What is a Supper Club?

So before we could begin our adventure, a definition of a Supper Club was needed.  I pondered about how I could describe a Supper Club to someone who was not from “around here.”  It was a challenge to explain to our children to imagine a large wooden fork and spoon hanging on the wall, high energy patterns and a lot of glitter and sparkle.  I realized I was explaining the set of Mad Men or my childhood home of the 70’s.  Today’s youth just did not get it.  They want a metro and urban feeling.   I needed to explain a culture that no longer existed. 

A Supper Club experience is more of an amalgam of subtle touches that attribute to the whole experience.  Loyalties to supper clubs span generations.  I needed to come with some commonalities. 

1. Atmosphere
   
   One of my childhood memories was traveling “Up North” for the weekend.  These trips usually consisted of a Friday night dinner at a Supper Club.  Many restaurants overlooked a lake or forest clearing on the outskirts of a small town.  The place was dimly lit with an inviting bar, decorated with trinkets, interesting patterns and colors, and wall to wall carpet.  The dining area had vinyl tablecloths, candles, and a bread basket and maybe even a relish tray.  Something about the place says “Special Occasion.”
            
2. Drinks
   
   The sound of ice tumbling into a glass, the feel of a double old-fashion my hand, the taste of a good drink and great conversation – this could be a screen from Mad Men or just part of the Supper Club experience.   The Old-Fashion is definitely a Wisconsinite beverage and one that I partake in frequently.   I am not a bartender but I do know the difference between a good and bad Old-Fashion.  Keep in mind when you read the reviews, we prefer whiskey over brandy, and a “press” versus a sweet or sour.  The Supper Club gave me my first experience of a Kiddy Cocktail, a Grasshopper and Pink Squirrel.  Who knows, maybe we can bring back the Tom Collins. 
       
3. Food
   
   If you are looking for a great value for entrees, Supper Clubs are for you.  What separates the supper club genre from the other restaurants is a simple word – “and” over “or”.  It seems like the antithesis of Wisconsin hospitality to decide between soup or salad, so more often than not, you get both at a supper club.  Furthermore, you might get a bread basket of crackers and sesame seed breadsticks, dinner rolls, kidney bean salad, and cheese spread with garlic bread.  Also watch for Friday night fish fry and other nightly specials.      

A Wisconsin Supper Club is an independently owned, fine-dining destination, typically in a picturesque locale on the edge of town.  The menu comes from yesteryear – prime rib, broiled white fish, shrimp cocktail – with enough complimentary sides and trimmings to satisfy a second mean.  A band might be performing later on.  Mixed cocktails such as Manhattans and old-fashions are preferred over wine and beer.

The best way I could describe a Supper Club is basically, you know it when you see it.