What does a Restaurant General Manager do?
Restaurant General Managers work at various types of eateries, from fast food restaurants to fine dining establishments. Their general duties are similar across the board, but there are differences, such as the experience the guests expect, the type of food served, promotions that work well and the budget. They primarily manage the front-of-house staff while the Kitchen Manager or Executive Chef manages the kitchen staff, but they serve as the leader of the restaurant as a whole. Restaurant General Managers ensure the day-to-day operations occur smoothly to provide the best possible guest experience. While many of the same duties occur each day, the restaurant industry is variable, so no two days are exactly alike for the Manager.
Restaurant General Manager skills and qualifications
Good Restaurant General Managers need a diverse set of skills to handle the variety of responsibilities that come up during the average day. Prerequisite skills and experience typically includes:
- Leadership to guide and inspire the staff
- Understanding of how the food service industry works
- Strong organizational skills to keep things running smoothly
- Problem-solving skills for unexpected circumstances, such as staffing shortages or unhappy customers
- Financial knowledge to manage the budget effectively and keep the restaurant profitable
- Analytical skills to interpret reports and make data-driven decisions
- Experience using restaurant management software
- Customer service and interpersonal skills to create positive relationships
Restaurant General Manager experience requirements
While there are no standardized experience requirements, most restaurants expect Managers to have several years of experience in the industry. Candidates for Restaurant General Manager careers typically have previous experience in a food service supervisory role, such as a Shift Supervisor or Assistant Restaurant Manager. Fine dining restaurants often expect more experience than fast food restaurants. Managers from other industries might move over to the restaurant industry if they have sufficient management experience that can transfer.
Restaurant General Manager education and training requirements
There are no established education or training requirements to become a Restaurant General Manager. Some Managers begin with only a high school diploma, starting as a server or cook and moving up through supervisory and management positions. Some restaurants prefer candidates who have an associate or bachelor’s degree in hospitality or a related field.
Restaurant General Manager salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Restaurant General Manager is $52,079 per year. Salaries can vary based on the experience, location and type of restaurant, such as fast food, casual dining or fine dining.
Restaurant General Manager salary expectations
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Common salary:
61875.06 YEARLY -
Typical salaries range from
25000.00 -114000.00 YEARLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Job description samples for similar positions
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Restaurant General Manager job description FAQs
What qualities make a good Restaurant General Manager?
Restaurant General Managers juggle a variety of responsibilities in a fast-paced environment, so ideal candidates stay calm under pressure and know how to switch gears easily. Strong interpersonal skills come in handy when dealing with difficult customers or resolving conflicts between staff members. It helps to have a passion for providing excellent customer service. An ideal candidate should know how to delegate tasks, lead by example and inspire employees to work hard.
Who reports to a Restaurant General Manager?
All staff members working in the establishment report to the Restaurant General Manager. This person directly supervises all other Managers and supervisory personnel, such as the Bar Manager, Kitchen Manager and Shift Supervisors. The Restaurant General Manager also supervises the staff members below them, including Restaurant Servers, Food Runners and Hosts.
How can you make your Restaurant General Manager job description stand out?
Making your job description attractive can help you get more applicants, so you have a wider talent pool for hiring. Describe the unique branding and culture that make your restaurant unique. Include special perks related to the job, such as free uniforms or meals during shifts. Have fun with the job description to show your restaurant’s personality. For example, if it’s a country-themed barbecue restaurant, play up the country slang and create a casual tone to the job description.
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