Hoosier Hospitality

Harry & Izzy’s brings its signature steaks and Midwest charm to the Valley

By Alison Bailin Batz

For more than a century, St. Elmo Steak House has been an Indianapolis institution, earning national fame for its steaks, old-school hospitality, and legendary shrimp cocktail packing a sinus-clearing punch.

Now, a sister concept born from that storied restaurant is bringing a little Midwest hospitality to the desert. Recently opened at PV, the redevelopment of the former Paradise Valley Mall site, Harry & Izzy’s marks the modern American grill’s first location outside of Indiana. While Harry & Izzy’s debuted in Indianapolis in 2007, the story behind its name stretches back much further to lifelong friends Harry Roth and Izzy Rosen, who owned and operated St. Elmo Steak House for 39 years, from 1947 to 1986.

Named in their honor, Harry & Izzy’s carries forward the warmth, personality and hospitality for which the pair became known, along with St. Elmo traditions including premium steaks, while offering a broader contemporary American grill menu. Adding another unmistakably Hoosier connection, Hall of Fame quarterback and longtime Indianapolis Colts captain Peyton Manning is among the restaurant’s ownership group and a partner in the new Arizona location.

The 8,300-square-foot restaurant is designed to accommodate 340 guests and boasts a 2,400-square-foot patio and outdoor bar. The design mixes traditional, modern and glam styles.

The menu is led by executive chef Luis Aguirre, who brings more than 35 years of culinary experience to Harry & Izzy’s Paradise Valley, including stints with Roy’s, One Market San Francisco, Topgolf at MGM Las Vegas, and Kings Fish House.

Since St. Elmo’s original opening 20 years ago, the highlight of the menu has always been the St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail, famous for an unapologetic dose of horseradish and serious heat. Other standouts on the opening menu include an array of steak cuts, notably the Izzy Style New York Strip that is rolled in cracked pepper before being pan-seared and finished with orange brandy butter sauce. There is also a Berkshire pork chop with chipotle peach jam; sweet tea-brined fried chicken with hot honey; crab cakes; and Lobster “Cargot,” which swaps traditional snails for lobster baked with garlic butter and havarti cheese.

The bar also nods to the restaurant’s Indianapolis roots through Prime Aged Spirits, a collection of proprietary labels including Barkeep Vodka and Rare Saint Whiskey. They anchor signature cocktails such as the Liquid Love Affair with vanilla vodka, passionfruit, pineapple and sparkling wine; and Caviar Dreams, a dirty martini featuring Maytag blue cheese-washed vodka and caviar-stuffed olives.

Harry & Izzy’s is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Happy hour is offered daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and brunch is served weekends until 2 p.m.

Harry & Izzy’s, 12770 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix; www.harryandizzys.com; 623.473.6834.