Mr. St. Paul
Tele-Holic
Come to Minneapolis / St. Paul. Wisconsin-style supper clubs are the latest trend:
https://www.creeksidemn.com/
https://www.apostlesupperclub.com/
https://www.creeksidemn.com/
https://www.apostlesupperclub.com/
Supper Clubs
- Thread starter studio1087
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bottlenecker
Poster Extraordinaire
A wisconsin supper club is basically just a restaurant, that is usually only open in the evening. It's a specific style of place, with a certain kind of menu, and booze.
Refugee
Tele-Afflicted
in Highland, NW Indiana we had one I remember from long ago. Went there a couple times as a kid.
kookaburra
Friend of Leo's
Ha! I've been there, good stuff. Do you know Tracy and their Mr Fix-it, George. I rented from Tracy in downtown Madison, and George was the HVAC guy. I found out about Smoky's via them.
I was sad to read that they closed.
buster poser
Poster Extraordinaire
We head the other way after races or a day on the lake (my friends live in Sheboygan) or just eat there in Elkhart. What a great area of the country. Perfect little lake, best road course in North America, good eats and great cars everywhere.
I never knew what that is because I grew up in the south. I took my kid to a college visit in southern Wisconsin and the coaches met us at a supper club. How did I miss this?!?
Totally unknown and foreign concept in my small universe. Sounds like good healthy fun though.
PCollen
Friend of Leo's
To me, any "Club" requires annual membership...Golf, Country, or otherwise. I lived my HS years in Omaha Nebraska, and there was a Korean Supper Club called the A-Ri-Rang that no one I knew belonged to or patronized (https://northomahahistory.com/2018/05/29/a-history-of-the-ponca-hills-in-north-omaha/a-ri-rang-club/). There was the Birchwood Club in North Omaha that had the only non-public swimming pool in that area that my family could not afford to join and so we had to swim over in the Miller Park pool during the summer ( it's mentioned in this: https://northomahahistory.com/2015/...-ship-birchwood-club-and-prettiest-mile-club/). But the best and most popular restaurants were not "clubs" and were owned by the Italian families, particularly the Caniglia family.
bottlenecker
Poster Extraordinaire
No, I don't think so. I know one of the owners, who's part of the same group of motorcycle enthusiasts, and we met and ate at smoky's a lot. On their last night, we had the back room reserved and we all lived it up one last time.
imwjl
Doctor of Teleocity
RIP Smokey's but my grandmother and mother had connections to the owners and a famous waitress going back to the 1930-40s. As busy as that place would get my grandmother's two pals were the only two who would ever get seating priority. It was kind of hilarious in their laters years where I'd drive the 3 with canes and walkers. They got seating priority over the governor and Badger bigwigs.
I will ask my mother about them. She's one of the last standing of her West High class and really sharp though getting frail. It will probably refresh other local history tidbits or have interesting tangents.
Unlike many, their food was truly good and at least two generations of that family had the touch or way that that make an eat/drink establishment popular and long lasting.
imwjl
Doctor of Teleocity
They never really died, many disappeared but yes, some new places are taking that model.
I love the places that are mostly unchanged for a few generations. The Ambassador in Houghton, MI is super cool because they've kept the original decor, paintings, booths etc... in good shape for probably 70 years though many think of it for pizza and sandwiches now.
Dave Hicks
Friend of Leo's
This is the only one I know of in our area (northeastern Hoosierlandia), but I've never been there.
Looks like the menu features Big Pieces of Real Meat.
Looks like the menu features Big Pieces of Real Meat.
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kookaburra
Friend of Leo's
Tracy had married into the family, but who, I don't know. Mr Fix-it had done work for them for decades. I'd chat with him if he was over doing work at the place I lived, and of course, he was a Smoky's fan.
I'm interested in what your mom may have to say.
Cool to run into other Smoky's people here!
stratisfied
Tele-Afflicted
Had a steak at Smoky's a long time ago after attending a seminar at UW. That was a great place. Had dinner at Quivey's Grove Stonehouse in Fitchburg another night. That was also a very cool place.
Rocky058
Tele-Afflicted
imwjl
Doctor of Teleocity
But it's my least favorite beer among those brewed over the hill from where I live.The first rule of supper club is we don’t talk about supper club.
To be fair, it's a more flavorful alternative to mass market piss water. It's more funny after the brewery president disclosed it's their top seller in Chicago area and twin cities buys the better brews they make.
My idea of a supper club may not be exactly right, but I always had the idea that it was a restaurant with live entertainment, either while people ate or more of a "show" after dinner. We had several here in Fort Worth....all long gone AFAIK. The Italian Inn Ridglea had singing waiters and waitresses, mostly college music majors, who sang opera, show tunes, and light "standards". There used to be a place downtown called Charlie's Place, that featured a great music review/show after dinner. I had several friends who performed there.....one of whom was Jay Johnson, who went on to play the ventriloquist on TV's Soap. Great fun, but too high-falutin for today's super-casual crowd. (they'd just want to text throughout the show)
Anyway.....that's MY take.
There are dozens of excellent supper clubs all around the state of Wisconsin. All of them have many of the same elements, including a classic American menu that usually includes various steaks, prime rib, chicken, local fish and various seafood choices, and a Friday night fish fry. They will usually offer the classic baked potato with various toppings, and maybe other potato options. A relish tray is customary, served before you place your order. In addition to the dining experience, a good supper club includes a cozy bar or cocktail lounge which serves as a community gathering place, and which of course in Wisconsin must be able to prepare a perfect brandy old fashioned. The best will also make fancy after dinner drinks such as a grasshopper or brandy Alexander. Many supper clubs still maintain their original 1950s - '60s decor.
There is some variation in the level of “class” in Wisconsin supper clubs, but in general they present a higher class dining experience even in the smallest rural communities. There are a few remaining supper clubs where I grew up in Racine WI, and The Hobnob would probably be considered the ultimate. All of the classic supper club elements are here. Be sure to check out the menu and the photos, and you’ll have a good idea of what a real supper club is all about.
The Hobnob
Saturday Night Dinner Menu
Desserts and After Dinner Drinks
There is some variation in the level of “class” in Wisconsin supper clubs, but in general they present a higher class dining experience even in the smallest rural communities. There are a few remaining supper clubs where I grew up in Racine WI, and The Hobnob would probably be considered the ultimate. All of the classic supper club elements are here. Be sure to check out the menu and the photos, and you’ll have a good idea of what a real supper club is all about.
The Hobnob
Saturday Night Dinner Menu
Desserts and After Dinner Drinks
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