Tortello is an Italian-owned, family-run restaurant & pasta shop rooted in artisanal craft, simple high quality ingredients, and the rituals of Italy.  A 3-year Michelin Bib Gourmand winner and Wicker Park neighborhood gem, we are looking for truly passionate artisans to join our team.  Fresh handmade pasta is the spotlight of Tortello, with the best station in the restaurant - our front window.  You'll lead our pasta program, overseeing the quality of our product with the very best at your fingertips: the highest quality imported Italian flour in the city, local farm eggs fed well to produce the deep orange yolks of Italy, and top level hand-crafted pasta tools.  Working for a small, independent, Italian-owned restaurant, you'll have a voice within the Tortello family.  Our pasta is now available in grocery stores across the Chicago area, but our sfoglini (pasta makers) sit at the heart of the Tortello experience.  With the expansion of our private event space upstairs, you'll also be leading our pasta class program.  

If you’re passionate about food, experienced with pasta, good with people, a positive force of energy, organized and productive, and excited to be part of something special, then we’d love to work with you.  

As Head Pasta Maker & Teacher, you are responsible for overseeing pasta production for the restaurant as well as pasta class development & execution. The role requires the following:

Restaurant Pasta Production Oversight, Quality Assurance & Safety

• Provide guidance, training, and mentorship to the restaurant pasta team to ensure efficient, consistent and high-quality production, in a positive and productive manner.
• Implement and maintain strict quality control measures to ensure the products meet established standards of taste, texture, and appearance.
• Ensure a safe working environment for the production team by adhering to health and safety guidelines and promoting best practices.

• Collaborate with kitchen leadership to develop and refine pasta recipes and weekly specials, experimenting with different ingredients and classic techniques to bring authentic Italian offerings to Chicago.
• Bring unique pasta shapes to the pasta case weekly

• Lead & support pasta needs of key marketing and sales opportunities
• Ex: PR opportunities like our appearance on Seasons 2 and 3 of The Bear, or our recent shooting for Diners, Drive-ins & Dives
• Ex: Sales opportunities like our monthly Table 22 Pasta Club
• Lead custom order requests, preparing for and delegating as required

• Lead restaurant small format classes weeknights in our pasta window, including managing guest relations for class requests and issues through email & the Tock platform 
• Design & execute new pasta class formats as needed for private event offerings
• Ex: kids birthday parties, cocktail hour “mini” classes
• Working with restaurant ownership, maintain necessary costs (labor & food) to help make this a healthy revenue stream
• Present yourself well to clients including timely response to client communication

• Strong work ethic, communication and time management skills
• A roll up your sleeves kind of person with a strong focus on solutions vs problems.
• Engaging energy and passion - you are center stage at the core of Tortello
• An extraordinary sense of team and collaboration without ego
• Bring positive energy and contribute to a positive working environment
• Availability to work a flexible schedule
• Ability to exert well-paced mobility for up to 8 hours and lift up to 50 lbs.
• 3+ years of pasta, bread, pastry experience

• Michelin Bib Gourmand, 2024, 2023, 2022  https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/illinois/chicago/restaurant/tortello-pastificio
• Gambero Rosso, 2024, 2023, 2022 (Italy's version of Michelin, awarding Italian authenticity abroad) https://www.gamberorossointernational.com/restaurants/restaurant/tortello/
• The Bear, seasons 2 & 3
• Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, airing December 27, 2024
• Chicago Magazine, Best New Restaurants 2020
• Jean Banchet Nomination, Best Counter Service 2019

Tortello is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.