It is English Pub Night at Jones and Co, located in downtown Appleton, at 215 West College Avenue and it is my second time visiting this unique establishment. There is live music. Patrons enjoy conversations, drinking along the bar or scattered throughout the spacious eclectically vintage space. Tonight, the menu features traditional British fare. I stick with the daily menu and order a generous bowl of olives, oiled and spiced to perfection, along with an order of the four cheese gnocchi. Their homemade potato pasta, prepared in a variety of ways, is pillowy and soft. My grandmother would be proud. My drink of choice is always the house made Limoncello. These are ice cold, and the lemon tastes both sweet and sour at the same time. I tried a signature cocktail called The Bees Knees and it did not disappoint. Gin and fresh lemon juice sweetened with honey. Perfection.

Some guests are seated around the singer, while he plays guitar and converses with them between songs. It feels cozy and like everyone was invited into someone’s personal living room. I feel transported to another country, and even another era. I am sitting in a tufted chair with detailed wooden legs. Beside me is another uniquely shaped chair, also one of a kind. Every item in this space appears to be carefully curated. Each piece a part of the feast for the senses. Everything from the vintage suitcases piled atop one another, the crystal table settings, and the check delivered inside an old hardcover book.

I returned to Jones and Co. another night, several weeks later. While my friend and I sat in living room chairs, we observed several different couples arrive and sit one after the other at a long dining table. None of these couples knew each other. That was the beauty of it. They sat together and thus got to know one another by default. A brilliant approach to the typical downtown venue, and a scenario we rarely experience nowadays. Refreshing!

Overall, I am glad I stopped to stare into the window at Jones and Co. and fell in love with the yellow chairs beside the front window. I am glad I strolled inside one afternoon during Mile of Music. A variety of gourmet foods can be purchased here in the back. Bags of homemade pasta, jars of olives, and bars of artisan chocolate, are among a few of the choices.

Aside from English Pub Night, there is a calendar of various upcoming events on their website. These include several course themed dinners, such as Italian or French, wine tasting events, a Masquerade party for Halloween, and even a Roaring 20’s Speakeasy party complete with a secret password for guests to enter through the back door. I am glad I have spent quality time here at Jones and Co. and I plan to continue to do so. I hope to see you there too! This place is truly a gem for the city of Appleton. I highly recommend it.