by David Brierley
Many supper club owners get into the business simply by family legacy. In many cases, their parents owned the supper club, and their grandparents before them. But while that’s often the case, it’s not always. Take Dale and Patricia (Pat) Leffel, for example. They loved serving good food and fun times so much, they built their very own supper club in Marshfield in 1984.
Belvedere Supper Club sits just outside of Marshfield in the countryside. The restaurant is a long, single-story building with an arched brick entrance and an ample parking lot.
The atmosphere inside feels custom-made to be a supper club: Intimate and homey, and always decorated to the nines for each season or holiday.
Upon entering, you’ll find the barroom to your right. The lighting is warm and low, providing that perfect supper club ambiance. The room is long, with an oval-shaped oak bar, dark glass lantern-style lighting, and a piano at one end.
Beyond the bar is a seating area with a few tables and vinyl booths, and a fireplace in the wall for cozy winter nights.
The other side of the large space, divided from the bar by a partial wall, is the dining room. This is divided in two: One part with carpet and several buffet areas, the other with wood floors and views of the supper club’s beautiful backyard.
Now that you’ve got the lay of the land, so to speak, it’s time to head back to the bar and order up a drink. Don’t be surprised if Dale himself is bartending, slinging tasty old fashioneds and chatting with guests. Relax, take in the scene, and enjoy your evening out.
After a few drinks and once your table is ready, you’ll be given a table number or led to the dining room. Once you’ve settled into your comfy dining chair, it’s time to make that all-important decision: What to order.
Belvedere offers the usual supper club classic deep fried appetizers like cheese curds, breaded pickles, onion rings, and potato planks (in both regular and spicy varieties).
Next up is the seafood section, with steamed or deep fried shrimp, coconut shrimp, cajun baked salmon, steamed or deep fried walleye, or a grilled haddock. It’s hard to go wrong with a selection like that.
The next supper club staple is steak, and Belvedere has a couple of nice options: An 8 ounce sirloin or a 12 ounce ribeye. Whichever you order, it will be cooked to perfection exactly as you order it – there’s no tough, over-cooked meat here.
If pasta is on your mind, the supper club has you covered with a creamy alfredo which can be had with either chicken or shrimp.
Feeling a little more casual? Try the barbecued ribs or choose from Belvedere’s selection of burgers.
There’s also a senior menu (broiled chicken breast, deep fried chicken tenders, fried pork loin, ground round with fried onions, broiled fish, or deep fried walleye), and even a kids menu (burgers, grilled cheese, or chicken tenders).
Of course, being a supper club, there are also nightly specials. Wednesday’s special is ground round with onions and mushrooms, and Thursdays are pasta nights. Friday has to be fish fry night, with your choice of one, two, or three pieces of cod or haddock, or – get this – a full seafood buffet. Saturday’s special is prime rib, or steak and shrimp. And on Sundays, there’s a brunch buffet from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
Most entrees are served with your choice of potato, a bread basket with homemade dinner rolls, and – drumroll please – a salad bar!
The salad bar serves up fresh lettuce, the usual toppings, and dressings, plus some pasta salads and various other delights.
Considering everything that comes with your meal, you won’t leave Belvedere Supper Club feeling hungry.
Everyone you interact with at Belvedere is incredibly friendly, and your meal will be served promptly for maximum deliciousness. If you still have room afterwards, ask about their tasty desserts and after-dinner drinks.
Aside from the food and ambiance, the owners of Belvedere have a couple more tricks up their sleeve. Out back, you’ll find a lovely garden chapel for outdoor weddings. And there’s no need to go far for the reception, because the supper club can be rented for banquets as well.
Beyond that, Belvedere regularly hosts special events. From craft fairs to murder mystery dinners Elvis tributes, you’ll find something for just about everyone to enjoy.
Visit Belvedere Supper Club’s website for more information on banquets and special events, and to learn more about this family-operated restaurant. Plus, you can follow them on Facebook to keep up with specials and more.
A history of Belvedere Supper Club
Dale and Patricia Leffel have always had a passion for serving good food and providing great service. In 1977, the couple moved to Marshfield, Dale’s birthplace. They fell in love with the area and decided to share their passion with Marshfield and the surrounding communities.
An idea of a restaurant for families and visitors came to their minds. They knew what they wanted to do: Open a supper club to serve the surrounding area.
After thoroughly searching for land for their new endeavor, they stumbled upon a few acres just a couple of miles north of Marshfield. They instantly loved the property and built the Belvedere Supper Club in 1984. Their dream started with an open field, thus the name Belvedere, meaning “open view,” was born.
After opening, Belvedere quickly became a local favorite and has grown over the decades to become an award-winning Marshfield institution. Dale and Pat have seen their dream take form and grow over the years. One constant at Belvedere over time has been high-quality food and excellent service.
And, in this changing world, Belvedere has kept up with a faster-paced society. They’ve added new menu items, improved communication, and added technologies such as free Wi-Fi, all while maintaining their high-quality service. Over time, Dale says Belvedere has provided many precious moments in his life, like the wedding of his son, whose reception took place right at the supper club.
Belvedere has created many memories for not only Dale and Pat, but for thousands of people from the area. Weddings, parties, fundraisers, anniversaries, and so many other events have created lasting memories that will live forever in the hearts of their many patrons.
When Belvedere creates precious moments, those moments become memories, and guests become family. Dale and Pat look forward to continuing the mission of Belvedere Supper Club for future guests to enjoy and make lasting memories.
If you haven’t already, don’t forget to join our Supper Club VIP group; you’ll be entered in our monthly drawing for a $50 gift card to an area supper club. You can also check out our past articles, as well as an interactive map that shows the supper clubs we’ve visited to find one near you. And, as always, there will be plenty more supper club fun to come.
Where in Wisconsin is this supper club?
Address: 203630 WI-97, Marshfield, WI 54449
Nearby landmarks: About 7 minutes northeast from Marshfield, 40 minutes north from Wisconsin Rapids, 45 minutes west from Stevens Point, or 45 minutes southwest from Wausau.
Website: https://belvederesupperclub.net/
Three can’t-miss features:
1. Outdoor wedding chapel
2. Regular special events
3. A dream business come to life