Restaurant General Manager

Cape Town | Established Restaurant & Hospitality Brand

We are looking for a dynamic, experienced and hands-on General Manager to lead our restaurant team and take ownership of the day-to-day operation of the business.

We are looking for a strong hospitality operator who can bring structure, leadership and accountability to the restaurant while protecting the personality and atmosphere that make Florentin special.

This is a senior operational role for someone who is equally comfortable leading a busy service, managing staff, analysing restaurant performance, controlling costs and engaging with guests on the floor.

The right person will take real ownership of the restaurant and work closely with the owners and kitchen leadership to continually improve the business.

YOU SHOULD BE:

• A natural leader with a strong, people-first management style.
• Passionate about hospitality, food and exceptional service.
• Confident, decisive and comfortable taking ownership of the operation.
• Highly organised and strong on restaurant systems and administration.
• Commercially minded, with a good understanding of turnover, labour costs, food costs and restaurant profitability.
• Strong at managing, motivating and developing people.
• Comfortable holding staff accountable and maintaining high standards.
• Energetic, positive and solutions-focused.
• Calm and effective under pressure during busy services.
• Hands-on and willing to get involved wherever required.
• Professional, well-presented and an excellent communicator.
• Naturally hospitable and passionate about creating regular customers.
• Able to balance the guest experience with the commercial realities of running a successful restaurant.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Restaurant Operations

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day operation.
• Lead front-of-house operations and maintain a strong management presence during service.
• Ensure consistently high standards of food, service, cleanliness and presentation.
• Manage opening, service and closing procedures.
• Ensure smooth communication between front and back of house.
• Identify operational problems and implement practical solutions.
• Maintain and continually improve restaurant systems, procedures and standards.
• Ensure the restaurant is fully prepared for each trading day.

People & Leadership

• Lead, manage and motivate the restaurant team.
• Recruit and onboard staff when required.
• Train and develop managers, supervisors, waiters and front-of-house staff.
• Establish clear service standards and hold the team accountable for delivering them.
• Manage staff attendance, punctuality, conduct and performance.
• Prepare and manage weekly staff rosters.
• Manage labour efficiently in relation to expected trade.
• Conduct regular team briefings and training sessions.
• Build a positive, professional and high-performing restaurant culture.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Monitor daily and weekly restaurant sales and performance.
• Understand the key numbers driving the business.
• Manage cash-ups and daily financial controls.
• Monitor labour costs and staffing efficiency.
• Assist ownership with budgets, forecasts and restaurant performance reviews.
• Identify opportunities to increase turnover and average spend.
• Manage wastage, complimentary items, discounts and unnecessary costs.
• Work closely with the kitchen and ownership team to protect restaurant margins.

Stock & Controls

• Oversee stock ordering, receiving and stock control.
• Monitor beverage and operational stock levels.
• Conduct and oversee regular stock counts.
• Investigate stock variances and wastage.
• Ensure purchasing and receiving procedures are correctly followed.
• Maintain appropriate stock levels without unnecessary over-ordering.
• Work closely with the kitchen team to maintain strong food and beverage cost controls.

Guest Experience

• Be highly visible and engaged on the restaurant floor.
• Build relationships with regular guests and develop new regular customers.
• Handle guest feedback and complaints professionally and constructively.
• Ensure every guest receives a warm, efficient and memorable experience.
• Maintain Florentin's atmosphere, energy and personality throughout service.
• Identify opportunities to improve the customer journey.
• Work with the owners on promotions, events and initiatives that encourage repeat business.

Business Development & Growth

The General Manager will therefore also be expected to:

• Identify opportunities to improve turnover and profitability.
• Develop initiatives to increase repeat business.
• Help improve staff productivity and service efficiency.
• Work with the owners on events, promotions and special trading opportunities.
• Continuously evaluate operational systems and recommend improvements.
• Help strengthen Florentin's reputation as one of Cape Town's standout hospitality experiences.

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 4–5 years' restaurant management experience, preferably in a busy, high-quality restaurant or hospitality environment.
• Previous experience as a General Manager, Restaurant Manager or senior FOH manager.
• Proven experience managing and leading a restaurant team.
• Strong understanding of both front and back-of-house restaurant operations.
• Strong knowledge of restaurant service, staffing, stock control and operational procedures.
• Good commercial understanding of restaurant costs and performance.
• Experience managing cash-ups, stock takes, rosters and restaurant administration.
• Excellent communication, presentation and leadership skills.
• Strong administrative and organisational ability.
• Computer literate and comfortable working with restaurant POS and management systems.
• Must be comfortable working evenings, weekends and public holidays.
• Must be able to reliably commute to the restaurant.
• Contactable references from previous hospitality employers are essential.

WHAT WE OFFER

Position: Restaurant General Manager
Location: Cape Town CBD
Salary: Market and experience related
Working hours: Full-time hospitality schedule, including evenings, weekends and public holidays
Start date: As soon as possible / by agreement

This is an opportunity for an experienced hospitality professional to take genuine ownership of an established restaurant, work directly with the owners and play an important role in the next stage of the restaurant's growth

We are looking for someone who wants to run the restaurant as if it were their own — someone who cares about the numbers, the team, the food, the guests and the reputation of the business.

TO APPLY

Please submit:

• Your CV
• A recent photograph
• A brief cover letter outlining your restaurant management experience
• Contactable references

Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of applying, please consider your application unsuccessful.

Job Types: Full-time, Temp to perm

Pay: R18 000,00 - R25 000,00 per month

Education:

• Certificate (Preferred)

Experience:

• General Management: 4 years (Preferred)

Location:

• Cape Town, Western Cape (Required)

Work Location: In person