“fine presidential dining”

In 1996 President Bill Clinton met German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in Milwaukee.  The two ate at Miss Katie’s Diner.   Last night Latif had to pick me up from the Mill Road Branch Library and, in typical Latif fashion, chose a route that led us far afield from what any logical person would think of as a route home.  So since we were in the neighborhood of “fine presidential dinning,” and Latif after some dental work needs to eat soft foods, and the fact that I’ve never been to this iconic Milwaukee eating establishment, we figured why not,  Let’s eat at Miss Katie’s Diner. 

In all Christian charity I’m going to assume that in the last 22 years standards have slipped and perhaps when the historic meeting happened (still commemorated with a now grubby sign suspended from the ceiling of dirty water stained panels above the table with fishing line) the food was not so bad. But let us just say the meal was not enjoyed by either of us.  The malted milk shake advertised on the menu as the best in Milwaukee came with unmixed powered that stuck to the spoon and made grit in the glass.  The pancakes made Latif sick and the tuna melt reminded me of my mother’s “creamed tuna on toast” in both taste and quite frankly texture.   The fries were soggy, greasy, and tasted like they had freezer burn.  Even the water tasted funny.  Truly a disappointing meal.   What is great is that we can both laugh about it.  There is no one I would rather be with for a truly bad meal because there is no one else with whom I think I could laugh as hard about it afterwards.  

Miss Katie’s Diner will now be the standard by which all bad restaurant experiences will be measured.