Restaurant General Manager – Exciting New Restaurant Opening

Restaurant General Manager – Exciting New Restaurant Opening

Houston, TX | $75,000 Base Salary + Bonus Opportunity | Opening February 2027

Build the team. Shape the culture. Lead the experience.

We are conducting a confidential search for an exceptional Restaurant General Manager to lead the opening of an exciting new upscale, family-friendly restaurant in Houston, Texas.

This independently owned restaurant will feature authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, including Syrian and Yemeni culinary influences, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients, thoughtfully prepared dishes, welcoming hospitality, and an elevated yet comfortable dining experience.

We are looking for a polished, personable, and experienced restaurant leader who understands that exceptional hospitality begins with a great team.

This is an opportunity to help build a restaurant from the ground up, working closely with ownership to establish a positive culture, develop a strong team, and create an outstanding guest experience.

What You'll Do

• Lead all aspects of daily restaurant operations, including front-of-house service, staffing, guest satisfaction, and financial performance.
• Partner with ownership and the Executive Chef to execute the restaurant's vision, service standards, and operational goals.
• Recruit, hire, train, and develop a high-performing restaurant team.
• Establish a warm, welcoming, and professional hospitality culture.
• Develop and implement operating procedures, service standards, and training programs.
• Oversee scheduling, labor management, inventory controls, purchasing, and operating expenses.
• Monitor restaurant performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and maintain financial accountability.
• Build meaningful relationships with guests and create experiences that encourage repeat visits.
• Resolve guest and employee concerns with professionalism, sound judgment, and empathy.
• Play a critical leadership role throughout pre-opening preparations, staff training, and the successful restaurant launch.

What We're Looking For

• Proven restaurant management experience, preferably as a General Manager or experienced Assistant General Manager ready for the next step.
• A background in upscale casual, full-service, chef-driven, or high-quality independent restaurant concepts.
• A mature, confident leader who demonstrates sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and professionalism.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and a genuine passion for hospitality and guest satisfaction.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to balance competing priorities.
• Experience hiring, training, coaching, and leading restaurant teams.
• Financial and operational knowledge, including labor management, cost controls, and restaurant performance.
• A hands-on leadership style with the ability to inspire accountability, teamwork, and excellence.
• Appreciation for diverse cultures, authentic cuisine, and creating an inclusive, welcoming environment.

Experience with Middle Eastern cuisine is a plus, but not required. We are especially interested in leaders who demonstrate curiosity, cultural appreciation, and enthusiasm for bringing a unique restaurant concept to life.

Why This Is a Great Opportunity

• Be an opening General Manager: Help establish the restaurant's foundation and shape its future success.
• Work directly with ownership: Bring your ideas, operational expertise, and leadership experience to the table.
• Build a great team: Create a service culture rooted in genuine hospitality, professionalism, and respect.
• Lead a distinctive concept: Help introduce an elevated and welcoming Middle Eastern dining experience to Houston.
• Make a meaningful impact: This is an opportunity to help create something special, not simply maintain an existing operation.

Compensation & Opportunity

Base Salary: $75,000 Annually

Performance Bonus Opportunity: A bonus program is being developed, with a preliminary opportunity to earn up to an additional 10% of annual base salary, subject to final program terms and eligibility.

Full-time leadership position with an anticipated opening in February 2027. Hiring is underway to allow the selected General Manager to participate in pre-opening planning, team development, and restaurant launch.

Interested?

If you're an accomplished restaurant leader who combines operational excellence with genuine warmth, emotional intelligence, and a passion for hospitality, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today for confidential consideration.

This search is being conducted by a professional hospitality recruiting partner on behalf of an independent restaurant group in Houston, Texas.