As the year draws to a close, the Bay Area is buzzing with anticipation for the reopening of Izzy's on the Peninsula. The well-known family-operated steakhouse, formerly known as Izzy's San Carlos, has been closed since June 2022 for extensive refurbishment. The changes will breathe new life into the venue, which has served up delectable steaks for nearly 20 years.
Design firm GACHOT spearheaded the restaurant's transformation of the 7,500-square-foot space. The newly renovated area will include a main dining room, bar and lounge, two private dining rooms, and an attractive garden patio. Its layout will allow seating for a remarkable 245 guests. Currently, no precise reopening date for Izzy's on the Peninsula has been released. Despite this lack of an official opening date, late December 2023 and 2024 event bookings are being accepted, per the restaurant's website.
The venue's physical upgrade will be complemented by a refreshed menu to excite loyal customers and newcomers. Executive Chef Vincent Castillo has crafted a menu that strikes the right balance between classic steakhouse dishes and modern culinary creations. The beef, primarily supplied by the USDA-certified Creekstone Farms, features offerings such as a 12-ounce New York strip and an 8-ounce filet mignon. Bay Area-based purveyor Flannery Beef will also provide unique off-menu cuts to cater to avid steak fans, per Eater San Francisco.
The meal can be started with appetizing dishes, including Dungeness crab fritters, prime rib sliders, and drunken prawns. Izzy's embraces diverse tastes by offering non-beef main courses like salmon with peppers, pickled fennel, and pan-seared whole trout.
The wine list is equally impressive as the menu boasts New and Old World wines handpicked by the restaurant's Assistant General Manager and Beverage Director, Jose Gutierrez, and wine expert, Debbie Zachareas. It showcases wines from coveted regions such as Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and Mendocino County. Their extensive bar will serve cocktails like the Notable Harlots, a delightful mix of vodka, vanilla, passionfruit, pineapple, and lime, complemented by a rose bubbles sidecar. An appealing option for an after-dinner drink is Portuguese Coffee. This is a reimagined espresso martini combining rum, coffee liqueur, hot coffee, Cointreau, cinnamon, and cream, finished with a caramelized sugar rim.
As the community eagerly awaits Izzy's on the Peninsula's reopening, the original Izzy's Steakhouse in the Marina continues its own refurbishment, scheduled for completion in summer 2024. Expect more exciting changes and top-notch dining from this family-owned restaurant group.
Izzy's on the Peninsula, located at 525 Skyway Road in San Carlos, will serve dinner nightly after its grand reopening this winter. To keep up-to-date and plan your visit, check out the Izzy's on the Peninsula's website.
