Find & Apply For Restaurant / Food Service Manager Jobs in Palm Desert, California

Join Our Team as a Bench General Manager Are you a proven restaurant leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, builds strong teams, and drives results wherever you go? At Luna Grill, you won't just hear us say we have great culture, we can prove it:

Rapid Growth:

We built 11 new restaurants across Southern California, Arizona, and Texas in 2026, with more growth planned for 2027 (including our first locations in Nevada!!). Growth like this means real opportunity: more restaurants, more leadership roles, and more room to move up.

Training & Culture That Works:

Our restaurant-level turnover sits below 50%!!! less than half the industry average. That's not an accident; it's what happens when people are developed, supported, and are a part of something great!

A Team That's Winning:

We've averaged a 4.8 guest review rating on Google and Yelp company-wide for two years running!!Join a team that's winning and be a winner with us. As a Bench General Manager, you'll step into a high-impact leadership role supporting multiple South OC locations, mentoring future leaders, and ensuring operational excellence across the board.

This role is a launchpad:

you'll report to a District Manager, rotate across our South OC restaurants (Irvine, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, San Clemente & beyond), and build the experience to grow into a GM role, Area/District leadership, or a position at our Restaurant Support Center. We build leaders from within every level​: Shift Leader → AGM → GM → Bench GM and beyond. Why You'll Love Working Here Competitive hourly rate + guaranteed overtime (50-hour workweek) (compensation varies by region and market) Quarterly bonuses Medical, Dental and Vision insurance 401(k) Paid time off, Paid Holidays and Sick leave Career Advancement Opportunities Employee Referral Bonuses What You'll Do Lead and oversee daily operations at assigned restaurant locations Serve as Acting General Manager when needed and support multiple restaurants Drive operational excellence in food quality, cleanliness, safety, and hospitality Lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams and future leaders Build a strong leadership pipeline by mentoring AGMs, Shift Leaders, and Team Members Own operational execution including opening, mid-shift, and closing procedures Be the final decision-maker on escalated guest concerns, leading with hospitality Manage labor, food, and operating costs to achieve financial goals Analyze reports and trends to improve performance and profitability Partner with the District Manager to execute strategic and operational initiatives Foster a positive, inclusive, and accountability-driven culture Support local marketing and community engagement efforts What We're Looking For 5+ years of restaurant management experience Strong understanding of both

FOH & BOH

operations Proven leadership and people development skills Experience managing P&L, labor, and cost controls Ability to coach, hold accountability, and inspire teams Detail-oriented, organized, and solution-focused Tech savvy (POS, KDS, Dayforce, Microsoft Office) Bilingual English/Spanish preferred Valid Food Manager Certification required Flexible schedule including nights, weekends & holidays Willing and able to travel between locations Who We Are We are Lunatics — driven by culture, standards, and teamwork, where people come first. You will not just be running shifts. You will be mentoring AGMs and shift leaders, shaping how a restaurant runs, and building a track record across multiple locations that most GM roles never give you the chance to build. Luna Grill participates in E-Verify for all positions. E-Verify is an internet-based system operated by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the eligibility of new employees to work in the United States. E-Verify checks information provided on an employee's Form I-9 electronically against records contained in DHS and SSA databases. Luna Grill is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment to our team members, job applicants, the guests we serve, and the communities we call home. Luna Grill also has a longstanding policy of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of discrimination, including harassment, because of race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.