Restaurant Manager Jobs in NYC, NY

Restaurant Manager Jobs in NYC, NY

Looking for Restaurant Manager jobs in New York, NY? New York’s vibrant dining and hospitality scene provides numerous opportunities for Restaurant Managers and hospitality professionals. 

Our platform features 251 New York Restaurant Manager positions with detailed information on requirements, qualifications and benefits.

How To Apply for Restaurant Manager Jobs in NYC?

Applying for a Restaurant Manager job in New York can be competitive, but following the right steps will greatly improve your chances. 

Here are detailed steps to complete your Restaurant Manager job application and find restaurant management positions:

1. Build a professional Restaurant Manager resume

Create a strong Restaurant Manager resume that highlights your management skills, hospitality expertise and relevant experience.

Register an account to use OysterLink's resume builder to create a professional Restaurant Manager resume.

Here’s a quick guide on how to use the OysterLink resume section effectively:

• Complete missing info: Add your bio, work experience, education and languages to improve your resume strength and increase your chances of getting hired.
• Set privacy: Choose whether only employers you've applied to can view your resume or make it public to all hiring managers.
• Upload a profile photo: Click “Upload new file” to add a professional headshot (recommended size: 200x200, formats: PNG or JPG).
• Set your location: Confirm or update the “Where are you based?” field to ensure employers see your location correctly.
• Write a strong bio: Use the “Your bio” section to briefly highlight your skills, career goals and what kind of job you're seeking. Keep it professional and relevant to hospitality.

A polished resume demonstrates professionalism, helping you stand out among the best restaurant management candidates in NYC.

2. Gain management experience

Practical restaurant management experience is crucial. If you're new to management, start as an Assistant Restaurant Manager or Shift Supervisor.

These jobs teach essential management skills — staff scheduling, inventory control and guest relations — that Restaurant Managers must master.

Here are some tips to help you build your management skills and strengthen your resume:

• Consider volunteering for managerial duties in your current restaurant (like training new hires or overseeing shifts).
• Seek promotions and take on increasing responsibilities: move from Assistant Manager to General Manager or from Bistro Manager to Restaurant Area Manager.
• Document achievements, such as reducing costs or improving guest reviews. Highlight leadership projects, like launching a new menu or improving customer satisfaction ratings.

Demonstrating progressive restaurant management experience makes your application stand out.

3. Prepare for Restaurant Manager job interviews

Preparing thoroughly for your interview is crucial to leaving a strong impression. Here are some key tips to help you succeed:

• Practice discussing your management philosophy, restaurant background and leadership experience.
• Prepare answers to common restaurant manager interview questions: “How do you motivate your team?” or “Describe how you handle customer complaints.”
• Research the restaurant to align your strengths with their needs; emphasize relevant experience (upscale dining or fast-paced bistro management).
• Demonstrate your reliability (managing shifts without absences) and efficiency (improving turnover or profitability). Bring recommendation letters or certifications.
• Dress neatly (business-casual or formal attire) and arrive early. During the interview, ask thoughtful questions about staff size, customer demographics or expectations.
• Highlight flexibility and teamwork, since NYC restaurant managers often work weekends, holidays and handle stressful service periods. 

A strong interview can convert a solid resume into a restaurant manager job offer. Here are a few commonly asked interview questions in Restaurant Manager job interviews:

What are the Top Areas to Find Restaurant Manager Jobs in NYC?

New York neighborhoods offer distinct restaurant management job opportunities. Here are the top hotspots:

Top NYC Neighborhoods Hiring Restaurant Managers

The City's dining scene is highly neighborhood-driven. Focus on areas that align with your concept expertise and offer convenient commutes to maximize your chances of landing the right role.

Honorable mentions: Bushwick (music venues with food programs), Harlem (soul-food revivals) and Staten Island’s North Shore (waterfront seafood). New openings post weekly — Eater NY listed 40+ debuts in June and July 2025 alone.

Legal Requirements & Workplace Regulations for NYC Restaurant Managers

Staying compliant with NYC laws is essential for running a responsible restaurant. From wages and scheduling to food safety and workplace protections, these regulations help create a safe, fair and efficient environment. 

Here are the key rules every NYC Restaurant Manager should know:

Minimum wage & overtime

• All NYC hospitality employees: $16.50/hour minimum as of 1 Jan 2025.
• Hourly staff earn 1.5× pay after 40 hours/week; double-time rules don’t apply in NY, but daily overtime on split shifts can.

Meal breaks

• 30-minute unpaid meal required if a shift exceeds six hours and spans 11 a.m.–2 p.m. or 5 p.m.–7 p.m.

Predictable scheduling (Fair Workweek Law)

• Fast-food and large retail operators must post schedules 14 days ahead (fast food) or 72 hours ahead (retail), pay premiums for last-minute changes and offer shifts to current workers first.

Food-safety certification

• Every establishment needs an on-duty supervisor with the NYC Food Protection Certificate at all times; most restaurant managers are the designated holders.

Workplace protections

• New York Human Rights Law bars discrimination across 18+ protected classes.
• Harassment prevention training is mandatory for employers with ≥ 15 staff.
• Managers must post Paid Safe & Sick Leave notices and track accruals (one hour per 30 worked, up to 56 annually).

What Is the Outlook for Restaurant Manager Careers in New York City?

The job outlook for Restaurant Managers in NYC is looking promising. 

Find valuable statistics below:

Strong restaurant sector growth in NYC

• As of Q1 2025, New York City hosts 17,619 licensed food establishments, including restaurants, cafés and bars.
• The NYC restaurant industry contributes significantly to local employment — with nearly 317,800 jobs in 2019 across 23,650 establishments, reflecting over 61% job growth from 2009 to 2019.

Job market expansion & stability

• National projections for food service managers indicate a 2% industry growth from 2023 to 2033. This growth means approximately 44,500 new job openings each year, with the majority of these positions expected to be for replacing managers who leave or retire
• Meanwhile, hospitality roles across food service and related sectors show faster growth, with 9% projected growth through 2029.

Recovery from COVID & continued rebound

• The NYC leisure and hospitality sector (including restaurants) currently employs about 311,500 people in food service and drinking places — nearing pre-pandemic levels.
• Nationally, fast-casual and quick-service restaurants have added nearly 120,000 jobs (2.6% above pre-pandemic), while smaller establishments continue recovery.

Rising demand for management expertise

• NYC Restaurant Managers command median salaries of around $90,180 per year, approximately $9.91 above the national average.
• The broader food service management profession reports a median national wage of $65,310, with the top 10% earning over $105,000.

Restaurant Manager job outlook summary