Italian Chef jobs in Toronto, ON

Position: Chef

Overview

Here’s a stronger revised intro section that ties Como Sociale directly into the broader Dining Society platform and positions the company vision upfront:

Overview

Dining Society is an innovative and growing hospitality group focused on building distinctive restaurant concepts designed for different markets, guest occasions, and experiences. The group currently operates three unique concepts within its portfolio:

• Queens Harbour — a flagship, high-energy waterfront dining destination in downtown Toronto
• Taps Public House — a proven neighbourhood concept built around approachable hospitality, strong beverage culture, and everyday occasions
• Como Sociale — a premium-casual coastal Italian social house where old-school hospitality meets modern energy

As Dining Society’s newest concept, Como Sociale is designed to become one of Toronto’s most exciting hospitality destinations. Rooted in bold flavour, live-fire cooking, vibrant atmosphere, and unforgettable guest experiences, Como Sociale blends the soul of classic Italian-American dining with contemporary execution and elevated hospitality.

Located at Bloor & Islington in Etobicoke, Como Sociale is seeking a highly skilled and creative Chef to help shape the culinary identity of the restaurant from the ground up.

This is not a traditional kitchen management role. We are looking for a chef with true culinary vision - someone passionate about developing incredible dishes, refining and elevating menu offerings, and creating systems that ensure consistency at scale. The ideal candidate is both an innovator and a teacher: someone capable of building memorable culinary experiences while mentoring and training kitchen leadership teams to execute at the highest level every day.

Working closely with Executive Chef Julien Laffargue and the ownership group, this role offers the opportunity to help define a flagship culinary concept within an ambitious and growing hospitality group.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary direction and day-to-day kitchen operations for Como Sociale
• Collaborate with ownership and Executive Chef Julien Laffargue on menu development, seasonal features, and culinary innovation
• Develop bold, memorable, and operationally executable dishes aligned with the Como Sociale concept and brand identity
• Build systems, recipes, prep standards, and training procedures that ensure consistency and excellence across all service periods
• Train, mentor, and develop Sous Chefs, Kitchen Managers, and culinary teams to execute dishes to exact standards
• Oversee food quality, presentation, taste, consistency, and overall guest experience
• Drive a culture of accountability, craftsmanship, urgency, and hospitality within the kitchen
• Manage food costs, inventory, ordering, labour targets, and operational efficiencies without compromising quality
• Work closely with front-of-house leadership to ensure seamless execution and elevated guest experiences
• Maintain a clean, organized, and high-performing kitchen environment
• Stay current with culinary trends while remaining grounded in the soul and identity of the concept
• Play an active role in opening, training, and building one of the GTA’s most exciting restaurant concepts

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a Chef de Cuisine, Executive Sous Chef, or senior culinary leader in a high-volume, premium dining environment
• Strong background in Italian, coastal Mediterranean, wood-fire, or live-fire cooking concepts is highly preferred
• Passion for menu creation, flavour development, plating, and culinary storytelling
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire, mentor, and develop teams
• Experience building kitchen systems and maintaining consistency in fast-paced environments
• Strong understanding of food costing, labour management, inventory systems, and operational controls
• Ability to balance creativity with operational practicality
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• High standards, strong attention to detail, and relentless commitment to excellence
• Ability to thrive in an energetic, high-performance hospitality culture

Why Join Como Sociale

Como Sociale is part of Dining Society, an innovative hospitality group behind concepts including Taps Public House and Queens Harbour. Como Sociale represents the group’s urban flagship thesis - a premium-casual, design-forward, high-energy dining concept built around exceptional food, beverage, and atmosphere.

This is an opportunity to work alongside a seasoned hospitality ownership group and learn directly from internationally experienced Executive Chef Julien Laffargue, whose background includes Michelin-starred kitchens and luxury hospitality brands around the world.

We are building something special - a restaurant where stories are made, standards are high, and the culinary program is central to the experience.

Total Compensation

• Base pay and tips $83,000-$110,000 annually
• Plus eligibility in Bonus Program

Opportunity for Ownership

At Dining Society, we believe great operators should have the opportunity to become true partners in the business they help build.

Qualified candidates will have the opportunity to purchase shares in Como Sociale and participate as a long-term operating partner within the restaurant. In addition to direct investment opportunities, select candidates may also be eligible to receive sweat equity shares based on performance, leadership contribution, and long-term commitment to the success of the concept.

Pay: $83,000.00-$110,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Disability insurance
• Discounted or free food
• Employee assistance program
• Extended health care
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• Vision care

Work Location: In person