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City Cast Madison

Rob Thomas

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

, 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.

You can savor the Wisconsin supper club tradition without traveling far from Madison, hitting historic spots like Tornado Steak House, Kavanaugh's Esquire Club, and Mariner's Inn. 

The Best Supper Clubs in the Madison Area

Supper Clubs in Madison You Have To Try

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Madison. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Madison Food & Drink

Food & Drink

Happy May! While UW-Madison commencement is the big event this month, there's plenty going on for townies and students alike. Here's your guide to the events you shouldn't miss.

😆 Charlie Berens Gets a Wisconsin Welcome

How popular is Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens? He’s sold out three of his four shows at Overture Hall on May 8 and 9 – 

only a few seats for the late show on May 8 remain

Listen to him on the City Cast Madison podcast

 talk about what makes Wisconsin funny, and his surprisingly serious stance against data centers.

Children’s Theater of Madison is putting on the hit Broadway musical

 about a group of ragtag newspaper boys who rally against their greedy publishers May 2 through 17 in the Starlight Theater at MYArts.

🎉 The Center for Black Excellence’s Grand Opening

Center for Black Excellence and Culture will open its doors on May 6

, with a free grand opening celebration and open house, so you can explore all three levels of this testament to Black resilience and creativity.

Former Wisconsin author Jane Smiley (“A Thousand Acres”) will close out the Wisconsin Book Festival’s spring series with 

a free May 6 event at Madison Central Library

 to talk about her new book “Lidie,” which revisits the main character from her 1998 novel “The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton.”

 on Memorial Day Weekend, May 22 through 24 on Willow Island at Alliant Energy Center. Headliners for the music stages include The Lovin’ Spoonful and Great White.

Acclaimed indie-rock singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett took a few years off, but she’s back with a new album and tour. 

Parrfection Produce Farm Market near Monticello is hosting its 

. There’ll be over 100,000 tulips (minus any that the deer get into), plus food trucks, bouncy houses, and opportunities for lots of beautiful photos.

From Brat Fest to Tulip Fest, from 'Newsies' to Charlie Berens, there's lots going on in Madison this spring.

What to Do in Madison in March 2026

Your Guide to May 2026 in Madison

Find the best of everything that Madison has to offer.

Madison’s Best

Madison's Best

Over 55 years after they broke up, The Beatles still have a hold on the culture like nobody else. Paul McCartney still sells out stadiums at 83, new books and remastered albums are constantly being released, and 

not one but four movies about the Fab Four are coming

Sean Michael Dargan feels that love for The Beatles when he takes the stage with his tribute band, the 

. While other Beatles cover bands dress up in costumes and moptops, the MMT focus on the music, with its five core members backed up with a 16-piece orchestra.

The Madison Mystery Tour is returning to the Barrymore Theatre on May 2 

 playing some of the band’s most famous singles and most obscure B-sides. Dargan, a fixture on the Madison music scene for years, talked about why it’s still so much fun to play The Beatles.

How did you find yourself in a Beatles tribute band?

I love The Beatles. Always have. They were the first band I really, really loved. I stole all my sister's records. But I hadn't really planned on doing a Beatles tribute, The Beatles tributes that I knew all dressed up like The Beatles and pretended to have a British accent. I didn't really want to be any part of that sort of scene. But these guys just play The Beatles like they play their own stuff, and they try to play it note for note.

How did you hit on the idea of “The Beatles Singles”?

The original premise of the band, which started over 10 years ago, was to play every Beatles album on its 50th anniversary. To be blunt, we ran out of albums and we needed something to keep playing.

The singles idea was just another way to build a show that's a little different than what we've done in the past. It’s the same canon, obviously, just more of a smattering across time. We’re doing A-sides and B-sides, so we’re getting all kinds of flavors of The Beatles.

What’s your favorite A-side to play? And what’s your favorite B-side to play?

A-side – “Let It Be,” and it’s for a purely selfish reason. I’m a guitar player, and no one's gonna confuse me with Paul McCartney on the keyboard. But that's the one song in the world that I actually perform on piano. So it's just a gas. I'm really nervous when I sit down. And I haven't felt nervous about playing, you know, in a rock setting in 40 years. So it's kind of a fun experience.

For B-side, it’s got to be “You Know My Name, Look Up the Number.” It’s just the weirdest song, and we do a really credible version of it. (Keyboardist) Steve Morgan and I take the Paul and John parts and go back and forth. It’s just an absurd song, and it’s really fun to try to pull off.

