Evidence of rats, roaches shut Jacob's Pickles on Upper West Side for days
June 6, 2025, 4:42 p.m.
'We’re genuinely grateful this issue was brought to our attention,' the company says in a statement/
Jacob’s Pickles, a staple of the Upper West Side dining scene, temporarily shut down this week after the Department of Health found a series of health code violations.
The violations, posted on the department’s website, include “evidence of rats” and roaches in the restaurant. The establishment at 509 Amsterdam Ave., one of several Jacob’s Pickles locations around the city, is scheduled to open Monday, according to a statement from management.
“While unexpected, we’re genuinely grateful this issue was brought to our attention,” the statement read. “With the guidance of the health department, we uncovered underlying structural issues that contributed to unforeseen facility maintenance challenges.”
Additionally, it read, “The safety of our guests and staff is always our top priority, and we will not reopen until every concern is resolved in full compliance with NYC Health Code standards.”
The violations were first reported by I Love the Upper West Side, which in turn heard the news from TikTok.
The establishment is well-loved.
Buzzfeed found 26 Reasons Jacob's Pickles Is The Best Restaurant In NYC and Manhattan Digest called it “one of the best places” it’s ever reviewed.
In 2017, the restaurant shut down following a fire that broke out in the building next door.
A visit to the establishment on Friday found a sea of empty tables and curious passersby reviewing the Department of Health’s closure notice as well as a letter from the restaurant’s management explaining the situation.
Someone who identified themself as a manager but who declined to provide their full name said they “hoped to open on Monday.”
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