Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Why Supper Clubs Are Great Places To Go To

By Ruth Walker


A restaurant that has distinct character came out of the Prohibition Era. These were town diners that were patronized by traveling gangsters who were on the run from the law, and these establishments became a sort of underground railroad for them. They simply came for some good food and drinks, paid in cash, were laconic and did not touch the locals.

Also, they provided these places with enough liquor when times spelt dry counties all over the country. Wisconsin supper clubs started out in this way, but immediately took on the legitimacy of clubs patronized by towsnfolk after liquor prohibition was lifted. They became surefire hits with an edge and a history.

In this day and time, the club of this type is where fine folks can go to and rub elbows with others when dining and drinking. Standards here are for fine dining, and any other kind of new innovation in food preparation, restaurant etiquette and technology. Supper clubs are among the most progressive of dining places.

Wisconsin state did have a lot of backcountry roads back then. Some little towns were found on these roads, where farming families decided to live together and have a main street. Taking a break from fighting the law, gangs took breaks in these places, away from central locations where the FBI had offices, places with many escape routes.

These main streets had some makeshift eateries, where some folks could spend the time of day, and gangsters were something from another planet. But these boys knew how to butter up people, and they wanted a moment of peace in the middle of a war. Over time, these diners grew with the custom brought in by gangs, and the quality food and liquor they brought in with them.

Supper clubs eventually took in the spirit of being fine places that were quiet but had a distinct flavor of being progressive. They are usually located on the city limits or beyond town, and enjoy the quiet and exclusive nature of rural enclaves. However, they are simply a drive away from the urban centers.

The state of Wisconsin thus has its own roadhouse diners that are unique. These are quiet places that seem more like restaurants listed for Paris suburbia on the Michelin list. They do not partake of their beginnings, are very clean and legit, nothing like their start as gangster hideouts or having furtive business going on at the back.

However, there can be some mementos from that era on the walls. These are nods to an earlier, harder time, but these are nowhere found in actual practice or services. In fact, the atmosphere today is the exact opposite of furtive enjoyment, but is more open but certainly somewhat reserved but not at all unfriendly.

The tastes here are American or Midwestern, classic portions of steak, with excellent sides. But then, the owners are worldly enough and feature many kinds of entrees. These are diners that become instant favorites with first timers, and the tradition of quiet welcome continues, a thing that gangs from yesteryear appreciated in their own way.




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