When out and about in this vast city of ours, it can sometimes be difficult finding a great place to grub after 10pm. Yes, there are the Hollywood joints that never close, like Canter's, Mel's, Tommy's, or even Denny's, and just outside Hollywood’s spotlights lie Du-Par's, Sitton's, Norm's, and even a Bob's Big Boy in Toluca Lake. But what about when you're heading west to the nation’s edge? While it can get pretty dead around those parts late at night, less than a mile from the water, right at the corner of Wilshire and 14th Street, you will find an oasis of deli proportions, and possibly the last great, late night spot east of Hawaii - Izzy's Deli, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The first thing you see when you walk into Izzy's is the combination bakery/deli/to-go counter. There is always someone attending it, and it's definitely a place to come full circle after your meal. I usually grab a Black and White cookie, and a Poppy seed Homentashen on the way out for the post meal session, but the Rugala or chocolate-dipped Florentines will also certainly do the trick. But let's not put the horse before the cart...the great desserts come after the delicious varieties of meals offered here: Whether it's your favorite breakfast (served all day), a lunch salad, or a corned beef or brisket for dinner, Izzy's offers it all day every day. Whatever you're in the mood for and whenever you’re in the mood for it, the Izzy’s menu has got you covered. The traditional deli sandwiches are all stacked high with flavor. Pastrami, corned beef, turkey, roast beef, tongue, ham, or peppered beef all make the cut. Izzy's also offers frankfurters, knockwurst, Philly cheesesteaks, chopped liver, lox and bagels, whitefish, and even a quiche.
For the lite-biters, there are many options, not the least of which being their soups: chicken noodle, matzo ball or kreplach, mushroom barley, cold borscht with sour cream, or my favorite, the sweet cabbage with brisket. They also have a soup du jour, as well as many more classics including their delicious split pea and minestrone. Their salads are nothing to balk at either, with classics like the chef salad, tuna salad, and cobb salad taking main stage, and deli twists like the tostada salad, chicken pasta salad, and the pasta primavera salad to help push the pallet to the limit - some healthy ways to satisfy your taste buds without breaking the bank. Ask for some old pickles (aged longer and more saturated with vinegar), and some bagel chips with the soup or salad, and, well, there’s not really much more you can ask for from a deli now is there?
Actually…yes…there is. If you are looking for more of an indulgence, add a side of cheese blintzes, or some traditional Hannukah potato latkes, served with applesauce, and/or sour cream. My preference is with some sour cream and a bit of sugar sprinkled on top. Along with full entrees, such as steak, chicken, or fish, there are knishes, stuffed cabbage, and even goulash to round out the menu.
Izzy's Deli is also quite famous for being highlighted in Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm series on HBO. My friend Zach and I have sat numerous times in the same booth as David and Jerry, as they planned the brilliant, intertwined "Seinfeld" reunion, which sort of took place within the CYE storyline. Across from that booth, he sat in the very famous scene with the Rabbi, where David is "acting Jewish" and hand gesturing his way through a conversation he doesn't quite understand in Yiddish - hilarious. Besides the Hollywood appeal that these scenes have brought to the deli, it stands on it's own when it comes to comfort and down-home appeal. That, combined with the ridiculously generous portions and exceptionally attentive staff, makes Izzy's a no-brainer once you’re west of the 405.
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Izzy’s Deli
1433 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 394-1131
IzzysDeli.com
