By David Brierley
Located on the north side of Park Ridge Drive (also known as Main Street, Wisconsin 66, and former U.S. 10), the Silver Coach is easy to find. Viewed from the road, its train car roots are obvious. It has a long, low profile with the main entrance right in the middle.
Above the windows, the words “Minneapolis Saint Paul” appear in a large original railway font on one side of the entrance, with “Sault Sainte Marie” on the other. In a smaller font at the far ends of the car, you can see “M. St. P. & S. Ste. M.” indicating the railway that owned and operated the car. Below the windows, you’ll see “1214 Glen Flora” on both sides.
The roof of the building holds a large neon sign, not quite as old as the letter on the front, but still a very streamlined vintage look nonetheless. It reads “Silver Coach” with two martini glasses crossing at the stems in the middle. It’s looking to be a very classy evening, indeed.
When you enter through the main door, you’ll be basically in the middle of the train car. To your right is the long, narrow bar area, which somehow manages to have a fair amount of seating. You can check in at the end of the bar immediately in front of you, then find a seat. If the bar itself is full, additional bar seating can be found to your left after entering.
Now is when the relaxation really begins. Settle back in your comfortable chair or bar stool, order a cocktail, and take in your surroundings. The bar area takes up most of the train car, and you can see many of the fine details that gave the car its original splendor.
From the curved ceilings to the carved wood panels, every detail takes you back in time to the golden age of rail travel. Ornate chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and backlit stained glass can be seen at each end of the train car. The level of lighting creates a relaxed and upscale ambiance.
As you leave the bar area (to your left after you entered the restaurant) you’ll find the private dining room, reminiscent of (or perhaps actually) an original train car dining compartment, which can be reserved for a romantic dinner for two.
Beyond this, you’ll round a corner to the right and enter the dining room portion of the building. The dining room carries on the classic theme with ambient lighting, quality furniture, and a fireplace with a stone hearth for cozy winter dining. Off of the dining room, a patio offers al fresco seating during the warmer months.
The supper club’s menu offers a wide selection for all different palates. The appetizers, cleverly labeled, “All Aboard,” include bourbon shrimp, escargot, barbecued ribs, and crawfish balls, for which the restaurant is famous.
Seafood choices at the Silver Coach include pecan-crusted salmon; shrimp, scallop, and andouille sausage jambalaya; shrimp Miguel; tuna steak; and – only on Fridays – a fish fry.
The restaurant offers a pleasantly large selection of steaks as well as baby back ribs, several pasta options, and some tasty sounding chicken dishes. There are also a handful of lighter options to choose from if you’re not that hungry or saving room for dessert. Most entrees include a Caesar salad or soup du jour, dinner rolls, and a choice of side.
The wait staff is very friendly and helpful, and they time your meal well so that your entrees arrive fresh from the kitchen shortly after you finish any soups, salads, and appetizers. While this isn’t technically a supper club, it sure feels like one. From the relaxed, upscale ambiance to the tasty classic entrees, it’s easy to feel right at home.
This is one place where it’s definitely a good idea to save room for dessert. The Silver Coach offers homemade options including cheesecake, bananas foster, and chocolate truffle pie. Plus, there’s a bar so – you know – after-dinner drinks. Whatever you choose, it’s sure to be a satisfying and relaxing evening out.
Check out the Silver Coach website to browse their menu and read more about their history. You can also follow their Facebook page to stay up to date with any events or specials they have going on.
History of the Silver Coach
Traveling by train in the 1800s was an upscale affair. People dressed up for the occasion, food and drinks were served, and the train cars themselves were like works of art. Sleeper cars became the standard for overnight travel. These typically contained sets of four seats, two facing forward and two facing back. At night, the seats could be converted into lower bunks and upper bunks would fold down from the ceiling, with a curtain separating the bunks from the aisle.
The interiors of train cars in those days were as lavish as luxury hotels. They featured carved wood panels on the walls and ceilings, decorative stained glass, plush carpeting, and chandeliers lining the aisle.
In the 1930s, John and Fred Bablitch purchased such a car: a Barney & Smith sleeper car, number 1214, named “Glen Flora.” The car had been operated by The Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (commonly known as the Soo Line), likely on the Minneapolis-St. Paul to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, overnight route. In the 1940s, the car was moved to its current location in Stevens Point, not far from steam locomotive 2713, located in the Veterans Memorial Park, which was also operated by the Soo Line during the same time period.
When the sleeper car was moved to Stevens Point, it was converted into a restaurant and bar. In 1955, Charles “Pete” Redfield, now the owner, added a dining room onto the back side of the sleeper car to make room for additional seating and comfort. In the 1980s, the Silver Coach was purchased by Jim Gitter, who restored the interior and exterior of the car to their original luster.
Today, sleeper car number 1214 still stands in Stevens Point as the Silver Coach, a fine dining restaurant offering a unique experience you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the state. Chef Rob Tuszka, former executive chef at the Stevens Point Country Club, and his wife, Brenda, now own the restaurant and carry on its tradition.
Where in Wisconsin is this supper club?
Address: 38 Park Ridge Dr, Stevens Point, WI 54481
Nearby landmarks: A few minutes west of the I-39 and Hwy 10 interchange in Stevens Point.
Website: https://www.silvercoachrestaurant.net/