Family Visit - It's All About Food!

Laurie's sister Bonnie and her husband Bill flew into visit us a little over a week ago.  This time of the year Allegiant Airlines offers low cost flights from the Mid-America Airport near Bellevue Illinois to the tourist destination that is Knoxville Tennessee.  With the Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Dollywood and more, tourists flock to East Tennessee from May through October.  In any case, Bill hates the 8 hour drive from St. Louis so we all welcome the tourist season flights...

So, what did we do during their visit.  Laurie and Bonnie planned some remodeling complete with decor when the work is done, we watched some golf and TV in general, did a little sightseeing, shopped and browsed and of course, we enjoyed a lot of food!

As we shopped and browsed our way from the Bearden area in Knoxville to the Turkey Creek shopping complex in Farragut, we passed "Jim 'N Nick's Community Bar-B-Q" and the group decided that this was where we should eat as we headed back toward Loudon.  

This relatively new addition to the Knoxville dining scene had been on my list for a few weeks.  We've passed it a few times and we both love BBQ.  Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q is a fast growing regional chain that was founded in Birmingham Alabama and is now headquartered in Atlanta Georgia.  The company has 56 locations with restaurants in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

I would describe the interior of Jim 'N Nick's as industrial but featuring decor that softens the look somewhat.  Why the gal at the table at the right gave the "V" for Victory sign to Laurie as she took the second photo, we'll never know.

Yes!  This is yet another restaurant that expects the customers to place their orders from order boards or menus.  Jim 'N Nick's did provide us with hard copy menus and the service staff was both friendly and helpful.  The need for minimal floor help/waitstaff, does cut costs.

Since we weren't done eating for the day, we skipped the Sharables as shown above.  Also, while having BBQ ribs was tempting, that volume of food will require 2 hungry diners who want the same thing for dinner.  A full rack of Baby Back Ribs with 2 sides/aka 'trimmings', cost $34.99.

We all noticed the cheesy biscuits listed on that menu board and we were ready to order them...when the order taker/cashier at the counter told us that they would bring some to the table and we didn't need to order any.  Six biscuits to go cost $3.99 with a dozen for $6.99.

We all liked the warm biscuits.  They come with honey butter and they were sweet.  I could see the cheese but really couldn't taste it...but I still liked them. 

Bonnie and Laurie decided that they weren't very hungry so they split a Pulled Pork Sandwich with a side ($11.49) and then ordered a second side.  Bonnie had the baked beans...two thumbs up...and Laurie had the potato salad ($3.99), also a winner.  They enjoyed the pulled pork too.  Sandwiches are advertised as being served on famous "Martin's Potato Bun's".

Bill likes anything that ever lived and thrived in water... Hence, he ordered Karl's Fried Catfish Plate with 2 fillets. ($19.99 with 2/$13.99 with 1 fillet) This entree comes with 2 sides so Bill ordered the coleslaw and the Bar-B-Que Corn on the Cob.  He thought the slaw was good, the fillets were done right and he seemed to really like that corn on the cob...

I'm kind of burnt out on pulled pork and I've never really cared for smoked poultry.  My favorite BBQ items are pork and beef ribs as well as beef brisket.  So I ordered the 'handheld' Beef Brisket sandwich. ($13.49) I had a choice of either lean or marbled brisket so I went for the more flavorful and juicy marbled slices. (They will chop the brisket for you on request...a sin in my mind) For a side, I just went for the French fries.

The brisket was very nice, moist and flavorful, and there was plenty of it.  The potato bun held up fairly well.  My only negatives were related to the French fries and the available BBQ sauces.  The French fries were soft...and I like a little firmness when I have fries.  I like hot spicy BBQ sauces.  The house BBQ sauce lacked any authority and the only hot spicy sauce available was a Honey Habanero.  It was spicy but the honey element didn't tickle my taste buds.  Other available sauces include Morgan County White, Carolina Vinegar and Carolina Mustard.  

All in all, we did enjoy the BBQ at Jim 'N Nick's Community Bar-B-Q and we will return to try those ribs.  But I might sneak in a small container of spicy sauce!

Jim 'N Nick's Community Bar-B-Q is located at 7727 Kingston Pike (US Hwy 11), right across the street from Knoxville's West Town Mall.  This restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily.  Phone: 865-224-3760.  If you want to pick up BBQ to go, Jim 'N Nick's has a drive-thru window to provide that service.  Website: 

https://www.jimnnicks.com/locations/tn/knoxville/7727-kingston-pike/.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!  

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave