The Panini Company, a popular East Town lunch spot, closed at 530 E. Mason St. and now Brunch on Mason takes its place.
I lunched at The Panini Company a couple times and was surprised by the brisk business it did, but it had banker's hours, closing at 4 p.m. It was a popular lunch destination for OnMilwaukee.com's Drew Olson, too.
Brunch on Mason is also catering to the Downtown office crowd, but without ignoring nearby residents and weekend visitors.
The eatery is open 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and until 10 p.m. on weeknights.
Brunch's menu comprises a range of omelets and eggs Benedict for breakfast, a selection of panini and cold sandwiches, pasta and Angus burgers at lunch.
It also boasts a full coffee and espresso bar.
Brunch on Mason celebrated its soft opening last Friday.
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.
