Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience

by Ron Faiola

Wisconsin Supper Clubs is a resource for and about supper clubs throughout Wisconsin that includes beautiful photographs of the unique supper club interiors, proprietors, and customers, as well as fascinating archival materials. Also recorded in this book are the regional specialties served at these clubs, ranging from popovers and fried pickles in the northern part of the state to Shrimp de Jonghe in the south. One Northwoods supper club even features fry bread, a traditional Native American dish uncommon to most any restaurant.

The "supper club experience" is a tradition embodied by many long-standing restaurants scattered throughout the small towns of Wisconsin. It is based around a bygone idea that going out to dinner is an experience that lasts an entire evening. The clubs emphasizing food made from scratch, slow-paced dining, and family-run businesses. Combine this with stately dark-panel decor, complimentary relish trays, and the best brandy Old Fashioned sweet you'll ever have, and you have barely scratched the surface of the Wisconsin supper club's appeal.

Author Ron Faiola is the critically acclaimed director and producer of the documentary by the same name. Supper clubs are hugely popular with Wisconsin locals and regularly frequented by all Midwestern foodies "in the know." With Wisconsin Supper Clubs as a guide, these establishments are primed to be choice summer road trip destinations for anyone looking for low-cost vacations this summer. After the successful debut of Faiola's documentary, this book is sure to be a hit throughout the region and beyond.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Food, History, Reference, Cooking

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Andie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My family spent most of our summer vacations in a little town called Chetek in Northern Wisconsin and we frequented a supper club called "The Spot" that was located down a county road in the woods. There my parents would warm up before dinner with an Old Fashion while my brother & I had "kiddie cocktails" loaded with maraschino cherries. Dinner was typically immense - batter fired fish caught in the nearby lakes or huge slabs of prime rib or steaks accompanied by a relish tray, rolls and abundant side dishes. The meal was rounded out by sumptuous desserts made in-house and then, for my parents a gooey after dinner drink, usually a grasshopper.

How great to know that in an age of dreary chain restaurants these family run supper clubs not only still exist, but are thriving. Thank you Ron Faiola for writing this book & giving me an excuse to make a nostalgic road trip.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those coffee table style books that doesn't take too long to read. And since there are lots of pictures, the book is pure porn - especially if your idea of porn involves fish frys, prime rib, relish trays, and the ever-present brandy old-fashioned sweet. Personally, I love a good old supper club, and was disappointed that my favorite (Ray Ratigan's in Kenosha) wasn't listed. Still, if you find yourself on the other side of the Cheddar Curtain, definitely skip the chain restaurants and drive into town to check out the local supper club - you won't regret it. The author has also filmed a documentary, which (I'm guessing) should not be viewed if one is hungry.

[Nick Penzenstadler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Polished off my 2018 reading challenge with this coffee table book from Mom. Made me very homesick. I’ve only been to two of the 50 supper clubs in the book- Silvercryst and Washington Inn- but both are great. I think I’ll have to try the others!

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite book added to my coffee table collection. I was disappointed that the Steakout on Loomis Road was not on there. That place is my idea & vision of an old fashioned supper club. It not only has a bar, lounge, dining area & regular entertainment, but also has a dance floor, something I've not seen in other supper clubs. Beautiful pictures flood this quick & easy read. Only hope I can actually visit and dine at some of these places. Love the focus on the Old Fashioned, my favorite drink.

[Tegan V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah - the Wisconsin Supper Club, a timeless classic and a throwback to my childhood and growing up visiting Northern Wisconsin and eating fish fries or prime rib while someone played organ or accordion and my dad drank old fashioneds. A fun, entertaining read to learn history of many clubs and their specialities that sets them apart from other clubs. A bit repetitive at times. Now I want prime rib, a relish tray, and a salad bar,

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been a fan of supper clubs so this book is a treat. The author Ron Faiola had the enviable job of visiting dozens of supper clubs all over Wisconsin and writing reviews of these classic old-school types of restaurants. I would love the chance to visit all of them, but a few stood out such as Hob Knob (Racine), Elias Inn (Watertown), Ishnala (Wisconsin Dells), and Fannie's (Neillsville). If you live in the northern Illinois region try Sorrentos (Maple Park) and Art & Alma's (Burlington). I hope to get to Timmerman's (East Dubuque) soon. So if you love a good steak, a relish tray and a brandy Old Fashioned, this book is for you!

[Alec]

Very enjoyable, if limited in context and detail. Filled me with nostalgia for Wisconsin, which these days always fills me with trepidation about what Wisconsin has become, and what we should have realized it always was for some of us.

[Steven Andersson]

What a hoot. Fun to read the history and culture of Friday night fish fries and brandy old-fashioneds, part of growing up in Wisconsin.

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loving paean to a way of dining that still exists mostly because of inertia and nostalgia. I'd love to try some of these places, but of the two in my area, one is now out of business and the other is heavily overpriced. The book becomes redundant, as many of the places serve the same kind of food and look similar. More emphasis on what makes each place different -- the small bits of history were great -- would have been appreciated, instead of similar pictures of fried fish and relish trays. Recommended to read in small chunks.

[Kristina]

A good intro to supper clubs in WI. Didn’t want to rate this because it doesn’t feel like a book to rate. I used it as a source for some information about local traditions, I didn’t use it to seek out or compare supper clubs.

[Sarah Roubal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute must read for any Wisconsinite who fancy’s the supper club or is interested in visiting a supper club. Ron Faiola shares the history of each supper club he visits, as well as photos.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great flashbacks to the types of restaurants we'd frequent when I was growing up. Now I'd not be able to visit these without growing out!

[Trish Duimstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference book. However, some very good Clubs are not in it.

[Beth Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I want prime rib and an old fashioned.

[Judi Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was good to see new supper clubs that I didn’t know about! Started trying them out now

[Katie Rathslag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great window into classic Wisconsin supper club culture. Though some of the clubs have closed since this book was published, the book is excellent inspiration for a road trip.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure I agreed with all the criteria the author used to define a supper club. Listed many I had never heard of, several I thought should be in the book were not there and got me interested in trying some of the ones in the book.