What’s special about these Barrymore shows?

The five of us are the core band, but when we do these Barrymore shows, we have an orchestra. We're doing “Strawberry Fields Forever,” which has huge orchestration, and we’re doing “I Am the Walrus,” which has huge orchestration.

Still, to this day, as soon as the orchestra kicks in on whatever song we’re playing, I get chills. It’s so cool.

Over a half-century after they broke up, the Beatles still have a huge hold on popular culture. For over a decade, the Madison Mystery Tour has been bringing their music to life on local stages, sometimes backed by a full orchestra.

Meet the Madison Band Who Makes the Beatles Come to Life

The Madison Mystery Tour Is Coming To Take You Away

It’s no exaggeration to say that Baraboo is the center of the circus world. After all, it’s the home of 

, which both keeps the history of the circus alive and brings it into the future with its dazzling Big Top Show and other special events.

, host (and Baraboo’s own) Bianca Martin talks to Circus World’s new attractions director, Scott O’Donnell, about what makes the circus and Circus World such a magical place.

"I never know when the next P.T. Barnum, the next Al Ringling, the next Guy Laliberté, is gonna walk through our doors and they might be three or they might be 30, and this might be the opportunity for that light switch to go off and, and that flame of entrepreneurialship and flame of passion and art form is lit,” O’Donnell said.

One of the things that has kept the circus arts so vibrant is the many different directions that performers can take them. Here’s some places to enjoy the circus arts in Madison, whether you want to see a touring show, enjoy an innovative performance by Madison’s own, or even take a class yourself.

This space on Winnebago Street offers classes in the circus arts, such as aerial and trapeze work from groups like Flying Trapeze Madison and Novel Motion Circus as well as putting on innovative shows that redefine circus performance, such as July’s 

Many Madisonian’s first encounter with this enchanting troupe is their high-flying performances among the majestic trees at the Orton Park Festival. But they host events and classes all year round – their new show, “

The big stages at Overture Hall and the Capitol Theater always lure in world-class touring circus performers and acrobats. Check out 

Started in Madison in 2002, Wild Rumpus offers classes and camps for kids and adults in juggling, clowning, and other circus arts. They operate out of a spacious theater space in Mazomanie and offer shuttles from Madison for campers. They also put on shows in Madison at locations like MYArts.

While Circus World in Baraboo is what put Wisconsin's circus scene on the map, there's lots of acrobatics, clowning and more going on in Madison, from Madison Circus Space to Cycropia Aerial Dance.

Circus Shows in Madison You'll Flip For

Madison’s Circus Scene isn’t Clowning Around

Each month, we run down the best new restaurants in the Madison area that have either opened or announced plans to open in the near future. If you know of any that we missed, drop us a line at 

One long-awaited coffee shop opening this week is Ledger Coffee, which on Wednesday opened its first standalone location on Winnebago Street. 

, Ledger’s coffee got high marks as host Bianca Martin, producer Jade Iseri-Ramos and myself chatted about our favorite local coffee shops in Madison – the best places to eat, the best places to work, and the places with the best vibes. Brew yourself up a cup and give it a listen!

 tucked away in the former home of Black Rose Blending has rolled out gradually, with coffee and a limited menu that includes raclette and tins of fish. But on April 29 they kick it up a notch with a full food menu and beer, wine and spirits.

The coffee shop that serves Garver Feed Mill just opened its first standalone location this week on Winnebago 

in the former home of Calnin Design Studio

. While Ledger focuses on the quality of its coffee, it’s hoping to sell pastries from local faves like Level 5 Donuts.

The local chain whose mission is to “bring the bright, fresh flavors of the Hawaiian Islands to the heart of Wisconsin” just opened its third location on Monona Drive. Like its other locations in Middleton and Madison, expect vibrant-colored build-your-own bowls.

This new business is bringing brigadeiros, coxinhas, risoles and other Brazilian pastries to the Sun Prairie Farmers Market and the Northside Farmers Market starting this spring.

Just in time for summer, this new ice cream parlor is opening on Main Street in downtown Sun Prairie, serving housemade ice cream in both traditional and adventurous flavors along with other desserts and craft sodas.

The former Benvenuto’s Italian Grill location on McKee Road is now a golf simulator lounge that includes a full bar and pizza from Salvatore’s Tomato Pies.

