Poor man’s lobster shows up on the Friday menu right next to battered cod. That’s a fish fry lineup that makes me sit up straight and start planning a road trip.
Grilled Norwegian salmon joins the party for anyone dodging the fryer. Then the same kitchen turns around and rolls out homemade pasta, creamy Italian dressing, and thick pork chops.
This old-school Michigan supper club has been feeding hungry diners since 1974, through a move and a few changes of ownership. Frank Sinatra sets the mood, and fresh-baked breadsticks keep the whole table busy.
I like how it treats Friday fish as a cherished tradition rather than an afterthought. So how does an Italian supper club end up as the fish fry spot we just can’t stop thinking about?
Friday Night Brings A Fish Trio You Won’t Want To Choose Between
Friday nights at Alice’s Italian Supper Club bring a fish lineup that covers a lot of ground. Battered cod, poor man’s lobster, and grilled Norwegian salmon all show up as Friday specials.
That trio is a smart move. You get the battered classic, a buttery wildcard, and a grilled option for anyone skipping the fryer.
Poor man’s lobster deserves a moment of respect. The dish is a Midwest favorite, usually made with mild white fish cooked so it tastes a lot like lobster.
I love that a place known for Italian cooking still honors the Michigan fish fry tradition. It feels like two cultures shaking hands across the dinner table.
Your Friday plate also gets the supper club treatment. Entrées come with fresh bread plus a choice of soup or salad, so nobody leaves hungry.
Fried shrimp has also shown up on tables here, which gives seafood fans even more to think about. Still, the Friday specials are the main event for fish fry lovers.
Plan ahead, because Friday is the only night for these specials. A reservation is the easiest way to keep your fish dreams on schedule.
Your Fish Fry Buddy Might Defect To The Homemade Pasta
Homemade pasta is the backbone of this kitchen, and it shows across the menu. Spaghetti, mostaccioli, lasagna, cheese ravioli, and gnocchi all have their place here.
Gnocchi might be the sleeper hit. One version comes in a garlic cream sauce, which sounds like exactly the kind of thing you finish with bread.
Cheese ravioli pairs up with meatballs for a plate that feels like Sunday dinner at an Italian grandma’s house. The house meat sauce ties a lot of these dishes together.
Can’t choose? The Italian Delight solves that problem by combining pasta, meatballs, and Italian sausage on one plate.
I appreciate a menu that understands indecision. That one dish lets you sample the greatest hits without ordering three entrées.
Lasagna lovers will find a familiar friend on the menu too. It’s the kind of dish that feels right on a cold Upper Peninsula evening.
Iron River has deep Italian roots, and many Italian families settled in the area long ago. A pasta-focused supper club fits right into that story.
Even on a fish fry trip, it’s fair to bring a friend who orders pasta. Then you get to steal a forkful, which is basically the point of friendship.
Good Luck Saving Room After The Bread Basket Shows Up
Bread at a supper club is never a side note. At Alice’s Italian Supper Club, fresh-baked bread and distinctive breadsticks are part of the identity.
The breadsticks have a reputation of their own around here. They’re the kind of starter that keeps hands busy while everyone studies the menu.
Onion bread is another treat worth knowing about. Entrées come with it, which means your carbs arrive before your carbs, and nobody complains.
Then there’s the creamy Italian dressing. It’s one of the things the restaurant is best known for, and it turns a simple side salad into a real event.
I believe a house dressing tells you a lot about a kitchen. When people specifically remember the salad, someone back there cares about details.
A tip for pacing might help. Go easy on the bread basket if you plan on tackling a full fish fry or a big pasta plate.
Of course, nobody actually follows that advice. The bread is right there, it’s fresh, and you’re only human.
Soup is the other side option, and the Italian Wedding Soup is one to keep in mind. It makes a cozy opener on chilly Michigan nights.
Those Thick Pork Chops Might Pull You Off The Fish Fry Path
Pork chops get a lot of attention at this supper club, and they’re thick ones. That alone might pull a few fish fry fans off course.
Steaks also hold a strong spot on the menu. Beef tenderloin and filet are among the cuts people bring up most often.
Oven-roasted chicken gives you a comforting middle ground. It’s the order for someone who wants classic supper club food without going full steakhouse.
Weekends add ribs to the mix. So if you show up on a Saturday, your options get even harder to narrow down.
I like how the menu doesn’t force you into one lane. Italian dinners, seafood, steaks, and chops all share the same roof without feeling random.
That range makes group dinners easy. The pasta person, the steak person, and the fish fry loyalist can all sit at one table happily.
Calamari has shown up as a starter, and the current owners have added new appetizers too. Sharing something before dinner is very supper club behavior.
One small strategy works well here. Order something different from your dinner partner, then trade bites like a seasoned pro.
Half A Century Of Suppers Started With A Woman Named Alice
Back in 1974, a woman named Alice Tarsi opened the original supper club. It first sat on U.S. 2, just west of town.
