Like you, I can’t be everywhere at once. And like a lot of folks, I’m a creature of habit.
These are the kinds of things I tell myself to justify the fact that after 30 years in Milwaukee, I only visited My Office, 763 N. Milwaukee St., for the first time today.
Sure, I’ve seen it. I’ve tittered at the possibilities dished up by the clever name. I just haven’t actually walked in and had a drink or lunch. And, really, there’s no good reason.
Today, Andy Tarnoff and I went over for lunch, and we met Robert, who has worked there for nearly 15 years. The place has been open, he said, for 38. And it has a well-lived-in vibe that would seem to back that up.
It’s dimly lit, with a bar along the left wall and some tables on the right. Another dining room is past the bar and to the left. Outside there’s a small space with a handful of stools for outdoor dining or tippling.
The menu isn’t a big one, but Robert said it’s just a sampling of what’s available and adds that the chef today made up a big batch of ravioli with alfredo sauce.
I had the fish fry, because like Robert said, it just doesn’t make sense to only offer fish on Fridays. For $9, I got marble rye, two pieces of battered cod, tater tots ("like rolled up potato pancakes," I joked) and a great house-made cole slaw.
Andy had the burger, which costs just $6 and comes with a choice of tots or fries (I, too, could have opted for fries with the fish).
The food was good, but what I enjoyed most was the down-home welcome and atmosphere at My Office. But, honestly, if it were my office, I’d never get anything done there.
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.
