Matt Marcus

With more than 15 years of experience in the kitchen, Matt Marcus was born into the business as a third-generation chef who inherited a joy for cooking from his mother Annette, who operates a catering company in Atlanta. Determined to turn his passion into a career, Marcus completed studies at the American Culinary Federation Apprenticeship Program and earned several chef certifications. As he developed his culinary career, Marcus became executive chef at Hennen’s in Chattanooga, Tenn., in 2011. Upon returning to Georgia, Marcus joined the team at Buckhead’s Italian dining gem, Portofino, as executive chef in May 2014, before taking the reins as executive chef and owner at Southern institution Watershed in 2018.

At Watershed, Marcus has debuted a fully reimagined menu that celebrates the restaurant’s reverence, while looking to its future with redefined “New South” innovation and ingredient-driven technique. He describes the new menu as experimental, celebrating rare finds like jellyfish and Ossabaw, while also offering diners the evolved, Southern cuisine Watershed is known for.

Marcus has been included in “Best Chefs America,” a guide to top talent across the country, and has garnered media attention from publications including Eater, Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Flavors Magazine, Restaurant Hospitality and more.