Jacob’s Pickles, a popular Southern comfort food spot on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, was forced to shut its flagship restaurant last week following a series of health violations — including evidence of rats, roaches, and flies, according to inspection reports from the city’s Department of Health.
In an effort to get out of this pickle, the restaurant said Saturday it is moving quickly to resolve the violations and reopen as soon as possible.
The closure came after back-to-back inspections on June 4 and June 6 at the 509 Amsterdam Ave. location that documented numerous sanitary violations. Among the findings were live rodents and cockroaches, improper food storage, and a malfunctioning sewage system.
The first inspection, conducted June 4, revealed evidence of rats and live roaches in both food and non-food areas, improperly stored food and condiments, hot food held below the required 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and unsanitary conditions conducive to pest infestations.
Inspectors also cited inadequate sewage disposal systems, improperly drained floors, and the absence of required plumbing safeguards, such as backflow prevention devices.
According to health reports, the restaurant had no contract with a licensed pest management company and lacked required extermination records, compounding the situation.
Two days later, a follow-up inspection found that the violations had not improved. Inspectors again observed live rats and roaches, along with filth flies, including drain flies and fruit flies, circulating in food and waste areas. Harborage conditions, or areas where pests could breed, remained present.
City officials also said the restaurant failed to post its current health grade. The Upper West Side location had held a “C” rating since December.
In a statement posted to social media over the weekend, the restaurant acknowledged the violations and said it was “urgently addressing” the issues.
“A recent Health Department visit highlighted a few areas in need of attention, and while that prompted a brief pause this weekend, we’ve already begun addressing everything with urgency, care and the commitment to quality that you expect from us,” founder Jacob Hadjigeorgis wrote.
Jacob’s Pickles said it plans to reopen the Amsterdam Avenue location soon while also working to relocate to a new, permanent space in the neighborhood on Columbia Avenue in the coming months.
“This moment has reaffirmed something we’ve felt for some time: that we’ve outgrown this space,” the statement continued. “Which is why we’ve been hard at work on a new home right here in the neighborhood — a modern space that reflects the heart of Jacob’s Pickles while giving us room to grow into the next 15 years!”
Since opening in 2011, Jacob’s Pickles has become a go-to brunch and dinner spot. It is known for its house-made pickles, fried chicken, and biscuits.
Its popularity led to expansions at the Time Out Market in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood, where it currently holds a “B” rating, and another outpost at Moynihan Train Hall, which maintains an “A” grade, according to the Department of Health. It also has a location in Norwalk, CT.
The Health Department said the restaurant must correct all cited conditions before it can reopen. No date has been set for the reopening or for the unveiling of the new Upper West Side location.
“We’ll be back very soon — stronger, better and, as always, full of love,” Hadjigeorgis wrote.
