First look: The Dizz

Come get reacquainted. (Credit: Kathy Carson)

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The Dizz, on the corner of Remington and 30th Streets, is the latest incarnation of Dizzy Issie's, which closed unceremoniously in the spring of '08. The bar had long been a favorite in the Remington neighborhood, and had some well-known patrons (Charm City Cakes, home of Duff "Ace of Cakes" Goldman and crew, is directly across the street, and the bakery even mentions Dizzy Issie's on its Web site).

Many people were upset and confused by the abrupt departure, and rumors as to why Dizzy Issie's closed made their way around town, mostly financial in nature. General manager (and former Dizzy Issie's owner) Elaine Stevens said that when people heard Dizzy Issie's had shut down, there was an outpouring of support from the community; some even suggested throwing a benefit concert to help out. Regardless of what happened, it's back, and—much to the delight of its regulars—not a whole lot has changed.

"I've been crying for the past few days," Stevens said. "When we reopened, it was unbelievable. People were hugging and kissing each other."

Crowd: Anyone and everyone comes to The Dizz; it is the epitome of the neighborhood bar. New arrivals to Remington and life-long denizens alike stop by The Dizz on the regular. The staff members know many of the patrons by sight, if not by name, and most people who come through are quick to start a conversation and share an opinion or two.

Food: Supposedly, The Dizz is known for its burgers, but beyond being covered in a protective layer of cheese and bacon, they didn't seem too spectacular. The menu is fairly large, and runs the gamut from basic deli-style sandwiches to seafood to fancier fare that includes grilled Chilean sea bass and porterhouse steak. Items like the sweet potato fries and soups seem to be what people say the most about, though. There's also a vegetarian menu.

Drinks: There's nothing that's going to blow your mind at The Dizz, but the price is right. No beer is more than $5, and the rail drinks will set you back a whopping four bucks (Smirnoff is considered rail here, so it's not too bad of a deal). The Dizz claims to have the lowest alcohol prices in the area. Monday through Saturday, there's happy hour with deals on draught and bottled beers.

Digs: The only noticeable thing that's changed about The Dizz's set-up is the new window on the front of the building. There's an eclectic collection of marionette dolls, vintage lunch boxes and signs. There's also an interesting border around the liquor: Old business cards with pin-up like pictures line the botton and antique photographs of ladies in provocative poses line the top. There's the bar area, a dining area and an upstairs area, with a constant soundtrack of oldies playing throughout. The front bar area fills up quickly, so be prepared to defend your stool.

Bottom line: If you never felt the need to make your way down to Dizzy Issie's in the past, there's probably not any reason for you to make a trip to The Dizz now. For those who have been making their way to the corner of Remington and 30th since way back, it's time to welcome back an old friend.