The owners of this Monticello barbecue spot have opened a fast-casual version of its restaurant at 567 State St., including brisket sandwiches and mac ‘n’ cheese with pulled pork.

This new spot on High Point Road near Alicia Ashman Public Library sells Philly cheesesteak sandwiches as well as other sandwiches and loaded fries. Look for their food truck at various festivals and other events this summer.

An upscale Mexican restaurant is coming to the space at 313 W. Johnson St. that Estrellon used to occupy. In the liquor license application submitted to the city, the anticipated opening date is Aug. 1.

Mint Mark is opening its own outdoor cocktail bar on the sixth floor of the building it occupies on East Washington Avenue, where you can have a drink and enjoy the view or wait for your table downstairs. They’re shooting for an April 13 opening date.

A favorite at the Sun Prairie Farmer’s Market, this bakery has opened its first brick-and-mortar location on Main Street.

After building up a following selling catfish steaks and gumbo from its food truck, Sista’s opened its own physical location at the Amoco gas station at 1129 S. Park St.

The space formerly occupied by The Ready Set at 113 S. Main St. 

, a restaurant that will evoke supper club vibes with steaks, relish platters, and “old fashioneds for days.” 

Pastry chef Shawn Bolduc opened his first brick-and-mortar space at 2044 Atwood Ave. on Feb. 21. In addition to the baking classes and made-to-order cakes that Baked Lab is known for, the new space will serve snacks and 

 during the day and plated desserts and beer and wine in the evening.

The owners of Ahan opened this cozy bar on Williamson Street as a place for folks to wait for a table at their acclaimed restaurant. But it’s a great space on its own, serving cocktails and fun snacks like a veggie summer roll and lao bratwurst.

Located inside the oLiv Building on West Johnson Street, 

 offers green tea infused with pomegranate and ginger syrups, Vietnamese egg coffee, and, of course, the titular sandwich on freshly-baked bread.

This Italian restaurant chain will open its first Wisconsin location at Hilldale sometime in 2026 in the space that was formerly Amara, offering wood-fired pizzas, fresh pastas, and “garlic knot sliders.”

It’s never too cold for an ice cream treat, and this new spot at 405 S. Park Street serves ice cream bars, sundaes, cold drinks, and other goodies. Follow them on social media for daily specials.

Himal Chuli is gone. Long live Himali Chulo! The grandson of the founders of the legendary State Street Nepali restaurant is planning to reopen the spot in February with a slightly different name, similar menu, and many of the same employees.

Gourmet hot dogs used to be all the rage in Madison with spots like O.S.S. Madison, and this Stoughton pop-up aims to keep that spirit alive. Can’t wait to try the PB&J-inspired The Teacher’s Pet.

 is getting a new restaurant from Ho-Chunk chef Elena Terry, who plans to turn the former gift shop space into a cafe with homemade soups and pastries, with an eye towards dinner service down the road. The opening date is as hazy as an impressionist painting, but Terry is thinking late spring or early summer.

What started as a coffee truck serving commuters on University Avenue has now become a charming coffee shop in Sun Prairie, with the shop’s namesake cat watching over the customers.

Fresh off the success of their Indian-Italian fusion restaurant Zafferano Ristorante, the owners 

opened a Mediterranean-East Asian restaurant

This bagel business that draws long lines at the Monroe Street Farmers Market will get its own brick-and-mortar location on Speedway Road (kitty corner from the Village Bar) this summer.

This Filipino pop-up known for lumpia spring rolls and pork belly adobo 

is the latest tenant at Global Market and Food Hall

 is one of the first tenants to move into the Madison Public Market when it opens in March.

Timber Hill Winery in Milton is behind this small plates concept, also confirmed for the Public Market.

 is this Indian street food restaurant – think chai and chaat.

A longtime Park Street favorite that was displaced by development 

reopened up the street in the former Borough Beer Company spot

. The location shift comes with a shift in focus, as the restaurant offers an extensive craft cocktail menu in addition to North Indian cuisine.

This month's list of new restaurants include a new coffee shop on Winnebago Street, an ice cream shop coming to downtown Sun Prairie and an eclectic spot in the Bay Creek neighborhood.

The Best New Places to Eat in Madison

Madison's Best New Restaurants

Movie lovers who went to the Barrymore Theatre to see films at the Wisconsin Film Festival earlier this month discovered what a lot of longtime Barrymore fans already knew. In addition to being a great place to see live music or comedy, the historic theater on Atwood Avenue is also a great place to see a movie.

