Locally owned soul food restaurant with hints of seafood opens in downtown Macon.
Xzavier Ottoman, a professional chef, has never tried some of his own food.
But food allergies didn’t stop him from opening 587 Southern Style Cuisine on one of the most bustling streets in downtown Macon.
The smell of bacon wafted through the air as “The Bernie Mac Show” played on television. Strangers were greeted with an instant sense of familiarity during the soul food restaurant’s grand opening Oct. 4, on the corner of Second Street and Mulberry St. Lane, and there were plenty of family members around.
“That’s auntie, cousin, momma, (co-owner) Gina Smith,” Ottoman said, pointing to his team working behind the buffet-style counter. “They are not just coming in here to clock in and make money. They come in here to make a difference in downtown.”
The 33-year-old never had a favorite dish as a child, as long as it was made by his mom. She now works in the restaurant’s buffet-style kitchen.
“Growing up trying to feed seven, everything was a struggle meal,” Ottoman said. “If you gave her $10 to go to the store, she would bring something back that would feed 15 people. You wouldn’t believe.”
Ottoman aspired to create an affordable but quality restaurant at 587 where all patrons can feel welcomed, like at his mom’s house.
The indoor-outdoor restaurant offers early morning breakfast like fish and grits, salmon croquettes, eggs and pancakes, as well as late night dinner including hamburger steak, loaded baked potatoes, pork chops and catfish, to name a few.
Items that represent the menu well are the oxtail and salmon, Ottoman said.
“A lot of people cannot cook salmon. Personally, I add flavor to my food, but I use non-salt seasoning,” Ottoman said. “Some people think it’s easy, but it’s not.”
It took him five years to “perfect seafood.” He would give away his home-cooked meals for others to critique. He couldn’t taste them for himself due to allergies.
Similarly, his restaurant will donate meals to youth once a month, and one family will receive free food every holiday.
Ottoman has worked as a chef for 14 years, dabbling in other Macon businesses such as Millennium Bar and Grill, Triple Crown Lounge and 587 Bistro in Tifton.
His previous restaurants allowed for a later start as they mostly served lunch, dinner and drinks.
“We had the club and bar scene, so this is actually the first time ever it’s just mellow. It’s different,” Ottoman said. “I don’t sleep man.”
He usually leaves the restaurant around 2 a.m. and heads back around 5 a.m.
587 is open Monday through Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m., Thursday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Pick-up and dine-in options are available.
“Cooking is a passion, not just a job,” Ottoman said. “It’s soul food because we put our soul into this.”
This story was originally published October 7, 2024 at 2:24 PM.