Izzy’s Cocktail Bar

Frequent eater @ kazunori/mari.ne nyc/handroll restaurants in general so I was excited to hear about a new spot in the philly burbs area. Went earlier this fall during their soft opening week. They were definitely still working out the kinks but it was understandable (food + drinks came out a bit slow but, again, understandable for week 1 of their opening. Not to mention it was really busy). Handrolls were good, nothing real special or outstanding, but I still enjoyed it. Would love to see more variety of handrolls here. I particularly enjoyed the chunky cucumber appetizer/snack, so I'm going to have the disagree with the bitter critique of "Em--y" from a few Google reviews ago (yes, the cucumber pieces were larger in size & were cut up in a bit of an erratic way but, in a sense, it seemed more rustic that way). I do think the drinks here outshine the food. The cocktails are clever & fun here, for sure -- it is a cocktail bar, after all. Would love it if the handrolls would also take the stage at some point to further complement their drink menu. Ambiance was great, we had a lot of fun, the space was small but lively, the decor was unique and eclectic. Would definitely come back in the future to check out their sake selection & see if they added more handroll options.

My spouse and I tried out Izzy’s for their valentine’s day tasting menu! This was their first tasting menu event and they did a fabulous job hosting one of the most unique dining experiences I’ve ever had. When we arrived, it was clear that they were still turning over seating from their previous time and the vibe was a little tense - it’s also just a small place, with a lot of people standing and waiting 🤣 but they eventually got it together. I will also say my only other critical piece of feedback is that the stools at the bar felt sort of narrow and weren’t the most comfortable to sit in. BUT! the food and the hospitality!!! We had a perfect view of the chef’s station, a micro kitchen where they were preparing all of the courses. Both chefs and all of the bar tenders spoke to us personally. Before the courses even started, they brought out oysters with caviar with a sake pairing! the playlist was fire 🔥 every course was unique and delicious, and those who were serving us were excited to talk about the food with us. and we left feeling well fed. There was such attention to detail in both the food preparation (pieces of carrots cut into hearts) and the drink service (offering us a tea packet from the same company they served us to take home to try). not to mention the cocktails. these really shine. Yes, this is an upscale experience and you’re definitely paying for it. but you will be given a very cool foodie experience in a cozy, intimate space. One of my new favorite memories!

Lovely dinner with girlfriends - drinks are so creative and food was delicious. Service was fantastic- we felt like we had great guidance on both the cocktail and food menu which really made the experience so personal. Highly recommend the scallop hand roll and the cucumber salad. Also had the most delicious oyster hand roll special - amazing!

I was disappointed by my first time at Izzy’s. I had high expectations given all the things I had heard and thought it was about time for there to be a decent hand roll place around. Unfortunately Izzy’s missed the mark on many counts. We got one of each hand roll as well as the cucumber salad and seaweed salad sides. The server did not really explain much about the menu nor did he check on us much after we placed the order. The hand rolls had way too much rice and the fish on top really felt like an afterthought rather than an integral part of the rest of the roll. Also, they brought out all of the hand rolls at once, which is a big no-no with hand rolls as seaweed gets dampened very quickly, making it tough to chew. That’s why most reputable hand roll places do not do takeout for their hand rolls, offering maki alternatives instead. The sides were unremarkable to deceptive. The cucumber was too chunky for the marinade to really shine through, but what really made my jaw drop was the seaweed salad order. The seaweed salad is supposed to contain “edamame, white cucumber, avocado, [and] Szechuan vinaigrette.” Sounds fancy, or at least hand-prepared, right? Nope. What we got was the generic seaweed salad you get at all sushi restaurants, the neon green stuff with none of the listed ingredients to be found anywhere. Not even a sad piece of avocado off to the side. That stuff goes for less than $20 for a 5-pound tub at food suppliers. (I used to assist with wholesale operations at an Asian grocery store.) I understand this is how restaurants make money and have no problem with sushi restaurants listing their seaweed salad for $6 with no other descriptors. I simply don’t order it. But the combo of the $11 price tag, the misleading description (those salads never contain edamame or avocado, so it makes sense to expect something else), and the additional ingredients to be found nowhere really pissed me off. Hopefully this place is a fad that dies down. Edit: I'll admit my original review was a bit harsh for an establishment in its first week, especially the last line. But I gave my review with the knowledge that, like you said, Izzy's is affiliated with Ripplewood, already a successful restaurant in and of itself—hence why I viewed Izzy's as an offshoot that could very well end up being a fad, rather than a fledgling new restaurant in need of well wishes. It is my honest opinion Izzy's does not add much to the Ardmore dining scene, but I wish nothing but the best for the Ripplewood team.

