s like corbelling beneath the cornice and stilted arch windows which supports an earlier construction date.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps show the building where Patty and Pablo’s is, remained a saloon until 1913. Records going forward to the late 1920s reference Ruppert’s Tavern but are scarce due to the prohibition. It is possible it could have been temporarily operated as a “soda parlor” during this time.

The building changed hands and became Joseph Peter Gertz Tavern until 1946 and was a popular hangout for baseball fans. Passed from an uncle to a nephew, it became Joseph E. Gertz Tavern. The building’s fate of being a bar continued through the years as Tony’s Bar, Joey’s Bar, Fred’s Third Base, Molly’s Saloon, Bob’s Kountry and Bottoms Up.

Restoration began in 2004, including repairing the Carrera glass and removing exterior paint to restore the brick and the building opened as Quenchers. It sold once more to the Mischlers who used the space as a small bakery-cafe.

Former tenant Kim Mischler said renovations continued and had uncovered a vintage Packer schedule and cigar box.
“We gutted it to the walls and all the way up to the roof,” she said.

She noted multiple burn marks in the brick and wood which had remained over time, story untold. Upstairs there are now two private residences and below is one of the most amazing Mexican restaurants in the Fox Valley – Patty and Pablo’s.

“You can really tell that the owners put a lot of effort and dedication into the renovation, while preserving the airiness of the original building,” said Patty and Pablo’s General Manager Noe Garcia, who rents the unit, “while the inside may look different, the outside is still a lovely brick building with that traditional architecture that I’m a very big fan of.”