General Manager - Upscale High-Volume Restaurant | $120K-$130K

GENERAL MANAGER – $13M UPSCALE RESTAURANT

$120,000–$130,000 Base Salary Benefits

Location: Chicago, IL

A high-volume, upscale Chicago restaurant generating approximately $13 million in annual sales is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead the operation.

This is an opportunity for a proven restaurant leader with significant experience managing a multimillion-dollar operation while maintaining exceptional standards for hospitality, service, food and beverage, team development, and financial performance.

The General Manager will have full operational accountability and will lead a large team while driving exceptional guest experiences, strong financial results, and long-term leadership development.

ABOUT THE RESTAURANT

• Approximately $13M in annual sales
• Approximately 250 weekday covers
• 350 covers on weekends
• Upscale, sophisticated dining environment
• High-volume full-service operation
• Elevated food and beverage program
• Strong wine and cocktail program
• Private dining and special events
• Strong focus on hospitality, guest experience, and profitability

POSITION SUMMARY

The General Manager serves as the primary operational leader for the restaurant and sets the standard for hospitality, service, team performance, financial results, and overall restaurant execution.

This leader will oversee both front-of-house and back-of-house operations while partnering with senior leadership on business development, marketing, team development, and overall restaurant performance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead all daily front-of-house and back-of-house restaurant operations
• Recruit, hire, onboard, train, coach, and develop management and hourly team members
• Build a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and exceptional hospitality
• Maintain consistently high standards for service, food quality, cleanliness, and restaurant presentation
• Manage labor scheduling, staffing levels, productivity, and operational readiness
• Drive sales, profitability, EBITDA, and overall financial performance
• Analyze P&Ls, budgets, forecasts, and key performance indicators
• Develop and execute action plans to improve financial and operational results
• Manage labor, food, beverage, and operating costs
• Oversee purchasing, inventory, receiving, storage, waste, and cost-control systems
• Support execution of wine, cocktail, and beverage programs
• Deliver an exceptional guest experience and personally address elevated guest concerns
• Build relationships with repeat guests, VIPs, community partners, and local businesses
• Drive private dining, catering, special events, and local business opportunities
• Support local marketing and business development initiatives
• Partner with HR on employee relations, investigations, corrective actions, and compliance
• Maintain food safety, sanitation, responsible alcohol service, OSHA, and workplace safety standards
• Develop management talent and succession plans
• Monitor guest satisfaction, online reviews, and overall operational performance

QUALIFICATIONS

• 7 years of progressive restaurant management experience
• 3 years of General Manager experience in a high-volume restaurant preferred
• Proven experience leading a multimillion-dollar restaurant operation
• Strong P&L, budgeting, forecasting, and financial management experience
• Strong understanding of labor, food, beverage, and operating cost controls
• Proven ability to lead and develop large restaurant teams
• Experience managing high-volume service environments
• Strong hospitality and guest-experience orientation
• Strong business and financial acumen
• Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills
• ServSafe Manager certification or ability to obtain
• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Business, or related field preferred

IDEAL BACKGROUND

The ideal candidate will have current or recent General Manager, Managing Partner, Restaurant Director, or comparable senior restaurant leadership experience within:

• Fine dining
• Upscale full-service restaurants
• Luxury hospitality
• Premium steakhouses
• High-end seafood restaurants
• Modern Asian concepts
• French or Mediterranean restaurants
• High-volume independent restaurants
• Established premium restaurant groups

Candidates should demonstrate experience personally owning restaurant operations, P&L performance, labor management, cost controls, guest experience, and leadership development.

Candidates from QSR, fast casual, limited-service, or predominantly multi-unit roles without significant single-unit upscale restaurant leadership experience will not be the primary target for this position.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• $120,000–$130,000 base salary
• 10 days PTO
• 100% employer-paid individual health insurance
• Full-time leadership position
• Opportunity to lead a major $13M Chicago restaurant operation

LOCATION

Chicago, IL

Candidates should be based in Chicago or within a practical commuting distance of the restaurant.

If you are an experienced General Manager with a proven track record leading a high-volume, multimillion-dollar upscale restaurant, we would like to hear from you.

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 fit—ensuring both clients and candidates succeed.