Fine dining is a family tradition at this Fox Valley supper club: Lox Club

By David Brierley

Supper clubs – by the definition we know them – are famously popular in the Upper Midwest portion of the United States. That is an undisputed fact. But if you zoom in on that portion of the country, I’d be willing to bet a vast majority of those supper clubs are located in Wisconsin.

Zoom in a step further, and you may see that the Fox Valley area has the highest density of supper clubs in the state. I don’t have any scientific data on that fact, but by continuously collecting supper clubs on a Google Map for the last four years, it’s easy to see that the Fox Valley has a larger and denser area of supper clubs than anywhere else in the state. Even urban areas such as Milwaukee and Madison don’t compare.

Perhaps the reason for this is that supper clubs typically appear on the outskirts of small towns, and the Fox Valley is made up of many small towns and cities. Or, perhaps it has to do with the cultural heritage of the people in these areas, or maybe there’s just something in the water of the Fox River. Whatever the reason, this area is a treasure trove of classic, family-run supper clubs.

One of the supper clubs in the Fox Valley sits across the street from the Fox River in Combined Locks, just east of Appleton. Perhaps a play on words for the town where it’s located, it’s called The Lox Club.

The Lox Club is an angular, stone-faced building, half one-story and half two-stories tall. The large parking lot wraps around both sides, offering ample parking for the large crowds the supper club attracts.

There are two entries as you face the building: one on the left with an accessible ramped sidewalk, and one on the right with stairs. The two entries meet in a vestibule, which in turn leads inside.

When you first enter, you’ll find a coat room on your left where you can deposit any outerwear you don’t want to carry with you. Turn to your right, and you’ll enter the bar area, or lounge. It has perfect supper club mood lighting, and a comfortable, living room-like coziness.

The bar itself is sort of an oddly shaped triangle, so it offers plenty of seating. While reservations are not accepted on Fridays and Saturdays, you can check in at the bar and be added to the list for a table.

If you can’t find a seat at the bar, you may be able to find a table elsewhere in the lounge. Don’t forget to grab a drink first, though. The friendly bartenders make a good old fashioned.

While you relax in the lounge, allowing your cocktail to melt the day’s (or week’s) stress away, you may find yourself feeling a bit peckish. The Lox Club has you covered, with a corner of the lounge dedicated to a complimentary cheese and cracker bar, complete with mini breadsticks, toast, crackers, and spreads. It’s a perfectly classy start to a night of fine dining.

One of my favorite features supper clubs sometimes offer is the ability to order your food from the bar rather than from the table. If you enjoy that, too, you’re in luck. Lox Club is one such place.

First, however, you need to take a look at the menu and make some decisions. Now that you have your cocktail and a snack, you can get started.

The Lox Club keeps their appetizers simple but effective – and delicious. Shrimp cocktail, cheese curds, and onion rings are the à la carte options; supper club classics. If you have a larger group or everyone is really hungry, you can opt for the brewhouse platter. This includes onion rings, mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, chicken strips, breaded shrimp, breaded mushrooms, and “chippers,” which are homemade potato chips. All the deep-fried goodness you could want.

Moving along to entrees, the Lox Club offers a little bit of something for most palates. Broasted chicken, tenderloin tips, pork chops, barbecued ribs, chicken Oscar, and grilled salmon provide a solid start. So many supper club classics, each perfected over the years.

Next comes the steak, which the Lox club cooks exactly how you order it. In an age where most restaurants err on the side of over-cooked, it’s a welcome change. The supper club offers multiple cuts of varying sizes to satisfy just about any carnivore’s appetite.

The menu’s seafood section is quite impressive, with multiple types of fish, plus scallops, shrimp (stuffed or not), frog legs, lobster, and several mixed platters. Also seafood-related, you can choose to add “Oscar” to any steak: steamed asparagus, crab, and hollandaise sauce. What’s not to like?

If you’re in more of a sandwich mood, the Lox Club has a section for you, too. Sandwiches range from steak, to chicken, to a french dip, burgers, and even grilled cheese.

Finally, if you’re not all that hungry but still want to enjoy what this supper club has to offer, there’s a “Lighter Side” section, with smaller portions and healthier options. And, you can bring the kids along because they have a section of the menu all to themselves.

Once you’ve made some decisions regarding the food portion of your relaxing evening out, your server will stop by to answer any questions you may have, make suggestions, and take your order. The staff is all incredibly nice, friendly, and efficient, working hard to make your experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

Once your order is in, it shouldn’t take long for your table to be ready. Your server will let you know your table number, and you can make your way to the dining room. The tables are clearly marked, by the way, so you won’t have any trouble finding yours.

The dining room continues the lounge’s low-lit, comfortable ambiance. It’s split into two sections which helps keep the volume down and makes for a more intimate setting. The back dining room even includes a fireplace smack dab in the middle, meaning everyone can get a cozy experience in the colder months.

When you arrive, your salads will be on the table, and any soups will arrive shortly thereafter. A bread basket will also make an appearance, containing various dinner rolls and some really tasty mini muffins. Once your soups and salads are out of the way, any appetizers you ordered will be brought out for you to enjoy.

Keeping the timing just right, as you wind down eating the appetizers, your food will arrive from the kitchen. Excitingly, steaks arrive still sizzling on hot platters, causing everyone without one to stare with barely-concealed jealousy. It’s time now to dig in and enjoy each and every savory bite.

After your meal, you can choose to keep the party going with some desserts or after dinner drinks, if you happen to have saved some room. Either way, you’ll end the night feeling relaxed, satisfied, and happy you chose the Lox Club.

Learn more about the Lox Club and check out their menu by visiting their website. And, keep up with any specials or announcements by following their Facebook page.

Lox Club history, from the supper club’s website

Roger “Butter” Vander Wyst, a millworker at Combined Locks Paper Mill, had a dream of someday owning a supper club. With the support of his wife, Betty, a native of Kaukauna, Butter moved through the ranks of owning a couple of taverns in his hometown of Little Chute. Finally, their dream of owning a supper club came true November 1, 1965.

The neighborhood was quite different back in 1965. Across the street was a local tavern, Schuler Shack, and the Lox Club’s backyard was home to Oakwood Hills Golf Course.

This building has also seen many changes. A second Dining Room was added, the bar has doubled it’s seating capacity, the kitchen has been updated and doubled in size, and the old family living room is now the lounge.

The success of their new endeavor was inevitable because Butter and Betty knew friendships – and lots of people! The tavern business in Little Chute brought in old and new friendships, they were members at Fox Valley Golf Club, and Butter also played baseball in the minor leagues.

Their five children, Cindy, Kim, Sandy, Joe, and Patty took over the business in 1990. The years since have seen marriages, children, other job opportunities, living out of town, etc., and ownership has been trimmed down to Joe and Cindy.

(Edited for clarity).