I have some old friends from my time at the University of Iowa that I get together with to grab a burger or sandwich, drink some beer, talk sports and man-gossip, as well as trying to solve all the world's problems over a two hour period three or four times a year. We've been doing this for years and we had been meeting at a number of different places in the greater Iowa City/Coralville area. But about three or four years ago, we settled in for our quad-annual gatherings at Flannigan's in Coralville, IA. One of my friends said, "You know, you should write this place up on your blog." And he was right. Flannigan's did deserve a write-up in Road Tips.
Flannigan's is the bar area for the venerable Iowa River Power Company located next to the Iowa River at the corner of First Avenue and 5th Street in Coralville. (see map) Housed in a building that dates back to the turn of the 20th century, the Iowa River Power Company was exactly that for a number of years. The original dam and building were built in the mid-1840's as a grist mill. For over 50 years, the mill churned out flour until a fateful day in 1899 when an explosion killed three workers and demolished the building. The dam was still intact and local officials looked at using the site as a new hydroelectric power plant. The building was quickly rebuilt and it began to power parts of Iowa City by 1902.
The power plant was closed in 1968, but the dam remained - and does so to this day. The building stood empty for about eight years before three local businessmen - Allan Johnson, David Koenig, and Gary Huysman bought the building and surrounding land in 1976. They renovated the building into a restaurant concept with a great view of the Iowa River and opened the doors in October of 1977. It quickly became the top restaurant in the Iowa City/Coralville area. (Although some people may argue that The Lark in nearby Tiffin was the best in the area when it was still in business.)
In 1988, Huysman and another partner, John Fisher, bought out the financial interests in the restaurant from Johnson and Koenig. They did a renovation to the restaurant and added on to the main dining room. By 1996, Fisher had left and Huysman had become the sole owner running the restaurant until declining health forced him to sell the place in 2002. A young couple by the name of David and Danise Petsel who were running a restaurant in the Quad Cities bought the restaurant and implemented a few changes - including eventually turning the old lounge area into Flannigan's, an Irish-themed bar that, to me, doesn't really seem much like an Irish bar, but more like an upscale sports bar.
The lounge at the Iowa River Power Company was well-known as a haunt for many of the more high profile people in the Iowa City area during my years at the University of Iowa in the early-to-mid 80's. I'll admit that poured back a few beers in the lounge a few times when I was going to Iowa when I didn't feel like "slumming" in some of my preferred drinking holes such as the Deadwood, Mumm's or The Vine. It was probably the most classy bar in Iowa City in its hey-day.
These days, it's sort of more homey than classy in Flannigan's. After entering the main entrance to the building, you go down a hallway lined with a curious mix of portraits of famous people - like Abraham Lincoln, Clark Gable and Gene Kelly - hung on barn board walls to the inside entrance of Flannigan's.
The restaurant, itself, is big and open with a nice bar area, a step-up level along the walls with booths, and a step-up level in the back with low-top tables. A D.J. booth is set up in the corner of the back area, but I'm not certain they have any dance music playing there any longer. As I said, there isn't much of an indication that it's an Irish bar other than the name as there are a number of televisions throughout the place tuned to sporting events.
Service is always prompt, but very laid back at Flannigan's. After we got our menus, we ordered up a round of beers. They have the usual domestic beers on tap as well as a smattering of imports and craft beers available. The servers that we've had over the years - both young men or women - have always been easy-going in their demeanor and are more than amenable to changing something or adding something to the food orders.
Most of the food on the menu consists of your standard bar fare - a long list of appetizers including fried pickle spears, chicken wings, jalapeño poppers, and a spinach-artichoke dip with chips are the first things you'll find on the menu. Sandwiches, burgers, wraps and salads are also a main part of the menu items. Entrees such as pasta dishes, a top sirloin steak, and a grilled tuna fillet with balsamic vinegar are also on the menu. But for a more upscale menu, you'll need to go next door to the Power Company.
The first time that I ate at Flannigan's, I had their Flanburger - a half-pound open flame grilled burger that starts at $8.95 for a basic burger. From there, you can add cheese, bacon, sautéed mushrooms, fried onions, or a fried egg for an upcharge. Fries, chips or a baked potato come at no charge as a side, but I always get the onion rings, also for an upcharge.
Quite honestly, the only thing I've ever ordered at Flannigan's over the past few visits over the last four or five years has been the Flanburger. It also comes with lettuce, a tomato slice, dill pickles and sliced red onions that are all very fresh. The bun is light and airy, but stays together very well with everything going on the burger. It's definitely a multi-napkin burger.
We all pretty much get the same thing on our visits - the Flanburger. Oh, maybe once in a while someone in our group has ordered a reuben or a pork tenderloin sandwich, but I honestly can't pinpoint when that would have been. The Flanburger at Flannigan's is thick and flavorful with the Swiss cheese I usually get oozing off the top of the patty with each bite. The beef is so good with that chargrilled flavor that all the toppings and condiments don't overpower the beef flavor.
And I like their onion rings at Flannigan's, too. They have a rich and thick coating over wide-cut onion rings that just seem to melt in your mouth. They're some of the better onion rings I've come across in my travels.
There's a lot of good burger joints in the Iowa City/Coralville area, but I'll have to say that - by far - the most underrated of them all is Flannigan's. I'd put their Flanburger up against all comers in town, I think it's just that good. But there's other things about Flannigan's that keep us coming back - the good, but laid-back service; the cozy and homey feeling of the place; the good beer selection; and a pretty varied menu that I've never strayed from my choice of their burger on each of my visits. I always look forward to our group getting together 3 or 4 times a year at Flannigan's, not only for the camaraderie, but for the great Flanburger and onion rings they have.
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