Good Supper Club vs. Great Supper Club

What exactly differentiates a Supper Club from just a regular restaurant? For one - they are typically establishments that are tucked away. Most supper clubs are on rarely traveled roads, beside hidden lakes, and in tiny towns. Therefore, you usually don't even know that it exists, unless you're a local.

The atmosphere of a supper club is very distinct as well. It's casual upscale dining. Lighting is typically dim, and the table settings are in an orderly fashion. There is one room/area for the bar, and a separate room for dining.

Supper clubs are family-owned, not a chain. Many have been around for decades and decades. Their recipes are passed down from generation to generation. Serving portions are big. Typical menus include lobster, shrimp, prime rib, steaks, and fish fry. Every meal comes with soups, salads, and bread. Old-Fashioneds, Manhattans, Martinis, and after dinner ice cream drinks are staples.

But there is a list of points that separate the good supper clubs from the GREAT supper clubs. If a joint hits everything on this list, then it truly is the epitome of Wisconsin's finest! And this is one of many things my group will be on the look out for. Let's review, shall we?

1. Prime Rib specials are served every Saturday night

2. A relish tray is served

3. Manhattans and Old-Fashioned cocktails are served with Brandy

4. Jell-O is served as a salad option

5. Walleye is a regular menu item

6. All-you-can-eat fried fish on Friday nights

7. Grasshopper and Pink Cadillac cocktails are large enough to share

8. Christmas lights are strung along structures year-round

9. The Waitresses call you "Hon"

10. The club has a scenic view of our beautiful state

I think most supper club-goers can agree on this list as well. Different members of my group value some of these things over others. I, personally, will be judging the prime rib (d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.). I know others will be reviewing the old-fashioneds, while some will be looking at value & quality.

Can't wait to see what we discover 🍴

Wisconsin Supper Club Tour Kickoff!

If you're a native Wisconsinite, you're probably familiar with the term "Supper Club". They are typically local, small, hole-in-the-wall restaurants that serve hearty Midwestern fare. And of course, there is a bar, which is always bustling with customers.

Me, along with some of my close Wisconsin family members, have decided to participate in a monthly visit to different supper clubs. This idea is not a new one. It has recently become a popular trend, especially after several books have been published, and a Wisconsin PBS special aired in recent years.

But for me personally, Supper Clubs are not a new thing. They have played a big role in defining my childhood and family events. So, I'm doing this with selfish intentions. And not to mention....the good food!

When I was a young child, it was Leske's Supper Club in Monona, WI, that was the backdrop of my memories. My grandmother, and great aunts and uncles, went there every Friday night. My parents would join them every so often and bring me and my sister with. Of course, being young kids under the age of 10, we wouldn't sit still very long. I remember running around the bar and dance floor area, playing with the jukebox and slot machine video games. My great Aunt Helen would always give us change and money to spend at the bar......one Shirley Temple please! My cousins would come up from Milwaukee sometimes, and we would be running around annoying all the bar patrons. My grandmother ordered Liver and Onions, I'll never forget that one! My grandmother passed away in 2001, and ironically Leske's closed the same year. It truly was an end of an era in my childhood.

Now I'm an adult and still love the atmosphere and ambiance of a Supper Club. And we're starting a new era of family, food, and love inside the walls of these Wisconsin staples.

Once a month we'll be visiting a new Supper Club. And I'll document our findings, photos, and reviews right here. We're using the following books as guides on our journey:

Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience (2013) by Ron Faiola

Wisconsin Supper Clubs: Another Round (2016) by Ron Faiola

Wisconsin Supper Club Cookbook: Iconic Fare and Nostalgia from Landmark Eateries (2015) by Mary Bergin

And of course, word of mouth is the #1 source to help us choose which places to visit.

So come back here every month to see what I have discovered!