I've been planning to visit Cafe Risque for a couple of years, but never got around to it until today, in the context of a bicycle ride -- I motivate myself to exercise by planning a ride that puts me somewhere to eat or whatever at the halfway point. If I want e.g. pizza, I have to _work_ for it. So, 18 miles down the road from my house ...
From the outside, it's hard to tell whether Cafe Risque is going to be a dive or a classy joint. As is not uncommon with strip clubs, there are dire warnings at the front door, e.g. if you try to pass them a fake ID they'll keep it, kick you out and turn the ID over to the sheriff. That might put some people off, but these kinds of establishments have to protect themselves.
Inside: Classy joint. It's not dirty or ill-kept. There are tables to dine at and bar-type stools in front of the two stages (that I know of) for those who want to be near the dancers (and, if they're not rude, tip the dancers -- more on that in a bit).
The food, and the food service, are great -- fast, friendly, efficient and not insanely priced. My waitress was not, as I expected from some reviews, totally nude but definitely provocatively dressed and attractive. Because I was in the middle of a bike ride, I went fairly light, just a hamburger plate and diet soft drink (total before tip less than $11). The burger was EXCELLENT, cooked properly to order and served on a premium bun. If you're there for the food, I don't think you'll be disappointed. In fact, I plan to go back some time and try the ribeye. Side note: They do not serve alcohol, and one of the signs outside specifies that if you're intoxicated you're not welcome.
But let's be realistic: You're probably there for more than the food.
While you're waiting for your food (it's not a long wait), expect one or two dancers to drop by your table, introduce themselves, make a little small talk, and ask if you're interested in a private dance. They are not overbearing about it; I had neither the cash nor the time, so I can't comment on those facilities or activities. My main takeaway there is that those things are available but that they're not going to hard sell you if you say no.
So, two stages and a variety of dancers. By variety, I mean the dancers are of various ethnicities, body shapes and, within reason, apparent age. In my opinion, they are ALL attractive. I see some reviews here on Yelp which appear to have been written by 18-24 year olds who expect a stripper to be 21 years old, 95-105 pounds, etc. and who get bent out of shape at the idea of an exotic dancer who is 30 years old, weighs 130-140 pounds and may have a kid or two. I guess it's an age thing, but I appreciate women in both of the above categories, and beyond. I didn't see a woman in the place I wouldn't have been proud to be seen with at a party or social occasion, both in terms of physical beauty and interaction personality.
I didn't have a lot of money for tipping on me, and I'm a strong believer in tipping dancers well. Some people don't seem to understand that the women there are WORKING. If you don't think it's work, turn on the stereo and try dancing with some ... acrobatics ... mixed in for, say, 20 minutes straight. In high heels. Also, have some friends watch and try to convince them non-verbally, while you're doing all this, that you DESPERATELY WANT to have sex with, or perhaps even embark on a relationship with, them. Because that is the fantasy a dancer has to sell in between the physically challenging aspects of showing off the goods. Trust me on this. When I was a much younger man, I worked in and around this industry a bit and dated a dancer or two. It's a job to pay the bills with and tips are the pay. So anyway, once I had no more money to tip, I was out the door. I don't expect dancers to work for free.
The goods are, um, good. Like I said, these are attractive women and so far as I could tell they are all good at their jobs. And yes, they show off pretty much everything.
Obviously a place like Cafe Risque is not for everyone. But if you like good food and being treated in a friendly way by beautiful women in less (mostly MUCH less) than the usual amount of clothing, you should pay a visit. read more