Owner: Grill House takes fast food to another level
An interview with Nick Drivas, owner of Grill House in Northbrook.
Q: Tell us a little bit about Grill House.
A: Grill House is the home of great taste with homemade recipes. We truly bring our kitchen to your home, serving families for generations. We are dedicated to using the highest quality ingredients, developing recipes that challenge your palate, and become a tradition in your family's home. Grill House takes fast food to another level; never precooked, always fresh and prepared to your liking. Our philosophy is simple, serving great tasting fresh food from our home to yours. We have something for everyone including vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Q: What are people in your industry talking about?
A: I think that the biggest topic in the industry today is labor. Finding good, quality and trustworthy help is something that folks in my industry are definitely talking about.
Q: Describe the atmosphere.
A: Definitely family friendly and comfortable. People continue to tell us that they immediately feel welcome and at home in our restaurant, which is exactly what we want. When guests walk in, our layout directs them to our counter, where there is a large menu board on the wall featuring all of our items. They place their order and take a seat (with a buzzing pager). When the food is done, the pager goes off, and the food is ready for pick up. We have plenty of staff on hand to help bring the food to the table, and continually clear the tables and make sure everything is always clean and spotless.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
A: I've been in the restaurant business my entire life. My parents started their first restaurant in the mid 70s (Nick's Gyros), which grew to several locations throughout Chicago. I worked in every capacity, so I came to understand what works and what doesn't in the restaurant industry. It was these experiences that have helped me at Grill House, and have contributed to the restaurant's success.
Q: Tell us two interesting facts about Grill House that most people don't know.
A: First, people don't know that we also own Backyard Grill in Highland Park. When they come to Grill House, they say things like, "Wow, this chicken is just as good as a place we go to in Highland Park." When I tell them that Backyard Grill is ours as well, they understand why.
Second, my family and I have a lot to be thankful for. And, because of this, we are always looking for ways to give back to the community. We are currently, working with Autism Speaks and the Crohns' & Colitis Foundation, as well as several schools in the area. We have a simple, turnkey system in place that is working beautifully.
Q: Two people we should follow on Twitter. .
A: Kat Cole, president of Cinnabon because she uses Twitter to thank and interact with her customers. And Ron Ruggless, writer for Nation's Restaurant News. He tweets on all the latest news in the restaurant industry. He knows exactly what's going on.
Q: Do you offer catering?
A: Yes. We offer delivery for all catering orders, and door dash for in-home orders. We also offer a loyalty program where our customers can get a $10 gift card for every 10 visits to the restaurant.
Grill House
<b>3061 Dundee Road, Northbrook, 60062</b>Phone: 847-205-2200
Owner: Nick Drivas (Lou Liagridonis is also a business partner)
Number of Employees: 25
When Business Opened: Sept. 2, 2017
Website Address: eatgrillhouse.com