J&G Pizza and Steak Brings Comfort Food to Manchester Residents With 50 Years of Delicious Meals

J&G Pizza and Steak House is one of the most iconic restaurants in Manchester, Tennessee. It has served home-cooked meals since 1973 and caters to multiple generations of customers each week. This is still a family-owned business that is currently run by Kiki and Justin Sherrill, the daughter of the original owners.  

“People knew they would see my parents here,” says Kiki Sherrill. “My sister and I grew up in the stock room of the restaurant. Everyone knew how hard they worked to maintain quality, even to this day.”

If you haven’t stopped in for a pizza, sandwich, or thick slice of cake, you’re missing out. Keep reading to learn why this restaurant is such an icon in the area. 

Jim and Lisa Rouvelas Saw Potential in Manchester

J&G Pizza and Steak House was opened in 1973 by Jim and Lisa Rouvelas. The couple moved to Manchester from Chicago, where they had settled after emigrating from Greece. The Rouvelases were looking for new opportunities in America as Greece recovered from its civil war. There was a lot of rebuilding to be done and the Rouvelases were looking for a fresh start instead.

The Rouvelases moved to Tennessee to learn the restaurant business and then partnered with a couple from the same village where they lived in Greece to open up J&G Pizza and Steak House in Murfreesboro and Manchester.

“My parents come from a small village and Manchester was a town that reminded them of that,” says Sherrill. 

The Rouvelases also saw that I-24 was about to be completed, so they anticipated growth in the region. They opened J&G and started the first of more than 50 years of success.

“My parents worked so hard from day one,” says Sherrill. “They were not going to fail at this opportunity. They were very thankful for a new start in America – a lot of people were.” 

Multiple Generations of Customers Love J&G

The restaurant business often requires more than hard work to succeed. Businesses need good food and excellent customer service, both of which J&G Pizza and Steak House have. Sherrill says her parents always thought it was important to be at the restaurant. Jim and Lisa managed the restaurant until Kiki and Justin took over, ensuring someone from the family is there every day.  

Sherrill explains that this hands-on approach maintains consistency in the food and ensures that the meals served today taste exactly the same as they did 30 years ago. This keeps families coming back, bringing the next generation of Manchester residents to J&G.

Only family members mix the secret spices for the spaghetti sauce and the sausage or marinades. Her husband is the only one making pizza dough — and he makes almost 80 pounds every day.

“My husband is a natural at everything here,” says Sherrill. “It takes a while to learn these things and he does a great job.”

The original owners of Manchester’s J&G Pizza and Steak House still have a presence in the area. Jim is 85 and doesn’t visit the restaurant often while Lisa is 72 and still comes in every day.

“She is the backbone of the restaurant,” says Sherrill. “People know her and love her.”

Sherrill also has four children who have grown up with J&G as a core part of their lives. Her oldest two kids currently help out there.

“Full-service restaurants are not easy to maintain in this day and age,” she says. “Hopefully J&G can continue what it’s doing for the next 50 years.” 

J&G Has Grown Alongside Manchester

Along with serving multiple generations of customers at J&G, Sherill and her family have seen new faces in the restaurant as people move to the area. J&G is a favorite of many residents because it serves food that makes people feel comfortable. They can enjoy the feeling of eating a home-cooked meal without dirtying their kitchens.

“My family set the bar for a certain quality that we want to maintain,” says Sherill. “They’re great cooks and we want to keep that tradition of selling good food for our customers. We want them to feel comfortable when they walk in, whether they are new or have been coming here for years.”

Sherill also wants employees to take pride in their work. J&G has 35 part-time and full-time employees, many of whom have worked there for many years.

Learn More About Life in Greater Manchester

Manchester, Tennessee has several vibrant businesses that have supported residents for generations. It also continues to attract new companies that see the value of moving to the area. Read about other businesses like J&G Pizza and Steak House that make Manchester a great place to live. See why More Manchester is the future.