by David Brierley
Over the years, we’ve discussed the physical attributes that characterize a supper club: A location on the outskirts of a small town, a historic building, a separate bar and dining room, a veggie tray, a bread basket, a salad bar, menu items like fish fry on Fridays and prime rib on Saturdays… the list goes on.
But the most important element of a supper club isn’t physical; it’s the feeling you get when you walk through the door. It might be a bit of nostalgia, sure, but it’s also a sense of comfort and belonging. Even if it’s not your local supper club, you can tell when you step inside that it’s a place where the bartender knows most of the customers by name. It’s a sense of community.
Our supper club this month, the Buck-A-Neer Supper Club in Rozellville, has many of the physical characteristics of a supper club. It has a great salad bar, a very historic building, and an old-school atmosphere, to start. But the community-mindedness is where it really shines.
The Buck-A-Neer has been a staple in this tiny town since the 1970s. And while the supper club has gone through several owners during that time period, the community support has never wavered – the main street of town is packed with cars in front of the Buck-A-Neer every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.
It’s the place people go to unwind and relax after a long week, and it’s where they go to celebrate special occasions. And perhaps the best part is that as much as the community loves this supper club, the owners seem to love the community right back.
If you visit their Facebook page, 90 percent of the Buck-A-Neer’s posts are celebrating customers’ special events. From birthdays to anniversaries and everything in between, if you’re celebrating with the Buck-A-Neer, the Buck-A-Neer is celebrating with you. It’s one of many little ways the supper club stays closely intertwined with the community.
Now that we know the type of place we’re about to visit, let’s check out what it’s like to go there, relax, and enjoy some great food and drinks.
Located in what was originally a blacksmith shop, the Buck-A-Neer certainly looks the part. Its front facade has off-white siding outlined in dark trim, natural stonework, and leaded glass windows.
When you walk in the front door, you’ll enter the barroom and immediately feel like you’re in an old-school saloon. Its dark wood floors and ceilings, corrugated steel bar, and rustic shiplap behind the bar create a well-themed atmosphere that still feels classy and upscale.
Directly to your left is the host stand where you can check in with your reservation or see about getting a table without one. Regardless, once you’re done there it’s time to grab a cocktail. The Buck-A-Neer’s long bar has a nice wood top, padded bar rail, and comfortable padded seating. It’s the perfect spot to settle in and chat with a friendly bartender as he makes your perfect old fashioned.
Once you’ve had a chance to relax for a bit and enjoy your cocktails and conversation, it’s time to make your way back to the dining room. The dark floor and ceiling theme carries through here, and the blue walls and hanging lights keep the atmosphere nicely muted to perfect supper club levels.
The dining room is L-shaped, with a smaller second bar at the top of the lower portion of the L, and a nice big salad bar at the top of the L. The two areas can also be separated by large barn doors for private events.
At your table, it’s time to take a look at the Buck-A-Neer’s hearty menu. It’s a perfect size: Not overwhelmingly large, but with options for every taste.
There are the usual supper club appetizers like cheese curds, onion rings, and fried mushrooms, as well as some more unique options like pickle chips, deep fried avocado slices, and gator bites.
Sandwiches and burgers are served with bottomless fries or onion rings, something I haven’t seen at a supper club before, but definitely a welcome feature. Your sandwich selection at Buck-A-Neer includes a meatloaf sandwich, pulled pork sandwich, fish sandwich, and an avocado BLT sandwich.
You might think a burger is just a burger, but the chef at this supper club has some different ideas that all sound pretty tasty. There’s the Cali burger (lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, avocado, and cheese), the Buck burger (bacon, onion tanglers, lettuce, tomato, and cheese), the angry burger (ghost pepper cheese, jalapenos, onion tanglers, lettuce, tomato, and spicy aioli), the ultra cheesy burger (swiss, cheddar, and cheese curds), and the masterpiece burger (two patties, pulled pork, onion tanglers, lettuce, tomato, pickles, coleslaw, and cheese).
Moving along to dinners, these meals are served with your choice of side, soup and salad bar, and a bread basket. You can choose from barbecued ribs (half or full rack), a pulled pork platter, chicken or shrimp alfredo, chicken cordon bleu, fried chicken (quarter or half), a meatloaf dinner, or chicken pot pie.
The Buck-A-Neer has a nice selection of steaks, like any supper club should. There’s a 12 ounce or one pound ribeye, a six or eight ounce tenderloin, a chopped steak, or an eight ounce filet mignon.
The last part of the classic supper club equation is seafood, and Buck-A-Neer doesn’t disappoint. There’s bourbon glazed salmon, a lobster dinner, ahi tuna steak, perch dinner, shrimp dinner, fish dinner, shrimp scampi, and a seafood combo.
In addition to all these options, there’s also a nightly special each evening the supper club is open.
Wednesday: All-you-can-eat steak and shrimp
Thursday: Barbecued ribs and fried chicken
Friday: Seafood buffet, fish fry, jumbo shrimp, or poor man’s lobster
Saturday: Traditional prime rib
There’s even a kids’ menu with more basic items like grilled cheese, chicken alfredo, deep fried shrimp, cheeseburger, and chicken strips. Plus, kiddos can enjoy the salad bar.
The waitstaff is incredibly friendly, and amazing at what they do. They’ll bring your food at just the right times, when you’re finished with your salad and your entree is still fresh and hot from the kitchen. There’s nothing on the menu you can go wrong with, and portions are hearty, so come prepared with a big appetite.
If you happen to have saved room, the Buck-A-Neer has a large selection of delicious desserts, plus the classic after-dinner ice cream drinks you’ve come to expect from a good supper club. You can end your evening at the Buck-A-Neer feeling both full and refreshed.
Be sure to check out the Buck-A-Neer’s website for more information, and follow them on Facebook for specials, events, and special occasion shout-outs!
On a bittersweet note, this will be my last supper club column. I’ve loved visiting supper clubs across the state and writing these articles for the last six years, but it’s time to move on. I’ve accepted a position in the Pacific Northwest, a place where, sadly, there are no supper clubs. But I want to thank you for reading, and remind you to keep watching Out & About Wisconsin – there will still be more supper club fun to come!
History of the Buck-A-Neer
Built In the early 1900s, the building started out as a blacksmith shop. It became an eatery in the 1930s, and In the 1940s was called the Paris Avenue Nite Club. It wasn’t until 1973 that it was officially known as the Buck-A-Neer Supper Club, and it has kept that name ever since.
In early 2017, Scott Kleinschmidt joined the ownership/management team, and later that year, Ariel Gorst signed on as well. The owners continue to visit with customers at the bar and in the dining room, making sure their visit is everything it should be.
In 2000, one of the upstairs apartments caught fire, and much of the building was damaged by smoke and water. The supper club was closed for about six months while repairs took place, but it reopened later that same year better than ever. Chef Matt joined as the final team member in 2021. He brings new, elevated, and exciting dishes you won’t get anywhere else, plus new and changing events for customers to enjoy.
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: 122923 County Rd C, Stratford, WI 54484
Nearby landmarks: Though its address is Stratford, this supper club is actually located in Rozellville, a small town less than 15 minutes northeast of Marshfield, 40 minutes northwest of Stevens Point, and 40 minutes southwest of Wausau.
Website: www.thebuckaneer.com
Three can’t-miss features:
1. History dating back to the early 1900s
2. All-you-can-eat options
3. Fantastically community-oriented