Did you know the first supper club wasn’t in the Midwest? It was actually in Beverly Hills, California, but–not surprisingly–was established by a Milwaukee native in the 1930s at the end of Prohibition.
Many of the original supper clubs included big dance floors, live music and banquet halls. They were a place to publicly celebrate the end of an alcohol-free era, where people came dressed to the nines ready to eat, drink and socialize. An evening at the local supper club was more than just going out for dinner; it was a social event.
The longevity of the supper club can be attributed to a few staples. They’re open during supper time, so after 4 p.m. The presence of a relish tray full of classic hors d’oeuvres, like cheese and crackers, raw vegetables, and olives, is a must. And old fashioneds and boozy ice cream drinks belong on the menu.
At Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint, we honor the iconic Midwest supper club with our comforting atmosphere, French onion soup, hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood and, of course, our drink menu.
The supper clubs of the 1930s and 40s saw their fair share of whiskey sours and gin and tonics. Today, you’ll find old fashioneds, sidecars, grasshoppers and Brandy Alexanders on the menu, so we put a little Merrill & Houston’s spin on these classic drinks:
608 Old Fashioned
2 orange slices (save 1 for garnish)
3 maraschino cherries (save 1 for garnish)
3-4 dashes of bitters
1/4 oz simple syrup
2 oz Korbel brandy
Sprite
Instructions:
Muddle 1 orange slice, 2 cherries, bitters and simple syrup in tub glass. Fill with ice. Pour brandy on top. Fill the rest of the glass with Sprite and stir. Garnish with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.
M&H Car
Put martini glass in ice
Fill shaker with ice
Squeeze 3-4 Lemons in shaker
2 ounces of Hennessey
2 ounces of Cointreau
Rim martini glass with sugar
Garnish with a lemon twist
Grasshopper Martini
Put martini glass in ice
1.5 ounces of Crème de Menthe Green
1.5 ounces of Crème de Cacao Light
Fill rest with creamer
Shake and strain into martini glass garnished with chocolate
Brandy Alexander Martini
Put martini glass in ice
Fill shaker full of ice
1.5 ounces of Brandy
1.5 ounces of Dark Crème de Cacao
Fill rest with creamer
Shake and strain into martini glass garnished with chocolate
Want to feel like you’re at a supper club when you’re dining at home? Start your evening with a 608 Old Fashioned and end it with a Grasshopper Martini. Or you can visit us at Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint and we can make them for you.
