"Jacob's Pickles is one of the first UWS restaurants my non-UWS friends have heard about. And for good reason. This place has become so popular for it's good and affordable eats that it's become a destination for people from other boroughs. The concept is simple, comfort food + beer + good cocktails in a hip lively atmosphere = smashing success. It's slammed literally every day and waits can be long. Luckily you can make reservations via OpenTable now so that help's a bit. The food is incredible, I love getting the fried chicken smothered with mushroom gravy and the collard greens are to die for. The portions are huge too, so expect to take some home if your a light eater." - Ken Pao
"An Upper West Side beer-and-biscuit restaurant at 509 Amsterdam Avenue was temporarily closed after failing a New York City Health Department inspection on June 4 due to damaged areas of the facilities; the owner posted a notice saying the closure is necessary to address the issues and aims to reopen 'by the weekend.' At the same time, the team is relocating the operation to a new site at 680 Columbus Avenue and West 93rd Street with hopes of opening there by the end of the summer while retaining the original location for a new project." - Nadia Chaudhury
"Want to eat some heavy Southern comfort food like fried green tomatoes, mac and cheese, and a hot chicken biscuit with a side of cheesy grits? That’s what Jacob’s Pickles is for. You’ve probably heard people talk about this place, and there’s a good chance you’ve been here before. It’s one of the most popular brunch destinations on the Upper West Side, and it’s a fun spot to drink a Bloody Mary and eat a good biscuit. Just be sure to make a reservation. Otherwise, you might have to wait an hour and a half for your table." - bryan kim
"If you’re going to brunch at Jacob’s Pickles, bring a handful of Tums and a big group of friends—then order a bunch of heavy Southern comfort food with reckless abandon. There are ribs and catfish tacos on the menu, but what you really come here for are the otherworldly biscuit “sandwiches” that are actually just huge piles of food that happen to include bread on the top and the bottom. The team behind Jacob’s Pickles also owns nextdoor Tiki Chick, in case you’d like to follow your comfort food with a piña colada, and a pretty delicious $5 fried chicken sandwich." - Bryan Kim, Willa Moore, Hannah Albertine, Carina Finn Koeppicus
"What It Is: A fast-casual Chinese spot on the Upper West Side Perfect For: Quick Eats, Lunch, Serious Takeout Operation Lucky Pickle Dumpling Co. is a counter-service spot on the UWS with no actual counter in sight. Here, you order on a monitor fastened to a wall. It’s a little like checking into a flight at an airport kiosk, but with spicy dan dan noodles and shrimp dumplings instead of a printed boarding pass. Oh, and they also serve pickle-flavored soft serve (which tastes more lime-y than pickle-y). The rest of the food isn’t bad, but there are much better options for dan dan noodles nearby (like Han Dynasty). The Verdict: This place is only noteworthy if you’re on a mission to taste pickle soft serve. Having tried it, we wouldn’t recommend it." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg, chris stang, matt tervooren