Coming Soon: Printable supper club crawl punchcards
The Crawl
Twelve venues for a full year of supper clubbing (1 per month) - all within a 1.5-hour drive of the Twin Cities.
The Laurel Supper Club - New Richmond, WI
Reservations: Recommended
Sidewalk/Patio/Porch Seating: None
Standout Features and Other Notes:
Supper Club...or Steak House?
Supper Club, Steak House, or Something Else Entirely
While researching supper club spots in the area, I found quite a few oft-mentioned favorites didn't fit as neatly into the "supper club" box.
So what makes someplace a true midwestern supper club? I’m opening the question up to debate and hoping you can help me classify a few of the places that have proven harder for me (a Minnesota transplant) to categorize.
Here is the criteria I used for picking the top spots for this crawl:
Do they have a...
A classic supper club ambiance?
At least one room or bar area with wood paneling?
Padded vinyl booths or heavy dining chairs?
A carpeted dining room?
An authentic relish tray?
A cracker basket or grissini served in a tall bar glass?
Popovers?
A fish fry night?
Ramekins of butter?
Old fashioneds?
Ice cream cocktails?
Of course, feel free to use your own guidelines to vote, and be sure to add your thoughts (or corrections) in the comments!
Locations in Question
The Lexington in St. Paul
Jax Cafe in Minneapolis
The Monte Carlo in Minneapolis
Lindey's Prime Steak House in Arden Hills
Gordy’s Steak House in Willernie
Mancini's Char House in St. Paul
More Information
If you're interested in going down the supper club rabbit hole (highly recommended), these resources add a little local context, history, and some expert-level insight beyond this crawl.
Articles & Websites
"The elusive, enduring power of Minnesota supper clubs" from The Minnesota Star Tribune (thanks to for the link!)
"10 Minnesota supper clubs that set the standard for classic dining" from The Minnesota Star Tribune
"The Midwestern Supper Club Revisited" from Heavy Table
"A Supper Club State of Mind" from Barn Raiser
"Highway Fine Dining in the Upper Midwest" from Taste Cooking
Northwest Region Club List from Wisconsin Supper Clubs (a great site recommended by )
Books
Wisconsin Supper Clubs by Ron Faiola
Minnesota Eats Out: An Illustrated History by Kathryn Strand Koutsky and Linda Koutsky
Wisconsin Supper Club Cookbook by Mary Bergin
Closing Time: Saloons, Taverns, Dives, and Watering Holes of the Twin Cities by Bill Lindeke and Andy Sturdevant
Videos
Wisconsin Supper Clubs: An Old Fashioned Experience
Produced and directed by Ron Faiola
Make Supper Club Cocktails - Grasshopper, Pink Squirrel, Brandy Alexander
From Charlie Berens
Old Fashioned: The Story of the Wisconsin Supper Club (Trailer)
Produced, directed, and edited by Holly L. De Ruyter