The Pickle Jar Cafe started as a food truck and now has a restaurant located downtown in a spot that has seen quite a bit of turnover. Hopefully, the two versions of the business can support each other.
I’ve enjoyed the pulled pork from the food cart, so I was looking forward to trying a wider breadth of the menu. But actually, the restaurant menu is the same as the food cart’s.
The Bama Brisket ($12) had a good, smoky flavor, and the Alabama white sauce adds a little heat and tanginess. Unfortunately, you get a meager portion of brisket, and some pieces were overcooked. The plate comes with collard greens, which were flavorful and a little spicy.
The other entrees are the aforementioned pulled pork ($11), smoked chicken ($10) and half-pound burger ($12). A staple of the food cart, the whiskey chili (served with sausage, peppers and burnt tips), is available in a cup ($3) or bowl ($5).
One of the sides is the cornbread ($3). It’s tasty and not overly crumbly, but it’s served just slightly colder than room temp.
Breakfast also is available. I started my day with the CBD cold brew ($12). I didn’t add any cream or sugar to get the full flavor. You mostly taste the CBD oil, but it’s not so overpowering that you can’t enjoy the coffee part.
I paired the coffee with the country breakfast ($8 + $2 for bacon or sausage). It comes with one Johhny cake, which is a fluffier, sweeter version of their cornbread. The sweet potato hash was a bit bland, and I had to add salt to get through it. Meanwhile, the flat sausage patty has a little heat but is otherwise flavorless.
For dessert, you’ll find a daily variety of cake or pie, including apple and sweet potato, for $5/slice. My favorite flavor, blueberry, was available during one of my visits, so of course, I had to order it. I was surprised that the pie wasn’t sweet, if you can believe it. Pickle Jar says it will “never reveal our recipes,” but I’m guessing the pie doesn’t include (much) added sugar, though that could be a good thing depending on your dietary preferences.
Pickle Jar Cafe serves breakfast and lunch Monday-Saturday and dinner Wednesday-Friday.
