First time I have visited the East Side Club on Lake Monona and it was very nice. Our family had a private luncheon party here post funeral for a relative and the food and bar service was excellent. The Club has a vintage feel to it and based off the many pictures in the entrance foyer of past presidents it goes back to the 1930's when this was called "the East Side Business Mans Club" and was a fairly exclusive Club back in the day. The views of Lake Monona were great and as this was in the winter there was many activities to watch such as ice fishing and kite boarding happening to watch. The tiki bar was not open during this time, but several attendees of our party stated it was a busy place during summer months which probably saved the business. Conveniently located in Monona nearby many other businesses, I would like to visit again during the summer months on my next visit to Madison.
This New Years Eve my husband and I had our wedding reception at East Side Club. I was blown away. Sydney was so incredibly helpful along the entire process and went above and beyond several times. Including having folks come THREE times the day of the salt the parking lot so to ensure my guests were safe. You couldn’t ask for a more picturesque view of Madison!! The space is a treasure and the affordability makes it a no brainer. On top of that the folks who came to bartend were knowledgeable and gave great vibes too! I’d strongly encourage you to give this place a look when deciding on venues for your special event! You won’t be disappointed:)
Just had my son's wedding reception here and it was absolutely wonderful! The staff was so accommodating, very friendly, and oh so helpful. The guest also commented on the friendly service and the beautiful venue site. Thank you to the coordinator Sydney and the bartender (her name slips my mind at the moment), and Nancy. If I ever have a need for a venue again I will know where to go!! I will certainly share my experience with others Iknow. Thank you so much for making our wedding venue absolutely perfect!!
We had such a beautiful wedding at the ESC. Sydney helped out tremendously and we are both very appreciative. She is patient and insightful. I am grateful for all the staff and creating a beautiful day.
This Review is for the ESC Events Only. As a whole, the ESC is a great place to play Kube and go for a drink. The bartenders have all been fantastic.We started planning our wedding at the ESC in 2019 (eventually held in 2021 thanks for COVID). During that time, we worked with a total of 3 different event managers. The first one we worked with when planning to have our wedding at the ESC was fantastic. We didn't get to know the 2nd much at all but the 3rd one who was there on the day of our wedding was awful. She made us feel like a burden to her Saturday. We had confirmed with her previously that we could use the projector as we had discussed when we originally booked the venue. After hours spent on a sweet power point and family members taking part in it, we were excited to have it for all to see. The event person at ESC claimed the projector wasn't working because of our computer and that they wouldn't provide a new cord. 2 computers later, it was obviously the HDMI cord that the ESC refused to replace. The event coordinator/manager (not sure her title) made side comments regarding our families presence (we had table favors to put out) and overall, we felt like our we was a big burden/hinderence to her day (even though she kept leaving to step outside with her infant to smoke). Afterwards, there was no apology for the not working HDMI cable and a fictitious $25 charge for using the projector (we were not charged after some discussion). Overall, I would not host another event at the ESC unless there is a different event manager. The bar tenders were fantastic though and the lawn did look nice.
Hosted a family event in the basement space, meets basic requirements well. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The highlight is the ability to use the lake front space.
Went here for my girl's wedding! It was the most beautiful experiance! The have a tiki bar out back on the water and had a live band playing. I am rating this place based on being a guest at a wedding.
Good place to watch the sun set or spend the afternoon. I've been disappointed by the mixed drinks at the bar, so I stick with their beer options. Pets and carry-ins aren't allowed.
A nice facility, a little dated but you can't beat the location on the shores of Lake Monona. The lower level opens up onto a great lawn and the water, very scenic. One complaint was the accessibility to the lower level, maybe there is an elevator but I didn't find it. Not sure about food there, I know in past they did open to the public events but like many places I'm sure COVID has had it's impact on that.
I ended my time there as a bartender when the president of the club told me they will no longer give the bartenders the gratuity from the weddings and any other events that were booked. We didn't deserve them. While being paid $6 per hour.My only hope with this review is that anyone planning on having an event there knows that the staff isn't being taken care of the way you thought they would be.