General Manager

GENERAL MANAGER

Full-Time | Immediate Start | East Village, NYC

We are a newly opened, independently owned restaurant seeking an experienced, hands-on General Manager or strong Assistant General manager or Restaurant Manager who is ready to take the next step in their career to join our team immediately. Because we are a small operation, we need someone who is ready to take full ownership of the restaurant’s day-to-day operations while helping us build strong systems, standards and a healthy team culture.

We are looking for a confident and polished leader with strong wine knowledge who can not only run the dining room, but truly hold and command it. This person must have a strong floor presence, remain composed under pressure and know how to de-escalate difficult situations with confidence and grace.

The ideal candidate will lead with love, genuinely care for the team and be committed to practicing unreasonable hospitality. When mistakes happen, they must be ready to apologize sincerely, take ownership and find a thoughtful solution for the guest. We want someone who understands that exceptional leadership means creating accountability while ensuring that both guests and employees feel respected and cared for.

Responsibilities

• Create and manage the weekly team schedule.

• Conduct interviews and maintain a consistent pipeline of trainees and qualified candidates.

• Hire, train and develop new team members.

• Provide regular feedback and issue written warnings when necessary.

• Develop and implement standard operating procedures.

• Create and enforce detailed opening and closing checklists.

• Maintain exceptional cleanliness and organization throughout the restaurant.

• Lead the dining room with confidence and remain highly visible throughout service.

• Ensure smooth coordination between the dining room, bar and kitchen.

• Communicate clearly and consistently with the owner, chef and entire team.

• Handle guest concerns and employee conflicts calmly and professionally.

• Take ownership of mistakes and ensure that appropriate service recovery is provided.

• Build a respectful workplace that balances support, kindness and accountability.

• Maintain a strong understanding of the wine and beverage program.

• Train the service team on wine knowledge, proper service and confident recommendations.

Bar Oversight

We currently do not have a dedicated bar manager. The General Manager will not be expected to make drinks, and we work with a beverage consultant who develops and supports the program. However, the GM will be responsible for:

• Hiring, training, scheduling and managing the bar team.

• Ensuring that all beverage recipes are followed accurately and consistently.

• Making sure beverage production and preparation are completed twice each week.

• Maintaining organization, cleanliness, inventory and service standards at the bar.

• Overseeing beverage operations for both the main restaurant and our separate downstairs speakeasy, which has its own drinks and service standards.

Requirements

• Previous General Manager experience in a full-service NYC restaurant.

• Strong wine knowledge and an understanding of proper wine service.

• A confident, polished and professional presence.

• The ability to command a dining room while remaining warm and hospitable.

• Strong leadership, hiring, training and organizational skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication.

• Knowledge of scheduling, labor management and restaurant operations.

• The ability to remain calm and de-escalate difficult situations under pressure.

• A willingness to apologize, take ownership and solve problems thoughtfully.

• The ability to create systems and hold the team accountable.

• A valid NYC Food Protection Certificate.

• A hands-on leadership style and willingness to remain fully present during service.

Start Date: Immediate