Saturday, May 16, 2009

Al-Gen Dinner Club - Rhinelander, WI

You have to love a place that still has the same sign on top of the building since 1954.  The Al-Gen Dinner Club has been around longer than I have been alive; in fact I remember going there with my parents and having a Shirley Temple, oops, I mean a Roy Rogers (the same thing, just substitute an olive for a cherry).  Tom shakes up a good Martini and I can still have a cigar, at least until Governor Doyle crushes this simple pleasure under his hobnail boots.  The Little Marinara orders a Vodka and Cranberry (I have her convinced that enough of these will ward off kidney stones).  We enjoy some good conversation and friendly banter with the other patrons and take in all the really cool bar décor; I especially like the miniature ‘kybo’ next to the deer head.  Chick Sale would have had a great time with this one.  By the way, Tom the bartender drives a C3 style Vette that he shows at Iola.  I feel a bond, Martini, Vette and Cigars. 

 My cigar is finished and we make our way to the table, Marilyn orders the Poor Mans’ Lobster and I have the Fish Fry – it is all you can eat for $10.95.  Our waitress starts the parade of food:  Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, French Fries, Marble Rye Bread, Hot Apple Sauce, Homemade Tartar Sauce Potato Pancakes and of course the lightly breaded deep fried Cod.  I can’t believe it, this is all for me, however, I share with the Little Marinara.  The one thing I really like is that the food is hot – you laugh – I can’t tell you how many times I have been served lukewarm fish.  Everything was very good with the exception of the Macaroni Salad, which was very salty, and the Potato Pancakes, which looked good but had an undone potato flavor.  Some day I am going to do an article on the best Potato Pancake in Wisconsin, which were served at Hesser’s Supper Club in Oshkosh, WI.

If you want a seat at the bar on a Friday evening come early, by 6:00 pm the place will be full.  Good food, good service and good price point.  Just as Friday is Fish Fry night in WI, Sunday is Chicken night and the Al-Gen has great Broasted chicken. 

The Big Ragu gives this a 4 outa 5 on the Bubbler Scale.


AL Gen Dinner Club on Urbanspoon

4 comments:

  1. Sounds like just my kind of place!

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  2. sounds like a great place, I want to give it a try - any recommendations in the Eagle River/Minocqua/Arbor Vitae area? sleeplessinwisc at gmail dot com

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  3. Keep watching the blog for more on Eagle River and Minocqua.

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  4. Yes, the food is plentiful and the staff attentive and the Leinenkugels cold. The fish is just average and looks like it came straight from Mrs Paul's. For a real bargain, have the Sunday night chicken dinner. Same abundant sides and possibly the best chicken I've ever had at a restaurant. For a really great fish fry, head north to the Honey Bear on Hwy 70 west of Eagle River. This is the real deal and they serve it every night that they are open.

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