Izzy's - Elm Street — Restaurant in Cincinnati

Good kosher eatery, really the only authentic kosher deli in the greater Cincinnati area that I'm aware of, but what do I know I'm just a passenger passing through, repeatedly over the years.. This is the last surviving Izzy's location in downtown Cincinnati after idiotic developers greedily seeking to pack a mid-tier Midwestern mid-sized town with more condominiums and high price apartments then the market will bear, gutted the original historical Izzy's, although from what I hear, they've opened up new locations.

The food? Well If you've ever been to a kosher deli in brooklyn, then you'll know the menu mostly. Though they have their own little quirks like these delicious potato pancakes that they have some special secret formula for and comes with all the sandwiches. I particularly recommend their fish meals by the way. Although the Cod Reuben was slimmer than it was the last time I passed through a couple years ago, but I think C-19 is shrinking everyone.. the price is significantly higher then it used to be. But everyone must deal with inflation today, and the food is worth it.

The girl at the cashier, Beyond being a total cutie, seems to be a Sci-Fi and anime buff, and therefore the TV is always playing some interesting streaming service film or TV show. Everyone that works there are pretty friendly but don't expect four star service, but that's not what I would go to a place like this for. It's solid, it's good, you should come here and eat. After all, the place "has...

Everything downtown costs ten bucks for lunch. This place is one of two or maybe three places that's worth every penny. The staff is cool and friendly and on point getting the food out (I love to watch people work when they're great at their job). But the point is it's just good ingredients well-prepared--every time!

You go to chains like Chipotle, and it might be great, or it might be some slacker high-school kid making a tortilla coin purse half-filled half-heartedly with meat and rice , acting like you ruined her day by making her do stuff while she's at work (I'm looking at you, Fountain Square Chipotle--but don't look for me, cuz I'm not coming back).

This particular Izzy's location (I don't go to the other downtown location, because I don't need to) is the same great people making the same great food, somehow quickly, and it's always great. I go here all the time (I work downtown), and I can count on one finger the number of times I've been disappointed by this place--and that guy is long gone (I think you can guess which finger I counted that on). That tells you a lot about the management of this place, too.

Just do me a favor, and don't go there too much, cuz I eat late, and I don't want them to run out by the time...

The restaurant is clean and cozy, and the service was prompt and very friendly. I read a lot of reviews before I decided to try Izzy's, and I'm honestly confused by the bad ones. Mostly people complain the "sandwiches aren't stuffed like a NYC deli sandwich." I had a reuben in NYC a couple of months ago. Yep, it was definitely "stuffed", and it cost me $28!!!!! I also read the potato pancakes are "greasy". Well, as I do at home, I pressed mine between a few napkins, and viola!! - not greasy!! I ordered a grilled, pastrami "Reubenator". It was plenty stuffed with tender meat, tasty sauerkraut and a nice sauce, on crispy bread. It was a big handful of awesome sandwich! The potato pancake was crisp and delicious. With an iced tea, my meal was only $18. I guarantee that it something you will not find in NYC! EXCELLENT meal, served by very nice, polite and friendly people, in a clean and cozy restaurant. I'll be...