Bottom line:  A Southern-inspired brunch spot on the UWS with a variety of biscuits, pickles and beer to complete your meal.

Tips:

• Try the communal table for a neighborly feel
• Maximum 6 cards can be split at a table
• Bloody Mary BLT!
  
• Choose from 25 microbrews on tap to take home in a growler

About:  Jacob's Pickles is definitely a unique UWS establishment.  With a Southern-influenced menu, a focus on pickles, and a passion for beer, this restaurant stands out, especially when it comes to brunch.  

Food/Drink:  The food and drinks at Jacob's Pickles are overall very good.  The homemade biscuits are soft and have a variety of uses from a side order to biscuit sandwiches to biscuit French toast.  I tend to prefer biscuits that have a bit more crunch on the outside, but these had a very nice flavor as well. 

There are pickles for everyone here.  From traditional pickles to fried pickles to pickled veggies and even eggs, there are a variety of ways to enjoy Jacob's Pickles a la carte.

Some favorite dishes:

• Veggie cheese omelet - asparagus, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, aged Vermont cheddar, and home fries ($13).  A delicious omelet filled with fresh veggies mixed right in and cooked well-done.  The home fries are spiced and come with a few grilled peppers that give a little kick to the dish.
  
• Bacon, egg and cheese biscuit - two organic fried eggs, aged Vermont cheddar, and niman ranch bacon ($11).  You can't go wrong with a bacon, egg and cheese - especially when it comes on a biscuit.  While the biscuit itself was hard to keep together, the taste was great.  I liked the crumbly cheese that melted on the sandwich but also stayed a bit crumbly for a unique texture.  The bacon was crispy and overall a tasty sandwich!
  

Atmosphere:  I really like the atmosphere in Jacob's Pickles.  Aside from being packed (like most UWS restaurants during brunch time), the simple wooden and brick decor mixed with the communal table up front gave a welcoming feel as soon as you walk in.  There is a back dining room as well as some tables in the front if you prefer to sit at your own table, and the backdrop to the bar is filled with dozens of bottles of one of my favorites - Tito's Handmade Vodka. 

The service wasn't the best, primarily because it was very crowded and the restaurant seemed understaffed, so we weren't visited very often and the waiter kept forgetting to bring over what we asked for (milk for the coffee, sugar for the coffee, etc.).  But he acknowledged the craziness of the day and apologized which was actually very nice.  

Jacob's Pickles:  509 Amsterdam between 84th and 85th, 212.470.5566