Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q

"Firstly, I would like to extend my commendations to the proprietors of this establishment for creating a truly remarkable dining experience. The restaurant’s design is both aesthetically pleasing and functional, the culinary offerings are delectable, and the staff exudes southern hospitality. However, as a first-time patron, I have identified three minor areas of improvement that could significantly enhance the overall dining experience: Napkin Availability: While I may occasionally resort to using my hands during meals, I found the single napkin provided with the cutlery to be insufficient. It would be beneficial to have additional napkins readily available for those who require them. Peach Tea Serving: The Peach Tea was a delightful explosion of flavors, but the small peach pieces tended to accumulate at the bottom of the straw, hindering the drinking process. Perhaps the introduction of a straw with small lateral openings near the base could alleviate this issue? Free Refill Policy: The offer of free refills is a generous gesture that is greatly appreciated. However, it would be helpful to have clear instructions for patrons on how to avail of this service. I trust that these suggestions will be taken into consideration, and I look forward to an even more enjoyable dining experience in the future. Thank you."

"Having grown up around Birmingham, I was excited when I learned Foley was getting a Jim n’ Nick’s; they’re all over Birmingham and my memories of those locations were all very positive. But, I’d also heard that they sold out to some investment firm, and that usually spells trouble for restaurants because they always wind up ruining good restaurants in the name of unending profits. Suffice it to say, this is NOT the Jim n’ Nick’s of yesterday. Here, you order at a counter and self-serve your drinks. There’s a definitely drop in quality, especially with the pulled pork and sides. But, in the grander scheme of things, I’d still rate this as one of the better barbecue restaurants in this part of Baldwin County. Perhaps the most important thing to note about this location is that it is tiny, and the bulk of the tables are actually outside in a nicely covered patio. It’s fine in the fall and winter but in the summer I suspect this will be a less than ideal setup. There is no real table service. You order at the counter and food (and refills of drinks) are brought to your table. The whole setup is a bit awkward since it’s right in them middle of the restaurant. A smattering of indoor seating is to the right of the order area and a large bar and takeout bay are to the left. From the inside you’d never know there’s a double drive-thru on the other side of the building. I tried the three meat combo with pulled pork, smoked turkey and smoked chicken, with collards and a cup of brisket chili. The pulled pork was disappointingly mushy, lacking the texture and smoke ring that it had in years past. The turkey was a bit dry, but that is not an unusual thing for this at barbecue restaurants. The smoked chicken was tender, and the smoke flavor was evident throughout. The barbecue sauce and the Morgan County white sauce were excellent, as good as I remember. Their white sauce isn’t quite as rich and creamy as Big Bob Gibson’s, but instead has a great balance of spicy to umami that I like. The brisket chili was good but extremely mild. Ditto the collards; they used to be distinctly spicy with pepper sauce and red pepper flakes. Both seemed to be missing from this batch, although it still tasted “home made” and had a savory meaty flavor. There was no pepper sauce on the table to kick it up, sadly. One of my dining partners got the rib plate with baked beans and potato salad. This combo proved to be mediocre. The potato salad was bland, but the baked beans were better than Hog Wild’s down in Gulf Shores. The ribs were overly salty. Another diner got the baked potato with pulled pork. One thing that certainly hasn’t changed from the olden days is the potato’s as big as your head! You won’t go hungry with this potato, that’s for sure. Just watch out, the potatoes can be so big they don't get covered all the way through. Service after the food was delivered seemed okay. They seem to have a few people who just bounce around as needed, which means some tables get neglected and some don’t. We were checked on a few times, which was good. Overall, it’s definitely not the great barbecue I remember from years ago, but neither is it awful. I’d rank it several notches above both Down South and Moe’s, but well below my gold standard barbecue restaurant, Hog Wild in Gulf Shores. Of course, Hog Wild’s prices are also gold standard as well, and Jim n’ Nick’s comes in well under them, so I feel like I got the quality I’d expect at the prices charged. If my review seems a bit negative, that’s because this new place is being held to the high standards I remember them having up in Birmingham many years ago, when it was still owned by the original partners. That and Hog Wild are a high bar to reach, one they no longer hurdle. But that said, I’ll still stop in regularly since it’s close and convenient. It’ll just be during off-peak hours because it fills up super quick."

"Quick dinner at Jim N Nick’s. It is always clean when we come here. The atmosphere is really calm and the outdoor seating is very nice. We often sit at the bar, as we did this time. We ordered Brisket Mac N Cheese and a Pulled Chicken Sandwich. The food was good as always. The bartender accidentally gave us the Habanero BBQ sauce. Which, thank heavens my husband could handle it- however- the meal was just not the same as he tried to drown it in regular sauce. We totally understand accidents happen, yet for someone extremely sensitive to heat, that could have been really bad. Just make sure you know what you are getting!"

"Excellent!! Everyone was so hospitable. Note if you like spicy or you don’t. Get the habanero songs good but not spicy at all. The flavor and portions is out of this world!!"

"Even though they were busy, we received friendly service. The meals we ordered were delivered quickly. Portions were bigger than we expected. Our server and at least 3 other employees asked us if everything was okay and if we needed anything. Absolutely enjoyable experience!"