For the 10th straight year, October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee, presented by the restaurants of Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, dining guides, delectable features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food, as well as voting for your "Best of Dining 2016.
Divino Wine & Dine
2315 N. Murray Ave.
(414) 212-2222
divinomke.com
When Palermo Villa closed, I was fearful that I'd lost one of my absolute favorite Milwaukee pizzerias. But then Dean Cannestra and his niece Tina Conley re-opened his sister's restaurant under a new name but with basically the same menu and definitely the same pizza.
Both the exterior and interior got a little buffing up and Divino is now open late. Along the back wall of the dining room is a wall-sized wine cellar photograph that on first glance makes you think the space is huge.
As I noted when Divino reopened in 2013, the bar feels more like a destination now than it did in the past, when it seemed like little more than a place to wait to be seated.
Palermo Villa owner Kathy Mirenda still works at Divino. Say hello when you see her and she just might give you a hug.
So, while some little things have changed, Divino is basically Palermo Villa and for that, I'm thankful.
Type of food: Italian
Prices: Entrees about $8-$25, appetizers about $5-$11, sandwiches about $8-$13, pastas about $15 ($8 for half portions), pizza about $10-20 depending on size and toppings.
Vegetarian friendly? As long as you're not vegan, you can enjoy meatless pizza, but there are also pastas and salads on offer.
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-midnight; Sunday, 4-10 p.m.
Parking: Both metered and free street parking available within a block.
Vibe/dress: Casual and laid back. Both booth and table seating is available. In summer there's a parklet with tables and a few sidewalk tables, too. The bar is small but friendly and cozy.
Hits: Pizza, pizza, pizza.
Misses: No lunch service.
Insider tip: If a ginormous bowl of pasta seems like too much, half-orders are available.
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.