In addition to serving popcorn with real butter in the lobby, the Barrymore has become home to touring short film festivals that showcase snowboarding, trail running, hiking and even some, uh, indoor physical activities. Here’s some of the short film showcases that come back to the Barrymore year after year:

What started in 1976 as a one-day local event in the Albertan mountain town has become a nine-day festival and world tour showcasing “peak performance” across the globe. This year’s festival plays two nights at the Barrymore on April 24 and 25, featuring stories of cave climbers, slopestyle mountain bikers, and ultramarathoners.

 sponsors this short film fest on April 30, with most of the documentaries being centered on Black or Indigenous communities. The anthology includes a “deep dive” into the impact of AI and data centers on waterways, a profile of youth climate change activists protesting uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, and a National Geographic photojournalist training children of color to become the next generation of wildlife photographers.

, this festival usually rolls through the Barrymore Theatre in the fall. Last year’s films followed youth cyclists in La Crosse’s three-day Omnium ride, and a migrant worker in rural China recycling styrofoam boxes by bike.

The annual tour, now in its 20th year, screened at the Barrymore last month, showcasing anglers from Colorado rivers to the deep blue sea.

This popular festival also ran through the Barrymore in March, but you can watch some of the films online through October. The films follow routes that include a quirky marathon in Seattle, an Ecuadorean para-athlete making sure trails are welcoming to all runners, and a “race” between a mountain runner and a BASE jumper.

It’s no surprise that a long-running film festival devoted to winter sports would have such a following in a cold-weather climate like Wisconsin. Look for the follow-up to last year’s “SNO-CIETY” at the Barrymore this fall.

It’s a bit of a homecoming when the indie erotic film festival curated by sex advice columnist and 

In addition to being a favorite spot for live music and comedy, the Barrymore Theatre on Madison's east side hosts one-night-only film festivals all year. Here are some of the favorites, from the Hump! Film Festival to the Wild & Scenic Film Fest.

Short Films to See at Madison's Barrymore Theatre

Your Guide to the Barrymore Theatre’s Fit Film Fests 

Jade Iseri-Ramos

What Madison bars hold this city together? That’s the question City Cast Madison asked you and you all had opinions. On 

, host Bianca Martin chats with long-time bartender and bar-goer Colleen Hayes about the iconic bars in your neighborhoods. Lots of your emails made it into the show, so be sure to listen!

Here are some of your favorite neighborhood bars. Thanks to everyone who shared their faves!

“The greatest mix of customers you can find – drunks, day drinkers, locals from the neighborhood, folks looking for a great burger. A true dive bar; it has its regulars and they may look at you funny.

 reigns. Rumor back in the day was that this was the safest dive bar in town because it was owned by an ex-cop and cops coming off their shifts would drink here.” 

“Best bar burger in town; regulars abound but visitors are welcomed; neighborhood-y without being clique-y; friendly bartenders but don't waste their time (the best kind); bumper stickers galore on the beer fridge (mostly pro-labor / anti-Walker).

“This place knows what it is and doesn't try to be anything different or more. Last time I was there with my wife, she looked around and said: ‘There are our people.’ Yep.”. 

(Editor’s note: Phil sent in a list of 13 bars, but for sake of space, I’m just plugging two of his favorites. If you see Phil at your local bar, ask him for his other 11 bar recs!)

“It's closest to my house, but also has such a vibe and so many cool rooms. The first time I walked in was shortly after we moved to Madison, and shortly after COVID. With red lights and weird music, my wife and I were like, ‘Whoa, this feels like Twin Peaks.’ While sitting at the bar, eventually we heard one of the bartenders say that they were literally playing the Twin Peaks soundtrack! 

“Anyway, many great nights there. Beers on the patio, negronis and pool, trudging through snowstorms, etc. AND my bluegrass band, 

, has written a tune about it! Called ‘My Old Bar.’ It's an ode to all great neighborhood bars.” 

