Every Wisconsin resident thinks they know what a supper club is. But ask them to define it, or tell you whether a restaurant does or doesn’t qualify, and it might spark a serious debate.
To help settle the arguments, former Madison Magazine editor-in-chief Andrea Behling asked her readers to come up with a list of “essential supper club criteria.” City Cast Madison podcast host Bianca Martin talked to Behling about what readers came up with, from wood paneling to French onion soup.
Here’s a list of Madison-area restaurants that definitely qualify for supper club status.
Behling wrote that she knew within the first few seconds of entering this iconic restaurant that it qualified as a supper club. Hit the restaurant for a perfectly cooked ribeye or a shrimp cocktail, or crowd at the bar for the perfect martini.
A step inside this far east side spot is like a trip back in time, from the complimentary relish tray and bread bowls to the cheese curds “fried until the cheese screams to escape.” The key lime pie martini is the club’s signature cocktail.
The Waunakee supper club has stayed in the family for decades, with son Austin Andres taking over for his late father Rex. The Innkeeper is a particular favorite for special occasion banquets and large groups, including upcoming Easter and Mother’s Day banquets.
For over 40 years, the McFarland restaurant has embodied the essentials of the supper club experience, from a full salad bar to prime rib specials.
This Sauk City institution is worth the drive, putting an Old World Bavarian spin on the supper club tradition with schnitzel, sauerbraten, and oompah music on the speakers.
Does a high-end restaurant envisioned as a “celebration of Wisconsin’s iconic supper clubs” count as a supper club itself? Hard to say, but with its retro decor and innovative reimaginings of supper club staples like wedge salads and Pink Squirrels, it’s not to be missed.
This restaurant on East Washington Avenue certainly looks the part, housed in a historic building that dates back to 1885. But it’s a relatively new venture that has Fish Fry Fridays and Prime Rib Saturdays, along with relish trays and “spectacular sides” like grilled asparagus and mac ‘n’ cheese.
Head west to Cross Plains for this 88-year-old supper club that offers “the kinds of nights that turn into traditions,” with surf and turf, a cheese ball for starters, and an ice cream drink for dessert.
