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The scene: Flanagan’s is an Ingersoll Avenue mainstay and a St. Patrick’s Day staple. Moved to its current location, an old Schlotzsky’s Deli, when Interstate 235 and Fleur Drive were connected to accommodate airport traffic, Flanagan’s remains a popular neighborhood bar.
Owner Tim Flanagan recently sold the bar to a longtime bartender who vowed to give the bar a facelift without making the kind of drastic changes that would alienate the bar’s regulars. The eccentric hanging plaques, signs and posters have been removed and a fresh coat of paint has taken their place. The menu has expanded, but not much else has changed. The furrowed carpet is clearly has seen many years of use, the mismatched tables and chairs do not appear to be a purposeful design choice, and the stained- glass four-leaf clovers still greet patrons at the front door.
What I ordered: I ordered a domestic bottle at $3.50 and a pint of 312 at $4.
I was tempted by the restaurant and bar’s extended menu, which now includes a grilled tenderloin sandwich, a deep-fat-fried bacon-wrapped hot dog and bacon jalapeno poppers.
What I saw: The spacious patio, which could fit three times the number of tables as what’s there, forms an L around the front and east side of the building. The temperature on our night out dipped below 60 degrees, which meant the patio was empty. But I was comforted by the steady, practically hypnotic, hum of the traffic as it flowed through the busy intersection of Ingersoll Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Though I can imagine the summer patio season will not be as busy as the bar’s annual tented St. Patrick’s Day celebration, I’d be surprised if the patio did not become a popular destination.
Why you should go: If you’ve been to Flanagan’s before, you already know what to expect from this Ingersoll institution. And if you haven’t been to Flanagan’s before, you’ll love the laid-back neighborhood vibe, and, of course, the view.
Flanagan’s
Flanagan’s
Find it: 2120 Ingersoll Ave.
Hours: 3–11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 8 a.m.–1 a.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.–1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday
Info: 243-3333
Patio highlights: The patio is expansive, with views of the intersection of Ingersoll Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.
Best for: The bar’s annual St. Patrick’s Day party; the rest of the year, for its atmosphere.
