Harry’s is a newer joint in town, born from the same brain that founded an Iowa City staple, Bluebird Diner. After parting ways with the diner a few years back, Hart Epstein founded Harry’s last fall, taking inspiration from his late father for both the name and vibe of the restaurant. His father, Harry Epstein, was the owner of an old bookshop that used to exist in downtown Iowa City called Epstein’s Books. Today, the walls of Harry’s Bar and Grill are decorated with memorabilia commemorating Harry. It’s got a bit of a ‘50s diner interior design and a fantastic menu. Breakfast is served all day, and it’s gaining a name in the downtown restaurant scene for its fried chicken.

This is the first time I’ve seen a place update its whiskey selection since I started this blog. I originally visited Harry’s in January and stopped by again late last month in order to reacquaint myself. I was surprised when I sat down at their small bar in the back. I was expecting to simply refresh my memory on the atmosphere and double check the prices, but I didn’t expect to also be refreshing my grade for their whiskey selection. 

It turns out that shortly after I originally visited, Harry’s changed management and has been trying to update its spirit selection. In talking with one of the new managers, I was told that their improved offerings reflect one of their new goals: expanding their footprint beyond just a downtown diner. They’ve already dabbled in the nightlife scene with a karaoke night and some evening deals on cocktails. The original manager had expressed similar interests to me when I first visited, but it seems as though the first steps to do that have actually been taken in the interim. I certainly have enjoyed both my visits there and look forward to returning in the future. Now, let’s dive into the whiskey!

WHISKEY SELECTION

Variety: Bourbon, Rye, Scotch, Irish

Range: Limited. 8 Bottles (up from 6!). They used to have 3 basic Bourbons and the bare minimum of Rye and Irish, but now have upgraded some of their bottles on top of slightly expanding the selection. They switched their Rye from Bulleit to High West Double Rye – a big jump, added an extra Irish, and now have Scotch! They added both a blend and a single malt.

Price Point: When I first visited, it was $8-$10 a pour. I don’t believe that has changed, although I didn’t check the price on their single malt Scotch, which I imagine could be a higher price point.

Wells: I am unsure if they changed their well whiskey, but on my first visit, they had Old Crow at $5 a shot. I’ll check to confirm what they currently have in terms of wells next time I visit.

Top Shelf Selection: None. However, they have a couple of nice bottles in High West Double Rye and Lagavulin 16, which came in when they updated their selection.

Grade: C-

Overall Thoughts: When I first visited this little diner, I was pleasantly surprised that they even had a bar or whiskey selection; upon my return visit, I was even happier to see that they had upgraded it. The fact that their only single malt is Lagavulin 16 was quite the nice surprise as well. It’s the only place besides Micky’s that I’ve seen carry it. The staff is very friendly and it sounds like they are looking to continually upgrade the experience at Harry’s. I’m eager to go back in the future, if only to see how their whiskey collection continues to evolve. I will definitely be keeping an eye on Harry’s and would love to be able to bump up their whiskey grade once again.