Jag’s new owner to cook up a few changes

Credit: Michael D. Pitman

Credit: Michael D. Pitman

Jag’s Steak and Seafood was founded 13 years ago by John Allgaier to provide “outrageous” service and “incredible” food, but that vision won’t fade just because there’s a new majority owner, said minority owner George Lang.

Jag’s is one of West Chester Twp.’s high-end, marquee restaurants that sits just north of The Square at Union Centre on West Chester Road.

Two months ago, Jag’s Executive Chef Michelle Brown and her husband, along with Lang and a few other investors became the new ownership group of the restaurant. Brown and Lang were minority owners in the restaurant when Allgaier was the majority owner.

But Brown becoming the majority owner of the restaurant has “always been the succession plan,” she said Tuesday after a cooking demonstration during the Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason. She had been the restaurant’s executive chef since it opened.

The change happened now because of Allgaier’s health issues, Brown and Lang said.

“He couldn’t give Jags what he needed to give Jag’s for it to be successful,” said Lang, who is also a West Chester Twp. trustee. “John built Jag’s on an amazing experience: the service being outrageous and the food being incredible.”

He said Brown will likely “Michelle-ize” the restaurant, but won’t veer from that vision.

Customers should expect to see some changes with Brown at the reins, which officially happened June 2, she said.

“We’ve evolved throughout the years in what we do and … we’re constantly thinking of different ways of how to do things,” Brown said. “You have to stay fresh.”

While the menu changes weekly, the core has remained a constant. But that is about to change by next month, she said.

“The main, big menu that people come in for, our staple menu, will increase a little bit more in seafood and have more steak options,” Brown said.

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