The Lakeside Supper Club

The Lakeside Supper Club is the fictional restaurant featured in J. Ryan Stradal’s novel, Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club. This is the restaurant’s review. Like and Subscribe HERE to make sure you are the first to check out our interview with J. Ryan.

Tucked away on the tranquil shores of a Midwestern lake, the Lakeside Supper Club is not just a restaurant; it's a nostalgic journey back to a time when dining out was a whole evening's affair and one can receive their springtime renewal even in the deep of winter. Here, the spirit of the Midwest comes alive in every aspect, from the warm greetings when you enter to the lingering farewells at the end of the night.

The menu is a celebration of the heartland. Your evening starts with a relish tray that's a mosaic of colors and flavors: crisp, fresh veggies, tangy pickled herring, and a rich, creamy cheese spread. It's not just food; it's an icebreaker, a conversation starter that sets the tone for the night.

The prime rib here is the kind of meal you'll find yourself craving on cold nights; the cliched “water cooler” talk that lingers longer than the previous night’s game winning buzzer beater. Robust and perfectly seasoned, with a crust that crackles right under your knife. The horseradish sauce on the side? Sharp enough to remind you that this is no ordinary dinner.

Then there's the walleye—locally sourced, of course—lightly breaded and fried to a golden perfection. It's the kind of dish that makes you understand why supper clubs became a staple in the Midwest. It's honest, unpretentious, and utterly delicious.

And what's a supper club without a cocktail to toast the evening? At Lakeside, the cocktails are as much a part of the experience as the food. Take a sip of a Brandy Alexander and taste a blend of sweet cream and brandy that's smooth as velvet. Or maybe you're in the mood for something with a bit of a kick? The Grasshopper, minty, sweet, and refreshingly cold.

The Lakeside Supper Club might be a business, but it’s also deeply personal. Maybe even more so. It’s family whether biological or chosen. It’s the kind of place where you feel the bartender started way below legal drinking or working age and the chef is like a sage Yoda to all.

Here, like some parts in Western Europe, dining is a leisurely affair. There's no rush; the pace is a little slower, the food a bit heartier, and the evenings more enchanted. There's just good food, good drinks, and the kind of easy, genuine conversation that can only happen in a place where people feel truly at ease. Community happens.

In a world that often feels too fast, the Lakeside Supper Club offers a delightful pause—a chance to feed your soul as well as your stomach. Here, every meal is a reminder of simpler times and the joy of just being together. For anyone looking to recapture that magic, this place is more than worth the drive.