Assistant Restaurant/Cafe Manager

Hospitality has become too scripted, too corporate and too disconnected from the people inside it. We're trying to move back towards something more genuine — strong hospitality, strong teams and restaurants that feel good to be in.

We're looking for an Assistant Restaurant/Cafe Manager for one of our busy Italian venues in Melbourne.

This role sits close to the floor. It is for someone who loves service, understands people and can help lead a restaurant through busy services with calmness, warmth and control.

We believe great service is not just about steps and systems. It is about awareness, timing, instinct and care. Reading the room, supporting the team, noticing the details and making guests feel genuinely looked after.

This role is for someone who can lead from the front, support the Restaurant Manager, guide the floor team and help create a venue that feels warm, organised and professional.

The focus is on service, people and consistency.

The role includes:

• leading daily service on the floor

• supporting and developing wait staff and supervisors

• maintaining service standards and guest experience

• helping the team read the room and work well under pressure

• managing guest feedback and resolving issues during service

• keeping the venue presentable, clean and service-ready

• preparing espresso coffee and basic cocktails and drinks when required during service

• supporting the team across the floor, coffee station and bar as needed

• communicating maintenance, stock and service needs clearly

• working closely with front of house management, kitchen and senior management teams

• helping create consistency across shifts

Our venues are built around Italian food culture, ingredient quality and old-school hospitality values, backed by modern systems and high standards.

Experience in busy restaurants is important, but floor presence, awareness and attitude matter just as much.

You’ll also need practical skills behind the coffee machine and bar. We are looking for someone who is already confident in either barista work or basic cocktail making, with a willingness to learn and become comfortable in whichever area is less familiar. You do not need to be a specialist bartender or career barista, but you should be capable, hands-on and willing to jump in during service.

This is not a heavily administrative role. It is a hands-on service leadership role for someone who still genuinely enjoys hospitality and wants to help build a team that feels the same way.