Editor's note: The following sponsored content was provided by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.
If you’re searching for an authentic, local restaurant full of charm and delicious eats, Wisconsin has more than 200 supper clubs just waiting for you to pull up a chair and become a local. These favorites of regulars and travelers alike are known for friendly staff and patrons, Northwoods-inspired décor and menus of prime rib, fish fry, cheese curds and more. From relish trays to brandy old-fashioneds, the supper club is a uniquely Wisconsin dining experience you’ll want to tell your friends about. Here are five of our favorites.
Pinewood Supper Club – Mosinee
Take "casual fine dining" to the next level with hand-cut steaks, homemade dressings and fish fry that’s not just on Fridays. Picture windows in the high-rafter pine dining room frame Half Moon Lake, but that is not the most unusual feature at woodsy Pinewood. Check out the mascots: a herd of fainting goats, whose munching reduces landfill waste.
Gib’s on the Lake – Kewaunee
Gib’s on the Lake has a rich history that’s as irresistible as its German-style cuisine (pork schnitzel is always on the menu). Nestled between cornfields and Lake Michigan, nearly all visitors get a Great Lake view. This prime piece of rural real estate was merely a bar and grill in the 1920s. When three sisters took over for a while, their initials spelled G-I-B. The rest is history.
Ishnala – Wisconsin Dells
A bucket list "must" for every foodie, Ishnala is a unique supper club tucked between pines with elevated lakefront views. A little teepee and walkway torches are reminders of century-old history, when the property was a trading stop for Native Americans. The most popular cocktail is the Chief Ishnala, created more than 60 years ago. You’ll want to snap a picture of this.
Blanck’s Lake Aire Supper Club – Fond du Lac
Steps from the western shore of Lake Winnebago is the newer of two supper clubs that the Blanck family began operating in the 1950s. Now a third generation is involved, serving pork belly tacos as well as award-winning steaks and a salad bar. Linger on the patio, which is air-conditioned during warmer weather. Blanck’s will make for a relaxing evening of great food and service.
High Shores Supper Club – Chippewa Falls
Windows in this handsome log building reveal Lake Wissota in all seasons, and boaters often wait for a spot to dock. In 60 years, the menu morphed from beer and burgers to steaks and seafood, now savored indoors and on the patio during warmer-weather months. Add a 90-minute champagne pontoon cruise before dinner, and you’re sure to wind up with an appetite.
Wisconsin dining isn’t just about the food, it’s about the experience. From its southern border to the Northwoods and everywhere in between, there’s an award-winning meal just waiting for you to try out with friends or as a solo trip. And with hundreds of supper clubs to choose from, there’s ample opportunity for a day packed with great food, scenic natural wonders and quirky Wisconsin charm, regardless of your location. Check out Travel Wisconsin’s supper club directory for even more ideas on how to make this summer the tastiest.
