By Andy Tarnoff Publisher Published Mar 09, 2011 at 3:57 PM

I was talking to a bartender friend of mine the other day who told me that he's been having a friendly disagreement with the bar owner. The owner is considering having the tavern's bartenders wear shirts emblazoned with the bar's logo, presumably in an attempt to class up a joint that's already plenty classy.

I told the bartender that this was the worst idea I'd ever heard; that seeing these low-key barkeeps in embroidered, matching polo shirts might actually keep me away from this place, since it just doesn't match the vibe this tap is going for.

And no, I'm not going to name the bar in question, either, since its owner is also a friend.

But I am interested to hear what you think. Does seeing bartenders in "uniform" make a place seem more professional, or does it make it feel like T.G.I. Friday's?

For my money, off the top of my head, I can only think of two places where it works: Bryant's Cocktail Lounge and Buck Bradley's. Elsewhere, it just seems pretentious and formal -- which is OK if I'm going for that scene. When I'm grabbing a beer at a corner tavern, though, I like the bartenders to look the patrons. A dress code is fine, I guess, but matching uniforms seems like one step away from "flair."

So use the Talkbacks below and let me know. I'll pass on your answers, pro or con, to the owner.

Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.

Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.

Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.