If you happened to be in Madison this weekend for the Marquette Golden Eagles game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center, you may have experienced a cool new concession stand.
Launched on Friday, Dec. 11 by the Wisconsin Department of tourism, The Travel Wisconsin Supper Club Concession Stand, located just outside of Section 112 at Gate C, aims to capture both the ambiance and menu of a traditional supper club.
A reclaimed red oak countertop with a red vinyl tufted upholstered front, cedar shake shingle roof, pendant and overhead mood lighting, and decorative ceiling panels contribute to the look and feel of an actual supper club environment.
Meanwhile, a mounted fish and deer rack, historic UW sports memorabilia and photos, and framed black and white photography of supper clubs and other attractions add to the retro feel.
"Supper clubs have been an iconic Wisconsin tradition for nearly one hundred years," says Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett. "Food is a big driver of tourism and this is a fun way to get our tourism message and brand in front of a highly qualified audience of potential travelers."
As for the menu, it’s comprised of a variety of offerings reminiscent of traditional supper club fare. Salads include a classic Caesar and house salad with ranch dressing ($6 each), housemade chicken noodle soup, along with a soup of the day ($6) and sides including French fries ($4), onion rings ($5) and deep fried cheese curds ($7).
Every day, the stand will serve up spaghetti and meatballs with tomato basil sauce ($8.50), along with daily specials like Sunday fried chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and housemade mini popovers ($14.75). Meanwhile, Tuesday is pot roast with garlic mashed potatoes ($8.50).
Wednesday is jumbo shrimp stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese, deep fried and served over waffle fries ($8.50).
Smoked salmon with wild rice and cranberry mango chutney ($14.75) is the Thursday special. And on Fridays, there is a fish fry with breaded cod, waffle fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce ($9.75).
On Saturday, the special is an open face prime rib sandwich on a hoagie roll with caramelized onions and horseradish cream, served with waffle fries for $14.75.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.