This Wisconsin Supper Club Buffet Serves A Spread That Makes Every Meal Feel Special

A supper club that first opened its doors in November 1937 still runs a different buffet almost every night of the week. Seafood on Friday.

A meat lovers spread on Saturday. Brunch on Sunday morning.

As it happens, the place shuts down only one day a year, and that day is Christmas Eve. That leaves 364 chances to grab a plate and start loading it up.

I’ve always felt that Wisconsin does comfort food with a special kind of pride. This spot leans into it with broasted chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes, and a soup and salad station that gets plenty of attention.

The name even carries a piece of local history most folks never hear about. How does a dining room keep a 1930s spirit alive while feeding crowds every single week?

A Name That Remembers A Town Most Maps Forgot

Long before anyone filled a plate here, there was a little settlement called Altona. It was named after Altona, Germany, and it merged with New Holstein in 1926.

The Altona Supper Club keeps that old name alive every single day. That’s a pretty charming way to hold onto history without building a museum.

Herman Muenster built and opened the restaurant in November 1937. Think about that for a second.

The place has been feeding people through generations of changing tastes, trends, and dinner habits.

Many of the original recipes are still in use today. So when you sit down, you’re tasting a link to the dining room’s earliest years.

That kind of staying power is rare anywhere. In Wisconsin, though, supper clubs are treated a bit like family heirlooms.

People expect them to stay steady, warm, and familiar. This one fits that tradition nicely, and the German roots of the area give it extra local flavor.

Next time someone asks why a restaurant has such an unusual name, you’ll have the answer ready. Bonus points if you mention the year 1926 like a trivia champ.

Friday Nights Belong To The Seafood Spread

Fish on Friday is practically a law in this part of the country. At the Altona Supper Club, that tradition shows up as a full Friday Night Seafood Buffet.

Breaded shrimp is a name that pops up again and again. Shrimp in general seems to be a real star here, earning plenty of mentions over the years.

Friday hours run a little later than most weeknights. That gives you a bit more room to plan a relaxed evening without rushing.

Here’s a smart move. The seafood buffet is popular, so calling ahead for a reservation is a good idea, especially with a bigger group.

Early birds get a reward too. Fridays and Saturdays come with Early Bird specials for anyone who arrives before 4:30 PM.

That’s handy if you like eating before the main dinner rush. It also leaves your evening open for other plans afterward.

A seafood buffet in the middle of dairy country might sound surprising. Then again, Wisconsin has always taken its Friday suppers seriously, and this spread fits right into that proud habit.

Saturday Is For The Serious Meat Fans

Carnivores, this one’s for you. Saturday evenings bring the Meatlovers Buffet, and the name tells you exactly what to expect.

The doors open at 3:30 PM on Saturdays. There’s no lunch service that day, so the whole focus lands on supper.

Ribs are a big part of the reputation here. The regular menu also features classic supper club favorites like steaks, chicken, and seafood.

Not in a buffet mood? You can order from the menu instead, which makes it easy when one person wants a steak and another wants to roam.

Mashed potatoes deserve their own little shout-out. They come up often when people talk about the food, along with the dressing and vegetables.

That’s the beauty of a supper club meal. The sides matter just as much as the main event.

A tip for planning: those Early Bird specials apply on Saturdays before 4:30 PM too. Show up a bit early, grab a table, and pace yourself.

Nobody hands out medals for finishing first, but your stomach will thank you for the strategy.

Sunday Starts Early And Ends With Chicken And Ribs

Most restaurants pick one Sunday meal and call it a day. The Altona Supper Club does two very different buffets on the same day.

First comes the Sunday Brunch Buffet, with doors opening at 9:30 AM. It’s a natural stop after church, a morning drive, or a lazy wake-up.

Desserts and ice cream have shown up on the brunch lineup. Broasted chicken and those well-loved mashed potatoes have made appearances too.

Later in the day, the mood shifts. The Sunday Night Chicken and BBQ Rib Buffet takes over for the supper crowd.

That’s a pretty great deal for anyone who can’t decide between breakfast foods and saucy ribs. You can basically plan your whole Sunday around this building.

Families often find Sunday meals here easy to manage. There’s a kids’ menu, so picky eaters have options beyond the buffet line.

The kitchen closes at 8:30 PM on Sundays. That leaves plenty of time to get home, loosen your belt, and start counting down to next weekend.

That Salad Station Has Earned Its Fame

Of everything on offer, the all-you-can-eat soup and salad station might be the most talked-about feature of all. That’s saying a lot at a place famous for buffets.

