Reviewing iggy’s: Inventive Italian cuisine in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood.
iggy’s is an exciting new restaurant in the dynamic Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood that brings a welcoming space to an industrial, developing part of the city. This new hot spot has received rave reviews, and it is tough to get a reservation due to its popularity. Your best bet is to plan well ahead or luck out finding a spot at the wine bar in the front of the restaurant for walk-in customers.
When you arrive, the exterior of the building is covered in fun graffiti, and the restaurant name ‘iggy’s ‘ is painted in red by the door welcoming you in for a fun experience. The interior complements the industrial vibe but adds cozier touches with modern brass light fixtures and fun, royal blue cheetah print upholstered chairs. The staff at iggy’s are knowledgeable, with great suggestions and a passion for quality service. First impressions were already exceptional with a friendly host and a bartender who excitedly shared his experience being there for the restaurant opening. The bartender recommended ordering two appetizers and two or three entrees, depending on how peckish we were feeling.
Inventive cocktails like Rosas are Red Spritz at iggy’s
Our meal started with a round of cocktails, and following the bartender’s advice, we decided on the Rosas are Red Spritz. A tart but sweet cocktail that is perfect for summer made with Cocchi Rosa aperitif, lemon, and cava. I will be hard-pressed not to order one again when I visit them next.
Fresh, locally sourced ingredients at iggy’s – like the burrata with tomatoes
The food menu at iggy’s is not large but very interesting and rotates with the seasons, focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Our appetizers came out quickly after ordering. We began with the burrata with perfectly ripe tomatoes on sourdough toast and a mouth-watering onion jam. It is a perfect dish that tastes like summer. Next came a bluefin tuna crudo special that was fresh that day and a limited menu item, so we had to order it. It was served with a yuzu vinaigrette, orange, finger limes, and pickled red onion. It was very light and a nice healthy appetizer.
Choosing entrees was a challenge because everything sounded incredible, and making a decision was not an easy feat.
The switch was made from cocktails to wine, and the bartender let us sample two different bottles of red to enjoy with our meal. The wine was interesting and paired perfectly with the food.
The entrees came out at slightly different times, and the agnolotti with whipped ricotta and summer truffles came first. The sauce had a nice depth of flavor and the whipped ricotta cheese and the black truffle put it over the top. It was a smaller portion and was quickly devoured. The fresh pomodoro arrived next and had a light, delicate tomato sauce with spaghetti pasta and parmesan cheese. While it sounds like a simple dish, the freshness of the tomato again recalled a bright, late Summer day. It was lovely and unforgettable. It was the favorite of all that we sampled from our entrees. The fresh produce made the dish exceptional and added that extra pop of perfectly ripened flavors.
iggy’s Final Review
iggy’s is a much-needed Italian eatery in the city that will please everyone at the table.