General Manager | Authentic French Bistro | Columbus

General Manager

Location: Columbus, OH

Relocation Assistance: Available

Compensation: $95,000-$120,000 + benefits

Employment Type: Full-time, salaried, exempt

Reports To: Ownership / Director of Operations

About the Opportunity

A French bistro and wine bar in the heart of downtown Columbus is seeking a General Manager to lead the front-of-house and oversee total restaurant operations. Housed in a historic building, the concept pairs authentic French cuisine with warm, neighborhood-bistro hospitality and a thoughtful events program — wine dinners, cocktail classes, and seasonal happenings. The restaurant holds international recognition for its commitment to French gastronomy and is one of a very small group of US restaurants certified for authentic French cuisine. We're looking for a polished, hospitality-driven operator who can carry that standard while running a tight, profitable business.

Position Summary

The General Manager owns the guest experience, the team, and the P&L. This is a hands-on, floor-forward leadership role: the GM is expected to be present during service, leading by example, while also driving the financial and operational health of the restaurant. The GM partners closely with the Executive Chef and ownership to ensure food, beverage, and service move as one cohesive program, and serves as the cultural standard-bearer for the team.

Key Responsibilities

Hospitality & Guest Experience

• Set and uphold the service standard on every shift; lead pre-shift meetings and floor service
• Build genuine relationships with regulars, neighborhood guests, and VIPs; recover service issues with grace and authority
• Partner with the chef and beverage team to ensure menu knowledge, sequencing, and pacing are exceptional
• Champion the bistro's culture of warm, knowledgeable, unpretentious French hospitality

Operations

• Oversee daily FOH and BOH coordination, opening and closing procedures, and floor flow
• Manage reservations, OpenTable, and door experience to maximize covers without compromising service
• Ensure the dining room, bar, and public areas are immaculate, on-brand, and properly maintained
• Coordinate vendor relationships, repairs, and capital projects with ownership

Financial Performance

• Own the P&L: drive revenue, manage labor and COGS, and hit budgeted targets
• Build weekly and monthly forecasts; review variances and adjust quickly
• Manage scheduling to balance service quality with labor cost discipline
• Approve invoices, oversee cash handling, and ensure accurate daily reporting

Beverage & Wine Program

• Partner with the sommelier and beverage team on wine list development, pricing, and inventory
• Support wine dinner programming, by-the-glass rotations, and staff wine education
• Oversee bar operations, cocktail program execution, and beverage cost management

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, hire, onboard, and train FOH staff — servers, bartenders, hosts, and support
• Build and maintain training systems, service standards documentation, and steps of service
• Conduct regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and clear development paths
• Foster a respectful, professional, and ambitious team culture — high standards, no drama

Events & Community

• Program and execute wine dinners, cocktail classes, private events, and seasonal happenings
• Build local partnerships with hotels, concierges, businesses, and cultural institutions
• Represent the restaurant in the Columbus dining community, press, and industry circles

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure full compliance with Ohio liquor laws, food safety, and Franklin County health regulations
• Maintain ServSafe and TIPS/responsible-service standards across the team
• Oversee HR documentation, scheduling compliance, and workplace safety

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of progressive FOH leadership experience, with at least 2 years as a GM or AGM in a chef-driven, full-service restaurant
• Background in upscale-casual or fine-dining French, European, or independent concept preferred
• Strong financial acumen: P&L ownership, labor and COGS management, forecasting
• Deep wine knowledge; sommelier certification (CMS Level 2+, WSET 2+) a strong plus
• Proven track record of building and retaining great FOH teams
• Polished communicator and floor presence — calm, warm, and decisive in equal measure
• Comfortable with reservation systems (OpenTable, SevenRooms), POS (Toast, Aloha, or similar), and scheduling/labor tools
• ServSafe Manager and TIPS certified (or able to obtain within 30 days)
• Available evenings, weekends, holidays, and for special events
• A genuine love of French food, wine, and hospitality

What We Offer

• Base Salary: $95,000-$120,000 DOE
• Paid time off
• Health benefits package - base health benefits fully paid, dental and eye elective
• Real partnership with ownership on strategy, programming, and growth

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.