Izzy's Hoagie Shop — Restaurant in Ann Arbor

I grew up in Ann Arbor and used to frequent Izzy's as a teenager, so coming back here was more for nostalgia than anything. When we arrived, our family of 6, it was exactly the same inside, old, dingy carpet and dirt and grime in the corners of the floor. Old round cafe tables and basic cafe/banquet chairs. Exactly the same as it was 20+ years ago. We were immediately greeted with a warm hello from the woman behind the counter where you order. We walked up and I already knew what I wanted so I ordered for me, then ordered for my 7 year old, because he's easy and likes subs. But we were stuck on what to get our picky 5 and 3 year olds. The woman suggested grilled cheese and we obliged. Then my husband ordered for himself. He went and got settled at a table with the kids, then came back to pay at the counter. We waited maybe 10 minutes for our food to be brought out to us. There were about 2-3 other tables with patrons at them, so not too busy. I ordered the turkey breast sub, full size with fries. It looked delicious with the freshest shaved deli meat. My only complaint is that when I used to order them 20 years ago, the taste of the ranch was apparent and set it apart from others, like subway. But I don't even feel like ranch dressing was on it, I had to get up and ask for a side of it because of that. The fries were good, hot and typical Coney Island type fries. My kids enjoyed their grilled cheese sandwiches and Doritos and my oldest ate his ham sub mini, but most of the meat fell out because it is a messy situation. I dropped some turkey as well. They pile the shaved meat on top of all the veggies and when you go to take a bite, even if you stuff and pinch, it's not enough, you lose the meat. They include a fork for that reason. But he ate mostly all of it. My husband got a phillly cheese steak full size and ate it rather quickly, which meant he enjoyed it. He was full all day from it. All in all, if we lived in Ann Arbor still, we probably wouldn't be going back much, but going back once every few years for...

Food: Izzy’s shines when it comes to their hoagies. The sandwiches are delicious – rich, a bit greasy, and packed with flavor, especially when topped with their pepper relish. This relish adds a little kick and beautifully complements the sandwich, making it a must-try.

Service: Service, however, was where Izzy’s struggled during our visit. Our food took nearly 45 minutes to arrive, which was unexpected and inconvenient. Moreover, there was a mix-up with our order – the fries were forgotten. After being reassured that they were being prepared and would be served shortly, they unfortunately never arrived. After an hour, we finished our hoagies and left without a refund. It's important to note that they were very, very busy at the time, which I'm sure contributed to the service issues. Everyone was very friendly.

Ambiance: The ambiance of Izzy’s could be a concern for some, particularly families. Laced with explicit lyrics, the loud music in the kitchen might not be everyone's cup of tea. While it didn't personally bother my wife and I, it’s something to keep in mind if you're considering visiting with...

I'm from Philly and I have been avoiding cheesesteak shops here in the Midwest due to my underwhelming experience. I've been here for almost 9yrs now and maybe my standards are lowered? Either way, I have experienced the big 4 in Philly throughout my life and I am well experienced in how a cheesesteak should be. Izzy's is probably the best you'll get in the Midwest. They are very honest about the meat... it has sirloin in it, which isn't typically what the best would throw in there... it's usually ribeye or equivalent. But the key here is that the flavor hits the spot, which sirloin delivers. The texture combined with the flavor isn't quite like the best in Philly but the flavor is pretty close. What they do really good on is the "artistry" aspect of a cheesesteak. They prepare the whole product well... the bread is toasted just right with sesame buns and the cheese is melted in to basically make it a package, as opposed to your normal fall apart product. I would definitely go again and make it a regular thing for me. This is pretty darn good for...