Milwaukee = Happy Days

To a drizzling rain, we arrive in Milwaukee and stop for lunch at Miss Katie’s Diner, 1900 W. Clybourn. A vintage Select-O-Matic jukebox in the center of the dining room plays only 45s and only one at a time. The 1950s-retro diner is right out of the opening sequence of Happy Days.

My old friend Sue waitresses at Miss Katie’s, I discover. She and I used to work together when I was in college.

Gene orders the barbecued ribs and hash browns at my urging; it wasn’t hard to convince him. I have a wonderfully greasy tuna melt with hash browns. The hash browns are shredded thick, fried crisp on the outside and served with butter.

No one makes hash browns like the Miss Katie’s Diner, one of several restaurants in Milwaukee owned the Pitch family. Pitch’s famous ribs and hash browns are served at all their restaurants.

Two of America’s most famous grease-lovers have given Miss Katie’s Diner their stamp of approval—Bill Clinton and Rachael Ray.

In 1996, the Clinton and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl ate at Miss Katie’s Diner during the “Sausage Summit.” Clinton’s security detail, including dogs, left an impression on Miss Katie’s staff. Hillary made a return trip during her campaign.

Rachael Ray featured Miss Katie’s on a segment of her travel show, $40 A Day.