DISH OF THE WEEK: Fried Pickles at DILLER

SADLY, DILLER IS NOW CLOSED.

So Diller is unlike any of the other pickle shops I’ve reviewed. And really unlike anywhere else in the city. It’s more of a pickle restaurant than a pickle producer.

The closest place to it that I’ve discovered in the city is Jacob’s Pickles which is really a Southern comfort bar and restaurant that has pickles in its name and has tried to include a few pickle dishes.

Diller is a take-out joint owned by the famous Pickle Guys next door. But here they don’t serve you a kosher or horseradish cuke from a barrel. Instead they take their pickles and brines and incorporate them into dishes or in some cases make them the star of the show.

It’s also a kosher vegetarian restaurant and offers many gluten free and vegan options.

There is a lot to get excited about here including Rueben Egg Rolls (without meat) which they were out of on the day I arrived and pickled Okra Rice Balls.

But for my first visit I stuck to the most pickley dish on the menu: the Fried Pickles.

I’ve tried fried pickles all over the city (including at Jacob’s Pickles) and I just can’t get behind them. I get the idea of the contrast between hot batter and chilled pickle, dry breading and wet pickle, and of course, most things are better when they’re fried.

But I’ve never found a version of these Southern specialities that work. Usually the batter is too heavy and the pickle too hot and acidic. Usually the best part of fried pickles for me is the dipping sauce.

I have to say Diller has changed my mind. I finally found a version of fried pickles that I can get behind.

Served sliced (which makes more sense than frying an entire spear) and in a paper cone, these were super easy to eat on the go.

The gluten free rice panko blend they use to coat the pickles slices is superb. It had a hint of sweetness and pepper and managed to enhance the flavor of the sour spheres.

Inside they’re kept firm, protected beautifully and the contrast of textures and temperatures is successful here. They were super light too and so easy to put away.

I also have to mention the sauce, which is one of about 8 to choose from. The yogurt based Diller (dill) sauce is recommended and it made these greaseless wonders even more addicting.

Diller gets all sorts of accolades in my book for making good fried pickles, creating unique Asian-Jewish inspired dishes, and finally creating an establishment solely focused on pickles and their uses. Price: $7.95

Does Diller make the best pickles in NY? They are a bit different than the other places I rate but they definitely make the best fried pickles in the city and for that they earn a 9 out of 10.