The names tell you where they’re located, or what they’re near, or who they are: 3 Mile House…..Club 66…..The Bayview…..Riverside Inn…..Two Lakes…..Jake’s…..Rocky’s…..Roxy’s.
They’re supper clubs. A Wisconsin invention and a Midwest institution.
Many owe their origin to Prohibition — like The Duck Inn near Delavan on the Wisconsin side of the border with Illinois, and The Edgewater on the Rock River near Jefferson, Wisconsin — a place away from more populated areas to have drinks when alcoholic beverages were banned. Many owe their staying power to Catholicism….. a place for all-you-can eat fish fries on Friday’s when eating red meat was prohibited by Rome.
Patrons owe their loyalty to generous portions – with limitless trips to the salad bar – at modest prices.
Supper clubs provide more than dinner. There must be drinks, usually house wine and brand-name beer – nothing boutique – as well as the “Old Fashioned” cocktail…..often made with brandy in Wisconsin.
There must be conversation, usually without regard to social class and rarely in confidential tones. Conversations are intended to be over-heard. That’s the point. It’s a mixer…..social media without mobile devices.
Years ago, many supper clubs provided entertainment, and sometimes dancing; but wall-mounted monitors showing sporting events is the modern substitute. And speaking of sports, supper clubs are establishments where sports talk is as much about local high school squads as the state’s university teams and professional franchises.
And with all politics being local, supper clubs are where most of our problems are solved. If you doubt this, just listen to what’s being said at the next table over.
JER
ALL OVER THE MAP 