Izzy’s was developed by its owner Attorney Charles Hausmann, his sister Helen Capellaro and partner Brandon Roethel. It is named for Charle's mother Isabelle Metrie Hausmann, who grew up in the SoHi district, near 16th and State Streets. Charles Hausmann, a Milwaukee attorney at Hausmann-McNally S.C., says he wants to create a pleasant friendly place where people in the neighborhood and visitors
can enjoy good food in a relaxing atmosphere. “I have great memories of growing up in this neighborhood and want people to be able to enjoy it too.” Even though he chose a restaurant as a vehicle to help make the neighborhood more congenial, he notes that his family almost never ate out when he was a boy, partly because restaurants were too expensive and partly because his mother was such a good cook. Chef Brandon Roethel brings his own brand of eclectic cooking to the SoHi neighborhood. He has a wide range of prior restaurant experience, including managing and owning his own restaurant. Izzy’s offers a full breakfast menu—served all day, lunch choices which include home-made soups, salads, gourmet sandwiches and slow-cooked specials. "We are combining slow-cooked specials along with the fast food that people have asked for,” said Roethel. He urges people to watch for the specials as those will be his way of introducing new and exciting food to his customers. “We want to see how the customers enjoy certain tastes, get their reactions and go from there. We also want to encourage people to try new things, move away from the food they expect to find in other small restaurants.” But he has also created the menu to reflect current tastes and his own unique touches to create a great dining experience. “To put it another way,” he adds, “we are going to provide good healthy food but are not self-conscious about it." While you might not find tofu and sprouts, you will find good fresh foods prepared in a variety of interesting ways. “There will always be something delectable for vegetarians,” Roethel pledges
"We are a very service oriented establishment, as I believe all restaurants should be. We want every customer to feel welcomed, valued and comfortable. We hope to be the catalyst for revitalization and positively energizing the SoHi district.”
