March 26, 2021
March 26, 2021
I was so sad to hear about the passing of Robert. Robert and I worked together at Michael's Restaurant in New York for nine years. He was a dedicated and powerful figure. I learned many things from Robert. His integrity to detail and his craft of being a chef were unparallelled. We worked very hard together to make Michael's a successful operation. I in the front of house and he in the back of house. We shared many wonderful and difficult times. Robert was a great chef and some of the best meals I ever had were made by him. We had some fun times together. I remember when we went to California to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of Michael's Santa Monica. He loved good food and we shared many a meal in gregarious rapture. However, the dinner that we had on our way back to NYC after the celebration ended was an exceptional one. We went with Robert's wife and I to a place at Santa Monica airport called "The Hump" a renowned Japanese sushi restaurant. We had Omakase and drank several bottles of sake with the meal. We ate prodigiously, laughed and were very close. I was surprised as I wasn't sure if he really liked me. In all honesty we never had a very close relationship. But it was always respectful. He taught me about being a leader and I looked up to him for that. I am sad that I didn't get to spend some more time with him after he left Michael's. The restaurant business tends to beat you down over time. Robert was a tough man with a very soft and kind heart. Rest in peace old friend. With Love, Steve Millington