We are seeking an experienced General Manager to lead operations for an established upscale French-Vietnamese restaurant in the Chicago market. The restaurant is a high-volume operation generating approximately $13M in annual sales, with approximately 250 covers on weekdays and 350+ covers on weekends.
The ideal candidate is a polished, hands-on hospitality leader with experience managing sophisticated dining operations, large teams, high guest volumes, and strong financial performance. The concept combines refined Vietnamese cuisine with an elevated dining, bar, lounge, and private-events experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee all day-to-day restaurant operations, including FOH, bar, and guest experience
- Lead and develop management and service teams in a high-volume environment
- Maintain exceptional fine-dining service and hospitality standards
- Drive sales, profitability, guest satisfaction, and operational performance
- Manage labor, food/beverage costs, inventory, purchasing, and controllable expenses
- Monitor P&L performance and implement action plans to improve profitability
- Recruit, train, coach, and develop managers and hourly employees
- Establish clear performance expectations and maintain team accountability
- Oversee high-volume service while maintaining quality and consistency
- Partner with culinary leadership to ensure seamless FOH/BOH execution
- Manage guest relations and resolve service concerns professionally
- Support private dining, catering, and special events
- Analyze operating metrics and identify opportunities for improved efficiency
- Maintain compliance with health, safety, sanitation, and company standards
- Build a strong culture of hospitality, professionalism, and teamwork
Qualifications
- 7+ years of progressive restaurant management experience
- Proven General Manager experience in fine dining, upscale dining, or high-volume full-service restaurants
- Experience managing a $10M+ annual-volume restaurant strongly preferred
- Demonstrated ability to lead large teams and high-volume services
- Strong knowledge of P&L, labor, food/beverage cost, inventory, and financial controls
- Polished guest-facing presence and exceptional hospitality skills
- Experience with private dining, events, or sophisticated beverage programs is a plus
- Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to coach and develop management teams
- Hands-on leadership style with strong operational discipline
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with significant fluctuations in volume
- Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fitensuring both clients and candidates succeed.
