Nick Pihakis began working in restaurants when he was just 19 years old. A Birmingham, AL native, Nick worked each station in an old-school Italian restaurant doing everything from sweeping up and washing dishes to eventually becoming “the best bartender in the world”. To Nick, providing good food and drinks at his bar was like being the host of a great party every night.

In 1985, Nick, along with his father, Jim, reclaimed an old pizza parlor on Clairmont Avenue in Birmingham and opened the first Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q. Their main focus was traditional recipes, scratch-made everything, and genuine community service. Now, 32 years and 37 restaurants later, Jim ‘N Nick’s has become one of the South’s most respected restaurant groups.

Nick’s hard work (along with thousands of others at Jim ‘N Nick’s) has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation with consecutive nominations for Outstanding Restaurateur. Nick also sits on the board of the Jones Valley Teaching Farm and is a strong supporter of the Southern Foodways Alliance, among many others charities with an emphasis on improving the lives of local children.

Nick lives in Birmingham with his wife Suzanne and his three children.