General Manager

About Us

The Popal Group is a growing, family-driven boutique hospitality group setting the standard for dining in Washington, DC through ambitious and story-driven restaurant concepts.We are deeply committed to delivering exceptional dining experiences rooted in authenticity, hospitality, and operational excellence.

We are currently seeking an experienced General Manager to lead our beloved modern Afghan restaurant, Lapis. At Lapis, we celebrate homestyle Afghan cuisine prepared with local, seasonal ingredients and inspired by generations of family recipes. This role calls for a thoughtful, hands-on leader who will steward the restaurant with care, precision, and heart.

Position Overview

The General Manager is responsible for the overall leadership and performance of the restaurant, including team development, financial oversight, guest experience, and operational execution. This individual will serve as the cultural and operational standard-bearer for the restaurant.

Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Staff Management

• Lead, train, and inspire a team of managers, supervisors, servers, culinary staff, and support personnel.
• Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, and teamwork.
• Develop and execute structured training programs to ensure mastery of service standards, menu knowledge, and beverage offerings.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching and professional development.
• Monitor and manage labor costs to align with financial goals.
• Address personnel matters in accordance with company policies and procedures.

Service & Sales Excellence

• Maintain exceptional guest satisfaction by auditing food, beverage, and service standards and implementing improvements where needed.
• Ensure staff consistently delivers anticipatory, detail-oriented hospitality.
• Review and oversee service planning and execution to ensure operational success.
• Analyze sales performance and identify opportunities to drive revenue and profitability.
• Maintain a safe and secure environment for guests and team members, including prompt and thorough incident reporting when necessary.

Operations Management

• Oversee daily restaurant operations across all departments (front-of-house, kitchen, and bar).
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting.
• Maintain full compliance with health, safety, sanitation, and licensing regulations.
• Optimize workflow and staffing models to improve efficiency and service quality.
• Support marketing initiatives and community engagement efforts, offering strategic input when appropriate.

Guest Experience

• Create and sustain a warm, welcoming, and elegant dining atmosphere.
• Lead by example in delivering world-class hospitality.
• Address guest concerns and special requests with discretion, professionalism, and care.
• Implement strategies to enhance guest loyalty, repeat business, and positive reviews.
• Monitor dining room ambiance to ensure a consistently memorable experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience as a General Manager in a high-volume, fast-paced environment
• Strong leadership and team development skills
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Proven conflict resolution abilities
• Technological proficiency (Google Suite, MarginEdg,; Toast)
• Event management experience preferred
• ServSafe DC DOH, ABC certification preferred
• Flexible schedule with weekend and evening availability
• Ability to lift 25 pounds
• Ability to stand for extended period of time

If you are a hospitality-driven leader who values culture, operational excellence, and meaningful guest experiences, we invite you to join our growing team and help lead Lapis into its next chapter.