Restaurant Manager

The Lake is a new and exclusive private social club set to open in October 2026 in Chicago's vibrant River North neighborhood. This luxurious clubhouse spans an impressive 26,000 square feet, featuring a classic brick-and-limestone exterior that beautifully contrasts with the stylish, contemporary interiors. Designed to be both elegant and inviting, The Lake aims to foster a warm and vibrant community environment where members can gather, socialize, and enjoy a curated lifestyle experience. The club is centered around a world-class food and beverage program and is home to three distinct restaurants: a French-inspired brasserie, a British American restaurant, and an Italian trattoria. Members will also enjoy two cocktail bars, an exclusive members' wine cellar, a roof terrace, three guest rooms, and a small spa, all meticulously designed to create an engaging and dynamic atmosphere.

The Lake is part of Topography, a hospitality company founded by Liam Krehbiel in 2021. Topography is dedicated to developing and operating a collection of luxurious hotels and clubs, with a focus on guest experience excellence, employee satisfaction, financial performance, and environmental stewardship. The Lake represents Topography's inaugural property, with several other exciting projects in development across Wisconsin, New England, and North Carolina.

The culinary, beverage, and service philosophy at The Lake embraces timeless classics across three unique cuisines. The club values exceptional hospitality defined by quality food, innovative beverages, and flawless service, executed with warmth, precision, and personality reminiscent of the world's best independent restaurants. Unlike traditional luxury club dining, The Lake's ambition is to provide personalized, intentional, and deeply memorable experiences characterized by chef- and craft-driven cuisine that is technically excellent, human, consistently refined without rigidity, and always attentive to detail and guest engagement.

The role of Restaurant Manager at The Lake is a pivotal leadership position responsible for the daily management and execution of service within the club’s dining venues. Reporting to the Director of Food & Beverage, this position requires close collaboration with the Executive Chef and the broader leadership team to ensure an exceptional member experience while maintaining operational discipline and excellence. The ideal candidate thrives in a hands-on leadership role, actively managing the dining room floor, building strong teams, and driving a culture of service excellence in a luxury environment.

Key responsibilities include leading all front-of-house operations to ensure smooth and efficient service; maintaining high standards of hospitality, presentation, and cleanliness; actively managing guest interactions with professionalism; aligning kitchen and service teams for seamless dining experiences; upholding health, safety, and alcohol regulations; implementing and reinforcing service standards and operational procedures; training and developing front-of-house staff; managing labor, scheduling, and costs; building strong member relationships; and participating in pre-opening activities. This role demands strong communication, organizational skills, and the ability to adapt and improve processes continuously.

The Lake offers a competitive compensation package including a base salary, annual bonus, 401(k) plan, and a comprehensive benefits package with medical, dental, vision insurance, and paid vacation. Located in Chicago, IL, The Lake seeks candidates who are aligned with Topography's core values of drive, teamwork, empathy, excellence, integrity, judgment, creativity, positive attitude, and self-awareness. This is an outstanding opportunity for a skilled restaurant manager to join a prestigious, member-focused social club and contribute significantly to its success and elevated service standards.