It’s a full spread, not a sad bowl of lettuce. Supper clubs in this region treat the salad station like a proud tradition, and this one keeps that spirit going.

Soups sit right alongside it. Daily options have included cheesy vegetable and chicken dumpling, which sound like pure comfort on a cold Wisconsin night.

A good strategy is to treat the salad station as round one. Grab a bowl of soup, build a small salad, and then decide on your next move.

That approach also helps if you’re eating with someone who prefers lighter meals. They can fill up on greens and soup while you hit the hot food.

On weekdays, lunch runs from 11 AM to 2 PM, Monday through Friday. There’s also a Weeknight Buffet for anyone who doesn’t want to wait for the weekend.

Honestly, a Tuesday soup-and-salad lunch here sounds like a smart way to break up the week.

Room For The Whole Family Reunion, And Then Some

Big group? No problem. The Altona Supper Club has three banquet rooms plus a large main dining area.

That means birthday parties, anniversaries, and wedding receptions all fit comfortably under one roof. Some of the side rooms even give groups a more private feel.

Weddings are a big part of what happens here. Families have booked rehearsal dinners, receptions, and milestone birthdays in these spaces.

Planning a party can feel overwhelming. Having a kitchen that already feeds crowds every week takes a lot of that worry off your plate.

Catering is another option. The team handles off-site events too, so the food can travel when your party is somewhere else.

That’s useful for outdoor weddings or barn receptions around this part of Wisconsin. You get the supper club cooking without needing the supper club building.

A quick bit of advice: reach out early if you have a date in mind. Popular weekends fill up fast, especially in wedding season.

Locking in a room ahead of time lets you focus on the fun stuff, like the guest list and dessert.

A Thanksgiving Feast Without The Dishes

Not everyone wants to spend Thanksgiving morning wrestling a turkey. Lucky for Wisconsin families, the Altona Supper Club hosts a special Thanksgiving Day Buffet every year.

It’s one of the big annual events on the calendar. Families can gather, eat well, and skip the mountain of dishes waiting afterward.

Classic sides like mashed potatoes and dressing are already regulars on the menu. That makes a holiday spread here feel right at home.

Here’s a fun fact about the calendar. The restaurant stays open 364 days a year and closes only on Christmas Eve.

So whether it’s a regular Tuesday or a holiday weekend, there’s a good chance the doors are open. The restaurant even hosts a big Christmas Day buffet with its famous chicken and ribs.

If Thanksgiving here sounds tempting, plan ahead. Holiday meals at popular spots tend to draw big crowds, so checking details early is wise.

Picture the relief of driving home full and happy, with no greasy roasting pan waiting in the sink. Some traditions are worth keeping.

Others, like scrubbing pots until midnight, can take a year off.

New Owners Kept The Old Soul

In 2007, longtime friends Jason Hunsader and David Braun bought the Altona Supper Club from David’s father, Glenn Braun, whose family already knew the restaurant business well

They had previously owned the Cedar Lake Resort. That property was lost to a fire in 2006, and the next chapter began here a year later.

Taking over a place with roots in 1937 is a big responsibility. The new owners kept many of the original recipes in use.

That choice matters. Longtime fans get the flavors they remember, and new guests get a taste of real supper club history.

The atmosphere aims for that classic Wisconsin supper club feel. Friendly staff and a welcoming mood are a big part of the experience.

It’s the kind of place where a casual weeknight meal and a fancy celebration can happen in the same building. That flexibility is part of the charm.

A restaurant this old doesn’t survive by accident. It takes owners who respect the past while keeping the kitchen busy enough to feed a whole region week after week.

Right In The Heart Of Supper Club Country

Calumet County has a pretty bold nickname. It’s known as the supper club capital of the Midwest.

That gives the Altona Supper Club some serious company. Still, its long history and busy buffet calendar help it stand out.

You’ll find it at 2306 Calumet Drive, New Holstein, WI 53061. It sits on the outskirts of town, convenient to Kiel and Chilton.

The area also touches the corners of Manitowoc, Calumet, and Sheboygan counties. That makes it an easy stop for folks coming from several directions.

Racing fans heading to or from Road America have made it part of their trip. It’s a natural place to refuel after a long day out.

Hours vary by day, so checking ahead is always a good move. Weekday doors open at 11 AM, Saturday at 3:30 PM, and Sunday at 9:30 AM.

A drive through this stretch of Wisconsin countryside makes a fine warm-up for supper. Then again, nobody really needs a warm-up when broasted chicken, ribs, and a famous salad station are waiting at the end of the road.