By David Brierley
“Old school” is the vibe to look for when it comes to supper club atmosphere, but that can be difficult to achieve in some settings. While the classic supper club typically lies on the outskirts of town in its own freestanding building, it can also be possible to achieve classic status in a more downtown setting.
Fredrick’s Supper Club in Milton makes a strong case for this theory. Located in a row of buildings, the supper club manages to stand out with a decidedly old school facade. It helps that the building was constructed in 1899, but the supper club does its part to look the classic as well.
The two-story brick building is neatly painted in a dark gold color at the top of the facade and a light beige just below that where dwellings are located, with a large Fredrick’s Supper Club sign protruding towards the street. Below that, a short roofline juts out. This addition to the front is painted that same light beige with brown trim, and houses the supper club’s entryway.
The entryway is framed by classic wood trim work and features a bright red front door set in from the sidewalk a few feet. The entryway is flanked by twin wall sconces which feature realistic flickering light bulbs, mimicking old fashioned gas lanterns. Further to the sides of the entry, the old school look is completed by large, triple-hung windows surrounded by more classic trim. All-in-all, Fredrick’s makes a great first impression.
After walking through that red front door, you can either take a left to get to Fredrick’s outdoor patio and bar, or to the right to get to the supper club itself.
Once inside, you won’t be able to miss the host stand. The supper club is basically one room, with the bar on your right and the dining room to the left. The two areas are separated by a partial wall that blocks most of the sound from one side to the other and is tall enough that you can’t see over it while seated, but still allows both areas to feel open and not closed off from one another. That is in good taste, since the dining room, while decently sized, is not huge.
Two stairways, one up front and one towards the back of the restaurant, lead to a basement level. Down here is additional dining space which can be used for overflow on busy nights, or can be rented out and set up for events of up to 50 or 60 people.
Back upstairs, once you have checked in with the host, you can grab a seat at the bar. The bar area is long and somewhat narrow, though it does not feel cramped. There are high top tables and chairs along the partial wall and plenty of seating at the bar itself. The bar is long and wooden, with a slanted wooden bar rail that is comfortable to lean against.
Behind the bar are built-in wooden shelves that hold the liquor, televisions, and some tasteful decorations and stained glass-looking tile insets. The ceiling consists of dark ceiling tiles broken up by dark stained wooden beams, inset lighting over the tables, and hanging pendant lights over the bar. The carpeted floor and tiled ceiling keeps the space relatively quiet. All together with the perfect dim mood lighting, it feels rather classy and upscale.
The bartenders at Fredrick’s make a very tasty old fashioned – one of the best I’ve had in some time, I might add. And they are efficient, friendly, and willing to make suggestions if you are not sure what to drink (but seriously consider the old fashioned). Once you’ve decided, you can relax and enjoy until your table is ready for you (or you are ready for your table).
Once you make your way to the dining room, you will see that it has much the same ambiance of the bar area: the dark ceiling, inset lighting dimmed to just the right level, carpeted floor keeping the area quiet and plush, and tasteful wall decor. There are also wall sconces in the dining room, adding a bit more elegance.
Seated at your table, the most difficult decision of the evening is now at hand: what to order. If you are too hungry to wait for the main course, the menu at Fredrick’s includes some tasty appetizers. These range from standards such as cheese curds, stuffed or deep fried mushrooms, onion rings, crab cakes, and bruschetta, to more unique items like the bacon-wrapped prime rib bites and stuffed or bacon-wrapped scallops.
When it comes to main courses, Fredrick’s does not disappoint. They offer unique pasta dishes, several cuts of steak, and prime rib not just one night, but seven nights a week. The supper club also has seafood lovers covered, with offerings ranging from walleye to several preparations of salmon (flown in twice weekly, according to the menu), and from fried, grilled, or stuffed shrimp to scallops au gratin.
If nothing so far has caught your eye, the menu at Fredrick’s also includes chicken, several sandwiches, a burger, pork chops, and chicken marsala.
Once you have decided on your entree, you are faced with yet another decision: side dishes. All entrees include two sides selected from an impressive list. Baked potato, side salad, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, potato pancakes, french fries, rice, vegetables, potatoes au gratin, soup of the day, or a house salad. Whew.
It should also be noted that for a slight upcharge, you can upgrade one of your sides to Fredrick’s baked french onion soup. And I can tell you right now, it is well worth it.
A complimentary bread basket will soon make its way to your table along with butter and a delicious spread. After that come any salads and soups, and before you know it, your entree has arrived. The food is well timed, allowing you to finish one course before receiving the next one still steaming hot from the kitchen.
Once you have finished, it is imperative that you ask your server about the desserts; all of them sound fantastic. And, as any proper supper club should, Fredrick’s also serves dessert drinks and ice cream drinks which you can either order at your table or at the bar.
Fredrick’s runs specials most nights, and they also host special events throughout the year, so it is a good idea to follow their Facebook page to stay up to date with what is going on.