“Delta Beer Lab, from its opening, has been a gathering place and is adjacent to many neighborhoods. Everyone is welcome! For me, it is placed close to my sister who lives off Rimrock, brother near Nob Hill Road, my daughter in Fitchburg, and my daughter in Monona. I'm on the east side, but this is on the way to everywhere. When I stop in, it's always friendly, and the beer is amazing. My name isn't necessarily known, but my face is.” – 

“Everyone knows my name there! Comfortable, Bob's a great host, as are his staff tending bar. Good food, good drinks, reasonable prices, lots of fun people! Oh yeah, and it's a gay bar. :)”

“It's hard to find a real Wisconsin bar so close to downtown, and the Laurel has everything I expect from an authentic Wisconsin tavern. Really good beer, decent food, and just an overall great environment.” – 

“It's a lovely throwback to simpler, more rustic (bar) times. My favorite things about it:

They have a "cheese plate" that is literally a few different brick cheeses cut into thick slices arranged on a regular ass plate.

“The burgers taste like the griddle has never been cleaned (not really, but you get my point). The tables all have inset trinkets below the glass table tops, infusing some fun into the visit. You can smell how delicious it is from the whole neighborhood. 😋”

“I live within walking distance and I love going there for Wednesday night trivia, labor organizing happy hour, or weekend dance parties. Cardinal is now the oldest LGBTQ+ bar in Wisconsin, and they've kept some great midcentury character intact.

“In February, I had a great time at T4T, a monthly queer and trans dance party. It was denim night and everyone wore 

 from vintage jackets to custom made costumes. So many people came through that I was not expecting and I made some new friends.” – 

“It has a casual Wisconsin vibe, with a tasteful lake and fishing theme, and TV screens displaying sports and nature shows. The patios are our family’s favorite feature; they are cozy, beautiful, again — understated, and (no pun intended) ‘down to earth’.

“People come at first for the great beer selection, then discover their great cocktails and mocktails, and return again because their service is just great. Burgers, patty melts, and fish fries are some of their classics, yet the menu has something for everyone, including for vegetarians and “selective” or picky eaters. When our family comes to visit from the Green Bay area they often ask to go there :)” 

There's not a better neighborhood bar. The owner has quite a history and it’s been at several locations in the neighborhood here. It's now situated on Parmenter Circle. Everybody knows that bar on Parmenter Circle.” –

Looking for more suggestions? Bianca did a 

 and the comment section is full of great suggestions.

Madison has its share of high-end cocktail bars, but there's nothing like a neighborhood bar where it feels like everybody knows your name. We asked City Cast Madison readers for their favorites, including The Laurel Tavern, Delta Beer Lab and The Village Bar.

The Neighborhood Bars in Madison That Feel Like Home

Madison’s Favorite Neighborhood Bars

Madison has changed a lot since the first issue of Isthmus hit the streets on April 9, 1976. From the city’s exploding growth to turmoil in the streets to game-changing new developments, Madison’s beloved alt-weekly has covered it all.

To celebrate its 50-year milestone, the newspaper is throwing a 

“Isthmus 50 Fest” show this Saturday at Atwood Music Hall

 featuring Madison favorites like Ben Sidran, Mama Digdown’s Brass Band, and more.

, host Bianca Martin talks to Isthmus publisher Jason Joyce and editor/president Judith Davidoff about a half-century of Isthmus in Madison and how the newspaper is celebrating.

For their April anniversary issue, Isthmus editors dug deep into the newspaper archives to find “

,” headlines that captured key moments in Madison’s history. Here are a few of our favorites that they found.

Isthmus’ countercultural bent was evident in this snarky dispatch about the day that State Street was transformed into a pedestrian mall. The debate over 

what to do about State Street still rages today.

On the far side of the Capitol Square, another transformation was taking place. The notorious Main King Tap, a hallmark of King Street’s 

reputation as “Madison’s Red Light District,”

 closes, paving the way for the classier First Settlement District to come decades later.

The long-standing issue of two Madisons – one for white people and one for Black people – was highlighted in this poll, which found that more than half of Black Madisonians strongly disagreed with the idea that they have the same opportunities as their white neighbors. Less than one-fifth of white neighbors strongly disagreed with that statement.

Madison alt-weekly Isthmus is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. The editors dug through the archives to look to see how the newspaper covered some momentous moments in local history, from the transformation of State Street to the construction of Epic Systems' Verona campus.

How Isthmus Covered 50 Years of Madison History

The History of Madison in 10 Isthmus Headlines

We're trying something new at Madison Minutes! See if you can solve this crossword puzzle about people, places and things (especially lakes) you ought to know in Madison! 

Madison, Explained

Play the Madison Minutes Crossword!

Rob Thomas

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