People grew used to businesses moving in & out of the little building at the corner of N Watkins & Overton Park Ave. The new owners, Chefs Jeremiah & Octavia, are greeted by longtime residents w/a history of their predecessors; Mr. Bobby-Que, Watkins Park - a Sports Cafe, the short-lived Arizona, the beloved Lupe and Bea's, a purveyor, from 1984 to 1996, of Tex-Mex and Cuban fare, and way before
that of the legendary King Burger. The latest include the Edge Coffee Shop, Balewa's Vegan Gourmet, and FoxCee's. Crosstown/Midtown residents connect with their community, their neighbors, & local businesses & are hoping the new restaurant owners feel the same. Chefs Jeremiah & Octavia were displaced from the Harrah's Casino closing of June 2014 & picked the prime Crosstown location at 394 N Watkins ready to create a friendly neighborhood bar/restaurant. The revitalization of Crosstown is happening in leaps & bounds & MCG is quickly becoming a favorite of many Midtowners. Chef Jeremiah arrived in New Orleans from the prestigious New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont to work at Dickie Brennan. Before leaving New Orleans for Mississippi, Jeremiah worked for the John Besh Group's Domenica Restaurant offering Italian fare, old world breads, handmade pasta & Besh Steak at Harrah's
Chef Octavia started her culinary career at Neiman Marcus in Dallas under Chef Sharon Hague, national pioneer of the Farm-to-Table movement. She then moved to the Fairmont Hotel and served an apprenticeship under Chef Jean LaFont. Her move to Memphis began at the Peabody Group and then on to Caesars' Jack Binion and '37 Fine Dining Restaurant in Tunica. Their drive is made-from-scratch offerings which pair flavors and textures to create a unique food experience while keeping costs reasonable. Offering a variety of gourmet pizzas using fresh handmade dough. Ask about the "special" as the Chefs love creating tasty offerings such as the Artist & Blues Brother. MCG seats 40 diners & we host/feature local entertainment & artists. We also are an event space & dedicated to giving back to the community.
