A basket of Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q's cheese biscuits is shown.» Date opened: Local owner Chris McCracken officially opened the Chattanooga location Oct. 16. Founded in Birmingham, Ala., in 1985 by father and son Jim and Nick Pihakis, there are now 41 locations of the barbecue chain scattered across Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Tennessee has five other locations, though this is the first in Chattanooga.
» Why Chattanooga? "Chattanooga knows great barbecue, so we knew it would be a good fit," said Mike Odom, Ooltewah resident and general manager of the Chattanooga location, which is in the spot previously occupied by Fox & Hound Pub & Grille near Hamilton Place mall.
» What sets Jim 'N Nick's apart from other restaurants? "We don't have freezers or microwaves in our restaurants, and we make all of our food from scratch daily," said Odom. "We're also committed to making a meaningful impact in the community through local partnerships and activities." For example, the Chattanooga location donated proceeds from its "Friends & Family" pre-opening event to Siskin Children's Institute, which works to improve the quality of life for local children with special needs.
» Specialties: Barbecued and smoked meats (beef, chicken, pork and turkey) are Jim 'N Nick's claim to fame, and the restaurant is also widely known for its signature cheese biscuits. Odom's favorite dishes are the classic spareribs, closely followed by the "Original Turkey Sandwich" and the mac and cheese.
» So many choices: The restaurant has dine-in service, a drive-thru, and to-go order and catering capabilities. Jim 'N Nick's also offers a full bar, including 17 rotating draft beers, a large selection of bourbon and an expanding list of local craft brews.
» More information: Jim 'N Nick's is at 2040 Hamilton Place Blvd. and can be reached at 498-6969, or visit jimnnicks.com to learn more.
- Emily Crisman, staff writer