Sommelier

Job Description

Job Description

About Vandelay Companies

For over a decade, Vandelay has defined what it means to deliver iconic, enduring hospitality experiences. With a growing portfolio that includes concepts like Hudson House, Drake’s Hollywood, and D.L. Mack’s, we are driven by a passion for craftsmanship, connection, and the pursuit of excellence.

Every Vandelay concept celebrates the spirit of American dining through timeless spaces, genuine warmth, and an uncompromising commitment to quality that leaves a lasting impression on every guest who walks through our doors.

What truly distinguishes Vandelay is our commitment to growth; for our company and for our people. As we expand into new markets nationwide, we continue building meaningful pathways for development at every level. Managers receive the tools, mentorship, and visibility needed to grow their careers within an organization that values initiative, performance, and a true passion for the craft of hospitality.

About the Opportunity

Vandelay Companies is seeking an experienced hospitality leader with a strong background in wine and a passion for elevated service to join one of our restaurant leadership teams.

This role is ideal for a restaurant manager who combines strong operational leadership with sommelier-level wine knowledge and thrives in a high-volume, elevated dining environment. This individual will support day-to-day restaurant operations while serving as a key resource for wine education, service standards, and the overall guest experience.

The ideal candidate is confident on the restaurant floor, engaging with guests, developing team members, and making thoughtful wine recommendations that enhance the dining experience. We’re looking for someone who brings both expertise and approachability to wine, along with the leadership presence and operational discipline needed to contribute to a high-performing restaurant team.

Advanced wine education or certification through CMS, WSET, or a comparable program is strongly preferred.

Core Responsibilities

• Support the General Manager in leading, coaching, and developing a high-performing team that embodies Vandelay’s culture and hospitality standards.

• Lead daily floor operations with a strong presence, ensuring seamless service, exceptional pacing, and a consistently elevated guest experience.

• Serve as the restaurant’s wine expert, providing knowledgeable, approachable guidance to guests and team members.

• Drive wine sales through thoughtful recommendations, pairing expertise, and genuine guest engagement without making the experience feel transactional.

• Oversee wine service standards, including proper presentation, opening, decanting, glassware, storage, and temperature.

• Educate and develop the service team through ongoing wine training, tastings, pre-shift education, and coaching designed to build confidence and product knowledge.

• Partner with restaurant and beverage leadership on the development and continued evolution of the wine program, ensuring selections complement the menu, concept, and guest experience.

• Maintain strong knowledge of the wine list, with the ability to speak confidently about regions, varietals, producers, vintages, styles, flavor profiles, and food pairings.

• Support wine inventory management, purchasing, receiving, storage, organization, and cost controls while maintaining appropriate inventory levels.

• Monitor wine performance and identify opportunities to improve sales, product mix, profitability, and guest engagement.

• Model warm, polished hospitality and empower team members to create memorable experiences and anticipate guest needs.

• Respond to guest concerns with professionalism and a solutions-focused mindset, turning challenges into opportunities to exceed expectations.

• Assist with training, onboarding, scheduling, shift planning, and ongoing development of the front-of-house team.

• Lead pre-shift meetings and help drive clear communication between front-of-house, culinary, and leadership teams.

• Partner closely with culinary leadership to maintain strong knowledge of menu ingredients, preparation methods, and pairings and ensure the wine program enhances the overall dining experience.

• Support key restaurant financial and operational metrics, including labor, beverage COGS, inventory, and operational efficiencies.

• Uphold company standards, policies, food safety and sanitation requirements, and all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

• Use guest feedback, sales trends, and real-time floor observations to continuously improve wine service, hospitality, and overall restaurant execution.

Requirements

• 3+ years of leadership experience in an upscale, fine-dining, or comparable full-service restaurant environment.

• Strong wine knowledge with demonstrated experience in wine service, sales, education, and food and wine pairing.

• Formal wine education or certification through Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS), WSET, or a comparable program strongly preferred.

• Comprehensive knowledge of major wine regions, varietals, producers, vintages, and styles, with the ability to communicate that knowledge in an engaging and approachable way.

• Proven ability to train and develop service teams, building confidence and consistency around wine knowledge, presentation, and sales.

• Strong understanding of restaurant operations, including service standards, labor management, inventory, beverage cost controls, and financial performance.

• Exceptional hospitality instincts with a natural ability to read guests, anticipate needs, and create memorable dining experiences.

• Confident, polished communicator with the ability to engage effectively with guests, team members, and restaurant leadership.

• Detail-oriented, trustworthy, coachable, and committed to maintaining high standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Restaurant Management, or a related field preferred, but not required.

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Perks

• Medical, Dental and Vision benefits available

• Paid Time Off 

• Dining discounts at all Vandelay Hospitality Group concepts

• Professional development and career growth

• Robust Manager in Training program

• All Vandelay restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and the 4th of July so our team can celebrate with their friends and family 

• A collaborative, uplifting culture where we take care of our guests by taking care of our people first

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds

• Ability to work standing and walking for extended periods of time

If you’re a passionate leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is eager to grow with a company that values hospitality and teamwork, we’d love to hear from you!

Vandelay Companies provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other federal/state protected category.