What's for Lunch?: Jacob's Pickles...

I just want to say that over the weekend (Friday) I had THE MOST amazing restaurant experience! Last week a very very good friend of mine asked me a rather interesting question. "Have you ever been to Jacob's Pickles?" *Immature Pun Alert!* Don't know who this Jacob is and I definitely don't want anything to do with his pickles! What actually came out my mouth was: "No." She sent me the link and with one skeptical eyebrow still in the air (from the name of the joint)...I thought...venue I've never been to with someone I love breaking bread with?....I'M IN!

So what is this place? A pickle restaurant?
I know that's probably what you would think at first glance of the name, but no. It's a very down home, southern style-ish, restaurant that takes much pride in their biscuits, beer, and for obvious reasons their pickled products. Very cozy, very southern but still New York (if that even makes sense)...exposed brick and wood panels, mason jars, long high tables, etc.

You mentioned that you had THE MOST amazing experience...what was so amazing about this pickle place?
Pickle place? SMH! Aside from the look, the food and service was outstanding! Upon arrival, we decided to have a seat at the bar and indulge in some Cpt. Lawrence Pumpkin Ale while we waited to be seated. The bartenders were cool as hell! Because of the mixed reviews about the original selections we were making, they let us try it before we confirmed order (thus leading to the Pumpkin Ale). Beer sample...check! The wait was no longer then 10-15 minutes (which actually wasn't all that bad considering the amount of people in there). Quick seating...double check! Our server was THE. BEST! Very pleasant, very engaging, and more importantly very knowledgeable about the items on the menu. *Tangent* too many times I've gone to a restaurant and the server doesn't know anything about what I'm asking. Yeah they can tell me what's in it and how it's prepared but when you get down to brass taxes I want to know should I or should I not order it. *Back to the post* If I'm making a decision that chances are I'm going to regret, I don't mind if the waiter steps in and advises me otherwise. This dude did just that. Very attentive, didn't let the crowd discourage him from checking up on us frequently...just an overall good waiter. Great service...triple check! And last but certainly not least...THE FOOD IS AMAZING!!!...which sealed the deal

Sounds like you did have a pretty good experience...what did you order to eat?
Surprisingly/Unfortunately, we did not get any appetizers. After seeing the portions of the entrees we didn't want to find ourselves in a situation that would lead to us having to be wheel barreled out the door. So we got the Country Sausage Beer Mussels (for me) and the Honey Chicken & Pickles (for her). I start of with my order...

The Country Sausage Beer Mussels was nothing like what I expected! I'm thinking some sliced sausage mixed with some mussels (already taken out the shell) soaking in a pool of beer broth. It was similar to what I thought but not exactly. It came out in this HUGE (took up the whole plate huge) cask iron pot FILLED with mussels, some diced sausage, a biscuit cut in half, soaking in the still bubbling beer broth, and a side of fries (as if I really needed that!). Overwhelmed at first because of the whole look and size of everything, I managed to conquer the beast one mussel at a time. Let me just say that the mussels and sausage was good, but once dipped in that broth it took the meal to a whole new level! Kinda like a tangy, slightly fishy...but not really. I can't even really put it in words to be honest. What I will say is that I wasn't disappointed with my selection. Now on to her order...

The Honey Chicken & Pickles, I feel embodies a lot of what this place stands for and you'll see why I say that as you keep reading. First off, this is a sandwich ladies and gentleman, but don't think it's just a pickle and chicken sandwich. The chicken is buttermilk fried and the pickles are their in home hot sours. Oh and lets not forget that it's all in between 2 of their humungous, flaky biscuits! And are you ready for this?...wait for it....wait for it....a side of some of the cheesiest grits you will probably ever have in your life. *Tangent* Let the record show that neither one of us are fans of grits, but these made us quickly reconsider our dislike! *Back to the story* You have 2 ways to eat this beast of a sandwich...either dislocate your jaw and take as many bites as you can...or take the girly way out and knife n fork it. *we knifed n forked it* Before chowing down there was a slight audible play called, and a side of gravy was thus entered into the mix. That gravy! LORD JESUS that gravy! It basically turned an already outstanding dish into something heavenly! It's like a white sausage filled gravy. I mean...I'm sure there was much more to it but again I'm at a loss for words. It LITERALLY had to be taken away from the table so I wouldn't dip my finger in there trying to get every last bit of the remains.

OH. MY. GOODNESS! I don't even know what to say to all that...
Sorry to cut you off, but that's not it. After we struggled through all that food we were basically strong armed into getting dessert...Fried Oreos to be more specific. It came with a side of this frosting/whipped cream stuff...OH MAN! The GM Manager wasn't lying when he described those things as crack! Thought I was going to end up scratching and shaking looking for my next hit of these fried oreos! And I think that's pretty much all I have to say about that.

DAMN! Are you sure there isn't anything else?
No. That was everything that we ordered. There was absolutely no way anything else was going to fit inside our bodies.

This may be a bit of a stretch question but was there anything that you didn't like about this place?
To be honest, I can't find one thing that I didn't like about this place. Ambiance was great. Service was excellent (even the GM Manager stopped by to chat it up with us for a little bit). Food was amazing! The people we shared the table with were friendly. And to top it all off, the Captain from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit came in and had dinner (not with us but he was there).

I think I already know what you're going to say but any recommendations?
This is a hands down a MUST GO place! You would be seriously missing out on a great experience if you chose not to come here! Oh and before I forget...their prices are COMPLETELY reasonable! Even more of an incentive! No BS put this place on the top of your "TO GO" list...I promise you won't be disappointed!