The food was creative and absolutely amazing! Our party of 6 voted the beer cheese soup their…read morefavorite with the brussels sprout salad a close second. Our server was very friendly and with such a small space, it was easy to get her attention. The location is very low-key, but fun! Reservations are an absolute must, because even the small counter is booked. I wouldn't plan to get full as you would for dinner, but the idea of some great nibbles, drinks and a fun place to catch up with friends is unique. And they have done it very, very well!

Marvol has an ambitious name and ambitious goal...and like its sister restaurant (the eponymous…read moreEllinor), a paradoxically unassuming location. And like Ellinor, many may double check their Google maps as they get nearer to the restaurant, wondering if they're in the wrong place. Unlike Ellinor, Marvol lives in a small, obscure corner of Appleton - it's not in an established neighborhood full of progressive diners with progressive views and progressive palates. And I love them for it. Sure, it may have just been a business decision to minimize overhead, but it says something bigger. It's an Appleton restaurant - everyone is welcome. True to the owners' approach to dining, Marvol's seating is more than cosy. It's intimate. You have to be okay with getting close to a stranger for the journey. Marvol's food doesn't disappoint. More important than the storybook plating and the flare, the food screams of excellent sourcing. Marvol's trout belly and roe, Kendall's greens, Wisconsin sweet corn and crab. Every ingredient can stand on its own - but they're so much better together. Whereas Ellinor caters to the many with mainstays and midwestern must-haves (red meat, burger, pizza with pork in it), Marvol feels like a small test kitchen full of new ideas. Some will land, others won't, but it's all part of the experience. It kind of feels like Chef Adam is inviting us into his brainstorm, where he jots down his ideas for the week on a notebook - and that's the menu. Though I had my favorites, I don't think going through them would help you. Because Marvol has probably moved on. All I can say is, you can trust Adam. Note: A huge selling point of Marvol is their drinks. I did not try any, as I don't drink alcohol. There is no official NA cocktail menu.

Cleo's is a must go to stop at least once in your life - the G.O.A.T. Of Christmas bars, decorated…read moreyear round. The decor inside is great, eclectic antiques all around. We luckily stayed in an air bnb upstairs so it was easy to come and go and try to avoid the rush, it's often busy - a very popular place. Delicious ice cream drinks, you have to get the dirty snowball!

I don't think I could love this place any more if I tried! We were staying in Appleton for a game…read moreup at Lambeau, and we found Cleo's just wandering the streets looking around. The painted window saying "Home of the Dirty Snowball" absolutely piqued my interest! LOL! Actually, it was that, plus the two giant nutcracker decorations out front that caught my eye. I'm a fan of (Christmas) holiday decorations, so I wanted to see what else they had, after spying some string lights through the window. Inside, it's like a wonderland of holiday cheer! Lights and ornaments and decorations everywhere! Sitting at the bar under the lights, I really felt like I'd discovered some secret bar under the Christmas tree! The staff were friendly, helpful, and quick with the libations! Kind of that "keep it real" attitude, but not in the rude way... in the honest and up front way! There is no food to speak of, save for a Chex-pub mix blend, but the drinks are why you want to visit! The famous Dirty Snowball is like a shake, but without ice cream, made with cocoa and related liqueur flavors (I can't remember what-all is in it, but it's GOOOOOOOD!). I highly recommend it! I also tried the Cleo's Trio, which is one part Dirty Snowball, one part Brandy Old Fashioned, and one part Suffering Bastard, I think? Not in the same glass! But, more like a flight. You get a little taste of Wisconsin or at least Appleton. Each drink is basically a full version, though, so you might need only one! I don't know what your favorite bar looks like, but if I lived in Appleton, this one would be mine. I would be in there at least once a week, if for no other reason the ambiance and the company. Great people, great drinks, and a legacy for holiday décor that I hope lives on forever!

Super cool place with a great bartender that worked her tail off!…read more Huge drink menu with so many martinis and drinks that it's almost impossible to make a choice. The Baskin Robbin's of Martini Bars! Great music (that goes with a speakeasy type setting), great vibe and fun bartender. Will be back!

