Dennis Getto dead at age 57

[bork]

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Dennis Getto, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's well-known restaurant critic, died of pulmonary fibrosis Tuesday.

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This one took me by surprise. I guess I shouldn't be shocked given that he ate out for a living. I really enjoyed reading his reviews. Those will be some big shoes to fill.

 

He's been doing this for 25 years.

 

I'm curious to see a picture of him. He obviously worked hard to keep his identity a secret.

 

www.jsonline.com/watch/?w...7&id=26875

[chuckiehacks]

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I guess I shouldn't be shocked given that he ate out for a living.

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Actually you should be shocked since he died of a lung disease, not a disease related to overeating / poor nutrition.

 

For all the faults of the Journal Sentinel (and there are many) Getto was most always a good read.

[bork]

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Actually you should be shocked since he died of a lung disease, not a disease related to overeating / poor nutrition.

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Yeah, I just looked up pulmonary fibrosis. So I wonder if he smoked or was it all the second hand smoke in the restaurants.

[homer]

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So I wonder if he smoked or was it all the second hand smoke in the restaurants.

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Cause of this disease is unknown although cigarette smoking (not second hand smoke) has been identified as a risk factor. I'd find it hard to believe that eating out 3-4 times a week in the non smoking section of a restaurant would be all that hazardous to your lungs.

 

I always enjoyed his reviews - he really seemed to care about the Milwaukee dining scene.

[sgtcluels]

Sad. I liked his stuff, except I would say he was in the pocket of the Bartelottas. Don't get me wrong, they have some good stuff, but Dennis really gave them a big bump.

[pretendastronaut]

Wow, big news. RIP Dennis.

[MarquesJohnson2000]

They had cancelled his online chat last Thursday.

[temke]

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I'm curious to see a picture of him. He obviously worked hard to keep his identity a secret.

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maybe he can be the subject of the next "google can't save you"

[RyDogg66]

There is a pic of him on the jsonline.com

[gypcasino]

Oh my goodness. He looks nothing like I pictured him.

[temke]

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/multimedia/media/jul07/x1dennis724.jpg

 

somewhat what i would have expected. i wonder how long the JS has had that picture waiting for him to retire, or in this case die.

 

and now waiters and waitresses throughout milwaukee are kicking themselves because they just realized they were the person he may have been talking about in an article.

[gypcasino]

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and now waiters and waitresses throughout milwaukee are kicking themselves because they just realized they were the person he may have been talking about in an article.

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Yeah, he's mentioned in the chats before that he's gotten way too much terrible service for his reviews to be very skewed because of people recognizing who he is.

[Brian the Automator]

Wow, that really sucks. We relied heavily on Dennis Getto's reviews when looking for new restaurants. Big fans.... RIP.

[dikapalooza]

I was surprised to read he also taught journalism at UWM. You would think that woud compromise his anonymity.

 

I was very reliant on his reviews to scout new places to go. He will be missed.

[gypcasino]

I pictured him looking like Leonard Maltin for some reason.

[temke]

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I was surprised to read he also taught journalism at UWM. You would think that woud compromise his anonymity.

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makes you wonder if he taught an online class or taught with an alias or something.

 

joe bartolotta was on the channel 4 morning show this morning and commented on how the picture in the paper was the first look he ever got at getto...though they had talked on the telephone numerous times each year.

[bork]

Good article in today's paper. Funny how some restaurant owners met him, but never knew it.

 

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Restaurateur Joe Bartolotta told the story of learning - after the fact - that he had met Getto, even shaking his hand. Bartolotta had stopped by Getto's table at Lake Park Bistro, one of the Bartolotta Group restaurants.

 

"I later was talking with him on the phone, and I said, 'One of these days, I'm going to have to meet you,' " he said. Getto just laughed and said, " 'You already did.' He got a big kick out of the fact I didn't recognize him."

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link

[patrickgpe]

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makes you wonder if he taught an online class or taught with an alias or something.

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from the article

 

In yet other chapters of his life, Getto taught journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, swearing any students who worked in restaurants to secrecy. They couldn't tell their bosses when Getto was on the job.

[don1481]

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Wow, that really sucks. We relied heavily on Dennis Getto's reviews when looking for new restaurants. Big fans.... RIP.

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Agreed, although the only "mistake" he really had was his 3 1/2 stars for The Social down in the Third Ward. The words "absolutely putrid" come to mind to describe that place. At least he was man enough to own up to it in his chats.

[gypcasino]

From his last online chat on June 21st-

 

Q: Susan of Mequon - Will we have to wait until you retire to see a picture of you? I would hate for the picture to come after your passing. I've always been interested in knowing your "identity"! HA!

 

A: Dennis Getto - My picture's locked up in the managing editor's office, Susan. You'll have to talk to him about it.

[LouisEly]

I'd find it hard to believe that eating out 3-4 times a week in the non smoking section of a restaurant would be all that hazardous to your lungs.

 

Milwaukee isn't Madison. Non-smoking sections haven't existed everywhere for the last 25 years; in fact, 25 years ago I'd say that non-smoking sections were the exception and not the norm. And there is the possibility of a drink at the bar before or after dinner...