Eagle's Club

It was insanely hot in the lower level where it was "air conditioned." You only felt the air conditioning if you fought to stand in the square yard of floorspace where it reached you. There was only ONE bartender for a class reunion of 175 people. I don't know if the Eagles provided the food or if the caterer was chosen by the committee so I won't go there. I didn't stay for the band that was playing upstairs. I do hear they have good fish fries, but my experience it was not good.

Think of American icons, baseball, mom, hot dogs, apple pie and the Friday night fish fry in Wisconsin. Going to the Eagles' Club is not just a dining adventure; but a participation of an iconic event. First of all the place is old school, kind of dark with stately wood trim and decor. First we walked into the bar on the first floor. No, the fish fries are in the basement, down the narrow, wooden stairway. We took the advice to get there before 1700 hrs. It gets real busy after that. There is a ritual to follow here. Belly up to the bar and have a couple of drinks before eating. Drinks were only three bucks apiece. Just before the fish fry starts you go into the restaurant area and get a number. By the time we caught on, we got number 20. That meant one more gin and tonic and some more conversation (my wife and I are pretty outgoing). Finally at our table a cheerful lass took our order. I ordered pan fried perch and my wife ordered spicy catfish. My perch was really good. Better than her catfish (one thing they do better in the south is catfish). The fries were copious and good, as was the cole slaw. The whole evening was an experience that is unique to this area. You have to try it to believe it.