Our Purpose - "THE NICK'S EXPERIENCE" - “Our Dedicated Family Provides This Community an unforgettable Place; to Connect with ... your Family and Friends, to Have Fun and to Feel at Home”. Nick Sarillo likes to think in 3-D, approaching a project from every angle. When the former construction worker saw a need for an inexpensive and family-friendly neighborhood restaurant in Crystal Lake, Ill., he decided to build one himself. Seeing the structural potential in a century-old dairy barn, Sarillo fashioned the space into Nick’s Pizza & Pub, which opened June 1995. The restaurant distinguished itself from the beginning with a well-priced menu of pizza, sandwiches, salads, a full bar, and a rustic, spacious atmosphere, which includes stone fireplaces, ceilings lined with hand-hewn beams, and an aquarium separating the bar from the restaurant. Just as important as the design was the positive mood of the restaurant: Every employee, from hostess to server, greeted guests with a smile—and they mean it. Fifteen years and a second restaurant later Sarillo continues to look at all angles of the restaurant business. It’s not enough to have a great menu and an attractive space, he says. For a restaurant to stand out, it needs to foster an environment that encourages staff to be actively involved with the establishment’s successes. read more