A supper club is defined as a dining establishment which also has the elements and functions of a night club. Supper clubs are restaurant-club venue combinations that usually cater to a high-end market, and are structured in ways that are reminiscent of jazz clubs in the 30’s and 40’s. Also, most supper clubs only open their doors to customers in the evening. According to some, Wisconsin native Lawrence Frank was responsible for establishing the first supper club in Beverly Hills, California.
Supper clubs are usually found in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, with more and more being established in areas like Hollywood, Washington DC, etc. What sets supper clubs apart from other night clubs is that the former are frequented by people who wish to enjoy long conversations over a good meal and drinks. One does not go to a supper club with the primary goal of all-night dancing and drinking. Instead, the people who come here are those who savor fine dining and just want to relax and enjoy long conversations with friends.
While supper clubs do offer nighttime entertainment, and have designated areas for dancing just like in clubs, the ambience isn’t as hustle-bustle and noisy as that of dance clubs. Rather, supper clubs have an ambience that is very relaxed; dim lighting, comfortable chairs and couches, and sounds that are played at just the right volume. As mentioned, most supper clubs are high-end in nature and thus tend to be a bit formal. More than the live bands and the dancing, people go to supper clubs to have a fun, albeit relaxed, night out with friends.
Because supper clubs are fine dining restaurants, their menus offer a wide range of food selection for different courses. Dinner usually starts with either a bottle of wine and hors d’oeuvres, and then goes on from course to course in a slow, steady pace down to coffee and dessert. Examples of supper clubs are the following: POSH Restaurant and Supper Club (Washington, DC), Little Bohemia Supper Club (Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin), Aqua Restaurant and Lounge (Beverly Hills, California), and Goa in Hollywood, California.