by David Brierley
Many supper clubs tell you exactly what they are by including “supper club” in their name. That’s not true in every case, however.
Take Michiels Bar & Grill, for instance (pronounced like “Michaels”). The name might lead you to think it’s a hole-in-the-wall restaurant slinging burgers and Bud Lite, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
In reality, Michiels has nearly all the makings of a classic Wisconsin supper club.
- Located on the outskirts of a small town
- Bar and separate dining room
- Brandy and whiskey old fashioneds
- Soup and salad bar
- Nightly specials include Friday fish fry and Saturday prime rib
- Upscale yet welcoming atmosphere
- Owned by the same family for over 40 years
If that doesn’t convince you that Michiels is a supper club, maybe the experience of an evening there will.
Michiels is located partway between Menasha and Appleton. The building is quite charming: a brick A-frame with additions to the side and back. White shingle siding, a brown roof, and green trim complete the look and make this supper club unique (but not in a weird, out-there way) and inviting.
The main entrance is located in the A-frame portion of the building. Once you walk in the front door, you’ll find yourself in a large vestibule finished in stained wood paneling and brick. Enter the next door and you’ll find yourself in the expansive barroom.
The barroom benefits from the A-frame’s tall, vaulted ceilings, which are white and trimmed with wood beams. Heavy iron chandeliers hang from the ceiling, somewhat reminiscent of a German beer hall.
The long bar winds its way along one side of the room, and the rest of the room is scattered with tables and chairs, offering plenty of seating.
Perhaps the best feature of the barroom, however, is the freestanding fireplace. It’s basically a circular bar with a fireplace in the middle and a large, conical hood over the top to remove any smoke or fumes. It reminds me of a mid-century modern fireplace you’d find in a chic ski lodge in the 1960s.
It’s certainly a unique, stand-out feature, and perfect for having a drink around on a cold fall evening while waiting for your table.
The barroom is separated from the dining room by a partial wall: half wall on the bottom and panes of glass framed in wood at the top. The host stand is located at the far end of the barroom from the entrance, just before you reach this partition to the dining room.
Once you’ve checked in with your reservation, grab a drink from one of the friendly bartenders and find a seat (hopefully one by the fireplace). Settle in and check out the menu while you enjoy your beverage.
Appetizers start the show out strong with some tasty dishes: Chicken strips, cheese curds, quesadilla, spinach and artichoke dip, crab-stuffed mushroom caps, chicken wings, ahi tuna, crab cake poppers, tenderloin rumaki, grilled jalapeno poppers, and bang bang shrimp. And if that’s not enough, Michiels also has flatbreads and pizzas available to snack on.
The seafood offerings sound tasty as well, with options like pan-fried walleye, haddock, shrimp dijon, salmon, french-fried fantail shrimp, stuffed haddock, and pan-seared grouper. And then there are the Friday fish specials: Haddock (which can be ordered as all-you-can-eat), lake perch, a seafood platter, and a weekly Friday fish special.
Moving along to steaks – the other supper club specialty – Michiels doesn’t disappoint. You can choose from a one-pound cowboy cut tomahawk ribeye, stuffed tenderloin, choice ribeye, center cut tenderloin, and prime rib on Fridays and Saturdays. Steaks can also be served with a seafood item to create a surf and turf combo.
If you’re not feeling traditional supper club fare tonight, Michiels offers plenty of alternative options. From Texas rubbed barbecued ribs, burgers, and sandwiches to salads, stir fry, and tacos, it seems there’s something here for everyone.
The “specialities” section of the menu features some more tasty sounding entrees: Smothered prime sirloin, cajun alfredo pasta, bourbon bacon scallops, chicken florentine, baked bacon mac and cheese, and Italian shrimp.
On top of all that, there are also monthly specials. Plus, there’s a kids’ menu for the little ones.
Most entrees include the soup and salad bar, plus a side dish. Side choices are: garlic mashed potatoes, baked potato, french fries, vegetable medley, wild rice pilaf, mac and cheese, twice baked potato (incredibly cheesy and delicious), and asparagus.
You’ll want to take your time studying the menu. With this many options that sound as delicious as these do, it won’t be an easy decision.
Once your table is ready, you’ll be led to the dining room, which is split level and divided into two for a more intimate feel. In the summer, Michiels also has a fantastic outdoor deck finished with colorful plants and furniture.
After you’ve been seated and have placed your order, you can make your way over to the salad bar. It’s a solid offering with fresh leafy greens, plenty of toppings, and various pasta salads. Plus, there are relish tray veggies to choose from, and, of course, soups.
Back at the table, the bread basket has arrived containing fresh dinner rolls and butter. Between the top-notch service, salad bar, and bread basket, you’re feeling right at home in this all too supper clubby atmosphere.
Food is served relatively quickly, nice and hot direct from the kitchen. The portions are generous, the food is tasty, and all is right with the world for tonight. That’s the magic of spending an evening at a supper club.
There are several dessert options at Michiels, including the always delightful ice cream drinks. If you’re like me and didn’t save room, you’ll just have to come back and try again next time.
If you’d like to learn more about Michiels and check out their menu, visit their website. You can also follow them on Facebook to keep up with their monthly specials, live music events, and more.
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: 1100 Appleton Rd, Menasha, WI 54952
Nearby landmarks: About a mile from Lake Winnebago’s northern shore between Appleton and Menasha.
Website: michielsbarandgrill.com
Three can’t-miss features:
1. Circular fireplace
2. A-frame architecture
3. Family owned for over four decades