Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q -- 9.5/10! One of the Best Bites I've Had All Year!…read more
Let me start by saying that I am not generally a huge barbecue fan. I've only had brisket a handful of times that truly impressed me. Well, tonight I found another one!
I arrived to find a pleasantly quiet restaurant and was seated right away. The menu was refreshingly simple, and I enjoyed reading the story of how Jim 'N Nick's got its start back in 1985.
I already knew I wanted the smoked brisket, but I had some questions about the sides. I'm particular about my potato salad, especially when it comes to sweetness. I asked whether theirs was sweet and was told it was made fresh daily. I also asked about the baked beans, which they described as slightly sweet. I decided to give both a try.
First came the cheese biscuits. Oh, those biscuits!
Calling them biscuits almost doesn't do them justice. They're more like little, slightly sweet, cheesy muffins with wonderfully crispy edges. They arrived warm, accompanied by a lightly whipped honey butter. Absolutely heavenly! I could have happily eaten a basket of those alone.
When my plate arrived, I went straight for the potato salad, since that was the side I was most suspicious of. What a pleasant surprise! The potatoes were perfectly cooked, tender but with enough texture left to give each bite some substance. Just the right amount of pickle, a little onion, mustard, and mayonnaise. It reminded me of the potato salad my mother used to make. Even better, it wasn't overly salted, something I really appreciate.
Next came the baked beans. Delicious! Slightly sweet and smoky, with little bits of pork throughout that added a wonderful depth of flavor.
My draft beer arrived perfectly cold and made a lovely accompaniment to the meal.
Then came the barbecue sauce adventure! I asked about the different sauces, and my server kindly brought me little samples of each. There was the original Jim 'N Nick's sauce, a Carolina mustard sauce with a delightful vinegary tang, a traditional Carolina vinegar sauce, a honey habanero, and even a white barbecue sauce, which is usually paired with pork or chicken but was surprisingly nice with the beef.
And now, the star of the show: the brisket.
I chose the fattier cut because that's how I prefer my brisket, although they also offer a leaner option. This brisket was melt-in-your-mouth tender, beautifully smoky, rich, and absolutely delicious.
Then I had an idea.
I took one of those warm little cheese muffins, sliced it in half, tucked some smoked brisket inside, and made myself a tiny barbecue sandwich.
I'm not exaggerating when I say it was one of the best bites I've had all year.
The combination of the smoky, tender beef, the slightly sweet cheesy bread, and those crispy muffin edges was just extraordinary. If you go, try it!
The service was every bit as good as the food. My server, Rafe, was kind, knowledgeable, and attentive without hovering. He answered my questions patiently and made the experience feel relaxed and welcoming. The manager, Emma, also stopped by to check on me and was equally pleasant.
The restaurant itself was clean and comfortable.
My one and only complaint? The restroom had one of those overpowering artificial air fresheners that I find rather noxious. It's a personal pet peeve of mine, especially in restaurants where I've just enjoyed such wonderful aromas from the kitchen.
But that was truly the only negative in an otherwise excellent evening.
Final rating: 9.5 out of 10!
Wonderful brisket, memorable sides, heavenly cheese biscuits, and genuinely excellent hospitality. For someone who doesn't usually get excited about barbecue, that's saying something.
I'd happily return, and next time, I'm making that little brisket-and-cheese-biscuit sandwich again!