Find & Apply For Restaurant / Food Service Manager Jobs in Los Gatos, California

lelé kitchen | Los Gatos, CA At lelé kitchen, we believe Eastern European cuisine deserves the same level of respect as the world's great culinary traditions. Our food is rooted in the flavors and techniques of Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Georgia, Russia and the Baltics, interpreted through California's extraordinary farm produce. We're looking for a General Manager to work closely with the owner and chef, lead our team, and take responsibility for the restaurant's daily operations and business performance. This is an active, on-site leadership role for someone who loves hospitality, understands restaurant finances, and can turn ideas into consistent execution. What You'll Do Lead daily operations and service. Maintain high standards of hospitality, coordinate the front and back of house, and stay actively involved on the floor. Build and develop the team. Manage recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, time-off requests, and performance feedback. Create a supportive workplace with clear expectations and accountability. Manage financial performance. Monitor sales, labor costs, purchasing, and operating expenses. Build schedules around demand, identify opportunities to improve productivity, and work with the owner and chef toward agreed financial goals. Grow sales and repeat business. Partner with our marketing team on initiatives that bring guests in and encourage them to return. Manage private event and buyout inquiries from initial response through execution, with attention to profitability. Own the guest experience. Oversee reservations, guest communications, feedback, online reviews, and complaint resolution. Build relationships with regulars and the local community. Keep systems and administration organized. Maintain POS and reservation systems, coordinate menu updates, review timecards and tip reporting, and keep employee records, invoices, and operational documents accurate and current. Oversee restaurant readiness and compliance. Maintain standards for cleanliness, food safety, and workplace practices; manage supplies and vendor relationships; and coordinate equipment repairs and maintenance. Work closely with ownership and the chef. Review results regularly, set priorities, communicate challenges early, and follow through on agreed action plans. What We're Looking For Previous experience as a General Manager or an experienced Assistant General Manager in a full-service restaurant. A track record of leading teams, delivering excellent service, and improving operational performance. Strong understanding of restaurant financials, labor planning, cost control, and sales development. Confidence with hiring, training, coaching, and resolving difficult situations professionally. Strong organization, clear communication, and reliable follow-through. Comfort using POS, reservation, scheduling, and reporting tools; experience with Square and OpenTable is a plus. Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed. A genuine interest in food, wine, and thoughtful hospitality. Why Join lelé You'll work directly with an involved owner and chef, have a meaningful voice in how the restaurant operates, and help shape the next stage of an independent restaurant with a distinctive culinary identity. To Apply Please submit your resume and a short introduction describing your management experience and an example of how you improved a restaurant's operations or financial performance. About lelé kitchen We are a chef-driven, independently owned restaurant serving modern California cuisine through an Eastern European lens, or Eastern European cuisine interpreted through California produce. Our menu changes constantly with the seasons and features handmade pasta, bread, fermentation, and preservation. We offer refined à la carte and tasting-menu experiences. Every plate reflects precision and curiosity. We value humility, consistency, craftsmanship, and hospitality as much as technical ability. Competitive salary based on experience, starting at no less than $80,000. Five-day workweek, averaging 46-52 hours. If you're looking for a place where your ideas matter, your cooking continues to grow, and your work has a real impact, we'd love to hear from you. Please send your resume, a few words about yourself, and a couple of photos of your food, and let's meet in person.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$80,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year

Experience:

Sous-Chef:

2 years (Required)

Language:

English (Required) Ability to

Commute:

Los Gatos, CA 95032 (Required)

Work Location:

In person