NOW CLOSED...Formerly: Supper club: An old-timey word that dredges up glamorous black-and-white images of stars like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin laughing carelessly in a booth, a martini or highball in the foreground. Leave it to Cheeseheads to give the term an entirely different definition. In Wisconsin, "supper club" means a place where you pay one price to get a complete dinner, including a relish tray, salad or soup, side dish and entree, without having to worry about a la carte surprises.
The Cordis brothers (Mike and Dan) found themselves enthralled with both concepts. They liked the idea that customers could spend an entire evening in one place dining, drinking and being entertained, but they also wanted to offer customers an affordable way to enjoy a nice meal. And so they opened the Cordis Brothers Supper Club, a large restaurant that's designed to feel much smaller.
Near the entry, a long wooden bar stocks every type of liquor imaginable, and if you look closely, you'll see a vintage cash register to help put you in a nostalgic mood. Booths, several of which channel the golden-age of cinema with their round shape and over-stuffed size, fill the bar area and main dining room. While the joint is adorned in dark colors, the atmosphere also whispers lighthearted fun.
A DJ spins nightly, but the real entertainment happens when it's time to pick your entree. You'll find a handful of steaks, including the baseball steak, a 10-ounce prime top sirloin that rests on a bed of julienne fries so it appears to be "stuck in the ivy" ($25). Prime rib, baby back ribs, pasta dishes, chicken and seafood round out the menu. True to the Wisco model, all dinners come with a relish tray stocked with items like stuffed olives and nuts, as well as soup or salad.
Average cost: $21-$30
Centerstage Reviewer: Christy Bonstell