ENTERTAINMENT

Weimann's Supper Club brings back old favorites

Kali Thiel
Sheboygan Press Media

When word got out that Darren Weimann and his wife, Lisa were planning to take over the restaurant at Riverdale Country Club, people familiar with the history of the establishment began submitting requests that they bring back some old favorites from one of the original restaurants — schaum and poppy seed tortes and rum cake.

So, he put out a solicitation on Facebook asking for the recipes, and dozens of former employees of Hoffmann's Riverdale — the longest-running restaurant to occupy the 86-year-old space — began stopping by to drop off their recollections.

Now, in its second full week of operation, Weimann's Supper Club at Riverdale regularly features the throwback desserts, just as they were served more than 80 years ago.

The desserts are just one of the ways Weimann hopes to continue Riverdale's long history of excellence.

"This place just has a great tradition," he said. "There have been some really great restaurants in this location, and we're happy to be a part of that tradition."

The restaurant is open daily starting at 11 a.m. for lunch and supper. Sundays through Wednesdays, the kitchen closes at 8 p.m.; at 9 p.m. on Thursdays; and at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Unlike Weimann's other south-side restaurant, Weimann's Sports Center, those who visit the new golf course eatery can expect to find traditional supper club cuisine with a variety of steak, rib, chicken, seafood and pasta entrees ranging in price from about $14 to $26.

"We've heard a lot of people just assume it's the same menu as our other place, but it's not," Weimann said. "Basically, our goal is to provide fine dining at a reasonable price."

The goal also is to bring back an opportunity to host more catered events at the golf course, said Weimann. The new operators already have about 16 events, such as golf outings, booked through the fall.

That makes Riverdale owner Marcia Thiel happy as well.

"They (the golf course and restaurant) definitely will complement one another," Thiel said.

Until recently, Thiel and her late husband had operated the kitchen themselves, serving sandwiches and other items off the grill.

Before that, Larry and Richard Rupp operated it, and before that, it was Gino's for a brief period and Harvey's before that. The Hoffmanns — Judy, Mary and Doug — opened their restaurant shortly after the golf course began, said Thiel, and they operated it for at least 40 years.

Weimann, who still lives in the Black River home in which he grew up, said he remembers the restaurant from his childhood. In fact, each of his six siblings worked at Hoffmanns in some capacity. It had changed ownership by the time Weimann was of working age, though, he said.

"So, I guess this is one way I was able to complete the circle and work over here," Weimann said.

Weimann said he wasn't actively looking to take on a second restaurant, but each day as he drove past the "for lease" sign on his way home, he felt more and more compelled to look into it.

Weimann jokes that "insanity" drove him, his wife and their kitchen manager, Juan Garduno, who has more than 15 years experience in fine dining, to jointly make the decision to take on both.

"I've known the tradition that both of our locations have," Weimann said. "I'm just hoping to bring that tradition back here."

— Reach Kali Thiel at 920-453-5134