Restaurant Manager | Pizza & Bar Leader | Hands-On Operator

Location: Darien, IL
Salary: $60,000–$75,000 based on experience

Now Hiring: Restaurant Manager

Are you a hands-on restaurant leader who enjoys being part of the action?

We are looking for an experienced Restaurant Manager to lead daily operations for a successful family-owned pizza and full-service restaurant.

Known for our famous thin-crust pizza, full-service bar, pasta, sandwiches, seafood, and diverse menu offerings, we are seeking a true restaurant operator who can lead a team, maintain high standards, and help drive the continued success of the business.

This is not a role for someone who only manages from behind a desk. We are looking for a leader who is comfortable running the floor, supporting the kitchen, developing employees, and stepping in wherever needed to ensure the restaurant delivers an exceptional guest experience.

The ideal candidate has experience in pizza, Italian restaurants, bar & grill concepts, casual dining, or independent restaurants and understands what it takes to operate a successful restaurant.

What You’ll Do

• Lead daily restaurant operations across front-of-house and back-of-house
• Take ownership of the restaurant’s overall performance and team success
• Build, coach, and develop a strong restaurant team
• Create schedules based on sales, staffing needs, and labor goals
• Manage labor costs, food costs, inventory, and operational expenses
• Support restaurant profitability and P&L performance
• Maintain high standards for food quality, service, cleanliness, and safety
• Assist kitchen operations during busy periods
• Support pizza production, ovens, food preparation, and menu execution
• Ensure consistency across dine-in, carryout, catering, banquet, and delivery operations
• Train team members and create a positive workplace culture
• Lead by example and be actively involved in daily service

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a restaurant leader who takes pride in operations and enjoys building successful teams.

The ideal candidate:

• Has previous restaurant management experience
• Has experience in pizza, Italian, casual dining, or full-service restaurants
• Is comfortable leading both FOH and BOH operations
• Is a hands-on leader who works alongside the team
• Understands restaurant financials, labor management, and food costs
• Has experience hiring, training, and developing employees
• Can confidently manage busy service periods
• Has strong communication and leadership skills
• Brings an ownership mentality and team-first attitude

Preferred Experience

• Restaurant Manager, Assistant General Manager, General Manager, or Kitchen Manager experience
• Pizza restaurant experience preferred
• Independent restaurant experience highly valued
• Experience with catering, banquets, and high-volume service
• Food safety certifications preferred

What We Offer

• Competitive salary: $60,000–$75,000 based on experience
• Benefits package
• Growth opportunities
• Family-owned restaurant culture
• Employee recognition programs
• Meal discounts

If you are a hands-on restaurant professional who loves the restaurant business and wants to make an impact, we would love 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.