Restaurant Manager
Mama Shelter · Cape Town, Western Cape
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THE MISSION
- You are the driving force behind the daily heartbeat of Mama's restaurant and bar experience
- As Restaurant Manager, you bring energy, rhythm, and precision to every service—ensuring each guest experience is vibrant, seamless, and unmistakably Mama.
- You lead from the floor, not the office, inspiring your team in real time and creating a dining atmosphere that feels alive, social, and unforgettable
Here's what you'll be responsible for
Guest Experience Leader
- Deliver a consistently exceptional, high-energy dining experience across all services
- Ensure every guest interaction reflects Mama's personality: social, bold, and memorable
- Act as the face of the restaurant, engaging with guests and building loyal repeat business
Operational Excellence
- Oversee day-to-day restaurant operations including service, opening/closing, and floor management
- Ensure smooth coordination between kitchen, bar, and service teams
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness, presentation, and service flow
Commercial Performance Driver
- Support delivery of revenue targets and profitability goals
- Monitor daily sales, labour, and cost controls in line with budgets
- Identify opportunities to drive covers, spend per head, and upselling
Team Leader & Culture Builder
- Lead, coach, and energise front-of-house teams with a hands-on leadership style
- Build a strong, service-driven culture rooted in personality, pride, and performance
- Conduct briefings, on-the-job training, and continuous feedback
Collaboration Partner
- Work closely with the Bar, Culinary, Events, and Marketing teams
- Ensure alignment between service delivery and brand activations
- Support execution of promotions, events, and seasonal experiences
Standards & Consistency Guardian
- Uphold Mama's service standards across every touchpoint
- Ensure consistency in guest experience, product delivery, and ambiance
- Act quickly to resolve guest feedback and service challenges
Atmosphere & Experience Driver
- Contribute to the energy of the venue through floor presence and engagement
- Support activations, themed nights, and social dining experiences
- Help create a restaurant environment that feels dynamic, fun, and shareable
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
- A consistently full, high-energy restaurant with strong guest loyalty
- A motivated, confident team delivering personality-led service
- Strong commercial performance across all KPIs
- A reputation as one of the most vibrant dining destinations in the hotel
Qualifications
MADE FOR YOU… ONLY IF
- You have strong senior Food & Beverage leadership experience in hospitality
- You come from lifestyle, luxury, or high-volume experiential brands
- You are a natural leader who inspires, motivates, and develops large teams
- You are commercially sharp with strong understanding of revenue, cost control, and profitability
- You thrive in fast-paced, high-energy environments
- You are highly operational and love being present on the floor
- You have strong communication and stakeholder management skills
- You are creative, innovative, and passionate about guest experience
- You can manage multiple outlets, concepts, and activations with ease
YOUR LITTLE EXTRAS
- Pre-opening experience? Big plus
- Multi-outlet or lifestyle brand experience? Even better
- You know how to turn F&B into a destination, not just a department
- You bring bold ideas, energy, and Mama personality every day