Food+Drink

Cracking the (Area) Code

715 Supper Club revives a west side EC hot spot

Nicole Lincoln, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

CULINARY CODE. Dishes at 715 Supper Club will include items like pecan crusted salmon, pork belly with brussel sprouts, and Cajun bourbon New York strip.
CULINARY CODE. THe menu at 715 Supper Club will include items like pecan crusted salmon, pork belly with brussel sprouts, and Cajun bourbon New York strip (above).

A new dining option is opening where the Local Lounge and Varsity Club used to be on Eau Claire’s west side, and unlike its predecessor, it’s not going to be a sports bar. The soon-to-open 715 Supper Club & Event Center, 2106 N. Clairemont Ave., will serve up Wisconsin supper club favorites to diners by late April.

Ashley Kay, who will serve as the restaurant’s part owner and general manager, and her social media management team spoke recently about the opening of the new, area code-named supper club.

From the get-go, Kay said the new owners are aware that the location they are acquiring has seen a lot of turnover in recent years. What the new business wants to do is embrace the past while also creating a crisp, new image. The goal, she said, is to cater to a young clientele while also reaching older customers who want more of a supper club vibe.

“This is not a sports bar, this is not a burger joint,” Kay said. There are many sports bars and burger joints in the area, she said, but not enough supper clubs – especially on the west side of town. Kay said they are hoping to show the west side something fresh while also paying homage to the past. The staff heading up the kitchen will be cooking with a creative flair, she said. Those who are old enough to remember eating at the Seahorse Inn – which ceased to be a restaurant 20 years ago and closed as a bar in 2015 – will recognize some dishes on the menu. In addition to supper-club classics such as steaks, chicken dinners, and pastas, 715 Supper Club will offer a fish fry as well as unique dishes. The restaurant will be open Thursday through Sunday and will offer only dinner with the exception of Sunday, when it will open earlier for brunch. Wine will be available by the bottle or glass from a large wine list, and the bar will also serve up Old Fashion Moscow Mules and beverages from a seasonal drink menu.

The new owners are planning on using the event hall for weddings, corporate events, and other gatherings. Business will also be able to reserve the restaurant – free of charge – for meetings during with the week, and at those times the restaurant will be staffed for luncheons.

There is still renovation to be done to the building’s exterior, and plans are being made to train and hire staff. As with preparing good food, creating a good restaurant takes time. “We are gearing up to open towards the end of April,” Kay said. “We want your first experience there to be as good as your experience 50 days in. We want you on the first day to become a regular. We are going to plan for it correctly. We are not going to rush things.”

Learn more about 715 Supper Club & Event Center at facebook.com/715SupperClub.