Restaurant General Manager

About the Opportunity

Hidden Creek Estates is a family-owned restaurant, wine bar, and hospitality destination set on 77 acres just outside Rockford. Our scratch kitchen, wine and cocktail program, and distinctive estate setting offer an opportunity outside the traditional restaurant environment.

We are seeking an experienced General Manager to work directly with ownership in leading daily restaurant and beverage operations. This is a hands-on position for someone who enjoys being on the floor, developing employees, and delivering thoughtful, polished service.

Ownership will remain actively involved in the restaurant. The GM must also be confident independently managing service, making sound decisions, and maintaining our standards when ownership is not present.

Responsibilities

• Lead service and the guest experience. Oversee the dining room and bar, monitor service pacing, coordinate with the kitchen, and address guest needs and concerns professionally.
• Develop and manage the team. Create front-of-house schedules, lead preshift meetings, coordinate onboarding and ongoing training, assess employee knowledge, and provide consistent coaching and accountability.
• Oversee beverage operations. Manage inventory and ordering within approved budgets, coordinate bar prep, monitor product usage and waste, and maintain organized cocktail recipes, batching instructions, and prep procedures.
• Maintain menus and team communication. Work with ownership and the culinary team to keep menus accurate and ensure employees are prepared to execute menu changes confidently.
• Ensure operational follow-through. Verify opening and closing checklists, oversee restaurant readiness and closing procedures, and communicate staffing, maintenance, and operational needs to ownership.

Experience and Qualifications

We are looking for someone with at least two years of restaurant management experience, including leadership in an upscale or fine-dining environment.

Candidates should have demonstrated experience independently leading service, training employees, handling guest concerns, and maintaining consistent standards. Strong food, wine, and cocktail knowledge, along with experience in scheduling, inventory, and ordering, is important.

We value an approachable leader who communicates clearly, follows through, and holds employees accountable respectfully. Experience with Toast, SevenRooms, and Sling is helpful but not required.

Schedule

The regular schedule is Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday and Monday off.

Tuesday: Approximately four flexible administrative hours.
Wednesday and Thursday: 2:00 p.m. to 11 p.m., including opening and closing responsibilities.
Friday and Saturday: 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., including opening and closing responsibilities. Ownership will open and provide support through peak service.

Expected workload: Approximately 40 hours per week, including scheduled shifts and additional management responsibilities.