The OPUS 39 Experience...
Our Culinary Philosophy
The quality of ingredients is the driving force of the culinary philosophy of Opus 39. Chef McMillan and his culinary staff allow the freshest ingredients of the day to stimulate the creation of daily dinner menus. Whether it is beautiful crisp baby lettuces from local organic farms or exotic mushrooms flown in from Europe, all culinary creations at Opus 39 allow the ingredients to speak for themselves. Simple, elegant food, in an elegant artistic setting. Everything is made in-house at Opus 39, from the fresh-baked breads, to the finishing touches on the exquisite desserts.
Chef/Owner of Opus 39
Michael brings an extensive restaurant background to this inventive restaurant, Opus 39. As with most accomplished chefs, Michael has been involved in many aspects of the restaurant business since his teens. A graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, Michael’s experience includes having worked at Trois Jean in New York City under Master Chef of France, Jean Louis Dumonnet; and in Dallas with nationally acclaimed chef Dean Fearing at the Mobil 5 Star/AAA 5 Diamond restaurant and hotel, The Mansion on Turtle Creek.
Immediately preceding his creation of Opus 39, Michael returned home to the First Coast to become Executive Chef and General Manager of an existing St. Augustine dining establishment. Within four short years he elevated the business to the status of one of North Florida’s better French restaurants.
With this accomplishment, Michael began work on his next challenge, literally building a top-quality restaurant, with national aspirations, from the ground up. He spent most of 2002 designing and reconstructing the entire interior space at 39 Cordova Street, refining the business plan with his wife and partner, Christine, and fine-tuning the concept he unveiled as Opus 39 in December of 2002.
Based on the very positive buzz and favorable word of mouth generated over the last couple of years, Michael, Christine and their staff have taken greats strides toward creating an incredible restaurant.
What Others Have Said About Us
"...[My wife] and I treated ourselves to a nice dinner out the other night, and I've been raving about it ever since. We went to Opus 39. [One] interesting thing about this place is that they do not serve wine at the table. They invite you to get up and visit the wine room adjacent to the dining room. What started as a quirk has become the restaurant's signature...Chef McMillan and his wife, co-owner Christine McMillan, have found that customers are more at ease browsing the wine room than looking over a wine list. This unique feature and affordable wine prices make picking a wine a joy for even a novice."
- Dan MacDonald, Florida Times-Union
"Michael McMillan has once again spun magic in St. Augustine with his latest culinary venture, Opus 39..."
- Arbus Magazine
"What impressed me the most about Opus 39...was the timing. It was impeccable. The dinner was relaxed and we were never left wanting anything...It was a culinary masterpiece!"
- Jacksonville Magazine
"Palette meets palate at Opus 39, a contemporary restaurant in the nation's oldest city that is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the taste buds. Calling itself, rightly, a "restaurant and food gallery," Opus 39 practices the art of cuisine against a backdrop of arresting artwork, which blends seamlessly with the place's stunning interior.
It's a creative collaboration that is the brainchild of owner and Chef McMillan and his wife, Christine. It fits in St. Augustine, Florida, where a burgeoning artists' community is thriving, but the restaurant could easily be teleported to lower Manhattan or L.A., and no one would be the wiser..."
- Water's Edge Magazine
Employment Opportunities
Michael McMillan is always seeking motivated and passionate professionals looking for new opportunities in the culinary arts. If you are interested in a position at Opus 39, please email your resume, and indicate the type of position you are interested in.
