Position: Assistant Manager/Sommelier

Location: North York, ON

Position Type: Full Time/In-Person

About the Company

Our client is an established, independently operated restaurant with a strong focus on quality, authenticity, and neighborhood hospitality. This is an opportunity to join a well-established team with a long-standing reputation for excellence.

The Role

Great service starts with knowledge. The Assistant Manager/Sommelier will be responsible for the training of all service personnel to maximize the guest experience. Additionally, they will be responsible for “product flow” – purchasing and inventory control is significant to maintain profitability and minimize shrinkage. Lastly, coaching and counseling service personnel to deliver attentive professional service.

Position Summary

The Assistant Manager will work alongside the General Manager to oversee the daily operation of the restaurant while delivering exceptional hospitality and leading by example.

When working alongside the General Manager, the Assistant Manager will typically carry a serving section while acting as a floor leader—coaching the team, maintaining service standards, supporting guests, and ensuring smooth operations.

During the General Manager's scheduled days off or absences, the Assistant Manager assumes responsibility for the entire restaurant, leading all front-of-house operations, managing the service team, making operational decisions, and ensuring an exceptional guest experience.

This role requires someone who can seamlessly transition between managing, serving, coaching and problem-solving while always putting the guest experience first.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ownership and Accountability

Conduct themselves in accordance with the restaurant’s policies and procedures handbook and inspires hourly employees to do the same.





Enforces the restaurant’s policies and procedures in consultation with the GM.

Exemplifies the ideals of the restaurant - respect, integrity, teamwork and empowerment.

Management

Ensures maintenance, ordering, organizing inventory, proper beverage receiving procedure and proper security.

Ensures that their parent company beverage requests are being ordered/set.

Opens and closes in accordance with the restaurant’s standards and ensures all checklists are fully executed.

Optimizes efficient and effective utilization of facilities and labour through effective planning, scheduling, ordering, and inventory control.

Ensure that employee procedures are followed.

Handle any guest relations issues that may arise.

Has an active role in dinner/ lunch service, often maintain a service section, tending bar or running food.

Assists with promotional and marketing activities.

Conduct wine tastings and educational sessions for staff.

Beverage Program

Product knowledge – is an expert on all beverage products and continually refines our product mix to offer unique quality beverages to our guests.

Conducts rollouts of new beverage products to staff before they appear on the menu.

Maintains a 600 wine list in accordance with the restaurant’s standards.

Removes or replenishes out of stock items.

Introduces the restaurant’s wine list/offering wine at every table during service and communicate their wine philosophy.

Qualifications and Requirements

Supervisor/management experience - minimum 2 years

Italian restaurant experience - minimum 2 years

Sommelier Certification, minimum WSET 1, submitted with application

Familiarity with Italian cuisine and wine pairing principles

Excellent communication, leadership skills and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with guests and staff

Ability to commute or relocate

What They Offer

Salary plus gratuities

Benefits

Discounted or free food

Work Location: In person

📌 Assistant Manager/Sommelier (North York)
🏢 Research Recruitment
📍 North York