Martinis are well priced and very well made. The staff are polite and pay attention to detail.read more

Commodore Club is a newer establishment in the downtown Appleton area. There are not many cocktail…read morelounges in Appleton and Commodores is one of the firsts to fill that gap. It's trendy with a more upscale vibe vs other comparable places like Cleo's and Deja Vu. The drinks are carefully curated with thought behind each one's concept. The bartenders are knowledgeable and service is typically fast. This has quickly turned into our go to spot for a drink or two when in town.

If you look back over my reviews, there are not a ton of 5-star reviews. On my first, but not last,…read morevisit to Author's there was virtually nothing to complain about! We went to one of their limited dinner services. I had called the day before and reserved a table. When we were quickly seated at a table by the entrance, I admit being suspect of how our visit would go. The hostess asked if the table was alright and pointed out a heater by the table. Not only did it keep us warm, it made our table feel cozy. Despite it being very busy, I'd describe the restaurant as being a great place for a special date. Our waiter for the evening brought great energy. His timing was great and his knowledge of the food served was helpful. Without hesitation he suggested the Napolitana (which was phenomenal). He also made the restaurant less pretentious than I had assumed it would be and it definitely wasn't pretentious). We ordered the empanadas and beet salad as appetizers. Great picks and I'd return just to get the empanadas! As previously stated, I had the Napolitana. My dining partner has the quinoa bowl but added chicken to it. No complaints for either. We finished with two desserts suggested by our waiter. Although truly full from our meal, we polished off the tasty treats. I'm going back, just disappointed I've haven't visited it before now.

Went there for dinner tonight to celebrate my husband's birthday and we were treated unbelievably…read morewell!!! From the moment we walked in we were greeted incredibly warmly! Unbelievable hospitality from the staff (Jackie and Victoria). The food is amazing, fresh, dimensional and just plain delicious . The atmosphere is so wonderful and always cozy/warm. Can't say enough about Authors. We absolutely HIGHLY RECOMMEND. If you still haven't you absolutely have to check it out for yourself. You will NOT be disappointed!

Been trying to contact them by their listed phone numbers no one answers during working hours nor…read morechecks the voicemails. we left something valuable in the bar and waited till 5 when they open although when we showed up doors were locked well past 5:30 and no one was inside. Very disappointed in a business that doesn't follow posted hours especially only if their open 4 days a week

My friends and I went here after grabbing dinner across the street. The atmosphere is amazing with…read morethese cute little booths that offer more privacy. I love getting mock tails here since they offer Ritual zero-proof tequila in their Pa"no"mas. Unfortunately, the night we went(a Saturday), there was only one bar tender at 7pm and so we had to wait 30 minutes for 3 drinks. I will be back, but hopefully they are better staffed!

Owner(and bartender) - 5/5 Drinks - 5/5…read morePopcorn - 6/5 (kettle corn) This place is great, comfortable, and has a terrific atmosphere. The owner is so sweet and works very hard! Terrific place every time I've attended.

Came here for the first time and felt like a regular! Michelle is a force of nature. She not only…read morecreates amazing cocktails, wonderful popcorn and the best blue cheese stuffed olives you'll ever taste, but also creates an environment that is warm, welcoming and friendly. Every drink our group had was outstanding and if we needed another one, it just seemed to magically appear. This is the standard by which all cocktail bars should be managed.

Taylor was a great bar tender, and she can make a great old fashioned. I would go back again. Thank…read moreyou Taylor

This place has THE BEST films playing on the TV screens. They are curated by Ben the bartender a…read morecinephile like no other. There's a lot to do, darts, outdoor patio, great pinball machine, and a cool jukebox. This place is a lot of fun and worth a visit.

We had a great time with our two kids during the day. They had good drinks too! We loved the…read morevintage games.

I love player 2. I've had many a great times here, and I hope to have more in the future. I saw…read moreanother review that mentioned the music is a little loud, and I agree with that, but other than that this is a great place to blow off some steam. Pac-man is my fav!

I've been here several times. The drinks are good, the bartenders keep to themselves. But other…read morethan that the fish tank is cool and they usually have a bouncer on the weekends.

Food is great, service is prompt, I enjoy coming to Bazil's downtown when I get the chanceread more