HobNob

Racine, WI

After about a gallon of frozen custard, we headed south 30 minutes from Milwaukee to a quiet little spot down by the lake.  

HobNob's building structure and sign are absolutely stunning displays of modern design set by picturesque Lake Michigan.

The electric sign buzzes and pops!

The lake is right there like you could reach out and grab it.

Inside, not much of the original 1954 design remains. The current interior is a mix of 70's sleaze and 90's Designing Women. It is not unpleasant, but the exterior is so great that you expect modernism inside too!

At the back of the building, facing the lake is a long bar overlooking the bar. Above the bar/cocktail lounge is a kidney bean shaped vaulted ceiling with an inset of colored lights! 

I lived in Duluth many years and wished so bad to have a bar like this overlooking the lake. 

The ambiance in the lakeside lounge with the glow of the ceiling lights and the sun going down sets the mood for any swanky supper.

Its dark and cozy in the cocktail lounge - but there is a slight gaudy factor looming.  All around though, this is a quality joint.  I am not complaining - the ceiling and the view are amazing!

Exploring the offshoot rooms, we searched for scraps from 50s past. 

A SUPER sparkly gold coat check counter.  Very 50s!

And this lady...

The front room bar area has cushy vinyl booths and a nice little bar leading to another room of banked booths. On a Saturday night, the front room is dead - no surprise. When you have the option of viewing the lake in the back cocktail lounge, why would you bother?

The current menu has been revamped and is fairly upscale - especially for the area.  It is much higher class than your standard supper club grub.  I caught a glance of this 1950's menu.  Similar to Pandl's it once featured a friday fish fry and german pancakes.

As we headed out, we took time to notice the details of the front entry way.  What better way to welcome or send off your guests than a warm fire!  They really had it together in the 50's.

Ratings (out of 5)
Food | 4 very quality but not very supper club like
Ambiance | 5 for the super mod exterior and gorgeous bar
Service | 4
Relish Tray | 0
Entertainment | 0
Lake Affect | 5

Jack Pandl's Inn

Milwaukee, WI

Last weekend we took a trip to Milwaukee, WI, otherwise known as sausage, cheese and beer town - or the land of Supper Clubs. On the way there, we mapped "supper club" and found that we were surrounded by little red pins. There is more exploration to be done down the line, but the next two posts are a start!

Driving through Whitefish Bay, we came across a old log Inn as were winding around a bend headed to the lake. Intrigued, we pulled in. While not specifically labeled a supper club, this place was a supper club long before supper clubs came along.

Established in 1915, this Inn has been through four generations and the Pandel family still owns and operates it. It is said to be the oldest remaining restaurant in Milwaukee County.

Imagine this patio by the fireplace on a summer evening!

We walked in through a small entry - turned photo gallery, dining room, and headed for a beautiful old world bar. German steins, elves, antlers and rich dark woodwork adorn the room from head to toe. They don't make 'em like this anymore!

Look at these jolly little elves go to work!

The ship figurehead chandeliers are exceptionally wonderful.

As we were enjoying our old fashioneds, bartender Mario was filling us in on the Inn's history and his history as a bartender. He worked at the Tiki Lounge on 5th and Rogers back in the 70s (the lounge is no longer there - because believe me - we would have checked it out). Mario continued to tell stories and then brought the most delicious garlic toast followed by swiss cheese horseradish (!) spread and a shot of booze that tasted 100 years old!

We only had snacks at Pandel's, but we glanced at the menu and it looked pretty good - a mixture of German and Wisconsin delicacies. I'm still regretting not ordering the whitefish cakes.

One item on the menu in particular caught my attention - the schaum torte - a Milwaukee favorite and something my grandma would make.  Then I thought to myself - hey wait, this place is oddly familiar. Interestingly enough, when I got home I found out that Pandl's was my great grandma's favorite restaurant and I was there when I was small.  I just had the feeling when I was there that the place was really familiar - and it was.

Ratings (out of 5)
Food | 5
Ambiance | 5
Service | 5
Relish Tray | 0
Entertainment | 0
Old World Vibe | 5