Updated February 4, 2024
Check out my honest Jacob’s Pickles review as a NYC local!
Mmmm. Jacob’s Pickles never disappoints. If you’re in the mood for a huge, salivating load of fried chicken, biscuits and grits, this is your place to go in NYC.
The amazing Southern comfort food paired with the candle lit, wooden vibes makes Jacob’s Pickles NYC a great spot not only for dates, but also for more casual catchups with friends.
Looking to try something new? Check out my honest review of Thai Diner!
The Food
Honestly, everything I have tried at Jacob’s Pickles has hit the spot. Plus, the portions are huuuuge (I’ve never left without taking out my leftovers).
Jacob’s Pickles is great spot for brunch, lunch and dinner. Here is my honest review of the Jacob’s Pickles menu!
Southern Biscuit Sandwiches
Served With Grain Miller Organic Cheese Grits
All three dishes below come with two huge buttery biscuits, and a generous side of cheesy grits!
Honey Chicken and Pickles ($17)
Menu Description: Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Hot Sours, Clover Honey
Ohhhhh goodness. Especially if it’s your first time trying Jacob’s Pickles, I would 100% recommend you start off with the Honey Chicken and Pickles.
The main spectacle of this dish is of course the huge slab of fried chicken along with the two huge biscuits that form a sandwich of sorts (I eat the top biscuit of the sandwich separately).
The crispiness of the fried chicken is so indulgent paired with the buttery goodness of the biscuits. To make things even more decadent, there’s an exorbitant amount of honey glazing the whole setup.
I never was or really am a fan of pickles. But there’s something so unique about Jacob’s pickles, which are dotted along the whole dish. This might sound a little weird, don’t get me wrong – but the pickles have this slightly soapy scent, that I promise is refreshing against the satisfying heaviness of the rest of the dish.
The flavor of the pickles is very present, but does really elevate the otherwise easy to understand classic dish.
Chicken & Pancakes ($19)
Menu Description: Fluffy Pancakes, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Sterling Bacon, Homemade syrup
Yuuuuum. Why not have both, a huge slab of fried chicken and sumptuous pancakes? Jacob’s Pickles chicken and pancakes dish is perfect especially if you’re coming for brunch.
The dish is heavily adorned with crispy, meaty bacon bits, which adds a nice crunch on top of the crispy exterior of the fried chicken.
Sausage Gravy Smothered Chicken ($17)
Menu Description: Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Wow. Just wow. If you’re craving real comfort in a heavy, stomach (and soul) warming meal, definitely indulge in the sausage gravy smothered chicken.
There’s massive chunks of sausage embedded in the thick gravy that smothers the fried chicken. All of that, on top of two sturdy biscuits!
Of all the Southern biscuit sandwiches I’ve tried at Jacob’s Pickles, this dish weighed heaviest on my stomach (and that’s exactly what I wanted!). It definitely left me feeling hearty and warm.
Home Cooking
Shrimp & Bacon Grits ($24)
Menu Description: Whole Wild Shrimp, Nitrate Free Bacon, Organic Cheese Grits
This cheesy grits dish comes with about five whole shrimps on top. The shrimp has been seasoned intensely, and sizzled just enough to add an addicting burnt flavor, but retain the juiciness of the shrimp meat.
The smoky, salty and savory goodness of the shrimp balance well with the generous base formed by the cheesy grits.
While this dish is delicious and the portions are generous, the only thing I would point out is that it’s a little pricey compared to the value of the cheaper biscuit sandwiches I described above.
Here’s the link to the full Jacob’s Pickles menu.
The Venue
I love that the venue is classy, but also very comfortable. You could totally dress up a little for a date, and it would be fun, but you could also put on a simple outfit and take in the candle-lit comfortably as you munch on some of the best food I’ve had in NYC.
I’ve had dates here, as well as big friend gatherings. I’ve seen families and people of a wide range of ages. I guess they all come for the same thing: reliably delicious and pretty universally craved Southern comfort food with a great ambience!
Do note though, that Jacob’s Pickles can get very busy, especially during the weekends. I personally would probably not go to Jacob’s Pickles over the weekend without a reservation. To be honest, the one time I had a huge friend event there over brunch, we had to wait quite a while even though we had a reservation in place (to be fair, it was right after the popular NYC Half Marathon).
I would recommend going to Jacob’s Pickles for dinner during the work week, from Monday to Thursday. It’s not hard to get a last minute reservation online (which I would still recommend over walking in!). Plus, if you go during the work week, it’ll feel much roomier, since the venue feels pretty physically tight when it’s packed to the brim.
The Rating
I would rate Jacob’s Pickles as a 9.5 out of 10! The food is always amazing, and the venue is classy and flexible enough for a wide variety of meetups.
Thanks for checking out my honest Jacob’s Pickles review!
Are you looking for more mouthwatering food spots worth your time and money? Check out my honest review of Song E Napule Soho!
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