The Health Beauty Life crew was fortunate to go behind the scenes with the father and son duo that keep the food delicious and the grill marks perfect! If you are on the lookout for great beef in the Bay Area, look no further than Izzy’s Steaks and Chops. Located on Steiner Street, the restaurant has been serving locals for over 25 years. From their high quality beef to their fresh seafood dishes and classic cocktails like Izzy’s Manhattan, there is something to please everyone. The story, or legend for that matter, of the man behind the restaurant’s name is about as flavorful and unique as the food offered by Mark Epstein and his kitchen crew.
Izzy was one of the most notorious saloon keepers in San Francisco prior to prohibition. Located on the Barbary Coast, the bar kept a rough and tumble crowd and even witnessed a shooting or two, which was not common during those times. During the prohibition, Izzy became a moonshine bootlegger, giving locals a steady supply of white lightening until the end of prohibition in 1933. It is believed that Izzy was the city’s first proprietors to apply for, and receive, a liquor license in 1934 and began pedaling his libation legally. Not all of the legends surrounding Izzy's are dark in nature. He was famous for feeding people who had no money and would often trade his home-cooked meals for a song and dance or a bit of entertainment. It is in this spirit of community in which the restaurant finds a bond with its namesake. The neighborhood restaurant has been a success in that they opened and have continually filled seats nightly by word of mouth. Any local will tell you that their skirt steak and drunken shrimp are worth the wait. In fact, the skirt steak is actually stuff of tradition with the San Francisco Police Department. Almost every member of the force has come to Izzy’s for the skirt steak at least once. Izzy’s is open nightly and reservations are highly recommended. Even if you do just stop by, the food is certainly worth the wait and you can pass your time people watching while sipping on a hand-crafted Dragonfruit Cosmo or Izzy’s famous Manhattan.
Brined & Marinated Pork Chop