The restaurant later moved to its current home on West Adams Street in the 1990s. The name and the Italian cooking came along for the ride.
Alice ran the place until she retired in 2008. She sold it to her nephew, Rick Sabotta, and his wife, Jill.
The Sabottas kept things going for 16 years. That’s a long stretch of dinners, birthdays, and anniversaries served under one family’s watch.
I can’t imagine how many plates of pasta have left that kitchen since the 1970s. Half a century of supper service builds a kind of trust that marketing can’t buy.
The supper club has also been part of community life. It has hosted dinners for local rodeo queen and princess finalists, which is a delightfully Upper Peninsula detail.
History like this matters when you’re choosing where to eat. A restaurant that survives a move, a retirement, and decades of Michigan winters clearly does something right.
So when you sit down, you’re joining a long line of diners. Not a bad tradition to be part of.
New Owners Kept The Recipes And Freshened Up The Room
New Year’s Day 2024 brought a big change. Terri and Jim Storti officially took over as the new owners.
Ownership changes can make loyal diners nervous. Nobody wants a favorite menu to vanish overnight.
The Stortis planned to keep the established menu, staff, and hours. That’s the kind of announcement that lets everyone breathe again.
They also planned a few updates, including new appetizers and some touches to the atmosphere. The place has since been refreshed while keeping its Italian feel.
I believe that balance is tricky to pull off. Change too much and you lose the soul, change too little and things can feel tired.
Keeping the same team in the dining room is a big deal at a supper club. Service is half the experience at these places, and familiar faces matter.
The service style leans warm and attentive, which fits the old-school supper club spirit. Anniversaries and celebrations feel right at home in this setting.
For first-timers, the timing is kind of perfect. You get decades of recipes with a freshened-up room to enjoy them in.
Think of it as a classic car with a new coat of paint. Same engine, shinier finish.
Sinatra Is Basically The House Band Here
Frank Sinatra on the speakers sets the tone before the first breadstick lands. Honestly, what else would play at an Italian supper club?
The mood is cozy, casual, and quiet enough for real conversation. You won’t need to shout across the table to talk about your day.
Couples will find it romantic. Families will find it relaxed, with high chairs and a kids’ menu ready for younger diners.
That mix is rare. Plenty of date-night spots get nervous around toddlers, and plenty of family spots feel like a cafeteria.
Decor leans charming and a little kitschy, in the best possible way. It’s a room with personality rather than a blank, modern box.
The supper club ritual is part of the fun too. Lingering over coffee after dinner is a fine way to stretch out the evening.
I like how supper clubs slow everything down. Dinner becomes the whole plan rather than a quick stop before something else.
Dress however you like for a Michigan evening out. Casual works, though a nice sweater never hurt anybody.
Bring a celebration if you have one. Birthdays and anniversaries suit a room with this much old-school warmth.
An Early Dinner Plan Will Serve You Well
Finding the place is easy. Alice’s Italian Supper Club sits at 402 W Adams St, Iron River, MI 49935, right in town.
Parking is straightforward, with parking available near the restaurant.
Dinner service runs from 4:30 PM to 8 PM, Thursday through Sunday. The supper club is listed as closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, so double-check the current schedule before heading out.
Reservations are recommended, though walk-ins may be accommodated when space is available. For a Friday fish fry or a large group, calling ahead is a smart move.
Traveling with a large party? Giving the staff advance notice can help them prepare to seat everyone together.
Takeout is available if you’d rather eat at home or at a cabin. Delivery isn’t offered, so you’ll need to pick up your order yourself.
That early closing time is typical of a traditional supper club. Plan for an early dinner rather than a late-night meal.
Iron River sits in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula, close to the Wisconsin border. It makes a convenient stop for road-trippers exploring this corner of the state.
I’d build a trip around it, honestly. A Friday drive, a fish fry, and a quiet evening sound like a pretty great plan.
Somebody At The Table Needs To Order The Raspberry Lemon Dessert
Somebody at your table will claim they’re too full for dessert. Ignore them, because the Raspberry Lemon dessert is on the menu.
That fruity pick makes a nice finish after fried fish or a rich pasta. It’s the dessert equivalent of opening a window.
Chocolate cheesecake covers the other side of the craving spectrum. Chocolate fans deserve a happy ending too.
Coffee is available to round things out. A cup alongside dessert is the classic way to close a supper club meal.
A simple strategy helps dessert lovers. Box up part of your entrée early, then make room for something sweet.
Sharing helps too. Two forks and one cheesecake is a deal nobody at the table will turn down.
I believe dessert is where a dinner becomes a memory. The last bite is usually the one you talk about on the drive home.
So yes, we came for the fish fry. But this Michigan supper club gives you plenty of reasons to come back for everything else.
Pasta on a Thursday, steak on Saturday, cod on Friday. You could make a whole weekend out of it, and nobody would blame you.
