Izzy’s at Hillcrest

Izzy’s at Hillcrest is now open to the public.

The space for the Batesville restaurant at 850B N. Walnut St. (at the state roads 46 and 229 intersection) is being leased to Izzy’s Restaurant Inc., which is co-owned by Adam Israel and Bill Gardner, but the Hillcrest Golf & Country Club golf course remains private.

Breakfast and lunch hours are Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Gardner describes menu items as “classic breakfast and lunch fare with a few contemporary twists, focusing on fresh and local ingredients as much as possible.” The best way to make reservations is by calling 812-932-4999.

Gardner reports, “We’ve both been interested in starting a new restaurant, but only if the right opportunity presented itself, and we felt like this was one that we couldn’t pass up. There are some restaurants already doing wonderful things in Bateville, and we wanted to create a place that the people of this community could get excited about. We want them to tell their friends and family from around the area and different parts of the country about what great things are taking place in this small town!”

The restaurant was upgraded just before opening. According to Gardner, “Suzanne Straub of Straub Interiors worked tirelessly to completely remodel the main dining, foyer and lobby areas to create a bright, refreshing and contemporary new look. Brian Rennekamp of the Village Workshop custom designed and built a modern wooden bar complete with tile backsplash and black soapstone bar top with two flat-screen TVs centered in the middle. The bar features great views of the golf course and is complete with underbar charging stations for all your tech gear. Straub integrated a music theme in the bar room and into the lobby to compliment the newly built bar.”

The co-owners thank other area businesses that helped with the transition: Reliable Connections, Pohlman Flooring, Handmade by Claire Macyauski, Pro-Prints, Hillcrest Golf and Country Club, Heartwood Manufacturing, Jen Saner Photography and attorney Douglas Wilson.

Israel was trained at the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York. He was a previous chef at Lil’ Charlie’s and has been the owner of the Big Four Café from its inception until moving to this new location under a different name.

Gardner has almost 20 years of experience in the service industry, beginning right here at Hillcrest as a golf shop attendant. His restaurant experience began at the former Wine All You Want, Batesville, as a bartender and manager and then bartender and bar manager at Lil’ Charlie’s.

About 60 employees include former Big Four Café and Hillcrest Golf & Country Club staff members. Gardner says, “We will be looking to add some more kitchen and serving help in the next several weeks to prepare for opening up for dinner at the end of March.”

Customers who purchased Big Four Café gift cards are able to use them at this new venture.

The two also run Izzy’s Catering, which can be reached at 812-932-4998.

More information is offered at www.izzysathillcrest.com or like the restaurant on Facebook to keep up with what’s new.

Story covered by: Batesville Herald Tribune