Maison Pickle

Maison Pickle Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: Maison Pickle is the brainchild of Jacob Hadjigeorgis, who is behind the nearby bar Jacob’s Pickles. Both places bring some downtown cool to the Upper West Side. At Maison Pickle, in the former Ouest space, the plush leather banquettes are now straight rather than curved, but the clubby feel remains. There’s a lot of Tom Waits on the soundtrack, and a small garden in back that supplies ingredients for the restaurant.

Likes: French dip sandwiches, creative cocktails.
Dislikes: Chicken and Shrimp Francese.

Food & Drinks: The French dip sandwich was born in Los Angeles more than a century ago. Hadjigeorgis has made it the star of his menu at Maison Pickle. There are five varieties, including a classic beef sandwich with horseradish aïoli, the “Royale” with seared Hudson Valley foie gras, and a lamb version, where fresh mint chimichurri is a great foil for all that gamey richness. American comfort food rounds out the menu. Chicken and Shrimp Francese is disappointingly bland, but buttermilk fried chicken with maple butter is tender beneath its crispy exterior. Classic cocktails like The American Trilogy (rye and applejack on the rocks) make a perfect pairing for the meaty, juicy sandwiches. Expect a list of craft and vintage beers, too.