Lake Aire Supper Club, Embarrass - Tuesday November 6, 2018

On election night we decided to head north to try the Lake Aire Supper Club, located on Hwy Y between Clintonville and Shawano. The restaurant overlooks Round Lake, one of the Cloverleaf Lakes, and features spectacular sunset views from the dining room. Unfortunately we arrived well past sunset so we had to take their word for it.

We didn’t get a chance to speak to the owners but I was able to dig up a little history of the place. In the early 1900’s, the Club La Vida, a roadhouse, was located across the street (now a parking lot) and the current Lake Aire building was a brothel. A tunnel was built under the road connecting the two buildings so men could traverse between the two establishments without being detected. During Prohibition, alcohol and prostitutes were brought up from Milwaukee in cattle trucks headed for Aniwa. The women and liquor were hidden in the tunnel if the Feds were in the area. Legend has it that Al Capone and his gang frequented both establishments. The Feds eventually discovered the tunnel and had it filled in. The Club La Vida continued to operate as a restaurant, cocktail lounge and banquet hall until it burned to the ground on New Year’s Day in 1958. I’m not sure when the Lake Aire was converted from brothel to supper club or what occupied the building in between.

Anyway, we arrived around 7:00 to a nearly empty bar room. There were several patrons in one of the two dining rooms. I would guess that on a nice summer evening the place would have been packed. The friendly bartender promptly got our drinks and provided us with menus. My old fashioned was very good. Ann ordered a diet Pepsi which was perfectly prepared. The barroom was nice but seemed to be unusually brightly lit. A Hallmark Channel Christmas movie was playing on the television. It almost felt like we were sitting in someone’s kitchen.

A waitress took our order at the bar and told us we could head to Table 15, overlooking the lake, whenever we were ready. Ann opted for the blackened grilled salmon and potato puff with a cup of cream of asparagus soup. I chose the New York strip with twice baked potato and vegetable beef soup. Both entrees came with a trip to the salad bar and a fresh baked loaf of bread.

The salad bar offered typical supper club fare and was very good. The soups were pretty good and our entrees were excellent.  Pieces of steak and salmon were boxed up to take home as well as the loaf of bread for Wednesday’s lunch. Unfortunately neither of us had room for dessert or ice cream drinks.

The Lake Aire is a well-run establishment in a beautiful location with excellent food. Definitely worth a return trip, preferably on a warm summer evening so we can enjoy the view.