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The “supper club guru” Ron Faiola returns with fresh stories and photographs from another crop of clubs in Wisconsin—and even some a bit farther down the road.
In this new addition to his Gold-Medal-winning supper club series, author and photographer Ron Faiola gives readers a tour of a new and updated clubs across the Badger State, from the Driftless region to the Northwoods, and—for the first time—travels across the Cheddar Curtain to nearby clubs in Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota.
But despite new faces and new places, some things stay the same. These are still largely family-owned establishments that offer old-fashioned hospitality, slow-paced dining, and good scratch cooking, each offering its own take on one of America’s most unique and enduring dining traditions. Full of interviews with supper club proprietors and customers, paired with photographs of classic dishes, club interiors, and other scenes from Faiola’s extensive travels, this guide celebrates the people who keep the cocktails poured and the relish trays fresh, giving local insights that will make even faraway readers feel like regulars.
So pull up a chair and stay a while. Whether you’re a longtime supper club enthusiast or a curious newcomer, learn how today’s supper clubs are thriving in much the same way they have for more than 80 years—one Old Fashioned at a time.
Praise for Ron Faiola, his documentary, and his book WISCONSIN SUPPER CLUBS: AN OLD-FASHIONED EXPERIENCE:
"A glorious look at a Wisconsin tradition, Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience [is] a glossy 225-page book that just might make your mouth water." —William Hagemen, Chicago Tribune
"[A] compelling, delightful and—not to make too much of it—important documentary.... Ron Faiola [is] a genius filmmaker." —Rick Kogan
"Ron Faiola is passionate about food. He is the author of Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience, a coffee table book chronicling the unique Wisconsin tradition of the supper club.... Faiola put 5,000 miles on his car traveling to every corner of the state to capture the timeless charm of the supper club." —BizTimes Milwaukee
“Prime rib, Friday night fish frys, and relish trays are the stuff of legend in Wisconsin.... But the supper club is a relic, so [author Ron Faiola] is hoping to bring them back into fashion...[Wisconsin Supper Clubs] documents 50 of the states most enduring time capsules.” —Steve Dolinsky, ABC 7 News, Chicago
“A beautiful book...you read this book and not only does your mouth start watering, but you start thinking kind of expansively [about] weekend getaway opportunities.... I heartily endorse it.” —Bill Moller, WGN Radio
"Faiola went to [great lengths to] get the right shots for his coffee-table book, Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience. He spent 10 weeks on the road last year, traversing the state to visit dozens upon dozens of the state's emblematic restaurants." —Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
"Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old Fashioned Experience is a mouthwatering tour of rarefied restaurants from another era that has me thinking of excursions northward." —Peter Exley, Chicago Reader
"Ron Faiola has become Wisconsin's legacy filmmaker." —David Luhrssen, Express Milwaukee
"Wisconsin-native Ron Faiola recently released a book—Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience—which showcases some of the finest supper clubs in the state and shows why supper clubs are such a big part of Wisconsin's food culture." —State Senator Tom Tiffany, Wisconsin’s 12th Senate District
"Faiola’s book goes behind the scenes at 50 Dairy State restaurants, offering photos, stories, and his take on each of the clubs." —Wisconsin State Journal
"In his new book Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old-Fashioned Experience, writer/filmmaker Ron Faiola...traveled across Wisconsin and profiled 50 Supper Clubs...hallmarks include brandy Old Fashioneds, Friday night fish fry, prime rib, relish trays, lake views, taxidermy, glowing vintage beer lights, Packers paraphernalia, and more." —Paula Forbes, Eater.com, National page
"Milwaukee filmmaker Ron Faiola has made an homage to the throwback restaurants to our north that are very much alive and well." —Joanne Trestrail, Crain’s Chicago Business
"The book treats each club, about fifty in all, to a few pages of text about the experience, complimented with a generous serving of pictures that are equal parts Americana and food porn.... It’s easy to see how people get inspired to take eating tours of Wisconsin.” —Dave Robson, Daily XY
PRAISE FOR THE WISCONSIN SUPPER CLUB TRADITION:
"I fell in love with these restaurants long before I’d ordered my first cocktail, and for good reason: the food was always tasty—supper clubs were doing custom-cut dry-aged steaks long before the practice became an urban fetish—and the vibe was always pure Wisconsin gemütlichkeit, leavened by a lively mix of locals and vacationing families." —David McAninch, New York Times
"Supper clubs are a classic Wisconsin summer experience and I try to find a few new ones each year. I associate them with lake country, brandy old fashioneds, relish trays, baked potatoes and prime rib." —Duane Dudek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"Fortunately though, a few of Wisconsin’s supper clubs remain, and many restaurateurs have kept the traditions alive.... The common denominator in today’s notion of a supper club is simple American cuisine.... For the most part, gone are the days when a supper club meant an entire night out: a lounge with high-backed booths, highballs at low-ball prices, a piano bar, an orchestra, and a dance floor. It’s still possible, however, to listen to jazz piano or fox trot to Sinatra at some of Wisconsin’s ritzier supper clubs. And the one thing that’s never gone out of style, of course, is simply prepared great food." —Brenda K. Bredahl, TravelWisconsin.com
Ron Faiola is an author and filmmaker who has produced and directed numerous critically acclaimed documentaries. He is the president and founder of Push Button Gadget Inc., which has been specializing in audio visual and business theater production for nearly 20 years. He is the author of Wisconsin Supper Clubs, Wisconsin Supper Clubs: Another Round, and The Wisconsin Supper Clubs Story, all published by Agate. He lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Foreword by Stephanie Klett-Barth
Introduction
SOUTHEAST SUPPER CLUBS
Alpine Retreat
The Big Foot Inn (IL)
The Brittian House Supper Club
Butler Inn of Pewaukee
House of Gerhard
Kegel’s Inn
Mars Resort
Michael’s on the Lake
Relish Supper Club
Sandra’s on the Park
Village Supper Club
SOUTHWEST SUPPER CLUBS
Badger Crossing Pub & Eatery
Digger’s Sting
Kickapoo Creekside
Louisburg Junction
Moracco Supper Club (IA)
Rex’s Innkeeper
Suzy’s Steak & Seafood House
Timmerman’s Supper Club (IL)
Toby’s Supper Club
NORTHWEST SUPPER CLUBS
Beedle’s Bar & Restaurant
Creekside Supper Club (MN)
Dalles House Restaurant & Lounge
Deep Lake Lodge & Steak House
Pickwick Restaurant & Pub (MN)
Tally Ho Supper Club
Trailways on 27
Wiederholdt’s Supper Club (MN)
The Wildcat Inn
NORTH CENTRAL SUPPER CLUBS
Ash’s
Besse’s on Clear Lake
The Cove Supper Club
Fireside Supper Club
McGregor’s Blink Bonnie
The Palms Supper Club
Simpson’s Restaurant
Williams’s Pine Gables
NORTHEAST SUPPER CLUBS
Brown’s Corner
Gobbler’s Knob Supper Club
Hillcrest Lodge Supper Club
Hotel Seymour Supper Club
Off the Wolf Supper Club
The Red Ox Seafood & Steakhouse
Union Hotel & Restaurant
Wildflower Supper Club
Salad Bars are the New Relish Tray
Supper Club Sources
Acknowledgments