By Ava Stryker-Robbins
While pickles may be seen as solely a condiment for burgers and sandwiches, a local eatery advances the idea that pickles can be so much more. Jacob’s Pickles, a restaurant on Amsterdam at West 84th Street, has a wonderful selection of pickles in addition to their southern American-style food. As cited by Jacob’s Pickles’ website, “Pickles have a real place at the table…the pickle brings magic to everything we do.”
Jacob’s Pickles has an assortment of many pickled vegetables, including cucumbers (normal pickles), beets, carrots, jalapenos, and string beans.
Their Candy Red Beets were deliciously sweet and flavorful, with a touch of cinnamon that truly made it feel like fall. The beets had a smooth and enjoyable consistency. The Dilly Green Beans were immensely flavorful and had a satisfying crunch with every bite. The Sweet and Spicy Carrots were delicious and crunchy, and the Thyme Jalapenos were extremely spicy, but very tasty. Their traditional pickles—Kosher Dill, Hot Sours Cukes, Big Dill Kosher Cukes, and Horseradish Cukes—were all beyond delicious. Each type of pickle had robust flavors and was crunchy, smooth, and delicious.
Jacob’s Pickles was opened in 2011 by Jacob Hadjigeorgis with the mission of “bringing good food to good people,” as cited on their website. According to Kevin, a restaurant employee who spoke with West Side Rag, “[When he started] Jacob actually brined the pickles back in his own home…[and] figured out the flavor profile and brought them here…The recipes have not changed. It is our tradition.”
Jacob’s Pickles is a comfort-food restaurant, and, as Kevin explains, “comfort food is where your heart and soul feel warm after eating…It is a time of communion, it is a time of talking, it is a time of communication and just making sure you are on the same page about life.”
At Jacob’s Pickles, you can order one pickle type for $5, 4 types for $15, or 8 types for $20.
The Dish: Pickles and other picked vegetables
The Restaurant: Jacob’s Pickles (509 Amsterdam Ave on 84th Street)
We’re lucky to have Jacob’s Pickles in the neighborhood. We don’t have all that many destination restaurants but this is among the top of the list, especially for the 25-45 y/o crowd
Pickles 9, food 1.
$20 for the pickles pictured. I’ll pass.
I’m happy a local restaurant is succeeding. But Jacob’s Pickles has taken up almost the entire sidewalk as well as the curb, way more than allowed even by pandemic rules which allow for using the space in front of your storefront . The inside space is all usable and often filled so now they have been allowed to double the number of tables while other restaurants and businesses are not as lucky. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth, pun intended