Phenomenal on all fronts. Must try. Great vibes and a very skilled, passionate staff from the front to the back. Exceptional bar program. Exactly the caliber that the Main line needs! So excited to have a new go-to place that feels like a city quality. They are putting out great food and cocktails.

The food is decent and the atmosphere is unique. However, the whole operation feels very barebones and the price to portion is a joke. Don't come hungry, don't come for authentic Japanese.

Had high expectations for Izzy’s and they were absolutely met! Loved the experience we had with our server. The sake and cocktails were delicious, as was all the food!! Highlights were the king crab and scallop hand rolls, and the fried chicken bao bun. Such an amazing addition to Ardmore!!

Funny, friendly bar staff... Unusual and excellent menu... New food for me to try (mushroom testing like pulled pork?) and new cocktails. What's not to love! Try it!

Came here for an early dinner and we were able to snap a couple of the remaining seats at the bar. We got in just in time for happy hour and tried a sampler of hand rolls, some spicy cucumbers and the birria buns from the regular menu. Everything was great. It is a limited menu and not inexpensive as others have said but it was very solid and we'll be back. Definitely didn't feel we were in the burbs in a refreshing way.

Barkeeps know their shit! Great booze selections and the food is not to be overlooked! It's small so come Early to get your spot!

Wow! Ardmore just got a little bit cooler! Intimate bar with small plate Asian bites and excellent cocktails. The staff was super engaged and boy were the cocktails good. The food too! Don't show up late since there's a wait list for a bar spot but do chat with the bar keepers ~ they know their shit and the drinks are solid! Not on the menu bit ask for a mai Tai

Don't waist your time, extremely rude and unprofessional staff who seemed like they wanted to be surrounded by their fraternity brothers and not run a business. Turns out, this is a kiddie city place that I really wanted to like, however there are so many great spots in Ardmore but this isn't one of them...

Was so excited to check out Izzy's'!! The vibe of the restaurant is so cute, they definitely pay attention to detail in terms of decor, cocktail glasses, menu design, etc. The highlight for us was the cocktails. Every cocktail is so unique and perfectly curated. The matcha-tini was our favorite but we also loved the Pandan Express for something more citrusy. While the hand rolls were generous in size I felt they slightly lacked in flavor and were quite salty and a bit over priced for what they are. Hopefully they offer more options in the future, I'd be willing to give it another try! We did love the bao buns, the pork belly wasnt too fatty and the shrimp was a big fave! The bartenders were all so friendly, we'd definitely go back for cocktails and a quick bite.

A really fun izakaya (tavern) in Ardmore. Really great sushi hand rolls and a very deep list of sakes and Japanese whiskeys. The bartenders are knowledgeable and fun. You should know it's a limited menu and a small place and not inexpensive. You probably should expect to wait on weekends especially as they don't take reservations. I suggest either getting there early or late, or days prior to the weekend, but I think it's something special for the Main Line.

The person behind the bar was incredibly rude. We walked in to check the place out and seeing 10+ open seats at the bar we walked towards the seats. The man behind the bar abruptly yelled that there was a wait list. When we asked if that was true for just drinks he responded "for everything!". It's a complete shame because this place looks lovely inside. But I will never return or recommend it bc the first experience ruined it for me.

Excellent ambiance, well-prepared food, and a knowledgeable and friendly staff make this Japanese-style cocktail bar a wonderful and welcome addition to the Main Line. More fun than your average Ardmore hangout.