Executive Chef

The Opportunity

The Gage is seeking a seasoned, hands-on Executive Chef to lead one of Chicago’s most iconic and beloved restaurants. On Michigan Avenue across from Millennium Park, The Gage is a European-inspired gastrotavern with a distinctly Chicago sense of hospitality. The Executive Chef will lead a high-volume kitchen while honoring the standards that have defined The Gage for nearly two decades. This is a flagship role within Gage Hospitality Group.About The Gage

• Concept: A European-inspired gastrotavern — rustic yet refined, approachable, and built on impeccable sourcing, classic and innovative culinary approach, and warm, professional service.
• Location: 24 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL —across from Millennium Park and steps from the Art Institute and other cultural jewels.
• Guest Mix: Loyal Chicago regulars, business and theater patrons, hotel guests, and visitors from around the world.
• Group: Part of Gage Hospitality Group — an independent, Chicago-rooted restaurant company with multiple concepts and a track record of investing in talent, state of the art equipment and high-quality buildout.

The Role

The Executive Chef leads all aspects of the kitchen — cuisine, team, cost, safety, and consistency. You will set the culinary point of view, develop menus, and manage a team of approximately 50 culinary professionals, and partner closely with the outstanding front-of-house leadership and the beverage team to deliver a unified, exceptional guest experience across every service. This role reports to Billy Lawless, Founder and Owner.

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Leadership & Menu Development

• Set the culinary vision for The Gage — a European-inspired gastrotavern menu that honors the restaurant’s heritage while keeping the food relevant and seasonal.
• Develop and refresh menus across lunch, dinner, brunch, bar, and private events; lead recipe development, costing, and rollouts.
• Source the best— building relationships with farmers, fishmongers, butchers, importers, and artisans.
• Establish and enforce recipe standards, plating specs, and quality benchmarks across every station and every service.

 

Operations & Financial Performance

• Own kitchen P&L — food cost, labor cost, waste, yield — and consistently hit or beat budgeted targets.
• Build and manage schedules; forecast labor and product against covers, seasonality, and demand drivers (theater, conventions, Millennium Park programming).
• Manage purchasing and receiving and maintain disciplined inventory and COGS reporting.
• Ensure full compliance with all food safety and sanitation standards

People & Culture

• Recruit, train, develop, and retain a high-performing culinary team — from dishwashers to sous chefs.
• Lead with excellence, calm, clarity, and respect.
• Coach the next generation of leaders; create clear development paths and promote from within The Gage and across Gage Hospitality Group.
• Partner with FOH leadership, the corporate and beverage teams to deliver one unified hospitality experience.

Guest Experience

• Expedite service nightly, holding every plate to the standard before it leaves the pass.
• Engage with regulars, VIPs, and private-event hosts with warmth and confidence.
• Respond to guest feedback, reviews, and service recoveries with care and urgency.

What You Bring

• 3+ years as an Executive Chef, or strong Chef de Cuisine experience in a high-volume, full-service, chef-driven concept.
• Demonstrated command of classical techniques— butchery, sauce work, charcuterie, wood-fire/grill, and refined comfort cookery.
• Proven track record of building, leading, and retaining culinary teams in a high-volume environment.
• Fluency with food cost, labor cost, inventory systems, and kitchen P&L management; comfortable owning numbers and explaining them.
• Composed leadership under pressure; consistent, creative, communicative, and accountable.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $120,000-$140,000 commensurate with experience.
• Performance Bonus: Quarterly bonus tied to food cost, labor, and guest satisfaction targets.
• Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• 401k Program with Match
• Paid Time Off: 3 weeks paid vacation
• Dining: Generous dining benefit across Gage Hospitality Group restaurants.
• Growth: Travel and continuing-education budget — we invest in chefs who keep learning.

How to Apply

To be considered, please submit a current resume, a short note on your culinary point of view, and one or two recent menus you have authored. Working interviews and tasting stages are part of our final-round process. All inquiries will be handled with discretion.

Gage Hospitality Group is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Gage Hospitality Group will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.