Izzy Hops Swig & Nosh officially opened to the public on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 2311 N. Murray Ave. And we paid an inaugural visit to the new sports bar and restaurant, which offers craft brews, bourbon and a menu featuring Italian-inspired bar fare, including appetizers, sandwiches and pizza, thanks to a partnership with neighbor Divino Wine & Dine.
The newly renovated space bears only a vague resemblance to its predecessor, Rascals, which sported wood-paneled walls, pool tables and a classic Milwaukee dive bar feel.
Named after Michael Vitucci’s mother, Isabelle, Izzy Hops Swig & Nosh pairs cozy digs with a comfortable, laid-back vibe and sleek modern design that starts with the operational garage door that welcomes guests, along with the breeze on cool autumnal evenings.
Decor includes custom-designed light fixtures, modern art and a decorative door with a tiny window that offers a welcoming glow thanks to strategic back-lighting.
The bar's tables and long wooden bar were built from 100-year-old Wisconsin walnut, which is augmented with high-tech LED lighting which takes on an increasingly warm, inviting glow as the night wears on.
If you've come for the "sports" element of the bar, there are multiple flat screen televisions on which you can catch the latest ball games. An homage to Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi on the north wall of the venue underscores the theme.
Bourbon is a specialty at the bar, which also harbors a craft beer list with selections from domestic breweries like Ballast Point, Goose Island, Flying Dog, Left Hand and Toppling Goliath, along with local shops like Lakefront, Sprecher, Third Space, Milwaukee Brewing Co., Good City and Wisconsin favorites like New Glarus, Central Waters and Karben 4.
Meanwhile, the food menu includes appetizers such as nachos, housemade chips and jumbo chicken wings (Tuesday only), as well as the immensely beer-friendly Wisconsin classic: fried cheese curds ($6.95).
There are also salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers and four types of housemade pizza, including Izzy's Creation featuring artichoke and cream cheese spread with spinach and Fontinella cheese ($18 for a 12-inch pie).
And stay tuned. Izzy Hops will be adding a brunch menu in the coming weeks, as well as Tuesday trivia and Wednesday bar bingo.
Izzy Hops is open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday from 3 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. The kitchen will be open until 10 p.m., offering a more limited late-night menu until midnight.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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