Saturday, February 24, 2018

The Lakeside Supper Club & Lounge, Oconomowoc, WI, February 23, 2018

Location: Avenue Club and the Bubble Up Bar, Madison, WI   Total Points: 4
Fruit garnish: 0
Color: .5
Muddling: +.5
Bitters: +1
Brandy:+1
Overall taste: +1

 
The Drink: This was a really good drink. There was a muddled cherry and orange slice, though no garnish which is OK, because I would rather have muddled fruit. The balance of Korbel and sweet was just about perfect. The color was more on the amber side than red. The only down side was that the flavor of bitters was not apparent.  
 
Atmosphere: This restaurant/bar/night club has changed names and menu options. It used to be Burke's Lakeside. We had a nice view of the sunset over Silver Lake. While their website brands this as "a new spin on retro" there is no retro, supper club, or lounge feel to the place so do not expect that. Nevertheless, it is a pleasant place to gather and we had a nice time.
 
The Experience & Fish Fry: Service was pleasant, though slow. The slowness was OK because it allowed us time to talk and have two BOFs. When we asked what the "pickled pepper calamari" was, the waitress helpfully brought out a bowl of pepperoncini so that one member of our party could test it for spiciness. The deep-fried calamari/pepperoncini was a very pleasant appetizer and was probably the best and most unique dishes of the evening. The menu is Italian which means the batter for the deep fried cod has parmesan cheese in it. While I couldn't taste the cheese, the batter was quite good--very crispy and not greasy. The coleslaw was sweet and had a pleasant onion taste. The requisite rye bread was served since Oconomowoc is close to Milwaukee. The down-side was that the potato pancakes were a mess. They were dry and overcooked in some parts and doughy in others. Overall though, the meal was good.