Food and Drink Restaurants This Wisconsin Restaurant Is Reviving the Midwestern Supper Club Tradition — and It's Housed in a Former Train Station At Madison's Harvey House, sample Midwestern favorites like chicken cordon bleu with a side of regional history. By Liz Cantrell Liz Cantrell Liz Cantrell is an associate editor at Travel + Leisure. She edits stories with a focus on outdoor and adventure travel, as well as Canada, Northern Europe, and the Southeastern U.S. She also helps edit the T+L A-List of top travel advisors. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 14, 2022 Fact checked by Jillian Dara Fact checked by Jillian Dara Jillian Dara is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, spirits, wine, food, and culture. Outside of Travel + Leisure, her work has appeared in USA Today, Elite Traveler, Forbes, Wine Enthusiast, Michelin guides, and Hemispheres, among others. Travel + Leisure Fact Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Nicole Franzen If you're planning a Midwestern road trip, you'll likely hit several adorable small towns, in addition to some of America's great cities, like Chicago, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis. If you find yourself in Madison, Wisconsin, be sure to get a taste of regional history with dinner at The Harvey House, a restaurant that pays homage to the Midwest's iconic supper clubs. An appetizer spread, with a martini and champagne. Nicole Franzen In the early to mid 20th century, supper clubs — drinks, dinner, and entertainment packaged all in one family-owned venue, often on the outskirts of town — were all the rage throughout the Midwest. Set in a historic train depot in Madison, Wisconsin, The Harvey House recreates that midcentury feeling, but with an elevated twist. Co-owners Shaina and Joe Papach met at New York City's Gramercy Tavern, before working in some of the top kitchens in the country. Joe (who hails from Indiana) spent six years at The French Laundry in Napa Valley, and Shaina (a Madison native) did stints at Chez Panisse and Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture. Knowing they wanted to open their own place, the couple moved back to the Midwest in 2018, and spent time scouting the perfect location. They found it in the form of the Madison Train Depot, one of the best-preserved examples of the city's 19th- and 20th-century railroad history. The pandemic delayed the couple's plans by a few years, but in summer of 2021, The Harvey House finally opened its doors. Nicole Franzen The Papaches converted an existing train car into a private dining space, but the action will be in the main building (formerly the baggage claim house), which seats about 100 between two floors (each with a bar.) The interior incorporates the building's original brick walls and woodwork with locally found vintage fixtures, as well as new marble details. Throughout are murals depicting pastoral Wisconsin landscapes, by artist Jessica Niello-White. The downstairs dining area and open kitchen. Nicole Franzen Related: The Top 10 Resort Hotels in the Midwest The couple wants The Harvey House — so named for Fred Harvey, a man who started a chain of restaurants in the 1800s, and for Shaina's grandfather Harvey — to be a place where locals and out-of-towners alike can stop in multiple times a week for familiar but elevated regional favorites. Nicole Franzen Some tempting items include: smoked kielbasa in a blanket, cider brined pork chops, and a resplendent relish tray of trout roe-topped deviled eggs, applewood smoked trout, and seasonal crudités with whipped ranch and pickles. In addition to beer, wine, and familiar mixed drinks, throwback cocktails like the Brandy Alexander or Grasshopper are also on offer (plus "airplane shooters" of Fernet.) An appetizer spread. Nicole Franzen "While opening a restaurant during a pandemic has had its challenges, the restaurant is busy and doing great," Shaina Papach told T+L. "We feel so fortunate to have such an amazing group of people working at The Harvey House, as well as such a supportive community in Madison." Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit