Upscale Casual Restaurant jobs

Restaurant Manager

Kerr Street Cafe — Oakville, Ontario

Full-Time | Permanent | On-Site

Kerr Street Cafe is looking for an experienced, energetic, and people-focused RestaurantManager to join our growing team in the heart of Oakville's Kerr Village.

We are a busy brunch restaurant known for made-from-scratch food with great presentation and flavour, great coffee, warm hospitality, and a fast-paced service environment. Beyond the cafe, our business includes boutique catering, private events, and a growing retail marketplace featuring chef-made prepared foods amongst many other items.

We're looking for a leader who thrives in a busy restaurant, genuinely enjoys working with people, and can help us deliver an exceptional experience for our guests while supporting and developing our team.

The Role

As Restaurant Manager, working under the direction of the General Manager and owner, you will be responsible for the day-to-day front-of-house operation and will work closely with kitchen leadership team to maintain high standards of service, hospitality, cleanliness, and efficiency.

This is a hands-on management position. You'll be on the floor leading by example, supporting the team during service, solving problems as they arise, and ensuring guests leave with a great experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate the front-of-house team during daily service.
• Create a positive, professional, and team-oriented work environment.
• Oversee daily opening, service, side work, and closing procedures.
• Ensure consistently high standards of guest service and hospitality.
• Manage busy weekend and peak-period service while maintaining calm and organized operations.
• Coach, train, and develop servers / baristas.
• Assist with onboarding, scheduling, and performance management.
• -Coffee knowledge / experience is an asset.
• Monitor labour and staffing levels to ensure an efficient operation.
• Maintain strong communication between front-of-house and kitchen teams.
• Handle guest concerns professionally and turn challenging situations into positive experiences.
• Ensure food safety, cleanliness, health and safety, and restaurant standards are consistently followed.
• Oversee cash handling, POS procedures, daily deposits, and end-of-day reporting.
• Monitor inventory and supplies and communicate purchasing needs to management.
• Help maintain service standards across the cafe, catering, and retail operations.
• Support private events and catering functions when required.
• Identify opportunities to improve service, sales, efficiency, and the overall guest experience.
• Work with ownership and leadership to implement new systems, procedures, promotions, and initiatives.
• Lead by example and be willing to jump in wherever the team needs support.

What We're Looking For

• 3+ years of restaurant management or supervisory experience, preferably in a high-volume, full-service or upscale casual restaurant.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills.
• A genuine passion for hospitality and creating memorable guest experiences.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to remain calm, positive, and solutions-focused during busy services.
• Strong understanding of restaurant operations, labour management, and customer service.
• Experience with POS systems, cash handling, scheduling, and inventory is an asset.
• Food Handler Certification is preferred.
• Smart Serve certification is required if working with alcohol service.
• Ability to work weekends and holidays is a must.
• Must be comfortable working on your feet and being actively involved in restaurant operations.
• Strong English communication skills.

The Ideal Candidate

You are more than someone who can run a shift.

You're a leader, coach, problem-solver, and hospitality professional who understands that great restaurants are built around great people.

You know how to set expectations without micromanaging. You can motivate a team during a Saturday morning rush, handle a difficult guest with professionalism, and still notice when someone on your team needs support.

You're organized, accountable, energetic, and take pride in the details.

Most importantly, you want to be part of a growing local restaurant business where you can have a real impact.

What We Offer

• Full-time, permanent position
• Daytime-focused restaurant operation — no regular late-night shifts
• Tip participation
• Manager Meals
• Flexible scheduling
• On-site parking
• Opportunity to grow with an established and expanding Oakville hospitality business
• A fast-paced, creative, and team-oriented work environment

About Kerr Street Cafe

Kerr Street Cafe has been serving Oakville for more than 15 years and has grown into more than just a brunch restaurant. Our business now includes the cafe, catering for corporate and private events, and a retail marketplace featuring chef-made meals and specialty products.

We are proud of what we've built and are looking for a Restaurant Manager who wants to help us take the next step.

Location: Oakville, Ontario
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Schedule: Daytime shifts, including weekends and holidays as required
Work Location: In person

How to Apply

If you're an experienced restaurant leader who loves hospitality and believes great service starts with a great team, we'd love to hear from you.

Please submit your resume outlining your restaurant management experience.

Kerr Street Cafe is an equal opportunity employer.

Pay: $20.00-$22.00 per hour

Expected hours: 30.0 – 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• On-site parking
• Store discount

Work Location: In person