Although we live maybe a mile from it -- as the crow flies -- we'd never visited Schneider's Colonial Inn, 3717 N. 76th St.
We've heard that Schneider's has great pizza and one of the city's best fish fries. So, lately, we've been talking about checking out this place that looks kinda like a house and kinda like a bar.
Last night, we decided to give it a whirl to check out the pizza. Next time we'll go on a Friday for the fish.
Walking in and up a few steps, you find yourself in a traditional outlying Milwaukee tavern, with TVs and a dedicated group of regulars already bellied up for a dinner hour libation.
To the left are some tables and a little further on a full dining room with mirrows along one wall and windows lining the other. There are two large screen TVs, too.
Our pizza was really good. It had the kind of thin crispy crust you'll find Downtown at Calderone Club and big chunks of moderately tangy sausage. We'd definitely go back for it.
I'd be lying if I said the service was spot on, but our waitress was friendly. I just think she had one table too many and could have used some help. We were one of about a half dozen tables which she was servicing alone. Other than a four top with a tween and some adults, we were by far the youngest patrons of the restaurant at 5:30.
But that was ok. Schneider's was friendly and the food was good and relatively inexpensive; we spent under $30 for a large pizza, two beers, two kids beverages and a grilled cheese.
Next time we know, though, to arrive with more snacks for the kids, just in case there's only one waitress on duty again.
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.
