Harry & Izzy’s Restaurant Review – Gen Con 50

I had the pleasure of sitting down for lunch at Harry and Izzy’s for lunch the first day of Gen Con 50.  This wasn’t my first visit, my prior visit was in 2010 I believe, and is one of my favorite dining experiences ever. The time I spent there with my wife, Lisa, has made me want to return ever since. Sadly, I ate alone on this adventure.

It was no surprise that I was greeted cheerfully and quickly.  The hostess sat me in the back, away from the street. It was nice and could easily have been romantic if it had been a date. The server greeted me promptly, but she seemed a little nervous – it turned out I was her first customer out of training. She was a blast, but asked to keep her name out of the review. She took care of my order, just as expected, and then we had a great conversation about Gen Con before my meal came.

I ordered the smoked pork chops with redskin mashed potatoes and cinnamon apples. I was really torn about not getting a steak with their signature sauce, but I have never ordered smoked chops in a restaurant before. I didn’t make a mistake! These were quite possibly the best pork chops I have ever eaten. Well let me back up a moment. The first thing I smelled was the smokiness of the pork chops, followed by the warm and spicy aroma of the cinnamon. Then I saw the perfect char marks, a huge mound of mashed potatoes, and a ramekin of apples covered with cinnamon. My eyes watered, and my mouth salivated with anticipation! I didn’t know what to take a bite of first. Now, those pork chops! The first thing I tasted was the smoke. It was sweet and I could even see the tree. I really did envision a cherry tree while eating – which is silly. The pork chops were so tender that they melted in my mouth like ice cream. I have to say that the best part of the chop was the fat cap that ran along the edge. Its char enhanced the smoky flavors, amplifying the cherry in the meat. The mashed potatoes were thicker than I care for, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t appreciate them. The subtle undertones of cream, butter, and garlic were balanced in every mouthful, like a well trained symphony of fireworks in your mouth. The flavor profile certainly made up for their thickness. The apples were smothered in cinnamon. They had so much cinnamon on them that I thought there was ginger in there too.

 

I will eat at Harry and Izzy’s again, hopefully at the next Gen Con I attend. It was a stellar experience that made my trip more delightful. I find that when you are working there are few places that can make you relax, but Harry and Izzy’s is like eating in a hot tub or a grove of cherry trees.

 

It occurred to me that I mentioned nothing about the portions! The chops were 6 ounces each so about 8 ounces of meat; the mashed potatoes about 8 ounces; and the apple slices about 6 ounces, or about 1/2 to 3/4 of an apple. More than enough food for a lunch.