Restaurant Manager – Lebanese Cuisine

FAIRMONT; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury hotel in Abu Dhabi seeks a Restaurant Manager to lead the food & beverage operations. The ideal candidate will have 5–7 years of experience in high-end establishments, with a deep understanding of Lebanese cuisine, strong leadership skills, and a proven ability to enhance guest experiences. Responsibilities include staff management, budget oversight, and ensuring service excellence. Fluency in English is essential, and Arabic skills are highly preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years in food & beverage operations in a luxury setting.
• At least 2–3 years in a Restaurant Manager role.
• Strong knowledge of authentic Lebanese cuisine.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach department colleagues, maintaining morale.
• Oversee recruiting and staffing, ensuring guest needs are met.
• Establish 5-star service levels and guest preference programmes.
• Develop colleague training initiatives for service excellence.
• Collaborate with culinary teams to exceed guest expectations.
• Monitor food & beverage controls within budget guidelines.
• Create new ideas to generate revenue.
• Ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
• Manage guest reservations and arrange private functions.
• Perform daily checks on staffing levels and cleanliness.

Skills

Leadership skills

Guest relations

Problem-solving

Fluent in English

Arabic language skills

Job description

Company Description

Fairmont Bab Al Bahr is a 5-star Abu Dhabi beach resort with a stunning setting on Abu Dhabi Creek. Our luxurious urban hideaway offers unparalleled panoramas over the glittering white-marble minarets of iconic Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Alongside exquisite restaurants and bars, Fairmont Abu Dhabi boasts 366 spacious rooms, suites and a villa. Designed with discerning business and leisure guests in mind, our incomparable facilities include a private beach, pool, meeting rooms, and a magnificent ballroom for lavish celebrations.

Job Description

• Lead and coach all colleagues in the department, maintaining high staff morale and team spirit.
• Oversee recruiting, staffing, and scheduling to ensure adequate staffing levels for guest needs.
• Establish and implement 5-star service levels, creating and executing guest preference programmes.
• Develop and implement colleague training initiatives to maintain service excellence.
• Work collaboratively with culinary and stewarding teams to ensure food service meets or exceeds guest expectations.
• Monitor and develop Food & Beverage controls, adhering to budget guidelines.
• Analyse and control outlet performance, including quality of service, guest satisfaction, and operational equipment.
• Create and innovate new ideas and promotions to generate revenue.
• Ensure a safe and healthy work environment, implementing preventative cleaning and maintenance programmes.
• Participate in the preparation of the Food and Beverage department budget and goals.
• Manage guest reservations and arrange private functions or special parties.
• Perform daily checks on staffing levels, quality control, maintenance, and cleanliness.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive experience in food & beverage operations within a 5-star luxury hotel or high-end standalone restaurant, with at least 2–3 years in a Restaurant Manager role.
• Strong knowledge of authentic Lebanese cuisine, service style, and cultural dining etiquette.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience in recruiting, training, coaching, and developing multicultural teams.
• Excellent knowledge of luxury service standards, guest engagement, and personalized dining experiences in line with Fairmont and Accor brand standards.
• Solid understanding of food safety, hygiene standards, HACCP, and Abu Dhabi municipality regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, control costs, optimize revenues, and analyze P&L performance.
• Strong guest relations, complaint handling, and problem-solving skills with a proactive service mindset.
• Fluent in English; Arabic language skills are highly preferred.