Head Chef | Senior Sous Chef – Italian Restaurant

Head Chef | Senior Sous Chef – Italian Restaurant

Ristorante Papa – Five Dock, Sydney NSW Part of the Papa Group Full-Time | Wednesday to Sunday

Lead the Kitchen at One of Sydney’s Established Italian Restaurants

Ristorante Papa is looking for an experienced Head Chef (or a strong Senior Sous Chef ready to step up) to lead our kitchen.

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a well-established restaurant with a loyal customer base, genuine creative input, and the support of a respected family-owned hospitality group. You’ll have the freedom to lead your team while being backed by experienced owners who value quality, consistency, and great people.

If you’re passionate about authentic Italian food and want to build something long-term, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead all day-to-day kitchen operations
• Deliver high-quality, authentic Italian cuisine
• Inspire, train and mentor the kitchen team
• Manage ordering, stock control and food costs
• Maintain food safety and kitchen standards
• Work with management on seasonal specials and menu development
• Ensure smooth, efficient service every shift

About You

You’ll ideally have:

• Previous experience as a Head Chef, or be a talented Senior Sous Chef ready for your next step
• Strong experience in Italian cuisine
• Excellent leadership and communication skills
• The ability to stay calm and organised during busy service
• A passion for producing consistently high-quality food
• Pride in running an efficient, professional kitchen

Why Join Ristorante Papa?

• Competitive salary (based on experience)
• Consistent Wednesday to Sunday roster
• Genuine autonomy to lead your kitchen
• Supportive and experienced ownership team
• Long-term career opportunity within the Papa Group
• Established venue with loyal customers and steady trade
• Opportunity to influence menu development
• Stable, family-owned hospitality business

About Us

Ristorante Papa one of Sydney’s long-standing Italian hospitality businesses. For 35 years we’ve built our reputation on authentic Italian food, quality ingredients, and genuine hospitality.

We’re looking for a chef who shares those values and wants to build a long-term future with us.

If you’re a Head Chef who wants to lead rather than follow, this is your opportunity. Please send us an email to HRManager@ppapa.com.au