October is the third annual Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, delicious features, chef profiles, unique articles on everything food, as well as the winners of our "Best of Dining 2009."
Kegel's Inn
5901 W. National Ave., (414) 257-9999
www.kegelsinn.com
Although it looks like a corner tap from the outside, step into Kegel's Inn and marvel at its German decor, historic architectural details like fabulous stained glass windows and one of the city's best fish fries.
Menu: German.
Price: Moderate.
When to go: Friday night is fish fry night, of course, and even Saveur magazine has raved about the Kegel's version. The potato pancakes are to die for. But make a reservation early or be prepared to wait a long time or perhaps even be turned away.
Dress: This is a neighborhood place, so casual is just fine.
Don't miss: Belly up to the bar while you wait for a table for your fish fry and chat with the bartenders, who are often the owners Rob and Jim Kegel, whose family opened the place in 1924.
Parking: Street parking only. Sometimes challenging on Fridays, but even then you won't walk more than a block.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
