Jim and Linda's Lakeview Supper Club — Restaurant in Town of Calumet

Wisconsin is known for its famous supper clubs and eating at one is definitely on the Wisconsin "to-do" list. (If you wanted to add the other "to-do" option, be sure to visit Lambeau field if you're near Green Bay.) Without having to work too hard, you can find one about anywhere in the state. We were in Fond du Lac for a dog show and wanted to experience some of the local flavors of the area, and this included a Wisconsin Supper Club. Our goal was relatively simple, find a supper club on Lake Winnebago.

If you're unfamiliar with the Supper Club vibe, picture something between a local place where everyone knows your name (they will if you're a local) and a private dinner club or country club for the non-country club types.

The food is traditional, made from scratch, with an emphasis on comfort. The modern incarnation may offer healthier options than in the past, but you'll still find old-fashioned meals too. If you're lucky, you'll get a chance to sample someone's secret recipe -- good luck getting those secrets!

You'll be able to get a non-alcoholic drink, cold beer or glass of wine, but the mixed cocktail is still king of the supper clubs. Think of some of the traditional adult beverages and your bartender will likely be able to whip one right up for you. A Manhattan always reminds me of my mother, and a vodka martini with an onion for my father, but you'll also find gimlets, Tom Collins and usually an excellent Bloody Mary too. Remember your dining in a family business, and you'll often end up with family pours in your adult beverages, plan accordingly.

Be aware that most supper clubs do not take reservations. We arrived shortly after 4 PM (like old people flocking to the early bird specials) and after being asked if we wanted to register at the bar (I was wearing a jacket that said Riley and wondered if that was why we were asked to register...) but we opted for being seated immediately. That was the right call on a Saturday night. (Yes, thinking of my mother again and hearing her say, "It's Saturday night honey..." when restaurants hope to turn over patrons in a timely fashion.) Take the time to enjoy your evening - relax, stay a while.

Located at the end of the road, if you went past the last parking spot next to the building you would be in the water. This place has a beautiful view of the lake and faces west to enhance your sunset dining experience. In the summer months, you can drive or boat to the restaurant.

With a supper club, the history is always part of the experience, and, this one began in September of 1978 when Jim Koenigs and Linda Meyer, at the ages of 19 and 20, purchased the business, then known as Harry's Lakeview. At that time the featured dinners were served with soup, salad, and pasta, complete with potato and vegetable. The building was a modified cottage, with a small bar of 11 barstools and 28 chairs in two tiny dining rooms. Over the years there were several expansions, and now the supper club seats 100 and serves good food and cocktails at a fair price in a casual setting.

The three of us tried a variety of meals, all that would have leftovers suitable for the dogs -- yes, they participate in everything we do on the trips! All the meals came with warm rolls, piping hot vegetable soup, and house salad. If you leave this place hungry, you're doing something wrong!

Chicken Romanoff - $18.99 - A house favorite! Panko crusted chicken breast stuffed with sour cream, noodles, and chives. This Russian inspired chicken recipe had thinly pounded chicken breasts; noodles piled high and oodles of sour cream. Plenty of food for the price.

USDA Certified Angus Beef® Ribeye - 13 oz - $24.99. This steak was ordered rare and came to the table rare.

USDA Certified Angus Beef® Prime Rib - Princess Cut (10-12 oz) - $23.99.

We would revisit Jim and Linda's Lakeview...

So so disappointing. We found this supper club a few months back but have not had time to experience it. We finally made the time on Saturday evening. We figured we should go a tad bit earlier than we usually do, which I am glad we did. We walked in and saw that it was busy. My husband registered with a bartendar and we got lucky and got a seat at the bar. Now mind you, we are not in a hurry to dine what so ever so waiting is no problem for us. The three bartenders were busy between helping customers at the bar, drink tickets coming from the wait staff, writing down customers as they walk in to serving customer's that were outside on the patio. Our drinks were good along with our bartender. She was trying very hard. As we sat there watching and seeing how this supper club ran we were a tad bit confused. The wait staff would come out and ask couples, family if their name was __. This was happening a lot. Then we noticed that, who we believe was one of the owner's "snap" at one of the bartenders in front of all the customers. That is not cool in our eyes. Plus as busy as they were that was not called for. Getting back to the wait staff trying to find the correct customer that went along with their first name was beginning to be a game to us. I believe we were asked about 8 different times before it was us. But we did not have a party of 3, just 2. We also could tell that we were skipped a couple times for the fact two other couples came in after us. But like I mentioned oh well. We did have to ask for our waitress to come back due to not seeing a menu. She had no issues with that and did stop back soon there after. They have quite a selection I will say. She mentioned we were set up on table number -- and we went in. After looking to make sure we were to be seated at a table for 6 it was correct. We had to adjust the condiments so we could reach them since they were at the end of the table. Our waters had to be sitting there for sometime before we got there because all of the ice had melted along with the glasses were completely full of "sweat". Our waitess came with our salads and we asked for two glasses of wine along with new ice water. The salads were fresh and very good. After finishing the salads we waited for the soup which arrived a tad bit later. We finally received our main entrée which seem to have taken quite some time. Over all the food was ok, definitely nothing to write home about. And definitely not worth the wait. I finished my meal for what I wanted to and asked for a container. While my husband was still eating his meal she came up and took my plate away which we found to be rude because he was still eating. The scallops were not good at all. My perch with stuffed shrimp were ok. Like I said very disappointing and not worth the time we waited nor the hour drive from our home. So sad. We would not recommend this...

We heard excellent recommendations for this place so we went there with high expectations and Jim and Linda's did not disappoint it was everything we had heard it was. We stopped at the bar first and were greeted immediately by a very friendly lady who got us drinks quickly and started a conversation she was very interested in how we learned about the place and was genuinely interested. The restaurant is located at a dead end with the lake directly in front and a park just to the north the large window in the bar looks out on the park for a really nice view. Our server approached us at the bar and we said to give us a bit more time to finish our drinks he came back about 10 minutes later to lead us to a table on a quiet side of the restaurant that looked out over the lake and took our orders they have a large selection of steaks, seafood, pasta and combination plates. I ordered steak and lobster and rose ordered a seafood platter with deep fried lobster, poached lobster, shrimp, scallops and cod. My tenderloin was cooked just as ordered and as a good steak should be had a bit of salt and pepper so the great beef flavor was not overpowered by spices the lobster was done but not overcooked so it was tender but firm with the drawn butter served in a candle heated tower so it remained nice and warm throughout dinner. Roses seafood plate was huge with a good size portion of deep fried lobster bites a good 8oz poached tail 4 large scallops nice sized piece of fish and several fried shrimp Rose commented every single thing on the platter was exceptionally good among the best she's had. Now I'm going to mention something I very rarely touch on in my reviews because it shouldn't have any bearing on the taste, quality or enjoyment of the service or the meal except in rare cases where it might influence someone's choice. Prices by our own choice we were at the bar for about an hour enjoying a couple drinks and watching the squirrels and ducks in the park accross the road. Rose had 2 glasses of wine that unlike many places that are half a glass these were a good full glass pour I had 2 Jack Daniels on the rocks that were served in an old fashion size glass three quarters glass of ice and full poured with Jack when we paid our bar bill I was shocked it was $27.01 we've never had a bar bill that small for 4 full pour drinks and with really excellent fast friendly service and then after having a great meal with excellent service and 1 more drink each with dinner we were amazed our dinner bill was under $110.00 for that kind of quality meal that's amazing. There is no doubt we will be going back it's a bit of a drive from west bend but well worth it I can easily see this being one of our must...